Chapter Eight

Shirou and Ryouko were driving with Yoshino sitting in the back seat. Though it was a bit cramped for her, Shirou did his best to give her as much legroom as he could in the sports car, by denying himself as much of the same as he possibly could.

"You realize how big of a problem this is for me right?" groaned Ryouko without taking her eyes off the road.

"It's only as big of a problem as you make it. Before you knew what she was you were fully prepared to take her into your home. I don't see why that feeling should change in light of this new information."

"She's a Spirit… Fighting them is what I do Shirou!"

"Does she really look like something evil you need to destroy with a big gun and high explosives?"

"What they look like doesn't matter... There's one spirit out there who's killed over ten thousand people with her own hands. That doesn't include spacialquake deaths. Anyone who's ever seen her calls her 'astonishingly beautiful' but she's still one of, if not the most dangerous spirits!"

"Well… Yoshino could have attacked us at any moment she felt threatened by us but she didn't. Doesn't that count for anything?"

"It's the reason she's sitting in the back of my car right now so yes it obviously does! But that's still a good question…" she turned her head to look back, "Why didn't you try to just fight us off Yoshino? You probably could have easily made us go away yourself if you wanted to?"

Yoshino's gaze was locked on her feet while she mustered up her answer, when she spoke it was in a small shy voice, "The thing is… I don't like pain. Or being scared. I can't stand it. I bet everyone hates those things though… How could they not? Any creature that feels has to despise them. Don't you think so?"

Ryouko's grip on her wheel tightened so much her knuckles started turning white.

It's a sad thing to watch someone's world view come crashing down around them... But Ryouko somehow makes it look beautiful. Even at a time like this I'm thinking about her this way? The hell is wrong with me?

"I know so…" said Shirou in response to the girl.

"Then again I'm just a big scaredy cat. When I'm scared, I freeze up. I can't think. Or move. Or speak. I'm so afraid. It's like I can't do anything at all. Except stand there hoping someone will save me."

Ryouko's teeth clenched as she listened to the girl speaking in her soft gentle voice.

"It's awful. If I wasn't such a coward I might be able to fight back when the flying people come to hurt me. But I am. Always have been. The truth is I'm nothing like the scary girl. When we were in danger, she was right there by our side. She said that she would be our hero. She gave me the courage I could never have on my own. She's strong, brave, and fearless, she's my hero. She beat up all of the bad people and took us somewhere we would be safe. She taught me how to make it so they wouldn't be able to find me again, and that way I'd never have to fight."

Shirou and Ryouko's teeth clenched tightly as she said her piece before going quiet again.

"I think I'm going to have to rethink my life…" muttered Ryouko.

"Can't argue with that. You're dating me. Good life choices don't seem to be your strong point."

"Very funny…" she growled out half heartedly. "I still want to know who this girl is you keep mentioning. How does she know Origami and Kotori?"

"We don't know. We told you everything she told us," the puppet said for her.

"What does she look like?" asked Shirou.

"Scary. Really. Scary," the puppet said in a shivering and fearful voice.

"She was scary… But she was also kind and gentle. She was patient. I told her I might never be able to learn what she was teaching me, but she said that time was all she had and that she'd give me as much of it as I needed," the girl added after her puppet.

"I suppose we can talk about this later… We're almost to your house Shirou. What are you going to tell them when we go inside? Just so our stories match."

"I find the truth is usually the best thing. Kotori has a very sensitive bullshit detector. She's like her mother in that."

"So you tell your daughter all your little secrets? Is that smart?" asked Ryouko with a raised brow.

"Hello pot… Meet my dear friend kettle," snarked Shirou.

"What is that suppose to mean?!" she barked at him.

"Origami is a member of the AST isn't she? I don't bring Kotori into my battles with me. Except the other night, but I kept her far away from the actual fighting… She just gave us tech support."

"Right… I don't know how you know that but before we go into it, I demand you make us a good and proper meal. All this drama has given me an appetite! Then. We're going to be having a lot of words!" she said while exiting the car.

"Yes ma'am!" yelled Shirou in his best soldier impression while helping Yoshino out of the back seat.

Ciel and Kotori looked around the crowded table in confusion while everyone ate in the awkward silence which passed over them. Tohka, for the first time since they'd known here was eating slowly. Her eyes never leaving Ryouko for more than an instant at a time. Shirou looked more tense than anyone had ever seen him. Yoshino and Len simply sat quietly at the end of the table and ate in companionable silence, seemingly oblivious to the tension around them.

Thank all that's good in the world Aunt Tiger is still avoiding this place right now… If she were here awkward silence would give way to nuclear war...

After the awkward lunch, Shirou brought out tea for everyone and served it politely before resuming his usual seat.

"Right… Now that I've eaten. I can try to carry a civilized conversation…" said Ryouko before sipping from the hot tea and then looked straight at Tohka. "So you're the one we call 'Princess' and your name is Tohka. And you're living here with Shirou and his family?"

Tohka nodded, "I didn't know you called me that. It sounds dumb. I like Tohka much better. Even if it's just a silly number, miss leader of the mecha-mecha squad," she said with no small amount of child like petulance while still keeping a stern gaze on the other woman.

"It's the day we met…" Kotori huffed disappointedly.

Ryouko raised an eyebrow at that, "Mecha-mecha? Huh?"

"It's what she calls you and your soldiers… It's catchy," said an amused Shirou.

"Right… And you. I'm sorry. Are you a spirit too?" she asked the woman dressed like a nun.

Ciel shook her head, "My name is Ciel, and sorry to disappoint you, but I am thankfully once again entirely mortal."

"Once again?" asked Ryouko with a raised eyebrow.

"It's a very long story which I don't want to talk about. All you need to know about me is that I like to go out and hurt things you couldn't dream up in your worst nightmares, and I will do whatever it takes to protect my family. Including this idiot," Ciel said with a calm and sweet voice while patting Shirou on the back much harder than her tone would suggest she should have.

Ryouko rubbed her forehead roughly. "I'm going to start getting a migraine here… This is all just took much to process all at once. So Kotori is also a mage?"

Kotori quickly nodded, "I'm not very good. But yes. I am!"

Yes. I'm just a magus, and nothing but a magus…. If anyone spills the rest to her I'm going to be really pissed off!

"Does Origami know this about you?"

Kotori shook her head, "No way. A magus does not talk about their secrets. That's rule number one. But what I really wanna know now, is why pops thinks it's ok to break that rule with you right now…"

All eyes were suddenly on Shirou making him scratch his head sheepishly. Ten minutes of story telling interrupted only by several increasingly violent and painful beatings from Ciel later, Shirou had finished retelling the details of their day.

"I've said it before… And I'll say it again Shirou… You're an idiot," said Ciel before smacking Shirou across the top of his head, "But you know this…"

"Ciel… Why are you hitting me so much?!"

Ciel smacked him across the back of his head and then on the top of his head.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"For being a dope! You know perfectly well why I'm trying to knock some bloody sense into your stupidly thick skull!"

Ryouko sighed and covered her face with her hands, "I've known about magic and the like for a while now. Ever since I started training to use a Combat Realizer to fight spirits. I just never met an actual mage before now."

"Combat Realizer?" asked Shirou and Ciel.

"The equipment we use when we fight the spirits. Like the gear those kids wore today," explained Ryouko.

Shirou and Ciel looked at each other and then at Ryouko. "Could you tell us a bit about this equipment?"

Ryouko shook her head, "I can't… I shouldn't have even told you they exist. But... After today, I don't know. I just slipped a little… Look. I want to be as open and honest with you as you've been with me. But I can't for the simple reason that I don't know what you plan to do with this information."

"Ryouko I only-" started Shirou.

"I'm still talking!" she snapped. "Sorry… I'm just a little high strung right now."

"Just a little?" he wondered aloud.

"A teeny tiny bit… Yes. Anyway. As I was about to say. I've been around and seen my fair share Shirou," she said while gesturing to the walls around her, pointing to each one as she named the places they were taken in, "Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Chechnya, Colombia, Mexico... And those are just the ones I recognize off the top of my head. I know damn well what goes on in those places. You're no aid worker. You've traveled from one hell hole to the next. I've seen the scars on your chest today…"

"I'm not going to deny anything to you. Except to say that we really did travel to those places to help and protect people…"

"I don't doubt that Shirou. But you've chosen a side here. If I tell you about our capabilities, and one of my soldiers gets hurt because of it? Just the other day we had a battle in the park and got our asses handed to us by the person sitting at the same table and glaring daggers at me…"

Tohka was about to speak when Shirou put up his hand to volunteer himself to speak, "That wasn't her in the park Ryouko… That was actually me."

I guess the first ones we ran into weren't her soldiers… At least I hope they weren't… If she doesn't say anything, I shouldn't either.

"What?!" she said while staring hard into his golden eyes.

Shirou nodded, "I caused that explosion to make you think Tohka had vanished so you'd stop chasing us. We didn't want to hurt any of you. Our business that night was with DEM."

Ryouko glared at him, "That was you? 'I am the bone of my sword' that was you?!"

Shirou nodded while Ciel glanced away awkwardly at what she knew was probably coming.

Ryouko covered her face and groaned into her hands while falling back so she was laying on the floor where she screamed into her hands. "You could have killed us!"

"Actually… I knew your shields would protect you from anything short of a direct hit from-"

"That's not even what I'm pissed off about!" she yelled from the floor at the roof.

"What are you pissed off about then?" Shirou timidly asked.

"I'm pissed off that I was trying to kill you because I was pissed off that I had to cancel my date with you and I'm even more pissed off that you heard everything I yelled that night!"

Ciel rolled her eyes, "Every woman in his life has tried to kill him at least once. Welcome to the club."

"Saber never tried to kill me… Though she did beat me up a lot. Also Kotori hasn't tried to kill me yet."

"There's still time…" Kotori said innocently.

"Wait a minute… So it wasn't an accident!" he said while standing up and pointing in Ciel's face. "You really did try to kill me when you stabbed me in the ass!"

"No that actually was an accident. But accidental or not Shirou. Every woman you know has physically assault you at least once. Besides. Shouldn't you take it as a good omen? Have any of us ever let you down after we tried to murder you?"

"So you did try to murder me!"

Ciel smiled sweetly at him, "No. But I will if you don't get your finger out of my face and sit down," she spoke in her sweetest and most innocent voice.

Shirou sighed and seated himself, "So what are you going to do? If another spirit shows up. Will you really be able to shoot first and ask questions later?" asked Shirou.

Ryouko slowly sat back up and faced everyone again, she considered his question, explored the angles, and finally voiced her thoughts. "I can't disobey my orders… But I do want some questions answered, if there's somewhere we can talk in private with Yoshino?"

Shirou shook his head, "I don't keep secrets from my family Ryouko. Especially not one like this," he said before turning to Yoshino. "Could you tell us everything again? About the 'scary girl' you talked about?"

Yoshino and Yoshinon both quickly shook their heads. "We shouldn't even be here! She said you can't protect us and it was better if we stayed away from you!" exclaimed the puppet.

Shirou just kept up a smile while everyone looked at the hooded girl curiously. "After what you saw today Yoshinon, do you really believe we can't protect you if we need to?"

"I don't know…" the girl said timidly.

"All we know is what she told us! And we already told you everything!" said the puppet.

"Could you take us through it one more time please? It's important," said Ryouko in the most gentle voice she could muster.

That night Shirou sat out on the veranda with his tea set enjoying the evening air now that he was finally able to properly relax from the day's events. It wasn't long after he sat down that Tohka came out and joined him, helping herself to a cup of tea as had become a nightly ritual for the two since that first night Shirou had set her worries at ease.

The two sat in companionable silence for a time, silently sipping their tea and looking up at the night sky.

"When you're sad, I feel sad too," said Tohka out of nowhere.

Shirou was caught by surprise, "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know everything about how humans behave. But I know you Shirou. You've been sad these past days. It's made Kotori sad, and Ciel, and Len, and me. None of us knew what to do to make you feel better. I hate that so much because you always make me feel happy, but I don't know how to do the same for you."

"I've just been a-"

"Don't lie to me Shirou. I hate lies. They feel so wrong. We all saw your bathroom. The broken mirror, the blood. And why do you color your hair?"

Shirou sighed into his tea before taking a sip, "That's complicated Tohka…"

"Ciel said it was because of what you said the other night. She said there's someone you're afraid of. But I don't believe that. You're not afraid of anyone!"

"That's not true. I'm afraid all the time. Being afraid is a perfectly natural thing. But you're right that I'm not afraid of other people. What I'm really afraid of Tohka… Is myself."

"Make me understand." She didn't say it. She demanded it.

"I don't know if I can…"

"Try… Seeing you in pain, and being powerless to do anything about it. It feels so bad I can't express it in words. I do not like this feeling at all. I can't imagine there are any worse feelings one could experience. Right now I feel like I want to do everything in my power to make certain nobody ever has to feel like this. Ever. It's too awful."

Shirou couldn't keep a smile off his lips, "I can just imagine Saber right now, it's as if she were standing right here in front of us. She'd be very proud of you right now."

"Saber is the woman who was your servant, in the Grail War? Right?"

"That's right yes."

"She fought for you. Protected you. And your wife."

"Back then she wasn't my wife yet. But yes. She protected us."

"Did you trust her?"

Shirou blinked, "Well yes. Of course I trusted her."

Tohka turned her head to Shirou. The look on her face set him immediately on edge...

Wow... she's mad.

"Then why can't you trust me? Do I have to become your servant for that?"

"It's complicated Tohka…"

"Uncomplicate it!"

Shirou breathed a heavy sigh and leaned back on his hands to turn his gaze up to the moon.

"I really can't. I want to. But I'm not ready to. I promise you though. When I am ready to talk about it. We'll sit down here like we always do, and I'll explain everything to you."

Tohka practically growled her response at him, "I will hold you to that promise Shirou. And I'll ask you to make me another. Stop making Kotori sad. Whatever it is that troubles you, do not allow it to trouble her!"

Shirou was caught off guard again, this time by her assertiveness. "I'd never want to do that. I'd never make her worry…"

"You've failed at that," she said while crossing her arms and looking away from him to glare furiously into the sky.

"You really care about Kotori don't you?"

Tohka nodded, "Yes. I care very much about Kotori. About Ciel. Len. And you Shirou. Even Taiga. I am certain I will come to care very much for Yoshino and Yoshinon soon as well. I do not want to see any of you hurting for any reason. If something harmed any of you I would inflict greater harm upon it without apology!"

"I believe you. That's why I trust you Tohka. I trust you to help protect our family."

Tohka's demeanor suddenly softened and she turned to look at Shirou again with growing wonder, "Our family?"

"You're a part of this family too. Did you ever think otherwise?"

"I don't know what I thought… But it feels nice to hear it put into words. Yes. I like this feeling much better than what I was feeling before. May I always be a part of this family then? Will I not ever have to go away?"

Shirou chuckled at her words, "Tohka… There are times I'll be sad, angry, annoyed… I might even say things to you I don't mean. I'm not perfect. I make mistakes. You'll make mistakes as well. But one thing I'll never do is make you leave this home."

Tokha stood up and stepped out in front of Shirou where she extended a hand to him, "I want to believe you. I want to believe you more than anything. So do what you did with her. A 'pact' I think you called it."

"You want me to make a pact with you?"

"You said the 'pact' you had with Saber was an unbreakable contract. That even when the magic was severed and she became Rin's servant that she still remained loyal to you. I want to have that with you."

"It doesn't work that way Tohka… I can't actually contract you as my servant. You're not that kind of spirit."

"I know that dummy! I want to hear the words! That would be enough for me. To feel secure in my place here. I'm not your daughter, I'm not your sister, and I'm not your wife or your girlfriend. But I can be this. This way I have a place and I know what it is and how to fulfill it."

Shirou looked into her violet eyes for a long moment…

So full of determination and passion. I suppose we all need to know our place in the world… I can't deny her that. Hmm… Maybe I can start it with that instead of the other thing which just sounds wrong in this context?

Shirou stood up as well and took her hand in his own, their eyes locked as she waited impatiently for him to say the words she wanted to hear.

"Hear me…" he started.

Ciel and Kotori meanwhile discreetly peeked out a window at the scene playing out, wondering what Tohka was so angry with him about.

"My will creates your place in this world, and your sword carves my destiny. I swear this oath. That I shall be all the good in the world. That I shall defeat all evil in the world. If you heed my call, and submit yourself to my will and reason, then answer me, and hearing your answer, I will entrust my fate to your sword."

Tohka nodded firmly, "I accept!"

A week later Kotori was getting dressed and ready to go out. Staring into the mirror at her appearance to ensure every detail was exactly right. Kotori Emiya was a perfectionist like that.

She opted for a burgundy dress with simple black frills and ruffles, a black bow as its centerpiece. The cut of the dress would have made it a bit too much for the occasion so she wore it over a white long sleeved shirt that had some matching frills on the collar.

Why are so many of my cloths like this set? I really can't remember why I ended up with so many in this style… Maybe I can diversify my wardrobe a bit with Senpai today. Assuming she doesn't freak out right away...

Kotori took a moment to dismiss all the notifications on her phone after reading each one.

Three spacequakes just happened around the world. That means three spirits are going to be fighting for their lives now… It's so unfair!

She tightened her grip on the phone and stuffed it into her purse before walking over to the next room.

"Hey, Yoshino? May I come in?" she asked into the room.

"Yeah Kotori! Come on in!" she heard Yoshinon call out to her.

Kotori slid open the door just slightly to look inside, "I just wanted to see if my clothes fit you alright."

Yoshino slowly nodded while Yoshinon spoke enthusiastically, "She looks totally adorable in this doesn't she?"

"Yeah. She totally does! But something's missing…"

Kotori examined the girl before her for a long moment, besides the puppet which almost never left her hand, she was wearing a white ruffled dress highlighted with pink near the bottom and across the top. "Oh yeah! There's a matching hat! I totally forgot about it since I hate wearing hats… But it'll look so cute on you!" she said while rushing back to her room to fetch said hat.

A short time later they both came out into the living room where Shirou was sitting down with Ryouko. "We're all set to go," announced Kotori.

"Great! Origami will meet us there. Are you sure you don't want to join us Shirou?" she asked him with a sweet, and tempting smile.

Shirou sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "I would. But Ciel and I have something to take care of. Something I can't put off…" he said while patting the black case beside him. "I'd feel a lot safer with this thing gone," he added.

"Is that the crystal thing?" she asked while curiously glancing at the case.

Shirou nodded. "You girls go have a nice day out. I trust you to take care and keep them out of trouble."

Kotori looked around, "Speaking of trouble… Where's Tohka?"

"She and Ciel were struggling to get Len to have a bath… She's changing again," Shirou said with an outward groan.

Kotori rolled her eyes, "Must have been an epic struggle. You know Tohka's really been taking the 'servant' thing seriously. Anything she can help with she's all over it… It's a good thing Len can do that 'fix anything' spell… Otherwise we'd have had to take all our showers with the garden hose..."

"I never in my life thought I'd take pity on a cockroach until that day…" said Shirou with a dry voice.

Ryouko blinked at their exchange but said nothing. Wisely deciding she was probably better off not knowing more.

A moment later loud footsteps came running into the living room and Tohka burst into the room and sighed with relief. "I thought you would have left without me by now…"

Kotori shook her head, "We'd never leave you behind Tohka. Ready to go?"

The violet haired woman nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! Let's go! Girl's day out! Yay!"

Shirou face planted into the table, "Everyday is a girl's day in this house."

"By the way Pops… Next week the school's going to be reopened. Have you given any thought to maybe letting Yoshino attend?" asked Kotori.

Shirou picked up his head to look at her, he eyed her suspiciously, wondering if she was really serious. Turned out she really was.

"I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea… But the cost of getting her an identity is just beyond my means right now… I'd have to call in favors…"

"If you can… I don't think it's a bad idea either… She's proven she can be reliable when it comes to keeping her secret and not making any trouble. If there's anything I can do to help you with it, just ask. I'm more than sure Origami will feel the same after getting to know her,"

Shirou picked up his head and looked at the woman, "One other thing Ryouko…"

"What is it Shirou?"

"I've seen how you drive… Don't do that with the kids."

Ryouko stared at him, but Shirou felt more as if she were staring directly through him.

"What kind of idiot do you take me for?" she said flatly while standing up. As she passed by a picture of Rin and Kotori she looked into the woman's blue eyes and sighed, "How would you have dealt with this?"

"She's probably wondering the same thing herself…" said Kotori while passing her by on the way out with Tohka and Yoshino behind them.

Shirou, Ciel, and Len later arrived at the Church in New City. Shirou however stopped just a step short of crossing the gate onto the church grounds which drew a concerned look from Ciel and Len.

"Is something the matter Shirou?" asked Ciel while waking up to him.

"Bad memories in this place. That's all," he said without much feeling.

"It won't be that bad. We're just going to hand this over, get some information from them about the others like it, and be done here. We'll be right beside you the whole time," she said to him sweetly.

Archer… I don't know what your relationship with her was like, but if I ever remember something you did to her that I don't like... Then the next time I see you… I will slap your face… off your face!

Shirou took a breath and a step forward, Ciel and Len both at his sides as promised.

Inside they were greeted by two members of the Holy Church, one was the new priest of what was once known as Kotomine Church, and the second was the one they were here to see, another member of the Burial Agency. There was also a third person leaning against a wall all the way in the back that nobody seemed to recognize. She had light blonde hair, and wore a black feminine business suit.

"Good day to you both," said Ciel as she stepped ahead to conduct the business at hand. Not paying any attention to the other woman in in the back.

"Do you have the Sephira Crystal?" the executor asked her in a no nonsense voice. There was also a trace of venom in his words which had Shirou going through the list of very sharp pointy things he wanted to use to teach the man some respect.

"Well yes, why else would we be here now?" she wondered while adjusting her glasses. By the way her hand shook, Shirou knew she was tempted to take them off and make a scene but was fighting with everything she had to restrain herself.

Why is she still involved with these people anyway? She should have quit a long time ago…

"Hand it over please," he demanded.

"Do you have the information I asked you for?" she asked kindly.

The man stood there with his hand held out impatiently, which in turn caused Ciel to lose her own patience and finally took off her glasses and pocketing them. Meanwhile a number of other people stepped out of the back of the church, each was wearing what Shirou now knew to be a Combat Realizer. The woman standing behind and to the side took a couple steps forward and cast a level gaze on the scene unfolding before her.

"So… Before this becomes uncivilized, may I know what you're selling me out for?" Ciel asked calmly.

It's always something in this Church… Why don't I ever listen to my bad feelings?

Ryouko mentioned those things weren't designed for indoor use… Which means they're probably very limited in here. They won't be able fly, that's for certain… Their shields will probably be limited by the space around them. Ryouko's troops were always in loose formation. I doubt it'd be very pretty if they got caught in each other's shields when they activated.

They're counting on intimidation. Those kids said I was required reading at DEM. Wouldn't they know it'll take a lot more than this to intimidate Ciel and I?

The Priest withdrew from the scene while the other Executor and Ciel brought forth their Black Keys. Talking didn't seem to be what they were here to do.

"I guess DEM is sick of our meddling..." observed Shirou.

"Indeed. The Sephira Crystal was just the first straw," the woman started explaining. "After that it was a very expensive production matrix you destroyed, then it was a raid on one of our supply convoys, and then there was the incident with Adeptus Two and Three. We can't just ignore you anymore Shirou Emiya."

"Alright… The Crystal I won't deny. I also did beat up those two kids. But I had nothing to do with those other things you mentioned. Though I confess I do wish I did. Sounds like I owe someone out there a thank you."

"Why bother to deny it? The attacks were carried out using your exact modus operandi," the woman said with exasperation while giving a hand signal to her subordinates.

"I don't have a modus operandi. I just do whatever works…" he sighed while holding out his hand, "Kinda like I'm about to now..."

Ciel held her hands loosely at her side.

"Rho aias!" he yelled as the guns began to fire. Bullets harmlessly impacting the shield which appeared in front of himself and Ciel while the other Executor in front of it ducked and rolled out of the line of fire.

As the shooters began reloading Shirou allowed his shield to vanish and then traced a number of weapons above him and began launching them successively at them.

Meanwhile Ciel locked herself in combat with her now former colleague.

The suited woman then held her hand out to Shirou and suddenly he was enveloped in a shield. Then the swords above him instantly dissolved as he lost control of his own magic. "What the hell?!"

This didn't happen last time?!

"Adeptus Two and Three aren't trained to fight enemy mages, just spirits. I on the other hand am a proper magus, and a DEM Wizard. My name is Ellen Mira Mathers. Adeptus One."

"Wizard? How pretentious…" Shirou groaned out as Ciel and the other executor stopped their fight to reassess their respective situations.

"And you're just as judgemental as your file said you'd be," she spat back at him.

"Judgemental? You can call it that. I just call it my extraordinary assessment skill."

"And what is your assessment of your present situation then? Trapped in my territory, cut off from any mana, and you're about to be shot in the face with assault rifles."

How is that even possible I wonder? How can this shield block me from accessing mana?

"My professional assessment is that you are beyond incompetent…"

"How do you figure that Mr. Emiya?"

Shirou shrugged as Len leaped up onto the woman's face in her cat from, clawing and scratching. She screamed and tried to pull the creature off her head. The end result was that her shield collapsed form around him. "You forgot there were three of us who entered here."

I'm going to make Len the best cake I've ever baked in my life…

Shirou could do nothing more than raise his shield again to protect himself from the hail of gunfire while Ciel fought viciously against the other Executor.

Ciel crossed blades again and again and again with the man until suddenly the side of his skull exploded in a gory mess and his body fell lifelessly to the ground. Ciel blinked. "Was that you Shirou?"

Suddenly the guns all stopped firing. Shirou very cautiously looked them over. Their attention had been drawn away from him and Ciel, and that concerned him greatly.

Ellen, after throwing Len off her face, looked up with blood pouring forth from the claw marks left on her to stare up at the roof of the church. "Not you again! Open fire on her quickly!"

Shirou and Ciel both ducked under the next storm of gunfire while looking up at the newcomer floating near the ceiling. She was a teenaged girl with long black hair tied in uneven twintails, one of her eyes was distinctly glowing yellow, she wore a black and glowing orange gothic style ruffled dress, and in her hands was a flintlock rifle which she was presently aiming and recocking.

Her mouth moved to say words he couldn't hear or read before she fired. Then she recocked, and fired again with speed so great her hand movement was just a blur between the hammer and the trigger. Somehow, her flintlock single shot rifle, was being fired as quickly as she could cock the hammer. He also noted that instead of powder flashes from the pan and barrel, there was nothing but a dark mist emanating after each shot was fired. His eyes then managed to catch glimpses of what was really happening.

She's using shadows as ammunition? Each time there's a muzzle flash from the other shooters, her shadow is cast onto the ceiling behind her, and each time she pulls the hammer on that musket a bit of the shadow is drawn into the rifle and fired like a lead ball… The timing, the precision, the platform of pure darkness she's standing on, the glowing orange dress… She's a Spirit. But I didn't sense her approach… I can't sense anything about her, it's like she isn't even there… But I can read her weapon. A Mystic Code? Something she's combined with her spirit powers?

The girl pulled the hammer back one more time and fired on the last DEM member as he tried to flee, shooting him in the back of the neck. Meanwhile, the other woman, Ellen, was nowhere to be seen.

Shirou and Ciel cautious stood up with twin falchions and two hand fulls of Black Keys respectively. "Who are you?" asked Ciel as the girl started jumping down from her previous perch. Each time she descended her feet landed on another platform of shadow like jumping from step to step on her way down.

When she was close enough and in the light, they noticed the holes in her dress, and the blood pouring out.

"You're bleeding!" said Shirou as he started walking towards her slowly.

"I don't have time to bleed, and you don't have time to dawdle…" she said to him while holding her musket out at him, hammer cocked and ready to fire.

"What do you mean?" he asked her, stopping in his tracks and holding his swords ready to defend himself.

"Tick, tock goes the clock! You now have exactly ten minutes to get to the fountain in new city square before all hell breaks loose around Kotori. There's only so much I can do on my own… Better hurry. Tick, tock! Tick, tock!" she said with what Shirou could only describe and the single most demented voice and smile he'd ever seen in his life before drawing a flintlock pistol from behind her back and using it to shoot herself in the head.

Ciel and Shirou widened their eyes and tried to run to stop her but it was too late, her body fell down into a shadow and vanished completely.

Meanwhile, Kotori checked the time on her phone and groaned with irritation, "Where is she? She's never late for anything. I'd better call her and see if she's alright."

"She's only ten minutes late… It's not a big deal," Tohka casually stated.

Ryouko shook her head, "You don't know Origami. You can set your watch by her. She's never late..."

"What the hell?" said Kotori while looking around. "I've got no signal on my phone?"

Ryouko checked her phone as well, "Maybe that's why she couldn't call and tell us she was delayed or something… The cell tower must be out. Poor New City… The strangest things always happen here."

Tohka stepped over to lean on a guard rail beside Kotori. "Please don't worry. I'm sure she's fine. She did say she wanted to meet us today didn't she?"

Kotori nodded and looked up at Ryouko. "I'm sure Tohka's right, she'll be here any moment now."

High on a rooftop overlooking the city square, Origami was kneeling with a very large rifle pointed at the square.

"Jamming signal is at full strength. We're go for mission. Distance to target, one kilometer. Wind speed, zero point zero four two… Wind direction, south. Adeptus Five will target Princess. Adeptus two is on Hermit."

"Understood…" Origami and Shido said in unison.

Origami made adjustments to the scope as she drew a bead on her target while Shido did the same. "Adeptus Two… If you miss and hurt Ryouko or Kotori I will-"

"Yes… You'll do something terrible to me. I got that the first ten times you said it. Just stay focused. We only get one shot at this. If those two spirits turn against us we're going to be in for a world of hurt."

"I still do not believe this plan is wise…" stated Origami.

"I don't know if it's 'wise' or not…" said Mana while looking through a telescope at their targets. "But those were our orders."

"As long as DEM upholds their end of the deal and leaves the Emiya family alone after this…"

"Ellen told us she would. She doesn't lie. As long you uphold your end of the deal, she'll keep her's," said Mana, "Targets look like they're about to move… Adeptus Three here. Request activation of spacialquake alarm… Copy that. Alarm activates in ten seconds. Fire as soon as soon it happens."

Origami and Shido switched off their safeties and each drew a breath as they took aim. Each started mentally counting down as they slowly expelled the air from their lungs to steady the rifles.

"Kotori! Tohka! Ryouko! Yoshino!" screamed Shirou while he and Ciel ran towards them as fast as they could.

Upon hearing their names each turned around and started moving towards the edge where they could see what was happening.

Then the siren blared.

"Spacialquake?!" yelled Ryouko as she started rushing to gather her group.

Suddenly she was splattered with blood.

Ryouko froze as her eyes slowly scanned her surroundings.

Her eyes drifted downwards.

Her voice wouldn't emerge from the catch in her throat.

Origami dropped her rifle and fell backwards. Her eyes suddenly lifeless and vacant as she stared into the empty blue sky.

The siblings each dropped their respective rifle and telescope and started walking backwards away from the wall as they were suddenly being fired upon from somewhere between their targets and their positions.

"Protect territory, deploy!" they each cried out. Their shields then absorbed the impacts as they took off into the sky under a barrage of otherworldly gunfire.

"Origami! Get out of there! You're a sitting duck! ORIGAMI?!"

"Forget her sis, she's totally frozen up! Let's deal with Nightmare!"

"Kotori! Kotori!" cried Tohka as she cradled the girl in her arm who now had a hole in her chest the size of a fist from which blood was gushing out.

Shirou arrived and fall to his knees beside them where he completely and utterly froze. Ciel slowly walking up behind him and kneeling down where she put a hand on his shoulder for whatever the gesture was worth.

Ryouko looked to her other side and saw Yoshino on the ground. Instantly the army captain removed her shirt and fell to the ground beside the little girl. She pressed her shirt to the wound while cradling the girl in her lap. "Stay with me Yoshino!"

The Executor stood up from Shirou and moved over beside the little girl who was still somehow alive "I'll do what I can for her. But I'm no proper magus… We do need to get her treatment!" she said while slowly taking Ryouko's hand off Yoshino's wound and replacing it with her own hand. She closed her eyes and flooded her magic circuits.

Shirou slowly took his lifeless daughter from Tohka and cradled her against him. With eyes full of fire and tears he looked at the violet haired woman.

"That girl in the sky. She's fighting the ones who did this. Let's help her kill them!"

Tohka slowly stood up, teeth tightly clenched. She give nothing but a firm nod before shouting two words as loudly as she could. "Adonai Melek!" which replaced her casual street clothes with her armored astral dress. She then leap up off the raised platform they were gathered on and onto the street below where she stomped her foot hard enough to crack the ground and cause a fissure to open in the street, "Sandalphon!" she cried out to bring forth her angel and the throne it was attached to.

She leapt up to the top of the throne and drew out the blade from the top before leaping off and cutting through the throne on her way down, shattering it into many pieces which then fused themselves to the sword, reshaping it into a much larger and much more dangerous weapon. "Halvanhelev!" she cried out as she leapt up into the air and took flight to join the battle.

Shirou meanwhile stood up and closed his daughter's eyes before laying her gently on the ground. "Go get help for Yoshino…" he said coldly while walking away and tracing his bow and something very sharp to go with it.

Ryouko wanted to say something to stop him but knew that if that were she in his place, nothing would stop her either. She picked up the blue haired girl into her arms and nodded. "Don't worry Yoshino. You'll be alright..." she said without as much confidence as she wanted. The little girl had been shot through the chest and was bleeding profusely all over her cloths.

"Big brother! The spirit wave reaction from Princess is off the scale!"

"I see it… It'll cause a spacequake at this rate!" Shido said through clenched teeth as he dodged gunfire from the first spirit to attack them. "Damn it Nightmare! We don't have time to screw around with you right now!"

"Awww! But I wanna play some more! It's been so long since the three of us got to tango like this! You know how much I adore you Shido!" the black haired spirit yelled back at them before firing off her rifle.

"Let's finish her off quick Mana!"

"Right!"

"Brother and sister at once huh? Never let it be said that I'm inflexible!"

"Gathering Cloud Sword Style!" they said in unison before splitting up and flying in a circle around the rifle wielding spirit at high speed. A moment later Shido rushed in and attempted to slice her in half with his twin energy blades. The Spirit then ran around him as if she were running up some stairs made of shadows before Mana swooped in and tried to cut off her head with her sword.

It was then that Tohka came in and took a swing at the young blue haired girl forcing her to evade at full speed.

Shido then disengaged from the spirit known as Nightmare and moved beside his sister. "We're in over our heads Mana. Let's get the hell out of here."

"What about Origami? Do you want to just leave her there?!"

"Protect territory, deploy!" he yelled while pulling his sister in close to him.

It was no use though. Whatever was launched at them from the ground went straight through the shield and impaled itself into his flight pack. It was only thanks to Mana's much larger engines that the two remained airborne. He looked at the damage and saw a sword impaled in his wing.

"How the hell?! What the hell is that?!" the boy cried out while discarding his now useless flight pack.

"That was no Black Key…" observed Mana while she started speeding up to escape as quickly as she could take them both.

Durandal… The Peerless Sword that will never lose its sharpness, and can not be destroyed. Containing three miracles within it. Which means it can not be stopped by your shields or armor.

The black haired spirit appeared out of a shadow in the ground beside Shirou and smiled a twisted smile at him. "You don't have time for them. You need to come with me now!"

"What are you talking about? And just who the hell are you anyway?" he asked with a furious tone.

"Aww… Angry Shirou makes Kurumi a sad panda…"

"So your name's Kurumi?" he asked while drawing his bow.

"No. My name is Angra Mainyu. What part of that was unclear? We don't have time to dawdle here. You need to forget about those two for now and deal with Tohka. You can't let her run around unrestrained. Bad things happen when she gets pissed off."

"Bad things happen when I get pissed off too…"

"Not as bad as her. Believe me. At your best moments… You don't come close."

"Those two killed my daughter. Do you think I'm just going to let them go for that?" he growled through clenched teeth.

"Correction… They tried and failed. Also Kotori isn't dead and he isn't the one who pulled the trigger. That one is the one who's about to get flattened by Tohka. Tick tock goes the clock! We have to put the leash back on Tohka. Tick tock! Before she blows up the the city!"

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Come find out…" she said before taking his hand and pulling him behind her onto her shadow platform. Eventually giving in Shirou allowed her to lead up towards the top of a high-rise building where Tohka was hurling waves of energy at something unseen.

Meanwhile, Kotori quickly sat up and started beating her chest to put out a blue flame which was burning her cloths. "Hot hot hot hot hot!"

"Welcome back to the world of the living…" said the dark haired girl to Kotori.

Kotori blinked up at her. "Wha? Who're you? What the hell just happened to me?"

The girl poked the bare skin through the large hole in the middle of her dress. "You got shot. But's it's fine. Like in any decent RPG, you have an unlimited number of respawns. I just had to give you a little bit of my Od to jump start it. Would have happened on its own but not quick enough."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't have much time. So pay attention, alright?" she said in a sweet and calming voice to the girl.

Kotori nodded but otherwise remained quiet. She looked into the girl's eyes. One was red, not like her own cherry red. Her's was as red like blood. Her other eye was bright, glowing, and had a clock face on it which she found disturbing enough to be unable to keep a fearful expression off her face.

"You have a special gift, Kotori Emiya. You can't be killed. Someone like me has to cheat to avoid things like death. But you have an unlimited number of respawns like I just said. You're like a phoenix. Everytime you die you're reborn from the ashes. It's quite a gift your angel has bestowed upon you. Something many bad people will covet. You have to get a lot stronger to protect yourself because I can't always be there to protect you like I have been until now."

"Are you serious?"

"Very… Just don't abuse this gift. You'll make your family stress out again. You really don't want that. They love you very much," the girl explained to her with a cheerful smile that didn't seem to quite match up with her general appearance.

"They think I'm dead right now?"

The black haired girl nodded, "That's why I need you to go find Tohka right now. She thinks you're dead and she won't stop until she's killed the person she thinks killed you. She'll destroy this whole city if she continues as she is now. You have to go to her. Before she kills your best friend," the girl said while standing up and walking away.

"Wait!" Kotori said while standing up herself and looking at the girl who turned around to face her with a smile. "What's your name? I feel like I know you. Or I should know you. I don't understand it."

"My name is Kurumi. Kurumi… Tokisaki. I get called a lot of other things too. But you can just call me Kurumi."

"Right… Kurumi. How do you know so much about me?" asked Kotori.

"Oh.. I've just been around a few times and learned a little bit of this and that. Now if you'll excuse me, my time here is up. I'll see you again Kotori Emiya. Sooner or later," she said while pulling out the pistol stuffed in the back of her dress and quickly putting it to the side of her head.

"No! Kurumi don't do it!"

"Relax… Remember what I said? I have to cheat to do the same thing you do. I'm not actually killing myself," she said with a wink of her yellow eye before using the pistol to shoot herself in the head and vanishing into the shadow she was standing on.