21 Chapter Twenty One: Welcome Back
Staring off into the distance, I thought about everything I remembered, and everything I thought I knew.
Why did Emiya lie to me? My mind is now being flooded with millennia worth of memories, and it's giving me a headache. The one thing that stands out to me, is that I've continually loved Emiya, even to this moment. Orth has been taking care of her, while I gathered my thoughts.
"Hello my love, I see you've awakened." I greet the beautiful redhead.
"You remember," she says. I'm not entirely what she's thinking, but I'm able to tell she's not too excited.
"Yes, I remember. Just one question, and I'm sure you can imagine what that is my Crimson Wolf."
Sitting next to me, Emiya places her head on my shoulder, both of us looking towards the sky. We had taken up refuge in the abandoned Holy Training Ground.
"I'm sorry for deceiving you, but it was all I could do to protect you. Your powers are still hidden away, and without them, you will not be able to dethrone your son. I couldn't allow you to be hurt again, when it is my fault you're like this."
I can feel anger and self hatred pour from her aura like acid. Taking my hand, I force Emiya to look at me by grabbing her chin.
"You, my love, are not to blame for my son's transgressions. You showed me nothing but kindness, and you gave me something that I'm afraid my son could not. You gave me a new strength. The strength to truly love another."
Wrapping her arms around my waist, tears begin to well up in her eyes.
"You have no idea how torturous it was. To have you so close, and to push you away everyday. To live seventeen years on this planet without being near you. After betraying you, Sora kicked I, and any god or angel that would choose to follow you from the heavens. Quite a few had taken up refuge with Benson and I, while others found their own way across the earth. Speaking of, where is that old bear?"
I look at my heart with a pained expression, and instantly she knew. She buried her head in my shoulder, unable to take the pain.
"I'm sorry my love, I simply was not strong enough. I wish I had gotten to him sooner, knew who I was sooner. Even still, my powers are limited. But, after we do return my strength, I promise to make my child pay for the pain he has caused. Heaven is on the brink of falling, and earth has been overrun with hell's minions in the seventeen years I've been trapped in my own mind."
"I tried my best to keep them at bay, but the other angels felt so defeated none would gather with me." Emiya informs me.
"You must stop blaming yourself. Now, if you'll excuse me, I now have to apologize to Orth. I cannot believe I almost maimed my favorite pupil."
With a sigh, I raise to my feet, and Emiya follows suit.
"Good afternoon young master. Or, shall I start calling you Lord Kano?" Orth greets me, his signature smirk. "It's so confusing with your identity crisis and all."
"You can call me whatever you please old friend. Before any of that, I would like to apologize for the other day. I should have apologized sooner-"
"Yeah yeah, the love of your life was close to dying and you were worried. You can shove the apology, I get it. Still, I never thought you'd be my lost mentor and friend. It's good to have you back, it's going to be a hard adjustment. I'm not used to you being trapped in such a small body."
I laugh at Orth. That's just like him. I guess him not caring too much about emotions certainly help getting forgiveness easy.
"It is quite the adjustment, but I've been using it for seventeen years now. It'll do what I need until my power is restored."
Bowing to his knee, Orth also bows his head towards me.
"Welcome back My Lord."