Split paths

Early next morning, Shirou woke up to a quiet knock on his door. The sun wasn't even fully up yet but he walked over and opened it to see Sakura.

She was quiet for a moment before asking if she could come in, Shirou nodded and they both sat down on the bed.

"I don't like it hear," She admitted quietly "There is a pressure here that I can't stand."

Shirou looked concerned for her and asked "Do you want to leave today?"

Sakura just nodded quietly "The shorter the time we spend here the better."

"We'll leave later then, we will buy supplies after saying farewell to the Perfect and if we can we'll leave before noon."

Sakura thanked him and left. Shirou's instincts told him she had another reason but he trusted her. He just got ready for the day, doing a simplified version of his morning exercise. While he would have preferred to practice tracing there was currently some sort of block in place since his Exaltation that prevented him from tracing normally. Luckily the Projection practice that Rin had drilled into him could still be used. Gradation Air might be nowhere near as impressive without full access to tracing but the underlying idea was the same. It's steps were diffrent as were the end result but he was able to use it to create weapons should he need them.

By the time Rin woke up the sun was already up and judging by the knocking on her door she was late for something. For what she had no idea.

She slid out of bed, straightened her clothes and hair with her hands and opened the door. Shirou and Sakura were outside. Rin raised an eyebrow "What are we doing?" she spoke in Japanese just in case someone was listening in.

"We are leaving, Sakura is disturbed by this place and I agree. We were just going to inform the Perfect and Scarlet Whisper of our intention to leave." Shirou spoke simply and Rin looked disappointed

"There is so much we could learn from this city, Even just looking around could help us understand the Geomancy of this world."

Sakura's turned her face slightly, her eyes had a tint of worry in them "Please Rin." It came out quietly in a pleading voice.

Rin just sighed "Very well, Though I do intend to learn the details of this world's Magecraft. Next place then."

A small and grateful smile grew on Sakura's face and they all headed down to the Perfect's hall where ceremony of swearing people in occured.

There it seemed one such ceremony was in full swing. Shirou went off to get Trin while the others watched the events from the same balcony they used the first time.

Trin was unhappy, The demon had ordered him to sell all but one cart from the group they came here with along with the beasts of burden that pulled them and to buy the provisions that they would need going on from Paragon. She had ordered all of this done by noon.

Did the demon know how hard it was to sell carts to non-traders? did she just think 'They need to be sold so sell them'? It was absurd. Only traders and travellers bought carts as they were the only people who needed them. Everyone in this town was marked and thus not allowed to travel and travellers and traders who came here already had the carts they needed.

He guessed they could be converted to firewood then sold like that. The only issue with that idea was that heat was never really an issue in the south considering that they were close to the pole of fire.

He continued to wonder the town to think of a plan.

"He isn't in his room." Shirou said as he rejoined the group. Sakura knew that already but decided not to mention it.

Rin looked around and shrugged "He'll come back later, probably."

They watched as the ceremony ended and the new citizens left the Manse. Then they headed down the stairs to the hall. As they went Rin focused and spoke a word, Sakura didn't know what she said but she felt a pulse as a certainty washed over her, the word that Rin had just spoken was a powerful word. Rin reached up to her mouth and waved her fingers around in a certain pattern as if weaving. Within a few moments Rin's lower face and ears was covered by something like a veil with a mouth on it.

When the Perfect saw them he held up his hand to a noble who was talking to him and spoke quickly in Flametongue "Make space, These are important guests."

Sakura didn't like the way he had said important but the three of them came forward. At the sight of her veil the king chuckled and spoke in old realm "The Sacred Tongue? You should have used that before if you knew it."

Rin shrugged and spoke in Japanese "It is good for travellers, I don't like paying the essence cost unless it is important however." As she spoke the lips on the veil moved and repeated her words in an echoing voice.

The Perfect nodded "Fair enough, so then why have you all come before me today?"

Shirou stepped forward "We thank you for your hospitality but we would like to leave so this is our farewell." He spoke in High realm as he still had not learned Flametongue.

The Perfect lay back on his throne "Fair enough but something before that," He nodded to Scarlet Whisper who stood to his side "Please listen."

Scarlet Whisper took a piece of paper out from a small bag slung around her shoulder and began to read.

"Sakura, choosen of the sun is accused of the crime of murder. Late last night she slew a Paragonese Lawbreaker, the crime was witnessed by another citizen who while under oath not to lie informed the lord Perfect about the crime. How does the accused plead?"

There was a moment of utter silence, Shirou and Rin glanced back at Sakura who appeared to be in shock at the crime that she was being accused of.

Sakura's mind raced but most options were cut off. She could still try however.

"It's a trick," she spoke quickly to the Perfect "Your informant is lying." She laced her words with magic.

The Perfect looked confused for a few moments before shaking his head "No I don't think he would. I assume by your words you claim to be innocent?"

"Of course she's innocent," Rin was angry "Sakura wouldn't kill without good reason!"

Scarlet Whisper stepped forward and spoke to Sakura "Speak the truth and let nothing be unknown!" the order was powerful and Sakura opened her mouth about to admit to everything. Her Coadjutor stepped in however "You fool, she is bending your will. Use your essence, Use the power of the Ebon Dragon!"

Sakura closed her mouth a moment before starting again "I'm not lying," A lie "I never killed anyone last night!" A second lie.

The Ebon Dragon was the master of lies and it was that power that Sakura used to manipulate. She poured her power into her words to bend the wills of all who heard her.

The Perfect turned to Scarlet Whisper "Are we really sure that she did it?"

Scarlet Whisper looked at Sakura whose face was a mask of honesty. "Yes." she said finally "You lie and use your essence to twist the will of the judge, if that is not an indication of guilt then we are blind. Guards!"

The guards around the room stood to attention at her order while the Perfect's focus hardened.

Shirou was looking at Sakura in a mix of Dread and horror. It broke something in Sakura. She knew she only had one chance at this, Her limit was only moments away.

"Please Shirou," Sakura begged "come with me and don't ask questions."

Shirou's expression softened but upon looking around it hardened again. Rin now stood with the same sort of expression that Shirou wore moments ago.

Quietly Shirou spoke "No, answer me Sakura. Did you do it?"

Just as quietly, Sakura broke "Yes."

A feeling of pain and betrayal washed out of her as if a dam had broken. The pain washed forth and Shirou and Rin took a step back.

Fast as thought her shadow lashed out, A rope of shadows bound Shirou's wrist and began to grow over his arm.

Rin stepped forward but a spear shot out of Sakura's shadow which was now pitch black. Rin was forced to parry quickly before Sakura grabbed the spear and stepped in as if to impale her.

"What is wrong with you Sakura?" Rin yelled in panic and worry.

Sakura was saying something under her voice, When Rin listened in her worry grew, Sakura was repeating a single word in Old Realm constantly.

"Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. HATE. HATE. HATE. HATE. HATE. HATE. HATE!"

Her whispering soon became easier to hear and it slowly grew to a yell.

"I HATE YOU!"

Her spear danced around as the rope of shadow was binding Shirou's arm. She was no expert with the weapon but she moved like a woman possessed, when the guards stepped forward to stop her, the spear's tip grew to that of a Naginata and she took the head of the closest guard. That made them stop.

Eventually Shirou got through the shock and used a charm to create a glowing sword which he used to cut the ropes. Seeing this Sakura howled in anger and pounced on him. As she cast a shadow over him, more ropes rose from the floor to hold him but he cut them all.

Sakura looked at him and her voice was far firmer than he normally heard "You will come with me Senpai." not a request anymore, she was ordering him.

"What happened to you." Shirou spoke simply.

Sakura smiled "I don't care anymore, I don't care about anything but you."

As she spoke her hair bleached and turned white, her veins blackened till they were clearly visable against her skin.

In the crowd someone cried out "Demon!"

In a single moment Sakura held a bow and shot an arrow at the source of the voice.

Shirou looked at her "I won't follow you while you're like this."

Sakura grinned manically "Then I'll make you."

Sakura danced towards him, now carrying a chain with a blade on the end like Rider used to weild. She flung the blade and Shirou cut the shadows apart. Sakura cursed and went low to try and wrap the chains around him yet Rin stepped forward and hit Sakura from nowhere.

Sakura then leaped, not towards Shirou but towards the door.

"I may not be able to take you now Senpai but I'll be back for you!"

She ran out just as the Perfect and Scarlet Whisper began to react after the sudden change.

Scarlet Whisper was the first to speak "Guards, After her." She then turned to Shirou and Rin "You two, with me."

End of chapter

And I finally got to this point.

For those of you who don't know Exalted, two things I can now say;

Sakura's Madness was caused by her limit break. Kimbery's Torment makes you hate things you previously loved Her love for Shirou was protected from the effect because of how he is her guiding purpose but everything else (including the budding familial bond between her and Rin) was fair game.

Sakura's Weapon is called the Compliant Umbral Panoply, I think you can get it from the story but it allows her to create shadowy weapons to fight with.

This chapter was really the point where the story's act 2 begins. Hope you are looking forward to it!