Keiji trains on the eve of his departure to the Ice Tribe Village and an unexpected visit from Hana tests his resolve.
Resolve
The Nohrians have cost you much over your years of service. Felicia is the latest in a slew of reminders. While she escaped with her life, she will forever have to endure living with one working eye. You might not be to blame for her terrible tragedy, but if you'd been faster things might have ended differently.
There's innocent blood on your hands - through your failure get stronger.
One road waits ahead of you now. The Hoshidan road. The road of justice. With the Light Dragon as witness, you'll find Camilla and make her pay for what she's done. The arts of battle are all you know: they're all you have. With them, you'll change the tides of fate for the better. Doing so is best way to set yourself aside from these savage Nohrians and prove everything they aren't. Even if some of their indulgent ways carry a certain allure.
Indeed, only through the Light Dragon's teachings will the just prevail. The Nohirans think brutality will win wars. They're wrong.
It's why you're still awake while the rest of camp slumbers. The journey to the Ice Tribe Village will be a long one. Threats might lurk around any corner. You have to stand prepared for any eventuality. As the one who will lead the vanguard in their coming mission, it is your task and yours alone.
You're reminded of a song as you train - a melody sung by minstrels since a time before you were born. In times of hardship, it has acted as your guiding light. Tonight is no different. It is the ballad of everything it means to be Hoshidan. A song you've heard Corrin hum many times in your company.
'In the white light, a hand reaches through. A double-edged blade cuts your heart in two. Waking dreams fade away, embrace the brand new day. Sing with me a song of birthrights and love. The light scatters to the sky above. Dawn breaks through the gloom, white as a bone - Lost in thoughts all alone.'
A new dawn will break once Corrin's Norhian family are defeated.
A battle cry falling from you, you slice the air asunder with your katana. Beads of sweat crawl down your forehead, and the heart in your chest hammers at a frantic pace in a bid to keep you standing. Your legs also burn under the strain of this intense training, but you'll not slow the pace until you're done. A samurai doesn't surrender in the face of challenges. They face obstacles with pride and diligence.
"Just another-" You inhale a mouthful of much-needed air, and breathe out. "Just another set of drills."
Your voice echoes across the secluded and grassy hillside near Macarath. Lush nature and chirping insects both invigorate your exhausted senses. A cloudless midnight sky and a beautiful full moon push you onward where most would give up in a bid for respite.
This is your domain - a secret tucked away from all who would interfere. You have Flora to thank for showing it to you the other night.
Footfalls over the grass behind send a warning wave of adrenaline coursing through your veins. You hold fast in a firm defensive stance. It could be a passing animal: maybe a pack of wolves. Whatever the case, you'll take no chances.
"Who's there?" You swing around and hold your steel outward in warning. "Show yourself. Step out nice and slowly."
The voice of a woman follows, one you would remember anywhere, "Lower your sword, Keiji. It's me."
Relief washing over you, you lower your sword and sheathe it. "Hana, it's you."
"Yep, it's my, silly," the girl clarifies as she steps into your vision. "I followed you," she reveals you with a mischievous chuckle. "You've never been subtle."
The lady warrior adorns the long overcoat this night. Striking elements of pink and blue accent it instead of the usual pristine white. A scrap of cloth is tied around her head too, an old days-gone warrior tradition. Lastly, thick woollen socks and plain wooden sandals cover her feet.
You smile thinly for girl with whom you shared some of life's greatest pleasures and deepest hurts.
"Why you followed me is what I'm wondering," you specify, slight concern to your voice.
"Oh I wonder?" Hana ponders, tapping a finger against her cheek. Bringing the digit away, she smirks. "Because maybe I was worried seeing my thick-skulled former-fiancé wander off into the night?" She takes a step closer. Her hands fall to her hips. "And maybe I wanted to check he wasn't getting into trouble."
"Duly noted," you answer a touch abrasively, stepping back. "And I'm quite alright, as you can see."
"Actually..." Hana closes the gap. Lowering her head, she hides her eyes. "It's more than that." She grabs your overcoat's sleeve without looking up, to stop any would-be retreat. "I was hoping we could talk… because I'm worried, in truth. About you. About how you've been acting. About lots of things."
The sincerity coloring Hana's words pierce your defences, the heart within your chest kicking hard. "And what is there to talk about?" you half-whisper.
Hana throws her head upwards. Her eyes are welling. She looks like a wounded animal. "Oh I don't know, Keiji!" she snaps. "Perhaps all of the wine you swill since we separated, or how angry you've gotten. Or this stupid, stupid need to prove yourself all of the time!"
Her appraisal of your situation a sharpened knife through your heart, you're unable to protest.
All you bring yourself to do in the end is clamp your hands down upon Hana's shoulders and look to the floor. To her sandaled feet.
"Fine then," Hana huffs shortly. "If you won't say anything I'll get right to it. I want to come with you on your next march."
"No," you answer flatly, every fibre of your being screaming out in unison against the idea. "You're not coming; not to the Ice Tribe Village."
"And why not...?" Hana spits angrily, her toes curling.
You've no response which will do justice, and you know it.
Gods do you want nothing more than to run from this conversation. No, not the conversation. Hana. You want to run from Hana. Because she is a reminder. A living and breathing scar upon your already cracked and unsteady heart. You don't need that kind of distraction right now.
A thin and flippant response is all you can muster, "You just aren't. Because it's my fight."
"But it doesn't have to be!" Hana fires back, almost pleading with you. "I could go with you! Together we can put Corrin's evil sister in her place. It'll be like the days before everything changed. You and me... together again." Longing tinges her plea.
Nonetheless, you can't risk being distracted. Not can you bare the notion of seeing Hana hurt again.
Alas, all you can think to do is push her away.
"Those concerns aren't yours to shoulder anymore," you tell the swordswoman coldly, a dull pain filling your chest as you do.
A hefty second passes between the two of you. Your stomach churns with it.
Hana cups a hand to your cheek and forcibly lifts your head. She's crying. Watery lines roll down her cheeks.
"How can you even say that...?" she asks with her voice cracking and her fingers trembling.
"Because it's the truth. It has been since the day I took off my ring." Deeper you plunge the knife. Into the both of you.
"...You don't mean that," Hana whimpers. She looks as though she'll shatter like glass at another cruel word.
You can't bring yourself to hurt her anymore. "I don't. Of course I don't. But all the same, I can't risk you. I won't."
"W-What happened that day wasn't your fault," Hana says in a small and broken breath. She throws her arms around your shoulders thereafter, and clings onto you for dear life. "What Hans did to me was out of yours and Subaki's control."
Being close to her like this is as comforting as it is agonizing. Sharing her heat and breathing in her sweet sakura blossom perfume is equally bittersweet.
"I feel no better, considering I was powerless," you admit dejectedly, pulling Hana to your chest.
Sighing dejectedly, Hana dries her eyes against your collar. "You won't change your mind, will you?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Gods help me... I wanna beat your butt right now." Hana breathes out exhaustedly. Then she chuckles limply.
You chuckle in return. "Three years in my company does that to a lady, I imagine."
"And that was before you took off the ring," Hana adds as she eases away, mock frowning.
You snicker. She does too. There's a pause. Then the two of you burst out laughing.
The air is surprisingly warm and friendly when you both eventually calm down. A welcome change.
"I'm sorry," you apologize sincerely. "I didn't mean for this to get out of hand."
"Me too." Hana looks away from you with sadness in her eyes, dropping her arms to her sides. "I just... I hate the two of us being like this, fighting all the time."
Memories of your time with the swordswoman flash through your thoughts. The last New Year festival you spent together sticks for just long enough to lighten your downcast feelings.
"I can't say I enjoy it either," you agree with a hint of displeasure.
"You will be careful, won't you?" Hana's question is quiet but no less sincere.
"Of course I will." You bow for the girl with the utmost respect. "I'll be safe in Miss Flora's company, you'll see."
"You'd better be."
"I will be, worry not," you double down.
You turn back in the direction of camp and pause for thought.
Company for the journey back wouldn't go amiss. You also feel as though you owe Hana after sharing such heated words earlier.
Mind made up, you glance over your shoulder to the swordswoman. "Care to walk back together?" you offer.
"You bet!" Hana agrees, falling in beside you. The two of you set off side by side.
The lassie stops partway back to camp, however. Already a few steps ahead of her by this point, you pause and turn around. "Is something amiss?"
"Nope," not a thing, Hana answers spiritedly, her lips rising into a sweet (and bright) smile. Throwing an arm around her waist, she bows for you. "I just want you to know that no matter what happens, Keiji, I bet you'll set everything right. And what's more," the girl continues, her voice a touch strained with nerves. "I truly don't hold it against you, for leaving I mean. What happened was difficult... for the both us."
An admission you appreciate beyond words. Even if you feel you must yet earn it by doing your part against Nohr.
"Come now," you reply kindly, taking Hana's hand and pulling her up. "No more of these serious topics for tonight."
"Fine, fine," the swordswoman concedes. "But..." She grips down on your hand. "You mind if we hold hands like we used to?"
A fair compromise indeed. "Just tonight."
Much awaits you in the coming days. Showing a hint of affection for old time's sake is the least you can do.
Thoughts swirl in your mind two days after Flora's confession, and that's without considering yours and Hana's discussion last night. As guilty as you feel for relenting and allowing the former of the two her kiss, a part of you deeply enjoyed doing so.
It was as though that single passionate embrace of the lips awakened something in you. Something sinful but so very sweet.
You shake your head clear. Now isn't the time for such indulgence.
Two soldiers summoned you to the war council tent just after sunrise this morning. Lord Ryoma was the one who sent for you. Thankfully, you and Flora had long-since returned from your amorous wander and enjoyed a few hours of sleep before that. When you arrived at the council tent, the order that part of you has so desperately desired since Camilla's attack on the Astral Plane arrived.
"It is time, Keiji," Ryoma informed you with a firm pat on the shoulder. "You are to make for the Ice Tribe Village and set our plan into motion. We will begin mustering troops to follow after you come tomorrow morning. Do not let us down."
An order you accepted with gladness in your heart, "As you command, my lord."
Unfortunately thogh, Flora remained reluctant when you told her of the news.
"I'd still much prefer you didn't do this," she expressed adamantly as she made Felicia's breakfast in the mess hall. "And especially after last night," she added at a near-whisper. "We should take Lady Corrin or another of the nobles with us for added protection, at the very least."
Just as before, you refused. "Better we don't. And besides, they shall be leading the main army along behind us in preparation for when our task is completed. We'll see them soon enough, when we drive out that vixen Camilla and her followers from your home."
With the deepest of sighs, Flora relented and went back to cutting vegetables for her soup. "Fair enough. Though I do hope none of my worries comes to pass while we're out there. I just... can't shake the feeling something is wrong."
"As I said," you began, getting up from your spot by the table and joining the maid by the counter. "It's likely you're overthinking things. I'm sure everything will go according to plan once we get there." You patted her shoulder supportively. "With you by my side I'm certain of it, Flora."
Flora put down her knife and stole a quick cuddle from you with nobody else in the mess hall. "And to think you don't see me any different after the side I showed to you last night," she commented with a nervous chuckle.
"It's as you said, everybody has a darker side. And I've throttled mine into line for a very long time."
Flora blinked; an interesting look from her if you'd ever seen one. "...A curious way of saying you enjoyed yourself, I must say."
To say it any other would have been admitting you embraced your inner-Nohrian. You couldn't do that.
You could never do that.
Now, you are ready. Before you stand two rows of soldiers. Their numbers consist of a fourteen samurai, six diviners, and two shrine maiden healers. Twenty-two in total. They will be more than enough for the mission once you've called Hoshido's Ice Tribe allies to the cause.
Standing off to the left of the group is Flora - your guide and confidant for the journey ahead. She winks at you, and you smile back.
To business. You look from Felicia's twin to the men and women at your behest. "To attention," you command.
The small fighting force salute in unison.
"Very good," you commend their attentiveness. "Now, we go."
Flora falls in at the group's front. Leading, she takes you northwest from camp toward a band of hills. "It's this way," she tells you, pointing ahead for a moment. "Once we traverse these hills we will arrive at a narrow pass. Through there and two days further on foot, and we will be met with a snowy tundra."
"And somewhere beyond that tundra we will find our destination?" you ask, internally shuddering at the thought of how cold it will get.
"That's right," Flora nods. "Or within it, to be precise. I have a sixth sense of sorts for where my childhood home resides, even though the blizzard. Worry not," she assures with a smile. "I will lead you all there safely and without harm. Though we may have to watch out for rogue Faceless as we go."
"Of course," you scoff, noting a few groans and grumbles from among your soldiers. "Because no journey is complete without them."
"Sadly not, no," Flora sighs, shaking her head. "Anyway, let's be on our way."
"Let's." You keep pace, your troops walking in tow.
Your personal goal is to strike at Camilla should you get the chance, and you will succeed if faced with the opportunity. No matter what. Far too much rests on your shoulders to fail, be it Felicia's care or untangling the mess that are your feelings toward three women.
"I can do this," you utter near silently to yourself, fist clenched with determination. "I have to."
To be continued...
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