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SOOOO! This darling chapter was made with the help of a wonderful other person on the plate form Mementomori115, who sent me a basic outline and structure of a little plot bunny that they had and I thought this was a great idea to throw in not only because it helps with an underlying problem that I am about to bring up in later chapters, it actually gives it a backstory. If anyone else has something like this, please feel free to PM me and be courteous Understand I may make changes, I may not like the flow of it or I may not put it in at all. It's all about having fun no?
**Hello, I would like the preface this note with I know Fate. I've been in the Fate Fandom for a good 10 or so years, I've been obsessed with FGO since before it came to the states and I have been playing it since about a month into it's localized version. Username Lothlorien, 290,060,957. I know Fate and I know what is and is not possible within the Fate universe. Anything I change or do is a AUTHOR'S INTERPRETATION and POSSIBILITY. I get some people may not like what I've done but I don't work for you, I do this for my own pleasure and if there is a continuous problem with reviewers just shitting on this story even though I have either asked you to 1. Please Stop and 2. Just stop reading and they continue to put harsh reviews, thats fine. You can do that...I can also block you from seeing this story you so hate! Please keep that in mind when you wish to make multiple scathing reviews for a story you supposedly think is 'absolute garbage' or 'has no real knowledge of the fate universe'.
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Enjoy~!
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHALDEAN EXODUS
The room was spartan, lacking anything other than the bare essentials for it to qualify as an office. An oak desk occupied the room's center, attended to by two individuals who sat opposite each other. The room held a third occupant, but he was content to stand with his back against the wall and languidly take another puff from his cigar. The sound of his exhale was the only noise to break the uncomfortable silence of the meeting taking place
Ritsuka interlocked his fingers and placed his hands on the desk, leaning forward slightly in an obvious attempt to project a sense of intimidation in order to close the distance between himself and his 'guest'.
"So, here we are. You pulled enough teeth to make a pair of dentures to get this far, so I hope it's all you hoped for and then some." the teen/man(?) remarked with his near constant firm tone of voice.
The detective who sat opposing the head of Chaldea didn't show a hint of weakness despite the oppressive atmosphere. He was well aware of his current position; dead-center of the lions' den with ravenous beasts lurking around every corner. Still, he had gotten this far, and he'd be damned if he gave up now.
"Thereabouts." the detective replied while keeping his steady gaze aimed directly at Ritsuka's own. "Though I expected some form of refreshments to be provided. Then again, I suppose you aren't very accustomed to hosting guests." he added as a subtle jab towards Chaldea's secretive nature.
The director nodded with a faint grin playing on his lips. "True. Most of our visitors are limited to museum access only."
A few moments of silence passed, the man with the cigar taking another drag.
Not shifting his eye-contact with Ritsuka, the detective reached down and lifted a small briefcase which he then placed on the table. "Enough with pleasantries, we both know why I'm here." the detective stated before opening up the case and revealing its contents; criminal records, identification photos, arrest warrants, and numerous other pieces of paperwork.
"At least you don't bother beating around the bush when it comes to things like this." Ritsuka opined as he straightened up his posture.
"While brandishing a weapon at you and demanding answers would have been much faster a strategy, I actually intend to remain civilized about this." the detective explained as he began pulling out papers and lining them up in front of him.
"I am sure you know how ban of an idea it is to brandish a weapon to the director of Chaldea," He commented. "Not only do I know how to fight, and then my guards..you're not that intimidating.
The man gave a roll of his eyes before he continued. "First off, I'd like to make an admission of sorts."
Ritsuka raised a brow in curiosity. "Hoh? And just what might that be?"
With a perfectly straight face, the man spoke. "I do not wholly condemn your killings of villains."
For once, Ritsuka was actually slightly surprised. This detective was the first person to ever openly admit any form of consent for all the blood they spilled. Inclining his head, Ritsuka gestured for the man to continue.
"Regardless of how the populace perceives it, there are necessary evils in this world that must be enacted to ensure peace and order for society as a whole. If it were up to me, quite a number of those monsters in prisons would be given a, shall we say, permanent solution to the threat they represent. But we both know that no one man can change the nation, let alone the world."
"We this is a pleasant surprise for once. And I am wholly aware that no one person can change a nation" Ritsuka remarked in a less serious tone. "Yet I sense a counterpoint coming up."
The detective nodded. "I do not condemn you for killing Villains. What I do condemn however, is that you are Killing villains."
A frown formed on Ritsuka's face as he mulled over what was said. "Is that so? Do you wish to elaborate further?"
"You preach that the world is not black and white, claiming it to be greyscale. However I find it hypocritical that you say it's grey, and yet you treat it as black and white anyway."
Aside from the deepening frown and glare that formed on Ritsuka's face, he showed no other reaction. The detective took that as a sign that he could continue.
"For your organization, it is all or nothing, life or death, black or white. You will just as quickly kill a mass-murderer as you would a thief. To you, everyone in this world gets just one chance to prove which side of the divide they are on, and then you judge them accordingly."
"We kill those who are deserving of it." the director of Chaldea said while cocking his head to the side with a small smile. But the tighetung of his clenched hands he held before him betrayed his expression.
"Really? You only kill those who are deserving?"
Feeling like the man wanted verbal confirmation once more, Ritsuka responded again. "Yes. Do you think we do otherwise? That we go around maiming jaywalkers and scalping people for a DUI?"
Narrowing his eyes, the detective grabbed two files in particular and slid them over to Ritsuka for him to examine. Both of them were criminal records with photographs of the perps on the cover. Ritsuka didn't recognize the faces or the names, however the room's third occupant had wandered over to look as well. He recognized the faces.
"Jean Lefaux and Elaine Heslin." the detective stated as Ritsuka went over the files. "A few months back they attempted a robbery at the Banque de France, but were ultimately thwarted. No civilians were harmed during the crime, save for a few scrapes and bruises from falling over due to the spectacle of their escape. Prior to this incident, their rap sheets list several cases of petty theft and other non-violent misdemeanors. And despite all that, your hero, Bonaparte, attempted to kill them on sight."
Lacing his fingers together, this time it was the detective who leaned forward in a show of confidence.
"Tell me, did they deserve to be killed?"
Ritsuka's smile fell slightly, and Count looked particularly incensed.
"They survived, didn't they?"
The detective nodded. "If not for the timely intervention of another hero, the two of them would have been little more than a stain on the streets of Paris."
The director of Chaldea slid the files across the table and back to the detective. "What's done is done, and they got out of it fine."
"You're right. It's all in the past, and they were fortunate enough to survive." the man confirmed before pulling out another file for presentation. "But what about something that can't be undone?"
A new file, this one Ritsuka was somewhat familiar with, if only for the PR nuisance it became.
"Jacob Webber. Shot dead during a hostage situation. A hostage situation that Billy the Kid was responsible for ending."
Ritsuka scoffed. "He was going to kill someone."
A shake of the head. "No. No he wasn't." the detective countered, looking somewhat aggrieved. "Had you followed up on the case, you would have learned that he himself was being held hostage."
"Bullshit." Ritsuka responded immediately, certain that he was in the right.
Again, he shook his head in the negative. "Jacob owed money to some less-than-savory men, and they had taken his wife and child as collateral to ensure his cooperation. After all, his Quirk was perfect for the job they needed done… Multiple requests have been made for the mans' remains to be returned to his family, yet all of them have been ignored."
Ritsuka faltered for a moment, which was a fatal mistake. A single show of weakness was all the detective needed. "Listen, we-"
"Forget the public, has Billy even made a private apology to the family in person? Tell that eight-year-old boy that he is the reason his father is gone? Tell me, did he deserve to be killed?"
"We couldn't have known at the time… but…"
Another moment of hesitation. The detective pressed the advantage and piled on more. A fourth file slid across the table.
"Takafuki Ryuuto, former cop turned vigilante. He was a single father with no other family save his fifteen-year-old daughter, the mother having died when she was hit by a drunk driver the year prior. So, can you imagine how he felt when he returned home one night to find his daughter had been raped and murdered by the serial killer whose case he was working on? Ravager was a sick fuck who needed to be put down, and with nothing left to lose, Ryuuto decided that he would be the one to do it. It took some time, but he finally managed to track down Ravager and corner him in an alley. I suppose you could say fortune smiled upon him, allowing him to exact revenge against the monster that killed his daughter. However, misfortune was quick to follow. Moments later one of your heroes, Okada Izo -who had been patrolling the area- found him with the serial killer's lifeless body at his feet… Ryuuto didn't even get the chance to explain himself before he was cut from shoulder to hip."
It was silent between the three of them, the two men staring at one another with such intense gazes that one would be burned while the third merely watched with a smirk on his lips.
"Tell me, did he deserve to be killed?"
'No...he didn't," the director sighed, leaning back as Count went back to his little corner. "You're right, we don't research. We are still thinking like we did back then but with even little resources.
Now the detective was angry. "Little resources? You monopolize the whole game when it comes to that. Some Hero agencies can't even get off the ground-"
"Not the resources that you seem to think of," the director interrupted. "I admit this...we have done too much evil, we work in black and white...now."
"What?"
"I guess you could say in the end we wanted to be a hero organization but our thought of heroes is vastly different even from what you perceive," he smiled.
"Do not try and talk all fancy to get out of the question-"
"I'm not. I'm explaining a truth to you that you will never explain to the world," Ritsuka sighed.
"So you all really do enjoy murder and useless death-"
"I have seen useless death," Ritsuka growled. 'I have seen what it does to people and I have felt it myself. No one truly knows it anymore. That man who was taken to perform the robbery had no doubt a month to run. To hide. But in this world he thought he would be safe if he reported it to the heroes? Things don't work so fast.``
"I will not allow you to turn this conversation away," he fumed. Practically exploding into a standing position, the detective slammed his hands on the table with as much strength as he could muster. "DID THEY DESERVE TO DIE?! ANSWER THE QUESTION!"
"My my," Ritsuka gasped, smiling as Count began to envelop him in his shadow. "Such anger you have, while not unwarranted...it's misunderstood."
"There is nothing to misunderstand," he leaned forward, uncaring of the demonic look on Edmond's face as he did so. "Did they deserve to die?"
"No they didn't, and that fault is on us," Ritsuka smiled as he pushed Edmond back to the shadows of the room. "Because we perceive everyone as an enemy because up until this point everyone has been."
"You have the love and support of millions of people-"
"Chaldea has had no such thing up until now," his voice wavered but the detective had no idea what he meant. "
"What bullshit. What of your classes, you so loved and hated," the detective demanded.
"Stalking children," Ritsuka commented as the man slammed photos of the classes he had. "My, my, you are stalking children."
"Aizawa was right to try and expose you. Your an abuser-"
"If your speaking of his little stint of looking through my iPad? Well, it seems harsh to you all, but Chaldean heroes are notoriously bullheaded. Strict punishment is needed and at times...they enjoy," he shrugged.
"Did you do that with your classes-"
"I. Do. Not. Harm. Children."
The detective stepped back at the tone, fearing the look in man/teen eyes as he gazed into them.
"But they fear you."
"I have given them nothing to fear."
""The students of 1-A fear and revile you because you have only displayed to them the 'black' side of you. 1-B on the other hand admire and respect you, but only because you present to them your 'white' side." The detective snarled as he sat back down. "You show such kindness to the other heroics class for what? Because they fall in line?"
"No...I show them kindness because the whole world only sees A-1, the class that survived the villains. Second best is what B-1 is referred to as. And by god I will show them kindness that comes with someone who has seen A-1 and there…'heroics'. And I will show A-1 that just because they survived and because everyone seems to think them amazing, I don't think so."
"That's demented. You tell us to try and understand you, yet I doubt you even understand yourself! You switch from one side to the other whenever it is convenient, then you act offended when we call you out on it!" He was getting angry again as he stared at the now cool and calm director. He lost his advantage.
"I won't deny that," he sighed, flicking his black hair back. "I guess my kind is hard to understand...or that I have truly forgotten what my kind is like."
"Enough with the poetic bullshit! You give aid to the unfortunate with one hand, and then bitch-slap the rest of us with the other! No one can see the world from your point of view, because your view of the world is fractured!" the detective fumed as his temper continued to rise. "I am more than willing to look at the world from your perspective, but I damn well expect you to respect me by making an attempt to view my side as well!"
"I see the world from every point of view. I just refuse to change my own because in the end I know what is the best route. I have struggled to obtain such a gift so I no longer have to struggle to survive," Ritsuka hissed, leaning forward enough that the detective caught sight of something red under his collar.
"What the fuck do you need to surive for. When you have billions coming in from all over the world!"
"I have been trying to survive for over 10 years in this hell hole of an organization that I did not want to come too." He gave that sort of giggle you give when you're unsure or unstable.
"How the hell are you director?"
"That's the Million Dollar Question no?" His smile was bleak as he leaned forward, the detective feeling as if his true personality, unhinged and incredibly smart, was coming out. "How does someone who one despised the thought of flying all the way to another country in the middle of bumfuck nowhere for a summer job to being director?"
"No way this place has been here for over a decade," the detective snapped, looking through his files and notes before whipping his head up to see the sad smile of the director. "No way."
"We were attacked...twice. Only 12 of the original crew of 300, including myself, still reside. We survived for years like that before all of this came together," he smiled like it was a sick joke. "Tell me, did all of them deserve to die for trying to do there job."
"Tough question, because no one knows what Chaldea even is supposed to be."
"Fair enough...I don't even know myself," Ritsuka shrugged.
"How the hell is that possible?"
"Because it was something meant for Humanity."
"You make it sound as if you have none."
"Everyone always says," he turned to Count, who sent the Detective reeling back at the absolutely unnatural and demonic eyes he now had...he had two iris'. "But," he turned back to the detective. "No one seems to think that I simply do not understand humanity anymore."
"Thats a stupid excuse."
"But it's true. I love humanity as if I was a simple observer...I despise it as well. But as a human I cannot comprehend my own people anymore and I only understand the will of my servants."
"What?'
"Those people may not have deserved to die but in the eyes of my heroes they did."
"That's bullshit."
"Jean Lefaux and Elaine Heslin, they had petty crimes that would lock them away for decades, but when they attacked the Banque de France, their fate had been sealed in the eyes of Napoleon Bonaparte."
"How the hell was it seal-"
"Billy wasn't just doing a hostage situation. He was reliving his time long, long ago in the lawless and scarcely populated and supplied west of America. Where you didn't know shit about the person facing the business end of a gun until the poor bastard was already dead."
"That is not an excuse."
"Takafuki Ryuuto? He was nothing more than a challenge for Izo to overcome. Granted the man's a bloody happy idiot that will want to destroy and conquer anyone he perceives as a threat to the title he held long ago."
"What are you getting at?"
"Heroes'' is such a broad term that I cannot help but pity this place we have come to that does not understand us. I have tried to teach my servants but in the end they follow their own rules." Ritsuka has a 'oh, what can you do' gesture with his shoulders and face, leaning back as Count moves to smoke the last of his Cigar.
"You know what I think about you a lot?" the detective asked with a sneer, though the question was obviously rhetorical.
"I'm sure you're going to say it regardless of my response." What a cheeky little shit this director was.
"You are weak." he spoke coldly and without emotion, as if he were an executioner about to drop the ax for the umpteenth time. "You are so unbelievably weak that it makes me sick. You arrogantly parade around and show-off your power like a proud peacock, stubbornly oblivious to all the failures you have accrued. If Billy is such a great shot, why couldn't he shoot the weapon out of Jacob's hand? Why is it that Bonaparte's first reaction is to go for the kill? The reason you kill so much is because you are too weak to do otherwise."
"Watch your tone." the Count growled as dark energy began to gather in his hand. He moved to get closer but a raised hand from his master had him stopping but the shadows began to move erratically behind him.
The detective wholly ignored him. "Ever since your group made their debut, you've done little more than leave a path of carnage in your wake, expecting us -the people you view as inferior- to clean up after you without complaints... Well, we're tired of our demands falling on deaf ears, so consider this an official declaration of war."
The man didn't even bother to acknowledge the blade that was centimeters away from piercing the back of his neck. It was just another in a long line of threats against his life as a result of his job.
"War...what does the people know of war," Ritsuka asked. "All you know of war is in history and fights against so called…'organizations'," he brushed off. "There is no good or bad side in war, there is simply pain and misunderstandings. When true war breaks out it will not be us that falls."
"Even if I must do it alone, I will drag you people down from that gilded throne upon which you sit, and throw you into the muck that you so fervently ignore."
"A...A gilded throne," Ritsuka was shaking with laughter as he hugged himself. "Me, sitting on such a throne? How hilarious," he gasped. "Do you know what I have done to situate myself upon such a throne? The muck that you claim I ignore that I had to crawl through like the lowest worm in society. Being pissed on for making the smallest move forward? For what? A throne that means nothing with a holy crown of thorns dripping in blood, sin and calamity? I sit upon no throne no longer."
"Fuck you," the detective snarled.
"Orders, Master?" Katou Danzo asked from her position behind the detective. Her eyes glowed as he glowered at the man who reminded her so much of those bastards at the association.
The detective smirked. "Kill me now, and all that does is prove I was right about everything I said~."
"No...it proves nothing. Because..I can assure you," Ritsuka breathed. "We kill because the other option is simply...too barbaric. It's as the saying goes. Do not fear death, but fear the situation in which you wish for death."
"Threatening me with torture," he laughed. "How like you?"
Ritsuka was silent as he held out his hand, the detective staring at the unmarred flesh with a raised brow before giving his hand with a smirk. It fell at the coolness of the hand before he screamed when as quick as a flash, Ritsuka had grabbed his middle finger and snapped it back.
"GAHHH," he screamed, clutching his wrist as his body fell to the table.
"Did you not heed my warning?" Ritsuka commented as he brought his hand back. "And I am afraid you do not know chaldea truly. No one really can."
"Monster," the detective gasped, moving to grab his files, shoving them into the case before moving to get up. Quick as a flash Count was behind him and clamped a hand on his shoulder, pushing him down onto the seat once more. His other hand grabbed his right pocket and took out the recorder that had been running and crushed it easily in his hands.
"We're not done I'm afraid. You're a smart man, and I am sure that you mean what you say when you say that you have claimed such a declaration of war against us" He gave a feral smile as Danzo aimed a ready to fire weapon from her arm at him.
The detective clenched his hand, nothing more.
"Foolish, in the end. War is not something you know anything about. War is ugly, no hope is allowed on such a battlefield that we will find ourselves upon," Count crooned as he leaned closer. "You may think yourself a threat to us, but you're nothing but dirt."
"I'm sure you like to think you have the upper hand, but you should be realizing by now that your quirk has no effect on me or anyone else here," Ritsuka gave a wry smile. "Because we cannot be harmed by quirks," he grinned as he leaned back. "You're not as powerful as you seem to think you are."
"Then my theory of you being helped by All For One just got a bit more real," he hissed.
'Listen here, Arata Fujiwara," Ritsuka sighed. "You seem to have this idea of Chaldea, and it's all wrong. And it will be forever and always."
"Your all fucking crazy."
"Mayhaps. But that's how it is,:
"Then you're blind."
Maybe," he cocked his head with a shrug. "Time will tell. For now best you leave everything with you and head out. We will not kill you. You have my promise on that. But you won't be able to spread this. Since the recorder is gone and….well," the director traced a strange symbol onto the briefcase which promptly burst itn the flames. "All this paperwork is gone too."
"You're a monster. And your freaks."
"I know. Now...enjoy this information, as one of the few I have told." He smiled. "And that finger is also my warning," he smiled. "Do keep that in mind."
"Monster."
"Hmmm. And do tell your boss that...I look forward to I-Island."
EXEMPLUM CHALDEA, 1 DAY BEFORE I-EXPO
Ritsuka opened his eyes, agitation coursed through him as that accursed detective found his way into his dreams. Blinking to see through the blackness of his room, he shifted around before attempting to turn over. He came to a stop when two arms tightened around him and his head went to the side where Castor lay, asleep and mussed up from their night together. On his other side Percival laid his head in the crook of his neck.
That's right. He called them into his rooms to which Castor happily obliged while Percival left before coming back.
"Are you up," Percival murmured into his neck, Ritsuka turning to the knight who opened his eyes to gaze into his masters.
"You came back...but you did not take anything I would give," Ritsuka murmured, hand coming up to caress the back of the knight's head and push him closer.
"I will not do such a thing to my master," he whispered, hugging the man tightly.
"I was giving you permission too. I was allowing you to take from me," Ritsuka mumbled, sighing as he was clutched tighter by the soft knight.
"Master you love so much...so much," he sighed. "But I cannot condone you just...doing this."
"I give love to my servants-"
"You drown in love so you do not have to face what has happened all those years ago. To the love you-"
"Silence Knight. Speak no more of this," Ritsuka was firm with him, the other nodding before moving up and off the rather large bed. "You will leave?"
"No...I have a bath prepared for you. A milk bath with butter and goat's milk, rose extract as well," he explained, handing a robe to his master who detangled from Castor who did not wake.
"What is it you wish from me," Ritsuka demanded as he moved from his bedroom to the grecco-roman bath where the white liquid swirled with red rose petals. "I know this tactic too well, dearest knight."
"My king...my comrades and the Fairy Knights along with Morgan wish to go back to Nabu Island."
"No," Ritsuka snapped, removing his robe before moving into the thick liquid. "You know what will happen if we are seen."
"My Liege please," Percival kneeled down. "Nabu Island may have an extra Mana deposit we may need in the future. Leaving it risks the others in finding it," he begged.
"We cannot be seen out in the open. That will create too much a problem on many ends," Ritsuka felt weary.
"We Knights of the Round will be able to keep on the down low and Lady Morgan with her Fairy Knights will be able to use confusion with their natural mystery to keep people away from the old fort," he pressed.
"I haven't felt this much aggravation since that detective came to us to try and expose us," ritsuka sighed as he rubbed his shoulder, allowing Pervical to rub his hair. "Speaking of, he should be attending the expo."
"He tried to record your first meeting, correct?"
"Yes," Ritsuka nodded. "He's a thorn in my side, but he poses no real threat. Hassan has been watching him in rotations with the Shinobi."
"It sounds like you are worried about the man and what he may do," Percival commented.
'I'm more worried about what he will do to obtain information...bad enough he sent people into our Indian and Russian Branch to try and steal information. He's too much of a coward to go in himself after I snapped his finger."
"Smart man," Percival smiled.
"Not smart enough," Ritsuka huffed before he looked to the side. "Ah. Carmilla and Eliza left some plasma and blood?" He stared at the large piles of blood and plasma bags to the side that were left next to the air conditioner.
"Yes, they seem to think a milk, rose and blood bath may help calm you down before you head to I-Island." Percival commented as he moved to grab the bottle of wine, really bless their souls, and pour his master a glass. The man accepted, sipping with a relieved sigh.
"Might as well, I rarely indulge nowadays," he sighed, motioning for Percival to put the plasma and blood in.
"I am surprised you decided to participate in what they did in their life. You already have an expanded lifespan. No need for you to do this," he commented, pouring the liquids into the white pool, slowly turning it a creamy pink.
"Back home blood facials were a thing. So this was just a step up and besides the staff donated this blood for me to do it. Not like I killed anyone to get it. Just like now," he hummed as Perciavl looked at the packets that held the descriptions of the people who donated.
Percival went to speak before a tone sounded off and a hologram of Sherlock appeared.
'Sorry to interrupt your post-coital relaxation master. But Archimedes has asked to speak with you regarding the recent happenings in Seraphix. He's being escorted to your rooms at the moment."
'He decides to speak now just as I am about to leave," Ritsuka groaned, head thrown back as he soaked in the warm bath. "Of course he would."
"Should we schedule it for another time?"
"No. I am not done with my bath, but he is Greek. He can deal with it."
"Very well." The hologram ended and in that moment Mori came in with a chained up Archimedes who smiled in response to his bathing master, well not really, he had no formal contract.
"Very Greek of you," he commented. "The bath and sleeping around." He groaned as he was punched harshly in the stomach and pierced with a death glare.
"Speak to the master with respect,' Mori barked. "He deserves every indulgence he wants!"
"I wasn't saying that he didn't," the man wheezed out.
'Don't kill him Mori," Ritsuka sighed, "I don't want him dead."
"How very kind of you," the man coughed as he shakily got up from his curled position and moved to get closer. He calmly raised his head as a lance appeared, the tip just touching his Adam's apple as he looked at the Holy Knight of the Dove.
"Not a step closer."
"He's a caster without a master," Ritsuka burst, looking annoyed. "I can break off his connection to mana with ease. He can't do anything," he snapped, brushing the two of them to the side as he allowed the caster to come closer. "Speak."
"First off, I would like to thank you for allowing me to live," Archimedes inclined his head.
"You were smart to betray the others while in my good graces," he commented, but nothing more.
"But of course. For one, you have the upper hand in the battle," Archimedes hit a nerve, but Ritsuka had enough of assholes trying to take advantage of them.
'Galahad is going to Seraphix to heal the crew, along with his master, correct?"
"I see that I have nothing to offer you."
"Oh, contrary," Ritsuka hummed, his index tapping the side of his glass as he looked at the caster. "You still have much you can offer me. Just don't betray me."
"You must know that I am not the loyal type," the man commented just as Mori began to growl behind him.
'Oh. I am fully aware," Ritsuka smiled as he waved at Mori to stop. "Which is why I have you not only under constant surveillance...but the moment that betrayal is neigh? I pull the plug on the mana helping you manifest and have you killed on the spot."
"If I didn't fear you, I would be in love with you," the mathematician commented.
"So many people say...I can't stay in this world any longer," Ritsuka breathed. "I...cannot exist here anymore...I want to go home...I want to go to my true home…"
"I understand...They will be heading into Seraphix during the second day of the Expo."
"Very well...have the staff prepare to vacate the area for the day and shut down all inner defenses," Ritsuka told Percvial who nodded. "Galahad's Master...is he who I think he is?"
"I think if you two had a proper meeting and perhaps had spent some time with one another...you might have loved him instead of Romani," Archimedes stated.
'I see…" Ritsuka smiled. "I see...take the chains off and send him back to his little cave for the time being."
'Freedom for little ol me," he asked as Percival grabbed the keys from an irate Mori.
"You're useful to me when you work," Ritsuka hummed. "Call me a bastard. Call me Evil. I am what I am to survive. And damn I will survive."
"Doesn't help I tried to kill you multiple times and take over Chaldea as a mana factory."
'That doesn't help either...now shoo!" Ritsuka smiled as he waved the freed Caster off. "And don't blame me if someone tried to attack you."
"Ah...no order not to attack...I knew this wasn't such an easy release," the Caster groaned before heading out.
"Why would I make anything easier for you,' Ritsuka called out before smirking at his groan. "Mori, mind getting everything ready for my departure and make sure nothing is left behind?"
'Of course master! I'll make sure those Mini Nobu know what to pack up!"
"Wonderful," Ritsuka smiled as he waved off the extra egar berserker just as Castor groggily came in.
"What are you doing, working while in the bath," he scoffed, moving to pour himself some wine as Percival went to grab a towel and prepare a regular bath for his master. "And you," Castor growled while turning on the knight. "You have the guts to deny master what he wants."
"Castor," Ritsuka snapped. "He is allowed to refuse."
"You offered him love and a body to warm himself with and he rejects it-"
"Silence. This will not be spoken of again!"
"...Very well." He sighed, moving to enter the bath himself.
"I admit what I am doing is not the best, but if anything can take my mind off of matters aside from teaching…" Ritsuka admitted, head in his hand as he tried to calm his nerves. "Ah, everything is truly going to hell."
"Master…:"
"Take the Knights of the Round, the Original Artoria along with Morgan and her Fairy Knights and have them try and figure out the secrets of not only that ruin but how to use the mana deposit."
"You're allowing us to go," Percival asked, jolting in shock.
"Might as well," he brushed off. "I need to release Mr. Webber for his family's funeral...luckily we haven't crystallized his body yet."
"You let that useless human get into your head," Castor grabbed Ritsuka's shoulder only to meet the business end of a lance. "YOU!"
"Do not grabe master in such a way!"
"ENOUGH! I AM STRESSED ENOUGH WITH I-ISLAND AND THE PAPERS. GO TO NABU ISLAND AND BY GOD JUST BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP," Ritsuka roared, sending the both of them reeling back.
"Head into masters bed, something is aggravating him," Castor barked, moving to stabilize Ritsuka who slumped in the bath. Percival rushed back into the bedroom, tearing the sheets off and strambing to get the pillowcases off before a simple scrap of paper fell out, a shikigami no doubt. On it was the first letter of the detective that was sent after the meeting.
"He's gotten better at hiding them," Ashiya hummed as he appeared behind Percival. "This one has been leeching off master and corroding his mental state long enough to push the memory of that meeting back into him. Master was fuming for weeks after the detective declared…'war' on us," he sighed. "This has been in effect since we left."
"That was three weeks ago," Percival gasped.
'Like I said, they've gotten better. They no doubt worked extra hard on this and expanded a lot of mana that they needed to make sure this stuck. Lest we forget that this Chaldea has the best magical defenses in the entire world. Ours and this ones," he smirked, sending the knight back in revulsion.
"So they want to frazzle the master to the point he makes a mistake?"
'They seem to have the idea that he is perfect now and makes no mistakes. But what they don't realize is while he is becoming inhuman, he still makes mistakes. It's his saving grace at the moment," Ashiya plucked the shikigami out of his hands. "And I hope I did hear right...Galahad's master is…?"
"You would know better than me. I'm one of the few that have been here the shortest," he sighed.
'Indeed, indeed," he nodded. "Make sure to keep this incense by the bed. Master should have dreamless sleep after this and the case of the detective will go to the Assassin's for now."
"Very well," Percival nodded, taking the burner and placing it as close as he could to the bed.
"Make sure the master rests up. The flight tomorrow will not be fun."
"Understood."
Ashiya left in the shadows and Percival could feel the unease and tension leave from his body the moment he did so.
He hated that man.
He headed back into the bath where his master was propped up against Castor's back, lulled to sleep by the humming of the Argonaut who glowered at him when he entered.
"Shikigami again?"
"Yes."
'Tch...master is too stressed nowadays. Mana, Teaching, UN, HC, Public relations, Public Image and all this other bullshit not meant for us," he growled.
"We must endure...for now at least."
'Says the man going to Nabu Island for research away from the scrutiny," Castor grumbled.
Percival was silent as they simply basked in the atmosphere before heading back to bed.
Comment on what you liked, what you think will happen! Feel free to PM me with ideas if you want to as well or theories of what will happen!