chapter:9 Azazel muttered

"By 'we' you mean Gremory Rias-sempai…right?" Emiya deduced, earning a sharp look from Kiba that he quickly regretted due to the pain in his arm "I'm guessing Shitori-Kaichou & the Student Council are involved as well?"

"Not…exactly." Kiba muttered, not wanting to give too much away, but at the same time wondering just how informed the redhead was, as to his knowledge only High-ranking members of the Three Biblical Factions were even aware the Gremory & Sitri heiresses were in japan.

"I see…" Emiya mused, his expression contemplative, Kiba honestly surprised by the concern in those his ochre eyes as the redhead glanced at his arm "You should probably get that looked at…"

"I'll be fine…" Kiba assured him, a wan smile on his face as he rubbed the limb, the cut slowly healing as the Holy Aura was washed away "That being said, I think I'd better be getting home."

"You need any help?" Emiya wondered, only for Kiba to wave his concerns aside, as unlike Issei-kun, he could simply use the teleportation circle to return to the dorms. Besides, as insane as Freed was, he wasn't suicidal, so it was highly unlikely he'd try anything so soon after losing an Excalibur.

What's more, judging by his moment of hesitation prior to Emiya's finishing move, it was clear someone had called him off, most likely whoever had given the lunatic the Holy sword, in which case, it was highly unlikely he'd be seeing Freed again any time soon, as he couldn't imagine them being too pleased with the lunatic for losing such a valuable weapon.

"Well if you're certain…" Shirou mused, the redhead shrugging offhandedly as he turned on his heel and walked off, pausing only to pick up his book bag from where it lay in a puddle "See you later, Kiba-san."

"Ah…" Kiba nodded, watching the redhead disappear into the night, waiting until he was certain he was alone before slumping back against the wall, the strength in his legs finally giving out.

'It's a good thing Rias has been bunking with Issei since the wedding…' he mused, pulling a Flyer out of his pocket, the Gremory crest lighting up as he activated the teleport function 'She'd throw a fit if she saw me like this…'

Azazel's Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Bachelor Pad...

"Yo." Azazel called out, the rugged older man waving lazily at Shirou from his spot on the couch, an open bottle of bourbon & a shot glass placed before him "You're back late…something hold you up at work?"

"Not exactly…" Shirou muttered distantly, pulling off his wet clothes as he went, wondering whether or not he should inform his caretaker of what happened even as he wiped himself down with a towel.

On the one hand, it was clear Azazel wasn't human, and something about the man, whenever he wasn't fixated on the latest addition to his ever-growing 'collection', made it clear he knew more than he let on. On the other hand, how exactly did one broach the subject of how they intervened in a fight between a crazed Church Executioner & a non-human that ended in the destruction of a Holy Sword?

"Hm? What's this?" Azazel mused, pausing mid-drink, his relaxed expression belied by his sharp, inquisitive eyes as he glanced at the plastic bag lying next to Shirou's sodden book-bag "Picked up something interesting did we?"

"You could say that…" Shirou admitted, deciding to just go wing it and hope for the best, the faker setting the bag down on the coffee table before his caretaker, who looked on in silence as the shards of the Holy Sword were revealed "Don't suppose you'd know anything about this?"

"Quite a bit, actually." Azazel admitted, his amused tone belying the sudden shift in the air around them, Shirou tensing as the man reached down to pick up the handle, only to relax with a sigh as the blade didn't seem to react all as Azazel looked it over with a craftsman's eye "Enough to know it shouldn't be here in Japan…" he glanced up at Shirou "Or in pieces for that matter."

"I ran one of my classmates being attacked by some lunatic who claimed to have killed a priest." Shirou explained, Azazel's eyes narrowing at the mention of a murder so close by "I think his name was 'Free' something."

"Freed Sellzen…" Azazel muttered, his tone laced with exasperation and what sounded like disappointment as he shook his head "I wish I could say I'm surprised, but honestly this is exactly the kind of thing I'd expect his name to turn up."

"You know him?" Shirou asked rhetorically, as Azazel had proven to be highly informed in matters pertaining to the Vatican despite his assurances that he wasn't affiliated with them. 'If I were to ever set foot in a Chapel, they'd probably drive me off.' had been his exact words, though Shirou had noted a hint of underlying bitterness when he'd said it.

"By reputation if nothing else." Azazel confirmed, his expression tired as he set the hilt of the blade back on the table "He was considered the most promising exorcist of his generation; there were even those who proclaimed him a 'Genius'." He scoffed "Problem wasn't what you'd call the most…pious of disciples. He never believed in God to begin with and only enlisted so he could kill with impunity."

"And they let someone like that become an Executor?" Shirou demanded, though truth be told, given how Kirei turned out, he probably shouldn't be surprised by the Church's low standards. Alternate Worlds be damned.

"Why not?" Azazel shrugged dismissively as he poured himself a shot "Who better to turn on the Heathens & Devils than someone with an Axe to grind?" he set the bottle aside with a sigh "Truth be told, the problems didn't really start until some genius decided to use him as a test subject for the Holy Sword Program." He paused mid-sip "Tell me, Shirou, are you familiar with the legend of Excalibur?"