Angel of My Heart

by Cosmic Sky

She'd been called an angel, though at the end of the day, she just saw herself as a woman trying to do her part. As it would happen, her Master was in a similar position, yet she'd come to see him as so much more. Nightingale was an angel of mercy to all, including Ritsuka, and he had become something akin to an angel in her eyes as well.

Hey, everyone. Welcome to the first Grand Order lemon of Spring 2021. Fittingly, the luckily lady is new, and highly fitting for the time in my opinion. The Angel of Crimea, Florence Nightingale! Personally, it feels a little…surreal that by the time I've gotten to Nightingale there's a worldwide pandemic going on, talk about strange timing.

Now, Nightingale being a Berserk obsessed with healing is…not something I would have expected. In a similar vein to my Raiko one-shot, expect some working around as Ritsuka breaks through the Mad Enchantment (or rather determination to the point of madness), and as that happens expect some emotionally turmoil on Nightingale's side. Speaking of which, during this story, she will be addressed by her first name after a certain point to represent her moving beyond her Servant idea you could say. When that happens, well…you know. Heh, enjoy!

I do not own anything.

---

"I-I…excuse me."

She didn't stop and consider the looks of subtle and not-so-subtle shock that colored the faces of those in the operating room. Nightingale found it hard to even focus her attention on anything other than the door she was heading toward; it was a bit of a miracle that she didn't trip over her own feet in her way to it. Thankfully, the doors slid open for her; if they didn't then Nightingale would have pushed them open, and in her state, she was lively to rip them off their hinges.

Then she likely would have fallen flat on her face from tripping over her own two feet.

Her footsteps against the floor echoed in her ears alongside her heart, fiercely beating to an old tune within her chest. The rush of blood in her body, the pounding in her chest and her head…all of it was so painfully familiar. Unable to control herself, Nightingale's mind became a winding reel of memories-blood, limbs, burns, dirt, wounds infected with dirt and gunpowder, groans, whimpers, screams. The screams in particular bounced about in her head like a bat's cry in a cave. Rather than make an attempt to silence it, Nightingale let it resound through her skull. As horrible as it was, she preferred the sound to the other noise that had been eating at her.

Suddenly, a voice rose up to shout at her through the mayhem. It called out to her how shameful her thinking was. She was a nurse, saving lives was her job…all lives. It was heresy to consider one life more important than others! She'd actually lectured some of her own fellow nurses and doctors on such behavior!

But here she stood, shaking in quiet relief at the fact that one patient in particular had survived…yet recalling that patient's struggle for life left her so shaken Florence Nightingale felt ready to collapse onto her knees. She probably would at some point if she kept on going. Nightingale chose to do that, it's what she always chose to do; as a Berserker, it's all she could do. At least until she couldn't push herself any further.

Feeling her legs beginning to wobble beneath her, Nightingale turned to her right, to the nearest wall. In a flash, her fists slammed against the pristine white steel, leaving dual cracks in it. She'd likely get a lecture about them afterward, but for the moment…she wasn't in the mood for it. Her fists stayed crumpled as they slid down the wall along with the rest of her. Finally, her knees touched the floor, clumps of cement that now rooted her to the spot. Her entire body looked like some hunched over statue, a sobering monument to emotionally stress reaching a breaking point; that's certainly how Nightingale felt. This wasn't unfamiliar to her, but the intensity in which she felt this pain…Florence didn't believe there'd ever been a time in her life when it hit her this hard.

For all of her medical knowledge and fortitude…the Lady with the Lamp felt absolutely stumped, and not just stumped, terrified.

The fear continuously ate at her like a swarm of maggots that couldn't be shaken off. Numbering in the thousands, each of them tore a chunk out of her, eating her up bit by bit-a slow death, the worst way to go as she'd seen too many times. Biting her lip, she remembered the sheer futility of trying to prevent it by any means necessary.

"Miss Nightingale, our Master lives thanks to you."

Snapping her eyes open, the pink-haired woman looked up to see twin pools of bright blue staring back at her. She was momentarily frozen before them, unable to comprehend if they were real or not. A minute passed during which she deduced that they in fact were. Another minute later and she realized who they belonged to. Looking back to the wall, she saw a hand had fallen over her right, gently coiling around it offering her comfort. She immediately accepted it.

The wartime nurse and the wartime heroine sat side by side, the latter holding the former's hand in comfort. Ordinarily, one would have thought it a bit of a strange sight, and not simply because of the nationalities of the two Servants, but because one in fact was a Berserker. But amongst all of Chaldea's Berserkers, Florence Nightingale was unique.

When one thought of Berserkers, they didn't think of a nurse, especially one of the most famous nurses of all time, one who set new health standards thanks to her deeds in life. One wouldn't b wrong to question exactly why she'd been summoned to the Class that was the antithesis to everything that she believed in and lived for.

Nightingale herself had sometimes pondered that, but the reason why always manifested whenever she saw a sick or injured person in front of her. From there, one could say she was gripped by a type of madness, one that wouldn't relent until she'd done all she could to heal that person. Some might have said such a thing was a curse considering the lengths it could drive her to; they might have been right.

But what Nightingale was dealing with at the moment felt…different. Entirely different. Jeanne could see how that special feeling was taking its toll on her.

"He's going to live, Miss Nightingale." Repeated the French Servant. "He's going to live thanks to you. Shouldn't you be there when he awakes?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, the Englishwoman shook her head. "I am not sure I could bear looking at him until he does. It is…painful for me to do, to see him in such a state. Or more accurately, it has become painful for me to see him in such a state." When she blinked, she recalled the last image she had of her Master-lying in the hospital bed with his bandages still stained bloody red, especially the ones across his chest. She'd done her absolute best to ensure the stitches would hold, and according to Dr. Roman, they would, but Ritsuka would likely have scars. Ritsuka had once told her that if he survived the Grand Orders, he fully expected to be either scared from head to toe or downright crippled.

Florence remembered how her heart had pulsated in her chest at his words. Then she responded with her own, "No, I will not let that happen, Ritsuka." Her heart rung as she remembered the fervor in which she'd spoken the words. "Indeed, the danger you face is great, but I can assure you, there is no pain that I cannot mend, and I will do everything in power to ensure that such pain never finds you. I…though I wear this uniform, I am not a soldier who can fight, but if I must I will. I shall fight to protect you, and when I must, I will use every ounce of my ability to heal you." As she spoke, she felt her hands rising up and clasping around his, something else that caught him by surprise. Florence remembered how even she was quietly surprised by the subconscious act. Caring for her patients was nothing new…but what she felt with Ritsuka was something else, it felt stronger than average.

"I am happy that Ritsuka survived, the happiness I feel in that fact, it…it…it outweighs the grief I feel at having lost three of our own." She whispered.

"Who will return in due time." Jeanne gently offered. It was without a doubt touching that Chaldea saw them as people instead of expendable tools like most magi saw Servants as. Such treatment had allowed Chaldea, Ritsuka really, to achieve results that were nothing short of miraculous. That said, as Servants, they knew they were expendable, their lives had already came and gone; Nightingale and Jeanne were two such examples who were content with that fact. If push came to shove, they were all ready to give their lives, doubly so since everyone knew what was on the line.

If they lost Ritsuka, humanity went with him, a burden that Nightingale knew threatened to crush him at times. She remembered how her heart had broken hearing his fearful words. That was the truth of the situation that all of them knew and accepted. For that reason, practically every Servant at Chaldea was willing to lay their life down for Ritsuka…including her.

The thought filled her with a rush that she'd rather not focus on.

"Miss Nightingale?"

"Hm?"

"For what it's worth…I don't believe you're wrong to be happy that Ritsuka is alive. We are all happy that he survived." The French Ruler offered. "If I had been in Tristan, Mordred, or Kotaro's positions, I would have made the same choice-to give my life for his." A pregnant pause ensued as the Englishwoman looked to her right hand, which had stopped trembling some time ago. Jeanne hated the fact that her next words would likely cause a resurgence, but something in her gut told her to press on. "If it had been you-"

"I'd have acted to save his life without a second's thought." Nightingale immediately declared, her red eyes blazing with determination. A heartbeat later and that blaze sputtered out, confusion sipping into her eyes as she looked back toward the floor. "I…I…I would have prioritized him above all others, even Tristan who was dying of poison and required my urgent treatment. I…I…"

"You did not betray your oath, Nurse Nightingale. You stayed true to your calling as a Servant…and your calling as a human being, so do not bow your head in shame. That is not how our Master would wish to see you." Spoke a male voice that caused the two female Servants to look up in surprise.

Arjuna stood as poised and dignified as ever, his white uniform melding well with the all-white hallway. His focus was on the British Servant, his eyes boring into her as she'd once done to him back in America. "I will not stand here and tell you that one life is worth more than others, even if in our case Ritsuka's life is, but your actions will have a myriad effect that will save countless lives. When they return, I am sure that Tristan, Mordred, and Kotaro will say something…somewhat similar. They will not your decision against you, and ultimately neither will Ritsuka. If anything, he has another reason to be grateful for your presence."

Nightingale blinked in genuine surprise at the Archer's words, Jeanne blinked as well. It went without saying that Arjuna was…not known for being the emotionally supportive type, though he had the capability to, as they'd just seen.

"When our Master awakes, I believe it would be preferable if your face were the first one he sees. The face of his savior, ahem, no offense Jeanne d'Arc."

Laughing, the blonde shook her head. "None taken. Arjuna is right, Miss Nightingale. Of all of us, I'm sure Ritsuka would be pleased to see you upon waking up. Not to mention he'd probably be more receptive to a lecture from you then he will from Dr. Roman or Da Vinci." Added the Indian Servant. Jeanne laughed at the brief but noticeable twitch of his lips, a smile was seconds away from forming but was halted at the last second. Still, the humor and goodwill was most certainly there.

Nightingale caught it too and even felt herself on the verge of laughing alongside Jeanne. It wasn't long before the two heroines were laughing; even Arjuna himself seemed to join them as he looked away with a smirk on his face.

"One last piece of advice, Nightingale." He spoke turning his back to the two European Servants. "You might want to wash your hands before going to see him. It'd be rather unsanitary to barge in there with those dirty blood-soaked hands."

"My…hands?" Questioned the wartime nurse. Her eyes widened as she brought her still-gloved hands up. "Oh Lord, my hands! I-I-I ran all the way, I-I was about-! Quickly, I must wash my hands before heading back!"

Jeanne couldn't help but laugh as the Florence Nightingale that they'd all come to know and love returned to them. Then she saw the way the nurse looked to her. Blinking in surprise, Jeanne looked down at her hands, or specifically her right hand. Her gauntlet-covered hand was smeared in blood from her grasping Nightingale's hand. The French girl had a brief moment to realize the mistake she'd made.

Then she laughed as the Englishwoman grabbed her hand and began dragging her along. She'd seen this countless times to various Servants, including the Indian Servant whom they passed. Jeanne shot the Archer a grateful smile, which was meant with his same stoic response. At the last second, she was sure she spotted an upward twitch of his lips.

"R-R-Ritsuka?"

Feeling his entire body perk up, the Japanese teenager instinctively attempted to sit up. In a literal flash, the British Servant was on him, her hand on his chest and her stern eyes boring into him.

"No, do not attempt to get up least you loosen the stitches holding your wound." Nightingale firmly declared.

"Y-Yeah, I got that." He said with a slight wince. "Um, sorry, I guess I got a little…excited." Shutting his eyes, he let the pain slowly ebb out of his body. It didn't completely leave him, but Ritsuka could feel himself regaining some sliver of feeling. As he calmed himself, he looked over the nurse Servant who'd been there to treat him, who'd saved his life again. "Sorry that I…made you worry, again, Nightingale."

Hearing her frantically beating heart, the Servant bowed her head and reached over to cradle his hand. At the very least he could squeeze her hand back, that one act seemed enough to comfort her like a pair of strong arms wrapping around her. "I suppose it was…inevitable." She began, feeling great pain in forcing the words out. It felt like an admission of surrender to the enemy she vowed she would fight with all of her heart. "Luckily, death did not claim you."

"Only thanks to you guys covering my ass, again." Chuckled the black-haired teenager, albeit through a pained chuckle.

"That is our duty as Servants, Ritsuka." Spoke the long-haired woman. "And…as…comrades."

"Thank you, Nightingale."

When she looked to him, she felt something stirring in her heart, something powerful and dangerous.

In the Crimean War, she'd seen thousands of young men like Ritsuka-bandaged up in a hospital bed having just narrowly escaped death. Color had returned to his skin as he was no longer in danger of dying from his wounds-the most pressing having been a massive laceration to his right side that would have severed him in two on any other occasion. She'd heard that he was lucky that the incoming attack had been aimed at his right side instead of his left; Nightingale fully concurred as if the attack had hit his opposite side, Ritsuka's heart likely would have been destroyed and he'd have died instantly.

The very thought sent a wave of fear ripping through her. Nightingale shut her eyes in an attempt to keep it at bay.

Ritsuka single-handedly did so by squeezing her hand and whispering her name. Drawn from the entrenching shadows of her mind, she looked up into his blue eyes, still sparkling with life. They always seemed to revitalize her and the rest of the Servants of Chaldea when looking into them. For Nightingale, she'd begun to feel a peculiar warmth blossom within her whenever he looked at her, especially when he smiled at her as he was doing now.

"How's Mash and the others?" He kindly asked.

A sheepish look overcame the British woman's face as she looked away. "I…well…you see I…I…wasn't the one who treated them. The rest of the medical staff did, and they…did a decent enough job."

"…So, any chance this means you'll stop being so extreme?" Coyly asked the Japanese teenager.

Nightingale felt herself laughing, "I-I'm still a Berserker, a-a-and even if I wasn't…I believe I would still…you know what, I'm just happy that you're alive Ritsuka." Bowing her head in quiet joy, she raised his hand so it was in front of her. "I-I-I knew that if we lost you, the World as we know it would end, yet…I…I…I could only think of what would have happened to me if you'd perished. If you had…I…"

"I'm sorry I broke my promise, Florence." Saying her first name was a spur of the moment act, one brought on by looking at her cherry-red eyes. Ritsuka always found something enticing about them, especially when they shimmered with something other than obvious drive. What he saw in her eyes was a tenderness that made his heart flutter.

The Berserker's heart was flutter as well as she shook her head. "You're still alive, Ritsuka; that's all I pray and work toward." His grip on her hand tightened. She was happy that she'd taken off her gloves to reveal her bare hands; it allowed her to touch him skin-to-skin. Thankfully, she'd made sure to wash her hands before coming back to see him. "Next time…I can't help but feel if it'd be better if I were there with you, giving you immediate urgent care."

"I'd…protest against that, but I've seen you fight." Ritsuka grinned. "For a nurse, you can be pretty kick ass when you need to be, literally." The human and Servant shared a laugh, the latter blushing a pretty pink.

"W-W-Well, perhaps next time you head out, I will accompany you. No, I think I will, so I can more personally ensure your safety. Even if it means fighting, which I've done before."

Memories of the American Singularity immediately sprang into his mind, and hers. For Ritsuka, it certainly wasn't an adventure he was ever going to forget; it was the wildest adventure he'd ever had featuring what had probably been the wackiest bunch of Servants he'd ever commanded, Nightingale included. In fact, of all the Servants who'd made an impression on him, she stood out near the type.

In simplest terms, she was simultaneously batshit insane and awesome, one likely feeding into the other. Sure, she was…quite extreme at times, as was typical of a Berserker, but he found something oddly charming in that extremity. Dare he say…attractive, which was added to the physical beauty that the Englishwoman possessed. At first glance, one would have assumed she was a quiet and devoted woman, a proper lady one might say.

Well, the latter part was accurate, but Florence Nightingale was in no way quiet, she was fiery and impulsive, like an artillery cannon in the midst of firing, though her intentions were direct opposite. Quite ironic for a Berserker, but that just made her more unique. She was fierce and forward to a fault, but it was all born out of her deep compassion for those around her, whom she'd do her best to keep alive. In that sense, she more than lived up to her legend. And he knew that there was more to it than the "Lady with the Lamp", he was happy he'd gotten to know the woman herself.

Ritsuka was happy that she looked to him with such affection in her eyes. He'd be looking into those eyes for the rest of the evening, and dreaming of them when he finally closed his eyes at night to get some much-needed sleep.

---

"No…no…NO!"

She didn't feel the ground crack, she didn't feel her feet crushing the earth as she literally sprinted toward the assailant speeding toward her Master, toward Ritsuka. The clarity in which she suddenly possessed was surreal. Everything felt so clear…yet for Florence Nightingale, it seemed only a handful of things existed in the world.

Those things were the armored warrior homing in on Ritsuka with a massive broadsword raised and ready to cleave him in two. For his part, Ritsuka remained composed, his left hand held out projecting a Bounded Field barrier while his right hand was reared back clenching a knife curved knife that glowed with magical energy. Anyone with a shred of combat sense could see that the boy was far from helpless, especially by the look on his face-it was the resolute glare of a seasoned warrior.

Nightingale wasn't thinking about though, rationality always loose in her mind thanks to her Servant Class.

She didn't see the shield or the knife Ritsuka had waiting to strike, she just saw Ritsuka Fujimaru in danger. That was it, the spark that lit the fuse to the cannon within her.

THUUUNNNK!

Deaf to the cries of shock from around and beneath her, Nightingale focused solely on the armored figure she'd managed to knock down. Her charge had knocked him off-course by a good few dozen yards; that wasn't enough for the wartime nurse though. So long as this creature lived, Ritsuka's life was in danger, what she had to do next became as simple as breathing.

All too quickly, she lost track of how many punches she rained down on the armored knight. She had no idea which of her punches dented his faceplate, all that she knew was that it had to go so she could get to his face. Crush his brain! Crush his brain! Crush his brain! The mantra repeated itself again and again in her head. It was advocating for the one thing that she by all rights had taken a vow against. But Nightingale ahd broken that vow before, several times in fact; she was a Servant after all.

However, it didn't feel like she was acting as a Servant, even though she just saved her Master's life. No, a tiny voice in the recesses of her mind told her she wasn't acting as a duty-bound Servant but as something else, something a little more…intimate.

Her heart roared with every punch she leveled at the knight's head into oblivion. Surging through her was the power of her Mad Enchantment, finally having violent outlet was typical of the Berserker Class. She felt no joy from it, Nightingale really didn't feel much of anything except a continuation of fiery impulse to protect Ritsuka at all costs.

To do that, this man beneath her had to die. She was going to make sure of that, that's all her mind was focused on at the moment.

"-gale! Nightingale! Nightingale! Florence! FLORENCE!"

The upsurge of strength came to a stretching halt leaving her floating in an eerie limbo. Shining a ray of light on her was the voice, the voice that she instantly recognized in spite of the madden fury gripping her. His voice and his touch chased away that fury like a pack of trained attack dogs.

Sanity slowly returning to her, Florence Nightingale looked into the wide concerned eyes of Ritsuka Fujimaru.

"It's over, it's over, I'm alright." The teenager declared, his hand sliding from her wrist to her hand, now stained red with blood. He didn't care about that though, his fingers laced through hers, clenching them. "F-Florence," the teen repeated hoping to further calm her down.

Normally, she'd have registered the sounds of battle around them had stopped, but she didn't. All she focused on was Ritsuka, again. The Berserker's cherry red eyes looked him over for any new injuries, upon spotting none she truly felt her body relax.

"R-R-Ritsuka," Nightingale whispered in relief as a smile stretched across dirt-covered face.

"Yeah, I'm alive, thanks to you." Responded the human teenager, his lips curving into a smile that sent her heart fluttering.

"Ahem, well, the rest of us are alive and well, thank you. But we won't be if we don't get a move on." A male voice suddenly interrupted pulling the pair out of the harmonious bubble they'd fallen into. Blinking, the pair turned and looked to the skull-masked Assassin who'd been amongst their closest tallies during their battle against the Lion King's forces. Cursed Arm Hassan looked partially annoyed and partially amused at their startled faces. "I must say though, Nurse Nightingale, you did surprise me. I never would have thought a healer could be capable of such violence, though then again, you are a Berserker."

The Assassin's words gave Nightingale reason to look down and see her handiwork. She immediately scrambled back, genuinely horrified at the absolute mess of mashed up metal and flesh and bone that had formerly been one of the Lion King's soldiers. One would think the man had been bludgeoned to death with a mace, but it had been a fist. Her fist.

Her heart once again began to accelerate as Nightingale realized that she'd killed…again. Killed a man who for all she knew probably had a family back in Camelot. And yet here he was, slaying one family after another, probably thinking nothing of them. A voice nagged at her. It was right…but the intensity in which she'd thrown into this was…shocking to say the least. Nightingale could feel her breathing intensifying as she attempted to stand up. Luckily, she had help.

"It's okay, you did what you had to do." Ritsuka softly couched.

"Not to mention if you hadn't done it, one of us would have." Hector chuckled. "Gotta say though, I agree with Hassan, that was mighty impressive Nurse Nightingale. You saved Master's life."

The statement caused a sudden rush of heat to flood her cheeks. It only grew stronger as she looked around her to the rest of the Servants, all of whom were looking to her with more or less similar expressions of awe and gratitude. She could hear some muttering similar words of surprise as Hector. Truthfully, she didn't know how to feel about it, at least until she looked back at Ritsuka. He was smiling at her…and still holding his hand-her bloody hand. In spite of recognizing that, she didn't feel an overwhelming urge to begin cleaning herself…nor did she want to let go of him.

Ritsuka squeezed her hand, she squeezed back out of sheer impulse. "I-I'm…I was just-"

"Thanks for the save, Nightingale." The Master spoke with an earnest smile as he always did.

"F-Florence," Whispered the pink-haired woman. "Mas-Ritsuka, if you want to, you may call me Florence, my first name."

Before the teenager could get a word out, the demonic armed Assassin coughed catching their attention. "Ahem, I'm sure you two can continue this engagement in a more…safer place. Oh, and Nightingale, if it's not too much trouble, would you mind taking a look at some of the villagers to make sure they're alright?"

"O-O-Oh, r-r-right! Of course, I will!" No sooner had the words left her lips did her eyes drift down. She was still holding Ritsuka's hand…and she still felt a reluctance to let go.

Ritsuka continued to smile as the Berserker looked up at him, a light pink tint on her face. Chuckling, he gave her hand a slight shake before gently letting go. He hid his disappointment behind a hearty smile; unknown to him, the red-eyes woman did the same.

It'd be some time before they could share another moment as they'd previously done, and more so given the Lion King likely wasn't going to take this skirmish lying down.

---

Ritsuka cursed himself with how it took almost five whole minutes for him to muster up the courage to speak. "Nightingale? Nightingale?" When he got nothing from the other end, he swallowed a small lump in his throat and called out, "Florence? Are you in there?" He could practically feel the sweat beginning to formulate on his skin as he waited. Growing fidgety, he quieted his mind and attempted to see what lay beyond the door.

Finding no one, he immediately grabbed for the doorknob and turned it. Without a moment's hesitation, he pushed the door open and walked right on in.

Normally, Ritsuka didn't barge right into the private quarters and offices of his Servants, at least not without what he felt was a good reason. Did he have one in this case? Maybe. Would a few days of suspicious behavior be enough to qualify as good enough reason? She was a Berserker after all, one of the…somewhat eccentric ones so what was a little strangeness? In Ritsuka's eyes, it was cause for intrigue and concern, especially after the events of the Camelot Singularity. He thought that the previous Singularities, especially America, had been bad in terms of life lost…but the so-called holy realm had truly shown him how fragile human life could be, but yet again it'd also been an exercise in the fortitude of the human spirit. Looking back on it, Ritsuka couldn't help but feel it was appropriate their enemy had been a being who'd forgotten that.

Looking to the chair behind the desk, Ritsuka felt that the English Berserker was a fine example of that fortitude. As he'd learned, it took a lot to keep going in the face of the horrors of war, and that was just when one was trying to save themselves.

"At some point, I probably did go mad." The red-coated woman admitted during one night in America, beneath a starlit sky. Ritsuka would never forget the discussion. "That sense of…helplessness that I felt…it threatened to crush me underfoot like a bug. I was but one human, how could I stem the tide of bloodshed sweeping across the land? For a moment, I thought of giving up…but then I remembered the faces of those I'd treated, those I'd seen live…and die. Remembering those I saved, I felt joy…remembering those whom I failed…I felt a great sadness; however, in that sadness…I found a resolution. No more, I said. If I give up then more will die, which I would not allow."

"And thus, the Angel of Crimea found her wings again." He replied causing her to laugh.

"You know, by this point I think I'd best give up on trying to bury that nickname. Apparently, it's sipped into history and has become a part of me." Responded the Berserker with a giggle. "An angel…no, I was just a woman doing her best."

"That best was practically divine in the eyes of those you saved and served with." Ritsuka pressed. Looking back, he realized he wanted to grip her hand, hold it in his, but he restrained the urge. That wasn't the time to make any vaguely romantic advances, especially since he felt they would go absolutely nowhere. "Nightingale, the name's pretty awesome…so, maybe just…I don't know, go with it." Looking up to the star-studded sky, Ritsuka let most of his inner feelings out in words. "What you did during the Crimean War, it practically WAS an angel's work. You saved thousands of lives with your work, and that work went on into the future. I can tell you that in the modern day, you're STILL honored as one of the best minds humanity had to offer. And after meeting you…I can say that praise isn't all talk, it's real. You're amazing…even if you can be a little loud and spontaneous."

Her office wasn't a cluttered mess, but Ritsuka looked at her desk and saw various notebooks and documents scattered about in a somewhat haphazard way. It almost felt like she'd arrived at some sort of medical crossroads that had left her stumped.

"If you hurry, you may be able to catch her." Came an unseen male voice.

Ritsuka didn't jump at it, having grown more accustomed to it as he had several dozen others. Quite a few Servants enjoyed sneaking up on him, and not just the Assassins. Those with a flare for the dramatic such as the Count of Monte Cristo certainly loved his eavesdropping, and occasional advice giving.

"Mind telling me where she's gone so I don't end up running throughout Chaldea looking like an idiot." Request the human teenager. He smirked as laughter came as a response. "Let me guess, the answer's somewhere in here?"

"Why, you've already bargained into Nurse Nightingale's office uninvited, so why stop now? After all, if it's you, I'm sure she'll let it slide." Cackled the unseen Avenger. Ritsuka deduced from his voice that he was just outside the door; he'd probably been tailing him since he decided to go talk to Nightingale.

Deciding to take the Avenger's words to heart, Ritsuka began to look through the collection of documents. There had to be something that could help him figure out where Nightingale had gone. While he did feel bad at rummaging through her work desk, Ritsuka's desire to see her outweighed that feeling; he'd apologize to her when he saw her again.

Which he would be able to as he held up a folded-up piece of notebook paper. "Thanks, Count! I owe you one!" Fully resolved, he ran out the door, only stopping to close the door to the nurse's office and grin at the coat-garbed Servant who'd subtly encouraged him.

Said Servant chuckled as he began to melt back into the shadows. "Oh, Mercedes, you've snagged yourself quite a man. His passion is quite a match for yours, as I'm sure you'll discover."

The first thing Ritsuka did was take a nice big gulp of air. It'd been a while since he'd been in a forested area…which also put him on immediate alert. As he'd learned, the forests could conceal many dangerous things, some of which couldn't have been picked up on scanners. At first glance, Ritsuka looked around him and saw towering trees stretching up to a clear blue sky dotted with white clouds. Upon examining the sky and the shadows around him as he walked, Ritsuka deduced that it was actually close to sunset; it'd likely arrive in about an hour or two. He hoped that he'd be back by then…but if not, he wouldn't be complaining about it. At least he hoped not.

"So, did the Rayshift work?"

"Yeah, Dr. Roman, I've got everything I could need." He said over the commlink.

There was a heavy breath from the other end. It was clear that the orange-haired doctor was…quite flustered at effectively playing the middle man in a potential romantic relationship. Apparently, the good doctor himself had experienced romance in the past, but cut the conversation short in saying he didn't remember enough to offer anything helpful to the seventeen-year-old. A simple good luck was all he could offer, and for Ritsuka, that was enough.

Ritsuka had a vague idea of where he was going, the question was what would he say once he got there? First off, he felt an apology was going to be warranted since to get here, he had needed to go into Nightingale's office and comb through her desk, all without her permission. At the very least she wasn't one of those kinds of people who exploded at the well-meaning but still stupid acts of-

"Ritsuka!" The call of his name caused the black-haired teen to go dead-still as he swerved to his left. Wide-eyed, he watched as the woman he'd gone in search of came jogging out of the windows, a brown-leather bag hanging at her side. Nightingale stopped and stared at him in naked awe as if he were some woodland sprite. "Y-You…you came…you…"

"Um, sorry for dropping by unannounced. I…um," nervously scratching the back of his head, he realized that the scenarios he'd been playing in his head were now on the verge of happening for real. Ritsuka was in no way prepared for it. As she approached him, he could feel his heartbeat speeding up. "N-N-Nightingale, I-"

"Florence," she suddenly whispered coming to a stop about two feet from him. "B-Back in…Camelot…you called me by my first name." Was that…a blush on her face? Was she blushing? In front of him? "I-I-I'm aware that even in Japan, there are rules about calling people by their first names and it-"

"You can do it with people you're close to." He cut her off. Staring into her cherry-red eyes, he steeled whatever courage he had and reached out with his hand. "I'd be very happy if you let me call you by your first name."

Smiling from ear-to-ear, the Berserker reached out and took hold of his hand. "Ritsuka, I would also be happy if you helped me with my herbal gathering."

When he saw the list of herbs, Ritsuka did a bit of a double-take. When it came to herbal medicine, Nightingale wasn't exactly the person that came to mind. Now, Medea on the other hand, that was a different story. That said, it wasn't like there was rule against it, nor was he against spending some quality time with the Englishwoman; he in fact relished it. So did she.

-O-

As they walked, the forest gradually gave way to a tranquil plateau overlooking the rest of the forest. It was quite a nice spot, especially if they planned on staying and watching the sunset, something that Ritsuka and Nightingale considered as they at the slow falling sun. Ritsuka set up a few markers indicating it would be their base camp of sorts before he and Florence returned back into the forest. They came back to it almost half an hour later; the medical Servant running off a mental checklist of the herbs and other items that they'd gathered.

"This was…my first time doing this." Florence admitted as they sat side by side. "Herbal medicine, it was never something I took much of an interest in even though I made tending to the sick and injured my life's work."

"Hey, everyone has different styles." Ritsuka offered. "It took you a while to realize how much modern medicine has come along…to which I'm sure everyone is grateful for."

To the teenager's surprise, the wartime nurse snickered. "Is Rama still angry? Honestly, it's unruly patients like him that are amongst the worst to deal with."

"Well, if someone threatened to turn you into a quadruple amputee, wouldn't you be pissed off too?"

Florence looked contemplative for a split second before responding. "If it were to save my life…no."

The discussion could have ended there, but Ritsuka decided to keep it going. "Even if it kept you from doing the things you wanted to do-including saving more lives?"

A massive hole had been blown in the Berserker's defenses. She stared at Ritsuka in open-mouthed shock, which caused the teenager to explode into snickers. Near immediately, she felt a desire to hit back in some way or form. "T-T-That's different! I-I-I…" As she tried to speak, she realized a counter statement might mean implying she's putting herself over her patients, something she vowed never to do. All the Englishwoman could do was sit there and silently contain herself as her Master enjoyed his victory over her. Reluctant as she was to admit it…Florence felt something...happy watching him laugh, extremely happy even though it was at her expense.

Her eyebrows rose when she saw him taking off his shoes followed next by his socks.

"R-R-Ritsuka, what are you doing? T-That's unsanitary!" She cried.

He'd been expecting her response, but he didn't let that stop him. "Then it's a good thing I have you here with me. You'll make sure I don't end up losing my feet, won't you, Florence?"

Again, she felt tongue-tied, yet an answer flew rom her lips out of sheer reflex. "Of course I would, I vowed that I would let no harm come to you. For that, should I have to strike at any foe, then I will. Just as I did in Camelot."

"Hey, are you still…"

In a surprising show of vulnerability, the wartime nurse brought her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around them. "Ritsuka, I would like to lie and say I am alright…but the truth is…I still have nightmares of what we encountered. It…it brought back more memories of the Crimean War than North America." A shadow loomed over the Berserker's face. "The fact that the instigators were…were…like many citizens of Britain, I grew up with the legends of King Arthur and his court of royal knights, noble defenders of the weak and innocent, champions of law and justice. Even at my age, I wasn't so enthralled in those stories…at least not those pertaining to sword fights and rescuing damsels. Still, to see such a national icon so warped…and to watch so many lives be wiped away…I…I…I grew scared." Her grip on her knees tightened as she ducked her head, hiding her face beneath her pink hair. "I began to fear that I would…lose you."

The face of gentle understanding became marred in confusion. "W-W-What? Lose me?"

"I saw you…Ritsuka, I could feel you." Explained the British Servant. "You were…horrified like the rest of us were…but when I looked at you, I could see so much anger burning within you. At times, you looked ready to march into the Holy City yourself and tear it down with your bare hands."

Now it was Ritsuka's turn to be tongue-tied. His own face darkening, he looked away, a grim shadow falling over his face as well. Fingers curled against the grass, dirt amassing atop and beneath his finger nails. "You're…probably right. It's not like I hadn't seen massacres before we got to Camelot…but…what the Lion King was doing, what that so-called goddess was doing, I just…I couldn't help but feel angry. All those people…and those camped outside of Camelot, waiting for selection, all of it just…"

Looking up, the Servant felt her heart quicken at the unapologetic dark look on Ritsuka's face. It was near a perfect replica of the one he'd worn when they looked to the Holy City. Even under the cover of night, she saw the fiery fury burning in his eyes. That fire had been inspired her…and terrified her. Quietly, she removed the gloves from her hand and reached out to take hold of Ritsuka's right hand. "If you had gone off into the Holy City…I would have followed you, and dragged you back to camp. I…might have even tied you up."

"Heh, yeah, I kind of figured that." His laugh held a spark of humor in it causing the darkness to recede. "I mean, I was one powerless kid thinking about-"

"If you'd died, I wouldn't have been able to bear it."

Again, her words were sudden and left him utterly speechless. In that window of time, the Berserker moved on him like a wild cat. Ritsuka gulped as he stared up at Florence Nightingale, her red eyes bearing down on him with such intensity he felt ready to literally dissolve into the ground.

"F-Florence," the teenager whispered.

"Do you know how I've felt over these past weeks whenever you're in danger? Terrified, so terrified that I can barely operate on other patients. That's never happened to me before. Never!" Her sudden shot didn't scare him, nor did her tightening her hold on his hands. "I am not just speaking as a Servant to their Master, you're more than that! The thought of you dying…whenever I think about it, I have only one thought-stop it, however the means. Be it either using all my medical knowledge…or shedding blood; either one will do if it keeps you alive." Florence's head fell shielding her eyes from his, but Ritsuka could still feel the raw emotion rolling off of her. "Ritsuka…I've seen many good men and friends come and go…but with you, it's entirely different. I don't want you to die…I…want you to live, for as long as possible. I want you to live and…I want you to live and be happy, be the happiest man on earth. I want those things for you to the point I'd consider putting your life first above all others! When I see you injured, it's as if the end of days has finally come! When I see you healthy and smiling, I feel as if heaven itself is shining its rays upon me!"

The Japanese teenager could feel his heart beating, and hers. All he focused on were her eyes, meeting them with equal intensity. "You…you've fallen in love with me, haven't you, Florence?"

"…Yes, I have. This…fierce, proud and war-scarred woman has fallen in love with you, for you are the finest man that I've ever met." Tears glittered in the nurse's eyes as she admitted to the feelings that been boiling within her. Slowly, she sat up, now looming over him with her face revealed for him to see. Florence felt little shame in leaving herself exposed. "Ritsuka, no matter what happens, I can't allow you to die."

For a second, he held his tongue, his face going through a number of emotions. "Florence…you have no idea how happy hearing that makes me." Sitting up, he ignored the close proximity that the two of them shared. He ignored how looking into her eyes his heart felt ready to explode within his chest. "I want to live, but I don't want you to prioritize my life over others to the point it goes against everything that you believe in, Florence."

Hearing those words was like hearing the tolling of a bell. Florence felt both relief…and dread. Mouth split open, she looked at him, into the blue eyes that twinkled with life and hope; she'd vowed to protect that light as had the rest of Chaldea's Servants.

But she wanted more from it.

Gently raising her hand and placing it against the boy's chest, she felt each pulse beneath her fingers. She was happy that Ritsuka didn't push her away, he instead overlaid his hand atop hers. They basked in the intimacy while the wind blew around them and the sun continued it's steady descent downward.

"Doing my duty…and loving you…who is to say that I cannot do both?" whispered the Servant. With a small smile, she watched the teenager's eyes widened. "Ritsuka, if I were to not tell you of my feelings and even act on them, I fear that would prove just as much as a hindrance to my role of Chaldea's chief nurse." Fingers curling against his chest as she attempted to focus all the heat she could into her cheeks and prayed her voice sounded…appealing enough. "Ritsuka, do you have faith in my ability to balance those two things?"

He was sure his heart outright skipped a beat before reassuming its previous frantic rhythm…or perhaps began to surpass it.

"Yes, I do, Florence. I promise, I won't ask you to put me before your duties…but please, think about your safety as well." The human's hands curled around the Berserker's hands. "It's admirable that you hold all life to be precious, but Florence, your life is precious to, especially to me."

Giggling, she squeezed back, unafraid of breaking his fingers with her hidden titanic strength. "Ah, I suppose you're right. It would especially be a sobering courtship if either of us were to perish before we could at least get to the point of setting a wedding date."

"W-W-Wedding date?!" Exclaimed the Japanese Master. His face remained suspended in shock as he looked to the now thoroughly blushing Berserker. "Y-Y-You'd…want to go that far…with me, Florence?"

With a nod, she spoke, "I don't believe I'll ever met a man as worthy as you. Plus, I…I would like to see the world beyond the Grand Orders, the world that you came from, the world that I…supposed left better than when I came into it. I want to see it, with you beside me, Ritsuka. Would be…alright?"

The shock completely faded and a hearty smile adored the seventeen-year-old's face. Seeing it made Florence break out into laughter with her newfound lover joining her. Their laughter gradually died as they looked into one another's eyes and recognized the yearning building within. Master and Servant began to lean closer and closer until their lips at last connected., their eyes fluttering shut as they did so.

A kiss, a connection of two lips with the intention more often than not being romantic.

A kiss, that's what this was…it wasn't CPR, it was a real kiss.

It was her first kiss.

Florence was overwhelmed, albeit she'd been feeling that way for the past several days. This wasn't supposed to be anything new to her, and yet it was. It was so new. New and…and…amazing. The sensations running through her, those pleasurable little jolts; no, they were no longer little. Each one was like a lightning bolt unto itself, continuously striking her and the electricity racing through her body. All of her pores opened, all of her senses opened, as if for the very first time. The sensory overload was too much for her to bear; control was lost in a second and would remain elusive for the next several minutes. Or would they be hours?

The Berserker pushed Ritsuka onto his backside. He hadn't been caught off-guard; he'd actually been somewhat expecting it. Ritsuka knew that he'd been punching holes in a massive dam that was holding back enough water to fill a canyon. Once that dam burst, there was no stopping it; he'd wanted that dam to burst from the bottom of his heart. Now that it had happened, he was ready for it. His arms reached up and wrapped around Florence's waist, holding her against him while they kissed. At some point, he was going to run out of air, but before that happened, he was going to get all he could out of the kiss they were engaged in. Furthering that desire was the feel of her body atop of his.

A gentle evening wind blew through the forest around them and the grass beneath them. Interestingly, the soft murmur that pulled them apart. It was a good thing as any longer and Ritsuka would have begun to feel the lack of oxygen and needed a refill. Normally, seeing him in such a state would have alarmed Florence. Instead…it did something else to her…it…what was the word? It aroused her.

Ritsuka lay beneath her, his cheeks and lips red, the latter parted wide open allowing gulps of air to rush into his lungs. This seemingly agitated state…again, no, agitated wasn't the word, aroused was the right one. Her Master was aroused…by he. Just like she was aroused by him.

While still sucking in air, he reached up with his right hand, his fingertips stroking her whitish-pink strands, then finally her cheeks. The Crimean War veteran once more felt her heart quicken and heat rush through her body. This feeling…this amazing, wonderful feeling…all of it from a simple touch. Panting, she reached down and touched Ritsuka's cheek. Her eyes and ears told her that she invoked a similar reaction. This feeling was mutual.

Of course, it's mutual! You two wouldn't be here if it weren't! Rang the other voice within her. Just let it out! The love you have inside of you, the love for him, release it!

Without even really thinking about it, she followed through on the voice's advice. She descended upon Ritsuka, smashing her lips against his. For a brief second, she saw his eyes widen, then soften in recognition of the kiss that was about to ensue. It was indeed sweet, just as good as the last one.

Though she had been the one to come down on him, it was Ritsuka held the true power behind it. His left hand traced down her backside to her buttocks, his right remained on the side of her head, caressing her white hair. He held her as he pushed upward, quickly asserting dominance over the kiss, which frankly surprised Florence. Her eyes fluttered open meeting his. Ritsuka separated from her, his turquoise blue eyes staring at her, filled with longing that was mirrored within her cherry-red orbs. The reflection excited her, and it must have excited him too. He sucked in a single breath, then recaptured her lips. His lips carried with them more bolts of lightning that arced through her, causing the English woman to shiver. Ritsuka felt her shivers, and it excited him. He deepened the kiss, jamming his tongue into her mouth. From that intrusion came the greatest jolt of them all. Florence was instantly hooked on it.

I-I can't believe she's actually doing the same as me! The moment the kiss had begun to pick up, Ritsuka felt his inner restraint began to weaken. During those brief breaks for air, it gave out completely, as if the air itself had helped accelerate the erosion. With the bars rusted away, the best had been set loose and had made a mad dash for its query. It'd gotten the jump on it, pouncing on the helpless lamb and sinking its fangs into it. The taste had been so incredibly sweet. Only in the midst of another brief break for air did Ritsuka realize that maybe he was rushing things and it'd be best to go a little slower. Of course, that was somewhat easier said than done. Any second, Ritsuka was expecting to be either shoved away or gently pushed away as Nightingale asked if he was feeling alright. He was happy it'd been neither.

Slow at first, Florence began to press her tongue against Ritsuka's. She'd heard this was called French kissing, well, she didn't really care, all she knew was that it felt good. From the bottom of her heart, she wanted to keep doing this with Ritsuka, she wanted him to continue to hold her in this intimate way. Her confidence that he would was so high it could cast a shadow over the mountains. Just as his hands held onto her, she felt her own beginning to move across his body to hold onto him.

They broke for air and held each other. In a way, it was their first true hug, one where they were both whole-heartedly throwing themselves into it. Both of them felt the other's breathing, the beating of their respective hearts which both soothed and aroused them.

"…If I give myself to you, Ritsuka, will you…give me all of you in return?" Suddenly and quietly asked the Berserker. She'd accepted that this feeling within her, this yearning she felt for her Master was love. Even in this bound and magical existence, an existence that normally prohibited such emotions, love was still able to shine through. It was a powerful force, one that Florence admittedly felt a little foolish for underestimating, and even running away from. All of it was so…strange to comprehend, but it was happening to her, and for that, Florence ultimately felt grateful.

Her acceptance triggered another surge of memories that she'd intentionally blocked out-memories of men attempting to court her. Some of their proposals had been genuine…others, not so much. She remembered how she felt little in turning down their affections, for the former group…there had been a twinge of regret in her.

Looking at him, she realized that if she had rejected Ritsuka, he'd be in the former group. He was so kind and selfless and heroic, a true hero, maybe even more heroic than some of the legendary heroes whom he held under his command. Those qualities were what had helped push her to do, to make this request from the depths of her heart that she wanted to see fulfilled.

Florence shivered as he tightened his grip on her, his blue eyes staring longingly into hers. The shivers grew in intensity as the stare down continued. Heart pounding, she leaned forward, capturing his lips in a surprise kiss. Ritsuka silently moaned as he recuperated her kiss. He didn't jam his tongue in like he'd done before, nor did she repeat his actions. Instead, the two of them merely basked in the emotional and sensual euphoria of battering their tongues against one another. Sweet ecstasy pulsed through the two of them as the kiss continued. Even when they broke apart, they remained connected via their arms and bodies. With a laugh, Ritsuka softly pressed his forehead against Florence's. She deeply enjoyed the small but intimate contact that they shared.

"You know…I always feared that if I gave myself to you, you'd…reject me." Whispered the Japanese human. "There were…so many things preventing-"

"Me, so many things preventing me from acknowledging your feelings." Gently cut off the English woman. She was a Berserker, one whose determination was the root of her madness, such a thing meant that there were things that she wouldn't spare a second's thought to. Love was one of them, but in life, she hadn't given a second thought to that before. "I will not deny that your fears were unfounded. If anything…I was afraid too…I am…in this state…I am…my usual dedication is enhanced several leagues. As you know…I have even cursed my Berserker Class, believing it to be unfit for me to serve as a lover, especially to…you." A light moan passed from her lips as she felt his hand run through the light pink curtain of her hair. Within her chest, her heart quickened, control slipped from her grasp as she leaned forward and kissed her Master. Ritsuka returned the kiss, just as she'd hoped. Both of them were red-faced as they separated. "I…I ask again, if I gave myself to you, even in this state…would you have me?"

Ritsuka's blue eyes flashed, his entire body tensing. Florence could sense something stirring within him, something powerful and mighty. The next thing she knew, the nurse was lying on her backside, her hair fanned out around her and her red eyes widened as they stared back up at him. She felt…aroused, more so than usual, as she took in the now unapologetically romantic notions of the positions they were in. Her heart drummed inside of her chest, screaming for her to reach up and steal away another kiss. Ritsuka's blue eyes seemingly hypnotized her into remaining still; she was waiting for his answer.

Somewhere inside, she had a feeling of what it would be-because she knew Ritsuka Fujimaru. She had faith in him, just as he had faith in her.

"Florence Nightingale," The seventeen-year-old began in voice soft as the wind. "I will always accept all of you. That fiery spirit you have…that spirit that remained unbroken during the war…the kindness that earned you the nickname, 'Angel'…I want to prove myself worthy of it. Worthy of the love that I believe you can give, love that I've…desired." His eyes darkened as he let show the nervousness that had quietly infected him. It'd wormed its way into him months ago, when he quietly began to fall in love with the English Servant. He knew after a week that he might as well have been pining for bullet train in motion, all he was going to do was get run over. If he was lucky, he'd be able to walk away with some of his dignity.

But the Berserker beneath him saw his infection. Normally, she'd have launched into a fiery crusade to cure him of it, using all of her medical knowledge to do so, but this wasn't a medical matter. This was a matter of the heart. Florence knew that her heart was a mass of fire within her chest, one that could burn just as well as it could heal; she'd learned that four days ago when she'd used her healing hands to kill and maim in ways that left her so thoroughly traumatized.

Those same hands rose and wrapped around Ritsuka's neck. He blinked in surprise, then his eyes softened as she pulled him down onto her. Their lips met in another soft kiss that they took the time to quietly enjoy. This was the cure to his illness, as well as the cure to her own.

Around them, shadows began to elongate as the sun dipped deeper beneath the horizon, not that either of the pair cared much about it. Should it be, they'd continue this into the darkness of the night, an outcome that was seeming more likely with each passing second.

Still, with what daylight they had left, they stared in awe at each other. That's what they did as they stared at one another, gentle smiles adorning their faces.

"Ritsuka, you're the only man that I believe I can ever say that I love…that I believe I will ever love." Their heartbeats rumbling in their ears as their smiles grew wider. A second later and their lips smashed against one another. Unlike their previous kiss, this one was wild and passionate, the pair fueled by a mixture of refill, acceptance, and primal arousal that had been boiling within them. As seconds turned to minutes, the last of the trio was subtly asserting itself, tightening its hold on the both of them. The lewd sounds of their tongues slapping against one another soon filled the small patch of grassland they'd occupied for themselves. It was a musical symphony that they had created together, uneven at first but slowly finding a rhythm as they continued to play.

They were both aware that they were moving fast, but neither of them had any intention of stopping. In fact, Ritsuka and Florence actually felt like they couldn't stop, they didn't want to stop. Only the occasional separation for air offered them a brief respite. Normally, Florence would have been acutely aware of her Master's breathing; she was, but for a different reason this time. In seconds, she did a physical scan of him, seeing that his lungs were full she surged forth, capturing his lips. Sometime she met her half-way as he too had some vague self-awareness, or perhaps his own years were much too strong for him to ignore for long. Regardless, their lips, and their bodies, practically became inseparable from one another. Neither of them completely knew it, but their bodies had begun to roll across the grass, they were alternating who was on top and who was on the bottom. All the while, their bodies subtly grinded against each other, granted, that subtly was slowly being lost by the second.

On some level, they were aware of the lust bubbling up within them, taking complete hold of them. Those feelings were screaming for them to move beyond mere smooching, albeit that was certainly enjoyable. There was more they could be doing, and they both knew that. Ritsuka certainly knew that.

When he realized he was on top, the Japanese youth froze. He stared down at the Berserker as if for the first time realizing the positions they were in, what they were giving each other permission to do. His thundering heart and frantic breathing echoed in his ears as he stared down into his lover's cherry-red eyes. Those were what he chose to focus on after spending several long seconds staring at her chest. A nonstop pounding in his ears, his eyes moved downward once again, locking in on the two watermelons that rose and fell with Florence Nightingale's every breath. Ritsuka tried to look away from them, he really did, but he couldn't. It was almost like the twin mounds had a magnetic pull over him. One could say that they did have a pull on him, but the force was stronger than the rule of magnetism. Ritsuka slowly felt his hands going for the mounds, his breathing growing more rapid.

It came to a sudden stop as he felt Florence's hand intercept his. The sudden skin-to-skin contact seemingly snapped him out of the lustful stupor. An apology built up on his tongue, only dying as the Berserker leaned up and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.

The Crimean War Heroine was giggling. "I'm happy to see that my chest still enchants you so much, Ritsuka. Well, their supposed glory is now yours to bask in whenever you like." Florence whispered watching as his eyes widened. "Ah, still so young." Her ungloved hand reached up and stroked his cheek, her thumb rubbing across his smooth skin.

After being stunned into silence, Ritsuka regained his composure. Sucking in a breath, he placed his hand atop Florence's. "Y-You're one to talk. Y-You never had sex before either. Y-You're a virgin, just like me."

"Which is going to make this extra special." The army nurse whispered, a desperate yearning evident in her voice. "It means that…we're truly giving ourselves to one another. I-I will-"

Ritsuka silenced her with a kiss, his hand suddenly moving from hers and descending upon her breasts. He squeezed them while kissing her, giving the Servant a euphoric sensation that had her arching her back and moaning into his mouth. She'd never felt pleasure like this; the best part about it was that this was only the start. Florence could literally feel her…vagina suddenly tickling with sexually enthusiasm. Blinking open her eyes, she saw Ritsuka staring back at her, pulling away only by less than an inch so he could take a breath of air and speak.

"You're right, this will be special." The Japanese Master muttered. "I'm going to be yours…and I'm going to make you mine, Florence." The wartime nurse's eyes flashed, though not with anything resembling anger or concern, it was excitement. Ritsuka could practically feel it rolling off of her, he physically felt it as the woman's thick legs rose up and wrapped around his waist, pushing him down into her. Grinning, he let their lips connect, the kiss quickly becoming a passionate affair as they began to eat out each other's mouths. Both of them went at it with equal vigor, a prelude to the sensual embrace that was about to come.

As he kissed her, he began to work on her chest. The human's hands had fell atop her two mounds and began to slowly but sensually grope them; Florence moaned into the kiss that they were engaged in, her legs rising up and wrapping around her Master's waist. He was squished against her, a position that he found rather enjoyable all things considered. Chuckling against her lips, he pressed his fingers against the red fabric of her uniform. If he wanted to, he could so easily tear it away…or order her to be ready of it along with the rest of her clothes. Florence Nightingale didn't see herself as a lewd woman…but the thought of undressing herself at Ritsuka's command lit a sensual fire within her. Thoughts of it glided through her mind causing her to subconsciously grind against his body. Rather or not Ritsuka knew what she was thinking, he simply knew that they were now barreling down the river of desire with no intention of stopping. Why the hell would they stop?

"Aaahhh…ahhh…maaaaahhhhaaa…m-more…more, Ritsuka." Whispered the English doctor, feeling a growing fire within the confines of her chest. She was heating up, fast. Her cherry-red eyes continuously opened and shut, never leaving Ritsuka's face. He was smiling at her; his smile only fueled the flame burning within her. It took no medical examination for her to diagnose what was wrong with her. "R-R-Remove them, R-R-Ritsuka." The Servant whispered.

Sitting upright while keeping his hands on her chest, Ritsuka stared at her blankly. Then he smiled. "Remove what, Florence?"

What power did that smile hold over her? Over her body? What about it caused her vagina to suddenly tingle with excitement to the point Florence could feel the vibrations throughout her lower body?

"M-M-My c-c-clothes." She stammered. Not only had his hands remained on her chest, they were still groping her breasts through her uniform. Florence could feel herself sweating, every droplet racing down her skin, which longed to taste sweet fresh air. Never had her uniform felt so constraining, it had to come off. And perhaps not just it. "Y-Y-You're…c-c-claiming me as your woman so you have a right to my body, yes? Please, don't…don't…" Burrowing deep inside of her soul, she leaned up, her hands clasping atop of his. Their lips met in a brief but fiery kiss that had their hearts pounding in their chests. "Don't make me keep on waiting, I don't think the waist is bearable either for you, Ritsuka." Her voice had never sounded so…soft, so pleading before, not even to her most ravaged of patients who were fighting to live.

Luckily, her plea reached Ritsuka. His blue eyes flashed with that same sensual light.

Florence never felt the back of her head touch the ground, though she was aware of how she'd been forced down. Quick as lightning, Ritsuka had moved one of his hands, his right hand, to the back of her head to cradle it while he began a second kiss; this one had he full control over. She could taste the smearing desire on his tongue, which forced its way into her mouth. Florence moaned as she welcomed him into her oral hole. Her arms lay at her side, resting atop her fanned out hair, her legs remained wrapped around Ritsuka's waist. It was a wonder how long they'd hold that position as with every passing second, the Berserker felt herself starting to drift away little by little. Even now, she looked up to the sky and could barely make out the clouds lazily drifting across the evening sky. How long would it be before it changed from orange and red to completely black? Normally, she'd be able to tell such a thing in a glance, but she couldn't.

Time would eventually lose its meaning, the powerful pull of love completely erasing it.

The pull grew stronger curtsy of Ritsuka. By the time Florence looked down, she saw that her jacket's buttons were being undone one by one. She believed that in this position, some women would have demanded Ritsuka just tear her clothes off her body and have his way with her. Instead, he was taking a slower and perhaps more sensual approach. Upon closer examination, she saw his hands trembling ever so slightly.

Even after their words of acceptance, nervousness persisted. It wasn't at all unusual. As world-weary as the teenager had become, he was still young, and most importantly, he was still a virgin. Smiling, Florence cupped his face using both her hands. He stared at her smile, the kind and loving expression that he'd fallen in love with, the expression that he'd wanted to see over and over again. It was there, and it was for him. Giving into slight temptation, he leaned forward and softly connected their lips. Ritsuka's trembling stopped as he began to unbutton his Servant's uniform, the trembling in his hands having been cut back on.

In what felt like a few seconds, the red army coat that Florence Nightingale wore had been tossed to the side leaving her in her pure white undershirt. The buttons on it too were undone. As they were, the Servant felt her breathing growing heavier and heavier, the heat between her legs growing as well. Never had this happened to her, not in her life as a Servant or as a woman. She kept her eyes on Ritsuka, partially in fear that he would stop; her fears were thankfully unfounded.

What Ritsuka found left him speechless. "W-W-Wha…F-F-Fl-Florence…t-t-these are…these are…"

"Are they…alright?" She nervously questioned. He'd outright admitted to wanting to touch her breasts, but what about now that he'd actually seen them? "Ritsuka, are they…not as big as you thought they were?"

Dumbfounded, he shook his head sideways. "It's not…their size…it's more like their…packaging." His heart drumming in his chest, he wiped away the small trinkle of blood that flowed from his nose. "I didn't know you were…designer brand." He muttered. There was no way he could look away from the mahogany red lace-trim bra that the Berserker Servant wore. He stared at it with a wide-job and continuously bloody nose…and one hardening boner. Ritsuka was so stunned by what he saw he hardly took notice of rapidly growing tent in his pants, at least not until he could practically feel his cock straining against he confines of his pants.

Florence was aware of it though…and she felt a violent impulse to rip his pants away and allow the hardened cock to taste fresh air. Fighting back the urges, she focused on his face as she spoke. "W-W-Well…I…um, it was a request from Jeanne Alter." His eyes widened at the mention of the Alter Servant. "She had some…clothing designs…designs that she asked some of us Servants to model." Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. She never got like this! Never! "I…I…I was tending to her injuries and she asked me to model for one such design! I-I didn't think anything would come of it!" Latching onto the miniscule seductress within her, she placed both hands beneath her breasts and pushed them forward. "Do you…like how I look in them?"

Something in Ritsuka's brain clicked as he reattached his hands to her mounds. "Yes." He whispered as his hands took in the warm feel of the fabric. Ritsuka made a mental note to thank Jeanne Alter, even if it resulted in her unleashing her fire-breathing dragons on him. She'd blessed the world. The next thing Ritsuka knew, he was kissing Florence, greedily devouring her lips as he had dozens of times before. How long had it been since they started this? It didn't matter, only that they were going to be doing this for the next several hours, maybe longer.

Thank you, Jeanne Alter. Mentally whispered the Berserker as her Master proceeded to grope her more thoroughly than he had before. The hormonal teenager certainly had more incentive now, and Florence felt that she had more incentive to shake up her clothing choices from this moment onward. Her legs tightened around her mortal lover's waist and her hands rose up to claw at his backside. Remaining idle was no longer an option, Florence felt herself wanting to acknowledge participate in the lovemaking. Eyes cackling with euphoria, she began to roll her body, grinding it against Ritsuka's. Her entire upper body was bare save for her bra, which had captive her Master. Aside from containing their breasts, Florence remembered that was another reason women wore them-to look attractive, especially in situations like this. She felt proud that Ritsuka had found her so attractive that he was laying siege to her chest now.

A tiny voice in her head giggled reminding her that his siege would end with one final battlement coming down. Florence already knew what that battlement was, and she quietly counted down to its destruction.

Having been enticed by it, Ritsuka took care not to totally destroy the lacy bra. His Berserker would be wearing it again. Dropping the gorgeous garment off to the side, he stared at the now exposed twin mounds of Florence Nightingale. Seconds turned into minutes as he gazed at the luscious orbs usually hidden behind a soldier's uniform or a doctor's coat. A thin sheen of sweat raced down them giving the mounds a certain glow to them. Ritsuka heard his breathing and Florence's; they were waiting for one to make a move.

His heart slammed against his chest as his arms darted out, grasping the Servant's breasts in a vice grip.

"OOOOH!" Shouted the pink-haired woman. "R-R-Ritsuka, p-please…g-g-gro…ope…" Her words trailed off into thin air, not that they were even needed. Ritsuka was back to his usual rhythm, palming her breasts with his bare hands. Florence's voice rose into the dusky sky as a series of shouts signaling her entry into the realm of lustful arousal. She couldn't even keep her legs entirely focused and hooked around Ritsuka's waist as they began to kick about haphazardly, a result of the waves of erotic lightning racing through her, short-circuiting her body. "Harder…harder….oh God, yes! Yes! Grip them like that, just like that!" The Berserker screamed. She had no idea that being touched could feel this good; Florence was beginning to understand why so many longed for the sweet touch of another, a sensual partner.

The more Florence moaned and screamed the more Ritsuka groped her. It felt like his hands had become glued to her breasts, their warm and tender feel solidifying the bond between the two of them. Her somewhat pale face was stricken with red and sweat, her lips standing out for having a slight pink tinge to them. In a flash, he captured them, his tongue colliding with hers as it seemed this time, she wasn't just going to surrender he oral hole to him. That, or she wanted in on the action herself. Ritsuka was more than happy to indulge her. Their tongues flickered against one another while his hands groped her breasts, his fingers occasionally twisting her bright pink nipples. Every other twist, he felt Florence moan into his mouth.

Breaking away from her lips, Ritsuka looked down at the chest he'd been palming for what felt like the last hour. He'd tasted her mouth, he now wanted to taste the rest of her.

Florence watched as he removed his hands from her breasts, placing them on her sides. Her red eyes watched his lips descend upon her right-side breast, she felt his tongue touch down on her nipple. "Oooooohhhh!" That one cry was fueled by the burst of euphoria that came next as Ritsuka began to flick his tongue across her nipple, his mouth coming down atop her breast in full seconds later. The feel of his mouth easily surpassed that of his hands, a fact that was affirmed with each passing second. Florence's mouth hung open in a wide "O" while her eyes sealed shut. Her back was arching off the ground and her hands were clenching at her lover's backside. Her grip tightened and her back arched even more as Ritsuka swirled his tongue around her nipple.

Perfectly aware of the sounds he was driving her to make, Ritsuka moved his left-hand right hand to seize her free and unoccupied breasts. A seductive smile temporarily splitting his face, he paused, giving his Servant some time to recover herself. Simultaneously, he bit down on one nipple and pinched the other.

"OOOOH! RITSUKA!"

Nerve stimulation…that was the…technical term for this, but Florence wasn't interested in being technical about anything. Her rational mind fell into a coffin that was buried deep within the earth, only to be dug out when the sun rose and her union with her Master had been completed. They had such a long, pleasurable journey to take before arriving at that.

She wasn't sure if she was moaning or shouting, all she knew was that she was pleading for more. Ritsuka readily obliged her, swirling and biting down on her right-side breast while twisting and rubbing her left one. Her legs continuously kicked up in the air, unable to fully grasp his waist as she'd down prior. Again, she could feel her temperature rising, the fires of lust having been lit beneath her, inside of her-they were going to burn her to a crisp and she welcomed the immolation. She cried out for it to continue, and Ritsuka made sure that it did.

Damn, her boobs are…are…they're great! They're so soft and tender! And they're all mine! An impish voice proudly declared in his head. That little imp was doing a happy dance while he alternate between tenderness and aggression in having his way with her breasts. He found something darkly delectable in knowing that he was the first man to ever perform such carnal acts on Florence Nightingale, and he would be the only man ever to. Such delight manifested all over his body, but nowhere more strongly than in his mouth, hands, and finally his cock. It was still straining against his pants. Ritsuka briefly let his mind toy with the image of it sandwiched between her mounds; the image grew more vivid and desirable when he pulled away and looked down at her. The Berserker's chest rose and fell in heavy pants, her breasts bright red. The right one had been marked by his teeth and tongue. Still feeling the rush of sex pulsing through him, he turned his eye to the left one.

Florence saw the new focus of his attention and braced herself for it.

It didn't do much good as her back still arched off the ground, though not as much as before. "Mmmmmaaaahhh!" Cried the Berserker, her arms instantly wrapping around her Master's head. In the heat of such a moment, she should have taken care not to accidentally crush it, but caution had no place in Florence's mind at the immediate moment. Her mind was instead filled with sweet euphoria, surging through her from her left-side boob and quickly spreading through the rest of her body like a plague. It seemed like too long ago he'd been sucking her right breast; oh, how fast she'd became addicted to this sense of euphoria that came with sharing her body with another. "R-Ritsuka…ah…yes…yes…aaahhh, that's it, swirl it around! Ah! Harder! Harder! Bite me! Bite my nipple!"

Damn, I wonder how lewd she's going to end up getting before we finished! Excitement pulsed through him at the thought of turning the strait-laced and healing-obsessed woman into a shouting wreck. That image further drove him as he gently bit down on his lover's tit. As he did, Ritsuka swirled his tongue around her nipple as he'd done with the right one. Florence wasn't the only one who howled in ecstasy, Ritsuka did as well, albeit his shout was muffled thanks to his current task. He had every intention of leaving as many bite marks over her left tit as he had his right, oh and his saliva too. To him, it almost felt like biting into cotton candy.

As much as he was enjoying her left breast, Ritsuka knew that her right one wasn't to be ignored. His left hand rose and fell over the previously licked and bitten mound, his fingers pinching the nipple. Florence again shouted, her back again leaving the ground in a wide arc. "More…for the love of God, Ritsuka, more!" Thundered the Berserker, still not minding her titanic strength as not to crush his head. A voice in the back of her mind told her not to worry as Ritsuka was far more durable than he looked. That same voice told her that his durability was going to be put to great use tonight. Excitement bubbled through her as she further clenched her Master's head, pressing it deeper into her bosom. This had happened before, but never had the intent been so sexual in nature; there would be more of this, plenty more.

Throwing her head back, the Berserker's frantic pants and shouts dispersed into the sky. She was babbling complete nonsense, and never had it felt so oddly good. Fueling it were her sense of touch and hearing, both being sent into complete overdrive as Ritsuka happily had his way with her chest. His bites and twists were driving her insane, she wanted no treatment for this madness.

Ritsuka gingerly rose from the valley of her breasts. As expected, his face was beat red, just like her breasts were from his assault on them. His blue eyes found her red, an exchange of pants followed during which the two said nothing. Then they rammed their lips into one another. Florence's hands moved from his hand down his backside. As they kissed, she became acutely aware that she was the only one lacking clothes, primarily on her upper body. Images of Ritsuka's naked upper body flashed through her mind. All those times she'd stared at him longer than what could have been considered medically appropriate flashed across her mind. Looking back, that's perhaps when the desires began to start, take root inside of her.

To feel their bare bodies against each other, nothing but skin pressing against skin, the intention romantic. Florence felt her heart shiver as those thoughts returned to her, guiding her hands for her. Before she knew it, she was clawing at his shirt, desperately attempting to pull it over his head. Ritsuka caught wind of her aim and indulged her, straightening his arms out and allowing the t-shirt to rise over his head. He tossed it to the side where her jacket and undershirt lay. From the waist up, he was as naked as her.

His scars were on full display for her to see.

Her heart racing, she moved her hands over his chest, tracing each one with deep sorrow slowly consuming her face. Every scar was an injury that could have ended his life, but mercifully hadn't.

"Florence," he whispered drawing her attention.

"You've been hurt…so many times, too many times." She whispered.

"I have…and until we're completely through this, I probably will be again." The human gently retorted.

The Berserker rose, clasping her hands around his body, pressing their bodies together. Ritsuka immediately coiled his arms around her, his face burying itself in the light pink curtain of her hair. For a few minutes, they simply held each other.

She had to swallow a forming gulp in her throat. "I don't want that. I told you, Ritsuka, the thought of you getting hurt…to me…it is pure hell." A shudder of fear pulsated through her. "But it is a hell I'm helpless to stop…but I will continue to fight." At the end of her words, resolution creeped into her voice. It was the resolution of the Angel of Crimea. Her hold on Ritsuka tightened even as she leaned back so they could face each other. "I will not let death claim, not during these Grand Orders…or what may come after them. I swear on my life, on my pride as a nurse…I will do all that I can to keep death at bay…and keep you at my side."

A slow and steady breath passed from the Japanese youth's lips. His eyes shimmered with that glittering light that had bedazzled many Servants throughout Chaldea, including her. She felt incredibly lucky to know that such a light shined a little brighter for her than it did for others. "I'm so happy to hear that, Florence. Even though I'm just an ordinary human…I'm going to do my best to make sure you stay beside me too."

Giggling, she bumped her forehead against his, a love tap she believed it was called. Through lust-ridden eyes, she stared back at him. "Then all that is left to do is to solidify our union. You have already taken portions of me…take the rest, and then let me do the same." The grin that split his face caused her already pulsing heart to quicken. Exactly how many times could it accelerate, and for how long before exploding within her?

Ritsuka kissed her, slowly pushing her down onto her backside. Another tingle raced through her as her bare back touched the grassy plain they'd made their own. Still, it was nothing compared to the jolts that raced through her as Ritsuka separated his lips from her mouth and began to move them down her body. First, he started with her cheek, giving her the kind of sweet kiss that she'd often seen exchanged between lovers. Florence felt her cheeks heat up at the innocently romantic gesture. He then went down further, his kisses moving from her cheek to her neck down to her collar bone. She couldn't help but moan when he reached her left-side breast; Ritsuka seemed to take his time in kissing it, perhaps seeking to give her a repeat performance. Florence more than welcomed it.

Finally, she felt him moving down toward her waist. She'd readied herself for it, though Florence still felt slightly ill-at-ease. It was because below her waist lay her skirt and panties. Throughout the last several minutes, she'd felt the growing tightening of her vaginal lips. They were calling out for the same attention that her breasts had received. Of course, to get to them Ritsuka would have to go through her skirt and panties.

Quietly bracing herself, she reached down with her hands, intent on removing her skirt herself. Much to her surprise, she found Ritsuka had ducked his head beneath it; there was no disguising what he was doing.

The first thrust of his fingers elected a sharp cry from the Berserker. The second had her feel like her eyes were beginning to grow moisty.

"Hm, red panties to match your red bra." Rising from the confines of her skirt, he flashed her a seductive smile that looked almost out of place on his almost always innocent face. "Red really is your color, huh?"

"I-I-I suppose it is." As opposed to his confidence, she was a stuttering, blushing wreck. "Y-You…like it, don't you?"

For a few seconds, Ritsuka did nothing but smile back at her. His right hand rose, her soaked panties dangling from his fingers. Florence felt an unapologetic surge of embarrassment and arousal at the sight. "I love it, Florence…just like I'm going to love the taste of you." Tossing them to the side, he moved back between her legs. A good second later and the long-haired woman was howling in ecstasy as her pussy came under assault from his tongue. Like with her breasts, it was a first for her, and for him considering this was the first time he'd ever tasted a woman's pussy.

He immediately liked the taste.

Before he knew it, the teenager was pushing his tongue deeper into the Servant's pussy. His taste buds exploded with the fleshy feel of her vaginal walls. They were already wet, proof that his previous actions had caused an internal reaction within her. Licking up the residual pre-cum, he felt his own member trick in delight and anticipation. Ritsuka ran his hands up her legs as he licked her pussy. The Berserker's lust-addled voice boomed in his ears. Taking immense joy in that, he added a single finger to her snatch, curious as to how loud she could get.

Ritsuka got his answer with a shout that left his ears ringing, there was the Berserker in Florence Nightingale.

Though he removed his mouth from her pussy, he kept his finger lodged in her pussy, he quickly added a second one. Ritsuka absolutely relished the heated look that the English Servant had-lying on her back with her big-titty chest rising and falling, the occasional scream tearing through her lips. Content in that sound, he used his left hand to undo the skirt. All the while, he kept on fingering her pussy, his hands growing wetter with each second.

The Berserker's skirt was thrown away like the rest of her clothes leaving her in the nude save for her white stockings. Apparently, that was one feature that her Master-turned-lover wanted to keep on her. She supposed it was one of his kinks.

Taking a few minutes to bask in her nudity, Ritsuka mentally snap-shot the image and filed it away into his brain. Through her pants and shouts, Florence was able to look to him and smile. He smiled back, then dove straight back into her pussy.

"Ritsuka!" Screamed the Berserker, her voice rocketing straight up into the sky. It seemingly traveled onward forever, into the time-space nexus that lay beyond them. Florence actually felt like that nexus was within her grasp-Ritsuka's tongue and fingers were propelling her higher and higher into the sky, practically into the heaven's. Her face blazing red, she looked down at the black mass of hair between her legs, from that mass rose a constant slurping sound that utterly intoxicated the wartime heroine. She stared frozen at the sight, her ears abuzz with the lewd sound of tongue and fingers slapping flesh. "More! More! Harder! Deeeeper!"

Embracing the role of a digger, Ritsuka burrowed further into his lover's vaginal hole. He proudly flicked his tongue about while jamming his fingers in and out of the love hole. While his mouth and fingers worked her pussy, Ritsuka kept his left hand atop her right leg, keeping it from bouncing up too much. Florene arrived at a better solution as she simply wrapped her shapely, white-clad legs around his neck. Grinning from ear-to-ear, he made one final push with his tongue and fingers, feeling that would all it would take to send his Berserker over the edge.

"Yessssss! Yes! AAAAAHHH! RITUSKAAA!"

For the first time in her entire life, Florence Nightingale came, and she came hard. Her first orgasm struck her like a bolt of lightning, incinerating her internal organs while simultaneously supercharging them to the highest third degree. It was unlike anything that she'd ever experienced in her life…and Florence Nightingale absolutely loved it. Eyes popping open, she stared up at the evening sky, her mouth hanging open while the rest of her body spasmed. She'd well and truly lost control of it, and that was alright by her. In exchange for that loss of control came a pleasure that was too good for words, a pleasure that she knew she'd be getting more of in the future.

Not just her though.

Ritsuka happily lapped up the love nectar gushing from the war nurse's pussy. It was her first time, and he was there to lick up them up, a surge of pride pumping through him at that fact. He could actually feel it fueling him-a voice told him to further mark the Servant's pussy as his. Florence's occasional moans told him that he was more than welcome to do so.

When her head hit the ground, Florence allowed it to stay there. She didn't feel like moving her body, not consciously anyway. Her hips were still shaking, her lower half occasionally spasming thanks to the waterfall pouring from her pussy. It all gushed into Ritsuka's face, his mouth, where it belonged. Florence looked felt his tongue and lips taking it all in. Love…this is…love. I like it…I like it a lot.

Florence…I'm happy to hear that, because I want more of this. Came the blue-eyed teenager's mental response. He would have liked to have given a verbal response, but his mouth was currently occupied to say the least. It was going to be for the next several minutes as he licked up the wet snatch that was Florence Nightingale's vagina.

Wearing a blissful expression, she laid flat on her back and allowed her Master to finish eating her out, or cleaning her if she wanted to be technical. It was a rather lovely way to clean up a mess that she'd made. She chuckled realizing she'd be making a lot more of them in the future for Ritsuka to clean up.

At some point, she wrapped her strong legs around his head. It seemed a compulsion of hers to always put the squeeze on him whenever she could. Given her superhuman strength, especially as a Berserker, this was somewhat dangerous, but Florence knew Ritsuka trusted her enough not to worry. She trusted herself not to accidentally hurt him as some of her earlier nightmares had ended with her doing. Those were nightmares, creations of her frightened and unsure mind.

Opening her eyes, she saw reality in front of her.

With a smile, Ritsuka leaned forward, sharing with the Servant her residual cum. Who'd have thought that tasting her own womanly juices could be so…thrilling.

"Hm, so…that is…what I taste like." Mumbled the pink-haired woman during an interlude for air. "Ritsuka…I am curious, what do you taste like?"

The Japanese teenager's face immediately gained a red hue that Florence found attractive. He didn't speak, only look away with that blush quickly growing across his face. Something within her stirred, driving her to begin the next kiss. Ritsuka held her by the waist as he found himself on the receiving end of the Berserker's affections. He knew what was coming next, and it excited him to his core. The tent in his pants grew stronger and firmer, even as the Servant's voluptuous naked body bore down on him. In a heartbeat Ritsuka felt his back touch the ground. He was pressed against it as Florence situated her hands atop his chest. She let his chest rise and fall as his breathing grew erotic.

"A beautiful angel…" He couldn't help but whisper staring up into the cherry-red eyes that glimmered with romantic affection.

A blush crept up on her. "I always disliked that nickname, finding it so incredibly silly…but…when I hear you say it to me, I…" She could feel his heartbeat within his chest, the frantic rhythm signifying his heightened emotions. Her own heart was doing the exact same, pumping blood through her ultimately spiritual body. Florence raised her hand to meet his when he reached up to stroke her blushing cheek. "Ahh…I can wait no longer, Ritsuka!" Cried the Englishwoman. She moved fast, diving down and taking his lips. His hand on her cheek and her hip held firm as they eagerly devolved into another sultry kiss. All the while, she was aware of the male organ pressing at her through her Master's clothes.

Pulling away, she decided it was past time he joined her in nudity.

His heartbeat continued to tick up as he watched the legendary medical icon undo his pants. She went at it with a quiet fervor that he knew all too well. Ritsuka could almost hear each beat of his heartbeat serving as a countdown to when the last remnants of his clothes would be undone leaving him bare naked.

And then it happened.

It wasn't like she was…alien to male anatomy, she was a nurse after all. That said…this was different, this was incredibly different/ She wasn't looking at or gripping the penis in question for medical purposes…instead, the purpose was absolutely lewd and selfish.

"Ahhh…ahhh…F-F-Florence…" Gasped her Master.

His voice nearly caused her to jump. Looking down, she saw that she'd subconsciously been gripping Ritsuka's penis, his erect penis which sat in her hands. Blushing, she looked up at him, "Y-Y-You're penis i-i-is in p-p-perfect c-c-condition, R-R-Ritsuka."

On one hand, she really shouldn't have made that statement. On the other hand…well, it wasn't like she completely objected to getting squirted in the face with cum.

"F-F-Florence, I-I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to do that!" Stammered the seventeen-year-old sitting upright. "T-T-That was an accident!"

"A happy one." In start contrast to her Class, the Berserker's voice was feathery soft and warm. Her touch was the same, her fingers gently moving up and down her Master's length. The sensation of it between her fingers felt so…exhilarating. Florence felt her breathing growing heavier just like Ritsuka's. Their eyes met, an understanding of what was about to come next passing between them.

The moans of Chaldea's Last Master grew as his member was pumped by the skilled hands of the Crimean War nurse. Hands that had handled numerous medical instruments handily pumped the teenager's cock causing it to continuously throb and pulsating. Florence leaned down and licked up the cum that had shot upward earlier. As she did so, she realized that it was her seemingly innocent statement about his cock that had caused the mini-orgasm. The phrase "dirty talk" came to her mind; she'd unknowingly done it on her Master. She felt…excitement, joy, in that realization. Just as she felt it in tending to Ritsuka's erection.

He was gasping for breath as his member was given the kind of carnal attention it'd been craving all night. Florence felt sensual empowerment coursing through her, spurring her forward. Her hands pumped his cock faster and faster, her lips flicking across the tip of his dick. Upon feeling it throbbing in her hands, some invisible leveler was pulled. Focused, she took the while upper half of his penis into her mouth.

"F-Florence!" Howled the seventeen-year-old Master arching his back up. "Y-You're-"

"Mmmmmmhhh!" Moaned the pink-haired Berserker. Florence was happy she was able to give him the same kind of bliss that he'd given her when he was between her legs. She further understood what sort of fire that fueled him as he ate her out, that same fire was pumping through her while she blew him. Ritsuka's hand reached out and clamped down on the top of her head. He pushed her down so more of his cock was engulfed in her mouth. "Mmmmhhhmmmm!" Passionately moaned the muffled Servant.

Slowly, Ritsuka began to rock his hips forward, pushing his cock in and out of Florence's mouth. Within it, he could feel his member throbbing, helped along by her constant swooshing of her tongue. And the occasional bite of her teeth. For whatever reason, he felt raw ecstasy race through him whenever she did that.

"Y-You're doing great…F-F-Florence." Whispered the black-haired teen. Another bite came and he howled. "Better than great!"

The Angel of Crimea's mouth was proving an adequate home for the Japanese teenager's cock. Continuous thrusts and throbbing sent waves of euphoria through the Servant's body. Many of those waves converged in her pussy, which began to tighten and tingle as the blowjob continued. Somewhere in the Englishwoman's mind she was thinking of how great it would feel to have her lover's penis inside of her-for them to connect in the most intimate way imaginable. She would have her wish, but first, she had to finish what she'd begun, and she was more than happy to do so.

"F-Florence, I can feel it!" Warned the black-haired youth. He was now gripping the Servant's head for dear life, having sensed the impeding orgasm. Gnashing his teeth, he attempted to fight it back, but such a task was easier said than done.

At the sound of his voice, the Berserker looked up, her cherry-red eyes meeting his.

Even though her mouth was occupied with his cock, Ritsuka could read her expression-she was smiling. Then she ran her tongue along the length of his member while ever-so-gently biting down on it with his tongue.

"Oooooohhhhh!" Unlike the previous burst of cum, this was one was a prolonged affair. Florence was also ready for it as she stretched open her mouth a little wider while leaning back. Her Master's masculine juices jetted outward directly in and later down her throat. It was a hundred times more refreshing than the purest water after a hard-fought battle, the sweet liquid filled Florence with a energy and euphoria the likes of which she'd never known before.

"Alright then…ready?" Forewarned the black-haired youth.

Florence sucked in a breath. "Yes, my love…I am." With the heartfelt smile that had won him over, she stretched out her arms to him, her embrace acting like a magnet to him.

Ritsuka brought himself down upon the Berserker, his penis ramming straight into the Englishwoman's folds, pushing past them sending millions of tiny jolts of pleasure through her. Florence's eyes lit up as his cock pushed past her vaginal walls, sliding into it near perfectly before hitting her feminine barrier. Still high on the euphoric pleasure, Florence tightened her hold on Ritsuka.

"Do it! Take it!" She passionately whispered into his ear.

Subtly, Ritsuka pulled back, his entire body tensing up. A second later and he pushed forward, or rather, downward. He had the utmost faith in his ability to tear through his Servant's hymen and claim her as his-he would do.

And he did.

"Gaaaaahhhh…" Florence had experience pain before, but this was something a little…new. It was sharp and intense, but mercifully the worst only lasting a few seconds at best. S-S-So, t-t-this is what it feels…like…to have one's maidenhood…taken from them. The wartime nurse didn't even try to understand the metaphysics of what they'd just done, she was just grateful for it. And for the fact that the pain was already fading.

"Florence," Came Ritsuka's soft whisper. "Are you...alright?"

Tenderly, she kissed the side of his head. "Y-Yes, Ritsuka…I…will be in a little bit, only give me a moment." The sensation of her vagina being filled with a male cock…it was a strange feeling to say the least, but not at all an unpleasant one. She leaned her head back and let it rest on the grass as she took several deep breaths. With each one, she felt herself adjusting to the wholeness of the cock inside of her. Right alongside it there was a…hunger for it to do as it had before-create friction inside of her. "Ritsuka," Florence whispered popping her eyes open. "You can…start moving now."

She saw how his eyes seemingly dilated; he followed through on her request a heartbeat later. Florence sealed her eyes shut as she felt his cock push into her, then pull back-both actions bore euphoric fruit. The Berserker shivered, the single thrust quickly multiplying as she felt the constant back and forth of the male organ inside of her. "More…p-please, more…" Her whisper echoed in his ear.

Ritsuka was already at it, pushing his hips forward and back, never letting his cock fully leave the Servant's pussy. Her vagina was warm and tight, squeezing his penis moments after it'd made entry; she was hungry for him, she probably had been for the last several minutes just as he'd been lusting for her. His thrusts gradually picked up and with it the squeezing of her vaginal walls. The feeling sent a surge of sensual bliss racing through him causing him to pick up the speed of his thrusts.

"Ahhhhhh….yesssss!" The feeling of being plowed was…exhilarating. They hadn't even been at it for a good five or ten minutes and already Florence could feel she'd become hooked on the feeling. Her legs rose up and wrapped around his waist just as her arms did, she used all four limbs to grind against Ritsuka and thus push his member deeper into her. "Harder! Harder, Ritsuka!" Shouted the Berserker.

He pulled back, almost to the point he was completely out of her, then thrusted his hips forward in one vigorous thrust. The Berserker threw back her head, gripped his, and howled like a beast. The sound thundered in Ritsuka's head. He made her repeat it with several more equally strong thrusts. Each one shook the Berserker's body; she was completely at his mercy. The Angel of Crimea as his to defile, his to claim.

It cut both ways as the Englishwoman relished the near inferno-like heat Ritsuka's body was giving off. She could feel every drop of sweat pouring down his skin just as surely as she could feel her own. Her ears happily rung with the sound of flesh slapping against flesh, such a lewd noise that she had no idea could be so damn fantastical to listen to, even better to generate! Florence added her voice and her Master's to the mix

The small forest clearing was abuzz with the sound of the two lovers mating. One never would have figured either of them for Master and Servant, especially a Berserker Servant. Well, then again, the latter was making quite a bit of noise while getting pounded. Her cherry-red eyes glowed with the typical Berserker fire, but it was not anger or determination that burned within them, it was love. Love that she held for her Master, who furiously rammed his penis in and out of her vagina. Florence Nightingale bit her lip as he hit her core, sending the greatest wave of pleasure ripping through her. He did so again causing Florence's eyes to fly wide-open.

For a few seconds, Ritsuka basked in the sweet lewdness of the nurse's moan. He watcher her suddenly snap her eyes toward him, her eyes still burning with lustful desire for him. Then he bit into his neck. Needless to say, he was caught off-guard, but the teenager quickly grew to accept it as he realized Florence was still pressing against him, practically rocking against him as he fucked her.

I guess that's just her kink. Chuckled the human continuing his actions. He could feel himself hitting her womanly core causing Florence into moan into his neck. "Florence…Florence! It feels good, doesn't it!"

Breaking away from his neck, she cried, "Oh, yes! Yes it does, Ritsuka! Do it! Cum into me! Give me your seed!"

They were practically squeezing the life out of each other, especially the busty nurse's pussy. It was constricting around the teenager's stone-hard member, which was moving fast like a piston inside of her. The Servant's body was on the verge of breaking down, yet she held on, determined to make this bliss last forever.

One final time, she bit down into her beloved's neck. She could taste blood in her mouth and mentally chided herself.

It's okay, Florence. His voice came through the lustful maelstrom of her mind with the serenity of an evening breeze. It was amazing.

He was amazing, and he was all hers to love and cherish for the rest of time.

"FLORENCE!"

"RITSUKAAA!"

His cock erupted within the confines of the nurse's vaginal tunnel, which itself blow up within seconds of his. The pair's scream echoed into the now darkened sky as their juices mixed together, from it came a surge of mana that empowered the pink-haired woman. Florence screwed her eyes shut, then a second later they were as large as the moon. As she arched her body upward, she saw it hanging overhead, a silent observer to their lovemaking. How similar it looked to the skies above Scutari. That was always something that fascinated her-no matter the state of the Earth, the heavens seemingly remained consistent. Lives came and went, yet the stars seemingly remained the same.

As she let her head fall, Florence took stock in the fact that her life had just irreversibly changed, and for the better. Judging by the look on Ritsuka's face, he realized that too, and was equally overjoyed regarding that truth. Their lips curved into smiles and laughter burst from their respective lips.

They'd return back to Chaldea, after they'd dressed themselves of course. When they returned, they knew those with sharper eyes would notice an immediate difference in the demeanors of the Servant and Master; that relationship wouldn't be all there was to the bond between them. They'd learn in time, probably a short amount if they saw the looks the two would be shooting each other. And the closeness that they would share from this night onward.

Hours later, that closeness would be embraced again as they Rayshifted back to Chaldea and prepared to turn in for the night. Rather than going back to her own room, Florence would follow Ritsuka into his.

Her earlier words regarding courtship still rung in his head, especially as he changed into his pajamas. Laying down on his bed, he was greeted to the glorious sight of Florence Nightingale in a dark red night gown. His heart furious beating, he offered her his hand, and she took it. Continuing the string of firsts, Florence fell into the loving arms of a man, who wrapped them around her and held her close.

For the first time in her life, she intimately whispered goodnight to another, and had that person whisper goodnight back. Both of them closed their eyes absolutely assured they'd meet one another in the morning.

---

Aaaand that's another one down. There you have it, everyone, Florence Nightingale, as a Servant, she was always likely a contender, but I doubt anyone saw her as a Berserker when Grand Order first came out. Personally, I saw her position in the Berserker Class as being fueled more by trauma than anything, a rather interesting take that I chose to run with. I think it turned out pretty well, but I'd like to hear all of your opininons on how this one went.

On a side note, as of this posting, I've gotten my first Covid vaccine shot and I highly encourage any of you who haven't gotten your shots to do so. If not for your sake, then for the sake of your loved ones and the people around you. For a pandemic to end, everyone has do their part, everyone. With that, keep safe and healthy, everyone, and until next time!