Phantasmal Soldier
For: T. Arambula, J. Zinkan, F. Ebering. Biktur, A. Marteddu. Thank you all for your tremendous support!
Chapter 8
Traveling through the gate isn't like what most people would believe. It's not instantaneous, it's moving through a thin veil down a long tunnel with no light and for the longest time no hint of the end. Moving through it in the iron carriage was odder still, the path unnervingly flat and darkness that seemed to absorb the light mere meters from its source.
"Well, that is an odd experience." The princess said with a shudder.
Beside her, Bozes cleared her throat, "We are entering another world, princess. I believe it would be far more surprising if it didn't feel odd."
"Of course." The princess quickly agreed.
Moments later, they were pulled into the forward area of the hanger and as soon as Shirou stepped out of the car, he was greeted by a mousey looking man with dark rings beneath his eyes and a disturbing smile on his face. Something about the man made Shirou believe if he were to shake his hand, he would have to count his own fingers to make sure they were all there.
He offered a short bow before he began. "Hello there Emiya Shirou, I'm Kamakado Hideyo from the Public Security Intelligence Agency."
Shirou bowed in return and stepped to the side gesturing to the girls he was to escort from the car. Mamina stepped out first a hand on the hilt of her blade and her ears twitching this way and that. He watched as she scanned the entire area going so far as to glare at Kamakado until he took a step back before she allowed the princess and Bozes out.
It was then what the clothing they wore reminded him of flashed into his brain. They looked like Brownies or girl scouts perhaps.
"I suppose these are the guests not on the manifest?"
"They might be," Itami said as he moved to stand beside Shirou.
Kamakado snorted, "Of course, of course. Still, we have a tight schedule to keep, we should be on the move as soon as possible".
Shirou took the paper the man offered and found himself looking over an extensively detailed schedule. Time for eating, the meeting, a tour, check-in time to the hotel, everything.
"Of course that schedule will be updated as necessary," Komakado stated.
"It means, the schedules are not worth the paper it's written on," Itami grunted but quickly folded the paper and shoved it into his pocket anyway.
Kamakado shrugged as if to say, 'What can you do?', "We already have word that some acquaintances have the intention to meet our guests."
"Fine," Itami groaned and signaled the soldiers at the hangar door and slowly, it began to slide upwards.
As the princess started forward, Shirou took up a position on one side while Mamina took the other and Bozes hastened to be a half step ahead of the princess.
"I have stepped through the gate between our worlds and into a world of gigantic towers," Pina said and shivered.
It wasn't hard to tell why, the weather was rather miserable, it felt cold enough to snow and looked ready to do just that. Shirou frowned and pulled his jacket off as Kuribayashi did the same thing with Tuka against the wishes of the shivering girl.
"I suppose they built upwards due to extremely high population or limited land available?" Arpeggio asked, examining one of the office buildings ahead of them.
Shirou nodded, "A bit of both really, Japan's not the largest country so to maximize the space we do have our cities built like this."
"Interesting," Mamina said looking at the buildings curiously her nose twitched and wrinkled. "It doesn't smell like a sewer, like many of the cities in the empire. Still foul though, like those carriages."
"We're going to need to get you some clothes too," Itami said, looking Mamina over, she was still dressed as a maid but the Voglia woman shook her head.
"These will be fine." She said gesturing to her clothes, clothes Shirou knew held a total of six knives.
Komakado cleared his throat as a bus pulled over in front of them, "I recommend having this discussion while on the road. You'll be heading there anyway."
Shirou nodded, "I suggest we get moving as well, we have a total of three hours until the Diets meeting."
Shirou took the seat closest to the back as he surveyed the city around them, news of the visitors from the special region likely hadn't gotten out as not a single person had more than glanced at the bus as it moved. Most had their attention diverted to the scattered trees wrapped in colorful twinkling lights or the various selections found in the shops around them.
Even the girls from the special region seemed to have their eyes locked onto the displays ranging from the racks of books just outside the doors of a bookshop or the furred clothing hanging in the windows.
They finally pulled over at one of the cheaper upscale clothing stores "AIYAMA" and the girls were quickly ushered inside. Kuribayashi quickly guided the girls into the back leaving Shirou to settle into a position watching out the windows.
The crowd was fast-paced, but it was so filled with suits of black and brown that the red that stood in the midst of them might as well have been a lighthouse in a fog-covered sea. As soon as Shirou managed to focus on it, however, a large man in a blue suit walked in front, and when finished passing by, the red clothing and whoever wore it was gone.
"You know, I didn't miss the city so much. Too many people." Itami said as he settled beside Shirou.
"Think it's bad for you?" Shirou said with a snort. "Those girls think that we're having a festival or a fair going on with all the people around."
Itami nodded, "It is a huge culture shock for them, still they seem to be handling it well."
Shirou nodded, there was no arguing that point. Though that could partly be due to their upbringing. The princess and Bozes were nobility, retaining their composure was likely drilled into them at a young age. Rory had lifetimes to learn to roll with new situations and Lelei seemed to be the type to analyze any problem away, while Mamina worked in a noble house and was from a warrior culture, besides that she had the courage to spare. Arpeggio wasn't saying much but seemed truly awestruck as she took the world in. The only one that really surprised him was Tuka, it was pretty obvious that elves stuck to their own villages and weren't often seen in the special region. The way she kept her composure with only the barest hesitance slowing her down was amazing.
"So" Itami trailed off looking out the door, "Did you by chance get a chance to update your phone before you came back?"
Shirou shook his head, "I don't really use my phone often except for calling."
The two lulled into an uncomfortable silence that lasted several minutes before Itami perked up. "I know it's been a while but did you get a chance to look at the latest Jump before you went through the gate?"
Shirou looked at the other man confused. Was there a jump of some kind he was supposed to learn before going through the gate? If so, what was the difference between that jump and those that came before it?
"Not into manga or anime I take it?" Itami asked as he craned his neck to look toward the back of the shop.
Shirou shook his head and once more the two lapsed into silence.
"Oh, Shirou!"
Shirou looked away from the streets to find Arpeggio walking toward him, her arms behind her and a smile Shirou found worrisome on her face.
"I need your help," she said as she took him by the hand pulling him back the way she'd come.
'Don't,' Shirou told himself as he allowed himself to be pulled away from where he was posted at. 'You know this isn't going to end well.'
Still, he didn't stop, and soon found himself led to the back of the shop where the changing rooms were located. The princess, Bozes, and Mamina were a few aisles over examining several charcoal business suits leaving Kuribayashi the only woman around not in the changing rooms.
"Arpeggio what do you need?" Shirou asked as he finally dug his heels in. His voice got Kuribayashi's attention but he focused on the mineral mage in front of him waiting as she blushed and looked away.
"I wanted your help trying some things on…" she murmured just loud enough Shirou could hear.
He could feel his face begin to heat up a bit as Kuribayashi pulled his hand from hers. "This isn't the time for something like that girl."
"She's right sister, we are here as delegates," Lelei said as she stepped from the room wearing a white dress accented with a light blue shawl and a matching hat.
Arpeggio glared at the smaller girl before sighing. "Fine, fine. The clothes I have should be just fine."
Shirou heard Kuribayashi snort, "It's time to go anyway. Girls grab what you want. C'mon Tuka, you can wear that out."
After the girls had gathered their things, foregoing any other outfits, Itami had the bill sent to the SDF and led them out of the building. They spent the next several minutes on the bus as Itami clicked rapidly away at his phone.
"We have a schedule to keep you Otaku!" Kuribayashi snapped.
Itami didn't even look up from his phone as he responded. "I'm saving us time, I figured we all might want a little something before we go to the diet." Then with a laugh-filled cheer, he shoved the phone toward the driver.
Shirou had to admit the idea had merit.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Food sounded nice, beef bowls, however, and ones that cost five hundred yen each. Any hope sank like a naval ship with forty holes in its hull. The place was a greasy spoon, so much so there was grease smeared across the counters.
Still, Shirou knew there was something he could do, even if it was cheating to some extent. He urged the magical energy through his circuits and reached out for the bowl in front of him. The energy slipped from his fingertips and as he touched the porcelain bowl, he released it into the food.
Reinforcement.
So many ignored the many applications of the simple spell. With the ability to enhance whichever property the user desires, it truly was a chef's best friend when he ran into something that looked like it belonged in a frozen foods section of a market. Like the food in front of him.
"Holy heck! Why does yours smell so much better than mine?" Itami said from his place beside Shirou.
Shirou dipped his chopsticks into his food, "A bit of Magecraft, nothing fancy."
"You used your swords on your food? How does that make it taste any better?"
Shirou deadpanned.
"I don't just create swords."
"No, I read the reports, you can make bows and arrows too," Itami said with a nod.
Shirou winced, "What I do to make weapons is by gathering the needed magical energy and project them into a solid form. What I did with the food is reinforcement, by using magical energy, I enhance the existence of the object in question." He said though about halfway through his explanation he noticed the man's gobsmacked expression.
"Huh?" Though the way he said it might as well said, 'I didn't get that please don't bother trying to explain that again.'
Shirou sighed. "I can recreate weapons I've seen or can imagine using my magic. Reinforcement lets me make the objects such as weapons sharper or harder or even both." He said flatly.
"That's so cool!" Itami cheered, "So you use the reinforcement spell thing can bring out the best flavors in food."
Shirou stared dumbfounded at the otaku, if the man could take the simple explanation and realize just what he did to the food, why couldn't he understand the first explanation! Finally, Shirou sighed and pressed a finger to Itami's bowl enhancing the flavor of the food.
"I hope you enjoy it."
As he turned back to his food he found Arppeggio's face inches from his bowl. "Using magic to increase certain properties of items."
"Aspects as well sister, he can increase the sharpness of a blade," Lelei said and as Shirou looked at her, he found the girl was scrutinizing him almost like a specimen that needed to be studied.
"How does it work?" They both asked in unison.
Before Shirou could answer, a clink drew his attention back to his beef bowl, said beef bowl that was being devoured by a very pleased Mamina. "Shirou you don't mind sharing do you?" She asked when she realized that he was watching.
"Let me try!" Kurabayashi said, leaning over Itami, her chopsticks extended.
"Talk about rude! You have your own food! And you heard Itami, we're on a budget!" Arpeggio snapped and at that moment Shirou found a new respect for the mineral mage, respect that diminished as he turned to look at her and found her drooling slightly with her chopsticks raised.
"You know I could do it to yours as well?" Shirou offered, to which Arpeggio shook her head.
"Can I have a bite of yours first?" She asked.
Pain lanced through Shirou's head even as he gestured to his bowl.
She wasted no time, she snagged some of the food onto her chopsticks and immediately sighed. "I knew Shirou's food was going to be better!" She crowded around the mouthful of food, drawing the attention of the chef.
The pain flared as Shirou called to the kitchen, "Can I get another!"
Not only did he end up having to order another bowl but he ended up reinforcing everyone's food to remove the need for them to reach for his own. Which he left unaugmented. Worse or perhaps better, they had to leave minutes after he received the bowl meaning he had to scarf it down.
Ten minutes later they arrived at the National Diet Building.
"Later bunny girl." Shirou heard as he stepped off the bus. "I hope you enjoy the boring meeting."
Itami led them as they moved through the crowd, keeping the girls from the Special Region in the center, Shirou found his attention drawn toward a petite brunette girl in red before he moved on scanning the rest of the crowd. A second later he was looking back to where the girl stood and found nothing.
"Emiya, don't start slowing down now," Itami said.
Pivoting slightly, Shirou picked up the pace, constantly scanning the crowd for the red sweater he just knew was out there. Watching, waiting.
They weren't left idle as they entered the building, a young well-kept man with a large mole on the side of his head guided them through the building to an assembly hall, of which many were already waiting.
Someone began speaking as soon as they were seated.
Itami's group was questioned first, Tuka and Lelei's answers seemed to frustrate the woman. Not so surprising since she seemed to be on as much a witch-hunt as Kamakado said she'd be and the girls were only speaking good things of Itami and the JSDF as a whole. It went downhill for her quickly when she targeted Rory, however, the two quickly fell into a very one-sided debate where the apostle insulted the woman calling her 'Little Miss Thing.'
After a brief five-minute break, they assembled back into the hall, and Shirou was actually surprised that the woman was still behind the table given just how badly she'd lost it during the first round of interviews. From the white-knuckled grip she had on the table, it wasn't hard to figure out that the woman had taken the failure she'd gotten poorly. Worse she seemed geared up for round two.
"The people call the Civilian Magical Consultant First Lieutenant Emiya Shirou." She said as soon as the last person was seated.
Shirou moved to stand in front of the microphones, acutely aware of all the cameras on him.
"Our reports say that during your stay in the city of Magic, Rondel, you encountered a mythical beast much like First Lieutenant Itami. A chimera I believe the report said."
Shirou nodded. "Yes, it was a mixture of several creatures, breathed fire, and seemed to be immune to magical attack."
"It was supposedly several stories tall. How did you fail to see it coming?"
He paused and shrugged, "I'm afraid there's no definite answer for your question ma'am. The magic used in the special region is still new to us and if one were to consider the magic I know of, there are several possible methods including possibilities of spatial distortion, rapid growth, or spontaneous creation.
"Perhaps, the fact that you, Emiya Shirou, are in your own words a 'third rate magus', played a part in your inability to protect those people?"
Shirou mentally backstepped, he'd only mentioned that once or twice between the battle of Ginza and the time he went to the special region. It was supposed to remain confidential. Though it wasn't like he really cared, he was a third rate magus and was rather content with that fact. Still, it gave him a decent reference to how much he could actually trust the government.
"It's not impossible ma'am."
"That's enough!" Arpeggio snapped causing Shirou to jerk. "Shirou and the members of his team did Rondel a great service! No one could ask for more!"
Little Miss Thing gave a shark-like smile and Shirou felt a very familiar sinking feeling in his stomach.
"The people recognize Arpeggio El Lalena"
Shirou stepped away from the podium and moved back to his seat as Arpeggio took her place in front of the podium.
"Now Miss," Little Miss Thing said with a much softer smile, "I understand that you may have feelings for Mr. Emiya, but people lost their lives!"
He could see Arpeggio stiffen, "Yes, people lost their lives, I knew many of them! Don't you dare disgrace the life they spent stopping that monster by blaming the man who managed it!"
Little miss thing slammed her hand on the table "He is a representative of JSDF and Japan as a whole. He should have been able to stop that monster without the loss of any lives!"
"As you said it was several stories tall and appeared out of nowhere! Unless he can see into the future there was nothing he could do."
"Reports say Mr. Emiya didn't use any of his service weapons, relying solely on the use of his magic."
A man from the first row stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Apologies ma'am, First Lieutenant Emiya may have engaged with his Magecraft but according to reports, the members of his unit gave, they used their service weapons and while they penetrated the creature's skin, they didn't have much effect in slowing it down."
"See! There wasn't anything that could be done that wasn't."
"Sixty-three people died!" The woman yelled slamming her hands into her desk as a multitude of veins bulged around her neck and face.
"It seems even in this government cannot keep the crazed away from the seats of power." All of a sudden, Arpeggio changed. From a frayed young apprentice to a young woman on a warpath. "I don't think you understand what it was like. In fact, I'm sure you don't! It was a beast that stood as tall as some of our buildings and no matter what spell we threw at it, it wouldn't slow! Buildings were on fire! Shirou Emiya had two options, try and evacuate one of the largest cities or end the threat!"
"He ended it all right! The chimera came down on two buildings, crushed thirteen people and that was only after consultant Emiya ended its life!"
Shirou refused to react, her information wasn't wrong, it was just being omitted, out of those thirteen people, only one had died.
"Let me ask you something. Could you have brought the monster down?" She asked, her eyes twitching as her hand slowly inched toward her dress pocket. A place Shirou knew she kept at least one spare crystal and chain. "I doubt it. I bet the only thing you could bring down is a good soldier doing his best!"
The woman quickly turned as red as his hair and slammed a hand against her desk as Shirou moved to his feet.
It was a few minutes of deliberation and arguing before it was decided the meeting was officially over and no-fault was placed on the Self Defense Force.
As they stepped out of the building, there was no doubt that Shirou had seen her had washed away, for there she waited. Tapping her foot and scrutinizing him with narrowed eyes.
"Ma'am, we're going to need you to step aside," Tomita said, moving to take a place beside Shirou.
"Hello, Shirou," Rin greeted him and thought to the others, it may have looked like she was outright ignoring them, Shirou knew better. She was after all a first-rate Magus, no doubt she was sizing up everyone there in case she needed to fight.
Shirou began to feel sweat building on his forehead and managed a worried smile. "Rin, I thought you'd be studying."
"If you weren't such a blockhead I would be." She snapped back and pressed her fingers to her head. "But because you decided to let me know that you were going into a warzone over the phone of all things, I figured a small sabbatical was in order."
"Zelretch ran off again?" Shirou asked knowingly, it was what she would do, when her teacher, the master of the second True Magic took off on one of his excursions for a time, Rin always got a bit antsy.
She glared at him and turned away, "So what if he did?".
Itami cleared his throat from the back of the group and Shirou sighed, "Sorry but can we catch up later? We still have a lot to do today."
Rin's glare narrowed further, "Do you really think I've come all this way just so you could ignore me?"
"Miss, I understand that you and Emiya must have a history, You must have a lot to catch up on but we have to go."
Shirou watched as the tapping of her foot doubled in speed as she turned to face the leader of the third deep recon, and for a moment he was sure she was going to go on a tirade. When she sighed, Shirou found himself releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Though I don't like to admit it, I do understand the obligations you find yourself with." She stepped to the side and gestured towards the jeep.
As Shirou passed by her, he managed to catch the barest hint of a smile on her face. He couldn't help it, he sighed, Rin wasn't the sort to give up anything she's put effort into. She just wasn't that person.
"I will be joining you, however."
Shirou was ready to argue when Itami clapped him on the shoulder and pointed at the quickly gathering paparazzi already snapping pictures and flashing them at the most inopportune times.
"Let's go," Itami said, guiding them up and onto the bus. Rin said nothing as she followed after him as if she were meant to be part of the group the entire time.
When everyone had settled, they took off forward and followed the cars close by. They rounded the corner as an identical bus pulled out from the direction they turned, taking their place in the line. Two blocks later the bus pulled off to the side opening its doors at the entrance of the subway.
They must have made quite the sight for all as people were staring. With Shirou and Itami in suits, Arpeggio and Lelei in their wizards' robes, Rory looking like a Goth Lolita carrying a giant axe, Tuka looking like a businesswoman who spent too much time roleplaying as her favorite anime character, and a young woman in red; honestly it didn't surprise Shirou in the least.
As the train door opened, Rory latched onto Itami, "Please I don't want to be here." She said frantically looking about.
"How interesting," Lelei said, inspecting the doors as they closed.
Arpeggio suddenly grabbed Shirou's arm. "Shirou I don't like it here either!" She said.
"Lieutenant!"
The sudden call had Shirou turning as he extended a hand then pausing as he recognized Tomita and Kuribayashi leading Bozes, the Princess, and Mamina through the train car. People were pointing at Mamina's ears, some asking who made the cosplay and how much it cost.
"Glad you made it!" Itami cheered
Shirou's attention was dragged from the pair as Rin began tapping her foot loudly. "Well, Block-Head? Care to explain why you ended things with me over the phone?"
The tone sent a shiver up Shirou's spine. He knew the tone, one that begged him to try and respond because it didn't really matter what he said. She was prepared to Gandr him. She'd never made a habit of but that didn't stop her when the mood struck her.
Shirou took a deep breath and smiled softly at her. The fact that she'd once confided in him that the smile he was using always gave her butterflies in her stomach was just a bonus.
"They needed help Rin."
She turned the slightest bit red but grit her teeth. "Did you consider that I would have told you to go? Maybe even go with you?"
He shook his head, "I knew it was a possibility, but I'm not going to let you become a target because of me and I can't take you from your studies. Zelretch chose you."
She slapped him. "Zelretch can travel between worlds! Plus he probably would have found it interesting and I can protect myself! Block-Head!"
"Shirou you were really with this woman?" Arpeggio asked.
"Of course he was, still is as far as I'm concerned!" Rin said waving Arpeggio off as if she were an annoying gnat buzzing around a picnic table.
Shirou stared at the woman before inclining his head. "I'm sorry. I know I should have handled it better."
"You better be sorry, I suppose a Gandr would make sure you were."
A creepy laugh caught all of their attention, "Well it's nice to have the list of moles narrowed down to two."
A lightly furred arm entangled itself with Shirou's as he felt what could only be the warrior bunnies chest pressing against his arm.
"I didn't realize you liked your women so aggressive Shirou."
"You get the hell off of him Flopsy rabbit!" Rin snapped.
As the train began to slow at the next station, Shirou found himself being pulled towards the door. "The Lieutenant says we're getting off here," Kuribayashi said, "Be ready."
"Shirou, why are all these women hanging off of you?" Rin asked.
Shirou didn't respond as the doors opened with him and Itami ran off pulling Rory along with him. "Everybody off, let's go!" He called over his shoulder.
"Shirou…" Rin pressed.
"We'll talk later Rin," Shirou said and ushered the group through the doors.
"Stick to the plan! We're not supposed to get off until Tokyo!" Komakado yelled as he scrambled his way to the front of the group just as they reached the ticket stands. Before Shirou or anyone else could answer, the P.A. System kicked on.
"The Marunouchi line is currently not functioning due to a wiring accident between the Ginza and Tokyo stations. There is presently no set time for it to be back online. The Marunouchi line is currently not functioning-"
"Well, it seems this is our stop Komakado," Itami said as he began guiding the girls toward the steps.
The public security officer nodded, "So it would seem. Fools are showing their hand, they stopped an entire train, they've no clue where we are."
"Komakado-san if you would," Shirou said, gesturing to the stairs. The man frowned, likely not enjoying that his musings were cut short, but he headed toward the surface anyways and Shirou was right behind him.
When Shirou reached the surface, however, the last thing he was expecting was to see Rory dancing about as if she'd just won some kind of prize. The man rushing toward on the other hand was less so. Shirou started to make his way to intercept but found a hand on his arm.
"Just as expected," Komakado said. A moment later the man had reached Rory and ripped her axe from her hands.
The thief didn't even manage half a step after getting ahold of the axe before he was splayed on the ground.
"No doubt a young punk trying to make a name for himself, of course, the moron had to trip," Komakado said as he crouched down to grab the axe. Together Itami and Shirou tried to call out to the older man, but it was already far too late as an audible crack split the air. Komakado screamed.
Shirou moved beside the man and pried open the hand that still held the weapon, plucked it from his hands to offer it to Rory while some of the others stared at him as if he weren't human.
"I am surprised Emiya-san is able to lift that, I've heard teams of men couldn't lift an apostle's weapon," Lelei said as she loomed more closely at Shirou.
Rory shrugged, "It's maybe a little heavier than the average weapon," she said.
"Head to Ichigaya Assembly Hall! Stick to the plan…!" Komakado was still shouting as he was loaded into the ambulance.
Shirou looked at Itami and already knew the answer to the question he was about to ask. "We're not doing that are we?"
"No. One, something always seems to happen when he's around. Two, he's creepy. And Three, I have an idea." As he spoke he stared at something in the distance.
There was no denying Itami's first point, nothing happened while the man wasn't with them, though that could have been a simple coincidence. That Itami had an idea, even having heard all of the man's credentials, didn't make Shirou feel any better. His only consolation was the fact that he was pretty sure things couldn't get any worse.
He was doubly sure of that when it didn't start raining after the thought.
"Lead the way," Shirou said, moving toward the back of the group.
"Our conversation isn't over Emiya," Rin growled.
Shirou nodded.
Itami didn't take them to a vehicle nor back into the subway but led them down the street. He paused at a small market and came out with three bags and they continued. Soon enough they managed to exit the business sector and into the residential area. A few minutes of walking later, Itami led them up a flight of stairs stopping at a darkened apartment. There was a brief pause as the door was unlocked.
"Risa?" He could hear Itami call into the building. There was a mad scrambling before a dark blur blitzed through the door and crashed into Itami in the entrance.
"Food, give me food!" She half roared, half pleaded.
Shirou stared at the man in shock. "Did he have us take a detour just so he could visit his girlfriend?"
A soft giggle made Shirou realize he just spoke his thoughts out loud. A glance told him it was Arpeggio and she had a finger pointed at Lelei.
"See Emiya, some people actually try to make long-distance relationships work," Rin said snidely.
"Lieutenant? Just who is this woman?" Tomita asked
"Oh, right, guys, this is Risa, my ex-wife," Itami answered as he held the woman who'd buried her head in his chest.
There was a brief moment of silence before, "Whaaaaaat?"
Shirou glanced at Rin to find her folding her arms and suddenly found the ceiling very interesting. Shirou inwardly groaned, she was going to be all but impossible to deal with if she was already pouting.
"You see sister, be silent," Lelei stated and walked into the room.
The group moved into the apartment, a remarkably cramped space with two bookshelves lining the walls with BL posters stuck onto the walls as well, and a simple computer with art very similar to the posters.
Shirou settled himself near the door as the group began a deeper conversation into Itami's love life. Something Shirou just wasn't interested in.
"So you left that Rin woman because you were going through the gate?" Arpeggio asked.
"It's complicated," Shirou answered.
"Things always are," Arpeggio answered, "but you might find it simpler than you think if you just try."
Shirou didn't answer, his attention was focused on the shadow that moved around the room, it belonged to no one. "Rin?" Shirou snapped, jerking his head toward the shadow.
"Itami, guard the girls," Shirou said as he extended a hand to begin his tracing.
"Shirou, stop being an idiot and get the lights!" Rin snapped.
Realization struck him like a sack of bricks and Shirou lunged toward the light switch near the entrance of the room. After all, there were no shadows in the dark. He flipped the switches as the shadow entered a dive toward the girls and in a split second it veered off its course to linger near the still glowing computer.
"Tomita, turn off the screen!" Shirou called
Moments later the room was bathed in darkness. "What the hell is that thing?" Kuribayashi asked.
There was a click, one Shirou recognized as Rin releasing the small ritual blade she kept with her. "Pan's shadow. A spell created by you guessed it, Peter Pan." Rin said.
"Pan's real?" Tomita asked, surprised. It had surprised Shirou when he'd first heard about it.
"He was, and good riddance, he had this thing for children." Shirou didn't need to see her knowing she shivered at the thought that crossed through her mind. It was the same thing when she'd studied the long-dead magus hoping that his research into shadow delving may lead to a breakthrough or something like it in regards to her studies. It hadn't.
"Then who's that?" Itami grunted.
He could hear Rin moving through the room, long enough to scribble a symbol on the wall before moving on. "One of his descendants or someone who found his research."
While Rin continued with her explanation Shirou watched the window, it was the only source of light left and it only lit a small portion of the floor below it. If the shadow was going to make its escape, it would be using the window.
"So what do we do with it." Mamina asked, "Is interrogation possible?"
"You do nothing, Flopsy Rabbit. I'm going to pin the bastard right where he is." Rin answered. "And ask your shadow, see how well it talks."
Someone shifted in the darkness, "Tomita, you better not have destroyed my work!" Risa howled.
Tomita gulped, "I just unplugged the monitor, I swear!" He said taking a step backward, right into the moonlight.
"Trace… on," Shirou murmured.
Blue light coalesced in his hand twisting and elongating until he held what looked like a dagger made in the design of a rapier. It was a prototype weapon made by a magus who dreamed of replicating a marble phantasm. He failed.
"Pitched Agony," Shirou announced as he funneled magical energy into the mystic code, the blade began to vibrate and whirl. Finally, he flipped the light switches back on and the shadow darted toward the window. It didn't get far before it was slowly dragged through the air and up into the dagger, like many of the other shadows in the room.
A hollow scream rose from the blade as it slowed to a stop. Everyone's attention was on the blade Shirou held and probably would have remained there if there wasn't a bright flash of light that spread through the room.
"Rin, a little warning would have been nice," Shirou said as he rubbed at his eyes.
"How about a thank you for setting up a bounded field instead?" The Tohsaka heir shot back.
"Thanks, Rin." Shirou said, "I really appreciate it." He started back toward his chair not noticing the flush that spread across her face.
"Of... Of course, you do!"
Shirou watched as Itami looked about the room, no doubt expecting a shadow to come to life and attack. "So it's over right?"
Shirou nodded, "It's over."
"Then don't just sit there, explain what the hell happened." He snapped.
"Magecraft happened." Rin snapped at him before turning her attention over to Shirou, "I swear these guys are just as hopeless as you."
With a sigh, Shirou held up the dagger. "To make it simple, the shadow, it was being controlled by whoever owned it like-" Shirou paused trying to figure out just what kind of example Itami might understand when the man surprised him.
"So, the guy rips off his shadow somehow and controls it like he's playing a fantasy game? Why?"
Rin snorted and rested her hands on her hips. "He's working for someone who wants the girls. If we tried to list everyone who wants to get ahold of them, it'd take all night and we still wouldn't have gotten them all. There's just too many." she said.
"So we're back to square one?" Itami asked with a sigh.
Shirou shook his head, "Not quite. We don't have to worry about another shadow from whoever sent it and Rin's bounded field will help keep people away."
"You know what? I'm going to sleep. Wake me in the morning or when the world makes sense, whatever happens first." Itami said before laying his head down in the sleeping bag.
The rest of the night passed slowly, Risa having gone back to work and the girls separating to talk about whatever they wanted to. Soon enough Shirou fell asleep as well.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Shirou was the first to wake the next morning, the sun's light hadn't quite breached the horizon. He spent a moment stretching out the kinks that had worked their way into his back overnight and began stepping carefully around the people splayed out on the floor.
His goal? The kitchen. He placed the dagger on the far end of the counter and began.
Itami hadn't gotten much, the bare essentials really but it was enough to whip up a bowl of fried eggs on rice for everybody. The only limitation he really had was that he would have liked to use a bit more cilantro but he was sure it was going to work nonetheless. Lastly, he brewed a pot of tea.
Those who didn't wake midway through his cooking, woke up when the pot began to whistle.
Rin was the first to take a cup of tea and sighed as she leaned back against the counter. "Gods have I missed this," she said as she allowed the tea to slowly bring her around to full cognition.
Itami didn't bother with the tea, choosing instead to begin scarfing down the food in the bowl nearest to him. "Why are you in the special region man? I'd have my own restaurant if I could cook like this."
"Cooking is great, but I have better ways to help people," Shirou answered before taking a drink of his own cup.
"Thanks for the food," Arpeggio said and all but poured the contents of the bowl into her mouth.
By the time the sun had fully risen, they'd finished their food and Itami was standing in front of them all. "My motto people is if you work hard you play even harder! It's what makes life worth living! So what are we doing today?"
"The princess wanted to head to the library to look over some documents," Tomita said and the princess nodded.
Kuribayashi answered next, "The girls and I are going shopping; Lelei and Arpeggio for books and the others for clothes."
"Then I guess I'll go do some research near the convention halls," Itami said.
Kuribayashi snorted, "You just want some comics."
Shirou snorted as he choked.
"Shirou you should help Kuribayashi with the girls." The leader of the third deep recon added and at that moment gained something he may never have expected before. A minuscule amount of his subordinates thanks.
Shirou nodded. "I can do that." He said before turning to Kuribayashi, "I figured we can split the group, I'll take the girls to the bookstore and you head to some of the boutiques?"
Kuribayashi hung her head down but shot Shirou a thumbs up. So that's exactly what they did. Shirou, Arpeggio, Lelei, and Rin hit three book stores, stopping for a small fast-food lunch place, McRonalds, because Lelei was interested in it before hitting another book store and an electronics store. All in all, it was a decent enough day as far as Shirou was concerned, save for the minor amounts of bickering between the two mages and the single time Arpeggio tried to pull him into a dark corner like she'd seen several other couples do.
By the time they were done, Shirou was carrying two bags of books of varying genres, though there was a large stack of those belonging to the romance area for Arpeggio, one bag of electronics. And a paper sack with three pairs of sunglasses.
When they returned to Risa's apartment, Shirou was glad to hear they were moving out all but immediately, he was less pleased to learn that Rin and Risa had been permitted to join them. And even worse he'd been handed orders to turn the dagger over to the JSDF to 'guard the prisoner and keep it safe'.
When they walked back down to the street, Itami led them to a pair of vans that had mysteriously appeared after Shirou had been inside, and off they went.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The hotel Sankai was a beautiful looking Inn, separated from any real technology by the forest, it truly seemed to be a throwback to generations past. Shirou couldn't deny he felt some amount of impatience as they drew closer. The tubs that the JSDF provided were nice but they were nothing compared to a real hot spring.
The closer they moved to the inn, the more Shirou was certain they were being watched and from the tiny glances and multiple text messages, Itami was getting to know it too. The fact that they weren't on the run probably meant they were friendly. So he did his best to put them in the back of his mind.
A few minutes later they'd separated into their rooms and Shirou all but bolted for the first of his two goals. The bath. He rushed through his scrub down, rinsed himself as quickly as he could manage, and then it was time.
Shirou lowered himself into the hot springs, relishing in the heat soothing his muscles. The crisp cool air contrasting almost perfectly with the heat, the only thing that might have made it better was if sakura blossoms were falling through the air.
"I love hot springs!" Itami's yell instantly had Shirou tensing again as he cracked an eye to stare balefully at the man.
While Itami and Tomita chatted, Shirou turned his attention skyward, after all, he had a moment to relax with a team watching the inn and Rin walking the perimeter setting up her bounded field. There was no way he was going to miss out on the chance. He soaked there for a full thirty minutes before stepping from the waters.
His next stop was the kitchen, which just so happened to be one of the best-stocked kitchens he'd ever had the pleasure of wandering into. He hadn't had the time to make a larger meal since he'd joined the JSDF and he was set on enjoying himself while he had the chance.
Dinner, a large spread ranging from seafood to chicken was a rambunctious affair. Someone had managed to bring in some sake with Itami and Kuribayashi well into their cups. Rory wasn't far behind.
Shirou waited for the snarl that Rin was waiting to dish out but was pleasantly surprised when she seemed intent on enjoying her food as much as everyone else and left him alone save for the momentary glares she shot his way.
It was when he began on the dishes things changed.
Ratatatatatatata. The gunfire began.
Shirou peeked out of the blinds catching the muzzle flashes, intervals, and the volume of the various shots to take on the battlefield. Two teams with no less than seven soldiers per team each, possibly more. There was a decent chance that at least one of the forces was from Japan, they had a home-field advantage so it wasn't likely they had been removed.
He spread his Magical Energy through his system concentrating it into his ears. All the noises of the world blared but he had no trouble telling one from another.
"Three Americans, I repeat, three Americans." The faint crackle of white noise followed the statement before an answer came.
"Understood Saber, be advised a team of four are inbound on your nine."
"Roger that."
He glanced back at the group, none of them had more than begun to stir, the heavy rain all but erasing the blasts from the air.
He could hear someone shifting about in the other room, but it likely wasn't going to be in time to help.
The gunfire started again and along with it came a pained scream. The rustling from Itami's room came again and voices came as well. Rory was speaking in a seductive tone and a sudden memory leapt to the forefront of his mind, Rory Mercury sitting against the battlements taking pleasure from the battle spread around them.
Shirou extended his hands, two blueprints glowed fresh in his mind. "Trace... on."
The blue lights traced through the air, compressing and coalescing into a black bow used by the Archer servant in the war and a single arrow that seemed to fade into the darkness of the room, it wasn't as unique as the bow, but it was incredibly dense and still the go-to projectile for the Counter Guardian EMIYA when he didn't need to fire off a phantasm. A projectile that was quickly duplicated a dozen times over.
"Throne, the false servant seems to have armed himself."
"Acknowledged Lancer, contacting the sleeping servant as we speak."
A phone rang behind him, "Rory the phone! I have to answer the phone!".
"Itami here." There was a brief moment of pause, before.
"Emiya stop! They have everything under control!"
Then came the sliding of a door and a very petite figure raced out into the garden as three teams trekked in with their guns raised.
At that moment Shirou knew two things, any control Itami thought they had was just that, a thought, and second, the grass was going to be cloaked in the red of blood.
He thought of trying to stop her, he had the tools to do it, he'd been going over his options since he'd met the girl, but during the time he was trying to catch her, there was no guarantee he'd be able to stop the enemy soldiers.
"Rory!" Itami called his attention leaving the phone and Shirou alike.
A slight flicker of light high on the mountain caught his attention. As if looking through binoculars, the area where he saw the flash grew and he found himself looking at a scoped rifle. He knocked an arrow in the next breath and aimed.
As he released the breath he was holding, he fired.
Chapter end.
A/N: An interesting chapter and save for the large gap between the first and second chapters, this might have been the one I had the hardest time with. Still, I think it came out rather well all things considered.
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