Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi

Chapter 20: L'Imperatore (Part VI)

Shirou took a drink of water as a waiter took away his dirty plate and utensils, and replaced it with a fresh set. A moment later, and the meat course was served, filet mignon cooked medium rare, and served with a side of mashed potatoes. Compressed air popped as a bottle of red wine was opened, and poured into Shirou and Illya's glasses.

"Well…this has been a…heavy, dinner." Shirou remarked.

"Like I said, it's my turn to treat you to dinner." Illya began, and moistening her lips with a sip of California red. The tilt of her head as she took her drink just seemed to show off how…fine, and delicately her neck sloped down to her body.

"Did she have to wear an off the shoulders dress for tonight?" Shirou silently asked, and pointedly refraining from looking at his sister's suddenly…bouncy, chest. "Good gods…I remember when she was still a child…and that was barely a year ago. And she's my sister to boot!"

"I can't count how many times you've had me over for meals at your place back during the war." Illya continued, seemingly unaware – thankfully – of Shirou's mental woes. "And while I wouldn't say Sella and Leysritt don't know their way around the kitchen, they're nowhere near as good as you."

"What about you, though?" Shirou asked, genuinely curious.

Illya shook her head with a small smile. "Sorry," she said. "I'd be lost in a kitchen. Oh, I can probably put together something basic if I had to, but nowhere near this or your homely cooking. If so, then I might as well just treat you to dinner out in the best fine dining restaurant in this city. My family can afford it."

Shirou hummed while putting together a response. "Thank you very much." He finally said. "That said, you don't really have to repay me for having you over at my house so many times before. I don't really mind, to be honest."

"Well, I mind." Illya huffed, before winking at her brother. "Besides, you wouldn't be so rude to turn me down, would you?"

"I'm eating dinner with you, aren't I?" Shirou asked, and Illya laughed.

"Yes, you are." She said with a nod. "Enjoying the food?"

"Yes, of course." Shirou said, already cutting into his steak. "It's good food, and while some of it is new – like that risotto from earlier – and richer than what I'm used to, it's a nice change from the routine."

Illya grinned. "I'm glad you feel that way." She said, holding out her wineglass for a toast.

Shirou smiled back, and clinked his wineglass to return his sister's toast. "Will you be staying long?" he asked.

"In this city, you mean?" Illya asked back. "Or do you mean this country in general?"

"Both." Shirou said, and forking some steak into his mouth.

Illya hummed while putting her response together. "Well," she finally said. "I'll be using this city as a base from which to operate in Japan for the near future. As for how long I'll stay in the country…that depends. Honestly-speaking, I only need to stay here to tie up loose ends, really, and then it's back to Europe."

"I see." Shirou said with a nod. "I…can't say I'm looking forward to saying goodbye. Now that you're back, I was actually thinking of getting to know you better. We didn't really have the time to do that, not properly at least, back during the war."

"You can always come back with me to Europe." Illya offered.

Shirou laughed and shook his head. "I doubt your family would welcome me." He said. "Besides, this is my home. I can't just leave it behind."

"Hmm…I guess you can't." Illya said with a small sigh.

The conversation stilled then, the two siblings focusing on their meal for the next several minutes. As he ate, though, Shirou's thoughts turned to some of his concerns about Illya's plans, pushed in that direction by her mention of 'tying up loose ends'.

"Hey, Illya…?" he began.

"Yes?" Illya prompted.

"Are you…that is…will you be going after…" Shirou began to ask, only to trail off as Illya tutted and waved a finger.

"Not over dinner." She firmly said, and after a moment, Shirou nodded.

"Fair enough."

"Will you kill Shinji?"

Shirou and Illya walked in a nearby park after dinner, the two of them wearing long and heavy coats against the cold night air. There was a brisk breeze too, blowing against their coats, and causing Illya's platinum locks to flutter around her neck and over her shoulders.

"If I have to, I will." Illya admitted, crouching down by the fish pond to look closely at the koi swimming under the water.

"But," Shirou began. "Didn't you say you were willing to show mercy?"

Illya glanced up at her brother, her crimson eyes meeting his golden ones. "I did." She said, and keeping eye contact while continuing to speak. "But, does he deserve it?"

"How can you even ask that question?"

"Like I said earlier today, Makiri could still find some ways to use Shinji Matou for his own ends." Illya replied. "In fact, you could even say killing Shinji would be merciful compared to what Makiri can use him for. Not to mention the responsible thing to do, again, depending on what Makiri could use him for. You know as well as I do what that monster is capable of."

Shirou looked away. "Yeah," he admitted, thinking about and remembering the climax of the Fifth Holy Grail War. "I do."

Illya sighed, and then stood up. "Even without that, though," she continued, while pacing along the edge of the fishpond, Shirou trailing after her. "You remember what he tried to do during the war. Tohsaka…she's your friend, isn't she? And while she's not my favorite person in the world, as a woman myself, I can sympathize."

Illya paused, and looked at Shirou in the eyes, her eyes as hard and cold as jewels. "Can you honestly tell me you can or have forgiven him for trying to rape Tohsaka when she was at his mercy?" she asked. "Are you even able to?"

Shirou couldn't answer, and after a moment, Illya narrowed her eyes. "Neither you nor Tohsaka have told Edelfelt either, have you?" she asked. "I understand. That woman…she's very protective of her family. Of course she is. For all the Tohsaka blood muddying her veins, her Edelfelt heritage shines bright, and that's the way they've always been. She wouldn't have shown Shinji Matou what little mercy she had if she knew that he'd tried to rape her sister. She'd have flayed him alive, torn out his bones, cut out his entrails, and force-fed him his own genitals before boiling him to death."

"That's…a bit…graphic, don't you think?" Shirou delicately asked.

"Edelfelts are hyenas." Illya replied with a shrug. "They're not the kindest animals in the world."

"I guess not." Shirou said with a sigh. "I…can't approve. But…even if you do what you have to do…just…just be as merciful as you can be. Even if he has to die, don't draw it out."

Illya stared at Shirou, who sadly stared back at her. After several moments, Illya sighed, and stepping closer, caressed a cheek with one hand. Then Shirou's eyes widened, as Illya leaned closer, and planted a kiss on his other cheek.

"You're kind, Shirou." She said with a smile. "Too kind for this cruel world we all live in. Too kind even, for your dream."

"…I hope I am." Shirou said after a moment, and smiling back. "I wouldn't want to become just like him."

Illya chuckled, still caressing his brother's face. "We are who we choose to be, Shirou." She said. "You don't have to become like him if you don't want to."

"Yeah, you're right about that."

"I'm worried."

"What?" Ayako responded to Rin's words, the other woman curled up next to Ayako under the sheets.

"Remember what I told you earlier?" Rin asked back. "About Einzbern's arrival, the news of their war against Matou's relatives in Europe, and how Einzbern's going to find and deal with Shinji once and for all?"

"Yeah…"

Rin stayed silent, and seemed to curl up even closer to Ayako than she already was. Ayako immediately turned from lying on her back to on her side, facing Rin before pulling her into a tight hug. "Come on." She urged. "It's not like you to be like this, at least not to me. Just let it out. No matter what it is, I won't judge you."

"…I was just thinking, that's all." Rin said.

"About what?" Ayako gently urged, and resting her chin on Rin's head.

"My parents…" Rin murmured. "…my father…he was a madman. Just because I got sick as a baby, he immediately decided to get a replacement as soon as possible. And when I recovered, he immediately decided my sister – my supposed replacement – was useless to him. Just deadweight to be disposed of, or a bargaining chip to be used for his ambitions in the future."

Ayako hummed to show she was listening, and Rin continued after a few moments. "Then of course our cousins in Finland decided to…reclaim, my sister." Rin said. "Something to be thankful for, in hindsight. If nothing else, Sakura was raised right, and away from the hands of my crazy parents."

"Uh-huh…and…?"

Rin laughed bitterly. "You know how my father reacted to that?" she asked.

"He only went through the motions," Ayako said, recounting what Rin had told her of the true story behind her and Sakura's relationship. "Reporting his kidnapped daughter to both the supernatural and normal authorities, but aside from that…he personally saw it as problem solved."

"And if Sakura ever came back," Rin concluded. "He expected she would be back as an enemy. And if not, he left behind something to try and force us to become enemies. All so he could have his…vision, of a future, where either of us would kill the other, and become famous for it."

Ayako was silent for a long time, and then Rin continued. "Not that my mother's any different." She bitterly said. "Oh, she cares…she really does…she's not like father in that sense…but in a way, that makes it worse."

"Because she cares for you, and for your father as well." Ayako said, and Rin nodded, nuzzling against Ayako's breasts.

"She loves us, and she still loves father." Rin said. "And that's the whole problem. She wants us to be happy, to be all we can be, but the only way she can see us getting all that is to follow our father's plans for us. And nothing any of us can say or do will change her mind."

"…that's not really your problem, is it?" Ayako said after a moment.

"Sakura spared Shinji's life." Rin quickly said. "But she left him homeless, and with ticking magical bombs wired into his body. And now she's told Einzbern about all that, and couldn't care less what Einzbern will do to him."

"And…?"

"Do you know why she did all that?" Rin asked.

"Didn't you say it was because Edelfelt thought that Old Man Matou could use Shinji's blood to bring him back to full power?" Ayako asked back. "Or something even worse?"

"Yeah…that's Sakura's reasoning." Rin said, again nodding and nuzzling against Ayako's breasts. "It's also more or less the same reasoning Einzbern's using to justify their killing of all of Matou's relatives."

"…Shinji's been judged because of his family." Ayako realized. "And you think Edelfelt would do the same to you? Judge you because of your parents?"

"Am I wrong?" Rin asked.

"You're an idiot." Ayako bluntly replied.

"…what?" Rin asked in a small voice, her body going completely still.

Ayako sighed. "You told me your cousin, Luvia, helped you get out of trouble over at the Clock Tower." She said. "Practically moved Heaven and Earth just to get you off with only a slap on the wrist. Your sister's also shared so much of her magical secrets with you, even talked with you about her troubles with your mother, and even seemed willing to accept it if you judged her for choosing her adopted mother over your shared birth mother."

"…yeah…they all did that…"

"Then don't be an idiot." Ayako said. "You're not being judged because of your parents, of your family. If anything, your family is being there for you. I mean, sure, your mother's still a problem, but there's no such thing as a perfect family. You just have to cope with that…roll with the bad things, and enjoy the good things. That's what a normal family is, in the end."

"Normal…" Rin echoed with a murmur. "…magi aren't normal."

"I don't know," Ayako said with a lighthearted tone. "Edelfelt seems fairly normal to me. Sure, she's got magic, none of which I've seen, but still…she seems normal enough to me. Same for Emiya, for all his superhero nonsense…and you? You're Edelfelt's sister, and your Emiya's magic teacher. And more than that, you're the girl I fell for. How can you be anything but normal?"

Rin was silent for a long time, and then she actually giggled. "Ayako, that sounded so lame." She said. "A lot of it didn't make sense either. But…thank you."

"Hey, that's why you're with me, right?" Ayako said, and pressing a kiss to Rin's forehead.

"Here you go."

Sakura raised an eyebrow as Rin passed her what looked like a business card come the following morning, before classes could start. "What's this?" she asked.

"Uncle Kariya's contact details." Rin answered.

"Oh, I see." Sakura said with a nod, and giving the card a look. "Huh…landline and cellphone numbers, and even an e-mail address. Yes, this should do nicely. Thanks, Rin."

"You're welcome, Sakura." Rin said with a nod, before heading off to her desk.

Sakura gave the card another look, and committing the details to memory, reached out through her telepathic link with her mother. "Hey, mom." She said.

"Yes, Sakura?" Elisa answered. She might not have the ability to use magic herself, but Sakura could, and that was enough.

"I have Kariya Matou's contact details." Sakura said. "Let's get in touch with him, and arrange a meeting."

"And if he doesn't want to meet?" Elisa asked.

"Then we lure him out, and make a meeting fait accompli." Sakura replied, Elisa's laughter echoing through their link.

"I'll take care of it." She said. "The details, please?"

"Here you go." Sakura said, and sending the details through their link.

"Hold on, I need to right that down, I don't have a photographic memory like you do." Elisa said, the line going quiet as the older woman hurriedly went and got pen and paper to write with. "Let's see…landline numbers…cellphone number…and an e-mail address…okay, I have it down. Just let me double-check…alright, just leave it to me."

"Please and thank you." Sakura thought, and the impression of a nod echoed through their link.

"You're welcome, Sakura." Elisa said, and then Sakura pulled her thoughts back.

"Alright then." She thought with a sigh, and turning her head to look out the nearby window. "The Kariya Affair should be in hand soon enough. Though, that still leaves the loose end that's Shinji Matou partly untied…here's to hoping Einzbern fixing that soon enough. If not…I might as well just trigger the fail safes remotely, it's not like anyone's going to miss that little shit."

Sakura blinked as the school bells sounded the start of first period, and then rose to her feet as the teacher arrived, bowing with the rest of her class at the duty student's signal. Then they all sat down, Sakura's first period things already arranged on her desk even before class started, where everyone else was still rummaging about.

The Japanese educational experience…how unexpectedly…refreshing…

"Sakura, I need to talk to you." Ayako said after making sure Rin was nowhere nearby.

"…can I help you?" Sakura cautiously ventured, simultaneously surprised and curious what Ayako wanted to talk about that she didn't want Rin around to hear.

"You need to talk to your sister." Ayako replied.

Sakura stared.

Ayako stared back

Sakura kept on staring.

Ayako kept on staring back.

Sakura sighed. "What seems to be the problem now?" she asked.

"I'll get straight to the point, then." Ayako said, before crossing her arms and leaning down to Sakura, who was still sitting at her desk. "Your sister thinks you might or already are judging her based on how her, well, your parents were like. And still are, in your mother's case. Before you protest, though, she does have something of a point, considering how you treated Shinji. Not that I actually care about that little sneak, of course. Good riddance."

"…seriously?" Sakura managed.

"Would I joke about this?" Ayako countered.

"…fair." Sakura said while pinching the bridge of her nose. "Yeah, I need to talk to Rin."

"That's a good idea." Ayako said approvingly, before suddenly looking curious as Sakura pulled out a pendulum. She swung it through the air in perfect circles, the rose quartz pendant glimmering as it flew on a golden chain.

"Oh, there she is." Sakura said as she put the pendulum away, and getting up from her seat, went to have a chat with her sister.

"Wait, you're going to talk to her now?" Ayako asked with wide eyes.

"Yes." Sakura replied in a matter-of-fact way.

"…uh…just…go easy on her, alright?" Ayako asked, only for Sakura to look at her like she just grew a second head.

"What?" she asked. "No way…issues like these need to be dealt with up front, and ASAP. Otherwise, they'll fester and go bad, like an infected wound. Yes…that's a good analogy. An even better one is a boil that needs to get lanced and then cauterized."

Ayako could only stare as Sakura walked away, nodding approvingly to herself. Once Sakura was gone, Ayako slapped a hand on her forehead.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

"We need to talk."

"Eh?" Rin barely managed to say, before Sakura grabbed her arm, and…

Blackdarknothingcoldemptynullvoidvacantblankbaregloomshadowunlitinky

…Rin slumped against the rooftop railing, even as Sakura collapsed on the floor nearby, breathing hard and fast, blood flowing from her nose.

"…teleportation…success…" Sakura gasped, before grinning a bloody smile, and raising a fist triumphantly into the air. "…I see this as an absolute win!"

"Sakura…what the fuck?" Rin exploded, before rushing over to help her sister.

"Let's get this out of the way then." Sakura said, staring into her sister's face right over her. "Don't be stupid."

"What?" Rin asked in complete stupefaction at the non sequitur.

"Do you really think I'd treat you like I treated Shinji Matou?" Sakura asked.

"Alright, who's been talking?" Rin asked in her turn, sounding and looking very annoyed. "Wait, no, that's a stupid question. Only one person could know about that, damn it, Ayako."

"Don't blame your girlfriend." Sakura said. "She's just concerned, that's all. You should be thanking her instead, for bringing this up, so we can deal with it quickly before it festers."

Rin huffed and crossed her arms. "Well, what am I supposed to think?" she asked defensively. "You…"

"First of all," Sakura said while forcing herself up into a sitting position. "There's a world of difference between you and Shinji Matou. You may have a martyr's complex – we'll talk about that later – but that still says well of you and your sense of responsibility compared to that womanizing sneak Shinji Matou. Second, your, well, our parents might be crazy, but mental illnesses aren't necessarily hereditary, especially given the whole nature vs nurture debate. You've also proven by your past behavior that you're nothing like your parents. And third, neither of us have blood that can be used in some kind of vampiric ritual like Shinji Matou's can. Long story short, I've got no reason to judge you because of your parents."

"…it's not that simple." Rin insisted after a moment, and her mouth fell open when Sakura nodded in agreement.

"No, it isn't." Sakura said, getting up and staying up despite a wobble in her legs. She pinched her nose to stop the bleeding, and then offering a hand, helped Rin up. "But it's a start."

"To clearing the air between us?" Rin asked.

"Yes."

"…thanks."

Sakura smiled a bittersweet smile. "We're family, Rin." She said. "Sisters, even…as much as I hate the truth, the truth is Tokiomi and Aoi are my parents too. Being raised by our grandmother's relatives doesn't change that fact. So every time you doubt our relationship, just remember…"

"…if I'm to be judged by our parents," Rin finished for Sakura. "Then so would you."

Sakura nodded.

"Exactly."

Helicopters roared their way across the skyline of Fukuoka City, sunlight gleaming on white and black paint with gold highlights. Most of the people just ignored them, though, with the few who cared only giving them passing notice before returning to their daily routine. Airspace officials paid more notice, naturally, but it only took a few minutes of conversation and cross-checking before they moved on to the next issue that needed their attention.

Eventually, the helicopters arrived at a hotel in the city's high-end district, one of them landing on the rooftop helipad. Platinum hair billowed with the wind from the helicopter's blades, as Illya left the helicopter and briskly crossed the rooftop for the elevator.

"He is here?" she asked the moment the elevator doors were closed.

"We still haven't located his exact position," Sella replied. "But yes, Shinji Matou should be in this city."

"Excellent news." Illya said with a nod. "Once we find him, we can finally put him down once and for all. One more link in the chain of infection that binds Makiri Zolgen to this World wiped clean."

"And…Kariya Matou?" Sella ventured.

"We will deal with him next." Illya said with a nod, before her eyes narrowed. "That said, Kariya Matou requires careful handling. So much so, that I'll let Edelfelt make the first move there."

"My lady?"

"Kariya Matou represents an opportunity," Illya explained. "Not just for our enemies, but also for us and our allies. And I don't plan on throwing it away, until I am sure we have absolutely no need for it."

"Very well, my lady." Sella said. "It will be as you say."

Illya nodded. "I imagine the only difficulty in actually finding Shinji Matou is his homeless status?" she asked after a couple of moments.

"Yes." Sella said with a nod, even as the doors opened and they exited onto their floor. "The slums are fairly expansive, a labyrinth even, and the locals not the most cooperative. We've had to throw around fairly large sums to confirm Shinji Matou's presence."

Illya huffed. "Well, I guess too much of a good thing is a fact." She said. "As fitting as Edelfelt turning that spineless, sniveling runt into a homeless pauper and beggar is, it has unexpectedly become an obstacle for the achievement of our goals."

"As you say, my lady." Sella said, before opening the door to their suite. Inside, computers hummed as both homunculi and Human vassals worked at their stations. Most ignored Illya's arrival, but a few made to stand, only for Illya to wave them down.

"Carry on." She said, and following Sella further into the suite.

"I have twelve scouts following up on proof of Shinji Matou's presence across the city." Sella said as they arrived at a map table. Pulling over a marked map of Fukuoka, the homunculus pointed out the last reported presence of their scouts. Then she gestured at an area marked by a circle drawn around the whole city area. "I also have another two hundred familiars looking for leads we can follow-up on for more proof."

"And from which we can zero in on his location." Illya said.

"As you say, my lady." Sella said with a nod.

Illya nodded herself, before regarding the map in silence for several moments. And then she smiled at Sella. "Keep at it, Sella." She said. "Inform me once you have Shinji Matou."

"It will be done, my lady." Sella said with a bow, and Illya's smile turned malicious.

Shinji Matou…it's past time for you to die.

A/N

Now, who is this person that Shirou doesn't want to become like? I'll give you two guesses, but you're only going to need one.

Does Sakura's attempted resolution of Rin's fears of being treated just like Sakura treated Shinji seem…rushed? Abrupt…of course, but as both she and Rin admit, the issue isn't nearly as simple or as easily-resolved as they want it to. The most important step, though, has been made: both sides have accepted its existence, and the need to face and overcome it.

After all, how can you even start to fix a problem if you don't see the problem in the first place?

Finally…didn't Illya promise Shirou to show mercy to Shinji? Well…it's Illya. What did you expect? Remember, 'normal' Illya isn't Fate/Kaleid's "Don't think, imagine!". 'Normal' Illya is more "Behead her first and violate her!" Now, which of these two is more like the Illya of this timeline?