Chapter 3

It's been eight days after our talk. Since that moment I visited Sakuya only three times, not willing to provoke the situation when I could be caught at such action. Nevertheless, I see she's much better already, and finally Patchi tells me that the Chief Maid can take up her duties the next day.

This night I can't sleep well – why is that, I wonder? Anyway, I wake up earlier than I always do and feel there is no reason to try to fall asleep again. So I put on my dress carefully and leave the room. And – let's call that a coincidence – It seems, I'm quite on schedule to the moment when Sakuya should exit her room either, first time after her long-lasted painful condition.

Suddenly, I can hear the voice from afar. It's her voice – I freeze on the spot hearing that sound which I've been awfully missing all these days.

It seems that Meiling and Patchi are the ones who accompany Sakuya on her way.

I get down the stairs leading to the first floor and slow my pace, observing the above-mentioned people walking across the corridor. I hear their cheerful talk and notice China who's beaming and grinning widely. Even Patchouli is smiling – that's quite a rare sight.

But all I can see right now is Sakuya. Thin and fragile after her illness, she still has her usual composure and firmness – the moment I see her I immediately feel she's really back to me.. err.. to us, I mean.

They finally notice my presence and stop in front of the stairs where I'm staying. I watch Sakuya – only her. She is clearly going to greet me, but I get ahead of her before she even opens her mouth, and say with a significant smile:

– Good morning, Sakuya. I'm glad you're back to normal finally.

– Thanks, my Lady, – she answers becking respectfully. – Excuse me for causing all the troubles.. Right now I'm completely ready to return to my duties. What do you wish for breakfast?

I make my way down the few remaining stairs and come around the maid. Then I say looking straight into her bright eyes: – Good for you, Sakuya. But breakfast can wait. As I recall, we haven't finished our game yet, have we?

The complete silence overwhelms the hall abruptly. Ha-ha, it seems I really shocked all of them.. I hear Meiling's voice:

– Wha?.. La..lady Remilia! Are you crazy?!

I should have punished her right after hearing such an impudent phrase from the gatekeeper's lips, but this time I just ignore her, staring only at the lovely face before me. Meanwhile I can hear Patchi replying to China: – Hush.. Calm down, Meiling. Remi always knows what to do. – though her voice seems rather doubtful this time.

As for Sakuya, the only one in this room whose reaction means something for me now, she turns deadly pale looking at me with widened eyes.

But this girl's the most proper maid in the world, so she answers straightaway: – Yes, my Lady.

We go out of the house, finally leaving everyone else behind. It's morning for the Mansion inhabitants because of our day regimen, though it's already evening in Gensokyo. The sun is going down the horizon, and its glance can't hurt me.

We fly up in the air and start our danmaku battle again. Sakuya's movements are as graceful and proper as always, but I can feel her growing uncertainty this time. I don't know if it is because she's still weak or 'cause she notices I'm just evading and don't answer her strikes at all.

But I don't ever want to see doubt in her eyes. So I fly closer to her, saying: – Use your most powerful spell cards.

She is surprised and even frightened: – B–but..

– There are no buts. It's an order. – And I fly away again, knowing she won't disobey.

At first Sakuya keeps fighting with her common spells. But soon I see her nipping out the card, crying out: "Phantasmic Killer"!

I know this spell. The thirty-four sharp knives are now flying from Sakuya's side right into my direction.

That's exactly what I wanted.

I pretend to dodge Sakuya's strike, but at the last second I return to the place I was earlier and freeze on the spot, seeing the knives approaching me. Next thing I feel is an unending series of sharp blows and the perception of unmercifully violent pain stabbing my whole body. It's an awful sensation even for the vampire – this pain is just unbearable, it seems the cold steel is tearing me apart. but I have to endure it – as a payment for everything I did to Sakuya earlier. I manage to see the fountains of blood coming out from my body, and then, completely immobilized, I'm falling somewhere down hearing Sakuya's agonized shriek. The last thing I understand is that she uses her Luna Dial and catches me.

When I'm able to open my eyes, I see Sakuya who's holding me and watching my face with woeful gaze. "Quite like the last time, we just switched positions", floats in my mind.

She's tenderly stroking my bloodstained body with her hand unconsciously, holding me with the other. The knives aren't in my flesh anymore, and the blood is stopping fast. The deep ragged wounds will heal in several days – vampires regenerate quickly. Though right now I feel horrible physically.. Gah. But somehow what I feel in my heart is calmness. What happened at our previous fighting still troubles my mind, but I feel better. Much better.

I brush off all the thoughts and look into the beautiful eyes of a woman above me. She's clearly worried to death. I need to calm her down.

I smile to her, feeling the trace of blood coming out of my mouth.

Sakuya nearly whispers fighting back her tears: – Why?.. Why did you let me hurt you?

Oh, Sakuya. I'm your lord, right? I can't confess bluntly that I wanted to share the pain I brought you. That I wanted to gain the right to be your mistress once more. That I finally know what I feel for you. That I'll never leave you and never let you leave me. That I'll never make you suffer again. That I'll give you all of myself.

But I answer, stretching my hand and touching her cheek lightly: - Well.. Maybe that was an excuse for me – I wanted you to hold me in your arms.

She doesn't know if she should cry or laugh. And then, still uneasily, Sakuya smiles suddenly. And now this is a real sincere smile, soft and relieved. It is so beautiful I somehow can't take my eyes off her.

And after that my silver-haired maid squeezes her head up against my body abruptly: – My Lady.. Don't ever do that again. I love you too much to lose you.. I'd better kill myself than watch you in pain.

Her body pressing against my recent wounds brings me ache. But I don't notice it. All I feel is bliss.

I just don't know the words to describe my feelings for her right at this moment. Not here. Not now. Later.

But from the tenderness in her eyes, from the sense of her warm and strong embrace, from her unending loyalty I know that inside her heart she understands all of my unspoken words. So I lift her chin with my fingers and kiss her – greedily and hungrily, as intended for the vampire, but also softly and affectionately – like only lovers could do that to those they adore.

When our mouths part, we look at each other panting. She embraces me happily and suddenly says: – Thank you for visiting me so often, while I was ill..

– Ahh? H-how did you..

– Your scent. I felt its presence regularly, my Lady. It's inexplicably sweet..

Unable to hide my embarrassment, I chuckle shyly and once again capture her lips.

Sakuya never smiles to anyone..

except her family, who loves her dearly. Including me, Remilia Scarlet, the one who'd give anything for this sight.

The end