20 Final Battle (1/2)
At near dawn, the group assembled in the living room. Tohsaka and Emiya looked rather awkward while Illyasviel looked at the two mischievously. It seemed something interesting happened between those three. Rafi was between Sakura and Berserker as he looked at both women and Saber like he wanted to say something while hesitating. In the end Rafi released a light sigh, deciding not to say it. Sakura and Berserker who noticed his gaze and hesitation chuckled lightly as he sighed.
”So, I think we are ready now, Tohsaka-san, Emiya-san. Then I will explain it again. In front of the temple, there will be Assassin waiting. Saber, could you finish your battle with him?”
”Fine. It is time for it to reach a conclusion.” Saber stated calmly.
”While Assassin is in the front, Gilgamesh will be waiting for us in the back. Emiya-san and I will hold him back while Tohsaka-san and Berserker will try to destroy the grail.”
””Yes.”” Emiya and Tohsaka suppressed their awkwardness and said firmly. Soon after, they separated for a final preparation. They were waiting for Rafi as he went to find Sakura first.
”Sakura, there are many things I want to say with you after the battle. I will explain all about me, my promises and my dreams. If...if maybe, something will change between us, I will respect your decisions, Sakura.” Rafi said as he looked at her worriedly. He felt the things he would have said to her might made her leave his side.
”Mm, I understand. I will be waiting here. No matter what you may say, I trust my feeling for you will not change, Rafi.”
”But,..”
”For now, please stay safe and come back here. Besides, I wonder what will you tell me, though I have guessed at some, fu fu fu.” Sakura was smiling gently at him as she saw his worried face.
”Nn.” He nodded, assured of her words. Rafi thus went to catch up with Tohsaka's group. ”Well, sorry for the wait. Let's get going, everyone.”
At the Emiya household, there were only Sakura and Illyasviel remained as Illyasviel came out and stood beside her. Both of them were looking at his back.
”Do you understand your choice? He appeared mysteriously like a wind, so he also may disappear silently, Sakura-san. Besides, he may also have another women out there.” Illyasviel asked her, puzzled at her.
”Of course I understand, Illya-san. But to me, he is like a ray of light in my dark life. Even if he may have another women, even if he may leave far away, I will not give up on him. I will treasure our time together now.”
”But you're jealous aren't you?”
”Jealousy is normal, Illya-san. It is his mistake for not telling me sooner, so I have prepared a small punishment for him later fu fu.” Sakura was smiling a smile that was not smile at the end.
”I can't really understand it. He saved me at first, but then he chooses to be with you and teases Saber whenever he can. Is it because I am a homunculus? Does he detest me, Sakura-san?”
”That...I believe he is just shy, Illya-san. Even if he looks cheerful, deep down he is just another shy boy. In the beginning, it was not him who chooses me, it was me who made a first move on him, he he. If I may say, the one he is fallen for actually is Saber. He saved us only to make his feeling at ease. When he accepted me, I am feeling grateful for that and swore to accompany him even if he may have another women in the future.”
”How can you know so much about him? Aren't you knowing him just like some days before, Sakura-san?” Illyasviel was puzzled as Sakura seemed knowing much about Rafi eventhough they could be considered to just met in days time.
”Fu fu fu, you can know so much when you have become 'one' with him, Illya-san.” Sakura said as she was smiling joyfully.
”Becoming one? What's that?”
”A child should not ask about adult things, Illya-san.” Sakura said as she pinched Illyasviel's lovable cheeks gently.
”Who is a child?!! I am older than you, Sakura.” Illyasviel was pouting cutely as she tried escaping to the house.
”He he he” Sakura chased after her inside.
... ...
Arrived at the temple, Saber faced Assassin to finish their battle. While the others went to the back of temple, and met a waiting Gilgamesh.
”We meet again, strange magus. Your escaping technique is really great aren't you.” Gilgamesh mocked Rafi for always escaped when meeting him.
”Ha ha, that is not escaping, Gilgamesh. Only a strategic retreat.” Rafi replied while laughing a bit.
”Heh, glib tongue, mongrel.”
”Tohsaka-san, Berserker, let's part ways here. You try destroy the grail first, while I and Emiya-san will hold him here.”
”Who said you can go, huh?!” Gilgamesh hurled some noble phantasms at them. Emiya was protecting Tohsaka while Berserker and Rafi repelled the ones aimed at them.
”That weapon, a god weapon. Good, good, looks like my collection will have one more excellent weapon. You still don't have a qualification to hold it, magus.” As he looked at Rafi's Gungnir, greed bloomed inside Gilgamesh's heart.
”Unfortunately, you will not get it, Gilgamesh. Your tale will end today.” Rafi said calmly as he was shaking his head lightly.
”Ha Ha Ha, funny things to say, mongrel. I am the King of Heroes, there is nothing I can't get in the world.” As he said that, Gilgamesh released a double of noble phantasms than before.
”Let me handle this. Susano'o.” Rafi activated his EMS as his Susano'o protected the group.
””What??!!””, Gilgamesh, Emiya and Tohsaka were surprised seeing a black-purplish giant suddenly appeared.
”What a surprise!! Seeing a living demigod here, and in this Era to boot. It is really an eye-opening. You are qualified to hold that god weapon, magus. Now, how about you entertain me more than Heracles, Ha Ha Ha!!”, Gilgamesh laughed madly as opened Gate of Babylon's countless portals hurling a seemingly endless noble phantasms at Rafi's Susano'o.
”Hurry up. Although this avatar of mine is strong, but enduring that many noble phantasms is hard for a current me. Tohsaka-san, Berserker, I will make an opening while you get away from here. Emiya-san, please use your Reality Marble, we will fight him there.” The three nodded as Rafi created a phantasmal hand protecting Tohsaka and Berserker. Emiya was chanting to manifest his Unlimited Blade Works as both girls was sent away.
”Took you so long, Emiya-san.” Rafi said while dispersing his Susano'o when Emiya's Reality Marble was manifested successfully.
”Sorry for the wait, Rafi-san. Come, King of Heroes, do you have enough weapons in your arsenal?”, Emiya said calmly as his eyes flashed with fighting spirit to Gilgamesh.
”Ha! You're too confident, mongrel.” Gilgamesh smiled coldly at them. A fateful battle between an original and a faker, a demigod and fake demigod, thus started.
... ...
As Rafi and Emiya were battling Gilgamesh, Tohsaka and Berserker arrived at the vessel of the Grail.
”Tohsaka-san, Master ordered me not to touch the black mud. This mud has an effect to corrode a Servant, turning it to an anti-Heroic Spirit.”
”Ehh, you can't help me retrieve Shinji then. Even if he is like that, but Shinji is after all Sakura's older brother. Looks like I will need to cross it alone.”
”I can protect you from afar by keeping those abomination flesh from obstructing your path, Sakura-san.” Minamoto no Yorimitsu stated as she readied her bow and arrows.
”Mm. Please help me, Berserker.” Tohsaka said as she gulped a magic jewel. The magic jewel then quickly turned to a stream of magical energy encasing Tohsaka's body. Encased in magical energy, Tohsaka slowly walked through the black mud to retrieve Shinji on top of the flesh lumps.
Some times later, Tohsaka arrived beside Shinji and succeeded to release him from the binding. She quickly got down from there while holding an unconscious Shinji. When she was about to cross the black mud again, a lump of flesh exploded under her foot, and sent her back on top of the abomination flesh. Three giant hands were suddenly formed and sealed her and Shinji inside a lump of flesh. After it sealed Tohsaka and Shinji, the Grail's vessel turned to an abomination giant with one eye in its supposed head and a fluorescent red crystal full of magical energy on its middle while it was also connected to the Greater Grail that was formed abruptly on the sky.
Berserker and a newly-arrived Saber were shocked at the sudden turn of event. Tohsaka, knowing that she was captured by the Grail, realized that she had almost no chance of surviving. As she was despairing, A bout of arrows suddenly rained down from the sky, decimating a hand of that abomination and cleared a path for her to escape. Tohsaka was surprised seeing the arrows, thinking that Berserker saved her again. But then Archer's voice was ringing softly in her ears.
”Get going, Rin.”