027 - Tale of Two Jeannes (Part 2)

Mashu Kyrielight

Jeanne-san and Bathory-san joined Senpai through temporary contracts during the celebrations. With them came the Einzbern Homunculus, who were following Jeanne-san at the time and refused to part ways.

They left the fort early in the morning, well rested and sent off by the soldiers' enthusiastic farewells and hails to La Pucelle -Which made Jeanne-san blush- the Chaldeans -Which made Mashu blush- and, for some reason, Demon Lord Re'em. These ones didn't make anyone blush, but they made Haku-senpai and the big breasted maid smile smugly. The expression of the other maid didn't change at all, but she also managed to somehow radiate smugness all the same.

How they got the highly religious soldiers to chant the name of a 'Demon Lord' is something Mashu suspects she'll never know.

"Oh, it wasn't that hard." Haku-senpai answers, as if reading her mind. "We just reminded them that King Solomon had a lot of demons working for him, things were easy from there."

… Right. "If you say so, Senpai." Somehow, Mashu can't quite bring herself to believe it was that easy, but it's hard to argue against Senpai('s stupidly attractive confidence).

"Why, I do say so!" Senpai nods to herself, ending that conversation before a mischievous smirk (that makes Mashu's heart start beating faster) appears on her lips and she leans closer to Mashu(, which makes her heart beat even faster). "Speaking of which, how does it feel to have a big sister?"

"E–Eeeeh!?" What's Senpai even talking about? And what does it have to do with anything? "B-Big sister?"

"I'm talking about Jeanne, of course! Don't think I didn't see you two getting all cozy last night." Haku-senpai teasingly elbows her side. "She really has that Big Sis energy going on, doesn't she?"

"That isn't– ! I wasn't–!" What's this? What's that? What's even going on here? It wasn't anything like that, it's all a misunderstanding! "Haku-senpai is the only one for m—! Awawawawa!"

In her hurry to avoid a misunderstanding, Mashu ends up tripping over her own words and only manages to grow even more flustered. In the end, she manages to cut her losses by simply looking away and shutting up to keep herself from digging a bigger hole. The solution works for approximately ten seconds, the time it takes for her mind to conjure all sorts of terrible scenarios to fill up the sudden silence.

Afraid of what she's going to find but incapable of holding herself back, Mashu slowly steals a peek towards Haku-Senpai. As expected, Senpai's eyes are on her, which is understandable since she just went off on her own and somehow managed to implode into herself like some sort of awkward singularity. The eyes don't seem particularly judgemental but, as it's been previously established, Mashu has no idea how to read people.

The anxious peeking continues until…

"Pfffff–! Ahahaha!" Senpai… fails to contain her laughter anymore? It was… a joke? "You're adorable when you get all shy and flustered like that, Mashu!"

That's a relief, but it also makes her feel a tiny little bit angry. She really doesn't see what's so funny about it.

"Mou, Senpai!" Mashu (pouts) frowns in disapproval, even as she feels her heart start calming down in her chest. Of course it was just a joke, what a ridiculous way of getting worked up over nothing. "Please don't tease me like that!"

"But I wasn't teasing? I honestly think it's great." And, just like that, the beating on her chest picks up again. "Having an older sibling you can rely on is something wonderful, even if you're not related by blood. Make sure to enjoy it while you have the chance, okay?"

The wistfully-delivered advice leaves Mashu at a loss for words again, because she knows what Senpai is talking about. Probably better than she has any right to. Haku-Senpai has never talked about her family, or her life before Chaldea, but the Dream Cycle has given Mashu a chance to spy on Senpai's past regardless of her will..

She feels so guilty (and embarrassed) about learning things from Senpai's past without permission that she's never talked about it, but she knows about Senpai's Nii-san. Senpai's Nii-san, who is strong and competent and trustworthy and very attractive and incredibly skilled in– Brain, stop being dirty right this instant!

For Senpai to comparethat with the scant few hours that Mashu has shared with Jeanne-san has to be nonsense… right? It's true that Jeanne-san shares a lot of circumstances with Mashu, it's true that it felt comforting and reassuring to share insecurities with someone who could understand. It's true that, in spite of all they have in common, Jeanne still has her experiences as a soldier in life to draw upon, giving her that reassuring 'older and more experienced' aura. It's true that… Oh.

Mashu would've never even considered the idea before, but now that Haku-Senpai has floated the possibility…

"That would be… kind of nice, to have a big sister." She admits slowly. "But I wouldn't want to impose on Jeanne-san like that." She isn't particularly interested in having sex with her either, though she'll admit Jeanne-san is very pretty.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about that." Haku-senpai comments with a knowing smile, wrapping an arm around Mashu's waist to pull her closer.

(Mashu needs to hold back the impulse of leaning her head on Senpai's shoulder in response.)

"W-Why?"

"Because…" Haku-Senpai trails off, using her free hand to tilt Mashu's head until she's looking straight at Jeanne-san, walking up ahead of them. "Jeanne has been listening in on this conversation for a while now. She looks very interested in what we are saying."

"Eeep!"

Mashu stares dumbly as Senpai's words cause Jeanne-san to suddenly stiffen, letting out a small but very incriminating yelp that she only manages to hear due to her enhanced senses. Senpai lets out another hearty laugh and pulls away from Mashu( much to her disappointment), apparently satisfied with leaving things at that.

As they continue on their way, Mashu can't help but take note of the rather stiff way Jeanne-san is walking now and the bright red tone her ears have taken. Mashu has always tried to keep her dreams reasonable so at least she'd have a chance to see them become reality, but… A big sister, eh?

The rest of their journey goes on without major incident. At least, until they stop at the outskirts of a city… No, the smoldering remains of a city, still stinking of death and burnt flesh.

"This is…" Mashu mutters in a whisper, eyes wide as she takes in the desolation before her. She thought Fuyuk– Singularity F would've inured her to such things, but…

"La Charité." Jeanne finishes for her, a clear note of horror in her voice. "What's happened here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Senpai asks as she steps to the front, her stance in full alert and a frown on her face. "The Dragon Witch, what else?"

At that moment, the comms flare to life and the Lady Director's visage is projected right in front of them, adding to the tensions of the already distressing situation. Whatever she needs to say must be really important, after all, if she felt the need to break protocol and force a connection without a leyline nexus to ease the burden.

"Everyone, we have an emergency!" She announces without wasting a second. "Five Servant Signatures rapidly closing in on your position!"

Jeanne D'Arc(?)

Jeanne is feeling in a foul mood as she leads four of her Berserker Servants back towards La Charité. Things were going swimmingly for a while, her armies razing France like a well-oiled machine without any opposition worth the name, as it should be. But it seems like it's one thing after another lately.

First, was that ominous presence mocking her like a bad omen. Then it was that fake Jeanne trying to rally the traitorous scum against her. The Berserker Servants she was counting on to do her will acting like rebellious children. The random Servant summons all around France, including that stupidly sturdy dragonslayer she had to personally take care of… Ultimately pointless annoyances destined to be crushed under her heel, but maddeningly frustrating all the same.

The latest one was an entire flight of wyverns erased from existence at the hands of three unknown Servants randomly coming to the defense of some no-name fort in the middle of nowhere. She would've been happy to simply keep an eye on them until one of her Berserker Servants was free to handle them, since they weren't acting like anything more than minor annoyances. But then they started making their way towards La Charité and she couldn't resist the temptation of meeting them in person, even if it meant doubling back.

She really hates doubling back, it means all your progress was for nothing and that's something that drives her up the wall.

Now though, as she watches the -incredibly satisfying- expression of horrified incredulity in that fake's face, she can't help but think it was worth it. Just this one time.

"Well, well… what do we have here?" She drawls out, taking slow and carefully practiced steps towards the fake and her group while gesturing for her Berserker Servants to hold back for now. "If it isn't the faker that's been running around with my face, trying to protect this nation of pigs from their well-deserved slaughter!"

"You are… me?" The faker asks dumbly, seemingly stunned by the obvious. For some reason, it pisses her off even more than it should. "But that's… It cannot be!"

"Denial, how delightful." Jeanne mockingly rolls her eyes at the fake's painfully predictable reaction. "Search in your heart, you know it to be true."

"No, it can't be!" Jeanne thought the fake's attempts at denying the obvious would be amusing, but they end up annoying instead. For some reason, there's no hint of doubt or hesitation on the other's voice. "I would never do–"

"You would never do… what?" She ends up snapping. "I don't know what you think I'm doing, but I'm simply visiting righteous retribution on the deserving. Think of this as a test of faith, if you may. I'll kill them all and let God sort his own. Assuming he exists in the first place, of course."

"That cannot be true." Still that annoying self-assurance, a fake refusing to even consider the possibility of being wrong. It pisses Jeanne off, it really pisses her off! "I won't allow you to–"

"You? You 'won't allow' me?" Jeanne growls, utterly done with trying to play nice with the fake. "You're just the pathetic shell of a dead miracle, hollowed-out by the betrayal that put an end to the dream! Your true nature lies bare before my eyes, puppet! You don't have what it takes to stop me!"

As a Ruler, Jeanne can look deep into the nature of a Servant. It's not hard for her to discern the real truth about this fake. A Spirit Origin full of cracks and holes, held together with duct tape and prayers, the result of someone or something putting together the parts of her legend that she discarded to enact righteous retribution.

The idealism, the pity, the mercy… A pathetic creature born to be weak, dumb and naïve. Just a figurehead without a will of her own. Why, Jeanne wouldn't be surprised if this fake's memories were doctored, there's no way she'd be standing for these pigs if she remembered even half of what Jeanne remembers, if she'd felt half of what Jeanne felt.

"I'd say you disgust me, but you are too pathetic for that." She continues, slowly unsheathing her blade as she speaks. "Don't worry, faker, I'll put an end to your misery now."

"Well now, that's some fighting words, right there." Someone else interrupts right as she's about to command her Berserker Servants to attack. "Are you sure you can back them up?"

"You! You're—!" She snaps at the voice on reflex before her eyes even register the source. A young woman of fiery orange hair and even fiercer golden eyes, not a Servant but somewhat having a presence on her own that makes her hard to dismiss and( looks kinda hot)... doesn't ring any bells. "Who the hell are you?"

"Some call me Fujimaru Ritsuka, but a cutie like you can call me Haku." The girl answers with a wink and a (charming) cocky smile. "What are you doing in a place like this and what can I do to make you feel a bit less angry?"

Jeanne's not blushing.

She's not blushing and there'll be nobody to say otherwise once she's done turning this entire place into a pile of ash!

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