Fate: Gremory [Remake] (ENG)

Chapter 3

The sun began to set as Senji and Izayoi walked around the outskirts of the city. The calm atmosphere was suddenly broken by the sound of a nearby explosion, followed by a cry of pain.

Izayoi reacted immediately. "That sounds like a fight! Let's see."

"You always want to get involved in everything," Senji commented, but he followed her anyway.

In a nearby alley, they found a young woman with long black hair and hazel eyes with feline pupils. A pair of black cat ears and two black tails were seen in it. Her black kimono was torn giving signs that she was fighting with someone while escaping.

"Hm..." Izayoi with a finger on his chin analyzed the young woman and the extra limbs in her body. "It's a nekomata, right?"

I didn't need Senji's answer to know what he said is true.

"W-Who are you?"

The young woman asked breathlessly while calming her erratic breathing.

"…" Izayoi pondered whether to give his name or not. "My name is Izayoi Saigou, that old man, it's Senji Muramasa."

He pointed his index finger at Senji who was looking at him without interest.

"Can we know your name? Or you want to leave it as a mystery."

Senji spoke as he stepped forward and bent his knees to be at the height of the wounded young woman leaning against the wall.

The young woman averted her gaze, thinking whether or not to give her name to these unknown people.

While she thought about it seriously, she didn't see any problem of at least giving her name, she was no longer in the underworld who was wanted for killing her master for protecting her beloved little sister, Shirone, from that bastard demon.

"K-Kuroka, that's my name."

Senji looking into Kuroka's eyes seeing that he wasn't lying about giving his name.

"Good, Kuroka. We are located in China... Tell me, do you want to come with us?"

Kuroka widened his eyes in surprise at the sudden invitation.

"Why?!" She exclaimed, asking why.

Senji glanced sideways at Izayoi.

"Wouldn't it bother you to have a partner to train with?"

"Huh, I'm fine with you. I don't think she's that interesting as a training partner."

Kuroka, feeling that he was looking at her worthlessly, complained.

"I can teach you how to use ki!"

"What is that? Although I read about ki there, what you find in books is of no use, if you really know how to handle that energy I would like to see it."

Kuroka calmed his breathing, closing his eyes as a faint luminous energy enveloped his body. The wounds covering his arms and sides began to slowly close, emitting a faint glow.

Izayoi watched with interest, crossing his arms while raising an eyebrow. 'So this is ki. It seems more useful than I thought... perhaps it would not be a bad idea to learn it.'

"Ki is not just healing," Kuroka explained, his voice regaining some strength. "With practice, you can use it to improve your senses, strength, speed... even resistance."

Izayoi stepped forward, assessing Kuroka with more interest. "Well, that sounds like something worth trying. But I need you to show me that you don't just talk for the sake of talking."

Izayoi found more interest in the use of ki in his healing. She trusted her superhuman body that she wouldn't get hurt, but she sure needed a means of healing in case she needed it.

Senji watched Kuroka carefully. Although he no longer showed visible signs of injury thanks to his demonstration of ki, his posture still denoted fatigue. His breathing was slow but somewhat irregular, and the torn kimono he was wearing was still a sign of recent events.

"Well, before we move forward, we need to find you something more appropriate to wear," Senji declared in his matter-of-fact and direct tone. "That torn kimono is neither good for travel nor for going unnoticed."

Kuroka, who had remained silent as she regained her strength, blinked in surprise. "… Thank you," he murmured in a low voice and a faint suspicion in his eyes.

"There is no need to thank me," Senji replied, shrugging. "I was the one who invited you first. Now walking, we don't have all day."

Izayoi watched her as they walked, her curiosity evident. "Then, nekomata-san," he began in a lighthearted tone, "what kind of clothes do you prefer? Something simple or something eye-catching?"

"Something... simple," Kuroka replied after thinking about it for a moment. There was a hint of insecurity in his voice, but he tried to keep a calm demeanor. "I don't want to draw too much attention."

Izayoi raised an eyebrow, looking a little disappointed. "Simple, huh? How boring. But it's okay, I guess they can't all be as cool as me."

"Please don't scare her anymore," Senji interjected with a tired look, though there was a faint glimmer of humor in his tone. "Let's find something fast and move on."

They arrived at a small shop on a bustling street, lit by flashlights and bright signs advertising all kinds of products. People walked endlessly, minded about their own business, which provided good anonymity for Kuroka. Izayoi gently pushed her into the tent, his sneer intact.

"Go ahead, come in," Izayoi said as he folded his arms. "Don't worry, we're not going to let you buy anything ugly... Well, at least I won't allow it."

Kuroka hesitated for a moment, looking at both of them as if she still wasn't sure she fully trusted them. Finally, he stepped forward, disappearing between the shelves. Izayoi turned to Senji, who stood leaning against a nearby pole, watching the crowd.

"Do you think he'll stay with us for long?" asked Izayoi, leaning on his side.

Senji shrugged. "That depends on her. We can't force her to stay, but as long as she's here, she'll have to follow our rules."

"Always so strict," Izayoi commented with a smile. "Well, I think I can convince her that we're funny. You know, to balance your boring seriousness."

Senji let out a brief laugh and shook his head. "I trust that you will do the impossible to achieve it."

When Kuroka left the store, he was wearing a new simple kimono in black and white tones, perfectly fitted to his figure. Although her face still reflected a slight tiredness, she seemed more comfortable. Perhaps she wasn't completely sure about her new companions, but her countenance no longer showed the same tension as before.

"How do I look?" asked Kuroka with a slight tone of curiosity, looking at them with his feline eyes.

Izayoi looked her up and down and nodded approvingly. "Decent. Now you do seem ready to travel with us."

Senji nodded as well. "It's an improvement. Let's move on before we get late."

As they walked down the busy street together, Kuroka began to relax, though he still kept some distance. He watched Izayoi and Senji out of the corner of his eye, wondering what kind of life awaited him if he decided to stay with them.

» ━━━━━━ « ♔ » ━━━━━━« � «

Underworld

In the vast and stately Gremory residence, a private room stood in semi-darkness, lit only by a faint magical glow emanating from the walls. The air was heavy, as if the words spoken there were too important to be taken lightly.

Rias Gremory entered the place with a slight nervousness in her walk, guided by the indication of her older brother, Sirzechs Lucifer, who had summoned her urgently. The young princess of the Gremory clan didn't know exactly what to expect, but Sirzechs' usually affable and carefree serious expression put her on her guard.

"What is this about, Onii-sama?" he asked in a curious tone as he entered the center of the room.

In a corner, under the dim light, she saw something that stopped her in her tracks: a small cage. Inside her, hunched and hugging her knees, was a girl with scruffy white hair.

The little girl was wearing a white kimono, now dirty and worn, which barely covered her fragile figure. Her hazel eyes, with feline pupils, were fixed on the floor, empty, as if they had given up everything.

"Hm... Onii-sama, who is she?"

Rias asks innocently as he approaches the little girl's cage, wondering why she was locked in the cage.

"..." Sirzechs looked away from the little girl in the cage. "It's called Shirone, it's a nekoshou, an extremely rare variant among the Nekomata. Her older sister killed her master and is now being hunted like a criminal. A letter came in that this girl should be executed... I called you for a simple reason, Rias."

Rias looked away from the girl to her older brother, gesturing for her to continue.

Sirzechs continued, his gaze now fixed on Rias. "I called you here because you have a choice, Rias. You know it's time to start forming your own nobility. If you decide to recruit her, her life will be protected under your name. But that decision is not mine, but yours."

Rias looked away from the small figure in the cage. She slowly approached, her footsteps echoing softly in the room, until she was close enough to see her more clearly.

Shirone's eyes were still fixed on the ground. He did not react to Rias' presence, nor when she crouched at his level. The girl was locked not only physically, but also emotionally, within a wall that seemed impenetrable.

'Does she want to be saved?' Rias thought as she studied Shirone's lifeless eyes.

"Hey..." the girl continued to hug his knees without looking at Rias who had called him softly. "It seems that you don't want to see me... but it doesn't matter. I want to ask you this, do you want to be saved?"

There was no response. She only locked herself up more.

Rias remained on her knees in front of the cage, staring at the small figure who seemed to have given up on any hope. His words echoed in her mind: "She doesn't want to be saved." And yet there was something that kept him from turning away. That girl, fragile and broken, awakened in her a deep desire to protect her, even if Shirone could not see it now.

Sirzechs watched silently, letting Rias process the situation. His younger sister was not known for giving up easily, and he knew that this decision would be crucial, both for Rias and little Nekoshou.

Finally, Rias broke the silence. His gaze hardened as he stood up and faced Sirzechs. "It doesn't matter if she doesn't want to be saved now, Onii-sama. Sometimes, someone needs to be saved, even if they don't ask for it. If no one else is going to protect her, then I'll do it. I will make her part of my nobility."

Sirzechs smiled slightly, though there was a mixture of relief and concern in his eyes. "It's a noble decision, Rias. But it will not be easy. His heart is broken, and his powers, though asleep, are immense. Controlling them will be a challenge, and gaining their trust even more so."

"I know," Rias replied firmly. "But I can't ignore someone who suffers in this way. Whatever the cost, I will protect it."

Sirzechs nodded and reached out his hand toward the cage. A soft flash of magic enveloped the bars, and they disappeared in an instant, leaving Shirone physically free, but still trapped in her own mind.

Rias knelt down again, this time without the cage barrier between them. He slowly stretched out his hand towards the little nekoshou. "Shirone, I'm Rias Gremory. From now on, you will be under my protection. You don't have to fear anyone anymore."

Shirone's hazel eyes finally moved, barely rising high enough to look at Rias. There was something there, a spark of doubt or curiosity, but also a deep distrust. He said nothing, but he did not leave the outstretched hand either.

Rias decided not to press her further. Instead, he stood up and looked at Sirzechs. "I will prepare a place for her in the residence. And I will personally take care of making sure that he regains his strength... and his will."

Rias knew it wouldn't be easy. But for her, there was no turning back.

That same night, Rias took Shirone to a room at the Gremory residence. The room she chose for Shirone was warm, with a soft bed and décor that conveyed tranquility.

However, Shirone remained in a corner, hugging her knees as if the cage still surrounded her.

Rias sighed as he sat near her, not invading her space too much. "It will be a long road, but we will make it," she muttered to herself.

When he rose to let her rest, a faint voice broke the silence.

"Why...?"

Rias stopped in her tracks, turning immediately. Shirone wasn't looking at her, but her trembling lips formed that question.

"Why did you save me...? I don't deserve it..."

Rias' heart tightened at the sound of those words. He approached again, kneeling in front of the nekoshou, careful not to frighten it.

"Why do you think you don't deserve it, Shirone?" he asked softly.

The little girl barely looked up, showing a flash of pain. "Because of me... because of me my sister... he's gone. All this happened because I am weak... She abandoned me..."

Rias felt a knot in her chest when she heard it. He slowly took Shirone's small hands in his.

"You're not weak, Shirone. You are strong, much stronger than you think. What your sister did is not your fault. It's not fair for you to carry that burden alone."

Shirone pursed her lips, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to escape. "My sister left me... And because of him... they want to kill me."

Rias gently clenched her hands, conveying a warmth that contrasted with the cold emotional wall Shirone had erected around her, isolating herself from the world. "I can't speak for your sister, or for what she did. But what I can tell you is this: you are no longer alone. I'll be here. And I will not allow anyone to harm you."

Shirone didn't answer, but her eyes began to fill with tears that eventually fell down her cheeks. Rias didn't let go, staying by her side in silence, allowing her to cry as much as she needed.

After a while, Shirone muttered in a trembling voice: "... I don't trust you."

Rias nodded, accepting his words without being offended. "I don't expect you to trust me now, Shirone. But I'll show you that you can do it, in time. Is that okay?"

Shirone didn't answer, but Rias sensed a slight change in her gaze. It was not confidence, but neither was rejection. It was a small step towards hope.

That night, when Rias left the room, she knew that it wouldn't be easy to win over Shirone. But I also knew that I had made the right decision. Shirone was entitled to another opportunity, and she, as Rias Gremory, would take it upon herself to give it to him.

.

.

.

In a secluded corner of the vast Gremory territory, the sounds of banging echoed loudly, mingling with cries of effort and the metallic echo of collisions. A makeshift training ground stretched between green hills, with Alexander, Esdeath, and Sairaorg trading blows and attacks as they tested their limits.

The atmosphere vibrated with palpable energy. Alexander, his katana drawn, faced Sairaorg, whose muscular body was covered in a layer of magical aura. On the other hand, Esdeath watched from the side with her arms crossed, but without standing completely still; he hurled occasional bursts of ice at both of them, forcing them to keep their guard at all times.

"Watch out, Alexander!" exclaimed Sairaorg as she charged toward him with a fist covered in energy. Alexander spun around on himself, deflecting the blow with the katana, but the impact pushed him several meters back, leaving a trail of marks on the ground.

"Tsk! That strength of yours is unmatched, Sairaorg," Alexander commented, regaining his stance. "But you lack precision."

"And you need to take blows," Sairaorg replied with a defiant smile as he charged back toward him.

From his position, Esdeath raised an eyebrow. "Do you plan to train only the muscles? If they do not learn to anticipate moves, they will be dead before they touch the enemy."

"Then come here and show us how to do it," Sairaorg replied, glancing at Esdeath out of the corner of his eye.

"I don't need to prove anything," she replied calmly, though a slight playful smile was drawn on her lips. "I'm here to oversee... and remind you that I am not as soft as you are."

Before Sairaorg could answer, a familiar voice interrupted the scene.

"Wow, always so competitive."

The three of them turned to the sound, watching Rias approach the training ground. His long crimson hair swayed gently, and although he wore a serene expression, there was something about his bearing that reflected determination.

"Rias," Alexander greeted, relaxing his posture. "What brings you here?"

Rias smiled slightly as she crossed her arms. "I just came to see what they're doing. Although, as always, it seems like it's all about brute force around here."

Esdeath let out a soft laugh, raising his hand to conjure a small ice crystal. "And what did you expect? Some of us are not satisfied with debating strategies like Sona does."

The mention of her close friend made Rias raise an eyebrow, but she didn't lose her composure. "Not everyone has to rely on their muscles, Esdeath. Sona prefers to train her mental agility, and that's fine. I don't think I'm coming here to play with you."

Sairaorg laughed, leaning against a nearby tree. "You say it like it's a bad thing, Rias. Although I can't deny that Sona could use a little physical action from time to time."

"Maybe," Rias conceded as she looked at her brother. "But I didn't come here to talk about Sona. Brother, I want to train."

The air seemed to tense for a moment. Alexander looked at Rias curiously, and Esdeath cocked her head, intrigued.

"Train?" repeated Alexander, making sure he heard correctly.

"Yes," Rias said, his voice firm. "I want to improve. If I'm going to lead my nobility one day, I can't rely on my current skills alone. I need to be stronger."

Esdeath let out a low whistle, clearly impressed by Rias's determination. "So little Rias finally wants to get her hands dirty? This will be interesting."

"If you're willing to train with us, it'll be tough," Sairaorg interjected with a smile. "But I like that attitude. Although, honestly, I didn't think you came here for anything else to look at."

Rias glanced at him sideways, unbothered by the comment. "Don't underestimate me, Sairaorg. I may not be as strong as you, but I'm not weak either."

Alexander, for his part, looked at his sister seriously before nodding. "Good. If that's what you want, you'll start now."

Rias blinked, surprised. "Right now?"

"Yes," Alexander replied as he turned to Esdeath. "You will take care of warming it up. And don't treat her like she's a girl, understand?"

Esdeath flashed a sharp, almost dangerous smile. "Oh, don't worry, Alexander. I'll make sure it's ready... if it survives."

Rias swallowed, but did not back down. Deep down, I knew this was the only way to grow.

Esdeath advanced towards Rias, who prepared himself in a defensive position, although his inexperience in physical combat was still noticeable.

"First, I want to see how you move," Esdeath said as he raised his hand. A series of small ice crystals appeared around him, floating in the air. "Dodge this."

Without warning, Esdeath threw the crystals at Rias, who leapt to the side to avoid the first. However, the following ones were coming in different directions, and although she tried to dodge them, some brushed against her.

"Too slow," Esdeath remarked coldly. "If this was real combat, you'd be out by now."

"I won't give up so easily!" cried Rias, readjusting his posture and trying to anticipate Esdeath's movements.

From the back, Sairaorg watched with interest, while Alexander crossed his arms, silently assessing his sister's performance.

Rias was breathing heavily as she dodged another ice crystal. Every step he took reminded him how far he was from the level of his peers. But instead of frustrating her, the pressure motivated her. 'I can't be left behind,' he thought as he readjusted his posture.

Little by little, Rias began to improve. Although she was still hit by some glass, her movements became more precise, more calculated.

"That's better," Esdeath admitted, though his tone was still critical. "But you still have a lot to learn."

When the workout was over, Rias was drenched in sweat, but a new spark of confidence shone in her eyes.

"Are you giving up yet?" asked Sairaorg with a sneer.

Rias shook her head, breathing heavily, but not letting her voice tremble. "Not even in my dreams. This is just the beginning."

Alexander cracked a slight smile, showing a rare moment of pride. "That's what I wanted to hear. See you here tomorrow, Rias. Be prepared for something harder."

As Rias left, she heard Esdeath's voice behind her.

"Rias," he called her.

"Yes?"

Esdeath flashed a faint smile, this time less cruel and more sincere. "You have guts. I like that. Maybe you're not so useless after all."

Rias couldn't help but smile as she replied, "Thank you, Esdeath. Although I'm not sure if that was a compliment."

As she walked away, Rias felt something in her begin to change. This was just the first step on her path to becoming stronger, but she knew that, with people like Alexander, Esdeath, and Sairaorg by her side, she wouldn't be alone on the journey.

Side Story: ¿First Date?

Japan, 1982.

The streets of Kyoto were quiet on that spring night. The light breeze caressed the cherry trees, plucking a few petals that floated through the air before landing on the ground. The atmosphere had a melancholy touch, but for Senji Muramasa, this was just what he needed.

He walked with his hands in the pockets of his gray coat, the pace of his steps slow but steady. His mind was blank, enjoying the sound of the distant murmurs of people and the crunch of stones beneath his feet. It was one of those nights when he felt particularly grateful to have left behind the conflicts and chaos of the supernatural world.

"A quiet film. Two hours of peace. That's all I ask," he thought as he headed toward a local movie theater. I had read about a foreign movie that was causing a stir: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. He didn't have high expectations, but he wanted to distract himself.

However, Senji was not the type to let his guard down, even in the tranquility of Kyoto. As he walked, a strange tingle on the back of his neck made him frown. It wasn't anything supernatural, but... was someone following him?

His footsteps paused for a moment, listening intently. At first, she only heard the murmur of the wind, but then she heard something else: soft footsteps that stopped every time he did.

Resigned, he let out a sigh.

"You can go out now," he said aloud without bothering to look back.

A couple of seconds later, a familiar voice echoed behind him.

"Senji-chan~! How cunning you are! How did you know I was here?"

He slowly turned, meeting Serafall's energetic figure Leviathan, who was looking at him with a huge smile and his hands behind his back as if he was up to something.

"Serafall..." he murmured with a mixture of tiredness and resignation. "What are you doing here?"

She jumped up and down to him, wearing a white spring dress that highlighted her youthful air. "What a coincidence to find you here! I was thinking about going to the movies, and it turns out you're on the same path. It's fate, Senji-chan!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Destiny? You've been following me for the last three blocks."

Serafall giggled nervously, putting a hand to the back of his neck. "Don't be paranoid, Senji-chan! It's pure coincidence... Well, maybe a little bit of curiosity too."

Senji sighed again, putting a hand to his forehead. "Look, I don't have time or energy for your games. I just want to watch a movie in peace. Nothing more."

"Perfect!" exclaimed Serafall, ignoring his tone. "Because I also want to see a movie. Let's go together! It'll be fun."

"This is not a date."

"Of course not, of course not," she replied in a nonchalant tone that only irritated him more.

.

.

.

The local cinema was simple but welcoming. Neon lights flickered softly at the entrance, and movie posters on the billboard decorated the walls. The room was far from crowded, something Senji quietly thanked as he bought his ticket to E.T. the Extraterrestrial.

However, when he thought he would finally have a quiet moment, Serafall appeared next to him with his own ticket and a huge bucket of popcorn.

"What a coincidence! I bought the same ticket as you!" he said with a beaming smile as he waved the popcorn in front of his face.

"It's no coincidence that you did it on purpose," Senji replied dryly, advancing toward the movie theater.

He chose a seat in a corner, away from the center, hoping that Serafall would decide to sit somewhere else. But no, of course, she settled right next to him.

"Do you want popcorn, Senji-chan?" he offered as he brought the bucket to him.

"No," he replied curtly, staring at the screen as the trailers began to project.

At first, Senji managed to focus on the story. The idea of a lost alien trying to find its home struck him curiously. However, whenever he tried to immerse himself in the film, Serafall found a way to interrupt him.

"aw, look at E.T.! It's so cute!" she whispered excitedly, leaning into him.

Senji gritted his teeth. "Can you watch the movie without talking?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he replied quickly, though it wasn't long before he made another comment.

"Look at that! He's lifting the bike with his power! Isn't that amazing?"

Senji closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. It was clear that quiet was not an option that night.

However, despite his internal complaints, he couldn't help but notice something curious. Serafall's energy, which was so depleting in other circumstances, seemed to fit perfectly with the magic of the film. There was something... refreshing in its enthusiasm.

When they left the theater, Serafall was brimming with excitement, talking nonstop about her favorite parts.

"It was amazing! The part where E.T. says 'Phone, my house' made me cry a little bit. What about you, Senji-chan? What did you think?"

"It was fine," he replied in his usual dry tone.

"It was more than good! I know you loved it!" he insisted as he stood in front of him, walking backwards to look him in the face.

"If I say yes, will you stop talking for the rest of the night?"

"Hmm... maybe!" she said with a mischievous smile.

Senji shook his head, but for the first time in a long time, a slight smile flashed across his face. Perhaps, he thought, it wasn't so bad to have her around... sometimes.

"Okay," he finally said. "It was a good film. But don't follow me to the cinema again."

"I don't promise anything~!" she replied cheerfully, jumping up and down the streets of Kyoto together.

That night, as he was returning home, Senji realized that as exhausting as it was, Serafall had an uncanny ability to make his days a little less monotonous. Although he would never admit it, he wouldn't mind seeing her so much in the future.