Ryoma/Kaze C-S

C

Ryoma: Kaze! There you are.

Kaze: Milord? Did you need me for something?

Ryoma: I wanted to tell you I'm glad to see you still live. When we'd heard you were captured in Nohr, we feared the worst.

Kaze: Ah, if not for Lord Corrin the worst would likely have come to pass.

Ryoma: I'll extend my thanks to him as well, once I'm done here.

Kaze: Milord?

Ryoma: I should have said these things to you long before now. When you first arrived home to Hoshido.

Ryoma: But with Corrin's return and...what followed, it slipped my mind until now. I hope you can forgive me for the belated well-wishes.

Kaze: Of course, my lord. You didn't need to extend them in the first place. I was only doing my duty as a ninja loyal to Hoshido.

Ryoma: Even so, any risk of your life is one I'm glad to see you win. We've lost enough as it is... It would pain me to lose you as well.

Kaze: Milord, that's...very kind of you to say.

Ryoma: Carry on then, Kaze. I need to go see Corrin about tomorrow's route anyway.

Kaze: ......

Ryoma: Kaze? Is something the matter?

Kaze: Ah, it's nothing.

Ryoma: ...If you say so. Remember, you can speak to me if you need anything.

B

Ryoma: Kaze.

Kaze: ...My Lord.

Ryoma: You've seemed to be avoiding me in these recent battles. Would you care to explain?

Kaze: My deepest apologies, milord. I will do my upmost to correct my behavior-

Ryoma: Kaze, that isn't what I mean. Are you feeling alright?

Kaze: You're worried for me?

Ryoma: Of course I am. Beyond being one of my most trusted allies, we're friends, are we not?

Kaze: I didn't know you considered me a friend, milord.

Ryoma: You didn't- Nevermind that.

Ryoma: Will you tell me what's bothering you?

Kaze: It's...truly nothing important, Lord Ryoma. I won't let it trouble you again.

Ryoma: Kaze, wait. Is this about Corrin?

Kaze: ...!

Ryoma: I knew it. We've talked about this before, Kaze. What happened to Corrin is not your fault.

Kaze: I am grateful you believe that to be the case, milord, but it simply isn't true. If I had just reported what I had seen Lord Sumeragi may still be...!

Ryoma: You were a child, Kaze! You didn't know any better!

Kaze: I was raised a ninja. I should have known better. I DID know better. My carelessness cost you your father and brother, milord!

Kaze: This is not an offense that can simply be pushed aside and forgotten about!

Ryoma: Kaze, listen to me! The only one who still blames you for that is you, yourself! Any resentment even I held for you is long past.

Kaze: I...! I need to go.

Ryoma: Kaze, don't-

Ryoma: ...leave yet.

A

Kaze: Lord Ryoma.

Ryoma: There you are, Kaze. I knew you'd find me when you were ready to talk.

Kaze: I want to apologize for the way I spoke to you, milord. It was rude of me-

Ryoma: Kaze, stop.

Kaze: ......

Ryoma: You don't need to apologize for speaking your mind. As your prince, hearing the unfiltered words of my people is important.

Ryoma: And, as your friend, it pains me to know you still feel guilty over things that were not your fault.

Kaze: Lord Ryoma, you don't need to placate me.

Ryoma: Listen for a moment. My father knew it was a trap from the moment he received the invitation.

Kaze: ...! Then, why?! Why would he go?

Ryoma: I wish I knew, Kaze. If I could ask him one question, that would be it.

Ryoma: I can't possibly blame you for what happened that night, knowing what I do. Do you understand?

Kaze: ......

Ryoma: Blaming yourself is useless, Kaze. It takes blame from the true villain of Father's death.

Kaze: I...understand, milord.

Ryoma: You and I are fighting for the same thing, Kaze. To save others from what happened to Corrin. To prevent another war of this magnitude.

Ryoma: Stand shoulder to shoulder with me, Kaze. Fight for what is right, and leave your doubts with the wind.

Kaze: Lord Ryoma... You have my word to fight with everything I have. I will fight for you and Lord Corrin until the day this war is won.

Kaze: My guilt...is not so easily cast off, but I, at least, can try to look past them. At the future you want to achieve.

Ryoma: That's all I can ask of you.

S

Ryoma: Kaze? Are you in here?

Kaze: ...My lord.

Ryoma: Good, finally. I knew eventually I would find you. You've started avoiding me again.

Ryoma: Is it something I did? I thought we had come to an understanding.

Kaze: We did, milord. I am still prepared to see this war through with you.

Ryoma: But physically seeing me is a problem?

Kaze: I... I suppose I can hide from you no longer.

Kaze: Lord Ryoma, your words stirred something in me. More than just my fighting spirit.

Kaze: They stirred my heart itself.

Ryoma: Kaze, you-

Kaze: Please, let me finish, while I still have the nerve to do so. I had always admired you, Lord Ryoma. When Saizo and I became official retainers to the Hoshidan royal family, it was my hope that I would have the chance to know you. To fight for you.

Kaze: I thought that I had lost the chance to fight by your side forever after that night. But you allowed me to remain, despite it.

Kaze: When we spoke last, your words roused those old emotions in my heart.

Ryoma: Is that why you've been avoiding me?

Kaze: Yes. I am not fit to have such feelings for you, milord. I thought I would wait until they went away, but...

Ryoma: Kaze. You don't need to will your feelings for me away.

Ryoma: I feel the same as you. You have a kind heart, Kaze. It always hurt me to see it burdened by the guilt you held.

Ryoma: I wanted to be the one that lifted that guilt from your heart. To show you that you are more than whatever shortcomings you believe you have.

Kaze: Milord, I-

Ryoma: Kaze, I want to bring Hoshido to a new dawn. I want to do it with you at my side. I know that together we can build a strong land, free of the hardships we've faced.

Ryoma: It has to be you, Kaze. Will you do me the honor?

Kaze: M- No... Ryoma.

Kaze: I truly never believed that something like this could happen. But nothing would make me happier than seeing the new daybreak of Hoshido with you.