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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
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Chapter 9: Night, Resolve and Worm
I had a very strange relationship with my younger sister.
Nothing out of the ordinary, but I always found the love-hate chemistry to be something quite difficult to understand. Before being 'taken away', I had been busy trying to patch one way or another the damage that I had caused, strong enough to strain the relationship to a frail level.
My 'Rebellious' phase had been relatively complex, nothing compared to the usual 'screw the system' or something that went towards the 'Emo' side. I was angry at the world and I think I still am, but after so much time of thinking and contemplating about everything and everyone my capacity to convey my emotions about it had turned… less aggressive.
I was pretty snarky, preferred the loneliness to company and… and I was pretty much a jerk to my own sister in this period. I had sworn to help her around her first years at high school, to be there to work out the issues I had already faced and…
I broke the promises and I was left pretty much devoid of any chance of reconnecting for a long time.
When I was put in Shinji? I knew that someone had decided to dispense some kind of punishment for my ill-behavior and… I found it to be the harshest of the punishment. While little Shinji had yet to 'bully' little Sakura, the Miyuverse version of the plum-haired cinnamon roll was one of the several ones that had suffered for years the abuse of the young Matou. Even worse she was killed, reborn and then brainwashed by the Ainsworth to serve them as a mad attack dog.
I might not be the Doll that once was Shinji Matou, but I still had his name and his face and… this meant I had to take in the burden.
Why not kill her? Why not spare us senseless moral questions about-
How about I do care for this question in particular!? What if I truly want to make sure I can at least save Sakura where I can?
I might not be the 'real' Shinji Matou, but by being forced in that household, to deal with the insanity that Zouken dares to call a 'grand Magus family'. Was I going to stay idle as she suffered even there? No, I couldn't afford that.
It was instinctive, my inner sense of refusing to NOT help someone that is so close to me and yet not. She was family, one way or another, and that meant I had to get up and face the music!
Darius was going to be dangerous, the man would surely be prepared to face a Matou from the other side of the 'mirror' and I dreaded what kind of solution to the issue I represented he would take into account.
He had destroyed Zouken on his own in the Miyuverse and the old worm was nigh-impossible to kill without some holy rite or blessed weapon. This man was not someone to trifle with without being ready to face a Dead Apostle kind of BS.
The walk back to the castle was a silent one and I was glad that Sakura had truly decided to stay away from me until she sorted her own problems. Dealing with a Berserkalot with Yandere tendencies without Servants to help around would have been an unpleasant affair.
Finally I passed the gates, making my way to the main porch as I noticed that there was no light in Kuro's and Luvia's rooms that I could notice by the windows… but I could see light coming from my room?
Maybe Chloe had wanted to hear some explanation about the whole situation with Sakura? A strong maybe, but I didn't felt strong enough to face this situation right now. My musing lasted for a while and properly ended the moment my eyes noticed a figure standing by the door.
Gilgamesh was giving off the same friendly attitude that he would usually give, yet this time something was off about his whole appearance. My eyes narrowed as I continued to approach, his smile widening as I was finally close enough for him to speak in a comfortable tone.
"Good to see you still standing, Shinji-kun." The King of Heroes commented mirthfully. "I guess your meeting with the fair lady was… fruitful."
I managed a nod as I reached for the small stairs that led to the entrance. "Nothing overly terrible. It will be an issue to deal tomor-" I blinked as I found my path barred by his stretched arm. His red eyes were giving something similar to… worry?
"Shinji-kun, do you honestly think that you can keep up with this pace for so long?" The blond pulled my tired body closer, his mouth brought to my ear. "We don't want to see you hurt because of how much you care for everything, our Shinji."
W-We? My eyes widened in shock at the curious way of addressing himself. Was he using the Royal 'We' or-
"Come on, Shinji-kun. I feel disappointed you have to notice that… we aren't what they all think we are."
The answer was fleeting my mind in a sickening childish way but I still paled as I realized it had to be way beyond a simple language use. It was his-their way of hinting to something I had not thought about. Something beyond… the way he was brought in here.
The Eight Card, it was made by parts of Gilgamesh and…
And Angra Mainyu.
The fragments from Avenger were meant to have been purged just like in Canon but… the way how Gilgamesh was beaten was completely different. He wasn't purified by the Zwei Form's Quintett Feuer and thus it had remained attached to the Card.
The one I had until now spoke to was… was not just Ko-Gil-!
Just as I turned around to try and rush away from his hold I found myself constricted in place. My body was trembling, my efforts of moving failing as my eyes widened even more as the Amalgamation of the two beings showed its Avenger form.
Black hair and black eyes, several dark marks spread across his chest and body, a sad smile and… and I was staring at my face. He chuckled, sending chills down my spine as his hand went to my cheek.
"No, No, Shinji-kun. You don't need to fear." His smile softened. "I don't wish to harm you. At least not you."
"W-What?"
Another quick chuckle and he finally let go. "I have met several Shinji Matou in my long, prolonged existence and… and none comes this close to truly make me… consider things."
"What do you want, Avenger?" I wasn't in the mood to chit-chat with the Spirit of All Evils just because I was standing out before the rest of Shinji's versions.
"I want many things. But I want also nothing." He said with an amused tone. "And if you are referring about your unique case… I want just one thing."
He spread his arms, showing one of the strangest smiles I could ever see on someone. It was sad, but happy, it was content but also desiring.
"I want your friendship."
…
"I want that you, Shinji Matou, keep us loved as we love you the same. You are our dearest friend and I find you worth of surviving this hideous path ahead of you."
"But why?!" His hands were once more cupping my face as I felt shivering at the cold touch. "W-Why me?"
"Because… I can relate to your plight." He stated seriously. "You could have just given up with the illness hurting you, the unfair odds staked against you and… yet you persevere for the sake of helping those around you. Even that dull puppet, maybe even the lost soul that is being forced to do all this delicious chaos. You shouldn't be caring, for how much the world despises you, but you keep going for the sake of others."
I blinked and I found myself staring at Gilgamesh once again. "You are a good friend, Shinji Matou. And I bet I will see you in the Throne once this is all over."
Now that was a dreadful scenario unfolding in my brain. To be sent to the Throne of Heroes? While it would be a grand honor and all, I hardly think I would manage to deal with Sakura 5, Parvati and… Kama.
While I might be able to help one or two Sakuras along the way, I don't think I could manage to deal with the Sakura 5 themselves, BB being the one I was scared the most of encountering.
"But let us not waste more time to the cold." He gestured to the now open doors. "Please, do come inside and get comfortable. Maybe take a day or two off to rest."
While I wanted to protest those suggestions, I lacked the energy to formulate a proper refusal of such notions. Too tired to reply, I merely nodded as I started to slowly walk towards the stairs and… now I had to deal with Kuro?
Why not, it's not like my brain is threatening to burn out at how much stuff was happening today…
I was partly right about my early assumption that the tanned Einzbern had decided to wait for my return to my room, but I was surprised when I found myself staring at a stern-looking Chloe standing right in front of the bed and a sleepy Chibi-Luvia having taken a seat on the very bed.
"I want to explain things and… I really need to tell you this-"
"But you are tired." Chloe muttered with some minor annoyance in her tone. Her bright eyes glanced at the younger girl, the Edelfelt ready to collapse in a deep slumber any moments now.
"I-" "Be quiet." She walked toward me and I was once more reminded of the fact that the girl was taller and older than I was. She noticed my staring and I cursed inwardly as I blushed in embarrassment at that.
The Einzbern grinned, a small victory to seal away another day and proclaim a new one. It was odd how her competitiveness about this kind of little things was… aggressive. It wasn't unpleasant nor dangerous, but it was interesting how far she would go to get the emotions she wanted out of me.
It was… an endearing trait.
"Then I suppose we shall all go to sleep and you will answer us tomorrow?"
I nodded, expecting her to take this gesture to leave with poor Luvia to their respective rooms as it would usually end like this and-
She smiled as she walked back to the bed and shifted closer to the little blonde girl, accepting her sleepy arms as they wrapped around her chest. Luvia hummed pleasantly as she snuggled her way on the older girl's chest.
Chloe giggled at the childish action and I frowned at the overall sight. What was I supposed to do about this?
It wasn't anything remotely lewd as they were both wearing comfortable pajamas that hid most of their skins, the cold weather quite restricting for simpler clothing for the night-time. I was actually tempted to 'Awww' at the sight, but I was too much tired to compute complex responses and… shrugged.
"This is just sleeping." A giggle retorted, promising some interesting aftermath for the following morning. I shrugged and decided to gamble my fate with the teasing girl. This suspect intensified the moment I found myself between the quietly snoring Luvia and the cheeky-looking Einzbern.
I might have been mostly tired at this point, but I still managed to let out a single statement that got quite the reaction out from the tanned girl. "Goodnight, Onee-san."
While I knew the honorific would be enough to partly flip Illya's switch, I was quite unaware What would even incite something out of Kuro. The girl didn't reply, a half-thought gasp leaving her mouth as she squeezed me closer.
I could feel her face burning above my hair and I sighed happily at this small win for me.
Sakura Matou was staring silently at the pale moon and its bright stars. It has been hours since she had come to face with a very confusing being and… her mind was having trouble finding a reason behind her newfound need to investigate this individual.
Shinji Matou was a horrible person, the plum-haired girl didn't need to have someone to tell her that her step-brother was a disgusting monster after so many years of unanswered abuse pending upon that name. The boy, or the puppet left behind, had been the one responsible for her first death.
Tragic, it had been… it had all been so close to culminate with the best ending she would ever dream off. Yet she died and… then she was revived.
It had been her senpai, Shirou having spent time and effort to bring her back to life because he loved her. She had been so happy, so genuinely elated at this situation and… and then things started to take a curiously weird note.
She could remember Angelica and Beatrice, both girls having worked for the scary Ainsworth boy until… they decided to join forces with her Senpai? The reasons eluded her and even questioning it led to some strange headaches.
Maybe she just forgot? Yes, that would make so much sense. Her senpai had been quick to tell her about the Cards. The very Cards that had been used for the Grail War were now gone to another world, another dimension and…
And there had been her senpai. He looked calmer, happier and… glad to met her.
It had been like the sweetest dream for her. To have a second chance with her senpai, away from the terrible things of her original dimension. There were no Matou, no Sakura and… no Ainsworth.
She had almost squealed at her luck, but only showed a bright smile as she contemplated all of this during her Senpai's tour of Homurahara. Infiltrating had been fairly easy, Angelica herself having hypnotized the headmaster to accept one Sakura Matou in Class 1-C quickly and easily.
Sakura's happiness increased when she spotted her Neechan. Rin Tohsaka having died long ago in the original dimension as the family was dragged in a political war within Clocktower. A tragic tale that made her weep for days as the plum-haired girl was denied the chance of meeting once more her former sister.
But now she could and… she was glad she did. While the young Tohsaka had been suspicious of her familiar name, she had all but gone far to help her around. The young girl reminded her of her little sister, she had said quietly.
Sakura was soaring through the heavens as two idyllic days passed so smoothly and quickly… but then her Senpai had invited her to his house. This senpai had a kind family that loved him and wanted to know about her.
A father, a mother and a sister. The Matou was so happy to learn about this, to know that she wasn't the only one enjoying this different reality. Her acceptance, albeit meek, was quick and she spent the following few hours after school trying to get some strategy to get to know more about her lovely interest.
Fast-forward to the dinner and Sakura was finally delivered the first surprise since her stay. There were other guests at the house, 'new friends' Shirou had called them. The host of individuals was almost unrecognizable but… then she noticed him.
Very short, child-like and… sad-looking. This Shinji Matou was fairly young, younger than her and… he knew. The plum-haired girl couldn't understand why, but she was incredibly sure he knew about her situation. Dread and panic were quick to rise but then the opposite of what she had expected happened.
He asked to leave the room to change out from the curiously bigger set of clothes and… and then returned back without giving much but curious looks back. Confusing, frustratingly so.
What kind of Shinji Matou was this one? A fellow dimensional hopper? The theory was chilling but would explain his age and knowledge of her. Paranoia was a terrible thing and she had been fiddling with the Berserker Card under the table before deciding to merely leave the delightful event.
She was happy to know that Irisviel was a good mother for her senpai and was glad when she had offered her an interesting deals about… private photos. Yes, the woman had managed to reach her number two list of favorite people with this move.
Shinji had followed her, 'escorting' he had said and she had gone along with it. Maybe he was just going to take her out? Was he going to kill her… or worse?!
But nothing horrible happened as he merely asked for some time to talk together about… the things only they knew about. A dangerous situation that turned in a juicy one.
Shinji was dangerous, a pawn that was going against her senpai's plans and Sakura had gladly installed the Card right as the group had left their sight, her mouth snarling as she prepared to kill the representation of her sufferings of her anger and- Sniff
Her enchanted nose perceived something different in this Shinji's scent. It wasn't something external, no. She brought her face on his chest, nose sniffing strongly as it tried to find what was hiding under his skin.
It was familiar, it was disgusting and… it was Crest Worms. Several of them.
Not five, not ten. There were twenty worms wriggling within the child's body.
Twenty worms that had a familiar pattern, very similar to the ones she once had within her body… No.
He tried to make it pass as if those worms had only been placed because of his active Circuits and, while this reason worked for at least eight of those, the remaining twelve were badly placed within himself. It was a poor job of surgery, or maybe a failed attempt of the worms to infiltrate a… dangerous host.
What if-? No!
Shinji would never sacrifice himself to bear some of the Worms from her version's body. She refused to accept the idea someone as selfish as her hateful brother could do something this selfless. It was paradoxical, unacceptable and…
He looked so sincere.
He had looked so much genuine and his voice had rang so true that… that Sakura was shaking now.
The bench she had been sitting on had slightly bent because of her strong hold, her fresh Circuits boosting her current physical capacities in this particular situation.
She could have killed him, avoid to let a possible threat to fester and grow under her silent watch. But then her mind found the option difficult to execute, her willpower opposing this without explanation and…
And that unnerved Sakura to no end. It was infuriating how, after so many weeks of being free from that horrible cage, she still submitted to him and his fake ambitions. His words were gibberish, no matter how true they sounded…
But she still found a minor opposition to this trail of thoughts, something within her that found the development interesting and worth of further investigation. She had Berserker with her and, knowing that none of the present Servants could match her power, Sakura decided to go for a long road.
Maybe this decision will come and bite her in the near future… or maybe she will find a definitive answer behind the fact her heart skipped some beats as she imagined his young face. Her face heated up and her breathed went ragged for several moments.
He does look quite adorable~
AN
Throwing tactical truth MOABs as if I am some COD pro player… which I am not.
Gilgamesh and AM: The Eight Card is composed by both Servants, but in Canon only Gil emerged out from the battle. This time, without the purging effects of the Zwei Form, Angra Mainyu is now joining the cast for some debauchery.
I have planned for five-six more chapters for this Arc and then… we will back to Zero.
Lastly big project announcement: I have restarted my work for a Fan Game for a story of mine, Fate Last Heaven, using Ren'py and new sprites for the characters. The first update is planned to have up to Chapter 2 (+ some details that the story either doesn't show or have been removed from the first draft). Support for my ptron would kick-start things properly (I will write down updates and, no, I will not have the game behind pay-wall).
P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin
REVIEW Q&A!
Loser Stuck In The Memory Lane: I can't spoiler much, but I do have a definite plan for everyone and I can say only one thing: While Sakura will not be paired with Shinji, she will have a happy ending.
Blake Tourdner: Miyuverse.
Merendinoemiliano: Thank you!
Perran Onh: Which illusion? The one of him being older? It was dropped moments before she arrived.
Mokkel: Thank you!
I am You: Little spoiler alert about UBW. Gilgamesh kills Illya and steal her literal heart, thrusting it deep in Shinji's body and making him the new lesser grail. It is something from UBW and it is not concerning of this particular route.