There's No Light Without Darkness

The Grail was destroyed, yet another supervisor is sent to Fuyuki by the Church. Bazett and Lancer return to Japan as well, to investigate the strange darkness in the city. And inhabitants of Tohsaka residence may soon be caught up in a completely new mess…

Continuation of "The Only Thing You Can Change".

All characters and features belong to their rightful owners.


If you haven't read previous part, please check its summary below.

The Grail in Fuyuki was destroyed at the end of the Fifth Grail War. There was no winner, because remained Masters and Servants decided to work together to destroy the evil imprisoned within the Grail. Thanks to sisters Rin and Sakura, Archer was saved from Kotomine (who intended to make him a mix of Assassin and Avenger – and a twisted psycho by the way) and became a familiar; the Tohsaka trio lives normally, enjoying a happy family life. And Lancer made a new contract with Bazett - they work together, hunting magi and abominations for Mage's Association.


Chapter 1: Pray and Work

"I have a feeling that something is breaking, again."


The church surroundings were dark and inhospitable. Nobody cared for this place for a very long time.

A stone path, with lots of dried leaves on it. Flowers were also neglected and yellowed, the silver-haired girl thought that they desperately need watering.

She sighed heavily and came in. Door slammed behind her with an empty sound, like she just entered the tomb.

"What a mess…"

The air was heavy with dust and smell of burned candles. The girl looked around, no signs of disappointment or any other emotion on her face. Some benches were destroyed, others covered with a layer of unknown dirt.

"At least I will have some work here until pipe organs comes…"

She checked the whole building and chose a small, almost empty room for herself. There was only a simple bed inside and a box in the corner. She opened it carefully and found nothing but some clothes, which belonged to the former resident of this place.

"What's this? They told me that a priest lived here, but it looks like a girl's pendant…"

It was a beautiful, triangular, almost heart-shaped jewel with silver chain. Little symbol of cross was engraved at the pendant and the girl found it even more attractive because of that. She touched it gently and, after a moment of hesitation, hanged it around her neck.

She sighed for one last time. A lot of work awaited her, hard and lonely work. Cleaning and other priestess's duties during days and investigating at nights. But she will not complain. She never does.

"Ora et labora," she said, closing her eyes and cupped her hands in prayer. 'Pray and work'. It was her life, always like that. Another task had to be fulfilled, that's all. She will make it no matter what.

If god decides she needs help, he will send her some.


Archer was desperately trying to hide his displeasure, but it was painted on his face anyway. He was standing at the airport, with his arms crossed, waiting for Rin and Sakura to stop talking.

"You have your phone, yes?" He gave Rin the suitcase. Archer spent nearly two of his salaries to buy her this phone and it took almost a week to teach her how to use it. He gave up eventually and forced her to promise that she'll at least pick up the phone if he calls…

"Yes. And I will be in touch with you, don't worry."

"Hmmm." It was everything he had to say at this moment, trying to not complain openly.

"You know I can't take you with me to Clock Tower. You're illegal, they could even confiscate you and try some experiments on you."

He was watching her face without a word, trying to memorize every detail, just in case. She was a mature woman now, no more ponytails and ribbons in her hair. Her blue eyes were smiling when she said:

"It's ok, Sakura was learning hard, she's a good magus, and can handle you alone."

"I did not say anything."

She laughed.

"Don't panic, I'll be back." Tohsaka gently patted his face. "I was in London few times already and I always came back, so what's wrong with you?"

"You never left for so long before." Archer said reluctantly. "Two weeks were usually enough."

"You're hopeless…" Rin smiled, somehow happy because of his clear manifestation of longing and jealously. "I promise I'll go back as soon as we finish our research."

"You don't need to promise me anything, you're an adult, Rin."

"I love you too, Archer." She laughed loudly, went through the gate and waved to them from the other side, shouting the last 'Goodbye!' before check in.


Hunger was unbearable.

The creature was angry. After spending long years in peace, sleeping under the great energy generator, it was forced to search for nutrition. The creature again came to the surface and went into the night. Not completely awaken or materialized, it was spreading through the city like a shapeless shadow, like self conscious darkness.

There was a lot of food around, indeed. Plenty of warm creatures, their blood, their life energy, their emotions… Some people were even better, magical energy was flowing through their bodies, easy to digest. And yet there was something even more attractive, more appetizing and inviting than wraiths and ghosts – bodies made of pure magic. The think of devouring them made the creature excited.

And so the night hunt began.


"I have a feeling that something is breaking, again."

Sakura was caressing her familiar's hair. He was lying on the couch, reading a book, with head on her lap.

"What do you mean?"

"Rin is in London and may get into troubles. Mother is in her family town, where she deals with troubles of others. This house seems so empty without them."

"It's quiet, indeed." He said, closing the book. "At last we can get some rest."

"True, but… This feeling…"

"I know." He grabbed her hand. "Don't worry, Sakura. Nothing is breaking yet." He was silent for a moment, thinking, searching for the best words. "I may not have a power of Servant anymore, but it does not mean I will not protect you."

"I know." She smiled, stroking his white forelock. "And I'm not a defenseless girl anymore. Rin trained me with magic, you with bow. I can take care of myself, so you don't need to worry of me."

"You're the head of Tohsaka family now, of course you're powerful, Sakura."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." She chuckled. "By the way, you shouldn't be at the meeting with Miss Fujimura now?"

Archer's heavy sigh was a sign that the mood was ruined at this moment.

"No way I will be going out with her every Friday. She's a heavy drinker, too hard for me." True horror in his voice. "She was not like that when she was younger… Probably."

"But she's right that you should integrate more with teacher circle."

"Sakura…" He rolled his eyes and rose to sitting position. "I'm only the archery instructor, I work early in the morning and it's difficult to meet any other teacher at this hour..."

"And that's why you should integrate even more!"

She was teasing him, no doubt. It was frightening, how fast Tohsaka's genes activated within her.

"Fine, laugh how much you want, I won't go anyway." He stood up and stared at the window. "Cats are too loud tonight, don't you think?"

Sakura was listening for a while and shrugged.

"Maybe they're hungry?"

"No, I filled their bowls in the morning and you did it again when we came back from the airport. Just take a look."

She concentrated and looked using her familiar's eyes. Sisters tried to not do this often, to not violate the privacy of Archer's mind, but it was very useful anyway.

It was almost completely dark outside, but Sakura could see their cats clearly. Big ginger female was visibly nervous, to the point of waving her tail and making angry noises. Other two spotted kitties were screaming even louder, staring at something behind the fence.

Archer grabbed his bow, opened the window, prepared an arrow and shot. Painful scream of a cat was a proof that he did not miss the target.

"What was that? How could you?!" Sakura stood up, more than disturbed.

He did not answer, but just went down the stairs and out to the yard, to collect his prey. Sakura, disgusted and shocked, came after him.

"I hope you have a good explanation…" She stopped talking, when a terrible smell hit her nostrils. It looked like this cat was dead long before an arrow hit it, but its rotting corpse was still moving somehow.

"I knew it." Archer was visibly worried, but she could sense a little bit of fascination in his voice. "Undead familiar."

"What does it mean?" Sakura looked into the eyes of killed animal, they were empty and a red light was slowly vanishing inside them. She felt a sudden shiver and was not surprised by Archer's answer.

"Troubles."


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