Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon. I also do not own the Megami Tensei franchise, it belongs to Atlus.

Aftermath

Chapter 20

The event hall that Sakura's birthday party was being held in was deliberately shrouded in darkness, but for those lights over the buffet table. The crowd of guests waited in anticipatory silence, only the faintest whispers and murmurs to be heard every once in a while. Then the lights at the head of the room came to life in sequence, illuminating the high table and a stage, on which Kariya was standing in a white suit and a black tie.

"Uh, testing, 1, 2, 3…" Kariya – in his role as MC – cheerfully said into the mike, and causing a titter of laughter from the crowd. Then the white sheep of the Matou gave a cough, before gesturing with a smile to the side. "Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone. Now, here comes the birthday girl!"

At those words, Sakura pranced onto the stage with slightly-exaggerated and childish theatricality. She beamed and waved happily at her guests, Humans, demons, divinities, and more alike erupting in applause as the rest of the hall's lights came to life as well. Cameras clicked and flashed one after another, and then Kariya was handing Sakura a wineglass, while servers provided the guests their own wineglasses.

"To the birthday girl's sixteenth birthday, folks!" Kariya said while raising his wineglass. "A toast!"

"CHEERS!" the word went up, as more applause went up, accompanied by the sound of crystal clinking against each other.

Sakura drained her glass in one go, and breathed out lightly before beaming at her guests again. "SPEECH!" Ayako shouted from the crowd, and roars of approval went up before the call was picked up.

"SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!"

Sakura looked faux outraged, and stuck her tongue out at Ayako to the sound of laughter from the crowd before taking the offered mike from her uncle. "Hello, everyone!" Sakura began. "How are you all tonight?"

"We're doing just fine!"

"Excited!"

"Really excited!"

"Hungry too!"

"Get going with the speech already!"

That last had more laughter going up, even more so as Sakura gave a light-hearted wave of faux annoyance. "Well, first of all, thank you for coming to my birthday party!" she said. "I really, REALLY appreciate it! I'm turning sixteen tonight!"

Cheers went up at that, along with shouts of 'congratulations' and 'happy birthday'. Sakura gave a theatrical bow, and waited until the crowd quieted down before continuing.

"I can see a lot of people here in the crowd, not all whom I know as well as I should, though I'm still glad to see them here tonight." She said. "And I have so much to thank you all for, no matter how different the reasons might be. Uncle Kariya…"

Sakura paused to nod at the man in question, before turning back to the crowd. "Thank you for being there for me all those years ago," she continued. "When those who should have been there weren't…and again for the past few months…especially tonight! Come on, everyone! A round of applause for our host!"

Cheers and applause went up at that, Kariya giving his own theatrical bow before nodding at an applauding Sakura. "Then there's my father," Sakura said, gesturing at Louis Cyphre, who tugged at his lapels and gave a curt nod as eyes turned to him. "Who I'd like to thank for respecting my choices, and more than that, giving me the freedom to choose in the first place. It's been a long way, and we didn't start out well and together…but ever since then, you've done your best to be there for me, especially on this night of all nights. Thank you…and I have no regrets, and am very happy to be your daughter. A round of applause, everybody!"

More cheers and applause went up, Louis giving a courtly bow before nodding with a beaming smile to everyone around him. Then the crowd was quieting down, as Sakura was speaking again.

"I'd also like to thank my dear sempai, Shirou Emiya." She said, smiling warmly at Shirou who blushed and rubbed at the back of his head. "You were the first person since Uncle Kariya to treat me right. No, more than that: you were the first person since Uncle Kariya to treat me like family, and to give me a place I could call home, even if it was only for a few hours every day. You gave me a reason to hope, something to look forward to even in the darkest of hours, and reminded me there's never any reason to give up. Thank you for all that, and for being here tonight, sempai."

Loud cheers went up, hands coming down on the blushing Shirou's shoulders. "Just…doing the right thing…" he stammered out.

"Then let me tell you this, sempai!" Sakura shouted with a beaming expression on her face. "You were, are, and always will be a hero to me!"

More cheers went up, while a slow grin slowly split Shirou's face, the young man dabbing at his eyes at feeling what his own father no doubt felt on that night long ago. "You'll always be welcome at my home, Sakura." He said, and Sakura gave another theatrical bow to another round of cheers.

"Then there's Fujimura-sensei." She continued, gesturing at Taiga, who waved back with both her arm and that of her persona. "Just like sempai, you treated me like family, the first since Uncle Kariya. You looked out for us both, and were an example of a responsible adult all this time. And if anyone holds your family's background against you, well, to hell with them! I'm happy to welcome you and yours to my birthday tonight, and all those busybody goody-goody two-shoes can hang themselves for all I care! Isn't that right, Fujimura boys and girls? Let's hear it!"

An approving roar went up from the Fujimura gangsters present, beer mugs and wineglasses rising into the air. Raiga tapped his cane against the ground, smiling at Sakura even as Taiga wrapped an arm around his shoulders and hugged him tight.

Sakura raised a fist into the air in response, and applause went up, the demons especially enthusiastic in applauding the Fujimura gangsters. "Pixie, get up here!" Sakura said loudly, and after a few moments, Pixie was winging her way to sit on Sakura's shoulder.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Thanks for being my best friend." Sakura said. "That's all that really needs to be said."

"That it does." Pixie said, the fairy and the demoness beaming at each other as the crowd cheered and applauded again.

"Thanks for being here as well, Your Majesties King Oberon and Queen Titania!" Sakura shouted with a wave as the crowd settled down. "Your family as well…I can only hope when or if I ever have a family of my own someday, we can be as happy and loving as yours is!"

"You only ever need to try, little one!" Titania cheerfully said.

"He who dares wins!" Oberon thundered, before taking the edge off with a smile. "Or should I say she?"

Laughter and approving cheers went up in response from the crowd, the Fairy King looking smug at it all. "And last but not least," Sakura said. "Thank you, everyone here who stood and fought by my side from the moment I began to forge my own identity, from someone who could only lie on her back and meekly take all the hate the world has for me, into someone who could stand tall and proudly look at the mirror, the me who now stands on this stage and is talking to you all. Because I'm not ashamed to admit it: I'd never have come this far, not even close, without you all. So a round of applause, not for me, but for yourselves, and thank you everyone! For being here tonight, all the way here, and all the way to the future! Come on, everyone!"

Loud cheers and applause went up, Sakura bowing low before rising to her full height once more. "Now that that's been said," she said with a smile. "Let's get this party going! Come on, everyone! Our dinner's getting cold!"

Agreeing roars greeted the conclusion, Sakura bowing again before Kariya was ushering her away, the birthday girl naturally having a spot reserved for her at the head of the line at the buffet table.

"Oh wow, this buffet is some feast."

Ayako wasn't exaggerating. The buffet prepared for the party was both plentiful and delicious, while the western cuisine was a treat for the Japanese Humans present. For appetizers there was a choice between Portobello mini-pizzas or spinach and cheese dumplings. For the main course, there was roast beef seasoned with assorted spices, prawns cooked in ginger and caramel sauce, cream cheese ravioli, roasted pork belly, and squash risotto seasoned with sage. And for dessert, the guests could choose between classic chocolate cake, cheesecake, or strawberry mousse.

There was also green salad served with either vinaigrette, Thousand Island dressing, or Caesar's dressing, depending on the guests' tastes. There was also clam chowder, freshly-baked bread, and steamed rice as well. There was water, soft drinks, iced tea, even coffee and tea and an open bar.

Already, a number of Human guests were becoming tipsy, mostly the Fujimura gangsters. No one seemed to mind though, at least from what Ayako could see as she returned to her table. Sitting down, the cult guardian nibbled at ravioli while casually watching the high table in the distance. Sakura was there, of course, along with her father and uncle. Shirou was there too, as was Taiga, Pixie, and the King and Queen of the Fairies.

Not for the first time, Ayako's eyes were drawn to the tables where Fiend and Tyrant Demons were seated at, including such august (or nightmarish, depending on who you asked) personages as Lilith, Beelzebub, and even Mara. Thankfully, the last had taken on Human form this time around, instead of being just a…penile, blob of demonic flesh riding a chariot.

Now, there was just a blonde woman dressed in black, gold-trimmed clothes, her face marked with jagged tattoos in red.

"…after you graduate?" one of Ayako's squad members, Ayase Hata, asked.

"What?" Ayako asked in surprise.

Ayase rolled her eyes. "I said," she repeated. "You'll be graduating later this year, right? If so, what do you plan to do after you graduate?"

"Oh…sorry." Ayako said with a cough. "I let my mind wander so I didn't hear the first time. Well…before things began to get really complicated, I was planning to go to college."

"But now…?"

Ayako scratched at her head. "…it's not that I'm completely against going to college now." She said. "It's just that…I'm not really sure anymore, if that's what I want to do…"

Ayako paused in thought. "…I might take a break before making my decision…" she mused aloud. "I was actually thinking of touring Japan…get some perspective, you know?"

"Oh, that sounds nice." Ayase said with genuine curiosity. "How do you plan to do that, if you take that tour in the end?"

"…probably head over to Hokkaido, first." Ayako said after a moment's thought. "Then work my way down."

Ayase nodded. "Sounds like a solid plan." She said, and Ayako laughed.

"Thanks," she said. "But it's not really a plan just yet. I still might go straight to college, and even if I go through with that tour, I still need to arrange transportation, accommodation, things like that."

"True," the other woman said with a nod. "But at least you already have something in mind for the near future."

"I guess it is." Ayako said with a laugh. "Though, school still isn't over just yet. Best not to get too caught up looking to the future, and lose it all in the present."

Ayase laughed in her turn. "Also true." She agreed.

"What about you, though?" Ayako asked. "You're also graduating this year, aren't you? What are your plans?"

"…I don't really have any plans to go to college." Ayase said with a sigh. "My mom can't afford to send me to college, and I can't really qualify for a scholarship. I might just have to settle for being a salaryman…"

"Hey, hey," Ayako chided. "Are you a member of the Ring of Gaia or not? Settle for a dead end career unless you charm your way up the ossified hierarchies of our beloved country's mega-corporations? You should know better."

Ayase laughed and shook her head. "Yeah, I guess I do." She admitted. "Thanks for that…alright, I'll admit it. I do have plans to correct that. But…!"

Ayase paused and winked, her eyes glittering with a mix of mischief and malice. "They're private." She said.

Ayako snorted and then laughed, shaking her head. "Fair enough, I guess." She said. "Well, whatever it is I guess I can respect your privacy. And wish you good luck too, Ayase."

"Thanks, and likewise, Ayako."

"No problem."

After dinner was over, Titania, Queen Mab, and Lilith took turns doing musical solos on the stage, with musical accompaniment being provided by a trio of fairies in the back. The rest of the guests mingled with one another, with a few continuing to nibble on food from the still-open buffet and bar. Every once in a while they would stop and listen more attentively as the singers made a show of their vocal talents, and would break out in applause at every solo's end.

"Things are starting to calm down around here, Kariya boy." Raiga lightly observed, a glass of whiskey held in one hand. "Got any plans for what to do once the stories dry up?"

"Eh…I don't think all the stories will dry up." Kariya said before taking a sip of his own whiskey. "Besides, reconstruction will take a lot of time, so I'm sure even if they start going down from here on out, I only really need to look to find something to write about."

"True," Raiga agreed.

"…that said," Kariya continued after a moment. "It would be a good idea to start branching out, just in case."

Raiga laughed. "Indeed," he said. "Any ideas…?"

"Hmm…I want to see how much of my list of contacts from ten years ago is still intact." Kariya answered after a few moments. "And then we'll see."

"Contacts…? Well now, I underestimated you." Raiga said with genuine surprise. "Then again, I shouldn't be surprised. You were a freelance journalist, and even regular ones have their own networks of sources."

Kariya nodded and hummed in agreement. For the next few minutes, he and Raiga just quietly stood next to each other, looking on as Sakura stood and chatted with a group of demons, ever so often breaking out in laughter. A loud roar and equally-loud laughter then drew their attention to the beer pong table, where Taiga was holding court with gangsters and demons.

"…your granddaughter sure is something else." Kariya remarked with amusement, shaking his head as Taiga downed a brimming pint of malt beer like it was nothing, and politely applauded as the crowd went wild once she'd finished, the younger woman pumping her fists into the air.

"Yes…I am very proud of her…" Raiga fondly murmured. "She may or may not follow in our family's footsteps as part of the family business, but even so, I couldn't ask for a better granddaughter."

Kariya hummed, and silently continued to regard the surrounding crowd for several more minutes. "Kariya boy," Raiga began. "Ever considered settling down to start a family?"

"…I already have a family." Kariya answered after a moment, eyes fixed on Sakura.

"Hmm…but that doesn't really answer my question."

Kariya snorted, but there wasn't any bite to it. "…once…no, twice…" he bitterly said, and took a drink of whiskey as he did so. He let the bitter liquor swirl in his mouth before sending it burning down his throat, and let out a deep breath. "…and both times it was all for nothing."

"…so you're just giving up on the idea?"

"When people get burned…" Kariya murmured, and Raiga nodded slowly in understanding.

"I see."

Kariya chuckled bitterly. "I don't mind." He said. "Like I said earlier, I already have a family. I'm not that greedy of a person, and I'm happy with what I have. Besides, even if I can't make it grow, Sakura can, in time. Then the children will need a grand-uncle to spoil them rotten."

Raiga laughed at that, and raised his glass in a toast. Kariya returned it, and both took a deep drink.

"You've prepared quite the interesting gift, Lord of Flies." Luvia remarked, irises glowing as she spoke in her capacity as the Avatar of Astraea.

Beelzebub snorted, the Lord of Flies attending the party in his humanoid form, that of a blue-skinned demon clad in furs and carrying a staff of dark-colored wood in one hand. "You talk as though you do not approve, star maiden." He coolly remarked in turn.

"But I do." Luvia said with a placating gesture. "Poetic justice is the most fitting form of justice there is. I only wish I had thought of such a gesture sooner."

"Do you wish to challenge me for their souls then, star maiden?"

"Tempting…but it's not worth the effort."

Beelzebub snorted in smug amusement. "And what have you prepared for a gift, star maiden?" he asked.

"Now that would be telling." Luvia said with a smile, and Beelzebub laughed.

"Indeed," he said, before turning to a table in the distance, where Luvia's ward the resurrected boy-king of Uruk, Gilgamesh, was having dinner with Ishtar and Ninsun. Well, Ninsun was having dinner. Ishtar was glaring daggers at her husband (as usual) Dumuzid the Shepherd, as the boy-king's innocent remarks and perception revealed his latest infidelities to his wife.

"Was that deliberate?" Beelzebub asked.

"…poetic justice." Luvia answered with a smile, and Beelzebub laughed. "In all seriousness, after a whole eternity, including spending half of every year at Ereshkigal's mercy, and that recent affair involving Ishtar's failed attempt to find a replacement consort, you'd have thought Dumuzid would know better."

Beelzebub made a sound of disgust. "He does." He said. "He just can't help himself. Idiot…"

Luvia scoffed and shook her head. "Truly…" she agreed.

"A shame Ereshkigal isn't here, though." Beelzebub said with a sigh. "It would have made things so much more interesting. No offence to Lord Lucifer or his daughter, but this party is fairly tame."

Luvia looked at Beelzebub incredulously, as though he'd suddenly sprouted a second head. "Ereshkigal?" she echoed. "Here? You're joking right? There'd be mass crucifixions, impalements, and hangings before the hour is out and by daybreak tomorrow the river would run red with blood."

"I know." Beelzebub said with a smile. "Like I said, it'd be very interesting."

Luvia stared at the Lord of Flies for a long moment, and then she snorted. "Perhaps…" she grudgingly conceded. "But if Ereshkigal's wrath is to be unleashed on this world, there are other places more deserving of it."

"Hmm…I suppose…"

Luvia took a drink of her glass of distilled spirits, eyes still fixed on Ishtar who was angrily pulling and twisting one of Dumuzid's ears. "As for you, star maiden," Beelzebub continued. "What plans do you have for the future?"

"…my – or this avatar's – fate is bound to that of the Fallen Angel's child and that of her love." Luvia answered. "I will remain here until such time as their childhood comes to an end. Given the past she's had, it is only just that Sakura be allowed to enjoy what little is left of her childhood that remains, and the same remains for darling Shero."

"And then what?"

"We shall see." Luvia said before smiling at Beelzebub. "Regardless of what choices are made, I am certain that the future will be a most interesting one."

Beelzebub raised an eyebrow, and then smiled. "Indeed." He said.

Luvia smiled wider, and turned back to the table in the distance. Ishtar had already dragged Dumuzid off to scream his ear off, while Gilgamesh had hugged his mother before running off to go sightseeing in the party.

And then Luvia blinked, as she spotted the boy-king homing in on a certain redhead.

What business does Gilgamesh have with Shero?

Shirou blinked and looked down at the feeling of someone tugging at his sleeve. Then he blinked again, as he found himself looking at a little blonde boy with red eyes. "Hello, Mister Faker!" the boy cheerfully said with a wave. "Nice to meet you, I'm Gilgamesh!"

Shirou stared at Gilgamesh for a long moment, and then gave a cough. "Um…nice to meet you too, I'm Shirou Emiya." He returned the introduction. "Um…why did you call me a faker just now?"

Gilgamesh tilted his head. "Because that's what my older self – who you'd have met and had to fight if the world hadn't changed – would have called you." He said.

"…what?"

Gilgamesh grinned. "Don't worry, though!" he cheerfully said. "I don't think that'll happen anymore. Mother is back, and I'm sure she can keep me from growing into someone like him…I think."

"…I'm sorry," Shirou apologized with painful sincerity. "But you've lost me."

Gilgamesh nodded. "It's alright, I understand." He said. "Older me calls you a faker because you can make copies of, well, everything. I don't really blame you, because that's what you are, and it's not really something you chose to, well, be. And what's more important anyway is what you do with what you are and what you can do. Right?"

"I…guess…?"

Gilgamesh grinned again, though his expression quickly sobered. "That said," he said. "You shouldn't try and be what you could have been had the world not changed. You can be something else now, because of what you went through in the Vortex World. And besides…"

Gilgamesh paused, his eyes and face distant, as though seeing and hearing something only he could. "Eternity will end soon." He said cryptically. "Becoming what would lead older me to call you a faker would be like chopping off your own limbs. I don't want that happening to you. He couldn't see it, but I can. Mister Emiya, you're a great guy!"

"…um, thanks?"

Gilgamesh beamed at him. "Though it won't happen here – at least I hope it won't – I'd also like to say sorry for all the trouble older me would cause." He said.

"It's fine." Shirou said with a sigh, deciding to just roll with the flow, and smiled at Gilgamesh. "I mean, you haven't done it yet, so you don't really have anything to apologize for. Though, is your older self really that bad?"

"Yes."

Shirou drew back at such an unflinching reply. "…I don't know what twisted him – me – to be honest." Gilgamesh sadly said, fidgeting on his feet. "Especially since when Enkidu is around, and after a while, he stops being so selfish and angry at the world and actually acts like, well, me. Just older."

"…maybe something happened to him?" Shirou ventured. "People…don't usually act like themselves when something that shouldn't happen happens to them. It's not really an excuse, but it is a reason."

"Maybe…"

"…you say older you – for a while – is selfish and angry at the world." Shirou slowly said. "How bad is it?"

"You can describe the way older me thinks as 'It's All About Me'." Gilgamesh unhappily said, and kicking at the ground. "He also calls everybody else 'mongrels' and 'pretenders'. He's also the kind of guy to let a god of evil burn the world to the ground because he thinks people have become 'unworthy of him' and only those who survive the burning actually deserve to live."

"…you're such a good little boy." Shirou said in all seriousness. "How on Earth did you turn into someone like that?"

"I don't know!" Gilgamesh wailed, gesturing wildly. "And I can see the future, so it doesn't make sense to me either."

Shirou rubbed at his eyes. "Well," he said. "I guess…as you said earlier, just…listen to your mother?"

"I hope it'll be enough…" Gilgamesh murmured, and then looked at Shirou as he sank down in front of the boy-king (not that Shirou knew it).

"Tell you what Gilgamesh," Shirou said with a smile. "You can come and see me anytime you want. I don't know how, but since you came to me with this, I'll help you in any way I can to keep you from turning into…well, the older you that you see in your…visions. Is that alright?"

"…is it really alright?" Gilgamesh asked. "It's no trouble?"

"It's no trouble at all." Shirou said with a nod, and Gilgamesh beamed.

"Well, alright then!" he said. And then Ninsun was calling for her son in the distance, and Gilgamesh was starting to turn away. "See you later, Mister Emiya."

"Just call me Shirou." Shirou said with a laugh, and getting to his feet.

"Alright! Then call me Gil!"

"Okay, Gil."

"See you later!" Gilgamesh yelled while running back to his mother. Shirou looked on as the little boy jumped into his mother's arms, the Mesopotamian goddess lifting him up before returning to her conversation with another, irate-looking goddess. And then sighing, Shirou turned back to his previous business.

Well…that was a thing.

A/N

No, none of the Tohsaka were invited. Why would they be? They have no right to be at Sakura's birthday party.

On another note, I'm sure in alternate timelines, Gilgamesh is frothing at the mouth that his younger self is making nice with Shirou.