"Wait, what? Are you serious?"

"Yes, she´s that kitsune, I confirmed it with Silas and Peri, I'm pretty sure about it."

"But…. What does it mean?"

"It means that we have a shot, Oboro," Hinoka said, leaning on the moving wall, uncomfortable from the constant rocking of the elevator. "We can…. Get a chance to know better what happened before the assault….. and maybe we can….." Hinoka covered her mouth.

"Not used to it yet?"

"Hell no, why do we have to use this thing?"

"It´s one of the few parts of the Castle that is secured, after the incident at the stairs and knowing what Yukimura is willing to do, we can't leave anything to sheer luck. Right now, Reina, you and me are the only ones who can speak with Kamui….."

"….Reina and you more than I," Hinoka complained.

"I hope that in due time, we can solve that issue. In the meantime, I would like to grab something from the kitchen."

"Still feeding him?"

"….Yes" she slightly blushed. "I… I don't like the idea that Kamui can't eat for himself, but I can't deny it is… appealing that someone is eager to eat my food."

"Gosh…. I'm supposed to be the one flirting with him…." Hinoka muttered.

"Mmm? Did you say something?"

"Nothing…" she sighed. "Akemi will be with Kaze and after making sure she is safe to see Kamui, we will see if she can know where Yukimura´s hiding."

"….Well, it´s not like by any miracle, we have someone who has been with Yukimura all this time," just when she finished, the doors opened and standing outside was Kaze, surprised to see them, with a girl at his side, red eyes and clearly still trying to contain her tears.

"Uh? What´s this?"

"Milady, Oboro…. I'm glad that you´re here," she placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. "I think we have something."


Chapter 34: Fragility


"….."

"What´s wrong? You have been staring at the ceiling for quite a while."

"…. I just…. Don't know….. what to do…"

"Anything I can help with?"

"…."

"If not, then, you can stay like that for a while, in fact… it´s quite comfortable…." She giggled, passing her fingertips carefully through his white hair. Right now, Kamui had his head on her lap, and for the way he was moving in the last hours, she thought he was comfortable enough with her, she was surprised to hear that he just wanted to stay like that, it was common, so he was definitely plotting something.

"…Say…. I know is…. Not possible…. But….. I want to do something….."

"Mmm…? Why not? Sure we can arrange something, just say the word," Reina said, still caressing his hair.

"I…. need to speak… in private with you…."

"Oh… umm…." Looking around, she knew that the fake mirror was too close to the bed, but fortunately, at the other side of the room, there was a coach and a screen. At least if they wanted to hear them, she knew one of the ninjas had to crawl over them and in that moment, she would know for sure, so at the very least, they had some minutes, perhaps she could gain more time. "Well, I'm sure we can do that, it´s not like they would dare to eavesdrop our private time if I'm here."

After some moments, Kamui stood and wasn't sure if they could leave the room, but when Reina grabbed his wrist and walked to the couch, he sighed, a small faint curl appeared when he sat and Reina moved the screen in a way that he was covered by it.

"….."

"…"

"…."

"Well, we can stay like this for a while, it´s good place to hide from prying eyes, want to rest your head on my lap again?"

"I…don't feel bad for being shoeless."

"Sorry?"

"I just…. It´s hard to say what I want to say… and I'm following my own example…" he was playing with his thumbs, looking down. "I…. read from a book, that if you had something…. Painful to share, you could start with something simple… small…. Maybe something unrelated…. That it make it easier…. To share…."

"And it´s working?"

"….No…yes? I…. don't know….it´s…. stupid to talk about it."

"Well, I didn't know," she smiled when he looked at her. "I think is interesting, I never have guessed that you would talk about that."

"It's.. just weird," he continued, his voice was clearly broken, he was struggling with the words. "…most people said that it was unfortunate, or even that is cruel to be walking around without any kind of shoes…."

"Well, it´s interesting, do you like to go barefoot?"

"I just… don't mind, I have been always like this… so I'm not sure…" he sighed. "Then… there are a lot of things I had tried too, train with the sword, learn about stories, even trying to bake something for Camilla and E-" he stopped, coughing, he wanted to say her name, but thinking about it, it wasn't easy, leaning with his head on his arms, he felt faintly dizzy about it, just the idea made him sick.

"Camilla? It was your adoptive sister, right?" she massaged his back, trying to calm him down, for the tender movement of her hand, she could notice how his breath was somewhat soothed.

"Yes… I…. I remember how Jakob scolded me, for trying to do something a royal shouldn't be doing, that the whole idea was outrageous, and then he was sad… because he thought that I didn't want him around anymore," he chuckled. "I used all my weekend to convince him that it was just a misunderstanding, that in fact, there were a lot of reasons why I wanted to learn, one of them, was to thank him for his services…."

"He sounds like a reliable retainer."

"He is…with Flora, Felicia and Gunther…. They´re the best… they even…." Now that was a new tone in his voice, one Reina didn't hear before.

Melancholy.

"They even helped me with that…" now he was covering his eyes with his palms, leaning on his knees. "…I still remember that day… I was too nervous to eat, sleep or have any kind of decent conversation, but still, they helped me…." There was a long sigh before he continued. "I braced myself, but she found me before I could collect myself, she looked so… beautiful, she always does…. When I gave her those flowers…. She was delighted…. For the wrong reasons….."

"How so?"

"She knew what those flowers mean in Nohr, and she was excited to know who was my 'sweetheart', even if I knew there was a chance she hated me, or that she was disgusted, I had to try."

"Why would that be? It's not like you were doing something wrong."

"But I was! I declared my love for her!" again, she could see how the tears fell from his face. "She was the only one who could see through me, my happiness, my sadness, my…. Loneliness….. and despite all what happened, I declared my love for her… my dear Elise…." Reina froze, images of that girl on her mind appeared as a void grew inside her. "We were like brother and sister, but after knowing that we weren't related, I had hope! In the end, the feelings that I had after months of staying at her side in the battlefield, mending my wounds, hearing me out lead me to fall in love with her….."

"…."

"…."

"Kamui…."

"And I screwed it up!" he hit his knees with his fists, she saw how hard she bit his lip as there was blood falling from his mouth. "Not only did she answer my feelings, not only did she remain at my side, but I was so focused on finishing the war, trying to meddle between nations, to save Hoshido and Nohr, that she was stripped from my side," now he grabbed his head, his broken voice was filled with anger and frustration. "I'm… I'm useless, not only could I not protect her, but Yukimura found out that she was waiting for my child inside her, HE KNEW BEFORE ME! HE FOUND OUT BEFORE ME! SHE WAS AT MY SIDE AND I COULDN'T PROTECT HER AND MY UNB-" Reina pulled him, pushing his face in her shoulder as she hugged him. "I….I AM A FAILURE IN E-"

"You're not!" she screamed.

"I AM!" He continued "HOW COULDN'T I? WHY I DIDN'T SEE IT?! I-"

"Kamui!" he stopped feeling something wet on his head. "It is… it is not your fault….."

"No… don't do this to me… not y-"

"IT´S NOT YOUR FAULT!" She repeated.

"But I…. sh-"

"No, Kamui, it´s not your fault, listen to me, it´s not your fault."

"Why?" he tried to grab her shoulders, but her hold was too tight. "Why are you crying?"

"Because it hurts me as well!" now her voice was broken. "I'm stupid, I can't do anything besides fight, and this is the only thing I can do. I know is not much, but you´ll always have me at your side, so let me do this, if you want scream, I´ll scream with you, if you want to laugh, I´ll do it at your side, if you want to cry, then I´ll do it with you, so let this useless mother of yours at least accompany you in your sadness…"

He couldn't think in anything, he just pressed his face against her shoulder harder, and let it out. "My… sunshine….my Elise….my Elise…" he sobbed again and again on her shoulder.

All clicked, the reports of the plaza, the hatred in his eyes, even the pair of flowers found where the replica was, it was over all, disgusting how he made everything possible to push him like this, all clues left behind by that man to hurt him were clear now.

Reina couldn't do anything more than cry at his side. She knew how strong he was, but right now, feeling how he couldn't control himself in that moment, she knew how fragile his heart was at that moment, as they continued, she could only think in one thing aside of their sadness, "Yukimura….. you´re so dead….."

At the other side of the room, there was only one person, watching them, although she couldn't see them, she heard everything. Orochi couldn't believe it. She did not want to acknowledge it, of all the people in Nohr, Elise? The little princess? The youngest of the royal family? It made sense that at some point, they developed strong feelings, but even if it was something she couldn't predict, knowing that Yukimura attacked them directly, it made sense why he was adamant to not reveal who was with Kamui that day. It was one thing was to attack Kamui, even in the worst case, Lady Mikoto would never, ever allow retaliations against kids, let alone what he did. "He…. Is…." She covered her mouth, trying to contain her stomach, just thinking that she purposely killed the grandchild of Lady Mikoto, was disgusting "…irremediable garbage….."


Meanwhile, in another part of the Castle, in one room in the same floor as Kamui, just a few doors away, were four people, facing each other in a small table, one of them, clearly containing her tears, while two were shocked for what they heard.

"….What?"

"…."

"Is this true? Kaze?"

"I…. confirmed it, Lady Hinoka," Kaze replied. "I have worked with her before, but if this girl appears in the registers of the household of the Castle, then… it´s possible…."

"Ok, just…. Let me be clear." Oboro massaged her temples. "You said your name was Bell, right?" the girl nodded. "I…. I don't remember seeing you around"

"Th-That´s because I work… worked on the ground floor…. I was a refugee until Lady Mikoto helped me," Bell said "I… worked with Lord Yukimura and Lady Mikoto on the small workshop… my main duties were fixing the mechanism of the castle, restoration of the battle dolls and maintenance of every kind of tool the Saizo family needed."

"…. I still… don't understand," Hinoka commented. "Do you have any idea what you have d-"

"Lady Hinoka!" Oboro interrupted her, grabbing her arm when she was about to slam the table with her fist, she glared with the intention of yell, but seeing how Oboro's free hand was tightening in her knee, she knew she was holding back. "This is… not the time…. Not like this…."

"…." Hinoka clicked her tongue and looked away for a moment, she couldn't believe it.

Basically, in the last twenty minutes, this girl confessed that she was working with Yukimura, working in a private workshop somewhere in one of the many hidden panic rooms in the castle, how did they not notice it? It was too simple, the bastard was using the panic room only Lady Mikoto and he knew, not even she as a princess was aware of it.

That man was determined to sully every corner and memory of the late queen, even her personal belongings and havens.

It was brilliant, she hated to admit it, a panic room in the middle of everything, so that explained how nobody knew his whereabouts, those panic rooms had resources, supplies and enough weapons to defend himself for a while, now there was only one question in her mind.

"Where is he?"

"In the panic room, on the seventh floor, in the hallway that is next to the east stairs, there´s a small ornament on the wall, you´ll need this to enter," she left a small trinket in the table.

"Why do you think we trust you?"

"I don't want you to trust me, I want you to end this madness!" Bell cried. "Lady Mikoto was the only mother I had in my life! I don't remember my own parents' faces, I don't have brothers or sisters, but she, even after Lord Kamui kidnap, every time tried to cheer me up!" she stood looking at the princess. "I HAVE SULLIED HER MEMORY, SUPPORTING THAT MADMAN PLOTS TO ALMOST KILL HER ONLY CHILD! I DON'T WANT TO BE ALIVE AFTER KNOWING THAT I WAS USED TO HURT HER!" She continued crying, leaning her head on the table "I…. I don't care if I'm executed after this…. I don't care about anything but stopping that man….." she stopped, sobbing for a moment. "I lost… everything after Lady Mikoto was gone….. and he used me …. To hurt Lord Kamui and Lady Mikoto….."

"….." Oboro took the item and seeing Kaze, she continued. "…. That girl must go with Lord Ryoma, we need to verify if her testimony is reliable and to make sure nobody knows about this."

"What? Are you crazy? We shou-" Hinoka was stopped by her, who had such discomforting look on her face.

"I know what it sounds like, but we don't have that luxury…."

"Like hell I´ll accept that, we just need to gather some troops and make sure that he doesn't get away, then make him revert what he has done to Kamui! You want that too, don't you?"

"I want to bring that man to justice; I want to make sure all his…. Barbaric methods and plots stop at once, but…." Oboro gritted her teeth for a short moment, relaxing herself with a long and soft sigh, she continued, "I…. my life…..is not mine anymore…." She glared at her. "Neither is yours."

"Uh?"

"Right now, we don't know what´s happening in that room, he has been plotting for the last months, we need to think about this, to scout and to check that´s safe, if there are traps over there that only Bell can dodge, then it will be over for us…."

"Do you care more about some hidden traps that the possibility of getting him?! We sh-"

"AND WHAT ABOUT US? WE GO, MIGHT BE BEATEN UP, MIGHT BE TRAPPED OR WORSE, SEPARATED FROM THE OTHERS!" She grabbed her by her shoulders. "What would happen to Kamui? How he would feel if we´re not around anymore? We can´t afford to disappear from his life!"

"I….I….."

"All of us know you´re passionate when something has to do with Kamui, but I agree with Oboro in this one" Kaze said, "And yes, I agreed with the plan of scouting the seventh floor, I have already sent word about this…. Issue" then he placed his hand on Bell's shoulder. "There are still a lot of questions left, but we need to move forward carefully."

"…."

"Indeed, Kaze, have you thought on the next step?" Oboro asked.

"Some of my old partners should be here by the afternoon, is too soon to try anything without more information, there are other things I need to ask Bell."

"So?"

"….In private."

"Why? Yo-" Oboro glanced at Hinoka, who was silent and looking down. "….oh, I…. I see…. Have you told Lord Ryoma about this?"

"No, could you check it for me, please? I'm sorry for making you do this errand, but this is the only secure place for this girl, I think he must be dealing with our Nohrian guests."

"Fine by me, I´ll just tell him that you´re here, he must be near Kamui´s room. If he´s not there, any idea?"

Kaze shook his head. "You should wait for him in the observatory room. Orochi must be there, I'm sure he will go to that place sooner or later, in any case, I just need to inform Lord Ryoma about this and what I want to do with this issue, I don't think it is wise to wait for permission."

"Ok, I´ll see you later," Oboro took Hinoka's wrist, pulling her outside the room.

At that moment, there was no point to delay the imminent reunion with that fox girl, she just had to go with Orochi and make someone to souvenirs for something quick to eat, preferably, any of the retainers that were still roaming in the hallways.

"Have I…. started to forget about Kamui's state?" Hinoka wondered while she was still being dragged by the lancer. "… Kamui…"


Sorry for the delay guys, here it is, I think this is too…. Mmm….. how do I say it? Sentiment? I don't know, I just wanted to make a point here, and I wish I made it.

ANYWAY! Thanks for keeping up with my work, leave your PM, Reviews and comments, let me know what´d you think about it, i´ll update until next Monday my new work, it might be a one-shot since is about a space-simulation game (if you know a little about any sci-fi work, then you should be fine, there´s not a lot of background on in, just some flags that i´ll explain if that fanfic is a hit), just a small experiment to refresh my mind from the same FE stories, since the next Wednesday i´ll update the "tied by bonds remake" and…. Well, it´s quite large.

Hope you have a good week/weekend and day/night!

SHIDESU! OUT!