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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Re:Zero and other products related to the this series are all owned by Tappei Nagatsuki.

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Chapter 14: Bloody Smile

Warning: TW for mild-torture and gruesome deaths up ahead.

Rem could tell that something was off and it wasn't the unusual development between Lady Emilia and Barusu.

While the blue-haired maid easily picked up that the two had taken a different stance towards each other, the way they were so close and how Subaru looked so apprehensive of some of her lady's behaviors, that wasn't what really concerned her at the moment. As their trip back home started, there was a strange gut feeling which made her wary of the path up ahead.

Where once the chirping of birds and the bush-rustling critters of the forest coating the road to the manor with natural noises, now what she could hear was a dreadful amount of silence. This was a sign of trouble, one that was brewing nearby. Would it be correct to stop and check or was it best to just commit to a full retreat? A decision Rem was reluctant to even consider for some reasons as she felt her current duty was to avoid conflicts of all sort if not provoked. Maybe some other candidates were in the area and assassins had been dispatched against them? That sounded feasible...

But still... Something about this whole situation. It felt bad. And the maid's gaze hardened through the next few minutes of slow departure. Nothing else caught her attention, with her thoughts just barely lingering over the situation with Lady Emilia and Barusu. These two were utter 'morons' as Beatrice had called them, but there was something frustrating that made merely thinking of them so... infuriating. The way she looked at him, the way he didn't even deign her a single glance. Her brain failed to grasp why she would mind, why she should need that sort of attention- but her instinct and body wanted that. That love. That affection. Keeping him and... and making him hers~.

Lust? No, not yet. But the thought of engaging in lustful ideas roused in her a sense of eagerness. Rem had to first claim him. For... For her. Herself? Yes, herself! Her breathing picked her, her sight slightly growing blurry as something inside her clicked. Nothing positive, this much she could say as she felt her body losing control and, out of the blue, she stopped the carriage. There was silence at first, but soon her lips twisted in a wide smile. She didn't feel amused enough to allow such a reaction, yet her body wanted to. After all... today was a joyous day to be alive.

Half-a-chuckle tore through her throat, sounding different than anything she ever uttered. It almost felt so unlike her.

"P-Perhaps it's because you are in control?" A new voice called through her mouth. It wasn't hers. She wasn't talking. She wasn't in control and yet... Rem was fine with this. The way the love tore into her mind made her feel so unsure of struggling. Why? It was so grand. So much love, so much devotion... so much~! "Yes, don't worry Rem-tan, I will take care of this and... you will have a Barusu to love, okay~?"

A nod, so vigorous and the maid felt subdued by that offer. Oh, the many things her naughty mind thought about as to what she was to do to her Subaru~. She didn't have to do much as Roswaal emerged from the carriage with a flat look on his face. The clown was smiling no more, an upset look on his face as spheres made of mana-enhanced water formed from his palms. Quite clever to strike against a flammable setting, but weaker and... slower. Something shifted fast, with the magician unleashing the spell in the general area where the blur came from, but the idea proved to be... useless.

The 'something' turned out to be a couple of fast paced chains with hooks tied at their edges. They rapidly emerged from bushes and stabbed into the now exposed hands of the sorcerer and then they proceeded to pull, easily tearing the palms off the arms. The hooks stunned Roswaal, he looked at his now handless limbs, shock raised by the sight and thus providing for the distraction needed for another chain to rush up to him and easily tore through his back and through his chest, ripping some of his heart out in the process. Blood exploded from his injury and mouth and the man soon fell to his own wounds.

A scream emerged from the inside of the carriage, and Rem knew it was Lady Emilia. But it didn't matter as her new owner was here, a slim figure bathed with bandages covering most of her body except her violet eyes, mouth and a couple of white locks fluttering in the wind. She offered a crazed smile as she looked into the carriage's occupants.

"Oh my, oh my~! Lovebirds, and the ones I was looking for~!"

There was a struggle, Subaru tried to perhaps 'save' Emilia, but Rem didn't know what happened there. Not when another hook emerged from the side, shredding her throat and leading her to a most happy death. She was crying but those weren't tears of happiness. Her mind was back to her, the control exerted onto it now depleted and her realization dawned with cruel horror.

An Arch-bishop was here. And Rem died before the sight of her own failure.

Subaru woke up some time after.

The first thing he noticed was how cold the solid ground was against his exposed shirt. He was missing his shirt and jacket. He still had his pants, albeit now shredded in some bits and revealing some injuries inflicted by his attempts to protect and take Emilia away from the crazed woman. It had all been futile. They had to be captured- they had to. And as he opened his eyes, he was greeted by her. That woman. He was over him.

"Hello~," Her jovial voice sent shivers down his spine. There was something odd about the warmth in her tone- something sinister. "Are you Natsuki Subaru-kun~?"

"...What?"

"Your name. Natsuki Subaru- Are you him? You have to be him- Oh my, such a beautiful face, I wonder if my poor bleeding heart is thinking more of you than just a test~."

W-Who is this person? And why was she looking for him? That look- that hideous look-

"I-I am Subaru."

"Oh! Nice to meet you then, Subaru-kun. You may call me- Actually, you have to call me Siri-chan or I will be most displeased and annoyed with you~."

Siri-chan? Who is this woman?!

"W-Why?"

"Hmm, I suppose you have good reasons to ask. Let's say I will hurt you if you don't. Either you, or your little half-breed lover~."

His eyes widened, his body tensed despite the chains restricting his hands and feet. "E-Emilia?"

"Yes, yes, the little copy of that stupid witch. Now, Su-ba-ru~, how about you tell your lovely Siri-chan a bit more about this 'Emilia'," The attacker inquired, Subaru's grasp of reality over his surroundings broadening. They were near the road, it was a former campsite from the looks of it as a few broken-down tents existed left and right. "What makes your simple mind adore such a filthy thing?"

"I...Sh-She is my friend."

"Friend? You mean the one which you share the bed with for naughty things~?"

"N-No! How do you-"

"You were caught by a child! Naughty boy, naughty boy~." The last 'naughty boy' was delivered in a sensual voice as she shifted closer to him. "Tell me, Subaru-kun. Is it possible that you are a bit of a little liar to yourself?"

"No, I-"

She rubbed onto him as she crawled closer. "Are~- you~- sure~?"

"S-Stop it!"

"Hmm? You don't like to be teased?"

He glared at her and the crazy woman huffed. "You are no fun... still, I need you, my beloved Subaru-kun, to tell me some truths. To be the one that explains to silly me why someone as disgusting as that half-elf gets this sort of love- why her? Why not me?"

"Y-You are crazy!"

Instead of being insulted by this as his common sense wanted him to believe as soon as he realized what he had told her, the woman grinned widely.

"I am! And he surely loves that so much. No, that's not the point. What does she have that I don't?" 'Siri-chan' demanded, soon eyeing elsewhere and... to a nearby tree, where an unconscious Emilia was currently bound by chains to it. "Hmm, it's her breasts isn't it? They look delicious to a depraved man."

"T-That's not it," He argued. "She is my friend and-"

"Hmm." The young man paused as he noticed the woman was more focused grasping her own chest, trying to compare her frame to Emilia's and... clearly growing upset she was smaller than the half-elf. "I suppose that's a detail to be wary of. But still! What makes her so important truly if it's not her sexual beauty?"

"She is a friend-"

"Yes! I get it, Subaru-kun! She is your friend but..." Her outburst had him tense up, but soon the crazy lady paused, her eyes widened in realization. "A friend! Of course, it means there's friendship and love. Friendship and love~!"

Siri-chan giggled. "Yes! I get it now! You love her first as a friend and then as a lover. It's a build-up, a crescendo! A sweet process that led to a sensual culmination...!"

"I-" Subaru tried to say or do something, he was just too overwhelmed by everything but... then he felt the chains no longer holding him back.

He was confused, the woman was just freeing him like that? But before he could have asked why, he heard chains rattling nearby- four of those were rushing towards Emilia. They were going to harm her!

Instinct shredded into dread and unease, the boy's legs, albeit wobbly, managed to push him forward and towards where the unconscious half-elf was. The chains were fast, but Subaru was closer and-

Shhh Klinkt!

"Kyah~ You love her! YouloveherloveherloveherloveherloveherloveherloveherloveherloveherloveherLOVEHER~~!"

And as Sirius continued to squeal in delight at this discovery, Subaru was soon coughing blood, the hooks sinking deep through his back while he used his body as a cover for the unconscious. He could feel one easily reaching onto the other side as blood started to emerge from his chest. He felt his world growing darker, his hopes dimming as a small fire before a cold storm. He was dying, again and...

At least Emilia was going to be safe from this horrible person. For now.

...

How deep was his slumber? And can she finally make her move?

Subaru's slumber was soon interrupted when he felt he was once more alive and... that was a heartbeat. His hand caught it and... He opened his eyes to see what it was all about. And Emilia felt dread rush instead of pleasure as her beloved proved to be still awake. She looked ready to hear him scream or shout, or even ask her what she was doing, why she was holding his hand onto her chest and-

The girl's world rolled fast and her brain burned in pure delight as Subaru merely pulled her in a hug. Did he think she was just sleeping and woke up at this? Emilia ruled this to be the case and tried to sell it to him.

"S-Sorry-"

"No," He muttered quietly, something in his tone making her pause before her own interest. "I... I need a hug."

Her eyes widening, the amusement gone as the girl felt the aching sorrow coming from her Subaru's voice. Gone was the eagerness to feel pleased, now a sense of dutiful affection stirring and indulging the need to provide him with her warmth in a most subtle and caring way. She returned the hug, confused by what could have sparked such an upset, but willing to assume it was nightmares for the sake of letting him rest and asking him questions the next morning.

Meanwhile Subaru cried silently, no noise leaving his lips as he just tried to find solace in that hug. He knew that was going to change things between him and Emilia, even more that he dodged the little spike of arousal the girl went through and... and they had to plan what to do next. What happened on the road to get back home- he couldn't let it happen again. But how to avoid that? How was he supposed to change things for them? A different hour to depart? Another route? A solution will need to come up to him... but not now. His mind was too stressed and drained to give him the insight he really looked for.

And as both enjoyed a mostly calm and quiet night, enjoying each other's affection and appreciation, a silent spectator stared at them by the window, a dull look on her face as her blue eyes flickered with mild amusement and curiosity.

"Let's see what I can do about this now..."

AN

What's worse than Geuse? His stalker. After all, Wrath knows no bounds when it comes to Love!

Also, yes, the erotic scene with Emilia got 'retconned' by RbD, and this will have heavy implications in the long-run as, while this may sound a bit disingenous, the talk from the previous timeline did create changes. Just not for Emilia, but Barusu.

P.S. The reason why Rem went nuts is tied to Siri-chan's Authority of Wrath. Emotional imposition and expansion until madness if so needed.

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