This is the first chapter to a story that I've been wanting to write for awhile now. It was a bit of a challenge to stay true to the Nasu universe while integrating some new ideas. It was an even bigger challenge to come up with ways to link the storylines together. In the end I think I'm doing okay for now.
The story takes place after the events of Melty Blood and Fate/Hollow Ataraxia. Characters and story elements are copyright of their respective owners. Sorry if this chapter seems a little slow but I had to introduce some things. Let me know what you guys think.
Phase 1: MOON
The night air sweeps across the bustling city of Fuyuki. With the reports of mysterious deaths and unexplained gas leaks long past, the night life trend was revived as many people roamed around the town. It was Saturday and everyone one was either smiling or laughing with friends and family.
"Eeeeh…"
A young boy with black hair groans to himself as he looks at the moon above. He seemed average: baggy jeans, white shirt, and a blue short-sleeved jacket, but there was a certain air about him that just seemed to draw attention.
"…Looks like I lost them. But I guess this trip isn't a total bust. I know the general area now."
The boy takes his cell phone out of his pocket and checks the time. With a somewhat distressed sigh he places his hands in his pockets and begins to walk off to his next destination. However, briefly he stops and looks up towards the sky; giving off a small grin before disappearing into the crowd.
Up on a nearby rooftop was the girl who he was looking at indirectly the whole time. Her brilliant blue eyes narrowed as she brought her hand up to keep her hair from blowing into her face.
Tohsaka Rin had been following the mysterious boy since earlier that day. She'd just returned to Fuyuki City after her lessons in England. She'd intended to head straight towards Shirou's house but she had to make a last minute detour. While walking around town, she sensed an enormous amount of magical energy. Upon investigating further, she discovered the boy wandering aimlessly around town. Rin still hadn't discovered the boy's intentions, but for the whole day he continued to stop and look around as if to tell her he knew he was being followed.
"You might want to go get the others."
Those were the words that the boy would mouth out to her whenever he stopped. It was confusing to Rin. Such a phrase could be taken as both a threat and a warning. Regardless, if the boy knew she was following him, he had yet to actually confront her or attack her.
"For now I'll go see how Sakura and Shirou are doing." Rin states to herself in a somewhat defeated tone.
As she leaves, two figures cloaked in shadow watch her from afar. They make no attempt to alert her of their presence nor do they try to pursue her.
"Is it really okay if we let that one go?" A child-like voice, "Won't Shin-kun contact her eventually? It would only hinder the plan if she and the others get in our way."
"Heh. You're thinking too much. The princess gave us specific orders to set up the seal and that's it. Besides, do you honestly think that she'd be able to stop us? Even with Kurosaki the plan will go accordingly."
Childish laughter fills the shadows.
"But isn't she pretty Gig? Don't you just want to violate her over and over until she begs for death?"
***
It was one of those rare nights at the Tohno Mansion. At least it seemed rare with all the recent events which had taken place in Misaki Town. After the death of Roa and the elimination of the Tatari, Tohno Shiki was finally able to enjoy a good night's sleep for a change.
It was only half past ten but Shiki had long since gone to bed for the night. He tosses and turns in his bed as he slowly wakes up.
"Shiki!"
Shiki's eyes burst open as he jumps from under the covers and leaps upwards. With a whack, he just as quickly falls back down on the mattress as pain shoots through his skull.
"Ow, ow, ow! Shiki!"
Weight falls onto his stomach. The pain helps the boy to wake up completely as he once again lifts himself off the mattress. There was the princess of the True Ancestors herself, Arcueid.
"Of course…" Shiki thought out loud looking at the clock and realizing she was the only one who would come into his room at this time of night. "Man you're such an idiot. How long have you been here anyways?"
The white princess looks up looking like she was on the verge of tears. "Why are you only mean to me Shiki? You don't treat your sister or Ciel like this." Arcueid groans as she rubs the red spot on her forehead.
"I-Idiot! I told you already. It's because all the things you do just don't make sense to me."
Arcueid responses simply by looking at Shiki with sad eyes. She was just like a little child. She always seemed to wear her emotions on her sleeves and knew next to nothing about what was socially accepted.
"Shiki… you're being unusually mean today…"
"Fine sorry." Shiki groans through a yawn and reassures her with his best smile. "You still haven't told me why you're here though."
All the weakness that Arcueid displayed up to that point vanished as she stared at him with alert eyes. He couldn't tell if it was because Arcueid left the window open, but the air in the room definitely got colder. Arcueid's red eyes and sharp stare; if it were possible they could surely cut through the night itself.
"Hey Shiki, have you noticed anything "weird around town lately?"
"Weird? Like what? Don't tell me there are more vampires running around."
"No. If it were I would've just handled them myself. I'm asking if anything just seems off to you. Like clearly seeing and feeling something that shouldn't be there."
Arcueid describes something that does sound weird. Shiki thinks seriously for a moment.
"……No. I can't really say I have. Maybe it would help if I saw what you were talking about though. Oh, and Arcueid…"
"Hmm? What is it Shiki?"
"Would you mind getting off my stomach? You're starting to crush me."
Arcueid finally remembers that she fell backwards on her butt after Shiki bumped into her. She laughs in her usual manner and lifts herself off Shiki. Taking in a deep breath, Shiki sits all the way up and reaches for his glasses on the nightstand.
"The moon."
Shiki redirects his attention to Arcueid.
"Huh?"
Arcueid stands up and slowly walks over to the open window. With the moon as her shadow and the light reflecting off of her white skin and blonde hair, Shiki quickly remembers why he fell for this girl. It was really troubling for someone of his age.
"The moon doesn't look the same anymore. It's like I'm looking at it from somewhere else."
***
Elsewhere, Emiya Shirou sits in his Japanese style room with his back against the wall. He'd found himself staring at the moon and doing this often for about three days now.
Though his original body was destroyed sometime ago in the previous Holy Grail War, he was saved and able to receive an artificial body. Though it functioned just fine at first, his body was slowly become more and more unresponsive. He'd yet to tell Sakura or Rider.
In another room of the house, Matou Sakura sits with her head on the table as Rider reads a book opposite of her.
"I'm home!"
Sakura lifts her head up slightly to the familiar voice and the sound of the front door opening. Shortly after, Rin turns into the room carrying her bags and greets the two with a warm smile.
"N-Nee-san. Welcome home. Did your flight get delayed? I expected you to be back sooner."
"Actually I had a little business to take care of in another district. It wasn't anything major but it ran a little longer than I was expecting." Rin places her bags against the wall and sits next to Rider. "Good evening Rider, I trust things are going well?"
Rider greets Rin and the two begin to have a small conversation. Sakura on the other hand didn't participate much in Rin's return. She simply placed her head back on the table and soon enough the two's conversation became nothing more than a distant hum. It was strange. She was tired or depressed. She could just explain it to herself as being "emptied out".
"Huh? Sakura, are you not feeling well?"
"Eh? Oh, I'm fine Nee-san. I'm just a bit tired is all. I… think we did it too much." Sakura replies as if she was dazed but does her best to fake embarrassment.
Rin scoots across the floor to be closer to Sakura. However, when Rin neared Sakura turned her head to face in the opposite direction. Rin places a small hand on Sakura's back to provide her with a much needed feeling of warmth.
"Um…well I'm sure you'll feel better once you get some rest. Would you like for me to help you to your room?"
Sakura did not respond. Then again it wasn't as if Rin was expecting an answer. Although they'd spent most of their lives up until now apart, Rin knew her sister all too well. Sakura wasn't the type to trouble people with her problems. It was almost as if the two sisters were made to balance each other out. It might have been against Sakura's wishes, but the real reason Rin placed her hand on her sister's back was so that she could get a proper feel of her magic circuit.
"No thank you Nee-san. I can manage on my own." Sakura answers while lifting her head from the table causing Rin to remove her hand.
The black-haired girl concludes that Sakura was just catching on to what she was doing. Even still, Tohsaka knew what she needed to know. Sakura's magic circuit was being drained. Ever since the previous Holy Grail War, Sakura received an infinite supply of mana from the grail as a result of her grandfather's experimentation. So for such a thing to be happening at the rate it was could only be referred to as extraordinary. The mana wasn't going anywhere; it was simply vanishing into thin air.
"SAKURA!"
Rider suddenly calls out and Rin returns from her deep state of thought.
A loud thud.
The two become paralyzed with fear as Sakura lies lifelessly on the floor. With her arms bent at her sides her long purple hair spread out around her head and shoulders, Sakura looked like a broken flower.
"She's not breathing……" Rin crawls to her fallen sister as Rider jumps to her side.
"SAKURA!" Shirou rushes in through the sliding door only to find is lover lying lifelessly on Rider's lap. "Rin? What's going on!? What happened to Sakura!? Why is she like that!?" Shirou directs his frantic rage at the vulnerable magus.
Rin only clenched her skirt in the palm of her hands. She didn't want to believe it but it seemed like she was the only one who understood the situation.
"Shirou, Sakura is dying…"
***
A foreboding song can be heard coming from the church on the hill. The same church which operated as both a foul cauldron of lost souls as well as a safe haven for masters who lost their right to fight long ago.
The song's origin is none other than the church's large organ. At the keys was a woman whose white hair, sheer beauty, and overall essence could easily cause one to mistake her for an angel. A woman by the name of Caren. Her slender fingers dance across the keyboard as the music continues to fill the air with its haunting beauty.
"May I ask what brings you to the house of God at this hour?" Caren speaks as she continues to play.
Someone enters the church and brings with them a heavy air. The sound of footsteps echoes through the large room as the tempo of the song slowed. The presence has already cleared over half the distance between Caren and the entrance, and yet there was still no answer. The music stops and Caren rises.
"If you wish to repent for your sins then…"
"That won't be necessary." A voice states flatly.
The white haired priestess turns slowly to face her visitor. Standing only a few feet away from her was a young woman dress in a black robe and high-laced boots. The blue haired woman maintains a serious stance as she release small amounts of hostility into the air.
"Are you the one who had been put in charge of this city by the Magic Association?"
"I am. Is there a problem?"
"Please do not insult my intelligence. I'm positive that you are well aware of the recent activity in this city. Someone has set up a powerful barrier which surrounds this entire area."
"You're from the church? I would've never guessed due to the traces of dark energy surrounding you." Caren maintains a dignified stance. "I am well aware of the manner of which you are speaking, however, I'm also well aware of the fact that there is nothing we can do about the manner now."
With that Caren turns away from the woman and returns to the organ. Ciel glares at the woman's back shortly before doing the same as she begins to make her way out of the church. Upon approaching the large double doors at the entrance, she stops.
"Caren-san, I'd like to know what information you have on who set up this barrier."
Caren remains unmoved by the woman's words as she closes her eyes and resumes her song.
"Judging by the stagnation and the sheer amount of mana, I can only think of one source powerful enough." Caren pauses as she opens her eyes slightly and gazes down at her fingers. "And that is the Dark Grail that manifested in this city some time ago."
The twin doors close and leave Caren by herself. Slowly she lifts her hands off the keys and twines them together to say a quick prayer.
***
Their steps are heavy and quick. One after another, their feet kick and push off the pavement like two horses racing for a common goal.
"What are you doing you idiot!? Can't you run any faster!?" Rin looks over her shoulder to scold the boy lagging behind her.
"Shut up! If that were possible then I'd have already done it. It's this body…"
Normally, such a small task as running would be easy once one learns how. However, for Shirou it was a loop of through thought. Because his body didn't respond the way he wanted it to he had to instead move it with his mind alone. From activating his muscles to kicking one foot of the ground; it was a wonder he was able to keep up with Tohsaka as he was.
"Emiya-kun…"
Tohsaka stops running and looks at Shirou with a troubled expression. Shirou quickly comes to a halt and shoots her a similar look.
"Emiya-kun, is something wrong with your body?"
That's right. Because Rin was still in England at the time, he'd never thought to tell her either.
"Well…the truth is…"
The two freeze as they hear footsteps nearby. Turning, the two find themselves staring at a woman in clergy clothes. She carried about her the same air as Caren, although a bit tenser. The blue-haired girl continues to walk towards the two only to stop a few feet away.
"Are you two magi?" The woman's voice is cold and direct.
Rin and Shirou remain silent. Trying not to appear hostile, they brace themselves for a battle.
"I see", Ciel shifts her eyes between the two, "Then I don't suppose either of you know about the barrier surrounding this entire city."
Rin's attention snaps at the woman's statement. She briefly remembers the mysterious boy from earlier and wonders if they have a connection. Seeing this, Ciel focuses her attention on the dark haired girl and narrows her vision. Hostility begins to seep into the air as the two begin to lock themselves in a mental battle.
"Oh? You won't get much out of her if you keep up that attitude miss."
A voice speaks out in the distance revealing to the three a large amount of mana. Ciel immediately turns towards the voice. Rin and Shirou however freeze in place because the voice was all too familiar.
"You…" Shirou slowly directs his attention to the top of a nearby building. There, standing in front of the moon, was a familiar heroic image with his red cape blowing in the wind.
***
Shiki looks up from the park bench and checks the clock. It was a quarter till midnight and the two had yet to encounter anything unusual. With a slight grumble and a yawn, Shiki stands up and stretches to keep from falling asleep.
The white princess hadn't moved since the two had arrived there. She stood in the center of the park and continued to look up at the moon. Even though Shiki couldn't see it, Arcueid could definitely tell the difference. The moon's image was distorting; changing back and forth between the moon she'd grown used to and the unfamiliar moon from far away.
"Arcueid, you've been staring at the moon for over an hour now. Don't you think that's enough?
Arcueid lowers her sight and looks at Shiki as if she were in a daze. Shiki immediately blushes still not used to seeing Arcueid with such a face. It was almost as if she'd just woken up from a pleasant dream.
"Shiki…"
"W-w-what are you!?" Shiki retreats.
Suddenly, Arcueid's Mystic Eyes flare and flood the entire park in a stagnant bloodlust. Her hands begin to shake and the bones in her hands begin to crack and creak as her claws become sharper.
"Shiki…."
Shiki jumps back and reaches into his pocket to grab his knife. Drawing the blade, he lowers his stance and gets into a combat position.
"Arcueid, what are you..!?"
"MOVE!!!!!!"
Before Shiki got the chance to complete his thought, Arcueid had lunged forth and swung her arm in a lightning-fast slashing motion. Shiki could do nothing but close his eyes and wait for the end. But there was no need to. Arcueid was not aiming at the boy but the beast behind him. Dumbfounded, Shiki finds himself staring at the princess's back and at the black hound that she'd ripped in two.
"What the…!? It can't be…"
Shiki looks up past the white figure before him and finds two haunting images standing about five yards away. A living mass of chaotic matter, Nrvnqsr Chaos, and the Serpent of Akasha, Michael Roa Valdamjong.
"Oh? It seems like you have missed my friend."
"How disappointing. I would have preferred to not have dealt with that boy's annoying eyes."
***
The wall is blown away and all the nearby furniture is destroyed. Glass breaks, the floor cracks, and everything caught in the onslaught is destroyed along with them. Tohno Akiha couldn't help but swear under her breathe as she was forced to destroy her own home. But she had no other choice.
The hybrid's opponent wasn't a normal one. Wave after wave of skeletons were sent to attack her and one after another they were defeated. It wasn't a matter of strength but a matter of numbers. The witch's pawns were endless. To make matters worse, Akiha was fighting with a major handicap. Had it been just her, such a job wouldn't be as tedious but she was also taxed with the job of defending the two house maids as well.
"Akiha-sama!" Kohaku calls out to her master.
Turning on her heel, Akiha confirms her target as she spots the skeleton raising its sword over Kohaku's head. Her crimson hair extends as she uses her Origami to ensnare and char the threat until it collapses to the ground.
"Oh my, you certainly are an interesting one" The puppet master, the witch Caster, watches from beyond the collapsed wall, "I think I'm going to enjoy playing with you."
Akiha glares at the witch as she stops to catch her breath. Hisui and Kohaku rush to her side as the next wave of skeletons forms and begins to close in on there target.
***
Rider retreats into the living room area and crouches low like a spider. Her glasses have been replaced with her blindfold and her long purple hair spreads across the floor like a web.
The door to the room is sliced in half and kicked down as a young man enters. If one had met him under normal conditions, they would have mistaken him as a normal student. However, this boy was far from that; a trained killer. He enters the room and smiles at Rider as he runs his thumb along the back of his knife.
"I see", the killer looks around the room, "So the girl is in the back after all."
Rider maintains her position. She couldn't let this man anywhere near Sakura in the condition she was in now. But the truth was that there would be very little she could do. Her opponent possessed speed and skill that could rival a servant. With her master dying, Rider was fighting solo.
"Well then", the boy smiles and lifts his knife to gaze at his reflection, "I was told only to come get the girl and leave without fighting…but" Nanaya sets his sights on Rider, "I suppose killing one person won't hurt."
The sound of chains fills the room as Rider summons her weapons of choice to battle.
"If you run away…" Nanaya laughs at the though, "No, I guess it's too late for that." Nanaya spins his knife around in his hand and lowers it down to his side as a sadistic grins spreads across his face. "Well then…let's kill."
***
Elsewhere, back in Misaki, Kurosaki Shinsuke quietly sits atop the unfinished shrine that watches over the town. His blue eyes remain fixated on the moon by his mind begins to wonder. He recalls his indirect encounter with Tohsaka Rin and wonders if she'd contacted the others soon enough. He then begins to curse himself for not contacting the Tohno family the minute he arrived in town. He could sense the ongoing battles in both the park and the mansion. He wanted to help; however, right now there was a more important matter to attend to.
His watch goes off to signal the fall of midnight.
"It's time." The mysterious youth rises and stares at the moon.
The heavenly figure warps and distorts as the barrier around the city activates and creates a closed space. A type of seal appears in the sky over the moon's image and creates a violent red glow. The entire town begins to quake as the moon slowly divides and clones its own image. A second field appears over the horizon outside of Misaki. Within that closed space is the city of Fuyuki.
The seal on the moon changes shape and color as the two moons begin to fuse back together. In a similar fashion, the two closed fields draw near each other. The barriers collide and slowly begin a type of dissolving process. When finished, both Misaki and Fuyuki would become merged.
Shinsuke turns and begins to leave the shrine making sure to grab a katana he had resting against a support column.
"So it begins; the end of a thousand years."