Seacats Tea Party Chapter 6

Bernkastel:...Hurry up, Battler. I don't have a whole century to wait for your mediocre game.

Battler: S-Shut up, it just needs a few fixing here and there.

Beato: I would like to see you call it mediocre after we finish it. *cackle*

Bernkastel: *sigh* I hope this will be an actual murder mystery though, not like your pathetic fake one in the 6th game. If it weren't for Erika, there would haven zero blood spilled. If you want to make another pacifist, happy-go-lucky story then say so now and I won't waste my time on it.

Battler:...I would like to make it similar to that one but I realize you wouldn't play with us if that were the case.

Lambda: That's right. Bern only goes for the real deal~~~~

Beato: That reminds me, Lady Lambdadelta. Would you accept the honor of looking over our game and making sure everything is fair?

Lambda: Like last time, huh? Of course I accept it. If Bern plays it, then I definitely want to be the Judge. *giggle*

Bernkastel:...I hope you three aren't conspiring against me. I will be very pissed if I realize you three made a fool out of me.

Lambda: Nah, calm down. There is no need to get so suspicious. Everything will be fair and square. You trust me, don't you?

Bernkastel:...I guess I have no choice. I will have to play and see things for myself.

Ronove: Battler-sama, please excuse my rudeness but your little sister wants to stay with you...I tried everything but she just keeps asking for you, Battler-sama.

Ronove and Virgilia appeared all of a sudden.

Battler:...Is that so? How does she like the Seven Sisters?

Virgilia: Ohohoho. They get along very nicely but...seems like a little sister needs her big brother to be around to fully enjoy herself.

Ronove: What do you wish us to do, Battler-sama? Should we try and entertain Ange-sama some more or...?

Battler: That won't be necessary, Ronove. You can bring her here. You have already done more than what was required of you. You and Virgilia both. Thank you.

Virgilia: Oh, it wasn't a chore really...It's very heartwarming to spend time around children every now and then...Though, there is still a certain someone who acts very much like one around us...*giggle*

The old witch was looking at her former apprentice.

Beato: H-Hey, Teacher...Not in front of everyone please~~~

Beatrice's face went bright red.

Ronove: Pukukuku. Milady, please. Your dignity.

Beato: Y-You shouldn't scold me when you laugh in that weird way, Ronove...

Bernkastel: *sigh* This will be a long day...

Battler: Ronove, Virgilia. After you bring Ange here you can go rest a little.

Ronove: What about your little party, Battler-sama? Shouldn't there be someone here to serve tea and cookies?

Battler:...Genji and Kumasawa will do it.

Ronove: .......As you wish.

Ronove became a bunch of gold butterflies which scattered across the room. After a moment, said butterflies appeared again and Ronove could be seen in the room with Ange.

Beato: Hello there, Ange!! Did you enjoy playing around with my furniture?

Ange: Beato, Onii-chan! It was really fun!! Mammon and I played a lot...but I wanted to be with you, Onii-chan!

Battler: Haha, I understand. If that is what you want, then be it!

Ange: Uh-huh, that's exactly what I want.

Ronove: Now, if everyone will please excuse me...

With that said, Ronove got surrounded by golden butterflies again. And when those magical butterflies disappeared...

Genji: ..........I'm ready for your orders. Master, Beatrice-sama.

Beato: Genji, it has been sooooo loooonnng! Are you getting younger day by day?! *cackle*

Genji:..............

Battler: Hey Beato, cut it out! Genji, good to see you again.

Genji: It is an honor to be able to serve you again, Master. Same for Beatrice-sama. I will try my best to carry out any order I will be given.

Bernkastel: I'm happy to see you too, Genji. Finally, that show-off good for nothing Ronove got out of my face. He could learn a lot from you, I think. *giggle*

Genji:....Bernkastel-sama, your words are too good for me.

Bernkastel: Maybe they are. *giggle* Now, could you please get me some tea?

Genji:...As you wish.

Genji walked to a nearby table with a tea set on it and started pouring some tea into one of the elegant cups.

Virgilia: I guess it is time for me to go too. Battler, take care of Beato, okay?

Battler: Sure thing, ihihihi.

With those last words, Virgilia disappeared...and Kumasawa took her place.

Kumasawa: Ohohoho. Battler-sama, Beatrice-sama. I am so happy to see you again. Can this old lady be of any assistance to you?

Beato: Kumasawa, you always know how to make a good atmosphere. Ahaha!

Battler: Right, right! I am sure you will be the heart of this party too!

Kumasawa: Ohoho! I will try my best to keep up with you young people. ....?? My, my...is that Ange-sama over there?

Ange stood next to Battler and made a surprised face when Genji and Kumasawa appeared. She couldn't really understand what was going on...but she felt relaxed when she saw the familiar faces.

Bernkastel: Thank you, Genji.

Meanwhile the old butler served Bernkastel her tea. After he heard Ange's name he turned around and bowed deeply to the little girl.

Genji: My deepest apologies. I haven't noticed you, Ange-sama. Please forgive my grave mistake and rudeness.

Ange: Mmm-mm. It's okay, Genji-san. It is nice to see you and Kumasawa baa-chan too.

Kumasawa: Ohoho! Ange-sama, please. Make yourself comfortable. Would you like some cookies? Or candies?

Ange: Candies!! I would like some, thank you very much!

Kumasawa went to one of the tables that were lined up by the walls of the room and took some candy for the little girl. Ange started chewing them as soon as she got them.

Lambda: Hey Genji, could you go get some delicious cake for me?

Genji: ...Certainly, Lambdadelta-sama.

As everyone started asking the servants to bring them various sweets and drinks, Ange walked up to Bernkastel all of a sudden.

Bernkastel: What is it?

Ange: Do you want some candy?

Bernkastel:....Why do you want to give me yours? If I wanted to have some I could just go over there and get some for myself or order Genji to get me some.

Ange: W-Well...You just kind of look like a shy person. I thought you were the type who doesn't drink or eat much in front of strangers---so....

Battler: Just accept it, Bernkastel.

Bernkastel: Hoh?

Battler: It is really impolite to turn down a young lady's offer, don't you think?

Ange: Yeah, just take it! I don't mind at all!

Bernkastel: Agh.........

The witch made an uneasy face. She wasn't expecting this at all.

Lambda: Well, well...Isn't Bern so cute in times like this? Ahahaha!!

Lambda appeared next to Bern and pinched her cheek.

Bernkastel: G-Get away!

Bern waved her hand and chased her rival away.

Bernkastel: What is the trick, anyway?

Ange: Trick???

Battler: There isn't any trick. It is just a simple act of kindness.

Bernkastel: After all I have done....and you try to treat me kindly...you people really are crazy. *cackle*

Beato: Does someone need to be crazy in order to show kindness? ...You must be a really miserable being, Lady Bernkastel. No offense.

Bernkastel: D-Don't you dare to look down on me!!

Bernkastel was starting to get agitated. She took the candies away from Ange's little hand and threw them against the wall...shattering them to pieces.

Bernkastel: You all act like you know EVERYTHING about me!!! Well, you don't know ANYTHING. I'm not here to be friends with you retards!! And I don't want your damn candy either!!

The room that had a cheerful atmosphere until that point.....went completely silent.

Bernkastel: You want to know the reason I am truly here?! It is to make your lives miserable!!! And then laugh at you as you crawl around on the ground like a bunch of good for nothing insects! Because that is what you really are!

Battler:..................

Beato:......................

Lambda: Oh, wow. Bern got angry. That.....is really rare.

Ange: UWAHHH!! *hic*

Ange got really scared and started to cry.

Battler: Hey Ange. Don't pay attention to her. She is always like that. Stop crying, nothing is going to happen.

Beato: Are you happy now?

Beato asked a single question from Bern.

Bernkastel: YES, I am! Cry some more for me, okay?! That is all you little rat can ever do!! Go crying to your Onii-chan!! Tch...How god damn pathetic.

Battler: Just quit it. I am your opponent, not her. She has nothing to do with anything.

Beato: That's right. She just wanted to be nice but apparently you can't help being a devil whose biggest joy is making others cry.

Lambda: Easy now, everyone! I mean, I enjoyed the whole "Battler trying to hit Bern thing" earlier but I would rather watch you two play against each other on equal grounds.

Beato: Certainly. Let's see if you will still act so tough when we defeat you!

Battler:...Ange. What do you want to do? I and Beato will play a game now. I don't think you should watch it...

Ange: I-Is it against that mean girl?! T-Then I want to watch it!! I want to watch Onii-chan as he teaches her a lesson!! *hic*

Ange didn't have tears on her cheeks anymore but her face was still red. Kumasawa was trying to comfort her but the child didn't pay attention to the old lady.

Ange: Show her, Onii-chan! I don't know what kind of game this will be but I am sure you will win easily!! Onii-chan never loses, after all!!

Genji:....Master, should I...?

Genji didn't finish his question but Battler knew what he was referring to.

Battler:..................No, that won't be needed, Genji. Ange said she wants to watch it, right? If she chooses to watch, then she will stay.

Beato: Are you sure, Battler? I don't think she will enjoy it...

Kumasawa: Beatrice-sama is right. A little girl like her shouldn't watch things like that!

Battler: ...Ange is big girl now. She can make her own decisions. And if she ends up regretting said decisions...she will learn from them. Right...we learn from our mistakes.

Lambda: That was very deep and all but could we just start it already?

Battler ignored Lambda and looked into Ange's face.

Battler: Ange. I will be frank...if you choose to stay then it is very likely that you will see things that won't be nice, so to speak. No, they will be horrible...certainly.

Ange: Uhh...How horrible?

Battler:...Very horrible. The worst things will happen to our family members and friends. So I want you to consider this. The game I will play with the mean girl - Bernkastel - isn't for children.

Ange:...Our family? W-What will happen to them?

Battler:..............................................................

Beato:...Battler...

Battler: .....They will die.

Ange: !!!

Battler: This game is about finding the killer or killers in a murder mystery...and the pieces on this game board are...our beloved ones.

Ange: ...That can't be...!!! Ah!

Battler: Ange?! What is wrong?! Can you hear me??

Ange grabbed her little head with both of her hands and started...

Ange:......AGHHHH!!

...Screaming. Battler's blood froze in his veins upon hearing that scream.

Beato: HEY! Bernkastel, you are doing this, aren't you?! Stop it already!!

Bernkastel: ...I don't have anything to do with this, trust me. But it's quite entertaining.

The witch drank a little tea from her cup and then smiled elegantly.

Ange: Goh!!! W-What is...happenning?!!

She felt like her head was being squeezed by two inredibly strong hands. She collapsed to her knees and then...

...She saw dead bodies everywhere. Genji lying on the floor with red marks on his neck...then Natsuhi lying on her bed...her throat sliced open.....

Ange: S-Stop it!!

Battler: ANGE!! What is the matter, answer me!! ...Damn, if it is your doing then you won't get away with it!

Battler pointed at Bernkastel while grinding his teeth.

Lambda:...Bern, tell me. What is happening? This is...very strange. It isn't because of...you, right?

Bernkastel: How many times do I have to say it? *sigh* /RED/ I don't know what is happening with Ange right now and I definitely didn't cause it./RED/

Beato: W-What? What is going on?!

Kumasawa: Ange-sama, oh my God...how can this be?

Battler: Kumasawa baa-chan, please stay back a little!!

Battler crouched down next to Ange. He didn't understand anything.

Meanwhile....images flashed through Ange's mind....A girl named Erika in the bathtub.......and Kumasawa's corpse in the rose garden...her face completely destroyed...

...It all came back into her mind. The murders. The confusion. The sadness of losing her loved ones. Hugging Maria in the rainy rose garden....Arguing with Gohda...

And getting betrayed and left alone by him and Maria....Rosa appearing behind her...and the hammer! She r-e-m-e-m-b-e-r-e-d everything. EVERYTHING.

Ange: Wah!!

Ange started to vomit all over the floor. Then...the headache became so unbearable that she lost consciousness.