"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Master/Servant Link"
Noble Phantasm
Chapter 28: Where I stand.
Resting the purple haired girl down in the bed, Caren moved away and sat herself on the chair next to it. The gradual rise and fall of Sakura's chest made it obvious that even despite the damage that Kotomine had inflicted, she didn't appear to be in any immediate danger.
"Strange, isn't it?" Caren spoke in an almost toneless style of voice "She looks so peaceful now, perhaps it is the nature of humans to be more tranquil when they aren't conscious." golden eye tracked away from the girl and towards the other guest in the room, a sweet smile came to her face when she saw the way Tohsaka scowled at her expression "I heard the girl was quite rebellious." a light-hearted giggle escaped her throat "Although perhaps that is a trait of the Tohsaka's to be difficult." she paused as she widened her eyes and covered her mouth "My mistake, she's a Matou isn't she. Sorry." bowing her head in apology which wasn't even close to being sincere "You just looked so alike for a second."
"…" Rin grit her teeth, clenching her jaw and struggling not to explode on the Nun. She was like her father. In all the worst ways. "How is she?"
"She'll probably never recover." Caren replied immediately, Rin froze "Oh, you meant physically? She'll be fine by the end of the night." pausing "Well...maybe."
"Maybe?" Rin asked in a slightly distant voice "What do you mean 'Maybe'?"
"Well, she'll probably be sent off to another family." Caren replied with a shrug, rising up from her hair and moving towards the door, keeping her eyes on Rin as a faint smile danced across her face "But I'm sure she'll be pleased to hear that concerned citizens saw it fit to eventually do their best to trade her to another family." the way Rin's eyes narrowed into almost slits and she looked ready to punch the Nun was enough to bring a smile to Caren's face. "Ah, but perhaps I am an ignorant peon. I'm sure you have her best interests at heart and I'm fully of the belief that the next family you sell her off to won't treat her like a teenage boy's sock-"
A slap echoed throughout the room as Caren's head snapped to the side, a red mark gradually formed on her cheek as she continued to maintain eye contact with Rin, blue eyes had shrunk to pinpricks with her hand outstretched.
"How uncouth." Caren lamented "I do bruise easily you know? But I forgive you." she smiled so very sweetly that Rin almost hit her again "After all, it is my role as an Emissary of the Lord to help all wayward children." she moved around the twin tailed girl and towards the door "I do hope you'll pay a visit to the Church. Confession is good for the soul."
"Get." Rin hissed in a tone which dripped venom "Out." her words were quiet but they didn't need to be loud to get the point across. Caren continued to send her a warm smile as she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.
"God be with you, Tohsaka Rin." The door shut, the echo was like a gunshot through the room which seemed to shrink until it was just the bed Sakura rested on.
Rin wet her lips, very hesitantly moving towards the bed. Her footsteps were light and only produced the smallest of sounds as she stepped closer and closer to the bed, as if any noise at all would suddenly wake the girl.
Now barely a foot from the bed, Rin came to halt. Staring at the sleeping form of Sakura.
She understood. She understood most of all the expectations of a Magus family. You could only ever have one heir and in that regard her father had been cursed with both herself and Sakura being born with extraordinary potential. So it made sense – from a logical perspective – that Sakura be gifted the opportunity to realise that potential.
If she had been raised properly and become a decent Magus, Rin could have ignored it. It wasn't like Sakura had died or anything, she was just away with another family. Her father had always made sure she understood that, even her mother understood it as well. It would have been easier on her if Sakura had realised her potential.
But she hadn't.
She knew barely a sliver of the Matou family craft and had been violated almost daily for nothing more than amusement. Her father probably didn't know and if he had done she liked to think he would have selected a different family for her to stay with. Although that didn't detract from anything.
'So you can get rid of me again?'
Rin bit her lip, staring down at the girl. Sakura should have understood the reasoning behind it. She had been raised in a Magus family as well, the decision to send her to another family was just as much in her own best interest as it was in her Father's not to squander the talents of his own child. Rin understood it.
She understood it.
But that didn't make it any easier on her. Her younger sister had been given away to the Matou's.
And it had amounted to nothing more than attempted fratricide. She hadn't become a Magus of any great talent, she'd just been turned into a plaything of Zouken.
When her father Eventually got back, she knew he would be displeased that the gift he had granted Zouken had been ruined. Sakura was now quite old so there wasn't much chance of her being gifted to another family. It was far easier to do such things when they were younger. At this point the best they could hope for would be that Sakura would become a child bearer for another family.
A derisive snort escaped her, soon followed by a hollow chuckle which was barely audible. 'As if that's any better.' The bitter thought came easily to her, Sakura would be sent away again and apparently fully under the belief that her original family had taken her out of Zouken's hands so she could become a child factory.
Rin continued to stare at Sakura's sleeping form.
Illya would most likely freak when she found out and she would find out. She was far too keen to stick her nose into messes in the name of 'Justice' and right now they were in a big mess.
'Perhaps she'll be too distracted when we rescue the dunce.' Rin hoped 'It would make things much easier...just quietly resolve the problem with Sakura while she's worried about her brother. Archer would probably keep her out of it.' she knew that Archer would understand how complicated the issues would be and hopefully he would keep Illya away from the whole mess.
If they survived this whole mess that was.
The door to the main room opened up, Caren stepped into the room and shut the door behind her "The young Matou girl is resting."
"Um…" Illya raised her hand "What happened to your face?" the girl hesitantly asked, pointing towards the large red hand print visible on her right cheek. Kotomine was swift to notice it as well, raising a single eyebrow at her but already could tell the answer likely related to Caren being unable to help herself.
She was far too much like him and far less willing to restrain herself.
"Just securing confession." Caren replied smoothly before giving Illya a faint smile "Its good for the soul, you know? Anything you would like to confess?"
"N-no?"
"Really?" She pressed on, eyes gleaming "No...sinful thoughts?"
"E-er-"
"Enough." Irisviels cold voice cut off any further attempt to press the girl, Caren flattened her expression. Glancing over to the corner of the room to see the older Homunculus sat in leather chair, her eyes entirely focused on the Nun with a burning glare which promised pain if she continued that manner of questioning.
Caren gave a tiny shrug in response, not caring for the reaction "Oh well. Never hurts to ask."
"It might."
"Such violent intentions!" Caren gasped, covering her hand with her mouth before she slowly lowered it "Although I suppose it is expected of a mother to be so tenacious with her children...who knows what manner of foul acts may befall the-"
"Caren." Kotomine cut her off. Just in time as Irisviel looked ready to leap from her chair and throttle the pale haired girl. She very nearly might have if Sella wasn't holding her by the shoulder and keeping her in the chair. Leysritt didn't even attempt to hide the fact she was cracking her knuckles.
"Fine." The Nun huffed, looking as though she her favourite toy had been taken from her. She quietly walked up towards the priest and took her place a few feet to his felt.
Not even looking at her, Kotomine spoke again "The Church does not have the resources in Fuyuki to handle a Servant of the calibre of Gilgamesh and the burial Agency would take far too long to get here." pausing, he took in the rooms reactions before Luvia replied in a controlled tone of voice.
"So we are on our own then?"
"...Yes."
"What are you doing here then?" Irisviel huffed, narrowing her eyes at him. Kotomine took the rather hostile reaction with only a slight raising of his eyebrow.
"It is still my role as Overseer for the Church in Fuyuki to regularly make my reports. Therefore I will remain stationed here until the crisis is resolved. One way or another." The 'Other' part left little to the imagination. "So you are free to continue on in any way that you see fit and I shall do my part to ensure that magecraft remains secret...challenging as that currently is." he nodded over to the window "Convincing the neighbours that they failed to hear a boiler explosion in the early morning is not something I would advise repeatedly doing."
The Einzbern residence had been completely totalled because of the early sunrise visit of Gilgamesh, meaning they had all been forced to gather in the Edelfelt Manor just across the street. An opportunity Luvia had practically jumped at to allow the family to stay in – Rin was convinced she was just trying to score points with Irisviel – to save them the journey of going to a second residence.
Kotomine moved away from them and towards the entrance of the house, Caren following after him "I will remain in the Church, Rin is already aware of my phone number-"
"A priest knowing a teenage girls private number is still sinful." Caren added on, Kotomine paid her no mind and continued on as if she hadn't even spoken at all.
"-therefore it would be prudent to keep me abreast of any further developments." He paused, looking over his shoulder and towards them "I suspect I will see you again shortly, hopefully with less dire news than I have repeatedly received within the last twelve hours." his final words out, he quickly departed the room with the Nun following after him through the door. The echo of the front entrance closing behind them signalled a silence descending on the room.
"We going to get Shirou back and kill Gilgamesh." Irisviel broke the silence immediately with the rather simple declaration.
"How?" Luvia let out a scoff, her head falling into her hands "He's Gilgamesh the oldest Heroic Spirit of humanity. He has already bested Archer once before and managed to survive his fight against Berserker." she looked up and saw Irisviel's cold eyes lock onto her, Luvia didn't balk at the glare she received "The copy of Illyasviel-"
"Chloe." Irisviel cut her off sharply "Her name is Chloe." she was still quite sore on the subject and with the loss of one of her children, she had immediately taken to ensuring Chloe would recover swiftly. Although the girl has still suffered a broken jaw from being his by something, the knuckle marks in her chin left little indication of what it had been.
She was still sleeping off the healing she had been put through, that and being knocked unconscious was certainly not something to be enjoyed.
Luvia pursed her lips and nodded her head "Chloe is still just using a Class Card. She's on par with Illya when using Ruby and not much else. Compared to Archer she can barely use even a fraction of his abilities aside from teleportation-" she paused and turned to the original Servant in question, narrowing her eyes "Why are you not capable of that?"
"Likely a difference in ability of the version of me that they use." He answered with a shrug "Either that or it relates to the girls origin. She moves from one location to another while bypassing the journey itself. Either way, it affords her little in the way of an advantage given that Gilgamesh's senses are still that of a Servant and far above her own." he paused before giving a half shrug "It would likely serve her well against a human opponent but this isn't a human opponent. Realistically, the only ones who could fight Gilgamesh are myself and Berserker."
Luvia pursed her lips "And Berserker is unlikely to be a particularly capable team player."
"Unlikely."
"Either way, it changes nothing." Irisviel crossed her arms and scowled "I'm getting Shirou back even if I have to go to...wherever he is myself!"
"Iri." Kiritsugu whispered softly to her "You can't help Shirou if you become reckless."
"I'm not leaving him with that-that fiend!" She hissed, eyes going bloodshot "I-I can't...I can't do it Kiri…" her voice degraded into a whimper as she curled herself up in the seat "I-I can't...I…"
Archer watched the display with a slight grimace before he turned to look at Illya, she hadn't said much when she found out. Remaining quiet for an unusual amount of time although he could already tell that she was planning something incredibly stupid. Like rushing off by herself, becoming so infatuated with the idea of saving her older brother and bringing the 'bad guy' to justice.
It would only get her killed.
He then frowned as he noticed something odd. There was one person missing, stepping away from the gathering, he turned around and silently slipped out of the room without anyone – save a small wand – noticing his escape.
"Are we even aware of what the Servant wants?" Bazett asked, her wrist hand been bandaged up so that it wasn't disturbed while it was healing. Runes were useful for that much while working in tandem with the Einzbern magecraft which Irisviel had been kind enough to use...after she bartered to have her help rescue her son. At this point Bazett already knew she was in over her head although there wasn't much she could do about it right now.
Considering she had lost her wallet in the initial chaos against the Berserker when they first appeared. There was also the fact that Irisviel had offered to pay her, that was another good incentive.
She did have a method of helping but it was very circumstantial, she wasn't sure it would amount to much either.
The moment she asked the question the room seemed to cool over, a silence pervaded across and Luvia's expression flattened, eyes flicking away from the Enforcer while the Einzbern girl stilled like a trapped animal and instantly faced the ground.
That was an answer in itself.
"Why not use it as bait?" She questioned next, Luvia's eyes darted to her and narrowed.
"Absolutely not." She denied quickly, far too quickly for even herself to realise for a few moments before she stuttered for another answer "I-it would be far to dangerous to risk him getting his hands on it. Should we fail to deal with him and he does abscond with Mi-the object of his desire, we will be in an even worse position than we are in right now."
Bazett furrowed her brows at the Edelfelt heir before her eyes scanned the room for other reactions, noting that all of the others had gone quiet or made sure to looking in any particular direction. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, clearly they were aware of something relating to what the Servant wanted however they remained unwilling to inform her of it. Not that it was really all that surprising. Family Mysteries were a closely guarded secret and one that was enough to earn the interest of a Servant was certainly not something that the Edelfelt was obviously willing to promote.
"This talk of what Gilgamesh is after is irrelevant if we do not know where he is." Kiritsugu chose that moment to speak up, the attention of the room falling on him as he turned towards Sella "Did he give any indication of where he would go?"
The Maid pursed her lips before she nodded her head once "It was a cryptic message. He said only to 'travel to where it began' if we were to reclaim the young Master within the next day to prevent…" her eyes briefly flickered over to Irisviel in worriment, the threat had been rather graphic and it was obvious it would be carried out if they failed to adhere to the command "...Consequences." Irisviel and Leysritt flinched, the latter still feeling responsible for losing her grip on Shirou.
"Does that information mean anything to anyone?" Luvia asked, looking around the room and getting shakes of the head from the others present before a scowl set itself on her face "Then we have no leads even if we were inclined to fulfil the demands." she paused, biting her lip. That wasn't quite right. Gilgamesh had said to tell Miyu to travel to where it began although what interest she would have in making sure Shero would live was still a mystery to her.
Then again, she was on good terms with Illyasviel so it was entirely possible she was concerned for her friends sibling. That was a reason as well, she did seem to have a good heart despite the mask of stoicism.
She paused, noticing something was off about the room as she looked around with a frown "Where is Miyu?" her voice seemed to set off a chain reaction of realisation as furrowed brows and darting heads soon followed.
"Where's Oni-erm…" Illya coughed into her hand, her face set in a confused look "Where's Archer?"
Irisviel shot to her feet, looking at the spot where the tanned servant had been before her eyes shrunk to pinpricks "...He better not have gone alone." her voice was in a dangerously low whisper which set the hairs on the back of Illya's head straight.
"He walked out a few minutes ago." Ruby chimed in, the albino woman span around and levelled a burning glare on the Mystic code, the small wand held up their wings in surrender "I didn't mention it because he didn't look like he was in a rush! We were also discussing other things at the time!"
Kiritsugu gave a slight nod of his head, however the frown on his face remained as he rose to his feet "Which way did he go?"
"Just out the door." Ruby pointed out, then turned around to Illya "You can just find him, can't you Illya-chan?"
"Huh?" Illya blinked then nodded her head "Yeah!" closing her eyes, she activated the mental link "Archer? Where are you?"
"I stepped out when I noticed that Miyu wasn't present." Archer replied almost immediately, a slight edge to his voice "I am somewhat concerned she is about to do something rash. I will keep you informed of any changes."
"O-okay...Arch…" She paused her voice cracking slightly "Be careful...Onii-chan."
"...I would be a poor Servant if I worried my Master needlessly." Archer's semi-playful remark barely concealed the tiredness of voice his "We'll get your brother back, Illya. He's far to stubborn to die, even when he's killed."
"P-please don't joke about that."
"...I think I am uniquely qualified to." His wry voice almost earned a smile from her, almost. The fact her brother had been kidnapped and might be in danger did offset her goodwill considerably. However it fuelled a certain passion, she was going to save him. That much she was desperately certain of. Maybe it was because of wanting to be a Hero or maybe it was because he was her brother.
If she was being honest? It didn't matter either way. She had to save her brother.
"Miyu-sama, I must protest this course of action!" Sapphire pleaded, forgoing her usual composed tone for one of genuine concern "Even if you have a Servant now, there is no need for you to-"
"Sapphire." Miyu set the stick down as she moved towards the window, flicking open the latch and clasping the handle "It's my fault…" the girls voice was scarcely above a whisper, yet it didn't detract from the sheer emotion held within "It's all my fault...so I'm going to make it right."
"Please, Miyu-sama!" Sapphire begged harder "We will find a solution to rescue Shirou-san without you having to-"
"My responsibility." Miyu flung open the window, making sure that the stick couldn't see how strained her expression was, peering out she took stock of the drop before looking over to the gutter running down the side of the house and the tree close enough to it. She could probably climb down and jump into the tree before she was away.
Sapphire would have been a problem.
Which is why she had wrapped them up in a pillow case.
Taking in a deep breath, she climbed up onto the ledge of the window and steadied her breathing to prepare for the jump across.
Pushing off the window ledge, she jumped towards the gutter.
…
Why was she still in the air? Looking down, she saw that her feet where dangling uselessly while she was just outside of the window, seemingly suspended. Then she became aware of the tight grip on the back of her collar, barely having a moment to contemplate it before she was abruptly yanked back into the room but not quite dropped onto the ground just yet.
Whatever squawk of protest she had lined up died the second she caught sight of the face of her captor, her jaw snapped shut but she couldn't bring herself to look away from the steel grey eyes which regarded her with a certain intensity that was far too familiar to be comfortable.
Archer was giving her the 'I just caught you doing something very stupid and I'm very disappointed right now' look that her brother used to give her. Right now it just burned her gut given the current situation they were in.
It just made that ugly feeling of guilt inside her intensify, eventually she couldn't stomach it anymore and looked away from Archers face. The Servant still didn't release her just yet, seemingly content to just hold her by the back of the shirt like a stray kitten being grabbed by their parent. He did eventually move, still holding her above the ground, and turned his body towards the window. His other hand reached out and clasped onto the handle, pulling it shut with a small click and flicking the latch down.
The quiet sounds they produced sounded more akin to explosions inside Miyu's head.
Archer eventually let out a long, tired, breath as he slowly lowered her to the ground. She didn't move even when he released her collar, nor did she look up at him. She could tell the expression would still be on her face.
"...I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't a careless fool around me." Archer's words caused her to flinch, cutting like knives into her "I assume you plan was to hand yourself over to Gilgamesh in the hopes he would let the boy go."
Miyu didn't reply for a few moments before she spoke in a quiet tone "He's after me...it's my fault Shirou-san was-"
"Oh?" Archer raised an eyebrow, an incredulous look on his face "Suppose it is your fault that a Servant proceeded to steal away the boy. Your solution was to gift him a Holy Grail?"
She didn't flinch that time, although her expression became more strained "...Have Berserker…" she whispered quietly.
"I know you have Berserker." Archer replied in a cold tone "I know you have Berserker because I saw you make the contract. Do you know how I still know you have Berserker? Because I can feel you radiating magical energy to fuel his existence." Miyu could see where this was going "And Gilgamesh is most certainly going to be able to feel it to – ignoring the fact that Berserkers are not stealthy – so he would have been able to see that coming miles off."
"…"
Archer sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose "...Alright. You feel responsible?" she nodded her head slowly "...Yes, Gilgamesh took the boy because he suspects you have some link with him...I suspect it as well." he remarked, Miyu felt her heart stop for a few moments "But honestly? Considering your brothers wish was for you to find happiness I'm convinced that it can't possibly be the same self-sacrificing idiot I am aware of."
Her eyes gradually trailed up until she was looking at Archer's face, the Servant kept his features remarkably blank as he stared at her "However, it doesn't matter right now. You were obviously going somewhere. So I imagine you know where Gilgamesh is."
A small nod of the head was the answer he received "You were also going off on your own because you didn't want anyone else to get hurt." another nod of the head, Archer let out a dismissive snort "If you haven't figured out how stubborn Illya is then you haven't been paying enough attention." Miyu looked up in confusion "She'd have followed after you and brought everyone else in tow with her."
"B-but…" Miyu sputtered "It's my fault her brother-"
"She won't see it that way." Archer cut her off "She probably see's you as more of a victim of this whole ordeal rather than another reason her brother might die." he let out a breath and crossed his arms in front of his chest "Regardless of how you feel, Illya worries about you now. I assume you know she considers you a friend."
Miyu swallowed. She considered Illya a friend as well, which was why she was going to take responsibility for the problems she had caused and make sure Illya's life wasn't troubled again.
"But lets ignore my Master's heroic fantasy's for now." Archer broke her out of her musings with a simple wave of his arm "Suppose you had managed to get away, find Gilgamesh and hand yourself over to him. At what point during this planning did you think that gifting him a Holy Grail was a smart idea?"
Miyu bit her lip and looked down. Archer let out a mirthless snort.
"I suppose I might have been a little mistaken about your brother." He flatly responded "If he's managed to inspire you into making the same sort of bull-headed decisions on the fly without even considering the full ramifications of them." Miyu felt as though she should protest about that and she was about to before a pointed look from Archer had her stop "Whether or not you wanted it, everyone else is now involved in this problem and it is no longer an issue you can solve by yourself."
A frown came to his face "Taking responsibility for your own problems is commendable, however doing so alone when they involve other people is to become conceited in the belief that you alone have the power to solve them." tilting his head, he raised an eyebrow at the girl "Did you honestly think that handing yourself over would resolve everything immediately?"
She wanted to answer 'yes.' She desperately wanted to answer that without her everything would go back to the way it was. That no one else would get hurt.
She couldn't. More than that…
She didn't want to leave.
A sniffle escaped her "N-no…" she quietly whimpered "I...no…"
A quiet sigh escaped Archer's lips, he crouched down slightly in front of the girl "You have something here, Miyu. Something I abandoned a long time ago." she looked up and saw a softness in his eyes which she hadn't seen in a long time "I already have to contend with one young girl on the verge of throwing away everything, I would rather not have to contend with another." he joked with a slight smirk "That and perhaps Luvia would give me an earful if she found out I let you run off on your own especially after she's put so much effort into you." he gave a slight shrug "To say nothing of how my Master would react."
Miyu sniffed, tears building up in the corner of her eyes "I-I don't want anyone...t-to get hurt." she snuffled out a reply, wiping her nose and hugging herself.
Archer pursed his lips "No one wants those they care about to get hurt. It's being human." he reached out and placed a hand atop her head "You're a girl who was – quite literally – gifted a whole future by someone who didn't want you to get hurt." he paused before his lips curled into a tiny smile "I suppose if its a wish like that, I can at least help that type of fool once."
Miyu almost burst into tears then and there, it was difficult not too. Considering it was the same type of smile that her brother would give her.
She launched herself forwards before she was even aware of it and wrapped her arms around Archer, burying her face into his shoulder. She cried quietly while the Servant remained there. He didn't return the hug.
He couldn't. His face was mostly flat with a hint of discomfort, he had no doubts now who her brother from the alternate world was. However, they weren't the same as him if they wished only for the happiness of their little sister. A fool he could – in some parts – approve of. As far as her attachment to him went, he obviously wasn't her brother. He couldn't really be her or Illya's either.
But he would at least be there for them. Illya was his Master and it would be a poor Servant who managed to fail theirs. As far as Miyu went…
There was a hint of a foolhardy boy he wanted to stamp out. She had her whole life ahead of her and he wasn't about to let one act of recklessness ruin it.
Perhaps he was getting a bit soft here.
His features thinned into a self-depreciating smirk.
'I've got to go and save myself…' He bitterly chuckled in his head 'Perhaps there really is something wrong with this world?'
"Excuse me, Archer-san?" The Servant looked up to see the pillowcase resting on the bed move slightly and speak "Can I assume you have prevented Miyu-sama from rushing off without support?"
"Yes." Archer nodded his head, looking at the small girl still clinging to him and crying "For now, at least."
"I am grateful...If I might ask a favour of you." She sounded somewhat embarrassed now "Would you be able to free me? I confess this position I find myself in is most uncomfortable."
Archer let out a sigh. He'd have to wait for the girl to stop crying and then free the Kaleidostick, at this point they would need all the help they would get against the likes of Gilgamesh.
They were still in the room when Archer eventually returned back downstairs, Miyu had wiped her face although her eyes were still puffy and red.
"Making little girls cry now?" Ruby mocked, tutting and shaking her head "For shame-"
"Shut up Ruby." Almost the whole room – including Sapphire – spoke at the same time and silence the stick.
Miyu rubbed her nose again as she waked forwards, looking around the room and taking in the expectant faces of everyone there before she eventually opened her mouth and spoke.
"I...I know where Gilgamesh is…"
Pain was the first thing that assailed Shirou's body as consciousness returned to him. It wasn't as bad as the last time he remembered being awake but it was still something unfortunate for him. The next sensation he found himself aware of was a tightness around his body, he could move neither his arms nor legs.
When his eyes finally managed to pry themselves open he found himself staring at a rocky surface, barely a few centimetres from his face. He was still quite out of it and couldn't help the groan of pain which escaped his lips when he tried to move and pressed his bruised body against a piece of rock jutting up from the ground.
"Do you know how I punished thieves in my kingdom?" He paused at the voice which seemed to echo out around him, it was as arrogant as it was obviously dismissive. "Those who were caught were flogged and hanged for such a crime. Along with those who purchased treasures they knew to be stolen." Shirou managed to turn his head slightly only to see his reflection in the metal of a sword which instantly buried itself in the ground barely an inch from him "I do not recall giving you permission to look upon me, worm." the voice sneered "Lie there upon the ground like the pest you are."
Shirou couldn't exactly do more than that however his sense of concern overrode his sense of self-preservation "F-family…"
"Do you quickly wish to test a King's patience?" The voice accused with a low tone "However, the mongrels remain alive. They should be grateful that your own sense of duty to throw yourself upon a King's judgement spared their lives." there was a quiet rattle of metal as someone moved past him "The sheer arrogance of modern Magi is as astounding as it is insulting. To dare steal away a King's treasure and allow it to be dirtied in such a way...It matters not. If it is their desire to poison a King's chalice, I shall simply have them drink from it."
Shirou had no idea what he was even-
The fire burns around the entire city.
The hole splits open the sky as the rivers of curses pour out of it.
The boy walks through that hell. He walks past everyone and has long since become a dead man walking.
-his breathing quickened "Y-you!" he choked out in a panic, completely ignoring the earlier warning and looking up towards the sound of the voice, finding himself staring at the back of a bright blonde head of hair and illustrious golden armour "Y-you can't-ACK!" he was cut off and released a pained gasp as something slammed into the back of his right leg and instantly set off a burning pain across the limb and up his body.
He lost all sense of feeling save a terrible stiffness which seemed to flow through the limb.
"I already warned you of speaking out of turn." The man responded in a cold voice, not even deigning to turn around "And you dare to tell me what I can and cannot do? Know your place, Mongrel. I said I would consider sparing your life." they warned dangerously "And I can withdraw that consideration at any time."
Shirou sucked in through his teeth as he let out a low moan of pain, trying to avoid screaming "I-It'll...Its a monster!" he barely managed to growl out.
That gave the Servant pause, they turned their body to the side and then looked down at him for the first time. Their red eyes scanned his face dismissively, as if he were a bug they were reluctant to even gaze upon before they furrowed their brows slightly. "Hm. Perhaps you are a thief who kept their ear close to the ground." he mused with a sneer "Although that only makes the headsman task easier."
They turned away from him "It matters not. You are not deserving of punishment by a Kings hand and this poisoned chalice is reserved for others." their body disintegrated into motes of light, leaving Shirou gasping for breath amidst the pain racking their body.
AN: Little Archer and Miyu moment and we see more of Gilgamesh.
Should also give you some ideas of what plans he has for the Grail. It might be corrupted but he doesn't intend to follow the exact same idea as his FSN counterpart, he has another objective in mind.
