A/N: Big shoutout to ShuTDowN and tobychevy for catching the smaller grammar problems in the last set of uploads. I hope you enjoy this new set of chapters!

Chapter 26: Hot Tatoes

YN's mind filled with cloudiness, from what he could tell, he was slipping in and out of consciousness many times. The first few times he had, he had heard voices, frantic ones at that.

Without being able to discern what the voices were exactly saying however, YN could form no opinion or thoughts on the matter. Still, with his occasional momentary bouts with being conscious came pain, but it seemed with each time he came to, the pain was a little less.

At times he could feel his hand being held. Throughout the experience, these hands seem to have changed. YN could tell at one point Rem had been one of these hands, as he felt the ever so slightly weathered hand of a hard working maid.

The next he had felt was a larger hand, not by much, but with much softer skin, not as warm, but also not holding it as confidently as Rem would have.

A few semi-conscious wake ups later another hand held his, this time much smaller in size, but with these few times, YN had noticed most of his pain had subsided during this time.

And finally, one last hand held his, although only briefly. YN had felt the initial grab and the let go, letting him know it was only for a few moments.

At first, YN had believed that this hand had belonged to Rem, but it was just softer than hers, and it also did not conform to his hand like Rem's always did.

Falling back into rest again, YN was woken up by his own breathing. His throat this time was dry, he had been mouth breathing, but the way he was able to take in the cold, fresh air was extremely satisfying, as if he hadn't been able to do so for awhile.

Trying to wet his own throat, YN felt the tingle of sunlight on his eyelids, prompting them to open.

Fully expecting to see his own room or perhaps even the guest room, YN at this juncture was nonetheless confident he hadn't died.

But what caught him off guard, was the ceiling above him. Rather than the ornate, decorated ceilings adorned with crown molding, whitewashed to a near blinding bright shade of the mansion, YN was instead greeted by wooden rafters and the underside of a slatted roof.

Noticing the unexpected change of scenery, YN also felt the bedding.

Gone were the smooth, freshly washed sheets and plush pillows of the mansion. YN quickly discerned that the what was covering him, while soft, were much more coarse, as they were hand weaved blankets of considerable age. While still clean, they smelled not of fresh laundry, but rather that of a recent, warm sunny morning, capturing the smell of the day it was last washed and left out to dry on the line.

Mustering his strength, YN sat himself up. With a quick look around the room, it was clear he was not at the mansion, but was rather in the bedroom of a quaint cottage.

Wood furniture, ornate rugs, and tiny knickknacks covered the room as he looked about. The sun's light that had woken up YN had found itself through the many moth eaten holes in the thin white curtains that hung over the window.

Before he could finish scanning his vision across the room, a voice called out to YN in a hurried, hushed tone.

?: Oh! Good morning YN.

Without being given a chance to turn and face the direction the voice came from, a vestige of gray filled YN's mornings eyes.

Puck: You seem to be feeling much better!

YN's vision came to focus on the little gray floating cat before him.

YN: Ahh, uhh, yeah I guess—

?: YN. Jeez, I didn't expect to see you up so soon.

With another voice coming from the direction Puck's had, this time a loud whisper, YN was finally given the chance to look over and see.

In another bed across the room, Subaru was sitting up in a position similar to that of YN's. Next to his bed though, sitting in a chair, was a slumped over silver haired half elf.

Raising a finger to Emilia, YN pointed at the sleeping girl, trying to also be quiet.

YN: What's Emilia doing—?

Puck: Lia got so worried late last night after the three of you hadn't returned for hours, that she insisted her and Ram come to make sure you were all okay.

YN: O-oh.

Puck: And it's a miracle she did too. After Rem dragged you both out of the forest, she only had enough mana to stabilize Subaru's injuries before Lia was able to stabilize yours.

Turning to look again at the half elf as she slept, YN couldn't see her face, but he could tell by the way her body was slumped up against the wall while she was next to in her chair, she had been rather exhausted before doing so.

YN: W-wait, 'Subaru's injuries'?

Going to scratch the back of his head, Subaru gave a weak smile before answering.

Subaru: Yeah... The mabeasts got me pretty good after you were buried alive, but uhh, Emilia-tan patched me right up, good as new.

YN: So, Emilia-sama saved both of us?

Crossing his little gray arms and shaking his head, Puck answered.

Puck: Not entirely. While Lia is a skilled healer, she was only able to keep you from bleeding out, not heal you up entirely. Subaru's injuries were also pretty bad but she has just enough skill and had enough mana left after stabilizing you to fix him up completely. That's why Lia is so zonked out, she worked herself down to her Od.

YN looked back to Emilia, sitting still, leaned against the wall as she was, her chest and back rising with each breath.

Wrapping his arms around himself, Subaru flopped about.

Subaru: Ooooohhh! Emilia-tan is just so cute when she sleeps!

Puck: Shhh!

Bringing a paw up to his mouth, Puck shushed Subaru in a loud whisper.

Puck: You won't be able to watch her cute sleeping self if you wake her up!

Also bringing his voice to a whisper once more, YN posed the question that was on his mind.

YN: So if it wasn't Rem because she was out of mana, and it wasn't Emilia because of the severity of the wound, just how badly was I injured, and who was it that healed me?

Puck: You were so banged up we needed to drag Beatrice out of the mansion to come down here and heal you herself.

Subaru: B-Beatrice left the mansion for that?!

YN & Puck: Shhhh!

Subaru: —sorry...

Turning back to each other after scolding Subaru, the two continued.

Puck: Lia was able to slow down a lot of the internal bleeding, but there wasn't a thing she could do about the broken ribs you had.

Putting a hand to his chest and abdomen area, YN felt his ribs and took a deep breath. Nothing felt out of the ordinary.

I'm going to have to find a way to thank everyone for what they did.

With nothing more being said at that moment, Subaru moved the blankets on himself to the side and put his feet on the floor.

Subaru: Well, now that everything has been said, I'm going to go check on the village children and make sure they're all doing alright.

Stretching out his little gray arms and yawning, Puck replied.

Puck: That's a good idea. I'll think I'll take a bit of a catnap till Lia wakes back up. There's no point in staying out and wasting mana, right?

Turning to Subaru, YN gave a reply.

YN: I'll come join you in a bit, just gimme a lil' bit to wake up a bit more, maybe do some stretches.

With a thumbs up, Subaru responded.

Subaru: Sounds good. Later.

Shutting the door gently behind him, Subaru was out, and not a second later did Puck materialize back into the crystal that hung from Emilia's neck.

Leaving out the front door of the cottage he had been healed in, YN looked up to the bright late morning sun that still hung in the sky.

YN: The fifth day, huh? This is my first time making it this far...

Reflecting back briefly on his past attempts with and without Subaru, YN shook his head.

Gotta make this run count. I won't let there be any more setbacks. I— no... We'll all get a good ending out of this.

With that, YN set out to look for Subaru. Having left before him, YN had no clue how far Subaru had gotten from the cottage. After Subaru had left, YN had done what he said he'd do, made a few stretches. It wasn't done so much as a routine or health benefit, but rather YN wanted to see if there was any pain that had gone untreated.

Without finding any, YN had made both the beds as not to be rude to their unknown host. Having done this, YN realized he hadn't paid attention to how much time had passed since Subaru departed, and now had zero clue in what sort of radius he should search in to find him again.

But to YN's luck, as he stepped down from the porch and onto the street of the village, a familiar pink sight rounded the corner towards YN.

Carrying a basket of steamed tatos, Ram caught eye of YN leaving the residence.

Both making eye contact, YN waved as a greeting and walked up.

Ram only stood and stared while YN came within talking distance, not wanting to unnecessarily raise his voice over the quiet morning neighborhood.

YN: Mornin' Ram, you see Subaru running about anywhere?

Silent to his question, Ram continued to stare at YN for a moment before quietly taking to herself.

Ram: Beatrice-sama's magic really is that good...

Hearing Ram just fine, YN was perplexed as to why Ram would say such a thing, as it was uncharacteristic of her to voice her thoughts aloud.

YN: Hm—?

Ram continued to look at YN, her bangs swaying slightly in the small breeze the narrow streets of the village permitted the wind to have.

Suddenly regaining her composure, Ram closed her eyes and spoke in a manner of smugness in effort to regain her perceived loss of social capital.

Ram: Ram sincerely thought NY would be dead by the next time she saw him.

Deducting what Ram's initial hesitation was on his greeting was, he realized the last time Ram had seen him was when he was still incredibly injured.

YN: From what Puck and Subaru told me, I was pretty roughed up. And if not for Beatrice I'd still be.

Ram: Yes, that is correct.

With her response leaving no extra room for continued conversation on the topic, YN asked his initial question again.

YN: Did you see Subaru wandering around then?

Responding with a finger pointing over her shoulder, Ram's direction led down the road, opposite from the cottage to the street that led to the town's merchant square.

Ram: Barasu was making the rounds of the village checking on the children rescued last night. He's currently in the town square with most of the adults getting praise for deeds that are not entirely his own and more than certainly making a fool of himself. Ram was on her way to keep him in check as his boisterous reactions could reflect poorly on the rest of the staff.

Laughing lightly in response to Ram, YN spoke.

YN: Well, we better go stop him then.

With Ram turning to head down the street as she originally intended, YN matched up next to her and they walked together.

YN: So is that what the tatoes are for too?

Keeping her gaze paced straight forward, her bangs hid her facial expressions as YN looked at her.

Ram: Ram must unfortunately compensate the villagers for tolerating Barasu... And Barasu is also entitled to one of these as well for his actions. Speaking of which—.

Keeping her vision straight and not saying another word, Ram grabbed two of the tatoes from the basket with one hand and passed them to YN.

Receiving the warm tatoes, the aroma of their cooked selves immediately reminded YN he hadn't eaten in a while now.

YN: Oh—! T-thank you Ram.

Looking at the tatoes in his hands now while still walking, a great amount of guilt grew in YN.

I haven't even been able to thank anyone for saving me last night yet and I'm still just receiving things from them out of their pure kindness when I've done nothing! How worthless am I—?!

Looking downward, YN stopped, causing Ram to also stop and turn a pace or two ahead of him.

There was silence between the two as they both stood in the quiet, empty street.

Taking a deep breath, YN bowed towards Ram.

YN: I... I—

Taking another deep breath, YN steeled his nerves.

YN: I'm really appreciative of everything the mansion has given me— er, you, Rem, Roswaal, Beatrice, and Emilia has given me, with the opportunity to work and prove myself to you all.

Expecting Ram to say something, YN continued to bow in silence until continuing again.

YN: A-and I'm sorry I haven't done anything worthwhile for all the effort given by you all for having to deal with my injuries last light. Please forgive me for the burdens I troubled you all with.

There was more silence between them, YN continued to bow until Ram finally spoke up.

Ram: YN.

Straightening his back, YN rose from his bow, confused as to why Ram hadn't used her curse sounding pseudonym she had given him.

Ram: Do you not value Rem as much as Ram had thought?

YN: —hk!

Speechless, YN couldn't respond to that.

What does she mean by that?! How does that relate to anything—

Ram: Well?

YN: W-what do you mean by 'not value as much as you thought'?

Still giving YN her usual expressionless stare and tone of voice, Ram responded.

Ram: You said you hadn't done anything 'worthwhile'. Was risking your life to save Rem's from the mabeasts meaningless to you then?

YN: No! Not at all...

Ram: Then the combined efforts of the Mansion's residence to save you should he an even trade, is it not?

Sighing, YN finally understood what Ram was trying to get across.

I guess this is just Ram's way of saying "thank you" and "you're welcome", isn't it? "Don't worry, we're even" maybe too.

Nodding, YN answered

YN: Yeah. I guess it is.

Returning to how they were, the two walked together again, reaching the market square shortly.

YN: I'm going to guess he's over there among the crowd of people?

Ram: It appears we may be too late to save face, certainly Barasu has already tarnished our reputation with his foolish actions.

Walking up, Subaru caught eye of the two familiar faces approaching.

Looking back to the group of parents he was conversing with, Subaru spoke.

Subaru: Oh, excuse me, I've gotta talk to these two.

Slipping past a few more of the parents, Subaru made his way over to Ram and YN. With Subaru now occupied, many of the parents either started to disperse back to their homes, or talk among themselves, group by group.

Breaking from YN, Ram headed directly to Subaru, not waiting for him to reach them.

Subaru: Hey Ram! Glad you made it down— MMHMM!

As the two had come face-to-face, without delay, Ram reached into her basket, and shoved what might have been the hottest tatoe she'd made, straight into Subaru's mouth.

Whether it was the heat or the force of the application, Subaru was knocked clean off his feet onto the ground where he had begun to roll around in pain at the scaldingly hot tatoe in his mouth.

Subaru: MMMHHH MMMHHH—!

With the person whom the villagers were just praising now subdued by a simple steamed tatoe, everyone eyeballed the group now.

Using the attention to her advantage though, Ram put on her kind, sweet maid persona and made her announcement to them.

Ram: Would anyone like a freshly steamed tatoe? They're still warm!

Hearing her mock him, Subaru sat up, slapping the ground with his palms in protest as Ram brought the tatoes over to the villagers, unable to speak still with the tatoe halfway in his mouth.

Ram: It is not Ram's fault that Barasu is a wimp when it comes to hot food.

With that, Ram walked off, passing out her steamed tatoes to the villagers.

Villager: Wow these are good!

Villager: Yeah! They're the perfect temperature for eating too!

Walking up to Subaru, YN could see the frustrating and embarrassment growing on Subaru's still stuffed face.

Turning to YN, Subaru was met by a hand meant to help him up. Extending his own hand to take it, his hand quickly turned into an accusatory finger-point.

YN was taking a bite of his last tatoe, his, just like the rest, was not scalding hot.

YN: Hey don't give me that. I'm not dumb enough to go for a piping hot one like you are.

With Subaru's eyes telling YN "Not you, too?!", Subaru's expression changed to that of one of defeat. Changing his hand back to one to receive YN's, Subaru was helped up.

Finally taking the half tatoe out of his mouth with a bite, Subaru chewed and swallowed.

Subaru: The villagers are right... It is really good... Too bad I can't taste it now that my whole mouth is burned to a crisp!

YN: Oh calm down, you're fine.

The two walked a short distance over to a bench that faced the market square, it was in fact the same one YN and Rem had sat on coming to the village just yesterday.

Subaru: Uhh, speaking of 'fine', how are you holding up?

YN: — ?

Subaru: You were pretty banged up after saving Rem.

Shaking his head, YN tried to recall what had happened after being buried by the mabeasts attack. Not getting anywhere with his memory, YN shrugged off the thought.

YN: I can't remember anything after that.

Leaning back on the bench, Subaru answered.

Subaru: Probably because you were out like a light.

YN: What happened after I was out?

Subaru's expression turned to that of second hand embarrassment and sighed before sitting back up.

Subaru: After Rem got back up, I think the first thing she saw was you get dragged away by the landslide... But I don't think she got to you before you passed out.

A vision of blue was the last thing YN could remember seeing, as well as someone caressing his face. Subaru continued.

Subaru: I think once she saw your injuries she started to actually begin to panic at that point, trying to dig you out. I set that girl we saved down and went over to help but a few mabeasts blocked me from coming over.

Looking down at the ground, an air of frustration emanated from Subaru.

Subaru: With Rem busy helping you, I tried fighting off the few that were attacking me, using Shamak, but they got the better of me. I thought I was going to get mauled to death... If we weren't so close to the village, I don't think they would have heard all of the screams and come to help.

YN was puzzled at the order of events.

YN: 'They'?

Subaru nodded forward to the crowd of parents still conversing in the market square, staying around mostly in part to Ram passing around her steamed tatoes to everyone still.

Subaru: Either the landslide, or the yelling got their attention after returning with the village children and they came to come help.

Looking closer at the villagers, YN could see bandages on some of their arms or legs, possible covering wounds sustained from the attempted rescue.

Leaning back again on the bench, Subaru continued.

Subaru: They might not seem like much but they were able to get the mabeasts off me. But after that, we all booked it back to the village, inside the barrier with the mabeasts not far behind.

Subaru looked over to YN with a sympathetic expression and went on.

Subaru: I think the villagers were so caught up trying to save me and bring back the girl with the braided hair that they forgot about you and Rem...

YN: —?

Not knowing what Subaru meant by that, he got a sigh in response.

Subaru: I was barely conscious by the time the villagers helped me back inside the barrier before I realized you and Rem weren't anywhere to be seen. In fact, the next time I saw you two, I was already in the cottage house bed with one of the elders bandaging me up.

YN: What? I thought Puck said Rem dragged us both out of the forest? And then where was Rem and I in the meantime?

Crossing his arms in, Subaru's tone became more serious.

Subaru: I think with the villagers grabbing me and the girl brought the mabeasts close to the village in pursuit, so it cut off a safe route for Rem to carry you back to the village immediately.

YN: So it forced her to have to take the long way around? Couldn't she have just fought her way through and—

Cutting off YN, Subaru shook his head.

Subaru: At that point, Rem had no mana left, she was physically and mentally exhausted.

YN: Then if she didn't have any mana left, how did she stabilize your wounds?

Subaru rolled up his tracksuit sleeve and rubbed his other hand along the freshly healed scars of bite marks along his arm before answering.

Subaru: *Sigh* The truth is, I wasn't all that injured. I was pretty messed up sure, but it wasn't life threatening, I wasn't gonna die, not like you were.

Looking back out to the villagers, Subaru was quiet for a moment, watching as they slowly began to wander off, lessening every minute in number, the groups getting smaller and smaller.

Subaru: After getting bandaged up, Rem practically kicked open the door to the cottage carrying you in both arms and plopped you down in the bed across the room.

Shaking his head again, he continued

Subaru: I tried asking her what happened, why she took so long to get back, where she'd been, but she was so frustrated I don't think she could even hear me.

YN: Frustrated?

YN had a hard time imagining Rem so frustrated she could zone-out from someone trying to talk to her, even after seeing the Oni-side of her come out.

Leaning forward on the bench, Subaru cupped his hands and looked down at the ground.

Subaru: She was down on her knees by your bedside, trying her hardest to cast a healing spell and just... couldn't. She tried and tried and tried, getting more frustrated each time until she finally just gave in and cried.

Subaru's mind recalled what he had seen. Rem trying in earnest again and again to cast a spell with no mana at her command, forced to watch YN slip closer and closer to death, powerless to do anything to stop it.

Subaru: I could hear her mumble about things like how she was blaming herself for being careless with her mana in-between her sobs. *Sigh* I can't tell you how much I wanted to be able to leave the room and give her privacy, so I did the next best thing I could and pretended to be asleep.

YN looked down at his hand, the one that had been held while he was asleep.

Rem was really that upset, huh? Was she just upset with herself out of a sense of duty, or was she upset about me?

Learning Rem had been so emotional in regard to himself, YN really didn't know how to feel. Was it self centered or cruel to feel good knowing someone had been so concerned for him? Or was that just part of being acknowledged by a good person?

YN really didn't have time to ponder the morality of his feelings until Subaru continued.

Subaru: It wasn't really soon after that Ram and Emilia came by...

Recounting the events, Subaru's memory replayed the scene in his mind.