"Hey, hey, Berserker! Do you want to play with me?"
"Hehe. Of course, Illya."
With a smile, Berserker stood from the seat he was on, which somehow retained its shape despite how much he must weigh. Shirou watched as he walked towards Illya and gently picked her up and placed her on his shoulders, before leaving the dining room.
In the time Berserker has been around, he had gained a bizarre reputation among the Den's denizens. He's the scariest-looking person you'll ever meet, but was an absolutely nice guy once you get past that. In particular, he formed a strong relationship with Illya. Though Shirou wouldn't be able to tell, most people compare them to a father and daughter.
Shirou, however, got to see a side of Berserker no one else had. Whenever one went on a mission, the other was made to accompany them. On missions, Berserker showed a high level of experience when it came to expecting an Aragami's patterns and their weak points. Shirou felt awed.
And so it continued for months, until time eventually ticked over to January of the next year. Shirou was in the third term of his third year of high school, and had been passing his tests by the skin of his teeth, as he had been spending more time as a God Eater rather than studying. Everything was fine. Everyone was alright.
But of course, it came to an end. After all, in this world without a God, who can expect a miracle?
Shirou had stepped out of the elevator on the Labaratory floor. In his hands was a report from Hibari that needed to be delivered to Sakaki. She intended to deliver it herself, but got roped into drinking with the other ladies in the Den. Shirou happened to be nearby and, hearing her predicament, offered to help.
Reaching Sakaki's door, he opened it and was greeted by the sight of Sakaki, looking serious without his usual grin, sitting across from a mysterious figure dressed in a white cloak, hiding his facial features. Hearing the door open, the two looked at Shirou.
"Um... Am I interrupting something?" Shirou asked the two awkwardly.
The uncomfortable silence continued until the mysterious figure clicked his tongue.
"No, you are not. We were just finished."
Saying that in an oddly familiar accent, the figure, now distinguishable as male, stood from his seat and quickly exited the room, barging Shirou in the process. Shirou was able to see the bottom of his face in the process, revealing to him a white beard like a frozen waterfall, and a pale, lined face.
When the door closed, Shirou turned to Sakaki, still looking serious, before looking down to the files in his hands and thought on how he was going to address the situation. Making his decision with a nod, Shirou walked over to Sakaki's desk, put the files he was carrying down on it, took the seat the mysterious man abandoned, then asked,
"Who was that man, Professor?"
Silence was his only reply, so deep in his thoughts was Sakaki. Understanding he likely would get no reply until Sakaki was done sorting his thoughts, Shirou decided to wait in silence, trying to place the mysterious man's accent.
The silence continued for another few minutes before Sakaki nodded his head and looked up, only to flinch back when he saw Shirou sitting in front of him.
"Oh! Shirou, how long have you been waiting?"
Chuckling, Shirou answered,
"Not long, Professor. But if you're done thinking, can you answer my question?"
"Question?"
"Who was that man you were talking to?"
Hearing the question, Sakaki looked down to the desk with a serious expression again, before looking up and saying with an attempt at a normal expression,
"Oh, no one important! Just a donator making wild demands. Nothing that you have to worry about."
Shirou could clearly see he was lying, but knew that he couldn't help Sakaki if he wasn't willing to talk.
"Mmm. Well, if you're sure... Just tell me if it becomes serious, alright?"
Saying that, he stood from his seat and left for the door.
Sakaki only remained silent. As Shirou left the room, he leaned back in his seat and sighed.
"I hope... it doesn't have to come to that..."
For he has denied a powerful man, and he knows, deep down, that this man will not be denied. No matter the cost, to himself or others.
Sakaki was right.
"Excuse me, Shirou. Have you seen Illya anywhere?"
Turning, Shirou saw Berserker approaching him. Berserker had a vaguely worried expression on his face, clenching and unclenching his hands.
"No... Why? Are you looking for her?"
Hearing that, Berserkers worried expression only got worse.
"Yes. Illya and I promised to meet earlier today, but she didn't appear. I waited for ten minutes before paying a visit to her room. She wasn't there."
"Hm. That does sound worrying. Have you asked anyone else? And gone around the Den?"
Berserker quickly nodded.
"I have asked everyone I had come across, and searched everywhere I could think of. There was neither hide nor hair of her. After speaking to you, I was thinking of going to Professor Sakaki."
"I'll come with you."
At that, Berserker felt a sense of relief that Illya had such a reliable brother figure, before nodding and making his way to the elevator down the hallway. Shirou nodded as well and followed suit. As they walked, they both wondered silently,
"Where are you, Illya?"
Hearing his door open, Sakaki looked up to see Shirou and Berserker walking through the doorway. Or squeezing through, in Berserker's case.
"What can I do for you, Shirou, Berserker?"
Seeing Sakaki smile caused the slight tension in Shirou's chest from Sakaki's seriousness a few days ago ease. Looking to Berserker, he remembered why he came here, and turned back to Sakaki.
"Excuse me, Professor. Have you seen Illya at all today?"
Tilting his head, Sakaki thought on It before answering.
"Illya? No, I don't believe so. Why? Are you looking for her?"
Nodding, Shirou and Berserker began to explain the situation. When they were done, Sakaki leaned back in his chair, a serious expression once more on his face.
"When you checked her room... was there anything out of the ordinary? Maybe something out of place?"
"Hm... I am not certain. I haven't visited her room many times, so I am unfamiliar with its normal state. Shirou, would you be able to tell if anything was out of the ordinary?"
Surprised, Shirou looked at Berserker before answering.
"Maybe. I've been there enough to notice anything extremely out of order, but nothing subtle. Should we go take a look?"
Nodding in response to Shirou's question, Berserker turned around and began to leave, before being interrupted by Sakaki.
"Wait. Allow me to come with you. I have a good idea on what has happened, but I need more proof before I can be certain."
Saying that, Sakaki stood from his chair and walked past Shirou out the doorway, reaching Berserker. For a few seconds, Shirou stood behind them, feeling dread build in his chest, before shaking it off and following after the two.
Arriving on the Guest Floor, which had apparently been called the Blood Floor for a while, Shirou, Berserker, and Sakaki exited the elevator. While the Guest Floor had multiple rooms, there were few actual guests to occupy them.
Taking a few steps, they immediately stopped at the door to the left of the elevator. It was a plain door, impossible to differentiate from every other door in the Den, except for the plaque that bore Illya's name.
Taking a deep breath, Shirou opened the door and saw...
"That's... weird."
"What's weird about it, Shirou? It looks like the room that any responsible young girl Illya's age would have."
"Well, that's the problem. It's... It's too... clean."
And clean it was. There was nothing out of place. The bed was neatly made, none of the little odds and ends she had bought or had been given were tossed around, nothing was messy. And that's weird.
"Illya isn't neat. I've seen her room before, and it was never neat. Sure, there were times when it was close, but not this close. She always insists on having the blanket at least touching the floor, so she can ball it up later."
"Hm... I'd always figured that Illya would be neat and tidy about this, but... I suppose this does not contradict her image."
As Shirou and Berserker were talking about Illya and her sleeping habits, Sakaki stepped into the room and began to investigate, looking for some proof that it was him that had taken her.
Hearing what Shirou had said about Illya's bed, he decided to focus there. He was scanning the blanket for any type of physical evidence, when Shirou noticed him and asked,
"Professor? What are you doing?"
Without looking over, Sakaki answered,
"I'm looking for a sign of who took Illya. Or at least, a sign that she was taken."
At that, Shirou and Berserker stilled, before yelling out,
"Taken!?"
Before the two could ask anymore questions, Sakaki pulled the blanket off of the bed to reveal what was underneath. It was plain for the most part, but Sakaki was able to find a few things.
"Hmm... Some tear marks over here... The bed sheet is rustled out of order... Is that? It is, it's white hair, bordering on grey! If I can just analyze this..."
"Professor!"
Jumping, Sakaki looked over to Shirou, who was looking both irritated and worried.
"Professor, can you please tell us what's going on? What do you mean Illya's been taken?"
Sakaki looked at Shirou, before looking away with shame.
"It's... Do you remember that time you walked into my office, and I was talking with a man in a white cloak?"
Shirou nodded, immediately recalling the mysterious man.
"The man with the accent, right?"
"Yes. He is... Illya's 'family'. He had demanded I return her to him. I refused. Now, I fear he has taken her."
Hearing that, a switch was flipped in both Shirou and Berserker. Their normally heterochromatic eyes had turned into a single colour, steel grey and crimson red respectively.
"So then... That's what you were worried about. And you never thought to tell us? To warn us about him?"
"I... I didn't want you all to worry... I had believed that it may not have come to this, that this could be worked out reasonably..."
"No, you didn't. You're too smart to think like that, Sakaki. You may call yourself an idealist, but even an idealist would know."
"...I did know... But I believe... that this can lead to the best outcome."
Silence greeted his statement. Berserker was shaking and breathing heavily, looking ready to tear something apart. Shirou just looked down, letting his hair cover his eyes.
"Fine then. We'll save Illya. Just tell us where to go."
"I'll send you the coordinates once I can prove who did this. In the meantime, the two of you should get ready."
Saying that, he then left the room for his lab, but not before pausing in the doorway and saying,
"I'm sorry."
When he left, and they could hear the elevator descending, Shirou looked at Berserker. As the two looked into each other's eyes, they could see the same thing. Anger, and a burning desire to save her. Nodding at each other, they then both left the room stiffly, heading for the God Arc Loading Bay to get ready.
The two looked up at the sound of the door to the God Arc Loading Bay opening. Shirou was sitting on a crate in his combat outfit, and had been tuning his God Arcs, while Berserker merely leaned against the wall, his God Arc beside him.
Entering the room was Sakaki, holding an honest-to-God paper map and what looked like a blueprint, followed by Saber and Rin. All three of them wore serious expressions.
"Here. It's the location of the Einsbern's Port. It's located near the City of Mercy, so you will need to take a vehicle. I already have a jeep and a driver ready for you."
The serious tension in the room persisted, before Shirou began to ask questions.
"Port?"
"A Port is an underground base made to protect its inhabitants. Only the strongest backers of Fenrir can even afford to have one made."
"Why are Saber and Rin here?"
"I believed that the two of you would need assistance. Besides that, when they heard that Illya was in trouble, they wouldn't take no for an answer."
Nodding, Shirou turned his head towards Saber and Rin. He looked into their eyes, and only saw the same thing he saw in Berserker's: that anger, and that desire to save her. But he needed to make certain.
"Are you both sure? If we go, then we might have to come to blows with them. We may even have to... kill them."
Shirou said that with a slight grimace. A Hero of Justice shouldn't have to kill someone to save another. But...maybe he doesn't have what it takes to achieve that. Even Kiritsugu, his own hero, killed people to save others. Excalibur's memories showed him that.
Enough of his own heart was filled with the life bestowed from doing something that is achievable, that he can live for without suffering. But his heart was still a desert of blades, a lifeless wasteland still desiring his impossible dream. He would still try, because that's his reason for living... isn't it?
"I..."
Shirou looked up, pulled out of his introspection at the sound of Saber's voice.
"I desire to save Illya. Even if that means I must slay my enemies."
Her voice was filled with determination, and a steel that belies her appearance. Nodding, Shirou then looked to Rin, who was trying to hide the slight hesitation now in her eyes.
"Rin?"
"I... I don't want to kill someone... But if they get in the way of saving Illya...," the hesitation in her eyes disappearing, she continued, "I won't hesitate."
There was a silence at that, before Shirou just sighed and nodded. He had hoped that Rin would refuse. He, Saber, and likely Berserker as well already had blood on their hands. But she was still pure. Sighing again, he looked over to Sakaki.
"Who was the one that took Illya? And how did he take her without anyone noticing?"
Sakaki took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes, before answering,
"The DNA test showed that the hair I found had matched up with the profile ofJubstacheit von Einsbern. Illya's grandfather. He is the patriarch of the Einsbern family, and was a personal backer to the previous Director of the Far East Branch. As such, he was made privy to the various underground passages leading into and out of the Den. That's likely how he moved around undetected."
When he was done, Shirou nodded, satisfied with all of his questions.
"Alright then. If that's all, we'll be going now."
Turning, Shirou moved to exit the Den, only to be stopped by Sakaki.
"Shirou! Please, save Illya. Save her from my mistake."
Shirou looked at Sakaki, who was now bowing, silently, before saying,
"Of course I will. But you better apologise to her when this is all over."
Then he left, followed by Berserker, Saber, and Rin, the latter two sending Sakaki some worried glances, leaving Sakaki all alone.
I'll talk next chapter.Word Count: 2572