Day 1
When I came to, I was in a burning field.
I guess there was a big fire. The familiar town had turned to ashes and it looked like the remains of a battlefield from a movie. But that didn't last long either
The fire had died down by the time the sun rose. The tall wall of flame had shortened, and most of the buildings had fallen.
It felt strange, being the only thing in that place that still had its original form. I was the only one alive around here.
I must have been really lucky, or my house was built in a lucky spot. I don't know which it was, but the point is, I was the only one left alive.
I felt that since I survived, I should live on. I started walking aimlessly, because I thought it would be dangerous just to stay there. I wasn't really concerned about getting burned up like the people lying around me. Probably because, over and above not wanting to be like them, I had a stronger feeling in my mind.
But still, I had no hope. It was already a wonder I was alive, so I couldn't expect to be saved. I won't survive. Whatever happens, I won't be able to escape from this red world. It was such an absolute hell that even a small child could understand it.
And I collapsed. Was it because there was no air? Was it because no function was left in my body? Anyway, I collapsed and stared up at the clouded sky.
Everything around me was burned up and I could see many shrivelled people. The dark clouds loomed overhead, telling me it would rain soon. That's good. The fire will be put out once it rains. In the end, I sighed deeply and looked up at the sky. I say to myself that it hurts.
I say so on behalf of all the people who couldn't even say so.
As my consciousness fades I am pulled away from the burning field to a moonlit forest.
Trees. A plethora of trees. Each tree, reaching upward, spreads its branches as if to embrace the night sky. As ancient trees with fat trunks stand together, I run through a narrow path laden with bamboo grass and foliage.
I turn around. I can see a roof lined with tiles. There is no gate or wall to be seen, but it is nonetheless a magnificent mansion, like one you would see in a period drama. A large, single storey, Japanese-style house, rather like the one I live in.
I can see a separate building, which is probably a shed. It gives the impression that the mansion's inhabitants are deeply rooted in Japanese tradition. At the cool sound of a bell, I correct my facing to the front.
Pulled forward by someone's hand, I increase my pace.
The incline of the path gradually steepens. Suddenly we veer off from the dirt path and proceed through the tall grass that grows alongside it. The hand pulling mine strengthens. Are we being chased by someone? Why are we hurrying?
I trample the grass under my feet, rushing forward. The sound of the wind rushing past my ears and through the trees gives the impression of a haunted forest.
Suddenly, my field of vision opens wide. At this point, we're probably halfway up the mountain. As far as I can lift my gaze stands a massive enjo tree. The culmination of hundreds of months and years, existing together with the wind and rain. As if the other trees stand in reverent reservation for this one, the area around it is slightly open.
At the passing of the wind, the flowers blossoming in the tree tremble faintly. I remember seeing this landscape before, though I don't remember where. Perhaps I've seen it on TV or in a movie?
No, that's not it. I know that's not it.
This is...
This place is...
This was where...
Someone precious to me passed away...
The flower petals, plucked by the wind, flit and dance like butterflies. A curious feeling of deja vu, and of loss. My heart aches in grief. I wasn't really paying attention to this before,
but, this place... this world...
...is wavering heavily, distantly, like the scenery of a fish tank with red
ink poured inside.
The moment I give it my attention, I can hardly think of anything else. As I look, the red thickens, interrupting my field of vision. As if to impede me from looking, the red sinks this world, to someplace distant. And as I strain my eyes, trying to see... a vivid red that wasn't there before burns into the depths of my eyes.
You mustn't...
I feel as if I'm being warned.
You mustn't...
Someone is calling out to me through the red haze…
You mustn't...
It says 'you shouldn't be here.' It says 'you shouldn't go there.' Because if I go then I won't ever be able to come back.
Sakura: "Senpai, are you awake?"
I feel cold air and approaching footsteps. I am pulled out of the depths of my subconscious, into my garden shed. I want to know what happened next in the dream, but it's only a dream. I should focus on reality. Shrugging off that sense of loss I open my eyes.
"…Mm. Good morning, Sakura."
The person who woke me from my sleep is Matou Sakura. She is in the year below me at Fuyuki High though she comes to my house everyday, before and after school. This situation may seem strange but there's a good explanation for it. I won't go into that now.
Sakura: "Ah, yes. Good morning, senpai."
Sakura smiles and nods as if accustomed to this situation, the morning light reflecting from her plum coloured hair and matching eyes.
Sakura: "Senpai, it's morning already. Fujimura-sensei will get mad if you stay asleep here."
"Oh… you're right. Thanks for coming to wake me up."
Sakura: "All right. But I'm happier when it turns out like this."
Sakura does indeed look pleased with herself. But I should get moving so as not to trouble her further.
Taking a deep breath, I step out of the shed and into the yard. Most people would find it strange that I spent the night sleeping on the floor of my shed, though I'll confess I don't normally do this, but sometimes I push myself so hard with my training that I fall asleep right there on the floor. What training is that? I, Emiya Shirou, am a magician. It's not like waving your hand and conjuring up flowers. I'm sure there are some magicians who can do that, though they would call it a waste of prana.
Although I call myself a magician, that's only really in name. The truth is I can only cast one type of magic, and recently my success rate is less than 1 in 100. It's been 3 months since I last succeeded in reinforcement magic. I persist even with such horrible results because this is the only power available to me. Why do I need this power? Because Emiya Shirou must become a superhero.
But enough of this. If I spend too much time reminiscing I'll be late for school.
As I step out of the shed the cold morning air blows away my drowsiness. I spend 15 minutes in the dojo training my muscles. I'm not studying martial arts and this sort of training isn't mandatory for a magician. My Father told me that if I want to be a superhero I have to train my body first. My adoptive Father, Emiya Kiritsugu, passed away 5 years ago. Although he passed away I'm not lonely. Sakura and Fuji-nee are around so often they're practically family.
I end my routine with 100 situps and change out of my gi and into my uniform. I don't need to become some kind of super athlete. So long as I can move my body the way I need to then that should be enough.
Breakfast passes by. Fuji-nee plays some trickery, switching the soy sauce with oyster sauce. Me and Sakura take care of the dishes while Fuji-nee lounges in front of the tv.
The news describes another gas leak that happened in the Shinto district. Such incidents bother me but there's no point in dwelling on things that have already happened. If I push myself in my training then if such an incident happens in my sight then I can prevent it. Anyway, no one was killed so it's not a tragedy.
As me and Sakura prepare to leave I see that I have mail. A glimpse at the front of the letter reveals the name Hatou Shirou.
It's obviously a mistaken address.
It's obviously a mistaken address… but…
…
If I dawdle around I'll make Sakura late for archery practice.
Sakura: "…Senpai?"
I just can't turn away from that name. Something tells me that if I don't heed the * in that letter. If I don't heed the war* in that letter. If I don't heed the *ning in that letter then…
Sakura: "Senpai… your face is turning pale. Are you ok?"
I make my decision in an instant.
"Go on ahead Sakura, I need to read this."
Sakura: "Umm… senpai…"
Did she see the name on the letter?
"It's ok Sakura, it's not a huge issue and I'm not in danger of missing practice since I'm not in any clubs, so I'll stay here and read this then catch up with you."
Sakura: "Umm, if you say it's so then, Senpai."
Sakura bows and leaves.
I watch Sakura leave, then head to the living room. As I stop at the table I am overpowered by the feeling that I shouldn't open this letter here.
Go to a dark place go into a dark hole no one will ever find you because if they do then you will –
I shake off the feeling of dread and head to my room. Pushing aside the sliding door and closing it gently behind myself as if afraid of being heard I sit down in the middle of the room.
I don't have a desk to sit at. In fact I don't have anything inside this room except a futon. I only use this room for sleeping, under normal circumstances at least, so in that regard the shed is more like my actual room.
I tear open the envelope carefully and set it aside as I remove the letter within. Unfolding the letter I see it is addressed to 'Hatou Shirou' spelt like Satou except with the Ha from haoribakama instead of sa.
Anyway it's obviously been delivered to the wrong address, my surname is Emiya, not Hatou. At this point it would be logical to put the letter back in the envelope and return it to the post office. I'll apologise for opening it even though it's the fault of the staff and they will apologise back even though it's of no real inconvenience to me.
But if I do that, then in less than 24 hours Emiya Shirou will –
It's not as if I have battle hardened instincts that warn me of impending doom. It's just that I've seen death before and I can tell when death is staring me in the face.
I read on.
The letter says my Mother passed away last night. I have inherited the Hazama residence, a mansion in the Hemidzura region. I vaguely recall from Geography class that that's a remote mountain village some 30km from Fuyuki, in the opposite direction of the large forest on the outskirts of town.
I look at the letter again. Hemidzura. That name means nothing to me, though as I stare at the words, flashes of red pain run through my head.
"Ah… agh!"
Don't remember don'trememberDON'TREMEMBER!
Shaking my head to clear the sudden headache I fold the letter and place it back in the envelope. I lived in a housing estate in Shinto before the accident so this proves it isn't me.
But I instinctively understand that if I ignore this warning –
"Don't be so paranoid, baka"
Father told me that for a magician it is necessary to live side by side with death. Even the slightest miscalculation can destroy the practitioner so before one practices magic one must accept death. Anyway what I'm saying is I pushed myself to the edge last night so it's only natural I would feel edgy. There's no other logical reason why I would feel this way if you look at things objectively so that must be the case.
I drop the letter onto my futon. The post office is on the way to school but I don't have time to stop there and since I have work tonight I will be heading to Shinto and then back home via a different route.
"It can't be helped, I'll take it back tomorrow."
So with that business taken care of I return to the hall, gather my school bag and put on my shoes.
I lock the gate. Sakura and Fuji-Nee both have keys to my house, and the rule is that the last person to leave locks up.
Sakura has long since gone ahead to the archery club so I set off alone.
By the way, I aren't in any clubs right now, though I was once in the archery club I quit after I sustained a shoulder injury at work. One of the club members said the scar was unsightly and brought shame upon the club.
Well, he had a point, but more than that I wasn't getting anything out of the club anyway.
It's not that I was bad at it. I never once missed my target except for that one time I missed intentionally. Aside from learning accuracy it is also important to develop strength to pull the bow back and fire with enough force to penetrate armour, and to develop the stamina to maintain strength and accuracy.
Well, there are better ways to develop strength and stamina than firing 200 arrows a day, and archery isn't a useful skill for a magus. If I have time to spare I should spend it working or training. Emiya Shirou isn't qualified to waste time on meaningless behaviour.
I head on towards Fuyuki High. The path from my residence takes me through the Japanese housing district to an intersection, and then up a hill and to the school, it's about a 15 minute walk. Only today it feels like 15 hours.
I noticed it about 2 minutes after I set off. A man with a trenchcoat is following me. I wouldn't have usually given him notice, he could simply be heading in the same direction as me.
But in the reflection of the parked car mirrors I can see his gaze is locked on me unwaveringly, a sinister glare shining in his eyes. I quicken my pace.
I reach the intersection where a large number of people are passing by. This intersection is probably the busiest place in Fuyuki right now; it links to Fuyuki High, the Japanese housing district, the western-style housing district, the bridge to Shinto, and the Ryudouji Temple.
As I approach the intersection a number of people suddenly stop are stare in my direction.
"…"
Are they looking at me or the guy following me? No, they're definetly looking at me.
The people don't look like they're together, just random strangers stopping in the road and staring, a businessman, a tramp, a woman escorting two young children to school, even a car stops in the middle of the intersection, the black silhouette of the driver turns its head in my direction, heedless to the blare of car horns and the shouts of angry drivers.
I suppress the urge to shudder and walk close to a large group of students.
I feel eyes on me from within the crowd and upon inspection I notice Tohsaka Rin is looking at me with a surprised expression. Tohsaka is a perfect honor student. Good looking, smart, athletic and faultless. People say she's the ideal woman. The guys in school treat her like an idol and since I'm a guy, I guess that counts me too.
Tohsaka's expression turns to one of indifference as she turns away and strides elegantly ahead, her twin black pigtails blowing in the wind behind her. Looking behind myself I see there are now 3 people following me, one on each side of the road and one car matching my pace. I don't know what's going on but Tohsaka obviously thinks I'm some kind of criminal being pursued by private detectives.
Well, it's not like I ever stood a chance with a girl like that anyway. I never stood a chance so I shouldn't feel so disappointed.
I reach the school gates and pass through with a feeling of relief. I am halfway across the school yard before it occurs to me that the people might actually follow me inside. I turn around to see that Kuzuki-Sensei has stopped them at the gate. They wouldn't seriously try to pass would they?
I feel their dark glare on me and after a few tense moments they turn and walk away.
Breathing out a sigh of relief I proceed to the classroom as the bell rings.
page break
First period ends. I make my way towards the student council room but stop in the corridor as I overhear the conversation of some of a couple of female first years.
Student 1 "So the way I heard it, this guy in a trenchcoat was found loitering in the corridors."
Student 2 "Wah, scary! Do you think it was some kind of pervert?"
Student 1 "Who knows? But what happens next is, Kuzuki-sensei confronts the guy and orders him to leave or he'll call the police.
So the guy assaults him and Kuzuki puts the guy down so fast you'd think he had 10 arms."
Student 2 "Now that you mention it, I think I overheard someone mention that Fujimura-sensei challenged Kuzuki-sensei to a Kenpo match."
I tune the conversation out and make for the student council. I suppress my unease as I overhear more fragments of conversation from other students.
Student 3 "But the creepiest part is, when they called the police around to apprehend him, the teachers escorted them to the room they had left him in, only to find he had disappeared without a trace."
Student 4 "I heard there was a human shaped shadow on the floor where they had left him."
"…"
This can only mean one thing. I've been living on this land and practicing magecraft without the permission of the guardian of this land. Somehow I've been discovered.
"Well, there's only one thing I can do. When they approach me I'll apologise honestly and offer to make it up to them with unpaid work."
I hope that'll be ok.
page break
School ends and I return to the student council room. Over lunch, the student council president, Issei, asked me to assist with some repairs.
I use my magic to locate the damaged area in the old electric heater and then fix it using conventional tools.
I said before that the only magic I can use is reinforcement magic. The truth is that's the only type of magic worth mentioning. It was analysis magic I used to understand the structure of the heater, but this isn't important. You'd think that the ability to understand the structure of an object merely by looking would be valuable. But for a magus the only thing important is to understand the essence of a thing quickly.
Working out the trivial details is a waste of time and attention, being distracted by meaningless things will only get me killed.
I finish the repairs and prepare to leave. On a whim I take a glance out the window, it's view facing the front of the school grounds. A woman with silver hair and golden eyes running into the building with an air of urgency. It may seem strange, but my eyesight is so strong that I can tell little details like eye colour even from this distance. Though I only catch a glimpse of her I can tell she is tall, beautiful and… umm… endowed.
Is she a parent I wonder? I don't think I've seen her before, and with such unique features I doubt I'd forget. I wonder briefly if I can help, but I already spent too much time helping Issei and I said I'd help the Furukawas. I promised them first so…
I head to work.
I find people staring at me on the way and consider just heading home. But I made a promise to the Furukawas that I would help with some lifting and I'm not one to go back on my word. If one of the people is a representative of the mages that govern this land then I'm sure they'll approach me in time. But even still…
"So, maybe today, I'll take the bus.
page break
It's 7pm and I finished work.
I don't really need the money and to be honest I wasn't expecting to be paid. I only went to help out but ended up with 30,000 yen. I guess this is what you call windfall.
…It's quiet.
An unnatural silence grips the city.
With the recent unfortunate incidents such as gas leaks and construction accidents the city has been getting like this recently.
"I guess this'll be the last time I work in the evening until things blow over."
I speak to myself, not to make myself understand, but to break the silence that threatens to smother me.
I am heading down the road past the bridge when –
"…huh?"
For a moment I can't believe my eyes. There is a person on the road which I thought was empty. The person is standing above me as if looking down at me.
"…"
Without realizing it, I hold my breath. The silver-haired girl smiles and descends the hill without a sound. As she passes…
Silver-haired child: "They'll get you if you don't summon it soon, Onii-chan."
She says something strange.
I wait for a few tense moments as she moves on, then release the breath I was holding. Her hair was silver, like the woman I saw at school, but her eyes were crimson and had the shape of a foreigner. Though she spoke fluent Japanese her voice had a foreign accent too. It may be an odd coincidence, but I don't think she was related to the silver-haired woman at school.
Suddenly I feel a chill creep down my back. As surely as if someone were holding a knife to my throat I know my life is in danger.
It's quiet. I hurry on down the road urgently. I feel like if I run I will be chased, so I supress the urge and stride quickly.
A few blocks away from my house I stop suddenly as my muscles tense up. Ahead of me the streetlight go out, one by one. Starting at about 100 metres they go out, one by one as if someone is switching them off while approaching me. It may simply be because my eyes are accustomed to the light, but the darkness that is left behind seems so dense I feel like it's solid.
A tense silence grips the area like the moment in a horror movie as the killer prepares to take the life of a victim.
*badump* *badump* *badump*
I turn around and prepare to flee in the direction I came. But as I do so I see that the lights in that direction are going out as well. From all directions around me the light is being smothered by a dense shadow, flooding in slowly from all directions.
The sound of my heart beating fails to drown out the sound of approaching footsteps. The hairs on my body stand on end, my mind screams at me to run or I will die. But my body won't follow my commands and I can't even breath. My mind wants to run, my instincts tell me I will be killed before I make it 5 metres.
The footsteps stop directly behind me and I feel an oppressive presence. The streetlamps go out. An unnatural darkness floods out from behind me.
Man: "To think a carrier of the fabled Nie no Chi would appear before me so suddenly. Could you be Hatou Shirou?"
He – no 'it' speaks in a deep voice.
Gloved hands extend past my shoulders and come around to rest upon my throat.
Man: "I thought it might be a trap, but it seems you are simply a fool who walks around without a concealment charm in the sight of wolves."
The tips of his gloves separate as claws extend from the ends of his fingers. His hands tense –
Man: "Blame your fate on your naivety, boy."
-And the claws mercilessly rend Emiya Shirou's throat.
There wasn't even time to turn around, struggle or dodge.
All the training I did was for nothing.
I knew I was going to be killed no matter what I did.
I knew I was going to die yet I could not move a single muscle.
In one motion my life has been ended.
"Cggghh…"
Since my vocal chords are torn I can't even scream.
I am pulled back into the arms of the * that holds me. Its face does not look human.
The world distorts. My body grows cold. Feeling vanishes from my fingertips.
"Cgh…gh…"
I taste blood in my mouth. It's a metallic taste. When I was younger I put a yen coin in my mouth, just to see what it would taste like. It tastes like that.
"…"
My vision turns red. It reminds me of the time I * my Father. My other Father I mean. I see again the moment I * him.
There's no feeling in me. I feel like a jellyfish floating in the dark sea at night. I don't feel any pain already. The world is red, and only I am black.
I know this. I felt this ten years ago. This is how someone feels when dying.
I cannot concentrate on my vision.
The * lowers its monstrous face towards my broken throat and –
?: "You've got some nerve, monster, hunting in my territory."
-I fall to the hard concrete with a thud as my vision fades.
I hear some strange noises I've never heard before, but I comprehend them as the sound of a battle. The * is claiming another victim. I feel some regret but there is nothing I can do about it. I am already dead.
I can't… hear… much… now…
A few minutes pass, or is it years? Have I passed on already? I cannot see, I cannot feel, I cannot hear. I am blind, deaf and dumb, but I am conscious. Will I spend the rest of eternity in this darkness?
Girl: "…But it's amazing he isn't dead yet."
I hear a muffled voice with my nearly deaf ears. Is that the sound of a girl? I can't make out the words. I sense someone looking at my face. I vaguely feel fingers touch my lips and…
Girl: "…Stop it. Why does it have to be you?"
I hear a grinding sound.
Girl: "No… this is my fault. I should've known this would happen when I saw you this morning. I should've acted."
She touches me with hesitation.
Girl: "…Reforge the ruined vessels and use it as a substitute, and restore the windpipe in the process, huh? If I succeed, I'll be accepted to the Clock Tower instantly…"
A pain-filled voice. With that, my mind stops fading.
Feeling returns to my body. Slowly, bit by bit, like a drop of water going down a leaf, feeling returns to my body.
What is she doing? She places her hand on my neck.
My neck feels hot. It must be so hot the frozen blood melted and started flowing again.
Girl: "Phew."
I sense someone take a deep breath and sit down.
Girl: "I'm tired…"
I hear a clang of something falling.
Girl: "…Well, I guess it can't be helped. Forgive me, Father. Your daughter is terribly heartless."
My heart resumes activity and I feel blood flow through my veins again. And then, my mind stops.
Page Break
"Ah… guh."
I wake up.
"!"
I feel sick. My whole body is in pain. Red hot pain lashes through my throat with each breath I take.
I can't remember what happened because of my headache. My body is cold, probably from lying on the road with the chill night air around me. The only thing I am certain of is that the puddle of blood I am lying in belongs to me.
"…!"
I get up with a hazy head. The spot where I was lying looks like a murder scene. Looking behind me I see the street has become a battlezone.
The streetlamps are back on, and one lamppost is bent and flickers. Fist sized holes mar the walls. The ground is torn up in places. The only way a disaster like this could've occurred without anyone hearing or seeing is if they were rejected by some kind of bounded field I think as I calmly analyse the situation.
In the middle of the scene is a large mound of dust, covering a trenchcoat, black pants, hat, gloves and a pair of boots.
"Damn, I really…"
… had my throat slashed and was left lying in the road?
Bearing the pain from my throat that renders me unable to even complain I look around for something to clean the mess with. I see a garden hose lying beside a car beneath the flickering light. The light pattering noise of moths assaulting it can be heard amid the humming noise it emits. Aside from that, the night remains as silent as ever, though not the smothering silence that I felt earlier.
Tracing the hose to the wall of a nearby house I turn the slightly rusty faucet.
Huh… what am I doing?
I'm still in a panic. Why am I thinking of cleaning up when I've just been murdered by… something… am I an idiot?
I point the nozzle of the hose at the pool of blood. I notice the hands that grip it are pale white and unhealthy looking. Dust, dirt and loose stones dislodge under the water pressure and the dirty reddish-pink water flows down the drain. I notice a necklace with a heart shaped crimson jewel attached to it shining in the glare of the streetlamps. Reaching down with my pallid hands I take the necklace and put it in the pocket of my blood-stained school uniform.
I wash away the dust mound and neatly fold the clothes, placing them on the side of the road. Turning off the hose I leave it exactly where I found it as if hiding the fact that I used it, and leave the area like a zombie.
The air is cold. My body feels cold. It must be because I lost so much blood I think.
When I get home it's past midnight. There's no one home of course, but strangely the lights are all on.
Neither Fuji-nee nor Sakura is around now.
"…Ah…. Haa… haa… haa."
Panting lightly, I unlock the gate and push it open weakly.
The hall lights are off but I can see the living room lights are on, shining through the shoji screens as if to welcome me.
I step into the hall, remove my shoes and relax a little. Suddenly I am almost overcome by nausea. I proceed around the hallway to my room.
It's faster to head through the front entrance of the living room and then through the back door into the corridor, but if I walk around I will pass the bathroom and will be able to make it if the nausea overcomes me.
Anyway I pass the bathroom and proceed past the living room. As I approach the door I notice it is open. Peering through I see a woman sat at the table facing the front entrance. I vaguely recognise her as the woman from school. Her thick silver hair is tied back in a braid, and fall in two long tassels about her shoulders. I can't see her face from here, but that hairstyle and colour is uncommon enough that I can be certain it's her. She looks like she's expecting someone so I shouldn't disturb her.
Taking care to suppress the sound of my footsteps I approach my room.
The door of my room is open. Now that I notice it, the doors to all of the rooms are open. The front door to the living room was open too, but from my angle I couldn't see inside it.
Peering inside I see that the contents of my wardrobe have been emptied out. My clothes lie strewn across the floor messily, a naughty magazine lies open on top of a white and blue jumper.
I feel the blood rise in my cheeks as my faint mind tries to think of a way to explain it. As I look around flustered I notice an unsealed envelope with an open letter on the ground beside it. Maybe it's because I was embarrassed, maybe I recalled the warning from earlier. Adrenaline floods into my veins and revives my confused brain.
What the hell am I thinking?
I was murdered! The house has been searched! A stranger is in the house waiting for me to return!
It seems fair to assume this person wants to kill me. I'll be killed like last time.
Shaking my head I dispel the panic creeping up on me. There's no way I'll let myself to trapped again so easily. Picking up a bokken from within my nearly empty closet I begin the process of inserting a hot iron rod into my spine, transforming my nerves into a temporary magic circuit. I analyse the structure of the piece of wood and pore prana in through the gaps.
"…Ah!"
I stifle my gasp. The reinforcement was successful right when I needed it. The reinforced bokken is more dangerous than it looks, but if my opponent is a monster then…
I should avoid combat.
Bending down to retrieve the letter I realize – no, 'realizing' implies sudden understanding. I already understand that this was a warning that Emiya Shirou must not ignore. So why did I-?
No. Whether it was instinct, sixth sense, or an enchantment upon the letter to warn me the result is the same.
I retrieve the jumper and a pair of jeans, stuff the letter into the pocket, and carefully retrace my steps along the corridor.
As I creep past the living room I look through the doorway to see the woman is still there, though now slouched to the side and leaning on her elbow.
It reminds me of Fuji-nee after eating, but I'm not so naïve as to think I can trust her just because of that.
I edge past the door, feeling as if I am shimmying along a ledge on a skyscraper overlooking a 200m drop.
I know that if I make a single misstep the result is the same.
All those years of playing hide-and-seek with Fuji-nee taught me which floorboards creek, so long as I am careful then…
The doorway slips out of my sight and I gently let out the breath I didn't realise I was holding, taking care not to make too much noise and not to aggravate my throat.
Creeping past the living room I approach the front door and slip my shoes on quietly. Grateful for my unusual carelessness in leaving the door unlocked I slip outside. I creep for a few metres then break into a spring in the direction of Shinto.
Adrenaline makes up for my poor blood supply as scenes flash past my eyes. The road where I was killed, the intersection, the riverside park, the bridge.
And I come to a stop outside the field in front of the train station. I drop the bundle in my hands, place my hands on my knees and suck in lungfulls of air.
"Ah… hah… ha…. ah…"
Sucking in air through my tortured lungs I check my surroundings.
The field beside me was a housing estate. 10 years ago it was burnt to the ground and this park was built as a memorial. Come to think of it I don't think I've ever seen anyone use it. This land is as barren as when it was still covered in the wreckage of collapsed buildings.
I know this because I was there. Anyone local could tell you about the fire, but only someone who had been there could describe the sheer hell that it was.
Staring at the park I try to think back to before the accident.
"Hatou…"
That might've been my name. No, it was my name, I just disregarded it because I'm Emiya now and proud of it.
No, that isn't quite right either. I realise with a little surprise that I wanted to forget what came before.
I can understand wanting to forget the tragedy that occurred here, though I would never choose to.
So what happened before that that I want so eagerly to forget? Once again red hot pain lashes through my mind and I find myself on my knees.
"Ah… augh!"
I don't have time for this now. I may be able to find answers in Hemidzura but right now I'm still in danger. As of this morning I became a magnet for monsters and if this continues I'll die without saving a single life.
Without worrying about modesty I step into a bush and strip off my bloody school uniform.
As I am removing my pants something slips from my pocket. Bending down I see that it is the heart shaped pendant from before. The necklace left for me by the girl who saved my life.
It doesn't occur to me that it might've belonged to that monster. I feel that such an elegant thing could never have touched such horrible claws.
I've never felt affection for an object before, but right now this is the most precious object in the world to me.
Placing the necklace into the pocket of my jeans I vow to someday repay the girl who saved my life. Shivering in the cold night air I slip the jeans on quickly. I fumble with the button for a few seconds with my numb fingers before I succeed in fastening it.
*shuffle shuffle*
I put the bloody rags that were my school uniform into my bag and wipe my blood stained hands on the grass. When my hands are sufficiently cleaned I retrieve my school bag and wooden sword and head towards the train station.
Sudden movement flashes past the corner of my sight and my vision is drawn to a nearby tower building. The tallest building in Fuyuki stands beside the train station, red lights flashing on top. For a moment I think I see a woman clinging to the side like a spider, her black leather outfit clinging tightly to her form, her long violet hair hanging down as if she is spinning a web with it.
In the next moment she disappears. It's not that she hid. There was no place to hide since she was clinging to the blank face of a building and all the windows were shut. She just faded into the air.
Considering the things I've seen today I can't put it down to my imagination and I can't risk the chance that it is hostile so I hurry across the road.
I walk up the stairs into the train station for the first time in my life. Approaching the reception desk to buy a ticket I am momentarily concerned that the staff might think I am some kind of runaway. I guess it's because it's so late at night, but no one else is here and the woman behind the counter is reading a magazine. She serves me with very little interest, eager to get back to reading her article and I put the ticket in the pocket of my jeans.
Grateful for her lack of responsibility I make my way to the train before she takes notice of the situation. The train is here but isn't due to leave for another 15 minutes. I guess I'm fortunate since it's another 4 hours til the next train, waiting only 15 minutes is a comparably short time.
I board the train midway and find a cabin. If I am attacked then it will be harder for me to be cornered in the middle of the train than at either end. Placing my bag in the luggage rack I lock the door and take my seat.
I feel I should stay conscious, at least until the train beings moving, but it seems I can't manage that in my condition. My struggle to stay awake is quickly thwarted by the overwhelming fatigue that creeps up on me and my mind sinks into the forest within my subconscious once again.
