Chapter 6


The Master finds himself inside a certain genius's workshop.

"Hmm? What brings you here at this time, Master?" she asked, the immortalized smile of her greatest work ever present on her face.

He had always felt relief whenever he stared at her. "Nothing much, I'm just…really damn nervous." He admitted, and the genius, removing her glasses, motioned for him to come closer, as well as to take a chair with him.

Once he was seated, she offered him a cup of coffee. "Its to calm the nerves." She said, and Ritsuka took the cup.

"Although I don't guarantee you falling asleep now that you've drank coffee." She added, and the Master chuckled. She giggled as well.

He took a few sips, enjoying the sweet aroma of the otherwise bitter tasting beverage.

"Master…" she spoke, her right hand holding the Master's free left hand. Her smile remained, but there was a melancholic expression on her face.

Ritsuka was surprised but clasped his own hand with her own. "I'm scared, Da Vinci. I'm scared of what might happen in the Temple of Time…I'm scared of dying. I'm scared of losing any of you…" he then admitted, setting aside the cup on the armrest.

He looked at Da Vinci, and he caressed her cheek. She clutched the hand that was caressing her face, wanting the sensation to last forever.

"I'm scared too." The genius admitted, tears starting to form, and the smile now slowly fading. "I don't want to lose any of you too…" she added, throwing herself to the Master, much to his surprise.

The cup fell on the ground, but it didn't break. Ritsuka embraced the crying Da Vinci.

It was the first time he ever saw her at such…vulnerability.

"Leonardo…" he softly spoke, kissing the top of her head.

Da Vinci calmed down and looked at him with a small smile. "First name basis already?" she asked, giggling softly as she continued hugging him.

Ritsuka smiled. "I will make sure that we all return here safely." He then announced, determination swelling up inside him.

"Then…" Da Vinci then looked at him, inched closer, and pecked his lips. "…I'm counting on you, okay, Master~?" she spoke, and Ritsuka blushed.

He merely nodded.

"And I'll give you kisses tenfold if you do, alright?" she then asked, and Ritsuka laughed. "I guess we have a deal." He replied but continued to stare at her.

He caressed her cheek again, as she was moving closer once more.


The Master finds himself embracing a devastated genius inside the workshop.

She was crying, and he himself was holding back his own tears.

He merely comforted her by rubbing her back, and by combing her hair with his hands.

The doctor, Romani…was gone.

"I'm sorry…I'm very sorry…" Ritsuka spoke, almost bursting out.

Da Vinci then hugged him tighter. "Its…not your fault. It's no one's fault…" she softly spoke. "I knew this would happen, he even talked to me for one last time, and yet…"

Ritsuka continued in calming her down, but in the end, he could only return a tighter embrace.

"We almost lost Mash too…" he spoke, smiling small. "I'm…really glad she's safe." He added.

Da Vinci raised her head, looking at him with tearstained eyes. Ritsuka wiped them all away. She gave a small smile, as well. "I'm glad she's okay too…" she softly spoke.

They both looked at each other, contemplating in the sweet silence, and lamenting whom they have lost.

"Leonardo…can you stand up? So that I could hold you better…" Ritsuka then asked, and the genius giggled. She complied, placing her arms across his shoulders, hands behind his neck.

He blushed. "My, why are you blushing, Ritsuka-kun? Is it the first time you held a beautiful woman in your arms?" she teased, but she expected the Master to nod.

And nod he did.

"Ehh? And here I thought you've already held little Mash this way." She then spoke, sighing.

"Oh, come on now why are you sighing?" asked the Master, as Da Vinci merely giggled once more.

"Hush now…let me feel you…I promised to give back kisses tenfold, hm?" she softly spoke, and Ritsuka looked away.

"I…wasn't able to save him, Leonardo…I don't think I deserve anything sweet." He replied.

Da Vinci pouted, and sighed. "Its okay. I…expected him to do it one way or another, just not so soon…" she answered, as she let her forehead touch Ritsuka's own.

"Please, Ritsuka…I still have you, and you still have me, so let's just give in to our feelings…" she whispered, and the Master merely held her even closer.

"I'll always be here, beloved…" he replied.


The next memories were the ones that hurt him the most. It was the ones that have scarred him, and ones that will most likely stay for the rest of his life.

"Master-kun? Hey, Master-kun? Are you okay?" then asked a familiar voice. Ritsuka blinked numerous times and noticed that someone was seated on his lap. He looked around and saw that he was in the same workshop, but on his lap was a…younger looking genius.

"Da…Vinci-chan?" he spoke, and the little Da Vinci pouted, crossing her arms. "You've been visiting me in my workshop lately, but then all you do is either space out or sleep while cuddling me. Geez, Master-kun, here I thought you were finally falling for me." She spoke, and Ritsuka gave out a nervous chuckle, wrapping his arms around her stomach.

"I'm sorry Da Vinci-chan, this place just brings back lots of memories…" he replied, a solemn expression now on his face.

Little Da Vinci leaned back on his chest, looking up at him. She was met with tears.

Ritsuka wiped them away immediately, and got off the chair, placing Da Vinci on it instead. "I'm sorry, I'll just go." He said, going out of the workshop.

Da Vinci sighed, and contacted someone in using the comms. "Hey, Mash? Can you do me a little favor?" she asked. She may be smiling now, but she was worried about the Master.


"Um, sensei? Are you busy?" Mash asked the Lord El-Melloi II, who was eating a sandwich in the cafeteria.

Skadi was nowhere to be seen, and nor was Gray. "What troubles you, young Kyrielight?" he asked.

"Well, b-before that! Where's—" before Mash could ask the whereabouts of the two Servants, El-Melloi II has already cleared his throat.

"Gray is observing those who share the same face with her, while being closely watched by the King of Knights who does not have her face, and Scathach-Skadi is spending time with her daughters, the Valkyries." He explained, and Mash only stared in awe.

"I see I see. T-Then, can you help me? Da Vinci-chan asked me about this last week, and it concerns senpai…" she spoke, as she sat down.

"I'm listening." The Lord spoke.

Mash cleared her throat and looked at him with a determined expression. "Can you help me ask the first Servants senpai summoned about his relationship with Da Vinci-chan? W-Well, the Da Vinci-chan back in the old Chaldea base." she asked, also clarifying her point.

The Lord nodded in acknowledgement. "I'm assuming Da Vinci looked into Chaldea's past records and saw me as one of the very first Spirit Origins that answered the Master's summons?" he asked, and Mash nodded.

"Yes, and well…we're concerned for him, as he suddenly was frequenting his visits in the workshop." Mash further added.

"Could it be that he's looking for remnants of Mnemosyne, seeing as how Da Vinci is also related to its creation?" he asked, and Mash was wide eyed.

"C-Could it be?!" she asked, panicking. The Lord told her to sit back down.

"It was mere conjecture, lady, pay it no heed. Although, it could be a possibility, but that is a matter for a detective." He spoke. Mash was wide eyed once again.

"Y-You mean, we should ask Holmes too?" she asked.

The Lord simply nodded. "It fits him better. He could handle an investigation like that perfectly well, while we can go and ask the first Servants that Master summoned about his relationship with the old Da Vinci." He explained.

'Although asking the Master directly would be a much better strategy.' He thought, but seeing as the Master's first contracted Servant was brimming with determination, he kept it to himself.

"So, um, when do we start?" she asked. The Lord sipped from his cup. "Right after I finish this tea."


Huh, I thought this was a harem story.

- The Void Sprinter