The first time Shirou met Illya, he had, through a bizarre series of events, been roped into going on a training mission as a God Eater-in training.

It went something like...

*Page Break*

"Heeeeeey, Shirooooou! There's a weird letter for yooooou!"

Such was the first thing Shirou heard when he stepped out of the kitchen after making breakfast. Taiga was standing at the door waving the letter around with far too much energy for the morning.

"A letter for me? Are you sure Fuji-nee?"

"Yup! It says 'Shirou Emiya' in the receiver section."

"Who's it from then?"

Bringing the letter right up to her face, Taiga responded,

"Someone named... Paylor... Sakaki? Who's that Shirou?"

Making an 'ah' expression, Shirou told Taiga,

"He's an old friend of Kiritsugu's back in his God Eater days. Would you mind handing it to me?"

"Sure. What's for breakfast Shirou? And where's Sakura?"

Grabbing the letter, Shirou looked at it before turning back to the kitchen, saying over his shoulder,

"Nothing much, just some eggs and rice. Sakura told me that she would be busy helping Shinji and her grandfather with something."

"Oh, alright."

Then, after a nice meal and a rushed goodbye, as Taiga was late, Shirou sat down at the table and opened the letter.

Greetings Shirou,

I would like to formally extend to you the opportunity to go on an expedition with another God Eater to get used to live combat.

On an informal note, I would love it if you accepted. Then I would be able to gather some data on your new God Arcs, and your resonance rate.

The mission will occur after school hours. Just arrive at the Den by 6pm, and show the guards this letter when you get there.

The God Eater you'll be working with already knows your appearance, so don't worry about finding them.

Sincerely, Paylor Sakaki.

Sighing after reading the letter, Shirou thought on its contents, before standing and deciding to think on it at school.

*Page Break*

It actually didn't take that long for him to convince himself. Once he thought on this being his training for his future as a God Eater, and on how that would bring him closer to his dream, he was sold.

Standing in the Den, between the elevator and the terminals so as to be out of the way, Shirou looked on the other God Eaters with interest.

They all had the standard black and red armlet, and all, for the most part, looked Japanese, but that's where the similarities end. They were all wearing strange and different outfits, and had bizarre hair colours. Luckily, he was able to blend in, despite his chilli red hair and his school uniform.

However, his anonymity had been ruined by...

"Hey, Shirou! Looks like I'll be taking you on your training mission, huh?"

Kota?

"Captain Kota, is that you?"

Grinning, with his hands held behind his head, Kota walked up to Shirou and responded,

"Yup, it's me. Just call me Kota, alright?"

Shirou, still stunned at seeing someone familiar, took a while before saying,

"Alright. So, what are we doing?"

"Doctor Sakaki didn't tell you? Me and you are going out to fight some Ogretails and Cocoon Maidens."

"Cocoon Maidens?"

"You haven't seen them? They're really easy, but dangerous if you're being lazy. Anyway, to accept a mission, you need to come down the stairs and talk to our local Operator savaunt, Hibari Takeda."

Pointing at a woman with red hair, a darker shade than Shirou's own, Kota began to drag Shirou down the stairs.

Stopping in front of Hibari, Kota let go of Shirou and pushed him forward.

Hibari, hearing the scuffling noises, looked up from her monitor to see Shirou and Kota standing before her.

"Can I help you?"

Shirou, looking back to Kota, then to Hibari, said,

"I'm here to accept a mission for me and Kota from Doctor Sakaki?"

Hibari raised a brow, before looking back to her monitor and, as Kota whispered, "Why are you asking?", Hibari looked back up and said,

"Oh, you must be Shirou. Yeah, Doctor Sakaki listed a mission for you two. Will you be going now? If so, then be careful."

Nodding, Kota grabbed Shirou and dragged him up the stairs, calling over his shoulder,

"Thanks Hibari! We will!"

Making their way into the Den Gate, they both grabbed their God Arcs, Kota taking out a giant orange gun, while Shirou grabbed his own dual blades from a terminal next to Kota's.

"Now we just gotta wait for dispatch. So Shirou, why don't you tell me about your God Arc? It sure looks unique."

Taking a deep breath, Shirou began,

"Well, you see..."

*Page Break*

Getting out of their jeep driven by a plain-looking man in a white shirt and green cargo pants, Shirou and Kota looked around before entering the city.

Gesturing, Kota said,

"Welcome to the City of Mercy."

It was a graveyard of humanity. Giant skyscrapers that once pierced the heavens, now reduced to hollow masses of glass and metal full of holes, and roads once teeming with people, now just empty paths, full of broken-cars and covered in damage.

"Come on, Shirou, we need to get to our vantage point."

Shaking out of his sorrowful musing, Shirou asked,

"Vantage point?"

"Yeah, it's where we normally start the mission. Normally we just wait there until the mission begins."

"Alright. Then shall we go?"

"Yeah, let's go."

*Page Break*

The two were sitting on the edge of the cliff overlooking the City of Mercy. With Kota waving both his legs over the edge, and Shirou just sitting cross-legged, the two shared some conversation as they waited, including hobbies, favourite colours, and Kota's mom.

With a crackle, Hibari's voice tuned in.

"Alright you two, the Aragami should be appearing soon at out the front of the Church, at Points F and E."

"Alright, thank you Hibari. Come on Shirou, let's get ready."

"Alright."

Standing, the two did some light stretches, before grabbing their God Arcs and facing the city.

Crackle.

"Okay, you two. The operation is beginning now. Stay safe out there."

With a final crackle, the two ran to jump off the cliff.

"All right, I'm ready... I'll give 'em a right! Then a left! Then the ol' one-two combo!"

"Let's go! Trace-On!"

*Page Break*

Thank you for reading. This is Cee and, calm down, those were just mission beginning quotes. Shirou ain't gonna start tracing swords. Maybe. Sorry it's so short, I'm just tired, and need to think up a good way Shirou can meet Illya, so yeah, next chapter is also a flashback. I also need to decide if I should include a fight-scene or not.

Second, I'm still sorry for this being short, but I wanna play videogames, ya know?

Thank you to Killroy122496 and Alphajaguar for following or favouriting, and thank you to mauraman3000 again, Kayen1024 again, sawtooth44 again, and jairoesme again for reviewing.

Goodbye.