Disclaimer: I own neither Fate/Stay Night nor High School DxD

"Truly a pitiful display, losing consciousness from something like that!"

A familiar voice rang out in Shirou's mind as he drifted through unconsciousness.

Was he… dreaming?

Whose voice is that?

A familiar laugh rang out.

"You cannot even recognize my voice? For shame!"

It responded to his thoughts?

The laughter continued.

It sounded familiar, but there was something about it that also wasn't.

"Well, that is also fine. There is no need for you to recognize me at this moment."

Damn. The voice was so familiar, and not in a comforting way, and yet Shirou just couldn't get his thoughts sufficiently back in order to recognize it.

No. It didn't matter.

How did he fall unconscious?

What is this?

The laugh returned.

"You don't understand why you fell unconscious? Ha! Well, even I cannot fully explain it, so for you to understand it would be the real surprise! Still, if I were to make a guess, I'd say you were overwhelmed emotionally."

Overwhelmed…?

"As for what this is, I suppose it would be easiest to say you are dreaming."

So he was dreaming?

Then… this voice is… a figment of his imagination?

The voice laughed again.

Was this really all that funny?

Shirou tried to focus, to understand.

But he simply couldn't.

Instead, his mind slipped back into darkness, accompanied by that familiar yet different laugh.

-Break—

"How is he?" Sona asked as she entered the infirmary room that Rias' peerage had brought Shirou to.

"There are no signs of harm… He's just out." Rias replied.

The bespectacled girl hummed as she considered the situation.

"Let me get this straight. He brought out a replica of Excalibur Destruction, complete with its ability?"

"Yes. He used it to disperse a wayward magical attack from Issei." Akeno noted.

"A replica?" The blue-haired exorcist that could only be Xenovia Quarta asked.

She looked quite uncomfortable, as you might expect seeing as the room was full of Devils. But she seemed to be enduring it, probably seeking answers.

"From what we know of him, that is what his power does." Sona responded.

"Even so, I never expected him to replicate an Excalibur…" Rias added.

"I wondered if he might not be able to, but I'll freely admit I never expected it either." Sona shook her head with a wry smile.

Emiya Shirou… what a shame that she couldn't add him to her peerage…

Perhaps she could find a way to secure an alliance with him?

"No way!? Is it some kind of Sacred Gear?" Her thoughts were interrupted by the other exorcist, Shidou Irina, if memory served.

Akeno shook her head. "As incredible as it might sound, it doesn't seem that way. Not that we have been able to tell."

What the Queen left out was that this had been informed by Ajuka Beelzebub himself.

"So, the big question is… why did he fall unconscious?" Issei finally spoke up.

"It didn't look like he had been rejected by the Excalibur…" Kiba suddenly spoke up.

Xenovia and Irina nodded.

"Do we really think that is a possibility? It's a replica, right?" Issei asked.

"If I didn't, I wouldn't have been so uncertain whether or not it actually was a replica." Xenovia stated, glancing at her own Excalibur Destruction.

They all looked over at the resting boy.

"How was he even able to replicate it?" Irina questioned.

"He seems to have an ability to scan the structure of things, which would then allow him to replicate them…" Sona replied.

"But he had only just laid eyes on it, right?" Irina asked further.

"Well, I've never seen or heard of him before, so I'd be surprised to say the least if he'd been near it before." Xenovia mused.

Could it be then…?

He did say he had an affinity, no, an overwhelming affinity, for swords…

If his abilities improved when dealing with swords, then…

Before Sona could raise her suspicion to the others, she was interrupted.

"He's stirring!" Asia, who had been preoccupied checking on him, exclaimed.

Indeed, as the Bishop said, Emiya Shirou stirred, and soon his eyes shot open.

He sat up with a start, then took in his surroundings.

The remnants of tears were still visible on his countenance, something that startled Sona a bit.

The Magus groaned, perhaps from his sudden unconsciousness, perhaps from something else.

"Where…?" He asked.

"You're in the Kuoh Academy's Infirmary." Rias stated.

"I passed out…" He sighed, then turned towards everyone. "I suppose you are all looking for answers, seeing as you are all here."

He gave Sona a quick nod, which she returned.

"You could say that…" Akeno said.

"As I suspect you might have already heard… I can replicate swords." This statement was more so directed towards Xenovia and Irina, who both nodded.

Shirou hesitated, so Sona struck.

"Could it be that when dealing with swords… you only need to see them?" She asked.

It was the most logical possibility.

It covered for only just having seen the blade moments earlier with no other contact.

Shirou looked at her, seemingly quite stunned.

"Well, it's either that, or Emiya-san is hiding something rather big from us." Rias interjected.

The person in question sighed and rubbed his head.

"Well, something along those lines, yes." He then said, looking directly at Sona.

"So you're saying that you were able to replicate Excalibur Destruction just by seeing it?" Xenovia said.

"That's what I said, yes…" Shirou hesitated. "I'm sorry, I don't think we ever got properly introduced…"

"Huh. I suppose not… My name is Xenovia Quarta, I'm an exorcist and Holy Sword wielder." Xenovia responded, if a bit coldly.

"I'm Shidou Irina! Like Xenovia I'm also an exorcist and Holy Sword wielder!" Irina followed up, then hummed as she fell into thought. "If you could replicate Excalibur Destruction after seeing it… does that mean you can replicate Excalibur Mimic?"

Irina moved closer while asking this, and Shirou threw a quick glance towards where Excalibur Mimic should be hidden, with a slight sliver of pain crossing his features.

Did he have some history with the Excaliburs?

"Yes. Yes, I can."

Not unexpected at this point, but having a clear answer on the subject was always nice.

Still…

Sona cleared her throat to grab attention.

"With that out of the way, I must confess there are a few things that have been bothering me. First off, why did you use Excalibur Destruction in the first place? Your usual blades should have done the job just fine I'd have thought."

The look in Shirou's eyes spoke volumes.

But it wasn't Shirou who spoke first.

"Was spacing out." Koneko said. "Lamenting, he said. What were you lamenting, Emiya?"

Lamenting? Was that why he'd been crying?

Funny thing is, that was the second thing she had wanted to ask about.

Why it looked like he'd been crying.

Shirou turned away, looking unusually uncomfortable.

"I… The Excaliburs… I can't explain it very well…" It seemed like it would be difficult for him to say more, and it seems Koneko picked up on it.

"I see." Well, either that, or her curiosity was already sated.

Did he have history with the Excaliburs?

Or was he perhaps…

"Can I ask a question now?" Shirou asked after visibly pulling himself together.

"Sure?" Rias said, looking towards Sona.

"Fine by me." She responded.

Xenovia and Irina nodded.

"Why are two exorcists, wielding Excaliburs no less, here, in Devil territory?" He asked.

Sona and Rias indicated to the exorcists that it was up to them.

The two looked at each other for a short time, then nodded, a hint of sympathy in their eyes.

"This is supposed to be a secret… But the fact is, three of the Excaliburs have been stolen, and we have good reason to think they are here, in Kuoh. We're here to retrieve them." Xenovia then explained.

"What?" Sona could practically see the thoughts racing in his mind.

He seemed to be putting something together but…

"And he's been drawn away…" Shirou muttered, and she could barely hear it.

There was a distinct hint of concern and unease in his eyes when he looked back up, even if he was doing his best to keep a neutral face.

"Why here?" He asked.

"Multiple theories have been made, but…" Irina provided.

"Do we know who did it?"

"We have our suspicions, but we don't know for sure." Xenovia said.

Her demeanour sent the message that she wasn't about to elaborate.

"Do you even have a plan?"

"We'll search Kuoh until we find them."

Shirou gave a wry smile, and almost seemed to reminisce about something.

It wasn't the first time Sona had seen him like that.

Finally, he shook his head and made to get out of the bed.

"Are you sure you're ready to start walking around already?" Sona queried, seeing Asia's concerned look.

Shirou took a few tentative steps. "Yeah. I should be okay."

"I suppose there is no point in keeping you here…" Rias said.

Xenovia got up as well, with Irina following suit not long after.

"We'll get going now as well." She said.

And with that, Shirou left, followed by the two exorcists.

-Break—

Shirou breathed out a tired sigh as he stopped not far from his front door.

It didn't take long for Xenovia and Irina to approach him after that.

He appreciated that they didn't keep hidden waiting for him to move on, seeing as they had been tailing him the entire way.

"Why are you following me?" He asked.

"Honestly? Because we don't have any better leads. We could wander aimlessly, but we both felt like you… well…" Irina started.

"We felt like you were somewhat suspicious." Xenovia finished.

Of course they did. Where did that sympathy from earlier go?

So what is he to do now?

He needed to go inside and discuss with Mittelt, but he wasn't sure these two would just leave him alone.

Of course, there was also another problem.

One in the form of Issei, Koneko and Kiba, who seems to have been tailing Xenovia and Irina.

Xenovia turned to send an angry glare at them, while Irina waved to them instead.

They must have noticed as well.

Having been discovered, it was only natural that the trio of Devils joined them.

Shirou took a quick glance towards his place of residence, noting that Mittelt seemed to be watching.

Honestly, he wanted to signal for her to stop, as she would probably be noticed… Scratch that, Koneko had clearly noticed already.

At least Mittelt seemed to realise that as well, and disappeared further in.

"Why are you following us?" Xenovia said.

The irony of the statement wasn't exactly lost on most of them, and Issei wasn't one to let it slide.

"Says the one who was following Emiya!" He returned.

"We told you to stay out of our way."

"Well, we're here to propose an alliance. We help you find the Excaliburs, if you let Kiba break one of them!"

"Issei, please quiet down, we're in the middle of a residential district." Shirou said.

The pervert at least had the dignity to look a bit remorseful.

Xenovia and Irina looked at each other for a few moments, then simultaneously shrugged their shoulders.

"We'll… take it into consideration." Xenovia replied, before turning towards Shirou again. "Why did you stop here?"

Kiba took a quick look around, then seemed to realise something.

"I think he lives here. If my memory serves." He said.

"Why do you know that?" Issei questioned.

Shirou was partially in agreement, a first, but he also had a fairly good idea.

"It's… in the school's records…" The Knight responded.

"Oh yeah… Now that you mention it, we did look that up, didn't we?" Issei said.

Shirou sighed.

"Yes, I live right there." He said, indicating the residence he shared with Azazel.

"Someone's in there." Koneko pointed out.

"Is that… weird?" Issei asked. "It'd kind of be weirder for him to live alone, right?"

"Never talks about." Koneko declared.

"Let's just move on. Shirou, would you mind helping us?" Kiba asked.

Xenovia glared a bit at Kiba, but didn't do anything about it.

"I'll consider it, but I need to do some things first." Shirou replied.

Should he ask them to wait outside?

That would be kind of rude…

Would Xenovia and Irina even agree to that?

They might become even more suspicious if he tried to force the issue…

He released yet another sigh.

"I need to head inside. You're free to come on in, if you want to."

Honestly, it was probably a bad decision.

But, at the same time, what better way to help dispel suspicion than to reveal some of the things you are keeping secret.

Show that those things aren't connected to the issue at hand.

Hopefully.

As he opened the door, he prayed that Vali wasn't there or something.

Luckily, the only shoes present belonged to Mittelt, so at least that was the only thing he would need to explain.

Unfortunately, as expected, Xenovia and Irina followed him in, and, not entirely unexpectedly, the three Devils did as well.

"Huh, a girl's shoes…" Issei mused. "So, who is she?"

"Smells like… Fallen." Koneko said.

Everyone looked at Shirou.

Their exact gazes were different, but the question relayed was the same.

Somewhat surprisingly, Shirou didn't need to say anything.

"That would be me, on both counts." Mittelt said, announcing her presence.

Shirou noted with some concern that Xenovia seemed to be reaching for Excalibur Destruction, but stopped before she did anything hostile.

"We're not your enemies." Shirou said, making his way in. "I'm home." He then said to Mittelt with an awkward smile.

"Welcome back." She replied.

Issei stared at Mittelt. "This… little girl… is a Fallen!?"

Mittelt glared a bit at Issei, but it was Koneko's foot that disciplined him. "Rude."

"Well. Everyone, this is Mittelt. Mittelt, this is Hyoudou Issei, Kiba Yuuto and Toujou Koneko of Rias Gremory's Peerage, as well as Xenovia Quarta and Shidou Irina, exorcists of the Church." Shirou said, indicating each person in turn.

The mention of Mittelt's name caused Issei to tense up, but oddly enough neither Kiba nor Koneko seemed to react all that much, with Kiba merely raising an eyebrow and Koneko maintaining her usual expression.

Xenovia and Irina on the other hand didn't react to the name, which was hardly strange at all.

Mittelt herself seemed rather unfazed by this. "Hello everyone. I am Mittelt, formerly of the Grigori, and currently stuck with this moron." She introduced herself with a small curtsy.

Shirou raised an eyebrow at Mittelt, but all she returned was a cheeky smirk.

"Formerly?" Xenovia asked, although at least she relaxed a little.

"I was kicked out for treason. They showed leniency because I'd been tricked into doing it." The Fallen explained.

Kiba seemed a bit sceptical, but ultimately seemed to choose not to raise any doubts.

"Does anyone else live here? Because it certainly looks like it." He instead said, indicating some of the pieces of evidence visible of a third resident.

"Yes. My guardian has been staying here. It's really his place, but he's currently away on business, and it seems like it might take a few days." Shirou responded.

"Wait, how long have you been living with her? And have you-?!" Issei exclaimed, but his second question was cut short by Koneko's foot.

Although judging by his usual character and expression… it was probably a somewhat indecent question.

"I haven't been here that long…" Mittelt responded, before giving the Devils an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry we haven't talked to your King or to Lady Sitri, but I've been… laying low a bit… I beg your understanding. As for your second question Red Dragon Emperor… no, not yet."

Shirou was somewhat surprised to see Mittelt act this way, but also quite relieved as well as grateful.

Although he wasn't sure what to make of that last bit.

Kiba sighed. "It's not really our call to make… But I will tell Buchou about this. Sorry Shirou, but loyalty to my King before any other."

"I understand." Shirou responded. "Make yourselves at home, I need to talk to Mittelt and make some small preparations."

With those words Shirou and Mittelt left the others to their own devices and retreated to a room for Shirou's personal use, a place with some sliver of privacy.

It held some measure of objects for magical research, although Shirou had never really used it, and primarily also held the gear Azazel had provided him.

"Why did you let them in?" Mittelt opened.

"What would you have had me do? Tell them to wait outside? To leave? I don't think the exorcists would have done either of those." Shirou responded.

"Why are they even here? Bringing Excaliburs, no less?"

"Apparently three of them got stolen, and they think they are somewhere in Kuoh."

"And they think you had something to do with it?"

"I guess…?"

Mittelt stopped to think.

"Hang on… they were brought here to Kuoh? Do you think… Kokabiel might have been involved?"

Kokabiel, a relatively high-ranking member of the Grigori that had probably already been making moves in Kuoh through Raynare and her group…

And someone who wasn't fond of the attempts to open peace talks…

No, more like openly antagonistic towards it.

And presumably the person who actually sent Mittelt after Shirou.

"I can't really say that for now. But I can't deny the possibility."

Mittelt sighed and rubbed her temple.

"So, are you going to help them search?"

"Yes." Shirou responded while he changed into the protective gear provided to him.

He knew for certain that Mittelt was looking at him, but he didn't feel like wasting time, so he ignored it, this time.

"Well, be careful, I guess."

"That's all you're going to say?" He said as he turned to look at her.

"What else can I say?" She had a strange expression on her face again.

"I don't really know…"

Their discussion was interrupted by a loud noise, followed by a shattering sound, and finally the sound of their front door being obliterated.

"Well, fuck. That doesn't bode well." Mittelt said.

Shirou rushed down to the living room, where he was met with a most unwelcome sight.

A stranger, clad in clothes that seemed to belong to the church as well, wielding…

Excalibur Rapidly…

And it wasn't happy.

Not just in the sorrowful way Mimicry or Destruction was, but also in a more… aggravated, manner.

Simply put, it wasn't overly keen on its wielder.

"Freed Sellzen." Mittelt grit out from a position slightly behind him.

So, this was the deranged stray exorcist that had worked with Raynare's group…

"Well shit… I hadn't expected to run into all of you while going to murder the shitty Fallen brat and that kid she failed to kill…" Freed said.

'He's here to kill both Mittelt and me? My hunch was correct…' Shirou mused.

Before anything else could happen, Kiba flew across the room in what seemed a pure fury.

Freed retreated back out, presumably not in the mood for getting cornered in a room full of enemies, with the Knight in full pursuit.

Shirou immediately pursued, as did everyone else.

While he couldn't exactly speak for the others, he followed out of concern for Kiba.

"Wow, I never thought I would get this good of an opportunity to test Rapidly! But first!" Freed exclaimed, then moved with immense speed, straight for Mittelt.

Honestly, Shirou himself was surprised that he managed to block the attack, although he received a nick on the face for it.

A strange feeling came to him. Excalibur Rapidly seemed… confused.

Freed clicked his tongue in annoyance and withdrew before he could be surrounded.

"Seriously? You're defending her? The one who tried to kill you?" The stray exorcist queried.

"I'm not just going to stand by and let you kill someone, Freed Sellzen." Shirou returned.

Before their exchange could continue any further, Freed found himself beset by both Kiba and the two exorcists.

Amazingly he managed to evade them all, a boon of Excalibur Rapidly.

Although he couldn't really launch counterattacks while that was going on.

"For God's sake Freed, what are you doing?" A voice suddenly rang out.

And with it came something else.

A terrible gout of flame aimed at everyone not currently engaged with Freed.

Shirou made a mad dash out of the way, although what little flames caught him were repelled by his protection.

Mittelt, Issei and Koneko had also managed to get away unharmed, although the same couldn't be said of the building behind them.

A three-headed hound suddenly stood right in front of Shirou, staring him down, while a figure retreated in the background.

Freed followed suit, with his three opponents in hot pursuit.

Kiba even screamed something, although Shirou couldn't make it out as the beast before him snapped at him.

What is that?

It looks a bit like Kerberos, but…

Surely Hades' watchdog had better things to do than be on the surface world… in Japan.

Attacking him.

Before Shirou could really come to terms with his confusion, the beast slammed down hard, unleashed another massive gout of flame…

And disappeared.

Leaving only Shirou, Mittelt, Issei and Koneko.

Along with a burning building.

That was to say, what parts of it still remained since it seemed just the sheer force of the gouts had wrecked parts of it.

"Are you alright?" Shirou asked the other three.

Mittelt and Koneko merely nodded.

"Um, yeah… But Kiba and the exorcists…" Issei said.

"Koneko, can you-?" Shirou started to ask.

"Emiya-san? Issei, Koneko, what's happening here?" Rias suddenly interrupted, dropping out of the sky alongside Akeno as well as Sona and Tsubaki.

"We were attacked by a man named Freed Sellzen wielding Excalibur Rapidly. He ran off, but we were delayed by a giant three-headed hound." Shirou replied.

"What?!" Rias exclaimed.

"What he said." Koneko responded.

"Seems like we have more to talk about…" Sona suddenly said. "But first and foremost… What is that Fallen doing here?"

Upon attention being called to Mittelt's presence and identity, Rias swivelled to face her, clearly surprised, despite Mittelt having her wings out and all.

It was perhaps a testament to how much emphasis she put on her own that she didn't notice.

"Greetings Lady Sitri, Lady Gremory." Mittelt said with another curtsy, an action that caused all four newcomers to look at her oddly. "My name is Mittelt. I am currently with Shirou Emiya after having been exiled from the Grigori."

Sona pinched the bridge of her nose. "How long has she been here, and why didn't you ask us for permission?"

"Forgive me Kaichou. She hasn't been here for long, and I… forgot…" Shirou replied.

Mittelt sent him her best 'really?' glare, while Sona had a look best summed up as: "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Ultimately, Sona sighed. "We're going to need to have a talk about this, but it seems to me we have more pressing concerns."

"You mean the absolute madman with an Excalibur?" Akeno said.

"Valper." Koneko suddenly interjected.

"What?"

The query came from most of everyone present.

"He's here." Koneko continued.

Valper… Valper…

The name was familiar. Shirou had encountered it before…

"Oh no… Yuuto." Rias said with an extremely concerned look on her face.

Yuuto? Kiba had something to-

Oh.

Valper. Valper Galilei. The man who was once in charge of the Holy Sword Project.

The project that ruined Kiba's life…

"We have another problem." Mittelt suddenly interjected. "Someone summoned a Cerberus to attack us, and I doubt it was this Valper. And I'm convinced it wasn't Freed."

A Cerberus?

What did that mean?

Was it an entity named after the watchdog of the underworld?

"Very good observation, Mittelt." An unfamiliar voice cut into Shirou's thoughts, and the area suddenly flooded with the stench of a Fallen Angel.

Irina's gravely wounded body crashed into the ground before them.

"Heiress of the Gremory, heiress of the Sitri, I've come to deliver my declaration… of war."

Author's notes: This chapter... ever had an idea that seemed really good in your head, but then you can't quite get it right when you actually go for it? This chapter had quite a bit of that. Oh well, I've done what I have done.

I'll provide a bit of context for Shirou's confusion regarding the Cerberus. Kerberos, which is the same name but the former is the Latin spelling, is, as I just said, a name. Kerberos is an individual, and if memory serves his name means something like 'the spotted one', or some such. Yes, Hades named his watchdog Spot. To be fair, Hades is in actuality by far and wide the chillest god in Greek Mythology. Herakles asking to borrow Kerberos for one of his tasks? Sure, just be sure to bring him back. Orpheus asking to bring his dead wife out of the underworld? There were some stipulations, but Hades still allowed it. Just... don't break your end of the bargain. Heck, all the precious stones and metals belonged to Hades, and it was only because he let Humans borrow them that they could dig them up. More recent depictions of the guy has really done him a disservice. And all because the God of the Underworld has to be analogous to the Devil. Really the worst thing he did was kidnap someone to be his wife, and in the context of Greek mythology, that is honestly not all that high up on worst things someone does.

That was a bit of a rant... Anyway... I hope you enjoyed, and that you have a nice day.