Marshmallow Ghosts and Hot Chocolate Wraiths

“Are you serious?! She’s not-” Just as I was royally freaking out, there was sudden soft knock on my door. “Takumi?” A soft voice came from behind the shoji*. ‘Corrin? Talk about timing. What is she doing here at this hour?’ The scroll will have to wait. I placed it neatly on my pillow and got out of bed. Fixing my nemaki*, I opened the door to find a very sullen-looking Corrin. I grimaced at the sight of her. “What do you want at this hour?” She had already looked quite small before, but after seeing my expression she looked even smaller. “I’d like to talk… may I come in?” She gestured to the kotatsu* located towards the centre of the room. I eyed her, questioning her motives.“Odd time for a chat don’t you think?”.  Her expression was that of one that said ‘oh my goodness, you’re right’. I had to suppress a chuckle after seeing that expression on her face. She could be quite cute at times, after all.“I’m only teasing you. Have a seat. I’ll make some tea.”

She timidly walked towards the kotatsu and seated herself closer to the door. As I boiled the hot water I could hear her begin to speak. “I just wanted to tell you that you’re right. I don’t belong here.” ‘What? Not this again’ I had turned around to tell her to quit while she was ahead and what I saw made my chest hurt. Corrin had tears welling in her eyes, fists clenching the hems of her nightgown. She looked down at her hands, before continuing her thoughts, voice cracking. “I will leave here before dawn breaks.” My heart sank. ‘This is what you wanted to talk about?’ I opened my mouth to speak but she beat me to the punch. “I also wanted to say that... I’m sorry. For everything.” ‘After everything I said to you, you’re the one that’s sorry? That’s not right.’  Guilt started to creep up on me like a spider upon my neck. I had to clear the air before I caused her to leave. We had only just got her back... I have to make it right. “No. I won’t accept this.” She stared up at me, confused and hurt. “What do you -” I held up my hand to stop her thoughts. “Please, just hear me out. No interruptions. Just listen.”

I moved closer to her and brushed her tears away from her face. “You’re an idiot.” She had on her face, what could only be described as a defenseless expression. I continued to speak.”You’re not to blame for any of this. I know that. You’re just as much a victim in this pointless war as any of us. I’m sorry. I never meant the words I said”. I looked over my shoulder to stare at the scroll, deciding if Corrin should read it. “Takumi… Thank you.” She softly whimpered and grasped my hand, holding it tightly with her soft hands. My chest started becoming more and more uncomfortable, it was starting to hurt. ‘She has the right to know. I have to show her’ “Corrin. There’s something I think you should read.” I hesitantly pulled away and got up to retrieve the scroll. Only pausing for a moment to decide if what I was doing the right thing. After handing it to her I sat back down, waiting uncomfortably as she read the truth.  

“I’m not your sister?” Corrin looked horrified. ‘Oh no, please don’t tell me I messed this up’ I nodded. “Then our father… wasn’t really my father? I’m not your sister? And he still -” She trembled, tears overflowing. I threw my arms around her in an embrace, reassuring her that he did indeed love her. “You and mother were more precious to him than all the wealth in this world. Father loved you both with all of his heart.” Corrin’s sobs grew louder and my grip around her tightened, fingers hot and trembling. She returned the gesture, her hands gripped my arm pulling it closer. The distance between was smaller now, allowing me to catch the faint scent of her hair. ‘She smells like lotus flowers’  

I stiffened and softly pushed her away, the same tightening feeling in my heart grew stronger still. “Takumi?” She sniffled. “Thank you. Even if I am not your real sister I hope that you will come to see me as one in time.” These words seemed to taunt me, sending my emotions into a whirlwind of anger, denial, joy, and love. I was reaching my limit, still unaware of the blossoming rose in my chest. I hastily released her and asked her kindly to leave. “It’s getting late. Now that we’ve cleared everything up I assume all is well now?” She thanked me once more before saying good night, leaving me feeling a little hollow as I watched her leave.

“You there! Show yourself!” Ryoma lunged at the figure, only for it to vanish as a blood curdling scream rang throughout the plaza. It was Corrin. She had become enveloped in a bright light and where my sister once stood a dragon had now taken her place.  “A dragon?!” The words left me faster than I thought them. Ryoma and Hinoka immediately took a defensive stance in front of Sakura as Azura stayed silent, watching the dragon carefully. She stepped towards the creature only to be startled by an arrow coming between them. Nohrians. ‘ Damnit all! This isn’t the time! Nohrian scum.’

“We’ll have to deal with IT later, for now we have to take care of these assholes!” I shouted as I readied my bow and aimed for the nearest goon.  My siblings ran to my aide and we quickly bested our foes. With the threat of the invading Nohrians vanquished I now turned to face Corrin, who was still in her dragon form. Azura began to walk towards the dragon. ‘Oh. Great. Now that the smallfry are done for we have another problem to deal with! That thing. I almost forgot.’ “Azura stay back!” Ryoma warned. She persisted nonetheless.

Corrin still remained in her dragon form as Azura began to sing, approaching it slowly. Feeling cornered, it raised an appendage and knocked her to the ground. My grip on my bow tightened, gauging the situation. ‘If she doesn’t return to normal I’ll end this myself.’ The song backfires and a now enraged dragon throttles Azura, pressing down on her throat. We ready our weapons, eyeing the two of them warily, Hinoka looked ready to throw herself in front of Azura. 

‘Come on Corrin. I don’t really want to kill you but I will if I must. Come back.’

“Kill me if you want. But do it as yourself”. Soon after she had said this, the dragon began to fade and Corrin reemerged. ‘She’s back. Thank the gods.’ She staggered at first and looked pained and confused. “I remember it all...” She began to weep. ‘Fantastic. Here come the waterworks. Just what we need.’ I put my yumi away, irritated, shaken, secretly glad but also not willing to listen to her self-pity. “I remember the day Garon kidnapped me. Father died to protect me as well. This is all my fault. I’m so sorry I couldn’t see this coming.” She continued.

‘Are you kidding me? That’s what you’re upset about? After all that’s happened you pity yourself?’ After everything that had transpired, this was the last straw. “Your apology means NOTHING. This is all your fault! Mother is dead and so are countless others. And it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t shown up on our doorstep.” I regretted the words as every time they left my lips. I knew it wasn’t true, but I continued.

“You don’t belong here!” The words echoed in the empty plaza as she stayed silent through my rant but Ryoma quickly jumped in to stop me. “That’s enough, Takumi! Garon sent her here as a pawn. I’m sure of it. I assume that sword was a present from him as well” She nodded. “This was a trap and he used you to complete it.  We will not speak of this outside of our circle, lest the entire nation be thrown into chaos.” He warned.

We began to walk away when we heard a faint rattling. From the rubble of what was once a statue came a sword, it was drawn to her and flung itself into her hand. “A sword?” She remarked. Ryoma stared at the blade in awe, as he spoke, “Can it be true? The legendary Yatogami?”. “The Yatogami? What is that?” She questioned, examining the blade. “The Yatogami is a fabled weapon of yore. Only those chosen can wield the sacred blade”.  I was taken aback. ‘You’re kidding me. She’s the chosen one?’  Before I could complain any further Hinoka spoke up, “Come. Let us return to the castle and let the others know what happened.”

 It was a silent and painfully long walk back to the castle. Once we had returned Corrin remained behind and was laid in bed as a physician tended to her wounds. Azura stayed behind to make sure turning into a dragon didn’t do any physical trauma to Corrin’s body. “Ryoma, what do we do now?” Hinoka sighed. “We hold a meeting, call our retainers as well as Yukimura. This is going to be a long night.” He nodded in Sakura’s direction and she quickly went to go round up the retainers and find Yukimura. Once everyone gathered in the great hall and my brother explained what had happened, keeping certain details out to protect Corrin.

“So… You’re saying that the queen died to save her? Then… Then this is all her fault!” Oboro snarled and threw her staff down, while others murmured similar thoughts. Everyone started to become heated, angry, as was I. They began to grow louder and argued as to whether or not Corrin should stay. I still didn't trust the girl and the loss of our mother was too much for me.’Nohrian wench. She came back only to torment us. If only Rinkah hadn’t brought her back. If only we hadn’t had that stupid ceremony. If we only had taken her weapon. If only.’ My thoughts began to blur and I began to openly ramble, “I agree. This is all her fault. Nohrian scum. We should never have let her back here. She was probably working for them all along. We shoul-”

“TAKUMI!” Ryoma’s sudden roar silenced the room. It remained so until Yukimura chimed in. “S-since we've debriefed everyone, let us adjourn for tonight and talk about succession and other duties tomorrow morning. Is that alright Lord Ryoma?”  Scanning the faces of the group Ryoma nodded. “Agreed. Everyone leave, except you Takumi”.  The hall slowly emptied, leaving only me and my brother to fill it.

He walked to the steps of the throne and patted the spot next to him, I could see that I was in for a lecture. ‘Well, let’s get this over with.’ I had only taken a few steps forward when he had asked, “Why do you hate Corrin so much? She’s our sister”. I froze. He was right. I had no real reason to hate her, she was taken from us by force, held captive for years, but for some reason I couldn’t help but despise her. I know it wasn’t really her fault. I hadn’t quite realized my feelings for her yet, and a part of me believes that Ryoma already had an inkling.

“I don’t hate her.I don’t really feel anything particular towards her. She’s a stranger to me. Sister or not. I don’t care”. Now there’s a lie if I ever said one. I folded my arms in front of my chest. ‘Ok well maybe I do care. A little.’ As if hearing my thoughts, my brother raised an inquisitive brow. “Well if you don’t hate her, then why do you show such hostility towards her? She hasn’t done anything to you” He questioned. ‘Crap. He got me there.’ I was pacing back and forth in front of my brother, talking to myself, wondering why. I took a seat next to him. “The things that I said were just in the heat of the moment. I was angry. I know it’s not her fault but none of this would have happened if she hadn’t come back.” I spoke softly now. Looking down at my hands. ‘I’m sorry but it’s true, even if it’s only partially.’