Hello there! Shidesu here

Ok guys, i´ve heard (read) all your comments and reviews of the last days, and i assure you that i´ll explain as best as i can without any spoiler, for now let's begin with the story, I'll see ya at the end of the chapter.

SHIDESU! OUT!


Chapter 3: The new Dawn

Hinoka couldn't believe it, after all those months, for the first time in the last days she was happy, excited to return home, after what was a bloody campaign she was allowed to return to the capital, it was like a dream, she remembered the last time she could sleep at ease in the border and it felt so far away that if someone asked how much time has passed she would say years, but it was only five or six months at best, fighting, training, surviving…..and most of all, crying in silence.

It was surreal what happened in that day, how Kamui refused to join her side to fight for his, their homeland, how she tried to convince him with tears in her eyes as she refused to point her nagitana against him, she refused to believe that he was gone, but after that battle, seeing his empty room at the castle again after the month he was on the castle, there was another void in her heart, an indescribable feeling of uncertainty and sadness invaded her heart, why she trained? How could she move on? What was the reason to keep fighting? After all those years training and honing her skills, it was all for nothing in the end, at least is what she thought for months, after receiving reports that Ryoma successfully invaded Nohr border and what was more, there were rumors about a certain albino traveling with him, she didn't want to have false hopes, but maybe, just maybe Ryoma managed to get Kamui into reason, perhaps he saw the mistake of supporting a nation that not only kidnapped him and killed his father, but also played an important part in Mikoto´s dead, after a few weeks she saw the unbelievable, that transparent white veil that fell from the sky, the moment the vail fell over their enemies, all the Nohrian forces suddenly stopped their advances, instead they witnessed how all their numbers retired for the hundreds, not even a single soldier remained in the woods, mountains or plains after some days, it was just a few months ago or even better, since she saw how the faceless were unable to pass through the barrier, they just remained still after some meters after it and with the hours the magic that forced them to stay on the realm of the living just banished leaving behind a grey-ish dust.

She couldn't believe it, after so many time, Ryoma brought him back, and they managed to not only use the same barrier, but also to improve it, now the Norhian weren't able to send anything against them, with the new edge they were in a better position to re-supply, to rebuild, to live and to prepare for the incoming war, she didn't knew how much it would take to defeat them, but at least with Kamui on their side she saw a glimpse of hope.

Now she was riding her steed, with a chorus behind her, all those brave men and women were returning after a long battle to finally reunite with their families until the next fight, but for now, they were in really good spirits and marching back home, little by little the forces in her group were dismissing in their respective villages and towns, when the Palace was on sight her group was barely a little scout squad, it wasn't surprising since they were just the soldiers and healers from the palace, after they arrived to the main square of the capital, she was wondered for what was in front of her.

The statues were rebuild, all the little stalls were back in their places, most of the sellers were back on business and of course what warmed her heart was the sight of the sea of people who were celebrating around the place, kids chasing each other in the market playing with toy swords, the housewife's doing their chores without a hint of worry in their faces, the guards prepared to defend and fight with a refreshed look in their formation instead of the tired soldiers who were doing extra job to maintain the peace, it was just like the old days…..except for…..

A statue in the center of the main Street, it was new of course and it wasn't surprising to see it, the white sculpture of the late Queen Mikoto that adorned the market, her gentle face and fine features that was the same image of her just before that incident, lotus flowers at the foot of the monument, incense that sweetened the atmosphere while one after another villagers came to leave their offering and give a little prayer to the lost queen, Hinoka walked to the Palace just to find another monument, a black stone with the names of the fallen people of the incident, engraved in white letters and of course, almost the same presence of flowers and incense, she placed her hand on the cold stone as she closed her eyes, it wasn't for nothing, at the end they sacrifice had meaning, now Kamui was back where he was supposed to be, they were secure in their home and finally, she could be with him, perhaps hit him a couple of times before drowning him in tears of joy, after all, her heart was racing every time she thought of him in those last days with a faint blush on her face, shaking her head, she followed the few soldiers and officers who were walking to the Palace.

The cheerfulness in her step changed to confusion, in the hall nobody knew about Kamui or where he was, butler after butler, maid and retainers didn't knew where he was, what was worse the moment she tried to talk with Hana or Tsubaki about the subject they just grim-faced and didn't dared to look at her to the eye, saying stuff like "Just rest and leave it for later" or "He´s not ready for visits" was the common answer for everyone else, but the answer of Sakura´s retainers was shocking and disturbing, saying 'Don't be so hard on them' and 'Don't have so many expectations', for some reason the way they said it give her a bad taste in her mouth, ignoring their words she just left her steed on the stables and looked for his 'brother' and to know what made him change his mind, the first logical place was to look in his room, but after she arrived to that place, there was nobody there, no clothes, or food, nothing, even the drawings of his childhood were gone, something that was unforgivable in the first place, he was gone for so long and betrayed them in a way, but that wasn't reason enough to just discard everything that was related to him, less when he was the reason that the barrier was protecting them, biting her lip she continued looking for him, room after room, most of them were empty or just with people who didn't wanted to share his location, after roughly an hour she managed to hear something promising, a pair of maids were talking about Kamui´s lunch time and with tray´s on hand, they were within minutes of bringing him his food, it was silly that she had to hide, but after wasting part of her day in something that simple, she didn't want to risk that they stopped and mis-directed her, after all no one of the personal of the castle wanted to share that information, and after trying to speak with Ryoma´s or Sakura´s retainers with little success this was her best shot to find him.

It was strange, she recognized where the maids were going, but after some minutes she found herself in front of her departed mother door, did they made a mistake? It was unusual to see them in that place, after all their rooms were three floors below and Mikoto´s belongings were supposed to be respected until the next year, she was about to open the door but some strange noises stopped her, it was like someone was complaining, more like if they were having problems inside, the sound of something heavy moving and someone in pain, without wasting another second she entered the room with her nagitana in hand, what she saw stopped her heart for a moment, with widened eyes she tried to comprehend what was in that place.

Near of the balcony were the maids, a raven haired woman who had the tray in her hands unlike she thought before, it contained a bowl with a towel and with the thin lines of steam, it was just hot water, the other bluenette had a lot of flask´s, small bottles and bandages, some of them with stains of blood, in front of them there were two people kneeling and other sit, she recognized Orochi who looked back with surprised eyes, her expression was a mixture of worry and sadness, it was like he was caught red handed, at her side was a red-haired shrine maiden who had the same expression on her face, and finally the last person in the room, someone with his back exposed with a gruesome lighting scar and tattoo on his back, emaciated and with barely energy to stay still, bandages on his wrist´s with blood, if there wasn't for his white and thin hair she would never have thought in a certain person, trembling and with a knot in her throat she asked "K-Kamui?" the man reacted to her voice, he slowly turned to see her face, tears formed in her eyes as he finally revealed his face, for a moment she saw the image of his face, his smiling face without worries, in the blink of an eye the reality struck her when the memory faded and was replaced for that tired and hurt face, a slit lip on the left side of his mouth, small scars all over his cheeks and bag under his eyes, his vivid crimson eyes were now without his light, specially his right eye that even if it still had his dragonic trait´s, it was opaque, he frowned when their eyes met and looked away.

"What´s this? A new way to hold me back?" he asked, Hinoka couldn't recognize his voice, it was totally strange to her ears, it was filled with so much venom and hatred, Hinoka took another step closer dropping her nagitana and with her hand on her chest.

"Wh-What?! Hold you back? Wh-What you mean? I-i thought that y-" she stopped when he raised his left arm showing his bandages on his wrist.

"You won't let me live OR die as i want, the least you can do is to leave me alone" he said without looking back "After all, Yukimura said 'peace at all cost'" Kamui huffed before Orochi sighed standing up and walking to the princess who was in shock for his harsh words, her lips were trembling and tears had fallen from her face for some time now, the diviner placed her hand on her shoulder but she pushed it away, she tried to approach him, to embrace him and know what happened in all that time they were away of each other, but the moment she tried to walk to his side another hand stopped her who took her wrist, turning around she saw that it was Ryoma, strangely with claw scars on his face and his left eye was black, Ryoma slowly shook his face and sighed.

"Hinoka…i….we need to talk"


To Mike AZ 2: Glad to see you liked the whole idea and i concur with you, at this point is clear that Ryoma wouldn't use tactics like that, everything will be clear in the next chapter with some luck, and yes, i agree that Elise is vital for the birthright route but I'm thinking on doing a 'revelations' path in this one, or perhaps another route? There are a lot of fanfictions that follow a different route away of the canon, so perhaps i can work on that, don't worry buddy, i´ll keep you posted in any of your reviews and don´t worry about your last review, you´re not bashing the story, in fact I'm glad that you left your review, it proof enough that is not only interesting but also good enough for the audience to leave your opinion, as i always say, all reviews are welcome, if is your first time seeing my work, i recommend to read "the fated dragon" it need improvement and beta readers, but you´ll get an idea of how my work is.

To Temporal King: under handed? Remember the last Pm´s? they´re going to jump from the fry to the fire in the next chapters, all the freaking hints around the chapter and their little conversation should be proof enough of how fuc**d up is the whole situation, wait for the next chapter.

Ok guys, in other news, expect updates this week for two or three fanfictions, so i´ll let you know any update or any interesting note, still looking for beta readers who can help me with the editing of the chapters and still having issues with the translation, so any help is welcome.

And just before i forget, the options of the special of this month are: CamillaxKamui, ElisexKamui, VeluriaxKamui, SelkiexKamui and supports between Kanna and Kamui, i´ll extend the time until the next Monday to leave your review in any other suggestion, with my free time and with enough votes i´ll publish no only 1, but two special if there are enough options, sooo what are you waiting for?

Thanks for your time and for reading, i hope you enjoyed and have a nice day and week!

(By thr way, yeah, i know that i updated the chapter in the wrong fanfiction, sorry about that, i guess i was more sleepy than i though xD)

SHIDESU! OUT!