A/N: This was by far, my absolute favorite chapter to write. I really really hope you all enjoy this chapter, as I feel it's the best one in the series. For all of the Arc 2 content, this is the apex.

Hesitantly, Rem felt her conscious fill back into her own body. Opening her eyes, her blue hair hung in front of them, prompting her to sit up.

Seeing the younger maid sister was conscious once more, Beatrice clapped the book she was reading shut, placing it on the table next to her.

Hearing the audible closure of the book, the sound jerked Rem's still groggy mind fully back to reality. The shutting book, the smell of many old books, the hard tiled floor beneath her, Rem quickly remembered where she was, and why she was here.

Turning to look around, Rem's eyes met the owner of the library she currently sat in.

And between them laid another person.

Still with his sleeves rolled up from washing dishes, YN continued to remain passed out. Upon seeing him, instantly, Rem's mind was flooded with the realities she had witnessed, remembering exactly what she had seen from his memories.

Looking down at her own hands, they trembled for real this time, and much more then she had originally imagined.

With a silence descending upon the three, Beatrice was first to speak.

Beatrice: Did the younger maid sister find out something troubling, I suppose?

Hearing her question, Rem continued to recall all the things she had just seen in her mind, testing it all against her better judgment to see if she wasn't just being led astray.

Looking down at YN's sleeping face, Rem noticed just how peaceful he looked, a welcome change of pace from all agony and pain she had just seen him in.

Getting somewhat impatient, Beatrice spoke once more.

Beatrice: Well?

With her mind rationalizing that she must, at some point answer Beatrice, Rem nodded her head and went right back into deep thought and observation of YN.

Beatrice continued to watch the blue haired maid's body language as she stared at YN laying on the ground.

This is going nowhere I suppose. Either be out with it and tell Betty if there's a danger or conclude he can be trusted.

Calming herself with an apathetic sigh, Beatrice restructured her question.

Beatrice: Is he trustworthy?

Hearing Beatrice ask for an answer, Rem gave her reply little thought. There was simply no need to ponder what her answer would be. Rem was more sure of it then anything else.

Tears began to stream down her cheeks as she gazed at YN's still resting face, peacefully asleep.

With another soft nod, Rem confirmed her answer to Beatrice before softly speaking in reply.

Rem: Yes, YN-kun is very trustworthy. Rem trusts him with her life.

Slightly taken aback at how sincerely Rem had just answered, and how strong the conviction behind her reply was, Beatrice lifted an eyebrow.

Beatrice: While Betty is uncertain how you can be so certain, despite her own doubts on it, Betty will take your word for it, for now, I suppose. But—

Picking her book back up and opening it to the page she had left off from, Beatrice also began to twirl her hair that hung up in front of her drills.

Beatrice: If all suspicions can be safely disregarded and are resolved, then there mustn't be any further reason for the two of you to dwell here longer, I suppose?

Remembering that they were indeed, in the Forbidden Library, Rem quickly accepted with her goal achieved, that she and YN must leave now.

With her still trembling hand, Rem went to caress YN's face.

Rem: —Eh!

Just as her hand was to reach his sleeping face, Rem stopped herself.

Rem no longer wished to not see YN hurt or in agony any further, and she would do everything in her power to keep him safe.

But a sudden, and realizing thought crossed Rem's mind.

"What had ended up causing YN the most pain?" And "Who had caused most of that pain?"

Stopping herself before she let herself touch him, Rem answered her own question.

It's... It's Rem.

Looking down at her still shaking hand, stopped, frozen where it was, just close enough to make contact, but still hovering next to his cheek, a bolt of fear ran through her as she came to a realization.

These are the hands... These are the hands that have caused YN-kun so much pain and death...

Realizing that she herself might be a danger to YN, Rem didn't know what she should now do.

As soon as she then noticed her hand, by being close to his cheek, meant it was also next to his neck, an area Rem had seen her hands wrapped around not once, but twice. Rem immediately recoiled her hand, determined to get the "danger" away from YN.

Pulling her hand away, more tears began to flow down her cheeks.

Rem cannot... Rem cannot let herself touch YN too much... Rem would never now, but before YN-kun has— Hk!

Rem had begun to realize that by now, she fully trusted YN, she would never have a reason to bring him harm, but—

Rem already has. Rem incapacitated YN-kun before bringing him here... [Rem] has already hurt YN-kun!

Shaking her head, Rem let lose another torrent of tears.

Rem cannot ever let herself be close to YN-kun again... Rem will always end up hurting YN-kun!

Letting a cocktail of emotions begin to overwhelm her, Rem felt the full effects of sorrow, regret, guilt, and self hate. Unsure of what to do, she was left frozen, before another voice called out to snap her out of it.

Beatrice: If you are finding it a challenge to remove him from here now, Betty can help you both leave.

Raising a palm to the two of them, Beatrice let her continued displeasure known.

Having still just got through witnessing YN suffer numerous times, Rem would not let the prospect of him being harmed be allowed.

Swallowing her apprehension, Rem picked up YN, utilizing her Oni strength. Bridal carrying him, she walked to the door to exit the Forbidden Library.

Just as Rem went to open the door, Beatrice spoke one last time.

Beatrice: Just because you say the grounds keeper is trustworthy doesn't mean Betty will just up and drop all of her suspicions of him I suppose. It's a well known fact that ever since the mabeast incident, the younger maid sister has had a bias towards him, even while he reeks of the Witch.

Only halfway turning her head back toward the drill haired girl, Rem disregarded what she had just said, not choosing to pick a fight, and once again, returned to her formal tone.

Rem: Thank you for your assistance, Spirit-sama. Rem will take her leave now.

With no further words to be had between them, Rem exited with YN in her arms.

Stepping out into the mansion's familiar halfway, Rem immediately turned back around, to face the door she had just exited from. Placing her hand on the door handle, Rem felt the difference in the handles mechanisms immediately.

Turning smoothly and consistently rather than rough and underused, it was obvious that the Forbidden Library had moved to a new location, leaving the room that it had written itself over back in place.

With the door swung open, Rem was greeted with the familiar scene of YN's room. With a window directly across from the door, Rem noted that the evening was getting later as the sky had turned a hue of orange, which would eventually change pink, then purple, then finally to a dark night sky.

Walking in, Rem placed YN down on his bed and quickly moved her hands away and took a half step away.

At this moment in time, Rem could not trust herself not to bring physical harm to YN. She felt her emotions begin to boil inside her as her eyes began to tear over again.

Taking more steps backward, Rem eventually retreated from the room, not wishing to let her emotions wake YN.

Closing the door behind her, Rem collapsed to the floor with her back against the door, holding her knees as she sobbed into them.

Quietly, she whispered comments of self blame.

Rem: Why? Why must Rem always hurt YN-kun?

Sobbing for another several minutes, Rem was finally able to begin to regain her composure when she heard a sound behind the door she sat in front of.

The rustle of bed covers, followed by the creak of weight shifting across a bed-frame, and finished by two thuds of feet being placed on the ground.

Standing up, Rem could hear YN walking about in his room before stopping.

Rem had no clue what sort of state YN was in, whether he was confused as to how he got to this room, or if he himself knew about Rem going through his memories.

Grabbing the door handle, Rem squeezed it as hard as she reasonably could, trying to vent her anxious thoughts before taking a deep breath and turning the handle.

Being met with a familiar figure standing in front of a fiery orange sunset, Rem felt a strong confliction of regret and longing in her chest as she stared at the partially silhouette YN standing on the opposite end of the room.

YN: Rem... Is everything okay?

The very first thing Rem had to hear from YN since she had so coldly treated him, was yet again, more concern over her well-being.

Now knowing YN knew what he knew, Rem felt a wave of guilt wash over her.

Despite everything, despite all the deaths and torture, why does YN-kun still care for Rem as much as he does?

But as YN asked his question to her, Rem remembered why, causing the dam in her heart to break open, spilling all her emotions out for YN to see.

Rem: No... No it is not. Rem is...

YN: Rem what's wrong? Are you okay?

Rem's knees began to buckle from guilt as she stepped forward, past the door frame.

Rem: Rem is so sorry, YN-kun. For everything. For all that Rem had done to hurt you *hic*, Rem is so sorry!

Like a pot boiling over, all of Rem's guilt and heartache was released as she could no longer maintain the strength to stand. As Rem fell to her knees, YN rushed over, calling out.

YN: Rem!

Also getting to his knees, YN immediately went about trying to see why Rem was so distressed.

Quickly looking her up and down for anything out of the ordinary, he found nothing as she quietly sobbed to herself.

YN: Rem, please tell me what's—

As YN asked his question, he went to put his hands on her shoulders to gently reassure her that everything was okay, but as he did, Rem brought her own arms up, pushing YN's out and to the sides, away from her.

Rem: No!

YN was taken by complete surprise.

Was that uncalled for? Did I cross a boundary or—

Looking up at YN's face, Rem could see the confusion on his face, and as she did, another pang of guilt hit her as she looked back down again. Shaking her head to hopefully convey that YN had guessed her reaction incorrectly, Rem explained.

Rem: It is Rem who shouldn't touch YN-kun... All Rem does is hurt YN-kun...

While thinking he may have understood what she meant, YN moved to sit on his knees, like how Rem had hers. While their hands were close, they did not touch.

YN: Rem, I can't think of a single time you've ever hurt me—

Rem: YN-kun is wrong. Rem had never remembered doing it at first, but then Rem saw and came to learn how she had hurt YN-kun. How Rem had hurt YN-kun so much.

Still, unbeknownst to him, YN still did not fully understand what Rem had meant, but thinking he had, he continued to try and reassure her.

YN: I think maybe you're reading into things a little to deeply, why don't we—

Rem: Even this time, Rem hurt YN-kun... YN-kun was made unconscious by Rem's hand...

She knocked me out? What—?

Suddenly putting two and two together, YN spun his head around to the bed he had just woken up from.

Softly speaking to himself as he turned his head forward again, YN mumbled.

YN: That's how I ended up here...

Speaking up more clearly now, YN continued.

YN: I was washing the dishes, and then—

Wiping her tears still, Rem interjected.

Rem: That's when.

There was a long pause between the two. Neither knew exactly what to say next. While YN was still clueless as to why she had acted as she did, he began to theorize in his mind.

Was this pent up suspicion from me not being able to explain things?

YN thought back to when he had last seen Rem, when she had stormed up the stairs, unsatisfied by his excuse that he couldn't explain how he had known about the curse, or the village children, or any of the happenings that occurred over the last few days since arriving at the mansion.

As YN was about to ask why Rem had acted in such a way, she spoke up first.

Rem: When YN-kun couldn't speak about certain things, Rem became very suspicious, and thought maybe YN-kun still had some ulterior motives, but Rem later found out she was very, very wrong.

Gaining more confidence in her voice, Rem explained.

Rem: Yesterday, Rem collaborated with Beatrice-sama to find out if YN-kun's lingering Witch miasma would be a threat to the mansion.

Making eye contact once more, Rem wiped away the last of her current tears.

Rem: That is why... Rem made YN-kun a different dinner. Nee-sama knew nothing other than to give it to YN-kun, and Rem made an excuse to not be present at the dinner table... Rem could not face YN-kun knowing she had decided to do something so untrustworthy to him.

That explains why she was trying to take dinner to Beatrice, it was the perfect excuse, but what did she exactly do—?

Rem: YN-kun's food was sabotaged with the ingredient Beatrice-sama had given Rem to fulfill our plan.

YN: What kind of ingredient?

Rem: A Fannel fruit, made into powder and put into the may-o-naze.

YN: 'Fannel fruit.'

Repeating the word to himself, Rem explained.

Rem: When eaten, it sometimes makes one feel warm, but it also makes them more true to themselves and more honest when they speak.

Confused further, YN replied.

YN: I can see why you would go that route. If I was more open to talk, I might finally say what I said I couldn't say, right?

As YN spoke, the logic of Rem's actions became less and less coherent.

YN: But then why knock me out? An unconscious person can't talk...

Rem: That was only the first part of the plan. The next part was how Rem found out... How Rem found out everything.

YN leaned backwards slightly, surprised at what Rem had said while she began to tear up slightly again.

Looking downward again, Rem continued.

Rem: Rem carried YN-kun to the Forbidden Library, where Beatrice-sama used her Yin magic to put Rem's consciousness into YN's memories.

YN's eyes grew wide at hearing such a thing. Swallowing a lump that had grown in his throat, he asked for more details.

YN: Magic that can read someone's mind, huh? I never would have thought Beatrice would—

Shaking her head, Rem slightly recomposed herself.

Rem: As Beatrice-sama explained it to Rem, it is very old magic. But, it cannot access memories unless the person wants those memories viewed, making it useless as an interrogation tool.

YN: But that's where the honesty drug came in, isn't it?

Lowering her head in guilt once more, Rem nodded in confirmation before continuing.

Rem: It was in YN-kun's memories that Rem saw...

As she spoke, a new torrent of tears began to fall down her cheeks as painful memories were brought back up once more.

More worried for her current state of self rather than what she had seen, YN's hands moved to hold Rem's, their fingertips meeting.

YN: Rem...

Seeing their hands, a small wind of panic ran through Rem as she began to cry more, but in her pain, their minimal contact also brought her great comfort. She was deeply conflicted.

Rem's mind began to race with thoughts on how she should feel, what she should say, and what YN was possibly thinking and feeling.

YN's thumbs began to slowly move across Rem's hands as he tried to calm her.

YN: Rem, whatever you think happened in the forest, with the mabeasts, none of that was your—

Lifting her head up to meet his eyes rather quickly, YN found himself staring into two pools of blue, surrounded by an expression of guilt and anguish.

As the pools of blue emptied down across her face, YN had only guessed she had seen the event of the current loop.

How far back did she see? Did she see the Capitol? Or back home? Or—?!

Breaking the moment of tense silence between them, Rem's hands suddenly gripped YN's hands, bringing their cupped fingers together as she struggled for any stability in emotion it would bring.

Rem: Rem saw... everything. All of the pain... and the death Rem caused you.

With her hands beginning to shake, YN's grip also increased, at this point though, in trying to encourage her to continue to explain.

There's no way. Please don't tell me she's aware now.

While YN wanted to tell Rem everything, about how he and Subaru could Return By Death, and how it forbade him from talking about it and that's how he knew, he never wished to give Rem painful thoughts of things that had occurred between them. It was necessary for her not to know, especially when he knew the pain it would cause her. He would not ever guilt her like that.

Feeling a sense of worry begin to lump up in his chest, YN spoke with a dry throat, surprising even himself with how serious he sounded.

YN: What do you exactly mean?

Rem: Rem... knows about all the times YN-kun has re-lived his first days here.

Hearing what Rem said, a flash of panic shot straight down YN's spine. He had to stop what she was saying. If she knew then the danger would be so immediate that—

Rem: But Rem understands what happens if YN-kun tries to tell Rem... why every time YN-kun tried, Rem only got mad... Mad at the Witch's scent.

With tears once more beginning to fall down her face, Rem continued.

Rem: Even still, Rem had at first thought YN-kun was a member of the Cult, but after seeing everything... Rem knows YN-kun is a victim of the Witch just as much as Rem and Nee-sama are...

Rem's hands began to tremble with increasing capacity as tears also began to land on their hands.

Rem: And Rem killed you for it! Over and over again! All from being tricked by the Witch! Rem is no different than the people who took Nee-sama's horn!

It was worse then YN had imagined. Rem had, in fact, seen everything.

YN: How much?! Rem please tell you didn't—!

Rem: Everything!

Lowering her head, Rem saw the reaction to her shouting on YN's stunned expression.

Rem: YN-kun bleed to death after trying to run in from Rem, dying in her arms.

Slowly, Rem began to lift her head.

Rem: Rem saw how hard YN-kun tried to save Nee-sama when he thought someone was trying to kill her, and the feeling of betrayal and horror YN-kun felt when he learned it was Rem just trying to kill him.

She—! She saw what happened in the forest!

Her head lifting more as she spoke, Rem continued as more tears fell and her voice watered up.

Rem: Rem saw how desperately you pleaded with that... monster, as [Rem] whipped and beat YN-kun within the limits of his life.

Catching her breath amid the tears, Rem paused before finally finishing.

Rem: And Rem saw—! Rem saw herself strangle the life from YN-kun! Only to then throw him to the rats! Rem killed YN-kun on no other suspension then the scent with her bare hands! With none other then—!

Tearing her hands away from his, Rem twisted herself away from right in front of YN where they had both been on their knees.

Rem: —these hands!

Supporting herself now with her hands pressed against the floor, Rem's sobs increased.

Rem: Never, did YN-kun fight back, or harm Rem... Rem doesn't deserve to call YN-kun her hero! Rem doesn't deserve to be anything more to YN-kun!

Slowly, from her side turned position, Rem's arms buckled from underneath her, and she collapsed to her side.

Rem: All Rem does... All Rem can do... is hurt YN-kun. Rem—

As she spoke and laid on her side, Rem pulled her knees up to her chest as her wide open eyes leaked tears and the rest of her body trembled.

Rem: —Rem hates herself.

Seeing Rem this way, YN couldn't sit still any longer.

Reaching out, YN pulled Rem close to him. Moving his legs, Rem was maneuvered onto his lap. With a small amount of tears also filling his eyes, YN pulled Rem's head into his chest with one arm, and held the rest of her close with the other.

YN: Please don't say that! None of that is your fault, Rem! I don't blame you at all! Everything is fine, okay—

Rem: Everything is fine for now, but—

As she spoke, Rem did not push away, but rather she tightly gripped to YN's shirt cloth in her balled up fists, holding onto him.

Rem: —it's only a matter of time before Rem hurts YN-kun again...

Holding her tighter, YN argued back.

YN: I don't care! Whatever it costs! However much it hurts, whatever it takes, I'll endure it! I'll bear it because I know I'll find a way to make it work. Because—!

Tilting his head down, he rested his forehead on top of Rem's blue hair.

YN: Because nothing means as much to me as you do.

There was a silence between the two for a moment after YN had spoken. Finally, Rem began to rustle in his arms. For a second, he thought Rem was going to push herself away from him, but rather, she brought her arms around him as she laid in his arms.

With her face still buried in YN's chest, Rem softly replied while muffled.

Rem: Why? Why Rem? What has Rem done to deserve this?

Lifting his head back and resting his chin on her head, YN softly stroked Rem's hair.

YN: There's a lot of things. For starters, it's your smile. No one has ever looked at me the way you do, with such kindness and compassion, but also with an air of confidence in me, that when you say you believe in me, I know you really do. And even though I'm a stranger in this new world, you're the first person from here I can say was my friend.

Taking a deep breath, YN could feel Rem's arms around him, gripping just a bit more than before as he continued.

YN: But the biggest thing is the feeling I get when I'm around you. I felt it when I woke up for the very first time here in the mansion, when our eyes met and I was left speechless. It was a feeling I'd been searching for, for a very, very long time. And as it turns out, it wasn't something I could find back in the old world.

Stopping to run his hand through her soft, silky hair again, YN concluded his answer.

YN: And that's why I worked so hard to gain your trust. And in doing so, I learned just how kind and caring you are through everything we did together. Every cute little thing you did or said, every time you were nice to me for no other reason then because you wanted to be, every time you had confidence in me because for some reason, you believed in me, it made my heart melt each time.

Feeling Rem's head begin to tilt upward, YN leaned his head back so they could see each other.

With a red face covered in smeared tears and messy bangs, Rem looked up to YN with anticipation as he concluded his reasoning.

YN: That's why I wanted to protect you so badly, I owed it to the one person who could give me a reason to wake up in the morning not because I had to, but because I wanted to.

Hesitant to speak again, Rem recomposed herself.

Rem: But how can YN-kun forgive Rem? For all the pain, and the... death, that she caused him? How can Rem ever hope to—

YN: Because there's nothing to forgive. I don't think you did a single thing wrong, Rem. Since it all led up to this, I wouldn't have it any other way. I would endure it a thousand times over if that's what it took to get here.

Rem: But—!

YN: If you need forgiveness, forgive yourself. Someone as kind and special as you are shouldn't hate themselves.

Hearing his words, YN could see the expression change from one of shock, to relief. As her face softened, so did the shape of her eyes. With a few "hics" of the incoming shower of tears, Rem began to cry, not out of horror or grief or guilt, but out of relief.

Knowing that this was going to be a long one, YN pulled Rem close once more as the torrent was unleashed.

As the two sat on the floor of YN's room, from the window shined an array of deep orange hues all around them as the sunset came to its conclusion with twilight about to set in. The halls of the currently empty mansion were filled with Rem's wails of relief from the agony and guilt she had felt just moments earlier while she was softly rocked in YN's arms.

By this point, YN's shirt was made thoroughly damp from tears Rem had shed letting all the pressures of her emotions out.

Looking across the room, YN saw from outside the window that it was indeed night time now, as the moon's glow was the only source of light that the room had now.

Both YN and Rem had spent the last unknown amount of time in each other's arms, holding each other as the pressure of their feelings were released.

Neither had spoken a word the entire time, as there was nothing to be said. They had each other, and that was all they needed.

By the time Rem's crying had subsided mostly to a soft sob, they both heard the opening of the mansion's front door, followed by steps making their way up the stairs, and down the halls.

While too soft for YN to hear, Rem had broken the silence between them, hearing the faint voices of Subaru and Emilia, returning from the village where the two had gone to see a wandering bard.

Rem: Emilia-sama and Subaru-kun have returned, Rem can hear their voices.

Looking up at YN, he nodded in simple reply.

Moving Rem off his lap and letting go of her, YN stood up for the first time in a long while. He had been sitting on the hard, wood floor for so long he could feel the pain it left in his knees and back and legs.

Giving the stiffness a quick stretch, YN quietly tiptoed to his door and twisted the lock under the handle. While he seriously doubted Emilia or Subaru would attempt to check in on him this late, he allowed no small chance to flourish into a possible reality.

Turning back to Rem, YN knew that, at least until Subaru went to sleep, he'd possibly hear Rem leave his room, making for a rather awkward situation.

Whispering over to her, YN explained.

YN: I think you might want to hang out here for a bit longer, that way we don't give off the wrong idea.

Nodding, Rem began to stand but stopped halfway through, a look of suspicion on her face as her eyes turned to the now locked door.

Walking over on her knees, and placing one ear on the door, Rem closed her eyes and listened. Not wanting to distract her by asking what she heard, YN also tip-toed back over, placing his ear on the door as well.

As he did, he could hear what had caught Rem's attention.

Voices. Familiar ones at that.

Looking up at YN, Rem whispered back to YN.

Rem: It seems Emilia-sama and Subaru-kun are having a late night conversation. From the sound of it, the door is open.

Taking his ear off the door, YN lent his hand down for Rem to stand back up.

Taking his hand, Rem stood herself back up and watched YN's face as he contemplated what his next move was.

I really don't want to sit on the floor anymore, but there's only one chair in the room.

Looking over to the moonlit bed, YN also disregarded that as well.

The bed would be a bit... awkward at this juncture. We'd better not.

Looking around the room, YN finally had a better idea.

While it's still the floor, at least it'll be better, and we've really got no other choice.

With Rem still hooked to his hand, YN walked to the far corner of the room, and turned to sit down.

Putting his back against the wall for support, and letting his legs sprawl out, allowing them further recovery from being bent for so long, YN explained his actions with another whisper.

YN: There's a pretty good chance if we can hear them, they might hear us, so we should stay as far from the door as possible.

Nodding at YN's thoughtfulness, Rem replied.

Rem: Then should Rem—

Pointing, YN further explained.

YN: I'll let you have the chair, you can—

With Rem turning her back to him, he had assumed she also had the same idea, to grab the chair by his studying desk and sit on that.

Except, rather than walking over to the desk, Rem had decided to sit where she now stood.

With a short scoot backwards, Rem was between YN's out spread legs, with her back against his torso, her legs also were left forward like his. In the same way YN sat against the wall, Rem sat against him.

As Rem pressed up against him, YN continued what he was saying, except in a much more surprised tone.

YN: —or you can do that. T-this works too.

Without a reply, Rem reached and grabbed YN's hands that were still at his sides, and brought them around in front of her. With his arms now around her waist, Rem folded her fingers around his, and leaned her head back against him.

YN didn't have a clue as to what was going on at that very moment.

W-w-what is Rem's goal here?

Taking a deep, calming breath, Rem finally whispered a response.

Rem: YN-kun.

Trying to wet his now dry throat, YN croaked out a response to the girl he now held.

YN: Y-Yes?

Rem: If your heart doesn't stop beating so hard, Emilia-sama and Subaru-kun are going to hear.

While he hadn't realized, with the way Rem sat, she would be entirely privy to the beat of his own heart. However, knowing that she was now aware of his nervousness, it only made his face heat up and turn red in embarrassment.

Judging by the reaction, Rem quietly giggled to herself before nuzzling her head against YN's upper chest and his neck, putting the top of her head just next to YN's cheek.

Feeling the grip of her hands around his increase just slightly, YN whispered in concern.

YN: Rem...

Rem: Before arriving in the Capitol, was that place before really an entirely different world?

Rem's question immediately snapped YN back to the here-and-now from his embarrassment. Thinking for a moment, YN answered Rem with a question of his own.

YN: Just... how far back did you see?

Rem: Rem remembers seeing very bright lights, spelling out words like YN-kun used to write.

Thinking for only a moment, YN knew exactly what Rem had seen.

YN: Ahh, the bright neon signs at the gas station. That was right before I ended up here.

Rem: 'Knee-on?' Is that some sort of magic in YN-kun's world?

YN: Eh, not really, but it might as well be.

Changing his tone to be a more serious one, YN lamented.

YN: But to be honest Rem, we don't have magic in the old world.

With an air of surprise on her voice, Rem somewhat raised her voice, bringing it above a whisper.

Rem: No magic?!

YN: Shhh!

Rem: Eep!

The two were silent for a moment, waiting for any reaction that Rem's surprise had created before they continued to hear the soft, very muffled, very distant voices of Emilia and Subaru continue as if nothing had occurred.

Being the first to speak back up, Rem controlled her surprise and returned to a whisper.

Rem: Doesn't that make life rather... difficult?

YN: We make do. Instead of healing magic we have very good physicians, and instead of using wind magic to make mayo, we have machines that can do the mixing for us.

Rem: Hmm...

The two were silent once more before Rem's tone changed as she asked her next question, as if worrying about something.

Rem: Does...

Answering with a simple "Hmm?", Rem continued.

Rem: Does... Does YN-kun want to go back?

Feeling Rem's grip on his hands tighten ever so, YN squeezed slightly back, as if reassuring her.

YN: If I'm being honest, there's a lot of things I'm going to miss. And eventually, things like my cell phone will begin to deteriorate until I can't use them anymore. And my car, that'll run out of gas before even that, and—

Rem: Rem is sure there's some sort of magic to fix those things! Even if they come from a world where magic doesn't exist, maybe there's some sort of substitute here that—!

YN: Rem.

Halting Rem's almost panic like rambling, YN reassured her.

YN: You don't need to try and convince me. Even if I was offered, I wouldn't go back to my old world. To me, this is my home now.

Thinking he had said the right thing to lift her spirits again, Rem remained silent, as if something else was still not right.

YN: Is that why you got so sad the first time I told you? When you asked if I was 'from beyond the Great Waterfall?'

Rem hesitated before answering, her heart being filled with a myriad of emotions.

Rem: It's just that, normally those who truly are from beyond the Great Waterfall go on to much bigger and more important things then just being a groundskeeper. They get all sorts of marriage proposals or are sought after for their knowledge... Rem was worried she'd lose YN-kun to the promise of better opportunities... Rem was scared YN-kun would leave.

YN: Rem, I—

Rem: But what worries Rem more now, is that doesn't YN-kun miss his friends or family from his own world? How can YN-kun just abandon all that?

YN knew Rem was completely right. And he knew what she felt by that. If he could leave all that behind, what would stop him from doing it again?

Sighing, YN answered as best as he could.

YN: I do miss them, don't get me wrong. I didn't come from any overly extravagant life or place of privilege. I had some parents, some friends, that was about it. Sure there might have been some opportunities I passed up, or failed to achieve, but truthfully, I can't say I ever really felt like I belonged there, not like I do here.

Turning his head to look out of the sliver of the window he could still see, YN continued.

YN: I've never felt the sense of accomplishment and belonging that being here, with you, gives me.

Shaking his head, YN concluded.

YN: Nobody could promise me anything that could begin to give me that same feeling.

Letting go of his hands, Rem turned around and buried her face in YN's chest, and wrapped her arms around him. In a muffled voice, Rem asked her final question.

Rem: Will YN-kun 'reset' this? Does YN-kun, deep down, not want Rem to know these things?

Running his fingers through the soft blue hair on the back of her head, YN answered.

YN: It doesn't really work that way...

Shaking her own head, Rem replied.

Rem: And Rem doesn't fully understand... how it all happens, but it's still probably dangerous for YN-kun to try and say, isn't it?

YN: I have no clue.

Rem was silent for a moment before turning to sit back as she had before, this time YN offering up his hands for her to hold as she had before.

Rem: Rem suspects that even if she didn't want to forget, if YN-kun truly wanted to, he could prevent it.

With her own concession to YN with regard to his 'ability' in the matter of his potential desires to her own, YN felt a pang of guilt as he feared Rem had begun to think of herself as ultimately, powerless towards him. A complex he did not wish for her to have.

YN: Rem, please don't think that I would ever—

Rem: YN-kun misunderstands. All Rem wishes to say, is that she trusts YN-kun. But Rem knows, that as long as she remembers what she does, Rem will never doubt YN-kun. That's why—

Feeling her hand tremble as she asked, YN began to hear Rem's voice begin to shake as well.

Rem: Rem is begging YN-kun, please don't let her forget. If only so that she knows she can always, no matter what, trust him.

Feeling him reply with a simple nod, Rem tightened her grip on YN's hands.

The two sat in peaceful silence as they held each other's hands as the muffled voices of Subaru and Emilia continued.

With a thought coming across his mind, there was still one loose end to tie up with this conversation however.

YN: Hey Rem, promise me something, would you?

Rem: Yes?

YN: Maybe, don't let Subaru in on the fact that you, well, know now. It might severely complicate things.

Tilting her head, Rem couldn't understand the reasoning.

Rem: But wouldn't it be useful if he knew Rem knew? Rem can help if something happens.

YN: I don't want you to think we don't want your help, but I don't know how Subaru will react, that's the problem.

Rem: Does YN-kun think Subaru-kun might try and prevent Rem from finding out.

Shrugging his shoulders, YN lamented.

YN: I can't say if he would, or even if he could. I'm also fearful of the opposite.

Rem: What do you mean?

YN: I mean, what if he wants more than just you to know? What if he tries to get Emilia to do the same thing you did?

Rem was silent as she gave the scenario some thought. Nodding her head down, Rem slowly agreed.

Rem: It's doubtful Emilia-sama could weather the same conditions Rem did.

YN: Exactly, not to mention the consequences it might have with you-know-who.

Lifting her head up and nodding with a shared agreement, Rem also asked a promise of her own.

Rem: Rem also wants to ask a favor.

YN: By all means.

Turning around again, Rem wrapped her arms around YN once more, this time above his shoulders.

At this angle YN could feel Rem's chest pushed up against him as she placed her face against his. Cheek to cheek, and whispered in his ear.

Rem: YN-kun.

With the lightness and warmth of her breath being felt against his ear, her voice jolted all his senses and made his hairs stand on end.

Rem: If things ever do get reset, please tell Rem. Rem wants to know about all the things she missed, and if she can help YN-kun.

Taking her hand, Rem lightly stroked the back of YN's head.

Rem: Rem always wants to stand next to YN-kun and help him, not behind him. So please, don't leave Rem in the dark.

Taking his own arms and holding Rem closer, YN agreed.

YN: I promise you Rem, I won't leave you behind. If anything happens, we face it together. That's what relying on each other means.

Hugging him back more as well, Rem whispered in his ear once more.

Rem: Rem is so glad things turned out this way.

The two continued to embrace each other in the dark, moonlit room, even as the voices of Subaru and Emilia had long stopped conversing.

Both YN and Rem were the happiest they'd been in their lives, for they had each other.

A/N: And thus concludes the story's experimentation with it's create license on how RBD and magic work. I hope you all enjoyed chapter 36 as much as I did to write it.

The next series of chapters will cover what occurs in the Memory Snow OVA, so if you haven't watched the movie, or read the WN stories of "Some Like It Cold" and "Alcohol Panic" (which Memory Snow adapts), then beware of spoilers. If you've watched all of the first season, you should watch the Memory Snow OVA Movie as it takes places right in the middle of the season practically.