Chapter 71
Unexpectedly, getting his parents permission and setting up his schedule was easy.
Shirou finished everything in a week, with his passport being ready in only two days. All of the paperwork was completed by his parents with the help from Urahara and a little bit of... well, something.
His family were even kind enough to pay for the ticket, much to his surprise. It seemed they wanted him to enjoy his trip. He was planning to save the money for his own expenses.
However, the amount he saved from his part time jobs was still more than enough to last him for months in a foreign land. He didn't spend much, after all.
"Be careful over there." Masaki saw him off at the airport. She hugged him and smiled gently.
His father and his siblings were also there, wishing him the best. His twin was there, looking a bit worried but also happy for him. There were mixed emotions in Ichigo's eyes, which Shirou didn't understand.
But that didn't matter now because he was going to England.
"Okay." He nodded, returning the hug to his mother. "I will stay there for a month or two."
"Just take your time and don't worry too much." Isshin said with a grin. "I and Masaki have it handled. And Ichigo will take care of the girls, so don't worry about them either."
"Yeah, leave everything to me." Ichigo put his hand on his chest and showed him a badge he got from Captain Ukitake before leaving Soul Society.
That badge with skull and crossed bones was a substitute Shinigami insignia. It had a few functions, with the main feature of the Hollow detector, allowing it to locate Hollow in a specific area. And the other was to prove his identity.
Shirou smiled when he understood what Ichigo meant. He had gotten strong enough that he didn't have to worry about Hollows in Karakura Town anymore. He just needed to be careful and not get caught up in a fight.
[To all passengers, flight JL-432 for England is now boarding from Gate 4. Please make your way to gate 4 for boarding. I repeat. Flight JL-432 for England is now boarding from gate 4. Please proceed to gate 4]
"Okay." Shirou nodded and took a deep breath, "It's my turn. I'm leaving now."
Shirou waved his hand as he walked toward the gate. He could see his little sisters, Karin and Yuzu, waving at him. The former looked bored but still waved at him, while the latter looked like she was on the verge of crying.
"Don't forget to eat well and buy a gift for us!"
"I know, Yuzu. Don't worry. I won't forget to eat and buy gifts."
With a last look at his family, he went through the gate.
Now he would go to London and from there he would go to Glastonbury, England.
***
The flight was unexpectedly uneventful. He gazed through the window and watched as the plane pierced the sea of clouds.
It had been 13 hours of flying and his butt was already numb. He just couldn't get comfortable on the seat, and that made his mood sour. Shirou didn't have any trouble with the long journey itself. He was trained well in patience.
However, the strange excitement he felt in anticipation for his arrival in England made it difficult to relax. His heart was beating fast. His eyes were wide and bright.
He could not sleep.
Not that he was afraid of heights or something, he just didn't want to close his eyes and sleep like a log in the middle of a trip.
Shirou wasn't a kid, so he didn't act like a child that acted like one on their first flight.
But he could not help feeling excited. The fact that he would arrive at the airport soon and finally reach his destination was exciting enough to make his heart pound.
The plane ride wasn't as bad as it seemed, with plenty of food served during flight.
Shirou looked at his watch. There were a few minutes left until touchdown.
[...Please wear your seatbelt as we prepare to land at London Heathrow Airport.]
After hearing the pilot's announcement, he buckled up and waited.
The plane landed without incident.
Once they got to the gate, all the passengers disembarked. It didn't take long to walk from the boarding gate to baggage claim.
There were a lot of people waiting for their bags. It took him a while to get his suitcase and he went to customs.
"Please give me your passport." An old man with a large mustache and thick eyebrows asked, his voice was thick and rough, like the sound of gravel.
Shirou gave him his passport and the officer checked it thoroughly, "You're not from Europe."
"Yes, sir."
"How old are you, young man? And where are your parents? Why did you come to London alone?"
"I am on a vacation."
"Vacation? Do you have a place to stay?"
"Yes, sir." Shirou answered, showing the man the ticket and hotel reservation he got with Urahara's help.
"Alright. Welcome to London."
After that, he passed the border inspection.
Shirou sighed in relief as he walked through the airport lobby.
It was a bit difficult to understand English. His grasp of the language was pretty basic, but not too good to hold a long conversation with native speaker.
But he could read the signs. That much was a given since he had practiced and studied a bit about it. It would have been terrible if he couldn't even read a simple English word.
And he had memorized the necessary words needed to buy anything.
"Hmm, I need to check into the hotel and rest. And in 3 days, I will have to board another plane to go to Glastonbury."
Which meant he had 3 days to enjoy the sight of London before going to Glastonbury.
But Shirou's trip to the hotel was a disaster.
It turned out to be quite troublesome because of the taxi driver, who had tricked him into paying twice the original price and also made him pay the extra for his luggage. He had been cheated by the man, and Shirou knew it.
It seemed he needed to study more about the currency used in England.
Thankfully the check in was pretty easy. He was given the key to his hotel room, which was located on the 5th floor.
"Haa... that was a bad start." He muttered as he set his luggage down.
Looking around, he nodded in satisfaction to the room he got. It was a pretty simple one. The interior wasn't luxurious or flashy. The bed was clean and comfortable. The window was also big and clean. Overall, it was an okay place.
However, what made him happy was the fact it had a small kitchen. It wasn't as good as the one he had at his house in Karakura Town, but he could cook a simple meal.
"Should I go to buy groceries now?" Shirou wondered after he finished organizing his clothes. "No... I am already in London so it would be wasteful to cook by myself."
Buying a meal would let him enjoy the cuisine here better than cooking by himself. Not to mention he also had the opportunity to try various restaurants.
"I guess I'll find some restaurant."
***
Everything in this world had two sides.
For example: a coin. It had heads and tails, and no one would ever argue that there wasn't any difference between those two sides of the coin.
Then there was another one. The world itself. The universe, or rather the multiverse.
There was the normal universe with planets, stars, galaxies, and the like. And then there was the universe where all myths and legends happened, with gods, fairies and other mythical beings living.
Soul Society was the latter.
Shinigami existed and worked to maintain balance between the two sides. And then, Quincies had a job to kill Hollow, which was an evil spirit.
The worlds that had no Shinigami and the worlds that did.
The world of the dead and the world of the living. They were the two sides.
And then there was the front and the reversed side of the world.
A girl with long black hair walked down the rowdy street of London. She was wearing a black school uniform, her face was expressionless and cold as always.
Many students glanced at her and talked in a low voice. They whispered to each other about her, the cold beauty of the academy.
The uniform was unique to a famous school in London and was well known around the city.
It was an all-girl school that accepted only the elite of the elites. Only those who were chosen by the school's staff would have the chance to enter the prestigious institution. Those that failed were left to rot and suffer from their inferiority complex.
Right now, the girl entered an alley with overgrown weed and a dark, creepy atmosphere. It looked like a haunted tunnel from a horror movie. And the air smelled of mold and rot.
However, when she reached the end of it, a different view appeared before her.
A red phone booth stood at the center of the clearing surrounded by buildings and trees on all sides. It was as if the surrounding environment was trying to push away the foreign object.
Each building had a small tunnel that connected it to the outside world. But this place looked pretty ethereal and mysterious with the sunlight that illuminated the ground beneath them as if refusing normal people to enter.
It was like a garden, but with no plants or flowers. Instead there were weeds growing everywhere around them.
The girl approached and entered the phone booth without any hesitation. She fished a golden coin with WB written in the middle of it. She put the coin into the slot in front of the phone.
When the coin entered, the slot glowed slightly, as if scanning it.
"Noel Niihashi, reporting for duty."
Following that, the telephone booth's sign began to spin like a slot machine, changing the word 'Telephone' into 'WB' and glowed brightly.
A circle formed around the booth, pulling the booth down alongside the girl like an elevator. It was the entrance way to another part of London, one that was hidden and separate from the normal universe.
And this part was where magic users lived.
The Reverse London.
Normal people had no idea about this place, and the magic users had no interest in normalcy.
They didn't need the other part of the city and had no interest in it.
After all, the normal world had nothing to do with them.
However, there was a special person who had just arrived because he mistook the overgrown tunnel as a path toward a famous restaurant recommended by a certain shady shopkeeper.
This boy watched everything since the start and saw her disappearing in a circle.
"Is that... magecraft?" Shirou muttered as he stepped out of the tunnel, his eyes wide in disbelief and curiosity.
Chapter 72
London's cuisine was pretty unique.
There were many dishes to choose from and some were exotic enough that Shirou had to wonder about the taste.
The local food, fish and chips, was surprisingly delicious. And he also enjoyed eating the roast beef that was sold by the roadside vendors.
Shirou ate a lot, enjoying his time in London. He bought many different kinds of food, trying to enjoy as much local flavor as possible.
However, he had something else in his mind.
'That was too similar to a magecraft.'
What he saw earlier kept replaying in his mind, refusing to leave him alone. The way that the phone booth disappeared and how the ground shone.
He had a hunch that this wasn't normal at all. It couldn't be just some simple magic trick or mechanic. There was definitely something more to it.
If he had to compare it to something he knew, he would say it was like Tohsaka's jewel craft. Or rather, something more than that. He wasn't an expert in magic, but he could feel it.
Something was different from normal power that utilized reiryoku and reiatsu.
'What if...'
What if this was related to magic? What if there was something that had to do with magic?
What if the Throne of Heroes also existed here?
Avalon might be within his reach.
He put his hand on his chest and tried to calm his beating heart.
"Calm down..." Shirou mumbled. "There is no need to rush."
Right now, he needs to focus on eating. And he should try to enjoy his vacation first before getting too worked up about anything else.
So after eating his fill, he returned to his hotel and slept.
It had been a long day.
He woke up in the morning, refreshed and ready to start his day.
At first he planned to go on a culinary tour again, but he decided to visit the phone booth because he couldn't shake his curiosity.
So here he was.
Standing in front of a phone booth that stood in the clearing connected by four tunnel in the buildings around it.
He was about to touch the door handle but he stopped himself.
'What if that was magecraft that activates when I touch it?'
An unknown magecraft was dangerous
Shirou didn't want to activate a trap and die because of carelessness, so he carefully inspected everything around the phone booth.
There was no clue at all. He couldn't find any traps or spells that could harm anyone, which made him a bit suspicious. Maybe it was too obvious? Maybe he should have expected more?
Shirou scratched his head, confused.
"Should I insert a coin inside?"
"What are you doing here?"
A voice caused Shirou to jolt in surprise. He quickly turned around.
And in his sight, there stood a familiar girl with black uniform.
It was the girl who he had seen before, the one that disappeared in the circle of light. Her black hair swayed slightly from the wind and her eyes narrowed.
She stood with one of her hands on her hip and another one flicking her hair. She was glaring at Shirou as if he had offended her.
"What are you doing? This is a private property."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Shirou bowed slightly even though he didn't need to. "I got lost while looking for a restaurant. Then, when I was wandering, I saw you enter that phone booth and then it disappeared into the ground. I was just curious about it."
The girl raised an eyebrow at the explanation, but after seeing Shirou's honest face, she sighed.
"You saw what?"
"Yeah, you went inside that thing and vanished." Shirou repeated, pointing to the phone booth.
The girl looked at him, then at the phone booth and back again.
She crossed her arms, and looked away. It was obvious that she wasn't pleased. A sigh escaped her lips while she thought that she screwed up.
"..."
After a few moments of silence, the girl spoke up.
"My achievement will take a hit. The best thing to do is to just erase him."
"...?"
Shirou had a bad premonition and immediately put on guard.
Magus would always prioritize secrecy above everything. And if it was leaked out, the one who was involved would be eliminated to prevent information spread.
He wasn't unfamiliar with their customs, not after knowing about Tohsaka and the Magic Association.
And if he had to guess, then this girl in front of him should be one of those people who were hiding in plain sight and would eliminate those who found their secret.
In this world where Hollow and Shinigami were real, he wasn't really surprised that mages existed.
"Hey, wait! Calm down!" He said, raising his hands. "I also know about magic, so please calm down. Look."
Shirou traced a nameless sword to his right hand and held the hilt. He showed it off to the girl who looked wary and held a pipe in her hand.
"See. I'm also a magus like you." Shirou continued, grinning, "My specialty is projection. I'm Kurosaki Shirou from Japan. Nice to meet you!"
"Kurosaki Shirou?" She tilted her head and looked up for a moment before returning his gaze.
"Yes."
"A mage? No, what did you do? You don't have a witch kit and yet a sword appeared in your hand." The girl shook her head, confused.
'A witch kit?' Shirou thought to himself, 'I never heard about it before. Maybe it's a magical instrument.'
In the first place, his knowledge about magus and magic came from his observation and the basic knowledge Tohsaka gave him in 7 days of war.
He never really tried to find out more about it.
One answer that came to his mind was...
"Well, I am a bit special in that regard. A unique brand of magic if you will."
"I see. So you are a wizard then." She nodded in understanding. "It's my mistake for not knowing it. And you want to access Reverse London with that phone booth?"
"Reverse London?"
"Huh? You are a mage and you don't know?" She stared at him in disbelief.
"Umm... Yeah... I am new to the world of magic." Shirou scratched his cheek and smiled wryly.
Better tell the truth rather than be interrogated later for lying.
"That makes sense, I guess. You're too clueless to be a spy." She nodded, convinced, "But it doesn't matter. You said you were from Japan, so I guess you wouldn't have known much anyway."
"Right."
"Then, should I just show you around?" She offered with a small smile on her face.
"Huh? Is it fine?" He blinked in surprise.
"It's no trouble at all." The girl smiled brightly.
"After all I need to explain about your presence so my achievement doesn't take a hit." She continued in a small voice.
Stepping down the stairs, she approached the phone booth. She glanced at him for a second before entering and beckoning for him to follow.
"Stand behind me." She said as she stood inside the phone booth, putting a coin into the slot.
Just as she did, Shirou heard the phone ring and the girl picked up the receiver to speak.
"Noel Niihashi and guest."
The slot began to shine and a magic circle appeared below their feet.
"Wow..." He whispered, amazed at what was happening in front of his eyes. "This is..."
Shirou felt a pull on his body. And as if the gravity suddenly reversed itself, he started to fall down at a fast speed.
The phone booth elevator wasn't one for the faint of heart, he had to admit.
When the ride ended, the elevator arrived at a place resembling where he arrived from, the overgrown alley. However, the scenery that was outside was a lot different from the one he knew.
When he left the alley with the girl, Noel, he noticed it.
Something was flying in the sky, a flock of birds or maybe something else. There were many people around, but they looked normal. No one had a weird outfit on.
"Welcome to Reverse London." Noel said as she turned to him, "Let me escort you to Wing Band."
Chapter 73
Reverse London. A place where witches, wizards, and their associates lived. A city of magic where magic was common.
Wing band was the name of an association where Noel was employed as a member.
And Shirou was brought there because of his accidental encounter.
A large office filled with employees wearing suits, dressed neatly and tidily, sat at their respective desks. Some of them wore checkered mantle while some wear white mantle.
Everyone had a distinct style of dress that set them apart from others.
There was also a group of men in black suits, looking intimidating and serious. Their faces showed no expression at all.
And then there was him.
In this city where strange creatures seem to exist, some resembled normal pot plants and some resembled cute flying squirrels or lizards, or a flying book that moved on its own. It was like a scene from a fairytale.
Other than that, people seemed to live pretty normally in the Reverse London. The way of their life was pretty similar to the one in normal London. People worked and lived together.
But he couldn't say it was exactly the same.
Some of them seemed to be carrying magical items with them and some were using it casually. Some even had an invisible layer of magical protection that surrounded them.
It was almost like a Soul Society after the industrial revolution with magic and modern technology.
"What are you looking at?" A voice brought him back from his musing. He blinked once before realizing it was Noel talking to him.
The black haired girl tapped her arm impatiently while she waited for his reply. Her eyes narrowed and she looked annoyed at him.
The way she acted reminded him of Rin, which made him chuckle lightly.
"Hmm, I was just admiring how nice this place is." He replied honestly with a small smile.
Noel rolled her eyes, unimpressed. "Really? It's nothing special." She said in disinterest.
Shirou didn't respond and just looked around.
"Well, you are free to look around, I suppose." She shrugged before walking away without waiting for him. "We need to register you as a guest for Reverse London. I will explain the rule of this place while we're on our way."
"Please do."
Following Noel in silence, Shirou listened attentively to what Noel told him as she showed him around.
"Here, magical creatures and people lived together. It's a city that exists as part of London but is also separate from the real London." She said, gesturing at their surroundings.
"The rules here are simple, there aren't any strict regulations. As long as you don't disturb others, then everything will be alright." She paused and looked at Shirou, who nodded his head.
"First, don't do anything stupid. Second, there is Dragon contact prohibition. You can't make contact with dragons or you will be put in prison for 100 years." Noel explained as they walked down a street.
"A dragon?"
So they did exist.
Shirou could no longer say that his dad's words were a joke now.
"Don't worry, they don't usually come out of their territories." Noel waved his concern. "They rarely show themselves in public and usually only interact with others through a medium. Wing Bind has already wiped the Dark Dragon to ensure safety."
But a caution was still required.
Her voice sounded a bit heavy and tired when she continued.
"Next is about the wing band and their role." She said, "We are tasked to keep peace and protect this city from threats and dragons. It's pretty simple."
"You are the police."
"I am an agent of Wing Band. It is more accurate to say we are government agents. The police here are the London Tower security." She explained with a calm voice.
"And we have a few groups. I am on the Pipers team. Each of us is assigned with one job and we have a partner to work together with."
Shirou was silent as he listened attentively to every word that was said.
From the explanation he received, it seemed like Wing Band was something like Gotei 13 from Soul Society and Pipers were something similar to Division.
But instead of Captain, they were led by something called the Zodiac.
Then the easy explanation about Reverse London was that it existed similarly to Soul Society.
'It's not a reverse world where Avalon is located.'
He was slightly disappointed at the revelation but it was understandable. He should have expected as much. But then again, the possibility wasn't completely zero yet.
"We've arrived. This is the gate of West Branch. And behind it is Wing Bind's headquarters."
Just like a typical structure in London, the gate was constructed from bricks, and there were two stone pillars at both ends. It was decorated with carvings and engravings that were very artistic and detailed.
A large sign with 'WB' written on it hung between them.
The headquarter Noel mentioned was a tall modern building with a strange house on the roof. The house looked pretty similar to those often seen in the Victorian era movies, and it was surrounded by several trees.
"It looks amazing." He said as he looked up at it.
"Let's go." Noel stepped into the gate without waiting for him, so he had to jog a bit to catch up.
Walking into the large lobby of the building, he saw many people wearing suits sitting around talking with each other. Some of them were reading books or working on something while others were chatting amongst themselves.
A reception counter stood right next to them, manned by a beautiful lady who smiled kindly as soon as they entered.
Her hair was blonde and curly and she had bright green eyes. Her outfit consisted of a black suit jacket and matching skirt that hugged her body nicely.
"Good morning, Miss Niihashi. Please wear your mantel." The receptionist said with a smile.
"I will, Miss Watson."
Noel nodded and took out her shepherd check-patterned mantle, wrapping it around herself.
For Witches and Wizards, clothes were important as it showed the group they belonged to. The mantle Noel wore represented the Piper, a special unit within Wing Bind that worked under the Zodiac's orders.
"And this one?" Miss Watson the receptionist asked, pointing to Shirou who stood next to Noel.
"A guest. He's a... What?" She turned to him and asked, "Wizard?"
"I don't think that is the correct term." Shirou smiled awkwardly. "Magus, a third rate one."
Introducing himself as a Quincy in this part of the world might bring trouble, so he had to say that he was a magus instead.
A Wizard in this universe meant a male witch, so it wasn't really a suitable term to describe his power. He could be described as a magus who specialized in Reinforcement, Projection, and Tracing, but that didn't matter right now.
"Ah, are you a Watcher?"
"Watcher?"
"Term for people who can see dragons." Noel kindly explained to him.
'So it's like a spiritually aware human.'
Shirou nodded, taking the new term and adapting it to one he knew.
"Anyway, I will show him around the place. Can he get a temporary identity card for this visit?"
"Sure, I will issue it right away. Just a moment please."
Miss Watson took out her magical device, what she called a witch kit, and started to work on her magic.
"Hey, Noel." A young girl called out to them from across the room. She had long blonde hair tied in a twintails, with a red ribbon holding them in place. She was dressed in a similar uniform like Noel except hers were in black. "Oh? Who's the guy with you?"
"This is Kurosaki Shirou, a guest." Noel said curtly. "Shirou, she is Ninny Spangcole. My partner."
The blonde girl, Ninny, approached them. She smiled brightly as she looked at Shirou before gasping at Noel.
"Wait, did you just use this chance to get more achievements and pay?!"
"What do you mean?" Noel averted her gaze from Ninny.
"As I thought!" Ninny looked betrayed and furious, "How can you be so selfish?! I can't believe you, Noel!"
Noel didn't say a thing and just ignored her partner.
Chapter 74
Shirou didn't know what he was expecting, but this was not it.
He was currently in a restaurant with Noel and Ninny after getting his visitor card. Noel had brought him here so she could eat something delicious while Ninny had tagged along to get a free meal from the raven-haired girl.
Based on what he heard from the two, giving a tour and explaining the rules to Watcher would net an agent an extra Pay and Achievement.
So Noel was happy for this chance and took advantage of it, which resulted in a scolding from her blonde partner who wanted to earn the extra achievement herself.
Shirou was just a catalyst in this case and he had nothing to do with it, but still he felt bad about being the cause of an argument between them.
But that quickly disappeared once he got to know them better.
"So, Kurosaki. Tell us about yourself." Ninny spoke first as she sat opposite of Shirou. Noel was seated next to him. "What are you doing here? I heard you're from Japan. Do you study there? And Noel said you know magic. How did you learn it?"
The barrage of questions came as naturally as they finished their arguments.
"Well..." He began, thinking about his answer carefully. "I was here for a vacation and a chance to visit someone. And I came from Japan, yes. My magic is taught by my father, but I only know one kind so it doesn't really count as learning magic, does it? It's just one skill in many."
Shirou smiled sheepishly. It was the first time he met people who used 'magic' in this world. Shinigami and Quincy didn't count as they were just spirits in the end, so their powers weren't real magic but rather a skill.
"Oh! That's cool. So your father was a wizard?" Ninny asked eagerly, "That's awesome!"
"Wow, you must be from a rich family if you're able to have a vacation alone, I assume." Noel chimed in.
"No, not quiet. I used my savings to pay for the trip." Shirou shook his head, "We are just an ordinary family, not a rich one. I have worked at a candy shop since I was middle school and saved up for my own expense. Not a good one but enough to keep me going."
"You've heard him, Noel." Ninny elbowed her friend playfully.
"Hmph." Noel huffed, her face scrunched up in displeasure at Ninny.
"I think that's amazing. Saving up and then spending it for a vacation is pretty cool. And you even came alone!" The blonde witch said cheerily.
Shirou scratched his cheek in embarrassment, "It's nothing, really."
They continued to talk in the restaurant.
For some reason, the two Witches got interested in him.
At the same time, Shirou also asked various things about Reverse London to the two.
From the way they explained, it was obvious they knew this city like the back of their hands.
Noel, who was more knowledgeable and calm than Ninny, explained that Reverse London has existed since a long time ago. And Dragons were still around.
"And so-"
Crash!
Suddenly, a loud crashing sound rang outside. Noel and Ninny rose from their seats and looked outside.
Both of them had a grim expression. It seemed to be bad news.
"What happened?"
"A Dragon is rampaging nearby!"
Ninny's question was answered by a person who entered the restaurant as a refugee. His expression was panicked and terrified, as if he saw a monster.
"Let's go, Noel!" Ninny grabbed her pipe and ran to the door.
Grabbing her own pipe, Noel followed suit and left a message.
"You stay here, Kurosaki."
Both girls ran away to do their job. Leaving Shirou alone at the restaurant.
"...Nope." Shirou muttered and followed the witches, ignoring their warning.
If a Dragon was rampaging, then he would help them.
While he no longer followed his ideal of saving everyone and had accepted that sometimes sacrifices had to be made, it didn't mean he would do nothing to save someone. If it was in his power, Shirou would save everyone he could.
'And this power...'
He clenched his fists and glared ahead, following the two witches to the scene.
'Shouldn't be wasted.'
When he reached the place where Noel and Ninny had gone to, Shirou was met with the sight of a creature with elongated neck and a head that resembled a seahorse, but it had six legs.
It had a scaly skin that was a mixture of green and blue. It also had a pair of webbed feet, which made it seem like it came from an ocean or swampy area.
A pair of small wings sprouted from the sides of its body. It looked like a pair of wings of an insect, thin and delicate.
Its head had a pair of long antennae-like horns sticking out from its forehead. And its size... it was around the size of an elephant.
This creature was the Dragon.
"Rampaging dragon spotted! Request for a quarantine." Ninny called the headquarters through her phone.
As soon as she finished,
It tried to climb a bridge above the river and destroyed the steel supporting the road. Its tail was flailing about and it was roaring at everything around it.
The two witches, Ninny and Noel were there and had their magic kit in hand. They were trying to subdue the beast with magic spells.
"Stun ball!"
From the tip of her gun-like magic kit, Noel launched a magic bullet that shot through the air towards the Dragon.
It hit right between the eyes and caused the dragon to fall back.
Ready to intercept the dragon was Ninny. She rode what seemed to be a smaller dragon and flew in the air. Her magic kit was ready in her hand and she activated her magic.
"Flash Bumper."
Net-like barrier formed from the tip of her wand and expanded, softening the impact from the dragon fall. But her barrier wasn't strong enough as the net burst into pieces and the Dragon landed on a ground with a crash, causing a small crater beneath it.
Noel fired more magic bullet, but they were deflected away from the dragon. She gritted her teeth and tried again, this time using her pipe instead of her gun.
"Rainy Wheel."
Flaming blue fire resembling wheels of a cart appeared and flew toward the Dragon. The fireball hit the target, and it let out a screech of pain.
Still, the dragon was a tough beast and the flames couldn't do anything more than just annoying the creature. It continued to rampage, destroying everything around it.
Noel clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"We can't hold on much longer!" Ninny screamed, "We need backup!"
Shirou watched the two witches try their best to stop the Dragon's rampage, but they couldn't do it on their own.
After a while, he decided to join the battle himself. He couldn't stand by any longer as he felt like something terrible could happen if he didn't act now.
"Trace On."
Blue fire came to life as aria escaped his lips. In his hand, a black bow materialized alongside an arrow.
Shirou pulled the bowstring and fired an arrow at the beast. It split the wind and left a red trail in the air, before striking the dragon on the head with a small explosion and causing it to flinch in pain. It fell backward, landing on its belly. The ground shook from its impact.
Both Noel and Ninny looked shocked at what happened. They looked at the dead dragon, then at Shirou, who stood in front of the restaurant away from their location.
"Did he do that?"
"...Yes, I saw it too." Ninny confirmed.
"..."
Noel's eyes widened when she saw how Shirou subdued a dragon so easily.
'He did not use a magic kit and that bow looks like something a hunter will use.'
Noel had never seen anyone use a weapon other than a magic kit to fight.
Yet there he was, holding a bow that could defeat even dragons. He even smiled a little when they looked at him and waved his hand. His weapon disappeared into thin air when he released it.
Chapter 75
Another team from Wing Bind arrived to take care of the aftermath. They were from Patchworks whose duty was to collect and preserve Dragons' corpses.
While they did their job, Ninny grabbed Shirou and pulled him into a secluded alley away from people. She pinned him against the wall, sandwiching his head between her arms to stop him from fleeing, something he didn't even consider at all.
What a familiar situation. The difference was that now he didn't feel flustered or embarrassed. The other party wasn't Tohsaka Rin, after all.
"Ninny, you're too rough-."
"What was that?"
Ignoring Noel's advice, Ninny asked Shirou with her serious expression. She glared at the Japanese boy in suspicion, not knowing what he could do. Her eyes stared at him, waiting for his answer.
"My magecraft." Shirou answered with a wry smile. He raised both of his hands up, surrendering his fate to her.
"That was magic? Without a witch kit?" Noel chimed in.
She was skeptical of Shirou's claim. It didn't look anything like what a normal magecraft should look like.
"Wait, you mean he can use magic like us but without a witch kit?" Ninny looked at him in shock. "That's cheating!"
Shirou just scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. He didn't know how to answer this one.
Technically, he used reiryoku to create his weapon and use Reishi in the atmosphere to keep them materialized. He was basically a battery for the Noble Phantasm to be able to exist and perform their abilities.
But that would be a lengthy explanation, and he didn't want to explain every little detail of how his powers worked.
So he settled for a vague answer that sounded right enough to work.
"I just have my own method of using magic." He explained simply, which wasn't wrong at all.
According to Rin, his projection was a bit unique because it involved creating a blueprint for the weapon and then supplying the energy needed for it. That process alone could be called 'magecraft' which apparently translates to 'magic' in this world.
But for Shirou, that was something he had done since childhood. To him, it wasn't anything special.
His powers were only limited by what he could imagine and project.
So it didn't feel special or anything, even though others might find it amazing.
"I use my body as a catalyst so I can use a spell directly. I can't use any other spell other than that." He added.
Ninny let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Her suspicion of Shirou's identity was cleared and replaced with interest instead.
"Oh, that makes sense." Ninny said, nodding to herself. "Then what was that bow?"
Noel let out a sigh and walked closer, tapping Ninny's shoulder to let Shirou go. The latter begrudgingly lowered her arms and released Shirou, but she kept an eye on him just in case he did something funny.
"Um, well..." He began to explain, not sure what to say. "I call it Projection."
"Projection?" Noel asked curiously. She was intrigued.
"Yes. It is a technique that allows me to replicate an item by analyzing its structure and then constructing a replica based on the information I gained. My magic." He ended with an uncertain voice, not sure if his answer was good enough or not.
"That sounds amazing." Ninny commented, looking at him in admiration.
'Amazing, huh?'
Shirou couldn't agree. To him, his magecraft was nothing special, just a tool.
But he supposed it might sound cool to others who had never seen something like this before.
"So, can you replicate anything with this Projection?" Ninny asked eagerly like a little girl finding a new toy.
"Well, mostly. I have limitations and requirements."
"Ninny, we have to report back now." Noel interrupted them and put her phone into her pocket, "Billy Banx called for us. We should return to the Wing Bind now. And I think they need Kurosaki for questioning as well."
Questioning? Well, that wasn't unexpected.
He did use an unknown magic, or magecraft as he called it, to defeat a dragon. Of course, someone would be suspicious about it. Especially when it wasn't done with the same methods as theirs.
After all, his abilities weren't normal in their standard.
And that meant trouble.
Considering what had happened to his life so far, Shirou had a hunch this wouldn't end well.
'I just want to look around before my flight to Glastonbury...'
Sighing, he followed the two Witches to the Wing Bind headquarters.
He could already see his trip turning for the bad.
***
Noel and Ninny were sitting on one couch, while Shirou was on another opposite to them.
Both parties were sitting in a small meeting room where the two girls, which was unusual because they usually reported to the receptionist, got their completion badge, then exchange them with Pay and Achievement.
Today, however, they had to report directly to their superior Billy Banx.
It seemed their report was important enough for a private hearing. Or rather, their report about Shirou was important.
Either way, it was clear he was the one they were interested in. He knew it as well. It was hard not to notice how they stared at him when he was being led here.
It made Shirou feel uncomfortable and he wondered what the higher-ups were thinking.
He had to wait a little before the door opened.
"Yohoho, sorry for the wait. I have to clean up some boxes from other sections earlier."
A middle-aged man with a mustache wearing all green clothing including a hat entered the room; a checker-patterned mantle tied on his waist. His face was kind but there was something off with his smile and expression.
The man named Billy Banx Jr. closed the door behind him before walking to his seat and sitting down. His eyes then looked at Shirou.
"So you are the one Noel and Ninny mentioned. What is your name, boy?" Billy asked.
"Kurosaki Shirou." He answered simply, trying not to give away more information than necessary.
"And you're from Japan? Let me guess..." Billy Banx paused for a second as he stared at him, as if studying his features. "Kurosaki, Kurosaki... I have never heard of you. But you must come from a prestigious lineage, right? You're a pureblood Wizard, I presume."
Billy continued his question and it seemed the man had a habit of asking questions with a smile. He was the kind of man who enjoyed making others feel uncomfortable with his questions and he was enjoying this interrogation.
Somehow, he felt like Urahara in the way he moved. Something was hidden beneath that smile and stupid action. It was just that he didn't have a paper fan to hide his smile like Urahara did.
"Pureblood Wizard?" Shirou asked, confused.
"You know, the family of Wizards and Witches. They often had some technique they hid for themselves. Not mixing the blood with others."
Once again, Shirou had to explain the story he told Noel and Ninny before. The man listened before beaming into a big smile, as if he found something funny and interesting. It was a creepy smile that didn't fit the man at all.
"Oh, so you're a wizard who learned from your dad. I understand." Billy said cheerfully.
"...?"
"So, are you interested in joining Wing Bind?" Billy Banx asked.
"Huh?" Shirou looked confused, but he immediately answered with a firm rejection. "Sorry, I don't intend to stay in England longer. I will have to leave soon."
He had to return to Karakura Town after he finished his business.
Focusing only on his goal was important, but he had his responsibilities. Even though he had a lot of money to live his life comfortably, Shirou couldn't do it because of the sense of responsibility in his heart.
There was still danger looming around at home so he couldn't stay away for long.
"Really? What a shame. We really could use your help, you know." Billy said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Yes, my apologies. I am grateful to your invitation, though." He replied politely and respectfully.
Shirou didn't want to offend anyone by rejecting them directly like this. He was already causing them enough trouble by appearing here and killing that dragon.
Billy let out a small laugh and then shook his head. "Well, I guess that's it. Ninny, don't fall for him."
The man winked and the blonde Witch screamed at her leader in embarrassment, telling him that she wasn't going to fall in love with him.
Billy left with the final word.
"Have fun on your trip, Kurosaki. It's good to have you here."
Chapter 76
A/N: Short chapter!
I want to explain about Burn the Witch universe first in these few chapters to introduce it to the readers.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask! It's a short manga so I will use my creative take to build the Western branch of Soul Society (Wing Bind) while following the existing references.
***
"Ah, yes." Shirou replied with an unsure smile, not sure what else to say.
When the door was closed from outside, Ninny burst into rage.
"That old man is the worst!"
"I can't agree more." Noel second her, her tone was annoyed. It was rare for her to show this much emotion, which was a testament to how much she hated that guy. "Anyway, we have finished our business here. What do you plan to do next?"
"Umm... I will look around Reverse London." Shirou answered after pondering his choice. "Then I will go to my next destination. How should I contact you when I want to return to normal London?"
"Just go back to the same phone booth. Put the same coin you were given at the start and say you're Kurosaki Shirou." Ninny replied with a shrug, "You can come whenever you want."
"I see."
Nodding to himself, Shirou decided to bid the two farewells and walked away from them.
He had to go and find out more about this Reverse London, and what exactly the Wing Bind were.
***
Billy Banx Jr. entered his room and closed the door behind him.
It had been an interesting meeting and he had a lot of things on his mind. Things he wanted to do, but also some things he couldn't do yet.
The boy was an anomaly. Someone with an ability to kill a dragon with a bow.
A dangerous one, if his instinct didn't lie. The man had lived through a lot, and he could see that the boy would become a dangerous individual in the future.
The boy's name was Kurosaki Shirou. And his origin was pretty interesting as well.
"Karakura Town in Japan." He mumbled, remembering the conversation he just had with the boy. "So he's from the Eastern Branch."
Eastern Branch, often known as Soul Society who dealt with Souls and Hollows. Each side never got connected with each other, mainly because their way of living was too different and the way their world was divided into two parts, similar to the front and the reverse side.
And also, because both of their organizations didn't like to interact with the other.
"If he's only here for vacation, then I won't mind. But..."
He had to be cautious, just in case the boy was actually here to do something dangerous.
It wouldn't hurt to check and observe so he wouldn't open a pandora box.
***
Reverse London was pretty big and interesting, so to say the least.
There were restrictions to visit certain places, of course due to the danger of Dragons, but that didn't stop Shirou from looking around. It was a place that he didn't expect to find when he visited the phone booth out of curiosity.
This place, the other side of London, seemed to have a lot of secrets to offer.
"..."
Shirou walked through the street and passed through a few people. All of them were wearing different kinds of outfits, with different hairstyles.
Some even flew in the sky by riding small dragons; he identified them as Wizards and Witches. It was strange to think that those who could use magic existed in this world and they weren't the same kind like Tohsaka or Matou did.
But that didn't mean they weren't magi. Because of what Noel and Ninny had told him, and his observation so far, there were many kinds of magi and they differed greatly.
'So the magic in the other world is pretty different. They aren't magecraft like what I know from Tohsaka, or magic that comes from spiritual energy that we use.'
From his point of view, they seemed more like magi in a fairy tale than real ones. But it wasn't impossible for Wizards and Witches similar to his previous world to exist.
"So I just need to use this Coin to return?" He looked at the Coin that he received alongside his visitor card and flipped it in his hand. "This will make my job much easier."
The Coin worked like Senkaimon in Soul Society, connecting two places and transporting a person to and from a designated area.
But unlike Senkaimon, the coin would open at the exact location where it was used.
Front London and Reverse London were the same side of the coin. What happened in Reverse London would also be reflected on Front London.
Which meant all gas explosions and missing people broadcasted in the internet might actually happen in Reverse side.
'I can't stay here longer.' Shirou thought to himself as he walked back to the phone booth where he came from.
Staying for a long time would only bring more problems for him, and there were still things that needed to be done.
It would be a problem if the organization decided that he was dangerous enough to warrant attention or worse, elimination. And if he got caught, he might not be able to return home.
His experience with Soul Society made him more cautious when dealing with supernatural world organization.
If he wanted to go to Glastonbury and find out if Avalon existed or not, then he should go as soon as possible.
Entering the phone booth, he inserted the Coin and the magic activated even without him uttering his name. The elevator brought him back to Front London.
The scenery changed and now Shirou found himself in the clearing from before.
And so, he decided to find a restaurant to eat and go to sleep for the day.
Tomorrow, he would go to Glastonbury.
***
At the top of Wing Bind's headquarters, 8 Zodiacs gathered in their usual meeting room. A holographic map floated on their center. On it, they saw the boy that was mentioned in the report.
"His name is Kurosaki Shirou, and he is from Karakura Town." Sullivan Squire, the leader of Sabres, the Scorpio said, reading out loud the information displayed on the document.
"There is no further information regarding him or his background. And we can't find him in the Soul Society register. Which means he is unaffiliated or at least unknown to the Eastern Branch."
"Interesting," Bruno Bangnyfe, the leader of Inks commented as he stared at the image of an auburn haired boy. "He can see Dragons, use magic, and he can defeat Dragon without using a magic kit. A dangerous individual with a capital D."
"It is a bit concerning, yes." Sullivan said with a serious tone as she turned to face a black man wearing sunglasses. "What do you think about this, Roy?"
The man called Roy didn't answer right away, instead he looked at the picture displayed before them.
"I can't say for certain," Roy answered after a moment of thinking, "He is dangerous, yes. But not a threat to us or Reverse London at the moment. If anything, we could recruit him to our side."
"Billy has already asked, and he refused." Sullivan stated. "I will take care of this. If he's only a tourist and he follows the rules, then there will be no problem. But if he crosses the line, then it will be my job to stop him. Anything to add?"
No one answered, so she continued.
"Then this discussion is over. Now let us talk about the next problem, about the Disguiser case..."
Chapter 77
After a good meal, he returned to the hotel room and slept immediately. It was a long and exhausting day.
When he woke up in the morning, Shirou felt refreshed and full of energy.
The hotel room was clean and cozy, making him comfortable during his stay here.
After waking up and freshening himself, he left the hotel room and took a bus to go to Glastonbury, the land of King Arthur. He decided to refrain from flying after witnessing the real dragon.
A disaster would strike if a dragon suddenly appeared near his plane.
If he somehow encountered one on land, he could act accordingly and protect the surrounding with his Noble Phantasms, but it would be impossible in the air.
There were too many variables to take into account even with Hirenkyaku.
So the bus was a good alternative. He could relax in his seat, look out at the scenery passing by outside and enjoy the journey without any worry.
It took a few hours for the bus to reach Glastonbury. He could see the town of Glastonbury from afar. The area around it looked rural and peaceful.
Grassland spread out in all directions around the town, with Glastonbury Tor standing tall on the hilltop overlooking everything else.
The Glastonbury Abbey ruins and Chalice well stood in their place. It looked majestic, and Shirou felt like he was transported back to a different era. But he also noticed there was a feeling of loneliness coming from those structures.
It made him feel a little sad.
Stepping out of the bus, he looked up at the clear blue sky above.
It was still morning and the weather was good.
"Where should I go first?"
After thinking for a minute, he decided to start from the most famous landmark in the town before visiting the grave. He started to walk toward the Glastonbury Tor, following a path that led him there.
On the way there, Shirou saw some people walking around near the Tor's base. They took pictures and enjoyed the view.
The atmosphere was serene and calm. He liked this place.
He could see the whole Glastonbury from this place.
And then he noticed something strange.
A large white tower was visible far away in the sky. It wasn't something that should exist here and yet Shirou was sure it was a tower. Not a mountain or cloud.
'What is that?'
He narrowed his eyes to get a better view of the object in question.
It looked like a giant building, but it was impossible to tell from such a distance.
However, it suddenly disappeared and Shirou couldn't spot the tower again.
Did he imagine that?
'No, there's no way.'
That was definitely real. Something was there and then it was gone, as if it vanished into thin air. He had seen something like this before.
But where?
Shirou couldn't remember. His head started hurting and he felt dizzy.
He shook his head and tried to focus on the present, not letting his mind wander elsewhere.
Maybe it was just his imagination after all. When he looked around again, he could only see farmland and forests.
Some buildings stood far away in the city area, and the sun shone brightly overhead.
"Is this what they mean by Arthurian romance?" Shirou wondered out loud to no one in particular.
A beautiful scenery accompanied with a sense of longing for something that he couldn't grasp yet felt familiar.
A place where the past meet present, where dreams become reality and vice versa.
Was this place truly real or merely an illusion? It was hard to tell sometimes. Especially when one's senses were being fooled.
Shirou took a deep breath and looked up once again. This time, he saw nothing unusual in the distance. He could only see the ruin of Glastonbury Abbey with his exceptional sight.
While the Tor was indeed a beautiful building, his goal was to visit King Arthur's grave in the end. He stopped by a flower shop on the way and bought a flower for the grave before making his way toward it.
***
As expected from the place that held such a historic value, Glastonbury Abbey was a tourist spot and had a lot of people. Some of them took photos, others talked with friends and family, while others simply enjoyed the scenery around them.
It was quite busy, and there were many stalls selling souvenirs.
Vacation had arrived in full swing so there were more people than usual, Shirou guessed. The crowd made it hard for him to walk freely without bumping into anyone else.
There were a few tourists who came here for the aesthetic of this place, not because they wanted to see the grave of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere or to see the Glastonbury Tor.
However, there was also a tour group consisting of young adults. They seemed excited as if they were on their first vacation together, and Shirou noticed the woman leading them looked pretty young herself.
The blonde girl was dressed neatly in white blouse and blue skirt, and her hair reached below her shoulder. She looked beautiful, yet there was a strange feeling when he stared at her back.
As if he should recognize that back...
But he didn't. Shirou couldn't recall seeing the girl anywhere before. She was probably just an average person.
The tour group passed by him as the woman told the visitors about the history of this place. Shirou listened to them from a distance as he walked toward the grave.
Apparently the tour group also planned to visit it.
"King Arthur's Grave is right here." The woman with long white hair, the tour guide, pointed in the direction. "This is the grave of King Arthur, the once and future king who ruled Britain."
She explained to the visitors how the tombstone was made and what the inscriptions on the tombstone meant.
It wasn't much different from the story Shirou had learned as he researched the location.
What he didn't learn was how beautiful this place was when he saw it with his own eyes. It was located inside the ruins of the church, but the area was still well maintained despite being exposed to the elements.
Shirou smiled a little. This place was full of history and had a peaceful atmosphere.
The tour guide then continued her story, explaining that this was where King Arthur rested in peace. She proceeded to explain the Battle of Callan where King Arthur was slain, and the aftermath.
It was quite an interesting tale.
Finally, the white-haired tour guide finished the explanation about the grave before leading the visitors to another part of the ruin.
Shirou followed them and listened to their story until the end. After that, he decided to leave the tour group alone and focus on his original purpose.
"I am here." He whispered quietly to himself, staring down at the simple tomb in front of him.
For a King, it was a really simple and unassuming tomb. It didn't stand out and was rather modest in size.
This was the grave of King Arthur.
And the grave was also a sign that his story had come to an end.
"..." He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering the girl who fought in the Holy Grail Wars.
The fight that he could vividly remember even though it happened more than a decade ago.
At first he was only dragged into it due to some circumstances. However, he learned many things and began to join in earnest with a clear goal in mind.
His last battle against the King of Heroes was intense and memorable, but what came after was more unforgettable.
He couldn't forget how he lost his life when he pushed himself to use Excalibur against the Golden King.
His memories were blurry and his consciousness slowly fading, but he could recall that his last action was the only thing that could protect everyone.
Shirou did it because it was the right thing.
Maybe because the sight of her crying face was unbearable for him and he couldn't stand seeing her in such a state.
It was an instinctual reaction.
"I am sorry, Saber." He said to the grave as he held the white lilies he bought on the way here.
Shirou knelt down beside the tombstone and placed the flower on top of it. His hand brushed against the cold stone as he prayed for her soul to rest in peace.
No matter what his excuse was, he lost the Holy Grail War and was unable to grant her wish, and he also died.
"I hope I can see you again." His voice came out soft and quiet.
Saber, Arturia Pendragon has become someone who he couldn't meet anymore. She was an irreplaceable presence that shaped his life. And she would forever be his most important person.
And he didn't even have the chance to say his farewell to her. Instead, he was the one who was sent off by her.
A regret he had even until now.
But no matter how much he wished, Arturia was no longer here.
She had returned to her time. A time where her battle against Vortigern, Mordred, and Morgana happened. Time when she would return Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake and fell into an eternal slumber.
And he knelt in front of the tomb, knowing that the person whose remains were resting in the grave was her.
"You shouldn't put that flower there."
A voice interrupted him.
Surprised, he opened his eyes and turned his head toward the source. A familiar face greeted him.
A girl stood beside him. Her long white hair swayed slightly in the wind. Her eyes were purple, like the abyss that could see and engulf everything.
And her voice was soft and gentle, yet mischievous.
She was the tour guide that he followed earlier.
The white-haired tour guide, a young woman in her early 20's, stared at him.
"What?" Shirou asked in confusion. She felt pretty familiar for some reason.
Like he had met her before somewhere, but he didn't know where or when. He didn't even know what her name was or anything about her. She just looked familiar.
"The white lilies, that's a pretty suitable flower for her. But you can't put it on top of that tombstone." She repeated herself with a smile. "It's not hers."
Her...
The tour guide clearly was referring to King Arthur as her.
"What are yo-"
"What a complicated story we have here." The tour guide continued her story while smiling at him, not minding the question he wanted to ask. "A dream should just stay as a dream."
Her words felt strange to him. There were too many implications behind it.
Was it a dream for King Arthur? Was she talking about how the King Arthur in legend was different from the real history? Or was it something more?
Or was she just pulling a prank?
He couldn't tell. There were too many possibilities and none of them made sense to him. But still, the white-haired woman seemed to know something more than what she let on.
"I now understand how that stubborn girl lost!" The tour guide smiled a little and walked closer. Her eyes were fixed on his face as she continued talking.
Shirou could feel his body freeze at her next words.
"Then again, you're both pretty stupid and annoying. You should learn from her mistake."
She stepped closer, her expression unchanged, but there was a glint in her eyes.
"Who are you?" He asked carefully, his body tensed and ready to fight. There was something about the woman that set off alarms inside him, like an enemy was approaching.
The woman giggled as she saw his reaction. Her laugh echoed through the ruins and made others look at them. She then stepped away, giving him a bit of space.
"I usually don't give names, but you can call me sister of flower."
Sister of Flower? That was an unusual name.
"Anyway, we should stop talking about the past. There's nothing you can do about it, and it's pointless." She continued with an amused look on her face. "It's not the time yet so you should return and take that flower with you. Next time, bring white orchid or camellia."
When she walked away, Shirou could see a shadow of white tower behind her.
Wind suddenly blew through the ruins and made his eyes shut for a moment. When he opened his eyes, the woman had vanished. There were no traces of her presence, leaving him alone.
The flower in his hand had somehow gone missing.
"What... was that?"
Chapter 78
Riding the bus wasn't something pleasant. The rocking motion made his head hurt and stomach churn. His legs felt like they were going to fall off if he tried moving them even a little. And the smell of other people around him were... not exactly the best.
So he got down at the nearest bus station as soon as he arrived in London and walked to his hotel.
The sky had turned orange, the street lights flickered to life and illuminated the street below them. It was getting dark now.
There were less people walking on the street, which meant that traffic was getting lighter. But the wind was picking up speed, making his hair dance wildly in front of his eyes. His jacket flapped against his body as the wind hit it with full force.
His mind wandered to the woman he encountered in the ruin earlier.
Her white hair, purple eyes, and the strange way she spoke.
The things she said didn't make any sense.
"Next time, bring white orchid or camellia"
It sounded as if they were meeting again in the future, and she would accept the flowers.
As if the grave was her. No, not hers.
It's like she knew what kind of flower he should bring. But that was ridiculous.
That was the grave of King Arthur, not anyone else. And King Arthur had long passed away, no longer existing in this world.
But what she said next was what disturbed him the most.
"A dream should just stay as a dream." He muttered to himself.
It made no sense, and it left a weird feeling inside of him. A strange sense of uneasiness, like a premonition of something bad happening soon.
The more he thought about it, the less he understood. But one thing was clear: That girl had something to do with Saber.
And he was determined to find out what.
He couldn't leave this alone, not when someone told him something like that. There were still too many unanswered questions for him. So many unknowns and possibilities. And the fact that this person knew him, or rather the past him, only complicated everything.
That person, the sister of flower, must have been connected to Saber.
And her identity... he felt like he knew her, somehow.
His feet stopped as he saw someone familiar on the other side of the road.
A blonde girl wearing a hoodie was walking down the street with her hands inside her pockets. She played with gum, bloating it and popping it.
She seemed to be lost in her thoughts and oblivious to everything else. The street lamp illuminated her face and Shirou could see her clearly from here. He didn't expect to see her again so soon.
It was the girl he encountered in Reverse London when he was guided around by Noel.
"Umm, Ninny?" He called out, unsure whether he should approach the blonde witch.
The girl turned to him with a sharp glare before it turned into a softer one.
"Oh? We met again." Ninny greeted, raising her hand and waved at him. She crossed the road to reach him. "How are you doing, Kurosaki?"
"I am fine." Shirou replied awkwardly. He wasn't expecting to see the witch he met yesterday.
He thought he would return to Japan without meeting any of them again.
But fate seemed to say something else.
The two stood in the middle of the street, with the evening sun setting in the distance and the moon rising in the sky.
"I didn't expect to meet you here, especially after you said you would leave today." She crossed her arms, her eyebrows furrowing together as she spoke.
"I did leave Reverse London but I still have time for a vacation here. It will take more than one day to look around London, right?"
"That makes sense," Ninny said after thinking about it. She looked at the sky and let out a small sigh. "I guess I should be happy then. I thought you had gone home."
The way she said it made him think she needed some kind of help.
"Why?"
Shirou tilted his head questioningly, not quite sure what the blonde meant. But it was obvious that the witch wanted to ask for a favor, judging from her expression.
She didn't answer right away and kept silent.
After a moment passed between them, Ninny finally shook her head and gave up trying to say something.
"You see..." She trailed off before speaking again, looking up at the orange sky overhead. "It doesn't matter. Forget it. Just enjoy your day here and don't worry about me. See you again, Kurosaki."
With that, Ninny walked away from the location. She entered the crowd and disappeared from his sight.
That only made Shirou more curious about what the witch wanted.
What did she mean by just enjoying his day here?
"..." He stared at where the girl had disappeared into the crowd of people walking down the sidewalk.
She clearly wanted something from him, but she decided to leave without saying anything.
And Shirou couldn't help but wonder why she didn't tell him anything. Maybe she wanted his help but didn't want him involved in the trouble she was facing.
On one side, he wanted to stop her, ask what the matter was, and help her.
But on the other hand, it was better if he just left it alone.
Shirou was a foreigner in this place, and it wouldn't be wise for him to get himself into some mess.
So, he decided to just leave the witch be.
He was no longer the Hero of Justice, after all.
***
A week had passed after his trip to London.
In that time, he learned a lot of things. The food here wasn't as good as he had initially thought.
After visiting King Arthur's grave, he planned to have a culinary trip around the town. He could find some good restaurants and enjoy the local delicacy. Sadly, that wasn't possible.
Not only did it taste rather bland, the variety was also limited.
Shirou didn't think it would be difficult to adjust to the cuisine, but he was wrong. It took him a while to find something good to eat—something other than beans, bacon, or fish and chips.
He wanted flavors. Something more exciting than just bland boiled meat or vegetables.
In that case, it was better to cook his own meals.
But the problem was, he had no kitchen to work with. The hotel room had no kitchen, so it was impossible for him to cook his own meal here.
What a dilemma.
'Should I return to Japan ahead of plan?'
It would be a shame if he had to return early because he couldn't stand the local food. His palate was spoiled by the Japanese food after all, and he had to adjust his taste buds.
'Let's try one more time. Maybe I am just not in a good place. This is a big city after all, so there has to be a good restaurant somewhere.'
And with that, he went to find a new restaurant to visit. This time he chose a different district and hoped that his luck would be better there.
Finally, he found a good Indian restaurant at one alley near the place where he met Noel. He was delighted by the chicken tikka masala in that place. The taste fit his bud pretty well.
It was spicy, creamy, and the aroma of the spice mixed well with the sweetness of the chicken. The sauce had a good texture and consistency, not too thick or thin.
Recreating it was... possible. He smiled at the thought of bringing a new dish for his family back home and decided on something.
'Yeah, let's return early.'
He was also worried about Ichigo.
Would he be okay dealing with the Hollows alone?
Well, he could get some help from Sado or Orihime, but what if the traitor appeared in front of him?
Somehow, Shirou could imagine that scenario in his mind. A sudden disruption of the daily live he painstakingly rebuild.
A new war that came to destroy his peaceful days.
Again.
The strange woman, sister of flower's words, suddenly came into his mind. That he should return immediately. It was a strange and vague warning, and yet Shirou felt like it was a warning that would come true.
Afterall, he had experienced so many weird things. He could smell that something would happen soon if he stayed.
With that, he packed his stuff, checked-out from the hotel and boarded the plane back to Japan. He looked at the city of London from the window, his reflection staring back at him.
"I guess it's goodbye then."
It's time to forget about everything in London.
For now.