Fourth Night (7)
Shirou stonily gazed around Fuyuki as he staggered through it's burning remains, a literal trip down memory lane that bore more than a passing resemblance to his earliest memory, of when Kiritsugu saved him from the cursed fire.
It was one of the few recollections he possessed that the young man would happily forget if given the opportunity...but it seemed that it was simply not meant to be, the ordeal a defining part of what made him who he was.
At least this time there was no cries of pain and agony, the sound and scent of sizzling flesh, cooking fat and wet burp of ruptured intestines to keep him company...only the distant wails of emergency vehicles and dull buzz of far off panic, the unmistakable noise and clash of combat nowhere to be heard.
It seemed that they had truly won. For now, their battle was over.
All that remained was to ensure that his sister was intact and alive, then plan their next move. She was still supplying him with a surplus of mana so she was alive, at least...but there was no way of telling her exact condition unless he saw her for himself.
With that in mind he continued his walk, wound inflicted by the King of Heroes knitted closed with grinding blades of steel. While his Apostle abilities may have been negated by the Divine Scythe there was nothing wrong with Unlimited Blade Works and the Reality Marble could keep him intact until he found a more permanent means of closing his injuries...besides, the more impactful damage had undoubtedly been his usage of Time Alter magecraft, the overcharged ability still wracking his form with aches and bouts of weakness.
It made a certain sort of sense, he supposed. Apostles reformed and regenerated themselves by reversing the time of their bodies, a magecraft that damaged said body through the unnatural altering of 'time' would naturally cause all sorts of chaos as the conflicting energies attempted to reconcile.
He would have to use the ability sparingly, in the future.
"..han? Onii-chan!"
His senses immediately picked up the sound of Illya's voice as he cleared the edge of destruction caused by the Lesser Grail, of her worried tone calling out for him.
"I'm over here, Illya!"
A pause...and then the sound of someone fully sprinting towards him began to echo, a bare moment later his sister came rushing around a corner, teary and soot-stained expression lighting up like the sun as she leapt into his waiting arms, sending them scooting back a few centimeters before he found traction.
"S-Shirou, you're ok! I mean, I knew you were, you were still alive, but...ooh!"
Hugging him so fiercely the young Apostle honestly became worried she was going to rip out his impromptu stitches Shirou replied, "It's good to see you too, Illya. What happened, his everyone still alright?"
Wiping away a few tears before they could truly escape-smearing a line of black ash across her pale skin in the process-the Homunculus replied, "Saber, Lancer and Assassin found everyone else intact, they survived...and a few others..."
The last bit was grumbled so quietly that Shirou almost didn't catch it, resolving to ask what had his sister so aggrieved at a later date.
For now he was simply relieved that Sakura and Caren were alright.
Feeling oddly bold and playful Shirou picked up the albino, brought her face close to his-
-and planted a soft but passionate kiss upon her lips, Illya's ruby eyes flying wide at the action.
"E-eh?! Shirou?!"
Appearing mildly apologetic at his actions the Vampire replied, "Sorry, was that unpleasant? I didn't mean to-"
"NO! Kiss me whenever you want!"
A brief silence passed before Illya awkwardly coughed, adding, "What I meant was that you didn't offend me or make it feel bad, Shirou. I like it when you do that, you just surprised me is all. In fact..."
Grinning impishly the Homunculus went up on her tiptoes...and scowled as she was still too short to reach her brother's height, grudgingly placing a hand on the back of his neck before bringing his head down for yet another kiss.
"I just got this body and I'm already thinking about switching into the next tallest one! Oh well, at least I don't have to stand on a chair to reach Shirou's lips anymore, silver linings..."
Eventually parting from her newly found and acquired lover Illya gazed at him more closely-
-and almost had a heart attack at the clear gash he had across his chest, yelping as she leaned in close to it.
"Onii-chan, what happened to you?!"
"It's fine, Illya. It was just one of the King of Hero's treasures, an immortal-slayer that hit me. I'll be back to normal as soon as I have time to look at it properly."
While she'd almost suffered an aneurysm at the phrase 'immortal-slayer' the simple fact that her brother was still up and moving was enough to calm Illya down. Slightly.
She was still going to drag his stubborn butt to an infirmary as soon as she got the opportunity!
"I'm surprised Herakles isn't nearby, I would have thought he wouldn't let you out of his sight in this kind of environment."
Losing a great deal of her enthusiasm and energy Illya quietly explained, "Berserker...isn't with us anymore, Onii-chan."
"...I see. I'm sorry, Illya, I should have spoken with more tact."
Shaking her head the albino offered a tired yet accepting smile.
"He went out on his own terms and with smile, Onii-chan. It's just me being selfish, that's all."
She looped her arm through his and began leading him to where she sensed Saber and the other Servants were gathering, stating, "Come on, they're waiting for us."
"Oh my, on the eve of battle, when the city burns and your friends remain in mortal peril you still found time to seduce and lay with Shirou-kun? Midget-chan, your deviancy knows no bounds."
Caren crossed herself before clasping her hands in prayer, intoning, "Lord, please forgive this humble servant of yours for cavorting with such a sinful and lustful dwarf...all was for the sake of carrying out your will."
Illya rolled her eyes at the expected-but still irritating-words of Hortensia as they jogged up to where they were holed up in a destroyed market, a sizable clutch of injured and terrified civilians that they had protected nearby.
"This lustful dwarf is the reason you are still alive, creep. You're welcome, by the way."
Smiling beatifically at Illya's dry tone the young woman spread her arms wide in a grand request for an embrace, serenely stating, "You have had a truly trying day, Munchkin-chan. Come, let this faithful woman of the Lord relieve you of your troubles with a heartfelt embrace."
The Homunculus's tone would have beat out a desert in dryness as she retorted, "I'd sooner hug the dog over there."
"Oi!"
Saber smirked at Illya's statement, idly stating, "Lady Illyasviel is correct, embracing Cú Chulainn would carry with it the risk of fleas and rabies, not necessarily in that order."
"What the Hell?! I though you French were all about capitulation and surrender?!"
Saber twitched violently, eyebrow jumping as she growled, "Goodness, that reminds me...I still have an insult to pay back, Dog."
"Hah, bring it on, girlie! You'll be waving that white flag by the time I'm through with you!"
The pair got right in the other's faces, Jack quietly whispering, "Mommy, are they flirting?" as she clung possessively to Sakura's back.
"I believe they are, Jack."
"No we are not!"
Bazett and Luvia simultaneously sighed as they sat down at one of the few standing bits of furniture, next to where Sakura and her Servant had taken up residence.
"And to think I once thought of King Arthur as...well, both a man and someone of greater-"
"Maturity? Funny, I knew Cú Chulainn was a bit of a rough character but this...is more like that of a brazen schoolyard bully."
The two Magus had handled the sudden loss of their Servants amicably enough-especially since a contract that had survived the destruction of the Lesser Grail would have sapped them dry of both prana and life force within seconds-and were simply content to be alive and well.
It wasn't like anybody had any idea what was to become of the Grail War after this, considering it's dismantlement, fallout and subsequent removal from the Fuyuki leylines...at least the physical part, since mana was still being withdrawn.
The simple truth was that no one present had the slightest clue what was going to come after this, other than a gargantuan shitstorm of epic proportions as every Supernatural agency tried to pin the blame for this debacle on them.
Luvia and Bazett might be able to get off lightly, since Luvia had a decent array of connections at the Clock Tower and wasn't quite high or low enough on the social totem pole to benefit from being summarily destroyed. And Enforcers tended to look out for each other-at least when it came to sticking it to the Nobles of Clocktower-so she wasn't going to facing an inquiry alone, at least.
Everyone else? Who could say?
Illya, Sella and Shirou (the maid fussing over her protesting charge) were definitely not going to be able to just slip away, never mind that their newfound abilities and positions were going to draw almost every pair of eyes the Moonlit World over.
Illya groaned as yet another problem presented itself.
"And how are we going to explain Saber, Lancer and Assassin? It'd be easier if they just decided to return to the Throne or whatever but me and Onii-chan might actually need them as insurance against any threats...except keeping them around might draw even more attention than we already have! Ugh, this is stupid!"
Letting her head thump against Shirou's chest from where she was perched on his lap Sella was instantly at her side, the faithful maid inquiring, "Milday, do you need anything?"
"A miracle?"
"As a Magician I believe that responsibility now rests with you, Milady."
"Ha ha, Sella..."
Heaving out a sigh the group was startled out of their respective dazes as a pair of individuals passed through the broken entryway, both wearing vestments of the church.
"Gotta say, you two do good work."
Ciel directed her compliment towards Illya and Shirou, smirk adorning her expression as the pair dully stared back, Seventh Sacrament slung over her back like the world's largest and ugliest musical instrument.
"And you two are?"
"Name's Ciel, and this here is the King of Rats. We're from the Burial Agency."
Bowing his head politely the elderly gentleman added, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances, it's not often that one sees both a fledgling Magician and Ancestor in such close proximity without excessive violence breaking out."
"Yeah, try never, King."
Striding towards the duo Ciel offered a more genuine smile, remarking, "For anyone who wants to keep their memories of the last twenty-four hours we've got a ride incoming, the church is initiating a clean slate protocol and, considering you all were at ground zero for this mess, there's a lot of interested parties that want to talk to you."
Bazett grunted, muttering, "I'll bet they do..."
Breaking off their argument Saber and Lancer traded surreptitious glances, nodding minutely before they astralized, Assassin following suit as the gathered group of Magi, Apostles, Executors and Exorcists rose to their feet, eager to leave this blasted hellscape of a city behind...even if what awaited them outside wasn't exactly a bed of roses.
"Everyone else stay put, emergency services will be on their way and you'll be taken care of! God be with you!"
Ciel's commanding tone was largely unappreciated by the normal citizens still huddled in close groups, most in a mild state of shock or simply shutting out the outside world until it once again started making sense.
The blue-haired woman sighed, feeling more than a little bit of sympathy for the poor souls.
The Sixth Sacrament couldn't initiate fast enough, turning the nightmare these people had suffered into nothingness.
"So what ride were you referring to? A helicopter?"
Bazett's question caused the King of Rats to smile, replying, "Not quite a helicopter, but an airship of one variety or another."
Clouds of dust and debris suddenly blew upwards, blinding the gathered group as the bruised and smoky night sky was overtaken by a massive winged creature, the same one that had dropped off the King of Earth earlier in the battle.
A subdued thump sounded out as it settled onto the broken cityscape, one wing set low so that the group could step onto its body.
"The King of Sky will be our ticket out of Fuyuki, a far easier process than merely walking."
Most of the gathered group gawked at the gargantuan Daemon they were supposed to simply climb aboard with zero hesitation, only Illya and Shirou shrugging off the strangeness as they began the modest trek to the center of the creature's back, where a single individual lay.
Drawing closer the Emiya lineage realized it was none other than a young looking man, dressed casually in a white robe and dark pants, missing a left leg and arm as he affixed the pair of them with a friendly and amicable smile.
"So you're Cato's successor, then?"
Tilting his head Shirou replied, "He named me as such. Merem Solomon, correct?"
"Quite right! I must say, it was rather surprising to have it announced that Flavius had chosen a successor, the fellow was always aloof and dismissive of the rest of us. We had honestly thought that he would simply leave the position vacant until someone else moved in and claimed the spot."
"He surprised me too."
Shifting his curious expression in Illya's direction the twentieth Apostle mused, "And you, miss Homunculus...curious, you feel a bit like the Wizard Marshall and Blue...a new practitioner of True Magic? Given your looks as an Einzbern Homunculus I would go ahead and assume the Third Magic, correct?"
Realizing manners would probably be a good thing to have when facing down a potentially powerful enemy of Shirou Illya curtsied, replying, "A portion of it, Mr. Solomon. And I prefer to go by the name of Illyasviel Emiya, now."
Rather than be put off or disappointed the Apostle merely seemed delighted, happily responding, "Oh, such manners are a delight! But you don't need to stand on ceremony with me right now, Illyasviel Emiya. After all, I would prefer it if we remained as friends rather than enemies."
Both Illya and Shirou blinked, the rest of their friends and allies grudgingly taking up positions nearby on the Daemon's back with obvious reservation.
"You would? I thought all Ancestor's were at each other's throats all the time."
"Oh, most of us are certainly antagonistic and hostile to each other both night and day...but quite frankly I would prefer it if we were all kind and accepting of our fellows, wouldn't that be such a nicer world?"
"Sure. If it existed."
Illya's skeptical tone wasn't missed as Merem simply shrugged, explaining, "Quite so. Thus it falls to us to make those changes despite common sense and past tradition stating otherwise, now doesn't it?"
Unable to refute the point and not particularly in the mood to argue otherwise Illya just nodded, collapsing next to Shirou who had calmly sat facing the other Ancestor, said Ancestor happily stating, "We shall have to talk at length another time, unfortunately. I would much rather remember the events of the past few hours and the Sixth Sacrament will be activating...within the hour, if my keeping track of time isn't too far off the mark."
"Fifty-nine minutes, thirty-seven seconds, Master."
"Oh, thank you! I can always count on you to have my back, King of Rats. See, working together is so much more pleasant and productive, isn't it?"
"I didn't say that it wasn't, only that it was unlikely."
Seeming a bit put off at Illya's grouchy tone the King of Rats bent down to speak into the Apostle's ear, whispering, "I do believe they have been through something of a trying and exhausting time, Master. Perhaps letting them rest for a time would be more conducive to friendlier relations further down the road?"
Sighing as if it was the most inconvenient thing in the world Merem nonetheless acquiesced, stating, "I suppose that would be the intelligent thing to do...is everyone aboard? Good! Then off we go!"
Giving the back of the Daemon beast a cheerful pat the titanic creature lightly shook itself, slowly raising its bulk into the sky before ascending through the smoke clouds, lightly gliding towards one of the many roadblocks keeping traffic from spreading, nothing more unpleasant than a light breeze mussing their hair despite the altitude and speeds they were moving at...probably Daemon magic or something.
"Illya, are you feeling alright?"
Both smiling and rolling her eyes at Shirou's incessant worry the albino responded, "Just tired, Onii-chan...I think a full day of nothing but sleep would do me some good."
Nodding in acceptance the newly turned Apostle returned to his thoughts...mainly, how they were going to navigate the coming interrogations and investigations.
Because that was honestly starting to seem like more a hurdle than fighting the King of Heroes had been.
Hey, what happened to Run?
We find out next chapter...all aboard Apostle Airlines.
