Just A Bit of Mayhem: Chapter 6

Chapter 6

All good things must come to an end as Illya bid her goodbye to her little brother. "Don't stay up too long, got it?" She reminded the boy, "You're a growing boy and you need all the rest you can get." Along with all the protection he could get, she reminded herself as she glanced at how practically nonexistent defenses. The alarm was a nice touch, but it was not enough.

As Shirou chuckled and Sakura scolded him, reminding him to take his health more seriously, a small voice whispered in Illya's head, "Why do you worry about him so much? He's not really your true brother. He's Illya's brother."

Those thoughts however melted away as she saw Shirou's carefree smile. Why shouldn't she worry for the innocent? It was simply the right thing to do. Smiling back, she said, "Well, we better get going." Glancing towards Sakura, she added, "And that means you two."

"Sakura, do you need-!" Shirou offered, but Illya didn't let him finish as she raised his hands.

"Didn't I just warn you about staying up for too long, Shirou-kun?" She grinned wryly. This boy was too good for his own good, she swore.

"It's really not much of a big deal," Shirou tried to reason as he glanced towards Sakura, "Besides, it's not like her house is that far." Eyes glancing up to the sky, he noted, "And it's getting really dark…"

Smiling, Illya grabbed Sakura's hands much to the girl's surprise as she jolted straight. "Let your big sister handle this, ok?~" She told him as she gave Sakura a look of warning, "It'd be much easier to explain to her guardian why she was up late if us girls take her home, right Sakura?"

As much as the girl loved this stupid boy, she couldn't let him take her home, not if Illya wanted to keep everyone safe. If her grandfather ever meets Shirou, things aren't going to be pretty. Fortunately, the girl understood as she nodded, cutting off Shirou as he was about to protest. "It's fine senpai." Smiling bravely, she added, "Besides, we have Archer with us."

Shirou, however, wasn't looking too sure. Glancing over to Archer, he asked, "Not to offend, but are you sure you can protect my sister and Sakura?"

"Looks can be deceiving Shirou-kun. Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I can't protect my charge." Atalanta scolded her brother, mollifying the youth, "But I can see where you are getting at." Glancing over to her, "You are worried about your tiny sister, yes?"

"Big sister," Illya pouted while Sakura turned away and covered her lips.

"Y-yes," Shirou replied before he let out a sigh, "But if you're sure." Turning, he replied, "Well, take care ok? And call the police if you see trouble!"

"I'm sure they'd appreciate a call for an ambulance more," She snarked, earning a confused look from the boy. Waving it off, she chuckled, "Just an inside joke between us three." Was it bad that she was actually looking forward to meeting a thief? She could use a few test subjects.

Kidding aside, she already overstayed at her welcome. It was now time for her to leave. "It was fun Shirou," She smiled before tilting her head, "Same thing tomorrow?"

"Of course, Onee-san," He nodded with a smile

"You're cute when you do that," Illya laughed as a light dusting of pink settled on her cheeks. It'd be a shame if this war were to take that smile away. Grabbing Sakura and dragging her away, she waved goodbye. "I'll bring some good coffee tomorrow!"

With the girl sputtering behind her, Illya took her away, leaving the boy for now. There was no need to drag him into their world; Not yet at least. As they got out of earshot, she apologized, "Sorry about that. I can't really have your grandfather seeing him."

"I-it's fine," Sakura whispered, her voice wavering as she reached up to her forearm, "He… he's not a good man."

"Talk about an understatement," Illya snorted, making the girl shift uneasily.

You seem to know an awful lot…" Sakura noted as her face twisted with discomfort, "How… How much do you know about my grandfather Illya?"

Frowning, Illya replied, "That he's been around since he and my ancestor made the grail and that he's an inhumane monster who had stripped away what little humanity he had left just to achieve his dreams of reaching the Root?"

"Yeah," Illya grimaced as bile threatened to spill out from her throat, "I know an awful lot." Mind trailing off to the pits, she shuddered, "But enough of that!" Just the mere thought of having to deal with all those writhing worms was making her skin crawl and she'd rather not make Sakura even more uncomfortable as she was.

Skipping ahead, she twirled around, facing the girl with a smile plastered across her lips, "Let's talk about something lighter, like say… your little crush!"

That quickly pulled the girl out of her funk as she turned a pretty shade of red. "W-what!?" Sakura sputtered, "I'm not sure what you're talking about!" Refusing to meet her gaze, the girl hurried along as she tried changing the subjects, "A-and beside, aren't we supposed to talk about more important matters? Like the war?"

Chuckling, Illya purred, "Oh that would come later." Trailing just behind the girl, she poked at her side, "And besides, you can't really win a war if you don't know what you're going to do afterwards~"

Seeing the girl's burn as he held up her head, refusing to acknowledge, she kept prodding, poking at the girl's side and making her let out the cutest of squicks, "So, when are you going to tell him?"

"T-tell him what?" Sakura sputtered as her blush crept down to her chest.

Grinning from ear to ear, Illya asked, "When are you going to propose to him?"

This sent the girl into quite the tizzy. Illya swore she could see smoke rising from the girl's head as her shoulder sagged in defeat. "Was it really that obvious?" She mumbled as she looked up to them.

Giving the girl a pat, Atalanta noted, "You seem quite taken with the young boy with all the glances you've given him." As the girl let out a keen cry, the blonde sighed, "Unfortunately, the boy doesn't seem too receptive…"

"That's putting it lightly, Archer," Illya snorted, "He's as dense as a rock." There was really no way Sakura was going to get through Shirou's thick head with the way she's dropping hints. "If you want him, you really should just tell him?"

"I-I know!" Sakura cried before glancing away, "But I'm not sure…"

Seeing the indecision in her eyes, Ilya reminded her, "You know, he's quite the bachelor." Her brother was a lady killer. "He's tall, handsome and quite well off since I'm pretty sure he owns his house," She listed off, "And that's not even talking about how pure he is."

He was nice, actually genuinely nice. "If you're not careful, someone might snap him up from right under you," She teased the girl.

"I know," The girl sighed, "But… if Senpai found someone else, who am I to stand in his way?" Chucking hallowly, she whispered, "Senpai deserves the best so why should he settle for someone like me… someone's that's… that's-!"

"Pretty?" Illya cut her off, making the girl gape at her. Shrugging, she asked, "What? You're really pretty you know that." And she wasn't even lying about that. "You're pretty inside and out," She smiled, making the girl's face twist.

"You're just saying that to cheer me up," She mumbled, "I know what I am so just stop it. I don't need any more lies… I just want this nightmare to be over."

For a moment, Illya stared at her, letting the girl pass her before she called out, "Pretty girl says what?!"

"Wha-!" Sakura blinked before she grimaced, "That was childish."

"Still got you to look, didn't I?" Illya chuckled as she walked up to the girl. Reaching up to her, Sakura flinched away, but Illya remained persistent as she grabbed her hands and held her, refusing to let go.

"Sakura," Illy said as she gazed up and looked her in the eyes, "I know we haven't known each other for that long, but I know a few things about you," Giving her hands a squeeze, she told her, "You're a sweet, brave, caring girl who was ready to protect who's precious to her even if it meant facing a servant."

As the girl froze up, she continued, "You know what Archer is, yet you stayed by Shirou's side and that takes a lot of courage."

"Indeed," Atalanta nodded, "Many would have faltered, and yet you stood your ground, refusing to abandon who you loved."

"I don't know…" Sakura replied, uncertainty tainting her tone, "I just don't want senpai to get hurt."

"And that's more than enough for me," Illya grinned, "You have my blessing to marry my brother~" If anyone was going to marry her younger brother, it'll be Sakura.

"T-thank you?" The girl replied as a ghost of a smile graced her lips, "Still," Smile faltering, she added, "That would be up to senpai to decide." As Illya pouted, Sakura chuckled, "I'm still grateful though that his sister approves of me."

"With how things are going, I'd be dead before you two marry," Illya muttered and she wasn't even lying! This was why two subs must never fall for each other. There was just not enough initiative! Speaking of initiative, Illya grinned, "But if my brother's not going to take you, then maybe I should!"

This had Sakura blushing up a storm once again."E-eh?!" Staring at her for a moment, she stuttered, "Y-you can't be serious, right?"

"I'm dead serious~" Illya replied. "Hey, if my brother isn't going to step up to the challenge, then I will~" Shirou had his chance. Now, it was his little sister's turn. Reaching up and cupping the girl's cheek, she purred, "That is, if you're going to let me."

"E-eh!?" Sputtering, the girl looked about ready to pass out with how red her face giirl "B-but you're a girl and I'm a girl!" This had Illya laughing.

"Oh wow, you're far more innocent than I thought," She chuckled, "I like that~"
Unfortunately, Atalanta would step in, ruining her fun. "Bad Illya," the huntress scolded as she delivered a chop to the top of her head, "Stop teasing the girl."

Pouting as she cradled her head, she muttered, "Is it really teasing if I'm going to really start hitting on her if Shirou doesn't?" Only a blind man would turn down Sakura. Glancing at her chest, well… not even a blind man would turn her down if they bump into her.

Seeing her gaze, Sakura screamed as she covered her chest. "I take it back!" She cried, "You're just as bad a Shinji-neesan!"

"Trust me, I can be so much worse~" Illya replied before she grinned "But not as bad as how I'd leave you in bed!"

As Sakura melted under her teasing remarks, Atalanta glared at Illya in warning. "Ok ok!" She flinched, raising her hands in surrender, "Jeeze, can't a girl make a joke?" Smirking, she quickly sneaked in, "But seriously. If you want a girlfriend, just call~"

"I think that's enough from you," Atalanta smiled dangerously as she grabbed her by the ear, making her cry in pain, "Time for us to go home, mistress!" Dragging her, Illya was left helpless as she took her away from her prey.

Can't a girl have fun? With the servant's firm grip on her ears, no, no she cannot. "Ok! Ok! I'm going to behave! I promise!"

A/N:

Heh, Ilya's channeling her inner gremlin. Thankfully, she hasn't gone boat goes binted. Kidding aside, Illya made quite the headway this past few chapter. Not only did she found her long lost sibling, but she befriended Sakura! Now, to see where this goes~