A.N Thank you everyone for reading this story. I still can't believe how much time I have poured into this, but I digress. If any kind soul would be willing I am in need of beta readers if people would like to proofread the work for me, please DM if you would like to.

Review answer time

TO W8W - Archer was not mortally wounded, he was exhausted and recovering from his wounds from fighting Asura but if he was allowed to recover he would have been fine. Zouken has his reasons just like the spider has his. At the moment they are mutually inclusive with each other. And those surprises will have to wait for a while.

Chapter 22

The past day's events had left all the master's exhausted bar one. Shirou found himself walking through his home, a cool breeze nipping at him and causing some discomfort from his newly attached arm. "...I still can't believe he gave me this.." A whisper left his mouth in a small exhale that showed the sheer fatigue he felt on his exhausted body.

"Having trouble sleeping?" The coarse tone of Asura spoke up as the demigod walked towards Shirou.

"Asura, you are still up?" Shirou asked as he tried to ignore the discomfort.

"I don't sleep kid, I was just doing a nightly patrol, it helps calm me down after a long day." Asura responded with his white orbs for eyes still unleashing a glare of light. "I see you are trying to calm down as well. How's the arm?" Asura asked as he looked at Shirou cradle his arm with a puzzled look.

"It stings a bit, it's gonna take some getting used to." Shirou responded meekly as Asura walked towards him.

"Gaa don't be a baby, I've had my arms brutally removed many times over and in some occasions gotten right back on my feet and head-butted my arrogant brother." Asura spoke with a somewhat amused tone in his voice. "All you gotta do is break it in." He said as he flexed his left arm. Shirou looked somewhat nervous as Asura lumbered towards him and yet a small hint of excitement burnt in his chest, a somewhat urge to face off against Asura. An urge that he had no conscious knowledge of. To challenge Asura with all of his might. Warmth filled him, it settled the discomfort and he felt better than he had ever before.

Asura stared at Shirou when a small blue glow burned in the young boy's eyes. A flame he remembers all too well. "So, have you noticed?" Asura asked as he folded his arms. A sense of maturity emanated from Asura. 'Is that pride...excitement...Are you looking forward to training this useless sack of flesh?' The spider asked in abhorrence.

"Have I noticed what?" Shirou asked as he looked at Asura. "When Archer tried to attach his arm to your body. You had lost too much blood and it seemed that your body would reject the arm. So I gave you a small inkling of my power. Well, it may be my power now, but it was not originally. That power saved your life. It also seems to be having quite an effect on you." Shirou looked somewhat puzzled as he listened to Asura. "You should take a look at your new arm." Asura said as he gave a slight nod to Shirou who turned his head to see sapphire lines flow over his skin. Completely different when he or even when Rin used magecraft and the angular lines form to use his reinforcement skills. These lines seemed to ebb and flow across his very skin. They soothed and strengthened his flesh.

"What..what is this?" He asked in bewilderment.

"That is an aspect of the power I wield. It is an ancient power older than any of your magecraft this world has gotten so used to….Still.." Asura drifted off as he looked to the sky. "You will have to be trained." Asura smiled brightly as his fiery wrath burned around him almost flaring in excitement.

"Asu...Asura-san…" Shirou spoke somewhat scared as the glowing smiling monster was standing in front of him with an aura that would consume him if unleashed. Though again, a twinge in his body flared. A small flash of light washed over his eyes as he found himself standing in a place unfamiliar to him. He stood on a golden tower, he was standing in an arena as he looked around the clouds were all around him. He was so high into the air.

"Let us decide once and for all!" A familiar voice roared over to him. He looked and saw Asura standing before him. Though he looked different, less inhuman though his features were still obvious. He found himself crossing his arms and a voice leaving his mouth he was unfamiliar with.

"Decide what?" He asked before Asura burst forward, his fist slamming into Shirou's face. 'No...not my face….Yasha's' He thought before recovering quickly looking back at Asura.

"WHO IS STRONGER!"

Shirou came to, to find himself slumped against one of the outer walls, Asura kneeling beside him. "You okay kid?" He asked as he looked at him. "Yeah…" Shirou replied as he looked at Asura. 'Just who was the stronger?' He thought.

"It's best you rest. We can talk more in the morning." Asura spoke as he urged Shirou onward.

Shirou soon fell asleep as his strained body finally gave in, allowing him to dream. He found himself drifting in his sleep, a distant voice calling to him. "Senpai….Senpai...oh Sen-Pai~" The voice sounded sweet but it held malignant malice to it. A sense of unease fell over Shirou as a cold dread filled the air. "I am waiting for you….Senpai." A dark void surrounded him. The cruel voice rebounding all around him and yet it was oh so familiar. The air grew thin, he could feel his lungs burn as he desperately tried to breathe, his muscles burned and his vision blurred. His body was screaming in agony. "Come to me Senpai" His arm twitched and his body eased, the pain all but a distant memory, and his vision returned. He saw his arms engulfed in a sapphire blue flame. He felt better than ever before. The void shrank back in the light that He unleashed.

Asura looked at Shirou's room once before heading onwards to Illya, though she had not suffered from the fight he disliked the idea of leaving her alone. He found himself moving at a fast pace towards Illya's room, anxiety, and fear motivating him to see her again to settle his nerves. 'My how you've changed…. Were you always this way when children were involved?' The spider's spiteful voice ringed in his head, a flutter of memory flashed by as he looked at his fists.

"There she goes again. She always cries when you go. Somehow she always knows." A soft voice caressed his mind as he listened. "I don't know what to do when she cries, at best I can punch whoever made her cry." His voice replied back as he stared at his fists. The gentle aura of Durga filled him with comfort as he focused his gaze forward, heading towards Illya to watch over her. As it is his duty as her guardian. Upon seeing her gently sleep he simply smiled and sat down next to her. Asura spent the remaining hours before dawn at Illya's side.

The sun's light pierced through the early morning clouds gently bathing the city in its warmth. Illya awoke to the pleasant sound of birds chirping in the wind as she slowly rose from her bed. "Hmm, with Caster gone how many other masters are there? And what was the black mud stuff that attacked Oni...Shirou-San?" She asked aloud to herself as Asura perked up. "There is most likely only one other master in this war. Oh and is there a reason for you to be all embarrassed speaking of the kid?" Asura asked with a playfulness to his voice as Illya's head blushed as she buried her face in her hands.

"Asura!" She moaned at him with an annoyed tone.

"Well the kid is recovering nicely, the mantra reactor seems to still be functioning as intended despite what I did last night." Asura spoke as he placed an enclosed fist on his chest.

"Well, we should have some food and figure out our next plan of action and figure out who the enemy is." Illya said as she stood up stretching her hand to Asura.

A lone woman slowly walked towards the Emiya residence with a smile as cruel as night a gentle chittering could be heard all around her as she moved forward.