So, I kinda went batshit insane and wrote the whole fight in one sitting. Turned out to like, 20 or so pages. Got so fucking hyped I had to go touch grass at night to get back to normal.
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"So, we're here again."
I found myself sat in Emiya's remarkably clean living room once again, idly twiddling my thumbs under the warmth of the broody teenager's kotatsu. Across from me was Saber and beyond her, Sakura and Rin. There was a small but, terribly awkward distance between the two sisters.
Saber brought her hands together, "So we are, my countryman."
From time to time, the legendary King who pulled the sword from the stone would have her eyes wander to the kitchen, following the flavorful scent of Shirou's cooking. I didn't blame her.
"How's the war for you so far?"
Her eyes met mine again, "Unexciting, that is ideal."
A prim, and strategic answer. A terribly boring one.
"Isn't that just because you're so weak you went under everyone's radar?"
"...That is-"
"Have you even fought anyone, besides me?"
"Berserker and Rider. Both fled, and my master did not acknowledge my desire to hunt them down. Even now, he declines my offer to lop off your head and be done with it."
In any Grail War, the rules went unobserved. This meant that the cleanest path towards complete victory was to not target the other heroic spirits, but instead their masters. Of course, magi were too pompous for such a vulgar thing.
"I don't get why magi are so against targeting each other when they're so into doing the most nefarious stuff for what they want." I shrugged my shoulders. "I came across a guy that cut up his own daughter just for political cover."
For a beat, the King held her silence, then, "You misunderstand, magus of the modern age. It is my master's compassion that stops him, not some misplaced sense of nobility."
"And yours is pretty real, yeah? Was it honor that-" I made a show of putting a hand over my heart, "- made you raise your blade to little old me on sight~?"
"The provocation was yours. A knight's honour is in his liege's victory, all else is irrelevant against that."
Her words were... somewhat unexpected. I was certain that her honor would be like the tales of chivalry and knighthood romanticised by fantasy and liberal artistic choices in the depiction of history, not this.
Her approach was realistic.
But, some small part of me couldn't help but feel disappointed with that.
"You do not approve?" She let her head fall to the side, curiosity written across her face.
"Eh," I shut my eyes, trying to come up with the words, "I guess I was looking forward to a, um, story-like knight? You know, the heroic kind that's famous all over the world for being just and all that... Well, think of it as a childish wish."
When I opened my eyes, I noticed that Saber's face had grown a tad conflicted. Her lips parted ever so slightly, and her hands were clenched shut.
"I thank you for the praise... but that is not the sort of King I was."
"Nah, you were. That's what the world remembers, and your people were proud of." I scratched the back of my head, "I'm pretty sure your Round Table would agree. And that's exactly why I'll drag you back to London no matter what."
That had been my promise to Gray, and by God was I going to fulfill it.
"Towards what-" She shook her head, "-I am certain we will come to blows once more, for our wishes."
"I don't have a wish."
I was participating in the Grail War for the love of the game, and not particularly enjoying it towards that end, honestly.
"Then..."
"I love mystery, and I love my legends."
"It is an inevitable-"
I turned towards Shirou in the kitchen, cutting her off, "Yo Shirou, you gonna fight me?"
He peered over with a blank face, "Not unless you give me reason to."
"And do you have a wish?"
"No, I want to end the ritual. So that something like the Fuyuki Incident doesn't happen again." He responded seriously, words full of conviction. It'd look a lot more heroic if he wasn't wearing an apron and holding a pot in both hands. "No matter what."
I sensed a 'but' in there somewhere.
"But, Sakura comes before that. I won't leave her."
Woah.
He was even smiling. Just a bit, a shadow of a smile, but it was still there. That was some real improvement over a constant deadpan.
"Well, you don't have to worry, I'm gonna rip that thing apart anyway."
Verily, I had every intention of dismantling every bit and bob of both the Lesser Grail, and the Greater Grail of Fuyuki. How could I not? A wish-granting device capable of materialising heroic spirits from the Throne of Heroes. I was frothing at the mouth for the chance to study such an incredible mystery.
Shirou acknowledged my incredible ambition with a meagre hum, before returning to his cooking.
"How underwhelming~" I sighed to myself.
Compared to that, Saber was somewhat rattled by my words. Her knuckles were white from how hard she was clenching her fists. "To manifest the Greater Grail, you need all seven servants."
I dismissed her words with a wave of my hand, "Nah, Gilgamesh will more than do."
"And why are you so certain of victory?"
I let out a chuckle.
"Cause I'm the strongest~ Don't you know by now?"
"Such arrogance."
"I did beat you."
My words made her halt, and that halt made me cackle madly. She knew she had no ground to stand on so, she just ended up backing down with a shake of her head.
After all, if I died for my declaration, then her master's road to victory would be entirely cleared so long as they were quick enough. If I won... well, she definitely wasn't even considering that possibility. No one in their right mind would.
"Well," The silence broke when Shirou stepped out of the kitchen, unstrapping his apron, "The strongest will have to wait for a bit while I get celery from the grocery store."
""Ehhh,""
The first voice was mine. The second-
My head shot towards Saber.
She immediately averted her gaze, cheeks reddening.
"Shirou~, I didn't bring that for a reason! I hate vege-"
"No dinner without vegetables."
"You bastard!" I exaggeratedly fell on the table. "Why? Wait, I'll come with."
He held my gaze a moment, "Alright."
A blink and I was standing beside him, arm slung over his shoulder. At that moment I realised just how much shorter he was than me. Then, I recalled that the Shirou I met as a servant was as tall as I was...
"Buddy, how old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Barely safe," I let out a relieved sigh, "See, this is why I like you. You're to the point."
He stared up at me with that blank look on his face, "You like me? I thought you hated-"
"Don't mind the small stuff. Let's go already-"
Just as I had cut her Master off, Saber cut me off too, by smacking her hands on the kotatsu. "Master, I must advise against going with him without measures for your safety."
"It's fine, Saber."
"Yeah, Saber, listen to your Master." I stuck out my tongue.
Shirou reassured her calmly, "He won't do anything."
Definitely, I didn't plan on doing anything so he'd be fine... probably.
"He is your enemy."
At that, I couldn't help but scoff.
"Yeah, because an enemy would pretend to be your friend to lure you... huh, fair." I nodded to myself, crossing my one arm. "But I'm the sort of enemy that'd come at your face, possibly with my fist aimed at it. That kind of thing is for weak folks."
Shirou stared at for a long while again. Then, he smiled at Saber.
"I'll be alright. Don't worry."
He took a look at Sakura and Rin, who looked to be nervously sharing words outside, before beckoning for me to follow. We left through the opposite end, through his sizable front yard (still marked by cracks and craters) and out the grand doors onto a mostly empty street.
The walk was uneventful, save for a few curious stares from the locals and unintelligible words whispered under hushed breaths and averted eyes. As we rounded the corner onto the main road however, a pair of remarkably unremarkable goons blocked our path.
Both had dark hair cut extremely short, a scar on the lip or the cheek, and deep frowns on their face. They wore dark jeans, and darker shirts with the top few buttons left undone. Also, chains and rings.
Hey, one was even smoking a cigarette.
Shirou opened his mouth, but I held out a hand.
"Don't worry, Shirou. I got this. I have experience dealing with these types." I stepped in front of him, cracking my knuckles with a grin.
"Huh?!" The taller one grunted out.
"See, what you have to do, is you put the fear of god in them-"
"Hm." Shirou put a hand on my shoulder, then said something in his native tongue. One of the men let out a laugh before both of them gave a short bow and went past us, leaving nothing but the rustling breeze behind.
Honestly, I was left stumped.
Why had words worked with gangoons?
"Those were from Mr. Raiga's family. I do chores for the head from time to time."
Shirou resumed his walk. Meanwhile, I was left staring at the white back of his shirt, eyes wide.
That man had casually dropped the fact that he was doing 'chores' for a, what I assumed, yakuza family's head... and that they were close enough for them to bow to him.
I was forced to reassess my image of the youth.
"Damn Shirou, I didn't know you were like that."
I shook my head and hurried after him.
"Like what?"
"Don't be a boor, Shirou."
"Alright."
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Hope you enjoyed.
You can find 7 chonky chapters ahead at patre0n.com/Bleap