The homunculi running the facility seemed happier than (y/n) last remembered them. He recalled that before he went into a coma, they hardly ever showed any emotions other than fear, yet the faculty that performed his check-up were unusually expressive. Some of them smiled at him while others excitedly whispered amongst themselves as he passed by in the hallways. Gilgamesh made no attempt to silence their mutterings, only smirking to himself at what he heard from them. With his health all in the clear, (y/n) was guided to his room so that he could put on proper attire rather than walking around in a blanket. Sure, the bulky furs were comfortable, but he didn't feel quite right with that alone.

        Gilgamesh silently led (y/n) to his room and left him there. The room he once lived in felt like a new place despite its familiarity. Nothing was out of place, and it was obvious that no one had been permitted to enter the area in quite some time. "None of my old clothes will fit," (y/n) realized. Before he could even think to ask about it, the gateway to the treasury opened in front of him. (Y/n) had to duck into the portal since Gilgamesh seemed to have forgotten to take his new height into account.

        The treasury was as extravagant as it had always been. The mountains of valuables felt more like home than his actual room did. "It's good to know that this hasn't changed," he said to himself. With the snap of his fingers, he had access to the king's wardrobe. Everything from velvet robes to priceless gold accessories lay before him. It was hard to choose just one thing to wear. (Y/n) assumed he'd have to go back to wearing the plain Tokugawa uniform after today, so he felt as though his options were limited. The decision of his temporary clothes distracted him from his worries long enough for him to take some time and gather his thoughts. He was very close to turning seventeen. That meant Gilgamesh would be keeping a promise he made many years ago when (y/n) was still a child and had the mind of one. Although there was currently no explaination of what had happened to him eleven years ago, (y/n) was still secretly hoping that Gilgamesh would keep his word.

        Once (y/n) was dressed, he exited the treasury using the portal that had remained there from the beginning. It closed behind him as soon as he was a safe distance away from it. Gilgamesh was waiting for him in the hall outside the room. He examined (y/n) in judgement of his new attire. Not a single word was given in comment, but the king conveyed his agreement with a hardly noticeable nod. "Let us go see that woman. It's best if we get this over with now before I tell you of what has transpired these past years."

        They passed the command room on their way back towards the infirmary. (Y/n) was eager to see his adoptive mother again, but he could tell that something was wrong. Part of him feared that she could be ill or not faring well. "We're going back to the vault..." (y/n) recognized the hall where they were returning. The corridor wasn't a part of Tokugawa's interior the last time (y/n) had walked around the place. There was no time to give it much thought when he was leaving the mysterious vault, but now he couldn't help but wonder where this pathway had come from. Why were they going back to it.

        "She is being kept in another vault that was intended to hold the director."

        "The director? What? Wait, why is my mother locked up? What could she have possibly done?!" He was baffled, but he followed Gilgamesh down the hallway even as they passed the huge steel door that he had just left moments ago. "Why did the director lock away my mother?" he asked again.

        "The director did not lock her away. I did. She would be dead right now if I hadn't. That man would have killed her for what she's done. The worst he's been doing is keeping runes on the chamber that ensnare her. If it weren't for her association with you, I would have killed the woman myself."

        They came to a stop at the end of the hallway. The director, Shirou, was waiting for them. Was his name really even Shirou? (Y/n) had not failed to remember the suspicions surrounding him.

        "I knew you'd bring him to see her." The director stepped in front of the locked door. "It's important that I speak with him before you let her say a word. She'll twist the truth."

        "The only truth that's being twisted are the lies you're trying to tell yourself even as we stand here now." Gilgamesh sharpened his gaze. "Step aside. I have no more mercy left for you. (Y/n) is no longer your responsibility. You lost that right long ago."

        "He's my son, not yours." The director's words pierced right through the king, breaking the thin ice that the director stood on. Weapons felt across the air even within the little amount of space left in the hallway that they stood in. (Y/n) was completely dumbfounded by what he had heard and could only watch on in more confusion as the director deflected every weapon sent at him with a mimicry of the Gate of Babylon itself.

        "I will not repeat myself," Gilgamesh seethed. The director coughed into his sleeve, leaving behind a red stain on his clothes. With a reluctant glance at (y/n) he moved out of the way. The king and the prince stepped around the mess laying in front of them. Sakura awaited them on the other side of the heavy steel door. (Y/n) struggled to walk forward. He simply could not fathom all of these things that were happening all at once. The director was his father? Sakura had done something wrong? And his mind must have been playing tricks on him because he could have sworn he saw the director use the Gate of Babylon.

        The door opened to reveal Sakura sitting in the middle of an enclosure with her knees pulled up to her while she hid her face within her arms. It was a large cube with glass on four sides to allow the prisoner to see. The glass panes had runes scripted around every edge as if it were some sort of embroidery. The ancient text glowed in a yellow tinted light to help light the entire area, for there was only one light source within the cubed cage hanging from the ceiling.

        "Mom!" (Y/n) couldn't fight his instinct. It had him rushing over to the glass to examine Sakura for any sort of injuries. Red markings ran down her legs, and as she slowly lifted her face to look at him, he could see that the markings webbed up the right side of her face as well. Her eyes seemed empty as she stared at him. "Mom..." he almost whimpered. "What did you do to her? What happened?" he looked back at Gilgamesh, distraught and worried. His servant returned his questions with absolute silence. His gaze quickly returned to Sakura who stood and walked to the glass. Her black dress, donning red highlights that flowed down in linear stripes, rose from the ground at her feet. It spread out like ribbons almost as if they were alive.

        "You've grown up," Sakura spoke almost mockingly. She leaned against the glass and placed a hand against the surface of it to mock the action of reaching out to touch his face.

        "Yes, I'm awake now. I don't know what happened, but I'm going to get you out of here." His command seals began to glow, but he froze in place upon seeing the sadistic grin that Sakura gave him. It made his blood run cold. "Mom?"

        "At one point, I did love you like my own son," she began. The tendrils of her dress fanned out before quickly striking against the glass. "Every cell in my body wants to rip you to shreds," she snarled. (Y/n) flinched back from the glass, the only thing stopping her from carrying out the threat. "It isn't your fault," her voice grew softer. It was as though she were back to normal again. "I remember who you are now, and I hate you for it. I hate myself for it. I hate your wretched father for it." Her eyes landed on Gilgamesh. "Though I guess you don't have to worry about that last one anymore."

        "Mom, what's going on? Why are you...in here?" He hesitated to step back up to the glass.

        "Don't call me that. You have a mother. I am not her." Sakura gave him a solemn stare. "I hate you, but I can't ignore the time I've spent caring for you. For your own good, stay away from me. I never want to see your face again."

        "But-" the light in his eyes died. He could tell that nothing he said would change her mind, and it was finally sinking in that he had lost her.

        Sakura laughed at him. "Are you actually crying?" she sneered. "Pathetic. I didn't teach you to be so weak. Though I guess...you must have still gotten that from me. Fine then, I'll tell you a story. Sit down and listen." She herself sat against the glass watching him carefully like a predator hunting prey.

        "You're still my mother. You still raised me. How could you say these things without a care in the world?" he wanted to tell her. Instead, he sat down and rested his head against the glass in mourning. His sorrow was silently expressed as he waited to hear the truth behind this grand mystery.
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I just spoiled something major for one of the fate paths, so I hope you're caught up on the series because, unfortunately, more spoilers are up ahead. Until next time you awesome readers!