Alternate: A Flash of Silver

It was a mistake.

When he thinks back, he did set himself up to fall into this ambush. Why did he insist on walking around the village alone? Why did he trust a "gut feel" over Komachi's advice? Why didn't he take Keine's warning seriously? What was he thinking? But more than all that, why was this maid trying to kill him now?

"D-damn it," mutters Vincent as he catches his breath behind a tree.

He doesn't know how long he has been running. He has no idea how far he is from the village. All he knows is that if he stops, he is most definitely going to die.

"What the heck did I do to -"

His complaint is cut off abruptly when he senses the next attack. Three different knives fly toward him from different directions, each moving at a different speed. He immediately draws his sword to deflect the projectiles. Then, he maintains a defensive stance. Over twenty minutes have passed since this chase began, and he is getting tired of all this running.

"Damn it all!" he cries out. "Why are you doing this? I did nothing to you!"

At those words, over a dozen knives start flying at him. He easily deflects the attack with his weapon, though he can feel something even more dangerous approach. From the distant shadows, a familiar silver-haired girl walks into the open.

"Like I said earlier," says Sakuya coldly. "Don't take it personally."

"Don't take it personally?" repeats Vincent. "You're trying to kill me!"

"The cleaning never ends," says the maid. "Just stay still and die already. You are only delaying the inevitable."

"Why are you trying to kill me?" he cries. "Don't I at least deserve to know that much?"

Three knives appear in the maid's right hand. Vincent immediately prepares to block the attack, but Sakuya pauses at his question. Then, to his surprise, she answers.

"You are dangerous," she says. "If I leave you alone, you will most certainly hurt those around you. Even those you care about."

"What are you talking about?" he cries.

"I've seen it before," whispers Sakuya, almost sadly. "I won't let it happen again."

With those words, the chief maid throws several more knives at him. Vincent barely has time to block this attack, and before he realizes it, the chief maid is already standing beside him. From this distance, there is no way he can dodge or block her next strike.

He is going to die. His vision starts to blur violently, and time seems to slow down as Sakuya moves her knife-hand. The last thing he hears is a strange voice whisper from the back of his head.

"Not yet."

...

Vincent opens his eyes and blinks slowly. His brain takes a few moments to absorb his surroundings. All around him is a scene of devastation. Several trees are sliced cleanly at the trunk. Some of them seem to be charred black. The air smells like charcoal and burnt steel.

"Why do you hesitate?" whispers a voice from below.

He looks down to see Sakuya lying with her back on the ground. She looks badly bruised, and she has cuts all over. Her arms and legs are full of burn marks. Several strangely marked cards lie on the ground beside her, each of them sliced cleanly in half. Her left hand seems to be gripping a knife, though only half-heartedly. The girl stares defiantly at him, but he can see a glimmer of fear in her eyes.

Then, he realizes that he is standing right over her. At this moment, he is holding his blade over her neck, ready to end her life at any moment. Pain and exhaustion fill every part of his body, but more than that is the adrenaline. He must defeat this girl. He won't have this chance again. It will only take a little more effort to finish the battle.

"I was right," says Sakuya. "You really are monstrous. Even my ability isn't enough."

"You..." mutters Vincent. He can't think very clearly.

"That was careless," says the girl as she closes her eyes. "I hope Lady Remilia forgives my indiscretion."

"You...?" he repeats. Somehow, he needs to finish this.

"I guess I am going to die here," she says. "A dog's death, isn't it?"

"You." he whispers. He doesn't understand anything, and his body is moving without his consent.

"I haven't even told him how I feel," whispers Sakuya, her voice full of regret.

"You... look beautiful when you fight," says Vincent.

Suddenly, he feels himself press his lips against hers. He pushes his tongue roughly to part her lips. His hands feel the girl's delicate curves and soft skin through her uniform. His body, still hot from the battle, leans forward desperately against hers.

Then, his mind regains control. He immediately pulls away from her and drops his weapon. Was he just about to ravage this girl? What the hell is wrong with him? What is happening to him?

"W-what am I -" says Vincent as he backs away.

"Vincent!" cries another voice. "There you are! What happened here?"

"E-eh?" he says.

He glances behind to see Komachi running toward him, her face full of worry.

"What happened?" she cries. "Why are you hurt?"

"Ah!" says Vincent. "Well, that is..."

As he turns around, he finds that the chief maid is already gone.

...

After making sure that she is some distance away from the battlefield, Sakuya pauses behind a tree to catch her breath. Cursing at her own weakness, she straightens up her dress. Then, she starts examining her wounds. After finding that she isn't badly injured, she looks up to stare at the clouds.

"..."

Before she notices it, she puts a finger to her lips. More than the battle and the pain, she can feel something else burning warmly within. She can still feel every moment of that brief kiss. Sakuya has never felt anything so passionate. She stares dreamily at the clouds as she savors the feeling.

Then, she shakes her head as she returns to reality.

"W-what am I thinking?" she whispers harshly to herself.

It was a mistake.