Sakura jumped into embrace. "Thank you for coming back, alive!"
I moved my left arm, suddenly torrent of pain rushed from it. "AAAAGGGHHH."
I could feel something inside wanting to melt me.
His body was covered in cold sweat yet it was burning up as if he had a high fever.
Rin and Illya were about to knock on the Emiya residents door.
When a massive scream heard from inside.
They both rushed inside, as they pushed past the doors.
Rin quickly checked Shirou. His eyes rolled back, he was alive but currently being unconscious.
Rin quickly grabbed a red cloth to bandage the new arm.
Sealing the magic circuits, after that was done Shirou's face looked less pained.
"Thank you!" Sakura was bowing with tears in her eyes.
Everyone looks at the unconscious man lying in on the ground
---
It was the same mountain in the same place where Saber fought against Berserker.
But everything was entirely different.
Berserker was somehow pushing Saber back. Even with the veil attacking Berserker, he somehow managed to hurt Saber.
Suddenly the scene fast-forwarded to Archer cutting off Assassin's mask.
The veil materialized beside Rin.
Archer pushing Rin away, just to get impaled by the veil.
Getting thrown into the grail mud, numerous tentacles attacked Archer.
He slashed, redirecting the first batch. Sadly! A second later it pierced him.
Even after that he did not give up.
Until the veil emerged sucking massive amounts of mana.
It expanded again and again each time sucking more and more until it looked like a massive balloon with tendrils around it.
"Horrifying!" Only those words would fit this scene.
The veil shot a beam of concentrated mana.
Archer, not even bothering looking up, his body was in the air by multiple tendrils lifting him.
"I am the bone of... my sword.
Steel is my body and fire is my blood.
Unknown to death unknown to life.
I have created... over a thousand of swords.
Yet those same hands will never wield them.
RHO AIAS."
A mesmerizing 5 pattern Sakura flower petal emerge covering everyone.
It's so big covering them from the blast. As if not wanting them to see this kind of horror.
Yet even the pedals slowly rot creating holes.
Everything suddenly disappeared.
Only for me to realize I'm back... Back at the burning Fuyuki city.
"Thank you for witnessing." Before I could look at the person.
I was staring at a ceiling. A ceiling I have known all of my life, my room. I have woken up.
"Argh..." 'What was that?, I remember everything clearly.'
"Umm Shirou?" Sakura asks holding my hand. "Are you alright?"
"Uhhh... Yeah I just had a 'weird' dream?" I smiles it off which confuses Rin.
'Usually Shirou would give an awkward laugh or even scratch the back of his head. Maybe I'm just imagining something.'
Rin claps his hands. "I'll check his condition so can you both step out of the room?"
Both Illya and Sakura nod closing the door after them.
Rin stares at me and my arm with a sorrowful expression. "Shirou can you move that arm?"
"..."
*Sigh.* "Figured as such it's unheard of transplanting limbs from servants to humans."
Rin gently put her hands on my shoulders signaling me to sit down.
"Rin, I can move it?" I gently moved my arm.
Rin looks at me moving my arm slow and sluggish but it was still moving.
My eyes focused on moving it, even sweat poured down my face.
"Shirou! If you move it anymore Archer's circuits will activate, but your body won't handle it, power will overwhelm you and... You will collapse from the inside."
I grab the bandages on my arm my voice with concern. "So these bandages?"
"Their seals." She sits down behind me, healing my body.
"Thank you... For everything!"
Slightly startled by me. "What are you thanking me for?" Putting her arms in front of her. "I'm only here because we're working together to defeat Zouken, plus it would be convenient for me to keep her close by."
---
Illya watching Sakura with cold eyes cooking dinner, not even talking a single word and not leaving her gaze from Sakura.
She watched till Sakura finished dinner and went to Shirou's room to call Rin and Shirou.
Only then did she stop her gaze.
---
After dinner ended I wanted to help the dishes but since Rin warned me I could only let Sakura handle it.
So I headed to take a bath. I feel sorry for leaving Sakura with the dishes but since I wouldn't be any help I could only thank her.
Laying in the bath. *Sigh.* "Maybe just a little wouldn't be bad." I lifted the seal slightly.
Many green magic circuits rise up entering my eye.
I am falling somewhere, but during the fall I see something. I could see someone I know no!, it's not the same person I know.
It's Rin, much older and taller than before? No, I know clearly this is Archer's memories.
Archer and me, now I understand why he transplanted his limb.
I can see from his eyes but I can't control it, I can hear his thoughts, feel his emotions, and understand his ideal.
His ideal is much more... Realistic... He wants to become a hero of justice even if it betrays him, the pursuit itself is what he chooses.
"Ah... I understand. My... Our ideals weren't ours anyway but he changed it to fit him.
I don't really know what to think. If I hadn't learn this, maybe I would have been crushed by my ideals too.
My consciences which was falling hits the ground. *Splat.*
I pull my head from under the water, panting heavy.
I died. Yes I clearly felt I was dead. My eyes looking at my arm shrink in terror at the realization.
***
After I left the bathroom walking in the corridor towards my bed Rider was standing there blocking my path.
"Shirou will you be by Sakura's side?" She had a mocking smile not at me but herself. "I have grown fond of her."