Where Is She?

Apophis walked towards the kitchen and saw Grayfia washing the dishes, choosing not to disturb her she just sat down at the dinner table and poured herself a glass of wine drinking it slowly while thinking about some things.

After some time Grayfia walked out of the kitchen and placed a plate in front of her.

Apophis didn't say anything but just looked at Grayfia who was looking around feeling a bit uncertain.

'Should I ask about it or not?' After contemplating for some time she made up her mind and looked at Apophis.

"….Apophis-san did master really didn't get a chance to confess his feelings?" Grayfia asked.

"You want to know that, so is this supposed to be my bribe or something?" Apophis chuckled as she looked at the plate of sizzling hot steak in front of her as she stirred her wine.

"I just made it for you as you haven't eaten anything for the past two days while you were looking after Master, So It is fine even if you don't tell me." Grayfia smiled softly because she didn't have any intentions of bribing her with food as she doubted it would work.

"I was just standing by you were the one taking care of him, but the bribe will work only if it is made by Ash," Apophis said with a smile.

"Am I that easy to read?" Grayfia asked but she wasn't surprised as the latter has been able to tell what she has been thinking for the past 2 days pretty easily.

"I am just sensitive to these things because I have lived with Ash for quite a while, it was very difficult to tell what he was thinking so I had to learn a thing or two." Apophis smiled as she dug into the steak with the knife and fork taking a bite.

"You have really worked hard Apophis-san," Grayfia said with a smile.

"Yes I have, but this is good by the way," Apophis said as she took a sip of wine but her voice sounded a bit different.

'What was the use of me working hard when I couldn't help him when it mattered the most?' Apophis thought as she continued to eat.

"So can you tell me about that?" Grayfia asked.

"Well, He did lie about that," Apophis said causing Grayfia to look down.

"You don't look that shocked," Apophis said as she smiled.

"When Master said that I felt that he wasn't telling the truth. But I didn't want to ask something that will sadden him further." Grayfia said softly.

"…He sure is fortunate." Apophis just smiled at Grayfia.

'Like really fortunate if I may add, but he is an idiot and a really big one at that. Guess there is always a balance of things.' Apophis smiled while thinking.

"No, if anything, I am the fortunate one. I don't know what would've happened to me if I didn't get the chance to meet him." Grayfia said with a little sadness when she remembered him looking in the mirror.

"That is the reason I want to help him too that is my duty as his maid," Grayfia said as she looked at Apophis.

"As a maid, is it?" Apophis smiled knowingly causing Grayfia to look away with a bit of blush.

Apophis just smiled at her and shook her head.

"Grayfia what do you think Scathach means to Ash?" Apophis asked suddenly putting Grayfia on the spot.

"From what I heard from you, she is Master's teacher and someone master loved and respected," Grayfia said.

"That is putting it really shortly. You can say that Scathach is everything to him, She is his teacher or 'Shishou' as he called her. She had taught him everything he knows from fighting to how to survive so she holds a special status in his heart with that alone. She saved him when he was at his weakest giving him a purpose to live and strive for; You can say that Ash was just wet clay and the one who molded him was scathach teaching him everything making him a complete person. If it wasn't for her Ash would've died long ago, even though I hate to admit it she was the reason he could carry on for so long while keeping his mind together." Apophis said as she looked a bit sad while talking.

"If she meant so much to Master, Then why didn't he tell her?" Grayfia who was listening to her asked with curiosity.

"The reason Ash didn't confess to Scathach was that he had changed so drastically. And the change wasn't a good one for him, as he became everything that Scathach would hate. He thought he wasn't worthy enough to stand next to her or even call her his teacher anymore let alone say that he loves her, so he buried it inside him keeping his distance from her even after all the suffering he went through to fix everything. He just kept it all to himself like the idiot he is." Apophis said slowly.

Grayfia was somewhat stunned by this.

"Apophis-san you keep telling me that he was different before from what he is like now. What was he like? As I have only seen him like this I want to know more about him." Grayfia asked as she ignored the eyes of Apophis who was smiling at her.

"If I have to sum him up in one word then 'Sun' would be the most appropriate he shined wherever he went with the brightest smile that can light up even the gloomiest days even though he tends to hide his pain deep within his heart he was always helping others in a godforsaken world, When he first met me he won't shut up about his 'Shishou' talking about her all the time to the point I felt like my ears will fall off, but now he can't even bring himself to call her that not to mention her name. that is the difference between him from before when he was a 'sun' to the 'sun' that has run out of its life and replaced by endless darkness," Apophis said while taking a sip of wine.

"But didn't you say that master was allowed to call Scathach-san by her name?" Grayfia asked.

"Oh, he was allowed by Scathach to call her by her name after his Final test it was weird as she hadn't allowed any of her former students to call her by her name and it also proved as a testament to his strength as pretty much everyone thought of him as Scathach's lover, but he never called her by her name other than that time. Seriously I just think these two idiots should've just accepted their feelings and be done with it rather than this." Apophis said as her nostrils flared.

'For master to change so much he must've been through many tough times, from what Master was described like before to what Master is like now...' Grayfia was again lost in her thoughts.

'The pride of these two was really a handful, the teacher who couldn't break away from her duty despite her love for her Student and a Student who thinks he has no right to call her his teacher or face her after he has derailed from her teachings.' Apophis thought as she saw Grayfia was lost in her thoughts and she finished her food.

"Fucking Idiots if you are going to suffer anyway at least do it together," Apophis muttered a bit hatefully though she just wanted to lighten the mood and her words caused Grayfia to break away from her thoughts.

"Do you want more Apophis-san?" Grayfia asked.

"No, I am full. I'll go to sleep then," Apophis said with a smile.

"Ok," Grayfia said as she cleaned the table while thinking.

"See you in the morning," Apophis said with a smile as she walked towards the hallway.

"Yes good night, oh wait," Grayfia called out but Apophis was already gone.

"Where is she going to sleep?" Grayfia said to herself but then the thought from before occupied her mind making her forget about Apophis.

And here Apophis who was wearing a black T-shirt and shorts was standing in front of a bed with a smile.

"What did I say about showing me your back?" Apophis said as she climbed onto the bed.

…..

It was currently 9:30 A.M in the morning and Grayfia has just finished cleaning the house, She looked at the time after she prepared for breakfast and walked towards her Master's room as that was the only room that hasn't been cleaned and she also had to wake him up.

'Where did Apophis-san go? I checked all over the house and didn't find her.' Grayfia thought because she can't sense her, she didn't know where Apophis went. she reached the door of Yuuya's room and took a deep breath before opening the door slowly.

"Pardon my intrusion Master," she said softly and entered.

She walked towards the bed and her steps came to a halt.