The curtains flew open in Ichi's room, blinding him as he awoke. He was used to Fubuki waking him like this, but there at the window was unmistakably a dutiful looking Renya. She wore a black chestplate and sword at her side with a maid skirt with layers of armor across the sides.
It's not like Renya had any other matierials to create with besides Ichi's 'black goo', which Ichi wondered about as his consciousness pieced together reality. He sat up sleepily, rubbing his eyes and clothed in white pajamas that Fubuki kept heated and waiting for him before he slept.
"Morning." Ichi croaked out.
Renya bowed, mimicking Fubuki perfectly.
"Good morning, Master."
Ichi already felt like it'd be a long day. Not that he had much to do before he left the village, and after he came to Avalon was still wasting time in nature as usual.
But, he had his limits. More like, Ichi knew this must be Fubuki's fault. It didn't occur to him even once that Renya was tricking him, or that it was possible she just decided to play along a little harder in her accepted 'Maid Knight' role this morning.
Ichi pieced it together within a few seconds of waking up. And the main reason was Renya calling him 'Master'. She used 'my lord', and the Renya Ichi knew would never make a mistake, unless on purpose.
"What'd Fubuki do?"
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Renya immediatedly froze. The dark circles under Renya's eyes and the fear on her face told Ichi all he needed to know.
"N-nothing."
"I've never heard you stutter since I've known you."
"It's nothing, Master."
"You're very robotic this morning. I thought you were a homunculus? Aren't you supposed to be more humanlike?"
Renya sweated. A silver drop went down the side of her face. She didn't look good. Ichi sighed and he talked her down.
"I'll take care of Fubuki. Please, go get some rest. You're not yourself."
Renya relaxed, and nodding, she smiled weakly and went for the door. Her hand stopped on the doorknob.
"You shouldn't take her lightly." Renya whispered.
"Says the scaredy cat. Give me back the Renya who had no trouble beating me hand to hand."
Renya turned the knob at Ichi's words, pulling open the door. She gave Ichi a tired look and left.
Ichi dressed himself, lead him down to the dining hall where Rikya was absent. Fubuki waited there with breakfast served silent and standing next to the table with her eyes closed.
Ichi walked over to the table, kicking over the chair. Fubuki didn't move, as Ichi expected. Ichi sat down on the fallen chair sideways crouching with he hands layered over his knees as he grabbed at Fubuki's skirt. She moved just out of his reach in response. Ichi looked up at the long grey hair above him.
"New rule: Don't touch Renya or Rikya."
Fubuki turned to face him, her eyes placid as they met his.
"My efforts didn't produce the result my Master wished."
Ichi looked down and rubbed his face. That wasn't the truth. Ichi didn't take Fubuki seriously enough.
"It's my fault. You're just a robot maid. I shouldn't have left it up to you. Renya and Rikya are my, problems, I guess."
At that moment, Ichi felt a chill down his spine as an aura of white entered his eyeline. He looked up to see a flowing white energy humming around Fubuki. It curved off into tendrils, a graceful sense came as Ichi viewed it, but it hurt him to look at, as if his eyes were blinded. He saw her smile.