Summary: Just because they both have the same goal of "Saving Humanity" in mind, Amakusa Shirou finds that the last Chaldean Master has different means of achieving it compared to his own. And to his surprise, the Servants he remembered from the Great Holy Grail War had changed for the better, just to match said Master's resolve.

Note: This was written to process my surprise at Amakusa coming to my Chaldea for NP2 upgrades when I was just trying for event CEs with the start of the 2023 White Day event in FGO NA. Because with him coming by means the Chaldea he's allying with is very different than what canon implies.

This chapter is also dedicated to my friend I know through Tumblr, siegfaerie, because of how much they love both Amakusa and Semiramis. I hope you like this, Fae. I still love you platonically.

The theme for this chapter is mainly split between two songs: (1) Ash by LiSA, the second opening to Fate/Apocrypha, and (2) Colors by Flow, the first opening to Code Geass. Because if I'm going to write about one of its original antagonists, I might as well go back to its music for inspiration, right? Not to mention reference an opening for a show that the soundtrack composer worked on before Fate.

Hm? You're asking for some softer songs? I'll point you to two more songs then. (1) The Reincarnation version of the track titled Traumerei from Persona 4, and (2) the insert song Umareru Negai, or Birth of a Wish from the Fruits Basket remake. :)

Otherwise? Please enjoy!

Day 61: Revelation

Amakusa Shirou Tokisada knew that a singular Holy Grail was powerful. After all, the Greater Grail that Darnic Prestone Yggdemillenia had stolen in that other Holy Grail War — the Great Holy Grail War — could have granted either party's wishes in the end. The Yggdemillenia clan's or those of the Mages' Association. It even could have granted his own wish for all of humanity's salvation in the end. Had it not been for the man who turned into a dragon to take said Greater Grail into the Far Side of the World where no one would be able to access its powers — Shirou's wish would have come true. No one would have to suffer anymore.

It is why no words originally left his mouth in response to the announcement that ended his initial tour of Novum Chaldea, because apparently, one Master had a different definition of what Holy Grail powers could do. It is also why he finds himself stopping his walking pace, making his new Master halt her own just to turn her head and look at him in confusion.

"…You used them all?" The question is tinged with disbelief and a new well of concern, confusion, and what is an achingly familiar sensation of quiet irritation as he trailed off. It wasn't anger at his new Master, per se, when put all together, but it could've come close with how his fingers clenched into hard fists at his sides. "Every Holy Grail you found in your journey, despite knowing what each one was capable of alone; let alone together? Just for strengthening Servants of your choice?"

It honestly sounded, and felt, like a waste.

His line of thought still didn't prepare him for the look Vy subsequently gave him past her braid and the lotus ribbon hair clip that held it up.

Compared to her usual kind demeanor, the look was both searching and uncharacteristically challenging, glasses and all, nearly making Shirou lurch back if not for his resolve and strength as a Servant. "You and I both know that the Grails wouldn't have been able to reverse the Incineration, Shirou," was the eerily gentle counter that left Vy's lips, her arms crossing themselves over her stomach as she hugged herself, the black color of her Winter Chaldean Mystic Code making her look all the more small despite the resolve in her eyes. The part of him that still wished for all of humanity's salvation couldn't help but emphasize with the distant, haunted look of those brown irises too. "Goetia's work with them proved their existence as a means to an end, and even if I didn't always know what to do when recovering them, if there's something I learned from the Servants I summoned before you, any wish on a Holy Grail is doomed for failure. So I don't regret using them to strengthen the ones who saved me the most."

Amakusa found nothing leaving his throat at the words.

Still, whatever was showing on his face must have set something off in his new Master, because Vy turned on the heels of her boots to fully face him, lips set in a thin line. "You don't have to agree with my thought process, Shirou — no, Amakusa-san." The brief, uncharacteristic smile that graced her lips at that moment seemed apologetic as she shook her head. "I'm sorry for the sudden name change, but there's already someone else I call 'Shirou' here. But in regards to the Servants I Grailed in Chaldea — Big Robin, Art-san, Achi, Ere-chan, Skadi-san, Shiki-san, Shii-chan, Ash, and Melt-san — I found myself loving them and they chose to love me back. And through the battles we've seen, we all wanted to survive — to be happy together, so I used the Grails for what I thought was right. For the Servants that were able to love a Master like me." Narrowing her eyes, Vy finished with a firmer tone brooking no argument, "That's all there is to it."

And that was true, wasn't it? Amakusa was no longer a Master like in the Great Holy Grail War. Right now, in the hallway he was in, he was just another one of Vy Duong's many Servants registered in Chaldea's database. And even without that factored in, it wasn't his place to judge her for the choices she made to maintain her livelihood. It wasn't anyone's place, really, because it didn't change the fact that Vy was the last Master left in Chaldea. She had the final say of what to do in the end. Even if he didn't agree with her methods, it wasn't required that he had to. The disagreement could all be summed up as ideological differences, Master and Servant relationships notwithstanding.

And he was still a Saint in the end. Someone who was meant to offer compassion and understanding to others, but not the life-changing decisions that one could choose to make in the face of peril. He couldn't make those decisions for Vy — for anyone, really. Nor could he rightly judge what conclusions she had come to, for herself, long before he arrived. If she decided to act out of love, even if it meant giving up the powers of so many Holy Grails — had Chaldea had at least over 40 once upon a time? — what else could be done but support it?

It didn't stop the reaction that resulted from the time it took for him to process the words, because Vy's eyes narrowed at him again, her arms hugging her middle a bit tighter as the lotus Command Seals binding him to her glowed. "Unless there's something else you want to say? Because if you want to say something, then say it, Amakusa-san."

All Amakusa could do was raise both hands up in the air in mild surrender, shaking his head. The smile that rose to his face was easy but somewhat strained, reminding him of the remnants of bitterness still lingering in the back of his mouth from the announcement that started this whole mess. "I wasn't going to say anything, Master," leaves his lips in a huff of an exhale, the bitterness faintly lacing the breath despite his best attempts at playing peacemaker. "I was merely curious."

Vy still gave him a raised brow over her glasses, her response snippy and quick. Almost too quick. "And this isn't about you wanting a Grail yourself, is it?"

Amakusa blinked, slowly lowering his hands to his sides again from disorientation. "…What makes you say that?"

"Call it a tip from a close dragon friend of mine." Vy waves off the heavy air like it is nothing soon afterwards, but it doesn't stop Amakusa from tensing at the phrasing.

Dragon friend? Could it be—?

"He specifically mentioned something about being careful with Holy Grail use around you. And, forgive me for the possible offense, Amakusa-san, but I've had a bit too much experience with people like you to not be on edge." And, just like that, the apologetic smile from before is back on her face, making her look young and old all at once as she tilted her head. "Enough of that tense talk, though. Let me show you to your room, Amakusa-san. Everyone deserves a place to rest at least."

Despite the new wariness starting to sprout in his heart, Amakusa genuinely nodded. "No offense taken. Lead the way, Master."

Because with an enemy like the Foreign God, he had to give Vy the point.

The next time Amakusa awoke, he found himself staring up into yellow eyes and long black hair.

Yellow eyes. Black hair. Seductive clothes.

Assassin? No, that wasn't right. Even if it was her Class Name, they weren't Master and Servant anymore. But looking into those yellow eyes again after what felt like a whole lifetime ago had a slow smile form on Amakusa's face as her True Name left his lips. "Semi… ramis?"

The hand that carefully brushed the bangs out of his face had clearly gone through a manicure, nails painted a pale peach pink color as her fingertips stroked his forehead. "…You wake far too easily," was the quiet yet pointed whisper back, the barest hints of a smile on her lips as she continued to pet his head. "Has that part of you not changed since the Great Holy Grail War?"

He can't even deny the joy starting to spread out in his chest, his smile coming off all the more hopelessly fond to match his reply. "Perhaps," and there's definitely relief and embarrassment mixed into the word as he slowly sits up so that his head is no longer in the Assassin's lap, "but it's still good to see you again, Semiramis. Even if you did sneak up on me."

The playful smirk that the Assyrian Queen gives him merely makes his heart start to pound louder in the back of his ears. "As you should be, you hopeless man. To come into your room without alerting you is mere child's play for an Assassin such as myself." One pink nail reaches over to brush at the corner of his eye, wiping away dust before it slowly traces his cheek. "But even if it is a different me, it is hard to forget someone like you."

That was all Semiramis gave him before she leaned in.

The kiss that followed tasted sweet, uncharacteristic of the world's first poisoner, but Amakusa smiled anyways, pressing back and enjoying the brief taste. "…What did I do to warrant such a fine reward from the famous Assyrian Empress?"

"Must you ask?" The smirk is prominent against his lips as Semiramis' yellow eyes gleamed. "You remembered me."

"Indeed I did." Because how could I forget a person like you, was left unsaid, but the kiss Amakusa gave to Semiramis in return should've sufficed enough. He had a feeling she already knew. "Although will it not trouble you being with a schemer like me? Master may get ideas if she finds us together."

"That clumsy dove?" To Amakusa's surprise, Semiramis threw her head back to laugh. "My, my… Even with your Ruler status, you still do not know of our Master's modus operandi? I suppose that makes me the senior in Chaldea go-tos for you." The gleam in her yellow eyes at that moment was bewitching and beautiful as she leaned in to press a pretty peach pink nail against his bottom lip. "Then follow me, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada. I'll show you why you shouldn't worry about such a thing."

"Father, I don't see the point in this…"

"Even so, Mordred, reviewing the basics can be helpful. And you did ask for a spar — I merely thought it would be a good opportunity to rectify the past along the way." Arturia — the real King Arthur — kept her bokken at the ready, her stance strong and powerful even from the vantage point Semiramis had chosen for herself and Amakusa, leaving Amakusa near gawking in surprise. It didn't help that Arturia's son in the Knight of Treachery wasn't actively antagonizing her in of itself was a novel thing to digest considering his actions in the Great Holy Grail War. Adding in his past confidence and Berserker-like fighting style, to see someone like Mordred be dutiful in holding up his own bokken to face Arturia in what appeared to be a casual spar (or could he even call it a "teaching moment", as modern terms would phrase it?) was even more surprising. "Now try again. I can point out some tips for you along the way."

"If ya say so…" Mordred put both hands on the bokken's handle, taking a more informal stance compared to his king by wielding the blade over his head. "Here I go then…" A battle-hardened frown covered his face as he then charged, his steps laced with red lightning. "Rah!"

"Charging headfirst is a bold strategy, Sir Mordred!" Despite the positive quip, Arturia still nimbly dodged with a mere sidestep, lightly bopping Mordred's head with her own wooden sword as he ran past her, making him yelp. "But still too naive! You need to account for an enemy's room of movement when choosing a plan of attack!"

Mordred proceeded to flush an embarrassed, angry red once he nearly hit the wall at the end of his charge, twirling around to face Arturia with a gaping mouth. "I-I know that! That's why I would throw my sword, Father!"

"If you can catch it, by all means!" Arturia was still smiling, leaving Amakusa feeling all the more winded once his eyes caught sight of the gold outline surrounding her figure. Was that—? "But be sure to account for any counter attacks that could come from your opponent possibly stealing your weapon mid-throw! So rush at me again!"

The grin Mordred gave Arturia in return was shit-eating. "Right! Get ready, Father!"

"Semiramis…" left Amakusa's mouth in a whoosh of a breath, making him sound all the more uncharacteristically exhausted if the questioning look Assassin gave him was any indication. "Is this…"

"As you can see, it is," the Assyrian Empress didn't exactly purr, but her tone was still firm and unmoving as the two Sabers continued to exchange banter over their sword techniques between blows. "I for one was not expecting that rude Saber of Red to become so humbled since our last fight, but it is what has occurred since that child met his Grailed King." The incorrect descriptor for Mordred seemed to be on purpose from Semiramis if the pointed glare in the Saber's direction was any clue. "Apparently before you and I were summoned, those two knights had hashed out their differences. No one seems to want to answer me as to whether it was over the Holy Grails or their shared past."

"Really?" Amakusa couldn't hide the shock in his voice by then, glancing back to the fight with growing interest and surprise. With the spark of joy in Mordred's emerald eyes, it seemed to add up, but he couldn't help but be curious nonetheless. "No one's said anything about it?"

"Both Da Vinci and her little double insist on keeping the matter closed." Semiramis pulled her gaze away from the spectacle playing out in front of her to give Amakusa a look of shared displeasure. "Something about it being 'personal business,' or what have you."

Was it Vy who caused the change, then? The thought seemed entertaining at least to Amakusa. Because if she chose someone like Arturia Pendragon to Grail before Mordred, then—

"Not that I mind the attention," a regal voice rose up suddenly, tossing Amakusa and Semiramis out of the spell they shared, "but you two can come out to watch in the open instead of spying suspiciously from your chosen corner if you are so curious."

What…?

Semiramis clicked her tongue. "Damn."

Amakusa looked up just as his feet urged him to move without thinking, finding himself meeting the gaze of two pairs of emerald green eyes — one amused, the other far more exasperated and frustrated. "H-Hello," he started quietly, rubbing the back of his head. "I did not realize you noticed us."

"Heh, a shitty priest like you is no match for Father—!" Mordred's usual boasting stopped once Arturia reached over with a bare hand to tap the back of his head, the answering look he directed at her appearing all the more wounded and offended. "Hey, Father—!"

"It's fine, Mordred. I've had my fair share of experience with odd priests and poisoners, so it's no trouble." Arturia stared at Amakusa for a moment, enough to make him inwardly fidget (was it the aura she was giving off with her natural Charisma skill as King Arthur? Or was it the power of the Holy Grails used on her?) before she opened her mouth. "Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, correct?" To Amakusa's surprise, the Saber's gaze narrowed at him in clear suspicion before her eyes darted towards the shorter Assassin who chose that moment to step out of the shadows and join his side. And was… was King Arthur smiling? At Semiramis? "Are you perhaps rekindling your relationship with the Assyrian Empress? Rider and Mordred did mention some things to me…"

Alright. When did King Arthur learn how to joke?

"No," Semiramis said pointedly, crossing her arms and letting out a dainty huff before Amakusa could open his mouth. "We were merely walking together before finding you two here in the battle simulator, Saber. It is none of your business as to whether we are together or not."

"Whatever you say, Semiramis," and no, Amakusa is definitely not mistaking the wry and knowing smile Arturia sends him past Mordred's confused shoulder, "whatever you say."

Amakusa didn't have to see Semiramis' expression to know Arturia hit a nerve, so he wisely decided to offer her his arm to make their speedy getaway.

"Damn that King Arthur… perceptive and Achilles is rubbing off on her…" Semiramis continued to grumble and mumble, making a face that would have been a pout on any other woman as she walked ahead of Amakusa with no intention of stopping. "I should have told the little dove to be careful with that hero sooner…"

To ease the tension, Amakusa forced a quiet laugh out of his throat. "As much as meeting the Saber of Red's king was… interesting," and wasn't that an 'understatement of the century,' as modern times would put it, "this can't be the end of the tour, is it, Assassin?"

Thankfully, his attempt at diverting Semiramis' ire had done the trick, because Semiramis stopped her walking pace to give him a look over his shoulder. "Of course not, Ruler." A careful smirk surfaced on her elegant features, more befitting of her status as a Queen. A haughty laugh followed soon afterwards, and Amakusa felt the smile on his face turn more genuine once Semiramis offered him her hand. "There's more to see from here. Hopefully the next destination is less frustrating."

"…Indeed." Because he was most certainly curious now.

"…Is this size golem preferable to you?"

The darkened version of Atalante didn't even growl as she looked over the large and bulky creation in question, giving Avicebron the closest to a smile she could muster even through her Berserker manifestation as she nodded. "Yes. It is perfect, Avicebron."

At the golem's other side, a longer-haired Nezha looked the creation up and down the same way Atalante did, nodding to themselves with approval. "For Abby. No objections," they added. "Should be good. For training."

The former Caster in Black merely tilted his head at the Berserker/Lancer duo in return, looking… peaceful? Could Amakusa even say that? He looked like that in spite of the tiny black-sleeved hand reaching out to tug at one of his armored ones. Was that… Abigail Williams? "To have me make a golem for training a young child is not usually part of my normal repertoire, but if this can help Master, then I'm more than happy to do so."

Atalante Alter smiled again. "I'm sure that Master would be grateful, Avicebron, there is no need to concern yourself regarding that."

Despite his masked visage, Avicebron seemed to beam.

"Um… as much as the golem is big, Nezha, Atalante, Avicebron?" Abigail fidgeted in her place standing next to the golem-making Caster, tugging at Avicebron's fingers enough for all named Servants to meet her eyes. "Is it really alright for me to… to…" Abigail trailed off, the faintest hint of a black spiral tentacle peeking out past her dress before she shook her head. "I-I might become a bad girl for losing control."

For possibly destroying more than this golem if I use my powers here.

Amakusa didn't have to be a Ruler just to guess that was what Abigail was thinking.

"Abby." Nezha responded first, striding over to the girl's side to kneel and take her free hand, matching Atalante Alter's nearby… purring? When did the Greek huntress Atalante purr? "That is why. Atalante and I asked. For the golem. It is. For you to. Not lose control." Nezha smiled as she met Abby's shifting eyes. "Just because. Your powers came from. An Outer God. Doesn't make you as evil. You are. Not a bad girl."

"Nezha is right, Abigail," Atalante adds, joining Nezha's side with another quiet purr. "I am the one who took on this manifestation through the use of the Calydonian Boar's pelt. But just because I do not have as much… control as my Archer self does not mean I am inherently 'bad.'" With another pointed mrr noise, Atalante reached over with careful claws to brush Abigail's hair. "Neither are you, child."

Amakusa watched in amazement as tears welled up in Abigail's blue eyes. "Nezha… Atalante…"

"Besides, Abigail," Avicebron spoke up suddenly, his voice sounding awkward and gentle all at once as he got to one knee to face the girl too, never letting go of her hand. "Any golem I make is meant to withstand as much destruction as they can. Your powers are just one part of that — helping them grow stronger with you. And with the enemies we all have to face together with Master Vy, learning how to control your powers is important. And training you helps me with expanding my own golem-making, so there's no need to worry." If there was a slit in Avicebron's mask anywhere to show his eyes, Amakusa knew the Caster would be smiling. Back in the Great Holy Grail War, did Avicebron ever smile? "Ease your worries and we'll all go to the simulator together."

Semiramis was gently tugging Amakusa back towards the door they came through before he could hear Abigail's reply, but at that point, it didn't feel needed. Not with the small glimpse he got of the tearful smile on her face.

Every room Semiramis took him to had the same oddly warm feeling.

There was Shakespeare, tipping his writer's hat towards Hans Christen Andersen as he went about muttering things like "a happy ending for Master" over his usual quill and paper. (When had Shakespeare ever wanted to write something outside of his usual tragedies?)

Then there was Jack the Ripper, happily running through the halls with Paul Bunyan and Nursery Rhyme, being closely monitored by the Archer version of Atalante as she trailed behind them. Miyu Sakatsuki and Chloe and Illyasviel von Einzbern followed the Greek Huntress' every step with rather cheerful giggles as Atalante kept moving, tail swishing past her dress as she regarded them with a look. (Amakusa could never recall Archer of Red ever looking so at peace while loudly reminding the children up ahead of her to be careful while running along.)

Add in Karna, apparently playing… video games with the Great Statue God Ganesha, a maid-outfit wearing Astolfo, and a pouting Osakabehime with a small smile of his own? How was that working out? (And did Lancer ever have such a casual smile like that when fighting in the Hanging Gardens Semiramis made in the Great Holy Grail War?)

The scene he found of the vampiric Lancer version of Vlad III fighting with Spartacus and Frankenstein in another simulator room (for sparring maybe?) was one Amakusa decided not to dwell on too much. Whatever antics they had in mind would probably be better off unknown to him. (Still, had Vy not summoned the Berserker — the king version of Vlad the Third yet? That was odd, considering the large crowd that already populated Novum Chaldea. Ah well.)

But in the end, putting it all together was…

"Shocking," leaves his lips before he can stop himself, making Semiramis give him a funny look from his side. "How did this all happen?"

When glancing in Semiramis' direction, more surprise flooded his veins once his ears registered her laughter, pointed but still fond all at once as it echoed in the hallways. "My, for a Ruler such as yourself, I'm surprised you're not connecting the dots yet after seeing so much!" The smile Assassin gave him in the moment that followed was both honest and mysterious, making Amakusa blink. The dainty hand reaching over to wrap around his elbow was not unexpected, but it didn't prepare him for what next left her mouth. "I suppose I must show you the obvious answer then, hm?"

"Obvious… answer?"

All Semiramis offered him was another dainty laugh.

"..."

"...?" The former Custodian of the Holy Grail — Sieg — gave the sitting Achilles a funny look as he entered the waiting room lobby of the medical bay, not even giving Amakusa and Semiramis the time of day in favor of facing the Rider of Red with a quizzical gaze. Maybe he couldn't see through Semiramis' skills as an Assassin? Still, whether or not Sieg could see past Presence Concealment, that begged the question: Was Sieg the dragon friend Vy mentioned earlier? And why were he and Rider here? The dragon slayer Siegfried carefully following Sieg's steps a few paces behind him was not a surprise in the slightest, not to mention Mash, but still. "…What are you doing, Rider?"

Achilles opened one eye to meet Sieg's own, shouldering his spear against his golden armor (had Achilles ever used that kind of armor when Amakusa knew him?) while keeping his other hand on one of his crossed legs. With a toss of his head towards the closed door that (most likely) led to the many facilities and medical offices inside, he said, "Meditating. While waiting on Princess."

"Prin— oh." A soft smile formed on Sieg's face as he sat down at Achilles' immediate right side, folding his legs underneath his weight in a position akin to seiza. "Today was Vy's scheduled therapy session with Chiron, wasn't it?"

"Yep," Achilles popped the 'p' for extra emphasis, giving Siegfried a courtesy nod as the Saber took up a seat at his other side, shrugging his shoulders. "It's my shift today to bring the Princess back for her daily nap after Sensei is done. So, I might as well meditate to pass the time. Helps keep up my concentration for future battles."

"Which is all fair and good, but we could've had a spar if you wanted it, Achilles," Siegfried brought up quietly, one dragon wing flapping to match the levity of his suggestion as he folded his hands in his lap. "There are plenty of simulator rooms still available."

"A-And I just confirmed that Arturia-san and Mo-san just finished their spar in the central simulator!" Mash added, the only one out of the motley group appearing nervous as she hastily took a seat next to Sieg, fumbling with the tablet in her arms as she pressed at the screen. "I can set the next available time slot for you and Siegfried if you want, Achilles!"

"What she said," Siegfried finished in amusement, his dragon tail tapping the floor behind him.

Amakusa found himself watching in surprise as Achilles shook his head with a warm chuckle, glancing back at the still closed door behind them all with a shrug. "Nah. Much as the offer is tempting, gotta pass, Mash, Siegfried. If anything, I might have to take you up on that on a later date. Right now, what matters to me is getting Princess to dreamland in peace." With one more shrug, Achilles let his spear dissipate in favor of resting the elbow of his now freed hand on his other knee, lurching forward to place his chin against his palm. "…Sleep is getting to be more important when she's been losing out on some of it lately from nightmares."

Achilles — one of the heroes of the Trojan War — giving up on the opportunity to do battle for once? Amakusa felt himself step back before Semiramis was raising a hand to support him from behind. Just for—

Mash deflated just as Sieg leaned past Achilles' shoulder to try looking him in the eye. "...I can try to contact my original self," he murmured, raising a hand as if to try to rest it against Achilles' forearm before stopping short. "Have him take Vy on a flight in the sky in her dreams to keep the nightmares away."

Achilles turned his head at that point, meeting Sieg's gaze with something Amakusa couldn't fully translate, but his voice screamed vulnerability as he said, "...Thanks," back. A flush had dusted Achilles' cheeks at that point, decorating the side of his neck with some pink too, making Amakusa blink again. Had Achilles — Rider — ever blushed like that before? "Make sure to tell that Custodian not to drop her if he has the time to flap his wings, alright?" His answering smile is fond and tired all at once as he finishes with, "She deserves a nice dream for once."

When did— When did Vy—?

Amakusa couldn't finish his thought once the door everyone seemed to be waiting on opened with a loud hiss. Standing in the doorway was a centaur — Chiron — carefully walking out on his horse hooves while carrying a girl on his back, and—

Oh. The warmth is back.

Amakusa found nothing leaving his throat as Semiramis' hold on his arm loosened. She must've seen it too, because even with a nearby Charles-Henri Sanson reaching over to gently give the girl on Chiron's back a medic-bay-issued water bottle, the girl — it was Vy. A shorter, hunched-over, tired Vy that no one could look away from.

"Little dove…" Semiramis whispered.

Mash seemed to already have her instinctive "Senpai" saying on her tongue if not for Sieg catching her hand to squeeze reassuringly.

"Make sure to drink some water before your nap, Master, alright?" Sanson takes the extra time to hold Vy's hands as he presses the water bottle between her palms, and in that moment, Amakusa felt his heart ache. "It should make it easier for you to fall asleep, but don't overdo it by chugging it all by yourself."

"Aye…" Because despite wearing a grateful smile she directed to Sanson alone, Vy just looked so, so tiny compared to the Archer carrying her out in her white skirt and yellow blouse, Chaldea-brand boots barely hugging the calves of her legs as they dangled over Chiron's centaur half's back. Heck, her hair (despite the one green ribbon keeping part of it together) was tangling up with Chiron's own from where she had her head resting against his shoulders, glasses drooping and eyelids fluttering enough to give off the illusion she was already sleeping. It didn't help that her arms slowly wound themselves around the bottle Sanson gave her to hug to her chest. "Gonna… do what I can…"

The sight was enough to make Mash, Siegfried, Sieg, and Achilles all scramble to their feet, and Chiron only directed his gaze towards Achilles as the Rider in question ran towards him before the others could. Wind blew throughout the entire waiting room lobby once Achilles made a stop in front of his former teacher with a larger-than-life grin and a loud, "Hey, Sensei!"

Chiron smiled wryly, ignoring Sanson's questioning glance in favor of rolling his eyes. Did the Archer of Black ever use that kind of gesture before? "Hello, Achilles. I assume you're looking for someone?"

"Basically!" Achilles' grin grew wider, almost shit-eating if modern terms had anything on it, going on with a louder, "A girl with long brown hair who's probably getting sleepy, wearing white and yellow, and short enough to be hugged — know where she is? Her roguish fiancé might have my head if I can't find her!"

Is this… a joke? A running joke?

Sanson put a hand to his forehead with a resigned sigh just as Vy jolted up to a form of semi-wakefulness, raising her head from Chiron's shoulders to give Achilles a look through one half-lidded, bleary brown eye. "Achi…" is the weak voice that leaves her lips, "I'm here, so just hug me already, won't you…?"

That statement did it.

Achilles doesn't even wait for Sanson to help bring Vy down from Chiron's back — all he does is close the distance between them just to scoop her up in his arms, letting his armor fade for the casual wear underneath with a happy laugh as a surprised squeal leaves the young woman's lips.

Has Achilles ever taken off his armor before?

No, wait. He did once. With Patro—

"Princess! Found ya!" Achilles twirls around on the backs of his prized heels with more laughter, backing up from Chiron and Sanson in time to carry Vy with him in an impromptu spin, apparently not minding the water bottle squished between them as matching giggles start echoing in the waiting room. The others watched with growing smiles once Achilles cooed, "Hiding behind Sensei's hair, huh, Princess? He can do everything, but you can't hide from me for long with him!"

"W-Wasn't — hee hee — trying to!" Vy wraps her arms around his neck just to keep her balance, giggles continuing to leave her lips as a brighter light shines in her brown eyes. "Missed you t-too!" A sudden, tiny noise caught between a Wah and a yawn then proceeds to punctuate Vy's next attempt at a sentence, making Achilles stop his spinning and slowly set her back on the ground with a warmer smile. "H-Had a good talk with Sensei, so…" Another yawn left her lips as Vy involuntarily raised a hand to rub at her eyes, sloshing the water inside her bottle around against the plastic and even tipping her glasses to the side of her nose as she murmured in a slower voice, "Sleepy…"

Without giving up his smile, Achilles scooped Vy up into his arms again, this time for a gentler hug as the young woman deflated in his arms. "Then c'mon, Princess." Pressing a hand to the back of her head, Achilles could've easily been cradling Vy to his chest as he held her close, leaning down to press his chin against her hair as he bent his legs. Amakusa couldn't even find it himself to be surprised to see Achilles start an impromptu bridal carry, supporting Vy's weight from his grip on her head and knees as he murmured in a softer voice, "It's time for you to go back and recharge. Archer's waiting back in the Grail Lounge and we can talk about what you shared with Sensei when you wake up."

"What about…" Vy yawned again, looking past her crooked glasses to glance at Sieg, Siegfried, and Mash with a weak, questioning look. "What about everybody else?"

"W-We'll be fine, Senpai." Mash approached with a raised hand to gently take Vy's crooked glasses off her face, putting on a fond smile of her own as she folded the accessory between her fingers. "Get some rest. Therapy takes a lot out of anyone." The smile on her face turns a bit more lopsided once she gets the courage to add, "And I was the one who talked with Dr. Roman a lot back in the original Chaldea, so I would know!"

Vy blinked through blurrier eyes, nodding at Mash before turning her head and squinting in the others' general direction. Did she sense Amakusa and Semiramis? "Then will you be okay… Sieg-kun…? Siegfried…?"

Never mind. She's sleepy.

"I'll be fine, Master," Siegfried said with a nod, folding his wings behind his back. "I was just waiting with Rider and the others out here. I can wait a bit longer to talk to you if it means you can rest."

"And my other self will be seeing you soon, Vy," Sieg adds without hesitation, reaching past Mash's shoulder to rest the back of his hand against Vy's cheek, stroking it for a moment with his fingers. "So go nap now — you won't be alone in your dreams."

Vy gave them all one last smile — a fragile, grateful smile all the same — before her eyes closed to the world, her head lulling against Achilles' shoulder as the Rider of Red looked on with a fond grin in return. Her lips spelled out a soft, "I love you," before her breathing evened out, squished water bottle kept close to her chest.

"And here I was, telling her to drink some water before falling asleep…" Sanson whispered, but there was no denying the smile on his own face as Chiron nudged him with an elbow. "Rider, since Chiron and I have to get back to work, I assume you can take Master to the Grail Lounge from here?"

"Hell yeah," Achilles says proudly in spite of lowering his own pitch to a whisper, being careful of the sleeping girl in his arms as he tosses his head towards Siegfried and Sieg with a wider grin. "Once I'm done with my escort mission, I can take you two up in the simulator later tonight if you're still down for it, Sieg, Siegfried?"

Siegfried's tail made one abrupt thump noise (was that of agreement?) against the tile just as Sieg looked up at his role model with a smile. "Of course."

Mash held Vy's glasses close to her chest (most likely to keep them safe) as she added, "I-I'll schedule the time slot then! After we get Senpai to bed!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, Mash. Time to get Sleeping Beauty back to the prince…" Achilles was rolling his eyes, but there was no mistaking the love present in his yellow eyes past the faint gold outline of the used Holy Grails illuminating his Spirit Origin. He then started walking towards the exit of the lobby, passing Amakusa and Semiramis without even a nod of acknowledgement as Mash and the other Servants trailed behind him in a single file line. Even Sanson and Chiron followed despite the former's claims of "getting back to work," most likely because of their shared, dozing Master still resting against Achilles' chest.

No wonder Semiramis told me not to worry. With relationships like that—

Amakusa found himself staring after the motley group of Servants taking their Master home, watching the door close behind them for a long moment before he emerged from the darkness of Semiramis' magic with a sigh. "…I guess I've lost, then."

Semiramis lowered her hand so that she could lace her fingers with his. "In what?" A smirk arose in her voice as she went on with a lighter, "Your dream of humanity's salvation?"

Amakusa turned to meet Semiramis' yellow eyes before leaning in to give her a kiss. The Assassin tensed, her attempt at a frustrated noise that followed being muffled between them, but Amakusa found himself smiling wryly against her lips as he nodded. "With a Master like that, it's no wonder she's survived." With one more lingering kiss to his Queen's lips, Amakusa shrugged his shoulders through his robes. "She achieved peace between so many Heroic Spirits and brought me back to you. So, even if I disagree with how the Holy Grail was used, I'll let it pass."

Semiramis blushed, giving him a look caught between embarrassed anger and outright surprise as she raised a brow at him. "So, does that mean…?"

Amakusa smiled before leaning in again. "I can clean Master's room later as an apology. For now, let me enjoy some time with you, my Empress."

Because even if this peace wasn't going to last forever, it was still peace. And with all that he had seen, the man known as Amakusa Shirou Tokisada could settle for that.