31 Strings

The words they shared might have been few during the war, but Shura didn't need to look too hard to know that something was off about Izana. It was a very easy thing to spot as the Archduke has kindly offered himself to help with the rebuilding of Kohga after the defeat of King Garon and Shura got to be around him a lot for the past few months. This Izana wasn't the same person that received their party at Izumo the first time, the bubbly diviner that gave him so many "surprise fortune tellings" back in camp, the stubborn mule that dragged him to the table to eat with the rest of the army whenever he found him alone.

Shura knows he shouldn't be so surprised. Taking another's life isn't a simple thing to do, no matter if you're doing it for the "right reasons". For the ruler of a neutral kingdom that probably never saw bloodshed during his whole life, joining Corrin's cause must've weighed heavy on his mind and soul. Maybe the thing that disturbed Shura the most wasn't watching the eternal fountain of joy that was Izana dry out so suddenly but seeing him put so bland a facade of happiness, sweeping everything that tormented him under the rug for the sake of others.

He couldn't allow Izana sink like this. Cracking the Archduke proved to be a harsh task, however. All his questions and concerns were quickly dismissed with pleads from Izana to stop worrying, that there were more important things to look for right now, like the reconstruction of Kohga, like the revival of Nohr, the reorganization of Hoshido. Even while hosting his lavish parties Izana seemed to get lost, not staying amongst the crowd to tend to the guests and supervise every small detail like he used to do.

“He might be taking a nap,” the servants told him sometimes. Apparently, the Archduke slept an awful lot more since returning home, but he rarely found him in his personal quarters.

“Have you tried the gardens, sir?” One young maid suggests as another worker escorts him out of the empty room.

“Ai, no!” The man beside him puts a finger over his mouth.

That’s where he’s been hiding, then.

It takes Shura a while to get rid of the servants and navigate the castle’s labyrinth gardens (for Izana was in love with the greenery and the flowers and his favorite garden was practically a maze), but sure enough, there he finds the diviner sitting on a bench, eyes closed as if praying or meditating.

“Izana? Hope I’m not bothering you.”

“Oh, Shura, what are you doing here? Is something wrong?” Way to avoid asking how did he find him.

“No, nothing’s wrong, I was just– wandering around and wound up here.”

“Really? I hope you’re not lost then.” At least the laughing sounded sincere this time. “Want me to lead you outside?”

“No, I’m not totally lost, I think, thanks. Can I take a sit?”

“Oh, sure, sure, please.”

An odd, silent atmosphere befalls them the instant Shura sits. It was weird, seeing the Archduke so quiet, he how usually never shut up. The former outlaw couldn't find a good way to bring up the issue he came here to treat anymore.

"It can be tiring dealing with all that people, eh?"

"Sometimes, I guess, but it's no biggy, I barely do a thing."

"Seriously? You run this whole place and organize all these parties while going over your duties and making sure Izumo is safe."

"I don't do it all myself, though. I even wonder if I'm doing enough. I never did much, did I? Even back then?"

"Back then? During the war? If you say that because you joined us a bit late, forget it, you were a great ally the whole time you were with us, I would dare said that, has any of us were not there, we wouldn't have made it."

"Was I? Why? I didn't do anything important. For all the power I got, I wasn't much help. I still feel like there's something else I could've one, something else I should've known, a thing the gods tried to tell me I didn't understand."

"What are you talking about? Corrin greatly appreciated your strength, it was of great help in battle."

"I don't mean that."

Izana comes to a halt, hugs his legs close to his body.

Shura can't help but sigh at the sight. "I think I know what you're talking about. Listen, have we not gone over all of this, many more people would've suffered, King Garon, or whatever the hell was that thing, would've destroyed the land, and he wouldn't have stopped at Hoshido, he would have taken down Nohr, as far as we know."

"I know, I know, but I just–"

"It's not going to be easy, I can't lie to you, but you need to learn to forgive yourself, we did the right thing, you did the right thing."

"I hope so."

"Be sure of it." At least Izana is more at ease, but Shura feels like he should continue. "Izana, you're an admirable man."

"W-what?"

"It's not easy to stay cheerful while the world crumbles around you. It wasn't only your powerful magic that Corrin and the others appreciated, it was your attitude too, that helped keep everyone hopeful until the end. Believe it or not, we could've have used a few more Elises and a few more of you sometimes."

"Don't joke like that, I'm going to believe it."

"I'm not joking, you could've have stayed here and just send your support, but you choose to accompany us knowing what would happen. And not only that, you're still helping us, you're giving me a big hand, even though you're going through all of these feelings alone."

"Oh, stop it, dear, I'm just doing what I must, I can't let this drag me down. You're quite an admirable man too, you know? A lot more than me I do say." The Archduke giggles and gives him a playful glance.

"Now you stop right there, I'm not that a big of a deal."

"No, no, no! Don't you dare underestimate yourself like that! Look at everything you're doing, how many people go through everything you went through and raise a whole country from the ashes, uh? Not many, let me tell you."

"Come on, it's not like I'm doing it all alone, if not for Corrin and his sibling and you I wouldn't be where I am today, I owe you guys everything, my life even."

"Don't be so exaggerated, we might be helping a teensy little bit, but it's you doing everything out there, planifying, overseeing the works, even helping with the constructing. You owe us nothing, you silly, you're giving yourself too little credit."

Well, it was refreshing to see the Archduke smiling so naturally, not forcing the gesture. Such a sight wasn't helping his struggle to find words after being given all that praise, for some reason.

"Bah, fine, maybe you're right, but don't deny that you've contributed a big part to this too, if not for everything you've shared with us we wouldn't be advancing at this pace, I still don't know how am I going to repay you, but I'll find a way."

"Seriously, stop it, if you want to pay me back so bad, do so, but all in its right time, no need to rush. It's not as if we were hit that hard by the war, I would dare say we weren't affected at all."

Oh, but he sure was, his semblance still dropped to the ground whenever he did so much as mention it.

"Izana–"

"Anyways! If you really wanna start paying me back now focus on the whole rebuilding and don't worry about me, okay? I promise you I'll be happy if I know you're happy too."

And for the second time that night Shura is speechless again, for a reason unknown to him. Izana's words and bright, blushing face were making him blush as well and he was sure he looked ridiculous.

"Alright, alright, but don't ask the impossible out of me, I'll still be worrying about you."

"Awww, seriously, there's no need, I'll take care of myself, so, don't concern yourself, okay?"

"Only if you're really going to take of yourself."

"Pinky promise!"

They sit in the gardens for another while, in a soothing silence, Izana leaning on Shura's shoulder. They only move when the Archduke stands up and point out that the skies are starting to darken and the stars are beginning to shine.

"Maybe it's time to go back inside?"

"Good idea." Izana extends Shura a hand to help him stand, holding him for a bit too long, looking at him with a small smile. "So, are we going?"

"Oh, sure, sorry, sorry."

But Shura doesn't really mind. Thinking about it later, he probably wouldn't have minded if they stayed outside in the gardens doing nothing the entire night.