I live, again!
In all honesty I do not have an excuse for taking this long. Once I uploaded chapter 10, I started to realize that I was falling into tropes and other aspects of writing that I really didn't want to. it was to the point that I realized that I simply couldn't shift the story. Introducing the aspect of Vivian would lead to Morgan and honestly, I wanted to avoid that at ALL COSTS. This wanting to rewrite it happened at the worst time when I needed to focus on school due to grades.
That being said, I am a little more confident in how I want this story to go. My hope is that I am capable to convey my ideas properly, and, of course, to write a story that you will find entertaining.
I am sorry this took so long to bring back, and I do really hope you enjoy this rework.
The last thing I expected to see… correction, the last thing I expected was to open my eyes again. The second to last thing I expected to see was my room again. It's been two months since I was last here.
Looking around, I wasn't exactly sure what to feel. Nostalgia maybe? Or maybe some form of sadness? It was hard to tell with myself.
I let out a tired sigh. "This must be my life flashing before my eyes…sure took your damn time! I died…however long ago that was!"
I remember that I was by Caster when I lost consciousness. I think I bled out. She must have been really worried then.
"...Well, better get a move on." I pushed myself off the floor. There was some moonlight coming in from the windows, there was a calming feeling to it.
My room looked exactly the same as it did when I left for the grail war, albeit a little dusty. The house was the same, just some light dust covering the furniture.
Though, I couldn't help but feel cold from how empty it was. There was no noise to counter the silence, nothing but the echoing of my footsteps.
It felt like something was missing. Or maybe it was someone? I couldn't remember what it was though. I frowned at that as the frustration set it.
I continued to walk around, the more I saw, the more things I remembered. When I first started to learn how to cook, when my circuits first opened, when I was given Aunt Rin's necklace. The more I remembered the more sadness I felt.
I found myself walking towards the backyard, normally I would sleep in my shed or in the backyard when I was bored or stressed. It was my haven to a degree, despite how often I was nagged to clean it.
When I got to the backyard, I wanted to walk over to the shed, but I ended up deciding to sit down and watch over the backyard. This is where I begged dad to take me with him on some of his trips, and where he decided I had to go to clocktower for my condition.
I won't lie, I was a little hurt when he just sent me away. Even if he had the best intentions, his execution was incredibly sloppy.
Though, I got to meet some nice people there, so I can't be too mad with him.
"...I never got to thank him, did I?" He taught me so much, and I definitely wouldn't be the person I am now if it wasn't for him and Aunt Sakura.
"You don't have to be a hero, and I would prefer if you didn't try to be, but still, I want you to protect just one thing. I'm sure it will lead to protecting something else one day."
Well, can't say I didn't try. I managed to do at least that much. That was enough for me…
"Do you think you are allowed to die just yet? That's awfully conceited of you." My eyes shot open to look at the source of the voice. Standing before me was a younger me with dark red hair.
You are…
It smiled. "You should wake up now."
The world around me went black.
0-0-0-0-0
The first thing he saw when he woke up was the floor, swiftly followed by the sensation of his face breaking his fall.
"Ow…" A groan escaped him as used the bed to push himself back up. As he did, a wave of nausea washed over him like a tide. He wiped the blood from his lips as the taste of iron filled his mouth. His entire body was aching.
Oh, that's right, I was fighting Krast. Those wounds should have been fatal, so then… He looked over his body and found bandages nearly wrapped around his whole body. …how am I alive?
He couldn't remember how he got to where he was, so he must have been passed out for that. Though there was discomfort at the thought of being within a hospital.
Looking around the room, he took notice of the equipment in the room, as well as what the television was playing. Am I in Japan? How am I back in Japan? I was in America.
The more he thought, the more he questioned his situation, and the more his annoyance grew at it. I don't like the idea that I've been shipped to a different place without a say again.
"All right, that's enough contemplating for now." Grabbing the edge of the bed, he kept himself up only for a few seconds before sitting himself down. The pain and nausea were just increasing to the point it was unbearable.
"Not around you are still a pain, Krást. Couldn't just leave it at a few broken bones could you. I would have preferred getting hit by a truck."
As he was contemplating what to do next, a thought came to his head. If I'm here, then is Tamamo too? There's a chance.
There was a crashing sound by the door, turning, I saw Tamamo standing in the doorway with a wide eyed expression. On the ground was a vase with some flowers she had bought.
They stared at each other for a few seconds, and when Yuto tried to break the silence, she tackled him onto the bed before any proper words could leave his mouth.
"Hey Tamamo." He hugged her back tightly. She really was here, this was real. A weight that he didn't even realize was there was replaced with hers.
"Master…" She smiled happily seeing that he was awake before promptly pinching his face. "This is for worrying me so much."
"I'um shory." She let go of my face and sighed as she sat next to me.
"You've been unconscious for days, I was starting to worry you'd never wake up."
"Sorry for worrying you. I must've been more hurt than I thought. Well, I thought I died." There was a stinging pain in his chest as he patted down his chest.
"You did." She clarified.
"Ah." He sighed and laid down on the bed. "So… how'd we end up in Japan anyway? I thought we were in America."
There was a pause as she thought about what to say. "We…I used the wish to bring you back, but after that, there was a flash of light and we were here."
"Is that so? Anything else I should know?"
She paused once again. "Yes, I doubt you will like any of it though." Her ears twitched and she glanced at the door, gaining an annoyed expression. "But that will have to wait until later, we have some company."
When she finished speaking, the door was pulled open again. This time, a woman wearing a traditional shrine maiden outfit walked in. Her golden hair was tied into a ponytail and was matched by her golden eyes.
Yuto's whole body tensed up. His mind was telling him to run but he was locked in place. His hand held onto Tamamo's with a tight grip.
Not Human
She was dangerous, that was what his mind was screaming at him. Almost as if to tease his current state, there was a flash of something behind the woman, an outline he couldn't make out.
It was almost the same as the feeling as when Berserker was near him, except there was no intense fear that came with this, only a feeling of warranted danger.
He lightly pulled Tamamo closer to him, an act that did not go unnoticed. The woman smiled at him knowingly. "Well this is a surprise, I wasn't expecting you to be up, let alone be able to move."
"That's a greeting I guess. Hello, how are you?"
Unphased by his surprise, instead leaning down so she was eye level with him. She spoke with a sly smile. "I am doing rather well, thank you for asking. And you can relax, I don't bite, unless you want me to."
This time it was Tamamo who pulled him into her to prevent Yuto from looking at the woman's chest. The woman merely let out an amused smile before she leaned back up. "Well I am glad you are doing well, it looks like your bleeding stopped and you are moving around well enough too."
She nodded to herself, a little surprised that he was actually moving about so casually. "I do however have some questions I would like answered, starting with why you were so beaten and bloody."
"Not to be rude, but who are you exactly?"
Her facade dropped for a second, she seemed surprised by his lack of information. "Do you not know where you are right now?"
"Somewhere in Japan I assume."
"Correct. Kyoto, more specifically. I had my men take you here for treatment under your friend's request." She motioned towards Yuto's bandaged body, "You must have had quite the night."
"Something like that. I got into a fight with someone."
"Was it a wild animal? A person doesn't cause those kinds of injuries." Her curious look didn't disappear.
"He might as well have been one." His thoughts were interrupted when he felt Tamamo tap his arm. "Sorry, one moment."
Despite the fact that they turned their backs to the woman, she didn't seem to mind in the slightest. Rather, she found the whole scene amusing.
"Ok, so she isn't human. What is going on right now?" He whispered as quietly as he could.
"I will explain later, but I haven't said anything you wouldn't have wanted me to. So I will let you answer her now."
"Ok then." He turned back to the woman. "I'm a magi, I was caught in a fight with an apostle and was badly injured." Though he left out everything about the war, he still answered her honestly.
"A what now?"
"A vampire…of sorts."
"Ah." There was a moment of silence as she took a moment to process this information. It was the first time she had heard vampires be called by that. "Well that would explain a lot, though I'm surprised they didn't drink your blood."
He grimaced at that as he patted his chest. Despite it being mostly healed, it still felt fresh. Karst and him ripping each other apart was ingrained into his memory. "He certainly tried, that's for sure. It's honestly a miracle I'm still alive."
She nodded. "Does your family know about this? I would imagine they would be concerned, at least I hope so. My knowledge about magician society is limited."
Tamamo tapped Yuto's arm again. She had the same look as before, when she was telling him to hold off on his questions. "...I'm not sure. My Aunt should have known what was going on but I haven't had contact with her in months, so I couldn't say."
There was a limited amount of things he could say right now if Tamamo wanted him to hold off. It probably meant it would cause complications later if he said too much here.
What a pain. He thought to himself as Yasaka contemplated what to say next.
Yasaka sighed to herself. She walked in expecting something more, instead she had a rather calm kid who was half dead not a week ago in front of her. The fact that he was talking so calmly despite everything was unnerving. "I see. We can have a proper talk once I talk to some associates, in the meantime try to rest up."
Yuto perked up as she started to turn. "Oh, I forgot, my name is Emiya Yuto, I am in your care."
She nodded towards him, giving him a polite bow. "Well, now that you have introduced yourself, I suppose I am next."
"My name is Yasaka." She gained a mischievous smile as the outline appeared again, only now it took physical form. Nine fluffy golden fox tails sprouted from behind, paired with the same colored ears atop her head. "I am a kyuubi and current leader of the yokai. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Emiya Yuto."
"...Eh?"
0-0-0-0-0
After she got a quick laugh from my reaction, she dismissed herself rather quickly, promising that she would be back with news within a few days from now. A few minutes after she left, Tamamo let out an annoyed sigh, "It is rather discomforting that beings like that exist here."
"Well we aren't dead, so that's a plus. Now then…" I put my hands on her shoulders and made her look me in the eyes, "What. The fuck. Is going on?"
She took a sharp breath, "We may or may not be in a different world. Before you freak out-"
"Too late."
"Before you freak out more, let me explain." She paused, waiting for my input. I waved for her to continue, "After Krast was dealt with, you were bleeding out and I used the grail to wish for your body to be restored and you were mostly healed. But after that, there was a flash of rainbow light, and we were suddenly in Kyoto."
Taking all of that in, I just sat there for a second. I grabbed the pillow that I was sleeping on and quickly screamed into it until I ran out of breath.
When I regained my breath, I quickly calmed myself and rubbed my temples. "The last thing I ever wanted to happen was to be caught up in that old bastard's machinations."
"Who now?"
"Don't worry about it, he would be our only way back and I highly doubt he cares enough to do anything to help us." I let out another sigh, "Guess we're stuck here now. Not much we could do."
I suppose, in his own weird way, he did at least help us. …Nah, he's just messing with us, like he does with everyone else.
"Regardless, thank you for saving me Tamamo. I wouldn't have made it without you."
"Of course I would, I didn't need anything from the grail. You fought through many people to reach it, you just happened to be unconscious when you did."
I laughed a little at that. "Yeah, I guess we made it that far together. I got my wish granted, so I suppose all I can do now is try to actually live."
Even saying that felt as though something was gripping at my chest. Every other master was also fighting for the holy grail, for a wish that would have changed their lives, I was just the one who came out on top.
All that was left was to keep moving forward.
0-0-0-0-0
The next day came rather quickly. Tamamo and I decided to just relax yesterday to process everything that was happening.
Strangely, this wasn't enough to completely overload my brain. Maybe that spoke about the weird stuff in my life in general. Or maybe me being a magi just made this kind of thing second nature.
"So, how exactly did you convince Yasaka to give you so much fabric?" I held a jacket that Tamamo had made for me while I was asleep. Along with a shirt and some pants.
She made a whole wardrobe in the week I was unconcious.
"All I told her was that I was gonna make some clothes for you and she was willing. She is most certainly different from the kyuubi I knew, still getting over that."
"They probably adapted to modern times. Would be hard to survive in this day and age otherwise." I threw the jacket on, already wearing the shirt and pants she gave me, "That being said, if yokai survived, then there's a chance other kinds of creatures from the age of gods did too. In which case this world is incredibly dangerous."
Tamamo hummed as she sat down next to me, "Let's not think about that for now. Why don't we change the subject, what exactly do you plan on doing once we've talked with Yasaka?"
"Probably ask for a job. We've got no money to our names and I'm not lazy enough to ride off Yasaka's offers."
"Do you think she'll have one you'll like? While I am all for you having one, I do not like the idea of you coming back mentally dead."
"I'm hoping so, considering where we are there is more than likely something that works for me." Maybe she would need something like mystic codes made or weapons.
"Honestly, I'm surprised you listened to her and changed clothes."
She frowned and looked down to her clothes. Instead of her normal modified shrine outfit, she was wearing a pink and white jacket with black shorts. "That was the caveat to getting the fabrics, she also had me make myself new clothes, saying that my normal attire was 'a little too revealing'."
"Probably because it left little to the imagination. Not that I had a problem with it." I said easily.
"Don't be so mean, Master! My choice of clothing is perfect. It's not like it actually flashes anyone."
"I seem to remember a few times when you did." I blushed as I remembered some of those moments. She never tried to deny the fact that it was on purpose.
"Hoh?" A sly smile spread across her face. "So you were looking." Still not denying it.
"...Maybe." I looked away from her sly smile as she leaned closer to my face.
She laughed and pushed us both onto the bed, rolling over so she was laying next to me. "I miss having moments like these. It's been forever since we were able to just relax."
"I wonder how Via is doing? She was recovering in the church when we fought Krast, right?" With everything that's been happening, I've been thinking back to our world. There were some masters who managed to walk away from the war.
Tamamo seemed rather annoyed that I brought her up, but still answered my concerns regardless.
"Recovered by now more than likely, as much as I don't like her, Vianna is rather resilient."
"Yeah." Was all I could say. When I stopped to think about it, I thought back to everyone else as well.
There was a tightness in my chest when I remembered them. It was hard to breathe.
As if sensing what I was feeling, Tamamo poked my face, drawing my attention. She was smiling lightly at me. "You worry too much Yuto, they're fine. Let's worry about ourselves first okay?"
I released the breath I was holding. There were too many unknowns in this world. It was annoying to think about, but we really are at the mercy of Yasaka right now.
That said, I wasn't particularly worried. If she wanted us dead she would have just left me on the street. Yasaka just wanted answers, the problem is whether or not she'll believe them.
"True. Telling Yasaka the truth is the first priority, we can work from there."
"I can't say I'm fond of another woman being a bigger priority than me."
"I knew you were the jealous type, but not a yandere." She looked mildly shocked and pinched my cheek.
There was a knock on the door. "Yasaka is ready to see you now. I will take you to her."
"Be out in a second." I took a deep breath to calm my nerves.
I pushed myself off the bed and offered Tamamo my hand. "Let's get going then." She smiled and took my hand.
Whatever the reason, we're here now. It's best that we deal with what's right in front of us.
Here's the new chapter after so long. I wanted to try a different writing style that incorporated both 1st and 3rd person perspectives, but it felt a little cluttered with that. I might try swapping them for certain chapters, that way it would feel less cluttered in the future.
I also think I have more of Yuto's personality down better than I did last time, I hope so anyway. I really want to avoid making him a Shirou clone, powers and personality wise, though power wise he is very similar. However, I have too many idea on him that I simply didn't want to make an entirely new OC. While possible, it would have taken longer to get this chapter out.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you have criticisms or questions, don't hesitate to ask them. I will gladly answer them.