CHAPTER 8:

KARIYA MATOU

Morgan received this Japanese Magus within her study, with Totorot and Barghest with her. She wanted to be sure about this human, and while she couldn't be certain that this was an elaborate bluff, her Fae Eyes helped reassure her. His intentions were far from malicious.

"I find myself curious as to why a Japanese journalist, and a Magus to boot, is in one of the more remote parts of the British Isles," Morgan said. "You only wanted to track down the writer of The Tales of Tonelico?"

"Yeah. Not to expose them or anything. I was just kind of hoping for an interview," Kariya said. "I was actually in Britain covering another story, but I had enough time to spare to do something I was looking into for years."

"And that was nosin' into my affairs?" Totorot asked.

"Look, I just happened to see a letter with this address with your pseudonym on it while I was asking around at the agent you have in Edinburgh," Kariya said. "I only intended to ask for an interview, and if I was refused, I'd drop the matter. I'm not like one of those muckrakers or paparazzi they have in too much of the press, I don't want to impinge on decent people's privacy any more than I have to for my job. Honestly, if I'd known you were a Fae, I wouldn't have bothered coming up here. And to see the Boy Who Lived here…I kept abreast of the wizards' affairs, if only to know where to steer clear. They're particularly bad in Europe and the United States, as bad as Magi at times. Look, if you want a geas scroll binding me to silence about you and/or Harry Potter, I'll sign it. I won't be happy, but if it's a choice between that and pissing Fae off…"

"While I could prepare one if you insist, hopefully, that won't be necessary," Morgan said, before frowning. "In fact, I believe that Zelretch mentioned your family in passing, something about helping your ancestor, one Zolgen Makiri, or rather, Zouken Matou as he is now known, establish some ritual or other."

Kariya scoffed. "I doubt the Wizard Marshall would ever want anything to do with that monster ever again, not after what he became. And if you're wise, you'd stay away from Zouken Matou too. He is one of the most foul and vile Magi to ever live. If I could've killed him, I would have. Unfortunately, the old monster is more tenacious than Voldemort."

Morgan found herself intrigued, despite herself. This man hated his ancestor so much, it was hard to fake. "You have no love lost for your ancestor, then?"

Again, Kariya scoffed. "He pretends to be my father, and that's how he's listed on my birth certificate, but he's a monster with no love for anything but causing pain and misery, as well as prolonging his existence. Don't get me wrong, I hate most Magi too. I used to know this stuck-up, pompous, pretentious ass known as Tokiomi Tohsaka, but while he's full of himself, I think he's a decent family man."

"Tohsaka…another one of the founding families of the ritual Zelretch mentioned," Morgan mused.

"The Holy Grail War," Kariya said. "Are you aware of what Servants are?"

Morgan nodded. "So Servants are involved?"

"Yeah. Seven Servants, from seven classes, summoned to fight to the death. The last Servant standing and their Master can then claim a wish from the Holy Grail. Not the Christian object, but some sort of powerful magecraft reactor that can potentially emulate True Magic."

"I am somewhat aware of what a Holy Grail is," Morgan said. "I am unfamiliar with the Grail War, but I came across knowledge of some magecraft from this timeline. In any case, it seems like an extravagant amount of effort to put into such a paltry thing."

"Oh, I know. I heard something from the old monster that the Holy Grail can potentially reach Akasha."

Morgan stared at him flatly. "A shortcut to Akasha…even though the Counter-Force may raise an objection? What fools these Magi be, to paraphrase Shakespeare. I'd be more curious about a more general wish, but that is it: just curiosity. In any case, Totorot, would you like to answer Mr Matou's questions?"

"Sure, within reason, I guess," Totorot said.

Morgan nodded. However, if this Kariya Matou proved false, he would live just long enough to regret it. That, she guaranteed…

"So, what's a journalist?" Melusine asked.

Baobhan Sith wrinkled her nose, even as she and Harry bustled around the kitchen, making tea for the three of them, after making some for Barghest, Morgan, Totorot, and Kariya. Ector had gone to his smithy. "Supposedly, people who go around and report the news. You know, like town criers. I thought they had newspapers even in Salisbury."

"Oh yes, they had those, I just didn't know the ones finding and writing news were called journalists," Melusine said. "I'd only been in Lady Aurora's service for less than a month before Morgan summoned me to court, and I spent that time training myself."

"Are the Fae newspapers as sensationalistic as some of those here?" Harry asked.

Baobhan Sith shrugged. "I dunno how bad they are here, but the ones in the Lostbelt? Fae love sensation and excitement. Truth, not so much. Keep in mind, Harry, Fae who are actually creative are pretty rare. Most of us just ape things we've seen elsewhere. I want to believe I can be an exception to the rule, but…"

"Don't worry," Harry said, gently patting the redhead's hand. "It's not like humans are all creative either."

Baobhan Sith chuckled. "Yeah, fair enough."

"…While Kariya doesn't look like the type, I've had a bad experience with journalists, one in particular called Rita Skeeter," Harry said, before shuddering. "She was a bitch of the highest order, that one. Turned into a beetle to spy on others, illegally. I mean, the spying was illegal, but she also had an unregistered Animagus form."

"…Wow. All that to sell newspapers? So, how do we know this Kariya Matou guy won't do something like that?"

"Morgan must reckon he's all right," Melusine remarked.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I dunno about Kariya, but I'd make a better journalist than Rita Skeeter. I'd tell the truth more often for starters. Or at least not make shit up just to sell newspapers. Next time Hermione is here, I should ask her what happened to that cow Skeeter."

Baobhan Sith frowned, before she said, "Maybe that's what you should do. Journalism, in the way you want to?"

His musing had been idle, but with Baobhan Sith remarking on it, he wondered if he should seriously consider it. He'd remembered the Tintin comics that Hermione had introduced him to, of the globe-trotting adventuring journalist. And Spider-Man, as Peter Parker, worked as a journalist too, as did Sarah Jane Smith from Doctor Who.

Seeking the truth and enlightening others appealed to him. So much bullshit had been told about his life and those of others, maybe he could start countering it. Yes, that was an intriguing thought indeed.

"…Thanks, Baobhan Sith," Harry said. "I dunno whether it's what I want to do, but it's something I'm going to think about."

The vampiric Fae smiled. "Hey, you're welcome, Harry. If anything, I should be thanking you." Her expression fell. "Humans tended to be nicer to me than the Fae, but a lot still feared me because, well, I drank their blood. Only from the consenting, but even so…still, some humans actually thanked me when I helped them, and were sincere. I…it's a distant memory, but you remind me of him, of Uther. I met him a few times before he was betrayed and murdered. He even promised, as did Aesc, to adopt me. He never did, dying before he could do so, and Aesc…I'm glad she came back for me eventually, and yet…I wish it had been sooner."

Harry rubbed her back, as soothingly as he could. Even though both Baobhan Sith and Morgan had only hinted at what had been done to her, it was enough to make Harry disgusted at the Fae of Darlington. He'd grown used to Baobhan Sith, and while he wasn't exactly willing to let her drink his blood, especially as she made it clear it was optional, he knew that she was a good, if damaged, young woman…well, young in appearance. She did have a bit of a sadistic streak, but as long as she reined it in and didn't inflict any pain on the relatively innocent, he didn't really care. He was surprised she wasn't more sadistic after what she hinted she went through.

Still, his distrust towards them was ebbing away. It would be there for some time yet to lesser degrees, true, but Totorot and Ector had taken him in when he had almost everything stripped from him. His memories, his dignity, and his safety. Morgan had restored his memories, given him back some dignity and sense of self, and then, offered him sanctuary when she saw something of herself in Harry. And the whole household of Fae from another timeline had made him feel welcome, more than Hogwarts did, at least beyond a certain point.

Barghest chose that moment to enter. "The interview has finished," she said. "Morgan is just asking Matou some questions that interest her, but he wanted to speak with you, Harry. I warned him you may not be amenable, but he reassured me this isn't going to go to the Daily Prophet or other such publications. He says he tries to work for reputable publications, not 'glorified tabloid rags better suited for toilet paper'. His words, not mine."

Harry snorted in laughter. "Okay, I'll humour him…"

Now that he came to think of it, Kariya reminded Harry a little of Remus. The same sort of diffidence and self-effacing demeanour, even a touch of self-loathing. The man in question was laughing at some anecdote Morgan was relating as they re-entered the study.

"So, sorry to ask the obvious, but…why am I back here?" Harry asked.

"Sorry, that was my request," Kariya said. "I may not be that much of a Magus by their metric, but I kept my ears open about developments all over the Moonlit World, including Magical Britain and MACUSA. I'm sorry you had to go through such bullshit, Harry. Anyone with a lick of sense would see that the Ministry here wanted you railroaded. I dunno how much my opinion means to you, I'm not a wizard, nor do I know you, and I thought that Boy Who Lived shit was…well, just that. You were saved either by something your parents did, or because Voldemort got cocky and did something stupid."

"…Glad someone noticed," Harry said, a little archly, but also a bit grateful for Kariya's blunt assessment.

"Look…Voldemort was dangerous, but there are Magi out there who'd eat him for breakfast, like that monster I am forced to call a father, or Kiritsugu Emiya. Now there's a boogyman of the Moonlit World. The Magus Killer may have only targeted Magi, but if Voldemort ever got his attention, he'd have gone down sooner. Then again, Emiya's been rumoured to be in semi-retirement for the past little while."

Morgan frowned. "I presume Emiya is an assassin, given his name? I know of him a little by reputation."

"Yeah, a mercenary with one of the scariest reputations in the world. The rumours I heard say that he ended up being shacked up with one of the von Einzbern family. Never thought those cold-hearted German Homunculi would deign to have an outsider mingling with their blood, but maybe they're hoping to have him help out with the next Holy Grail War. I'd say good luck to them, but I'd rather Tokiomi Tohsaka gets the Grail. He's a snobby elitist asshole, but he's better than either Zouken or the von Einzberns. I'm going to stay out of Fuyuki during that clusterfuck, and if you guys were smart, you would too. It'd probably take place a year from this coming January."

"I'll take your advice under consideration," Morgan said. "Rest assured, I have little interest in Magi and their petty attempts to reach Akasha. I want a quiet and fulfilling existence if I can, even if fate seems to make a mockery of such ambitions. So keep this in mind, Kariya Matou. I am gratified Totorot's adaptation of my life has given you pleasure and comfort. But should you divulge anything discussed here without permission and outside the remit of a press interview…you will regret it."

"…Oh, don't worry. One of the unofficial rules of the Moonlit World is that you don't fuck with the Fae," Kariya said. "And unlike some Magi, I don't want to put that one to the test. If you want, I'll sign a geas scroll, both about you and your entourage, and about Harry. I see the way you look at them all. I'd go to hell and back to protect my honorary nieces, Rin and Sakura, as well as their mother, Aoi."

"I see…"

Kariya finally left, though Morgan actually allowed him to take contact details. However, she was left looking out the window as he left, deep in thought, pondering a decision. One that could affect her, and everyone in her household.

What Kariya said about the Holy Grail was intriguing when she probed further. The creation of those arrogant Magi could approach True Magic…but for the last Master and Servant standing, they would also be able to get any wish they desired. Which roused her curiosity. After some probing, he admitted it could even bring back the dead, or so Zouken Matou claimed. It did so already, as the Servants were derived from already-deceased heroes and famous figures, but that was a limited version of Heaven's Feel. And what her other self did with Baobhan Sith was to a recently-deceased Fae, not someone long dead, so again, only a limited form of Heaven's Feel. But to bring someone back permanently, and in decent health…

Morgan did admit, the possibility of the Grail being able to reach Akasha intrigued her. But her intrigue was tempered by caution, as the Counter-Force tended to react poorly to any attempts at reaching Akasha without its leave. And she was easily one of the most powerful magic users in the world, and long-lived to boot. A True Magic would be a nice feather for her cap, but ultimately, it'd be little more than that.

But there was something else to the Grail. If it could genuinely bring about a wish of such magnitude, then perhaps it could be of use. Either for herself, or for Harry. After all, it could bring someone back from the dead. Or many someones.

Hmm, food for thought, at least for now. But perhaps a thought to put on hold for now. Especially as she wasn't even sure she had anyone she wished to bring back from the dead. Uther was pretty much the only one, and…well, she knew him well enough to know that he'd choose duty before love every time. And the Rain Clan…most of them went to their deaths to save her willingly. Even if the Grail could bring them all back, would they thank her for it? And what place did they have in this timeline?

And to tell the truth, there was something developing within her, regarding Harry. Some sort of affection for him. She wasn't sure if this was just a strong friendship, or whether her feelings for Uther had transferred to someone both like him, and like her.

Still, she needed to give herself time to mourn Uther. It had been somewhat over a month between his death and her coming to this world, and she had now spent a few weeks here, not counting the time she spent asleep. Fae tended to be fickle, but she liked to believe she was far less fickle than most.

She would give it time, time to see if those feelings bloomed, and if they were reciprocated. She was patient, she could wait. She did not wish to rush into things, and hurt herself and Harry. She'd come to value him as a friend and companion. She didn't want to lose those to an error of judgement…

So, do you see, Child of Prophecy?

…Yeah. I mean, I still found it hard to watch, given what Queen Morgan did, but…I'm glad she could be happy. But…would she accept me? Especially given that I had a role to play in Queen Morgan's demise, not to mention Baobhan Sith?

She would accept you. Her decision to flee rather than continue her work saddened me, but I could understand it. 'Tis why I protected her and her comrades old and new from the hazards of Proper Human History, to a point. I gave you this opportunity because…you need some Spring Memories, memories of happiness that you did not get until Chaldea made themselves known. My counterpart would have agreed. While an aspect of you will remain on the Throne of Heroes, ready to be summoned by those who have need of you…you will be given another chance at life, to help not only this Morgan, but also your counterpart from Proper Human History. A threat we can only see hints of, and yet are not unlike the Calamities plaguing your timeline, lurks there. And Morgan, the half that only desired a peaceful life, keeping her heart, will be drawn into it, along with your counterpart, the Once and Future King.

…Well, there's nothing for it. But…I will get some happier memories?

That is up to you. Soon, the time for your advent to this timeline will come…

CHAPTER 8 ANNOTATIONS:

Kariya and Morgan have had a discussion, Harry might be finding a new direction in life, Morgan's grappling with some decisions, and in some other plane of existence, enigmatic beings are being enigmatic. Though I'm sure at least some of you can guess the identity of at least one of those speaking.

Morgan is beginning to feel some feelings for Harry, but it's only been a little less than two months since Uther's demise (I'm not sure how much time passed between Uther being betrayed and Mash being put into stasis, so for the sake of an argument, that, plus Morgan's preparations for her rituals to split herself and to travel to PHH took about a month). So she's trying to suss things out.

Also, the thought of Harry being an intrepid journalist in the mould of Tintin or Sarah Jane Smith or Peter Parker is an appealing one. Hell, Sarah was awesome even in the classic series. While there were times when she got wimpy (I blame the writers), this is someone who masterminded an admittedly-failed escape attempt from the Thal dome (Genesis of the Daleks), figured out that the so-called survivors of humanity on an exodus spaceship were being conned (Invasion of the Dinosaurs), gained the dubious loyalty of a sentient robot (Robot), detonated a box filled with sweaty gelignite with a rifle from a distance with one shot, no scope (Pyramids of Mars), and helped bring down a murderous pagan cult (K9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend).

Now, you might be thinking, why not pair Harry with Baobhan Sith here? While I may yet consider such a story (I have a few ideas inspired by BLACK FLAME09 and their challenge), keep in mind, it's pretty much implied she was kept as the sex-slave of the ruler of Darlington prior to her going berserk. She is stated to be a prostitute, true, but who's to say she wasn't Grimalkin's sex-slave (she's certainly said to be his maidservant) in her penultimate life, and the other Fae just called her a prostitute just to further demean her? Anyway, my point is, if you read between the lines, she was a victim of rape. More than once, given how she was around when Aesc was saving the Lostbelt. And in any case, this is a Harry/Morgan story. That being said, because of her innate desire to please, while she cringes away at physical contact, she's fine with letting trusted people touch her and hug her.

No numbered annotations this time.