Chapter 15: Potential implications.

Awakening early in the morning has become something of a habit of mine over the recent years. I like to get up early so I can start the day off with some quick exercises.

I did not expect to wake up early in the morning to find the cross shaped eyes of my latest arrival barely ten centimetres from my own. I also did not expect to discover I was, in fact, not on my bed and was rather on Tiamats lap.

Apparently she had seen fit to move me in the middle of the night to make myself, or herself, more comfortable.

She seems to take great joy in acts like one would expect a doting mother to behave. I can't say that I'm used to that sort of thing, I never really had a mother figure.

Fuji-nee held the legal position of guardian and boasted to everyone about being the 'older sister' type of role. Although the actuality of the situation was that more often than not, I felt like I was raising her rather than the other way around.

Not that I wasn't grateful to her. She did her best to at least try and take care of me after the old man passed away.

But Tiamat seems to have put herself in the position of acting like a mother to me.

Its...its not terribly uncomfortable…

But she treats me like I am far younger than I actually am. Which is more than a little embarrassing when she tries to pat my head.

Although given the fact that even Tohru is probably younger than her, I can't really blame the fact that she sees everyone as a child. Still...that doesn't really sooth my non-existent pride.

"I'm making breakfast." I announce from the kitchen, turning around to see Tiamat just staring blankly at me "Do you want extra?"

"Aaa!"

I have no idea what that means. So I'll just give her the same amount I used to give Saber. I mean...she probably won't complain, she's eaten everything else I've given her so it probably won't be a big issue.

Although...seeing her eat for the first time was…

An event in itself…

That was a lot of teeth.

"I'm going to try and get back from work early." I tell her, I think she can understand me just fine. Its just the reverse that's the problem "We'll head out and I'll see if I can get you some proper clothes."

She's been wearing the same jumper for the last few days, while she hasn't complained about it, I think, I still feel bad about making her wear my old clothes and I don't really want to trouble Kobayashi for some of her clothes. So I'll have to try and take her out clothes shopping.

Its just...the horns are sort of off-putting...to other people anyway.

I'm used to it, but I'd rather not draw more attention to myself than necessary.

"Aaaa!" I'll try and take that as a yes.

I really need a translator or something.

"So...how's life at home, Emiya?" Satoru asks, I blink in surprise. We've never actually talked that much about things which didn't relate to work.

My surprise doesn't last too long, I steel my expression and shrug as I flip the omelette I'm cooking "As of late...its been a little more excitable. Nothing I'm not used to." I add just to avoid worrying him "But more than its been in a while." I turn to him with a raised eyebrow "Why do you ask?"

"Hm?" He looks a little surprised before he chuckles and scratches the back of his head "Sorry, its just that I realised I haven't talked to you all that much. I like to try and have a more friendly relationship with my workers."

I nod my head, Satoru isn't a bad guy from what I've learnt of our interactions, yeah he looks a little menacing with that big scar going across his face, but he's been quite friendly for the most part "I see. So how are you then?" I ask.

His face breaks into a wide smile "I'm doing good. My little girl is coming back from university for a visit."

"I...I didn't know you had a kid."

"Really?" He looks surprised by that, then scruches his face up in thought "I'm doing her a disservice if I haven't boasted about my little Akari-chan to you."

I shake my head at that, he's one of those types of parents it seems "So, she's been away for a while then?"

"Only a couple months." He grins "Any longer and she knows I'd be tempted to drive up there and ambush her at her university. She's probably coming down to make sure I don't embarrass her in front of her friends."

He laughs at that and I give him a small smile as I continue to prepare the next order, its been a somewhat quiet day today. Only a few of the regulars have stopped by.

"What about you, Emiya?" He asks, breaking me out of my musing "You got a special someone in your life?"

"Yeah." I nod "She's in London right now, she's doing her research." I give him a small smile "I'm only here until she comes to 'collect me'"

"Ha!" He barks out a laugh at that "She sounds like a character, although she must be something special to make you give me a genuine smile."

I blink in surprise and he raises an eyebrow "I wasn't born yesterday, Emiya. I also have a teenage daughter. I know the difference between a real smile and a fake one."

I sigh and go back to cooking "I suppose I should have expected that. Sorry about the smile though…"

"No need to apologise to me." He waves me off "I'm not that offended by it." he sniffs "Still, I'll leave you to your work...although part of me is hoping she never comes to collect you." when I stare at him in confusion he gives me a sly grin "I'll be quite sad to lose my star worker."

I snort and shake my head, plating the finished meal "I'm sure you would be, Satoru-san."

"Hey, Emiya!" I turn around "You got someone calling for you!"

"I'll be right out!" Quite strange, not too often I have people call for me. It doesn't actually happen at all.

Although when I step out into the dining area I can immediately see why.

"Ah, Emiya. There you are." Fafnir looks to me, his inquisitive eyes seem to have lightened up further "Good. I need to speak with you. Tohru relayed some...interesting news to me."

"Ah…" I really should have seen this coming "Can we speak after work?"

"I'm in no rush." Fafnir comments "Besides...I believe you normally stop working in half an hour."

I really don't want to know why he knows my shift times and everything.

"It seems you have formed a...unique...relationship with the Great Mother." He begins immediately, staring at me as if I'm a particularly interesting bug "How did this come to pass? She has not been seen for...quite some time."

"Well…" I begin, rather awkwardly as I try to think about how I explain to him that it was a complete accident which led to her arrival "Lucoa...asked me to clear up a misunderstanding with her summoner."

"Ah yes…" He grimaces "I was made aware of her unfortunate position...why she puts up with that boy is beyond me...but you were saying?"

"Yes…" I clear my throat "I...I decided to have a look at the summoning ritual he used...considering he had been planning to summon a demon."

Fafnir stares at me blankly, then raises a lone eyebrow "Was he stupid or something? Trying to summon a Demon at his pathetically young age. He should consider himself lucky that an imp did not fling itself through the portal and tear the flesh from his bones."

"...Quite." I nod "I did explain the dangers of summoning without a type of safeguard...although he is quite young so likely didn't consider the possibility of the summoned creature being anything malevolent in nature."

"That just makes him more of a fool." Fafnir shakes his head "However, you were saying."

"I decided to have a look at the summoning circle...and accidentally triggered it…"

"Which is when the Great Mother appeared." Fafnir finishes my sentence, with a strange look on his face "A summoning….Lucoa did this because she has a big heart and it too kind for her own good...The Great Mother though…." he narrows his eyes and now is leaning over me "...Hmmm...how strange."

"Is…" I gulp, trying not to feel too uncomfortable with how he's staring at me "Is there an issue?"

"...For the moment? No…" He straightens himself and removes his being from my personal space "But...for the time being...I shall keep a much closer eye one you…" he steps away from me "Have a pleasant day...Emiya Shirou." and like that, he vanishes into thin air.

Its not like a servant dematerialising.

One moment he is there, the next he isn't. He isn't anywhere near me at least, the smell of rot which accompanies him is long gone.

And I'm left to consider the news that Fafnir has now decided to keep a much closer eye on me than before…

The worst part about that is I probably won't know where he is at any given time.

I let out a rather weighty sigh as I consider my position here. I should probably return home. Tiamat still needs clothes for herself.