Chapter Text
Takumi really didn’t know how or why he got into this mess. All he knew was that he had to get out of it. Unfortunately, much to his dismay, it didn’t seem like he was going to.
Just a few hours earlier he had been walking into the Hoshidan marketplace with his older brother Ryoma and younger sister Sakura.
He found it kind of pointless heading outside to a bustling marketplace when they were all clearly recognized as royal blood. Any possible threat would be able to spot them in an instant. Ryoma had-or at least tried to assure him that it was all going to be fine. He also made it sound like it was some important thing their mother and father had sent them out to do, which was observe the way the townspeople acted, what problems they were experiencing and how their daily lifestyles were.
That did not stop Takumi from being paranoid, and he had probably frustrated Ryoma a bit. After all, it wasn’t like the crown prince to go on insulting his own people, so having their younger brother do so was quite irking. Although, even if the brunette was the slightest bit ticked off, it didn’t show on his face. Instead he remained calm, bringing his hand to rest on his chin before he walked off to find something.
“Here,” he said, placing a sheathed knife into Takumi’s hands. “If you are so worried, here is a weapon you should only use to protect yourself when you are being provoked or attacked.”
It wasn’t the most powerful knife or dagger that Takumi had seen, but it was doable, hopefully able to protect them from any possible foes. Before Takumi could even utter a word of thanks, Ryoma interrupted him, stopping at the end of the hallway, having made his way out.
“Just remember that I doubt you’ll be needing it,” Ryoma exclaimed with a concerned frown. “It’s our people we are talking about here. I trust them, so should you.”
With that, he left, probably to get ready to leave the castle. Takumi couldn’t help but scoff to that proclamation. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust their people. Of course, naturally the Hoshidans were very peaceful. Their kingdom as a whole was generally peaceful and calm natured. He just wanted to be careful. Clearly, he was the only one who actually thought that there could be enemies anywhere. Even if the sun shone on everything in Hoshido, didn’t mean there was nothing lurking in the shadows cast upon from the light.
Besides if Ryoma was so confident in everyone standing on Hoshidan soil, then why did they have an army in the first place?
Hinoka was continuing her Pegasus riding lesson, apparently taking an interest. There were so many in Hoshido, he was surprised that this was her first time considering the idea of learning how to fly one. Corrin went to accompany her (her name seemed foreign, but not Nohrian). While Sakura and Ryoma got ready, all Takumi did was comb through his long silver hair and hide the sheathed knife under one of the folds in his outfit.
He sighed staring at his reflection. Takumi sort of gave up on ever becoming as tall as Ryoma would grow to be. Ryoma was told constantly that he looked like his father, Sumeragi. Meanwhile, two of his sisters were always told how much they looked like the former queen. Obviously, Corrin was a stunning image of her mother-well his mother too now-Queen Mikoto. The thing was everyone would hush down their excited hype once they saw him. For he had the silver hair that stood out. The silver hair that came out of nowhere and didn’t even seem close to his birth parents’ hair colours.
Sometimes he wondered how he even got the hair colour. He was also pretty short. He was sure Ryoma would drone on about how he was still growing, since he was a child and how eventually he would become a tall young man. However, this didn’t make Takumi feel any better. Ryoma was already pretty tall for his age and had so many Hoshidan maidens swooning over him already. He also had a lot more muscle. In comparison, there was practically no competition. Takumi was the short, weird hair colored brother standing in his tall, handsome, muscular, smart older brother’s shadow.
With a deep breath he darted out of his room in search for his siblings.
This was actually the first time that Ryoma had ever invited him to come along. Usually either Corrin or Hinoka accompanied him when he visited the town. Since they were busy riding winged horses, Takumi was practically forced to come. Considering how paranoid he appeared, Takumi kind of understood why he hadn’t been taken before.
“Sakura! Ryoma!” He quietly shouted, not wanting to startle any maids or servants carrying anything. You only make that mistake once. Nearly giving Azura a heart attack while she was carrying tea was something that would never happen again. Ever.
Takumi turned the corner, finding his two siblings ready to go, wearing neat and basic clothing, yet it still made them both appear as royalty. Not with him, he would have to deck himself with so many layers of silk for anyone to really recognize him as the Royal he was born as. Of course, the two looked like royalty. Even with the simplest of clothing, their smiles and the presence they gave off was what gave them away.
Were they ready that quickly? Dang it! How long had he taken dwelling and sulking?
“L-let’s go now guys,” Sakura smiled, eager to see the thousands of colours and breathe in the fragrant scents wafting through the air in the marketplace.
She always enjoyed going to the Hoshidan square whenever there were festivals or ceremonies, or even when it was just a regular day. Although Sakura was quite shy, she cared very much about her people and tried her hardest to step out of her comfort zone. That was the selfless thing about her that the Hoshidans gratefully appreciated.
“Alright,” Ryoma smiled back at her, leading them towards the town square.
}}}-------------------------}
The marketplace was now pretty much deserted, aside from a few Hoshidans rushing over from work to their awaiting houses. Sakura wanted to stay and help an elderly woman set up her flower stand and Ryoma went talking with a few citizens and helping people with carrying heavy loads, already impressing people with his strength. Meanwhile, he set the task of watching over Sakura on him while he checked around the town to ensure everything was fine.
“Big brother!” Sakura came running towards him, a wide smile plastered on her face, which was different from her small shy smile.
“We should probably go home soon,” Takumi explained, casually brushing his hand to where he kept the knife hidden (just to reassure himself), “It’s getting dark.”
Sakura nodded her head in agreement. “B- but where’s Ryoma?”
Honestly, Takumi had no clue where their big brother had run off to or if he was even back at the castle yet. However, Takumi did know that Ryoma could handle himself just fine.
“He’s probably back at the castle,” Takumi lied, leading his younger sister back in the direction of their home.
Sometimes, Takumi loved Sakura. She was kind and caring, loved by all the castle staff and treasured by all her people. Sakura had this delicacy that no one could replace or in fact hate. She had this way of charming people without really meaning to charm anyone. He had found her working on gardening, trying her best to grow a certain red flower because Hinoka said it was her favourite. He also ran into her a few times, carrying things like handmade necklaces or hand painted tea cups. Heck, one time she gave him two hairpieces that made him want to continue to grow his hair long when he was considering cutting it.
Everyone found her beautiful, pretty, and a kind soul just like her birth and even her current mother was/is. Sakura actually acknowledged him and noticed him even when he was standing beside the greats.
But other times, Takumi would just wish Sakura learned some things other than crafts, gardening and Healing. He wished that she learned self defense when she was younger. Or instead of picking up the whisk, picked up a fine weapon. He thought her music was beautiful on the koto, and of course she was a very elegant and fine princess, but some part of him wanted her to have a bit of Hinoka in her or maybe even Corrin.
And now of all times, he really wished she knew how to fight.
“T-TAKUMI!!! BIG BROTHER!!!” Sakura managed to cry out as someone cloaked and unrecognizable grabbed her, pulling her away from him.
What was this creep trying to do? Kidnap her? He knew that it was a bad idea coming here without actual protection. He really wanted to yell at Ryoma, but of course he wasn’t there. He wasn’t there to help, to yell at or even to give Takumi one of those annoyingly effective pep talks or speeches.
Takumi pulled the knife quickly out of its sheath and lunged forward, stabbing the guy’s (or girl’s) abdomen, causing them to let go of Sakura and fall backwards. His hands were sweating and he prayed that the freak was either dead or unconscious.
“Run, Sakura! Run!” Takumi shouted to his sister.
“B-but you-”
“Go!” Takumi cried, digging the knife further into the person’s stomach, causing them to groan in agonizing pain. Blood was beginning to coat part of his hands, which was pretty disgusting.
Sakura panicked, stumbling to run, but she ended up sprinting to the direction of home. Tears were leaking from her eyes before, and Takumi kind of regretted stabbing someone in front of her. Knowing his sister, she was easily scarred by things. Well, at least she’ll be safe.
“S-she called y-you big brother, r-right?” A voice from below him managed to breathe out, confirming that it was a male. Takumi gulped, unsure what this guy was trying to intend. Apparently, this dude was assuming his silence meant a clear yes. And apparently there were more than one of them. A pair of strong arms wrapped around him, a hand holding a ragged cloth to his face.
Takumi didn’t want to breathe it in, didn’t want to succumb into the darkness that he knew was coming. He was thrashing, trying to struggle free only to find it pointless. He soon felt extremely tired, dizzy, his arms sank down to his sides and his eyelids felt heavier. Slowly, he fell limp in his captor’s arms.