The mission began smoothly enough; they were quickly able to secure a few allies in the form of Mordred and Dr Henry Jekyll, the latter of whom offered his place as a base of operations for them. The investigation into the demonic fog covering London was chugging along slowly, but at a good progress.
At the moment, they were resting up before heading out on another trek into London. Ritsuka found himself lost in his own thoughts again; this time, it was not on the mission but rather what Mash told them before the mission began. The place he wanted to visit— where Fu Hua should be according to her —did not exist; 221B Baker Street would not exist for a few more years as the current Baker Street did not go that high yet in 1888. Moreover, Sherlock Holmes was simply "a fictional detective," much to Dr Roman's dismay.
"Yo, Master? Something bothering you?" Mordred ripped the band-aid off without giving much of a damn. "You've been really quiet for the last hour."
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing. Just wondering about something…" Ritsuka answered with an awkward smile.
"Still upset too, huh?" the disappointed voice of Dr Roman said as his hologram flickered in front of them. "To have your bubble burst like that really sucks…"
"Is this about visiting Baker Street?" Mash asked, a hint of guilt present in her voice. "Sorry, Master, Doctor. But as I said, he does not—"
"What's this about visiting Baker Street?" The interruption this time came from Dr Jekyll as he emerged from his study. "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop but why do you want to visit Baker Street?"
Mash quickly answered for them, "There's a person who lives there who Master and Doctor wish to meet. Unfortunately, he…" she trailed off, unsure how to say the person did not exist.
To their surprise, however, Dr Jekyll replied with something unexpected. "That person wouldn't happen to live on 221B Baker Street, would he?"
"Huh?" Roman voiced his surprise the loudest. "How do you… Wait, you're in the same camp he is! If you're real then—!"
"Dr Jekyll, you mean to say the Sherlock Holmes is currently residing in 221B Baker Street right now?" Mash's eyes were wide while her voice tightened a couple of pitches.
The good doctor simply gave a small nod with an amused smile.
While Dr Roman was exploding in excitement that "he's actually real," Ritsuka's mind was preoccupied with another thing. While he was also interested in meeting the famed detective, his main priority was his assistant. Presumably his assistant anyway; Hua only said she was working there. She could be his housekeeper for all he knew but considering their track record so far…
"I actually saw Holmes and his assistant not too long before running into Mordred. They were also looking into the mystery of the fog," Jekyll continued explaining. "I pray both of them are doing well in these circumstances."
"Why didn't you say so earlier? We could have been working with the actual Sherlock Holmes and John Watson from the beginning!" Dr Roman cried in glee to which Jekyll answered that it slipped his mind before he realized something.
"Wait… what did you say?"
"Uh? We could have worked with them from the beginning?"
"No, what did you call Holmes's assistant?"
Confusion was clearly written on everyone's face (though Mordred had not been following anything)... Except for Ritsuka. His heart skipped a beat as he knew the reason for Jekyll's question.
"Dr. John H. Watson? The famed assistant that chronicled his and Sherlock Holmes's cases together?" Mash replied, sounding unsure of herself. She was likely questioning her own knowledge now that a whole new door was opened for her.
'John H… H… that must be…'
"I am unfamiliar with a "John H. Waston" or understand what led you to believe Holmes's assistant is a man. She is not even British," Jekyll responded.
"Watson is a woman?! How did everything about him— her get recorded so wrong?!" While Dr Roman was reacting to the information quite vocally, Mash looked like her entire world was falling apart. "...Hey, if Watson is actually a she, does that mean she and Holmes actually are—"
"No, that's impossible," Ritsuka answered defensively. He feared inviting more questions but fortunately, Mash was quick to take his side.
"Right, Dr. Watson had a wife named Mary… Granted, that could also be another fabrication given what we just learned," she flexed her knowledge on the matter.
"Then we turn to Dr. Jekyll. What's their relationship like?"
"Well, they are close but they are ultimately only friends and co-workers," Jekyll debunked Dr Roman's theory. "And she is married though she mentioned her husband's work keeps him away from her."
'Married…' Well, if it was her then there was only one person it could possibly be. There was only one way to find out for sure: "What's her name?"
"Ah yes, that would be important information for you. Her name is—"
Everything went silent for Ritsuka; the name reached his ears, but he couldn't believe it. It was her— it was actually her. A real meeting was on the horizon for them. A real meeting… but now another worry brewed inside him.
How the hell was he supposed to explain her to the others?!
Their next objective was clear: find and enlist the aid of Sherlock Holmes and his assistant… and to get their autographs for Dr Roman. To the end, the journey through the fog once again to reach 221B Baker Street. They encountered and fought off some hostiles on the way but soon enough, they arrived at their destination.
"It's real… It's actually real…" he heard Mash mutter in awe as they stood before the building. "221B Baker Street."
"I still don't get what the fuzz is all about, but can't we just go in? Standing out in the open is just asking for trouble," Mordred huffed in annoyance, making Mash stutter in agreement.
Ritsuka took the lead and stood before the heavy wooden door; he grasped the knocker and, after taking a deep breath— knock knock!
A muted gentleman's voice came from the other side, asking for them to wait a moment before the door opened with a loud squeak. "I was not expecting any guests today, much less from a pair of knights." The man who greeted them stood tall with neatly-combed graying black hair. His slightly bushy mustache and short beard helped give him the gentlemanly aura expected from a person with his reputation.
"M-Mr Holmes! I mean, are we right to assume you are the detective, Sherlock Holmes?" Mash began stuttering again, understandably intimidated and in awe of being in his presence. "Dr Jekyll sends his regards," she added.
The gentleman let out an amused chuckle. "Yes, you are right in assuming so, young lady. If you are friends of the doctor, then you're friends of mine. Come in quickly. It's dangerous to be in the fog."
Before they knew it, they were sitting within the home of one of the most— if not the—legendary detectives in the world. Out of the corner of his eye, Ritsuka could see Mash doing her best to not geek out as she looked around the sitting room. Mordred… looked like she was dying of boredom.
"It's fortunate I was already in the process of brewing a cup for myself," Holmes smiled as he poured them some tea. "Now, why don't you introduce yourself? It's only polite."
"Ah—yes, of course!" Mash frantically nodded. "My name is Mash Kyrielight. It's an honour to meet you, sir. We're a part of an organization and have come to London to solve the fog plaguing the city."
"Mordred. Frankly, I have no clue who you are but the others think you're impressive."
Holmes nodded in understanding, remarking how Mordred was named after the famed Knight of Treachery. "And you are…?" He turned to Ritsuka.
"...Fujimaru Ritsuka. My name is Fujimaru Ritsuka," the Master of Chaldea finally introduced himself, keeping an eye out for any changes in the older man. He was not a detective like Holmes was, but Ritsuka noticed the minute reactions. The tiny twitch of his fingers, the raised eyebrow, the slight tip of his smile into a smirk, and the soft hum… There was a chance, but Ritsuka couldn't outright ask yet.
"You must be from the Far East then?" Holmes finally said after a moment. "It's rare to meet someone like you who speaks the language well." It was a genuine compliment from him as there was clear honesty in his voice, but Ritsuka couldn't help but feel put down at the same time.
Then again, he didn't actually speak English well; he had to thank Chaldea's systems for helping him.
"Thank you," Ritsuka still smiled back before glancing around. "Is your assistant here? Dr Jekyll mentioned you had one."
His question managed to elicit a small chuckle from the detective. "Unfortunately, she isn't here right now; she stepped out to clear her mind some time ago. However, she should be returning any moment now."
"She stepped out… in the fog? Alone?" Mash was naturally alarmed by his answer, prompting Holmes to ease her nerves.
"Oh, there is no need to be worried for her. She can handle herself quite well," he assured her before taking a sip of his tea. "I've lost count of how many times she's saved me from a spot of trouble. I even dare say whatever creatures lurk in the fog should be more scared of her than she should be of them."
"But…"
"Now, what brings you knocking on my door? Surely it's not simply to inquire about my assistant?" Holmes quipped, his eyes briefly darting to Ritsuka.
"No, Dr. Jekyll told us you were already investigating the fog. We thought it would be beneficial to combine our forces and get to the bottom of this mystery," Mash answered for him as she glanced out the window.
"That is indeed logical… if I knew what you are capable of. That isn't to say I'm not impressed already; to venture through the fog and arrive here unharmed is proof of your skill."
"We could have just been lucky."
"Perhaps, but I've got the inkling it wasn't just luck. I don't believe any of you to be simple knights or even Valkyries," the detective replied; the term he used naturally confused them but they weren't given the opportunity to ask. "How about this? Complete a certain task for me, and I'll agree to an alliance."
It was admittedly a bit frustrating to be essentially sent out on an errand but Ritsuka could see where he was coming from. Holmes wanted to be sure they were trustworthy before fully showing his hand.
"Understood, just tell us what we need to do," Ritsuka agreed while Mordred muttered something probably insulting under her breath.
"Don't worry, it is only a simple request; I need you to look into a strange matter happening at—"
Knock knock!
The loud interruption naturally got everyone's attention; Holmes didn't get the chance to sit up before the door opened and a voice announced her return. Ritsuka heard Holmes say that she was finally back, but it didn't quite register in his mind— he was too fixated on the familiar voice.
"Do come quickly; we have guests."
"Guests? In this weather?" The female voice sounded incredulous as her footsteps grew closer. "Who in their right mind would—" She turned the corner and stepped into the room; everything seemed to freeze with Ritsuka's heart skipping another beat. It felt like an eternity as they stared at each other. In reality, only a few seconds passed before Holmes chided her for forgetting her manners. "Oh, my sincerest apologies," she coughed out with a bright face. "Allow me to introduce myself: I am Fu Hua. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Chaldea."
A/N: Yeah... I was super motivated to write the next chapter. This was totally not in the plans for this fic; it was supposed to just remain with the previous format but nooooo. The last chapter gave me ideas that was encouraged by you guys.
So anyway, I'm going with the comedy/romance angst that would probably end with angst. If you know, you know. See you all next time!