Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

Another thanks to Beta: MarksmanKNG

"Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye."

-Niten Dōraku

Chapter 8

It was cold and dark. That was the first thing the girl could remember as she stared up at the two adults holding a conversation beside her bed. There was an old lamp by the table on the bed that made the shadows dance as the fire flickered.

"You can't possibly be thinking of bringing her to over to the Mistress' home, are you, Gabrielle? That could get you kicked from your job! Besides, we don't even know where this child came from."

"The child has no home to return to Madame. Please, let me take care of her... I'll still do my job, I promise. Please... just this once please allow me this favor..."

"You get can both of us into trouble with this, if the Head Maid-"The stern gazed Assistant Head Maid stopped short as she noticed the little girl stirring. "We will continue this conversation elsewhere, for now go to your duties. Let me take care of the child for now."

"My thanks Madame... I'll see you later then, little one." The girl could not understand the words, but she grabbed on to the lapels of the kind maid's dress before she could leave.

"Please don't leave me..." A croaked and unused voice came from the child. She felt it, another person who had shown her even the slightest kindness leaving. As more of her mind awakened from her slumber, the girl remembered the pain. White hot blinding pain that was inflicted on her day by day.

She was a failure.

Tears flowed from her eyes as she slowly remembered more of the torture that had been inflicted on her. She felt a warm embrace on her, but she did not look up. Day by day, inside that damp and dark room, they had done painful and strange things to her. The girl hugged herself as she remembered the approaching scalpel, ready to cut her open again.

"Hush, hush, little one. I'll be here to take care of you. Don't cry, please don't cry."The woman stroked the girls head. She could see the visible signs of torture that the little girl had gone through. There were burn marks and bruises on the girl's pale skin. She could feel herself crying for the little girl. Who could have done this to such an innocent soul?

She might be have been an abused child. The torn and shredded corpse of a woman had been found outside of the mansion a few days ago. This child had been left on the gates with a letter on her. This girl was probably an orphan now. But how could they tell her that? That the person who was taking care of her had been killed by wild beasts.

A silent sob escaped the girl. For the first time in her life, she let the tears run freely down her cheeks. She cried. For the pain she had endured, for the hell that she had escaped, she cried. Why? Why was it that it was only her who lived? The weakest and a failure, why was she allowed to live when all the others had died. Why couldn't she have been the one to die?

The kind lady with glasses had come to her that night, she told her that they would escape together. She had told her that she would live a normal life, a happy life. Was it all a lie?

"Gabrielle..." The stern gaze softened at the sight. "You can take a day off for now, I'll assign Therese for you today." The aged matron's eyes reddened, but she did not let any other emotions show.

"Thank you Madame..." A light sigh escaped the old woman's lips, her face crinkling a little as she tried to smile.

"But make sure to take care of that child, alright? Don't slack off. Just because I let this slide once doesn't mean I'll allow it again. Ahh, heavens forbid, I think I'm getting softer with age..."The words were echoed as the Assistant Head Maid closed the door behind her as she left.

"It's alright little one, I'll take care of you..."

The girl let sleep take her as she lay there on the warm embrace of another. She prayed and hoped that once she woke up, that this was not a dream.

-0-

"Good morning, Rin." A warm voice welcomed the entrance of a person who looked like she just came out of a coffin.

"Aoko. Good morning… Coffee please Shi- Aoko." She cut herself before she could continue.

"You look like you still need some sleep. Here's a cup." Aoko Aozaki, housewife, a mother, a magus and the retired Vice Wizard Marshal of the Clock Tower. She was currently wearing an apron over her house clothes.

"So, how was last night? Find any clues yet?" Aoko waited patiently as the half-awake magus took a few long draughts of the coffee.

"…Sigh. I can't say it was a clue, but I guess that was better than nothing." Rin let a sad smile slip. "I just hope he and Illya are alright."

Over the years, a peaceful status quo had developed between the two. It was… their relationship was complicated to say the least. It all started when a fight had erupted between, the fiery little magus of the Tohsaka's and a certain idiot by the name of Emiya. Shirou had left Rin in London after that. A few years later, the red headed idiot had returned back to Japan with a pregnant Aoko in tow. That was when he found out that he actually had a daughter with Rin. Well, if Shirou might have guessed that what was causing her temper tantrums back then was that. Things wouldn't have gotten so complicated.

The idiot survived the two women's onslaught with almost half of the bones in his body broken, and he ended up with a shattered spine short of being dead. Oh he survived alright, he better did or something far worse could have befallen him. Someone had to… take responsibility. For both of them.

"Earth to Rin!"

The half-awake Rin nearly fell from her chair. A woman with red hair and chocolate brown eyes took the seat opposite her. She looked like she was in her mid 30's. Though like most of the family, she was far older than that. It was just that her mother looked far younger than her.

"Eris! What'd you do that for? You're as insensitive as your father." She could see the glumness in her expression being reflected on the coffee.

"Good morning Kaa-chan!" The cheerful and loud greeting lightened the earlier mood. "Good morning Rin."

"Eris, shouldn't you be greeting your mother first? And how come you call Aoko as mom and not me?" A smile was forming on her face.

"Eh? But Rin doesn't have any mother like qualities anyway right?" The smile on Rin's face further spread. "Rin? Why are you doing that again?"

"Doing what Eris-chan?"

"Gah-" Eris fell into a dogeza and profusely apologized before her biological mother could do anything else. Nothing good always came out of her smiles. "I'm sorry mother! This wayward daughter of yours was disrespectful. Truly!"

"By the way Eris-chan…Taiga is already about to get married too~. I wonder when will you be bringing a man home? At this rate, you'll end up an old maid. Ohh? But you already are. I'll make sure Miyuki won't grow up like you." Rin's innocent question prompted to tears to fall from the grown woman.

"Mooooooommmm! That's unfair. I already said I'm sorry."

"Oh? Did I hear anything there? I thought I heard an old maid crying."

"GAAHH! I can't hear you. I can't hear you. I can't hear you." Rin watched in satisfaction as the woman writhed on the floor from the imaginary arrows she received.

"There there Eris, I'm sure you'll find the right man someday." Aoko couldn't help but smile.

"Sniff. Sniff. Yeah, if only…"

"You do have the worst luck in men…"

"The last man you've been meeting was two-timing you right?" Eris ignored Rin's mischievous smirk and answered her question.

"No, actually, he was three-timing… Gahh! Aoko-kaa-chan! Rin is bullying me!"

"There, there now stop crying. I've cooked your favorite recipe today too."

"Curry?..."

"Of course. Now go get a towel and wipe that snot off your face. It's unladylike."

"Okay! Hmm hmm hmm~ Spicy curry~. Curry~."

Rin sighed at this. Her daughter was just too idiotic sometimes. Eris had inherited her father's looks but she had her mother's temperance and mental aptitude. Eris was known as a genius magus for coming up with ways to incorporate both science and thaumaturgy together. Though most of the traditionalists frowned at this, the new generation of magus had warmly welcomed it. But where she had gotten her childish attitude wasn't much of a mystery either. It was probably Illya's fault, or maybe older Taiga's…

As for Aoko, well, she had mellowed from being a mother.

"Why are you here Eris?"

"Huh? Are you still asleep Ri- I mean Mother? You asked me to come home to help you with that remember?"

Oh right. And there was someone else who had come home. A shadow fell on the contemplating magus.

"Good morning Rin-kaa-san, good morning Kaa-chan... Eh, when did you come home Nee-san? I didn't see you yesterday." Another female entered the room and sat on the chair opposite Rin. It was Taiga, Shirou's third daughter.

"Good morning Taiga." Rin greeted back.

"Neh, neh Taiga. It isn't true right? That you're about to get married right? I mean, you should let you older sister find herself a man first, right?"

"Uhhmm, ahahaha. Yeah… darling and I have decided to get married."

This made the older sister stumble back from the imaginary blow. Her dignity as an older sister already in shreds.

"Uwaaahh! Tou-san! Taiga has a boyfriend! And she's already about to get married!" Taiga instinctively covered her step-sister's mouth. She waited nervously for a certain redhead to appear rampaging through the house as he came. No one came.

"Phew. Don't scare me like that Nee-san. You know, if Tou-san heard that? He'd really make his way back here from that other dimension. And he just spoiled you too much."

The three people remained silent thinking about that statement. Yes, Shirou would most probably do that. He had the penchant of turning like the cold analytic Archer whenever his daughters were involved. He was scary like that.

"Eris. Can you go call Miyuki-chan over? Breakfast is almost ready." Aoko called out from the kitchen. They all noticed the slight tenseness in her voice but they didn't try to mention it.

It was a fact to them that Aoko was probably the one who missed Shirou the most aside from Arcueid that would be.

"I just hope Shirou isn't doing something so reckless in there." Rin's whispered words were unheard.

-0-

It was like a dance. A mesmerizing dance of glinting steel. It was not too much of an exaggeration to call the duel beautiful. Haidee watched from afar knowing that she would only be a hindrance if she partook in the battle. She could feel her breath being taken away by the sight before her. So this was what a battle between beings beyond human was like? She was not much of a master in the way of a sword. But she could instinctively tell that they were not yet truly fighting. The two swordsmen were tentatively probing each other. They were testing the other's strength and speed. Techniques were yet to be revealed.

In all her short life, she had never seen anything that could equal the brilliant swordplay being displayed by the two warriors.

Her Master's opponent was dual wielding two blades. If she could remember right, her Master called them the traditional pair of blades worn by ancient warriors of this land. The katana and the wakizashi, the former being symbolic of the samurais and the latter more often than not accompanying the former. In her Master's hand was a nodachi, a blade similar to a katana but straighter and longer. She could not tell from the distance, but she guessed it was probably more than a meter in length.

The nodachi in her Master's hands moved too fast for her to see. It was fast enough that it left afterimages in its wake. Curving, flowing like the turbulent currents of a river. The blade followed an arc with each cut. But her Master's opponent was no less skilled either. Each of their strikes were lethal, aimed to kill or maim their opponent. She sighed like a love struck woman.

She had followed the directions given by the old man at the bookstore that Shirou frequented. Her master never came home late unless something happened. Warning bells had been set off when Lucretia's old friend, the owner of the bookstore, called them telling them of what happened. She had rushed here immediately. His master's supposed sister would probably be arriving right about now.

A white haired woman dressed in a tight fitting black suit landed on Haidee's right, strange bird like things floating around her.

"How is Shirou?"

"Shirou-sama is holding out. They have not yet taken to fighting seriously. But I can say his opponent could be a dangerous one, a Heretic God. It would be wise to let Master handle this Illyasviel-sama."

"Hrrrmm…" Illya analyzed the two fighters. She could sense the absurd amount of prana that both were releasing. The levels she could sense told her that Shirou had released three of the 'seals'. That meant this situation wasn't looking too good. She would intervene if Shirou released the sixth seal. Hopefully, that 'seal' would do its job.

A memory resurfaced in her mind. It was the terrifying memory of what had happened when Shirou had nearly lost control of his power. Luckily, Shirou had somehow gained knowledge of a blueprint for a very strange sealing matrix. Shirou had told him that it was from one of his alternate reality's memories. But she didn't think so; it was too different from anything she had ever seen. It was too strange, ancient.

Illya had overworked herself for a week straight to recreate that seal matrix. She didn't know where Shirou had gotten it from, but she was impressed.

It was suppressing his draconic nature quite well.

"Haidee, secure the area. Make sure no one gets in the way if things get out of hand." She let prana run through her body, a red tinted light permeated from her as od ran through her circuits.

Magic circuits were imbedded in the soul, not the body. So it was a mystery to her how she had regained most of her circuits that she had lost after the ritual that prolonged her life. It was not close to the circuits that she previously had as a vessel for the grail, but it was still far above that of what an average magus held. But a lesser number of magic circuits did nothing to curb her brilliance as a magus.

Her research on the changes of Shirou's psyche had helped her in creating weapons that could enable her to hold out against any weaker Heretic Gods. The results of her 'experiments' had yielded to her that Shirou had the magic resistance that ranked at 'A'. Any magecraft targeted towards Shirou lesser than that would have either weaker or no effect to him at all.

She would have to prepare for something close to an A rank spell if things got out of hand. Illya began drawing inscriptions on the top of the building they were on. Haidee curiously looked towards the woman. She wanted to study the writings but her master's safety held priority. She watched on as the two swordsmen held their ground for another exchange while the magus beside her went over her preparations.

-0-

"You're holding back." Shirou gazed at the warrior.

"So are you… "

Shirou swiftly deflected the strike that had been aimed at his chest and retaliated immediately with a horizontal slash. It was blocked by the shorter blade. Shirou retreated hastily from the oncoming strike of the katana. He executed a rotation while slashing towards his opponent's feet. The longer range of his blade kept the Heretic God from continuing with his momentum. This had all happened within the span of but a few seconds. They had each been trying to find an opening but the other would immediately react to feint or defend. It was a game of patience. Who would be able to get the first strike in would win.

The magus tensed for a moment, as touki coated his body. He had learned much from the advice that the Dragon would impulsively drop to him. He had yet much to learn in how to use the strange energy, but one use he had learned from it was that it was pretty much compatible with his reinforcement. Touki allowed him to be able to reinforce his body to higher limits.

The ground below Shirou cracked and shattered from the sudden attack. He had blocked before his mind could comprehend what was happening. The force of the strike was too much throwing him back a few meters from his original position. His small body slammed on a protruding piece of rock. Dust obscured his location. So the ronin was upping the ante? Two could play at that game. An imaginary chain was unwounded from his heart. Another seal was released. Golden orbs glowed visibly even from the dust and debris.

From Shirou's perspectives, time slowed almost to a halt. Releasing the seal did more than just strengthen him, it brought him closer to being a dragon in the form of a human. His speed, his strength, his endurance, all of it doubled with every part of the seal released. But that was not all. Normally, a human's body could only take so much 'reinforcement', but being closer to a dragon than human increased his limits to insane levels. The feeling was addicting. He squashed the urge to release another chain from his seal.

The taste of power was alluring but with his current state of mind, nothing less than breaking his mind would redirect him from his current course of action.

'Faster.'

Shirou's blurred form shot straight towards the waiting ronin.

It was a trap. Prana had begun gathering around the Heretic God most likely in preparation of a powerful attack. He had realized too late because of the cover from the dust. He was unable to change direction and his speed was useless in midjump. Even with his increase in speed and power, it would be useless if he could not defend from the incoming blow.

"Man is born with nothing

To the earth he will return holding nothing

Initial Form, Strike of Non-thought."

Shirou adjusted his form midair with the nodachi's bladed edge facing upwards. He let the memory of the sword take him. It was unconventional, but it was necessary. The memory of a man who had trained for so long to achieve this one technique came to him. To cut a sparrow in midflight, this was what the man in the sword's memories aimed for. A sword technique that insulted the laws of physics, it was something that was almost on par with the second magic. Normally, the technique could only be used of flat ground. But he would have to make do with it if he wished to make it out of this unscathed.

"Tsubame-"

The swords in the Heretic God's hand enlarged themselves to massive proportions. Was it an illusion? Shirou almost paused at the sight. A shadow wielded the blades that could outsize a bus.

The Monohoshizao in his hands took over him, memories flowed to him. The most skilled swordsman from even the great collection of hero's from the Fifth Holy Grail War, Sasaki Kojirou.

"Gaeshi!"

Two curved arcs that rivaled the enlarged blades in size went straight towards the waiting ronin.

'Could he make it? He needed to.'

Shirou allowed one more seal to be released. The air around him turned bluish red from the thick mixture of prana and touki being released. An imaginary chain was unwrapped around his heart.

Both were thrown back from the force released by each other's strike. Shirou managed to land on his feet but he fell immediately. There was a gash to his right leg; it was near where his tendons were. He had been able to evade that cut at the last second. If it had gone any lower, he would have been deprived of his mobility, which was his greatest advantage in this battle. That would have then meant his defeat, unless he tried another means to win this battle aside from using pure blade skills.

But he could not do that. It was foolishness to think like this. But such was the strength of the curse of Pride.

The broken remnants of the nodachi turned into motes of prana as they fell.

This was to be expected. Or rather, he had underestimated the blade. Monohoshizao, was only of mortal make. It would not have lasted longer against the blade of a Heretic God.

Shirou looked towards where his enemy had fallen. They were both on their knees. But there was a hint of a smile on his opponents face. The ragged form of the man rose to his feet and made his way to Shirou. The magus prepared a hundred blades ready to be summoned at will if necessary. The Heretic God sheathed his blades in a show of non-aggression. He stopped not more than a meter from Shirou.

"This is enough. You are strong."

He could not help but feel some relief at those word. He was both glad and a little disappointed that the fight was over. This was the first time that he had been in a life and death duel since being reincarnated. It was strangely comforting to him. It was a weird feeling.

"So what is it that you want?"

The rogue Heretic God sat opposite Shirou in with his knees bent and his toes tucked behind him. The ronin removed both blades and sheath from his person and place it between them.

"I would like to offer you my allegiance."

"Huh?" Shirou was too stunned to form any coherent thought.

"If I am being so blunt, I want you to take me as a retainer, a subordinate or whatever they call 'em in this day and age."

"No, no, no. Wait. Can you start from the beginning? So what was this all about?"

"There is unrest in the Realm of the Gods. Something is happening. The Titans are stirring from their prisons. Factions are being formed, and blades are being sharpened right now as we speak. The someone has told me that there is a Dragon that sleeps in these lands…"

"So this was what the fight was for? It was a trial?"

"Yes and no. But the fight was for me to know what kind of person you are. I'm a warrior, and the only way for me to know what I want to is through a sword fight."

"What did you learn from me then?" The question was rhetorical but the ronin answered anyway.

"You're a fool. But maybe it's that which makes you strong." Shirou smiled thinly at the comment. It was both an insult and a praise.

"And what would you have done if you had not found what you had expected? What if I was not the Dragon that you seek?"

"But you are." The scars on the man's face became more prominent. "I for one, would never have believed if they told me that a Dragon could be… kind. Before my descent, I was met by someone. They have not told their name, but she was in a form of child. The child has told me to seek you; she said that you would be able to grant me my wish. In return, I will offer you my blade. I will serve you for a hundred years, a thousand, or a hundred millennia if that is what you want. "

Shirou could not help but feel overwhelmed. So the fight was just a farce? The Heretic God's true aim was this? No, it couldn't be. The man before him was not that kind of person. Hewas no mercenary. This Heretic God's legend even told of him as a man who did not kneel to no Lord. That was, if the clue's that he had been given to his identity was true.

"And what is it that you wish for?" Shirou let his curiosity get the better of him. He was not an omnipotent God who could grant wishes, but he was willing to help the Heretic God. The man stared at him as if to measure his worth.

"… I wish… to die a true death."

Heretic Gods do not die. They are only returned to their myth once they are slain. To die a true death would mean…

"You wish to erase your existence? That- that is not something within my capabilities."

"You misunderstand. The strange child told me that you are reforging a sword, a cursed sword that could cut all that is evil, an evil sword that can bring true death to all."

"Your blade…" The boy stared at the sheathed katana. It looked familiar, like an old friend he had not met for a long time. He could not copy the blade into his Unlimited Blade Works. But the blade told him of its story, though not willingly. "To do something that can't be done without madness…" The blade only gave him glimpses, but it was enough. This was the first time that this had ever happened to him. He could not read the blade like he could a normal one. It was obscured. But the blade did give him one picture, one that screamed of a similar tragedy. Schathach.

"Will you accept this wanderer as a retainer, Lord?" The man looked him in the eye.

"I… I cannot…"Shirou remained silent for a few seconds in deep thought.

The ronin took his silence as refusal and made a move to leave.

"I follow a dreary path." This caught the ronin's attention, the god turned back to the boy. "If you want refuge, I don't think I can say that I can give you that. I am also unsure of what you mean by me forging a sword that can grant you true death." He had a clue to what the sword was. The only sword he knew of that could 'cut through all evil' as the warrior stated was that cursed and broken sword. But he did not have a single inkling as to how to reforge it.

"And I have a dream I wish to accomplish. It will either be a path bathed in blood or steeped in hardships. As you say, I am a fool. Call this my own selfishness, but if you can carry this burden with me, then I would make your goal my own."

"What is that dream?" The man whispered softly.

"I want to save everyone. If you wish to follow me, then do so. I cannot promise that it will be a peaceful one. But I know that there is peace at the end of this path. I do not know when my journey will end, or if I will ever reach the end of my journey. Do you still wish to follow me?"

"Heh! Do you still have to ask? Take my wish as your own and I will make that burden of yours as mine."

"Before that could you tell me your name?"

"Name… It's been so long since someone has asked me that? Call me Takezou, Shinmen Takezou."

"You will not give me your other name?" Shirou stated knowingly.

"No, I won't. It is a matter of pride. I don't have the right to carry that name yet." The man took a more serious tone.

"Let the Law be witness,

If all holds this contract true

The Overseer is the scribe,

Reality's fabric is his tablet.

No lie shall be spoken,

But all truth shall be veiled

On this day, I, a Heretic God of Steel,

Hereby offer my subservience to the Dragon that sleeps in the East.

His dream shall be mine

As my goal shall be his.

This I swear on Void.

This is my Oath, let the contract be written."

The magus could feel it. A higher being intervening and a contract being written directly on his soul. Shirou almost panicked from the discomfort but he showed no sign of it. It reminded him too much of his contract with Alaya. He watched in fascination as incomprehensible writings that looked more like squiggles written by a child marked themselves on the Heretic God's body. The warrior held in the obvious pain that came with something binding his soul, Shirou could see the ronin's face gritting from the agony.

"So now… Haaaaaah, can I know the name of my Lord?"

"It's Emiya Shirou."

"Well then, Shirou-dono, shall we go meet your waiting mistresses?"

"They're not-"

"Mmm, mmmhh, I like you already!" A smiling Illya made her way to Shirou.

"My liege, are you alright?" The knight approached her Master obviously relieved. "Please let me take care of your injuries."

"I'm fine Haidee."Haidee gripped the large cut on Shirou's leg. "Ouch, argg-, okay please take a look at the wound." Shirou let the knight/maid to take a look at the cut. A medkit appeared in her hands, almost like magic. Where'd that come from? No wait, why was she wearing a maid outfit again?

"This will need a few stitches…" Haidee muttered to herself while inspecting the cut. "We'll have to get you home to treat this properly, Master."

"I apologize for the wound, Shirou-dono." The ronin pick the two blades and affixed them in his right.

"It's alright. And please stop calling me that Takezou-san. Just call me Shirou, and you don't need to be so formal with me." "Then stop being a hypocrite, Lord. Didn't we already agree that I'm gonna be serving you? Just call me Takezou then."

"Ahahaha, alright… But you nearly got me there Takezou; it's sometime since I've been able to fight like this."

"You are a skilled swordsman Shirou-dono, but can I ask you a question?" Shirou couldn't help but grimace at both the honorific and the disinfectant Haidee was applying on his leg.

"Go ahead."

"That sword style you had used, it looked familiar. Did anyone teach you that? Or had you learned it yourself?"

"Well…" He couldn't think of anything to say. "I guess I don't know." The blade existed in his unlimited bladeworks, it's memories, it material composition, the very idea existed within him. It was his ability that made it possible for him to mimic that sword style, but it was not his own.

The ronin raised an eyebrow at that. It was a rather pecuilar answer.

"Here Shirou, let me carry you. That wound's still hurting right?"

"It's-"He paused upon seeing the downtrodden look on Illya's face. He couldn't quite say no to that. "Alright, I guess. Can you wait for minute? I need to take care of that thing?"

"Let me take care if it for you Master, what is it?" Haidee offered to her Lord.

Shirou waved a hand in a gesture of refusal. He refused to show weakness in front of potential enemies. And that creature that had been spying on their little duel had been following the Heretic God since they left the book store. He had sense the hostility that the creature emitted. Whatever it was, it was neither human nor god.

"Trace on."

He uttered the aria out of habit, not out of necessity. A javelin of simple design formed in his hands. It was nameless D-rank Noble Phantasm, one of the blades from his infinite armory. Shirou reinforced his body further strengthening it. The release of the fifth level of his 'seal' was enough to improve his physical capabilities far beyond what a talented individual could achieve. Shirou bent his back in a pose to throw to the weapon then he threw it.

The projectile made a sound as it cleaved the air, it sped through the skies faster than a comet falling towards the earth. A clap of thunder was heard as the javelin hit bone and flesh, the target disintegrating within a shower of blood and feathers. The speed of the throw, the strength behind it and the accuracy to hit what couldn't be seen was impressive. The creature, a strange sort of familiar, was decimated.

Shirou would have been amused to see Haidee and Illya's slack jawed expressions if not for the circumstances behind it. The boy leaned on Illya for support again. The throw had taken him no effort, but Haidee had tied the knot too hard on his bandages.

"That was... impressive my Lord." Haidee bowed her head in shame, she had thought to offer help to her Master. But he had refused knowing that she was not up to the task. She despised her weakness.

Shirou looked towards the amused Heretic God.

"I thought you had wanted to leave that thing alone because you wanted them to know of you, seems like I was mistaken."

"No, you are right. But that creature was the eyes of another Heretic God. Whoever they are, they should have already seen the fight. That was merely for me to show them I knew they were there." It was in short, intimidation. He didn't like needless fighting and violence, and would rather prevent it by any means necessary. This one was a neccessity.

"Hehehe, and here I thought you you'd leave that to me." Shirou reinforced his eyes further and looked towards another direction; he raised a hand and waved.

The ronin directed his gaze towards where Shirou was waving, his eyes narrowing dangerously. He had expected a few Heretic Gods to be spectating in his match against his new Lord, but he had underestimated how deep some grudges could be held. He felt the presence of more than a few supernatural beings nearby during the course of their battle.

Some of this 'spectators' were probably expecting one of them to die; the other would then be too weakened from the battle. They would then swoop down like the vultures they were. His smile turned feral. He chuckled darkly to himself.

"Let's be off Shirou-dono, as much as I've want to have prolonged our fight, it has attracted too much attention." He looked towards the two females, his mouth quirking into a smirk. "And I doubt we'd have an easy time if those scavengers choose to attack, not with having these two ladies here."

"What are you implying mister? If you think I'm unable to take care of myself then how about I prove it to you?" Illya folded her arms over her chest not liking what the man was implying.

"Ah, a feisty one you got here my Lord."

"Come on Illya, let's get going. I'll let you have you Strawberry Vanilla Sundae for dessert?" Shirou placating held on to Illya.

"Really?" How could he say no to that face?

"Of course?"

"Yeay! You're the best Shirou. So, will you let me carry you now?"

"Alright…" He conceded, better to get out of here as the ronin suggested. He didn't want to have to deal with what they had attracted with both of him and the ronin throwing massive amounts of prana around.

"Ufufufufufu~." Illya giggled as she took a hold of him.

Shirou groaned in annoyance when the realization of what happened today hit him. He had battled against a Heretic God in an open field where anyone could have seen them. If that was not waving a flashlight in the dark wanting to found, then he didn't know what else it was.

He was confident that he could take care of himself and the people around him if it ever came to it. But what had happened just now might as well have wasted Lucretia's efforts of them keeping a low profile. How was he supposed to explain this to Lucretia when she came back?

"Right. Okay~. Here, here, hold on to Onee-chan tight 'kay? We'll get you home in no time." Shirou could only moan in distress.

-0-

"So what do you think Lancelot?

Guinevere thinks that that Dragon is dangerous." The child-like Divine Ancestor looked towards the retreating figures .

"So far, he has not made a move. I do not think that he will be a hindrance towards your plans. All that that Dragon has done is establish himself here. He does not seem to be as dangerous as the Campione, or those things. But it is always better to be prepared." The Divine Ancestor nodded at those words. "But aren't you showing more interest in him than necessary? Could it be that you are interested in the boy?"

"Stop with the teasing Sir Knight, I, Guinevere still has a duty to my King. It… it is true that the boy is interesting. He does not look that powerful on the surface but…" Guinevere suppressed the shudder that ran down her spine. She had nearly made a mistake of trying to kill the boy back then thinking that he was a weakened Heretic God of the Earth. The magic that she had felt within the boy was at the levels of a Divine Ancestor. Suffice to say, she was gravely mistaken.

At that time, Guinevere had set a trap to kill the boy. She did not know what magic the boy used, but she had thought that it was a great opportunity to use what magic remained in the boy to add to the contents of the Holy Grail. Maybe her mistake was using Lucretia as bait? It did lure the unsuspecting boy at that time, but it was not a weakened God that stepped into that trap. It was an enraged Dragon. The Dragon had then made short work of the spells that were enough to take down an average Divine Ancestor, it was not even enough to penetrate the Dragon's magic resistance.

She had profusely apologized to the Dragon after that by saying that she thought he was a weakened Heretic God. It was the truth after all. But she did not mention why she wanted to kill him if he was a weakened Heretic God.

"Sir Knight, do you think you can defeat the boy in a true battle?"

"If I were to fight that Dragon as I am now, I would probably lose. But if I were to truly emerge from my myth, then that would be another matter. I am a God of Steel, we were born to be the bane of serpents." There was confidence in there, but the Knight could not help but feel a little doubt. The boy or Dragon was not something that the Knight had ever encountered. There was also the strange feeling they felt after that last exchange between the rogue Heretic God and the boy. It felt like a dam had been released.

It was a similar feeling to when the boy had faced them down during that time a few weeks ago.

'What is this emotion?'

The knight questioned herself, it was a strange sensation. As a warrior, hehad been through countless battles. But this, this was new. It was like a being far beyond her was staring her down, it made him feel weak. It made the warrior in himthirst for a battle against that boy. For what reason? To prove that as a warrior, hewas not without a chance of victory. But there was a deeper reason to it, the base instinct of that most beings surrendered too. Herefused to acknowledge it. It was a lie.

There was also the fact that the boy was able to wield steel, an oddity that hehad never seen. The battle just then between that boy and the Heretic God proved that the boy could handle his own, though he was very much sure that the Heretic God was holding back, a lot.

"That is reassuring Sir Knight. But why can you not fully emerge from you myth? The curse of madness is weakening, is it not? That strange Heretic God that bended the knee to the Dragon didn't seem to be affected by it?"

"Hahahaha, you overestimate me too much Guinevere. Though we are both Gods of Steel, that fellow has a stronger 'will' than I. Do you remember a warrior that our King has fought a long time ago, he was known as the 'Tiger who came from the East' back then."

"Eeeeehhh! That preposterous monster! You must be joking sir Knight. Though Guinevere does not remember most of the past, Guinevere still has a vague memory of that beast! Surely you are not saying that that Heretic God was that 'madman' from back then?! But… but… " A chuckle came from within the armor.

"Here I was thinking that you have forgotten your fear of that God. I was thinking that you had either grown braver or you had become more foolish when you told me that we would approach him. It is true that back then he was more of a wild beast than a Heretic God. But you're exaggerating Guinevere. I didn't even recognize that warrior because of the lack of bloodlust he was emitting, only when I had seen him battle did I remember." The child like goddess paled from what she heard.

"But, but, that couldn't have been him right. That beast would rather tear you apart than let you reason with him. That savage who fought against five Heretic Gods at that time and still won. If it was not for our King intervention, it would have become a bloodbath."

"There is a great difference in strength between us, I am no surely no match for that strange warrior. I do not know what that odd fellow is thinking of by serving that Dragon, but it would be better of you to not cause trouble in this place. He now serves that boy, and that boy has claimed this place as his territory. Only fools would come to this place to cause trouble."

The Knight could help but let loose a laugh at the mess that hischarge was in right now.

"Aaaauuuhh, what have I done? Here I thought that he had a grudge against that Dragon because he had asked immediately of his location when we found him. Now that Dragon is with that scary beast, Sir Knight, please carry me away from here. Guinevere is not feeling well right now." The Knight placed his hands on the girl's knees and shoulder. A small smile formed on the warrior's face, hidden by the helmet.

"Of course. The result was not what we had expected, but this has also provided us with some important information. So back to your base now?" The horse that had remained idle since a while ago moved towards it's rider offering the bridle.

"Aauuhh, yes please Sir Knight…" The Knight could feel the child like body shivering in hisarms. Did she really fear that Heretic God that much?

The two rode off towards a waiting portal. But that was not before the Knight could utter a few words.

"The 'Tiger of that comes from the East' kneeling to the 'sleeping Dragon who was born from the west'…"

-0-

"Are you done yet?" Shirou waited patiently for Illya to finish her daily checkup on his seal. The fight yesterday was the first time that it had been tested for battle. There was an oval symbol on Shirou's belly. The seal only became visible with specific application of prana on his body.

Runic markings and hieroglyphs were on Shirou's chest. It was something almost similar to a magical crest but having different functions. It was a sealing matrix. Though it was still a prototype, it was working quite well for the most part.

"It seems to be functioning as expected."A voice echoed in Shirou's mind.

Gaericus had helped out for the most part by giving him the blueprint for that seal. 'She' had called the seal, the Divine Sealing Chains. It did feel like a chain for the most part. According to Gaericus, it had nine parts. Each part of the seal was lock. But each part didn't seal exact amounts. For example, the ninth level of the seal locked away half of his true capabilities. The eight level seal locked away half of what the ninth did, and so it went down to the first level of the seal.

But the seal didn't exactly just lock away his prana. No, it sealed away his draconic heritage.

The astronomical growth of his power also enhanced the urges the 'Curse of the Seven Sins'. It had nearly driven him insane back then. He did not want to know what would have happened if he had let the urges rampage. He could have destroyed a city with ease. Luckily, Gaericus was there to restrain him. He had underestimated the power he could gain by having the blood of an Ancient Dragon flowing through his veins.

As a rule, the more a phantasmal being aged, the more powerful it was. More so for dragons, which were the very symbols of phantasmal species. Gaericus was a dragon that lived for countless eons, and an eon equaled one billion years in Earth's time scale. Who knew how power she truly was.

"Well, I don't think it was damaged in any way… But you still need to be careful Shirou. You still don't have full control of that power you know." Illya slid down the shirt down his body.

"Thanks again Illya. I really appreciate this."

"Hmm, hmm~. Anything for Shirou of course, what kind of Onee-chan would I if I didn't spoil you?"

"Ahahaha… Alright, now what was that commotion this morning about?"

"Oh that? Don't worry about that. Sebastian has made a call to the mansion back in France telling them of our need for people to maintain this house. They should have arrived this morning."

"Why'd you have to buy such a large house in the first place… Something the size of our home back in Fuyuki would have been more than enough." Shirou could feel a bit of nostalgia with those words. Home. How was his family back home?

"But don't forget about your next checkup on Sunday Shirou. I'm still trying to figure out how that seal thing on you works. It's really complex you know? I wonder if I can tamper with it so that I can make it my 'Shirou is mine' mark?"

Were some animals prone to leaving their marks on their property? Shirou could feel his sweat drop at that. Really now? Where had that thought come from.

"Females are intrinsically attracted to strong males, and you are a potentially strong mate. That is a basic instinct amongst all beasts. Humans are no different. What emotions she feels towards you might have been distorted thereby causing her to feel possessive of you."Gaericus' voice resounded in his mind again.

"Did you read my mind or something?" He joked lightly.

"Do you doubt my words, Hero? Why you should be thanking this Empress instead with how I am offering my guidance to one such as you."

"Right, right. That doesn't reassure me in the slightest though; it sounds almost the same to me…" Shirou got off the low bed and made his way toward the door, a slight limp visible from his gait.

"But is your leg alright Shirou?" Illya looked at him worriedly.

"Its fine Illya and I thought you were going out to recheck the maid uniforms you ordered? You told me Sebastian had asked for servants from the main house?" The 'main house' as they Sebastian referred to was the Victorian mansion that Illya had in France. She was supposedly reincarnated as the next family Head of a noble house. How did that work?

"Right. I also forgot to mention this, but Sebastian received a call this morning of the approval of your enrolment at a nearby school. You're going to start attending on Monday, don' forget Shirou."

"Okay…" He could not help but feel a little annoyance at that. Why did he have agree to that in the first place…

Shirou's thoughts turned towards another direction. Hopefully, Haidee's errand wouldn't turn out to become another mess as he was expecting it to become. But it with his luck, Murphy's Law was bound to screw him three times over.

He had asked her to find out if there were any mages in the area. He didn't know how things worked out in this world, but it was always good to establish good relationships with the local magic population. He wasn't sure what it was, but he had sensed a Clairvoyance spell being used when he had battled against the Heretic God.

He knew that the descent of such being like the Heretic Gods would become a more common occurrence. He wanted to establish working relationships with whatever mage organization was in this city. The first step would of course be inviting them to his home. He could try to seek them out instead but something was stopping him from making that decision.

It was a lot of help that some of the maids from Illya's employ would be arriving tomorrow. It was a much needed help. Besides the fact that he wouldn't be able to fix the house to make a receptive welcome to his expected guests, it was getting harder to keep everything clean around the house by himself.

The distant rumble of construction machinery could be heard as Shirou walked towards the location of his room. Another thing was, Illya had thought it was necessary to build a 'base of operations' as she called it for a soon to be born animation company. She had deemed it an essential necessity to nourish the growth of all thing related to anime. 'What better start than to establish an animation studio?', she said.

It got Illya off his back for the better part of the last few months, so maybe it was a good thing. How'd she get the money to start something like this anyway? Oh right, she was the heiress of more than a millennia noble old blood line.

-0-

"So it is true…" There was a hint of mixture fear, excitement and shock on the voice.

"It was confirmed by one of our informers from Europe, the boy is- was a human." Hayama Tadaoki, the current head of the Intelligence Sector of the History Compilation Committee, held a folder in one hand and gestured with his other hands towards the pictures of a boy.

A projector was being used to show various images of a certain red-headed magus. There were five people inside the room, all of them focused on the implications of what they had all just heard.

Four of this people were the leaders to the 'Four Families', the chief executives of the History Compilation Committee. Seishuuin, Kuhoutsuka, Renjou, Sayanomiya - these are the four ancient families that have been using their magical powers to serve the emperors over the ages. Their duties now being the job of keeping the magical world hidden from the public.

Amongst them, the Seishuuin were distinguished by battle strength and political power, while the Sayanomiya has formed the core think tank of the History Compilation Committee. The Renjou were the ones who led and conducted field operations which included media manipulation and information control. The Kuhoutsuka were arguably the wealthiest among the Four Families and funded most of the organizations spending.

At the moment, the heads of the Four Families were in complete shock from the news they had received.

"This is, this is just absurd." One of them spoke up to break the silence.

"It is as you say Renjou-san, but the glaring evidence says otherwise. There is a Campione residing in Tokyo right now and it is only a matter of time before he reveals himself." The Sayanomiya head affirmed.

This invoked a long suffering sigh from the oldest person in the room, the leader of the Seishuuin family.

"This is unexpected. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would see this day. A Campione who has taken Japan as his territory. What's more, a Campione who has taken in a Heretic God under his wing…?"

They were all panicking when they had first heard the news that there had been a battle between a Campione and a Heretic God too near a major city. But they were stunned to mind numbing disbelief when they had gathered information on what had happened. There had been next to no clues on the battle aside from a vision from a Hime-Miko residing in the city.

"The Strongest Swordsman of the East

Undefeated he left this lands,

But none he found worthy of his blade

A rogue, who serves none no longer…"

This were the words that Hime-Miko had supposedly uttered when she saw the vision.

"If this really is true, then what do you suppose we should do? We cannot simply approach him, he may look like a boy but for all we know, this might as well be an effect of his Authority. Depending on what the Campione does, we can only do so much but try to prevent the least damage if he decides to destroy Tokyo because we displeased him. This is a King we are talking about." The head to the Kuhoutsuka family, spoke up.

"Hayama-san, do you have more information about the new King aside from this?" They all stared at the man who nervously wiped the sweat from his brow. It had only been a week ago since he had taken the office as chief of the Intelligence Sector, how did things become so hard for him.

He had been enjoying the quite reprieve of analyzing reports from the foreign branches when one of his subordinates had barged into his office and dropped the news on him yesterday. Now, the entire office was probably in a state of chaos from the rush to gather as much information as they could about the newly identified Campione. Which was nothing. All that they had been able to gather was that the boy was thought to be the Witch of Sardinia's student.

Further digging had given them nothing else. Someone was purposely withholding information about the boy. That was the conclusion they had come to. With the distrust between magical associations, they were not able to glean data aside from the fact that the boy was a supposed victim of a city wide fire incident.

"Well, uh sir-"

The stuttering man stopped mid-sentence when he sensed something behind him. He turned towards the source only to stumble back.

In front of them a figure who was figure wreathed in shadows, seemingly melding with the flickering darkness that took the room.

The Four Family heads stood up from their chairs warily.

"Greetings, if I may ask, are you the leaders the History Compilation Committee?" The delicate feminine voice contrasted with the eerie aura the figure exuded. They could not see her face because of the shadow that seemed to consume the figure like a fire, but what little they could make out was the black and white maid uniform that adorned a young woman's body. On the young woman's right arm was a large armblade that dripped the strange shadow that covered the woman.

"Who are you?! How did you get here?!" The panicked Kutsouka head shouted at the figure.

"Hmmp, you do not need to know my name. But my Lord and Master has ordered me to make contact with the area's mages association. He wishes to… establish a relationship with you." The last words were said forcefully, as if she found the very idea contemptible. Because it was.

To Haidee, a very loyal Knight, it was supposed to be the mages of this country who were to approach her Lord. If anything, her Master should be demanding their subservience. She did not hate her Master's orders, in fact she was happy that her Master had ordered her to do something for once. But the very notion of a person as powerful as her Master asking to establish a relationship of equal status with a mage association of a backwater country in the mage arts…

She could not think that her master was insulted in some way. She was used to a world where the strong took what they wanted from the weak. For someone like her Master, who was on par in power with Heretic Gods and Campiones, to lower himself to make contact with an organization of mere mages? It confounded her. All too often, she had witnessed those who had power flaunt it with unrestrained arrogance.

But all this did not matter in the end, she was given her orders. She would follow it. Haidee looked towards the images being flashed by the projector. Her eyes narrowing, 'how were this vermin able to get a hold of those pictures'?

Within the blink of an eye, she was within their range. The space she was previously in distorted briefly before returning to its stable state. She swiftly stabbed the armblade through the machine making it crackle with the broken wires. With the only source of light in the room extinguished, the room was engulfed by darkness.

"I will say this only once, you will leave my Master alone. My master has so graciously ordered me to invite you to his home. Chose a representative amongst you, an ambassador. See to it that whoever is to be sent to my Master's home is competent enough. He does not have the need to waste his time with you lot. Why my master has even assumed to extend an olive branch towards you is a mystery to me... but we shall be expecting you nonetheless..."

The light's returned temporarily blinding the people in the room. When they opened their eyes, the room was a mess. Most of the documents that were previously in the room, were either missing or in shreds.

"Who… was that?" The question was posed by one of the quivering family heads. Was that an illusion, a dream? Unlikely evidenced by the all too threat that was embedded to the wall. It was a map of Tokyo with a few daggers pinpointing a few locations around the city. Some of those locations were areas designated for bases and safe houses in use by the Four Families. More so because some of those locations pinpointed were from 'sensitive' information.

If what they heard was right, then the master that the demon or whatever it was that 'thing' was referring to would be the new Campione. Whoever or whatever that was, it had so easily infiltrated the most guarded place in their headquarters and had just left them a message, an invitation.

Aki Sayanomiya, Matriarch and leader of the Sayanomiya clan raised a hand to gather their attention.

"Gentlemen, if you would be so inclined, then I would nominate myself as the Ambassador to this new Campione." The bold declaration earned the middle aged woman a few startled remarks.

"You-"

"You can't be serious there Sayanomiya-san?"

"What better way to gather information on this new Campione than to meet him directly? Besides, I was a trained to be Hime-Miko before becoming the Head of my family. Wouldn't you say that I'm more than qualified for this? I've prepared contingencies for these kinds of situations and already chosen my heir if it ever came to that…" The woman argued. There was a slight grin to her face, unlike the grimace and frowns sported by her fellow equals.

"If that is your choice, then so be it. But be warned, I will not be taking responsibility for your actions this time, Sayanomiya-san."

"Of course Seishuuin-san. I will be going, not as a representative of the History Compilation Committee but as the head of my house."

Which meant that she was not going to be the official Ambassador, just an envoy meant to visit this new Campione. Whatever argument the two family Heads had died in their throats. That was a welcome compromise. They were afraid to suggest a representative of their own in case that whatever mistake the representative did would be reflected on them. This was caution exercised to farcical degree that it could even be called cowardice. But that was how they had been able to survive this long, by heading their heads in the sand when trouble came for them.

Sayanomiya couldn't blame them for their flaw. She had gotten used to his colleagues complacency. They never did have an active approach when dealing with entities of this level, that may have been because of inexperience. After all, there had been no Campione in the Japan for more than a few centuries. But she did not want that as an excuse. She had heard of 'The Prophecy of the End of Eras', what the implications of that prophecy outright terrified her. War between beings of great power would be waged.

What would happen to those who had no one to protect them? What would happen to the lands not inhabited by a Demon King, a Godslayer, and a Campione. Would they be crushed in the struggle between whatever war was to occur? She could not allow that to happen.

"Then you will be on your own in this Sayanomiya-san."

"That's what I said Kuhoutsuka-san. But in return for me going there as only a representative of my Family, I would like to ask a favor of you Seishuuin-san. Because I won't be the only one benefitting if I have gained the Campione's favor." The message was clear, if she was successful, then they would have connections with a Campione. Not only her, but the connections would be established to the organization itself. That would enable them to gather more influence, more power. But she would be the only one taking the brunt of the fallout if she failed.

Seishuuin stared at the woman. There was resolve in her eyes. They both knew what it was about because they had been the only ones who had been preparing since that 'Prophecy'.

She walked towards the map cushioned with daggers and took one of them. The rest watched on in bafflement at the action until she left the room in silence

The head of the Seishuuin family approached the map to take a closer look at what she had removed. When he turned around, there was a resigned smile on his face.

"That cunning woman, when had she gotten more reckless than me…?"

To appease the Campione, she had most likely thought of brining him a gift. A gift of value so great that he should be unable to refuse and maybe, just maybe, the Campione would grant them his blessing. The Campione were a hard bunch to satisfy, history had showed them that. But what the removed dagger signified was a location, the location of one of the Imperial Regalia that was given to the Sayanomiya family to protect. But that treasure was currently in the hands of the Seishuuin family.

The Seishuuin head did not understand what favor she was asking for, but he knew what she was about to do. Appeasing a Campione…

Omake

A white haired woman nervously opened the door to a room. Illya was euphoric. At long last, she had found her 'Onii-chan'. She peeked though the door to look inside.

"Shirou."

"Illya?"

"Shirou."

"Illya!?"

"Shirou."

"Huh, yes?" The little magus could not help but feel a shiver run down his spine at Illya's reddening face. It was not anger, he was sure of it. Because Illya was almost drooling and her pupils reshaped themselves into heart shapes. Don't ask how that was physically possible because he didn't know too. There was one thing that was clear to Shirou right, he should either escape, or suffer a fate worse than eating the biological weapon called Saber's cooking.

Shirou moved ever so slowly away from the drooling Illya. He was almost to the window when a half naked Lucretia entered the bedroom, her hair wet from a bath.

"Shirou… let's go to bed."

She was followed by a blonde little girl wearing her thin sleepwear.

"I want to sleep with my future husband!"

"Oh shit." Those were his last words as a murderous Illya appeared behind him. She might as well be the very image of a death posing as yandere, complete with a kitchen knife set of course.

"Shirou-kyun~. Please tell me what's going on right now, or I'll make sure Rin and Aoko get's to know of this. Now~. You even have a loli wife! I thought you said you didn't like lolis Shirou-kyun~. Ufufufufufufufu~."

And the next twenty four hours would be buried deep within Shirou's memories in a box called 'never to see the light of day'.

-0-

"Nooooooooo!"

"Husband! Are you alright!?"

Two voices shouted simultaneously. A certain reincarnated Hero climbed unsteadily to his feet. He grabbed the nearby stair handrail for support, his feet wobbled as he stood. He had accidentally rolled down the stairs after two girls tried to pull his arms apart. At least one of them acted like a child.

"I'm fine..." Though he was not, Shirou rubbed his head. A headache was already forming.

"Huh? Illya? Ali-"He was interrupted before he could finish. The two females rushed down the stairs to make sure he was alright.

"Husband, I thought I told you to call me darling!" A girl with platinum blonde hair grabbed him into her arms as she glared cutely at Shirou.

"His not your husband! He's my mini Shirou!" A white haired lady pulled his other arm while shouting proudly.

"He is my fiancé!" The child pulled him back again.

"No! Mine!" The older female pulled again.

"Mine!"

"Mine!

"MINE!"

"MINE!"

Shirou groaned as he was pulled from two sides. How did this happen again? Oh, right. He was supposed to have the best or the worst of luck. Illya? Though he had not heard the details yet, she was here. And she also looked older. The blonde little girl calling herself as his fiancée? It was all one big misunderstanding. The culprit was currently enjoying the comedy drama. Said culprit was also in a chair enjoying a nice cup of tea while being served by a butler who was preparing biscuits at the moment.

"As Shirou's onee-chan! I will not allow you to marry him." Illya was finally able to take hold of Shirou and was holding him to her in a death grip.

"Illya... can't breathe!" The red head tried squirming only to be squeezed further into Illya's bosom. Illya had breasts now. And she was trying to kill him with it. Oh joy! That was the last thing he could remember before he fainted. Again.

"Shirou are you alright?" Illya took a look at the boy.

"Now look what you did." The little girl kneeled beside the boy.

"No look what you did!"

"Nuh-uh it was your fault."

"Illya-sama…The boy, please let me take him to the infirmary."

"Ah! Sebastian I choose you, use Heal."

"Hey that's unfair."

"No it's not."

"Great Knight-sama! I choose you! How about that."

"What is it Lady Louise?"

"Eeehh? Hrrmmm… Ah, BERSERKER! KILL!"

A massive thirteen foot tall giant appeared beside Illya.

"Roooooaaaaaarrrr!"

(I stopped writing this before it could degenerate any further into a bloody nonsensical omake. Lol.)

-0-

-0-

A.N.

Okay… so I'll try to get a balance between making this both light and dark. A good challenge. My excus- ahem* reasons for the late release? A lot, but no one wants to hear that. So I can only apologize. I'm sorry for that. I broke a promise this time, purposely.

Also... Okay, I know I skipped an entire chapter's worth of story. Some of you did mention it. But I wanted to shorten it so that I could get nearer to the main plot already. I'm getting some pressure from… someone for that. Lol. Sorry~. The skipped chapter would probably be worth two chapters or so. It's just that, the kidnapped theme would be overused then. It's hard deciding things… I did mention in previous notes that some scenes wouldn't make it. But I didn't think it was that large a scene I was skipping, now that I think about it.

So to summarize it in one word. I fcked up. Sorry bout that, again. That's why I feel like bashing my head against the nearest solid structure for the nth time this week.

After long and hard contemplation, I've decided to pace the story slower. So all the timeline plans I've had noted before will most likely change. I want to go at a more sedate pace, it would give me time to get everyone adjusted with the mob of O.C.s I'm introducing. And of course to acquaint you all to the world I'm makin. I also found it stifling to establish a timeline. One of the things I'm learning as a writer, it's better to write as you want. Not like this.

Oh, and there will be probably be some confusion here. But Guinevere was not the one who told 'Takezou' about Shirou first. Also, Alipheese the Sixteenth, the current Monster Lord, is different from Alice Louise, the future 'Greatest Witch under the Heavens'. To make it easier:

Alice in this chapter, is Alice Lousie, the future leader of the Witenagemot.

Alipheese Fateburn XVI, is the current Monster Lord. She's also nicknamed 'Alice' for short. I'll avoid using the nickname so as to prevent confusion, though I'll still use it the future.

Woah, was little spoiler in there? :3 But that's what happened in the canon anyways. Who know's what'll change here.

-The fight scene was short. I know it was. But I guess I don't want to reveal too much right now either.

-Sasaki Kojirou was noted to be the greatest in pure swordsmanship among the Heroic Spirits summoned during the Fifth Holy Grail War. Not the most powerful, see the italics? Yep, so I wrote this note down unless someone argued with the words used otherwise.

Note: This wouldn't end in a mass Harem. I'm taking notes from Rance game series and limiting Shirou's 'fated' ones to seven women.

Quoting directly from AliceSoftWikia "certain individuals are claimed by a God to be fated to each other and will eventually, regardless their circumstances, accept each other."

Again, please review. It would be appreciated.