By the sixth day, Rikya finally told Wavr her intentions. Wavr silently nodded and dashed off, homing into Fubuki as if she had GPS installed. Fubuki met her eyes and the two nodded and exchanged a pleasant conversation before Fubuki teleported three steps behind Ichi.

"So, you were there, Fubuki." Ichi nodded.

His surprise at Fubuki's smell appearing right behind him out of nowhere got hidden by the meditative aura he cultivated.

Sitting cross-legged in the dark forest loam near Renya's Lab Ichi was training his mind in the silence, hoping to gain more control over his magic. Ichi's night as a little girl freaked him out a little, and gave him a sore wake up call. Oni's curse did it's job, just not in the way it intended.

Fubuki's voice drifted to Ichi's ear as if she was whispering to him.

"Master, there is a request from the Witch. She wants to see 'that' maid."

Ichi's mellow mood wasn't soured. Fubuki's voice could have carried death threats and it would only encourage him to think maybe death is a good idea. However, he didn't like how she referred to his resident homunculus and cute guide. But, it was Fubuki, so Ichi let it pass like a leaf on the wind.

"What my citizens wish is of no concern to me."

Ichi said in a deep voice. He felt like talking like that around Fubuki. Regal, stately, like he was someone worthy of getting called 'Master' by someone like Fubuki. Were anyone else there, he wouldn't have done it. Having such a great sense of smell is wonderful if you don't want to get embarassed.

"Then Master doesn't mind if they conspire against you? It is Master's taste to ensure that those under him have great freedom, even if it leads to his demise."

"They both have my best interests at heart. In different ways, but, still, my best interests lie in their hearts."

"These best interests don't appear to be within Master's understanding. Shall I enlighten you as to their efforts lately?"

Ichi nodded. Fubuki acknowledged the tip of Ichi's head and continued.

"The Witch scorns all efforts of the maids to care for her. She befriended the strongest evil maid, then she spent all day helping herself to Master's property without informing him, learning powerful magics without supervision. 'That' maid spends her time away from the castle. All inquiry into her whereabouts lead to her lying. She is distant while working, as if her attention is caught within endless daydreaming."

Ichi muddled over Fubuki's words.

"That's just them. Is there a problem with any of that?" Ichi asked Fubuki.

"Master. What is your desire with those two girls?"

Ichi scratched his head and blinked his eyes. He stood up yawning as he turned around.

Fubuki's solemn grey eyes and placid face didn't seem like they were judging him, but Ichi felt wary under her gaze. If not for her beauty Ichi might have thought she was challenging him to become serious about his relationships with Renya and Rikya, but at the time his thoughts were only on Fubuki's appearance and presence.

Besides, Ichi comforted himself, getting serious with such strange people was weird.

"Protect one, not suffer from the other."

Fubuki nodded and closed her eyes.

"Does Master understand his situation in full?"

Ichi hand went halfway to his chin before falling.

"Of course not!" Ichi said.

Fubuki's eyes met Ichi's.

"I understand. Then, I shall handle the matter myself. Are there any issues with that, Master?"

"That sounds great, thanks, Fubuki. I suppose I've always been the type to shirk responsibility," Ichi palm rubbed the back of his head as he looked down. "I'm guilty."

Fubuki stepped one pace forward. The hem of her dark blue skirt floated into his view.

"There is no need to hold back on your desires around me, Master. I am not someone you should take lightly."

Ichi looked up. There was a strange gleam in Fubuki's eyes. Ichi couldn't help but feel intimidated.

"What'd I do?"

"I am your maid, Master, to fulfill Master's every desire is my eternal duty. If Master doesn't communicate his desires to his maid in full, his maid will not be able to act properly."

Ichi sighed looking at the serious maid. Her beautiful appearance and voice distracted him, Ichi forgot she's a robot as well. If he doesn't tell her his 'desires'? Which desires? All of them? Ichi thought of a way to make Fubuki happy. He wasn't thinking of himself or his situation much at all, nor why Fubuki might be so concerned. Ichi had simpler matters on his mind: controlling his drudic abilities. Should he tell her that?

"I want... Renya to be calmer, I guess. It's be nice if Rikya were a little happier, she seems like such a serious person. Fubuki to be happy. For myself, I'd like to understand the full extent of my abilities as a druid."

"Those are good desires, Master, but isn't there anything more selfish Master wants?"

"Sure. But, not right now. I can't have you fulfilling every single desire I have, some things I have to do for myself, right?"

"Then, Master desires my uninvolvement in... 'certain' desires? I understand."

With that, Fubuki disappeared leaving an afterimage in Ichi's mind. Ichi had a bad feeling from the way the conversation went. Ichi was missing something, as usual. Perhaps he'd ask Rikya and Renya about it later.