Kama rolled her eyes as she watched for the thousandth time Emiya giving Irisviel the cold shoulder.
Irisviel clearly wanted to kick him in the back every time he was mean to her, but she didn't do that, nor did she give up creating a connection with him. On the other hand, Emiya always seemed confused in the first few seconds, deciding what to do, before following the "tough-cold-guy" route and getting away from her.
At first the relentless pattern had been amusing to Kama, but now it just irritated her.
"Pathetic."
Although the word came out of Kama's mouth in a whisper, another servant had thought the same watching that scene. The difference between the two was that Kama let it go and the other servant got up to go after the Red Archer.
Jekyll found Mordred on some street leading to the church. She was lying on a sidewalk bench, head resting on her arms as she watched the full moon and swung one of her legs.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm good."
She didn't say anything else.
Jekyll walked to the end of the bench and pushed her legs out of the way to make room for him to sit. Mordred draped her legs over his lap. And the two remained silent, one facing the street and the other facing the night.
"To put it frankly, I'm probably not feelin' half of what those guys must be feeling. But it still sucks anyway." She said without looking at him. He did not care. "Alter is my father, but more cruel. The Tiger King or whatever the name was is my father after losin' his emotions and becoming a machine-god-whatnot. But this one... how can I put this?"
"Seems different somehow?"
"Yes. Father's reminding me of my mother."
"Emiya...?"
Mordred hit Jekyll's chin with her knee and settled back on the bench.
"It was not a joke..." He stroked his chin, whimpering. "You called him that so many times that I forgot about your real mother. You're talking about Morgan le Fay, aren't you?"
"Yes. I mean, I don't really blame the woman for being so angry with Father. If anything, she had more reason than me, honestly. I'm not criticizing her, I don't really care about it. But she is she, and father is father." Mordred closed her eyes and Saber Alter's image became clear as if she was in front of her. "Father carrying the same figure that mother is just pathetic and sad. Thinking about it, it's even worse."
"Does it hurt you?"
"Not much. A lot less than I expected, actually. It's just sad. Kinda gives me that old passion of beating her ass again. But whatever, we cannot interact with the movie." Mordred hopped off the bench and stretched her arms. "It's about time for us to go back to the church. I'll leave my feelings on this version of my father when he shows up again. Other than that, it's a waste of time."
"So how many times have we had to go back to this rundown church by now?" Jeanne Alter vented as they waited for Shirou to wake up.
Astolfo raised his hand to answer. "One to save that girl's life. Now to save Shirou's!"
"What next? Save Rin? Illya?" Robin said.
"He kinda already did saved Rin..." Musashi replied.
Muramasa scratched the back of his head. "This priest is nothin' but problem. I'm sure of it. But I'm not goin' to be the one denying how useful he is."
"I have to say, I am actually surprised. This whole 'supervisor' thing is a big red flag, but to think he would really do his job..." El-Melloi II was genuinely surprised.
The weird feeling spread throughout the group: a bit of respect covered with suspicion and distrust for Kirei Kotomine. He couldn't be trusted, that much was obvious, but they were now waiting for Shirou's awakening because the priest had not only performed a successful surgery regarding Archer's arm transplantation but had helped Rin as well.
"Much has happened at the castle..." Jeanne spoke while her gaze was lost in the misty night outside. "More than I expected."
"I had a sneaking suspicion that Heracles wouldn't escape with life, but to think we would lose Archer too..." Circe said.
"How is it even possible to beat Zouken and that shadow?" Ishtar asked. "That thing really is dangerous to any servant. And to humans is instant death. This and Zouken having Assassin was already enough. But they have Artoria somehow too!"
"And more powerful than usual..." Ereshkigal complemented. "No, no more powerful. But limitless of restrictions to stop her from using all her power."
"I've only seen her fight like that a few times, but nothin' as impressive," Kintoki said. "Sucks we don't have much control over summoning servants most of the time. After that massacre I would be putting her in front of me in the line to accompany Master always."
Artoria had only participated in a few missions since she had been resummoned. It was easy for some to forgot her real potential when they lived more with the "Artoria always in the cafeteria with Emiya" than the "King Arthur".
Medb snorted. "Well, at least Heracles had one last moment of glory before his role in the movies was over. Cú had just that ridiculous scene where he was tricked into a swamp! That man spent years and years giving me a headache only to fall for the most idiotic and obvious strategy of the world!"
Atalanta smiled. "Yes. He protect Illyasviel to the end... It was an honorable way to go."
"..." Chiron didn't have the same joy that some shared on their faces when thinking about the last standing of the great hero. His role is finished, you say? Let's hope so.
"About 'protecting others', for someone who always plays the tough guy and doesn't like to be called a hero, Emiya had a glorious departure on a par with Heracles!" Ishtar said.
"He really gave it his all in that moment. Typical of him." Boudica chuckled.
"He gave his all even after that moment..." Illya muttered as she passed the chapel filled with servants after fetching a bottle of water from Boudica.
Archer and Rider carried the trio of humans to the church, and the red knight remained in that world until the moment the doors opened and Kirei announced the surgery had been a success.
Only at that moment, upon confirmation that Shirou Emiya would live, did the Heroic Spirit gave in to the imminent death and disappeared.
"Does it bother you having to give credit to someone you don't like, piglet?" Circe asked Robin.
"Not really. You don't have to like someone to respect their accomplishments. And besides, it's not like I'm surprised. One idiot recognizes another. That he'd die sacrificing himself for someone was obvious."
Illya kept walking, ignoring her companions commenting on the last scenes, going straight to the room where Illyasviel was waiting for Shirou to wake up. There were the rest of the family, including, to Irisviel's surprise, Sitonai in a far corner.
Miyu looked at her best friend sitting next to her with sadness. Illya had been the most affected by Archer's last few moments.
He and Illyasviel talked to each other the entire time, but the fragment didn't let the servants hear a single word that came out of their mouths. Not that it was necessary; between the man's tired smile and the girl's desolate face, even the biggest of idiots could understand what they had talked to each other.
And because of that, Illya was sad. Not just because of that, for everything. Emiya, the one from Chaldea, fled the church as soon as he noticed Illyasviel approaching his counterpart. Just like he always did with them.
"He'll be fine?" Illya muttered again.
"He will," Kuro answered. "Whatever he's feeling right now, I don't think it's new to him."
Irisviel agreed with Kuro. She just wished he was more open to her. She had tried to talk to him again, offering her ears to any pain he could be feeling emotionally, but he just answered "No" coldly and walked away.
Same as always, but it still hurt her.
Kuro sighed and turned to Sitonai. "You've been looking at us for a while now. Is there something you want to talk about?"
Irisviel thanked Kuro for doing what she wanted to do ten minutes ago.
"Answer me this: what is your opinion about Emiya?"
"...?" Illya was confused. "What do you mean?"
"It has no other meaning than what it asks in itself. But if it makes it easy, I guess you guys don't hate him or are disgusted by him, right?"
"Of course not!" Illya answered immediately. "Why would we?"
"He's a twisted version of your brother. Why not?"
Illya was stunned for a few moments before she looked down. "At first, I was a little disturbed, when I found out... about who he was, what he did... but all this shock died when I understood what a Counter Guardian really is. What he really is. I just felt pity afterwards. And, now, after this fragment, I'm angry!"
Sitonai was surprised. "Angry?"
"Yes!" Illya stood up. "With the world. With the injustice he suffered. He just wanted to save people. To help them! What did he do so wrong to end up like this!? It's unfair!" She calmed down. "I'm not scared, disgusted or angry. Not at him, at least."
"I feel a bit angry at him, though." Kuro added. "When he's not doing something for someone, he's always alone. There are people who like solitude, but he never gave me that impression."
"He fears you all. Including me," Sitonai said. "Fear is perhaps an exaggerated word for it."
"What do you mean?" Illya asked.
"He lost his Illya. He lost her, and probably in a pretty tragic way. If you think about it, he lost everyone, but you never see him nervous about Ishtar or Artoria as much as he does with us."
Sitonai was right. Until now, Illya had only an inkling of why he avoided them, but that last look from Archer before his fight against Assassin had revealed everything she needed to know.
"Then it's best to continue avoiding him..." Kuro said. She didn't look happy about it.
This was one of the few times Miyu agreed with something Kuro said. She understood Emiya right at the beginning, his eyes revealed the same feelings she had to deal with every time she interacted with Illya's brother, pain she wouldn't wish on her worst enemy.
So she decided a long time ago that it wasn't worth putting him in that uncomfortable position. He didn't deserve that.
"You're right..." Sitonai closed her eyes... and then she smiled, saying, "In spite of that, I still wish to be with him."
The three girls looked at her, surprised.
"It hurts for me too. I understand him. I am nothing but fake. An existence that is Illyasviel but at the same time has very little of her. These last few months, since I was summoned, I've spent wondering if it was worth making any connections with him, but..." Sitonai glanced at Irisviel, so quickly that the girls didn't notice, but the woman did. "To hell with it. I'll create a bond with him. That's what I decided. And that's what I'm going to do."
So that's what you feel about it... Irisviel glanced down at herself. Is this what I felt this whole time too?
"But... and how about what he feels?" Illya asked. "You'll hurt him!"
"Of course I will."
"So why?" Miyu asked.
"I've been bugging him for a long time and he always frowns at me, but you know what? I never felt that he was unhappy about it. Or that he really hated being around me. The same could be said about you, Illya. He didn't spend the whole summer with you?"
"He... did..."
"He's hurt. Because of the Lostbelts. Because of Master. And because — in my opinion — he doesn't know what to do about us. Well, if he can't figure it out by himself, I'm going to help him."
"Since when do you like old, abandoned mansions?"
Emiya turned back and found Tamamo with hands on hips, observing him as if he were a lunatic looking for a way to break into a house.
"I don't," he answered.
"So... what are you doing in this house in the middle of nowhere?" Tamamo asked. "Is this some place you visited when you were young?"
Right now, the two were on the outskirts of Shinto, in the forest beyond the church, before a Western-style house.
"No. I didn't even know it existed... what do you want?"
Tamamo stared at him in silence, before finally replying, "How are you handling everything so far?"
Emiya turned back to the house. "I'm okay. There's nothing special about it."
She frowned. "Emiya, you—"
[It's hot.]
Tamamo was unable to finish her sentence.
She and everyone, inside or outside the church was interrupted in the middle of whatever they were saying.
[It's hot.
I'm trapped in a sultry stone room.
My body is burning from within.
This isn't like a sultry stone room, but more like a sealed frying pan.
I hear the sound of something burning and realize that I've been scorched black.]
Out of nowhere, their left shoulder was bathed with radiant heat like a plague of microscopic bugs were eating their cells, as if countless ants were swarming on their unseen wound.
"What the fuck!?" Jeanne Alter screamed.
[My shoulder. The place where my arm used to be is covered with honey, and ants are swarming on it so it looks like a carpet. It's as if countless ants are swarming on my unseen wound.
It's hot.]
"What is happening!?" Euryale and Stheno cried at the same time.
"Shishou?" Gray called for her teacher on instinct. She clutched her shoulder like she was going to lose it... no, maybe she wanted to lose it. It would be a good way to stop that sudden pain.
El-Melloi II himself couldn't say anything, he was dealing with the pain as best as he could. He wasn't that great of warrior, nor was he on the front lines when they went on missions, so naturally he was dealing worse with the pain than the true warriors.
There were those with more or less resistance, but it didn't matter, everyone at the very least was clenching their teeth to deal with it. If the absurdly uncomfortable feeling wasn't enough, it was so sudden that maybe the fright had multiplied what they really should have been feeling.
[My shoulder. The place where my arm used to be is covered with honey, and ants are swarming on it so it looks like a carpet. It's as if countless ants are swarming on my unseen wound.
It's hot.]
"Drama queen." Artoria Alter teased Jeanne. "It's not the end of the world."
Enkidu, who had one of his eyes closed, looked at Gilgamesh beside him and saw him snoozing peacefully. It's better this way.
[It's hot.
It's hot.
It's hot.
It's hot.
It's hot, it's hot, it's hot, it's hot...!
The heat melts my mind, leaving my body untouched. Slowly and fiercely. It burns through my genes as if trying to overwrite them.
The hole is sealed so that the ants cannot escape. The hole is in my shoulder.
I don't know why, but my missing left arm, the hole became a gateway, allowing the ants to flood into my body. And the entrance, the hole to let them out is sealed with flesh that's not mine!]
"Shirou!" Artoria ran back to the church as the pain spread from her left arm to her head.
[It's changing.
It's changing to something I don't know.
It's coming in.
Knowledge I shouldn't have is flowing into me.
It is his battle experience and battle information.
This is his Noble Phantasm.
It's not the pair of swords. Kanshou and Bakuya. Favoring the treasured swords made by an ancient blacksmith, he himself was a blacksmith heroic spirit. That's why he creates. He duplicates everything he sees and understands.
No.
It is not duplication, but projection.
A unique magic that reproduces the real thing using an image in the caster's mind.
And the heat burning my mind tells me to manage this skill.
Don't kid me. That's impossible. It won't fit.]
When all that information entered Shirou's head, for the servants it was like someone had squeezed their head with both hands, slowly, until it was crushed.
It was this feeling, but ten times worse.
And in this moment, even the most "manliest" servant could resist no longer.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" The cries of several servants echoed together inside the church.
Some of the toughest rose from their benches with their hands clasped to their heads; others fell to their knees; and some not only got up but ran through the church in despair too.
"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Artoria Alter and Jeanne Alter shouted together.
The children had all jumped off the benches. Kuro and Illya ran through the room, desperately rubbing their arms and head. Nursery knelt on the floor. Miyu and Jack resisted with all the resistance they had, standing and not running, but they looked like they were going to explode at any moment with their faces completely red.
"The old age finally is hitting me!" Muramasa said as he closed one eye and clenched his teeth.
Astolfo ran past him screaming in pain.
"SHIT! SHIT!" Kintoki covered his eyes feeling something worse than the worst headache in the world. He was hit in the head countless times during his life, but none were as bad as that pain.
Shuten beside him who had lost her own head one time wanted to lose it again.
Boudica and Jeanne leaned against each other, trying to hold on through the desperate, endless pain, together. Raikou behind them reached for Kintoki with her hands, the eyes closed in pain, but she could only grab the air.
[I don't know about projection. I'm not at that level yet.
Cutting corners like this will destroy my body.
First of all, I have my hands full with myself. I can't memorize or use someone else's ability.
I don't have the needed power to begin with, and we're strangers with no connection, so there's no way it will become familiar with my body. No, I won't be able to bear it even if it becomes familiar with my body.
You can't put time out of order or destroy the regularity. Even if you help me, I don't have the skills to handle it!]
"Is this Shirou!?" Nero tried to reason through the pain. "Is he dreaming!?"
"No one feels pain dreaming!" Robin answered.
"Oh god, make it stop!" Illya pleaded. Tears were welling up in her eyes.
"I already understand the scene! The arm causes him a lot of pain! I ALREADY UNDERSTOOD! Move on, culprit! Next scene! Next scene!" Reines said.
[Shirou woke up. He was sleeping on an unfamiliar bed in an unknown room.
Illya was beside the bed, staring at him with blank amazement.]
With the boy's awakening, everyone felt the pain drain away at once and relief filling its place. Some fell to the ground, others fell back onto the bench.
"Oooooh!" Medb groaned. "This was almost a masochistic-experience..."
"What the hell's wrong with you, woman..." Robin caught his breath as she spoke.
"What just happened...?" Lan Ling wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Yu... are you okay?"
"Yes..."
At that moment, Sitonai walked through the doors that led to the other rooms of the church. "Shirou woke up." The words were simple and calm, but everyone could see that she was covered in sweat too.
"We noticed..." Ereshkigal said.
["I see. So you're all right, Illya."
I don't get the situation, but I'm glad Illya's all right.
"Oh, good! You're awake, Shirou!"]
Some of the servants went to "Shirou's room", others stayed where they were.
Even though Parvati only arrived in the room after what Shirou said, his thought still reached her mind. Again, you've my respect, Shirou Emiya. Your concern going immediately and first to her is impressive...
[Illya charged at him.
"Whoa."
"I'm glad... I'm so glad, Shirou...!"
Hugging him, she buried her face in his chest and repeated herself over and over.
"..."
Man. I don't get what's going on, but I can't do anything if she's crying like this.]
"At least the surgery went well and he woke up fine... right?" Tamamo took a deep breath. "How are you?"
"Feeling like shit."
The pain Emiya felt was much worse than the others, but since there was no way for him to know about it at that moment, he judged that everyone felt the same.
["Does your wound hurt? I'll make him put on another one if you think it's slightly strange!"
"Oh, it doesn't hurt anywhere. More importantly, can you explain to me what happened after th—" Before he could finish, the pain was back.]
"What is happ—" The moment Mordred and Jekyll set foot inside the church, pain hit everyone.
"FUUUUCK!" Jeanne Alter nearly ripped her arm out.
"Sisters!" Medusa was frustrated. There was nothing she could do to help them deal with the excruciating pain.
[ "Shirou...!? Calm down! Don't try to bear it, but try to repress your left arm...!"
"Oh... left… arm...?"
I don't quite get it. I don't, but I want to escape this pain as quickly as possible.
So, he relaxed his mind.
Once Shirou started meditating, he quickly understood which part of him was abnormal. He could control it more or less if he knew the origin of the pain, he just needed to create a barrier so that the foreign substance could not enter his body.
"Phew... I'm fine now, Illya."]
Ishtar landed on one of the benches, gradually catching her breath. Ereshkigal sat beside her, recovering at her own speed.
The rest did the same.
["Yeah, I can tell. I wondered what'd happen, but they don't seem to reject each other, at the very least."
"...?"
It seemed that Illya knew what had caused the pain.]
The servants were surprised to found themselves in the room where Shirou was at; those already there had the same feeling by being surrounded out of nowhere. Everyone was divided into groups.
"Master!?" Mash ran towards Ritsuka when they had fallen into the same group. Because of all the pain, she didn't have time to check on her friend. "Are you alright?" If it had been excruciating pain for the servants, Mash couldn't imagine what it would be like for a human.
"Huh?" Ritsuka looked at Mash, confused by the whole situation. "I didn't feel anything."
"That's... good... makes sense."
[ "What are these? Why am I wearing something like this, Illya?"
"U-Um... that's..."]
Artoria looked around and found herself disappointed.
Previously, she was searching for Tristan throughout Fuyuki City. All of the knights had followed her, except Mordred, because she intended to have a meeting to talk about what they had just seen.
But she didn't find Tristan at all. And even now, in groups, she hadn't fallen into the same as his. In fact, she hadn't fallen along with any of her knights.
Well, I'll find him eventually. Let's see how Shirou is doing...
[While Illya searched for the right words, Shirou continued intrigued at the clothes he was wearing: big hospital clothes that looked more like restraint belts. All he could move was his right arm. Everything else was firmly belted down and he couldn't take them off by himself.]
"Sexy."
"Medb, c'mon..."
["I shall explain the rest, Shirou Emiya." Kirei Kotomine entered the room. "She has recovered as well. All I need to do here is to explain the situation, so leave if you have no business."
"... Hah, yeah right. I'm going to leave with Shirou. There isn't a problem even if I'm here if you're not going to do anything, right?" Illya answered.
"I see, there certainly is no problem. But I would like to keep the explanation short. If you will not interrupt, go sit in the corner quietly."
"All right, I guess I'll do so."
Illya passed Kotomine and leaned against the wall.]
Good decision. Sitonai was as surprised as the others about Kirei, but the priest's help didn't erase his warped nature. But...
The group she fell into was a whole another story. Illya, Kuro, Miyu, Irisviel, Sitonai herself and Emiya. Tamamo was there too. Nobody spoke a word.
This is going to be fun...
["Well. I shall answer your question before I explain the situation. Do not be too surprised, Shirou Emiya." Kotomine reached out.
He unbuckled the belts and removed the coverings.
"Wha...!" Shirou's surprise was not a surprise to anyone there.
The arm there was not Shirou's arm.
I can tell even through the wrapped cloth. My left arm is not part of my body. It is a foreign substance that should not be there, attached by opposing the natural Providence.]
"It looks cool, though," Nursery said.
"We think so too," Jack agreed.
["Kotomine, this is..."
"It is Archer's left arm. In accordance with Archer's wish, I have transplanted it from his corpse."
"Archer's wish...? Wait, did you say corpse?"
"He disappeared after the transplant was completed. He was almost dead when he was carried here, but surprisingly, he endured until the operation ended. It must be because of his capacity for independent action."
"..."
Archer has been eliminated. Then the remaining Servants are Zouken's Assassin, Sakura's Rider, and...]
"I thought it was just my impression, but we're definitely listening more to Shirou's thoughts now," Jekyll observed. "Curious."
"Yes." El-Melloi II said. "I was paying attention to that too."
"I hate it." Mordred covered her ears. "It always feels like he's whispering in our ears..."
[Saber Alter's image appeared in Shirou's mind. No. I don't think I can call her a Servant anymore.]
Jeanne rubbed Artoria's back. It was the only thing she could do for her friend right now. To think I was sad about the Trifas fragment... this one is much worse.
["Hold on. Archer disappeared, right? Then isn't it weird that his arm's still here?" Shirou asked.
"His left arm would have disappeared too if he disappeared before the transplant was completed. But that has been cut and planted to your body while Archer was still in this world. It is a part of a heroic spirit that has been connected to your Magic Circuit, and it stays in this world using your magical energy. It has become a part of your body after the transplant was completed."
"... But is it even possible to transplant a Servant's body onto a human's?"
Illya joined in the conversation. "It's possible to just connect them. Spiritual doctors are said to heal the soul and not the body. I guess this priest here is the real thing, in contrast to his looks."
"I accept your compliment, but this is nothing to celebrate. Joining two separate spiritual bodies is forbidden magic. It cannot succeed. Spiritual bodies... resurrection and restoration of souls are divine mysteries that cannot be handled with magic. That is why I thought I only succeeded in shape, and expected him to die of shock, but... Shirou and Archer are a special case. I found out earlier that he would pull through if the connection was made."
Shirou was confused hearing that.
Illya looked away and let her eyes wander sadly.]
Irisviel knew she had to stop, that she should have given up a long time ago, but it was like fate itself forbade it.
Of all the groups she could have fallen into, it was the one where there were only members of the Emiya family. That was a sign... and if it wasn't, she didn't care.
"Uh, Emiya...?" She called him.
Everyone looked at Irisviel at once.
Emiya said nothing, but his face showed that he was waiting for what she wanted to say.
"Is everything okay with you?" Irisviel then noticed that she had asked this question before. The point now was actually about his physical state, not the emotional one like before, so she quickly added, "I mean, physically. Is the fragment still causing you pain?"
"No."
And the conversation ended there.
Irisviel sighed. Sitonai and Illya did the same. Kuro called him "dick" in a whisper — which he heard. Miyu had no reaction.
Tamamo stared at the scene in silence, her face as expressive as Miyu's, but her feelings full of judgment towards Emiya.
["Oh. Well, I do not know why. All I know is that you two were suited for each other. I was surprised when I started the operation. Even twin brothers would not look this alike."]
"He definitely knows Archer's identity," Gray said.
Reines nodded. "Yes, he does."
[Shirou flexed his left arm to test Kirei words. I don't feel anything. I don't even feel pain. It's like a lump of dead meat. It doesn't move, no matter what I do. The sensation of a part of my body not moving brings mental fear rather than physical pain.
"... It doesn't move at all. Was the operation really successful?"]
Nursery grimaced. "This is terrible..."
"Something he's going to have to learn to live with," said Scáthach. "Better than losing his life."
"Shirou is the type of person who starts something and already wants to be an expert right from the start," Stheno said.
From everything we've seen about him so far, it's the exact opposite of this kind of person, but I guess this girl doesn't like him, Scáthach thought.
["Do not wish for such an excessive thing. That is all it can do right after connecting it. It shall familiarize with your body in a few days. I told you earlier, but you two are compatible. At this rate, it should heal well enough to give you no trouble in leading an ordinary life," Kirei said. "But be warned. I am only saying that the Magic Circuits are compatible. No matter how suited you may be to his arm, this arm is the arm of a heroic spirit, something a human cannot handle. No, it is more like a weapon than an arm. It is powerful, but it will swallow you if you use it."
"Does that mean I'll self-destruct?"
"Of course. If a human like you uses the arm of a heroic spirit, your body will be consumed by Archer's arm. No, the term 'blown away' is more accurate. Your body is spiritually far inferior to Archer's arm. Archer's Magic Circuit will be activated if you use that arm even once. At that time your body will be unable to withstand Archer's magic, and it will break down. Look, it is not that your lifespan is shortened with each use. The time bomb in you will be turned on once you use it."]
"That's good, right?" Astolfo said. "He can't use it as well as Sieg, but he can live a normal life if he doesn't."
As soon as Astolfo said that, he and everyone else in that group reached the same conclusion.
"There's no way in heaven or hell he's not going to use that arm."
["... Then this cloth is for that reason...?"
"Yes, it is a seal. The Magic Circuit in your left arm will not be activated as long as you keep it on. Your arm is treated as a different object even if you use magic. But do not let your guard down. Magical energy flows through your body even if you do not use any magic. Pain will assail your arm as it reacts and tries to activate."]
"If he takes off that seal, I'll burn him alive!" Jeanne Alter exclaimed just remembering the pain they had just felt. But she noticed that she couldn't interact with the boy. "I will burn—" She was going to say she would burn the culprit, but he was another one that couldn't be reached. "I will burn you!"
"Why me!?" Muramasa yelled.
"Because after Emiya — who is clearly not here — you are the closest to Shirou!"
"Are you crazy!?"
"She is. Did you just notice now?" Robin said.
"Burn this brute!" Euryale encouraged.
["Your left arm is covered with the Shroud of Martin to prevent that. It should be able to suppress the infringement from your left arm to a certain extent as long as you keep it on."
"Hold on. To a certain extent? That means..."
"It cannot completely suppress your arm. Yes, you will be consumed by Archer's arm whether you use it or not. If you want to live to old age, become a great enough magus to match the arm. You should then be able to seal your arm without the shroud."]
Ereshkigal would be happy hearing that the only condition for a good future to Shirou was something simple as that, because she knew Rin would definitely help him, but, in the end, she didn't get excited because she knew that once he mastered that arm Shirou would probably run in search of his goal.
I can only see Shirou giving up on this "hero of justice" dream if he lost his arm, didn't recover it, and somehow got out of the Holy Grail War alive...
["I estimate it will be about ten years before the arm consumes you. You have that much time. You can become a master magus and control your arm, or you can fail and be consumed. It is not an imminent threat."]
"It's not our Shirou, then." Not that Reines had any doubts about that before. "The Shirou we know has two very healthy and muscular arms."
"Why describe his arms like this…?" Gray asked.
Reines only smiled at that question.
[This is like I was remodeled without my knowing. But it's no use complaining. I would've died in that forest. Transplanting Archer's arm was the only way to save my life, so complaining would mean I don't want to live.]
After hearing the whole story about Emiya trying to kill Shirou, seeing him being the sole reason why Shirou is still alive is... almost a twist of fate... However, Mash wasn't surprised, it was very Emiya-like.
["I understand. Let me thank you. You did another favor for me. Could you please pray that it doesn't happen again?" Shirou said in a dead tone.
Kirei smiled. "I suppose I do not need to worry if you can talk like that. Then go outside. Rin is waiting for you in the chapel."
Kotomine headed to the door.]
It didn't matter how many scenes they had, Irisviel would never get used to seeing their interactions. She really wanted to know what Kiritsugu would think if he saw those two getting along so well, even while maintaining a passive hostility in the air.
"I enjoyed the interactions between Mordred and her Master in the previous fragment. But in this fragment, I think this one is my favorite," Iskandar said.
Boudica had to agree with him. Regardless of Kirei being trustworthy or not, they have a funny relationship. Actually, she saw a lot of Emiya on Shirou in these interactions because Shirou always became extremely sarcastic and "grumpy".
"They say there is a fine line between love and hate," Yu replied.
[Shirou got out from the bed and put on the prepared jacket. He couldn't move his left hand, so he just draped it over his shoulder.
"Okay, it won't hurt if I keep my guard up. Let's go, Illya."
"Oh... yeah, I'm coming."]
Illya followed with a simple smile and that made Emiya happy.
[Tohsaka glared at Shirou as soon as he entered the chapel.
I don't know what I did to deserve it, but I'm relieved to know she's all right.
"Well. Everyone is treated now, but let me ask as the supervisor. What are you going to do now, Rin?" Kirei said. "The Holy Grail War is a failure now. The outcome is practically decided already, as most of the remaining Masters do not have Servants."
The match is pretty much decided, just like Kotomine said. The only Masters with Servants are Zouken and Sakura. Ordinarily the last two standing would fight, but Sakura cannot oppose Zouken.
"Zouken Matou will either recapture Sakura Matou or kill her. It will be difficult to stop him, and you are under no obligation to do so. There is no benefit to kill Zouken."
"Oh, is that because Masters without their Servants can't obtain the Holy Grail?" Rin asked.
"Right. That is why there is no reason to fight. Any more battle is meaningless. You would be wise to stay in your mansion and wait until the war is over."
"Thanks for the warning. But I'm not going to forfeit."
"I'm surprised. So you cannot give up the Holy Grail?"
"Of course not. I'm still a Master, even if I lost my Servant. Don't assume that I'm going to forfeit just because I'm alone now."]
"This girl is really somethin', huh?" Kintoki was surprised by her courage.
Artoria smiled. "She is."
"Among all these mongrels, she is the only one close to decent," Gilgamesh said.
["Oh. I see, you are certainly right. There is one other who shamelessly stayed on the battlefield after losing his Servant. So you cannot give up easily."
"Heh, Shirou has nothing to do with this! This is my decision. I haven't given up yet, and I don't intend to let Zouken win. Neither of those will save her."
"Tohsaka..."
"W-Why do you look so happy? I-I didn't copy you, okay? I'm not giving up because I think I still have a chance of winning. I'm not like you, staying in it even when I don't have any chance."
"Yeah, I thought so. That's what I expected from you, Tohsaka."
"That's annoying in a way too, but it's fine if you understand." She looked away.]
"I've seen them interact a few times and they're exactly like that," Gray said. "They're the kind of duo that fit together so well that the interaction are always the same, no matter the universe. That's very romantic."
"No wonder they became a couple in the war we were supposed to watch," Reines answered.
[Rin Tohsaka didn't want to give the Holy Grail to Zouken not because of her sense of justice.
Sakura could not be saved if Zouken won.
If we want to save Sakura, Sakura has to obtain the Holy Grail or else someone who wants to save her has to claim it. That's why Tohsaka said she or Sakura has to win. That's the only reason she's fighting against Zouken Matou.
And Shirou was right. She could not obtain the Holy Grail anymore without her servant, but she still wanted to save Sakura, her younger sister.]
"I like her," Stheno said.
"I do too," Euryale agreed.
Medusa did not. She still distrusted the girl, but if she truly proved to be Sakura's ally then she would have Rider's full respect.
["Hm. So what about you, Shirou Emiya? Will you not give up the Holy Grail, just like Rin?"
"No, I won't stop fighting. I have my goals too. I won't let Zouken do as he wishes."
"I see. I shall not stop you if you want to fight. There is a hopeless difference in your powers, but Zouken Matou is a weak person. I am sure you can devise some plan."
"..."
"..."
Shirou and Rin looked at each other silently.
Some plan, huh? I can't come up with one by myself, but with Tohsaka, we just might figure out how to beat the old man.
The conversation ended there. The treatment was over, so Kotomine requested that they leave, as they weren't asking for protection there.
"I'm leaving even if you don't tell me to," Shirou said.]
Some of the servants chuckled as they watched the friendly farewell between the boy and the priest.
When the servants stepped out of the church, all groups were disbanded.
"Tristan!" Artoria exclaimed as soon as she saw him. He ran away and she ran after him. "Sir Tristan! Come back here!"
"What the hell?" Robin scratched his head.
Go, Tristan! Run away and avoid this meeting at all costs! Gawain cheered his friend internally.
[Shortly after crossing the bridge, Rin and Illya said that they would go to the Tohsaka mansion first.
"This is a serious matter, so we need one or two secret weapons. A secret I can't unlock myself might open to an Einzbern magus. But I really don't want to find one. If Tohsaka's inheritance, Kischur's keepsake, is just as I imagine, it's not something I can handle myself," Rin explained.
"I'm not interested in Kischur's keepsake, but Zel Schweinorg's treasure chest sounds pretty." Illya's skirt fluttered as she ran off.]
"Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg!?" El-Melloi II hollered.
"Treasure!?" Reines echoed.
"Sir Tristan!" Artoria's voice, far away, reached some ears.
Gray was confused. Some others there too.
["Kischur? Zel? Schweinorg?" Shirou tilted his head in wonder.
I've never heard those names before. Are they famous among legitimate magi?]
"I think I've heard this name before..." Illya said.
"It's our papa!" Ruby said.
"What!?"
"He's one of the founders of the Clock Tower," El-Melloi II explained to Gray. "Basically immortal. Every now and then he visits and I've interacted with him a few times myself. Weird guy, but if someone has a treasure from him, it has to be something very special."
"Man, now I'm curious!" Reines gushed.
[Shirou's journey back home was not pleasant.
"Damn Kotomine. What did he mean, it wouldn't interfere with my ordinary life? This can't be handled easily..."
Shortly after separating from the girls, his left arm began to burn. He could barely breathe, his arm got hotter with every step and when it got hotter than his normal temperature, the arm sent the excess to the rest of his body.
The heat was enough to burn him, causing the pain. The heat entered his body with a sharp pain, and it was more like a cut than a burn.
Every time he felt the red dizziness, it was like getting a long knife inserted from his shoulders, churning inside of him.
It's not something I can bear many times. I've had my stomach torn by Berserker and my ribs crushed by Rider. Even with such experiences in mind, the prospect of getting stabbed by my own body sends a chill through me.]
"It sends to me too!" Astolfo's cry represented a large part of the servant group.
Shirou wasn't the only suffering. Actually, while he walked towards his house leaning against walls, the servants walked leaning in all the years of battle, as living or as servants. The pain wasn't half the pain felt inside the church, but it was still extremely inconvenient.
["It's fine, calm down... it'll calm down if I don't let it get hotter!"
The process of calming the pain in his arm took so long that Rin and Illya were able to catch up.]
"Fucking hell..." Jeanne Alter rubbed her left arm. "It's going to be hard to watch the movie like this..."
"You're right," Ritsuka replied.
"I found you, Tristan!"
"My liege! Please! Patience!"
["I'm home, Sakura."
Sakura's expression showed nothing but shock as she opened the door of the Emiya house and found Shirou Emiya with his right arm wrapped in red cloth — and she knew whose arm that was.
Then, Shirou introduced Rin and Illya, saying that the two would stay with them from now on.]
"Life is not easy for Sakura..." Parvati sighed. "That's too much information being crammed into her head at once."
"Well, she's a strong girl, I'm sure she will survive," Ishtar said.
Kama had a expression of disgust every time she saw Parvati and Ishtar interacting, but she let it go for a smile, realizing the implications about the presence of those girls there for Sakura. This will make for some good drama.
As the movie continued, Artoria decided to absent herself from some scenes. She and her knights needed to talk.
It was Boudica who noticed first. "Artoria?"
Jeanne turned to her friend as well. "Artoria. Where are you taking them? The movie wasn't paused."
"I giving them a talking to. Excuse me!"
A line of crestfallen knights followed their king to the dojo. The doors were closed by Artoria and the last thing the two servants saw was the knights on their knees.
"Are we really going to have this conversation again!?" Artoria's voice echoed from inside." I got it. All of this — the whole fragment — has been taking a huge mental toll on you all. There's nothing to do about it. But this should NOT affect us this much! Regardless of what has happened or what is going to happen! Look at me, knights! Shut up, Mordred! I don't need your opinion! Gawain, I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. Yes, I have things to deal with too, but that's not the point. Mordred, shut-up! Thanks, Gareth! You're right, Bedivere. That's what I want to see. And don't you DARE to play a SINGLE NOTE after making me run after you all over town, Tristan! No, I have no intention to kill any of you, Lancelot... for now."
"I think they're fine..." Boudica said.
"Absolutely," Jeanne answered. "Let's go watch the movie!"
But, then, they saw Tamamo dragging Emiya away too.
"And what is that?" Jeanne asked.
Boudica had a certain idea of what it was. Good luck, Emiya. Tamamo is in her "good-wife-mother" mode!
[Inside the shed, Rin was checking Shirou's body.
"Can you move your arm?"
"No."
"Thought so. Transplanting a body part of a Servant onto a human is unheard-of. If you use that arm even once, Archer's Magical Circuits will activate. And your body won't be able to withstand the power from them, and you'll collapse from the inside."]
"Look, everyone managed to fit inside the shed!" Ritsuka noted. "Who said this shed didn't have room for everyone?"
"You!" Robin answered.
"Inside, but uncomfortably!" Kuro complained. "There would be more space for everyone if the damn golden king hadn't made a damn golden throne in the middle of the damn shed!"
"That's not golden at all, man!" Kintoki was frustrated too. "I mean, it's golden, but not that golden!"
"FUAHAHA! In your dreams I would sit on the floor or on top of boxes like you mongrels! The only other one here that deserves to sit on a throne like this is Enkidu, but he preferred to join you. As always he loves hanging out with your kind for some reason!"
"Sorry about him, everyone," Enkidu said.
"Screw you, Gilgamesh!" Ritsuka decided to test the waters and gave him the middle finger. "Mash! Shield! Now!"
"Ye-YES, SENPAI!"
But nothing happened.
"Man, I'm going to order a box of these potions, Kid Gil!" Ritsuka celebrated that she was still alive.
"HAHAHA, the rabig dog now has a leash! I prefer it this way!" Ishtar laughed more and Ereshkigal had to hide her own chuckles.
"FUAHAHAHA... I'm still going to have all this memories when I back to normal."
Ritsuka stopped laughing. "Well... sorry."
["Then, this cloth is..."
"It's a seal."]
"Illya?" Irisviel called.
"Hm?"
"And this turtle in your hands?"
"I don't know, it just appeared out of nowhere and I decided to take it with me. His name is Chelone."
"Hi, Chelone." Kuro tried to pet the turtle, but he bit her finger. "Asshole!"
["Tohsaka, thank you."
"W-what's this so suddenly? I'm going to work with you until we defeat Zouken. And besides, it's convenient for me to stay close to her."
"You're concerned about Sakura," Shirou said in a happy tone.]
Artoria and her knights were heading towards the shed to watch the scene when they bumped into Emiya and Tamamo entering the backyard from inside the house.
She arched an eyebrow at the sight of them together, but not out of jealousy, suspicion or concern, but because there was something slightly different about Emiya now.
None of them had the opportunity to say something because Sakura walked past them, going to the shed.
["Besides, if I didn't become a Master myself, I'd never have gotten to know you like this." Shirou chuckled.]
"Oh, that's where you guys were at." Astolfo poked his head out the door. Underneath him, others heads poked out too.
"Oh, Sakura is coming!" Jack announced.
"Is she going to be jealous?" Nursery inquired.
["That's a little different from what you think. I don't know about you, but I've known about you for quite a while now." And with that Rin started telling her side of the high jump story.]
Scáthach chuckled to herself. "See, like I said to you, Setanta, he would be a good companion."
"Damn you, Rin Tohsaka!" Tamamo exclaimed. "Even here you want to steal the love of others!"
Circe frowned as she listened to Rin telling how she met Shirou in childhood. "This girl's reminding me of Scylla..."
[Outside, Sakura kneeled on the ground. Despair began to overwhelm her. "Don't take that memory away from me along with other things!"]
"Sakura..." Parvati, who had already left the shed to watch the girl and just listen to the two inside, could only look her with pity.
"I wouldn't blame Sakura if she did the same as I did..." Circe said.
Robin slowly walked away from the witch.
Considering the life this girl had, it's not surprising that she was so desperate for such little jealous... Nero felt very sorry for Sakura and decided right then and there that those two — Shirou and Sakura — would have her full support! Unrequited love was too painful to watch. It would made a good greek tragedy story, however... NO, DON'T! STOP IT!
"Sakura's best combat plan is without a doubt: assassinate Rin Tohsaka!" Yu tapped her chest with complete confidence in her words. "Am I not right, Lan Ling!?"
"No!" He answered. "Absolutely not."
"Jesus Christ, Yu!" Ritsuka exclaimed.
"Not my god. Don't care. All enemies of my love would be killed without second thought!"
Kama giggled ominously.
[Shirou relaxed in the bathtub, finally taking a bath after a long day.]
But no servant saw this scene.
"No one will enter!"
If someone wanted to, they would have to go through Artoria Pendragon in armor and with Excalibur in hand, protecting the bathroom with the same intensity that one day she had protected Britain.
"Artoria, I've seen all there's to see," Medb said. "And let me tell you—"
"Shut it!"
Most of the other servants were scattered around the house, waiting for Shirou's bath to end. Since they weren't divided into groups and most of them didn't want to go into the bathroom anyway, there was no way to watch the current scene, if it mattered at all.
["Maybe my arm's just as it was if I take it off."
[I]The wild idea sounds very attractive. First of all, I never saw what's under this red cloth. It's not that I don't trust that priest, but I'm sure he makes mistakes too.
Maybe nothing is wrong with my arm, and my real arm will be there if I take off this cloth. My arm isn't steel. The cloth is just making my arm stiff, so if I remove it—]
As soon as Shirou's thoughts reached the servants' ears, everyone panicked.
"I'll kill him!" Jeanne Alter ran to the bathroom.
"Nonononono!" Astolfo closed his eyes.
But, of course, before any of them could react properly or, in Jeanne Alter's case, reach the bathroom to try to do something, Shirou had already peeled off a small piece of the seal.
["What... was I doing?"
What was I doing? I unwrapped the cloth because of this sudden idea. I don't understand what happened after that. What has been done to me. What will be done to me. It only happened a few seconds ago, but I can't remember at all...
"This is bad. It's really..."
I'll die if I release it. The priest's words were true. I don't know what'll happen, but what's under this cloth is not mine.]
"Huh?" The Alter stopped running. "It doesn't hurt?"
A sudden pressure similar to the pain they felt before hit them all at once, as if to announce that it would be like the last three times, but in the end it died before it could put them through that hell again.
"Looks like no one is in pain..." Ritsuka noted, surprised.
"Yes, Master. That's good."
[Shirou got out of the bath and went to his room, but on the way he was interrupted by Medusa.
"There is something I'd like to ask you."]
"To be fair, Medusa, you are really beautiful under the moonlight," Ritsuka said.
She blushed and tried to hide behind her sisters. As always Master don't have an ounce of common sense, saying this in front of countless servants.
["Sakura's happiness is to have you stay alive and stay by her side. She wishes nothing else. I'm wishing for her survival. I am rather fond of her." Rider cracked a small smile, but her expression quickly returned to seriousness. "Shirou, do you side with Sakura? Will you, no matter what may happen in the future?"
I don't even need to think about Rider's question. Shirou Emiya chose to be Sakura Matou's ally. Then I should nod without hesitation.
But he didn't. And Medusa left before he could tried to force a reaction out of himself.
"No matter what may happen in the future?"
He didn't immediately respond like he wanted to because deep down he knew what those words meant.]
Medusa lost the happiness from her Master's comment. He's still not sure what he truly wants...
"I have to admit that I still feel uncomfortable when the movie shows Shirou's thoughts. They come as if they were being whispered in our ears, but we don't actually hear them, they go straight into our head," Atalanta said.
"Right!?" Mordred replied.
"Yes. At first it wasn't that bad because it was rare, but now it's really uncomfortable," Jekyll added. "But I think we'll get used to it over time."
"At least it's useful for understanding what visuals alone can't convey," Amakusa said.
"I call the need for 'inner thoughts' incompetence!" Nero exclaimed. "A real filmmaker can convey even the deepest thoughts of the character with just a camera angle or the actor's expression! They even have a bonus called 'soundtrack'!"
"But this isn't a movie, just looks like one..." Atalanta sighed.
"My beloved huntress, you may be right!"
What a quick change of heart, Jekyll and Amakusa thought at the same time.
Atalanta looked away, regretting having responded on instinct. And that was the last straw for Nero Claudius.
"That's enough! Umu! I'm tired of being ignerod!" Nero cried.
"You stole my joke!"
"That was a great one, emperor!" Illya said from the back of the group.
Suddenly, all the servants were inside Shirou's room. At the same time. Together.
"Holy shit!" Someone screamed. Maybe more than one. "It's cramped in here!"
"There's no way out through the doors!" Boudica warned. That means there's going to be some important scene here, but...
The only thing in the room was Shirou lying down, looking at the ceiling.
The servants tried to arrange themselves inside the room as best they could to have enough space for everyone. It was not possible. Even if everyone at least managed to stand up without bumping into each other, any movement with their arms or legs would hit whoever was around.
They would have a little more space if some went to the part of the room where Shirou was lying, but something in their minds told them "it was better not".
["Senpai." Sakura was outside the room.
"Sakura?" Shirou remembered her need. "Oh, you're low on magical energy, huh? You can step inside and wait for me."]
Sakura opened the door while Shirou went looking for his cutter-knife. Some of the servants tried to leave the room in the few seconds that the door was open, but an invisible wall prevented them.
"Dammit!" Mordred complained.
"She's using the white dress again!" Nero celebrated.
"She's so pretty!" Raikou smiled.
Kama arched an eyebrow at the expression on Sakura's face.
[Sakura unlaced her dress and pulled it over her head.]
"She's... taking her clothes off!?" Raikou widened her eyes.
"OH, CRAP, IT'S HAPPENIN', MASH! IT'S HAPPENIN'!" Ritsuka screeched, shaking her friend in excitement.
"I don't know if we should see this, Senpai!" Mash replied catching her glasses in mid-air after it was knocked out by all that movement.
[Shirou only stopped looking when Sakura hugged him from behind in just her underwear.]
"Oh, my..." Jeanne covered her mouth.
"Go, Sakura!" Medb cheered the girl. "Take your man before Rin does!"
["Senpai, why are you protecting me?"
"It's because... I'm the one who wants you by my side. I need you, and I don't think we could stay far from each other."
"Do you mean you like me as one of your family members? Or as a girl?"
"Yes. I love you, Sakura."]
"MAAAASH!"
"SENPAI, STOP!"
"Damn, my man really said!" Kintoki whistled admiring Shirou's attitude.
Artoria opened a small smile. Sorry, Rin. I really am. But these two make a good couple too. I am happy for them.
["Then, please make love to me."]
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ritsuka died.
"..."
["Senpai, am I impure? It's so strange."]
"..."
["I end up like this just by coming into your room. I try to quench it by myself, but it just won't subside. I can't think of anything other than you, Senpai! I'm such a defiled..."
"No. You're not defiled at all."]
"..." Artoria was waiting for the scene to end at any moment; to come back only in the morning like those two romance movies the Master had chosen did.
But Shirou went to Sakura, and the scene didn't end.
"Emiya?"
"Yes?"
"This scene will end soon... right?"
["You're beautiful, Sakura."
"Senpai..."
And the two kissed.]
"THIS IS BETTER THAN I EXPECTED!"
"SENPAI, YOU DARK SIDE IS SHOWING!"
"..." Artoria started to feel her body getting heavy with cold sweat.
[The two lie down on the futon together and started taking off their clothes.]
Shuten laughed. "Finally, some good content!" And she sat next to the couple.
Ritsuka started laughing too. "AHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Senpai! Take a deep breath! You dark side is showing! Please!"
Parvati covered her body with her hands, ashamed.
[My voice of reason mounts one last, desperate defense. But...
"Please, Senpai... I can't bear it any longer..."
"Saku...ra..."
Her words destroy every obligation in me.]
"AHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Senpai!"
Raikou took advantage of the fact that she was behind Prince of Lan Ling and covered his eyes.
"What is happening now?" Jack asked. "Are they checking if they have a fever again?"
"No." Atalanta covered the girls' eyes.
[The zipper on Shirou's pants was lowered and *$($&$(*$(&$ (($29D9AA9J29D929769696941.]
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—" Illya screamed as she saw Sakura *#$&*#$&*$& Shirou, throwing the turtle at the ceiling.
"ILLYA, YOU KILLED THE TURTLE!" Ruby exclaimed.
"—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—"
"That's not how I wanted to see it!" Kuro covered her eyes, crying internally. "I feel betrayed!"
"I don't like this fragment anymore." Miyu crouched down on the floor and covered her eyes.
"I'm going to have grandchildren!" Irisviel celebrated.
"—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—"
"Let me out!" Muramasa pushed everyone away and knocked on the bedroom door. "Culprit, you sick bastard sack of shit. Let me out here! I AIN'T HERE TO WATCH MY VESSEL %(($)*&!"
Musashi laughed at the old man.
From the ceiling, where the turtle had hit, a man fell — on top of Robin, Amakusa and Jekyll.
"JASON!?"
Circe covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"The turtle wasn't a turtle all along!?"
[(#U!U($U!($(FNF( (EH(H($($%&%($(&$($&($&($& ($&(&$(&($( &$($(((H(($($&($&($&($($&($(&($($&$(&$(($.
($&($&($&($&($&($&($.
&$($&($&($&($& )$)& $)&$)&$)$)#))&%#)%)%)&%#)#%&.]
Artoria stared at the scene more than anyone else. But not because she was watching, but because as soon as started the last bit of energy she had for that fragment drained away and now there was only a husk of the King of Knights.
In fact, although her eyes were directly connected with the scene itself, she saw nothing. Her eyes were dead.
"Let me get to my king!" Lancelot bellowed, shoving the servants out of the way. "Don't look, my king!"
Tristan started playing his harp as loud as he could to drown out the couple's moans from reaching the children's ears.
"—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—"
"HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!" Mordred and Reines competed to see who laughed the loudest at everyone's reactions.
"Thanks, Mr. Alexander!"
"You welcomed."
Gray covered her eyes and Iskandar covered her ears.
El-Melloi II had already lit ten cigars in the meantime. He felt violated to be forced to watch a scene like that.
[$& )(& $)$&)$)&)&$)&$))$) $)$&)$&)$&)$) $&)$&)$)$)$)&)$&)$&)$&)$&)$& $&)$)&$)$&)$)$&)$.
#&*($($($(?]
"I just wanted to be reading right now..." Medusa sighed.
The sight of her sisters watching the scene with curiosity was a little disturbing as well.
"I get what you're saying..." Yu sighed too. "Xiang Yu, I miss yoouuu..." She wiped away her tears. "I think I'm going to gouge my own eyes out. Watching a couple make love is more than I can chew."
"—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—"
"Strange hearing this from you, Senpai!" Ritsuka spoke while the moans of the couple were spreading through the room. "I'm preeeetty sure you invited me to watch you and Xiang Yu once, didn't you? Isn't it basically the same thing now?"
What Ritsuka said killed any sound made by the other servants; the only sounds left in Shirou's room were those coming from him and Sakura... except Illya, she was still screaming.
Yu looked at Ritsuka as if she hadn't heard anything. She heard it, she just hadn't accepted it yet.
Those were the moments Tamamo feared Ritsuka Fujimaru the most — you never knew when she was saying something innocent or pure evil, how much of a maiden or devil she was.
"WHAT!?" Mash screamed.
"W-W-WHAT!?" Raikou's scream would shatter the room if they weren't in a simulation. "WHAT YOU JUST SAID!?"
"P-P-P-PUPIL... Y-Y-YOU DEAD!" And she meant it.
"NO!" Lan Ling took advantage of Raikou releasing him to get in Yu's way.
"SHE'S GONNA KILL MASTER!" Musashi screamed.
"AAAAAH! WHY'S SHE ANGRY!? SOMEBODY HELP ME! YU WANTS TO KILL ME!" Ritsuka hugged Mash, but then noticed the dark look on the girl's face.
Kintoki, Gawain, Chiron and Lan Ling stopped Yu from proceeding.
"Oh my god, not you too. SOMEBODY HELP ME! MASH WANTS TO KILL ME TOO!"
Mordred and Reines were close to dying without oxygen.
"FUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!" Gilgamesh was having the time of his life. "Entertain me, court jesters! FUAHAHAHA!"
Enkidu sighed and wrapped Yu in his chains when he saw her breaking through the wall of men.
"—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—" Illya stopped and caught her breath.
"Thank god, Illya, I thought you were going to die out of breath!"
[(!#)(!#$&(!$!$$&$&*$¨* $*$*$&*$¨*$¨$*& ¨$**$¨*$ .
Her varying movements are like those of an educated prostitute.]
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—"
"OH NO, ILLYA!"
"Educa-EDUCATED PROSTITUTE!?" Parvati lost her mind. "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM, SHIROU EMIYA!? HOW CAN YOU CALL YOUR LOVE THAT!?"
Everyone close to Kama changed their attention from Ritsuka/the scene to her.
"Kama burst into flames!" Ritsuka screamed trying to get away and bumped her back into someone. "She entered her third ascension!" The someone she had bumped into was Yu, the servant who was paralyzed by the chains, but still with her hands loose.
"Let go of Master's neck! You're goin' to kill her!" Kintoki tried his best to help his Master.
"Kama will burn everyone if she keeps this up!" Jeanne warned.
[$*(&$(&$($&($&(&$($&(&$($&($(&($&$(&($&(($&( &$($ &($($ .]
"Damn, he's not bad at all..." Jeanne Alter analyzed the scene.
"You've really become a pervert, aren't you?" Artoria Alter said.
"I need some inspiration for my doujinshi!"
"Uh-huh..." Artoria Alter turned to the scene. "What's it with this strangely aggressive thoughts from Shirou? Never took Emiya for this kind of guy."
"Neither did I." Jeanne Alter thought about something, whether she should speak or not, but she ended up deciding yes. "He really is the bone of his sword."
"..." Artoria Alter turned her face back to the other Alter. "There you have it. You ruined it. Congratulations."
Jeanne Alter didn't have an answer for that. She regretted saying it as soon as it left her mouth.
["I can't take it. When Big Sister took you out earlier, I became terribly frightened just by that!" Sakura burst into tears as she confessed her insecurities.
"I'm sorry I didn't notice." Shirou hugged and comforted her.]
"They... They're a good couple..." Gareth would need therapy after that scene.
"C'mon, people, are "sex" really this alien to you?" Medb was tired of all the drama. Two people who loved each other finally making love, no big deal.
[Shirou noticed that the shadow of them embracing each other, Sakura's in particular, started to deform. He ignored.
"I love you, Senpai."]
Medusa could no calm down the fear inside her, this feeling created an endless distrust that Shirou, avoiding at all costs to accept reality, was only making the possibility of everything ending badly between the two of them in the future more likely.
[The church doors being opened by Kirei Kotomine in the morning heralded the end of the infamous scene.]
Jeanne had a smile full of relief on her face.
"Amen!"
A/N: Hi. I corrected the first three chapters and also the chapter 15. The content itself is still the same, just the grammar is a little better, so no need to reread if you don't want to. With time, I'll keep correcting the chapters until I get to the current one.
Ah, jumping to chapter 15 was kinda random, I know, but it's because it's the only one with an important correction that you should know about it. Before it was "fifty-three servants", but now it is "fifty-three chaldeans" because Ritsuka is not a servant. I just noticed this mistake recently.
Also, I recommend the fanfic "Secret Conversation", it's a one-shot chapter focused exactly on this conversation between Archer and Illya while the surgery was going on. It's pretty good.
Until next time.