Short A.N
I don't normally do this, but I've been kind of having this chapter stuck in my mind. So, another chapter right after the last, just for all of you. And me. Mainly me. I will post which story chapter is next at the end for those that want to know. Sorry for the weird word placing for CHAPTER. I can't fix it. Ugh.
Chapter 3
For once, Shirou's dreams were filled with peace. He did not dream of memories, flames, or any strange lights. He dreamt of home, of family, of a world without the need for Shirou Emiya. A world of peace, won after many hard fought battles. Perhaps, it was childish, but he still yearned for such a world.
If not for him, then for his family. 'Family? Where did that thought come from?' He mentally shook his head. It didn't matter. This dream was enough for now. But, dreams always come to an end when the dreamer wakes.
Shirou's eyes opened to the sun's rays. It appeared to be near noon, which surprised him. He was about to move when he felt a familiar weight next to him. He peered down and a smile appeared on his face. 'So, that wasn't a dream.'
He was surprised that Hestia was actually still asleep. She tended to wake up earlier than him most days. Then again, he figured it was because she was a goddess and they probably didn't need to sleep, at least, not unless they wanted to.
As much as he would have preferred to stay where he was, a certain scent caught his attention. He carefully moved his body away, being extra careful to not disturb the sleeping goddess. 'I wonder what sort of dream she's having?' He thought to himself, noticing a happy smile on her face.
After making it to his feet, he carefully moved some of Hestia's hair from her face, seeing her nuzzle into the bed a bit more after he did so. He smiled at the sight, before he let out a small sigh. He quickly made his way towards the door, being careful not to make any noise.
Once he managed this, he took a deep breath and proceeded to walk over towards the area of the yard where his archery equipment was. As he did so, he passed a content looking Rhea, sitting on a bench near the fence. "Lady Rhea, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."
Rhea simply raised a brow at him, before she took a drink out of the tea cup in her hands. "Not at all, dear. Besides, I was just enjoying the sounds and sights of nature." She said with a happy voice. 'She really does remind me of Hestia.' Shirou thought to himself, taking aim at a target he set up.
"Yeah, I can see that. I must admit, I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. From what Hestia told me, you weren't supposed to visit again for another few days." Each step of Kyudo was followed perfectly, just before he let go of the string. Rhea watched the arrow fly through the air, before hitting the target.
She let out a small hum. "That is true, however, this visit isn't exactly a normal visit. I actually wished to speak with you, alone." She said to him, though he noticed a slight hint of amusement and anticipation in her voice.
"Well, we're alone now. I don't think we'll get a better time than this." He said, before taking out another arrow and going through his motions. "It isn't something bad is it?" Looking over towards her, before letting go of his shot. Rhea, once again, watched the arrow sail through the air and hit the target.
"I wouldn't say it's bad, exactly. No, I personally find it to be wonderful. However, our talk is more about information, and me helping you process said information if need be." She replied, taking another drink from her tea.
"I see. Then, I'm assuming that this has something to do with this world, as well as its gods?" He asked, though he was sure he was right. Most of his more detailed info came from Rhea. She nodded to his question. "Well, alright. What is it?"
"Shirou, tell me, what do you know about demigods?" Shirou raised a brow at her question. 'That's odd, why is she asking about that?'
"They're the offspring of a god and a human. They have distinct scents according to their heritage, which attracts monsters. The older they get, the more the scent grows. If they learn of their heritage, it grows significantly. The usual stuff. Though, I have a feeling that isn't what you're asking." Rhea simply smiled at him.
"Correct, it isn't. Tell me, Shirou, do you know how a demigod comes to be? How they are born?" Shirou's eyes narrowed.
"I figured they were born like most other things are born. Though, I know it's a bit different, considering gods and titans aren't exactly human. They are similar to conceptual beings, in a way, even if they have a physical form. Where I'm from, they classify as a type of spirit. Didn't stop demigods from being born though."
"You are once again correct, partially. You see, Shirou, there are always exceptions to the rule. Most are born in the way you speak of. Though, there are some that are born in a different way. Children of the deities that don't wish to engage in the more physical aspects of love." She clarified, causing Shirou to actually lower his bow.
"I don't think I've met a demigod born in such a way. It sounds like the process would be made a bit more difficult. I'm guessing, that certain conditions must be met. Though, what concerns me, is how said process takes place." He said, bringing a hand to his face.
"Yes, there are conditions. These conditions vary from deity to deity, but the fact remains, it is possible. Most don't choose this way, but there is one I know of that does." She said, standing up from her seat. "Athena, she has had children before, though these children are nowhere near as common as most others."
"I see. I have a feeling that you aren't telling me this just for the information, are you?" He replied, already feeling a sense of panic coming over him. Rhea walked over to him, before taking ahold of his hand and guiding him to the bench.
"Shirou, before I continue, I wish to know something. You can answer it to the best of your abilities, though I'm pretty sure that I know what said answer will be. However, I wouldn't be a good mother if I didn't ask." The two sat on the bench, before Shirou turned and looked at Rhea in the eyes, intent on answering her question.
"Shirou Emiya, do you love my daughter, Hestia?" It was a simple question. One that would be easy to answer for most people. Shirou was not most people. The moment Rhea's question entered his ears, the voice and words of Hestia immediately rushed back into his mind.
"I love you, Shirou Emiya." Words he had heard just before his exhaustion claimed him. How many times had he heard such things before? Yet, this time felt much different. Was it because of him and his now undulled emotions? He didn't know, but the feeling was nearly indescribable.
Did he love her? Honestly, Shirou had no idea. If what he felt was love, then he would answer in the positive, though it was different from the love he was used to. A part of him wondered, would he have felt similar emotions in Chaldea if he was like this there? He didn't know, but he knew what his response would have been if he was still awake.
So, Shirou took a deep breath, deciding to be honest with her. "I do, or at least, I believe I do. Sometimes, this renewed sense of emotions is more of a hindrance than a gift." He muttered, causing Rhea's eyes to widen, before she let out a small laugh.
"I can see why you would feel that way. However, I believe you'll come to appreciate it in time. But, I believe I got my answer. One that fills me with happiness." She said to him, with a smile on her face. "Now, onto the matter from before."
"For Athena, she must bond with an individual intellectually. Using terms you'd understand, she would use her divine thoughts to bond with a mortal. Those thoughts, after bonding together, would form into a soul. Think of it like information, or a blueprint." She said to him.
Shirou understood the concept. To mages, the soul was essentially a blueprint, or a record. The way Shirou understood it, Athena essentially used the mind, one of the three elements of a human, to form a soul out of the combined experiences of her and whoever she chose.
This would then be followed up by, what Shirou assumed to be, the formation of a body to deposit said soul inside of. Since she was a goddess, that wouldn't be too difficult. It was a literal child made of the mind. The thought was fascinating to the magus side of him, but the process must be incredibly difficult.
For a mortal to be able to, for lack of a better word, stimulate Athena's mind, they would have to have an incredibly high level of intellect, or their soul would have to possess a high degree of experiences and knowledge. Then again, he was basing it off of his understanding. The laws could be different here.
For a magus to shape a soul, it would require the third magic. For a goddess, it wouldn't be hard. It was amazing now that he thought about it. It made sense, at least, in some way. Then again, he didn't know much about the third magic, just the basics. However, souls were something he knew a bit about.
"The result would form into a new soul, after which she would form the baby to place the soul into, correct?" He continued for Rhea, deciding to see if his guess was right.
"Mostly. She doesn't exactly place it into a body, the result is the formation of a baby alonside the soul. It's very similar to regular reproduction, but done in a very different way. Though, I'm pretty sure I know of what you were thinking, so I will say that you are mostly correct." She said with a small laugh, though she let out a sigh at the end.
"That is how Athena does it, to ensure her virgin goddess status. No other virgin goddess has gone through this, only Athena, though their process would differ due to their nature." Shirou could somewhat understand. Athena's was easier, as it made some sense. But the other's?
"I'm following you so far." He said to her, unsure of what was coming next. Unless, "This has something to do with what you want to tell me, doesn't it?" He asked her, already having a guess as to what she was going to say. He felt something last night, but he wasn't sure of what it was.
Rhea gave him a warm smile, one that was filled with happiness. It was enough to confirm his thoughts. "There hasn't been another virgin goddess besides Athena to do that, until recently." Shirou looked to the house, feeling a strange emotion he was unfamiliar with.
"I felt something, which is why I headed over here to confirm it, and sure enough, it happened. Do you know how it happened?" She asked him, getting him to shake his head, though he never turned his face from the house.
"The two of you think of each other as family and already possessed a bond. However, last night, the two of you bonded together spiritually, soul to soul. You opened your hearts to each other, and the flames you two possess became one. A flame of love, family, and home, was bonded to a flame of creation and steel."
"I asked you whether you loved her, because she had to see you as her counterpart, her partner, in order for all of those things to come together. For my daughter, the process is incredibly difficult and nigh impossible, which is why it surprised me. Even I don't fully understand the full list of requirements."
"Fire represents many things, it's what Hestia told me when she gave me that flame. Creation, love, passion, a lot of very different things. But, it also represents life. My Unlimited Blade Works can function as a forge, which creates. Everything had to line up." Shirou said quietly, though Rhea was able to hear him.
"What will you do now, Shirou Emiya?" She asked him with a hum, though Shirou simply stood up, before turning to look at her.
"I don't think I'd make a good father. Then again, my mother probably thought the same. You've seen my memories. You know how many people, heroic spirits, wished they could have a child or family." He said to her, the image of Kiyohime and Mata Hari popped into his mind, being the first he could think of.
"My own mother, wished for me to have a full and happy life. I have faced many challenges in my life, faced off against gods and demons, heroes and villains, and beasts born of humanity. I see no reason why I would fail to rise to the occasion now." He said to her, though Rhea could see a slight tremor in his hands.
"It's normal to be afraid, Shirou. Having a child is a big thing. You suddenly woke up to find out you'll have one, with a goddess no less. Any other mortal would rightfully be panicking right now. Especially when considering which goddess it is." She said to him, though it was mainly to see what he would say. She knew Shirou wasn't most men.
"If you mean other gods, I don't care about them. I've faced worse than the gods. My fear isn't really born from anything about the situation. It's more to do with my own sense of self. I can face off against anything with little to no fear." He answered, causing Rhea to smile.
"I have no doubt about that. You have no idea about what it is you're feeling. I can see it, but I also know why you feel that way. It's why I told you that you aren't like Archer, nor the other version. It's just hitting you. Even now, you may not understand, but that's what she's for." Rhea said, gesturing towards the house.
"Shirou, I won't lie to you. This will be hard, I know, because I'm a mother. But, you're still thinking like a hero, and not a man." That got Shirou to look at her in the eyes, a bit shocked. "Be a man, not the hero. Put your trust in each other, rely on each other, and you'll find the answer to all your questions."
Shirou could see a look of understanding on her face. Shirou took a calming breath. He still didn't know what he'd do, or what would happen, but he knew that Rhea was right. As long as he had Hestia with him, he could figure it out. It surprised him, thinking that way.
"I've done what I came to do. Now, you have to do what you must do. Go, Hestia will be waking up soon. Perhaps, waking up to some freshly made breakfast would be a nice treat, no?" She said with a giggle, before she patted Shirou on the back. "You'll be okay, Shirou. I believe in you, and Hestia trusts you. If you ever need anything else, just call me." She said, before teleporting away.
Shirou was lefting standing there, contemplating on her words. 'How am I supposed to call you?' He thought absentmindedly. He let out a sigh, before looking towards the house. 'Why does this feel worse than being responsible for the restoration of mankind?' He chuckled lightly to himself.
'A father, huh? It's a shame my mom can't be here to see it.' He thought to himself, before beginning his walk towards the house. He would do as Rhea said, and trust in Hestia. He would do what he did best, and continue going forwards, one step at a time. Only this time, he wouldn't be alone.
Shirou entered the house, before deciding to do as Rhea said. He walked over towards the kitchen, getting out everything he needed. He looked back over towards Hestia. 'Perhaps, I don't deserve this, but I suppose I'll take my friends' advice and be selfish.' He thought with a smile.
Hestia had a pleasant dream, though she had a feeling it wouldn't be a dream for much longer. She still didn't know what she would say to Shirou. She hoped that he wouldn't be angry, or disappointed, or really have any negative feelings. She knew what happened was selfish of her, but she felt like it was the right thing to do in the moment.
She didn't even really know what happened, just that it felt right. Honestly, she didn't even feel the fear she once felt. Instead, she only felt happiness. She hoped Shirou would feel the same. She had never asked Shirou about his thoughts on having children, now that she thought about it.
As she was thinking this, a familiar and lovely smell overtook her. Her eyes slowly fluttered open. The moment she did so, she noticed that Shirou wasn't there. She felt a bit a disappointed at that realization, but she then noticed that he was currently finishing cooking whatever he was making.
Apparently, he had seen her make some movements, because he suddenly stilled for a moment. She then saw a small smile appear on his face. "Good morning, well, actually it's afternoon." He shrugged. "I thought I'd let you sleep and make some breakfast." She watched him begin to place food on some plates.
"I see. Um, thank you, Shirou." She said a bit awkwardly, beginning to get up from the bed. She saw Shirou look at her with confused expression.
"Well, I don't think you have to thank me for making breakfast, but you're welcome." She was a bit surprised at Shirou's, well, lack of reaction. 'Am I making a big deal out of it when it's not?' She thought to herself, before shaking her head. 'No, it's a big deal for me, maybe he's trying to make me feel less awkward about it.'
Her face then deadpanned for a moment, 'I'm acting like a young girl who just had her first kiss.' However, when she thought about it, that was actually true. She let out a small groan at the realization. 'Right, virgin goddess.' "You alright, Hestia?" She heard Shirou ask, causing her to remember what she was doing.
"Yeah, no problem, just thinking is all." She replied with a smile. Shirou simply nodded, before placing the plates out on the table near the kitchen area.
"You know, you didn't have to come to the table." He said to her, watching her sit down at the table. She tilted her head, not understanding what he meant. "Trace on." He then held out his hand, and formed a small table next to him. "I could have brought it to you."
"I'll be sure to remember that, Shirou. But, I felt like eating at the table with you today." She replied, though really, it was because she had to tell Shirou about their current situation. Shirou let out a hum at her words, before placing the food down.
Hestia was a bit surprised by Shirou, or rather, the fact that she didn't dislike the current atmosphere. She couldn't count the times they had done this before, as Shirou always made breakfast for her, but it felt different now. The atmosphere felt warmer. Or maybe, it was just because of her.
However, she was going to have to ruin it. She didn't want to prolong it any longer. It was better to get it over with, at least she thought so. She sat down the utensils in her hand, before looking at Shirou. He simply looked at her with a curious gaze, before copying her.
"Shirou, I'm not sure how to say this, so I'll just be straightforward." She said, mustering up her courage. Honestly, acting like this was so unlike her. Usually, this would be really simple. Though, she figured it had to do with all of the time she spent with Shirou.
Shirou simply smiled at her, before shaking his head. "You don't have to say anything." She watched him rub the back of his head, something she had seen so many times that she sort of expected it. "I already know about it, so there's no need to be so nervous."
'He already knows?' Her eyes widened at the information. "How...how did you find out?" Though, she had a feeling she already knew how.
"Rhea may have dropped by when you were asleep." He replied, never losing the comforting smile he was shooting her. "I'll admit, I was surprised, among other things." He must have noticed something, because Shirou proceeded to stand up and walk over towards her.
"Hestia, it's fine. I'm fine, happy even. I'm still a bit muddy on the details of the whole thing, but uh, you don't have to look so panicked." 'Huh? Do I really look panicked?' Hestia thought, before standing and looking into a nearby mirror. 'Oh, I guess I do look like that.'
"Sorry, I just had a long list of things I was going to say. It reminds me of when I was mad at you." She said to him, causing her face to finally change, taking on a slightly disappointed appearance. "I built up the courage and determination for the reveal, now I feel cheated." Shirou let out a small chuckle.
"Well, how about I promise not to interrupt next time? That way you can get it out of your system." Hestia looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes, causing him to let out a nervous laugh. She let out a sigh, before walking up to him and looking into his eyes. 'Why are you so tall?' She thought, as she was a whole head shorter than him.
She could make herself taller, but she was sort of attached to her current form. "Are you sure that you're alright with it? I mean, I sort of just sprung it on you without asking how you felt first. It just felt right in the moment."
"Even if you're mom didn't come to talk to me, I'm sure it would have been fine. I mean, I might have panicked or something, but you would have talked me through it. Besides, any misgivings I have aren't exactly about a child, but more about myself." He revealed to her, causing her to let out a disappointed groan.
"But, I'm willing to move past that. Or try to. I never really relied on anyone before, so I'm a bit new to all this. But, I'm willing to try. No, that's not right, I want to try." He said to her, rubbing the back of his head again. Hestia tilted her head, before she realized what he was saying. She smiled, before she walked into him.
"You're really bad at this." She said with a giggle, before she proceeded to hug him. "Even worse than me, and I'm a virgin goddess." She then felt Shirou let out a hum. "Thank you, Shirou, for putting up with all of this. I know this is kind of backwards, but for a goddess and someone with a distorted worldview, I suppose this kind of beginning only makes sense."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right." He said in a quiet voice. "So, do you mind if I ask, how exactly is this going to happen? Like, is it similar to humans?" He asked, causing her to laugh. She figured he would be curious about it. Without letting go, she proceeded to explain a few things.
"Well, it sort of depends. For female humans, their pregnancy wouldn't actually last all that long. It's a bit accelerated. For goddesses, well, it depends on their mood. Personally, I would prefer to just do it normally, like a human, if only to experience motherhood. However, I'm afraid that'll have to wait." She said to him.
Though, she didn't see the puzzled expression on his face, nor did she catch that she implied a second time. "I'm afraid I'll have to rush things a bit. A month in Olympus should do it. It's a matter of pride for me." She said, mostly to herself. Shirou didn't know that Hestia was still a bit miffed at Athena, which was the reason for said rush.
She knew that Athena usually waited, at least, two months before delivering said child. She refused to be second, though she would admit to being a bit excited and anxious. "I see, so a month to prepare then?" She heard Shirou mutter to himself.
'Wait, was he asking because he was planning on preparing? I thought he was just curious.' She focused her powers on him, before noticing that he was actually a bit excited. It actually caused her eyes to widen. 'You really are something else, Shirou.'
"I'm thinking we should use that house you bought, since I'd rather not have a demigod child in the middle of the forest, a forest that you regularly kill monsters in." She decided to say. She felt Shirou hum in response, before she felt him nod to her words. 'He really takes my words to heart, doesn't he?'
"Well, I suppose I can start preparing during that time. When do you plan on leaving?" He asked her. She leaned back and looked at him, with him looking at her with a gentle smile on his face.
"Well, I figured the sooner the better. I was going to wait a few days, but now that you basically ruined my plans by being so accepting and kind, I think that would be better. Besides, it'll mean that we'll have a whole month together before we celebrate the Fourth of July." Hestia said with a happy smile.
Hestia always enjoyed the Fourth of July, as it tended to bring families together for a big fun day of celebration. Being able to celebrate it with her own family only made it better for her. The thought alone was already making her fill up with warmth.
Shirou let out a chuckle at her words, "I see, that makes sense. So, I'm guessing that means you'll be heading out after this then?" He asked, which Hestia only nodded to.
"Don't worry, the time's going to fly by. Besides, I have a feeling you'll be busy while I'm gone." She said, finally letting go of him. He tilted his head at her words. She then made a motion with her hand, telling him to lean down. Shirou complied, bending down a bit, where Hestia placed her hands on his face.
"I'll just say this. Aphrodite stopped by the bakery while you were gone." She said to him, seeing a look of surprise on his face. "Don't worry, if she comes by while I'm gone, her charms shouldn't work on you. But, still, I thought I should warn you." She then smiled at him, though it had a mischevious look to it.
Shirou had managed to catch her off guard many times since she's known him. So, she felt like this would be the perfect time for some payback. Shirou raised a brow, before Hestia placed a small kiss on his cheek. She had to use that built up courage and determination for something.
"See you soon, Shirou." She said, before letting go of his face. She noticed the surprise and redness on his face. It was enough to cause her to smile and inwardly cheer at her victory. She then skipped past him, heading towards the hearth. However, on her way there, Shirou interrupted her, just as she was about to teleport away.
"Oh, Hestia, before you leave..." He said, though she had a distinct feeling he had a smirk on his face. She could feel it. A sense of dread began to creep up on her. "I love you too." 'He wasn't asleep!' His words caused Hestia to stumble, before she quickly teleported away, too embarrassed to stick around.
Shirou stood looking at the hearth, a satisfied smirk on his face. He knew what Hestia was doing. Granted, it did catch him off guard, but he managed to recover. Still, he felt some worry creeping in on him. He supposed that it wouldn't be easy to just, well, try and be normal.
The undeniable truth was this, he wasn't normal. He hadn't been normal since the day he was pulled out of a fire. All of the things he experienced since then only further distanced him from ever being normal. What normal person would be able to handle the things Fujimaru and him did?
A part of him wondered if he could actually do it. If he could be have a normal-ish life. Realistically, he knew that was impossible. His bad luck basically ensured that he'd be pulled into situations that weren't ordinary. His own nature made it impossible, wanting to save and help others.
However, that didn't mean he wouldn't try. Seperating those two things would be hard, but he was positive he could do it. 'Like Rhea said, I have Hestia to help me out.' He thought, before taking a deep breath. He looked over towards the table, seeing the leftovers there.
'I suppose I'll clean up, before heading out and getting things ready.' He thought to himself, letting out a sigh. He honestly had no idea what he was doing, or what to do, but he was a problem solver. 'How hard could it be?'
The answer? Very. Two weeks had passed, with Shirou visiting multiple stores and buying many different things. Honestly, he knew next to nothing about children. Had he interacted with children? Yes. Babies? No. Though, even his interactions with children were limited.
Beyond saving demigods, the only times he did so, were the with the children servants in Chaldea. Even then, they were servants and he was basically just a babysitter, along with Archer, who was his future self.
So, in order to learn a bit more, he did what he did best. He studied. He was thankful for libraries and the immense wealth of knowledge they contained. He didn't realize how much he missed technology until he arrived in this world. In Chaldea, it was 2015. Here, he arrived at the end of 1991.
Granted, he didn't use technology too much, but he did use it for certain things. Such as, information gathering. So, Shirou was using books. Worse, he was reading it while he was working in his bakery. 'I bet Hestia would be laughing at me if she me like this.'
Thankfully, it was a slow day. So, he was able to focus on doing what he enjoyed, which was making food. Or rather, baking. It wasn't something he always enjoyed, but after he became the designated baker in Chaldea, he found he enjoyed seeing people enjoy the desserts and treats he made.
Shirou was taking out a fresh batch of cookies, preparing to place them on the counter for the children in the store, when another customer entered. However, Shirou's body stiffened and his senses went on high alert when he noticed a certain scent. One that reminded him of Medusa, Mata Hari, and a few other servants.
He really didn't want to greet this individual. He may have resistance to charm effects thanks to Hestia's gifts, Circe and Medea's bracelet, and the innate resistance he built up, along with some blessings, which he was still trying to figure out, but it still terrified him. "Trace on." He whispered.
After activating his circuits to help negate some of the effects, he turned and greeted the new customer. "Hello and welcome to the Unlimited Sweets Bakery." He said, trying to hide his anxiety with kindness. The moment he turned, he nearly stopped breathing.
Hestia was the most beautiful woman in his eyes. She possessed a beauty like Martha, Jeanne, Kiyohime, Ereshkigal, and Okita, which was a beauty that was natural and unpretentious, much like a beautiful delicate flower. A flower that could kill you, but a beautiful one all the same. She had an pure, honest, and gentle smile, and her fiery red eyes radiated a loving warmth.
The woman in front of him, was undeniably beautiful in a totally different way. His personal preference was someone like Hestia. Even in Chaldea, his preferences were the same, as he never really cared all that much about physical appearance. So, he figured she would take a similar appearance, as according to Hestia, Aphrodite appears as a person's personal epitome of beauty.
Instead, what he saw was someone who looked like a mix of some of the more physically appealing heroic spirits he knew. Particulary, Scathach, Cleopatra, Medusa, Nero, Kiara, and Artemis. Though, he noticed that it was blended together in a very subtle way.
She had long blonde hair, blue eyes like a clear spring, and perfect unblemished skin. Her body was perfectly proportioned, she had striking long legs, an impressive hourglass figure, and she appeared to be incredibly fit, much like Scathach. Her face was incredibly similar to Nero, Musashi, and Arturia.
His mind then replayed a memory, "Umu! I'm the incarnation of the goddess Venus, the Flower of Olympia! Look upon my beauty and grace and feel free to heap praise upon me, master." Shirou felt his eyebrow twitch at said memory. 'Nero must never find out about this.'
He shook his head, before refocusing himself. Thankfully, he didn't feel any sort of mental interferance. He saw her walk up towards the counter, noticing the grace of her movements and the sway of her hips. The very Nero-like red satin dress she wore didn't help matters.
"Well, hello there, handsome. I haven't seen you here before. You must be the owner that Tia told me about." She spoke with a voice like Medusa's, yet, it contained a sweet playfulness to it, similar to Medb. "My name's Dite, it's a pleasure to meet you." She then shot him a dazzling smile.
Shirou had to nearly break his hand behind his back, in order to keep his face from reddening. Even then, he had to avert his eyes a bit, which was a very big mistake. "Oh, there's no need to turn your eyes away, it's just a smile, sweetie." She said with a giggle. 'Crap, she really is like Medb, but instead of a human, she's a literal goddess.'
Shirou had already began to remember the contingency plans he made for Medb and all the ways that he dealt with her. He inwardly groaned. 'I have a feeling she's going to cause me even more trouble than Medb did.' He rubbed the back of his head and let out a nervous laugh, before smiling back at the goddess.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Dite. My name is Shirou Emiya, and I am indeed the owner of this establishment." He replied to her. 'As long as she doesn't pull the same tricks at Medb, I'll be fine.' Something about his reply must have surprised the goddess, as her eyes seemed to widen a bit, before she looked at him with renewed interest.
Aphrodite wasn't exactly expecting to meet Shirou. She had wanted to visit Hestia and have a friendly chat with her. Unlike most of the other goddesses, Hestia and her had a pretty good friendship. She could always visit her at her hearth, but sometimes, she enjoyed the feeling of conversing in the mortal world.
Knowing that Hestia was now helping a mortal in a bakery, she figured it was her chance to get to know more about Hestia and her friend. She was interested, as she couldn't remember a time when Hestia was ever interested in a human to this extent. So, she decided to visit, and maybe get some nice treats while she was at it.
However, when she opened the door of the bakery, it wasn't Hestia manning the counter. Instead, it was a human man. A rather handsome human man, if she were being honest. He had red hair with white tips, golden bronze eyes that had some steel color shining through, and, what appeared to be, a horizontal scar on his left cheek.
He had a plain, black t-shirt with a beautiful red and gold scarf around his neck. The shirt did little to hide the well-built physique he possessed. For a human of this era to possess the physique of a hero, one built for life and death battles, it was truly surprising, especially considering he was running a bakery.
He had a gentle and kind voice, though she could hear some steel present within. Oddly enough, when he noticed her, he didn't seem to leer at her the way most men did. In fact, his gaze seemed a bit more analytical and curious, rather than the gaze she expected of a human man who looked upon her.
She wondered why that was. She usually appeared like the epitome of sexual or physical attraction of whoever looked at her, yet he didn't seem all that bothered. Though, she figured that he might have been someone who preferred beauty like Hestia's, which was entirely different from her own.
She didn't think much of it, until she spoke to him. Her words were able to charm nearly all human men, though there were some exceptions. It seemed this human was one. While he had some reaction when she smiled at him, it wasn't the kind she expected. In fact, he just brushed it off and managed to introduce himself without issue.
His reply and genuine kind smile actually caught her off guard. Then there was his name. He didn't look Japanese, especially with the hair color, which was something that puzzled her. She was able to get a better look at him, noticing faint scars on his arms, as well as the strangely familiar feeling he was radiating.
He interested her. She could feel feelings of love within him, and could tell that he wasn't completely immune to her powers or looks. However, his will was strong and unbending. In fact, she couldn't help but shiver at the small moment his eyes became intense, before his smile.
What she felt from him was new. He was like steel. It was honestly a little exciting. She hadn't met anyone like that before. Even past heroes, not even Ares, never gave her that kind of impression before. She wondered what kind of man this was, especially since Hestia seemed close with him.
He honestly didn't seem like someone Hestia would be interested in. This only intrigued her more. She wanted to know more about this human. She wanted to see what it was that caused Hestia to want to not only protect him, but also, to willingly spend time with him in the mortal world.
"I see. Tia spoke highly of your skills, and I wanted to drop by and see if you really were as exceptional as she said you were." Shirou let out a hum at her words, before running a hand through his hair.
"Well, what would you like to have? As long as I have the ingredients, then whatever you wish to have can be made." He replied with a faint smile. Aphrodite watched him closely, wanting to capture every detail. There had to be something special about him, and she'd find it. If only for her own curiousity.
Aphrodite put a hand up to her chin, before looking at Shirou with a playful grin. "How about five of these couples muffins, but can you make them have big hearts instead of flowers? Also, I'd like a small chocolate cake, though I'd like for you to decorate it as if you were giving it to your lover."
She shot him a wink, to which Shirou simply shook his head, though Aphrodite could tell her looks were effecting him somewhat. 'Well, at least I know he's attracted to my looks. I must say, he has good taste. This is one of the best forms a mortal has given me.' She thought, looking at herself in a mirror after Shirou turned.
"Well, I can definitely make those muffins, but the cake will be a bit challenging. However, I'll definitely try my best." He replied to her. Unknown to Aphrodite, but Shirou figured he'd just copy a cake he received during Valentine's, the question was, which one? 'I think I nearly died from all that chocolate.' He thought to himself.
As he began to begin working on the muffins, he was a bit stumped on what to do about the cake. Though, he was appreciative for Aphrodite, as she reminded him of some fun times. While all that chocolate may have been bad for his health, except maybe a certain apple, though that was bad for his health for a different reason, he appreciated all the hardwork put into those gifts.
'Even Kiyohime, though I would have preferred if she didn't wrap herself with a bow. That was particularly bad for my heart. As was her second attempt, stupid elixir. Then there was Mary and Anne's, though that had more to do with the fact I nearly broke my teeth when I bit into it.' He actually let out a small laugh at that memory.
Shirou simply smiled at the memories. There were plenty more, such as the chocolate he received from Shuten and Serenity, one made him black out and the other poisoned him. Though, he had to admit, both were good. As he thought about it, the perfect choice entered his mind.
'I'll copy the cake that Mash and Fujimaru made for me. Maybe I'll add a chocolate sword so I don't feel so guilty for copying it, but it'll work perfectly.' He had fruit ready, as well as plenty of icing and such. It was one of the most memorable ones he received, as it was insanely well made.
Sure, the one he received was a cheesecake, but he could do the same with a chocolate cake. With a determined expression, Shirou was ready to begin. Deftly moving around the kitchen area in the bakery. Unknown to him, but Aphrodite was watching him closely.
He was actually quite thankful that she was letting him work without distracting him. He was able to focus completely on what he was doing, which allowed him to craft the best tasting baked goods. Not only that, but she was dangerous. Probably the most dangerous seductress he'd met, barring maybe Kiara.
As he worked, his mind wandered to those strands that Hestia had told him about. Blessings and strands of divinity that he possessed. The most likely theory he had about them, was that they were representative of the bonds he made with servants.
Where he was from, they would hold no real significance. However, in this new world, they manifested as blessings and strands of divinity due to the changed rules. His reality marble, for example, wasn't being crushed by the world when he activated it. Rather, it was as if the world was trying to make room for it.
It still cost magical energy to cast, but when he did, it was almost as if the world accomodated it's existence. Classifying it as a seperate stable realm altogether. The thought was a bit terrifying. He hadn't done many tests, but he did note that certain items in his reality marble cost less to call than normal.
Even Orion's bow, which he was certain was a divine weapon, or at least had divine attributes, was able to be analyzed and even traced. He hadn't tried, but he was fairly certain that certain divine constructs could be traced now. He tried not to think about it, but he didn't mind the upgrade.
Every once in awhile, Shirou could feel Aphrodite's power scratching at his defences. He guessed that Medea had installed certain protections in his charms, considering he could feel it combatting Aphrodite's power. 'Suppose Medea's hatred for Aphrodite can transcend worlds.' He thought with an amused huff.
He was surprised though, as Aphrodite seemed like a pretty patient person, considering she was just sitting at the counter with a smile on her face. He guessed that it would take, somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour and half to complete the cake. 'Maybe that's why she asked for the muffins.'
He let out a sigh. 'This is going to be long two hours.' He thought, noticing her widen her eyes when he looked at her, before she gave him a playful wave. Shirou responded with a smile and wave of his own, 'If there are parallel worlds, then I wonder if there are other me's that have to deal with stuff like this.'
'A bakery of all things? What sort of mighty warrior and hero would willingly relegate himself to running a bakery?' Artemis thought to herself. Mia had returned to her and they managed to get some information from a daughter of Aphrodite, though it was like pulling teeth just for her to tell them that.
She shook her head, it didn't matter. The fact that they managed to get that information was good. It meant that she now had a location for the man named, Shirou Emiya. Normally, she wouldn't go through all of this trouble for something like this, but she did owe him.
She had to admit, it was surprising that he chose to be a baker of all things. Surprisingly, she didn't hate the choice. It actually caused her opinion of the man to raise a bit. However, she was reserving her judgement until she actually met the man.
Sadly, it would have to wait. The summer solstice was coming up and she had to make a few preparations before she could meet him. Still, it didn't mean that she couldn't send her hunters to check things out. Mia knew the man and was eager to thank him for saving her and her friends.
However, she had to send someone with more experience to accompany them. 'Perhaps, I'll send Zoe to accompany them. With me making my preparations, she'll have some free time.' She then nodded to herself. 'Alright, we'll do that.' She only hoped that they wouldn't run into any complications along the way.
"Alright, one chocolate cake, Valentine's edition for one very patient customer." Shirou said, placing the cake down in front of the goddess. Aphrodite looked at the cake, admiring the pretty pink edible flower and pink butterflies, as well as all the other decorations.
She seemed surprised that he made it a stacked cake, but he felt like he should overdo it. She seemed to really be impressed, which sort of made him feel underestimated. If he had more time, as well as a bigger order, he could have made something really impressive.
"It's very beautiful, it'd almost be a shame to eat it." She said, further admiring the cake. 'Great, it seems it passes.' He thought, before taking off the apron he had on. "But, I'm going to eat it anyway." She said in a excited and childish tone, even adding on a giggle at the end.
"Well, that's good. I'd hate to make such a delicious cake and see it go to waste." Aphrodite looked at him, but he noticed a change in the way she looked at him. He wasn't sure he liked it. "Anyways, uh, you can have that here or I can get you a box." He said to her.
"Hmm, I think I'll take this home and enjoy it. I'm not sure I want you to see me stuffing my face just yet." She laughed. Though, Shirou was a bit worried at the way she worded that. He quickly reached underneath the counter and grabbed one of the boxes. He carefully placed the cake inside.
"Can I get you anything else, Miss Dite." Shirou put on his usual kind smile, though he really was trying to distance himself as much as possible. He didn't want to attract the attention of the goddess of love. She tilted her head and let out a small hum.
"Nope, I think that'll be it. Though, if I like this cake, I'll definitely be back. Though, I plan on coming back anyway. So, why don't you think about something else I may enjoy, and surprise me when I return, okay?" She said with a wink, while blowing a kiss towards him.
She picked up the cake and the remaining muffins and proceeded to walk out of the store. Whether she was adding some extra sway to her steps, Shirou couldn't say. Or rather, he refused to acknowledge it, mainly for the sake of his sanity. 'Goddess powers are terrifying.' At least, he attributed it to that.
When she opened the door, he noticed her look back at him. She raised an eyebrow, before a playful smirk appeared on her face. She then left, allowing the door to close. Shirou stood there for a good minute, before he let out a deep breath.
'Hestia, please come back before she returns to the shop.' He thought, while running a hand through his hair. He just noticed that his heart was beating really fast, which bothered him. He shook his head, before an idea came to his mind. He rushed to the small corner table he sat at while waiting for customers.
He reached into his bag and pulled out some books. He sat at the table and began to read through them. As he did so, he felt himself return to normal. He leaned back, before smiling to himself. 'A child. That's all I have to remember.' He thought. He was happy. Aphrodite wasn't going to change that.
He wasn't going to allow himself to be pulled into her rythm. He was caught off guard this time. Next time, he'd be ready. He knew how to make potions, he could create something to help him out. 'Medea, Circe, thanks for teaching me everything you could. It's really helping me out.'
Thankfully, he had a pretty boring rest of the day, though comparing his time with Aphrodite to everything else, of course it'd be boring. Shirou closed the store and proceeded to head back to his home, or rather, the new home. It was set up pretty well beforehand, as it was supposed to be home to his workshop, but now, it felt like a proper home.
Or rather, as proper as a home could get without a family living in it. It didn't matter, as he was planning to head into the large shed as soon as he got home. He was working on something important, and he was just about done. He'd probably finish tonight, which would be perfect, as he'd have time to spare before Hestia returned.
As he was riding back to his house, he caught a familiar scent. Or rather, multiple familiar scents. He could feel them watching him as he rode back home. However, they were only watching. It was a bit odd, though he decided to ignore it after he remembered where the scent came from.
'Artemis's huntresses. Great, just what I need.' He groaned, but he figured, as long as they didn't bother him, he wouldn't bother them. He just hoped that they weren't here for something troublesome. He knew that it was his bad luck.
Now that he was trying to be normal, everything was coming out of the woodwork to make sure that didn't happen. 'What's next? Athena shows up and blindsides me with something?' He let out a sigh.
After making it home, he did his usual cleaning, before deciding to head into the shed. He felt the gazes of the huntresses watching him as he entered the shed. Thankfully, he built the thing himself, so he knew that they wouldn't be able to see inside of it. Not that they'd see anything interesting.
Other than swords, pipes, machines, gems, engraving tools, and brushes, there was nothing out of the ordinary. He walked over to a table, where he saw his current project. "Trace on." He then activated his magic circuits.
He projected multiple copies of Kanshou and Bakuya. Shirou then grabbed a few talismans he had managed to recreate with his subpar talisman making skills. He slapped a few on the swords, specifically, one that shrunk items and another that helped the stability of an item.
After shrinking them down, he began to perform his usual magecraft operation. Particularly, alteration and reinforcement. If he could transform Kanshou and Bakuya into guns, then he could alter them into almost anything with enough practice. At least, that was his theory.
Honestly, he was having trouble keeping the structural stability of the altered projections. The thing was, that was him using only his own abilities, or those of his other selves, which counted Muramasa for some reason. However, he noticed something.
After working for awhile, he noticed that his magecraft was changing. Even the magecraft and runes he learned in Chaldea, should only be third rate at best, yet he found his use of them improving. It was as if, the longer he stayed in the world, the more the world was trying to mix its magic system with his own.
However, this was only a theory he had after the second pair of Kanshou and Bakuya broke. The other theory, was that Hestia's flame had changed him slightly, allowing him to make some use of other magecraft. Then, there was the theory that he thought was most likely.
Hestia's flame and the world's magic system were threading into his own, making the bonds he had with certain servants turn into blessings. One of the reasons he believed this, was because of Hestia and Rhea and their own belief about his blessings. Such as the blessing of the sun, which was Apollo's thing.
When he asked about it, Rhea thought that it may have come from Tamamo, considering her divine form, Amaterasu. This led to him asking about his other blessings, which were pretty numerous.
Ereshkigal and Ishtar, Scathach, Artemis, Circe, Quetzocoatl, Euryale and Stheno, Tamamo, and a few others with divinity, were all noticed in his soul. And that was only the female servants. He didn't know the full extent of these things, but the longer he was there, the stronger he felt.
He couldn't bring himself to hate this, as he viewed these things as a final gift from his friends. They may not be like blessings from this world, as they were described as strands. However, if he were to bind them together, he had a feeling something new would emerge.
It did worry him. Luckily, unless he actually used those blessings, they would go unnoticed. The thing was, he felt like he should try to use their power. He hadn't attempted it before, but he had a feeling that the knowledge was there. If what he thought about his magecraft was true, then he could pull it off.
He traced things from Muramasa's memory, things that would allow him to mold the chosen blades into his desired shape. Instead of just altering them, he would use their materials to craft something new. After creating everything and preparing his materials, he traced Muramasa's hammer and went to work.
"A sword that defies fate. Tempered by the mightiest challenges. The Lost Hero of Humanity shall bring forth change. To those that face him, he brings only ruin. A breaker of curses, killer of logic, light in the darkness, darkness in the light. War cannot break him, time will not bend him, and evil shall not sway him."
"A guiding flame of the new age, a sword for the children, and a bow for the hunt. Within one blade, blades without number. Flames will bring salvation. A great prophecy broken. A new age of heroes comes. Search not, lest you lose love, family, and wisdom. Search not, lest you want the mountain to fall. Search not, lest you lose promised victory."
A council of gods all sat in their thrones, each dumfounded and confused over the words of the oracle. Zeus wanted nothing more than to find this sword, yet, he curbed the impulse. He knew what the last lines meant. As did all others. Searching for him will only bring ruin.
However, this didn't mean they couldn't keep an eye out. Everything said troubled Zeus. Change was coming, for good or ill. Whatever was happening would surely bring trouble. The fact the oracle said the great prophecy was broken, did cause some relief.
However, this prophecy made it seem like the gods weren't all that important in the grand scheme of things. It made reference to a new age of heroes, which were demigods. It was causing him a headache. The gods present were similar, though there was one who seemed more angry than anything else.
Zeus knew why. The oracle made it clear, that this 'sword' would not fall to Ares. Knowing his ego, he was likely fuming. Though, it made it seem like a confrontation was inevitable. If so, then what was to become of them? How big of a threat was this 'sword'? He had an idea, one that he would put into motion.
Hera, however, was focused on something else entirely. Unlike her husband, she was able read a bit deeper into things. She wondered, why did it mention the things it did? She had a feeling that the gods had more to play in this than it seemed. Love, family, and wisdom, those caused her to worry.
She wasn't completely sure if that was related to them, but if it was, then what role did they have to play? Aphrodite and Athena were both in their temples, with Hestia somewhere in Olympus. So, did they have something to do with this 'sword'? Or was it speaking of things to come?
She thought about checking on them, but she didn't know what searching qualified as. She could take the chance, but what if it caused something bad to happen? This prophecy made it hard to decide what to do. She would sit on it, but she would speak with them if she had the chance.
As long as she didn't seek them out and pry, then it should be fine. Besides, she was quite interested. If it did have something to do with them, then what made this 'sword' so special? She wished to know. Then again, she represented family and love. Did that mean she was in the clear?
Prophecies were tricky, even with the somewhat straightforward delivery, she was unsure. However, she had a strange feeling that she would be exempt from the consequences. Plus, she was rather interested in meeting the 'sword'. The prophecy called him, a lost of hero of humanity.
She had a feeling this meant that he wasn't a demigod. He had to be a mortal. A small smile appeared on her face. She had no demigod children of her own, nor would she have any. This did make her a bit bitter, which is why she didn't mind Jason all that much, at least, until he broke his vows to Medea.
'Perhaps, the fates have given me a second chance. A hero with no divine parent? However, would such a thing cause me to turn against Olympus? No, surely not. So many what-ifs. However, I feel as if I have a role to play. Let's wait and see, if the fates really are at work, then a sign will appear.'
She had been on her way to her room as she was thinking this, which led to her seeing something she didn't expect. She let out a hum, 'Oh, Aphrodite left me a gift?' Though it did worry her, she decided to give the goddess of love the benefit of the doubt, and opened the small box.
To her surprise, there was a note, along with a slice of cake. She raised a brow, before opening the letter. "Hey, Hera, sorry I couldn't make the meeting. Been busy with super important things, but as an apology, I left this for you. It's a delicious cake made for me by a rather handsome baker in the mortal world. Bon apetite, with love, Aphrodite, Goddess of Love."
At the bottom of the note was a silly drawing of Aphrodite with hearts surrounding her, and her making a peace sign with a smile. Hera let out a sigh. 'At least she apologized this time.' She looked at the cake, 'Well, if Aphrodite says its good, then I might as well try it.' She thought with a smile.
Shirou was beginning to become a bit bothered by the constant surveillance. Honestly, it wasn't so bad at the beginning, but he thought that they would have confronted him already. Instead, they maintained their distance and just watched.
He had a feeling they were getting bored, since he wasn't doing much of anything, except for go to the bakery, go to stores, and head home to work in his shed. At this point, he felt like being a bit merciful. Since it was the weekend, he decided to partake in some target practice.
At this point, he needed to get his own mind off things. The time of Hestia's return was growing closer and closer, and if he was being honest, he was a bit worried. So, rather than worry about it, he decided to clear his mind by practicing his archery.
So, he would stick close to home. She could be showing up that day, the next, or whenever really. He didn't really know how time worked in Olympus. So, he would wait, and hope that he bought the right things for when she returned. It was refreshing, worrying about something fairly normal for once.
'Those singularities must have really done a number on me. I never noticed it before, but I don't feel as heavy as I used to.' He thought to himself, setting up an archery target as he did so. Being able to set up a kyudo range in his backyard was something he was happy for.
Zoe Nightshade was Artemis's right hand huntress. She may look young, but she had lived for a very long time. She had seen many heroes in her time, including the great Heracles, who she hated more than any other hero. He was the reason she hated demigods and men, though she would give this one the benefit of the doubt.
She and the other huntresses watched the young hero go through his day. Honestly, he wasn't exactly what she was expecting when she heard about him. He would wake up early, excercise and train, shower, head to work, shop, and return home to work in his shed.
He had a pretty good regime set up, but there was something telling her that he wasn't used to it. At times, he seemed out of his element. He was friendly and was a helpful person, while never leering at women. She had watched closely, but he seemed to hold some disinterest in women.
She suspected he was in a relationship, but she couldn't be sure. He cooked, cleaned, and had a very pretty smile. She hated that she thought that just now, but she digressed. She could tell he was an archer, a hunter, a warrior, and was a well read individual who didn't shun knowledge.
His muscles and his training told her enough about him. Even if he was a human, he possessed incredible skill with nearly any weapon. He was strong, had plenty of stamina, and his endurance was incredible, barely breaking a sweat with some excercises that would be hard for most.
In fact, some of his training reminded her of ancient Greece, Rome, and other civilizations. It was incredible to see really. She enjoyed seeing him train, as the memories that came with it reminded her of her younger days. Great, now she sounded like an old lady.
She let out a sigh, before noticing him come out of his garage with a bow and multiple quivers of arrows. 'Oh, he hasn't practiced archery before. I just figured, since he had a archery range and his muscles seemed toned to it.' She inspected his bow, admiring the beauty of it.
Unknown to her, but the bow wasn't actually his. He figured he'd show the huntresses the bow of the greatest huntress he knew. Tauropolos was a beautiful bow, one he knew they'd appreciate.
And they did, each one was entranced by the bow. Zoe in particular. It felt so familiar, yet so different. It felt like Lady Artemis and Lord Apollo, but it didn't. It was a bow of a hunter. A part of her was filled with jealousy, but another part of her was impressed.
She could tell it was no ordinary bow. The fact he had it, meant a whole lot in the eyes of the huntress. She watched him perform a set of movements, each was beautifully performed to perfection. His eyes were focused, his breathing steady, and the release was superb.
It wasn't normal archery. It was archery from the land of Japan. She had studied it herself, wanting to see if it would help her archery. The thing was, she had never seen someone perform those movements so beautifully before, while also hitting a bullseye.
She continued to watch, observing with great interest as he repeated his shots. Over and over and over again, each just as perfect and amazing as the last. She could at least respect the dedication and hardwork he put into mastering it. Even his range wasn't that bad.
Though, from what Mia and the other huntresses said, he had a much longer range than what he was showing at the moment. He could also shoot much faster, but she could tell that he was shooting as a form of meditation. The more she watched, the more she wanted to see him actually try.
She wanted to see him hunt. There was something about him that she wanted to see, but she couldn't find out what it was. Perhaps, she wanted to meet a hero that wasn't a disappointment. One that she didn't want to hate, because, despite what people thought, she wanted to like heroes.
The thing was, they always let her down. They would always hit on her or the other hunters, or treat them as if they weren't equals, simply because of what they were. This man accomplished something she had dedicated her life to doing, so she really didn't want him to be a scumbag.
As she was watching, she noticed that Shirou seemed to stiffen for a moment. He seemed to be stuck for a moment, before he took a deep breath. Zoe was watching him carefully, noticing him muttering to himself. She tilted her head, not understanding what was going on.
However, she then felt a strange feeling come over her. 'It seems there are monsters nearby. Well, we can't have them running around, besides, it'll only take a moment.' She thought to herself. She turned her head and made a few signals to the other hunters, who nodded in reply.
She turned her head to see Shirou heading towards his home. She wanted to stay and keep watch, but it seemed that he was heading in for the night. She let out a sigh. It had been nearly two weeks and they hadn't had to deal with monsters the whole time. It was annoying, but it was there job. She let out a sigh, before turning and heading towards the disturbance.
Shirou felt the presence of the hunters leave, allowing him to dematerialize his bow. He let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't sure if they could sense things like he could, but if they could, then they'd be able to feel Hestia. A part of him was a bit hesitant to enter, but he quickly stomped that part down.
Shirou had many thoughts running through is brain, walking into the house and heading to the living room. Hestia told him that she'd be returning, so he decided to wait for her there. Honestly, it was strange for him, as it felt like he hadn't seen Hestia in a long time, even though that wasn't the case.
He attributed it to stress, the hunters, and, most significantly, Aphrodite and the antics she pulled. Even after time passed, he was still on guard, expecting her to burst through the door. Maybe he was traumatized, he didn't know. However, it wasn't important.
After some time passed, Shirou felt himself slowly begin to fall asleep in a rather comfortable chair. He was tired and his eyes slowly shut. As he did so, a dream made itself known. Shirou was leaning against Fujimaru, barely keeping themselves standing with each other's weight.
It was obvious, both were exhausted and nearly broken down from whatever was going on. He noticed that he still looked like he did now, though Fujimaru seemed to be dressed in an outfit he didn't recognize. "Shirou, you're still hanging on, even after all this time?" He heard her speak to him.
"You didn't think I'd actually let you keep going alone, did you? I may not be with you in person, but I'll always be here to support you." He said to her, leaning his head back against hers.
"It's tough, Shirou. I wish you were here with me." Shirou hummed in response.
"If I could have, I would have stayed." He replied, looking at his hands. They were bloody and his body was pretty banged up.
"I know, Shirou, and I would have went with you if I could have. But, yet, here we are." She said to him, in a nearly solemn voice. "Sometimes, I want to quit and I don't really know what to do." She said, before she let out a sigh. "We have to keep going, don't we?" Shirou looked up, seeing nothing but stars.
"Yes, we do. For humanity, for Earth, for all of our friends who put their trust in us, and for everything we have now. Neither of us can stop, because it's not in us to give up. Even if we feel completely unqualified." He said, though he felt like he was saying to himself.
He felt a hand grasp his, though he didn't look to see. "Are you happy, Shirou?"
"I am, even if I don't deserve it." He replied, feeling a sting of guilt. Though, her hand only gripped his tighter.
"Good, because you do deserve it. We have to enjoy it, otherwise, we'll just regret it later." She let out a small laugh, "And I'm sure you always say something about, not having any regrets, right?" Shirou responded with a chuckle of his own.
"I don't know, it doesn't sound like me. Sounds a bit pretentious if you ask me." That caused her to let out a genuine laugh. The two then noticed the area they were in begin to crack.
"It seems we're out of time, Shirou." She said to him, gripping his other hand. "I told Ophelia that you were too stubborn to die. I'm glad to see I was right." Shirou only let out a small huff.
"Stubborness may not help with gods, titans, and monsters this time. That's not even mentioning everything else going on. I nearly had a heart attack a few weeks ago, just from being around a goddess." He replied, a bit irked.
"I feel the same, but that doesn't mean we can't try. So, promise me, you'll stay alive until I find you." She said to him, causing him to let out a sigh.
"I promise. But, you have to promise me that you'll watch over everyone for me. I can't imagine how they took my departure." He chuckled.
"Well, last time I checked, some were dedicated to finding you, wherever you are. Though, judging from what I'm feeling, some may not be too happy with your current situation." She joked, causing him to shiver at the thought. The unraveling was growing closer.
"Fujimaru..." He said, but he felt her shake her head.
"Nuh uh, don't even start Shirou." She let go of his hands, before turning him around to face her. "You can't start doubting yourself now, otherwise I'll start doubting myself." She said to him, before she smiled at him with her usual bright smile.
"You're truly a troublesome girl, sometimes." He said, rubbing the back of his head with a small smile on his face. "Good luck, Fujimaru, and don't ever forget, I'm still with you." She stepped forward and gave him a quick hug, one he reciprocated, which caught her off guard, causing her smile to widen.
"The same goes for you, Shirou. Maybe next time, we'll have more time to talk." She said to him, before stepping back. Her form then changed, becoming fresh and uninjured. "And don't worry about a thing, Shirou. If anyone deserves it, and can handle it, it's you." She said, reaching up and patting his head, though she had to tiptoe to do it. "Be happy."
She then dropped back down, before giving him another smile, which Shirou mirrored with a nod. His own form returning back to normal. Just as the world began to turn into nothing, the two spoke at the same time. "You've got this."
And the next moment, Shirou was back in his living room with a smile on his face. "Shirou?" He heard a beautiful voice call out to him, causing him to turn towards the speaker. Standing nearby was Hestia, looking at him with a curious smile. Shirou let out small chuckle, before standing.
'Be happy, huh?' He walked over towards the goddess, who's face reddened the closer he got. "Welcome home, Hestia." He said with a smile. Hestia's eyes widened, before she answered with her own bright smile.
"It's good to be home, Shirou." She said, grabbing ahold of his hand. "Are you ready?" She asked, causing him to tilt his head, before he nodded. "Then come on!" Her voice was excited, more excited than he could ever remember. She pulled him through the house, heading towards the main bedroom.
She led him into it, before leading over towards a wooden cradle of some kind. One that looked very well made. Before looking, Shirou thought back to his dream, remembering her words. He opened his eyes, before looking down onto a small child.
The moment he did so, he felt himself stop breathing for a moment. "A girl?" He asked, though it was rhetorical. The child had dark brown hair, almost black really, though there were red streaks present as well. Her face was almost a nearly perfect mix of the two of them, though she retained Hestia's fiery red eyes.
The child smiled at him, causing him to respond with a content smile of his own. "Does she have a name?" He asked, not turning away from the child. He heard Hestia let out small hum.
"Mmhmm, her name's Miyu." He heard her say, causing him to turn his head towards her. That was a familiar name, especially since it was the name of his sister from another world. Hestia simply smiled at him. "I thought it'd be a nice gesture, plus, I really like it." She said, rocking back and forth on her feet.
"Alright, Miyu then. I'm guessing, you won't be leaving the two of us alone in this house, are you?" He asked, knowing how gods were when they had a child. However, he knew Hestia as well. Especially when he noticed her smile.
"Of course not. I'm not an Olympian and you aren't of this world. I don't see any laws being broken. Besides, we're a family, and I'm pretty sure I'm the goddess of family. Plus, families are supposed to stick together." She said, making her way next to him. Shirou shook his head, before both looked back down at Miyu.
"You mentioned us doing everything backwards, didn't you?" He asked, causing Hestia to look at him with a raised brow.
"I did, but I think it's because neither of us really know what we're doing, or really how all this works. Not to mention, both of us are new to this. You with what my mom did, and me with, well, relationships in general." She said with a laugh.
"You know, I had a pretty interesting dream earlier." He said, causing her to look at him with curiousity. "I think I needed it. Otherwise, well, I'd probably back out." Hestia was a bit puzzled, she didn't understand what he was saying. "You know, we have a child now. If we're doing things backwards, then there's only one thing that comes before that."
"Shirou, what are you talking about?" She asked, not quite getting what he was saying. She had planned on telling Shirou about Athena, but now, she was a bit worried about Shirou, since he wasn't making sense. "Wait, Aphrodite dropped by didn't she? I bet that's why you're talking weird." She said to him, though he only shook his head.
"She did, but she's not why I'm doing this. Well, not completely. I just wanted to, well, try and be a family. So, I made this for you." He said, before taking something out of his pocket. He opened her hand before placing it into her palm. It was an ornate white ring, with hexagon patterns. "I figured this would help."
She could feel it reacting to something, though she didn't know what. She looked at the ring, for a minute, before looking at Shirou with a puzzled expression. Then a look of understanding dawned on her. Her eyes widened, her face reddened like a cherry, and her mouth was opening and closing, but no words came out.
Shirou rubbed the back of his head, having a somewhat guilty smile on his face. "I didn't think you'd react like that, to be honest. I guess I really am bad at this stuff." He said to her, however, Hestia quickly dug into his other pocket, pulling out a black ring. The two instantly clicked together, stopping all movement.
Needless to say, Hestia realized what these were. She looked up at Shirou, realizing what he was doing. She honestly couldn't believe he was doing this. It was completely backwards. All of it. Normally, the two would figure everything out, spend time together, figure out if they loved each other, get engaged, and so on.
That isn't what happened in the slightest. She had been overcome with emotion, feeling Shirou's warmth, and remembering their friendship up to that point, as well as how she felt about him in general, including how she felt when he nearly died. Then there was Athena. That also spurred it on.
It was way too fast. Yet, she felt really happy in this moment. It was a fact, the two had a child, which was born from their souls bonding together. Honestly, that was more intimate than anything else. She looked at Shirou, seeing him standing there with that usual smile on his face.
'We're really bad at this.' She thought to herself. 'However, won't this mean that Shirou's mine?' She thought with a smile and a red face. Without another thought or word, she quickly placed Shirou's ring on his hand and her's on her own. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into, Shirou."
Shirou tilted his head, "Well, I'll have plenty of time to figure that out." He replied. "So, what do we do now, goddess of family and home?" He asked with a playful smirk on his face.
Hestia simply smiled at his words, before turning back towards Miyu. She picked her up and held her out. "Maybe, we should start by holding your daughter." She said with a smile on her face. Honestly, she was extremely nervous and freaking out, not in a bad way, but she was happy. She could feel that Shirou was happy.
Honestly, this was what she wanted. Unknown to her, but this was what Rhea had wanted as well. The thing about happiness and allowing yourself to be swept up in the moment, is that it causes you to forget important things, and Hestia forgot to mention something rather important.
Unknown to Shirou, but during the happy moment he was having with Hestia, something was stirring. With prophecies, came obstacles and trials. His presence did not go unnoticed in the world, nor did the power he possessed. However, if there was one thing that Shirou was good at, it was overcoming his limits.
Titans were stirring, monsters were returning, demigods were becoming frustrated, pantheons were wary, and war was incoming. The only difference between now and then, was Shirou now had something to lose.
Chapter finished. Decided to end it on this and wait for the intro of Annabeth. Don't hate on the name I picked, I suck at names, but I figured it would make some sense. I don't want to explain too much stuff, so if you want to ask about something, feel free, I usually answer. I did write this because it was stuck in my brain, so yay, third chapter right after the second. I couldn't really think of much else to say, other than I hope you guys enjoyed, I wanted to focus more on the non combat side of things in this, but there will be some upcoming. The story will sort of slow down, because I want to show Shirou's personal relationships grow and change him a bit more. Rhea will have a big role to play, as will Hera, because I want to try some stuff with them. I will say, Hestia is the main pairing, but Shirou will develop close relationships with two others beside Athena. Whether that's platonic or not, well, I won't spoil it. I do want to also say, last chapter, people were making a big deal out of a fighting style that wasn't a fighting style. I did say that it was only a last ditch effort strategy, but I suppose it was lost in translation. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, thanks for reading, and as always, until next time.