Archive of Our Own ^beta

I met him thanks to princess Sakura, if I remember correctly. She was usually kind, even though she was a little embarrassed to be with people she didn't know very well. It was on a day when he was with the townspeople, including me. She said that his brother Ryoma, the king of Hoshido, suggested talking to the townspeople, to see if she could improve her social awkwardness.

Even with what her brother suggested, I remember that she was with Princess Hinoka that day, her sister.

“I… Hinoka, can we go please? You know that I am not very capable of talking to people” Sakura said, behind her sister.
“You already know that Ryoma asked you to go outside. Come on, I know you can try a lot harder” her sister responded, caressing his head with love. “So… what were you doing?” Hinoka asked to us
“We were plowing some wheat fields on the edge of town” answered one of my friends. "And according to what you were telling us just before, you could help us, so… Will you help us?
“Of course! That is the least we can do for our people. Right Sakura?”
“Yeah…”

Despite everything, we had a great time. It was a little hard at first, mostly because Sakura seemed distant. But as we progressed with the work, everything got better. I have to admit that plowing didn't seem like the best activity to get to know a person, but Hinoka and Sakura proved otherwise.

It was while we were resting, sitting under a cherry blossom tree, when Sakura mentioned this special person.

“Ha ha ha, you are very funny, Taki” said Sakura “Maybe you would do Shigure some good. He doesn't seem to be feeling well lately…”
“Shigure? Who is he?” I asked.
“Haven't you heard? He is the son of that songstress, Azura.” said one of my friends.
“You are correct” Hinoka confirmed “And well, I don't know much unlike Sakura, but thanks to what I've heard from others, Shigure feels lonely in his deeprealm. He has some guards to keep him company, but they don't seem to help him much.

Alone in a place called deeprealm… At that moment I didn't know what that was, but later Shigure's mother, Azura, would tell me what those deeprealms were, along with the experiences of Shigure living there. Certainly, he may have lived in a safe place because of the war, but at the cost of feeling in complete solitude.

Suddenly, Sakura asked the question that, unbeknownst to her, even to me, would change my life.

“You know what guys? Having spent the day with you, and seeing that you are so nice and friendly, made me think…What if you all go to see Shigure? You seem to of be his age, so I imagine he would get along well with all of you”
“That's a good idea, Sakura! We should go and tell Azura right now!” said Hinoka, very motivated. She stood up from the ground to leave, but stayed still and didn't move forward. “ We didn't ask… so, all of you want to see Shigure?”

My friends, without much emotion or apparent interest, responded.

“Yeah, I suppose”
“It would be interesting to see a place like a Deeprealm”
“I heard somewhere that Shigure paints and sings very well”

I didn't respond immediately, because at the time I had my doubts. It seemed a little odd to me that strangers would come from nowhere and talk to you. Now, it was also true that perhaps it was better to talk to strangers and try to make a connection than to continue feeling alone.

“And you, Taki? You want to go?” Hinoka asked

I figured it was better to be a good person and help.

“Mmm… Yes, i would like to go”
“Nice! So all of you want to see Shigure. Shall we get going, Sakura? To make preparations and inform Azura.
“Of course!” Sakura said excitedly “See you soon guys!”

And with that they left. Only with the passage of time would I realize how important that day was. Maybe I'm exaggerating its importance, but Shigure really became someone important to me. Someone who seems to be able to pierce me and reach the deepest part of my soul.

. . .

“We are almost there” says one of the wagon guards
“Thank you for taking me. Walking all this distance wouldn't be pleasant”
“Don't worry, it's a pleasure to help”

Today was going to be a very important day. If lucky, it might no longer be necessary to visit him almost every day. Although… I may be imagining things further than I should.

Either way, I want to think that Shigure's feelings will be reciprocated.

After some minutes, we reach the edges of the deep realm, a point where, as Azura told me, the conception of time changes; inside it happens faster, allowing for a safe growth. It is also there when I separate from the guards, as they tell me that they had orders to go to other deeprealms to be able to evaluate the state of security they were in, making it possible to only take me this far without wasting as much time as possible. Although it may sound abrupt, it's understandable. In the current war that Hoshido and Nohr are in, I wouldn't want anything to happen to someone who has grown up outside of such a huge conflict either. I wouldn't want anything to happen to Shigure.

I begin to walk along the dirt road, seeing the extensive sky of light blue accompanied by white, in the direction of Shigure's house. The land is not far behind in beauty, with multiple flowers proudly displaying their colors.

It seems to be a habit that I see things differently now. From a different point of view, that considers all the elements of a “picture”, giving everyone their corresponding value. Probably owe that to Shigure. In all the time spended with him, he has taught me more than I could even imagine. Through his art I have been able to understand him better, despite not having a very high level of knowledge on that subject. The colors, the drawings… They manage to convey more than any words.

Although it would be unfair not to mention his prodigious voice. Every time I have heard him sing, I have been captivated and amazed. How it seems to connect with each person who listens to it, how it seems to reach their hearts without much effort, is incredible. Once he told me that sometimes Azura and him sing. And oh my, when I heard them, they made me feel in Heaven.

In any case, I wonder what he's doing now. It wouldn't be nice to disturb him while he sings or draws. Although on a couple of occasions I was spying on him while he sang, and have to admit it, his voice was a wonderful experience.

After walking for a while, I arrived at Shigure's house, expectantly. I approached the door to knock, since no one seemed to be there to ask about him. Fortunately, a maiden appeared, and when she saw me, she approached me. It was Felicia. Corrin’s retainer, and provisionally who took care of Shigure's home.

“Hello Taki! If you're looking for Shigure, he should be in the forest from over there” she points behind me “He told me it was to find some kind of inspiration”
“I see… Thank you for telling me!”

After saying goodbye to her, I head to the forest to find Shigure.

. . .

A couple minutes in, and I finally hear a humming sound, a very familiar one. I cautiously advanced a little further, and behind some bushes and trees, a man with light blue hair emerged.

Shigure was sitting on the ground, leaning his back against the trunk of a tree. Seemed to be drawing, because he had something in his lap. Although, now he was just looking at the landscape around him, with what I think must be concentration, from the expression on his face.

I take a moment before appearing, because… I'm not going to lie, having to fully show my feelings without knowing how he's going to take it is quite scary. Is different to dream about a person and then have to talk to them. I see a possible scenario in which he accepts me, and another in which he prefers that we just stay as good friends.

Either way, I took courage and showed up.

“Shigure? Is nice to see you”

He turns around and gives me a sweet smile.

“Hello Taki! I was waiting for you at home, but I admit that my desire to paint was greater. Today the sky and the flowers were particularly beautiful” he stood up from the ground and placed a hand on his chest. “Forgive me for leaving”
“Don't worry Shigure. Although it may seem strange, I like watching you draw. It is… relaxing”
“I understand… If you like, you can sit next to me while I finish drawing this painting”
“Oh really? Thank you”

I sat next to him, taking the opportunity to look at what he was drawing. It was a landscape with flowers of many colors, and a house in the background. The sky was a similar color to what we could see, and there were two people in the field of flowers, holding hands. It gave me the feeling that he was drawing his deepreal. Although I couldn't distinguish the people, because even though they were in the flower field, they were on what seemed to be the border between it and the house. In the background in other words.

“Is that… your deeprealm?”
“Yes it is. Very perceptive of you” Shigure replies, while drawing on the canvas.
“I have a question though, who are the people in the background? It's okay if you don't want to tell me, I wouldn't want to bother you and…”
“It is fine, don’t worry” Shigure responded with a smile, stopping his drawing “Well… Those are two people who know each other very well”

At some point I had to say it, so I decided to start now, slowly.

“Maybe… Like you and me?”
“Yes, I would say that is correct. Maybe even more than you imagine”
“Interesting” I wasn't expecting that answer at all. I decided to ask something else “Tell me Shigure, when you paint something like this for example, do you get inspired by something? In a feeling perhaps?
“Well, in all the paintings I make I am inspired by something” Shigure said, looking at the surroundings “In this one, it was my deeprealm, along with something else… a feeling that has been swarming in my mind for a while now”
“And what would that feeling be? Happiness? Peace perhaps?”
“Love. I have been inspired by love”

Would that be a sign? Could it be that Shigure really feels the same as me? Around us, nothing seemed to have changed: the sun was still high in the sky, the flowers were still there, almost unfazed. Many times I have thought about the fear of confessing, and how, by not doing so, everything will remain the same. But also like in doing so, don't be reciprocal, that Shigure isn't interested.

I guess it might be worth a try. Shigure is a good friend, a good person, and even if he might reject me, we would still be on good terms. At least after confessing it, I will probably be at peace. Couldn't say if happy, but at least with the resolution of having done it.

“Shigure, I have to tell you something very important”
“What would you want to tell me?”
“I've been feeling this way for a long time, and now it appears to be the moment to tell you. I…” Suddenly, someone screams.
“We are suffering an attack from bandits! Be careful! They don't seem to look… ARGHHHH”

Bandits? In the Deep Realm? Supposedly, there's enough security to keep people like that out. The guard who just screamed got the worst part of it...

“Sorry Taki, but the thing that you want to tell me will have to be for another time, I have to see what is happening” he stood up again, this time quickly “I suggest you come with me, staying alone could be dangerous”

Just as Shigure finished speaking, a figure appeared some meters away from the trees behind. Although he seemed to have a normal appearance, his body, quite translucent, was giving off a violet aura. And he also had an axe. And he was also approaching us menacingly. Suddenly the “bandit” starts running, raising his axe.
He could attack us. He could attack Shigure

“Get away!” I shout to him, pushing his body to receive the blow.

Almost instantly I feel immense pain, the wound making me fall to the ground. I hope… that the bandit still focuses on me, and not on Shigure

“Taki! Are you okay?” Shigure says while trying to get up from the ground. There was… desperation in his lovely voice.

The bandit who attacked me heads towards him, axe in hand.

And again, something suddenly happens. An arrow… from somewhere? appears, completely piercing the chest of that bandit. He falls to his left, completely inert. A voice… shouts to us from afar.

“Lord Shigure! Please come with me. There are too many bandits to…” suddenly, something stops the man. Out of the corner of my eye I manage to see the guard… being pierced by a bandit's sword.

I turn my head to Shigure, while the bandit who killed the guard slowly approaches us. With… a lot of pain, not just physical, I tell Shigure the following:

“G-go away. I don't want to see you hurt. Escape before…”
“No! I want to stay by your side. Please, stay with me” he says, taking between his hands one of mine. Tears began… to run down his face.
“Please go now! I... I'll stay here to rest.” My hand slowly moved to one of his cheeks. "Remember me, no matter where you go."

Shigure runs away as I lower my hand. The bandit from before arrives just moments later at my side, raising his sword.
I wonder… if he will be happy after all this. If he really wouldn't forget me. I suppose… that will be for another time. Who knows? Maybe in another universe…