IBHJ 1125

The group set out for March at dawn, with Shirou leading Artoria by a rope. Despite her best efforts to resist, the moment he handed her food, she'd happily munch away, completely forgetting about escape.

He's not playing fair! she thought, even as she savored another bite. But this is so good...

Mordred kept her distance now. Sure, she was proud of her own biting skills - it was her signature move after all. But being on the receiving end? She rubbed her finger, still feeling the sting. She was definitely never getting close to that fake mom again!

Following Abigail's lead, they made their way to a valley deep in March's forests. Sharp rocks rose up around them, and thick fog cut their visibility to almost nothing.

"The bridge is up ahead," Abigail pointed. "Hope said he'd meet us on the other side."

He nodded, making out the bridge's shape through the mist.

As he stepped forward, a white light sliced through the air with a sharp whistle. It crashed into the ground before them with a thunderous impact that shook loose stones from the cliff face. Rocks sprayed in all directions, some glowing red-hot from the blast.

Shirou's sword flashed in rapid arcs, the steel singing as it deflected the debris. The blade knocked away chunks of smoking stone that would have torn through his flesh.

"What's your problem, Goetia?" Abigail called out into the mist.

A deep voice answered after a pause. "I should be asking you that, Abby. Why did you bring Chaldeans and imperials here? Are you turning on us?"

"How could I betray you when you've got Betty?" Abigail's voice was bitter. "Besides, they're here on Hope's invitation."

"Hope doesn't waste time on weaklings. A mortal wearing the Crown, some half-naked nun, a Chaldean Heroic Spirit, and an imperial witch tied up like a dumpling..." Goetia's voice hardened. "What game are you playing, Abby?"

"Well..."

"Never mind. I'll just burn you all!"

Killing intent radiated through the mist. Shirou gripped Xuanzang's borrowed Nine-ringed Staff while Mordred raised her sword.

At this moment, a surprised female voice rang out.

"W-wait, Goetia!"

"What is it, Third Seat?"

"That person... are you Eternal King from Pan Human History?" The voice addressed Shirou.

"No," Shirou shook his head. "I'm Fujimaru Shirou, Sakura."

The voice went quiet.

"Let them pass, Goetia."

"But there's an imperial witch-"

"She has Avalon's protection and no imperial signature. She's an Avalon witch. They're not our enemies."

"...Fine."

"I apologize for our hostility," the voice continued. "And... you have the wrong person. I'm not Sakura. I am Beast III Kama."

A figure stepped out of the mist, her white hair gleaming in what little light filtered through the fog.

"Sakura..."

"I've told you twice now - I'm Beast III and my name is Kama, the Love God from Indian mythology. Not your sister, Sakura. Please understand that."

"Then what happened to my sister?" Shirou asked quietly.

Kama closed her eyes. "She's safe, sleeping within this body."

He nodded, but he knew the truth - this wasn't really Kama, but Sakura who had taken on Beast III's power and Kama's divinity. But if she didn't want to acknowledge it, he wouldn't push the issue.

So this is what Tiamat meant, he thought, finally understanding what Sakura had been doing all this time.

"Then you're Eternal King?" A voice came from behind Kama. "The one who shares Solomon's qualification for Grand Caster?"

Goetia stepped out of the mist, his golden form towering over them.

"That's right."

The moment those words left Shirou's mouth, Goetia's eyes suddenly blazed with killing intent. His golden form tensed before lunging at him in a blinding flash. His fist, trailing golden light, thundered toward Shirou's head with crushing force.

The attack came so suddenly, with such overwhelming speed, that Kama, Mordred, and Xuanzang could only watch - there wasn't even time to shout a warning.

But Shirou didn't seem surprised. He raised the Nine-ringed Staff calmly, as if he'd been expecting this.

When Goetia's fist met the staff, the impact created a thunderous boom that rolled through the misty valley. The five rings on his fingers met with the staff's nine golden rings, creating an unexpected harmony - the rings began to resonate with each other, producing a deep, rhythmic sound that scattered the violent energy harmlessly into the air.

"What is this..." Goetia pulled back, the anger in his face replaced by surprise.

"Looks like the higher-ups don't want us fighting each other," Shirou said with a knowing smile.

Goetia frowned.

"Stop, Goetia!" Kama called out as Goetia started to pull the rings from his hand.

"You're telling me to stop? This man told Solomon to change the Human Order Correction Ritual before he died. Because of that, I couldn't... I won't stop!" Goetia's voice was sharp with anger.

"Have you forgotten?" Kama cut in. "You're only here because of Chairman. And Chairman told you to listen to me before leaving. Are you going to disobey those orders now?"

"Sakura-!" Goetia shot her an angry look, then turned away with his arms crossed, clearly sulking.

Shirou and Kama's eyes met.

This is going to be awkward, he thought.

"Don't read too much into it," Kama said calmly. "He said Sakura's name because this body belongs to Sakura. But I am Kama, Third Seat of the Council."

"I see," he nodded. "Let me know when you're ready to be Sakura again."

Kama: "..."

"What? There's another one?" Mordred grabbed Shirou's collar. "I thought you only liked Scathach!"

"Don't jump to conclusions." He flicked her forehead. "She's your aunt. And stop poking into my love life."

"..."

Kama let out a heavy sigh. Of all the ways to meet again...

"Look, Kama," Shirou said, "I think I understand what's happening at this connection point. Hope said he could get this Crown off my head - that's why I came here. What do we need to do?"

She studied the Crowns on his and Abigail's heads. "We can't do anything about the Crown ourselves. Only Hope can do it - you'll have to come with us to meet him."

"Meet Hope..." Shirou raised his eyebrows before nodding. "Alright."

"That's our Council's base you're walking into," Goetia sneered. "Not even a hint of fear from the great Eternal King?"

"Things can't really get worse than they are now, can they?" Shirou smiled back.

Goetia turned away in disgust. He couldn't stand Shirou - after all, he had once told Solomon in the Clairvoyance Chat Group to prevent Goetia's birth.

Yet here he was anyway, alive. Not because of Solomon, but because of Chairman.

And instead of Shirou's predicted Human Order Incineration, they got Lord of Salvation's wider chaos instead. Goetia closed his eyes, pushing down his anger. He might hate Shirou, but now wasn't the time for grudges.

"Wait across the bridge for a bit," Kama said after glancing at the now-quiet Goetia. "The transport fairy will need some time to get here."

"Got it." Shirou nodded and followed Abigail toward the bridge.

"Wait!" Goetia's eyes snapped open as he stared at Artoria. "That witch isn't going anywhere! We deal with her right here!"

He walked toward Artoria, making Shirou frown, but Kama stepped in front of him.

"What are you doing, Sakura?" Goetia frowned. "Don't tell me you're letting an imperial in just because she's your brother's lover?"

L-lover?

Shirou, Artoria, and Kama almost choked at Goetia's words.

Kama shot Goetia an irritated look, snatching Artoria's staff from Shirou. "Open your eyes, Goetia. What do you see here?"

"This is..." Goetia paused, studying the staff. "Avalon's Staff of Selection?" He turned to examine Artoria more carefully. "Then this witch is..."

A chill ran down Artoria's spine, making her whole body tremble. No, no, this can't be happening...

"Wait, Fujimaru Shirou!" she turned to him desperately. "Let me go and I'll forget this ever happened! I won't report you or come after you - I promise! Please! It doesn't make sense to bring someone from the Empire to your base, right? Just let me-"

Kama's hand settled on her shoulder. "You're not going anywhere now that you're here. Your teacher wants to see you, Artoria."

The words struck her like a hammer. So it's true after all...

"Teacher really is with you guys..." Artoria's voice fell to nearly a whisper. Even her usually bouncy ahoge drooped down sadly, matching how her heart seemed to sink to the ground. The truth she'd refused to believe was now right in front of her.

Kama's expression suddenly changed, her eyes sharpening as she looked into the distance. At the same time, Goetia's face grew serious.

"Would you mind taking Abby and Lady Artoria across first?" Kama asked Shirou with a small smile.

He looked toward the other side of the bridge. Although the mist blocked his view, he could sense a strange signature approaching. Imperial pursuers, he realized.

"Got it. Be careful."

He began leading the others toward the bridge.