One Piece : Wild Hunt

Shortly after Shirou's departure, Illya, Chloe, and Miyu returned to the living room wearing markedly more 'conservative' clothing. Chloe was toeing the line with a choker, a sleeveless black crop top, and a pair of blue jean short-shorts, but it was a significant improvement compared to the black string bikini she wore previously.
Seeing no signs of Shirou, Miyu, accompanied by her floating magical wand, asked, "Is Onii-san preparing lunch...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "Yeah, he left just a few minutes ago. You should be able to find him in the kitchen."
Without another word, Miyu departed to help Shirou prepare lunch while Chloe practically dragged the nervous-looking Illya into the living room, asking, "So, what did you say your names were?" after taking a seat.
Adopting a somewhat forced smile, Thomas replied, "My name is Thomas, Thomas D. Jensen. These are..."
With Thomas looking toward her, Vivi adopted a more sincere smile as she said, "My name is Vivi. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances."
Immediately following Vivi, Astolfo practically shouted, "And I'm Astolfo, one of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne! Nice to meet'cha~!"
Though Illya was a bit taken aback by Astolfo's vigor, a nervous chuckle emanating from her throat, Chloe was far more composed, responding, "I'm Chloe, and this is my cousin, Illya."
Following Chloe's introduction, the magical wand hovering next to Illya moved forward to perform a pirouette as it cheerfully appended, "And I've already introduced myself as the marvelous Magical Ruby~!"
Pushing Ruby aside, Chloe said, "Now that we've got the introductions out of the way, let's get down to business. Those markings on your hand are Command Spells, aren't they? That makes you a Master. And if that's the case, there should be a Holy Grail somewhere in this world, right...?"
As it wasn't something he could keep secret if he planned to work with the displaced quartet, Thomas replied, "Yeah, though it's somewhere on Laugh Tale, the final island. Why, are you thinking you can use the Grail to assemble the remaining Install Cards...?"
Spreading her hands in apparent helplessness, Chloe replied, "That would be nice, but I can't imagine you or your Heroic Spirits would simply hand it over. What I'm more interested in is your status as a Master. I want you to form a contract with me."
Surprised by Chloe's request, Illya broke free from her nervous silence, exclaiming, "Chloe!? What are you thinking!? You can't just form a contract with someone we just met...!"
Furrowing her brows, Chloe crossed her arms and retorted, "I don't want to hear it, Illya. You and Miyu have become complacent, and Shirou is on his last legs. We've only collected a single card in the past year, so one of us 'has' to venture outward. We can't keep hiding here and waiting for the Kuja Pirates to locate the cards for us...!"
Pointing to Thomas, Chloe added, "This guy here is our ticket to success. He has a ton of Mana and a Heroic Spirit that can apparently locate Install Cards across vast distances. How else would they know to look for them here...?"
Instead of directly supporting Chloe's argument, Thomas said, "Calm down. I already told Shirou that I would help you assemble Install Cards in exchange for lending me one of your Caster Cards. There's no need for you to contract or travel with me."
Slamming the table that was separating them, Chloe exclaimed, "You're wrong! We've been in this world for three and a half years and have yet to collect even half of what we need to restore Miyu's world! Someone from our group needs to get out there, and I'm the best choice...!"
Before Thomas could try and talk her down, Illya exclaimed, "Stop being selfish, Chloe! We all promised to stick together, no matter what...!"
Adopting a serious expression, Chloe replied, "We also promised to do everything in our power to help Miyu restore her world, but we've spent the last year and a half just sitting around, getting all buddy-buddy with the Kuja Tribe. At this rate, it would take decades for us to collect all the Install Cards, and that's if our enemies come searching for us in the first half of the Grand Line."
Directing her gaze to Thomas, Chloe asked, "You're able to track down and locate Install Cards, right?"
Though he didn't want to get caught up in the twin-like girls' squabble, Thomas eventually replied, "Yes, but collecting them is another matter. I empathize with your girls' plight, but I'm not really looking to 'speed-run' my way through this world. My goal is to reach the pinnacle with my own strength, so while I intend to use the Install Cards to expand my skill set, I don't plan to prioritize collecting them."
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe replied, "That's fine by me. I'm just tired of sitting around on my butt, waiting for some action. There isn't much to do here besides hunting, fishing, and fighting in the arena, so a change of scenery would be nice."
As beneficial as it would be to have someone intimately familiar with Install Cards and Magecraft among his allies, Thomas didn't hesitate to shake his head, stating, "If all you want is a change of pace, set sail with the Kuja Pirates. You don't need to form a contract with me to travel the Grand Line."
Without missing a beat, Chloe replied, "Yeah, but traveling with you lets me catalog any Install Cards you uncover while also keeping tabs on any we lend out to you. Even if you're super trustworthy, we're fighting for the fate of an entire world. If you were in our situation, would you sit back and entrust everything to a person you just met...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas admitted, "You make a fair point..." before crossing his arms and adding, "But you fail to account for one important factor..."
Tilting her head to the side, Chloe asked, "And what might that be...?"
Though it made him feel like an asshole, Thomas replied, "I didn't come to this world to help you and your friends restore yours. I don't mind handing over any Install Cards we happen to find, but having you accompany us would be a perpetual reminder of your plight, affecting every decision we make along the way. We have enough on our plates as is. We don't need that kind of stress in our lives..."
Finding herself at a loss for words, Chloe plopped onto the sofa and fell silent, staring at Thomas with a blank look on her face. The presence of Vivi and Astolfo had led her to believe that Thomas would be a fairly easy mark that she could influence with a bit of 'enticement.' She didn't expect him to respond with such a...reasonable argument.
Inserting herself into the conversation, Ruby said, "Now, now, no need to make a decision right this instant. We're all ultimately on the same side, so &nbsp;I'm certain we can reach an agreement that benefits both parties."
Floating in front of Thomas, Ruby 'stared' at him with the tiny gemstones he assumed were her eyes, asking, "You seek the Caster Cards to expand your understanding and capabilities with Magecraft, correct? While that's certainly a possibility with prolonged use, the knowledge and experience associated with the cards disappear when they're 'unincluded.' If it were possible to retain the abilities of the Heroic Spirits invoked by the Install Cards, Illya and Miyu would have the combined might of every card we've collected over the past three and a half years."
Before Thomas could respond, Ruby explained, "When 'included,' Install Cards integrate the knowledge and experience of the user with the Heroic Spirit they invoke. The integration is so seamless that you'll feel like their knowledge and experience have 'always' been a part of you. However, the moment you uninclude the card, that sensation will vanish. Your memories of the battle will remain, but attempting to focus on them is tantamount to recalling specific aspects of a dream."
Floating over to Illya, Ruby coiled atop the befuddled girl's head like a snake, adding, "That's where we come in. If someone else includes the card, you can learn the skills directly from them. Chloe has even inherited the knowledge and experience accumulated by the Einzbern Family over the past 800 years. That includes knowledge of the Third Magic, Heaven's Feel. With your Mana-Mana-no-Mi, you may be able to complete the ritual and gain access to the Root, freeing you from the control of our Creator."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas asked, "Seriously?" in a disbelieving tone. The reason Zelretch was powerful was because he had gained access to the Second Magic, Kaleidoscope. If he could acquire the Third, he would be among the most powerful beings across all realities. Thus, while it was certainly a possibility, Thomas couldn't help thinking Ruby was talking out of whatever sufficed as her ass...
Understanding Thomas's skepticism, Ruby shrugged her feathery appendages and said, "With enough Mana, anything is possible. You just so happen to have access to a functionally infinite supply and an ageless body. If you put your nose to the grindstone and apply yourself, there is nothing you can't do."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas adopted a serious expression. As thankful as he was to Zelretch, the elderly vampire's 'interventions' had given him a strong desire to break free from the man's control. He seriously doubted he could become the wielder of a True Magic, but giving up without trying was the same as renouncing his freedom. In the worst-case scenario, he could even end up like the 'original' Shirou, serving as Zelretch's personal Counter Guardian for an eternity...
Though he couldn't help feeling he was walking directly into Zelretch's trap, Thomas nodded his head, meeting Chloe's gaze as he said, "Fine. I still plan to do my own thing, but Ruby makes a lot of good points. So long as you don't try and dictate my actions, I don't mind if you accompany us on our journey..."
Pumping her fists, Chloe responded with a triumphant "Yosh~!" before adopting a broad smile as she said, "Now we just need to form a contract. My body practically hemorrhages Magical Energy, so I need to constantly resupply."
While he had never watched the Fate Kaleid anime, Thomas had acquired Chloe in FGO and seen several GIFs associated with the series. Just to be certain, he asked, "And how, exactly, do we form this contract...?"
Leaning over the table, Chloe replied, "It's embarrassing to say out loud. Why don't you lend me an ear...?"
Interrupting before Thomas could call Chloe out, Illya stammered, "N-N-Now, hold on just a minute! We still need to discuss things with Shirou-nii and Miyu! You can't just go making decisions on your own! And Ruby, why are you encouraging them...!?"
Shrugging her feathery appendages, Ruby sighed before saying, "Chloe is right. It's been nearly a year and a half since we settled here, and you and Miyu have become complacent. You even started treating Miyu's Onii-san as your own..."
Flying over to Thomas, Ruby hovered above his head, asserting, "I'm pretty sure this big fella was sent here to remind us that there are worlds beyond this one. If we're going to save Miyu's world and stop Darius, we can't stay here, waiting for things to change. Don't forget that Rin, Luvia, Tanaka, and countless others are waiting for us..."
With a clearly conflicted look on her face, Illya replied, "I know all of that, okay? It's just that even with the Grade-8 Archer Card, we couldn't defeat a Marine Admiral. If we appear on the open seas again, the Marines might send one to try and capture us. Then everything we've worked so hard to obtain will be lost..."
Exhaling another sigh, even though she didn't have a visible mouth, Ruby responded to Illya's words by stating, "And this is why Chloe wanted to go alone. You haven't given up, but you've allowed yourself to be weighed down by despair. At this rate, we can only achieve our goals by relying on 'external' factors."
Plopping down on Thomas's head, Ruby asserted, "My Creator must have sent this man here for a reason. With the power of the Mana-Mana-no-Mi, he could be the key to defeating the Admirals, overthrowing the Celestial Dragons, and collecting the remaining Install Cards."
Resisting the urge to grab Ruby from his head, Thomas flatly remarked, "I'm right here, you know..."
Leaning forward to look Thomas in the eye, Ruby asked, "Am I wrong? If your desire is to stand at the pinnacle of the world, you'll naturally have to depose those already there. Our goals are aligned, so be a good boy and let big sister Ruby do all the talking, okay?"
Raising her 'face,' Ruby looked toward Illya, her voice making it sound as though she was smiling as she said, "Don't worry. Illya can be pretty slow to act, but she's fairly reliable when she does. She just needs someone to give her a light push. What do you think, Shirou-san~?"
In response to Ruby's words, Shirou emerged from the hallway with a wry smile. What he said next all but forced the matter of Thomas lending them a hand...
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(A/N: We lost power for a few hours just when I was going to start writing. It's still storming, but I'll see about releasing a few more before the next reset.)

Making his way into the living room, Shirou ran his unbandaged right hand through his hair as he replied, "I was hoping to discuss this much later on. But I guess now is as good a time as any..."
After reaching a more comfortable conversing distance, Shirou looked around, meeting the gazes of everyone present before settling on Illya as he revealed, "The reason we haven't gone out to sea in the past year and a half isn't because of my injuries. Once my body reaches 51% corruption, I will cease to exist..."
As she was well aware of Shirou's condition, Illya couldn't help feeling confused, asking, "What do you mean? I know you've been borrowing the power of your 'future' self, but it's still you, right? Even if your skin and hair change color, you wouldn't just cease to exist."
Shaking his head, Shirou replied, "You're wrong. While Heroic Spirit EMIYA and I are connected, we possess distinct egos. His is much stronger than mine, so once he takes control, everything I am will become a part of his 'memory.'"
Before Illya could interrupt him, Shirou raised his right hand to silence her, revealing, "It's alright, Illya. Miyu is already aware of my condition, and we both came to terms with it years ago. That's one of the reasons we've been loitering her for the past year and a half. If I have to fight someone like Kizaru again, that's probably the end for me..."
Tearing up, Illya replied, "That can't be true..." in a faint, sobbing tone. Then, as if a switch had been flipped inside her brain, she became serious and resolute, loudly asserting, "There has to be a way to save you! With the power of Magic, anything is possible...!"
Instead of attempting to refute Illya's words, Shirou nodded, adopting a wry smile as he replied, "You're right. With the power of the Holy Grail and the Heaven's Feel Ritual, it's possible to separate mine and EMIYA's egos anew. We could also transfer my consciousness to a body without Magic Circuits, preventing his encroachment at the cost of my ability to manifest his power. There are plenty of ways to save me, but they all involve giving up the ability to fight..."
Directing his attention to Thomas, Shirou asked, "I know this is asking for a lot, but will you help us? I have always been willing to die for our cause, but I don't want to make my sister sad..."
Though he was a little overwhelmed by the severity of the discussion, Thomas didn't have to consider his response, stating, "I already agreed to hand over any Install Cards we came across. If you need anything else, it will have to wait until I've reached my goal and helped a few other people attain their dreams. After that, I don't mind lending you a hand. I may be a selfish asshole, but I'm not a monster."
Disagreeing with Thomas's words, Vivi furrowed her brows and asserted, "You're not a selfish person, Tom. If you were, you wouldn't be working so hard to help others and keep your promises."
Smiling wryly, Thomas decided not to argue with Vivi. Instead, he held Shirou's gaze as he added, "It will be three years at the earliest. Until then, I can arrange to have the Doctor I summoned take a look at you. With the proper ingredients, he can even cure death and make people immortal. Stabilizing your condition shouldn't be an issue."
Blinking in surprise, Shirou asked, "You summoned a Doctor? That's the first time I've heard that classification for a Heroic Spirit..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas revealed, "The nine Class Cards I was given were a little unorthodox. Instead of the usual seven Classes, they were positions associated with seafaring. More specifically, I summoned a Captain, First Mate, Second Mate, Cook, Doctor, Navigator, Shipwright, Sniper, and Musician."
Still seated atop Thomas's head, Ruby exhaled an exasperated sigh as she remarked, "That certainly sounds like something my Creator would do..."
Continuing where he left off, Thomas explained, "The Doctor I summoned is Asclepius, the Greek God of Medicine. He's off doing his own thing right now, but if your condition deteriorates, I can summon him using one of my Command Spells. He won't be happy having his research interrupted, but once he hears about your condition...let's just say he's very devoted to his work..."
Adopting a faint smile, Shirou replied, "I appreciate your concern, but you don't need to waste a Command Spell on me. So long as I don't overexert myself against a powerful opponent, I'll be fine. The condition of my body isn't worsening or anything."
"Well, the offer is on the table," replied Thomas, adding, "My Command Spells regenerate at a rate of one per month, and I don't really use them for anything else."
Shaking his head, Shirou insisted, "It's fine. You're already helping us by agreeing to hand over any Install Cards you find. I don't want to become too indebted to you without a chance to return the favor."
Inserting herself back into the conversation, Chloe asked, "Speaking of which, are you ready to form a contract? The sooner we get it out of the way, the sooner we can eat lunch and discuss which Install Cards we'll be lending you."
Adopting a deadpan expression, Thomas replied, "I don't mind, so long as it doesn't involve kissing or anything lewd..."
Flinching like a kid that had just gotten caught trying to perform a prank, the smile on Chloe's face became awkward until Shirou pointed out, "Our world is part of the fiction in Thomas's host reality. He was able to identify me on sight and knew each of your names before he met you."
To prevent any misunderstandings, Thomas promptly pointed out, "Yeah, but I never watched the anime you originate from. In my world, we have something called the Nasuverse, which includes a ton of interconnected anime, manga, and video games. I know about you, but I'm not aware of the 'plot' of your world."
Pointing to Chloe, Thomas added, "As for this one, she appears as one of the Heroic Spirits in a game called Fate Grand Order. One of her skills is called 'Kiss Demon,' so she's fairly famous within various communities..."
Adopting a deadpan expression of her own, a now-recovered Illya gave Chloe a sidelong stare as she muttered, "I believe it..."
Clicking her tongue, Chloe crossed her arms and asked, "What's the big deal? It's just a Mana Transfer utilizing mucous membranes. Besides, while we might look like this, we're old enough to be high schoolers, you know?"
Not finished with what she had to say, Chloe met Thomas's gaze, smiling as she added, "Also, you can't tell me you're not at least a little attracted to me. You can dispute it all you want, but you can't deceive 'these' eyes. They can discern the true nature of people, objects, and even the Mystic Codes of Heroic Spirits..."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas didn't immediately respond to Chloe's accusation. The truth was that most of his 'knowledge' of Fate Kaleid and its characters came from a website whose logo resembled an n with pink devil wings. He had delved into quite a few 'questionable' tags on the site, but there was a difference between fapping to a 2D image and having an actual preference for little girls, even if they were 'legal.'
Having convinced himself, Thomas surprised Vivi by pulling her closer as he replied, "I won't lie. I find you cute, and your promiscuous nature has its charms, but I'm not a lolicon. I prefer strong and beautiful women with big tits and shapely asses."
While Vivi blushed fiercely and covered her face, Chloe pointed to Astolfo, contesting, "Then what about this one? She may be a full head taller than us, but her tits and ass are even smaller than mine and Illya's. She almost looks like a boy."
Before Astolfo could reveal the truth, Thomas pulled her closer, asserting, "Astolfo is an exception." in a firm tone.
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe replied, "Then I don't see why there can't be more. Besides, it's not like I'm suggesting we have sex or anything. It's just forming a contract and transferring Magical Energy. It's not really that big a deal. Here, watch this."
Without waiting for Thomas to respond, Chloe abruptly pushed Illya onto the sofa, eliciting a startled, "What do you-" before she promptly sealed her fair-skinned counterpart's lips. Illya tried to break free, but Chloe had learned all her weaknesses, effortlessly bypassing her defenses to drain her Magical Energy.
As Chloe constantly needed to resupply her Magical Energy, Shirou just exhaled a sigh in response to common sight while Thomas, Astolfo, and Vivi observed with wide, unblinking stares.
After nearly a full minute, Chloe released Illya from her clutches, leaving the latter with a red face and panting as she sat up, wiped her mouth, and turned to face Thomas, stating, "See? It's not a big deal."
"..." x 3
Undaunted by the trio's silence, Chloe narrowed her eyes, adopting a catty smile as she asked, "Did that excite you, perhaps~?"
To 'expose' Thomas's true nature, Chloe slid her right hand under the hem of Illya's blouse, pushing it up to expose her navel. Thomas's gaze didn't wander, but Chloe could sense the elevation in his tensions, compelling her to tease, "Look at you, getting all flustered..."
Retracting her hand from the still-dazed Illya, Chloe caressed her own exposed abdomen, appending, "Mine and Illya's bodies are pretty much identical. Maybe you have a preference for innocent and bashful girls...?"
Closing his eyes, Thomas exhaled through his nose and said, "This is why I refused your request to accompany us. I don't need the added stress of a second legal loli trying to tempt me. Like, I get that you're not a kid, but it doesn't change the fact you look like one..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe reiterated, "Once again, it's not like I'm suggesting we have sex or anything. Kisses don't mean anything unless you think they do, and there's no harm in simply staring. I don't mind, so why make a fuss?"
Without waiting for Thomas's response, Chloe looked to Astolfo and Vivi, questioning, "What do the two of you think? Do you think my appearance is that big an issue?"
As she originated from a time and place where 'meaningful' consent was a mere seven years of age, Astolfo replied, "I don't really see the issue, but I respect Tom's reservations. If he feels your appearance is an issue, then it is. At least to him."
Though she had encountered girls in their late teens and early twenties who were even smaller than Chloe, Vivi's expression became awkward as she replied, "My response is similar to Astolfo's. I wholeheartedly support whatever decision Thomas makes..."
Clicking her tongue, Chloe was about to ask Vivi how old she was when Thomas interjected, stating, "I know it's possible to transfer Magical Energy without kissing. Establishing a contract should be the same. If you're going to keep trying to force the matter, you can forget traveling with us..."
Shrugging for the nth time, Chloe replied, "I'm not trying to 'force' the matter. I'm just trying to get you to accept that you're making a big deal over nothing. If you want to establish the contract another way, I don't have a problem with it. It's just a lot of additional effort for no 'justifiable' reason."
Inserting himself back into the conversation, Shirou said, "Either way, it can wait until after lunch. We're having tonkatsu rice, panko, miso soup, and salad. We should hurry before it gets cold."
Without waiting for anyone to respond, Shirou took the initiative to leave the living room. He was used to Chloe's 'obstinance' after three and a half years, so he didn't bat an eye at her behavior. The most important thing, at least from his perspective, was that Thomas wasn't the one trying to take advantage of the situation. If Chloe was the one to take the initiative, it was perfectly fine. Much like how student-teacher relationships worked back in his home country...
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(A/N: Different cultures have different rules, and morals change drastically with time...)

To prevent any misunderstandings, Thomas used the time Shirou took preparing tea to change his clothes and revert to his original form. When the latter returned, carrying tea and snacks, he barely even batted an eye at the change. Instead, he offered everyone a cup of tea before sitting opposite the group and remarking, "I had thought your behavior didn't match your appearance. I take it you were planning to infiltrate Amazon Lily...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas answered, "I'm searching for a Caster Card to compliment my Mana-Mana-no-Mi. We were able to track one or more to this location."
Narrowing his eyes, Shirou chose to be a little more forthright, revealing, "The cards you seek belong to my little sisters. If you can help us gather the remaining cards, lending you a Caster Card is not impossible..."
After blinking in surprise, Thomas's expression became increasingly wry as he asked, "By 'sisters,' do you mean Illya, Chloe, and Miyu...?"
Narrowing his eyes further, Shirou remarked, "You sure know a lot for someone 'unrelated' to our circumstances..."
Maintaining his wry smile, Thomas shook his head and revealed, "First off, my name is Thomas. And in the world I originate, you and your sisters are fictional characters from an anime. I never really got into it, but anyone who is a fan of the Fate Series is at least tangentially aware of the Kaleid series you originate from."
As he was aware of the existence of the infinite multiverse and parallel worlds, Shirou's reaction to Thomas's words was a tired sigh. One Piece actually appeared in the Weekly Shonen Jump of his world, but he didn't have time for such childish hobbies as a kid. As a result, nearly everything he knew about it was second or third-hand information.
Setting aside his lamentations, Shirou met Thomas's gaze and asked, "So, how do you want to do this? Do you want to explain your circumstances first, or should I start...?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas replied, "I don't mind sharing, but I've explained my circumstances to several people in a very short period. It would be nice to hear someone else's story for a change..."
Nodding his head, Shirou took a moment to drink from his cup of tea before muttering, "My sisters and I managed to flee to this world thanks to a failsafe within the Kaleidosticks, powerful magical items that use the Second Magic to link parallel and alternate realities..."
Staring at his bandaged left hand, Shirou's expression became somber as he revealed, "Our world was on the verge of collapse after we failed to prevent the opening of Pandora's Box. At the very last moment, we were transported to the domain of the man who created the Kaleidosticks, the wielder of the Second Magic, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg..."
Interrupting Shirou's account, Thomas remarked, "I was also transported to this world by Zelretch around fifteen, maybe sixteen months ago. My world wasn't in danger of being destroyed, though. I just...wandered into his dimension on accident."
Waiting until Thomas had finished speaking, Shirou replied, "I see..." in a calm, ostensibly uncaring tone. Then, as if he hadn't been interrupted, he continued his account, explaining, "During our encounter, we were able to broker a deal with Zelretch. He promised that if we were able to assemble the 63 Install Cards scattered throughout this world, we would be given a chance to rewrite the fate of our own. That was three years, five months, and seventeen days ago..."
"..."
Feeling a little unnerved by Shirou's 'intensity,' Thomas fell silent for several seconds. The former had clearly been through a lot, so much so that it appeared he was on the verge of giving up completely. And who could blame him? Depending on their power and who was in possession of them, assembling all 63 Install Cards would be a monumental task...
"Do you at least have a way to track or locate the cards?" asked Thomas.
Nodding his head, Shirou replied, "So long as we're within a few hundred kilometers, the Kaleidosticks can pinpoint their location. The problem is that this world is enormous, the weather is nonsensical, and there are no dependable maps. And don't even get me started on the corruption of the World Government..."
Recalling the incident that had transpired at Sabaody more than a year prior, a hateful glint appeared in Shirou's eyes. Because they didn't bow like everyone else, a wayward Celestial Dragon abruptly shot him before attempting to take his sisters as 'pets.' When they defended themselves, the Marines dispatched an Admiral to capture them. If not for the timely intervention of Silvers Rayleigh, the First Mate of the former Pirate King, they may have suffered a fate worse than death.
Feeling that Shirou's situation was a 'little' more fucked up than his own, Thomas's expression became awkward as he said, "Sounds like you've been through a lot..."
Adopting a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Shirou replied, "So long as I can restore some semblance of normalcy to those girls' lives, I'll never give up. Even if my body breaks and I become someone completely different."
Preempting Thomas's response, Vivi's lilac eyes seemed to glitter as she remarked, "You really care about your sisters, don't you? As an only child, I'm a little jealous."
Nodding in affirmation, Shirou asserted, "It isn't the world I'm fighting to restore. It's those girls' home..."
Bringing her hands together, Vivi's expression resembled that of a fangirl that had just encountered their idol. Fortunately, just as Thomas's brow began to twitch, a faint ringing sound echoed throughout the room, much like a quiet doorbell.
Exhaling a sigh, Shirou rose to his feet, muttering, "Speak of the Devil, and he shall appear..." as he did so. Then, with a forced smile, he asked, "Have the three of you eaten recently?"
Before Thomas, Vivi, or Astolfo could respond, a girly, high-pitched voice called out, "Onii-chan, we're hoooooome~!" before the sound of footsteps could be heard reverberating through the floor.
Shortly following the shout, a young girl with red eyes and pale, nearly white hair came running into the living room wearing what could best be described as a fur-lined bikini. She initially had a happy smile on her face, but the moment she saw Thomas, she immediately covered her body and issued a startled, "Kyaaaaaa~!?" before hiding in the hallway she had just emerged from.
Following the girlish scream, a similar but markedly deeper voice teased, "What's wrong, Illya? Did you catch Onii-chan streaking~?" before a girl with bronze skin, glowing golden eyes, and pale pink hair peeked into the living room.
Spotting Thomas, Vivi, and Astolfo, the dark-skinned girl's eyes widened as she remarked, "Oh, we have guests? How rare."
Contrasting the skittishness of Illya, the dark-skinned girl entered the living room without shame, proudly sporting a black bikini and a hot pink sarong. Shortly after, a girl with raven-black hair and amber eyes followed suit, her pale and petite frame veiled in a marginally more modest purple swimsuit, accented by dark purple frills.
After observing Thomas's reaction to make sure he didn't possess any 'untoward' thoughts regarding his sisters, Shirou gestured toward him, revealing, "This is Thomas and his companions. Like us, he comes from a different world..."
Showing no sense of personal space, the dark-skinned girl approached within a few centimeters of Thomas, smelling him before narrowing her eyes and remarking, "You have a lot of Mana..."
Smiling wryly, Thomas explained, "I ate the Mana-Mana-no-Mi, so I'm able to generate and emit Mana at the expense of stamina..."
Adopting an impish smile, the pink-haired girl replied, "Oh? Is that so~?" while leaning a little closer. When Thomas promptly leaned away from her, she snickered mischievously before pulling back and combing a few loose strands of hair behind her ear as she said, "My name is Chloe. Chloe von Einzbern. It's nice to meet you, Oji-san."
Raising his brows, Thomas parroted, "Oji-san...?" before frowning as he added, "I'm not 'that' old..."
Before Chloe could say anything else, Illya emerged from the hallway to grab her by the wrist, shouting, "Please give us a few minutes...!" before dragging her and raven-haired girl, Miyu, away. Trailing behind them was a dark blue magical wand that looked like it originated from a magical girl anime. Another, colored pink, flew into the living room, hovering in front of Thomas to ask, "You have the imprint of the Creator on your body. Did you form a contract with him...?"
Though it was weird to be talking to a magic wand with the voice of a woman, Thomas nodded his head and replied, "Yeah. In exchange for helping him out with something later on, he gave me the opportunity to realize my dream."
"I see, I see..." replied the magical wand. Then, despite not having a face, Thomas got the impression it was smiling as it asserted, "Then you're like my sister and me, a convenient tool to be used at our Creator's whim! My name is Magical Ruby, by the way! And my sister is Magical Sapphire! Feel free to address me as Ruby-senpai from now on~!"
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "I'll pass. I'm not too good with honorifics and the like. Also, even if it turns out to be true, I don't consider myself a pawn of Zelretch. At least not yet."
'Shrugging' with her wing-like attachments, Ruby replied, "Yeah, yeah, believe what you will. The moment you signed a contract with that old monster, you basically became his slave. Even if you take your life or use something like the Ruler Breaker to try and nullify it, it won't free you from the contract. You'll just become something like a Heroic Spirit, serving at our Creator's behest until you've fulfilled your purpose."
Largely finished with what she had to say, Ruby turned around and flew away, adding, "There's a reason you're here right now~" before departing the living room in the direction of Illya, Chloe, and Miyu.
In the wake of Ruby's departure, Thomas furrowed his brows, muttering, "I never thought a stick could be so annoying..."
Nodding his head, Shirou replied, "Yeah, Ruby can be kind of...intense at times. Her sister is a lot easier to deal with."
Shifting his gaze to Shirou, Thomas asked the question at the forefront of his mind, specifically, "So, what's the deal with those three? Didn't you mention you've already been here for three and a half years? They seem a little...young. And those outfits..."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Shirou explained, "It's the traditional wear of Amazon Lily. As for their appearances...it's the result of something called Chrono Dysplasia. Outsiders are not bound by the same 'rules' as people native to this world. While we need to eat, sleep, and recover from injury, we do not age in the conventional sense. Unless your circumstances are even more different from our own, the same should apply to you."
To help Thomas understand, Shirou pointed out, "You mentioned that the world we originate from was an anime back in your world, correct? When you watch anime, you can rewind, fast forward, rewatch episodes, or even skip to the end whenever you want. It's kind of like that. From an outside perspective, time within another universe doesn't really exist. Every reality has its own Temporal Axis, and each person is bound to the flow of time in their host reality. In other words, unless your reality is somehow linked to this one, you shouldn't age."
Smiling wry, Thomas replied, "Well, that's convenient..." before looking to Vivi and musing, "Looks like I don't have to worry about becoming an old man while you're still young and beautiful..."
Returning a smile, Vivi replied, "I like older men. A bit of salt and pepper in your hair and beard would suit you."
Not wanting to be left out, Astolfo appended, "She's right. Older men give off a more 'dependable' feeling. Besides, so long as you're young at heart, it doesn't matter how old you are~!"
Exhaling a light chuckle, Thomas was about to remark that the duo were too good for him but was interrupted by Shirou asking, "Do the three of you have any food allergies? I'm about to start preparing lunch for Miyu, Illya, and Chloe. You're welcome to join us."
Since they still had much to discuss, Thomas nodded his head, replying, "Sounds good," while Vivi raised her hand and sheepishly revealed, "I'm allergic to certain types of shellfish..."
"I'll keep that in mind," replied Shirou. Then, just before departing for the kitchen, he looked back at Thomas and said, "Chloe is a very promiscuous girl, and she is naturally drawn to sources of Magical Energy. Please be on your guard..."
Without waiting for Thomas's reply, Shirou turned around and departed the living room. In his wake, Thomas exhaled a sigh before shaking his head and muttering, "Of course, they would be lolis..." as he visualized Zelretch laughing his ass off.
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(A/N: The Kissing Demon has entered the chat.)

Chapter 58: Convincing