Fourth Morning (1)

...Illya decided that her mattress, as massive and overly stuffed as it was, simply didn't match up to the small and cozy one that she had enjoyed at her real home, however short that duration had been.

Fighting off a yawn as she lazily rolled herself out of bed the Homunculus briefly wondered where everyone had wandered off to. After the absolute mess that had been them stumbling onto each other in the baths she wasn't certain in the slightest where they all stood in relation to one another. Were they friends? Awkward acquaintances? Allies of convenience?

"Urgh...never thought I would miss the Einzbern castle..."

At least everyone back 'home' had the decency to be boring and dismissive of her to a laughably uniform degree. Having to deal with her both her brother and his two...friends? Lovers?

Whatever. Having to deal with them was exhausting in a way that completely slipped her powers of description.

And it was...actually kind of fun.

Nose catching the scent of something delicious cooking Illya found her body automatically moving towards the kitchen, stomach rumbling slightly as she belatedly remembered that the last few meals had been skipped in favor of fighting and flight, followed shortly afterwards by aforementioned exhaustion.

"...not how it is supposed to be done!"

"I've seen recipes and copied them, it will be fine."

"And why are you making the omelet first?! It is customary for a warm beverage to be served, then some manner of toast followed by the main course itself! That is always how milady has taken her meals!"

"Oh. She didn't mention anything when she was staying with me."

"No doubt she was merely being polite-why are you sprinkling the toppings over the egg after folding it in half?! You are supposed to ensure that it is all within the confines of the egg!"

Shaking her head in disbelief Illya strolled into the room, noting with some amusement that Sella looked to be on the verge of an emotional breakdown, Shirou as calm as always as the Homunculus maid dithered around him while trying to watch three different cooking stations at once.

"Good morning, Onii-chan."

Turning to face her the young man calmly nodded his head, responding, "Good morning, Illya."

"Greetings, Milady. How did you manage to eat anything this barbarian prepared while you were staying at his place of residency?"

Sensing an opportunity to tease the usually uptight and stiff maid Illya grinned, stating, "Onii-chan is a really good cook, Sella. He follows all of the recipes perfectly and the food he makes is always delicious. I think it's great that Onii-chan is now here to cook for us!"

Having to hold back an open cackle at the horrified expression the Homunculus now sported the smaller albino turned her attention to her brother as he returned to his work, stating, "Can you find Sakura and Caren, Illya? The food is almost ready and they're no doubt rather hungry."

"Sure, I guess..."

Not entirely happy at being told to find Caren of all people the young woman nonetheless complied, moving out of the kitchen to the rest of the estate in search of her quarry.

She didn't have far to search.

The sounds of soft piano music reached her ears as she moved further in, curiosity getting the better of her as she approached a side room of the castle she had never bothered to fully explore.

Inside resided Sakura and Caren, the Matou calmly standing behind the other girl as she gracefully darted slim fingers over the instrument tucked away in a forgotten corner, eyes closed and locked in a seeming trance.

Illya wasn't too proud to admit that Hortensia was both incredibly skilled and impressive when viewed from afar, appearing like a truly divine holy maiden.

A shame about her rotten personality.

Deciding to sit on one of the various pieces of furniture located around the room Illya settled in to hear out the rest of the tune, not particularly worried about being back in the kitchen on time. She knew from experience that Sella would slow things down to a crawl by arguing with her brother over the best way to prepare and distribute the food.

Closing her eyes the Homunculus let the shifting and flowing music wash over her, taking the moment to fully relax amidst the madness of the Grail War.

"Would you like to convert, little girl? You seem to enjoy How He Loves rather immensely."

"It must be a truly inspiring piece, to still sound so good when played by such a black-hearted woman."

Not faltering in her performance one bit Caren serenely smiled, replying, "To refer to such a devout woman of the faith as black-hearted? Quite cruel of you but worry not, the Lord carries enough love in his heart for all of us. Even those of short temper and even shorter stature."

"He must indeed, to count you among one of his messengers."

"Big words from-"

An explosive sigh from Sakura cut off both arguing young women, an uncharacteristic display of emotion as her brow minutely furrowed.

"We are in a war where it is entirely likely we will have to rely on each other to survive, let alone be victorious. Your incessant arguing is becoming both irritating and actively detrimental. Either set aside your differences or simply attempt to avoid speaking with the other for the rest of our sakes."

Illya's jaw dropped, eyes wide at the uncharacteristic vitriol coming from the seemingly placid woman. Even Caren seemed caught off guard, blinking a few times at Sakura with open surprise.

Finding her tongue Illya shot back, "W-well she's annoying and constantly berating me! And I can't just not pay attention to her!"

Caren seemed equally irate, coldly stating, "She is immature and does not act as old as she claims to be."

Ignoring both of their comments Sakura calmly retorted, "Illya-sama? Caren-sama is a sharp tongued individual who has gone through most of her life treated by her father as if she does not exist, constantly suffering excruciating pain on a weekly basis that no amount of faith can completely nullify, even if she would proclaim otherwise."

The white-haired girl's fingers tightened over the hems of her robes, eyes narrowed as Sakura turned to face her.

"Caren-sama? Illya-sama, if what Shirou-sama told me is true, has grown up among a family that essentially raised her as a glorified means to an end, constantly modifying her body and soul while raising her to believe that her family abandoned her for another, suffering from constant nightmares due to her exposure to the corrupted Grail."

Voice colder than a frozen arctic tundra the Matou openly glared at the two shellshocked women.

"Since you have refused to acknowledge each other's pasts and respect the other, I deemed it necessary to do so for you. We are all alike more than we are dislike, trained and crafted by our elders or organizations to behave a certain way or accomplish a specific task, these machinations twisting us in unusual ways."

Turning on her heel the purple-haired girl strode out of the room, stating over her shoulder, "I will see you all at breakfast. Hopefully with greater accord between yourselves than you have displayed thus far."

The door closed with a final click, Illya and Caren in a minor state of shock at the verbal lashing and subsequent exposing of past...events.

Neither could bring themself to look at the other.

"...That is perhaps the most I have heard Sakura say in one sitting. Ever. I actually feel rather jealous that she did so for you."

"She would probably say it was for the both of us, not me."

The two girls warily eyed the other, Illya eventually sighing, asking, "So it's true? Your father never gave you any attention whatsoever?"

Lip curling in slight distaste Caren slowly replied, "He...was always more interested in Shirou and Sakura than he was in me. I spent many months with those two while in the company of my father and Kiritsugu Emiya."

A strange expression of vulnerability appeared briefly before being covered up by indifference.

"It's quite pathetic, truth be told. I have lived for the faith with happiness and joy my entire life and my father was not even a good or mentally sound man...yet I desired his attention all the same, going so far as to hate Sakura and Shirou in my lowest moments for being his favorites."

Illya was genuinely caught off guard by the young woman's admission, swallowing her scathing retort and instead saying, "I...wasn't supposed to be stuck in this body. Inbetween the constant experimentation and other modifications the Einzberns performed on me I was more or less meant to die like this at the culmination of the war. That's left me with...an abrasive personality that is, in all honesty, rather childish. And it's only been made worse by my jealousy of you and Sakura."

Illya forced herself to spit out her next words as Caren stared at her.

"You knew my Onii-chan in such and intimate and familiar way when I, the person he professed as wanting to save, barely knew the first thing about him or his past. That...has made me act unfair to you."

Both young women locked eyes, unsure of how to respond to the other's honesty-

-until Caren heaved a sigh, turning to the piano and slowly lowering the lid over the keys.

"The Lord must truly have his hands full, with individuals such as us being counted among his flock."

Illya let loose an un-laydlike snort of amusement, wryly remarking, "Funny, I've been thinking something pretty similar for days now."

Gradually rising to her feet Caren strode towards where the Homunculus was seated, offering a hand as she stated, "I will try to be less...me, if doing so bothers you. A small enough sacrifice to make and generosity is expected of the Lord's chosen."

Steadily meeting her gaze Illya replied, "And I'll try to understand that...well that you're you and not get angry so easily."

Moving to accept the Exorcist's hand the albino leaned forward-

-and felt her eye twitch as Caren retracted it with a deadpan expression, offering a 'victory' sign as she blandly stated, "Just kidding."

Unsure of whether to laugh or snarl Illya simply closed her eyes.

"You really are a bitch, you know that?"

"Perhaps. But you did say you would try to understand that I am me."

"And that is going to be a full time job. C'mon, Onii-chan and Sella made us a breakfast and I don't want to be told off for letting it get cold."

Nodding in acceptance the pair began their trek to the kitchen, Illya briefly pausing before shaking her head in disbelief.

Had...had she just made a friend?

Probably. Given the course of events the last few hours it made far too much sense that the people she would form relationships with would be mentally insane or broken in a few dozen brain places.


"So what should be our next course of action be? We have a number of different options to consider."

The residents of the Einzbern castle had met in the courtyard, spread out over the various chairs and soft grasses that comprised the attractive architecture.

Illya had settled herself into Shirou's lap before he could say or do otherwise, much to Sella's visible apprehension while Berserker had taken up a watch position on the castle roof, Assassin standing atop his head and peering out over the landscape from her further elevated position.

"First we should decide if we wish to remain here and await the Church's aid in eliminating or sealing the Ancestor or move ahead without it. While we would receive a certain method of extermination in the interim we would be static and reactionary, rather than capable of seizing any sort of initiative."

Illya considered Caren's words, posing, "What else would we do if we decide to 'seize the initiative'? We're still uncertain as to where the Apostle and controlled Masters are being kept, we would have to scout and find them all while avoiding the Vampire's own means of searching."

Sakura suggested, "While Jack does not have a typical Presence Concealment common to most Assassins she would nonetheless be well suited to such a task. We could remain on the move while she searches."

Shirou nodded, adding, "I received a number of Noble Phantasms and other such resources from Archer when I faced him, if we can ascertain the location of where the Masters are being kept I can wipe them out from afar, as long as some measure of collateral damage is acceptable."

While Illya wasn't pleased to hear about such a course of action...she had to admit that the line would have to be crossed at some point. She wasn't prepared to let her brother wipe out an entire city on her behalf, but a few dead innocents in exchange for stopping an Apostle Ancestor's plans? That was a fair enough trade.

"We are also ignoring a potential resource we possess that could draw out the Apostle's forces without fail. Her."

Pointing directly at Illya it was a predictable response from Shirou as he said, "That's not an acceptable plan of action-"

"Wait, Onii-chan. What do you mean, Caren?"

Calmly placing her hands in her lap the Exorcist explained, "The Ancestor has professed a desire to possess your eyes, has he not? And as a vessel for the Lesser Grail you will be needed for the actualization of the ritual. The Ancestor will have to confront and hunt you at some point in the future. Why not lure him in that way?"

Giving the option serious consideration-despite her brother's clear distaste for it-Illya slowly replied, "That's a possible option...but the question then is how do we go about ambushing or taking advantage of that? We-"

"Mommy? Am I interrupting something?"

"No, Jack. Go ahead, speak what's on your mind."

Jumping down from above the Servant silently landed and continued her explanation unabated.

"Oh, it's just that you told us to let you know if anyone bad approaches the castle."

Everyone present tensed, the small girl blithely continuing with, "And there are a lot of bad guys! Maybe, umm...a thousand? And they're all really weird looking, like people with animal faces! Oh, and the other Servants and Master people with the Vampire bad guy are also with them."

They all blinked at the innocently cheerful Servant, Illya groaning as she let her head impact the center of Shirou's chest with fatalistic resignation.

"So much for seizing the initiative..."


As the saying goes...'with friends like these, who needs enemies'?