Spear of G O D S

(no icon cuz im at work)

My activity is already scarce as it is, but it’s about to get worse if that’s at all possible. Tomorrow I’m going home to Mass for Thanksgiving. While I’ll have internet and my laptop, I will be spending most of my time with family and friends save for the evenings. I might be able to get things done then. As for when I come back…

Final Fantasy XV is coming out two days after I get home so I definitely won’t be around. Around December 13th I go back home for winter break so- once again- activity will be (hey what’s up guys its) scarce.

     “Chise?”

It definitely wasn’t a Hoshidan name- that Oboro was sure of. But it didn’t necessarily sound likely something from Nohr as well... Maybe this was someone unrelated to either kingdom. A drifter, perhaps? Then again, this dreamland was housing more than Oboro’s friends, charges, and acquaintances. She might’ve gone as far as to say some people were from different universes entirely... But that seemed almost impossible. Then again, the Deeprealms were something she was made aware of. Oboro shook her head.

     “My name is Oboro- retainer to Prince Takumi of Hoshido. I’m       looking for a... friend of mine. He’s another one of Lord       Takumi’s retainers. You’re not from Nohr are you?”

“   are you alright   ?   ”   a gruff voice, one deepened purposefully, calls out to the woman nearby   —   lucina’s blade flickers blood off its metal after slaying one of the risen who dares to creep on the other.   “   this area is dangerous;   if you’ve no business here, take leave immediately.   ”

     “Pfft. Because I need to hide away from a few monsters.”

The nerve of this kid telling her that she needs to run away like a little kid and hide away from the big bad monsters. How old was this guy anyway? And what was with that voice? Oboro had to hold back from letting out anything bigger than her initial chuckle at the other’s words. She had to admit, the way this guy weilding a sword was rather impressive. Although, it was nothing she hadn’t already seen from Corrin and defitinetely nothing to be compared to the crown prince’s own fighting style.

Oboro simply took up her spear in a response to the swordsman. True to the proud Hoshidan way, Oboro wasn’t likely to give up. Like hell she was going to take orders from some stranger in a dreamland. What was he going to do if she didn’t listen? Decide that she was more dangerous than the monsters and attack her instead? Oboro didn’t think so.

     “Yeah, not happening. This is a royal retainer of Hoshido you’re       talk to- I’m definitely not gonna run away from something as        small as this.”

     “That’s good to hear... It’s great to see you too, Lady Sakura.”

But didn’t they just see each other...? Before coming into this dreamworld?

The spear-wielder was suddenly reminded of her reunion with her own charge... How happy he had been to see her and vice versa. Oboro had been so overcome with pure joy that she had cried in front her Lord. Looking down at Sakura, she vageuly recognized the reaction as almost a reflection of her own meeting with Takumi. But things had been different in that occasion... Takumi had died- she was sure of it- and their reunion meant that he was not. So why did Sakura react like this...?

And why was there a pounded ache in Oboro’s head?

“   …   o   -   oboro   …   ?   but…   i   —   i thought you were   ——   ”   dead.   killed.   murdered.   the word doesn’t dare escape her lips.   no, she’d rather be hopeful that she’s alive.   maybe if she is…   takumi could be too.  ryoma as well.

But something seemed to be troubling the princess...

Now he picks at it, refusing to let it scab. If it scars, he’ll have to come to terms with it. But he’s not ready. He’s not ready to say good-bye; he never had a chance to say good-bye.

“… I’m fine.”

It’s become so easy to lie between his teeth, to push the words right out of his mouth like a carefree whistle. He practices over and over again until he forgets that he ever needed to do so in the first place. The veil supplants the face beneath it.

Takumi feels the tremors in his chest lessen as Oboro sobs. Her pain is easier to comprehend and more worth his time.

“I can’t believe you’d even ask. Of course I want you at my side.”

She’s reliable. She’s always been there. He can’t lose her like everyone else. He looks at her and suddenly he knows how to define himself: She’s a reminder of who he is and the promises he’s made.

He still has his dreams.

Gingerly, he places his hands upon her shoulders and eases back to see her crying face. The smile he shares with her is awkward and unsure but it’s there all the same if she wants to take it. His cheeks aren’t any drier but the numbing sense of despair is gone.

And the confusion refused to leave. Even as her Lord broke into a short laugh, she couldn’t find herself doing the same. Of course she was happy that he was here with her again. But even though Takumi wasn’t dead, his disappearance was partially her fault. The smile is slowly fading away.

     “But... Lord Takumi, I-”

Her voice broke off. Already she had forgotten that he requested her to drop the formalities and stop focusing on the status difference between the two of them. Oboro failed to even correct herself as she looked away momentarily.

     “I had to ask... What happened to you was my fault. If I had       been more diligent then maybe you never would’ve been       separated from everyone...”

“Stop. Stop being so formal.”

It hurts.

And yet relief wells up inside of him: If she thinks he’s still alive, he won’t break her heart. He’s already done so time and time again by ignoring the looks and the smiles she thinks she can hide. (But he loves her, even if he isn’t in love with her.)

“Gods, I should have found you sooner. Letting you and Hinata think I’m…” He can’t say it, never mind how it howls in his head: Dead.

He hears himself sniffling but it sounds like someone else who’s an emotional wreck. He knows he’s leaning against her but he no longer recognizes his own body.

     “L-Lord Ta- I mean, Takumi... Are you feeling alright...?”

Steadily, her hands raise to move beneath his and rest at his back in something not quite a hug, but instead was her trying to support him. A steady shade of right flushed her cheeks. He blamed himself for the worry she and Hinata had gone through... The retainers had long since lost one another in this place and yet Oboro knew he would be okay... But she wished he could see this moment right here. Their Lord Takumi was alive! Although, he seemed unwell.

     “I’m so happy... So happy that you’re alive...! Please allow me to       make sure nothing bad happens to you ever again...”

He never learned what happened to her.

Takumi breaks into a sprint. Lakeside, empty. Hallways, empty. Where is she? Where could she be?

The mountain in the distance beckons for him. Though he fears what will happen when he shuts his eyes, he invites the darkness and imagines himself at the summit where no one else would dare venture.

Upon welcoming the light as the darkness takes its leave, he finds himself along a rocky path, just a few paces away from the peak. He freezes up.

He has no clue what to say to her.

Does she know?

The pain she must carry; he burdens her with so much.

He’s never been good at it, but he forces a smile. He wishes, oh, how he wishes, that she’s escaped his fate. But that would be selfish. Maybe it was time for her to be reunited with her family.

He wants to tell her that everything is all right now, to reassure her the way a leader ought to. Yet his hands grow clammy, his neck grows hot, and his sense of courage keeps shrinking.

“Hey.” Takumi’s voice cracks, “It’s about damn time you showed up. How long did you expect me to wait?” Dammit. He lifts the heel of his palm to his stupid face that can’t keep a hold on Happiness or Joy. “It’s, it’s good to see you…normally I’d tell you to, to don’t you know…whatever, you know what I–hic–mean.”

His naked loneliness collapses before her, the trails on his cheeks echoing all the sentiments he wants to scream.

“…you’ve no idea how glad…”

But she does know and that’s why he can show her this. All of this, whatever this is.

It was how she imagined she would start her conversation with her mother’s spirit when she awoke the next morning.

            ‘Lord Takumi came back to me... But this time it was far more real.’

This was so different from how she remembered the other dreams. In all other dreams, she would find herself reliving old days of serving Lord Takumi with his every command. She would care for him and his siblings and do so alongside her fellow retainer, Hinata. Often times they would just be memories repeating. Not once did her Lord cry in front of her.

Seeing him this way hurt her in a way. Why was she so speechless? Words caught in her throat as she watched the tears that escaped his eyes. Something wasn’t right... It almost felt like she could reach out and feel something tangible on the tips of her fingers. But that was impossible... She had failed to protect her Lord and she had felt the guilt of it every day.

But in the off chance that this could be real- that he really was standing before her- tears of her own matched her charge’s. Steps were taken towards the man and a hesitant hand reached out. She knew that it was improper to do so without a word and yet Oboro would take her chances. The moment her fingers brushed against tangible clothing, the tears broke free.

      “Please, Lord Takumi... Don’t cr-”

How could she ask him not to cry when she was doing so herself? Instead she bowed forward in apology.

      “Forgive me, Lord Takumi. I thought you had died... I’m sorry I haven’t        been by your side. I promise I will never leave you again.”

And as her eyes looks back up to her charge, she felt the happiest she had been for as long as could remember. He was back. Whether this was a dream or not, she didn’t want this to end.