A/N: Hey! Long time no see! I said we would have a 1 month timeskip, but didn't plan to be irl as well, haha! In all honesty, I was a bit tired after all the other chapters I did, and like I said, I'm satisfied with how this first arc ended. That's why I needed to recover my energies before continue. And yes, I also delayed the next chapter for the UBW fanfic, bear with me please! But now, I'm back! Not going to post as often as before, but I'll post! You can bet on it!
And now we enter this "mini-arc" to explain everything that happened in this timeskip. How many chapters it'll be? I dunno, but I got a LOT to tell, but I'll try to keep it simple and compact for now lol. Enjoy the reading!
The hospital room always smelled of cleaning products. The staff cleans it during the morning, afternoon, and night to keep it clean from any bacteria that could affect the patient. The patient in question was Santiago, connected to various medical devices and IV fluids.
It was ironic when Shion remembered the geezer's words when the other Church members said that if he continued working hard, he would end up in a hospital.
"I will rest in a coffin before I end up in a hospital bed!"
It seems that he underestimated his luck. Now, he was in a deep coma. Undergoing several surgeries, but so far, he has survived them all, showing tremendous willpower and endurance for his age.
It had been a month since all that happened, and the violet-haired boy didn't know what to say as soon as he entered the room. He just pulled up a chair and sat on the side of the bed, looking at the geezer sleeping peacefully.
"Hey, geezer. It's me. Again. I know it's been a while since I came to see you, though things are a little crazy out there. You wouldn't believe it if I told you everything." There was no response. "Yeah. I bet you would love to know all the trouble I got myself into only in one month." Again, without any reaction. "What the hell, geezer! You always had some nervous twitch when you heard I had done something."
Even though it was difficult to admit, he missed this fake priest lecturing him. Or even hear him say anything. Shion thought that after this month, maybe hearing the his voice would wake Santiago up or make him react. In the end, the reality is that wasn't time for the man to wake up yet. And who knew when that time would come?
"Anyway, I didn't come all this way just for nothing. I have time until visiting hours are up, and I'm going to use it. Get ready to hear about Shion Emiya's new daily adventures! The first of all is... ugh..." It was obvious from the boy's face, although the old man couldn't see it, that he had lost all his previous excitement. "... living with the loli-aunt."
After finding out that I had an aunt, who was a loli, and the two of us having a heart-to-heart conversation, I took her to my house. Huh, I guess if we're technical about it, it was her house before. The path was a hassle, especially without the shadow to help me swing through Miyama like Spider-Man. When we got there, it was almost ten in the morning.
Illya was surprised at how intact our house was, even after the earthquake seventeen years ago. "Whoa, it seems like the entire residence is something apart from the rest of the world! There is no sign of damage! And I can see what you did kept her in good condition, Shion."
I couldn't help but give an arrogant smile at the time, crossing my arms and puffing out my chest. "Well, of course! It was the only thing my father left me, so I took good care of the place. I even replaced some of the broken things, like the shed doors."
"That is great! I bet Shirou would be happy." I admit that it is still strange to hear about my father in such a casual way, especially from someone who I discovered was my aunt so recently. Maybe it wouldn't be so weird if she wasn't a loli! But that's life. We barely get what we want.
Also, I don't want a smoking hot aunt or anything. But you know how much I hate lolis. She's a homunculus and doesn't age, but it makes me uncomfortable and wonder how my own father reacted to her! Even more so considering she wanted to kill him back in the day!
"Well... anyway, time to make breakfast. Or would you rather go to sleep?" Strangely, I felt full of energy and wasn't even hungry. But the habit of eating at that hour was increasing my appetite.
"It's tempting to rest after everything that happened. However, it is even more tempting to try my nephew's cooking. I wonder if is as good as your father's!"
That's when the problems started.
"Cooking? I usually only eat ramen in the morning."
This left her very confused, so I took Illya to the kitchen and showed her the packages of instant ramen that had yet to be opened. I've never seen an expression of disgust like the one she showed when her eyes landed on that. It felt like I had offended the most sacred traditions of the Emiya family.
That in itself irritated me, which made me ask. "What? Look, those who make a bad face to food in this house also don't eat. Do you want the ramen or not?"
"Ugh…" She still maintained that expression. I know I hadn't the most traditional way for these things, but a meal was a meal. And each meal deserves respect! That's what you taught me, geezer. "Won't you at least cook for me? I'm an honored guest, you know?" Technically, this is her house too, so she doesn't get to be a guest in her own house.
"How annoying. If I had known, we would have gone to a restaurant." I don't think she liked the comment very much, as she puffed out her cheeks and stomped her foot on the floor.
"I'm not annoying! And you owe me more respect! I'm your aunt!" Maybe it was her high tone or indignation. But I felt compelled to respond in the same way. I even went a little louder and more abrasive.
"How do you expect me to see you as my aunt when you're a freaking loli?! Not to mention that I barely know you! If you want something refined and homely, you can turn around and..." Before finishing, I bite my lip to stop myself from finishing what I saying. If I want to change, I have to stop pushing others away at the slightest disagreement. "... sorry."
And luckily for me, Illyasviel seemed to notice this problem I had, sighing and approaching me, touching my hand. "It's okay. I shouldn't put such high expectations on you either, especially with cooking." The way she talked made it sound like my dad was some Master Chef. "Look, how about we take a shower first?"
"Ah, that is going to be complicated. There isn't much water left in the bowls I used yesterday. If we both take a shower, there won't be any water left for the ramen." The white-haired girl looked at me with furrowed eyebrows, confused as if I had said something nonsense.
"Bowls...? What do bowls have to do with anything?"
"Oh yeah, you don't know. So, plumbing isn't working, and I used the rainwater from the day before yesterday for everything till I could ask the geezer to fix it." Instead of an expression full of disgust like from before, now seemed more like it was filled with pity. As if she was looking at the most beaten-up creature in existence. Even patted my hand as she wiped a fake tear from her eye.
"Poor thing, being forced to live in these conditions. But don't worry, Aunt Illya is here!" Later, I had to explain that I put myself in this situation, and left the girl to talk, curious about her solution. "If that's the case, we'll take a shower together to save the water and then use the rest to eat the ramen!"
And I regretted it.
"SAY WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY?! I'M NOT GOING TO SHOWER WITH YOU!" Seriously, what was this girl thinking? Does she want the FBI to come after me? I'm too young to go to jail!
"Isn't that the most logical? If we both want to eat and there is only water for a shower, then we both take a shower. That way we'll have water for the ramen." Her logic was unbeatable, but my principles are as unbreakable as steel.
"Look, I don't need a shower right now. Then you can take one, and don't worry about me!" From her face, it was obvious that she didn't think the same.
"I don't know… you smell of blood." The strangest thing is that she wasn't wrong. When I smelled my arm, it smelled like blood. Could this be when the shadow brought me back? Still, the smell disappeared after a few more showers over the next few days, so it wasn't a problem. "And why so much shame? Am I not just a little girl to you?"
"And that's why it's strange! Mainly because you are my aunt, who is over thirty! So this all comes full circle with the fact that I hate loli as a concept! Do you understand?!"
"No." She said with the most innocent face I had ever seen. It made me fall to my knees, defeated. "But if it bothers you so much, we can be both with our backs turned. When it comes to pouring water on each other, I'll do it. What do you think?"
It seems a little more acceptable, just a little. In the end, I knew we would be like the whole morning if I didn't give in to her whim.
"Fine. But if you turn around while I scrub myself or make me look at you, I will leave the bathroom immediately."
What followed was the most tense shower of my life. The only person I ever showered with was Toshiro, and now this girl wanted to shower with me so casually. Not to mention, her appearance constantly sends shivers down my spine. Every noise from behind me was almost a death sentence, trying to pique my curiosity, but I was strong. I kept my eyes in one direction, and hopefully, Illya did the same thing.
They say a shower is when you can wash away all the stress from a difficult day. I was more stressed after that. Also, we had a little problem right after taking a shower. Clothes. Illya didn't have any spare clothes for herself, so of course, I had to give some of mine away until we could buy her new ones.
Now, we went back to the kitchen, and she was wearing one of my shirts and a pair of pants that I had to fasten very tightly with a belt to keep them from falling off.
"I'm not used to these baggy clothes... hmmm... they smell like Shion." She murmured, and it made my shivers return.
"Hey! What is this talk about smell?! I wash my clothes very well! And stop smelling my shirt like a dog, you weirdo!" Illya turned red like a tomato when she heard that. That was the first time I caught her off guard.
"W-w-what?! I was making an observation! What intentions do you think I have here?!"
"I don't know, you tell me!" As long is not falling in love with me or something gross like that, I won't complain.
"I just want to get to know you better and enjoy all the time we missed as a family! You are a young man with a wild imagination." And at that same time, she showed me a sly smile. "My, my, I can only imagine if I had a more mature appearance. Maybe my comment would have a very different reaction."
My face turned red with that answer and her sly smile. My only reaction was to grab her cheeks and start squeezing them a little, which in itself caused her pain.
"Ow, ow, ow! I give up, I give up!"
"You better do! Just know that I hate clichés! And I'm totally against that incest thing and even more lolis!" I declared for the four corners of the world to hear while I had my finger pointed in her face. What she did next was open her mouth and bite my finger.
It took almost five minutes for her to release me. After that, we finally just sit down and eat the ramen. It was at that moment that I had some peace. That's what I thought until Illya ended up really liking my limited-edition instant ramen and had to start talking.
"Wow, this is so good! Amazing how it tastes so good and isn't homemade! It even seems like there is a little person inside who prepares all of this, and we put the hot water on to relieve them of the suffering of constantly having to get the food ready!" I think I could live without that mental image in my head.
"That's not how it works. The food is prepared, so can be frozen and stored for long time periods. Hot water only finishes the cooking. Not the same as if it's homemade, of course, but for me, tastes good." After eating some more, I noticed that she seemed a little sullen. "What is it?"
"It's just that I was trying to be funny… and you didn't even laugh." Was that a joke? If it was, then this girl has a mood darker than a pit.
"Ah, well, the idea of a person inside the packaging cooking is funny!" Just not the idea that it dies when we add hot water. "I once saw an image that was basically that! I'll show you!" She gives me her cell phone, and after entering the internet password, I showed an art where a little cook inside a ramen package, with their own kitchen.
"Oh, as cute as I imagined! But... I didn't know you could do that with your cell phone! And I don't remember taking a photo of that drawing."
"Actually, I just looked online to find it."
"On…line?" It shocked me that she didn't even know what the internet was. Seriously, it's much worse than you, geezer. Looks like I'd have to teach her a few things about technology. That would require a lot of patience.
"I'll teach you more about that later." And I will definitely turn on Safe Search. But that was the perfect moment for me to ask her something. "But... Illya..."
"Aunt Illya." She corrected me, and while I didn't feel like humoring this brat, I just sighed.
"...Aunt Illya, I have a request to make." This piqued her interest. "I would like you to train me in magecraft! Please!" I placed my hands on the table and lowered my head, waiting for her response.
At that time, I couldn't see her reaction, that made me anxious, leading to raise my gaze a little to observe her face. She had an expression of pure surprise. Looks like I caught her by surprise once again. Her red eyes were looking into mine, as if trying to look into my soul. But I didn't back down for a second.
And with a smile, Illya said. "Okay." That made a relieved smile appear on my face. At least until her index finger came up real quick and poked my nose, with her standing up and leaning in close. "However, I have some conditions."
I didn't like the sound of that. But I still heard what those conditions were.
"First, you must be ready to learn. I won't make this easy for you. Besides, I don't want to hear you complaining either." I nodded at this condition. "Second, whatever you're going to do with what I teach you, it can't have anything to do with being an "ally of justice", understand?" Strangely, she made this condition seem like a pretty important one.
And I don't even know what she meant by that, so I just agreed. "Okay, this ally of justice thing also sounds really stupid." She breathed a sigh of relief, I wonder if this was something related to my father or my grandfather.
"And as a last condition, we will both learn how to cook!" That's when she lost me.
"What...? Learn how to cook? What does that have to do with magecraft?" Unfortunately, the brat didn't seem open to discussing this condition.
"It's that or nothing! I don't want my nephew to end up getting fat just by eating instant food, no matter how tasty it is! That's why you're going to learn how to cook!"
And that's how we started our relationship with each other. I have to say, it's been a pretty rough month, but I think I'm getting used to Aunt Illya. But nothing could prepare me for what would come a few days later.
My first day at school.
A/N: And that's it! I hope you liked! I honestly love writing things in Shion's perspective instead of just dropping some of his thoughts and all. And next chapter we'll see his first day at school, and I might say that there will MANY surprises.