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open ⋆ memory sharing psl / meme post
You know the drill: this will be my open post for memory sharing with any of my characters.
If you want anybody else on my muselist, feel free to give me a heads up either via PM here or message me on my plurk (
You can see the memory as a dream, as a movie, as a flash while you're walking past someone or walking with that someone, or perhaps, you're in the memory yourself! The option you choose is totally up to you.
sakura matou ❀ fate/
"oath under snow" | cw: prisma illya spoilers, profane language, body horror
The name of that boy is Emiya Shirou, and while he's a broken man, that doesn't matter much to her.
And then the conversation starts, as Shirou speaks with apologetic words, standing right outside the front entrance of his lavish, Japanese styled home. He wears a smile, but it's a little sad as the snow falls. ]
...Sorry. I probably can't come to school for a while. If Sakura is okay with it, you can visit my house again.
[ Sakura wears a smile of her own, small as it is, but she obscures her expression with the umbrella she's holding, trying her best to hold in her tears. Her voice is soft as always and comes out rather easily, even if it's difficult to say. ]
...Although I'm happy about the invitation, this is the last time.
[ Awkwardly, Shirou rubs at the nape of his neck, unable to look at her properly as he tries to come up with something to say. ]
You don't need to be shy. I mean... well... If Sakura is willing to come, it'd be more...
[ She interrupts him in the middle of his sentence; this time, her voice more insistent. ]
It's the last time. [ Tears start to roll down the sides of her cheeks, but she hides it with the umbrella. She doesn't want him to see her cry, even though everything hurts so much. ] I also... Actually... I really want to be with senpai more. Going to school, attending club activities, walking home together, saying "see you tomorrow"... I treasured those small things.
Sakura... you...
[ The umbrella then drops by her feet as she reveals that sad expression on her face, a smile that could break, tears that she can't seem to stop in her eyes. ]
But even that has to end. The Holy Grail War has begun.
[ That smile of hers causes the young boy in front of her to still, his voice nearly cracking with unease, uncertainty of this new information. ]
What are you... talking about...? Sakura... Why do you... know that term...
The Holy Grail War, a bloody battle where cards are used to become Heroic Spirits. This is a ritual created by the magus families known as the founding three. [ Her gaze drops slightly, looking downcast as she utters that admittance, a truth that she knew for so long but didn't want to say. Because if she said it, everything would be over. ] The Matou are one of them.
[ Shirou opens his mouth, clearly shocked as he calls out to her, saying only a single word: ]
You...!
[ There's so many questions that he could have asked, there, but he can't bear himself to say them as he looks into her eyes, tears still trickling from them. So instead of saying anything more, he's stilled into silence as he just finds himself gaping before he glances away from her, evidently in pain. ]
...That's unfortunate. I thought you'd be more flustered.
[ Even though her words sound like teasing, there's something sad about it. Shirou then looks at the sky above him, filled with light, falling snow before he answers her. ]
... How should I put it? I think I've gotten used to losing everything.
A loss... [ She laughs lightly, almost pitiful. ] That's how you look at it, huh?
[ Shirou then walks forward to grab the umbrella that's landed by Sakura's feet, carrying it in his hands before shielding her with it and asking, ]
...hey, Sakura. [ His eyes are cold, almost distant as he asks the serious question. ] Are you here to finish me off with that card?
[ Sakura beams at him with that same smile of hers, before answering him properly. ]
I knew it... Senpai really is a bad person. [ She then shows him the card more properly, explaining: ] This is a Servant card. Principally, each card corresponds to a certain Heroic Spirit. This card's Heroic Spirit is...
[ And she flips the card over, revealing the image. ]
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes. This is the strongest card without a doubt. This card... [ She holds it with both of her hands close to herself, handing it out for him to take. ]
This card... I'll let senpai have it.
[ Those words alone cause Shirou's eyes to grow wide in shock, taken completely aback. ]
...Huh?! Why...
If you want to rescue Miyu-chan, [ she says with a grin, her eyes reflecting how much she's cried in the last few moments. ] then win the Holy Grail War.
[ Her hands begin to shake and tremble, making it more obvious that she's frightened; terrified, even. ]
Although your chances are slim, it might be possible with this card. But... there's one thing, [ Shirou's eyes widen even more at her words as she continues. The pain is evident in her shaky voice. ] if it can be granted...
[ And with complete disregard for the snow, for the umbrella covering her head, she throws herself into his arms, clutching at him closely, her head almost buried in his chest It's enough that the umbrella falls from Shirou's hands a second time. ]
Please run away instead! Whether it's magic or Miyu-chan... forget all of that and run away from this town. Senpai. If senpai would do that... [ The tears start again and this time, she can't stop them. ] I would give up everything together with you...!
[ She's trembling and he's almost about to reach out to her, hold her close as his fingers tremble, as nerves get to him but he stops himself, clenching his hand into a tight fist and instead grabbing her by the shoulders, pushing her slightly away.
It's this movement that causes her to let out a small noise of surprise, eyes wide in shock, cheeks red from crying. ]
Sakura. Sakura, I'm sorry, I-
[ But his words are interrupted when something stabs into Sakura's right side near her shoulder blade, a sharp object that causes her to be completely shocked in the moment as she's barely given the chance to react with, ]
Ah...
Sakura...
[ And the weapon subsequently pulls out of her, causing her to fall as blood hits the snow and Shirou finds himself latching onto her in turn. ]
Sakura!
[ Calling out is a young man their age who seems to be rather annoyed by this predicament. ]
Slutty. You're too slutty.
[ An alarm seems to ring loudly in Shirou's ears as he looks up at the person who had hurt Sakura. ]
You... who are you!?
Man... oh man, oh man, oh man... You're such a slutty sister, Sakura... Let your brother co... co... coerce? Connect? Correct... you as necessary...
Nii... nii-san... [ Sakura tries to manage that through the pain, grabbing at her injury. ]
Brother...? You're Sakura's brother? Then why're you...
Yeah! [ Man, does this guy sound excited. He's even smiling. ] I'm the legitimate successor of the Matou family. My name is Matou... Matou...
[ His expression drops. ]
...what was it again?
[ Shock finds itself on Shirou's face before Shinji spints around his weapon like it's a toy. ]
Forget it. If I kill these two, who knows? I might remember something.
Ah!
[ The weapon comes at them, but Shirou's much quicker as he grabs the umbrella to shield the both of them, as he speaks the two words: ]
Trace on!
[ It's enough to deflect the Matou boy's weapon and protect both Shirou and Sakura, but it causes the umbrella to break as Shirou falls down from his stance. ]
Ugh...
Senpai...! [ Sakura calls out to him, worriedly. ]
Huh? Hey, hey... what was that about...? [ Someone isn't happy that the attack was blocked. ] This is strange... why was it blocked... Ah... my attack...
[ And suddenly, the card in his hand, the Assassin card appears as he installs, transforming him into what seems to be almost a monster. ]
Why was it blocked!?
This way, Sakura! [ Shirou grabs onto Sakura's uninjured arm as he hurriedly rushes her into the house running as quickly as they possibly can. ]
His appearance... it changed in an instant! Was that the transformation into a Heroic Spirit!?
Y-Yes, that's right... that was the Assassin card... [ They eventually find a place to hide and to catch their breath, just for a second. ]
Assassin?
Be... Be careful, senpai.... that Heroic Spirit is...
[ However, she can't finish that thought as she groans in pain, clutching at her wound. ]
Sakura! Your wound!
[ Heaving heavy breaths, she tries to be reassuring, lifting her gaze to him so she can tell him this: ] I-It's alright, senpai. More importantly...
Saku-
[ But it's too late as the Matou boy attacks them, Shirou only barely in time as he wraps his arms around her protectively as they're thrown outside through the glass window. ]
-ra!
I have no idea who you are.. but you keep getting in my way... I'll kill you after I'm done with her! Wait your turn!
Shit... [ Shirou is bent over and Sakura finds herself looking at him worriedly. ]
Senpai! You protected me...
Sakura, run away...!
[ And those words of his shock her, eyes wide. He continues to speak even with that expression of his. ]
I can't... throw away everything... Don't worry... about me... Escape by yourself...
[ It hurts to hear this. To hear his words. ]
And find happiness away from here...!
[ The Archer card is near her feet. She bites her lower lip and reaches out to grab it, causing Shrou to be surprised. ]
Saku...ra?
[ She manages to get up onto her feet and dramatically tosses her scarf aside, wearing a confident look in her eyes despite the pain. ]
I'll... defeat you, nii-san!
Heh? You grew a backbone, huh, Sakura!? On top of opposing your brother, you're going to "defeat" me!? Did that what's-his-name over there seduce you or something!? Or are you rebelling now that grandfather is dead!? What a horrible, horrible, horrible sister! So sad, so terrible, it makes me want to cry! With a sister like you, I guess I have no choice but to kill you...!!
D-Don't do it, Sakura! For siblings to kill each other...
It's okay. [ Sakura interrupts. ] My brother has been dead for a long time. Also...
[ She looks back at him, smiling as tears still linger there. It's the happiest smile that she's had this whole time, but in a way, it's also melancholy. ]
You didn't choose me, but I love you. So, I'll protect you.
Sakura...!!
Please watch, senpai. It'll be fine. Since I have this card, [ she's in a dramatic pose, the card held out in front of her. ] I'll win for sure! Install!
[ It glows for a second before doing absolutely nothing. It's this that causes Sakura to be completely shocked and frozen in place.
Ah... ]
...huh?
[ Laughter soon fills the air, an evil sort of laugh befitting of a villain. ]
Pft... hah... haha... Ahahahaha! What's wrong, Sakura!? Don't tell me you can't even install!?
It can't be... why!?
We knew you might betray us! Did you really think Julian-sama would give you the Gilgamesh card!? That card... it isn't connected to a Heroic Spirit. It's a genuine garbage card!
[ Sakura voice shakes, and her fingers tremble slightly, holding the card that is stained with black. ] Garbage... card...?
Oh boy... it seems your brother has to teach you how to use the cards.
[ It's dangerous. The arm that isn't human is raring itself to go, reaching out towards Sakura's heart. Her eyes are wet with tears again as Shirou makes the attempt to get up and go to her. ]
R-- Run away, Sakura...!
[ Her eyes look back at him, uncertain, her body trembling in fear. ] Sen... pai...
Zabaniya.
I'm... sorry...
[ And as she apologizes, there's a hole that is torn right through her chest as she falls downthe card falling out and she's taken by a dark shadow that swallows her whole and the memory cuts there. ]
"sisters" | cw: heaven's feel spoilers, family abuse mentions, sororicide mentions
Surrounding the red clothed woman is many large shadows: one, two, three, too many to count.
And then a voice calls out: ]
Es läßt frei. Werkzeug!
[ A flash of light causes each giant shadow to dissipate. Six already fall by the sword. ]
Wha— [ Sakura is completely shocked by this, and it shows in her eyes. This shouldn't be possible. ] No way— Es erzählt— Mein Schatten nimmt Sie...!
You're too persistent! Gebühr, zeweihaunder! [ The sword blazes with light, emitting seven different colors showing its extraordinary power. ] Es läßt frei. Eilesalve—!
[ It bathes the cavern in a golden light. ]
Hah—!
[ She stares at the other girl, her sister, in surprise, completely taken aback. ]
No way — it's not possible.
[ At those words, more shadows rise up to the challenge, more than ever before. ]
—You're not holding back. The people of the Association would faint if they were here. They could keep a department running for a hundred years with that much magical energy.
[ Sakura's sister continues to cut them down relentlessly, and Sakura keeps talking, frustrated. ]
—And what are you, cutting them down? I'm pulling out magical energy thousands of times your capacity. You don't have enough strength to even kill one of my shadows, so why…?"
We're just having a pure contest of power. I can't dispel a curse. I'm merely using my magical energy to eliminate your magical energy that's creating the shadow. Can't you tell?
I'm saying that's impossible…! You don't have such magical energy. No, the light you're firing is like... [ She pauses, and then realizes something, and then continues. ] …Is it that sword? I don't think it's possible, but that's copying the power of Saber's Noble Phantasm. Is it a limited weapon, activated with your small magical energy, that's specialized in killing shadows?
Huh? You can't tell? What have they been teaching you, Sakura?
Wha— d-don't mock me…! That's the only sound explanation…
There's nothing to explain. This isn't a copy of Saber's Noble Phantasm nor a shadow-killing demonic sword. Sakura. This is Zelretch, a gem sword passed down the Tohsaka family.
Eh...? Zelretch...?
I can't believe this. You don't even know the name Zelretch? ...I don't even want to explain, but in short, it's your natural enemy. You use souls as a prepetual motion machine to create magical energy. You're just a poor imitation of the Third Sorcery. And I use an imitation of my great master, who travels across infinite parallel worlds. So it means I'm a copycat of the Second Sorcery...!
[ The blade flashes and the shadows keep going down. Fury rises up within Sakura. ]
Ah... ah.
I don't even need to get close to you. This is actually a projectile weapon, and you're hiding yourself in the shadows.There's no problem with exchanging blows until one of us runs out of power. …Well, I guess the ceiling will give out before we do.
[ Eyes narrow and her expression scrunches up in what seems to be frustration. ]
No way... Exchange blows? Don't joke around. You don't have any magical energy left. No matter what that sword is, you can't attack anymore—
Really? Then let's try. Come on, Sakura. You won't reach me, no matter what you do. It's a drastic treatment, but consider it a fee for your lesson. I'll make sure you regret doing whatever you wanted just because you got a bit stronger.
[ Sakura's mouth opens wide as she sucks in a breath, getting angrier at her sister. ]
Not yet! Es befiehlt — Mein Atem schließt alles...!
Eins, zwei, rand verschwinden—!
[ Now, Sakura summons the giant shadows out of fear. She's terrified to the point where she doesn't notice the sweat off her sister's brow. ]
I won't lose when it comes to stock, but the question is how long my body'll last—
Why—!? I'm stronger than anyone. Nobody can scold me. So how can you catch up to me like it's nothing...!? Someone at your level can't do anything but get swallowed...!
There's where you got it wrong. Even if you have a large supply, it's the caster that uses it. Do you get it? No matter how much water you have, the amount that comes out depends on the size of the faucet. The Magic Circuit called Matou Sakura can only instantaneously release about a thousand. Then we both have the same release rate, no matter how much you may have in your stock...!
[ Sakura cries out out of shock by the many slashes her sister makes with that sword of hers. ]
So! I don't need to prepare a supply as large as yours! I merely need a thousand magical energy each time...! Such a large supply of magical energy is just a waste—!
……! That distortion's the same as the Holy Grail— Nee-san, it can't be…!?
Yup, you're not the only one pulling magical energy from elsewhere. But don't get me wrong. Mine's not something that's needlessly expanded like yours. I'm merely using the mana in this cavern from parallel worlds.
I'm taking a thousand magical energy from one of the infinite parallel worlds and attacking you with brute force…!
[ Sakura gasps, still angry. ]
No way. That's ridiculous...!
Do you get it? If you have an inexhaustible supply, I have a limitless supply—!
[ The cavern rumbles beneath their feet. ]
Haa— ah, ah—
[ The shadows stop. ]
No matter how many times you try, the result will be the same. That's all that your power can manage. Have you cooled your head now?
Don't be ridiculous! This is unfair! Why, Nee-san, why are you always the one!
[ And there's the true nature of Matou Sakura, the fury, the grudge she's kept in for so long. ]
That's right...! I was jealous of you...! You stayed at the Tohsaka's house and were always brilliant. I hate you for never knowing any trouble.That's why I want to win. I wanted you to praise me, just once...! Why can't you let me have a little thing like that...!
[ The shadows start to reappear, and her sister slashes the oncoming shadow. ]
Why!? It was different for me. We were sisters, we were born to the same family, but I had nothing! I was trapped in the room with worms and was treated as an object! I never led a human life, and nobody said anything kind to me...!
[ There's so much hatred in those words, but it's not directed at her sister, but instead, at herself. ]
I almost died every day. I always looked at myself in the mirror, wanting to die. But I was scared of dying, and I didn't want to disappear by myself...! Because I heard that I had an older sister. I'm a child of the Tohsaka family, so I always believed that my older sister would come save me...! But you never came. You just kept smiling, having no idea. You took no notice of the miserable girl and lived happily in the Tohsaka household.
[ Sakura then looks at her sister with a frown, her voice still filled with sadness, anger. ]
Why...!? We're sisters and we're both human, so how come you're the only one smiling like that...!? [ She then narrows her eyes, her voice raised. ] I quit being human...!? Of course! I haven't been treated like one for a long time. My eyes and hair were changed, and every cell in my body was changed so I could become the magus of Makiri...! Eleven years, eleven years, nee-san! The Makiri didn't train me. They didn't expect anything from my intelligence. They taught my body and made me into a mere tool that uses magic. They'd laugh that I'd become a better tool the more pain they gave me. They started putting poison in my food, so even eating became a terrifying agony. Once they put me with the worms, I had to ask for Grandfather's permission even to breathe…!
[ She starts to cry, but her sister just silently cuts into another shadow. Eventually, Sakura laughs. ]
...Aha, I know I'm crazy. But it hurts, and the more I begged them to stop, the more delighted they became and the more they tampered with my body. [ And then her expression runs cold. ] So I'm not smart like you. It's not like I can do everything like you. All I can do is to take my pain out on others.
…But is that my fault? The ones who made me like this are Grandfather, and my father that sold me to the Matou family, and Nee-san who didn't come save me…! I didn't become this monster because I wanted to…! I was forced to become one because everyone cornered me…!
[ But then- ]
...Oh. What of it?
Wha— [ Sakura's completely and utterly shocked. ]
Things like that happen. It's not like crying will change anything, and besides, being a monster doesn't sound so bad. It doesn't hurt now, right?
Nee-san— it's all because you're like that—!
I see. Then let me tell you something. I never thought it was painful. I could turn aside most problems, and there was nothing I couldn't do. So I've never been cornered like you, and I was never interested in what the cornered people thought.That's how I am. I don't understand other people's pain. To be honest, I don't know how much pain you've suffered or what cruel treatment you've received. I'm sorry, but I'm not even going to try to understand. But Sakura... Even as insensitive as I am... I never thought I was blessed.
Huh—?
[ To Sakura, that doesn't make any sense. ]
What—
[...]
Now you tell me you weren't blessed? How can you say that— That's not good enough—! I don't want to hear such things! I'm not going to listen to your excuses! Nee-san, I—!
[ Don't need you anymore, she doesn't say aloud. And the memory comes to a halt there. ]