DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul Root A and Tokyo Ghoul:re and other products related to the TG Series are all owned by Sui Ishida, Shin Towada and Shueisha.

F/SN, F/Z, F/KPI and other products related to the Fate Series are all owned by TYPE-MOON, Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi.

Chapter 56: A new vow (Part 1)

Caren Hortensia scoffed at the annoying sunlight filtering from the nearby window, blinding her once or twice as she walked deep in the old warehouse.

This place seemed abandoned, yet she was quite sure that Shirou's message hadn't been falsified in any form. The Emiya was there but for now he seemed to elude her sight.

It had been a sudden call, one that left her tip-toeing over what could have happened to the redhead. The third-rate Magus was good enough to keep up with the dangerous Ghouls festering the city but she would be an utter fool to consider him invincible for every situation.

Mortal, foolish and incredibly naive.

The nun sighed tiredly as she was greeted by a young woman. Pale-pink short hairs, her eyes bearing the same shade of the 'girlish' color and Caren found it curious for a simple human to have this kind of hair-color.

A special-case? It wouldn't be the first surprise in her recent career, but that didn't mean she was completely unfazed by the fellow female's appearance.

"You are Hortensia-san?" The question, quick and curt, was replied with a nod and the young lady proceeded to escort her inside.

As Caren stepped in the inner and deepest section of the building, her nose was hit by the smell of blood and medical alcohol, her eyes bestowed with the sight of a sleeping Shirou Emiya lying on a medical table, bandages covering around his body as he continued to rest quietly.

By his side were three individuals, two men and another woman, only one she knew about.

The first man, the one the nun recognized, was wearing a simple dark-gray sweater, reinforced pants and was holding some white trench-coat in his hands. He had pale gray eyes hidden by a pair of glasses and white-hair, a shade darker than hers, showing that it wasn't his natural hair-color.

An early graying? It wasn't uncommon for Magus to burn their Circuits to the point of experiencing that phenomenon, but she was quite sure this very individual, the Reaper of the CCG, was a mere 'human'.

She felt that Kishou Arima was hardly a human with the feats he managed to achieve during his years of service for the Ghoul-hunting organization, but there was anything that proved a direct connection to a Magecraft-induced predicament.

The second male, a younger fellow that was staring intensely at the sleeping redhead, was donning formal clothes and gloves, both bearing the same dark theme, hair pitch black and covering part of his face as only one of his eyes was visible.

He looked catatonic, almost absent to reality itself as he seemed to ignore her presence.

The third individual was actually the one showing some reaction to her appearance. Green eyes slowly turned to stare at her pure yellow orbs, an intrigued smile capturing quite the curious expression on the shorter of the three.

A simple pink-purplish robe was covering her body, bandages visible from the loose sleeves and the bare feet. It was quite the troublesome character, Caren didn't even need to hear her talking to know that it was indeed the case.

Yet now that she thought about it… wasn't that the author?

She did bear some resemblance with the meek-looking book-writer… and yet her whole appearance, different from her first encounter, did show a completely different personality, a more out-going and pragmatic one.

"So you are Caren Hortensia-san?" The green-haired woman stated with some amusement dripping in her voice. "You do seem fairly young and strong for a 'simple nun'."

The daughter of Kirei Kotomine wanted to scoff at the way she was being addressed as, knowing full well that Shirou had to have described her in a very limited light, astray from revealing the complex inner-workings of her current affiliations.

The Holy See wouldn't also enjoy knowing that even more individuals knew about the shady business going beyond the public eye so the nun decided to spare the Emiya from a future lecture about being a little more 'eloquent' and 'truthful' when talking about her.

Her resolve was also influenced by the small metallic table standing by the medical bed, some open containers showing some bloodied pieces of metal being placed there from a previous surgery.

Shrapnel, Caren deduced as she approached the small group. The Magus had to have been hurt by some explosion, a small relief that he didn't seem to be neither in pain nor within the chance of losing his life.

"That is my name, yes." There was an implicit 'Who am I talking to?' in her tone, the green-haired girl's smile widening at that silent jab.

"Eto Yoshimura at your service, Caren-chan." There was a planned pause, then she continued. "But I wonder why Shirou decided to contact you of all people? Prayers hardly work in precarious situations-"

"But do help in making sure that there is still hope within ourselves." The interruption was careful, returning fire with fire and without escalating to an unbearable chit-chat. "I think my presence was motivated by the fact I do have the means to contact the other important people to him."

Wrong comeback, the nun chided herself for being this antagonistic and provocative in this very situation, knowing that this wasn't certainly the moment to-

"Poking a sore spot, Nun-chan?" There was some barb in her tongue, yet her smile persevered in that incensed return. "Didn't know someone like you could have relationships within your religion."

"An easy mistake, which I forgive you for." Calm and steady, a pale smile finally forming in her gorgeous face. "But yes, I would love to nurse him back to a healthier state."

The loose reference to an innuendo wasn't lost by the fellow woman, her lips twitching in a minor scowl before turning in a full-fledged pout. But while both were wasting time with that back-and-forth, Arima sighed tiredly as he contemplated the sound decision of the King to have someone with this kind of attitude around to help.

Right now it seemed like she worked best as an opposing figure compared to Eto than the crutch require right now.

The CCG had mobilized as reports regarding some unpleasant connections between the late Kanou and the Washuu were found by the Tokyo Police Department. Reporters were flocking at the opportunity to poke where it was possible and where it had yet to be poked into, pushing the PR department to have thrice the work than usual.

Contacts within the headquarters confirmed some strange air going on, Investigators looking unsure about what was going on with the upper echelon and the Reaper knew that the storm was merely beginning to form.

While Kanou's death formalized the beginning of this endgame, he was certain that Tsuneyoshi wasn't going to go down without a fight. The old man, stubborn and going senile, knew little of how to deal with this much dangerous coverage against them and thus upping the pace about their plans was a must.

Vasuki had yet to bring anything remotely close to an escalation, but it wasn't much difficult for Kishou to spot some uneasiness with the contacts he had within the group. There was a man-hunt for possible traitors, rumors of a purge being stifled by the main leadership as they disguised this investigation as a 'cautious' move to avoid any unpleasant surprise.

"Caren-san." His voice cut through the brief war between the two females, bringing the attention of both on him. "If it is possible to have those Shirou-san values as his family and allies alerted quickly, we would be grateful."

The nun blinked, her features returning back to the composed mask that had predated the brief amused expression that festered on the one-eyed Ghoul's lacking argument over the redhead.

"It can be done." One of her hands dropping on one of her pockets in her complex dress, but pausing from bringing up her phone. "Yet I wish to know more about what is going on."

A trust of faith, one that Arima was ready to pass as the whole case demanded his surrendering over those facts.

"I shall explain it, but I have to tell you that it will not be a short explanation."

"I'm already there." She stated quietly. "I don't believe the length of such story will be an excuse to not hear about this."

And so the Reaper spoke to the nun.

This was an hallucination-no, a nightmare.

Kiritsugu Emiya groaned in his hands as he had been allowed to find a seat in the public part of the coffee shop, sipping at his bitter beverage from the cup offered by the pest in front of him.

Decades had passed since he had last seen her and yet he still felt like even this late wasn't enough to make him ready for this finding. Roma Hoito, the crazy Ghoul he had to unfortunately have around to deal with one of his first solo missions, was there and working as the waitress of this establishment.

The Magus Killer wasn't sure if the owner, Yoshimura, knew the true identity of the smiling terror in front of him, the old man currently away from the area as the other employs went along with their work.

All were giving him wary looks, the little failed attempt at the young man wearing that white eye-patch still fresh on everyone's mind and urging them to be careful around him as they knew that he was dangerous.

All except the giggling Ghoul poking fun at him.

"C'mon, Kerry! It's been what? Thirty years since I last saw you, you should be happy to see my jolly face." The fact she was whispering all of this meant that his suspicions that nobody knew about her real self were concrete.

He didn't deign an answer to the cheerful monster, knowing that giving attention to her was like giving a child a sweet-overload, which wasn't the ideal case for his current headache.

"You know! Uki-chan, the blonde human ended up marrying Yoshimura-san!"

...What?

Seeing his interest, the young-looking woman giggled again. "I think she got fired, her editor didn't like her 'adventurous touch' and so she-"

Decided to become an upstanding citizen of society?

"-Decided to investigate about V in a super-secret fashion. You should have seen her getting so much documentation on them and then getting so much of Yoshimura-kun in her-"

"Quiet!" He finally snapped in a furious whisper, the girl sighing but showing some smug at having achieved some reaction out of him. Twenty-nine years have passed and she was still as insufferable as back then.

"Anyway, they got kid, then Uki-chan was killed by meanie jerk I killed later on and Yoshimura-kun ditched Eto-chan on some dude that died few years later."

This was one of the messiest tale he had ever listened to, even Ryuunosuke Uryu, Caster's Master in the Fourth Holy Grail War, paled in craziness compared to the nutcase he was dealing with. It didn't help that he didn't have anything to fend off in case she just decided to skip the pleasantries and tried to murder him on the spot.

A sane individual wouldn't risk in broad daylight and with so much attention on them, yet he knew very well that Roma would easily ignore any 'dangerous' elements between her and her objective.

This wasn't the best situation.

Yet as he sighed and waited for another topic to be drafted by the lunatic woman, the waitress stood up. "I will talk with you later, Kiritsugu-san. I am happy to know that my service did leave you a happy customer!"

The cunning Ghoulette gave a little curtsie before returning to her work, together with the eyepatch boy and the glaring girl accompanying the clumsy teen around.

Relief was quick to wash upon his mind as he found himself freed from that dreadful predicament and given the chance of finding some rest while reading some of the local newspaper-

"Hey, Jiji, is this place occupied?" Eyes twitching at being called 'Grandpa', Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes at the two young girls looking at him and, while the brunette looked embarrassed at her friend's wording, the responsible of such question seemed unfazed by his usually intimidating stare.

A brief pause that was filled by a simple staring competition, one that Kiritsugu decided to gave up on by nodding at the blunt girl.

The blue-haired teen relaxed at the gesture and proceeded to sit on the opposite seat of his own, the fellow girl following her example without giving a glance at him, eyes directed at the texture of the table.

As the glaring waitress passed around to pick the girls' order, the Emiya's hopes of being left alone by the two new intruders seemed to fail miserably as he was once more compelled by the curious girl. "Are you new, Jiji? I don't think I have ever seen you before."

Why he was being forced to endure such predicaments?

Maybe it was the fact he had done some questionable and terrible things in the past but…

He sighed. "Isn't it rude to call someone your elder in such disrespectful way, young lady?"

The brunette spared a glance at her friend, hand shyly tugging at her sleeve to try to get her attention. Sadly this attempt failed, the blue-haired pest humming as a small, devious smile developed in her face.

"But I was just addressing the fact you are old, Jiji-san."

A very disrespectful youth. His lips twitched in annoyance but he refrained to rebuke the girl's statement. Then she charged once more.

"My name is Saiko Yonebayashi." She nodded to herself. "Now I'm not rude there, Jiji-san."

The Magus Killer sighed at the persisting tone of the girl and decided to amuse her just this once. It wasn't like something terrible was going to happen if he revealed his name… right?

"Kiritsugu Emiya." He replied curtly, noticing just a moment later the sudden wide-eyes from both girls. "Something's wrong?"

Saiko slammed her hands on the table standing up with an angry look. "Who are you?!"

AN

So we are back on track with Caren and Eto bickering, Arima trying to break their conflicts and Saiko facing Emiya-jiji.

Sadly, no omake today as I am feeling quite tired (Started to write after re-watching RWBY's Vol2 with my younger sister, my brain hurts…).

P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

REVIEW Q&A!

Vendre: You thought it was the Bieber, but it was I, the author! (Context: I currently use both 'SocialistBukharin' and my other moniker 'JustBukharin' to address myself, did forget to mention that at the time.)

Kydomos: She does seem to have quite the attachment for our Emiya boy, I don't think it would be stretching

KRKing: I wrote that Omake out of need to bash some people saying I was going to hard between the two characters being shipped but… they are adorbs! Also yes, next chapter some Kirei-Kerry action- Wait, no! I meant- Let me explain- BZZZZZZZZZZZ!