As the rest of the town burnt to the ground, the executors and magi quickly prepared to leave. Their work was done, the Dead had been purged and the source of the outbreak had been dealt with for the time being. There was nothing to do now but pull back and analyze what we had learned. Caren had mentioned that Luviagelitta was investigating something elsewhere. If that haughty girl was working with us, she was sure to be thorough. Despite her loudmouthed nature, she produced excellent results. Maybe that was why she didn't get along well with Rin.
Rin must have sent out a message through her amulet, because in minutes the magi had gathered. The executors trailed them, evidently anxious about leaving so soon. They were confident in their work, but we had only patrolled the village once. Still, the chances of a vampire escaping our notice were about zero. The sheer killing intent they let off was too easy to detect. With these unrefined subjects, it would be impossible for the newly created vampire to suppress the massive amounts of prana in their bodies.
"Are we ready?" asked Rin. She crossed her arms and stared at the executors, who were muttering amongst themselves. She looked annoyed. I sighed while watching her. She was still trying to suppress her emotions after the deaths of two of her mages.
"Yes, we are prepared to move," said Caren. Two of her executors stood behind her. Over their shoulders were the bodies of Mateo and Rodrigo, still unconscious. It seemed that we would take them with us.
"Good, Luvia said she'll meet us at the predetermined location."
"Were there casualties?" asked Caren.
"Two wounded by gunfire," replied Rin. "Nothing they couldn't handle. No vampires at least."
"Gunfire?" I said. "So Engstrom really has the cartels in his pocket. . ."
Rin nodded with a grim expression on her face. "He and his two apprentices most likely killed the leaders in a single attack. If they were fast enough, they could have taken over in just a day. Now they're working for him, whether they know it or not."
As we began to walk across the plain to the south, Caren spoke. "Knowing Engstrom, he may be using his necromancy to make familiars of the leaders. They would appear ill, but he could throw his voice and will through their risen corpses."
I scowled. It was a grim thought, but after infiltrating Clock Tower and murdering executors, I wouldn't put anything past Engstrom, not to mention the murder of an entire village, a crime out of a horrible nightmare.
We were headed south, walking parallel to the road through the field. Through the long grasses we moved unseen to any eyes that could stare down from the road, up on a ridge to the left. It was odd to see the mages struggling through the almost swamp-like land. With their long robes and expensive clothes, they groaned and sighed as their leather boots were muddied by the damp earth.
Rin was different. Her manner of dress was more utilitarian than the others, and her boots were of a much more sturdy make. She led the way along with Caren, who didn't change expression as she walked. The executors were stoic as well. With Oberlitz behind Caren, they moved in a wedge formation, drifting like ghosts through the grass. With such long coats, it was surprising how silently they moved.
We walked for half an hour, moving with visibility so bad that we couldn't see more than five feet. As we reached the edge of the field, the ground sloped upwards into a more forested area. The road was nearby, and under the darkness of the trees I could see a few run down trucks. I tossed Rin a glance as she pulled a pair of keys out of her pocket.
"What?" she asked with an odd expression.
"No magic carpets?" I said mockingly. "I guess I was wrong to expect something magelike."
"Hey, we take what we can get," she growled. "You're acting like him too."
"Like who?" I asked.
"Archer," she said. "You already look just like him, and that was something he would say."
I nodded after a moment. "Maybe I am becoming Archer. If he is Heroic Spirit Emiya, then he's certainly someone I want to become."
"Archer was way too cynical," said Rin. "I'll probably change my opinion of you if that's how you start behaving."
I smiled at her and shook my head, "Well I wouldn't want that. Don't worry Rin, I'm not going to change myself to fit my memory of him."
She didn't reply, but she seemed pleased with my answer. That Red Knight was long gone, a memory of almost ten years ago. She still remembered him perfectly though. And though I spoke to him only a few times, it was clear that he had cared about her. It seemed my friendship with Rin continued well into the future.
All of us quickly got into the cars, with Oberlitz taking the wheel in one and Rin in the other. I climbed into the passenger seat, letting Caren and a few of her executors take the back seats. Rin started the engine, and after a few sputters, the vehicle roared to life and we were off.
"You know Shirou," said Rin. "If you are Archer, you need to get a whole lot better at projection."
I rolled my eyes. She was right though. Archer was incredible. He projected with such speed and such accuracy. No amount of practice would ever let me reach that level of expertise. Even now I dream of Kanshou and Bakuya. In my dreams, they aren't the copies that I make, but the ones that I saw in his hands during those days in the 5th Grail War.
"I still don't understand how he became so good," I said, voicing my thoughts.
"Who knows," said Rin. "But I doubt you'll ever become a Heroic Spirit if you stay as you are now."
"What is this talk of Heroic Spirits?" said Caren. "Reminiscing about the 5th Heaven's Feel?"
I leaned over the center console and looked back at her to reply, but Rin spoke first. "Yes. My Servant was Archer in that war. He used the same projection magic that Shirou uses now, and Shirou has grown to look like him."
"He must have been me from the future," I said, smiling at how foolish it sounded. Who could possibly imagine meeting their future self, much less not realizing it because of how different you two look? To be fair, I never expected to have my hair turn white, or tan like I lived on a tropical island. And if I had known I was to become Archer back then, I never would have been so self-conscious about my height.
"That is logical," said Caren. "If you have discounted every other possibility, whatever remains must be true."
"Are you quoting a certain famous detective?" asked Rin with a snort.
"I must be allowed a few pleasures," said Caren with a small smile. "reading is one of them. More to the point, if this man is truly Emiya Shirou from the future, it must mean you have accomplished your ideal. I suppose congratulations are in order."
Before I could reply, one of the executors in the back spoke up. It was the small man that I had first seen with Oberlitz. "What of the Counter Force? Heroic Spirits are no longer commonly created, but Guardians do not need to be famous. That seems more likely to me, though why one would be summoned to a Grail War is odd to say the least."
"Guardians?" I mumbled. I knew the term, spirits that made a contract with Alaya in exchange for immense power and miracles during their lives, bound to protect humanity after death.
"That's something to consider," said Rin. "I always thought it was a possibility, but I never brought it up. Its much nicer to think of him as a Heroic Spirit, rather than a man that struggled on in anonymity."
"Still," I said, "I'd be fine with that too."
"Huh?" said Rin with a confused expression. "Wouldn't you rather be widely known as a hero of justice like you always wanted?"
"My dad always did his best, and no one ever recognized him for what he was. He stumbled and failed at some points yes, but he saved many people in his life. If I can save even half as many people as Emiya Kiritsugu did, I'll happily live a life of ignominy."
"You've saved a lot of people already," said Rin. "Enough to be a hero in my eyes."
We drove for about two hours, on back roads at first before pulling onto a paved highway. We were heading to the coast. I recognized the route. A port city lay ahead, the biggest export from the city was the cartel's drugs. At least until recently, if they were solely focused on perfecting and distributing Engstrom's vampire drug. I suspected he would halt or slow operations of a less important nature. How well that would go with the other cartel members I didn't know, but he would find a way to take care of it.
"How do you think the cartels view all this?" I asked.
"It's hard to say," replied Rin. "It's obvious that a lot of them are still active, since he was in charge before you even showed up. I'm surprised he didn't have you killed."
"It confuses me as well," said Caren. "Engstrom certainly knew of your actions against his forces. If I were him, you would have been killed the second the police gained custody of you."
I thought for a moment, and my eyes widened with realization. "Could he believe that I have Emiya Kiritsugu's Magic Crest? He would want me intact in that case."
"That's a possibility," said Rin. "If your body rotted it would be useless, and he may not trust subordinates to ice you down after your death. Keeping you alive would be the best option until he could work himself."
I frowned. "The fact that he did nothing means that he's too busy. That was fortunate for me, but bad for us. We haven't even considered what to do about the cartel members and police officers under his employ."
"I have a team of executors spread around the country," said Caren. "They are investigating cities searching for known accomplices of Engstrom while also checking the legitimacy of the police. Anyone taking bribes will be dealt with."
"So that just leaves Engstrom himself. Do we know where he is?" I asked. I neglected to ask what "dealt with" meant. I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
"Luvia was searching that out," said Rin. "Hopefully she'll have recovered something by the time we meet."
As night fell we pulled into the city, heading towards the shore. It was getting close to summer, and the beaches would soon be crowded with locals. There weren't many tourists anymore, not with the rising crime statistics. Still, the hotels did well enough with travelers from other parts of the country, and Rin had apparently booked an expensive one. Leave it to her to live like a queen when on someone else's payroll.
We parked in front of the hotel, under their wide veranda, and let the valet take our car. The hotel was fancy and well-lit, a far cry from the hovels I'd stayed at in the past. For once it looked like I'd have a good place to stay. Behind us, Caren and her executors climbed out of the other cars and joined us.
"Luvia and her magi are already up in the rooms. We have a conference center prepared on the 3rd floor. We'll meet there first and retire after we've discussed our findings," said Rin as we walked into the lobby. The patrons and employees gave us a wide berth. Even if they didn't know who we were, by our manner of dress they knew we weren't people to socialize with.
"We have a room for you as well," said Caren. "We were expecting to find you eventually, but we never had a chance to purchase weapons for you, or new clothes."
"That's fine," I said. "My tracing is enough for now. I don't expect magi or members of the Holy Church to know what firearms I like anyway."
"You would be surprised," said that same lanky priest again. "Many of us are well versed in different weapons, even if we do not use them ourselves. Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. I am Giorno Ricci. I work with Oberlitz at Sister Ortensia's convent."
"Good to work with you," I said as we climbed into the elevator. Half of our group, including Oberlitz and some of the magi, had to wait for the next one. "He seems to be a lot more combat focused than you."
"Indeed he is," said Giorno with a smile. "I pride myself on knowledge more than anything. I identify the threat, and Brother Oberlitz eliminates it for me. However, my skill with a Black Key is sufficient."
"I don't doubt it," I said. "I've been on the wrong end of an executor before. It wasn't an experience I want to repeat."
"I do hope you were not committing crimes against God to provoke such an attack," said Giorno with a sly smile that was just visible under his hood. I groaned inwardly. That sort of comment reminded me of the priest in question.
"I am sure that my father's actions can be excused," said Caren demurely. "Forgive me Emiya Shirou, I do not believe I have apologized for all the trouble he caused you and Tohsaka-san."
"It's in the past," said Rin. "You certainly don't have to answer for his sins."
"Rin's right," I said. "What happened in the 5th Grail War doesn't reflect badly on you."
Caren smiled slightly and inclined her head. "I appreciate your understanding."
The ding of the bell announced our stop at the 3rd floor, and we exited to find a long hallway with beige carpets and light walls printed with simple floral designs. Rin led the way, heading through a door on the right. We entered into a large conference room with a dark wooden table and a large whiteboard on the right wall. Maps and photographs covered the table, and a few others were taped up on the board.
There were about ten magi already in the room. Most stood against the back wall, watching everything with careful eyes. Four stood over the table, pointing out locations on the maps while talking in conversational tones. One in particular caught my eye, a woman about Rin's age with full blond hair, curled into ringlets. As we entered, Luviagelitta Edefelt looked up and smiled at us.
While she had certainly matured a lot, her manner of dress remained the same as the day that I first met her. She wore a blue dress with white frills, with easily detachable sleeves and a skirt that wouldn't impede her movement too heavily.
"Tohsaka-san," she said, "it's good you could make it in time. I commend you for discovering Shirou so early in the schedule as well. You do credit to your family."
Rin rolled her eyes as we joined Luvia at the table. When I said before that Luviagelitta Edefelt had matured a lot, it didn't mean that she wasn't Rin's rival anymore. She and Rin still argued constantly, but the two had formed a competent working relationship that let them push against each other while still accomplishing whatever task was before them. They were among the best field workers in the Magic Association, and neither would be as effective alone. It was a far cry from five years ago, where they couldn't be in the same room together.
"Good to see you again Luviagelitta," I said with a smile.
She puffed with pride and put her hands on her hips as she said, "Indeed, it has been awhile Shirou. I only wish that we could have met again in a more respectable place. This country is far too dirty!"
"Well, we'll have to get dinner together when we're all back in London," I said.
"An excellent idea Shirou," she replied, reveling in the annoyed look on Rin's face. Despite her haughty attitude, I actually liked Luviagelitta, mainly because she could back up everything she said. She was also surprisingly kindhearted, and took care of the people close to her.
Oberlitz and the rest of the executors entered. Altogether, we had twenty six magi and eighteen executors in the room with us. They stood in distinct groups, with only Rin and I holding our place with the executors. Evidently she liked them less than Rin did as her expression soured as they took their place. As the room quieted down, she opened her mouth to speak, straightening up as she did so. I beat her to it though.
"Before we start," I said. "How safe is this hotel?"
"Safe enough," said Rin. "We have more than twenty magi and some of the toughest the Holy Church has to offer."
"What's to stop them from just blowing us all up?" I asked. They needed to think more practically.
"We have familiars watching the approaching roads, as well as the lobby," said Luviagelitta. "We can also activate a protective boundary field if we come under attack."
Fair enough, I thought. That would satisfy me for now at least. I sat and the others took the seats that were available. Rin stepped to the front with Caren and Luviagelitta, and ended up speaking first.
"We've already made a lot of progress. With a stroke of fortune, we managed to recover Emiya Shirou without even having to look for him. He'll be a valuable asset in bringing down Engstrom. You all know that Engstrom has been trying to perfect his vampire-creating drug, and is definitely hiding out somewhere in this country. Luvia will share the intelligence she gathered from her meeting now."
"Thank you Tohsaka-san," said Luviagelitta, emphasizing the honorific. "My team discovered much in our raids of the criminal dens in the nearby towns."
She pulled a pointer out of her bosom and extended it to point at a map of the fifty miles surrounding this port city. Four locations were marked with large "X"s. "These are four manors that were mentioned quite frequently in the documents we discovered. It's very possible that Engstrom is hiding in one of these places. If not, they are certainly areas where the drugs could be produced."
"It's best if we destroy them simultaneously," said Oberlitz. A chorus of affirmations followed his comment, I among them.
"What about other towns like the one we saw destroyed?" I asked.
Rin was looking through the documents, and answered without looking up. "We have a list and a schedule," she said. Then after a pause. "One of these locations has been hit already according to the chart."
I looked down at my lap, thinking about another city consumed by the Dead. It was a horrible thought that another thousand people died without ever knowing what was wrong.
"We will dispatch three executors," said Caren. "Against the Dead they should be sufficient."
"Three magi will go as well, no arguments," said Rin.
"There is no reason to protest," said Caren. "The rest of us should focus on neutralizing Engstrom as quickly as possible."
I nodded in agreement. "We should definite-"
Before I could finish my sentence, the lights went out as the room shook. Below us was the sound of an explosion, and I could hear gunfire at a distance. The room was dark now. The only light was the red exit sign that cast an eerie glow over everything.
"What happened?" snapped Rin.
"I have no idea!" said one of her younger magi in a panic. "Everything was fine one second, then all the familiars were dead! Then this explosion!"
"What about the familiars inside the hotel?" asked Luviagelitta. She and one of her aides were shoving the documents into large tote bags. She turned around without waiting for a response and began ripping them off the board on the wall.
"I have mine still up," said an older magi, a distinguished man with a wispy moustache and a monocle. "My God, they're gunning down innocents in the lobby. They're moving up the stairs."
Oberlitz stepped forwards with two of his executors. "We must stop them before more are killed."
He immediately exited the room running towards the stairs at one end of the hallway. I moved into the hallway as well with two of the magi. Rin and Luviagelitta were still packing up, but this needed to be dealt with immediately.
"Everybody needs to pack up now and get ready to leave," I said leaning through the doorway. "I need a team of six on me now. Anybody not packing or with us needs to sweep the hotel in groups. We need to make sure everyone is safe."
Then the elevator arrived at our floor with the sound of a bell. I turned towards in as if in slow motion. Before I could think to act, two armed men stepped out with another four on their tails. They leveled their weapons towards me, but before they could fire they were consumed in a burst of flame. The two magi at my side advanced, filling the elevator with the fire.
"The power should be out," I muttered. Why were the elevators working? Unless they just cut the lights. That was planning, they must have known we were here for a long time. I ran down the hallway in the opposite direction of Oberlitz. There had to be another stairway, most likely filled with thugs coming up to kill us all.
There was the stairway, I quickly opened the metal door and hurried down the stairs, only to run into a pair of men coming up. They were down one flight, looking up at me with half raised weapons. Their heads were covered by rags but their pseudo-military uniforms clearly identified them as cartel members.
They were below me, and aiming up. I was completely exposed from my position, with no way to retreat or advance down the stairs. So I jumped. I took a leap down the flight and crashed into the two feet first. They were so surprised by my sudden appearance and my insane act that they weren't able to get off even a single shot before my feet slammed them both to the ground.
One man was in front of the other and took the brunt of my improvised attack. He shot backwards after the impact, bowling over his partner and hit the concrete wall hard. His head cracked on the wall and he fell in a pool of blood, unmoving.
I fell to my back and climbed to my feet as the other man threw his partner's limp body off of him. He climbed to his feet seconds after me, just in time to take my fist in his throat. He fell, choking, before passing into unconsciousness. A cursory look over the one with the head injury told me he wouldn't be getting up again.
I reached down and grabbed one of their rifles and a couple of magazines. It would be good to be able to fight without projecting for a little while. Three additional magazines wouldn't last long. These guys weren't that well supplied.
I continued down the stairs, reaching the first floor in less than thirty seconds. There was still sporadic gunfire, heavier on the other side of the building where Oberlitz had gone. As I reached the door leading out to the lobby, I looked back up the stairs. Two magi were trailing me closely, with another group of four higher up. The rest must be sweeping the building like I asked.
"Let's go," I whispered. They nodded, holding their hands forward ready to cast. Then I kicked the door open and stepped through. The lobby was dark, lit only by fires from the earlier explosions. Corpses were everywhere. Civilians had been shredded with shrapnel or shot point blank, simply because they were there.
About eight gunmen stood in the room. They were idle, not watching the doors as well as they should have been. They were completely caught off guard as the magi and I burst into the lobby. The first was by the front desk about ten feet from me. He was barely raising his weapon when I fired. Four rounds of mine punched through his chest and into the wall behind him and he fell onto the bodies of a few men killed earlier.
I was already tracking my next target as the other magi and executors entered the fray. From another door, Oberlitz stepped forward with Giorno behind him. The smaller man must have joined the attack after I left. The cartel members were overwhelmed, firing randomly and doing little damage.
I gunned down another as Giorno threw a black key into the face of a second. The man fell to his knees, screaming as he drowned in his own blood. The screaming didn't last long as Giorno was at the body in seconds and ripped the blade right out before stomping the life out of the man. Next to him, Oberlitz took out the man before him. As the rifle rounds bounced off his Kevlar and magically-enhanced suit, he punched out with one of his giant arms. With a sickening crack, the gunman's neck broke and he fell to the ground like a puppet without a master. There was no reinforcement that I could see. Oberlitz had killed him with just pure strength.
"Enemies of God beware!" shouted Oberlitz. The magi were joining us now, firing bolts of energy at the remaining gunmen. I dropped to a knee and fired quickly, killing one with two shots to the upper chest. The cartel members were falling back towards the driveway where two large trucks were parked. They were making a stand there, as the drivers got out and armed themselves. Gunfire was whizzing by us, but a magus quickly created a barrier and the executors ignored it entirely. I continued to fire, if only to suppress the gunmen. My shots sparked off their vehicles, doing nothing but deterring them.
One of the gunmen, wrapped head to toe in dark cloth, stood his ground in front of one of the cars, firing a handgun at us.
I shifted fire and put four rounds into him. He stepped back calmly as if he didn't feel it at all. Was he wearing body armor or hopped up on something heavy? Rather than pull back, he stepped forwards as one of the executors approached.
Then, with a lightning quick motion, the gunman stepped forward and hooked his arm upwards towards the executor's stomach. Everything seemed to freeze for a second, even as a fire bolt lit up the gas tank of one of the trucks. In fact, the expanding explosion just seemed to illuminate the event better. The cartel member lifted up his hand, and the executor was lifted with it. A bloody fist protruded from his back, spine gripped between red fingers. With a casual motion, the cartel member tossed away the corpse of the man.
"Vampire," said Oberlitz casually. The death of his comrade didn't visually affect him. He pulled the censer off his hip and began swinging it slowly. "Let us destroy the creations of heretics."
Giorno stepped to the right and threw his black key again. The gunman stepped to the left out of the weapon's path, then charged forwards. He was smarter than the one we fought at El Campo del Rey. He was a soldier, or at least trained as well as one. A magus shot a burst of fire at him, and just as before he stepped aside and attacked. He was within our ranks in an instant.
I emptied my weapon, doing little to deter his furious charge. With bullets tearing through him, the vampire lashed out with a leg at the magi next to me. The magi took the blow on crossed arms, reinforcing them to prevent too much damage. The crack of broken bones was still audible though, and the man was thrown through the air by the impact.
"Trace on," I said, bringing Durandal to my hands. Giorno was moving to assist me as the vampire reacquired its targets. Then out of the flames of the burning trucks leapt another figure. Melting skin and burning clothes trailed him, but he still moved with unnatural power. Another vampire must have been waiting for us. Even as its skin was burned away it attacked. Before it could reach me, Oberlitz intercepted it, swinging his censer. I wanted to watch it, a fight between a crazy priest swinging a religious artifact and a burning vampire. I had more important things to deal with though.
The vampire punched out at me. His strike was a blur, an already perfected attack that was made even more powerful from his now enhanced strength. Still, it was no match for a Noble Phantasm, even a projected one. His hardened fist glanced off Durandal, and he was forced back as I counterattacked. I swung the blade in wide motions, warding off two more punches and a few kicks.
"How could you murder innocents just to get at us? What could be worth that?" I shouted as I went on the attack with renewed effort.
"Our Lord Engstrom has promised us the world!" he shouted in response. He opened his mouth to speak again, but my sword speared through his chest before he could open his mouth.
"Who needs that?" I growled. The vampire grinned without responding, showing off his enlarged canines. He pulled himself forward while opening his mouth, ready to bite me. Before he could even think of it, Giorno slammed a Black Key into his side. With a screech of pain, the vampire began to squirm.
"You're too slow," I said. I released my right hand from the weapon and projected a gladius. With a grunt I swung to the left and beheaded the vampire. Then I ripped Durandal out of him and turned to help Oberlitz.
The priest was holding his opponent by the throat, oblivious to the flames licking his bare skin. All around him, his team of executors butchered the burning man, cutting him apart with their Black Keys. When the vampire's head was cut from his shoulders and speared on the ground, Oberlitz dropped the body with a short grunt of satisfaction. Only then did he look down at his hands with a pained expression.
"Burn that," I said, pointing at the vampire I had beheaded. One of the magi quickly obliged, lighting the corpse up with a burst of blue fire. Another quickly moved to Oberlitz, laying glowing hands on his own. The burn marks quickly healed, and perfect flesh returned.
"Much appreciated," said Oberlitz, nodding at the man.
"I'm sorry about your friend," I said, nodding at the fallen executor. Giorno was at his side, performing last rites for an already cooling body.
"He was caught off guard," said Oberlitz. "It happens. I have seen many die to lesser foes."
"Police are on the way," said Giorno. He was clutching his cross necklace, apparently getting transmissions from one of the others.
"We must leave before they arrive," said Oberlitz. "I will get one of the cars. Giorno, come with me. You too Erik."
Oberlitz, Giorno, and another executor quickly ran off to prepare for our hasty relocation. I reached down and picked up the rifle from where I dropped it. I reloaded the weapon and only then took note of how taxed I was. I had projected a lot in the past few hours, at the village and here. I wasn't sure how much more I could fight. A good meal and some sleep would be really useful.
"Let's go!" shouted a voice from behind me. Rin and Luviagelitta were running towards us with their men behind them carrying an absurd amount of bags. A few executors walked with them, easily carrying the few things that Caren possessed. "Where are the cars?" shouted Rin.
"Oberlitz went for them," I said. "There were two vampires here. An executor was killed."
Caren's eyes passed over the body, and she clasped her hands in prayer for a few short moments. "We must take his body with us," she said.
"I've got it," I said. Another executor moved to help me and I nodded my thanks to him. Rin was looking over the magus with the broken arms. Despite the injury, the healing magic Rin performed was already having effect, and the pain no longer clouded his face.
With screeching tires, the cars swung into view, executors at the wheels. "Get in," shouted Oberlitz, and we moved before the vehicles had even fully stopped. I hopped in the backseat of one, only for Luviagelitta to leap into my lap as Rin and Caren climbed in as well. I was going to protest, but I doubted that any of them would listen to me, despite how tight we were squeezed in there. We had to move fast too.
"Apologies," said Caren. Despite that, she was grinning at Luviagelitta and me. "Oh, what's this Emiya Shirou? Are you not being unfaithful with such a brazen display?"
"It's not by choice," I complained as the cars shifted into gear and we sped off. Oberlitz was driving like a maniac, as were the cars behind us. I felt like a criminal fleeing the scene of a crime. Well, it was an experience I'd had before, and this was pretty similar.
Luviagelitta didn't respond to Caren's taunts, and if anything only made herself more comfortable.
"Damn them," said Oberlitz. "Police coming up on our left. Heretic magus, deal with them."
Shit, he was right I realized. Flashing lights were coming up on our left side. It looked like they wanted to take out the lead car to stop the rest. Well, I couldn't let that happen. If they were responding to the cartel's call, these cops were definitely corrupt. Who knew what could happen if we gave ourselves up.
"Sorry Luvia," I said as I passed her off to Rin. Both squeaked in surprise as they were tossed together. I reached down to the floor of the car and lifted up my rifle. Switching it to full auto, I leaned out the window.
"I only have two magazines. Once I'm out of ammo, it'll be up to you two," I said.
"Got it," said Rin. "Try not to kill anyone."
"That's my life story Rin," I said with a hollow smile. The police car sped to our side and their window rolled down, revealing an armed officer.
"Pull over!" he shouted in english.
"That's not going to happen!" I replied. He brandished his weapon, a handgun, and I showed off mine. His eyes widened when he saw my hardware, but he turned his gun on me nonetheless. I aimed downwards, spraying the bottom of the car with ammunition. With a loud blast, the front tire burst and the car spun out, slamming into a lamp post on the side of the road.
"Good shot Shirou!" shouted Rin over the roaring wind and the screaming tires. "There's one on the right Caren!"
I couldn't do anything from my position. Another police car was on our right side. Then Caren leaned out her window.
"Tohsaka-san!" she shouted. "Break the window!"
Contorting painfully past Caren, Rin fired a single gandr shot and shattered the window instantly, startling the driver as glass fell all around him. Then Caren's Holy Shroud reached out and wrapped around the driver's face. She held him for a few moments until our car turned, then released him just in time for him to crash into the median.
I winced in sympathetic pain. That was a bad wreck. He would definitely have a few broken bones, but thankfully his car was mostly intact. They make police cars tough everywhere it seemed.
"Is that all of them?" I wondered, looking out the window. Things had become more quiet, and I didn't hear any other approaching vehicles.
"I think so," said Caren. "No one in the other cars has spotted anything else."
"Alright," said Rin. "We should head to the backup hotel."
"You have a backup hotel?" I asked. Rin just nodded her head, looking slightly disappointed. What changed her mood so suddenly I wondered Was it the car chase? Maybe she was just angry that her hotel got blown up.
In less than ten minutes we pulled into the parking lot of a seedy looking motel. If being incredibly overt was a skill of the Magic Association, being covert was the prerogative of the Holy Church. I had no doubt that Caren booked this hotel, if only to annoy the more privileged magi.
With a sigh, Rin climbed out of the car, as if expecting to suffer in this place. "Let's not stay here any longer than we have to," she said.
"For once I agree with you," said Luviagelitta. "I feel unclean just breathing the air here."
"Oh ye of little faith," said Oberlitz. "Even the humblest of lodgings are sufficient. Make do."
Rin didn't reply, but Luvia puffed up her cheeks in defiance. Nevertheless, she followed us in. "So, uh," I began. "Which room is for the guys?"
"Guys?" said Rin with a smile. "You're in our room. I thought that was obvious. No way I'm going to let you lower your guard around a bunch of executors."
"Indeed," said Caren. "I am staying with my Brothers in the Holy Church, and the Magi are staying in their own room. However, Luviagelitta-san and Tohsaka-san requested a room with you."
I sighed and put my palm on my forehead. These girls were going to be the death of me. From her jacket pocket, Rin produced the room keys and I walked to the car to get the bags. Really, it was insane how much they had brought with them. After taking two trips to bring all of their gear into our room, I finally took a break.
The room we were bedding in was dark with a dirty carpet and peeling white wallpaper. The single bed seemed like it was fifty years old, and probably was, based on the state of the place. The lights barely worked, adding to the already grim atmosphere.
"I'll sleep on the floor," I said. "If you can spare a blanket that would be great."
Rin yawned and tossed me the patched quilt off the bed and I curled up in the corner. Honestly, it was better than some of the other places I had stayed before.
"Oh Shirou?" said Luviagelitta with a smile. "Are you sure you don't want to share the bed with us?"
How unlike her to tempt me like that. I was used to her ignoring me, or at least remaining neutral. Despite the fact that I had no intentions of sharing the bed with them, I averted my eyes slightly.
"Sorry," I said, "I'm taken. You guys know that."
She puffed out her cheeks again. "Shirou you can be pretty dense, but it seems that even you overthink things at times as well!"
"Despite her tone," said Rin, "I don't think she has foul intentions. If she's suggesting anything like you're thinking, I want none of it."
That I did believe. Rin and I were too good of friends to even think of something like that, especially when Ayako was her friend. . . and my lover.
"Despite that," I said with a smile. "I'm fine here. I'm going to sleep, so turn off the light when you're done."
"Suit yourself then," said Luvia after a moment. "If you change your mind. . ."
I didn't reply. I slumped to the floor and wrapped the sheet around me. Wedged between the bed and the wall, I slowly closed my eyes and drifted off to the sound of Rin and Luvia talking. My tired body quickly entered a fitful sleep, filled with vivid dreams.
Author's Note: Another future chapter! Next we'll see the end of the fight between Shirou and Shinji, and a bit more Grail War plot. Leave a review if you want or send a PM. I'm always happy to reply to anyone. Until next time.