Chapter 11

-Shirakawa village-

-Narrator-

Shirakawa is a small village with a little more than sixty inhabitants. It is obviously composed of hoshidian styled houses and is surrounded by fields of Daikon Radishes with an access to the forest from the south.

Kamaji is a gray haired old man of 59 years who has been chosen as the chief of the villagers after the death of Daiki, a grumpy single old man who scared all the children with his severe expression. He, on the contrary, is a really caring man who only think of the well being of the younger generations, he was alive for the birth of every citizen and has a friendly relationship with everyone of them.

And today is a special day, the Border Shrine's maiden come to refill their stocks.

But they are late, has something happened to them? Kamaji does not want to think about it, they are really intelligent girls and they know how to avoid danger.

Plus, the young Maiko is with them, and she knows how to fight if they get into trouble, so everything should be okay. They are just a little late, nothing to worry about.

"Old Kamaji!" Two girls voices followed by the sound of running suddenly interrupt his thoughts.

He turns around to see Aimi and Aiko , the black haired twins who lighten the path of everyone they meet. "Oh! Hello young ladies, what are you doing here with little old me?" He smiles at them gently.

"Where is Maiko?" "Isn't she supposed to be here today?" The twins ask the chief.

He looks back at the road leading to the shrine. "Do not worry, she is just a little late, that's all."

"Ok!" They nod with big smiles before Aiko turns to Aimi. "I can't wait to show onee-chan the beautiful flowers I found."

"The beautiful flower we found!" Aimi says, emphasizing the 'we' while pouting.

As the two little girls continue to argue, the old man cannot help but chuckle at the scene.

A young man then appears next to him with a smile. "I am sorry for the mess my sisters are creating Kamaji." He sighs, looking at Aimi chasing Aiko around the place. He is a twenty years old boy with dark red hair tied into a ponytail.

"You should relax some times Mitsue." The old man says without looking at him. "They are not creating any issues, they are really entertaining in fact." He wears a closed eyes smile.

The young man passes a hand in his hair. "They are way to excited some times." He says seemingly exhausted.

"How was the hunt?" Kamaji asks, still looking at the twins running around.

"Really tiring, I missed a shot and had to follow a deer in the forest for at least a hour and a half to end its suffering, and the two demons keeps talking at night." Mitsue looks like he will fall asleep at any moment.

The chief finally takes a look at him. "You should rest while the 'demons' are chasing each others outside."

Mitsue nods. "That's a good id..." Before being interrupted.

"Onee-chan!" The two girls shoot in excitement as they see Maiko and two other girls approaching them.

One of them is Toru, a friend of Maiko who is often accompanying her on her trips. The other, Kamaji and Mitsue don't know her, she is carrying a really big bag on her back and she isn't adorning any expression on her young face.

"Hide me!" "Catch her!" The twins both demands as they run around the confused brunette.

"C-calm down please, or you are going to fall down, a-again." The maiden tries to stop them.

It seems to work since they both stop and start pouting in front of her. "It was only one time!" The say in unison.

"Right." Maiko smiles down at them. "How are you doing?"

"I found..." "We found!" "... Beautiful flowers today." They say happily with sparkling eyes.

"That's really cool! Where are they?" The maiden asks without stuttering.

"In a field!" "Come!" They start to drag the poor miko out of the village.

The latter turns around and shoot. "I'll be back in a moment!"

"Toru-chan. How are you doing in this fine day?" Kamaji greets the tall maiden with a smile.

"It is I who should ask you this question Kamaji-sama." She bows.

"No need for such formalities, I am sure I made myself clear last time." He tells her. "And who is this lovely lady next to you? With her clothing I guess she is not a miko?"

"It is a pleasure to meet you sir." The blonde says holding her hand in front of the old man. "My name is Kamui Emiya."

The man shakes her hand, his smile wavering slightly and his eyes widening. "All the pleasure is mine, I am Kamaji and I am the one in charge of this humble village." He explains, his calm expression coming back.

The petite girl nods before gesturing for something behind her. Shortly after, a white haired boy with ruby eyes comes at her side. "This is Kotai, I am taking care of him."

"Hello sir." The albino greets with a small voice.

The old man hums at the boy softly. "And what is your business in this lost village Kamui-chan?"

Kamui opens her mouth but before she can even say a word, Toru interrupts her. "It would be better if we could talk about this matter in a place... more private."

"I see..." He nods before going in the direction of his house. "What are you waiting for? follow m-eh!" He turns around only to see the blonde girl right behind him.

Having followed him without making a sound, the knight has scared the poor Kamaji who thought nobody accompanied him. "Is there something on my face?" She tilts her head, internally amused to have scared the gray haired man.

"Of course not, I was just startled by your closeness." He sighs as Kamui takes a step back.

They make their way to the house of the chief and the petite girl notices that it is really small compared to the Emiya Estate, nothing to do with what a leader should possess in medieval time. At least that what she thought.

"Do you want some tea?" The elder proposes to them.

"I would not mind." The knight accepts "Do you have some water?" She asks for her protégé.

"Of course, I will be right back." Kamaji leave the three in the hall/living room.

Kamui and Toru put their bags next to the door as Kotai looks at the interior in wonder.

"Kotai." He turns to his guardian. "Come sit next to me." She says pulling out a chair on her left.

He skips in her direction before sitting as Kamaji already comes back with tea and water. "I had already prepared tea for Toru-chan and Maiko-chan but since the latter is busy, you can have it Kamui-chan."

She accept the cup and grabs Kotai's glass, blue circuit shaped patterns appears on it for a second while Kamaji is busy filling Toru's cup. "Here." She puts the glass in front of the child.

Kotai blinks before drinking his water.

"So, will you answer my question now?" Kamaji asks the two girls.

Kamui nods. "Kotai and I are searching for a place to settle down." She explains.

"Aren't yours or the boy's parent able to take you in?" He rests his head on his hands.

The knight closes her eyes and takes a more aggressive tone. "Unfortunately, they are not in a state in which they can answer this question."

Toru quickly reacts to the attitude of the petite girl and gestures to the old man to appease the atmosphere.

He nods before adding. "I am sorry if I touched a sensitive subject." Kamui wears her emotionless expression once again. "From where are you coming? If I may ask."

"I found Kotai in Nohr." She says without hesitation.

...

"That does not answer my question." Kamaji breaks the tense silence.

"Hum? How so?" The blonde girl raises an eyebrow, even if she knows that she tried to dodge the question.

"I asked you where do you come from." He explains, putting emphasis on the second 'you'.

"That is for me to know and for you to find out." Kamui says with a small smirk.

The elder is about to demand a proper answer when he sees Toru making big X with her arms telling him to stop asking.

He sighs. "What can you do?" What is she able to give to the village?

She straighten her back. "I can cook, sew, hunt, kill, use magic, clean, read and write." She gave what could interest him.

"I see..." He utters with wide eyes and a slightly opened mouth, mimicking the face of Toru. "It is a bit dusty but you can take the house with the green door on the right of the village's entrance. I will send someone to help you settle down before I introduce you to the village's activities."

"Thank you." She stands up followed by the albino as she bows before the elder.

The petite girl takes her bag and opens the door for Kotai. "Come." He follows without a word.

...

"I will let them stay in the village but at any suspicious behavior, I will have to throw them out." The chief turns to the curvaceous maiden with a serious face.

Toru looks defeated. "I understand." She then sighs a breath of relief. "But make sure you do not unnerve her."

Kamaji raises an eyebrow. "Why that?"

" I think she is mentally unstable." She explains. "And she is not all bark no bite, it is quite the opposite in fact. Last time someone tried to bully her they had to go to bed early, if you know what I mean."

"I will take that into account." He nods. "Now, what does the Guji needs this time?"

As they discuss about which supplies will be necessary, the elder can not help but think about what he will do with the new additions to the village.

A/N

Reviews Replies:

VGBlackwing: -Yes, she has Avalon and is aware of it. All of her 'Skills' like 'Instinct' or 'Magic Resistance' are the same rank than Artoria's, however, her main 'stats' are weaker than her mother's. Plus, she relies a lot on her superior strength and speed which means that her swordsmanship is weak.
-I used the version of FE:Fates with the twins. That is why only the female avatar (named Corrin here) is in the Nothern Fortress, while her twin (here named Kotai but who's real name is Kamui) is only alive because if his sister fails or dies unexpectedly, the nohrians can train him instead. But you know what happened. :P

Dragon lord Syed 101: Thank you. :)