Disclaimer: I do not own Fate/Stay Night or any of its spin-offs, or any of the Type-Moon's series such as Tsukihime, Kara no Kyoki/Garden of Sinners, Mahoutsukai no Yoru/Witch on the Holy Night, Melty Blood or any related series nor do I own any of the characters from any of the series. All of the mentioned above are owned by Kinoko Nasu and Type Moon. This is purely a work of fanfiction inspired by the universe Nasu and the rest of Type-Moon created.
Chapter 2: Investigations, a Sword, and a Late Lunch
Lorelei shifted her legs as she leaned back in her leather bound chair, as she stayed silent as the question from Shirou rang in her head. Why did he have to call now. Granted, she wasn't around the people she didn't want to find out, though she did have company, who already knew due to last night, but that was a question to be asked in private! She glanced up and saw her... current company were pretending to mind their own business, or at least trying in the three of the four that were trying. The El-Melloi Princess was being subtle or trying to pretend to not paying attention. She schooled her expression.
"Enforcer Emiya... we will discuss this later... you're lucky I'm only in a room with the people who witnessed our union. Though there is something I would like to bring up though. You've been hiding something from me."
"H-Hiding something?"
"Yes, I've been hearing about your... talent... yes, your talent through a verified source of those who has witnessed and experienced your talent first hand."
"I'm not sure what you mean, Lorelei-"
"Don't you dare deny it. I know you've brought it up during the call in the car as well. Your cooking... I wish to try it."
"I-I don't-"
"This afternoon, once I'm finished with my business, I shall take my leave and we will have a late lunch. Lamb leg steak with red wine sauce and shallots will be an accepted choice. Expect me there by 3:30."
She caught Waver staring at her in stunned disbelief as if he didn't want to hear this conversation. It wasn't like she and Shirou were flirting. But before Shirou could respond to her however, there was the sound of a door opening and feminine voice on his end of the call. "Shirou are you already finished with your shower-" There was a brief pause of silence that was followed by the sound of something hitting the floor and then the feminine voice making a shrill sound through the speaker of the cell phone.
"SHIROU EMIYA! WHY ARE YOU STANDING NAKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIVING ROOM?! ARE YOU ON THE PHONE?!?!?!"
The sound of a crashing noise and explicit words could be heard followed by the sound of running feet before the line being cut off by a click.
Everyone in the room tensed as the room went tense and quiet as a mouse as Lorelei went rigid. Her eyes were wide open and her muscles tensing. The mana leaking out of her was enough to suffocate them and the grinding of her teeth could be heard as the temperature in the room has dropped further than it had with her "barter with Reines." It was a miracle her phone wasn't broken yet. She had forgotten that they were in the room again. No one had dared to say anything or even speak in fear of suffering the wrath of the Vice Director.
Goredolf was trembling in fear as Reines was tensing up more than usual as Trimmau prepared to defend her, Adashino had slowly backed up towards the door and Waver felt beads of sweat trickle down his face from his temples and foreheads. He was only able to keep his composure due to his time in the fourth grail war and on his many adventures. Berserker and Gilgamesh drove a much deeper fear into him when they got upset. He needed to act. Not only for his sake, but for also that of his student who was also now married to his boss, The Queen of the Clock Tower.
"M-Ma'am..." He paused as her enraged stare had shifted to him. He had to keep his cool when addressing the strongest mage of the modern era. "Perhaps this was a misunderstanding. Perhaps that was his mentor walking in on him while he was in a call with you. If what I know of my student, he is more respectable than most. Shirou Emiya wouldn't actively try to harm something as sacred as a marriage, especially one with such importance and risks behind it. It would go against his character and beliefs. As for the voice in the background, that would be Rin Tohsaka, his roommate and mentor. It would make sense she would keep her student by her side to protect him from the wolves of the Clock Tower. Given his family name after all, adopted or not, Kiritsugu Emiya had many enemies after all, especially in the clock tower."
The temperature seemed to return to normal as the mana dissipated, allowing them all to relax a little. Her eyes on him as his met hers, the two trying to read each other. There was a tense moment of silence before she spoke again, her voice serious and business like once more. "Then now that little interruption that we will not speak about is over and done with, I will now address everyone's assignments. These will only be discussed between the five of us. My butler, Mr. Jenkins, will also be informed as it will be easier for him to communicate with you all without drawing suspicion from the other lords."
"What will you have us do, Lady Barthomeloi?" Was what Adashino responded as she always did when given a new assignment. A coy smile of enjoyment telling Waver he wasn't going to like what the Vice Director has planned.
"Well, for starters, I would like for you and Lord El-Melloi II to quietly investigate Shirou Emiya's origins. His hometown of Fuyuki to his adopted family and that of his birth parents to even if he has a magic crest or not or any significant or magical lineage, to his associates and friends." She watched as Waver gave her a look of concern, figuring out what exactly she wanting from them.
"All of it?" Waver asked with a look of concern over his student's privacy being invaded and all behind his back too.
"All of it, Waver Velvet, and I do mean everything!" The Supreme Mage of the Modern age clarified. "I don't want to be caught off guard with this. No one can know anything before I do or without my say so. You are well aware of what I'm referring to, Lord El-Melloi II. I want to know all of it."
Waver held his tongue as he nodded his head. The Lords of the Clock Tower would pounce on any and all weakness that one shows, even if that one is a Barthomeloi. The scales will be tipped and the fallout will be cataclysmic. "But what about the Einzberns and Miss Tohsaka? Surely they are going to be suspicious if we started snooping around Shirou's past and private life, even on your orders. They may associate with us via the representation of Shirou at the moment, but I don't doubt they'd be none too pleased with your recent elopement to Shirou, as Lady Ilya is the current head of the family."
"As for the Einzberns and Miss Tohsaka, I will make arrangements quietly to discuss such sensitive matters with them in a more private setting and away from prying eyes and ears. Making an alliance and clearing any grievances between the Barthomeloi and the Einzbern's over my marriage to Shirou Emiya, is of Vital importance. as he is Lady Einzbern's younger brother, even if it is through adoption, we must settle the differences for the betterment of both our clans. You and your sister will accompany me to make sure everything proceeds smoothly and under wraps."
Reines and Waver nodded their heads as they gave each other a side glance, the Einzberns were an illustrious Mage family even if they were not directly associated with the clock tower. They were also very reclusive and very protective of what is theirs. "And what about Shirou? What should we tell him?"
"Nothing for now." Lorelei said as she brought a hand to her chin. "Not until I know what I am dealing with, and what or how and what to tell him."
"Are you sure that is wise, Ma'am?" Goredolf asked, even he was aware that communication is the key to many relationships, but he had to remember who he was talking to here. No Barthomeloi head was ever let out of their mansion until said head had met their standards of perfection that have been set by the family.
"For now, Yes. I will tell him eventually when I get the results and am certain on what he and I will be dealing with this." She spoke as she leaned back in her chair. "Getting to you next, I will have you keep your eyes on Shirou while he is on the Clock Tower's Premises. Silently and discreetly take care of anything that might try to do ill will to him. Are we clear, Mr. Musik?"
"C-Crystal..." Goredolf stuttered as she fixed him a cold stare. It felt as if his soul had left his body for a moment. Lorelei then shifted her gaze to the ever smirking Reines, making eye contact for a solid moment of silence. Lorelei then sighed and closed her eyes. She hated relying on other Lord's and heirs for this but Reines had a knack for learning from the gossip and distinguishing what was fact and what was false, not that she had difficulty distinguishing that herself, but given her position as vice director and head of the aristocratic faction, it wouldn't look good on her part to participate in the actions of those beneath her.
"As for you, Reines El-Melloi Archesorte, I would like you to keep tabs on our fellow Lords and report anything that might be of use to me. The Gathering of the Lords Gala has left a sour taste in my mouth. We Barthomeloi don't usually interact with those beneath us. You would not cause them to suspect too much of you given your habit for collecting informative information through your gossip. A favor for a favor I suppose."
Reines eyes had widened at the implications of one of the favors she would have to do with the Barthomeloi. The woman had played her and lured her in while getting what she wanted. At least Reines got two favors out of her, so there was that, she supposed. "Well, I can do that, I suppose. That won't be too hard. Very well, I will report anything useful on Shirou Emiya for you through my gossip with the other Lords."
"Good, now if you excuse me, I have work to do, you're all dismissed." They nodded and left the Vice Director's office and the woman to her thoughts. She sat back in her chair as she heard the door lock itself. Closing her eyes as she let the music from the record player sway her into a relax state of being.
But it wasn't to be, oh no, not even in the slightest, because today was the day that she would be visited by one who could be called her counterpart in terms of status and surpassed her in power. A noise... no, not a noise, a voice, belonging to one of her biggest thorns in her side. But one that she could do absolutely nothing about. Her eyes snapped open at the sight of her irritation sitting in the seat that was previous occupied by Lord El-Melloi II.
"A fine morning to you as well, Lady Barthomeloi or should I call Madame Barthomeloi. Congratulations are in order." The source of the voice said with a calm and jolly smile on his lips, smiling down the woman's widened glare. "Or should I refer to you as Mrs. Emiya now."
Sitting across from her was the one and only Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg.
Ten minutes ago with Shirou
Rin sighed as she got up from her bed and grabbed her bath towel and looked at herself in the mirror. "As long as he is happy I won't have to worry. I should have asked Shirou or Miss Adashino who he was being set up with, but I guess I can be patient when he is finally ready to tell me or introduce who the lucky lady is. Though if she does anything to hurt him..."
She didn't finish the thought as she exited her room and made her way to the living room, hearing Shirou's voice from down the hall, though couldn't make out what he was saying as he was trying to speak quietly. Probably the girl from last night. "Shirou, are you finally finished with your shower-" She froze stiff as she saw Shirou standing there wide-eyed while on the phone, in nothing but a towel, and staring at her in shock, all the while dripping wet from said Shower.
THUNK!
"SHIROU EMIYA! WHY ARE YOU STANDING NAKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIVING ROOM?! ARE YOU ON THE PHONE!"
Shirou's eyes widened before dodging a drop kick to the face by dropping to the floor and rolling out of the way and booked it to his room, avoiding a gandr shot from Rin and grabbing his towel before booking to his room.
"Shit!" Was all he said as he narrowly dodged another gandr shot and he ducked into his room, slamming it and locking it. He also ended the call as he closed his phone. Lorelei definitely was going to kill him if Rin didn't beat her to it. "Rin! Wait wait wait! I can explain! Yes I was on the phone, but it was an important question I had to ask her!"
"Oh? And what could be so important that you had to ask it over the phone in nothing but a towel?!" Rin's voice came as Shirou reinforced and locked the door.
"Well... she wanted to try my cooking... She heard about it and just wanted to confirm the time to be over, that's all." Shirou said, while not an outright lie, it would be enough to stop Rin from murdering him outright.
There was a pause of silence as the cool winter air chilled the room. The pitter patter of the rain on the windows and the sound of the wind picking up could be heard as the storm grew stronger before Rin spoke up again. He sighed, softly knowing what was coming next.
"That's all fine and dandy, but remember the roommate agreement we both agreed on, being in the living room with nothing but a towel on, let alone dropping it on the floor, is still in violation of the agreement. So you know what that means, right?"
Shirou could see her smug and strained smile in his head as he gave a nervous chuckle at the consequences of his actions. "I'll have to do the chores for a whole week, don't I." He resigned himself to his fate, knowing better than to argue with a pissed off Tohsaka.
"Exactly, though you may have your date, I expect this place to be in tip top shape by the time I return. I have a job to follow up on down in Paris of all places, the client wants me to determine the value of some rare jewel he found and is willing to pay handsomely for the job as well."
"I see, so my punishment is to do all the chores until you get back I take it?" Shirou knew there was going to be more to the punishment but hopefully Rin would let him off the hook for now.
"Well, I'll be lenient about it this time, but yes, you have to do all of the chores around the apartment while I'm gone on business." She said in a matter of fact voice. He could practically hear her grin as the next words left her mouth. "Well, I'll be getting ready now. Don't worry, I'll be gone before your date arrives. To think that you'd work this fast to impress her, She really must have liked what she saw last night, Mr. Emiya."
And with that, Shirou's face turned beet red as some of last nights events came rushing back to him. He could hear Rin laugh teasingly as her footsteps could be heard echoing softer and softer down the hall before the sound of a door being shut closed could be heard.
Shirou sighed as he knew he had to go shopping as he gazed at his watch. It was a quarter past one o'clock. He had time, but not too much time. He wondered what Lorelei was up to right now.
The two Wizard Marshals sat in silence as the Queen of the Clock Tower tried to figure out why he was here, the Second Magician simply sipped his tea, made from her private stash of tea. How he got a bag of her favorite brand, she hadn't a clue, but she suspects that he had used his second magic to get a hold of it. He had a nasty habit of popping in unannounced. She never liked it.
The only things to be heard were the ticking of the grandfather clock, the occasional sip of tea, and the faint melody of Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by George Frideric Handel. The silence between the two of them was grating her nerves. If he wouldn't speak, then she would.
"Of course you would already know." Was all she said. Her stare turned into a glare of annoyance which he only returned with a friendly smile, not at all affected by it. "Spill. I know you know who is behind all of this, so let's ignore the pleasantries and cut right to the chase here."
"Come now Lorelei, if I had known who was behind the events of last night, we both know they would have been in custody before the sun had risen." He spoke calmly, in that cryptic tone of his, pausing to take a sip of his tea. "Though I must say, there is more than just one party at work behind this, and someone or something... unusual... has been at work, clouding their identities and movements from the Kaleidoscope."
Lorelei let out a "tsk" noise as she listened to the man speak, as if she was giving her irritation towards the man's cryptic answer. "Aren't you suppose to have full control over the Kaleidoscope, Schweinorg?"
"I do and quite the contrary to my status, there are many mages, throughout time and alive today, who can pose an obstacle to my abilities. The Second is not the total knowledge about everything. That has never been its focus and thus, it is not perfect in that aspect, Vice Director. Master Solomon had instilled that lesson into me long ago."
His answer only served to incite her cold, piercing glare to dig deeper into his own, calm stare. It seemed he only infuriated her more. The young woman is a handful for sure. He wondered how Yumina would have handled this scenario playing out before them, only to smile as he pictured it in his head. Not that he would dare say it to Lorelei to begin with. The woman would have a fit and say 'how dare you bring up the First Magician in front of me, the Barthomeloi!' Sipping his tea once more, he then answered her glare to the more immediate reason why he was here.
"Well moving forward, let us bring up the more immediate reasons for why I am here today, shall we?" He chuckled as he set down his tea and reached into his coat, pulling out a rolled up piece of parchment. "You'll see it will have Director Brishisan's signature and seal of approval along with the following signatures to make it effective immediately, it's all within the bounds of Policies of course."
Lorelei took the parchment and unrolled it and began reading the cursive writing upon its face. As her eyes gazed upon the contents, her eyes slowly began to grow wider and wider with each passing second as her brain processed the words on the parchment. It took her a few moments before she directed a glare at the old man who only continued to smile patiently. "Is this a joke? You cannot possibly fathom of implementing this... this heresy! It goes against not only the traditions of the Clock Tower but the traditions of our society as well! No six-generational family, despite their renown, has ever been granted a position as a Lord before!"
Zelretch merely frowned at the young woman before him. "Be that as it may, this has already been approved of by not only the Director himself, but the other two parties involved. As for the two that have yet to be informed, I will take care of that personally tomorrow at the emergency meeting."
"This is madness Schweinorg!" The vice director growled as her eyes gleamed with rage, the room being coated in a blueish aura, standing from her throne in a fit of rage. "You cannot be serious about going through with this!"
"Oh I am deadly serious, Barthomeloi Lorelei." For the moment his smile vanished, the room turned white and black with only his red eyes retaining their color, yet for only an instant, but that was all he needed. The room receded back to its original setting as Lorelei stood there in cold sweat, her body trembling at the small display of power the Old Man of the Jewels, the man who defeated the Crimson Moon Brunstud, the Wizard Marshal Zelretch, had just shown. It was clear to the both of them that she still hadn't closed the gap.
Taking a moment to regain her composure, Lorelei sat back down and folded her left leg over her right and crossed her arms as she barred her teeth, glaring at the old Schweinorg. The man only smiled as calmly as before as if nothing ever happened. It didn't help that he was the only one to ever get a rise out of the her. "...You do realize the implications your and the Director's actions will bring throughout the entirety of the Clock Tower."
"I am well aware of how a certain Vice Director's made an uproar when she took over the Department of Policies. Trambelio was beside himself and I think Meluastea was at the point of having a heart attack." He smiled in remembrance of Lorelei's debut in the Clock Tower. Not only did she defeat the previous head of Policies, but she did it in a way that it caused a wave that swept throughout the Clock Tower.
"Don't change the subject." She snapped, ignoring the memory of her rise to power in the Clock Tower. She did not need to be reminded of the past. "You know this will shake the balance of powers, especially since you know the trouble those two women bring."
"That's where you're wrong." Was his reply, as if it was obvious. "Yes, they are here to help bolster the Clock Tower and shift the balance a bit, but they are here to act as a mediator of sorts. Think of this as acting upon my promise to Lady Yumina."
"Yet they will be performing the role in your stead." She frowned, seeing as she wasn't going to win on this matter. She then set her glare onto the parchment in her hands and placed it on her desk. Grabbing the quill and dipping it into the ink, she reluctantly signed it and handed the parchment back to the Second Magician. "Don't think this will not be met with resistance."
"Oh I dare not think it. I know how opposed they will be on this, even if they cannot stop it from happening. They may respect me, but they still see them as a couple of young upstarts, as young as they are and despite all of their accomplishments. But they will come to accept it, whether they like it or not."
He only chuckled as her glare returned tenfold. Taking a sip of his tea, he then rolled the parchment back up and slipped it carefully back into his coat. He then reached down and procured a basket filled with books and set it on her desk.
"What is this?" Was all she replied with a scowl on her lips. She treated anything from the man with suspicion. He only chuckled in the way a grandfather would as he stood up and adjusted his coat. Her eyes narrowed at the man.
"Why they are books and scrolls on how to have a successful marriage of course! They are my wedding gifts to you and Mr. Emiya. Given the chances, I'd say you didn't get any, so I took the opportunity to get you both some books and scrolls on marriage I've collected over the centuries. There's even one written by myself, pristine first edition, and hand written too!" He took a moment to check his pocket watch. "Look at the time! I got places to be and things to do. A tea party to attend. Anyways have a great day, Madame Emiya! Ah yes, that has a ring to it!"
Lorelei let out a sigh of frustration as she sat back in her throne as she watched the Second Magician leave her office through the front door. The man was able to get under her skin in some manner whenever he appeared. She glanced down to the tea cup he had been using. It was empty and clean as if it wasn't even used. Her brow twitched before looking up to where he had last been and that is when she noticed it. The built-in book case along the left wall. All of the books she kept perfectly arranged on the shelves had been rearranged. Her eyes widened in shock before rage over took her once more. She shot up from her desk and ground her teeth in fury before letting out a visceral and terrifying scream of rage. "SSSSSSSSSCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWWEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRG!"
Zelretch, for his part, gave a hearty, jolly laugh as he made his way down the hall, getting looks from the members of policies and a strained smile from Adashino, he could even see her twitching eyebrow. For the exact reason Lorelei had just shouted his name, well, when he traveled to different worlds, there would be a lag in time, not that the Barthomeloi Head needed to know that. That gave him all the time he needed. For on that bookshelf, the books were rearranged to read "Zelretch was here"!
Later on, 15 minutes away from the Norwich Dorms
Lorelei sat in the back of her sedan as she made her way to Shirou's dorm. The rain from earlier hadn't let up from this morning and pelted softly against the windows of the unmarked black sedan. She had hoped that this lunch will live up to her expectations. Her attention had then returned to the basket full of books that was given to her by Zelretch.
Her eyebrow twitched. She really didn't like the man, but she couldn't deny that the man had known a thing or two and seen plenty of things in his almost three millennia life span. She reached down and pulled out a hard cover book with a royal blue binding and decorated in silver and golden trim. Her eyebrow twitched violently. On the center of the cover, it was titled "How Marriage Works" by Henry VIII. Below it, it had a small embroidered picture of a headless woman. She frowned and calmly put the book back in the basket and decided she would look through the books herself to see if there was anything actually useful in them. But that one... she would probably burn.
She then pressed the button and brought the divider down between the front and the back seats. "Jenkins, did you get the answers out of the maid that had served me last night?" She addressed her butler as she went into her business like persona, hoping her butler had success on his endeavor.
"I did Madame." He responded with a curt reply as he handed her a file containing the information that he has gathered so far from his own investigation. "It seems that Miss Elise was under the influence of a spell that made her forget who she gave her the job but there was a large sum of money transferred to her bank account from an anonymous source. Most likely to perform the drugging of you and Mister Emiya with an aphrodisiac mixed into your beverages."
"I see... was there anything else?" She asked as she brought her hand to her chin, "Have you identified the alcoholic concoction and the aphrodisiac used?"
"For the beverage used, it was a vintage wine, dating back centuries and one that wasn't on the menu or that easily obtained, even by magus standards. As for the drug used, we suspect an aphrodisiac that originated in South America, likely within the deepest parts of the Amazon Rainforest and not as easily obtained either.
"I see... very well, keep me informed on everything else you may learn." She said as she felt the car pull to a slow stop. Shirou's apartment loomed outside as she unbuckled herself and collected her purse and any paperwork she had been working on since her previous appointments.
As she stepped out of the car and shut the door behind her, she pulled out the piece of paper with Shirou's address and apartment number before gazing back up at the building as she made her way towards the entrance before gazing down and frowned at the stone plinth. She didn't need another headache. She then walked right in through the doors only to stop as a youthful and jolly voice called out to her.
"You're here to see Shirou right?" She turned her head and met the a blonde haired boy with fair skin and bright blue eyes. The smile on his lips was just as bright as his eyes. He wore a red vest with over a white button-up shirt and a pair of tan pants that reached just above his shins. She only gave him a blank stare. "Don't worry, I'll keep quiet. Top floor and last room to the left. Flat Escardos is my name by the way."
So this was the infamous Escardos heir. She had kept an eye on the boy after his arrival at the clock tower and only heard second-handed accounts from her agents inside of the clock tower and has never met the boy until now. He was from a magus line than spanned back almost 1800 years. While ridiculed by most of the elite, he was the only one truly accepted by their family crest, which was something she could keep an eye on.
She slowly nodded her head and briskly made her way up to the top floor. No need to keep Shirou waiting. She had a lunch date with him and she was always on time, punctually so.
As she reached the top floor. She paused for a brief moment and made sure no one was looking. The less who saw her, the better. It wasn't long until she found her husband's flat and knocked on the door. She heard Shirou's voice on the other side and the noise of someone's feet shuffling along the floorboards, only for the door to open a moment later, revealing one Shirou Emiya, dressed in casual clothes and a blue apron.
She blinked once and then a second time and found it oddly fitting for him. "Welcome Lorelei, dinner will be ready in fifteen to twenty minutes, please make yourself at home." She noticed a small getabako(1) in the corner next to the door. Taking off her shoes, she put them on shelf labeled for guests, if only to be courteous.
"Which one is your room? Any rooms I should avoid?" She asked, deciding if she was going to be married to him, she would at least get a better understanding on how he lives. She noticed the flat was kept clean.
Please stay out of the rooms on the left hand side of the hall. Those belong to my roommate. As for my room's they are on the right hand hall and up the stairs in the attic. Just be careful with a few of the swords in my workshop, they are quite sharp and still in the experimental phases."
Lorelei only arched an eyebrow as she entered his flat, taking a look around. It was sufficiently furnished, yet only had a simple decor. Shirou had shut the door behind her and she had hung her purse on the coat rack. "Should you really be letting another magus, outside of your mentor, into your workshop?"
"You're my wife, it should be okay between the two of us after all." Was his reply as he hurried over to the oven. She could the smell the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen. She hoped it tasted as good as it smelled. She only nodded her head before she began to take a look around the flat.
Stopping in the living room first, took in the details of the room and tilted her head when it landed on the rectangular box in the corner. A television if she remember correctly. The Barthomeloi mansion had little to no modern technology in the manner, outside of her cell phone and some equipment that the staff had uses. The town house in London was more up to date, but she hardly used any modern technology.
She then walked over to the hutch in the left hand corner of the room, next to the window. Its shelves were adorned with many photos in their frames. Many of them had Shirou in them at different stages of his life. Some had the Tohsaka heiress in them and... Lorelei recognized the purple haired girl. So that was the Matou head. The apprentice to Enforcer Fraga Remitz. She would have to enquire on the girl and her relation to Shirou later.
Her gaze then shifted to another photo of a ten year old Shirou surrounded by a bunch of men in suits and sun glasses. Next to him on his left was an elderly man who wore a traditional black and yellow kimono, while on his right was a woman with light brown hair with a bright and cheerful grin on her face. She wore a green dress with a striped yellow and green shirt. Above them, it read in kanji "Fujimura Family reunion". Lorelei assumed that the woman in the picture was the Taiga Fujimura that had called him this morning.
There were two more photos on the hutch. The first was of Shirou and a boy with dark hair holding diplomas in their hands. With them was a man with dark hair and sharp eyes wearing a green suit next to the dark haired boy and a woman with Lavender hair next to Shirou.
The second photo had a picture of Shirou with a girl with snow white hair and ruby red eyes. She wore a purple jacket with a matching hat as they sat on a park bench. So that must be the current head of the Einzberns, Ilyasviel Von Einsbern, her sister-in-law They were both smiling in the picture. A look of true happiness graced their faces.
The second shelf of the hutch had a few more photos of Shirou with other people. One was of him in an archery gi with some people similarly dressed. An Archery club perhaps. The next photo had Shirou with a man she recognized by file and reputation alone. They were both wearing training wear and holding Shinai. She frowned at the man, he looked dead inside despite a small smile on his lips.
The man was the one and only Kiritsugu Emiya, the Magus Killer. He had caused quite a commotion for the Clock Tower during the years he was active as a freelancer. Her predecessor had installed a self defense program in close quarters combat that time precisely because Kiritsugu Emiya caused such a headache for the Clock Tower at the time. That was also another reason why she ousted her predecessor. The man was too relaxed and never on top of things. He also was supposed to represent the Barthomeloi until she came to age with absolute perfection and the man failed miserably.
She then turned her gaze to the next few photos of Shirou and a blonde woman. Her frown deepened further. Shirou had looked genuinely happy with her. Blonde hair, green eyes, and a ahoge at the top of her head. She work a white blouse, blue skirt, and black stockings. Obviously of British descent and carried herself with the poise and air of royalty. So firm and proper. She felt herself twitch ever so slightly.
She was about to ask Shirou on who that was until she remembered that this could be Shirou's servant from the grail war. Could she be that servant? Questions for later.
She then stepped out of the room and made her way to the hallway and stepped out into the hallway. She noticed the doors on the left side of the hall were closed and the two on the right were open. She went down to the room just before the staircase leading to the attic and peered inside. This must be Shirou's room. She stepped inside and looked around, finding a few more photos of Shirou and the others in these photos, though there were more of Shirou and Kiritsugu in this room than the others.
She then saw a few personal effects lying about in the rather tidy room. A dark red shroud on the back of the chair at the desk in the corner. A pair of swords, Chinese falchions, one white and one black. A traditional Japanese long bow with the gear and uniform to go with it. Finally a Thompson Contender and a gun cleaning kit on the desk. She frowned. None of the reports had described him ever using a gun.
On the left hand side of the desk were a set of glass vials of different shapes and sizes. Each one with a label either in Japanese, German, or Greek. She frowned, wondering if he was sick.
There was a bookcase filled with either books on magecraft and video games. That would include explain the use of the computer on the desk. She briefly began to look through the books to see if any related to his studies. She paused on a particular old copy titled "Evocation, Invocation, and Summoning" by Aleister Crowley. She frowned once more, recalling the trouble said man had caused the clock tower back in the 40's from the reports she had read. The fallout had almost caused the mystics to be revealed. The damage control the association had done had been extensive that those even in the Far East and the States had put a lockdown on all mage activity.
There was a light blue post-it note on the video games that read "Sell to Flat" and she figured the Escardos Heir was into the video game things. A shame really. He should focus more on reaching the glory that is the root. She then searched the rest of the books on the shelves and her curiosity was peaked at a few of them. "The Epic of Gilgamesh", "The Sagas of Cu Chulainn", "and "The Twelve Labors of Herakles" were the first she recognized along with two books dedicated to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round, one being Lé Mort D'Arthur by Thomas Malory and Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffrey of Monmouth. There was also a book dedicated to the Tales of the Argonauts and a few books dedicated to his studies. She exited the room and heading up to the attic.
She stopped at the top of the stairs as she saw swords of different kinds scattered all about the attic. Some were hanging on the walls, as other were on the floor, with a thin cloth beneath them. A few were on stands. Further back was a small makeshift smithy with everything a starting blacksmith needed. There was a table not too far off from the right with a few books and a few scrolls on it and another sword all by its lonesome.
Approaching the table, she gazed at the books and noted them. There were... a few famous names on the them and a few books on mystic code creation. From her perspective, she took it as if forging the perfect sword or katana would help him find the root. It was a definite departure from the path the rest of the Emiya have taken. She knew that for certain from what research they had gathered from the previous Emiya head, Noritaka, and the family crest.
She looked over at the sword that was resting on the table. It was made of unknown black metal with thin blue markings of some sort. It was different from the rest of the swords that is. It was... unusual for a sword. She reached out and touched the pommel before flinching as her eyes widened. She froze up as there was a brief, yet sharp pain on her abdomen before it vanished. 'What... was that...' She shivered as she looked down at her stomach to see no wound or injury. It felt like the air had froze for a brief moment.
She frowned before she heard Shirou's voice from bottom of the stairs, letting her know that lunch is ready. She would just have to ask him about it during lunch. She headed out of the workshop and down the stairs. Following Shirou into the kitchen and dining room. The kitchen had everything needed for preparing meals and is well kept from the looks of it. Her... Husband must take pride in his cooking if the El-Melloi Princess praised his cooking.
Looking to the table, it looks to be set for two people even though it can accommodate up to four people, meaning the Tohsaka head wouldn't be joining them. That would work for now. She had no plans to reveal their status to the woman yet. Timing was everything and she was always punctual.
The aromas from the food that graced her nose were intoxicated and almost made her mouth water. The setup was modest and simple and yet... had a subtle flare to it. Shirou pulled out a seat for her and she sat down and analyzed her meal. The lamb leg steak and shallot potatoes smelled divine. The meat was cooked to a medium rare and the potatoes were a light golden brown. Shirou sat down next to her and tucked himself in, she followed suit and took a cut off a piece of the steak and took a bite.
Her eyes widened as the burst of flavor exploded into her mouth, the blend of the red wine sauce and the steak itself was... was... was beyond perfection. Not even her personal families chefs were this perfect. She savored the piece as she softly chewed on it. Swallowing it she found Shirou staring at her in anticipation, waiting for evaluation of the meal he had cooked for the both of them. She politely smiled as she looked him in the eyes, gleaming with pleased satisfaction.
"Well, If I had known of your talent when you first came to the Clock Tower, I would have hired you on the spot as my personal chef right then and there." She gave him a coy smile. " Though as my husband, I won't have to do that now, Darling." She began to cut up another piece of steak. "This steak is beyond perfection. I don't normally give out compliments like this, but credit is due where it is deserved. Well done indeed." She said as she bit into the piece that she just cut off, maintaining eye contact with Em-her husband the entire time. Her tastebuds screamed in euphoria. She couldn't get enough of it.
Shirou gave her a tiny smile as he took the compliment humbly and began to dig into his own steak. They at silently for a minute before one of them had finally decided to speak up. Lorelei had a few questions for him. They were married now, after all. What wife would she be if she at least didn't get to know her husband outside of what she already knew and will know about him.
"Shirou... I have a few questions for you." She paused as her mood turned serious. "I took a look through your room and your workshop along with the living room." She spoke as she locked eyes with him. "The man with the spiky black hair... He's Kiritsugu Emiya... How did he come to adopt you?" Her eyes widened as he withdrew a little. A frown marring his lips as he broke eye contact. "You... don't have to answer if you dont wish to."
She got a bit nervous as an awkward silence filled the air. Her eyes glanced back and forth between him and her food a few times before he finally broke the silence. While the memory of the events that had transpired were painful and traumatic, Kiritsugu saving him was a fond memory, despite the circumstances.
"No, no, its alright. I was a survivor of the Fuyuki fire and was saved by him as the fire at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War that had ravaged Fuyuki that night. I may have... lost my parents and my old life... but i gained my new one that day. A few days later, I was adopted by Kiritsugu.
She nodded her head as she ate a few of the potatoes and then bit into another piece of steak. She then dared to broach another topic, a much easier and simpler topic. "I saw the archery gear and long bow in your room. Were you a member of an archery team or club?"
Shirou perked up a bit as a small smile graced his lips. "I was in the Kyūdō(2) club for Homurahara Academy and was the vice captain for the end of my second year and all of my third year. I almost left but Taiga and Mitsuzuri had a long discussion with me, convincing me not to quit and had a few choice words for the previous vice captain." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I was also a member of the kendo club when Rin and Saber convinced me to join during the Fifth Holy Grail War."
Lorelei nodded her head and accepted the answer. She made eye contact with him once more as she bit into another piece of her delicious steak. Every bite was mouth watering. "The gun in your room. Your file and every report I've received never mention you ever using one before."
"That is Kiritsugu's Thompson Contender." He said in fondness. "While I never use it, I was asked by Kiritsugu in his will to keep it well maintained and was left instructions on how to care for it. Its more of a keepsake really. Something to remember him by."
He smiled as he took another bite of his steak. "Since you asked me a few questions about me, may i ask one about you?" She sat in silence for a moment before nodding her head to his request. He smiled as he took a moment to take another bite and sipped his tea from his cup. "Could you... tell me about your parents? I only really knew Kiritsugu and have trouble remembering much about my actual parents."
She blinked before staring at Shirou for a moment before composing herself. "My father was a respectable mage and was the family head before i took the reins of the Barthomeloi and received the family crest. As for my mother... she was a member of an illustrius mage family who married into the Barthomeloi. I recieved my mystic eyes from her side of the family. They have a blood line for producing natural mystic eyes."
Shirou nodded in understanding and they finished their lunch. As he was about to start clearing the table. He felt Lorelei grab his hand, making him stay seated before looking up at her to see a strained smile on her face and an aura of doom surrounding her. It would of been comical if it wasn't for Shirou feeling a familiar sense of deja vu when he upsetted either Saber, Rin, or on the rare occasion, Sakura. Then he remembered what she had said earlier and got the feeling he was indeed in for an earful.
In her other hand was a receipt from a store they had visited and on it listed a few boxes of condoms. He felt a nervous smile form on his lips as he gulped and knew he was in trouble for his call earlier. That's when Lorelei began to speak in a dark tone that promised punishment. "You should really let me be the one to call you from now on due to my busy schedule. Matters such as the use of protection, and yes, I am on the pill, should be discussed in private. Am i clear, Daaaaaarrrrrrrlllllllllliiiiiiiiinnnnnnngggggg~."
Shirou felt himself go white at the way his wife spoke and felt his head nodding in agreement with his newly, yet scary wedded wife.
Somewhere in Northern England, Later that evening:
Igor Daggerson had not been having a good day, not in the slightest. Well, that is a lie. It started out like any other day. Getting up and getting to work, same old routine day in and night out. Being a low ranking Dead Apostle, he wasn't very high up on the heiarchy but he'd like to think he had it good. His boss, the one with the Elder Title was one of the most fearsome Dead Apostles out there and one of the major players in the game.
He had started out as a magus before hand, average and typical. The kind of magus that thought they would make it big in the Clock Tower before his dreams got shot in the dirt, realizing he was there to fill their quota and an empty seat, and was finally sent home in disgrace.
Though he never made it home to return to his family. Instead, he had met a certain Elder Title Dead Apostle and she had offered him the contract of a lifetime. Join her ranks and she would give him the power to eventually strike back at those who laughed, mocked, and ridiculed him. He wholeheartedly signed it with his own blood dipped onto the tip of that quill.
That was seven years ago. He was even given this place to help manage the new recruites they had brought in to train up and teach them the ways of their mistress. Even had some freaky doctor lady come by and help with their transitioning into proper Dead Apostles. He really thought he had seen it all by now. Well maybe not all of it, but a lot of it. Though nothing would have prepared them for today. He was off to do start the nightly duties when it began.
An explosion had ripped through the warehouse they were in and obliterated the defenses of the bounded field that had been set in place incase of an intruder. Adrian was the first to go being caught up in said explosion along with Alexei, who had confronted said intruder before being wiped out in just a few blows.
Octavius and Jack were obliterated when they tried to use magecraft on the woman in intruder when he got a better look at her. His eyes widened and he felt fear paralyse him as he watched the woman break through their magecraft with a single kick and sent them kareening through a wall. Those eyes were all he needed to know that he was out of his league. They all were and she was coming for them all.
He took off, abandoning his post and began to make his way down to lower levels of the warehouse facility had kept hidden. He had to let his Mistress know. This was not a drill. His comrades were getting slaughtered effortlessly and he was going to be next. He caught Johnny and Kraven as they made their way to where they could hopefully be safe from the force of nature that was making her way towards them. Dragon was next to go, sent flying to who knows where as he tried to stop the intruder.
Next to fall were poor Victor and Matthew. They didn't even get a chance as the steel doors shut behind them impeding on the intruder's progress. Hopefully, they would have a moment as they could hear their unfortunate comrades were be slaughtered one by one until their was no noise left.
They thought they were in the clear, but an arm shot effortlessly through the large steel door and grabbed Kraven by the head and proceeded to slam his head into said door over and over.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Igor watched in fear as Kraven's head became more and more bloody and unrecognizable with each time it hit the steel wall before the offending arm dropped him to the ground and slid back slowly through the hole it had just made. He was knocked onto the cold, hard ground as Johnny was vaporized as a beam of pure destruction ripped through the door with ease.
Before he could scramble to his feet, a figure emerged from the cloud of smoke and dust, grabbing ahold of him by the caller and he felt his fear incarnate anew a thousand times over. Vibrant red hair, glowing blue eyes, and snow white skin. She was dressed in a white t-shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and a pair of boots. She needed no introduction. She spoke in a tone that sent waves of fear throughout his body as she effortlessly lifted him up into the air and slammed him into the wall.
"I think its time we have a little chat about a certain doctor that has been helping your boss perform some experiments on your new recruits. I gave your Mistress ample time for her and the rest of you to clear out before I started my search. Seems like some of you didn't get the memo, don't ya think?"
The grin on the woman's lips grew wicked as her cold, glowing blue eyes burned holes into his. "You're going to give me every bit of information on one freaky doctor that you can possibly give me from that pea sized brain of yours. Let's get started, Shall we?"
Annnnnnnnnnnnd cut!
This is a wrap on this chapter! Thank you all for tuning in and enjoying this fanfic! I felt this would be a good time to add a little bit of flare and action here and there. While this is a fic where it focuses on Shirou and Lorelei, I will need time to build up where i want to properly take this fic. While i won't be heading towards a harem route, I am not yet comfortable writing drama between more than two characters. Please be patient, the best stuff has yet to come. With this, I bid you all a good night or day until next time. Please enjoy the short omake I have written after this lengthy chapter. Also, thank you to Zephyr, Eru, and AidenMC for helping me with this chapter!
(1) Getabako - a Japanese cupboard for shoes.
(2) Kyūdō - Japanese Archery or "The way of the bow".
Omake 2: The Chef, The King, and the Queen
Shirou could only sigh as he watched the two individuels argue over who got the right to claim him as their personal chef. To his left was his wife, Lorelei Barthomeloi, the Vice Director and the Queen of the Clock Tower. To his right, Arturia Pendragon, The Once and future King of Britannia and his former servant, Saber. He remembered how this whole argument even occured in the first place.
When Lorelei teased him about taking him as her personal chef, Saber, somehow and someway, though he wasn't sure if he wanted to know, had popped into existence and declared Shirou as her royal chef.
This had led to them begin bickering for the next thirty minutes over every technicality for which one would be better suited to claim Shirou as their chef. This... battle has been going on for thirty minutes now and he was just about to lose his mind if he continued to listen them bicker any further.
"You are supposed to be in Avalon, your Majesty, as my Husband, Shirou Emiya is therefore my personal husband chef and shall only cook for me and those i permit to taste the precious cooking of his." Lorelei counter claimed the King's previous claim with this one as Saber immediately had another counter claim ready and waiting of her own.
"And I thought I had stated that Shirou was my personal royal chef. For he is the one I have selected to join me in Avalon for he may cook me all those tasty meals he cooks for me and me alone. Fret not, for I am generous king, and may be so inclined to share from time to time. Provided you have a way of reaching Avalon of course."
"Would you really be so pity as to separate a wife from her beloved husband?" Lorelei rebounded. She was playing the "poor wife card".
"Cease thy tongue, foul girl! You only care for the precious and tasty cooking of Shirou! Its the food you're after and I for one can't stand by and watch as you use him for your dasterly deeds!" Saber shot back, not falling for it in the slightest.
Before either of them could continue as a slurping sound could be heard directly across from Shirou. All three occupants froze, only to look up and gaze in shock and befuddlement at the newest occupant at the small round dining table.
There, sitting in the chair and slurping down a bowl of home made ramen, was the one and only son of Arthur Pendragon, was Mordred. She had paused for but a moment and looked at the three other occupants and addressed the elephant in the room in the only way Mordred can.
"Don't look at me, I don't care which one of you wins this shitfest of a spout off. I'm staying with chef mom."
The silence in the room could be heard from a mile a way before all hell broke loose. "GET HER!" Lorelei and Saber shouted before they tackled Mordred and all three of them began fighting in a dust cloud over a bowl of ramen Shirou had made only a day or so ago. They broke the table in the process... Rin was definitely going to kill him now. They spent good money on such a quality table.
To be continued...