So the new episode came out. There are a few things I want to point out:
1. My story follows more of the web novel while the Anime follows the Light Novel, so there will be some differences.
2. This is basically what will happen the next episode so spoilers.
3. I will take into account the things that happen in the anime but I'm also putting a spin on things.
Enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 36: Reason to Believe
Ryuzu Shima told Subaru everything she saw in the trial, from how Echidna once roamed around the Sanctuary towards the fact that the real Ryuzu Meyer and Beatrice were close friends and how the original Roswaal Mathers was the student of Echidna. Having all of this information, Subaru concluded that Roswaal must have his memories from back then since he did refer that he remembers Echidna 400 years ago. He also learned about how the first Roswaal was defeated by someone like Hector and Beatrice losing her friend. This made him understand how hard it's going to take in order to free Beatrice.
"So Echidna's purpose for Sanctuary is to keep this Warlock of Melancholy out...that's odd then because..." The Echidna he met in the Dream world had a motivation to become immortal while the Echidna from the story had different plans. Yet there was something Subaru couldn't overlook from that story.
"-Beatrice lost a friend."
"She did."
"That sucks...losing a friend in such a way. Does Beatrice even know about you and the other Ryuzus?"
"No, Beatrice-sama stopped visiting Sanctuary after us Ryuzus were created. It would be best for her to not know of our existence."
Subaru hearing this made him puzzle a few things since now he has more pieces that he needs to solve the problem that is Beatrice's closed heart. He knows that she wants someone to be "That person" for her to be saved by. The person they both think it is is Sora yet he has a feeling that it won't be that simple.
"I think she should, it would give her closure. Also seeing that even 400 years she still had the same attitude and the same outlook in life, I think I know how to save her from the pain she is in."
"That's good to hear, Young Su."
"Yeah, but I do want to ask, how will I get to Garfiel? I know he is afraid of the outside world but I'm unsure on why..."
"Young Gar's mother was taken. The outside world took her from him. He has always feared the outside world because of that."
"That makes sense but I kinda wish to take him out of this place and give him a chance to explore the outside world a bit, see the beauty that is the outside world."
"Young Gar and Young Su standing side by side...that's actually quite the impressive imagination. I approve of this."
"Well then...wait, I think I know where Emilia could be at." Subaru had thought carefully for a moment until he started to realize that there would be a place Emilia would hide should she not want people to find her. This made him bow to Ryuzu Shima before making his way towards the door only to find himself stopped for a moment when he heard her say to him,
"Be careful out there. We wouldn't want you to die."
"Don't worry, I'll come back with Garfiel by my side."
Subaru stepped outside the house and quickly ran towards the graveyard, having had a feeling that Emilia had been there this entire time. As he leaves the house, he makes his way towards the graveyard yet he ends up stumbling upon Sora. The two were looking for Emilia with Subaru having a strong feeling he knows where she is while Sora is following his heart to find his missing friend.
"Master Sora!"
"Subaru! How goes the look for Ryuzu?"
"It went well, I did manage to find her but I also learn some new information that will help us save Beatrice."
"Really? That's good to hear."
"Any luck with finding Emilia?"
"No but I have a strange feeling I know where she is, so I'm following my heart to find her."
"Your heart?" Subaru asked with a hint of jealousy.
"We are all connected so we all share a bond within our hearts. I'm trying to trace that connection to find her."
"Ah..." Subaru hit his head for even thinking that his master could like Emilia even remotely similar to how he loves the half-elf. As he regains his composure, he asks his master if he thinks that Emilia is in the graveyard which confirms that there is where his heart is leading him. This helps Subaru confirm that he is on the right track, causing him to reach the conclusion of the conversation.
"Allow me to go and find her myself. I think that it is time I be her moral support now that she's had time to process."
"Okay but are you sure you don't want me to help?"
"Don't worry Master Sora, I still need you to keep Garfiel busy for as long as you can. Try not to beat him in a fight if that comes to happen."
"I hope that it doesn't come down to it. I do wish to be friends with him."
"I have faith that you can get through to him if it comes down to it while I go and make sure that Emilia gets her faith restored in herself."
Sora nodded and patted Subaru in the back before his apprentice went towards the graveyard by himself, determined to be by Emilia's side. As Sora watched this, he turned towards the direction he just arrived from and quickly made his way there, having a feeling that he would encounter Garfiel there.
Subaru ran as fast as he could towards the graveyard only to end up encountering some high level heartless. Subaru pulls out his keyblade and charges at the heartless without hesitation, confident in his abilities that he can take down the heartless.
'I can't waste too much time here but this is still something I can take care of.'
Subaru summoned a couple of Thunder and Blizzard magic attacks, managing to take down some heartless while a couple of invisible heartless managed to push Subaru back. Subaru was sent flying a couple of feet before he jumped back up and charged at the remaining invisible heartless, using all of his strength to try to break their guards yet due to the four invisibles working together in unison, they were able to push back the boy once again. As he was sent back once again, he managed to land on his feet this time.
"Ha! I ain't letting myself lose to a couple of shadow type enemies!"
Subaru charged at the heartless without any fear of dying, being able to land a couple of good hits while he was on the offense. Eventually he was caught off guard and almost took a deadly blow, which forced him to jump back and to quickly go on defense for his safety. He deflected as many attacks as he possibly can but he was eventually pushed back once again.
'Shit! I can't be wasting time! Where is some help when you need some assistance?!'
Subaru thought to himself before deciding that he should run away from the fight, knowing that staying any longer delays his chance to get Emilia to pass the trial. He tries to make a run for it yet the four invisible heartless block his way and completely corner him.
'Well...shit!'
Subaru was completely at a disadvantage since he doesn't have enough magic power to use in order to take down the four tough heartless but he also doesn't have the physical strength. This didn't discourage the boy, he just knew that he needed to keep his head high up and prepare to go all out against the heartless even if it leads to him being badly injured. Just as he was about to face off against the four heartless by himself, he hears someone yell out, "Al Fura!". After a familiar female voice shouted that, a strong windstorm approached Subaru's position and managed to take out one of the heartless, giving him the incentive to quickly take care of the others.
"Take this! Thundera!"
Subaru's instincts allowed him to summon a higher level of lighting than the one he had been using, allowing him to do a lot of damage to the invisible heartless in front of him. As Subaru does this, he jumps out of the way to allow his ally to summon another windstorm to destroy the heartless that was on his left side. Subaru took a look at his ally and had a feeling that it was Ram considering that she is one of the few could use wind magic.
"Thanks Ram, you are really a life saver."
"Save your poor flattery, Barusu. Focus on the fight at hand."
"Fair enough."
Subaru returned focus on the heartless he did damage to and was able to land a couple of hits which was enough to defeat the invisible heartless. As he took down the heartless, both Ram and Subaru turned towards the final heartless and together managed to defeat it with Ram using a low level windstorm to not overuse her strength while Subaru using every bit of strength to take down the heartless in a couple of blows. With their combined strength, they were able to take down the heartless with Subaru being the one to deliver the finishing blow since a heart randomly appeared before it disappeared.
"Man, I got to say you saved my life, Ram. Thank you."
"Hmph. You are a useless warrior. Why do you wield a weapon you can't use?" Ram spoke in her usual way of undermining Subaru yet for once the boy was happy to hear this since he was happy that he didn't die.
"Why are you smiling? You pervert."
"Now hey! I'm just happy to see my friend."
"Friends? Me? Friends with trash like you?"
"Wow you really are just being mean, well anyway I really do appreciate your help. I need to head towards the graveyard."
"Why?"
"That's where Emilia is located and I need to help her beat the Trial."
"Do you honestly believe she can pass the Trial?"
Subaru looked at Ram, seeing that she has concern for Emilia by the tone of her voice. He gave Ram a smile and responded a confident tone of voice,
"I believe in her, not just because I love her but because I truly believe she can beat the Trial of the Sanctuary. Just as you believe in Roswaal, I believe in Emilia."
Ram was surprised by this and just watched as Subaru started to run towards the graveyard, knowing that he has a limited amount of time to get Emilia to do the trial before the great rabbit arrives.
Once arriving at the graveyard, he noticed the Necho Cat dream eater standing outside which confirmed that Emilia was here. Before anything, he thought to himself once again about the plan, recalling himself that Sora will be the one to keep Garfiel away from the graveyard long enough for him to get Emilia to pass the Trial. He knows that should Garfiel find one of the groups, Otto or his father would get his attention and draw him away from the villagers of Arlam.
'Okay, as long as Master Sora can keep Garfiel distracted long enough for me to be there for Emilia. As for Emilia, how am I going to get you to tell me about what you saw? About your past? Hmm. Well if my master can win people's hearts then I should just trust my instincts then.'
Subaru started to make his way towards the graveyard but before entering the building, he did a little bit of stretching before slowly making his way inside. As he passes his way through, he feels his guts floating upward to assault him.
"Eughhh!"
Subaru put his hands on his both and forced the welling nausea back down as the treads onward. This perpetual feeling of floating. The sense that with every step, his guts are strewn in further disarray. The overwhelming discomfort of his blood seemingly flowing backwards, of the air slathering its tongue over his eyeballs. Sustaining a great sense of rejection while the world does everything it can to rebuff Natsuki Subaru. Subaru takes deep breath after deep breath, his hand to the wall and his face pale as he drags his feet onward.
"Stop being so cold...you know this does actually sting dammit!"
Having anticipated this, Subaru left his stomach empty prior to this, regardless the nausea demands that gastric juices spill from his mouth. As he forces down the feeling and forces his eyes open, he continues to go forward.
"There we go...I finally found you."
"Subaru?"
Emilia asked with her voice faltering while Subaru was feeling satisfaction when hearing Emilia's voice. Subaru walked slowly towards Emilia and was about to collapse as his body was not accustomed to the pain at all yet the half-elf managed to catch him.
"Hehe thank you..."
"You can't be here! You'll just end up hurting yourself, Subaru."
"I know but I needed to talk to you. Is it okay if I can lay down here for a bit next to you. It's better than forcing myself to stay standing up."
Emilia just looked at Subaru and nodded, setting the boy down gently before sitting next to him. As this happened, Subaru looked at Emilia and quickly gained the strength to sit up in order to begin their talk.
"Emilia, let us talk."
"Subaru..."
"Hmm."
"How come...you're here?"
"Ask me how come, well that's a tricky one. It's because I'm always thinking about you, Emilia-tan, and thus magnificently figured out where you were, I guess."
"No. No, that wasn't it, Subaru. I don't mean 'why did you come here'... I meant how. Only people with the qualifications are meant to be able to get here."
"Apparently if you're like Roswaal and the witch super hates you, it feels like you'll pop just from going in, but it's not that bad for me. Feels floaty like I'm on an elevator that's perpetually a second before touchdown is all. It's nothing I can't handle...at least for now."
"...so that's it. How come you knew I was here?"
"Well it's probably that I just know everything about Emilia-tan."
"Liar."
Subaru took note of this and knew that his way of talking isn't going to work since she sounded really mad about his response. She averted her gaze and pouted so Subaru wouldn't be able to see it.
"That talk won't fool me. I don't even know myself well. It's impossible that you would."
"It's surprising how little it is you see of yourself. It does happen that people will be paying attention to you perfectly, all the way down to your weak points."
Subaru thought back of the last tea party he attended when his master was trying to calm him down when he let all the jealousy he had for him overflow and turn into rage. He also knows this from a bit of experience when Otto called out his weakness. Seeing that he had this pointed out to him and he is seeing it in Emilia, it is his turn to help her.
"Emilia-tan, I figured you were here half being on trust, the other hoping."
"Half and half..."
"I'm just happy to have found you, I felt my blood go cold when Master Sora told me you went missing. All I am right now is relieved."
"...Just relief?"
"Yeah."
Subaru smiled at Emilia and gave her a thumbs up which only caused her to be puzzled on something before continuing the conversation.
"You found me here and all you were was relieved? You weren't mad?"
"I'm not mad at all. I was feeling hurried and honestly in a major mega panic but mad isn't one of those feelings. Besides, I found you so I'm just glad."
"...Are you?"
Emilia looked at Subaru while the boy just looked up with the strength he can muster since his body hasn't gotten enough rest to deal with the graveyard's rejection. Subaru thought of what Emilia had asked and knew that there was no anger and should there be any, it would mostly go towards himself.
"You're not mad."
"Emilia?"
"You are not mad at me. You won't be mad for me."
Subaru took a notice to what the half-elf was saying and before he could say anything, she was beginning to get angry, having bitten her lip and holding back her tears from spilling.
"Why won't you be mad?"
"Emili-"
"I did something selfish, didn't I?! I did something that distressed you, didn't I? I left Sora while he was having his own nightmare out of selfishness! I made you feel all these horrible emotions and yet you aren't mad! Does Subaru not get mad when someone does that to him or is that not like you?!"
Subaru was caught off guard by this, seeing that Emilia is speaking on her emotions; she emphasizes on her selfish actions, attempting to get Subaru to condemn her. This made him realize that he made a decisive error when choosing his words. She wasn't scared that he would be mad at her but that he would not criticise her. He was about to give some answer yet she continued,
"Why won't you be mad? Are you not mad because you weren't expecting anything from me?! Is it because you're not disappointed in me because you don't believe in me because I failed?!"
"..."
"Why aren't you mad at me?!"
Subaru looked at Emilia and could see the pain he had when he was in the tea party confronting Satella in the girl he loves. He can tell from this that she doesn't value herself as much as she values others, just like him. He knows from what Master Sora and from what Otto had all told him, he needs to get her to understand why he isn't mad.
"I can't be mad at you but it's not because I think anything like that..."
"If that's true, then... How come you didn't keep your promise?!"
"..."
Subaru had a knee-jerk reaction when he heard this, having realized that she must've woken up and figured that he had left her immediately after she fell asleep. The promise on the night he needed to speak with Roswaal with Otto, Ram, and Sora present.
"I asked you to hold my hand until morning! And you promised me by saying 'I will'... so why did you let go of my hand? Why didn't you keep your promise?!"
"..."
"B-Both you and Puck, broke... your promises and went away. You left me behind, and went away... you liars. Subaru's a liar. Puck's a liar. Liars...liars...liars..."
"Emilia-"
"P-promises are important... and I told you that, I told you that before! That for practitioners of the spiritual arts, for me, promises are important... and so I want them to be kept... you're supposed to have apologized to me for not having kept one... and even still you broke, a promise...Don't break promises... don't tell lies... you mustn't break promises... if, you do that, if I do, then, Mother and Juice...Don't tell lies... don't do it..."
Subaru looked at Emilia and heard how broken and hurt she sounded, betrayed by his and puck's actions. This was his moment to do something to win Emilia's vulnerable heart and that is by being honest.
"Emilia, I love you."
"...huh?"
Those words had no business in the situation being spoken of yet hearing Subaru's statement caused Emilia to yelp for a moment. He knew that he cannot lie to her and he has to no longer hesitate on what his heart wants to say.
"I hate myself."
"W-What...?"
"I hate who I was, I hate how I will always be weak no matter how much I work my ass off. I'm jealous at how strong Master Sora is compared to me, it boils my blood a lot but the thing I hate the most...is how you look down on yourself."
"What?!"
"It's just a stupid trial, or well it's just the past. Stop dawdling around getting caught up in things that are over. The past is the past, get over it. Shit happens and well it sucks majority of the time, I know this because I wasted my life trying to be like my father instead of trying to be myself, which fucked me over in the end because I lost the motivation to live until I was taken to your world!"
"..."
"And just when I think I'll do it for you, you start saying you have to do it yourself and get so fucking stubborn about it. It would be one thing if saying that made it possible for you to clear it, but if the outcome is the same, all it amounts to is talk. How about spending a moment to consider what it feels like to have to watch you lose over and over?"
"S-Subaru..."
"And to top it off when your guardian goes missing, you can't even stand for yourself. You throw a tantrum and worry everybody, then shirk your duties to go sulk in bed. Hell, my mother went and took her time to help you out and yet you are still acting like this, damn it. Well how lovely for goddamn you, enough is enough, I'm sick of it."
Emilia's heart broke into pieces with her eyes in disbelief at the words Subaru was spitting from his mouth. She did not expect this from the one she had saved two months ago, from the boy who confessed his feelings towards her. This wounded her, facing the scorn and disgust of Natsuki Subaru.
"That's...right, isn't it. O-Of course you would think this about me as well, Subaru..."
"..."
"...Ever since I came to Sanctuary...no, way before that...I've always caused just so many problems...so I-"
"Yeah-no. You honestly haven't done a single good thing since coming to Sanctuary. I know I'm not one to talk here, but it's too horrendous to ignore. There's no way to back it."
Subaru validates what the trembling Emilia's invalidation is of herself. Emilia's throat gives a choke like noise yet she manages to swallow it down and a pained smile still on her face as she continues.
"And so...I...both by Puck and by you...w-was abandoned which is natural..."
"You are such an idiot, Emilia. For all your boasting only to show no improvement when things get rough. For the sentiment of 'I'll do something' to be weaker than 'oh please just let anything happen here' is overwhelmingly natural...But. I love you, Emilia."
Emilia notices this and looks at Subaru, seeing his smile towards her. This left her all sorts of confused as her mind couldn't process her self-loathing.
"I love you. I love you and love you and love you, love you so much it's hopeless."
"Wh-what are you...all of a sudden..."
"I love your super pretty silver hair, I love your amethyst eyes and how when they're wet they look like jewels, I super love your voice and how I get dreamy just from hearing it, and your slender long legs and your pale skin, and our height difference and all of that is so to my ideal I can't stand it, just being with you makes my heart race I can't stop it and oh god I love you."
"..."
"I love how you're just a little dopey, it's adorable how you put your best into everything, I revere how fervent you get for other people's sakes, I think the way you disregard yourself can't be left unattended, and all of your expressions, and all of your emotions, are things where if I could witness them from your side, nothing could be better... I am always thinking about this."
"Why are you, right now... stop messing around with me! Why are you suddenly saying this! This wasn't what we were talking about! Y-You were saying I'm utterly useless, that I'm entirely lacking, that's what you said! You're sick of it, you can't bare to watch it... y-you said that I'm-"
"Yes, I know I did, get subject to seeing all that uselessness and how the result are always something where you just want to sigh over how it was all talk, then consider that I'm impatient at the best of times. I would've long stopped feeling any love. That's saying if it weren't you, Emilia."
"But Why?!" Emilia shouted at Subaru with tears in her eyes, no longer able to handle the conversation. Subaru knew that this was going to be tough but he had to keep going through, trusting his heart.
"Because, I love you and I will always love you. I don't care about your weaknesses, I don't care about if others hate you Emilia! I love you for who you are and I accept you, both your amazingness and your flaws. I know you are not this angel or a goddess but an ordinary girl and yet I still am not disappointed because I entirely love the person who is Emilia."
"Don't you t-think that's being far too selfish!"
Emilia doesn't understand why he still continues to love her when she isn't anybody special, making her even more infuriated and eventually causes her to refute him.
"You invalidated me, you said lots of times that I'm useless, and now you're still saying you love me? ...W-who could believe! Subaru, how can you believe in me like that, that's... that's the thing I don't understand!"
"No! No, that's utterly wrong! There's some reason I believe in you, and so I love you. — That idea's wrong. I love you. And so I believe in you. That way around!"
"Just love alone is not a reason to believe!"
There was a few seconds of pause as Subaru heard this, something inside him could not accept this kind of talk even if it is from Emilia. Ever since he came to this world, he had people who cared about him but his driving force had always been loving Emilia. Without that, he would have no reason to help her, to be fighting so hard to save her and everyone else. This caused him to yell with some anger added.
"If love weren't reason enough to believe then who the hell would willingly go through all this suffering, through literal hell to help a pain in the ass woman like you!"
Subaru having said this began to stand up with Emilia following his lead, both of them butting heads as they were yelling out their emotions. The two had never raised their voice before to this degree as their emotions are crashing into each other.
"I love you so much its making me go crazy, so much I'd be okay to die. And so I cope with the pain and suffering. I am bordering on puking right now but here I am hanging around you, idiot!"
"I did not ask for that, you idiot! Going off saying whatever selfish things you want...You're the one who's never thinking about my feelings, Subaru! Like you are now...where it's my fault you have to deal with it and you're always being hurt...You have no clue what it feels like for me!"
"Like I could ever get a damn clue! All I'm ever thinking about is how to look cool around you! How to get stronger for you! All I think about is making you fucking happy...people are going through all the damn effort for it, how about going with the plan and looking cute every once in a while!"
"I'm not a doll! If you want me to be happy, if that is what you are thinking then...why did you break your promise! All you had to do was stay by what I asked you just like you did in the Capital! How come this time when I needed you the most you wouldn't do that for me! I bet you actually hate me!"
"I love you!"
"You're lying!"
"I'm not lying! I love you! How about you talk, what do you think of me! You've always got this attitude where you're making these fucking insinuations! Do you have any fucking idea what a jolt it is to my heart every time you make these cute expressions and it looks like there is hope!? Stop fucking around with me!"
"I-I'm not messing with you! I'm just being normal, stop saying weird things! I have so many things to think about right now and am facing a serious problem, and you're asking what I feel about you... I'm not able to think about it! Stop it! Don't pester me!"
"Who is pestering who here?! It's you who is pestering me!"
"But it's you who is pestering me!"
The two were shouting loudly at this point that should there be someone sleeping, they would have already been awakened. As the two were at their heated moment, Emilia had finally had enough.
"I can't trust anything you say anymore! You are a liar! You broke your promise and even still you come here and act all normal around me like nothing happened! Y-You thought I didn't notice, didn't you but I watched! I watched whether you were going to keep your promise with me but you didn't! You chose to go talk to Roswaal of all people! You could've had Sora talk to him in your place! I heard him say that yet you refused!"
"You..." Subaru did not like this one bit, he does care for Emilia and doesn't wish to be angry with her but this one thing was too much to keep him from not being a bit angry with the half-elf. "Stop being an asshole! Doesn't it embarrass you to pull this crap, pretending you're weak so you can test people!"
"There's no reason I have to hear that from a promise-breaking liar!"
"I didn't want to break a promise with you but I had to!"
"Why?! Why did you?! Why did you go and left me to talk to Roswaal?!" Emilia's cheeks were redden with fury at Subaru yet the response she got caused her to lose all the rage she had built up towards the boy.
"Grrr! Because we are all going to fucking die if I didn't secure the contract with him!"
"Wh-what...?"
"Master Sora and I had Otto and Ram be there because Roswaal is a fucking prick, he is going to make it snow if you don't beat this trial, which will only bring the Great Rabbit to eat us all alive! Not to mention that he has assassins going to kill Beatrice, Rem, Petra, Frederica, and my three friends!"
Emilia's face turned pale as she didn't know what to do now, she basically is the key factor in saving Sanctuary or they are all dead. This caused her to fall down and to burst into tears as she realized that Subaru wasn't breaking a promise because he wanted to but because he was trying to make sure Roswaal doesn't do anything to harm them.
"I'm so pathetic..."
"You are not!"
"Yes I am, Subaru! I...I've been leaning on Puck and running away from lots of things...I'm certain that Puck left so that he could tell me that. But I'm scared. I'm scared. Puck's gone, and my real memories are coming out... It's like I'm steadily not being me."
"..."
"Once all these memories are here... I know I'm going to be a me unlike who I used to. My present self thinks that I started in a place with memories which aren't my real ones... but, once I remember where I really started... I know the me who got this far is going to disappear..."
"No matter what you remember, nothing will change that. I love you. I'll always be loving you."
"...I can't believe...you...Will you even say that when...this me is...gone.."
"Yes. No matter what happens, you won't be gone. I love you."
"You liar. You didn't even want to tell me...what was going on...why should I believe this."
"You are right, so I'll prove it by doing this."
Subaru grabs both of Emilia's arms and looks at her directly in her eyes. She notices how close both their faces were and she quickly begins to say his name in a bit of a nervous voice only for him to say,
"If you don't want it, dodge."
Subaru reaches out for Emilia's shoulder and draws his face in closer. As she witnesses Subaru's approach, confusion arises in Emilia's eyes, her body going rigid. For one second, he waits to see if she's going to push him away, which would be at this moment if she didn't want it. The only thing Subaru sees is Emilia closing her eyes, unsure whether it was resignation or result of hesitation.
Subaru approaches Emilia's face and both their breathing intermingles as Emilia holds her breath. There was quietness as both their lips made contact with one another, creating a kiss. Compared to the previous, Subaru's first kiss with Emilia tasted like death, his second with her and her first kiss tasted like hot life.
As the two gained a little distance from each other, Subaru was dumbfounded by this yet he was able to come to his senses first.
"I love you. No matter what bad things I see of you, no matter what type of arguments we get into, I'm unchangingly going to keep loving you. That will never change no matter what happens and so I am always believing in you. If you're going to ask why..."
"It's because you love me."
Carrying on from where Subaru finished, Emilia touches her lips in astonishment. She traces her fingers over them, as if grasping the vestiges of the touch, her eyes overflowing with water. The tear descended to her pale cheek falls glittering like a drop of the moon.
"We should probably get going but I know you must be anxious to deal with unknown memories. I understand being scared because it feels like an unknown you is going to come out but that doesn't mean the path you've walked will vanish or that your feelings will change."
"How come you're...able to say this?"
"As my mother, the woman I respect the most in the world, told me is what's important isn't the beginning but the end."
Emilia took a moment to process everything and eventually came to the realization of what Naoko was trying to teach her regarding love. Subaru doesn't care about her weaknesses but the fact that it is her, he loves her regardless of anything. This made her understand a bit of love to which Subaru made it clear once again that he wants to aim for her precious feelings to which she tells him that maybe the precious feelings are there in her memories. There was a pause before she felt something poking her. She grabs the item and notices that it is the good luck charm Sora gave her to take on the trial.
"What's that?"
"This is something Sora gave to me, as a good luck charm that was given to him from Kairi."
The two look at it for a moment before all of a sudden a bright light engulfed the room for a moment.
Emilia woke up and realized that she was in some dark place all by herself which made her worry for Subaru's safety. After having proved how he deeply does care for her, she doesn't want anything bad happening to him.
"Subaru. Subaru!" Emilia called out in a slight panic, not knowing if she got thrown into the trial or if she is in some unknown place. As she calls out for Subaru's name once again, a faint voice shouts from a distance yet she is not able to tell what it is telling her. She follows where the voice is coming from, starting to somewhat make out what it is saying. She walked for a bit before finally being able to hear someone with a female voice say,
"Hello, is anybody there? Rem, are you there? Sora?"
'Rem? Wait, where exactly am I? Does this person know Rem too? Wait, she also said Sora's name...is she a friend of his?!'
These thoughts all rushed into her mind quickly, giving her the conviction to meet this person that knows both Sora and Rem. Hearing from the female voice, she wants to believe that it is Kairi considering that the good luck charm Kairi gave to Sora began to glow.
As she approached the person with the voice, Emilia looked and saw a young girl who has a pink and black dress, black ruffles on one side of her skirt and plaid on the other, with thick belted boots. She also noticed that she had light reddish hair which made Emilia think about Ram since they share the same color hair. The girl looked at her with a curious facial expression before they began their conversation.
"Are you...Rem?"
"No, my name is Emilia. Just Emilia."
"Oh, nice to meet you, Emilia. I sort of expected to talk to Rem again, the last time we spoke I didn't get enough time to ask about Sora."
"You know Rem?"
"Not really. We only got a chance for a brief conversation but even then she was able to see me while I wasn't able to see her. Did anything happen to her?"
"She suffered her memories and her name being eaten."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Right...um it's a little hard to explain but she has been in a deep sleep for a while."
"Oh..." Kairi paused herself, beginning to think that Rem is suffering the same thing she was when Sora was doing his best on his first adventure to save her and Riku. She thought about this and worried that Sora would do something reckless yet her thoughts would be put on hold when Emilia asked her something.
"Are you Kairi?"
"Yes, sorry I should've introduced myself."
"It's okay, you and Sora have a similar friendly aura."
"Wait, you also know Sora?!"
"Yes, he is a friend of mine"
"Ah, that's good that he has friends there. How has he been? Is he alright?"
"He is, right now he is just helping Subaru to deal with some problems we have been running into."
"Is it the heartless?"
"No, just a few other problems that are hard to explain. They didn't tell me enough details of the situation."
"Well I'm confident that Sora will solve them. He is that amazing."
Emilia looked at Kairi and can see that she admires Sora a lot by the way her voice makes when speaking about the keyblade wielder and the way she looks when speaking about him.
"Do you love Sora?"
"Huh?"
"Do you love him?"
"Um..." Kairi's face turns red, causing her to look away while processing the question well since she wasn't expecting this. "I..um...I care about him deeply..."
Emilia giggled at this since she knows how it is to be embarrassed when asked specific questions.
"Well let me change the question, do you believe in him?"
Kairi noticed the change and question which allowed her to get her color face back in order to answer the question in a happy tone,
"I believe in him."
"Can I ask, what made you believe in him?"
"I care about him, he has always been there for me and saved my life countless times. How could I not trust him after all the trouble he goes just to make sure I'm safe."
Hearing this made Emilia think about all the times Subaru had put everything on the line to protect her. Seeing this made her smile because not only does she has someone who truly cares about her, she has someone who will be honest with him at least. Kairi stood silent for a moment before she said,
"Can I ask something?"
"Sure thing Kairi."
"As Sora been using the power of waking?"
"I don't think so, why?"
"Make sure he doesn't try to use it. Until the rest of us can reach your world, make sure that he doesn't try to use the ability. I don't want him to disappear for good if he abuses it again."
Emilia paused herself for a moment to hear what Kairi said, worried for Sora which got her to nod at the girl, understanding that it is serious. As Kairi notices the nod, she takes a deep breath in relief before the two girls are beginning to disappear.
"Um, what is going on?"
"I think the time limit being here is reaching the end."
"Well one thing I can assure you Kairi is that we will be taking care of Sora."
"Thank you, I know he wants to help others but he can be a bit stubborn sometimes."
"Hehe kinda like his apprentice."
"It's still weird how Sora is training someone but I'm proud of him."
"Do you want me to tell him that?"
Kairi paused to herself for a moment, not having thought about giving Sora a message. She crossed her arms and thought of the right words before responding to what Emilia had asked her.
"No, actually just let him know that we will find a way to get to him. That we all miss him dearly...that I miss him dearly."
"I will let him know and I promise you that we will keep him safe."
"Thank you Emilia"
Kairi gave Emilia a smile of relief, knowing that Sora will be safe while she and the others continue to look for a way to get to him. The world went all light until Emilia noticed that she was back on the graveyard with Subaru there, looking all confused.
"What happened Emilia?"
"Did you not see the bright light?"
"What bright light?"
"Oh..." Emilia said, pondering on whether she saw was real or not but one thing is for certain, she needs to let Sora know what Kairi told her.
"Subaru?"
"Yes Emilia."
"Can we...um...step outside for a bit?"
"Sure. I have a feeling someone is waiting for us outside."
"Okay."
Emilia and Subaru both make their way outside of the graveyard with Emilia having a lot on their mind with one being her and Subaru's kiss while Subaru was thinking about how Sora handled Garfiel. Once they stepped outside, they noticed a battle damaged Sora with a very tired out Garfiel.
"Seems like you two have been having fun, Master Sora."
"Subaru, how did it go with Emilia?"
"It went well...I think."
Emilia hit Subaru in the head for the last comment on his question.
"Dunderhead."
"Hehe. You two really look cute together."
"Oy asshole! I'm not threw with ya!"
"Right..." Sora returned his attention back to Garfiel with Kingdom Key in hand. As he returned his focus, Subaru asked Emilia to stay where she is before approaching his master's side. As he was approaching Sora, he pulls out Starlight and quickly says,
"Mind if I take over from here, Master?"
"Sure."
Subaru took over for Sora as he knows that getting Garfiel as an ally has to be through him, not his master. As he took over for Sora in dealing with Garfiel, he smiled and started a conversation with the blonde boy.
"I didn't expect you to come by here all bruised up the way you are."
"This ain't nothin but a scratch! My amazin' self can take y'all!"
"Is that so? I'm curious, how did all of this happen?"