Just The Way You Are
Chapter Seven
"Heeeey, Beato~ What on earth are you doing? I'm getting bored waiting."
"Um... Ah... ahaha... ha... hahakikikikikyahahaaaa!~ Aaaah, Lady Lambdadelta, I know you like acting childish, but don't be so impatient! The waiting is what makes this game really fun, riiiight?~"
"Oh dear."
At the sound of that empty, emotionless voice, Beatrice lifted her head, bravado slipping somewhat.
"What is it, Lady Bernkastel?"
Bernkastel took a small sip of her plum tea, tail twitching slightly. When she put back down on its saucer with a small chnk of china, Beatrice felt her heart rise up into her mouth. It seemed like that small, insignificant noise heralded some rather unpleasant news.
Everything about Lady Bernkastel was unpleasant, from her pale skin to her dead, empty eyes. They showed as much emotion as muddy pond water did. Even the so-called 'great Golden Witch' felt herself shiver when those purple irises met hers'. Bernkastel may have been half her size, with the body of a small child, but she had the mind of any cruel witch hunter of the 15th century. She was a witch who derived endless pleasure from backing the helpless into corners and submitting them to eternal torture; torture far crueller than pricking exposed flesh with needles looking for the devil's mark, or the rack, or thumbscrews.
Oh, how Beatrice hated that witch... If only she could gouge her eyes out with a spoon, so those blank, empty irises would stop boring into her head.
After a sizable pause, Bernkastel began to speak. Her voice was dull and monotonous- but Beatrice knew what lurked behind that mask, and she had to force herself not to tremble.
"It is true that some wines and cheeses develop a heightened flavor after being left alone for a long time... but the waiting process in itself is rather boring." Bernkastel's eyes narrowed slightly. "And I despise boredom."
"That's right, that's right!" Lambdadelta chipped in, resting her head on Bernkastel's shoulder. "That's why, when I'm with my precious Beeern, we think up lots of interesting ways to pass the time, hohoho!~"
Bernkastel didn't even blink or turn her head.
"...Get off me."
"E-ehhh? Bern...? What's wroooong?~"
"Your company is unwanted at this point in time. Pipe down, Lambda. The adults are talking."
"Ooooh..." Lambdadelta's cheeks turned light pink. Pushing herself away from Bernkastel, she said huffily, "F-fine! I don't care; I don't even care! You're just a big old meanie-face, Bern! Tsun!"
And with that, she stuck her nose up in the air and folded her arms.
Despite her slight flutterings of fear, Beatrice couldn't help but smile at that performance. She had never seen two people more mismatched who spent so much time together.
Apart from maybe Gaap and Virgilia, of course.
Beatrice could never tell whether Bernkastel and Lambdadelta liked one another or despised each other. Maybe they themselves weren't entirely sure.
"I think you've upset Lady Lambdadelta with your cruel words, ufufufufu~" said Beatrice, cackling. "Isn't she the high-maintenance type who needs a lot of love and affection?"
"She is a very lonely, pitiable child, yes."
"H-hey! Bern! Don't tell Beato that!"
"But it is true, is it not? But don't worry. If you behave, I'll cover you with melted chocolate and strawberries and lick it all off as a reward... ... okay?"
Lambdadelta's eyes began to sparkle. "Oooh! Okay, okay!~ I love you, Bernnnn!"
"Ahaha... Well, isn't that nice? What a fun hobby you two have~ Kyahahahaha!~"
"Indeed." Bernkastel stared at Beatrice unblinkingly. "At any rate... Some food does mature with age... but others go moldly, ugly and inedible. Your brutal, one-sided game isn't as refined as wine or cheese. It's more like cheap rice curry... and if you leave it unattended for too long it will congeal together, and go cold, and then nobody will want to eat it."
"T-tch... Insulting the host of your tea party. How rude."
"Oh. I'm sorry." But Bernkastel didn't sound sorry at all.
Beatrice shifted slightly in her seat. She tried not to betray her emotions by displaying them on her face, but Beatrice was a very honest person. She found it difficult to hide her real feelings. She wasn't like Lambdadelta or Bernkastel, who were accomplished liars. She was still... just a young girl...
"I'll get to the point," said Bernkastel coolly. "I want you to resume your game immediately."
"Seconded~" said Lambdadelta, raising her hand in the air. "I didn't bestow my am~a~zing magical powers on you for you to mess around and turn Battler into Battlerko, you know... Even if she does look really cuuu~uuutee...~ Oooh, I kind of want to take her home!~ Ohohohoho- o-owww..."
Lambdadelta pouted as Bernkastel gently hit her upside the head.
"Enough of this childish nonsense," Bernkastel said sharply. "Stop stalling for time. Return your opponent to his natural state and commence the game, Beatrice."
"Hoh..." Beatrice raised a brow, a smirk splitting across her face. She was doing her best to hide her real feelings... but she couldn't ignore the butterflies of doubt that gathered inside her stomach. "And if I refuse?"
She soon wished she hadn't said that.
Lambdadelta wore the mask of a cute little girl so well Beatrice sometimes forgot what was lurking underneath it... but when she saw that wide, wide smile, and those eyes so large they seemed to eat up half her face, Beatrice couldn't help but shrink back in fear.
It looked almost as if some hideous monster had chewed its way through Lambda's stomach, and was now making itself manifest through her face. An ugly abomination too horrible to describe was wearing the skin of a twelve year old girl.
Then again, Lambdadelta had always been cruel, twisted and rotten… she just did a good job of hiding it.
But Lambdadelta's voice, contrary to her frightful face, was still sticky, syrupy, sweet... and laden with honey.
"Huuuuh? What do you mean, 'if you refuse'? Aren't you forgetting your status... Beatrice, the 'Golden Witch'? Aren't you forgetting to be thankful to your superiors?" Lambdadelta's eyes snapped open even further. "Aren't you forgetting who gave you your magic in the first place? And I could take it away just like that."
Beatrice was no longer able to retain her smile. It slipped from her face and shattered on the floor.
She couldn't breathe...
She...
S-she couldn't...
In a matter of seconds, Lambdadelta had regained all her childish charms, and her expression relaxed into something far more easy on the eyes. Giggling, she skipped over to the chair where Beatrice sat, and patted the witch on the head.
"So do yourself a favor, okay, Beato?~ You should listen to your big sister Lambdaldeta..."
Giggle, giggle, giggle.
"Or something really terrible might happen to you. And I can say that with certainty. Hohohohoh!~"
The words were bright red.
"So, Beato. Why've you gathered us all round here?" asked Battler, scratching the back of his neck. "Do you wanna make some public spectacle of turning me into a newt or something?"
The 'us all' Battler was referring to were himself (of course), Beatrice (seated in her chair like a queen surveying her court), Virgilia (who looked slightly... worried?), Ronove (once more in his female form) and Lucifer (the representative for the rest of her sisters). Beatrice had assembled them together for some kind of important meeting, and although Battler was trying to maintain an unaffected air, he couldn't quite shake off the feeling something bad was going to happen.
Huh. Who was he kidding?
Something bad always happened whenever Beato was involved.
Beatrice began to cackle at Battler's words, in a truly inelegant way that was just so Beato Battler himself couldn't help but grin.
Hair and dresses notwithstanding, she really was just like a kid after all.
"A newt, hmm?~" she said. "I like it, I like it! It sounds interesting!~ Maybe I should try that later, if I want to sharpen my magic up a little... After all, swords are the most effective after they've been honed beforehand so they really shine... Kikikikyahahahaha!~"
"Ihihi, well, it wasn't an actual suggestion..." said Battler, laughing nervously. "I was being sarcastic..."
"...Muuu. How boring."
"No, I'm not boring. You're just a sadist."
"Anyway," said Virgilia lightly. Her voice danced through Battler and Beato's little spat before it could get out of hand. "Battler's earlier question still has not been addressed. Why have you assembled us here, Beato?"
Beatrice pulled a strange, slightly regretful expression, as though she had just eaten a delicious piece of cake and knew there was no more of it left. She tried to smooth the look over, but Battler managed to catch it, all the same.
So did the others.
"Milady?" asked Lucifer. "Is something the matter?"
"Is it related to why Lady Lambdadelta oh-so-charmingly appeared before me and asked me for a cup of tea with a truly outrageous amount of sugar in it a moment ago?" asked Ronove.
Battler blinked in confusion. "Lambda what?"
"She's the Witch of Certainty," Virgilia explained, "and an... acquaintance... of Beato's."
"Ihihi. Really? Does that mean more weird people are going to be popping up?" asked Battler, looking around the room for any hidden guests.
"It's rude to call witches 'weird'. They're of a much, much higher status to you; show some respect!" Lucifer snapped. "Mind your tongue or I'll cut it out!"
"Ahahaha, sorry, sorry..."
"Don't mind Lucifer," said Ronove, smiling warmly. "She takes her status as furniture very seriously, so she would never dream of insulting a witch... but it cannot be denied Lady Lambdadelta is somewhat strange, pu ku ku~"
Battler felt the tense atmosphere shift slightly. When he looked at Ronove, he started to laugh as well.
Geez... How had they gotten so close, anyway? At this point, it felt a little like they were kids passing notes to each other in class, or something... Ihihihi...
"You know, maybe you should take a leaf out of Lucifer's book and take yourstatus as furniture more seriously, too," said Beatrice, glaring sourly at Ronove. "You're lucky you have such a benevolent master. Any other witch would have turned you into fire wood if you dared talk back to them!"
Ronove bowed his head, long hair falling over his shoulders- but Battler could still see he was smiling. "Then I am very thankful that I have such a kind employer, Milady~"
Beatrice made a soft 'tch' of irritation.
"Honestly... What a bothersome person..."
At this point, Virgilia held her hand to her mouth and coughed politely. It was another reminder Beatrice was still dancing around what she wanted to discuss.
Once more, that despondent look flitted across Beatrice's face, as though she had just remembered something unpleasant.
"Do continue, Beato," said Virgilia lightly, voice motherly, soothing. "It's alright. No matter what you have to say, I will support you. Don't worry."
"Ahaha... Well... I-it's not like I'm worried about anything! It's just... It's just..."
"What did Lady Bernkastel and Lady Lambdadelta want?" Virgilia pressed. "Knowing those two children, I can't imagine it would be anything pleasant..."
Battler opened his mouth, about to ask who Bernkastel was (her name sounded vaguely familiar), but Lucifer shot him a glare as pointed as the tip of her stake form. It clearly read 'shut up and don't interrupt.' Quailing slightly under that glare, Battler turned his head to look at Ronove. Ronove offered him a small smile, and held a finger to his lips. It was another command to remain silent... but it was rather more tactful than Lucifer's had been.
And, once more... (it's top secret~) that simple gesture reminded Battler of her.
Battler's cheeks flushed light pink, and his heart fluttered slightly in his chest. It was the same feeling he used to get when he looked at her... Takane... when he passed her in the hallway at school...
To Battler's embarrassment, he found Ronove had noticed his blush- and was now trying to stifle a small laugh behind his hand.
B-bastard... playing around with his feelings like that...
I-it'd be so much easier to be annoyed if Ronove didn't look so pretty.
Lucifer gave Ronove and Battler a slightly suspicious look. Weren't they acting just a little too friendly- especially for a demon and a human? However, she couldn't comment on it. For one thing, she didn't want to interrupt Beato. For another, Ronove was her superior when it came to being furniture, so she couldn't reprimand him for his behaviour.
Even so, Lucifer would never have acted so friendly with one of Beato's guests... and she certainly would never have made them blush like that, either.
How was Ronove able to make Battler blush, anyway? Why didn't Battler get flustered when he looked at her? Wasn't she pretty enough? And at least she was actually a girl, and not just pretending...
The more she thought about it, the more Lucifer felt her pride being driven into the dirt.
T-that pissed her off...
"Lady Bernkastel and Lady Lambdadelta just wanted to have a simple tea party with me, Teacher," said Beatrice, her voice cutting through Lucifer's thoughts. "Don't worry so much- you'll get wrinkles, and then your old age will start showing~ Kikikikyahaha~"
Battler was amused to note Virgilia actually looked somewhat flustered at that. Just how old was she, anyway?
"Now, now, Milady, it's not polite to mock a woman's age," said Ronove lightly. "Be a little more courteous."
Beatrice cackled. "Sorry, sorry!~ But, Teacher, you have to stop fussing over me. I'm not a child anymore, riiiiight? I can fight my own battles... as you know only too well. Kikikikyahahahaha! Do you remember how it felt when your back was being pierced- do you, do youuuu?"
Ronove waited for a few moments to see whether Virgilia was able to defend herself. However, the poor woman seemed incapable of forming a sentence; her mouth open slightly in a small 'o'.
That was when Ronove decided to step in.
"Gloating is also impolite, Milady. Please be more considerate of Miss Virgilia's feelings. We're only worried about you because we care about you. Don't treat our concern with scorn."
Beatrice deflated somewhat at this, the manic smirk vanishing from her face. Once more, she looked like a young child who had been playing dress-up with her mother's most elegant clothes.
There was something... tired... about the look in her face.
Something defeated.
"... ...Sure," said Beatrice quietly, weakly, after Ronove had reprimanded her. "Sure." She cleared her throat. Meekly, she said, "I'm... sorry, Teacher."
"That's alright," said Virgilia. "Just remember, though, Beato... you're not alone. And you can ask us for help."
"I'll remember."
Beatrice sighed, folding her arms.
There was a small, awkward silence... before she finally spoke again.
"Hey, Battler."
Battler felt slightly thrown that Beato hadn't addressed him with her usual sneering, drawn-out and far-too loud cry of 'Baaaaattleeeeeeeer!' When Beatrice spoke like an ordinary person, who paid attention to the syllable count in words and didn't stretch them to breaking point, she didn't sound like her usual self. It was so weird.
"I'm going... to change you back to how you were, okay, Battler?"
It took Battler a while to process that.
When he finally did... he felt his face, which had previously displayed concern, brighten up into a wide grin.
"W-what, really? Is... is this a joke?"
Looking more like her usual self, Beatrice said haughtily, "No, it's not a joke. I keep my word, Ushiromiya Battler- I already told you. Or have you forgotten so easily already, huhhhhh?~"
"Well... I do remember you said something like that, but-"
"But nothing. You didn't believe me? Were you applying your 'chessboard thinking' again; reflecting yourself in me? Just because you don't always keep your promises, it doesn't mean I'm the same, you insolent human!" Beatrice began to cackle.
"Aha... haha..."
Battler laughed awkwardly, unsure how to react. What had gotten Beato's panties in a knot, anyway?
Maybe it had something to do with 'Lady Lambdawhatever' and 'Lady Bernkastel' after all. If Beato had had some kind of fight with some other witches (that sounded plausible; Beato couldn't get along with humans, so how could she get along with witches?) that really had nothing to do with Battler, though.
He couldn't understand it.
"Hey... I'm... sorry?"
Beatrice smirked. "As you should be. Apologizing is fitting for lowly humans~ And when I change you back, you should be thanking me on bended knee and kissing the tips of my shoes. Aren't I generous, seeee? Aren't I kind? Gyahahahaha!"
"Generally those who act out of the goodness of their hearts don't request payment for their services, Milady," said Ronove, coming to Battler's defence. "Perhaps, in this case, the knowledge you have helped Battler would be enough of a reward... and he wouldn't have to kiss the tips of your shoes- beautiful though they are."
Battler always found dealing with Beato when she was being purposefully aggressive difficult. He wasn't able to placate her like Ronove or Virgilia. Instead, he only argued back and added fuel to the fire, which made her lash out at him even harder. Thus, he was grateful to Ronove for stepping in like that. He really was.
That was why Battler turned to give him another small, thankful smile.
And maybe that gratitude... was also why Battler found his breath catching in his throat when Ronove, once more, returned that smile with one of his own.
Battler's cheeks felt warm. He knew he was blushing again.
Lucifer continued to watch their exchange from a distance, her red eyes narrowed.
There was something... strange... about the way they were interacting. She could see it. Perhaps she, being a third party person and a spectator, could see it even better than the two involved, because she was observing it from afar.
Why did Battler look so flustered... and yet, at the same time, so thankful... and so happy?
But Virgilia was too focused on Beatrice to pay it any heed, and Beatrice was too concerned with her own worries to notice those of anybody else. So Lucifer was the only one who saw it.
She was the only one who realized.
"Muuu... You talk too much, Ronove," said Beatrice, scowling.
"Once more, I apologize," said Ronove, bowing his head. "But I hope my improper speech is able to entertain you in some manner."
"Maybe just a little..."
Then, Beatrice turned to Battler. In a burst of gold, her pipe appeared in her hands.
She smirked.
"I hope you get a nice, good, looo~ooong look at those, Baaattleeeer~" she said, pointing the end of her pipe at Battler's chest. "Because those are the last breasts any girl is willingly going to let you stare at~ Gyahahahaha!~"
Battler instinctively moved to cover his chest, face turning dark red.
"S-shut up! W-what do you know?"
"Ufufu~ I think the lady does protest too much... riiiight?"
"A-aaahh! Say whatever you want- I'm not listening! Useless, it's all useless!"
Beatrice's lip curled unpleasantly. "Yes, you are. I couldn't have put it better myself. Now... close your eyes... and try to remember what form you used to have. I'm sure it was very beautiful... or... Ufufufu...~ Well, I can't really call hair like that beautiful..."
If Beatrice was going to resort to childish name-calling, then Battler was entitled to act like a kid, as well. So he closed his eyes, stuck his fingers in his ears, and adamantly said, "La la la la! I'm not listening!"
Beatrice only cackled.
"Hoh~ What an interesting man...~ Or should that be, child? Haha~ Now, stay like that. This won't hurt a bit."
And with that, she brought her pipe down in a sweeping arc through the air...
And Battler's body exploded into a mass of golden butterflies.
"Nngh... gaah... M-my head..."
When the white spots finally cleared away from Battler's vision, he found he was looking up into the face of a rather pretty young woman. She was knelt beside him, arms round his shoulders, and his head was resting on her knees.
The moment she saw Battler's eyes open, her lips quirked into a small smile.
Battler knew that smile...
"Oh. It's you."
"Mm, it is. And, under normal circumstances, I would be rather insulted at your lacklustre greeting... However, I can put that disappointment behind me for now. I'm happy to see you're conscious at all."
"H-huh? What do you mean? I... was knocked out...?"
Ronove nodded, long hair brushing Battler's face in a way that made Battler's skin prickle slightly.
"Ahaha... D-did... Beato do something weird with her magic?"
"Considering you, as a human, would consider all magic 'weird', I suppose so, pu ku ku~"
"D-damn it. That bitch. I'm not a toy... I'm not..."
But Battler didn't have enough strength to protest beyond that.
Coughing weakly, Battler tried to pull himself into a sitting position. Luckily, Ronove was there to help him. Battler soon realized, as he fell back against Ronove's chest, that trying to move so suddenly after being hit by Beato's magic was a bad move. It was a slow and steady process, with a lot of curses and complaints about his pounding headache, but, with Ronove by his side, Battler was finally able to get back to his feet.
At least, with a little support.
Battler felt annoyed at having to rely on Beato's butler so he could stand, leaning against him heavily like that, but Ronove was furniture, right? Furniture couldn't complain about being used.
Battler didn't really follow the whole 'servant = furniture' train of logic, and he didn't agree with it, but whatever… his head felt all messed up.
At least, Ronove didn't seem to mind.
But...
It was only as Battler stood up, however, that he noticed something.
He had been taller than Ronove before, even when Beatrice had turned him into a girl... but now Battler was a good deal taller than 'her'- a lot taller than he had been before. And... although he felt sick, light-headed and kind of dizzy, Battler felt physically stronger... and he looked it, too. Although Ronove tried to hide it behind a small smile, it looked like he was having some trouble trying to prop Battler up. And Battler's voice was no longer that of a girls'.
In short...
"Hey. Did Beato actually turn me back?"
"It would seem so, yes. You're quite a bit heavier than you were before. You shouldn't rely on a frail girl like me for help; I feel used."
"Oh, you'll get over it."
"My, how chivalrous of you~"
"Well, chivalry doesn't extend to creepy guys pretending to be cute maids like you," Battler retorted. "Ihihi... So. How long was I unconscious like that?"
"How long? My... About a day, surely?"
Battler's eyes widened. "A-a day?"
"Indeed. Milady decided she would continue the third game without you as she grew tired of waiting. Well..." Ronove smiled. "It's only be expected, given her impatient nature."
"W-what?"
"Mm. The game has progressed a great deal in a very short space of time. Are you interested to see who has been sacrificed this time?~"
This comment was enough to snap Battler out of his magic-lagged stupor. Staggering away from Ronove, his legs only just strong enough to support himself, he stabbed a finger at him and said, "W-what? Y-you mean, I-I have to fight Beato some more, even though I feel like this? T-that isn't fair! Damn it! Damn it damn it damn it!"
Battler's words died away, leaving only silence, broken by the sound of Battler's heavy breathing. Battler stared at Ronove, face flushed with anger... and Ronove stared back levelly.
At least, until...
"Pu ku ku~ If only if you could see the look on your face..."
He began to giggle, hiding his mouth with one of his hands.
"Ronove," said Virgilia, sighing and placing her hands on her hips. "Don't tease Battler."
"Yeaaah, don't tease Battler!" said Beatrice. "Even if he is really stupid and gullible and it's really, reeaaaally fuuuun! But that's my job! I won't let you play around with my toys! Kyahahaha!"
Ronove continued to laugh- though, through his mirth, he was able to say, quite insincerely, "Oh, I do apologize."
"H-huh?" Battler blinked in confusion, looking between Ronove and Beatrice. "T-that was... a lie... ...?"
"Yes," said Virgilia. "You were only unconscious for a few moments- and I apologize for that; Beato should have warned you. Reversing a spell on a human can be physically draining."
"A-ah, I see…"
"Certainly, the third game has not resumed yet. Ronove was being cruel." Virgilia sighed. "Usually, he's more polite than that."
"Huuuh? That man has always been disrespectful towards me," said Beatrice, raising a brow. "Are we talking about the same person, Teacher… or is your judgement clouded by your personal feelings, hmmm?"
Virgilia's face turned light pink. "I-I don't know what you're talking about. We're been friends for a long time, so it's only natural I would understand his character... and Ronove only teases you because you act improper and he wants to teach you a lesson!"
"But acting 'improper' makes life more fun, kikikiki!~ Anyway." Beatrice turned to give Battler a hideous look. An ugly grin like a bloody wound was split right across her face. "Shouldn't you be thanking me, lowly human, for giving you your original form back? I know I said I didn't need thanks before- but I changed my mind! I'm a fickle person, you knooooowwww~ And I got a really good idea. If I wanted to be more creative, I could've given you green skin and bulbous eyes, and you would been hopping around at my feet right now going 'ribbit'! But I didn't do that, you seeeee, because I'm a wonderful person who keeps my promises! Aren't you going to prostrate yourself at my feet and say 'thank you, benevolent Lady Beatrice, for not turning me into the frog that I am'? Gyahahahahahaha!"
"O-ow…" Battler winced, pressing a hand to his temple.
He was going to go deaf if Beatrice kept laughing like that… and he really wasn't in the mood to listen to it, anyway.
If Battler had been in his right frame of mind, he would have smirked in the face of Beatrice's insane laughter. He would've stabbed a finger at her and shouted; told her just how messed up her reasoning was- 'why should I thank you for giving me my old body when you were the one that changed it to begin with? I haven't got Stockholm Syndrome, you know, and I'm not that desperate! I'll never see you as a 'Lady'- you're more immature than my little sister! Useless, it's all uselessss!'
But... Battler didn't say anything like that.
He didn't say anything at all.
Instead... he felt strangely... upset... almost as if something heavy was weighting down on his chest.
Ronove always teased him, and Battler had grown used to it; it was just part of his character, like Maria with her verbal tic of 'uuu, uuu'. But... to tease him about Beato's game… and to go further than that, and bring in members of his family, who kept dying over and over again… wasn't that just a little too cruel?
Wasn't that like going to a funeral and laughing about at the corpse?
Battler had always been touchy on the subject of death ever since his mom died when he was only twelve… so seeing his family being tortured like that over and over again felt like a knife was repeatedly being twisted in his stomach. Beatrice was throwing salt into an old, old wound, until it started to fester.
And to have that brought up as a joke, which Ronove then laughed at…
Wasn't that... truly heartless?
Battler wouldn't really have minded a throwaway comment like that before. He would've chalked it up to Beato's butler being a horrible person, mainly because he was the furniture for a horrible master, and leave it at that. Certainly, he wouldn't have felt upset- or at least, not that upset.
He'd always seen Ronove as an enemy, after all.
But now Battler had gotten to know Ronove a little better, and they'd shared some friendly conversations... and, ha, Battler had even caught him before he fell over in those stupid heels...
Ronove even reminded Battler of a girl he'd had a crush on. A girl he might even have been seriously in love with.
So… that comment seriously stung.
So did that laughter.
Battler… did feel a little hurt by that.
He hoped he wasn't over-reacting, but… that mocking laughter… was too much.
"Hm? What's wrong, Battler?" Beatrice spat venomously, her grin growing wider. "You don't want to thank me? Well, if that's how you feel, then there's no reason for me to suspend the third game any further! It can be a punishment for your rude behaviour. Why don't we get started right now? Don't you want to see who else is lined up to be a sacrficeeee in my wonderful, elegant ceremony? Don't you want to see what stupid looks your beloved family will pull as they writhe in the palm of my haaaand? I'll make sure they get truly pitiable, laughable deaths, okaaaaaay? It'll be funny! You can laugh along with me if you want! Gyahahahaha!"
Battler's fingers tangled in his hair, his eyes squeezing shut. He couldn't listen to his.
He…
H-he couldn't…
"S-shut up! Shut up, you bitch!"
But Beatrice's voice managed to worm its way through the cracks in his fingers. He couldn't block it out!
Useless, it was all useless!
"Kikikikyaha! Yes, that's right~ That's right, hate me. Be angry! Try to deny me! That will make our game more interesting, riiiiight? After all, boredom is the only poison that can kill a witch! With a delicious smorgasbord laid out before me on Rokkenjima, I'll never get bored again! I can eat up their lives to my heart's content and spit them back out again- gyahahahaha!~ Hey, who shall I kill next? You got any ideas? It's all so much fun I can't choose!"
"S-shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up! Damn iiiiiit!"
Battler felt tears build up in the corners of his eyes. He hadn't been hit with the full force of Beato's twisted personality for some time... so that made it even more difficult to defend himself against her cruelty than usual.
Battler didn't want to start a game again; he didn't, he really didn't...! Sure, he wanted to wipe that stupid smirk from Beato's face, but he didn't want to do that at the cost of seeing his family- Jessica, George, Maria, that old bastard, Kyrie, his aunts and uncles- getting horribly mangled until they no longer looked human!
H-he didn't want that!
Who the fuck would want that?
D-damn it!
"B-beato, please! I understand that Battler is your opponent, but don't be so caustic! You're upsetting him!"
"Huh? Come onnn, Teacher, it's not like I'll be able to win his love or respect by murdering his family over and over~ And it's not like I have a choice, anyway. It's not like I can stop this game- they won't let me, you know! So what's the point in pretending I'm Battler's friend? We'd only end up fighting again- and then I'd hurt him even more. That's why I gathered here anyway. So I could tell you all the third game was going to start again. That was all…"
Despite her teasing, mocking tone, there was something… resigned in Beatrice's voice. Something genuinely… sad.
It was a tone of voice she had been trying to cover up with all that loud laughter and those horrible insults.
But Battler didn't care.
Hahaha...
Ihihihi...
Maybe Beato was right.
It was the first sensible thing she had said in a long time.
For the past few days, Battler had been spending a peaceful time with Ronove, and... a-and he'd actually begun to enjoy himself, just a little. But now, seeing Ronove laugh coldly at his plight like that... i-it really hurt...
Was that because... Battler let his guard down... and deluded himself into believing he had an ally?
But that delusion was gone now.
That amused look on Ronove's face... ... pissed Battler off.
It really, really pissed him off.
H-he shouldn't have been able to wear an ugly look like that on such a pretty face- a face that looked so much like Takane's! T-that was going too far!
It was probably fair to say that Battler wasn't exactly himself at that moment. Even though he looked more like himself than he had done in the past few days, his emotions were completely out of control... and he was nothing like the kind, good-natured, lazy but basically sweet-hearted person he really was. That witch had really screwed around with his head this time- leaving nothing left but the bitter taste of anger... grief for his family... and betrayal. It was a painful mix of emotion, and it destroyed all of Battler's self control.
I-it hurt...
It really did.
"Hm?" Ronove turned about, watching as Battler stalked towards him with a face full of thunder. "Battler? Are you… alright? If Milady has gone too far, I can try and talk to her for you… but I don't know what good it will do."
Battler's fingers clenched into fists at his sides. His eyes narrowed. His breathing was heavy.
Then... he spoke.
But he didn't speak.
Instead... he shouted.
He didn't have the ability to control the volume of his voice anymore.
"Fuck off! It's not Beato I'm really pissed off at! At least she always acted like a complete bitch, so it's not a surprise to hear her say fucking horrible, tasteless things like that! But you... W-why the fuck were you trying to act kind to me, why were you trying to make me 'trust' you... if you were just going to turn around and throw it back in my face? I-I bet fucking around with my emotions is fun for you, though, isn't it? Aaaargh- g-get out of my sight; get out! I don't even want to look at you, you bastard!"
Ronove's eyes widened slightly...and a truly surprised look flitted across his face, which was usually composed.
"B-battler, I-"
But Ronove never finished.
Battler couldn't listen to him. He wasn't able to.
So, when Battler punched Ronove in the jaw... he exercised absolutely no self control at all. It didn't matter to Battler that Ronove was still in his female form, or that Ronove was rather a lot shorter than him, and a lot slighter, and quite likely to be seriously hurt by a sudden show of physical. Battler didn't think about any of that at all.
Battler used every last bit of strength he possessed when he punched Ronove.
As Ronove hadn't predicted it, he wasn't able to defend himself in time.
The outcome was really decided before it even happened.
Battler's fist collided into Ronove's face.
At once, a horrible crunching sound rent the air; mixed with a truly pitiful moan of real pain. It sounded like Battler had managed to break Ronove's nose.
Ronove staggered backwards, barely able to keep standing after an attack like that. His fingers were pressed against his face- but Battler could see his white gloves were stained with spots of deep red. Maybe he'd managed... to seriously injure him.
In fact, there was no 'maybe' about it.
But the red haze that filled Battler's head still hadn't vanished, and he still wasn't satisfied. He was still angry- and he still felt utterly, utterly miserable.
Anger and grief were two of the most unstable mixtures of emotion, and Battler couldn't handle them both in such large quantities. He still needed to vent, or he might have broken down instead.
So punching Ronove once wasn't enough.
The small gasp of pain Ronove made when Battler grabbed hold of his hair- it was a lot longer when he was a girl, falling about his shoulders just like Lucifer's'- was more satisfying than it should have been. That led to Battler searching for more ways to satisfy himself, and quell his own pain- so his fingers tightened round Ronove's hair, yanking it from the scalp.
Then, he smashed Ronove's head against the wall.
Ronove wasn't nearly as strong as Battler was and, for some reason, it seemed like he wasn't able to use any magic to defend himself- or maybe he didn't want to be so rude as to injure one of his mistress' guests, even if the guest in question was smashing his head against the wall, and gripping onto his throat…
Ronove had no way of protecting himself- and it was impossible for him to physically push Battler away.
Battler could have continued to abuse Ronove like that endlessly, just like Beato tortured his family- and maybe he would have derived the same sick, twisted pleasure from it Beato did when she sneered at him.
But he didn't.
Something finally managed to pull Battler out of his haze, just before it closed over his head.
It wasn't Virgilia's plea that he calmed down, or Beato's indignant 'g-get off my furniture!', or Lucifer's angry, disgusted 'd-don't treat Ronove like that, you filthy human!'
It was... the look on Ronove's face... as Battler's fingers gripped his neck tightly; tight enough to leave the red imprint of his hand against that pale, pale skin when he let go.
Ronove didn't look remotely like the sly demon he was, who was always smiling mysteriously. The moment Battler's fist had come into contact with his face, that mask had been destroyed altogether; shattering just like glass.
All of a sudden, there was something very, very honest and open about the look on his face. It was completely truthful. It must have been. After all... how could anybody fake a look of fear like that?
F-fear? W-was it really...
But... it was.
There was no denying it.
Ronove's eyes were wide; far too wide... and they seemed to distort and ripple slightly- as though Battler was looking at them through a fine film of water.
It was so ridiculous, Battler could hardly believe it- but... it looked like that was really the truth. It had to be.
Those were... tears.
Ronove was actually trying to hold back tears. And he wasn't doing a very good job of it, either.
Battler had... made him cry.
Battler had...
H-he'd...
"B-battler… I-I'm... sorry... ..."
Battler hardly recognized that quiet, nervous voice, but there was only one person it could belong to.
It came from the mouth of that short, cute young maid.
Her hair was messy, eyes tearful, nose broken, pale skin bruising ugly dark purple, and blood was spattered across her face... And Battler had her pinned against the wall, as though she were a butterfly in a collection, stuck to a board. Battler used all his strength to keep her in place, so she couldn't run away. She couldn't even struggle.
And that short maid, regardless of appearances... was still Ronove. Beato's butler. But he sounded, and looked, truly pathetic then... and truly pitiable. It was almost impossible for Battler to imagine that shivering wreck was Ronove at all... when he couldn't imagine Beato's butler acting in such a way at all.
"I-I'm sorry... ... H-haa..." A gasp; choking- and when Ronove coughed, red blood bubbled from his split lips. "I-I'm... really sorry... ... H-haa… A-aah…"
More laboured breathing; more pained coughing; blood and saliva rolling, thick and slimy, down Ronove's chin.
Battler stared at Ronove in horror.
It no longer felt like he was hurting Beato's butler... but, instead... he had been attacking a defenceless young girl. A girl like Shannon.
Battler froze, staring... as tears slowly slid down Ronove's cheeks...
Battler didn't know long he would have stood there, staring.
Maybe he would never have moved.
So, in the end, it was a good thing that Lucifer slashed the back of his hands with her long nails, and pulled him off Ronove.
Without Battler pinning him against the wall, there was nothing to keep Ronove standing upright.
He crumpled against the floor, curled into a small ball... and shivered. It looked like he was still trying not to cry.
a/n: I said stuff would happen this chapter :3 And this was partly the reason why I changed the genre from humor… cause it's mostly light-hearted… but then horrible things happen XD And they get even worse… XD That scene at the end was fun to write, though :3
Regardless of what Battler says, Beatrice is the most to blame for him flipping out like that… XD
Ronove might seem a little (a loooot) OOC, but there is a reason for this behaviour!
Now I'm excited to write the next chapter ^_^;
Um… what does everybody think? o: Is it… okay?
Feedback would be lovely... from, like, the 3 people that might actually be reading this XD~
~renahhchen xoxo
