28—Overnight

"—So that's the situation. What do you think, Fuji-nee?"

Shirou puts the question to her, while Illya, smiling radiantly, clings to his pants leg. Still sitting at the table, Sakura shows a smile falling squarely between forced and relaxed. The girl is clearly a magus, from what she can sense, and the situation is nerve-wracking. But regardless of how absurd and sudden it is (absurd suddenness seems to be the norm today), the girl brings with her proof of a tenuous relationship with Shirou.

One he's just spent the past several minutes explaining he wishes to develop and strengthen. Fujimura stands at the table in front of them, staring at his face, as if measuring how serious he is, and digesting his words. For being little more than an outside observer, Taiasu simply sits quietly at the table, cleared of the dishes that had been set out on it for dinner.

"So you want to let this girl you just met spend the night here, Shirou?"

"She's not just some girl, Fuji-nee," Shirou mutters, rubbing his arm awkwardly. "I know how it looks, but you saw the pictures. You heard what she said, right? She's Dad's daughter! That makes her my sister!" His hands tense up at his sides as he drops his stare to the living room floor. "I lost everything… Even Dad. And I'm pretty much over that now." He then raises his stare from the floor, meeting Fujimura's wide-eyed gaze. "At least, I thought I was. But now I have this chance! I want to get to know her!" He looks down at Illya, who seems to regard Fujimura with some small measure of contempt, and gently tousles her hair. "And it's not just that.. She knew Dad… She can tell me more about him, too. I only got five years with him, but she…"

After a few more seconds of intense staring and shifting her gaze between Shirou, who stares sternly at her, and Illya, who shifts from a delighted smile to an annoyed frown, and back again, Fujimura lets out a deep sigh.

"Well, I don't know how you did it so quickly, but you seem to have thought a lot about this, Shirou." She folds her arms and gives a simple, thoughtful nod. "I'm just concerned, is all. So let me make those concerns plain." She holds her finger up, then uses it to push back the tip of Shirou's nose. "First, she may look like this, but from what she's said, she's a young, adult woman, and you are a young adult man. Understand?"

Behind them, Sakura stiffens so tightly Taiasu can sense it, even though there's about a meter of space between them. Shirou balks, taking a step back, away from Fujimura's finger.

"F-Fuji-nee! That's—"

"Yes, I know she's your sister, but you've only known her for maybe an hour, right? Do you see her as your sister?"

"Ah—" Shirou's mouth falls open.

Slowly, he turns his gaze down to meet Illya's stare as she looks up at him, tilting her head and smiling adorably. It doesn't help, and combined with what Fujimura has said, and his post-adolescent hormonal state, his heart gives a single, hard thump in his chest, forcing him to shake his head almost violently.

D-damn it, Fuji-nee, what the hell are you saying?!

Slowly, he draws in a breath to settle himself, and takes a second to focus on the back of his eyelids before returning Fujimura's deep stare.

"I'd thought nothing like that, until you brought it up, Fuji-nee." His mouth curls down in a hard frown. "And if you're asking if I see her like 'that', then no. I'm not a lolicon. And I don't plan on that changing. Still…" He looks back down at her and his frown softens, lifting into a gentle smile. "I know it's soon to see her as a sister, but that's why I want to spend some time with her and get to know her. So that can happen."

Ilya's eyes widen as her mouth forms into a small circle before beaming into another wide smile. Though somewhat annoyed that this person, Fujimura, has been trying to intervene, for now, she's content to be quiet and listen, basking in the warmth of her brother's kind attention and affection.

Fujimura lets out another deep sigh. "It's just all happening so fast, Shirou… And what about her? Where's she staying? Are they okay with it?"

"I can call and let them know," Illya chimes in. "I told my attendants why I was coming into town today. I can let them know I'm—"

"Wait, hold on." Fujimura holds her palm out, interrupting. "Attendants?"

Illya nods. "Yeah. Sella and Leysritt. There both kind of annoying, but they're kind in their own way, and they look after me pretty well. I can call them and let them know, so it should be fine."

"Okay, but that's not—I mean, you have attendants?" Fujimura's eyes widen, and now Shirou's do as well as Illya gives a confirming nod.

It's another surprise, and a slight distraction, but the evening has been little but, and there's still the much greater issue at hand here. Fujimura, as Shirou's teacher and guardian, is trying to look out for his best interests. Unfortunately, as is often the case, doing so right now seems to clash with what he wants. And it's not as if she's oblivious to his feelings.

"Alright…" Seeming to relent, she lets out a small sigh and nods.

Shirou's face brightens, while behind them Sakura stiffens further. It's wholly irrational, and she's aware, but she still can't help grinding her teeth against the discomforted feeling swelling in her chest.

I hate this feeling… I know Senpai's not like that, and I know this girl is just… So why do I feel this way? I hate it!

"But I have some conditions." Quickly, before anyone can get too excited, Fujimura jabs Shirou in the chest with her finger. "For now, I'm bringing her with me to my place."

"F-Fuji-nee, what—"

"Oh?" She draws her finger back and puts on a smug grin. "And you happen to have little girl's sleepwear somewhere in your house, Shirou? I certainly hope not." She stares down at him, narrowing her eyes. "Unless you have some things you'd like to—"

"F-Fine, I get it!" Shirou groans, palming his face. "No, I don't have anything like that here—good god, Fuji-nee… You're taking her to your place to get her something to wear."

Satisfied, she folds her arms and nods.

And, it will give her a chance to talk some with Illya, and learn more about her.

Shirou shows Illya to the phone in the living room, and she dials in her number. It takes several rings before someone on the other side answers. Reasonable, given the unwieldy size of her residence, but it doesn't help settle her impatience, clear by the way she taps the handset with her finger.

Finally, someone on the other side picks up, and she lets out a relieved sigh.

"Hello. Einzbern Residence." Feminine, yet somehow autonomous, a voice on the other side answers.

"Liz?" Illya shows a delighted smile as she twirls the phone cord around her finger.

Thank god. If it was Sella, I'd be here all night.

"Illya? You… well?" she asks in her fragmented, but for her, normal speech pattern.

"Yep, everything's going well here. I just wanted to call and let you know."

She drops the cord and leans back against the wall as Shirou listens in on her conversation, wearing a relaxed smile. At the table, Fujimura, Sakura and Taiasu sit, waiting impatiently, uncomfortably, absentmindedly, respectively.

"Returning? When?"

"Ah, that's the other thing I wanted to say." She lets her eyes wander up to the ceiling. "I met Onii-chan, and he invited me to stay over so we can talk a bunch."

Shirou's smile grows some. At the table, Sakura clenches her hands in her lap. Despite herself, her frustration escalates some as she fails to fight down her unpleasant thoughts and feelings.

She's just… I shouldn't feel this way!

"Dangerous…?" The person on the other line hesitates before asking, and Illya lets out a small, amused laugh, shaking her head.

"Who, Onii-chan? No, Liz, he's not. He's really nice."

"Clothes?" This time, the person's tone reveals their relief.

Illya shakes her head again. "No, someone's lending me some for the night."

"That's good. Illya, happy?"

Illya's bright smile is answer enough, but she nods as she replies.

"Yes, Liz. I'm really happy right now. Please let Sella know as well." She winces some, imagining the tirade her high-strung attendant is going to go on the second she hears. "Sorry you'll have to deal with her."

"Sella cares for… Illya. Liz, too."

"I know, Liz. I'll call to check in and set your minds at ease."

"'Kay. Good night, Illya."

"Night, Liz."

Illya holds the handset to her chest for a moment, breathing in, then out, a deeply contented sigh before she drops the it down on the unit. She looks over at Fujimura, who taps her finger on the table, waiting for the verdict.

"Well?"

"They know I'm staying here, so it's fine. We should get going, right?"

Now outside, under the twinkling stars deeply set in the dark night sky, Shirou waves Illya and Fujimura, in her warm, white winter jacket with faux-fur lining the collar, off. Illya stops partway and spins on her heels, running back toward the group for a moment. As everyone watches, curious, she circles Taiasu, eyeing him up and down a few times before leaning in close to his ear, whispering.

"I still think you're a dumb, naïve little potato." She backs off a step, then tweaks his nose and giggles as he stumbles backward, wide-eyed and blinking. "But thank you for the dinner invitation."

With her piece said, she interlaces her fingers behind her back and saunters off, rejoining Fujimura at the gate. Shirou looks down at him, wearing a small frown and eyeing him closely, yet unsure of what to say, or even of what's just happened.

Unsettled by her persistent, disquieting feelings, Sakura walks to the gate as well. Unsurprisingly, Taiasu follows in her wake. What does surprise her is how Shirou follows in his wake, then stations himself next to her.

She looks over at him, arching her brow.

"Senpai?"

"Hm? It's nothing. Just thought I'd see you home." He shows her a simple, calm smile.

"Eh…?" Yet nothing can ever be that simple. And she clasps her hands at her waist. Her eyes widen as her mouth narrows. "See me home?"

Shirou nods. "Yeah. With everything that's been happening, it feels too dangerous to let you walk home alone late at night. Your house is pretty far away, so at least let me do this much."

Her lips, having parted some from her initial surprise, seal closed as her eyes fall from their widened state. Some unspoken concern shows in her expression and her sudden, awkward silence, which makes Shirou wonder if he's mis-stepped.

"Senpai…" Her gaze falls away, and her mouth turns down in a small frown as she presses her hands into her chest. "I'm sorry. I appreciate your concern, but shouldn't you wait for Illya-chan to return? I'm used to getting home on my own by now, so Taruko-kun and I should be fine by ourselves," she says in a soft, wispy voice.

Hearing his name, Taiasu looks up, but says nothing.

"Well, that might be true, but with everything that's been happening lately, I still don't feel right letting you walk home on your own." Something about how she holds herself, and the way she speaks, tells him there's more to her refusal, so he presses forward. "So I just want to walk you home. At least, until things calm down some."

"But, um…" Still looking for excuses, Sakura shakes her head, pulling uncomfortably at her white sleeve. "If Nii-san sees you, I think he'll get upset." She glances up at him to see if he's accepted her reasoning. Still staying quiet, Taiasu lets his gaze meander between them for the moment.

"Hmm…" Shirou holds his chin thoughtfully, staring at the ground.

She's right… Shinji hates her coming over here. He can't say much, since it's Fuji-nee's family's house, but it might still upset him if he sees me walking her home. Still…

His mouth turns down in a small frown as he shakes his head.

Well, even if he does, I really don't care what he says or thinks about this. It's—

"What's the problem?" Finally, Taiasu speaks out, cutting through the brief quiet and into Shirou's thoughts. "I mean, if it's a problem for Sakura to walk alone, shouldn't he be thanking you for seeing her home safely?"

Sakura looks down at him, showing a small, weary smile, while Shirou nods his agreement.

"Mm. I was just thinking something like that." He looks up from the ground, back at Sakura. "I really don't care what he has to say about it. It's not safe, and I'm not comfortable with it, so I'm walking you home."

"Still…" Sakura's gaze buckles, dropping away again. "I'd feel bad if that happened. And I don't want to take up any of your time…"

"It's fine." He shows her a reassuring smile. "You're always helping me out here, so at least let me do this for you." He then eyes her closely. "Or would you rather walk home without me, Sakura?"

"Eh?" She presses her hands into her chest. "No, it's not that, but—"

"Then it's fine, right? I'm pretty confident in my skills." Shirou crosses his arms and nods firmly. "I should be able to fend off anyone bad,—" Hearing this, Taiasu turns his gaze over to Shirou again, and his eyes widen with some slight surprise. "—so you should let me help with things like this." Confidently, he thumps his chest a couple times. "Whatever happens, I'll protect you, Sakura."

The whole thing feels melodramatic for Taiasu's tastes, but there's still something charming about it that causes him to smile despite himself. Shirou motions Sakura toward the gate with his gaze, but she doesn't budge.

Instead, still concerned over something, she stares at him, worried, wearing a small frown, with her fingers laced at her waist.

"But… You might get into a fight with Nii-san again." She turns her gaze up from the ground, meeting his calm stare. "Is it really okay, Senpai?"

Shirou smirks dismissively. "I already said, I don't care about that. If it happens, it happens, and it's at those times when we're most open and honest with each other. He doesn't like hiding things, so it's best if he's just open about his grievances."

Still holding her hands at her waist, Sakura turns fully toward Shirou now, her eyes widening with some surprise that makes him wonder.

"Hm? Did I say something strange?"

"No, you didn't." She shakes her head, gently tousling her purple hair, and finally lets her arms relax at her sides, showing a relieved smile. "I'm just glad you're such good friends with Nii-san."

"Hm?" Shirou arches his brow as he makes a confused sound. "I'm not sure that's right. I'm probably the only one who enjoys our friendship, and I think it might actually be the opposite for him."

Briefly, he thinks back to that morning, and how Shinji had been toward him. The evidence seems to support his haphazard theory. Sakura nods, as if in agreement.

"It might be like that. But you know, Nii-san always talks to you again, no matter how often you two fight. Even if he finds you hard to deal with, I think he likes you more than others, so he's always concerned about you." She lets out a relaxed sigh before finishing her thought. "I think because of his contrarian nature, he seems to like people he dislikes."

Taiasu tilts his head some, trying to figure out what Sakura means, though only for a few seconds. The words by themselves make no sense, so all he can do is shrug.

That doesn't sound like much of a friendship. I must be missing something.

Shirou seems in agreement, scratching his head and grasping for words, yet finding none.

"… Uh, I can't really reply to that."

Sakura's smile brightens as she holds her hands behind her back. "Yes. I envy you for that, so I thought I'd tease you some."

On seeing Sakura's smile, Shirou's breath freezes in his chest before he realizes it.

I don't think I've seen her wear a smile that big before…

"A-Anyway, I'm walking you guys home." He refolds his arms and drops his gaze down, trying to compose himself. "I don't care if Shinji sees me. Like Taiasu said, he shouldn't complain if I'm walking his sister home."

"You're right. It might be better this way, than to try hiding it." Sakura nods, and her smile relaxes some for having finally addressed her concerns. "Then could you please, Senpai?"

Shirou nods and thumps his chest again. "Of course. For once, you're finally letting me actually act like your Senpai."

Seeing his gesture, Sakura's smile warms some more, and Taiasu palms his face, shaking his head.

When they're talking like this, I get so confused. They just spent all that time… Well, I guess I just don't get it. There must be a lot I'm missing. Maybe it's a cultural thing.

He lets out a small sigh.

Some clouds gather in the evening sky, blotting out a few of the stars. The wind blows calmly, though it brings a slight chill with it as Shirou, Sakura and Taiasu walk down the hill toward the intersection they passed through on their way to school that morning. With no one around, the area feels desolate.

Side by side, Sakura and Shirou walk the empty streets, and Taiasu walks at their back, letting some out some distance between them. As he looks around, Shirou can't help but wonder some at the lack of people.

It's not even ten yet, but it's like the entire town is asleep. The quiet is so unsettling. Even with everything bad happening lately, is everyone really just saying home at night for that reason?

"Senpai?" Sakura gazes at him, resting her hand against her cheek. "Um, my house is this way."

Shaken from his thoughts, Shirou returns her stare and nods. "Huh? Right, sorry. I was just thinking. Yours is the top one on that side, right?" He gestures with his hand up the road.

Sakura smiles again, shaking her head as she relaxes her arms and hands at her sides. "No, the top one is Tohsaka-senpai's house. Mine is up there too, but not at the top."

"Hm? Was that it? Wait—" It takes his mind a moment to hear the words, but when he does, he stops mid-step. Recoiling, as if someone were menacing him, he takes a half-step back. His eyes grow wide and he brings his arms up in front of himself. "—You mean that Tohsaka, Tohsaka?"

He speaks loud enough for Taiasu to catch the name, even for being some distance back, and it reminds him of the girl's face.

Especially her eyes.

"Yes, second year Tohsaka Rin." With subdued hope in her eyes and smile, Sakura looks over at him. "Do you not like her, Senpai?"

That he might not helps to settle her unpleasant feelings toward his new sister. If he doesn't, it means one less person with whom to compete in the battle for winning his affection. A battle she's hesitant to fight, but still. Having time to resolve her hesitancies, and perhaps find out if he feels similar, would be a relief.

Shirou recovers from his momentary surprise, straightening himself and relaxing his face.

What? It's not like that. I mean, I barely know her—ugh, what kind of face did I make?

Misreading her, Shirou finds her question strikes a little close to home, and he shakes his head, refuting it.

"No, I don't dislike her. We've just never talked, so I don't really know much about her." Calmer now, he re-stations himself at Sakura's side. "But she's pretty famous throughout the school, right? Standing out wherever she goes, so I just know of her by reputation."

Immediately, the small spark of hope in Sakura's expression is doused by his words, and her smile falters as she clings to her shirt's white sleeve. Shirou looks up the road as they continue walking and making small talk.

"What about you, Sakura? You both live in Western-styled mansions, right? So do you guys have a close, neighborly relationship?"

"No. We're certainly neighbors, but her house is up on top of the hill." Her expression saddens more as she looks at him from the side, and her voice grows softer. "But how did you know her house was Western style, Senpai?"

Feeling jealous over the new girl in his life, the young Illya, his sister from nowhere, is completely unjustified and irrational. Sakura knows this well. Yet she has no such compunction over her feelings about him knowing anything about Tohsaka. The girl who surpasses her in every regard, and who draws every eye wherever she goes. That Shirou's eyes might be vulnerable to her natural charms does not at all sit well with her.

"Oh, it's just something I heard. Something about her place being a haunted house." Oblivious, Shirou answers her coolly asked question casually. "Haunted houses are always Western-style houses, right?"

Still listening from some distance, Shirou's observation brings to Taiasu's mind one such place where he'd ventured in his career as an adventurer. A stately, multi-floored residence occupied by all manner of nightmarish creatures. Imps, huge winged eyes, dessicated, animated, sword-swinging skeletons, and many, many succubi.

And not the sort a man might be pleased to find coming to call in his bedchamber.

Just another day in the life of an adventurer.

"That's true."

Sakura's voice picks up some, snapping Taiasu from his dark reverie and back into the present, and he jogs to catch up, while still letting some distance between him and them, to not interrupt their high-schooler's discussion.

While she wrestles with her subdued inner turmoil, Sakura's expression relaxes some, but she continues to pull at her sleeve as she talks of what she knows about Tohsaka.

"It seems Tohsaka-senpai prefers to be alone." Her gaze falls away, down toward the ground. "When I was young, I was told that a scary sorcerer lived up on the hill."

"A scary sorcerer, huh?" Shirou's eyes drift skyward. "I heard similar rumors, I think. But if everything you hear like that is true, it would mean all Western-style houses and mansions have sorcerers living in them." He drops his gaze back down and looks over at her again. "So, did you believe the story, Sakura?"

Shirou asks his question in jest, but Sakura nods, answering it honestly.

"I did, because I was small. That's why I always thought I shouldn't go up to the top of the hill."

Up the hill for some ways, they walk on in quiet. Clouds come and go, obscuring the moon and then revealing it as they pass by. The evening is cooler now, and there's very little noise except for their footsteps clipping against the ground. Despite it being so dark, Taiasu takes advantage of the distance he allows between himself, Shirou and Sakura, to become familiar with the new surroundings.

Another residential district, opposite the one Shirou's house is in. The road is paved with red brick, but instead of simply being like a wall laid flat, they're laid in smooth, concentric arches. Fewer and fewer buildings line the street as they ascend the hill, and in their place spring more evergreen trees. Before they reached where they are now, Taiasu had noted the many shops, closed for the day, that were present along the streets at the bottom of the hill.

As they walk, Sakura's steps come to a sudden halt.

Shirou gradually comes to a stop as well, looking back at her, arching his brow.

"Hm? Sakura? Did you forget something?"

Tugging at her tie, she shakes her head, casting worried looks up the road near her house. "No… It's not that, but… Senpai, is there someone standing near my house?"

Shirou watches her for a moment, then takes his own turn, looking around. On seeing no one, he looks back at her and shakes his head.

"No one I can see. Did you see something?"

Anxiously tugging at her sleeve, she shakes her head again. "No, I didn't. If you didn't see anyone either, then it's fine. I've just been seeing this strange person hanging around outside my house recently, so I wondered if he'd be here again today."

In bits and pieces, Taiasu catches some of their conversation, and closes the distance some to hear more. The way Sakura stands, holding herself, and her concerned expression cause him some concern as well. But more than that, it feels like a nice chance to pay some things forward, and a fine opportunity to just do something besides trail behind, giving them space.

"If you're worried about that, I'll scout ahead," he says in a serious tone, with a serious look on his face that causes Shirou to wonder some before forcing back a chuckle. Sakura blinks a few times as he runs off, then stretches her hand out nervously at his back.

"Ah… Taruko-kun, don't run too far ahead—!"

He waves at her over his shoulder and nods.

"Kid's still playing the adventurer…" Amused, Shirou muses some before looking back over at Sakura again. "But what you were saying? Some guy hanging around your house? Isn't that a bit dangerous? What sort of person was he?" Quickly, he shifts tracks from amused, and his tone becomes serious as well.

Hearing the sudden change in his voice, Sakura stops watching Taiasu's back, and looks over at Shirou, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Um… he was a blond, good-looking person." She shows a broad smile and actually goes a shade of red as she describes him. "He looked like he could've been a model, so I'm sure you'd be surprised too, if you saw him."

With her description of the person, Shirou's tension eases some.

That's all? I don't think that's something to be worried about.

He lets out a small sigh as he rubs the back of his neck.

"So it's not like he's a suspicious person?"

She shrugs as she fusses with her hair. "I'm not sure. It's just that no one has moved here recently, that I know of, so I thought it was strange."

"Hm… Well, it is somewhat strange." In agreement, Shirou folds his arms and nods. "Alright, if you see him around again, you should tell me or Shinji. We can apprehend him and make him tell us what he's up to."

"Yes, I'll be counting on you for that. But please don't do anything rough. I don't want you to get into a fight."

Sakura smiles straight at Shirou as she speaks, forcing him to look away as his face briefly turns a shade of red.

"Uh, I-It's all right." Awkwardly, he runs his hand through the hair on the back of his head again. "I'll ask what he's up to before I do anything like that, so you shouldn't worry about it."

Staring hard at the ground, he lets out a small sigh.

Geez… More and more, her smallest gestures keep catching me off guard. Even just a little while ago, it would've been nothing to me, but now I'm acting all weird over it.

Furtively, he looks up at her from the side as she turns her gaze up the road toward where Taiasu is still looking around, finding no one and nothing of concern.

Maybe it's because she's grown, or because I've finally noticed it, but she's become really beautiful. That's great for her, but it's pretty lame for me as her Senpai to have to take extra care about such things.

Desperate for something to distract himself, he thinks back to the events of that evening. Particularly about the newest person in his life, the young Illyasviel.

Right! I still want to ask Sakura about her…

"Hey, Sakura…" With some of the red leaving his complexion, he steels himself to keep it that way and meets her gaze again.

"Hm? What is it, Senpai?" She returns his stare, blinking her eyes a few times, but even this subtle gesture makes his heart give a single, frustrating slam in his chest.

"Um… I was just wondering…" He takes in a steadying breath to settle himself before continuing. "Illya… What do you think of her?"

"Huh?" Sakura blinks again a few times, then looks down and away. Not having expected the question, she has to take a second to find a proper answer to it. But before that, there's something else. "You want to know what I think of Illya-chan?"

She glances up at him from the ground, and, wordlessly, he nods his head, causing her eyes to widen slightly.

"Why do you want to know what I think of her?"

Within her, some part of her, the part prone to over-reacting or reading too much into things, hums with concern. She tried to bury her ill feelings about the girl, but even his question recalls to her mind how she'd clung to him, stared up at him with an adoring gaze and grin. Stupid as it is, and she knows it, to feel this way, she can't help it.

She wanted that to be her!

So seeing it now, again in her mind, makes her heart twist painfully in her chest. Amplifying the painful feeling is the unrealized fear that he somehow knows her heart, and her feelings toward the young woman with the face and the body of a child.

It's an agonizing few seconds as she keeps her gaze steadily on his face, watching for some reaction to indicate his thoughts.

"Well, I mean…" He rubs his hand awkwardly over his neck as he stares hard at the ground. "A lot happened tonight. I mean, I didn't even know Dad had a wife, let alone a daughter, and now she's suddenly appeared in my life. But before that, I already have you—" Before he's finished speaking, just at those last few words, 'I already have you,' she takes in a sharp, sudden gasp as her heart flutters in her chest. "—and Fuji-nee. I mean, you guys are my family too, and what you think is important to me."

Crestfallen, she lets her breath out slowly. Of course, that's what he meant. He views her as family. Anything else was too much to hope for.

He goes on. "So… I mean, a lot happened really fast, and I just didn't want you to feel you're less important to me because of it, is all…"

"Oh…" Quietly, she breathes out the word, trying to settle her heart, and understanding better, she searches herself for her honest feelings.

At least, the ones she's comfortable expressing in answer to his question.

"Senpai, I'm…" Hesitantly, she raises her gaze up at the same time he does so their eyes can meet again. "I'm happy for you, honestly."

Even though she bears a frustrating, irrational envy toward the girl, these words she speaks are also true.

"Everything happened suddenly tonight, and it's quite a lot to process, but I'm glad both for you, and for Illya-chan. I think family is wonderful, and hearing you say that about me and Fujimura-sensei means a lot to me." Slowly, she takes in her own deep and steadying breath. "It is strange, that she's come into your life so suddenly like this, and things feel like they're moving far too quickly, but I can understand why you want to close the gap between you and her. In a lot of ways, I'm sort of envious—!"

She left the door open too far, and the guard standing watch has apparently not been doing a good job as that last part slips out, making Shirou arch his brow.

"Envious? Why's that?"

"Ah—! Well—!" Quickly, she tries to think of something plausible. "It's just, the way you are together already makes me wish for something like that between me and Nii-san, is all!" Awkwardly, she lets out a brief chuckle, but Shirou's countenance darkens with a deep frown.

"You and Shinji? Has he been mistreating you again?"

"N-no!" Sakura shakes her head aggressively, causing her hair and her red hair-ribbon to reflect crimson and violet in the ambient light of the moon and the street lights. "He's been… fine… I just wish we could be like you guys are, is all…"

Her words are true. In her heart, she feels a baseless affection toward her brother, somehow, regardless of how he treats her.

"Okay… but if he does anything bad, you have to tell me so I can set him—"

"Heeey!" Taiasu hollers from up the street, waving his arm, beckoning them forward. "There's nobody here! It's totally fine!"

Inwardly, Taiasu grins, reminded of the times he's done similar things for merchants traveling through dangerous lands. Tasks handed out to adventurers to escort defenseless civilians across hazardous regions plagued by endless hordes of bloodthirsty beasts.

Just another day in the life of an adventurer.

Surprised, and their discussion completely derailed, Sakura and Shirou blink at each other for a moment before exchanging light chuckles. At the top of the hill, Taiasu stands with his hands at his waist, tapping his foot as he waits for them to catch up.

Finally, they reach Sakura's residence. As Taiasu looks the place over, he immediately feels his skin bristle and a chill crawl up his spine.

This place. I'm getting similar feelings to those I got the first time I set foot in Haukke Manor, back in the Central Shroud.

As he looks the place over, he feels himself tugged back to that time. This mansion is about the same size, but the entryway is far more modest than that of Haukke Manor. That door could permit a gigas, while this one might accommodate a tall Hyur.

But it's not the door. The feeling of the place is ominous, just like the feeling of that place back in his world. He's not sure how or why, though. The outside courtyard of Haukke Manor was infested with disturbing creatures. Massive, winged, yellow-skinned floating eyes with mouths filled with razor-sharp teeth. Like something straight from a nightmare.

The shortest version of the tale of Haukke Manor that he's ever told is that he was asked by a former servant of the place to end his mistress' madness by laying her to rest. After securing the aid of some venturing fellows, they, well, ventured forth as they're wont to do, dispatching the denizens of the place as they found them, and finally confronting the lady, Mistress Amandine.

Maimed in the calamity, and driven to madness, according to the man with whom he'd spoken, the woman, under the counsel of two nefarious individuals, sought to restore herself through heinous acts culminating in the mutilation and murder of many maidens in the land.

Once she'd been laid to rest, and his associates had departed, those same two individuals who had corrupted the woman in her weakened emotional and mental state appeared before him, telling him plainly the whole thing had been some sick test of his strength.

The strangest part was they didn't seem to care that they were stupidly blathering their entire plan to his face. And it wasn't the first time he'd encountered their kind, clad from head to toe in black robes and a face-concealing black mask. Satisfied that they'd finished with what they came to do, they vanished in darkness, leaving him only with more questions.

Standing here, now, the thoughts and memories of that place come crawling back from the deepest recesses of his mind.

Sakura and Shirou watch as Taiasu meanders toward the front door of her house, craning his neck and staring up at it vacantly, lost in thought. He turns his head, looking the place over, causing Shirou to wonder.

Maybe he's just never seen a mansion before…?

"Good night, Senpai." Softly, Sakura speaks her goodbye, pulling Shirou's considerations from the small, red-clad child back to her. He looks over, seeing her wearing a satisfied smile with her hands folded at her waist. "I'm glad you walked me home."

"I-Idiot. Don't thank me." Flustered for being caught off guard, he complains unseriously. "You're the one making us dinner, so it should be me thanking you." His focus rests on her content countenance, and he shows his own uneasy smile. "Geez, if this is all it takes to make you this happy, I'll make a habit of it from now on."

"Yes, please do." She turns fully toward him, lightly tilting her head, letting her hands fall to her sides. "It's fine if you only do it once in a while when you feel like it, but please do walk home with me. Nii-san might get upset, but I like being with you." Somehow, she keeps her face, heart, and breathing steady as she speaks her honest feelings.

Shirou blinks a few times, feeling his face turn a shade of red, and diverts his face away from hers. Seeing Taiasu still staring at her house again makes him wonder about something.

"Say, Sakura? What does Shinji think of you looking after the little guy?"

"Eh? What does Nii-san think…?" Her smile falters as she fidgets with her fingers, staring down at the ground. "He, er… He doesn't seem to have a problem with it…"

It's not a lie, insofar as she hasn't told him, nor does she plan to. After all, how can he have a problem, or any thoughts at all, regarding something of which he's unaware? Of course, if he were made aware, she's fairly certain how he would react, especially given their encounter earlier that day in the dojo.

And she doubts he'd be breaking out the fine China, except maybe to throw at his head.

"Well, that's kind of surprising, but good of him." Shirou nods thoughtfully, looking the place over. "I mean, how upset could he be, really. Your place is enormous, and it's not like he takes up a lot of room." He chuckles at his joke, and Sakura shows a small, amused smile.

"Anyway, I was just curious. I'll see you tomorrow, okay, Sakura?"

She nods, then turns toward her house and Taiasu, who still stands, staring up at it unblinkingly, and walks over to him. Just before reaching him, she turns back to Shirou again, her entire face alight with a smile, her arms folded behind her back.

"Senpai, see you tomorrow! Thank you for today!"

She taps Taiasu's shoulder, snapping him from his haze, and points him to the front door, and they slip inside, leaving Shirou alone in the dark.

"Right… Well, it's such a little thing, but if it makes her that happy, I should do this every night." He turns his gaze skyward just as a cloud finishes blocking out the moon. The silver color reminds him of Illya's hair, and he sighs, frowning. "I need to hurry back. Who knows what Fuji-nee will do if she's left there alone for too long."

With that concern impelling him, he turns from the darkened mansion and begins his return home at a brisk pace.