#gakupo in the polycule's bedroom sick as rin gushes about len being back with them

[sleepy-bunbun-ace]

Five injured White Knights laid on the forest floor while an automaton pilot struggled to get out of her damaged suit. An alchemist stood on the long hair of the oldest knight. "Fufu, how hilarious," Rui chuckled, "it seems that even though with all your talk about defeating us, you just simply can't do that. Saki was right in joining us instead."

The eldest knight simply coughed and let out a soft 'fuck you'.

"Well, as fun as this was, I simply cannot let you live, my dear Tsukasa-kun. Maybe in another life things could have played out differently. Goodbye, my dear Tsukasa-kun."

The other knights could only watched in horror as Rui raised his staff while the pilot only struggled harder in getting out.

"I would step away from the young one, if I were you." Rui's body involuntarily stepped away from Tsukasa. His eyes were wide as he looked around. Soon enough his eyes settled on an older woman walking out of the woods.

She had short brown hair with silver streaks coming to her neck. Her light brown eyes looked at him with a hardened expression but also... disinterest? She wore a long red dress with a white collar, her sleeves rolled up and an apron tied around her waist. She had black gloves on her hands and brown boots on her feet. Around her neck was a pendant with a crest that was familiar to Rui.

She continued forward until she was standing in front of the White Knights. "It's quite rude of you to call someone your 'dear' when you don't mean it, isn't it? Hasn't your caretaker taught you anything about manners?"

Rui growled. How dare she. How dare she say such things! "You-"

"Meh, it doesn't matter. What matters is this." She took out a small rubber ball from a pocket Rui didn't notice. "Take out all your anger on him, won't you?"

The ball seemingly came to life and immediately targeted Rui. It pelted him with attack after attack, leaving him no room to defend himself. Seemingly satisfied, the woman turned to the injured White Knights.

All of them tensed, ready to defend themselves if she attacked even if they were injured. It broke her heart seeing these young teenagers act like that. "Please don't worry, I'm here to help. I saw what happened and I just couldn't let it happen any longer." She knelt down to their level.

Tsukasa didn't know whether to feel relief or terror. She singlehandedly beat Rui. Rui! The strongest Alchemist and one of the elites of the enemy! She could easily kill them off! Not that he would let her, of course! His juniors were much too precious to him and he didn't want anything bad happening to him. It wasn't until her pendant caught his eye that he made his decision.

That familiar dragon head looking to side with its emerald eye was very familiar. Now that he thought about it, the woman looked very familiar too. A faint memory locked under a haze surfaced for a bit before disappearing. "Alright, I'll trust you for now. But if you even dare lay a hand on them..."

"You have my word that I won't, darling. Now, allow me to pick you up." The woman did so with ease. She held Tsukasa like a prince would hold his princess after he saved her from the villain. Such a strange thing to think about. Like a troupe from a fairy tale.

The woman walked over to Minori who had the least injuries as she was in her automaton. She was still struggling to open it up. "Let her out, please." The makeshift doors opened with ease and Minori clumsily got out.

"Thank you so much, miss!"

"Huhu, it's alright dear." A large, fluffy dog with white fur jumped out of the automaton too and into his owner. Akito jumped up and hid behind Mizuki who was shaky on their legs. Len was helping Shiho up.

"Oi, senpai, why are we trusting this powerful forest lady?" Akito questioned. Mizuki could tell he wouldn't be getting an answer from how their senior looked. "Look on the bright side, Lil' Bro! She isn't attacking us like a certain someone."

"I know, but..."

"I know I'm just a stranger to you all but I will gladly help all of you out. Please, follow me." The woman turned to look at the automaton and rubber ball who was still attacking Rui. "Both of you, please follow us. As for you, alchemist, I suggest running far from here and not following us." They all did as told.

The automaton hovered without its pilot and the rubber ball bounced over. Rui's legs started running off into a random direction. The group went into the same direction as the woman had came from. Minori allowed Shiho and Len to climb up on her automaton with her as Samo-chan guarded the woman and Tsukasa. Akito had Mizuki's arm around his shoulder as he half-carried them along.

Soon they reach a clearing where a large castle was. Well, it was more accurately described as an off-balanced mesh of buildings, canons, and disparate pieces of junk hanging onto one another. It was also on creaky legs. A scarecrow with a top hat on its head, a pipe in a crudely drawn mouth, and wearing some more sophisticated clothes came up to the group.

"My sun! You're home!" A voice called. The group looked up to see the faint shape of another woman high up on the castle. The other woman jumped down to join them. Well, specifically to be with the other woman.

The other woman's pink hair was done up in butterfly locs as they cascaded down her back. Some locs went over her shoulder. Her blue eyes looked over at the woman carrying Tsukasa with so much love in them. She wore a form fitting off-white button up. Some deliberately left unbuttoned. It was tucked into some black dress pants and covered by a pink and blue diamond patterned jacket with gold trim. Her jewelry was eye-catching. Beautiful emerald earring dangled from her ears as a gold necklace with a diamond sat snugly on her neck. Rings covered her painted fingers.

The knights recognised her immediately. "Y-you're-!"

"Oh! We have some guests! Hello there, you all are now in the presence of Luka Megurine-Pendragon! It seems you have already met my wife, Meiko. Allow us to help you in your troubles."