AN: Dude, this AN has no purpose other than to thank JDUBZ for being my Beta Reader...*nods* dope.

Chapter 18: The Departure

A different man stood before the witch now. Standing tall and proper, never taking his eyes off the beautiful woman's purple eyes. The shadow world's smoke collected around his feet, creating slow moving vortexes. When he spoke his voice was void of any emotion.

"I feel he is unreliable."

The witch sat in a throne made of smoke, it seemed the smoke was acting as a solid. There was no smile on her face, it was like the man's voice, emotionless.

"I thought as much." The witch crossed her legs, "He used to be my favorite, but it was my mistake to send him back. That was what changed him, made him into the useless failure he is now." The witch stood from the throne, "You are my most reliable follower, I should hope you would not fail me as well."

The dropped to a knee and bowed his head, "You have nothing to fear, I will not fail you."

The witch only nodded, and walked up to the man. The man stood back up, looking into her radiant eyes, wishing she would love him as much as he had come to love her, but she already had her sights on someone else.

The witch faded into smoke in the blink of an eye, the man looked around to locate her but stopped when her voice echoed around him. "The useless failure has claimed that he would retrieve the girl from the Capital, but knowing how impossible this is, I am allowing you to make your own decisions against him." Her voice now sounded as if I was coming from in front of him. "Do what you must to open the portal."

The witch materialized in front of the man, hand on his cheek, "Remember, once the portal is open, we will no longer have any use for him. Then, when you bring me the girl I will make you my new Archbishop."

The man knew what the witch was implying; once the portal was open she wanted her Archbishop dead so he didn't waste anymore of his followers. With him dead he would become the new Archbishop. This brought a smile to his face. This was something every follower strived to be, to be accepted by the Witch.

Before waking up the man said, "Anything for you, my dear."

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This metia is no longer available or in service.

Rem stared at the message on her metia, tears staining her cheeks, "Subaru-kun?"

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"What do you mean you talked to Subaru?!"

Rem was in the house assigned to Oki and Ken. Like Rem's, it had once been abandoned, but now served as their sleeping quarters. All three were seated at a table in the kitchen, each with a hot cup of tea in their hands.

The morning after Rem talked to Subaru, she arrived at the two mens' house. Rem was ready to leave the Sanctuary as soon as possible, since she didn't quite like sleeping there to begin with. Besides, the clock tower was in Kararagi, their home. Why not stay home until she had to go to the tower?

"Rem saw and heard her Subaru-kun. Rem doesn't know why, but Subaru-kun is in trouble and Rem needs to help him." It wasn't that Oki and Ken didn't believe Rem, they just felt odd about that fact that Subaru said almost nothing about his situation.

Oki was sure Subaru was trying to get back to Rem from where ever he was, but he wasn't sure why Subaru wanted Rem to go to Graden Forest. What are you up to Subaru? "Why didn't he tell you more, Rem?"

Rem too wanted to know that answer, Subaru had just disconnected, left her. Subaru said he didn't have much time, but why. "Rem…doesn't know." Her eyes fell.

Ken lightly slapped Oki's bicep, causing the giant to look at Ken, "Do ya not listen, you imbecile?" Ken gestured towards Rem, "She just said he's in trouble. What if he didn't have time to explain because he was in trouble at the moment, honestly." Ken rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his tea.

Oki furrowed his eyebrows and turned in his seat to face Ken, "Hey, wait a minute. Then why the hell would he call in the first place? Why not wait till he was in a safe area to talk to Rem?"

"Why you askin' me?"

Both men looked at Rem, her tiny figure paled in comparison to their sizes.

Looking up from the table, Rem saw their eyes on her and shook her head, "Rem doesn't know why Subaru-kun didn't talk long." She had the cup of tea placed on the table, the tips of her fingers rotating it left and right.

She doesn't deserve this. Oki didn't like to see Rem like this, sad and uncertain. "It's OK, Sweet- uh, um I mean Rem. At least we know Subaru is still devoted to you." Oki rubbed the top of Rem's head, "Who in their right mind would ever reject someone as cute as you hehe (AN: Triggered) (BRN: Also TRIGGERED)." Rem slightly blushed at Oki's complement, if it were from Subaru she would have already been covering him with kisses. Things like these made Rem long to see Subaru-kun again.

Ken watched and finished the last of his tea, noticing how innocent Rem looked, but knew just what she was capable of. It didn't scare him, he knew they were on the same side, but wasn't exactly sure on who she really was. From Oki he learned that Rem was an ex-maid and a little sensitive according to Subaru. That was literally all he knew about the blue haired girl, not that he wanted to know more about Rem. Ken spent almost his whole life avoiding people, so something like this was no different for him.

Ken placed down his cup, "Sooo… What now?"

Rem spoke while still enjoying the head rub, "We go home."

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"What do ya' mean Imma have to get rid of my alcohol?!" Ken gestured to the back of The Portable Pub's tarp that hid the beer that was inside.

Rem stood in front of Ken, giving him a sorry look with her hands in front of her in a polite manner. "Rem is sorry if it displeases Ken, but the smell of alcohol is very irritating to Rem's nose. Rem would prefer if Ken can make it…..not be there?' With a small smile, Rem closed her eyes and slightly tilted her head.

Ken walked to the side of the carriage and gestured to the passenger's seat, "Ya' do know you'll be sittin' in the front right?! You won't be able to smell it!"

Rem wrinkled her nose, the smell of the alcohol making her cringe, "Rem's nose is very sensitive."

"I…..ah….you...but," Ken's right eye twitched. Putting his arms down, Ken extended his body upwards to as much as it could go and balled his fists at his sides, "Well if your nose is so sensitive how about you stick it up yo-!" A hand the size of Ken's face shut him up, wrapped around him from behind.

"Oh my friends! Not having trouble are we?" With a smile, Oki lifted Ken into the air, giving him a big hug. "I would hope not."

Ken struggled, being crushed by Oki's bear hug, "Let go of me, ya' oversized buffoon!"

Oki set down Ken behind him, where Rem didn't see him. When Oki set him down he whispered to his face, "Hey, Ken. Back off alright?" It wasn't a threatening command just a suggestion. Ken silently agreed, realizing what would happen if he got on Rem's bad side.

Rem saw Ken's head appeared from behind Oki, "Sorry about that, Rem!" Rem said nothing, only looking slightly hurt.

Oki stepped behind Rem, "Well, I can agree that the carriage would do good without those barrels." Rem looked up at Oki over her shoulder, giving him a smile. Oki saw this and continued, "The less weight we have the faster we'll be, right? 'Cause I can't wait to get home. Plus it's kinda cramped back there, my back was killing me on the way here."

Split between keeping his stock or his friend, Ken made his decision hoping he wouldn't regret it later on in Kararagi, "Fine," Ken turned away with crossed arms, "but I'm not taking them out."

"Not a problem." Oki walked up to the tarp, opening it up to remove its contents. Ken turned back around and glanced at Rem.

Satisfied that she won, Rem smiled at Ken and stuck her tongue out.

Finally losing it, Ken walked towards Rem, "Why you little-." Ken was stopped, his shirt was caught by Oki's hand, who was still looking in the carriage. "Hey!"

"Don't push it, Kenny."

"Kenny?! What the hell?!" Ken turned his anger towards Oki, lightly slamming his fists into Oki's back.

Rem smiled at the two friends getting along, unaware of a certain small spirit coming up behind her. A tugging of Rem's arm brought her attention to the little loli. As usual, Beatrice's eyes looked as if she were judging everything and everyone.

"I wish to accompany you and your…friends on your journey, I suppose."

Stumped from this request, Rem could only come up with one question, "But Lady Beatrice...why?"

Beatrice's judging look intensified, "Did you enjoy living here, I suppose?"

Rem thought about it for a second, "Rem did not."

"Well, you've been here for only a few days." Beatrice stomped her foot, causing her drills to bounce, "I've been here for 8 months, I suppose!"

Rem took a step back, "If Lady Beatrice hates it here, why did she choose to stay when Lady Emilia left?"

Beatrice hesitated to answer. Finally, she put her tiny hands on her tiny hips saying, "Because the people of the Sanctuary needed to be protected with the barrier down. Being the loving and caring spirit that I am, I chose to stay and keep them safe."

Rem didn't comment on the 'loving and caring' part, "Safe from what?" Beatrice's face started to redden.

Rem could tell she was treading on thin ice. She put on a nervous smile, holding her hands out Rem made small pushing motions, "OK, OK, but it is not up to Rem whether Lady Beatrice goes or not. It is up to Ken, the driver." Beatrice never stopped frowning at Rem. "Hehe."

Rem beckoned Beatrice to follow, leading her to Oki and Ken. Oki was currently occupied with removing the many barrels from the back of the carriage while a disgruntled Ken shook his fist at him yelling, Rem could only assume it had little importance.

As the two women got closer they got the attention of the two men, stopping Ken mid-complaint, "Oh, and another thing-!"

Rem and Beatrice stood in front of Oki and Ken, neither side said or did anything for three seconds. Rem was wondering what was happening, out of nowhere she felt a little kick to her leg. Rem looked down at Beatrice, who was looking at Rem with furrowed brows. Oh, Lady Beatrice wants Rem to speak.

Happily being the messenger, Rem directed her request to Ken, "Umm… Lady Beatrice said she would like to come with us."

Ken dropped down to Beatrice's level, still ignorant to her true power, Ken talked in a friendly manner, "Awwwww…. Is that so. Well, I can promise ya' a spot if you say please and thank you."

Rem tried to get Ken's attention by waving her arms. When she got his attention, Rem proceeded to silently tell him to shut up. Ken didn't get the message. "Do ya' not talk much?" Ken stood up, asking Rem, "Where are her parents?"

Finally at her breaking point, Beatrice extended her hand towards Ken. Ken looked back down at Beatrice to see her palm, "Huh?" Was the last thing he got out of his mouth before going rigid and falling flat onto his back.

Ken's eyes were shut and his rigid body relaxed again, making him look asleep.

"Lady Beatrice!"

"What? He annoyed me, I suppose."

Oki checked Ken's pulse, giving Rem a thumbs up.

Rem was relieved, "It never occurred to Rem to ask what Lady Beatrice would do when we got to Kararagi."

Beatrice walked up to the unconscious Ken, "My reason is not to go out of the country, I wish to be dropped off at the Capital. Emilia is there so I must go, I suppose. Really, I would rather be anywhere but here, I suppose."

Oki raised his hand, "I can get behind that."

Rem nodded, "Rem will make the decision for Ken and allow Lady Beatrice to come." Rem started to walk to the driver's seat, "Why is it that Lady Beatrice wishes to see Lady Emilia?"

"Reasons of which do not concern you, I suppose."

Rem made a note to never mention the Sanctuary again to Beatrice, for some reason it seemed like it would be a sore topic to bring up.

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Ken woke up in the back of the carriage. Looking up he saw the tarp ceiling, sitting up he faced the back of the carriage and saw the open that the tarp was open. Then Ken realized it was moving, and he wasn't driving!

With clenched teeth, Ken turned and got up. Behind him was Oki, sitting down, who waved to him, "Good morning, Sunshine."

Ken ignored him and poked his head through the tarp. One the left was Rem, driving, and one the right was the loli.

Seeing Rem driving his own carriage, irritated him, "Rem?! What are you doing?! You do realize that I-!" Ken went stiff again and fell back.

"One more time and I'll blow him off this cart, I suppose."

Rem giggled.

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."

-Helen Keller

AN: Now they're on the move to the Capital where...they'll drop off Beatrice and stuff...yeah. That's all I've got. Oh! Also, thank you for commenting my wonderful people, if you have any questions (not about the ending) be sure to PM me. :P

See ya'll in the next chapter! :P