I'm not having much success, am I?
Well, I hope this piece will earn me some reply.
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The ruins of Shinjuku deeply saddened Euphie. She stayed silent for a long time, reading the clumsy epitaphs and anguished prayers that had been left on a barely standing wall.
Archer had to stifle a yawn. He didn't want to appear insensitive, after all. But after a while ravaged sceneries and tragic memorials just sort of blended together, and he'd been around this kind of things for far longer than ôa whileö. Besides, the lack of activity left him to focus on his lasting headache.
The fight that started nearby was almost a blessing until the reckless girl tried to break it up, heedless of the danger.
ôPlease stop!ö She pleaded. ôThis place has seen enough violence!ö
The loudest of the Japanese, stalked toward her. ôI'm getting tired of you Britannians giving me orders!ö He growled.
Before he could get any farther, Archer slid between them. ôThat's far enough, friend.ö
His eyes widened in surprise. ôYou're Kururugi Suzaku!ö
ôThat's my name these days, yes.ö
ôYou're a Brittanian soldier, aren't you?ö Blurted one of the outrageously stupid Britannian kids. ôBeat up those guys!ö
The thugs tensed at this, but Archer just rose an eyebrow. ôWhy would I do that?ö He asked dismissively. ôIt's Britannia's philosophy to cull the weak. You got yourself into this mess, if you can't deal with it yourself, you're worth nothing.ö
öBut you're defending the girl!ö The other student argued. Archer's glare forced him to back away in fear.
ôDon't flatter yourself.ö He spat venomously. öYou're nothing alike. This girl possess compassion, courage and dignity, She is worth defending. You're cowards riding on the accomplishments of others, disrespectful vermin who amuse themselves with the suffering of the innocent. You're worms. Nobody would fight for you.ö
In the stunned silence, Archer continued unabashedly. ô In comparison, this lot are splendid Britannians.ö
ôWhat?ö One of the thugs left out, completely taken aback by the direction Archer was taking.
ôAren't you? Attacking the foolish and defenseless and taking away their possessions. It's crude, but that's also the Britannian way.ö
The loud one blinked, then flushed with rage. öYou think we're thieves? ô
He was about to attack when Archer raise his arms, placating. ôAre you sure about that? Unlike your other prospective victims, I'm strong. You stand no chance against me. Coming at me would be a mistake.ö
ôDamn you,! I don't care about your bullshit! I'm Japanese! We'll kill you all and free Japan!ö
His punch was slow, clumsy and all around ineffectual. Archer didn't bother dodging and he did not even flinch when it met his chin with a crack. The thug let out a surprised scream and jerked back, pawing at his hand. His strike had been so poorly executed he had broken his hand on him.
Archer shook his head in consternation.öNow, that's just sad. What do you hope to accomplish, being so weak.ö
His two friends tried to calm him down, but the Japanese was far too angry to listen. ôShut up, I don't care if you're stronger than me. I'm not like you, I didn't sell off my pride!ö
Archer barked a snide laugh.ôAre you talking about the pride that got your hand broken? Or is it the pride that brought Clovis to Shinjiku?ö
His face turned white. ôNo, this wasn't our fault. It's the Britannians...ö He stuttered, shaking his head in denial.
His friends grabbed him and urged him to shut up, but Archer wasn't done.
ôIs it really? Clovis might not have cared for the lives of the Numbers, but he wasn't bloodthirsty enough to order the massacre of an entire ghetto without provocation. You're the one who made him do it.ö
ôYou're right. I don't have any pride. I've thrown away that worthless pride to the dogs long ago.ö
The thug snapped. Howling in grief and rage he lunged at Archer, grabbed his collar and started shouting in his face. ôYeah, I know! I'm weak and not very smart. I suck in a Knightmare, but what do you want me to do? I never wanted to fight, but they came first. They killed our families, our friends! They parked us in ruins!ö The distraught man shoved Archer as hard as he could, which wasn't much, and started rubbed his eyes furiously. öWhat the hell did you want me to do?!ö He blubbered quietly.
ôDon't put yourself down like that, mister!ö Said Euphie.
She walked up to the man and took his hand in hers firmly. ôYou are courageous, determined and kind. I believe men like you are what is the most needed in these times.ö She said earnestly, her eyes shining with tears. ôI know my country took away from you more than anyone should lose, but you have to be strong! There's a lot of people who could use your help and I'm sure there's something you can do for them. Something better than throwing your life away in a senseless battle.ö
The man stared at her bewildered, helpless against Euphie's honest encouragement. When she asked for his name, he couldn't help but answer.
ôTamaki-san,ö she continued, ôI will make you a promise. I swear that I will do everything in my power to fix my country's mistake. I will work without rest to help the Japanese recover their dignity. In return, will you please do the same?ö
Tamaki nodded dumbly, completely lost, and Euphie offered him a disarming smile in return. ôThank you so much!ö
And then, the three Japanese thugs left.
ôDo you think he'll keep his promise, Suzaku?ö Euphie asked him quietly.
Archer shrugged, skeptical. ôDoubtful. Even if he honestly wants to change his life, it would mean walking away from all the friends he has left while they fight an overwhelming enemy. A chance encounter with a couple of strangers would hardly be enough to inspire that degree of determination in a man.ö
ôBut at least we'll have given him an opportunity.ö
ôOpportunities are useless if you don't take them.ö
They stared at at each other, until she bowed deeply. ôSuzaku, thank you very much.ö
Archer blinked. He'd expected the girl, in a very polite and subdued fashion of course, to tear into him for the amount of snark he's used with the poor guy.
He admitted he'd been kind of a bastard there, but that headache just wouldn't go away.
But thanks? That hadn't made the list. ôYou don't have anything to thank me for.ö He said neutrally.
She stalked toward him, her face unreadable. ôWhy did you join the Army?ö She asked out of the blue.
ôWhat does that have to do with anything?ö He made sure to not sound the least bit defensive.
ôYou weren't very nice back there, but thanks to your act those two students left without being noticed. They might even have learned something today.ö
An act? ôI simply gave my opinion.ö Euphie was still getting closer. It wasn't making Archer uncomfortable. Not at all.
ôWhy did you join the Army, Suzaku?ö She asked again.
ôIt's the quickest road for success for a Numbers.ö He snapped. ôI want to become a noble.ö
ôIt is for personal gain, you mean?ö
ôIt's the Britannian way.ö He replied tersely.
Euphie didn't stop until she had greatly invaded Archer's personal space. She leaned further still as she studied his face, looking for some truth in his eyes, so close they were practically touching.
Whatever she found there must have satisfied her. She straightened and gave Archer a beaming smile. ôYou liar.ö She declared cheerfully.
Archer was about to ask the basis for her conclusion when an explosion interrupted his thought and his current boss came out of hiding.
Time to make his exit.
He bowed with flourish and said with deceptive politeness. ôSadly, princess, it seems our discussion must come to an end. Duty calls.ö
As expected Lloyd had no objection against an opportunity to further test his prototype and Archer left before Euphie could add anything.
The battle against the purists, if one really wanted to call it that, was short and to the point. The gap in ability between the Lancelot and the Sutherland was so large it took absolutely no effort from Archer to quickly dismantle them. The arrival of Gottwald's ally further squashed his opponents' combativeness. Then the battle took a more alarming turn as Euphie burst onto the scene just as Kewel chucked a fragmentation grenade in their direction. Archer quickly put himself in front of her, intent on destroying the weapon before it went off.
ôStop this madness right now, you fool!ö
For a heartbeat, Archer froze.
That voice, he knew it well.
That momentary lapse was enough. Like a meteor, a shape barreled in the battle. A woman armed with a sword nearly as big as she was rushed past him, jumped in the air and intercepted the incoming explosive. With a mighty yell, she slashed the grenade and landed smoothly.
Silence descended upon the stadium as the two pieces of the grenade crashed on the ground. Then Kewell whispered in horrified awe.
ôShe cut the chaos bomb in two?ö
ôThat power.ö Gottwald voice's trembled in hushed admiration. ôThose skill! There is but one person in the world who can do such a thing.ö
ôYou don't know her, Suzaku-kun.ö Lloyd said over the radio.ö She's been called the Sword which split Heavens.ö
Oh, Archer knew her. She was taller than he'd expected, older. She was also dressed in a dark suit, unlike anything he'd seen her wear. But they were no mistaking those blond hair in a stern bun, the air of absolute authority or the quiet dignity she wore. The otherworldly world fighting skills were also a dead giveaway.
ôThough behind her back she's most often called the Black Knight.ö
She planted her sword into the ground and glared coldly at the knightmares around her, as if the massive war machines were nothing to her. Most likely, they weren't. Archer could feel the others flinch under her contempt. He could understand why Euphie had called her ôthe most frightening woman in Britanniaö.
ôArturia Pendragon.ö
ô You mindless cur!ö Saber shouted. ôYou're meaningless battles has endangered a priceless individual!ö
Euphie walked up to her, and her declaration stole the stage. ô All of you, lower your weapons!ö She commanded. öIn the name of the 3rd Imperial Princess of the Holy Empire of Britannia, Euphemia Li Britannia, I command you. Stand down!ö
Archer was mildly surprised. He'd expected a noble of moderate standing, not a member of the Imperial family. He doubted he could just sneak off quietly and hope for no consequence for his attitude of the day, so he got off Lancelot and went to join the two girls. Respectfully, he knelt in front of Euphemia, his eyes on the ground. ôMy deepest apologies, Princess. Beyond my ignorance, I was extremely rude to you today.ö
ôRaise your head, Suzaku.ö Her expression softened, bittersweet. ôThe reason you acted this way, it was for me, wasn't it? I came here because I wanted to witness with my own eyes the misery Britannia has spread over the world. But without you, I would have missed something just as important. Because of you, I saw the depth of their resentment.ö
ôFor that, I thank you, Kururugi Suzaku.ö
Archer blinked several times. ôWithout a doubt, Princess, you are one of a kind.ö He said honestly.
Archer had been alive for quite a long time now, yet it had been the first time he'd seen someone examine a situation so thoroughly and then come to all the wrong conclusions. That had to be an innate skill.
ôWhy did you join the Army, Suzaku?ö Euphemia asked. Again. Boy, was she persistent.
Archer had never joined the army. Kururugi Suzaku had done it for all the wrong reasons. But through all the changes, through all the names, through all the universes, he was always Emiya Shirou, and Emiya Shirou had always possessed but one objective. ôTo save people.ö He said quietly.
Euphemia nodded. ôThen will you please lend me your strength? To save as many the people we can?ö
Archer took a quick peek at Saber. She watched him, impassive, but nodded imperceptibly. Shirou's eyes returned to Euphemia. ô I'll serve you gladly, Princess.ö
His headache was gone.
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And cut.