Comms and Other Long FE Oneshots

Fox in Shirasagi

*Part of something I call the Takumi Timeline. Conquest up until Izumo, and then stuff happens. All royal siblings survive.*

"Sakura, if you keep scowling at me, your face is going to get stuck like that."

"Th-that's rich coming from you," she retorted, shaking her head at her older brother. He gave a soft, amused huff at that, not taking his focus off of the target. "Y-you know that you should be r-resting." She softened her tone, watching his hands shake slightly as he drew back the pale blue light that made up both string and arrow of the Fujin Yumi.

"If I spend every day in bed from here on out, I'll never regain my strength," Takumi replied, eyes narrowing before he released the arrow. It hit the target mere inches from the center, but she could see the dissatisfaction on his face as he immediately formed another. "You know that."

"Th-that wasn't what I was s-suggesting." She kept her arms crossed. "B-but you're still n-not at full strength and I d-don't want to s-see you crash again."

"I'll take a nap later today, then." He let the arrow fly, and it hit the center this time. "If I don't train, I'm going to lose my edge."

"We're n-not at w-war anymore, Onii-chan."

"We have a duty to protect the people from threats other than Nohrians." The string and arrow in his hands faded away as he actually turned to face her. He did look better than he did yesterday, she had to admit, his face back to it's normal color and the dark circles under his eyes less prominent. He'd been a sweaty, pale mess even after walking around for a while yesterday, though, so Sakura wasn't sure he should be training out here just yet. "Criminals, the lot."

"Hope I'm not part of that lot." An amused, familiar purr behind Sakura had her whirling around. A man was approaching the two of them, his orange-brown tail swishing behind him and his chocolate-brown eyes amused. "How are my two favorite humans?"

"Kaden." Takumi dipped his head. "Just coming for a visit?"

"Pretty much." The kitsune frowned a bit, scratching the back of his head. "I'm still not sure how you humans do this "alliance" thing. I sent a letter to say that I was coming, like you suggested back at the festival, and the guards didn't seem to have a problem with letting me in, so I assumed that it arrived."

"I-it did arrive," Sakura told him. "T-Takumi just didn't know b-because he w-wasn't feeling well when i-it did."

"You've been sick? That's no good." Kaden shook his head, his ears going back slightly. "Especially if it kept you from work for a day or so."

"Th-three."

"Doesn't matter, I'm fine now." Takumi frowned at Kaden when the kitsune chief arched both eyebrows at him. "The people here are just concerned-"

"Because it takes a great deal of force to take you down and keep you pinned there. I would know." Kaden's tail twitched irritably, and Sakura shuffled her feet. She'd seen the scars on her older brother's back, and knew what the chief was referring to. "Sickness is included in that figure, and I know that it's not in your nature to stay still for long, but I see why they're worried." Takumi's frown grew deeper, and he crossed his arms. "Anyways, you'd best get off your feet for a bit. You're starting to shake."

Takumi blinked, as did Sakura, who studied her brother, and saw that Kaden was right. He was shaking slightly. "I have some papers to sort for Ryoma, anyways," he sighed, slinging the Fujin Yumi across his back. "That'll probably be boring for you, though, if you were planning on spending time with me."

"I have two favorite humans, don't worry about it." Kaden gently put his hands on Sakura's shoulders and leaned over her, grinning. "What do you say to showing me around your pretty castle?"

His hands were very warm and strong on her shoulders. "I-I-I d-don't m-m-mind a-at all. I'd l-love to," she replied, shaking off that thought- where had it even come from? Of course Kaden had strong hands, he was a predator, if a bit of a carefree one now that the war was over. He was rather shiny and fluffy for a predator, too.

"That decides it, then!" he exclaimed cheerfully.

"You're making her uncomfortable."

"Am I?" Kaden took his hands off of Sakura's shoulders and backed up a bit at Takumi's quiet admonition. "Sorry, I forget that you humans aren't as okay with touching."

"I-It's o-okay," Sakura told him with a small shrug. "D-do you want to g-go to the gardens first, Ch-Chief Kaden?"

"Hey, hey, I told you back at Fort Jinya. Just Kaden." Sakura blushed with embarrassment as the kitsune crossed his arms. Takumi studied the two of them for a moment, and then walked off toward the castle. "I'm not big on the whole titles thing. Do you seriously like people calling you "Princess Sakura" day in and day out. Not that it doesn't suit you, but-"

"N-no." Sakura smiled up at him. "I understand. I j-just keep forgetting."

"Oh, okay, then." Kaden grinned. "So, flowers?"

"Flowers," she agreed, and they walked to the gardens together.