Chapter 39: Reinforcements
(Day 9 of the 6th Grail War)
Simo Häyhä wandered the streets of Helsinki, feeling his pact with Fezgrem fade away. His time in this world grew now short. He decided to finally attend to the one thing the vowed to do before his Independent Action elapsed. He had kept his weapons, and changed out of his uniform. Walking around in civilian clothes, he tried to strike a conversation with someone. The man did not recognize him, and instead took a step back, appalled to see his disfigured left cheek. Simo Häyhä lost the will to speak at his reaction to him and the situation turned awkward. The man grew impatient, and walked off. Simo Häyhä lowered his head, discouraged by how their interaction turned out. He tried all morning to speak to someone and strike a conversation at least. Alas, everyone here was a stranger. He spent 34 years living among the Finnish as a silent protector from beyond the grave. He was literally dead to them, and could never experience the joy of talking to any of his people. He lamented, sitting on a bench in a park to consider his options, wondering if it was perhaps not meant to be, and he should return to the Grail War before he fades away.
Outside, on the damp shores of Suomenlinna, Aasaa and Hou Yi waited, the salty, cool air tossing their hair. The waves rolled towards the shore, foaming as they caressed the sand. A downpour last night left the sky painted grey. The morning of the ninth day dawned on them. Walking to a rock jutting out of the ground, Aasaa brushed away the dirt with his hand and sat down to wait. His parents called the previous night, saying that a last minute change in assignments, possibly influenced by Rin, meant they were now on their way to Helsinki. Aasaa gave them directions to Suomenlinna.
A small boat containing 2 people approached the shore. Aasaa eagerly awaited their arrival. A warm sensation travelled from his chest to his face, collecting in his eyes, making them warm and damp. 9 long days since the last saw them. "Father, mother," he called, getting up and jogging to the shoreline as the boat sailed within earshot.
Shirou and Rin looked in the direction of the voice, smiling at the sight of their son. Emotion overcame them as their fears melted away. Their son stood tall on the seashore, with his signature red trench coat fluttering in the sea breeze. They got off the boat, now on the shore. Aasaa gave them a rundown of the events so far, before being interrupted by Shirou and Rin hugging him dearly. His parents looked like they had not slept in days. The investigations and arrests at the Clocktower demanded every ounce of their attention and time.
Aasaa invited Shirou and Rin into the fortress. There, he introduced them to the remaining members of the team. At the sight of Misa, Shirou projected a sword and Rin readied Gandr. Aasaa stretched out his arms and stood between them and her.
"Misa Sajyou, member of Sircolia's inner circle. Wanted for assisting in the assassination of Lord El-Melloi The Second. That's her, Aasaa," Shirou said.
"I can explain." Aasaa shielded Misa and placed his palm forward to calm her parents.
Misa cowered behind him, fearing for her life. Shiori and the other Servants sprang to her defence.
"Now you don't want to do that." Hou Yi drew his bow. "You're not taking her."
"Hou Yi, stop aiming your bow at my parents." Aasaa cringed at his Servant's trigger-happiness. "Mom, Dad, Misa has been fighting on our side this whole time. Let me explain."
Shirou and Rin lowered their weapons apologized to everyone.
"Alright, so on Day 1, we brought Misa in for interrogation..." Aasaa explained.
Several hours passed by the time Aasaa explained every detail of the 6th Grail War to his parents. They now accepted Misa as an ally, though they said she would never be able to return to the Clocktower again. They could clear her name with a pardon, but for her safety, she should not return. House El-Melloi would most likely attempt to kill her in revenge.
"So where will I go?" Misa asked Shirou and Rin.
"That's up to you, if you survive the Grail War. You can travel to Fuyuki and start a new life I suppose," Shirou 's eyes fell upon the worried Misa, sympathy already welled in his heart.
"I'll think about it. Because I want to travel the world after the Grail War with some friends before settling down." Misa clung to her dream despite her dire situation, determined to fight for her survival and redemption.
"I see." Shirou found her passion endearing.
"Misa, I have something to tell you. What do you know of your Family's history?" Rin asked.
"I don't know. My parents died when I was young, and Sircolia recruited me. They got involved in some high-level stuff I never received the clearance to find out. Nobody considers me a true member of the Family because I didn't inherit the Crest."
Rin sighed, she struggled to find the willpower to break the news to her now. "Sircolia killed your parents with a curse. Same as the one used to kill Lord El-Melloi The Second." Rin dared not look at Misa in the eyes for she dreaded her impending outpouring of grief. "They were key opponents in his plan to restore the Grail Wars and almost blew his cover."
"Sircolia killed my parents?" Misa asked. She banged the table, distraught. The realization that Sircolia ruined her life to manipulate her pounded through her heart. All the suffering as an orphan. The shame of not having a Family Crest. How he led her astray and became one of his followers. All because of Sircolia. She began to ponder the life she could have led, if Sircolia had not interfered. Tears welled in her eyes, and streamed freely.
Aasaa remained silent in the face of this. He struggled to find an appropriate reaction. He saw Sircolia as an insidious disease who killed and destroyed wherever he went. In his rage and indignation at what Sircolia had done to Misa, he regretted not killing him himself.
Shiori entered the room seeing Misa in tears. She assumed Shirou and Rin were the culprits. That was true, though not in the way she thought. "Aasaa, what did they do to her?" She looked at them, eyes flashing with accusation.
Aasaa filled her in before comforting Misa, plastered herself to the table in a pool of tears.
"Oh, I see." Shiori sat down beside her friend, whispered something to soothe her.
Shirou and Rin were saddened by Misa's situation. Aasaa sat beside them and asked them, "How bad is it? Sircolia's crimes?"
"This barely scratches the surface. The whole Clocktower has been turned on its head. Things will never be the same again," Rin said.
"I feel terrible for her. She orphaned just like me. Instead of getting a loving adoptive father like I did, she got a monster who used her and then attempted to dispose of her." Shirou shook his head. He remembered the joy that washed over him when Kiritsugu pulled him from the rubble and later adopted him. Misa's situation seemed like hell in comparison.
"Misa is a good person. Friendly and kind. Her disposition is a miracle given her past," Aasaa commented.
"We should get to know her better," Rin said. "If we are to get her a pardon."
"Very well. What interests does she have Aasaa? Might help with easing the tension between her and us," Shirou asked his son.
"Sword-fighting, knightly values, adventure, friendship and white chocolate. The order varies." Aasaa shrugged at the list.
Shirou found it to be quite a pleasant mix. He and Rin engaged in a lengthy conversation with Misa, who took a liking for them, and started practising sword techniques with Shirou with Don Quixote's sword.
"I can detect a Servant's mana on her," said Rin, speaking to Aasaa.
"Can't be. Her Servant, Don Quixote, is long dead." He stared at her, puzzled.
"It is residual mana, an ability of some sort." Rin tried to recall what she knew of the Grail Wars. She suspected it was a Don Quixote's Personal Ability, but they would never know without the data sheet.
"What is it doing to her?" Aasaa asked, concerned if the mana caused negative effects.
"You should say "doing for her". The mana is strong, enhancing her physical strength. And that's not all. It's making her more courageous and predisposed towards chivalrous behaviour," Rin said, after analysing the residual mana further.
"Impressive. So she is essentially a knight?" Aasaa asked. The chivalric qualities of a knight aligned with his heroism.
"Yes. Her skin has also become very resilient to damage."
"I'll ask her if Don Quixote's data sheet had such an ability later," Aasaa said.
"Yea. Right now I'm just having fun watching Shirou train her. She is a fast learner." She smiled as Misa parried Shirou's attack, and countered with a sweeping uppercut that Shirou dodged, before seemingly teleporting behind her in a dizzying burst of speed. Misa conceded as her opponent found an opening and got ready to try again.
Aasaa noticed her tenacity and grit. She performed impossible feats for a supposed rookie in sword-fighting. "The residual mana?"
"Yep." Rin said.
Later, Aasaa left the room with Rin to find Shiori and the Servants.
He introduced her to each one of them. Rin exchanged respectful greetings with Florence Nightingale. Next, Aasaa introduced her to Hou Yi, her son's own Servant.
"Not bad for an Archer. Aasaa, does he listen to orders?"
Aasaa remembered how Rin's Archer in the Fifth Grail War was perhaps the most disobedient Servant to have ever existed. What made it hilarious was that said Archer in the Fifth Grail War turned out to be an older alternate version of Shirou himself.
"Yes, he does. We have executed quite a few successful operations together." Aasaa and Hou Yi high-fived each other. "He is powerful, and confident."
Hou Yi sighed in relief. He winked at Aasaa, thanking him for saying only the best parts about him. Hou Yi's hand reached behind his head, feeling a huge bruise Florence Nightingale gave him yesterday for his involvement in the prank.
"I wanted to meet Don Quixote. Believe it or not, the Clocktower took an interest in her for defeating Guy Fawkes, who caused tremendous harm to the city and risked exposing our society to the world."
"Don Quixote perished heroically against Genghis Khan. She saved Gordafarid in doing so." Aasaa paused as he finished, the memory of her death still stung.
"It's ironic that Misa is wanted by the Clocktower, and yet they found Don Quixote's actions to slay Guy Fawkes admirable. She saved us a lot of work by ending his destruction early," Rin continued. She could not stand the politics in the Clocktower, and hoped that this incident would change things.
Now, she spoke to Gordafarid. "Do you still want to fight in this Grail War?" Rin knew a Servant without a Master would vanish soon.
"Of course. I only desire ending Genghis Khan's reign of terror." She summoned her weapons and posed proudly before Rin, affirming her will to fight.
"Then do you wish to form a pact with me? I am the mother of Aasaa, your group leader." Rin offered, knowing that no cost could be spared in the battle against Genghis Khan.
"I accept. My best is still ahead of me," Gordafarid said with rising eagerness. She knelt before her new Master and pledged to fight for her till her last breath.
Command seals formed on Rin's hand. The rush of war flowed in her once more. This would be her second Grail War.
"Wait, mother, you can't fight. It's dangerous." Aasaa stared at the 3 red command seals, alarmed.
"I won the last Grail War. No one can tell me I can't. I gotta hold back, so I don't win again." Rin admired the command seals, more than ready to begin.
"Alright, can't argue with that," said Aasaa, returning to Hou Yi's side.
Shirou and Misa entered the room after finishing their practice, discussing various fighting techniques.
"Thanks, Aasaa for everything you've done for me. When I came to Helsinki, I hit rock bottom and you gave me hope. Your parents are the best." Misa rested her sword on the ground. Aasaa planned to project her a sheath for her sword later.
"Yea they are, thanks Mom and Dad," Aasaa said.
"My pleasure son, you are doing us proud every day by leading the Grail War effort." Shirou turned to address the rest of Aasaa's team. "I must say your team is better than whatever we pooled together in the 5th Grail War." Shirou turned to them, laughing as he saw Florence Nightingale gave Hou Yi an icy stare when he brought up the bruise on his head. It reminded him of all the little quarrels he had with his own members all those years ago.
"Don't listen to your Father, he likes to exaggerate," said Rin. Aasaa laughed, with Misa joining him shortly after.
Aasaa and Shiori went out to buy food for everyone's lunch. They shared another conversation on their way there.
"So, how are things with your parents?" Shiori asked as she and Aasaa wandered the streets above the underground fortress, looking for a place to buy food. She scanned the various shops, taking note of the large number of souvenirs on sale.
"We don't get much time together, but the time we have we spend it well," Aasaa replied, a particularly nice gift, a handbag sold by one of the shops caught his eye. The hasty thought of buying it for her entered his mind, though he dismissed it as soon as it came.
We are not a couple, and I'll be damned if Hou Yi insists. Maybe after the Grail War but not now.
"About yesterday, did you really enjoy your birthday lunch?" Shiori asked.
"Well, we liked the food and atmosphere, and we had a great time together." He recalled the laughter and delicious food.
Except for the potato soup.
"Err, how should I put it? Did you feel awkward with it just being the two of us?" Shiori asked. She cringed as she remembered how it felt like a date thanks to forces that operated behind the scenes.
"I have to admit I did. Was that not your plan though?" Aasaa could not wait to get to the bottom of this. He needed to know what really happened.
"No. We planned for Misa to join us, but apparently..."
"Yea?"
"Apparently she ditched us, so we would, in her own words, "go on a date." She wanted to prank us," Shiori blurted in admission. She cringed as Aasaa tried to reply, he too took a while to decide what to say.
"Ah, so that's what happened. So, just curious, as your "date," did I do anything wrong?" Aasaa tried to sound as cool about the incident as possible.
"No, you were pretty funny and kept things interesting." Shiori forced a smile, and made sure she sounded as positive as possible. She liked him though.
"Good to know. So nothing romantic between us then?" Aasaa wondered which answer he truly wanted.
Shiori gave the appropriate answer. Not a truthful one entirely, as she forced herself to ignore certain emotions which did exist, worried that Aasaa would react negatively to it.
"Not at the moment, though I wouldn't mind continuing our friendship after the Grail War and seeing where that leads," Shiori said.
"Alright. Because I hope you didn't find me creepy or something. I did enjoy our time together though." Aasaa too tried to answer appropriately.
"To me, there's nothing wrong with anything you did. Though, I have to know, did you want anything between us?" Shiori remembered their interactions, such as the time she nestled on him while they were on the ferry, it was a tangle to her.
"I don't want to say no, but I'm supposed to be your mentor and all, and with the Grail War going on, it got a little weird," Aasaa shrugged. It relieved him to know Shiori did not object to anything he did.
"I understand. I'm just glad you had a peaceful day to unwind. Misa and I really appreciate all you did for us, and we wanted to show our thanks."
"I will keep up the good work. Maybe I'll be rewarded with another outing, the three of us this time." Aasaa scratched his head and smiled.
Shiori smiled, and told him that the next treat would be even more elaborate. Aasaa asked if it involved both of them ditching instead of just Misa, which caused her to giggle.
They returned from their excursion. Shiori wanted to perfect her fire orbs before the next conflict, and Aasaa promised to complete her training. Entering the fortress, they were pleased to see it was in a much better state. For starters, it had proper lighting. Aasaa thanked Misa for that. While they were gone, she worked overtime to produce more light orbs to brighten place. Shirou and Rin were with her, guiding her along, helping her improve the efficiency of each orb.
"I'm glad you're getting along with my parents," Aasaa said to Misa, as he and Shiori put the food down. Hou Yi and Florence Nightingale appeared behind them. They had been in spirit form protecting their Masters from a distance during the short excursion.
"Yea, they have been helping me improve all day. Look, watch this." Misa focused on a new spell, forming a clone of herself beside her. It was made of light.
"What's this?"
"I can transfer my consciousness into this clone. As a being of light, I can travel through transparent or translucent objects, and can move at incredibly fast speeds." She stroked the face of her clone, and twirled its hair playfully. The clone reacted by smiling. It did not have the full range of actions yet as Misa's consciousness had not been transferred.
"For combat?" Aasaa asked.
"Yea, though my real body will be unconscious and vulnerable. Rin helped me perfect it earlier. Shirou insisted on doing the chores, with the Servants. They cleaned the whole area and repaired the broken stuff."
"So why haven't you used this spell before?"
"I could never get it right before today."
"With it, we'll win for sure," Aasaa encouraged her.
The entire group gathered for lunch a while later. Aasaa enjoyed a peaceful meal, surrounded by his friends. After fighting for days, he welcomed this with open arms. Unfortunately, his relaxation was short-lived.
"Say, the two of you have been with each other for most of the day. Is there anything, you know, between you?" Rin brought Aasaa to one side and whispered.
"No there isn't. Why does everyone keep pairing me up?" Aasaa said, flustered. He froze when he realized he spoke too loudly, and everyone picked up his embarrassing statement. Hou Yi grinned only to receive a pinch from Florence Nightingale.
Shirou found this to be hilarious, reminding him of his younger days. "Looks like you inherited my curse, Aasaa."
Rin made a disgusted expression and shook her head. Aasaa smiled awkwardly at everyone, trying to play it off as nothing. He looked to Shiori who forced a laugh to defuse the situation. Seeing his stress state, she grinned, and an idea occurred to her.
"What do you mean there's nothing between us?" she asked Aasaa, feigning being hurt.
"Shiori, what the?" Aasaa hoped she said it in jest. He recalled their earlier conversation, reassuring himself.
"Just kidding. Don't worry, Aasaa's parents, your son has been a real gentleman for the past 9 days." Shiori laughed it off, before resuming her lunch.
"Florence Nightingale, do you think you can use Item Creation to give them a king-sized bed?" Hou Yi asked. He prepared to receive the hardest punch in the jaw from Florence Nightingale.
It did not come. Florence Nightingale resumed eating, and started a conversation with Shiori, as if she heard nothing.