Silence.

Ryoma wanted to hear that, or something similar to silence, perhaps the sound of the birds at the morning sun, or the cheers of the few folks celebrating the festival, but from his window, the plaza was desolated, just a few Anna´s that were trying to cheer up themselves as the first ray lights illuminated the place. The royal gardens were a mess as well, the millenarian sakura tree was half singed as the small lake had seen better days, part of the wall surrounding the castle were in shambles as some of the guards were doing their routine, others guarding the openings all around the palace. A sigh left his lips. Seeing the worst, a few floors above was the late queen's private bedroom, or whatever remained of it. It was sheer luck that the east wing didn't fall from the strength of the outburst. The once impregnable palace now had a big, black hole at one of its sides and he could see the figures of Orochi and Kagero in the room, trying to save whatever was left.

"Milord," Saizo kneeled, taking him out of his thoughts.

"I don't want to hear it," he started to walk through the hallways, with his hand on his hilt of Raijinto.

"But, milord, w-"

"I said not now, Saizo," he frowned as the ninja followed him. He didn't had time for that kind of pressure, at least not now, if he was going to face the consequences of that night, then he had to choose if it was worth the effort. He didn't want to admit it, but at some point, it was better to sacrifice Kamui instead of having a civil war, and thinking that was something he hated to do. "What´s the report of the pegasi knights?"

"Nothing out of normal, milord, we´re still looking for the ones that went missing when we departed from the capital."

"And the guards?"

"Most of them are in the medical tents, Reina´s Loyal kinshi warriors are guarding and filling any empty space. We won't have air force but we won't miss if a single rock moves without you knowing it, sir."

"And you still can't find Yukimura, right?"

Saizo's pained expression and grunt made him sigh again. "My apologies sir, that…. That sneaky rat is really good at hiding, we can't even find the correct trace after what happened last night."

"So he hid his footsteps and whereabouts from the start….. He never trusted us in the first place," he thought as his expression hardened. "And about the citizens?"

"Several injuries, burns and bruises, but no causalities, most of the injuries were provoked by the panic, but the kinshi warriors managed to maintain the control and evacuate most of them to a secure place."

"Then, why don't we use some of our soldiers or lance masters to patrol around the castle?"

"I'm sorry milord, perhaps I should be more specific, most of the humans are unharmed but alive, 1/3 of our Pegasus are either dead or too traumatized to be of any use."

"And Hinoka's steed?"

"Fortunately, it was outside the city, it escaped a few hours before the incident, I think it was guarding Lady Hinoka until Kamui´s rant."

"…..it's not the best news, but it´s something," he stopped in front of a door, with a long and deep breath, he knocked.

"…..Come in….." he opened the door as Reina was lying on a bed, Sakura healing her wounds as Hinoka was leaning against the wall. A frown on her face appeared when their eyes met and she looked away, for the black bags under her eyes, it was clear that she didn't sleep last night. "Milord…I'm-"

"Don't move, Reina, you´re not in condition to bow," it was strange to see that woman so injured, bandages on her head, stomach, shoulders, hands and wrist. "I hope this is not a bad moment."

"No milord, actually… I just woke up….."

"What´re you doing here, anyway? Aren't you supposed to march or something?" Hinoka replied, making Sakura nervous as Reina deadpanned.

"Milady, I don't think you should speak like that t-"

"It's the truth," she looked at her. "The first thing he does after returning from wherever he went is trying to separate the only person who calmed down Kamui!"

"I wanted to speak privately with Oboro, I w-" He tried to defend himself but Hinoka interrupted again.

"To know what? What happened? How to control him? If she would use him as a tool or a time bomb as Saizo suggested?!"

"That´s enough!" He yelled, but for the first time Hinoka wasn't calmed by his voice, she clicked her tongue and crossed her arms looking away.

"That´s what you should tell to that excuse of a man, and Saizo too."

"Hold on, Lord Ryoma, can you explain?" Reina asked as Ryoma scratched the side of his head.

"We were trying to figure out what happened this morning, Hinoka and Saizo had a little disagreement when he suggested using the dungeon again in a way to find out how to control that rampage."

"…..I hope he´s jesting, I can't move or fight, but I'm sure I can use my good arm before it breaks to pierce some of your ribs with my Nagitana, Saizo," Reina's cold glare made him look away with cold sweat on his back.

"I'm sure we can solve this, we undert-"

"NO, WE DON'T!" Hinoka yelled, making Reina grimace. "Stop saying that we understand him because it's clear that we don't!"

"Hinoka, cal-"

"To start with, we weren't there when he needed us, more than never, we can't even comprehend how much he is suffering for us, we don't know what is happening in his head or what are his feelings, now all of a sudden Oboro tells us that he was….he was…." She bit her lower lip "….just…stop…. stop trying to calm us down with false promises!"

"Dear…." Reina shook her head when their eyes met, Hinoka looked down tightening her teeth's with white knuckles.

"….we couldn't do anything…I….I couldn't do anything…"

"…Hinoka….. Calm down, there must be a way to solve this…." Ryoma tried to cheer her up, but pushing away his hand when it was about to touch her shoulder and walking to the door, it was clear that she wouldn't listen to him now.

"….all of this….." she looked down, saddened. "…all my training…and I can't save him…..even when I'm supposed to….." left the room still with that pained expression Ryoma hated to see "…there is…..just one thing I can do….." were her last words before leaving.

"…th-that could be worse….." Sakura sighed.

"It should have gone worse than that, sweetheart….." Reina sighed "Then, what'd you want to know?"

"…..I'm not sure were to begin with, but, I guess I´ll just ask for something simple, did you managed to do whatever you wanted to do?"

"….well….it´s not official…..yet….but he agreed to….."

"D-d-did I miss something?" Sakura asked nervously, it was uncanny to see Reina with a faint delighted smile and a silly face.

"Not darling….it's just….Lord….no, K-Kamui agreed to something one week ago….."

"….Would you tell me about it?" Ryoma inquired crossing arms.

"Sure, it's not like it would be a secret, at least not now…." She closed her eyes one moment, it was weird for Ryoma, the always battle-crazed woman had a melancholic look around her? She sighed with a delighted smile. "I think….it was in the morning…"

Some days ago.

"…Hueeeeeh… as I thought…..this is not good….." Kamui complained, making Reina raise her eyes curiously from her book. She was sit with crossed legs watching the albino, a small chuckle left her lips, he quickly turned to see her but she returned her gaze to her novel. "Just say it…. It´s bad….."

"Art is not my strong point, lord Kamui," she carefully as she turned the page. "But….I must say…I think is a really cute bat…."

"…Cat….." he sighed leaving the brush on the table "You know….that white cat…the kitty that Hana brought with Sakura….how do you….confuse a cat with a bat?"

"Well….you know, those wings, and those long ears….with that sakura tree."

"….It's Hana holding the kitty…..forget it…..it doesn't work at all," he sighed exhausted, she perceived something strange in his movements, almost like if he pushed his shoulder up to 'push away' someone whispering in his ear. Was there something wrong? Perhaps another intent from Yukimura, she needed to act quickly.

"Well…. I think it´s a cute ba-cat, definitely cat!" she crossed her finger. "But I guess that we need an expert in art, perhaps your unique style can be a new kind of art, m-"

"Reina, stop it, I don't want to hear something as stupid like that," he sighed again and sat in front of her, on the lower table of the room, he got somewhat accustomed to sitting on his legs, but his manners were a little outdated.

"…Then…"

"I quit….."

"That´s not good, you have to do something, oth-"

"Why? I'm a prisoner, it's not like I have to…." That was bad, she could feel how the mood was changing to quickly. She sat in front of him while he continued. " … all I have to do is not die or be a bad prisoner, especially trying to bite my toun-"

"That´s horrible! And you know it," she frowned, he wasn't impressed or flinched by her. "We only want what was best for you, and y-"

"And this is the best? Being held as a good dog with his special lash? Should I be a singing canary in my golden cage? Should I be grateful for sparing me instead of letting me stay with E-" He stopped mid-sentence, Reina was confused seeing how his expression changed from tiredness to anger, then to melancholy. "…..with everyone…..with my family…"

"We are your family"

"No, I may share blood with Ryoma and the others, but that didn't stop Yukimura or Takumi from doing what they have done, right?"

"That´s enough, you know that we don't agree with their methods, less about your situation."

"And disagreeing is so useful right now….." he hit the table with his forehead.

"Kamui!"

"I'm fine…..I just….want to be alone….like right freaking now…."

"You know I won't leave you…."

"Then do me a favor and stay quiet for a minute, return to your book or something, I do-o-ouch! What the-!?" He raised his head when she hit him with the book. "Wh-"

"Now listen to me, young man, and listen very carefully….." she started with determination in her eyes. "It doesn't matter what the others say, know for sure that I'll never allow anyone hurt you, not now nor never, I´ll do everything in my power to make sure you can have your life back, young man, but before that, you need to trust me."

"Right, like if I could do that …. just do me a favor Reina, forget it."

"Forget what?"

"Forget about your oath, or vow, or whatever you did before all this…."

"Wh-What? What´d you mean?"

"I….I heard a lot of things, you know…. From here and there…. How Oboro….Hinoka….you…. even them…." He looked up for a short moment before returning his gaze "All of you…you´re here just because of my mother….just forget it….. anyone who´s close enough usually suffer, so just leave…. There´s nothing you can do….it´s not like I matter anyway….I j-"

*Slap*

He stopped, feeling that stinging pain in his face, Reina frowned with some tears in her eyes.

"Never….ever say that again…" did she slapped him? He couldn't think as she continued "Your mother gave everything for you, EVERYTHING, I saw her several nights mourning you, wishing to embrace you again, of all the things you could say now…. To think that we don´t care, that nobody cares, is one of the most hurtful things you´ve said….."

"…..Why do you even care?"

"I…."

"These words…. Why are you going beyond your oath? You´re a stranger to me….."

"…..Maybe you don't remember…. But…. I used to nurse you… I saw you when you were nothing more than a toddler…. I heard your first words, your first steps….. the first smile….you´re…."

"What? A son to you? Don't be ridiculous….." he sighed and looked at her face, strange to see that her eyes felt sincere and her posture was….. motherlike? "…you´re….. you´re kidding…..right?"

"Well…. To be honest…." She took some papers under her yukata, placing them on the table "…..I want to…. Be helpful….. to be more than a guardian….I hoped that….."

"Are you crazy? You want to be related to me? What good could come from that? Being my ´mother´ would only end with you suffering over stupid things…."

"…."

"And besides, look at me! Do you realize what I am? I´m a traitor to Hoshido! No sane woman would like to have around! Much less as a son! I'm a disaster! There is no future for me."

"Then, let me help you forge your future, after all, that´s the parent's job, isn't it? To help their sons."

"….Why are you going so far? This is too much for a jest or an oath….."

"Well… as your 'wannabe mother', I care deeply for you, so I want to do everything in my power to prove you that I'm on your side, but I can help you if you don't let me…"

"…..Geez…. Hoshidans are really weird…." Kamui let his head hit the table annoyed "is this a thing with everyone, or just you?" he complained, making her feel anxious.

"…"

There was silence for some minutes as he mumbled some words. Did she push it too far? She wasn't sure if it was the correct way to express her feelings, it was the first time she talked about something so complicated and there was a void in her chest.

"….Fine, whatever…."

"Uh?"

"What do I need to do?" he took the papers, frowning. "….It is in Hoshidan….I can't read them…I…what? Why are you crying now?"

"Uh? Me?" she cleaned her tears with her sleeve "Sorry…. It's just…I didn't expect that," she sighed, relieved.

Even if she believed it was her imagination scheming up her hopes, she could swear seeing a faint smile on his lips, his eyes, that were always tired and without light, gained a hint of….happiness?

She couldn't describe it, that feeling deep in her chest. She was sleepless for the last few days, trying to figure out a way to approach, to try to get her own feelings out of her chest, and just like that, he lifted that huge weight of her shoulders.

It wasn't a vow, it wasn't an oath of loyalty, but her desire, her desire to pick up were Lady Mikoto left, to try and prove that he wasn't the enemy, and that Hoshido was sullied with that man's actions.

She was really fond of that memory. Ryoma and the others listened to her retell it, in their eyes, she was happy, not aching for the battlefield or the blood of the enemies, but the high prince couldn't see her as any other thing than a woman who wanted to protect her child.

"…..Reina….."

"That´s why… Lord Ryoma, with all due respect…. I´ll make something clear…." Her eyes darkened seeing the prince "What´re you going to do? Are you going to judge him? Or perhaps another resolution?"

"It´s to early for that, we still need to find Yukimura and whatever he´s planning to do."

"…..Right…. well….. I'm just thinking out loud, but…. A direct attack on the capital, to the chief of the royal war and the destruction of the palace….. not that I heard, some of the servants could hear his ranting…. I'm not sure if they see him as a victim or…. Something else…." She cleared her voice "With that thought…..I have a request….."

"Wh-What is it?"

"…..If he gets the charges of treason or something similar..….then kill me right now…"

"Wh-What?! / R-Reina!" Sakuara and Ryoma couldn't believe what they heard.

"I vowed to Lady Mikoto to protect Hoshido…. but… with my new role in Kamui´s life… I can´t precisely say what I'm able to do, right now I'm holding back the urge to take my naginata and eviscerate that excuse of a man, hurting my child in this way... I'm not sure what I will do if he even gets to accuse Kamui of treason and set an audience with the council ending in a war tribunal….I ….. I…" she stopped talking when Ryoma placed his hand on his shoulder.

"…..No, I won't do that, first of all, he´s my brother and I won't allow something like capital punishment to fall on him….."

Reina still looked anxious, but without more options, she sighed tiredly "….I'll take you word….."


He jumped from the chill on his back, his breathing was rugged and difficult, his body was screaming with every inch of his flesh, his vision was blurred and the torches barely illuminated the room.

He looked at his right, although he lay on the floor, he couldn't remember the reason. Seeing the torn cloth and the bloodstain were his arm should be, he remembered, the memories came back as cold droplets that pierced his skull.

How he was on the garden, trying to suppress Kamui's rant, the feeling of his fang destroying his flesh to finally hear his bones creaking and breaking, making him fall on one of the edges of the stone wall. Oboro taking the orb as Kamui reverted, he was crying with blood on his mouth, his blood.

How dare he?! To treat him like nothing more than a rag doll! His head hurt and his heart was beating so fast that he thought that he would lose it. Although he wanted to kill that mongrel, there was no time, in the blink of an eye he was transported to the place where the orb was, he fell to the desk feeling how his body was cold, taking a metal pole with a semi-circular flat end, he placed it on the improvised oven he had in the room, feeling that his body was failing, with a turnstile on his right arm, or what was left of it, just a few inches under his shoulder and biting some clothes, he used the hot part of the pole to seal the bleeding.

It didn't make any sense! As he used all the willpower he had left, he couldn't think of something more than a truly disgusting monster. Kamui was beyond salvation.

For his work, he always had some cards and trinkets hidden in his clothes, something that proved to save his life, as he always got deadly injuries, thanks to the top healing magic in Hoshido, the cards would heal any kind of injury inflicted on his body or his internal organs. Of course he wouldn't survive if he was decapitated or shot in the head, but the cards should´ve healed that injury, the moment he arrived to the room, he noticed that the cards weren't working, reason why he chose to use such method.

After that, he used some protein and blood pills to recover, but as side effect, he lost any kind of awareness, he didn't want to leave such big opening, but if he wanted to survive, he had to.

He was humiliated! That bastard did the last thing he expected to do! To resist death!

Why had he fought so hard in that place? He should have died in the spot when it touched the ground, did he managed to lift the curse? Looking at the sphere on the room, he was surprised that the curse was still set, but then, what happened? Seeing the orb again proved to be pointless, at least if he was still lying down.

"Damn child! No! Damn beast!" he crawled to one of the desk where Bell was working, although he declared that it was useless to think about it, now he was glad to see the spare parts of the replica the stupid girl wanted to use in a vain attempt to use the energy of the orb. He started pulling the furniture, the spare parts fell to the ground and he started to look for something.

"Dammit…DAMN YOU ALL!" He screamed, taking one of the full arms and breaking it against the desk using some of the remaining of his magic, then he placed the edge on the fire again.

Taking some of the amulets and spare parts, he prepared what would be his most humiliating job, trusting in that mongrel.

He stabbed his own arm again with the hot metal piercing his scorched skin, it would be only an inch larger that his other arm, but breaking just the part of the shoulder to be able to manipulate the mechanism, he used the amulets to seal wounds and the small control orb to put it inside his open wound.

In the next minute he used some of the medicine to calm his pain, although he hated to admit it, he was glad that Bell showed interest in upgrading the tools of the army, now the metal arm started to move its fingers, it was uncomfortable, but the updates on the arm proved to be useful, as he slowly managed to move the metal fingers on his own.

"It doesn't matter what you want to take, Kamui….." he spat with venom in his voice "Even if you try to take my heart or soul, you´re going down, DAMNED BEAST!" He said closing the fist as with as his goal was clear.

The beast lurking the palace need to die as soon as possible.


"Where I am?"

Kamui wondered, a grey world with a noise in his mind, there was nothing special in that place, he could see the roof, or at least he thought it was it, he wasn't aware of the time or place, all he could remember was that night, and it hurt so much inside his heart.

Even if he remained still, his heart ached as it was about to break apart, remembering the white flowers and the vase, there was no point in denying it.

"She´s gone….."

He hated to admit it, for months he yearned for her touch, to hear her sweet voice, her radiant eyes, but it would be nevermore.

Struggling to raise, he managed to sit on the bed, he thought that it might a problem with the room, but now he was aware of what kind of punishment he was receiving.

"This is…..far too unjust…..for what she suffered…"

It wasn't that his eyes weren't accustomed to the light. He was in Orochi's rooms, but the color of the blankets, the colorful cards on the desk, the feeling of the cloth on his body, the yukatas and other fancy Hoshidan clothes hanging around.

There was something he didn't want to admit, but taking a deep and calm sip to the glass of water near the bed and taking a bite to the fresh fruit, he frowned in silence.

"This….this is…"

He threw the fruit supporting his head with his hands, there weren't colors in his vision, the scent on the air was no existent, the water tasted disgustingly bad as the fruit was something more than ashes in his mouth.

He truly lost the capacity to appreciate the world around him.

It was logical. His only reason to come back was his light, his precious and treasured ray of light in Nohr, now, without that light, what was the point? He looked around with hesitation, but every time the light entered in the room, there was the evidence that no matter how much he could do, in the end, without Elise, it was meaningless.

"This….this is not fair!"

His nails and head hurt. Stopping in the act, he looked at his hands, it weren't as he remembered, some scales and half-claws, with a sudden pain below he couldn't believe what he saw afterwards, parts of burned skin in his torso could be seen when he lifted the blanked.

He stood and walked to the mirror stumbling in his feet, he managed to reach his goal and see his reflection, all what he could see in the mirror were his red dragonic eyes reflected, aside of that, it was full black, just a void that was trying to devoir the little color he had left.

"This is not fair…."

He trembled leaning on the desk as his claws were being buried in the wood.

"she's….. she´s gone…and I'm still alive? WHY I DIDN'T DIE?!"

He took the mirror and threw it away, he couldn't stand to see that demented reflection, to think that once his beloved was certainly gone, to think that his mother felt that way with him.

"No….that´s wrong….."

He paled, resisting the urge to vomit. It wasn't like his mother, it was far worse, his mother knew he was alive and she could rescue him in the first chance he had, but now Elise was certainly gone, gone with his child.

"Yukimura is right….I'm…..I'm a monster….I killed…..my wife…..and my unborn child….I….."

"L0..d K4m..1?" he looked at his left, a delicate shadow appeared at his side, after a few moments, others entered the room, he couldn't recognize their faces, it was nothing more than just shadows, and the noise, when they tried to talk, it was just noise, he couldn't hear them.

No, even that thought was wrong, it wasn't like he couldn't hear them, but more likely that it didn't matter at all. With her gone, all reason to try to talk with the others was vanished.

His flesh burned when the shadow tried to grab him from his arm, the memories of that night surfaced, Elise being dragged, Yukimura laughing, and then, her shadow vanishing behind Garon's silhouette, under his giant axe.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" He moved his arms at such speed that he could feel how his claws cut the shadow with such easiness, like a hot knife with butter. Something black covered his eyes for a moment, cleaning his vision he saw how the shadow was crawling backwards at the others approached, but there was something new.

He really couldn't forgive them. There was no way he could forgive them for what they have done.

The moment he cut the shadow, his hatred inside burned with another strong desire on his soul. He wanted to erase them, to erase everyone around him, if there was no light in that world, then there was no reason to allow others to live in Elise´s place.

"They´re just shadows, false lights and hopes of this rotten world" Elise voice resonated in his head, that fake Elise that he dreaded, now it felt like a long lost friend.

For a short moment, making the shadows tremble in their places, a twisted and mad curl appeared in his lips.

"What is going on?" Another voice interrupted his thoughts, his eyes widened as another figure entered his sight, he trembled as the woman looked at him, worry in his face as something soft entering his heart, for all what he could see in that place, she was the only one that had color, all around her recovered it´s shape as well. "KAMUI! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?!" Oboro ran to his side, for a short moment he could see that when she passed the shadows. Tsubaki, Hana and the shadow on the floor, Sakura, were shocked to see his face, just to revert to their previous state.

"Wh-What…." He looked down, there was blood on his hand, in his claws, did he hurt Sakura? What had he done? He couldn't understand. His mind was mess as his heart had mixed feelings. "I…I….."

"Oh my good, Lady Sakura, what happened?!" Oboro spoke, but as he expected, the moment that Sakura try to explain what happened, only noise from her mouth came. "Wh-What? Kamui, what are…..uh?"

"I…..I…." Did he enjoy hurting Sakura?! Of all people, the one that always cheered him up was now suffering for him, he couldn't understand his own feeling anymore, hatred mixed with regret and sorrow, what was happening in his mind?! " I….I don't…. know….. I….."

"Look, I'm sure it´s not something serious, is only a scratch, right?" Oboro spoke again, but the shadows were moving and talking with such erratic and weird movements. Why of all people, Oboro was the only one that was normal? "See? Sakura is strong, it´s only a scratch, now we ca-"

"No…NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" He crawled backwards, stopping with the feeling of the bed on his back "I….I…. I'm not me anymore….I don't know what I see….all I heard is noise….NOISE! AND IT HURST SO MUCH!" He supported his head with his hands. Oboro bit her lips looking at the others.

"Guys…..let me….speak with him for a while…." He couldn't understand what they said, but after some moments, Oboro was left alone with him. "There… are you better now?"

"I….I…. no….just go….I…. I don't want to hurt you….just go!"

"…..I can't do that Kamui…" she slowly approached, with a soft and gentle smile. "After all….it's just what I said two nights ago…. That everything I have is yours," she blushed a little, embracing him with his head on her bosom. Instead of the pain or sorrow, her heartbeat soothed his mind and relaxed his body. "Just take it easy for now…. You´re recovering from what happened."

He couldn't fight the urge to wrap his arms around her body. Without a care in the world he pressed his body against her making them fall with him on top of her. Oboro was surprised but after hearing how he was struggling to contain his tears, she carefully pated his head, making reach his limit as he started to cry.

"It has been a while, huh? Since you could unwind….." he nodded as she giggled. "Geez….Kamui…it's ok, I'm here for you, from now on….."

He didn't care anymore. He would only let out his feelings, if she was going to allow it, then he wouldn't hesitate anymore.

The only thing he feared right now was that the feeling of bloodlust would blind his mind again. At least, with Oboro at his side, he could find a small haven for his broken soul.


Chapter 27: After Dusk

Howdy! It has been a while, hasn't it?

Ok, ok, ok, ooooooooooook! Sorry guys, I know, I know it has been such a big wait, in my defense, July was awful since I had to pay a lot of things and my laptop kinda died in the midway of the month, so I had 0% chances to update it, I took June to relax and have a second breath, I hope you can understand that, hopefully, i´ll continue to update the others chapters and return to my normal speed to keep up with the work.

Hope you enjoyed the new chapter, it was a little rushed but im confident that after sucho long time, you wont mind, right? Right? ñ_ñ

Your comments, reviews (especially reviews) and PM, are welcome as always, hope you have a great weekend and day/night!

SHIDESU! OUT!