The plan was simple. They separated into two teams, partnering up with whom they swapped.
The plan worked well because the Emilia camp had been invited to stay at the Astrea Mansion, mostly because Reinhard and Subaru were buds, and because Reinhard felt like he was indebted to Subaru for last time.
Julius visiting the Crusch manor wasn't unheard of, he'd been there a few times for dinner. So it was no surprise to the workers at the Crusch manor when he showed up.
"Ah, Sir Reinhard, Sir Subaru, you have returned." A maid bowed to them as they entered the manor. Quickly glancing at each other and nodded, they hummed in agreement.
Reinhard, still in Subaru's body, spoke up. "I need to see Gre-.. Beako. Do you know where she is?"
Subaru felt a strong presence approaching him from the corridor.
"I am right here, I suppose. What does my hopeless contractor want now, I wonder?" A certain Great Spirit of Yin walked up to Reinhard and looked up at him, seemingly expecting something.
Reinhard gulped internally, going through the rehearsal they did earlier. He reached forward and pat her head, forcing a smile. "How could my Beako hurt me like this, I missed you, you know!" He said with a somewhat convincing enthusiasm.
Beatrice melted into his touch, a warm grin appearing on her face. Subaru felt a tang of jealousy in his heart. No one gets to touch his Beako like that but him. But for the sake of not being found out in front of the servant, he kept to himself.
Beatrice pulled away and looked at Subaru, who she, as well as everyone else, thought was Reinhard. She noticed his longing gaze and looked at him suspiciously. "What is it, I suppose?"
Subaru shook his head. "Nothing, Esteemed Great Spirit," he said in a low voice. Damn, this hurt.
Reinhard cringed at his friend's struggles, but the show must go on. "Hey Beako, I have something to ask you, Reinhard needs to come with us." He smiles.
Beatrice sighed and almost stomped her feet. "Why won't you spend time alone with Betty, I wonder? My contractor really knows how to break a maiden's heart, I suppose," she muttered.
They all walked into a private library, where Beatrice spent her day in, and closed the door behind them. As soon as the door was shut, Subaru let his shoulders fall loose while Reinhard stiffened up and sighed in relief.
Imitating someone else is real hard work.
"What is it, I suppose?" Beatrice asked in confusion, seeing the sudden change of character in the two.
Subaru approached Beatrice and wrapped his arms around her. "Oh Beako, it's terrible. We were relaxing in the spa and we fell asleep but when we woke up we had all switched bodies..." Amazing, he didn't even feel out of breathe at the end.
Beatrice ceased her resistance, but pulled away gently. "S-Subaru?" she asked, bewildered. Reinhard's soul had an incredibly high Spirit Affinity, and it was currently messing with her ability to think straight.
Reinhard coughed awkwardly. "I apologise for lying to you Esteemed Great Spirit, but we had to keep it secret. If word gets out that this has happened, bad things could happen."
Beatrice took a few steps back and leaned against a bookshelf. "I suppose that is true. How did this happen, I wonder."
"Reinhard said that it was Yang magic that made us swap bodies. I think I understand the science behind it, so I need your help to create a spell to get us back." Subaru took a deep breath, feeling quite stressed right now. Well, not as stressed as he has been in the past, but still quite stressed.
Beatrice put a thumb on her chin, in thought. "I suppose Yang magic can cause something like this to happen, in fact." She paused and looked at Subaru, who was now red-haired, and several feet taller.
"What do you theorise to be the science behind it?"
Subaru nodded, taking a deep breath. He explained the whole thing, and grinning when he saw a surprised Beatrice with stars in her eyes.
Ah, nothing like spoiling Beako with my otherwordly knowledge, honestly, she has such greed for information. I guess she takes after her mother, that witch.
"So I was thinking, if we're able to swap our memories back, we would essentially be reverted back." He finished, dramatically posing for extra effect.
Beatrice stared at him for one long moment. "It is very odd seeing someone else act like Betty's contractor, in fact," she muttered to herself. She shook her head and her drill-hair bounced. "A memory swap may be possible, I suppose. But Betty does not know any spell to accomplish it off the top of her head, in fact."
"Off the top of your head?" Reinhard echoed. This wasn't a phrase he knew, and he had the sneaking suspicion that its origins would very quickly become his problem.
"A Subaru-ism," Beatrice said. She blinked. "If you are impersonating each other consistently, that may be difficult to copy…"
"Impersonating each other?" Subaru interjected. "You mean you can't just swap us back now?"
He couldn't help but fidget back and forth on the balls of his feet. He didn't know what was up with Reinhard and Return By Death, but it'd be better if the two aforementioned entities were kept far apart.
His death back at the pool has left both Reinhard and Subaru confused, and the latter can't quite figure out his thoughts on the matter. He knew that Reinhard experienced it, because of the way he reacted when he returned by death.
Snapping back to reality, he remembered what his contracted spirit just said. Speaking of the drill-loli.
"I can't just make up a spell on the spot, in fact. You will just have to wait for me to research it, I suppose." She sighed, crossing her arms. This whole situation was ridiculous. Her contractor was possessing a body that she could barely be around without feeling nervous. The person in her contractor's body was someone who really wasn't one to give physical affection.
Damn, she really wanted a Subaru hug right now.
"So then we'll have to impersonate each other," Subaru concluded. He shook his head back and forth. Reinhard's longer hair brushed against his face and he stopped with a frown. "Great."
"Great Spirit Beatrice will surely find a solution soon," Reinhard said. In Subaru's voice it sounded much more pointed than in his own. He hesitated. To Beatrice he said, "Is there anything we can do to help?"
"No, in fact," Beatrice answered. She turned away. "Betty will start her research now. I would rather have this whole dilemma solved quickly, I suppose."
"Me too," Subaru agreed, heartfelt.
Reinhard turned towards him. "Would you like me to lead you back to the Knight's Garrison?" he offered awkwardly. It sounded awkward to Subaru, at least. Subaru knew his own I don't really know what I'm doing and I don't want to bother with bravado voice, and that was it.
Oh, of course. Reinhard is on duty this afternoon. Cause why not?
Subaru sighed and rubbed his face with his now over-sized hands. "Alright, sure. You are gonna have to explain to me what I'm supposed to do though."
Reinhard nodded. "It is quite simple, you just have to-"
"Not right now! On the way there!"
They walked out of the library, letting Beatrice do her research and create a spell to revert them back to their bodies. Turning the corner of the corridor, Reinhard turned recklessly and walked straight into Emilia.
The problem here though, is that Reinhard had realised he was walking into her halfway, and tried to stop. But due to the fact that he couldn't detect her presence beforehand, nor was he anywhere near as fast without his divine protections. He tripped.
He landed face first into Emilia's bosom. Subaru looked on in horror as Reinhard fulfilled one his life dreams. Reinhard fell to the floor, face first, while Emilia turned beet-red and stuttered.
"U-um. Sir Reinh-.. Sir Reinhard, I thank you for your.. I thank you for your hospitality." She managed to say as Reinhard slowly got up from the floor, rubbing his nose in minor discomfort.
Subaru gaped at Reinhard. Reinhard brushed himself off. He too was looking rather red in the face. Still he managed to look at Subaru pointedly.
"Yup," Subaru said in a very Reinhard-accurate way. He cleared his throat. "I mean," Channel your nerdery, Subaru! "tis no bane on my, uh, um…"
Wait, what was he saying? This was Reinhard! Subaru could do this! "No, thank you, L-Lady Emilia," Subaru said as grandly yet nicely as he could muster. "Subaru and I shall be going to the Knight's Garrison, right after Subaru apologizes for besmirching your honor."
That last bit was accompanied by a completely in-character Reinhard death-glare. Totally in character. Subaru was doing great at this.
Deactivating his Divine Protection of death glares, Subaru turned back to Emilia, giving a soft smile.
Reinhard stuttered a bit on his own words, his face seemingly getting redder and redder. After a small while, he managed to finally get a grasp on the Lugnican language once more. "I-I apologise. La-.. Emilia-tan." He racked his brain desperately to try and find a Subaru-ism to add at the end, but could not think of anything.
Subaru smirked, and shook his head in amusement. "Anyway, we shall be departing. Subaru will escort me to the Knight's Garrison and will be back shortly. I believe he wanted to spend the afternoon to help you with your speech at the event at the end of the week." He grinned.
That is what you get for being reckless, Reinhard.
The effect was instantaneous, Reinhard turned the brightest shade of red the human brain could even think of. Subaru chuckled and slapped his hand onto his shoulder. "Let's go, Subaru."
Walking down the corridor, they left Emilia to resume whatever she was doing beforehand. Looking at them walking down the corridor, her face turned confused as she thought to herself. 'What was that about? Subaru was acting.. Strange. Well, stranger than usual. He's always like this when something's going on. I have to ask him and make sure everything is okay.'
As soon as they were out of sight, Subaru's knightly chuckles turned into full-blown evil-laughter. In Reinhard's voice, it was the worst thing the world had ever experienced.
"Subaru," said Reinhard pitifully. Unfortunately for him, without his Divine Protection of Puppy Eyes, he had no power against Subaru.
Still the word was enough to remind Subaru of their position. He sobered immediately, turning to look at Reinhard in his body.
Subaru knew he could choose the hard path, here. He could choose to broach the topic of Return By Death, and in this unique situation he may even be able to talk about it. Finally, he may have a way to share his many, many struggles. Finally, he could have a true confidant.
Or Subaru could just mock Reinhard. That would work too.
…
He thought about it, mocking Reinhard was the best course of action. He'd come this entire time without confiding in anyone, he could go a little further.
This is, unless, Reinhard talks to him about it. If he did talk to him about it, then he had a lot of stories to tell. And it will be nice to finally vent his frustrations to.
By the time he had come back to reality from his thoughts, they were already outside. As if on cue, Reinhard stated the obvious. "I should probably explain to you what you have to do for the next four hours."
"Yeah, no shit Reinhard." He clicked his tongue. "Sorry, I don't know where that came from."
Reinhard eyed him. "You seem a little stressed, Subaru," Reinhard said delicately. Well, Subaru assumed that was what delicate sounded like in his own voice. He'd never quite managed it. "Is there something you'd like to talk about?"
Subaru eyed him back. "The body-swapping thing is a bit stressful, yeah." Something else you're trying to say, Reinhard?
Reinhard smiled in a way that was supposed to be reassuring. "Perhaps it'd be less stressful if you shared some tips for me to act like you." His voice turned wry. "That way, you won't have to worry about me ruining your reputation once more."
Subaru squinted at him. He genuinely couldn't tell whether Reinhard was insinuating something about Return By Death. Curse Reinhard's superior communication skills! "For one," Subaru started, salty, "don't talk that good."
Reinhard blinked. "Yes, Subaru, I'll try my best not to talk too good."
Subaru crossed his arms. "I can't tell if you're mocking me," he informed Reinhard haughtily.
"I'd never mock anyone," Reinhard promised, blinking more.
"If you're trying to activate a divine protection with all that blinking, it's not going to work." Subaru coughed. They were getting off track. "Anyways," he said. "Mimicking me… Do you know any of my Subaru-isms?"
Reinhard paused, scratching the back of his head. "I cannot say that I do. Please, enlighten me."
Subaru sighed. "First off, stop speaking like that. Speak as if you don't really care about the social hierarchy. Also, you need to sound very enthusiastic about it all. Use a lot of body language, wave your hands as you speak. But not too much."
Reinhard mentally took note of it all, nodding as he went along. Subaru was just about to start again when they both realised they were standing in front of the Knight Garrison.
"Ah, frick. Just say weird things, it'll probably sound normal coming from my body." Subaru admitted. "Right, so I just have to check in and patrol, yes?"
Reinhard nodded again, noticing that his neck was starting to get sore. "Yes. And I will try to keep your advice in mind."
Subaru nodded this time. "Okay good, just try to spend some time with Beako, she gets lonely. Don't forget to tease her. Also, when you're with Emilia-tan." Subaru paused and approached Reinhard, staring him down threateningly. "If you do anything to her, I will kill you. I do not care if you're the Sword Saint. I'll destroy Od Laguna if I have to."
Reinhard nodded, taken aback. "Of course," he managed after a few seconds. His voice came out startlingly rough.
Subaru stepped back, satisfied. "The mansion's that way," he said, pointing and then gesturing. "Go, shoo."
"Hopefully I'll see you shortly," Reinhard said with a dip of his head. Then he turned and started walking away.
It wasn't a long walk by any means, but as soon as Reinhard started walking he found himself wishing he could be back at the mansion already. Something was wrong, beyond this whole body-swap situation. Something was going on here, with Subaru, and Reinhard selfishly would rather dwell on the complications of impersonating someone else than whatever it was that had happened shortly after their bodies had been swapped.
Yet Reinhard could not stop his mind from drifting to—
To—
There was something in Reinhard's back.
He moved his arm back and then the pain started. It was like nothing Reinhard had ever experienced. It was a sick sensation—something hot was creeping through his guts, his stomach, his torso—
Reinhard had never felt so warm.
So cold.
He was so cold.
And now he was on his knees, and then he fell forwards onto his face.
Slowly he managed to turn himself—to look up—oh how it hurt—
"This feels too easy," said a voice, distant and ringing at the same time. There was cotton in Reinhard's ears. If the voice said anything else, it was lost under that roaring—under the feeling of blood pulsing out of Reinhard—he was so cold—
It hurt. It hurt. Reinhard died.
And it happened so quickly, yet so slow. He felt nothing yet everything. The freezing hot pain in his back, and the warmth of his body leaving him.
His vision faded to darkness, and he died. So, why was he standing here.
Why is here standing in front of the Knight Garrison, next to Subaru.
Why was Subaru staring at him like that, as if he just witnessed a murder.
What is happening.