Salted Chocolate - Chapter 2 (Illya X Sakura) thing. ALSO MAIDS

Chapter 2: Memories of Once.

“Haaah…”

Relaxing into her bath before the long day truly begins. Illya starts recounting memories.  Some are painful, some are happy.  Some happy tinged with feelings of retrospective anguish.  Baths were never particularly her thing until recently.  A good way to relax for a few minutes sure, but her utilitarian mindset for years was ‘get in, clean, get out.’  The only time until the past few weeks that she could remember actually enjoying one of these was back when her mother was around.  Well over 11 years ago now.  Though she recalls it fondly, the sheer lack of memories like that left the tub and castle walls feeling bigger and bigger every time she stepped out into them.  So she tended to stray from them.

-Cold-

-Warm-

-Cold-

-Warm-

-Cold-

-Cold-

-Cold cold cold-

-The water it’s-

-This place it’s-

-This life it’s-

Illya’s train of thought scatters.  Her feet pitter patter over the top of the water making a light splashing sound.  A small child-like gesture.  She recalls when she did this, applying just a little more force to splash her mother.  It couldn’t be more than light splashes given her tiny build, but her mom acted like a tidal wave had hit her, which only prompted her to splash until she was too worn out to even move her legs again.

About that time her mother would sneakily get out of the tub and walk up close to where Illya was sitting

“Il-ly-a!” Like she was singing a song.

She’d spread all her limbs out in an X shape and fall backwards into the water, making a big splash!  Just a little retaliation before she kicked the sides of the overly large tub and went in to hug her daughter.

“You’re gonna be a rascal your entire life aren’t you?”

“Hehe takes one to know one.”

“Smart too?  My my, we really lucked out by having such a lively girl!”

They’d hug, and then Illya would pull back and say

“Is it true that you’re leaving soon?”

-Forget it forget it forget it forget it forget it forget it forget it forget it forget it forget it forget it.  It’s cold, it's cold, it's cold, it’s cold.  It’s cold.-

-It’s cold-

-Coldfreezingicyemptyvoidnothingdon’tworryaboutitcoldcoldcoldcoldcoldcoldcoldrejectitforgetitwhat’sthepoint?don’tthinkaboutit-

“Oh, this again?”

Illya balls herself up into the fetal position and rolls head first into the water.

She stays under for a few moments, just long enough for the hot water to warm her again.

Popping out of the water and standing tall with her lower half still in the water, Illya grabs some soap and starts washing herself.

As she washes her soft face, she thinks about how though they’re tinged, there's still a lot of good to be found in those memories.  They gave her the initial sadistic drive to come to Fuyuki, and more than that, she can still remember the comfort she felt during that time

“Warm…”

As she washes her slender, almost porcelain arms, she thinks about all the things she’s done since coming here.  There’s the Holy Grail War of course, but that was largely a more confrontational stage.  She didn’t get more familiar until after the fact.  In the year since she thinks about things like arguing who the best little sister was between the servant Saber, and the Matou and Tohsaka Heirs.  Things like the Tohsaka heir not knowing what a badeih is.

“Haha Rin doesn’t wash her ass”

Even now, she finds it humorous.  She had always considered the Tohsaka the most back water of the 3 families, but that more or less proved her family's long standing bias.

She couldn’t care less for her own family now, but that wasn’t always the case.  As such, she can confidently squeeze her palms together and call this life her own.

That aside however, Illya recalls more things.  Bonding with Saber over a love for good food, one up-ing Shirou’s surrogate older sister, Fujimura Taiga at every turn just because she could.  As the better, and actual older sister it was only natural.  That haughty freeloader had it coming!

As Illya begins washing her chest, while at first she was thinking about how she could never be as plump as her mother given her perma-locked stature, her mind quickly turns to the most well endowed member of their little group.

“Sakura.”

The name makes her smile a bit.  Shirou’s lackadaisical self had been so negligent in visiting as of late, but Sakura was surprisingly consistent.  Over the past few weeks She’d visited no less than a dozen times.  Each time bringing a variety of different baked goods personally to the giant estate.  She knew it was because Shirou adamantly refused to eat sweets, and they’d just go to waste on someone like Saber who consumed everything like a damned vacuum cleaner; the process of elimination played a factor, but Illya was still happy.  She didn’t have to constantly remind Sakura of her existence, and her slightly more filled out butt was proof of that now.  A fact in which Illya took pride in as she lathered soap on it.  Most important to Illya though, when the phone got installed, something Sakura pushed for adamantly on her first visit considering Sella’s prude disposition, Illya wasn’t always the one making the call.  That little fact made her positively jovial.  As she finished up with her washing, concluding with her (author’s note: probably delicious) idyllic feet,  Illya hopped out of the right side of the tub after some initial struggle, stood on the edge, and spread her limbs out in a power pose her back facing the tub.

“Sa-ku-ra!”

*Splash*

“Tch- mama, you never told me that would sting..”

She takes to pouting a bit upon resurfacing.

“Should the mistress of the house not act with more tact while taking a bath, Illyasviel-sama?”

“Should a maid of the illustrious Einzbern family not let her mistress relax?  Honestly Sella, formalities aside, I was hoping you’d learn to be a little more laid back.”

The ever present maids stood respectfully to the left and right of the bathtubs staircase exit.

From the right side, Liz chimes in “Sella.  Prude.”

“You know Liz makes a point Sella.  You’re gonna burst a blood vessel one of these days I swear.  Very costly to fix, you know?”

Again from the right, Liz shakes her head in approval and add’s a “hmm-hmm” to Illyas very astute observation.

Illya’s voice held a tinge of concern through the snarky veneer though.  She had been worried about Sella for a while now.  Wondering how someone could go about life like she does and not be depressed.  Focusing dead-set on one goal isn’t a fun way to live.  Sella was a Homunculus sure, but no one was going to deny she had her own thoughts and personality.  Should she not have something she aspires to?  Illya thought that way anyhow.

“I will not stand here and have my duty as a servant to the Einzbern slandered.  It’s… Incorrigible!  How can you two be so lax?  It doesn’t even compare to the-”

*Swish.  Swish*

“-way you two behaved a year ago.  So much has changed, I feel like I’m the only sane one anymore!  That Emiya boy has corrupted your mind!  It’s despicable!  Deplorable!”

*Swish.  Swish*

“Illya?”

Liz cocks her head in confusion at Illya’s slowly advancing in the water towards Sella.

“Shhh Liz.  This is important.”

“Ah.”

Liz smiles and awaits the inevitable.

“It’s all his fault!  That two-bit mage!  Lolicon!!  I’ll kill all of his kind!”

“Well Sella, if you kill my lolicon leaning Oni-chan, you’ll just have to love me instead!”

“AHHHHHHHH ILLLLYYYYAAAAA-SAAAMAAAA”

In one swift motion, Illya leaps out of the water, wraps her arms around Sella and puts the entire force of her body back towards the water, pushing off the side of the tub with her feet for extra leverage.

*SPLASH*

“I-Illyasviel-Sama… Why?”

Upon resurfacing, Sella was a mess.  Though she was now soaked from head to toe, one could still make out the tears slowly forming in her eyes.

Illya had gotten some… strange habits in the year since the grail war.  Of note, she took an interest in singing pop songs, and would entice (read: force) people to listen to her beautiful tone-deaf tones.  She picked up gaming, and had apparently made good friends with someone named ‘Broom-lover’ on Ybox Live.  Though a good experience for social interaction, Sella was less than fond of some of her madam’s new choices of words, which often saw them clashing, and that ties into the last point; She became a fan of choosing cruel and unusual punishments for her two maids.  Well, one could say “maids”, but it was all Sella.  Reprimands include making Sella and Liz switch outfits to make Sella painfully aware of what she was lacking, sending Sella out for “Bonding time” with Berserker, and most cruel; eating exclusively takeout for a time.  Sella takes pride in her cooking, so the thought that she not only was refused the opportunity to make it, but was forced to go out and buy the equivalent of pigs slop for her mistress killed her a little on the inside. (note, this punishment was swiftly dissolved, as one spicy order of Mapo Tofu made Illya despise the idea of “takeout’’.)

This latest incident of being pulled into the water Sella thought was the latest of her mistresses' mean streak.

“Ah- uh Sella… It’s okay.  You didn’t do anything bad, I’m sorry.  It’s okay.”

Illya held the now soaked Sella, and stroked her head lovingly.

“I just wanted you to relax.  I didn’t think about how your outfits are cold wash only.  We can get you some new ones tomorrow.  It’s gonna be alright.”

Silently sobbing into her mistress's chest, Sella began to take deep breaths and compose herself.

“Everyone has things they like.  You just value decorum and things like that.  Which is fine, even if I don’t really get it, you just gotta take the time to lay back some.  I hate seeing you so stressed all the time”

“Illya.  Can I… Come inside?”

Liz stood at the steps into the bath, already nude, awaiting an answer to the question.

It wouldn’t be the first time the 3 bathed together, but Liz’s choice of words made Illya a little flustered for a second.

“Y-yes that’s fine Liz.  Also, it’s ‘come in’ not ‘come inside’  . Those have two entirely different connotations.”

“Huh?  Why?”

“”Nothing you need to know!””

Illya and Sella both fired off at the same time, not wanting to ruin the innocence of sweet, sweet Liz, whose figure still perplexed the both of them to this day.  Illya’s headcanon was that Liz took the looks she was going to have when she had the chance to grow older, while Sella was just plain baffled and jealous.

“Hmm hmm.”

Brushing it off, Liz steps into the water, and quickly finds herself floating in the center.

“Oh, Illya-Sama?”

Poking her head up from Ilyas embrace, chin on her bosom, and expression filled with genuine contentment, Sella asks that question.

“Oh what is it?”

“I appreciate your kindness, but I am quite alright now.  Would you please let me take these clothes off?”

“hm”

Giving an affirmative sound, Illya releases her hold of Sella, and steps back.  In recent memory, they had been through something similar to this countless times.  The first time naturally left Sella very confused and frustrated.  After all, a maid shouldn’t be treated like that by their employer.  Though, she didn’t dislike it.  Sella rather appreciated the affirmation as things became more and more new and uncharted to her the longer their permanent stay in Fuyuki continued.  That fact was prevalent in her voice taking on a softer tone than any she’d ever used outside of Illyas embrace.

In truth, Illya was quite fond of that side of Sella.

The two maids began washing themselves, and making small talk.

“Liz, can you hand me the conditioner?”

“Here.”

“Thank you kindly my dear sister in maidhood.”

“Sella.  Cringe.”

“Haah.  We have to teach you better etiquette, you’re sounding like Illya-sama when she plays those TV games.  I’m trying my best here, you don’t need to be so upfront with how poor my performance was, Leysritt.”

“Sella.  Cringe.”

“Oh I give up.  Do as you will you overly endowed bum.”

Calmness turned into slight frustration as Sella remembered past humiliation.

*SWISH*

“ON SECOND THOUGHT GIVE ME SOME OF WHAT YOU GOT.  YOU HAVE PLENTY.”

Sella began chasing Liz in a half joking, half serious manner.

Illya wasn’t sure if the outfit held any sway over Sella, but she seemed to take a more lax approach to life when she wasn’t in that combat-nun-maid outfit.

“Someone had to be a real fetishist to be so sick of normal maids that they’d design that…”

Illya mutters, watching this spectacle before her.  If the Einzbern who designed it is a fetishist however, it does run in the blood.  Or at least she picked up on the same habits later on.

Her eyes watched them dart back and forth around the tub.  At first she had her sights locked on Liz, as she wondered if her running like that didn’t hurt her chest or back horribly.  Though it’s not like she actually cared, that was just a pretense to stare at her bouncing boobs.

Illyas gaze was largely on Sella though.  She had convinced the two to bathe with her many times before, but this was the first time she’d gotten a good look at Sella, as she was normally too nervous to do something so brazen.

All in all she had a fairly normal build, but the way her silky silver hair laid on her chest was alluring to her.  Not to mention the butt which was slightly bigger than Liz’s according to Illyas keen eyed view.  A fact she had never noticed before because of those goofy outfits.

She had tried to get them to change to traditional maid outfits once, something Illya herself is actually into, but Sella wouldn’t budge on it.  No matter what Illya threatened.

-That damned pride of her’s ruining my fun!-

-Though… maybe that’s for the best?  They did a maid cafe in Fuyuki last October, and I did kinda pass out after awhile… aha… maids.-

Eventually, Sella gives up as Liz is oddly fast.  Must be that Halberd she carries around or something.  The two take the side opposite Illya, and begin washing.

“Illya-sama, question.”

“Huh?”

Have answering, half breaking out of her ‘imagining everyone she knows in a maid outfit’ stupor, Illya snaps back to reality

“What did you mean by saying that if the Emiya boy died that I’d just have to love you instead?  Because while I don’t swing that way myself, If it meant getting rid of that blight I’m sure I could make some changes to my preferences with enou-”

“SELLA.  IT.  WAS.  A.  JOKE.”

Intertwining her fingers together and holding her arms downward in the water, Sella takes a moment to formulate a reply.

“My mistake Illyasviel-Sama…”

“Oh it’s fine.  You two will get the humor of those in the outside world someday.  Though honestly it’s not like I’d mind being in a relationship like that…”

“Illyasviel-Sama?”

“N-nothing, just talking to myself haha… Anyone but Sella.  I’d take Tohsaka over Sella.  GET THE DOVES OUT OF MY HEAD!”

Just imagining the site of marriage to her “loving” maid terrifies her.  She couldn’t hold power over her anymore.  Meaning all of Sellas unreasonable demands like ‘don’t go to the Emiya boy’s house’ ‘or don’t eat those sweets’, or ‘don’t let the Matou girl near the place!  She’s probably spying!!’.  A terrifying thought.

Especially that last one.  Sakura's visits have become something of a comfort to Illya.  Which reminds her-

“Hey Sella, is the oven cleaned up yet?”

“It should be ready to go for your liking Illya-Sama.”

“Good.  Make a note to get some ingredients for a cake sometime later today.  I think Chocolate would probably be the best.”

“Uh.. sure.  But isn’t that what made the big mess last time?  Are you sure you don’t just want me to bake it?”

“I’ll get it right this time!  I know it!”

“You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, Illya-Sama, as a matter of fact; you shouldn’t be cooking in the first place!  It does not suit the head of the house to partake in such peasantry.  Personally I blame the Matou girl.  Negative influence aside, she was supposed to be teaching you, but wasn’t there to show you the final step.”

“Sakura was talking on the phone with her useless brother.  It’s not her fault.”

“Yes but still, it’s not your fault she has an inferior family that’d be better off rotting.”

“Oh hush you!”

“Illya.  Flustered.”

Liz is technically correct, but Illya’s not flustered about Sella calling all the Matou a piece of filth Sakura included, that’s par for the course as much as she’s grown to disdain it, she’s more worried about the baking process.  Which was new to her, but she wanted to be perfect immediately so that she could repay someone who was so kind to her.  Plus, this was something Illya felt she had to do herself.  No amount of teasing or insistence on Sellas part was gonna change that.

“You’re right Liz, I need to get out of here and cool off.  Girls!  It’s time to dry off and head out!”

With newfound determination at her plans for later, after all she knows she has the process down this time, Illya embarks her way onto the Emiya residence for a party.