Chapter 10
"Are you feeling better Mash? You were able to channel your Servant Spirit Origin for a while which allowed you to summon the shield at such short notice, but when we did it again yesterday you weren't able to do so." Spoke a concerned Ritsuka, as Mash was being fed some soup.
She smiled. "I'm feeling better now, actually. Thanks for all your help, Senpai." She spoke, grateful for that she has a kind and caring Senpai slash Master attending her needs.
"I've reported it to Da Vinci, and she said that she'll need to check up on you once we get back to Chaldea." He added, and Mash nodded. Ritsuka chuckled. "You can rest assured, Mash, I'll be fine."
Mash then sighed. "I'm sorry for taking up much of your time, Senpai…" she spoke, and Ritsuka leaned in closer, kissing her forehead. "I can't have my adorable eggplant kouhai overworking herself now, can I?" he then replied, and Mash blushed.
"S-Senpai…" she softly spoke, and Ritsuka patted her head. "Go ahead and rest now." He spoke, and as he tucked her in comfortably, he went out of the room quietly.
"Where to next, Siegfried? Oh, and where's Fuuma?" then asked the Master. The Dragon Slayer adjusted his glasses. "We have no agenda for tonight, Master. Lord Koutaro says he will be accompanying Lady Danzo tonight. I did not pry any further." He replied.
Ritsuka smiled. "Ah, that's all good. I'm glad he's spending more time with her, having quality time and all that." He commented, and Siegfried smiled.
"I'm glad that you're enjoying this too, Master." He spoke, and Ritsuka laughed.
He then stretched. "Yeah…I did need some time allotted for my rest and relaxation, huh?" he replied, and both began laughing.
"The sound of your laughter only adds to my annoyance for tonight. Irritating." Then spoke a cold, disgusted voice.
"Hinako senpa—no…Yu Mei-ren…" then spoke Ritsuka, standing straight. Siegfried's glasses flashed, and he whispered to his Master. "I see what's going on here. I will be in my Spirit Form and a few meters away, Master. Please be at ease." He spoke, and with that, he vanished.
The Elemental scoffed. "A wise move for you to withdraw your Servant: I might've just killed him on the spot." She spoke.
"…technically you're my Servant too." Replied Ritsuka without fail and this merely angered the woman more.
"I know that alright?! No need to repeat it! Geez!" she spoke, and Ritsuka bowed. "My apologies!" he spoke.
"Whatever. Since you're here…" she then spoke, lowering her voice a bit.
Ritsuka was then confused. Was she flustered?
"I-I need to blow off some steam somewhere…" she spoke, and Ritsuka simply nodded. He didn't ask questions as to why she was at such an angered state, nor about the whereabouts of Xiang Yu.
"We can go ahead and just walk around. It's a good opportunity if you ask me." Suggested Ritsuka as he went to her side.
Yu Mei-ren was then looking at the moon, and she sighed. "I guess that's a good idea." She replied, and the two of them began their walk by the side of the huge pool surrounding Las Vegas.
Ritsuka wanted to move boldly: he wanted to have her loop her arm around his own, but he knows he might anger her even further. They instead continued walking in silence.
Yu Mei-ren, however, sensed this. She sighed again.
"I'm going to make this perfectly clear: I'm an Elemental, and you're human. The only thing we have in common is how we look. We will never be compatible with each other." She coldly spoke.
"I know that, senpai…I know." He simply replied, and both stopped in their tracks.
She looked over at him, and suddenly, a feeling of concern washed over her.
Ritsuka looked at her and was surprised to see such an expression on her face.
"I-I didn't mean to be so straightforward…" she quickly replied, and the Master just gave her a small smile. "It's alright. I…already knew, kinda, that you would say something like that sooner or later." He said, chuckling afterward.
"Perhaps it was wrong for me to think of you as a typical human…" she then spoke. She looked away, and Ritsuka was saddened. Other than Da Vinci and Gray, there was yet another face that he was fond of always seeing.
And yet now…she averts her gaze.
"You are a Master who has made connections with many kinds of Heroic Spirits, so there is really no reason you would hold me in contempt as some kind of monster…" she then spoke, looking back at him, smiling, "…is there?" she continued.
Ritsuka blushed and cleared his throat. He smiled back at her. "Why would I ever do that?" he asked in reply.
They continued with their walk. They both gazed at the moon, admiring its beauty.
Ritsuka then mustered up the courage to fully say what he was feeling. Another chance, as the first one backfired immediately.
"The moon sure is beau—"
He was too late yet again, as Yu Mei-ren did not hear it, as she has more words to say.
"Those who do not possess the guise of humans have no chance at peace..." she spoke in a serious tone. They stopped walking yet again.
Yu Mei-ren then blushed a bit, and softly spoke, enough for the Master to hear. "At least that's what I always thought. That is, until I became a Servant." She added, looking at her Master yet again.
"No matter what fate awaits me, I will never forget this brief moment of respite I feel right now." She finished, smiling yet again.
It was heartfelt. Genuine, even. Ritsuka Fujimaru was witnessing such a beautiful sight: the genuine words and smile of an immortal woman that loathes humanity, that loathes the world, all underneath the light of the dazzling Las Vegas moon.
And yet, the Master simply smiled back, with quite the familiar sadness present in his heart.
Yu Mei-ren then approached him, and she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Ritsuka blushed.
"I can feel what you are currently feeling. I am your Servant, remember?" she spoke, as she patted his head. "My apologies, Master, but I have said this before: we can never be compatible." She spoke.
She then walked ahead, leaving the Master in such a trance. He snapped out of it and looked at her.
"And…I have dedicated my entire being towards Lord Xiang Yu, as it has always been ever since." She further added.
He caught up to her, and Yu Mei-ren stopped yet again.
"I feel a lot better now. I am grateful for this, Ritsuka Fujimaru." She spoke. Ritsuka took one last glance before she vanished unto the cover of the night.
Now he was all alone.
His heart felt heavy, but he gave out a sigh. "At least she spoke from the heart…" he talked to himself.
He then heard heavy footsteps approaching him.
"Master, did you enjoy your evening stroll with my beloved?" Xiang Yu then asked, and Ritsuka straightened his form. "I did, yes. I'm thankful I was given the opportunity for such." He replied.
Xiang Yu gave a faint smile. "I am glad, too, that you two were able to reach a common understanding regarding personal feelings. I will not hold your feelings for my beloved against you, Master, as I am by no means a petty individual." He spoke, and Ritsuka gave out a short laugh.
He looked at him and patted his arm. Xiang Yu was confused. "It's alright Xiang Yu. I know where her heart lies. Enjoy your night with her here." He simply spoke, as he walked back towards the direction of the hotel, waving back at him.
Xiang Yu continued walking in the opposite direction, looking for his beloved. "You say that Master, yet I hear the cries of your own heart." He spoke to himself.
Indeed, whispered words echoed throughout the busy night of Las Vegas, although it was only heard by those that were meant to hear.
The words were spoken as such:
"How I wish…I was the reason for that beautiful smile."
W-What do you mean I'm self-inserting here too much? S-Shut up!
