Fate/Fragmentary Tales

Chapter 15: An Ending to the Grail War..?

Takashi: "Right...she'll get up, i know it." She looked down to the back of her hand, lifting her glove to reveal her Command Spells on the back of it. The doll maker reached to hold her shoulder as a way to comfort her, making her turn to a smiling Nosora.

Nosora: "She'll be alright, believe me if someone can stand up to my grandpa it means they're really strong, plus she has regeneration right? So it should be fine." He tried his best to reassure her, fortunately the attempts weren't in vain as a smile slowly appeared on her face.

Takashi: "You're right...i should go train to keep my brain busy, so i'll catch you guys up later!" Just like the rest- except with more enthusiasm -she got up and ran out of the restaurant.

Daiki and Nosora were left alone to wander their thoughts, it was the best moment for some idle talk between them, specifically to solve doubts that hadn't been answered yet...well, just things to get a conversation going.

Daiki: "So, what do you know of Takashi?"

Nosora: "What do i know of her? We're friends since childhood, not that any of us wondered about my name. She's a strong girl with a burning attitude, it's easy to make friends-"

Daiki: "Not that." He interrupted, getting the other ex-Master to stop and turn to him. "What is her story?"

Nosora: "If you're looking for something tragic you wont find it, she had an easy life really, between training, making friends and all social stuff she's had the easiest life out of most people in the world really." He replied taking out of his jacket one of the Black Keys the Executor gave him, putting it down on the table. "But, since you have no topic, i might as well tell you something we must beware of."

Timeskip

...After that day, the rest of their time was spent well, Nosora stayed at his shop to take care of it, often going on outings with Takashi which were spent training or walking around town, he was a lot more friendly than before. Daniel and his Servant went to Liv's house often to help with healing up Shinki in hopes to get her to wake up, the Executor and Lokhan, surprisingly, worked together to find where the Grail was without a hint of luck unfortunately, as for Daiki and Ryo...they had their own matters to attend to.

Throughout the few days that followed there were no wars, given they accepted a truce until the war ended since it had nothing in store to grant everyone given it would only end destroying the world, everything was at peace...until two days after their little reunion.

Sunday / Outside Nosora's Shop / Late Night

Nosora and Takashi were returning from a trip through the streets, a little outing they had again to test different spots for training and for eating, both ideas were Takashi's idea to do. They arrived outside Nosora's shop where he reached to take the door's handle and look back at her.

Nosora: "You know...it's weird that you're the one walking me home, i should be the one given you're the woman here right?" He chuckled after his sentence, finding the situation somehow amusing.

Takashi: "Hehe, right, but it's still not too bad right?"

Nosora: "No, i guess not."

They stood in silence for a moment, it wasn't until Takashi decided to change her posture that she felt something in her pocket that she immediately reached to take.

Takashi: "Oh! I forgot to give this back to you, thank you for lending it to me." It was the Black Key she used against the Executor, what brought them to this point and allowed a moment of peace among all Masters of the war. Nosora took the weapon from her hands and inspected it, finding it in great conditions.

Nosora: "Thank you, i'm glad it helped you." He saved it in his jacket and turned around. "Come by tomorrow, there's a place i want to invite you to, and i have something important i want to tell you."

Takashi replied with rapid nodding, excited already for what it could mean if it was Nosora who was inviting her out.

Takashi: "You're on! I'll be here first hour in the morning!" After their exchange she ran off in direction to her house, eager to start sleeping so time goes by faster.

On the other hand, Nosora entered his house and checked the clock before even closing the door, it was telling an hour near midnight, 11:55PM.

Nosora: "...yeah it is pretty late, i should contact Daiki if he's awake."

Back to Takashi, she could be seen taking a stroll down the path that led to her house daydreaming many fantasies of what her friend would want.

Takashi: "Is there a new candy shop...a restaurant? He always liked to go to those...oh! What if...he wants to confess to me?" The thought made her stop walking to wonder about it, holding her chin in thought as an embarrassed smile appeared on her face. "I wonder...i hope...i've been waiting so damn long-...n-no what am i saying? Of course he doesn't want to do that! It must be just to try out another restaurant..."

Convinced of her option, she gave a firm nod with a deep sigh to relieve her embarrassment and kept walking, lingering in her mind remained the possibility of a certain guy's confession. As she walked, the night started getting far darker, the moon's glow could barely be seen in the darkness...not that she bothered to look up or even questioned what was happening, for her it was another night if anything.

Takashi: "Hmm...i should bring a more daring outfit...no no it's not a date, it's a friendly hangout! So a formal dress..? No not that either..."

???: "How about just going as yourself? He'd like that better." A familiar voice spoke as a figure dashed past Takashi hitting a shadowy figure that was closing in on her from the side with his blade.

Takashi immediately turned to her attacker and raised her fists lit in fire, surprised to see Ryo Arlan, the Saber Servant, fixing his posture.

Ryo: "You should be more careful."

Takashi: "Saber? What are you doing here?"

As a response, the Servant turned to the sky as a motion to make her look up as well. The sky was darker than dark, the stars were no longer there, the moon's glow was far too little to be noticed by anyone and some familiar cracks in the sky could be seen.

Takashi: "This is...too familiar..."

Daiki: "Takashi!" Her friend's voice sounded suddenly with many steps going her way, belonging to both the Master and Servant allied with her.

Takashi: "Daiki? What's going on!?"

Daiki: "See for yourself!" He took out a pocket watch and opened it, showing it to Takashi to reveal the clock's needles violently spinning around.

Takashi: "Wait...don't tell me-."

Ryo: "Berserker's doing, she trapped us again in her Reality Marble, we're bound to die if we don't reunite with the others!"

Daiki: "We need to search for Executor and get answers, fast!"

But before they even moved from their position, both Daiki and Takashi's phones rang with the same number sending a voice message to them, it was an unknown number but the voice gave away who was on the other side of the line.

Lokhan: "Alright you all i want you to stay calmed, stay with your Servants, make groups and don't split up! We'll meet up near Kyoto Tower so i can explain what's going on." The message was small but clear, whatever was going on was confirmed the moment they began feeling the large concentrations of Mana in the air.

Ryo: "I feel demonic beasts all around Kyoto, if we want to make it to the center we must slash our way in, prepare to meet with a lot of these things." Added the Saber readying his sword and lifting it to shoulder height, turning to the street where they could see a lot of shadowy beasts approaching from beyond.

Daiki: "I'll help with support, if it's like last time we just have to last an hour and it'll be done." Takashi nodded getting ahead of him with fire emanating from her fists, a smile adorning her face.

Takashi: Something's really wrong...i hope Nosora's alright, whatever this is lets get this night done with and question Berserker about it!

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[Word count: 2040]