In the very likely case that you're confused by the mention of Valentine's Day: I write these chapters long before I actually get around to posting. This is to both create a comfortable backlog for times where I lack inspiration, and so I can check, re-check, double- and then triple-check the chapters, often tweaking them a little with rewrites, rewording and correcting mistakes.
So yeah. After this chapter I'll be posting a bunch of Valentine-related chapters. By the time I get to the chapters about current events we'll likely be half a year further already.
(So sorry, but the Shimosa stuff is gonna be a while. On a positive note: the chapter I'm writing for that is large, so it'll probably get the rereading and tweaking needed by the time I get around to posting it!)
Anyways, without further ado: please enjoy!
It was a surprisingly peaceful day in Chaldea, and Gudako was taking the chance to rest in her room.
Mash had noted that it was a nice change of pace so shortly after the battle at the Temple of Time, but both Gudako and Da Vinci were certain it was just the calm before the storm that was the next event: Valentine's day.
While not at all opposed to the day itself – Gudako rather liked exchanging chocolates with her school friends in the past – after coming to Chaldea the event had taken a sharp degree up in seriousness. Not just because many of the feelings directed towards her were now more romantic in nature, but also because of the risk of extreme death being hidden amongst the chocolate she was to receive from certain female Servants. Particularly Elizabeth. Gudako had heard some of the horror stories from Servants who'd once been summoned together with her – she never quite got when and where from their vague explanations, and what the place had to do with the moon – and she wondered why the self-proclaimed idol had to be so bad at cooking. Her singing was bad enough, so couldn't she at least have received a little bit of talent in a not-torture-related area?
(It didn't help that that the small robot – made in a blue-haired person Gudako didn't know's likeness – had perished a few weeks ago taste-testing some riceballs Hassan of Serenity had made.)
Trying to avert her mind from her stomach's impending doom, Gudako sat up from her bed and walked towards her desk, intending to write some more in the journal of notable events she was keeping. While usually she only recorded her adventures through singularities and some events in them so she could reminiscence when she read this thing after their battles were truly over, she felt like writing an entry in case she didn't manage to survive the 14th of September…
But just as she pulled back her chair, Chaldea's last Master heard some kind of commotion out in the hallway. Had the chaotic event preparations already started? No, even for the particularly eager Servants it was too early.
Opening the door of her room, Gudako was greeted by what she could only describe as a roar of fury. It sounded like the originator was still a ways off, but nearing her location. She just considered locking herself in her room until whoever – because this could only be a Servant – it was had passed, but then Amakusa rounded the corner, running at full speed.
And for some reason – despite obviously running away from whoever was angry with him – he slowed down to greet her.
"Ah, Master. I'm sorry, did this commotion disturb you?"
"No, it didn't, really: I'm just wondering what's going on…"
"About that… It seems that I've angered Dantes a little bit, so I'm currently running for my life…" Amakusa's chuckle was surprisingly light-hearted, though Gudako imagined it was laced with some amount of dread.
"Edmond? What in the world did you do?"
"I can tell you about that later. But Master, might I make a request?"
"Oh, do you perhaps want to hide out in my room for a bit? Of course!" Gudako slightly stepped aside, gesturing for Amakusa to enter. The Ruler looked a bit surprised, but wasn't about to complain and quickly hurried inside. Gudako followed, locking the door behind her.
Amakusa moved towards the bathroom just in case the Avenger did bust in to look for him, while Gudako stood to listen at her door.
Not a minute had passed before the ruckus on the other side of her door increased in volume so much Gudako backed away a little, just in case. Though strangely enough the sound reminded her more of a stampede than one man running. Gudako thought she could hear Edmond's voice going 'raaaaaagh' or the like, but it was somewhat drowned out by the running sounds.
The sounds passed in a matter of seconds, though it took a few more minutes before it completely faded away.
"I think he's gone," she stated.
"It would seem so. But just to be certain, would it be alright if I hide out here for a little while longer?"
Gudako looked back at the Ruler who was leaving the bathroom, and gave a small grin: "Sure, sure, make yourself at home."
She walked over to her bed and sat down, legs hanging a little above the ground, the tips of her toes barely missing scraping the tiles. Amakusa looked at her bed for a moment, as if briefly debating whether to sit down next to her or not, before walking over to her desk and pulling out the chair, sitting down on that instead.
"Thank you very much, Master. It could've turned out rather ugly for me if he'd caught me…"
"Actually, what did you do to get him that mad in the first place?"
"To be entirely honest, I'm not too sure. I was talking to him when he just seemed to get tired of listening, deciding that violence would be the fastest way to stop me. In a way that's true, but still…"
"Ah, he must've gotten tired of listening to your preaching: he's got little patience for that." Amakusa nodded, though he wasn't convinced that was entirely the reason. Certainly, on the surface it seemed that Amakusa's talking was what had caused the Avenger to get all worked up. But he also got the impression that Edmond had been giving him colder looks ever since that commotion about him cleaning Master's room.
Amakusa had figured the Avenger had some feelings for their Master – be they romantic or paternal he couldn't quite tell – but he hadn't pegged Edmond as the jealous type. Well, he'd calm down soon enough when the Avenger realized there really was nothing between the Master and Ruler.
Gudako's question answered, there was silence in the room. It wasn't an uncomfortable one, but Amakusa did feel himself growing slightly restless, simply sitting in his Masters' room. If he was there, he might as well make himself useful, no?
"Master, would you mind me cleaning the room a little? I lack the necessary utensils, but I could at least help with making the bed and the likes."
"Hm? Oh, sure! I suppose it's been a while since you last came over to clean, huh?"
"I admit that I've been avoiding my duties to let the commotion die down, but once it has I'll resume immediately." Gudako had wanted to say that it was fine even if he stopped coming over, but seeing his content expression she decided to just let him be. If Amakusa liked cleaning her room, why would she stop him? He certainly did a good job at it.
"Well, if you want there's a dust rag in that drawer over there. I'll help out too, of course," she said, standing up almost simultaneously with Amakusa.
"That's not necessary-"
"No, I insist," Gudako cut the Ruler off, "I'd just feel guilty if I sat down while you were cleaning."
"… Alright then. I'll dust, you make the bed?"
"Deal!"
The mutual cleaning was done in peaceful silence, and Amakusa noted that now that things had calmed down after the incineration of humanity, Gudako had been cleaning her room more. Her desk was still messy and the floor needed mopping, but he supposed things hadn't turned that calm.
With two people working together the cleaning was done soon, and Gudako got a pair of soft drinks from a minifridge. A glance inside as she opened the door revealed only a few other drinks, a bottle of water and some pots of fruit yogurt. Seems like Gudako had a sweet tooth as always.
"Here you go," the girl said as she handed Amakusa his drink, "I'd have made you tea instead, but for that I'd need to get some hot water and leave the room…"
"No, this is fine. Thank you, Master." With a nod Gudako sat down on her bed once more, with Amakusa returning to the chair. He looked at the drink he'd been offered: a dark brown one with slightly golden hues when held up in the light, with bubbles in the liquid.
When he had yet to open the bottle after Gudako took a swig of her own, she asked: "Do you not like coke, maybe?"
"Oh no, that's not it. It's just that this is actually my first time drinking this, so I was just observing it a little."
"Alright, got it. Just as a small warning: this is a carbonized drink, so when you drink from it you might feel a little prickling in your mouth. It's normal and actually adds to the taste, but you might've been surprised by it otherwise, so…"
"I appreciate the warning. Well then…" Twisting open the cap like he'd seen Gudako do, Amakusa immediately noticed the sweet, chemical smell rise up to his nose. It smelled surprisingly good, though he wasn't surprised that it was indeed as sweet-smelling as all of Gudako's other sugary vices.
He took a small sip as a test.
"And, what do you think?" Gudako asked when he'd swallowed said sip.
"It tastes good. Is this drink common where you're from, Master?"
"I suppose you could say so, though the taste's a little bit different. The recipe for it varies a little for each country it's made in, so when travelling abroad the taste is always a bit of a surprise. I rather like this version, though." The idea of mass-manufactured goods showing variety between countries surprised Amakusa, and he asked Gudako about it.
What followed was a discussion about the mass production of goods in the modern world (although it was fairly superficial since neither of the two were authorities on the subject), followed by many more topics.
When Amakusa finally decided to leave, it was only after a brief glance at the clock revealed to him that they'd been talking for over two hours already.
"Well then," he said as he rose up, moving to unlock the door, "this should be enough time for Edmond to have calmed down a little, or to at least stop hunting me. Thank you for providing me shelter, Master."
"I'm just glad I could help, that's all. If you ever need to hide here again, don't be afraid to ask."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
And with that sentence Amakusa was out the door, which automatically closed behind him.
Left alone with her thoughts once more, Gudako couldn't help but note that it was always a bit weird, to be alone in her room with a man. Certainly, she'd invited over plenty of male Servants so far – always for conversation like just now – but she had yet to get accustomed to the idea.
This also went for Amakusa, although Gudako did fully trust him (at the very least, she trusted him not to try anything with her. The backstabbing was still an ever-present concern, but only in the back of her mind). Well, she thought as she flopped down onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling, Amakusa was also among the Servants who didn't try to hit on her or Mash at any given moment, so that likely added to her trust in him.
Suddenly feeling a bit tired, she decided to close her eyes and take a little nap…
