Salted Chocolate Chapter 1 (Sakura X Illya thing)

Chapter 1:

*Riii~nng  Riii~nng*

The enticing sounds of a ringing phone reverberate up and down the walls of the Einzbern estate.

“Liz, could you get that?”

Not taking a glance in any direction, the mistress of the castle takes a sip of her morning tea and tenses up in anticipation ever so slightly. At this the maid to her right shifts her posture a bit.  Noticing the slight change in the air.  From the left of the slightly too big for her black leather sofa, Liz simply gives an affirmative “hm” and steps away towards the other side of the room where the corded telephone lies.

“Illya-sama, would it not be better if I answered the phone?  Her grasp on the la-”

“Hush.  How is she ever going to improve if you keep stepping up for her Sella?”

With a sharp tone, Illya lets some of her feelings slip out into her words, and her actions; putting the teacup down on the saucer and finely crafted coffee table in front of her with an audible *Thunk!* that just manages to cut through the ringing sounds of the telephone.  The mistress of the house then turns her focus squarely at the maid answering the phone

“Hm”

“Yes, Illya.. Is here”

Turning her body to face the master of the house, Liz gives Illya a kind smile as she hands out the phone.

“Illya. Shirou.”

Time pauses for a brief moment, frustration and joy mixing together in her expression.  In the end, Illya chooses violence.

“ONI-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAHHGGGGG-!!!”

Leaping up from that oh so comfortable sofa in a fit of vengeful passion, Illya immediately trips on the coffee table.  The table, and Illya, flip onto their backsides.  Sending tea, glass, and 2 tons of sweet loli ass crashing into the ground.

Illya can’t falter her though!  She stands up, dusts her purple and white morning gown off, and starts strutting toward the phone confidently.  It was only a matter of time before he called her back.  What was she so worried about anyways?  It’s not like Shirou could live without his big sister forever!  So what if it’s been a few weeks?  This is her chance to make a move, to prove her worth in comparison to all the other harlots that surround her dearest.  All she has to do is reach out and take the phone in front of her.

“Illyasviel-sama!?  Are you okay?”

At this, the whimsical lass takes a moment of pause to look back, drive burning in her eyes and a smirk cracked across her soft lips.

“Clean that up, would you Sella?”

In the next instant, she takes the phone from Liz’s hand, and responds to her idiotic younger (Older?) brother.

“Shi~rou Onii-chan!”  She takes a moment to compose herself.  Conversations are like warfare, and thus she, the leader of a prestigious house, knows to keep her weapons ready to fire at set times.

“How long were you gonna keep a lady waiting for?”

“Eh?  It hasn’t been that long has it?”

“It’s been 3 weeks!  I swear.  And you call yourself a ‘good man.’  You know the only reason I stick around this place is because I have you and everyone else here!  Call more! Call call call call call!!!”

From the corner of the room Sella’s face begins beaming.  This kind of verbal assault by her mistress to that peasant who degrades the Einzbern by simply existing makes her face contorted in pleasure.  Now, normally she’d have to give such a beatdown of words herself, but it seems like the Emiya boy has gone too far this time even for her mistresses' boundless tolerance.

“*Sigh* Illya.  You know you can call me too right?  Besides, you only got that phone in the past month!  Give me a break, it’s strange!”

“Shirou, are you retarded?”

“I-Illya!?”

“Why should it be my fault that you can’t remember basic things!  Why should it be my fault that you don’t know the basic etiquette of ‘the man calls first’?  It’s been especially cold this winter, you can’t expect me to be outside hoping to bump into you all the time like the Holy Grail war is still going on can you?”

From the corner of the room, Sella begins audibly expressing pleasure at her madam verbally destroying someone she views as a drain on her health.

“Haah… insult him more Illyasviel-sama… Let him know that his treatment of our household shall not go un.. p-p-punished…”

Getting weeks of pent up emotions out, and with Sella practically on the verge of orgasm from Illyas takedown of Shirou, Illya breathes out deeply, smiles, and looks forlornly at the window in front of her, morning frost melting away in the violet sun rising in the distance sending light piercing through the trees.

“I-Illya I’m sor-”

“No, it’s alright.  I kinda took out my emotions on you there like a child.  My bad aha.  If I answer the phone like this every time I’ll just drive you away further.”

“Even if you say that, I feel like I have most of the blame here.  I really should think more about the people around me.  AHHH anyways, I was calling to ask you about today.  It’s kinda on late notice I realize, but I was wondering if you wanted to come over for a little party tonight.”

Her gaze becomes transfixed on the bursting purple sky.  It’s captivating, and reminds her of the words a certain girl who visited her a week ago told her.

“He’s been kind of forgetful, well more than usual lately.  Fuji-Nee keeps on his case, and well you know how she is.  Anyways Illya, I know it didn’t feel like it a year ago, but you have more people here who care about you now than just him.  I for one, wanna see you more too!”

She said it with an expression so comforting.  They may have been just kind words, but the way they were delivered gave her peace of mind.

Snapping back to reality, Illya’s grasp on the phone tightened.

“A party with everyone?”

“Even Shinji.”

“Gross.  But.. Yeah that sounds nice.  I’ll be over there as soon as we can manage.  See you soon, Onii~chan”

With a loving proclamation, Illya sets down the phone.  She then grabs an overly large, conspicuously red coat from the rack next to the phone, throws it around her shoulders, crosses her arms and then turns around.

“Sella, Liz.  Ready the bath and a fresh set of those new clothes.  I want you two dressed your best as well, no complaining!  I’ve got a date with fate!”

It’s not a competition between girls anymore. Illya set her sights on the prize tonight, and plans on collecting.

*Phew*

Shirou puts down the phone, and looks visibly relieved.

“Senpai?  I trust the call went well?”

“About as well as it could have, considering Illya.  I feel pathetic for even having to say this, but thank you for reminding me to call her Sakura.  Some older brother I am huh?”

“Good.  You should feel pathetic.”

Sakura's blunt words sting.  They’re the truth though.

“Aha, but I'm also glad.  It’s never too late to make things right between siblings, I know that much first hand.  Besides, It’s not like you’ve done anything wholly unforgivable, you’re just a little forgetful is all.”

“Thank you, Sakura”

Puffing her chest out in pride, Sakura replies with a “oh it was no problem” and gestures to Shirou to move out of the way.

“Excuse me Senpai.  I have to put this chocolate in the oven now or it's not going to cool by tonight.”