This for the contest. Hope you enjoy it!

Brownie points for those who realize where I could have gotten an inspiration for the fic! And no, it's not Inception.


Dreaming Together With You

As a blue haired oni maid continued to sleep, the ever-diligent knight of Emilia, Natsuki Subaru, stayed by her side.

It's been already a few months since he has been given the title of a knight by Emilia. Since then, he trained harder than ever, not only for her, but for Rem's sake as well. Although the training Clind is putting him through is nothing but hell, he can't help but feel grateful. As far as he's concerned, if it helps him even a little against the Archbishop of Gluttony, he will pay with every drop of sweat, tear and blood.

He knows that she won't wake up till Gluttony is defeated but every day he can't help but hope that there is a small chance his No.2 might wake up again.

So, like every other day as before he is here, in one of many rooms of Annerose Miload's mansion, watching over her. He knows she is protected here. He knows that there is no way that Elsa would ever be able to hurt her like that time in one of those not-so-long-ago hell loops. Garfiel, his bro and shield made sure of that.

But even so, he can't help it. Every now and then, anxiety claims him. What if Meili found a way to escape and decide she wanted to escape her Big Sis Elsa? What if Elsa somehow did manage to survive after all and is on her way here?

No offense to his bro, but that Black Widow did manage to survive against freaking Reinhard. Even once bypassing him to land what would otherwise be a lethal blow to him if not for his E.M.T!

…what if the Archbishop decided to come over here to finish the job?

So that's why he is here, again. Not just for her, but for himself in a way. To keep on reminding himself for whom he keeps fighting on. And why he cannot fail. The fact that nobody else remembers his beautiful oni maid certainly does not help. Not even her constantly annoyed twin. If he fails, there will be no one else who will help her.

It also doesn't help the fact that it's very likely that Return by Death won't be of too much of use should he go in a close combat with the Archbishop of Gluttony. If his memories were to be taken away, putting aside the fact that he would be amnesiac at best and in a coma at worst, depending on a whim of Gluttony, it is very possible that the Archbishop would become aware of Return by Death. Which is something that must not happen. At all costs.

Although a part of him still believes that Return by Death is nothing more than a Curse meant to break the wielder, it does not change the fact that this is a tool he himself has been abusing from the start which got him to where he is now. If the Witch Cult were to find out that he has an authority from the Witch of Envy herself, it's game over for him.

He does not believe for a single moment that just because he has a way to turn back time by dying, he is unstoppable. Hell, the very person he needs to defeat could easily stop him. By taking away him memories or putting him in a coma.

And it doesn't have to be the Archbishop himself. With a bit of time and preparation, anyone can do it. Just recently his cute Beako and his trainer from hell were giving him lessons on some of the magical diseases this world has. One of the diseases caught his attention. The Sleeping Beauty. It's basically the same thing that happens when Gluttony eats a Name only without everyone losing their memories.

Ironically, there is also the fact that Return by Death might end up turning against him. The nature of checkpoints, although helpful, since it means he doesn't have to repeat everything he did from the Certain Apple Merchant, its apparent randomness means he cannot rely on them.

As all of this comes to his head he sighs as he claws at his wrist to calm himself.

„Just one step at the time eh, Rem?" He asks the sleeping maid.

Not expecting anyone to reply he is quite surprised when somebody does.

„It is quite vexing seeing you sad like this, I suppose," Beatrice says next to his ear as he gives out a totally not a feminine shriek of fear.

"Whoah, Beako-chan! You startled me. You naughty girl!" He playfully scolds her with widened eyes. The proclaimed naughty girl impishly smiles.

"Beatrice doesn't know what her contractor means, I suppose. She merely spoke her thoughts in fact!" She spoke while still smiling. Subaru smiles back while narrowing his eyes. Immediately after, Beatrice has a bad gut feeling.

"What are you planning, I suppose? Know that-"

Subaru lunges and pulls at her twin-tails once again. The loli immediately started to scream in outrage. "Don't do that, I suppose! Haven't Beatrice and her contractor agreed that he's allowed to touch her hair but only when she allows it, in fact?!"

After a bit of wrestling around, Subaru finally lets go of his beautiful loli witch who was having a cutest pout of the day.

"While Beatrice is cross with you for not warning her, she is glad you are smiling again, I suppose."

Subaru widens his eyes as he sighs, "Thank you Beako," he says in a high-pitched voice, "it's so nice knowing that I can count on my Great Spirit!"

"H-hmph! Subaru would be lost without the Greatest Witch in all of Lugnica, in fact! Don't ever forget it, I suppose!" Beatrice says in a haughty tone while crossing her arms. Her seriousness would probably be more believable if there weren't all the strands of hair flailing around her twin-tales that appeared from Subaru's pulling. Subaru laughs at the sight.

Removing a tear from his eye from laughing he replies, "Thank you Beako, I needed this." As he replies, he puts his hand on her head and pats it, further ruffling her hair.

Blushing, Beako merely stays silent while reminding herself to reprimand him later for further ruffling her hair. While thinking about reprimanding him, she also comes up with a 'devious' plan in her head.

'Beatrice knows, she'll make him brush her hair as punishment for daring to ruffle the Great Spirit's hair! He'll learn his leason, in fact! Hmph!'

Patting herself on the shoulder for her 'devious' plan, she looks at the sleeping person on the bed. Well, not sleeping but close enough.

Immediately after, she's reminded why she came here. Besides cheering up her wonderful, goofy contractor of course.

"…Subaru, do you know that when Gluttony eats the name of the person, they're not just simply asleep, they dream, in fact?"

Subaru blinks as he replies, "Oh, I didn't know that. Other than Puck, nobody really told me anything about Gluttony. The only thing I do know is that he has the power of eating memories. And that he can choose to either simply eat the memories of the person and make them amnesiac or go further and eat the Name of the person. Which has the side-effect of making everyone else forget any memories they have about that person, while also making them comatose."

Beatrice nods while ignoring a small pang of pain from knowing she won't be seeing Bubby anytime soon. "Yes. But you see, there is a very good reason why they stay that way, in fact. In order for the person to stay asleep and that nobody can awake them, Gluttony's Authority puts the person's consciousness in a place of 'drunken dreams'. This way, the affected cannot awake no matter what, for if the person were to wake up, Gluttony's curse would very likely be broken."

Subaru frowns as he nods. While the fact they truly cannot wake up the person no matter what since they are apparently trapped in their own dreams, doesn't really give him any good news, it's still good to know more. It appears that the only way he'll ever be able to talk with Rem is by defeating Gluttony. Which he was preparing for anyways.

Then Beatrice drops a bombshell. She looks him in the eye and asks him.

"So, I wanted to ask you, my Contractor. Do you wish to temporarily join her in her dreams, in fact?"

Subaru stops breathing for a moment. Then he asks Beatrice, "…what do you mean? How…can I even do that?" Beatrice sighs.

"It was an experiment done by Mother a long time ago. She wanted to further understand the affliction of the person's comatose state. Especially since it was eerily similar to the condition named The Sleeping Beauty."

Subaru nods, since he found out about it, he noticed the similarity and wondered about it. It's natural that someone like the Witch of Greed who constantly longs for further knowledge would notice the similar nature of the condition and would explore it.

One dark part of him wonders if she made some sort of contract with the Archbishop of Gluttony where she would 'generously' offer him victims in exchange for a small favour in the future.

For example, to attack the carriage with his beloved blue-haired maid and take away her Name.

Not only she would get free test subjects but she would also be able to force Natsuki Subaru into accepting her Contract. It would have been a win-win situation for her. It's most certainly something she would come up with especially if she could see the future that far and give Roswall the instructions in the book how to act. The fact that she knew about Return by Death and its powers in its entirety means that she also knew about 'checkpoints' which allowed her to give Roswall the means to trap him in that loop with an impossible decision.

To either save Emilia or to save everyone at the mansion. Including the comatose Rem. To turn him into a man capable of making said impossible decisions. So he can basically become another Roswall… or to accept the Contract from the Witch of Greed.

For a single moment he wonders how much Ram would stay devoted to Roswall if she knew the entire circumstances. Especially the fact whom he put in danger.

He puts those thoughts aside as he focuses on his loli Witch. If there was anyone who can give him further information on the condition currently plaguing Rem, it's her.

"Beatrice won't burden you with the process of what Mother did and she'll simply tell you the results. There were some fruitful results from the experiment, in fact. By observing the dreams and consciousness of people afflicted by coma via Gluttony and via the condition Sleeping Beauty she managed to gain further insight into the state of the victims' minds. This insight allowed her to gain access into the dreams of said victims via the potion she managed to create and later on Mother could do it via a spell, in fact."

"There was however… some difference, in fact. Something she wasn't able to solve and constantly frustrated her. You see, when Mother was using the potion or a spell to enter the dreams of a person afflicted by The Sleeping Beauty she could do it every time she wanted, as long as she wanted. But, with the person afflicted by Gluttony she couldn't do it neither every time, nor always. She could do it only once, and only for a single day, in fact."

Subaru was immediately reminded of that time when Echidna fabricated that dream of him being in his world and his parents. Now it made sense how she could do it.

"Hang on. Can you explain to me what this place of 'drunken dreams' is?" He asks his all-knowing witch spirit. Beatrice blinks then replies, "During the many experiments, Mother managed to realize that the place was created from the dream fragments of all other people in the world. It's also another reason why nobody wakes up, in fact. Because the dream creates a perfect replica of this world and of other living beings as well. To make matters worse, the victims are basically, living their dream. So much so that it's impossible to give awareness to the person to make the victim realize that he or she is trapped in a dream. Why would anyone even think they are in a dream if all of their wishes came true and are happiest then they have ever been, in fact?"

She lets him all that sink in and then she finishes, "Although Beatrice doesn't know how to do the spell, she does know how to make the potion, in fact. If her contractor wished, she could help him make one so he can talk with her friend, I suppose. It would be only for a day, but-"

She couldn't continue as Subaru immediately lifted her up and started spinning her around, just like after defeating the Rabbit.

"YES! THANK YOU BEAKO! BEAKO YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL, YOU'RE WONDERFUL, YOU'RE THE BEST! BEAKO BANZAIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

"S-Suba-Suba-Subaruuuuuuuuuu! Put me down I supposeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-!"

Behind the door, Emilia, Garfiel and Petra smiled as they finally see Subaru laugh and goof around as before. They were looking for him when they just saw him start to fool around with Beatrice.

Of course, afterwards, he was scolded by both Emilia and Beatrice as Garfiel watched barely stopping himself from cackling, only to be scolded himself by Frederica while his captain was watching him. Turnabout is a fair game after all.


The hunt for the ingredients started around three days after the scolding. They waited so Otto could join them from his merchant trip. After teasing him about any girls with Frederica being much more serious about the question for some reason, they explained the situation. Otto Suwen needed no words of request. He simply hand hugged both his bros and went onto the adventure.

And it was interesting to say the least.

"No wait, what do you mean we need a branch from the tallest tree in this forest. I know we can ask the spirits but how does that-"

"Water from the insides of a Mabeast. What kind of-"

"A rock. Okay sure. Wait, what do you mean from the bottom of the lake?"

"Move out of the way you stupid cheap discount copy of Snorlax!

"It's actually named Snorla, Subaru!"

"SO IT IS A DISCOUNT COPY OF SNORLAX! MOVEEEEE!"

"Tears from a…you know what, I'm just gonna shut up after this, but that thing is flying how are we even gonna-"

And so it went on for a while. All in all, it took them around four days to find and actually get all of the ingredients for the magic potion and then come back to the mansion. After that, Beatrice locked herself in an empty room with all of the ingredients and got to work. Other than seeing colourful smoke protrude from the doors every now and then with the sounds liquids bubbling it was a mostly quiet process. It took around an entire day, which honestly didn't surprise Subaru seeing how many ingredients they got. And thus, around five days after starting their small yet quite eventful adventure, the potion was ready.


"So all I have to do is drink the potion and be next to her as it sends me to sleep?" Subaru asked as he eyes the potion which appeared to be changing colour every now and then.

"That is right. After which, the potion shall drag you to her dreams, in fact." Beatrice eyed the creation she made. Even though her Mother told her about the process and she read about it, this was the first time she made the Dream potion. It was most certainly, one thing to read about it and another to actually do it. She was very excited from the fact that her contractor will be the first to try out her first ever made Dream potion. She was not afraid that it won't work because well, she is the Great Spirit of Echidna, the Witch of Greed. If she could not do something after reading about it every now and then for 400 years, she didn't deserve that title then, did she?

"Again, thank you so much Beako-chan! I'll pamper you lots after this!" Beatrice blushed as she nodded.

"Y-you better. Otherwise, your Great Spirit will be quite cross with you, I suppose…"

Seeing her blushing, he smiles as he hugs her. Moment later, she hugs him back holding him tightly.

"So…I guess I'll go then. Take care of me?"

"Foolish of you to even ask me that, I suppose. Always, in fact."

Subaru grins and lets her go. He goes to the other side of Rem's bed and sits down. He opens the glass capsule and breathes out.

"Well then. Bottoms up."

He drinks it all in. Surprisingly it had a bit of sweet taste, which he didn't expect especially when he remembers some of the ingredients.

"Huh it's quite sweet." He says to Beatrice surprised. Beatrice merely huffs as she replies, "But of course, 'it's the stuff that dreams are made of'. What did you expect it would taste like otherwise, I suppose?"

"…wait a sec, did you just quote-"

He doesn't even finish the sentence as his body suddenly starts going slack and hits the bed. He can feel strength slowly start to leave him, but rather than feeling cold as he usually does when he's about to die, if anything, he's feeling warmer and calmer.

Seeing how quick the potion is working, as quickly as he can, he puts his legs on the bed and then grips Rem's hand. As he starts feeling his eyebrows close, he wonders if he'll be able to count out at least ten Pucks before he goes to sleep.

He doesn't reach even five and he is out.


As she watches her contractor go to sleep, Beatrice finally lets out a sigh she was holding in. Ever since she saw him push himself while training with Clind, she realized that it wasn't simply for his Emilia-tan. It was also for Ram's lookalike that he did it. She knows it because she saw it. It wasn't simply determination that was pushing him forward. It was desperation.

That, along with nightmares that made him scratch his wrist made her sad. And a bit jealous of a blue-haired oni. She wondered what she could possibly do. Because she knew she could. Although it's not the same experience as reading it, she remembers it. She remembers every single word from every single book inside that library she spent 400 years waiting for 'them'. She even remembers how many times she read every single book.

All in all, it took her less than five seconds to remember every single detail concerning the creation of the 'Dream' potion as Subaru put it.

…even the fact that it can be used as many times someone wants. Even for victims of Gluttony.

She didn't want to tell it to her contractor. She didn't want him to keep going back to her constantly. So, she lied.

…for at the end of the day, she is the Great Spirit of the Witch of Greed. And she is a very greedy spirit.

Subaru was right. She is a naughty girl.

"Forgive your Beatrice, Subaru. Please. But I cannot let you go, I suppose." She asked her contractor, long gone from that room, into the realm of Rem's drunken dreams.


Through the darkness, sharp light lightly burns Subaru's eyes as he hears the chirping of the birds. He grimaces as he raises his hand to cover his eyes. As he's gathering strength to open his eyes to shake off the drowsiness, he feels something soft touch his hand and a cute voice gargling in happiness. His eyes widen and he lifts his arm, revealing a small child with black hair and blue eyes. Seeing his face, the cutest thing he ever sew smiles even more and puts small hands on his face.

"Aooo! Pa pa! Nee nee!" Hearing her, he freezes for a moment then smiles himself as his eyesight starts to blur. The child stops smiling as she her eyes widen in confusion.

"Pa pa? O.K?" She asks him. He realizes that tears started going from his eyes. And how couldn't they. He would be a fool not to realize who this was. That face, those blue eyes, that same shade of his own hair. Who could this be other than his own flesh and blood? And those eyes… REM'S eyes…

The child puts her palms on his forehead and begins chanting, "Pain, pain, go go," she said it as she lifted her hands and put them back on his cheeks. She does it a few more times then looks at him with her serious face while clenching her fists.

Staring at her for a few moments, his smile widens further and begins to dramatically wave his hands upwards.

"Oho! The pain is gone! Truly, you are da best, number one cutest daughter of mine in the world!" Hearing and seeing this his daughter begins giggling. He hugs her, pulls her in his arms and gives her a kiss on her cheek. He playfully, gently bites it as her giggling intensifies.

Then he hears another voice. A very familiar voice. One that he hadn't hear for months.

"Oho, I see Spica-chan has woke you up Subaru-kun, though I have to say…I don't know whether to feel happy or jealous seeing how you are cooing over her."

He slowly turns his head and sees her.

She was so beautiful. His wonderful blue-haired oni maid has aged like fine wine. Dressed in a light blue kimono gracefully, holding the opened shoji with one hand. Her blue hair, now to her shoulder, swayed to the side as she tilted her hair.

"Spica," hearing his dream daughter's name, name that Rem probably came up with in this dream, he merely repeats it, letting it roll of his tongue, "Spica."

Sensing that something was weird with her husband, she asks with concern, "Is everything alright, Subaru-kun?" Seeing that she's alarmed with his poor state and perhaps even seeing the drying tears he improvises.

"Oh, it's nothing. It's just… seeing you like this; I feel like I'm falling in love all over again."

Rem blinks then after a moment blush red so much that she almost looked like a genuine oni. "M-mou, Subaru-kun! B-breakfast is ready. Bring Spica-chan with you. Also try being a bit kinder to Rigel?"

Seeing her retreat cutely, he pats himself on a back, while reminding himself to write that line down when he wakes up. Immediately, he's reminded that this is just a dream that lasts for a day. As he sighs, the bundle of joy in his arm pulls on his hair. He looks down and sees her chewing on his hair. First, he smiles then realizes something weird. How is she chewing on his normally short hair? He then smacks himself for not realizing that he himself was changed. Looking around room he tries looking for a mirror. As he looks around, all of a sudden, he notices some dude in a grey kimono.

Alarmed, he stands up with Spica in his arms, with the stranger mimicking his movements, even revealing… Spica in his arms.

He stops and the stranger stops as well. Looking at his face he seems shocked as he does. After a moment he mentally bashes himself. It is a mirror, it's just that he too is changed.

Not only does he seem more physically fit then before, but he was also wearing a grey kimono. Also, his hair, just like Rem's was to his shoulder while his bangs were a bit longer, he could actually see them a bit in front of his eyes. It was also tied in a ponytail.

He looks at himself for a moment while making sure to remember it.

"So, this is how Rem sees me as most attractive, huh."

It seems that he's gonna have to let his hair grow then. And up his training a bit further. Thankfully, it seems even in her dream, his physique doesn't seem to be surpassing his father's.

He doesn't know if he should be happy or crying over that fact.

"Ga gaa?" He looks down and sees Spica looking at his in wonder while chewing on her finger. He coos even more. Nothing, absolutely nothing could possibly ruin this dream.


"Oi, dad! Give me my cute li'l Spica, I want some cute imouto time."

Suddenly, the perfection was completely and utterly ruined. Who the hell was this blue-haired boy with nasty eyes that just came here out of nowhere. He wonders as his eyebrow starts twitching. The bundle of joy in his arms turns her head and gives him his answer.

"Oh, Nii Nii." He freezes. There is no way that is his brat. Then Rem arrives and shatters his hope to smithereens.

"Good morning, son. Finished with your training early?" Rem asks his son as he nods enthusiastically.

"Of course! My dad spent too much time with my cute imouto, now I gotta get me so Spica time!" He shouts out as he smiles with a blush on his face. Subaru immediately stricken by horror.

"Siscon." He says to his son as Rigel's face goes red then replies bashfully, "H-hmph! Don't you dare lecture me, Kararagi's Greatest Lolicon! Everyone knows how you get with the kids!"

His face going red, Subaru replies, "You little…!"

"Subaru-kun, Rigel, mou! At least after breakfast, sun hasn't even risen fully yet!" Rem scolds them both while sighing. Seems that she had her hopes up too much. On the other hand, someone at least was having fun.

"Ga ga ga!" Spica was having fun watching them argue, seeing her laugh they immediately start cooing. Rem was jealous at how quickly her daughter pacified the two. She was surpassing her already.

"Come on you two, it's time for breakfast. And no fighting at the table!" She warns the duo while lightning sparks between their eyes.

As they are preparing Subaru finally realizes something. Kararagi. So that time when he asked her to go with him, that loop after being killed by Puck, she actually wanted to go there? Or perhaps this is simply another construct made by the dream? He shakes his head. It doesn't matter. For now, he's simply going to relax. Well, as much a blue-haired brat allows him to.


"Picnic?" He asks his blue-haired wife. She nods with a smile as she explains. "Of course, since it's your day off I thought we could go outside the town. I arranged it with our neighbour, Chamov since he just came back from his trip in Lugnica again. I wonder if he remembered to try reaching the mansion and ask my sister if she wishes to send any messages."

Subaru nods while wondering if this Chamov was a merchant or an adventurer of some kind. What other reason other than that to constantly keep going back and forth between two nations? As he's wondering about who they'll go with to picnic his wife pulls him.

"For now, let's go stock up on supplies. Then we'll go meet with Chamov, alright Subaru-kun?" Rem asks him. He nods then smiles. He could certainly get used to this.

"Hey mom, did I hear that right? We're going with Chamov?!" Well, with enough time, Subaru thinks grimly. As Rem nods, Rigel starts cheering. "Yatta! I'll get to hear another one of his stories of conquering the seven deserts!"

'So, an adventurer then… a very boastful one it seems.' Subaru thinks to himself. 'That's one of the mysteries solved.' Suddenly he hears Rigel mumble to himself as Rem goes forward with Spica in her arms who was sleeping.

"…maybe he'll finally give me advice how to woo my sis, heh." Rigel mumbles to himself while blushing.

"Not on my watch, you little brat oni." Subaru speaks out loudly to him. Rigel glares at him. He glares back for a moment then sighs.

"Well let's go. We gotta help Rem. While we don't like one another very much at least let's cooperate so this day ends up nice for both her and Spica what do you say?" He says as he puts his fist forward in front of his son. Rigel stares for a moment in shock at the fist. Then he bumps it back and runs forward.

"D-don't think this changes anything. I'm still getting my imouto time today." Rigel mumbles with his cheeks having a light red hue.

"Right back at you, my little tsundere brat." They glare at one another then grin and start laughing. Unknowing to them both, Rem was staring at them the whole time.

After seeing the exchange, she merely sighs, smiles and starts going towards the never-sleeping centre of Banan.


Banan was interesting to say the least, thought Subaru as he looked around lively city around him. He did not expect to be met with a sense of familiarity.

Looking around he saw everyone wearing yukatas, kimonos and other types of Japanese clothing other than the demi-human wolf knights who appeared to be bringing supplies to the marketplace. There were even some people dressed in Shinto priest clothing of some kind. As for the buildings, they looked like they were from Feudal and Edo Japan-era although there were a few small differences in some buildings. He sees people eating with chopsticks, drinking sake and even dipping their food in Japanese condiments. He even heard them speak with a Kansai Japanese dialect.

Honestly the whole thing gave him a feeling of being in a festival and most of all, being home. He genuinely didn't know how much he missed it till now. He's even reminded of his parents whom he misses even more.

'Perhaps… after finishing the election, I could come here at least once. Hell, maybe even end up living here, depending on how the election goes…' Subaru thought to himself.

"Subaru-kun! Are you all right?" He looks at Rem, who was looking at him in concern. He shakes his head and smiles at Rem. "It's alright Rem-chan! Just… feeling like I'm home."

Rem blinks then nods, "Of course. Subaru-kun always told me how much he missed his home and how Kararagi reminded him due to how familiar it was."

While Rem was talking, he comes close and gently bops Spica on the nose. She giggles, grabs his finger and chews on it.

"Yep. That's right. Ain't no annoying brats gonna woo you, hmph." Subaru says while nodding. Then he remembers. Speaking about annoying brats…

"Where is Rigel?" He asks puzzled. Rem merely sighs with a smile and points her finger towards another street.

He sees Rigel avoiding beans, catching them and throwing them back with swift speed. Far faster than any other kid had right to.

'…actually, he might be faster than me?' Subaru sweatdrops. 'Gotta be those oni genes.' He reassures himself.

"I TOLD YOU BRATS AT THE TEMPLE ELEMENTARY! ONLY AT SETSUBUN YOU CAN DO THIS!" He hears Rigel scream out as he throws the beans back, hitting most of the kids.

'Huh, they even have Setsubun.' Subaru thinks to himself. Seriously, the only explanation there can be is that Honshin was also from another world like him. Maybe he was a merchant from another world?

"Uweeee! How is he doing this!"

"Save us!"

"Maybe I would have forgiven you if you simply threw beans at me," Rigel says as he grabs fishing nets from an outstretched hand of an old merchant smiling at the scenery in front of him. "But then you also started to throw FUTOMAKI AND FISH HEADS? NO MERCY!"

Rigel throws his nets catching almost all of the kids.

"Eyy, don't leave us to the oni, he'll eat our souls!"

Few escapees turn around at look at their fallen comrades. Then they look up and see Rigel. They put their hand up and one of them replies.

"Don't worry, we'll pray for your souls."

Then they turn around and run. The bawling from the fallen ones increases. They turn around and see their captor crossing his hands and tilting his head menacingly.

"ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ…"

Subaru could have sword he saw the "menacing" characters from JoJo Bizarre Adventure freaking appear. But for some reason even though the aura was thick, others were simply watching with a smile or sighing and going about their business. Some even turned to him and gave him and Emilia thumbs up and respectful nods.

'Okay, I'm totally confused, what is going on?' Subaru thought to himself.

Rigel then speaks. "Now then. What shall I do with you lot." He speaks to himself loudly while playfully scratching the side of his neck looking upwards. One of the kids finds strength and in an act of bravery and/or complete foolishness speaks out.

"…let us go?" The kids says, almost whispering. Rigel freezes then starts laughing out loud. Seeing him laugh, the kid starts laughing then even elbows other kids to start laughing. They join him nervously.

"Heh, he said let them go, did you hear you lot? Let them go! Pffff!" Rigel loudly proclaims to other people watching them. Some of them even start laughing.

"Okay. Okay. That was good. Gotta tell ya, brat, wasn't expecting this." Rigel says playfully to the kid that spoke out.

Kid's face lights up then responds hopefully, "So you are gonna let us go?" Rigel stares at him for a moment.

Then he squelches that hope out. "But that is so boring!" He says with an evil-looking smirk on his face.

As their faces immediately start going down he continues, "Why should I let you go, when this is a perfect chance to return to the roots of my oni ancestry? Do you know what my kind did to others when they caught them?"

They stare at him in fear. Smirking, Rigel replies, "They would make a soup from your freshly peeled skin!"

They gasp. "NO!"

"They would shave their livers! Squeeze the jelly from their eyes…! By the way, did you know they are actually quite good on toast?"

The kids scream in terror.

"By the way this right here? It would be a moment where you. Run. Away."

They stare at him then him for a moment and then the same kid that spoke out speaks again in a scared confusion. "…but…we can't…?"

Rigel grins, showing his pearly whites to them. "E-x-a-c-t-l-y."

Just as they are about to scream, he speaks out again. "Oooorrrr… you could do what I tell you." They look at him in confusion. Rigel sighs, "Look around you. See the mess you made."

They look around. They see the aftermaths of their 'battlefield'. The beans, the fish heads and the futomaki around them.

Rigel dramatically puts his head on his forehead and speaks out, "I want it to be known that I'm quite a merciful oni. So, in order for that to be known I'll give you brats a chance to please this divine one!" He removes the nets quickly, lets them stand up and continues, "You are to clean the filth you left on this battlefield of ours and you are to do it fast! Otherwise, I will have no choice but to let the wrath of my ancestors to take over this vessel of mine and to feast upon thine souls!"

The kid speaks out. "Yes, oh merciful one! Within the hour!"

Rigel opens his eyes wide then growls out loudly. "FIVE MINUTES!"

Kid pulls back and replies fearing for his soul, "FOUR!"

Rigel calms down and with a shadow over his eyes he replies with fake innocence, "Alright brat…! If that's the way YOU want it…!"

Moments later Rigel starts cackling, dramatically turns around and starts going back to his father, mother and little sister while still laughing like a villain.

Some on the way back even give him an applause. Subaru couldn't help but feel proud. Annoying he might be, his son – Rigel Natsuki, is a badass with style. Plain and simple.


Since Rem asked him, he went to pick up the neighbour that was the nearest to their house. Staring at the supposed neighour's "house" he simply looked on in confusion and wonder. It wasn't a house as much it was a hole dug in a hillside.

It had a one round window with a round door which was barely above half his size. Was this neighbour of theirs a dwarf or something?

Shaking his head, he knocks on the doors. Few moments after he hears someone reply that they were coming. He was surprised by the manly voice that came from behind the doors.[1]

Once the doors were opened his illusion of how the person looked like behind the doors were shattered.

Chamov, his neighbour was looking as if he was a cutest puppy in the world. To add to the cuteness, he also had a small circular hat on his head.

'…sorry Puck, but I just found your superior replacement!' He apologizes as his patting instincts take over and his neighbour starts wailing.

"A-ah Subaru-san! Yame-Yamerooo, Subaruuuuu!" He hears him cry out. He continues for a few moments before letting go of him.

Subaru stares at the blue eyes currently attempting to frown at him. He physically has to restrain himself from petting him further.

"Seriously. It's nice to know you haven't changed at least. Come on in, Subaru-san! Let me get you some of my tea. I just need to finish the chapter I'm writing in my book about the adventure I was on, then I'll come with you."

Subaru nods as he listens. He was surprised at how calm he was feeling while Chamov was talking. It was probably due to how relaxing his tone of voice was and the fact how hospitable aura he seemed to be having.

He was also having this feeling that he was speaking to someone much, much older than he think he was. Although he certainly can't be blamed for that.

As he stares at the retreating neighbour's back, a case of déjà vu hits him.

'…I could have sworn I've seen him somewhere before.'

Subaru shakes his head and enters while bowed. The house was even more interesting from the inside. The walls were made out of wood and there were chandeliers even. He had to bow down to avoid them, being just at his forehead.

"I have to say, this adventure was even more adventurous than the last one! Although I have penchant of finding trouble it was actually very fun! Subaru-san, tell me did you know that Vollachia's now extinct Royal sandworms were considered divine by some of the tribes in the jungle such as the all-female Shudrak tribe?"

'…Rigel is right, this guy is quite interesting.' Subaru thinks to himself.


Half an hour later, after a very delicious and calming tea, they go to Subaru's house. Rem, Rigel and Spica are waiting for them. Seeing them, Rigel immediately runs towards them and hugs Chamov who was chuckling himself.

"Hey, you're not complaining at all unlike when I petted you, what gives?" He playfully snarks at his neighbour. Said neighbour innocently looks at him with puppy eyes and replies, "This one does not know what you mean?"

Then they grin together and laugh.

After letting Rigel finish his patting and hugging session they go towards the grass covered hill. There they relax as they listen many adventures from Chamov.

In that moment, Subaru realizes, this is what he wanted. To be on a place like this with his friends and loved ones, on a beautiful hill like this, eating together and talking about life. He turns around as tears start to appear in his eyes and goes few steps down the hill.

Seeing her beloved in distress, Rem asks Chamov to take care of Spica who nods and starts showing off his 'magic' tricks to her and Rigel.

She goes to her husband. "Subaru-kun. Is everything okay?"

He tries to keep his voice calm as he replies, "O-oh I'm o-okay," but even he can hear that he's on a verge of crying.

Rem stops next to him and hugs him. "Subaru-kun."

"I-i-it's o-okay." He replies, turns his head to her, revealing his tear-stricken face with a genuine smile. "I'm- I'm just so, so, so happy. So much. I've never been so happy as I'm now."

Rem smiles herself with tears in her eyes. "I know. Because I too have never been happier."

He stares at her eyes. Then at her lips. Then he closes the distance.

He puts everything in that kiss. The desperation, the love, the relief, all the feelings he has been bottling up till now. This is what he is fighting for. For someone else to answer all these feelings and to answer them in return honestly. To give them back and more in return.

He doesn't know how much time as passed as he finally separates, panting. She too was panting, blushing. He puts his forehead on hers. He just stays there for a few moments in that hug, feeling the heat from her forehead enter his as the winds gently blows around them.

Sadly, all good things come to an end. And for Subaru, this day was ending soon.


After watching the sunset for a while, they packed up things and went home. As he separated for a moment from his family to escort his neighbour Chamov and to thank him for the good stories and taking care of the kids during his sudden breakdown. The fact that he also developed lots of fondness for the wolf demi-human also made him do it.

"Is everything alright Subaru?" Chamov asks him in genuine kindness. Surprised by the sudden non-use of suffix he answers him. "O-oh, of course. Why wouldn't it be?"

Chamov simply sadly smiles and replies. "Subaru, while I might look like the cutest thing in the world and I might sound very boastful, the truth remains is that I have seen many things in my life. Especially during all of the adventures. I've noticed long ago that you weren't just a simple human." Subaru stares at him as he continues. "I've seen some of your scars. I've seen your eyes. You've been through a lot haven't you?" Subaru's eyes widen.

Chamov comes close and gestures him to come closer. He kneels with both legs and listens to the demi-human in wonder.

"For whatever you've been through and whatever you will be through, let this old friend of yours give you a small advice. A lesson he learned in his life of adventures. All people go through hard times in life and many wish that they never happened. But that is not for them to decide. All we can do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us."

Subaru's eyes widen. Moments later he hugs him hard. Chamov merely hugs him back and pats him on the back of his head.

They let go.

"Good night, Subaru-san." And with that he closes the doors. Subaru stares at them for a while thinking and repeating the words he said.

He goes back to Rem and his kids.


Kissing Rem he enters the room where Rigel and Spica are waiting. Rigel was playing with Spica who was yawning cutely.

They lay down, with Rigel and Spica in the middle, with Rem and Subaru hugging them from the sides.

"I wanna stay like this forever." He looks Rem in the eyes as he says this.

"Me too." She replies back.

He looks her in the eyes for as long as he can muster. Alas, as his time in the dream is nearing the end he feels his eyes closing. He closes the distance with her forehead and replies next to her lips.

"I love you, Rem."

"I love you too, Subaru."

And then he is gone.


Waking up, he sees Beatrice smiling sadly at him. He turns his head and sees Rem sleeping and feels her hand as he clutches him.

He pulls himself up to her forehead and kisses her.

"Till we meet again, Rem."


Honestly can't think of a better way to end this.

Also, if anyone wants to make a plot point from this or a fanfic of their own, they have my blessings. Go for it.

[1]As for Chamov manly voice, just think of his VA in my mind being Takehito Koyasu.

Also let me end this AN on a totally-not-stupid pun!

I have to say, Subaru might be the MC of this oneshot, but Rigel… is a Star!

I'll go dig my own hole.