Aftermath (9)

"You seem pretty excited today, Shirou-kun."

"I do?"

Nodding confidently before placing a contemplative finger on her chin Aoko explained, "Yeah, normally you're completely stoic and totally unresponsive to basically everything. Today you've got this spring in your step and a glint in your eye. Also you're smiling."

"I am?"

Instantly focusing on the present instead of the past Shirou focused on his own facial features—which was a bit of a strange action to partake of—and confusedly asked, "But I'm not smiling."

"Of course you aren't, Apostle. Now that you are once more focusing on present events, as you should have been, you returned to your base state of stoicism."

Accepting Lorelei's frosty observation—because that was quite honestly the easiest way to handle the eternally high strung woman—Emiya merely nodded, turning back to Aoko as she idly waved her hand, asking, "Well? What happened? Something that makes you grin like a normal person must be pretty wild, right?"

"Bah. The only events that would cause an Apostle any measure of pleasure are circumstances best not considered by any sensible Magus."

Both Apostle and Magician ignored the Queen of the Clocktower's predictable comment, Shirou instead pulling a pebble from the inside of his coat and setting it on the bench located close to where they were conversing.

Crimson eyes closed tight in concentration, a quiet whisper of, "Trace on," reaching the ears of the two other women present as with a brief flare of muted light an identical rock appeared alongside the original.

A copy that stayed a copy as the Apostle, while seeming somewhat drained, felt his lips curl upwards in a nearly imperceptible smile.

"Oh ho~! So you managed to complete the Kaleidoscope's little homework assignment, then? Tohsaka is going to be pretty relieved about that, she was pulling her hair out over whether you would be able to manage such an unconventional usage of your talents before she began to lose her mind over having nothing new to learn."

"Rin is certainly a...driven individual," replied Shirou with a certain air of dry humor.

"Not to mention she seemed oddly...handsy with Illya whenever the two spent time together. I should keep a closer eye on her."

Eyes narrowing as he recalled the oddly shy and lustful gazes his fellow Japanese Magus had given his step-sister whenever she thought no one was looking—or how she sometimes wanted the girl to sit on her lap—Shirou shook his head, returning to the current situation as Lorelei aloofly inquired, "You may perform your Gradation Air mimicry on a stone. I assume there is some trick to this act that eludes me, unless you are merely attempting to be humorous and failing miserably."

"You wouldn't recognize a joke if it grabbed your boob and danced dirty from sundown to sunup..."

Only able to hear the Blue's mumbled complaint due to his improved hearing—and not wishing to however inadvertently risk the other woman's ire should she somehow hear it as well—the 26th Ancestor hurriedly explained, "It's not so much the rock as it is what it convinced me I could do."

"And that is?"

Without any fanfare the Vampire raised his hand, once more closed his eyes-

-and this time there was a detectable flow of mana throughout his circuits, mild glow illuminating the room as ambient power gathered in the Magus' hand.

Both Aoko and Barthomeloi felt their gazes go wide as an ornate golden chain sprang to life in the young man's grasp, flawless links of divine metal coiling around his arm and bicep before the pointed tip came to a rest next to his neck, wavering in a manner resembling a serpent as it awaited some manner of command.

"...Is that a-"

"Divine artifact? It is. The Chain of Enkidu, once the prized treasure of King Gilgamesh and said to have restrained the Bull of Heaven. I became rather well acquainted with it during my battle with him."

Silence met the Apostle's claim and he eventually glanced around the room, confusion evident in his expression.

"Was it something I said?"

Aoko had her head in her hands, pained groan slipping past her lips as the Apostle's gaze met Barthomeloi's, the Queen practically smoldering where she sat, no doubt trying to restrain herself from attacking the Vampire on the spot.

"Shirou-kun?"

"Yes, Aoko-san?"

"Just why did you openly admit to someone of considerable influence and who hates your kind simply on principal that you can do something that would earn you a Sealing Designation faster than you can say, 'oh crap'?"

Appearing honestly bewildered by the Blue's observation Shirou replied, "But she already knows about my ability to Trace, I used Avalon during our first battle-"

*THWACK*

"I know you did! What Zelretch and I told her was that it was such a hyper-specialized situation that allowed you to do so and studying you would be pointless because it could never be recreated! I thought he told you this!"

Looking for all the world like a bewildered puppy the Apostle responded, "But...he didn't."

…

Aoko let her head drop to the table with a dull thump, muttering, "I'm going to kill him. Except he can't die so I'll probably just sort of kill him a few times and call it a day."

Feeling a tad nervous—Barthomeloi struck him as a person to not take lightly under any circumstances whatsoever—Shirou turned to the malevolently glaring Queen of the Clocktower, one immaculate nail rhythmically tapping the tabletop they had commandeered near one of the practice arenas.

"So it is not just a singular Noble Phantasm you can recreate...it is many. Even ones that can trace their origins back to divine hands."

"...Yes?"

The Ancestor didn't even attempt to lie, knowing he would likely be terrible at it.

"The Blue is quite right. Forgo any thoughts of a Sealing Designation, a Vampire with such overwhelmingly powerful combat capabilities would best be put down as soon as possible, without any second thoughts or hesitations."

The tension rose, both individuals staring at the other with no hint of backing down, only Aoko showing any sings of relaxation.

Mostly because she could see underneath the table, see that Lorelei's feet were nervously digging circles into the floor even as her upper half may as well have been carved from ice.

"Wow. Guess there's some truth to the old hat about love being the strongest force in the universe, if it's keeping Barthomeloi from attacking a Vampire on sight. Or maybe I should say 'forbidden lust disguising itself as love'."

The Magician's idle thoughts were interrupted as Barthomeloi boldly stated, "Perform for me a small task, Apostle, and I will overlook these circumstances of yours."

"What manner of favor?"

Aoko half expected the Queen to make some insane request, something along the lines of 'come to my bedchambers later tonight' or something equally ridiculous. Instead, she got a statement halfway sensible.

"Instruct my Brigade. Show them the manner of battle a Vampire such as yourself would use to overcome a foe. Ancestors are a varied and a perverse lot, using magics and mystery often beyond the ken of more contemporary Magi."

A final tap of her rounded nail marked the end of her statement.

"One such as yourself offers an opportunity to experience such an event without the threat of permanent maiming or death to color the experience. Should you desire to keep the level of freedom you currently enjoy—at least until this infuriating alliance of ours is complete—I would advise doing this task for me."

Shirou neutrally met Lorelei's unwavering glare, lightly asking, "Is that a threat?"

"It is an offering of a deal that you would be wise in taking, Apostle."

Aoko leaned backwards out of the line of fire, morbidly amused by the fact that Lorelei's method of dealing with unexpected interest in the opposite sex was that of a teenager's, annoying the focal point of their affections in a twisted way of displaying their interest.

Thankfully the situation deescalated relatively quickly, Shirou shrugging as he stated, "Very well, I accept. When should I expect to do this for you?"

"In a manner of minutes, actually. I took the liberty of expecting you would acquiesce to my offer, regardless of recent light about your abilities being brought to fore."

A supremely satisfied and proud expression appeared on the woman's features as the agreement concluded, arms folded confidently as she stared expectantly at the Ancestor-

-who stood up without another word, heading towards his bag of spare equipment off to the side of the training arena as Lorelei, for a brief moment, seemed crestfallen at his dismissal of her 'genius' plan.

"Just a bit of advice, Barthomeloi. People typically don't praise you when you force them into doing something they didn't want to do."

Smirking at the now irate and flustered Magus Aoko strolled after her temporary apprentice, catching up to him with her energetic stride before asking, "So what's your plan for dealing with the Brigade? Not to doubt your abilities or anything but they are a collection of professional and driven Apostle hunters. The Chelon Canticle have a reputation for a reason."

Shirou shrugged, responding, "I can't kill any of them—I doubt that go over well with anyone that objects to my existence—so that leaves disabling and demoralizing. Except, as you said, demoralizing won't work on experienced Magi. So non-lethal takedowns it will be. To that end-"

The Vampire's explanation was cut off as the doors to the arena were flung open, several men and women of varying ages and nationalities marching through the entryway in lockstep, expressions locked into dourness and professionalism.

"Huh. Guess she wasn't kidding about the few minutes part."

Snapping to a halt in front of the Queen with hands perfectly clasped behind their backs one of the Brigade's number stepped forward, an elderly gentlemen with what looked like claw marks etched across his face.

"Chelon Canticle! Atten-shun!"

A snap of booted heels echoed throughout the room, Barthomeloi standing before the assembled ranks as she calmly drew in a breath, raised a single hand-

-and extended a solitary finger in Shirou's direction, calmly announcing, "An Apostle has graciously volunteered its presence for our betterment. Do take it up on the offer."

"YES MA'AM!"

Another round of clicked boot heels and Shirou found himself staring down fifty very intense gazes.

The young man resisted the urge to sigh as Aoko quickly cleared out of the area, Lorelei smirking in his direction from behind her soldiers.

"Was it something I said?"

No, Shirou. It wasn't something you did. It's more along the lines of you existing and having nice abs. And retaining harem protag EX powers.