1-5
___
There is a church in front of him. ItÆs not particularly large or particularly small. ItÆs not particularly rich, or particularly poor. There werenÆt any people around it, and no one seemed to be going in. That could be because it looked closed, or it could be because the location of the church was far away from the city. To Emiya Shirou, that didnÆt particularly matter. He had not come here to look at the churchÆs exterior, or to criticize its architecture.
He had come here to see the silver haired little girl.
Earlier he got off his shift from work, and saw her walking across the street. Normally he wouldnÆt have bothered, but the way the girl giggled so late at night, made him wary. He was afraid she would do something stupid wandering around this time of the night, and didnÆt want anything to happen to her. There had been a series of murders over the past week in the city.
Murders which were largely unsolved.
If that girl fell prey to murder like that, he would feel guilt that he didnÆt do anything. So he followed her, hoping her home would be close by. Unfortunately, the girl didnÆt go home. Instead she wandered into the church, and she hadnÆt come out. It had been ten minutes and she showed no signs of leaving. He felt like he should go in, go check on her, but wasnÆt sure what she would say.
He knew perfectly well he appeared like a stalker, following her this late at night, but that was just the type of person he was. He was a boy who liked helping people, saving people, and making sure they were okay. ThatÆs how he had gottem his current friends, and thatÆs the way he would be until he died. At least he hoped. His father told him he could not save everyone, but Shirou disagreed.
He wanted to save everyone, including the girl who was still in the church, and wouldnÆt take no for an answer. Still, the girl was taking an awfully long time with whatever she was doing at the church. Perhaps checking up on her wouldnÆt be such a bad idea? Sighing to himself, and looking for something to hit any potential attackers with, Shirou entered the church, fully intent on saving the little girl.
ôIsnÆt there a light bulb here?ö he muttered. ôIt looks so dead. ô He managed to find a candle and picked it up. Slowly, he walked around the church, trying to find a trail or clue that would lead him to the girl. Unfortunately he didnÆt find any clue, but he did see a back door at the end of the church. He narrowed his eyes and was about to enter the back door when he heard the tapping on the church door.
Cursing himself he looked for a place to hide. There were rows of chairs, a platform, and a few statues. Not exactly great places to hide, he knew that. Up ahead there was a door, and possibly a broom closet, but if this was the janitorial staff, he was going to have some explaining to do. He didnÆt want that. That silver haired girl might recognize him from when she passed him by the store.
He wasnÆt sure but he was sure the girl had smiled at him she had passed.
Shaking his head, he continued his search, hoping the person tapping on the front door would continue a little longer, he searched for a hiding location. Chairs, platforms, candles, a box for confessions, another platform ûwait! A box for confessions? He narrowed his eyes and found it. He had seen those somewhere, in manga or anime, he wasnÆt sure, but he knew people went inside there to speak their sins to a priest.
He quickly sprinted to the box, and went into the other side. Huffing and puffhing, he closed the door shut, just as the front door of the church opened.
ôHello, is there anyone in here?ö a voice asked. ôI was told someone would be here todayàö
It was a girlÆs voice, one that sounded familiar to Shirou. Looking for a hole to see the girlÆs face, he found one. His face pressed onto the confession box wall, almost scratching the sides of his cheeks. There she was, in the candle light, looking somewhat haunted. Long purple hair, a taller than average form, and a sleek formal lavender blouse, bottomed with a black skirt. He had recognized her right away.
ôSakura?ö he whispered. He wasnÆt sure what his friend was doing here. She told him he wouldnÆt be visiting for a few days, but never mentioned where she was going. Well, she told him she would be staying at her house, but didnÆt mention she would be visiting a church.
Why would she visit at this time of the night?
The girl paused in her steps, and turned to the confession box. ôIs there someone there?ö she asked. Shirou could see her walk closer and closer to where he was. ôAre you the one who runs this church?ö the girl asked, this time a different question. She tilted her head and just stood there outside the box.
Shirou didnÆt know what to do. On one hand he could tell her he wasnÆt, but then he was going to have to explain himself. He didnÆt want to do that. It was hard to lie to Sakura, and the girl had been with him long enough to see through his lies.
The other option was to bluff, and say he was the priest of this church, and listen to her request. The second option didnÆt seem very hard, and he had a mildly good chance of pulling it off. ôCan you answer me?ö she asked again. ôI know you are in there.ö Shirou noted how nervous she looked, holding herself up with her arms wrapped around herself, as if it were cold.
He sighed and asked. ôHow did you know I was in here?ö
The girl paused. She gave him her answer after a few seconds. ôThere was a light coming out of the covered window.ö
Shirou looked at the candle he had brought with him and shook his head. Idiot. Sometimes he could be an absolute idiot. No matter, he had to make do with the best of a bad situation. Coughing into his fist he sat on the priests chair and leaned back. ôOkay, fair enough,ö he said, trying to sound mature, ôwhat can I do for you, My Child.ö He felt a shiver saying those last words.
Sakura didnÆt move for a second, but answered, ôIàI believe IÆve sinned, Father,ö she said with remorse. ôAnd I donÆt know what to do.ö She looked down, shaking somewhat. ôAnd I donÆt know who to turn to.ö
Shirou held in a breath while she said this. Sakura was in trouble. No, Sakura was in trouble and she didnÆt come to see him. What could it be? He wanted to get out of this box and ask her face to face, but knew that wasnÆt the right move. If she was in so much trouble that she wouldnÆt ask for his help, he who was her best friend, then this was bad. ôAnd what is this problem you canÆt ask your friends to help you with, My Child?ö
Sakura looked up, trembling slightly. ôIàmay I enter confessional side?ö she asked. ôI would feel more comfortable talking there.ö
Shirou sighed, ôIf thatÆs what you wish.ö He leaned closer to the masked window that separated them and hid her face. He waited for her to take a seat and started asking his questions. ôNow, My Child, please start from the beginning.ö Shirou hated doing this, but he needed to know everything before he helped her. He had never seen Sakura this afraid before. Now that he got a closer look he noticed her eyes were bloodshot, her hair a mess, and there were bruises covering every inch of her face.
He gasped silently.
ôI...forgive me, Father, but I think I have sinned.ö She turned her face away, which was odd since the supposed priest wouldnÆt theoretically be able to see her anyway. ôAnd the depths of my sin will take a long time to explain. Maybe I should come back another time-ô
ôNo!ö Shirou shouted. ôI mean, I have a lot of time. No one is coming in today, not that I know of.ö He didnÆt want to lose this chance. ôNow, My Child, tell me what is wrong?ö
The girl paused. Shirou wondered if he had gone too far, but then she spoke.
ôFather, forgive me, but this body of mine has been soiledàö
From there she began her explanation.
Emiya Shirou listened.
___
There is a church in front of him. ItÆs not particularly large or particularly small. ItÆs not particularly rich, or particularly poor. There werenÆt any people around it, and no one seemed to be going in. That could be because it looked closed, or it could be because the location of the church was far away from the city. To Emiya Shirou, that didnÆt particularly matter. He had not come here to look at the churchÆs exterior, or to criticize its architecture.
He had come here to see the silver haired little girl.
Earlier he got off his shift from work, and saw her walking across the street. Normally he wouldnÆt have bothered, but the way the girl giggled so late at night, made him wary. He was afraid she would do something stupid wandering around this time of the night, and didnÆt want anything to happen to her. There had been a series of murders over the past week in the city.
Murders which were largely unsolved.
If that girl fell prey to murder like that, he would feel guilt that he didnÆt do anything. So he followed her, hoping her home would be close by. Unfortunately, the girl didnÆt go home. Instead she wandered into the church, and she hadnÆt come out. It had been ten minutes and she showed no signs of leaving. He felt like he should go in, go check on her, but wasnÆt sure what she would say.
He knew perfectly well he appeared like a stalker, following her this late at night, but that was just the type of person he was. He was a boy who liked helping people, saving people, and making sure they were okay. ThatÆs how he had gottem his current friends, and thatÆs the way he would be until he died. At least he hoped. His father told him he could not save everyone, but Shirou disagreed.
He wanted to save everyone, including the girl who was still in the church, and wouldnÆt take no for an answer. Still, the girl was taking an awfully long time with whatever she was doing at the church. Perhaps checking up on her wouldnÆt be such a bad idea? Sighing to himself, and looking for something to hit any potential attackers with, Shirou entered the church, fully intent on saving the little girl.
ôIsnÆt there a light bulb here?ö he muttered. ôIt looks so dead. ô He managed to find a candle and picked it up. Slowly, he walked around the church, trying to find a trail or clue that would lead him to the girl. Unfortunately he didnÆt find any clue, but he did see a back door at the end of the church. He narrowed his eyes and was about to enter the back door when he heard the tapping on the church door.
Cursing himself he looked for a place to hide. There were rows of chairs, a platform, and a few statues. Not exactly great places to hide, he knew that. Up ahead there was a door, and possibly a broom closet, but if this was the janitorial staff, he was going to have some explaining to do. He didnÆt want that. That silver haired girl might recognize him from when she passed him by the store.
He wasnÆt sure but he was sure the girl had smiled at him she had passed.
Shaking his head, he continued his search, hoping the person tapping on the front door would continue a little longer, he searched for a hiding location. Chairs, platforms, candles, a box for confessions, another platform ûwait! A box for confessions? He narrowed his eyes and found it. He had seen those somewhere, in manga or anime, he wasnÆt sure, but he knew people went inside there to speak their sins to a priest.
He quickly sprinted to the box, and went into the other side. Huffing and puffhing, he closed the door shut, just as the front door of the church opened.
ôHello, is there anyone in here?ö a voice asked. ôI was told someone would be here todayàö
It was a girlÆs voice, one that sounded familiar to Shirou. Looking for a hole to see the girlÆs face, he found one. His face pressed onto the confession box wall, almost scratching the sides of his cheeks. There she was, in the candle light, looking somewhat haunted. Long purple hair, a taller than average form, and a sleek formal lavender blouse, bottomed with a black skirt. He had recognized her right away.
ôSakura?ö he whispered. He wasnÆt sure what his friend was doing here. She told him he wouldnÆt be visiting for a few days, but never mentioned where she was going. Well, she told him she would be staying at her house, but didnÆt mention she would be visiting a church.
Why would she visit at this time of the night?
The girl paused in her steps, and turned to the confession box. ôIs there someone there?ö she asked. Shirou could see her walk closer and closer to where he was. ôAre you the one who runs this church?ö the girl asked, this time a different question. She tilted her head and just stood there outside the box.
Shirou didnÆt know what to do. On one hand he could tell her he wasnÆt, but then he was going to have to explain himself. He didnÆt want to do that. It was hard to lie to Sakura, and the girl had been with him long enough to see through his lies.
The other option was to bluff, and say he was the priest of this church, and listen to her request. The second option didnÆt seem very hard, and he had a mildly good chance of pulling it off. ôCan you answer me?ö she asked again. ôI know you are in there.ö Shirou noted how nervous she looked, holding herself up with her arms wrapped around herself, as if it were cold.
He sighed and asked. ôHow did you know I was in here?ö
The girl paused. She gave him her answer after a few seconds. ôThere was a light coming out of the covered window.ö
Shirou looked at the candle he had brought with him and shook his head. Idiot. Sometimes he could be an absolute idiot. No matter, he had to make do with the best of a bad situation. Coughing into his fist he sat on the priests chair and leaned back. ôOkay, fair enough,ö he said, trying to sound mature, ôwhat can I do for you, My Child.ö He felt a shiver saying those last words.
Sakura didnÆt move for a second, but answered, ôIàI believe IÆve sinned, Father,ö she said with remorse. ôAnd I donÆt know what to do.ö She looked down, shaking somewhat. ôAnd I donÆt know who to turn to.ö
Shirou held in a breath while she said this. Sakura was in trouble. No, Sakura was in trouble and she didnÆt come to see him. What could it be? He wanted to get out of this box and ask her face to face, but knew that wasnÆt the right move. If she was in so much trouble that she wouldnÆt ask for his help, he who was her best friend, then this was bad. ôAnd what is this problem you canÆt ask your friends to help you with, My Child?ö
Sakura looked up, trembling slightly. ôIàmay I enter confessional side?ö she asked. ôI would feel more comfortable talking there.ö
Shirou sighed, ôIf thatÆs what you wish.ö He leaned closer to the masked window that separated them and hid her face. He waited for her to take a seat and started asking his questions. ôNow, My Child, please start from the beginning.ö Shirou hated doing this, but he needed to know everything before he helped her. He had never seen Sakura this afraid before. Now that he got a closer look he noticed her eyes were bloodshot, her hair a mess, and there were bruises covering every inch of her face.
He gasped silently.
ôI...forgive me, Father, but I think I have sinned.ö She turned her face away, which was odd since the supposed priest wouldnÆt theoretically be able to see her anyway. ôAnd the depths of my sin will take a long time to explain. Maybe I should come back another time-ô
ôNo!ö Shirou shouted. ôI mean, I have a lot of time. No one is coming in today, not that I know of.ö He didnÆt want to lose this chance. ôNow, My Child, tell me what is wrong?ö
The girl paused. Shirou wondered if he had gone too far, but then she spoke.
ôFather, forgive me, but this body of mine has been soiledàö
From there she began her explanation.
Emiya Shirou listened.
