Fu Hua… when Jekyll told them that name, Ritsuka could barely believe it. Even now, with her standing in the doorway to the sitting room, a part of Ritsuka believed he was dreaming. Without any strangeness to it, without any questions to it, Fu Hua was right there.
"It's an honour to meet you, Fu Hua." Mash was quick to reply. Despite recently learning the person she knew as John H. Watson did not truly exist, she was still eager to meet his inspiration. "I am Mash Kyrielight, and these are Mordred and—"
"I'm Fujimaru Ritsuka." He felt bad for cutting her off, but it had to be him introducing himself. It felt right to.
Once they were done, Holmes swiftly caught her up to the situation. "Fu Hua, these fine people here are investigating the fog as well and wish to join forces with us."
"I see no problem with that," she voiced her thoughts as she put on a stoic face.
"I knew you wouldn't, but I wish for them to prove themselves first by dealing with that problem near the bridge." Holmes's reply made Fu Hua sigh with exasperation.
"Do they have to? Shouldn't dealing with this fog take priority?" Her voice was dripping with annoyance but Ritsuka did not miss her brief glance at him. "You said it yourself— any other case would have to wait until we get to the bottom of this new mystery."
"Hmm… I did say that, didn't I?" Holmes hummed as a look of deep thought crossed his face. "Why don't you go along with them then? If I'm right, all there is left to deal with should be easily cleaned up by all of you."
Another exasperated sigh escaped Fu Hua's lips before she fully turned towards the Chaldeans. "Then we best make haste; we should be back here before nightfall."
"Ye-yes!" Mash nodded as she got up to her feet with Ritsuka following suit. His eyes flickered at Mordred (who had been standing around the entire time) and noticed how her eyes were narrowed at Fu Hua, silently judging her. Though he wondered what that was about, he didn't ask yet as they all moved to leave 221B Baker Street with Holmes wishing them luck.
"Stick close to me, Ritsuka," Fu Hua advised as they moved through the streets of London. They could barely see what was a few feet in front of them but Fu Hua was able to lead them with little issue… maybe. It was not exactly easy to tell if they were heading the right way when they didn't even know their destination.
"...Miss Fu Hua— I mean, Mrs Fu Hua, can I ask you something?" Mash finally spoke up, having been growing anxious with the near-silence as they walked; only their footsteps filled the air for the last few minutes.
"Please, just call me Fu Hua," she replied with a nod.
"Okay… Fu Hua. I'm curious about a few things," Mash continued. "How did you find yourself under Mr Holmes's employment?"
"That's a bit of a long story. I came to London a few years ago in search of someone, and Holmes believes he's searching for that same person. It was a simple case of our goals aligning," Fu Hua explained.
Mash muttered, "I see," under her breath, absorbing every word she said.
Ritsuka meanwhile… "When was the last time you spoke to your husband?"
"Huh?"
"Ma-master!" "What kind of question is that?!" The strong reactions from Mash and Mordred were to be expected. His question really came out of left field. "...Hey, you better not be like those guys too."
Ritsuka had no clue who Mordred was referring to but he was pretty sure he should feel insulted. Fu Hua, however, was quick to answer with a small smile once she recovered from the initial shock. "Actually, I just reunited with him not too long ago. His work finally brought him here and he'll be here for a while. To be honest, he did tell me he was coming but I still find it hard to believe he's actually here."
"Is that so?" Ritsuka couldn't help but be amused at her answer. It wasn't wrong, but it wasn't technically right yet.
Mash could only glance between Ritsuka and Fu Hua with an unreadable look on her face. "Um… Fu Hua, what exactly does Mr Holmes want us to do?" She asked.
"Ah, that's right. I haven't explained yet." Fu Hua's stoic demeanour returned as she explained their objective. "Before this fog rolled in, Holmes and I closed a case regarding a smuggling operation. We've caught the ringmaster, but some of his henchmen are still working in secret. All we need to do is tie up that loose end."
"So we just need to break a few bones? Sounds easy enough." Ritsuka expected Mordred to be excited to get some action but to his confusion, she had a frown on her face.
"So long as they face justice for their crimes, yes," Fu Hua nodded though looked annoyed at Mordred's call for violence. The tension in the air grew as it became increasingly apparent Mordred had a problem with her.
"...Mordred, if there's something on your mind, feel free to say it," Ritsuka stopped walking to face her.
At once, the footsteps stopped. "Master… With how much you were watching them, I thought you would have noticed as well," Mordred glared at Fu Hua, who instinctively glared back. "If not you, then that genius in your ear."
"Me?" the blue Dr Roman immediately appeared with a grin only to be swiftly replaced with Da Vinci.
"I believe Sir Mordred was referring to me." The Renaissance inventor had a wide smirk on her face. "And yes, I did catch it."
"...Catch what?" Ritsuka racked his brain trying to figure out what they were talking about.
"While all of you were all googly-eyed at meeting her and that detective, Miss Assistant here said something she shouldn't have."
"It's Mrs, actually."
"Whatever." Mordred did not care to be corrected right now. With the clue in mind, Ritsuka thought back to when Fu Hua introduced herself… and finally understood what they were talking about.
Mash was following the same line of thought too and came to the same conclusion. "That's right… You called us Chaldea before we introduced ourselves."
"Precisely. I even noticed Mr Holmes acting a little strange earlier too around Fujimaru." Da Vinci's gaze turned to Fu Hua, whose expression remained neutral. "And you don't seem to be surprised at seeing us like this. Who are you, really?"
"...I'm not an enemy if that's what you're asking," Fu Hua defended herself. "I'll admit I knew about Chaldea for a few while but I don't believe it's my place to explain how."
'Are you really pushing this onto me?!' As the more "experienced" of the two, Ritsuka thought it should be her to explain what's going on. "I believe her; it doesn't make sense for her or Holmes to be against us."
"That's a lot of hope you're placing from belief alone, Fujimaru," Da Vinci bluntly stated. "Frankly, I didn't think you were the type to go for married women but I don't think that's clouding your judgement…"
"I don't know if I should be offended at that or not," Ritsuka muttered before glancing at Mordred. "I know you don't trust her, but trust me. We can count on her."
Mordred continued to glare at Fu Hua for a few moments longer before— "...Fine," she relented. "But I've got my eye on you. Slip up, and I'm running my sword through your chest."
"Would not be the first time something like that happened…" Fu Hua muttered under her breath, alarming Ritsuka as he was the only one close enough to hear. "You'll learn another time," she whispered upon noticing his reaction.
If he wanted to ask, he couldn't anyway as Dr Roman's image replaced Da Vinci's bearing the most expected news at this point. "Uh, hate to break up this intense discussion but we've got hostiles closing on your position coming. Prepare for battle!"
"Master, get beh—"
"Ritsuka!" Fu Hua did not even ask as she immediately put herself in between him and their coming enemies whose silhouette could be seen through the fog.
A/N: Stopping there cause fight scenes are the bane of my existence. Remember the early days of FGO where every arrow had to have a battle? Good times...
Anyway, this chapter came quickly again cause again, ideas won't leave my brain. Chaldea is now sus of Fu Hua (and Holmes as a result); they also think Ritsuka wants to hit on a married woman when she is technically married to him. Ritsuka meanwhile is trying not to give away the truth behind his and Hua's relationship. Why? Cause it's funnier if he doesn't reveal it (and I have a le funni idea for how they figure it out). Anyway, see y'all next time!