A Thousand Years

by IlurThVir

How does it feel to be forgotten? To be looked at by someone with the same face, the same voice, and to not see recognition cross their eyes? Artoria Pendragon would find out very soon. Emiya Shirou, Demi-Servant vessel to Sengo Muramasa, is summoned to Chaldea, but without his memories of her. Will this be enough to stop the King of Knights from pursuing her beloved? (FiveChapter)

5. Part 4 of 5

PART 4 OF 5

---

"So, you two are getting along now?" Jekyll asked him, his voice tinged with a distinct note of amusement.

Shirou sighed, trying to hold back the embarrassment and, above all, yet another blush from his face. His body was currently laying on a black leather armchair, staring up at the ceiling as he continued his chat with the blonde-haired Servant. The Assassin was watching him closely from a chair behind him, with a notebook in his hands and an analytical, thoughtful gaze while he pondered his diagnosis as he listened to him. To the side, Doctor Roman was also present, currently intent on listening to the conversation from the sidelines, sitting behind a desk in Jekyll's private office.

Henry Jekyll's psychological session had unexpectedly turned out to be pleasant enough, up to this point. The young man could admit it now. Shirou had expected to undergo some kind of psychological test or be used as a lab rat, but none of this had happened so far. Roman and the Servant had just made him lay down and talk casually, urging him to bring out all his doubts and uncertainties about his current situation. Roman's presence had surprised him at first. But, now that he thought about it, it wasn't so unexpected. Before being the new director of Chaldea, Roman was originally a doctor, after all.

Seeing that the others were expecting a response from him, Shirou sighed again. "Yes," he admitted slowly, in a dull voice. "We're getting along. At least now she doesn't slump with that devastated look every time she sets her eyes on me anymore."

Roman held back a laugh. "I saw her this morning before I came here. She seemed pretty cheerful to me," he agreed with relief.

Jekyll smiled, nodding as he pondered mentally. "But... you're still insecure," he deduced seriously. "You still feel uncomfortable around her."

The red-haired boy clenched a fist. "I... Yes, I do," he admitted after a moment of hesitation. There was no point in lying anymore. "Every time I look at her… I feel a myriad of emotions explode inside my chest. Her presence is pleasant, and I am happy to see that she cares so much about me. Yet... I'm still not sure of what to think about this."

"Why is that?" Roman asked him as Jekyll took notes in his notebook.

Shirou was silent for a long time before answering. "Is it really me the one she loves?" he asked back, pondering that question to no one in particular. "Am I really the one she's chasing? Or is it just the past me that's hidden within me?"

Jekull watched him sharply. "You're afraid to disappoint her expectations. You're afraid that your current self is different from what you once were," he declared in all seriousness.

The yound man nodded. "…yes."

Romas sighed, shaking his head with a resigned motion. "Shirou, we can't help you with this dilemma. If you really want to know the answer to that, then you have to ask her directly. Only Artoria can answer this question, and you know it," he reminded him slowly, shrugging.

Shirou hesitated before nodding again. "I guess you're right," he admitted.

"But aside from this, what do you have to say about her?" Jekyll urged him suddenly. The boy glanced at him as he was laying motionless on the armchair. "What do you – the current you – feel about her?"

After that question, silence was the only thing that reigned in the office for some time. Jekyll and Roman said nothing, patiently waiting for Shirou to think about it, sorting his own thoughts and trying to reason with himself. It took him two full minutes before answering. "I... I don't know if I really like her," he finally said in the end. "But, there's something... something inside of me... that makes me want to know her better. It makes me want to be close to her."

"And let me guess, you are afraid of this foreign feeling inside you; am I right?" the Assassin pressed again.

The boy blinked. "Y-Yes... I do feel a bit of fear. But how do you know that?" he asked, turning with his head towards the blonde-haired Servant.

Jekyll held back a laugh, shaking his head in amusement. "Pal, you and I are quite alike, albeit completely different. You're not the only one who's afraid of having a split personality and having feelings and emotions that don't belong to you," he explained carefully, adjusting his glasses on his nose with two fingers. "I literally split my own mind beacause I tried to detach the very notion of 'evil' from my personality. I can totally relate to you. I see where you're coming from, really," he causally reassured him.

Shirou hesitated, before remembering that those words were true. There was literally a second personality encased within Jekyll – Hide, the evil side of him – who also was a completely different person. A person with emotions, ideas, and a will of his own. Although their cases were different, there were also some similarities. Shirou himself still didn't know what to think of his past self. Were they really the same person? Did they really share the same emotions and intentions? Was it right to think of 'that' Shirou as his present self? He would have to face all of these questions, sooner or later.

"So… what should I do?" Shirou asked then, completely lost and unsure.

Roman looked at him with a smile. "Well, you alredy agreed to go on a date with her, right?" he promptly replied. "You can start from there. Spend time with her, and try to sort out your feelings. Even if you forgot about the past you shared with her, you can still try to form a new bond. A new memory to share with her."

The blonde Assassin nodded soon after. "He's right. The most important thing right now is for you to realize what you feel. What you – you, Shirou Emiya, the man without memories – feel about Artoria. That's all that matters, really. You'll figure out what to do next on your own soon after that; trust me."

"And in order to understand that… I need to spend time with her," Shirou mused out loud, closing his eyes in resignation. He ran a hand through his red hair with a sigh. "I guess I have no other choice."

Jekyll smiled at him in a sympathetic way. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. Artoria is a strong woman. If you really try to understand your feelings and if you'll be honest with her; I'm sure everything will work out in the end. Whatever the result may be," he said with certainty, offering him a hand to help him up.

The young man nodded hesitantly, sitting up and slowly pullig himself away from the armchair with a deep breath. "I hope so," he whispered slowly. Then he shook his head, offering a grateful smile to Jekyll and Roman. "Thank you for the advice and the session. You really helped me. I am grateful for this."

"Don't mention it, pal. It's my job," Jekyll smiled with a shrug.

"Yeah, it was nothing, really. If you ever need help again, you can come and find us whenever you want," Roman added after him, getting up from the desk as well.

Shirou looked at the doctor with a raised eyebrow. "Come to think of it... I didn't expect to see you here, Doctor Roman," he admitted slowly, confused. "Aren't you the man who's in charge of Chaldea? Shouldn't you stay in the Control Room and take care of other business with Da Vinci?"

"Oh no, no, no!" Roman denied frantically, waving both hands in front of him. "I just pick up the stuff that Ritsuka, Mashu, and Leonardo don't have time for! I'm not in charge of Chaldea at all! And besides, today is my day off!"

Shirou tilted his head. "To my understanding, you're the highest ranking member left alive after Lev Lainur's sabotage."

Roman winced and gave a nervous little laugh. "Ah-ha, well I suppose you're technically right..."

"Roman just doesn't like to be reminded of his new responsibilities, Shirou," Jekyll laughed light-heartedly, throwing an arm around Roman's neck and forcing him to hunch over. "If he had his way, he'd be in his room either sleeping the day away or watching reruns of that magical girl's show he's obsessed with."

The red-haired man blinked as Roman's cheeks reddened rapidly.

"Man, he doesn't even really do much medical stuff nowadays," the Assassin continued to say as Roman's complexion turned redder and redder and his futile attempts to escape grew more and more frantic. "But he's still pretty good with all that technical and book stuff. I think it's good for him to help you as a doctor, though. Don't you agree, Roman?"

The older man merely sighed, running a hand through his hair. "…please give me a break," he muttered under his breath.

Shirou and Jekyll laughed, shaking their heads at the man's exasperated reaction. Then, however, the blond-haired Servant released Roman from his grip and shot an amused look at the young Saber. "With that being said, though, I think it's better if you go now," he began to say, turning to Shirou. The young man became immediately serious as soon as he heard this. "After all, in a couple of hours you'll have to go to the date, right? It's best if you prepare and clear your mind before that."

He nodded, his expression becoming more and more serious at the memory of what awaited him today. "Yeah... I guess I can't be late for that," he admitted in the end, scratching his neck nervously.

"You'll be fine, Shirou," Roman assured him, offering him an encouraging smile. "I'm sure of it." The boy just nodded his head at his words.

After finishing the final formalities and finally being released by the other two, Shirou walked out of the office and sighed heavily, trying to calm his growing nervousness with a shake of his head. He started to head for the Cafeteria, deciding to get himself something to drink to calm his nerves and reflect a little in peace. Even though his date with Artoria was still several hours away – Bedivere had informed him that he would meet him just before lunch – he couldn't help but be slightly nervous even right now. It was inevitable, given his complete lack of memory and the particular situation he shared with that woman. He needed to sort things out before meeting her. And a cup of hot tea would surely do him good to calm down a little.

He really needed it.

Fortunately for him, no one bothered him on the way to his destination. Shirou arrived in the Cafeteria in a few minutes, quickly prepared a herbal tea at the main counter, and took a seat at a table without wasting time. He sat down with a sigh, sipping the warm, familiar liquid and letting its nostalgic taste relax him. Even though he remembered nothing of his life, the taste of the tea was incredibly familiar to him. It helped him relax, for some reason. Perhaps, in his previous life, he used to be fond of this drink. Not that he had a way of knowing this for sure, of course. But it was still nice for him.

His peace was not meant to last, however.

"Hehehehe! Why are you sitting here all alone during this nice, bright morning, my fellow Saber?" an unfamiliar voice said suddenly from his right.

Shirou sighed, cursing his luck. Why could he never get some peace and quiet for himself? Slowly, very slowly, he turned his head towards the Servant who had placed itself to his right, taking a seat next to him.

The Servant was a woman – a young girl, actually – with pink hair tied in a long ponytail, blue eyes and a jovial face. She wore a blue and black oriental dress adorned with a tinge of red, and two small katanas were tied proudly to her back. She looked like a samurai, based on her appearance. She was looking at him with a cheerful smile, her eyes sparkling in genuine curiosity as they gazed on his face with a sheer intensity.

Shirou merely raised a brow at her. "…hi?"

Her smile widened. "Hi to you too, new Servant!" she happily replied. "It's very nice to meet you! I heard that Master finally managed to summon another Saber! I wanted to come and say hello as soon as I heard about the news, but I never got the chance until now. It doesn't happen every day that I got to meet another fellow Saber, after all. And a samurai like me, even!"

The red-haired boy frowned. "I'm sorry, but I'm not a samurai," he corrected her. "I'm a blacksmith. A Demi-Servant, vessel to Muramasa Sengo. I'm more like a sword maker than a wielder. Regardless, my name is Shirou Emiya," he introduced himself slowly. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What about you? What's your name, Saber?"

The pink-haired woman grinned broadly. "My name? Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu," she introduced herself, placing a hand on her chest and lifting her head proudly. Seeing his confusion, however, her face broke into a sheepish smile. "Still, it's easier if you just call me Musashi. Miyamoto Musashi!" she added at the end with a short laugh, nodding towards him.

Shirou stared at her for a while. "I see… is there a reason for your sudden approach?" he then asked her curiously.

"Of course!" she promptly replied, looking at him with that exact same smile as before. "You're a Saber! Like me! As soon as I saw your frowning face, I knew I had to come and investigate!" she replied, as if it was obvious. Her expression became confused at that point. "So? Why are you sitting here alone, with that sad expression on your face?"

The young man hesitated for a moment, before sighing softly and taking a sip of tea. "...I just have a lot on my mind," he simply replied, choosing to remain vague.

Musashi nodded slowly. "I see. A shame. It's pretty sad to see one of my favorite things being so empty."

"Huh? Favorite things?" he repeated, confused. "What is exactly that you like here?"

"What I like? Of course, that would be pretty bo-o-oh! No! Swords! I mean swords!" she said, correcting herself immediately during that slip of her tongue with a sudden blush. The samurai coughed nervously, regaining her demeanor after a moment. "Seeing a sword wielder like me in such a depressed state, it is simply something I cannot ignore," she then explained in absolute seriousness.

Shirou blinked. Then, slowly, his lips curled into a small smile. "I see. Thank you. I appreciate your concern for me," he said sincerely, taking another sip of tea.

Musashi raised an eyebrow at that. "You won't tell me what ails you?" she asked confusedly.

He shook his head. "I've talked about it with too many people already," he replied briefly. "I don't want to obsess on this anymore. All I want is to relax and clear my mind for a while."

That sentence made her stiffen all of a sudden. "Hoho? You want to distract your mind from this, huh?" Musashi mused out loud, glancing at him with a sly grin. "Then, how about you come with me for a while? I can help you clear your mind, if you wish."

The red-haired boy watched her closely. "What do you mean?" he asked her, confused.

The woman's eyes sparkled with gaiety and complicity. "I know a place where Sabers like us can assemble and clear their minds from problems for a while," she explained in an amused voice. "If a distraction is what you're looking for, I can assure that you won't regret it. And the company isn't bad either, really."

Shirou looked at her with suspicion. "Is it something shady? Or indecent? Or extremely tiring?" he asked her, shivering at the thought of yesterday's training. Heavens, how he regretted that experience.

Musashi half-glared at him after those questions. "What? Of course not! What do you take me for? I'm a samurai! I would never suggest something dishonorable to another Saber!" she denied, looking absolutely serious. She then blinked in thought. "As for tiring, instead… not really? I mean, if you enjoy card games I don't think they should tire you."

The young man blinked in confusion. "Card games?"

The pink-haired girl nodded, smiling again. "Yep. They're really entertaining! We always get a lot of fun while playing there!" she explained happily. Her gaze moved to stare at him with a challenging look. "So? What do you say?"

Shirou hesitated for some moments, before breaking into a relieved sigh. If it was just card games, then there was no reason for him to refuse. He could really use a distracion for now. It was exactly what he was looking for, after all.

He smiled at the fellow Saber after a couple of seconds.

"I'm in."

---

Artoria couldn't hold back her smile at that scene.

Mordred was gaping at her, with a noticeable blush on her cheeks. As soon as she had finished explaining her plan to her, and after Mordred had listened in silence, the female knight had gradually begun to gape in wonder. Scratch that, she was literally stunned. She was looking at her father as if she had lost his mind, or as if she had just received one of the most shocking news ever. It was rare to see her so speechless. Mordred was famous for her strong temperament. Seeing her like this, utterly unable to say a word, was a very strange sight for Artoria.

The King of Knights stifled a chuckle while her 'son' tried to recover and assume a calmer expression. She still failed miserably. "R-Really?" Mordred asked, after a long moment of silence. Her eyes still sparkled with astonishment. "Father... are you really going to do this?"

Artoria merely nodded. "Yes, Mordred. I'm going to do it. I've made my decision," she replied, with a raised chin and a determinated expression.

"B-But... you're a King!" her son exclaimed in disbelief. "For you to do s-such a thing..." she shook her head, trying to grasp her resolve. "Just... how far are you willing to go in order to get that guy back with you?"

The ardor and dedication in her emerald eyes were indescribable as she answered. "I'll do anything in order to get him back. As long as he agrees with this and there's still a single shred of hope between us; I'll never give up on him."

Mordred was speechless. "...how?" she asked her. "How did he do this? What happened between you two in the past? What did he do to manage such resolve within you?" she questioned her slowly, sitting up on her father's bed, looking completely shocked.

Artoria smiled softly. "He saved me, Mordred. He is the one who made me accept my past, my sins, my mistakes. He gave me love and hope when I was broken, and he gave me another purpouse when all my life was immersed in horror and pain." Her smile widened at that point. "And it's also thanks to him if we can speak freely to each other now. I know you know this too, son."

The Knight of Treachery's gaze fell to the floor upon hearing this. "...Yeah," she admitted slowly, nodding to herself. "I just... You never once showed an ounce of emotion during your kingship. I didn't know you could be so... so b-bold and direct, Father. Especially for the sake of a love affair that happened in the past."

That made her wince. Artoria fought hard to keep the blush from her face after those blunt words. Just like her son before her, she failed miserably. "I-I-It's necessary," she hastly declared, trying to sound resolute and regal even when she was inwardly flushing. "I've already made up my mind when I first confronted him yesterday. I won't back down now. And besides, I already asked Jeanne to help me with this. She's currently practicing for tonight's show with Mozart and Marie Antoinette."

"To think that you would ever suggest such a thing…" Mordred grumbled under her breath, shaking her head in profound befuddlement. "He'd better fall in love with you again after this... or I swear I will kick his ass when he's asleep."

The blonde King chuckled. Typical of her son to try to be tough even in this situation. But then, after a couple of seconds, Artoria smiled sadly. "Mordred, whatever happens, we can't force him to love me. I want his choice to be free, and completely honest. I... I'm prepared for anything, now. After today, whatever his decision may be, I'll be ready. I will accept it without a complain," she said with resignation. Although she tried to be optimistic, as soon as she said those words, she couldn't help but let out on her voice all the nervousness and hesitation she felt inside. It was simply impossible for her to keep them hidden.

Mordred visibly hesitated after those words. She didn't like seeing her father so nervous. Not on this subject, at least. "Yeah, yeah... I know," she sighed at the end, trying to stop the same growing agitation inside her. "I'll root for you, Father. I did say it yesterday, didn't I? I'm sure you'll be able to conquer his heart again." Her face lit up in realization when she finished saying that. "Oh! I know! You can think of it as a battle! A simple duel of swords! He's nothing but another enemy that you merely need to take down with Excalibur!" she declared solemnly, grinning in attempt to lift her up.

Artoria blinked. Then, she burst into a series of amused giggles that lasted for a while. Honestly, this child was really something. To compare a date to a battle with swords... she couldn't believe it. And yet, in a way, she had managed to make her laugh with those words. She successfuly managed to cheer her up and help her get rid of the tension for a while.

The King of Knights smiled at her son. "Thank you, Mordred. Really," she said, looking at her child with all the sincerity and grace that she could muster. "I'm glad to have you back with me now. I really am."

Those words took effect immediately. Mordred visibly blushed, looking down and scratching her arm with an embarrassed expression. Her eyes darted in all directions except her father's face. Still, her delighted little smile was impossible to hide. "Y-Yeah, me too," she admitted slowly. And she wasn't lying. She was eternally grateful that she had finally been able to make peace with her father. Just a day ago, such a thing would have been unthinkable for Mordred. And yet now, thanks to the intervention of a mere boy with no memories and minuses, it had really happened. Shirou had managed to fix their broken situation within a single day, almost without any effort. And although she would never admit it out loud, Mordred was immensely grateful to her friend for what he had done. This result was something not even she would have expected to achieve before that day. Never.

And because of this, she was determined to not waste it for any reason. "F-Father… I'm sorry," Mordred said all of a sudden. The older woman looked at her in confusion after that sudden apology. "I… I know I'm not easy to handle, I know that I'm not the best Knight; and I'm fully aware of what I caused in the past, but… i-if you give me a chance, I promise that I'll try to be better from now on. For you, and for Shirou as well. I… I swear."

The female king looked at her son with wide eyes, stunned by her sudden apology. That was not what she expected. Mordred was not a person who apologized easily. Her noted pride and stubbornness often made her misunderstood in the eyes of many. And yet, right now, she was apologizing. She was apologizing with a tense face and a shameful look. Artoria couldn't resist that scene. She smiled fondly and walked beside her. Then, Artoria took Mordred's hands into hers, looking at her child's tense and embarrassed face with a look full of affection and dedication. "Don't apologize, Mordred. We both made a lot of mistakes during our lives, but now it doesn't matter anymore. Let's just start something new here. We were given a second chance, so let's make the most of it," she simply said, trying to reassure her.

Mordred nodded after a couple of seconds, smiling as well with a beaming expression. "All right, Father," she readly agreed.

It was just as father and son continued to look at each other with smiles full of relief that the others appeared. A small knock on the door was heard at that moment, followed by the voice of one of the Knights of the Round Table. "My liege, can we enter?" Bedivere's voice asked from the other side of the door.

Artoria shifted her gaze to the door, along with Mordred. "It's fine. You may come in," she replied calmly.

Bedivere entered soon after the permission was given, followed by Tristan, Lancelot and Gawain. The Knights bowed before their King, and greeted Mordred with little nods of the head. The Knight of Treachery returned the greeting hesitantly, still unsure of how to behave in that situation. It would take some time for her and the others to get used to this new situation. Even if Mordred had been accepted back into their ranks by their King, it was not simple for the others to accept that decision without batting an eye. It wasn't an immediate process, obviously.

But now it was not the time to think about this. There were other matters to turn their attention to.

Lancelot took a step forward, addressing the female King intent on fixing a nonexistent fold on her elegant blue dress. "My King, I apologize for the sudden intrusion but... we were a little worried," he began to say in a firm voice. "We just wanted to know if you are feeling well, and if you are ready for your date today," he asked respectfully, bowing his head.

Artoria smiled slightly at their worried faces. "I'm fine, Lancelot. There's no need to worry about me. But, thank you for your concern. Knowing that you guys are so dedicated to my well-being makes me happy, really," she said gratefully, looking at all of her Knights while she answered.

The Knights visibly relaxed at that answer. "Then, you've already made all the preparations for the date, my liege? Is eveything in place?" Bedivere asked, looking at her with a calm face.

The blonde-haired woman widened her smile in trepidation. "Yes. I've alredy planned everything. I just need to wait... and calm down a little," she added in the end with a sigh, putting a hand on her chest as she sighed in attempt to calm her hammering heart. The thought of her date with Shirou had made her restless – in a good way – ever since she woke up that morning. She simply couldn't help it. This would be their second date ever, as well as their first private reunion after a very long time. And although it has been her the one who proposed it, Artoria could not help but feel a little anxious about this, even now.

Tristan smiled, with his usual calm expression and his perpetually closed eyes. "That's good to hear."

"But... are you really sure about this, my King?" Gawain asked immediately afterwards. His eyes were tense and filled with worry as he voiced his doubts. "This boy, this Shirou... is he really worth of this? Is he worth the trouble?" he asked her seriously.

The effect was immediate. Artoria turned her head towards Gawain with a swift and scary motion, her eyes turning into a half-glare after his words. The blonde knight turned pale and swallowed nervously under the inquisitive gaze of his king. "...Gawain," the King of Knights began to say, her voice lower and harder than before. "Are you questioning my decision?"

Gawain gulped. "N-No, my liege. I'm just worried about your well-being," he replied truthfully, lowering his head in respect.

The woman calmed down slightly. "I see. Then I won't press on this matter further. But let's make one thing clear, for all of you…" her expression became firm as she watched all the knights with a determined and solemn gaze. Even Mordred hesitated under her sudden gaze. "I won't tolerate any hostility towards Shirou, no matter what happens after today. I am the one who decided to pursue him. And, more importantly, I am the one who decides whether he is worthy of my attention or not. And he is, in case you were wondering. He saved me, hepled me, and gave me hope and love when I needed them most. And, above all, I love him dearly, and that's enough for me. Please keep that in mind when you'll end up facing him. Always," she stressed on the last word, with absolute seriousness and determination. Her tone did not allow any questions about this.

Bedivere, Gawain and the others bowed their heads. "Understood. We will act accordingly," they all said in chorus.

Artoria relaxed, sighing softly. Her smile returned as she saw Mordred snicker at the tense faces of the other Knights. They did not expect such dedication for this matter from their king. Even now, it was a very strange thing for all of them. After all, it was not often thath they could see the usually cold and collected King Arthur so determined and devoted to the interest of a mere boy who managed to stole her heart in the past. It was simply too hard to accept so suddently.

"But apart from that, my lord... do you need assistance for your task?" Bedivere asked, faithful and supportive as usual. "Do you need us to guard you during the date?"

Tristan raised an eyebrow at that. Even Mordred blinked with confusion. "Wouldn't that be a little too intrusive?" the Archer asked.

Bedivere shrugged. "I didn't mean like that. We could still follow you from afar, my liege; only to ensure your safety. And the safety of the boy, of course," he explained slowly, looking at the blonde woman calmly and decisively as always.

But Artoria shook her head. "Thank you for the offer, Bedivere, but it won't be necessary. I want our date to be private, and natural. After all… there is a lot I wish to tell Shirou during our date, and I need to be alone with him in order to do that. Besides, as Irisviel said yesterday: I must do this on my own," she decided, clenching her fists. As she spoke, she nodded her head, more to herself than the others. It was as if she was trying to muster up her courage for her task.

The silver-haired knight nodded in understanding. "I see. Then we will simply wait for you and wish you the best of luck, my King," he conceded in the end, with a supportive smile. The other Knights also nodded after him. "When the time comes, me and Lancelot will personally go fetch the boy and bring him to you, as requested."

Artoria smiled, nodding in gratitude to her friend. "Thank you, Bedivere."

---

Though her days in Chaldea were often relaxed, there were certain circumstances where Altera was nervous. Caution filled her system, and she consciously made an effort to ensure she acted accordingly and properly. She made constant checks of herself to ensure nothing was going wrong, and that the cold, calculating side of her didn't come out again. It was obviously a form of paranoia from her part, but when her usual attitude threatened to damage the lovely life she'd created in this equally beautiful place called Chaldea, she'd remain obsessed with caution.

This was one of those occasional, but common, instances.

A spontaneous battle of cards, just before lunch, was waged at the table in the Gaming Club Room, but her guard was raised higher within herself. Altera's heart beat in her chest rapidly, not out of excitement for her rather good hand, but out of wariness for any potential slip. Her pulse was rampant, half from her nervousness and the other from her own paranoia. Her reputation wasn't the best, but she was determined to not make it worse. After all, you couldn't often see Altera – also known as Attila, but she hated being called that – getting along with other Servants and playing poker. Even still, she still managed to enjoy the card game before her.

"Hoho! My luck is shining through again," Okita muttered from her right, grinning to herself as she looked into her cards.

From her left, the white-haired Siegfried glanced at Musashi with a raised brow. "It seems that you were right. Caesar won't be coming to join us."

The pink-haired samurai shrugged. "Maybe he got delayed by Cleopatra. But I brought a good replacement," she replied, turning her head to the right with a smile.

As they laughed, Altera glanced around the table at the other Heroes. Among them, the newcomer was by far the most intriguing. Altera could tell right away. The famous Shirou Emiya sat across from her at the ends of the booth seats, with a tired frown that didn't match his cute face. He was looking at the cards in his hand with a defeated expression. Exasperated, even. His poker face was terrible, in all honesty; just as his luck. But Altera didn't mind too much. Even without luck, that man was almost unbearably handsome. Definetely her tipe, she mused. Wait, wha-?

Beside the newcomer, instead, Karna's expression was perfectly even as he looked at his cards. His vibrant red sherwani matched the new Saber's hair next to him, and he was the absolute cause of her mental vigilance. This was a poker contest for Saber-class Servants. She could accept Shirou's unexpected addition, given that he was a Saber as well, but why had that Lancer been so insistent on joining? Altera didn't know, but she could guess the reason. His rivalry with Siegfried was really irritating at times.

She glanced over to the stone-faced Siegfried, who placed a card down and drew another. "You concern me," Siegfried spoke, and his voice rang through the room until she noticed the small smirk aimed at Karna. "You've got that glint in your eye."

Shirou, Musashi and Okita glanced at Karna just as Altera did. They couldn't see anything in his stoic façade. Karna spoke with a tiny smile under their unanimous stares. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well, I'm feeling more confident about this round myself," Okita tried to intimidate, though it was hard for her to ever do so with her friendly smile and cute face.

"I think Altera has the ace up her sleeve though," Musashi pointed out as she glanced to her. It made her lips instinctively twitch, but she suppressed it.

She only gave a tiny shrug. "We'll see soon enough."

Siegfried then looked at Shirou with a smile that was both amused and compassionate. "Shirou, what about you?" he asked slowly.

The red-haired young man hesitated. His right eyebrow twitched for a split second. Then, he sighed heavily. It was clear to everyone that he had absolutely nothing in his hand. Again. "...I'm in," he muttered, making everyone smile in amusement. Poor fellow.

A robot floated over and delivered a drink for Siegfried, but everyone else still had theirs. Musashi glanced around with her cheerful smile. "Everyone ready?"

"I got nothing," Siegfried responded with a small smile as he casually dropped his hand to answer. The others took it as their cue and revealed their hands. Musashi had a single pair, and Shirou – obvioulsy – had nothing at all.

Altera glanced at Okita's hand, which held a three pair like hers. The girl with platinum blonde hair sighed. "And here I thought I could finally win a round."

"I believe Karna did again," Siegfried noted with a small chuckle as he looked at his friend's cards. Altera peered over, and nearly did a double take. Karna had a royal flush of hearts, but that wasn't what bewildered her.

"…Wasn't that your hand last round?" a surprised Shirou asked in her stead.

The young man scrunched his eyes in confusion as Siegfried laughed. Shirou's handsome face steeped in confusion was even more adorable for Altera, but she checked herself as the other Saber spoke. "I did warn you of his luck," Siegfried explained softly.

They had been playing for two hours, and the Lancer already won six times. And not only that, but all his winning hand were spectacular, and it was impossible for him to cheat since they changed dealers every round. Altera had never seen a sheer luck like that when her core group of friends played poker.

Musashi chuckled in disbelief. "If Chaldea runs low on funds, we should send you to a few casinos."

Okita grinned sarcastically. "Unlike a certain someone here whose luck is very bad," she added with amusement.

The others openly giggled at Shirou's defeated face. Even Altera couldn't hide her amused grin. The poor guy had never won a round since the start of the game. Neither had he ever had any interesting cards. His misfortune at poker was almost comical. Even Siegfired couldn't look at him without chuckling sympathetically.

But Karna looked at him with his usual calm expression. "Some say that those who have the worst fortune in pursuits of games and chances end up having a very bright fortune in the pursuit of romantic relationships. Lucky in games, unlucky in love," he quoted slowly, with an intrigued twinkle in his eye as he stared at him. "Isn't that the case, Shirou?"

Siegfried smiled. "He's not wrong. Now that I think about it, aren't you the one who was kissed by King Arthur in front of everyone two days ago, just after being summoned?" he asked ironically, smiling at him with a knowing gaze. "You work fast, Shirou. Even Karna couldn't match that skill, you know."

Okita laughed at Musashi's stunned gaze after those words. Her friend still didn't know about that. "Yeah, I heard that even Merlin was jealous of you!" she openly said, chuckling.

Shirou's face turned red as a tomato after those jokes, gluing his eyes on the table to avoid everyone's stares. Really, he wasn't even able to retort because of the embarrassment, making the others laugh even more. During that display, Altera glanced at him with a barely veiled pout, before crossing her arms together and looking away from his cute face. Damn. Why were all the handsome ones always taken? It was unfair. Her eyes blinked at that thought. Wait, wha-?

"What? I didn't know of this!" Musashi exclaimed, shocked. Her eyes were wide as plates as she stared into Shirou's red face. "You? And King Arthur? How is that possible?"

The young man's expression became uncertain under her inquisitive gaze, but luckily for him, before he could even say anything or explain the situation, someone came to his aid. "Come on, guys. Let's stop here. We're making him uncomfortable," Karna sighed, shaking his head at Musashi's incredulous face.

"He's right. It's none of our business, Musashi," Siegfried agreed with a nod.

Altera watched the pink-haired samurai relent with a pout while Shirou exhaled a sight of relief. Putting aside her disappointment at the missed opportunity, she then took her glass of water and quickly finished the drink. As she raised her hand to signal for a robot, she saw two people suddenly entering the room from the right. Two tall, muscular men wearing medieval armor and cloaks, with blank and serious gazes fixated on them. Her eyes narrowed as everyone turned to them in confusion.

"Sir Bedivere? Sir Lancelot?" Okita exclaimed in obvious astonishment. "What are you doing here?"

The two Knights smiled, approaching them with ease but keeping their eyes always glued on their objective: one of the men sitting at the table. Altera raised an eyebrow as she saw Shirou's expression grow more tense and nervous under their gaze. It didn't take long for the woman to understand how things stood. The Knights of the Round never joined the Gaming Club Room or the other recreational activities. Their Knightly Code of honor and their absolute loyalty to the King of Camelot required them to refrain from the 'mundane' activities such as poker or cards in general. Therefore, if they came here, it was for Shirou. There was no doubt about it.

Not everyone came to her conclusions, though. "Did you guys get lost on your way?" Musashi asked in obvious confusion.

Altera shivered when she noted Lancelot's eyes glancing at her face. "There are many places I may lose myself, lady Musashi, but Chaldea is not one of them," the Knight of the Lake responded gallantly while he was staring straight into her eyes. Altera inwardly flinched. Did he just infer getting lost in her eyes or something? She had to withhold a groan at that thought. Even though many in Chaldea had grown accustomed to it by now, some things – like the overly flirty Lancelot – were simply too much to accept. Especially for someone like her.

However, someone noticed the situation and went to her rescue immediately. Fortunately. "We're sorry for the sudden intrusion, but we are here for duty. Our King has requested Shirou's presence at once. We just came here to report this to him," Bedivere explained while tossing a quick, apologetic glance to Altera for his companion's actions.

For once, the woman decided not to get angry and accept the silent apology. And only because Shirou's tense face was becoming very intriguing to observe for her. Her eyes saw the red-haired young man rose from the table with a slow motion and a sigh after the explanation from the Knight. He looked almost resigned, for some reason. "I see. Thank you for letting me know this, Sir Bedivere, Sir Lancelot. I'll come right away," he replied with a nod.

The two knights nodded as well. "We shall accompany you to the King, then," Lancelot said, returning serious once again.

Shirou turned to the others with an apologetic smile. "I apologize, but as you can see I have a previously agreed appointment. I must excuse myself from the game, as fun as it was. I hope to play with you guys again, some other time," he said sincerely.

Siegfried smiled back at him. "It was a pleasure, Shirou. Feel free to come back whenever you want."

"Yeah. Just say the word, and I'll come fetch you right away!" Musashi declared as well, smiling at him in support. The others just gave him a nod and dismissed him with a wave of the hand.

Altera saw the young man smile for a few more seconds, before turning his attention to the two Knights. He then began to follow them towards the exit without a single word. Once they were gone, the woman mentally let out a disappointed sigh in her head. What a pity. Taken or not, that boy was simply too amusing to watch. And it was rare for a mere young man like him to arouse so much interest from her. But there was no need to think of such things now. It was too late, after all.

She blinked again after that thought. Again, wha-?

Immersed in her thoughts, she didn't notice when Okita gave her a knowing look from the side. "That was close for you, Altera. Lancelot seemed very interested in you... and in your eyes," she giggled sarcastically, her lips parting into a wide grin.

The woman merely scoffed. "As if something like that would ever interest me," she retorted casually, lifting her chin in superiority.

The mirth inside the room was renewed, and she once more found it difficult not to lose her cool in front of them. And as much as she hated to admit it, she had to stay calm and not get caught up in her irritation. Because her irritation usually ended up in bloodlust; and a violent reaction would have certainly ruined her efforts, as well as the friendships she had painstakingly built up here in Chaldea. Therefore, even if it was annoying and irritating, she would ignore what happened before with Lancelot and the amused looks of others to simply continue playing as usual. Altera would no longer let herself be dominated by her instincts like in the past. There was a threshold she dared not cross, if only to preserve how much ground she'd gained.

It was a sorrowful acknowledgement that she couldn't be perfectly normal, but she counted her blessings for the luxury she'd been granted.

---

Once again, Shirou felt his anxiety begin to bite his heart as he kept following the two Knights. The three of them walked along the corridors and halls in silence, with the two older men standing right in front of him as they marched resolutely and led him to to their destination. The silence in the air was definitely tense and heavy, even more than usual, so much so that the boy could hear his own thoughts resonating in his head like the words coming from a loudspeaker. And that did little to calm his growing apprehension.

However, there was something wrong in that situation. Shirou was sure of that. He could almost bet on it. It was in the way the two older men were becoming more stiff and hesitant, and in the way their steps were slowing down considerably as they advanced through the white halls of Chaldea. Shirou could be young, tense and without memories… but he was no fool. He knew what was going to happen right now.

Therefore, he was the first to break the ice.

"Whatever you want to say, I'm all ears," he offered among the silence. He could definitely see the knights tense and stiffen even further. Good. That reaction meant that he was right. "I hope I didn't do anything to offend you guys."

Both Bedivere and Lancelot stopped. Then, their heads turned slightly to face him with a solemn and indecisive movement. The young man raised an eyebrow at their hesitation. Bedivere looked uncertain and nervous, but Lancelot had a visibly irritated and stern face as he looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Not yet, but I pray you won't do it either," Lancelot replied in the end after a long moment of silence.

His cryptic response barely flinched Shirou, and the two Knights didn't know if that sat well with them or not. But Lancelot was going to push on either way, because there were answers he wanted.

"We're well aware of the dedication and the affection our King feels towards you... but this is not enough to allay our concern."

The boy nodded at his words, swallowing his hesitation. He could already guess what they were referring to, but even knowing that would not make him back down. Even if he wanted to, it was too late now. Therefore, he resigned himself before asking the fateful question. "What exactly are you worried about?" he questioned, sounding as serious and cold as before.

It was Bedivere the one who answered him. "We know your current condition is… unusual. And we're all well aware of the fact that it must be hard and painful for you to live without your memories," he began to say in a calmer, lower tone of voice than his taller companion. "But for this very same reason we can't help but worry about this. Our liege, our King, is deeply in love with you. After all that happened, we can't deny it anymore. And because of this… we merely wish and pray for you to not break her heart again," he stated, looking at him straight into the eyes.

Lancelot remained stern and silent during that speech. Shirou, on his part, sighed and closed his eyes with weariness. "You're concerned that I'll treat her harshly," he concluded. "You fear that I might hurt her in some way because of my memory loss."

"It needs not to be said. I do not want to see my liege fall from the heights she's climbed," Lancelot replied promptly. The declaration was absolute, and shared among both the knights. After the trials of their past and their own summoning here in Chaldea, they have witnessed an unfathomable bliss for their once stone-faced king. To think that she could show emotions and feel this readily when allowed… it was something they never hoped to see. Of course, it pained them greatly that they couldn't understand her in the past, just as she couldn't understand them as well; but now things were different. Now their King was happy. And none of them, neither Lancelot nor Bedivere, wanted to see the joy of their liege vanish again. They wanted to do everything to protect that joy with this second chance they were given.

Thus, they didn't hesitate. Bedivere and his fellow knights, especially Lancelot, knew extremely well what kind of destruction love and heartbreak could bring. That beautiful emotion was the most eternal rose, yet the thick thorns it grew never ceased to rip apart hands when yanked from their grasp. Lancelot had gone mad because of love, once. And Bedivere was beyond worried that something similar would happen again; and that this time it would be his King to one who would lose her beloved because of his 'unfortunate circumstances'.

And if fate damned this to happen, he would cut down the risk before his King could suffer even more.

"I have no intention of hurting your King."

Bedivere and Lancelot jumped physically. Their eyes blinked for several seconds, before focusing again on the face of the youth.

Shirou was looking at them with a mask of resolution and decision, his golden-brown eyes burning with sincerity as he spoke. "I have no intention of hurting her," he repeated. "Not after everything I've done to her. And more importantly, not after all the dedication and sincerity that she has showed to me. So, I can assure you guys on this. I will never hurt her, intentionally or not. I promise."

His quiet but firm statement halted the welling frustration, concern, and even fear inside of them. Bedivere and Lancelot stared into Shirou's eyes, looking for any indication of a lie. They even searched for the slightest quiver of his voice, and yet they found nothing. There wasn't even the slightest hitch of his breathing nor wavering of his presence. Fear, concern, and frustration were only felt within.

From the boy, instead, there was only a reassuring resolve. "I don't know if I'll be able to love her," he continued soon after, admitting that unspoken truth without hesitation. "But I promised that I'd try to get to know her and spend time with her. And I intend to keep my promise, whatever the cost. But regardless of what happens, regardless of whether I'll be able to reciprocate her feelings or not, I will do everything I can to not make her suffer. I already failed once during our first meeting, and I hurt her feelings. I'm not going to make the same mistake again."

Lancelot and Bedivere only remained silent as Shirou shook his head. "I don't know what the other me felt about her, but the current me chose to give it a try. I chose to dedicate myself to this task, in order to resolve this matter once and for all. I owe this. To me, to Mordred, and to your King. No… to Arturia," he declared, clenching his fists in decision, his gaze as hard as steel and his face as firm as the world.

Bedivere smiled slightly at his resolve. "In the end, that's all we can ask you," he agreed silently.

Shirou nodded to him with a solemn expression. "I will try my best. I promise," he swore.

In that moment, both Bedivere and Lancelot saw the true glimmer in his eyes that Arturia had often talked about. The glimmer of the ridiculously stubborn and idealistic young man she fell in love with. They saw a deeper glimpse past the forgetful boy, past the uncertain young man, and past the strong swordsman. A glimpse of truth, and decision, and sincerity. And when they saw this, their reason to doubt him almost completely evaporated as they finally confirmed the truth behind the unusual man before them.

He was exactly as their King had described him.

Bedivere nodded as Lancelot hummed. "…Very well. We'll place trust in your words as our King has. But should you truly do anything to bring her to sadness or despair, know that I will not stay my blade, nor will my fellow knights either," the Knight of the Lake declared with utmost seriousness.

But the young man merely smirked in acceptance. "Deal," was all he said.

Bedivere, Lancelot, and Shirou shared a nod. Then, immediately after that speech, the two Knights resumed their march and led the red-haired boy to their king's bedroom without wasting any more time. After all, as the saying goes: 'always be on time for a date'. They could't be late for this. Once they reached the door, the boy strengthened his resolve and tried to gather up his courage with deep breaths and a firm shake of his head.

He couldn't hesitate now. Not after all that he had decided and sworn before the Knights. He had to force his fears away and face this situation with his head held high. He promised it. There was no turning back now.

It was either swim, or drown.

Shirou watched Bedivere knock on the door with a growing sense of anxiety. He tried to lock it deep down into his heart, swallowing nervously as he felt his palms begin to sweat. "My King... we are back," the faithful Knight said out loud, smiling in anticipation. Beside him, Lancelot straightened up as well and glanced solemnly at the red-haired youth.

The soft, gentle voice of the King of Knights came after two seconds. "You may enter." was all she said.

Shirou gulped, feeling all the anxiety and hesitation from before coming back to him as soon as he heard her voice. Still, the door opened after a moment, revealing the imposing figure of Gawain standing just in front of the entrance. The blonde knight looked to the young man from head to toe, eyeing him with a stern and distrustful look. Shirou was almost tempted to say something sarcastic to his face, but the presence of the other Knights kept him from exaggerating.

"Gawain, it's ok. Let us through," Bedivere ordered firmly.

The taller man looked at the platinum-haired man, studying his face for several seconds, before nodding slowly with his head and stepping aside. Once the entrance was cleared, Bedivere motioned for Shirou to get inside before him, and the young man complied with a stiff nod of his head. He crossed the entrance, passing the tall and muscular figure of Gawain to his right, and entered the room with a growing sense of nervousness and the sound of his heart pounding furiously inside his chest.

The first thing he realized once inside was that Artoria's room was nothing short of elegant.

A large blue bed with white trim stood in the center of the room next to a blue nightstand. On the left wall, a large dark oak closet stood next to a large rectangular mirror. The wardrobe, unlike the other white plastic closets typical of the other rooms of the Caldea, was at least twice as large and decidedly more elegant. On the opposite wall, again, there were various pieces of furniture, mainly flat shelves filled with books, souvenirs, photos and even a plush toy in the shape of a lion. On the wall adjacent to the entrance, next to a series of blue leather armchairs, a mini-fridge was leaning against the wall; a gift from Irisviel and Emiya to store her favorite snacks. And again, a large display for her armor and her long blue cloak was positioned in front of the bed; both brightly illuminated by a lamp. On the wall behind the bed was a large painting depicting a green landscape with blue sky that instilled peace and serenity.

Then, on the outermost wall, the one to the right of the bed, a medium-sized window revealed the stormy, snowy landscape outside of Chaldea. Under the window there was also a round glass coffee table with a vase of white flowers and four small dark leather armchairs surrounding it. It was... a far more decorated and larger room than he expected. Shirou could admit it now. It was at least four times bigger than his own room, as well as much more welcoming and pleasing to the eye.

But it wasn't the magnificence of the room what left him speechless.

His eyes found her immediately. Artoria was there, in front of a the big mirror next to the closet, fixing her hair in her usual bun and observing her appearance with a shy and bashful gaze. Shirou's breath died in his throat as he saw her, leaving him speachless. The woman wasn't much different than usual, but her current dress wasn't the one she always wore. Her blue gown had been replaced by a more formal one, a dress made of dark blue fabric with golden trim and yellow buttons. Long, black stockings covered her legs, and at her feet she wore little dark boots that matched her clothes. She was, in the very definition of the term, beautiful. There was no other way to describe her right now.

Mordred was standing next to her, intent on observing carefully and with an astonished smile the look of her father. She seemed as impressed as he was by the King of Knights' new look, judging by her gaping mouth and her wide eyes. Further back, next to the coffee table under the window, Sir Tristan was leaning against one of the couches in silence, intent on observing the scene with a veiled smile and folded arms.

Silence reigned for several seconds once he entered the room. Then, one by one, everyone's eyes darted in his direction to watch him as he stood motionless.

Artoria's face lit up once she saw him. "Shirou," she greeted him softly, offering him a warm and affectionate smile. "I'm glad you're here. You look a lot better than yesterday."

The young man chuckled, feeling his legs become flimsy jelly in front of her beauty. "A-Ahah... thank you. Y-You look good too. N-No, not good... beautiful. Very, very beautiful," he complimented her with sincerity, his cheeks flushed and his hand moving to scratch his neck in embarrassment. He couldn't lie about her appearance. She was honestly breathtaking.

The girl blushed a little after the compliment, ignoring the approving looks of the others in the room. "Thank you. I just wanted to try something different for today," she said honestly, adjusting a nonexistent crease in her dress as she tried to calm down. "D-Do you like it?"

He nodded. "It's very nice. I'm just sorry I couldn't wear something to match you. I have no other clothes yet," he admitted nervously, pointing to his bare chest, white cloak and dark pants.

She shook her head. "Nonsense. I told you to come as you are. Do not worry about something like this, please," she reassured him, shaking her head and approaching him with a smile.

Shirou swallowed, desperately trying to stay calm in front of her. It was starting to become even harder than he thought. Seeing that woman approach him, seeing that smile on her face, and that look full of affection and dedication coming from those emerald eyes… it was painfully strange for him. Her mere face was generating a feeling of immense familiarity and nostalgia inside his heart. A feeling of affection, and desire, and so much more that he couldn't quite grasp yet due to his nervousness. But one thing was certain for him: it was too much to bear. Simply too much. He had to find a distraction to calm his troubled mind and his hammering heart, or he would surely implode because of this sense of anxiety and nostalgia.

His eyes flickered to Mordred. "B-By the way, I'm happy to see that the two of you can finally be near each other," he said quickly, trying to change the subject and distract his eyes and mind from the blonde king. "I knew you could make peace with her if you really tried, Mordred. I'm proud of you."

The Knight of Treachery blushed slightly, before breaking into a large grin. "Keh! Don't act all high and mighty, Shirou. You just took a gamble on this, admit it," she retorted with a boasful laugh. She came closer to the red-haired boy and patted his back... hard. The young man laughed at her usual boldness, wincing a little from the pain. Even Artoria and the other Knights couldn't help but chuckle at that scene. After a couple of seconds, Mordred looked at him with a shy smile. "But I suppose... I should thank you for all you've done," she finally admitted, looking down and muttering those words in a low voice.

Shirou merely shook his head at her antics, gently ruffling her hair with one hand and making her half-glare at him with his gesture.

"Indeed, I think I should thank you as well, Shirou," Artoria agreed after their little interaction, placing herself next to her son with a smile directed towards both of them. "I'm really grateful for what you've done with Mordred. You helped her and looked after her in my stead, and it was only thanks to you that we were able to reconcile. I have no words to express my gratitude for this," she enunciated with total sincerity, looking at him with her green eyes full of gratitude and love.

The red-haired young man looked away and coughed nervously. "It's fine. I simply wanted to help my friend. There's no need to thank me, as long as you promise to take care of her from now on."

"Hey! I'm not a kid!" Mordred protested loudly, causing everyone in the room to laugh at her embarrassed face.

Artoria nodded once she recovered from her giggling. "Of course. I won't repeat the same mistakes with her, I promise. You don't need to worry about this," she reassured him in utmost seriousness, ignoring the grumbling face of her son as she pouted towards the ground in shame and annoyance.

Shirou nodded as well. "Then I'm glad. I'm sure things will got smoothly for both of you from now on," he said with visible relief. His eyes flickered to look around the room in search of a new distraction. "You know, I thought-"

He didn't have time to finish that sentence. Artoria wrapped her right arm around his left one in a swift movement, suddently clinging to him without the slightest hesitation. Shirou's eyes widened out of proportion in shock and embarrassment, and his cheeks turned red immediately after. Even Mordred gasped out loud after him, along with the Knights. Her face was asblolutely flummoxed at her father's actions. It seemed that every time that Artoria was in Shirou's presence, she became more determined and bold than ever. And even if she already knew her father's plan for the date, the blonde knight was still unsure of what to think about her new resolve and the lenghts she was willing to go in order to bring Shirou back with her.

It seemed that her father was even more strange than she originally thought. She couldn't help but gape in wonder. "A-As expected of Father. Even her romance is out of this world…" she thought.

Artoria looked at her beloved's face with a seductive gaze. "Shall we go, now?" she gently urged him after a moment of hesitation, looking at him straight into the eyes.

Shirou stuttered, his face as red as a tomato. "A-A-As you w-wish," he finally managed to say, nodding with a trembling head.

As the two were moving to go out, the Knights roused themselves from astonishment and bowed respectfully towards them. "Then, we hope you have a pleasant date, my liege," Bedivere wished sincerely, flanked by his faithful companions who nodded with him in agreement.

"We entrust our King to you for this day, Shirou Emiya," Tristan told him directly, looking at him in all seriousness. "Please, make sure she is well guarded and treated accordingly."

The young man nodded, quickly rousing himself from the shock and calming his inner turmoil under the determined gazes of the knights. "Yes. I'll do my best," he promised seriously.

Artoria sighed at her knights antics. "Do not worry, my friends. I'll be fine. I'll come back tonight after our date. Instead, you're the ones who'd better not cause troubles while I'm gone," she warned them, looking at each and every one of them with a cold and blank look. Lancelot and Gawain, out of everyone, immediately nodded their heads under the inquisitive eyes of their king.

"Well, I guess I'm going back too, then. Master wants me to go on a mission in a half a hour," Mordred sighed after them, casting a supportive look at her father and wishing her good luck. Then, she looked at Shirou with a solemn look. "Enjoy the date. But don't you go eyeing Father too much, or I swear I'll kick your ass during our next spar," she declared with a sudden cold and menacing stare.

Shirou just giggled at her sudden behaviour. "Someone is a little jealous," he realized.

Then, having said that, without further ado, Artoria looked over at Shirou with a broad smile and urged him to move with a gentle nudge. The young man nodded silently, reinforcing his resolve once again and letting the woman guide him out of the room and to their next destination. A destination that, no matter how hard he tried to think, he still could not guess given to his only recent summoning in Chaldea. The two young Sabers walked side by side, arms joined together and their bodies close to each other. So close, in fact, that it was almost uncomfortable for the red-haired boy.

They walked for at least twenty seconds in total silence. Artoria was simply smiling with a beaming expression, while Shirou tried in vain to calm down and maintain his composure all the while. In the end however, after a couple of seconds of hesitation, the boy dared to make a question. "A-Artoria... can I ask you something?"

She squeezed his arm lightly, her eyes half-lidded in a very seductive way. "You can do a lot more than that," she replied.

Shirou laughed nervously, swallowing a little before asking. "Where is, exactly, that we're going?"

The woman smiled at him with an amused expression. "Just relax, and let me take the lead. But if you really want to know… we're going to a very special place, to begin with," she replied vaguely, with a seductive smile on her lips. "We'll start our date there. And I hope you like water."

Shirou blinked, confused by her statement. "Water?"

Artoria simply gave him a knowing smile.

---

After walking through two sets of newly installed, large air-sealed doors, Shirou began to have some doubts about their destination. He had no idea where that woman was leading him, but he let his doubts go without saying anything. At this point, he couldn't do anything but trust her and wait.

Upon walking through an expanded entrance, His eyes noticed that they were approaching some kind of anteroom that led to a large lighted corridor. A large metal sign had been built at the entrance to the corridor, painted in various bright colors and with a large writing in the center. The writing, in particular, read: TROPICAL HEAVEN. At the end of the corridor, moreover, a light shone brightly and constantly, indicating the proximity of the exit.

Shirou and Artoria walked through the big tunnel in silence, with the young man looking around in confusion and the woman smiling at him with amusement and trepidation. As they advanced, a peculiar and strangely familiar smell reached Shirou's nose, causing him to become even more confused.

The newfound, briny fragrance could not be mistaken for anything.

But it was only when Artoria, with a beaming expression and bright eyes, lead her beloved trough the wooden boardwalk that everything become clear to him.

Shirou's mouth was hinged open as he stared forward. His white cloak coat suddenly felt useless in the hot, sultry air that surrounded him. "W-What… is… this?" he gaped, completely flabbergasted.

His mind couldn't give him an answer as he gawked at the view, though Artoria only giggled as she held her arm locked with his. He could already feel the makeshift sunlight – coupled with his embarrassment – heating him up slightly.

"Welcome, my dear Shirou," the blonde king began to say, making the stunned young man turn to her. "To Tropical Heaven, Chaledea's greatest luxury," she declared, gesturing to the wide, immense expanse of sand, sea and blue sky in front of them. The red-haired boy only gaped at her even wider, but the girl giggled in amusement. She supposed his reaction was understandable. It was hard for anyone to think when first confronted with this revelation.

Clouds flew across a simulated sky, mimicking the trade winds that caressed the pair's face as the generated wind blew. While the bright, warm sun shined down to provide the real light, the young Saber could only stare in bewilderment at the sight of the cresting waves near the beautiful beach before his eyes. Sprinkled with a few palm trees and moveable, wooden beach chairs, Shirou had to resist the urge to disregard his concerns and ask for a drink.

The quaint, but thin, boardwalk they stood on stretched to the sides evenly, providing a boundary between newly built accommodations and the picturesque, white sand beach. Along its curved length, reminiscent of a waxing crescent moon, there were a scant few raised speakers for Chaldean announcements, or its own private notifications. Soft music that sang odes of an ocean paradise graced the air to combine with the gentle crashing of small waves by the shoreline. Trash cans, benches, and unlit tiki torches lined the railing of the Ipe-crafted walkway.

Palm trees clustered densely in a small forest at the far-left end of the boardwalk, coupled with shoreline rocks, a few plastic water slides, and illusionary mountains at the edge of this massive, dome-like space. Smaller cabana-styled structures made up few of it accommodations, while a large part of the space behind its boardwalk consisted of blooming hibiscus and other wild flowers. Coupled with a large, sparkling blue sea that seemed to stretch forever thanks to the illusion, it truly felt like a natural, ocean paradise.

To their right, even, the beach resembled more of a tiny Carribean resort. Cabana-styled, open-air structures filled most of its real estate space, with some room given to a lush, grassy stretch that was shaded by palm trees. Changing rooms, an outdoor refreshment stand, shaded cafeteria, and even a small pier at the far end entranced the viewer into believing they had left Chaldea completely. Unlike the fake mountains, a rocky outcrop with a visualized forest formed the right's boundary. Adjacent to it, sat a tiny pier with a few small boats from what they could see.

With everything present, the greatest feat was the sheer size. The makeshift dome creation, hidden in the center of Chaldea's large, supporting mountain, was roughly one and a half kilometers in diameter. Its height was considerably less at only one hundred and thirty meters. There was no doubt in Shirou's mind thet this unthinkable construction was larger than Chaldea itself, and it brought some serious questions that needed to be asked. He almost didn't want to ask them considering how much he was enjoying the cool breeze and the salty sea air.

Shirou blinked in amazement. "I-Is… Is this a dream? A Reality Marble?" he asked to the blonde girl next to him.

Artoria started to answer, but a voice interrupted her as soon as she opened her lips to speak.

"It's not a Reality Marble, Shirou. It's magic!"

The two of them turned to see Da Vinci, clad in a frilly red bikini with see-through waist sash, approaching them with a broad smile from the left. The woman was wearing a large hat on her head, and held a tall glass filled with orange liquid in her right hand. A juice, perhaps. Or, more likely, something alcoholic.

"Da Vinci? What are you doing here?" Artoria asked with evident confusion and a raised eyebrow directed to the italian genius.

The happily smiling inventor turned to her. "I'm on a break," she answered, shrugging a little and taking a sip from her glass. "Since Roman took a day off, I decided to do the same. And since no one comes here during lunch, I thought I'd enjoy some peace and warmth in solitude," the woman's lips curled into a mischievous smile directed at Artoria. "And I see I wasn't the only one who had this thought. You brought your boyfriend here hoping for some privacy too, huh?"

The female king blushed furiously at the accusation, lowering her head and stuttering with shame. She even started to emit a bit of smoke from her ears. Shirou couldn't help but chuckle after seeing her so flushed. Yep, she was definitely cute when she got embarrassed like this.

Da Vinci chuckled, before shaking her head with mirth. "Don't worry, I'm not going to interrupt you. But before I leave, at least let me explain to Shirou this marvel of the human mind!" she said with a cheerful glint in her eyes.

The boy looked at her carefully. "Was it you the one who created all of this?"

"Nope, it was a team effort!" Da Vinci laughed as she walked to the edge of the birch wood boardwalk, only to spread her arms wide under the bright blue faux sky. "We completed it about two months ago. Personally, I only conceived the project and made a few checks at its functions, but this space was entirely built thanks to prana and material and elemential essences. We merely doubled the size of a pre-existing caldera inside the mountain, but this cavity has been here the entire time."

"So this isn't some illusion by magecraft or a Reality Marble," Shirou muttered in wonder as he took a few more steps to the wooden railing. He braced himself against it as the wind blew his hair and cape. "But how did you make it?"

"Simple: we activated one of the lesser Grails collected in the Singularities," she answered flatly, nearly flooring the young Saber with that declaration. Artoria sighed at her blunt response.

The red-haired young man's face was a mask of disbelief. "Y-You used a Grail to make this? How?"

Da Vinci laughed as she glanced at his stunned face. "No, we didn't litterally activate it to make this. As I said, this was a team effort. I cautiously, and controllably, used a Grail to jump-start the many systems we have in place to keep this running separate from the rest of Chaldea. We now have a tropical paradise, linked to the leyline, and running off its own energy!" The woman's expression grew prouder at that point. "Besides, we needed a way to test using a lesser Grail, and thus, I proved my theory with this. Grails are only large source of mana we can harness when needed, but not even capable of performing acts themselves. We have a stockpile of them that are doing nothing productive, so I only sought to learn their qualities to harness their potential to fight Solomon."

Shirou blinked, before forming an astonished smile. "I see. But how did you bring the materials in?" he inquired soon after. "Sand can be transmuted, and I assume the water can be melted… but palm trees? How did you bring in coconuts and seeds?"

"I created a lot of bags of holding. They were instrumental in acquiring all the necessary materials," Da Vinci answered easily.

Shirou slowly nodded. "You said there were systems? Is there an upkeep to running this?" he pondered curiously.

"The massive leyline powers most of this: from Thomas Edison's wave generator, to Nitocris' makeshift sun, all the way down to Helena Blavatsky's wind system. The leyline takes care of all of it after the initial power surge to start everything at once," Da Vinci explained as a small gust of wind blew her hair wildly. "We planned to minimize its consumption since it has water filters, briny fragrance emitters, an illusionary bounded field… you understand the overall idea. It was a heavy cost, but now it can support itself after the required initial torrent."

The young man stared at the creation with an impressed gaze after that explanation. "This is amazing. I had no idea there was such a place here in Chaldea. Nobody even mentioned it to me, not even Master."

Da Vinci laughed heartily at his revelation. "Ritsuka probably kept it hidden from you because he wanted to bring you here personally and see your shocked expression with his own eyes. After all, you're the only one who didn't know about it until now. But then the mixup between you two happened... and he probably forgot," she explained, shrugging at the blushing faces of the young pair. The brilliant inventor smiled sadly at that mention. "Don't hold it against him, please."

"Of course not. I would never," Shirou reassured her, completely sincere.

Da Vinci nodded in satisfaction. Her smile became once again more mischievous at that point. "Well, having said that, I think I'd better leave you two alone," she then said with barely veiled irony, casting an amused and knowing look at the two Sabers. "I won't bother you anymore. Play nice, you two! There's nobody here yet, so enjoy the solitude!"

Both Shirou and Artoria blushed heavily after those words, completely embarrassed by the implications that the woman had asserted. Da Vinci quickly left with a wave of the hand, laughing loudly as she walked away without saying anything else. The two young Sabers remained in an embarrassed silence for some time after she left, unable to look into each other's eyes.

Finally, gathering all of her courage, Artoria regained her composure and coughed nervously with a hand on her lips. "S-Shirou... why don't we go change in the changing rooms?" she suggested with a shy smile. "With this heat, staying like this will only make us sweat. There are some unused swimsuits in the cabins down there. You can take one with no problems."

The young man nodded, swallowing his embarrassment with a nervous smile. "Yeah, let's do that," he readily agreed.

Without further ado, the young couple moved at once to go change in an embarrassed silence.

It didn't take long for either of them. Shirou came out from one of the cabins with a simple red swimming suit similar to casual shorts that reached his knees. Artoria, on the other hand, chose to wear a modest white bikini, along with a small transparent sweatshirt that covered her shoulders due to the sea breeze.

Once they got out of the changing rooms, they reunited with a shy smile on their faces, and it took several minutes for them to get used to the other's presence. Then, with a sweet smile, Artoria gently grabbed Shirou's arm and led him to a bar built under a large awning near the beach, where the two of them chose something to drink. Shirou instinctively moved to the empty counter, starting to prepare the drinks without batting an eye.

The female king looked at him with an impressed smile. "You can make drinks?" she asked him curiously.

The red-haired boy shrugged as he poured the liquid into their glasses. "I think so. I'm not sure, actually. It just feels natural, like something that I'm subconsciously able to do." His eyes blinked for a split second, before an amazed smile grew on his lips. "You know, I think I can even cook a little. For some reason... it just feels right to me."

Artoria grinned broadly, already starting to salivate at the mere thought of Shirou's dishes. "...I know. You actually cooked a lot of times when we met in the past. I... I really liked your food," she admitted softly, looking at him with a tender and nostalgic gaze.

Shirou widened his smile after hearing that. For the first time, he didn't feel uncomfortable after the woman's mention of his past. He simply assimilated the news with interest. "Really? Then, I guess I should try cooking some other time," he suggested, curious about his culinary skills.

"I'm looking forward to it!" she beamed.

Giggling to each other, Shirou gave her the drink she requested. The female king had chosen a simple iced juice, while the young man opted for a Mojito. With no memories and no idea of his previous tastes, he simply did the first thing that came to his mind, without thinking too much about it. Then, once they took their drinks, the pair went to the beach and sat down on some wooden beach chairs placed under the shade of a large umbrella; observing the calm water of the sea and listening to the sound of the wind and of the small waves reaching the shoreline.

They didn't talk much while they drank. Artoria just kept herself busy giving him some nervous glances from time to time, while Shirou remained completely silent in a futile attempt to keep his cool. After all, he couldn't help it. He was literally on a date with King Arthur, the King of Knights, who just happened to be an incredibly beautiful and attractive woman… at the beach. It was too much to bear, even for him. Anyone would have been nervous in his place. It was simply a normal reaction.

And this, of course, aside from the matter of their past relationship and his current memory loss.

So, what was he supposed to do now?

"…Shirou?"

The girl's voice startled him. He nearly choked on his Mojito when he turned to her. "Y-Yes?" he stuttered, coughing nervously with a strained face.

Artoria was giving him a sad, dejected smile as her eyes gazed to his face. "Are… Are you uncomfortable around me?" she finally asked, revealing her deepest fear after a moment of hesitation. Her voice was resigned and worried at the same time while she spoke with that dejected smile on her face.

Shirou hesitated for a couple of seconds. "I… don't know," he finally admitted, setting his glass on the sand. Unable to look at her face, he chose to glue his eyes to the ocean instead. "I guess I am, a little. But it's not because of you, really."

Her sad eyes widened slightly at that. "Why, then?"

He looked at the sea, smiling without any true joy. "Because I don't know what to do," he replied truthfully, choosing to be honest with her. And it was true. That was the one, true problem in his mind; the real reason for his uncertainty. He simply didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to think. How to react, how to assimilate, and how to respond to everything and everyone that was rounding around him. It wasn't only Artoria. It was everything. His memory loss, his forgotten past, his other self... the list was growing and growing by the second, just as his doubts and his fears. And this... this was what made him hesitate. It made him nervous. It scared him, even.

It was like being a river fish lost in the middle of the ocean, with no idea of the way home.

And this scared him beyond words.

Artoria's hand moved to rest on his arm. Shirou turned his head, only to see her sad smile pointed at him. "I'm sorry," she apologized, her eyes falling, visibly downcast. "Maybe... Maybe I should have given you more time before this. I acted brashly, just like the first time. You're still uncomfortable around me, and I didn't think about this. I-If you want, we can-"

"No, it's fine," he cut her off, gently. "I told you, it's not your fault. And besides, I wanted to spend time with you. I still want to spend time with you, actually. It was my choice to agree to this date. You don't have to apologize, please."

Her face lit up slightly after his words. "Really?"

"Really," he nodded, smiling at her.

Artoria blushed a little, daring a shy smile on her lips. "Then I'm glad," she said, looking at him with adoring eyes.

Shirou felt his heart flutter under her gaze. That exact, same feeling of longing and nostalgia from before came back to flood his mind once again. And, just like the previous times, he found himself unable to react under his weight.

Luckly for him, however, there was no need.

"Shirou... can I tell you about it?" Artoria asked him with a hopeful smile. Her emerald eyes were sparkling with love as she spoke those words to him. "Can I tell you about our past? About what we shared together in the war?"

The boy nodded, swallowing nervously as he tried to calm down. "I'd like that," he finally replied. "I'd like that a lot."

Artoria smiled at him. She took a deep breath.

And then, she told him their story.

---

Jeanne sang.

She sang with grace and elegance, following the rhythm of the music in an exemplary way and pronouncing the lyrics perfectly, without even making a single mistake during the entire performance. It was the third time she practiced this song, and now she had finally grasped the right way to perform it.

When the piano finally played the last notes, her ears could hear a faint clap from the right side of the room. "Enjoying yourself as much as we are, oui~?"

Marie Antoinette's voice shook the Saint out of her thoughts. As the french Queen giggled next to the sofa, Jeanne blushed and stared at her as several hands began clapping as well. Mozart had stopped playing the music to give her a standing ovation, which was joined soon after by Chevalier D'Eon and Charles-Henri Sanson from their own positions next to the pianist. She silently thanked the Lord that no one else had been there to witness to her practice, or her embarrassment may have multiplied. Still, Marie's amused grin proved to be capable enough of keeping her blushing.

"You're back early from lunch, Marie." Her attempts to deflect failed.

The french Queen hummed an affirmative sound before winking at her. "You know, if you were any louder you might have attracted Nero and Elizabeth to a sing-off."

"And Jeanne would have easily won," Sanson added with a chuckle. He begun working on decorations near Mozart's piano along with D'Eon.

Marie rolled her eyes. "Asking those two to sing here was the worst mistake I've made as the manager of this Salon…"

Jeanne chuckled with an amused shake of the head. "Come on guys, they're not that bad, really," she tried to defend them.

The four Servants gave her a blank stare, as if they were saying: Are you kidding me?

Then, Marie exhaled a slow breath. "But I digress, mon amie. Your voice is as lovely as ever, and I'm sure you'll do great tonight. It has been a while since you last performed here!" she exclaimed happily, with the other Servants suddenly turning to look at Jeanne once more. She internally recoiled, more out of nervousness than anything, but she held her ground with a smile. No matter how many times she already did this, the thought of having to sing in front of other people always frightened her a little, even now.

She never thought about performing in front of people during her first days here, let alone an entire room full of Heroic Spirits; but now it had almost become a pleasant hobby for her. Her voice was good – given what the others used to tell her – and she had an amazing talent for this. Not that she had ever known of this before coming to Chaldea, of course. She had just been a simple farm girl following her heart and the word of the Lord. Or, at least, that's what she used to be before becoming a Saint and a Heroic Spirit.

But things were different now. She did enjoy singing, especially after her time with Laeticia. The generous girl's repertoire also resided in her mind even now, and singing was a great way to honor her memory, in her opinion. Singing was a wonderful talent, and a hobby for some, so it became a solid step in creating something for herself here in Chaldea. There was also the idea that it could make others smile, especially her recent friends… so, Jeanne was proud of this choice, even if she hesitated a little at first.

But now, now she couldn't hesitate. It wasn't her first time singing here in the Salon, and it certainly wasn't going to be her last either. And more importantly, tonight was a special occasion. She couldn't afford to hesitate, nor to make a mistake; today less than ever.

She made a promise to Artoria, and she was going to keep it at any cost.

Mozart looked at the Maid of Orleans with a raised eyebrow as he tuned his piano. "By the way, my dear... why did you choose this song in particular?" the musician asked with obvious confusion. Even Marie and the others seemed intrigued by that question. "I didn't think you would be interested in this kind of songs. Don't you think it's a little too mushy for a simple performance?"

Jeanne smirked, shaking her head with a determined expression. "I'm not the one who picked this song for tonight," she replied truthfully.

Marie's face filled with an intrigued interest. "Ah bon? Is that so? Why do you want to sing it, then?" she asked with a barely restrained curiosity.

Jeanne smiled, putting a hand on her heart as she glanced to the entrance.

"I made a promise to a friend."

---

There was always something calm-inducing about watching the waves crashing against the shoreline. It was no wonder that a lot of people usually came to the beach to relax their minds and clear their heads. And in that moment, Shirou was certainly doing that very same thing as he sat by the shoreline, with the little waves of the ocean crashing against him. A sigh escaped his lips as he gazed at the illusionary horizon. A sigh that was simultaneously filled with both relief and uncertainty.

It was the tenth one he'd taken during the last five minutes.

What Artoria had told him a while ago still echoed in his mind even now. That woman's words, her recalling of the experiences they shared together in the past... had been a heavy pill to digest. Shirou couldn't deny it, as much as he hated to admit it. It had been a lot to assimilate in those last few hours.

Artoria had told him everything. Their fateful meeting during the Fifth Holy Grail War... the battles they fought together as Master and Servant... their growing bond and understanding during those two frenetic weeks... and more importantly, what they shared together at the end of their journey. Artoria had said it all. She didn't omit a thing, not even a single detail, during their previous conversation. She had even told him about her own past. Her life, the Sword in the stone, her rise to the throne, and her misguided concept of kingship that brought the end of her reign, her friends, and her allies.

And now that he knew everything that happened between the two of them, the young man didn't really know what to think about this whole mess.

It was strange, in a way. Weird, even. Once the truth about his past had been discovered, Shirou had expected to find some form of mental clarity. He had believed, he had been certain that once he would learn everything, then he could find the answer to all his doubts and his uncertainties. He had really believed it, he had really hoped for it.

But it didn't happen. In fact, it was the opposite.

Now that he knew of his origins and his past, he had even more questions than before. Countless were the doubts, the thoughts, and the uncertainties that still choked him with their grip. Questions like: what to do now? Should he really choose to deny his past? Should he ignore it and start from scratch, even with Artoria?... those questions still lingered inside of him, plaguing his mind, unable to disappear even now that the truth had been revealed. And those were just some of his doubts. A small fragment of it. It was literally impossible to list them all.

But, at least, there was a positive note to all of this. His past self, the former Shirou Emiya, had never been a bad person. He had never committed acts that were unbecoming of the current one, or that could cause him remorse. This, for him, was already a great source of relief.

Still, one thing was absolutely certain, though. His past self was an idiot. There was no way to deny this. Shirou was certain of it. That boy was a foolish and stubborn person, undoubtedly. Only an idiot could have sustained and uphold actions similar to those that the previous 'Shirou Emiya' had committed. His desire to constantly sacrifice himself for others... was both an hypocritical and noble thing. Shirou couldn't deny it now. Living with such a mentality was a self-destructive act, in every sense of the word. No one could ever live peacefully with himself without experiencing a minimum, even a small glimmer of selfishness and desire for personal happiness. This was indisputable, in his opinion.

Ant yet, even being an idiot, that foolish boy had still managed to win the heart of King Arthur. This was something he would have never expected to hear, even after learning the truth. Something that even now, in all honesty, he was struggling to understand. How was it possible? How could Artoria love a foolish boy like Shirou Emiya? What did that woman do wrong to fall in love with someone like him? Or rather, what did that boy do right to actually manage to make her fall for him? Even knowing the events of the past, Shirou could not understand this. After all, it was one thing to live end feel those experiences, but to hear them without remembering them in any way was a completely different thing. It was just too complicated to grasp right now.

The only answer he managed to give was this: Emiya Shirou and Artoria Pendragon were similar. The were both one and the same. They were two sides of the same coin.

A boy unable to think of his own personal gain, and a King forced to abandon her humanity for the benefit of the kingdom.

Was it this similarity between the two of them what attracted them to each other? Was it because of their ideals? Those ideals both so distant and at the same time so incredibly similar to one another? Was this the reason why they managed to fall in love in the past?

He didn't know. He couldn't tell.

And now, just as before, he still didn't know what to do.

Shirou Emiya let out his eleventh sigh.

"Sighing yet again. And here I thought you would have calmed down by now," spoke a soft, feminine voice that he knew all too well by now.

With a lazy chuckle, the young Saber turned around, his gaze falling upon the blonde girl approaching him from behind. Just like before, Artoria Pendragon was beautiful and collected, even now that she had revealed her past and the whole truth about their relationship. She was looking at him with a hopeful smile, moving to sit next to him on the shore and letting the waves caress her legs gently.

"Well, after hearing all of that, it's a bit too hard for me to stay calm and collected," the red-haired young man joked. For a brief moment, the King of Knights retained her normally calm demeanor, but then her stoic expression crumbled into a soft giggle. "I just needed some time to think about this. The news you gave me were... simply too much to digest."

Artoria nodded, looking at him with understanding. "I know, don't worry. I'm simply happy that I was finally able to tell you everything," she admitted, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

They were silent for a long, long time after those words. The young pair sat silently on the shore, listening to the sound of the ocean and letting the waves relax them for a while. After an indefinite amount of time, however, one of them couldn't keep silent anymore.

"Shirou... how are you feeling now?" Artoria asked him, glancing at his face with a worried expression.

He smiled a little. "Honestly, I'm overwhelmed," he admitted. His voice was calm and slow as he spoke. "What we shared... let's just say that it was very different from what I was expecting."

She couldn't help but agree on this. "And what do you think of it?" she inquired further.

Shirou stood up, taking a couple of steps into the water as the waves brushed up against his ankles. The girl followed him closely, unwilling to part from him without getting the answers she needed. The red-haired young man stopped when the water began to reach his torso before speaking again. "...I'm sorry, Artoria," he began to say slowly. The woman in question physically jumped and stared at him with wide eyes at those words. "It must be hard for you. To look at me, to know what we shared together; only to realize that I don't remember any of it... I'm sure that it must be painful for you. For that, I'm sorry," he sincerely apologized, looking down to the water with shame.

Artoria clenched her fists, gritting her teeth to hold a shaky breath that threatened to come out of her lips. "D-Don't apologize, please. I know it's not your fault. I... I'm just happy that I was able to reunite with you. I really am," she reassured him, with a sad smile and a gloomy expression. Even though she tried to hold it back, a hint of sadness was clearly audible in her voice despite her best efforts. It was simply impossible to hold it back.

Shirou widened his smile without any true emotion. "...you really are a strong woman," he mused with a hint of fondness, before his gaze became conflicted. "That just makes me even more ashamed."

"Don't be. Please," she trailed off, rubbing her arms slowly, as if a shiver ran through her body despite the heat of the sun. It was really strange for her to see him so hesitant, so downcast. It was a vision she wasn't used to see. And she didn't like it. She didn't like it at all. Shirou was always firm and confident. He had always been confident and bold in the past. Seeing him so sad and uncertain now… it hurt. It hurt more than she liked to admit.

And this was already a strange thing in itself. Usually, in her life, Artoria would have steeled herself away from any emotion. She would have buried every form of emotion, desire and whim deep inside her heart, leaving room only for a cold and icy mask of logic. It was something she constantly did during her time as a king. And yet, everything changed to her since meeting Shirou Emiya. He always had a way to bring down the walls around her heart. A way to bring out her forgotten humanity. And now, because of this, she didn't know what to do.

She knew she couldn't force him to love her. She knew that she had to work hard in order to get his attention again. She needed to take things slow, and yet, some inner part of her wanted more. Wanted to throw away any hesitation and jump on him at the first opportunity. But she knew she couldn't do it. Not yet, al least.

It seemed that she was indeed a greedy woman, under her stoic façade.

Shirou gazed at her with a smile full of sadness, shame and hopelessness all mixed together. "I don't deserve you, Artoria Pendragon."

When he said that, Artoria did something that Shirou didn't expect. Without saying a word, swift as the wind, she scooted closer to him. On instinct, the boy blushed madly and stuttered as she leaned against him, flustered by the sudden intimate act. Artoria could feel his heart beating faster by the second as she rested her head on his bare chest. That realization made her smile despite her inner embarrassment.

"W-W-Wha-?"

The red-haired young man watched her carefully as she closed her eyes and whispered softly. "Shh. Just hold me," she ordered.

At her command, Shirou nervously, tentatively, moved his arms to increase his hold on Artoria; an action which only made her snuggle closer to him. He gulped, feeling his embarrassment and confusion grow by the second. He wasn't used to see her so open, so bold like this. As far as Mordred told him before, this woman was supposed to be more reserved and distant, always acting as a noble knight above all else, with her face usually morphed into a mask of stoic and collected calm. She even confirmed this herself before, when she revealed her past. But this... this was the exact opposite of that. This Artoria was direct, bold, and seemingly uncaring of her actions. It was the proof of how far the old King had come. A testament of how she changed because of what they shared in the past. And the young boy didn't know if he was ready to explore this new side of her. He really didn't.

They both stayed like this for a minute before she spoke again. "Do you want to know what you told me once, all those years ago?" she asked him softly.

Shirou stared off into space as he listened to another memory that was his, and yet at the same time it wasn't. "W-What?"

She picked up a hint of conflict in his voice, but continued to talk regardless. "You told me that I didn't have to always be a king. That I should move on and not be afraid to seek happiness."

He gulped, but couldn't keep a nervous smile from forming on his lips. Yep, that's definetly something that he would say. He merely shook his head with mirth.

Artoria looked up at him, looking at his face with two green eyes full of determination and desire. "I'm a selfish woman, you know? In my previous life, I always lived trying to bury and cast aside my emotions and desires. But you... you managed to free my heart from that curse. You pulled me out of the throne, out of my role as King, and made me human. You made me a woman again. And because of that, I discovered a side of me that I didn't know I had. A possessive, greedy side that only you managed to touch before anyone else. And thanks to you... I found the peace and happiness that were always denied to me in life."

Shirou hesitated. Then, he laughed nervously. "W-Well, if I know me... I just wanted to see you smile. I-I like the way you smile, after all," he admitted slowly, looking away from her eyes.

The female king's smile widened as she giggled softly. But soon after, she let out a sigh. Artoria hardened her eyes, letting her pain and fear become apparent through her voice. And for some reason, hearing her sorrow nearly broke Shirou's heart. "I know. That's why I can't stand this," she told him, looking at him with a half-glare. "I can't stand hearing that you don't deserve me. It's a lie. You do deserve me. You're the only one who deserves me. You gave me love, joy, happiness and hope when I was broken; and if I'm here today, if I'm able to live my life without remorse now... it's only thanks of you."

The young man's eyes widened in shock and embarrassment after that confession.

"So, don't you ever say that again!" the girl ordered him, increasing her grip until her hold on his waist became slightly painful. "Don't you dare say that you don't deserve me ever again! If you do, I will hit you with Excalibur. Am I clear?"

Shirou gulped with a nervous smile. "Cristal..." he muttered instantly. "Now I see where Mordred got her temper from…" he mentally thought.

Nodding in satisfaction, the girl gently broke the embrace, pulling herself away from him. Yet, she took his hands into hers, smiling at him with a tender gaze. "I know you're still uncertain and confused about me. And I know it's still too soon for you to be able to understand your feelings... but know that I will always love you, Shirou," she declared once again, blushing slightly but keeping her head high during that declaration. "I will always be here for you. I promise."

He looked down into the water around them, his face a mask of doubts. "...how can you love me when I can't even remember you?" he asked back, ashamed. "How can we be certain that I will remain the same boy you met once? It's... It's too complicated, Artoria. You deserve better than an idiot without memories."

She shook her head, increasing her hold on his hands. "That's not for you to decide. Let me be the judge of that," she replied, smiling cheerfully. "Besides, this date is supposed to help us grow close to each other. There's no need to rush on this thoughts right now. And I know exactly what to do to help you clear your mind."

He blinked, completely confused by her statement. "Huh?"

Artoria said nothing more. Instead, a sly grin lit up her face as she suddently pushed the young man with her arms. Her stunt worked as Shirou was caught completely off guard by her action, his face one of shock as he found himself falling toward the water, losing his balance completely.

At least until he raised his right hand, instinctively grasping her left arm in his stupor.

"Wait, wha-" the King of Knights followed her beloved straight into the water, their combined splashes echoing through the air for several seconds. Then, after a moment, they both popped their heads out of the water, now completely soaked from head to toe and confused by what happened.

Artoria brushed some golden locks away from her face as her bun remained, albeit wet just like Shirou's red hair. His characteristic spikes were now stuck to his face as he glaced at her. The blonde king noted that he was looking at her with an ear-to-ear grin, telling her that he was in no way sorry for what he'd done.

"What goes around, comes around, your majesty," he grinned, his expression smug and amused at the same time.

Artoria pouted, glaring at him for a couple of seconds before breaking into a fit of giggles that the young man returned with his own laugh. The young pair shared a laugh for a while, dripping wet and shaking their heads, before starting to splash each other for no reason, grinning and staring into their eyes with fun and complicity. Then, they both started to swim towards the drift, competing to see who was faster between the two of them.

And just like that, they both forgot about the instability and uncertainty of their realtionship for a while.

---

Merlin felt his eyebrow twitch in irritation for the umpteenth time that day.

It all begun with a minor mission. Ritsuka wanted to go to on a farming spree, and according to the information they got from Roman, their destination had Lancer-class and Rider-class enemy monsters. So, Ritsuka picked one of his best Sabers and an Assassin to accompany him and Mashu, along with the lazy and irritating Caster who – according to the young Master – spent too much time doing nothing in his room. Merlin should have expected it. Spending too much time away from missions just to study or enjoy his peace couldn't last long. It was inevitable that they would call him back to action sooner or later.

But that wasn't the source of his irritation. The real problem was that he was chosen along with Mordred – the latter hadn't been too pleased either, but she opted to stay silent – and above all, that Fou had decided to tag along. This was pure injustice. That damned, cheeky rat was constantly glaring at him from Mashu's arms, boring holes on the back of his head and sending a chill down his spine. He really hated that fluffy, damned beast.

Merlin merely sighed in resignation. "Just give me a break..." he inwardly pleaded.

"You're distracting yourself again," he heard the Assassin's voice say a couple of meters behind him. Even without turning around, the wizard knew the man wasn't referring to him with those words.

Mordred glared at Henry Jekyll with a frown. "I am not," she protested.

"Yes you are. You're not complaining about the mission, nor have you made any sarcastic comments on your previous victory yet," the blonde-haired Servant insisted with a knowing smirk. "Be honest, you're still thinking about their date, aren't you?"

"Cut the crap, Doc. The pervy, old wizard is right here, in case your brilliant mind forgot. Don't remind him of that," she hissed, pointing at the Caster walking a few meters in front of them.

Merlin felt his lips twitch in a small, cold smile. Indeed, that foul-mouthed child was right. This was another reason for his current increasing irritation. The fact that Ritsuka had coincidentally called him on a mission on the very same day that Artoria and Shirou had their date was something he couldn't easily overlook. It couldn't be a mere coincidence now, could it? It was simply too obvious to ignore. And that didn't set right with him. At all.

His eyebrow twitched again. The Wizard of Flowers knew how things were. The current situation was a distraction plan. They did it on purpose, to prevent him from spying on his cute little Artoria during her date with that brat. Damn, he should have seen this coming. The young Master was getting smarter by the day. He wouldn't forgive him so easily.

"Something wrong, Merlin?" Ritsuka asked him, with his trademark ear-to-ear smile.

The wizard gave him a smirk that was anything but reassuring. "Oya? Pray tell, what do you mean, Ritsuka? Everything's fine, is it not?" he asked back, tightening his grip on his staff as he walked side by side with the young Master and Mashu.

Ritsuka grinned at that him, a trait not unusual from him, Merlin noted, but somehow it was filled with more satisfaction this time. "Come on, drop the facade," the black-haired boy chuckled. "We both know why you're here. Artoria personally asked me to keep you away from her today. And since you haven't deigned to go on a mission for months, I agreed to her request. You should have foreseen it."

He grumbled, feeling utterly betrayed by his statement. "How could you, Ritsuka? You, of all people? After all I've done for you!? It's unfair! Isn't anyone going to give humanity's saving grace a spectacular reward full of cheer and groping hugs by beautiful women!?" Merlin cried out dramatically. "All I wanted was to have a little fun, honest!"

Ritsuka sweat-dropped, along with Mashu. Fou glared at the wizard with barely suppressed irritation.

"Zip it, pervy old wizard! You would have spied on Father's date if Master didn't bring you along!" the Knight of Treachery accused, pointing a finger at him with a solemn movement.

Mashu looked at him with disappointment. "Merlin-san, it's not right to spy on other people," she simply said.

"You're all so naive. I was merely curious," the Caster replied, shrugging with indifference at their accusations. "While I am aware that dear, little Artoria would never show such pleasant emotions towards anyone, it puzzles me as to what makes that boy so special. He's the only exception that managed to break her walls and steal her heart. How do you expect me to not be curious about this?"

Jekyll gave him a blank stare. "This doesn't justify spying, you know?"

Merlin pouted, crossing his arms and lifting his chin in disappointment.

Ritsuka gave a stifled laugh. "My, you're really hopelessly strange for a wizard."

Anyone would almost have taken offense at the young Master's remark, but Merlin knew he couldn't. It was the truth, after all. He was an half-incubus. Playing with fire was in his nature. He couldn't help it, even if the mere humans could not understand his actions. It was simply his way of living, and there was nothing he could do to change his nature. Being mischievous was as natural for him as breathing air was for them.

The Wizard of Flowers lifted his chin with a smile. "That's too bad, anyway. I'm sure it would have been a great show to witness. I can still imagine Artoria doing all kind of perverted thing with tha-AHHHHHHHHH! YOU CHEEKY RAT!"

The others laughed heartily at that scene. Fou had abruptly leaped out of Mashu's arms, biting with neat precision Merlin's left hand as it kept its teeth clamped down on it as if it was a delicious sweet. The Caster tumbled backwards onto the ground and flailed his arm to get the beast to let go of him. Even with his best efforts, Fou held on just fine, and even threw in a few gnawing motions for good measure!

"Gnawing!? You're gnawing!? You wretched fluffy beast! Let me go!" Merlin complained as he flailed pathetically. Mordred's laugh could be heard loud and clear from behind him, joined by Ritsuka and Jekyll's giggles. As Mashu wiped her teary eyes, she moved to remove the little beast from his hand as Merlin floundered helplessly.

But the general mirth didn't last long. Once he recovered from the pain and all of them were summoned back to the Ray-Shift Room, Merlin immediately noticed the presence of a new Servant inside the room. As his eyes narrowed in surprise, Ritsuka, Mordred and the others also turned their heads towards the entrance in obvious confusion. They didn't expect that someone would wait for them after a minor mission like this.

"It's about time you returned," Iskandar greeted them without his usual trademark grin. The tall and muscular man's face was a mask of silent and collected tension as he glanced at the young Master in the middle of the group. His tense behaviour was completely different from his usual exuberant and cheerful attitude. "I have some news for you, Ritsuka boy."

The young Master narrowed his eyes. "King of Conquerors. What happened?" he asked him in all seriousness.

Iskandar crossed his arms solemnly. "We have a problem," was all he said.

The others raised an eyebrow at that. "A problem?" Mordred repeated.

Iskandar looked at her straight into the eyes.

"Gilgamesh."

---

The afternoon had unfolded in an unexpected, but pleasant way.

It was surprising af first. Shirou couldn't deny it now. This 'date' was unfolding in a quiet and calm way, without any sudden problems and interruptions... for now. There had been a bit of hesitation and uncertainty before – especially right after learning the truth about his past – but apart from that, everything returned to be incredibly calm and peaceful. Even his doubts had subsided slightly than before. He almost couldn't believe it.

His golden brown eyes glanced at the girl walking arm in arm with him. Artoria, now back in her formal dark blue dress, held a calm and sunny expression on her face as they walked out of Tropical Heaven. She was beaming, almost. She was smiling in a very visible way, with a tinge of pink coloring her cheeks as she held her right arm firmly locked into his left one. And after seeing that smile, once again, Shirou couldn't help but feel a warm, heartening sensation start to bloom inside his chest. A growing feeling of fondness, affection, and nostalgia. It was almost becoming unbearable at this point.

Shirou shook his head slightly. He couldn't go on like this. He knew he couldn't keep hesitating forever. He knew he had to decide something. He had to choose what to do. Doing nothing and hesitating like this… it simply wasn't right. It wasn't like him. For better or for worse, he had to make a decision and choose what to do with that woman so deeply in love with him.

He had to take a stand, in one way or another.

The young pair had just finished showering and dressing up again a couple of minutes ago, and was now headed to the large Casino that was located in the Underground Levels of Chaldea. Shirou was had been confused when she first suggested to go there, but Artoria had insisted. She said that she always wanted to visit that place, but that she never had the opportunity to go before due to various commitments or sudden impediments in her past. So, he had agreed to her request with a simple shrug. He didn't mind too much, as long as he wasn't the one playing. His luck was seriusly terrible at games.

As they walked along the white corridors and halls, Shirou kept glancing to Artoria's face, his mind full of thoughts and uncertainties. The words that Roman and Jekyll had said to him, just like Atalanta before them, kept echoing in his head over and over again.

The most important thing right now is for you to realize what you feel. What you – you, Shirou Emiya, the man without memories – feel about Artoria.

So, how do you feel about her?

He didn't know. If he had to be completely honest, he had no idea of what he felt towards her. He had no idea of what he was supposed to feel, actually. He knew of the growing feeling of affection and desire that lurched inside of him every time that he looked at her face… but was that enough? Was that feeling his real feeling? Could it be called real, at all? He had to find out if he wanted to move forward. He needed to learn about his feelings if he wished to properly answer to her hope. And he couldn't hesitate anymore, because in doing so, he could hurt both Artoria and himself.

And he had no intention of doing that.

Artoria led him though a large enclosed courtyard where on the main, central wall was a large double glass door framed with neon lights and completed with a red carpet on the floor. The double doors slid open automatically in front of them, and Shirou was immediately stunned by the grand and lavish interior of Chaldea's greatest Casino. The lobby was huge and seemingly modeled after a Roman temple or palace. The floor was made of pristine marble and granite and the walls were similarly constructed, but turned into incredibly detailed mosaics and frescoes about two feet up from the floor. Statues of humans and other humanoid creatures, constructed of many different materials, from stone and marble to what looked like solid gold, were set back into several alcoves and posed in many different positions. Some appeared grand and imperial, others were more classical in appearance, all on open display to any who wished to look at them. The ceiling was decorated in much the same way as the walls, and from it hung chandeliers of gold and crystal, casting a bright glow across the entire room.

Two sets of stairs sat at either side of the room, leading up to a veranda up above from which anyone might be able to oversee the entire lobby, and Shirou could spy a few Servants already up there dressed in elaborate suits and dresses, while holding glasses of various drinks in their hands. Set against the back wall was a long desk that appeared to be the reception, the entire thing being covered in gold and red, and a handful of receptionists sat behind the desk in uniforms colored to fit the theme. Finally, on either side of the desk were two turnstyles leading through to another room beyond, but even these seemed to have had money poured into them, the entire mechanism made of solid gold.

All in all this Casino showed off incredible wealth in its decorations and construction. Shirou would not be surprised to find out that this lobby alone was worth multiple millions. But casting a look around again, he found himself noticing something off about the entire place. Something about the sides of the room, where the stairs lead up to the higher floor.

He thought about it some more, and then cast his mind back momentarily to his first view of Tropical Heaven. And then it clicked. There was no way that a room this large and wide could actually fit into the facility. Chaldea was large, indeed, but here inside the whole place was practically ginormous. You could be able to fit an entire schoolyard just into this lobby, with some room to spare. There was no way this building could exist inside the structure.

"I see," he mused, smirking a little in understanding. Artoria turned to watch him with a smile. "I guess this is the same as Tropical Heaven. An illusionary place created with the mana of a lesser Grail and elemental essences. Am I right?"

The King of Knights nodded. "That's right. Da Vinci made this project right after that one, with the help of Nitocris and Ozymandias. It was completed just a week ago. I was curious about it, and that's why I asked you to accompany me here," she explained, looking around in wonder just like him.

He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow and a little smile. "That's strange. You don't strike me like the kind of person who would enjoy being in a place like this," he said, trying to be completely honest.

Artoria giggled, giving him a seductive and amused smile. "Is enjoyment not the point of a date? That's something you taught me before, you know. Back then, you insisted so much on taking me on a date, that in the end I couldn't help but accept. And to this day, I'm immensely grateful for that gesture of yours," she admitted softly, looking at him with adoration.

Shirou blushed instantly at her words. "O-Oh... I s-see," was all he could say, scratching his neck in total embarassment. Holy shit. Just how cheeky and bold must he have been in his previous life in order to force the legendary King Arthur on a date? He couldn't believe it.

The female king widened her smile. "Besides, if we don't get too carried on, the idea of being inside a Casino does not bother me too much. It can be an opportunity to test our luck against chance. Testing one's luck can be an interesting thing. Master Ritsuka told me this once."

"I suppose it's true," Shirou conceded with a laugh. "But don't expect too much from my luck. I played poker with some Servants this morning, and I couldn't get a single win throughout all the game..." he grumbled with a frown, cursing his E-Rank Luck.

"Oh, I'd say that you aren't giving yourself enough credit, Shirou," Artoria countered with a giggle. Her lips curled into a seductive smile while she pressed her shoulder on him, causing his body to tense at the intimate gesture. Artoria could see how her touch was making him flustered, but she didn't care. He was simply too adorable. And besides, now that she could finally be honest with herself, she would move forward without a second thought. She did say she wouldn't hold back, after all. "Some skills we are born with… but others we gain as we grow and experience new things. For example, I never had any hope in showing emotions or being true to myself in life; but now…" her gaze became more tender, and her fingers brushed over his arm with an affectionate gesture. "Now, thanks to a certain someone… I can finally be honest with myself, not to mention show my emotions in a way that I was not able to do in life. I have someone very special to thank for that, Shirou."

His face couldn't get any redder than that after her declaration. Shirou gulped audibly, stammering incoherently for several seconds as the blonde-haired woman chuckled at his embarrassment. The young man felt his heart flutter with a myriad of emotions, so strong and intense that they were overwhelming even for him. He was floored. Totally, completely and honestly floored by her actions and her dedication to him.

However, if he had to be honest... this feeling wasn't bad. It wasn't bad at all.

The young man took a deep breath to calm down and gave her an embarrassed smile. "T-Thank... you..." he managed to say in the end, visibly flustered under her earnest gaze.

Artoria widened her smile as she nudged him gently. "Come on. Let's try some games," she simply urged him, hiding her own blush and starting to pull him towards some slot machines on the right.

They played for a little bit, not bothering to check on the time that passed. They tried different games throughout the evening: from cards to roulette, from slot machines to craps, from pachinko to keno. They simply enjoyed themselves, with no qualms about trying different things, letting themselves be carried away by the moment and simply deciding to have fun to the fullest, but without exaggerating.

Artoria immediately proved to be quite gifted and lucky in games, managing to win a couple of times at different games and maintaing an overall good performance. Shirou, on the other hand... lets just say that even his faithful lover couldn't help but give him a look of pity and sympathy now. It was simply… too amusing to watch him lose so many times in a row. It was almost comically impossible.

His luck in games was really, really the worst.

After an indefinite amount of time, Artoria smiled at him, holding back a sympathetic laugh. "...you weren't lying about your luck," she finally admitted, scooting close to him as they got up from a card table. She even gave him a light stroke on his arm to try to console him.

Shirou merely sighed with a defeated expression. "Told you," was all he said, shaking his head. There was nothing he could do about this. Shirou Emiya and games would never get along with each other. It was simply not meant to be.

The King of Knights smiled more hesitantly. "I'm sorry. Maybe I should have suggested some other place for you. I didn't mean to make you depressed when I asked you to accompany me here. I just-"

"No, it's fine," he reassured her immediately, shaking his head and chuckling a little. Then, out of nowhere, he turned to her and gave her one of his rare, trademark Shirou's smiles: with eyes closed and head slightly tilted to the side. "I had a lot of fun. Seeing you being so happy and carefree made me more comfortable around you. It was... nice. Really nice. It made my heart skip a beat, actually."

And he wasn't lying. During these last few hours, the red-haired young man couldn't help but focus more on her and her smiles rather than the games. He had literally spent all this time studying her and silently observing her face, noticing every single detail on her face and her smiles. And if he had to be honest, he was really struck by the sheer elegance and kindness that woman carried on with her presence. It was almost too cute and beautiful to see. Now, maybe even more than before, he could really see why his former self fell in love with Artoria Pendragon during his youth.

That woman was breathtakingly gorgeous and pure.

He was starting to see it now. Those sweet and sincere smiles of hers, her honest dedication to him, her great sense of loyalty, her unwavering calm and even her keen judgment...they were all incredibly attractive qualities for him. Qualities that even his current self found attractive in a woman. There was no way to deny it. That woman was almost indescribably pure, close to a divine figure or an unreachable goddess. No man in his right state of mind could remain cold and impassive in front of her.

It was simply impossible. And he was only realizing this now.

Artoria blushed in front of his sincere smile. Then, once again, the blonde girl surprised him when she decided to clung on his chest and give him a second affectionate hug. Shirou blushed as well, trying to ignore the looks that the Servants and even some staff members were giving them from all over the Casino. The female king didn't seem to care, however.

"You really mean that?" she asked him with a tiny, shy voice filled with hope.

Even with the embarrassment, the boy's face softened a little. "Of course I do. I would never lie about something like this."

Artoria smiled in response. "I know. I'm so glad that I can be with you like this again." Then, she shifted inside his arms, resting her head against Shirou's chest as she continued. "I am truly happy that you're finally back here with me, Shirou. I... I love you," she finally said, buring her face into his chest with a red face.

Shirou flushed in embarrassment and shame, unable to respond to that direct statement because of his overwhelming emotions. However, little by little, he slowly returned the affection to her, wrapping his arms around the shorter girl with a gentle care. Although he seemed apparently calm on the outside, his mind was literally at war on the inside. He was filled with doubts, confusion, and incessant questions. So much so that he found himself questioning this growing feelings of longing that might not even be his.

And yet, even despite this, even despite the doubts and the questions that plagued his mind; he could not stop himself from saying what felt so right for him on that moment.

"I... I missed you, Saber."

Her reaction was immediate, just like his inner confusion and shock. Artoria perked up to him with wide, stunned eyes, looking as shocked as he was feeling on the inside. He was literally screaming inside his head. Why did he just say that? What was happening to him? Why did he just called her Saber again?

But he didn't have time to ponder those questions. On that moment, in fact, her lips parted into a smile that was more radiant that the sun, and her face began to inch closer to his in a slow and steady motion that she didn't seem willing to stop.

They remained like that, motionless and silent for an eternity. An eternity filled with hope, confusion and desire. Shirou couldn't do anything but swallow his nerves, his body stiff as stone and his eyes wide as plates as he watched Artoria's face get closer and closer to his own, until their noses nearly touched each other and her warm breath reached him right on the li-

GROOOAN!

Suddenly, a low growl came from Artoria's stomach without any warning, making both of them stiffen.

Shirou held back a laugh by biting his tongue, watching the girl's face turn into a bright red color as she stammered incoherently and lowered her head in shame. Her shoulders even began to tremble with embarrassment, just like the blonde ahoge on her head. The red-haired young man let out an amused breath at the scene.

"Someone's hungry," he joked, finding her flushed face almost too unbearably cute. "Well, I guess it's understandable. We did skip lunch today, and now it's already dinner time." He offered her a smile full of mirth and fondness. "Shall we go eat in the Dining Room, then?"

Artoria kept her gaze glued to the ground as she nodded slowly, her face still as red as a tomato. "O-Of course. Hunger is the enemy," she declared, stuttering a little. "But... can we go somewhere else to eat?"

He blinked in confusion. "Somewhere else?"

The blonde girl nodded again, trying to regain her composure with a fake cough. "Let's go to the Salon," she said, her voice filled with as much seriusness as she managed to muster. "I imagine you didn't see it yet, and so I thought that we could give it a try and eat there. I-I was planning to bring you there from the beginning, actually."

Shirou nodded in understanding after her explanation, giving her a smile. "Certainly. Lead the way then, your majesty," he joked lightly, offering an arm for her to hold with an amused expression. Artoria pouted a little at the fake courtesy, but she quickly found her smile again after a couple of seconds, locking her arm with his and beaming at his relaxed face.

The young pair walked out of the glass doors shortly after that, leaving the loud sounds of the Casino and heading towards the final destination of their date.

---

Artoria led him to the Salon with a face filled with trepidation, even more excited than usual. She looked almost anxious, even. Shirou immediately noticed the change in her attitude, and he remained utterly confused by that vision. However, just as he was about to ask her if she was fine, he suddently realized that they had arrived in front of a large wooden door that was at least four meters large, completely engraved with elegant writings and richly decorated with golden handles and hinges. Artoria opened it without hesitation, guiding him inside with a smile and a nod of the head.

Once inside, Shirou had to take another pause to fix his jaw once he saw the sight that greeted his eyes. To say this room was unlike the rest of Chaldea was a vast understatement. One would have thought, also thanks to the large wooden door that served as the entrance, that they had walked into a room in a palace which could easily hold hundreds of people.

Long, red curtains framed large windows that overlooked the snowy, mountain landscape of the surrounding range. Identically designed, red couches with glass coffee tables were positioned near the windows. There were large columns along the exterior of the room, that looked to be faced with faux marble. Between them hung large paintings of various origins.

Ornate, dark wood nursing chairs with red upholstery were placed in small groups with accompanying ottomans between the windows and the dining area. Booths with the same upholstery and mahogany color created rows that divided the lounging area from the dining section. The same chair designs were used for similarly designed tables between the section's booths. Judging by the number of seats and the open spacing, the room could seat several hundreds if more chairs were added.

Several giant, crystal chandeliers illuminated the room in a soft glow as they hung from the center, placed at interval with the columns. The red carpet that covered the floor was decorated with beautiful, golden designs. The far-left side of the room contained a small bar with a black marble counter. An adjacent door to the bar presumably led to a kitchen with a small hallway nearby leading to the equally luxurious bathrooms. Classical piano music played from a lavish Grand Piano in the center beneath an accompanying chandelier, creating a very sophisticated atmosphere. Anf finally, at the far end of the gigantic hall, a large empty stage was set up, complete with lights, spotlights and cameras to film any performances.

In all likelihood, this room was one of the results of the lesser Grails Da Vinci had previously told him about. Shirou was flummoxed by all this revelations. First the beach, then the Casino, and now this? Where the Logistics Division managed to get so much material was beyond his understanding, and he made a mental note to inquire about that later. He knew Chaldea had a stockpile of materials, but this room and all the others he visited before would have required much more. It was simply ridiculous!

"Hoho? So you're the esteemed guests Jeanne told me so much about," a new voice on their left suddently said, rousing Shirou from his astonishment.

The red-haired young man turned along with Artoria, and his eyes found a person, a Servant, approaching them with a large grin. It was a woman with long, pearly white hair that hung back in two long tails. Two bangs framed her face that held crystal blue eyes. She wore a red dress which exposed much of her porcelain-skinned arms. One of her legs was crossed behind the other, letting her red slippers line up perfectly.

The woman in question let out a giggle and swiftly bowed to the two young Sabers in greeting. "I did not expect that the King of Knights herself would come to dine in my Salon today of all days. Je suis très surprise!" she said in a ironic but cordial tone of voice.

Artoria smiled. "It's good to see you again, Marie," she greeted cordially as well.

The woman, Marie, nodded her head before turning her gaze to the young man that was confused and still partially amazed by the imposing hall. "And you must be the rumored Shirou, right? I'm Marie Antoinette, Rider-Class Servant, the most famous Queen that France ever birthed," she introduced herself, giving him another formal bow. "Enchanté."

Shirou nodded in acknowledgment. "Likewise. It's a pleasure," he greeted her in turn with a small bow of the head.

As the young man collected himself, Marie pranced a few steps ahead, and spun around giggling with her arms held wide. "Welcome to Salon De Marie! Well? What do you think?"

"It's spectacular, truly," Shirou breathed in awe. "It feels so... royal."

Artoria smirked at that. "About that, there are some rumors about her luxurious and bad spending habits… I guess there's a bit of truth in them, after all. Wouldn't you agree, Idol Queen?" she asked with obvious sarcasm.

Marie's face quickly mirrored the upholstery. "A-Artoria! How dare you!"

The blonde king shrugged off her indignation with a barely noticeable smile. Barely. "I was just kidding. No need to be so tense, Marie."

The Rider pouted a little, before sighing and regaining her composure. He glanced at Shirou, and then back at Artoria, while a growing realization lit up her eyes and face. "I see now... that's why she chose that song..."

Shirou tilted his head to the side with confusion. "Song?" he repeated, lost.

"Nothing! It's nothing!" Artoria cut him off quickly – very, very quickly – grabbing his hand and laughing nervously with an embarrassed expression. Shirou watched her with obvious confusion. She then turned her gaze to the grinning face of the queen of France. "Marie, can you show us our table? We are quite famished tonight."

"More like you're the one who's famished," Marie thought to herself, before widening her grin and nodding with enthusiasm. "Of course! Please follow me, esteemed guests!" she said cheerfully, starting to lead them towards the right side of the big Salon.

The young man blinked, but started to follow her along with Artoria as Marie marched towards the dining area. As they passed, several Servants seated at the tables scattered around the luxorious hall gave them a surprised look. Shirou recognized some that he had seen at his first dinner during the day he was summoned here in Chaldea, but most of them were unfamiliar faces. There weren't many people in the Salon, maybe a dozen or so, and this realization made him relax slightly. He didn't want to be at the center of attention once again. Also, it seemed that not many people usually came to eat here. Most of the Servants and staff members preferred to eat in the Dining Room, he mentally guessed.

Marie showed them to a table near the right wall, just under a large window with long, red curtains. The table was small compared to the others, obviously suitable for couples, covered with an elegant red tablecloth on top. The chairs were elegant themselves, made of refined wood with red cushions that made them more comfortable.

"There you go," Marie said, making them sit down with a wide smile. "The robot-waiters will soon come to bring your food. Later, there will also be a performance on our stage. I highly recommend you to watch it," she said, looking straight at Shirou's confused face with a sly grin as she said those words with an extravagant, strong emphasis. Artoria, for some reasons, was blushing madly during her speech, but the Rider ignored her. "You guys relax and enjoy the show. I hope you have fun!"

"Thank you, Marie," Shirou thanked her with a sincere smile, blissfully unaware of what she was implying.

The queen just grinned before walking away with a wave of her hand. "Merci mille fois. Enjoy the dinner!"

Once they were alone, the young pair remained seated in a comfortable silence for some time. Shirou watched the blonde girl in front of him with a confused smile as he tried to relax and stay calm; and Artoria was similary trying to regain her composure and get rid of the blush on her face. Despite her best efforts, however, she couldn't stop a tinge of pink from remaining glued on her cheeks. She mentally sighed a little. Curses.

"Are you ok?" Shirou asked her, tilting his head to the side.

Artoria nodded, offering him a bashful smile while she was inwardly flushing. "Y-Yes, don't worry. I'm fine, really," she reassured, trying to calm down with a deep breath.

Their dishes arrived soon after that quick exchange. Dinner was mostly quiet, mainly because the food was incredibly good. The young pair exchanged a few words during the meal, but for most of the time, Shirou simply opted to watch Artoria while she ate her food, finishing each dish one after another, with a delighted expression on her face. And when he saw that expression, that smile, that look so familiar and nostalgic on her face... he couldn't help but smile a little with a sense of fondness, even if he didn't know why. It was a vision that reminded him of fond feelings and a dulled, omnipresent warmth.

The feeling of longing and affection inside his chest was growing by the second. The young man could not deny it anymore. It grew, and grew and grew, until Shirou couldn't help but begin to feel more and more attracted and intrigued by that woman in front of him. Even his mind, despite being full of doubts even now, was starting to melt gradually as he watched Artoria's face. And the more time passed, the more he observed her, the more this realization crept into him, leaving him both confused and surprised at the same time.

Because now, at this point, Shirou couldn't deny that he was attracted to her anymore.

But still...

"Shirou… is something wrong?"

Her voice suddently roused him from his thoughts. The boy blushed, flushing inwardly at the realization that he had been caught staring at her like a creep.

Artoria didn't seem to mind, however. She looked worried, if anything. "You've been staring at my face with a strange look for a while, now. Are you ok?" she asked again, both her hunger and the food on her plate completely forgotten. This fact in itself was enough to prove the enormous concern and care she was feeling for him in that moment.

Shirou hesitated for a couple of seconds. Then, slowly, a tired sigh escaped his lips. "I'm fine," he said, shaking his head in resignation. His lips curled into a sad smile as he saw the growing concern inside her eyes. "Sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I just... I was lost in thoughts. There's... something that is bothering me from a while, now. Something that I wanted to ask you since the very beginning, actually."

The King of Knights put down her cutlery instantly. "What is it?" she asked, now having her full attention.

The red-haired young man hesitated again. Then, he took a deep breath and looked into her eyes before asking that fateful question. "What do you see when you look at me?"

Artoria blinked in confusion.

"What do you see in me?" he continued to say, his voice hoarse and slow; as if saying those words was hurting him in an unspeakable manner. "Do you see me? The real, current me? Or are you only searching for my past self? Do you really see the boy you loved inside me, or something else? I just… what do you see?" he asked, looking and sounding completely lost and uncertain on this. And he was lost. He was uncertain. Because this question, this doubt… it was everything. It was the key to everything.

This was it. This was the main doubt that plagued his mind. This was the real reason for his hesitation. This was the one, true, main doubt that gripped his confused mind and that still prevented him from acting and taking a stand. The same doubt, the same question that had settled inside of his soul since the very first day he met Artoria. And now, now he needed it answered. He needed to know. He had to know. He had to know if she was only looking for the boy he once was or if she was interested in the current, present Shirou Emiya. He couldn't go on with this question unanswered. He simply couldn't.

He had to know the truth behind her actions.

The blonde king remained silent for a long, long time after he spoke those words. She seemed surprised by his question, and she had to take several moments to think before making a reply. And when she did, her voice sounded firm, sincere, and tender as it always had been when she spoke to him during the date.

"I see a brave, strong young man. A young man filled with fear, uncertainties, and doubts. Someone who's desperately trying to stay strong, just like me, because he is afraid of falling apart," she said. Her lips formed a little smile filled with love at that point. "And I also see that same, foolish boy I met in the past. I see his heroism, his courage, his stubborness inside you; along with his kindness, his strength, and his weakness. Basically, when I look at you, Shirou… I see someone I love with all my heart."

This time, his reply was immediate.

"But do you see me?" he asked. "Do you see Shirou Emiya, the one without memories? The one who forgot about you, hurt you, and trampled your feelings as if they were nothing?"

She fell silent, staring for a while. Her face was a mask of calm and fear mixed together as she gazed at his crumbling face.

Shirou shook his head, looking more conflicted and hurt than ever. "I just… I don't know what to do, Artoria," he admitted in a quiet, broken voice. His usual calm voice was gone as he spoke, replaced by all the fears and all the doubts that threathened to tear him apart from inside. "I don't know what I'm supposed to feel about you. When I look at you, I feel a mixed conflict of emotions… but I don't know if it's really me the one feeling those emotions. I don't know if I really feel that way towards you. Fuck, I don't even know if the current me and my previous self are the same damned person," he spat in a broken voice, clenching his fists on the table. His golden brown eyes were filled with unshed tears and confusion as he looked at her face once again. "I-I don't know if I'll be able to meet your expectations."

"Who ever said that I'm expecting something from you?" Artoria cut him off suddently, sounding almost stern for some reason.

He simply chuckled without any real joy, mirthless. "My mistake. But the main point is this, King of Knights," he replied evenly, looking down with shame and sadness. "Is it really me the one you're chasing? Or is it just the past Shirou Emiya that's hidden within me? Please, I beg you… answer me honestly."

Artoria shook her head. She didn't even hesitate for a second when she spoke. "You really are dense, are you?" she mused with a sigh, before smling softly. "Shirou, the one I'm chasing right now… is you."

He swallowed. "I-I don't understand."

"Do you really think that I could mistake you for another person?" she asked him back immediatly, resting her elbows on the table and putting her hands under her chin as she looked at him with both affection and mirth. "The one I love is you, Shirou. The current you, and the past you. The young man who forgot about me, and the one who fell in love with me. The one I met two days ago, and the one I met years ago. All of you. There's no distinction, no difference between Emiya Shirou and Emiya Shirou. The both of you are one and the same, albeit completely separated. But I love you all the same, Shirou. I love you more than anything. That's all that matters to me."

Shirou narrowed his eyes. "But… how do you know that? How do you know that we're the same?" he inquired further.

"I can feel it," she easily answered. "I can see it. I can sense it even now. When I look at you, when I talk to you, when I touch you… it becomes suddently clear to me. It's all the same. You are Shirou Emiya, and I love you," she declared, as if it was obvious.

He felt his heart began to beat more painfully inside his chest. "A-And what if I end up becoming a completely different person?" he continued to ask, almost with a challenging tone. "What if I become a Shirou that doesn't match your tastes?"

Artoria smirked. "I would love you all the same," she retorted once again, making him almost gape at her. The female king leaned over the small table with her bust, bringing her face close to his. "You're misundertanding something, my dear. It's not a matter of what you will become. It's a matter of who you are."

"So you will love any Shirou Emiya simply because he is bound to you," he replied sarcastically. His face became filled with anger at that thought, and his lips curled into a smile of disdain. "You love that Archer too, then? He's also Shirou Emiya, you know. What's the difference between us, then?"

Despite his reaction, her smile widened even more, leaving him speachless. "Nope. He's not you," she replied once again, as if it was obvious, her emerald eyes always glued to his. "Do you know why? Because he, unlike you, didn't free me from my ideals. He didn't save me when I was dying. He didn't chase me when I was running. The Artoria Pendragon he met was not me… because she couldn't let herself become human like I chose to become."

"How?" he insisted, still unable to comprehend. "How can you say this? How can you be so sure that me and Archer are different, but me and my past self are the same?"

Artoria cupped his cheek, looking at him with her unwavering smile. "I told you. I can feel it."

Shirou was speechless. "H-How?" he demanded.

The blonde didn't answer him this time. Instead, just like before, she surprised him with her next actions.

Artoria scooted her chair close to his own, literally moving next to him on the other side of the small table. Shirou stiffened instantly at her gesture, swallowing nervously as he saw her body become closer and closer, his heart hammering madly inside of him. Then, the woman took his right hand, placing it on her own chest with a gentle movement, right above her heart.

Shirou's mind exploded with emotions and embarrassment.

Despite the blush on her face, she shot him a challenging glare. "W-What do you feel?" she asked him, her voice firm even when she stuttered a little. Her face and neck glowed crimson.

He blanched, utterly overwhelmed by panic. "I-I-I feel nothing!" he instinctively exclaimed, trying to pull his hand away.

"Stop lying, you unbelievable jerk!"

Shirou's mind shut off. He gaped at her, unable to utter a word after that sudden scolding on her part.

Artoria was watching him with an angry snarl. Seeing her like this, he almost expected to be slapped by her. And yet, she didn't slap, yell or hit him.

But she did climb into his lap.

Shirou gulped, his cheeks burning. "W-What are you-"

Artoria Pendragon threw his hands off and cupped his cheeks. Sad, angry tears welled in her eyes.

"I know it's hard, I know you're still unable to admit it, but you'll take me for a fool no longer!" she declared, her voice firm and filled with certainty. "You think I don't see your hints? That I'm not paying attention when you gaze at me, look at me, and make that devastated look filled with longing and desire? You think I'm not aware of the way your eyes fill with nostalgia every time our gazes meet? Stop being dense and admit it now!"

He gaped, utterly stunned by her accusation. How did she kne-

"I realized it since the very beginning!" she continued to say, as if she was reading his mind. Her voice was getting louder and louder as she spoke. "You stubborn idiot, the instant I first saw your eyes my soul screamed at me! The very first moment I saw your face my heart cried out the truth! We know each other, you know me, even if you don't remember! Even if your memories are gone, the feelings didn't disappear! You still feel what I feel, but you're simply too afraid to admit it!"

Her reaction floored him. Shirou couldn't believe it. He couldn't say anything, couldn't do anything, couldn't think anything.

Because, deep inside his heart, he knew that she was telling the truth.

He knew. He didn't know why, but he knew. It was true. All this time, all these days, he had been feeling those emotions. Longing, affection, desire, nostalgia… they were all there, inside his mind. Constantly, perpetually, eternally. No matter how hard he tried to ignore them, no matter how deep he tried to bury them, those emotions were still there, embedded inside his mind and soul. And Artoria knew this. She had always known this.

And she was unwilling to let him fool himself again.

In that moment, in Shirou's eyes, she was no longer Artoria Pendragon. A King without emotions? What a joke. No, right now, she was no longer a King. She was no longer a Knight. She was no longer a source of uncertainties and doubts.

She was a human. She was a woman. A woman in love with him.

A woman that was far too human to be a King.

Artoria looked at him with eyes filled with tears and longing and love. "Stop pretending to be another person. Stop behaving like a stranger you clearly are not. You are Shirou Emiya. You are my Sheath, my Scabbard. The very fact that you feel these emotions is proof that I'm right."

The red-haired young man swallowed, his eyes starting to sting for some reason. "E-Even if that's true… h-how can you be certain that I'll be able to-"

"You called me Saber," she cut him off instantly, making him gasp with stupor and shock. "You called me Saber twice! That's how I know. Stop filling your mind with doubts that you have no reason to feel."

Her hands pulled his face closer and closer, until their noses touched and their foreheads rested on each other. Shirou widened his eyes in front of Artoria's blushing face.

"You are my Shirou, and I love you," she said once again, smiling in adoration and love even when her tears started to fall from her eyes. "No matter what happens, no matter what you will become, and no matter how long I have to wait for you to understand your feelings... I will be here. I will wait. And I will always love you. Always. Do you finally get it, my dear, dense Scabbard?"

Shirou gaped, flabbergasted and flummoxed; completely and utterly unable to reply after that bold, direct and straight declaration of love she had just given him. Saying that he was stunned, or shocked, or even overwhelmed would have been a big – no – a gigantic understatement. He… He was… He simply was….

There were no words to describe what he was feeling right now.

The room fell into silence.

Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

The whole room was watching them by now. Both Shirou and Artoria knew this. They knew, in the back of their minds. The faces of all the presents were stunned, shocked; their eyes focused only and solely on them while they both remained entangled; with Artoria sitting on Shirou's lap and their faces connected to each other. They could pratically feel the eyes of every Servant in the room boring holes through their bodies with shock and disbelief. But they didn't care.

All that mattered was that they were together, once again. All the rest was inconsequential.

That was when the music started to play.

Shirou and Artoria blinked, rousing themselves from their own little world and turning their heads to gaze at the large, lavish Grand Piano at the center of the room, where Mozart was beginning to play some music with flawless skill and precision. Along with the two Sabers, all the other Servants did the same, while the lights in the Salon became more subdued all of a sudden, until only the large stage at the back of the room remained filled with lights. There, dressed in a pure white dress that was both enchanting and modest, Jeanne d'Arc appeared before everyone's eyes, holding a microphone in her hand and bowing to the small crowd before starting to speak with her soft, gentle voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Servants of all ages and fame… I will now perform a song for you. A song that one of my dearest friends had explicitly requested to me for tonight," her eyes glanced at the table where Shirou and Artoria were sitting, holding an amused smile filled with support and joy. "The song is called… A Thousand Years. I hope you'll like it."

Mozart's fingers began their waltz across the piano, playing with grace and flawless mastery. A few audience members' eyes widened in eager anticipation at the recognizable notes, while many others remained clueless. Shirou observed the scene with wide, stunned eyes, so shocked by what was happening around him that he didn't even realize when Artoria pulled off from his lap with a gentle movement, her face a mask of emotion and trepidation as she moved to sit next to him in her own chair.

Jeanne waited for the cue before breathing gently so the microphone wouldn't pick it up. She slowly opened her eyes and let her heart grant flight to her voice.

- Heart beats fast -
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?

"T-This is…" Shirou stuttered, still to shocked to be able to form a coherent sentence. He turned to Artoria, looking at her smiling face with obvious disbelief and realization. "The song Marie spoke of! Y-You? You're the one who requested this?" he asked her, his voice dense with emotion.

Artoria nodded, looking at him straght into the eyes. "Yes," she replied honestly. "Yes, I am."

But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

He widened his eyes, looking absolutely floored. "…w-why?" he breathed, completely at loss of words.

The King of Knights stared at him without hesitation, grabbing his hands with her own. "It was the best way to convey my feelings for you. Now listen," she ordered, inwardly smiling at his stunned face. "Because each and every word of this song… is my own testament to our love; as well as my dedication to you."

One step closer

The young boy gaped, his whole body trembling with emotions that were too thick and overwhelming to be described.

And still, the Saint continued to sing.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

The crowd was completely stunned. As Jeanne continued to sing, it was clear that the audience was already captured by her voice. Mozart, while he was playing the piano, smirked as he noted the Saint's confident performance. D'Eon was smiling in amazement as he – or she, it was hard to tell the gender – shined a wine glass. Beside him, Sanson wore a more noticeable smile than he would usually show. Even Marie, sitting in perfect regal form on a stool, was wiping a small speckle of a tear from one eye.

But Shirou… Shirou was speechless.

He remained seated, motionless, with his mouth gaping and arms trembling in shock and emotion, enjoying the sound of Jeanne's voice resonating through the room. He noted the inspired and captivated eyes of the crowd as Mozart's fingers danced with the Saint's voice, and was absolutely floored.

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me

It was a fitting song for the young pair of Sabers. Shirou couldn't deny it.

There were no words to describe it. It was as if the whole song, with all its lyrics, with every single word of its text, was addressed to him and Artoria. As if the song Artoria chose for him was an exact and accurate description of their situation and – more importantly – of their feelings.

And when he realized this, he couldn't suppress a shaky breath from leaving his lips.

Every breath
Every hour has come to this

"Why?"

Artoria looked at him. Her emerald eyes sparkled with emotions, watching Shirou's face fill with emotion and disbelief as he watched her back with eyes filled with unshed tears.

"Why are you doing this? F-For me? Why?" he asked, his voice shaky and his body trembling. He was struggling to keep his emotions in check, clearly overwhelmed by everything Artoria had done for him with this date, this actions, this song. "Why are you going this far for me?"

The blonde girl smiled. That was easy. "Because I love you, Shirou," she answered.

His body trembled even more. "...b-but why? Why are you going this far for someone like me? Just... why?" he asked. His voice almost sounded like a sob.

Artoria squeezed his hands between her fingers. "You still don't get it?" she asked back with a smile full of mirth. "It's because-"

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Shirou gaped as Artoria quoted the very same lyrics from the song, his mind an incessant turmoil of emotions, feelings, thoughts and sensations too confused to be described. His eyes were filling with tears, his lips quivering from emotions in an attempt to hold back a sudden sob. His usual calm and detached behaviour was completely forgotten, utterly destroyed and overwhelmed by the love and dedication that this woman was giving him for no apparent reason.

At this rate, he knew he wouldn't resist much longer.

And yet, Artoria kept her eyes on him, continuing to repeat the lyrics as she looked at him straight into the eyes, with a smile that was more radiant than the sun.

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

He couldn't hold back the sobs at that point.

His expression crumbled. His mask shattered. His face boke into an explosion of emotions.

Shirou burst into tears. Without knowing why, without realizing it, without any true mental or logical process, he began to cry. He wept, and wept, and wept, lowering his head as his body was shaken by sobs, while more and more tears poured copiously from his eyes. For no real reason, for no definite reason, he simply cried, his body shaking as he buried his face into his hands, hiding his face from Artoria; unable to bear her gaze filled with love, and care, and dedication.

This was too much… her love, her confession, this song, all of this… it was too much for him. It was simply too much.

Shirou cried, his heart screaming inside of him for some strange, unknown reason. All his doubts, all his uncertainties, all his previous hesitation disappeared suddenly as if they never existed. They dissolved like smoke, unable to resist in front of that display of pure love that this girl, this woman called Artoria Pendragon was offering him without any hesitation or regret. He couldn't speak at this point. He couldn't even utter a word, anymore. He simply cried, letting all of his feelings, all of the emotions he had been burying inside his heart for all this time come out at last. He remained like that, crying and weeping and shaking as Artoria held him close to her, enveloping him in a hug full of affection while she too shed a few tears from her eyes.

And as he cried into her arms, Shirou realized the truth.

Artoria was right.

He didn't know why, he didn't remeber the reason... but she was right. He was feeling what she was feeling. He was in love with her. He loved her, with all his heart.

He was in love with this woman.

He had tried to deny this truth for all this time. He had tried to shy away from this possibility since the very beginning because he was afraid, and confused, and uncertain... but it was the truth. It was the one and only truth. He couldn't deny it anymore. How could he, after everything she had done and showed to him today?

She was right. She had always been right.

Even if the memories were gone, the feelings did not disappear. Even if he didn't remember who he was, how they met, what they shared... his heart had known her since the very first moment his eyes found her face two days prior. He called her Saber, after all. He had been feeling that throbbing in his mind, that sense of longing and fondness, that overwhelming nostalgia since the very first day… and he always ignored it.

But now that he was realizing this, it was simply too obvious to be a mere coincidence.

And now, now he finally undestood.

He was Shirou Emiya. And he was in love with Artoria Pendragon.

He didn't know why, nor when it happened… but he knew it was true.

And maybe, that was all that mattered.

The words of his friends echoed in his mind all of a sudden.

The most important thing right now is for you to realize what you feel. What you – you, Shirou Emiya, the man without memories – feel about Artoria.

So, how do you feel about her?

He knew how to answer now.

"I-I love you," he sobbed, hugging her for dear life while he felt her body stiffen into his arms after his sudden declaration. "I... I don't know why... but I'm certain of this! I love you. I love you!" he admitted again, with more force, his voice hoarse and full of emotions too dense to be described.

Artoria gasped, her body shaking slightly, but she didn't react further. She simply hugged him tighter, burying her face in the crook of his neck as she smiled and shed tears of joy and relief. And so they remained, immersed in their embrace, not caring about anything or anyone for a long, long time.

Because now, at that moment, Artoria Pendragon and Shirou Emiya were finally reunited. A Sword and her Scabbard. A woman and a man. A girl and a boy, reunited once again.

They had a lot of things to clear, a lot of problems to deal with, a lot to talk about... but they would get to that later.

For now, they were simply together. They were simply being honest with each other after all this time.

And that's all that mattered.

Jeanne's voice accompanied their long awaited reunion with a sweet and suave tone.

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

As the song reached its final moments, the Saint glanced around at her audience and felt her expression glow. Save for a rare few stunned looks, two of which she assumed were from Marie and Mozart, the expressions she received were more than she could have ever imagined. Just like the vision that greeted her eyes from a certain table where her friend was hugging her beloved with a smile more radiant than the sun itself. And when she saw that scene, she knew that everything would be fine from now on.

The date had been a succes.

- I'll love you for a thousand more -

Jeanne chuckled and bowed with an angelic smile to a deafening applause.

And as the crowd cheered, the young couple remained united in their emotion-filled embrace.

Shirou sniffled, hugging his beloved with a smile filled with lingering fondness and emotions. "I love you," he whispered in the end.

Artoria smiled, holding him tighter with a shaky laugh. "Took you long enough, idiot."

He chuckled a little. "Yeah. I'm sorry I was so late... Saber."

The crowd in the Salon cheered and clapped for several more seconds, but they didn't even hear their cheering. The Sword and her Scabbard slowly separated after what seemed like an eternity, keeping their hands together as they looked at each other with teary eyes and dumb smiles on their faces. Their cheeks were both stained with tears and tinged of red, but they didn't care. They simply chuckled with embarrassment, wiping away the tears and lowering their gaze with bashful smiles filled with hope and joy.

Until, after an indefinite amount of time, Artoria cupped Shirou's cheeks and pulled him gently towards her face with a slow motion and half-lidded eyes.

The young man didn't resist this time, reciprocating the gesture and leaning towards her as we-

Shirou widened his eyes.

It was then that he felt it.

Something was wrong. Wrong. WRONG.

DANGER!

He didn't waste a second. Reacting purely on instinct, he suddently grabbed Artoria and leaped away from their table with a quick, desperate jump; holding the girl in his arms bridal-style. Artoria gasped, but she too noticed that something was wrong immediatly after him. They barely managed to jump away from there when, not even a second later, a series of invisible bullets crashed heavily against their table, destroying it with a thunderous noise and generating an explosion that shook the ground and attracted the attention of the entire Salon. Everyone present turned abruptly towards the noise, their eyes wide and confused as they watched the scene with shock and stupor.

Shirou landed in the middle of the great hall, Artoria still firmly held in his arms, gazing in disbelief and with narrowed eyes at the golden swords that had just destroyed his table and threatened to strike him and Artoria just a moment ago. If it hadn't been for his enhanced senses, he would have died instantly from the blow, no doubt.

"It seems that you're a little more alert than before, mongrel," a new voice said suddenly out of nowhere.

The red-haired boy narrowed his eyes as he turned towards the voice and released Artoria on the ground. It was only when he realized that the entire, whole room had turned towards the doorway with tense expressions for the newly entered presence that he felt his guts fill with apprehension. He ignored it at first, until the sudden presence got closer. And as he looked through the air at the unseen, approaching Servant, he inwardly mused in suspicion. "This presence. It feels… familiar?"

"Oh? So the Faker knows of my presence… Good. As it should be."

"This is…?" Shirou thought as his back straightened even further in tension. In a shower of golden dust, a man dressed in elegant clothes appeared, his red eyes gazing into Shirou's golden brown ones with obvious antagonism. The young Saber fell confused, making the other narrow his eyes as his cloud of gold faded. He stood as a regal statue with crossed arms over a signature leopard print suit and black formal pants. His blonde hair were spiked up, with regal and precise features on his face, gold earrings on his ears and an expression twisted into a scowl.

And as he watched that aggressive face and those eyes full of arrogant superiority, Shirou felt a strange sensation begin to bubble inside him. A feeling of tension, and anger, and hatred; similar to the one he had experienced when he first saw Emiya, but stronger.

This man... he was incredibly familiar and disgusting for some reason. Shirou's mind was literally screaming on the inside, his senses begging him to jump on him and attack him without a second thought. He couldn't do it, though. No yet, not without answers. Attacking him recklessly could cost him his life, and endanger Artoria as well. He was no longer the young fool he apparently used to be in his past.

It was Artoria the one who broke the silence. "King of Heroes," she spat, her voice filled with barely contained disgust and hatred. Shirou galnced at her with stupor after that. He had never seen her so hostile towards someone before. She was literally shaking in anger next to him. "What is the meaning of this?"

The tall, blonde man with red eyes glanced at her with a frown. "Isn't it obvious, King of Knights? I'm here because it is time I finally meet this revolting mongrel you hold so dear. We have a lot of unfinished business, after all," he replied, sounding cold, and arrogant, and smug at the same time.

Artoria growled, her teeth bared in a ferocious snarl as she watched him. However, Shirou prevented her from replying, speaking with a calm, collected voice. "It seems that we've met in the past," he deduced, glaring at the man in front of him with narrowed eyes. "I'm sorry, but I'm in a bit of a loss. I don't remember you. Who are you? And why did you attack us? I don't remember doing something worth of such a heavy reaction during my days here."

The new Servant looked at him with sheer disgust. "You even forgot my name, useless fool. How dare you forget the name of the great Gilgamesh, the one, true King of Heroes?" he declared with superiority, crossing his arms in barely veiled irritation.

Shirou blinked as he clenched his fist in attempt to calm down. "Gilgamesh? The last Servant Artoria fought during our Holy Grail War?" he mused, even more tense than before.

The young man tried to say something, but he was interrupted when several Servants who were previously scattered around the hall suddenly appeared around Gilgamesh, surrounding him from both sides with evident anger and irritation on their faces. Even Jeanne had moved from the stage and now stood alongside Shirou and Artoria, placing herself in front of them in a defensive position.

"What is the meaning of this, King of Heroes?" asked a woman next to Gilgamesh with a cold, commanding voice. She had long purple hair and red eyes, and was dressed in a full-body outfit that highlighted her curvaceous body, with metallic shoulder pads. She was even pointing a red lance at the King's neck with an impassive gaze. "You just ruined a very good show."

"Yeah! What the hell are you thinking, attacking someone in my Salon and destroying my tables!?" Marie Antoinette yelled in anger, her eyes flashing with rage.

Gilgamesh glared at them, unfazed by their words or the lance that threatened to impale his neck. "Get away from me, sleazy mongrels," he hissed with a growl. A gigantic series of golden portals suddenly appeared behind him, with several weapons of all shapes and sizes ready to be thrown at the attackers with a single mental command. "The actions of a King do not concern the dogs."

The Servants took a step back, visibly tense, but kept their hostile expressions despite everything. Shirou gazed at the golden portals with barely hidden shock. This man was literally capable of throwing weapons in any direction. Weapons that were almost certainly equal to Noble Phantasms, given the previous explosion. Such a skill was extremely dangerous for anyone, even for him.

He had to do something, fast. "What do you want from me?" he asked, taking a decisive step forward. Artoria, Jeanne, and the others turned their attention to him.

His words caught the attention of the King of Uruk, making the tension on Gilgamesh's face lighten a little. "You stole something from me," he then replied easily, glancing at the glaring and disgusted face of Artoria as he spoke. "I'm here to settle the score."

Shirou was confused by that explanation. "What did I steal from you?" he inquired again, narrowing his eyes.

"Do not listen to him!" Artoria suddently yelled. Shirou turned to her, shocked by her sudden cry and the force behind her tone. The woman's face was a mask of rage and fury as she moved to stand next to him, plancing a hand on his arm as a gest of support and also of defensive possession. "You did not steal anything from him! He's just a sore loser who can't accept a refusal!"

He blinked. "What?"

Gilgamesh growled menancely. "Shut your mouth, woman!"

Jeanne moved in front of them once again. "Stop, King of Heroes. I won't allow you to threathen my friends!" the Ruler declared, summoning her battle flag. Behind her, Shirou and Artoria visibly tensed, along with all the others in the room. The tension in the air was so thick it was almost noticeable.

"I have no idea of what's going on, but I have to agree with her," spoke the woman with purple hair from before. She pointed her lance at Gilgamesh once again, glaring at him with a cold gaze. "You will not cause a commotion here, King of Heroes. In-fighting is forbidden within Chaldea. If you try something here, I will attack you. I always wanted to wipe away that useless arrogance from you face."

The golden king snarled at the woman. Sanson sighed with a barely hidden exasperation. "Please do not make him angrier, Scáthach."

"No, this is between me and him," Shirou cut in seriously. He moved to leave Artoria behind Jeanne's protective figure, placing himself next to the spearswoman with purple hair. "Please, stand aside, everyone."

The woman, Scáthach, raised a brow at him. "Are you sure, boy? This is not something you have to face alone. He's breaking the security of Chaldea with his hostile actions."

Shirou nodded, his eyes always glued to the golden king. "I know. That's why I will handle it," his eyes flashed menancely as he glared at Gilgamesh's frowning face. "I don't know what you want from me, but I won't allow you to endanger Artoria and the others. You attacked me, and Artoria, without a reason; ruining a public area as well. That's not something I can ignore so easily."

Gilgamesh sneered at him. "You think I care? The rules of this place do not affect me, mongrel. I am humanity's first King. I am the rule, and I shall do what I please."

"Actually, Shirou is right."

Everyone's attention shifted to the person who had spoken so suddenly. Shirou visibly relaxed when he saw Ritsuka step solemnly into the room with a firm step, his gaze determined and full of disappointment as he looked at the King of Uruk with a glare. Behind him, Shirou and the others noticed that Mordred, Mashu, Iskandar, Jekyll and – strangely – even Merlin were following him too, along with Da Vinci and Roman. And there were also the Knights of the Round along with Isthar, who looked downright furious.

The King of Heroes narrowed his eyes. "Fujimaru," he stated, glancing at Iskandar's impassive face. His red eyes sparkled with irritation when he realized what was happening. He glared at the muscular man with obvious anger. "I see. You informed them. It appears that my trust in you was misplaced, King of Conquerors."

Iskandar glared back, unfazed by his words. "You had it coming, Goldie. I'm not the one who attacked another Servant right in front of everyone here," he merely replied, smirking a little when he saw him scowl in irritation.

Ritsuka stepped in front of Gilgamesh soon after that, visibly upset by what was happening. "Stop this madness, King Gilgamesh. I will not allow you to endanger Chaldea's safety because of a personal whim," he said firmly.

In an instant, the Archer's anger flared, though his eyes only narrowed to deadly slits. "You dare voice those words to me, Fujimaru? Such insolence is punishable."

"It's your arrogance and insolence that are ridiculous," Shirou muttered, earning a deadlier glare from him.

Iskandar sighed, holding back with one arm a very mad goddess who was trying to jump on the King of Heroes to skin him alive. "Ishtar, this is not a situation you should be involved in," he merely stated.

"Of course it is! That disgusting man is troubling my friends! Let me go!" Isthar yelled angrily. Thankfully, though, the situation didn't escalate further.

Mordred placed herself in front of Shirou, looking at Gilgamesh with a full-fledged glare. "Quit your crazy delusions, King of Heroes, if you don't want to kick the bucket!" she threatened firmly. "Stay away from Father! And stay away from Shirou! I will personally cut your head off if you only dare to lay a finger on them!"

The golden Archer's glare intensified. "A rabid dog dares to threaten me?" he growled lowly. "Shut you mouth, scum, before I lose my patience." To emphasize the concept, a new dozen of golden portals appeared behind him, creating an entire wall of weapons ready to be launched at his command.

Shirou gritted his teeth in anger at the scene, but Artoria spoke before him, coming to Mordred's defense promptly. "I will not allow you to antagonize my beloved and my son, Gilgamesh."

The King of Heroes turned his glare on the female Saber, only for a scowl to quickly form on his face. "You have no right to make demands of the one true King, Saber. You might have had that chance, had you accepted to be my wife. Instead, you chose to be with this Faker and allowed him to sway you."

Artoria's eyes narrowed, but Shirou's widened at the hidden information. "…wife?"

Gilgamesh turned to him once more, but the glare remained. "I do not repeat myself, and it is none of your business, Faker."

"The King of Heroes wanted Artoria as his bride…" Jeanne answered instead, making the Archer's glare intensify.

"He thinks of our King as nothing more than a beautiful addition to his collection of possessions," Gawain practically growled out after her.

Gilgamesh's eyes were a wildfire when he spoke again. "It matters not what any of you think. The dogs beneath my feet are needless rabble I do not need to acknowledge. I do not-"

"I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS!" Shirou practically roared as he swiftly drew his sword, drawing surprised looks from Artoria and his closest friends as he marched right in front of Gilgamesh, matching his glare completely. Even Ritsuka and the others were stunned by his actions.

The King of Uruk sneered at him. "You dare stand to the King of Heroes? You grew bolder, mongrel. Losing your memories did not make you lose your foolishness."

Shirou snarled with barely repressed fury. "I won't let you insult Artoria's honor in my presence," he pratically growled in his face. "You talk about her as if she's some kind of object to be taken! I won't stand for this, King of Heroes!"

Gilgamesh merely smirked. "You should know your place, dog, instead of barking amilessly. The King of Knights is a beautiful treasure that is meant to be with me, and me alone. You were never worthy of her. You are not worthy of her; now more than ever, given that you can't even remember her," he spat with sarcasm, completely indifferent of the outraged looks that Mordred, Artoria and many others were giving him.

Shirou gritted his teeth in anger, clenching his fists in an attempt to keep calm.

Those words stung. They stung really bad.

The blonde Archer widened his smirk, looking at him with disdain and disgust. "You are just a foolish hypocrite. A dog with no memories and purpose who still believes he's worthy of something beyond his reach," his smile turned mockery at that point. "You're not even a Faker anymore. You're just a fake Faker! Bwahahaha!"

Artoria summoned Excalibur with trembling arms, looking absolutely furious and outraged by that loathsome King's words. Not only he once dared to demand her to discard her pride and become his wife… not only he dared to ruin her date again… but now he was even insulting Shirou right in front of her?! She couldn't stand this!

"How dare you! Shirou is-"

"You're right."

She stammered back, as if physically struck. Her mouth hung open and her eyes widened until they were as wide as plates. Even Mordred, Iskandar and the others recoiled back, visibly shocked by that statement.

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow.

"You're absolutely right," Shirou admitted again, looking down to the ground in bitter acceptance and tightening his grip on the sword with so much force that his knuckles turned white and his arm began to shake. "I'm not worthy of her. I don't deserve her. She's too good, too kind, and too beautiful to be suited for someone like me. And you're right about my memories as well. I can't remeber my past, nor what I shared with her. She... shouldn't waste her time with someone as problematic, foolish and useless as me. She deserves better than this. I know."

Sad, incredulous tears began to form in Artoria's eyes. "S-S-Shirou... what are you saying?" she asked him, looking utterly devastated by his statement.

But then, just as her heart was starting to break, the young boy she loved so much turned to her, offering her a smile full of affection and gratitude. The woman gasped and held her breath when she found herself immersed in his loving gaze.

"But even despite this... she chose me," Shirou declared with gratitude. "She treated me with care, love, and dedication. She gave me love, when all I could give her was doubt and heartbreak. She never gave up on me, not even once. And if she's still willing to chase after someone like me... then I will not dishonor her choice. I will not make her suffer again. I will chase after her as well. I promise."

Artoria's face broke into a smile full of glee, while little tears started to flow on her cheeks despite her best efforts to stay calm.

Shirou turned to Gilgamesh once again, looking straight into his red eyes with a glare full of decision and rage. "And because of this, I will not stand for your declarations!" he continued to say, more resolute than ever. "I won't let you treat her as an object, or a collector's treasure! Artoria is her own person! She has feelings and dreams! Whoever she will end up with is up to her, and her alone! You will not desecrate her dignity, King of Heroes! Not as long as I draw breath!" he swore, challenging him with his firm gaze and unshakable stature.

Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes in boundless anger, baring his teeth in a snarl. "Then I will kill you here and now, mongrel," he spat, mentally preparing to hurl any weapon in his arsenal at him.

"You will not!" Ritsuka cried, raising his arm and showing him his Command Seals.

The red tattoos glowed with a crimson light, forcing the King of Heroes to stand still despite the growing fury boiling in his veins.

The golden Archer turned his eyes to the young Master, glaring at him. "You dare use a Command Seal to stop me!?" he growled lowly, clenching his hands in rage. His face was a mask of fury as he spoke. "You have some nerves, Fujimaru."

The black-haired boy returned his glare with a firm look as Mashu moved to stand next to him in support. "You are endangering Chaldea with your actions, King Gilgamesh. Even if it pains me, I will not hesistate to order you to stand down if you're unwilling to cooperate," he stated with absolute certainty.

"Ritsuka is right. This is a clear violation of the rules. We can't turn a blind eye to this," Doctor Roman declared as well, crossing his arms. He looked visibly nervous, almost panicked, but still stood his ground along with Da Vinci and his friends.

The golden Archer merely intensified his glare. "You will not deny the King of his vengeance!" he snarled, looking even more furious than before.

"~Are you suuure~?" Da Vinci asked, casually pointing to the moltitude of Servants around them. "You really think you can best all of us assembled here, King of Heroes?" she questioned with irony, smirking a little at his irritated frown.

"Oya? That would be interesting, indeed," Merlin declared with fake interest, smiling a little as he summoned his staff in a burst of petals and mana. "I'd like to see you try, King Gilgamesh."

Mordred, the Knights, Isthar, Jeanne and all the others glared at him with more force after the Caster spoke those words, drawing their weapons without hesitation. Shirou and Artoria smiled in satisfaction.

Gilgamesh seethed in anger, but a single glance around the room was enough to make him realize they were right. Even if he chose to attack that useless Faker here and now, he would not come out of this situation unscathed with all this multitude of Servants facing him. It was a lost battle from the start.

Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

Then, suddently, Gilgamesh waved his arm, and the golden portals behind the Archer vanished as if they never existed. Everyone present visibly relaxed after that. Luckily, they had managed to avoid a fight, otherwise things could have ended badly. Gilgamesh could be arrogant, but he was extremely powerful. Nobody could deny that he was one of the strongest Servants in Chaldea.

"This will waste far more of my time than worthy," the King of Heroes hissed, glaring at the red-haired Saber with a mocking gaze. "You have not won here, mongrel. I will remember this. Your insolence will be punished, one day."

Shirou smirked at his words. "Then, why don't you prove it, King of Heroes?" he quickly retorted to him, with a challenging look inside his eyes.

Everyone hesitated after those words. Gilgamesh furrowed his brows. "Prove it?" he repeated.

The Saber nodded, moving to stand in front of him and looking at him straight into his red eyes. "I challenge you to a duel," he simply declared, without even an ounce of fear, tension or hesitation. "A duel, one on one, just between me and you. To prove who is stronger among us and settle our dispute once and for all."

Several of those present held their breath after that brazen challenge, completely taken aback by Shirou's actions. Even Artoria, Mordred, and those who knew him best were stunned. They didn't expect something like this from him. They didn't expect this at all.

"W-What the hell are you doing, you idiot!?" Mordred mentally screamed in total disbilief.

Gilgamesh looked at him with a sneer and a disgusted face. "What makes you think you can demand something like this to me?" he rertorted with anger. "Why should I lower myself to your level and accept a useless deal like that?"

"Because If I lose, then I will do whatever you ask," Shirou promptly replied, looking completely unfazed by what he had just said.

The shock in the room was visible to the naked eye. Artoria couldn't believe her ears. "Shirou! What are you saying? Don't do this, please!" she pleaded.

But the boy merely smiled when his enemy in front of him took the bait after his words. "Oh? Then, when I win, you will give her to me?" Gilgamesh mused with a predatory grin, his eyes darting towards the shocked and incredulous female king who was looking at Shirou with disbelief and hurt in her eyes.

He shook his head, glaring at him. "Cut the crap, King of Heroes. She's not my possession. I cannot and will not take such decisions for her, never. She's free to do as she pleases," then, he smirked even wider than before. "However, if you win the duel and order me to never see her again... then I will have no choice but comply. That's something I can promise, don't you think?"

Shirou could practically see the revelation blossom into the Archer's red eyes, along with the sheer shock and disbelief of everyone around him. He inwardly smiled, even if Artoria's panicked and hurt expression was something he clearly regretted to cause. Even Merlin was giving him an incredulous stare. But he knew he couldn't stop now. He had to do this. He had to. He could not accept to see this revolting man bother and disgrace Artoria's name even further. He had to stop him, permanently.

Because this was the only thing he could do to close this matter for good.

And he was determined to do it, once and for all.

Shirou tried to give Artoria a reassuring smile, before turning towards the young Master who looked as flabbergasted as everyone else. "Master Ritsuka, will you allow me this? Can I have your permission?" he asked him, looking absolutely serious as he spoke.

Ritsuka hesitated for several seconds. He looked at him, then at Artoria, and then at him again with an uncertain expression. Then, he clenched his fists and looked at him in utmost seriousness. "...are you sure about this, Shirou?" he asked him, searching even for the smallest trace of doubt in his voice and gaze. But incredibly, unlike all the previous times he looked at him, he found none.

The young Saber nodded with a determined expression. "I am."

The Master clenched his fists. Then, slowly and steadly, he nodded as well. "All right. I will allow this duel," he conceded in the end, even if he wasn't too happy about this. He tried to ignore the incredulous stares of Mashu and Artoria, looking at Shirou with a firm gaze. "I'll put my trust in you."

Shirou bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Master."

The silence that followed that scene was absolute and filled with tension. However, no one had a chance to say anything before Gilgamesh burst out laughing. The young man returned his attention to him with a narrowed gaze. "You just dug your own grave, Faker," he taunted him with a cruel grin. "Then I'll accept as well. I will fight you tomorrow morning, so we can finish this farce as soon as possible. It's gonna be very amusing to watch you grovel at my feet once I win. Bwahahah!"

Shirou merely glared at him with a cold, blank stare. "We will see," was all he said.

Gilgamesh didn't bother to reply. That being said, without further ado, a cloud of golden dust soon enveloped the King of Uruk, and his presence quickly began to fade from the room in a few seconds. As soon as he was gone, everyone began to relax and dissolved their weapons with a mental sigh, refocusing their attention on the young Saber who was now sighing in relief under their incredulous stares.

After ten full seconds of silence, someone had enough.

Mordred grabbed him by the arm, looking both furous and panicked at the same time. "Y-Y-You… You… YOU IDIOT!" she yelled fiercely, almost making him flinch with her loud scream and panicked face. "What were you thinking? You just bet your second chance to be with Father! Why did you do it!?"

Shirou looked at her blankly, clenching a fist with so much force that his bones seemed to crack. Everyone was stunned by the ferocity and the decision that burned in his eyes as he spoke. "I had to, Mordred. There was no other choice," he simply said, sounding more and more determined by the second. He then turned his head toward Artoria, who was looking at him with a face full of panic, hurt, and confusion. He inwardly cursed himself for making her sad, but offered her a smile nontheless. "I will finish this, Artoria. I will finish it for both of us. I promise," he swore, looking at her with a solemn and determined gaze.

The King of Knights hesitated under his earnest gaze for a while, before slowly grabbing his hand and nodding at him with an uncertain expression. "I... I know," she sighed in the end, trying to stay strong and not let the fear overwhelm her. "I'll have faith in you, Shirou. You know I will."

He brought her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. "Thank you," he thanked her honestly.

Merlin looked at him with a calculating gaze as he approached them. "I must say, I didn't think you would ever suggest such a thing," he admitted with a curious face, studying the red-haired youth from head to toe. "You're becoming more and more interesting by the second, boy. I'm looking forward to see what you'll do during the duel tomorrow."

"I can't help but agree," Scáthach said soon after him, breathing a sigh of relief as she dematerialized her lance and made her way in front of the confused boy. "You must be either extremely skilled or incredibly stupid to challenge the King of Heroes alone, boy. But it doesn't matter to me. It has been a long time since I saw something exciting like this. I'm surely looking forward to it as well." The Lancer looked at the young Master making his way next to Artoria and Shirou. "Can I personally oversee the duel tomorrow, Master? I'll make sure no one dies during the fight, if you wish."

Ritsuka nodded with sigh. "As you wish, Scáthach. Just, don't put too much pressure on him now," he simply urged with a shake of his head.

Isthar approached them as well. "Emiya-kun... are you really going to do this?" she asked, looking at the red-haired young man with a worried expression.

Shirou nodded, smiling in reassurance. "I am, and I don't regret making this choice. I don't know why, but I can't stand that guy. His mere presence was upsetting me in a very... bad and horrible way. I will put an end to this once and for all, so that he won't bother Artoria ever again." He even squeezed said girl's hand when he said that, making the blonde blush after his bold declaration.

Iskandar burst out laughing after hearing that. "That's the spirit, boy! Unwavering determination is the key to success and victory!" he praised him with a grin, nodding in satisfaction.

Mordred blinked for a couple of seconds, before jumping physically at the sight of Shirou and Artoria holding their hands together. "Wait a second... the date!" she exclaimed suddently. Her wide, green eyes looked both at her father and Shirou with frantic curiosity. "How did the date go, Father? Did you manage to win him back?"

Both the King and his Scabbard blushed heavily at that question. Their eyes dropped to the ground, stuttering in embarrassment and looking in all directions except their respective eyes. But everyone noticed that, despite their embarrassment, they didn't let go of their hands even once.

Jeanne smirked a little with a knowing smile. "Oh, I think we already know the answer to that..." she mused, giggling to herself as she saw her friend stutter and stammer incoherently under everyone's amused gaze.

But as everyone laughed and began to congratulate them for their newfound romance, Shirou's mind drifted off and returned to settle on the choice he made and what awaited him the next day. Because, now... now he knew what he had to do. Now he knew what his duty was. He had chosen to honor Artoria's choice. He had chosen to follow his feelings and be honest with himself, despite not having his full memories and his entire identity back with him. He had chosen to be by Artoria's side again.

So, he had to fight for it.

He squeezed her hand once again, looking at her face with a determined smile.

He wouldn't allow that loathsome King to ruin their lives ever again.

---

This is the much discussed chapter in which I have taken and edited some scenes from GhostXavier's Fragments of Chaldea. As I have already said several times, I HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO USE HIS SCENES AND DIALOGUES. I take FULL RESPONSIBILITY for what I am writing here. This is the reason why, despite everything that happened, I still decided to leave them similar to the work of GhostXavier and not change them. You can give full credit for my story to him, if you want.

You are free to believe it or not, you are free to say that I am a liar and a plagiarist, and you are free to have your own opinions; but at least I can sleep with a clear conscience now.

. . .

The song scene may perhaps be a little too cheesy and predictable. I ask you to forgive me if you were expecting something different. But 'A Thousand Years' is one of my favourite songs, and it's related to a lot of different experiences I had in my life; even to my current romantic relationship. So, I wanted to put it in the story at all costs.

The Poker scene and some descriptions for the Salon and the beach are based of GhostXavier's Fragments of Chaldea. Even some lines from Gilgamesh are directly inspired by that. As I said before – and I repeat here again for the umpteenth time – I GOT PERMISSION TO USE THEM. That's why I chose not to modify them too much, even after all that happened. I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THEM, even if I followed the author's suggestions and changed them a bit for obvious reasons since the story is completely different, along with the context and the characters. And again, I take this opportunity to invite you to read GhostXavier's stories, if you don't know them yet.

The Poker scene in this chapter is originally inspired by Siegfried's Super Cool Biz illustrated by Ototsugu Konoe. The Beach and the Casino scenes by a ReDrop's FGO Anniversary Art, and the Salon of Marie is a Craft Essence available during the Chaldea Boys Collection 2016 Event and Chaldea Boys Collection 2016 Re-Run.

. . .

To the author who called out to me for copying phrases and descriptions from his/her own story in this chapter: I changed the phrases and similarities a little, but not too much. I don't want to change the original sense and meaning of the scenes because of a misunderstanding. Believe it or not, I have never copied anything from you, and everything that's written here is the fruit of my imagination and the ispiration from GhostXavier's stories, anyway. If there were and are other coincidences and similarities between your own story and mine, I apologize but it is not my fault. Blame Google Translate. I DO NOT TAKE CREDIT FROM YOUR STORY, NOR ANYONE ELSE'S. I NEVER INTENDED TO DO THIS, AND NEVER WILL.

I hope it is clear now.