An Opportunity of Fate

by PML7

Counter Guardian Emiya is given an offer he cannot refuse. He must somehow save Fuyuki City from the ravages of the Fifth Grail War without being allowed to participate himself! Can he influence his younger self and his friends from his youth enough to save the world before Emiya has to use a Counter Force against the Grail, destroying Fuyuki City and the surrounding area?

19. Chapter 19

An Opportunity of Fate part 19

CG Emiya-

Emiya watched as his younger counterpart slipped to the ground, exhausted from absorbing multiple blades. "Well that wasn't too bad for a first meeting. He didn't die."

Alaya was less pleased. "It should be over. Shirou Emiya was made with the nature and potential to defeat that man." She stared at Emiya, "Not in strength, very few can equal Gilgamesh in power. No, by chance he was reborn with a fundamental concept that was inimical to the King of Heroes. He was to be a natural nemesis to the King of Heroes, a man of nothing to counter the man who possessed everything." She stepped up to him, her face grim. "That along with his crushing hubris is enough to eliminate Gilgamesh. And now?"

Emiya backed up just a little. It wasn't like he was intimidated by her or anything….

Who was he fooling? This wasn't Rin. This was Alaya. The concentrated Will of Mankind to Survive at all cost. She could crush him like a bug. She could make him suffer a fate worse than death itself.

Which on retrospect, she had. But it could be worse. Both of them knew that. Both he and Alaya KNEW that she could make him suffer. The penalty for failing his current task here? That was minor. Killing all whom he had ever cared for?

Minor. She could make him SUFFER.

"You have had access to the boy for years. He could have learned so much from you." She pointed at the collapsed Shirou, now being carried by Arturia. "Already he has enough magic potential to manifest his Reality Marble without harm. He is without a doubt a better Magus than you ever were. You were in good physical shape, he is in excellent shape. I have stood by and watched because I believed at some point you would step in and finish the work you have started. That you would gift him some of you immense stock of blades. That you would show him how to manifest his gift. That you would teach him how to defeat his enemies."

"Haven't I done just that? I gave him a background that would allow him to fight. I gave him access to Rin so he would have those magical skills. All those things are due to changes I wrought."

In Rin's coldest tones she continued to argue, "Perhaps. But you could have altered his dreams. You could have filled his memories. You could have simply talked to him, shared your wisdom." Pause. "Such that it is," She shook her head, "I thought you had given it up. I thought you had finally embraced your dream, despite the pain it causes. That you had finally reconciled the beauty of your desire with the reality of what it entails." She sighed and looked away.

"I stand by my decisions. These kids are more prepared than they ever have been before. Shirou actually has useful skills this time, rather than beginners luck. They are working together and…"

Alaya interrupted him, a hand over his mouth stifling anything he might say. "You could have done so much more, Emiya. But you hate yourself too much. She warned me. She told me it was so. That even your losing a fight to yourself, that accepting that while your dream cost you far more than it ever gave you, there was still beauty…. She warned me that you would still hate yourself."

Emiya found he could not move. He could only watch his eternal mistress. She still held the body of Rin Tohsaka, but there was little doubt who was really inhabiting the body.

She smiled sadly at him, "You have succeeded in so much with this world. Enough that Shirou no longer being the perfect foil for Gilgamesh, there is still a chance that they City of Fuyuki can still be saved. Hope remains that the Grail might no unleash hell upon mankind." She close her eyes and when they opened there was anger, "But you had an opportunity to shape one of the combatants in such a way that Gilgamesh would have fallen before he realized that he needed to put up a fight. And yet because of personal issues you neglected it. You dealt with it at the margins and simply let Shirou develop as the world availed him. And he did develop. He has some use. But he is no longer YOU. His fate and that of his friends has been altered by this, and it has yet to be determined if this will mean good or ill for the world as a whole."

She stopped and stared at the Unlimited Blade Works that surrounded them. At the massive gears, the cold mist that stretched to the horizon, the bright setting sun piercing through the mists to provide the beautiful sunset. Swords stretched to the horizon. "He is not you. Not anymore. His reality marble exists. It is like unto yours. But…. This world would horrify him. No honor. No glory."

He was a young fool. That was what Emiya thought.

Alaya smiled. "I will give him to her. She has already made some minor steps, some minor aids when he needed them. I don't know if her plan will bear fruit, but you certainly will not be able to affect him now." Her smile became vicious. "And what to do with you? You have failed me after all, if not by a large margin."

Emiya waited for his punishment.

"Memories. I wonder if you truly understand yourself. If the barrier we use to keep your soul from abrading from too much memory doesn't jade you as well. Perhaps if I let you truly feel a few lives, just a few weeks of each of them, say the length of the Grail War." She was positively beaming now, her blue eyes alight with pleasure, "I know. Several variations of your appearances in the Grail War, including the one you impressed me so. And my dearest Emiya? You will experience them as both yourself and the young Shirou."

CG Emiya began to feel the memories crystalize in his mind, as they became real for him. As he began to remember and re-experience several weeks. He fell to his knees in a whimper.

Alaya said fondly, "I will be back in a little while you have your little trip down memory lane." She shimmered from view.

And Emiya remembered.

-Scene Break—

Luvia Edelfelt

Luvia was a little drunk. But simple intoxication no longer was enough for her. She needed action, excitement. She looked around the room, the nice quite pub style bar.

Not a chance. Absolutely zero chance of a brawl.

Luvia Edelfelt was a magus. And she was proud of it too. She was accomplished in several fields, and given her families pedigree, she was also combat trained.

Tonight had been the first time she had been in an unstructured magical conflict. And the risk of death had been there. She had stood up to the test, had held her ground. She might not have covered herself in glory, but in retrospect her heart hadn't really been in killing Cassandra.

It was dangerous and stupid to get into mortal style conflicts when there was nothing on the line. It made her nervous and itchy. It made her want to indulge in some safer violence, something that was dangerous enough to make her heart skip, but that was less likely to have her end up missing key organs.

Luvia finished her drink and waved over to the bartender.

He was a serious eyed man, "Do you need me to call a cab for you?"

She smiled at him, "I will be fine." And she left to find a more exciting bar.

-Scene Break—

Sakura Matou-

Sakura stared at the sleeping Shirou. With all of the magi in the house, they had determined that Shirou had collapsed to simple exhaustion.

How he had managed to stop those falling blades remained unknown, but it must have been something instinctual to him, as Rin had never heard of such a spell. Nor had Shirou voiced an aria. And while it was second nature for a magus to keep their magic a secret, most of what Shirou could do was so basic that he didn't hide it from Sakura, let alone Rin.

Canceling out another's projection wasn't unknown, but it was typically more elaborate. To cancel even a simple projected item you had to be able to know what it was you were dispelling, and where the lines of magic supported the temporary existence of the item. Projection was so common that there were many styles and variations to its use, each requiring a slightly different pattern to upkeep the object. A large enough prana burst could disrupt them of course, like it could most spells, but with projections why bother?

But from Rider's descriptions, those swords Gilgamesh tossed were very dangerous. And not simple projections but real weapons taken from an endless vault he possessed called Gates of Babylon. If they were real…. Then what Shirou had done was impossible. Real items couldn't be dispelled with a prana burst, you would have to actually destroy or deflect the item.

Unless…

Unless his gift with projection also left him the ability to unmake items?

Sakura shivered. No. That would be akin to magic. And while his skills at Gradation Air were uncommonly good, they were nothing like what would be required of the First Magic.

No, there had to be some middle ground that he had found. Some skill he had built by sheer determination and hard work. Sakura laughed. And lots of house repairs. Maybe Rin would let her borrow him to help fix up some of the Matou mansion? There were spots he could never be allowed to see, but the Tohsaka mansion was in better shape than it had been when she had been growing up there.

She looked down at her valiant friend, a man she wanted to call lover. A man she desperately wanted. Wanted badly enough that she was even willing to share him, if only to have some of him to herself.

But she knew Rin. Even this new caring Rin, her loving sister, would have problems sharing. She always had. She had always been number one. First. The one their father had planned on training. The one their father had kept.

And her mother had allowed it. Had allowed the disparity, even as she tried to keep the peace.

Her mother had not been a strong woman.

Not like Rin.

"Or like me." Sakura said softly.

The Voice didn't talk to her. Even as Sakura buried her resentment at her sister's luck. It had given up.

She spoke to it, "I will not fall. I will accept my own darkness into myself and be myself. I will not be Dark Sakura or Light Sakura. I will be simply Sakura. I am cursed and vile and despoiled and yet they still love me." She hugged herself. "They love me."

"Eh, Sakura? What are you doing still up?" Asked Rin in a tired voice.

Sakura turned to face Rin, "Sister? I was just looking in on Shirou."

Rin moved beside her. "And?"

"He will be fine. Sleeping." Sakura's voice turned wistful, "I wonder if he is dreaming." She couldn't help a small blush, "Hopefully of me."

"Hrmph."

Sakura looked over at her sister, "Or you." She laughed wickedly, "Or both of us, together." She continued to snicker at the expression on Rin's face. At the expanding blush. A part of her was horrified that she had just said that, but the dominant personality in control WAS the side she usually tried to hide.

Just because she usually acted prim and proper didn't mean her thoughts always were. Sakura smiled up at her sister's blush. Rin was a virgin, there was little doubt. Shirou almost certainly as well.

Considering how much time the two spent together, and their obvious chemistry…. Well rumor had it they were already a couple. But that was just rumor. Sakura knew the two of them well and would be able to catch any cover-up quite quickly.

Not that she would mind all that much. She was after all willing to share Shirou. "What are we going to do about him?"

Rin looked at her and then at Shirou. "Him? What do you mean?"

Sakura laughed, "Don't even try to play stupid RIn…."

"Stupid? I don't know what you are talking about?"

"Dancing around the issue isn't going to do any good. I love Shirou. You love Shirou. Shirou loves us both. So what do we do?"

Rin looked away, "Is this truly something we should be talking about over his unconscious body?"

Sakura laughed wryly, "Why not? It beats the dinner table in front of all our friends. Or say a large crowd of our fellow students at school."

Rin winced, "I am sorry about that. But he just was so smug and I was so angry and…."

Sakura sighed, "The whole school? That I was raped by my brother? Repeatedly?" She tilted her head to the side, "Of course you did admit we were siblings. And something how it was a mark against Tohsaka family honor. Honestly I didn't think you would ever utter those words. You are proud of the family name after all."

Rin grimaced, "Yes but it was true. And I am willing to admit we are sisters. If ever you want to rejoin or take the Tohsaka name, let me know and I will have lawyers begin the paper work."

Sakura sighed, "Part of me would love that, you know. To pretend it never happened. To go back to living at the Tohsaka estate and try to live a normal live." She touched Rin's arm, "But it did happen. I have been traumatized, more than you likely know. More than I want you to know." She was quiet for a moment, "I have paid for the right to be a Matou. I might hate the old man, I might want to make changes to how the family magic is taught, but there is value underneath what Grandfather has sullied."

Rin shuddered, "Absorption and Binding unto oneself? Isn't that what you said the Matou magic was?"

Sakura nodded, "Well yes. But it wasn't developed with combat in mind. It is the study of life if you will, from the most basic state. We know that we derive nutrition from food, from plants and animals. We know that it provides us energy, not only physically, but also allows us to accumulate enough od to emulate magecraft. Why? Why does all life have dependence on other life to provide it with energy? The Matou magic is more than a method to provide my grandfather a vampiric style of immortality." She smoothed her hair to the side, "And I will see it restored to such."

Rin said wonderingly, "You truly are a magus. I knew that you practiced, that you studied. But, I never knew."

Sakura grinned at her, "I have every reason to hate magic. If I hadn't heard that musical note, if I hadn't met Ayako and felt the need to learn. Well I never would have studied in Grandfather's library. I never would have known what all this magic was for, what the crest painfully engraved into my flesh was for." She tightened her eyes, "Now don't let this come between us. Our magics, well to be honest are too different to really matter much to the other. After this war is over, I would be more than willing to share my library with you, if you will share yours with me."

Rin looked away, "I, I am not good at sharing."

Sakura dryly said, "Trust me I remember. Toys, candy, attention, all belonged to the great Rin."

"Hey! I am serious here. I mean maybe, and I mean maybe I would be willing to share some of my library, but Shirou is a bit much don't you think? I mean how could two people share a guy? It just doesn't work. It isn't done. It, I…." Rin trailed off, her eyes closed.

Sakura nodded, "Sharing him would be the hardest thing. But with you, and you alone, I am willing to share. Or wait if I must. Let you have him first. But Rin, I beg of you not to take him away from me. To keep him solely for yourself. I promise to do the same. If I must I can find physical relief elsewhere. But to lose him entirely…" She looked down, "I think I would go insane, RIn. And that would be a very bad thing."

Rin held her, "Sakura."

Sakura pushed her gently back and said, "You need to hear this. Both as my sister and also as the Second Owner of Fuyuki City." Sakura took a deep breath. "Rin. I am a monster. Or perhaps I should say I am close to being one."

Rin recoiled as if shocked, "Sakura?"

"There are creatures inside of me, etching my Crest, adding to my power day by day. But it is not just prana they consume. They also require other chemicals from me. If I were a man they would try to consume some of my motive neurotransmitters. But as a female, they prefer to consume a cocktail of chemicals surrounding arousal, sexual activity, and orgasm. When Shinji was raping me, he was in a sense helping me. Keeping me sane. And you know the hardest part about it is that I enjoyed it. Even as I hated every moment, even as I wanted to end my own life, it was pleasurable." Sakura whimpered, "Not that I can end my life now."

Rin was pressed against the wall, staring at her sister.

Sakura looked around the room for something anything she could cut herself with. Blade happy Shirou did not disappoint. A fancy folding knife Kiritsugu had given him for a birthday rested nearby. Before Rin could stop her, Sakura moved for the knife and slit her wrists.

Rin rushed over to stop Sakura, "Why would you do this? WHY?"

Sakura made a shadow cloth to catch the falling blood. "Calm down Rin. You know how effective a Crest is supposed to be at preserving its bearer's life. Oh, that hurts." She moved Rin's hands from where the cut had been and rubbed the cloth to remove the blood. "Grandfather is much worse. If ever you or Shirou plan to attack him, you will need something different to defeat him. Attack him at his concept or some mystery that attacks all of him at once."

Rin stared at Sakura's unblemished flesh.

Sakura continued, "Oh, where was I? Yes sex. Rin, I need sex. On a regular basis. Because those are not the only way I can keep those parasites happy Rin. It is the easiest way. But not the only way." She sighed. "The other requires me to consume another human being. Not so much physically, although I believe my Grandfather does indeed need to do so on a fairly regular basis, so I might reach that point. Me I consume the elements that connect the body to the soul. An aspect of my affinity with Imaginary Numbers I suppose."

RIn looked between Sakura and Shirou.

Sakura nodded, "That would be preferable. I would like to choose who I sleep with for a change. But this doesn't have to be a permanent thing. I love you both and would be willing to accept whatever is needed to make this work. If necessary I will find another outlet. But within a few days I will need someone. Or I will kill."

"Have you, have you…."

Sakura nodded, "Six so far. All of whom I have made sure were valid targets." She grinned violently, "I do so have a dim view on sexual predators." She looked down, "I have already talked with Rider about this, and she had promised to protect Shirou from me if necessary. To kill if she must. I would ask of you the same."

Rin looked coldly at her. "Are you finished?"

"Um, I guess."

"So. Severe alterations to your body from your training. Risk of turning into some sort of soul sucking monster if you don't have sex on a regular basis. Preferably from Shirou here."

Sakura looked down, "It doesn't have to be Shirou. I would just like it to be. Assuming he was willing of course."

Rin sarcastically stated, "Somehow I doubt that will be a problem. Even I think you are hot."

Sakura looked up at her sister, "Why Rin, I didn't think you had noticed. You aren't bad yourself," Sakura looked her sister up and down. "Although you would look better if you simply let your hair down."

Rin looked away, "I didn't mean it like that. Stop it Sakura! Don't look at me that way! It's creepy."

Sakura laughed, "You started it. I just want Shirou. Although I did state that I am willing to share, "She finished dryly, "I just didn't think it would be in QUITE that way."

"Oh, be quiet. As for the rest… Well we will find a way. A way to fix you. Or if that isn't possible, then a way to keep it under control."

Sakura looked up at RIn. "And if I become a monster."

Rin's eyes flashed, "Not an acceptable situation."

"But…."

"NOT acceptable. We will find a way. I will not lose my sister to this. Not to this. If I have to tear reality asunder to make it so, I will find a way. The rest are just complications that will be dealt with. Do you hear me, Sakura. Don't give up. Never give up. If Shirou has given me one thing for all that I have given him, it is that. To not give up."

Sakura smiled and grasped Rin's hand, "Our stupid, stubborn Shirou."

Rin stood stiffly, "'Our Shirou?'" She nodded her head, "I guess for now, I guess that will have to do."

There was the sound of a voice clearing behind them. Ilya was standing, Sella supporting her. "How is Shirou?"

Sakura said quietly, "Resting. He should be fine. He is tougher than he looks."

Ilya snorted. "He should be, considering what he carries."

Rin asked, "What are you talking about?"

"You know that Shirou's Servant is the same that KIritsugu summoned, right?" She laughed lightly, "Who would think that King Arthur could be such a cute girl?"

Rin and Sakura exchanged glances. Sakura asked, "You know who Rider is?"

Ilya said softly, "I remember her. I remember her with mother, they got along so well." She laughed, "Kiritsugu, well he tried but he treated her, well like a thing. Cold." She paused. "I had never seen him act like that before. And then they all left me." She looked up, her mouth wry, but her eyes full of unshed tears, "They promised. Kiritsugu PROMISED. But he never came back. He…" She took a deep breath. "This isn't really the time to argue about this. I would need to conduct a few tests, but I believe he bears Avalon. As long as Rider is near, he should heal from almost any wound. If given to her, well she would be invincible."

Rin stood there in shock.

Sakura walked over and grabbed Ilya by the collar. "You can never tell him this. He is already reckless enough. If he thought he could do something insanely dangerous and survive…. There would be no limit to what he would do."

Rin nodded, "Please. He is already too reckless." She looked down at Shirou, "It is like he doesn't consider himself important enough to protect. Like we are more important than he is."

Ilya nodded weakly, "He took bullets for me. And, and he came for me. I needed him." She was crying. "And he was actually there."

Sella sighed and supported Ilya, "Touching as this all is, shouldn't we leave to let the boy get some rest? Even if he is in dream state he will note our presence."

Rin said softly, "But if he cares for us, wouldn't he prefer if we were near?"

Sella tilted her head to the side, "Perhaps. But it would still deny him needed rest. Mistress also needs some sleep. And I believe you mentioned some task you would need to accomplish tomorrow."

Sakura shook her head, "The school. I had almost forgotten about it. What are we going to do Sister? We haven't made plans or prepared."

Rin took a deep breath and her face regained its usual serene confidence. "We will need to wake early to prepare." She looked over at Shirou, "Sakura, breakfast?"

Sakura laughed, "No problem. Western style I suppose for all our western visitors. Are you going to need coffee Rin? Or just tea?"

Rin began to leave Shirou's room, "Does the barbarian even stock civilized brands or is it still Lipton?"

Sakura laughed, "You will get your tea." She turned to face Sella, "Will you be joining us for breakfast? I can leave some made for you, or you may use the kitchen after we leave."

Ilya's reddish brown eyes tightened, "We will be there tomorrow. Wake us. I will support you. My Servant has been stolen from me, but I am still strong." She looked up at Sella, "For Leysritt!"

Sella rolled her eyes. "Very well Mistress. You will need to rest." She began to move an annoyed Ilya toward the room she had been given in the Guest wing. She looked at Rin and Sakura, "Tomorrow we will need to go back to the Castle to secure supplies." She blinked a couple of times, "I am aware of the Boundary Field surrounding this estate. Security only, passive, quite good actually. Limited, but well…"

Ilya, Sakura and Rin stared at her.

Sella blushed, "Are you aware that you have an active Elemental inside the boundaries? It has not triggered the alarm, so I assume it is friendly. But an Elemental wandering without constraints…. Isn't that risky?"

Sakura sighed, "That would be Ayako. You are not allowed to harm, experiment, or cast spells at her. She is my friend, and I will EAT you if you cross me in this."

Rin looked at Sakura, "Ayako? As in OUR Ayako?"

Sakura nodded, "It has been a long day. Come on, I will share it with you over a nice cup of tea."

Ilya looked up at Sella. "Please?"

Sella looked down, "You are still recovering from a stab wound, and feedback from all of your contracts and Familiars being cut. You need sleep. And you will get it." She turned to face Rin and Sakura again, "We will meet again tomorrow."

And she left.

Rin looked over at her, "Ayako?"

"Come on. I will tell you the whole story. Hopefully you will have enough time to get an hour of two of sleep."

"But that is impossible. I have known her for years. She has always seemed so, so normal."

"As Issei says, 'Power calls to power.'"

They were almost to the kitchen when Rin turned and said quietly, "Issei said that? What is he some sort of hidden Magus? A shape shifting demon? Is anyone we know normal?"

Sakura laughed softly, "I don't know Rin. I have a feeling that if we know them, if we pull them into our circle, they wouldn't stay normal for long."

Rin sat down and looked sad.

Sakura went into the kitchen and made some tea,

They talked for some time.

-Scene Break—

Ayako MItsuzuri-

Ayako shot another arrow into the target. Sakura was right, this really did relieve some tension. No wonder Shirou used it so much.

Of course, this was one of those things she always kept rediscovering. Maybe she could convince her Dad to dedicate a portion of their backyard to Archery?

Nah. He was too proud of his garden. It was the best on the block.

She froze. How much of that was his hard work. And how much of it was her mother.

What exactly could her mother do, anyway? From the little she had been able to figure out about her own gift was that it involved probability somehow.

She shook her head, no wonder her mother had pushed math on her. Or maybe…..

Ayako just didn't know. What had her mother taught her to prepare her for the unlikely event she found out about her heritage? And what had been given to her to lead her away from that potential disaster?

Because now that she knew, there was no going back. All those tiny hunches, all those strange sensations, like she could FEEL things happening around her. So easy to ignore when she thought she was normal. So easy to pretend it was just an average person's wish to have some special hidden gift.

She had shot more than a dozen arrows at the target. All of them had been perfect shots. All of them.

The only person she knew who could shoot like that was Shirou. And he truly was some freaky Zen style master with the bow.

She wasn't. She knew she wasn't. She was close. But the world was too full for her to ignore. It wasn't that it distracted her, but when she tried to empty her mind she would just find herself feeling a deeper connection to everything around her. She had persevered, sometimes gaining enough emptiness to think she had finally cracked it. Other times she had simply used her keen eye and athleticism carry her where her mental discipline broke down.

Most people couldn't tell the difference.

But now…. Now things were different. That static that had kept her from a perfect harmony with the target was the world itself. She couldn't really find words to explain it, but she partly understood it herself. When the arrow was loosed there were countless possibilities. And just a tiny bit of effort she could change them. She could make a shot that would be close be dead on.

She couldn't make something that was a total failure work. If she shot away from the target, she couldn't redirect it. She couldn't feel a pathway to that possibility at all.

The pathways were the key. And now that she knew that they were there she couldn't avoid them. She used them without thinking. She didn't know if she could focus and use them better. Her mother could. Her mother had made the most bizarre situations happen.

But then her mother was half-elemental, Ayako was only a quarter. Maybe that made a difference. A tiny voice in her said no. That the blood flowed as it flowed.

And in her it was strong.

In truth, she was frightened.

To the side there was a brief flash of light. Ayako turned an sighed. It was just Issei.

Issei looked grim. He usually did to some degree, but this wasn't his usual stoic self. This was somehow different, "So. You had a tough night I hear."

She tucked a bit of hair behind her head, "I survived. I need to think some things through, but later we can talk about it. But enough of that, why are you here?"

Issei nodded, "I would like that. To talk I mean. As for why I am here, well I have been evicted from Mount Enzo and the Temple."

Ayako felt as the blood left her cheeks, "Because, because of me? Because of us? Your father would…."

Issei placed a placating hand, "No, Ayako. It was not his fault."

Ayako felt a bit of satisfaction and pride. He had remembered. He was calling her by name. But still she was angry for his sake, "Then why? What kind of father would do that?"

Issei said dryly, "One without a choice. He didn't evict me as my father, but rather as High Priest. Apparently my living that was abrogating a treaty with the local Oni clans."

She couldn't help it. This was just the last straw. Her lover had been evicted from his childhood home because of a treaty between the local Temple and the Oni? She began to laugh.

And she couldn't stop. Her world had gone completely insane. She was going to wake up. MInori would hassle her about not being quick enough in the bathroom. It would be a normal day.

Only.

This was real.

This was her life.

She wasn't human.

Her friends were all Wizards or Mages or Magicians or whatever they liked to call themselves. Her lover was a man who had been on the fast track to be a monk who dabbled in magic himself.

Magic was real.

She could feel Issei trying to calm her down. Could see his worry.

But couldn't he see how insane all this was? Why wasn't he laughing too? What wasn't everyone laughing?

The world itself. Why wasn't it laughing? Truly the world should laugh too.

So she began to reach among the possibilities. The strands, the pathways were too short for her to reach far, in time or in space. But by multiple small scale iterations she could enforce changes on a large scale.

She reached to the sky and began to cause a small change in the local weather. All possible. All small. But done in such a way as to increase a greater probability of greater future effects.

Again.

Again.

Soon the world would laugh with her.

She stopped as her laugher was smothered by Issei kissing her. Her whimsical notions shifted. Kissing him was much more pleasurable. All around her she could feel the possibilities.

She felt as the chill wind pushed past them, wind she had called, but now they pressed close together for warmth. Her laughter was gone now, her giddiness fading. She drank in the deep solidness that was Issei. "Thank you."

Issei backed away and cleaned his glasses, "Better?"

"Better."

"Do you trust me Ayako?"

Ayako simply nodded.

Issei sighed, "Today was hard. Tomorrow will be hard as well. I was told by Grandmother that you will do best if you trust your instincts tomorrow. Even if they seem counter productive."

"Instincts. Like what just nearly happened here?"

"Yes." He looked down, "My fate will be as harsh." He looked back up at her, "Tell me, Ayako. Is it acceptable to kill someone, in cold blood, if killing them will save others?"

Ayako's eyes widened, "Issei!"

He smiled sadly, "Tomorrow I will face that choice. And it will guide my fate. Just as you following your instincts will teach you how to be yourself. Her words. Not mine."

"Who is this Grandmother?"

Issei sighed, "She is the head of the local Japanese Magic Society, although I don't really know what they call themselves. I have heard of her. I even met her once when I was a child. She is powerful, but in different ways than our friends. She and the Oni caught the rhythms of my mage work when I was constructing these wooden charms. They didn't care about the paper. Too weak. Too diffuse." He looked at the wooden charm he had carved for himself, "These they saw as just a beginning. Obviously I could channel Mount Enzo's powers, just like the smith-monks of the past, and so I was in violation of the treaty. I can visit. I can participate in some of the rituals. But I can't stay, nor can I make anything there."

"You are kidding."

"I wish I were. We went to some odd meeting place. Our end was at the center of the Lake on Mount Enzo. I have no clue how it worked. The Oni… well they didn't look like monsters any more than Grandmother looked like a powerful magus. But I could tell. Some of them were human. Some of them were not. The girl who led the other delegation, she was young, maybe early twenties? Blue eyes, black hair. Pretty. Reminded me a bit of Rin, and that Rin-ness of hers that annoys me so much." He adjusted his glasses and closed his eyes, "But underneath she was a monster. I don't think it was in control of her. I think the girl was in control, but the monster inside her." He looked at Ayako, "It was so strong. And I could feel that it was inimical to normal human life." He shivered slightly, "I don't know what it could do, but it saw me as food."

Ayako said quietly, "And the girl her self?"

"Seemed pleasant. Tough. Knew her business. Said she might contact me after high school. She admired my work and there were things I might be able to make that would be of use to her." He rolled his eyes, "Grandmother said the same thing. If I attend her estate once a month she will provide training and help me with tuition to a college of my choice."

Ayako whistled, "Two job offers and an eviction. Quite the day."

Issei nodded and then looked up at the dark sky, the winds Ayako had called up had died down, and the sky was beginning to clear. "We should get some sleep. Good night Ayako."

Ayako grabbed his arm. "I am not ready to do anything much at the moment. But." She looked at him with a sad smile, "It really has been a long day. Can you come with me? And hold me."

Issei looked to the main house. "We really shouldn't do anything to bring dishonor to the Emiya."

"Please Issei."

Issei looked down. He muttered something under his breath. He looked up at her and smiled, his palm reached for hers and intertwining his fingers with hers. "It would be nice to not be alone."

Ayako led him to her room. And together they slept.

-Scene Break—

Shirou Emiya-

Shirou was standing next to the anvil that was on a hill above the proving grounds. It was where he learned to understand the newest additions to the proving grounds below.

In his hands he caressed a short blade, little longer than a dagger. It had a name, an ancient and powerful name. But it was in a language that he could not speak.

The blade he held was one of the first blades ever forged, from near the dawn of mankind. The metal it was made from was unknown by modern scholars. Orihalcon Yes that was its name. It was one of the metals that Durandal had been forged from.

The blade had a purpose and a skill, but he couldn't fully grasp it. But it would come. In time it would join all the other blades he had found and honored on the proving grounds. He doubted he would live long enough, but he hoped he could salvage and honor a majority of the blades of wonder that still existed in the world.

Perhaps.

He wandered down the hill, looking for a stand to properly set the new blade in. How the previous owner had treated the blade was a disgrace. There were weapons that had been designed to be tossed. Weapons that were made for distance combat. Swords were not those weapons. TO fling such treasures…..

Shirou sighed. He was always alone here. Sometimes he thought he caught a glance of a woman, but it was only his imagination. The same imagination that made him bring Rin or Sakura here.

Shirou couldn't help but smile. He loved both of them. Choosing would be hard, but he hoped that he would still be able to be friends. To be able to have them in his life. To imagine either one of them gone for good was too horrible to contemplate.

He looked up at the sound of footsteps. A woman was indeed here. She was not tall, nor particularly old. Perhaps a trace older than Taiga. Her eyes were a deep grey and her hair a burnished white.

She wore a white dress mixed with armor. At her side was a magnificent blade held in an incredibly extravagant scabbard.

Both of them sung to his soul. And both he would never truly possess. Not in the way he possessed the other blades on the proving grounds. Both of them were made from concepts and materials he did not fully understand.

He knew them, although he hesitated to name them aloud. "Who are you?"

"It is glad to finally be able to greet you in person, Shirou. I have followed your life for many years, but my involvement has been limited." She smiled, and for just a moment there was a trace of green in her eyes, "My name is Counter Guardian Pendragon. And I will be your teacher."

End Part.

A/N- Eh. No promises. I will try to get the part out as fast as I can. I have been looking forward to some of the next few scenes forever. Hopefully they will not disappoint. Wish me luck, as I shall wish the same to all of you as well.

Thank you so much for reading!

And if you have comments or questions please let me know.