"Make a new door." Ryuji answered calmly waiting for his friend to handle that. What was the point of the crash magician if they tried to get through something like this door the hard way. Besides... He had a feeling that they wouldn't be happy if they went back.

---------------------------

"You might as well give up now." The girl said calmly. "You're dealing with the last member of the Shirahama clan. I could crush your skull with my pinky." She threatened unaware that there was another member of the Shirahama clan just below. She smirk, though it wasn't visible. "I'll give you one chance to turn tail and run." That's what she said. But the level of killing intent present would let Aegis know she wouldn't let him go even if he backed down. She was excited for the fight.

"Heh. How many near-death experiences did it take to earn you that strength then? I doubt the one I know could crush skulls with his pinky, and he's been thrashed to hell and back..." Aegis teased, despite feeling a little nervy at the aura of pressure surrounding her.

---

"Making new door," Rico said as he casually walked fist-first into the concrete tunnel. He made his own little tunnel beside the oh-so-impregnable entrance, and burst through with a smug expression on his face. There they were. Enforcers on various consoles and computers around the command center. And of course, the bunch of scheming bastards sitting at a round table in a conference room above all this. One of them looked out the window and shouted something behind the soundproof glass, causing all the others to gather at the window and stare down at Rico & Ryuji. All over the command center the Enforcers began to leave their assigned posts and ready themselves for battle... They looked uncertain, wavering almost. For two kids to have gotten this far into the complex was unheard of. In fact, no hostile presence had ever stood in this room!

"More of these guys, huh?" Rico yawned and stretched his arms out ready for round two.

Ryuji grit his teeth and looked up. What he saw wasn't very good. "Hey sorry man. I'll be handling things alone from here." He said calmly as he jumped and used Rico's back as a spring board to get to the window of the upper level. "Rrrraaaaahahhhh" He let out a loud shout as his fist slammed into the huge glass. "Greetings from the Shirahama clan." He said before hearing them laugh. soon there was a barrier around him and them. Ryuji crackled his knuckles and prepared to fight.

---

"Don't bullshit me. There are no other Shirahama clan members alive." Emily said angrily. She didn't believe it. "Now I'mm going to kill you before I go kill you're little friends." She then said. "Oh but just to give you a reason to try I'll go by old Shirahama traditions. You win and I'll be your's." That sounded conceited, but she saw herself as a pretty good prize. Most people would. And she was kind of enjoyed the idea of a guy her age who could beat her. Though she didn't think that guy was Aegis.

The all-icy Aegis would be lying if he said he wasn't distracted by the girl's beauty. He couldn't really tell because of her suit, but.. it just felt like she was a 'worthy prize'. "And if you win, ...I die don't I?" Aegis shrugged, quickly breaking from his casual mood and throwing a wave bullet at the girl's feet. It's not that he didn't want to take her down, he just wanted to send her flying to make sure she was defenceless when he threw more.

---

"G-Guards!" One of the roundest of the Council shouted, pressing a button underneath his desk like a madman. Unfortunately the Enforcers below were occupied with a certain Crash Mage, who was taking great enjoyment in wrecking the whole lower level.

Another of the Council who didn't look so old and lazy growled defiantly and began trying to hit Ryuji with his finger-shot bullet magic. Another joined in and tried to slash the young Shirahama with their arm engulfed in darkness magic. At least they were putting up a fight.

...Though the majority were still fat useless bastards who had everyone else do their bidding.

Emily chuckled slightly. "You're pretty sharp aren't you? But don't worry. I'll make it as painfully rough as possible." Don't worry followed by a promise of more pain than probably humanly imaginable. What a class act she was. Still upon the attack from Aegis she sighed and darted off to the side using the shadows at he feet as a sort of makeshift shield. "That was kind of predictable. Still I'll give you points for effort. If that had happened you might have gotten me all defenseless and exposed." She sounded pretty joyful despite how grim a thought it might be. Or maybe hot a thought in a different context... No, but seriously it wasn't gonna be easy. She approached Aegis with amazing speed ready to try and get in a punch to the gut followed by one to the face before he could erect a Wave Barrier. "Let's see if you'll be a worthy toy."

---

"You know I was hoping that what I found might be a bit more challenging." Ryuji said as he began to dodge the bullets along with the slashes directed at him. It was so much easier than he had hoped. Yeah he wanted it to be tougher. He might be more satisfied about this. He grabbed the one using darkness magic by the neck using some fairly intricate footwork and maneuvering. "That's enough of you." He said as he squeeze the man's throat. He attempted to gasp, but Ryuji's shushed him. "You'll only make it worse for yourself." He said as he ran towards the mage using bullet magic. The darkness mage was a good human shield being prodded full of bullets until he was bloody mess of flash and bone's riddled with holes. "No remorse even for each other. It's why I hate you bastards." He said Squeezed tighter around the now dead man's throat and spun using him like a bat to slam the other across the room into a wall. The impact cause him to turn into a pile of mush against the surface.

The other fat bastards just seemed to be cowering at this point. "You know... At this point I'm starting to feel bad. Like maybe I should show mercy." He said as he approached the sniveling assholes who'd huddled together as if it'd help. "Then I think of the atrocities you've committed." he paused." Let's pretend like I wasn't a Shirahama. Like you hadn't put me through what you did. I'd want to do this because you tried to do it again. To the clan my dear friend... The clan the girl I love belongs to. Her family. That..." He squeezed his now blood stained fists and looked down. Possibly trying to think of some reason not to horrifically end their lives as they had done to countless others. But than thoughts of Misaki rushed through his mind. Her, his clan... Their families... "THAT IS UNFORGIVABLE!!" He roared as he began to one by one tear these men apart limb from limb.

"Where the fuck is that damn Shirahama bitch?!" The remaining council member shouted. "What the fuck did you just say?!" Ryuji shouted in anger. He didn't even have a chance to explain before his life was brought to an end by the rampaging Shirahama. And just like that the life of the corrupt council members had been taken. There was nothing left but a bloody mess of organs, flesh, bones. The scene could possibly leave some of the most elite mages mortified. Especially when they learned that a young mage still in school was the cause. He looked down to the lower level and prepared to head down to meet Rico. Then they could meet Aegis and hopefully leave. If they weren't surrounded completely. They probably couldn't handle anymore fighting. Not now anyway. .

"Well, that was fun. Ryuji painted the room up there red, and down here I pummelled these useless nerds face-first into their computers..." Rico laughed tiredly, spreading his gaze over the lower level where Enforcers were sprawled out on the floor or had their heads smashed into their desks. As Ryuji came back down covered in the Councilors' blood, the American kid threw his arms out at the scene, "I'm guessing yours all screamed like little girls too?"

He hadn't even realised it yet. He'd been cut by a sword, grazed by a bullet passing close to his neck, and was burned all over one arm. Well, it was to be expected - but the Enforcers didn't expect a kid to keep fighting in his state.

---

"Oh, you think you're fast?" Aegis struggled to say as he flared the wave magic around his hands, launching himself backwards and toward the ceiling. He'd only saved himself getting punched by inches. Like hell was he gonna let this chick get close enough to use her fists - it's just not something Aegis could deal with!

He held his footing on a window ledge high above Emily and sighed, "You feel that? The ground. Feels like rolling tanks to me... Makes me wonder - will they come to capture, maybe kill you too, Ms. Shirahama?"

---

Men from the Italian military rushed through the streets followed by armoured vehicles, heading towards the Vatican city state to aid against the supposed Dark Mage assault. Whoever was attacking would be surrounded within minutes - and if they escaped they would likely be hunted down too - Rome was impenetrable now.

Civilians emptied the streets, leaving Tamotsu and Luka walking alone. As a convoy turned the street corner ahead of them, Luka pulled her partner into an alleyway. If they were seen in the vicinity and not assisting the army, they'd more than likely get into trouble. "...You think those three will be alright? I don't think even Mages could withstand all the firepower these soldiers have."

Ryuji gripped his fist. You need to get Aegis and yourself out of here." He said calmly as he walked past Ryuji. He didn't want to think about the councilors right now. "Let's hurry." He then said as he ascended up the stairs. "AEGIS! GET READY!" He shouted.

"Ooooooo looks like the other two are returning." Emily said calmly. "Maybe they got scared." She added in a sing song voice. "Now anyway... I'm with the Council. All I have to do is call one up and I'll be fine." She said unaware of their death. "But I have to say. You're the first in a while not to die upon my first attack. I might just fall for you if you keep this up." She said as she licked her lips and jumped towards him. Yes. Jumped. Truly the Shirahama power was not to be toyed with. Shadow's thrust towards him attempting to grab him so she could land a direct blow.

"Damn right you'll fall to me..." Aegis murmured, mishearing her words through his own mental state. In this moment, he felt nothing more than the desire to fight the Shirahama girl - just so he could say he beat one. Personally he didn't want to fight with Ryuji, so this would have to do for now.

Ignoring Ryuji's call, Aegis jumped directly back down at Emily. A wave barrier formed around his hand shaped like a claw as he fell. The intense vibrations would hopefully throw her to the floor on contact. If not, ...well, Mr. Ice-Cold-Killer Aegis hadn't planned for that.

Emily had prepared to retaliate against Aegis. "Cocky little..." She lifted her leg to move forward, but the vibrations of the ground caught her off guard. She fell back. Now completely at his mercy. She was chocked. She could only watch as Aegis plummeted towards her. Had he planned this? No... He couldn't have. Could he? As time seemed to slow down she couldn't help but feel her heart pound. This nobody she'd just met was about to beat her? Really? As wrong as it might have been she was kind of happy. She'd met someone good enough to get her in a spot she couldn't win. Of course in a few moments it probably wouldn't matter.

As Ryuji finally reached the surface his eyes were met with the scene of Aegis coming down on Emily. Wait... EMILY?! She was supposed to be. Wait... "Hey IDIOT!" Ryuji shouted his voice booming through the vatican. "What do you think you're tryin to do to my sister?!" He questioned Aegis as he rushed to try and stop him from hurting the girl. If this really was his sister it would not be good if she died even if Aegis didn't plan to kill her.

And then there was the explosion as Aegis landed. He hadn't heard a word of what Ryuji told him, so underneath the thick layer of dust one could imagine Emily had her face caved in by now... But then the Wave mage would be right back at square one - a killer without anything real to fight for.

"...You are so lucky I'm a good guy now," Aegis' voice echoed. When the dust settled, his fist was revealed planted through the floor beside the Shirahama girl's head. The drill-like sound hovering along his arm disappeared along with the blue aura of the wave. Only now did he realise he'd actually landed on top of her. He raised himself to give the girl some space and removed his arm from the concrete floor, "You said something about 'being mine' if I won? You're allowed to take your freedom back if you want to. Besides... I've had my fun."

Rico sighed heavily, "For a minute there I thought he was gonna do it..."

Ryuji grit his teeth quite annoyed and walked over to Aegis. He placed his hand on his friend's shoulder squeezing it a bit tightly. "So Aegis. Mind introducing me to you new friend?" He asked with a smile which gave off a hint of anger rather than happiness or relief. It also gave off the hint that he knew the person since Aegis hadn't heard him before apparently. The blood on him didn't make him look any nicer.

Emily was panting a bit. She never said she'd lose her freedom. Just the single status really. And she wouldn't take it back. Aegis was strong. Much stronger than she thought. But who was the other guy. SOmething was familiar about him. See while she hadn't changed much Ryuji had. He recognized her, but she did not recognize him.

"Miss Shirahama, Ryuji Shirahama." Aegis said going along with Ryuji's near-sarcasm, not that he realised anything yet. The ex-council mage stood, dusted himself down and offered his opponent a hand, "I assume this is where long lost relatives break down and hold each other and- ...Ah, the tanks just stopped." He said as the rumbling of tank tracks ended, only to replaced soon after by boots crunching on the debris outside. Soldiers, armoured vehicles, maybe even helicopters on standby. A fine mess...

Rico sat on the floor and held his face, "I hope they're in the mood for taking prisoners. I don't feel like getting put down for doing the right thing."

Ryuji sigh and lifted Aegis up over his head. "As much as I'd absolutely love a warm and fuzzy reunion with my sister, who we will definitely talk more about later, there's something more important to do right now." He said calmly as he threw Aegis... Yes threw him... through the hole they'd made earlier. "You're next. He grabbed Rico and launched him up afterwards and then grabbed his sister.

"Wait! Are you really..." She was interrupted by Ryuji quickly launching her upwards through the hole as well. "Hold on! I have questions!" She shouted.

"NO TIME" Ryuji's voice boomed before he held up his key. "Heh I guess I have a bit more respect for you now. If this is really what you want then it'll be done." The dragon communicated with Ryuji who smirked. "Yeah. Keep 'em safe for a bit. But don't kill me." The young mage said having made his choice. "Open! Gate of the Celestial Dragons. LEO!" He summoned the dragon who appeared under the three catching them. "Hold on tight!" He ordered them as he began to fly fast. Even if the army noticed the dragon it could have just been flying by or any number of reasons. Most likely Ryuji was the prime focus though.

"...The fuck just happened?" Aegis questioned, still dizzy from being thrown. Now he was flying up and away from the Vatican and Rome with the girl and Rico. But not Ryuji. "Ah, I see... Now, was that brave or stupid of him?"

"Bit of both, I think!" Rico shouted over the roaring of the wind, "I think I can see why Misa likes him so much. Heroes get along well, I guess."

Aegis smirked and turned his attention to Ryuji's sister, "Don't worry about him. There are ways of getting him an absolute pardon from the good members of the Magic Council." He explained as he revealed some papers hidden in his coat. Rico snatched them and handed them over to Aegis earlier, as they'd planned. This stuff could expose the 'dark council'...

"And if that doesn't do it," Rico chimed in, "There's always the Emiyas!"

Emily listened, but still had a frown on her face. Her pout was visible once she pulled the mask down. "But... But... I just found out that my little brother is alive and I'm not alone!" She cried loudly over the wind. It was kind of an odd sight considering how she acted before. And what was more odd was what she did next. She clung to Aegis. "Comfort me." She whined.

---

Ryuji began to walk towards the door. "Now assuming those two had a plan to get me out sooner than later... And assuming the army won't gun me down on sight... I should be fine." He said as he pushed the half broken doors open. "Don't fire!" He called out. "I'm surrendering. I already did what needed to be done." He added as he dropped to his knees with his hands on his head. He needed to be docile and cooperative. Maybe he wouldn't die like this. Right? They couldn't fire on an unarmed man who wasn't resisting right? With that thought a light was shined on him. Great... The news... Wait! Maybe they couldn't kill him even more now that they were being watched and couldn't lie about it.

"...How?" Aegis questioned with a puzzled expression plastered on his usually indifferent face. The guy was raised an assassin. Emotion wasn't something he'd ever been taught about, or how to comfort people - unless he was only trying to get close to them. Still, it only took one look at Ryuji and Misaki back at the Emiya's mansion to understand most of this 'feeling'. Hesitantly, an arm wrapped around Emily's shoulders. Aegis wasn't nervous, just uncertain. "Better?"

---

Despite the TV crews showing up and beginning to film the situation, the soldiers raised their weapons as Ryuji fell to his knees at their mercy. Even the tanks turned their massive gun barrels on the boy. If it were any normal area in Rome, Ryuji would already be cuffed and thrown in the back of an escorted military police vehicle. This was the Vatican. This was sovereign territory. This was consecrated ground. To attack here was something of the purest evil, only demons would think of attacking this holy city state. Of course, they had no idea the so called 'dark council' had made it their home - this all looked like a terrorist act as far as the Vatican itself was concerned. The safeties on their weapons could all be heard clicking off, the men were only to be stopped inches away from their triggers by a young man's voice.

"Don't fire a shot!" He was a Council Mage, identifiable from the markings on his army-styled trenchcoat and his armband with a strange insignia on it... No, this one was different. Maybe he wasn't directly from the Council - after all, they were only a governing system. The real Enforcement system was headed by the Circle, a group of G-Class Mages who commanded the Enforcers. In recent times however, the Enforcers had started answering only to the corrupt members of the Council. Higher pay roll meant more loyalty!

"Who the hell is this?" The officer commanding the Italian forces barked, "Boy, are you out of your damn mind? Stand aside!"

This guy, his uniform was highly decorated, but he looked too young to be called a 'fierce General' or something like that. He stood protectively in front of the surrendering Ryuji, peering into a tank's main gun curiously. It didn't faze him in the slightest. "General Enyalius Crawford, Commanding Officer of the 1st Division of the Circle of Magicka's armed forces. How do you do?"

The older officer lowered his pistol and his men followed suit, but none of them looked very happy about this at all. "We want blood for this... This boy attacked OUR city, OUR land - he put OUR people in danger. This isn't the Circle's business!"

"On the contrary, this is one-hundred percent the Circle's business. Either you let us take the boy to a proper containment center for Mages, where the law is taken seriously or Italy will lose it's protection from the Enforcers. What's more important to you? One kid - or the nation ripe for raidings by Dark Mages?"

"You.. You wouldn't- " The officer stammered quickly hushed by the young General's calm voice.

"I can. ...Unless you behave..." Enya smirked nonchalantly and turned his gaze to Ryuji behind him, lowering his voice so the soldiers couldn't hear, "Stand - come with me. They touch us, and they're screwed. You're going to be fine now." He said before beginning to step through the now-silent soldiers. A jet black helicopter began to set down in the center of the Vatican - that's where they were headed.

Ryuji was so confused. Sure he was hoping he'd be taken without being forced into a body bag. He had just thought that it was impossible. It was the reason why he opted to get Aegis and Rico out of their. His sister was a bonus. He'd even been at ease with the idea that he'd die. And he was a bit more calm to know the Shirahama clan could live on. "Right... S-sir." He answered Enya as he stood up and followed him. "I'm sure I've heard of you. Aren't you a very important and busy man by now?" He asked quietly. "Why are you here?" He was confused about that.

"Oh, an old friend tipped me off. Well, not exactly. It was an Emiya, so I did what they asked," Enya said as he climbed aboard the helicopter. It wasn't stopping, the blades were still turning - getting out of Rome had priority right now. He gave the soldiers a friendly parting wave, which he received multiple death glares from the soldiers in return. "But honestly, it would be wrong to let the army have their way. It's not like you did anything wrong after all, you just made a mess. Now, the rest of the world doesn't believe a damn word of it so we're going to keep you in custody. I'm sure we'll find a way to get you pardoned somehow, eh.. Ryuji, is it?"

With their light conversation (rather than interrogation) further pissing off the troops, the chopper lifted and immediately flew away from the Italian capital, and the smaller religious city within. They were headed back to England, but Ryuji wouldn't get to see his friends any time soon...

"Well... Even if I'm not pardoned I'll be fine. I took care of what I wanted to. Now what's left of the Saito family and even my sister will be able to stay safe." Ryuji said with somewhat of a light smile. It was more of an odd sight when one looked at the blood which he realized. He sighed. "I guess i won't be seeing Misaki or anyone else for quite a while huh?" He then asked Enya before pulling out Leo's key. "I know this may be a bit much to ask, but would it be possible for you to deliver this to Misa for me?" He asked holding out the key for the slightly older man's to grab. It was very important to Ryuji

Enya nodded once and took the key, examining it for a moment before he closed his fist, "Yeah... Don't worry, I'll make sure it reaches her. That should give me an excuse to go see the old group, too. Misaki and Melissa should have grown up quite a bit," he chuckled. The last time they'd seen each other was at the end of the war before everyone went their separate ways...

"...You did good. I'd expect nothing less from the Academy." The young General cracked a smirk, patting Ryuji on the shoulder as the massive city faded out of view.

---

It had been a whole week now since she'd last seen Ryuji. The promise that he was alive and well was great, but Misaki had been cooped up in one of the mansion's spare rooms for days, only seeing Meli. The mess made by the now-dubbed 'Dark Council' was over, ...a week too late. There were so few Saito clan members left now. Heise, Hana and Misaki were the only known purebloods still alive - from the family that headed the clan, anyway. Many half-bloods or mere strays who tried to fit into society hadn't been hunted down due to their apparent normality. Nothing could change the fact that it was genocide. The Council couldn't do anything, it had happened right under their noses but they hadn't detected it until it was too late.

"Misa, come on!" Hana knocked twice on the door with her knuckles, "You've been in there for too long. See some sunshine, eat something, ...just do something already. It's safe. Are you worried about it not being safe? The Council confirmed it as the worst misunderstanding ever, so we're in the clear... Misa!"

Misaki gripped Leo's key tighter, making a sound that was sort of like a cross between a whine and a sigh, "I don't feel like it~..."

"Give it a rest, Mrs Emiya," Rico sighed as he strolled past covered in bandages, no doubt on his way to the infirmary. Damn wounds were worse than he originally thought! It was only safe to visit once a day or whatever. Today he might be able to take the bandages off. "She's probably still all sad about Ryuji not coming back yet." he said boredly. Hana reluctantly stepped away from the door and headed back downstairs, grumbling something about useless twin-tailed teenagers.

Enya got a bit of downtime after all his hard work across the globe this last few years. It felt complete to have all, or most of the old crew here. Heise came out of hiding to be with his sisters. Luka and Tamotsu came to visit, making sure everything was alright with everyone now that the crisis was over. Joseph and Hana were there all the time anyway. Misaki got the key like Enya had promised, but after that the girl couldn't speak much.