Chapter Fourteen:Nemo

"My flower, withered between pages two and three. The once and forever bloom gone with my sins. Oh, how I wish to dream again, once and for all…and all for once..."

-Nightwish Lyrics, Nemo

Perhaps the mongrel had meant it, that she didn't approve of the plans to target my master…but that hadn't stopped them from cutting her throat all the same. Another treasure I had to press into her mouth to keep her from death. Seconds from being too late for the ambrosia to work, the food of the gods…it could heal any injury or ailment, cure any disease, so long as the subject was living. If a subject was already in good health it could imbue stronger mana and abilities but she was weak and I'd given her exceptionally little.

I didn't have much to give…but all the same I lacked a choice. It was the only treasure I possessed that could save her from so grievous a wound.

My temper was raised, unlike it had been in centuries…not only for the waste, but for the continued targeting of my Master, for the cowardice inherit in such actions. I may have used a bit more energy than needed in clearing out one of the inciters of that rage. The Beserker had taken care of the other one…but with Natsumi's mana already dangerously low I couldn't continue to express my irritation properly. All the same I was ready to fight and then Boudicca shook her head at me. She gestured to the girl I held and ran off as though it was painful not to fight me. Was it some sort of wordless mongrel nod to me for protecting her? All the same, while I could have fought her, I appreciated not having to in this case. I let her run off, she could leave with her life for having aided my Servant in her own thoughtless manner. Instead I went to kill Assassin's master, with that coward dead I could take my own to the safe house she'd brought up earlier. I would have to track down Hetha's master another time, they could be the catalyst for summoning the grail…

Natsumi –

I could see a grand plain from all sides, I was sitting on a throne over the whole of the Egyptian basin, anything in view was mine. A lion lounged next to me and I sat petting it absently while a person prostrated in front of me described some issues with their cattle. While I could make out every word it sounded a bit muted, as though I wasn't focused on it despite being able to take it all in. There had been a flood, then a bit of disease, his flock was nearly wiped out and he was looking for aid in renewing it since he'd been selling wool to the capital for many years.

Instead, my mind wandered. I would think about combat one moment, then a pretty girl lounging not far off the next, she would be pleasurable enough eventually but it was better to let her second-guess her beauty before indulging in it. Then I pondered what the new puzzle I'd been promised would be, hopefully more difficult or at least more entertaining than the last. Most human games weren't that satisfying, they lacked any sort of challenge. There was little that offered real challenge. Almost nothing at all…all of it, the land, the man, the games, the women…were beneath me…but I could enjoy them at times all the same.

I motioned to one of the scribes, one of many servants that waited to be called at my whims. "Give him a dozen new sheep, half women, half men." It was a fair enough trade, he was right, his family had provided the capital many goods for fair prices. Returning his poor fortune with nothing was only shooting my own realm in the foot. The man offered many thanks and praises as he left, before the next was pulled in by chains. It seemed unlikely he would be so jubilant by the end of our time together. The man glared at me but I wasn't concerned, little concerned me about mortals.

Then, I remembered, I was a mortal…I wasn't a god…and my perspective changed. I was one of the girls nearby, and I was watching a golden Prince as opposed to being one. Gilgamesh lounged on his throne with his lion sleeping soundly next to it. He looked bored, just eternally bored.

"This traitor wished to beg forgiveness. He stole fruit destined for the palace." One of the guards announced, shoving the man down to his knees.

"Put him in the stocks, leave him until he passes." Gilgamesh answered, still not seeming to pay full attention.

"My lord, my lord I'm sorry. I didn't mean harm. I was hungry, my family was hungry. I just wanted to feed them." The man cried out, he had clearly been beaten. He looked destitute, that much had been true even from the other perspective, but now I felt pity for him.

"Why should I be merciful from he that would take from me? Should I expect an endless band of starved wastrels to end on my doorstep? Am I known for generosity?" Gilgamesh asked several questions, his attention had seemed to spike a little at the idea of someone stealing from him. I understood his point but did he need to be so cruel about it. "Let me see, will anyone in my court speak for this man?"

No one else was standing up or volunteering, a few of the other girls snickered but I frowned at them. Why did they have to be so cruel? I got to my feet, and swallowed when the crimson gaze shifted to me. This was my emperor, the eternal flame of Babylon, the sun of the sky...the golden King…why had I stood up at all. Still, he didn't seem angry with me, if anything he looked more engaged than he had the entire morning at court.

"Please, Hesatria, speak." He welcomed, his words were honeyed but I still was nervous. One didn't get honey without risking getting stung after all. I stepped closer to the prisoner, trying to ignore the stench that came from him. Clearly, he wasn't receiving good treatment in the dungeons.

"He…if he was really just hungry, perhaps it is best to let some men pass. Not all of course…and not unpunished…but to rot in the dungeons seems unfair. Is it not the law of the land that thieves lose their hands?" I know it wasn't much better but at least he'd live.

"If one steals from another citizen yes, but this man stole from your King, your god. You believe his punishment should be equal as if he had stolen from you?" Gilgamesh still didn't sound angry, but his observation had elicited mocking laughter from the other members of the court still lounging, all eyes were on our exchange. This was the most electrified the court had been in weeks after all…

"It seems fair yes." I answered despite the gasps and whispers that went on around me for the defiance. What good was a god that wouldn't help his people when they were in need? Gilgamesh smiled at me, not the small smirks or occasional half-smiles he held when contemptuous or only vaguely entertained. It was brilliant, as bright as all the stories told about him, but it lasted only a moment. My view of him disappeared and my eyes were forced to the ceiling. I felt a blade against my neck. What was happening?

"There, I'll take her with me…this was the one you kept looking at while I waited…you wanted to sample her, yet didn't you? You let me go and I'll let her go." The man I was trying to help…he was the one that had somehow pulled a knife and pressed it to my throat. I couldn't move or I'd be cut. Why would he do this when I was trying to help him?

I woke up.

I was breathing heavily, holding my neck. I could still feel it…the blade against my skin. The image, the vivid dream mingled with recent memory and I shuttered. Had the girl in my vision died then? I certainly remembered my own throat being cut just before Gilgamesh had saved me. I swallowed, feeling over my neck…nothing…not even a scar. My leg didn't ache either, and when I looked there weren't stiches. What had Gilgamesh done? I glanced around the room, my nerves still high-strung after what I'd woken up to.

I was in my bedroom at the beach house. It was the safe house I'd mentioned to him. I wasn't sure how he knew to get me here but I was appreciative all the same. I relaxed a little at the idea that we'd gotten out then. Whatever had happened between him and Beserker I wouldn't have made it here on my own without him. The dream though…it was completely vivid. I could feel the humidity on my skin, the sharp blade, the snickering of voices around me…the buzzing of small insects in the hot air…I'd been in Babylon…seeing the world from another's eyes.

Would Gilgamesh even remember if I asked him about it? Doubtful, when I'd seen part of the scene by his perspective he'd been completely uninterested…but then again that seemed to change after my perception did. I saw part of it from him, but the rest from the girl. Hesatria he'd called her, she'd thought he was suddenly charged when she'd challenged him. Not that it did her much good from what I could tell. Was that why he was so angry then? He'd lost something to someone else getting their throat cut? Or had he saved her as he had me?

My stomach rumbled and I sighed, as much as I wanted time alone to think, I wouldn't be getting much thinking done if I didn't eat, not with it complaining at me so loudly. Once I went outside though I'd probably have to face him…not that it was totally bad I did need to ask what happened between him and Beserker after I'd passed out. I got up and frowned when I realized I was in one of my nightgowns – it meant he'd changed me. I blushed at the thought and walked to my bathroom to wash my face and brush my hair. Did he have to do stuff like that? I sighed and ignoring my stomach took a shower before getting dressed, hungry or not I needed some more time to just be alone.

How many times had he saved me now?

A number that was already too high…I was coming to owe him more than I liked. Some of the other times I felt like it was basically his job to come in and help me…but this time…he'd really wrenched me back from death. He'd somehow healed my neck and my leg and after resting I felt physically fine, full of energy. I wasn't as convinced mentally, I could still remember the feeling of the blood washing down my neck and body where Bond had cut into me. It made it harder to enjoy the shower than it would have been otherwise but at least the water wasn't sticky or red. I hated to admit it but I did owe him after all he'd done, particularly this time. As much as he pissed me off and did things that made me want to choke him he had safeguarded my life. We were down two more Servant's as well.

Assassin hadn't made it, Berserker had made certain of that. Lancer hadn't survived either. With Caster already dead as well. That left us with the frightening woman that was Berserker during this war…or maybe it didn't. I hadn't seen what happened but if she had attacked in earnest I expect Gilgamesh would have killed her. In that case, it was only three or four left: Gilgamesh, Rider, and Saber as well as possibly Berserker. The war was going faster than I expected it too, faster than many of the previous reported wars…but then they weren't always as cut-throat as they'd become today. Was I going to continue to be the target for many of them?

I leaned back into the water, trying to keep my head on straight. I had things I had to do. That I had to take care of. I couldn't be breaking down now…I would have time for that if I survived the grail war. I made short work of the shower, dried off, got dressed and headed downstairs to the smell of food, my stomach made another rumble as if telling me to keep going toward the food. I was surprised to see a breakfast already on the table when I got to the kitchen. It smelled good, eggs and bacon…but I didn't see Gilgamesh anywhere. Where had my Servant gone exactly?

"Gilgamesh?" I called out a bit nervously. He had survived our battle in the forest hadn't he?

"Yes?"

I leapt and threw a hand over my chest as he materialized next to me when I called his name, immediately scowling at him. "Stop doing that. Where were you?"

"I was near you, I just wasn't materialized as it sped the recovery of your mana." He answered with a shrug at my remarks, moving to the table to seat himself now that he had a body again. "You should eat, your innards have been protesting since before you woke."

The warm didn't take long to come after a comment like that. He'd been watching me sleep and then what, watching me shower? I frowned as I went to sit down. He was such a pervert! What was his problem!? I went to dishing up a plate, not bothering to ask where he'd gotten the food from, he probably stole it from a neighbor or something, or just pulled it out of his realm of endless stuff. It didn't really matter, I was starved and ready to eat. That helped quell my temper a bit, that and the thought that I did owe him for everything, and I needed to know more…

"…at appened?" I asked, still half eating when I spoke. He looked distastefully at me for my words, as though it was quite inappropriate for me to speak to him while still chewing but I was hungry. He sipped at a glass that appeared in his hand, more wine? It was like ten in the morning…

I picked up my glass of orange juice, glad I'd been provided not alcohol given the early hour. I took a swallow, waiting until my mouth was clear to try again. "What happened yesterday, with Beserker?"

"I allowed her to leave." Gilgamesh answered. "In her own way her actions aided you, even if I had to spend one of my rarer treasures. If Assassin had been able to complete his attack on his own without her interference he would have killed you before I could use it."

"What did you use?" I asked.

"Ambrosia. Don't let it go to your head, despite mortal's wild dreams about it, it cannot grant them godhood or immortality. In some cases, it can give access to greater magic or powers but mostly it functions as a divine remedy. It heals any and all wounds instantly when it's swallowed or poured on the area affected. I have little left after their stunt yesterday." He answered, picking up a piece of the bacon to take a bite.

He'd given me food of the gods? No wonder it had saved me…but then, that didn't make me feel any better. I couldn't exactly complain about his spending on Candy Crush when he'd personally delivered a life-saving potion to me mouth to mouth. I glanced back at my plate, feeling a bit cowed by everything. I knew I was dealing with larger than life spirits and events for the grail war…but this wasn't the same. Even if Ambrosia wasn't everything all the tales described it as, it had pulled me from the edge of death…and even to someone like Gilgamesh it was considered a rare treasure. The fact that he had more than a dose was impressive. Still not something I'd want him to have to use on me again…

"Gilgamesh…" I hesitated after I said his name. I could see him a moment as I had in my vision…in a toga sort of dress instead of modern clothes, his hair slicked back as it had been in his armor as opposed to the bangs left in his face now. More gold jewelry…but otherwise he looked the same. It was as if he hadn't aged a day since that ancient time. This creature was so lauded by the woman that had stood up to him…she'd been frustrated but she'd cared about him. She'd viewed him as a god, a savior…but that hadn't seemed to have done her any good….

"Have you finally come to your senses and decided to worship me properly? Why else would you speak my name so reverently just to grow speechless?" He finally prompted as I continued to stare at him…his self-assurance as eternal as his face seemed to be. I shook my head at him, not wanting to give him the wrong idea.

"No…I wanted to thank you…for saving me. I'm sure it wasn't just to be a hero, but I appreciate it all the same. I was just…I saw you in another time." I tried to explain the reasoning for my hesitation. "It was at a court…but a long time ago…on top of some steep building or cliff overlooking a rich metropolis with a river running through."

"Babylon." He remarked. "Have I invaded your dreams already then?"

"It is recorded that Master's sometimes have dreams about their Servants…about things they've been through. Our souls are connected for the length of the grail war after all." I answered, not letting him bait me into making this something it wasn't. "I saw you judging your court. First giving a man some sheep and then judging a thief."

"I judge many people as the King of all, I did then, and I continue to today." He said with a shrug. "It is likely whatever you saw was some reflection of a true occurrence."

"There was a girl there, her name was Hesatria, do you remember her?" I asked, a bit curious what had happened in my dream.

"I have known many mongrels, I can't be expected to remember them all." He replied between eating, never speaking and eating at the same time. For all his poor behavior, he seemed to have fairly good table manners.

"Well, you started to judge the thief to death because he took food from your court…but this girl, she stood up for him and argued that he should have the same punishment as anyone else." I explained further, hoping he'd remember what I was telling him.

"And then he took her hostage. Your choice of my past is an interesting one, did your experience frighten you that much?" He stated, as though he'd recognized the story the whole time given he'd finished my tale for me.

"Well, I'm not really happy about it…obviously, no one would be. I was curious though, what happened to her?" I asked.

"What was the last thing you saw?" His expression was distant, as if he were thinking about it. For him it was probably much more distant than it was for me.

"The ceiling, there was a lot of gold and blue, he had the knife pressed to my throat after he made his threat, then I woke up." I answered.

"My throat?" Gilgamesh asked. "You saw it from the girl's perspective then?"

"Well, sort of. It started out from yours but then it moved to hers." I answered honestly.

"Interesting." He remarked, watching me as he chewed a bite of his eggs. He didn't speak again for a moment, and I swallowed, was I bringing up something I shouldn't? He washed it down with wine, as he did most things.

"The girl in your dream was saved, but not by any ambrosia is that's what you are thinking. It was no Servant that threatened her, when he died, he didn't even cut her neck with his dull blade before the fire faded from his eyes. He was made an example of in front of those that were still slated to stand before me." Gilgamesh answered. "Why concern yourself with her, she is long dead now either way."

"I…know." I nodded at that. Of course, she would be, that was thousands of years ago, "Did you punish her?"

"Full of questions this morning." He pointed out. "No, of course not. I'd given the court free reign to stand in the man's defense, she had already been punished. Why would I further discipline her?"

"Because you seem like a raging douche that does whatever he wants and ruins the days of anyone that argues while laughing at them and calling them mongrels." That seemed like a bad answer so I kept it to myself.

"I just…I guess after I saw it I wanted to know what happened." I answered instead. "I don't know enough about you or how you do things."

"So, a reverse job interview then? You are considering me as an employer and wanted to know what had happened to other attendants before you. Uncouth but a good first step, reasonable enough." He commented. He grinned when I nearly dropped my orange juice and started coughing. His words had caused it to go down the wrong tube. It burned…and he was laughing at me for my pain…god dammit, why did he have to turn all my words back on me?

"I…" I couldn't keep speaking, I kept coughing instead. This man was going to kill me for sure, but it wouldn't even have to be some epic wound gained from battle. It probably would be something humiliating like choking to death on orange juice because he wouldn't stop taking all of my actions as some way I was trying to get closer to him.

End Chapter

As one of my friends says: #prayfornatsumi. Let's all hope she doesn't choke to death on O.J. hahaha.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Ipomoea – That does seem to be needed, Natsumi doesn't really have luck on her side. Yeah I like Boudicca too, her tearing up Bond was fun to write. Threatening women around her, doesn't go well.

Guest – Right? Well, probably great-granddad too given the family history. Somewhere a lot of Tohsaka's are turning in their graves/shrines.

Anthem – I do try to keep my fictions moving when I have time. LOL, RIP James Bond. And well yes, Gilgamesh isn't exactly a traditional style of romance.