Disclaimer: I don't own them, Type-Moon and Nasu does.
Steel and Cherry Blossoms
Part 2
By Elf
"Onii-chan!"
Archer felt his face stretch in a smile as he opened up his arms and the snow fairy bounded right into him. He easily lifted the slight weight off of the ground and held her close. He stroked her long, silvery white hair and said, "Hello Ilya."
Crimson eyes peered up at him as his adopted sister replied, "Hello Onii-chan. So, why did you come see Ilya?"
"Well, I wanted to talk to you," Archer replied honestly as he held her close. He felt utterly at peace when he held Ilya von Eizenbern in his arms, a sort of serenity he only experienced in his lifetime and certainly not his afterlife. Part of him wanted to keep her to himself, but he knew that one couldn't cage Ilya for too long. She had friends and family she had to visit, but she understood all too well that for the most part that family could not get along.
Ilya tapped her lower lip and sighed, "Well, I'll guess I'll talk to Onii-chan . . ."
"Oh, well, I should feel honored to gain audience with a snow fairy princess," Archer retorted as he lightly danced his fingers against her ribs. Ilya squealed, bucked in his arms and squirmed. Archer smiled at the sight as he continued to tickle her as the delightful after rang through his ears. She squirmed enough where he finally set her feet down, but didn't let up on the tickling.
Ilya's cheeks were flushed as she waved her hands and said, "I can't take anymore, Onii-chan! Stop it!"
"Yare, yare, you know it's my duty as your onii-chan," Archer said with a sigh and a shake of his head.
She grinned and said, "Well, that's true, so I'll let it pass." Her small hand took his and he held it as they walked through the all too familiar castle. She looked up at him and asked, "So, what did you want to talk about?"
"We'll get to that later. How are you?" Archer asked with a smile.
Ilya smiled and said, "I'm good. How are you? You know Ilya worries about you."
"I'm fine. I promise. My business is doing very well," Archer answered.
Ilya stopped and scowled up at him. Her free hand went to her slim hit as she retorted, "Then why don't you talk to anyone? Why don't you go out and do stuff? All you do is stay there and you come visit me. You have a second chance, Onii-chan. Don't waste it brooding because Rin's stupid."
He chuckled at that and said, "I'm not pining over Rin."
"Liar," Ilya all but sank as she rocked back and forth on her feet.
He sighed and replied, "I'm not lying. I'm not pining over Rin."
"Then why did you move out so quickly when Lancer moved in?" Ilya asked with a scowl.
Archer raised his eyebrows and retorted, "Well, would you want to hear Saber and Emiya Shirou doing . . ." He felt his cheeks flush and he looked away. He cleared his throat before looking back at her.
Ilya chuckled and finished, "No, I wouldn't want to hear them having sex, Onii-chan."
He stared at her, gulped and made a sound that sounded quite like, "Mughmumph."
Ilya smiled up at him and laughed. She swung his hand back and forth and sang, "Onii-chan doesn't like the fact that Ilya knows about bigggg badddd sex. Well, when I get into my new body, I'll look my age and then both Onii-chans will be sorry."
He swallowed and asked, "How is the body coming along?"
"Good, would you like to see it?" Ilya asked with a smile.
Archer swallowed again as he looked around. Unease crept around his spine and he felt his palms sweat. He sighed and ran his free hand through his hair. He answered, "Of course."
Ilya bounced slightly, tugged on his hand and began to drag him to her work room. The Eizenbern Homunculi were famous around the magi community, and she could design a body that would look her natural age instead of being stuck as a twelve year old girl and dying a year from when the War was won. She had a long life a head of her filled with all the things she missed out as a teenager, including stuff like boys, parties, dating and other things Archer really didn't want to think about.
I'm lucky Berserker's here, he thought dryly as he looked around for the former Servant. There wasn't a sign of him, but Archer knew that he was always near by. Then again, they were going deeper and deeper into Ilya's workshop, and most sane people stayed away from that place. They walked through one of the castle's many secret corridors until they reached the
workroom. Ilya let go of his hand to open the door.
With various body parts swinging from the ceiling as well as tables upon tables of surgical tools, Archer had to admit that the work room looked more at home in a horror movie than a castle. He had to move body parts so they wouldn't hit him as Ilya made her way to the giant sheet covered table. Archer's eyes widened at the curves that were already very apparent through the sheet as Ilya whisked the cover away. He stared at the lovely white haired figure that looked as if it was asleep.
The limbs were long and lean, the stomach was firm with the slightest hint of muscle. The face could have been easily Ilya's mirror if she was six years older. However the figure's nippleless breasts were seemingly larger than Ilya's head by half. He gestured to the mammoth chest and asked, "What the hell is that?"
"Aren't they great?" Ilya asked as to more of his horror she leaned up and groped them. "Look how big they are!"
He swallowed and asked, "Are those . . . Es?"
"F's," Ilya all but chirped with a giant smile as she rocked back and forth on her heels.
He stared at them and then back at her. He asked, "Are you sure you want them that big?"
"Why not?" Ilya asked with a frown, "I thought guys liked girls built like this."
A dim, fuzzy memory of Finnish blond perfection and plum eyes filled his mind. She had been perfectly curvy, but had surprisingly broad shoulders as well as sleek muscles hidden underneath her exquisite clothing. He pushed it away and looked at Ilya.
He honestly answered, "Ilya, not every man likes large . . . I mean, look at Saber."
"Well, I'd figure that Shirou would like a nice change," Ilya said with a scowl as she swayed back and forth.
He chuckled and said, "I think I would know that better than anyone."
"So, smaller then?" Ilya asked with a cant of her head.
He swallowed, cleared his throat and answered, "Yes, like maybe a third of that size."
"Well, I'd still be bigger than Rin . . ." Ilya said as she lightly tapped her lips. She nodded in satisfaction and said, "I'll fix it this afternoon after tea then."
Archer sighed and said, "Right."
Ilya frowned up at him and took his hand. She sighed, looked up at him and asked, "What's wrong, Onii-chan?"
"It's not important," he answered with a tiny smile that seemed forced.
She scowled and said, "I don't like it when you lie to me."
"It's weird," Archer confessed with a sigh as he looked away from her and back at the body on the table.
Ilya asked, "How so?"
"I'm just so used to seeing you like this, that's all," Archer answered with a shrug as he continued to hold her hand.
She smiled sweetly at him before gesturing him down to her level. He bent forward and she lightly pressed her small, white hand against his cheek. She said, "Onii-chan, I don't want you to lose Ilya again, even though I'm different than your Ilya, I know you still love me, and that makes me happy. I love you too, but you should be happy that I get to grow up and experience all the stuff that the other Ilya didn't."
"Part of me wants to keep you like this forever," he said as he closed his eyes and leaned slightly into her palm. He rested his free hand over it and inhaled her delicate violet scent. He felt a soft press of silken pressure against his forehead before he felt Ilya back away slightly, but still holding onto his face.
She whispered, "Everyone needs to move on, Onii-chan. Even you. If you don't change, you'll grow stagnant and rot away."
Archer smiled at that and opened his eyes. He let go of her hands to hug her close in this macabre room full of body parts. Hair like fine silk cascaded against his rough hand as he stroked her head. Slim arms held him fiercely as Ilya pillowed her head against his shoulder. Her small hands clutched at his shirt as she said, "You'll find some place to fit soon, Onii-chan."
It never ceased to amaze Archer just how much this small girl could disarm him; he who's body was made of blades. He could be himself with Ilya and forget about being rejected for that drunken Irish bastard or having to avoid a woman who he thought of as a big sister's highly clumsy advances simply because he reminded her of his father. Which is ironic, isn't it? Archer thought to himself as he easily lifted Ilya up to head out her work room.
Ilya chuckled and said in a lilting voice, "You really don't like going in there, do you?"
"Not really," he drawled as he grinned at her.
She canted her head, sighed and said, "Well, suppose since you're carrying me I won't mind."
"I didn't think you would," Archer said with a tiny smirk as he took her towards the kitchen. He had brought with him a few taykiakis as well as Ilya's favorite tea. He knew she'd be delighted at the treat because Sella never truly let Ilya indulge in sweets. Leysritt was another story, but Sella ruled her with an iron fist as well.
Once they were in the kitchen he sat her on one of the stools as he began to prepare the tea. He set the kettle of water to boil before moving to the tea pot and putting the loose leaves in. Ilya rested her elbows on the counter and leaned forward on her hands, watching him with wide crimson eyes. "You're really good at that, Onii-chan," she said as he moved to get out the rest of the tea set so they could drink together.
He smirked and said, "Lots of practice."
"For Rin?" Ilya asked as she looked at the paper bag that held their treats.
He sighed, looked down at the tea pot and said, "Once, yeah."
"You weren't with her in life though," Ilya said with a tilt of her head, "What about that Viking girl you were with?"
Archer gripped his fists as he could hear the soft chuckle and that melodic voice that always mispronounced his name but he never minded. Luvia had stood by his side as long as she could have, until her father pulled her forcibly away from his "influence". After that he had thrown himself into saving as many as he could and separated himself from the one person who had tried to save him from his folly and he'd been too stupid to listen.
He had been torn between the two rivals, but had ended up with Luvia by some twist of fate. He had a feeling if he had been with Rin he wouldn't have been at Ilya's right now making tea. He would have never become a Guardian at all, but he moved fast enough that not even Rin could keep up.
Archer wondered if every time he'd been summoned by various Rins in his existence if he always felt the thrill of seeing her. He wondered if there had been versions who had abandoned the quest to end their existence to stay with her or to save her. He wondered how many times he had betrayed her. It was just a conflicting mess, but he did know whenever he did see Rin there was always a bittersweet pang of wanting something he wasn't worthy of having.
He smiled and replied, "Luvia, there was too much keeping us apart. She was a princess and I was a peasant with a sword. Her father was too powerful . . ."
"Why don't you go find her?" Ilya asked with smile.
He laughed at that and said, "Part of the attraction was that I was very simple, almost normal. Now . . . well, not so much."
Ilya sighed and said, "Well, at least you won't make a stupid mistake with Rin." She grinned deviously as she looked up at him. She asked, "What about Taiga? She really wants you, Onii-chan."
" . . . No," was his only response as he shook his head with a sigh. He looked at the giggling snow fairy perched on the stool and reached out to poke her nose. Her face scrunched up like a startled rabbit's as she shook her head, giggled and backed away. Archer asked, "Why are you so interested in my love life or rather lack there of?"
"Well, other than Berserker and me, you're the only one who's not with someone," Ilya replied, "I just want to see you happy, that's all. Well, I have to approve of her too. I don't approve of Rin. She can keep Lancer, you can do better than her."
Archer laughed and asked, "What about Bazett?"
"Didn't she go back to Ireland? She dressed like a man anyway," Ilya said with a dismissive snort and a wave of her hand.
Archer grinned and said, "Well, I thought she was rather attractive myself . . ."
"No you don't," Ilya replied, "And Taiga's all wrong for you too . . . Well, don't worry, we'll find you someone."
He sighed and said, "Ilya, I'm not looking for anyone." Rin didn't want someone damaged like me.
Ilya shrugged and said, "You'll just wait and see, Onii-chan. You'll just wait and see."
The whistle on the kettle began to blow and Archer smoothly moved over to it. He pulled the kettle off the flame and poured the boiling water into the tea pot. He smiled at the fragrant steam that bellowed up from the tea pot and filled the kitchen. He sighed blissfully before putting the teakettle back and grabbed the sugar and cream for the tea. Ilya rubbed her hands and eyed the tea pot with a smile before grinning up at him and pointing at the bag. With a laugh, Archer reached over and handed it to her.
"Yay!" Ilya exclaimed as she pulled out a fish shaped pastry and placed it on a little plate.
Archer pointed at her and said, "I get the red bean paste one."
"You can have that one, I want the chocolate one," Ilya said with a smile, "Or did you bring a custard one for me today?"
He grinned and replied, "Well, we'll have to see won't we?"
She giggled at that and eyed the tea pot again. Archer checked it and poured them each a cup of tea. He added sugar and cream of a respectable amount to Ilya's because if he left her to her own devices she'd pour the entire bowl of sugar into her tea cup. He added a miniscule amount of sugar to his as well as a dollop of cream. He looked at the beige liquid thoughtfully before looking up at Ilya.
They chatted amiably as they drank tea and ate their treats, and Archer couldn't bring himself to ask about Zouken. His time with Ilya like this was the one thing he treasured in this new "life". Everything else seemed like he was going through the motions, surviving like an animal because he honestly didn't know where to go or what to do. There was no real satisfaction in his job, it was just something he was good at and he had no real friends or family, but he was surrounded by people who were versions that were people he cared about and loved, yet he couldn't speak to them.
He traded one hell for an other, the only salvation was the white haired girl before him.
For a moment his mind flashed to a priest eating hellishly spicy Tofu and smirking at him. That short while last night he had perversely enjoyed talking to the man who was as empty as he was. Despite the fact that Kotomine wanted to unleash Hell on Earth, Archer found himself drawn to the man. He had a feeling that despite common sense he would find himself looking for Kotomine soon.
Ilya looked up at him and asked, "Onii-chan, what did you really want to talk to Ilya about?"
"What do you mean?" Archer asked as he looked at her.
She sighed and said, "You're good at lying to everyone else, but I know you better than everyone else too, Onii-chan. You wanted to ask me something that you think is going to be unpleasant."
Archer sighed and ran a hand through the white spikes of his hair. He looked away and answered, "Rider came to me asking me to help her save Sakura. I've found things out about Zouken . . ."
"Ah, silly Makari," Ilya said with a tiny smile and a shake of her head. Her expression sobered and she said, "Yes. Sakura could become another Grail."
The girl was breaking.
It was a sad thing, really, but not entirely unwelcome. Even though the ancient magus did not get his wish at the end of the Fifth War, he still had his trump card. The remainder of the Grail from the Fourth War was still inside of her and with proper tampering Makari Zouken was confidant he could turn his granddaughter into another Grail. The Association had sent one of their leading magi to dismantle the Grail system, but he had failed to see Sakura and there was a magus who was one of the original founders of the Holy Grail War.
The paradoxical miracle of the Fifth War had brought dead Masters back to life and granted the Servants chances at life again as humans or whatever their original race was. So Fuyuki City was now home to demi-gods and creatures of legend, and the population was none the wiser. From Zouken's knowledge most of the Servants were happily ingraining themselves into mundane life, like the Rider Servant they had used. Even though the former Servant was meddlesome, Zouken wasn't afraid of her as long as he had his control over Sakura.
One side effect of the miracle was that the boy Sakura had been so infatuated over, the prodigal son of Emiya, had fallen in love with his Servant. The two of them lived together and Sakura now only left the house for school. She didn't visit the boy anymore, and while that break in her spirit was troublesome at first, Zouken was nothing if adaptable. He would go to his original plan to use her as the Grail for a later date and one of her and hopefully Shinji's offspring, unless he found a more suitable donor for genetic material, to be the Master in that war.
Right now he would bide his time and let his false Grail fill with mana over the years. Once the girl had graduated from High School it wouldn't bore any unwanted questions if she became pregnant. However due to the worms he had implanted inside of her, impregnating her was going to be difficult. Still, he had several years before he had to worry about that. His estimate was that the Grail within Sakura would be ready to use within sixty years unless she had a giant increase of mana pour into her to quicken the process.
Unfortunately, Zouken didn't know of a source where he could speed up the process. He did have time though and he would thoroughly look into his options. Then he would eventually get what he had waited so long for. He looked down at his weathered hands and then back at the nude girl biting her lip to keep from writhing in the mass of worms surrounding her.
Maintaining his form became harder and harder each time he had to feed. If push came to shove, he would over take the girl. She might fight him at first, but he was confidant that he could shut her down as well.
After all, with the Emiya boy happily taken, what did she have to fight for now?
I want to die.
Matou Sakura looked down from her pale reflection as she turned on the shower. She grimaced at the thin trails of mucus covering the ample curves her body and cursed. Her core still ached and quivered from the latest round of training and her body was painfully sensitive. Still, she wanted to wash herself as clean as she could even though she would just end up like this again and again.
Steam began to fog up the mirror and she looked at her distorted reflection.
Her dirty, distorted reflection.
She bit her lip to keep the tears from falling. There was no one to hear her cries now. Nee-san had forgotten about her long ago. Sempai found someone who was good enough for him and wasn't stained like she was. He had found someone as pure and good as he was, and she was happy for them. After all, Sempai deserved a gallant knight to save him as well.
She had said good bye to her long love in her heart after she had seen him return holding the petite blond girl's hand. Their eyes had only seen one and another, and Sakura knew she'd be soon forgotten. It was for the best anyway, Sempai didn't need to be burdened with someone like her.
Sakura knew now that no one would ever save her, not even Rider. She accepted that, but yet she cursed her cowardice for not killing herself. She knew she could end the shame, the pain, and the torment easily, but the thought of taking her own life terrified her so much she would break out into a cold sweat. There was still some part of her that raged, that yelled that she had every right to live and be happy that everyone else did.
She pulled the dark pink ribbon from her hair and carefully laid it on the sink. She then proceeded to step in the scalding hot shower. The first thing she did was wash off with harsh, anti-bacterial soap that smelled like hospital disinfectant with a pumice scrub. She would scrub her skin so much that it would match the color of her ribbon. Then she would wash her hair and then her body again with the floral soap that Shinji insisted that she used.
It was cloying and thick, and it made her feel like some sort of cheap whore. She hated the soap. Part of her wanted to throw it at Shinji, but she could never do that. So she used the soft, heavily perfumed soap and shampoo because that was what she was told to do. Besides, it wasn't Shinji's fault that he was denied his family's heritage. She had taken that away and she felt sorry for him feeling so worthless, even when he hurt her.
Once she was clean she stepped out of the shower and dried off. She dressed and retied the ribbon in her hair. Then with a sigh she went to the room that served as her bedroom when she wasn't training, even though that was mostly for appearances. She sighed in relief as she realized that Shinji had a date that evening with the new foreign exchange student from America.
Even though the filthy things inside of her would demand attention, she hated it when he came to her. She hated the way he made her respond. She hated the way he forced her to beg for him. She hated that no matter how much her mind said no, her body pushed her father and farther into depravity.
Most of all she hated that there was no end in sight for her.
Still, Sempai is happy, that's what matters, she thought to herself as she squared her shoulders. She sat down at her desk and stared at the book that Rider had brought for her to read. She wished that her former Servant wouldn't visit her. She didn't want Rider to see her like this and didn't want her to worry.
And seeing Rider gave her false hope that there was someone that could help her.
Sakura knew that despite how powerful Rider was there was nothing she could do against her Grandfather. There was no way to safely remove what he had implanted in her and she knew with a thought he could easily make her his puppet. To keep her free will, Sakura had to willingly submit.
Even though each time she did now without clinging onto caring for Sempai like a lifeline a part of her free will died anyway.
That night, Archer was leaping from rooftop to rooftop, feeling a little like a superhero in one of those American comic books. One interesting side effect was that he still had his Servant's abilities such as being able to all but fly with high jumps and being able to take the impact of the landing. It was dark enough and he was dressed in black to keep from being seen, besides the area of town he was in wasn't exactly what one would call crowded at this time of night.
He was leaping from rooftop to rooftop to try to clear his head. He had tried everything else. He had tried meditation. He had tried Tracing various swords. He had cleaned his shop and reorganized his paperwork twice. He had finished all of the jobs he had lined up days a head, but none of this was helping.
"Zouken placed part of the previous Grail inside of Sakura."
His conversation with Ilya still rang through his ears. Despite the fact that the Greater Grail had been dismantled by the representative from the Association, Archer was certain that with enough time Zouken could create a system like it. Or worse, release Angra Mainyu instead, he thought grimly as he soared into the air before landing on another rooftop. He stood there as he let the cool night air at this height whip through his hair and the T-shirt he was wearing.
He felt a dull throb at the back of his temples and rubbed his forehead. He sighed as he looked at the skyline around him. If he reinforced his eyes he could practically look into people's houses and reiterate all the details. With all of his abilities though he was unsure of what to do.
The logical thing would be to kill the whole Matou family to keep this from happening.
However, Sakura was a victim. She had a right to be saved as much as anyone else did. Archer frowned as he looked at the both alien and familiar city around him. He thought he had put past him the whole idea of being an ally for justice, but someone had asked him for help because the person who need help couldn't. He had enough innocent blood on his hands from his afterlife, and he certainly didn't want to add a former friend's who happened to be the lost sister of the girl he still wasn't sure how he felt about.
I should put together what I have and see what I can do. Zouken implants his crest through a series of worms. From what Ilya said he put part of the Fourth War's Grail in her as well through said worms. Also, the old monster's been keeping himself alive for centuries with these worms as well. It's possible that he could control Sakura with those worms, and who knows what damage they've done to her physiology as well.
Archer looked down at his bronze arm and clinched his fist. He knew all too well about the changes magic could wreck havoc with one's body to the point where it would make someone unrecognizable. He briefly wondered if Sakura had originally shared Rin's raven hair and aquamarine eyes before the Matous gotten their hands on her and did what they did. If he hadn't seen the matching pink ribbon in Rin's room or noticed how she watched after Sakura, he would have never have thought that Matou Sakura should have been Tohsaka Sakura.
Rider had wanted him to save Sakura, and that would require him killing Zouken at the very least. From what he had gathered, killing Zouken wouldn't be a problem. Just figuring out what to do with Shinji and Sakura afterwards was what was going to be troublesome. He also knew that, honestly, he would have no qualms about killing Shinji either.
That's not my problem, Archer thought. However, I need straight answers now. Archer turned and jumped from his post, heading down to a familiar area of town. He'd been there on a few errands for Fujimura-domo, and despite it wasn't a night for what usually happened there he was confidant to get answers. He landed as he saw a sleek, black racing motorcycle and more importantly the long lavender hair whipping behind it like a banner.
He landed right in front of the bike and Rider slammed on her breaks, angled the bike so it stopped centimeters in front of him. She flipped up her visor, looked away from him, pulled off her glasses, took off the helmet and smoothly put her glasses back on. She glared at him from underneath the white beryl lenses and snapped, "What the hell are you doing, Archer?"
"I want answers," Archer replied with a smirk as he folded his arms over his chest.
Rider flushed ever so slightly, looked away and said, "Like I told you before, it's not your business."
"If Zouken can turn Sakura into all the world's evil, it's fucking sure my business,"
Archer retorted.
Rider's alien eyes widened as she looked at him and then she looked down at her helmet. She absently traced one blunt finger nail over the violet pattern in the helmet before looking back at him. She whispered, "I wasn't aware of that."
"Well, I've done a lot of research because the person who asked me for help was so damned closed lipped about everything. I understand wanting to protect Sakura, but if you want my help Rider, I need to know everything that you do so I don't jeopardize her," Archer replied as he looked at her.
She sighed and tilted her head back before shrugging her shoulders. She then looked back at him and said, "It's . . . I don't want you telling anyone. Especially that girl."
"Rider, who else do I talk to?" Archer asked with a shake of his head and a sigh.
She frowned and asked, "Don't you still talk to her?"
"I talk to Ilya, but . . ." he sighed and rubbed his forehead, "You mean Rin."
"She lost her rights as sister long ago when she abandoned Sakura," Rider said with a scowl as she folded her arms under her ample breasts.
Archer rolled his eyes up and despite the orange haze blanketing the sky, he could still make out all of the stars above him if he had been in the country. He said, "It's up to Rin and Sakura if they want to repair their relationship, Rider. Not you. Frankly, I don't give a damn. Right now I want to know what is going on so I know what I'm walking into when I rescue her."
Rider sighed and asked, "What do you know?"
"I know that the Matou crest is passed on through a series of worms and apparently he implanted parts of the previous Grail and its contents inside of her," Archer answered with a shrug.
Rider's alien eyes narrowed as she asked, "Do you know what those . . . things make her do? How they tortured her, day after day? How the worms need to feed?"
He did not reply and simply waited for her to continue. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. She said, "They kill men eventually by devouring the spinal cord, but women . . . apparently they're more compatible with women. They're also called lude worms as well. They crave sexual energy, and the semen from a magus. When a magus is not available, anyone will do." Rider closed her eyes.
An old memory flashed through Archer's mind. Sakura as a teenage girl with a bruise on her cheek, the bruises on her wrists and how she always hit herself. His hands made a fist as he simply said, "Shinji."
"Also, Zouken has contingency plans. He is so old because he transfers his soul into the body of those worms," Rider explained.
Archer sighed and cursed, "Well, goddamn it, that means he could possess Sakura."
"Yes, not only was she raped, violated by unnatural things, and cannot even have a will of her own and if she tries he can take her over," Rider said.
Archer said nothing but simply stared at the Gorgon as she looked away from him. She said, "I will not have you judging Sakura."
"I won't" Archer replied, his voice hoarse even for him. He clinched his fists at his side and let them go. He cursed himself, he cursed the alternate version of his younger self, he cursed Saber, he cursed Rin, he cursed Shinji and he cursed magi in general. He sighed and said, "Yare, yare, this isn't going to be easy."
"That's why I went to you," Rider said in a soft voice, "Because you seem to go above and beyond what you should be able to do."
Archer snorted and felt his lips quirk up in a crooked grin as he replied, "Because I cheat."
"Well, I need that to get Sakura away from them," Rider said with a sigh and a shake of her head, "But I don't know what to do with those worms, if they can bring what you claim . . ."
"We need to get them out of her, and isolate Zouken's worm," Archer said with a shrug.
Rider looked at him with those eerily beautiful eyes and asked, "And how do we do that without killing her?"
"I have something I want to try. However, I may need some back up on this," Archer said as he looked steadily at her.
Rider swallowed and asked, "Who would that be?"
"Well, for Zouken, I know who'd be perfect for dealing with him. As for Sakura, I need to look into something first," Archer replied as he looked down at his chest. He wasn't sure if he could do it, and he wanted to test it first. If his fake didn't work, at least he knew how to get his hands on the real one.
Rider nodded and looked away. Archer watched as she took off her glasses, put her helmet back on, put the glasses back on and then slid the visor down. She said, "Once you get things figured out, I need to know."
He nodded then asked, "And Shinji?"
"What about him?" Rider asked.
Archer smirked and said, "Zouken's going to get exactly what's coming to him. I want to make sure Shinji does the same."
He saw Rider's lilac eyes light up from even behind the visor and the glasses and her cheek bones lift. He couldn't actually see her smile due to the helmet covering almost half of her face, but it was obvious to anyone who knew her she was smiling. "You are rather interesting, Archer," she said before the blare of the motor revved up, killing any reply.
Archer watched her spin the bike around and rapidly disappears into the night. He sighed and asked the sky, "What does this make me? Someone who's cleaning up a mess before it starts, or someone who's correcting everyone else's errors?"
He snorted to himself as he did not get an answer.
Ryudou Issei sighed as he started down the temple steps. It wasn't even noon yet but he felt his shirt already sticking to his skin and beads of sweat already running down his back. He rubbed his forehead and adjusted his glasses to see a tall figure heading up the steps. He frowned as he took off his glasses to wipe them off with a handkerchief to remove the sweat from them before sliding them back into place.
He didn't recognize the tall, broad shouldered man dressed in head to toe black heading up the steps, but there was something familiar about him that Issei couldn't put his finger on. The perfect posture, the squared shoulders, but the man's hands casually stuck in his pockets was something all too familiar. Issei shook off the déjà vu as the white haired man stopped at the step that Issei was standing on.
The man smiled, his eyes closing slightly and the expression tightened Issei's chest. He felt his cheeks warm up in a way that only had to do with one other person that he would never confess to. He quickly looked away from the man's handsome face, cleared his throat and said, "Ah, may I help you?"
"Yes actually. I'm looking for Kuzuki-sensei's fiancé Caster," the white haired man replied with a smile.
Issei blinked up at the tall man and asked, "You know Caster?"
"Yes, we worked together, just . . . It's been a long time since I've been here and I don't know where she'd be," the white haired man replied as he looked awkwardly around the temple.
Issei felt his cheeks burn even more as he pushed his glasses more firmly on his nose. He
said, "Ah, well, I'd be happy to take you to her then. I'm Ruyudo Issei." He bowed slightly before looking at him with a smile.
The man in black bowed as well and said, "I'm Archer, thank you."
The two of them started to head back up the steps and Issei asked, "So, are you from Fuyuki then?"
"Actually yes I am. It's been a while since I've lived here though," Archer answered as he slid his hands back into his pockets.
Issei asked, "So are you visiting?"
"I'm actually living here. I own the repair shop by Shinto," Archer replied.
Issei's eyes went wide as he looked up at the bronze skinned man. He placed his hand over his mouth and said, "You're that Archer-san?"
"I guess?" Archer said with a small, lopsided smile.
They were right, Issei thought as he thought about the giggling girls in the Student Council who kept finding things that were broken at school to take to have repaired. He was a little sad because it meant that he couldn't spend as much time as usual with Emiya Shirou because there wasn't as much to fix as usual. However looking at Archer now, Issei could easily see why those girls scour the school grounds for things in need of repair. Issei simply said, "I see."
Archer smiled at him and said, "So, are you training to be a monk?"
"Yes, hopefully after High School I can finish my training," Issei said with a smile.
Archer frowned and said, "It'll be a shame to shave all of that hair."
"That's what Caster keeps telling me," Issei admitted with a shake of his head.
The older man looked at him and said, "Just don't deny your feelings."
"What do you mean?" Issei asked with a frown.
Archer answered, "Nothing, just remember that." Then, with a smile, Archer headed up the steps in a steady lope, leaving Issei behind.
Archer quietly moved past the monks' quarters to the quasi-apartment set up for Kuzuki and his "bride" to be. He knocked on the wood frame of the paper door and a moment later the door slid open and a head of long, periwinkle hair with pointed ears poked out. Eyes a shade darker and a tad more violet than the woman's hair flickered around as she muttered, "It's too early for Issei to be back . . ."
"Well, I'm not Issei," Archer drawled as he watched the ancient witch's eyes widen and she looked up at him.
The Ancient Greek witch Media stared up at him and took a shaking step back before her eyes narrowed at him. She clinched her right hand into a fist as she glared at him. "Archer," she said in a low voice as she flexed open her hand and her lips began to move.
He smoothly moved up and clasped her mouth. "Now, it's not a good time to be
throwing divine words," he said as he let her go, "And if I was going to kill you, I wouldn't have politely knocked at the door."
"Your record on being trustworthy isn't favorable, Servant Archer," Caster said as she folded her arms under her ample breasts. His eyes traveled up her form as he took note she wasn't wearing her robes but a black tank top and a long, soft white skirt. She looked more like a young woman waiting for her lover to return home than a dangerous witch.
Archer smirked and retorted, "Well, I see you're adjusting well, Caster."
"Unlike you. So, how is your little former Master and her big, strong Irishman?" Caster asked with a tiny grin as her eyes gleamed maliciously.
He gritted his teeth and replied, "I wouldn't know."
"I know what it's like to be rejected, and it's not a pleasant thing," Caster said with a smile as she stepped back into the apartment. However her eyes darted around him before locking on his form again. Her whole body was tense despite her flippant words. "Now, what are you doing here?"
Archer smiled slightly and replied, "You're nervous."
"Considering the last time we met at any length of time you betrayed me and riddled me through with swords," Caster said with a snort, "Especially after all I did for you."
He replied, "Well, we were at war, and you were endangering both Rin and Saber. You were just a means to an end anyway."
"Since the boy brought us all back to life, I would safely assume that you failed on that regard," Caster continued as her smile narrowed at him and she tapped one finger with its finely manicured delicate pink nail against her full lips.
Archer shrugged and said, "Not exactly. We came to an agreement that mutually benefited everyone. Including your Souichirou-sama."
"Don't you dare speak his name like that," Caster hissed as she started to extend her hand towards him.
He replied, "You do."
"I have my reasons," Caster replied as a pretty pink flush stained her features, "What are you doing darkening my doorstep anyway?" She tossed her hair back as she stared at him with a small frown.
Archer smiled and answered, "I need your help."
"No," Caster said with a shake of her head.
He asked, "And why not?"
"Ah, let's see, because you betrayed and killed me," Caster retorted with her hands on her hips.
Archer shrugged and said, "And don't forget Kuzuki."
Caster's eyes widened at that as she simply stared up at him. Her whole being shook as she stared at him. She gritted her teeth and then her hand came up. She swung with all of her might but Archer already saw the tell of her body.
While she was able to run circles around him magically, Archer was still physically stronger, faster and smarter than her. His hand caught her wrists several centimeters from his face as he grinned down at her. He said, "It was in self defense after all. If he would've retreated instead of trying to avenge your death, he wouldn't have needed to be resurrected with the rest of us. Not that you have room to talk, Medea."
She stared up at him before looking down. She bit her lip and asked, "Souichirou-sama attacked you even though he wasn't reinforced? To avenge me?"
"It was ridiculously romantic," Archer said with a snort as he dropped her hand.
She flushed even more and tucked her small braid of periwinkle hair behind one of her pointed ears. She hissed, "I should kill you."
Archer's nostrils twitched as he smelled the familiar smell of miso burning. He turned to her and dryly asked, "Is that miso burning?"
"Oh no," Caster said as her eyes widened and she turned sharply on her heels. She almost stumbled as she ran towards the kitchen area of the living quarters. Chuckling to himself, Archer followed her to the kitchen as she took the ruined tofu mixture from the stove. She groaned and her shoulders slumped as she put it in the sink. "Not again," she moaned with a shake of her head.
Archer asked, "Problems?"
"Like you know anything about cooking," she snapped, "And why are you still here anyway?"
Archer smirked and replied, "Because I need your help."
"Why should I help you?" Caster asked with narrowed eyes.
"Because I can give you access to a form of mage craft that has kept a soul alive for
almost five hundred years," Archer answered.
She snorted, "I don't care about that, Archer."
"You just want to live a normal life with Kuzuki," Archer said as he shook his head.
She glared at him and said, "You're still here."
"Yes, and I'm going to be here until you agree to help me," Archer said calmly as he sat down on the floor Japanese style.
Caster's cheeks flushed as she snapped, "You're going to leave if I have to drag your ass out of here."
"Drag my ass out of here? Wow, I'm surprised that a princess and relative of the gods knows such coarse language," Archer said with a sly grin.
.The flush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears as she placed her hands on her hips and said, "You are vexing."
Archer smiled and said, "You'd better scrape the tofu out of that pan before it congeals again."
"I know that," Caster all but yelled at him before turning back to clean up the mess.
For the next hour, Archer watched her attempt twice to cook the miso, and each time she burned the soup. The third time he started giving her hints and suggestions, which only flustered her even more. She finally screamed, threw up her hands and spun around to face him where he was sitting. "What is it going to take to make you leave?" she screamed at him.
Archer looked around and said, "Be any louder and you're going to get some unwanted attention."
"Yes, and you're the one here who's not wanted," Caster snapped at him as she pointed at him.
He shrugged and replied, "I think I can convince Issei to letting me stay."
"You wouldn't," Caster said as she narrowed her eyes at him.
His smirk spread into a grin as he replied, "I would and could."
"Fine, tell me what you need my help with and we can go on from there," Caster said with a sigh as her shoulders slumped.
Archer felt his face fell as he answered, "I need your help to save a girl who's been tortured and raped since she was seven years old."
"You're . . . not kidding," Caster said in a small voice as her hands went to her mouth, "By the gods, who would do such a thing?"
"The magus who in control of the mage craft I just described to you," Archer replied, "I figure you can experiment on his body. The more painfully the better."
Caster did smile at that and said, "Why Archer, despite your brutality, I had no idea your tastes ran that way. Here I thought you were too much like the boy."
"I am, but sometimes Justice needs to be painful," Archer replied as he met her eyes, "So, are you in?"
Caster replied, "I'll help you on one condition."
"I'll teach you how to cook," Archer replied with a dark grin.
She turned colors again and said, "Fine, now would you please leave?"
"Give Issei my regards," Archer replied as he stood up to leave the quarters.