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 32

"Looks like you've kept this place clean…" Kiritsugu began, only to grunt as Irisviel elbowed him in the side.

"What your father means to say is that it's good to be back home." She cheerfully said, even as Kiritsugu rubbed his side.

"Yeah, it really is." Shirou agreed. "Though it's certainly become much homelier in recent years. Before then…it was just me. Oh sure, Fuji-nee ate breakfast and dinner here most of the time, but she doesn't usually spend the night. Then I met Sakura, who helped out around the house and cooks with me all the time. Though…she also didn't spend the night here…not until recently…and even then, she goes home to her uncle every once in a while."

Shirou sighed, only to blink and look at his father, who placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't blame yourself, kid." Kiritsugu said. "About not being able to notice much less do anything about that girl Sakura's past. Instead, think of everything you've done for her. Even if it's just a few hours every day, you managed to make life brighter and better for her. And that's probably more than anyone else has ever done for her."

"At least until her father came for her." Shirou said softly. "Or rather when she chose her father…can't say I blame her…"

"…when the devil of all beings makes for a better parent…" Kiritsugu said with a sigh. "…this is a twisted world we live in…"

"…as interesting as this conversation is," Irisviel diffidently began after a few moments. "We really shouldn't be holding it in the foyer."

That caught made the two men with her start, and then with bemused smiles, started taking off their shoes, before heading into the house. "How about sitting down and having some tea first?" Shirou said. "I'll need to prepare a room for both of you, so while I'm doing that, you should rest and relax as much as you can."

"Tea does sound rather lovely." Irisviel said.

"Yeah…it does." Kiritsugu agreed, though he personally preferred coffee. Still, even if this was technically his house, he wasn't going to start raining down on his son's parade. Best to learn about and get used to each other's preferences slowly.

"Great!" Shirou said, leading the way into the living/dining room. Gesturing for his parents to sit, Shirou then hurried into the kitchen, where he busied himself making some tea. In the meantime, both Kiritsugu and Irisviel took a look around the room.

Kirisugu found it at once a familiar yet unfamiliar place, Shirou clearly having left his mark and decorating the room to his liking. It probably wasn't deliberate either, just the conclusion of years of habit and routine plus daily life causing the room – and no doubt, the rest of the mansion as well – to reflect its owner and his usual guests. Not that that was a bad thing. If anything, Kiritsugu found himself feeling proud for his son.

Shirou hadn't just kept the mansion clean and in one piece. He'd made it his own, and done it right.

As for Irisviel, she found the room rather bleak, minimally-furnished and not very luxurious, and even Spartan in a way. That said, it was a very homely and welcoming place. Warm and comforting in a way the luxurious and opulently-furnished homes of the nobility never were. Here, one could spend hours reading a good book with a cup of tea at hand, or even sleep the afternoons away after laying out a futon on the veranda.

Shirou might have simple tastes, but her son certainly knew how to make a home. She was so proud.

Then both husband and wife focused on Shirou, as the young man brought a tea set to the table. A plate of sweets and biscuits followed, then a steaming kettle for the tea. "Well then," Shirou began while starting to pour tea for Kiritsugu and Irisviel. "I'll go and get your room ready. In the meantime, you should…"

"…no offense, Shirou," Kiritsugu lightly but firmly interrupted. "But while I'm glad to see your work ethic is still as enthusiastic as ever, preparing our room can wait."

"…okay…" Shirou curiously acceded to his father's unspoken command.

Kiritsugu smiled while gesturing for Shirou to sit down, which he did after pouring tea for his parents. "This tea is very good." Irisviel happily said after taking a drink. "Did you learn how to make it all by yourself?"

"…I'd like to say yes," Shirou began. "But I can't. Luvia – that is, Luviagelita Edelfelt – taught me and Sakura how to make it after she arrived. Though even before then we could already make good tea. Luvia just showed us better kinds of tea leaves to make tea with."

"Ah, I see. Did both of you thank her for it?"

"Yes."

"Good! Never hesitate to show gratitude when you have to."

"Yes, mom."

Irisviel beamed, and Kiritsugu shrugged while taking a sip of his tea. Shirou poured himself a cup of tea, and took a drink even as Kiritsugu began to speak. "Anyway," he began. "While I'm several years out of date with your life, Shirou, your mother's even more so. So instead of fixing up a room for us, how about you tell her all about yourself?"

Shirou blinked, and then looking at his mom who smiled at him, blushed slightly and gave a cough. "Well, I guess that's fair." He said. "Alright then…my name's Shirou Emiya, and…"

"Miss Luviagelita!"

"Johannes…" Luvia said in recognition as she arrived at the rendezvous point, which was actually the other Edelfelt mansion in the city. "…how is everybody?"

"Safe," Johannes said with a deep bow. "Though there are plenty of scrapes and bruises to go around. We barely managed to seal the shelter in time, and even then we were tossed around by the mansion's destruction and the subsequent battle. On that note, it is very good to see you safe and sound."

"It's also good to hear my loyal retainers are similarly safe and sound." Luvia said with a nod and a genuine smile. "I trust first aid has been administered?"

"It has been, my lady." Johannes said.

"Good…" Luvia said with a nod. "You never know if even a scratch might turn into something serious further down the line.'

"As you say, my lady." Johannes agreed.

Luvia nodded again, and then gestured at Kayneth a step behind her to the side. "This is my colleague and senior as a magus, Kayneth the Tenth Head of Archibald."

"Greetings, my lord." Johannes said with a deep bow, to which Kayneth responded with a curt nod. Johannes then turned back to his mistress. "May I assume Lord Archibald will be lodging with us, my lady?"

"Prepare accommodations immediately." Luvia ordered as an answer. "And prepare some tea, as well. Lord Archibald will require bringing up to speed on Association matters over the past ten years. Marjatta will probably also need to sit in on this if she is available, though I'll handle that myself."

Luvia blinked, and then turned in realization. "Or perhaps," she began, addressing Kayneth. "Would you prefer to have a chance to rest and freshen up before we begin discussing Association matters?"

"I defer to your judgment, Lady Edelfelt." Kayneth replied.

Luvia gave a small smile. "Very well then," she said before turning back to Johannes. "Expedite the preparations for Lord Archibald's accommodations, that he may have a chance to rest before we turn to official business. In the meantime, I shall take him on a tour of my family's property."

"It will be done, my lady." Johannes said with a bow, and then walked off after Luvia dismissed him with a gesture. Then she turned to Kayneth, who was looking across the street to a burnt-out ruin.

"I say," he began. "What is that over there? No…my apologies for the improper question. What happened over there? I sense…a disturbing atmosphere, hanging over there. And…over somewhere else nearby…though less so here…"

"I am unsurprised to hear that." Luvia said with a nod. "As I recall, you majored in Spiritual Invocation, for all that your talents allowed you the ability to master multiple disciplines. Indeed, you were the head of the Department of Spiritual Invocation in your day. Therefore, it is only to be expected that you could sense what transpired over there."

Kayneth inclined his head at Luvia's praise, and after a moment the Star Maiden Incarnate continued. "Those ruins were once the residence of the Tohsaka lineage of magi." Luvia said. "Second Owners of this city, and one of three lineages which together produced the Heaven's Feel ritual."

"…I suspect our mutual acquaintance had something to with those ruins then." Kayneth said with an air of foreboding.

"Indeed she did." Luvia said in disgust. "Repeated treachery eventually pushed Sakura over the edge, and she stormed the property accompanied by three out of Four Heavenly Kings. She killed Tokiomi Tohsaka and his daughter, before razing the place to the ground. Of course, she killed all of their retainers."

"…Tohsaka is a branch family of Edelfelt, is it not?" Kayneth asked after a moment.

"…by blood, yes." Luvia reluctantly admitted after another moment. "We never formally recognized our kinship with each other, though their crest answered to ours. In hindsight, it was a mistake not taking them in after Tokiomi Tohsaka's birth. It quite likely would have prevented treachery, vendetta, and tragedy, one after another. Though whether or not recent events could have been prevented remains in question."

"Perhaps they could have been, perhaps they couldn't have been." Kayneth said. "Though I suppose it is not my place to inquire into this matter further."

"I am grateful." Luvia said with a grateful nod.

Kayneth nodded back before narrowing his eyes. "That said," he began. "What of that other spiritually-disturbed locale nearby?"

"Ah…that would be the ruins of the Matou mansion." Luvia answered. "During the Lovecraft Incident, it seems Makiri Zolgen was adversely affected by the surge in metaphysical energies, mutating into some sort of…worm-like, giant. And then proceeded on a rampage with its progeny afterward."

"…it sounds to me as though the monster's appearance finally reflected its true nature." Kayneth acidly remarked. "May I assume it was dealt with properly afterward?"

"Sakura sent one of the Four Horsemen after Makiri Zolgen." Luvia said. "Though, the Fallen Angel claimed its soul before Sakura could."

"Yes, I overheard and saw earlier." Kayneth said with a nod. "Though I suspect the Fallen Angel may have something more in mind for the monster's soul…or what passes for it."

"If so, then it is well-deserved."

"On that, we are completely agreed."

Luvia smiled viciously, a smile that Kayneth matched. "If you will follow me, my lord," Luvia began while gesturing in her mansion's direction. "I would be most honored to show you around my place of residence."

"And I'd be most honored to see it."

Luvia nodded, and then led the way back inside.

Sakura reached up to the shelf where she kept her snowglobes, and taking one down, looked inside with a smile. From the look of things, Byakuya was being worked to death, wearing only a loincloth while working in a quarry with countless other slaves. Scars from repeated lashes by a whip crisscrossed his back and limbs, and even across his face. Many of them were fresh, and at least two bled slowly. Sakura smiled wider as one of the slave handlers cracked their whip as encouragement, picking Byakuya as their target.

The man stumbled and cried out as the whip lashed across his back, and then again as the slave handler goaded him back to work. More than a bit tame compared to what Byakuya had conspired with and assisted Zouken in doing to her, but as a breather of sorts, Sakura could accept it.

Replacing Byakuya's snow globe, Sakura took Shinji's snow globe down, and looked into it. This time, she didn't just smile, but actually laughed. Shinji was naked and walking around on all fours like a dog, and more than that, was collared and leashed like a dog as well. And judging by the hollow and broken expression on his face as he was led around on the street, he'd had to be 'encouraged' to accept his station in life.

Karma was a bitch, as the Americans would say. Laughing vindictively some more to herself, Sakura replaced the snow globe on the shelf, and then turning, blinked to find her younger self staring at her with an air of disinterested curiosity.

"What were you looking at?" the child asked.

"Something private," Sakura said, sinking down to the child's level and smiling at her, patted her on the head. "I'll show it to you when you're older."

"…okay…Uncle Kariya says the food is ready."

Sakura nodded, and then taking her younger self by the hand, led the way from her room to the living/dining room. A pot steamed gently on the table, with freshly-cooked chicken noodles with vegetables inside. Granted, the broth and noodles both were instant, but the vegetables were fresh. There were also freshly-steamed dumplings, pre-packed as well, but it was a good brand.

"…you don't mind instant noodles, right?" Kariya asked.

"Uncle, you already asked me that while I was helping you prepare." Sakura said while helping her younger self into a chair. "It's fine."

"I see."

Silence fell as Sakura spooned and forked servings of broth, noodles, and vegetables into a bowl for her younger self, and put dumplings on a saucer for her. "So what's next for you?" Kariya asked as Sakura began serving him food in his turn.

"I'm taking a break from serious stuff for the next few days at least." Sakura said with a sigh. "Maybe a couple of weeks at most, though if the people dad's putting together are ready, then there's no point in waiting."

"Things have been too serious for the past few days."

"I know…what about you, though?"

"I'll be covering the recovery from this latest incident." Kariya said before slurping up some noodles. "Plenty of stories to write, so many people to talk to, and so little time to do it all in."

"Don't burn yourself out, uncle." Sakura said in concern.

"Don't worry, I won't." Kariya said. "And thanks again for healing my arm and eye. It'd be a real pain working with my injuries."

"What?" Sakura said before biting into a dumpling. She chewed and swallowed before continuing to talk. "After everything you've done for me – us – it's the least I could do."

Kariya just smiled and continued eating.

"Well," Luvia said, striking a variety of poses and showing off to her twin's hologram. "What do you think?"

"You're so unfair, Luvia!" Marjatta whined in obvious jealousy, all the while wringing her fingers together. "You were already an avatar of a goddess, now you become the goddess and get a shiny suit of armor and choice of weapons out of it too!"

"It's not nearly as cool as it sounds, Marjatta." Luvia chided. "Believe me, it's a huge responsibility on my shoulders. In fact, I should be the one who's jealous of you, simply because you get the chance to have a relatively-normal life."

"Humph!" Marjatta scoffed with mock disdain, looking away with closed eyes and crossed arms. A moment later though, and she opened her eyes while glancing sideways at Luvia. "What's it like, though? Being a goddess?"

Luvia scratched her head. "I'm…not really sure how to describe it." She said before making vague gestures with her arms and hand. "I guess it's…amazing?"

"Can't you describe it better than that?"

"…well, I don't hear Astraea's voice in my head anymore." Luvia finally said. "It's like…it's like I've always been her, from the moment I was born, and even before that, though my memories as a Human being are more vivid and memorable than the non-Human ones I can call on. That said…I'm her, but I'm also not her. I'm Astraea, but I'm also Luvia…if that makes sense."

"I'll just take your word for it…as I always have."

Luvia gave a heartfelt smile. "Thanks, Marjatta." She said.

"Just you wait, though." Marjatta said, reaching out to the side and picking up Jack Frost, who gave Luvia a wave. "I'll catch up with you soon enough. There's no way I'm lagging behind you for long, that's just not right! We were conceived together, carried together, and born together!"

"And we'll be together forever." Luvia said with a smile. "A pair of shooting stars from beginning to end."

"…don't worry, Luvia." Marjatta said after a moment. "You won't be alone long."

"…I'm not really alone right now," Luvia said with a sigh. "But I get what you mean…I look forward to the day when we can reflect each other again, my other half."

"…as do I, Luvia, as do I." Marjatta said, reaching out with a hand, and despite it only being a hologram, Luvia reciprocated, placing her palm against where Marjatta's palm should be.

There was a long moment of silence, the twins staring into each other's eyes with an expression of longing on their faces, and then as one, closed their eyes briefly and let their hands fall. "…anyway," Luvia began. "What's the fallout of this latest incident over there?"

"Lady Barthomeloi is furious." Marjatta immediately said. "In a good way, of course: she said this – and other incidents around the world – is exactly why we can't afford to stick our heads into the sand, and pretend it either doesn't exist or would go away if we ignore it long enough. She also said that if we'd gotten our act together sooner, we might even have prevented or preempted this and other incidents, and maybe the damage and loss of life would be less."

"And how's the alliance taking it?" Luvia asked.

Marjatta shrugged. "No official response yet." She said. "Though, what I said about Lady Barthomeloi isn't the coalition's official response either. Just something she said in an emergency meeting of the coalition leadership. On that note, it seems the alliance called a similar meeting for their leadership."

"What are the chances they'll finally wise up?" Luvia asked.

"Not very good, to be honest." Marjatta replied. "I hate to come off as trivializing what happened over there, but there are other incidents around the world that are at least just as serious. Some of them have been going on for months now, like what we now suspect to be the Yellow King's demesne in Tibet."

"And even with all those," Luvia said in disgust and exasperation. "The alliance still hasn't wised up."

"Pretty much," Marjatta said. "And it's honestly starting to worry me. Well, make me worry more, I'm already worried, but this faction fighting between us magi isn't really giving a good impression to the rest of the world. Parliament doesn't completely trust us, especially when we need King Arthur's sword hanging over us just to stay civil with each other, and barely at that. The rest of the European countries are more of the same…hell, at this rate, I'm rather hoping that Emperor Charlemagne also gets resurrected or something like that, otherwise the continental governments will take matters into their own hands and try to bring our more recalcitrant continental colleagues to heel."

"…I suspect some western governments might already have," Luvia sourly said. "If the Americans weren't so busy defending their homeland from alien and undersea invaders. Did you see the news from yesterday?"

"I have." Marjatta said grimly. "Salt Lake City has been sterilized: fifteen megatons, if I remember right."

"…this needs to stop, now." Luvia said firmly. "Just what the hell is Atlas doing? They could end the alien and Deep One invasions in two blows! Instead they're just sitting in that bunker of theirs! To hell with their excuses of keeping their superweapons from irresponsible hands! They're no better than the alliance at this rate!"

"Speaking of Atlas," Marjatta said. "There's been some disturbing reports coming out of Italy."

"Oh?"

"…we're still trying to know more," Marjatta said after a moment. "But from the sound of things, the Church just might be planning to seize Atlas for themselves. Almost certainly with help from their divine patrons."

"Shit…"

"This is a red car."

Sakura sat on the ground next to her younger self, helping her with coloring book. She did look in the direction of the apartment foyer though, as the door opened and closed, Taiga appearing a few moments later. The teacher carried a sheathed sword with her, and there were smudges on her clothes.

"Trouble?" Sakura asked.

"Nothing too serious," Taiga said with a dismissive wave. "Just a few morons who had a little too much to drink…"

"Language, please." Kariya interrupted. "I've got a couple of minors here. Granted, they're not really what anyone would call innocent – though it's nowhere near their fault – but let's not hurt them any more than others already have."

"Right, right, sorry about that." Taiga apologized, before putting her sword away. Then she looked down at her stained clothes, and sighing, went off to look for a soap stick.

"So, you and Fujimura-sensei are an item now?" Sakura asked.

"…we're getting there." Kariya admitted after a few moments fumbling with the question.

"No problem," Sakura said with a smile. "I'm not exactly one to talk about actively pushing a relationship along."

"So you're not against it?" Kariya asked.

Sakura looked surprised and curious at that. "Why would I be?" she asked.

"Well…she is your homeroom teacher…"

"And that matters why?"

"…good point."

Sakura smiled and turned back to helping her younger self with a coloring book. Kariya worked on his latest stories for a bit, and then sighing, got up to help Taiga in the kitchen. He found her having taken off her blouse, working away at a stain with a soap stick, rather fruitlessly from the look of things, and increasingly irritated by the fact.

"…did you dampen the stain first?" Kariya asked.

"…should I have?" Taiga asked after a moment.

Kariya sighed. "Just a bit, yes." He said, stepping forward and taking Taiga's blouse from her. "Here, let me help you out with that."

"…thank you very much."

"Here it is."

Irisviel looked to where Kiritsugu was hauling a dirt and time-stained crate into their room. Wandering over with a curious air, she looked on as Kiritsugu unlocked the crate's locks, a trio of ugly, oversized things featuring both a combination and a key. Then opening the crate, Kiritsugu began hauling out all sorts of things.

Guns, firstly. H&K MP5 Submachine Guns, H&K G3 Battle Rifles, even a M107 in a protective case. Glocks, plus Kiritsugu's own trusty Thompson Contender Arms, which he confirmed was loaded before clipping it and its holster on his belt. He also removed a number of knives, from Ka-Bars to an ugly-looking machete.

Then ammunition, belt after belt and box after box of bullets, ranging from 9x19mm Parabellum to 7.62x51mm NATO and .50 BMG. A wooden case was pulled out, and opening it, Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes at the pristine racks of Origin Bullets inside. Closing it once more and setting is aside, he then pulled out bunches of grenades like grapes, and then boxes filled with C4.

"Mom, dad," Shirou began with a knock on the door before going inside. "About dinner tonight, do you prefer…what the…!"

Shirou broke off as Irisviel covered his mouth, and placing an arm around his shoulders, pulled him into a comforting hug. Relaxing into his mother's embrace, Shirou stared, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, as Kiritsugu continued to unpack all the ordnance he'd hidden away nearly a decade ago.

Then Kiritsugu began pulling out stacks of books and notebooks on magecraft, written in German, English, and Japanese. Then raw materials of various kinds, even a few mystic codes. Finally, a set of blueprints, one of which had Irisviel's eyes widening.

"Is that what I think it is?" she breathed.

"Castle Einzbern's blueprints." Kiritsugu confirmed. "We're going to need it for the number one item on our agenda."

"You're going to get our daughter back." She said. It wasn't a question.

Of course, Shirou just had to ask a question.

"Dad, why didn't you tell me that I have a sister?" he asked, and Irisviel's smile turned wooden, and her eye twitched.

"You didn't tell him about our Illya?" she asked, and Kiritsugu pinched the bridge of her nose.

"This is going to be a very long conversation." He said with a sigh, before leading the way out of the room. "Come on, we can talk it over while looking over the castle, its layout and defenses, the surrounding geography, and everything else we need to know and account for if we're going to get her back."

Shirou glanced at his mother, who just smiled and shrugged encouragingly at him. With nothing else to do, Shirou decided to just roll with it.

A/N

Something of a breather chapter…I think.

And yes, I retconned Kiritsugu's guns – except for the Thompson which is a solid piece of hardware – into something more reliable. Especially since the Calico is, plainly put, a piece of junk, and one which I simply cannot see someone as practical as Kiritsugu using. It just breaks suspension of disbelief.