23 Chapter 22: Movements in the Shadows

While Shizuka contemplated what Illya said, Erica finally asked the question that had troubled her, the rumor concerning Shirou's relation with Pandora, "I can't help but wonder how your group is able to contact Pandora and remember the contact so easily. How's it done?"

Rin tilted her head, "I don't think that's possible for your group."

Erica was not discouraged by the response Rin gave her, "why, is it a specific authority?"

Rin shook her head, "for Campione, their connection to the Netherworld is tied to Pandora. We're able to have a solid connection because Shirou fully accepts his relation to Pandora as adopted mother and child. Shirou has no memory of his birth parents and was raised by an adopted father so he had no resistance to accepting his new relation. Godou Kusanagi's parents are both still alive so him accepting Pandora's relation to him isn't likely to happen any time soon."

Erica ground her teeth as she thought over Rin's answer. She was right and it appeared that the favored child of Pandora would still be only Shirou for a long time coming.

Sakura broke the silence following Rin's answer, "to change the topic to something more relevant to current events, I recommend that you find somewhere to hide after we finish eating, Miss Kranjcar."

The ones new to the magical world turned to Sakura, confused. "Why?" questioned Shizuka.

Rider was the one who responded, "based upon what you know about Campione in general, how do you think one would handle someone who saw them in as pitiful condition as Voban was in when Shirou and Saber dragged him away?"

The color drain from the faces of the confused as the thought went through their heads.

Liliana spoke next, "are you offering?"

Rin's answer was swift and bleak, "no."

That one word sent the Kusanagi family into an uproar, "Why?" questioned Godou.

Rin's answer stopped them dead in their tracks, "because if we did, it would be the same as the Bronze-Black Cross supporting Shirou. If Voban believed that, he would wipe out the entire organization. She needs to be under the protection of a Campione, but that Campione cannot be Shirou without consequence. Any of the other Campione could act as her protection without immediate retaliation upon the Bronze-Black Cross, including yourself."

Silence followed until Erica broke it by speaking, "actually Godou might be the only safe option. Most of the other Campione will refuse due to having their own organizations, Aisha currently isn't present in this time if Shirou's court can be believed, and do you honestly think Salvatore Doni would ever be a good idea?"

Try as hard as he could, Godou couldn't rebuttal Erica's argument. He sighed before speaking, "I'm really starting to get tired with being unable to make a counterargument."

Erica grinned, "I think that you should get used to it, at the very least for the immediate future."

Godou could only collapse to the table as Shirou's court finished eating. The stood up and moved to leave after Rin got out some money and left it on the table, "this should cover everyone, but if you're getting seconds, you're on your own."

The four left as the remaining five sat in silence except for the sound of eating.

Somewhere in Greece

"Did you feel that, Sir Knight?"

"Yes, it felt like his Majesty, but something was ... off, for want of a better way to put it."

"I agree. But this is the first possible clue we've had since the grail ceased acting the way it should. If we don't, it is unknown how much longer it will be until we get answers. It has already been 11 years without anything at all. Sooner or later, the Black Prince will catch us in a situation where we will lose the Holy Grail. We are running out of time and if the grail has been damaged in some way, the means of fixing it doesn't currently exist."

"So, to the land of the rising sun?"

"If nothing else, we can hide there safely for a time. The Campione of those lands is nothing but a newborn, he isn't a true threat yet."

The two speakers moved to the east, unaware of the storm their visit would set in motion.