Fourth Morning (9)
"...This is unexpected..."
"What is it? What's wrong, Caster?"
"The transfer of the girl's soul halted. And stop asking questions, I need to focus."
Sella forcibly bit her tongue as Shirou frowned, Caster leaning further into her craft as the markings that had wound across the three separate bodies halted, shivering as if they were attempting to move but were held in place by some unknown or inexorably powerful force.
He once more cursed himself for not being well versed in the arts of the soul, if he was he might be able to do something more than just sit and wait.
Helpless.
"W-what in the, is that-GRK?!"
All eyes snapped to Caster as the Servant abruptly stiffened, teeth bared as the previously immobile lines of power connecting Illya's old, wounded body to the new one began to glow, shifting from angry red of Command Seals to a pulsating and comforting yellow-white, once more making the journey with far greater urgency than before.
It was Sella's gasp that next drew the redhead's attention as she stared disbelievingly at the twisting skeins of energy.
"Those...those are the Archmage's circuits, the ones of the Greater Grail! How are they-"
A low thrumming noise began to emanate from the shining circuits as they began to wind themselves around the new body Illya was to inhabit, forming graceful patterns of connected prana channels in the way an artist might create a painting, all pleasing swirls and soothing waves of glowing lines as Caster began to wheeze from exertion-
-and all at once the bass hum ceased, the Servant stumbling forward as the final pathways transferred over and brought her task to an end, Kuzuki at her side in an instant.
"Are you all right, Caster?"
"Y-yes, I will be, but that was...tiring. Afford me a moment, please."
Shifting to her astralized form the Servant vanished from view, Sella and Shirou crowding around Illya's new body, open expressions of hope and apprehension decorating their features.
"Should...shouldn't she be making some kind of movement by now? If everything went well?"
"I don't know. I've never seen anything like this done before-"
A sudden gasp for air left the teenaged body before them, ruby eyes flying wide as limbs weakly twitched and scrabbled for nonexistent traction, Shirou and Sella instantly moving forward.
"Milady?! Milady, can you hear us?!"
Briefly rolling in their sockets the red orbs finally managed to focus on the taller Homunculus, a moment of confusion crossing Illya's features...before a small, heartfelt smile appeared.
"My breasts are as big as yours now, Sella."
The flat of the maid's hand found the crown of Illya's head, a pained yelp leaving her charge as her hands clumsily flew up to the struck section-
-and she was promptly engulfed in a hug, Sella sniffling slightly as she grumbled, "It's not may fault I was made this way, Milady..."
Returning the embrace Illya felt her gaze travel to Shirou, staring at her with an unreadable expression...that slowly shifted into one of tenderness as he hesitantly reached out a hand, gathering her own in his and gently squeezing, as if to reassure himself that she was real.
"See? Good as new, Onii-chan."
The slightest quirk of his lips was the only outward sign of his relief...that, and the way he held her hand just a little bit tighter.
"Yes. That you are."
"I upheld my end of the bargain. Now fulfill yours."
The five of them had started making their way up from the depths of the hidden warehouse, remaining bodies safely sequestered away while Caster glared at Sella, Shirou and Illya with clear irritation, the smaller Homunculus garbed in a spare cloak the Servant had been kind enough to provide...if only because it wasn't in their best interests for a nude young woman to be walking around with them.
"Bargain?"
Said young woman turned to her two companions with a curious expression, asking, "What bargain?"
Sella coughed and looked away with a sheepish expression, Shirou calmly explaining, "For Caster to ensure the transfer of your soul we made a deal, that by the end of the war she wouldn't be forced to return to the Throne of Heroes."
"Oh, I thought it would be something more difficult than that. Caster, you and...that guy-"
"Kuzuki-sensei."
"Right, Kuzuki-sensei. Thank you, Onii-chan. You and Caster go hide someplace then come find me when the war is over, I'll fulfill our end of the bargain."
The Servant scowled, inquiring, "Oh? And just how are you going to do that, exactly? And why do we need to hide?"
They strode out onto the street, Illya pointing into the distance as soon as they cleared the entryway.
"Does that answer both of your questions, Medea?"
A strangled cough left the woman, hooded body whirling to face Illya-
-and stopped dead as she followed the Homunculus's finger.
"That...that's..."
"The corrupted remnants of the Greater Grail, freed from the rules of the system."
Illya looked at the assembled group, Sella and Caster properly understanding the import of what was occurring...but it was Shirou's distant and slightly haunted look that drew her concern.
"Onii-chan, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Illya...just remembering, that's all. I was there for the last time the corrupted Grail went out of control in that exact spot."
Squeezing his hand tightly Illya glared into the distant sky...at the enormous void now floating above Fuyuki, a swirl of torn reality surrounding its edges as streams of blackened mud poured from the gaping wound to the ground beneath, smoke and flames already beginning to illuminate or obscure the horizon.
Justeaze hadn't been joking about the corruption taking advantage of the situation...it hadn't even been three minutes since she had been made the core of the Greater Grail.
"Homunculus, explain! What, what is that?!"
Shurgging disinterestedly Illya replied, "A glitch in the Grail system, Caster...a soul that wishes nothing but death and despair upon mankind. I was gifted the circuits and formula of the Greater Grail and can make use of a limited portion of its power as well as draw mana from the leylines that would otherwise be feeding said Grail...but the corruption has access to the mana that had already accumulated."
"And...just how much is that, exactly?"
"Not sure. Probably enough to coat a fifth of the world. Then you have to factor in things like all the mana and souls it will consume in the meantime..."
The Servant fell silent, Shirou's head snapping towards a distant object flying through the sky...that revealed itself to be a golden aircraft, lazily circling the void in a perfect arc, as if to protect it.
Illya saw the same thing and clicked her tongue in irritation, grumbling, "I suppose it would have been too much to ask that the Ancestor and his Servant finish off the King of Heroes, wouldn't it?"
"No. It was always meant to be me and him."
Shirou's calm and unyielding tone caused his sister to glare at him...more specifically, his battered and weary form, no doubt still clinging to the dregs of whatever mana he could channel.
"Onii-chan, you're in no condition to battle the King of Heroes, look at yourself!"
"But I'm probably the only one who can fight him. There's no one else. And I understand that you're far more powerful than you were before, Illya...but it's not a matter of power, only ability."
Grinding her teeth in frustration she growled, "And you're also still in the throes of Vampirization! How do you expect to fight when you're on the cusp of falling over dead-in more ways than one, I might add-any second?!"
"I'll manage, I always have."
The pair traded glares for a good few seconds, an unyielding battle of wills...and Illya broke first, turning to Caster and Kuzuki with a furious snarl.
"Get lost, find me after the war, if you die that's your fault. Go."
Caster didn't argue, astralizing immediately as the stone-faced man turned to Shirou, calmly stating, "I offered your history paper an extension, Emiya. Do remember to turn it in on time."
"I'll try, Kuzuki-sensei."
Resisting the urge to snarl at the completely removed conversation Illya nonetheless held her tongue, Sella hesitantly setting a hand on her shoulder before nervously stating, "Milady, now would be a good time to remain calm-"
"I am calm. Don't tell me to be calm, Sella."
"...Yes, Milady."
The dour faced man finally departed, Shirou and Illya returning to their staredown...before the Homunculus suddenly grabbed both her brother and maid's hands, dragging them to a nearby home where she promptly kicked down the door, startling the man and woman sitting inside, staring at the void overhead.
"Leave, and do not return to Fuyuki until the authorities say it is safe."
The bit of hypnosis caused the Human duo to depart without argument, the sound of a revving car briefly sounding before Illya ordered, "Berserker, Sella? Make sure no one interrupts us."
She felt a bit of mental confirmation from the gigantic Servant while Sella balked, stammering, "M-Milady?! What are you-"
"Sella? My orders stand."
"...Yes, Milady."
Slowly leaving the room it was just Shirou and Illya, the now teenage Homunculus dragging him to a small bedroom, full of personnel effects and other memorabilia from the now fleeing family.
It would have to do.
"Onii-chan, sit down and take your clothes off."
"...Illya, I don't-"
"Clothes off now, Shirou."
Hesitating briefly before complying the young man divested himself of his shirt-
-and felt a gentle pair of hands set themselves over his heart, partaking of the slow and steady heartbeat beneath tanned skin.
"Illya?"
"I'm going to try something, Shirou. I might be able to alter your soul and do away with or at least slow your turning to a Dead Apostle. And then you and I are going to form a contract."
"But that would-"
A svelte finger set itself over his lips, sealing them as the Homunculus's crimson orbs steadily glared into his own.
"That's what's going to happen, Shirou. No ifs or buts about it. I...I..."
The young man hesitated as the girl suddenly leapt into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck in a desperate hug.
"I just met you a few days ago, Shirou. And despite you sacrificing almost everything for me I feel like I barely even know you!"
"There isn't much to know, Illya-"
"Shut up and yes there is. Sakura and Caren clearly know you, know more than I do even though I'm the one you're trying to save above all else. I want to know about the things you try to push aside, the quirks or weird bits of personality you have beneath that machine exterior."
The albino leaned back, wiping away frustrated tears that caused a strange lurch in Shirou's stomach, the glittering gemstones cast aside in favor of a heated glare.
"And that's why I'm going to make sure you survive, Shirou. You're right, only you can realistically fight against the King of Heroes...and I'll give you the means to do so at the peak of your strength."
Hazel eyes widened as Illya darted forward, pushed her lips against his and pressed her body against his chest, a soft and feminine touch that peeled away one of the many layers of iron control he exerted over himself.
Eyes of opposing color met, the albino shoving Shirou-who didn't even bother trying to resist the action-onto his back as she loomed overhead, the robe slipping from her shoulders as she gazed down on the young man beneath her.
Soft lines of released prana sprang to life across her body, giving the Homunculus an angelic appearance that did away with yet another check on his more base nature, Shirou swallowing nervously for the first time.
"Now hold still, Shirou. And be a good boy~!"
…
He felt like she and Caren might actually be more alike than either wanted to admit, in intimate situations both seemed to enjoy teasing him.
I think we all know where this is going.
...
...
Giggity.
Also the city is fuuuuuuuucked.
