Tags: No BAR, Moving on with Life, Surprise Guest
Chapter 3 – Spring(?)/Meetings
Fuyuki, after the disaster, has become a ghost town, Shirou noted. He could never get used to somehow being the only person walking in the streets. At this time, there should've been cars passing by and pedestrians walking the street. But there were none, leaving Shirou alone with the falling orange leaves that occur during spring.
'Those people are probably…' Most people in Fuyuki with funds saved up have already moved away to other places. Whether because they don't have a job anymore, the pain of losing their precious loved ones, and the fear of the disaster happening again. There were also the people who died in the disaster and those that committed suicide due to varying factors. It is now a fact that Fuyuki is becoming increasingly empty as time goes on.
Shirou decided to focus again on his task, getting groceries. Unfortunately, markets have disappeared, leaving only grocery and convenience stores as his options. As he passed by stores, he saw sets of fluffy animal onesies.
'Come to think of it, Miyu's birthday is coming soon.' Different kinds of gifts that Miyu would like popped up in his head, pondering what he should buy, until he had a sudden realization.
'Ah…' Miyu was going to turn 7 this year, the age where she would lose her powers as a child of god. 'Whatever my decision will be, I just hope I don't regret it.' Shirou was thinking of such things when he was suddenly distracted by a strange sight.
There was a man with a knife, threatening a very young girl with blue hair. Oddly enough, the girl didn't seem to be afraid. She was just blankly staring at the man with absent-minded eyes. This seemed to trigger the man to further increase his aggressiveness as he wildly lashed out with his knife, nicking the girl at her upper arm.
"S-shit, I-I didn't mean t—" As the man panicked, he received a blow at his sides, specifically his liver, before a follow up hit the man at the chin, concussing him and knocking him out.
While he was no expert, Shirou was aware on how to throw a strike and where to land them, the liver was a sensitive organ that would make people keel over if it was hit, and he kneed the man's chin while he was down in agony from the liver shot, causing a concussion. Thankfully, that seemed to be enough to defeat the man, who now that he was looking at properly, seemed to be a bit malnourished.
"Are you alright?" He asked the girl who seemed to have obtained a bit of life in her eyes.
"Y-yes, I just need to treat this wound." She replied.
"Let's get you to the water fountain just there to clean the wound." He urged the girl as he helped her stand up and ushered her to the fountain.
She watched as the boy called the police after washing the wound and bandaging her arm with his handkerchief. She was a bit confused, why would this boy who she has never met before help her?
"The police are coming now, ummm… what's your name? I am Shirou, Emiya Shirou" Shirou as the boy introduced himself, asked.
"M-Matou Sakura" Sakura replied.
"Matou-san, don't worry anymore, after all, you are safe now." Shirou assured with a brilliant smile.
Those words of his were like a battering ram that forced open the gates to her built up feelings. So, even if he would completely misunderstand…
"Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhh" Sakura cried while hugging Shirou, using him as a comforting presence that would ease her pain.
After the disaster, Sakura was living on her own, she would do everything on her own, cleaning, cooking, and other various tasks like a machine. She also has not spoken with other people on a personal level during that entire time. But in her mind, she didn't know how long it would last. Maybe HE would just suddenly return and resume her torment. And maybe… just maybe…
"It's okay now, don't you worry about a thing." Shirou soothingly stroked her back, not really knowing that the encounter with the man wasn't the source of her pain.
Sakura, finally grasped—no, she finally admitted it to herself. She was free. Free from that CREATURE and… and that…
EVERY SINGLE PERSON SHE CARED FOR WAS DEAD.
'Kariya-ojii-san, otou-san, okaa-san, onee-chan, onii-san, I…I…!' Her friends and her family, all of them died to the disaster. Admitting that Zouken was dead was the same as saying that they died as well. Yes, she was glad that her tormentor was no longer of this world, but if it meant that everything she ever cared for died, she didn't want it. And so she denied it all, she rejected the idea with all her being. Until this boy, Shirou, said those words, that she was safe.
Under the watch of the fallen leaves, Sakura can finally move forward in her life, thanks to Shirou, even if he didn't know about it.
"Are you alright now?" Shirou asked Sakura as she finally calmed down.
"Yes, I'm sorry for how I acted, Emiya-san." She replied.
"Don't worry about it." Shirou comforted. There were people who were overwhelmed by their feelings when he saved them with Kiritsugu, so he was no stranger to things like this. "I'm just glad that you're fine."
*siren noises*
"They're here, although they sure took their time." Shirou remarked.
The policemen questioned both Shirou and Sakura about the events and let them go after they were checked for injuries, the medic remarking that the first aid was quite skillful.
As they were walking to their respective destinations, they had talks about their life, but not invading each other's privacy. As they approach a fork in the road, Sakura separated after asking a question.
"Emiya-san, how old are you?" She asked.
"I'm 14, why do you ask?" Shirou questioned.
"Then you are my senpai, Emiya-san, I just turned 13 a few months ago." She was thankful that they were close in age, that meant that they would have a higher chance of meeting again. If so, she would repay him for allowing her to move forward, even if he didn't know about it. "I hope we meet again, senpai." She told him as they went their separate ways.
'I have to hurry.' Shirou was currently rushing after buying all the needed groceries. 'Miyu might get worried.' The situation with Sakura consumed a lot of his time, but he was able to obtain all the things he needed in record time.
As he was nearing his home, he almost collided with someone.
"Who—""Wha—"
Both of them dodged each other and successfully avoided collision.
""Sorr—"" They began and ceased talking at the same time. Why? It was because staring at them was a reflection of their own faces, only that they had differing genders.
The girl, who has a huge backpack that seemed to be taller than her had the same shade of red hair, the same color of the eyes, and the similarity with his own facial features couldn't be denied. It was as if he had met his twin sister.
'But that's impossible!' Thought Shirou. 'It's true that I don't remember my parents that much due to trauma, but I know that they exist.' He remembered his parent's care and guidance, but his own mind sealed his memories regarding some things to protect him. Surely, he would remember something as important as a living relative.
"Wait, who are you? Why do you have the same face as gramps? And I don't remember having siblings. Are you a Phantasmal Species that copies the appearance of others?" The girl rapidly questioned as she activated her Magic Circuits, revealing her immense power.
'!' Shirou immediately dropped his groceries, jumped back, and activated his own Magic Circuits. This girl was a Magus, she used the proper term of Phantasmal Species and has functioning Magic Circuits. 'Trace, on.' He [Reinforced] his tape measure that he kept in his pocket readying himself for what the girl was about to do. 'Why is a Magus even here?'
The girl simply looked at him with visible confusion, before it changed to a more understanding one.
"You're a rookie, aren't you? Sorry, I was going to [Hypnotize] you to get some information, since I thought you were a civilian." The girl stated.
Shirou stiffened at the admission. Did the girl see through his level of skill? He knew that he only had the absolute basics like [Projection], [Reinforcement], and a bit of [Alteration]. He also had zero experience in fighting against Magi. It was Kiritsugu himself who dealt with them, not him. He only helped in preparations, never in live combat. He also left the Origin Bullets at home.
'Is she… after Miyu?' Shirou's mind went overdrive to discern her objectives in Fuyuki. "What are you planning on doing here?" He questioned.
"Ahhh, don't worry, I don't have evil plans or something like that." She replied. "My name is Fujimaru Ritsuka, I am here to try and find the cause of the Fuyuki Disaster." She deescalated, stopping the flow of her circuits. "Can you answer my questions?"
Shirou thought about it, he probably didn't have the skill needed to escape or hide from Fujimaru, and she seemed peaceful enough so…
Shirou forced himself to relax and deactivated his circuits. "What do you want to ask?"
"First, do you know what caused the disaster?" Ritsuka started.
"No, the disaster was already occurring when we arrived here." Shirou replied.
"Second, do the local Magi know that you are here?"
Shirou was alarmed, he didn't even know that there were nearby Magi, but then he realized that if they truly know where he was, they would've already killed him and taken Miyu away. "No, I don't think so." This was probably tied to the old man's warning about not taking Miyu outside the house.
"Lastly, would you like to enter a contract with me?" She said as she took out a geass scroll from her pack and started writing in it. "I'm open to negotiations."
"A contract? Why?" Shirou was stunned, the first Magus he met didn't act like how Kiritsugu described them at all. They were supposed to be powerful, secretive, and prideful people who would do anything to achieve their goals. 'Although, Fujimaru definitely got the power down.' He has never felt such level of power coming from an individual before. 'Besides, what would she need a contract for? Why me specifically?'
"Here." Ritsuka handed over the scroll so that Shirou could look over its contents.
Shirou read the contents.
Oath:
To Emiya Shirou
I, Fujimaru Ritsuka shall be a mentor that would teach Magecraft to Emiya Shirou until I deem him sufficiently competent as a Magus. In exchange, Emiya Shirou shall provide Fujumaru Ritsuka a location where she would be able to establish a workshop without being detected by the local Magi. Any attempt from both sides to harm in any way or form deliberately is forbidden. If hostilities occur between the two parties, they must wait one year until this contract is nullified, but the above requirements except for the one about harming each other no longer need to be followed.
Condition:
Both parties must agree to the contract.
This was the first time that Shirou saw a geass contract, but he knew that it was a very powerful curse that would destroy the person who broke the contract. The terms seemed to be fair, the only thing he needed to change was…
"Can you also extend the non-harming clause to another person?" Shirou bargained.
"Hmmm, I agree, but if they try to harm me, you would be responsible for stopping them." Ritsuka countered.
Shirou agreed with the new terms, he added Miyu's name and his new responsibility. He gave it back to Ritsuka who looked it over and signed her agreement. She gave it again to Shirou, who checked it again and did the same.
The both of them felt the same sensation. It was as if fire entered their core, the scroll's binding power integrated itself to their body and mind. And right next to their heart was—another heart?
'So this is a geass contract.' Thought Shirou. 'I just hope I didn't get tricked.'
"Can I ask you a few questions too?" He started.
"Sure, go ahead" Ritsuka agreed.
"Out of all the possible people that are in Fuyuki city, why did you choose to have a geass contract with me? It seems awfully risky for you." Indeed, most of the benefits were reaped by Shirou. That a powerful Magus would teach a complete beginner like him was a godsend. He has already stagnated with his Magecraft, and his spell repertoire was just too limited. All he had to do was provide her a location where she could establish her workshop. It was too suspicious.
"You check pretty much every criteria that I needed you see." Ritsuka started to explain. "My criteria list is this: An inexperienced Magus; Not known by the local Magi; Has an established base; Is not illegally settling or well-hidden; Has good morals; Is willing to make a contract." She listed.
"Wait, why do you even need some of those?" Shirou was confused once again, he understood the first, third and last criteria, but not the others.
"Let me elaborate then, I wouldn't have to give up an artifact or something if they are inexperienced, I would just need to teach them. I don't like being disturbed by other Magi whose intentions are often malicious, so being anonymous is a great idea. Being well-hidden or having legal ownership of the land avoids encounters with mundane authority. If they have good morals, they are less likely to stab me in the back, and the rest are self-explanatory." She detailed. "It's a miracle that I actually found you who checks all the criteria. I would've compromised some of these conditions if I didn't meet you." She finished.
'All of those points are well thought out, I didn't realize that. There's just one hole that I could think of in her logic.' He contemplated.
"How do you even know that I'm a good person? For all you know, I might just be an immoral Magus." Shirou expresses his doubts.
"Oh, that? I can just tell." Ritsuka replied unhelpfully. "It's a part of my natural talent." She boasted.
'She probably doesn't want to give too much of her hand away.' Shirou thought that her words just now made her seem closer to Magi that Kiritsugu described.
Miyu was anxious. Shirou still hasn't returned even though it was getting pretty late. 'Shirou is always punctual.' It made her worry, something bad might have happened that prevented him from coming home. As she paced back and forth by the door, she heard footsteps approaching.
'Shirou is back!' She waited in anticipation as the footsteps come closer to the house.
"Okaerinasai, Shirou." She welcomed him back.
"Tadaima, Miyu." He returned.
She approached Shirou to help him with the groceries, but his silent denial of not letting go of them made Miyu pout. It was then that she noticed a large backpack and the person who was carrying it. Red hair, the same shade as Shirou's, golden eyes, the same color as Shirou's, and a face that didn't look that different from Shirou's.
"Oh, that's right, Miyu, meet my older sister, Fujimaru Ritsuka. Fu—er, Ritsuka, this is Miyu." Shirou and Ritsuka decided that during her stay, they would pose as siblings to Miyu in order to explain why a complete stranger is staying at their house. It really helped that they looked so much alike too.
Miyu didn't even have the presence of mind to notice that their surnames are completely different, she simply imposed herself between Shirou and this… this…
"Awww, how cute~~" Ritsuka was charmed by Miyu's actions. That face that just screams jealousy was very cute. 'It's going to be fun teasing her.' She thought.
There was only one thing on Miyu's mind at that time. 'A rival!'
AN:
Subtle reminders to all that Miyuverse weather conditions are messed up due to something about the axis, just hear it from Angelica again. I might be wrong.
The BAR was not used to charm girls this time, besides, I don't think it will work on Miyuverse Sakura. She has a different problem than the F/SN one.
Heeeerrreeeee comes a new challenger! I was deciding between Hakunon and Gudako, but I realized how few I actually knew about Fate/Extra, I only played the first game unfortunately. It'll probably be easy to deduce why she is here, but her actions will be quite OOC since yeah, while her responses can be used to deduce her personality, I am not that good at reading characters. Her powers? Secret, although I will say that she is buffed a lot.
It is nearly impossible to create a happy ending with the Miyu family without outside interference. Unless of course, you just ignore a lot of things that you shouldn't.
It does have a small representation of Spring regarding new beginnings, just that it doesn't fit the image since Miyuverse weather conditions are messed up. If you read back, the conversation was something like this: "Why is it snowing?" "Because it's Summer."
Now I know the feeling of writers, getting swamped by IRL problems while trying to write is just… not to mention the reading I have to do, ahhh, lparchives, I am glad you exist.
Sakura's Birthday is March 02
Shirou – 14, 12 months till 15
Miyu – 6, 3 months till 7
Sakura – 13, 11 months till 14
Accept my '/' FanfictionNet! Why is there even a restriction on this?