These next few parts are actually my favorite, even if they were among the most difficult to write haha. Thanks again for the reviews, guys! Really happy to know that you're enjoying it!
Disclaimer: I own neither Inuyasha nor Fire Emblem: Awakening.
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3. hold me close
Can't breathe—I can't breathe.
Scream lodged in her throat, arms like leaden weights—stuck, she was stuck, she needed to move.
What's happening? Where am I? What's going on?
She could see nothing, see no one, darkness filled all around her. Where was everyone? Where was Chrom? Was she alone?
Someonehelpgodspleasesomeonehelp.
She was running—or was she running? From someone? Or… no, she was standing still—she was pushing someone away, and then... And then she fell—she had fell, pain electrifying her every nerve until it was gone and it was just her heart hurting, her heart breaking into pieces, Chrom standing before her cradling his stomach, blood spilling from his lips as he told her it wasn't her fault.
It is my fault, it's all my fault—everyone I love is dead by no one's hand but mine.
"Get out of here, please. Go."
"Kagome, no!"
"Stop, please—snap out of it!"
Kagome couldn't think—could barely breathe. Faces came and went in a blur, too fast for her to recognize, not fast enough that she missed the blood, the pain, the look of betrayal, the blankness in one's eyes that came with death.
"…Kagome, how—how could you?"
Kagome wanted to scream. She wanted to cry.
She wanted to die.
I'm sorry, she pleaded, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
She wanted this agony to stop. She needed it to stop.
Please, please, stop this please!
And then it did. It stopped, it all stopped, and Kagome was relieved but only for a mere moment because she wasn't alone any longer.
Blue eyes stared back at her—so familiar, where had she seen them before...? And yet—they were so cold, so dark, like the sky at dusk, when a terrible storm was rolling in, about to bring down torrential rain and squalling winds.
Hello, Kagome, came the voice, dark and sinister and just as familiar as the eyes, her blood turning to ice at the sound of it for reasons she couldn't begin to explain away. So very nice to meet you again.
The blue eyes flashed a dark, ruby red. Her heart stopped and suddenly, she was falling.
Finally, finally, Kagome could scream.
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"Kagome!"
With a scream still on her lips, Kagome surged upright just as hands grabbed her arms—she struck out reflexively with a startled gasp and heard a pained grunt when her fist connected with something. The moment she as free she rolled away and jumped to her feet, scrambling over to where she left her knife and taking it into her hand.
She pointed it towards the intruder, heart racing, hands shaking, her mouth opened and about to shout an alarm when something familiar glinted and stopped her.
Falchion.
"C—Chrom?" Kagome dropped the knife is if it burned her, staring at horror at the sight of the prince sprawled on the ground beside her sleeping roll, clutching his nose and staring at her wide-eyed. "Oh—oh gods, I'm so sorry Chrom—I didn't realize!" She started for the tent's flap. "I'll wake up Lissa and—"
"No, no!" he interrupted her quickly enough, raising a hand as he climbed to his feet, and she stopped in her tracks. "It's fine," and even in the darkness Chrom must have been able to see the skeptical look she was giving him because he added, "Well, for now it is. It's just—are you okay?"
Kagome blinked, stunned at the question. "Chrom," she slowly drew out, wondering just how hard she hit him, "I'm pretty sure I just broke your nose and you're asking me if—"
"Kagome," Chrom stressed, taking two brisk steps forward, and Kagome pressed her lips together at his tone—a touch of impatience among the exasperation and worry. "I just wanted to check on you. I heard you from outside... You were…" Chrom trailed off, looking distinctly uncomfortable, just as she felt as well. He made a helpless gesture with his hands. "You were crying," he confessed quietly, peering down at her.
Abruptly, Kagome's hand jumped to her face, and she was surprised to find her cheeks were damp. "I…" Her gaze fell to the ground, and she shuffled her feet. "I don't know what to say, Chrom—I'm sorry, for one," she said, fingers fiddling with the hem of her sleeves. "And thank you. For checking in on me, and waking me up. I don't… I don't actually remember what I was dreaming about… I just…" She clenched her fists—she couldn't remember what she dreamt about, but how she felt was a different matter entirely.
Her eyes prickled just remembering it. She felt so… so helpless, so alone.
She heard his steps as he came closer, and jumped when he slipped his hand into hers, tangling his fingers with her own. "…Hey," Chrom whispered urgently, squeezing her hand. "Hey, it's okay. It's going to be okay."
"I—" Kagome choked, tightly shutting her eyes. It was harder, now, to maintain the facade—with him standing so close, his hand wrapped around hers. Behind her lids, her eyes burned even more. "I felt… I felt so afraid Chrom, and I don't even know why," she shuddered, sniffling.
"Come here," Chrom murmured, bringing her close. Kagome welcomed the embrace, the way his arm settled behind her back and against her spine, pressing her gently against him. She buried her head into his warm shoulder, giving a shaky exhale. A part of her rebelled at showing such weakness—she was the Shepherd's tactician, she needed to keep a level head, she shouldn't allow herself to break down so easily because of a mere nightmare, no matter how much she wanted to, and yet…
And yet with Chrom, perhaps only with Chrom, she felt like she could. With him, she knew she wouldn't be judged if she gave in. With him, she knew she'd be safe.
"It was only a dream," the Ylissean prince assured her, smoothing a hand along her hair. He had pressed his cheek against her head, and perhaps she imagined it, but she could have sworn he also pressed his lips to her hair. "You're awake now," he whispered, his voice a low rasp. "It wasn't real."
And in his arms, she felt like she could believe that, believe him.
But it felt like it was, though, it really, really felt like it…
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Lmao, I keep having this nagging feeling that... I'm not doing Chrom's utter dorkiness justice? Haha, but maybe it's just cause of the situation and the fact he's not actively trying to flirt—and with two sisters, I do imagine him to be pretty good at comforting people. (Personal headcanon, he totes did it for Lissa a lot when they were younger, and Emm did the same to him). 'shrugs'
Anyway! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Till next time!
RainLily
