salvation.

Luckily, this version of himself was easier to handle then the others. This version of himself waited in Cotes by the Koi pond, skipping stones across the water and watching the ripples dance.

He was neither an undead creature, nor one from a darkened timeline. He wasn’t something twisted, driven mad by rage and guilt and obsession. This Amakusa – Shirou, he felt some part of him corrected – was just a teenager.

Just that, and nothing more.

@falsanctus

 “Hmm.” With a bored tone, Anri looked at the ceiling of the Kotomine church’s chapel, waiting for his junior to come out so they could chat just to kill time. It wasn’t rare for him to visit the young man every now and then, surprisingly enough, Anri and Shirou got along well.

“Oi, Shirou.” He addressed the young man as he came out to meet him, his gaze looking at the statue right above the organ of the chapel with deep interest before breaking eye contact with it.

“Aren’t you bored of playing priest every now and then? Doesn’t your girlfriend say something about it? Heck, even your brother would raise his monotonous and creepy voice if you go around using his robes. Don’tcha think?”

The door to the confessional opened with a slow creak, revealing perhaps the youngest priest this side of Spirale. Well, if only he were a priest. “Playing? Anri, what makes you think I’m playing? I really am a priest.” Shirou flourished his (albeit borrowed) clerical clothing for his older friend, completely devoid of guilt.

“Is it considered chuuni if I’m completely aware of the fantasy? Hm, I wonder.” Not completely. Instead, Shirou simply shrugged at the questions thrown at him. “Jehanne knows I volunteer at the church, but that’s about it. As for Kirei, so long as I don’t interrupt this 54th viewing of Love Actually, I don’t think he’d really care. And as long as I return everything, he’ll never know, either.”

kinglysun·:

━━━━━ TO: CCC GROUP CHAT ( @falsanctus & @128th ) ━━━━━━━━━━ FROM: LEO

….. SENDING ………… SENDING ………………… SENDING [ ENCRYPTED FILE HAS BEEN SENT ]

ʕ•ᴥ•ʔﾉ♡ Meet my Juliet!

TO: CHUUNI CHURCH CREW ( @falsanctus· + @kinglysun· ) FROM: HAKUNON

( text. ) leo shes so cute  (´ ▽｀).。ｏ♡

( text. ) you two make a very cute couple

TO: CHUUNI CHURCH CREW ( @kinglysun​ + @128th​ ) FROM: SHIROCCHI

Amakusa Shirou Tokisada? Don’t know him. 

Meet Kotomine Shirou: 17 year old soon-to-graduate high schooler, vice president of the student council and cool youth pastor (jr. edition).  

- After losing his family at a young age, Shirou was taken in by a friend of the family - Risei - and joined the Kotomine family, thereby becoming Kirei’s younger brother. He likes to joke he’s Caren’s uncle, in spite of their relatively close ages.

- When not studying, he volunteers at the local church and works in the kitchens as a cook around Archimedes. Still stupidly in love with his high school sweetheart Jehanne. 

- His two friends are Hakuno, who he met whilst volunteering at the hospital and Leo, introduced through Hakuno. Together they form CCC (chuuni church crew).

- Has a terrible tendency to 'borrow’ his brother’s church stuff from time to time. He always returns them! But after he’s done exorcising things, or pretending to be a priest when no one’s looking.

@falsanctus

    ▐  狩人  “I thought I smelled something rotten, but to think it was you of all people…” She states, voice devoid of any kind of emotion – she can’t say she feels anything towards this man. Indifference, perhaps. He was not a good Master, nor a bad Master. If their goals didn’t somehow align, she probably would have avoided him.

Though this might be a lie as well. She knows not the truth behind him becoming her Master that time, the sly tricks he pulled behind the scenes – the fate of her original Master. She did say she doesn’t want a weak Master, but she isn’t particularly fond of trickery and schemes. If she knew, would she have done things the same? Would she have abandoned this weak Master of hers for a man who fools others the way she loathes it? 

For a chance of winning, certainly. Anything, anything for her wish, this firm belief in it. The ends justify the means, after all. In that case, she would not be opposed to joining forces with him once again. Little does she know he has taken a liking to someone she still simply cannot agree with.

“Ruler… Amakusa. Are you here as a Servant? Or a Master?” Emerald eyes narrow as she thinks about why so many Servants have gathered in this place. If there is a chance to grant her wish, then… “If there is a Holy Grail here, you best tell me now.”

“Oh my. Is that really how you would treat your former Master, Archer? I’m hurt. Were we not a team, back in the old days?” His own reaction was the usual curt response, coupled with a smile. Were all reunions between the Servants of Red going to be like this? Well, it mattered little in the long run; they each had their own dreams crushed and marred, though not by his own hand.

But there was no escape from the sins of the past; they lingered on the wall like elongated shadows, stretching out to catch him by the edge. Yet, whilst most had considered Amakusa’s actions heinous, even cruel, he saw only logic. The Great War of Trifas was one for humanity’s own salvation - that was what he had believed, and still believed. Clung to, like a single piece of driftwood in a storm. Even after all that time, that suffering and pain, it was something Ruler could not relent on, even to one of his own.

“A Servant, of course. Given how my last bout as a Master went, I believe it would be best to leave it for those more suitable.” Amakusa offered little, save the most humble of shrugs. “Ah, I fear I’ll disappoint you, Archer. Here, there is no Holy Grail. Despite the amount of servants you see, this is no war.” 

Amakusa,

I hope your Christmas will be well and that our Lord blesses you on this day. Though they are not much, I pray you will find joy in this gift.

With love, Jehanne.

❛ Oh, for real ? ❜ Wasn’t that was a coincidence ? ❛ Well, back home, they call trainees ‘Exwires’. It basically means while I’m a student attending classes, I’m allowed to go on non-combat missions too. Though, they aren’t exactly good at maintaining the whole ‘non-combat’ rule, not really. ❜  

He had been in too many fights for one to even consider an ‘ordinary Exwire experience’, but then again,  he supposed Demons were drawn to him— or at least, his flames. They called them ‘divine’ flames, a symbol of their world’s ‘God’, though Rin personally saw them as nothing more than a troublesome reminder of how he was related to that bastard. Still, following a moment of reflection, Rin realized how problematic what he had said sounded and quickly raised his hands in front of his face. Damn, the last thing he wanted to be seen as was a fight-loving thug. 

 ❛ — Not that I purposely go out lookin’ to start brawlin’ with demons ! It’s all just bad luck, honestly ! The creepy old dudes in the Vatican haven’t offed me yet so I figure I’m still in their good books, kinda. ’ Not that he’d ever be fully accepted by the powers that resided there. Mephisto was the only reason they had initially let him live, anyway.

But now the man had suddenly pulled out three blades, seemingly out of nowhere, and Rin’s attention was diverted. Had he just been hiding those up his sleeve ? That’s what it looked like. Wasn’t that dangerous ? Cool, but dangerous as hell. ‘ I don’t mind sparrin’ but those are weird. They look way too imbalanced to use like a sword, anyway. What, do you throw ‘em or something ? ’ Projectiles— he had never really considered using them given his physical ties to his blade, but it was an interesting concept. Plus, any sort of weapon would improve his current condition. 

“‘Exwires’...” It sat strange on the tongue, but comfortable all the same. How curious that even in another world, the church still pushed forward in pursuit of its ideals. “How interesting. During the time there, I was part of a section within the church known as the Assembly of the Eighty Sacrament.” It felt as if it had been years since those days, searching for relics across the globe. And perhaps it was - years that seemed like a lifetime ago, half-buried like the ancient relics he’d sought. “It was a special agency, filled with all sorts of people. Haha, myself included.”

Genuine laughter spilled from his lips for a moment. Comments regarding the Vatican were taken lightly; hardly an offence in Amakusa’s eyes. Even if Rin hadn’t corrected himself, he likely wouldn’t have thought otherwise of the young man. Teenagers were teenagers, and he wasn’t one to judge so swiftly.

Though laughter disappeared amongst the bamboo, Amakusa’s smile remained. “You have a good eye. They may look like rapiers, but they’re best used as throwing weapons.” Which he so amiably demonstrated with a flick of his wrist, lodging two more keys into the body of a bamboo stalk. The stalks trembled for but a moment; the force shaking them to their roots. Yet, regardless of how deep they’d sunk, the stalk stood tall. Precise and deadly, by no mans trivial.

Months passed, indeed. While the Avenger couldn’t quite fill the gap between Hive and this Spirale he shrugged it off as nothing, it was just like being summoned once again.

“I see.” He shrugged on a exaggerated manner, he still had fun at them throwing books at each other, but it was this guy’s fault, when is he gonna apologize.

Indeed Angra Mainyu was sort of tamed, but he also had part of his own craving mixed on his attitude now. “Well, I dunno if things have been the same here. But hell, I still remember how fucked up things were that even her church was burned down.” Also the time he was beaten to half-death. “Oh, that just hurts Shirou-kun, I’m just a random encounter? You hurt me.”

It was luck, then, that Amakusa hadn’t been present for the burning of the last church. Whose luck was another thing entirely, however. Instead, he simply laughed. “Compared to the last city, this one has been rather quiet. Well, save for the appearance of monsters and the undead during October. That was quite the Halloween surprise.” And a vast improvement over the Halloween before that.

_____ “ᴅᴇꜰɪɴᴇ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇ.” ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀ ᴡᴀꜱ Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴘʟʏ. “Trouble follows me whether I bloody like it or not.”  Funny, he didn’t notice the young man when he walked into the cafe, only on his way out. Then again, that was the difference between not having coffee, and having it.  A few sips changed everything. The modern world had so many ways to prepare coffee yet he stuck with the same sweet iced garbage Sypha always got. He didn’t know how to order anything else; All the options for drinks was akin to a magic language he couldn’t read for the life of him. Iced coffee worked well enough for the pleasant afternoon anyway. Trevor, after a moment of staring, frowned. He tried to puzzle in the stranger’s name, but the term ‘Ruler’ felt fuzzy. Their garb looked like that of a priests. “I’m sorry, what was your name again?”

 “It is only natural for comrades to help each other in times of need, is it not?” She smiled with a gentle expression. Indeed the status quo happened to be broken on this place almost in a routinely manner, but she managed to prevail even now with just a wooden weapon. “There is no problem like I said, everyone including us Servants have things to do, after all.” She herself spent a lot of time on a Shintoist temple nearby, or the arcade locale every now and then.

 “Master included you say!?” She raised her voice for a moment before calming down. “Ahem… Master included? Seriously now, the people taking us here are indeed brave, or should I say bold?”

 “So far I’ve encountered Chaldea affiliated Servants but I’ll keep my guard up if that’s the case.” She bowed, thanking him for the suggestion. “Are you free, or is there something you were doing before greeting me?”

A mystery how things managed to get done, despite the constantly chaos that seem to perturb the city. But, each and every one of them did it somehow; the church was Amakusa’s proof of that. No doubt Archer was the same, spending time in areas that soothed her.

Well, mostly. Sudden as the outburst is, it garnered little reaction, save his customary smile. “Indeed, Master is here as well. But, you needn’t worry, he’s in perfectly fine condition.” Last he had checked, some weeks ago. “Whether they are bold or simply foolish had yet to be decided, for the time being.”

Each fought and died for their dreams; that sliver of possibility that they could win and see their hearts desire fulfilled. Some went forward for conquest, for love, for a chance to redo the past and correct the mistakes therein. Other held more lofty aspirations.

Amakusa wished for nothing, save salvation. 

It was a seed planted long ago, when the fires of Shimabara stilled burned bright. It had sprouted during his own War and thereafter - his incarnation into the modern world. The turmoils of the present were no different than the past; only shaded another colour. Humanity continued to bit their tail, devouring themselves in wanton destruction. 

Thus, he had but one dream: to see them saved. A noble, prideful goal. One that was so close to fruition, once upon a time. Again and again it slipped from his grasp, a whisper of what if but never was. Days had passed into week, then months; a year coming and going in the blink of an eye, but still his wish remained. Even confined to the city and all its glory - the hope of friendship and happiness that long alluded him - the dream sat heavy in his mind; a ghost that lingered still.

So, when a present arrived on his doorstep, foreshadowed by the rumours of wishes, Amakusa had but one idea. Vein, perhaps, to think world salvation could be completed not with the grail but a randomly given box, and near-sighted at that. The city, much like the previous one, did not give freely. 

But, present in hand, he saw only the future he’d dreamt of. A lifelong ambition, so close to realisation.

But what we wish for isn’t what we need, the tag read. Sometimes people come to this understanding themselves. But others, they need to be shown.

Amakusa opened his gift and saw a flash of fire, the last embers of a castle set aflame. Everything was dying, dying, dead. Corpses scattered like fallen flowers across the floor, caught mid-surprise, half-scream. Above the roar of a flame a laugh, teetering on the edge. A single figure in the flame, eyes afire. A figure he knew well. A figure he hated, because they could do little to save people, to save the world.

It was him, laughing.

It was him, killing.

It was him, chasing his dream.

Again, roared the fire. Again, screamed the corpses. Again and again, until they can be saved. Again, until history changes. Again, until this wish is fulfilled.

Why was it that despite appearing at least somewhat near Rin’s age that this person seemed so much older ? It was similar to Yukio in a way, holding a maturity and intelligence that Rin had long since acknowledged he lacked in, but even this person’s eyes seemed old. Or maybe Rin was just too childish for his own good. Unsurprising. 

Regardless, the exwire was pleased that his interruption hadn’t upset the man.

❛ I guess you could call it that. My old man gave it to me before he passed so not having it is sort of stressin’ me out a little. ❜ The blade was also necessary in keeping him alive given the fact that his ‘demon heart’ ( as Mephisto put it, though he had yet to see it personally ) was sealed within— but that didn’t sound like something to share with a stranger. Still, he shuddered to think what would happen if those who had stolen it accidentally broke it. At least the news that the sword would ( hopefully ) be returned to him brought with it some relief, though it didn’t fully erase the nagging, the feeling of unease.

Wait, hold on. Was this guy actually offering to give him a weapon ? Had he misheard ? It certainly wouldn’t have been the first time. Did people here just have random weaponry set aside, willing to share with strangers ? ❛ Uh, I mean, that’d be cool. Not like I ever used my sword to kill anythin’ other than demons. Or well, ‘exorcise’ them. Kinda what I was being trained to do an’ all. ❜ 

Old was certainly one way to describe Amakusa. Though years slid off his shoulders like water, the time he spent incarnated say heavy on his bones; nestled closely behind his eyes. A maturity many found unsettling. Many had the tendency to turn away when faced with it, as if he reflected something dark. Luckily, this didn’t seem to bother the young man.

“Ah, I can see why that would be worrisome.” Akin to an heirloom, then. Something personally and unique to the barer alone; the last physical attachment to those who had passed. At least, that was what Amakusa assumed about the sword. The real reason would remain vague to him, for the time being.

A flash of something sparked behind his eyes, equal parts curiosity and interest. “Oh? You’re an exorcist-in-training, then? My, that’s quite interesting. I served in my world’s church for a time. I wonder if you would call this fate.” Since his arrival, he’d met Saints and monsters alike, but exorcists were a rare breed, even now. There were likely differences between what they know, given their worlds, but it was an interesting situation, regardless.

      To have the other answer so readily and fully took the young appearing ASSASSIN back a little – she was unaccustomed to SERVANT’s giving out their true names so easily. However, perhaps it was his TITLE that explained it. Ruler. That meant he was a little more of a guardian, a rule keeper, then an average part of the Holy Grail Wars…

      “… Assassin Class Servant, Danzou. Call me as you will.” She returns somewhat reluctantly – confusion still alive in her doll-like eyes. She rarely spoke to others by giving them her name, however? The knowledge granted to the SERVANT’s by the THRONE allowed her to know all she needed to. Even if she didn’t give her name, he should have an ability that allowed him to know who she was, regardless. “Danzou is a recent summon to Chaldea prior to coming here. Danzou knows little of this Island, or… how to behave outside of a Singularity or War.” The Assassin-Class servant admits, confusion clear in her features. Her head tilted ever-so-slightly to the side.

      It was… uncommon for SERVANT’s to be summoned without a Grail. And most would not be able to maintain it, without “INDEPENDENT ACTION” as one of their abilities. So? To say she was… lost would be accurate.

      And seeking answers. “… things have been… uncomfortable. But, Danzou is… at least becoming more adjusted. Meeting with other Servants has helped. Though… Danzou is uncertain how we have all been manifested here. May Danzou ask how long Ruler has been here?” For now, unless he specified, she would call him RULER – as a Japanese servant, even if she used to be a karakuri doll, she wasn’t rude enough to use his name without proper permission.

Her confusion and hesitance lay bare across her face, like an open book. He needn’t the abilities of a Ruler to discern that much, nor the uncertainty that ran through her voice. All signs pointed to one unaccustomed to their current predicament; disorientated by a lack of Master and the current surroundings. An understandable reaction, of course. 

The name offered is one he recalls well, from when he was alive. To think that Danzou was a young girl. Surprises abound. “Danzou, then. It is a pleasure to make you acquaintance, despite the current situation we find ourselves in.” A smile eased its way across Amakusa’s face; the same he offered to all in need.  

Quietly, he nodded to her explanation. “I see. This must be a disorientating experience, if that’s the case. Luckily, there are a number of Chaldea Servants situated throughout the city. Some staff are here too, as is Master. So, you needn’t worry much. Things are, for the most part, fairly tame here.” Hopefully these facts would act as a assurance to the distressed Assassin, for the time being.

     At last, Martha pries fussing hands off the poor boy, forcing herself away with a step back. He was truly a champ to allow her this simple expression of concern and fondness for as long as she needed. Even as Saints now, they were still only human. Skinship, relationships and the like were still relevant under the scrutiny of their commitment to God. 

     “Oh, yes. Yes, everything has been just fine. There are always people in need of a helping hand, of course…” Turning her head, Martha allows herself to really take in their surroundings, now that Amakusa’s memories and well-being were secured in her mind. An almost dreamy smile crosses her lips.

     “This is all yours? It’s wonderful, Shirou. My heart is swelling! And in such a short time, too! Truly amazing.” She can’t help but gush. Though their ages did not differ all that much, she could stop her natural instincts as an elder sibling figure, feeling pride and awe all at once. It was a bit strange. In a usual war these kinds of feelings would never come up, as they would be too busy attempting to take one another’s lives. Without a grail, without a contract, harmonious bonds were able to develop between two people, not agents of destruction. “Fufu… Ah, what could I have been worried about? Of course you’re more than capable of handling things. I’ll admit, I will miss the days we worked side by side… You are sincerely—- Ack– that hair again, I swear by His grace…!” Yes, already, she’s back at it again.

Skinship was not something Amakusa was entirely used to, even now. Still, the constant fuss Martha caused over him was borne of worry; a need to reaffirm his health, and perhaps to tease him for his previous comments. With that in mind, he could do little but sit beneath Martha’s tender hand (though he took a breath of relief when she relented).

“I see. I’m glad to hear that.” Glad, for both Martha and the people she had helped. The city teemed with people in need of care and a forgiving hand, there was no denying that. Thus, it lay with them to heal and help. It was one of the reasons he’d taken to fixing the church - though not the only one. “I’m sure they were thankful for your assistance, too.”

Gaze shifted, tracing areas of the churches interior; across silent pews and shimmer windows. “Ah, I can’t take much credit for this. I discovered this place as a ruing after arriving. Following the city’s revival, it had returned to being an empty building. I merely did some cleaning here and there. Nothing overtly advantageous, I assure you.” Save, perhaps, fixing a hole in the roof and battling a nest of pigeons for supremacy over the rafters.

   “ Ah, nowhere. ” Smug, smiling, a villain always has her tricks. Did he intend to keep that juicy detail a secret all this time? That was no fun at all. With a dangerous, knowing wink, Drake slid her hand along the top of the bordered wall.  “ Who else would go to the Star Trail if they weren’t together? It’s beautiful out there. I saw you and that Ruler girl headed out that way some time ago” She slipped past the wall onto the smooth wooden floors with ease before him. She seemed to have a grace on skates of her own, likely attested by her class as Rider. “ Or, I could be wrong and you hadn’t asked her yet?”  Drake waited for him to catch up before skating on slightly ahead of him after a spin.