Chapter 8: Things We Do

Kazuha Aoi didn't see Shirou Emiya all week. According to Yamato-san, the store manager, Shirou called in sick at the beginning of the week, but informed the manager that he would be missing for the entire time. Also, it seemed that his landlady, a certain Asama-san, verified Shirou's condition and had explained that he was down with a cold and will be up in a few days. It wasn't that big of a deal though, it seemed like he put enough hours the past few days to last at least a day or two into his sudden absence, as long as he comes for weekends he wouldn't miss an hour in his month of working.

What did happen against protocol was Yamato-san giving Aoi Emiya's address, it wasn't really 'against protocol' per say since his address wasn't really part of the information at the store, but it was against personal privacy to a certain extent.

So now a 160-centimeter girl with long dark blue hair reaching deep down her back was walking towards a certain "Izumo Inn" in the residential district of Tokyo. She walked with gentle steps, elegant if one must describe it, light yet moderately large strides, her movements caused her silky dark hair to sway across her back. Glittering under the afternoon sun, drifting back and forth as her hips swayed from her every step.

Aoi was wearing light blue tank top hugging her body and showing her curvaceous body. With denim shorts she also showed off a huge length of her long thighs, or at least it would have if not for her stockings that covered her calves rising above her knees, only revealing a small segment of her things for the whole world to see. She wore dark blue flats to compliment her hair and had a black bag dangling from her shoulders. In her other hand she held a small bag filled with sweets for the patient she is currently on her way visiting.

She approached an old styled building with sturdy looking wooden walls surrounding it, despite being old styled it still looked well kept and definitely seemed to have been renovated over the years. Coming to the front door there was a small slit as mail box on the wall, and a big sign above it reading 'Izumo Inn'.

Kazuha tested the gates by pushing it, finding it unlocked and open she easily step through onto a rock-lain path leading to a sliding door in the far end of the stone road. Walking slowly with a sense of dread, the elite PANDORA slowly approached the shut door stepping onto the wooden pavilion that raised the house above the ground.

There was a moment of hesitation, a moment of dread when Aoi didn't really feel like facing Shirou Emiya, it wasn't like they were arguing or something, but it was uneasy. Someone indomitable had fallen to something as average as a cold, how absolutely anticlimactic. It was with this in mind that Kazuha had started on her arduous journey, yes, it was hard, finding a house in a residential area where all houses look the same was definitely hard.

She wanted to see a god fall.

She came wanting to laugh at Shirou Emiya for being so useless. It was a common human trait, to want to see those who were perfect fall, wasn't it?

But after she was actually there her mind was absolutely turned. She was ashamed she wanted to see Emiya in his most pathetic state, to see him disposed, vulnerable.

He was her hero.

How could she ever want to see her hero lose? Shirou Emiya was a paragon of all that is right, strength, and determination. There was no reason…

With a startled yelp Kazuha's train of thoughts was interrupted by the sudden sliding of the rice paper door. To her despair the one who answered the door was the object of her concerns, Shirou Emiya.

With a white t-shirt and long jeans Shirou stood there firm and tall. To Kazuha's surprise there was no obvious signs of pain that would be associated with the cold he should be having. Instead he stood there with a raised eyebrow as if he was asking Kazuha what she was doing here.

Coughing slightly to return the dazed PANDORA back into attention she almost jumped as she quickly made eye contact and held out the bag in her hand. "Gifts. Emiya-san, I brought…um…gifts…" Opening it slightly to observe the contents of her bag she continued, "Sweets, some cut fruit, yeah, I brought stuff…"

"Umm, Aoi-san, do you want some tea?"

Nodding quickly, Kazuha replied in a quiet and timid voice, "Yes, please."

Nodding slightly to the awkwardness of Aoi's behavior the copper skinned man stood aside and ushered the dark haired girl into the house.

Kazuha could feel her cheeks heating up, a sign of her nervousness, however if Shirou had seen it, he ignored it either out of courtesy or just didn't feel it mattered.

At first, there wasn't obvious signs of discomfort when Kazuha first laid eyes on the white-haired man, but as he walked she could see signs of distraught and discomfort.

He walked with slightly uneven steps, well disguised, but to the trained eyes of a warrior Kazuha could see he was definitely not in his best condition. Walking slowly, they continued to the end of the corridor reaching the dining room where a large kotatsu took place of a regular dining table. Tilting his head a bit Shirou asked his guest, "Some snacks with tea?"

Nodding slightly before sitting down on one the mats placed around the table Kazuha replied, "Yes please."

Hearing her response Shirou quickly made his way to the kitchen located at the far end of the dining room, disappearing into the room in order to prepare refreshments for his guest.

Not long after he entered, another figure came down from the stairs. Kazuha heard the footsteps but chose not to respond, but when she turned she was deeply conflicted.

Conflicted between the choice of killing Emiya Shirou or running away. Why run away? Because it was a woman, a very beautiful woman, a very beautiful woman clad in only a yukata, in a white yukata with purple obi looking as if she just came out of a shower. A shower, that could only mean…

As the new woman walked down the stairs, Shirou walked out holding a tray with a tea pot on it with several cups, setting it on the table he seemed to just notice the new arrival. Greeting the unknown woman Shirou gave a light bow, "Miya-san." A bow that was equally returned.

"Shirou-san. Oh my, a guest Shirou-san, how very rare. Forgive me for asking, is it by any chance THAT kind of guest?" She seemed to giggle into her hands as she held it in front of her mouth, sporting a light blush and hiding her grin behind her delicate white fingers.
Shirou could only sigh at Miya's antics, sigh at the storm that was approaching, sigh at an inevitable confrontation.

At first she didn't really understand what Miya was saying, but after a few seconds of turning the cogs in her head, she had epiphany.

"Noononono… Emiya-san and I aren't like that, you're sorely mistaken Miya-san, see, we're just friends, yes. Just friends, just friends…" Her face was all red by now, a strange yet welcoming contrast with her dark blue hair. But she tried to remain strong, try being the operating word.

"Oh really?" By now Miya had walked down the steps and is positioned right in front of Kazuha, close but not close enough to be intrusive. "Your denial only makes things more suspicious."

Kazuha only turned more red and tried to deny it even further, well Kazuha was busy Miya observed her.

"I can see why Shirou-san would be taken with you, you are a very beautiful woman."

Blushing madly at the remark the PANDORA stepped back and felt her shoulders and back hit onto something hard, knowing she was screwed Kazuha turned to see she had accidently backed right into her savior. "Ah Emiya-san, gomenasai, sorry…" She burned like an elementary school student meeting her first guy, blushing at every remark the landlady had made.

Stuttering as she tried to make a comeback, she spoke, "Aasss ooppoosseed tttooo you, doing…doing that, how inndeecent…"

Miya looked at her cutely, tilting her head to one side as if questioning the younger PANDORA. "Doing what?"

Turning even more beet red than she already was, Kazuha let all that was on her mind, or at least she tried but was hindered by her inane stuttering, "Tthhaattt…you jjuustt sshowwered, wweaaringg so less, yyoouu…yyouu mmust be, dddoing that."

"What?" There was a twinkle of mischief in Miya's eyes, Shirou knew that look, hell, everyone that lived in Izumi Inn knew that look. It was the eyes of a demon, not a demon as in the soul eating Satanic demon, but the imp and fae that uses mischief to misguide travelers, being 'demons' to all who travel in foreign land. It was like that, very mischievous, not a demon of violence, but rather a figurative demon that Shirou knows will bring hell just like Satan of the bible, hell in the form of a very embarrassed Kazuha Aoi.

"Ss…Sss…se…ssex." She finally shouted after stuttering, after she said the word her face again went full blown red and she collapsed from embarrassment.

Miya went into full blown laughter.

Kazuha sat on the ground quietly sobbing.

Emiya Shirou facepalmed.

"Sex, seriously. Sex." Miya's patting the downed Kazuha on the back. Shirou stood behind the pair sighing into his hands. "Don't be embarrassed guest-san, don't cry, don't cry, Shirou onii-chan will take care of you."

"Act your age Miya-san." Was the only retort Shirou could give at his landlady's antics.

"Teehee." Miya gave a childish impression using her fist to knock her head and tilting her head sideways, at the same time spitting out her tongue like a little girl.

Shirou only sighed, unable to do anything else in this situation. For 'socially awkward Shirou', the only thing he could do now was sigh.

I accessed the situation and almost cried like Kazuha. Miya's grinning like an idiot who just won a lottery, as I said Kazuha laid on the ground sobbing from embarrassment, and I am left to clean up this mess, if I could. From what it looks like it would definitely be hard. I was tired, so tired of this mess, I'm sure Aoi-san came with good intentions, and I'm sure Miya teased her with good intentions in mind, okay maybe not, but it didn't really mean I have to be the adult here and clean everything up.

The past week had been hard, dealing with death, even with all that brutality was easy to say, but dealing with an overprotective Miya was certainly not. The previous week had been practically house arrest, the purple haired landlady refused to let me out of the house without her supervision, not even letting me go to work thinking that I might go out and do something dangerous. It was interesting to see someone do so much for me, a mother hen like her being so protective over me, interesting for someone to not see me as a monster, but instead as something that needs protection.

Protection.

Such a foreign word to me.

I've never really needed protection.

A bit of enlightenment sometimes, but never legitimate protection.

Saber wanted to protect me, but I joined the fray with her. I didn't need her protection, perhaps it was my own foolishness that drove me to face insurmountable foes, but I did, and although I didn't achieve victory all that often, I survived to fight another day.

I never needed protection.

After all, my body was made of swords.

But Miya was so adamant about keeping me around. I could tell, she had strong feelings towards me, not romantic, but rather how a mother would feel for a son. To protect, to shelter, she wished to do those for me. It must have been a trauma for her, to lose those who were once dear to her: her husband, her friends, the children whose pictures were placed within the shrine. The culmination of all these losses brought her to this end, to see Izumo Inn as her family, and every one of us tenants as her children.

But I did not need protection.

I strive for danger, danced with it, and not only persevered, but thrived. My blades was a testament to this fact, the ultimate proof of my suicidal urges, my skill was based on killing myself, not just to fight, but to protect others. Not to protect all I held dear, but rather to protect as many as I can protect.

Like a suicidal Asura. A deity that fights, sheds blood, and repeats. I was like that, using violence as a way to solve problems, giving myself excuses to engage in battle. To battle, to continue battling. Unable to see anything other than bloodshed.

That was me. No. That is me.

I am something against all that is nature. My arm is against the very laws of this land, of this world. I am an atrocity to all that is natural, something different, something foreign. Yet at the same time something strong. Strength I have in spades, even against those aged heroes I believe the me now can operate on similar planes of existence, to match them in battle.

Therefore the scene here was something like a comedy to me.

Me, a broken man.

A nonhuman landlord.

A superhuman hero.

This describes the current three inhabitants in the dining room of Izumo Inn. Three oddities in this world. Three examples of something strange. Something different, something unnatural.

I could only sigh at this display.

Holding out a hand to the PANDORA with long, dark blue hair I offered to help her up.

An offer graciously accepted latching out to my outstretched arm. I could feel a sharp tug as she used my toned arm as support letting herself up, as she got up, I didn't miss her glare directed at my grinning landlady.

She pat herself to get rid of any potential dust or dirtiness, brushing her long, silky hair with her milky white hands. It was strange, almost exotic, and at the same time almost erotic.

But I cannot be swayed, my heart cannot be moved, it is froze, it is made of glass.

Miya looked at Kazuha's display with mild interest, smiling the entire time, almost as if intrigued. But she stayed standing, not too far, but again not too close. It felt uneasy, her crimson red eyes. It reminded so much of those apostles, reminded me of most vampire's crimson red eyes. To this day I cannot discern who or what Miya Asama is, nor do I have the wish to. As long as she stayed her place, kept herself from trying to consume me, then I am content with the gracious room and cheap rent. As long as she didn't try to kill me than I will stay my hand.

But it was certainly unnerving. Her stare. It wasn't filled with killing intent, nor did it contain any discomfort. It was simply unnerving since it didn't contain anything. It was cold. It was empty. Her vivid red eyes betrayed nothing. Not the mild interest she normally has, not the teasing look she usually has. It was cold. It was empty.

It was frightening.

The insanity.

Like an observer looking at an animal. Looking at an animal behind the bars. Behind the bars of a cage in a zoo.

Like I was completely irrelevant. No. Not just me, it was both Kazuha and I, we were irrelevant.

It was so different from the Miya Asama I came to know. There was no trigger to this 'mode', nothing. She simply changed.

But it was only for a moment, a moment before my landlady came back to the land of the living. She shuddered for a moment as if startled, then her eyes met mine, finding my stare looking right into her orbs. She smiled at me, causing a slight twinge of heat to appear on my face. Her face had a rosy hue as well, her smile reaching up both cheeks. "Is there anything on my face Emiya-kun?"

Having been caught staring I looked down a bit bashfully, the oblivious Kazuha just started to take note of us two. It was only for a slight second that I looked away embarrassed, the next moment I was back into the norm giving Miya a slight shake but not replying to her teasing remark.

It seemed as if some semblance of order had finally arrived in Izumo Inn, and for that I am truly glad.

But like all good things, the peace we had was broken by the only PANDORA in the room.

"Oh right, Shirou-san, didn't you call in sick?" Oh, right, I did indeed call in sick as an excuse for my absence. Truthfully my body had long since healed from the excursion several days ago, but due to a certain purple haired menace I seemed to have sustained more injury than I originally had. She attacked me. Yes. Attacked me. With a sheathed katana and superhuman strength. She tried to beat sense into an injured person, what a demon.

I unconsciously started scratching the back of my hand. I replied slightly embarrassed, "Well, I'm actually physically injured rather than sick."

"What? Where. Even you? It must have been a demon."

My glance shifted to Miya who looked just a bit guilty.

"Well, it wasn't that big of a deal I guess. It wasn't like I was seriously hurt or anything, I think." That was a lie, I suffered multiple fractures, temporary hemorrhage, more than a few smashed tendons, and extreme muscle pains. It was a miracle that I am as healed as I am now, truly a miracle in the form of my not so mine sheathe in my not so mine body.

It might have been my sudden increase in talking speed, but Kazuha raised one eyebrow clearly stating she wasn't buying my excuse.

"Well..." I looked at Miya for help, but from her sharply turned face and tightly shut lips I could tell she isn't going to be helping me at all. Looking blankly at Kazuha I simply remained silent since I was out of things to say.

"It isn't that big of a deal anyways, just strange, I was expecting you to be bedridden, not walking around and flirting with weird woman." At that she glared at Miya, who after her bout of childishness had turned back to us two with her normal visage, her smiling face.

I nodded in acceptance, "Sorry to disappoint I guess, I wasn't feeling so well, but it wasn't so bad. I will be returning to work tomorrow." To tell the truth my latter statement was not directed at the PANDORA, instead it was a subtle message to Miya. A message stating that I'm disregarding her wishes to shelter me, truly, it was a bit frustrating for her to hold me captive in her inn.

A glance at Miya showed her nodding, agreeing to somewhat set me free back into this world.

Kazuha also nodded sagely for no exact reason at my statement, "I see."

I smiled graciously, "Yup, so yeah, now you know." It was my queue for her to leave, but being Kazuha she obviously didn't get it. It's not that I don't want her here or anything, well maybe I did, but still. As I said, being Kazuha, she didn't get the queue, and just sat down on the mat placed around around the table. "Of course, you can have some tea."

She gave me a puzzled look, "If it is offered, it is only right to sample your refreshments, and at the same time make sure you, and you" she pointed at Miya "Are not up to something lecherous and indecent."

"Indecent, yeah right, like that could happen."

She had her hands curled up in a fist pumped into the air, nodding and making noises with her nostrils, "hmpf hmpf" as if completely disregarding whatever I just said.

Miya simply sat down with some biscuits with a platter of cut fruit that most likely came with Kazuha. "Enjoy yourself please."

The three of us sat with almost nothing to say. It was awkward in a sense, an extremely uncomfortable silence setting in with the occasional sound of someone sipping on tea. The silence was distressing in its own way, I could almost hear the clockworks turning deep within my soul. Or was that just the clock? It could have been, maybe I was mistaken.

The silence continued to reign for a few moments. The three of us not stopping our previous actions. We drank tea. We drank tea. And we drank tea. Well sometimes someone would eat a biscuit or some fruit, but it was pretty repetitive for the next several minutes.

I could only take silence for so long. I pride myself in being a pacifist, and I do enjoy peace and silence, but this is simply oppressing. Sharing company with two extraordinary ladies and not having a conversation. I can't call myself a gentleman if I let this continue even further.

"Well Aoi-san, do you by any chance want more fruit." I have observed that her fruit plate had been empty for some time now, and chose to use that to enter into a conversation with this 'elite' PANDORA.

She shook her head gently, "No Emiya-san, there is no need." For a moment I thought my hard work would simply be ripped apart by one statement, but to my surprise, it was Aoi who continued the conversation, "I have a question."

I nodded, "Dozo." I could see that Miya was just smiling well looking at the two of us, observing us.

"I've been wondering ever since our first meeting, but how good are you with swords?" I was smiling before this statement, and so was Miya. But what Kazuha had said was like a bombshell, a landmine that should not be poked. We have a veil of civility in this house, a deception both me and Miya both chose to hide under, a white lie. This was the reason I did not defend myself when she started chasing me around with her blasted sword. This was why she pretends not to hear me when I sharpen my blades. It is a white lie, but a necessary deception.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." My reply was curt, it had to be, after all, everything is under the assumption that me and Miya are both perfectly normal humans, both of us have absolutely no combat experience, nothing, nil.

The PANDORA looked slightly puzzled tilting her head. Her hair parted to the left, flowing down. It was a cute gesture, but one I remain adamant against. "You seem to be good with the sword, I've just been wondering about how good you might be."

It was Miya instead of me that answered, "Ara ara? What may you be talking about. Swords? Like sharp things swords, or is it that nice blade hidden under his pants. It can't be. Fufufuf, could it be Kazuha-chan, that you've seen Shirou-kun's swords?"

I've never seen anyone resemble a tomato any better than Kazuha at this moment. "No Miya-san. Not like that. What I mean. What I mean. Is like. Like actual swords."

"Ara ara? Swords? Pointy metal? It can't be. Shirou-kun here is the epitome of civility, what business does he have with a sword? Of course none. Don't be silly dear, Shirou doesn't use a sword, other than his hidden katana of course, but he has no need for combat. Does he now?" My landlady's visage continues being a smile, but I could feel the anger reeking off her. Her mask was well built, her discomfort remains fortified within her. But Kazuha had never been one for reading between someone's face. Where I could see a subject that should not be tread, Kazuha only sees Miya's face of forced pleasantness, unable to feel the danger of treading on dangerous waters.

"Miya-san is right, I have no use for a sword, of course not. I can't use a sword. What silliness. And no Miya-san, stop making me the object of your jokes and sexual innuendos, it is not appreciated at all." Hopefully this will tell the PANDORA off.

"But..." There was a sudden slam, causing me to jump in my seat, I could see my dark haired friend experienced the same.

The slamming sound was Miya smashing her hand onto the table. There were no noticeable damages, but I could tell she smashed it pretty hard. Her face was still the epitome of pleasantness, but her discomfort reeks underneath her civil mask, it is not that she was in denial from my dangerous activities, she chose not to acknowledge it fully in fear that she will lose me one day. Not as an object of her romance, but as a member of her family.

She fears loss. Almost human if I would say. Fearing loss.

She said nothing as she got up and walked up the stairs, well walking, her aura felt particularly ominous. I was no stranger to her violent mood swings, or more like personality switches. From bloodthirsty to civil, from possessive to sharing. Most importantly from monster to human. I was no stranger to her rapid changes, but I could see from the shaking PANDORA that Kazuha was quite shaken by Miya's shift.

Seeing her in distress I put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her, I didn't fail to notice her seeming to flinch at the physical contact before becoming more relaxed. I could feel her fears, Kazuha is pretty simple if I'm reading her right. She is a typical girl in an untypical situation, she had typical interests, may be a bit sheltered at times like an oujo-sama, but she respects her friends. And she accepted Miya as her friend, and when my purple-haired landlady had such a violent outburst, it also hurt Kazuha.

I left my hand on her shoulder, putting a word in for her comfort I proposed, "Miya is a bit against violence, don't be afraid, she just doesn't know how to handle it. Well she's gathering her thoughts why don't we have a match out in the courtyard? It'll definitely take your mind of things."

She turned to look at me with tearful eyes. "Really? Won't Miya-san be angry?"

"Angry? Maybe, but her anger will most definitely subside, she's a big girl, she can deal with it."
"That's just mean though."

"Well, I just have to beat you before she gets down." I could tell this strikes a competitive spark within her. She obviously didn't like losing, well, no one liked losing.

She gave me a small smile, "We'll see about that Arthur-kun, I am an 'elite' PANDORA." Her small smile broke into a broad grin, summoning her blade NOVA BLOOD to her hands she walked out into the courtyard to wait for me.

It seemed like she brought her own weapons. Now what should I do? Kanshou and Bakuya? Maybe? It is a bit sharp and my break her weapon. I took a few seconds to consider my options. Finally settling with a watered down version of Kanshou and Bakuya, one that's not really a Noble Phantasm and does not contain the sharpness and the expert craftsmanship the originals contained. After all, I did make this imitation of an imitation, not my proudest work, but it works. The balance is there, the sharpness is kind of there. It is a replica of what I am familiar with. It will be enough, or so I hope.

Walking down the the veranda to the courtyard I didn't fail to notice the shadow hidden behind a certain set of curtain on the second floor. If I remembered, that was Miya's room. Seeing that I mentally laughed, sometimes she can be such a hypocrite.

A/N:

A short interlude leading to another interlude.

I think I'll keep my updates shorter and more frequent. If I try to make it longer like 8k words, it might take more than a few weeks.

There's really nothing to be said. Just everyday life, or not really.

I tried to bring out Miya's trauma with losing people, and no, there won't be a back story for that, cause then it would be a Sekirei cross (is that even how you spell it?)

Hopefully I'll be able to write the next chapter faster

I can't even blame real life-Senioritis :O

And I've been hearing Miya's eyes is purple, can anyone clarify? PM me plz

And of course Read and Review, I appreciate it

-Wiltheavatar