Fates: Revelations

by Tegusis

Two siblings must decide what family-what kingdom-they will stay with. Will they follow their birth family, or stay with the ones who raised them? Or, unable to stay with either, chooses neither of them. But what path they do decide to choose is filled with nothing but suffering and all isn't what it seems. A retelling of Fire Emblem Fates, following the revelations path.

3. Chapter 2 (part 2)

So it's been two months. Honestly, I have no excuse for not updating except writers block and my inability to try and continue because my motivation for this was shot to hell at times. I apologize. Consistency and me do not mix well. I think life hates me. My original intention was to upload this during Halloween. Was unable to complete this for the deadline, then I decided Thanksgiving, then that had passed and now here we are. December. Merry Christmas,Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year to you all. Here is my long overdue present for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years all rolled up into one package for you guys out there.

So back to the story: Nothing much to say, except that last part we were introduced to the Hoshidian Siblings and both Kamui and Corrin. Kamui has came up with a plan that revolves around Mikoto, Ryoma, and Sumeragi, including the soldier, Lelas.

The story will pick up from here. Are you ready?

I don't own Fire Emblem, the games, or franchise at all. I'm just merely using the characters and setting taking place and playing with them a bit to make my own.

---

"A little neglect may breed mischief"- Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack

---

Dinner that evening was uneventful and when the four finished, they all headed off towards their rooms. Hinoka asked her siblings if they wanted to do anything or play with each other before they head off towards bed. Takumi, with a grin, suggests that they could play chess, to which the other three vehemently said "no". He would win against them every single time, and it wasn't fun seeing Takumi win the game every single time in a few turns given. Fine, he said, I'll play with Yukimura. Hinoka asks one final time to Kamui and Corrin. Corrin replied that she didn't really feel like doing anything anymore (thankfully, as that would ruin his plans for himself and his sister) and Kamui agrees. Hinoka says okay, but if they need anything, they could come over to knock on the door to her room. She also takes Sakura, knowing that their Mother wouldn't be out for awhile in the meeting.

That was the time when Kamui put his plan into action. Discreetly watching both Takumi and Hinoka-the patter having Sakura in her arms-disappear down the corridor and to their rooms. This could work.

He gives a slight shake of his head. What was he doubting? Of course, it'll work.

Kamui leaps off his seat and trails besides Corrin. The two make their way back to their shared room, and Kamui glances at Corrin's clothes. Having long since dried completely, he realizes with a look, and Kamui felt no guilt on his prank hours earlier. As he said before, Corrin was just too easy to tease! It's because she got upset so easily and tattled on him that he felt a smidge of guilt.

Now, he just didn't care. Or perhaps even before dinner he didn't care? There didn't seem to be a difference either way and no effect bearing on the situation either way. He couldn't care less.

"Kamui? Kamui!"

Kamui is snapped out of his reverie by her. "What?"

"Our room is that way. Where are you going?"

Kamui looks to where his sister is pointing. Then he grins. He had been so caught up in his thoughts on his prank and his earlier plan that he didn't realize he went past the direction to their room.

"Somewhere…"

Corrin stares, a look of suspicion on her face. She obviously didn't miss where he trailed off. "Where? Are you planning to go out?" She shakes her head. "You can't. It's dark and Mom said we can't go out after dinner."

"I'm not planning to go out."

"Then where are you going?"

"Just…" He thinks. "Follow me."

"What?"

"Just follow me."

"Why? Where are you going?"

"C'mon! Just come with me." He takes a few steps.

Corrin shakes her head again. "I'm not going til you tell me where you're going. If it's out, I'm not coming."

Kamui blinks, staring. He thought Corrin often agreed with him on things all the time. He wasn't on planning to go out. It was merely just following his mother, father, Ryoma, and that man named… Lelas, that he wanted to follow them and see what they were going and plan on doing. Even if he did plan on going out, he thought that Corrin would agree on it. She didn't however, and Kamui realized why. She didn't want to get in trouble and caught up in one of his greatest schemes. She didn't want to get into trouble that she had no part in planning; just merely following.

She would agree to do things with him, but only to a certain extent.

"I'll explain later if you come with me."

Corrin pauses to think, a look of concentration appeared on her face.

---

Corrin stares at her brother. What was he doing? Was he planning to go out? What was he planning to do? If he wasn't planning to go out, then where was he going?

The questions weighed in Corrin's mind. But she knew she would get no answers from her brother if she didn't come with him. On the other hand however, if he was planning one of his schemes again, then she didn't want to come with him. She all too well remembered the bug incidents many times before and would rather have not another repeat of it.

She still had to decide. Maybe Kamui was telling the truth and wasn't making a plan of any sort to go out? Even if he showed any attempt of doing, she could always just leave him.

"Fine. I'll come." She gave her answer reluctantly.

Kamui's face lights up.

"But only if you'll tell me why. And it better not be outside."

He grins, "Of course!" He grabs her hand and turns to lead her. "Let's go!"

The two dash down the corridor, rushing past artifacts and paintings attached to the shiny grandeur of walls. Pillars holding the entire castle up became a blur to them, and their feet met the soft cotton wool of the lengthy rug that was between them and the marmoreal floor.

As the two dashed down the corridor, footsteps silent, due to the rug and purely the fact they wore no shoes or footwear. The castle was silent, for no other person in the hallways besides the two. Interior of the building was lit up by lamps, situated and placed adjacent to windows and paintings.

As promised, Kamui told Corrin his plan.

"You want to see where Mama, Papa, and Big bro Ryoma are going?"

He nodded.

"How? Did you see where they went?"

Yeah."

"The entire way?"

"Yes."

Corrin stared at him.

"No." He reluctantly admits.

"Then how will you find them?"

The question hit Kamui. How was he going to find them? He had no further tracks to follow where they went. His eyes only scanned them as far as they could see into the distance until they finally disappeared.

Perhaps he could guess? It wasn't like there was any other options, besides going back to his and his sister's shared room, which he didn't want to because of the former intent to find them.

"Umm…"

Just when Corrin could berate her brother, a noise rang out, muffled almost entirely by the walls. It remained silent for a few seconds, before it rang out again. Both twins turned their eyes to a room a short distance away, sure of the sound that rang out from that room.

Corrin blinked, "Was that Mama?"

Kamui narrowed his eyes. He wasn't expecting the sudden voice of his mother. He pauses, the voice sounded again, and his lips turned up into a grin. "It's them. Let's go!"

"Hey, wait!"

Kamui continues his way down, with his sister trailing behind him. She only takes a couple of steps until, from the corner of her eye, notices something on a painting.

Normally, Corrin wouldn't have gave a thought to any of the paintings on the wall and stop to stare. It didn't really interest her, and she could always look at it in her free time. But this particular one interested her and gained her fascination. She didn't know why or how, but it did.

The picture in question and had completely caught the young girl's interest, mounted and attached to the walls, was surrounded and rimmed with gold. From the middle of the top, bottom, right, and left of the entire gold rim, was a small carving of the Dawn Dragon. Its mouth ajar, fangs jutted out. Forming from the base of the gold which had an elegant design of a sakura flower carved adjacent to it. The gold flowers were then crafted all around the gold rim, to which two from opposite sides met the small gold Dawn Dragon.

In the middle of the surrounded gold was a picture that resembled something of a bird. From the top right, it formed a line about a few inches that went slightly down to the left corner of the rim, before it circled around like a loop until it came to a stop. This was the head. A small triangle, drawn from the outer circular head of the bird. This was the "beak".

Corrin was utterly transfixed by the strange bird like symbol. She did not know what it was; what it represented, yet she couldn't help but grow an interest in it. She did not know why she had a particular interest in this painting; she just did.

Maybe she saw this painting before? She thinks, picking off any memory from earlier today, days, or even months… Last week? No… Father was there though...

Her eyes widened in realization. Yes, she remembered it. It was three weeks ago. She was playing tag with Kamui, Takumi, and Hinoka around the castle when she saw her father.

---

Corrin dashed off to a direction from Takumi as he was it and, looking behind her to see if he was chasing her, didn't notice Sumeragi standing. Feet glued to the floor as the king of Hoshido was staring seemingly at the painting; eyes fixated on a certain point. She barreled into him as she looks back to ascertain Takumi wasn't chasing her.

"Ow!" She fell on her butt to the ground while Sumeragi barely budged from the collision, only stepping back slightly as he looked down at his daughter, regaining his attention from the painting. "Corrin?"

"Papa?" She looks up from her position on the floor.

"Corrin?" He repeated. He looks up towards the direction Corrin sprinted from. "You were running down the hall?"

Corrin smiled sheepishly, "Sorry Papa! I didn't see you! Me, Kamui, Takumi, and Hinoka are playing tag!"

Sumeragi chuckles, picking his daughter up. He could totally see them doing that. He wasn't too surprised on their game being played in the castle instead of outside. They had done it multiple times before inside. "It's all right. Just look where you are going next time if you're running down the hall."

Corrin nods, glancing up to where her father. "What are you looking at, Papa?"

"Oh, it's just something. A painting."

Corrin turns her gaze to where her father was looking. It was a symbol that resembled a bird. She voiced her thoughts. "It looks like a bird."

He nods at his daughter's answer, "Indeed it does."

Corrin studies the painting with her father, trying to discern what it could possibly mean. She wasn't too worried about the game, just barely picking up the distant, fading voices of Kamui, Takumi, and Hinoka traveling farther and farther away.

After a few minutes, she caved in and decided to ask her father, looking back up at him, unable to form a meaning. "What does it mean?"

Sumeragi stares at the painting for a brief moment, then he looks down at her. "Do you want to hear a story?"

Corrin glances at the painting, then back to her father. "Does it have to do with the painting?"

"Yes it does."

Her eyes lit up in childish delight. "Tell me!"

Sumeragi chuckles at his daughter's demand. If there was anything that caught her interest, it was stories. Both her and Kamui's. "Alright, alright. Let's see…" He pauses to think before speaking. "A few years back, when before Kamui and you came, a young man bore this symbol on his forehead from a piece of cloth and metal called a headband. He came from a faraway land. The symbol, he said, represented they came from a village."

"Really? What village did he come from? What was his name?"

Sumeragi goes through his head, trying to recall the name of the village from the years back. He only remembers pitch black eyes of the man and equally as black hair. He couldn't remember any other of the defining features they had. Only their eyes. He looks down, shaking his head, conceding to the point that he couldn't remember what village they came from. "I cannot remember."

The sparkle in her eyes lowered in disappointment. "Nothing?"

Sumeragi smiles reassuringly, and tousled her hair. "If I find out, I'll tell you."

She pouts, pointing to the painting. "Not even the bird symbol?"

He shakes his head, "Unfortunately not." The man glances behind her, smiling. "Behind you, Corrin."

Corrin turned around to see Kamui smile at her before patting his hand on her, before reeling it back and sprinting off, cackling gleefully. "You're it!"

Corrin yelped, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest. She stares at the departing figure of her brother, heart bumping widely, before her eyes narrowed and she shouted back at her brother, chasing after him, barely hearing his assertion of the game's rules on "No tag backs!"

---

Papa had told her that the symbol was from a faraway village. She realized that he hadn't told her of the village, what was it called, or the man and woman who came into Hoshido once yet. Perhaps she could ask later, to find out if he discovered its identity yet…

"Corrin!"

The girl was snapped out of her thoughts as she looked towards to her side to the direction of the noise and saw herself face to face with her brother, their noses nearly touching.

Kamui scowled as she noticed. He had to get close to her and shout her name. "Finally! I was calling out for you several times and you didn't hear me."

She glances at the painting, "You did?"

The boy widely gestured angrily. "Yes!" He stares at the painting to where his sister was looking for the entire time and the object of distraction. "Why are you staring at the painting anyway? It's just a bird!"

She frowns, "I was looking because Papa told me of the story of a village that had the symbol of the bird few weeks ago."

Kamui's eyes snap up to her, "Wait! Story? What story? There's a story to the painting?" He looks up to the painting of the bird, before back down to his sister. "Tell me!"

Coffin opens her mouth to tell him of the story, then she closes it, thinking. Her lips turned up into a grin. She decided to not. This was her revenge for scaring her earlier when they were playing hide and seek! "Nope! Not gonna tell ya!"

"What? Why not?"

Corrin knew her twin brother's interest in stories matched her own. He had heard much of the same stories as much as her. However, she could use the story Papa told her as leverage against him.

Just then, a voice rang out from the walls, now becoming more clear now that the twins were closer to the room Ryoma, their mother, and their father were in. Along with the man called "Lelas". That, the two realized, was their mother.

Kamui shakes his head, the topic of the tale forgotten for now. "That was Mama! Let's go."

The two instantly made their way to the nearby room their other family members and the single soldier were occupying in, stopping just at the shut doors and waiting on each side of them.

---

"In the following day you receive this message or at your earliest convenience, King Sumeragi. On behalf of our King, he would like to propose a peace treaty that would benefit both kingdoms of Hoshido and Nohr. As he has several options to the treaty available to discuss, he proposes to discuss them at the border of both territories of our kingdoms near the Bottomless Canyon."

Below was the signed name of the King of Nohr, King Garon.

Sumeragi rubs his chin after reading the letter aloud to his other companions in the group. Beside him, Mikoto reads the letter silently once more to herself, her eyes lit with worry. Lelas stands off to the side, waiting his lord's response; his own countenance heavy with nervousness. A contemplating silence passes through the room.

Sumeragi stares at the letter, his face grim and serious. Ryoma from a chair near his father looks on with concern and confusion. He looks at his mother. "Father? Mother?" He calls out hesitantly. They didn't answer, making the boy move closer. What was going on? Ryoma wondered. Was it something to do with the Nohr treaty Father was talking about? Is it that serious?

After the moment of silence passes, Sumeragi looks up at the other occupants of the room. "Well. Any initial thoughts?"

"Sir, if I may…"

He swept a hand, "Given."

"The letter of this does not seem to be fake or contrived in any way. It seems Nohr genuinely wants this for the betterment of… both countries." Lelas ended his given answer with slight hesitation.

Mikoto looked in disbelief at her husband. The pit of her stomach felt empty, not from dinner but from the decision of the situation. "You honestly don't believe you should accept this treaty? What if it's a trap? This could possibly be a trap set up by the country. King Garon and Nohr might not express any intentions of a treaty at all if you consider this."

Sumeragi looked at his wife, "Mikoto, our country's tensions with Nohr has been mounting and doesn't seem to be vanquishing any time soon." Shaking his head, he continues. "There are no other options available. I have to accept this treaty by Nohr and King Garon. This treaty might be the difference to preserving life for both sides and end whatever conflict between both sides."

Mikoto bit her lip. It was not like she didn't want peace with Nohr. In fact, she wanted nothing more than peace with the rival kingdom. But the country of Nohr hadn't been just and fair. The most important fact is that the country was exceedingly harsh and brutal, if the rumors were anything to go by. A few years back, she recalled attacks on their towns nearing the border of Hoshidian territory. There was one, she remembered. No survivors. All inhabitants of the town were killed. Reported by soldiers ordered back. They said the bodies were of months old. A messenger had angrily proclaimed that the country of Nohr had been responsible for the attack. Others agreed and eventually and inevitably, the rumor started by the soldier and spread to the people of Hoshido, some demanding for justice. Sumeragi sent a letter to the country of Nohr; the country returned one back, denying any rumors of attacking a Hoshidian country nearing the edge of the border. While soldiers were sent and the Kitsunes in Hoshido territory agreed to help with the investigation, they returned with nothing; Hoshido was unable to provide any evidence of Nohr being responsible, and thus, the situation remained unsolved, though many within Hoshidian territory still held the belief that Nohr had been responsible for the attack and for many a burning resentment towards the rival country.

He stood up, "Lelas, inform a detachment. Tell them to prepare for the next day." He paused. "Commander Radcliffe is still out near the territory?"

Lelas inclined his head with a nod, "Yes sir."

"Then we'll rendezvous with Commander Radcliffe and head out near the border for Nohr's treaty."

Ryoma, who stayed silent for almost the entire meeting, finally spoke. He looked up, "Father?"

Sumeragi looked to his son. "Yes?"

Ryoma only glances at his mother and then Sumeragi remembered, "Ah yes…" He clears his throat. "Mikoto?"

Mikoto was staring at the letter, her eyes scanning the contents over and over until she looked up, "Yes?"

He takes a deep breath and prayed to the Dawn Dragon what he said next would not make his wife furious. She rarely did, as it took an inhuman amount to make her lose her temper. But she had her limits and Sumeragi wasn't going to test them. There was no other way to put it so he hoped the blunt and straightforward option would be the best option. "I'm also taking Ryoma with me to Commander Radcliffe's location and the treaty's location."

Silence ensued. Mikoto turns and stares at her husband and son in unveiled shock. Then she lets out a yell, "What?!"

---

Kamui scowled in displeasure, "Aww c'mon! We missed most of what they're saying!"

Through the small peephole of the door handle and through the doors and walls, the two were able to make through what was said, though Kamui was unhappy because they missed most of what was said. He brushed aside the words such as "treaty" and "Nohr", deeming them as unimportant. It seemed they missed most of the important stuff being said. Or what Kamui believed the point of the "important" parts being missed. There was only one person responsible for missing most of what was said.

He looked at his sister, "If you hadn't been staring at that dumb bird painting, then we wouldn't miss most of what they're saying!"

Corrin frowned, countering his statements with one of her own. "Didn't we already miss most of it by you not knowing where they were going and trying to find which room they're in? It's not my fault."

"We missed more by you just staring at the painting!"

Corrin was about to retort, words forming on her lips, with another statement until the two hear a yell from inside the room. "What?!"

The two blinked, having the same thought. That was Mama!

The two refocused their attention back to inside the room, unaware of what went inside it.

---

"Absolutely not!"

Sumeragi winced. Well… That went great. From the corner of his eye, he could see Ryoma's expression mirroring his. Lelas was still standing off to the side, not knowing what to make of the situation.

Mikoto glared at her husband, her expression furious. Her lips lowered into a frown and her eyes narrowed, dipping down. The raging fire in her eyes started, crackling and snapping and popping. It blossomed into a big inferno. Her beautiful face, turned into an expression of fury. Sumeragi found that this was the woman he fell in love with. He was transfixed by his wife, absolutely furious and angry.

"Do you hear me?! You are not bringing Ryoma to this treaty!"

Ryoma cut in, "But mother-"

Mikoto glared, cutting off whatever he had to say. "No." She turned to her husband, "I agreed to this treaty, but I will not agree to bringing our son there! Why do you want to bring him?"

Sumeragi took a breath, "I'm hoping that Ryoma were to succeed next in line after me, he must attend the treaty to gain knowledge of how the process works. This could teach him how to work treaties with other nations some time in the future.

Ryoma saw the time to add, "I'll be safe, Mother! I won't go far from father. I'm just going to see the treaty and that's it."

Mikoto looks at the two. Ryoma sported a look of determination. Sumeragi one of confidence, full of faith in his son. Was that it? She feels guilt well up in her for snapping at them, thinking something more of the situation than it actually meant and jumping to conclusions easily.

"I-I'm sorry. It's just that-" She holds a hand to massage her temples.

Sumeragi went over to console his wife with Ryoma beside him. "Stress? Over the entire situation?"

She nodded, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You don't trust the whole treaty and that's fine." Kissing his wife, he said, "I don't have much trust either, to be honest, but if this treaty helps prevent conflict and preserve the future of our country then it's a risk that I must be willing to take."

Mikoto nods, even though the look of uncertainty still etched on her face relayed otherwise.

"Well…" Sumeragi stood up. "Suppose we should head to dinner. We haven't eaten yet."

Lelas nods, "Well sir. I should probably go out to inform the army now."

"You do that and head back to the barracks. Get some food and rest up for the day tomorrow. Good work, Lelas."

"Yes sir." Lelas bowed to the King one last time and left to the doors, opening them and revealing the hallways.

---

Kamui gaped silently at the words being said. His thoughts were heavy with them, then anger burned in him, crying out the unfairness of the situation.

What?! Ryoma was going with their father?! Was that the whole point of their mother, father, and brother skipping dinner for? For this "treaty"?! That was completely unfair! Ryoma gets to leave to go while he and Corrin has to stay in the castle?! It was so boring! Ryoma gets to go on an adventure with their father while they had to stay in the kingdom! Why can't they come?!

Thumping footsteps coming closer from their position, adjacent to the doors. Corrin blinks and turns to her brother, hissing.

"Kamui, someone's coming out!"

Kamui was snapped out of his thoughts. What? Then he hears the footsteps. The boy's eyes scanned the area nervously around, panicking. A circular window sill that had enough space to contain them, along from the sides were curtains upon a hanger.

He quickly rushes over and into it, gesturing for Corrin to come, "Hurry!"

"Why? Can't we just-" She started but was cut off.

"Because they won't let us, so come!"

Corrin runs into the window with Kamui and the latter pulls the curtain in, covering them completely from view.

The two hold their breath just as the door opens, and through a small opening of the curtain, could see the soldier called Lelas from earlier pop out from the door.

The soldier glanced at the window and large curtains that contained them, before beginning to walk off, the sound of footsteps growing distant. The two, sure of Lelas's departure, was about to release their breaths until they hear the man's voice ring out. "Wait, this curtain wasn't closed over the window before."

The twin's eyes widen and through the small crack, could see Lelas coming back to their area. Cursing, Kamui grabbed Corrin and held her close to him, trying to make their bodies as small as possible and an attempt to hide. Which was futile, given that Lelas would pull the curtains open and discover the two either way.

Corrin could feel the heartbeat of her brother growing faster and faster. The thumping was loud against her ear and she presses herself closer to her brother. She looks up to see the utter growing terror in his face, knowing that they'll be discovered.

The footsteps stopped, close. The two brings their eyes down to see the armored boots of the soldier. They look up to see the curtain shift slightly, beginning to part. Kamui hugs his sister tighter, closing his eyes and accepting their fate. She buries her face into his chest.

There was nothing they could do. Lelas the soldier would discover them behind the curtains and bring them to their parents and brother, possibly getting scolded for not going to their rooms or hearing the conversation.

Corrin had many regrets. She remembers doing many questionable activities she would later grow to regret.

But right now, her only thoughts were why did she ever agree to come with her brother and wondering how much trouble were they going to get.

She was going to regret this.

Then, from behind the curtains, the two hear Lelas speak again, "It's evening out. Perhaps one of King Sumeragi of Queen Mikoto servants or they themselves closed the curtain, in case for the next morning." The two could see the man shakes his head. "I should stop wasting my time with such small, trivial things. King Sumeragi's order was for me to inform the detachment and I should do that." A slight pause. "Not to mention the whole treaty with Nohr and the rendezvous location with Commander Lelas."

The twins held their breaths again. They couldn't believe their eyes. From inside, they look down to see Lelas step away from the curtains. Pulling the curtains apart slightly, they see the man walk off down the hall.

When they were sure, the two finally let their breaths that long awaited to come out.

"Geez! That was close!" Kamui panted out. "We almost got caught!"

Corrin didn't believe it either. She was too busy trying to calm her beating heart down to even formulate a response. They had barely escaped getting caught! How?! But then another thought came into realization, one that filled excitement and happiness within:

They successfully got away with something. For the first time ever. They had never gotten away with anything before. All the plans they had made in the past been revealed and found out by their parents or older siblings. Rarely did their plans ever succeed. There were a couple of times, but not once did it ever succeed.

However, this time they did. They had successfully pulled off a maneuver that succeeded. And in this case, it was hiding.

She had to inform Kamui of this!

"Kamui!"

"Huh?" He looks up.

"We got away with something!"

He blinks, "Got away? Got away with what?"

"Duh! With hiding!"

Kamui stares at his sister, thinking of what his sister could possibly be talking about, then his grin grows wider. "Ohh!"

"Yeah!"

"We succeeded!" He repeats, as if to confirm even though it's already been or as if to savor their victory.

Corrin lunges forward and hugs her brother tightly. They did it! They succeeded!

Kamui laughs, hugging her back.

The two siblings celebrate, basking in the victory of their childish plans and schemes. Corrin wraps her arms around her brother's waist. Kamui wraps his own around her back.

"We did it." Corrin mumbled into her brother's chest.

"Yep." Kamui looks out the window, watching the moon and the indigo lit sky and twinkling stars shimmering.

Turning then back to his sister, his eyes widen slightly at their position, "Umm... Corrin?"

She looks up, blinking. "Yes?"

"Uhh…" The boy, with trepidation, turns his gaze downward. "You're still hugging me."

Corrin looks down, her face quickly turning a dark shade of red. She hastily blurts, "So are you!"

Kamui looks down, his expression mirroring her, and then the boy released her. The two peel themselves from each other.

"Uhh…"

A pregnant pause of silence forms between the two. Kamui turned away, "This never happened."

Corrin could only nod mutely in agreement, too embarrassed by their sudden affectionate actions. If any of their siblings found out about this, then it would be nothing but endless teasing for days.

Footsteps sounded out again, and through the parted covers to discover the noise, they could see their mother, father, and brother walk the opposite direction Lelas took, back to the direction they took when to get to the very place to hear the conversation.

"We should probably go back to our room."

Kamui looked at where their other family members took, and then the night sky outside. Have they been here for an hour?

Well, the plan has been a success and Kamui didn't see any reason to be out here. He turns back to her. "Yeah. We should go."

---

Trailing behind their parents and brother was an easy task. The fact of having no footwear and being barefoot made their footsteps silent, even when they stepped on the bare marmoreal floor that weren't covered by the rug.

When the two got to their room, they opened the door (Before doing so, Kamui teasingly made a joke of the spider he found and Corrin turned to glare and push him) to unveil their room from the inside.

From both corners of the room were two beds. A window sill sat in the middle on the wall. Beneath it was a desk and a picture of the two.

Kamui flopped onto his bed, as Corrin headed toward the bathroom to change. She tells him that she would take a bath, her arms full of fresh clothes, and Kamui briefly nods, his thoughts heavy.

The boy plays out the events from earlier in his head, watching the ceiling of their room with both disinterest and concentration. Two words that didn't fit, yet somehow did.

Ryoma was going with their father somewhere. Somewhere called "Bottomless Canyon". Their mother had first objected angrily, but then relented, letting them both go. It wasn't fair. He realized that Ryoma could not play with them anymore, too busy on work with their father. And now? Their older brother gets to go somewhere with their father while he and the rest must stay behind.

It was outrageous, it was unfair! How can Ryoma get to go and they have to stay behind?!

Kamui hears the bath water from the bath bubbling and running but his attention was solely focused on today's events.

Their mother would never let them go, he realized. How would she? She, her father, and Ryoma had been called over by Lelas for what he assumed to be "work related" things. (After all, why not?)

And yet it was so unfair.

Kamui turns his gaze to the left side to the room door, closing his eyes. Not trying to sleep; he wasn't tired just yet, but to think further of the given predicament.

It's not like they can do anything. Again, Mother wouldn't let them go and Kamui wouldn't bet their father or Ryoma would let them go either if they ask.

If only we can come with them. If only we can go without Mama telling us not to. If only we can go with no one telling us otherwise.

Wait...

Kamui had an idea. It forms the topic of earlier and he sits up, becoming prominent in his brain. It takes almost his entire concentration, filling him with activity. He jerks upright, eyes opening.

Why not he and Corrin go with their father and their brother? Regardless of what their mother said?

The boy couldn't help, his thoughts of getting to flee and go with their father and Ryoma. Getting to go on an "adventure". That's what their father and brother sounded like they were going to anyway.

Why not? That way, they can all go together! Him, Corrin, Ryoma, and their father! It would be fun!

The boy is giddy with anticipation and excitement at the discovery of his new plan, until he comes to a stop.

Another question, did their other siblings want to come?

Takumi might, but then again, Kamui knew his brother had a habit of abandoning ship or retreating the moment he finds trouble. He only fought when it entirely played out in his favor.

So not Takumi then. He didn't relay the plan to Takumi earlier and Takumi wasn't there to witness the conversation with them. Takumi also only fought winning battles.

And not Hinoka either. Because she would never let them, no matter how much begging or pleading. She would likely also follow their mother rules and tell her, stopping them entirely. He learned from multiple times of failure, and he would not like to add another one. It was already a blow to his pride and another of his failed schemes.

Seemed like it was only Corrin and himself then. Oh well. He couldn't feel guilty of Takumi or Hinoka not coming if factors prevented them from doing so.

He hadn't told Corrin of it yet. She soon would know however.

He calls out from the bed, "Corrin, are you done yet?!"

"What?!"

He repeats himself, "Are you done taking a bath?!"

"No!" A pause. "Why are you asking?! You don't need to take a bath!"

Here goes. "I need to tell you something!"

"Why?"

"It's important!"

"Really? Wait until I'm done then!"

Kamui sighed, hearing the sound of splashing water. It was impossible to change Corrin's mind once she has it set on something. Or unless something was there to tempt her. Guess he has to wait then.

---

As Corrin got out of the bath, wearing new fresh clothes, she closes the room shut and says to Kamui, "Okay so what do you need to tell me?"

Kamui's grin only grows wider as the response and Corrin got a feeling Kamui was planning a scheme or plan of his again. He smiled every single time or most of it when he was planning something. Either that or a look of concentration.

"What? Why are you smiling?"

The mischievous child that was her brother asked, "You heard the meeting between Papa, Mama, and Ryoma right?"

"Yeah."

"You heard they were going out somewhere called

'Bottomless Canyon'?"

"Yeah. Some 'treaty' thing."

"And we were hiding from them?"

Corrin shook her head. She was not playing this game with her brother. If he had a plan, then he should tell her. "Why are you still smiling like that? It's creepy. Just tell me what you're planning already! I already know this!"

Kamui leans closer. Now this is the part where he'll catch her interest. "How would you like to come with me to follow Papa and Ryoma to Bottomless Canyon?"

Corrin froze. She lets her head fill with the idea of the plan Kamui had. She thought back to the earlier event. Interest fills and plagues her head, and she looks back to her brother.

"Go on then. Explain."

Kamui grins and he eagerly begins to tell her of his plan.

---

"So what do you think?" Kamui asked his sister. "You're gonna come?"

Kamui had fully explained his entire plan to her, telling her that their parents and oldest brother would not let them go, (neither will Hinoka and Takumi wouldn't have cared a single bit to come) they should sneak away with Ryoma and their father to the treaty.

Corrin waited patiently for her brother to explain his plan. And when he finished, she only thought for a few seconds just to give her answer.

"Yep! Why not? It's boring around here anyway. There's nothing fun to do and like you said, Ryoma and Papa gets to go on out somewhere on an adventure anyway." Her eyes twinkled. "So we should go!"

Kamui grinned, glad that Corrin shared the same sentiments towards the treaty. She too wanted a taste of outside the kingdom like him.

For the moment, Kamui was glad they were twins, because for all their differences, they were also similar.

"I do have a question though." Corrin said. "How are we gonna sneak away? Papa, Mama, Ryoma, and Hinoka might try to find us."

Kamui pauses. She was right. He didn't plan the entire situation out. Them hiding away to go with Ryoma and their father was fine enough, sure. But how and where? If they try to hide, then one of their siblings or parents might find them.

He thinks for a moment, weighing in all possible factors and scenarios. Then he grins, "I got one."

"Really?"

"Yeah. We hide away by the horse carriage."

"Horse carriage?"

"Yep." He explains it to her. "We go hide in one of the carriages Papa and Ryoma are taking with them. I saw one outside near the steps before we went inside."

Corrin blinks at how simple it was. Then again, the earlier plan to spy on their parents and Ryoma had been simple enough, despite being nearly found by Lelas and ruining it for them.

"Is that it then?"

"Yes."

"Good then. We can go-"

"Except…"

"Except? Except what?" She didn't think Kamui would have any problems of any sort to his plans. He usually thought thinks through on his schemes and plans. She usually didn't. She barely planned anything through. In fact, she considered herself a poor planner, though she doesn't like to admit it. It's also the reason why she trusts Kamui to think plans that involve the both of them and not herself.

Kamui couldn't help but let the smile on his face widen, and Corrin felt her stomach drop slightly.

In a teasing tone, Kamui said, "It involves waking up early."

"What? You're joking."

"Nope." The boy shakes his head and explains, "We have to wake up early for the plan to work."

"Why?"

Corrin wanted sleep. She wanted to just sleep and sleep late until ten AM. Sleep was everything to her. Laying on a soft mattress and warm large sheets covering her. She was parallel to Kamui, who didn't mind waking up early. In fact, he woke up early and left Corrin sleeping most mornings. In rare instances where they stayed up most of the night, Kamui would sleep until ten or so AM.

Despite that, Kamui didn't mind waking up early. However, she did.

"Yep. Sorry." Kamui didn't sound very much sorry though.

She whined, "No! Why can't we wait later?"

"Because Ryoma and Papa might go out by then, and we'll miss it." Kamui stated, trying to convince her. "Lazy sleepyhead."

Corrin grumbled, more at the fact that they had to wake up early and less at the tease. She had no choice however. It seemed she would have to give up more hours of sleep as a sacrifice to sneak away with Ryoma and their father for their adventure. "Fine. How early?"

"Six AM. I'll wake up first to see them outside the windows of the castle and then I'll tell you when they're out or not. That's when we hide away in one of those carriages."

Corrin thought about it. The plan now seemed foolproof. Wake up early and then try to hide somewhere so they can go with Ryoma and their father. But… "Won't they try to find us by then?"

"They won't."

"What about the soldiers Papa have?"

"They won't notice us."

"What if they will if we knocked something over and they heard it?"

"Then we'll be as quiet as possible in the carriage. We won't make a sound."

"And if someone finds us in the carriage if they're looking for something?"

Kamui stares at her, annoyance and anger creeping on his face.

"What?" Corrin couldn't help but let a grin form on her face. She tries to hide it by covering her mouth with her hand, but she was sure her brother saw the grin anyway.

"Then we'll make sure they don't! We'll just hide ourselves beneath stuff until we're buried beneath them! We'll be at the bottom of it!" Kamui shouts in frustration as he threw up his hands dramatically in the air. "Do you know these questions are tearing down my plan?! You're making up stuff!"

Corrin couldn't help it. The sight of her angry brother having his plan torn down, not to mention that she finally beat her brother at something by poking holes in them. Didn't seem so foolproof after all. She giggles, "And if they find us when they take an object out?"

Kamui rolled his eyes. Now it was his turn to grumble. "Yeah, yeah. Keep laughing. You know, you possibly ruined any chance of sneaking away to work at all for us.

Corrin tried to hide her laughter, though it kept coming out in giggling fits. "Sorry. Sorry." She gasps out between her fits of laughter. "You were saying?"

Kamui nodded, "So we wake up early the next day, just hide in one of the horse carriages, wait until Ryoma and Papa, and then we go once Papa tells Ryoma they're going."

"What if Papa and Ryoma finds out in the carriage then?"

"I just said they won't."

"But if they? Won't they send us back?"

Kamui looked at the dark twinkling sky outside. What would happen if Papa or Ryoma find them while going to Bottomless Canyon? Would they send them back? For once, Kamui didn't have an answer to solve that very problem and issue that came with his plans. He was sure they would send them back the moment they found them and then they couldn't come with.

He heads into the washroom, "I'm gonna go brush. And to answer your question: Well… lets hope they won't."

Corrin was left to her own thoughts from his answer as her brother entered the washroom.

---

A knock on the door sounded out from outside and into the room of Mikoto's and Sumeragi's room.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Mama. Papa."

"Hinoka? Come in."

The door opens with a click and Hinoka came in, holding the bundle in her arms. In the swaddling blankets was Sakura, sleeping peacefully.

"Sakura's asleep?"

"Yes. I came to bring her back to you. She already also ate."

"Thank you." Mikoto took the sleeping baby in her arms. "And forgive me, I didn't know there was a meeting today."

Hinoka shook her head, "It's okay, mother! I don't mind taking care of Sakura!"

Mikoto smiles, "Still, thank you."

"You're welcome!" She chirped happily. The girl looks around the room, and then to the window. Her eyes widen in realization. "It's late. Should I go tell them?"

"It is?" Mikoto looks out the window to the night sky. "Oh, it is! Hinoka, please go tell your siblings that it's time to sleep soon."

"Okay. Goodnight, Mama! Goodnight, Papa!"

"Goodnight, Hinoka." The door closes behind their daughter and Mikoto places Sakura in her crib.

---

Hinoka closes the door behind her to her parents room shut, her thoughts on the given task.

Heading down the hallways to her siblings room, she decides she would go to Kamui's and Corrin's room first, seeing as they were much closer.

Spotting the door to their room, she taps her knuckles on it.

—-

A knock on the door caught and turned Corrin's thoughts away as her attention now was to the entrance and door of their room. "Who is it?"

"It's me."

"Hinoka? I'm coming."

Corrin got off her bed to the entrance, opening and revealing Hinoka from the outside.

"Big sis? What are you doing here?"

"I came to tell you and Kamui it's time for bed. Mama told me to tell you two." She looked around the room. "Where's Kamui?"

"Bathroom. Brushing his teeth."

"Is he? Are you sure he's…" Hinoka leaned closer to her younger sister. "Not out?"

Corrin blinked at the sudden accusation her older sister had on her brother being out. Did her sister not trust her to tell the truth? Kamui was in their room. She can go to their room's washroom for proof that he wasn't out.

But then again, Kamui was always restless. He always had a taste for adventure, even more so than herself, and with those two combination came a boy who always wanted to see new and different places. She remembered times where Kamui went out when it was night. She remembered one time, Kamui was still out. The entire family had been searching out except their mother, who was taking care of Sakura. It was thirty or so minutes until Takumi called out that he found Kamui somewhere near the town square and market. When the other family members got there, Instead of just only Hinoka scolding him, it had also been their father. Kamui meekly stated that he wanted to see the new performance of dancers at the market. He pleaded for his father just to stay for a few minutes to watch them, and Sumeragi complied reluctantly, but warning of the trouble he would get in. Kamui didn't seem to care much for the punishment and was just happy to see the dancers at the square, along with almost the rest of the family.

"He's not out. He's in the washroom."

"Course I am."

The two turn to see Kamui exit out of the washroom. "Heard you, Big sis. Was just thinkin of something so I didn't come out earlier when I heard you. You said it's time for bed now?"

Hinoka nodded, "Mama said so."

"Okay." Closing the distance, he wraps his arm around her into a hug. "Night, Hinoka."

"Goodnight, Kamui."

Corrin mirrors her brother's action. "Goodnight, Hinoka."

"Night, Corrin."

Hinoka swivels around to leave. Just before reaching the door, she looks back, saying, "Wait. What game do you want to play tomorrow?"

The two twins glance at each other, having the same thoughts of their plans for the next day, not at all a game. If they tell her, then she in turn would tell their parents and wouldn't let them go. "We'll figure it out tomorrow." It was a lie, but they didn't see any other option. They couldn't tell her their plans at all.

Hinoka nods. She didn't detect their lie; their answer fooled her. "Okay. Goodnight." She repeated one more goodnight."

"Night." They chimed, and then she was gone, door closing shut behind her.

The two were left, staring at the door before Kamui turns to his sister. "Go brush. We should get much sleep as possible since we're gonna wake up early tomorrow."

Corrin looked out the window, "Isn't it already too late? We're gonna get less sleep anyway."

Kamui rolled his eyes. She was still on that. Never mind. "Just go."

"Mmm-Kay."

As Corrin entered the washroom, Kamui flicked the lights off, showering the entire room in darkness except for the washroom, whose lights were still on.

Pulling the blankets over himself, the boy closed his eyes shut, remembering of the meeting that played out earlier. Kamui didn't know when, his final thoughts were on his siblings; not just Corrin, but his entire siblings; the train of thought changed, but before he knew it, he was asleep.

---

The next day of the kingdom came in lights. The sun blazed, sending in invading rays to the windows of any homes, except those blocked by the thick wool of the blinds and curtains, preventing any light from getting inside the homes. The sounds of birds chirping and the chatter of the kingdom returned from the day before, and once again, the city was alive and bustling with activity. Fishermen began opened up their stands, presenting catch from the day before. Merchants set out artifacts and expensive jewelry and wares.

Sumeragi looked down at the merchant from the top of the castle. If one were to look at the king right now and tell what he was thinking, they would say he was watching over his kingdom, the people that made it up, and the Sakura trees that surrounded and made it.

That couldn't be further from the truth.

If one wanted to know what the man was truly thinking, then he was thinking of yesterday's events, the letter sent by the country of Nohr, requesting a meeting to discuss a treaty of some sort. He thought of Ryoma, his eldest son, who was attending the whole treaty with him. He thought of his wife, her pretty face filled with worry and distrust. He thought of the meeting itself, wondering what possibilities would Nohr suggest in the treaty. All of this he was thinking; all of this currently occupying his mind.

"Lord Sumeragi?"

The man turns at the call of his name. Lelas stood there, waiting. "The detachment of soldiers you ordered is awaiting for yours and your son Prince Ryoma."

Sumeragi nodded, "Thank you Lelas."

"Also, Queen Mikoto is requesting for you to come to the dining room for breakfast."

"I should go do that. Thank you, Lelas. Stand by with the detachment."

"Yes sir." He nods. "I shall see you after breakfast."

Lelas leaves, taking the large set of stairs down in quick, small steps. Sumeragi watches him leave until the man reaches the bottom, before he enters back into the gaping mouth of the kingdom and to where his family was waiting.

---

"Uhh."

Kamui groans. Eyes rapidity blinking as she shuts and opens his eyes at milliseconds. He opens and closes, trying to blink away fatigue and sleep.

How long was he asleep anyway?

Did it matter? He often woke up anyway. Sleep never came back to him often when he woke up. Catching more of it seemed impossible, at least to him.

Opening his ruby eyes and unveiling, his line of vision comes across nothing.

Absolutely nothing. A blackness that crept all over. A dark hole that swallowed everything in its . No light of any sort pierced through it, and didn't seem to if one tried to. Kamui tried to discern anything from the black void but nothing. As far as he was concerned, everything was in a black void and he was its only inhabitant, occupant, and prisoner.

"It's such a shame…"

Kamui's eyes snapped up. Was that someone speaking? He searches wildly around. "Hello?" He calls out. "Who are you? Can you hear me?"

"So young yet so much untamed and untrained power."

The deep gravelly voice rings out of the darkness, ignoring Kamui's questions. In the dark, empty void, it reminded Kamui that he wasn't the only visitor in the vicinity. The unknown newcomer had appeared, not by body but by voice. It wasn't his family or anybody else he knew.

He tries again, "Hello? Where am I? Who are you?" He swallows the saliva in his throat. "Can you come out?"

Kamui searches around again in a fruitless attempt. His eyes scanned each vicinity of darkness thoroughly, yet he cannot find the owner of the voice. It remained hidden, and Kamui couldn't see what didn't want to be seen.

"All that power. It's such a shame it isn't being put to use."

Kamui felt his stomach freeze. The voice's tone took a sinister and delightful tone as he shuddered. What was going on? Power? What power? He answered, confused, by the vague answers, He tried calling out again, "Hello?"

"Both you and your sister. They stunt your growth." The voice again, ignoring his questions and commenting cryptically.

Fear. It was the same feeling whenever he felt when Hinoka found him doing something he shouldn't be doing. He catches the voice saying something about his sister. What sister? Corrin, Hinoka, or Sakura? Who? What was going on? Why was whoever this was doing this?

"Hello? Who are you? What are you talking about?" Kamui tried one last time.

A moment of silence passes, Kamui feels his heart drumming in his chest. The ebbing throb in his head. His breathing coming out faintly and in quick gasps. He barely managed to catch the words as they entered into the void, faint.

"You're mine boy. You soon will be."

Kamui's eyes snapped open, his mouth opened into a silent gasp. His eyes scanned around the room, looking for who said that. His heart beating multiple times he swore it would thump out of his chest. He was barely aware he was still gasping until the pounding of his chest and head confirms it.

Nothing. Kamui looks across from his bed see Corrin still sleeping.

Just what was that dream? Some man saying mine forever… Who was that man anyway?

"Strange dream." He muttered. He deduced that the only explanation was hearing too many stories from their father.

Father… Speaking of which… Kamui blinked. He sworn that he had a plan today with Corrin that involved their father and Ryoma…

He springs up on his bed mattress. Of course! How could he have forgotten? Father and Ryoma were going out today!

Wait, what time is it?

Kamui looks out the window to see the bright light from the sun outside. His eyes widen, and he cursed under his breath.

They were late!

Oh no, oh no, oh no.

Kamui hastily went over to his sister's bed. "Corrin, wake up!" He hissed urgently.

No response. Corrin was still sleeping, her breathing soft. "Corrin!"

Corrin gave a groaning whine. "Uhhmmm… urrghh…"

Kamui shook her, "Corrin!"

Corrin buried herself deeper, "Uhhh." She blinks her squinted eyes. "Stop yelling. Let me sleep." She turns over.

"Corrin!" He shakes her again. Roughly.

"Uhhhhmm… whattt?" She looks up at him with her squinted eyes, slightly twitching.

"We have to go!"

"What? Go where?" She yawned.

"Don't you know what we're going to do today? What we talked about yesterday?"

Corrin stares at her brother with still barely opened eyes, a sliver of ruby gazing up at him, taking a few seconds to try and figure out what he's saying. Then her eyes snap open completely. "Oh yeah! We're gonna sneak away with Papa and Ryoma!"

"Well, we're late! Hurry and get up!"

"Wait, We're late?"

"Yes! That's what I just said!"

"What? How?! What time is it?! Are they gone?!"

"I don't know! They might have…" The boy trails off. His eyes were wide in realization and he buries his face in his hands. "No. No. No."

"Kamui?"

He turned away from her, looking at the auburn walls of their room, embarrassed.

Corrin felt something similar to suspicion and concern crawl up in her gut at her brother's sudden muteness. "Kamui? What time is it?"

Her white haired twin looked bashful, his face slightly flush, yet still filled with embarrassment. He fiddled with the corner of his sister's blanket.

"I, um…"

Corrin narrowed her gaze. "Kamui?"

He flicks his eyes up, "What?"

"Tell me what time is it?"

"I…" He trails off. "It's…"

Corrin felt annoyance build in her, "C'mon! Tell me what time is it right now!"

Kamui couldn't handle the pressure anymore. He cracked under it and caved, gave in. "Alright, alright! I slept late! I forgot to wake up early to wake you up and that's why I'm saying we're late! It's my fault!" He got off the bed and began to pace, walking back and forth.

Coffin blinked. He… he slept late. It would explain why they were late, but it did not answer every question. She still didn't know what the time was. "What time is it then?" She needed to know.

He stopped pacing and looked at her, then to the floor. "Seven, close to eight AM."

"What time does Papa and Ryoma wake up?"

He mutters something unintelligible.

"What?"

"I said six AM. They always woke up that time for work."

Six AM… Kamui also said now that it was late at Seven and close to eight… About almost two hours. Corrin felt her own stomach drop. No. They couldn't be. "Does that mean…?"

Kamui returned the sad look, the look of devastation hanging. "They might be gone already? I think so…"

Silence hung between them. Both siblings; one standing, one sitting. Unable to believe their cruel fate. Despite all their planning, regardless of their excitement, it seemed all of that was swept away in an instant.

Corrin felt unhappiness and denial well up. So was that it then? That was it? The two mix, making a bitter feeling she couldn't ignore.

All the plans and scheming to go with Ryoma and their father were gone in an instant…

Because of her brother.

Corrin looked up at him. It was Kamui's fault. Despite him being the one to plan for them to leave, he was also the one responsible for not waking up early and being late. He was the one responsible for their brother and father leaving. She narrowed her gaze at him, expecting her anger and disappointment to rise.

But couldn't.

She couldn't find herself to snap angrily at her brother. She couldn't. Yes, he may have been responsible for the plan-his plan-failing, but she couldn't find herself to be angry at him. Only just sadness instead, and maybe perhaps some form of disappointment at the situation.

Kamui just turns away, his own disappointment visible and following with, trailing from his face. He goes to the door. "I guess you can go back to sleep then. You know, since we missed it and all."

Corrin nodded, yet something didn't feel right. She didn't know. Yes, they may have missed and their plan entirely ruined, but something was still off. Corrin thought of what they said yesterday, what her brother planned for the both of them. She rummages through her head, then calls, "Wait, Kamui!"

He turns, disappointment still evident. "What?"

"Didn't you say you would check outside the windows of the hallway yesterday?"

Kamui pauses, thinking. He then nods, "Yeah? So?"

No. Corrin didn't believe there was any hope left for them but they had to try. They had to. One final attempt and that was it. The plans already ruined and forgotten and they were stuck in the infinite boredom of the kingdom. "Did you check them?"

Her brother blinks, "What's the point? Why are you asking? There's no point. They're gone."

"What?"

"What's the point?" He repeats. "What's the point in checking them? Our plans are ruined. Papa and Ryoma are already gone."

"You don't know that! Do you?" She sighs. "Did you check outside the windows?"

"There's no point in doing so. I messed up. Papa and Ryoma wake up at six for work and we missed it. We missed our chance to go out and hide away."

"That doesn't mean you can just not check! They may be gone…" She ignored her brother's cries of "they are!" "But that doesn't mean you can't decide not to check."

"They're gone." He stated flatly. "It doesn't matter."

"Cmon… just check, okay?"

"But…"

"Check!"

He still looked adamant, but relented. He might as well check just to prove they're gone. He didn't even know why Corrin was asking or insisting; they're gone, so his plan failed and they couldn't leave.

"Fine. But you're coming with."

"What?"

"Yeah. You're coming with."

Corrin blinked at the demand. Considering she had been the one to remind Kamui of one of their parts of the plan, it seemed fair.

"Okay. But…" Corrin lowered her eyes.

"What?"

"Look at our clothes."

"What about them? There's nothing wrong with…" Kamui looked down at himself, then to his sister, and realized what his sister was talking about. "Ah."

Kamui's clothes were rumpled and he hadn't changed out of them to his sleeping clothes. It seemed he forgot last night, too excited and his attention entirely focused on their plans for today. Corrin was in her small nightdress. Change first, then leave.

---

Kamui and Corrin bolted out of their rooms and down the halls of the castle in new clothes. Racing past the marble busts of statues and various other objects, their attention was primarily focused on attempting to discover if there was soldiers situated and milling about around the area within radius of the castle or its vicinity, as if there were, then it meant that Ryoma and their father were still here, which also meant that they haven't left yet and finally meant that their plan was still in action and not at all ruined and a complete failure.

The two went through the halls of the castle and took a left, going down the same path they took last night when they went attempting to figure out what their parents and older brother were speaking of. They barely glance at the conference room, left unoccupied and empty. Table and chairs left sitting in the same position as it was the day before, as if no one occupied the room at all and had been using it. The chairs, they remembered seeing through the small peephole, had been moved, by Ryoma last night, scooting his chair closer to figure out his parent's words. Sumeragi has adjusted his chair's slightly so the comparison was barely noticeable.

The two siblings pauses to think for a moment, staring. Ultimately, it would not do them any favors just being indecisive, and they, or rather, Corrin, were considering the option anyway. They entered the room, and shut the doors behind them.

Kamui was adamant and sure of himself. There was no point in continuing to search for soldiers, and the area ahead. Father, Ryoma, and a bunch of silver armored people called soldiers were gone, likely already to the destination of the Bottomless Canyon. Thus, he decided he wasn't going to check, but ended up doing so anyway to humor his sister just to prove himself.

Parting the blinds and letting the sunlight come in, the two wince as the harsh rays assaulted their vision. Pushing the curtains slightly in just enough to let them see, but also block the rays.

With a blank look, Kamui scans over from their vantage point from the castle to the bottom of the steps below. "See? Nothing. They're gone. No soldiers Papa was speaking of. There isn't even that Lelas person."

Corrin frowned, "You aren't even trying."

"I don't need to. There's no need to waste time." Kamui shook his head. "Forget it, Corrin. Let's just go. It doesn't matter anymore."

And, to her shock, he begins to walk off, heading to the door.

Corrin's expression turned livid, "You're just gonna give up like that?"

Kamui stares at the floor, "You know as much I do that it's my fault. I didn't wake up early."

Corrin hates this. She felt her anger grow. She felt her head swimming with angry thoughts and she begins to boil.

"They're gone because of me."

Corrin felt her rage bubbling up. Her insides flared, burning.

She glared at her brother, who expertly crafted, started, concocted their entire plan. Who she trusted more because he thought of ideas she would never think of and how lacking it was, and even if she did develop and crafted one, it would never hold a candle to her brother's own. That's what she liked about him. His willingness to plan things out accordingly from scratch, weigh in every possible factor and scenario, and from there, figure out the best possible action to take after the consideration of the factors.

Hearing him admit defeat so easily, giving up and surrender, made her feel anger unlike anything she felt before. Not even his stupid pranks or his mean teasing of her being scared of bugs didn't make her feel this way. Kamui's plans did fail, but often because they had a flaw that was found out and exploited, or perhaps poor choices and decision making from them. His plans were never perfect, but rarely did any ever plan was.

She expected herself to snap at her brother. She expected herself to shout at him for surrending. Her anger reached its point of climax, exploding and sending many furious words out.

But couldn't.

But as angry as she may get, Kamui was right. She looks out the window longer, hoping to see any figures, but none. They all seem to be gone.

Corrin has no choice but to accede to the fact presented. "Fine. Let's go back."

Giving one last look at the outside of the castle, she slowly averted her eyes away, turning it into the corner, and from a small line of grey.

Wait. Grey?

Corrin whipped her head back to the window. No, it couldn't possibly be… but was it?

It was. She didn't believe it. Yet it was there.

She was looking at a single soldier walking down the tall steps. The grey thin figure takes the steps down.

Corrin felt her own downcast emotions change, and in place, happiness emerged from the replaced emotion. Papa and Ryoma were not gone yet, their plans for leaving were still intact!

She had to tell him!

Kamui was about to turn and twist the handle knob and push it open, until Corrin shouted for him, "Kamui, wait!"

The boy looked back, "What?"

"There's a soldier from Papa over there at the steps. They're not gone, they're still here! I'm looking at them right now!"

The reaction was instantaneous: She watches as Kamui froze, his hand going slack and releasing the handle.

Turning, he looks hesitatingly over at her face and to the window, "They're not gone?" Kamui's expression held still disappointment and sadness, yet a hopeful expression.

"Yeah, come look!"

Kamui comes to the window, scanning out of the square glass. Coffin pointed: the figure was almost gone now, but Kamui was just able to make out a small grey figure in the distance.

He however then could only stare in disbelief, gaping. "The soldier is there? That meant…"

"Yup! Papa and Ryoma aren't gone yet!"

Kamui blinked a few times. The revelation of just seeing the soldier out on the window of the castle, which meant that their father and brother hadn't left yet was still settling in his head. "They're not gone." Which meant…

Kamui didn't know what happened next, but in the moment Corrin was in his arms and he was picking her up in a hug. It was all thanks to her. Because of her insistence to check, because it itself, their plan was still in motion. Their plan would still be carried out, thanks to her. It was not ruined.

Corrin squealed as her brother scooped her up and wrapped his arms tightly around her in a hug, "Kamui!"

Kamui was too elated and too excited and too happy. Laughter rang out. Pure happiness from the sound. He barely catches that it was his own, and then his sister is laughing, and both are celebrating.

The two bask in their victory once again. Relishing the victory that came with the revelation. The two were as happy and as proud as they can be.

Eventually, all things come to an end. And so did the laughter of happiness and the celebration of the two, for they had caught themselves breathless.

Kamui is no longer laughing, but the grin-one filled with joy-was wide and prevalent. "Our plan can still work! Papa and Ryoma aren't gone!"

Corrin shares his sentiment, matching his with her own. "Yeah."

"We can still go!" Kamui cheerfully states. "Alright!"

Yes, they can still sneak away. They can still go.

In fact… shouldn't they go right now? With their plan to leave not entirely ruined after all, shouldn't they go right now, just to not repeat the mistake again?

"Kamui?"

"Yeah?"

"Shouldn't we go now?" Corrin tilts her head to the window and mainly the outside of the castle, indicating. "Because… you know."

What was… Oh. Yep. She was absolutely right.

"You're right! Let's go now! They might leave some time soon so we have to go now!" Kamui heads to the door, then pauses only after opening it slightly, remembering. "Umm… thanks sis. For trying to keep making me check. We probably wouldn't have gone out if you didn't tell keep telling me I should."

Corrin smiles, moving alongside her brother. "You needed that." The door was completely opened, revealing them to the hallways and walls. "Now hurry up. Let's go. They might leave soon."

She sprints down the hallways, Kamui trailing her. "Hey! Wait for me!"

---

The clattering and clinking of plates and glasses were loud in the dining room, but in comparison, were nothing to the chatter. The sounds of plates and glasses were lost and ignored to the sounds of chattering as the Hoshidian family chatted and in some cases, bickering too.

Ryoma watches with mild disinterest and distractedly at Takumi and Hinoka bickering about something. Poking at the eggs on his plate, the eldest son of Sumeragi was distracted; his appetite for food was also gone at the moment. His thoughts set into an entirely different place as he eats, but slowly.

He was unsure of himself. And he knew exactly why it came, the source and reason of the doubt.

Yesterday and the evening, Ryoma had been sure of himself. He was confident of him being present at the treaty destination at Bottomless Canyon, believing that he was ready to prove himself that he would be like and just like his father. He believed the negotiation would help prove his worth and to show his father that he was worthy of being king.

The day from today morning brought clarity and the bitter taste of realization-like fruit-that yesterday could never had wrought, and Ryoma was left reeling from the self doubt, tasting the bitter fruit of clarity; side effect being self doubt. Even worse, the treaty was today.

He didn't think that he was ready. He didn't think he could ever hope to match his father's expectations of him. His father was strict, but kind and fair. He didn't pressure him in any sort but Ryoma still felt the weight of it upon his shoulders. It felt high, even though it wasn't.

Am I ready? Does father think I'm ready?

Ryoma couldn't help but feel these thoughts. The bickering between Takumi and Hinoka fades away as the prince is entrapped within his own thoughts. The more he stared down at his plate of food, the more these thoughts became prevalent.

He wasn't.

He wasn't ready. All the work he did with his father. All what they did together. It didn't matter. What his father did would take years even. Ryoma had barely covered the scope of what his father accomplished.

The treaty brought him happiness and elation, but then afterwards brought doubt.

Sumeragi chatted with his wife, finishing his own plate of eggs and standing up. "I believe we should leave now. The detachment outside is no doubt waiting for me." He calls out to his son, "Ryoma? Takumi? Hinoka?"

The two younger siblings respond, moving around the table to their father. Ryoma sat there, however, staring at his plate. "Ryoma?"

He didn't respond, still staring at his empty plate. Wait. Empty? He must've finished eating but didn't recognize his plate was empty because he was too in his thoughts.

"Ryoma?"

What was the point of going again? To learn of his father's negotiations with other countries but also treaties, that would later be beneficial in the future. Of course that was the answer. It was his answer and his father's answer.

"Ryoma?"

But what was the point? How could he ever match his father's expectations? He was just a prince still learning from his father, who had knowledge of everything Ryoma still only had a basic understanding of.

"Ryoma?"

Self doubt was a disease that spread. It fills the person from the inside, underneath the skin. From the outside, it seemed to appear that everything was fine with that person. There was nothing troubling them. But peel away that layer and many of the person is revealed, like a naked person underneath all the clothes they wore. Ryoma tried to rid himself of it but it was too much.

Maybe it was best he didn't go.

"Ryoma!"

A loud sound often redirects people's attention, turning them away from their focus on one thing to another. It worked more often than not. In such a case as this, Ryoma was snapped out, all of his thoughts of self doubt going away.

The boy nearly flinches, looking up, "Yes?"

"We're about to leave soon. We should go out right now." He casts a concerned look. "Are you alright?"

Ryoma looked at him, then to his siblings and mother, casting similar looks. Did he worry them? He thinks back to his thoughts.

It was still there. It went away. Yes. But it was still there, waiting for the chance to return. Some time sooner or later, he didn't know.

"I'm fine." That was his only answer. He didn't want to worry them, but he did. "Just thinking about the treaty meeting near the border." It wasn't an entire lie. He was technically thinking about the meeting.

Words of reassurance and what he's thinking about would help, right?

Except the treaty isn't what you're entirely thinking about; it's on your doubts. Your preservations.

Surprisingly for the eldest son, it was his younger brother Takumi who spoke first. "It's fine, Ryoma. It's just a meeting anyway. You're gonna go and follow Papa to the place." The smile turned into a frown. "Though it makes no sense why you can go but we can't. It's boring around the castle!"

The words of reassurance quickly turned into a complaint as he looked up at his older family members. "Why can't we go too?"

Hinoka shook her head, "We can't go because we don't have any idea of the treaty meeting. And Mama said we can't go either way."

He looked affronted and thoroughly unconvinced. If anything, it made him more outraged at the situation. "So? So what if we don't know anything about the treaty? I don't care about that. I want to go out and see stuff." He looked away, "If Kamui and Corrin were here, I'm sure they would agree with me too. They wouldn't care and they would still try to leave."

Hinoka sighed. To be fair, he had a point. And to be honest, she wished she would come with Ryoma too, regardless of the treaty, but their mother said they couldn't come, and so they couldn't.

Mikoto sighed as well, though she had her own reservations as to why. She wanted her children to go out and enjoy, having enough time to simply have fun and explore and being children. Ryoma was already following in Sumeragi's footsteps and stopped playing with his younger siblings a while back. She wanted her children to explore and simply have fun and be children before they grow up like their oldest brother. Hinoka was nearly reaching the age and in no time soon would she soon begin to work, leaving only Kamui, Corrin, and Takumi. She had helped somewhat in both their father's and brother's work. and learned a bit. Sakura, the youngest of the family, would grow into a young girl with no one to play with, possibly Takumi; Kamui and Corrin would follow their older siblings in work, barely scraping time to play with their youngest sibling before they were gone. Takumi would follow his older siblings afterwards, leaving only Sakura.

They would leave their childhood behind, not forced to but because of circumstances regarding. All their games of tag and hide and seek forgotten, nothing more than memories for reminiscing and remembering. Mikoto wishes they had more time, and it was her only regret and guilt. For her children deserves to have as much of their childhood as possible before it was snuffed out. And Sakura, for she would grow up with almost none of her siblings to play with. Mikoto looks down to the baby in her arms, gurgling and still innocent. Then she blinks, remembering what Takumi said.

"Where is Kamui and Corrin?"

The bickering between Takumi and Hinoka stops. Everyone turns to face her as Hinoka answers, "I think they're still sleeping. That is strange though. Kamui would usually be awake at this time."

Mikoto wasn't sure, but she also wanted her other two children to be here when they were going to say goodbye to their brother and father. "I don't know… Hinoka?"

"Yes, Mama?"

"Can you go to their rooms, and if they are asleep, go and wake them?"

"Yes Mama. I'll come back with them." She was off.

The remaining family watches her go off to her two younger siblings, then Sumeragi turns to the rest of his family. "Suppose we should go right now?"

"We should."

The dining room was left abandoned after it was finished, leaving empty plates of food behind, as the family departs for outside the castle.

---

Hinoka walks down through the castle and her siblings's room, mainly Kamui's and Corrin's, to fulfill the task given and wake them up to say goodbye to their father and brother, for they were leaving today.

She thought back to what their father and brother announced during breakfast. That what they had to leave today for dinner last evening to discuss with a soldier. Takumi was mildly upset and annoyed, which was why she was arguing with Takumi though if she was honest, she herself, was both slightly upset but also knew why. Both Kamui and Corrin weren't at breakfast and weren't told of their father's and brother's sudden departure, which if they were upset, then she really couldn't have blamed them.

It was Ryoma's, their father, and their mother's fault. If they were fair, they should have told them after the meeting was done with yesterday and dinner, not wait until today.

She shook her head of the thoughts as she approached her sibling's room. It wouldn't help her to be negative. Takumi was somewhat bitter already, and she would need to find some way to make them less when Kamui and Corrin were too.

Knocking on the door, she called out, "Kamui? Corrin? Wake up. It's morning!"

She waits for a few seconds for them to answer, but finds none. "Kamui? Corrin?"

Nothing again. Silence answered her knocking. She tries a different approach, "Kamui? It's morning! Are you still sleeping? If you're awake, then wake up your sister!"

Her only answer yet again was silence. Hinoka sighs. Jiggling the door handle, she was left surprised as it opened slightly. It wasn't locked? No. That couldn't be. Both locked the door at night when sleeping.

Hinoka stares at the slightly ajar and opened door, then pushed it in, revealing the inside. Two opposing beds from opposite sides, the sheets were hastily tossed aside. "Kamui? Corrin?" Were they hiding?

She turns to the washroom. They couldn't possibly be hiding in there, could they? She swung the doors open to the washroom. Looking inside, she saw nothing. Towels hung from a rack and a mirror above the sink. Ontop the sink were toothbrushes and glass cups, but nothing. The washroom was empty just like their room.

If they weren't here in their room, then where on earth were they?

---

"Kamui, I'm hungry."

"Be quiet."

Both Kamui and Corrin were knelt down to their knees as they crawled and ambled around the large number of soldiers spread out. Beneath a row of bushes, they were for what many would consider to be invisible and unnoticed.

"Why didn't we eat breakfast before we go?" Corrin whined. She was clearly unhappy with the decision not to eat before they went, thinking that they should have ate before they went with their plan.

Kamui studies the field of soldiers chatting amiably and the horse carriages, studying each of them to which would let him and Corrin hide in without any fear of being noticed. They would need a carriage with a large amount of items to hide and encase them completely in but also not such a large amount that they would make any noise that would be detected by hearing. "Maybe you should have thought of that before we went checking. And it's too late anyway. If we go back, Papa, Mama, or others will notice us."

Corrin was still unconvinced however. She shot back with another reason. "We can go back right now. Just get some food and quickly come back. If they notice us, then we can say we were just walking around the market."

He shook his head in response at the suggestion, "We can do that…"

"But what? Why are you shaking your head then?" She was confused. It worked, didn't it? Why was he shook his head no?

"But that would ruin our chance of hiding away." Looking over the field, he studies them with a narrowed ruby gaze again, studying them. "We need to hide away without them noticing, and this is the only way it can work. We try it another way, we might lose our chance of hiding away."

Corrin thought of what her brother said. His words have proven to be true. His plans were nearly foiled ironically by himself. Not by the flaw in the plan but by him not waking up earlier and believing their brother and father to be already gone. Kamui, by her insistence, proved to be incorrect and their brother and father weren't gone yet. But there was that chance; the slim possible chance that had just inexplicably appeared just to ruin it: that their father and brother might have been gone.

Corrin resisted the urge to think any further about it. It would only bring negative thoughts and they didn't need that right now. Right now, they needed positivity and a plan to hide. The only step and yet it wasn't so simple after all.

"Did you find any carriage to hide in?"

Kamui scans the field with his ruby gaze over and over, like a person reading a passage or sentence in a book over and over, or like a person studying it. His face morphs into a frustrated expression, "It's impossible! None of the carriages are good! We can't hide in any of them because of the stuff in them! There's either too much for us to fit in or too little that we'll be found!"

Corrin looks over the field like her brother and found he was right. None of them seemed to be good. They all had a flaw in them that would cause an issue to apper and leave them fully exposed.

Kamui began to lament, "At this point, Papa and Ryoma are going to leave some time soon! We'll never find a good carriage and hide away by then!"

Corrin turns from her brother and back to the field. He was right. Papa and Ryoma would come out soon and they would never hide away. Their plans would be foiled, only this time it would succeed because there was no good hiding spot.

Corrin desperately looks at the field. A quick run through of it. She barely catches one from the corner of her eye. "Kamui, look!"

His eyes snap up, "Huh?"

She points, "Look at the carriage over there. The one Papa said that soldier called "Lelas" and the horses are taking!"

Kamui looks where she points and he saw it. The carriage Lelas and the horses were pushing. The soldier sitting on one of the horses, giving a quick whip to the reins, and the horses continued to push the carriage until it came to a halt. Lelas got up and off one of the horses and turned to the nearest kin of soldiers. They began to discuss something. They turned to look up at the massive castle, before Lelas said something to them, walking up the steps and waving.

Kamui barely spares the departing man a glance. "I can only see the front. We have to go around it to check and see if it's good."

The two sneak around undetected and unnoticed, still protected and covered by the thick leaves of the bushes adjacent to each other. As soon as they were around the rear, Kamui craned his head to see and he nearly shouted in joy.

It was. The carriage was a perfect fit and exactly what he had been looking for. The contents of items n there were just enough to cover them from being noticed.

Kamui could barely contain his joy at finding a perfect carriage, and he relayed most of it at Corrin. "Corrin, it's perfect!"

She studies in between the cracks and empty holes of the bushes, "It is?" She grins, finding the rear open space quickly and coming to the same conclusion. "It is!"

He cheekily grins, "Yep! Now all we have to do is find an opening for us to hide in."

She stares puzzled, "Why not now?" Kamui only pointed at the soldiers walking to and fro aimlessly around the surrounding area. "Oh. It's covered by Papa's soldiers."

Kamui nods, studying the field again with a narrowed gaze. "We need an opening. There's too many people right now, and we need to get into the back without any of them finding us."

Corrin looks up at an area near the flight of stairs and her face pales at the sight of it, "Umm… Kamui?"

Kamui doesn't turn to face her. He was still studying the field with a methodical and calculating expression, "What?" He mumbles distractingly.

"Look." She points up at the large flight of stairs.

Kamui looks up and his expression instantly melts into a shared expression with his sister. "Ah shoot. No!"

It was their father, mother, and their brothers: Ryoma and Takumi, walking down the stairs. Lelas is also with them, trailing besides the small group. The two note that Hinoka is not with them, but it didn't matter. Their heart is asunder with fear.

Corrin was the first to express it. She looks to her brother. "Kamui, what do we do, what do we do?!"

Calmness was considered in most part a good emotion. By being calm, one's decision making is vastly improved, allowing them to make a logical and reasonable decision or choice. But right now, the snow haired boy was anything but calm right now, and instead of being calm, he was beginning to panic. Why were they here?! Why right now?! They had just found the perfect carriage to hide in and get away! "Hold on, hold on, wait!" He whispers urgently as they crouched low.

A loud booming voice emerges from the steps. Demanding attention, it swelled in size for all those in the vicinity to hear. Every head snapped to attention at the voice, the owner of the voice, and both Kamui and Corrin recognizes its their father. They too snap at attention, but from the corner of their eyes, they notice all the soldiers distracted, their attention on their father, and that was the moment they made their move.

"Kamui…"

"I know."

Crawling between the empty spaces and holes between in the adjacent row of bushes, the two silently sneak their way into the carriage. From the rear, Kamui notices the contents within spread out but scattered all over the interior so that it could fit themselves. With a grunt, he pushes himself up and into the carriage. Quickly turning around, he whispers to Corrin, "Come in!"

Corrin mimics his actions, jumping into the rear interior of the carriage. It was spacious enough, and the two release the breaths they didn't realize they were holding.

Kamui didn't believe their luck, and neither could his sister at the moment. Both of them couldn't. With gasps, they echoed out, "We did it." Their hearts were still beating and Corrin fell back against the contents of the carriage, exhausted.

Kamui noticed one of them: a box nearly tipping over and out of the rear and he opened his mouth to warn her. But it was too late. Her back against the objects pushed over one over another, and with a thunk against the cobblestone earth, the box fell out of the carriage, tipping over the edge and out.

Corrin pushes herself away, her eyes widening, and next to her brother, as if she didn't accidentally pushed the box. They held their breaths again, then they hear footsteps.

The fear returns to Kamui's face, along with a look of outrage. "Corrin!"

Corrin just wrapped her arms around him in her foolish mistake. Her eyes widened at what she has done. "Oops."

Kamui swore under his breath, "Stupid…" The boy looks quickly at his surroundings to see where they can hide again.

He glances quickly at the amassed items. No, they would make too much noise and the soldiers would rifle through them to see who or what was making the noises and they would be found.

From near the cart's front was a large blanket; it reached from one end to the other, that could work. Why didn't he notice it earlier?

It didn't matter. He thought quickly, "Corrin, go to the other side and cover yourself!"

He didn't say anything else more. If he did, then someone from outside might hear them and Kamui didn't want to risk anymore chances. He already found an opening just barely from their father's voice. If Corrin was too slow at this moment and was found, then there was little he could do for her. He wanted to go with their father and brother. They had nearly been denied that chance early in the morning and was not doing so again.

He pushes himself underneath the blanket; thankfully the bottom of the thick, wooly, lengthy cloth draped the floors of the carriage so that it covered his feet. He didn't want to peek out of it to see if his sister was hiding as well.

Then he held his breath.

For a moment, he held his breath, then he hears a thump, the box had landed on a pile of items. "Must've been the wind. Goddamn Lelas. His shit is messed up. How does one not have any sense of organization? Better yet, I don't even think he has one. Just look at the pile of crap he keeps around here with not a sense of what is what. I swear, his carriages contents is going to spill out the entire way we get to the Bottomless Canyon. His fault anyway."

The voice disappears. Kamui waits to ascertain he is gone, heart drumming. Then he unwraps himself from the blanket underneath, "Corrin?" He was barely aware of his voice was a croak.

She pops out of her blanker, "Yeah? Is he gone?"

Kamui was done. He fell against the left side of the carriage, crumbling down to the bottom of the carriage, and covering himself with the items. "Urrmmhh…" The boy groans, rubbing the throbbing in his temple. "Let's just go already."

Corrin felt a small bit of worry bubbling up in her. "Kamui, are you okay?"

A groan was the only response. She rolled her eyes, but then gave a sigh, one that held relief. Yep. He was fine.

---

Sumeragi watches the gathering and coalition of soldiers. All of their attention solely focused on him. Taking a deep breath, he watches with trepidation and wariness he knew did not fit his title and role as king. The last time soldiers stood at the bottom of the castle, he discreetly remembered, was when he sent a detachment to investigate the matter of the town that had been destroyed a few years back. The messengers that returned from the sent group had described the gruesome sight in full detail, and Sumeragi could almost see what was said vividly, imagining the sight. The haunted, sick look of some of the messengers's expressions was enough just to prove it was not conceived. Sumeragi didn't believe in any bit they were lying anyway.

Except who destroyed the town.

When discussed with the Hoshidian Council on the topic of what happened to the country, Sumeragi remembers it had been an evening before dinner, they had believed that Nohr had been the one thoroughly responsible for the attack. There was no other perpetrator. Even after the investigation along with the help of Kitsune tribes, they had believed that the country from the west had attacked their own with no warning or reasoning..

As of right now, other than some smaller group sent to discuss with the Kitsune tribe and various other towns of some sorts, Sumeragi rarely did ever send a detachment as large as this, but this was the most he could order to bring. Any more and it would just show that their country didn't trust the rival country in any form; that they were paranoid and extremely distrustful, not believing the treaty to be genuine.

Nothing breeds more distrust between two opposite sides than the large forces of the two.

Sumeragi needed the detachment to prove and show to the rival country that they would take the treaty with non aggression that would ease tensions and with enough face value. Having a large army, or more importantly, bringing one would not prove his intentions. Nohr, especially King Garon of his country, might take the large force as a sign of distrust and wariness. Sumeragi didn't need or want that. For his people and his country and for the sake of the treaty.

This, among many reasons entirely, was why he chose a detachment that was not too large.

The morning breeze came over, brushing across anything soft or smooth. The curtains of the carriages flapped, hair from individual's heads, blew on the clothes of the bearer, and the faint scent of Sakura trees and its petals from miles away reminded Sumeragi that he was still within his country. From behind him, he hears his daughter, bearing the same name as the trees itself, gurgle happily.

Then he addressed his soldiers standing before him.

---

This is what it's like to feel like Ryoma right now:

You're barely aware of your father beginning his impassioned speech. His loud, booming commandeering voice rings out like a bell or gong, and all those within the vicinity snap to attention. You wonder how can you ever be like him, how can you live up to the expectations set. Your father and even the councilors. How can you ever match him?

You're barely listening to the topic that your father is speaking of, of the treaty, of the treaty's location, or even of Nohr who asked for the treaty between itself and Hoshido. You look and see many of the soldiers trading glances at each other. Their own collective and respective thoughts are clear: wonder among themselves what Nohr is trying to achieve out of the treaty, or perhaps wondering if Nohr truly wants a peace treaty. Commander Radcliffe comes into the topic by your father and many of the soldiers are glancing at among themselves again, though their attention goes back to your father, drinking in his important words.

Or perhaps something else. Maybe they weren't really thinking of the treaty or the topic of it. Either way, it didn't really matter.

From the corner of your eye, you see your youngest sister beginning to fuss in Mother's arms. She is happily gurgling. It makes you smile, because she is your youngest sister, though it doesn't reach your eyes. You also see Takumi, though he is looking up at the sky with a gaze of boredom, though his gaze flickers down at the soldiers occasionally because it seems why not? He doesn't want to hear this, because he does not care for such things. Lelas is standing off to the side, watching your father and awaiting.

You are aware that you're in deep thought, yet you cannot climb or swim out of it even though you want to, because of your father's crucial words. You knew how you got in, because it just occurred earlier in the morning at the breakfast table and just a few seconds ago. It was like a Riptide current, or a whirlpool, or a cliff of a mountain, or a crevice that a person fell into. You're swimming and climbing, pushing your limbs, exerting them with force and as much as you can to their limits, yet you cannot get out. Because no matter how hard you try, you cannot.

You're beginning to drown in them, until a voice calls out your name. You're snapped out of your thoughts, saved by a voice breaking through and pulling you out. Before you even know it, your father is addressing you to the crowd of soldiers. They stare at you with their variety of eyes. An array of colors of pupils is looking at you.

It makes you nervous, you realize. You also realize that earlier from breakfast and you're drowning again. You've become the center of attention that your father redirected at you. Attention you don't want or need because you do not feel right as of this moment. You feel those eyes staring at you, boring into you, trying to see every bit of your weakness and thoughts you wanted them to be unknown to the world. Now they know. Your thoughts of succeeding your own father is added into the mix and becoming king. You are not ready, because you realize the soldiers are under the command of your father and when you succeed him, you would have to command soldiers too, especially your father's. Soldiers that you worked with at times, but not all, and you feel that they do not trust you. They are not misplaced, because you do not feel ready at all.

The soldiers of your father are nodding at you. While some are just a thin straight line of neutral and placidity, others are smiling. You don't know what they are thinking, it makes you all the more nervous, and you can barely meet your eyes to the crowd's own.

Your father's voice ring out again. The attention on you is gone, replaced back to him, and you feel relieved now that the attention is not on you anymore. You feel his large hand pats your shoulder.

"Ryoma."

You hear the call of your name. It was higher pitched and feminine, tone down to almost a whisper. It was not your father but your mother. You look back at her.

"Are you alright?"

You blink, thinking. Did any other person recognize your plight? You idly glanced at your younger brother, Takumi. He was still watching the clouds. Was it only your mother then, because she knew? She saw through you and saw your insecurities.

You open your mouth to reassure her, because who wouldn't? "I'm fine, mother." You hear yourself tell her. "I'm alright."

But you weren't. You were not right at all.

And she knew, the look on her face. You didn't want to worry her but now you did. "Ryoma, you looked as if… as if you were nervous." She explains, thoroughly unconvinced of your reassurance. She leaned towards her oldest son, you, wanting to know. "Is something the matter?"

There is. Something is wrong, mother. You think. You desperately want to say to her, to confide in her your worries and your thoughts. You want to confess them, because you know she knew you aren't feeling right and you know it too and you don't want to deal with this anymore. She would make you feel better, because she is your mother.

Instead, what words pop out instead is a lie. A lie you never intended to say, yet you say them anyhow. You can't take them back.

"There's nothing. I'm fine."

No, I'm not. I don't feel right about this, mother.

She narrows her eyes, "Don't lie to me, Ryoma."

I'm sorry, mother. It's just that… it's just that I'm working with father. He is bringing me to the treaty and this entire work... How am I supposed to be like father? I feel that he is expecting highly of me and so is other people! I'm going to be king and I feel that he and others are expecting me to be like him! What if I don't meet their expectations? What if they hate or don't like me? What am I supposed to do?

You never got to say those words. You didn't get the chance to. The sound of footsteps echoed from the marmoreal and shiny floors from into the gaping open mouth of the castle and out where you were able to hear them. You see red and Hinoka is here. You notice too that Takumi also turns to see.

Mother is the first one to speak. "Hinoka, sweetie, you're here! What took you so long?" She glances into the mouth and into the bottomless pit of hallways into the castle, expecting. "Where is Kamui and Corrin? Were they in their room? Where are they?"

Hinoka looks up at their father, then back to her. "They're not there. I tried finding them around the castle. They're not anywhere in there. They're gone."

"What?! They're not in their rooms? Where they could be?" Your mother begins to worry. "Did they go out somewhere? Were they hiding somewhere? In their rooms?" None of them saw either of the two, so where could they be?

"They weren't in their rooms. I looked around and checked. I looked all around but they weren't in the castle anywhere." Hinoka shifted her gaze to outward of where the castle faced. A large vast landscape of cobblestone earth and grassland and the market square below. If they weren't in the castle, then they were somewhere out there. But wouldn't Kamui and Corrin-either of the two-tell then where they were going before they headed out?

You yourself look over the landscape yourself. From below, the soldiers begin to move again. There was nothing more being said from father. The speech you realized, has ended and you and your father were beginning to leave. Lelas, the soldier and messenger, has gone down the flight of steps to prepare for his own departure with the contingent. From the man's belt was secured and attached a short sword inside a sheath that concealed the weapon. Did the man change his weapons or did he always had a short sword?

Takumi pipes up, looking over the landscape outside. "They're probably out at the square or fields. We can go look for them."

Mother nods, agreeing to the statement. "Takumi, Hinoka. May you please go search for them?"

You agreed, "I'll come search for them too!" You were about to leave, and if you and your other siblings split up, it would make the search for your two other younger siblings more quick and easier task before you and father left.

She disagrees however. "You're staying here, Ryoma."

"What? Why? Mother, Father and myself are going to leave soon." You were suddenly perplexed and confused at your mother's insistence and refusal not to let you go. "We have to go find them."

She nodded, affirming. "That's right. But you said you were leaving soon with your father soon." Turning to her two other children, she says, "Takumi, Hinoka. Can you find both Kamui and Corrin right now?"

Your two younger siblings trade glances, but they don't object. "It's fine, Ryoma. We can find them easily." She looked over to Takumi. "Let's go, Takumi."

Before you can object (why would you? You are shocked at the idea of toying and considering it), you watch as they trail down the steps and into the distant landscape. The soldiers are dispersed and are idly standing by chatting with each other, nothing but to pass the remaining time. Others are checking over their weapons and carriages just before they depart. From farther down to the right side, Lelas was at his own carriage, chatting with soldiers nearby himself.

"Ryoma?"

You look up at your own mother, wondering. She casts her grey gaze down at you. She kneels down to your level, your stature, Sakura is still in her arms. "What is wrong?"

There is nervousness, nervousness indeed, and you cannot meet your mother's eyes. You know why, and you try to but you cannot. You try to will yourself to; force your sight up to hers, but you can't. You can't because you don't want to. You feel you don't want to.

You also want to explain why, but you can't.

Words come out. A jumble of a lie that you didn't want or will it to come out, yet it came out of your mouth either way. "It's nothing, mother."

Her brows slid down in a narrow, closing into each other, the corners of her mouth following suit. "Ryoma…"

You knew she hated lying. Your younger siblings have often done that enough for her to be intolerable of false conceptions. But any parent would have hated lying from a child of theirs anyway. Yet you are lying right now. Because you don't want her to see your weakness. Because you don't want to feel weak. Because you don't want to worry her.

Yet she knew, and you wanted to avoid it. An ironic desperation of you wanting her help. Yet you cannot face it head on because you only want to avoid it. A right and a wrong doesn't breed any right at all. Two opposite ends do not attract or mix.

"I…" You didn't realize that it was you who said and trailed off.

Her slight irritation at your lie is gone, replaced with motherly concern. "Ryoma, please tell me. What is wrong? What is bothering you?" She leans closer, embracing you, careful not to crush Sakura in between both you and her. "Please."

The next thing you know, you're speaking the truth. You know it's the truth because it is and it's what you're thinking. You know it's the truth because it doesn't sting you like a lie would, but you feel weak. You feel weak because the truth hurts in a way you can't describe or imagine it. You are not looking up at her, you are not meeting her gaze. Yet you are confessing. You are confessing because it was your mother's words of concern that had brought you up to this.

"I'm sorry, mother. It… it's that…!" You finally break free of the chains that bound you. You look up and her and spill your words into a whisper. "How am I supposed to be like father?"

"What do you mean?" Her words were soothing, in a sense alluring. Her soft voice comforted you and you could see why both Kamui and Corrin often hugged their mother. They craved her love and could not resist. It was a drug that made you high, yet it had no drawbacks. There was no consequence of sort to taking it. "Please, Ryoma. Explain. Tell your mother what is wrong." She brings you into the tasteful drug.

"It's… it's about the meeting." You don't bother to try and hide your hesitation. But why would you? She is your mother and you are revealing and confessing to her.

She is patient. You spill your words out to her, your confession of your weakness and worries. But she questions about your meeting, because she knows you wanted to be at the treaty of Hoshido and Nohr. It was your desire, after all. "What of the meeting, Ryoma?" Her voice was soft and yet so damn alluring.

A silence passes as she processes your confession. You are nervous and you have every right to be. What would she say? Finally, she speaks, "Oh Ryoma.., why didn't you say something earlier?"

She wasn't accusing. Merely asking. You knew she wasn't accusing you, but you felt she did. You felt that she would condemn you for your behavior. "I didn't know what to say." It was more than that. "I thought…" You trail off, ashamed of your weakness and unknowing of what to say next, but relief for confessing your worries. You could confide in your mother. There was nothing for you to worry about, because all felt right within the world.

All felt right when you are revealing your secrets to your mother.

The next words that she said, however, that made you feel anxiousness well up in you because it was your weakness revealed on her lips.

"You believe you have to be like your father? Is that what your father is expecting of you?"

You nod mutely. Your mother had put the exact explanation out what you confessed. There was no other way to say the explanation, because that was the only possible way. The blunt truth.

She brings you in. You smell the scent on her; the sweet perfume of Sakura trees and the flowers that was well known around the kingdom of everywhere within the kingdom. The bump in between was your youngest sister, and she was a baby.

You mumble into her. "I'm sorry." Why were you apologizing? Was it because you felt this way? You couldn't help yourself. Yet you felt that all this conflict you had was because you couldn't control yourself.

"Oh, Ryoma. You don't have to apologize."

You didn't. But it didn't make you feel any better because you thought of your father like this. It made you feel responsible.

You look back up to your mother because you needed to know. "Are you going to tell father?"

She glances down at the flight of stairs at your father, busy discussing with a small contingent of soldiers. Her expression soft and filled with something you could not make out. "Ryoma, do you not trust your father?"

Your answer is immediate, but also hesitant. You trail off yet again, answer cut short by your hesitation and bitterness at something. "I do! But it's just… I don't know what he will say." Your eyes flicker to your father's back.

This is what it feels like to be Prince Ryoma, the eldest son of King Sumeragi right now. You do not feel right within as this moment. It has started ever since the morning and breakfast has been served. It infected and spread ever since the meeting. It worsened as your father mentioned you and introduced you to the army. And it made you feel sick when your mother discovered it and sought to help you, even though you desired that support, because you felt weak in doing so in admittance.

---

Mikoto sighed, thinking over her eldest son's words; his mixed confession of his own internal conflict that raged and coursed through him. Now she knew every single thing wrong with her son. Why he was uneasy when their father mentioned him to the army. She was only dissatisfied she didn't notice her son's plight earlier in the morning at breakfast.

Or rather she did but didn't try to resolve it earlier. Takumi assumed Ryoma was thinking of the meeting; he wasn't far off from being correct but he was still off either way. She had no one to blame but herself.

She knew that Ryoma sought to be like his father; she looked over their work as spectator a few times and Ryoma attempted to mirror his father's. It was perfectly clear. He sought and craved validation and desired to be like him.

Right now, however, it seemed that all those was coming back to bite him. His own desires and wants turned against him.

She knew her husband for years. She knew how he prides and the decisions made to secure and protect their country. Mikoto knew of Sumeragi loved Ryoma like any of his other children, and supported his son in assisting him with work. But was Sumeragi aware that his son felt this way, that he felt inadequate or unable in the work? Because Ryoma believed the basis that he was not ready to succeed his father on expectations he believed his father had? Did Sumeragi have these expectations of his son?

The answer came to her clearly as she discovered her son's confession. It was an answer that came quickly, for in giving support.

No.

She believed if Ryoma had told his father what he was thinking, what he felt ever since the morning came, Sumeragi would not rebuke him or tell him that his worries were misplaced. He was not the kind of man to ignore troubles or whatever troubled others.

"Ryoma."

Ryoma's eyes flicker up to her, but his eyes still held that uncertainty from earlier. She hoped that it would go away immediately or sooner. "Do you believe you should tell your father?"

"I don't… I don't know." He was still hesitant. Then:

"Maybe?"

Mikoto smiled, her level down to his. "Do you want to know what I think?"

He nodded.

"I think that you should tell father about what you feel. He will not judge you for having this way to feel about him."

Ryoma remained silent, processing and thinking over his mother's words.

"Ryoma. It's up to you. You can tell your father or not. But I believe you should let him know. You cannot keep this in."

Ryoma looks down to his father discussing, his face screws up into an expression of thinking before he finally speaks. "I guess I should." A smile, though traces of his hesitance could be seen from the expression. The boy wraps his arms around her. "Thank you, mother. Thank you for helping me. I love you."

Mikoto returns the hug. "I love you too, sweetie."

Releasing the hug, the two look down the steps to see Sumeragi approaching. He looks down at his son, "We should be going soon, Ryoma."

The boy casts his gaze out into the empty void and the market below. "Yeah."

Just as the smile from the king's face appeared, it vanished just as quickly, replaced by a concern only Ryoma knew parents or adults could have. Ryoma felt something bubble up within him; it was a feeling, and that feeling was towards on the fact that he knew of his son's plight. "Is there something troubling you, Ryoma?"

"Father?" Did he know? Ryoma would let him continue.

"You seemed you were thinking of something earlier at breakfast. " He pauses slightly. "It is not the meeting like Takumi suggested, is it not?"

"It's not. It's about something else-" Ryoma pauses, thinking back to his mother's words.

Ryoma, it's up to you. You can tell your father or not.

"Is… is it alright if I tell you later?"

Sumeragi blinks at his words. "I suppose but… may I ask why not now?"

Ryoma shifts his gaze up to him. "I just want to discuss it later if it's alright."

Although he was king, Sumeragi knew he would not get an answer right now. Ryoma was his son and although he wanted to know his son's thoughts, he would not force or push his son to give an answer immediately. It was his son's choice when to reveal what he wanted to him.

"Very well. Tell me when you are ready." Ryoma releases a soft breath of relief.

Sumeragi looks out into the clear blue void, then glances back at his family. "We should get going now. It's time to go." He turns to Mikoto. "Are both Takumi and Hinoka not back yet? They went to find Kamui and Corrin?"

Mikoto frowns, her lips trailing downward on her pretty face. "They have, but it seems they are still trying to find them. But where are they? They should be back right now."

"Perhaps they found them already? They might be waiting for us at the gate." Sumeragi looks to the crowd. "In any case, there is no time. I should go to inform the army."

Turning to the crowd, he announces in the booming voice that had earlier captivated the crowd and captured their attention. The talking of the group dispersed into the air as their attention was focused solely on the king once more. As Sumeragi announces their intent to leave, a chorus of the soldier's voices; both male and female, deep and high in various pitches, all filled the air as they combined into one that could not be ignored because of the heavy intensity it belied. It sweltered quickly, bits and pieces forming.

"YES, SIR!" and "YES, MILORD!". The wave of the chorus ended just as soon as it arrived. The cacophony wave was carried back into the ocean and depths, and then ever person in the vicinity were moving. Sumeragi took lead of his army and family; the latter trailed by his sides while the rest trailed by his backs. The clip clop of horses became an uneven and carried no sense of rhythm. It combined with the footsteps of those controlling them. All together, the footsteps of animals and men became nothing more than a distant sound that faded as it drifted into the distance.

---

A popular site of attraction and social meeting and gathering in Hoshido was the market square was a place to discuss and chat with various other people. The streets were filled with an influx of those people. Reasons amongst others for being in the square were of, ranging from but not limited to: being a vendor to sell items and wares, simply chatting or discussing with others (hence the square being a perfect place for social interaction), and playing, for mothers and fathers brought their children out to play on the spacious and sprawling town square in order to accomplish the former reasons.

However, there was also a reason of another for being on the streets. This reason was unknown to the people and completely unaware of them. That reason would arrive very soon, as the massive influx would know.

Just when the people of the country, occupying the square. It came in the form of a shout, announcing for those all around the vicinity. A few heads turned, not all, as the shouts did not spread over the area populated and there were still a discussion among the people.

"The king is here! The king is here!"

The few that did hear the message of the others came to join in on the shout. More heads turned. Not all again however. There were yells for silence. Discussions were put on hold, stopping abruptly in beginning, middle, and end. New and old topics came to a halt from all three. Even the children stopped playing, their attention on games and other activities ceased as they too heard the message.

"KING SUMERAGI IS HERE! KING SUMERAGI IS HERE!"

The silence that followed afterward was held onto the square. Shouts of the message and loud announcement was replaced by the contrast emptiness of silence. The clear blue void of the sky swallowed it all up.

Then came the explosion. The voices that held discussions, the voices that shouted out prices and relics of sorts to sell. All seemed to drop in a moment of silence and hesitation as the people on the market streets began to spread and crowd around to the front. Like moths to a flame, they converged on the object of their attraction.

Sumeragi and Mikoto watches as the large crowd of people began to converge. The few detachments of soldiers were at the sides, front, and back, as they held the crowd of people back. The yelling became a symphony; a combination of shouts by the people of Hoshido from young to old.

"King Sumeragi!" "Queen Mikoto!"

The various shouts of young and old came in all directions and in such a high intensity that it coalesced into a deafening pitch, hat it was impossible to discern who from who. Yet both couples heard it all either way. Waving to the crowd, the two made their way down to the gates. Sakura nestled in her mother's arms as she blinked, looking around the area in her curiosity, woken up by the yells. Her eyes began to water unhappily with tears at the yells. Mikoto, quickly noticed her daughter's unhappiness, lulled her back into a deep sleep. Sakura's eyes closed again into a deep slumber.

Sumeragi shook hands with many of the civilians that occupied the square. A few discussion of some topics of interest with many filled the air. Mikoto also chatted, and the few swooned over the baby Sakura sleeping. Though both Sumeragi and Mikoto were chatting for the people for simply social interactions, they were also chatting for another reason entirely:

They were waiting for Takumi and Hinoka to come back with Kamui and Corrin.

Neither Takumi nor Hinoka had returned with both twins yet and Sumeragi and Mikoto-the two-hoped by talking that both had returned with the other two by now.

As Sumeragi finished a discussion with-he notices-a short stocky merchant and few others with a discussion about the fishing shores of the country nearing the eastern coast teetering the edges, he glanced around, his gaze followed along and scanning the buildings. Every intricate detail and down to the smallest bit.

He scans again, hoping. He is forced to cut off for a short instant. Another man, much younger, comes up to him, starting a topic of neighboring towns near Hoshido. Sumeragi gives him his fullest attention. The man steps back with satisfaction and soon there are others there taking the former's place to ask him a question or request. He flickers his eyes at Mikoto and she too is distracted with the crowd of people. Damn. No time. From above, there was a tall arch as two pillars stuck into the earth, holding the simple structure up. They were nearing the gates. He knew it. The arch was a sign of them nearing the gates. He used the arch as a reminder of them nearing the gates exits. They were close to it. Close to the gates and there were still no signs of his four other children. He could only hope that they would come soon.

---

"Hey, Lelas."

Lelas turns his head, the owner of the voice who said his name cutting through all the shouts of the large crowd of people. A soldier from beside him. He is adorned with the same grey plated armor. His lance is predominantly on his side, as he holds the weapon pointing up. He didn't know this soldier. But how could he? His first few weeks of greeting others and he barely only learned who was who in the army.

"Yes?"

"Who are we waitin on?"

Lelas blinks, "Waiting on?"

The soldier indicates to both king and Queen. "Both King Sumeragi and Queen Mikoto seem ta be waitin on something. They're talking a lot."

"So?"

"You kidding me? What else are they waitin on by just talkin? Take a gander."

Lelas scans through the soldier. From his view, he notices the young prince. "Well. Prince Ryoma is here. So is Princess Sakura…" A moment of silence passes through him before he flicks his eyes back to his fellow. "Wait, where is Princess Hinoka and Prince Takumi? Where is Prince Kamui and Princess Corrin?"

The soldier nodded, "That's who they're waiting on. Their kids."

Lelas tried to scan through the large crowd. No luck. Too many around to try and search through them. "Where could they be?"

The soldier shrugs, a gesture and sign of not knowing, and he turns back to the crowd of people."

Lelas's duty was to his king and Queen. He served the king proudly. As their children were theirs, his duty fell upon them as well. He wasn't their retainers nor their servants, but he was a soldier of Hoshido and under the orders of his king, he would gladly fulfill any task requested of him. If his king or queen requested their children to be found, then he would gladly try to do so.

For which is why Lelas was glancing at his king and Queen, a silent hidden urge. If either of them requested to send him or others out to find their children, then he would do so.

He was a soldier under the orders of his king. At home, he was just a man with a wife and child, who awaited the day he would return after serving in the army. But now, he was just a soldier under the order of his king. And that was it.

---

"Are you going with your father, Prince Ryoma?"

Ryoma could hear the question shouted out by one of the townspeople. He answered a simple short answer. "Yes, I am, sir!"

His answer brought cheers and nods from the townspeople. No more questions came his way after that, and Ryoma took the free opportunity given to think of another topic.

As much as he attempted to think of another topic, his thoughts were forcibly coming back to the meeting, for it they were recent and the revelation of his earlier plight was all connected to the treaty between Hoshido and Nohr.

His earlier resolve of telling his father of his thoughts. And his siblings. He remembered Hinoka and Takumi being at breakfast. Takumi was somewhat upset that they were leaving, stating both Kamui and Corrin would agree with his assertion that the kingdom was boring and that they should leave. Which led to another topic: Kamui and Corrin were still asleep, which was strange considering Kamui being much more early at waking than Corrin… Hinoka went after breakfast to wake them up, they were not in their rooms, leading into… his eyes snap up, and he took an intake of breath discovering this.

Where were they? Where were his siblings? They weren't back yet. Where were they?

He and father were readying to leave soon. Where were his siblings?

Hinoka and Takumi went to find both Kamui and Corrin, yet they were not back yet. It should not have taken the former to find the latter two.

"Mother? Father? Do you know where is Hinoka and Takumi? They went looking for Kamui and Corrin and they haven't come back yet!"

Mikoto casts a worried gaze and Sumeragi himself has a nervous look despite attempting to hide it behind a wall of nothing, as his face was entirely neutral. Emotions were hard to hide if they were too heavy.

Sumeragi looked at his wife, glances past the crowd, his soldiers, and back to Ryoma before his wife again. He knew her thoughts; her worries were as clear as the morning sky.

Sumeragi went over the information given:

Kamui and Corrin were not in their rooms earlier in the morning. Yet he and the rest of their family had clearly saw the two yesterday; that meant they woke up earlier.

Okay. Alright. That was he was undoubtedly certain of.

Since Kamui and Corrin were not in their rooms sleeping, or as Hinoka assumed before they checked, Hinoka attempted to find them around the castle and came up short. Takumi suggested that the two may be out somewhere outside the city. Hinoka related the information to their mother, and she sent Hinoka, with the addition of Takumi, to attempt to find them. The two didn't come back.

All these factors and information added up into multiple results Sumeragi concluded of provided.

The first one popped into his head as he assumed them by: Hinoka and Takumi found the two and were informing them of today's events. But if they found the two, wouldn't they have arrived already? Hinoka and Takumi knew of today's events and by all accounts have arrived as of right now. Sumeragi knew not to tell them, as they already knew to arrive at the gates. As a result, he crossed the first out, as it did not result in the conclusion.

The second one: Both Kamui and Corrin were still out somewhere. Hinoka and Takumi have not found them yet. Taking in the information, it seemed that this conclusion was most likely, given that Hinoka and Takumi have not arrived yet with the other two. This was all the more to send out soldiers to find them.

The two were the only conclusion he was able to draw from all the information. A feeling of disappointment that he did not arrive at more. What if…? By all the information… his eyes widened in fear and his heart began to race.

No.

No. There was a third conclusion. He would not consider that option. He would not see that option. He was drowning in the possibility of it despite it. Fear, the emotional bane, began to eat away at him, thrust deep into his chest and twisted and turned. It made his heart race, elevated it as rush of adrenaline courses through his bones. It forced him to see the third possibility that he didn't want to face, yet it forced him.

The four had been kidnapped.

Fear drummed his heart. He was sure that while his face remained neutral, his eyes were fresh and full of fear. With his will, he cast it aside as best as he could. Not that option, never that option. It must be the only the second conclusion. It must be.

Is it?

Yes it was. He answers the lingering self doubt of his own mind's interior.

He had no other choice. Both Takumi and Hinoka we're gone for too long searching for both other twins. He had no choice but to come to this decision as his four other children's disappearance brought nothing now but worry. Two searching for the other two brought it up to four missing. Both he and Ryoma were leaving shortly soon for the treaty. He could not find his children himself, as much as every instinct in himself wanted to.

In the end, by his and Ryoma's departure, which drew closer and closer, and his family's worries, he would have to send soldiers in an attempt to find them. He was not happy with his own decision much less. Not because of sending soldiers, as a few less would not harm the contingent. The group would rendezvous with Commander's Radcliffe's group before making their way down to the Bottomless Canyon.

It was because of borrowed time, which began to drain even further and further down until there was nothing left.

Even if his soldiers found the four by then, it would be too late, as he and Ryoma would be gone already. That meant leaving without saying goodbye to his children. He didn't want that. He didn't want to leave without saying goodbye before he left. Yet he and Ryoma could not wait any longer.

"I may have to send some soldiers to try and search around the entire kingdom again." Sumeragi looked at his contingent, and swallowing, reminding himself that it was the second and only the second conclusion.

The soldiers themselves notice their king staring at them, as they feel his eyes on each of them. "Is something the matter, milord?" A female on her horse and a sword strapped to her side, as with many of the others that had their weapons held off to their waists or backs.

Sumeragi looked at her and he reminded himself. Second conclusion. They were still finding them. "Yes." He was aware his voice croaked, so he clears his throat and repeats again. "Yes. My other children: Takumi and Hinoka, and Kamui and Corrin. They are not here."

A soldier pipes up from the surrounding contingent. "Have you sent Prince Takumi and Princess Hinoka to find Prince Kamui and Princess Corrin, milord?"

Sumeragi nodded. "I have. Or my wife, Queen Mikoto, has. They have not arrived as of yet."

The soldiers nodded amongst one another, trading glances. "Is it you want us to find them, milord?"

Sumeragi looked over them. From the side of the surrounding soldiers under his order, the crowd of people began to disperse. Their chatter and discussion fading off as they attended back to market stalls and each other.

"Yes."

Glances were thrown at others again, though this time it was to the conclusion of who would stay behind. Who would stay behind to find the children of their king?

Sumeragi looked at each of them. Names formed into his head, those who worked the longest with him. Their faces he could clearly see in his mind, because of their length of work. They form into and he looked into the crowd. Their names on his lips.

"Father!"

Sumeragi was about to name the soldiers, their names nearly leaving, until the shouts; shouts of his name into the distance of the kingdom. It was slightly faded from the distance, until another came out, much closer and more clear to him. Sumeragi, Mikoto, Ryoma, even the soldiers. All turned to the sound of voices that had captured their attention only barely and then clearly.

Both Takumi and Hinoka were sprinting towards the group. As they drew closer and closer; converging, Mikoto walked with quick steps, the soldiers stepping aside to give space, creating an opening and gap from the previously surrounded King and Queen. Mikoto wrapped her arms around the two, holding them.

"What took you two so long?! Are you alright? Where's Kamui and Corrin?! Aren't they with you?!"

"Mikoto."

Mikoto turned to her husband, realizing, and then promptly releasing them.

"Takumi. Hinoka."

"Papa." The two chorused.

Sumeragi looked at them and then, with the open space parted by the soldiers looked into the distance where they came from. "What took you so long? Where is Kamui and Corrin?"

Sumeragi held his belief that the second option was true. He reassured himself that it was and was only the second option. He did not believe the first and refused to believe the third. If any person were there to witness his thoughts, they would say he was overthinking and jumping to implausible conclusions with the third. Two of the four were here, but yet the other two were not.

Sumeragi didn't know if it was a relief, but he still was grasping where the other two could be when he heard their answer from Hinoka. "We can't find them."

Takumi spoke up, adding to her tale. "I searched all over the city. And Hinoka looked all over the field where they hid and we played tag yesterday. They're not there either."

It was a relief. Sumeragi realized that the third option was merely of his own fears, driven up underneath and designed from unconsciousness set forth. Like a wave of water, it rushes over him. Goosebumps spreading out over his body as it tenses and relaxes, shiver accompanying it. As it passes through, he realizes the question of his two other children's whereabouts still remained: "Where is Kamui and Corrin then?"

A yell rang out, his question left unanswered in the void, as not a person knew. "King Sumeragi! We're approaching the gates!"

Sumeragi could only swear under his breath. There was no time. He could not stall for any more time any longer. Regrets and guilt formed into his head, making itself prominent out of all the others.

He would say goodbye to all of his children except Kamui and Corrin.

"Hondo! Mineta!"

Both soldiers named snapped to attention. Their posture straightened at their king's call. Years of serving and working under king had forced them to be ready at any given notice. "Yes sir!"

"Return to the barracks. Inform others in your contingent to search all over the area around the city square and fields for them. Once you have found them, inform my wife, Queen Mikoto!"

The two nodded, "Yes sir!" The rest watched as the two faded into the distance Hinoka and Takumi came from.

Mikoto turns back to her husband. "We cannot wait any longer?" The saddened, sorrowful expression tore at his heart, yet he resolved to stay strong.

He could only offer a response that matched the expression on her face, "Im sorry, Mikoto. I wish I could-We could." He glances down at Ryoma. "But we have waited for too long. Ryoma and I must leave for the meeting immediately."

Takumi looked up at him, "But Kamui and Corrin aren't here yet!"

He knows, yet he could not wait. He knew the words and they slashed at his heart, blood pumping by all the veins flowing. His heart was bleeding.

Hinoka also seemed to agree, for she too argued against her father. "They'll come soon! Anytime right now they'll come out!"

But she knew that was a futile, hopeful thought. Her brain telling her that they will come, yet she knew otherwise. She tried to convince herself, yet she placed her hopes on that they will come, because Kamui and Corrin were her younger siblings.

Sumeragi cursed himself for what he said next, yet he didn't know what other option he could put them. There was no other option. "They aren't coming. They don't even know."

Hinoka's hopeful expression, hopeful just as her thoughts would be, melted and Sumeragi felt guilty. Responsible.

"King Sumeragi!" A soldier called out.

Sumeragi nodded at the soldier's words that snapped him out. His voice was quiet. "Let's go."

It was a short, silent trip down to the gates after Sumeragi told them. The entire family of Hoshido was down, their mood soured, after the revelation of the two other remaining family members of theirs was nowhere to be found.

The various civilians there at the gates were discussing with soldiers and guards, and when they saw the family and army contingent gave a wide berth for the large group as they moved to the side. A few guards went down; a short chat with them, and they were back to their posts.

The few soldiers in Sumeragi's contingent began to saddle onto their horses for earlier they did not. Others checked their weapons and their carriages, making sure that everything was in order. There were only a few stops for a quick break before they were off again.

Sumeragi looked at his family, ushering Ryoma to stand beside him. He exchanges a glance down to his son, before the rest of his family standing before him. "We going to go now."

Mikoto stepped up first, kissing her husband passionately. Sumeragi held her; his wife, and the rushing air came; the scent of Sakura flowers in the air. Mikoto releases the kiss, her breath faint, "Goodbye. I love you."

Sumeragi meant every single word that came out next. He loved his wife more than anything. "I love you too. Goodbye, Mikoto." He looks down at the sleeping baby in her arms. "Goodbye, Sakura."

Hinoka and Takumi stepped up next. The two both in their father's arms. "Goodbye, Papa."

"Goodbye, Hinoka. Goodbye, Takumi."

Ryoma said his goodbyes next. Giving his mother and siblings a hug, sans Kamui and Corrin, he bid them goodbye. "Goodbye, mother."

"Goodbye, Ryoma."

"Tell me about anything besides the meeting!" Takumi's response was expected, even as Hinoka just gave him a look, but Ryoma promised he would. "I just wish I could come though."

Ryoma fought the urge to smile. "It's fine. And hey, maybe next time you can come! I'll convince father to let you come."

"Yeah, right." He barely hears him mutter. Ryoma couldn't hold the smile back anymore and just let it form onto his face.

Hinoka's goodbye, however, was just as her mother's. "Goodbye, Ryoma."

"Goodbye, Hinoka."

The final goodbyes were said, and both Sumeragi and Ryoma took one last look at their family at the gates. Sumeragi told the three if they ever saw Kamui and Corrin, they would tell them of today's events, his and Ryoma's goodbyes for the two, as they were not physically here, and they promised they would. The soldiers beside them, waiting for him to finish. Father and son took one last look at their family, and with a shout, jostled the army into action; his order springing them alive. Together: father and son, and the contingent of Sumeragi's soldiers. All melded into one before they faded into the distance; their bodies shaping into dots that became further and harder to see until they were gone, the empty sky taking the place of the departing dots once more.

---

Yeah, so I decided this is the longest chapter I ever done so far. 20k words and that was hell to write. Expect this length or so, perhaps even longer, when I want to reach a certain point in the chapter, AND, ignore the last chapter author note of having shorter chapters.

My intent was to start with dinner with the siblings, all the way to Sumeragi and Ryoma preparing to leave. I also wanted to show many different points of views by the entire family and even common soldiers such as Lelas. Not to mention also townspeople, because in the games we never got to learn the thoughts of the civilians. I thank fanfiction for allowing writers like us to explore that opportunity. Hope you enjoyed Sumeragi and Mikoto interacting with the civilians and people of Hoshido. Expect that more if you like and enjoyed it.

From the few other Corrin twin stories I read out there, both usually hide away to attempt to come to the treaty on that certain point of the story. I decided I wanted to make my version of it, and shake and twist it up a bit and giving a complete version from beginning to end. The result was that Kamui and Corrin nearly missed, or on the assumption, they missed their chance to leave Hoshido with Ryoma and Sumeragi but it turned out not to be the case after all. Still, there was a realm of possibility of them actually missing their chance, thus unable to leave Hoshido, if their assumption of Ryoma and Sumeragi leaving proved correct...

As a final note or rather, a thank you to all readers out there for bearing with my slow updates and reading this far into my story. Or for a better word, monthly, as I look into my past two chapters of this story. I try but cannot upload consistently. Like I said, I have no plans to abandon this story. I intend to see this story to its fullest and end.

Good news, however, inspiration struck me recently because I want to achieve a certain point in this story, and this has given me more time to write and possibility to upload more consistently for you guys. Again, chapters might be especially long as this, perhaps even longer, so there is a chance that I cannot accomplish the latter as successful I am with the former. You can type and progress a story but what good is it if it's still being developed and you cannot post it up because it is an incomplete prototype?

Once again, thank you and I will see you next time.