#CODECASTS 010

[hopeled]

that was the response she was expecting. after all, for two people who were good friends in this city to meet back in her world? some would call that a twist of fate and perhaps it was. but Ritsuka would hardly call it anything bad. the excitement courses underneath her skin like electricity and she just can't stop the smile from growing the more she thinks about it. even if she has to divulge some of the less than happy aspects of what happened, that was okay.

" Something had happened to Nero. A shadow had fallen off of her. Remember what I told you about the Beasts? Well, this shadow had become one. At the time, we thought that she had somehow forced a contract with me in order to help her escape the Counter Force going after her. But that wasn't the truth." as she speaks, Ritsuka watches Hakuno's every reaction, knowing that the other knew she was telling nothing but the truth.

" It was you. You had come to me and tried to introduce yourself as someone named Francis, I think? You didn't tell me your true name but when the memories came to me here, I knew you from appearance alone. Anyways, I asked if you were her Master. You said no but that you were Saber's Master. But even so, that you didn't feel right turning a blind eye to her suffering and abandoning her. That you were the one who forged a contract between me and Draco, which was this shadow's name."

" You were watching over me and Draco and Chaldea. You...were the reason what happened was happening, in a way. Draco was in trouble and I told you to help me get her back but you had a question for me. Can you guess what you asked me?"

lips pull into something of a grin, but her features reflect nothing but warmth. " You said that to walk besides an Evil of Humanity is to accept what their love is head on. You asked me if I would still do this, even knowing that her flame would burn everything to ashes." fingers carefully intertwine with Hakuno's as a gentle squeeze is given, something of a laugh following.

" You trusted me to look after her and I made a promise that I would. You knew that nobody else could. So, you see? Even in another world, in some place where you're not even a human anymore, you're not forgotten. You're someone's shining star."

      ❛   — Me ?   ❜   HAKUNO   repeats, head tilting ever so slightly to the side. Wow. Her assumption couldn't have been any farther from the mark. 'Hakuno and Ritsuka Fujimaru meet' was nowhere on her metaphorical bingo card, and she's so stunned by the very idea that for several seconds she has nothing to say. Until she processes the rest of what she's said, that is.

     Nero Claudius being a subject of discussion isn't exactly shocking for her. Hakuno's already well aware that all three of the former Servants of the Moon Cell had come to call Chaldea home. Just as some miracle of merging with the Moon Cell core allowed her to have recollections, however vaguely, of all three, so too did a miracle certainly take place to allow them to rely on one another to protect yet another third-rate mage. Ritsuka seems like she's practically bursting, so... that's a good sign, at least. She wouldn't exactly be so excited if it were something bad about her red Saber. However...

      ❛   … I think I'll be needing some of those dirty details anyway.   ❜   Being able to see, hear and touch Hakuno Kishinami — former winner of the Grail War, perpetual ghost in the machine — is one miracle she can't quite accept.

[hopeled]

" No, it's not about the Frenchm-- I mean, the Count." ignoring the almost slip-up at calling the Avenger by one of Hakuno's many nicknames for the people she knows, Ritsuka sets down the glass of wine upon a nearby table. despite the hesitance and the battling all night on whether or not she should say, deep down, it is something Ritsuka felt that she should do.

once they had talked about the Moon Cell. that conversation had been less than pleasant but this story-- well, this one has a happier ending. and the mage can think of no better time to tell it to her. so, she reaches out to carefully grasp her friend's hands within her own, expression shifting from uncertainty to almost excitement.

" It's not about him and not about me, but...about Nero. And you, actually. " but even with that excitement, she still remains nervous. this could go many ways. " You know how sometimes people here go to sleep and wake up with new memories, new experiences from back home? That happened to me recently. i'll spare you the dirty details but.....I met you. "

     THAT    tone never indicated something particularly great. Hakuno had been swaying back and forth in her heels without really thinking much of it, but all unnecessary movement came to an abrupt halt when Ritsuka spoke. She runs through a couple of potential scenarios in her mind. Did she flip the sign on the café door before she left ? Yes. Did she feed the animals ? Definitely. Possibly spoiled them a little. Did she leave a stove on... ? Wait, impossible. Shirou was there, and that wasn't even her job in the first place. Then...

      ❛   Is this about the Frenchman again ?   ❜