Wrought Iron Cross
A collaboration fic by written by Bubbajack and inspired by the continuous mad ramblings of NIX'S WARDEN, Eternal Nothingness, and as of this chapter, the fine folks on the Forum Court of the Devil Kings. Also I would like to give a huge welcome and thank you in advance to this fics new beta WhiteFang15, your awesome dude.
Disclaimer: We don't own FSN or Campione if we did, it would probably go something like this fic.
Ch.5: The Abduction Arc pt.1: Revelations
Archer received a letter in the mail on Monday from Ran Seishuuin. Ran was asking him if there was a possibility of him coming to her house again after school. It held a tone of respect and of politeness befitting of someone of his station. Yet, Archer couldn't help but sigh and think, 'Well, at least they didn't use Yuri this time.'
He was currently on the roof of the middle school, which was his usual haunt during the lunch period. The rest of the girls seemed to enjoy spending just as much time up there with him as he enjoyed being up there. It was either that, or the food he had made for them. Whichever it was, they seemed to be enjoying it.
"You know, if I'm going to continuously feed the lot of you every school day, the least you all could do is start chipping in on the grocery bill at my place." He said in his usual tone of voice, a small twitch of his lips showing he was joking.
He meant it as a joke, so he never expected Kaoru to actually stop eating and say, "Not to worry Kusanagi-sama. As we speak, your kitchen is being restocked and outfitted with the best spices, meats, sauces, and appliances money can buy."
"It is? Well, that was very nice of you Kaoru, though I can't help but think you had an ulterior motive for doing this."
"Indeed I did Kusanagi-sama. If you could cook a meal that could please actual Gods just using what you picked up at your local market, then imagine what you could accomplish if you had access to the best from all over the world?" The redhead asked dreamily.
"You mean besides Aphrodite likely orgasming from sheer pleasure, Hephaestus attempting to build a statue in my honor, while Ichirou's heart gives out from total bliss, and the rest of you try to rape me or something along those lines?" He responded jokingly.
"G-godou-kun! You sh-shouldn't talk like that! It's very impolite and an improper topic for lunch!" Yuri chastised him, while she and the other girls blushed at his implications.
"Yes, dear." He replied before saying, "Oh Ena, how did entertaining that diplomat go?"
"Ah that. It went fine, perfectly fine Kusanagi-sama." The raven-haired beauty replied a bit too quickly.
'Something's wrong. Ena hasn't been her usual self ever since she got that phone call...I wonder what that was about.' Archer thought as the bell rang signaling the end of the lunch period.
"Alright everyone, back to the trenches we go!" He exclaimed, the dry humor not lost on anyone, leading the way downstairs.
The school day went by quickly for Archer and it wasn't long before he found himself making his way towards the Seishuuin residents. Naturally, he had to tell Shizuka where he was heading so she wouldn't worry. Using Reinforcement, he arrived there rather quickly, faster than walking anyways, and was shown into the same room as last time where the current heads of the Four Families were waiting for him. They were already seated.
"Alright, I'm here now what's this about?" Archer asked while doing his best to sound annoyed. They had brought him here, which he really didn't want to come in the first place, so it was only fair for them to get to the point of the meeting.
"Welcome back to my home Kusanagi-sama." Ran Seishuuin greeted politely. She made herself more comfortable as she leveled a content gaze on his form.
"Seishuuin-san, what is this meeting about?" Archer asked. He situated himself in the corner of the room where he would have a clear view of everyone in the room as well as the only exit. He was taking no chances with these people.
"Well, Kusanagi-sama, we are merely curious about something. We wondered if you were pleased with the services rendered by our heirs thus far, or if they have caused any displeasure for you at all." The woman said, refusing to beat around the bush to avoid his ire.
Archer sighed in annoyance before saying, "No, everything is fine with the girls. Frankly, even if I had a problem with one of them, which I'm not saying I have, nor do I believe that I will, I would bring it up with them personally. I wouldn't bother bringing to anyone elses attention." His tone of voice held such conviction that they couldn't argue, even if they wanted to, not that they'd admit to such. It might not have helped that his eyes were narrowed in a challenging manner either.
"I see, well it's good to hear that there have been no issues thus far." A pause, "We were also recently informed that you bought, and are in the midst of redecorating the Blue Note?" She inquired.
"That's correct. Hana thought that as a Campione I needed a power base. Honestly, I rather like that place. So," he paused, "there you have it." Archer told them simply. 'How much longer are they going to waste my time?' He thought, becoming impatient.
"Ah yes, Hana-chan does have a good head on her shoulders for one so young." Ran commented, smiling lightly at the thought of the young woman.
"I am glad my niece was able to be of use." Renjou Zaraki said happily, his eyes crinkling in a strange way as he smiled.
"Indeed Hana is quite the little homemaker-" Suddenly, as if remembering something distasteful that annoyed him, he glared at the heads of the Renjou and Kuhoutsuka family then said, "I am annoyed at you, and you as well Masamune."
"What exactly did they do Kusanagi?" Rena Sayanomiya asked in her raspy voice. None of them were very keen on agitating 'Kunsanagi'.
"It's what they did, and at the same time what they didn't do, that annoys me. What they did was take Hana and Oda's childhoods from them! They effectively turned them into an easy button and an assassin respectively instead of letting them live their lives as they saw fit!" His voice becoming steadily colder as it carried across the room.
The Renjou head was literally quaking where he sat, yet the Kuhoutsuka head simply turned and said, "Oda was taught as I was taught. The same can be said as the many others that came before me. It has been this way for as long as any in my clan can remember. It is all we have and all we know... It is thankless work but someone must do it."
"Well as true as that may be... she has sworn her fealty to me, and by extension, her clan as well. Frankly, I have no use for a clan of assassins." Archer told the man.
"Then we're doomed." Masamune said simply. His face displaying none of his emotions. The man had one hell of a poker face.
"No, not at all. I said I have no need for assassins, at least not for politics, however there are many supernatural creatures that would prey on human beings aren't there?" Archer asked, his eyebrows raised in subtle amusement.
"That is correct Kusanagi-sama. What of it?" Masamune inquired.
"Well, as I see it, I could use a reliable intelligence network that can gather me information outside of Japan. Weeing as this committee seems to be focused on controlling the state of affairs within the country, I need informants, spies, and people to keep me informed and up to date on the goings-on around here. Naturally, at the same time, you could give us an endearing image to other people by going out and eliminating monstrous threats. Do you think your clan could handle something of that nature?"
"Yes, it would require some restructuring, but it could easily be done. Well, the part about you needing spies is definitely within' our capabilities, Kusanagi-sama." Masamune said with a stiff nod.
"Good. See that it gets done. Now if there is nothing else-"Archer was suddenly cut off when one of the gate guards burst into the room before yelling, "C-Campione-sama!"
"Yes? What's got you so worked up Kotetsu?"
"Your house, sir, we just received word it has been attacked by another Campione!" the guardsman yelled.
"What?!" was all Archer said before images of his home in flames and his family and friends dead passed through his mind's eye causing him to dash off as fast as his Reinforced limbs could carry him.
After he was gone, Ran Seishuuin whispered, "I'm sorry... Kusanagi-sama."
Archer arrived at his home in record time. Pumping as much prana as he did into his legs would make anyone arrive at their destination in record breaking time. He arrived to find his home in one piece, as far as he could tell anyways. There was nothing out of place at a casual glance. 'Lets see. No destroyed or burning buildings. Check. No bloody, charred, or rotting corpses on the ground. Check. Hmm.' Either he was misinformed, or all of this was going on elsewhere, namely inside said house.
'Only one way to find out I suppose.' He thought as he quickly made his way inside. He found everyone in the new kitchen looking rather shook up and downcast. He eyed them carefully.
"Is everyone alright?" He asked with more than a little concern in his voice. "I heard that a Campione showed up and-" He paused again. 'Someone isn't here. Who- Yuri?' He carefuly examined each persons face to gauge their reactions. "Where. Is. Yuri?" Each word was heavily punctuated by him taking another step into the kitchen.
"Big Brother!" Shizuka said upon noticing his irritation. She quickly ran to his side, heedless of his irritation, and began attempting to kill him via suffocation as she crushed him in a hug and cried into his chest.
Agitation momentarily forgotten, "Shizuka, are you alright? Are you and the others hurt at all?" He managed to squeeze out of her embrace just enough to ask about the others well being. He, as gently as he could, hugged her and ran his hand through her hair reassuringly.
"W-we're fine Brother, but the man that was here...his eyes were frightening. He showed up and demanded Mariya come with him and then... the-they left. But..." the girl trailed off.
"But what, Shizuka?" Archer asked, concerned for his younger sister.
"The man that was here... h-he gave off a feeling. It was one sort of like yours, b-but it felt horrible... It wasn't a nice feeling at all big brother... When he looked at me... it felt as if I were being looked down upon from a great height. Almost like I was a bug, and if he wanted to squash me... There would have been nothing I could do about it...I don't like feeling like that brother..." She said quietly, a few tears welled up, not that it mattered in the silence of the room.
"I see...Which Campione was he?" He asked the rest of the group seriously, as he pulled Shizuka closer, silently promising himself that this Campione would pay for making his sister feel the way she was, and to a darker extent, making her cry, as well as taking Yuri from him.
"While I cannot be sure, I do believe that the Campione in question is Sasha Dejanstahl Voban, also known as the Demon of the Balkans." Hana offered.
"Why would the Campione from the Balkans come all the way to Japan just to take Yuri? More importantly, how could none of the Four Families have known about this?"
He watched his remaining Vassals as he said this. Hee noticed something odd about Ena's body language. She was slumped down in her seat and fidgeting, as if she were a child who knew she'd done something wrong and was about to get caught. Almost as though she were a deer caught in headlights.
"Ena...you wouldn't have happened to have known that this Voban person was going to be in Japan, and failed to inform me, did you?" Archer asked with cold steel entering his voice as he stared at her.
"Ena-Ena doesn't know what you're talking about." She said hesitantly, looking anywhere but into his eyes.
"Ena..." Archer said warningly. The temperature in the room rose quickly and not too subtly. Everyone got the distinct feeling as though their skin were being cut with scalding hot razor blades. A pissed Archer was a dangerous Archer.
"Big brother, p-please STOP!" Shizuka pleaded as she held onto him tighter.
"Sorry Shizuka but I don't like being lied to. That goes double when the life of a friend is on the line. Now, I'll give you one more chance Ena. Tell. Me. What. You. Know!" He said emphasising each word by raising his voice up until the end. He was just about yelling by this point.
Ena nodded in response and, after taking a shuddering breath she began, "First off Ena would like to apologize for lying to you K-Kusanagi-sama, but she just wanted to -Keep you safe..."
"Keep me safe?" he said echoing her words with confusion entering his voice. 'Keep me safe from what?'
The raven haired beauty nodded, continuing, "Yes Ena wished to k-keep you from fighting Sasha Voban, since he is the oldest known Campione alive, and you have come un-unto your powers only a year ago..."
"I see, so you thought, just because I'm a new Campione, that I was weak...Have you forgotten Ena, that I'm a magician who specializes in creating swords and have already experienced combat?" he asked.
"So, what is a sword, or even a hundred, or a thousand swords for that matter, to a Campione? You don't understand do you? Normal swords will do nothing to a Campione's body! Their bodies have been made impervious to everything except divine level magical power! You wouldn't have stood a chance Kusanagi-sama!" Ena exclaimed, her usual childishness gone for the moment.
For a moment, Archer stared at her with an eyebrow quirked, and then said in deadpan voice, "Idiot. How do you think I managed to become a Campione in the first place?"
Archer saw Ena's eyes widen in response to his declaration. She looked at him for the first time with a look of utter shock on her face as she stuttered out, "B-but t-that can't be. For one to be able to create weapons that can slay a god... T-that would mean that the weapon itself would be-" She paused for a second then continued. "-no, it would contain an immeasurable amount of power... almost like-"
"Like a weapon belonging to a legendary hero? Like these perhaps?" He asked, cutting her off, making four blades appear in midair in a brilliant flash of light. Each had an otherworldly quality to them and a feeling of immense power.
The sword on his far left was made completely out of dark grey metal streaked with red, which looked mysteriously like a bloodstain. Instead of a handguard it had numerous spikes jutting every which way, and its handle looked more like melted slag than a proper grip for a weapon. It gave off a feeling of death and despair A truly frightening blade, if there ever were one.
Next was a longsword. It had runes engraved near its hilt, which was cross shaped and covered in gold and black enamel. Its blade shone like a lit up mirror, and, as if it were the polar opposite of the other sword beside it, it gave off a holy calming feeling.
Both blades were a true sight to behold.
On Archer's right was a rather plain looking sword. It had a double edged blade, tan colored leather covering most of the hilt, except for a small part, which was a dark bluish hue near the base of the curved bronze guard. Said guard hid some runes on the blades base from the casual observer. It had a pommel made of simple black iron that completed its simple, yet elegant look. It gave off a feeling of glory and destruction to those present.
Finally, the last blade was just as long as the others, yet is was wider, which gave it a claymore-like appearance more-so than a longsword. Its hilt was covered in silver and blue leather and its handguard was made out of cast bronze, which was inlaid with sapphire. It had a bronze spike for a pommel. It, unlike the last one, gave off a feeling of unbridled chaos and rage.
After everyone admired the blades for a moment Archer spoke "These, are Noble Phantasms, or crystalized mysteries that represent a Hero and what they did during their lifetime. Starting on my far left, we have Dainslef the demonic sword of the hero Sigmund. It is cursed to always kill someone once drawn." He explained, nodding to the dark grey, seemingly bloodstained sword before continuing on.
"Next, we have Durandal the Peerless Sword given to Charlemagne by an angel and bestowed to his favorite knight Sir Roland and leader of the Twelve Peers. Besides being permanently sharpened to a point far sharper than a razors edge, it can also perform three miracles."
He paused to let this information sink in then cleared his throat and said, "This next blade, although plain, is called Gram. The sword was forged from the remains of Dainslef by the son of Sigmund Sigurd. It is considered the greatest of Demonic Blades and it can burn away all in its path, much like the holy sword Excalibur."
At last, he turned to the last blade and said, "This, is Caladbolg, sword of Fergus mac Róich in Celtic mythology. When he was denied his right of slaying the usurper of his lands and throne, he cleanly blasted the tops of three hills in his rage. Now, do you know what all these swords have in common Ena?"
The swordswoman just shook her head in confusion as a response, which prompted Archer to respond coolly, "Each one of these blades, under the right conditions, can, if not kill, wound a Heretic God. Take into account that these are only four of the thousands of weapons I have at my disposal. Now what does that tell you?"
If at all possible, the Heir of Seishuuins' eyes widened even further and her mouth fell open in shock. The possible implications of what he just said seemingly overloading her mind as well as everyone else's as they had similar looks on their faces.
"I see you all understand now. Good. Ena, pack your things. We're going on a trip." He said with a small smirk which looked oddly out of place.
"A trip Kusanagi-sama?" Asked a bewildered ena.
"Yes. We're going to get Yuri back, just you, and me." He said while pointing at himself and Ena. "Oh and when we get Yuri back you're going to look your childhood friend in the eye and explain to her how you sold her out to this Voban person, and then you're going to beg for her forgiveness. Then, and only then, will I even begin to think of forgiving you myself. Now hurry home and get packed!" He barked.
"Hai!" She said quickly before rushing towards the door.
After she had left, Oda spoke, "Do you think it wise to take a traitor on a rescue mission sir?"
"Probably not, but she needs to own up to her mistakes and redeem herself in my eyes and this is the only way she can do it, as far as I'm concerned anyway. Now, while I'm gone, I have orders for the rest of you. Hana, you and Kaoru are to finish renovations on the Blue Note on the double. Oda, until the renovations are complete, you are to stay here and watch over Shizuka and my grandfather like you're their shadow. Understood?"
"HAI!" All three girls said at once.
"As for you two, once renovations on the Blue Note are finished, you're going to stay there until this mess is resolved and I come back with Yuri. Alright? The last thing I need to worry about is you two being kidnapped while I'm gone."
"Alright Big Brother... I just hope you're back with Mariya-sempai before school starts on Monday." Shizuka said.
"Don't worry teacher's pet. I promise not to destroy your perfect attendance record." Archer quipped sarcastically.
"Idiot! I don't care about my attendance at a time like this! If Mariya-sempai doesn't show up on Monday, people are gonna throw a revolt just because she isn't there! So make sure she shows up, got it?!"
"Right, the whole school idol thing, I forgot about that. Don't worry Shizuka. I'll make sure to bring back the precious school idol that everyone, but me, worships." He promised in his own overly sarcastic way.
"Of course you don't worship her idiot! That's probably why she practically worships the ground you walk on!" Shizuka said with a huff.
"Does she really? I only consider her as a friend and someone I can trust." Archer replied flatly.
"Big Bro-Archer, if you really believe that all these girls swore their undying loyalties to you just because it was convenient for them, then you really are a blockhead. These girls, all of them, are already in love with you, you clueless moron." Shizuka deadpanned in all seriousness.
Archer blinked once, twice, three times, and slowly digested what Shizuka told him. Then he thought back to all of the times that he sat and talked on the roof of the school with Mariya, her swearing her loyalty to him, their first "date" when she hugged him, and the numerous things they did together over the past year. He then began to laugh. Loudly. Something he hadn't done in...He couldn't even remember how long as he thought, 'Oh Root, how you love to fuck with me.'
"I see, thank you for setting me straight Shizuka, you little brat." Archer said with a chuckle.
"No problem idiot. Afterall, someone has to make sure you're not completely clueless."
"Indeed. Well, I guess I'd better go and get ready then." He said before heading towards the stairs leading to his room...until he turned around and said to his three remaining Vassals "Well, don't just stand there! You have your orders, now get to work!"
"HAI!" the three girls said in unison before they began to carry out their assigned tasks.
"Could you please explain again how you ended up marrying the "Fake Janitor" of all people Aoko-sama?" Rin asked politely.
"Well, it's a complicated story so I'm not surprised you're confused. One more time from the top then." The Magic Gunner replied preparing to go over her tale for the... third... time...
Flashback start
Aoko reached for it. With every bit of power she could muster, she reached for it. She reached for the Root using the theories of a decayed and rotten old man...all for the sake of her friend that lay dead at her feet by her own sister's hands. Finally, she made it to the door and turned back only to find herself confronted by a red cloaked shadow.
"What are you?" She asked, fear lacing her voice.
"Me? I'm a Counter Guardian, one whose job is to destroy threats to humanity, and you Aoko Aozaki, have just become a threat by achieving the Fifth magic. Prepare yourself for elimination. For you, the penalty," The entity gave a pause to let its words sink in, "is death." The cloaked shadow calmly began gliding forward.
"I couldn't give two shits about the fucking Root! I just want to save my friend!" Aoko shot back.
This caused the figure to pause, then it asked, "Do you mean to say that your purpose for attaining the Fifth was not to enter Akasha, but to save a single life?"
"Well, I'm not the one who originally developed the theory behind the magic, my Grandfather, may he rot in hell, did. I personally could care less about the Root. I just want to save my friends life using the Fifth!"
The Red Shadow stared at her for a moment and then began to chuckle and then outright laugh. After a moment it said, "So you mean to tell me that you sought the Root, not for the Records and its infinite knowledge, but to attain the full power of the Fifth and save a single human life?"
"Yeah that's right. What's so damn funny anyways?" She asked curiously.
"You're just like me, a self-sacrificing idiot. You see, I too raised people from the dead, not with magic, but my making a contract with Alaya becoming a Counter Guardian after my death." The shadow said bitterly.
"I-I see, I'm sorry that happened to you." Aoko apologized.
"Don't be girl. I brought my troubles upon myself no need for you to apologize to me. Anyway, you had best get going and save your friend." It said.
"Huh, wait a minute! You're just letting me go? Just like that?" Aoko asked bewildered.
"Yep, just like that. Good luck girl and don't let me catch you here again, understand?" It said sounding annoyed.
"Hai, I understand and thanks. By the way, my names Aoko Aozaki what's yours?"
"You're a very odd girl you know that? Asking an entity that is supposed to be killing you its name, honestly..." He then sighed and said, "I guess since you told me your name it's only polite I tell you mine. I'm Shirou Emiya, and you had better hope, Aoko Aozaki, that we never meet again. Now get outta here before I change my mind and decide to do my job."
This comment caused Aoko to giggle and say, "Thanks again Emiya-kun, I'll see you around."
She then activated the Fifth Magic and left but not before she heard him say "For your sake, I hope not."
"What happened next Sempai?" Sakura asked, hanging onto her every word.
"Well, I managed to save my friend Soujuurou Shizuki and beat my sister it was about a week after that..."
One week had passed since Soujuurous' revival, and Aoko, with her new red hair and ten added years of experience, couldn't help but wonder about the man who let her go.
'Who are you Shirou Emiya?' she thought to herself as she sat on her bed in Alice Kounji's mansion.
She couldn't help but wonder about the person who spared her life so she could save another. She felt a want, no a need, to know more about him...The only problem was, she couldn't find any information whatsoever on the man!
"It's like he's a ghost or..." Aoko suddenly sat up as a thought, so insane, it couldn't possibly be true flashed across her mind. To confirm what she thought, she decided to question her mentor and see if her theory could possibly be correct.
She found her in the kitchen, pointedly ignoring Soujuurou, who was attempting to engage her in conversation, while she made tea.
"Alice, I have a hypothetical question for you."
"What is it Aoko?" She asked quietly.
"Well when Soujuurou..."
"Died?" He offered helpfully.
"Yes, when he died and I first used the Fifth to resurrect him, I was approached by... something... covered in a crimson hooded cloak. He, as I presume its a he by his name, called himself a Counter Guardian and said that by attaining the Fifth, I had become an enemy of the Planet and must be eliminated." Aoko said calmly.
"I see, and what does this have to do with a question?" Alice asked.
"I'm getting their, hold on! Anyway, after I explained to him that the whole reason I attained the Fifth magic was so I could save Soujuurou, he..." she stopped and a look of annoyance crossed her face.
"He what, what did he do?" Soujuurou asked.
"He said I was a self-sacrificing idiot just like him." The now-redhead deadpanned.
This caused the other two to blink and smile ever so slightly, a fact that was not missed by the newly minted Magician. Clearing her throat, Aoko continued awkwardly, "Anyway, moving on. After that he told me how he too brought people back from the dead, only he became a Counter Guardian for his trouble. Then, get this, he decided to let me go."
"He decided to let you go, just like that?" The only male of the house asked.
"Yep, just like that, and then I left but not before I learned his name."
"What was his name?" Alice asked quietly. She had been so quiet up until this point.
"He told me his name was Shirou Emiya. Here's the thing though...no one by that name exists. So either he was a practical ghost during life leaving not a single shred of evidence that he ever existed in the first place, or, and this is where my question comes in Alice, once one becomes a Counter Guardian they go anywhere and any-when Alaya sends them...So, is it possible?" the redhead asked.
Alice's eyes widened ever so slightly at the implications and then she "Hmm'd" in thought for a moment before answering, "It's not entirely improbable, considering what I've heard of Fuyuki City's Holy Grail being able to summon Heroic Spirits from the Throne of Heroes, I'd say yes, hypothetically it is entirely possible that this Counter Guardian, is in fact, from the future. But," She paused, eyeing her carfully, "Why are you so interested in him in the first place?"
"Let's just say I owe him and leave it at that." Aoko said before walking off, a plan already forming in her mind...
"See this? This is the part I don't get. This part right here." Rin protested, cutting into Aokos' narrative.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean no normal person would go looking for someone whose job it is to kill them after he decided to let them go!" The Tohsaka heir snapped.
"Well, I am a magician so being abnormal kinda goes hand in hand with the title." Aoko mused.
"I-that's not what I-UHRHAA! Just finish telling the story already!"
"You really should calm down Rin. All of this stress can't be good for you." Aoko said calmingly.
"Aoko-sempai... I truly can't understand what you did next, nor why, so could you please go over it again?" Sakura asked as her sister seethed silently.
"Certainly Sakura. The mechanics are rather simple in theory, but in practice, they are a tad more difficult to pull off, which I learned when I first managed that crazy stunt all that time ago..."
Aoko had holed herself up in her own room for the next few weeks after school only coming out for meals or to use the restroom. Whenever she was asked what she was doing in her room she would always reply with, "Working on a project you'll see it when it's done don't worry."
If one listened closely at Aoko's door, the distinct sounds of carpet being removed, and wallpaper being torn from the walls as well as the bed being pushed around randomly along with the other furniture from time to time...
...
Finally, after about five long weeks, Aoko's project had been completed and she invited her housemates to come and see the finished product. Both were fairly curious about what had captured the Magicians attention over the past few weeks, and though they didn't show it, they were eager to see what she had been working on. They were surprised to see all of her furniture, and what looked like a rolled up piece of carpet, out in the hallway just outside her door. Alice recognized it as the floor carpet.
"Aoko~" she said as annoyance seeped into her tone.
"Mah, mah, don't worry Alice. I can easily put everything back to the way it was once my project is done I promise." The redhead said placatingly.
With her right eyebrow twitching ever so slightly, she nodded in acceptance saying "See that you do. Now, let's get this over with."
With that said Aoko opened the door to her room and led the way inside what was now a gigantic runic array, stretching from the four cardinal points starting all the way from the floor, across the walls, and up the ceiling; ending in a circular formation on the ceiling where the runes originally began on the floor.
"What are we looking at exactly?" Soujuurou asked after a moment of silence.
"What you are looking at, Soujuurou-kun, is my project. My goal is to materialize the Counter Guardian, known as Shirou Emiya, using this runic array to anchor him to the present era much like the Holy Grail in Fuyuki does Heroic Spirits." She explained.
"I thought you hated runeology?" Alice asked.
This caused Aoko to frown and say "I DO hate runes...however, this is the only way I could think of to get my idea to work so..." Alice merely nodded in response.
"Right then, I'll get going as soon as Alice double checks the Array to make sure it will work properly."
"Give me five minutes." Was the stoic girls' response.
Five minutes later, she gave the all clear and Aoko again activated the Fifth Magic and reached for the Root once again...
...
She opened her eyes and found herself in the same mist covered place as last time. Then, she waited. She didn't have to wait long, as she soon heard and angry voice behind her shout out, "What are you doing back here girl?!"
She turned around to find herself face to face with an angry Shirou Emiya. His eyes were an alluring silver color and were flashing with anger.
"Yo, Emiya-kun..." She began awkwardly.
"I asked you a question Aozaki. What are you doing back here?" He spat venomously.
'He thinks I betrayed his trust!' she realized before she replied, "I'm not here to access the Records I promise!" She said quickly figuring out why he was so pissed.
"Then why are you back here?" His tone remained hostile, but there was a hint of curiosity in it now.
"I'm here for you."
There was a long awkward silence between the two as Shirou stared at Aoko as if she was an alien and then said eloquently, "Huh?"
This caused the Fifth magician to giggle and say, "I've decided I owe you one for what you did for me, so you're coming back home with me."
Emiya blinked owlishly at this statement before saying, "As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I'm not some dog you can decide to take home with you and keep."
"Eh, oh I'm sorry that came out wrong! I didn't mean it like that! I meant that I think I found a way out of your contract with Alaya and, if you want, you can stay with me at my place." She offered as she waved her hands around frantically.
"Are you sure you don't see me as a ,wait, you said you found a way out of my contract? How?!"
"Well... it's a bit of a long shot, but if I take you back with me to my time period and use the Fifth on you to freeze your existence you should, hypothetically, exist in a state, if bastardized, similar to the Third magic." Aoko explained.
Emiya was silent for all of three seconds before he said, "Let's do it."
"What, but I haven't explained the risks and-"
He cut her off saying, "I don't care! If there's even a slim chance of me getting out of this hell then I'm taking it!" He exclaimed like a drowning man being thrown a lifeline.
Aoko just shrugged in response before walking over to him and gripping him in a bear hug, causing him to say, "You know, I usually like to be wined and dined first, but if you wanna skip all that and get right down to it..."
"Wh-what are you saying, I-idiot?! I just need to have a firm grip on you for the transfer that's all!" Aoko responded as her face turned as red as her hair.
"Sure you do, you keep telling yourself that Aoko."
"It's true!"
"Right, can we just get outta here already?"
"Fine..." With that, Aoko activated the Fifth yet again and the two disappeared from the entrance to Akasha...
"So, you actually did it? You made a bastardized version of the Third Magic I mean?" Rin asked in, hushed, awed tones.
"Yep! !hat's right!" She said cheerfully before suddenly became solemn. "We were together for eleven years...for five of those years we traveled together and I put up with his sarcasm and heroic borderline masochistic tendencies, until finally, I got him to open up to me. Then, for six of those years, I was married to the big lug...until one day, he just up and disappears. No note, no anything! And, a week after that, ceases to exist! And I don't understand how he can just throw away everything we had like it meant nothing!" Aoko raged as tears streamed from her eyes.
"Aoko-sempai" Sakura said comfortingly as she placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you Sakura, but the only thing that would really make me feel better would be knowing why he left in the first place..."
"I think I know." Rin said as if she'd seen a ghost.
"Hmm, what was that Rin?"
"I said I think I know why he suddenly disappeared...I summoned him as my Servant, Archer, in the Fifth Holy Grail War." The still ashen faced girl responded.
"He told me fought in the Fifth Grail War, but as a Master, not a Servant. He told me he summoned King Arthur, under the Saber class, and that you yourself summoned Atlanta, under the Archer class, while Illyasviel von Einzbern summoned Hercules, as Berserker, Bazett Fraga McRemitz summoned Cu Chulainn, as Lancer, and Caster killed her master upon her summoning and, after tapping into Fuyuki City's Ley Lines in Ryuudo Temple, summoned Assassin."
"That's not right, in our Grail War Kirei Kotomine was the master of Lancer as well as the master of the Archer of the previous grail war. We never even met anyone from the Fraga clan, and Archer eventually betrayed us and joined Caster...Could my summoning of Archer have changed so much?" Rin wondered.
"Well, you know what they say about the butterfly effect right?" Aoko questioned.
"Like ripples in a pond." Sakura replied. "How dare you leave us, you abandoned us to the dark, to Zouken; you bastard!" A small cruel inner voice said.
Sakura merely ignored the voice, and listened as Aoko continued.
"Exactly Sakura. One person being in the wrong place at the right time, instead of another, can lead to a completely different set of events." Aoko said. "Speaking of a person who changes events wherever he walks, any luck finding him yet Old Man?" Aoko asked.
"Hold your horses brat, just because you loaned me your wedding ring doesn't mean finding him is going to be instantaneous." Zelretch grumbled as he watched a small object zip through numerous parallel worlds looking for its twin.
"I think its incredibly sweet how sempai proposed to you Aoko-sempai." "So we were not good enough for you is that it?" the other voice raged.
Sakura merely shook her head to get rid of the voice, using her sisters' quip as cover.
"Yeah, it does sound sweet if a bit cheesy." Rin quipped, adding her two cents.
"It was both sweet and cheesy, and so very Shirou Emiya of him of how he proposed to me."
Aoko then let out a wistful sigh and saidb "I remember it like it was yesterday..."
It was a warm summer day on July 16th 1994, and Aoko was currently laying in a hammock connected to a bungalow in Hawaii. She was worriedly waiting for her boyfriend, Shirou Emiya, to get back from Africa where he had been attempting to save as many lives as possible during what was being called the Rwandan Genocide, for the past three months.
'That idiot better not have died or I'm going to find his body revive him and kill him all over again for dying on me!' Aoko thought to herself.
She was brought out of her thoughts when she noticed the sun was being blocked by a shadow and, glancing up, she found that she was staring into her boyfriend's smirking face.
"Well you must not have missed me that much if it took you five whole minutes to notice I was here." He said, grinning.
In response, Aoko reached up and grabbing him by his signature crimson coat, and roughly pulled him onto the hammock with her before she planted a kiss so passionate on his lips that, had it been filled with prana, it would've likely overloaded his circuits...And then promptly punched him in the arm...hard.
"Dare I ask if it is your time of the month?" This received another harder punch to the arm.
"Right, shutting up...So, what's the matter Aoko?" He asked after a pregnant pause.
"I'm tired of always waiting behind, in some place or another, to sit and worry about whether or not you'll make it back alive this time when you go off on your little 'excursions'. Explain why I can't come with you Shirou?!"
Said man sighed before saying "Firstly, its either Emiya or Archer. I abandoned my first name a long time ago. Secondly, we've been over this Aoko. While I'm not denying you're an incredible fighter, you're the equivalent of a bunker buster while I'm like a sniper rifle. You would end up causing more harm than good if you came with me, and would take more lives than you ended up saving whereas I can kill only those who need to, and deserve to die."
"You think I'd screw up is that it?!" she asked angrily turning over to face her boyfriend.
"No, not at all. In fact, I think you'd be great at what I do."
"Then why?"
"I don't want you to end up like me." He said slowly as if testing out each word as he said it.
"What do you mean?"
"To have someone else's blood on your hands is a heavy burden to bear Aoko. Even more so now that even with every life you take and every life you save... there are still hundreds if not thousands you didn't manage to save in time. You've never seen the mountains of corpses, the cries of the dying, and those who have lost loved ones, either by your hand, or by the hand of someone you failed to kill sooner. The smell of charred, flesh as bodies are burned by the score in heaps, and the ground is turned to mud because of all the blood mixed into it. Women and young girls are treated like party favors to be passed around, while men are killed, and boys turned into soldiers. I pray you never have to see any of it either. War brings out the true face, the ugly face of the human race. It's not something I want someone as innocent and idealistic as you, someone who values all life, to see. As I believe it would utterly break you."
"E-Emiya-kun..." she said in a somewhat scared and saddened tone.
"Anyway, I'm gonna go freshen up. It's been a very long trip."
"WAIT!" She exclaimed as he got up and made his way towards the house.
He stopped but didn't turn around. Aoko took this as a sign to continue. "What kind of promise can you give me that you'll at least try to come back to me alive and not die for someone who wouldn't think twice about leaving you to die in a ditch?"
In response, Archer continued his walk into the house in silence.
"SO THAT'S IT THEN?! YOU CAN'T EVEN PROMISE TO TRY AND SURVIVE FOR M?, FOR US?!" She yelled at his retreating back.
"..." Silence was his response as he made his way into the bungalow.
Still in the hammock, Aoko couldn't help but chuckle sadly to herself. 'If only Touko could see me now, she'd probably enjoy my misery.'
She was so deep in her depressed misery that once again, she didn't notice her boyfriend's approach. He was now wearing a black tee-shirt and shorts, along with matching black sandals. She quickly glanced up when he cleared his throat, however, and practically spitting venom, asked, "What do you want?"
"I was thinking about what you said as I got cleaned up in there and I came to a single conclusion." He said with his hands behind his back.
"What would that be?" She asked curious but still angrily.
"That there is only one promise strong enough to possibly make me fight that hard...and that I'm going to need you to use the Fifth on these."
With that he pulled two rings from behind his back. One was a cloudy white, while the other was a midnight black with numerous hexagonal patterns carved into its surface. Each had a red ruby faceted to their tops.
"E-Emiya?" Aoko asked, getting all choked up as tears began to well up in her eyes and threatened to stream down her face.
"Aoko Aozaki" He said gently taking her left hand and placing the white heavily altered Bakuya on her ring finger "Will you marry me?"
Aoko looked from the ring on her finger to the face of the man who put it there, and slowly, ever so slowly, with happy tears streaming down her face, she muttered out, "Y-yes."
"Ahh that was such a beautiful story sempai! I'm so happy for you!" Sakura said as she wiped away a tear. Yet a small voice inside her head said, "That should've been me not her!"
Yet, she forced it away again with a shake of her head.
"Yeah it was by far the best day of my life...which is why I'm going to kick his ass once I find him. He promised me he'd always fight to come back to me, but the moment he gets the opportunity, he erases his existence and throws away six years of marriage! Oh yes Shirou Emiya will pay once I get my hands on him." Aoko swore.
Archer had just finished buckling on his black and silver armor and signature longcoat that, to any normal person like Shizuka, looked like the outfit he picked up at the mall a year back. He felt a sudden, ominous, chill run down his spine.
'That can't be a good sign.' He thought to himself as he made his way back downstairs to find Ena already waiting for him and Shizuka and Oda glaring at her hatefully.
"Are you ready to go Seishuuin?"
"H-hai Kusanagi-sama." She squeaked out.
"Then let's go run a few errands before we leave. Shizuka, stay safe with gramps and listen to Oda while I'm gone alright?"
"Hai, Big Brother. Watch out for knives in the back, they seem to be going around lately." She responded glaring at the Miko of Divine Possession who flinched at the insult.
"Don't worry. I'll be careful. Be sure to look after Shizuka while I'm gone gramps." he said shaking the man's hand.
"Rest assured Archer-kun, we'll be just fine. I would recommend you get in contact with the Witenagemot as soon as possible as they may know where Vobans' current base of operations' is." Ichirou suggested.
"Visit Alice huh, sounds like fun. Alright then c'mon Ena we have errands to run. Stay safe everyone, and Oda?"
"Yes my Lord?"
"You're in charge until I get back with Yuri understood?"
"Yes sir, I won't let you down!" She responded.
"I know you won't. Just keep everyone calm, safe, and don't let them start a riot ok?"
"Crowd control, got it."
Archer chuckled at her summarization of her duty "Yeah, pretty much. Good luck Oda. C'mon Seishuuin we're leaving." He finished before he made his way out the door with Ena following quickly behind.
Ena was filled with continually mounting dread as she and Kusanagi Godou slowly made their way up the steps of a very familiar shrine. They made their way to the top and knocked on the door to the house, which was answered by Yuri's miniature clone of a little sister, Hikari.
"Hmm Kusanagi-sama, Ena-chan why are you here? Where is big sister?"
Hikari-chan, are your parents' home, I need to speak to them. It's urgent."
"Hai Kusanagi-sama they are in the living room. Please follow me."
She led the two into the living room where both of the elder Mariya's were calmly drinking tea. They both looked up when he entered.
"Godou, what's wrong? Has something happened to Yuri?" Hiro asked the moment he saw the younger man's face.
"Kusanagi-kun is everything alright?" Sadako Mariya, Yuri's mother asked, picking up on her husbands' anxiety.
"No I'm afraid not. You see, earlier today, while I was at a meeting with the Four Families, the Campione Sasha Voban came to my house and abducted Yuri."
What?!" Sadako asked her hands flying to her mouth in shock as tears began to collect in her eyes.
"I've come here to inform you that I, along with Ena here, will be doing everything in our power to get her back." He promised.
"You-you're serious?" Hiro asked.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
Hiro let out a long sigh of exasperation before explaining, "Godou, most Campione would not go this far for one servant, sworn or not. Most wouldn't even bother to inform the family they had gone missing in the first place let alone show up themselves and promise to do everything in their considerable power to see them returned unharmed. To most Campione it would likely be beneath their notice or of little consequence if one servant went missing, which is why..."
"Which is why my behavior is so weird?"
"Frankly yes, but certainly not in a bad way! Especially if that means I'll get my daughter back safe and sound." Hiro replied.
"Hiro-san, I give you my word, as a Campione, that I will bring Yuri back to you or die trying."
"Kusanagi think about what you're doing! By giving your word as a Campione, you are binding yourself to a magical oath, one you must complete!" Hiro frantically warned.
"I know, but frankly, I just don't give a damn. This Voban came into my country, into my city, into my very house, and he took one of my friends from me! Someone I swore to protect! Someone I already failed to protect..." he said with bitter self-loathing.
"Kusanagi-san, do not blame yourself! You've already promised to do everything in your power to get our daughter back, that's more than most Campione would do!" Sadako said reassuringly.
Archer let out a sigh of a man who had seen everything he loved destroyed and taken from him one time too many times before nodding and saying, "Your right, but that doesn't change the fact that I failed to protect her in the first place. C'mon Ena. We have one more stop to make then we are getting on the first available flight to England."
Ena silently nodded and made to follow, only turning back once to the two adults who treated her like a third daughter...whose daughter she sold out and betrayed and said, "Don't worry Kusanagi-sama and I will get Yuri-chan back. I promise."
"Be careful Ena-chan. We've already potentially lost Yuri." Hiro said. This caused the raven-haired girls' eyes to widen in shock.
"We are under no delusions that Yuri may in fact already be dead or that Kusanagi-kun may fail in retrieving her being a newly minted Campione himself afterall." He said, seeing her shock expression.
"How can you be so calm?" she asked.
"Ena dear, we've known a scenario like this could've happened to either Yuri or Hikari at some point ever since they both inherited my latent powers as a Hime-Miko and we as a family have come to terms with it. Now, like Hiro-kun said, we may have already lost one daughter and we'd hate to lose another so please be careful won't you?" Sadako asked.
"H-hai, I'll be careful I promise and Yuri will be back here safe and sound, Ena knows this." She said with complete assurance, doing her best to ignore the feeling of a knife being twisted in her chest.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm sure because when Kusanagi Godou says he's going to do something he'll do it. When he gives his word that he'll bring Yuri back to you, then that's exactly what he's going to do." Ena responded with that same confident tone.
"Good enough for me, now you had best get going its best not to keep a Campione waiting." Hiro advised.
With a nod, Ena made for the door and found Archer, eyebrow cocked in confusion, waiting for her just outside the door.
"What?" she asked.
"I was unaware you had so much faith in me, and here I thought you considered me weak compared to Voban. What changed your mind?"
"You did. You and your complete, and utter, conviction in there convinced Ena that Kusanagi-sama will get Yuri-chan back."
"Well," A pause. "it's nice to know I can be inspirational from time to time." He finished as he led the way to the next destination.
In all honesty, Ena was not at all surprised when they arrived at her Aunts' and her home. Walking past the guards as if they weren't even there, Archer made his way into the sprawling mansion, seemingly knowing exactly where he was going. He made his way into a large dining room, with a table big enough to seat thirty where currently, the Family Heads were sitting around eating a rather extravagant dinner.
"Welcome back Kusanagi-sama, can I offer you anything to eat or drink?" Ran asked.
"You know why I'm here Seishuuin." His body relaxed, and his voice deadly calm.
"Indeed I do. All I ask is that Ena is spared your wrath as she had no choice in the matter, I forced her hand."
"I see...be that as it may, you will still pay the price."
"I never expected anything less."
"Excuse me, but would one of you mind telling the rest of us what's going on?" the oldest of the Four Family Heads, Rena Sayanomiya asked.
"I'm about to give a demonstration on what happens to those who betray my trust." Archer calmly replied before continuing on, "Now, as you all are aware, I like to do things the old fashioned way when it comes to combat. However, that extends to crime and punishment as well. In the old days; if you stole, you lost a hand, if you killed you were killed yourself...and if you lied..."
Suddenly Archer disappeared only to reappear seconds later in the same spot now holding a pink piece of flesh that was a bleeding and bloody stump at one end in his right hand, causing everyone to look at him in horror when they realized what he'd done.
"...If you lie, they would rip out your tongue and cauterize the wound, making sure you could never tell another lie again." The Seventh Campione finished coldly as he threw Ran Seishuuin's tongue on the dinner table as the woman spat out globs of blood in an effort not to choke.
"You should consider yourself lucky Seishuuin, as the currently acting head of your House, I could've taken this as an insult from the Seishuuin Clan and slaughtered your entire family line. Hell, I could've chosen to do that no matter the reason. Instead, I chose to make an example out of you, for that, be grateful."
Ran spat out another glob of blood and nodded, her complexion beginning to turn rather pale.
"What did she do?" Masamune asked him being the only one who seemed to be capable of speech at the moment.
"She deliberately forgot to tell me that another Campione was coming here to Japan, when she knew weeks if not months in advance and then, yesterday, drew me into that meeting so he could come in and kidnap Yuri. Am I correct?"
Ran nodded in response.
"As I thought. Now, let this be a lesson to you, to all of you! I will not tolerate betrayal, understood?"
Everyone else in the room swiftly nodded.
"Good. Ran, open your mouth. We need to stop the bleeding and your no good to me dead."
She did as told. Blood and saliva leaked out of her open mouth until the place where her tongue once was was cauterized shut by a miniature flame enchanted knife being thrown at the wound. If Ran Seishuuin still had a tongue, she likely would've let out a blood curdling scream.
"Ena. We're done here. Let's go." He said, turning on his heel and dragging a wide eyed, pale faced Ena with him. Their next stop was the Witenagemot in jolly ole England.
Chapter End
Chapter Length: 10,253
AN: Hello everyone and welcome to the end of another chapter of Wrought Iron Cross. First off and foremost I would like to apologzie for this chap taking so long. But writers block and my new beta's evil lil cousin made this chap take longer than it should have I apologize.
Just so I don't get die hard Nasuverse fans breathing down my neck about it later, I'm gonna explain the idea of how Emiya has a body in the flashbacks now.
The idea is that; because Aoko Exists in 1989 currently, a time before EMIYA died she can transport Emiya back to the present with her and give him physical form because it was BEFORE he died and Gaia won't interfere because he is a part of the Counter Force, Thus making him something similar to the Third Magic aka a Perpetual Motion Machine. Does that make sense? I hope so cause it made sense in my head. Anyway, I think now is a good time for the new member of the WIC crew to say a few words WhiteFang?
WF: Yo! Does anyone wanna' see me juggle ten tomato's? -Crickets- Then, -Tomato hits WF in the face- ... Should I take that as a No..? -More tomato's fly- ...Tough crowd. -Walks off stage-
Thanks again WhiteFang, now here's everybody's favorite...NIX!
Nix: Ok. Well how many of you expected this to happen? And for any protestors about how Archer dealt with the traitor remember this. Archer spent what is likely HUNDREDS OF YEARS being a Counter-Guardian which means CENTERIES of massacring people both innocent and guilty. Considering what Archer COULD have done I think the basterd is one Lucky sonovabitch.
Thank you for those ever present words of wisdom Nix Eternal Nothingness anything to add?
EN:...Thanks for all the review everyone! HAHAHA!
Indeed En,fic has been mind-blowingly successful for me compared to my other fics as we currently have: 212 reviews are listed on 7 C2's, have 336 Faves, and 328 Alerts. And do you think I'm satisfied? HELL to the NO! I am not, and I will not be satisfied until this fic is either completed; or it gets 10k reviews, whichever comes first.
Anywho, till next time everyone, this is Team Wrought Iron Cross Out!