Disclaimer: I own neither Inuyasha nor Fire Emblem: Awakening.
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5. keep me steady
It was happening just as her dream foretold. Chrom's hands were at her elbows as he stared down at her, grinning his relief when Validar—her father, her mind spat with toxic vitriol—took to his feet for one last cheap shot.
No! Her mind screamed. Her body moved automatically of its own accord, hands fitting roughly against his armored chest, pushing, pushing, shoving; Chrom's grin breaking, his eyes widening as he stumbled backwards, her feet taking three steps forward, eyes darting over to where Chrom was reaching out towards her from her left before she went completely rigid and knew nothing but of the pain that electrified every inch of her.
Her mind went blissfully blank, black, and for how long she was gone she didn't know but when color filled her blurry vision she was on the ground. Chrom was back hovering over her, hands sliding over her body, forehead creased with sweat beading at his temples, face pale and lips thinned until he noticed her watching him.
It was with an odd sense of distance, detachment maybe, that she watched as his face smooth over with great relief, his lips quirking with a weary half-grin as his hands found her own and he pulled her to her feet. He was speaking to her, something she registered three seconds late, his hands now holding her biceps to keep her upright and his words coming muffled, dulled.
"...We can rest easy now, at long last."
That was when her heart tripped, her mind pulsed—it's happening, it's happening, she panicked as her fingers tingled with magic coming to life just as Chrom's head dipped, his bangs brushing against her forehead, the tip of his nose glancing across hers, his breath tickling her cheeks.
Kagome saw his eyebrows furrow when she didn't reply, his voice sounding faded, far away as he asked what was wrong, eyes narrowing before they widened just a split second later with realization. "Hey, hey look—"
And her mind screamed once again as her hand surged with electricity and shot forward. No, she screamed though her lips never formed the words, not even a sound passing her throat. Not this time—not ever!
Chrom went rigid, remained absolutely still for three seconds as he stared at her with wide eyes before he staggered back, a bolt of electricity fading from where it had pierced his stomach.
"This—this is not your fault," he told her, gritting his words out through the pain, swaying on his feet. Her dream came back to her, this very image brought to life, so real, too real—she felt like she was going to be sick. "Promise me you'll escape from this place, Kagome—please, go…"
He's gonna be okay, she told herself, her heart racing as he fell forward onto his knees, his gaze holding hers for only a few beats more before slipping away as he fell to his side. He's gonna be okay.
She couldn't tear her eyes away, even as Validar's victorious laughter rang in her ears, even as footsteps ran up to them, quick and light, and she heard her daughter as she breathed in quick gasp—"Father…? Father, no!"—her heart wrenching at the sheer anguish in her baby's scream.
She could only imagine how Lucina must feel, and there were not enough apologies in the world to make up for putting her daughter through the loss of father once again, despite a ruse it may be. She had wanted to tell her beforehand, to reassure her, but even as Chrom reluctantly pointed out Lucina would never allow them to make such a gamble with the future let alone his life, she knew the risks were too high as they were.
Her daughter sobbed—"This can't be happening—we were supposed to change this!"—and a shudder wracked through Kagome's body. She should turn, she should reassure her daughter, give her a sign but she couldn't move, not even an inch, not even if she wanted to. She could not look away, not until Chrom picked up his head and looked at her once more, not until she was sure.
He has to be okay.
And he was, thank the gods, thank Naga, he was. When it finally became time, when Basilio showed himself and revealed that they knew, that they had known what would happen all along and it was all a trick, when Validar finally began to realize he hadn't won just yet after all, she struck, and she did so without mercy.
Just as Kagome, with as much power as she could, sent a blast of thunder that had knocked the man to his knees, Chrom climbed to his feet. As he spoke, explaining that she had spared him, had held back at the last second—barely, she thought shakily, so close…—he came to stand at her side, slipping a hand to rest against the base of her spine. Kagome closed her eyes briefly and almost wept. That touch, so simple and light, was like an anchor—grounding her, relieving her, telling her it was okay. They were alive. They were safe.
They did it.
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anyone else had a mantra of "oh shit, oh shit, oh shit," when they played this chapter? lmao. just a few more left guys, hope you all liked this one! and thanks for reviewing! ^^
RainLily
