IBHJ 1089

"Enlightened One..." Arcueid's mind went to the monk who sat in constant meditation at Ryuudou Temple.

Gaia nodded. "He was human before attaining Buddhahood. The Throne holds only his records from the moment before enlightenment. There are no records after because he grew beyond the Throne's capacity. Now Shirou stands at the same threshold. His Heroic Spirit is less powerful than the Enlightened One's, but it has reached the absolute limit of what can be recorded. The Throne cannot contain anything greater."

"How could this be..." Arcueid's shoulders fell.

Gaia looked intently at him. "While his Heroic Spirit has reached its limit, Fujimaru Shirou hasn't."

The truth blazed in Arcueid's mind. His Heroic Spirit might have peaked, but the living Shirou could still grow! Just like the Enlightened One, he could surpass his own legend!

Arcueid looked at him with a face full of expectation.

He met Gaia's gaze and fell quiet for a moment. "You truly believe I can find that answer?"

Gaia smiled softly. "I love and trust you as deeply as I once did Crimson Moon. And I sincerely hope you find the future you seek."

He stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "Are you trying to win me over?"

"Is that how you see it?" Gaia tilted her head, then smiled. "Then see it that way."

Shirou: "..."

Saturn turned to Gaia. "Will you keep this form much longer?"

"I can't ignore the disasters affecting my body anymore." Gaia nodded.

"I see. We'll return to our planets now, our work here done. Call if you need us."

Gaia nodded. "Farewell, brothers, sisters."

They nodded and their forms dissolved into streams of light, each returning to their planets across the solar system.

Arcueid let out a breath as she watched them go. The UOs had made their judgment—this apocalyptic threat was over.

But...

"Why are you still here?" Her eyes narrowed at Heaven's Corpse.

Heaven's Corpse gestured toward Ort. "She hasn't left either."

"Ort is different." Arcueid crossed her arms. "You need to go."

"Do you have a problem with me, Crimson Moon?" Heaven's Corpse lifted an eyebrow.

"Yes! A big one! Get your body off my moon! And my name is Arcueid, not Crimson Moon!"

"You—"

Heaven's Corpse pushed up her sleeves and lunged at Arcueid.

"What's with those two?" He watched Arcueid and Heaven's Corpse tussle, his brow creased.

Gaia hesitated, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "Perhaps because they're both... territorial?"

...

Everything was over. Arcueid opened a passage back to Earth, and Shirou and the others made their way through.

"My King!"

Artoria and the others relaxed at the sight of Shirou's safe return. Their shoulders dropped - they had felt helpless waiting, unable to help him. But now he was back.

"I'm home."

Shirou greeted each person with a smile. When he reached Mordred, he raised his hand and flicked her forehead.

"Ow! Seriously?" Mordred touched her forehead, her initial smile turning to a scowl. "Why am I the only one who gets forehead flicks?"

"Hmm." He stroked his chin, then gave her a warm smile. "It's just my way of showing I care."

"You—" Mordred's face reddened in anger. This man was still as infuriating as ever.

She grabbed his hand and bit down.

"Hey!" He yanked his hand back, staring at the neat row of teeth marks. "Did you just—did you actually bite me?"

She crossed her arms with a smirk. "That's my way of showing I care. You better appreciate it."

"You call that care?" He rubbed his palm.

"Says the one who attacks my forehead every time we meet!" Mordred tapped her head for emphasis. "At least I'm creative."

The others exchanged glances and shook their heads at the familiar scene.

"You two really get along!" Arcueid clapped her hands together. "I want to play too!"

She stepped between them and pulled them both into a hug, laughing as they squirmed in protest.

"Shouldn't you stop her?" Ayaka turned to Artoria.

Artoria's amused smile faded into confusion. "Why would I?"

"Well..." Ayaka trailed off. King of Knights seemed oblivious - this was far too close and intimate for just friends.

"Never mind..."

She sighed. For someone so perceptive in battle, Artoria could be surprisingly dense about these things.

She doesn't want to say this, but anyone watching would see them as a close family of three.

She knew how possessiveness worked - men toward women, women toward men. Her own sister Manaka had let that feeling consume her until it drove Arthur away and led to tragedy.

So why did Artoria watch them with such calm acceptance? What exactly was going through her mind?

...

"So unfair..."

Morrigan clutched her handkerchief, watching Arcueid between Shirou and Mordred.

She had loved him first. Watched him first. Pursued him first. Yet somehow she'd ended up last in line.

Was it because she was blonde? No - that annoying cockroach Arcueid was blonde too!

She stared at them for a while, then lowered her handkerchief with a sigh.

"You're not going to stop them?" Hinako adjusted her glasses.

"No."

"I'd understand if it were Artoria, but Arcueid?" Hinako frowned. Having tasted love and being deeply loved by that tyrant, she couldn't understand Morrigan's reactions.

Morrigan's lips curved into a gentle smile. "In fifteen hundred years, I've learned that some bonds shouldn't be touched. A relationship that's already set in stone would only crack if disturbed."

"Morrigan..." Hinako's voice softened.

"If we could go back, before our paths were set..." Morrigan's smile remained, though her eyes held something distant. "But it's too late now. Shirou and I can only be family."

...

Mordred turned to the silver-haired girl with red eyes. "Hey, Is this doll-like kid a UO?"

She looked at Gaia, who only came up to her chest. A smile spread across her face. "You're even shorter than me. Just like a child!"

As she reached for Gaia's cheek, Ort stepped out from behind Gaia and glared at her with an unblinking stare.

"Please don't tease me like this, Mordred," Gaia said calmly. "Even I could get angry."

"Mordred, show some respect to the Counter Force!"

Artoria watched them nervously. Making their boss angry didn't seem like a good idea.

Mordred crossed her arms, no longer smiling. "Then tell me something, boss. Can you defeat the Lord of Salvation?"

"No." Gaia shook her head. "I don't have that kind of power."

"Then can you get Artoria's body back from Alaya?" Mordred met Gaia's eyes. "Can you do that?"

The others fell silent. Artoria's eyes softened as she looked at Mordred, remembering - this was why her child had become a Servant, to reclaim her body from Alaya.

"No," Gaia said simply.

"Some boss you are." Mordred's shoulders slumped.

Ort took a step forward, but Gaia raised her hand. She shook her head at Ort, who paused before stepping back.

"Mordred." Artoria touched her shoulder. "That's enough. I chose to make that contract with Alaya. It's not Lady Gaia's fault."

"But—"

"I was chasing something impossible." Artoria's voice softened. "When Human Order returns and Alaya is restored, I'll end the contract. Okay?" She squeezed Mordred's shoulder. "I'm sorry for making you worry."

"It's fine. It's my fault anyway..." Mordred kept her eyes on the floor. Of course her mother was still hung up on what happened to the kingdom.

Artoria watched Mordred's shoulders sink. Had she said the wrong thing? She'd never been good at finding the right words to comfort others.

The memories from 1,500 years ago still weighed heavily on her mind. If she had seen the signs back then, if things had been different...

She clenched her fist under her sleeve, taking a moment to calm herself. As the King had said, the past couldn't be changed.

"I apologize, Lady... Gaia?" Artoria bowed slightly, stumbling over the title. She defaulted to the formal address she used for people of high status.

"Don't worry about it." Gaia shook her head.