Chapter 9: Dawn of the Third Day
River Bridge
Second Level
The shockwave knocks me back. Blood, sweat, and tears. Malformed iron and chunks of pavement lay next to me. The sky has taken on an ashy-red colour, spitting out black soot and turquoise rain.
Dull ringing in my head announces the return of my hearing. My mind is a haze; the world is spinning like compass near a strong magnet. I cant breath, the heat and smoke, it's too much.
"Please stand behind the yellow line, please stand…
--Please stand-
--please stand…
--yellow line…"
Red and green lights flash in the distance; I realize I have fallen to the level bellow. A train is coming, my mind isn't working, and I can't comprehend the meaning of this new information.
"Please stand behind the yellow line"
The irritating female voice comes out muffled, as the speaker from which it is produced is buried under a pile of rubble.
The train comes into view through the haze of ash and air bourn debris. A steel monster of human ingenuity, my mind is working again.
"Please stand behind the yello-"
"WHAT YELLOW LINE YOU GODAMN BITCH"
Whatever yellow line she meant wasn't anywhere to be seen now, and the ever approaching train was giving me a headache. The train's horn sounds off, adding to my growing list of annoyances.
"Just…just…JUST SHUT THE HELL UP"
I feel my hand burn; realization dawns and I curse myself for my stupidity. A waste of a command spell, a waste, as the war hadn't even official begun yet.
I want to scream, but screaming would use up the little strength I have left to maintain my sanity.
…oh fuck it…
River Bridge
First Level
The two crash into each other, blade against blade. Fire and steel, the world distorts before them, the air burning away. Inhuman hands bring the burning blade down, a devastating blow.
Left arm scorched black, blood oozing out, white bone shone through the destroyed flesh and clothing.
The servant Assassin grips the burning blade with that hand, his melted flesh disintegrating with just a minute contact with the fabled blade.
But not even a minute is needed.
The downward arc shines in the darkness, piercing the towering servant with inhuman precision. Just as the first, a second arc slices through flesh, as does a third. In a single moment, three impossible moves where made.
The servant Berserker, as there could be no other but him, stood silent. A dark chunk of meat fell off his body. His bloody throat cut clear to the bone, sliced through his jaw down to his collar bone. The pain must be excruciating, but the servant showed no response, there was no scream because there was no vocals with which to use.
Assassin turns away, answering his master's call much to his dismay. The two steal away into the night, like shadows in the dark.
In the cold night, the servant Berserker stands like a statue, rain washing off his back. His master stood some distance away, her face a mask, hidden in the darkness before dawn.
"The servant sacrificed his arm…"
She smiled wickedly, as if just realizing a cruel joke. Turning on her heel, she beckoned Berserker to follow, that wicked smile fixed on her face.
Industrial Construction Yard
I don't know why I decided to come here. Still, I somehow feel at peace in this place. Around those tools, things with which a means can be achieved, my mother had called me an architect. And my aunt had called me a tactician, among many other things that should never be repeated.
Sometimes I think aunt Rin's time in London caused her to act this way, but the truth is a much crueller thing. Mom always said she was a kind person, and I agree, she was kind, just not to me.
Mom said it was because I reminded her too much of him, I always reminded people of him. Rin seemed to be effected by it more; maybe that's why she distanced herself so much. She can't be called unkind, just…absent. Such that I never knew the real Tohsaka Rin as I would have liked.
Sometimes life seems too quiet
I gaze up at the clouded sky, dawns light hidden by a veil of gunmetal grey. The ashen sky hiding the deep blue I have grown to love.
Into paralysing
silence
Take a deep breath, drink it all in. the world, the sound, take it all into myself, and make it mine. I breathe out, releasing all the built up tension since that night. Still, it's such a wondrous thing that I am here, wherever the hell here is.
Like the
moonless dark
I glace over at the girl who is to be my guardian. She sits on a drain pipe as if it where a chair from the renaissance, one leg crossed over the other. She turns her head to meet my gaze, a faint frown on her oval face.
Meant to make me
strong
I realize I have forgotten my manors, having simply jumped out of bed and vaulted out the window into the garden bellow. Years of training, years of mage craft, years of running away from dogs and she still followed me like seagulls do to hotdogs.
Familiar breath
of my old lies
With a little apprehension I bow low and in a small voice proclaim. "Emiya Matou Nadeshiko, Nice to meet you."
Changed the
colour in my eyes
I glance up slightly, still bent down. The Servant looks at me with a surprised face, before she bursts out laughing. Her face that was once a mask breaks, and a radiant smile enhances her features.
Soon he will
perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by
Clutching her side, the Servant wipes a tear out of her eye, regaining her composure. The girlish grin on her face makes me realize she is about the same age as me.
"I am Sei, nice to meet you Nadeshiko-chan"
Sorrow lasts
through this night
"Why, its just woman and children" A mans voice sounds out in the night, his mocking voice irritatingly harsh. "Correction, just children" he stands atop the unfinished skyscraper, six floors above ground level.
I'll take this
piece of you
Sei glances up at him, a bored look on her face, before vanishing into the mask of a face she wears. The mask of a soldier, there are no emotions, emotions are a waste of energy on the battlefield.
And hope for all
eternity
The man glances down, his face full of disapproval. His pale complexion was visible in the faint light, bright hazel eyes and dark hair partially covering his face. Next to him stood a man that could have pulled off royalty without effort, or reason.
For just one
second I felt whole
A servant, my mind comprehends this as if it where just everyday trivial information. The man surveys us from atop his steel lookout, this eyes undressing us.
As you flew
right through me
It took but a moment, but I realized I was no longer tired. My body felt light, the familiar feel of prana flowing through my body.
I want this; I need this, this fight. Every inch of my body screams for blood, for his blood. The gaijin fool stands atop the unfinished building, his leering gaze faltering as he looks at my face.
Left alone with
only reflections of the memory
This simple emotion spreads its wings inside me and burns away the air. In my left hand I hold the worlds sway, and in my right the world grips me tight.
To face the ugly
girl that's smothering me
"Trace on"
Sitting closer
than my pain
I was taught that this power was mine, and mine alone. To be used only when I wish it, for it is a gift given freely. For such a power, it became both a gift and a curse. In one hand I hold the power to create, and in the other I hold the power to destroy.
He knew each
tear before it came
Bring the two together, and create something that is your own. Make it your own, this power is yours, and no others. A representation of the true you, made form in this world.
--use it well Nadeshiko.
Soon He will
perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by
The man's face twists in the horror of realizing his folly. Sei releases her blade from her side; its light casts away the shadows. A blade forged under the light of the moon, and unequalled killer of men.
There is no need to name such a blade, a relic of ancient Japan, it is known only buy its wielder.
Legends speak of phantom swordsman who could kill a thousand men with a single stroke. But history is often wrong, a thousand men…that's far too few for one such as this.
Becoming a hero, for slaying thousands of people, such is the irony of legends.
Sorrow last
through this night
In my hands I hold those familiar blades, a gift from my father Rin had once said.
A stream of fire erupts in the sky, golden streams of molten rock and fire rushing towards me from the magus's outstretched hands.
I'll take this
piece of You
Chains of light burst out of the ground, surrounding me, a triumphant grin on the fools face.
And hope for all
eternity
His grin fades away as the dust settles; I look up at him, untouched. The falchions disappear from my hands, as memories flood into my mind.
For just one
second I felt whole
The mage crest of the Tohsaka family flares into life, fusing with the gifts of Emiya Shirou and Matou Sakura. Three families of mage's, their shared blood and power are mine.
As you flew
right through me
Like reading a book, it all flows into me. Every single word, every single phrase, every past memory; they become a part of me. My body is burning, the blood in my veins overheating. I raise my right hand and utter a curse, and the grin is wiped off the man's face forever.
And we kiss each
other one more time
As if someone had flipped a switch, it all fades away into nothingness. The power that had been threatening to break me relinquishes its hold.
And sing this
lie that's halfway mine
I feel the ground rushing to meet me, its solid form embracing me like a mother to a child. Even the air seems to become a cushion, the world becomes dimmer, and I close my eyes.
The sword is
slicing through the question
"Why was I given this?" I asked that question a long time ago, to a person I no longer recall.
So I won't be
fooled by his angel light
"Sometime in the future, you will use that power. It is up to you however, to choose how you will use it. I'm giving you this choice because I trust you will make the one you think is right.
Sorrow lasts
through this night
The man's corpse falls to the ground, crashing into cement blocks at the bottom. The two servants continue their fierce battle uninterrupted.
I'll take this
piece of you
Suddenly the kingly servant bows down at the waist. His face was covered by a mask of lacquered bone and the stretched hide of some animal.
"I'm sorry m'dear, but I will have to take my leave now" he says in deep baritone voice. With a wave of his hand he disappears in a flash of purple smoke.
And hope for all
eternity
Sei stands flabbergast her face a mixture of shock and of deep seated anger.
"HEY, COME BACK HERE SO I CAN KILL YOU!"
Sei waves her sword above her head, jumping up and down in frustration.
For just one
second I felt whole
The fading world continues to grow dimmer, but at the edges of my consciousness I see him. Emiya Shirou, the man who is my father, standing there in front of me.
As you flew
right through me
He knells down; gentle, but coarse hands cup my face, sweeping stray locks of hair out of my face. I briefly open my eyes and look into my fathers face, those kind eyes gazing into mine.
And up into the
stars
I try to remain conscious, by the darkness is calling me. Much to my dismay, I close my eyes once more, and fall into a dreamless sleep.
Joy will come
The man raises himself off the ground, his face turning into something out of a nightmare. A twisted off tangent the worst possible future, a man that destroyed the entire world for his own selfish gain.
A man called Emiya Shirou.