Iteration 29
Shirou had had enough. It was obvious that whatever was behind this, it was out of his league. He needed expert advice - and a way to convince the experts to believe him about what was happening.
The effect of the repeating timeline was centred on him, Shirou had determined. It had to be something about him that caused this - maybe linked to his amnesia prior to the end of the Fourth War, or a side-effect of bearing Avalon. Whatever it was that was causing him to get unstuck in time, he needed a way to fix it . . . and he knew a couple of people whose magic traditionally specialised in bindings.
Shirou sighed. He'd tried everything else he could think of . . . Now it was time to turn to Shinji.
Zouken Matou reclined in his study, sipping tea as he considered recent events. Sakura had not summoned the Servant he expected, but that meant he could reserve the True Assassin for himself, as a trump card. In the meantime, Shinji would be well-concealed, having no magic circuits to detect - and Sakura's role in his plans could continue uninterrupted. He raised the teacup to his lips . . .
. . . And screamed as his worms and their queen were instantly, utterly destroyed.
Saber sheathed Excalibur, turning to her master. She was curious as to how he'd known about this place - but his attention was focussed on the two other members of their group.
"So, I've upheld my part of the bargain," Shirou said. "Now it's your turn."
Shinji nodded. Watching Shirou anticipate and bypass every trap the manor had convinced him his old friend was telling the truth - and seeing him kill Grandfather was proof of both Emiya's power, and a favour worth repaying by doing as he asked. He'd have done a lot more to be free of the old man than just research binding spells . . . and having Emiya on his side in the Grail War, with the power of his Saber Servant. Yes, it was worth a lot more than what Shirou was asking.
Sakura nodded. Sempai would protect her from Shinji, she was sure - and she was finally free of her Grandfather. Though, if she was really free of the worms, why did she have this sudden urge to pin Shirou to the floor and . . . and . . .
"Are you all right, Sakura?" Shirou asked.
She became aware that her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing harsh, and managed to nod. "H - hai."
It must be a residual aftereffect, she told herself. Yes, that was it. That was what made the man she'd always admired - and who'd just freed her from over a decade of slavery - look so hot that she wanted to slam him against the wall and lick . . .
She blushed harder, but bowed her head before anyone could see it. Nevertheless - if Emiya-sempai wanted her help, he'd get it. If he wanted her, she'd . . .
This was going to be a long Grail War.
Shirou was ready. They'd beaten down the other Servants, with the exception of Caster - having her based in a known location meant they could leave her in place until he'd gotten all his seals ready. Shinji and Sakura, he admitted, had been really helpful . . . though he was still surprised that the strongest binding spell known to the Matou family was sourced in tantric magic. Its being ritually-based, he could comprehend - but ritual sex? Oh well, he couldn't complain if it did its job. And Sakura had been very understanding about the whole thing - in fact, it had taken a lot of convincing not to have her start it before all the glyphs and seals were in place.
Sure, he knew Sakura loved him, but until this particular version of the Grail War, he'd assumed her insatiable libido was a result of the worms' presence in her body. His near-death by dehydration was now arguing otherwise.
Still, it would all be worth it, he knew as he saw Caster fall, when the world failed to . . .
Iteration # 30
. . . Reset, Shirou finished his thought, abruptly staring at a familar ceiling.
"DAMN IT ALLLLL!!"
His fury was vented on that ceiling, blasting heavenward. Shirou stared at its magnitude for a moment, then at the active circuits in his arm, made visible by the risen mana. Being intimately familar with the mystical inner workings of his body by now, he frowned.
The seal wasn't totally ineffective, he realised. It had carried over his magic circuits, at least - because the number present in his body had otherwise inexplicably doubled.
Maybe he could do something with this . . .