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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

F/SN, F/Z, F/KPI and other products related to the Fate Series are all owned by TYPE-MOON, Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi.

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Chapter 14: Countdown

Sean was once again training. Differently from the last times, he had decided to train in an empty, unused room in the Emiya Household.

After waking up, both him and Sakura were greeted by Arturia and Shirou, the latter busy preparing their breakfast.

Illya had left the two teen at the young Magus' home and the Einzbern decided behave calmly with the red-headed Emiya.

Shirou didn't explain much how the discussion went but, seeing that he was still alive and not wounded, it was clear that the result had been positive.

"She want to meet us all at the old Einzbern Mansion in four days." Shirou said, finishing his short explanation.

The girl was interestingly unpredictable. First she had joined the Grail War to kill Shirou and then she decided to just be level-headed about the mess Kiritsugu had left.

One of the main objective the teen had decided to implement in his training regime was the need of something stronger to deal with Berserk-type enemies.

Rin had been quite helpful by giving him a book that explained how to create Magic Circles, essential when using some heavily prana-consuming incantantion.

And thus, Gladio Damocles was created. A powerful shot that could obliterate everything on its path.

After having succeded the first time and seeing the results of the attack, Shirou had been quite vocal that this move had to be practiced elsewhere or he would have been forced to have him out of the house for a while as a punishment.

It was quite cold outside and Sean opted to not anger the quite calm friend.

Another major point was the importance of his Reality Marble. Rin had been shocked to hear about this and Sean was sure to see Archer once again eyeing him curiously.

The Tohsaka had described the Reality Marble as "something highly rare to perform, difficult to recreate and very few Magi able to achieve that level of Thaumargy."

Also Sakura had joined Sean in his daily workout and magical practice schedule. The shy girl had shown a fierce determination in keep up with the resolve she had proclaimed early that day.

They had started with the basics and she was learning slowly compared to the foreign teen but it was normal.

The girl had been barely using her Magic Circuits in her childhood. Also Sean's Circuits were dependant to Earth/Gaia and not the Root as any other Magus, Shirou and Rin included.

Nevertheless, her many attempts had made her capable to master Structural Grasp and partially reproduce the effects of Projection and Reinforcements.

When Sean had asked to Rin about this, the Tohsaka Heiress had replied by saying "You and Emiya-kun are more tuned to Projection and Reinforcement, while Sakura isn't. You could also consider your difficulty in practicing Enchantment another example."

So Sean decided to change Sakura's studies and include some knowledge from the Tomes he had decided to not learn.

Healing, Illusions and support-related subjects seemed to be Sakura's inclination after few attempts and she was satisfied by this change.

While she couldn't keep up in a 1v1 fight against an average Magus, she was ready to cure and give aid to her companions.

After two days of training, Sean decided to take a short break and take Sakura out for a date. She accepted so much eagerly that her face immediately turned red from the quick reply. The two decided to go to the nearby Cinema.

Sean was stunned how the girl was becoming even more beautiful. The effects of the Crest Worms were vanishing quite quickly and her eyes were now a shade of dark blue.

Her hair had turned a smooth black, some locks still kept a dark purple tone.

An action movie later, they went to eat at the nearest restaurant. The Copenhagen Pub wasn't the fanciest of Fuyuki but it still had that warm touch that made it loveable.

Also, Shirou had given quite a positive judgement, saying that he worked there as a Part-timer.

Two hours and a paid bill later, Sakura and Sean were walking back to Shirou's house.

"It was fun." Sakura said softly, deciding to keep looking toward to avoid to stutter.

Sean nodded. "Yeah." He commented. "It's been a while since I felt that much alive."

Smiling, the girl halted and prompted her companion to stop and turn around. Sean didn't expect to be pulled in an embrace and to feel warm lips on his own.

His eyes widened and if he hadn't been pulled in that deep kiss he would have certainly eep'd at how fast it all happened.

Once the kiss ended, Sakura stared with her blue eyes into Sean's black ones. "Thank you for being there." She was cut off as the teen pulled her in another kiss.

"No." He said once he had ended the kiss. "Thank you for being who you are."

Hearing the response, Sakura put her head on his chest to hide her smile. Tears were falling from her eyes. Happy tears.

Meanwhile in a massive and intricate maze-like cave underneath Fuyuki, something unnatural started to happen. A dark mass started to form and expand, trying to compose into a shape.

The place had been considered something made by a deity because of it's impressive architecture and the lack of any human involvement to its construction.

The truth about those caves was that it had served an important purpose several centuries ago.

The Ten no Sakazuki was the location were the three main Magi families (Einzberns, Tohsaka and Makiri/Matou) created the Holy Grail.

After that event, the place was deemed holy and to not be used for the Grail Wars. Sadly the promise between was broken in the Third War. The summoning of Avenger in this sacred place led to its corruption.

Now the place housed a stronger and more unstable Curse. The contract with the God of all Evils.

After several minutes the mass finished the process and obtained a new, more familiar form.

The 'human' being was partially nude but she didn't seem to care. The being was checking his new body with interest and morbid curiousity. An orb of dark mass started to concentrate in the palm of her hand and the woman grinned at this.

"Finally." Her voice quivered in an cheerful tone, as if praising herself for doing something good.

She looked around himself and saw the familiar room. "Oh.. This room brings so many good memories." Her skin was a Aristocratic pale complex and compared to any other woman, she seemed a goddess.

Her hand grasped a lock of her white hair and her vibrant, red eyes were enjoying every single element of the location of her 'resurrection'.

His nostalgic moment was abruptly ended by his objectives. His plans for the future.

There was so much to do, so much to experience... And that annoying boy...

But before initiating, she turned to an invisible audience and proclaimed.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Iri is back!"

Grail Anomaly! Avenger Class (Black Iri) had been summoned.