Chapter Text
He smelled the smoke before he saw it, a menacing spirit looming over the forest and slowly consuming the sky. Beyond it, he knew something even worse lurked, crawling its way through its home and burning everything in its path. It was only a matter of time before it reached him, but what could he do but wait?
Whoever created them hadn’t thought through the limitations of roots.
Shirasagi Village wasn’t that small, all things considered, but to Takumi, it had always been stifling. No matter where you went, everyone knew you. Most people would take this as a bonus, but with a reputation like Takumi’s, it was hard to like. He was either “that obnoxious kid who lives in the center of town” or “Ryouma’s significantly less impressive little brother.” Neither was ideal, to say the least.
Deep down, he really just wanted to get away from it all. Takumi had even considered just packing up his things and leaving, once, but his sister, Hinoka, stopped him. After hours worth of lectures, he realized that maybe that plan wasn’t such a great idea in the end. Yet, Takumi never really lost his need for something a little bit more.
He began collecting books. Novels, poetry, encyclopedias, from everywhere around the world, and the local merchants were more than happy to indulge him. They’d promise to bring him back interesting works of literature, and he would happily shell out any money they wanted.
In fact, Takumi was on his way to the market to meet them on the day when he first met him .
“Hey!” the stranger exclaimed, having been rudely knocked to the ground in Takumi’s rush. He indignantly rubbed at his face as he rose back to his feet.
“Watch where you’re going-!” Takumi was about to snap, but paused at the last second when he saw the stranger’s face.
He… definitely wasn’t from around here.
Takumi had heard of places like Nohr where the sun never shined, but he never actually tried to imagine what a person from there would look like. He didn’t know people could be that pale without being dead, for one. Heck, with his feathery light hair, the stranger almost seemed unreal. As though if the wind blew too harshly, he would dissipate where he stood.
One thing that grounded him to this world, however, were his eyes. Color and depth of the finest cherry, they were the eyes of someone who knew much about the world. Though, perhaps more importantly, they were the eyes of someone who could tell him much about the world.
“W-what are you staring at?” the stranger stuttered, interrupting his reverie.
“Uh,” Takumi replied dumbly. Suddenly, his head was racing with too many questions, too many things to say, without the means of actually communicating them in any comprehensible way. Frustrated, the stranger huffed and pushed by him, clearly having used up all his patience. He disappeared into the meager crowd long before Takumi regained any sort of cognitive thought.
Takumi turned around and went back home, in a daze. When had his heart started racing?
He replayed the events of that afternoon long into the night, examining every little detail about the stranger he possibly could. His Hoshidan was pretty good; he had to have been here for a while, although he definitely didn’t have the right mannerisms. Even if he wasn’t a walking Nohrian stereotype appearance-wise, there’s no way he’d ever fit in. Also, he never apologized for running into Takumi, which was obviously his fault. That was just rude.
He needed to find him. To ask him about his travels, of course, but mostly for an apology. At least, that was the excuse he was going to use when he ran out into the streets at the crack of dawn, eyes bloodshot from sleep deprivation.
His siblings might’ve been concerned, but they weren’t awake at the time. Now, where does one find a mysterious traveler at 5:00 AM?
Takumi pulled on his coat and made his way to the inn.
“A blonde man?” the innkeeper repeated with confusion. “No, we don’t have anyone like that booked here.”
“Are you sure?” Takumi asked. This was the only inn in the village. If he wasn’t here…
“I’m pretty sure,” she said. Takumi’s expression fell in disappointment. “Now, don’t be too discouraged. Oftentimes, people just camp outside of town. I’m sure your mysterious foreigner is still here.”
“Really? Do you know where I might find him?” The innkeeper hummed.
“Well, I’m not him, so I don’t know what he’s looking for, but...” she said, “When we get visitors, they usually like to check out the local landmarks and such.” Takumi nodded.
“I’ll look there,” he said, “Thank you!” The innkeeper waved to him as he left, walking even faster than he was before.
Takumi didn’t manage to find him until noon. He wasn’t at any of the places she suggested; instead, the stranger drifted just outside of town, quietly examining the local plantlife. Takumi hid behind a nearby tree, unsure how to approach him. He never actually thought he’d get this far.
“I know you’re there,” the stranger said, not even sparing a glance in his direction. “What do you want?” Takumi was frozen for a moment, then tentatively revealed himself. He opened his mouth to explain, but nothing came out.
“What, have you come here just to stare at me again? Yeesh,” the stranger quipped. Sighing, he stood up to meet him face-to-face.
“Y-you’re not from here!” he blurted out suddenly. The other boy blinked.
“...Yes, that is clear,” he said.
“I mean, you’re a traveler,” Takumi explained. “So, you’ve seen places!”
“Kind of the idea.”
“So!” Takumi huffed. Almost there, just- “You’re going to tell me all about them!”
...Eh, close enough.
The traveler gave him a look, and for a moment, he thought he was going to turn him down outright.
“...Alright,” he said, despite everything. Takumi burst into a grin.
“Okay! I’m going to buy you tea!” he said.
Before he knew it, they were sitting across from each other at a quaint little table, sipping tea in unbelievably awkward silence. Well, Takumi was drinking, at least. The other buy hadn’t even touched his. He probably hated tea. He must’ve agreed just to be polite, and Takumi was really, really annoying him-
“I’m Takumi,” he said abruptly, startling the other boy out of his thoughts.
“Oh? Er, I’m Leo,” Leo said, “Nice to meet you.” Leo . Even his name sounded really freakin’ cool. He’d never admit that, though. “So.”
“So?” Takumi repeated.
“Was there a reason you bought me this?” he said, pointing to the tea. Takumi paused for a moment.
“Well, it’s just… a thing we do… Politeness, and stuff.” He nodded, happy with his explanation. Leo only seemed more confused. “Do they not have tea where you’re from?”
Leo scoffed, as though the answer were obvious, but muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “I don’t even know.”
“So, uh,” Takumi tried, “Where are you from?” Leo thought for a moment.
“Do you have a map?” he asked. Takumi shook his head. “Hmm. Well, if you look on the left, the gray side? There’s a ring of rocks...”
“You mean Krakenburg?” Takumi suggested.
“Yeah, sure,” he said. Takumi’s eyes lit up.
“Really? The capital of Nohr? What’s it like?” he asked. Leo scrambled for a response.
“Too many people,” he said finally. Takumi pondered this for a moment.
“Yeah, I guess it would be pretty crowded,” he said. “Do you miss it?” Leo expression darkened for a moment, Takumi clearly having struck a nerve of some kind. “Oh, sorry, you don’t have to answer that-”
“No, it’s fine. Just… complicated,” he said. “Let’s just say there’s a reason I’m looking for someplace new.” Takumi hummed in understanding. So he didn’t have a home anymore, then. He had heard of several food crises in Nohr; maybe it just became unlivable?
“So, you’ve seen a lot of places, then?” he asked.
“Too many,” Leo scoffed, “and each one is just as awful as the last.” Takumi almost recoiled in shock.
“W-what? ‘Awful?’” he repeated.
“Yes, awful. Is it really so much to ask that people don’t violently take what doesn’t belong to them?”
“Well, sometimes-”
“I just want to find somewhere as far away from humanity as possible,” Leo said. Takumi wasn’t sure how to react.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit… unreasonable?” he asked. “I mean-” Leo stood abruptly.
“Thank you for the tea. It was a waste of money.” Before Takumi could even think of a response, his back was turned and quickly shrinking from his view. Soon, Takumi stood and left as well, quietly considering what he said.
He didn’t understand. The world couldn’t be that bad. At least, it didn’t seem so from what he’s read.
“Maybe he’s just upset and didn’t really mean it?” Sakura offered, watering their flowers. “If he really hated people that much, then why would he even talk with you to begin with?”
“Was it something I did, then?” Takumi said. He had been pacing on their porch for at least an hour and a half now. Sakura hummed in thought, then plucked a flower and held it out to him.
“No matter where you go, flowers are a gesture of goodwill,” she said. “Why don’t you bring him some? Either he’ll take it as an apology or just a friendly gift, both work.”
“Sakura, you’re a genius,” Takumi said, happily accepting it. Actually, wasn’t Leo looking at the flowers earlier, too? Maybe he really liked them!
At least, that was his excuse for running around town and picking them whenever he saw some. Fifty should be enough, right?
He was leaning over to pluck just one more when he saw a familiar black cloak flash by him. Takumi quickly shoved the flower into his bouquet and ran, calling out his name.
“Hey, Leo!” Leo turned, face first confused, then shocked when he noticed the excessive amount of flora Takumi held. He huffed in exhaustion and shoved the bouquet towards him, smiling widely. “I got you these!”
“You… got these for me?” he said, not moving to accept them.
“Yeah! Aren’t they nice?” Takumi said. Leo didn’t respond for a moment. “...Is something wrong?”
Suddenly, Takumi realized that wasn’t an expression of surprise so much as horror.
“Ah...” Leo muttered, taking the bouquet from Takumi with startling solemnity, “I guess you didn’t know this, but where I’m from, picking flowers is an act of violence.”
Takumi froze, mouth hanging open as he tried to think up an apology.
“It’s fine, you didn’t know,” Leo said, unable to meet his eye.
“I-I’m sorry! Really!” Takumi stuttered. “I can fix it!”
“No, it’s too late,” Leo said. “I’ll just… give them a proper burial.” He looked around for a path outside of town and began walking toward it. Takumi figured that was a cue for him to leave, but then Leo motioned for him to follow instead. Takumi lightly jogged after him.
He felt kind of ridiculous digging a grave for flowers, of all things, but Leo was almost the most upset he’d ever seen a person. He’d feel like a monster if he laughed now. One by one, Leo tossed the flowers into their final resting place, Takumi watching quietly as he seemed to give them a short prayer before shoving the dirt back over them.
“I’m sorry...” Takumi said again.
“You know, I was supposed to be the one apologizing,” Leo replied.
“Hmm?”
“I snapped at you. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I clearly brought up some bad memories-”
“No, I’ve had plenty of time to get over it,” he said, talking more to himself than Takumi.
“Ah...” Takumi thought for a moment. “Well, you’re still new around here. There’s not much, but I could show you around?” Leo offered him a small smile.
“Yeah, that sounds nice.”
They had been together for three days, now. Even though Takumi had run out of interesting things to show him shockingly fast, they had no shortage of mutual interests and could carry on conversations for hours.
“Seriously, you’ve never read a book?” Takumi asked.
“Again, made of brutally-murdered trees,” he said.
“Oh, yeah, that’s true...” Takumi thought for a moment. “But I think the contents make it worth it!”
“I doubt it, but you can try.”
Despite everything, Leo really, really loved books. And plants. Almost excessively, Takumi would say, with the how he went out of his way to avoid harming even grass. But, he wasn’t going to question it. They were friends now, and he was going to hang out with him whether he liked it or not.
Today, he had brought him a volume on the different species of plants around the world, waiting eagerly at their usual spot. He was early, as usual, so he wasn’t concerned even after almost a half hour had passed.
An hour, now that was concerning.
It was unlikely something was wrong. After all, nothing exciting tended to happen in this village, and, if it did, he would have heard of it immediately. Unfortunately, that fact didn’t stop his mind from wandering.
Maybe he should get up and look for him, or at least ask someone if they had seen him recently. He stood up, squeezing the tome in his hands and looking in a direction to follow. Thankfully, he immediately saw the figure he was hoping for.
“Oh, Leo!” he called, “Where have you been?”
“Takumi,” he greeted simply, expression unreadable as Takumi jogged up to meet him.
“I brought- hey, what’s that?” Takumi asked, pointing to the leather-bound book under his arm. Leo held it out to him.
“This is for you,” he said. “It’s a record of everything I’ve seen on my journey.”
“Really? You’re giving this to me?” Takumi said.
“It’s ungodly boring, but I thought you’d like it anyway,” Leo said.
“I’m just going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” Takumi flipped to a random page, somewhat surprised to find Leo’s handwriting extremely messy.
“I don’t write very often,” he said, blushing slightly in embarrassment.
“It’s great,” Takumi said, “Thanks.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Leo said, not meeting his eyes.
“Oh, I have something for you, too!” Takumi said, offering his own book. “I noticed you liked plants, so...”
“Oh.” Leo stared at the gift, but didn’t accept it. Takumi pushed it closer. No response.
“Go on, take it!” he urged. Leo stared at it, contemplating something. Finally, he sighed.
“I’m sorry, I can’t accept anything from you,” he said. Takumi’s face fell.
“Huh?”
“It’s time for me to leave. It wouldn’t do to borrow something I couldn’t return,” he explained.
“Wait, what?” Takumi said, “You’re leaving already?”
“You didn’t expect me to stay forever, did you?” Leo said. “I’ve seen all I need to. It’s time to move on.” Takumi couldn’t respond.
“But-” he choked out.
“It was nice meeting you, Takumi,” Leo said, turning to leave, “Goodbye.” And for the last time, he was watching Leo disappear from his sight.
“Leo!” he called out, finally having the strength to move. “Leo, wait!” He was running now, shoving people out of the way in his chase, but Leo was running, too. Why was he running from him? “Leo!”
He wouldn’t even look back at him.
Takumi tripped, face skidding against the dirt. He pushed himself back up, ready to continue, but he had lost Leo in that short moment. He forced himself forward, he couldn’t have gone far-
Takumi made it to the edge of the village before he realized he was completely gone. Exhausted and numb, he could’ve just collapsed right there. Instead, he wandered back home, aching and skin scraped, and shut himself in his room the moment he got there. His siblings didn’t bother him (though he knew how much they wanted to), but later that night, he quietly took the cake they had placed in front of his door.
He propped himself up between the wall and his bed, carefully opening the journal to its first page.