A/N: Thanks once again to Greatkingrat88 for his work on the chapter, and thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorited and followed the story.
Now in this chapter we will get into the various forces in play in this singularity, which will complicate Lelouch, Ritsuka and Hakuno's efforts to repair it.
Of course, they will meet some allies too.
Before moving onto the chapter I have some reviews to respond to that I couldn't PM.
Ana: Thank you and I appreciate that. Ritsuka and Hakuno were easier to work into the story and adapt, although I picked Hakuno also in part because of another Fate/Extra character who will appear much later in the story. Those who have played through .PH chapter should know who I am referring to. Olga being alive has opened some new doors with some likely changes for events of Part two and beyond. It will just depend on how well Olga recovers from the ordeal. As for a remix involving Ibaraki and Shuten, well the next chapter after this one will answer that.
There will be more servants being summoned, but I am just being cautious to allow time between new characters being introduced so I can give them proper introductions without overloading myself.
Perhaps, I am working out some lingering details, but I will wait until later in the story in regards to Geass and Alaya. I got some ideas, but I don't want to spoil anything.
Jay: She could be, just need the right conditions for her to be introduced so the two can meet. However there will be competition since I do plan for some servants from each singularity, maybe one or two depending on what works best, to join Chaldea serving either Lelouch, Ritsuka or Hakuno. But Medusa could be a good choice for the other reasons you have mentioned.
As for Geass, Lelouch might get his from C.C. at some point, but not now. I do agree that Geass compared to certain mystic eyes are much more impressive. Well I might play on that feat of Lelouch Geassing the World of C at some point, which will depend on how events leading up to that play out. However I should note that is a LONG way off XD.
It is possible for Code Geass characters to appear as servants since the world has ended and everyone has been killed, for now, so merely a question when they will appear and where.
Chapter 7
Factions of Change
The group entered Minamiyoshino village, which was rather too large to be called as such. With its size it looked more like a large town, crowded with people. It was no wonder it would inevitably be split into two; Lelouch could see signs of the village counting to grow even now. As the group proceeded further into the busy town, Lelouch noticed the occasional glance or two he got from the people, but no one paid him any mind beyond that.
"What is that in the sky?" Lelouch asked, looking up.
They had been in the forest earlier, and the trees kept them from seeing it. Now that they had exited the forest and entered a village, there was nothing blocking their view of the sky.
"What is that?" Hakuno asked, as Mash and Ritsuka looked up to see something unbelievable. Emiya and Genghis Khan were speechless but Sakamoto was calm, clearly having seen it before.
"We're not sure what it is, but it was here when Lord Ushiwakamaru and I were summoned." He said.
Hovering in satellite orbit was an enormous ring of light, and beyond it was a black abyss. It was like a black hole was suspended in the skies above them, drawing in some clouds. It was huge, but Lelouch suspected the ring was even larger in scope than it appeared. However, its purpose eluded the group.
"Is it tied to the singularities?" Lelouch thought out loud.
"I suspect that will be a subject for later," the Khan replied.
"I think so," Mash replied. "I never saw anything like that. I'll make sure the Doctor gets a good look at it. Maybe he and the others back at Chaldea can tell us more about it once the examine it using SHEBA."
The motley crew walked on, unnerved. Eventually, they arrived at an inn, guided by Sakamoto.
"Here we are," he said, pointing at the establishment.
"Do we have money to cover a stay?" Ritsuka asked.
"Don't worry about paying. The owner was unfortunately killed during an oni attack. In gratitude for our efforts to defend the village, we were granted this inn to use as a base," Ushiwakamaru replied.
"I see. So we can safely have our meeting here?" Lelouch remarked.
"Yeah, but there is someone we should introduce you to first," Sakamoto said, as someone emerged from the inn.
"Hey, welcome back. I've got some good news," a young woman said, as she came running out. "Huh, you guys brought company? But I don't have enough for everyone."
The most noticeable feature on the girl was her fox ears, paws replacing her hands and feet and a tail. Beyond those features she looked human, with long pink hair tied into a ponytail with a red bow. She had amber eyes with brown fur on her fox-like features, and wore a red and black kimono that revealed much of her cleavage and black leggings.
"I apologize for the unexpected guests, but they are allies," Ushiwakamaru said.
"Well, I suppose I could make more, especially since your friend doesn't know when to stop eating," the fox girl said in annoyance, pouting. Ushiwakamaru seemed confused, before she realized something that made her smile.
"Does this mean that cur has returned?"
"Yup, Benkei has come back," the fox-girl replied.
"I guess this means we'll be spending a long time talking," Hakuno remarked.
"I guess introductions are mine to handle then," Sakamoto said with a sigh. "The girl with fox ears is called Tamamo Cat, a Berserker-class servant."
"Tamamo Cat?" Ritsuka asked, curious about the name.
"Confused? I know I am sometimes," Tamamo Cat replied, energetically nodding her head before explaining. "I am one of the Tamamo Nine. I was originally one of nine tails separated from Tamamo-no-Mae, the root of all malice. Each one tail gained its own individuality, but all cause disturbances to the human world. They are quite a pain, woof!"
"Really now, so should we be worried about you?" The Khan asked.
"Nah Tamamo Cat is perfectly fine, I got my original's pure aspects so I am the best of the Tamamo Nine," The Berserker replied cheerfully.
She seems loony. Probably her Mad Enhancement, thought Lelouch.
"Anyway, let's head inside and talk," Sakamoto said, gesturing for everyone to follow him.
Meanwhile as Lelouch, Ritsuka and Hakuno's group gathered to begin their meeting within the inn there was movement upside on the outskirts of the village.
At the same time C.C. was relaxing in her room back in Chaldea. Following a successful shift as Chaldea's new head chef, despite the complaints about her pizza-themed menu, the young woman was enjoying a long break until the lunch shift.
I never would have expected most of the cafeteria staff to attempt braving the land beyond the field protecting Chaldea.
Suddenly C.C. heard another voice, but it was not one present in the room.
"Well, I must say I am surprised you can still speak to me," C.C. said with a grin, internally listening to the response. "Calm yourself, Marianne. I know what happened. and unlike the rest of you I am still alive. Even though I know what incinerated the world is capable of killing me, it's likely to be only temporary."
Marianne vi Britannia, the mother of Lelouch and Nunnally. Although she had died seven years ago, her mind had survived thanks to a power C.C. had given her. Only her husband the Emperor of Britannia and C.C. knew of her survival by transferring her mind to another body before her original body died.
C.C. quietly listened to Marianne's response.
"As if the answer wasn't obvious the entire world ended. Only the place I am at was spared because of its magnetic barrier," C.C. replied, the grin reappearing on her face. "You'll never guess who is our only hope of restoring the world and humanity."
As the recovered Heroic Spirit joined them in the dining room, the group explained their purpose to the Heroic Spirits gathered around a table. Doctor Romani joined them as a spot was made for his holographic avatar so that he could join the servants and humans for their meeting.
"So, humanity is just gone. The world burnt to a crisp," Oryou commented in shock, as the Chaldea group finished explaining their purpose in Japan.
"You know, that might explain a lot," Sakamoto said with one hand under his chin. "I thought it was weird we were summoned without masters. You guys said the enemy is creating singularities using something on par with a Holy Grail, right?"
"Yes, they are, according to our scans of the seven singularities," Lelouch said.
"Whatever is causing those singularities probably summoned us as well. I think we're meant to act on history's behalf to fix this mess," Sakamoto said.
"I agree," Emiya began. "So far this is similar to what happened in Fuyuki with Heroic Spirits being involved. Whatever is causing these singularities is likely summoning Heroic Spirits to act as agents of chaos if you will, to throw history off track."
"Dr. Romani said history has a way of repairing itself, so if it can't repair itself because of the Singularity and Heroic Spirits running amok, then history is probably using whatever summoned those Heroic Spirits to summon some who could stop it and return history to normal," Hakuno commented.
"Right," Romani agreed. "This is something similar to a Holy Grail War involving servants. Whoever is overseeing the Singularity must be controlling the Heroic Spirits they summoned to change the past. But since the Holy Grail is already in the hands of someone, maybe there is some kind of bug in the system? Something history might've decided to take advantage of to fight back."
"It's a reversal of causality, since the Holy Grail is already in someone's hands before the war even started. Maybe its resisting, an unattended side effect perhaps?" Lelouch suggested, but all he could do was speculate.
"To fight for the future of the world and humanity is truly an admirable goal," Ushiwakamaru said clenching her fist.
"It is, but there is something else bothering me," Lelouch began. Roman knew what he was talking about.
"That ring of light you saw. We detected it with SHEBA when we pinpointed your locations after Rayshifting. We have been analyzing, but we have nothing concrete yet. However, we do know its roughly the size of the North Britannian Continuant hanging in satellite orbit over Japan," Romani reported.
"I am certain nothing like that existed in history," Mash commented.
"No, it didn't. It must be tied to the Singularity somehow. What purpose it is for I don't know at this time, but I'll let you guys know if we discover anything," Dr. Romani said.
"I guess now it's your turn," Lelouch said, gesturing to Sakamoto.
"Right. Benkei?" Sakamoto said.
Musashibou Benkei sat with the group. He had a solid, muscular build, towering over them at six feet tall. He wore a mixture of a monk's garb and armor. His arms were left exposed, and he walked barefoot. Although his primary weapon was a naginata, he carried additional weapons on his back: three swords, a spear, and a trident. His eyes were gray, and Lelouch was certain he was bald, even though the cloth covering the top of his head concealed it. Beyond that, he had a black beard on his chin.
"Thank you, Lord Sakamoto," Benkei said respectfully. "My scouting mission was a success."
"Good. So, what has been happening up north?" Sakamoto said. "But please, you can just call me Sakamoto or Ryouma."
"My apologies," Benkei said. "I traveled north to Kyoto to gather information or some clue to the circumstances of a Holy Grail War without any masters. Of course, I was also investigating why many of the men protecting this village were called to Kyoto."
"The people protecting this village were all called to Kyoto?" Mash asked, surprised.
"It was another reason why we asked Lord Benkei to investigate Kyoto. Shortly after we materialized, a messenger arrived calling for all able-bodied men to Kyoto to defend it," Sakamoto answered before adding. "We would've gone ourselves, but this village soon fell under attack by oni."
"The men who stayed behind were poorly trained and were quickly overwhelmed. We became this village's only means of defense," Ushiwakamaru explained, using a chopstick to imitate a sword slicing through the air.
"Right before you arrived, we were discussing plans to track down the source of the oni to exterminate them. All of the other attacks were just to soften the village up for a full-scale raid," Sakamoto said.
"I see," Lelouch said before turning to Benkei. "I apologize for the interruption. Please continue."
"Thank you," Benkei replied, continuing. "Upon arrival I saw the aftermath of a great battle. I had seen signs as I approached, but when I arrived it was over."
"Do have any details?" Ushiwakamaru inquired.
"Judging from the ruined Earth and the number of casualties, I would say the defenders were victorious despite their own heavy losses. The attacking army has withdrawn to Osaka," Benkei answered. "The attacking army was led by one called Oda Nobunaga. The city of Kyoto has been taken over by Nagao Kagetora. Both are Heroic Spirits, from what I have learned."
"Oda Nobunaga, as in the Demon King? The guy who tried to unify all of Japan?" Ritsuka said, recognizing the name.
"The warlord known for his ruthlessness and cruelty, killing or destroying anything which stood in her way?" Hakuno asked, which earned her a nod from Lelouch and Romani.
"A dangerous foe," Lelouch said, "not only ruthless, but a sound tactician. He revolutionized warfare in his time."
"Actually, the Oda Nobunaga I saw was female," Benkei pointed out. Lelouch, Hakuno and Ritsuka were stunned by the reveal. Lelouch was the first to regain his composure before commenting.
"I guess that gives us a better explanation for the cause of the conflict between her brother Nobukatsu and the clan elders when she was going to take over the clan."
"So the famed Demon King was a woman?" Hakuno asked, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Were there any other Heroic Spirits with her?" Lelouch asked.
Benkei nodded, "There were. I counted five of them. I wasn't familiar with any of them, expect for Tomoe Gozen."
"Tomoe Gozen?" Ritsuka said.
"She was the beloved concubine of Minamoto no Yoshinaka, but she was also a skilled warrior said to be worth a thousand men. A master of the sword, the bow and the naginata, she was strong enough to tear off a person's head." Romani explained.
"What happened to her?" Ritsuka inquired.
"Tomoe and her beloved were involved in many battles. However, during the Genpei War, Yoshinaka ordered Tomoe away to save her during the Battle of Awazu. Historically, Minamoto no Yoritomo betrayed Yoshinaka after the defeat of the Taira clan finding him no longer useful, but he feared his and Tomoe's popularity. Yoritomo sent his brothers to eliminate him."
A fate one among us would also suffer, Lelouch mused glancing at Ushiwakamaru.
She had been one of Japan's most revered generals and warriors of her time, but after defeating Yoritomo's enemies, she was betrayed. Her paranoid and treacherous brother, jealous of her and fearing she would turn on him despite her years of unquestionable loyalty, betrayed her. Cornered, she ultimately committed seppuku, the noble Benkei dying to defend her.
What a tragic end for two such remarkable individuals, Lelouch thought.
The mighty Benkei, known as the best friend and companion of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Before that, the warrior-monk dueled and disarmed men on the Gojou Bridge in Kyoto. After an impressive winning streak of nine hundred and ninety wins, Benkei would lose what should have been his one thousandth victory against Ushiwakamaru. Since then, the two were inseparable, as their adventures were chronicled in the Gikeiki and The Tale Of The Heike.
Lelouch noticed Ushiwakamaru seemed conflicted. The youthful exuberance she projected hid bitterness and pain.
In history, it is said Minamoto no Yoshitsune was devotedly loyal to Yoritomo. I suppose being betrayed cut deep, Lelouch thought.
"Tomoe and Ushiwakamaru are likely to be enemies then," Lelouch remarked, knowing the answer was obvious.
"Lady Tomoe has every right to bear a grudge against me," Ushiwakamaru said. "However, this war has humanity's fate in the balance, so I will not give my head to her. If Lady Tomoe wants it, she'll have to fight for it!"
"I appreciate your resolve," the Khan remarked.
"You mentioned Kyoto is under the control of Nagao Kagetora?" Emiya inquired.
"I didn't see them, but I did listen in on conversations among Nobunaga's followers," Benkei said before answering. "But they said Nagao Kagetora and her followers control Kyoto."
"Let's see," Romani said, using the computer on his end to look up the name. "Ah, here it is. But are you sure Nagao is a woman? Historic records refer to them as male."
"Roman, we have seen King Arthur as a woman, and we have one of, if not the most famous generals in Japanese history, who is a woman? Why would you be surprised at this point?" Lelouch pointed out with a dismissive hand gesture.
"Aren't you being a little rough on him?" Hakuno commented.
"Sorry, I just wanted to keep the conversation on track," Lelouch replied.
"Well, Lelouch has a point. But back to the matter at hand," Romani began, "Nagao Kagetora, otherwise known by the name Uesugi Kenshin after the Uesugi Clan adopted her, is one of the most famous daimyos in the Sengoku Period. Nicknamed the Dragon of Echigo, she was a tactical genius who won battles by her mid-teens. Her rivalry with Takeda Shingen was legendary. Her feats gave her other nicknames like the God of War and the Avatar of Bishamonten. Most importantly, however, she was among the few to ever force Nobunaga to retreat during the Battle of Tedorigawa. If not for her untimely death, she could've stopped Nobunaga's conquest completely."
"How did she die? Did Nobunaga have her assassinated?" Mash asked.
"No, she died of esophageal cancer. Her death led to a power vacuum, allowing Nobunaga's influence to grow."
"I see. This might be conjecture, but it seems like Nagao is aiming to defeat Nobunaga this time around. If she has the Holy Grail that supports this singularity, it would explain why Nobunaga was driven back, despite having Heroic Spirits following her."
Benkei nodded, "Yes. The conversations between her men confirm as much. How many and who they are, I don't know."
"Well, that's not good. We're facing down two of Japan's most noteworthy commanders. Not to mention a lot more Heroic Spirits opposing us when compared to Fuyuki," Hakuno said grimly, knowing the odds were stacked against them.
"I have no intention of backing down, but given our odds, we need a plan," Lelouch said.
"Wisely said master, and I might have a suggestion," Genghis Khan offered. "I don't think I explained what my Noble Phantasm is capable of, at least not all of its workings."
"You mean what you used to summon those men and horses to help us?" Ritsuka asked, earning a nod from the Khan.
"Yes, but that was just one part of my Noble Phantasm. Since I am the man who built an empire out of conquest and unifying the other Mongolian Tribes, my Noble Phantasm has another effect when I conquer an area. Think of my Noble Phantasm as one that grows in strength and grants my men and me additional benefits with more area I add to my Empire," The Khan said.
"What is your Noble Phantasm called, if you don't mind?" Mash inquired.
"Dì guó zhī fù, 'Father of an Empire'," The Khan answered. "Not only did I build an empire from scratch that continued to expand. but many of the people within what became the Chinese Federation after Mongolia was assimilated into their country carry my blood. If I am not mistaken, the current Empress of the Chinese Federation is descended from my line."
"I can't say for sure," Romani said.
"Regardless, as Heroic Spirits gain strength from fighting in their homelands, the same holds true for me. I can conquer any area I am in, making it part of my homeland, allowing me to grow stronger," Genghis Khan continued. "Not only will conquered areas become part of my Empire and thereby my Noble Phantasm, I can also call forth more soldiers from within my Noble Phantasm to aid us."
"You could summon an entire army if you control enough areas of the singularity, then?" Sakamoto said with surprise.
"I could already if I activated my Reality Marble, but the armies within will be stronger and more adapted to Japan if I conquer a sufficient number of areas. It works better if there is particular value to these areas. I should note this would be highly impractical to use in a normal Holy Grail War due to its high energy demands, but I think with planting my banners in the right place and using Chaldea's support systems, we should be covered."
"I see, so that's why you didn't use that part of your Noble Phantasm in Fuyuki," Lelouch deduced. "There was nothing of value that would be worth conquering."
The Khan nodded. "That is right. If I plant a banner in the center of each area, I claim it. That will create an anchor and resonator for my Noble Phantasm. Most importantly, it will summon men from my Noble Phantasm to defend it. Such as I could summon enough to defend this village if I were to conquer it."
"You are not thinking of taking this area by force, are you?" Ushiwakamaru asked, sounding defensive.
"Not at all," The Khan replied. "I don't have to conquer every area by force. In fact, I could propose a deal in which we could help you deal with the oni problem in exchange for my men defending this town."
"Don't you think we're getting ahead of ourselves?" Ritsuka offered cautiously.
"I agree," Lelouch said in agreement. "After everything we have told you and what you have learned from Lord Benkei, where do you all stand?"
Sakamoto, Oryou, and Ushiwakamaru looked at one another before taking a moment to contemplate a response.
"I'll fight with you," Ushiwakamaru declared. "I can't think a cause more worth fighting for. If humanity and the world ends, what would become of us?"
"I don't like the idea of living in a burnt-out world," Oryou said.
"Neither would I," said Sakamoto, "and I know history cannot be changed even though I can't say I am thrilled to see what Japan has become since my time. But leaving things as they are now would just make things worse than better. So, if no one has any objections, help us ensure this village will survive without us, and we'll help you right this singularity."
"WHAT ABOUT ME?" Tamamo Cat asked loudly, hurrying out of the kitchen with a pouty expression. "I have been busy cooking more food for all of you, and Tamamo doesn't get a say?"
"Of course, you do," Sakamoto said. "You were so concerned about the food though, we didn't want to interrupt you."
"Your skills as a cook are without rival," Ushiwakamaru complimented.
"Okay," Tamamo Cat said, her personality turning cheery once again, and she started hopping up and down with joy. "I'll help too since everyone must eat, and if the world is gone, I can't find a good husband that will make the original jealous."
What's that last part about? Lelouch wondered.
"Anyway, food is ready," Tamamo Cat said, returning to the kitchen to bring forth plates and pots of food.
Back at Chaldea, following the dinner shift, Romani returned to the command center with a cup of coffee in hand. He had eaten his fill, but he was growing annoyed with being offered nothing but Pizza at the cafeteria. Sitting down in the commander's chair, he decided he would stay up a bit to keep an eye on Lelouch, Mash, Ritsuka and Hakuno before going to sleep.
"I am glad to see you taking this very seriously," Leonardo said, entering the command center.
"And I see you have been spending more time outside of your workshop," Romani replied with a smile.
"Well, the world has literally ended, and with most of our staff no longer around it was time for me to step up," Leonardo said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Yeah, I guess everyone has been pulling double duty since we lost most of our staff," Romani said before taking a sip from his coffee. "That reminds me, how has the Director been?"
"Sion has been doing her best, but its clear Lev's betrayal has done some serious damage. She is still in denial, but I think on some level Olga understands what happened," Leonardo said.
"So, it comes down to accepting the truth about what happened as the first step the Director needs to recover," Roman said.
"I suppose, but I think a lot of people prefer you being the Director over Olga," Leonardo said with a wink.
"Huh," Roman said, surprised.
"You know as well as I do a lot of people in Chaldea disliked the Director for her temper," Leonardo pointed out. "You are a lot more friendly than she was, so you have become a popular alternative."
"I didn't realize my leadership would give me admirers already."
"Besides, given Olga's present state, it's going to be a long time until she recovers emotionally from what happened. So I say, enjoy the position of Director until then. But even when Olga recovers, I can't imagine many in Chaldea will want her in charge," Leonardo said.
"So you're given me praise and something to dread?"
"More or less," Leonardo said with a mischievous grin.
Later that evening, following a very hearty meal, Lelouch was alone in his room with Genghis Khan next door. The former prince was sitting in his bed, mentally reviewing everything they had learned. The room he was in was rather plain with a bed, a dresser and a table near the bed. It had a flower in a pot on the table to liven it up a little.
The meal they ate was indeed impressively well cooked, but Lelouch was mostly glad it wasn't pizza. The plan would be to would rest for the night, but Lelouch would use his time to examine maps of the areas surrounding Kyoto and Osaka. He was trying to find locations that could make useful strategic points worth seizing, depending on who they decided to target first. Their priority should be the Holy Grail, but they couldn't ignore the danger Nobunaga could pose to them.
Going after one of them puts us at risk of being attacked by the other. Not knowing what the two sides have planned complicates things, Lelouch mused.
There was the problem of not knowing what kind of servants Nobunaga and Kagetora had. Tomoe Gozen being in Nobunaga's employ was the only one they knew of. Beyond that, Lelouch had no idea who the other servants were.
We can't be careless. Japan has a fair number of ninjas who would likely be summonable as Heroic Spirits, Lelouch noted. Assassin-class servants in Japan, especially ninjas, could be a serious threat to them. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"It's me," Ushiwakamaru said, from the other side of the door.
"Come in," Lelouch replied.
"Do you have a moment, Lord Lelouch?" Ushiwakamaru asked, opening the door.
"Lord?" Lelouch inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. As a master you are my lord, are you not?"
"I suppose, in a sense," Lelouch replied, deciding to move past that point. "Anyway, is there something I could help you with?"
"I had a question," Ushiwakamaru began. "You seem to know a lot more about me than Lord Ritsuka did. He clearly idolized me, but you, a foreigner, knows much more about my history than he did."
"Ah," Lelouch said before answering. "You see, before I came to Chaldea, I was making attempts to summon my own servant. They weren't always successful, but if they had been, I was considering summoning you or Nobunaga as my first servant."
"Why?"
"Well for one, I had hoped to learn from one of you. I wished to learn how to be a commander of an army from those with real experience," Lelouch said before glancing around to see if anyone might have been listening in. What Lelouch would say next was not something he would've reveal easily, but if it helped gain the trust of one of Japan's most famed generals and warriors, then the risk was worth it. "I intend to liberate Japan from the Holy Britannian Empire, before rallying the rest of the world against Britannia to destroy it."
Ushiwakamaru seemed surprised.
"That's quite the ambitious desire," she said, uncertain of what else to say.
"I will confess my motives aren't entirely noble. It is driven by my personal desire for vengeance against the Emperor of Britannia, and for the sake of my sister, who was a victim of it," Lelouch confessed.
"Your sister?" Ushiwakamaru asked, curiously titling her head to one side.
Lelouch's face adopted a saddened expression when speaking of Nunnally, but he went ahead.
"My sister was crippled and traumatized by assassins who murdered my mother. The Emperor did nothing, but swept it under the rug before banishing her and myself to a foreign land. Months later they invaded, abandoning us to fend for ourselves."
Ushiwakamaru studied Lelouch with a puzzled expression before deducing.
"You wouldn't be by chance a prince, or more accurately, the child of the Emperor? That would explain your anger against him more clearly."
Lelouch was caught off guard, but his change in expression was all the answer Ushiwakamaru needed.
"I see. You want to keep that secret. Do not worry, I will not speak a word of it to the others," Ushiwakamaru offered to ease Lelouch's concerns. "However, I am envious that you are fighting for your sister. I devoted myself to helping my beloved brother."
"In the end, he betrayed you," Lelouch said sympatric for Ushiwakamaru. "I know what it's like to be betrayed by family. I understand."
Ushiwakamaru was silent, with Lelouch wondering if he might have spoken out of turn in regards to the events that would lead to her death. The youth and cheerful energy Ushiwakamaru possessed diminished, but soon it began to slowly return.
"Its sad yes, but he was still a wonderful brother," Ushiwakamaru said with a smile, but a tear rolled down her cheek.
I should be a little more careful with the subject of her brother. Even through I am certain deep down she is bitter over his betrayal it seems before it happened, they must've had a good relationship as siblings, Lelouch thought taking a mental note.
"I won't question that, but you'll forgive me if history hasn't exactly painted a very pretty picture about him," Lelouch said.
"I understand," Ushiwakamaru remarked seemingly saddened yet understanding why history had painted her beloved brother as power-hungry backstabber. "Anyway, I shall teach you what I know of the art of war that my mentor showed me. I can teach, and you can learn as we demolish the oni!"
"Nothing seems to keep you depressed for long."
"At this age, no, but my older-self reached a point where she no longer smiles. So, I prefer being summoned at this stage in my life," Ushiwakamaru remarked putting a hand on Lelouch's shoulder. "So where do we begin?"
Around the same time down the hall Hakuno was lying in her bed alone in her thoughts. She was staring at the ceiling. Although she had accepted the task of trying to save humanity, but it felt unbelievable to be this far back in the past. Not to mention meeting noteworthy figures of Japan's history, such as Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Sakamoto Ryouma.
From her days in school, Hakuno recalled reading about Sakamoto Ryouma, his generation's best negotiator. He had been a skilled swordsman and assassin, but what he went down in history for was his accomplishments as a negotiator that led to having three warring domains ally in overthrowing the Shogunate. Even through he didn't live to see his efforts bear fruit, Sakamoto's actions led to the Meiji Restoration.
"Are you feeling well, master?" Emiya said, shifting from his spiritual form to his physical form. Hakuno nearly jumped out of her bed at how suddenly Emiya appeared, but was quick to regain her composure.
"I am fine. It's just… I never expected to go back to a time like this."
Emiya lightly smiled, "I admit, of all the conflicts I could've been summoned to, time traveling to save humanity wasn't one I expected. Still, I suppose it beats your typical Holy Grail War."
"In a normal Holy Grail War, masters and their servants would fight until one was left standing, right?"
Emiya nodded, "Yes that's right. Sometimes the masters themselves were at risk, because sometimes the best way to eliminate an enemy servant is to eliminate the master."
"Makes sense. So that is what the assassin-class servants go after, then?"
"That right. I am glad to see you have been brushing up on information about being a master," Emiya said.
"Yeah, Da Vinci decided to school me on some essential information about that while you were helping Mash get more accustomed to combat," Hakuno replied, sitting up in bed.
"I see. Well, I can always offer you advice as needed," Emiya offered.
"Thanks, Emiya," Hakuno said with a smile.
"Not at all, master, I'll do my best as your servant. Once you get more comfortable and confident as a master, it will help you grow," Emiya offered sagely before noticing something. "However, it seems something is bothering you."
"Huh?"
"I know the world ended only a few days ago, but did you require more time to mourn those you lost? Friends or family, perhaps?"
Hakuno contemplated that for a moment before answering with a sad expression.
"I mourn the friends I lost, but my family…" Hakuno began, "I no longer have any attachment to them. Not since they abandoned me for being dead weight."
Emiya studied Hakuno's expression for a moment.
"It wasn't just the disease that caused that, was it?"
"I guess that is true. Things were going downhill between us once they started getting desperate."
"They were scavengers, correct?" Emiya asked. Hakuno nodded.
"When you live in the ghettos, there are very few opportunities for you to have a way to put food on the table. The most common was either joining a resistance group, or becoming a scavenger. Between the two, being a scavenger offered the higher life-expectancy. The biggest problem was finding something worth selling. They don't have a lot of Britannian customers for obvious reasons, unless you find something very valuable. If you found working machine parts for Knightmare Frames, military items and weapons, they would fetch more with black market traders and resistance groups with the money. Of course, finding any of those wasn't easy."
"I see," Emiya said crossing his arms over his chest. "So, some scavengers would become desperate and resort to killing their competition, especially if they had something of value?"
"That's part of it yes," Hakuno said. "However, stealing from the dead was just the first step for my family. I would've understood it better if they had taken some water or rations that might've need necessary for survival. Instead, my family started stealing whatever valuables they could get their hands on, like jewelry and such."
Stealing from the dead was low. Food and water, sure, but anything else?
"Eventually, they began killing their competitors." Emiya said.
Hakuno nodded again.
"We were barely finding anything worth selling, so my parents gunned down another family of scavengers. I was searching through an old bomb shelter when I heard the gunfire," Hakuno said with a saddened expression on her face. "After I rushed out to see what happened I found my mother, father and younger brother looting their bodies. There...was even a child among them."
She was on the verge of tears, but she managed to hold them back. After taking a few moments to compose herself, Hakuno resumed her tale.
"Despite my horror at what they'd done, I stayed with them. But even though I tried to talk them out of it, they just got worse." Hakuno said. She took a deep breath. "Then, after having enough to afford full medical checkups, it was discovered I had a rare disease that would eventually kill me."
"It changed things, didn't it? They began seeing you as a liability."
Hakuno nodded. "Yes. My relationship with them grew increasingly strained, until one day while I was working on an old subway car, searching for parts to sell, I overheard my parents talking about killing me as a mercy, or selling me off."
Emiya said nothing, but all things considered he knew how the story would end.
"As soon as they were asleep, I ran away and never looked back. I could no longer see them as the same people who brought me into the world," Hakuno said.
"That must've been difficult. Not running away, but watching those who raised you change like that," Emiya commented.
"I can't even begin to describe it, but yeah as far as I am concerned, my family died a long time ago. Probably why I think Lelouch and I have become good friends. I don't know what happened, but we both had problems with the family," Hakuno replied.
"Even if he's a Britannian?"
"After seeing my family change and seeing what some Japanese people are capable of, I see no difference. I feel under reversed circumstances, the people of Japan could be like Britannia, so I judge people on an individual basis," Hakuno said, folding her arms.
"Sounds fair."
"So, since I shared something personal, what do you remember about your personal life before becoming a servant?" Hakuno asked.
"Me?" Emiya replied, contemplating a response.
"There isn't too much of my previous life worth sharing," he said eventually. He didn't really want to say, but for the sake of fairness he did feel he had to share something.
"I couldn't remember my family. I lost them during a disaster when I was seven years old. It happened in Fuyuki, when an enormous fire broke out, destroying one hundred and thirty four buildings, killing over five hundred people. I was the only survivor. They called it a miracle," Emiya said somberly.
"I heard about that. It was one of the worst disasters to hit Japan. But that was over twenty years ago," Hakuno said, recalling she had heard about the Great Fire in Fuyuki City.
"Yes, I recall wandering through the ruins of the collapsed buildings. I should've died, but I was saved by the man who would become my adopted father," Emiya said. "I didn't know it then, but I would find out later that the fire was caused by the destruction of the Holy Grail. It had happened during the final clash of the Fourth Holy Grail War of Fuyuki."
"And ten years later, the Fifth Holy Grail War would happen?"
"That's right," Emiya confirmed. "I don't know exactly how it happened, only that it happened during the final battle between the last two remaining servants. The reason the other past Holy Grails never ended with a true winner was because the Holy Grail was incapable of forming properly, but even though the Holy Grail manifested properly this time, it was destroyed."
"Destroyed? But why?"
"The man who would adopt me was one of the masters taking part in the fourth Holy Grail War. He battled against the servant of another master. He had discovered the Holy Grail had been tainted, so any wish granted by it would be destructive and twisted. Upon discovering this he decided to destroy it, but as somebody made a wish upon it as it was destroyed, the fire was triggered."
"So after the battle he tried to save everyone from the fire that final battle triggered?"
"Yes, and all he found was me, barely alive. He took me in where I adopted his surname of Emiya, and he raised me as his own son. Sadly, he died from an illness a few years later."
Emiya recalled that moonlit night where he found his adopted father sitting out on the porch of their home. Following one last conversation between them, Kiritsugu Emiya passed away.
"I apologize for having you bring that up," Hakuno said sadly.
"It was only fair I share something about my family after you did, nothing more," Emiya said, grateful he didn't have to discuss his past any further. "If I may inquire, once humanity is restored, what do you intend to do?"
"I am not sure, but I know my options are limited."
Hakuno was cured of the disease that would have killed her, and although she had no doubt she would be paid well for her service as a master, she didn't know where to go afterwards. She was Japanese, so there were very few career paths she could take, and she recalled rumors where she heard the treatment of the Japanese was worse in the United Republic of Europia, being crammed into small ghettos.
"Well, you'll have plenty of time to decide a path going forward," Emiya replied with a thin smile.
Further down the hall, Mash and Ritsuka were talking to one another. Like Emiya, Mash was a little concerned for Ritsuka's well-being.
"Are you doing well so far, senpai?"
"I'll manage," Ritsuka replied.
"Are you sure?" Mash asked, concernedly.
After all, finding out everyone and everything on Earth had been wiped out had been a huge shock. As far as Mash knew, Ritsuka didn't have any family to speak of, and as for friends, there was none Ritsuka had mentioned yet.
"Living in the ghettoes doesn't give you many opportunities to make lasting friendships, so I don't have too many attachments. I guess it made accepting the job at Chaldea a lot easier," Ritsuka said.
"That is depressing to hear, senpai."
"Did you have any friends at Chaldea?" Ritsuka asked, but Mash shook her head.
"Not too many, but the ones who were my friends were Dr. Romani, Da Vinci, and Lelouch. I suppose I knew Ophelia and Pepe too, but I didn't talk to them very much," Mash said. She regretted that she didn't try to spend more time with the two of them.
"No one else?"
"No. The Director kept her distance, as did everyone else."
"I see," Ritsuka said feeling the situation was awkward. He didn't know what else to say. "I may not have many friends, but I do have a good family. Most of what I do was to support them."
"It must be difficult, living in the ghettos," said Mash.
"Yeah, but scavenging and doing some odd jobs for people does put money in the pocket. Visiting some clinics and getting money for plasma works remarkably well," Ritsuka commented.
"I see, but maybe after your work at Chaldea that might give you some opportunities," Mash offered hopefully.
"Maybe," Ritsuka feeling doubtful about his future beyond Chaldea.
The following morning in the city of Osaka, but more specifically within the confines of Osaka Castle, a young woman in her late teens was sitting behind a wooden table. Next to her was a young girl, at least ten years old, with long brown hair and dark brown eyes. She wore an unusual and colorful outfit, consisting of a samurai helmet and a dome-like skirt with stockings.
The older girl had long black hair and blood red eyes with a ambitious fire behind them. Her black Japanese imperial uniform was a symbol of her authority, together with her golden metal boots. On the table was a black hat with a golden sun-like emblem on it as a further sign of her authority. She had left a red cape draped over the chair she sat upon.
"You should really eat more slowly, Chacha, otherwise you might-" the older girl cautioned, but it was too late. Chacha began choking on some of the dumplings she had been eating. The older girl leapt out of her chair, assisting her. She slapped her back, and Chacha coughed it up.
"Thank you, auntie," Chacha said gratefully.
"Please be more careful next time."
"But we're Heroic Spirits. It's doubtful choking on a dumpling would've killed me," Chacha pointed out.
"Maybe so, but it's the principle of the matter. You should always remember your table manners. I would've thought Oichi raised you better than that."
"But…" Chacha said, and her voice began trembling as tears formed in her eyes.
Nobunaga sighed, wondering if Chacha's antics were a result of being a Berserker-class servant. However, she knew there was a second and more probable reason for it. The hyperactive child that was Chacha was a mask to hide a damaged soul, caused by tragic downfall of the Hideyoshi Family. Even worse was the fact that many chose to use Chacha, best known as Yodo-Dono, the second wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as a scapegoat who brought ruin upon the Toyotomi Family.
That was not even counting the loss of her child.
"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but you should take your time more when eating," Nobunaga said, hoping it would keep Chacha from bursting into tears.
"Okay, Auntie," Chacha said, her sorrow vanishing in seconds. Nobunaga was surprised by how fast Chacha's mood changed.
Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted them.
"Sister, it's me," a voice on the other side called.
"Come in," Nobunaga said.
"Good morning, sister and niece," a young man said upon entering the room. "I have brought today's reports for you."
The young man was around Nobunaga's age, but he was younger. He had long black hair tied into a ponytail, red eyes, and he was dressed in a red military uniform. He wore a black cap, a red cape, and had a katana sheathed at his side.
"Good morning uncle," Chacha said, greeting the younger brother of Oda Nobunaga, Oda Nobukatsu.
He was an Archer class just like his sister.
"Thank you," Nobukatsu replied, turning to his sister. "I am pleased to report efforts to create Sakuradite enhanced bullets and artillery shells is proceeding ahead of schedule. We'll be able to arm our soldiers with the new rifles within the next few days."
"Excellent," Nobunaga said with a smile. "What about training of the new soldiers?"
"Proceeding well too, but the instructors caution it could take weeks before they are ready," Nobukatsu replied.
"I suppose it can't be helped," Nobunaga said with a sigh. "Has Danzo returned yet?"
"Actually, she returned not too long ago," said Nobukatsu.
"WHAT?" Nobunaga exclaimed in surprise. "Why didn't you lead with that? I want to hear her report, so get her in here!"
"Yes, sister," Nobukatsu said, hurrying to fetch the woman.
Minutes later he returned, exhausted, and by his side was a woman standing five feet tall, her long black hair tied into a ponytail with porcelain skin and unusual yellow eyes. Her attire consisted of a black body suit with knee-high boots, elbow-length gloves and a long red scarf around her neck. Most unusual about her was her mechanical ball-joints.
"Katou Danzo reporting. I have completed my mission as ordered," Danzo replied mechanically.
"Did you locate any other Heroic Spirits unaffiliated with us or Nagao?" Nobunaga asked.
Danzo nodded, "Yes, master. I discovered three. However, they have been joined by three more servants with three human masters."
"Huh?" Chacha and Nobukatsu exclaimed together in surprise.
"We haven't seen any masters in the weeks since we were summoned, so why now?" Nobukatsu commented.
"Yeah, what gives?" Chacha added.
"Quiet, both of you," Nobunaga said, gently scolding the pair, turning back to Danzo. "Tell me everything you've learned about them."
A/N: there we have it, we have one side led by Nobunaga, and the other side led by Nagao Kagetora who has the Holy Grail. With Tomoe Gozen involved will Ushiwakamaru and Tomoe face each other in duel to come later.
Of course, beyond them there are the oni who are their own group causing trouble with a certain pair of Heroic Spirits commanding them.
I have finished the next chapter already, and it will be posted once I get it back from Greatratking88.
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and my efforts to add more character to Ritsuka and Hakuno to begin building them.