Epilogue II: Autumn Melody

P.O.V.: A Certain Assassin's Master

The journey to the Ryougi household took much longer than Ruiko Saten expected.

There were three stops within Mifune City— two centered within downtown, and another farther out, closer to the countryside. While Tohsaka, Kamijou and the others had taken their leave at the downtown stations first, Azaka had told the two of them to sit tight for a little longer.

After another twenty or so minutes, the train stopped at a comparatively much more modest station. Much of the passengers had already dropped off downtown, leaving just the three of them and a few other strangers to make their exit here.

Upon exiting, Kokutou-sensei then called a taxi, which took them out from Mifune's city streets onto the country roads. The asphalt was quick to turn to gravel, and the two-lane highway soon only became one.

'They really live in the countryside, huh?' Saten thought. 'Must be rich.'

The taxi let them off at the start of a footpath— one that reached deep into a certain bamboo woods. It was a wind-y, long path; but the overcast of the bamboo made the warm, early autumn sun much more bearable.

With nothing but the quiet nature around them, and now that they were actually approaching the house, Saten thought it fit to break the ice.

"Kokutou-sensei?"

"Yeah?" The doctor turns and smiles to her. "Although pretty soon, just call me Azaka. My Nii-san's there too, y'know."

"R-Right…so Azaka, what is Assassi— er, Ryougi's family like? Can you tell me a little about them?"

Azaka nods, and they continue at their pace as she seems to stare at her fingers and recant her past. "The main four are Shiki, her husband and my brother, Mikiya, and their daughter Mana. As well as me, although I haven't been able to visit much due to my job in Academy City.

Outside of us four…Shiki has a brother, though we haven't heard from him in years. We also have…"

Azaka clears her throat, "other connections, but that's not important right now. All you need to know is: Shiki's been eager to meet you, so just be yourselves, okay?"

After even more minutes of walking, through the straight green pole-shaped plants, Saten could finally make out the outline of a very traditional Japanese household.

These were unheard of within Academy City— even back where she once lived, this type of architecture was being replaced by more western-style homes.

To see one in the flesh, with their sloping roof tiles and sliding doors, was a sight to behold; especially one so large.

The front door had a straw welcoming mat and three sets of shoes: one masculine and two feminine. The feminine pairs had a stark size difference, letting Saten know that it was the home of a small, but tight-knit family like Azaka had said.

'Wonder what Shiki's daughter looks like…?'

"Lemme say hi first." Kokutou says. Both she and Misaka didn't protest, and stood aside with their bags as the lab-coated doctor steps up and presses the doorbell.

The sound of a muffled ringing could be heard from inside.

Then, Saten blinks as she hears the light, yet quick pitter-patter of juvenile, hastened steps, rushing straight up to the door.

She sees the adjacent window crack open its blinds for a short moment, then the gasp of what was clearly a young child.

"Papa! They're here! Can I open the door? What?! Whaddya mean no, I saw Auntie Azaka out the— AGH!"

The door unlatches, and slides open.

Saten meets the gaze of a decently tall man, at least a head of height over Azaka, with black hair that reaches down and covers one of his eyes. He wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses and ordinary, plain clothes, to match his ordinary, yet warm smiling face.

Held in one of his arms was a girl no older than maybe five, wearing a summer dress and puffed, frustrated cheeks. Upon turning her head, Saten noticed that her blue eyes and dark hair looked exactly like Azaka's.

'Huh.' Saten blinks.

"Glad you could make it, Azaka." The man says. "Someone's been meaning to meet you—"

"Auntie Azakaaaaa!"

Azaka-sensei suddenly jolts as a child-sized bowling ball crashes into her, wrapping her arms and legs around her torso tighter than a vice.

Saten and Misaka both glance at each other, somewhat amused yet also very confused.

'What did we just get ourselves into?'

As Azaka and the girl were wrestling on the floor, the man gives a bow to both of them. "Nice to meet you both. You're my sister's acquaintances, right? My name is Mikiya Kokutou. That ball of sunshine down there is my daughter, Mana Ryougi."

Said ball of sunshine had put Azaka into a chokehold, to which Saten couldn't tell if Azaka was just acting defeated, or was actually starting to lose consciousness or not.

"Surrender!" Mana exclaims. "I know why you've come back, Auntie Azaka; it's to take Papa away from me! I won't let you, you interloper!"

"O-Oh…Really…?" Azaka's face transforms into a sinister grimace, as she grabs Mana's thin arms and throws her over her head, breaking the chokehold and assertively— but safely— grabbing the young girl by the torso. "I've been alive for nearly two decades more than you! If there's anyone who's an interloper, it's you, ya dastardly niece!"

Azaka holds Mana by her armpits, smirking as the girl's fists of fury are just a tad too short to reach her face.

"Uh…Um…"

Saten looks between Misaka for comfort, Azaka and Mana out of confusion and concern, and Mikiya for some desperately needed answers.

Mikiya smiles and shakes his head, letting her know immediately that this was, apparently, commonplace. "It's just how they greet each other. They have some sort of competition going over me…which I'm pretty sure was already settled the moment I got married."

"U-Uh-huh…" Saten nods slowly. Honestly, she didn't know whether to laugh or keep standing there dumbfounded, but Mikiya gave her an out by moving beside the entrance.

"Come on in, make yourselves at home." Mikiya says. "My wife is reading in the inner garden, so just meet her there. It's just a straight walk to the back. I'll whip up something for you two to eat, as well."

The two Academy City students gave a grateful bow, then made their way inside.

Indeed, the interior was very traditional, complete with tatami flooring, thin, paper-like walls, and sliding doors. Not wanting to intrude too much, nor with any desire to go snooping around, they removed their shoes and went exactly where Mikiya had told them.

Passing by a few living spaces and the kitchen, they finally see an interior garden, quaint yet well-maintainted, and walled-off by the house on all four sides. In the center stood an eastern-decorated gazebo, with a small, artificial river running under it, which also served to keep the surrounding grass and sprouting flowers quenched.

A short gravel path led up to the gazebo's entrance.

And sitting at its bench, silently flipping through a novel, was…

"…"

Saten steps a few paces faster than Misaka, sliding the transparent door open and slipping on one of the guest sandals.

Upon hearing her footsteps, the woman within the garden seems to smile to herself as she closes her book and sets it aside.

Ruiko's breath was almost taken away, as the woman clad in a sakura kimono stood to her feet.

Her hair was much longer than Saten had been familiar with— instead of framing her face, they now reached down to her shoulders, neatly combed and organized into a half ponytail in the back, decorated with a red cord. Over her light pink kimono was a red cardigan draped over her shoulders, which fluttered smoothly in the calm breeze.

The woman turns to her, tilting her head with a serene, springlike smile.

"Shi…ki…"

The young student's hands grip themselves tight, as memories of the entire Holy Grail War rushes back to her all at once.

Assassin's first summoning.

Their first battle against Saber, meeting with Emiya, then fighting those cloaked, fake Servants.

Shirai's parting.

The day that Assassin and her had visited that strange café.

Uiharu's parting.

Assassin's final duel against a darkened Saber, and her final farewell.

Well…now, at that moment, it didn't feel as final anymore.

Saten's shaky steps break into a rush, as her blurry, moistened eyes see herself running toward the kimono-clad woman.

Logically, this person didn't know who she was.

But…Saten did.

And for her, that's all that mattered.

Saten reaches her, and wraps her arms tightly around her, not wanting to let go. Without a second of hesitation or surprise, Ruiko unexpectedly feels the woman return the favor.

"…Nice to meet you too, young one." The woman chuckles lightly. "My name is Shiki Ryougi…although something tells me you already knew that. You're Azaka's friend, right?"

Saten nods her head as she presses against the woman's shoulder.

"Hmm…" Shiki hums quietly, using her voice to soothe Saten's soul. Even though Shiki barely knew her, Ruiko was almost stunned at how warm and welcoming she was.

Like a mother, comforting their distraught child.

"…I can tell. You've been through something horrible, haven't you? Both you and your friend, there."

Saten lifts her head as she hears another pair of footsteps enter the gazebo.

"H-Hi…um…Shiki. I'm Mikoto Misaka." Misaka gives a deep, shaky exhale, clearly trying to restrain her emotions as best she can, too.

Shiki silently nods in greeting, and gestures for the two of them to have a seat wherever they like around the garden's gazebo.

It took her a second, but Saten finally releases herself from her, and decides to sit next to Misaka, right across from someone who looked exactly like her Servant.

It was almost uncanny…yet Saten didn't find it unsettling. In fact, the look in Shiki's onyx eyes made Saten realize that she must have known much more than she was letting on.

Shiki leans forward a little. "…Tell me, you two. You know me, don't you?"

That question made the two of them stiffen, like how a child would petrify when their mother found out about their hidden jar of cookies, but Shiki's serene smile quickly melted away their guards.

"…Unfortunately, I do not know you…but I can tell there's a deeper connection we share, isn't there? Not only that, but…"

Her eyes narrow a degree. "There's something dark dwelling in your eyes that I can clearly see…what may be ailing you?

Don't hold anything back. Any secrets you're nervous about divulging…I will keep my word."


P.O.V.: A Certain Imagine Breaker

"I-Is this really the place?"

Touma Kamijou knocks on the door, for the third time in the past minute or so.

He glances at the address that Ciel had sent to everyone, and this was indeed listed as the right address; but the state of the building looked…rather undeveloped, especially compared to the rather metropolitan city-scape of downtown Mifune.

It was as if the building had been abandoned mid-construction, with scaffolding and iron bars reaching up in a grid-pattern; the skeleton of what was likely going to be a fifth or sixth floor. Instead, there were only four: and after peeking through the window, Index had surmised that even the bottommost floor was covered in rubble and was pretty much in ruin.

Which just begged the question:

"S-Seriously, I'm not sure if we're in the right…" Rin trails off. "…Maybe she's running late…or slept in? No, why would someone as famous as an Aozaki ever stay in late, though…?"

Ciel raises her finger, and scrolls through the contacts on her phone. "…N-No, we're definitely in the right place. The Garan-no-Dou…'Hollow Shrine', huh…?"

Just the moment before the four of them were about to lose hope, they all audibly gasp in surprise as the door unlocks itself, and swings open outward.

It nearly grazes Touma on the nose as he instinctively steps back, allowing a decently tall redheaded woman to step through.

She had the appearance of a fully-fledged adult, not quite in their middle age but past the point of their immature twenties, with ponytailed, dark red hair and scarlet-colored eyes. Her long bangs framed her mature, womanly face. Her clothes were professional and rather androgynous, with a white button-up and black slacks underneath a trench coat, but the neutral clothing couldn't quite hide her feminine curves.

"Good afternoon." The woman gave a kind smile, which Touma immediately found to betray the assertiveness of her posture. "I'm assuming you four were who called yesterday for an appointment?"

"Y-Yes." Tohsaka nods and extends her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Touko Aozaki-san."

Aozaki returns the favor. "Likewise. Rin Tohsaka, right?" She turns around, gesturing with her hand that they were all allowed to enter. "To what do I owe the pleasure of assisting a member of the Tohsaka lineage?"

As they walk through, Touma hears Rin clear her throat, her face and body language clearly indicating her nervousness; like a fan that was right next to one of their idols.

Tohsaka beamed with confidence often, so it was jarring to see her trying to formulate her words properly. "W-Well, it's like we discussed last night. The whole puppet thing, right?"

Touko laughs, her shoulders slumping into a more casual posture as she opens a door and reveals a set of stairs to a higher floor. The room they were in was cluttered and rather unkempt; certainly not fit for anyone to live or work in. "I know, I know, just trying to act all formal. It doesn't really suit me.

I will say…you guys got lucky. After you gave me what their height range should be, I found a spare that fits right in the ballpark. Although…"

The redheaded woman turns to Tohsaka with a raised brow. "You gave me two heights, actually, and you never explained why. What's going on with that?"

As they all filed in up the stairs, Tohsaka seemed hesitant on whether to give the truth or not. She turns to the others for help, and Touma decides to give her a determined nod.

'It's better if she knows, anyway.'

"…Well…" Rin sighs. "…we don't know whose soul is in that cage, there." She gestures to the blanket-covered container Ciel continues to carry. Touko gives it a quick glance, narrowing her eyes at the faint, golden light emanating from within it.

"It's…one of two people." Touma explains. "It's…a long story, really."

"Hm? I like stories." Touko shrugs as she reaches the top of the stairs, and clicks open another door. "After I'm done with the transfer, if you're comfortable, I don't mind hearing a long story short of it."

"With all due respect," Tohsaka replies, "we have somewhere to be after this job is done, Aozaki-san…although I will say…thanks for doing this. It was last minute, too…"

Touko nods with a smile. "It's no problem, really. I've had my fair share of strange clients before; trust me, you lot are a breath of fresh air."

She walks in, letting the others step through as well.

Within was a modest office floor, with messy stacks of papers strewn about alongside the occasional piece of clothing. The sunlight beaming through the window showed quite a bit of dust hanging in the air, implying that the person who worked here hadn't bothered to clean anything in probably weeks or more.

"My workshops were on the floors below, but you know mages. Gotta keep their secrets." Touko says. "I do have what you're looking for here, though."

She steps up to a large mahogany desk, with a tarp laid over it, hiding what appeared to be something humanoid underneath. The redheaded magus quickly pulls off the cover, and—

"…Woah." Touma audibly mutters to himself.

Underneath was a beige-colored, life-sized puppet, with proportions perfectly matching that of an average height teenage girl.

Its body was segmented at where joints should be: the shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, hips; even the fingers were delicately and perfectly fashioned and designed. Touma imagined that if it were to get up and walk around, its movements would be greatly similar if not identical to that of an actual person's.

"Next…cage, please?"

Ciel hands Aozaki the cage-dwelling soul. Carefully, she lifts and removes the cover, allowing everyone to see what had been hidden away since the Holy Grail War's conclusion two nights ago…

…a golden, glimmering, spherical flame, contained with a translucent, floating white box.

Touko sets the cage down at the puppet's sidewalk and discreetly unlatches the gate, reaching with her hand to grab the cube directly.

Her fingertips press down onto it as lightly as a feather. Judging by the way she gingerly held it as she pulled it from its cage, Touma surmised it must have been as light as a feather, too.

"…Alright, everyone. The moment of truth."

Touko Aozaki walks behind the desk, standing perpendicular to the puppet's body. "What were the two girls' names that this soul could belong to?"

"…Kuroko Shirai, or…Sakura Matou." Touma answers.

Touko nods, her face scowling with certainty as she lowers the container over the puppet's chest. "I see. May whoever this spirit be…

…find happiness with their renewed chance at life."

Before everyone's eyes, the golden flame is drawn out, slowly transferring from the fragile white box into its new, larger, and more suitable home.

As its light spreads throughout its body, Touma's eyes widen as the puppet itself starts to change shape. It was then that he realized the soul is what carried a person's appearance.

Its beige, flawlessly painted skin became more peachy and humanlike, with all of its imperfections. Closed eyes started to develop on its face, along with a discernible nose, ears, and lips.

Its body shifted proportions slightly, to fit the body that the soul previously had dwelled within.

It didn't take long for Touma to realize who it was.

"…Well I'll be damned." He hears Touko mutter. "Haven't done something like that in a while."

The spiky-haired teen feels his heart slow from the weakening anxiety, as he gazes upon Illya's selection, laying silently in front of them.

'…So that's…who you picked…'

A simultaneous feeling of guilt, yet pride formed in his heart. It was a paradoxical feeling that he almost didn't know how to handle. He wasn't paying attention to anyone else around him; but he was certain their chests were aching with something similar.

'I hope it was the right one, Illya. For everyone's sake.'


P.O.V.: The Railgun and Assassin's Master

They told her everything.

There wasn't any sugarcoating, or skipping over details.

From the very start, when Assassin was first summoned…

…to the very end, when Assassin had departed.

As they were speaking to the stranger in pink, Mikoto realized that the woman's expression never changed.

She never seemed surprised. Never seemed shocked at what they were telling her. A story like the one they were recanting would be one that almost anyone would find crazy…

…yet she kept her neutral, peaceful gaze, nodding every so often for them to keep talking.

"You…well, Assassin fought Saber, and then…" Ruiko Saten sighs. They had agreed to call their Servant by their Class, to differentiate from the woman sitting in front of them. "…That was it. Assassin told me to live and be happy.

But…as you can probably tell…I don't…know how to do that. Right now."

Saten leans back, letting Misaka tell her side a little bit. They were separated during the climax of the War, so they had different stories to tell. "…Yeah. That's…putting it lightly.

…I still hate Sakura. A part of me hates Shirou and Tohsaka for wanting her back, even though they had given up so much to do it. If I find out that it's her instead of Kuroko that they had revived, I…"

"…Well, it's not certain yet, is it?" Shiki asks. "Who's revived, I mean."

The two girls nod their heads. "They're supposed to be coming here to tell us. Although…we're definitely going to meet who it is." Saten says.

"I see." Shiki straightens her posture, staring out at the beautifully kept garden around them as she likely puts together the whole myriad of stories they had just dropped onto her.

Mikoto wouldn't blame her if she felt overwhelmed at that moment. It wasn't any secret that she and Saten needed some sort of counseling, but she wasn't sure if any therapist or psychiatrist in the world would be able to properly quantify their grievances.

Instead, however, the woman named Shiki Ryougi remained perfectly calm. The light autumn breeze swept through her hair, accentuating her peacefulness despite the chaos of their stories.

"…The Holy Grail War…it's taken a lot from you. You two sacrificed a lot, to get to where you are now…and you're not even sure if your efforts will mean something. Is that right?"

Mikoto nodded her head apprehensively. The summary was rather succinct, yet appropriate.

"…But are you sure your efforts were meaningless?" Shiki asks. "Are you sure that you didn't gain something, despite all that you've lost? I am not trying to make it sound like what you did lose was small…but what did you gain?

Look at what you have now. Maybe there's some meaning in what you're still holding onto."

Mikoto twitched at those words. Now, at this point, with the War still fresh in her mind…what Shiki was saying was hard to swallow.

Sure, it made logical sense. But logic fell flat in that face of grief-stricken emotions.

"I…I don't know what I've gained." Mikoto mutters. "The entire War…I was just focused on revenge. I just wanted to…hurt them. And when I got what I wanted, it…it didn't make it better…"

"There. That right there is what you've gained." Shiki replies. The Esper glances up at her in confusion, but she elaborates. "…A clearer conscience. It may not seem like much, but you've realized that the path you were taking was wrong. That goes a long way. It means you can still move on from this, even if you find it to be impossible now."

Mikoto sighs.

She was right. There wasn't any good that would come out of her going off the deep end.

…Especially since next to her, was the one closest person to her that's been through what she has.

'…I can't let Saten be alone…maybe that's what Shiki meant, by finding meaning in what I'm holding onto…'

Biting her lip, she turns to Shiki again. "…What do I do if it's not Kuroko?"

The sakura-clad Ryougi closes her eyes. "Accept it. That is all you can do. Losing someone dear to you…it can be like losing a part of yourself. I understand that heartache. I understand that pain.

Conversely…if it is Kuroko…and you gained something that you thought you had lost…then treat Tohsaka and the others with compassion. With respect.

You said your enemy was the Beast of Retribution. Something that gains strength from vengeance. If you don't want to become like it, and become something utterly evil, then find the strength in you to accept who hurt you.

You don't need to forgive. Nor do you need to forget. However, if you ever feel that anger boiling in you…that want to hurt, or maybe even go further…then take a breath, and remember what it could result in."

Mikoto thinks back to how the whole Holy Grail War had gone awry in the first place.

The fire from ten years ago…the destruction that Angra Mainyu had caused now…it was all because of his want for revenge.

Sakura's warpath was because of her want for revenge.

Her own warpath was because of her want for revenge.

And in the end…what did it leave for anyone?

'…Shiki's right.

I was stupid. Way too damn stupid.'

"…No one wins by committing acts of revenge." Shiki concludes. "All it does is transfer the anger from one person to another. A cycle of hatred."

The woman stands to her feet, and gestures for the two of them to do the same. Gently, she wraps her arms around their's, and pulls them into a soft embrace.

Mikoto found her warm. Despite her chaotic, running thoughts, she didn't mind Shiki's hug at all.

"…One day, this will be a story to tell. Down the line, far into the future, this horrible conflict will become a memory. I don't doubt it will stick with you forever…but the world will keep moving on.

It's up to you whether you want to face it or not."

Almost perfectly on cue, Mikoto's ears perk as they hear a sliding door come open from behind them.

"Okaa-samaaa!" Mana's voice yells out from the doorway. "There's a knock-knock at the door! Papa told me to tell you to get it!"

The Esper's heart sinks.

She knew that the moment of truth was coming.

Glancing up at Shiki, she gives both of them a calming smile. "Deep breaths.

Either way…it'll all be okay. We'll be here to support you…both you, and your friends. Now go."

With a strengthened vigor, Mikoto and Saten turn away from the gazebo, and make their way to the garden's exit.

Upon entering the Ryougi's main hallway again, they both harden their gaze at the front door. Behind it was the truth.

They glance at each other, and grip each other's hands, using each other to lean on as they walk forward.

Mikoto looks behind her as they reach halfway.

Shiki gives a small, knowing nod at her from the garden's entrance, carrying a certain rowdy child in her hands that also waves at them to fight on.

Even if it was slight, Mana's innocent smile did make Mikoto's heart a little warmer. At this point, it was what she needed.

…Before they knew it, they were standing right at the entrance. They hear a knock on the other end.

With her heart racing, her hands sweating, and her breath hyperventilating, Mikoto forces herself to take a deep breath in.

"On…three…" Saten mutters.

"One…" Mikoto starts.

"Two…" Ruiko continues.

And—


P.O.V.: The Crimson Mage, the Railgun, and Assassin's Master

Mikoto sees Rin Tohsaka take a small step back as she pulls the door open.

Behind the mage were Kamijou, Ciel and Index, a few meters off from the Ryougi house's entrance to give the four of them their privacy.

The wind seems to pick up, fluttering through all of their hair as Misaka and Saten stare at the girl at Rin's side, on the other side of the doorway.

The girl in question looks back, biting her lip out of nothing but sheer nervousness.

"Misaka-san.

Saten-san, I'm…"

A certain lilac flower gives a deep, resonant bow.

For a moment. Just a fraction of a second, neither of them could feel anything.

Then not even a second later, their hearts drop into their stomachs.

Life nearly pulls out of their eyes, and the color leaves their skin.

…yet the girl before them remains bowing anyway.

"…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…!"

Twin, dripping waterfalls rain down onto her white dress and the floor.

Sakura Matou's loose, purple hair covers her weeping face, as her entire body and soul pours into her prostration.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry for everything…I…I hurt so many…I hurt both of you…I…

…I don't deserve to live…I shouldn't have been the one to survive…I…!"

The weeping shifts to pained cries. Grieving tears, trying in vain to reach out to the thousands who were lost— and to the two girls that stood before her.

Rin continues to stand back. She had nothing to say. There was nothing she could say.

She had gotten what she wanted. Yet just as she feared…

'…I hate this feeling.'

Of winning, yet feeling guilty.

Yet at the same time, her emotions meant little in this moment compared to the two young students of Academy City that continued to blankly stare at a bowing Sakura.

Rin silently braces herself for anything.

Yelling. Screaming. Mutual crying. Fighting.

If Misaka were to lash out right here, right now, Rin wouldn't blame her in the slightest.

Because standing in front of them was the absolute proof that Kuroko Shirai could never come back.

Rin sees Saten break from her petrification and lunge forward—

— to lift Sakura from her bow, and wrap her arms around her sister.

'Wh…'

Sakura's tear-falling eyes were wide, like she couldn't believe what was just happening. Saten's head falls onto the lilac girl's shoulder, every part of her body trembling.

"…don't…don't say that…"

Saten chokes out her words, which were also laced with moistened eyes.

"…no one…wants to see you die…Sakura…so don't say that…

I'm sorry, too. I raised a blade at you. The anger I had…it made me understand how you felt, even if just a little.

…you wanted revenge. That Angra Mainyu thing enabled you, didn't it? This wasn't…this wasn't all your fault.

I don't…I don't know your whole story, but…I know what you felt. That's why…you shouldn't say you don't deserve to live…otherwise, none of us do."

Saten separates from Sakura, and the two of them look directly in the eyes.

"…Listen, Sakura. This…this needs to be said, clearly."

Saten wipes the water from her face, trying to get a clear, good picture of Sakura that would burn into the back of her memory.

"I'm…not ready to forgive you. I'm not sure if I ever will. And I won't forget what you did to hurt me. Hurt us.

But—"

One more time, Saten pulls her into a hug.

"…Illya made her choice. Emiya-san fought hard to save you. So…I'll respect what they did. You should, too. You especially. Okay?"

The two girls nod knowingly at one another.

Saten breaks from Sakura, and takes a step back.

Inwardly, she feels the dam of emotions quell. Even if it was only temporarily…her heart knew she did the right thing.

'Don't forgive. Don't forget.

But…accept.'

Saten closes her eyes, telling herself to breathe, just as a right hand lands on Sakura's shoulder.

Mikoto Misaka stares at the ground, standing next to Sakura Matou. She refused to give her any glance in the eye.

"I'm only going to say this once, Sakura." Her voice ran cold. Nearly too cold for Rin's liking; but she stayed quiet as the Railgun continued.

"I do not. Ever. Want to see you again. What you did…to my friends…and to thousands of other people…I will always hate you for that."

Her hand instinctively clenches on Sakura's shoulder, causing her to wince in slight pain.

"I still think you're a monster. I still think that it should have been Kuroko instead of you. If you think that's harsh…then accept it. You told me how you felt, so I'm telling you how I feel. After today, I'm not going to see you again, anyway.

…but at the same time,"

Mikoto releases her hand, letting it fall gently off of Sakura. "…You're alive now. Live however you want. I won't get in your way. I'm not going to deny the wishes of the people that wanted to save you.

So go. I don't care what you do."

Misaka steps back. Just to make sure there was no more tension, Rin puts herself between the Esper and her sister.

There was no further confrontation. Misaka grabs Saten's hand, and the two of them turn on their heels and walk away without any other word.

Rin felt the urge to say something at that moment, but held herself back.

Anything she said would either be ignored, or would make them feel worse.

From a side hallway, Rin watches as Azaka leans in, her face uncharacteristically, yet appropriately solemn.

"…Thanks for giving them the news, guys." Azaka says. "But…it'll also be best if you all leave. My family will take care of them for a little while. Don't worry, I've already told their parents about it."

Rin nods. She didn't know how Misaka and Saten's parents were okay with them basically staying with strangers, even if they were good-natured and kind-hearted, but she chalks it up to Azaka having her ways and leaving it at that.

The brunette mage gives a bow, and goads Sakura to do the same.

"Thank you…Kokutou-sensei…" Sakura mutters.

"Y-Yeah. No problem." Azaka says. "If you or your friends need them, call me. Don't call them directly…they need their space. We'll…we'll see you around."

And with that, the door to the Ryougi house shuts closed.

XXXXX

A Few Days Later.

The wounds hadn't healed. She wasn't sure if they had even begun to.

Mikoto Misaka steps out of a shower of the Ryougi house. Upon seeing her own face in the mirror, she didn't know if she could recognize it or not.

The bleary, tired eyes. The sunken face that had barely eaten.

It wasn't that Shiki's cooking wasn't delicious, she…just never had the will to pick up many bites of food.

It even took her way too much time to get dressed. Shiki had stashed away her Tokiwadai uniform for now, in place of a set of kimonos that used to be from her old wardrobe.

The only issue was that it was a hassle for her to put on. She could manage, but only barely, and Shiki always had to adjust some details for her to look proper.

Stepping out of the bathroom, Mikoto glances down as she meets the eyes of a certain, blue-eyed little girl, staring at a brick-building set that her father had gotten for her.

"Hey there, Mana." Mikoto smiles.

Over the past few days, she's learned that one of the only things that made her forget her grief, even if it was only for a little while, was the only daughter of the Ryougi.

Mana smiles up at her, then points to her brick set, which was only partially built. "Mikoto-neesan, can you help me? This one's tough; Papa got me a set that's for ten-year-olds! Do I look ten to you?"

'Neesan…'

Mikoto takes in a small breath, and lets her face fall back into a smile.

"No, but you sometimes talk like one. Like just now." Mikoto kneels down, flipping through the instruction booklet. "You're pretty well-spoken for your age, Mana."

Mana grins. "I have Okaa-sama to thank for that! My reading level is three grades ahead of everyone else!"

"Is it now? That's impressive." Misaka smiles.

Just before the Esper could grab a brick, Mana grabs her hand and shakes her head. "Wait, before you do that, Mikoto-neesan…let's do a trade. You wanna help me build, right?"

"U-Um…yeah?"

Mana reaches from behind her back…and pulls out a small bowl of steaming miso soup, reaching it out to Mikoto. "…Then let me help you eat. Papa said you need to eat because you're a growing girl like me. It worked on Saten-neesan, so it's gotta work on you, too!"

Mikoto sighs. She knew it was, in part, a ploy from Mikiya to get her to eat more, when she really didn't feel the urge to.

…but seeing Mana's face…

'I can't say no to that.'

"…Alright, Mana. Let's trade, then."

Mikoto takes the miso bowl, much to Mana's delight…

…and takes a small, subtle, yet warmth-filled gulp.


P.O.V.: A Certain Crimson Mage

The trip back to the train station was naught but solemn and quiet.

The bandage was ripped off. What needed to be done, was done, but…

'…I wonder if they'll be…' Rin sighs.

There wasn't much else she could do. Even if she felt guilty, or even regretful, she knew that Saten and Misaka's paths needed to be forged without her or Sakura in it.

'…No. They'll be okay.'

"…Are you, Sakura?"

Rin glances at her lilac-haired sister, walking silently alongside her. Their hands were clasped together, but the strength in Sakura's hands was much weaker than her's.

Sakura wore a pure, white dress, tied at the waist with a black ribbon. Her loose hair had long since lost her ribbon; though Rin had earlier assured her that she kept the second pair back at the Tohsaka mansion; and they were on their way back to it soon, anyway.

The one thing that Rin found notable…was a tuft of Sakura's hair.

Even now, being purged from Angra Mainyu, a bang of her hair remained an ashen white, while the rest had long since reverted back to its pure purple.

She hadn't remembered Sakura's real body having that, upon its departure on the Holy Grail War's end.

'Maybe it's a reminder she gave herself. A reminder of what she did.'

It was the only explanation she had. And she would respect it.

After scanning their tickets, and doing some simple mental manipulation spells to let Sakura through security, the five of them stood at the waiting area, an awkward pause coming over them as they realized that this is where they would all separate.

Ciel had to return to Souya, since that's where she was first stationed, then eventually take a plane back to Europe. Ciel would be catching the same train with Rin and Sakura for a little while, but would have to depart once Souya Station came along.

Touma and Index had to return to Academy City. Their train went the opposite direction of where Fuyuki and Souya were directed, so this was where they'd part.

And as for her and Sakura…

'…We're going home.'

It was strange, departing from people that they had fought an entire War with. That they had mutually shared laughs and tears with.

Yet at the same time, it meant this chapter of her life was over.

'The War's done. Ten years of work, of studying…of practicing…finally finished.

I wonder what you're thinking right now, Father? Mother? Especially now that I…'

She tightens her grip around Sakura's hand. Thankfully, she does the same, even if it was only barely.

'…I have her back.'

And it wasn't just her, either.

Standing in front of her were three alli— friends, that she could rely on. Even if their paths were departing, nothing about their leave was permanent.

Seeing that their train to Fuyuki and Souya was approaching, Index rushes over and pulls Sakura into a hug.

The two of them didn't exchange many words. It appeared that all Index wanted Sakura to feel was her warmth.

"…I'll call you guys. Regularly." Index pulls away and nods at the two sisters, a determined, sharp look on her face. "I have a lotta free time in Touma's apartment anyway, so I'll call you guys as much as I can!"

Touma chuckles, patting the silver-haired nun on the head. "Thanks, Index. That'll mean a lot."

Index smiles. "Of course! Call me, too, if you want any TV show recommendations!"

Touma taps the nun-in-training on the shoulder, leaning in closer. "Uh, Index…"

"What?"

"…They don't have a TV."

Index gawks.

"Wha…huh…? Rin, if you don't mind me asking, but how did you function—?"

She's quickly interrupted by a clearing of Ciel's throat. "I'm sorry to ruin the fun, everyone, but…"

She points to the electronic sign. "Our train's going to be here in three minutes. We should probably continue saying our goodbyes…"

Leading by example, the Burial Agent turns to Kamijou and Index, reaching into her bag and producing a set of packaged bread. "Here. Catch!"

"Wha—?!"

Rin snickers under her nose as she sees Kamijou almost trip and fall from barely catching the curry bread in his hands. Comparatively, Index, had absolutely no issue.

"Ah, there's the misfortune. Wondering when it would show up." Index deadpans.

"Ah, quiet!" Touma huffs, but quickly shifts his mood to a smile at the blue-haired Nun. "Thanks, Ciel."

Sheepishly, the Burial Agent fixes her glasses and clears her throat. For some reason, his genuine smile threw her off. "J-Just consider it a token of our friendship. We have each other's phone numbers, so just text me how it tastes whenever you get around to it."

"You bet! I'm pretty hungry, anyway." Index says. "It'll help hold me off until we get back to Academy City!"

Kamijou blinks. "Didn't you eat, like, all of the complimentary food on the way here to Mifune—?"

"Shush, I'm a growing girl."

Content with that goodbye, Ciel stands back, letting Sakura take a step forward toward the two of them.

Just like with Misaka and Saten, she gives a deepened bow— but this time, no tears of regret or sorrow, or self-harmful words followed.

Just a silent, grateful, yet apologetic bow.

"You can stand up straight now, Sakura." Kamijou says. Sakura lifts her head, only to be met with a one-armed embrace, Touma pulling her head close to his shoulder.

"You're probably wondering what I think of you being brought back, right?"

Sakura quietly nods her head.

"…I won't overlook what you did. It was wrong. Downright evil. Angra Mainyu may have influenced you, and given you the power to do it…but it was still your decision to take many of those lives. A lot of it was that bastard's fault…but you need to take responsibility, too.

I think…the best way to do that is to live your life as best you can. I don't know if you'll ever be able to atone for what you did, if I'm being honest…but you deserve happiness. You deserve sympathy. You're a human, just like everyone else."

He separates from her, and gives her a hardened, close-lipped smile of tough love. "Find your way in life, like everyone else. You have an awesome sister that'll be by your side. You have Index…who's probably gonna call you every day…"

A small snicker breaks the calmness from behind him, only to be stopped by a Ciel-laced elbow. "…You aren't alone. Even if you think you are, you aren't. Got it?"

Sakura, though briefly, returns the embrace. "…Yeah. Thank you, Kamijou-san."

The two of them separate.

…there was still one more person Kamijou needed to say farewell to.

He gulps as he walks up to her, as Rin puts her hands on her hips and gives a coy grin. "Awesome, huh? That's what you think of me?"

"W-Well…yeah." He quickly looks anywhere that Rin wasn't and rubs the back of his head, as if trying to erase what he just said. "I mean, so is everyone else that fought in the War with us, so—"

"Touma, you're backtracking." Index groans from behind. "This is why you can't get any—OW! Okay Ciel, jeez, I'll shut up…"

Rin breaks into a small laugh, unable to take Index's antics with any composure anymore. She sees Kamijou do the same…although it was more of an awkward chuckle.

Not wanting this moment to feel cringe-inducing for him for the foreseeable future, the brunette mage grabs his hand and decides to go for a hug of her own.

It took a second of hesitance, but he managed to return the favor.

'Warm.'

Rin inwardly nods to herself as she taps her forehead on Kamijou's shoulder.

"Stay safe, ya idiot." She mutters. "Keep everyone else safe, too."

"I will. You and Sakura stay safe for us, as well."

(OST: "Da Capo" — Honkai Impact 3rd)

As they embrace, Rin suddenly hears the rush of a coming train. Small crowds of people start gathering off of the benches and toward the tracks, signaling that it was time to go.

Quickly, the two of them depart.

"Huh." Index blinks. "Coulda sworn that hug was gonna be longer."

Touma sighs as he turns away from Rin and starts walking back with a crestfallen head. "Index, it's really not like that…"

"And I'm the Queen, dammit! When we get home, I am spilling all of your guts!"

Her screaming had caused such a commotion, that the passersby started giving concerned glances.

Even Sakura peers up to Rin, tilting her head as if to ask, "So…how do you feel about him?"

Rin gives a passive shrug.

'Who knows?'

The brunette mage picks up her luggage, and joins the line along with everyone else. Ciel follows closely behind, not wanting to get separated in the crowd.

Luckily, they had entered just before the main wave, allowing them seats on the side. Not wanting to stare at people's behinds, Rin turns and stares out the window.

She catches the sight of a certain Level 0 and silver-haired nun, who wave at them through the glass.

The train's doors shut. Soon after, the wheels start to turn.

With the brightest smile she could muster, Rin Tohsaka gives a wave back.

'Until next time, Kamijou-kun. Index.

Thank you for fighting with me.'

XXXXX

Shortly into the ride, Rin feels Sakura's head fall onto her shoulder. Touko had told her that the first few weeks of being in a new puppet body would be exhausting for her due to the soul and body calibrating with each other, so her tiredness wasn't out of the ordinary.

At the very least, it allowed her to ponder in silence, without having to think of awkward conversation topics between her and Sakura.

While Sakura was physically tired, she was drained emotionally and mentally. Once they arrived home, though, in a familiar place, she was certain that her aches would start to relieve.

'And more importantly…we're together, now.'

Rin smiles in content, as a certain Tohsaka sister continues to rest on her shoulder.

It was time for her to make up for the decade of being apart.

Time to make up for her mistakes. This time, she wouldn't leave her. She won't just assume she's unworthy.

She has a right to be her older sister, just as much as Sakura deserved to be her younger.

"Hey, uh…Tohsaka-senpai…"

Rin blinks, her eyes pulling away from Sakura as she remembers there was another person she knew sitting next to her.

She also found it hard to remember that Ciel was her kouhai, considering how she acts when in combat.

'Right, she's Kamijou-kun's age…First-Year in high school, right?'

Ciel had spoken to her, but her eyes weren't making eye contact— which considering how she usually addresses people, which was directly, it was a bit out of character.

"…What is your…opinion of Kamijou-kun?"

"Hm? Well…"

Rin scratches her chin for a second, staring up at the ceiling as he recalls that spiky-haired teen.

His idiocy, yet his bravery.

"Well…he called me awesome, so…I guess I don't not feel the same way about him…"

"…That was a very strange way of putting it, Tohsaka-senpai."

"I mean…maybe. He's strange to me." Rin replies. "…Strange isn't bad, though. What do you think about him?"

Ciel doesn't answer.

'Huh, she's usually a lot more talkative.'

Instead, the Public Announcement voice rings overhead.

"Next Stop, Souya Station. Next Stop, Souya Station…"

"Oh, would you look at that?" Ciel fixes her glasses, quickly shifting her neutral, distant gaze into a smile as she pulls something out of her bag. "Looks like this is where we part too, Tohsaka-senpai. As I did with Kamijou-kun and Index…"

She produces two curry breads, and places them in Rin's hands as she stands to her feet. "…Here, for you and Sakura. Eat them together when you get home."

Rin nods. "Yeah. Thank you, Ciel. We'll keep in touch?"

The undercover Burial Agent gives a coy grin, fixing her glasses like some sort of comic book hero. "Of course. I'll find a way to visit when I can, too."

A few short moments later, Rin watches as the train grinds to a slow halt.

The doors open, and passersby come in and out.

With a knowing nod and wave, Ciel joins the sea of people and disappears into the station.


P.O.V.: ? ? ?

She didn't know how, or why she was still existing.

Despite losing all senses, losing consciousness, and falling into the unknowable abyss beyond life, she found herself, strangely enough, still existing.

She had no body. She had nothing to see, smell, touch or feel.

Yet, she could feel something anyway.

In the endless void of nothingness, she knew something had grasped her within their palms.

Then, she heard it. A gentle, yet stern voice, coming from far above.

"Welcome back, Sakura.

I don't have much time, so I'll try to keep this short.

You're going to keep living. But I don't see it as a reward. I don't reward people that hurt others.

Instead…this is your punishment, Sakura.

It's too easy to die. I know, it's a little ironic…considering I'm giving up my life to make sure you go on, but it's still true.

You hurt good people. You hurt your sister. You hurt my brother.

You need to be punished for that. Death is a relief that I won't let you have.

You need to live. To know the sins that you bear. So you can live with their weight.

This is the consequence of revenge, Sakura. You've lost what you wanted. You can't live with Shirou anymore. You've irreparably changed countless people's lives.

But you still have something. By doing this, I'm reuniting you with your family. What are you going to do about it?

I hope you find solace. I hope you can accept whatever future awaits for you.

Shirou wanted you to live. I was torn about saving your life or not, but…as his big sister, I will carry on and see his dream to the end.

Don't let his dream die for nothing, Sakura.

Okay, off you go. I'll see you around."

XXXXX

Sakura takes a deep breath, as she recalls the first words that she had heard upon returning to consciousness.

Her life was a reprimand. Yet at the same time, it was still a second chance.

Every word that Illya had said to her was true. She would have to live on with countless regrets, and countless sins.

'But even still…'

She steps up to an iron gate, holding the hand of someone that she had thought she had long lost.

Rin gives her a kind nod, as she unlocks the gate and pushes it open for her.

They walk through a slightly overgrown front lawn, due to Rin not having kept up any of the house since she had left for Academy City. Autumn, crestfallen leaves have begun to fall onto the dry green grass.

As they make their way up the short stairs to the front door, Rin hands her the keychain. "You do the honors, Sakura. You ready to come home?"

The lilac flower smiles.

It was a smile with a hurricane of emotions hidden behind her lips. A torrential downpour of countless years of pain, concealed.

Yet at the same time, she had someone next to her that could help to navigate through the storm.

"Yes. Let's go home, Nee-san."

Rin takes her hand, and helps her insert the key.

"One, two…!"

The key turns. The lock clicks open.

And the sisters of Tohsaka are home at last.

The Grail War of Retribution, Heaven's Fall

End.


Credits

Kinoko Nasu, Kamachi Kazuma: for making such intricate, interesting, and wonderful fictional worlds that I could sandbox and merge together.

SkagthePrinceofHell: for helping with research and development.

ChaoticVice777: for detailed beta-reading and reviews.

JDog2K, average stuufy, 5had0wHand, Jaya2002, sky: for continued support, and entertaining, fun, lovely banter. Y'all are cool.

And You!: If you've read to this point, then thank you for reading Heaven's Fall all the way to the end. It means a ton, ton! If you've reviewed, followed, favorited— then thank you for those, as well!

I hope to see you when I take—

Final Release: "A Certain Next Step" (June 22nd)