Hello! Welcome to Fate/Another Night, the story of Kishinami Hakuno in the Fifth Grail War of Fate/Stay Night!
I am starting school and I just got a job recently so I don't know how often I will update this, but I wish to complete this story! So I have been meticulously planning this story before I started writing it!
In addition to this story, I plan to have a side series to it similar to Carnival Phantasm and Today's Menu For the Emiya Family!
Update: Sorry, forgot to mention, this is a Gilgamesh x Hakuno story!
Also, thanks for pointing out that Shirano was a female name Kim454. All I did was look for alternate readings and try to flip the kanji etc. I got tired so then I was like "ugh, let's just call him Shirano!" and thus it happened. I've now changed it to "Yashiro" in this case I really did flip the kanji of Hakuno. (I originally wanted to avoid having "Shirou" in his name, but there is nothing I can do lol.)
Anyways, I hope you enjoy the story!
When the girl opens her palm, there lays a single cherry blossom petal.
It is light pink—a blush between a peach and a rose.
With the sight of the single petal, the girl feels a complex heaviness of heart—as if she had lost something.
Tears glide down her cheek.
For a moment, the girl is about to throw aside the stray petal—however, instead, the girl tucks it away in her pocket for safe keeping. Something inside her tugs at the thought of throwing away that petal—as if it were something so important that she should never throw it away.
She could not remember, though, why the petal was so important.
The girl's long, wavy chocolate brown hair floats with her every step as light filters through it, lovingly stroking the stray strands which fly behind her. Her footsteps echo through the empty, sunlit hallway as she approaches that room—her room.
As if on instinct, she stops in front of a sliding door which had the label "2-B" above it. Her hand reaches for the handle and stops on it, letting her fingers soak in the smooth and cold texture of the door.
This is the room she had been using during the Holy Grail War. It is the place where her Servant—an Archer; she remembers now—and her had prepared for countless of battles. However, just what heroic spirit her Servant was, she could not clearly recall.
There are mixed images at the thought of her servant.
On one hand, there are flashes of a red coat and white hair—a being that was as 'nameless' as her. Heroic, caring, and mature were words that came to her mind and she could distinctly remember the warmth of her Servant's hand when he would pat her head. It was a comforting feeling, soft and kind. He was like an older brother.
On the other hand, golden light blinds her vision as flashbacks of a golden Servant came to her. There was fear, irritation, and exasperation that came with the thought of this Servant. However, despite being pushed around by the Servant's every whim, Hakuno couldn't help but feel a sense of trust and dependency towards the servant. With the thought of his strong, ever-confident attitude, her pessimistic fears were put to ease. When he was standing by her side, she felt safe.
Her mind was getting slow.
There is a lingering feeling in her gut—demise pulling on her soul as her very being hits a revelation before her own mind can.
Beyond that door are ruins.
As soon as I open it the Moon Cell will delete me—
Kishinami Hakuno's Holy Grail War will be over.
However, Kishinami Hakuno could not accept such a fate. She has not lost yet. After all, Hakuno had defeated many tough opponents—many, her friends—to advance to the sixth round.
Hakuno didn't want to accept this fate—not with how many friends she had lost in the process of it all.
For her to vanish now… no—this was her fate. Kishinami Hakuno should have already long vanished in some other place. The only reason she was here now was because she was saved by a miracle.
However, you can only break the rules once; that is why they call it a miracle after all.
There are no second chances. There are no exceptions.
As soon as Hakuno opens this door, she will be erased from this time axis.
Hakuno steels herself. That's all right. Her lips press together as her hand grasps the door handle.
It is time to pay my dues.
Kishinami Hakuno slides the door open, prepared for her end—for her death.
"Hnn… I came here early, but this room is shabby too—it seems."
A deep voice flows from the center of the room. It is smooth and rich like velvet. The voice is full of arrogance and an irritating self-importance and haughtiness—so much so that it gives rise to a familiar bubbling frustration from the brunette girl at the entrance.
Hakuno gapes as her legs take her deeper into the room and closer to the man inside it, sliding the door behind her shut. Her caramel eyes are large and wide as she gawks at the nude man in her room. The man sits, with one leg over the other which—thankfully—covers his crotch, on a seat covered in a rich, silky scarlet cloth. His hair is a golden treasure, spiked up and glorious, while his crimson rubies for eyes glimmer in the dimly lit room, daring yet enchanting. Crimson tattoos decorate the man's lightly tanned torso as golden jewels hang around his neck and off his ears.
"Truly, its humbleness suits you." The blonde snickers. Hakuno would have most likely felt more frustrated at the comment if it weren't for the fact that she was still dumbfounded over the sight of a grown, naked man in her private room. What is with this streaking…?
A small smile lifts the handsome man's lips as he continues. "But, let's not vent dissatisfactions just now." Without needing a reply, the blonde nudist moves along with a tone of amusement in his voice. "Having come over to this side, I've had to give up ninety percent of my belongings. I must resign myself to this penury for the time being."
It was then that she—Kishinami Hakuno—remembers.
I remember… I remember—!
There was a time where Kishinami Hakuno was falling—in a sea of darkness, she held on and, stubborn, was unwilling to give in. It was then that she had met an irregular Servant who she used her three command spells on in order to be in his presence, to look upon him, and to speak to him. He—the golden man—is the Servant she had contracted with on the Far Side of the Moon, the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh.
That's right! Her memories were returning—flashing through her mind like a tempest as a storm of revelation. We solved the incident BB had caused on the Far Side of the Moon…!
Gilgamesh watches Hakuno, observing the girl's change of expression amusedly as a small sincere smile adorns his gorgeous face. "Good, you've put your memories in order swiftly." The smile morphs into a smirk as Gilgamesh reads the brunette like a book.
"Having contracted with a denizen of the Far Side like myself, you are entirely different from other Masters." Gilgamesh explains, "Those events are now a dream, but the battle you unfolded was real." He concludes, "Therefore, I am here."
Hakuno blinks at her former Servant in astonishment. She could understand the part about the events being a dream and such and his very presence does prove that the battles they had partaken in were real—however, she could not wrap her mind around just how Gilgamesh had been able to cross over to the Near Side of the Moon. "I didn't think you could come to this side, though…?"
"I've broken that rule." Gilgamesh announces with bold confidence before he began to elaborate on the details. "When I woke up, I happened to set out on a pleasure trip. In addition, I looked into the matter of your Servant on this side."
For a short second, Gilgamesh seems to narrow his crimson eyes. "The class was Archer, but… it seems the World had other plans for your Servant and had forced the severance of your contract." A snide chuckle escapes him and the following comment causes Hakuno's eyebrow to twitch. "Your dog has been stolen away from you right under your nose."
"I hadn't imagined that much would happen." Hakuno's annoyance fades as she hears the sincerity in Gilgamesh's tone as he gradually returns to his usual bravado. "If you were disqualified for lack of a Servant before you could even be defeated in the sixth round, I'd never live it down."
At those words, Hakuno can feel something bubble in her heart.
"Even if brief, you were contracted with me." Gilgamesh's expression is initially serious as his amused smile falls into a frown and his eyebrows furrow. "You can only go out if you fight with all your strength and find it insufficient."
Hakuno stares dumbfoundedly at the arrogance she had long since grown used to from Gilgamesh. She isn't sure what exactly it is, but she can identify that one of the feelings filling her chest is surprise; the other, however, she could not identify. Her lips rise slightly as she could no longer hold back a smile—anticipating the coming words.
"So, what will you do?" Gilgamesh's voice rings in Hakuno's ear with its usual flare of confidence. "There is one available Servant here, but…" His brilliant crimson rubies meet Hakuno's own caramel brown eyes. Those eyes never ceased to amaze Hakuno: bright and confident scarlet orbs that seemed to know no fear and exhibits no hesitation when looking at her.
"If you aim for the summit, you may take my hand." Gilgamesh extends his hand out to Hakuno with his usual haughty smile. "Now is the time to sacrifice those command spells."
Without a thought, Hakuno reaches out and takes the hand Gilgamesh had offered. Gently, she places her left hand—which is marked with the scarlet design of the command spell—and she closes her eyes for a moment. Hakuno takes that moment to take in a deep breath, exhaling it before she opens her chocolate orbs to gaze into Gilgamesh's rubies once again.
"On my first command spell," The first layer of Hakuno's command spell glows bright red as she declares with a confident, unwavering voice. "The two of us are equal—we are to acknowledge, respect, and, if necessary, oppose each other's convictions. And, as for the second—"
At Hakuno's next declaration, Gilgamesh's crimson orbs flare with passion as a smirk grows on his face. "—I see. A good vow, Hakuno. With this, I see it will be worth swinging my sword here." Gilgamesh closes his eyes for a moment; his smile unfaltering as he enjoys the moment. The King of Heroes, then, returns his gaze to his master.
"Let's go, Master. Our aim is the Moon Cell Core—the Seraphic Throne!" Gilgamesh stands up from his makeshift throne with a large smile on his lips. "As long as I am here, you will blast away all obvious conclusions."
Hakuno cannot help but reciprocate the smile. That's right. I can't stop here! Hakuno reaches in her pocket for the cherry blossom, rubbing her finger on it gently. Maybe, if I keep going, I'll find out what she had wished for.
But, first—
"Gilgamesh put on some clothes already!"
The battle continues.
Holding a small, weak sword, she broke a large, strong wall.
The crown of victory is beyond the end of the seven seas.
With uncounted rewards and punishments in hand, she fought to the end to survive.
That process, itself, is her chief proof.
She ran, traverse, broke her way through everything to succeed.
She narrows her eyes on the destruction that is her last repose.
Then, the night of her end had come.
Thus, the battle ended.
The Moon Cell, the Eyes of God, transforms the future according to the wish of the one who obtains it. However, that function is already gone. The Moon Cell Automation has changed itself. For, in accordance with Kishinami Hakuno's so very human wish, it cut its connection with Earth.
She feels no pain.
Hakuno's body is disintegrating into spiritual particles as she falls gradually deeper into the sea of imaginary numbers. Despite feeling no pain, her disappearing arms and legs felt numb and her muscles felt heavy. All that was left was her mind.
She doesn't need to look at her hands to tell that the left hand with the last command spell has long disintegrated. The thought pains her as if she had lost a part of herself.
As if by mercy, it seems the Moon Cell is singing her a lullaby. It is a beautiful voice—familiar to her ears yet her mind is so foggy she is unable to place it. However, she distinctly pictures the image of floating cherry blossom petals dancing through the dark sky with the moon glowing in the background and a young girl with beautiful, long purple hair singing on the cherry blossom tree.
Good night—Hakuno's eyelids fall heavily, closing as she has no more strength to keep them open.
Sleep well—Hakuno can hear the sound of the lights going out and the world around her darkening.
Rest in peace—the observational device is going to return to being the dreaming device it once was.
Thus, everything ended.
Ah—
In her last moments, the girl dreams of light filtering into the room as the sun sets outside of an old school building and she sits with her friends. There are laughter and an indescribable joy that flushes within her as she cheers alongside them all.
Sakura—Rin—Rani—Leo—Julius—Gawain—Gatou—Jinako—Karna—Kiara—Anderson—Shinji—
Feeling a familiar warmth beside her, Hakuno glances over her right shoulder, catching the warm, crimson gaze from the tall golden man standing beside her.
—Gilgamesh.
She smiles widely.
—I wanted to be with everyone again…
From her disappearing skirt, a single cherry blossom petal flutters within the dark sea like a moving star in the night sky.
Thus, everything ended.
When Gilgamesh arrived at the scene, he was too late.
Hakuno had been long disintegrating, being deleted by the Moon Cell. Her legs and arms have long disappeared and slowly the particles begin to separate from her stomach.
The golden Servant sneers as he watches his master's pitiful state. "Could you be any more stupid, Moon Cell?" His hand combs through Hakuno's beautiful, soft chocolate locks. He brushes the girl's bangs out of her face as a soft gaze lingers on her peaceful sleeping face. Then, he allows his finger to glide against her cheek. "There's no reason the winner should disappear on achieving perfect victory." His unyielding crimson ruby orbs are now filled with an emotion that most would not think would ever flicker within the King of Heroes—grief.
If you had no need for her, then I would have taken her… Gilgamesh's scarlet eyes narrow and he pets Hakuno's innocent resting face as her body constantly disappears into stardust like particles and fades into the sea of imaginary numbers immersing them.
"To think even the great King of Heroes would shed a tear. Boohoo."
Gilgamesh does not need to turn around to know what ominous annoyance had decided to ruin the last few moments of his master's fading life. He, however, does not turn around to greet the obnoxious ghost and instead watches with soft—undeniably sad—eyes as the woman he had come to acknowledge and care for vanishes as if she did not exist.
The ghost behind the golden Servant does not mutter a single word—possibly in respect towards the King of Heroes and his grief that she too feels. After all, she had to watch the one she loves disappear into digital dust—it was the very outcome she had never wanted to come true.
Thankfully, it didn't. That is not what happened.
"Senpai…" The sickly-sweet feminine voice whispers out almost as if she were taking a breath, inhaling and exhaling fresh air as that name leaves her lips. "The operation on Senpai was a success."
Upon hearing those words, the King of Heroes turns to the ghost girl. Long and luscious purple hair flows in the waters of imaginary number space as her violet eyes sparkle. The ghost of the AI once known as Sakura and later known as BB stands before him.
Gilgamesh arches an eyebrow at her previous statement. His ruby orbs are dispassionate as they glare at the purple-haired ghost. "Oh? And what 'operation' was that, ghost?"
BB solemn lips lift into a smile. "Senpai's last wish, of course."
Hakuno's 'last wish'? Gilgamesh's eyebrows furrow at the phrase.
"To think she wanted to be with you of all people, huh, Gilgamesh." BB continues with a sarcastic huff as she taps her foot irritatingly as she had always done. The mannerism is familiar. It is the woman's show of jealousy.
For only a mere second, there is a flicker of surprise in Gilgamesh's ruby eyes—only for it to be smothered by exasperated understanding. He almost breaks out laughing on the spot as he realizes what BB had done.
"Just how much have you corrupted my dear senpai, I wonder." BB taps her cheek as she directs her mock towards the golden Servant. "Though she did wish to be with everyone, I know better to assume that she put great emphasis on you with that thought."
Gilgamesh closes his eyes as he sneers with a confident smile. "Don't be foolish. Of course, she would choose me over the likes of you." Really… this master never gives up… He opens his eyes, gazing at the spot where Hakuno had disintegrated from in an almost fond manner. As expected of one that I have recognized as my master…
"BB, you have my thanks." Gilgamesh declares as he allows himself to fade from the Moon Cell. In his last moments in the seemingly limitless space of imaginary numbers, Gilgamesh stares at the space his master had occupied minutes ago.
May we meet again, Hakuno.
"I don't want to hear that from you…" BB scoffs at the disappearing spirit, "But… be sure that you make Senpai happy the next time too…" The girl, too, closes her eyes as she reminisces on her dear senpai that she had come to love.
Thus, the end came.
The girl too fades away into light pink particles—like cherry blossoms fluttering in the peaceful air.
Gilgamesh understood the moment he saw the grail's overflowing dark substance that it had been corrupted once again. He would have laughed out loud at the irony; however, at that time, he had been preoccupied with his fight against Saber.
Thus, when he is—once again—engulfed by that very same black mud as it had in several different timelines, he knew that next would come the darkness. Then came the hatred—toward sins, toward crimes, toward humanity. It was all old news to the ancient King of Heroes—after all, that is the way humanity has always been. The thoughts "to kill" were boring—All the World's Evil was boring.
—Ah, it is really boring to have only this one thought—
Gilgamesh's ego would never wither or falter. He would never allow for another to swallow him whole—absolutely not a being such as All the World's Evil.
The cursing spirit is shocked by his presence within it and this shock shifts into denial. Of course, once again, Gilgamesh disproves the denial, making his presence known even further. He had little patience for the anomaly this time around—not after having experienced it several times prior and with the being daring to try to take him as its core a couple of times previously.
What was right? Ironically, the voice of the curse asked. Who was there to acknowledge it? Who was there to permit it?
It asks the same questions once again.
Who was to bear the burden of sin?
"A foolish question." Gilgamesh sneers at the confused curse. "That goes without asking."
Gilgamesh answers it the same way he had done in prior times.
"The King will acknowledge it; the King will permit it. The King will bear the burden of the entire world!"
What is a King?
Consequently, in asking that question, the being had contradicted itself. In this darkness—this place that did not allow the existence of 'entities'—the mud had admitted that there was someone else within it. Some strange foreign object had appeared in there.
That was—King—a presence that was an absolute controller that had no equal.
"That is I!" Gilgamesh proclaims.
Within the black mud, an entity is shifted out from the mass of nothingness—his name was the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh.
Along with flying droplets, the black mud cracks and disperses away and the foreign object that it could not digest even with all of its hatred appears from within the black mud.
Within the burning ruins, the king—once again—stands up on the ground.
The land around him is burning. It is like hell—with smoke rising from the burning earth as flames roar and rampage in the darkness of the night. The world around him is broken, burning, and hopeless. It is truly hell.
Amongst the ruins stands a body of golden proportions that was no longer made of spirit particles but as a true flesh body. The black mud that denied life crystallized the impurity within itself and then abandoned it and, as a result, the certain Heroic Spirit's wish had been realized. Gilgamesh has obtained a corporeal body and has truly returned to the world.
He stands exactly in the middle of a burning hell. The majesty emanating from the king's body makes the surrounding flames afraid to come close. Gilgamesh mocks the flame as he puts his perfect body in an exhibition for the hell which surrounds him.
However, at the same time, he sneers impatiently. "Again, a tainted wish-granting machine that people are to fight to the death for. This is starting to get old."
Despite his words, Gilgamesh knew of the entertainment to come. Though he did loath repeating the same grail war events as before, Kirei never ceased to entertain him and pushing the supposed holy man toward his true pleasures always gave Gilgamesh a kick.
The golden ex-Servant touches his new body, feeling the softness of his new flesh. A smile settles on his lips.
In addition, the flesh body he had received was not bad. Thus, the King of Heroes felt quite satisfied this time too.
Gilgamesh looks up at the dark sky. He could not see a single star that fateful night with the fires burning away the earth being too bright for the stars up above to truly shine. However, the lunar sphere glows without hesitation, illuminating the darkness like a beacon.
Upon glimpsing at the full moon, the golden man's mind is filled with images of a certain young girl. She had been plain upon first sight—her mundane brunette hair and caramel eyes with a thin figure—however, at the same, there was always something about her that caught Gilgamesh's attention. She was stubborn, never willing to give up. She was selfish, holding on desperately to her weapon—that was Gilgamesh—even if it meant death to herself. Yet, she was selfless: she continuously dove deeper into the labyrinth in hopes of saving humanity and returning her friends to the other side, even though she knew that if she too were to venture to that side, all that awaited her was death. Truly, a humorous girl: nosy and kind, yet ruthless and bold.
The golden man laughs wryly at the moon.
A mortal man awakens from within the burning ruins.
The first sensation Kotomine Kirei felt was the hot air. Then, came the odor of burning and smoke. His eyes snap open to look around at the surrounding.
There was a blazing inferno before his eyes, so large that it seemed to be grilling the sky.
"This place is.." Kirei mutters out hoarsely as he sits up.
"You really are a troublesome man." The smooth voice is familiar to Kirei; his mind immediately places a name on it—Gilgamesh. "It took me a lot of effort to dig you out from under the rubble."
Kirei turns to his Servant, not even batting an eye at his nude body. "Gilgamesh… what happened?"
The priest diligently forces himself to remember, so that he could understand how the entire event had happened. His last memory was of the Municipal Hall's large props storage space. He had been kneeling on the ground and had been shot and killed by Kiritsugu. No matter how he thought about it, he should have lost his life instantly.
"I was shot…" In remembering this, Kirei places his hand over the spot he had been shot—his heart. His breath hitches at the revelation. I have no heartbeat…
Kirei turns his attention back to the waiting Gilgamesh with a question. "Did you somehow heal me, Gilgamesh?"
"I couldn't say…" Gilgamesh snickers. "You do seem dead. But we were connected by the contract. When I regained flesh within that ooze, perhaps you were trapped in some alternate reality of your own."
Kirei stares at Gilgamesh. He could sense that the Servant wasn't telling the full truth, yet he knew he was telling no lie either. So, at that moment, Kirei accepts the incarnated hero's words, favoring to looks at his hand. "You're saying it gave me life?"
'"All the other Servants are gone, so we are the ones who won." Gilgamesh stares out at the abyss of flames in slight amusement. "Kirei, behold the result." Kirei looks out at the field of ruin around him with blank eyes of awed interest. "If the Grail truly grants the victor's wish… then, Kotomine Kirei, what you see is exactly what you most desired."
There was only a crimson hell. The wind carried tortured screams to his ears. The tongues of flames danced. "This is… my wish…?"
At that moment, Kotomine Kirei finally understood the true form of his own soul.
To him, the collapse of everything was so beautiful.
To him, people who were tormented were so lovable.
To him, the tortured screams by his ears were so satisfying.
To him, the burnt corpses were so laughable.
So, he laughed.
Kirei breaks out into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, hopelessly. "What…" What kind of sin is this? What a cruel demon I am! He tilts his head back dramatically, laughing towards the sky as tears brimming his eyes. "What am I? Hahaha, what am I?!"
Even the feelings of hopelessness that tugged at Kirei's heart was so sweet to him.
"What evil…" Kirei's body trembled from his maniacal laughter. "What cruelty." He could feel everything from the tip of his fingers to the top of his head, clearly and distinctively. "This is my wish?"
"This destruction and tragedy?"
Ahah! Now I am alive—
"This is my joy?"
I truly exist, right here—
For the first time, he is aware of, Kotomine Kirei truly felt that he was bound to the world. "Could this twisted, disgusting thing have truly been born of Kotomine Risei's seed?" He laughed, "Impossible! It is impossible! Did my father sire a dog?!"
Kirei found it ironic—that from a place that was completely opposite to his own faith, he had found the truth. An ironic end to an ironic man—how satisfying.
"Are you fulfilled now, Kirei?" Gilgamesh questions, calmly.
The priest clutched his stomach, exhausted and breathing rapidly from laughter. "No, not yet." He answers as he wiped the tears from his maniacal laughter. "This isn't enough." Kirei jumps down from the rubble mountain. "Yes, my life of questions has found its answer. But the problem-solving itself was bypassed, and I simply received the solution." Kirei bends down, brushing past some rubble and grabbing a red cloth. He briefly dusts it off as he stands up and turns back around to face Gilgamesh. "How am I to accept this?" He throws the scarlet cloth over to his Servant who catches it with ease and elegance. "The formula that yielded this strange answer should exist somewhere as a greater, clearer principle. No…"
"It has to." Kirei declares. "I must question. I must search. I must use the rest of my life to understand it."
"You never bore me." Gilgamesh leisurely smiles at the awakened man. "As you like. Your questions would slay the very gods." With an amused huff, the blonde swings the red cloth Kirei had thrown to him, wrapping around his bare shoulders. He stands on top of the ruins, peering down at Kirei with amusement in his ruby eyes. "I—Gilgamesh—shall watch you find the answer."
The priest and the king exchange smirks before Kirei begins to return to Gilgamesh's side.
Angra Mainyu…
I will reach it once again and, next time, I will see it to the end. Its birth. Its proof of existence.
Amidst his ascent to where Gilgamesh stands, Kirei freezes as his peripheral vision catches a silhouette from amongst the burning hell. At the sight, the priest's eyes dilate and breath hitches.
It is Emiya Kiritsugu. His cloak, fanned out by the hot air, was tattered in many places—stained black. He walks unsteadily, staggering around like a sleepwalker as he wandered on the burning street.
Emiya Kiritsugu…?
As if hearing he were reacting to Kirei's thought or gaze, Kiritsugu stops in his stagger and stares back at Kirei.
I accept your challenge.
Kirei glares back at the man. However, to his disappointment, Kiritsugu's eyes are blank as he turns away from him. Instead, Kiritsugu desperately staggers around, surveying the ruins in search of something. Kirei watches, dumbfounded, as the empty shell of a man—that was to be his greatest enemy—fall to his knees and begin to dig in desperation through the rubble.
"What's wrong, Kirei?" From above, Gilgamesh questions the priest.
"No, nothing." Kirei watches for a while longer as Kiritsugu continues to desperately dig through the rubble. The man was like a zombie, void of life and persistent. He turns away from Kiritsugu with a click from his tongue before heading back to Gilgamesh.
The aftermath of the great fire which had engulfed the Shinto district of Fuyuki city is devastating.
A lean young man with raven hair and grey eyes strolls through the destroyed streets that are like charcoal now. His white doctor's overcoat is a stark contrast to the blackness of the burned ruins, making it easy to spot him from amongst the debris. The young man travels forward, past the many medics like himself who are searching for any other survivors of the terrible fire that had burned for a whole day across Shinto.
Twice H. Pieceman scoffs at the scenery around him. Hideous.
The area around him is like an aftermath of war—there is nothing, but despair and ruin left of a small town that was supposed to have not known the horrors of a battlefield. Yet, here it is. The Shinto district had been engulfed in flames for a whole day, burning away as firefighters and rescue teams tried their best to fight against the raging fire. Now, all that was left was for him as part of the medics and the rescue team to scout the remains of Shinto—for bodies, for survivors, for anything.
Twice walks along the burnt road. It was as if his feet were dragging him forward on its own as he strides through the debris and ruins. There was something amiss and the ill foreshadowing feeling drove the young doctor forward. Before he realizes it, Twice had climbed up the hill to the front door of the Fuyuki church.
Though the church had not received as much if any physical damage from the great fire the night prior, there was still something off about it. However, Twice couldn't put his finger on what exactly the reason for this feeling was. He reaches out, pushing himself through the doors, opening them slightly as he enters the church.
His instinct was right.
Twice freezes up abruptly at the sight of a man kneeling before the central cross in the back of the church. It was as if the man was praying in the silence of the eerie morning—a strange sort of peace. Unconsciously, as if beckoned, Twice approaches the man.
It was a fateful day.
A young girl with wavy brown hair wakes up with a smile on her face before she gets ready for the coming day. She quickly dresses in her new uniform—a sailor-styled black coat with white accents for the collar and cuffs, in addition to a green bow and a black skirt to match. She brushes her chocolate brown hair one last time before she exits her bedroom and makes her way down the stairs and into the dining room.
"Good morning!" The girl greets her mother and older brother.
"Morning, Hakuno." Her mother responds with a smile as she sets down her daughter's breakfast on the table. "You look cheerful today. Did you have a good dream?"
Hakuno takes her seat beside her older brother, Yashiro, who was stuffing his face with the Japanese breakfast their mother had prepared—rice, fried fish, and miso soup. She gives her mother a big grin. "Mmhm!"
The young girl couldn't quite remember it—but it was indeed a good dream. All that she could recall were mere flashes of different concepts—a sakura tree, a golden king—the images began to blur. That morning she had woken up with a smile on her face—feelings of light-hearted joy bubbled within her upon awakening.
After breakfast, Hakuno leaves the house with her older brother, calling out that she was leaving to her mother. During the siblings' walk to school—Homurahara Academy—Hakuno glances up at the blooming cherry blossom trees along the road.
For some reason, the sight of them made her feel giddy.
So... it's a start!
Now we have a young Hakuno in the world of Fate/sn! How will she grow up?
I was planning on having another prologue after this one showing her experiences as a child, but I think I'll do that but in a separate fic! Like a side story sort/drabble kind of thingie.
Anyways, please share your opinions with me! Maybe some hopes? Some things you hope to see or wish to see? Some predictions?
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