Aftermath (8)
"And just how have you been, Midget-chan? Enjoying a life of sinful debauchery and hedonism within a fortress none but yourself and Shirou may be admitted too? It is almost impressive how well you exemplify the sins of pride, lust, greed and envy. Well, at least envy for tall people who are well endowed."
Adjusting the normally modest and concealing robes in a way that highlighted her chest—Sakura naturally displaying a more ample cleavage just by existing—Illya gave Caren a glowering stare that indicated she had been treading on thin ice before highlighting the Homunculus's current lack of top-heavy assets.
"Hmph! That just goes to show how unaware you are of my true potential. My older bodies put even hers to shame, would you care to view them~?"
Sakura offered up a mildly confused glance at Illya's singling out of her as Caren smoothly accepted Illya's challenge, demurely responding, "I will have to acquiesce to your purported horde of ready-made bodies, being the insecure and prideful sinner that you are. Alas, you're such a greedy child, Munchkin-chan...here I shall grow old and wrinkled while you revel in the eternal youth your heretical witchcraft will grant you. Oh Lord, please, allow your grace and mercy to spare the midget a life of damnation after her unnatural lifespan finally comes to an end. Amen."
The albino pinched the bridge of her nose in a spectacularly failed attempt to alleviate the headache that had been painful before the Exorcist and Executor made their appearance.
"How did you two even get in?"
"We let them in, Other Other Mommy!"
Jack's innocent explanation and expression turned mildly worried as Illya dully glared at her, the Servant shifting on her feet before quickly hiding behind Sakura.
"Were, were we not supposed to?"
Heaving out a pained sigh the albino calmly stated, "No, Jack...you did what you should have."
Clearly relieved the Assassin enthusiastically climbed up the ex-Matou's back, Shirou moving in to de-escalate matters as he stated, "Illya, you've had a long day. Why don't I settle you in for the night and then hear what Sakura and Caren want?"
The young man was left entirely out of sorts as Illya, instead of listening to his suggestion, offered a scathing remark of, "Oh, of course you only show any initiative when those two show up, or when you're making sure I'm safe in a nice, restrictive blanket. I'll see myself out, Onii-chan."
Stalking out the room with an icy expression Shirou was left blinking in a rare showing of open distress, Caren and Sakura turning to the Apostle with curious gazes.
"...Did you perchance say something earlier to her, Shirou-sama? Something upsetting?"
Now with a dour mood the Ancestor replied, "I don't think I did...she mentioned something about me needing to show more initiative but we've had that conversation before. And we were planning to spend tonight doing something out of the usual, but-"
"Shirou, you are something of an idiot most of the time."
Caren's blunt tone caused the young man to scowl at her, the Exorcist shaking her head before clasping her hands together in prayer.
"Lord, please forgive this heathen monster of his foolish decisions and blockheadedness. There is only so much room within the grey matter of his skull and most of it is made up of weapons and ways to use them."
"Caren-sama, in her usual biting way, has a point, Shirou-sama. Nobody enjoys being told to go do something else when it was implied an otherwise pleasurable activity would have taken place."
"I understand that, it's just...I'm tired of being told to be more normal. To have initiative of my own desire rather than for someone else's sake."
Sakura placed a hand on Shirou's arm, understanding etched across her features as she nodded for Jack to take her leave, the Servant skipping off to entertain herself elsewhere.
"You devoted many years of your life to the singular goal of ensuring your one remaining family member's safety, throwing aside many other mundane activities and behaviors in order to do so. But that one achievement is no longer—or at least it shouldn't be—the focus it once was."
Caren nodded at the unusually verbose statement of Sakura's, adding, "The time to set aside your more Human—yes, I admit that is an ironic statement considering you are a Vampire, do not show me such an unsightly glare—nature has passed. Midget-chan is not some damsel you need to rescue and bundle up in an unbreakable blanket, she is admittedly powerful and cares for you just as much as you do for her."
The Exorcist tilted her head, yellow eyes piercing into Shirou's own orbs of crimson.
"Or have I misinterpreted the basis of your infatuation with Albino-chan? Do you not actually have true feelings of affection and romance, just a misplaced and skewed desire to protect and nothing else?"
Shirou was surprised at the instinctive vehemence he felt at Hortensia's words, of how wrong they sounded.
He...was he in denial because she was incorrect or because he honestly didn't feel that way? Why did the image of Illya smiling at him as they embraced at the climax of the war, of her expression as he entered her lithe body, of how she would laugh when he did something foolish seem to scream in opposition to Caren's conclusion?
…
Maybe...he really was feeling more Human than he had long thought himself to be.
"No. I know what I feel is real. But...I don't know how to show it. To take initiative like everyone keeps telling me to. I can fulfill her desires but I don't know how to do the opposite, to achieve my own. All I feel is contentment when doing as Illya asks but that causes her discontent."
Sakura tilted her head, suggesting, "Then perhaps there is a shared activity or interest you share? Aside from sex, that is. Some past event where you found common ground, or wished to know more of a situation? Rather than attempt to be something you find yourself incapable or struggling with, perchance there is already common ground?"
Shirou frowned, agreeing with Sakura's statement but finding absolutely nothing that both he and Illya could both engage in aside from Magecraft studies...and those were the reason for her headaches, that was an inadvisable course of action-
It came to the Vampire in a flash of inspiration, small smile tugging at his lips.
"I think I know exactly what I should do. Thank you, Sakura."
The purple-haired girl bowed her head in contrite acceptance, responding, "It was no difficulty at all, Shirou-sama."
"Oh, and I had no part to play in this sordid affair? How demeaning, that I am reduced to mere window dressing when my contributions were of great importance..."
The Apostle leveled a dull glare at the pouting Caren, replying, "You do a fine job of complimenting yourself, Caren. You didn't need my words as well."
The white-haired young woman sent the 26th Ancestor a knowing smirk, dragging Sakura alongside her as she said over her shoulder, "Then do ensure Midget-chan is in a far more pleasant mood come tomorrow morning, we wish to discuss both business and more idle matters. It will be hard to converse to any meaningful extent if she wishes to bite off all heads that are present. I shall recite a prayer for your success, Shirou."
With that the pair were gone, leaving the Vampire on his own with nothing but a quiet sigh on his lips.
"Nothing seems to be easy these days..."
"Illya? Can I come in?"
No response reached the young man's ears, his quiet knock going unheeded.
Taking that as tacit acceptance of his right to enter Shirou swung open the door, crossing the threshold of their shared bedroom with a small frown at the sight that greeted him...mainly that of Illya, still fully clothed and curled up in a ball on top of their bed, not so much as twitching as he approached.
"Are you awake?"
"...No."
Briefly unsure of what to make of the Homunculus's utterly neutral tone Shirou nonetheless approached, sitting down next to his step-sibling with infinitesimal care, as if defusing an unknown manner of bomb.
...He found the comparison to be an apt one.
"Can we talk? I-"
"Sorry about earlier, Onii-chan."
Blinking at the sudden moroseness of his sister's tone he was treated to a brief glance from a single ruby eye before it was once more hidden by a curtain of snowy hair, Illya's voice depressed as she continued with, "I didn't mean to be so rude, especially not to you. But my head was hurting, Caren was being annoying and I was really annoyed that what had looked to be like a night between just you and me was out the window."
Shirou hesitantly brushed his fingers through her soft strands of hair, the albino miserably finishing with, "And insulting how Papa and that creepy priest made you when it's not your fault was just too mean. Are...are you mad?"
Instantly opening his mouth to tell her no, he wasn't mad...Shirou instead smiled slightly, stating, "I'm not mad but I am a bit upset."
The girl beneath his hand flinched slightly at his statement, the Apostle finishing his statement with, "So can you perhaps explain to me some of the things Oto-san wrote in here? He always told me it was only meant for you but I find myself curious, now that he's gone."
Illya blinked, quickly glancing in Shirou's direction only to find him holding Kiritsugu's journal with a small grin on his usually neutral features, the albino pouting with relief as she growled, "That wasn't funny, Onii-chan."
"I'm often told that I'm too stoic most of the time. I thought perhaps trying out a misdirection or two would be a nice change of pace."
Puffing out a cheek at the Apostle's words Illya snatched the booklet out of his hands, patting the bed next to her as she snuggled herself into his side, opening up the former Magus Killer's memoir as she stated, "So what do you want to know about what Papa wrote in here, Onii-chan?"
"How about what he wrote in regards to what he wanted for you after the Fourth War ended? If that's in there."
Smiling uncontrollably at the arm that wound its way across her shoulders the Homunculus replied, "I'll see what I can find...Shirou."
Sorry bout the short length of the chapter, been a busy week. Work before winter break is over, house sitting and helping my brother move out of Daly City (3000 a month for a small closet of an appartment? FUCK ME) has been running my free time into the ground.
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Ok, next section is just a free advertisement for a mobile game I started playing, because I like to report on quality or things I enjoy when possible. Skip if not interested.
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Jk, those ads drive me fucking insane. Actually I started playing Iron Saga a while back and I've been having a blast. I'm a bit of a mecha nerd so the sheer variety and breadth of different Robits (pronounced a-la Zoidberg) available has been keeping me busy. And monetization is pretty tame (Definitely no FGO, that shitty gacha Hell with horrific monetization. I already ranted about FGO in Death's Heroes, check the AN of that story if you want the details), I signed up for monthly plan of 7.99 and honestly didn't even need to do that. Best part is that you can freely upgrade the different mechs and regain all resources spent if you want to upgrade something else for a cheap fee (no real world money involved, fingers crossed that doesn't change) and boom! All mats regained.
But the part about the game that legit caught me off guard was the story and characters. Now let me be clear about one thing...the translation is shit. The text formatting is shit. And despite that I still got sucked into that crazy world and drama even though I typically have high standards for this kind of thing. Seriously, I even teared up a bit during chapter 17 if anyone decides to give the game a shot. It hurts.
Ok, advertising over. See y'all next chapter.
