Fate: Bonds Beyond Humanity

by Apprentice of Life

In a world where all can be real, what does it mean to be human? What is the meaning of humanity? A meeting between a human and a devil will have them discovering the truth while chasing their dreams. My take on the combined worlds of Fate and DxD with characters from other franchises if they can be adapted to it. Harem.

16. Chapter 16

Fate/Bonds Beyond Humanity

…..

16- Target.

…..

The question confused everyone else but the man, now identified as Gilgamesh, descendant of the hero of the same name, just smiled confidently. "'A hero'? What are you talking about?" Shirou is trying to process the information.

"I am inviting you to join the Hero Faction, to join your sister in the ranks of our Brigade." He declares with pride and the fact his sister is in such an organization was still messing with his head.

"Are you lying to me?" Shirou couldn't believe it. "My sister is in the Clocktower. She is-"

"Trying to reach Heaven's Feel in a way your parents approve of even if they said the magic is too dangerous." Gilgamesh interrupts him. "We are helping her since we found it an endeavor worthy of pursuit but make no mistake, Illyasviel is with us and we want you to join too."

'Illya lied to me.' Of all the information he received, that is the one he is fixed in. He can't remember any other time that Illya told him a lie, maybe a prank or even something small that she apologized later but not something like that. 'Not only me but our parents as well...or do they know?'

His family has so many secrets that he is having difficulties keeping it together. And Yoruichi noticed. "Gilgamesh, right? King of Uruk? Kinda hard to believe you are a descendent of such an old legend." She says, trying to distract Shirou and the man before them.

"Ha. Believe whatever you wish yokai. I am who I am and that is final." He says, dismissing the cat's presence.

"But I doubt Gilgamesh is your true name." Not that Yoruichi cared for his dismissal. "Or you really registered here with that name?"

"Who said I registered?" He wasn't getting tired of the surprised faces he can make everyone do. "But no. I didn't. I am here with the name Angelo. It's my birth name if you must know and I legitimately transferred to the third year of this renowned institution. Just for the kicks."

"The kicks?" Koneko didn't like the idea that Kuoh was infiltrated.

"I just wanted to see inside the devil's den per say. If anything I should be in college but since the place is co-ed and it would give me more chances to talk with Shirou here I decided to just enter as a third year student and become available to answer all his questions."

Recovering from his shock, Shirou gets ready to ask his questions. "What is the Khaos Brigade goal then?"

"Ah! Not now." He says while waving a finger. "We have an audience and these questions are for you only." He says pointing to Koneko and then Yoruichi. "I don't need a devil and a yokai hearing this but I suppose with my appearance they will tell their masters about me anyway. Tell them that I will talk with them if they want, not going to tell them anything important since I am here for Illya's little brother but I shall give them the pleasure of meeting me."

"Quite arrogant of you." Yoruichi comments and the man laughs some more.

"I prefer to call it confidence. After all," a aura of energy that can only be described as pure gold starts to envelop him and everyone can feel the weight behind it, "there is no need to subterfuge when you are the strongest."

'What the hell?' Shirou never felt such presence, so much power before in his life. He can tell even Yoruichi is nervous from the sudden output and he can't blame her since it is many times over anything he ever conceived.

Then as it had come it was gone. "But I am not here for a fight. Tell all the devils that. I am here to appease any of Shirou's doubts and enjoy my little vacation."

"You call waltzing devil territory a vacation?" Yoruichi really can't believe his words.

"It is the rule of the strong that we can go anywhere. I was just passing by Japan and decided to do a favor for Illya. That was until I got the Rearguard's report." His smile retained its confidence but gained an edge. "Now I have not only the duty to help her brother but to properly invite him to our little club."

For some reason Shirou got the impression the guy didn't care about his comrades that much. His power is the real deal and there is no doubt that he is confident of walking in and out of devil territory unscaved but even then he sounded too detached from everything.

"Well, I said my 'hellos'. Come talk with me whenever you feel you have too." The blonde turns to leave.

"Wait!" Shirou calls him out but Gilgamesh raises a hand.

"I already told you that I won't have this conversation with them. Your homunculus is fine. The devil and yokai are not." And he begins to walk again. "I will be around until the end of the year or something like that. Feel free to drop by the archery club, I joined it today and have it as a hobby. If you want answers, come alone."

…..

"Shirou? Shirou?" Sitting on his desk, it has already been almost a week since his meeting with Gilgamesh, or Angelo as he is known. Rias had tried to talk with the guy but he just ignored her. "Shirou? Are you hearing me?"

After that they had run back to the ORC and told the pureblood everything. While not knowing about the Khaos Brigade itself she agreed that such a person on the school property is important and that they need to know more about his intentions.

He actually misdirecting and ignoring Rias actually gave him somewhat of a reputation, since she is the most beautiful girl in school and he just walked past her, but besides that nothing of new was gained. "He is not listening."

"Shero? Are you alright?" Since he isn't going to talk with Rias it is up to Shirou to get to the bottom of this mess and figure out what is going on and what is the Khaos Brigade. "He is really out of it."

He also needs to figure out what the hell Illya is thinking by lying to her family to join what he suspects is a cult- "Ow!" Setsuna had hit him on the back of the head.

"He is back now." The hanyou comments, a frown on her face. "You have been distracted."

"Why did you do that?" Shirou asks, prompting Kiba to let out a sigh.

"Shirou, class is over and it's time for lunch." He motions around and the redhead can see others eating and talking while they stay in place. "Setsuna is right, you have been distracted."

"Sorry." He says while getting up and collecting the bentos he keeps them in his bag. One for him and for each of his friends. "I have a lot on my mind."

His friends and classmates looked at one another, they knew he wasn't at his best at the moment, hadn't been for a week. His work in school is still up to par and the teachers and other students can't see how he is different but his friends can.

A little less attention here, a lack of awareness there, a missing suggestion or interaction that Shirou usually offers to help only for him to be looking out the window, thinking. Even Luvia can notice the difference from the Shirou of the first day in comparison to every other day since.

They don't know all details, only those that were present at the moment and Rias who they informed immediately by turning around and back to the club after the blonde man had left. The devil was shocked and said that she would confront the man but everytime she tried he ignored her, that is what builded his reputation as a 'Cold King' as people like to call him for dismissing the most beautiful and popular girl on campus.

Thursday of the next week has already arrived and everyone else would be more worried if Shirou wasn't still making food like he usually did. The problem is that besides cooking most of his stuff stopped to a grinding halt.

Yoruichi had to return to Kyoto and while Setsuna and Liz attempted to help him on the forge he dismissed them, saying he needed some time alone to practice and think.

For now everyone is respecting his privacy but the way things are going it's only a matter of time before someone snaps with him or he just decides to go and confront Gilgamesh by himself to get some answers.

"Let's go eat." He says in an almost monotone tone but Rin was already tired of it.

"Okay Emiya. We let you mope for the last couple of days but what gives?"

Under orders from his King to not allow anything to set Shirou off, Kiba already had some answers prepared. "He is still deciding what to do about the new information he received. He needs to do it on his own time." Left out is the fact that Rias has no intention of allowing Shirou to risk himself and is already gathering everything she could about the 'Khaos Brigade' to either apprehend the descendant of Gilgamesh or to get rid of him one way or another.

"This is the guy that didn't hesitate to jump inside a building full of enemies for the possibility of a fire 10 years ago." Rin points out. "Why is he hesitating now?"

"Because his sister is involved." Luvia replies to her counterpart, not with anger or malice in her tone. "The situation is different."

"If he wants answers he should go and take them." Setsuna said. "This guy is that dangerous?"

Of those present only Shirou can reply to that. "He is but that is not the problem. In part is what Luvia said."

"So? Your sister is in danger? We should go get him to talk then." Rin was adamant but the redhead of the group decided to elaborate.

"The situation is that I don't know what my sister is doing." He starts to walk out of the classroom, fully expecting them to follow him. "Look, let's get to the rooftop and then we can talk more."

Regardless if their class is more 'mature' because of the world they live in, gossip is still an infestation that can happen easily and the interest is never missing in the right places.

"You are a hard man to find Emiya Shirou." An older man's voice says when they were just about to leave the door and standing before them is an adult of european descent and blonde hair.

"Lord El-Melloi." Luvia salutes, making a courtesy which is followed by Rin and Kiba with a traditional bow. Setsuna just gives a nod.

"Can I help you?" Any other day he may have paid more attention to what was said but after a week of worry Shirou isn't in the right state of mind right now. He can still be polite.

A bit shaken by the direct question from the student but not losing his composure, the older man then makes the offer he came to make. "First and foremost allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, Lord El-Melloi as Miss Edelfelt properly presented me and I am the Head of the Archibald family, Lord and actual Director of the Department of Mineralogy of the Clocktower. I am here to formally invite you to change your class to mine." Kayneth says with a smooth tone. "As a teacher of the Clocktower and an old hand at magical studies I can promise that my instruction is many times superior than my former student in Waver Velvet and that I can help you perfect your magecraft to new heights…"

Shirou lets the man talk and he is putting an effort to pay attention. It was clear the guy had a whole speech prepared and that he worked hard on it and Emiya felt that the least he can do is hear him out.

"...in the aspects of advanced studies there is much that we can expand and from what is already known of your skills with production…" And the man just kept talking. It was surprising for Shirou how someone can talk so much about his own skills, embellishing as much as he could, in the attempt to convince him of something. "...with that goal, I can assure you that we shall find and break any limits you may have hit in your magecraft."

Blinking for a second and counting to three to check if Kayneth was done, Shirou finally says what he intended from the beginning. "I am sorry but I have no interest in changing classes." With that the redhead started to advance to leave again only for the teacher to place a hand on his shoulder.

"Please, I ask you to reconsider Mister Emiya." The older magus turns to look Shirou in the eyes but only receives a side glance. "Only a truly great teacher can help develop your talent and while I can admit, even begrudgingly, that my former pupil is a decent instructor, he lacks the skills and knowledge that a noble has acquired since early to pursue the path of a magician."

"'Skills and knowledge'?" Seeing that he had Shirou's attention, El-Melloi proceeds.

"Indeed. There is much that is not shared to the masses in the highest circles of nobility. Even with your contract there is a big chance you are working with dated information or just inefficient sources." The noble kept going, calling the attention to the few students still present. "There is much for you to learn and much that I can teach. With my instruction we will have you on the same level as a normal noble from the Clocktower in no time at all."

On any normal day Shirou would be polite, just say no again and keep walking. "Then I am in good company, since I am not a noble." He begins to walk again.

"With the pact you have you are a noble in all but name." Kayneth says, a little frustration escaping his tone.

"You are mistaking something. I am not a noble, just a simple swordsmith." Shirou looks the man in the eyes. "And you think just because you had some head start that you are better? I disagree. I believe effort makes one better and that Velvet-sensei understands that a little better than you."

Gritting his teeth, the noble stops himself from replying when Shirou starts to leave again. He was angry by the display of disobedience and refusal but there is nothing that he can do at the moment. 'Just wait and see Emiya Shirou. I will show you what you are missing and then you will beg to join my class.'

Being watched by everyone else in the hallway and close to the classroom, the prying eyes are ignored as the man turns and leaves with a purpose on his pace and the goal to prove he is the superior teacher.

After getting to the rooftop Rin finally says the thought that was stuck in her mind. "'Just a swordsmith' huh? I wanted to call bullshit on you that you have no idea!"

"What a crude language to say such things Tohsaka." Luvia was quick to reprehend her fellow magus.

"Shut up Edelfelt! You have no idea what Shirou can do so stay out of this." How Rin wanted to pull out the fact that Shirou can produce Noble Phantasms. 'That bastard is a walking miracle! 'Just a swordsmith' my butt!'

"That just raises Shero's value in my eyes!" Luvia says without hesitating. "But I worry if he made the right decision to spur lord El-Melloi like that."

"Honestly? I was getting pretty annoyed at how much that man was talking." Setsuna admits, taking a bite of her food. "He basically bragged about himself the whole time. I bet he is not even that much of a teacher."

"His skills are real, of that I can assure you." Luvia says back. "He is as good as an instructor of the Clocktower, if not a bit too much single minded. However I would argue that between him and Waver Velvet, the second is better in teaching more variables and helping the development while the lord is a traditionalist at heart."

"Then for Shirou it's better he is still under Velvet-sensei tutelage." Setsuna concludes, nodding her head.

"I agree but the fact doesn't change that he rejected a noble in front of our pears." Luvia voices her concern. "I don't know if lord El-Melloi will let it pass or do something about it but if it was in the Clocktower then he would be in deep trouble."

"Good thing this is not the Clocktower then." Rin was happy to say that.

"Not the point, Tohsaka. If Shero is not careful he will have a target painted on his back." Luvia glares at her opposition.

"I thought he already did it with you here." Rin returns the glare.

"A different, more dangerous kind of target." Both women looked ready for a fight.

"Enough!" Until Shirou's voice stopped them. "Just focus on eating your lunch."

It was clear his patience was reaching a breaking point. "Want to talk about what is troubling you now?" Kiba asked, still focused on that topic.

Taking a deep breath Shirou takes a bite of his rice while he organizes his thoughts. If there was a way to begin this conversation easily he can't see it. But Emiya Shirou has always been the kind of person that spoke his mind. "I am stressed because I fear my sister is in danger and I can't help her."

"Wasn't because she lied to you." He nods at Rin's observation.

"That just worsened my stress. Understand something, when I thought she was just on the Clocktower I always thought if there were any problems I could rush there and help her." Luvia raised an eyebrow at that.

"Depending on the problem in question I doubt you could do much." Not being deterred Shirou replies.

"If her life was in peril I would grab every weapon I ever made and enter there blowing everything up until I found her and brought her home." Everyone blinked at Shirou's admission, admiring his determination to pick a fight with a huge organization if it was ever necessary. "I knew where she was and even if we couldn't always talk when we talked she told me she was there and safe...she lied. Every single conversation that we had about the Clocktower was a lie and I have no clue where she is. Maybe I should be happy, happy that she isn't in that nest of vipers that is the Mage Association, except that instead of telling me, she just said she was there every single time we talked after which makes me think they can only be worse."

In the end he keeps wondering 'why hide such a secret for so long?' If Gilgamesh didn't show up Shirou wouldn't ever know and that irritated him more. Ever since he joined the Emiya family he believed that there were no secrets between them, even if his father is an assassin he felt safe in knowing that he would have his sister on his corner when he eventually faces the man.

"I feel alone. For the first time I feel alone in my family." The redhead lets go of his half eaten meal while looking to the floor. "What am I supposed to do? Every single member of my family hid a secret or another. Only Liz never lied to me since she didn't know about Illya but that is it."

"Why would your sister join an unknown organization?" Kiba felt the need to ask.

"Because she wants to archive Heaven's Feel." A gasp from the female magi told him they understood the implication but the devil and hanyou present just blinked. "It's a True Magic, the magic of the soul. Don't ask me why but she just said that she had a dream that it was what she was supposed to do."

"It's because she is an Einzebern?" Luvia quickly asked, making Shirou blink. "It was the magic of their family prior to their extinction and your mother was one of them before marrying your father."

"And how could you possibly know that?" Rin raises a sceptical eyebrow.

"Hohohoho!" Luvia expresses herself in her overly confident laugh. "I already divulged that Shero is my target here. The reason for me coming to Japan! You think that we, my family and I, didn't do our research?"

Shirou then got curious about something. "You know who my father is?" Because depending on the answer he is going to have to avoid saying some details.

"The Magus Killer, Emiya Kiritsugu." The magus with a blue ribbon replies with a smile. "My family also does some mercenary work and we are very good at it. However your father more than once took some contracts from us. And he is also acclaimed as the best one alive, something that grates the nerves of more than one person I know."

Once again she is direct, blunt and expresses herself completely. Luvia doesn't hesitate when there is something that she wants and what are her intentions, the noble girl takes pride in them, bragging only after proving her point and never about any untruth.

In a way those are some of the reasons why Shirou respects her and has no problem in keeping her company since she is honest about her intentions unlike some others that tried to approach him in the last couple of other days.

Suffice to say that Rin was right when she told him how many would be after him and everyday he had to deal with magicians introducing themselves to him to try and get his favor. It spoke how badly they were trying that even Shirou could tell they had no intent on real friendship or just wanted an alliance.

"We are changing the subject." Setsuna points out. "Shirou...what do you want to do? It's clear you want news from your sister and that the best way is talking to that man." The hanyou puts her fist over her heart. "If you need help to fight him, count me in. We shall get our answers one way or another."

"No...we better not." Shirou frowned, he knew his friends wouldn't like his next few words. "That guy…I will talk with him. But no violence. He offered to talk and that is what I shall do."

It is that decision he was coming to grips with for the last few days, but he already knows that it won't be a popular one. "Shirou, that is too risky." Kiba says the second the redhead stopped talking. "Think about it. An unknown organization that already did illegal actions in Fuyuki. We don't know what he is capable of."

"He is right." Rin followed suit and the Faker knew that Rias must have given them some instruction. "This guy can be trying to kidnap you as far as you know. If you go meet him on his terms you are basically asking for something bad to happen."

After a moment of silence, Setsuna decided to give her input. "I think you should go."

"What?" Rin didn't take the suggestion well.

"What would you do if it was your sister?" Setsuna's logic stopped further arguments. "Towa is impulsive, wild and a bit overbearing. But she is my sister and if she is going to leave our home I would like to know where she is going and if I can help. If Towa was with a bunch of people I didn't know I would want to know if they were trouble."

Considering her own sister in such a situation was enough to get Rin to let it go. She still wouldn't lend her support out of loyalty for Rias since it was the pureblood devil who offered the solution to save her sister.

But she still sympathizes.

"I think you already made your decision." Luvia comments, cleaning her mouth with a napkin after finishing her food. "You are going to confront this descendant of Gilgamesh. I say go for it. If I was in your place I would want answers."

Like the others, Luvia also has a sister. The Edelfelt family crest and magic allows the passage of head to head through siblings and the fact she has a sister doesn't make either of them less of an heir or future head.

"My sister is kind of quiet and I doubt she would pass by in the same situation." Luvia points out. "But if someone was trying to mess with her," she hits a fist on her palm, "I would break them in half." And she wouldn't hesitate either.

Realizing that this is a lost fight, Kiba decides to make a last ditch effort to get Shirou out of doing something everyone could regret. "Please, talk with Buchou first." It was a plea, close to begging in his voice and everyone could tell. "Just to make sure nothing goes wrong. I know that only Liz is supposed to go with you but please, talk to her first to see if she found something to form some kind of plan."

Shirou pauses to consider Kiba's words. For days he struggled with the decision of confronting Gilgamesh and once he decided to go for it he chose that the best manner was not to be violent. He felt the power of the man that night, the smell reminded him of gold and the sun on the hottest day of summer.

And it weighted like that too, the magus is absolutely certain that the descendent of the King of Uruk is the strongest being he ever met uncontested. Rias can't hold a candle to the kind of power that the guy was emitting and the way that Yoruichi reacted told him everything he needed to know.

There is no winning that fight, not without great cost. But fighting is not necessary if the stronger party just wants to talk. Shirou doesn't know how much stronger he is in comparison to everyone in school and maybe the blonde realized that he can't brute force everything. In Shirou's mind the logic is that 'yes, he is strong enough to waltz in but not enough he can actually fight everyone'.

"Fine. I will talk with her first."

Kiba's shoulder's practically dropped in relief. "That is all I ask."

It was not an unreasonable request and Shirou can understand his friend's dilemma, he wants to keep the redhead safe but at the same time he realized that the decision is already made unless his King can show something that dramatically changes Shirou's opinion.

It also has to do with the fact that nobody knows how Gilgamesh will react once the questions start and if he really has any intention of answering them.

'Rin is right...I hesitated less than that before.' It is a little funny for him how his fellow magus clearly has orders to not let him go but her personality shines true and she can't avoid but point out what she really thinks. 'Maybe Rias found something and even if she didn't I am sure that we can talk like sensible adults.'

…

"No." The Gremory heiress says without wasting any time.

"I already made my decision." Shirou says back, not a hint of hesitation in his tone.

"Shirou, I understand that you are worried for your sister but we can't rush this." When she made a small pause it was then that the magus pounced.

"We aren't rushing. I am not rushing." He raised his tone a bit. "For days I have thought about this and I am sure he means no harm."

"You have no evidence of that." She points out.

"Neither do you." He points back.

"I am working on it. Just need more time." Rias raises her voice as well. "My brother said that he would take a look and that takes more than just a couple of days."

"He is here now and we don't know for how long he is going to stay."

"Since he is a student, we can suppose that we have at least until the middle of next year." She is grasping for straws and they know it.

"No we don't. Or are you saying he is a model student in class?" Shirou is legitimately asking the question since there are many ways of knowing the answer.

"From what Seekvaira said," her friend is in the same class as the subject of conversation, "he seems uninterested in most subjects. When asked a question he tends to ignore it or just answer it perfectly. He has shown good development in math, history and gym classes. But struggles in the others to a certain extent for an apparent lack of interest. Like he informed us, at the moment he is registered in the archery club but since he got in after the competitive season had already ended, we have no clue how good he is, only that apparently he is treated as a senpai and has gained some respect. I tried to send Batchan to take a look but he found her and said, and I quote: 'I don't like being spied on'. He then flicked her with a finger and sent her on her way. At least that showed he has good instincts or detection capabilities. The rest is stuff that is on his registry, he came from a school that doesn't exist and his name, Angelo Valence may be fake."

"He said it is the name he was born with. I think he wasn't lying." But again he can't possibly know that.

"It doesn't matter. We have no idea of where he came from, who he really is or his intentions." Rias was starting to sound exasperated. "He has no real records, no social media, no anything! That is not a good sign!"

"I know that!" Shirou admits. "But he is the only one who knows what may be happening with my sister!"

"He could be lying!"

"Either way I will only know when I confront him!" He slams his hands on her desk.

"Don't be stubborn!" She got up from her seat, their eyes met and neither backs down. "Trust me with this Shirou! It's too dangerous!"

"Doesn't matter! I can deal with it!"

"You don't know that! Just give me more time and I will deal with the problem!"

"I don't want you to deal with the problem! I want to know what is happening to my sister!"

A clap of hands is heard in the office. "Okay! Okay! Settle down! Both of you!" Akeno pushes Shirou and Rias back to their places and stands at the side of the table. "If this is going to become a shouting match then this discussion is pointless." She turns to Shirou. "We are worried about you Shirou, understand that we want to help. We are going to help find your sister and Rias has already sent some agents to London to try to get to the bottom of it." Hearing that helped the redhead but the Queen isn't done as she turns to Rias. "You are usually more collected than that, buchou."

"Not my fault that Shirou wants to throw himself into danger, again I might add." The ORC president replies, managing her temples.

"I don't like the idea of sitting around and doing nothing." There was no need for him to say that but he felt that remembering such a fact about himself would make his argument.

"As I am being reminded." Both sides now are looking to each other, daring the other to retreat, to look away and admit some sort of weakness.

But neither is willing to retreat, everyone else in the room knows that if something didn't happen then they would stay there all night. None of them is going to back down on this since both can see that they are in the right in the argument, at the same time both can also recognize there is value in what there is merit in what the other is saying but that doesn't mean they are willing to give up their own side.

"If I may offer a suggestion." While Akeno likes a bit of chaos she doesn't want an actual fight happening. "How about you two compromise?"

""How?"" Both turn to her, asking at the same time.

The Queen actually had no answer to that, the only person that can go to the conversation with Shirou is Liz and she alone can't cover him against everything, especially if the new student is as strong as described. There is also the fact that the guy is a detector and that he is the one that holds the answers.

If Angelo/Gilgamesh choses to retreat then there is nothing anyone can do and that may cause some damages and even lead to deaths. But she knows that the two redheads before her need to be on the same page to at least get something workable together since just discussing won't lead to nothing.

So she tries a half baked idea to get the conversation going. "Maybe Luvia can go."

The blonde in question blinks and points to herself. "Me?" She is already surprised that the ORC is willing to allow her to stay around, Rias is welcoming to her since she is one of Shirou's friends.

"Well, yes. You are human and if that is the condition he wants for a negotiation then sure, Why not?" The Queen knows that there are some problems with that idea.

Of which Rias has no problem to point out. "If she isn't strong enough then her presence may not make any difference."

"There is also the unnecessary risk for her," Shirou follows up. "This is my problem. No one else should be in danger because of it."

"I can guarantee that I am a perfectly capable warrior." The european magus felt the need to defend herself. "Besides, I see no problem in dealing with this guy. Even if you felt a powerful aura around him that just means he probably has a Noble Phantasm or a powerful sacred gear or something similar, not that he is all powerful."

It was a valid observation and whatever it is there is a chance that the descendant of the First Hero doesn't know how to use it properly.

But Shirou is not willing to risk it. "Why are we treating him with so much hostility already? He did nothing so far and just wants to talk."

"Or attract you to a place where he can take you away. I have said that already." And Rias didn't like to repeat herself. "This is for your own sake Shirou. Understand that you can't just expose yourself like that."

"I don't care. I am worried about Illya and the only guy with answers is here!" But the devil is not going to give up that easily.

"Can't you call her? I know you do from time to time."

"But it's always only on certain days!" Before when he thought it was something from the Clocktower he could let go, now that he knows she isn't there he can only be worried. "I tried to call her! In the last few days I did it more than once! I also tried to talk with some people who work for my parents but they said they had no idea she wasn't in London!"

That didn't mean his parents don't know where she is, only that their people were uninformed. If anything the information just piled up more stress on his already exhausted mind and he wants something, anything that told him that Illya is safe.

Maybe if his parents talked with him, maybe if Illya hadn't lied, maybe if his family didn't have one secret or another dropped on his lap every couple of months Shirou would be more patient. In the terms of his patience it can be said most of it left when he discovered that the fire that took everything from him wasn't an accident and that he is the last victim standing.

Shirou is already the kind of person that doesn't like to wait and do nothing and the hits he took during the summer just reinforced the idea that he shouldn't let things go and actually do something about the situation when it presents itself.

"I am going to meet him." There is a tone of finality in his voice. "I am not asking for your permission, I don't need your permission. But I will meet with him and figure out what the hell is going on, where my sister is and what this Khaos Brigade is."

It is at this moment that Rias knows she can't change his mind, his eyes are full with resolve and nothing that she said would change that unless she had the answers to his questions right now.

But she doesn't have them. All she can really do at this moment is try and minimize the risks and damage. "Fine. But we are going to do this carefully, we need a plan just in case he is going to attempt something nefarious." Shirou nods in acceptance. "Since we know he is going to be in the archery club, probably keeping that position so you know where to find him, we are going to surround the place while keeping ourselves at a safe distance, all of us!"

Every devil in the room nods with Setsuna following their lead. Rin lets out a sigh knowing that she is also included on the order by default. The only one without any real obligations towards it is Luvia and the blonde decides to say nothing at the moment, probably waiting for this part of the conversation to end.

"I have no problems with that." Shirou decides to say. "Since he allowed Liz to be present then she can be at my side. If anything that gives more credence that Illya is with them."

"Care to elaborate?" Rias places her hands on the desk while asking.

"Illya is a bit high maintenance," was all the male redhead is willing to say about the matter, "If it has nothing to do with magic or something she finds worth doing she has Sella, Liz's sister, do it. That may explain why he is willing to allow Liz in the meeting. While he may know that my habits are different, that doesn't mean he doesn't recognize her as my protector if Illya mentioned it."

The homunculus nods, she was going either way but the fact that Shirou confirmed it just solidified that on her mind.

"We can stay a couple of meters of distance and I can smell if mana is used in great quantites." Setsuna offers. Much like Luvia she is not obligated to help in this situation and if she is doing it is for Shirou.

"Thank you, all of you." And Shirou means it. He half expected having to fight to convince everyone to not try and stop him on this. "I would like to do this tomorrow if nothing stops us."

Rin almost jumps out of her chair from that information. "Wouldn't be smarter to wait for Yo- I mean, Kuro?"

"We don't know how long he is going to stay here." Shirou is not taking the hero's descended presence for granted. The man said himself that he should be in college if he wanted and is only present there for Shirou and there is no way for him to wait forever. "The sooner we do this, the better."

"Tomorrow then...I can work with this." Rias says, determined. "It's going to be after school time right? Then I can ask the others for a favor."

"Others?" Shirou wonders what Rias was talking about.

"The Sona and Seekvaira. Since we are dealing with an unknown organization and we don't know if they have any more infiltrators in the school I believe I can rope them in helping us." Rias smiles at Shirou. "Going to have to make some calls and have to work fast but I can get everything ready for tomorrow."

At that point Luvia saw that she had little choice. "I don't know if you need my help but you can count me in as well." It sounds selfless but in reality it isn't. All the heiresses of Kuoh are gathering together for a single event, it's an opportunity to impress one of them and get a pact of her own.

While some present know that, they aren't going to make mention of it, Luvia is ready to put her life on the line so there is no problem if she wants to try to talk and impress another pureblood devil during the event.

Rin knows that and she would do the same thing if she already didn't owe her soul to Rias, in this situation she is going to stay quiet since the alternative would be hypocrisy. But others don't know any of that and truly believe she is just being a good person.

"Thanks for it Luvia but you don't need to take the risk." After the events of the mall Shirou has no intention of calling Setsuna out on that. But his new friend is still that, new.

"Didn't I tell you already Shero? You are my goal in a way, but not only for us tying the knot." The noble magus admits it easily. "With other heiresses present I have a chance for a pact of my own. Of course I will risk it. Best hypothesis possible you will get everything you want peacefully and I will be able to convince either heiress to make a pact with me. Win-win."

Almost everyone on the planet would have lied there and said something corny. Luvia already established herself as proud of her actions and wouldn't hesitate on divulging her true intentions.

"I really hope that is what happens then." Shirou says with a sincere smile, turning to Setsuna next. "I will compensate you for the help too."

"There is no need." The hanyou is quick to say. "I already told you we are friends and that means I need no reward. Besides," she turns to Luvia, "we already had gone on a date so that means we may be lovers so it is my duty to make sure the rest of our family is safe."

Kiba does a spit take of the tea he was drinking but besides that and a few faces of shock there is little reaction. "Oh~ Is that a challenge that I hear Setsuna-san?" Luvia actually didn't lose her posture or determination. "I am sorry to disappoint but one date doesn't make you lovers."

"It will be on the next one. I will make sure of that." For a second it looked like sparks left both girls' eyes and clashed between them.

"Ah? Heh? I?" Shirou is completely out of his element, he doesn't have any clue of what to say or what to do.

It was at that moment he felt a pair of arms wrap around his shoulders from behind. "Oh my~ Look how popular you are, Shirou-kun." Akeno couldn't resist, there is something in her blood that calls for this kind of excitement. "You wouldn't mind if I joined that race too~ Would you?"

""Akeno-san!"" The two girls finally looked at the new obstacle that just ensnared their target.

"Fufufufu. No please~ Keep fighting. I will make sure to keep Shirou-kun very busy." The older girl made a point to talk really close to Shirou's ear, her breathing and her breasts a constant reminder that she is behind him.

'She is dangerous.' Setsuna can't stop herself from thinking, looking at the new competitor.

'I didn't know that a devil was going to compete as well.' Luvia scoffed, realizing she was caught off guard.

'I am not getting in the middle of this.' Rin thinks while taking some documents and getting ready for the work of the night.

Rias observed around the office during the new development. Koneko finished helping Kiba clean the table where he had spit his tea, Liz was just observing Shirou without moving much and then the devil looked again to her fellow redhead.

While she can't stop him from doing what he wants, the distraction is enough to take his mind over recent matters. Didn't take hers out of it, not entirely. Now she is going to have to ask both of her friends for a favor, just to be safe and it's not going to come for free.

Rias can't guess what Sona is going to ask, nothing too outrageous she hoped, but the Agrares' heiress is another case, she knows exactly what she will ask. It was something she didn't do so far because she knew it would technically put her in Rias' debt.

Now she is about to put herself into debt to two of her oldest friends. If it was anyone else she wouldn't even consider the idea.

'But the opponent carries the name of Gilgamesh…' It is a frightening thought and Rias was concerned. 'The Oldest Legend, the First Hero of Humanity. If he really comes from the same lineage there is no way of knowing how powerful he is or if he has or not Noble Phantasms. But if he has one, just one, there is the possibility of that one being overwhelmingly powerful to the point of being able to take down a god.'

During the last few days Rias coordinated with any agent the Gremory clan had towards many goals. Discovering more about the Khaos Brigade and finding Illya were the priority but she also included research on the First Hero line.

There wasn't much, apparently the family is protected by some gods or maybe by their own resources. Unlike their most prominent ancestor, they kept to the shadows, always powerful and when they show up throughout history there is always a 'flash of gold and death.'

'Theory is that they have one or more Noble Phantasms and that their bodies also are superior to normal humans.' Rias thinks back to everything she read on the subject. 'But they never ally to anyone, keeping to themselves and acting on their own interests for some reason. There is little information on what they can do and that is extremely frustrating.'

But she has some information, reports of one thing happening or another that makes her believe the guy has for certain a Noble Phantasm at least and if legends are right she knows its name.

'Enkidu.' The famous only friend of Gilgamesh, a being born from the gods to be the 'chain' to bound the king to them only to choose to side with the man instead and meeting an unfortunate end. 'And that is just one Noble Phantasm Gilgamesh is famous for, there are others and there are those that are just too unbelievable to be true...The Gate of Babylon.'

Just thinking that name made her shiver.

'Legend says that the King of Uruk split all his treasures from the Gate, every weapon, elixir and thing of value he could get his hands on. But many of them disappeared centuries after, some expeculating that it returned to the Gate. And if that was passed inside that family.' For the first time in a long time Rias can say, she is afraid. 'I can't believe or consider the Gate of Babylon as an entity. The moment that I do, I am pretty much forced to accept defeat. Only my brother and the other Maous can compete with its might.'

But the pureblood choses to say nothing, letting her friends enjoy the momentary peace, fearing for the war that may come the next day.

…

An arrow hits a target. "Yes! I did!" A girl with brown hair and eyes celebrates the improvement of her accuracy. She has short hair that reaches her neck and a tomboyish face but that didn't diminish her appeal. Dressed in an archery uniform she doesn't lose on the beauty department even if she didn't like to think much of herself. "Thanks a lot Angelo-senpai! I managed four perfect shots in a roll."

"Hahaha! You don't need to thank me, Mitsuzuri! It was your own effort!" The blonde also is dressed in the archery uniform that consists of a gray hakama, white training wear called kyudo-gi and a chest guard that covers half of their chest. Both also have a glove on their right hands while the girl has a traditional japanese bow on her left.

"Angelo-senpai, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Ayako?" She asks in frustration and the taller man pats her head.

"Maybe one more time." It is his usual reply as many in the club have a habit to notice. "I still think I should be the one calling you all senpai since I entered much later."

"It would have been so cool if you were here earlier in the year." Another girl approaches them, followed by another group. They all are in their archery uniforms. "With your skills we would have won the inter-high for sure."

"Hahaha! Sorry but I was busy at the beginning of the year. I suppose it would have been fun!" He bragged, surrounded by women.

Since Kuoh was an only girl school until very recently, it is only natural that their number surpasses the men's by a large margin. In the third year the only males are the ones that have transfered and on the club at that moment is the most recent addition to the roster.

In the archery club that rule is also applied and from fifty and some members present, 36 are girls and almost all of them are now giving the new arrival all their attention. Later on in the day, night or the weekends, many of the college students tend to join them.

"Damn. There he goes again. All the girls just flock around him." One of the male club members can't help but say, jealousy in his tone.

"Can't help it. The guy is really good." Another says taking a bottle of water. "Not only is his aim perfect but he also takes his time to teach the girls as well."

"Aaah that is annoying. I thought I would finally be able to get a girlfriend this year." One of the first years says, desperate.

"What can you do?" The second one says with a shrug. "He is popular, we are not. That is how life is."

""Don't lob us with you and your depressing attitude."" His friends said back but the student just shrugged.

"Excuse me?" They all hear a man's voice and turn to see two people, one is the redhead Emiya Shirou and accompanying him…

"""Liz-sensei!""" The trio basically stands in salute at the sight of the teacher. The white haired woman tilts her head but gives a nod. "How are you this afternoon?" Asks one of the students, blushing a little.

Shirou is confused by his reaction but if he was part of the PE of the other classes or listened to gossip then he would know that his maid is actually quite popular as a teacher.

Beautiful with an aloof attitude, for many students she is like a distant angel that helps them surpass their limits by giving them the best advice on how to do the most difficult physical activities. For those reasons she is the favorite teacher of many, even those that don't like to run start to do it just to not see a small pout of disappointment on her face.

There is no way for Shirou to know any of that since his class is full of abnormal people that either have a natural constitution or training to deal with the basics of the gym class without trouble. With the normal students she can be an excellent guide but for a bunch of moonlit world citizens she is just a presence that keeps an eye on them while making sure that they do the basic requisite for the school.

Still, even not having all the information and scratching his head, Shirou notices he has some form of attention from his schoolmates, he asks. "Is Angelo around? I need to talk with him."

Hearing the name of the man that is easily becoming 'the most hated man' by the male students in the archery club, the trio points to the group of students. "He is there." One of them says, pointing to the right direction.

And so Shirou sees that there is the blonde, surrounded by girls and talking one thing or another. That is fine, Shirou only arrived a little before the activities of the club ended to make sure he could catch the guy before he left.

Archery is not a sport that should be practiced at night when the visibility is low. Their club is in the open to use the natural sun of the afternoon and it always ends at the night's beginning.

The whole idea is to stay close and keep an eye on Angelo, there is no actual need to talk to him with so many people around and now that they know exactly where the hero's descendent is then all they need to do is wait for the club activities to end and talk with him on the exit.

"Oh, Shirou! You finally came! I was starting to think you got cold feet!" Things already start to go against the plan when the blonde notices the new arrives at a considerable distance. He starts to separate himself from his admirers and approaches Shirou's position. "I am glad you could make it."

"Angelo-sama, you know him?" One of the girls asked.

"Of course I do." Once he is close enough, the descendant of Gilgamesh slaps Shirou's back, surprising the redhead. "He is the brother of someone I know and I promised her to give him some tips on archery since she wants him to join a more...respectable club."

Outside of the building, hidden behind a boundary field in a improvaside tent that is serving as a war room of sorts, Rias can feel her eyebrow twitch in frustration. She is sitting on a round desk surrounded by the other heiresses and Queens of their respectives peerages.

In the center of said desk there is plenty of equipment for sound capture and even a microphone for the wire that both Shirou and Liz are using. The idea is that maybe Angelo can detect mana but had no way to realize there were bugs on other people without doing a proper search.

"I like him." Sona says, hiding a small smile behind her hand. "Are we sure he may belong to some clandestine organization? I am thinking about recruiting."

"Either he knows we are hearing or he has a low opinion of Rias." Seekvaira decides to say while trying to keep a neutral face. Trying and failing since a small smile is on her lips. "But I doubt he will care for anything we have to say, he has a habit of ignoring anyone that isn't human."

Since both were in the same class the Agares future head has some experience on dealing with the blonde to a certain extent. None in her peerage can really approach him and he is always confident and dismissive towards non-humans.

On the other hand it appears he is popular in human circles, something they are interested in figuring out why and Shirou's questions may give them the answers they seek to grasp his personality.

Around the archery club building, which is to the side of the kendo and in front of the gym. Many of the sports clubs have their own building and they get more funding and perks if they are actually good and bring medals to the school. Other club activities are realized inside the school building itself where they can use classrooms or other special rooms from practices depending on the club.

Closer to the kendo club is Kiba, surrounded by girls asking him questions. He is not supposed to keep a low profile and instead should be checking the place with Setsuna since she is thinking about giving the club another go. She had developed a ronin-like reputation of seeking clubs at this point, her fan club admiring her for it.

In the middle of the girls crowd are many of Sona's and Seekvaira peerages, best place to hide since they were just another faces in the crowd with the exception of Tsubasa Yura, the bluehead girl standing at the side lines to help cover a position where Angelo may try to run if there is a confrontation.

On the rooftop of the gym is Koneko, she doesn't belong in this school and usually would be on the middle division but there is no way she is going to leave Shirou to confront a potential dangerous enemy. Especially since Yoruichi, known to her as Kuro, is out of town for a couple of days and her pride demanded that she protect him instead of the stray cat.

Back inside the archery club, many of the girls are frustrated. They wonder who is this woman that gained enough favor with Angelo that her sibiling is getting the special attention it is usually reserved for them.

While the tension is rising, much to the blonde's amusement, there is one girl that actually knows Shirou. "Emiya? What are you doing here?" Ayako defenitivally sounded surprised to see the redhead.

"Mitsuzuri-san." He compliments with a nod. "How are you doing?"

"Oh~ The two of you know each other?" At Angelo's question both took a look at him and Ayako blushed before replying.

"Emiya was famous in our old school, 'Homurahara's Brownie' is how he was called because he used to do a lot of odd jobs around the place." When she noticed that she had the blonde attention and his smile she kept going. "It was weird seeing a student going around and fixing stuff or helping clubs he wasn't a part of. There was also a time he was on kendo but ended up dropping out of that. Ah! I remember that once you showed up at the archery club there too." She suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the redhead. "You said you were thinking of joining but you never showed up after! I remember it because it was my very first day there and you had a lot of questions!"

Before Shirou could get a word in, the king's descendant already had more to say. "Great! Then you are already familiar with some of our philosophies and core! That is fantastic for a beginner! Someone, fetch him a couple of arrows! Mitsuzuri, you wouldn't mind borrowing your bow, would you?"

"Ah! No- I mean, sure I can borrow it." She tries to pass her bow to Shirou who was still trying to get a word in the conversation.

"Wait a minute! I didn't come here for-"

"Nonsense!" Angelo interrupts him again. "You shall now undertake the noble art of archery! Kendo has its appeal but I always prefered kyudo. It's a far more relaxing sport and can help one keep their focus if you follow its tenants in other aspects of life." Then he gives Shirou a side hug and whispers. "We can talk later, don't worry this is just something to justify us talking."

"You could have ignored me. We would talk either way." Exasperated but trying to keep a low profile and not show he is irritated, Shirou complied. The first part is actually hard since he has the attention of everyone in the club.

"And where would be the fun in that?" There was no teasing in his tone, he really believed in his heart that this is all just good fun.

'Either he is too confident to the point he believes he can't make a mistake,' a possibility Shirou can accept from what he observed from the blonde so far, 'or he doesn't care about the opinion of others. Maybe both.'

Being offered a glove Shirou releases a sigh and puts it on. There was a point in his life he legitimately thought about joining the archery club, he can't deny that fact. But it was years ago and in a sense he was a kid completely different from the man he became after.

His family had no problem with which path he wanted to take, it was and it would always be his choice but that didn't stop them from making suggestions and once his origin and element were determined his path was set in their opinion.

'You must learn the way of the sword in all aspects to evolve even more.' It was his mother who said it, not pressuring him or anything but strongly advising him to check the kendo club first and foremost. 'I wanted to please her at the time and didn't disagree that it would help. But the core idea of archery was always more appealing to me. The idea that one is facing only himself when aiming a target.'

He liked the ideas and disciplines of archery. The thought that there is no opponent to face, it is just the archer, the bow and the target is something attractive to him.

Still, he made his decision in the past and he doesn't regret it. "I have no idea what I am doing." And so it was. Since he never joined the club proper or even actually tried so he could focus on kendo he has no idea of anything.

"Your right hand is your dominant one, correct?" It was the one he put the glove on and is also the one he uses to hammer his swords. With those facts he gives a nod. "Great! Hold the bow with your left at the most distant point of your body, yes, just like that!" Angelo praises as Shirou begins to enter in position. "Get used to holding like this. Depending on the practice you need to either follow the proper steps to prepare the arrow by changing the position of the bow and putting it over your head while the arrow is on the other hand to place it in the proper position. Notice that the gloves don't cover all your fingers, just the ones that are the most appropriate to use." He picks a bow and an arrow himself. "Let me show you how you do."

His movement was flawless, the transition from the arrow to the bow seamless but he didn't shoot. Instead he relaxes his muscles and does the movement two more times before saying something.

"This is the basics of kyudo. The british use a different style, same with other countries and cultures. Depending on where you look there are archers on horses or in the woods that can pick the wings of a bird from kilometers of distance." The man showed a faster move, more economic in placing the arrow before relaxing again. "But that is more for actual combat than sport at this point. The yumi archers of the past had actually faster methods to reload and shoot but the point of kyudo is not actually shooting someone, it's actually meditation and skill to hit the target. It is still a good beginning for practice in actual combat."

Most wouldn't be able to tell the underline in what Angelo just said but it is there to anyone that knows a thing or two about the world. In a time where modern weaponry had all but replaced the old ways of combat there are still means to make the old weapons way more useful than any firearm or bomb.

What this man who calls himself Gilgamesh is telling him is that: 'This is a good method of combat in your world, all you need is practice'. With that it is possible for Shirou to deduce that the man before him is not just familiar with archery, he is a true archer who must have or maybe still do use the bow and arrow as his weapons of preference.

The information by itself is not really valuable but gave some insight into the blonde's skill. It also explains why he made a beeline to join the archery club, it is what he is familiar with. Even if he is powerful and with an attitude to match he is still human and needed something to keep him grounded while he dealt with his assignment.

School bores him, that is why he actually doesn't try, he is new to the city and since the Rearguard left its possible he has no backup or someone to talk to and to avoid just waiting for Shirou to show up he needed a place where the redhead can actually find him, ergo the archery club where he can spend his time practicing and wait while doing something he likes.

"I know it looks complicated but just staring is not going to help you." Angelo points out with a smile. "Yes, my form is perfect in many styles. You can feel free to admire but you also should try and take your shot, Faker."

"Why did you call him Faker?" Ayako questions.

"It's a joke between us." Just teasing him in reality but Shirou doesn't mind, he has no problems in being called Faker.

Deciding to go for the basics he starts to copy the first sequence of moves that was made, having no problem placing the arrow in a proper position and then pulling the string with ease.

There is a fear that he may break the weapon if he uses too much strength but that is not much different from how he has to hold back in kendo and he has to avoid hurting his clubmates or not breaking every sword.

Next step is aiming while keeping the bow steady on his hands. 'I am not used to this.' Controlling his hands and arms is not that hard, Shirou is used to heavier objects and he has good arm strength. But this is going to be his first shoot. 'Don't mind if you miss it.' He tells himself. 'Everyone makes a mistake on their first time for everything. Just breathe.'

Breathing, such a basic action. Can be used to calm down, to gather one's thoughts and to find solutions in the most harsh hours. It is essential for the life of many beings in the world even if in different ways and forms.

Letting go of the arrow, Shirou doesn't take his eyes off it while it flies its trajectory. Getting used to throwing knives or swords means that he is used to aiming at a distance but with a bow that distance got exponentially bigger and the target, naturally, farther.

It travels fast, faster than anything he ever threw with his hands and it ends hitting the target in the margins, not even close to the bullseye. "Nice shot!" Angelo praises.

"Incredible!" "Was that his first shot!" "Dude! Come on! Another pretty boy!"

Hearing the reactions around him Shirou turns to Ayako with an expression of confusion. "But I missed it. Why are they acting like that?"

"Because that was your first shot Emiya and you hit the target!" Ayako sounds shocked. "Did you seriously never use a bow before?"

"No, never." He couldn't muster the thought of being happy about his 'accomplishment'. "I still missed."

"There are people that hit the wall or whose arrows are incapable of making even half the trip towards it on their first shot." Angelo comments while placing a hand on Shirou's shoulder. "It was a magnificent first attempt. With a little more practice we can have you hitting the center in no time." Shirou can feel the hand holding him tighter on his shoulder. "So? Are you joining the archery club?"

"Did...did you just try to rope me into it?" It was then that Angelo's laughter filled the room.

"Hahaha! Of course! Didn't you see how you did it? The precision? You have enough discipline and practice to join the ranks of the greats!" He then turns to everyone present and holds an arm. "Isn't that right everybody?"

"HELL YEAH!" "THAT IS RIGHT! WITH ANOTHER TALENT LIKE THAT WE CAN WIN THE INTER-HIGHS!" "JOIN US EMIYA!" "ANGELO-SENPAI SO COOL!"

'Why do I feel like I have been tricked?' And in a way he was. His little exhibition of the first day wasn't forgotten and he also was suspected of being looking for a club since the majority of the students didn't really know that he was in the ORC and that Setsuna is always looking for one with him right behind her.

It is not strange that when a person with a certain degree of talent shows up that others feel the need and wish to join them or assimilate such talents in their own group. And unlike Angelo and others Shirou is still in his first year and could participate in many competitions representing them.

"I won't lose to you Emiya!" Mitsuzuri Ayako declared, her eyes are full with determination while Angelo just laughs and cheers with the crowd.

Outside in the tent no one knows precisely what to say about the whole situation. One minute everyone was tense and almost ready to go fight in a war but now they were just shocked.

All the mental preparation that they did before has crumbled, since Rias got into contact with her peers and told them about Gilgamesh everyone was in a state of alert. They could joke from time to time and even smile about something but the fact is that the opponent may have an invincible weapon and that didn't inspire trust in anyone.

"This is a ploy." Sona says with confidence.

"Kaichou?" Her Queen, Tsubaki, is the first to react.

"He knows we are listening in some way, I am sure of it. He is trying to get us to lower our guard." It is the conclusion that the heiress of Sitri managed to arrive. "We need to pay close attention, we don't know what he is really planning yet."

"Or he may be planning nothing." Akeno is surprised when she notices she was the one who talked. "I mean, sometimes isn't the anticipation worse than an actual attack? Especially if you have no intention of attacking?"

"One thing is for certain, he managed to get into our heads." Seekvaira admits it.

"What...do you mean Seek?" Rias tries to decipher the meaning behind the words but her ruby eyed friend shakes her head.

"Here we are, speculating what that man wants when all he did was talk about school activities." She fixes her glasses before proceeding. "Besides a little jab at Rias' expense he did nothing else of note and even then you can say that he is just prejudiced against devils and that is not a crime, if anything is the norm for many people on the planet. And yet here we are, throwing around theories. If his goal was to shake us, I can say for certain he succeeded."

"Hard to not do it." Sona says while fixing her own glaces. "This is a descendant of Gilgamesh after all. If he is the real deal then we are in trouble by just being in the vicinity. If the legends are true…"

"Let's hope they aren't." Rias concludes the thought, even if not in the same way one of her friends would. "I called my brother."

"Oh no! Why?" Sona protested. "We are not sure of anything! The situation is still under control!"

The reason why Rias' best friend is worried is because if the redhead's brother knows it is certain that her sister knows that something is happening and that means that at the first opportunity they are going to come to Fuyuki which can only mean, if nothing urgent happens to any side…

"They are coming for a family's day visit." Rias made a point to avoid Sona's eyes.

"I thought we were friends! Allies Rias, allies! Why did you call him?" To say that the petite ravenhead felt betrayed is an understatement. "He could be lying about being a descendent of Gilgamesh! He may not have any Noble Phantasms! He-"

"Sorry Sona." Rias offers her a smile. "But I won't risk it. If my brother here is going to keep Shirou safe then I want him here as soon as possible."

The student council member has a look of absolute despair on his face and Seekvaira lets out a sigh. "Let it go Sona. You still have months to prepare for that anyway."

The glare that turned to the older devil actually impressed her. "Don't you dare to say that to me! You don't know how it is to have a- a- a magical girl as an older sister!" Putting her arms on the table and using them to rest her head, Sona Sitri laments her fate. "Rias...this betrayal won't go unpunished."

While the levity of the interaction helped to ease the tensions a little that never was going to last long. "His confidence is the key." Alivian, Seekvaira's Queen, feels the need to mention. "That man could probably bankrupt a casino with how much confidence he is able to project. I am not sure if he is just bluffing with his actions or if he has the power to back them up. Either way I can only recommend caution against him."

Sobering up, everyone turns to listen to the events still happening. Fortunately they didn't lose much, just Shirou fending off some comments about joining their club and another round of compliments going around.

After a couple of hours the archery club started to get empty, people had to go eat, study or do their own thing after all.

To make sure they would have their conversation, Angelo offers to store the equipment with Shirou and Liz since she was there already to take a look at the club out of 'curiosity'. While some other students offered to stay behind that was easily rejected by the blonde who just gave them a smile and to get some rest.

Once the equipment is stored up, Angelo pulls up a couple of chairs and offers Shirou and Liz a seat. "I guess they are hearing us aren't they?" He suddenly asked. "Haven't felt any mana but you have a wire, don't you?"

Deciding that lying was not worth it, Shirou nods. "What gave it away?"

"Ha! Nothing!" The answer surprised the redhead. "I just expected the worst of the devils. They can't even wait to hear what I have to say! Pfft HAhaha! At least it's funny knowing that they would do what I expected!" Not losing his smile he relaxes on the chair. "If I would take a guess...most of them are around here, maybe hidden or just pretending to be normal students. Kinda sad that it was predictable like that."

"You kinda caught everyone off guard." Shirou said, trying to defend his friends. "They are worried about me. Worried that you are going to kidnap me or something."

Angelo chuckles. "I have no need to kidnap anyone. If I am gonna to take you, it will be by your own free will. Not that they could stop me if they tried."

"Right. Descendent of Gilgamesh and all that." Shirou tries to appear unimpressed but he is not lowering his guard in front of the blonde, Muramasa ready to be traced at a moment's notice. "I don't want to fight. I just want answers."

"And you shall have them." Gilgamesh says, his confidence always present. "But understand that I will omit some things. Unless you join our estimate organization you don't need to know all the details."

Even if Shirou really wants to know more about the Khaos Brigade, in reality his thoughts are on something else, someone. "My sister...is she really part of your group." He can see by the corner of his eye Liz getting a little stiff, this question is also about her sister.

"Yes she is." While the man said with his usual confidence, Shirou still didn't believe him. Refused to believe him.

Raising a hand and channeling some mana, Shirou brings out Truthbearer. "You know what this is?"

"Your truth sword. I am surprised you didn't pull that out before." The blonde looks closer, curious. "I just need to place my hand on it?"

It starts to glow gold. "Yes."

Without hesitation, the man that took the name Gilgamesh places his hand on the sword and speaks like the king he claims to be descendant of. "Your sister is one of the members of the Khaos Brigade. She joined us willingly and we have been helping her to attain Heaven's Feel." Shirou almost dropped the sword but Gilgamesh wasn't done. "I came here because your skills and abilities are considered too valuable to just let be. The capability of copying Noble Phantasms is something that anyone with a brain would want...even if something in my blood demands that I destroy you for it."

To everyone else that didn't know the secret of him tracing Noble Phantasms, it is out now that he said, and the blonde knew it since he spoke about the wire himself. But that isn't relevant to Shirou, the fact that his sister is with the Khaos Brigade is and his next step is to figure out their intentions and why she lied.

"What is the Khaos Brigade goal?" Shirou asked, trying to recover from the shock.

"That depends on the sect of the Brigade you are asking about." The answer surprised all the listeners. "You see, we are a bigger organization but we are almost like a hydra, we have many heads and each of these has their own goal and objective. In a way we help each other but we can also sabotage one another if our goals don't align. Truly a beast of many heads that can eat each other!"

"But you must have the same overall goal." Shirou observed and for an instant the blonde stopped talking, a frown appearing on his face.

"Technically we do, but no one wants to complete it. Not in reality." His hand is still in the sword, there is no lie. "I can tell you what we, the Hero Faction, want. That is it. The rest...to be honest I could care less. A bunch of devils want their old positions back, a bunch of magicians after the Root, the usual you know. Nothing new."

"Fine." Shirou can't deny his swords, unless the man found a way to lie while Truthbearer is active all he can do is take his words. "What is the Hero faction goal? Why do you guys need Heaven's Feel?"

"The complete separation and obliteration of evil beings that can put humanity at risk or bring any harm." He said it almost like he was talking about the weather.

"What do you mean?" But the implication of what he is saying shook Shirou to his core.

"Devils, angels, gods, yokai, just to name a few, we want them away from humanity." Gilgamesh says, talking no different than he would about the weather. "And if they refuse to leave...we shall exterminate them."

"Are you for real?" He looks at his sword again, still gold. "You...do you understand what you are saying?"

"What do you think I am saying?" Angelo sounds more amused than confident in this moment.

"Why?" Shirou is not going to beat around the bush. "What is the point of genocide?" Because he couldn't think of anything else to call the mass extermination that he is proposing.

"The point is that monsters have too much leeway in our world." He shrugs. "They have too many fingers in too many pies. The devils have parts and control of many companies and people, in this city alone you can't turn a corner of a street without detecting their presence somewhere. Yokais, a race that attacked and killed for centuries, now live comfortably in a single town while holding much authority because of the gods and let's not forget the divine bastards themselves! How many humans suffered because of their callousness or better yet, their interest? How many bastards of Zeus? How many sacrifices to Odin? How many died because of their greed? Only a couple are worthy of attention and even veneration but the rest should be gutted and killed."

It's clear that the man before him has some hatred towards the divine especifically but Shirou did his research and he can guess a name or two that the descendants of Gilgamesh would take as their enemies.

"Besides, while many want to just destroy them, I am willing to not kill them at first. Just force them to leave us, humans, alone." He sounds so dismissive, like he is getting rid of a pest. "The devils, angels, gods and whatever can go live in their own realms, most have them anyway. But this is our world! Humanity is the majority. We tamed it and ruled it by our right."

"But they helped." Shirou decides to say. "There were plenty of moments that humanity was in danger-"

"That was their fault anyway-" Angelo interrupts.

"But not always!" Shirou interrupts back. "Besides, even if the devils have many fingers on many pies, per say, it's humanity that cooks those pies. It was humans who invented the car, the computer and many other things that could be easily called miracles in ancient times. There are some gods with technology but their stuff is always so big that we improved them, we made compact, we made sure that everyone can use them. So what if the supernatural has many fingers on the pie? It's us who are cooking for them to eat and you don't mess with the chef if you want a good meal."

"I will concede that." The surprise must have shown on Shirou's face because Angelo smiled at him. "What?"

"I didn't expect you to be so reasonable."

"I am not a zealot, even if we have some in our number." He mumbled the last part but Shirou could hear it just fine. "Any good idea is worth discussing to be refined and challenged. If you can't challenge your own convictions then what is the point of believing in anything? I can agree that you are right, that we humans have more control than I thought previously but that doesn't change the fact that many of the beings on the 'other side' see us more like cattle."

"You are exaggerating." Shirou shakes his head but Angelo raises an eyebrow.

"Am I? Let's use your devil friends as an example shall we? The Evil Piece system is a project that was made to boost their numbers by recruiting from other races because their rate of birth is low, correct? If I told you that they could easily boost their numbers by other means, does that system still count as valid?" Shirou stops to think for a moment at the question but Angelo is not done. "To clarify something, and this is also going to devils listening, the only reason that such a system exists is because of stupidity."

"Elaborate, please." Without more information the redhead didn't feel able to form an opinion.

"Did you know that fallen angels had no problem in replenishing their numbers after the war? Or that they have a great number of hybrids, all of them with various levels of strength?" When Shirou shakes his head in denial it makes the blonde chuckle. "I will be honest, between all the non-human races, they are the ones that I respect the most. If they wanted to share our world I personally wouldn't have any problem. Why? Because they understood that they are not superior to humanity, unlike the majority of pureblood devils around. The reason that the Evil Piece system exists is because they want to rush a process in a way to protect their sensibilities at the cost of humankind." He raises his arms in almost like he was making a grand gesture. "And because of their greed, their arrogance, they take some of our best and add to their number, only because they are unable to be born with sacred gears and aren't capable of using Noble Phantasms properly. This is the truth. If they had no problem in mixing the races and abandoned their 'pureblood' agenda then they would also have recovered at the same rate as the fallen. At least proper angels have the excuse that they are not turning the humans they convert in their race and they will die down with time, which is fair."

"I don't know enough of the politics or culture of the Underworld to either agree or disagree." Shirou makes his position clear. "But Rias offered to turn me into a devil and I rejected. Here I am, still human. If the people that are turned are given a choice then who are we to take away their freedom."

"Only for the devils to take it in turn." Gilgamesh says, with all the gravitas of a king. "Besides, some don't ask permission."

"That is another thing altogether...but if you are right that they have some aversion towards the mixing of races then you have a point. But I am not a devil, it is not my race that is endangered."

"But one day it may be because devils tend to drag us in their messes." Shirou has to concede that one.

"You are right...but to be fair, everyone tends to drag everyone else on their messes when they are big enough." That made Gilgamesh laugh.

"HAHAHAHAHA! You are right! Right on the money I suppose!" He chuckles a bit, controlling his breathing. "If devils dropped some of their politics and allowed hybrids to join their society then they would be stronger. Believe me, I met a guy who is a devil born of a human woman and his power is something to behold. Not stronger than me, far from it, but still strong enough to earn my respect."

"Again, not our problem. That is with them, the same way that they can offer devilhood to anyone that will take it." Shirou shrugs his shoulders. "That is not something we can just change."

"I suppose we will have to agree to disagree on that. You are right that these are their laws and that they should fix them. Allowing only purebloods to inheret is fundamentally stupid and is basically asking for extinction." The blonde shrugs. "But it is our problem when we are dragged on it."

"I have to agree on something, we agree to disagree. I personally don't see the problem with the Evil Piece system if people are given the choice. Circumstances vary. Would you deny the chance of someone sick to live past their sickness by turning into a devil? Or any other existence that could survive without costing anyone else their lives?" At that Gilgamesh puts a hand on his chin.

"True, some miracles we humans are still far from reaching." Then he smiled. "I like this."

"Huh?" The change to a more relaxed tone surprised Shirou.

"This small debate we are having. It's rare to find someone that speaks well for the devils without devolving to some kind of devotion or delusion." He gestures to Shirou. "You obviously thought about it and constructed your arguments. A true 'devil's advocate', smart enough to realize they aren't perfect but still aware they have advantages."

"You said yourself, something like 'any good idea is worth discussion.'" Shirou smiles a bit and Angelo smiles back.

"Indeed I did." He chuckles for a second until his face turns serious again. "You gave me some things to think about but in general my opinion remains unchanged, there must be a separation, limits, to what the...supernatural forces can and can't do in our realm. I suppose I can talk with my comrades to leave the yokais alone since they aren't bothering humanity anymore." That is a victory for Shirou. "However, the same way you advocate for more peaceful means there are those that advocate the contrary and I can also see their point, 'if we get rid of the problem, it's no longer a problem.'"

"It is still genocide. 'Evil wins when good men do nothing.'" Shirou doesn't bother to hide his frustration but he doesn't shout or scream, just looks depressed. Making Truthbearer disappear, since it's clear there are no lies in this conversation, and that Angelo hasn't been touching the sword for a while, he tries to go back to the subject that really concerns him. "About my sister...if she isn't on the Clocktower why can't she just take my calls?"

"Oh, it's because she isn't in this dimension." If Shirou was a computer that would be the time he would need to reboot.

"What?" It was Liz who asked, as surprised as him from the turn of events.

"One of our members, a nerd called Georg, has a Longinus, Dimension Lost. Ever heard of it?" The two in his audience shook their heads. "Yeah, it's kinda a really powerful sacred gear that can create barriers and transport people to other places. Including the Dimensional Gap. Most of our operations are in a lot of secret places but your sister has this theory that she can get closer to the Throne of Heroes by trying to find a dimension closer to it. Maybe a heaven or something to get closer to where the souls would go since it has not a physical form even if it's still part of the planet." He can see that the others are confused by it. "Look, it's complicated. But your sister cares about you okay. She developed a whole scheme to collect your mail and have everyone think she is still in London and in the Clocktower. The moment your parents were close, she ran there for a bit and we had to spend at least a few weeks there for more material and other stuff so she could call you. She can always do between the jobs and that is most of her opportunities. They just don't have many breaks."

"Then why are you here?"

"They don't get many breaks, not me." Again with full confidence. "I go where I want, when I want and I decided that I was going to drop by Japan because I have never been here before and your sister asked me for a favor. Previously I would drop by your house, talk for a bit and answer some questions before going back to enjoy the sights. Then your little fight with the Rearguard happened." Shirou can feel a headache coming, almost as if getting ready to hear Rias complaining about how careless he was. "Did you know you could, what was the word Illya used again? Trace Noble Phantasms?...Yes that is it. Did you know you could trace Noble Phantasms?"

"Please stop talking about it." Now he is deeply regretting having a wire for everyone to hear. The first time he mentioned Shirou skill it could be passed as a mistake but now he is affirming too much.

"Oh! Gremory called the other heiresses to our little get together?" Angelo sounds like he is having too much fun with this for Shirou's tastes. "Hey, Agares! If you lend me the work from Kusuki-sensei for next wednesday I can let you guys off the hook for this little act of espionage." He makes a pause, a huge smile on his lips. After a few seconds he begins to laugh. "Don't bother! I don't care. But I really wish that I could see your face right now!"

"I was trying to not let everyone know about it." To let the information spread through the Rearguard to pick up possible conspirators but now Angelo just threw that out of the window.

"Don't worry." Even if his words were for some comfort his attitude is not. "If someone says something is going to be the devils anyway."

"Someone from the Rearguard must have talked for you to know." Shirou gets a nod in reply.

"True and after that most of them had their memories erased." Immediately the redhead knew something was wrong.

"Many of them were magicians and aware of the moonlit world, erasing memories like that is not so simple." Just being aware of the truth of the world is enough to make a person resistant to hypnosis, those with mana can fight it off depending on the caster's skill and erasing memories altogether is another thing entirely.

"Unless you have a sacred gear capable of doing it." Shirou wanted to slap himself in the face.

"Because of course there is one of those." But even then a thought appears on the magus mind. "What is the limit?"

"The person must be aware they are losing the memory in the first place." Angelo says with a shrug. "If you want to get the interrogation sword out again, I will repeat the words but the truth is that in our organization, only seven of us know about your abilities and Yurameshe-san since we know he can keep a secret." He gives Shirou a serious look. "If anyone else is going to learn your secret, know it's not from us. To us you are a potential asset that can't be risked or wasted if possible. Speaking of which, can you copy other Noble Phantasms? Or was that just a one time thing?"

That was a question that didn't surprise Shirou, if anything he was waiting for it for a couple of seconds now. "I don't know. I saw another a few months ago but it was a gun and swords are more of my thing."

"Interesting." For a moment the blonde frowns, an internal debate raging around his mind while he struggles with a decision. "You know what? I may have something we can use." He places a hand behind his back and a golden light appears for a second before disappearing and the man unveiling a huge sword he supports on the ground. "My family has a habit of collecting shiny things, lots of us die in the attempt to recover such treasures but it is a legacy we want to recover. Either way, can you copy this?"

The sword is taller than Shirou with a spiral like design that made it look like a drill, having its primary color as white with green spread on its handle, big enough that two people could place their hands there, and the openings of the drill.

It is round as a drill should be and the guard looks unable to block anything and yet with its size there is no need for it since for someone to reach the owner they would have to be fast and avoid being pierced by the tip.

But the power of the sword can't be underestimated. Shirou can confirm that it is a Noble Phantasm, instinctively his eyes start the spell Structural Analyses as his circuits activate without a thought.

A name leaves his lips. "Caladbolg."

"Indeed." Unlike before there is no praise, the blonde keeping his face neutral. "This is the sword that once belonged to Fergus mac Ròich, the Spiral Rainbow Sword. I give you permission to try and trace this one." In a flash of light, the weapon whose name is carved in irish legends disappear. "Get to it."

Even the descendent of Gilgamesh can't explain why he is irritated, something on the back of his mind was screaming at him to not allow anyone to steal his treasures but he silenced that voice, his logic being that Shirou is not stealing but borrowing the sword's design.

Raising a hand Shirou begins to work in trying to trace that weapon. "Trace on." Barely he began he already can tell it's not going to be as easy as Muramasa was. The way of making, the design, the materials, techniques, everything is just too different than what he was used to. "I am the bone of my sword." Another aria to help his circuits but he still is struggling.

He knows he can do it. Shirou has the image of the sword perfectly on his mind, the blueprints are perfect as they usually are and he can understand them. It is just that the sword is on another level for different reasons.

With Muramasa the material is cheap while the skill of its making is the peak that humanity can reach, Caladbolg is a complete different being more heavy not only on its weight but the existence itself, the material made with it, is something that Shirou is having difficulties comprehending.

In a way it is like trying to read a different language similar to his own but with enough differences that he is sure he is reading something wrong. For that reason more mana needs to be used to compensate with a sword that is already naturally more expensive.

But it is still a sword and Shirou manages to project it, only to almost let it fall on the ground if Angelo hadn't caugthed it. "It's really heavy." Shirou can't help but comment, feeling that his arm was almost taken off by the sudden weight.

"Don't sound so surprised." Angelo gets up and swings the traced Caladbolg a few times. "Almost perfect...and that makes me mad. The fact that the treasures my family collected for so long can be so easily replicated."

"Sorry." Instead of accepting Shirou's apology Angelo just shakes his head.

"How did you do it? How are you able to project Noble Phantasms like this?" He is still examining the newly created projecting on his hands. Where Shirou almost lost an arm trying to hold it, the descendent of Gilgamesh handles it like it has no weight at all.

"I have no idea." He won't lie and say he knows he is doing it but Shirou meditated a lot on the how and he never arrived at a definitive conclusion. "I think I just trained so much in tracing that the end result is this."

"I doubt that is the case but I will take your world for it." Glaring at the sword in his hands, Angelo turns to Shirou with a single demand. "Make it disappear." Once the sword was gone Shirou could tell something was upsetting the man. His red blood eyes had gained an edge that wasn't there before. "I gave you permission for that sword but that is the only one you are getting. Study it, learn from it, I don't care but you aren't seeing anymore of my treasures unless you decide to join the Khaos Brigade."

"And if I won't?" Because if it was a threat Shirou will answer in kind.

"For now...nothing." Gilgamesh says with a smile. "I have nothing against you and you did nothing to offend me...much." Just the thought of all the work his family put being copied like that grated his nerves. "Your sister would also be very cross with me and we need her to reach Heaven's Feel. So nothing, you stay out of our way and we stay out of yours."

"Sounds fair." But relief didn't wash over Shirou just yet. "If you try to go forward with your plans I will stop you." He says while getting up from his chair.

"Hoh. Are you sure about that?" The same pressure he felt on the first day he met Angelo was back, the descendent of Gilgamesh letting out his power.

"Yes." Shirou refused to retreat, refused to bow down. He glared at the red eyes without fear. "I won't let you all commit genocide. I get that you have problems with how devils do things but so far they didn't do anything wrong in their majority. That means that you are in the wrong if you go forward with your plan."

"Even after all their actions that took the lives of many human beings?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Not going to pass the sins of the 'father on their sons'. But don't act like humans have just laid back and were saints. We have our fair share of blood." Then he said something that can only be called reckless. "If I remember right, Gilgamesh can be called not only the first hero but also the first man who provoked the gods one too many times."

Angelo took a hard look at Shirou, while he is doing it, Rias is having a panic attack calling the redhead an idiot and getting ready to run and save his hide with Akeno while the others focus on holding her back.

Then the descendant of GIlgamesh laughs. "Hahahahahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Are you- hahaha- insane? You do realise- Hahaha- whose ancestor are you talking about right?"

"Just pointing out a fact." Shirou barely reacts. "Don't blame everyone for what their forefathers did. If we begin on that then we should blame you for everytime a god had a fit of rage against humans."

Chuckling, Angelo turns his back. "Oh yes. I will definitivally love these little chats we are going to have." He really is having fun with that. "You have no idea how frustrating it is to have a conversation when people are afraid of you. No idea! It's such a bore. But you!" He turns, pointing at Shirou. "You have guts. I don't know if your sister is like that but she tends to keep to herself unless someone tries to call her in a mistake she didn't commit. Most of the time I can't get a read on that woman."

"Thank you?" He didn't know how Illya socialized outside of their family but the idea of her with a bunch of possible terrorists bothers him anyway.

"You are welcome. I really hope you join the archery club. It will be fun with you around." Shirou shakes his head.

"Sorry but while I do have some interest in it I gain more by sticking to the ORC." He answers sincerely. "More time to work on projects and most of my friends are there as well."

"Then pick it as a hobby. You have the discipline to get it right and the swords that can attack from a distance are few and you have none." It was a good point. "Besides, if one day we are going to fight, I would prefer to have you at your best."

"We don't need to fight." Shirou is quick to say, not in fear but in sadness.

"Maybe, or maybe not." Angelo says with a shrug. "It can happen, our disagreements can evolve or I will decide to side with my actual allies when they do something you find reprehensible. Or the opposite can happen and I may end up helping you against them. I don't know." He turns his head with a smile. "Isn't that a fun thought? So you better train since your devil friends aren't strong enough to oppose me. On the other hand, someone capable of making Noble Phantasms may be a better challenge." He begins to leave the building, a light surrounding him and suddenly he is dressed in a black blazer, pants and white shirt. "See you around, Faker."

After the last comment the man walks out of the club, not bothering to even give him the keys to lock the place up. Still Shirou is a little shocked and confused by Angelo's comments.

Liz wasn't. "I think he likes you." He really didn't know what to say about that comment except…

"I think he is going to try and kill me."

Fortunately he didn't have much time to think as Rias barges in from the front door followed by her fellow Kings and their Queens. "Shirou! Are you alright?" She examines him.

"Yes, I am."

"No wounds? Did he try to attack you?" Rias sounds calm, still checking his head.

"No, all good." She gives him a beautiful and gentle smile at the reply.

"Great!" Then grabs him by his shirt. "What were you THINKING?"

"She lost her composure fast." Akeno can't help but comment.

"Did you just try to pick a fight with the descendent of Gilgamesh of all people? What were you thinking?" She starts to shake him, looking legitimately upset. "Are you an idiot? Insane? Suicidal? Stupid?"

"Suicidal before stupid?" Sona asked, a small smile in her face indicating her amusement.

"I couldn't think of another adjective since I am so mad right now!" Rias keeps shaking Shirou. "What were you thinking? We don't know what kind of power or weapons he has! No! You did! He showed you a Noble Phantasm! What were you thinking?!"

"What is going on?" Rin asks while she and the others arrive at the door.

"Rias is...letting out some frustration." Akeno is a bit shaken by her best friend's reaction. Never before had she seen her King acting like that.

"If you just were a member of my peerage, uuuuuh, I would punish you! One hundred- No one thousand spankings! Then I would have you in seiza position for the rest of the night! What were you thinking?" All the while she is still shaking him. "You just threatened someone that has a Noble Phantasm and the blood of the world's oldest legend! What were you thinking?"

"I- am- sorry." Shirou manages to say between shakes.

"'Sorry' doesn't cut it this time!" She keeps shaking him. "I won't stop until I am sure this lesson sinks in! Look before you leap!"

"Everything- ended- fine." Shirou is starting to feel sick;

"Maybe...we should let them to.. whatever this is." Offers Sona and everyone nods in agreement. "Rias, I will get my favor later." She informs as she turns to leave.

"Same for me, even if you know what I already want." Seekvaira said following Sona with everyone else except Akeno, Liz and Koneko stayed behind.

The majority of them couldn't understand why Rias was shaking Shirou that much or what he did to deserve it but Rias' screams and complains they are sure he must deserve the rough treatment in some way.

Liz and Koneko were there because they can only go home with Shirou since they are his bodyguards. It is their duty to make sure he is safe and that he returns home intact. Arguably they should stop Rias as well but Koneko's loyalty is to her first and Liz didn't see a problem since even if everything ended well she can agree that Shirou needs to have some notion of danger.

Akeno is just glad to see the show, both because it is funny and the enjoyment she is getting in seeing Rias shake Shirou, desperately trying to get him to understand the mistakes he made and the Queen can agree he was reckless but she found it endearing while at the same time getting some pleasure on Rias just losing herself in her anger.

And it is anger that the Gremory King is feeling, anger at Shirou for doing something risky, anger at herself for not having the means to stop him from doing it again if he wants and anger at the situation that is spiralling out of her control with a potential monster in the descendent of Gilgamesh walking around their town and they being unable to do anything against him.

'And things started so well too.' Akeno thinks to herself, hearing Rias letting out another string of complaints at Shirou. 'We managed to get rid of the Phenex presence in Fuyuki with a guarantee that they wouldn't spy on us anymore. Now we have this to deal with.'

And the ravenhead doesn't even want to begin thinking about the implications of more people knowing about Shirou's ability to create Noble Phantasms, copies or not. In a way Angelo or Gilgamesh is right, that is probably one of them that is going to end up talking about it and spreading the word, contracts can't really stop those really determined unless being made under some sort of threat.

'There is already someone in Kuoh with reasons to want Shirou at their side.' Akeno knows what Seekvaira wants, a chance to have a conversation with Shirou one on one to negotiate a transfer of pacts. 'Originally she wouldn't have forced the issue but that is going to be what the favor is going to be about, I have no doubt. Not only is it a chance for the revival of the contract with their previous magicians but also the possibility of acquiring Noble Phantasms is a thing too big to let it pass.'

Before the revelation the older devil was trusted to not press too much, just to reveal something and give Shirou the option, something that is only possible because of the previous magician the Agares clan had a pact with before.

As the devils with the most affinity and even an innate ability to spells that deal with time, even the ability to create a field to accelerate it in an area, had tried more than once to get a pact with families that had dewelled on the same field.

More often than not there was rejection from either side for various reasons. That was until the Agares made a deal with a family, a family that is supposed to be extinct, a family whose last member they had a pact with was also called Emiya.

…

After arriving at his house, Shirou did his usual tasks and made food for both of the other residents, not feeling particularly hungry himself after being shaken half to death by Rias. He managed to recover but his stomach is not all there yet.

Or maybe it is the worry he is feeling for his sister. Between discovering the truth about his father, the mystery of his origin and now that his sister is part of an organization that sounds more like a cult that wants the destruction of 'evil beings'. At least on the last one he knows that there are some moderates but still the one that shows up apparently has one Noble Phantasm, possibly more by the way Rias was panicking.

'When did my life get so complicated?' Trying to pinpoint the exact moment is hard. It wasn't when he began to learn magic, it wasn't when he even learned about his father's real job since technically he knowing or not isn't affecting him that much. 'I think it began when I survived that damn fire.'

One way or another it would always come back to that. Even if he wasn't adopted by Kiritsugu and Irisviel he would still have dealt with the fire and its consequences, maybe even died. With that thought in mind he knows he can't blame his family for everything, he is just grateful for having one in the first place.

Still didn't change the fact they are doing things he can't help but find wrong, ironically by the same values they raised him.

Shirou doesn't have any means to talk directly with his parents, that is something he grew used to while growing up, the older he got the less time they spent in their home. He can make some calls and try to leave a message but he doesn't know what to say either.

'Do they know wha Illya is doing? Do they approve? Disagree? They disagreed when she first talked about getting Heaven's Feel but they didn't oppose her going to the Clocktower if that is the path she wished to take, it was her life after all.' He was there, staring at the main phone of the house, trying to decide who to call.

If he was going to call anyone at that point. Not knowing what to say or what to do or who knew what.

Deciding that he needed to talk with his sister he tries to dial the number that she gave on their last call months ago. It didn't connect, giving credence that she really isn't in any way reachable for him. "Dimension Lost." He whispers the name in sadness.

Not knowing much about sacred gears he asked about it before separating from Rias and Akeno. Since it is a Longinus the sacred gear has its abilities properly registered by the many times devils encountered it throughout history.

Dimension Lost can be considered both one of the most powerful sacred gears and a bug on the system at the same time. The barriers it can reinforce, the space it can make and the laws it can break leaves a lot of speculation of its limits but one order is clear about it. Don't fight against a proficient user.

Since it can throw people in the Dimensional Gap there is a big warning and restriction on how to approach it and who should fight it. Most beings can't survive on the Gap for long periods of time and Rias herself admitted that while she can't her brother can and the call was already made for him to come and maybe talk with Gilgamesh.

The thing is that the blonde, while dangerous, is not doing anything wrong for the moment so her brother can settle his affairs in the Underworld before he comes. Apparently he and the other Maous are excellent at their jobs, too good even since if they just leave whenever they want there is a real possibility that the devil society will fall down and crumble.

Rias made clear that for the moment the man has done nothing to warrant him rushing. Better safe than sorry in these circumstances and the devil that carries the name Lucifer will eventually arrive, just whenever his maid is sure everything is secure for his departure.

Shirou can't disagree with that since Angelo doesn't want to fight for now. He is here on vacation, as weird as it sounds.

'Focus!' Shirou screams in his own mind as he places the phone back on its legitime place. "There is too much I can't control but there are still things I can do." He tells himself, exiting the house and going towards his workshop.

Not even bothering to change out of his school clothes he enters his place of study and starts to move towards the center and raises both of his hands. "Let's do this." He hypes himself up. "Trace on!"

The second time he traces Caladbolg is easier than the first, still considerably hard and takes a minute for the sword to fully materialize but it was still much easier than the first time. Didn't stop him from almost falling to the ground because of the actual weight from the sword itself but with both hands and his feet firmly planted he managed to avoid accidents.

"Even with Reinforcement this thing feels like it weighs a ton. Truly it is a weapon of a mighty irish hero." He can feel his arms fighting to keep the sword steady, magic running on his circuits to help his muscles but it isn't enough, he can raise the sword but knows he can't use it properly. "Is that why he showed me this one? Because he knew I wouldn't be able to use it?"

If he gets stronger he can still use it and the best way to do this would be with touki. But that didn't change the fact that this sword is too heavy for a normal human to use while the blonde could hold it with ease, the greatest of ease since he could do it with a single hand.

Shirou ends up placing the sword tip first on the floor. That was a mistake since he can already see the cracks spreading around. "Damnit." He pulls it back a bit to make sure the sword wouldn't open a bigger of a hole, it is still as big as his head but that is fixable.

Once he thought about it the result was expected. This is a weapon capable of destroying mountains when properly used, a powerful Noble Phantasm that surpasses the Muramasa in destructive potential alone but has more costs to be properly applied.

First is the weight, then is the mana cost of using its full power. With those two limitations Shirou knows he can't use the drill sword at the moment. "Koneko could technically carry it and use it as a club or drill but lacks the mana to use it properly. Rias has the mana but lacks muscle strength, same with Akeno. Setsuna and Kiba are in the same boat. Would it be worth it to even try?"

Breaking apart both the utility and versatility of the Noble Phantasm in front of him, Shirou realized that it wouldn't be worth it. Showing it to him makes no real difference at the moment, if anything it was Angelo's way of saying that there is more since that sweetened the deal in convincing Shirou to consider the Khaos Brigade or at least the Hero Faction.

"He is trying to tempt me into joining them." It's not forceful but it's a nudge in that direction by showing the power that they have, that Shirou could have. "I can't use this like that." He gets ready to make the sword disappear when an idea strikes his mind. "Can I use the sword in other ways?"

Unlike the Muramasa he can't use it to learn smithing techniques, not only they were not efficient and had the employment of magic that he is unable to use, it needs more people. With Liz and Setsuna's help he could try but he can't use the same magic for three people, even with a ley line and since he would have to do it in different directions.

Not forgetting that the material is rare, a type of metal he never heard about, not even on the list that Rias gave to him. There is the potential that came from fairies but Shirou is not sure at the moment. It is like static hits his mind every time he tries to read some more on that.

Understanding enough of the sword to conclude that Muramasa's methods of development are still better, Shirou changes his train of thought to try and figure out how he could use the rainbow sword in combat.

"Trying to use it normally is impossible for now." It was an easy conclusion for Shirou to make. "I need to become stronger before that. I can use the same maneuver that I did against the onis of the Rearguard of making swords and letting them fall. I will need to practice more for that but it is possible." He hummed for a second before sighing. "But that can take too long, cost too much mana. In fact, I need to pace myself and time is a resource that I can't waste in a fight if I want to keep my head." He turns to stare at Caladbolg, using Structural Analysis to read more into its story to try and find answers to his question.

In the past when it was used it was by men much stronger than him, blessed with powers he didn't have either by their lineage or by training and deeds. He lacks the first and the second he can correct with time.

In the end Shirou can't help but wonder. "If only this sword was a little smaller or lighter...I couldn't use it in every combat scenery but unleashing its explosive power only once can be more than enough." The redhead chuckles. "If only." Then he blinks. "But...can't I make it smaller?"

There is a way, a way to make the sword smaller. It is a trick that he uses in his works at the forge, the same spell he used in his muscles and to strengthen his works: Reinforcement. It can be used to modify objects if the user is skillful enough and he generally applies it to make sure his works have no defects.

"Can a Noble Phantasm even be altered? Some can transform because of their legends and powers but Caladbold is not one of those." Shirou observed the sword a little longer, at this point he knows its whole history and is certain that it can't be done. "But, this is not that Noble Phantasm, not the original one. This is mine. My creation."

Placing his hand on the handle he concentrates, letting the mana flow in his circuits. He can feel the sword's power, its existence trying to resist the change as it fought back against his will.

After a few moments it broke apart but Shirou is not upset, he is smiling. "I can do it."

For a moment there he thought the Noble Phantasm was volatile and would blow up on his face and immediately he erased its existence to avoid any accidents but he could tell it was changing.

'I have no idea how dangerous an explosion from that is gonna be. I will have to be careful.' There is still an euphoria covering his mind at the idea of success in modifying a Noble Phantasm. It lasted until he sobered up and remembered one simple fact. 'I already have too much stuff on my plate, I can't add another thing! Not right now!'

He already trains everyday, has research to do and projects to work with, not even taking into account school. Even while training to develop touki he just ended up adding to things he already does normally and that can't be said about trying to develop more control over a Noble Phantasm.

'Everything I had planned before is absolutely necessary, besides I don't even know if this idea will pay off.' Placing his hands on his desk, he tries to organize his thoughts. 'But Angelo is right about something; I lack a range option.'

Taking himself back to the battle against the Rearguard he could see how much easier it could have been if he had a faster way to neutralize the diviner Yukino and maybe even Sakashite.

'No, Sakashite was skilled enough that only a truly advanced bow would be able to pass his defenses and the diviner also was able to sacrifice her onis to protect herself. But that is a problem for someone with normal arrows. And I can do more than just normal arrows.' Shirou thinks with conviction, taking out his notebook and writing his next few steps. 'Improving EM, armor and studying Muramasa. If I complete one of them I can replace it with the others. I can practice archery after some sparring but the Noble Phantasm will have to come later when I have more time.'

For he can agree with the fact he needs range and arrows are truly a feasible option when you can just create as many as you need.

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