A/N: My apologies for taking FOREVER to update guys (T_T) Anyways here is the latest chapter. I promise to update a bit more frequently!
Chapter 9: The Promised Tour
Hisashi had been wandering the city for almost two whole hours. His quest had led him deep into the city and before he knew it he was standing right in front of the crime scene he had seen on the news. Almost an entire section of the street was cut off from the public by a long strip of yellow caution tape.
Hordes of people crowded around the sight, all bearing witness to the horror that had occurred the night before.
Hisashi pushed his way to the front, ignoring the grunts of protest as he nudged past person after person. Policemen, all carrying morbid expressions on their dutiful faces, wheeled in bodies covered with white sheets. Hisashi couldn't help but lurch as he made out spots of coagulated blood staining the cloth that draped the corpses. His fists clenched tight as body after body was wheeled out of the broken down building.
Hisashi couldn't help but listen in on the conversations of the nearby bystanders. According to them, the police have no clue as to how the extensive amount of damage had been caused. Some speculate faulty construction and others believed that the killer had brought explosives with him on his killing spree. However Hisashi knew full well who was responsible. He knew that this much damage could have only been caused by a Master and a Servant.
He pushed his way out of the crowd, his brow furrowed in both anger and annoyance, he couldn't bear to look at the crisis any longer. Hundreds of things were running through his mind at the moment. But one of them stood out amongst the throng of invasive thoughts. Archer.
He could not believe what she had said to him earlier. Her statements were callous, cold and heartless. How she could say those things was a mystery to him. It was as if she were completely devoid of emotion. As if the concept of compassion was a foreign term to her. Hisashi could still see her blank face staring at him, telling him that the lives of those people were worthless, of no value.
"Is something wrong?" asked an energetic voice that was familiar to him. Turning to his right, Hisashi was greeted by a beautiful girl with an equally beautiful smile. It was the same girl he had seen those many days ago. The one with the crimson eyes and the long silver hair. She did not wear the same coat she did before and was instead donning a snow white dress that rivaled her skin in tone. Her delicate arms were covered by the dress' sleeves and a long red skirt reached down to her ankles.
"No, it' nothing," said Hisashi, replying to her question. He tried to give her his utmost attention but he found his mind wandering to the killings.
"You're a horrible liar," said Imizviel with a giggle. She moved in closer to Hisashi, causing him to blush slightly.
"What're you talking about?" defended Hisashi, shaking his head, "I'm not lying. No, no, no."
"Uh huh," Imizviel giggled once again and grabbed Hisashi by the hand. She smiled at him, giggling as his entire face turned red in an instant.
"Wha...what are you doing?" asked Hisashi in a panic.
"You promised to take me on a tour of the city didn't you? Unless you're going back on your promise!" Imizviel pouted for a second, as if daring Hisashi to say no.
All Hisashi could do was sigh as he drew his hand away from Imizviel's. He looked at the scene of the crime once more and back at her
"I'm sorry," he said, "But I can't right now."
"Why?" she asked quizzically.
"I can't really say. It's better if you didn't know."
"Hmm," pondered Imizviel. She took a glance at the crowded scene of the crime and looked back at Hisashi. "It's got something to do with those killings doesn't it?"
"I, uh, no it doesn't."
Imizviel chuckled, "Your stuttering doesn't help you in the slightest."
"It doesn't matter," responded Hisashi, "Like I said, it's better if you don't know."
"Whatever you say," replied Imizviel as she quickly took hold of Hisashi's arm, "But you aren't gonna get rid of me that easily. You promised me a tour and that's what you'll give me."
"Bu...But!"
"No buts!" A sly smile spread across Imizviel's face as she smiled warmly at Hisashi, "Looks like you're going to have to bring me along."
Hisashi shook his head but he quickly accepted the fact that Imizviel would be virtually impossible to shake off. In all honesty he was happy that she would be joining him. Something about her granted him a sense of peace. Her presence cleared his head of all the worries that were weighing down on him.
With Imizviel wrapped around his arm like a lovable python, he walked into the streets of the city, looking back at the horrendous scene one last time. However, a sudden chill went down his spine. He felt like someone, or something, was watching him. He shifted his head to look at his surroundings, but he could see nothing.
Imizviel tugged at his arm playfully, "Hurry!" she said with a giggle. Before he could even protest, Hisashi was pulled along by the beautiful girl.
After roaming for an hour or two the pair stopped at a small toy store. Hisashi recognized this store from his youth. This family owned place usually sold stuffed toys of various animals or characters and Hisashi himself recalled Natsumi buying quite a few when she was younger. However, like all children, she discarded them as childish the older she became. The very thought caused Hisashi to smile a little, he couldn't believe how much Natsumi had changed. It was almost depressing that a child full of life would turn into an uptight, ice queen.
"Something on your mind?" asked Imizviel.
"No," replied Hisashi.
"Don't lie to me Emiya-kun...I know when you're lying."
"Fine," Hisashi chuckled nervously, "I've got a lot of memories tied to this place."
"Really? What kind of memories? Good ones? Bad ones?"
"Most of them are good. I remember coming here with my sister when we were younger. We used to come to this store on a daily basis just to play with the toys inside. I remember the store being a lot smaller then. There was an old lady who worked here too. She used give us free toys whenever my father and mother weren't around. "
"You have a sister?"
"Kind of."
"What's she like," asked Imizviel curiously.
"She used to be the most energetic kid in the world. She'd run around our house, pretending to be some kind of magical girl. I remember one day she dressed up in a little costume and started waving around a little scepter yelling, 'I will save the world, in the name of Love and Justice.'" Things changed when we got older though."
"What happened?"
"She became more and more, how should I put this? Mature. She played around less and less. She became more embroiled in her studies then she did with play time. She started talking less. It was a miracle at home if she uttered more than one sentence a day."
"Wow, she really changed."
"Yeah she did."
"What about you Hisashi-kun? What were you like when you were small?"
"Me? I was nothing special. When I was a kid I was just as energetic as my sister was, maybe even more."
"Did you change like she did?"
"I changed, but in a different way. While Natsumi became a more studious person I became less and less involved in school. My grades slipped, hell I'm surprised I even got into high school."
"You sound like a regular free spirit," said Imizviel with a smile.
"Yeah...you could say that."
"Your family sounds wonderful Hisashi."
"They are," replied Hisashi with a smile, "What about you? You must have a pretty wonderful family yourself."
"No," answered Imizviel sullenly. Her head sank to the floor in a depressed manner and Hisashi could feel her spirits sink. He must have asked a very personal question.
"Well, uh, how about we go into the toy store?" he stuttered as he tried to change the topic. He felt guilty for prying the way he did and perhaps the toy store could lift her spirits.
"Really?" Imizviel's head perked up, like she was a small child. It was as if she had completely forgotten the question that Hisashi had asked her.
"Of course."
Like a flash of lightning, Imizviel charged into the store and began sifting through the mountain of stuffed animals and plushies.
Stepping inside, Hisashi was taken aback at the size of the store as a whole. Dozens of shelves could be seen and each shelf was crammed with numerous animals all of which were designed in an incredibly unique way.
"Holy cr-" Hisashi's awe struck exclamation was interrupted by the overly gleeful voice of Imizviel.
"Look at this one!" in her hands was a plush toy that resembled a small girl with red hair wearing a bright pink dress. The dress was incredibly detailed and a small pair of wings could be seen on the girl's back. In the plushie's right hand was an intricate staff with a bright yellow star on the tip that appeared to glow when the owner pressed a small button on her hand.
"I...want...it," said Imizviel, staring at the doll with a powerful desire in her eyes.
"Well, lets get it then," he said. He took a glance at the line for the register and almost fainted when he saw that it snaked throughout the entire store. Looking at the end he spotted Imizviel, she had already saved themselves a spot, much to Hisashi's dread.
It seemed like an eternity to Hisashi as the line moved slower than he thought humanly possible. Finally, after eons of waiting it was their turn. The lady at the register was an old woman, her sullen eyes still contained a sense of youth and energy.
"Hello there," she said, greeting Hisashi and Imizviel.
"Hello!" replied Imizviel joyfully, "I would like to purchase this incredibly cute doll here."
"Oh, of course," said the old lady, "You have a very energetic girl on your hands here young man."
"I know," said Hisashi with a sigh. He reached into his back pocket and grabbed a small wallet. Looking inside he saw that he had...no money.
"Is something wrong?" asked the old lady.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have the money to pay for this doll," said Hisashi. He looked over at Imizviel. Her crimson eyes seemed almost on the brink of tears as she stared at Hisashi, pondering the meaning behind his words. "I'm sorry Imizviel."
"No, no, no it's fine," said the old lady. The old woman handed the small doll to Imizviel with a smile.
"Thank you!" said Imizviel hugging the doll tightly, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"It was a pleasure my dear." Imizviel quickly grabbed Hisashi by the arm and the two walked out of the store. Imizviel continued to smile at the old woman, constantly saying 'Thank you'.
"Oh and Hisashi," said the old woman before they left, "Give your sister my regards. Tell her that the old lady still remembers you." The old lady chuckled warmly as he left.
A warm smile spread across Hisashi's face, "I will," he said.
As the two left the store Imizviel continued to hug her doll tightly, as if she were a human vice grip.
"Having fun with that doll?" he asked with a smile.
Without warning Imizviel wrapped her arms around Hisashi, giving him a hug. "Thank you," she said. The warmth of her soft body filled Hisashi with a peace of mind. For the first time in his life he felt of use. He felt that so long as he could make Imizviel smile and laugh the way she did today, so long as he could make her happy, that his life would have purpose.
"Imizviel!" yelled an infuriated voice.
There standing to the right of the embracing couple was Verner. He still possessed the same suave and overly professional appearance he had when Hisashi first met him. His silver eyes glared at Hisashi and the anger within them could be felt from a mile away. He tightened the red tie around his neck as he stared at the two.
"V...Verner," said Imizviel, her soft voice stuttering, "What are you doing here?"
"I came looking for you," he answered, "You disappeared. Is it not the duty of an escort to ensure that his mistress is safe?"
Imizviel remained silent. Her crimson eyes stared at the ground in a calm submission. Hisashi was confused. When he had first met them it seemed that Verner was the one serving Imizviel, but now it was as if the roles had been reversed.
"You know fully well that leaving the manor without me is strictly prohibited, m'lady."
"C'mon," interrupted Hisashi, "She just wanted to have fun! Besides, aren't you her servant? It should be her making up the rules for you, not the other way around!"
"You seem to be under the impression that your opinion matters in this conversation," remarked Verner flatly. He shot a commanding glance at Imizviel. "Let us return home, Imizviel. Now!"
"Imizviel motioned to leave but Hisashi's hand shot out and grabbed her. He looked her in the eye and said, "You don't have to do this," he whispered.
"I have no choice." Imizviel softly took Hisashi's hand off of her arm and marched over to Verner's side.
Hisashi's fists clenched as he stared at Verner. He knew there was a reason he felt uneasy about him the first time they had met.
"It's getting dark. You should be getting home Emiya," Verner's voice was cruel and filled with a murderous intent. The two disappeared into the sunset, Imizviel looking back at Hisashi one last time, her arms still wrapped around her doll.