A/N: Here's another series of chapters (4 of em!), just as promised. Like I said, one of you all made a correct prediction last week, and you'll find out what that was in this series of chapters. Also to answer the question that was left; yes, if YN dies and Subaru progresses past to a new checkpoint, it's game over. But that would be true for anyone else in the show.
But again, big shoutout to ShuTDowN for finding the tiny spelling and grammar errors I glanced over in the last series of chapters.
Chapter 18: Touch? I Remember Touch.
As Subaru ran towards the trees, away from the mansion, YN turned to look back up at the window he had just climbed down from. Ram was leaning out the window, she looked down to meet eyes with YN.
YN: Shit.
Pivoting on his heel, YN headed in the opposite direction of Subaru.
Turning her head back around, Ram called to Rem.
Ram: They're splitting up! Rem, the other is headed towards the gardens, go after him, Ram will go after the one headed for the forest.
YN bolted along the side of the mansion, crossing over the hedges and up onto the back patio.
I can't out run either of them. I have to out smart them by tricking them.
Taking one look at the mansion's back door, YN had an idea.
They're expecting us to run out AWAY from the mansion. If I hide in the mansion, chances are they'll both head outside, giving me time to slip away.
It was a big gamble, but YN thought he could be able to beat the twins if he acted quickly. There could be no hesitation. Flying through the back door, YN entered the foyer.
He looked left and right.
Where do I hide? Where's somewhere that has an exit in case I'm found?
YN was doing exactly what he knew he shouldn't do, he was hesitating. As soon as he realized he was, he could hear footsteps making their way down the staircase. Hurried footsteps.
Taking the only opportunity he had, he quickly stepped behind the partially open doors to the meal hall, the closest place to where he was.
Tip-toeing behind the door, it was at just the right angle to where you could see the bottom of the staircase from the door's keyhole. Silencing all his breathing, and making absolutely sure he was not leaning against the door, YN peered through the keyhole on his knees.
Only a few seconds later, Rem arrived at the bottom of the staircase. Her hurried steps made a stop. Closing her eyes, Rem sniffed the air.
Putting a hand over his mouth to mask the sound of his gasp, YN realized what he had forgotten.
Oh shit. That's right. I just ran though there, she can smell me. She'll just track my Witch scent.
As soon as Rem had finished, Ram arrived next to her at the bottom of the steps.
Ram: Rem, what is it? Why are you stopping?
Rem: Nee-sama, one is still in the mansion.
This is bad. I might be able to outmaneuver one of them, but the two of them are going to be impossible to get away from.
Putting a fist to his chest, YN gave it more thought.
Maybe that's not a bad thing though. If they both go after me, that's more time Subaru will have to get away.
But on the other hand.
If they eliminate me, then it'll be the two of them tracking Subaru, they'll find him in no time.
YN concluded it was better to keep them separated. The only way he could do that is by making himself look like obvious pray.
If I look dumb enough, they'll think it's pointless to both come after me.
Standing up, YN slammed the meal hall door shut.
Rem (muffled): There he is! Nee-sama go after the other one, I'll handle this one.
Taking one of the chairs parked at the table, YN shoved it under one the handles of the door. It wasn't ideal though, considering these doors open outward from the meal hall, this was merely a speed bump for Rem.
YN ran down the meal hall towards the kitchen door. Halfway down the long room, he could hear Rem break open his miserable stop gap.
Rem: Ugh, this again...?
Shaking her head to focus on the issue at hand, she called to YN as he was about to round the corner to the door-frame to enter the kitchen.
Rem: Wait! Why is guest-sama running? Rem only wishes to talk!
Stopping to look at Rem, YN grunted and slammed the door behind him.
What was bothering YN at this point was the look on Rem's voice and the tone of her face wasn't hostility or malice as he was expecting, but rather one of immense surprise and worry.
As YN entered the kitchen, he looked around. He need to escape. Realizing he only had a second to find one, he decided to instead use his time to buy more time.
Looking to his side, YN grabbed the cupboard next to the door and pulled it toward him. Getting it away from the counter it was next to, YN ran to the other side and pushed it halfway across the door before it began to open.
Rem: Guest-sama! Please stop!
YN was in a shoving contest now with Rem. Currently they both sat a stalemate. Rem, with the amount of strength she was using currently, was equal to what YN was applying while pushing the cupboard against the opened door.
He was only hanging on by the fact Rem was working against his leverage at this point. If he could just push the cupboard a little bit more, that'd be more leverage he would have.
Flipping his back to where he was pushing, YN angled himself and pushed with all his might against the door Rem was trying to keep open. Plates and dishes stacked on top of the cupboard shook and fell off, crashing to the floor. The first bit was the hardest, but as he moved it more, the easier each became until—
YN: Aaaaaaggghhhh!
Rem (muffled): —tsk!
YN had won the power struggle on the fact Rem had not wished to display her full strength yet. Realizing he had until Rem inevitably broke down the door, YN looked around for an escape.
Simply said, there was none.
YN: Looks like I'm making one.
Observing the morning light coming through the high kitchen windows, catching the dust stirred up from the falling dishes gave YN his idea.
Grabbing a large cast iron kettle from a nearby table, YN hoisted it above his head.
Veins bulging in his head, YN positioned himself in front of the window, and chucked the kettle with all his might.
YN: NNNNEEEEUUUGGGHH!
The kettle connected with window and kept going, blowing the glass completely out leaving a nearly glass-less exit for YN.
The next course of action was actually getting up and out of the window.
Looking around, YN grabbed what he could. Pots, crates, containers, step stools, everything he could to build a makeshift staircase up to his escape.
Just a few appa crates short of reaching his goal, YN heard a massive impact against his barricade.
Rem (muffled): HIIIGGHHYYYAAA!"
With a second mighty blow, Rem knocked the cupboard away and over, and the door itself fell off it's hinges forward into the kitchen.
YN was stunned still.
Rem stepped onto the fallen door, a most concerned and worried expression covered her face.
Rem: Guest-sama! Please. Stop. Think of where you are! No here is going to hurt you! We're— Umpf!
Taking his opportunity, YN chucked the appa crate he was holding at Rem. Knowing full and well it had no chance of actually hurting her, he used it as a distraction.
Hoping to have her catch it and run past her out of the kitchen, what she did surprised him.
Catching the crate, Rem immediately smashed it down on the ground, creating a small explosion of wood splinter shrapnel.
Almost as she guessed his exact plan. Truly, YN was out of his league here. Halting YN in his tracks, he held his arms up to shield his face.
Looking between his arms, Rem was gone. That could only mean—
Taking an immediate step back, YN barely feinted Rem's grasp. Loosing his footing at his own sudden and drastic movement that even surprised him, YN back-stepped towards the center kitchen table.
It was a simple table, light and easy to move around the kitchen where needed. But just large enough to not grab something on one side from another.
Picking himself up, YN and Rem found each other at opposite ends of the table. With one trying to chase the other, one would try to go left around the table, only for the other to head right, block their advance.
Left and right. Right and left. Fake left to right. Left to fake right.
With neither side making an advance for a moment, Rem suddenly jumped up onto the table, a small smirk on her face as she now towered above YN.
With himself now in range of Rem from any side, YN did the best thing he could manage. Just dodging Rem's attempt to grasp him, YN ducked and dove under the table.
Rem waited on top, waiting for YN to dive out from one of the four sides. She knew the moment he did, she would have the drop on him. She had him trapped.
Or so she thought.
The only thing she did not expect was YN knowing that's what she was expecting of him. Instead of diving out and letting Rem capture him, YN deployed a different tactic.
YN: NNNNNEEEEIIIIGGHHH! HAAAAA!
Placing his palms on the bottom the table, YN lifted up with all his strength.
Lifting the table with Rem on it, YN threw the table off himself.
Hopefully that bought me enough to get out the door—!
YN: —hk!
As the table went flying, Rem had launched herself off in the table while still airborne. Landing on the counter, she used her remaining momentum to again launch herself. This time, propelling herself almost effortless over YN, she twisted and turned midair, landing feet first, for an average score of nine and a half, right in front of YN, between him and the door.
Holding her arms out wide to block any further advance, Rem panted.
Taking a few steps back, YN could only stare back at her, also panting.
The two stood and stared at each other in silence. Dust stirred up from the conflict danced in the light coming in from the broken window. The kitchen itself was in a state of disaster.
Finally, after what felt like almost of minute of silence in observation of the destruction in the kitchen, Rem began slowly walking towards arms still held wide.
Panic filled YN's mind.
What do I do? What do I do?
His eyes danced around the ruble on the floor and counters around him. Taking a few more steps back in response to Rem's steps forward, YN spotted his best bet at survival.
Quickly lunging and reaching it, YN held a large chiefs knife.
Immediately upon seeing it, Rem halted herself and lowered her arms into balled fists on her sides. A look of grave concern upon her face now. Surely there was no return at this point.
Rem: Please put that down before you have an accident. There's no need for that. Rem is unarmed. Rem has no desire to hurt—
YN: Unarmed? Bullshit.
Rem furrowed her brow slightly at YN's accusation.
Rem: — —? What do you mean—
YN: The morningstar!
An absolutely surprised expression ran across Rem's face.
How does he know about it? Rem thought.
YN: And the... chains...
With memories of him, and Subaru being mercilessly whipped by her chains from the interrogation in the forest, YN started becoming defensive.
The grip on the knife now became white knuckled. Taking another two steps back, YN brought his knife up, determined not to go down without a fight.
Seeing the knife brought up, Rem's expression turned cold.
Holding her arms out forward, palms up, as if carrying a box, and then closing her eyes, Rem stood still. In the next time YN blinked his eyes, the sound of a loud thud and chains rattling filled his ears.
With the morningstar falling down to her side, in Rem's hands were a pile of chains, and hilt they connected to. Seeing that was admitting her dishonesty of her claim to being unarmed, YN fired back again.
YN: So much for 'you don't want to harm me'.
Rem: Drop yours and I shall drop mine too.
YN: That won't mean anything. Your intent is still hostile.
Without changing her expression, or even denying it, Rem posed her next question.
Rem: And what gives you that idea?
YN: Because...
Tears started to form in his eyes. Both terrified and filled with dread, the last thing he wanted to do was fight with Rem.
YN: Because I know you can smell it. The Witch's scent.
Rem was silent. She did not respond to what YN said.
A breeze flew in through the smashed open window, fluttering Rem's bangs, both of her eyes could be seen in this moment. Both were eyes of judgment and suspicion.
Tears now falling down his face, YN continued.
YN: There's nothing I can do about it... I can't control it.
Finally speaking up, Rem replied.
Rem: How do you know all this? From knowing Rem's weapon, to knowing Rem could smell you. How?
Tears still flowing, YN choked out his quiet answer.
YN: I can't say. I cannot tell you, no matter how much I want to... And I do... I wish, from the bottom of my heart Rem, that I could.
Rem: If you cannot tell, how is Rem, or anyone to believe you? Who gave you this information?
Shaking his head, YN replied, "No one".
YN: I know what I know from my own experiences.
Another moment of silence passed between them, the breeze catching Rem's bangs once more, before—
Snapping the chains she held in her hands still, Rem took a step forward and declared her intent.
Rem: If you cannot be reasoned with, Rem will just have to extract that information from you.
Taking another step forward, YN took a step back.
Rem: Now... Are you a member of a faction—
YN: Am I 'a member of one of Emilia's royal candidate rivals?!' No! 'Did anyone hire me and under what conditions?!' I don't work for anyone! 'Am I a member of the Witch's cult?' No!
Stopping her advance, Rem wore a blank expression. She had completely not expected YN to know the exact questions she was going to ask.
YN: And now that I haven't given you any good answers, you're going to just beat me black and blue and red all over... aren't you?
Silent still, YN could see a rage dwelling in Rem.
YN: You're just going to assume I'm a 'Witch cult' member? Aren't you? Me denying everything and showing up here smelling like the Witch, I can't really blame you. You care about your sister, but you worship her so much it blinds you at times.
Rem: Do not speak of Nee-sama.
Shaking his head, YN continued.
YN: Will taking your rage out on someone who has nothing to do with it really satisfy you? Rem, I have no idea what the Cult did to your sister and you, or how they made you both suffer, but I have nothing to do with it. You're so hung up on how maybe your sister might feel that you don't take into account how you feel.
Holding her head down, Rem replied, her hands beginning to shake.
Rem: Silence.
YN: It's irrational, Rem. Your rage stems from being so busy being angry for Ram, you're not even angry for yourself at this point.
Rem: SHUT UP!
Reaching her arms back and launching it forward, Rem shot her morningstar straight for YN.
Diving to the side, YN dropped the knife he was yielding.
Looking up from the ground, YN saw where the morningstar had impacted the wall. It was wide and to the opposite side he had dived. So wide had YN stayed in place, it might not have actually hit him.
Now to Rem's side, they were still separated by an upturned, partially destroyed cupboard.
With Rem's morningstar deeply embedded into the stone, it rippled cracks throughout the wall. Slowly, Rem walked up to her morningstar, yanking it out of the wall, and turned to face YN from where he stood only moments ago.
Rem: Don't you dare speak as if you know about Nee-sama and Rem's relationship.
YN: I know enough. Enough to know that you two treasure each other. Enough to know you do almost everything for Ram because you care so much.
Rem: What do you know?! The Cult burned down our village, our parents were slaughtered, along with all of our neighbors and friends. Every last man, woman, and child.
Shaking now, Rem held back her own tears, speaking in a softer voice.
Rem: And they took what made Nee-sama so special...
YN: So you still treat her like she is special, because to you, she will always be that special. Not only out of sisterly love, but for her protection.
Holding his head up higher and regaining his composure, he wiped the tears that remained on face.
YN: But that's what made me realize something. What you're doing right now, isn't because you want to do this... No... It's out of that same duty to protect Ram, isn't it? You put it before everything else, all the time.
Closing his eyes, YN continued.
YN: So much so that you forget to do what you want, to be your own person.
Rem was silent for a moment more, the slook in her only visible eye made it look like she was deeply considering something. Before coming back to reality, she looked back up at YN, regaining her strength, and subsequently, her rage.
Rem: Do not act as if you know about Nee-sama and Rem's relationship, but also... Do not act as if you know REM!
With rage on her lips once more, Rem lashed out at YN, throwing her morningstar once more, and YN once more diving to dodge it.
Getting back to his feet, Rem and him stood opposite of each other across the kitchen, nothing in-between the two of them now other then open floor.
Rem kneeled down, picking up the knife YN had been holding.
Rem: If you just keeping dodging one attack after the other... Rem just needs to attack so you can't dodge!
Simultaneously launching her morningstar and beginning a charge with her knife, Rem had effectively cornered YN, and put him in checkmate.
Expecting the morningstar to do what it had before, YN stood completely still, eyes shut. Feeling the impact of the morningstar next to him, shards of stone pelted his side and face.
Fully thinking that YN was going to dodge away and be able to meet him with a knife to his throat, Rem stopped her advance where she had expected YN to leap to, awestruck that he hadn't moved to begin with at all.
Instead, opening his eyes, YN dashed straight ahead, towards Rem.
Rem continued to doubt what her eyes saw. And as she did, she continued to stand firm, knife in hand, braced against her side, pointed towards YN as if she still continued to charge him.
Within arms-length of Rem, YN extended his arms outward, moments before colliding with Rem.
And colliding his torso with the knife.
As the two met, YN wrapped his arms around her, bringing her into his embrace.
Rem's vision was darkened, filled with nothing but YN's chest, she felt the textured cloth of the robe he still wore on her face. But what her attention was really focused on, was the warm sensation that was beginning to cover her hands.
She did not need to look down. She already knew what it was.
Upon impact, YN let out a grunt, coughing up blood.
Rem was shocked and left speechless.
Not only at the fact that YN called her bluff on the impact location of the morningstar, but at his decision to jump straight into her and the knife.
Finally choking out her words, Rem spoke.
Rem: W-wait—! How did—?! Why did—?!
With ragged breathing, YN replied.
YN: Because Rem *huff*, this isn't what you wanted, right? *huff* *huff* It was your duty to do something though, *huff* wasn't it? From the moment you missed the first time—hk! *huff* I could tell... *huff* You weren't serious about killing me. Not yet at least—hk!
Continuing to feel the blood run from his wound run down her hands, Rem's panic filled words escaped her mouth.
Rem: — —! Rem never wanted to—! To—! But Rem had to—! Something—!
Putting his chin on-top of Rem's head, YN spoke once more.
YN: Rem.
His single word calming her slightly, just enough to get her to listen.
YN: Tell me. What did you want to do?
Feeling her take in a breath of air, YN moved his head back and looked down as Rem brought her face upward.
Rem: Rem wanted to...
With her eyes getting watery with tears, she moved her face back downwards and tightly shut her eyes, resting her head against YN's chest, and began to sob as she answered.
Rem: Rem wanted to believe you! Rem wanted to believe that the Witches scent meant you were also a victim of the Witch's Cult! That there were other people who were hurt by them! Who knew how cruel the cult was! Rem wanted to think you were friendly, but—
YN: Your duty prevented you from doing that.
Looking back up, Rem's face was covered in tears.
Rem: *hic* Rem is—! *hic* Rem is so sorry—!
Her voice getting cut off, YN put his hand on the back of Rem's head and pulled it close. Using what little strength he still had left, YN squeezed Rem in his embrace as she cried.
Finally, gasping, Rem maneuvered her head back up, as if she had forgotten or realized something.
Rem: L-let Rem heal your wound! It's not too late!
Losing his strength to keep holding her, YN dropped his arms and almost tripped backwards, catching himself on the wall,
Huffing and puffing for breath, YN protested as he began to lose consciousness.
YN: *huff* Rem. You'd have to remove the knife to do that. And if you do, I'll lose too much blood. There's no way to—
Rem: Then lie down here! Rem will—! Rem will go get Beatrice-sama! She can heal you quick enough after removing the knife and then—!
YN: Rem.
Cutting her off, YN fell down further, onto his back, knife still lodged in his torso.
Bringing a blood stained hand to her chest, Rem gave the expression she was listening.
Rem: — —?
YN: There's not enough time... Just... let me be. Here. With you.
With more tears forming in her eyes, she shook her head.
Rem: If only Rem hadn't been so selfish, Rem would have never brought you such fear as to run for your life and caused such a fate for yourself.
Shaking his weak head, YN replied.
YN: It's exactly because you weren't selfish that this happened, Rem.
Nodding her head, Rem sat down next to YN, blood staining both of their clothes heavily now.
Rem: What... what can Rem do?
Smiling, YN held out his weak hand.
YN: Just—hk! Hold my hand... till it's over.
Grabbing YN's hand, he could feel the still warm blood of his being transferred to his own hand from Rem.
Closing his eyes, YN asked one final question.
YN: Tell me Rem, what could I have done differently? To help you understand.
Rem was silent for a moment before answering.
Rem: Rem doesn't know. If you could have someway gotten through to Rem in a different way... Things might have ended differently. Rem is sorry, if only...
Squeezing her hand, YN said what would be his final words.
YN: Remember when I said I couldn't tell how I knew what I knew? Even if I wanted to? That's why you shouldn't feel bad, Rem. Death isn't the end for me. Everything will end up okay, okay? It's all related, but that's as much as I can say.
Rem was silent for a moment again, unable to respond to what she could only assume was his slowly weakening mind.
Rem: Rem never even knew your name, and still...
YN: YN. It's, YN.
Croaking out his response, he answered her.
Perking up at what she heard, a small smile adorned her tear covered face.
Rem: YN...
She repeated the name under her breath a few times more.
Rem: A cute name, it suits you.
Smiling himself now, YN responded.
YN: Not as cute as the girl saying it.
Without himself being able to see it, Rem blushed before squeezing his hand once more while feeling a warmth grow inside her chest.
Rem: Maybe... Maybe if you had done just that, Rem may have been swayed to not suspect you.
Without enough strength to react as he wanted to, YN simply smiled, and let the last embers of his life burn off.
YN had died a second time in this new world.
Rem sat quietly by his side, still holding his blood stained hand.
Some moments had passed before a thundering sound could be heard coming from the meal hall, someone walking with great haste was approaching.
?: Rem, did you catch the guest—?
Having her words cut off, the girl noticed the completely broken down door to the kitchen. Stepping onto the fallen door, the girl proceeded into the wrecked kitchen further.
?: Rem? What happened in here? Rem— Rem!
Turning her face to see who had just entered, Rem replied.
Rem: Nee-sama.
Ram: Y-You're covered in blood! Are you okay?!
Nodding, Rem continued to hold YN's lifeless hand.
Rem: Don't worry Nee-sama, it is not Rem's. YN-kun never hurt Rem.
Ram: YN... kun? And is he—?
Nodding, Rem answered her sister.
Rem: Yes. But YN-kun said that he'd fix this, and Rem believes him.
Ram: How can you believe him? He's dead Rem.
Putting a hand to her chest, more tears rolled down Rem's face.
Rem: Because. If Rem would have believed him from the start, he'd still be alive.