Chapter Text
Rokkenjima, October 4th, 1986. These four words alone bring to mind a single tragic incident. We're sure it doesn't need to be spelled out to those of you now observing which incident it is.
There are as many renditions of the tragedy on Rokkenjima as there are stars in the sky. Some versions tell a tale of an evil witch called Beatrice, whom slaughters the entire family. Some tell a tragic tale of corruption, where one of the 18 people that were on the island during the typhoon that lasted until October 6th killed all others, claiming the grand wealth of the Ushiromiya family for themselves.
So long as no single 'absolute' truth comes to light, the incident of Rokkenjima will remain shrouded in mystery, locked in the cat-box it is.
These interpretations, otherwise known as Fragments, tell substantially different tales. And just as there are many takes on how things play out, there are many interpretations as to how the pieces act on the 'game board'. Was Ushiromiya Eva a cruel woman, or a tragic one? Was Ushiromiya Kyrie a cold hearted person, on just really good at weighing the odds? Was Rudolf sociable or a man-whore, and was Krauss eager or an incompetent? No one could truly say they knew which side is these people was their true face, or even if neither were. More than likely though, both sides held some semblance of truth.
The powers that exist beyond the veil of this cat-box can, through some effort, bring these pieces that resemble people into their world. It was not a common occurrence, but it was something that certain beings, witches, had a fondness of doing from time to time.
But, when a piece is plucked from the board, what is left in its wake? Does the void get filled in by a copy, or is that person removed from existence until further stated?
Some questions are just not for mortals to understand.
Turbulent waves. Howling winds. Rain that struck the skin like spears. The once calm oceans had long since turned violent by the weather. No sane person would have gone out at sea in this area, knowing that a typhoon was going to hit.
Of course, try telling that to the owner of the now sunk luxury ship Eternal Maid II. Damn rich people, thinking they're immune to nature.
A young girl with blue hair desperately tried to keep her head above water. She had little more to her name than her swimsuit and a life jacket, yet she desperately struggled for dear life.
Her hand, flailing though it was, managed to grab hold of something floating by. Thinking herself save by a flotation ring, she tried to prop herself up on it.
Only it wasn't one. After all, flotation rings don't come shaped as a human. Nor did they have faces that spoke of abject terror.
She screamed, pushing away from the body, only to get caught up in another wave and dragged under.
She was going to die. That was the only thought she could create, alongside 'I don't want to die'.
Quite the natural combination, wouldn't you say?
October 4th, 1986. Rokkenjima. 5:26pm.
The wind down by the beach was starting to pick up heavily. The five youth people were in the process of deciding that now was as good a time as any to go back to the guest house.
“Come on, we should head back now,” the oldest of them, a young man name Ushiromiya George, said. “Otherwise we'll get absolutely drenched.”
“Kinda a shame, really,” one of the second oldest, one Ushiromiya Battler, said as he looked out to the darkening horizon. “Been gone six years, and the time I'd like to spend enjoying the beach just had to be cut short, huh?”
“Nothin' you can do about it,” the other second older, Jessica, replied. “Besides, when the storm passes, we'll still have some time to enjoy the beach. Until then, it'll just have to be card games and board games!”
“Uu!” the youngest, a girl named Maria, shouted. “Wanna play Old Maid!”
The last person present, and the only one not directly related to the Ushiromiya family by blood, giggled slightly. “It does sound like fun,” Shannon said.
“Will you be joining us for it, Shannon?” George asked, adjusting his glasses. He carried a warm smile as he said that, which caused the maid to blush somewhat.
“Well, um... that is...” Shannon stuttered out.
The others laughed earnestly. The bond between those two was so strong, it was positively palpable.
Battler gave a small chuckle. Seeing such warm feeling would bring a smile to just about anyone's face.
Then, on the edge of his hearing, his ears perked up.
It was the sounds of impeded waves, like something large had just washed ashore. He looked down the length of the beach as the others continued to leave, and froze in shock.
“O... oi oi, are you kidding me?” he asked out loud. He turned to call for the others, yet they had already left. Talk about rude.
Putting that aside for now, though, Battler ran towards the thing -nay, the person- that had washed ashore.
A girl, short and lithe, yet he estimated she was roughly his age. She had long blue hair, and wore little more than a one-piece swimsuit and a life jacket. He placed a hand on her shoulder, as if to shake her awake, and found her skin like ice to the touch.
“Oi! Can you hear me?!” Battler shouted, lightly shaking her. No response, but when he turned her over, he noted that she was, at the very least, still breathing.
Fighting the urge to let his eyes wander, Battler stripped off his jacket, and wrapped it around the girl as best he could.
“You just hold on, okay?” he said, picking the girl up bridal style. “I'll get you help.”
When the cousins + Shannon reached the rose garden, Maria looked around in confusion.
“Uu. Battler's missing,” she said.
“He is?” George asked, doing a quick spot check. “Huh. Wonder what happened.”
“Maybe he's just getting one last look at the ocean,” Jessica offered. “It has been six years since he last saw it from here.”
“Uu. Wanna go back for him,” Maria stated.
“Now, Maria-sama,” Shannon said softly. “I'm sure Battler-sama will catch up to us quickly enough. For now, we should head back inside, and...”
“Uu, uu! Go back for Battler!” Maria shouted, stomping her foot.
“Maria, please,” George tried to console the young girl, to little effect.
At that point, Maria's mother, Ushiromiya Rosa, came up to them from the main mansion. “Is everything alright?” she asked. “What happened to Battler?”
“We think he might have just hung back for a moment,” George answered.
“Although, Maria's acting like the tide'll drag him away,” Jessica added.
“Uu! Uu!” Maria shouted again. “Go back for Battler!”
“Now, Maria,” Rosa scolded softly. “There's no need to yell about it. How about you and I go back for him, then?”
This seemed to calm Maria down somewhat. “Uu... you promise?”
Rosa made sure to give a warm smile. “Of course I promise.” At the very least, it would calm her down a bit.
Then, they heard rushed footsteps. All eyes turned back down the pathway, and saw Battler running towards them, a panicked look in his eyes, and a girl wrapped in his now damp jacket.
“What the...” George stuttered out. “Battler, what happened?”
Battler screeched to a halt, though his feet never stayed on the ground for longer than a second. “Dunno! Found her further down the beach! Musta been shipwrecked or something! Can't talk, though; gotta get to the doctor!”
Without another word, Battler ran off again, leaving a comically large cloud of dust in his wake.
Rosa was quick to regain her bearings. “Geogre, Jessica,” she quickly said, “go with him and get the doors he needs. I'm sure Battler's going to need all the hands he can get.”
Both stammered out their replies, before quickly running off to catch up with their cousin.
Then, all that was left was Shannon, Rosa, and Maria.
“Who... do you suppose that girl was?” Shannon asked.
“Only time will tell, I suppose,” Rosa answered. “Sorry, Shannon, but could you go and inform Father about this? I tell the rest of the family about it.”
“Of course, Rosa-sama,” Shannon said with a bow, before going on her way.
Maria looked up at her mother, and noticed the worried expression on her face. “Uu? What's wrong, Mama?”
Rosa's expression quickly shifted back to cheerful. “Oh, it's nothing, Maria,” she said. “I'm just somewhat worried about that girl.”
“Does Battler know her?”
“I don't think so,” Rosa answered. “But, he was concerned none-the-less.” She gave a small smile as she took Maria's hand. “That just means Battler is the sort of guy who cares a lot.”
“Uu!” Maria cheered. “Battler's a good guy!”
Rosa smiled happily. “Yes. He really is, isn't he?”
“Give it to us straight, doc,” Battler said, directing his gaze to Doctor Nanjo Terumasa. “How bad is it?”
Nanjo removed the stethoscope from his ears, and breathed a small sigh. “Well, her life's not in any danger, at any rate,” he said. “A mild case of hypothermia, maybe, and from the sounds of it, there's a little water in her lungs, but otherwise, she'll pull through.
Battler let out the breath he had been holding. “That's a relief,” he said. “It'd certainly be a depressing few days if we were trapped here with a washed up dead girl.”
“A bit... morbid, that thought,” Nanjo added, “but not untrue. Until the coming storm passes on the 6th, we're effectively trapped here.”
“Geez, doc. Don't make it sound like a mystery novel,” Jessica said. “Still, who do you think this girl is?”
“Erika,” Nanjo answered.
George raised a brow curiously. “How do you know that?”
“It was written on her swimsuit,” he stated plainly. “Battler wouldn't have noticed it through the life vest she was wearing.”
“Erika, huh?” Battler muttered. “Wonder what happened to bring her here.”
Then, the body that belonged to the girl called Erika began to cough violently. It turned to the side, and sea water came out in sprays.
“Easy there, easy,” Nanjo consoled. “Just take deep breaths, now. You're going to be alright.”
The girl looked up through hazy eyes, the sort that one would generally attribute to a corpse on a good day. Those eyes met with Nanjo's gaze, and the girl jolted upright, and flung herself back in fear.
A misplaced hand, however, caused her to almost fall off the couch, had Battler not been quick on his feet and caught her.
“It's alright,” Battler said as gently as he could. “You're safe now. We're not going to hurt you.”
The girl looked up at Battler, and, for just split moment, their eyes met and looked as if they recognised the other. This look lasted for all of a fraction of a second; not enough even for them to realise it existed.
“I...” the girl stammered weakly. “Who are you? Where am I?”
Battler helped her back onto the couch. “Name's Battler,” he answered. “Ushiromiya Battler. Those two by the door are my cousins, George and Jessica, and the old guy is Doctor Nanjo. You're on Rokkenjima island right now, in the Izu archipelago. What about you? Do you recall how you got here?”
“How I... got here,” the girl muttered. “I... I don't... remember.”
“Don't remember?” Nanjo repeated. “Then, can you tell us anything you do recall?”
“I...” the girl tried to recall something. Anything, really. Her expression quickly shifted from concern, through fear, and eventually into terror. “Who... who am I?” she asked. “I can't... I can't remember anything!”
The girl clutched her head, her breathing quickly becoming unsteady. “Whoa! Easy, easy!” Battler said in a panic. “Calm down, it'll be alright! Just... take some deep breaths, okay?”
The girl, quite suddenly, found herself wrapped in Battler's arms. It was a warm, comforting feeling, that helped to calm her down considerably.
“Full blown amnesia?” George guessed. “Whatever happened to her must've been quite the shock.”
“Yeah, no kidding, Captain Obvious,” Jessica snarked. “Battler, we'll leave this to you and the doc, okay?”
Without even waiting for a response, Jessica and George left the room.
“Yeah, thanks for not a lot, you two,” Battler said bitterly.
“Now now, Battler,” Nanjo said. “I'm sure they'd help as much as they could, given the opportunity.”
Battler suppressed a small sigh. “Yeah, you're right.”
Within the family head's study, Ushiromiya Kinzo sat on the edge of the desk as he read, a pensive look on his old, weary face.
There was a knock at the door. “Who approaches?” Kinzo said.
“It is Shannon, sir,” the person on the other side of the door said.
Kinzo reached down, and pressed a button underneath his desk. A series of heavy 'clanks' echoed through the room. “You man enter.”
The door creaked open, and the maid stepped in, bowing politely as she did.
“State your business, Shannon,” Kinzo ordered. “Are those children of mine bickering once more for me to tear myself from my studies?”
“No, sir,” Shannon answered. “There has been an unusual development; a stranger has washed ashore on Rokkenjima.”
This, certainly, got the family head's attention. “A stranger, you say?” he asked. “What can you tell me of them?”
“A young girl, around Battler-sama's age, sir,” Shannon replied. “He and Doctor Nanjo are currently looking after her in one of the guest rooms.”
“And was Battler the one to find her?”
“Yes sir. It was just after the cousins had left the beach. Battler-sama had hung back a moment longer and found her.”
“I see.” Kinzo had a strange smirk on his face. One that spoke of both pride and malicious thoughts. “Be on your way, then. I am sure our new guest would appreciate more delicate company.”
Shannon bowed, and left the study. The door closed with a heavy thud, and the locking mechanism made its usual noise.
“So, we have one new piece on the board,” Kinzo muttered. “With that, we have 19 names to this game.” From his desk, Kinzo pulled out a deck of Tarot cards. After shuffling the deck thoroughly, he drew the top six cards. Then, he smirked.
After a few minutes, the girl had finally calmed down enough. She now sat on the couch with two large towels wrapped around her body for warmth.
“Well, that's one crisis averted, at least,” Battler said. “If that had gone into a full blown panic attack, I don't know what I would have done.”
“Yes, thank goodness my dread didn't turn into something like that,” the girl snarked, before shaking her head. “I... apologise for that display.”
“It's fine, it's fine!” Battler said. “Heck, if I were in your position, I'd be pretty panicky too.”
“Indeed. Memory loss in a big deal,” Nanjo added. “What matters most right now is that we'll help you through this, Erika.”
“Erika?” the girl repeated.
“Ah, it was the name written on your swimsuit,” Nanjo explained. “While it doesn't give us much to go on, or confirm it's your name, it's certainly better than nothing.”
The girl looked down at her swimsuit, and confirmed that the name 'Erika' was written on its chest. Rather than being intrigued by it, though, she quickly drew the towels back around her body and glared at the doctor. “Perv.”
This caused two things to happen: First, Nanjo's jaw dropped in disbelief. Second, Battler broke down laughing.
“Oh man, she's got quite the personality to her,” he wheezed out, before noticing that she was now glaring at him. “Oi, oi. Twas not I who accidentally ogled!”
A brief pause, and Erika finally laugh. “You are... remarkably idiotic, you know that?” she said, her tone seeming to indicate that it was a redeeming feature of his.
Battler, for his part, didn't seem insulted, at the very least. “Why thank you,” he said. “It takes actual effort to sound this dumb.”
Just then, the door opened, and Shannon walked in with a set of clothes in her arms. “Ah, she is awake, then?” she asked, smiling warmly.
“Yeah, though there were a few scares here and there,” Battler answered. “Erika, meet Shannon, one of the servants working here. Shannon, meet Erika; that is literally all we think we know about her.”
Shannon gave Erika a bow. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Erika-sama,” she said politely.
“Ah, yes... likewise,” Erika responded hesitantly. “Um, Battler? You said she was 'one' of the servants? Just how rich is your family?”
“Stupidly rich, I'll say that much,” Battler answered. Then, he and Nanjo rose to their feet. “Well, us guys'll get out of the way now. I doubt you'd want us around while changing into something warmer.”
As if to emphasise the 'warmer' part, Erika sneezed. “Yes. That would be... appreciated.”
Battler and Nanjo entered the parlour, where the rest of the family was found waiting for them.
“Yo, Battler!” Ushiromiya Rudolf, Battler's father, called out. “We've heard your sleeping beauty awoken.”
“Could ya at least try to sound serious, old man?” Battler said back.
“Still, it's a relief all the same,” Ushiromiya Natsuhi, Battler's aunt and Jessica's mother, said. “Were you able to figure out what happened to her?”
“Unfortunately not,” Nanjo answered. “In fact, she might be more clueless than we are. The shock of whatever happened to her seems to have robbed her of all her memories.”
“Doctor Nanjo,” Battler's last remaining aunt, Ushiromiya Eva, spoke next, “I'm really hoping that when you say 'all her memories', you're only referring to the memories of the incident.”
“Unfortunately, saying that is not in my power,” Nanjo said regretfully. “We were only able to figure out her name because it was on her attire.”
“So it's that bad, then?” Battler's (step) mother, Kyrie, asked. “What a sad turn of events.”
“Indeed,” Jessica's father, Krauss, added. “One shudders to imagine just what might have happened to this child.”
“I'm certainly with ya on that one,” George's father, Hideyoshi, said. “So, what's the lass's name, anyway?”
“Erika,” Battler answered.
Maria looked up from her seat in front of the TV. “Uu? Is that our new friends name?” she asked.
George knelt down beside Maria and smiled. “It is,” he said warmly. “It is the name of our new friend, who will be staying with us for our time here.”
“But, they said her memory was gone,” Maria said. “Won't she be sad without it? Can't Maria help her?”
“That's...” George paused, unsure of how to broach the subject.
“You're not wrong, Maria,” Rosa said, taking over the conversation flawlessly. “There's no doubt that our new friend will be feeling rather scared. There might not be anything we can do to fix her memories, but,” she gave her daughter a warm smile, “we can at least help her feel warm and safe here, right?”
Maria, for her part, liked this idea a whole lot, as she 'uu'd happily. Rosa shared a look with George and Battler, and the three shot each other a thumbs up.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
“It's Shannon,” the knocker said. “I have brought Erika-sama to meet everyone.”
“Moment of truth, then,” Rudolf commented slyly. “Let's see just what sort of babe Battler managed to pick up.”
The door opened just as Battler punched his father in the face. It wasn't an angry punch, but it was dramatic.
And Erika managed to see the whole thing. “Domestic violence!?” she shouted.
This reaction, naturally, got a laugh out of almost everyone in the room.
“Nah, it's not nearly that bad,” Battler said, rubbing the back of his head. “It's more just that that old man of mine needs to be taught his lessons physically at times.”
Battler took note of Erika's new appearance, and made a mental note to congratulate Shannon at a later point for a job well done.
Erika's hair was now done up in twintails, adorned with a small pink and white ribbon with roses on it. She now wore a frilly pink and white dress, complemented with a pair of dark pin (maroon? Magenta?) stockings. All in all, it was a look that seemed pretty natural on her.
“Ah! I remember that dress,” Jessica exclaimed. “Man, that takes me back. Glad to see it's getting some use out of it.”
“Oh, so these are your old clothes?” Erika asked. “I do apologise for wearing them without your permission, miss... Jessica, correct?”
“It's no biggie, really!” Jessica brushed off. “I mean, it's not like I'd be able to fit in them again.”
Rudolf, who had, at some point, gotten off the floor, suddenly wrapped his arm around Erika's shoulders. “So, this is our little mermaid, then?” he said coyly. “Not a bad catch, Battler! Hell, if she were a little order, then I might have to call you my rival!”
Barely a second after his comment, Battler and Kyrie drop-kicked him. It was a beautiful display of martial prowess and mother-son coordination, to be able to so perfectly slam two pairs of feet into Rudolf's face and gut, sending him flying out of the room, without so much as moving a hair on Erika's head.
“Keep that sort of thing to yourself, you horny bastard!” Battler shouted.
“Rudolf, we've talked about this behaviour of yours,” Kyrie scolded.
Erika watched the scene with a certain level of disbelief. “Is... this sort of thing normal for them?” she asked.
“Battler and uncle Rudolf were estranged for a while,” George answered. “The two of them fight more like brothers than father and son.”
“Yeah, and aunt Kyrie has to mediate between the two of them,” Jessica added. “Kinda gotta feels sorry for Ange, having to deal with two idiots for family members.”
Erika watched the family with renewed interest. The way they acted was... unique, to say the least, but it felt natural for them.
A small tugging on her sleeve drew Erika's attention downwards, to the small brown haired girl.
“Um, hello?” she said weakly. “You are...”
“Maria,” the girl said.
“Maria,” Erika repeated. “It's a nice name. Is there something I can help you with?”
Erika knelt down to be eye-level with Maria. Maria, in turn, quickly wrapped her arms around Erika, catching the blue haired girl by surprise.
“Uu! Maria will keep you safe!” she said happily.
This, at the very least, gave Erika a warm, fuzzy feeling.
There was a new knock on the door. “It is Genji,” an aged voice said. “I have come to inform all that dinner is now ready. If you would all come to the dining hall.”
“Ah, it's finally time,” Krauss stated. “Very well, everyone, we shall relocate to the dining hall.”
The path to the dining hall was simple and straight forward, taking the family through the main foyer. There, Erika laid her eyes on something that made her blood run cold for a brief second.
It was a portrait. One of a remarkably beautiful woman with blonde hair, dressed in an off-black dress that had orange-gold detailing and white ruffles. Generally speaking, it was a very nice portrait of a very good looking woman, but something about it was... off. Unnatural, in a way.
“Uu! Beatrice!” Maria said eagerly.
“Beatrice?” Erika asked, the pang of a distant memory in the back of her mind. “Who is that? A distant relative of yours?”
“Heh, who knows about that,” Battler commented. “All we've ever been told is that she's the thousand year old witch that lives in the forest here.”
“We've got a bit of a bet pool about how Gramps knows her, though,” Jessica stated. “Most of us think she was his mistress at some point.”
“Uu, uu! Beatrice is a witch!” Maria shouted at Jessica. “And she 'exists'!”
“Got it, got it,” Battler said, ruffling Maria's hair. “Leave it to her second biggest fan to confirm it, right behind Gramps.”
Maria pouted in response, and simply continued to walk on, followed by George and Jessica, leaving only Battler and Erika at the portrait.
“Bea...trice,” Erika muttered. What was this strange feeling she was getting from this portrait? It didn't feel like a memory, but then again, did anyone truly know what memories felt like? Shaking her head, Erika finally took notice of the small golden plaque by the base of the portait.
“Ah, the epitaph,” Battler said, noticing where her gaze went. “The current theory on that is that it's a clue to where Grandfather hid his ten tonnes of gold.”
That number caused Erika to stammer quite significantly. “T... ten tonnes?!” she shouted. “As in, ten metric tonnes? That's...” she quickly ran the numbers in her head, “roughly 20 billion yen! Is that gold where your family got its wealth from?”
“Dunno,” Battler answered. “No one's ever really figured out of the gold's just metaphorical or not. All we do know is that Grandfather managed to pull the family back together several decades ago, after the Ushiromiya family fell to ruin around the time of the second world war.”
“To have managed all that,” Erika muttered. “Your grandfather must be one shrewd business man.”
“Yeah. He's also an absolute occult nut,” Battler added. “So, feel like taking a crack at the epitaph?”
“I apologise, but I must pass on that,” Erika answered. “I'm afraid I know too little about the Ushiromiya name to be able to figure anything out.”
“Fair enough,” Battler conceded. “Well, we best not keep the others waiting, yeah?”
Before Erika could respond, Battler picked her up once more, and broke off running.
Battler was simply enjoying himself. Erika was quite flustered by the turn of events. Neither noticed the single golden butterfly that observed them from the window.
Dinner for the Ushiromiya family was, simply put, a grandiose event, helped largely in part of the fact that their chef was a five-star worthy one, going by the name Toshiro Gohda.
During this dinner, Erika was made acquainted with a few more individuals. Including Gohda the chef, there was three other servants present, being the old and wise Genji, the older and more playful Kumasawa, and the younger and quieter Kanon.
There was something... off, about Kanon, Erika noted. She felt, somehow, like she had seen the young boy before as of recent, but that was impossible, right?
Considering Gohda had only prepared enough food for the twelve members of the Ushiromiya family and Nanjo, making thirteen, Erika wasn't quite able to sample a full course of Gohda's cooking, although Nanjo had been kind enough to share some of his share.
Instead, though, Kumasawa had been quick enough to put together a decently sized Japanese meal for her. Most of it was mackerel. Still, it was very delicious.
At the same time, though, Erika learnt something new about herself: she really, really liked chopsticks.
The feel of them in her hand, the finesse, the dexterity needed for them in comparison to a fork. It was... she didn't think she knew a word to describe just how she felt holding them.
Well, she could think of one word to describe the feeling, but it wasn't one she would say out loud (hint; it's synonymous with 'arousal').
Then, Gohda returned from the kitchen once more, pushing along a trolley with a covered dish.
“I trust your meals were to your expectations, ladies and gentlemen?” he said theatrically. Erika picked up the smallest glint of guilt in his eyes when Gohda glanced her way. In response, she gave a warm and kind smile, assuring him that she held no ill will about anything. “Now, allow me to present dessert to you all,” Gohda continued. “To round off our night, I have prepared a blueberry and vanilla cake, topped with a lemon flavoured curd.”
The description alone was enough to get everyone excited about the dessert. Gohda removed the tray cover... and the shocked expressions that followed were not in relation to the cake.
Gohda looked down at the tray, and saw, lying neatly beside his cake, was a letter.
“That's...” Gohda stuttered out. “That wasn't there before!”
A strange murmur filled the hall. “Hand the letter over, quickly!” Natsuhi demanded. Gohda grabbed the letter and passed it over to Natsuhi, yet the sudden spike in nerves caused one of them to fumble it, causing it to drop to the ground.
Battler was quick to catch it though. “Got it!” Battler called out.
Natsuhi let out a small sigh of relief. “Quite a display, I must say,” Eva said rather arrogantly. “Are you sure Gohda didn't hide that preemptively?”
“How rude!” Natsuhi shot back. “I do not like how you're insinuating Gohda or myself in this... tasteless prank!”
“Come on, you two, let's calm down,” Rudolf interjected. “Battler, perhaps you could take a look at it for us?”
“Sure thing,” Battler called back as he examined the letter. The edges of the envelop were trimmed with gold leaf, which styled itself into the Ushiromiya family crest, the One Winged Eagle.
What stood out to him most, though, was the wax seal.
“Oi,” Battler spoke up, “the wax seal... It's got the family crest on it.”
“What?” Krauss muttered. “Then, either this is a very elaborate prank, or...”
Erika was the only one confused by that statement. “Doctor?” she whispered quietly to Nanjo. “What is it about the seal that's got them so spooked?”
“The wax seal having the family crest can only mean it was sealed with Kinzo's ring,” Nanjo answered. “For someone to have faked it, they would have had to either remove the wax seal from an already used letter, or resealed on, neither of which would be easy without any obvious signs.”
Battler took a deep breath. “Okay. I'm gonna open it.” With a flick of his nail, the wax seal broke, and he took the contents of the letter out.
Battler cleared his throat, and began to read.
“Dear Ushiromiya family,” he said. “I am Beatrice. I have served as Kinzo and the Ushiromiya families alchemist for many years, until today. Today, Kinzo has announced the end of our decades long contract, and thus, I must inform you all of a certain part of that contract.
Firstly, it is true; I did indeed loan ten tonnes of gold to Kinzo. Now, with the end of our contract, I shall be reclaiming what is mine, with interest. All that is part of the Ushiromiya family shall be claimed as such. No doubt, you all are lamenting that idea, but there is one chance for you all.
Beneath my portrait in the foyer, there is an epitaph. What many of you no doubt think to this day is true; that is a clue to where the gold is hidden.
Your job, should you wish to keep what belongs to the Ushiromiya name, is to solve the epitaph.
I have already begun my claim to the family wealth; merely look at the wax seal on the envelop to confirm that I am now in possession of the head's ring.
I wonder if any of you will be able to come out on top in this game?
From your beloved, eternal, Golden Witch,
Beatrice.”
Battler let out a sigh, and wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Battler,” Hideyoshi spoke up first. “That... that was jus' some good improvin', right?”
“You can read it yourself if you want,” Battler responded, holding the letter out. “I promise, it's exactly as I read it.”
Eva took the letter from Battler, and the adults all seemed to gather around her, reading over her shoulder.
Erika took note on how the rest of the cousins reacted to it. Jessica and George both seemed rather off put by it, while Maria seemed... giddy?
“Uu! Beatrice!” she exclaimed. “She's gonna guide us to the Golden Land!”
“Golden Land?” Erika asked. She recalled reading that on the Epitaph.
Gradually, the adults seemed to become more and more aggravated. This seemed to annoy Battler greatly, at the very least. “George, Jessica, Maria, Erika,” he said. “Let's get out of here. I don't think any of us want to be around for this shit show.”
George and Jessica nodded, while Maria gave a small, pouty 'uu' in response. Erika and Nanjo, being the two most outside the issue, followed them.
Hours seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Those that had left the dining hall early, now joined by Shannon, had taken refuge in the main lobby of the guest house, and simply sat down and played games.
Card games, board games, if it was a game of some kind, they played it. After two hours, Nanjo had retired to his room for the night. By roughly 11:30pm, Maria had dozed off, using Erika's legs as a makeshift pillow.
“Look's like Maria's finally run out of steam,” George commented. “I have to say, I'm surprise at how taken she is to you, Erika.”
“Indeed,” Erika agreed. “It's... kind of strange.” She couldn't quite put into words what she was feeling right now. The fact that this childishly innocent girl had chosen to, at the drop of a hat, declare herself Erika's guardian was, strangely enough, warming to her.
At that point, though, she noticed the other cousins looking at her with concern written all over their faces. “Erika?” Jessica spoke first. “You... you doing alright?”
Erika tilted her head quizzingly. “As... much as I can be. Why?”
“Well, it's just that...” Battler's voice trailed off slightly. “It's... that you're crying.”
Erika placed a finger just below her left eye, and confirmed Battler's statement. “I... why am I..?” Erika stammered out. Then, as per the unwritten law of observation, now that she knew she was crying, the dam burst.
She truly didn't know why she was crying. Perhaps it was something residual from before her amnesia. But right here, right now, she just seemed to be relieved that there were people here that was just... looking out for her unconditionally.
Could this... be what love is?
After about ten minutes, Erika had ended up falling asleep, which left the others to carry her and Maria up to one of the guest rooms.
Gently, Battler and Jessica put the two down on the same bed. Might as well keep the two together, after all.
“Man, those two make a cute pair, huh?” Jessica whispered.
“Yeah,” Battler agreed. “You'd think Erika was just a normal kid, being next to Maria like this.”
“Too right,” Jessica said. “You know, I was kinda afraid Erika might end up being a stuck up know it all.”
“What do you mean?”
“I dunno exactly,” she admitted. “It's just... when I first saw her, I had the impression that she'd be one of those super smart people that really liked to rub the fact in peoples faces.”
“An 'intellectual rapist', I'm familiar with the term,” Battler said, as the two saw themselves out of the room. “You know, a part of me had that same feeling. But, considering how I found her, I just kinda had to put that aside.”
“And good thing, too!”
Battler looked around the hall, finally noticing something was missing. “Say, where's George and Shannon?”
“Oh, them? They snuck off a while ago,” Jessica answered. “In fact... I'm pretty sure George is planning to pop the big question.”
“Really?” Battler asked in surprise. “Well, good on him! Leave it to George to actually get that far!”
“You said it,” Jessica stated. “So, what now? Should we just call it a night?”
“Actually, I was thinking of heading back to the mansion,” Battler said. “See if our folks have finally wrapped up or not.”
“Really? Colour me surprised,” Jessica replied. “Well, in that case, we'll see ya in the morning, then.”
“Yeah,” Battler replied, as he started heading down stairs. “I'll see ya then!”
The clock was now ten minutes to midnight.