How long? Just how long had he desired to return to that place?

That open field with thousands of petal flowers moving a lovely waltz with the fresh breeze.

A lone figure waiting for him in the distance.

The world fading as her fragrance lingered in the air.

He blinked a couple of times before realizing that he was back in that room, as before, there was a gray shade around everything that surrounded him. Strangely, he felt at peace where his body was lying. It took a couple of seconds to realize where his head was.

"Feeling better?" Oboro gently caressed his head. The feeling of her delicate fingers through his hair soothed him a little.

"Wh-What? What happened?"

"Well~ you totally fell on my bosom an hour ago, so I thought that it would be nice to let you sleep a little more, so here we are, you sleeping in my lap for a while."

"I…... I….." His head still hurt, feeling her warmth, he again confirmed that the only thing with 'colors' in that place was her, why was that? Fragments of what happened lingered in his mind.

"Are you alright? You can talk to me, you know that, right?"

"It's just….." he blinked a couple of times. Was it right to talk about it? Was it right to burden her like that?

Wh4t´5 wR0ng? F3eL1ng y0ur 51nS cR4wl1ng 0n y0ur b4ck?

That feeling hammering inside his head was unbearable, her voice resonated as his vision blurred for a moment. With her hand on his shoulder, he looked at her, although the pain was still inside his head, somehow, her gaze soothed his suffering a little.

"La…..Lady Mikoto had a saying…." She tiled her head, "that our worries fade faster, if someone close helps us."

He widened his eyes as for a moment, it looked like Oboro had the same sincere and gentle smile his mother had. Sighing in defeat, he let his head fall on her right shoulder.

"….I…. I don't know where to start…."

"Take your time, we have all the time of the world! In this moment, only you and I exist in this place, so don't worry."

"…Well…right now…. You´re my only light, I suppose…."

"Oh, that´s…wait, wh-what? Wh-when? What?" her face turned red and there was some steam leaving her head.

"Right now…I…."

"Oh my goodness, wait, wait wait, waaaaaaaait!" she couldn't help her red cheeks the moment Kamui placed his head on her chest. "Wh-What? Wait, lord Kamui, I-I don't know I-"

"Everything is….gray? I…. I don't know….the food tasted like ashes before….but now….all around me is….. off color…. And everything….. is just noise…."

"….What?" she tried to regain the composure, coughing in her fist. "C-Could you be a little more… specific?"

"I guess…. It´s hard to explain…." He sighed taking one of the pillows "…. I can see the colors of this…. Feel its texture if its….near you…. But…." He threw it away, and as he expected, it happened again, "…it lost its form and colors the moment it flew away from you….."

"….." Oboro calmed herself, so it was that? She was about to make a terrible mistake, she had to control her own feelings for now, at that moment, he needed her, and listening what he just said, it wasn't to hard to connect the dots "…and Sakura? That´s the reason why you…."

"…without form….and just noise…. I…." staring at his hand, there were still some stain of blood in his fingers "…I….. I hate this….."

"Lord Kamui?"

"I hate… I hate this!" he tightened his fist. "The moment I cut Sakura…. The feeling of joy…. Of freedom! The moment her blood dripped on the floor…. To think… that I hurt someone like her…. I…. I hate mys-"

"Sshhhh… it's alright" she patted his head, calming him down. "Well, no, it´s not right to hurt the others, but I know that feeling…." She embraced him, still struggling to hide her blushing face under her bangs "Tell me, do you regret it?" he nodded slowly, being captivated by her warmth. "Then, it's ok, I know Lady Sakura will forgive you, right now, you´re hurt, even a little sick, we can't blame you for something like this… after all what happened…. So it´s ok to feel sad…. Or even cry a little."

"…..I….I….."

"You know, if you don't want to talk about it, it´s ok, we can spend the day here, or talk about anything you want."

"…."

"Would you like to cuddle in silence?" he slowly shook his head. "Then?"

"…she was….everything…"

"She?"

"My…. Wife….." his throat hurt, if it wasn't for her gentle touch, the tears would have started to fall.

"You don't have to…. Tell me if you dont want."

"….No… I….. I want to…." He sat on the edge of the bed, nervous and playing with his thumbs, Oboro didn't hesitate to embrace him from behind. "Otherwise…it would be….like if she.. never existed….."

"That bad… uh….." Orochi and Kagero told her everything about the Nohrian rules and laws. According to what they told her, Kamui was a foreign prince, if he had a Nohrian spouse and with the news of an unexpected pregnancy, the most probable thing to happen on the other side under King Garon's grasp was, that even if he was declared lost in battle, all his friends, army, resources would be scattered all around the country, worse if the king heard about a sudden child of his. The worst case scenario would be that either way, his family executed or 'disappeared', the first prince of Nohr couldn't be threatened by a new heir, less when the heir was outside the family and the 'son' was out of reach. "….Kamui… you don't have to tell me who she is, but rather, tell me, how is she…" she had to be really careful, a misstep and perhaps Kamui could rampage again out of control, not to mention that Yukimura couldn't hear anything about this mysterious girl if he was just bluffing back there.

"…she… she is wonderful…" he began "Caring…. Sweet, with a hint of elegance, she´s troubled by the fact that Camilla is way more feminine in some things…. But she has charm in her own way…."

"Well, if he chose her instead of Lady Camilla, he´s not that caring about physic…. Unless there´s someone way more lecherous than that princess….." Oboro thought, feeling somewhat guilty, but reassured about his likings.

"….there were times when she over did it …heh… even if she wants to protect everyone, I don't… I can't think of some one more reliable than her… and now… she….."

"She is still a wonderful person," she replied, although she wasn't sure, he needed to hang on that thought, at least for now, any more stress on him would be deadly, Orochi said it herself, there won't be a second chance to stop his outburst. " Tell me, what did you do with her? Any hobby?"

"… we…. We have a little garden…." Finally, his body relaxed, she could feel that his mood was improving. "… We have a little garden at the corner of the treehouse…our house…. We spent a lot of time looking for some good seeds, I remember…. How Anna struggled to find our favorite flowers….. after a few months… we could finally see the fruit of our work, a garden big enough for her to…. Spend time by herself….near the riverbank….."

"That´s lovely… so you used to be together all the time?"

"… No, I… I…."

"Shit, that was a bad question," Oboro tried to change the subject, but, oddly enough, he didn't lose his temper, she couldn't feel that his body stiffen with the question.

"There were times… when she wanted to be alone," he laughed. "just to improve her feminine features…. Big sister was with her, although I don't mind… she always wanted to be like her…."

"…. Kamui."

"But now…" he tried to stand, Oboro was about to stop him, but there was something different about him. " …I'm sorry Oboro, I just…. Want to clear my head… could you stay with me for a while?"

How could she refuse? It was the first time he asked for something. "Sure, do you want to take a stroll? Are you sure you can?"

"I don't… I don't feel bad…. Just tired…."

"Are you sure?" she wondered, helping him to stand supporting his shoulder, she gently placed her hand on his side. There was a new burn on his skin, but Orochi managed to do wonders, not to mention that they were working overtime.

"Yeah…. I want to… see what happened last night…."

"Kamui?"

"I want…. to see Mother's room…."

She bit her lip "Right now… is not a good time, you must stay, please….."

"….Then… tell me…. What happened last night?"


"….. Lord Ryoma…."

"Not a word, Saizo," Ryoma sighed, seeing the new amount of papers on his desk, not to mention the ruckus coming from the main hall of the Palace. Perhaps it was a bad idea to set up a temporary room in the ground floor, late queen Mikoto used that room to gather some of the townfolks around, to be more 'in touch' with them. Now, it felt like he was about to witness bloodshed, not sure if the people knew what happened last night or if Yukimura blamed his brother.

He wasn't completely wrong, but neither completely right, not with the report Kagero handed, and what he just heard from Reina, one misstep and he would meet either the Kinshi nagitana, or the wrath of the people.

"Shouldn't we report this right away?" Saizo insisted, it has been nearly twenty minutes since they put, in Ryoma hands, a lot of papers with the request of the council.

"…. Saizo, whatever happens, you don't know anything, do you understand that?" the ninja had a troubled expression on his face, but nodded. "Good, go fetch the members that are waiting outside, I´ll be ready by the time they arrive."

"As you wish, milord," he vanished in a cloud of mist. Sighing and preparing his thoughts for what could be one of the most troublesome meetings on his life, Ryoma quickly read his notes. What could be useful? The noises outside were getting louder and louder, it was a bad thing that the room was directly connected to one of the chambers used to hold provisional meetings. He wasn't someone who would get nervous, but thinking back, it was the first time he didn't want to recognize the options.

Without Yukimura or any kind of direct evidence, it was either deny whatever happened last night, or acknowledge Kamui´s rant and that he put everyone at risk.

His head hurt as he closed his eyes. Two options ahead of him. Thinking back, he wondered if this kind of decisions were the ones that troubled the late queen. Receiving the short end of the stick was awful, and he wasn't used to endure all those bad decisions so many times, lost in thoughts, it was until he noticed the sudden silence outside that he gulped.

"What the…." he walked to the door, there was some noise on the other side, but instead of shouts, yells or screams, it appeared that they were… speaking? Opening the door, he saw something that he never expected.

"Ah! Brother, it´s good to see you," Hinoka greeted him with a bow, her clothes changed, a white-red yukata with golden flower pins on the right side of her bangs, her middle section as well, if he had to guess, it was a variant of the kinshi warriors, instead of the trademark style, it felt fresher and unique. "I'm filling the nobles with the details of our reports."

"Our reports?" he picked up one of the papers that were on the table when he was close enough, gazing at the small crown, although the nobles' gazes were troubled, none of them raised a single voice against the report Hinoka delivered.

"Unknown sickness?" Ryoma saw the report. It had Orochi´s seal, and with the approval of the high priestess of the sanctuary.

"Lady Hinoka has informed us, Lord Ryoma," one of the elder nobles approached. "We´re shocked to know that the beast of last night was Lord Kamui, we wouldn't believe that he was suffering in the last month… we´ll handle our territories as best we can, you don't have to worry about the servants and the crown outside, right now, the most important thing is to save late Queen Mikoto's son."

"….Can you…give us a minute?" Ryoma placed his hand on Hinoka´s shoulder, with a quick bow and somehow, pulling her to the other room. He didn't give them the chance to prolong their discussion. Making sure that the door was closed, he turned to see Hinoka crossing her arms and Kagero kneeling in front him. "It´s safe, Kagero?" The ninja nodded. "Good, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" He yelled at the duo. Hinoka didn't flinched.

"Giving them a bone to follow," Hinoka replied, huffing.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THEY FIND OUT THAT YOU´RE LYING TO THEM?"

"Where exactly is the lie?" She huffed. "I told them what we know, that Kamui is sick and that we´re under attack, from an unknown spot."

"But you can´t say things like that!" He frowned "Yukimura´s whereabouts are unknown, and we don't know how many people are involved."

"Believe me, brother, he´s not the only one that can plot like that," Hinoka replied with some venom in her voice, leaning against the table. "There are a lot of things you or him doesn't know, and I'm willing to gamble everything, if that means I can stop this hellish nightmare you so kindly put us in."

His pained expression didn't made her hesitate, she didn't even looked away. "….Hinoka…."

"Look, I know that you tried your best to make us whole again, but…" she sighed, "… there are things you just can't do, not with your honor and the stand you have to show. But right now, we don't need your guidance to save Kamui, and I'm not pretending to do that as his sister," she pushed the letter against his chest and walked to the door. "I'm sick of waiting, and I'm tired of seeing that nothing goes as we want. This time, I'm going to gamble everything for him. If you want to arrest me, let me know, at least I can say goodbye to him," with that said, she left the room. Kagero bowed and followed her.

Ryoma just remained silent for a moment, feeling the weight of her words, muttering "dammit."


"This….. is…. A DISASTER!" one Anna groaned, kicking a can on the floor, outside of her tent. "There hasn't been a single customer, AT ALL!"

"Just let it be sis," another younger Anna said, playing with her kendama* "it's not like anyone has any kind of energy after last night," she yawned while skillfully playing with her toy.

"You´re not helping, Lil´ Ann!" she huffed. "Mom is going to be so PISSED OFF!" She groaned, with her hands on her head. "She can't be right, everyone loves this kind of thing, right?!" she picked up some of the Daruma* and Temari* "Gift shops are supposed to sell in this time of the year, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE CUSTOMER IN ALL DAY!" she sobbed. "I guess nobody is doing so well…..

"Auntie Ann is having a good day from what I see," the younger girl pointed as another Anna was slowly passing through the tents, being cautious to not bee seen by the others, as she carried a crate.

"Wh-What the…." She looked at her, and at her attire, she sighed. "Oh, I think she´s just resupplying the storage of that improvised kitchen, what was it? Western temptations?"

" I suppose… maybe she had a little accident like Aunt Annia with her homemade cushiness?"

"And if she is having some customers?"

"Never, ever say that!" she made a 'x' with her index fingers. "We secret sellers have our pride, our honor! If someone is having a hard time, then everyone is having a hard time! She couldn't possibly be making a profit without us! She can't have a customer without tell…" just when she turned to point her, the Anna with the crate stumbled, letting go for a moment her purse and barely managing to hold it, a single golden coin rolled to her and stopped in her foot. They looked each other and the coin, then again each other, she picked it up and saw that it wasn't Hoshidan, it was a pure golden coin. "…ing us….." before she could react, that Anna with the crate smiled and fled out her view. "LI'L ANN, TAKE CARE OF THE STORE!"

For the next five minutes, she chased her all over the main plaza, turning to the right and left. The Anna with the crate tried her best to lose her, as they dodged the other stores, it reached its end when they stumbled each other at the edge of the plaza, near the forest, she was about to scold her co-worker when some voices draught her attention.

"Wait….is that….Nohrian?"

"Heey! I ordered some beef steak with this!" A feminine voice called out, Anna looked beyond the tent, seeing some convoys at the west side of the plaza, she didn't notice that she ended in that place. "Oh! Yeah, just like that!"

"That´s quite a lot…." Another voice replied, the voice of a man.

"Well… he always said he liked red meat, so I'm sure he´ll love that I brought some of this."

Anna peeked, and saw some soldiers at the entrance of the tent. She was about to complain, but her co-worker pointed at their shoulders, and a red-white brand on it.

"Ambassadors from Nohr?" She whispered, bewildered.

"Hey! You two!" One of the guards beside the tent yelled. Although the atmosphere was tense, the Hoshidan guards were allowing that small group of Nohrians to eat in the tent, and when they noticed the Anna´s, two of the guards approached. "Oh… its you, do you have the goods?" The Anna with the crate nodded nervously. "Good, then go, and you….."

"Yes? Me?" Anna laughed with worry in her face.

"Do you know Nohrian manners?"

"Uh… oh… y-yes, yes I do."

"Good, then come with me," the guard grabbed and pulled her by her arm. Inside the tent she noticed about twelve Nohrian people eating, each one with two guards behind, one from the Palace and another with the brand of one of the North tribes. She was rudely pushed to the end of the tent, her sister were bringing plates to all the visitors and barely had time to understand what was happening when she was placed in front of a small group.

"Ugg…. Another? They confuse me," in front of her, a girl with a silver armor, a noble hood and strangely, blue hair with pink points was eating. At her right, a man with gray hair and a cowlick? At her left, a woman with a maid outfit? Blue clothes and hair, with a red diamond on her forehead? They were busy with their food, and looked quite exhausted. "WHY ARE THERE JUST RED HEADS HERE?!"

"Milady…. You´ll provoke another fight…" the bluenette said in a gentle voice.

"B-But it's so hard to be here!" she complained, puffing her cheeks. "They use sticks and keep staring at me, like if I'm some kind of freak!" her mascara started to grow wet, she was about to cry? "They´re rude!"

"Umm… excuse me?" Anna raised her hand. "Can you please tell me, how I can help you?" She spoke in Nohrian, making the girls eyes to gleam.

"Yay! Finally, someone who can speak with us!" The girl almost tripped for the excitement when she rose up, dashing to her side. "Great! I know some Hoshidan, but they don't understand us at all," she frowned.

"It's not that we don't understand you, missy," one of the guards whispered.

"Oh gosh, why did I follow her?" Anna thought as she realized the kind of trouble she got herself into. "W-Well…. H-how can I help you? Do you want something? Need to speak with someone?"

"Oh? I'm sorry, I guess I was a little slow," Another voice replied, looking to her right, a gentlelady entered the tent, followed by three people. The gentlewoman had long, blonde hair, what she thought were her retainers, was a man and a woman with the typical Hoshidan clothes, the third one was using an attire that hid any feature of the face, not sure if was a man or a woman, not a single strand of hair under that strange hood. "My apologize, my name is Akemi, and these people are under my care. I already spoke with the guards of the palace."

"Oh? So you didn't send this girl?" One of the guards placed his hand on Anna´s shoulder.

"No, I didn't call them, but I don't mind if she helps us," Akemi said with a whimsical smile. "I'm sure that if she speaks Nohrian, then all the issues with the language will be resolved."

"Is it really that hard to understand them?" Anna asked.

"Well, they say I'm kidnapping people!" The armored girl puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms. "They even took the spear he gave me for my birthday, YOU´RE A LOT OF MEANIESS!"

"I´m…. not quite sure what you mean…." Anna nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. "But if you´re willing to pay for my services, I don't mind to be a translator~" she said rubbing her palms. "Tell me your name, sweetheart."

"My name is Peri, and I'm Kamui´s best girl friend!"


Chapter 28: Winter is coming.