Wrought Iron Cross
A tale written by Bubbajack, sustained by the mad ramblings of Nix's Warden, Eternal Nothingness, and the fine people on the Court of the Devil Kings forum; and proofread by WhiteFang15 and Diller.
Disclaimer: I still don't own FSN or Campione, damn...Also I don't own any weapons you'll see in this fic unless I say I do. Any weapons you see belong to someone else.
Ch.9: His reason for leaving...
It had been a month since ORTs defeat and his wife and his wife and his childhood friends had settled in nicely. Besides all that, his 'harem' had gained a new face in the past month, and he had gained a stalker.
Sighing Archer thought 'I'm beginning to wish I had stayed dead.' as he toyed with the ahk necklace around his neck that now sported a large crack going right down its center, his mind drifting back to how he had revived in the first place...
Archer knew what dying felt like; he had died once already afterall. Dying was the absence of any feeling, no weight, no taste, no smell, or sight, or even hearing. That's why Archer knew he wasn't dead; he still had all his senses, and he still felt solid not weightless, but the biggest give away he was still alive was when he opened his eyes and found himself in front of a golden haired beauty that looked strikingly similar to Alice Louise Goddodin. He tried speaking to her at first only to quickly realize that this...whatever it was had a prerecorded message it couldn't deviate from and 'she' didn't even realize he was there.
So, archer sat and listened to the woman's message that was, surprisingly enough, intended for her daughter. As it turned out the Ankh Alice had given him was actually a one use revival Authority intended to revive Alice after her powers inevitably became too great for her to contain and killed her. Her revival however, would also result in the stabilization of her powers and her 'Ascendancy to something more' according to the message.
'So Alice gave up her one shot at living a normal life to protect me.' Archer thought sourly before he turned to the golden haired hologram, even though she couldn't hear him, and swore "Your daughter's kindness shall not go unrepaid, I swear it."
It took twelve hours for his body to fully reincarnate and once he finally came back to the land of the living, he found himself on a desolate stretch of land, alone. Thankfully, when he was revived, his clothes were restored as well.
'Well, I couldn't really expect them to stick around for twelve hours could I?' he thought to himself before He leapt in the general direction of England and the Witenagemot.
It took him another good twelve hours, and stowing away aboard a 747 heading towards Ireland, but he finally made it back to London. He walked down the ancient cobblestone streets when he felt someone bump into him. Archer's hand immediately went to his wallet and he found it missing.
Glaring at the back of the person who lifted his wallet 'That's the last pocket you'll ever pick.' He thought before he shot off in pursuit of the thief.
Said thief had just turned into an alleyway when Archer had caught up to him. Turning into the alleyway himself, he found none other than Black Prince Alec himself standing there tossing his wallet up and down in one hand, and looking bored.
The two kings stared at each other for a moment before Archer said "I believe you have something of mine."
Alec caught the wallet in one hand before he asked "How did things go with Voban?"
Archer gave Alec the most deadpan look he could "He's dead, I killed him. Now can I have my wallet back?" he asked sounding irritated.
Alec loss his bored look becoming pale and shocked and almost dropping the wallet in the process. "You mean to tell me you actually managed to kill Sasha Voban? The oldest of all of us?" he asked giving his junior a hard searching look.
Archer rolled his eyes and then spoke as if speaking to a small child "Yes Alec, big bad Voban is dead." He said before he smirked and added "Don't worry; he can't hurt you anymore I promise."
The Beggar King gave him an annoyed glare before tossing him back his wallet. "I never said I was afraid of Voban, I'm just surprised someone as green as you managed such a thing is all."
Sporting a cocky smirk Archer replied "Yes, of course that's what you meant. Anyway since you're here do you think you can give me directions to the Greenwich Assembly building?"
Now it was Alec's turn to smirk "Lost are you?" he asked.
Archer sighed, while rubbing the bridge of his nose "Yes, I suppose I am, but it's important that I speak to Miss Alice as soon as possible so I'll ask you again, can you give me directions or not?"
The black Prince hummed for a moment before he said imperiously "Well, I suppose I do owe you for killing Voban for me, and it would be rude to leave a fellow king stranded in my kingdom."
"Does that mean you'll give me directions, oh gracious king of Britain?" The youngest Campione asked.
"No, it means I'll do you one better." Alec replied before grasping tightly to Archer's arm and saying "Hold on." Before both Campione disappeared in a flash of black lightning.
Alice Louise Goddodin Highest Witch in the Heavens was worried. Not for her health for a change, but for the man who put her in good health in the first place. He was her knight, her King, and the man that had managed to capture her heart in by doing what he considered a simple act of kindness.
'I hope you are well Kusanagi-sama.' She thought.
Alice was brought out of her musings by the sound of thunder and her balcony doors being forced open. Sighing in annoyance Alice said "Would it kill you to knock oh noble and kind Prince Alec?"
She did not expect the response she got.
"You son of a bitch, warn a guy before you decide to take off with him at the speed of lightning!"
Alice's head shot up, she knew that voice. Standing on her balcony was none other than Lord Kusanagi who was leaning against the railing looking rather pale. Picking up the skirt to her dress, Alice made her way out to her balcony, stopping before the Japanese King and placing a hand on the side of his face while looking at him in concern. "Lord Kusanagi, are you alright?"
Cracking open one of his pale silver colored eyes, Emiya smiled at the Highest Witch of the Heavens slightly before saying "I'm fine Miss Alice, I'm just a bit shook up because someone-" Archer gave Alec who thus far had been ignored by the 'princess' a scathing look before he continued "Decided to fly me here via lightning travel. I wasn't ready for the experience."
"I see..." Alice said before glaring, yes actually glaring at the Campione of her country, before she asked "Would you mind telling me just what exactly you were thinking oh impetuous Prince Alec?"
Alec quirked an eyebrow; both surprised and secretly impressed that the Highest Witch of the Heavens would dare stand up to him.
'Then again, it's said people do crazy reckless things when they are in love.' he mused before he said "Sorry Princess, I thought your boyfriend was made of tougher stuff. He did beat me and kill Sasha Voban afterall, so I assumed a little bit of lightning speed travel wouldn't even faze him.
"Well you thought wrong obviously...You killed the Devil of the Balkans?" she asked Archer after realizing what Alec said.
Archer nodded "Yes, Sasha Voban is dead...however Mariya Yuri is also dead. I was unable to save her in time." He said sounding bitter.
"Oh, Lord Kusanagi I'm so sorry. Come, let's talk more about this inside, your welcome to join us too Prince Alec. Alice added as an afterthought.
"Your generosity knows no bounds Princess." He said snarkily while following the two into Alice's chambers.
The place had been renovated since Archer had been here last. It was now lacking all medical equipment, and seemed more like a bedroom than a hospital room as it now possessed a couch, several overstuffed chairs arranged around a coffee table, and a large king sized four poster bed.
After the three of them had sat down around the coffee table; Alice called for tea to be brought up to her chambers for three, and both Alice and Alec turned to Archer expectantly. Sighing he said "I suppose you want to know what happened in the Balkans then?"
Seeing the two silently nod, Archer began his tale of how he had arrived just in time to see his Vassal get murdered by the monster Voban summoned, to his sacrifice of Voban to create a weapon strong enough to kill the creature. He didn't go into specifics, like what ORT actually was, or the weapon he used to 'kill' or more accurately 'unmake' the Aristotles. When he told them that he used this weapon inside his Blade Works, Alec interjected asking "Why use it inside your Reality Marble at all?"
Archer sighed; he had hoped neither of them would pick up on that "Because, if I had used it outside of it, the entire planet likely would've been destroyed. At full power, the weapon I recreated has the ability to unmake the entire planet. I knew that if I didn't put up some kind of buffer, that it wouldn't matter if I killed the beast or not, because we'd all be dead. I had fully intended to sacrifice my life to save billions of people I'd never even met." He said more to himself than the other two at the end.
Alice covered her mouth in shock for a moment before she asked "You intended to die killing this creature Lord Kusanagi?"
"I did." Archer told her candidly with a nod.
"But what about the people you would be leaving behind?" Alice asked.
Archer gave Alice a melancholy look "I did what I did because I knew that by dying they would live on Alice. That made my sacrifice easier to make."
Alice closed her eyes for a moment before she opened them and said "Lord Kusanagi, may I speak freely?"
"Go ahead." he said.
"Let me start off by saying you are a very kind person, but also, you are incredibly selfish. You throw yourself headlong into conflict without even a second thought to your own wellbeing, or what the people who love and care about you might think about you potentially getting hurt and dying for their sake, when they never asked you to martyr yourself for them in the first place!" The blonde finished, her voice rising slightly to the point of shouting near the end.
Archer looked at Alice wide eyed and with his mouth slightly agape. As the final words of his past self-came unbidden into his mind "You can't help but want to save people who are in trouble it's who you are at your core...and why your Element and Origin is both Sword. You were reforged in that fire to protect others no matter what you say otherwise."
Shaking himself out of his stupor as well as banishing the memory from his mind, he smiled slightly at the golden haired witch and said "Thank you Alice, I really needed to be reminded that people actually do care about me. You see, I place very little to no value on my own life to my mind my, I am a sword to be swung in the protection of others. A sword doesn't care about its own wellbeing only in fighting to defend others."
"Dear lord, you're an idiot. Maybe not a battle maniac likes that idiot Salvatore, but still, what kind of King sacrifices himself for his kingdom?" Alec mocked.
"What kind of a king doesn't care for his subjects at all and goes around gallivanting after some damn magical cup?" Archer shot back before turning to Alice and saying "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, in fact, the whole reason I can here was to thank you."
"Thank me?" she asked.
Archer nodded "Yes your parting gift came in handy near the end." He said cryptically causing her green eyes to widen exponentially.
"I see, so that's how you survived then?" Alice queried.
"Yes, and I intend to repay the favor at some point I promise you that."
Alice felt her cheeks warm, she hid this by taking a sip of her tea "You don't need to do that, I am content enough to know that you are alright Lord Kusanagi."
Archer merely nodded in response, before he got up from his chair, stretched and said "Well, I've said what I came here to say; now I think it's about time I got home and let everyone know I am not, in fact, dead."
"Must you leave already Lord Kusanagi?" Alice asked becoming slightly down.
Archer reached over and ruffled Alice's golden locks good-naturedly before saying "Sorry Alice, but I really do need to get home."
The Princess nodded in acceptance "Please come and visit again whenever you can Lord Kusanagi." She asked.
"Of course, and if your ever in Japan your always welcome to stay at my place." He told the Sage of the Heavens. He then turned to Alec and asked "Care to give me a lift?"
The Black Prince shot his counterpart a glare and asked "What do I look like, a taxi?"
"Yes, you mean you're not?" Archer asked cheerfully.
Alec's eyes narrowed in annoyance "Damn you." He seethed.
Alice giggled at the two King's shenanigans' before she gave the Japanese King a final hug goodbye and said "I'll be sure to visit soon Lord Kusanagi." She then turned to Alec and deadpanned "Learn to knock, oh perverted Prince Alec."
And so the two Campione took off for Japan, one chuckling and the other with an annoyed scowl on his face.
'It's official, Alec is an asshole.' Archer thought bitterly he dragged himself upon one of japans beaches, having been dropped a mile off shore by his senior. Now soaking wet and covered in seaweed, Archer felt like just lying on the beach for a moment, and after having swam a mile just to get to shore, that is what he did, collapsing on the damp sand without a care in the world.
He as so tired, he didn't even hear the person approach until they were right on top of him. Snapping his eyes open, Archer came face to face with a sullen looking Pandora. The two just stared at each other for a moment before the Goddess said in a hollow tone not at all like her usual bubbly self "You look crap." She said.
Archer nodded "I feel like it too." He sat up and patted the sand prompting goddess to sit down next to him and watch the wave's crash upon the shore. The two were silent for the longest time merely staring out at the ocean. Finally Archer decided to speak "I'm sorry about your father."
As if this was the signal the True Goddess allowed her floodgates to finally open, and she allowed herself to cry, to scream, to weep over her loss. All the while Archer held the girl and ran his hand through her lilac colored locks.
"I'm sorry Dora, it seems all I manage to do is hurt the ones I love." He said speaking more to himself than the weeping immortal.
Much to his surprise she heard him and she lifted her tear-stained face from his chest and said "D-don't, bl-blame your-yourself! Papa kn-knew what he was doing when he went to help you so ple-please don't blame yourself Archer-kun." She asked through her sobs.
"Emiya."
Huh?" she hiccupped.
Still stroking her hair comfortingly he said "My name is Emiya, I figured since you're my friend, you should call me by my name."
Pandora laughed through her tears "I see, well there is just one problem Emiya-kun." She said.
"What's that?" he enquired.
"Friends don't do this with each other." She said before she kissed him on the mouth.
Archer was surprised at first, but soon decided to go along with it, realizing that grief was probably a high motivator for this sudden turn of events. The kiss lasted until the two needed to break for air and left Archer with the distinct taste of olives in his mouth.
"Sorry." Pandora apologized "I didn't mean to-"She was silenced by Archer putting a finger to her lips and shushing her.
"It's ok, I understand." He said before he asked "Have you been eating olives recently?"
Shaking her head Pandora responded "Is that what my kiss tasted like? Huh, I was about to ask you if you stopped for bar-b-que somewhere because you tasted like mesquite."
Shaking his head in the negative, Archer stood and began carrying Pandora bridal style, much to her delight.
"Where are we going?" She asked quietly as she laced both her arms around his neck.
Still walking he answered "To my house. No doubt that is where everyone has gathered by now, and I owe them some answers."
She nodded and clasped her arms around him tighter when he used his reinforced limbs to propel them on top of a water tower that was on top of a small building. Standing on top of a water tower, Archer got his bearings. After looking around himself for a moment, he nodded and then leapt off in a North-Northeast direction.
Roughly an hour later, the two arrived at the Kusanagi residence. Quietly as he could, Emiya opened the front door and slipped off his combat boots before putting Pandora back on her own two feet and the two of them made their way to the kitchen where the sounds of sobbing could be heard.
Silent as a ghost Archer entered the kitchen doorway to find his family members, all of them, huddled in the kitchen looking rather forlorn. Shizuka was currently in the arms of Illya, crying her eyes out while Illya's maids were doing their best to comfort their mistress who was crying silently herself while she tried to console the younger girl.
Rin was trying to get a comatose looking Sakura to talk while she herself did her best not to cry for her sister's sake, meanwhile both Vergil and Dante he believed their names were, were speaking quietly to another older man clad in purple he presumed to be the two's father while the three of them looked over to a corner every now and again.
Following their gaze Emiya found his remaining vassals trying to console his wife who was sitting huddled up in the corner her head pressed against her legs with her arms around her knees as she shook from her sobs and blocked out all forms of consoling. Archer looked upon this scene sadly as he thought 'So this is what Alice meant, huh?'
His eyes then met with the twinkling eyes of the Wizard Marshal. Giving him a silent plea to stay quiet, he then sighed, knowing what would likely come next. Deciding it was best to just get it out of the way, Archer cleared his throat loudly before he strode into the kitchen and said "Sorry I'm late everyone, but traffic was a real killer."
All heads shot up and stared at him in shock as he made his way towards the fridge and pulled out a beer before twisting off the cap and taking a swig. "Ahh, I needed that. Dying really makes you really thirsty you know that?" he asked the still silent room.
"Big Brother, is that really you? Are you really back?" Shizuka asked after untangling herself from a still shocked Illyasviel's embrace.
"No Shizuka, it's the other guy who got his souls stuffed into your brother's body after a car accident." He told her.
Shizuka's eyes filled up with tears yet again, but the smile on her face indicated these were happy tears. This was confirmed when Shizuka ran forward yelling "Big Brother it is you!"
He caught the girl as she collided with him, and gently stroked her hair as she cried into his armor.
"Where have you been stupid!" she asked.
Chuckling slightly he said "Sorry like I said I got held up in traffic."
"Lamest excuse ever Big Brother." She said as she held him tighter.
The 'siblings' tender moment was broken when both of them were suddenly sent crashing to the ground by a sobbing Sakura Matou.
"Sakura, not that I'm not happy to see you, I am but I think you should let Shizuka up before we accidently smother her." Archer managed to get out."
"Yes Sempai, sorry Shizuka-chan." The violet hair introvert apologized to the younger girl.
Shizuka got unsteadily to her feet, but managed to smile "It's fine Sakura-chan, your just as happy to see him as I am if not more so."
"Sempai?" Sakura asked sweetly.
Turning his gaze to his childhood friend he saw her fixing him with a very, very stern gaze.
'It would almost be cute if the shadows weren't making weird shapes around her.' Archer thought as Sakura, still straddling his waist, grabbed him by the scruff of his armor and pulled his face within a few millimeters of her's still glaring at him.
Being unable to resist the jibe, he asked "Something on your mind Sakura?"
"Sempai, you have always put others before yourself, and I have always admired you for that, that and your perseverance...but let me make something very clear." She said her voice becoming slightly harsh before she continued "If you ever, ever do something as foolish as erasing your own existence or make me watch you seemingly sacrifice yourself like that again and you somehow survive, I'll kill you myself for the amount of worry you put me through, understood?"
Slowly, Archer nodded "Yeah, I understand. Sorry Sakura."
Sakura didn't do anything for a moment as if she was judging the sincerity of his words, before she too, slowly nodded and got up from her straddling position.
Archer sighed and said "I really fucked up this time didn't I?"
"You can say that again dummy."
Archer knew that voice, he knew it well. That's why he knew what was coming next but let it happen anyway. Glancing up he saw Rin Tohsaka's smiling face above him. He also saw something else and couldn't help but comment on it.
"Rin...I didn't peg you for the lacy panties type." He quipped.
This earned him a swift kick to the jaw from the Average One. Glaring daggers at him with a blush on her face Rin spat "You have some nerve looking up my skirt after you go and die on us you useless Servant!"
"I'm not your Servant anymore Rin...and pink really?" he asked referencing the color of underwear she was wearing.
This earned him a kick to the stomach, not that it really hurt, considering he was a Campione with skin as hard as iron and bones as strong as tempered steel, but if it made Rin feel better then he wasn't going to complain.
"If you're done, can I get up now?" Archer asked.
Rin leveled a cool gaze at her best friend and former servant before she said "Just one more thing Emiya, what Sakura said? Goes double for me, got it?"
"Yeah, and I love you too Rin." Archer told her.
"Tch, whatever; Just don't do this again idiot." The Tohsaka ordered before stalking away.
Archer picked himself up off the ground after that and then looked around the room before asking "Alright, who wants a piece of me next?"
A much older version of Illya stepped forward along with her two maids "I believe that would be us." She declared sweetly, but Archer could see the fire in her eyes.
The two heirs to the Emiya name stared at each other for a long tense moment. Steel colored eyes met crimson and neither blinked.
Archer was the one to break the silence "Well, look at you little Illya, my little sister all grown up. I'd hug you, but I have a feeling if I tried that right now you'd rip off my arms." He joked.
Illya smiled at him serenely "You can thank your wife for this transformation."
Archer looked over at Aoko who stared back at him lividly "I see, it seems my dear wife has been busy in the time we've been apart."
Illya nodded before asking "I have a question for you Onii-chan. If knowing what you know now about how we all take your death, would you do it again?" she inquired.
"Yes, in a heartbeat." He responded.
Illya closed her eyes in thought 'This is going to be harder to fix than I first assumed.'
"Why?" she asked.
"Why?" Archer echoed "Well because, I suppose I can't bear to see the people I love hurt."
Illya nodded slowly carefully thinking about what she was going to say next before she said it "In that case then, you are doing a lousy job. Do you honestly think sacrificing yourself for our sakes is not going to hurt us? Look around you Onii-chan, do we look fine and accepting of this sacrifice we never asked you to make?" Illyasviel asked grandiosely.
"What would you have of me Illya? To change what fundamentally makes me, me? I'm sorry, but I can't do that no matter how hard I try." He told her.
Illya sighed 'Yes this is definitely going to take some work.' She thought while shooting her brother a deadpan glare and saying "You're just being stubborn Onii-chan."
"How, how am I being stubborn?" he asked.
Sighing once again Illyasviel merely shook her head in response before giving Archer a smile that would make nearly anyone's heart melt before she hugged him and said "If you have to ask, you'll never know. It's good to see your still alive Onii-chan, even if you're a clueless idiot."
'Yep this is Illya alright.' Archer thought to himself as he hugged his not so little sister.
"Ahem." One of Illya's maids said clearing her throat.
"Sella, don't ruin my moment!" Illya complained.
The now named Sella didn't react physically but said sternly "Mistress, are you sure it is-"Sella paused as if trying to find the right word "best to be associating with this reckless vagabond?"
Archer rose an eyebrow "Oh c'mon now Sella-chan, no need to hold back on my account, please go ahead and tell us all how you really feel."
"I am and please don't refer to me with such a familiar honorific." The Homunculi maid requested stiffly.
"Sella, I think Mr. Emiya was being sarcastic, right?" Leysritt asked him.
"You know me too well Mrs. Leysritt." Archer responded, causing the girl to blush slightly at the compliment.
"I'm not that great Mr. Emiya but thank you." She said shyly.
Archer was about to respond but was cut off by the sterner of the two maids who said "All sarcasm aside, I think it is too dangerous for the Mistress to associate herself with someone who is so reckless as to throw their life away on a whim, someone who cannot see past themselves and think about other people-"Sella was silenced by the sudden feeling of intense heat that emanated from Emiya as he glared at the maid.
"Someone who is selfish is that right?" Archer asked stepping away from Illya and focusing his gaze on Sella "Someone who gives up everything for the sake of others his hopes, his dreams, his own aspirations is selfish? Well, let me tell you something Sella, I am not just an ordinary man. I haven't been for more than a year now. Now, now I am a Devil-King a Rajahput Raja...I am a Campione, a Slayer of Gods!"
The heated feeling in the air suddenly became an inferno and everyone felt as if scalding hot razors were being raked across their bodies as Archer continued "When I ascended to this position, all of Japan's magical community came under my protection. I cannot afford to be selfish not when people's lives are at stake and my every action could possibly lead innocent people to an early grave! But now you come in here and you think to tell me, me that I am selfish?! All I can say is, consider yourself lucky you are my sister's attendant otherwise you would just be a stain upon the floor at this point."
The feeling of heat and being cut into lessened before it outright disappeared and Archer let out a tired sigh before he turned towards the stairs which led to his bedroom. "I'm afraid I'm in no mood to be pushed and kicked around anymore tonight. So, the rest of you are just going to have to take a number if you want a piece of me." He told them.
He looked toward Ichirou before asking "Do we have enough room to accommodate everyone Gramps?"
"It'll be a tight fit but we'll manage." The Eldest Kusanagi replied before saying "Go get some rest Archer; you look like you're ready to keel over."
Archer smiled wanly "See you in the morning old man, I'm cooking breakfast. He said before slowly trudging up the stairs.
Once Archer finally closed his bedroom door he sighed before turning and asking "Something you want Aoko?"
The Blue stood right in the middle of his room, arms crossed over her chest, and she just stared at her husband as a scowl marred her usual beautiful features. The two just stared at each other in complete silence each waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally, Archer grew tired of the silence and asked "What is it honey? As you can see I'm tired, beaten, battered, and bruised. Like I said downstairs, if you wanna kick my ass, you're going to have to take a number."
"What I want Shirou; is to know why you left me, after eleven years of being together and with six of those years of us being married. What I want to know Shirou is why you decided to suddenly up and leave without as much as a letter and then when I FINALLY FIND YOU, YOU ACT AS IF I WAS LATE! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF SHIROU EMIYA?!" She as she finished her whole body was shaking, whether it was from rage or sadness Archer wasn't sure.
"Well, I did tell you I would explain why I left didn't I? And its either Archer or Emiya." he said into the silence.
"Yes-yes you did." Aoko finished breathlessly before shooting him a mind glare and saying "Do you really want to get into that again right now?"
Deciding it would be best to just let it go for tonight, Archer motioned to the bed before saying "Take a seat Aoko; this may be hard to hear."
Nodding slightly Aoko did as her husband bid her and, taking a moment to collect his thoughts Archer began "Aoko, do you remember what you told me the second time we met at the entrance to Akasha?"
"I said a lot of things Shirou, can you be more specific?" she asked.
"You told me that, you could've potentially found a way to break my contract with Alaya. Do you remember?" he asked.
Aoko nodded "Yes I remember what of it?"
Archer sighed he really didn't want to burden his wife with this information, but at the same time she deserved to know why he attempted to erase his own existence 'I hope she can handle this.' He thought before he said "It didn't work, you successfully gave me a physical body, but my contract to Alaya remained." He told her gently.
Aoko eyes widened like a deer's trapped in headlights. Archer knew that just his wife may not be able to cast the most complex of spells, doesn't mean she did not study the theory behind their use. The moment he dropped this bomb on her, she near instantly figured out what this meant.
"So then, all those times you went out and left me behind you were..?"
"I was fulfilling Alaya's will, yes." He answered looking away from her, unable to meet her gaze, as he was ashamed at what he might see in her eyes. Would he see fear, hatred, terror, maybe disgust? He didn't know and he didn't want to know.
Aoko clenched her fists "Shirou, why didn't you tell me, we could've done something, I could've done something! Anything would've been better than this stupid stunt you pulled!" she chastised but at the same time her tone held guilt as well as pity.
"It's not your fault Aoko you couldn't have known." He said gently while still not making eye contact.
"The blood of hundreds of thousands is on my hands just as much as it is on yours Shirou! Don't try to convince me otherwise, it's my- no our sin and we need to bear it, together." She said while getting up off the bed and gently forcing her husband to look at her.
He didn't see hatred, fear, terror, or even disgust. Instead, he saw that last thing he expected to see: Understanding with a mix of annoyance.
"I get why you did what you did, you felt like you were backed into a corner, and when you were suddenly summoned to the Fifth Grail War, you saw an out and you took it." She then gave him an annoyed look "I'm still pissed at you though and for the record, it'll be a while before you get anything more than a kiss from me."
Archer nodded he had expected as much "Fair enough." He said.
Aoko flopped back down on her husbands bed in a much better mood than she had been in for quite a while before she asked "So, Campione huh? What's the deal with that?"
After explaining what exactly a Campione was and what the job entailed along with the numerous benefits Aoko let out a whistle "Damn so you basically run roughshod over all the magic users in Japan huh?"
"Basically." He confirmed.
"I always knew you were destined for great things honey. Saber would be proud of you, I think." Aoko praised.
Archer couldn't help but smile a bit at the thought of his first love being proud of his accomplishments. "You really think so?" he asked.
"Yeah I do." The red head replied giving as solemn nod. Aoko then cleared her throat before asking "So, who are all those girls, husband?"
'Great, Aoko's jealous.' Archer thought. "They are my Vassals." He told her honestly.
Aoko stared at her husband sharply for a second before she nodded "I see, and is that all they are dear?"
Archer gave his wife an annoyed glare "I'm not a playboy Aoko."
The Fifth Magician scoffed "Not an intentional one maybe, but you are a total playboy husband. It's almost a Magic in and of itself really."
"I am not a playboy." He said again.
Aoko raised an eyebrow "Oh really well I could name three girls who would love to prove you otherwise possibly more, but I know three right off the top of my head."
Now Archer was curious "Who?"
"Rin, Sakura, and Illya are the three I'm sure of, as for the ones I'm not so sure of well, there's Rider, your former sensei Ciel from the Executors, and if what I heard from the grape vine is correct, many female mages at the Clocktower found you mysterious and sexy." She told him.
'Sakura likes me, wait RIN likes me?! As in Rin Tohsaka...Hang on a second, did she say Illya, as in my little sister Illya?!' He thought frantically.
"You're joking right?" he asked hopefully.
Aoko shook her head "Nope, I know for a fact Sakura and Illya like you. With Sakura it's obvious, I mean when you were younger, she practically lived at your house. As for Illya...well, let's just say she has a very dirty mind and leave it at that."
'Illya is a pervert?' he voiced this thought.
Aoko laughed "Believe me, if you took one look at the books she reads, there would be no doubt in your mind what kind of girl your 'adorable little sister' really is. But we're getting off track, and you're avoiding my question, so I'll ask it again. Are your vassals just that?" She asked giving her husband a hard look.
'Damn didn't work.' He thought, hoping he'd be able to distract her.
Taking a deep breath he prepared to face the music "They intend to be more than just my Vassals eventually."
Aoko nodded "I see, and what was your reaction to this?"
"I told them that they shouldn't expect many kind words, trust, or even love from me right off the bat as I'm an extremely paranoid individual, but if they truly wished to serve me, they were more than welcome." He told her straight-faced.
'That sounds like my husband alright.' Aoko thought.
"And are you in love with any of them Shirou?" Aoko asked.
Archer shook his head "No, I consider them friends at this point-"He paused "But there was one I considered a best friend. Sadly she is no longer with us."
"What happened?" Aoko asked concerned.
"ORT happened, he killed her right in front of me Aoko and I couldn't do a damn thing! I swore to keep her safe and I couldn't even do that! Damn, what kind of king am I?" he asked himself.
"Shirou...I'm sorry for your loss. But, just because you failed to save one friend doesn't make you a bad person much less a bad king. How many Knights did Arthuria lose in the end again?" Aoko queried.
"Alright, alright I get it Aoko! That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt though." He muttered to himself.
Aoko understood she did, she lost Soujuurou the same way Archer lost his friend. The only difference was, she was able to bring her friend back from death. Archer wasn't so lucky. Standing, she placed her hand on his shoulder she said gently "Shirou, it's not about how many times you fall down; it's about how many times you pick yourself back up."
He sighed and nodded "I know, I just...I just need some time, ok?" he asked.
Aoko nodded sympathetically "Of course, take all the time you need."
Archer managed a wan smile even though smiling was the last thing he felt like doing at the moment "Thanks Aoko, you can sleep in here tonight, as for me I'll be in my workshop if you need me" He said pointing out his window towards the shed.
Aoko looked at him concerned "You don't have to do that, I can sleep on the floor, or we can share the bed. I mean, it's only sleep right?" she asked.
He shook his head in response "I don't feel like sleeping, not tonight. Sleep well Aoko." He said before he left her in his room.
'Oh, Shirou.' Aoko thought sadly watching his retreating form.
Archer sat on the roof of his shed gazing at the moon in all its glory when suddenly a voice said "Quite beautiful isn't it?"
Turning, Archer found himself staring at the purple clad older man from earlier whose name he didn't know. The former Knight of the Bow stood before saying "Yes, yes it is. I'm sorry but I never quite caught your name Mr..?"
"Sparda I am known as Sparda, and you are?" Sparda inquired.
"Emiya, but most call me Archer or in Rin's case Dummy." He said smirking slightly at the end.
The nobleman chuckled before he said "Ah yes, Miss Tohsaka certainly has a way of getting her point across doesn't she?"
"Indeed she does, she's always been that way." Archer was silent for a moment before he asked "Why did you come out here? Surely it wasn't to talk about the moon was it?"
Sparda shook his head "No, truthfully I just thought I'd come and see how you were holding up. As I can only imagine coming back from the dead is a...rather unpleasant experience."
"Ah, I see. Thank you for your concern but I'm fine really. I've come close to death been surrounded by it far more than just that one time. In fact you could say my first memory was of death..." Archer said speaking quietly to himself at the end and remembering the fire that consumed his very past.
Sparda was quiet for a moment before he nodded and said "I see, I'm sorry to hear that."
Archer shook his head "Don't be, most of the situations that I ended up in were caused by my own decisions and no one else's. I have no one to blame but myself for the outcomes."
The former Counter Guardian then decided to change topics "Your boys are an odd pair, one's wild and crazy and the other is controlled and even tempered."
Sparda chuckled "Yes my two younger boys are quite the odd pair aren't they? But they are nothing compared to their older brother let me tell you."
"They have an older brother?" Archer asked.
"Oh yes, he's sarcastic as all hell, his wit and tongue are as sharp as his blades, and from what I hear he's one damn fine cook too." Sparda said proudly.
'Funny it almost sounds like he's describing...' Archer thought before he cut himself off.
Archer blinked several times before asking "Are you saying what I think your saying?"
Sparda merely took his monocle out of his eye and asked "That depends, what exactly do you think I'm saying my boy?"
"That you-that your-that your my biological father." Archer choked out.
Instead of answering right away, Sparta came and stood next to Archer and stared at the moon while speaking in hushed tones "You know something? I thought that, being a demon I had seen the worst of anything that could happen to anyone. But that day, in that city I watched as flames leapt out as if it were a living creature and consumed people, uncaring for their cries of mercy, or pleas for salvation."
"You were there during the fire?" Archer asked.
Sparda nodded gravely "Indeed, that was the day I lost both you and your mother, or so I thought." He finished giving the Campione a slight smile at the end.
'I see, so he really is my...father then.' Archer thought as he then posed a question "You said you were a demon, so what does that make me?"
"A half-demon of course, in Japan I believe the proper term is hanyo isn't it?" he asked.
'If what he says is true then why haven't I ever suffered from an inversion impulse?' Archer thought.
Archer voiced his thoughts and Sparda looked at him strangely "Inversion impulse? I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with the term my boy."
"An inversion impulse is the desire to enter an altered state of being, removed from conventional humanity, and the transformation into that state. Basically, it means I would slowly loose myself to my demonic side over time and become a berserker. And yet that hasn't happened, why?" Archer asked.
Sparda tapped his chin for a moment, before he said "Honestly I have no idea, unless..." he said stopping all of the sudden.
"Unless..? Archer asked nervously.
"Aoko surmised that the reason your demonic blood was suppressed was because of a faerie forged artifact infused to your very soul. Something that powerful could theoretically suppress you're demonic instincts.
"I see." Archer said as he thought 'So even before we met and after you're gone, you're still protecting me huh Saber?'
The two were silent for a several minutes before Archer said "I had better get to sleep if I'm going to make breakfast for everyone tomorrow."
Sparda nodded "Right, goodnight and I'll see you in the morning...Lucien Sparda." Sparda said before he dematerialized, leaving Archer dumbfounded.
'Lucien Sparda? Huh, has a ring to it I'll admit.' He thought before he said aloud "But Lucien Sparta died a long time ago in a fire, I hope you realize that Sparda."
Archer then went inside his shed and promptly fell asleep, never realizing that Sparda had never actually left the rooftop once he dematerialized. Invisible and silent Sparda watched his eldest son retreat into his shed. After he was out of sight he said to himself "I realize you'll probably never call me dad son, but I hope that, in time you'll grow to see myself and your brothers as people you can depend on. Even I couldn't dream of spending all eternity alone like you're forcing on yourself at the moment."
With one last glance at the shed Sparta headed back into the house.
Archer woke up about four hours later around and decided to get started on breakfast he started to get up only to realize he wasn't alone. Clinging to his waist was Pandora; her hair was out of her usual twin-tails and was cascading down her back in one solid purple sheet. Archer wanted to be annoyed, but looking at her, cuddling to him with this content look on her face, especially with what she went through recently, he just didn't have it in him.
So, he gently stroked her hair and said "Pandora it's time to wake up.
"Uh-uh." The true goddess muttered before snuggling closer to him.
Archer rolled his eyes "Dora, if you don't let me get up there won't be any breakfast." He said.
"Mmm, fine then." She muttered sleepily before she let him go and rolled onto her back revealing she was wearing a purple nightgown before she cracked open one of her green eyes and said Good morning Godou-kun, or should I call you Emiya-kun?"
"Either one is fine, though I prefer Emiya or Archer if it's all the same to you. So, what are you doing in here anyway?" he asked calmly.
Yawning cutely, the Goddess answered "Well with everyone in the house I thought it would be easier if I slept out here...besides I didn't want you to be alone last night."
Archer nodded "Thanks that was kind of you."
Pandora returned the nod and added a smile before saying "No problem...ne, Emiya? Do you mind if I stick around for a while? I really don't feel like going home and if I'm all by myself I'll probably just think of papa and-"she stopped talking when Archer placed a finger on her lips and nodded silently.
Nodding gratefully Pandora said "Your awesome, you know that?"
"I know, want to help me make breakfast?" he asked while holding the door open for her.
Rolling her eyes while putting her hair in their usual twin-tails, she said "Sure."
The Godslayer and the Goddess made it into the kitchen as quiet as ghosts and after gathering all the necessary ingredients and needed cooking utensils began cooking. It was silent for a good twenty minutes before Pandora said "How about some music Emiya-kun?"
Emiya thought for a moment before he said "I suppose, but only a song or two, I don't want to risk waking people up prematurely."
"Ok." Pandora said happily.
"What do you want to hear?" he asked.
"Hmm, surprise me." Pandora said after a moment.
"Alright, Trace On." He muttered materializing miniaturized versions of a full orchestra that floated in midair, and then, tapping the ladle he was using on a skillet, he said "One, two, one two three four."
The various instruments started playing themselves and Pandora immediately recognized the song as Lux Aeterna.
'Requiem for a Dream huh Emiya-kun, seems fitting.' She thought as the two continued to work.
They were so caught up in their task and the music neither heard the kitchen door open until a quiet voice said "Sempai, who is this?"
They both turned around to face Sakura Matou who was staring at Pandora in confusion.
"Sakura." Archer said giving her a friendly nod "This is Pandora a friend of mine. Pandora, this is Sakura Matou an old friend from my childhood."
"Yo!" Pandora said happily while giving Sakura a wave.
"Hello nice to meet you." Sakura said sweetly giving the seemingly younger girl a kind smile.
Happy to see the two getting along Archer said "Pandora and I were making breakfast, wanna help?"
Nodding serenely she said "Of course sempai, I do have one question though."
"Yes?" He asked.
"When did you learn to do...that with musical instruments?" she asked waving a hand vaguely at the floating mini-orchestra that was now silent have finished their song.
Smirking slightly he said "I've had a lot of free time to experiment with my magecraft since coming here Sakura, and this is just one of the many applications' I've discovered."
Sakura slowly nodded "I see, most impressive Sempai."
With that the three got to work accompanied by music in the background which switched from, Blues, to Jazz, to Celtic, to rock and roll, to a full symphony and back again by the time they had finished cooking everything. Archer had Pandora peek her head out the kitchen door to find out if everyone else was already sitting at the table.
"They're out there alright Emiya-kun." The goddess confirmed with a whisper and a nod.
"Alright then, we'd best not keep them waiting any longer huh?" Seeing the two girls' nod he took several of the dishes and made for the door to the dining room.
After a veritable feast of breakfast foods had been consumed, by both Hime-Miko, Magi, half-demon, and Servant alike, all looked expectantly at the Campione in the midst.
Clearing his throat Archer began "Well to start off, I hope everyone found breakfast satisfactory?" he asked to which he received several nods and various thanks.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, but now down to business. What exactly are you all doing here?" he asked looking at his wife for conformation.
"Looking for you isn't that obvious dear?" the fiery redhead responded.
"Well, you've found me, now what?" He asked.
Aoko opened her mouth to answer only to close it and mutter out "I don't know. You can't just leave can you?" she asked as though she already knew the answer.
Archer shook his head "I cannot I have responsibilities here now. Speaking of responsibilities, what will happen to the Balkans now that they have no Campione to protect them?" he asked Hana.
Said girl fixed her glasses before she said "Well Lord Emiya, with no Campione to protect them they shall be at the mercy of any Heretic God that should emerge in that region until a Campione shows up and deals with it."
Closing his eyes for a moment he muttered "I was afraid of that. Voban may have been a piece of human trash, but he was a piece of human trash that still managed to protect innocent people."
"My Lord, if I may I believe Hana and I have a solution to the problem." Kaoru interjected.
Glancing at the crossdressing redhead he asked "And that would be?"
"Well, it seems to me that, to the victor go the spoils. You killed this Voban person and now by right of conquest, his lands are yours by default." Sparda mused aloud.
"Exactly." Kaoru said nodding.
Archer's eyebrows twitched "And how pray tell do you expect me to be able to manage both Japan and the Balkans when they are on the opposite sides of Asia?" he asked.
The last person anyone expected then spoke up "That's where I come in kiddo."
The heads of all the magi turned to the Wizard Marshal in surprise, and for his part Archer rose an eyebrow and asked "You wish to help me why exactly Zelretch?"
The Wizard Marshal rubbed the back of his head looking embarrassed "That girl of yours is quite persuasive kiddo."
Archer then looked at Kaoru inquisitively only for her to smile and shake her head. He then turned to Hana with the same gaze and she too, responded in the negative. Oda too, shook her head. Archer was confused for several more seconds until a certain Goddess coughed.
"Pandora, you?" he asked, his only answer being the mischievous gleam in her light green eyes before he turned to Zelretch and asked "Puppy dog eyes?"
The four millennia old vampire nodded "Yep, and for the record nothing should be that cute." The old Man of the Jewels shivered "It's unnatural."
Archer chuckled before he ruffled Pandora's hair and said "Yes, it's her secret weapon."
"What exactly did she talk you into doing?" Archer asked after a moment.
"Nothing much, just creating a network of portals that leads from Japan to several key places around the Balkans." Zelretch responded nonchalantly.
"Nothing much huh?" Archer deadpanned.
"Eh, it's really simple for me, besides saying here and watching to see what you do next is so much more interesting than anything else I have going on right now." He smirked.
"Well I'm glad I can keep you entertained."
"And I am glad that you're glad." Zelretch cheerfully responded seemingly taking the Campiones comment at face value.
Rolling his eyes Archer then asked "And when will this so called network be done?"
"A week at the latest I'd say." Zelretch replied after some thought.
"In that case, can you place a few more portals somewhere else?" Archer requested.
"Where do you have in mind kiddo?"
"In England, specifically the Greenwich Assembly building." Archer specified.
The Apostle nodded "I don't see why not."
"Good." Archer then turned to the rest of the group from his home universe and said "Now, what to do with all of you?"
Aoko glanced at her husband curiously "What do you mean Shirou?"
Giving her a somewhat annoyed glare he said "I let you get away with that last night Aoko, but let me remind you it's either Emiya or Archer, Shirou is dead."
Aoko's eyes narrowed in response but she nodded prompting Archer to continue "As for what I mean, it's exactly what I said. If your all going to stay here we need to find some way you can all be useful."
"Now hang on just one minute!" Tohsaka protested "Just who are you to think you can order us around like we're your subjects or something?!"
"Ena doesn't think you understand just who you are talking to, so allow Ena to enlighten you." The dark haired Miko of Divine Possession said sharply gaining the Tohsaka's as well as everyone else's undivided attention.
"Emiya-sama is a Campione, one who has killed a Heretic God and stolen their divine power. As such he claims his nation of birth, in this case Japan as his kingdom. He has final say in all matters pertaining to magic and is a god among men. None are strong enough to challenge a Campiones authority except for Heretic Gods and fellow Campione themselves. If he wanted to, Emiya-sama could go on a bloody rampage across Japan killing and slaughtering all in his path. He could demand the finest works of art, the best wines, possess the finest of jewels, and bed any number of women he so desires. Nothing can be denied to him in his kingdom, and those who deny or defy a Campione are either fools or are soon to be made an example of." Ena then closed her eyes taking a deep breath before she continued.
"Therefore Ena would suggest that, if Emiya-sama has some task for you, no matter how menial or beneath you that you may find it, that you shut your mouth and do it!" The Hime-Miko of the Sword finished with a glare a the Tohsaka Heir.
The whole table was silent. All the people from the Nasuverse were looking at Archer in shock, while all those of the Campioneverse looked at Ena Seishuuin with sadness and pity. It was Illya who broke the silence "Onii-chan, can you really do basically whatever you want since you're a Campione?"
Sighing he responded "Yes pretty much Illya."
"Seriously bro, that's awesome!" Dante said.
Hesitantly Archer nodded "Yes, I suppose it is Dante."
"Tell me, what will you do with all this authority you've been granted?" Vergil asked.
"Haven't decided yet, what I need are people who specialize in the hunting of supernatural creatures, to train the Kuhoutsuka clan in the direction I want them taken." Archer responded.
"My clan Emiya-sama?" Oda asked.
"Yes, I don't need assassins; I need spies and monster hunters to endear us to the people as well as keep them safe."
"We can handle that I think." Sparda said while putting one arm around each of his younger sons volunteering them too.
The two younger sons of Sparda looked at their father, then at each other and said in unison "Oh hell no!"
"Were neither of you paying attention to the young ladies speech? If Archer asks us to do something we have no choice but to comply." Sparda pointed out.
"Yeah but-"They both said simultaneously again only to be cut off by Archer saying "Dante, Vergil, do this for me please. I'd really appreciate it."
They looked at him for a moment before Dante sighed and said "Damn it bro, I can't just say no when you ask like that now can I? Ok, I'll do this on two conditions."
"Which are?"
"One, you make me lunch everyday no complaints, and two your wife replaces my coat like she promised me she would before I start." He demanded.
Archer looked at Aoko and asked with a glace "Huh?"
She waved him off telling him not to worry about it.
Turning back to his youngest brother he said "Deal." Before turning to Vergil and asking "Anything you'd like?"
"Just a thermos full of some decent tea in the mornings before I head out please and if at all possible..." Vergil paused.
"Yes?" Archer prompted.
"I would like to fight you at some point." The stoic man requested.
"EH?!" the entire table minus Dante, Sparda, Pandora, and Archer said.
"Alright, sounds like fun." Archer agreed.
This shocked everyone into silence, which was probably a good thing as a quiet knock on the door could be heard only seconds after the silence fell.
'Who could that be?' Archer wondered as he got up to answer the door signaling everyone else to remain seated.
The person he found at the door was the last one he ever expected to see. It was the very girl he had entrusted with Yuri Mariya's body. She was panting heavily and her silver hair was matted to her head with sweat, while her face was covered in all manner of dirt. Her clothes were ripped and torn in places, and her eyes were dull and ringed black from lack of sleep. On her back still, was Archer's crimson shroud wrapped around his deceased friend.
Archer took several slow steps forward gently relieving the girl of her burden, and placing it reverently on the ground before the girl herself promptly collapsed into his arms from exhaustion.
Archer stared at the collapsed girl in his arms and thought 'This girl, she's a trooper. To come all this way from the Balkans to Japan...sleep well little one, you've earned it.'
He then called for Aoko Rider who, because of her enhanced hearing, heard him well enough before he promptly asked her to gently carry Yuri Mariya's body inside and place it on the couch.
The purple haired Servant did as bidden, and after Archer put the girl in his room he came back downstairs and said "We have a guest. Alright everyone, this is what's going to happen you three are going to go and begin training the Kuhoutsuka and Oda will lead you to their base of operations'." He said pointing at Sparda, Dante, Vergil and Oda who nodded and promptly got up to leave.
"You and you." He said pointing at Zelretch and Rin "You both are going to start getting that portal network up and running."
"Why am I going with him? Rin hissed.
"Because, someone needs to keep him from getting sidetracked, and since you're the closest thing he has to an apprentice at the moment, your it. Now get going you two." Archer said.
"You heard him girl, let's get started. Hey did I ever tell you about the time I ran into this guy who made it rain flaming dogs?" he said as he dragged a crying Rin through a portal.
"Ladies if you would take Aoko to the Blue Note and have her proof it against attack that would be great, thank you." Archer asked of his Vassals and wife.
"Right, this way please, Aoko-san." Kaoru asked as she and Hana both got up and led the Fifth Magician out of the house.
"What you like the rest of us to do Sempai?" Sakura asked.
"Umm...well the kitchen does need cleaned up." Archer said
Leysritt spoke up "We'll take care of that Emiya-sama never fear." She said as both she and Sella both stood and began clearing the table, though not without a look of reproach on Sella's part.
"As for you two, how are you at bounded fields?" he asked the two magi.
"Fairly good sempai, it was one of the main things the Matou taught me." Sakura piped up.
Illya for her part smiled innocently and asked "Depends, how lethal do you want them to be?"
"As deadly as you can make them, I won't have another Campione walking in here and taking my friends again. These wards wouldn't have any effect at all on a Campione, but if they got destroyed by one of their magic resistance, then we would know and hopefully be able to prepare a counter attack." He responded.
"Can do Onii-chan. C'mon Sakura, we've got traps to lay." She said taking the purple haired girl by the hand and leading her away.
Archer then went into the living room where he found both his sister and his remain vassal right where he expected them to be: Crying over the corpse of their lost friend.
He watched them cry silently. 'I'm sorry-' he thought 'but I can't do anything about this.'
The next few weeks past swiftly, Archer's home seemed to be in a constant flurry of activity, and everyone had something they should be doing. It took all of two weeks but soon Archer had expanded his control to the Balkans, with the Wizard Marshals help. The people seem very happy to have him as their de facto leader now, and welcomed him with open arms. Aoko managed to destruction-proof the Blue Note using the Fifth and the place while seemingly just a famous jazz club was now a veritable fortress. Two other very strange things happened within the last thirty days both of which were seemingly interconnected.
The second of which was the descent of the Heretic Goddess Hel.
It had been two days since Yuri's body had arrive back in Japan, and for reasons Archer couldn't understand, Aoko's magic couldn't revive the girl. So he walked up the shrine steps intent on paying his last respects before the sweet girl was laid to rest. When he got to the door he knocked and the door was immediately answered by a beaming Hikari, Yuri's younger sister.
"Kusanagi-sama come quick you won't believe it!" she squealed happily.
Archer blinked unable to comprehend why the girl was so happy. "Hikari, what's going on?" he asked carefully as he feared the girl had lost her grip on reality.
"It's just amazing Kusanagi-sama you'll never believe me if I tell you, you'll have to come see for yourself, come on, come on, come see!" She urged taking him by his hand and pulling him forward.
Hikari what is...going...on?" his voice faltered as he beheld something he thought he'd never see again.
Yuri Mariya sitting happily on her couch surrounded by her parents talking happily, only for her to look up at the sound of his voice and freezing in place.
"Kusanagi-sama." Yuri said respectfully.
"Yuri, is that you?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Yes, yes it's me Godou-kun." She reassured him standing up and slowly walking towards her king.
Once the two were no more than a dozen feet apart the both spoke at the same time "I'm so sorry/thank you so much!" they said at the same time.
"Why are you sorry Godou-kun? You came for me just like I thought you would." Yuri asked.
"But you died though, so I didn't manage to save you." He responded self loathingly.
Yuri shook her head and smiled "You did more than many would. You came for me, and you killed my attacker, and my kidnapper that makes you better than all the other Campione by far." Yuri said before she cleared the last few feet between them and caught Archer off guard in a hug.
Archer stiffened for a moment before he returned the embrace "How in the Root's name are you alive Yuri?" He asked.
"That's what I would like to know!" A frosty sounding feminine voice asked.
Archer and the Mariya's looked over to where the voice was coming from and gasped there; standing in their living room, was what can only be described as a Heretic Goddess of cold-like beauty with a well-endowed figure. She was snow-white pale, with long black hair, and pale eyes. She wore a black spider web lace gothic Lolita dress complete with stiletto heels that put her around Archer's 6'1 height.
Archer swiftly placed Yuri behind him and stepped forward asking "What do you want?"
"Like I said little Campione, I would like to know what the piece of dog shit who calls himself my husband-"She practically spat the term "Was doing reviving this girl."
"Who is your husband?" Archer asked.
"Perhaps it would be better if I introduced myself first I am Hel, queen of the underworld, but in other myths I am known as Persephone."
Archer quickly caught on "Ah, so your Hades wife."
The temperature in the room dropped several degrees "Please do not refer to that man as my husband Godslayer if anything he is my kidnapper." She said frostily.
"My apologies, Hades revived Yuri and you want to know why?" he asked.
"That is correct." The Goddess said looking expectantly at the Hime-Miko.
"B-but I don't remember any...!" Yuri's eyes suddenly glazed over mid-sentence and her body tensed up.
Thinking she was having a seizure, Archer rushed to her side only for Hiro, Yuri's father to say "Lord Kusanagi she is having spirit vision. We can only wait for it to pass."
And so they did.
"So this is the one?" A cheerful female voice asked.
"Yes, this is her." A bored male voice answered.
'Voices?' The recently deceased girl could faintly hear voices talking.
"I see, now if you don't mind, please revive her now." The woman asked
"I'm on it. Pushy woman." The male voice grumbled.
"Yuri felt strange and felt pull to something very far off. She didn't know what it was, but it felt...right somehow.
"That all?" the masculine voice asked bored after he was done.
"Yes good work. Also Hades, want to repeat that pushy comment?" The female voice said in a cheerful yet evil tone.
"U-uh N-no ma'am about that...I-I-umm... seeya!" The male voice responded before disappearing entirely.
"Hehehehehehehe! The big bad king of the underworld running with his tail between his legs! Oh if only Olympus could see him now!" the feminine voice said to itself.
Yuri felt a hand caress her. You know I should thank you girl, your one of the strongest factors that has been changing him for the better. Sorry about the dying thing, but I needed a way to speak with that fool and you were the most fit. Don't worry I will make it up to you and him." It promised.
Then Yuri felt that hand disappear and something being absorbed into her. It felt infinite like it was everywhere at every place at the same time.
Yuri awoke with a start. Looking around she found she was on the couch and that Godou was standing right next to her with the woman Hel she remembered standing close by. Once the two noticed she was awake they turned to her and Archer asked "Are you ok?"
Hel added "What did you see?"
Yuri address her king first "I'm fine Kusanagi-kun thanks for asking." She then turned to the goddess and said "You were right Hel, Hades was indeed the one who revived me, but he did it on someone else's orders."
"Whose?" The Goddess asked.
The mortal shook her head "I don't know I'm sorry. All I were voices so all I know is, it was a woman."
The pale skinned goddess pouted slightly "Well that isn't much to go on." She muttered.
Yuri winced afraid she might take her displeasure out on her "I'm sorry I can't tell you more oh graceful goddess."
Hel gave her a sympathetic smile "You did all you could, never fear child. I guess I'll just have to stick around you two until I figure out what's going on."
Both vassal and King looked surprised at this statement.
"Umm Bipolargoddesssaywhatnow?" Archer said rapidly.
Hel shot him a look "I'm not bipolar I just don't like it when he is mentioned."
"Right duly noted, and your staying with us because? Archer asked.
"He revived her for a reason, I want to know why." She stated firmly.
'She's not gonna budge on this.' Archer thought while he looked at his newly revived vassal and noted that she too came to the same conclusion.
The two shared a look for a moment before they nodded and Archer said "Alright, you can stay. But at the first sign of trouble, I'm putting you down, got it?" he said giving her a hard glare.
"Trust me Kusanagi, I'll be a perfect little angel." She said sweetly while batting her eyelashes at him cutely.
'Why do I feel as I've just made a deal with the devil?' Archer thought to himself.
Chapter End
Chapter Length: 11,800 – Date Completed: 12/24/13
AN: YO! What's up everyone! I am Bubbajack and I am back after a long ass hiatus just in time for Christmas! I do hope you all enjoyed the chapter and now here is everyones favorite Nix!
Nix: SORRY EVERYONE! This break in chapters was not something planned or wanted but...shit happens. Anyway ALOT of Fate fans are going to be bitching about ORT. That is expected since Archer just killed something for which the concept of death does not exist. My response? IT'S MAGIC THAT'S HOW YOU ASSHOLES! Also yes Gods Forge was taken from DA:O. And he will not be using it to make infinite weapons of badass. To make Ea he had to use the soul of a Campione. Making Excalibur or Durandal or whatever else requires a price that Archer won't pay when he can avoid it. Voban was a dick and ORT needed to die so he got he killed. Archer won't start hunting down mages/divine beasts/gods/Campione to make weapons he can already use. He is not Alec. Yes Archer is expanding his territories and why shouldn't he? Two kings fought one lost and the other gets the spoils. As for Zelretch well he has been helping and as long as he doesn't fuck up Archer doesn't have a reason to say no. Not that he won't be careful. Zelretch is known as the greatest universal troll in existence for a reason you know.
Inspiring as always Nix my man, well until next time everyone this is Team WIC out! Happy Holidays everyone!
PS. I don't own Hel she is an OC created by Crimson Dragon Emperor on the Court of the Devil Kings Forum I'll be using many of his created OC's with his permission. My thanks go out to him.