Hi guys. Been a damn two months since my prologue. I'm sorry, not sorry. Did warn you about the update in the author note so...
You probably won't have to wait that long again for another chapter. At least I hope so. Next chapter should provably be in about two in a shorter time compared you had to wait for this monstrosity.
Speaking of which: If any of you guys were turned off by the long ass author note I wrote for the prologue, then fuck me, I'm sorry. You won't have to see any shit like that again. I promise. That will be the only time you will ever see that and never again will I write something that long it will annoy you guys.
On a final note, special shout out to Antex-The Legendary Zoroark for being my first reviewer in the story. (On Fanfiction . Net)
Anyway, here you go. Chapter 1.
Hoshido was-simply put-a vast gigantic kingdom-spawning over the east. Massive gates-impressive as the kingdom itself-met travellers at the entrance of it, be it either entering or if they were in the inside the magnificent country already: exiting, along with two gates men and a gaggle of guards standing and situated at top of the gates-per orders. Guards and gates men situated both at the top and with numerous at the bottom were ordered to the gate to control and monitor the process of people entering and exiting through the gates. Because of this continuous daily process, it made for a steady influx of people entering and exiting that would otherwise spiral into a mess if no one was there to monitor.
The walls connected to the massive gates and spread across and around, holding the many denizens and buildings of the country within. The walls formed a circular, oval-shaped perimeter around the country and its people, blanketing them with its protective grasp.
And, amongst it all, sakura trees decorated and accentuated the area. Around and inside Hoshido, the trees grew and matured; pink petals covered and hung from the many branches of the trees. They snipped off the branches by the force of the wind, blowing them and traveling into the land across and around. This was the mainstay of the kingdom, the country at large, the lands across and across and reaching into the end of a cliff and stopping just at the expanse of the ocean below. A covey of birds hidden in the trees popped out; they chittered and flapped their wings, moving from a tree to the next or flying into and away from the kingdom.
In all, Hoshido was a beautiful kingdom.
Of course, that was to be expected of a country, but Hoshido always seemed to, for a reason unknown, attract various sorts from the towns that were near the kingdom. This doesn't seem to take away the beauty of the kingdom it maintained. Rather, it further enhanced the beauty.
Today in the kingdom of Hoshido was just like any other day. Various people: merchants, traders, and those that just simply visiting the kingdom were entering. Gates men and guards-men and women: covered in armor-steel. The smooth yet rock hard material crafted and from head to toe that was also somewhat bulky. It protected its bearer from any harm. Assignment to this position by per commander's-of the Hoshidian Royal Army-orders left the guards feeling dissatisfied and bored because of how simple the job was. Nothing entertaining really happening or occurring. To help pass the time from the otherwise entirely boring position, they chatted with each other about various topics or played games-entertainment. The gates men who controlled the gates for it to close and open were also chatting away from their assigned position to the guards nearby. Since there were people coming in, they left the massive doors open; there was really no reason to close them since people were entering and exiting.
Standing, situated near the bottom was one of the guards. He had brown, auburn hair, smooth and ran down to his shoulders, tuffs of his hair hidden underneath the helmet he wore. He also donned the usual armor of Hoshido, inscribed on his right breast was the Hoshido emblem. He held a lance up, the sharp steel tip pointing up towards the sky, letting the butt and flat end of his sharp-tipped weapon lie with its rear end planted firmly on the earth. The auburn-haired man gave out a soft sigh of frustration. Really, he didn't know why he agreed to this position. There was nothing to do. He didn't realize how boring the position assigned to him could be.
He looks up towards the sky, to which the tall trees stood tall and erect, planted permanently in the earth beneath them, blocking out most of the suns harsh rays that would blind any person looking directly into them, so those wouldn't have to raise a hand as a shield of some sort over their eyes to prevent the rays from blinding them.
Still, he glances at the blue sky, with the sun peeking out from the wool clouds. He did this often, especially when he was much younger. The discontent was of his situation made him no longer focused on his position and distracted him entirely from it.
"Hey! Rudo!"
The man snaps out of his daydream, looking up and behind towards the sound and owner of the voice.
"If you're done fantasizing about the ass of your wife, then hurry up! Your job is in front of you, not in the skies."
The man, "Rudo", as he was called, looked up at the voice above, standing at top of the entrance along with a few others. The owner of the voice gave a laugh, and so did the others, joining in on the infectious commotion that spread like a wave.
His face reddened with embarrassment and humiliation. Of course, his distracted thoughts would lead him into some sort of humiliating situation. He looked to the right of him, towards the long line of people and the companions from their group, also noticing and chuckling at the sight. The guard next to him, a female soldier, (what was her name? He couldn't remember. Perhaps he would ask her later), scanned the parchment of paper quickly and then nodded, handing back the slightly crumpled piece and gestured, letting the man pass through.
Rudo looks back to the procession of people waiting to enter. The first one in his was a merchant and fisherman. Both wore crisp clothing and the latter wheeled a cart full of fish. A few still alive, flopping around aimlessly, their doll-like eyes staring into the blue and white cotton abyss of the sky and its clouds.
He takes the parchment from the duo, and like his companions at the bottom scans thoroughly at the paper. His eyes went through scrawled words and then he hands it back, allowing them to pass.
This was always the process every day for entering Hoshido. From any person living a town, not within the Hoshidian radius, or those living in such as the Mokushu nation south from the kingdom, a piece of paper must be signed with the intention of entering written on the paper. Hoshido, despite the relative peace it maintained throughout and was well known for being peaceful, still had parts of its army in the form of guards and gates keeper, maintaining and controlling the process of entering and leaving.
Rudo himself was just about twenty one when he entered the army. As a new fresh recruit and trainee of the army, he began about a week ago. And seemingly he was assigned the most boring position ever. Granted, it wasn't the most entertaining. Well, almost. The guards up top the gate didn't need to do any of the work he and a select few others were assigned. They just stood up on the gate of the kingdom, chatting and playing games,
Rudo gestures the next person in line. Maybe after he was done for this week, since it was just Friday today, in the next two days, he could ask for a more "entertaining position". In his opinion, he should not have been assigned to this position but was forced and commanded to.
Time passes by as he and the other guards continue to let the group in, thinning the line faster and faster. Rudo looks over and ahead; it seems it's almost over. Just a few more to let in and they were done for the day. He glances up behind at the guard who embarrassed him earlier-a name also unknown to him- and a moment of realization hits; while the guards to the bottom assigned to control the entering and exiting, the guards at top were assigned to prevent any person to enter in for the rest of the day. A devilish grin that couldn't help but form on his face as he thinks. Maybe he could get that guard back in some way. Oh, he'll pay for embarrassing him! Payback and sweet revenge for that moment of chagrin! He'll have a taste of karma! But for now, he'll just finish his work.
He takes the next piece of paper from a merchant and his wife. Scans it, and then returns it, nodding his confirmation and assent of entering. The couple leaves into the kingdom, a verb that did not fit within the context of the noun.
"Sorry. Excuse me!"
Rudo perks up. Did he just hear something? He swore he could've heard something. He wasn't a damn Kitsune, with from their tribes having enhanced senses; he read a book on them and thinks the enhanced senses formed entirely on their strange features, but he was still human; so was everyone else here, and humans still had their impressive five senses as many.. He asks the female guard near him. "Did you hear that?"
She shakes her head. "Hear what? Besides the laughter and talking from those lazy bozos up there?"
Rudo frowns. Strange, he swore he could've heard something. Then he hears her backhanded comment and laughs. He couldn't help it. She too realized the whole boredom of the position and how the guards were up on the gate were nothing but a lazy bunch. Her lips turn upward into a grin and she could barely hold back her own laughter.
"Move! Please! This is an emergency! I know that you're trying to enter right now! What I have is an emergency of importance, directed to the King itself, so please move aside! I'm sorry, but this takes priority and it's only for a short while. I must get to the front!" There was shouting now. Both by the single shout and now by the remaining crowd of people that did not enter the kingdom yet.
Rudo frowns. Did he just hear his name? The female guard frowns too. She heard the noise clearly now. Amongst the commotion, was there a fight? No. That couldn't be. The process-while long and otherwise boring task for the guards-clearly was successful and there was rarely any problem. Most of the process of entering and exiting was relatively in peace and no problems at all.
There were a few grunts, and the sound of shoving and pushing, and the cries of "Hey!", until a man pops out of the front, cutting his way through the crowd and into the front. The man, clothed entirely and encased in armor like Rudo and the rest of the guards. A sword was strapped to his back-steel-and it pointed southeast to the floor as the man bent over and breathed to regain his breath.
The man panted, looking up at Rudo and the female, gasping out words. "Thank the Dawn Dragon! For its sake, you would think people would move and how something is more important and of "importance" when you tell them so, but instead, they complain and don't move!"
Rudo stares at the man, slightly befuddled. "Lelas?"
The female also stared, her face the same mask of confusion as Rudo.
"Lelas" gave a small grin, his breathing pressed ragged and returning to normal, chest no longer heaving. "Hello, Rudo."
Rudo blinks, staring at the tired man standing before him. He knew Lelas. Lelas was a recruit like him. A new soldier ripely picked but unlike Rudo, he started about three weeks ago, his was just about his position-as Lelas told him-was a guard here first and then into the army itself. His personality was that of one of a solider-one he got to knew later by affiliating himself with him-loyal, determined, and always obeying commands of his superiors. A book by the rules kind of person. A person that did what was required of them first and not as carefree or laid back, taking a job asked or required of them as serious. There were other soldiers in the army who were exactly like Lelas but Rudo knew Lelas first when he conscripted and no one else. He would put Lelas first in that list of those types of people. Never the one to bend or twist rules of the sort.
He focuses back on him. Why was Lelas so tired? Did pushing all the crowd of people tire him out? He nearly giggles at the thought of the humorous notion. "What are you doing here?" Shaking his head to rid himself of the confusion, his voice becomes more clear. "You're not supposed to be here." Lelas would be in trouble if he was here. He looks up behind him to see if any on top has noticed. None so far, it seems. They were chatting and playing.
The female guard nods, her confusion drifting off. Rudo almost nearly forgot she was next to him. "He's right. What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here. Why did you return?"
Lelas pauses in a breath, his heart skipped a beat, then he looks up at the pair, his expression losing the smile formed earlier, and in replacement, became a grave expression of no ounce of positive. He says nothing; it would be unnecessary, and take out a piece of paper the folds of the sleeves of his armor. He holds it up to the two of them, and the intention is clear as the skies.
Rudo stares at the piece of paper; it was rolled up in a shape of a scroll, the tips folded into a crease. "What this?" A grin forms. "Are you trying to enter the kingdom with a signed paper? Like all the people you cut in line?" He laughs. "What joke is this? You're in Hoshido and it's kingdom and you're trying to enter? Worse yet, you cut all these people! You know you're gonna go to the back of the line for that!"
The female guard smiles in the joking humor. Lelas doesn't however. He doesn't join in on the teasing they gave him. He shakes his head, holding out the paper, the same grave expression he gave them intensified.
Rudo still kept the smile. Lelas didn't know a joke. He needs to lighten up a bit. No. A lot. That guy needs to know how to take a joke. Humor was a foreign concept to that man, like a person visiting Hoshido for the first time; their entire lives being spent outside the country. Maybe he should sign up with that guard on the gate up there who embarrassed him. Or better yet, spend time with someone who knows a thing or two about getting people to take a joke and laugh.
Lelas just stares, no ounce or sign of humor on his face; it tightens in urgency, as he holds out the paper to them, hissing loudly. "I'm serious! This is no laughing matter!" He looks around at the crowd, then lowers his voice to a whisper, as if he didn't want those around to hear, as if he wanted to keep. "This is directed to King Sumeragi. It contains of utmost important, signed-"
"Hey, Rudo! Talia! What the hell are you two standing around for?"
Rudo and the female-Talia-turned around to see the same guard that made fun and laughed at Rudo's embarrassing moment earlier. It appeared that he from being at the top of the gate he did not notice the commotion from the bottom; he walks up to the two, and that's when he notices the new and unexpected person in their group for the first time, his attention quickly switching to the third companion in the no longer pair. "Lelas?"
The three turn to look at the approaching guard, and he stares at Lelas, a look combining confusion and question. "What're the hell you doing here? Shouldn't you be out into with Commander Radcliffe in near the border?"
Lelas nodded at the guard's question. Commander Radcliffe was the commander of the Hoshidian Royal Army under King's orders. And Lelas himself very much knew the order given. "I was, Hiroto, until I was ordered by per commander's orders to return."
"What for?" The question Hiroto asked stood out amongst the chatter of the awaiting people and both Rudo and Talia were also interested. Why was Lelas ordered to and by to return? The question stood out in their minds as they thought what could he possibly be sent back for? Their knowledge of the commander was little but they knew that Lelas was one of the few chosen and sent out along with a few couple hundreds of troops into near the border. Rudo himself couldn't help but be a bit jealous that Lelas got a more entertaining job. Better than standing here and daydreaming.
Rudo spoke first again, the humorous grin still planted on his face, not losing a bit of the humor. "He got sent back probably to enter the kingdom like all the people out here as a joke. Look! He even has a signed paper like them."
Lelas glares, snapping. "I just told you! This is no laughing matter!" He shakes his head. He already wasted enough time chatting with that joking fool. He begins to walk away from Rudo and Talia, giving them a glare as he begins to enter inside "Forget it. I don't need your damn permission to get in. This is directed towards the king and I'm-"
Hiroto raises a hand and steps in front of the man pausing the man. "Hold on, Lelas. Hold on! What did you say? That-" He gestured to the parchment in hand. "Is it for the king?"
"Yes. I was ordered to come back by Commander Radcliffe to give this to the king. It contains vital information to him."
"Hand it here."
Ruso glances at Hiroto and the letter, back and forth, whispering to Talia. "Bet you ten coins it's a signed paper to enter in and a joke." He hopes it was. All to get back at Hiroto.
She looks at the exchange in tandem. "Bet taken. You pay if Hiroto doesn't laugh."
Hiroto takes it, ignoring the two, and unrolled the sides that were turned to be in the form of a scroll. It was sideways; he turns it face up and his eyes scan from the top to bottom, slowly reading the letter, murmuring the paper's content. He reads until his eyes widen, his skin pales, as if he has seen a ghost. What felt like minutes felt like hours as Hiroto stares at a point in the piece, eyes fixated on the part. Finally, he looks up at Lelas and spoke, glowering, "This ain't some twisted fucked up joke now, is it? If it is, I expected better than this." He holds out the paper back to Lelas.
Lelas shook his head, taking back the offered object. "It is not. This is no joke. That is why I was exactly sent back by Commander Radcliffe."
Rudo and Talia look at the two. The former asks, "So it's not a signed document to enter the kingdom? You said it was for the king?"
Lelas barely holds the urge back to roll his eyes. Instead, he gives a dry, pointed look at him. "I said that two times ago, and you didn't hear?"
Rudo's mouth twitched up to a smirk and a retort was forming on his lips, begging for release, until Hiroto stepped in. "Enough. Lelas. Go deliver that to King Sumeragi. It's urgent, right? So go."
He nods, "Oh right." He begins to walk off into the kingdom a couple steps, then turns around to face the three, nodding. "I'll see you later then."
The three watches the departing soldier, then Talia turns to Hiroto. He was the one who saw the paper's contents after all. "So what was that about? Was that actually directed to King Sumeragi?"
Hiroto glances at the dot in the distance into the kingdom disappears entirely like a star in the sky in a constellation. "It was." A silence passes between them before they notice the loud chatter of the crowd demanding to be in, their presence entirely forgotten and discarded for another task until now, now that the replacing task was done.
Hiroto looks at the crowd, "Well then, back to work. Both of you. Finish here and you're done for the day."
Rudo looks to the convulsing figures as well, like a water droplet that combined formed an even larger one. "What made you boss? And speaking of, aren't you gonna tell us what that was?"
Hiroto smirks, giving him a side-glance. "Wife's ass."
Rudo glowered, sputtering indignantly. That damn... "You-t-that isn't even related to what I just asked, you moron!"
Hiroto winked at him, waving a hand, and walked off into the kingdom and then into back into a doorway interior from the side of the gate that led to the top. It was the main way to get into the top.
"Dumb bastard..."
Rudo hears a small giggle; his eyes snap to Talia, and she looks barely holds back her laughter. "Oh, are you thinking this is funny as well?" Damn traitor...
She shrugs, "Well, maybe you should have come up with something better instead of coming up with something short." She looks to the conglomerate of a crowd, then realized something. "Oh, and before I nearly forget, you owe me ten coins for that bet. Pay up after we're done here."
Rudo rolls his eyes, groaning slightly. Got betrayed, embarrassed, and given a boring position...
Yep. He hated his job.
Into the kingdom of Hoshido, past the overbearing, protective, tall gates, there were many buildings. Adjacent to each other and their colors consisting nothing more than a blank paper of white. Opposite and stood in contrast to a void of nothingness, the darkness of black. These were what all had in common.
However, there was one that stood above the rest. Both figuratively and literally, if someone were to witness it. It stood tall and erect and large, planted firmly underneath the earth beneath. From those on the bottom, they could see a small balcony nearing the top of the tall building that whoever stood on it, they could see everything in the vicinity of the kingdom and then some more. Added to it was a set of stairs that led to the entrance and the top of the bottom. Like all the rest, there was, of course, people chatting and walking towards and away from the building.
From a birds eye view it seemed that there was nothing particularly of interest to look at. A large number of people walking to a destination which they desired, being unknown. The hustle and bustle, the tramp tramp tramp of their footsteps and shoes completely out of rhythm and order, meeting the pavement ground, added with the chatter of the people was infected well among the area.
None of this proved to be of interest. It was well just like any other part of Hoshido.
But if one were to think that was of main focus, then they couldn't be even more wrong. The main focus was entirely on the large building, yes, but also figures, people, that could be seen near and from it. There was four. a closer view showed the four conversing of something. What wouldn't anybody expect how small the figures were, compared.
They were children.
The four seemed to be conversing about something. A faint cry of something from one of the four, and then suddenly, the other three dashed off in opposite directions, away from each other and the cry of the single figure. The single figure-a boy-left alone was hunched over. Waiting for about fifth or so seconds, before springing up with a shout of words. He glances around him, seemingly thinking. A moment before fixates his sight and mind made up on one single direction, then runs towards the direction.
Running south from the single figure, one of the three sprints and dashed across, a flow of her hair-a girl-tresses of silver white and reaching down to her shoulders. She skids to a halt, a slight pain explodes in small scratches as her feet makes contact and scrapes across the concrete earthy ground; she was barefoot. The pain was negligible and barely noticeable as her concentration was focused on one thing: trying to get away and hide from the single figure her and the two others left. If someone were to ask why she didn't wear shoes to prevent the pain of scraping her feet, she would say she felt more free of the restriction shoes provide, being barefoot for some inexplicable and unknown reason, gave her more freedom that footwear could not. It was her choice anyway. Her twin brother could attest to that, and for he felt the same way, for he wore no shoes either
Looking at her surroundings and taking a breath, scanning the area while she pants slightly. She looks at foliage of trees, standing and crisscrossing to and from each other in multiple imaginable directions, that's where she could hide. He would never find her in the group of trees, the fields of grass and earth, not if she goes deep into it as far as possible.
Her feet crunches the grass below and she walks, stepping in between deep until there's barely any trees noticeable. And a clear body of a blue. A lake. It glimmers, the lake was shining in its surface. It was beautiful, and she couldn't help but approach closer to it. She was always attracted to things she seen before or never saw before.
She stares into the blue clear reflective shimmering surface, and her own image stared back at her. Her eyes were a clear ruby, filled with childish wonder and youth. Her skin was a pale milky white. Her lips was a straight small line of wonder and the same youth her eyes reflected, pink.
As she stares into the shimmering lake and beyond it, behind her and a couple of feet away, there was a figure standing. She did not notice the figure slowly begin to creep up on her...
The single figure stands at an intersection of roads two roads that split down from the single path he took He wonders if the other three followed each other on a single road or they split up, or perhaps only one of them took the path. All options would prove hard for him to attempt to find them, though them being split would be slightly easier since there would be less places for them to try to find where they were hiding.
He glances at a crisscross of trees in the middle. Maybe in there? No. Couldn't be. Not any of them would hide in there. Why would they? A moment of indecision left him standing in place, before he finally decided to turn his gaze back to the road... until he looks back into the trees.
Should he go into the road where any one of the three hiding into the alleyway, or should he risk by going into the trees and find possibly no one there. Nobody is obviously going to hide in the row of trees so why bother wasting his time on it?
In his head, thoughts of which path to choose clashes until he finally caves in. One victor of the two decided.
He sighed softly. He hoped he didn't regret this.
Looking at the crossing trees, he enters them and into the beyond.
It didn't take long for the figure to find one of them.
Really, it wasn't a difficult task at all. She was just standing there, looking into the lake. She didn't find a hiding spot, since she was so out in the open where if anybody else was here, they could easily find her. Wasn't she supposed to find a spot to hide? Oh well, her fault and she'll be the next one to find them. A grin grew on his face, full of mischief, as he drew closer and closer. She still didn't notice. This will be the best scare he ever pulled!
She finally turned around but it was too late. "Boo!"
She didn't know when but she lost interest in what she was doing earlier with the other three. It quickly became boring. Her interest turned to looking at the shimmering lake. She didn't notice there was something behind her until she saw the reflection of it in the gleaming water.
She turns around quickly but it was too late. The something-person-behind her goes up to her, shouting, "Boo!"
Her reaction was instant. She jumps back, shrieking, and into the lake, drenching her and her clothes in the lake and splashing water everywhere. The lake wasn't deep, but she was a child, and children weren't known for being tall and were rather small. She, was no different. Her small stature left most of her drenched in the lake water.
The water from the lake rippled as she jumped in and the sound of water splashing was only brief for a second as she then heard loud laughter. She looked up to see the figure laughing-the one where she and the two others left.
For a moment, she just sat in the lake, stunned and shocked. How did he find her? She only took a few seconds to process how, then an angry scowl formed on her face.
"Kamui!"
"Kamui" laughs. He obviously found scaring her and the whole situation amusing. "Found you, Corrin!" A grin, full of smugness, set on his face, his arms crossed.
"Corrin" glared. It was of course her twin brother who was behind her and scared her. There was nobody else around this area, and he was smiling. He didn't deny being the perpetrator either; he obviously knew she knew it was him, and there was no reason to being so.
Kamui's features were the same as Corrin. Nobody could deny the fact they were twins. After all, twins had the same or extremely similar features, be it two brothers or sisters, or even one brother and one sister. Kamui and Corrin were no exception from this. Both had piercing ruby eyes and silver-white hair. Except Kamui's hair was shorter; it was down to the nape of his neck, and was messier. Like Corrin, he was also barefoot.
However, similarities between the two didn't end there. The two also had a unique, same feature that a person could discern the two from many different other people. It wasn't just them being twins. Their clothes were also something of being the same. A white shirt over black.
No, it was much more than that. It was their ears.
Unlike other people, both had a unique feature of their ears being triangular shaped and pointed ears. It was strange, they realized that soon, that no one else had their unique ears and neither did their mother or their father.
It was indeed something unique.
"You scared me, you jerk!" Stating the obvious.
"I found you. And besides," He shrugs, not offended in a single bit by the insult. "You weren't really hiding if it's out in the open. So it's your fault for not hiding well at all. You suck at hiding!"
It was true. Corrin realized that. However, she wasn't going to give up easily on the argument."You cheated! You found me by looking!"
"What?! No!"
"Yes you did!" Corrin thought of the only single possibility where and how Kamui could've found her. Maybe her spot wasn't the best but she knew there was only one way he could have found where exactly she went regardless of the spot being good at hiding or not. You peeked while me, Hinoka, and Takumi were hiding!"
"No, I didn't. It's that you suck at hiding!"
Now it was her turn to deny. "No!"
"Yes! This is a dumb spot to hide!" He looked around dramatically as if to prove his point.
"You cheated even if it was bad!"
"Excuse! And I didn't cheat! You can't prove it!"
Corrin was about to retort, as she unconsciously moved out of the lake and onto the flat grassland. A large wind blew over them, ruffling their hair and Corrin shivered slightly as it blew through her still dripping wet body; a chill running over and out.
"Hey! Corrin! Kamui!"
The twins turn to the sound of the voice and saw the two others that were hiding- Hinoka and Takumi running towards them.
As the two reach the twins, they turn to Corrin and were surprised at the sight of a dripping wet Corrin. Hinoka was the one to speak first. "Corrin? What happened to you? You're soaking wet!"
Corrin whined, "Big sis Hinoka, Kamui scared me and made me jump into the lake. It's why I'm wet!"
Hinoka has been her's, Kamui's, Takumi's, and their younger sister's older sister since they were little, and the second oldest behind Ryoma. Corrin remembers Hinoka when she was barely a toddler as their age right this currently, hugging and cuddling with them. Her hair matched her eyes. Red eyes were a perfect match to her hair, which was short like Kamui. Even her outfit consisted of a short red dress, which fit well combining it all. Even with the red shoes.
Hinoka turned to Kamui and scolded her younger brother, glaring, "Kamui, that's not a nice thing to do! Why would you do that?!"
An uncaring and almost guiltless expression forms on the boy's face. "Corrin wasn't hiding!" He shakes his head, correcting himself. "I mean, she was! But this is a bad spot, and besides, I couldn't help it! She's too easy to scare!" He looks to Takumi. "She's easy to scare, right Takumi?"
Takumi was the second youngest and his hair was a grey silver compared to Kamui's and Corrin's white. His hair was long and done in a short ponytail that reached his shoulders.
Takumi smirks, looking at Corrin with glee, also matching his tone. "Yep. She's easy to scare."
"See? Takumi agrees!"
Corrin looked livid. But Hinoka skewered Takumi then with her glare, silencing any further words from him. The boy looked away from her glare, before refocusing her attention at Kamui. "Kamui! Apologize to your sister this instant!"
"Why? It wasn't my fault she sucks at hiding!"
"You were being mean by scaring her! She got wet because of that! And that's not a nice thing to say if someone is not good at something!"
"Well, I'm not apologizing!"
Takumi and Corrin, froze in spot and sucked in their breaths, barely holding it. Did Kamui not know not to argue back?! Did he forget the rule?! That you do not argue back to your older sister?!
Hinoka's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"I'm not apologizing. It's not my fault!" He repeated.
Apparently, he did forget if he knew not to argue back.
"It is your fault. Apologize!"
"No!"
Hinoka sighed silently and she strode up to Kamui. He gave her no choice, so she was going to punish him. He wouldn't apologize to Corrin so she had no choice but to resort to this.
Somehow the realization hit him, because his eyes widened and the boy was preparing to run, but Hinoka was faster and the realization hit too late. She grabbed the boy and brought her forefinger and thumb together, pinching his right ear tightly and pulling.
Kamui cried out as his ear was sharply tugged and twisted, "Ow! Ow! Ow! Big sis! Sto-Ow!"
Hinoka kept a tight grip on her younger brother's ears. "Apologize."
"No-Ow! Stop! Please!"
"Apologize!"
"Why?" Pain blossomed from his ear again. "Ow!"
"Apologize to Corrin!"
"Ow! Ow! Alright! I'm sorry!" Kamui only said it, if to get away from Hinoka's form of punishment.
Hinoka only loosened her grip slightly, "To who?"
Kamui turns to Corrin, a look of begrudging on his face. "Fine. Sorry, Corrin."
Hinoka's lips twisted upward. "For?"
"What?! I already apologized! Why do I have to apologize for-" She tugged his ear. "Fine! I'm sorry for scaring you into the water." Kamui looks down at his feet as he mumbled the last part of the apology.
Corrin kept a neutral face that held indifference and unhappiness, though Kamui knew she was hiding a triumphant smile of victory underneath the placid look. A glance to his right and Takumi was looking away, acting as if he had no part in the situation and never agreed with him in the first place. Coward. Traitor. He agreed with him first and then he pretends to have no affiliation.
Hinoka releases her grip on Kamui and his ear and his hand goes up to rub his ear.
Corrin couldn't help but let a small smirk at the sight. Serves him right for scaring her.
The pain in Kamui's ear recedes quickly away, and then the boy was wondering, "Big sis. Takumi. What are you doing here anyway? Weren't you two supposed to still be hiding until I found you? Why did you come out?"
Corrin also snapped out of her victory over her brother. "Yeah. Why are you here?"
Hinoka answers the two of them, "It's getting dark. Mother called us back for dinner. So I and Takumi went to go get the two of you."
"We gotta go now?" The twins turned their gazes upward to see the slightly darkening sky; an indication of the afternoon coming. Hide and Seek, it seems, would have to end for today. They knew their mother didn't want them out late or rather, want them near the castle if they were staying out.
Takumi grins, "Who's gonna be 'it' tomorrow?"
Kamui answers before any of his sisters, "That's easy! It's Corrin who's 'it'! I found her!"
Corrin's head snaps to her twin. "What?! No!"
"Yes! I found you!"
"By cheating! That does not mean I'm 'it'!"
"I didn't cheat! And it does mean you're 'it'"
"Yes you did cheat! And I'm not 'it'!"
"Stop! Both of you!"
The two flinch at the sudden shout from Hinoka that stopped another of their arguing, and they look at her, "Yes, Big Sis?"
Hinoka sighs, though a grin was on her face. "How about this? Forget Hide and Seek. Let's play tag. I'm 'it'."
"Big Sis, you said we have to go back now. We don't have time today. We can play tag tomorrow." Takumi was curious, then his face morphs into one of horror. "Wait..."
Hinoka's smile turned devious and sinister as she looks at her younger siblings. "I chase you home."
Takumi looks at his two older siblings, and their face mirrored his. They had lived through the experience, had a taste of its horrors. It was one of their worst nightmares, and they didn't know why Hinoka did what she did. She enjoyed it. It was something that she had done many times when they were younger...
And now, it seems that Hinoka was going to do it now.
Takumi felt his stomach drop, and became void filled with emptiness. It wasn't because he was hungry. No. That had long since been replaced when Hinoka announced what she was going to do. There was no point in begging or pleading. Hinoka did what she want and none of them could stop her.
So with that in his mind, panic settling in his head, he quickly turns to Kamui and Corrin, screaming,
"Run!"
There was no plan to be made. Not with little time as this. It didn't matter anyway. The three sprint off back into the path. They shot off from their standing position, sprinting as fast as their legs could carry them, widening the gap between them and Hinoka. As they look behind them to make sure, they could see Hinoka giggling. They shrieked as Hinoka suddenly quickened her pace, closing the gap between them and forcing them to run faster to escape her.
The three sounds of shrieking and the single giggling laughter could be heard as the four ran off back into the castle, leaving the empty field and the sparkling lake behind...
Fear.
The word can be described by many. Every person knew fear. Every living being felt it. And yet it in itself was scary. Somebody could fear what the word was; an ironic, morbid emotion. Raw and visceral. Fear was a human emotion.
Fear is like a tumor. First, it starts in the brain. Then, it spreads around all over, like a blanket. For a person, it activates a "flight or fight" response. A person could choose to to respond by this, by going against or fleeing from it. Thus, the "flight or fight" response.
However, It was ingrained into every single living being's brain. From the moment they were born to the day of death. From young to old. It was inevitable and unavoidable. Fear dominated every other emotion, replacing them or working alongside them, such as anger. It's formation did also not just start in the brain but also in the pit of a stomach. It bubbles deep in the stomach, borne in. It can be seen in the eyes of the person, exposing what they feared over. A feeling of dread washes over said person. Their stomach feels empty. Fear can be caused by a multitude of reasons. It wasn't just unavoidable, it was everywhere as it was caused by anything and everything.
For Queen Mikoto, she was feeling some of that fear now. She was feeling fear for her children; her children, they had not come back yet and it was getting dark. She looks warily up to the darkening sky then down at some figures at the bottom of the stairs; guards standing by.
It hasn't spread, at least not yet. But it would soon be.
She watches as people move up and down the long set of stairs. Her eyes scan each person coming up the set of stairs, hoping to find her children among the procession. None. Her heart skipped a beat slightly and she feels that very fear spreading. She assures herself that they were coming but a small part of her tells her that they might not.
Mikoto couldn't help but feel this fear every time her children came out to play and not see them here right now when it was dark. While the fear was small, it became larger, growing and slowly morphing. She knew she shouldn't feel this way, yet she does. Even if it was small. She didn't also know when did she start feeling this.
But this wasn't fear; or rather, it was but it wasn't just only fear. It was also worry. Worry for her children.
Worry bred fear, and fear spread throughout. What becomes left of the person after fear after it consumes everything, after it ate away at a being's head? It's appetite not craved and still wanting more, so it moves into the pit of the being's stomach and devours it's way. What happens when fear simultaneously consumes a person's stomach and head and eyes.
Worry and fear were a deadly combination and it gnaws in her head. Mikoto tries to hide it behind a veneer of a professional aristocratic, yet full of kindness and happiness. She greets every person walking up and into the castle with the face and words. Yet as those people walking up and greet her back, they could not see Mikoto's fear. Her weakness.
For Mikoto was a Queen. A Queen over her people of Hoshido and she did not show weakness. Or rather, they chose not to. They didn't want to see their Queen anything but.
That is why Queen Mikoto was standing currently outside the castle. She was waiting for her children, a continuous process of scanning each person walking in.
Perhaps she is worrying for nothing. Perhaps her small fear was misplaced. Maybe all four were inside earlier. They might have came back earlier. But she rebukes that statement, for if they were earlier inside then they would have came to dinner. They would have came out to find and inform her. She knows Ryoma is inside. Her eldest son was busy working with his father. But her four other children weren't. And it scares her.
Until she hears voices; shouting.
She blinks away her confusion. She sworn she could've heard it.
It grows louder and louder. Could it be? Mikoto steps down halfway on the column of stairs and looks into the distance.
She saw them.
The four of them. No. Rather, three of them were running from the fourth. She could hear the giggling and laughter from the three in the front as they tried to escape the fourth. The three only managed to reach the bottom of the stairs until the fourth tackles all three to the ground.
Relief washes over her heart. Like a wave, it splashed over the small of worry and fear. It seemed that her fear and worry were misplaced. She had nothing to worry and fear over; her children were her.
Mikoto watches as the four animatedly, or rather, the three, try to squirm away from the fourth's grasp. They were still giggling and laughing, too busy in their predicament to notice her. That is, until the four look up.
"Mother!" Four simultaneous cries and then in an instant the four were upon her.
Mikoto's smile turned joyous and she held her arms out, and bending down to their level. Kamui and Corrin barreled into her first, then Takumi. Hinoka came more reserved and less forceful, yet the hug was tight and loving all the same.
"My sweet children..." She murmurs, holding the four in her arms. They were here; they were safe. Mikoto looks the four over than gasps.
"Corrin sweetie, what happened? You're wet!"
Although Corrin's clothes have dried somewhat, there were still darkened wet spots, to which her mother obviously took notice.
"Kamui made me wet!"
"I already said sorry!" The boy pouted, sticking his tongue out at his twin. She glared at him and stuck her own tongue out in return.
"Stop. Both of you." Mikoto scolds then. She didn't want to hear them argue again. She already heard too many times they argued. She looked at Kamui, still smiling but her. "Kamui, how did you make her wet?"
Kamui shifted and swayed, looking down at his feet. "I scared her into the water from behind when she wasn't looking." Kamui didn't know why but his mother always managed to make him feel bad, even only just a little, for what he did. He knew the question wasn't accusatory or demanding. It was simple, really. Rather, it was simply to know what and why he did it, but Mikoto managed to take that most often and make him feel guilty for it, despite her non intent of doing so.
"Why?"
"Well..." Kamui glances at his two other siblings; both Takumi and Hinoka, then back to her. "Because she's easy to scare! I couldn' help it! Me, Corrin, Takumi, and Bis Sis Hinoka were playing Hide and Seek and I was 'it' and I found her first on a grass field and she was looking at a lake. She wasn't paying attention or hiding or looking so I thought it was good to scare her! She jumped into the lake after!" The boy ends his explanation, now grinning proudly and free of guilt that burdened him slightly earlier.
"Besides, Takumi agrees!" He looks to his younger brother. "Right?"
"Yeah..." The younger brother replies uncertainty, before he pauses to think for a moment, his face broke out into a large grin that rivaled Kamui's. "Yeah! Remember that time Corrin ran out of her's and your room because she thought she saw a moth? She ran out fast."
Unlike their other siblings, Kamui and Corrin shared a room. While their mother suggested one of them to split and take another room, they insisted to stay together. It was strange and unusual, especially since all considering that they argued and bickered a lot. But even then, it wouldn't split the Twins up. Despite all the arguments and bickering and disagreements between the brother and sister, they were still extremely close each other.
Kamui nods, giggling. He remembered that time all too well. "And that time last week she screamed when saw a spider? It was dangling from the corner of the door? That was hilarious!"
Corrin's face was flushed red and she looked increasingly upset and embarrassed. "Momma! Big sis!" She whined.
Hinoka was about to scold both her brother's mean teasing over their sister, but Mikoto put a hand on her shoulder, shaking her head. Hinoka got the message; their mother would deal with the situation.
Mikoto turned to Kamui first, leaning towards him. "Kamui, that was still not nice. How would you feel if you were made fun of what you were scared of?"
Kamui thinks. Maybe their mother was right, but then again, it was too much fun to tease and make fun of Corrin! She was so easy to tease!
He looks with a expression that held both sheepishness and happiness. "I probably be upset too."
Mikoto nods, patting his head and then turns to Takumi. "Takumi, it's not nice either to join on making fun. Please do not again, if you know it's not nice."
"Okay." Though like Kamui, Takumi kept a grin on his face.
"Are you okay now, Corrin sweetie?"
Corrin glances at her two brothers, a glint in her eyes, and then back to her. "Yup! I'm fine now!"
Mikoto couldn't tell if the glint that occurred just that instant in Corrin's eye was her thinking of getting payback for her embarrassment or was it because she did forgive them. She just sighed, smiling. If Corrin was planning on getting Kamui back or even Takumi, then it was somewhat petty of her. But pettiness was part of being a child after all. She was a hypocrite if she ever criticized her children's fights and arguments. And often more than not, these fights and arguments bred enjoyment. She remembered her sister and herself many years ago as a child when they often fought. It wasn't as much as her children now compared to her.
Hinoka snapped their mother out of her reverie. "Mother, where's Sakura? Is she already at dinner?"
Suddenly, Mikoto gasped, her eyes widening. She abruptly stood up and turned to the gaping maw of the castle that held the interior. "Oh no! I completely forgot about her!"
In Mikoto's unwavering wait to see her children safe, she completely neglected one of them for the four, and that was Sakura. Before she entered the mouth of the castle, she quickly turned back to look at her four children, "Please go to dinner now. I'll come after I get Sakura", and then she was gone.
The four watches her departing into the further interior of the castle and taking a left. Kamui's stomach growled in that instant, his face reddened with his chagrin, and his siblings laughed, Corrin that moment was about to make a comment of Kamui being starved until so did theirs. They all eagerly entered the castle's mouth and took a straight directed to the kitchen table, hungry.
Corrin pauses in her step into the kitchen. Hinoka notices this. "Corrin? What's wrong?"
Corrin smiles. "Nothing. I just remembered I need to change clothes because I'm wet. I'll be back right after I change!"
Hinoka nods and Corrin begins to leave to her room. The table already filled with food-prepared by the cooks only a few minutes ago, and was still hot and fresh-and plates and both Kamui and Takumi dug in, until two figures stepped in, one tall and hulking frame and one short, though taller than any of the four siblings in the dining room currently.
"I thought I smelled food in here." The taller one looked around and smiled, running a hand through his long spiky brown hair. "But I didn't think we'd be eating supper that early."
The four stare the sight of the two making their presence known, silence until the three rounded the table-Corrin was already near the entrance and thus was the closest to them, all attention directed and food forgotten for the time being.
"Father! Ryoma!"
King Sumeragi laughed and bent down to hug his children. Beside him, Ryoma grinned, greeting his siblings-all younger, for he was the oldest.
"You're both here!" Kamui spoke up from his hug to Sumeragi, head buried in his father's chest.
Ryoma smiled. Unlike the rest of his siblings, he shared his father's hair.
"Yeah. We just finished work just now."
After hugging, the four detached themselves from their father. Sumeragi looked around the table and the plates of food.
Corrin grins at the explanation. "That means you can play with us! You're done with work! You can play with us tomorrow!"
Both Kamui and Takumi eagerly joined in, getting to the same mindset, eager grins matching eager voices. "Yeah!"
Hinoka glances at Takumi, "Umm..."
Takumi looks back at her. "What?" Then the realization hits him and the two twins. "Aww..." The three began to whine.
Ryoma grins sheepishly and could only offer an apology that matched the tone of it, contrasting the eagerness of the three that was earlier set on their faces and replaced with unhappiness. "Sorry. I have work."
"It's not fair! You're always busy! You always have work! Why can't you play with us once!"
Ryoma could only look at them with the same look. He did want to play with them; he really did. But being the oldest required work. Their father needed him for the work he had to do.
Ryoma remembered when he stopped playing with his siblings. He remembers seeing the sad, disappointed, and bewildered looks on their faces as he told them he couldn't play with them any longer; that he had work to do. Kamui asked him if he could play after work. He remembers replying that most of the work he was doing took the entire day, if not nearly the entire day. Corrin asked if he would have any time to play with them. Ryoma hates disappointing and making them sad, but he couldn't lie either so he told them he couldn't. Takumi asks why couldn't he just ignore the work until later. Ryoma answered that he couldn't and that work took priority first. Kamui and Corrin suggested that they could help their brother with the work so they would be done more quickly, then realized that they didn't know any part of the subject about it so the topic of helping was entirely thrown out.
None of the three understood the importance, however. Hinoka did. It was probably being the second oldest in the family. But not their younger siblings, who still didn't understand the very importance of work.
Sumeragi looked around the table that was filled with food. From where Takumi sat, there was a bowl filled with miso soup. Takumi loved miso soup. There were also various other bowls and plates filled with food. A steaming bowl of soup with fish balls was near Kamui's seat and three pieces on his plate.
He realized that there was one person missing. Two, in fact. "Where is your mother and Sakura?"
"Mother went to go get her." Hinoka answered him as she went around the table to her seat.
Ryoma stared at Corrin and noticed something from his own view, "Corrin, why are you wet?"
Corrin didn't need to go into an explanation. She just simply pointed at Kamui, and Ryoma got the message clear from the simple gesture and he nodded. Kamui didn't deny being responsible; the grin on his face further proved that he was the one responsible. Kamui was usually the one, from what he was told, being responsible in some shape or form in Corrin being teased or pranked. Takumi only joined in at times and thus wasn't the perpetrator and Hinoka would never tease Corrin, outside of chasing her sometimes when they played Tag and she was "it" (though she chased her like she would with Kamui and Takumi). Otherwise, that was it. Hinoka rarely teased her.
If a person were to ask Ryoma for his opinion, he would scold Kamui for being mean, but if the prank in question was nothing more than teasing, then Ryoma would let it play out. As long as both sides weren't harmed or hurt in the situation, and if both sides were just nothing more than having fun.
Though the situation from Corrin getting wet seemed not to be the case, he was sure Hinoka and their mother already scolded Kamui on the matter.
Sumeragi smiled at Kamui, not at all accusing and just wondering. "Kamui, why would you do that to your sister? Why did you make her wet?"
A cheeky grin was on Kamui's face, growing wide. "I couldn't help it! Corrin's too easy to scare!"
A retort began forming on Corrin's lips but Sumeragi cut the argument short. "Kamui, you know that is not a nice thing to do to your sister."
Corrin scoffed, her own thoughts of her twin swirling in her head and voicing them loudly. "Kamui's just a mean bully!"
"Am not! You just get angry easily!"
"You are too... Wait..." Corrin paused. "Did you say I get angry easily?!"
"Yeah, you stupid!"
Silence rang out. Corrin and the others stared, shock taking their features. Kamui just smirked triumphantly at the look on his twin's face as won the argument, she couldn't formulate a response.
Ryoma responded first, unhappy with Kamui's insult and shaking his head. "Kamui..."
Sumeragi was less than amused by his son's insult. "Kamui."
Then his eyes widened in fear and realization as Hinoka bounded up to him and leaned over so that the two were face to face.
"Kamui..." Kamui could barely lift his eyes up to her smiling face. A face that held so many untold horrors, waiting to punish.
He tried to not whimper. By the voice that rang out his mouth sounded like he was. "Yes?" The voice sounded like a croak and his throat was dry, feeling like sandpaper.
Maybe he should've kept his mouth shut.
"What did you call your sister?"
"N-nothing!"
Her smile grew wider, "It didn't sound like nothing!" She tapped a finger on his nose. "It seemed to me that you called her 'stupid'!"
A meek look was on the boy's face, pleading. "I'm sorry?" He tries.
An unspoken rule among the household of their home was no "curse" words. That rule extended to insults. Made and put into effect by their mother. Yet Kamui seemed to have forgotten that rule.
Hinoka leaned over to Kamui and mumbled in his ear, "I don't believe you are sorry."
"Um..." The boy wildly looked around for an escape. Panic gripped his being. Then he saw it. The escape. "Mama!"
Queen Mikoto stood at the entrance of the dining room, cradling and carry a small bundle in her arms: Sakura. Just only a few months old, the baby was peacefully sleeping and blissfully unaware. From her bald head was a few small patches of pink hair.
Kamui rushed away and over to his mother; Corrin tailing him and the rest of the family followed afterward. The entire family was together.
"Mother, what took you so long?" Hinoka looked up at her, and then her siblings were wondering the same.
Mikoto smiled, "I apologize. I got caught up with talking to a few people and lost track of the time." She smiled at her husband and kissed his cheek. "I didn't know you and Ryoma finished the meeting so early with the council, dear."
Sumeragi returned the kiss passionately to his wife, and Ryoma smiled proudly. "Father and I just came a while back before you came in, mother."
"That means we can eat together!" Takumi said, and then his siblings realized the fact too, regardless if they knew because Takumi stated it, for they were smiling too.
For the family, they were happy because it was times and moments like this, no matter how trivial or seemingly little it was, even just having dinner, that the whole family would be together.
Unfortunately, such moments like these were never meant to last forever.
"Lord Sumeragi! Sir!"
The family turned around to the voice of the owner. It was a soldier, a man dressed in armor. He walked towards them at a brisk pace, his strides large and quick. An incredibly flustered, look on his face. As he reached them, he swiftly bowed.
"Sir!" He repeats.
He keeps his bowed position until Sumeragi waves a hand and the man stands up at the signal. "Umm... Soldier..."
The man stares, confusion flittering on his face before it changes to a neutral expression. "Lelas, at your service, sir."
The soldier, Lelas, looks at the family and then the dining past them, the smell of food permeating the air. "Forgive me, sir... I didn't realize you were having dinner with your family. If you would like, I could wait until you are finished..."
Sumeragi brushes the comment off and studies the soldier before him. He studies the man's face, his cheekbones high and face taut, and for a brief moment in the professional placid look, he can see a look of urgency. It was important. It could not be held off. It should not.
"No. It can wait. You seem to have some message of importance right now, Lelas."
Lelas nods, and from the pocket and stuffed into the armor, he takes out a folded parchment and holds it out for the king. "From Commander Radcliffe."
Sumeragi takes the paper and slowly reads through it, his eyes widened at a particular certain point on the piece of paper and then he looks up at the soldier, Lelas. "Commander Radcliffe sent you back?"
Lelas confirms it, nodding. "Yes, sir."
"What is it, father?"
Sumeragi looks down at his oldest son, his expression curious, and then to his wife. "We have to discuss this someplace else. We should go. Ryoma, come."
"Whaaat?!"
Sumeragi looked at Kamui, Corrin, and Takumi. The three had a unhappy look on their faces. He looks at Hinoka who was behind them, and even she looked unhappy too at what was said, though she also had a look of understanding too from her expression compared to her younger siblings. "You have to go do work again?"
Sumeragi winced. He wishes he didn't. If it was any other time that the paper was given to him, such as earlier in the day when he and Ryoma were working, or even morning; he gladly would discuss it. But he had a duty to his kingdom first and foremost; the topic written on the paper given to him spoke of the importance of it. This would need to be handled now, regardless of how he felt.
He smiles and tries to make them understand, yet he knew they won't be. "It's work. It is important."
"You always say that! And it's dinner right now. Why can't you wait til later?!"
Sumeragi sighs, accepting the response. "I'm sorry." He smiles, ruffling Corrin's hair, who just huffed and looked away.
Kamui asks Ryoma, "D'you have to go too, big brother? Can't it wait later?"
Ryoma smiles and shakes his head apologetically, "No. Sorry, Kamui."
The boy sighs at the response. "Of course you do."
The siblings looked up at their mother, who could only give the group of four an apologetic look and the same response of "Sorry" too. Before she left, however, she said something to Hinoka.
"Hinoka, can you take Sakura?"
"Yes, mother." Hinoka reaches out and takes the youngest sibling of their entire family; the baby gurgling happily and reaching out with her stubby arms at Hinoka, cradling her. She must've woke up at some point during the time.
Hinoka smiles and tickles the baby's cheek with a finger, walking back to the table, Sakura giggling happily as she grips the finger with her tiny hands. Their other siblings watch their mother, their father, and their oldest brother depart with the soldier down the hallways, becoming nothing more than a dot.
Kamui watches them go. He didn't know what to feel. Rather, he did. He wants to go back to eat dinner. But there was another feeling he felt, a feeling that he felt that it couldn't be ignored and needed to be fulfilled.
He needed to follow them. He wanted to follow them. He wanted to hear what they were saying.
He didn't know what brought this feeling on. Perhaps he shouldn't. The sudden urge and desire completely came out of nowhere and was just a curiosity of his. It bubbles and is like a cup being filled to the brim with any liquid. He looks back to the table. Maybe he shouldn't go. He sees Takumi back on the table and then Corrin too. The feeling and desire were strong.
Not Takumi. There were most things Takumi and he did together, but not all the time. No. He had a feeling Takumi wouldn't agree to this.
Maybe Corrin then.
He glances over to her and heads to his seat next to her. Yes. Out of all the things done together, she most of the time, agreed to follow his decisions and choices. He in turn, would do the same. It was how the two functioned in what they decided and not.
Not now however, it would look suspicious if he and Corrin announced that they were going somewhere. He looks over to Hinoka. Kamui remembers when he and Corrin attempted to try something multiple times before but Hinoka caught them. Kamui admitted that he was the one who came up with it and that Corrin only had a brief and short summary of it. She didn't know much about it. The plan turned out to be when Kamui found a gigantic millipede on the side of the rectangular rim that outlined the door of their room. Corrin wasn't happy when she heard of Kamui's plan and Hinoka punished him with a painful ear pinch that he still felt it throb a bit a day later even after most of the pain had long since gone. Since then, Kamui has done the same action over and over that Hinoka would be suspicious and ask why both were leaving dinner as Kamui just took Corrin by the hand and walk out without a word. He would not do that again.
For now, he would continue to eat. After dinner, he would enact his plan.
And that's chapter 1... not. So chapter 1 would actually cover about over 30k or so words. And that's way too much for me to cover. Since I have not uploaded since September, I decided to split the chapter into two parts. This is the first one. The next one would come later.
Just as I said above in the authors note, the next chapter (or in this case, part two of chapter one) should come out much sooner. It was my lazy ass that took way too long for this to come out. So apologies. I'm sorry. And everything.
See you then. Hopefully, part 2 will come out much more quickly. Oof on that since it will be about 19k or so words. But most definitely long enough for your reading pleasure.
-TegamiBachi25