Chapter 52: The Twin Demon's Arrival!
Suzaku pushed open the heavy oak door of the captain's cabin, shielding his eyes instinctively as he stepped out onto the deck. He inhaled deeply, letting the high-altitude breeze tug at his clothes, sweeping away the stale scent of ink, old paper, and seclusion that had clung to him.
The scene on the deck was lively, a stark, vibrant contrast to the vast, silent emptiness of the sky around them.
Near the starboard railing, the ship's navigator, Nami, was practically vibrating with nervous energy disguised as bravado. She had her hand clamped firmly around the wrist of a reluctant Rem, dragging the maid along as they circled the ship's newest and most unsettling addition—Ulquiorra Cifer.
The Fourth Espada stood motionless, a statue carved from moonlight and bleached bone. His hands were buried deep in the pockets of his white hakama, and his emerald eyes—those terrible, vertical-slit pupils—stared out at the horizon with a profound, crushing emptiness. He seemed completely detached from reality, an anomaly of death existing in a world of vibrant life. The hole in his throat, the hallmark of a Hollow, whistled softly in the wind, a mournful note in the bright day.
"Suzaku!"
Nami was the first to spot the Captain emerging. Her face lit up with palpable relief, and she waved her hand frantically, her orange hair whipping in the wind like a signal flare. "Finally! You've been in there for ages! I was running out of things to say to... him!"
Without waiting for a response, she spun back to the pale man, her curiosity overriding her survival instincts. Her gaze locked onto the katana sheathed at his waist—Murciélago.
"Hey, Ul... Ulquiorra, right? That's a mouthful," Nami chirped, leaning in dangerously close to the Arrancar, invading a personal space that would have meant immediate death in Hueco Mundo. "Is that a sword? Are you a swordsman? You look really gloomy, you know that? Like you haven't seen the sun in a hundred years! Don't you sweat in those clothes?"
Ulquiorra did not blink. His green irises did not shift. To him, the girl was a fragile collection of carbon and water, vibrating with unnecessary noise. There was no spiritual pressure coming from her—she was trash. By the logic of Aizen's army, she shouldn't even exist in his presence.
And yet... she was not afraid.
Why?
Ulquiorra's internal voice was cold, analytical, and devoid of judgment. My Reiatsu is suppressed, true. But the scent of death should be palpable to any biological instinct. A rabbit does not dance before a viper, even if the viper is sleeping. Yet, she prattles on about the weather and my sword. Is this the nature of this world? Or is it the influence of that man?
He remained silent, a void in the shape of a man, letting the wind rattle the bone helm on the side of his head.
Suzaku chuckled, the sound breaking the tension as he walked down the stairs from the quarterdeck. He approached the group, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere from awkward to commanding. "Alright, Nami, give him some space. Ulquiorra isn't exactly the chatty type. He represents 'Nihility,' after all. He just arrived."
He stopped beside the Espada, placing a hand casually on Ulquiorra's shoulder. The Arrancar stiffened imperceptibly—a micro-reaction of muscles coiling for a strike before recognizing the touch—but he did not pull away.
"Since everyone has officially met," Suzaku said, addressing the pale man with a tone of easy authority, "I want you to get acclimated. Nami, take him on a tour of the Vermillion Wing. Show him the galley, the crew quarters, and the navigation room. Explain how we operate on the sea."
Ulquiorra finally moved his head. It was a slow, mechanical rotation. His gaze swept past Nami, lingered for a fraction of a second on Rem, before finally locking onto Suzaku.
Companions...
The word tasted strange in his mind, alien and illogical. In Las Noches, there were no companions. There was only Aizen-sama, and there was the hierarchy of strength. The Espada would kill each other without hesitation if ordered, or simply out of boredom. Trust was a weakness. Camaraderie was a delusion.
But here... these weaklings looked at a monster like him—a creature with a hole in his soul—and saw a crewmate.
"Understood," Ulquiorra said. His voice was a flat baritone, devoid of emotion, like a stone dropping into a deep well. "I will follow."
"Great! Come on, Spooky!" Nami grinned, grabbing Ulquiorra's sleeve—an act of casual intimacy that would have gotten her vaporized by a Cero Oscuras in any other timeline—and dragged him toward the bow. "You have to see the view from the figurehead. Sailing through the clouds feels like flying, and I need to explain the currents to someone who actually listens!"
As the odd pair walked away—the bubbly navigator and the silent reaper—the deck grew quieter, though the tension didn't fully dissipate.
Standing in the sharp shadow of the main mast was Albedo.
The Overseer of the Guardians had not moved a single inch during the entire exchange. Her golden eyes were slitted, tracking Nami's hand on Ulquiorra's sleeve with mild disgust, but the moment Suzaku appeared, her focus snapped to him with terrifying intensity.
She was beautiful, breathtakingly so, but right now, she was a statue of suppressed obsession. Her hands were clasped demurely in front of her white dress, her black wings folded tight against her back, but the air around her hummed with power. The tips of her wings twitched spasmodically, betraying the storm within.
She wanted nothing more than to be the sole object of his attention. Every second he spent looking at Nami, or Ulquiorra, or anyone else, was a second stolen from her.
Suzaku felt the physical weight of her gaze. It was heavy, hot, and desperate. He turned to her and offered a small, knowing nod—a silent acknowledgment of her vigilance.
"Good work guarding the rear, Albedo."
The praise hit her like a drug. Albedo's cheeks flushed pink, and she wiggled slightly in place, her expression melting from icy judgment to ecstatic worship. However, Suzaku's attention didn't stay on her. He turned to the blue-haired maid who had been left behind by Nami.
"Rem."
The demon maid jumped slightly, her large blue eyes widening as she snapped out of her daze. "Y-Yes! Were you calling Rem, Lord Suzaku?"
Suzaku smiled, a mischievous, almost predatory glint appearing in his eyes. "Yes, I was. Come with me to my cabin for a moment. I need a little help with something... private. And I've prepared a special surprise for you."
Thump.
Rem's heart skipped a beat. The sound of her own pulse suddenly roared in her ears, drowning out the wind.
"A... a s-surprise?"
Her voice squeaked, pitching up an octave. Instantly, a wave of heat rushed up her neck, turning her pale ears and cheeks a vibrant, beet-red. Her hands flew to the hem of her maid apron, crumpling the pristine white fabric in a nervous, sweaty grip.
A surprise? In the cabin? Alone?
Her mind, usually so organized and efficient when it came to cleaning or combat, descended into absolute chaos. Unbidden, lewd images flashed through her brain—memories of Albedo walking out of Suzaku's room the previous night, looking disheveled, flushed, and radiating a satisfaction that transcended words. The succubus had practically been glowing in the dark.
Does Lord Suzaku... want Rem to... do that?
Is it finally Rem's turn?
Standing nearby, Albedo's perfect smile cracked like porcelain dropped on concrete.
Her heightened hearing caught every syllable. Her golden pupils dilated into vertical slits, and a dark, purple aura began to leak from her body, causing the wooden planks beneath her high heels to creak and splinter.
Surprise? Alone? Why her? Why not me? I am the legal wife! I am the head of the harem! I have the highest defense! Why is he taking the maid?!
The jealousy was a physical pain in her chest, sharp and acidic. She took a step forward, her mouth opening to demand to be included, to crush the competition, to insist that she could provide better service.
But then, Suzaku glanced at her over his shoulder. It was a brief look, firm and commanding.
Stay.
The silent order froze her in place. The absolute authority of the Supreme Being (in her eyes) overrode her jealousy. Albedo bit her lip, swallowing her grievance. She lowered her head in a bow of absolute, trembling submission.
"I will... guard the deck... Suzaku-sama."
"Good girl," Suzaku murmured as he passed her.
He gestured to Rem, then turned and walked back toward the captain's quarters.
Rem took a deep, trembling breath. She patted her burning cheeks with both hands to cool them down, fixed her hair frantically, and scurried after him, her heart pounding like a war drum against her ribs.
Inside the captain's cabin, the world changed. The noise of the wind outside was muffled to a dull, distant roar. The room was warm, smelling of old paper, polished wood, and the faint, masculine scent of Suzaku himself.
Suzaku closed the door with a soft click.
To Rem, that sound was louder than a cannon blast. It was the sound of fate sealing.
She stood in the center of the room, her head bowed low, staring at the intricate patterns of the rug. She could hear the lock turning. The metal bolt sliding home seemed to echo in the small space, amplifying her nervousness a thousand times over.
"Rem?"
Suzaku turned around and frowned slightly. The maid was trembling visibly. Her entire body was rigid, her knuckles white as she gripped her skirt. She looked like a small animal cornered by a predator, yet there was a palpable heat radiating from her, steaming up the air.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? You're completely red."
Suzaku took a step forward, reaching out to check her forehead for a fever.
"N-No!"
Rem flinched back, then immediately regretted her reflex. She looked up, her blue eyes swirling with moisture, embarrassment, and a desperate, confused longing. "Lord Suzaku, Rem is fine! Rem is... just preparing herself!"
"Preparing?" Suzaku tilted his head, genuinely confused. "Well, good. I need you to focus. This requires precision."
He reached into his inventory.
Rem watched his hand move toward his waist. Her breathing hitched. Her knees knocked together.
This is it. He's taking it out. He's going to... he's going to ask me to lie down on the desk. Or maybe the bed?
Rem is ready. Rem has read the romance novels Nami hides under her pillow. Rem knows what to do... theoretically.
Suzaku pulled his hand out.
He was holding a card.
It was a beautiful, rectangular card that shimmered with a holographic sheen. Intricate golden geometric patterns spiraled across its surface, centering on a symbol that looked like a magnetic field drawing two stars together.
"Here," Suzaku said, stepping close to her, oblivious to her internal meltdown. "Hold this. Hold it steady with both hands, right against your chest. And don't move."
Rem blinked. The steam in her brain stalled.
"D-Don't move?"
The command echoed in her fevered brain. Don't move... so he can do whatever he wants? Is this a binding play? Does Lord Suzaku enjoy statues?
Steam practically erupted from her ears. Her legs felt like jelly. With shaking hands, she reached out and took the card. Her fingers brushed against Suzaku's warm skin, sending an electric jolt through her spine that nearly made her collapse.
"Y-Yes... Rem will hold it... Rem will be good..." she whispered, closing her eyes tight, puckering her lips slightly, and bracing herself for his touch.
She waited.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
The anticipation was agonizing.
Nothing happened.
She cracked one eye open.
Suzaku had taken two large steps back. He wasn't looking at her body with lust; he wasn't undressing; he was staring intently at the card in her hands with a look of academic concentration, rubbing his chin.
"Eh?"
Rem froze. The reality of the situation crashed down on her like a bucket of ice water poured directly into her soul.
He... he just wanted me to hold the item.
He didn't want to... do that.
He isn't going to do anything.
"Oh..." A sound of pure, unadulterated mortification escaped her throat. She realized she had been standing there with her chest puffed out, lips puckered, and eyes closed like a lovestruck fool, while her master was trying to perform serious business.
Stupid Rem! Perverted Rem! You useless, dirty-minded maid!
She wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. She wanted to dissolve into sea foam.
"Okay, Rem, stay just like that," Suzaku said, completely oblivious to her internal crisis. "I'm activating it now."
[System Action: Item Activation]
[Item: Contract of Universal Attraction]
[Target Link: Rem (Re:Zero)]
[Condition Met: High Affinity Bond Detected.]
Suzaku mentally tapped the confirmation button floating in his vision.
Buzz—!
The air in the cabin suddenly grew heavy, surcharged with static electricity. The card in Rem's hands began to vibrate violently, emitting a low resonance that shook the dust motes in the air.
"Ah! Lord Suzaku, it's getting hot!" Rem gasped, the card glowing with an intense pink luminescence.
"Don't let go!" Suzaku ordered, his voice steady and authoritative. "It's searching for the link. It needs your signature to find the target across the dimensions."
The card dissolved. It didn't burn or tear; it simply sublimated into thousands of tiny particles of pink and white light. These particles didn't scatter. Instead, they swirled around Rem, wrapping her in a cocoon of warm, gentle energy.
Rem's panic and embarrassment vanished instantly.
A strange, nostalgic feeling washed over her. It was a sensation she hadn't felt in a very long time—a phantom limb sensation, as if a part of her soul that had been missing was suddenly reaching back out to her from the void. It was a heartbeat that matched her own.
"This feeling..." Rem murmured, her eyes widening in disbelief. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, unbidden. "It can't be..."
Suzaku watched the System interface. A prompt flashed in front of his eyes, golden text illuminating his retina.
[Link Established.]
[Summoning Pathway Open.]
[Target Identified: Ram (Re:Zero)]
[Required Legend Points: 2,000 (Advanced Tier)]
[Do you wish to proceed?]
"Two thousand points," Suzaku whispered, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "A small price to pay for a perfect reunion."
"Confirm!"
BOOM!
A shockwave of magical energy exploded from the center of the room, knocking the papers off Suzaku's desk and rattling the windows in their frames.
A complex, glowing magic circle materialized on the floorboards beneath Rem's feet. It was a deep, neon pink, filled with runes that defied the physics of the One Piece world. The light grew blindingly intense, forcing Suzaku to shield his eyes with his arm.
The wind inside the closed room whipped violently, tearing at the curtains and sending loose books tumbling from the shelves. It wasn't just air; it was Wind Magic, sharp and controlled.
From the center of the magic circle, the light began to coalesce. It took shape, knitting together matter from pure energy. First, the outline of a petite frame. Then, the flutter of a maid's skirt. Finally, the distinct shape of short hair.
The light shattered like glass, dissipating into sparkling dust that drifted to the floor.
Standing in the center of the room was a girl.
She was the mirror image of Rem. She wore the same maid uniform—black dress, white apron, white stockings. Her face was identical, possessing the same delicate, doll-like beauty that could launch a thousand ships.
But there were crucial differences.
Her hair was a vibrant, candy-floss pink, parted on the opposite side to reveal her left eye. Her eyes were a sharp, reddish-pink, holding a gaze that was far more piercing, arrogant, and perceptive than her sister's gentle blue. Even her posture was different—more confident, slightly haughty, with an air of absolute self-assurance.
She blinked, confused. She looked at her hands, flexing her fingers as if testing their reality. Then she looked at the wooden ceiling, sniffing the air. Finally, her gaze landed on the stunned blue-haired girl standing across from her.
The pink-haired maid tilted her head, her expression shifting from confusion to a mask of absolute calm, though her eyes betrayed a tremor of profound emotion.
"Rem?" she said. Her voice was cool, yet laced with a thread of disbelief that cracked her composure.
Rem covered her mouth with both hands, her entire body trembling violently as tears spilled over her cheeks. She took a shaky step forward, her eyes locked on the figure before her, afraid to blink lest she vanish.
"Nee... sama...?"
Ram, the older twin sister, had arrived.
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