A/n: Kinda sad it took me this long to make this damn chapter. (Damn writer's block.) I really can't keep an uploading schedule, anyway. I hope you enjoy. Think you'll like the Omake as well. :) Peace.
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Edo Japan Arata Hiroyuki is referred to as Hiroyuki. Reincarnated Arata Hiroyuki is referred to as Arata.
...
The Chronicles of Arata Hiroyuki. Date of issue: May 13th, 1921.
Diary Log 4, Day 1325, Year 1862
'That day, was perhaps, the most important of theirs. It showed their skill faithfully and proved themselves. In my view, it was a great day, yet the feelings of unease crept in.'
…
A living legend, a moniker granted to those whose deeds are unrivaled and in the present. Arata Hiroyuki was considered one of the current times. His swordsmanship was a peak many dreamed of reaching and a skill one would envy. Not only that but an amazing teacher with students of renowned status. Despite the fame, little was known about his personal life.
It was natural to think he was a lonely man, only teaching people for an unknown reason. His personality was reclusive, with a cold demeanor and stern. This is the general opinion, yet that couldn't be further from the truth. He was completely different as most didn't fit him, neither lonely nor cold.
Toshizo and I were in a carriage of the Okita family. In the carriage along with us was the daughter of the Head of the Okita Family, and the person who brought all of us together, Arata Hiroyuki. A few hours ago, Toshizo and I, were trying to secure a carriage to use. Unfortunately, there wasn't any available at the time.
As such, Toshizo, being the quick-tempered man, started a scene. I had managed to stop him from causing more of a scene. Right after, Arata Hiroyuki walked up to us. A shock before a surprise, he had offered a ride with him. It was a coincidence that we were also heading toward the same destination. We accepted.
It brought us to the present time, riding with them. His apparent niece, who was a student of his, was also brought along. She was a sword user despite the prejudice against women. Despite that, I respected his words, and Toshizo did as well. As a student of Arata Hiroyuki, Toshizo wished to test her skills.
Her teacher had agreed, he already planned to make stops along their journey to test her. Having someone like Toshizo test her would show if she's on par with the rest. Along with that, he mentioned she had more potential than himself. Truthfully, I found it hard to believe, it wasn't because she was a woman.
No, it was hard to believe due to her teacher's renowned skill and unique swordsmanship. I wasn't alone on this, Toshizo also thought the same. The person in question, Souji Okita, just kept silent as her teacher defended his claim of her. In the end, it would only come down to her test against Toshizo whether the claims were real.
"Hiroyuki, I respect you. You're known as a legend, yet how am I to believe she is to surpass you without any achievements to her name? Surely, you must be exaggerating her skill on many levels." Toshizo spoke seriously as he didn't believe the claims. In the corner, Okita grew a cold face.
She seemed about to speak up before her teacher spoke first.
"If my words alone aren't enough, perhaps the moment to test her is here? You mentioned a bit ago, a perfect opportunity for her to prove herself." He turned to the front of the carriage and spoke out to the driver. "Izu, would you mind stopping along the field?"
A response was heard and not long after, the carriage stopped. We all stepped out and a small field was present nearby. The driver, Izu, was tending to the horse as he looked on. Toshizo and Okita were making their way to the field along with her teacher. My thoughts were the same as Toshizo's when he voiced them earlier.
It was hard to believe yet his tone when he spoke about her talent and skill. Perhaps, it wasn't far-fetched to think that she could surpass him and reach greater heights. In the end, this fight would prove his word as Toshizo was a formidable swordsman. As they positioned themselves, a few seconds later they were clashing.
…
Arata watched on as his student faced Hijikata Toshizo, the future Oni-no-Fukucho. Their clashes were loud in the small field, only broken by the horses and wind flowing against the trees. Toshizo's sword style was one that fit well with his physique. Overwhelming pressure of strong and surprisingly fast attacks.
Even with the strength difference, she held on and used her faster speed. The clashing of metal continued to ring in the field, strike against strike, strength against speed, they each held a distinct edge over the other. As it went, neither side was able to make much progress. It was even, and any mistake could turn the tide.
Toshizo was a formidable swordsman and an experienced fighter. While Okita was skillful than all, and an excellent swordsman, she lacked the experience Toshizo had. Yet, she still managed to hold on and even started improving as the fight went on. She was getting faster, her adept mind reading Toshizo better.
The attacks from Okita kept getting more relentless and eventually Toshizo lost. It was a hard-fought victory as Okita was winded. Toshizo was the same and sat down with his sword planted in the ground. He spoke from the ground as Isami brought water to him and Okita.
"I see what you mean, Hiroyuki. As her first time truly fighting, she did exceptionally. I can imagine her only getting better and eventually surpassing you as mentioned before." Isami held a hand out for Toshizo as he stood up. He picked up his sword before sheathing it away. Isami spoke his thoughts.
"She improved during the fight, you saw it too, Hiroyuki?" As he looked toward the said person. Okita perked up at this and Toshizo looked surprised.
"That amazing…?" He muttered.
"Yes, near the end, her attacks had gotten faster compared to the start. She read Toshizo more accurately and despite the strength difference, didn't lose to it." He sent a proud smile toward Okita who beamed at the comments.
"I still feel as if I have much to learn… I haven't even defeated Teach yet despite all the praises of my talent." She looked down in embarrassment as she mentioned not winning yet. Her teacher had walked up to her and gently patted her head as he spoke.
"Don't worry, you'll reach that soon, it is but a matter of time. So don't beat yourself over that, you did a great job today." It was a fond scene as Toshizo and Isami couldn't help but smile too. A moment to be cherished as the years soon to come, wouldn't be nice to them.
…
It was evening when they reached a town they planned to stay the night. The town was Nameless, yet that didn't mean it was lifeless. No one could think of a name for it and left it Nameless. Both, Toshizo and Isami, were out to handle accommodations as Arata and Okita headed into the town.
As it was evening and nearing night, it was barren except for a few places. Most notably, a bar, a relatively new thing to anyone in the time period. For Arata, it was nothing new and while he didn't drink often, he wished to see the current-style bar. He headed in along with Okita and was fascinated.
Despite the design being similar to those of his previous life. The feeling he felt was different, and it felt more real. He saw that there were only a few people inside. One was the bartender who was speaking with the other person. The last person was someone in a corner of the bar.
They had a white cloak covering their head and partly of their upper body. Arata had a weird feeling when he saw them and tensed up. It was an unpleasant feeling and not long after, gone. Like it wasn't there in the first place, and Arata knew something was off about the man. An inexplicable weight or presence.
Okita felt something similar, however, it was more friendly and soothing. The smell of iron had permeated the room but it only affected the two. The bartender and the person didn't smell it or weren't paying attention. Arata had to know, to confirm his suspicions, and hope he was wrong about this.
'That smell… it's iron-like and only one person I could think that would have it… and to be in this time period as well. EMIYA, a Counter Guardian.'
It was the only conclusion Arata could find to be true. He sat in front of the man to confirm his identity and whether or not he was EMIYA. Okita had followed and sat behind Arata as she assumed her teacher knew them. It was to her disappointment that she was to go find her travel companions.
"Okita, I ran into an old friend, who I need to catch up with. Can you go to our companions and make sure you have your own room?"
Although filled with disappointment, Okita knew her teacher was correct as she was the only female with them. She stood up, saying goodbye to her supposed teacher's friend. Once she was fully out of the building, Arata looked at the man more closely. The white hood's color was faded and looked worn down but otherwise held its shape still.
A grayish under-armor could be seen, the man was tanned with white hair peeking out the hood. The more he looked at the man, the more it seemed his suspicions were correct. Not to mention that the smell of iron got more pronounced when he paid full attention to the man. It was without a doubt, EMIYA, a Counter Guardian.
Arata spoke first, "What is a Counter Guardian doing in the current time?" The man narrowed his eyes below the hood before a small dagger appeared. In his hand, he threw it to the floor, the dagger standing upright. Arata felt a boundary space be created when the dagger reached the floor.
"A person during this time shouldn't have access to knowledge of the Counter Force. Mind explaining yourself, Arata Hiroyuki?" The man crossed his arms as he looked at Arata with still-narrow eyes. Perhaps, it was a blunder on Arata's part to call out the Counter Guardian like this.
However, if he hadn't, he felt it would've turned out even worse. Thus, he chose to confront the man right now rather than another worse time. With an even tone, Arata spoke, "Is there a point when the Counter Force most likely sensed my entry? I find it to be rather redundant to ask."
'Is it possible they just now noticed my presence?' Arata thought to himself as he looked on. It was something that irked him to no end, whether the Counter Force would appear. If he was just noticed by it then maybe he would be okay. It meant that the world was still going according to what the Counter Force wanted.
The man scoffed but responded nonetheless, "Perhaps, even if the Counter Force hadn't sensed it immediately. It would've eventually since changes would've been made. That isn't the case, however, as you have not disturbed the flow of history." He pulled off his hood as he finished, revealing his face.
Arata noticed his eyes, the steel gray eyes of a broken man. The white hair swept back and the face in a frown. EMIYA, or rather, Shirou Emiya of a distant future so far along. A man who participated in the 5th Holy Grail War and eventually became a Counter Guardian. A fate worse than death, and the fate of EMIYA for as long as he was still contracted.
"I'm not a threat, and I don't wish to become one. It isn't something that I want, for myself and especially not for Okita. Guess I'm lucky, that I'm not being pruned immediately, huh?" Arata looked at EMIYA with a grim look. Feelings of Hiroyuki's body came up and influenced Arata's thinking.
Familial feelings for his brother-in-arms, Katsujiro Okita, and his daughter, Souji Okita. Memories of Katsujiro and Hiroyuki's childhood sparked in his mind. The time spent training Souji, from their first step into swordsmanship to the current time.
Whether the body belonged to Arata now, it was Hiroyuki's before, and his feelings stayed and appeared.
"Lucky is an understatement, but it doesn't matter. Don't disturb the flow and the World (Alaya) won't intervene. Arata Hiroyuki of another world, residing in this world's version, I hope not to meet you again. This is a warning, next time, action will be taken and you won't survive." EMIYA stood up and pulled the hood up.
He walked away, leaving as the dagger disappeared into blue fragments. The barrier Arata felt was gone and it was like before the dagger was planted. The other person beside the two left during their conversation. It only left the bartender and Arata in the place, after EMIYA had left. Arata went to the bar and requested a drink while EMIYA left the time in golden particles.
OMAKE
An abandoned house stood in a grand forest, with nothing but trees. No signs of civilization for miles, yet a trail led to the house. A few miles away, on that same trail, a carriage was being pulled. Two kids were the only people in the carriage, a young girl with blonde hair pulled it. The other was barely a toddler with black hair and faint red tips.
A few minutes passed by before the young girl spoke, "Ruby, you okay in there? I know it's a bit rough due to the trail. But it's to find Mom! We need her to come and help Dad then we can be a happy family!" She spoke with enthusiasm as the toddler, Ruby, responded with baby noises.
Yet, the young girl understood, however she was distracted. She didn't notice a creature had crept up on them with a growl. The creature had a bone-like mask on its head, bone spikes sprouted from its body. It was big, bigger than the young girl by a good margin. Red markings over its body could be seen as well as its teeth and claws.
The loud growl made the young girl turn and stand in shock and fear. Ruby was oblivious to her sister's reaction and continued with what she was doing, baby noises. 'No… a Grimm here…? I have to move… my legs… they won't let me move! Please! Ruby! I'm sorry… forgive me…' She thought as the beast moved toward them, ready to maul the two.
Her eyes closed, she expected to be mauled, yet it never came. She slowly opened her eyes and what she saw shocked her. It was a kid, possibly around her age, if not, a bit older with a sword. The sword was a masterpiece, majestic even, she could tell at least. Ruby looked in awe while the young girl gained relief.
The Grimm behind the kid faded into white dust as they turned around and spoke something. She couldn't make most of it due to the shock from before. Despite that, she could make out their name at the very least. It sounded unlike the names in Vale or Patch, it was Arata Hiroyuki.