Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Risen from Ruins

Chapter 13

"How is she?"

Sakura lay on a bed in her and Caules' shared suite aboard the airship Ceahlău Massif, her eyes closed in slumber with only the faint sound of her breathing to be heard. Dressed only in a hospital gown, her sheets had been pulled up to her chest, and her left arm placed crosswise on top. It had been wrapped in bandages, over which Gordes had wound several silver chains to hold spirit-aligning mystic codes in place.

"She will sleep for the next few hours." Gordes said, while adjusting Sakura's IV. "I've added a sedative to let her sleep longer, let her recover more and better from her exertion in the battle against Zolgen. The drugs for her crest can be introduced intravenously if it comes to that."

Darnic nodded, and then Gordes turned to him.

"That said," he continued. "That battle's put too much strain on her and her crest. It shouldn't be repeated, at least not until her crest has fully stabilized and been integrated into her body."

"What do you suggest, no, what do you recommend, then?" Darnic asked.

"She shouldn't use the crest at all for a whole year." Gordes firmly said. "The same goes for the circuits in her left arm, though in case of emergency I suppose she could…after several months."

"That will hinder her ability to use magecraft." Darnic remarked.

"She's done so much for us already." Gordes countered, and refused to back down when Darnic turned questioning eyes to him. "I am aware that there is still a long way to go. But even with everything we've done for and given to her over the past decade, what she's done for us in return during the previous months: claiming the Tohsaka Crest, the position of Second Owner and with it legal justification to operate with relative freedom in this city, her contributions during the battle…isn't she due some leeway?"

Darnic stared at Gordes for a few moments, and then turned back to Sakura. He stared at the slumbering girl for several moments, and then nodded slowly. "Yes…it is as you say." He finally agreed. "Very well…I'll have any heavy duties that would previously have been assigned to her be given to others. We'll follow your medical recommendations, and have her recover properly. Let's not push one of our best too fast and too far and unduly risk losing her and what she can do."

Gordes bowed. "Thank you, my lord." He said.

Darnic waved him off. "We look after our own." He said dismissively. "There's no need to be too thankful, it's only to be expected."

"As you say, my lord."

Darnic then hummed, rubbing at his chin in thought. "I wonder…" he murmured before giving a smirk and a small laugh. "I take my leave."

"My lord?" Gordes asked curiously.

"Make sure to clean up this room." Darnic ordered while turning to leave. "When I return, I'll be bringing my granddaughter's only other blood relative aside from her sister, after all."

"…I see. It will be done, my lord."

Darnic nodded with approval, and continued on his way out of the suite. As he exited it, he raised an eyebrow at the sight of Caules waiting there. "Caules…of course…come to look after your cousin?" he asked.

"Yes, grandfather." Caules answered with a nod.

"How's your Japanese, Caules?" Darnic asked.

"…I think it's passable." Caules hesitantly answered in accented Japanese.

"True…" Darnic agreed, and then patted the young man on the shoulder as he walked by. "But it will do. Be polite to your future mother-in-law, do you hear me?"

"Yes, grandfather…wait, what?"

Darnic didn't answer, simply giving a curt wave over a shoulder as he strolled away and down the corridor. Caules stared after him blankly, and then looking at the door to his and Sakura's suite, briefly glanced his grandfather's way once more before quickly getting inside.

He still wasn't sure what his grandfather had just said, but that aside, he did plan to look after his cousin regardless.

Aoi Tohsaka had lived a lonely life.

She'd always known it would be like this, ever since she'd learned that her lot in life would have been to marry into one or another magus family. She'd provide children for them and keep their homes, and while she'd hopefully come to love her husband and be loved in turn, she'd also prepared herself for a marriage wherein the most she could get would have been a respectful relationship between them both.

At the very least, she'd love the children she'd have.

And even since she'd married Tokiomi Tohsaka, her expectations had been met with mixed results.

Tokiomi had been cold and aloof, with patriarchal opinions about the family. He had loved her in his own way though, and she had loved him in her own way in turn. They'd had two wonderful children together, Rin and Sakura, who they'd both loved very dearly.

At least…Aoi had thought they had.

As was customary among magi, only one child in any generation could be trained to become a magus. The other child would either be left ignorant of their heritage, or even if they did know, they would neither be taught nor allowed to learn on their own. They would support the family in other ways, or if they so wished, they could leave and walk their own path.

Tokiomi however had found this a waste for their youngest, such was her potential to be a magus. So he had arranged for her to be adopted by another family, the Matou, who had been an old ally of the Tohsaka, and indeed, one of whom – Kariya Matou – had even been Aoi's childhood friend.

That family had apparently withered, and could no longer produce children with the ability to use magecraft anymore. Sakura would thus become their heiress, reviving their bloodline while gaining the chance to become a magus that Tokiomi could not give her.

The only price would be that she would stop being family. She would stop carrying their name, would stop calling them her parents, and Rin her sister. They would never be allowed to see each other again, outside of strictly-controlled and prearranged circumstances, in order to preserve family secrets.

Such was the lot of a magus.

It was a painful sacrifice, and one all the Tohsaka had been prepared to bear. Tokiomi…Aoi…Rin…all so Sakura could get her own chance to be a magus…out of the love they bore for her…they would give her up…

…at least, that's what Aoi told herself.

She'd always told herself that she loved her children more than anything in the world. She'd do anything for them…anything…

…and one night, Sakura went to bed as she always did…

…but come the next morning, and she was gone. There was only a note, with two sentences written by crayon in clumsy hiragana characters.

Goodbye.

I love you.

Tokiomi searched for her of course…for all of two weeks. Then he stopped, and he never spoke of her again, and it was as though she – Sakura – had never existed at all. All mention and record of her ever being born or being one of their family disappeared, Tokiomi wiping them away in rage and shame after being forced to get on his knees and bow his head in apology to Zouken Matou for Sakura running away and breaking this most recent accord between their families.

Aoi lost everything that moment. She wanted to speak, say the words she should have said when it was decided Sakura would have to go, but she couldn't. She just couldn't. It wasn't her place. Hers was to keep the house, and look after the children…look after her only child.

I love you.

It was like poison. Those words were like poison.

Tokiomi turned cold and obsessive towards winning the Fourth Holy Grail War that would come the following year. Kariya had returned a few months after Sakura had run away, and had exploded in rage on learning that Sakura was to become a Matou, only to calm down on learning she had run away before it could happen.

Instead, he had smiled, and said two sentences which had Tokiomi throwing him from their house with a prohibition against ever appearing in front of them ever again.

Good…being a beggar is better than becoming one of my worthless family.

Or staying as one of yours it looks like.

Aoi had lost her oldest friend that day. That much was evident from the look of contempt he had directed at her and her husband before Kariya had stormed off down the street, one that carried a terrible promise.

I'll look for her.

But when I find her, don't think I'll send her back to you.

I won't let you sell her off like a piece of meat again.

He had never said those words, and maybe it really was just her guilt and subconscious speaking to her, taunting her for her failures as a mother, but either way it was enough. She'd thought she loved her children, could and would do anything for them…

…but she was wrong. At the end of the day, all she could really do was bear and birth them, and keep house.

I am so weak.

Tokiomi had fought and died during the Fourth Holy Grail War. His apprentice, Kirei Kotomine, survived, but the war had twisted him, turned him into someone with an empty heart who saw only distorted reflections of the world around him. Aoi had seen that much, and should have kept him away from their family. She did the best she could, but he was still the only one who could teach her daughter to be a magus. And so she'd let him, despite all her misgivings.

Being magi has brought us nothing but loss and grief.

She should just stop.

I should tell her to stop.

Tell her to find a different, better way of life.

But…I…

Thankfully, Rin had been strong. Stronger than Aoi had ever been, taking to Kirei's education well but keeping herself from being twisted by his own twisted self.

I am so weak.

Then came the Fifth Holy Grail War, decades early, and into which Rin had thrown herself just as her father once did. Aoi should have stopped her, kept her from what had taken her father away in the first place, but in the end, she did nothing, just like she'd always done.

I am so weak…so worthless…

But Rin was stronger than her father, it turned out. She'd survived, made a friend in that war, and come out the winner. They'd ended the twisted existence that Kirei had been, and finishing school, with her friend Shirou Emiya from the war, had moved on to London and the Clock Tower, to continue their studies in the mysteries of the World. And so Aoi was left alone in the house, to look after it as she had always done, and always been meant to do.

This is all I can do.

I…I am…

…I am so pathetic…

And then one day, people came knocking, people dressed in white and gold uniforms of a military cut. Most of them were albinos, escorting a European gentleman with long dark hair wearing a white cape over his uniform.

"Greetings," the man said with a nod as he met with Aoi in the Tohsaka mansion's foyer. "My name is Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, and I have come to collect you to meet with your daughter."

"My daughter…?" Aoi breathed, her heart freezing in her chest at the thought that something might have happened to Rin. "Is she alright? Did something happen to her?"

"She is currently in a medically-induced coma, but she should recover in a couple of days at most." Darnic said. "Please hurry and make preparations."

"Y-yes…I will…" Aoi said, and quickly hurried off.

Funny, how she had never thought to question Darnic's credibility, or which daughter he was referring to. Then again, she'd never thought to question authority before, and had long believed she had only one daughter left. Even so…

That woman is so weak.

It was with that thought in mind that Darnic watched Aoi hurry away.

A strangled gasp echoed in the room as the matronly woman entered, and Caules was on his feet in an instant. He regarded her neutrally, as she slowly stepped into the room, pale and shaking with her hands over her mouth, and approached Sakura on her bed.

So…that's Sakura's mother…I can certainly see the resemblance.

Beyond that though…

"W-w-what happened to her?" Aoi breathed as she stood next to Sakura opposite from Caules.

"Excessive physical exhaustion plus a nervous breakdown from overuse of certain spells." Caules answered while adjusting his glasses. "That's layman's terms, of course, though the details would mean little to you seeing as you aren't a magus, at least to my knowledge, are you Missus Tohsaka?"

Aoi looked up at Caules, and slightly lowered her face. "No, I am not." She admitted. "Pardon my rudeness, but who are you? You have the advantage of me, Mister…?"

"Caules," Caules said with a courtly bow. "Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia…and Sakura's fiancé."

"Fiancé?" Aoi echoed in surprise.

"Yes, is there a problem?" Caules asked.

"N-no…well…it's just that…you're both so young and…"

"Magi marry young." Caules said with a shrug as Aoi trailed off. "It's better that way, to have an heir and a spare before too long and something dangerous happens. It's easier to have children when you're young too, anyway. Some would even say this situation Sakura is in now proves we should have married sooner…"

Caules trailed off with a shrug, before giving Aoi an apologetic smile. "Well," he said. "I wouldn't want to rush things, and I doubt Sakura would either. She'll be fine. She's much stronger than you know."

"Yes…I suppose so…" Aoi murmured, her face dropping with a veiled expression of grief, regret, and shame. "…could you tell me about her?"

Caules stared at Aoi for several long moments, so much so that the matron began to fidget. And then sighing, he turned away to regard the young woman sleeping between them. "I could…but I think it's best that you hear about her from Sakura herself." Caules finally said. "It would be better that way, I think."

"…you're probably right." Aoi admitted after a moment. "I…I'm sorry…for putting you in this kind of situation."

Caules shook his head and gave a smile. "It's fine." He said.

Aoi nodded and then tilted her head. "Then," she said. "If you won't tell me about her, maybe you can tell me about yourself."

Caules grinned, and then gesturing for Aoi to take a seat, did likewise. "Of course," he said with a nod. "That much I can do."

"Status report?"

Gordes face twisted in disgust before he tossed a sheaf of papers in a file folder across a long table in the middle of the room. "It's no good." He said. "It's not just the ley lines that are compromised, but the faults across this entire region."

"Explain." Darnic said.

In response, Gordes directed their attention to a large, topographic map of the city and its environs. "Based on fragmentary evidence recovered from the relevant sites," he said and using an index finger to point out where those were. "Someone used explosives to compromise the integrity of the ley lines and faults over an extended period of time. Decades, in fact. Right now it isn't significant, but compared to approximately ten years ago there is a negative variable of approximately one per cent affecting their metaphysical and geological stability, respectively. This will double to two per cent by the end of this decade, then to four per cent at the end of the next decade, and so on."

Darnic nodded in understanding. "And the end result?" he asked. "Geologically-speaking, I mean. The ley lines growing unstable would clearly prevent them from fully recharging the Greater Grail, thus preventing a Sixth Holy Grail War…assuming the system here still operates normally, considering the Fifth Holy Grail War took place nearly half a century early."

"That was likely the result of the malfunction of the Lesser Grail from the Fourth Holy Grail War." Gordes said. "Evidence recovered by Einzbern at the time certainly seems to suggest so…"

"I see." Darnic interrupted with a nod. "Yes…that makes sense. The gathered prana – what of it that didn't go out of control and incinerate much of the surrounding city, that is – flowed back into the Greater Grail, where it remained and allowed a much reduced interval between Grand Rituals."

"As you say, my lord." Gordes said with a nod of his own. "Back to your question on what the effects of the sabotage on the ley lines will be…well, I must say whoever did this was simply put, an evil genius."

"What?"

"My lord, the damage to the region's faults will trigger an earthquake within the next few decades, of at least magnitude five if not higher." Gordes said with a shake of his head. "Exact predictions are difficult to make without further investigation with this much surety."

"…an earthquake…" Darnic muttered. "…were they trying to prevent another Grand Ritual?"

"…it is…uncertain…"

"But possible…?" Darnic pressed, and Gordes nodded. "Hmm…whoever is behind this was cunning…very much so if they were able to do this without attracting attention from Zolgen. Very well…what are the chances the earthquake will happen in the near future?"

"Almost nonexistent, my lord." Gordes said. "Indeed, I venture to say that is why Zolgen may not have noticed. The signs aren't obvious unless you know what you're looking for."

"I see." Darnic said while tapping the head of his cane against his other hand. "Very well…continue as planned, then."

"My lord?"

"There's no need to rush beyond what's necessary at this point." Darnic said. "Learn what you can and need from the ley lines here, all the while conducting preliminary preparations for the excavation at Mount Enzo."

"Yes, my lord." Gordes said with a nod. "On that note, I assume we will relocate as scheduled?"

"Preferably yes."

"It will be done, my lord."

Darnic nodded with approval, and then turned to another one of the scions attending to him here, in Yggdmillennia's field base at Fuyuki. "Status?" he asked.

"Relocation of the Zolgen library is complete." The man said with his hands held behind him. "Enhanced security measures are in place, and all relevant procedures were followed."

"Excellent," Darnic said approvingly. "Let's not take any chances that the vampire living there may have left some surprises for us."

"As you say, my lord."

"Did you find any mystic codes or resources of value?"

"None in the mansion, though we are currently looking into possible safety deposit boxes and the like inside banks and other places." The scion replied.

Darnic nodded again. "Very good," he said. "Once everything of magical value has been removed, burn the mansion and the property to the ground. Leave nothing standing afterwards, and make sure to sanitize the grounds. I want nothing left of Zolgen and his ilk behind."

"We are to destroy the interior furnishings and the like?" the scion asked curiously.

"Yes." Darnic simply said. "Is there a problem?"

"Not at all, my lord." The scion said with a deep bow. "I merely wish to clarify."

Darnic nodded, and then dismissed the man. The scion saluted, and then smartly turned to leave. "I imagine we'll be leaving Tohsaka to Sakura once she's recovered?" Gordes asked.

"She doesn't need her crest – not really – to go through her own house anyway." Darnic said.

"That she does not." Gordes agreed, before returning to his work.

Fiore sighed as she remotely piloted one of her automatons through the undercity. Mentally sighed, actually, since her body was currently in a state of unconsciousness what with her mind relocated inside this automaton. It was relatively-safe, as her soul – the truly vulnerable and critical part of herself – was still with her body, and so long as she didn't find anything too much for the Human mind to comprehend, then there shouldn't be a danger.

In any case, she was a magus, so she could comprehend more than most Humans would normally be able to.

Right now, her mission was to reach Celenike's ritual chamber, and terminate the propagation of the Curse of Life. It had stopped spreading beyond the area of effect, and its effects were non-reversible so there was no danger of Makiri Zolgen suddenly coming back to life, but anything that entered the area of effect would still be cursed. And that was problematic, as the undercity while not frequented by many, still was on a regular basis by some few.

The undercity housed much of the city's infrastructure, after all. In addition to the sewers, there were gas lines, water pipes, electrical cables, storm and flood drains, and many more. Already, there were incidents of maintenance personnel getting adversely affected by the curse, and which the family's agents had had to deal with, what with Sakura still unconscious.

No, it had to stop now, and Fiore was the one to do so.

So far, the journey into the undercity had gone well. Entering had been easy, and reaching the depth where the ritual area was located at similarly easy. Getting there was more difficult, though.

The first obstacle had been a thick patch of bioluminescent flora, almost like trees with translucent bark and dark-colored insides. Fiore had broken through with her automaton's pincers and sheer bulk, the acidic sap kept from eating through the automaton's bronze shell by a constant stream of current running through the outer layer, disrupting the chemical reactions that would have resulted in corrosion.

The flora obscured the automaton's sights, however, causing Fiore to be unpleasantly surprised when she broke through only to fall several feet into a deep trench. No…not trench…

…it was a sewer, or had been, and was now a…reef, of all things.

Vermin swarmed from the bioluminescent growth all around, ranging from those smaller than a man's fingernail, to those as big as an arm. They threw themselves at the automaton, frying themselves by the hundred against its electrically-charged outer shell, but dangerously causing internal temperatures to rise as a result.

Alarmed but mournful at the thought of causing massive damage, Fiore responded by charging her primary and secondary ether cannons. The former fired first, hurling an incandescent blast of energy surging down the reef, heating stone to red-hot and turning vermin and growth alike to ash.

Then the secondary cannons fired, ripping up the automaton's surroundings even as Fiore surged current through the outer shell. Alarms screamed through her mind, and quickly rerouting systems, performed an emergency dump of heat from the automaton's heat sinks.

Already the vermin were regrouping for another attack against the interloper…

…only to be cooked alive, shells bursting with the sound of popping corn as heat sinks discharged all around.

Adjusting her automaton's internal systems, Fiore retracted the ether cannons and pincers, and switching on the anti-gravity systems, powered up the experimental ether shield into a glowing shell around her automaton. Tracing the map of the underground she'd been provided, Fiore isolated her location, and triangulating the ritual grounds, proceeded to float in its direction through the path burned clear by her primary ether cannon earlier.

Here's to things going smoothly from here on out.

Sakura stirred under sheets, her mind reacting to stimuli from all around. With her eyes closed, it was her ears that became her primary source of input. Two voices, indistinct for now but quickly becoming clearer with every passing moment, a man and a woman's.

The former was familiar, and she quickly recognized as belonging to Caules.

The latter though…

…it was also familiar, and brought up a surge of equal parts longing and resentment deep within. She couldn't place it though, and that was frustrating.

Blinking her eyes open, Sakura slowly moved her head from side to side on its pillow, blinking quickly to get her eyes to adjust. Slowly, her vision shifted from an incoherent blur of color and light into the familiar sight of her and Caules' shared suite on the airship Ceahlău Massif.

She could also see a pole standing next to her bed, from which hung a bag of saline solution, linked to her by a line and an IV running into the veins of her right hand. Now that she could see herself in part, she could see that she was dressed in a medical smock, while her left arm was tied up in a sling and wrapped up in bandages. Silver chains were firmly wound around it, along with spirit-aligning mystic codes.

The sight caused phantom pain to flare up, the fingers on her left hand twitching in a reflexive reaction.

But that didn't matter, not when she recognized the matron speaking to her fiancé next to her bed. It was her…

"You…" Sakura said, the word coming out of her mouth dry and parched, but unmistakably filled with resentment and accusation for all that. Inwardly, Sakura was surprised to find herself wincing at the venom in her own voice.

Aoi flinched back at the sound, her smile and face alike falling and whatever words she had been about to say dying on her lips. In the next moment though, Caules was there. "Easy there," he said reassuringly, and helping Sakura up to a sitting position with some pillows. "You're not supposed to be awake for a long while yet though…"

"Hmm…sleepy…" Sakura murmured. It was true. Caules' words had dampened the fire which had erupted on the inside at the sight of her mother, and as it died, the sedatives in her blood began to regain effectiveness. It became a struggle to stay awake, Sakura's eyes quickly falling to half-mast.

"…well…if you fall asleep…we won't blame you."

"Hmm…what's she doing here…"

Aoi looked away in shame, while Caules sighed and squeezed Sakura's shoulder chidingly. "Grandfather brought her here." He said. "He told her that you were in trouble, so she came without question. Don't worry, I haven't told her anything about you. She wants to hear them but I think you should be the one to tell her."

"Hmm…thanks…"

Caules shrugged. "No problem." He cheerfully said.

Silence fell in the room, no one knowing what else to say. Sakura just sat on her bed, swaying near-imperceptibly as she struggled to stay awake, while Caules stood next to her, one hand on her shoulder. Aoi sat on the other side, hands held tightly against each other in her lap, and keeping her face down.

"…Sakura…" she eventually whispered, finally raising her face filled with regret. "…I'm sorry."

Sakura glanced sharply at her, or as sharply as she could while struggling to stay awake. Aoi made sure to meet her youngest child's accusing eyes, but after several moments they softened, and Sakura turned away while relaxing against her pillows.

"…later…" she murmured, as Caules helped her lie down and she closed her eyes. "…we'll talk…later…"

Aoi's face brightened, but Sakura was already asleep once again. Still, it was a start, and Caules couldn't help but smile at the thought.

A/N

Sometimes, all you really need to say is 'sorry'. Or like in Heaven's Feel, 'I love you'.