Blades of Ash 5

(Karasuba POV)

The moment after I demanded answers, I saw shock and fear flash across Shirou's face. I'd deliberately closed off his escape routes by blocking the only door in an underground room. I also kept his twin swords out of his reach so his chances of fighting were reduced. I felt a flicker of fear also through the Sekirei bond. 'Good'

"Clever girl," my ashikabi stated as he became acutely aware of his position.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," I responded coldly, "I want to know and you're going to tell me."

Ever since that meeting at the airport, Akira Sahashi, or Shirou Emiya, has been an enigma. Lack of fear despite a relative grasp on the situation. 'No, he was fearing something else, his tells disappearing as Takami questioned him.'

Then there was his combat skill. I still don't know how he managed to embed a steak knife into a stone wall or damage a special MBI alloy with a kitchen knife. I'd had both examined by MBI and both the steak knife from the airport and the knife from his kitchen were impossibly sharp without advanced technology that few other companies besides MBI could access.

Beyond mundane knives, were the pian dao that the moron of a director thought were legendary and exceptional form with a unique combat style. The swords were special, I could feel a power within the steel unlike any other blade except for the sword Zero-One had wielded in the S-Guard. How Shirou acquired them, let alone entered the country with them, is another question.

Despite his combat prowess, he's marked with scars of fatal wounds: a palm-sized crater over his heart and a ragged narrow triangular chunk below his ribs going from his left side to his spine. The heart should have been a lost cause, even the best surgeons at MBI would have balked at operating on such a wound and survival would be less than one in ten. Being battle scars, only something on the level of 'That Person' or Zero-One could have caused such injuries without difficulty.

There was so much about him that intrigued me, to the point that I decided him over Natsuo, despite the shared goal between me and the other Ashikabi. 'And worse, my Ashikabi wants to be a HERO,' I thought, recalling his words before I winged myself on him. 'Such a childish dream, heroes die broken, betrayed and abused by the ones they protect before being forgotton, like That Person.'

"Know what?" his voice broke through my thoughts, "How I got my scars? Sorry, you don't have the proper security clearance."

'So he has a sense of humor.'

"Security clearance," I giggled, despite my rapidly thinning patience. Within ten seconds the giggle had risen to a mad cackle and I couldn't control my frustration further, "We're bonded on a psychological level, Akira Sahashi!"

"Emiya," he solemnly corrected me.

"Whatever, my point is, I'm connected to you at the mind if not soul…" I hated repeating this concept, it was HER belief, not mine, but humans respond better to sentimentality. "I am therefore declaring my right to your experiences." My voice had risen and my mask of amusement was since cast off.

"No, I can't tell you," he replied immediately, before adding sincerely, "My apologies."

"Why. NOT?!"

"Because to answer your question would bring up more questions. And knowledge is a dangerous thing."

'How dare this human, this lower lifeform (imply that I'd be endangered by whatever knowledge he possessed) (attempt to protect me from any danger his knowledge might bring). I am not some weak creature needing love or compassion or protection. I revel in the presence of danger.'

My fury formed words, "Damnit Aki—" but they were cut off in an instant.

My ashikabi's body flowed into a combat stance for a spear or staff, despite being unarmed. No, as he moved, light coalesced into a crimson barbed spear that he pointed at me. A foregn bloodlust reached my senses, seeming to originate from the spear. "My name is Shirou Emiya," my Ashikabi spoke in a hard tone, though I was only partially paying attention, "Akira Sahashi died in the fire fifteen years ago. I am not him."

I became aware of another swift emotional shift within my Ashikabi, from anger to fear as he looked at his weapon, and I snatched the spear from his grasp at my first chance. Within my grip, the spear felt…weird. The shaft was carved with the likeness of creeping vines covering the surface, providing the grip, but I felt more. Like when I'd held the dark blade, Kanshou, I felt a great power residing within this weapon. Unlike the calm, quiet power within the black pian dao, this crimson lance roared with bloodlust, causing my fingers to tingle and the hairs on my arm to stand on end. The sensation was invigorating.

"Oh, Shirou-sama," ecstasy morphed my voice into a moan, "You shouldn't keep such things from me." I twirled it around, enjoying the way the weapon moved. I could believe this weapon was legendary. How my Ashikabi produced it was irrelevant. Nor did I care that he produced it from nowhere. Questions could wait as I enjoyed the spear within my grasp.

The moment was short-lived as the entire weapon shattered into tiny shards of light within my grasp. I turned to my Ashikabi, the high I'd been experiencing dissipating, to see him holding his twin swords. My mind focusing again, I glanced back over my shoulder. The tool bag he stored them in was still there and a nudge with my foot confirmed no change in weight, meaning that they should still be within. But he was holding them too.

"Two sets," I muttered, returning my attention to the blades he held. "Absolutely identical." I was losing my edge if a mere human could get the drop on me tactically.

He paused for a moment before admitting, "They're fakes. I can make replicas of weapons I've seen with my own eyes. This is a secret to be kept only between us." As he spoke, an identical set of the black and white blades appeared on the floor before him. A nodachi also formed within my left hand. The familiar sensation of the grip caused me to double-take to confirm that my sword still hung on my hip.

The alleged replica felt identical to the real thing except that it was slowly but continuously degrading. If I was less familiar with the weapon in question, I wouldn't have noticed, the degradation as subtle, as it was. The loss of substance didn't affect the blade noticeably.

"That's a neat trick, but you still didn't answer me, Akira," I baited him. Using his birth name caused him to act emotionally, revealing more of him than an interrogation would yield. The hiss of steel arcing through the air let me know my jab had worked. The form of his retaliation was unexpected though.

'That form,' I thought as I raised my sword to parry. On impact, the two nodachi shattered into light shards with the sound of clashing steel. With my hands empty, I swiftly drew my true sword and stood prepared.

"Stop using that name, Karasuba," Shirou ordered. His body language had shifted. Fear had vanished completely, replaced by a surety of himself, "It's disrespectful to the dead. Now do I have your oath that you'll keep my secrets?"

"And if I say 'no'?" I tested. My Ashikabi was piquing my interest by the minute; that he'd share his secrets with me and only me, made my chest swell with pride.

'No, I am not growing affection for him,' I convinced myself.

"You'll die right here and I'll end the Plan," he answered. Behind him, a veritable armory of swords and various other bladed weapons hung in the air, all directed towards me. Among them, I felt more sources of bloodlust. My excitement grew. If it was simple gunfire, I could evade it easily even in a narrow corridor, but an avalanche of bloodthirsty swords in my own living quarters, the idea was too absurd to even consider by any stretch of logic. The uncertainty of danger was exhilarating, but I couldn't get myself terminated before the end.

'This must be an off shoot of psychic abilities he mentioned earlier,' I pondered, recalling the brief conversation about humans with abilities superior to the average, or "a slightly more durable form of garbage."

I calmed my breath rate and masked my glee once again behind a small grin, "Very well, Shirou-chan. I shall keep this secret between us," I conceded to him, "But I also have conditions. Your 'Legacy of Misspent Youth', you'll tell me all of it, today."

"What?!" he exclaimed, behind him a portion of the weapons vanished.

"And…" I reconsidered my other condition before accepting it, "You must terminate a Sekirei within two weeks."

"No," he responded firmly, "I won't endanger anyone I'm supposed to protect."

The already hostile atmosphere became suffocating as I searched for a response. Finding it, I started approaching my Ashikabi slowly, unarmed, "Sworn to protect? Don't flatter yourself, you're just as guilty as the rest of MBI. You enforce the rules and the rules state 'fight until one Sekirei remains'." I put hands on his shoulders and looked directly into his eyes. The humans think such forms of intimacy are romantic, but I needed something to off-balance him, make him pliable. "If you were really sworn to protect my brethren, you would have intervened in any of the four Sekirei battles that have occurred since my winging. Even the one your darling little sister won this morning."

His eyes twitched and I thought I could glimpse a little guilt. 'Now dangle a hope for him to reach for.'

"The winner of the Plan is given an opportunity to reactivate the terminated numbers," I told him, leaning closer into his personal space. Mere centimeters separated our faces, "All of them."

'Not that it's going to happen like that,' I smiled at the thought, 'This world will burn for the sin of killing the strong to feed the weak.'

"Then what's the point?" he countered after a moment of pondering. The guilt had mostly vanished from his expression.

"Point?"

"Why have a fight to the death if it will be negated at the end? Why should the sekirei fight?"

"We fight because it is our nature," I declared with pride, stepping back from him, "We would fight regardless of MBI." A controlled amount of [happiness] flowed within me, it was one truth that I believed without question and without regret. "I couldn't tell you Minaka's endgame, nor do I care."

He went silent and I felt conflicting emotions over our connection. Takehito Asama's research notes on the bond formed between Sekirei and Ashikabi were ever helpful. 'It's almost a shame he's dead. Almost.'

"I want to save them," he declared, "As many as I can."

I nearly choked. His desire went beyond his position and was only partially removed from the half-baked nonsense Takehito had spouted. That my partner mirrored Zero-One's was an irony not lost on me. 'Though, it's only ideals. Other than that, they're opposites, features and skills.' The auburn hair was a reassuring contrast to the white locks Takehito had, my Ashikabi wasn't that self-sacrificing fool.

"And how will you manage that?" I scoffed, "Declare a ceasefire? Jump between all the fighters?"

He hesitated, "First, I'll keep you from fighting, unless we're called out and people have died."

'Not too different from MBI's planned restraints on my participation.'

"Beyond that, I'll come up with something. Now do I have your vow of silence?"

I paused a moment to give the illusion of pondering though I knew my intended answer, "Promise to spar with me regularly Shirou, and I'll agree to your terms."

"And I won't have to terminate any Sekirei." It was a statement, not a question.

"Fine, fine, but the first Sekirei we are called out on to terminate is your responsibility."

My Ashikabi hesitated before nodding in affirmation.

(Shirou POV)

I really dodged that bullet.

Half an hour had passed since the Sekirei had cornered me and an agreement had been reached. I'd given her a brief rundown of Thaumaturgy, and about my style though I omitted my Reality Marble. The passion in her voice from only holding a copy of Gae Bolg had me cautious about telling her that my soul is a weapon forge. Having someone else to be able to confide in was a bigger relief than I'd realized, provided she will keep her word.

Almost as if hearing my thought, Karasuba spoke as she examined a pair of Bakuya, "I'm not spiteful enough to go straight to Takami with these. She'd blow it off as usual. The Director on the other hand," she trailed off, her smile growing wider with amusement, "He'd be in orbit."

"Which is why we're not telling anyone," I asserted.

"Yeah, yeah. Tell me, are any of the others as strong as you?"

"Stronger," I answered swiftly, "Though their crafts vary. It's unlikely that another magi can project swords like mine. Projection is generally regarded as useless."

Karasuba's face seemed to light up for a moment, but it was gone in less than an instant so I couldn't be sure. After tossing the swords back at me, which I let dissolve as they left her hands, she tugged off her thigh-high boots and tossed the grey jacket of the D-Squad over the back of the chair, "If it's useless, but you can kill with it, then it's not useless," she declared as she sat in the chair, legs crossed, not looking at me. A moment later, she had a book in her hands. "Since all that's settled now, you may move in."

The room turned quiet as the atmosphere shifted. Karasuba glanced back over her book, "Aren't you going to unpack? If you're waiting for help, you'll be waiting for a while."

"I'm sorry, but you lost me." Within the span of an hour, I'd seen a few new sides of the Sekirei but this new shift was confusing.

"I am granting you permission to unpack your belongings. Do it yourself, there's a closet in the bedroom for clothing. Any other belongings may be placed wherever but if it's ever in my way it's gone. You're also sleeping on the floor."

After moving my stuff in, it was nearly time for my first appointment of the day. I left Karasuba, still reading in the chair, only to bump into Takami as I opened the door. She had a concerned expression on her face as our eyes met.

"Shirou…"

"Is there a place for me to put my cooking stuff?" I asked, "This room doesn't have anything resembling a kitchen, even vaguely."

She paused, apparently at a loss for how to respond, "Well, Zero-Four isn't one for domestic hobbies, as you've no doubt gathered. She has her meals made by Minaka.

The second part of Takami's response surprised me, Minaka the CEO of MBI with a flair for theatrics cooking for Karasuba, one of his subordinates. The surprise must have shown on my face, for Takami continued.

"She knows she's still useful enough that he won't poison her food. She maimed the three other hired cooks for attempting to poison her."

That made a little more sense. If Karasuba was an important asset to MBI, she needed to be in a relarionship of mutual trust with her employer as well as healthy. Though, I did hope that the cooks weren't dead or too badly harmed, because a justifiable fear of Karasuba was not something to be killed for.

"As for your question, there is a kitchen for personal use a coulpe door down. Benitsubasa is usually in it so be careful, she's a little territorial."

"Thank you, Mother. I should be fine now." I replied, "I'll move my kitchen supplies in after work." I began walking towards the elevator.

"Shirou," Takami called one last time as I stepped into the elevator, "Where is Zero-Four telling you to sleep? Floor or bed?"

"Floor," I answered over my shoulder. 'Convienient since now my Futon won't be wasted.'

As the doors closed, I thought I heard Takami mutter, "Not coddling him with the bed… He has her respect."

As I stepped out of MBI Tower, my phone buzzed in my pocket. The caller ID told me it was Yukari. Putting the device to my ear, I answered, "Hello, Shorou Emiya speaking."

"Brother, you must come quick," my sister's voice spoke anxiously, "A red-haired floozy just tried to rape Onii-chan in the bath. I need your help to protect his chastity. I think she's a Sekirei so that means you can punish her right? Just bring that one that was with you…hey!"

"Yukari?" I asked worriedly as her voice was cut off. I was intending to head north just to confirm the safety of my two biological siblings when another voice spoke over the phone. In the background, I could hear Yukari's irritated yelling.

"Hello Emiya-san," the landlady's voice said calmly, "My apologies, but I must ask that you leave the discipline of Izumo tenants to me. MBI, especially their dogs, aren't allowed on my property." As she spoke, I felt a cold malice directed at me over the line and I could have sworn that I saw, out of the corner of my eye, shadows coalesce into a fierce hanya mask in proximity of my phone. It made me nervous but it wasn't terrifying, perhaps because of distance between Izumo and MBI.

I sighed, "Very well, Asama-san, mete out the punishment you see fit. I'll stay way and keep Karasuba away too. But," my voice hardened a little, "If anything unsavory happens at Izumo, I will not be stopped from entering, regardless of MBI."

A light pause on the line. "Worry not, Emiya-san, I shall personally defend the tenets and the reputation of Izumo house."

"See that you do, and thank you."

"Your gratitude is unnecessary. Izumo was my husband's pride. I won't let it be harmed. I'd actually like to thank you for the repair job. It's a shame that you're MBI, or I'd hire you more."

"No need, just keep you tenants safe." I understood how much it meant to protect something of an important person who'd passed away. For me, it was Kiritsugu's dream of being a hero.

"I will, and you should keep a firm grasp on the Black Dog's leash."

"I will," I answered, "Goodbye, Asama-san."

"Farewell, Emiya-san."

When I returned to MBI Tower, it was early evening. Upon entering the room Karasuba and I would be sharing, she threw some things at me. Reflexively I dropped my work bag, caught them and looked them over: black pants of a thick cloth, a matching black long-sleeved shirt, a gray jacket like the one she wore, and a pair of pian dao sheaths that appeared to be worn on the back, between shoulders.

"You Disciplinary Squad outfit," Karasuba stated before I could ask, "You're supposed to wear it tonight for Minaka's announcement." She was already dressed back in her Squad attire.

"Announcement?"

"The second phase is starting, ten Sekirei remain unwinged," she explained, "MBI is taking control of the city and sealing all exits for those involved with the plan. Your introduction will come after his announcement. You must strike fear into the others who will be watching, that they will know your authority."

"I would rather be respected than feared."

"Better to be feared than loved."

"But not feared to the point of hatred." I counter-argued.

"Whether they hate you is their problem, they must be made wary of you." After a brief pause, she continued, "If you don't wear those, then I've been instructed to have you wear a business suit like Natsuo. You will not be introduced to the other participants in that," she gestured at my current attire, covered in dust with a few darkened stains that I'd received at work. "You represent the Disciplinary Squad and MBI, casual wear is not permitted for first impressions."

She was surprisingly serious about what I wore, but I'd only interacted with her for a maximum of eleven hours, so I barely knew her.

"Combat fatigues have always suited me better than business suits," I replied after thinking it over, "When is the announcement?"

"As soon as we arrive upstairs, Shirou-chan," the Sekirei answered with her usual smug grin.

'Then I should hurry,' I thought, shedding my outer clothing right in the entryway, 'It's rude to keep others waiting.'

Karasuba and I stepped out of the elevator and onto the 'Observation Platform' and were greet by the presence of Minaka and the other half of the Discipline Squad.

"Took you two long enough," Benitsubasa sneered, though her face was softening a little, "We almost sent someone to get you."

"She thought… you were getting…cozy, Black," Haihane said with a smirk.

"Shame that you weren't as smart as I expected, Red," Karasuba spoke to Benitsubasa, "Thinking that I might spread my legs for my Ashikabi. I'm not a weakling who would do such a thing."

"You…" the Red Sekirei started to yell and step forwards.

"Hey, behave," I ordered, stepping between the Black Sekirei and the Red Sekirei, "Don't we have a job?"

"Emiya-kun, is right,"Natsuo affirmed softly, "Do calm down, Beni-hime." The other Ashikabi was looking at me, "That outfit suits you well, Emiya-kun."

I was wearing the Squad outfit Karasuba had provided with Kanshou and Bakuya sheathed on my back. The grey jacket had been insisted upon by Karasuba in the style that hung on my shoulders like a cape. As an extra measure for keeping it in place, a thread crossed the opening at chest level and connected with the Sekirei insignias. I was also wearing black, fingerless gloves and heavy boots with metal bands sewn in.

"Indeed it does, Natsuo-kun," Minaka agreed gleefully, "That should make his introduction all the more powerful." He spun back to face the edge to the building, where a camera stood, "Places everyone."

I didn't know where to go, but Karasuba guided me to a point to Minaka's right and a couple meters behind. Natsuo, Haihane, and Benitsubasa stood at the same distance but on the Director's left. Spotlights suddenly flashed on and trained in Minaka. The light on the camera began flashing, indicating that it was recording.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of Shin Tokyo, I am Hiroto Minaka of MBI, and I have a special announcement." Minaka declared to the camera, "As of tonight, we of MBI will be occupying Shin Tokyo. Travel at airports and border of the city will be heavily monitored by our security forces. Worry not, for your daily activities shall not be impeded. However, there are some individuals who have a responsibility to MBI and cannot be allowed to leave until their obligation is completed. They will also receive a message shortly that they may find…stimulating. The Age of Gods is nigh upon us. Rejoice, for it will begin again here!" For extra flair, he thrust his arms out to his sides, spreading his cape with a flourish. The camera light stopped flashing.

Minaka removed his phone and spoke, "Send it to all participating Ashikabi now."

At that moment, my phone started ringing, Yukari again. "Yes, Yukari?" I answered.

"You were just on the TV!" she excitedly stated, "That was cool!"

'It was LIVE? Good thing she didn't call during it.'

"So what's going on? The landlady has that stern kind of look and Matsu is worried."

"Who?" I asked. Nearby, Natsuo withdrew his own phone which had begun to ring.

"Oh that's right, you weren't here," she answered, "Matsu is the Sekirei that tried to jump Onii-chan in the bath. She just wanted wings and calmed down after getting winged by Onii-chan and the landlady… had words with her. Just what is that shadow-mask-thing that Miya-san does? I think Matsu said she's number Zero-Two, which both Musubi and Shiina said was really good because she's a single-digit."

"I don't know, what Miya-san does or the importance of a single digit. Is there anything else you wanted to say?"

"Whoa," I heard her say in awe, "Brother, Onii-chan just got a video message with you swordfighting that Sekirei woman you were with this morning."

"What?! How?"

"It's from MBI, Emiya-tan," an unfamiliar voice spoke. I heard faint clashes of steel on steel through the phone, and slightly louder in Natsuo's direction.

"Who is this?"

"Sorry, I put it on speaker phone," Yukari said, "It was better than passing the phone around."

"This is Matsu-tan, Zero-Two and former S-Guard member," the unknown voice answered, "Karasuba is a former team mate and I'm curious about her Ashikabi. Mina-tan says that you're fairly straight forward and upright, so Matsu-tan figured asking would be okay, even if you are MBI. Emiya-tan also seemed honest enough before Karasuba was winged."

"And what's wrong with being MBI?" This Matsu sounded a little immature just by her speech patterns, like she was playing cute or something.

"Emiya-tan doesn't know?" Matsu asked, surprised. "It's because…"

"Needless things that Emiya-san is capable of finding out himself are best left unsaid," Miya's voice cut in with a chill.

"Wow, Shirou-san is strong," Musubi yelled jovially, her voice carrying over the phone, "Karasuba-sama looks happy, see?"

"Hey, Bro," another voice said, "Was this staged? Like choreographed in slow motion, then speed up with computers?"

"Uzume?"

"Yeah, you forget me or somethin'?"

"No, just so many people talking at once. No, it's not acted, that was this morning. I didn't think it was recorded, though."

"Oh, every room in the tower has recording devices, Emiya-kun," Minaka's voice said through the phone line, startling me. The shocked cries and yells on the other end meant they hadn't expected it either. I looked over and saw the director holding a phone to his ear, "Except Karasuba-chan's quarters of course," he said, completing his earlier statement.

"I do hope you'll pardon my making this a three-way call, but I feel you'll be distracted from the recording and miss the best part, so I'll say it myself, "Shirou Emiya is an exception to the rule that prevents Ashikabi from participating. He has permission to engage other Sekirei in combat and Sekirei are permitted to fight him. The other rules of combat do apply though. You kids have fun!" And with that he hung up.

Karasuba's grin widened.

Over the line I heard another voice, likely Kagari from the masculine tone and pitch, "What the Hell!?"

Author's Notes

Another chapter done. Hooray. Sorry it took so long, but I had so many distractions and not enough motivation. I actually wanted to go a little further with this chapter but I did tell someone that progress would be posted within the week, about a week ago. So here. I hope it turned out well.

A couple of points I'd like to make though before anyone complains about how easily Shirou revealed his secret. The Gae Bolg was partially an accident, when Karasuba was pushing for answers, he mentally recalled Lancer stabbing him for being a witness. When she provoked him, he reached for the nearest weapon. Next, she gave her word in a way that Shirou could agree to, plus she'd already experienced some of his esoteric ability so it was either trust her or kill her, and Shirou doesn't take joy in killing. Third, they are bonded as Sekirei and Ashikabi, so Karasuba can subconsciously influence him and he can do the same for her.

To all those who reviewed the last chapter, thank you, There will be a building labeled "Conviently Empty Building" or "Suspiciously Abandoned Warehouse" or "Disposable Empty Office Building" though when, which, and how many are undetermined at the moment.

A question that I discussed with another already, but would still like feedback: In the hypothetical situation that Shirou and Karasuba share dreams/memories while sleeping, which should be first (consider both of them having the same dream at the same time): 1)Fuyuki Fire; 2)Pieces of the grail war (including the fight with Archer) 3)the hill of swords: Unlimited Blade Works, without any combat occurring; 4)the first invasion of Kamikura with the first S- Guard; or 5)the second invasion, when Yume sacrificed her core to save Musubi? This is all hypothetical so I won't guarantee it'll happen

Thanks for reading. Please review. (any minor grammar spelling mistakes will be fixed in about eight hours, after work)