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Illya sighed happily. Sitting in the gardens of her mansion. Really, she should just sell this place and move in with Shirou. It'd totally be easy, right?
“No. Not at all. Not in the slightest.” she thought to herself, stirring in another sugar cube into another new serving. Watching the granules soak and fade away. Becoming one with the tea that they were dropped into. Becoming undone and yet, becoming something else entirely. Something more than the sum of the two parts.
Just like Illya was supposed to do. She was supposed to become undone and turn into the Holy Grail. To re-achieve the third magic. To reach Heaven's Feel. But she failed. And here she is. Sitting peacefully and enjoying tea while ruminating on housing situations.
But still, even with the thoughts of what to do with this house that was way too big for everyone living here. She was content. She was told below the Grail War that she had a limited life span. But seemingly, that hasn't come into effect. It's been a good few years since the Grail War, and she hasn't had any issues. No parts need to be replaced. No new serious medical issues. Nothing of the sort. Sure, she's still stunted, that much is a fundamental fact that can't change. Short as can be with all that sass and attitude that comes with being codified the way she is.
But…here she is. Even after everything. She persists. Here, sitting and taking in the spring air. Years have gone by. It took a while to get used to the peace. To not have worries and anxieties about a war for a golden cup. But she got better. She got used to the peace. It helped that Leyley and Selly were still around through it all.
Yes, Berserker was still here, but…well he's not much in the way of conversation. She mostly just talks to him when she wants to vent. When she needs comfort or care. She goes to her maids.
When she's in real dire straits, though. She goes to her “older” sister and lets it all out, as does Shiroko. They may not be related by blood, but they still understand each other in the ways that two broken people do.
Today was a more happy occasion. Shiroko was coming to visit. And she was bringing along Saber and Rin. It would be the most lively this mansion has been in years. She had plans. She was going to impress all of them. And be a gracious host and- and- really, she didn't know what to do.
After years of being a vessel. She had no idea about being a person. About being someone who could have their own thoughts and feelings. She didn't know what to do. She sipped at her tea some more. It had gone cold. That was annoying. Well, she might as well finish what's left, she thought. Still parked firmly in the metal chair that sat in the garden. Curled cast iron painted with white and gold enamel paint, matching the table it was made with. She was still thinking about a variety of things, kicking her feet and sipping at cold tea when the door to the courtyard opened.
It was Sella. Illya was still sipping her tea.
“Illya. Your guests are here.”
Illya was no longer drinking tea. No. Right now, she was spitting it somewhere over the tablecloth and somewhere into the hydrangeas. Poor things. They probably wouldn't like the caffeine.
“What?! That was today?! I thought it was tomorrow! I'm not even proper, I'm not even ready, I-!” She was frantic, waving her arms and acting much like a decapitated chicken.
“Would you like me to tell them to come back later?”
“No! They already spent so much time getting here! I'll meet with them, I'll meet with them!”
She marched as quickly as her tiny legs could take her. Had she really been so caught up in the relaxation of the past few days that she forgot what day it was? She looked at the cutesy, ill-fitting calendar that was hung up in the kitchen as she retreated from the courtyard with Selly. Yuuuup. It was in fact, time for them all to meet today.
She sighed. At Shiroko’s House? She had a well maintained sense of time. She'd even been able to start waking up with an alarm like her sister does. Here? At the Einzbern Manor? You'd be hard pressed to find a day where she woke up before 1300 hours. And apparently, she even forgot what her sense of dates were.
But still, she made her way into the main hall. There, Leysritt was entreating the trio of visitors to the new decor that had been placed since the restoration of the manor.
“And this is a painting the lady purchased to spruce up the hallway. Surprisingly, we found it at a thrift store. Regardless, both Sella and I think it rather makes a nice contrast with the-”
Rin seemed to be interested at least. Saber was probably feigning interest. Her time as a King has probably made her see enough fancy paintings in her lifetime that she doesn't care. But at least she can feign interest.
The one who can't feign any interest though, is the redhead sword lesbian that's currently zoning out and pretending to listen. Though, her face is clearly showing her boredom as it's a mostly blank expression.
Looks like Illya-chan is just going to have to save them from the tour.
“A-hem!” She announced with all the presence her tiny body could muster. Shiroko was at least glad to be saved.
“Ah! Illya!” She quickly made her way over, scooping up the homunculus in one of her bonafide, genuine Shiroko “Shicchan” Emiya hugs. Illya liked Shiroko's hugs the best. She'd gotten hugs from a lot of the friend group but only Shiroko's felt the tightest. They also felt the warmest. Shiroko hugged people she cared about like they were going to slip through her fingers like sand.
After being set down, Illya smiled. For once, she felt under dressed. The trio of people she cared about were all in some sort of outdoorsy wear. Not that it was exactly out of place. After all, it's a hike to get here. Even if you drive. Cars don't exactly like the dirt road that it takes to get here. It's less effort to just get a ride to the start of the trail and walk the rest of the way. At least with the modern commuter minded car. Kiritsugu's Mustang that Illya still has? It could take this dirt road with no problem and still have energy to spare.
“Well, if you'd like to relax from all the hiking, I have some more tea being prepared. We can all sit in the courtyard and chat.”
There were no disagreements. Everyone was happy to sit down after all that walking. The tea was fine. Maybe a little less strong. If only because Illya knew the specific brew she liked was quite the acquired taste.
The conversation lasted for a while. The sun was in the middle of the sky when the guests had arrived. And eventually, it was time to say goodbye. Hugs were given all around. A promise that she'd be the one to visit them next time and everything else like that.
And so now, here Illya was. Lying in bed and looking up at the ceiling. She thought for a moment. A life like this would've never been possible, had she fulfilled her destiny to become the Holy Grail. A life like this was a near impossibility for her. And yet. Here it was. She was able to do things. Like a normal person. Like a normal pint sized adult should be able to do. After everything. After the war. After the aftermath of the war. After everything else. Here she was. Able to look back on a day and remember it. And not just remember it, remember it fondly.
She choked up a bit, she had to admit.
Sometimes happy endings can make you cry, especially when you didn't expect to ever get one.