Chapter 8
The Guardian Who Failed
The gears of fate are turning.
I dreamed to be a Hero of Justice.
I wished to save those who needed to be saved.
To save all whoever they may be and what actions they took.
And yet the gears of fate continue to turn.
I find myself in a field of blades.
It is in contrast to the promised dream.
Where blades of grass and flowers beckoned to me.
Now, only blades of steel sing their hollow tones.
They call to me, reminding me what I failed to do.
This is what the gears of fate decreed and yet I want to scream.
I want a hammer that can shatter the machine they call fate.
I want an anvil to reforge that fate.
I want to reforge that fate into a blade.
And yet, these hands hold nothing.
Shirou ran through the empty streets of Fuyuki, his eyes flickering side to side as he ran. Holding Sakura's hand, he essentially dragged her as she tried to keep up.
"Senpai... Please slow down..." Sakura panted out, her breath ragged, unlike Shirou's consistent ones.
Shirou looked around with a panicked expression. Until he spotted a little cafe with still turned on lights.
"Okay..." he muttered before turning to Sakura. "We can rest once we reach that cafe over there."
Sakura looked at the said cafe with a haggard expression before nodding.
As they made their way to the cafe, Shirou rethought their options. Was refusing help from Tohsaka truly a wise move? Was attempting to exit the barrier a foolhardy attempt?
As they entered the cafe, these thoughts plagued his mind.
His thoughts stilled, however, as he was about to bump into Sakura who had halted suddenly.
"Is something wrong, Sak-"
"If you are attempting to exit the bounded field, it's a fool's errand," a deep, familiar tone said to them from within the cafe.
Shirou's eyes widened as he pulled Sakura aside and got in between her and Archer.
The "bow-wielding" servant sipped his tea nonchalantly at a table directly adjacent to the entrance. His posturing and tone giving an aura of dismissiveness.
"Are you sure that the bounded field just denies entrance to servants?" Shirou asked tensely, following up Archer's words to strike up a conversation as he tried to think of a way to escape the unexpected situation.
"Rin tried to exit too as well as did the master of Berserker but they weren't able to escape," Archer coolly rebuked, putting his tea down. "I recommend you come in so that the bug can't listen in."
At his words, Sakura flinched, something Shirou took note of. "How can we trust you?" Shirou asked with distrust.
"You can't," Archer nonchalantly replied, shrugging his shoulders to display his indifference. "Especially when you are trying to protect the now biggest target in the war. Although..."
He paused as a massive smirk formed on his face. "The masters of this war are quite wacky so they may find the challenge appealing... Much to us, servants, inconvenience."
"..." Shirou remained adamant at staying out of the cafe, his feet now slowly sliding his way out. "But I don't think Tohsaka is one to be... Wacky..." he commented.
"You hear that, Master? He doesn't think of you weirdly so I think you can say hi," Archer said out loud, his eyes going past Shirou.
At the servant's words, Shirou looked behind him slightly fearing that the bad-tempered Rin would be there.
Only to just find the deserted street.
"Senpai!" Sakura cried out.
By the time the sound of a chair falling reached his ears, he felt the tip of a blade pressed at his throat.
"The fact that you fear Rin more than me is quite idiotic of you," Archer snidely commented as he kept the blade against Shirou's throat. "Tell me, how well do you know the girl you are protecting?"
Shirou, despite the blade poised at his throat, shifted a bit so he would be more in Archer's way of Sakura. "Enough that I would give my life for her," he boldly proclaimed.
"But is that your ideals speaking or your bond?" Archer inquired.
"..." Shirou's eyes narrowed in both growing frustration and defensiveness. "My bond."
Archer remained silent at Shirou's words, his steel-grey eyes seemingly discerning whether the boy before him spoke the truth. "And would you still defend her even if it ends the world?"
Shirou remained silent, contemplating the servant's words carefully. He felt Sakura grip his shirt tightly, seemingly afraid that he would leave her.
He too was afraid he was going to leave himself.
"I..." he began but failed to conjure any words to follow up. This further served to make Sakura grip his shirt even tighter.
"I wanted to be... A hero of justice..."
"Wanted to be?"
"Yes but I failed."
This was the reason why Kiritsugu failed, Shirou realized.
It was because his old man lost himself in his ideals. The crushing weight of what he needed to sacrifice destroyed any conviction left.
"Senpai..."
The wannabe hero of justice turned his eyes to look at Sakura who refused to meet his gaze.
"I will save her," Shirou declared before turning his gaze back upon Archer. "And I refuse to believe that I can't."
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise before a small, soft smile formed on her lips. Her grip slackened a bit as well, as she now only held on for reassurance rather than desperation.
Archer stared into Shirou's reflective golden eyes. His arm not wavering as he held the blade still and firm.
And yet, a small smile formed on his face. "Interesting," he simply said.
He then lowered his blade and walked back to his seat. After seating himself down, he smirked. "Your answer is quite reassuring," he stated as he leaned on the table. "But do you have the power to protect her? Are you sure she isn't protecting you?"
Illyasviel strolled down the empty streets, her voice humming a small German folk tune. Her legs seemingly have a small hop in each step.
Behind her, Berserker, Sella, and Leysritt obediently followed.
"Is Berserker handling the generator well?" Illya asked, turning around and walking backward while looking at the said servant.
Sella looked behind Berserker and nodded. "Yes, the sleigh is holding up nicely," she confirmed.
"That's good! We can play all the video games today! And finally, use a PlayStation 5 and that new Xbox! My evil plan is coming together! Mwahahaha!" Illyasviel laughed villainy.
Her maid merely blankly looked at her with some hints of exasperation.
"You're a genius, Illya," Leysritt applauded flatly.
"Leysritt, it is Lady Illyasviel," Sella corrected followed with a small sigh.
"Now, now, you guys will make me cry if your sisterly love falls apart for my sake!" Illyasviel declared, spinning around. When she finally faced them once more, a cutesy tearful expression was firmly on her face. "Oh, my heart! My heart can't take it!"
"Do you require a stimulant, Illya?" Leysritt flatly asked, unfazed in Illya's act despitefully believing something was wrong. Though, she did flinch a bit at the little glare Sella sent her way.
"Oh yeah!" Illyasviel perked up, a big grin on her face. "Let's get some coffee and donuts too!"
After all, tomorrow will be very chaotic.
Rin rubbed her eyes as she awoke from her nap. A headache throbbing in her head as she massaged it.
"Archer!" she called out verbally, her voice carrying the irritation. "Ugh..." Archer get me some water...
"There is some on your left, Rin."
"Oh, thanks..." With the response given, she turned to her left and found a simple glass of water greeting her. "Ugh... Why do I have this massive headache..." she groaned.
She then took the class of water and chugged it. "Ugh..." The water is stale, Arch-
Her vision and the world suddenly became blurry and then black as her body fell unconscious back on her bed.
Sorry, Rin. Archer apologized mentally to his adorable master. Unfortunately, this chance is too great to pass up or remain idle.
Strangely enough, Archer felt a sense of excitement at the upcoming events. For one, the mold of the Fourth Holy Grail War was destroyed with the summoning of Ichigo Kurosaki. Then there was the prospect that perhaps his guilt-filled path may close, however small it may be.
At first, he wanted to simply kill Shirou Emiya but now... He was given the chance to kill the existence called EMIYA without spilling the blood of an innocent version of himself.
How could he not be excited or giddy?
"Sakura, tell me, who do you think is stronger? You or Shirou?" he asked the poor timid purple-haired girl behind Shirou.
Though, if they just get in the damn cafe...
"Who is the liability? Who needs to be protected?" His questions dug straight deep into the heart of the issue he had. An issue that he needed to address.
Shirou remained silent at his words, his mind now thrown into doubt as he felt his confidence in himself drop. After all, who wouldn't after confronting the fact that the person you swore to protect was protecting you?
"Senpai is strong," Sakura said quietly, just barely loud enough for both of them to hear. She then gripped Shirou's shirt tighter. "He is the strongest..."
Archer stared long and hard at Shirou, taking note of the long look, hammering heart, and the small smile that eventually took hold at Sakura's words.
If love could truly grant salvation... A small, melancholic smile formed on Archer's lips.
"Very well. You guys must have been up all night, want some breakfast?" he inquired as he stretched a bit. "Just take a seat and get comfortable."
"C'mon, Leysritt! Is that all you got?!" Illyasviel boasted with a massive grin on her face as her character demolished her maid's video game character with continuous stream attacks.
Leysritt deigned to remain silent as she looked at her controller. "Sella, help," she pleaded monotonously, looking to her sister.
However, the said other maid remained silent and looking afar. "Lady Illyasviel, shall I welcome the guest?" she asked.
"Ah, right," Illyasviel groaned, stopping her unending combination. "No need to, an uninvited guest does not deserve such honors."
"As you wish, my lady," Sella said, bowing her head a bit in acknowledgment. She then passively continue watching them play their games, her eyes sweeping briefly over the piles of video games left untouched.
Leysritt, meanwhile, looked to her controller than with intricate and purposeful movements of her fingers, her character moved. It blocked Illyasviel's barrage of attacks and then followed up with a swift counter strike.
"Eh?!" Illyasviel gasped melodramatically, shocked at the sudden attack. "The first strike upon myself!"
"Prepare yourself, Illya," Leysritt said monotonously, her eyes slightly narrowing. "I have mastered the game."
Before she could say anything else, however, Illyasviel tapped her attack button once. That one little attack ended the match due to Leysritt's character already at near-zero health.
"Haha! I win, again!" Illyasviel declared excitedly, getting up and doing a small victory sign at her defeated maid.
"Another round?" Leysritt asked, her eyes looking up at her master with what was akin to emotionally stunted puppy eyes.
Before Illyasviel could respond, however, the sound of insects cricketing entered their ears. "Brat," a grouchy, disgusting voice rang out with what seemingly was the last of their elderly voice cords.
"My lady, he has arrived," Sella unceremoniously declared.
"Okay. Hey, Sella, could you make some popcorn for all of us? Make sure it's sweetened or caramelized!" Illyasviel requested, seemingly ignoring Sella's announcement and the arrival of their uninvited guest.
"As you wish," Sella bowed in acknowledgment and made her way to the makeshift kitchen comprising of moved furniture, wires, and a single microwave.
Illyasviel then turned back to Leysritt and the game. "Okay, let's do one more round and then change games. I want to try this one out."
"Arrogance despite the doom you wrought upon us?"
She didn't bother turning around and deigned to simply shrug dismissively. "What would you have me do? If you wanted, you could simply deal with the other cause. Yet, you barge into my time uninvited and call me arrogant?" she giggled a bit as she refocused on the game. "Perhaps you need an etiquette tutor again."
Zouken Matou gruffed in annoyance, seemingly unfazed by the Einzbern's words. "You have no hope of achieving the holy grail so why do you try this hard?" he inquired harshly.
"It's fun," Illyasviel responded simply as she found herself on the backfoot in her bought with Leysritt. She tried to best to maneuver her character out of the way of her maid's unrelenting attacks. "Jeez, Leysritt!"
"I have surpassed you, Illya," Leysritt monotonously declared. "I have become the master."
"Mu! Sella, help me!" Illyasviel groaned as her health bar rapidly depleted.
"Here's your popcorn, lady Illyasviel," Sella said as she approached with a bag of popcorn.
Zouken Matou grit his teeth more, his patience and dignity now wounded with Illyasviel's dismissal of his presence. Yet, he could not act out now.
His eyes wandered to the overpowering servant of madness. The being glared at him with its golden eyes, its feral appearance, and black sword causing some fear to wander into his dead heart.
"I propose an alliance once more," he spoke up, his face firmly on a frown and his eyes constantly wandering to Berserker. "As you know, I control Sakura whose power is great but who is naive."
Illyasviel remained silent at his words seemingly pondering on his words. This gave him a small sense of validation that his words may bear fruit.
So, he continued. "With her and you, the incoming storm that approaches us can be annihilated."
"You asked me why I fight for the right to obtain the Holy Grail," Illyasviel began, finally turning to face Zouken. "But why do you fight? Why do you continue to scheme? What do you seek?"
She approached Zouken, her previously enthusiastic eyes now emotionlessly staring down him. "For victory? For pride? Or perhaps... For immortality? Tell me, old friend, why do you continue to struggle for life?"
Zouken briefly widened his eyes in shock, taken aback by the words Illyasviel spoke. Then, his eyes narrowed and a deep frown took hold of his face. "You are mere manufacture of her, do not lecture me in her name," he glared, his aging voice showcasing anger for not himself but some other for once.
Or perhaps... Fear of what she thought of him.
"Have you truly lost sight of what we tried to accomplish in the first place? Of why we traveled to this island for?" Illyasviel continued, slowly closing the gap between them. "Your fear has consumed you, old friend."
By the time she finished, she was right in front of the Matou.
The mall echoed their words and yet the five of them were the only ones to hear them.
Zouken continued to glare at Illyasviel, his ancient body began to slowly step back despite his conviction within his heart.
"We sought to restore the Third Magic, we envisioned ourselves finding the Root, and we continue to seek for resolution of our wish. Have you truly forgotten? Or have you decided to disrespect and give up on it?"
Zouken felt a bit lost for words his eyes seemingly permanently glaring at what deemed a pale imitation of a woman he once admired. "You say that and yet you had your descendants implant you into them, making you and the Einzbern clan into one entity," he pointed out.
"A choice we had decided upon for the sake of our wish, a wish I continue to dedicate all of whom I have and continue to embody," Illyasviel rebuked. She then walked past Zouken. "Tell me, Zolgen, do you still have dreams?
"Have you ever dreamed beyond the nightmare you trapped yourself in?"
She then walked up to Berserker and smiled. "Dreams birth hope, hope birth aspirations. Combine this with magic and you have a miracle."
Archer pointed his blades downwards in his usual casual stance. Even people who never wielded a blade could see the obvious openings in his defenses. Unprotected chest, head, and back. Unreadied blades that seemingly are not ready to strike at an opponent.
Shirou took note of these openings, his golden eyes and mind trying to determine whether those were intentional or not. It must be, he thought, deciding that it was indeed intentional.
Doubt swelled in his mind as he now tried to determine if he should attempt to exploit it.
"Thinking is a death sentence in battle," Archer warned as he began to approach Shirou in a casual stride. "Think, you die." He then charged the poor boy, his twin swords trailing behind him in his hands.
Shirou, equipped with a simple katana commandeered from an abandoned police station. A blade whose purpose was to uphold honor, respect, and criminality.
A blade that seemed contradictory and hypocritical at first, passing modern glance. After all, what do honor and respect have to do with dealing with drugs?
Shirou blocked Archer's opening strike, playing defensive as the servant's speed was too fast for him to go on the offensive.
The servant quickly pushed aside the katana and lashed out with a roundhouse kick to Shirou's abdomen.
Shirou was sent flying into the wall, crashing into the tatami mats that cushioned his impact.
Sakura, who stood on the sidelines, flinched at the impact and was highly tempted to reach out to him. Yet, she stopped herself. "Senpai..."
Shirou staggered on his feet, shaken by the impact given to him.
"Tell me, did you see me?" Archer asked as he walked towards Shirou, stopping a bit away from the boy. When he received a glare, a grim expression settled on his face. "Then let us continue."
Sakura stared at the one-sided slaughter, worry consuming her, and yet she did not act on it. After all, the training that Shirou was undergoing was necessary.
The sound of a sword snapping rang in the dojo. The clattering of metal on the floor followed.
Archer sighed as he looked at Shirou who held the hilt of what was once a katana. "Continue," he said as he approached Shirou once more.
Shirou, dumbfounded at his lack of blade and now the continuing of the spar between him and Archer, only had time to brace himself for the attack.
I need a weapon! he thought in a panic, his eyes instinctually drawing themselves to the married blades that Archer wielded.
"Trace on!"
Rin awoke from her sleep, her entire body sore and haggard. "Ugh... What happened?" she questioned, her eyes scanning her bedroom. Yawning, she got up and made her way to the windows.
Only for her to stop as she saw the cup of water and note on her night table.
Feeling thirsty and slightly curious at the note, she first opened the note and then took a sip of the water. "Sorry for drugging your drink...?" she read, slightly confused and groggily.
Once her words and the contents of the letter sunk into her mind, she spat out the water. Her memories of what had happened previously now resurfacing back to her mind.
"Archer!"
Chapter 8 End
I can't go ignoring everyone else can I? Especially since Illya's growth is tied to them.
There will be one more chapter of this lull to finally give the rest of the cast some actual character as I noticed I did neglect it. And I know you all will be like: "We already know who they are!" The positivities of making a spin-off of an established work...
I still want to be somewhat of a respectable author even if I make fanfiction lol.
I hope this phase doesn't devolve though.