Ch9: All About Tonight
Eventually the car lets go of Archer (Archie) and Saber, Archer, Rin, and I buckle up and drive.
"Ahaa! My foot!" Archer cry's out.
"Stop complaining Archie." Rin commands him.
"Master, how can you be so cold to your humble Servant?"
"I'm more surprised that you don't have any questions about a talking car. Well Rin?"
"First of all if you were so humble than you wouldn't be crying and just pipe up. In fact you wouldn't have been in that mess if you had any humility." Rin explains.
"I have humility. I humiliate all the time!" Archer counters but Rin just continues.
"Secondly, about my not too surprised about a Servant talking to an inanimate object. At least yours can reply back. When I watched Archer talk to his boomerang he looked crazier than this since all you see is him complaining to his weapon. It's not crazy when you hear both sides of the conversation."
…..
"BWHAHH hhahhahah!"
"Mhhhhaaahhaaaa!"
Saber and the car burst out laughing. Rin and I just snicker a bit, and Archer being the subject of the laughter only glows red in embarrassment.
"You You you actually talk to you boomerang!? Ha what's his name Dingo? Hahahahah!" Saber alternates laughing and joking.
"Master how could you!? Why were you even watching that in the first place?"
"Archer when I hear voices in my house I go to check it out. But honestly what you and your boomerang do or say in front of the mirror is between you and her."
"Hah Archer you practicing your manly poses?"
"Maybe he was getting her opinion on his victory poses. Come on Archie introduce us."
"What's her name? Is she your special someone?"
"Let me guess did you meet her on the rebound or the swing back?"
"Must have been when one of them was on the 90 degrees curve!"
"Wait tell me, when you go on dates is she the third wheel or are you?! Hahahahhhaha!" The car mercilessly mocks Archer.
"Yeah yeah just laugh it up come on guys get it out of you."
"Archie I think we're going to be taking the long long way home. You know for safety reasons." The car responds.
"Right You can never be too safe can you?
"Oh Joy." Archer moans.
"Unfortunately Saber and car we need you actually drop us at my house as soon as you can. There are some things I would like to prepare before tonight."
"Sure that's no problem but you don't mind a few laps around the neighborhood do you? You know for safety measures."
"I don't mind." Rin reply's with a smile.
That reminds me. "Hey Saber, car we can't go home first."
"Why not Shirou?" Saber asks me confused.
"Oh please Shirou not you too?"
"Don't you remember this morning? There's nothing left in the refrigerator so we need to go to the supermarket to get ingredients."
"Oh yeah that right all the food in the kitchen went into Breakfast didn't it. All that left is bread crusts, coffee, tea, and water."
"Is that what that was all about?" The car asks about Breakfast.
"Yeah my master and Lancers master went a little doctor Frankenstein and created some kind of new lifeform. But don't worry Sampalla we took care of it already." Archer says with great pride showing off his Zat he got from Lancer this morning.
"No we didn't." Saber deadpanned.
"What? I thought you and Archer" I ask but was cut off.
"No we didn't."
"We faced that thing this morning after you all left for school." The car explained.
"And it got away." Saber finished.
"You can't be serious?! We got to find it! Uhmm it is a danger right?" I ask unsure. I only saw it for a moment this morning and as far as I could tell it didn't hurt or attack anyone. If it isn't a danger than it might be something we could let go for now.
"Don't worry Shirou. We already did something about that to find and maybe even capture it. But that's something I can explain in detail later. For now home." Saber let me know he already had it covered.
"Anything else while we were gone?" Archer asks.
"A bit. But again that's something we can get into later."
"Anything good? Like maybe you went shopping and got us some new toys, good?"
"Well I guess that we will all find out."
"What does that mean?" I ask.
"Seriously that can all wait."
"Sabers right. Besides Archer this is our stop." Rin tells us that that's all for now.
Saber pulls the car over and Rin and Archer step out. "We'll stop by later for dinner if that all right with you Emiya."
"Yeah that's fine."
"Good. And don't forget that we need to go to the school tonight. So either be ready or rest up if you're not. Don't forget that you are still weak from that magical arm implant and the fight with Berserker last night. I can handle it myself if I have to but only if you're not ready."
"What about Edelfelt san?" I ask.
"What about her?"
"….Never mind. Don't worry I'll be ready."
"Ok then." And she walks away with Archer in tow.
"Save us the good stuff for dinner will you Saber."
"Yeah right." He responded back and then we drive away.
"So groceries right Shirou?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
I give him directions which he seems to get the way general area.
The drive was quiet except for the radio which was playing some American rock.
"Something wrong with my taste in music?"
"No it just I… It's just really confusing."
"Don't speak English or don't understand the lyrics?"
"Neither. It that you're an Epic Hero who drives around a car that happens to talk back. Who are you Saber?"
"Not a question you really need to be asking right now. I'm sure you'll figure that out when or if you need to. I will tell you this about myself, others will say I'm a hero but half the time my story's more like a tragedy."
"Why do you say that? Are you one of those heroes that died trying or something?"
"Nah it's not like that, at least not every time. I won plenty in my life just that for every victory came with a price. And it was never cheap."
I could feel that that was all he was going to say about himself. Not a big clue but he was right about whether I need to know now or ever. I'm partnered with Saber now, his past doesn't affect much other than his experience and reason that he puts into the Grail War.
Right now Saber is his here for his experience. The full actualization of a noble hero who is more his actions rather than his reputation. It was a nice thing to think about. It the way I like to think of heroes, Selfless actions without need for recompense.
My ideal.
"Stop looking at me like that Shirou, it creepy."
I didn't even realize I was staring. "Sorry."
We reach the convenience store that I usually go to shop. It was actually weird to get here by car rather than by train and foot like I usually do. We park and go inside to shop for dinner and whatever else we would probably need for the next few days.
Iori and the other were driving in the Charger to someplace Assassin and Soushiki agreed would be a good place to investigate.
"So tell me again where we are going guys?" I ask them. They didn't tell me their destination just that we were going somewhere to maybe get some answers.
"We're going to the site of what we think was a fight. Not sure what we'll find but it should be interesting all the same."
"Wait how do you know there was a fight last night?"
"We felt the huge mass of murderous intent coming from someone in the area that we're going to."
"Wait a minute, is that really a good idea? To just go and potentially find that much trouble?"
"It's what we're here for remember Iori chan!" Ugh Soushiki's smile as he said that made his statement almost sparkle. That glittery demeanor was too creepy for him, like we're a family going to an amusement park.
Then again he is right, at some point or other we have to take some proactive action if we were going to get anywhere. It's not like we had anything else that we could do to gather intelligence other than going to investigate what seemed suspicious. It's like an RPG where the villagers tell you that there's something mysterious out in the cave or outskirts of town.
Admittedly, but also grudgingly, hearing that we were heading into someplace unknown with possible danger while scares the hell out of me, also excites some small part of me. A part of me that I'm doing my best to ignore.
Assassin explained what we doing in more detail. "I'm sure that they are no longer there, no reason for them to be if they are still alive and even more if they got wounded in their bunch. There may not be much we can learn but we could still get some guess as to what we may encounter later."
"Like what?"
"Possible weapon or fighting styles. Whether they are flashy or silent, destructive or precise. That may not be much but it's a start." Soushiki explained.
I don't get how they could figure any of that out but they (while sometimes I can't really believe it) are professionals and have experience in this type of thing.
"So anyone have any bets?"
"Well Sou I'm figuring that we'll see a lot of weird colored burns and sword marks."
"Classic magic huh?"
"Like what you see in a game?"
"Yeah that's what I figure."
"Since you guys bring that up can I just ask something I realized we never learned. Is there a way to actually fight you people? You know ghost 's and magic types?" I ask them.
"Technically yes. You see how I'm tangible now, were for the most part the same as any human, just that we need magic energy to live rather than food. Also were supernaturally strong, it'll take more to kill one of us than it does any human." Assassin explained to us.
"So what do you recommend?" Soushiki asked him. Assassin takes a minute to answer seemed like he was going thru the methods in his head.
"Well with what we got, in other words human means, decapitation should work well, won't be easy but doable."
"What about extreme physical damage? Would they regenerate or are we just dealing with the zombie type of attack methods, you know clean head shots to kill?"
"Head and heart should be you targets, But Sou if you're thinking blood loss than it's gonna have to be excessive and I mean excessive as in bleed them bone dry."
"I guess that won't be a problem for us, right Hitoshiki."
"Eh" He shrugged in response.
"However if you want to do it the safe way I recommend going for the masters. Kill them and the Servants lose most their juice."
"Would that be like them losing their power supply of magic?"
"More like pulling their plug. If that happened then they would just need to another to power source."
"So if they lose their master they just need to find another one."
"How is that easier?" Hitoshiki complained at the statement.
"It's easy because Servants can't last long without a power source. I'm talking like a day or so. Far less if injured or drained."
"It becomes a battle against time for them."
"Exactly, once their masters dead they would have to retreat and find another one or die."
"And the masters are human?"
"Human, magician, spellcaster, magi. All it comes down to is that they are easier for you to kill than some super almighty hero of legend."
"Well then that shouldn't be any problem for any of us." Soushiki stated confidently.
"Yeah sure whatever Sou nii." Hitoshiki agreed.
"Why do you say that?" I ask them.
"Because humans are easy to kill Iori."
I don't know why but while I recognize that that's a cold statement to say, it's also true. Over a thousand ways humans can die, and I'm with a group that supposedly specialize in doing just that.
And I'm supposed to be one of them aren't I? Like them I'm supposed to have this great hidden ability to kill. To be what they would call Kill Demons.
No they are the Kill Demons, not me. I'm just a girl with who supposedly has a little skill at it. I'm not like them. I'm sure I won't be able to do it like they do. I might get lucky but I can't see myself doing what I saw them do, how they can attack and slay so quickly and efficiently. Like how Soushiki near fatally stabbed that hamaka guy back at my home in one quick maneuver.
Thinking like this I can acutely feel the knives I still have in my pockets, the ones the Soushiki slipped onto me. I can't say I could use them but for some reason just knowing they are their makes me feel more at ease. I don't know maybe I should take one of those guns that the guys found in the trunk of the Charger, would be more threatening than just a small knife. Actually I wonder if I could even handle a gun?
Yeah all things considered if I'm the target to attack because I'm the master of Assassin then I'm really in trouble.
"So" I start out which gets everyone's attention. I'm actually not sure what I was about to say, if I had anything to say at all. I try to keep my question going but I really have no idea what I want to ask. I get everything up to this point but I still feel like I have something to ask.
"Umm,"
"Don't let this take you like your out of your league here Iori chan, you're not. If trouble comes your way then you'll know what to do. Just follow your instincts; you have them in you to kill when you need to."
"You make it sound like killing is our only option Soushiki."
"Well it's not but when faced with a life or death situation well you would think you'd choose one or the other. But don't forget you're not the only one making that choice. I recommend that when you go facing anyone assume they are taking the death option. "
Logical. Everyone's been calling this a war, so treat it as one. And in a war you kill those who try to kill you. But really can I? I'm just a normal girl who in all reality is in way over her head.
"However Iori chan if you do happen to see another way, then I recommend you take that method. It's all your choice in the end."
"Just remember don't do anything you'll find yourself regretting, Iori." Assassin consoled.
"Hey are we almost their?" Hitoshiki blurts out sounding frustrated.
"Don't be impatient, were almost their right?" Soushiki asked Assassin who kept driving.
"Probably."
"Assassin could you please tell me that that was meant as you know but don't want to say."
"Iori take that 'Probably' as we may or may not be getting to our destination. Not like it matters what I say, we'll get their eventually. Just think of it like a family trip."
"You can say that all you want but that doesn't change that you really don't sound too sure! You do know what you're doing right Assassin?"
"Knowing is a technical skill. It's only useful when it's useful."
"Like latin." Hitoshiki compares.
"Nope because when you know something good you know something good, when you know latin all you have is an all-round waste of brain power till those 4 seconds that they are actually useful, then the latin go back to being a waste."
"Assassin I almost feel like that comment is directed at me."
"Then you're almost right Sou." As he said this he abruptly stopped the car and stepped out.
"Their?" He looked around and questioned Soushiki. "What do you think it here right."
"I don't know it feels like it's here but at the same time it's not."
"Yeah it gotta be somewhere around here." Hitoshiki added.
"Not just anywhere, this way." Assassin started to head towards what looked like one of those huge romantic western mansions you see on TV or in one of those unrealistic super rich characters in a shojo manga.
It didn't look suspicious but once we crossed the threshold of the gateway the normal mansion turns into what I would consider a battlefield after battle would look like. The burnt huge crater was the first thing that drew my eye, followed by the missing and burned down parts of the mansion front wall.
"Ok that's much better."
"What the hell?!" Me and Hitoshiki peek out the other side of the gateway and form outside it looks like everything's normal, but when we step back in we see the battlefield.
"Illusionary castle."
"Perception filter."
"Glamor."
?
"Hitoshiki what are you talking about Illusionary it's right there!"
"It's a castle like mansion and we keep seeing something not there from the outside it's an illusion! The hells you talking bout perception filter Sou nii?"
"It's supernatural right so fairy magic! Guys it's like fairy Glamor you know where they make you see what they want you to see."
We kept arguing like that but we stopped when we noticed Assassin not participating. "I'm not getting involved because I don't want to but because I know we'll waste too much time doing so. Remember it's someone's house, rather not get caught trespassing for whatever reason."
"Assassins right you guys let go in and out as fast as we can." I tell them.
"How very conscious of you Assassin. Very lawful, more than I would have expected of you."
"Personally I'd rather not get found, it be insulting to the code of a supposedly silent assassin."
"Now that sounds more like it." Soushiki's got that right rather than being tactical he's more worried about his namesake.
All three of the guys pulled and snapped open a knife and spread out to look around the area. I didn't know what to look for but I started to walk around looking at what we found. I then asked out loud to everyone since we still had a question to answer.
"Hey guys what's up with this place, why can't we see the real place from outside?"
"I think those magic types call it a bounded field. It basically a bit of everything all you mentioned. Surrounding this mansion is a magic circle and in that circle the magi is able to manipulate people's perception of what they see and hear in here. At least that's how I understand it. That's only stuff I know from my summoning on basic magic understanding."
"Ever seen things like this before? I know of tricks that are similar to this but those have never able to pull off hiding something so out in the open."
"Sou I've seen some holographic and hypnotic techniques that were similar but this is on a whole other level. This things not only a disguise but also a deterrent remember didn't you guys feel the irresistible urge not to come here?" We all affirm what Assassin told us. "That's also the part of this field thing."
"So basically not only does this magi have that ability to manipulate what we see but also our own feelings of direction? My how"
"Annoying?" Hitoshiki interrupts.
"I was going to say bad but it's also that too. I'm willing to bet if they can manipulate feelings than maybe memories too."
"They unusually do this only to keep their secrets. They live on anonymity."
"Like how their running this whole Grail War right?" I add to the conversation.
"Right."
"I can understand the need for staying under that radar; it protects ones way of life and their very lives too."
"That's how it is for anyone. Using lies and secrets as your defense for reality, I guess that's the way for anyone the normal, the abnormal, or the paranormal." I can feel one of Soushiki's lectures coming.
"That's a good way of putting it. Three catagories. So if most of the city is the normal side to everything then what are we?" Assassin asked Soushiki.
"I would have to say we are the Abnormal. We are not users of supernatural abilities, we only use the skills anyone could use just put in an extreme or strange ways."
"Giant pair of scissors being strange or unusual?"
"Both I'd say."
"So basically were abnormal so long as we stay in the confines of what humans can do."
"What's this we thing, Assassin you're not human remember. With your magic body you fall under the supernatural category."
"How do you figure that?"
"I place anything that defy the conventional or the ordinary that produce beyond natural results as paranormal or supernatural in the world. Basically that things that are in the darkest and forgotten parts of the world like ghosts and demons and magic."
"Basically those things that are never normal to people, that defy he laws of reality. Is that it?"
"More or less."
"You know Sou nii if you put it like that then we could consider this War with us in it a fight between their paranormal skills against our abnormal techniques. Is that how you see it? Like our knives and other weapons against well whatever they got like laser magic or elemental control. If I had to compare it to something, it be like in Naruto, you know Rock lee the non ninja user against everyone else who has ninja techniques."
"Uhh well yeah I guess."
"Don't tell me you don't get it. You know he can't use jutsu's so he supped up his normal techniques to extremes but all the other characters had all their bad ass rasengan's and summoning jutsu's and"
"Hitoshiki we get it. He was an abnormal martial artist vs paranormal abilities that blow crap up. That's not what he was unsure about."
"Then what?"
"He's just upset he didn't think of it himself."
"Very."
"See."
"Haa. I beat you to it Sou nii!"
Soushiki retaliated to the humiliation by tossing the knife he had in hand at his head. Hitoshiki quickly and smoothly caught it in the air and just as quick and smooth put it in one of his pockets.
"Thanks for that back!"
"Never a problem."
"Hey if you two are done with that and the look around I wonder if you'd like to dance?" Dance? What?
"Sure why not. Hitoshiki?"
"I'll play the attacker you guys can do the complicated moves."
"I figured. Iori chan could you come here." Soushiki waved me over. I saw Hitoshiki take a spot over by the gate while Assassin, Soushiki, and I took formation opposite of him in-front of the ruined mansion.
"Uh what are we doing?"
"Playing out what happened Iori chan."
"But we don't know what did happen. Do we?"
"We don't but we can make some good guesses based on what we see."
"Like?"
"Like for one their was only one attacker." .
"As far as we can figure."
"Which Hitoshiki is playing the part of." Hitoshiki gave a small wave when addressed.
"And their were three different defenders which we are in role of."
"As far as we can figure."
"One was a close to mid range fighter using a type of burning magic weapon. Probably a really big guy who took the hardest and probably first to be hit."
"As far as we can figure." Hitoshiki walked over in-front of me.
"Iori chan lay down, pertend you were hit with a really heavy downwards blow." I do so but still ask him why. "Because Iori chan I wanted to see you laying down."
I jump up but Assassin stops me from doing anything to him.
"Next was a close range fighter using a bladed weapon, if you look carefully at the ground you can make out the blade marks. Probably a sword judging by the depth. If we go by that it might be our Saber class."
"As far as we can figure."
"Sword equals Saber. Makes sense."
"And finally a long range shooter. He used a conventional rifle, Bullets and everything. In fact" He showed me grayish bullet "the ammunition that we found dug in the wall was very similar to the rounds we found in the Charger, it might even be his car. If their using guns then they might be the Archer class."
"As far as we can figure."
"Assassin that getting annoying."
"Hey it's true for all we know there could have been others flying around shooting magic crap like DBZ."
"Mmm theirs a fun thought." Soushiki replied holding his chin in a thinking position.
"That's not a fun thought. If we have to deal with flying and planets exploding then we positively are in over our heads."
"Trust me Iori if it comes to that then we may have more problems than just some super Servant to deal with."
I try to figure out what he means but everyone was moving after looking around and once they seemed satisfied they move to the mansion going inside. Assassin went in jumping thru the hole in the second story wall. Soushiki and Hitoshiki casually went thru what looked like the remains of the front door. "Hey Sou nii, do you think the rules on knocking applies if there's no door?"
"I wouldn't think so. I would imagine that you would just have to announce your entrance."
"Hello!"
I run after them thru the doorway. "Hey uh you two, I was just wondering on what your take one the crater out there could have been?"
"Ehh magic explosion? Who knows really." Hitoshiki responded.
"We'll probably run into lots of things we won't really understand. Remember there was a huge explosion like that and their not only is no police presence but also looks like theirs no reaction at all from the neighbors. The unexplained must happen enough that we may have already have seen something and not notice it. After all we would have passed this place if Assassin hadn't noticed something."
"I wonder how?"
"I've got good eyes." Assassin appeared ahead of us at the top of a staircase looking at us while it looked like he was adjusting his goggles.
"They must be very good eyes."
"They are but they can be a hassle too. Anyways I looked around but found no one here. But I wonder if this looks familiar." He pulled out a blue frilly dress.
Soushiki responded before I could say anything about the dress. "That dress! What an abomination! You can't read the three sizes from it!"
"Soushiki! Stow it!"
"Hey wasn't that what that Master of Lancer was wearing?" I point out.
"Looks like it." Hitoshiki agreed with me.
"Thought so. Found a closet full of skirts like this."
"Assassin that's not a skirt that's a"
"Sou I don't care." He tossed the dress aside.
"If there's a closet with her things then that means that this mansion"
"Is her crib." Hitoshiki interrupted. "I'm gonna look around. If there's no one here then there could be cool magic stuff lying around."
"For us to take you mean?" Assassin questioned the leaving Hitoshiki but he didn't answer.
"Probably, or he might be trying to ditch us!" Soushiki ran after him.
I walk up to Assassin up the stair. "So guess it us two then?" I ask him.
"Guess so." He turned around and started walking down the hall. "So then which door would you like to open first Iori?"
"So then Shirou what's your plan in all this?" Saber asked Shirou as they headed back to his house.
"We have to stop everyone from fighting."
"That's it? No offence but I was hoping you and the others came up with something more… you know more."
"I just don't want there to be anymore killing. We'll be starting at the school, someone set something terrible there."
"Yeah you guys were saying something like that. But when I heard Archer say bomb I really wasn't sure what to say back to him."
"Someone's gathering ghost in the school. Or at least that's what Rin and the others think."
Seen that happen before, usually as either a prank on someone or to do something real bad. That studio incident comes to mind. But I really think if it is a school related thing with ghosts then it's probably a bunch of kids screwing around.
Well I would think that but if we got explosives involved then probably not.
"So what is it you guys saw?"
"Down in the basement in a room no one knew was there we found some kind of alter with a magic setup that the girls say is a meant to draw spirits their to the school. So far no one's said or noticed anything but we think it may not be long before"
"Before one of them goes out of control and starts attacking right."
"Right. We're planning on going back there and dealing with it tonight. We couldn't do anything then because there was some sort of bomb attached to the thing."
"Definitely not a kids prank then."
"I can't imagine anyone doing anything like that as a prank!"
"Don't be too surprised by the idea. You couldn't imagine the number of times that kids play with Ouiga boards and end up summoning a real ghost. Or the times that kids play bloody Mary and get the real thing by accident."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Most times it accidental but there are also times that they do it for payback or some messed up reason like that."
"I can't imagine anyone doing something like that to our school."
"Actually if you think for a second Shirou, this could be Grail War related."
"What?"
"I'm thinking that for two reasons. One is that gathering Ghost that a servant could devour for energy if they need a boost, it would be worse if someone died cause any kinda ghost summon can also bind the dead their against their will and trap them in a kinda limbo. Also, well it could just be the beginning of something else someone else could be planning. It may not end here."
"You can't be serious? You don't think there could be more, could their?"
"It's possible it may not even be here at you school or just with ghosts. You should know but there have been some rather brutal murders lately here in you fair city. It may just be a coincidence but I think it's more likely another team gathering strength and getting ready for a major fight."
"Why would anyone go that far as to put others in danger?"
"Anything to win, even if it means unrelated casualties. Some will do anything to be ready."
"They shouldn't be fighting at all."
"No they shouldn't but they will anyways just to grant their dream and wish."
"No wish or dream or goal is worth killing other to archive."
"For some it is. Seen it before and probably will keep seeing it further on as we keep meeting the other teams. The girls may not be like that but that's because their more in it for the fight and the recognition rather than the goal, the others we may meet won't be like that."
"Do you think… you think Illya from last night is like that, anything to win type?"
"Maybe. If nothing else she has some personal reason to fight you specifically. Remember she singled you out from the rest of us."
"Yeah she did seem to consider the rest of you as unimportant."
I don't know if the others feel or even realized that but thinking that we are just forgettable or unimportant to our enemy kinda pisses me off. Then again with that Berserker by her side she may have good reason to be that confident and arrogant. It probably not the case but she could also be the one or one of the ones committing the murders in town.
I won't deny that I can be the same too. If it came down to it I might also go far to make sure things good well. Not murder innocent bystanders far but if it chanced I may have tried to attacked and subdue the Master by any means necessary, even kill them, but only as the last resort. I'd rather avoid killing people as much as possible, even if they are ruthless Magi or whatever it is they are calling themselves. But if it comes down to it.
"What about you Saber, how far will you go?"
"Huh? Well, I do have limits, just sometimes those lines we draw get to blurry to see. I'm sure it'll happen to you Shirou."
"I know my limits of how far I can go."
"It seems easy to say and think now but in the heat of the moment when someone's life is in jeopardy or worse, you will be surprised by what you can think of."
"That's terrible."
"That tends to be human nature. Sad to say but it really is. I believe that we are good and worth living but I can't say that it's the same for everyone. I got a few people in mind that I wouldn't mind watching teeter in front of Hell for a while."
"Again that's terrible."
"You can't say you don't know some bastard like that. If not then you don't know many people."
"I know plenty and I know no one I know could be like that. I do however know that there are people like who you are describing in the world but it's not anyone I know."
"So then I assume that no one in you school would do something like rig what you found in the basement even just for gags?"
"No. In-fact I'm sure that the only Magi in my school are Rin, Luvia, and me."
"If that's the case then it really is more likely that some Grail War team set that thing up to gather energy or has some long term plan in progress in mind. Either way it's a good idea to get rid of it both for the safety of you classmates and for wrecking someone else's plan."
"Now I like that. But do you think we can remove it?"
"Depends if nothing else I'm sure between the seven of us we can figure som DOH!" I stop walking as I stupidly remembered something really important.
"What! What is it Saber?"
"Were walking home aren't we?"
"Yeah? So?"
"We can't go back yet."
"Why not, did you think of something we forgot at the market?"
"Yeah, we got to go back there, we forgot Sam back in the parking lot."
"I can't believe you guys were half way back before you realized that!"
We were entering the Emiya house while we still got chewed out by Sam for forgetting him.
"In our defense Sam, we don't really have one." Saber replied to the car Sam.
"The hell you don't!"
We park the uh we set… we get out once we get Sam parked next to the shed. There was a large black truck on the other side of the shed. I vaguely remember it as the one Lancer and Luvia used last night to bring me back home.
After promising to listen to him grip some more later we go inside where Luvia and Lancer were already there in the living room. Lancer was watching TV, while Luvia was reading something on the table.
"Wait that's not my TV?"
"But it's my dream one!" Saber passed his grocery bags over to me and ran over and took a seat on the ground next to Lancer.
"Welcome back Saber. Did you collect the supplies you needed?"
"Yep. Paid for all of it too."
"How so?"
"Credit cards. Fortunately they still work."
"I still can't understand why you even have those." I tell Saber. I remembered how he offered to pay for everything and pulled out the card and did so.
"Ehh no special reason, we all need money right. So what's on Lancer?"
"I am uncertain. All I am able to tell is that it involves two individuals involved in a verbal challenge of trivia of some kind."
I grudgingly take the handed bags and my own to the kitchen. Luvia stands to assist but I tell her I can handle it.
While putting things away in the kitchen I think about tonight. If we are going to the school then I need to think about what I can do. If I try to use my magic circuits again will it result in the same thing with me passing out? Why did that happen in the first place?
I look at my right hand. "Oh yeah that's right it's a crystal fake now isn't it?"
If that is the reason for my magic backlash then I may need to learn how to work my Prana thru it. I guess I could learn to avoid using my circuits in the arm but that's like trying to hold back my full Prana output. I mean I can still feel the same Magic circuits in it just that they feel kinda wonky, like I know it's mine but my mind doesn't recognize that.
"Guess I just got to get used to it. Hopefully I can do so fast. Otherwise I'll be even less help when I need to be. Hey!" I just remembered I still have that knife Saber glued on me this morning.
I went out to ask him to get it off when the phone started ringing. I look over and see Luvia, Saber, and Lancer sitting in-front of the… Wow that certainly is not my TV. It was one of those huge 49 inch plasma's you would see displayed in department stores.
"Where did we get that?" I ask them not sure if it was Saber or someone else.
"Oh sorry Emiya kun, but since it survived the attack last night I thought I would bring it over. Did you mind?" I get the feeling this is going to happen a lot with each of my ally's. Well so long as they feel at home and they don't wreck anything then I don't mind.
"No I don't at all. What are you guys watching?"
I got a unanimous 'I don't know.' Or in Lancers case 'I am not certain.'
Going back to the ringing phone I pick it up and answer it. I was shocked when I hear Taiga on the other end. "Fuji nee what's going on? Don't tell me you're not coming over." I say that as a joke but she affirms it which was really surprising.
"Sorry Shirou but I got a call about something that happened. I'll tell you about it tomorrow at school. Actually I'll be telling the whole class about it. I was at a teachers meeting but that just ended and now I have to go pay some visits."
"Who are you going to see?"
"For starter I need to see Sakura about her brother. Didn't you notice he wasn't their today at school? Well apparently he hasn't been to school in at least a week. And now Ayako gone too. The school got a call from her parents today about her not coming home last night. At first they thought she was just at a friends but since she hasn't contacted them they don't know."
"She wasn't at school today either was she?"
"No she wasn't. Hate to say it but the police are already getting involved. I can't say anything else but I possible something could have happened to them. With all the murders that have been happening lately it's got everyone thinking the worst."
"No way!"
"Yeah anyway actually do you know anything since I just told you and I wasn't supposed to. Ghaa I can't believe I did that!" Yeah talk about really professional like of her.
"No I don't." Actually I might, but I can't really just tell her they might have been abducted but some supernatural being involved in a war for the Legendary Holy Grail.
"Oh ok alright well I guess that's all. I won't be there for dinner but please save me something for tomorrow."
"What about breakfast?"
"That's Breakfast I will also need some dinner too! It's only right to eat dinner before you think Breakfast. Theirs a proper order to feeding you know!"
"….. What?"
"Anyways I'll see you tomorrow." And she hung up.
"What?"
"What happened Shirou? Who was that?"
"Confusing. And concerning, Edelfelt san, did you know Shinji and Ayako are missing?"
"Who?" Really!?
"They're in our class!"
"Hey, I do know who Ayako is, I just can't recall any Shinji's."
"How do you not remember a guy with purple blue hair?"
"Sorry I can't remember."
"He sits in front of me!"
"I can't think of him. Isn't that Ryuudou san?"
"No it's not! Ok never mind that. Anyways it seems that they haven't been heard from in at least a day."
"Are they not with their friends?"
"No her parents called her friends but they don't know."
"Shirou do you think" Saber started but I cut him off knowing what he thought.
"No. Don't think like that their not dead. Not until we find bodies, they're not dead."
"Ok Ok fine just remember we are dealing with violent days with the War. They may have become"
"Saber until we find them, dead or alive, then we consider them still alive. Even with Grail involvement they may not be dead yet, got it."
Everyone looked at me, Lancer spoke up. "If you do believe that then it would be prudent to try and find them before they are."
"I know, but how?"
"I guess we could look into it. If it really is Grail related then it would be like a two birds with one stone. Find the victims and deal with a Servant at the same time." Saber rationalized my idea.
"If you would like Emiya kun you could look into that as I handle the situation at school."
Split our forces to deal with more. Yeah that makes logical sense. But at the same time I may not. We need to concentrate on solving one problem at a time as quickly as possible and I want to make sure I see that it's solved otherwise it's just going to be nagging at me that I could have done more
Also I may want to be there to moderate between Luvia and Rin incase another spat of theirs breaks out.
"So Emiya kun?"
"No I'll go with you two to deal with the school problem before looking for them."
"Are you sure? I positive I can handle it on my own on way or another."
"I'm sure. Also you should know Taiga won't be coming here tonight because of that issue of Ayako and Shinji missing so we just have to wait for Sakura, Rin, and Archer."
"Hey that reminds me! Lance listen when Archer gets here just call him Archie."
"Why?"
"He doesn't like it. Sam came up with it because Archer kept calling him Sampalla. Consider it their love hate car and Servant relationship."
Lance had this face that seemed to both think about the request while at the same time think that he may have misunderstood something. With a nod "Very well Saber. I will do so."
"Thanks. Luvia you can join in on the nicknaming too."
"I'll think about it."
Well for some time I sit with the others and watch whatever it was they were watching but once I hear that Rin and Sakura are coming in I decide to start cooking dinner with Sakura's help.
