fic: Join The Fox Parade

[bonnefois]

Title: Join The Fox Parade
Series: Fire Emblem Heroes / Echoes
Character/pairing: Kamui/Leon
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Kamui invites Leon (and Valbar) to celebrate a traditional New Year's eve and New Year's day with him.
Word count: 3872
Author's note:

This all came about when I noted the reason why New Years banner in Fire Emblem Heroes is Beasts and OCs. Namely, related to the fox parade, which you can find more here: reference on Ōji Fox Parade

Also:

Traditional clothing terminology.

and more.

And even more

Hatsuhinode and Hatsuyume.

This fic assumes that Kamui is some degree of Chon'sin diaspora.

Assumes an A support with Valbar and Leon and Leon and Kamui. Set several years post canon.



It'd been years since Kamui had thought of the traditions of his erstwhile homeland. He hadn't paid attention to the Hatsuyume--first dream of the year--or celebrated Hatsuhinode-- staying up to watch the first sunrise of the year--in longer than he could remember.

As he grew, New Years had become just another day. No putting on formal attire and going to the shrine, no wishes, no time spent with loved ones. The shrines of this land were for different gods, and there was no one to tell his first dream to, even if he had thought to remark on them.

But, for the first time in a very long time, Kamui actually wanted to celebrate. Maybe because he'd gotten wrapped up in something way bigger than he'd contracted on. First he'd stayed longer than intended with a mercenary group, then he'd gotten into another whole mess, and been summoned to a place called Askr.

But that'd been years ago. He was practically accustomed to this place. And there were shrines here he recogized.

So, on New Year's Eve, Kamui waited as Leon and Valbar got ready. The room of the barracks was fairly cold, stone covered and with only a privacy curtain for the soldiers that shared rooms.

Leon's honey-sweet voice came from behind the curtain from where he changed. Kamui swallowed as he saw the silhouette of a shadow and Leon's graceful body behind it. Leon pushed the curtain aside, and Kamui was not entirely ready for just how svelte and handsome he looked as he came out..

"Are you sure it's okay for me to wear these? It's the garb of your homeland."

"I got it for you both. I insist. I want to celebrate new years with you. I haven't celebrated in years...but this time, I do."

Kamui wasn't sure if he'd ever financially recover from this. Specially tailored traditional clothing like this didn't come cheap. But as Leon stepped out from behind the changing booth, he didn't have any regrets.

Not a single one.

Leon wore a delicate ki-nagashi kimono, with deep purple, like a sunset. It was more casual, lacked a hakama and usually, men's garb favored deeper, ombre colors like brown or navy blue. But, Kamui had this one made special, because it'd bring out Leon's complexion and hair. Leon had accessorized with golden barrettes to keep his hair back.

(Accessories were all the trend in Askr. Leon had quickly joined the other heroes in putting flowers behind his ears, sunhats to keep his skin warm, and the occasional barrette.)

And he knew that Leon favored these colors in his tunics, too. He'd sort of figured it might even be a favorite.

Kamui licked his dry lips. It had been worth every piece of gold to buy this.

Valbar had on haori hakama, in varying shades of brown. He'd bought a kimono the shade of Valbar's armor, and found it fitting.

Leon bent to inspect the fabric of Valbar's

"This material is incredible. Silk, right?"

"It's a special type," Kamui said.

And he'd sure paid for it, too.

"I need to import this fabric sometime," Leon said.

Kamui had kept his old haori hakama style clothes. Faint olive green to brown. He'd had to tailor it a bit, as at thirty, he was far more muscular than his eighteen year old self. Back then, it'd not just been for shrine visits, but for some future marriage. One that had never come into fruition. But, he was still very aware that he was to one day wear this beside the one he loved.

Bittersweet that he'd be in this, his future wedding clothes, and the one he loved didn't love him back.

He had on a white and gold fox mask strapped onto the side of his face, to fit in with the revelers.

And so, they headed off to the parade.

*

"Stay close, or you'll definitely get lost in this crowd," Kamui said.

"Wow, there sure are a lot of beasts here."

"The first time I met Kaden, I was a little surprised, I'll admit," Kamui said conversationally.

"Some kitsune, called zenko are servants of Inari. Some, classified as yako are tricksters who meddle in the affairs of men. Some are even malicious. Kaden...he was a surprise. After hearing so much about fox spirits, I didn't expect one to spend most of his time talking about how shiny his tail is."

"Well, they say to never meet your heroes," Leon said wryly.

The parade led to the shrine. The aforementioned Kaden, and his daughter both were up ahead. Selkie had brought Velouria to join the parade as well. They swung lanterns of foxfire in their hands that glowed like fireflies all around them.

Kamui had a memory of lanterns lit and pushed into the waters for a night. It'd been during their travels, when the summers came and they left the valleys of the mountains to pasture near the riverland. The lights had slowly disappeared, like a goodbye down the languid river.

"We'll be here until after midnight and the new year comes. Then, if you both feel up to it, I'll bring you up to see the first sunrise of the year."

"So we go to bed early and then wake up at dawn?" Valbar said.

"Nope, we stay up," Kamui said.

"I'm not saying I'm not grateful, but when I hoped a handsome man would keep me up all night, this wasn't what I was thinking of," Leon said.

Kamui lifted his brows. "You think I'm handsome?"

Leon blushed. "I've got eyes," Leon said.

Before he could respond, a voice piped up ahead.

"This is a long parade! Need some refreshment? Here at Anna's Emporium, we've got the best refreshment money can buy."

An Anna dressed for the new year in a ornate kimono of white, trimmed with fur. She'd set up a stand along the wayside. Several of the beasts in front of them stopped by.

Each of them stepped away from the parade to get a drink from Anna's stall. She had everything from water, to some kind of sweet rice wine in small cups.

The times Kamui had actually left a prayer and a wish, he'd always wished for wealth and prosperity.

"Have you got your prayers all planned out?"

"For once, I think I won't wish for gold."

"Really? I can't relate. Couldn't be me," Anna said cheerfully.

"There's a wish in this?" Leon asked with obvious interest.

"Maybe your gods will be kinder than mine have. I've sent up prayers to Mila for a new boyfriend every year, and nothing."

And Kamui was still here with Leon and Valbar. He hadn't moved on yet.

Every witty and cutting remark, every smile and so many things kept Kamui there. Wrapped around his finger.

And Leon didn't even know it.

*

They finally reached the shrine. The beastkind and Hoshidans alike were pretty noisy as they drank plenty and welcomed in the new year.

"So, you're staying up until midnight, right?" Kamui said.

Valbar let out a soft sigh. "I remember when I used to do that. I'm way too old for that stuff nowadays."

Valbar rose up from where he was seated.

"You two have fun. I'll turn in. It's been real enjoyable, but I'm an old man, and I need my sleep. Maybe next year I'll be able to stay up to see the new year."

"You're not that old," Leon said, aghast.

"Old enough," Valbar said.

But, Valbar had a knowing smile. Kamui thought there was another reason.

"No need to be a third wheel," Valbar said. But he said it low enough that Leon didn't hear.

Probably for the best, because Leon would've just denied anything was there.

It was funny how things changed. A few years ago, he would've denied anything was there too. But denial only got someone so far. And after years of pretending didn't make these feelings go away, even Kamui had to admit there was something.

"Guess it's just you and me," Kamui said.

"And the thousands of other revelers," Leon said lightly.

Valbar had been a buffer between them. Because when Valbar was around, Kamui got a taste of reality. Leon wasn't in love with him. Never would be. He could wish for a thousand new years and it wouldn't happen.

And that should be fine, he shouldn't be affected at all.

He already knew the end of this story. Leon had been plenty blunt. Why even keep trying?

Unrequited love was a pain to get rid of, sometimes. He'd never had that problem before Leon. He didn't catch feelings. For women, at least.

As for men...he'd never stayed long enough for that to become a problem.

He and Leon had the same problem. Every year Leon put get over Valbar as his New Years resolution, and ever year he failed before February.

Kamui might've done the same, except he didn't bother to make the resolution in the first place.

"The temple bells will ring soon. Make sure you aren't too close to them, or you'll be in for a shock," Kamui said.

"So that's how you ring in the new year? Literally, even. Rather different from the traditions I'm used to, but I like it."

"What tradition is that?" Kamui said.

"The new year's kiss. Though, I've never had one. It's been my dream to get one someday," Leon said wistfully.

This definitely got a second glance from Kamui.

"You kiss people as a tradition? Is this like that mistletoe thing?"

"No, there's no plants involve this time. On New Year's Eve, you have someone special to kiss at the point where the old year and the new year meet. Of course, I failed step one every single time."

He laughed mirthlessly. "I've always been bitterly watching everyone else pair off. Not a single year have I ever gotten a kiss..."

"I could make your dreams come true right now," Kamui said. The words came out breathless. He could scarcely believe they came out at all.

"You're drunk?" Leon said skeptically.

"Totally sober. You?"

"Just buzzed. I had one of those lovely rice wines that Anna was selling."

Leon narrowed his eyes. But instead of a cutting remark, he brushed his lavender colored hair back.

"Fine. It'll be like a wager. I'll prove to you everything you've been denying."

Leon was about two years late, because Kamui already damn well knew he was in love with Leon. He still wasn't fully comfortable with it, because how could he be? He was stuck in the mire of unrequited love, and couldn't get out.

He and Leon were stuck like that. Both pining after people who didn't love them and never would. It was nobody's fault, love simply turned people into fools.

The grand bell of the temple rung. Out with the old year, in came the new. Leon leaned up. He rested his palm on Kamui's chest as he pressed his lips to Kamui's. The year with a surprising warmth.

His heartbeat surged at the gentleness of Leon's lips. He kissed back, somewhat startled as Leon still rested his palm over his heart. Leon's hands splayed as he stayed on tiptoe.

Long after the bells stopped ringing, Leon still kissed him. A surprise in itself. Even past the fact that Leon hadn't told him off and rejected him with a biting comment.

Leon drew back. He blinked several times, and his lovely face was surprisingly flushed. He looked at Kamui like he'd never quite seen him before, at least not like this.

Still, nothing had changed. They'd blame it on the alcohol and stay as they were. But it felt like his entire world had shifted. Kamui swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.

He leaned in a little. He wanted to kiss Leon again, but he had no right to.

And that was what the worst of it. Leon was close, there every day and not his, never his.

He used to be able to just get over this kind of thing. No one ever left an impression on him like that before. Not enough to make him stay.

But, for better or worse, Leon had changed that and changed him. He was the kind of guy who got his heartbroken now, and the kind who didn't cut and run the minute things got too emotional.

"And that is how you celebrate new years," Leon said.

"That's... a nice tradition," Kamui said. He barely managed even that. Everything in his body wanted to go back into Leon's arms, like some magnetic force compelled him.

"I-It is, isn't it?" Leon said.

"And now, do we both turn in and forget this ever happened?"

Kamui drew back sharply, like he'd had cold water drenched all over him.

And there it was. The step back. Funny how he would've been the one to take the first step back in this dance earlier. Now it was Leon's turn.

"I'm staying up for the Hatsuhinode--the first sunrise of the year. Some people wake up early, others stay up and drink the night away."

"the first sunrise of the year, hmm?"

"The sight is beautiful. And it was a custom to pray to Toshigami, the god of the new year, for wealth and prosperity," Kamui said.

"I wouldn't mind some prosperity, I suppose. Though I'd rather the gods give me some luck with love. Think he could spare me some?"

"Anything's possible, I suppose," Kamui said.

So, they both stayed. Leon had a bit more rice wine and food. Many of the beastkind stayed up along. A cheer rose up as some feline laguz commander named 'Ranulf" finally arrived. He had two big fans who came up to greet him right away. A large, and refined tiger laguz and a smaller, louder cat laguz who was Lethe's twin.

Ranulf had even brought more wine to keep the party going.

Kamui looked down as he felt pressure on his shoulders. Leon had fallen asleep. Kamui rested his arm around Leon and pulled him a little close to keep him warm.

As the hours passed, the sky gradually grew lighter and lighter. Kamui counted the stars. They had different constellations than he was used to in this world. The stars disappeared. Some of the people waiting didn't make it. He saw plenty of sleeping beasts, people from Hoshido and Chon'sin sleeping in corners, or draped across pillows and chairs. Some of them had twitching tails as they slept. Maybe they were dreaming of hunting.

Like when a cat fell asleep in the most inopportune time, Kamui couldn't bring himself to move, lest he wake Leon.

When he saw the first pink clouds begin across the horizon, he nudged Leon.

"Hey, Leon. Wake up."

"Mmnnngngnn. This better be worth it--"

Leon opened his eyes as Kamui pointed up.

"Happy New Year."

"That...is rather beautiful."

Leon blinked several times and rubbed at his eyes.

"Did I get drunk and fall asleep?"

"Hmm, you did drink a bit."

"The rice wine was too good, I indulged a bit."

"You'd better sleep it off, or you'll have a hangover," Kamui said.

"Eh, I'm a two drink drunk, I'm afraid. I can't hold my liquor at all. I suppose that means I save on money."

"Always good," Kamui said.

They stayed quiet in the cold of the morning as the sun gradually rose. The shades of warm pink clouds disappeared into the golden light. The sun shone gold with the first new sunbeams of the year.

"Thank you for sharing this with me, Kamui. It's breathtaking."

Leon stretched out his arms and yawned.

"Now, I'm going to go back to bed and sleep until it's past noon. Someone kept me up most of the night."

"You enjoyed it, admit it," Kamui said.

"Maybe I'm too tired, and will regret it....But, yes. I definitely did," Leon said.

"Meet me up at the shrine later today, okay? I've still got lots to show you for new years," Kamui said.

"Mmmn. I'll be there," Leon said sleepily.

Leon gave him one last wave. Kamui watched him go. He didn't go to sleep, not yet. He was still too full of the energy of the kiss, and feeling Leon against him.

He'd remember this, even if it was just the rice wine, and a bit of sleepy new year's magic.

*

It was past noon when Leon and Valbar returned.

They all headed to the shrine, built from the Hoshidans who had been summoned to this place. It had large stone guardians carved all in front of the stone path. The stone foxes were decorated for the holiday. As it was lunch, the shrine goers finally had come to a lull.

They passed beneath the red torii gates, and walked up towards the small shrine. It had a dark, sloped roof and painted red walls which made it stand out.

Kamui led them up the staircase, up to the large bell, with a thick rope.

"You clap twice, put your hands together in a prayer, and then ring the bell," Kamui said.

"Like this."

Funny, he hadn't done this in years, but his muscles remembered the exact same motions. The shrine of his past had been small, even rickety. They were nomadic, so much that even the religious places had to be built and rebuilt when they brought the sheep and cattle to pasture.

This was built to last, with several priests and miko keeping it, most of them summoned from Hoshido.

Kamui had always, always, always prayed for money, and lots of it.

This time, instead of praying for prosperity, he prayed for happiness.

Leon's happiness, to be precise.

Maybe Leon changed him after all. The him of the past, the one who just joined on with Valbar for the gold, and had no interest in being some hero wouldn't have gotten it. But seeing how Leon endlessly adored Valbar made him think about what being a good man was. And think about something other than his next paycheck.

The monk gave each of them a paper as they left.

Valbar frowned as he looked at the paper.

"Another bad fortune, hmm? Figures," Valbar said.

"Tie it onto the tree. Then it won't come true," Kamui said.

Valbar headed to the trees. It didn't take much effort to reach up and tie his paper.

Kamui's was a nice prosperty fortune. He kept it.

Leon smiled softly as he looked at his fortune.

"Good news?"

"The best. I hope it comes true," Leon said.

Leon kept his fortune, and took the included omamori Good luck charm. It was small, and made of orange brocade with a dragon on it.

"Did you have a good dream?"

Leon blushed, and looked away.

"I had a lovely dream, but I-I ahem, forgot the details, so I definitely won't be able to tell you anything of it. At all. And it certainly didn't star you."

Leon's reaction was...odd. But he didn't push it. Leon was probably just still a little cranky from lack of his beauty sleep.

"What about you?" Leon said.

He thought just being here with you is like a dream. .

But, none of those thoughts ever made it to his mouth. Just like always. Because he wasn't the kind of guy who got sappy and stayed.

At least, until he met Leon.

"Nothing yet. I'll let you know later."

"Good, I'll await with utter bated breath," Leon said.

"I had fun. Thanks for sharing your new years traditions with me. If you stay around, we just might be able to spend another new year together."

"I hadn't had any plans of going anywhere. It's not like I have a home to go back to, anyways."

Leon smiled. "I'll be looking forward to it."

And just a smile like that warmed him. Made Kamui know he wouldn't run, or be apart from Leon.

"One more thing. Thank you very much for this lovely gift. I know a thing or two about tailoring, and this was one of the finest material I've ever seen."

"Sure, it was fun."

"Who knows. We might spend another festival together sometime. This time, I'll pay back the favor and make you some clothes."

Except he'd already paid him back. With every smile, every witty comeback, every time he made Kamui stay a little longer.

"So that's your plan of revenge for waking you up early?"

"Oh, definitely," Leon said teasingly. "Maybe I'll make you wear cat ears."

"It was only a matter of time," Kamui said dryly.

Leon laughed. "Oh, oyu know it. Have you figured out your new year's resolution yet?"

"I don't know. Make more money, I guess? I haven't really thought about it," Kamui said.

Leon sighed. "Typical," Leon said.

He rolled his eyes, but his voice sounded almost...fond?

"I'm going to get over Valbar this year. That's my resolution--no--promise to myself."

To no surprise. Leon had been 'getting over Valbar' since before they even came to Askr. Every New Years Resolution had gone to that goal, and he had failed every time.

He had to admire Leon for even trying. Kamui had just pushed his feelings down and dealt with it. Considered it the new normal for him to be in love with his--yes--friend, even though Leon would make some cutting remark if he ever called them that.

Falling in love with Leon seemed inevitable. If he couldn't change fate, he might as well just deal with it.

"For real, this time. I'm going to make an effort of it."

Kamui didn't let himself hope. Because even if Valbar wasn't in the way, someone else would be. Leon had made that clear. Just because they'd kissed after a little sake on New Year's Eve didn't mean they were suddenly dating.

"Good luck with that," Kamui said.

"I'll need it. But...thanks for helping me with the project."

Kamui's brow furrowed. "The...project?"

Leon shook his head. "You're so dense. You'll figure it out soon enough."

Leon left, and Kamui watched him go. Graceful, and beautiful in a way that left him wistful and bittersweet.

Leon glanced back one last time, waved and winked at him. Kamui was left almost stunned at the gesture of Leon being almost...flirty towards him.

It was a new year full of new hope and promise. And maybe they'd drink in the next new year, too.

And between now and then, who knew what might happen?