Keiji is visited by Kagero during his return from the Astral Plane.

Scars

After a wonderful dinner it's time you head home. You need all of the rest you can get before facing Camilla's army.

You step out of Corrin's of treehouse with a smile. Then you yawn.

"I really must sleep," you mumble before giving your cheeks a quick and invigorating pat.

You look upward.

The sky is dark and dotted with twinkling stars and a full and radiant moon overlooking the world below as though a silent and compassionate guardian. Its soothing light relaxes you further. "If only the world could be this peaceful all of the time," you lament.

Shutting your eyes, you take a large mouthful of the Astral Plane's crisp night air and then exhale. "Peace..." You speak the lonesome word with deep-rooted longing. "For the world to actually know peace would be a blessing."

A time when soldiers can return home to their loved ones without fearing the next draft. A time when mothers can embrace their sons and daughters without fear of losing them to war's folly, and most importantly, an end to the conflict that has plagued Hoshido and Nohr alike for a generation.

You open your eyes, brandishing a small but nonetheless tragic frown. "I sometimes wonder if the war will ever end." You sigh.

Past scars have left you cynical. Uncertainties toward Hoshido's ideal (though faint) dwell within you. While you felt content with swearing yourself to Corrin's dream of toppling Nohrian tyranny, you can't help feeling her goal is both lofty and idealistic. A mountain to assail.

"If only it were so simple." Steeling yourself for the journey home, you get on your way through the Astral Plane's square at a brisk pace.

Ash and flame cloud your memories of you walk - recollections of a time Prince Ryoma failed to protect his people. And you.

"Okashi..." Reciting the cursed name leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.

Young women's screams echo within your skull. Ghostly reminders, they pull you back to a darker time.

Your open hand clenches into closed, shuddering fist. "Hana..."

You stall by Fort Dawnlight's outermost walls, leaning against them to catch your increasingly ragged breaths. Your forehead is clammy and your entire body is burning hot - almost as hot as the fires that burned through the long-dead town on that forsaken day.

You slip your free hand into the inside pocket of your swordsman's overcoat and produce a small bronzed ring. A lump forms in your throat. You feel sick to the stomach at the sight of it, dizzy even. "Forgive me..." You close your fingers around the keepsake and lift your eyes.

A towering muscle-bound brute donning blood-soaked black armor stands before you in your mind's eye - a man turned inhuman monster through barbaric deeds. You dare not recount his name a second time tonight for fear the very world will topple around you.

Step by step, the man walks toward you, clutching a dripping red axe in one of his veiny hands.

"Dammit, Keiji," you wheeze, shaking your head and steadying your breathing. "Keep it together."

You shut your eyes as the monster raises his axe above your head with a guttural laugh.

"Calm down, fool," you command yourself. "Tis not real. None of it is real."

You open your eyes again out of sheer panic, and the black-armored barbarian is gone. Your frantic heartbeat settles, though the hairs at the back of your neck still stand on end. Exhausted, you lean into the wall and look to the midnight moon for respite. Your lips twist into a frustrated frown.

"Dammit all, dammit!" you curse as you punch the wall behind.

Those with power recognize your skills finally, and you've earned a place among Hoshido's finest as a retainer. You cannot allow past feelings from your days as a common swordsman to ruin it all. To throw everything away would be foolish beyond words when you finally have the ear of Lord Ryoma. And Corrin's trust as well.

Pushing off the wall, you start down the cobblestone path leading to the Astral Plane's exit portal. You note each of your booted footfalls against the cobbles as you go, a measure to keep your thoughts aligned. The air is cool and thick with magical energy: a fine combination to soothe frayed nerves.

You inhale and exhale deeply, tension lifting from your shoulders. A sudden nip to the night air sets you on edge all over again, unfortunately.

You stall just short of the swirling bluish-grey portal that is the Astral Plane's exit. A shiver scuttles beneath your skin. Drawing your father's worn sword, you swing on your heels in the direction from which you previously came.

There's nobody behind you, but you can't shake the awful sensation of being watched by sight unseen.

"Who's there?" you question sternly, your hands tightening around your katana's hilt.

A gentle but biting breeze sweeps over you. Twisting into being from a sweet-smelling shower of red sakura blossoms just head of you is a woman. A woman Tall of stature with long legs and ample hips. Her skin soft looking and light, the lassie adorns kunoichi garments.

The woman stands from her crouched position and begins toward you with soundless steps. Her straight chocolate brown locks sway as she does.

"Kagero," you speak her name bitterly despite being allies, the surface of your skin prickling. "I knew I sensed something."

The lady ninja looks upon you with uncaring professionalism, her deep brown eyes glinting against the moonlight. "For you to sense me at all is noteworthy," she comments with folded arms, stopping a few steps from you. "Very few are able to do so without prior training."

Slipping your katana away, you remain guarded. "I had practice enough in days past" you retort. "And your way of moving makes me uneasy."

"A rather hateful thing to say to a comrade, do you not think, Keiji of Izami?" Kagero asks with a shake of the head. She unfolds her arms and drops them to her sides. "No matter." she dismisses your unkind words with a wave. "While you might dislike me, I thought it prudent to speak with you."

"Spare yourself the effort, with all due respect," you counter, smirking icily.

"Then consider it friendly encouragement, from one retainer to another," offers Kagero regardless. She then steps a few paces nearer, and the stiffness to her shoulders eases a fraction. "The resentment you harbor is not mutual, Keiji," she reveals. "And while what happened in Okashi was regrettable... I wish to carry a clean conscience on the matter; I wish to make amends."

You raise a brow, rage silently bubbling beneath the surface. "It's too late for that. Apologize to those who died - not me."

"Do not misunderstand my intent," the ninja follows. Stopping just within arm's reach of you, she drops her head and arches her back in a short bow. "I will not apologize for following orders given by my lord," she states plainly, rising again. "We had to keep Sakura from wilfully rushing headlong into danger.

"At the expense of my comrades and me," you growl.

"The lives of royalty take priority over yours and mine," Kagero states coldly, factually.

"Easy for you to say when you did nothing to help..."

Kagero sighs gently, her eyes radiating hurt for but an instant. "...And that is why I wished to speak with you, Keiji. To both apologize and congratulate you for the strides you have made as of late. You have done well to rise so far, and so quickly."

"All through my own hard work, I assure you," you say spitefully.

"Be that as it may, it is clear you are a skilled swordsman, and equally diligent in your duties to Lady Corrin."

Your heart flutters reluctantly. Torn between anger and gratefulness, you force a thin smile. You'll not have it said that you are impolite toward a compliment. Mother taught you better than that. "I appreciate your kind words, Kagero... though they don't change matters between us."

"I did not intend for them to do so, Keiji."

You bite your lip, a part of you dearly wishing to verbally tear down Ryoma's retainer for dismissing your past trauma - despite her kindness. You step back instead - to create some much-needed personal space between yourself and the ninja. You don't appreciate being close enough to catch a whiff of her cherry blossom perfume. It is a gift too intimate for your liking. "Is that all you need of me...?" you ask shortly. "If so, I'll be on my way."

"There is one further matter I would speak with you over, actually," adds Kagero, her voice carrying a hint of with regret.

You look the ninja the eye but she swiftly tugs her gaze toward the floor, her fringe concealing most of her face from view.

"And what might that be?"

"An apology, as I said earlier.

You'll hear what the kunoichi has to say, if only to end this exchange and go to bed.

"Go ahead," you allow with a sigh. "If you wish to talk freely I'll not stop you, but please don't make meetings like these regular between us."

"I won't, I assure you." Pledge given, the Ninja closes the gap and kneels. Her eyes glassy and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, she prostrates herself at your feet. "I wish to express my deepest regret - with respect to Hans' actions on that dreadful day," she utters weakly, her words tainted with shame. "Doing my duty came at the expense of yours and Hana's betrothal. For that, Keiji... I am deeply sorry."

Your jaw hangs agape in light of Kagero's honest apology; one you weren't expecting.

To this day the ninja has remained painfully silent (at least in your company) about the horrors she witnessed while hiding behind the chimney of a house on the night Okashi died. You came to believe that she truly did not care about the unbearable misery you and your surviving comrades endured.

You let loose a forlorn exhale, the pain of remembrance a weight in your stomach. "So the heart in your chest does beat." Kneeling to Kagero's level, you rest a hand upon her shoulder, finding the strength to smile despite your inner conflict. "Though I don't forgive what you did, I appreciate your honesty." Rising to your feet, you take a backward step. "Now please, stand up. I cannot stand folk throwing themselves at my feet. I'm not used to it."

The lady retainer raises her head and gifts you a quick nod. She wastes no time standing and brushing down her clothes. At your level again, she bows one more time. "I do not expect you to like me after all you endured, Keiji - but being forthright has lifted a burden from my shoulders, truly."

You smile weakly. At least one of you will sleep easy at night.

"...Tis quite alright. May I take my leave now?"

"You may," Kagero concedes. "But before you go..."

"What is it...?" you ask with an irritable exhale.

You're offered an outstretched hand by the lady retainer. "Might we at least agree to be civil toward one-another, for the sake of duty to our lords?"

You look to Kagero's hand and back to her face again. Though subtle, there's a glint of hope in her eyes.

Nodding, you take her hand and squeeze her fingers affirmatively. "Fine then. An oath of civility between warriors I can abide by."

"Very good. I had hoped you would agree." Withdrawing her hand, Kagero steps back. "Do remain steadfast in your service to Lady Corrin, Keiji. I feel you will help us achieve great things, given time." The wind picks up somewhat, blowing your long dark hair over your eyes. "Farewell for now..."

By the time you brush the rogue strands from your face, Kagero is gone. A smattering of ruby red sakura petals gently float toward the ground where she stood just seconds earlier. The evening air warms again, the skittering sensation beneath your skin lifting away.

"Gone," you whisper, shifting your attention to the Astral Plane's swirling portal behind.

Eyes feeling heavy all of the sudden, you let loose a yawn. "I should rest."

Stepping through the portal returns you to Hoshido's main camp. Felicia waits for you there with a smile brighter than sunshine.

"Welcome back!" she chimes, linking her arm through yours. "I was wondering how long you'd be gone."

You sigh thankfully. "You meeting me here like this is nice, Felicia. I appreciate it."

"Think nothing of it. I'll always be by your side, Keiji. For as long as you want me."

The two of you share a quick kiss. You then link arms and begin on down the road to your tent.

To be continued...

There you have it! Did you like this chapter? Would you like to see a couple more? Feel free to leave some feedback and share your thoughts. As always, keep on supporting Fire Emblem and I'll see you in the next chapter. Take care!