Chapter Text
Never had Takumi thought that coming back home was such a precious gift. If he hadn’t experienced this three months in Nohr, he would have continued thinking that ‘going back home’ just shortened his play time. He would have pouted at his Mother when she dragged him back home and forced him to have a shower. He would have complained at Ryoma about his insufficient free time he had for his daily training.
But a person wouldn’t know the importance of a thing unless they lose it. He had never know how dependent he was until he was stripped from everything and started out as a slave.
The Hoshidan Prince opened the window, feeling the autumn breeze on his face. When did he last felt such comforting wind? When was his last time he could close his eyes without worrying about being killed? The tiredness soon got the better part of him, as he started slowly dozing off and leaned on his Mother’s shoulders. Mikoto chuckled and caressed his cheek. Humming, tears brimmed from her eyes as she sung.
もう この止まない雨の中で
昨日に怯えることもない
今 君を失くした未来は
始まったばかり
(There is already nothing left in the midst of this unending rain
The past is no longer feared
Right now, the future that you have lost,
has just begun.)
After all the tragedies, Takumi is finally back.
Fates has finally returned to its original course.
-
Somehow, Takumi thought there will be a grand ceremony welcoming him back home. Somehow, he thought the citizens of Hoshido missed him and would care about his disappearance. But when the carriage drives past the Wall of Suzanoh there is no celebration, no cheering, but only silent stares from the people. He can see hate and anger burning in their face, especially when they see Mother smiling beside him. He can see those eyes of disgust - same as those he saw in Nohr - when Mother pats him and brings him into her hug. What have happened? He gazes at his Mother, the only one who still believed that he was alive after his disappearance. The only one who never gave up on saving him.
The carriage soon comes to a stop. The moment the servant opens the door, Sakura dashed and hugged him. “Takumi!” she cried, with her tears soaking into his clothes. The older brother hugged her back, only to realise she is trembling in fear. What nightmare had she been through when he was away? That will be a question he will never know the answer. All he can do is to stay by her side, so that he can redeem all the lost time he had with her.
“I’m back, Sakura.” He smoothes her back and looks up. Kamui and Hinoka are standing at the back, smiling, though with tears rolling off their cheeks. Ryoma brushes his hair and cracks the most comforting, kind smile he had ever seen from the Samurai.
“Welcome back, Takumi.”
The third Prince giggles and nods. He is lost for words - The feeling of being home, the feeling of finally reuniting with his family, the feeling of breathing and living in the world… Never in his life had he felt this way, and never did he thought he would be thankful for such simple things. For the first time, he feels like a blanket has covered him, shielding him from all the tragedies and dangers he had experienced.
“Hey, Takumi, how was your life in Nohr?” Hinoka asks, rubbing her tears away. ”It’s okay if you don’t want to mention it… I’m just… curious.”
“Well… I was with Prince Leo of Nohr, mostly. He treated me as a friend… And taught me how to cook some Nohrian dishes.”
The answer is a shock to the crowd, especially to the high Prince. After all those nightmares, never did Ryoma thought the hostaged Hoshidan Prince was safe with the Nohrian Prince all along. He can never count how many times they prayed the Dawn Dragon to protect the Hoshidan child, or how many time did he kneel down in front of his grave and begged for his forgiveness. He will never forget how horrified they were when the child was kidnapped by the Nohrian spy, neither will he forget the pain subdued. Those memories have crafted in his heart - the scars he can never wash away.
But when he raises their head and looks at Takumi’s innocent smile, all those scars are suddenly healed. His heart soften and all the burdens on his heart has suddenly vanished. If the event is any less tragic, he would have just laugh at how much he was overthinking. Instead, tears prick through his eyes as he feels the light of salvation.
“Ryoma?” Takumi tilts his head and gazes his brother in confusion. “Are you okay?”
“It’s fine, Takumi. So what have you done with Prince Leo?”
Doubtedly, the young Prince glances at the high Prince and gathers his thoughts. “There were a lot of ups and downs. He was quite hostile at first. But when we get to know more, he started teaching me Nohrian swordplay and chess!” His excitement soon takes the better part of him, as his amber eyes meets Ryoma’s brown eyes.
“Next time, Ryoma, I’ll beat you with my Nohrian swordplay! You still remember about the fight, right?”
The first Prince laughs, wholeheartedly. “I won’t back down, Takumi!” The Samurai takes a deep breath. Rubbing his brother’s silvery hair, his tears roll off his cheek as he says. “Show me what new techniques you’ve got!”
Everyone burst in laughter - Laughter that they longed, they prayed for in the past three months. Others might say a quarter of a year isn’t that long to begin with, but for them, they have experienced parting, grief and death. They can never forget the nights praying for the Dawn Dragon, hoping that they can at least reunite in heavens.
“Of course! Ryoma! I…” The youngest Prince yawns as his eyes slowly fluttered close. His muscle trembles as the tiredness soon takes over him.
“Why don’t we all go to the hot spring? You must have been through a long journey, Takumi.”
“Sure, Mother! It has been a long time since I’ve last used the Springs!”
-
The three younger siblings take their towels and walk to the spring. “H-Have you seen the Nohrian King?” Sakura asks out of blue. “Kamui said he has a scary face.”
The question shocks Takumi - Never did he thought Sakura would be interested in the King Garon. Clearing his throat, he speaks.
“I did! Looking at him made my shine shiver! You will never want to see that man in your entire life, Sakura.”
“B-But both Kamui and Takumi have seen him…”
“It will just give you nightmares, Sakura. His face is so scary that you can never forget him after being with him once.”
“O-Okay… If both of you say so…”
The trio chats until they arrive the entrance. The boys wave their hands as they enter the changing room, and tell Sakura to meet at hot spring.
“So, what about Prince Leo, Takumi?”
Takumi is unprepared by the sudden ask when he is taking his clothes off. “He is kind and brave…” He stares down only, thinking of the right words to describe the diligent Prince. But before he finds the suitable adjectives, he sees the bruises on his ankles - The ones caused by his shackles. Gasping, he covered the whipping scars on his back.
“Hey, Takumi?” Kamui walks closer, half confused half shocked. “Are you okay?”
“T-That’s fine, brother.” He nudges his legs together and hides the darkened skin. Leo was right - The scars of being a slave will still stay, no matter how hard he tries to heal it before coming back. Those experience are crafted on his heart, no matter how hard he tries to rub it off. “Just… You know… Not used to the Hoshidan weather yet…”
The older Prince raises his eyebrow, but let everything go when Takumi refuses to talk any further. “You can always depend on us, you know? I don’t know how felt when you’re in Nohr, but you’re safe now in Hoshido.”
Takumi gives the slightest nod before untying his hair and let them cover his back. He knows his family is trustworthy of sharing everything with them, but his heart holds him back. Deep down, he knows his family still doesn’t believe in the Nohrians, even if he tried to picture Leo the best way he can. He knows his family will be black-mouthing the Nohrian Prince behind him, and might even be planning on how to execute him once and for all. Nohr has been famous for deceiving others - His Father was executed and Kamui was nearly captured when they were fakely invited to the peace conference. Since then, the hatred towards Nohr has only grow stronger and stronger.
Hopefully, he can open his heart up and share his stories in Nohr. Hopefully, they will listen to his words and trust him. Hopefully, they can feel how genuine their friendship is and believe in Leo. He knows that’s a lot to take in, but there will not be understanding unless they try to put themselves in other’s shoes. Unless they try thinking from another side and reflecting what they had done.
The boys walk in silence until they wash their bodies and meet Sakura all the other end. The older siblings and Mother are already immersed in the Spring - They have arrived earlier than them, unsurprisingly since their rooms are closer to the Spring. While Hinoka is enjoying the spring water, Ryoma’s and Mother’s face are tensed.
What are they talking about? That must be a question they don’t want Takumi to know. Ever since he has been back, they have only been asking about his life in Nohr, but none of them have shared about their lives in Hoshido. He wanted to ask Kamui when he was going back to his room, but Sakura tugged his shirt and shaked his head.
Sometimes, being ignorant is better than being over-knowledgeable.
“Oh! Takumi, Kamui, Sakura, you’re here! Why you are not enjoying the Springs?”
For once, Takumi is blessed by his long hair. Other than that tiny tug on his hair and those caring eyes of Sakura, none seem to notice the scars when he takes off his towel and dip into the spring.
“So how’s the food in Nohr? Did you teach the Nohrian Prince how to cook Hoshidan dishes?”
“Hinoka, let Takumi rest a bit first.”
“But Mother…!”
“That’s fine, Hinoka.” The youngest Prince shakes his head. He wants to reply with enthusiasm, but looking at those serious expression of his Mother and Ryoma, he can barely open his heart up. Though he had only been back to Hoshido for less than two hours, he felt that the longer he stayed, the more he was aware of the darkness surrounding his family. The more he looked at their eyes, the more he saw the silent hate and blame towards the Nohrians.
“Um… I’ve tried teaching him miso soup, but he is terrible at cooking.” He hate to admit that, but he has been more picky with his words. Maybe he just doesn’t want anyone to realise the scars on his back, or maybe he just hope the anger will not continue to grow in their hearts. “I mean… He usually just create tomatoes when he is hungry. It isn’t like he need to know how to cook anyways.”
“He can create food with Nohrian magic? I thought Nohrian magic is just turning others into frog, or freezing everyone in place!”
“It’s mostly simple stuff, like creating fire or thunder.” Takumi takes a deep breath - Hopefully they will not be offended by their magic. Magic is something universal, right? Even if the type of magic used is different, everyone is just searching for the origin, right?
“But what I find the most interesting, Hinoka, is the ‘blessing magic’. It’s kind of similar to the Hoshidan good-luck charms, but when you’re casted by the spell, you can feel warmth surrounding you… As if you just gain the Dragon’s protection.”
“And you’ve tried those blessing magic?”
Takumi gives the slightest nod before staring down at the water. His family won’t be happy when they know he is ‘cursed’ by a ‘Nohrian blessing’, but it would only get worse if he doesn’t clarify what spell is on him. He will eventually need to say this out, especially when his Mother is able to detect the magic casted on a person. A blessing spell won’t make too much harm, right? Plus, a person can be blessed by both the Dawn Dragon and Dusk Dragon - At least that is what sages in the mutual countries do.
“Leo casted one on me when we parted.” He glances at his Mother before sinking his head. “I’m sorry, Mother. I know you told me not to believe in Nohrians but…”
He thought his Mother would rage and bring him to Orochi and dis-cast the spell. He thought he would he would be stared by the eyes of his Mother. Yet, when he looks up, he sees nothing more than a genuine smile.
“That’s fine, Takumi. It’s a gift from the Nohrian Prince, right?” That was not an answer Takumi would expected. Waving her hand, she beckons him to come closer. Pointing at his scars, she says, “He is the one who protected you from these, right? He must cherish you a lot, Takumi.”
The youngest Prince gazes up at his Mother - Those brown eyes telling him to open his heart, Telling him that everything can be shared between them. That she trusts in his words and forget the hatred behind.
Never in Takumi’s life that he had felt such urge to cry. It’s not the ‘sadness’ kind of crying, instead, how much he is touched by his Mother’s action, how guilty he is for pre-determining her reaction. He is angry at his pathetic, helpless self, but even more furious when he had, once again, set everything in the world into ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Leo told him once the world isn’t as simple as he thought, but now, he had just made the same mistake and nearly falsely accusing his Mother.
Smoothing his back, Mikoto pulls Takumi into her hug - It has been a long time since she last felt such peace. The war has slaughter thousands of people, and the grief of losing Takumi have split their family apart. People blamed her for sending soldiers to flame, and both Saizo and Kagero were sacrificed in the rescue of the Prince. But no matter how dark, how depressed she was, as long as a tiny part of her still longed for Takumi’s survival, she would still keep on fighting.
Now, Takumi has finally returned from the land of darkness. The Prince has resurrected from her deeper heart - A miracle too good for her to believe. Now, her family is finally reunited, sitting at the spring and chatting without any barrier. Now, the Hoshidan Prince is finally back in her arms, as his new life starts, once again.
“果てない闇の中
君がくれた篝火が
伽藍のこの胸に
生まれたいのちを
照らしている
(In this unending darkness,
the bonfire that you gave me
Lies in the haven of my chest.
As this light give rise to
A newly birthed life.)
“It’s okay, Takumi. There is nothing more to fear about - Fate has finally returned to its original course.”