A/N: No smut, just wholesome (as wholesome as a yandere can be). This chapter is made as a gift for my friend, The Writing Pupil.

Facing the Dream

The cool night air gently wafted into the room, washing over the tracksuit-wearing boy who was standing at its' balcony. His eyes stared out into the endless night, out into the silent forest, out into the world beyond his grasp.

Once, where his eyes would have been filled with brightness and excitement, they seemed slightly dulled. Not lifeless, but not quite holding the same vivacious cheer they once did.

"On days like these, I can't help but think about you, Emilia…" Subaru murmured, his voice lower than a whisper. His arms were draped over the edge of the cold railing, his entire body nearly slumping over it.

"I failed Rem...and I failed you, too."

It was as if the night was drawing out every single bit of emotion that he had. He couldn't even turn his gaze to the stars, as he felt just looking at them would remind him of the moments spent with a certain silver-haired girl beneath them.

There was nothing but the howling wind to answer to his words, filled with pain that he couldn't even properly express to anyone else vocally.

Even today, his birthday, felt like it passed by in a blur. He vaguely remembered the inhabitants of the mansion spending time to celebrate his birthday, but it wasn't something he could honestly put into detail, if he was asked.

Thankfully, nobody had really left the 'camp', or the remnants of it, even after Emilia had died. Otto stayed as a part of the camp, working as an official accountant and secretary under the Roswaal estate. Garfiel was really only there to follow Subaru, so he didn't budge an inch. Petra and Frederica were always official maids from the start, so they didn't exactly have anywhere to 'leave' to.

Beako...Subaru was happy to have her at his sides, during these turbulent times. Besides Ram, she had been the only one to support him. It was honestly touching how much care and love she put into making sure that he wouldn't completely shatter into a million pieces.

And Ram...Ram was the cornerstone of all the strength he had left. She was the only person he could truly cling onto, whenever the storm became too tough for him to weather by himself. Before he even knew it, she had taken up the space in his heart that had been forcefully emptied by Emilia's sudden...passing.

The most surprising case was Roswaal, frankly. Subaru had assumed the worst – that the clown would make good on his promise in Sanctuary, and catch Subaru in an infinite death loop that he couldn't even correct the cause of.

However, Roswaal just calmly gave up his goals, shaking his head at Subaru's assumption of his coming betrayal.

"The Gospel is no more. Forced to make my own decisions, I believe that for whatever reason, if you are unable to correct this mistake, then it must be destiny. If so, then another path to the throne must be found. Do not fail me this time, Natsuki Subaru."

So, right now, they were searching the entire continent for Emilia's replacement. Nobody knew what exactly what would happen if one of the five candidates were to die, but considering the prophecy still had to be fulfilled, it was assumed that in place of Emilia, some other person had received the royal qualifications.

That person was who they were searching for right now. But…

"My heart's not really in it…" Subaru sighed, eyes feeling heavy as he imagined what was coming next. He had only even become involved in this selection because he cared for Emilia. There wasn't any real spark in his chest for politics or even for the country itself.

The only reason he was even going along with this plan was so that Roswaal didn't suddenly change his mind and decide to fry everyone.

Everything was basically just to keep things running after Emilia had been lost. Nobody spoke it, but her presence suddenly being removed from the camp was a burden that none of them were expecting to bear.

Subaru even remembered hearing that a bunch of those girls from the party were supposed to come and visit to 'offer their condolences'. He truly despised people like them, even using Emilia's death as an attempt to get closer to him and the Margrave.

Thankfully, a lot of them had never showed up. Subaru had no idea why, but he didn't care. He would, of course, never hear the news of the many young female nobles who had attended the party suddenly disappearing from their households, or being found tortured and traumatized.

He would also never notice the nights when Ram would return incredibly late, with the faintest hints of red staining the perfectly white hem of her dress.

And so, when it became too much for him to hold, when he had nobody to turn to, Subaru would take nights like these, and just stand outside in silence. Even Ram, who seemed to know his every move, hadn't learned of this habit of his yet.

"She's already done so much for me...I don't want to drag her down with this self-pity problem I've got." Subaru chuckled, finding his own pathetic nature almost funny. It made him remember, for a moment, the mean-sounding words Ram would sling at him, back in the old days.

When it was simple, just him, Emilia, and Rem in the mansion...he could make some time to bother Beako too. Those fun days, spent doing nothing but working and having fun…

How badly he wished to go back to them.

His mind fell silent, eventually running out of things to think of. Instead, he just allowed himself to bask in the silence.

Despite how quiet it was, however, he didn't hear or notice the presence slowly creeping up on him from behind. His eyes focused entirely forward, he had no idea...until he felt a light touch on his shoulders, strings of pink hair sighted out of the corner of his vision.

"What are you doing out here, Barusu? Moping by yourself on a day which you're supposed to be celebrating?"

That smooth, confident tone, the beautiful pink strands of hair he could just barely see, the gentle, yet firm touch of her fingertips over his clothing...

"Ram…" He spoke, in a tone lacking much surprise. The raven-haired boy hadn't even jumped when she touched him, all too used to her antics in sneaking up on him from behind.

At his lack of any apparent reaction, he heard a disappointed huff, as Ram's fingers lifted up from his shoulders. "It's not worth it going to the lengths to scare you if Ram is not going to get the reactions Ram wants. Honestly, Barusu, I didn't think you would still keep disappointing Ram, even now."

Without looking behind him, he could almost imagine the fake frown that would be plastered on her face. "...You know, the fact that you make me sound at fault is crazy. Isn't it clearly your fault? It's hard to react to you sneaking up on me once when you're always showing up behind me, or sneaking under the covers of my bed, or staring at me from around a corner…" The boy let out a tired sigh.

"A classic move by Barusu, misinterpreting a shy maiden's coy attempts to properly convey her feelings…"

"Just who's the shy, innocent maiden here?!" Subaru yelled in false outrage. Before he knew it, Ram had already brought life back to his eyes, and a barely-contained smile to his face.

Frankly, she was a master at it. He had no idea how Ram continued to be so proficient at keeping him in one piece (mentally and physically) but in many ways, she had really become his heart.

When he was down, she was the one who lifted him back up. On cold, windy nights like these, her presence was the only thing that seemed to provide any warmth to him.

If the others in the mansion were like pillars of support, and Beatrice was like the cement holding everything together for him, Ram was the strong, unshakable foundation.

"Truly, so insensitive, Barusu…" Ram murmured in mock disappointment, reaching her hand to give his head a slight, gentle stroke. Again, he wasn't alarmed. She often made movements like that, little, small touches, like she was affirming that he was there.

He felt an extra weight on the railing a few seconds after, and Ram's long, flowing straight pink hair soon came into view besides him. She had her palms pressed on the railing, as she looked out into the distance, joining him in his wistful gazing.

Her hair was something of a new aspect she had taken on. Ever since that day, Ram stopped cutting her hair, instead letting it grow out rather long, almost all the way down to her hips. She took on a look that made her seem almost like an entirely new person.

Subaru just thought it made her seem more mesmerizing. In a way, it even reminded him of that long, beautiful silver hair that a certain half-elf had kept…

"I can feel your thoughts drifting towards something untoward, Barusu." Ram warned, immediately pulling the boy from his delusions. He brought a hand up to rest on his cheek.

"I swear, you're like a detector for my thoughts or something...are you sure you're not using that ability of yours to read my mind?"

The girl lightly snickered at his almost comedically foolish question, shaking her head.

'If only I could constantly share my mind with him...what I would give for such a connection…to truly share everything with him...'

Her words were much different than her thoughts, however.

"You're well aware that it doesn't work like that. However, I don't need magic to read your thoughts, Barusu. To Ram, you're like an open book. Most of all...shouldn't it be expected for a maid to be ever-conscious of the feelings of her master?"

The almost seductive emphasis she had put on her last words made almost made Subaru shudder with emotions he wasn't even sure he wanted to confront. An ever-so-slight red blush appeared on his face, as he thought back to how she had even come to start calling him by such a title.

In any other time, her words might have sounded completely unbelievable, but it was just one of the many changes that had occurred within the past few months. Whereas she had been slowly drifting towards exclusively focusing her time on Subaru, Ram, had now been explicitly assigned to be his personal assistant.

The agreement had apparently been hashed out between Ram and Roswaal behind the scenes. Subaru wasn't privy to the full details of it, but a few days later, Ram began working as his personal assistant.

Nobody in the camp really had any objections to it, either. After all, in the days after Emilia's death, when Subaru had been left in something akin to a catatonic state, the two that had been by his side all the time were Ram and Beatrice.

Considering that Beatrice was hard at work with Roswaal and Otto most portions of the day, combining their knowledge and intelligence to attempt coming up with methods to find the newly chosen fifth candidate, it only made sense for Ram, who was already so close to him, to fill that position.

Apparently, Petra had had some opposition, until she had an argument with Ram, in which the girl suddenly gave up on any sort of resistance to the position. Though, it was more like Petra began to avoid Ram entirely...and to some extent, even Subaru.

After recovering, Subaru had gone to check on the little maid to figure out what was wrong, fearing he had done something to hurt her while not too conscious of his actions. Petra had been reluctant to admit anything first, before she eventually spoke.

"It...was nothing, Subaru. Big sis Ram just told me to not get in the way of the both of you spending some time together, is all!"

Of course, he'd wanted to immediately scold Ram for scaring a kid like that, but Petra had desperately begged him not to. For whatever reason, she had no desire for their discussion to reach anywhere near Ram's ears. The boy found it odd, but Petra just dismissed it as some sort of 'girls code' that he wouldn't understand.

He would never hear of how Ram had threatened the girl with a knife behind closed doors – how she had threatened that if it came to it, she wouldn't even need a knife to cleanly cut through her. How Ram had completely transformed in front of Petra, her demeanor changing into some unrecognizable monster that she had no idea of.

Because the little girl had been too afraid to mention any of that...Subaru continued to recover with no suspicions in his mind.

Day by day, Ram began to take over the duties of looking over him like a real maid. She prepared food for him, washed and repaired his clothing, accompanied him everywhere, and even did embarrassing stuff like help him dress.

Honestly, it had made him a little uncomfortable, and somewhat worried that Ram was investing so much time and energy into him, like he was the only thing in her world. But, when he had confronted her, asking if it was really what she wanted…

"Don't ask such a stupid question, Barusu. As always, I am simply doing what I want. And no matter what...I want to be by your side as much as I can. I can't live without you anymore."

Those sorts of words could melt the resistances of even the toughest of men – and Subaru, already weak to cute girls in general, just couldn't turn down Ram's offer. Especially not after all the times they had, well...'helped' each other when it came to certain bed-time affairs.

By that point, they had a relationship a little more complicated than simple friends, and in a way, Subaru felt a little comforted to know that he could have someone to be so intimate with...Ram had managed to dash right in through the cracks of his weak heart.

"Even with all of that, I still don't think I'm ever going to get used to you using that title…" Subaru admitted, turning his head to the side. His brown eyes met her crimson eyes.

"That would be for the best. After all, Ram does enjoy your ever-embarrassed reactions when she calls you master. It is almost adorable how sheepish and innocent you act, after having been the one to ravish Ram's body in such a-"

"Okay, okay!" Subaru shouted desperately, trying to drown out whatever words she was going to say next. "Sheesh...what sort of maid relentlessly teases her master like this? Aren't you more of a live-in-companion or something, at this rate?"

"Consider it a part of Barusu's birthday present. For how much of a masochist he is, Ram thought she would be extra-loving today."

The raven-haired boy groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Your love can be terrifying sometimes…"

"You say that, but Ram knows that Barusu loves it more than anyone else in the mansion…" Before he could respond, he felt a soft sensation press to his side, as Ram pressed her body to his, lightly inclining her head to the side so that it laid on his shoulder. "...Right, Barusu?"

It was honestly unfair. Ram knew well that her entire body was basically a huge weakness for him, and she was the sort of schemer that would make use of any advantage she had. Feeling her against him like this...there was only one answer that he could give, of course.

"...Yeah."

"Pervert." Ram immediately teased, leaving Subaru to press a hand to his forehead in exasperation.

"I knew it was a trap...I knew it was a trap, but still, I had no choice but to walk right into it…"

The two of them shared a short laugh during that moment. A laugh that once again rose Subaru's spirits, a laughter that kept all of the thoughts that threatened to consume him at any moment solidly at bay.

Then, there was a silence that came over the two of them. Subaru could tell that Ram was going to say something next, but she was quiet for a long while. She moved her right hand, slowly sliding it along the railing...before resting it on top of Subaru's left hand, as if making an implicit request.

He turned over his palm, allowing her palm to neatly fit against his, their fingers intertwining closely.

'Subaru's hand in mine…' Ram let out a soft sigh, refusing the urge to allow her thoughts to spill from her lips, despite wishing to desperately allow the boy next to her to hear her true proof of love.

She would never say it, given her naturally confident and headstrong nature, but Subaru was as much a pillar of support for her as she was for him. No, he was even more than that to her.

Subaru was the world for her. He was the reason she even still felt like living, despite losing an entire portion of what made her, her. Every time she walked into his room, slept next to him, served him...it kept that emptiness at bay, that threatened to swallow her whole.

It was why she needed to touch him so often. Being away from his side for even a few minutes felt like torture to her soul. Knowing she could again be at the mercy of a world that wouldn't even remember just what she had lost...a world where she was all alone in keeping a portion of her that not a single other person could comprehend.

Where she would probably be called out for being crazy, or insane, or misremembering…

Subaru was the only person, the only one, the only thing that could keep her from falling into that hell. That was why she had to hold onto him so tightly.

That was why...she killed Emilia. That was why she threatened Petra at the point of a knife to stay away. That was why she made all of those girls that were greedy to take Subaru's hand 'disappear'.

"You're...thinking about Emilia-sama, aren't you?" Ram's words were plain and to the point, and as painfully accurate as always. Subaru made an expression halfway between a grimace and an ironic smile, one that showed guilt and hellish remembrance.

The fact that he wasn't able to respond to her question verbally was all that Ram needed as an answer. Her hands tightened, her fingers pressing more comfortably into his.

'I want him to forget about her...I want to erase every little memory he has about her, and replace it solely with me...but...but…'

Even in her obsessive love for the boy besides her, even with the fact that she was willing to murder just to keep his attention and to win his love, Ram couldn't do that.

After all, if she was to forcefully try and remove that part of Subaru from his mind...would she be any better than whatever presence, or being had done so with her memories of her sister?

That small amount of doubt stopped her from finding a method to do such a thing. Instead, she forced herself to speak. If she couldn't make him forget about her, all she could do was keep comforting him, and helping him to move along.

"You can't allow it to torture you forever, Barusu. Wallowing in sorrow and self-pity isn't the way to honor Emilia-sama's memory. Especially not on a day that you are supposed to be celebrating."

Honestly, every time Ram spoke to him like this, he never had any idea of what he was supposed to feel, or how he was supposed to react.

Her blunt words were almost like a contradiction to Subaru. They stabbed through him like knives attempting to tear him apart, but at the same time, built him up in a way that banal, empty kind words never could.

Even then, it could never really make him let go of everything he had done. All of the pain, all of the suffering that he felt exclusively responsible for...even Ram's realistic words couldn't just push them away.

"I can't, Ram…" He replied in a voice, soft at first...before erupting into a loud, desperate shout. "I CAN'T! I can't...just...move on. I was supposed to Emilia's knight...I was supposed to be Rem's hero...but I couldn't even do anything when Emilia died, and when Rem just got erased from this world. Everything...everything I had, it...it slipped, Ram. It slipped from my fingers…"

Tears rolled down the boy's cheeks, but he didn't sob. Even if he was holding back his reaction, it only took one look at his eyes to tell how much pain was truly coursing through him.

Subaru felt like the most useless person in the entire world.

Even then...Ram's hand didn't let go of his. The expression on her face didn't falter once, and neither did the confidence in her eyes.

"I won't lie and tell you that you're going to immediately and perfectly get over things, Barusu...no, Subaru. But, your life isn't only worth the lives of others. Even if you couldn't be everything for other people...what matters is that you act with care and confidence for yourself." Ram's replied, slowly turning her gaze out towards the horizon.

"You were the one who taught me that. Back when I was worried that I was going insane, that I was the only one who had any memory of something that didn't even exist…you were the one who taught me that even if nobody else believed me, all I needed was my own belief. And even then, without you, nobody would have remembered to even keep Rem here. I probably would have forgotten her eventually, too...the only thing that stopped me from forgetting was the fact that she was such an irreplaceable part of my life…"

Subaru listened to her words, remaining quiet.

"So, why can't you allow yourself to take a bit of your own advice, Subaru? If you can lift me up, then you need to be able to properly lift yourself up onto your own two feet, as well. It might take a while, but I'll always be there to stop you from making these little mistakes that cause you to stumble. I'm here for you...and you're here for me. Did you already forget, Subaru…?"

She turned her crimson eyes towards him, as if expecting him to finish her thought. In any other case, he would have had no idea what her expectant gaze was asking of him, but it was like he understood her request even without her saying anything further.

"...You're...my heart." He responded quietly, looking down to the ground. Ram frowned, gripping his hands almost painfully tight. "O-Ow!"

"Say it right, this time. And say it loud enough for me to hear. I don't remember following such a pathetic master...or perhaps you would actually like to prove my belief wrong? Shout it. Shout just how important I am to you."

Subaru grit his teeth, knowing that Ram's words were just selective provocation. Even then, something in him stirred up. Something that he couldn't hold in anymore.

It wasn't like the negative feelings that had oppressively pushed him down, clouding his mind and crushing his heart in its' grasp, but instead, it was something bright...something that he felt had been waiting to bloom for months.

Only now, could he feel like saying it. Saying those words that Ram had said to him in his dream...those words that had supported him, and stopped him from completely shattering into a million unrecognizable pieces.

"Y-You're my heart! Ram is my awesome, supportive, kind, beautiful, loving heart! And...and I can't thank her enough for just being there for me! I….I love her!" Subaru yelled out into the empty night, panting as he finished.

A pleased smile came to the face of the pink-haired Oni, her grip lightening. Her pale skin showed a slight flush after the boy had passionately yelled out his confession.

'Finally...after all of these months, it seems my work has come to fruition...Subaru...Subaru is finally mine.'

"...That's more like it. I've been waiting to hear those words for months, you know?" Ram turned, so that she was now fully facing the boy. "And…? What exactly is on your mind now, my dear master? Are you beginning to understand my mature words of wisdom a bit more?"

Without even realizing it, Subaru mirrored her smile. It was...it was an odd feeling that washed over him, after he had managed to say those words.

Words that he had usually only saved for Emilia, words that Rem would likely have never heard...it was an odd set of circumstances, leading him to confess his feelings to a girl who seemed the most unlikely option to occupy the space in his heart.

He turned to face her, looking deep into those eyes of hers. Sometimes, looking into Ram's eyes was frightening.

Deep inside, he could see some sort of bottomless love in her, a love that reminded him almost of the obsessive love that the Witch of Envy held for him. However, he understood why Ram felt the way she did.

In these few months, they had truly gotten to know each other...to support each other...to help each other grow and move past the pain that they both shared.

Saying those three simple words to the beautiful young woman in front of him just felt right, in some deep part of Subaru.

She really was just like a beautiful Sakura tree. Her hair a serene pink, fluttering in the wind almost like delicate petals, while remaining firm all throughout the seasons, until she could bloom once again.

A mix of confidence, maturity, tough love and beauty that had held him up better than anything else could.

"Man...I don't even remember when I fell so hard…"

"Hmph. It is only natural for Barusu to fall for a beautiful maiden such as Ram. You were hopeless from the beginning, so it was your fate to just as hopelessly fall in love, wasn't it?" Ram leaned forward, taking his free hand into hers, so that both of their hands were now connected.

"I guess so...didn't expect it to be under these sorta circumstances, though." He admitted with a chuckle. Then, he tilted his head. "So, um...does that mean, well...you, too…?"

"Hmm? Does that mean...what, exactly? I won't know if you're stumbling over your words so helplessly, Barusu."

Subaru almost turned as red as a tomato, still not used to having Ram tease his feelings out into the open so easily. "Do you...feel the same way? I mean, I know what we've both said, but, I really just want to m-"

"You're really such an idiot…" Ram interrupted him, letting out a large sigh of her own. Her lips turned to a frown, however, she still looked right into his eyes, putting aside her disappointment in him. "Fine. If you're so worried about my answer...then lean down. I have just the thing for doubtful, perverted boys."

"Leaning down? Is this...some sort of birthday present or so-mmmph…" Subaru followed Ram's instructions, curious as to what she was planning, only to be immediately silenced.

Before he knew it, Ram had stepped up slightly to meet him halfway, her soft lips gently pressing against his.

A sudden moment, shared in an equally sudden instant, a moment that only the two of them would share under the moonlight.

In that instant, Ram became all that Subaru could think about. All of his worries, all of his fears...even if only temporary, the feeling of her lips on his made everything somehow alright.

And for Subaru, his question was answered without need for anything else.

After a few moments, the pink-haired Oni slowly pulled away, looking into the love-struck eyes of the man she carried similar eyes for. Nothing could have made her happier in the entire world than to see that look on him.

"My...it seems that I have managed to bewitch you even more than I thought was previously possible. However, I don't mind seeing that look in your eyes...I was waiting to finally see it there, after all." Ram admitted with a small smile.

However, her words and the look on her face couldn't possibly properly portray everything she was feeling on the inside. She was almost about to explode.

No...after a moment like that, she couldn't just leisurely spend time with Subaru on the balcony anymore...she needed him, and she needed him right then.

It was a good thing that she had a very good path already planned out for that night.

"And to answer your last question...no, that was not your birthday gift. Ram would have thought you would have seen it before...the gift that your maid, Ram, worked so hard to prepare for you..."

The boy gulped, hearing that needy tone enter her voice that she always reserved only for the two of them being alone.

He hadn't noticed it before, but Ram was indeed dressed extremely skimpy...actually, if he looked closer, she had some sort of pink-and-black lingerie that was hugging closely to her body…

Suddenly, he felt very excited. But still, he had a few doubts about doing this sort of thing after the mood he had just barely broken free from.

"Well, I mean, I don't know if right now is really the right m-"

"Are you really going to disappoint me, Barusu? I am a very patient lady, but you should choose what you'll say next carefully…"

Her sharp words made Subaru gulp, and gave him even more mixed feelings. That tone in her voice only meant one thing – she wasn't taking no for an answer.

"...Ah, forget it! It's my birthday right? Then I guess I should enjoy my present!"

"Oh, my. It seems that my perverted master has finally allowed his carnal desires to kick in. Ram may be in danger, tonight…" The maid looked away, cheeks red at Subaru's sudden declaration. He huffed, not swayed at all by this display.

"Danger that you put yourself in!"

"...I won't deny that."

Without a moment's hesitation, Subaru dragged Ram off from the balcony into his room, shutting the windows closed and pulling the blinds across them.

Even if it was for a short moment like this, Subaru felt like he could indulge himself in this pink dream a little longer.

A dream that would make things even a little more bearable, even if only until he woke up.

And even then, even if he had to wake up, and once again face reality...he was sure that no matter what, he would never have to face it alone.

Looking into the eyes of the woman he loved, laying atop her in the bed, four words came to his lips.

"...I love you, Ram."

She felt it too, even stronger than he ever could.

"I love you too, Subaru."

Together, they would both face the dream they had created.