Chapter 3

Face To Face

(beta: luckychaos)

We soon got back to the hotel. The Witch Hunt had not lasted that long, so it was only two in the morning when we returned. There was only one bed, so I left it to Kyoko, grabbing a pillow and a mattress, then settling myself down on the floor next to the bed. I slept better that way, so the change was welcome. I had no dreams. At least, not that I could remember. Not even about Saber. It was one of those rare nights were I could actually sleep soundly. It was weird that it came after all that happened, but oh well. Better now that never. To be prepared for what's to come I needed to sleep well.

Despite myself, I woke up rather late. Instead of at seven, I woke up at nine. A whole two hours late. Not like I needed to go to school, or have something urgent to do, but it was a matter of principle. It kind of bothered me, even though I damn well knew I needed those extra two hours. And, honestly, an hour or two more wouldn't have hurt at all. It was just... it bothered me. I kept thinking that maybe there was something I could have intervened on if I got up when I should have, and it really bothered me. It was just how I was.

Ah. I sighed, and sat up. I looked towards the bed, a bit curious. Sakura was sprawled on the bed, lightly snoring. She was really cute. Almost like having a li... I pushed those thoughts away easily. They were thoughts used to being pushed aside. I had accepted to carry the weight of all the memories that meaninglessly disappeared because I couldn't do anything, but still I didn't want to remember such a thing at that moment. I just didn't. It had been so sudden, and so horrible that I felt empty like back in the fire, that I felt like I was dying once again. I remember my final actions, reaching out with my powerless hands towards the sky because it was a long way away. That was exactly what it was like now.

I turned around and headed directly to the kitchen. I could deal with that on my own time, if I could ever deat with something like that. But the scars that were left in my heart didn't matter right then. I still had things to do before I could allow myself to rest, and now I had somebody besides me since... since that happened. I could let the past chain me and make me falter. I failed once before. Worse of all, I didn't even know I had something to do before it all went to hell. But now I knew what I had to do. So I would absolutely protect that small girl who was relying on me.

Whistling a tune to try to get a little cheerful, I started cooking.

When I had it all finished, I heard the shuffling of the sheets, a yawn and the squeaking of the bed. Sakura had woken up. I took the two plates of food, and brought them to the dinner table. On the way, I saw her stretching to wake herself up out of the corner of my eye. Even thought it kind of reminded me of her, I have to admit it was really cute. I put down the plates of the table. Sakura went past me, muttering 'Good morning', and entered the bathroom. I heard the water running a second later. While she washed her face, I sat down and waited for her, trying to think less about that and more about my next move.

Kyubei. Tracking it down was the only viable move, but the problem was that I didn't have any reliable way to do so. It's mission was apparently to spread Puella Magi, so they would fight and destroy Witches in exchange for keeping their powers. On the surface, at least. I didn't think it was that simple. But anyway, that creature could be anywhere in the world. I didn't even have a place to start. Waiting for it to come to Sakura so I could surprise it wasn't an option, either. There was no reason for that thing to come back once I had already roped some poor girl into a contract. Damn. I should have really thought that through. The only sure way was to involve the Clock Tower, but that wasn't even an option. Clearly, I had to do something to draw that thing's attention, but what could I do?

A sliding sound. I looked up, and saw Kyoko getting out of the room bathroom, looking more or less awake. It reminded me of Rin more than anything else. She dragged herself to the kitchen table, and sat down in front of me. She took the chopsticks, and lazily poked the rice with them. Her asleep expression made me think it would be fun to startle her, just to see what kind of expression she would make, but I decided against it. Now that I thought about it...

"Hey, Kyoko."

"W-What?" she froze, with the chopsticks halfway to her mouth.

"Do you have any way to contact Kyubei?"

"Uh, yes, actually." she said. I hadn't expected that, honestly. I couldn't believe there would be something so convenient, but I sure as hell wasn't going to complain about it. "It taught me telepathy after I first transformed. But there are limits. No sure what they are, but it told me so. I can't say I can get in contact with it for sure. That aside, why?"

"I already told you at the warehouse, Sakura. I want to get to the bottom of this. Would there be a better way than to investigate the one who started this mess in the first place?"

"Well, that´s true... I guess."

"If you do manage to get in contact, tell it you want to meet it in person. I don´t care about the localization or the time, so let it choose if it wants to. If it asks for a meeting place and the time, though, just tell it at the docks at night. Choose whatever hour you want, doesn't matter. When Kyubei asks why you want to meet it, tell it that you need answers. Don't elaborate, no matter how much it asks you to."

"I don't really understand, but okay." She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. It didn't take her long to stiffen. I knew without needing to be told what that meant; she got it. I watched her. About a minute later, she forced herself to relax and opened her eyes again. Her expression was serious, almost fierce.

"How did it go?" I asked, even though I was sure she managed to do it.

"It says it will go at there at eleven o'clock at night. I'm no sure it intends to do it for real, but... At least it said so. I don't think it has a reason to suspect anything."

"Good." I said, nodding. "But that's still to come, Kyoko. Let's eat for now. We can think about it later."

Nearly half a day later, when the clock struck half past ten, I prepared. I took my red cloak made out of a holy shroud, granted to me by Caren Ortensia, and put it on. Then I reinforced my body. The process didn't take long. Practice and time had turned it into something that lasted less that a minute, when so many years ago I couldn't even consistently reinforce an iron pipe, let alone my own body. I looked out of the window. It didn't take long for me to get distracted by my own reflection. The resemblance between me and him was obvious. Rin would have a heart attack if she saw me like this.

My hair had completely turned white not too long ago because of the strain of projection. I was as tall as him, my face was the same as his when I got serious, the eyes the same color, the overcoat made out a holy shroud that I was wearing. And, of course, my projection abilities. It was all the same. I realized the truth of Archer's identity the moment I was granted the shroud. It felt like a punch to the gut, and at the same time I was indescribably happy. Heroic Spirit Emiya... looking back on it, I should have realized it sooner. Because of his words at the castle.

Do not forget. What you must imagine is always that you yourself are the strongest. You do not need outside enemies. For you, the one you have to fight is none other than your own image.

He was guiding me towards Projection, towards the basic principle of our ability. I should have realized it sooner, but I hadn't thought there would be such a ridiculous thing. In the first place, I had thought that there couldn't be anyone who could ascend to the Throne of Heroes in the modern age. I didn't know how he managed it, but the proof was staring back at me. Emiya Shirou was a superhero who carved a legend even in the modern age, and became a Heroic Spirit. I knew that he was not necessarily me, that he was just a version of me from somewhere in the Kaleidoscope, but still, it was awe inspiring and uplifting to know that I became what I always wanted to be. I would follow that path and get where he was, certainly. I pushed myself forward so much because Archer's back and Saber's back were still distant. Following what they left me, I would eventually reach that same place.

"Shirou?" Kyoko shyly called out. "What´s wrong?"

"Nothing." I closed my eyes. "Nothing at all."

The past was the past. If I want to be called a hero, I had to look forward. The time had been reached already, so I had to concentrate. That was right. The image that I was the strongest... I engraved those words into my heart once again. I had to face Kyubei. Maybe that thing, and whatever was behind it, if there was anything behind it, had good intentions. The Witches were an obvious threat to everybody, so... But still. Their methods were completely wrong. The burden to fight should be taken by those who were prepared for it. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.

"Let's go."

Kyoko took a step forward, putting herself at the edge of the docks. The cold, northern wind blew her hair back, but she didn't particularly care. Her mind was preoccupied with something else. Shirou. The man who saved her from the life she was leading, and would lead up to her death. Right before they went to meet Kyubei, he had stared out of the window with a complicated expression that made her really nervous. It was made out of pain, with a certain sadness and longing, but it was also determined. It made her understand that she didn't understand him at all.

It was only natural. They hadn't been together for even two days, and their conversations had been few. Sometimes she hadn't even understood her family, and she had lived with them for most of her life. But, it still vexed her. No, more than that. It made her feel... alone. Yeah, that was what it was. Alone. Like the distance between them was not a meter, but the whole world.

It couldn't be helped. He had told her that much, at that time. That he couldn't stand to see anybody cry. That he wanted to become a hero who could save everybody. His gaze was not fixed on her, but on a distant, faraway dream, brilliant and ephemeral like an illusion. Or perhaps a disillusion. That was his dream, his ideals. She didn't have the right to take anything away from him, since he was giving her everything without compensation. He didn't even want her to risk her life anymore. So, she didn't have the right... But it really couldn't be helped. Emotions rarely had anything to do with logic. She wanted him to throw that dream away and look only at her, but she could never allow herself to voice such a selfish thing. Being by his side, supporting him, should be enough for her.

She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Now wasn't the time to get distracted. Shirou was out of there, somewhere where he would overlook their meeting, and he was counting on her. She couldn't let him down. A strange sound. She whipped her head back, and saw Kyubei advancing towards her from behind, that same serene, fixed smile on his pale white face.

I heard something strange, then I saw her move suddenly, as if startled. I saw the creature only a moment after she did. The creature was unlike anything I had ever seen before, or heard about. It was sort of like a cat, like Kyoko said, but not really. The big, red eyes shining like rubies. Its tail, and the strange symbol on it's back. Its movements were strange, like some sort of living doll. That thing was something inhuman created by inhuman things, without a doubt.

"So what is it, Kyoko?" it said. It's voice was sickeningly cute, and disturbingly artificial. "You were quite rude, so I was concerned. Do you need anything? Have you regretted your wish, and now you want to change it? I am afraid I can't do that."

I gripped Kanshou and Bakuya tighter, my knuckles turning white. Damn it. That thing was shoving in her face what her wish had ended up at not too long ago, without a care. I was planning on waiting if it would say something else after it appeared, but I couldn't bring myself to wait anymore. I threw them towards it. It would be over before it even realized it. I watched as the twin steel swords buried themselves in it's flesh, flinging its body back like a rag doll and pinning it to the wall. Its startled cry and Sakura's own cry were mixed with the heavy sound of steel.

At that moment, I jumped. The inhuman action left only cracks in the ground. I covered the distance of ten meters in an instant, and landed expertly in a crouch on the ground between them, without losing my breath. I stood up, looming over the pinned creature. I clenched my hands into fists, and project the twin steel swords. Sakura stepped up, but she didn't say anything. It surprised me. I thought that, even if she survived a year as a Puella Magi, she would only be accustomed to fighting monsters. I thought that she would think that, as far as she knew, Kyubei had not done anything bad, so my actions were unnecessary cruel. But it seemed like she understood that it was necessary.

"Who are you?" the creature asked, without a care for its wounds. Ten. Yeah, maybe that had been right after all.

"The one who needs answers." I curtly replied. "And now you will give them to me. Who are you really? What exactly is your purpose?"

"I am messenger of magic..."

"I am not some child. I forgive you this time, though. It's clear you are unaccustomed to this, so I let you can't fool me by pretending to be like a mascot for a Magical Girl anime." My hands are shaking. I can´t help it. I telling myself that I can´t do this, that to dealt with this mess I need to be calm, but it just can´t do it while looking at the thing which had fooled Sakura into a contract and ruined her life. Its just not possible because I know that not only it had done that, but that Sakura was far for the first girl that happened to and wouldn´t be the last as far as it was concerned.

"But it´s true I am a messenger of magic. What else could you call me? As for my purpose... I am doing this for the sake of the universe." Universe, it said. Not world, but universe. That´s ridiculous. The Witches sure are dangerous, but only because they could and would kill innocent people and sinners alike without rime or reason, without nobody ever knowing about it. They were not a large scale threat at all. If a Witch ever caused such an accident, the Counter Guardians would be dispatched to tear it apart. Even if all Witch currently existing in this world lashed out to humanity, they couldn´t stand up against the Counter Guardians. Many lives would be lost. An apocalypse. But that only meant that even at their worst Witches couldn´t completely destroy this small world, let alone the universe.

"...What do you meant?"

"What I said."

"That´s bull..." I stop in my tracks. An unbelievable idea crossed through my mind suddenly, like a shooting star. It´s truly an unbelievable idea, but it makes sense. I think about the Grief Seed´s and the Soul Gems, the whole Witch Hunt as of itself and the terms of the contract. I lose my breath for an instant. "You are gathering energy, for... I don´t know. To stop something dangerous, if you are telling the truth."

"Oh! I don´t know how you came to that conclusion, but it seems you are really smart. That´s right. This all is to stop something dangerous to the universe. Entropy itself." it´s words bring me to a halt. It´s only natural. It is talking about stopping entropy. That´s crazy. That´s going against the world, and it´s not even a metaphor.

"I don´t understand. How could this..." No, no, that´s not it. It´s wording confused me. It said it was in order to stop entropy, but that would be absurd. In any case, I can´t see how such a fundamental law could be changed with merely an outrageous amount of energy that would rival the Holy Grail. No, the purpose of gathering energy was not to stop it but to prolong it. If the universe was given more energy, the heat death of the universe would last more. It´s simple, but it could theoretically work. "Ah, I see."

Somehow, though, I don´t think it was the full answer. Far for it.

"Are you alone?" I ask it.

It stayed silent.

"Fine." I couldn't press the issue. I had nothing to hold over it, since it was clear it didn't care about its own death. I could ask all I wanted, and hope its words would provide me with enough information. For now, anyway. "What are Witches?"

"Evil beings that spread curses." I grip the swords tighter at it´s response. I know. I don´t know how I know it, but I have got the feeling that it´s not telling the whole truth. It is just handing me the information it´s allowed to give. There was something more hidden behind the existence of the Witches. Something inconvenient for me to know.

"And the Grief Seeds?"

"A Witch´s egg. It serves to purify Soul Gems. I though Kyoko would have told you as much already." Each of it´s words was as good as a confirmation.

"Fine. What´s the Soul Gem?" I have been wondering about that since I heard the name. An object shining with energy with soul in it´s name, created after making a contract... well, it didn´t sound good at all. Besides, this was also a test, just to confirm it wouldn´t tell me anything else.

"Kyoko didn´t tell you anything, or what? Okay, okay. It´s the source of the Power of the Puella Magi. Now, can I ask you something myself?" I was about to kill it, but it´s question makes me pause.

"Go ahead."

"I can felt magic of some sort from you, and these swords are certainty not normal. So how are you doing this? Earth wasn´t suppose to have mages."

"You know well what´s hidden in the moonlit world."

"The moonlit world? I don´t understand."

"... So you really don´t know." I frowned. That's... not what I expected, at all. It made me reconsider my thoughts about them. I saw them as obviously evil because of what happened with Kyoko's contract, but maybe... no. Even if they had some good intentions, Kyubei had to end right here. I... No, we had become a threat. So I had to stop things in its tracks before the consequences would get back to us... I discard that thought almost immediately No, I couldn't do that. I just couldn't. A hero couldn't do that. I don't know if its evil or not. There's a lot of signs pointing to it, but its far for a confirmation. For all I know, Kyoko's wish screwed up her life without any interference from this creature. So I can't do it. If there's to be consequences for letting the creature live, I will soldier them. I can't push the consequences of my selfishness into others. I wouldn't only be me, but Kyoko too, but that doesn't change anything. I save everybody. Somehow, even though the world as show me otherwise so many times, I will stay try to find a way to save everybody. "I don't like this, but its over, Kyubei."

I dispelled the twin swords. The creature fell down to the ground, still oozing blood from its wounds. It didn't look hurt, though. It seemed like it didn't even felt it. It looked up at my, its expression never changing. That made me... well, not nervous, but a bit wary. It looked far too unnatural to be something alive, and it didn't let credence at all to the theory that its intentions were good in anyway. The more I looked into those wide, empty eyes, the more it made me reconsider my decision to let it live.

"Why don't you kill me?" it asked.

"Does it matter? Just go!"

And it went. The creature, whatever it really was, went back into the darkness of the ally, climbing up the wall even with its injuries, leaped across the top of the building and disappeared beyond it an instant later. Uh. Its species didn't seem to have much in the way for combat capabilities, but they were seriously abnormal. I sighed. A whole lot of work for not really much of anything. Well. At least now, I wasn't walking in this mess blindly. It was not much, but something was something. Even the smallest thing could make a difference in any kind of fight. Besides. I've gotten enough to track it down whenever I wanted to, as long as I had the necessary materials. Letting it go now didn't matter.

"Shirou..." Kyoko trailed off, and swallowed, once. I wondered if I was making her nervous. "Why didn't you kill him? I meant, its not like I wanted you to do it, but you looked ready to do that."

"I want to be a hero who saves everybody." I said, completely sincere. "As long as I don't know for sure that they are evil, I don't think its right to do anything like that. I don't want an ending where even one person is dead or miserable. I know its impossible, but I'm still chasing after it. That's all there's to it."

She looked up at me. From the corner of my eye, I could see her strange expression. Her eyes were full of confusion, wonder and perhaps a hint of pithy. She didn't understand, like so many people before her. But that didn't matter. It only mattered that she looked troubled. I reached out, put my right hand on her right shoulder and squeezed it. As if to say I am here, I know your streght. At least, I hoped she took it that way. She didn't say anything. We stayed like that without moving or saying anything, the cold breeze blowing. After a minute or two, perhaps four, she took a deep breath.

"I am fine." And she sounded like it, too. But I don´t think she was really fine. Knowing that made me felt awkward. I don´t know how to dealt with her pain. I resolved to not let the ugliness of the world drag me down, but I can´t tell her why and expect it to be solved. Our feeling are too different for my experiences to be of use to her. So, I really don´t know what to do right now.

"If you say so..." I say, inviting her to speak about it. If I can´t do anything to change it, I least can listen to her.

"I am, really. It's nothing. Just let´s go." So we headed back home, jumping from building to building. I dispeled the swords before moving, of course.

After it´s death from the wounds inflicted by that man's swords, Kyubei waked up like nothing had happened in a new body. It came to it´s feet without difficulty, a few meters away and when towards the corpse, thinking over what had just happen. That man was obviously dangerous. It had gotten close to far too many truths, and his abilities were something completely unthinkable. It was magic, but a magic different for what they knew. It wasn´t supposed to be possible. He had said a few interesting things, but it hadn´t no way to confirm them and, besides, it didn´t even know where it could start to investigate that.

The Incubator came to a stop near the corpse, bend down and started to eat it. It wouldn´t take long to devour it completely, reabsorbing it into itself. They set up to stop entropy, so they couldn´t waste a single bit of energy. Even eating it´s own corpse was nothing but a part of the guidelines, and as one of the many it followed them. The eating finished, and has it swallowed them it´s mind started to get back into track.

That man was a danger to the plan. He should be eliminated, but he was also a potential boom to the Incubator's purposes. Whatever magic the man had used was something outside of their knowledge, and might even provide a better method of stopping entropy. The threat was unimportant, comparing to that chance. What that man had said... about what was hidden in the moonlit world. It would drag out all his secrets, and tap into all the potential of that new magic system.

No matter what it had to do.