Once more, Shirou found himself standing in the burning world of his Reality Marble. The moment he touched the wayward weapon to return it to it's resting place, he was inexplicably pulled into his inner world.
"Sup' Boss." Thor greeted him.
She is a beautiful yet a bit of a wild girl. Long unruly blonde hair styled in two twin tails framing around her face, her lips in a genuinely playful smirk. She's also dressed in a very tight high leg leotard, exposing most of her sides and hips. From armor, she has gauntlets meant to handle Mjolnir's power and a skirt armor to give her a bit of decency.
Oh, did he mention that she's wearing her blue striped panties outside of her leotard? There's probably a story behind this dubios wardrobe sense but Shirou is not on the mood to deal with the pervert.
Almost immediately as Thor spoke, Enkidnu bursts out of the ground and immediately wrapped around the girl to restrain her fully. It's anti-divine properties making it highly effective against the Kamihime.
"Hyaan!" Though as to why it did in Shibari form, he doesn't know. He'll chuck it to Gilgamesh messing around again. Maybe he'll find him later to check on the King.
"Oi! This uncalled for! Get this off me, it's cold and it's digging in weird places!" Thor squeaked, squirming as the golden chains dig into her skin and unmentionables rather uncomfortably and lewdly. Especially the one digging into her crotch, making her rub her thighs together.
Ignoring the lewd sight, Shirou cut through the chase. Argonauts, Medea's Noble Phantasm and his preferred weapon, appeared in his hand. With a flick of the sword, the blade extended and wrapped around the girl's delicate neck. It's serrated edges digging lightly to the skin and one single could lead to a decapitation.
Thor gulped in fear.
And then Shirou began speaking,
"I'll be frank with you. I don't know why you are here but you'll answer everything I ask and no, your not allowed to ask questions yourself. Are we clear?"
Thor nodded immediately, twin tails bobbing up and down wildly in fear at the man.
"First question, when did you manifest?" He asks.
"On the night you and Medea slept together." Thor blurted out and immediately regretted it as Shirou expression darken.
In his mind, Shirou's suspicions had been confirmed. That day, Medea tampered with his body after during the tantric ritual to empower her before the exorcism plan for Sakura. It's also the day she betrayed them all and committed another ritual.
The rebirth of Angra Manyu with Sakura's body as the instrument of his rebirth. Except that she also double-crossed Angra Manyu and committed another ritual, far more catastrophic than the rebirth of Angra Manyu.
The summoning of an Eidolon, a God from another world and triggering the Counter Force to respond.
"If you manifested that night, why only today you revealed yourself? Are there more others?" He asks again.
"There's more of me but I'm the only one who can manifest as of yet." Thor cried.
"Most of us are dormant, simply imprinted consciousness on our weapons which you somehow all have but I think that witch did it. We watched the entire incident by the way and we're kinda impressed you soloed an Eidolon."
"Imprinted consciousness? You're not the real you." Shirou realized.
"Yup. You know Ragnarok-Eeeek! It's digging into my pussy!"
"What did I say about questions? Yes, I heard about Ragnarok. Saber and Medea told me about it."
Ragnarok was the catastrophic war that spanned world's and dimensions in Saber and Medea's world. Yes, his servant and the witch came from another reality altogether and he doesn't care about that. At the end of Ragnarok, True Ragnarok happened which is the equivalent of Magical Nuke across all dimensions.
Saber and Medea died and became Heroic spirits right then and there.
"I'm pretty sure I survived Ragnarok with my durability and Odin was with me so I was suspicious how am I here without a body. After a while, we concluded that we're just imprinted memories of the original Kamihime." Shirou nods at her explanation. That solves one mystery.
"And what about Yashima. Why did you manifest and took her side?" The serrated whip blade tug a little on Thor's neck.
"Eeeek! I just wanna have fun! When that girl began sending physic signals to you, they're blocked and ignored by that daughter of yours. So I answered instead in your behalf. Aren't I just generous?" Thor tried to jests her way out.
It was not effective.
"What psychic signals?" He asks with a hard glare.
"...The morning after you encountered that girl and her horrid partner, a psychic signal has been trying to reach you. Unfortunately, your minds under the domain of your baby so it kinda bounced off and ignored. So I was like, why the heck not and received it instead. Turns out, the girl had hots for you. Is that normal to her species? To find you as potential mate after killing her old partner? Isn't that NTR?"
Shirou is not amused, not one bit in this revelation. On the distance, he can hear Angra Manyu howling in laughter. He doesn't have to search for Archer to know that he's sporting the most annoying smug smirk. Although it might be his imaginations but he thinks he can hear Gilgamesh's mocking laugh, not directed on him but on the alien species wanting to jump his bone.
Karasuba is already a mess to handle, he doesn't need another one that genuinely chases after it.
"We'll talk later." Shirou left.
"Wait!? Are you just gonna leave me here like this?!" Thor cried out, crawling like a worm in her restraints. She screamed in horror as Shirou disappeared, leaving her tied up in this burning world.
Suddenly, the chains went tight and she was pulled towards a random direction.
"Aaaaaaaah!" She screamed unlike a horror movie victim as she was dragged away.
A Golden King had summoned her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the outside world, Shirou finally woke up. Looking around, the hammer is gone, no longer anchored to the world. The street is still ruined and the sound of police sirens are now at the distance. One residents probably called for the disturbance.
"Oh! Your done, Shirou?" Karasuba asks, holding up a phone to her ear. She's talking to someone.
"Yes. It's time to leave." He said, walking back to where they left his bike. On his tail, Karasuba followed.
"I think that can wait, Shirou-kun." Karasuba said, a coy smile plastered to her lips while holding the phone.
"Someone wants to talk to you and I'm pretty sure you'll be interested." Shirou frowned before accepting the phone as they walk.
On the phone, a man with a wild mane of gre hair stared back at him with. His lips curled in a smile that is similar to a resident of a mental hospital.
"Greetings, Emiya-kun! Or should I say it, Winner of the 5th Holy Grail War."
That gained his attention.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Half an hour later....
"I'm so glad you accepted this meeting, Emiya-kun. You can't imagine the happiness I felt when you agreed to join me for some snacks. How's the biscuits?" Hiroto Minaka gestured at the plate of assorted biscuits at the table.
Shirou can't believe himself but he's here, deep inside a magus residence after being invited for peace talks. As it turns out, Hiroto Minaka is the Second owner of ShinTokyo and a Magus. A mistake Shirou made, he forgot about Rin's status as the Second owner of Fuyuki. He should have expected it in the beginning with how easy for MBI to mobilize their forces despite the local government, the company itself is running the city.
Thankfully, Karasuba's gone in this meeting. They are currently meeting in the CEO's office of all rooms in the building.
"It's good but I don't think you invited me over biscuits. I warn you though, the last five magi who tried to claim my bounty is still being found in pieces." It wasn't a lie nor boast, it's a promise.
Minaka of course chuckled at the threat.
"Of course, Emiya-kun. That would be just idiotic." Minaka shook his head, "Those enforcers and other magi has been hounding me since they suspected that you move here a month ago. Good thing my company and bounded fields made sure to keep them out. Though they have been vocal in trying to get in, still I'm the owner and my house rules!" Minaka laughs, revealing with a smug smile.
This is news to Shirou. So the Clocktower has already a bead to him. Yet it seems he had gained a protector of sorts? Why would the second owner harbor him in and risk the wrath of the Clocktower.
"Why?" Minaka raises an eyebrow at the question.
"Why?" The CEO repeated, "Why wouldn't I? Can a guy help out a friend? Pretty sure Kiritsugu still owe me much."
Shirou blinked. Kiritsugu? Minaka knows the man.
"Surprised?" Minaka opened his arms in gesture, "Didn't expect me as a contact to your dear ol dad, didn't ya?!"
"No, it was genuinely unexpected." Shirou replied truthfully.
"Yeah, me and Kiritsugu go way back. I actually met him when I discovered the Sekirei. Offered him a job and he did in one month flat, killed all the nosy assholes sniffing at my golden goose. Kiritsugu liked toys I gaved to him and we have been in contact since. I provide custom weapons and tools for him while I get paid in whatever mystic code or artifact he founds after a job. If nothing, he just pays me bucks but I don't really needed. The real payment is the ingenuity of how he applied said tools to take out Magi and Dead Apostles. That ingenuity that fueled my own in embracing modern society than rot in the hole that is the Clocktower." Minaka explained. It was an interesting story and very much understandable.
Magi in general look down on the other side of the world, the civilians or those who are not aware of the moonlit world. Due to this, they typically ignore the growth of society and technological development. One such example is Rin and Luvia, the latter being shown the advancement of technology by her servant Assasin and Illya's pranks.
To think the girl would become an avid gamer in the span of few weeks would always be a surprise to Shirou.
"Then I thank you for giving me sanctuaryin your territory, Hiroto-san." Shirou bowed in gratitude.
"No need for that boy, just doing a favor to an old friend." Minaka waved, "Still, I didn't invite you here to talk about my relationship with your pops."
"Your talking about the Sekirei plan." Shirou already suspected it. Only a magus would be make such foolish game. With this confirmation, the game is probably for a large ritual.
"Bingo! Karasuba already told you the general gist but would you like to hear the entire plan and what is it all about?" Minaka offered with a smile.
"What? Your just gonna give it away to me?" Shirou is shocked. For a magus, once mystery is their weapon. To reveal it is foolishness and a stain to one's pride. Yet here is this man, offering his greatest secret.
"Of course! It's actually part why I invited you here."
"I would like to offer you further sanctuary and protection from the Clocktower while revealing the Sekirei Plan and it's purpose. In turn, I would like you to stay your hand from the rest of the game unless you are forced to. Is that acceptable?" The CEO offered.
"No Geass?" Shirou asks.
Minaka laughs instead, "A geass? On an Emiya? Please! The last guy who made a Geass pact with your dad died like a wet stain. I'm not risking that of bad luck to myself." Minaka can still remember the faith of previous Lord El Melloi.
"Then it's a verbal agreement then. I would like to hear the entire plan first before I decide. Don't worry, if I found it unsatisfactory, I would simply leave and let the Clocktower deal with you themselves."
"Dang, that's cold! Just like your Dad." Minaka snickers to himself but his sweating profusely.
He's in the backfoot of this negotiation. Unlike Shirou, all the boy would lost in this if the exchange doesn't go through is a place to live. He could move on and drive back his bounty hunters effectively too. Minaka on the other hand could lose everything if Shirou snitched his activities in the Clocktower. Harboring the Sekirei alone would end up him being executed. The only reason Kiritsugu never found out is because they contact each other via calls and couriers, basically pen pals.
They then shook hands and Minaka beagn explaining the entire purpose of the Sekirei Plan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One hour later....
"Minaka, I need you to-" Takami paused in her steps as she entered the man's office.
She blinked once and then twice, pinched herself and then decided what she is seeing is real.
Her ex is having snacks with his missing son. The same son that she has been chasing after for a whole month just for this asshole of a boss to simply invite him in for what? A tea party?
Then came the white hot rage!
"Oh, Takami look who- What are you doing with that clipboar-Yowch!" Minaka ducked from the flying clipboard. As he pulled himself up under the table, Takami tackled him to the ground and began beating him with her own fists, screaming non-child friendly obscenities at the man.
On the other side of the table, Shirou sips his tea and took a cracker.
He just hear some serious shit and this drama will help as a distraction.
The good news? Minaka's a real friend and not a threat.
The bad news? His gonna die in the near future, not by his hand but it will happen for sure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Servant highlight
True name: Caspar
Class: Assasin/Archer
Alignment: Neutral
Description: "A true gambler who loves to gamble dangerously, and would even bet her life. To her, life is just a worldwide game."
Skills
Intuition of the Matchmaker (A): Allows to predict possibilities, not accurate but effective.
Significant Rates (EX): Allows Caspar to manipulate probability by a few percentage.
Noble Phantasm
Snatch DX: Caspar has the ability to steal other Noble Phantasms but cannot use them if the Noble Phantasm needs specific criteria. (Used it to steal Archer's Caladbolg II Mid-flight, stopping it from landing to its target)
Zami El Geweer: A minigun she wields for firepower.
Narstral: A demonic gun that is connected to the Demon Samael.
Fatal Bullet, Narstral!
- Upon Activation, Narstral loads a lone magic bullet. This bullets is imbued with the concept of death, allowing an insta-kill upon being shot. The bullet doesn't have to hit the target, once fired, the bullet will kill anyone. The bullet has a catch, an invisible coin toss will be made. If it's heads, the bullet will claim the target. If tails, the bullet kills the user.
5th Grail War History:
Assasin is summoned by Luvia in the war. First encounter with Archer and Tohsaka in the local highschool. Assasin is heavily wounded and presumed dead in the encounter if not for Shirou's intervention. Luvia and Assasin then made a pact with Shirou at the time to minimize death and destruction and the redhead will assist them in the war with Medea's help. Later on, Saber will join them as Shirou accidentally summoned her. During the incident of Sakura's possession, Assassin kills Kotomine. In the final battle against the Eidolon summoned by Medea, Assasin dies as her Noble Phantasm backfires.