Chapter 8: One Appa, Two Appa, Red Appa, Green Appa

After completing his late-morning stroll around the garden with Rem, the two went their separate ways once inside. Rem had a few things to attend to before leaving and YN was on his way to Subaru's room to make good on his word. As promised, YN delivered the solar bank to his room. YN had agreed to allow Subaru to use it in exchange for doing most of Rem's early morning tasks. With Subaru away currently working on his own tasks, YN took his phone from the drawer and set up the panel in the window to catch the afternoon sun.

Making his way back down to the main foyer to where Rem would be waiting for him to depart, he found Ram in conversation with her.

Ram: I'm terribly sorry to burden you with the responsibility of watching him, but I'm afraid if he gets anymore blood on anything It'll be quicker for Ram to just do the task herself.

Rem put a hand to her chin in thought, thinking of a solution. Interjecting himself into the conversation that was clearly about Subaru, YN asked his question.

YN: What's this about blood getting over everything?

Ram: If it isn't the more reliable of the two new helpers, NY.

YN: I think maybe being the 'more reliable of the two' ought to at least earn me not having my name twisted into a curse.

Turning to address him further, Ram continued.

Ram: *sigh* The blood has to do with Barasu I'm afraid. In some wild idea of his, he decided to take on Rem's morning tasks for her and managed to cut his finger on at least each one, sometimes making quite the mess.

Almost as if on cue, Subaru made his way from the hallway, his finger on each hand covered in white bandages.

Walking up to the group, Subaru said his hellos to Rem and YN.

Ram: And as you can see—

Subaru: Ow! Hey that's still sore—

Ram: Oh please, what if Emilia-sama saw you?

Grabbing Subaru's hand, Ram pulled it toward Rem to show her the extend of his actions.

Ram: Now, as you can see, Barasu is going to be rather useless at anything else we make him do today, so he can at least make himself useful by carrying some of the goods back on your errand.

Rem: I will have him do so, Nee-sama.

Well, there goes more alone time with Rem it seems. YN could only think.

Rem: That reminds Rem, there's need to check one last time before we depart so we don't neglect to buy anything the pantry is low on.

Ram: And I must attend to Roswaal-sama's afternoon tea.

Leaving both of the boys in the foyer, YN took this chance to strategize.

YN: Hey, Subaru.

Subaru: I can already tell where this is going and the answer is 'no.'

YN: Oh come-on! You haven't heard me out yet. It involves me doing your work for a change.

At YN's proclamation, Subaru gave an expression that he was deciding to hear him out.

YN: I'll do your share of outside and bathroom cleaning duties if just stay at least twenty paces off and not be a third wheel.

Subaru: 'Third wheel?' Are you treating this like its some kind of date with her somethin— hmm! Hmm!

YN quickly placed his hand over Subaru's mouth to stop him from speaking anymore.

YN: Not so loud! I don't want her to overhear you. *sigh* Listen, you don't even have to carry anything. Just stay far behind and once we get to the village just kinda wander off, I'll take care of things.

Subaru could only nod in agreement, his mouth still covered.

YN: Good.

Releasing him, YN gave Subaru his voice back, which he used to complain about the tasks he had done until Rem arrived back. A few minutes later, the three departed, Subaru remaining far enough out to not be involved in Rem and YN's walking conversation.

Upon entering the village, Subaru slipped away while Rem and YN shopped for the goods they needed.
YN: Hey Rem, it might sound odd but, can you show me how money here works?

Rem tilted her head at YN's question.

Rem: YN-kun, what do you mean exactly?

YN: It's just I have no clue what the going rate for anything normally is here. Or—

YN took another quick look around him at all the stalls in the market square around him, and the goods they had on their counters.

YN: Or, and if I'm being honest here, I don't even recognize any of these fruits or vegetables.

Rem's expression of confusion slowly turned to one of intrigue, shocked at what YN had to say.

Rem: H-have you never bought groceries for yourself before? Were you from a noble family back in your country?

YN: Hardly! I've been sent to the corner store plenty of times by my parents when I was younger, but—

He stopped and picked up a random root looking item from one of the many stalls lining the square they were walking past, the owner of the stall was preoccupied with another pair of customers.

YN: I have no idea what this even is, any of this stuff really. It all looks really similar to what I had back home but from my limited experience, they all taste, and thus are used, in different ways then I'm used to.

Rem: Hmmm, Rem thinks she understands. Let's start with Appas.

The two walked to the next stall over. The stall had many crates filled with round red fruits, very similar to apples.

YN picked one up and examined it. It weighed and felt like an apple.

YN: We've got something like this back home.

Rem: Ara~? What does YN-kun call it there?

YN: Well, the broad term would be 'apple', there are many kinds of them really. If you showed this to anyone back home, they'd probably just think it's another breed of apple.

?: You mean you got more then one kind of appa from where you're from?

Interjecting into their conversion, the man behind the stall posed his question to YN, overhearing him while dealing with his customers. He was so intrigued by what YN was saying that he stopped paying attention to them.

YN: Oh yeah. They're all are basically the same thing roughly. Some are sweeter, some are better for baking with or eating raw, some grow in different conditions, and some are slightly different colors.

Rem: Different... colored appas?

YN: Yeah, like green or super dark red, or even yellow.

Clerk: You mean to tell me you've seen green, and even yellow appas?

YN nodded his head.

YN: Green ones we call 'Granny Smiths' and the yellow ones are usually called 'Golden Delicious'.

Looking down at the appa in his hand, YN guessed what it looked most like.

YN: And this appa, if I had to guess, looks a lot like a Fuji.

Of course, YN wasn't a walking apple encyclopedia, his educational app had him read a lesson on apples only a short while ago.

Clerk: That's interesting...

The clerk was clearly amused by the takes of foreign fruits, and was stroking his beard in thought when one could see the light bulb appear over his head.

Clerk: Say, look at these, do they got stuff like this where you're from—

Subaru: YEEEOOOCCHHH!

The clerks question was cut short as Subaru's howl got the whole market to look over at him, clutching his hand.

Rem: Please excuse us, we'll be right back.

Rem bowed before taking off in the direction of Subaru's yell, while YN placed the appa back on the stand, following right behind her.

Finding Subaru surrounded by the village's children, Subaru was holding his hand in pain. Rem was the first to ask what the problem was.

Rem: Subaru, are you alright?

YN: Did one of the cuts on your hand open back up?

Subaru: No! That puppy bit me!

First looking at his wound that his other hand was covering as it left to point at the puppy in question, YN distinctly saw two bite marks that a puppy could have indeed left. Second, the emasculated reason Subaru had given for his reaction began to sink in.

Their attention then turned to the puppy in question, being held by a girl with dark blue hair.

Girl: Sorry onii-san but puppy doesn't like strangers.

Subaru: Then why did you ask me to pet it?!

The girl only giggled in response.

Jeez, all the kids in this village just have nothing better then to harass Subaru it seems YN realized.

Rem and YN looked at each other, both realizing that Subaru's response to such a small thing was simply over-dramatization. The two left Subaru to distract the children more while they finished shopping and later returned to fetch him to make their way back to the mansion.

With the trio standing at the road that lead back to the mansion from the village, Rem began to divy out the bags to be carried.

Rem: Here.

Rem handed Subaru the largest of the bags they had to carry back.

Rem: Subaru-kun can atone for making such a scene in the village.

She said this with a smile, one that prevented Subaru from protesting to her, but the situation itself was in direct conflict with YN and Subaru's deal, and because of that, Subaru shot YN a look demanding his attention.

As they left the village, YN fell back to Subaru's walking pace and whispered instructions to him.

YN: As we get out of the village, start to fall way behind, and I'll bring it up to Rem and say 'Let's stop and see whats wrong with him' and I'll take the bag from you. But make your response seem natural like you're surprised I'm taking the bag. Got it?

Subaru sighed and nodded, agreeing to the plan. Only a few minutes after leaving the village, Subaru began his lagging behind, and such, YN got Rem to stop to wait for him.

YN: What's wrong, Subaru? Your hand making it hard to carry the bag?

Subaru: Yeah you could say that.

YN: *sigh* Fine, gimme the bag.

He tried to make his sigh sound as legitimate as he could but it could only sound forced. Handing the bag off to YN, Subaru gave a dramatic sigh of his own, this one in relief.

With Rem staring at Subaru, with daggers of suspicion in her eyes, Subaru croaked out another comment to draw attention away from his bad acting, scratching the back of his head in the process.

Subaru: W-wow YN, it's like you always say! You're demonically inspired to help others, huh?

Rem's expression almost immediately changed. While YN had noticed, Rem had spun back around towards the direction of the road back to the mansion before he could inquire.

YN and Rem had walked for another few minutes, leaving Subaru to bring up the rear by fair bit, when she had finally decided to bring up a question to YN that she had had from Subaru's last comment.

Rem: YN-kun.

YN: Hmm?

Rem: On what Subaru-kun said earlier... Does YN-kun... like demons?

Really not understanding what Rem meant by her question, YN indexed his memory on "Subaru" and "demons," not coming up with anything entirely related.

YN: Uhhh, do you mean those kids that wouldn't leave Subaru alone, in the village?

Rem: Hehe, no not quite.

YN: So then like...?

Rem clearly wasn't going to respond, she wanted YN to really speak his mind. Seeing Rem wasn't going to respond, YN had no choice but the think aloud to prompt her.

YN: Well, 'demon' really is a broad term here. I mean, it generally is a negative term, usually describing an evil entity.

Turning to YN, Rem's tone of voice began to have hint of melancholy.

Rem: Oh... is that how YN-kun feels?

YN's vision left him staring straight down the road, really focusing on his words and thoughts on the subject, just how he assumed Rem wanted him to, but also trying to tiptoe around making this tone of melancholy in her voice increase. YN replied, walking a linguistic tightrope in his mind.

YN: Again, it's a broad term. You might say 'demon' to me and the first things that'll come to mind are devils, ghosts, and other uhhh, unpleasant things, like skeletons and witches.

Rem again was very focused on what YNs real feelings on this were, for reasons YN couldn't fully grasp.

YN: But, for someone like say, from around where Subaru is from, might lump in what I would consider are ogres or oni, as 'demonic'.

Rem: So, YN-kun doesn't view those last two as demonic, and thus aren't evil or unpleasant.

YN: That's pretty much it exactly. I can't speak for how Subaru feels on it, but—

Shurgging, YN continued.

YN: —I think as long as the ogre and oni are nice people, who cares really.

Rem stopped her walking pace and asked another follow up question, really making YN realize maybe what she was trying to get out of him.

Rem: Then YN-kun isn't afraid of either of those?

YN: Well, I've never met either, but there's a really great movie— er, play about a green ogre who lives in a swamp, and goes on a quest with a donkey to save the princess from a dragon—, well, point is, it's got great message on accepting people who are different, even if they look a bit scary. Truth be told it's one of favorites and—

YN cut himself off after Rem began walking once more, stepping right past him, wondering what had prompted this.

Did I say something bad?

Getting a few paces ahead of YN, Rem spun back around to face him, she began to smile her usual warm smile, expect this time the wind blew, blowing her bangs so he could see both her eyes.

Knowing that Rem knew he was left speechless, he felt a fire of confidence in his chest and smiled back at her, determined to not waste a perfect good moment.

YN: Ya know, when the breeze pushes your hair like that when you smile, it almost knocks the wind right out of me.

With a small laugh, Rem spun back the other way, but looked back over her shoulder to YN as she began to continue forward

Rem: Rem doubts YN-kun would be as bold if Subaru-kun were not as far behind as he is.

YN watched as Rem walked down the road, her hands folded in front of her in her maid like fashion. The breeze continued, causing leaves to dance all around Rem in the yellow evening sunlight. Staring as she walked off in the direction of the mansion.

Letting Rem continue to walk a few paces away, she turned back around once more, this time calling to YN.

Rem: There's still much to do once we get back. Are you coming, YN-kun?

Nodding, YN followed the blue hair maid.

It was now much later in the evening. The trio had returned to the mansion and completed the rest of the daily duties. After dinner, YN returned to his room for another tutoring session with Rem. However, both were distracted at the scene unfolding down on the mansion's back lawn.

Subaru and Emilia were finally getting some alone time, and from their mute perspective, it seemed that of course, Subaru was making a fool of himself.

Rem: Subaru-kun sure is energetic, isn't he?

YN: Yeah I'll say. Usually in situations with Emilia he's his own worst enemy but she's too oblivious to notice it.

YN turned his attention back to practicing writing the words on his parchment paper when Rem asked another question.

Rem: Just how long have YN-kun and Subaru-kun known each other?

YN: Only since meeting in the capitol, so only a few days.

Rem was surprised at his answer. How could two people who know each other so little trust each other so much? Asking her next question in a more serious, but still in a light hearted and curious way, she continued.

Rem: Rem remembers YN-kun saying he came from a land far to the West, and Subaru had said to Emilia that he had come far from the East. Rem also remembers that YN-kun said he knew where Subaru is from, isn't that correct?

YN: That sounds all about right, yeah.

Rem: How—, How do you know of each other's homeland but not of Legunica? Or Vollachia, or the Kararagi City states? All of that would be between your homelands if that were true, wouldn't it?

YN set down his pen and made a few motions with his fingers as if they were going around an invisible ball.

YN: Well, if logic follows here how it would back home, technically if I left going further West, from the West, I would run into—

Rem: The great waterfall.

YN: Subaru's homeland, in the East.

Both him and Rem had spoken the last parts of their sentence at the same time, to different conclusions.
YN: Well, that's how a globe works, right? You go one way around it and you pop up on the other side.

Rem: Globe?

YN: Yeah...

Have these guys not figured out that the world is round? I get we're in another world, but what about the stars and the sun and the moon and—

Rem pulled one of the larger books from the pile she had left in YN's room to work his reading skills up to. She flipped to a page and on both sides was a large printed map. Presenting it to YN, he took it and set it down on the table over his writing work.

Tracing her finger around the edge of the map, Rem explained her confusion.

Rem: It is well documented and proven the entire world as we know it is surrounded by a Great Waterfall.

YN: So there are no other continents like this that you know of? Nothing beyond the sea?

Rem only shook her head "no", but responded with a question instead.

Rem: Do you not see either of your homelands on this map?

Giving the map a real good glance, YN made extra sure to see if his or Subaru's were anywhere slightly represented. But alas, neither were.

YN: I... I don't.

Taking a step back, Rem had thought for sure that YN was simply mistaken about the world's layout. She was utterly taken back. There was only one explanation for YN and Subaru's origins then.

Rem: Then are you—?

Bringing a fist to her chest in a mix of worry and confusion growing in her eyes, she finished her question.

Rem: Are the both of you from beyond the Great Waterfall?

YN and Rem stared at each other. Both unsure what to say. YN knew exactly what was meant by that. "Are you from another world?"

The only question was, should he keep up the cover? Play dumb? Come clean? What would happen if he told her that he came from a completely different world? Was there some sort of stigma of that here? Was he looking at some sort of consequence?

YN settled on an honest answer, he hadn't lied to Rem once, and he decided he wasn't going to start either. After what seemed to be a minutes long silence, he spoke his answer.

YN: I have no clue.

At his rather lacking response, most of the surprise and worry in Rem's eyes went away as she silently nodded. Closing the book in front of YN, Rem held it as she walked over to the window where Subaru and Emilia were visible down on the lawn.

It's one thing for Subaru-kun to be from beyond the Waterfall, but YN-kun... Rem said in her head.

YN: Rem, I—

At his call, Rem looked back at him, a sad expression covering her face.

YN: Rem...

Rem turned her whole self around and walked past him, making her way to the door, opening it, but stopping before stepping out, and spoke to YN in her formal tone.

Rem: Nee-sama will delegate your tasks tomorrow again, and after they're done Rem will return to tutor you again.

Going to take another step, she stopped yet again and continued her instruction.

Rem: Rem will wait till tomorrow to decide whether YN-kun or Subaru-kun wish to tell Emilia-sama and Roswaal-sama of your... origins. Else, Rem and Nee-sama will bring it up to them. It's crucial that such a fact be known to them as it may cause complications later on.

Before she was able to fully close the door, YN called to her.

YN: Rem wait—

Rem: Goodnight.

From what YN could see, he swore as she said that, he saw tears in her eyes as she had to turn to close the door.

Having closed the door, Rem stood with her back against it. Tears began to run down her soft cheeks and land on the book she still held.

If they both truly are from beyond the Great Waterfall, then they will surely leave the mansion eventually. It makes sense after all, with both of their odd clothes and way of talking, and having no knowledge of how anything works, Rem isn't sure why she didn't come to that conclusions earlier. But still, why would they stay here when there would be so much more opportunity for them elsewhere?

Using her sleeve to wipe the tear drops off the book's cover, Rem departed, her thoughts still weighing heavily on her mind.

YN-kun will find and meet other, more interesting people. Those from beyond the Great Waterfall get plenty of business and marriage proposals for their unique knowledge and talents.

Looking down at the book in her hands again, the tears began to fall once more.

YN-kun would never be happy staying here. Rem could never offering him anything as good.

Back in his bedroom, YN cleaned his desk of his study supplies with a heavy guilt in his chest. Choosing to retire for the night, hopefully tomorrow he might be able to get through and understand why Rem reacted this way.

Waking up, YN could feel the morning sun shinning on his still closed eyes.

However, this did not feel like the bed he fell asleep in. The clovers smelled like fresh laundry, and the slight smell of fresh flowers also worked its way in as well.

Why does this seem so familiar?

As he finished his drowsy thought, he heard the door open and the sound of footsteps enter into the room.

?: Nee-sama Nee-sama, our guest sleeps well into the late morning.

?: Rem Rem, our guest appears to be a deadbeat who sleeps in till noon.

Rem: Nee-sama Nee-sama, it would appear so. While he is checked on, Rem will tend to our other guest.

Ram: Rem Rem, please do not leave me alone around such a despicable man.

Rem: Rem will only be over here, Nee-sama.

Why is this so familiar? Did I oversleep and now they're teasing me?

Rem: Nee-sama, it would appear as though our other guest is already half awake.

Ram: Good, please wake him the rest of the way.

"Guest?" I have a name they both know, and I'm not exactly a guest anymore.

YN could suddenly feel Rem's presence leaning over him now, startling him the rest of the way awake.

Rem jumped back, surprised at YN's sudden movement.

YN: Goodness gracious Rem, you know when you do that it scares the—

He stopped his words, YN was completely taken back by what he saw, instantly answering his questions as to why he felt this was such a familiar scene.