AN: Thanks to JDUBZYT! He gets things done! What a champ!

ARC Three: The Other Days

Chapter Twenty Two: Road to the Capital

It had been two days since the battle with Scarecrow and things around the mansion had seemingly returned back to normal.

Emilia was as friendly as ever with Subaru, even if she never took hints at his ever increasing flirting.

Rem was as passionate as ever in providing Subaru with whatever he needed.

The village of Irlham was moving along with a joyous splendor it hadn't felt in a long while.

It was then, that a Dragon Carriage arrived at the mansion, with it came two emissaries from the Crusch Camp.

A young cat human named Ferris.

And a stoic old man named Wilhelm.

"Nyaho! I've arrived to have word with Emilia-sama and Magrave-Roswaal."

"..."

Batman was the first to intercept the two as he observed them for any sign of trouble. Ferris tilted her head at the sight of him.

"Well Nyao, you're an interesting guy. You wouldn't happen to be Emilia-sama's nyight would you?"

"No I'm just a simple bodyguard. But if you really are here to see Emilia, I'll let them know you're here."

Batman turned around to see Rem arriving at the door. She bowed her head and looked towards Batman.

"Are they guests of ours?"

"Seems that way. Rem could you do me a favor and let this one inside? Let Roswaal and Emilia know they are here."

"Of course. This way Dear Guest."

Before she left, Batman pulled out two fingers and pointed them at his eyes. Rem nodded back. She understood the military signal he taught her days ago.

Watch them.

Rem escorted Ferris inside while Batman walked outside with Wilhelm.

"Forgive me for asking, but you are no simple bodyguard are you?"

"Excuse me?"

"The way you carry yourself, the signal you gave that young maid and even the way are utterly cautious of me…"

"..."

"These are signs that you yourself have faced many battles and are very alert to your surroundings."

"I would suppose so. It comes with the territory, does it not? When not just protecting yourself, but anyone in arms reach?"

"Hmm, yes indeed."

Wilhelm stopped for a moment and turned to face Batman, reaching out his hand for a shake. The two men immediately shook hands.

"I am Wilhelm Van Astrea, it is good to meet you."

"Batman, it's a pleasure."

"Batman?"

"It's less of a name and more of a title I could say."

"I see."

The two exchanged pleasantries before moving on to to their own work. Batman went to the Batwing and pressed several buttons in the cockpit, making the bottom of the Batwing open up and revealing a large cube inside. The cube lowered and revealed a scanning device on its side. He placed his hand there and, after it scanned his hand fully, a door opened. Inside was something large and foreboding. It's eyes shined blue and it's mechanism began moving.

"Hmmmm. Seems to have less than 50% left in its reserves."

He then finished the inspection and pressed a button shutting the door and lifting the cube back inside the Batwing. As it closed Batman looked out towards the forest and let out a deep breath.

"Hopefully, I won't ever need it."

Batman returned to the mansion and saw that their guests had already left. Going inside he saw everyone had met up inside Roswaal's Private Study. Batman had seen everyone was speaking when they noticed him.

"Ah, hello Batman-san."

"Emilia. So I take it everything was taken care of with our visitors?"

"Yup. We'll be heading to the Capital in two days to finish things up."

"Hmm. Tell me something, so that uh, Ferris, was that the 'Blue' we discussed a while back?"

"Yes. Ferris will be taking care of Subaru's gate, while the rest of us take care of anything we need to do in the city."

"Well that sounds good, I have some people I"d like to speak with in the Capital. The timing couldn't be better."

Batman nodded when he noticed Ram was staring at him.

"...?"

Though everyone had their relationships back to normal after the battle in Dunharrow, the relationship between himself and Ram, was still awkward.

"Will you be coming with us as well Ram?"

"Unfortunately, the trip will take a total of two days and we cannot leave Beatrice alone for that long, so I must stay behind."

"Well that seems unfair. You might have been able to Subaru embrace his inner city personality."

"The only thing I would like to see Barusu embrace is the futility of his utter uselessness."

Subaru could only raise a shaking fist at Ram.

"Now that's being needlessly harsh, onee-sama!"

"Quiet Mayonnaise Menace, or shall I grace you with a violent reprimand?"

"God! What did I do to deserve this?!"

Everyone chuckled at the scene before them. But it was Ram and Batman that stopped their chuckling when they looked back at each other. They stared for a moment and turned away ever so quickly.

Roswaal silently took notice of this as well...

It was now the night before the camp would depart for the Capital, and almost everyone was fast asleep. Batman stood up as he finished writing in his diary.

It was something he suggested to Subaru, as a way to get one's inner thoughts down and also. to not forget the native language of their homes. Specifically, Subaru wrote his in Japanese, while Batman wrote his in English.

He then heard a knock on the door.

"Hmm?"

He got up to check who it was.

"It better not be Subaru trying to get me to go find some local legend again."

He opened the door expecting to see Subaru and maybe even Rem or Emila with him, egging him to come along with them.

"Oh?"

But when he opened the door, he saw someone he didn't expect to see.

"Ram...what are you doing here?"

Ram stood there in her usual maid outfit staring up at him.

Earlier that night, Ram was with Roswaal as usual, sitting on his lap as they stared out the moonlight sky. She laid her head on his chest when she felt his hand pat her head.

"Ram."

"Yes, Roswaal-sama?"

"You are devoted toooo me are you not?"

"...Yes."

"No matter what task I ask ooooof you or what I ask of you to do onto another, you will do it for meeeee?"

"...Of course."

Roswaal smiled at this as he then brushed her hair. She let out a sensual moan as her cheeks turned pink.

"I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"Weeeell...let's say...it's something written."

Roswaal turned her attention to a small black book that was resting on his desk. With this, she seemed to understand.

"I need you toooo test the loyalty of someone here."

"Who?"

He then lightly grasped her chin as he slowly crept closer to her ear, speaking in only a whisper.

"You know who."

Ram entered Batman's room as he sat on his bed, hands on his knees.

"Something troubling you?"

"No, nothing of the sort."

"...Is it Roswaal?"

They both went silent as Ram closed her eyes. A few more seconds passed by, until she opened again.

"It has something to Roswaal-sama."

"What did he do now?"

"Nothing. Roswaal would never harm me."

"You say that-"

"-It has more to do with you though."

"What?"

Ram walked over and sat beside Batman. She looked at the ground for a while as Batman noticed she was playing with her fingers.

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Yes. I am here to make you a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"Simple."

Ram finally looked over at Batman.

"How much of an understanding do you have of Roswaal's intentions?"

"Enough to get the gist of it."

"I see. Then I'll cut to the chase. In exchange for staying out of Roswaal's way and letting things occur as they intend to-."

Ram then tore the back of her dress and threw the rest away. She was now bare chested and staring at Batman.

"-In exchange, I'll let you make love to me."

Batman's eyes widened at the sight before him and he began to stand up. But Ram pounced onto him, pinning him on the bed. Her breathing became heavy and her eyes began to waver.

"Ram...g...get off."

"What's wrong? At a loss for words? This is what you desire, is it not?"

"No! I'm sorry that I-!"

"Liar! I see the way you look at me. It's different than the others, it is much more caring, much more lustful…"

"Ram...I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I.."

Batman gritted his teeth as he stared at Ram.

"I was in a bad state of mind. One of the worst I've had in awhile. The stress of not finding a way home, a way back...I was in the wrong state of mind."

"..."

"You're maturity really caught my eye, and you're a beautiful woman that seems to have an elegance to her that I haven't seen in a long time. But I can't take out those feelings on you."

"Because you love Roswaal, right? Your heart is set somewhere else, and you were feeling those feelings for me out of frustration. Just like I was."

"...Enough."

She then used her right hand and removed his mask. She smiled as she stroked his cheek and leaned in for what was obviously a kiss, her chest pressing on top of his own. Batman used the opportunity to flip her around as her back landed on the bed. He was now on top of her and staring at her with wavering eyes.

"Stop this…"

"Now please get out of my room."

He let her go and got off of the bed. She continued to lay there as she whispered something.

"...y?"

"What?"

"Why…?"

"..."

"Why do you treat me this way?!"

Ram was now in an angered mood and staring back at him. She was now in what one would say was a seductive pose...but it looked more like an animal about to leap at it's next prey.

"You say you care for me, yet you disregard my my advances to you! You say I'm beautiful and yet...yet..yet you look at me right now with disgust on your face!"

"No Ram! I just want you to stop this. This is not you-! It's Roswaal isn't it? He made you do this!"

"No...I did this so that I may further Roswaal-sama's goals. Because…"

"Ram, I will no longer need your services. Leave my sight at once and never return."

Her face changed to one of pure crazed fury.

"As long as he needs me and Rem, we will be diligent to his needs. Because we are his to use! And we are his greatest paw-!"

Ram was then slapped by Batman.

She lightly tumbled back onto the bed as she looked up at him. Her cheek was now red and lightly touched it as she saw Batman in an absolute rage.

"I...I can't accept that you would call yourself that. And even if you did call yourself that behind my back...don't you ever...don't ever call your sister that again. EVER."

"Batman…"

"I don't know what he has on you and your sister. But rest assured on one thing."

He knelt down and put a hand on her reddened cheek.

"One day, I'll save you from it. And then, you can stay with him not out of obligation, but from your own devotion."

"...Batman…"

Batman then covered her up in a blanket and helped her up. He held her hand gently and walked her over to her room.

"Ram."

"Yes?"

"I'm glad we got this all sorted out, hopefully we can go back to normal, how things were before."

"...yes."

He opened the door for her and let go of her hand.

"Get a good night sleep Ram. We'll need you to take care of Beatrice and the mansion while the rest of us are gone."

"Alright."

"You'll be okay while we're gone? Especially without Rem?"

"No worries. A human being can survive three days without food."

"Don't say such morbid things, they frighten even me."

Something about what they said made them chuckle a bit.

"Alright Ram, see you in the morning."

"Yes, goodnight. And I apologize again for my behavior."

"Nothing to apologize for…"

Batman turned to finally walk away, but thought he heard something. It was Ram whispering something. He got closer to her and leaned down to her better.

"Batman…"

He leaned his ear a bit closer to hear what she said.

"Thank you.

Batman then received a small kiss on his left cheek from Ram.

Ram quickly turned around and closed the door behind her. Batman let out a deep sigh of relief and quickly walked back to his room.

Inside her room, Ram was slightly blushing while clutching on the blanket. It was the third real kiss of her life. One was for her beloved sister Rem, another for her loved one, Roswaal and now…

...for her new best friend.

Roswaal had smiled the next morning, when he was informed that his prediction, that Batman would not accept Ram's advances, had actually come to fruition.

"I will progress further then."

Roswaal thought back to the hallucination he saw in the battle of Dunharrow.

"Why is it taking so long Roswaal? Why do you fail again and again? I need you to bring me back!"

Roswaal clutched his book onto his chest tightly.

"No, teacher. I will not fail this time. This time everything will come to pass….I WILL BRING YOU BACK ECHIDNA."

A glint of light formed in his eyes as he smiled deviously. Ram could only stare at Roswaal with a look of worry.

The day had come and the group had gotten onto a Dragon Carriage to leave for the capital.

Even with the interruption of Subaru getting pummeled by the Ground Dragon for his excessive rough housing. Batman gave the dragon an almost apologetic look.

Ram had come by to say goodbye to everyone. Batman was the last one to begin entering the Dragon Carriage. He turned to face Ram, they stared at each other for a while, before Batman reached out his hand to her.

This surprised Ram and she hesitated a bit. But a simple smirk from him, eased her and she shook his hand.

"Take care Ram. Try not to die while we're gone."

"Hmph! Make sure Barusu makes himself useful as a human shield."

While Subaru was pouting at the two of them, Batman nodded and let go of Ram's hand.

The carriage sped off but Subaru and Batman looked back one last time. There they saw Ram held the edges of her skirt and slightly curtsied. The two of them smiled as they sped away, losing sight of her and the mansion itself.

Back in the mansion Ram opened up the cooling room, where they kept all their meats and cheeses, as well as mayonnaise. It was there she saw it.

"Oh…"

A large pot. When she opened it she saw it was filled with Mulligatawny soup.

A small note was next to it reading.

"You and Beatrice are not starving while we're away. Enough for three days. -Batman"

"What a fool he can be."

She said this as she involuntarily put on an enchanting smile.

Batman continued to view the outside of the carriage, when he noticed that Subaru was attempting to make it over to sit next to Rem who was in the driver seat. Subaru tried to reach out to her but was quickly caught by the Wind Blessing and nearly flew away. A belt he was holding onto saved him, but he was quickly losing grip. Batman grabbed the belt and chucked him over to Rem. Rem used the chain of her Morningstar and caught him, eventually helping him land next to her.

"I'll live a slightly quieter life from now on…"

Subaru passed out, as everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

After a few hours of travel, Batman looked out the window and glanced over it all.

"We're back."

In front of him, were the gates to enter the Royal Capital of Lugnica.

The place they had all first met, was now in sight, and so was the coming conflict that would split them apart.