A/N: This one took a while, because I've rewritten it a couple of times, and each time has had fairly drastic changes. Let me know what you think for sure, because it could've gone very differently!

Chapter Nine

The Final Choice

Subaru had hoped that the fight against the Assassin might be easier while they were out here in the open. After all, Ricardo's sharp senses and power could have made it an inevitable win, and Meili, as well, was quite capable of holding her own.

It's just a matter of me surviving, he had thought, trusting in Meili's sharp senses to help guide him through. If I can do that, then… this nightmare will be over!

Unfortunately for Subaru, things didn't always work out the way you wanted. His plan had an exploitable flaw within it, one that nobody had seen coming. After pushing back the Assassin's latest attempt at rushing into the flickering firelight to attack them, Meili let out a sharp gasp, making him look over to her worriedly.

"Li? You alright?"

"T-There's… Someone else," the young girl breathed.

Raising an eyebrow, the wind began to pick up suddenly, making Subaru brace himself against it. That was when he saw a glint of steel, and watched as the dagger that Meili had thrown earlier was sent right towards his face.

CLINK! Meili suddenly jumped in the way, managing to deflect the oncoming dagger with yet another similar one. However, as soon as she landed on the ground again, someone leaped out onto her back and slammed her into the ground. Subaru quickly moved in with his blade, jabbing it at the attacker, but their agile body made it easy for them to slink to the side and hop a few yards away, their sharp teeth glittering in the firelight.

"Stern…!" Subaru could hardly believe it, the boy rising up to his feet, grinning intensely at them.

How? The plan was… Was… Subaru gulped. He could imagine something drastic that would completely counter them– If one of them had left later, or if they somehow made it appear like it was only one person riding out. But how could they have possibly known of their plan? That would mean that, maybe, someone within the Inn had already had their memory messed with? If so, that was another thread that Subaru had to figure out, or else–

"Subaru!" While lost in his thoughts, Meili had to shoulder him to the side. He stumbled a few steps away as Stern seemed to cough up a blade from his throat and hurl it at him without even using his hands.

"I'm sorry Li, but… Assassins really suck!"

"Hmph, you're choosing now to be so rude to me?" The girl held her dagger at the ready, and Subaru did his best to hold his sword steady.

He lost his advantage of surprise, so this might actually be fine, Subaru pondered. We'll take care of these guys, and anyone cursed will be fine! Meili will be okay!

"You're thinking irrational thoughts, rat," Stern spoke through his harrowing grin.

That was when the other Assassin came in, his hatchet hooking into the back of Subaru's leg. As he pulled, a chunk of the boys leg was ripped out, making him let out a yell of pain, stumbling forwards. At that moment, Stern leaped in, baring his fangs.

"Li… stay.. Back–!" Subaru tried to speak and think as pain seared his mind. He didn't want the girl to rush in to stop Stern, not while the other Assassin was attacking them as well. Don't… die…!

Their other attacker, after hurting Subaru greatly, swiveled around and brought a hatchet upwards to attempt to bisect Meili right then and there. The girl expertly moved forwards, performing a somersault along the ground, popping up right below Stern to slam the dagger up into his chest.

"Ka—!" The boy let out a gasp, his grin twisting into a painted expression. Meili let out a cry as she used all her force to topple him backwards out of the air, drawing her blade from him.

Amazed, Subaru watched as Stern stumbled a couple of steps backwards, gazing down at the gaping wound in his chest. The girl turned to Subaru, who had fallen to his good knee, her eyes scanning the darkness around the camp.

"Damn, totally useless again," Subaru said with a dark chuckle. He didn't dare look back at the incredibly painful gash on his leg. "If that… freaky guy licks my wound, then it's all over for me."

"Then we won't let that happen," Meili said, surprising him with a slight smile. She seemed to be in quite a good mood, despite a death battle happening. It was a nice thing to see, though her eyes reflected worry.

"The Captain–"

"He's fine, I-I'm sure of it," Meili insisted. "I can hear two footsteps moving around out there–" As if fate had wanted to give a sign, the clinking of metal on metal could finally be heard.

"Ain't the Captain like… Super strong? Are these Assassins that good or what," Subaru pondered through gritted teeth.

Meili shook her head. "I didn't know every member.. But I was always focused on big sis," she admitted. "Ah… They're here!"

Subaru tensed up, looking around frantically– But he heard something odd instead of someone coming to attack them. It sounded like the clopping of several legs at once. Confused, Subaru noticed how confident Meili looked, her arms outstretching before herself.

"This is the power of Meili Portroute! Don't you forget it!"

Suddenly, several dog-like beasts rushed past them. Subaru braced himself, watching as they began to encircle the camp, gazing out into the darkness with snarls of fury. They were meter-long, slender, vicious doglike beings of black and brown, sporting pointed ears and a sort of tusk at the end of their snout. It looked a bit familiar, and Subaru realized why quickly.

"That's like… In the Capital?"

"Wolgram. They travel in packs, and luckily there was a small one nearby," Meili explained. "Ever since Julius…" She shook her head. "The big pack split up, as I thought they would."

Subaru nodded slowly. The tides had seemed to have turned in their favor, for now at least. It was obviously unwise to count their two assailants out at any point though, and Subaru's wound was severe enough to lead to potential death.

I'll lose a damned leg if it means I can survive! Subaru rose up as best he could, putting his weight on his good leg shakily.

"Subaru, you should–" Meili had turned to watch him struggle to his feet, looking at his wound with a face of reluctance. However, she was cut off when something flew at her from the darkness, aiming for her arm. It didn't hit her, but that was only because Subaru managed to flail forwards, letting out a grunt as a dagger struck into his back. "Subaru!"

As he fell to the ground, writhing in pain from his leg injury and this new feeling in his back, the girl lifted a hand towards the Wolgram pack.

"Don't let up! Your meal is out there," the girl hissed. The doglike beasts let out drooling snarls before darting off powerfully into the night.

"I.. get it," Subaru said weakly, "I'll rest and… recover…"

Meili's hands were shaky as she looked him over. Eventually she grabbed hold of the dagger in his back, attempting to pull it out, but Subaru saw stars– And she quickly stopped.

"T-That's… not good," the young girl said, wiping her sleeve across her eyes, catching tears that were starting.

"I.. didn't think my life here would.. Be in a.. Damned wheelchair," Subaru muttered. He could tell, especially after she tried to move it, that his spine had surely been injured greatly. His body felt like it didn't dare to move at all, and even breathing made him jolt slightly.

"It's o-okay," Meili said. "I'll treat you, and then… And… Ah…!"

The girl's eyes widened, looking down at her hands. Subaru's eyes looked up at them, and could make out something on them in the firelight. It seemed thick and dark, not quite the color of blood. His mind was too numb to think of the possibilities, but there was a certain thought that crossed his mind.

"Poison…?"

He could practically hear the cackling of the boy Stern at that moment… Well, he wasn't sure it didn't happen, but it wasn't like he could see much, especially as his vision became more and more hazy.

This plan… Has to… Work…

As the world around him became less and less recognizable, Subaru could feel Meili treating to his injuries. He couldn't feel them anymore, unless he was moved too much, where the dagger embedded in his back would jolt him back to life for a split second. By the time a minute had passed, he could only see the ground before him, dancing with the flickering of the nearby fire.

Drops of water gently trickled to the ground as he watched.

The storm's here, he thought, remembering the rain that had occurred on his first loop, that memory seeming like a dream to him at this point.

It didn't seem consistent enough for rain though, a couple of drops at a time… By the time he felt a slight weight upon his body, and heard the sobs, it was already too late for him to appreciate that Meili was grieving over him.

He was dead.

"Will you join the Iron Fangs as their squire? Or shall you serve under me as my steward?"

Subaru's heart was pounding as he gazed up at Anastasia Hoshin across the desk from himself. He could feel his legs shaking, and his body felt as if he had been in mid-breath before all the air left him at once, leaving him in a silent gasp.

"I wonder why you're looking at me so intensely now," Anastasia wondered aloud, her small smile not wavering, but her blue-green eyes narrowing slightly. "I did not think this choice would cause you so much strife."

The boy put his shaky hands onto his knees, slowly looking to the floor. His plan had failed, the one that he had decided had to work. In the end, he was truly the weakest link– The one who was powerless to stop himself from dying, even with the strange power he had.

Subaru had lost his final battle, or at least, that's how he felt.

Shifting in the chair, Subaru barely managed to catch himself as he nearly fell out. The chair slid backwards a bit, and he slowly rose to his feet. Anastasia watched him, looking more unsettled now as he looked to her again, face-to-face.

"I… don't know… what to do," he said in a raspy voice.

"You are undecided..?"

Subaru didn't answer. He let the breeze from the window behind Anastasia caress his skin, a slight soothing relief to the burning pang of disappointment and worthlessness that he felt.

"I can't protect anyone," he finally said after a few moments. His voice cracked at the last word, his legs threatening to give out on him. "I… I need.. To…"

Then it happened. Falling to his knees, Subaru slinked against the desk, his head resting against its firm wood, as unrelenting tears began to flow down his cheeks. Pulling his head back, he SLAMMED it against the wood, then again, and again, slowly thunking himself against it until a small patch of blood could be seen upon it.

"Subaru…" Anastasia's voice barely registered to him over the wailing sound that filled his ears– Something that he had to eventually realize was his own, pathetic voice. "Subaru!"

As he pulled his head back to strike himself again, a hand moved in its way. Headbutting the hand there, he slowly pulled back, confused, seeing the small bit of blood that had been left upon their pale palm.

Looking towards the source, he saw that Anastasia was beside him, wincing slightly at him headbutting her hand against the desk.

"I think Julius might behead ya' for hitting a lady," the girl said with a trace of humor, "So perhaps I shouldn't mention it."

"W-Why..?"

"That's my question, Natsuki Subaru," Anastasia said. He bloodied hand gently pressed against Subaru's aching forehead, before moving back in a slow, gentle pet. "Somethin' is wrong, but what is it?"

Subaru didn't say anything for a moment as the girl gently pet him. It reminded him of when she had first asked him that question he hated so much now… How proud he had felt, how much he had respected Anastasia. Yet again, he found himself lost, and worthless, and yet her soothing aura and touch threatened to make it all better.

"This often works for my subordinates," Anastasia said with a smile. "I'm glad it works for ya' too, though I hope not for any weird reasons."

It was all coming together for Subaru. Everything since arriving in Picoutatte had seemingly gone wrong. First he got off on the wrong foot with Ricardo, but it was purely a misunderstanding. Then Meili had died, and the threat of the Assassins had made him ruin his relationship with Julius. Multiple times he had snubbed Anastasia Hoshin as well.

It would've been easy to think, 'Those were in the past', but to Subaru, they were practically the past week of his life. The memories and the relationships he had with everyone here… They weren't fake, even if nobody would remember them like he could.

That was Subaru's downfall. Treating every new life like his knowledge was his only power when, in fact, the emotions he felt were also making him stronger.

He finally managed to look over at Anastasia, the girls eyes closed as she gently pet his head, as if slightly reminiscent from doing the action. This was the only moment where he'd truly spoken to the girl besides brief exchanges in passing– It was here, in this room, where Subaru experienced his highest highs and his lowest lows.

I… need to trust… in Anastasia, Subaru thought. Here she was, a powerful ally whom gave Subaru a life altering choice, and yet he'd left her behind at every turn, favoring his own way of pursuing his own future. I don't want to lose anyone here…!

Julius… Ricardo… The Pearlbaton triplets… They were all alive up until this visit to Picoutatte, and not because Subaru did anything. They were strong and reliable. He needed to learn to rely on others.

"But you gotta' raise yourself up, or everyone will use you and leave ya' behind." Anastasia had said that last time she comforted Subaru, and it came back to him now.

This is it… He thought, slowly beginning to lower his head towards the floor. Once his stinging forehead touched it, he set his hands apart from himself in a true groveling position towards Anastasia.

This is where I'll have to start over… From zero…!

"Please… Make me your servant, Miss Hoshin!"

There was silence for a few moments after his sudden outburst. Then, to his surprise, the girl chuckled softly, before patting his shoulder to make him rise again.

"That is a surprising answer, Subaru, are you sure you are well enough to make that choice," Anastasia wondered, standing up.

Subaru changed to a kneel, wiping leftover tears onto his sleeve, before nodding, gazing up at her intently.

"I will do… anything, to protect everyone here," he told her. "I… Know I'm not strong enough for the Iron Fangs. But still, I have to try something!"

The purple-haired girl nodded. "It's alright, Subaru, ya' don't have to explain yourself to me. I am just… Well, my knights certainly had different ideas of what you might say. This answer of yours is very pleasing."

"I guess I've been humbled a bit, being around such awesome people," Subaru admitted with a sense of humor, though he couldn't really bring himself to smile.

"There ya' are. The reckless boy who impressed the two people I respect most," Anastasia said, offering her dirtied hand to Subaru. "Will you uphold the ideals that my followers and I uphold?"

"Ideals…?"

"Mhm~ That hard work and money can solve any issue."

Subaru managed a snort of a chuckle. It was a bit absurd. Anastasia, head of the Hoshin Company, believed in something that most would probably wave away as a dream better left with a lowly peasant. It was very telling, and made Subaru wonder all the more just what she had gone through growing up.

Still, in the now, Anastasia was someone to be respected. Her beliefs were completely valid, and Subaru would certainly uphold them as best he could, especially if it meant he could protect that which he cared about.

Slowly placing his hand on Anastasia's, he nodded. "I will."

Placing her other hand on top of his, the girl smiled. "Alright then, Subaru. Now, tell me what tha' problem is~"

It was noon of the second day in Picoutatte when Anastasia Hoshin's two-door carriage arrived at the Suwen Trading Company. Several members of the company, including Oslo Suwen at the head, were ready to greet her arrival.

From the front of the carriage came a boy clad in a slender black butler's outfit that flowed down his legs. He moved briskly to the door and opened it, bowing with his free hand at his chest, before shouting at a strangely hectic volume:

"M-Miss Anastasia Hoshin has arrived!"

There was silence that followed that outburst. Subaru stared at the stones on the ground, not daring to look up. Eventually, Julius exited, patting Subaru's shoulder and flashing him a look of amusement. Then, after he emerged, Anastasia came out, taking his hand as he helped her step down.

Subaru looked up, catching Anastasia's smile to him. "You are doing well, Subaru."

He smiled and quickly bowed to hide his slight blush at the complement. The two continued on, and something jabbed Subaru in the back suddenly. Turning, he saw Joshua standing behind him, pulling his hand up.

"That was quite inelegant and noisy," Joshua said sternly. "Did you even listen to my lessons?"

Biting back the urge to simply fight back against the boy, Subaru simply stated, "S-Sorry…"

Letting a small smile emerge on his face, Joshua crossed his arms victoriously, watching Lady Anastasia and Julius conversing with Oslo. Subaru's eyes however began to scan for someone else, eventually spotting them at the top of the steps, near the front entrance to the trading company.

Stern, looking quite like a normal, edgy child, stared intently down at their new guests, before his eyes caught Subaru's gaze, and he turned and walked into the building.

Subaru couldn't help but grit his teeth. Today's the day–

I'm… No… WE'RE going to win!

"It is unfortunate how our previous meeting went," Oslo stated apologetically, stroking his short beard. "I do understand how greatly this affects you."

"Business is business, if ya' take every deal, then you will go nowhere," Anastasia insisted.

"Of course, wise words indeed."

As the two walked and talked, Julius was close behind them. A ways back, Subaru and Joshua walked as well. He couldn't help but notice how casual Joshua seemed despite what they were walking into– That's when he realized something.

They totally didn't tell this guy, did they?!

It made sense, he supposed. After all, Joshua had quite the personality underneath his mask of indignation and could probably give them away if he was too nervous or too worried about his brother or Anastasia's safety. Subaru had to fight the urge to think about protecting him if things went wrong– Protecting wasn't something he could truly do right now, he had to entrust in others power to do so, even if he hated it.

Noticing Subaru's gaze, Joshua turned his head to him. "Is something amiss?"

"Nah, I was just trying to see how you walked," Subaru said, trying to mimic the boys stiff, regal approach.

"I understand it has not been long, but your mannerisms in speaking are quite inexcusable…"

"Ah, sorry Joshua, I'll get better–"

"Hm? What was that?"

Subaru looked around them, before muttering, "M-Master.. Joshua."

The smug smirk that appeared on the boy's face as he looked ahead again made Subaru's face burn. As he was new, and essentially a 'lesser' servant to Anastasia, they had all seemed to agree without his input that Joshua, despite his age and lack of composure at times, was perfectly suiting to be the 'Master' of Anastasia's stewards.

I'll trip this guy if he makes me say that shit again in public, Subaru thought as they came to the next room, one he recognized from when he had met with Oslo before.

"Sorry, this will be a closed-door meeting," a woman stated, holding up a hand to him and Joshua.

Nodding, Joshua bowed slightly, and Subaru did the same. "Understandable. Will it be acceptable for us to wait here?"

The woman smiled and dipped her head slightly. "Yes, of course. Please feel at home at our company."

After they left, Joshua turned to Subaru, narrowing his eyes at him. "Before you rush off to do something reckless… I have a feeling I have been left in the dark on something."

"Hm? What do you–"

"After all, I can tell when my glorious brother is on edge," he continued. "Is this a reckless scheme concocted by you, Subaru?"

He's surprisingly sharp…! It was only half true, however, because Subaru had not made up the current plan. After explaining as best he could about the threat of Assassins in the city, and that he was worried about both Meili as well as important figures in the city, Anastasia and Julius had come to the conclusion that they wished to help Oslo Suwen, if they could. This result was perfect, of course, and Subaru felt relieved that he could lead it to such a conclusion.

"Alright alright… Look, it's just a potential threat," Subaru said in a low voice, looking around at various workers who were milling about the building. "Anasa– Erm, the Lady and Julius–"

"That's, The Great Spirit Knight Julius–"

"...And The Great Spirit Knight Julius, are going to use it to their advantage," Subaru finished bitterly.

Julius looked towards the door nervously. "W-Why not bring the entire authoritative power of the Iron Fangs upon this place, then?"

"That's a surprisingly violent solution from you," Subaru said with a slight chuckle. "That worried about your brother?"

Joshua scowled softly. "Do not take my worry as a weakness," he spat.

Holding his hands up innocently, Subaru looked past Joshua, noticing someone slinking into the shadows of a doorway. He couldn't tell now, but he was almost certain that they had peeked out to look at them, but slipped back when Subaru had looked.

That's right, focus on us, Subaru thought, narrowing his eyes. There was a slight thud, and he looked up towards one of the skylights above, seeing a small, floating black orb. Nes… It was one of Julius' contracted spirits. He nodded to the being, before she moved out of sight again.

"What is with that expression now?" Joshua was off put by Subaru's sudden grin.

"Things are about to get totally interesting," the boy said.

Moments later, at the same exact moment, both Assassins made their move, and chaos ensued.

A scream made both of them look to their right. There, the woman they had spoken to earlier had fallen back, looking up in shock at a dagger that was stuck into the wall near her. On it was a severed hand, dripping with ichor.

"W-What in the–"

Joshua's words were cut off as Subaru tackled him to the ground, just as a large hatchet curved in through the air and slammed into the doorway they had been standing in front of.

"You'll wanna stay down," Subaru insisted, turning and seeing the incredibly boney Assassin hanging from the ceiling. Their eyes pierced through Subaru coldly, before they suddenly burst through the skylight, and then another window crashing could be heard within the room. "Everyone! Get to a hiding place!"

At Subaru's shout, anyone who was confused by the happenings began to run to seek refuge. At that same moment, Stern dashed out from a different doorway than the one Subaru had seen him slink into before. As he grew close, his mouth opened, and a dagger emerged, coated in a dark substance.

"A rat, a rat!"

The boy's chant was followed by a grin as he snagged the dagger into his hands and brought it up towards Subaru's chest.

SPLAT! Subaru brought both of his hands down, the dagger cutting through both of his palms. Stern seemed surprised by this, as it was truly something only a crazy person would do. Subaru, thought incredibly pained by this maneuver, laughed slightly.

"I'm not a damned rat, I'm Natsuki–" He suddenly slammed his head right into Stern's as hard as he could. "Subaru! Gahhh–!"

Headbutts were very effective, but obviously posed self-inflicted damage as well. Stern stumbled backwards, releasing the blade. Subaru was in a slight daze for a moment and nearly fell back, but luckily Joshua stopped him.

"That was…"

"Inelegant?" Subaru chuckled, before looking down at the blade embedded in his hands, locking them together. With a grunt, he used his teeth, clamping down onto the handle and ripping it from them, his loud grunts of pain muffled by the handle.

"Subaru! W-What are you doing?" Joshua was incredibly worried, seeing the holes in Subaru's palms and the blood oozing from them.

"I-It's fine… Missed my nerves," he said, though the sight of gaping wounds in his palms did nearly make him lose his lunch. "Don't lose sight of that guy..!"

Footsteps made Subaru look up, finding Stern rushing at them again. It made sense that he would be resilient, but he had hoped that the headbutt would have rocked him for a little bit longer.

I'm tired of this damned kid…! Subaru thought. "Joshua–!"

He turned and spat the knife out towards Joshua. The boy seemed surprised, fumbling with the blade, before holding it as if it were covered in filth. To be fair, the black poison dripping from it was quite harrowing, and Subaru was spitting the disgusting liquid up. With his adrenaline pumping, the poison would surely travel through his body faster and faster as time went on, so he had to be careful.

"Don't stand there, dammit! Do something!"

"D-Do not yell at me, Subaru!" Joshua, flustered and angered, suddenly hurled the knife right at Subaru, looking surprised at its trajectory.

Subaru quickly ducked down, the dagger flying in and nearly striking Stern. However, the Assassin managed to twist in mid-air, the blade giving him only a slight slice to his side. That was enough for Subaru however, as he raised his leg with all of his power, kicking Stern hard in the stomach.

"Get out of here already–!"

He had used all of his strength, yet the Assassin was only breathless for a moment, before they grabbed hold of a nearby wall fixture and dove right back in.

"Natsuki Subaru… We'll kill you… And then we'll kill her…!"

"Your face is gonna haunt my damned nightmares!"

Before the two clashed again, someone moved in, silently bringing their dagger upwards and jabbing it straight into Stern's throat. The boy gasped, landing on his feet as Subaru stepped backwards, letting out a sigh of relief at the plan finally working out.

"That was… a little close, Li."

Meili Portroute scoffed, before ripping her dagger outwards from the boy. Blood bursting from his wound, the girl then kicked his leg, making him fall over, writhing and scowling on the floor as blood pooled beneath him.

"I didn't like using my training again," Meili admitted, looking over at the boy she had just stabbed, looking reluctant.

"Dammit… dammit… dammit!" Stern was cursing, trying to get back up, but his wound was great.

Subaru felt his legs waiver, and he fell to a knee. "I get it… I.. know you hate it." Joshua moved to his side, producing a handkerchief and hesitantly grabbing Subaru's hands. "But you're… better than these damned guys."

"Hmph, of course I am," the girl said confidently. "Will you.. Be alright?"

"I'm good," Subaru insisted with a wince. "I-I think the poisons gonna hurt, but that trick that Julius did with his spirit will keep me alive."

Julius' spirit Nes, whose element matched Subaru's own, Yin (Shadow), had made a temporary bond with Subaru. While there was no guarantee it would work, Julius was surprised to find that the boy had at least some sort of aptitude towards the spirit arts, and that made the idea of Subaru being bait work even better.

Utilizing a type of Yin Magic called 'Nurak', the spirit Nes could dampen the negative properties of the poison. The spell was utilized mainly to eliminate positive effects of opponents magic, but it could be used, albeit in a weaker form, to help keep Subaru alive for the time being.

Thanks, he thought, not wanting to use too much energy as he saw the small black spirit fluttering nearby.

Joshua finished treating and wrapping Subaru's wounds as best he could, shaking his head, his white gloves covered in blood.

"Subaru… W-Why does chaos follow you everywhere?"

The boy grinned at that, and at that, the wall above the nearby door suddenly exploded outwards, the other Assassin being flung through it. As they skittered across the ground and recovered, Julius landed nearby, his saber dripping with crimson.

"It appears you were right after all. Your instincts are as sharp as ever," Julius said, smiling back to Subaru. "Kua."

The blue water spirit under Julius' power approached Subaru, joining Nes, a growing warmth beginning to be added to the strange feeling of the Yin spell, relieving a lot of the pain he was feeling.

"They're useless without you, of course, Julius."

Joshua, seemingly conflicted by this brotherhood between Subaru and his brother, crossed his arms and turned away.

"I-I do not know what you see in him, brother," Joshua said bitterly.

"There is a lot to Subaru that not even I understand, I believe," he insisted. Then he turned to Meili, who was standing near the body of Stern, the boy's last vestiges of life having left him. "Meili, please watch over them."

She nodded, not looking at the knight as he rushed forth towards the remaining Assassin. Subaru shuffled closer to the girl, leaning against her shoulder to shoulder.

"I'm… sorry," Subaru said. "I don't know what we could've–"

"I know," Meili said sadly. Her eyes looked distant, as if thinking of something else beyond the dead boy at her feet.

"We'll save your sister," Subaru told her. "This isn't the end. This is just the beginning."

She turned to Subaru, who placed his hand on her head, which already felt much better from the spirits magic. He gave her a grin as he ruffled her hair gently.

"No matter what, you and I aren't alone anymore."

SLASH!

Near the entrance, Julius slowly pushed his saber back into its sheathe, his opponent falling to their knees before him, blood splattering the window behind him, the slight sound of disbelieving gurgles from them echoing through the chamber.

But Subaru paid all of that no mind. After all, the Assassins of Picoutatte were just another hurdle towards Subaru's final goal. Alone, he didn't stand a chance, but together with everyone here, he felt much more powerful.

Meili returned the smile, but one of her eyes twitched in annoyance, and she suddenly jabbed him in the stomach hard with a hand, making Subaru gasp and double over.

"Subaru… Can you not get blood in my hair?"

"M-My bad," he said from the floor. Nearby, Joshua sighed at the absurdity of the scene.

For some reason, despite the blood strewn around the room and the battle that had only just ended… Everything felt much better. A weight had been lifted from Subaru's shoulders, and even the numb pain in his hands and his stomach now was nothing compared to the happiness of everyone he cherished in this world being alive.

Subaru was truly renewed.

To Be Continued

Next Chapter: The Stars that Guide

A/N: Let me know what you think! This portrayal of Subaru is certainly more focused than canon, thanks to not having to be devoted to a certain half-elf girl... But, who knows what the future will hold!~ This arc is nearly complete!