I don't want to die.

No. This was it. This was the answer. He was going to jump off the ledge to his imminent demise. He wouldn't allow the Nohrian scum to relish in their victory over him. One more step and he would fall. It was cowardly and it would break the hearts of his siblings once they found out. He knew this, but something possessed him to make the suicidal choice rather than join his little sister as a hostage. She knew what he was going to do and she knew she wouldn't be able to save him if he went through with his plan. The fear in Corrin's eyes was real. The concern and love was still there, even if they were on opposing sides. Why were those sentiments even there? She was a traitor. Did she still think of herself as his sister? The fool.

Big Sister.

His long lost older sister found after years of searching, yet she betrayed her true family. She killed Queen Mikoto. She sided with the enemies of Nohr. He resented them. He resented her. She deserved a fate worse than death. He sought her out, challenged her to combat, and lost. It crushed him and his hatred grew. He vowed he would kill her with his own hands for all the torment she had caused to his siblings; for all the destruction caused to Hoshido. One way or another, he would have vengeance.

Help me.

"Takumi, get down from there!" Corrin pleaded. "You don't have to do this!"

"Your words mean nothing!" he angrily shouted. "You are a traitor to your country and your family. You expect me to believe you would let me live after your armies have razed our land and slaughtered thousands of innocent people? I'd rather die than fall into the hands of the enemy!"

"I won't deny that I've hurt you and the others beyond comprehension, but if you would just listen—"

"I don't want to hear it! It doesn't matter anymore…Nothing does…"

"Takumi…"

He could feel it growing deep inside his soul, overwhelming him completely. Trapped, unable to stop himself as his body tilted backward. Balance and structured ground were lost as the sky took up his vision. He could feel his heart thumping against his chest; that sickening feeling as you find your stomach inside your throat and the world seems to turn upside down. He could feel the blood rushing through his body, as if racing through it one final time. He understood what it was.

Fear. Fear for his loss of life when he had so much ahead of him. Fear of leaving Sakura behind, alone in the hands of the Nohrian monsters. Fear of what his elder siblings would think about his cowardly actions. But perhaps what terrified him the most was the fact that he had no control over his body. His vision was spiraling into a mass expanse of black and purple. It swallowed him, slowly drowning out his other senses as the seconds ticked by.

Yet, he felt the soft gloves of a female hanging onto his wrist.

In a brief moment of lucid clarity, the darkness faded away to reveal Corrin looking down at him. She was practically dangling over the edge of the massive wall of Suzanoh. One wrong move and they'd both become an inevitable splat on the forest ground.

"You!? Are you denying me of even this much, Nohrian scum!?"

"I refuse to let you die!" she snapped at him, tears threatening to spill from her ruby eyes. "You can't go out like this, Takumi! I know that you're better than this!"

"You betrayed us for them," he spat. "What makes you think you know me at all?"

"Because you're my little brother, Takumi," she explained sadly. "I've done horrible things, but I did them because I love you; because I love every one of my Hoshidan siblings as much as my Nohrian ones. The kingdom of Hoshido can fall, but structures can be rebuilt. Lives cannot and I regret every choice I've made that has destroyed a Hoshidan life. I won't let yours be another casualty of this ridiculous war! I'd never forgive myself if that happened."

"Corrin…"

"King Garon will be exposed for his evil ways and he will pay for the crimes he has committed against Hoshido. I promise you that justice will be rightly served. But until that time comes, I must continue to fight for Nohr. If afterwards you still hold resentment for me…I'll accept whatever judgment you give me. If my life is what you desire, then it's the least I can give for destroying everything you held dear."

Her gentle tone and the firm grip on his wrists tightened, her resolve burning as bright as her ruby eyes. Even after all his threats and arrows aimed at her heart, she still loved him; still loved Ryoma, Hinoka, Sakura, and all of Hoshido. The darkness' hold on him loosened and he could practically grasp at the light that streamed through. He had to break through it and tell her the truth; to struggle through all the inner hatred and animosity to find the spark of familial love he felt as soon as he met her.

"Sister…" he managed to say, even as the darkness threatened to engulf him once more. "Forgive me."

She blinked, relief visible on her face. "Takumi?"

"You have to let go. If you don't…it might drag you down too."

"No! If I do that, you'll—"

"You must!" he rasped out, feeling the dark essence claw at his consciousness. "I don't know how much longer I can keep it at bay."

"Takumi, what's wrong? Please tell me. Maybe Azura and I can help?"

He shook his head, his head pounding so much that he feared it might split open on the spot. "It's too late for me. You need to survive. Just promise me that you'll spare Ryoma and Hinoka."

"Stop talking like you are going to die!" She cried. "I already told you that I won't let you!"

"It's for the best. It was my own fault that I ended up like this. I should be the one to pay the price for it, not you."

"Brother, you can't—"

He screamed in pain, clutching his head with his free hand and hissing from the intense throbbing in his mind. It was getting restless. He could feel it rending every last bit of strength he had left. It was trying to resurface, bringing up that buried resentment and inferiority along with it.

"Takumi!"

"Big Sister," he struggled to say. "Thank you for still believing in me, even when I didn't deserve it. I'm sorry I said all those things to you. I didn't mean it. I never have. I was angry and bitter and…I just wish I could take it all back and start over."

"I wish I could too."

He felt something wet on his cheek, knowing Corrin was openly weeping for him. He didn't want to look into her eyes and see the guilt and grief that he knew was there. He desperately wanted to hold onto to her. He wished things didn't turn out like they did. Had things been different, she could have fought for Hoshido and they could have had the chance to be true siblings. He wished he had that chance to look up to her, love her, and share happy memories together as a brother and sister should. He relished in that fleeting thought for the last time.

"Goodbye."

He could feel his hand sliding through her grip as he released his hold on her. Time seemed to slow down to a sluggish pace as his hand slipped through hers and he began to fall. He could feel something trailing down his cheek as the gentle orange of the sunset turned to the rocky stones on the ground, ready to welcome him into death. He could feel his heart clench, his breath hitched in his throat. Once more, he felt the unadulterated fear course through his body, more intense than before. In the moments before death, it was said one finally understood their place in the world.

No. Those tears weren't Corrin's. They were not tears of anguish. They were the tears of someone who had given up.

They were his.

He knew who he was. A failure that could not protect his siblings or homeland. A coward who could not face up to his own faults and blamed Corrin for them. A weakling who allowed his heart to be a breeding ground for whatever evil essence that had claimed his body and mind.

"TAKUMI! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

I'm sorry, Big Sister. You wouldn't understand, but this is the least I can do for you now. I hope we'll meet again…someday.

The ground was so close now. It would happen soon. His vision was turning black once more. Whether it was from his own fear clouding his eyesight or the evil presence trying to escape before its demise, he didn't know. All he knew was that the world went dark and his mind went along with it.

"…do…he…right…?"

"…care…fool…gia…"

Takumi could feel his head pounding with the force of galloping horses. His body was stiff and it hurt to move. He could vaguely see the dim light of a fire through his closed eyelids. And it was cold; freezing cold. Where in the world was he?

"Oh!" the quiet female voice from earlier gasped. "He's waking up."

The sound of shuffling feet came closer, the firelight now being blocked by a shadow. He struggled to open his mutinous eyelids, hoping to see who was hovering over him. He felt a cool cloth being draped over his forehead. It felt nice against the burning skin, even though chills seemed to wrack his body.

"You should rest some more. Your fever hasn't gone down yet."

Takumi finally managed to find the strength to open his eyes a little. It was a simple room, fit with a fireplace and a table of sorts. The walls were a dreary brown color and one could see the snow hammering against the windows. He was currently occupying a bed, which explained why he was being cared for by a stranger. That stranger was a woman with cherry blossom pink hair and wore an odd array of clothes indicative of a dancer. The moment she caught him staring at her, she let out a squeak and her face turned a deep shade of crimson.

"I-I'm sorry! D-did I w-wake you?"

"Not really," he answered hoarsely. "But who are you and where am I?"

"M-My name is Olivia," she told him, giving him a shy bow of her head. "I found you unconscious in the snow. For a while there, I thought I found you too late and you would never wake up."

He looked her over, causing her flush to reach to her ears. "You found me? Then how did you carry me to…wherever here is?"

"I had help," Olivia said, motioning to a man he did not notice before leaning against the wall. "Thank you again, Lon'qu. I couldn't have done it without you."

The man, now known as Lon'qu, grunted in reply. The man walked over to the two, drawing his sword and pointing it at Takumi's throat despite his weak condition. He appeared to be the strong, silent type and Takumi could see he had the makings of a skilled swordsman. Definitely not someone to get on the bad side of.

"Enough," Lon'qu said. "Start talking, outsider. Who are you and why have you come to Regna Ferox?"

He subconsciously reached for a weapon that wasn't there. He stared down Lon'qu with an equally challenging glare. He swallowed his pride, knowing he couldn't resist even if he wanted to. His entire body felt like a ton of bricks and his movements were sluggish. They may have saved his life, but they had no qualms about killing him if the need arose. He, for one, would like to live after being so close to death's door judging from what Olivia said.

"My name is Takumi and I know of no place called Regna Ferox," he answered honestly.

Lon'qu raised his eyebrow a miniscule amount. "And the names of Plegia and the Halidom of Ylisse?"

"Where?"

The sword lowered from his neck. "Either you're an exceptional actor or your fever has made you delusional."

"But what if he's telling the truth?" Olivia reasoned. She turned to Takumi. "Tell me, do you remember what happened to you?"

Takumi paused in his retort, thinking back to what happened. He concentrated, trying to picture how he ended up passed out in a frozen wilderness. His head began throbbing the more he tried. He gripped his head, panic starting to set in. He couldn't remember what happened. What was worse was that he couldn't remember anything substantial. Nothing about who he was, where he lived, or whether if he had family or friends. It was if everything he knew before he fell unconscious was blocked off. The only concrete thing he could grasp was a sense of weightlessness, tears, total blackness, and a familiar melody with words he could no longer recollect. He felt shivers travel down his spine at the thought of that darkness.

"You really can't remember anything," she stated. He looked to Olivia in shock. "You had that look of helplessness and loss. I'm sorry for whatever happened to you."

"It's not your fault," Takumi quietly replied. "Nonetheless, I thank you for helping me. Although, I'm not sure what to do now…"

"You will prove your worth, like every other outsider that has dared to enter our lands," Lon'qu responded tersely. "Here in Regna Ferox, strength is law. If you fail to impress our Khan, pray to whatever god you believe in that he likes you enough to keep you."

"…And if he doesn't?"

The resulting silence was Lon'qu's answer and it spoke more than words ever could. Takumi once again reached for his weapon, grasping at nothing. He then whipped his head around, finally realizing that his weapon was nowhere in the vicinity. He glared at Lon'qu, rage burning his amber-brown eyes.

"Where's my Fujin Yumi?"

"Your what?"

"My bow!" Takumi snapped, sitting upright despite how dizzy it made him. "If you're going to make me fight to the death, I want to use my Fujin Yumi. I should have still had it with me, so where is it!?"

"I took it," Olivia said. "It was missing its string, so I thought I'd sent it to the smithy so they can repair it."

Takumi groaned in exasperation. "It doesn't need a bowstring."

"It doesn't?"

"No!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't know. Please try to calm down, Takumi."

"I just don't want to lose it. You have no idea how precious that bow is to me."

"And you won't," Olivia replied reassuringly, gently shoving Takumi back down on the bed. "I'll go get it right now if it'll make you feel better."

"Please. It's the only thing I have now…"

"Alright. Just promise me you'll rest while I go get it."

Takumi reluctantly agreed, deciding to trust the strange woman. He really didn't like the fact they had taken away the bow without him knowing, even if it was the logical choice of action. Fujin Yumi was a sacred weapon. In the wrong hands, despite the difficulty of its use, it could cause potential problems later on.

He frowned at his thoughts. How did he know so much about some random weapon? The information simply came to him, as if it was only natural for him to know it. How come he could remember minute details about a bow instead of more important things; like how he ended up stranded in the snow in the first place? Takumi let out a sigh. There was no use fretting about it right now. He had to focus on the present. Olivia was right. He had to get over his fever first and survive his future trial before worrying about anything else. Besides, it wasn't like he could do much in his current condition, much less try to escape and find his way through unfamiliar territory. He closed his eyes, not realizing exactly how tired he really was, and soon fell fast asleep.

Lon'qu silently watched the strange youth in his slumber as he dealt with his thoughts. Of all the things to expect while serving under the reigning West Khan, he did not expect "babysitting" to be part of the job. At least, that's what he considered this to be. Of all the people he had met, this one was the strangest by far. Takumi was an odd name, unheard of in any region of the continent. His type of dress was unlike anything he had ever seen before for an archer—he assumed Takumi was an archer, if the commotion over the missing bow was anything to go by. There was no sort of identification, but he still couldn't rule out that the kid could be a Plegian spy. Plegia had been ransacking their borders recently in order to stir up animosity towards Ylisse. Everyone had to be suspicious of any foreigner that attempted to enter Regna Ferox because of those spies.

Olivia soon lumbered in, the strange bow in hand. Her face was red from a mixture of exertion and being out in the cold. She placed the bow by Takumi's bedside, letting out a few pants before wiping her forehead.

"It's still heavy, but it's amazing too," she commented. "I've never seen a bow constructed like this before. But I wonder how he'll use it without a bowstring and arrows?"

Lon'qu shrugged. "He'll find some way to repair it himself."

"Fujin Yumi…isn't that the name of one of the sacred weapons in the old legends and myths of the Black and White Kingdoms?"

"Yes, but those are just that: myths and legends. Idolization goes a long way for hopeless fools with delusions of grandeur."

"I don't know…Isn't there always some truth in those kinds of stories?"

"Not in those ones. Nothing remains from that time."

Olivia sighed, deciding not to argue with the myrmidon. She looked over to the sleeping Takumi and wished things would bode well for him. She had seen plenty of fights in the Arena, some bloodier than others. She could only hope he would triumph or the Khan would be merciful.

So, I blame this story on Takumi because he became my BAE of Fates. And now he has taken over my life. I regret nothing.

So this is what happened: his amnesia was caused by the trauma of his impending death, so all the memories before that incident have been repressed. He will slowly get his memories back as he experiences certain "triggers". The "dark force" is still with Takumi but, since he currently doesn't have any sort of hatred or self-doubt due to his amnesia, it's dormant…for now.

Another thing to mention: In the Before Awakening DLC, Hoshido and Nohr are considered "mythical kingdoms". This could imply that they existed at one point in the distant past and their story only survives through myths/legends. My headcanon is that certain "aspects" from the time of Hoshido and Nohr survived and these "aspects" will show up later on in the story. Also, you get to the Awakening universe through an Outrealm Gate. One conveniently happened to be where Takumi fell off the wall, just leading to a different part of the Awakening world.