Silence in the room.
There was always something to say, maybe a snarky comment, perhaps an obvious objection, or something sappy, but now, as Kamui lay on the bed, nursed by the priestess, Reina waited at one of the chairs of the room, Hinoka was at her side, as a priestess was bandaging her wounds, Oboro and Miyu leaning against the wall as they faces couldn't be best than Reina´s, the kinshi warrior sighed as the pair of priestesses nodded with relief on their faces.
"Well…." Reina started "….what happened?"
"…" Oboro started explaining everything from the dawn of the day, until what happened at the hallway, after finding out that Kamui was missing with a distressed Rin, "…after what happened… we…."
"Don't," Reina sighed. "Don't ever blame yourself for this." She said, looking at the albino on the bed, who was strangely calm under the priestesses' care "….this is HIS doing…." She claimed with her nails burying in her arm, disgusted by only the thought of that man's semblance.
"…..What now?" Hinoka and Miyu asked.
"Now" Hinoka bit her lip. "We prepare for war."
"Kamui…."
Sweet, delicate, soothing and refreshing.
In a sea of white, Kamui floated for what felt like an eternity. Watching the abyss in front of him, he blinked a couple of times, seeing a tide, or better said, a stream of blackness, no, it was something else.
Even if it was far away from him, there was that burning feeling inside his chest, and he could hear it at the back of his mind. He could hear a roaring dragon. Inside that stream, he recognized a pair of eyes glaring at him.
"Stop it, you´re not like this….." That voice resonated again, just as it appeared, it disappeared in that white sea in front of him.
He regained the sense of his own space, a few seconds ago he felt like he was floating in the sea, now he could feel the soft grass under his toes. It was surreal, at first, he could only feel the green blades, with each hesitating step, the ground beneath him took color again. The refreshing land, the familiar scent hitting his nostrils, it was a place filled with melancholy, but it was still nostalgic in its own way.
"….Wait…." he looked around, that place, the small bugs flying around, the animals that fled at his sight, with every second passing by, the world grew wider with life. "This place…..I…. I know this place…"
"Do you still remember?" that voice resonated again. Walking around, he tried to find the source of that voice. He knew where to look, as he started to increase his step, the place 'returned' to what he remembered it to be, feeling now the cobbles under his feet, he was now in front of a small building on the side of the road, a beautiful small house with a garden in the front. He could feel his eyes getting wet seeing the flowers around the place, aside of two-story house, he could recognize the small barn, the crops that they wanted to grow.
From the very beginning, she loved the small berries, strawberries, melons, grapes, even those cherries, he couldn't believe that the small field looked so alive and colorful.
"This is what…. You wanted, right?" her voice resonated. He didn't hesitate. Jumping over the fence around the field, her voice was too close, she had to be near, looking around, his heartbeat rose. "This… is what you used all your coin? I'm…. I'm speechless, this it too much, I can't believe you care so much!"
He stopped just a few feet away from the flowerbed, her figure as he remembered her, with the same white dress she was wearing the last time.
"These are… the ones you used back there….. geeez, stop making me fall for you over and over again!" It was strange, a mixture of happiness but awe in his chest, it was another trick? He hesitated for a moment, even the way she was humming was too alluring.
"Is… is really you?" he asked, making her look back at him with loving eyes as she giggled.
"Of course, silly!" she giggled. "Who else asked for something like this? I was wishing to have a nice garden where we could snuggle together, since Camilla always found us in the fields," She pouted. "Not that I mind, but I wanted 'us time', at least for a while."
"…..I….." he fell to his knees, not sure how he should feel about that place. It was like that time, had he gone mad already?
"Kamui? Do you….. want to talk?" Elise inquired, kneeling at his level with a sweet smile.
"I…. I want to…. But….."
"…. Remember when… you found me throwing punches in the field?" she smiled. "I bet you´re making the same face I had that time, we always told each other our worries," She sat on the ground, patting her lap "Let´s catch up, honey."
Chapter 31: House of Regrets and Redemption.
It took all his willpower to stay composed in that place, taking her offer, he rested his head on her lap. It took hours to tell her everything.
From what happened that day to the events in the morning, it felt like hours passed, but strangely, the "sun" in that place barely moved in the sky. Although he was comfortable in the softness of her warm body, he never lost any kind of sense, and unlike before, his mind wasn't clouded. The small, delicate fingertips caressing his head were a constant reminder that she was carefully watching him, with a soft-gentle smile, caring eyes and little giggles every time he stumbled in his words, attempting to hide some of the embarrassing memories with Hinoka and Oboro.
"I see…" she thought for a moment after he finished resuming all the story. "Then…. What do you want to do?"
"I'm not sure…."
She began to caress his chest. "….Well…I want to punch really hard in the face this bad guy," She puffed her cheeks. "Even if he´s wearing glasses!"
"Heh… me too…"
"….Kamui?"
"It's just….. too hard….I…..I'm tired…." He sighed, with soreness in his eyes. "I'm…. Tired…. To see them get hurt….. sad…..or that they….. could get something worse….."
"….are you giving up?"
"…"
"…. Remember what we talked before meeting the Rainbow Sage?" she chuckled with some sadness in her voice. " Even if I'm a klutz, good for nothing princess…. I could understand what he said to us, do you remember?"
"…Elise….."
"…That we…. Should brace ourselves…" She closed her eyes for some seconds. "That we…shouldn't forget to show our kindness…. Even if it hurts….."
"…..Elise….."
"….It looks like….. our time is ending…honey…..can I ask for a selfish request?" he could feel tears falling on his face, as he was fixed on her eyes. "but…. Until next time….. keep being yourself…. The kindest…. And loving person I know…honest and caring," she whispered in a sweet tone that numbed his senses, before that place vanished again, he could swear feeling the intoxicating taste of her lips on his.
"….."
As the day moved on, the castle became busier with the hours, the news spread quickly inside the walls of the place.
Ryoma was angered by some events that morning, Hinoka was out of reach for anyone that wanted to speak with her outside the castle, Sakura was working in the medical tents in the garden, as the word that they were having some Nohrian ambassadors waiting in the private rooms was a shocking event, although most of the people inside were moved by these scenes, a quiet girl was interested in something more serious.
In fact, she was dealing with some of the hardest choices in her life, seeing what they did to her nation, to the royal family and to anyone in their way. She was sure that there was no redemption for him, but seeing his new actions, it was confusing, she needed to know, before taking any action, she needed to be sure that it was the correct one.
"….Prince Takumi" Rin muttered as a pair of figures was in front of her. Hinata was at his liege's side, turning back to see her, he was impressed that of all people, she managed to find him.
They were hiding in one of the rooms of the 6th floor, far from any of the prying eyes of Yukimura, Ryoma and Hinoka, at least for now, knowing well the reputation he built in the last months, it was strange to see them refraining to attack, or even to drawn her blade. Instead, she was glaring with such disdain, Hinata immediately unsheathed his katana, just to be stopped by his liege.
"…..Your name is…. Rin, right?" Takumi asked with such a low and worn down voice, Rin looked at him up to down. He was still with his bandages on both his arms, his hair was free to the shoulder, accompanied with that bandage covering part of his face, all covered in red stains, and the Fujin Yumi at his back. "…Why aren't you arresting me?"
"….For months…" she started, it was clear from her broken voice that she was struggling to maintain her composed and calm nature. Tightening her fist, she tried to clear her thoughts, to remain in her most collected state, but seeing that man that she called before 'Lord', even being part of the family that was supposed to protect the castle, it was difficult for her. She knew how hard it was for Kagero, Kaze and Miyu, but seeing the root of their disgrace walking so carelessly in the castle, if it wasn't for what happened before, she would have strike him down the moment she saw him, and force her way to Lord Ryoma to punish this man, but there was something bothering her mind. "…For months, you made it your personal mission to disgrace Lord Kamui….. to make him suffer….making all of us fall in your hatred….. making lord Kamui fall in your hatred…." It was strange to see him flinch at her words, even concerned and hurt, but she had to know, "….Then, why? Why did you help us before?"
"….." Takumi looked down, waiting for her harsh words, waiting for her to finish.
"I….I can't see why you helped us back there….." she slowly approached. "Why did you save him? Why d-"
"Because I'm sorry…." Takumi muttered, making her stop, Rin trembled, clenching her teeth's as he continued "…..I….I regret….everything…."
"…..Lies…." Rin replied. "Why? If you´re sorry…. Then why did you run?" she grabbed him by his collar, shaking back and forth. "Why you didn't say that to them? Why are you running away? Wh-"
"BECAUSE I'M ASHAMED OF MYSELF!" He screamed, pushing her hands away, taking a few steps back, helped by Hinata who was silent the whole time. "I…. I don't know myself anymore….." he chuckled. Rin was about to say something more, but even under his bangs, she could see the same mixture of fear, regret and tiredness Kamui reflected in his eyes. "….. I don't expect that you believe what I saw…. But, I saw….felt …. Everything…."
"Wh-What?"
"I guess….. maybe I´ve just gone crazy….. with my own hatred….. but….." he looked back, as Hinata helped him to sit, he continued to talk. "I just….. don't want to continue…. Not anymore….."
"…..Explain."
"..Huh…. I don't know how to," he shrugged. "I mean, the last thing I remember is being attacked by him, next thing I know is that I have been in a kind of coma for the last two or three months, but….. not quite the ordinary dreams I had all this time….." he started to undo the bandages covering his eye. "I don't know what happened… if it was the use of the orbs that backfired, or if it was Kamui´s doing….. but for the last few months… I could feel his emotions. Sometimes I could see part of his memories…. Other times…." He stopped for a moment, seeing a pair of golden pigtails at the back of his memories, a foggy image in his mind but a clear feeling inside his chest. "…..I just saw what he loved most in the past…."
"That….." Rin was surprised to see that the scar on his face was almost healed, the eye everyone thought he would lose was intact, now his eyes weren't a match, instead, it looked like the once soft-orange eyes was sharing color with a mixture of red and purple, making it look like a jewel.
"I don't know if Kamui is aware of this…. But until I woke up last night….. I could see parts of his memories…. His feelings….." he covered his eye as he trembled. "….I know…. How much he has suffered in the last months….before we captured him….. by the dragons….I even know how he felt the day we fought against the Nohrians at the river….." he bit his lip. "You know…. How weird…..and suffocating is to know how he doubted every time I called him traitor?" he remembered that time at the port, when they met after his departure, the memory of him attacking his 'traitor brother' overlaps with his feelings of hesitation, sadness and sorrow every time they clashed against each other that day.
"….So, you expect me to believe you just turned yourself good?"
"I don't care what you think, or what the others might think, I know I have done a lot of harm. There is no amount of words in this world that can describe how bad or sorry I feel for all that happened," he sighed. "You can even hit me or kill me now if Ryoma and the others no longer see me as their brother for all I have done, but…." He took Fujin Yumi in his hands, seeing the legendary weapon on his palms, remembering how its former holder passed it down to him, her gentle smile as he felt all that frustration and regret swelling inside him. "….For what I have done…. I doesn't matter what happen to me now…. Even if is the last thing I do, I need to make up for what I´ve done…. To all of us….."
Rin frowned with her arms crossed. Even if it disgusted her to her core, even if she wanted to strike him down with her own hands, she hit the wall, startling them. "…. I… don't care about your feelings," she grunted "but….Lord Kamui….. needs you….." she pointed at him with her eyes with a mixture of anger and sadness. "….No more betrayals…or suffering from you…."
"I promise… I really c-"
"Don't," Rin sighed, crossing her arms. "Your words…. Are meaningless…" she tightened the wrap around her hand. "Fix your mess… then, you can feel sorry about yourself!"
"…..Where…." Kamui woke up in that gray world again, feeling the warm air around him, he found out that it was already near the noon, with the window open and seeing the sunrays hitting the mountains at the distance. It was weird to see a mixture of orange and gray, was he back in the real world? Anxiety made him wary of his surroundings. It felt like that dream managed to return some sanity to his mind, but his heart was aching, yearning for something to hold to, at that point, he wanted to be sure that it wasn't another delusion. Looking around, he found his answer.
The noise.
It was hard to say who it was, or if it was aware of him, but seeing again the shadows at the back of the room, hearing their voices, or at least assuming it, he felt a new headache within the seconds.
"Keep being yourself…."
Her voice resonated in his head. Strangely, he knew it was Elise, but he couldn't help to see her face with her, maybe it was his dizziness, but for some strange reason, he felt that it would be something that Oboro could say, even if his heart was beating fast, his mind remainder calm with her soothing voice, a vivid reminder that he shouldn't go wild again.
"Ah!... you´re….you´re awake" / "Of course you are."
"What?" he looked around, at the edge of the bed, he found a fragile, red haired girl, petite in everything, red cheeks and a small, toothy smile.
"Kamui… you´re…. you´re you?" she sat at his side, he could recognize the design of her clothes, Hoshidan, a kimono with white flowers, a beautiful contrast with the white pattern of small birds and lighter red color in her rainbow, he knew her, there was something in the back of his mind, crawling in his memories, but he couldn't find out the answer of her name.
"Wh-What? Who are….who are you?"
"You…." She looked hurt. "You don't recognize me? Not even my voice?" / "…You even took me out his heart?" he was surprised, not to hear her voice twice saying different things, but seeing her concerned face… twisting? No, that was wrong, it looked like a shadow appeared on the right side of her face, with each syllable, it seemed to rumble, while the shadow lines grew larger, her eye that looked like a gem, lost its light with that voice, until it finished, she "returned to normal."
"….I…. I don't know"
"It´s…. it´s me…. Hinoka!" / "Please, recognize me!"
"…." He knew that voice, but, it didn't sound like her, or at least, not how she was supposed to, her appearance was too different. Was it really her?
"Ah! Kamui!" Just when he was doubting what was going on, he felt refreshed to see her entering the place, like before, she and everything around her "returned to normal," the color around her was vivid and soothing, when she sat at his side, holding his hand, a warm sensation went through his body.
"Oboro….I….." he looked at her more closely, although she blushed a little feeling his gaze on her, the few fresh scars, bandages hidden under her clothes and some over her palms, there was a thought in his mind. "…did I…..Was it me?"
"Uh? Oh… no, of course no…" she sighed. "I was having a hard time with an idiot," Chuckling awkwardly, seeing his troubled face, she smiled, placing her hand on his cheek. "I swear it, Kamui, you had nothing to do with this, as someone close to you, these things are just a everyday thing, don't sweat about it, ok?"
"…If….if you say so….."
"…" / "…kamui….don't….. don't leave me…. Not again…" he saw again that figure, for a moment, he could remember that girl, remembering how they used to play at the garden in winter, how they used to be close, always together.
"…..Noka….."
AAAAAAAAAND THAT IS!
Super, mega, hyper sorry guys! I know it has been, way, waaaaaaaaaaaaay to long for the last update, I know, but with the heavy load of work in the last months, I barely had time to write, with that in mind, I had two options, downgrade the quality of the text or take longer time, its obvious what I decided.
Phew…. You know, I have ocd (obsessive compulsive disorder) so even if I wanted to update two months ago, I really, really felt uncomfortable writing something that I didn't thought over and over and over again to be sure is the path I want to go with this story (even if I have a vague idea of the story way ahead), so, yeah, sorry for taking so long.
I thank all your words of support and comments, you have no idea how happy I am to read it in the reviews and pm´s, i wont lie, its hard with the stuff outside, but is refreshing to know that even in hard times, there is someone rooting for you, thanks for all your support.
Anyway! Phew, it was quite hard to do this chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it, next time i´ll take much less time to the next update, I promise, after all the issues, im sure that everything is good to return from that hiatus.
Leave your pm and/or review, it helps me to improve the story, every comment is welcome, share and let me know your toughts about it.
Without more to say, I hope you have a great day/night and a nice week!
SHIDESU! OUT!
