A/N: Thank you all very much for the faves, follows and reviews! I didn't think there would be such a great response, but it fuelled me to update fast to give you more.
A few things in response to the reviews. I'm aware that Zelrecth is alive in basically all canon Nasuverse, but this fic is an AU setting. It is close to the original, but one of the big differences is that here Zelrecth died a hero's death, defending humanity (his death was not when repelling the moon, but at a later date). This is what allows the Einzberns to consider him a good candidate to pair with Kiritsugu, as they know Caster suits his fighting style, and they know Zelrecth would make a vastly powerful servant. As for the Jeweled Sword, in this reality it was used by Zelrecth at the time of his death, and while it was rendered useless to Mages without knowledge of the Second Magic, a physical part remained after his death that the Einzberns acquired.
Regarding Caster's identity and appearance, all will be explained later, and they are important plot points. I think it's more fun to let you speculate about it in the meantime.
Counter Guardians are also a really important part of the plot (big lol at CG TOHSAKA mentioned in the reviews, but yeah, that's a comedy character), though probably not exactly as you think. Once again, it's better to find out about it in the story.
On the matter of Kirei, I will see how his character develops, but I do consider him a character with low chances of a happy ending. That said, I hope I won't break the Nasuverse too much, but I have some evil plans for who and how would have been also summoned to this war, so don't be too discouraged yet about which Fate/Zero servants will make appearances.
Now, on with the story!
Chapter 2 - Committing
Archer peered down with one grey eye open at his pintsized companion. His strong arms were folded over his broad chest, his tall form looming over the small girl. Perhaps a normal child would have been intimidated, but Rin appeared way too absorbed in examining his every detail, pure marvel clear on her young face. At least she was quiet, which allowed the spirit to collect his thoughts somewhat.
Being summoned by Rin's father was certainly an unexpected development. He was not too startled to find someone other than the pig-tailed Master he was used to contracted to him, after all it was only nine times out of ten that the fiery Tohsaka girl guided him into another parallel world incarnation of the cursed war (by far the most awkward case was when he found himself face to face with a younger incarnation of himself). Yet this was definitely the first time he was summoned to a previous sequence of the Holy Grail War.
Even in normal cases, memories that he carried over to different realities proved to be of little use, as there was either inherent differences even before his arrival, or his own actions altered the outcome of events. Not to mention, thanks to visiting countless possible scenarios, his memories often jumbled up between them, and he couldn't reliably tell what followed what. He was never sure if being able to keep memories of alternate worlds was a blessing or a curse, but he vaguely recalled that it was Rin of one of those realities who elucidated him about how the phenomenon was due to him being outside of the normal flow of time as a Counter Guardian.
At any rate, in this situation pretty much all of his recollections were completely useless. He had very little information about the fourth war, and he wondered how his interference could have already affected that. For example he knew Kirei Kotomine killed Tohsaka Tokiomi during the war, however he had no idea when, how or why. He wondered if he could, or rather should stop that event from occurring, but he supposed planting the seeds of doubt at least couldn't hurt, the Tohsaka mage was overly trusting of the priest.
The main problem that worried him, was that being a Servant of the man in the red suit meant that he would have to face his own father on the battlefield. While he knew if he played his cards right (and he has discerned Tokiomi would be a good partner in that, the man was undoubtedly clever and meticulous) he could easily corner Saber, who he remembered having served his father, but having a hostile encounter with the man who brought him up with loving care was not something he could look forward to.
Then there was the matter of his past self, and his usual goal of eliminating said past alter ego. He was sure that goal had to be completely abandoned in this timeline, as he could not imagine the dark haired man he had for a Master allowing him to kill a child. Not to mention, he could hardly stomach such an action himself. Instead, maybe he could somehow prevent the Great Fuyuki Fire, which he knew had to do something with the fourth war…
"Where is it?" The demanding, shrill question of the child holding her small hands on her hip, her blue eyes piercing his own pulled him from his reverie.
"Uh… What?" He replied a bit dumbly, having been caught off guard.
"Your weapon." She scrunched up her little noise, and tried to look as tall and intimidating as possible, which mostly just looked comical against Archer's physique. "The one that you will use to defend Father with. Don't tell me you forgot it!"
Archer gaped at the assertive child, who didn't let up at all. Finally a fond smirk found its way to his face. This was his Rin alright, ten years younger or not, Rin was the same.
"There is no need to foolishly brandish a tool of war when the situation calls for it, pipsqueak." Retorted the white haired man, tone patronizing.
"Better watch out for my wrath if that stupid attitude of yours gets my father harmed!" Shouted the enraged little girl back at him, her face a tomato shade. "And don't you dare call me that! I'm a big girl now, I already have a family crest, and I will be the next head of the Tohsaka family!"
"Oh, do you have a better suggestion then for how to address someone so short?" Countered Archer, barely contained mirth sparkling in his normally cold eyes. As could be expected, Rin was much easier to rile up as a child, but just as amusing, if not more so. It certainly helped that she could not retaliate with magical explosions and alike.
"Rin-sama." Announced the child after some consideration. She folded her arms over her tiny chest with the poise of a queen. "You may call me Rin-sama."
Archer choked on a half-suppressed snicker. Definitely more amusing, he decided.
"Well then, I would think this is quite a bit past Rin-sama's bedtime." The silver haired man stated and gathered the small girl up into his strong arms in a single swoop.
"Waaah, put me down you imbecile, I have my own legs!" The blue eyed girl screamed, but no matter how she flailed, the toned arms held her steadily against a broad chest as the man strode purposefully.
"That may be true, but they are way too short carry you at a pace fast enough for my liking." The tanned skinned spirit supplied, without looking down.
"Idiot." The dark haired girl snapped back, but most of the bite was gone from her voice as she relaxed against the warmth of Archer's hold. "You should just listen to what I tell you."
"I have no obligation to listen to your orders." There was a gentle smile playing on his lips as he said this, eyes staring straight ahead, as he opened the door to the girl's room. "I was summoned by your father, and my allegiance is towards him, no one else."
This time Rin was silent as he placed her next to her large bed. He absentmindedly wondered who came up with the idea of making such a little girl sleep alone in such an enormous bed and room. Though of course he knew wasn't easily intimidated.
"Now change, and get to sleep. No more complaining." Archer ordered sternly, and turned to exit the room.
"Water. I can't sleep if you don't bring me a glass of water." Rin stated in a strained voice, her hands balled into fists at her side.
"Eh, didn't I just tell you not to boss me around?" Grumbled the man with a sigh, but he was complying anyway. He supposed getting the water was a small price to pay to get the pesky girl out of his hair, so he could get back to plotting. "You better be ready by the time I'm back."
When he returned, Archer found the girl snuggled under the thick, fluffy blankets, blue eyes fully alert though.
"Your water, Rin-sama." He jibed, as he placed the glass on her bed stand, within her reach.
"Is the great Rin-sama afraid of the dark, by any chance?" Taunted the white haired spirit when the girl kept silent. That finally got her to glare at him, but instead of retorting, she stared at him with a slight rosy blush on her cheeks. Archer waited patiently for her to speak.
"Tell me a bedtime story, Archer."
The tanned man raised a white eyebrow.
"I thought you weren't a little girl anymore." He remarked, then ducked a clumsily aimed pillow. "But shouldn't you ask someone else. Spiritual Servants are not really suited for bedtime stories."
"Mother doesn't have any magic, so she was sent away with the servants, for their protection." Recited the little girl the reason for the emptiness of the huge house while glaring at a spot on the wall opposite to her. "Father is busy preparing for the war, and I wouldn't want Kirei to tell me story even if he was free because he is a dung-head."
Archer stifled a chuckle at the last part, then let his gaze soften as he observed the troubled expression on the blue eyed little magus' face. Children really should not have to look like that, he thought to himself, before determinedly kneeling next to the bed.
"Now, I might not be good at this, but tell me what kind of story you want to hear."
Caster supposed her situation could have been a lot worse. At least she wasn't summoned by a homicidal maniac. On the other hand, she could have dealt with that kind of master a lot easier. While it wasn't her preference, being summoned to an incarnation of the Fourth War did not really hinder her in achieving her goal, though it did complicate things slightly. Never mind the fact that she set out to oppose a being no sane person would even ponder about, her greatest obstacle right now was god forsakenly irritating man who held the three command seals over her.
In reality of course she would have been able to find a way to neutralize the power of the seals over time if she put enough effort into it, she could have even found a spell to numb the dark eyed man's consciousness and create a puppet out of him to follow her will. Despite her capabilities, Caster ultimately preferred to be working with willing allies who actually contributed to her work, not mindless dolls. It really wasn't her style, no matter what people would have said about her tendencies of subjugation. No, that was just her assertive nature.
In any case, the damned man, Kiritsugu was making any form of collaboration exceedingly difficult. She has been here for a couple of days now, but she still knew next to nothing about the dark clothed man's reason for seeking the Grail or his plans and information about the war, much less what kind of man he really was. All she had to go on was second hand information from his wife, which she knew better than to trust with a man as guarded as him. For heaven's sake the cold man wouldn't even talk to her apart from when it was absolutely necessary. She had seriously contemplated strangling him with the dark tie he wore so casually.
She had to get him to acknowledge her at all cost. Her plan was reckless, but there was no other way.
"Good morning Caster-san. I have brought a coat for you in case you are cold." The sweet voice of one red eyed homunculus she has come to regard here as her only company pulled her from her gloomy thoughts.
"Thank you Irisviel, but there was no need for that." She dismissed the kind offer without even looking at the woman. "The cold helps me think, and it's not like spirit vessels would get sick."
"But it must still feel unpleasant. The temperature is very low up here on the mountain in this season." Argued the white haired woman, herself dressed in warm furs. "Are perhaps the clothes and rooms prepared for you not to your liking Caster-san? I can always arrange for better quality materials…"
"No, there is nothing but lavish luxury in all that the Einzbern family provides me. Really nothing is lacking in your generous hospitality." The woman dressed in the jeweled outfit said in a placating tone.
"If you don't mind me asking," The homunculus queried in a cautious tone, confusion plastered on her sweet face. "Why then are you sitting on top of a snow covered tree, instead of enjoying the facilities of the castle?"
"I like tall places out in the open." Caster's eyes never left the spot she was staring at, but there was a hint of a fond smile on her face, the angle not quite permitting the Einzbern mage to see it.
"Say Irisviel," The spirit suddenly asked, tone changed more serious. "How did Old Man Zelretch die?"
"Oh," The doe-like red eyes of the woman below blinked in surprise at the unexpected question. "He died as a defender of humanity. But it was a gruesome affair truly. It happened around a hundred years ago. Shortly before the war the humans call their First World War Let me see..."
Caster remained silent, letting her companion gather her thoughts. The spirit's eyes bright with magic were still trained at the figure of a black haired man and a small silver haired child in the distance.
"Trouble was stirred when the larger part of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostoles successfully entered into a working alliance, in retaliation to the Church's new practice of equipping the non-magical populace with means to detect and report dead apostoles." The homunculus recounted with a grim look in her wine colored orbs. "The combined power of the Dead Apostole Ancestors in agreement was truly terrifying, and when they realized it themselves, their goals shifted from just subjugating the Church to eradicating all of humanity by turning everyone into dead apostoles."
"Fatalities were very high, and though normal humans initially accepted the explanation of natural disasters, there was no way to conceal the existence of a dead apostole army once it was in place. The war was dubbed the War of Nightmares, unexplainable in nature by non-magical humans to this day." Irisviel paused to draw in a breath, then watch the white mist rise in the freezing air before her as she exhaled. "That was when the Wizard Marshall Zelretch came to the rescue. Having recreated his famed Jeweled Sword, he led what was left of humanity's forces, mages and executioners following out of sight of regular humans. Zelretch faced, and single-handedly defeated most of the allied ancestors, the church working in quick order to seal them. However, the strain was such on his body, that he lost his life on the battlefield. Nonetheless, with his noble sacrifice victory would have been impossible, and as such he was entered into human history as a true hero."
"Huh, the old bastard really made himself an impressive death here." Remarked bemusedly the woman sitting atop the tree branch.
"Caster-san, would I be correct to assume you were a discipline of Zelretch?" Queried the woman dressed in a purple coat and hat.
"Something along those lines." The spirit Servant replied distractedly. "But don't worry Irisviel, I have gone beyond the geezer's abilities. Your husband had not summoned an inferior Caster."
"I never doubted that for a second." The homunculus stated resolutely. "You have shown us Caster-san that your magic is more than suitable compete successfully in the Holy Grail War. I'm merely wondering if you also share your late master's ideals."
The jewel bearing woman sighed wearily. This has been going on for a while.
"You keep telling me Irisviel," Caster started in a bored tone. Her eyes narrowed unbeknownst to the white haired woman below her, as she spotted the targets of her attention entering the area she had prepared. "How Kiritsugu-san is going to fight for the sake of saving the world and all of humanity. And I don't question that you truly believe that."
The homunculus blinked as the Servant dropped with the outmost grace on the snow next to her. It didn't even make a sound.
"But you see, I just have to see for myself the kind of man he really is." The spirit whispered quietly, and the perplexed Irisviel barely registered the apologetic look in her swirling magical eyes before she was gone, leaving a whirlwind in her wake.
An unexplainable sense of dread settled in the pit of the red-eyed woman's stomach.
Kiritsugu felt a rare sense of happy calm when playing around carelessly with his daughter, even when he knew it could very well be their last, as he was to soon set out for the war. His peace was cruelly shattered though as he felt the intimidating presence behind him. He stilled, hands firmly holding onto the small legs of Illyasviel on his shoulder, who quieted down sensing the abrupt change in the mood.
"I hope I'm not interrupting, Kiritsugu-san." Came the flake sweet voice of his Servant. The dark-eyed man could not discern anything unusual about the tone, but he would never dismiss the alarm bells of his keen senses telling him something was dreadfully wrong.
"Not at all, Caster. Did you need me for something?" The man dressed in a dark suit and jacket replied calmly, but the rigid line of his back showed he was ready for action. He pondered if perhaps his spirit Servant harbored animosity towards him due to him keeping his distance from her, she seemed like a prideful woman, who would not take to being ignored. Truth to be told, he knew his strategy of having his wife subtlety trying to uncover her objectives and allegiances wasn't really working the cautious jewel bearing woman, but he wanted to see what she would do about the situation, and use that information to help him build a realistic profile about her.
"Actually, I was looking for little Illyasviel there." Sounded the syrupy answer from the unusually lightly dressed woman standing in the snow covered forest.
"Really, me?" Cried the small child with excitement, her head turning towards Caster.
"Yes."
Kiritsugu did not have the time to whirl around properly as the raw killing intent descended upon them. He had one arm supporting a confused Illya, the other already having drawn a gun infused with magic bullets that he kept at all times with him. He knew very well though, that as a human he would be no match for the Servant, and was about to activate his Time Accel, but the magic he called on failed to answer him.
"You know of the caster class specialty Kiritsugu-san, don't you?" Rang the mocking, sugar-coated words of the woman pulsating with a barely suppressed magical inferno. The following pause was broken by the involuntary choking sounds from his daughter who struggled to breathe as she was held up high by her tiny neck. "I have set up this area in advance so your Time Alter magic cannot be used here. Nor can you leave until I allow it. So don't look so surprised."
"What do you want with her Caster? I can't imagine her being of much use to someone like you." Ground out the dark-eyed man, body as tense as the string of a drawn bow, but his taut muscles remained motionless. Even in a situation like this, Kiritsugu managed to stay calm, his practiced poker-face effectively masking his inner turmoil as he stared calculatingly at the grandly dressed woman.
"Oh no, but she is." Smiled wickedly the owner of the swirling metallic eyes, voice tranquil and light like she was discussing how the thick white clouds sailed upon the blue sky. "Our contract was never sealed by blood, and you know, before I commit to serving a Master I have to test their resolve. I can't have myself tied down by a weak-willed fool."
The dark eyes of the former mercenary narrowed. He carefully evaluated his options, but there wasn't that much he could do. Even if he was using Time Alter, he would have been easily outclassed by a fully prepared Caster spirit, and he didn't even have his strongest bullets on him. Apart from the command spells he had nothing worthwhile to try, but the War hasn't even started yet, using a command spell at such an early stage…
"If you give me your assent, I'll finalize our bond here and now. Surely you can feel the magical circles I have drawn up here?" As if to support her words, a sizzling sound was heard, as white snow melted away from intricate magical symbols pulsing below them on the ground. "All it needs now is just this little bit of blood in this small girl."
"Why her, Caster? Blood can be supplied from a lot of different sources." The man tried to reason, but he already knew it was futile as he looked into the unwavering metallic eyes shining with fearsome resolve. Had his Servant lost it completely? Or was this some kind of cruel experiment on her part? What was her purpose, his brain whirled at an impossible speed to try to figure it out, but he wasn't seeing a clear pattern.
"The blood has to be pure to be the most effective." Shrugged the white haired woman nonchalantly. Idly observing the squirming child she was slowly choking. "In any case, I will not accept anyone but her. I want to see how determined you are to win the Grail."
Kiritsugu felt that he was trapped, with no way out of it. It wasn't a feeling he hadn't encountered and managed to get out of usually, but this time it wasn't his life at sake, and it wasn't a stranger's fate he would be responsible for. But the dark haired man was no stranger to loosing people precious to him. His mouth hardened into a thin line, but before the dark haired man could say anything, he caught the muffled screaming of what he identified as his wife. He glanced to the side to see her struggling against an invisible barrier that lit up as her pale fists pounded on it. He was sure the distressed woman was crying Illya's name, desperate for the safety of their child.
"So what will it be, Kritsugu-san?" The imposingly clothed spirit "Are you willing to sacrifice your own daughter for the sake of fulfilling your dream? If you give her life to me, her blood on my magic circle will solidify my pledge to obey your every order, but should you prove inept, you can forget about receiving any help from me in this war. We both know that if I refuse to cooperate, three measly command spells could not quite make a difference, so think about it carefully Kiritsugu-san. You must realize you will not have the time or resources to summon a new Servant before the war begins, while the Einzberns could always just build you a new daughter."
At the last part, Caster smiled shrewdly, clearly taunting the man. Kiritsugu's jaw tightened.
"I could hardly do anything to stop you, if you wanted to kill her." He spat at her coolly, matching her glare.
"DON'T YOU DARE INSULT ME!" Bellowed the spiritual woman, her voice amplified several times by the magic that reacted to her fury. He could hear Illya whimper with fear and discomfort within her grasp. It took the regal woman a moment to calm down somewhat and continue, eyes still slightly boiling with indignation. "I just gave my word that I will not harm your daughter if you choose it so. You won't need to use any command spells at all. The price is simply that I will not see it fit to serve you in this war. I will only aid a true magus, who is able to cast away all emotions that tie him down. Are you like that, Kiritsugu-san?"
The man in the dark suit could feel himself getting physically ill watching his daughter struggle for her life at the mercy of the almost completely raw magical being. His limbs were aching to make him jump across to rip the girl from her hold, but he willed his body to keep still. He had to remain calm, and think clearly. Even if he vastly misjudged Caster's character so far (and he didn't have that much to go on yet), this whole situation still held no logic that he could understand.
"I'm growing impatient Kiritsugu-san, and I doubt Illyasviel will last much longer." Sneered the jewel bearing magus. The man realized that she was telling the truth, he could see for himself Illya's movements growing weaker. But then he finally heard the quiet voice of his daughter trembling in the chilly air.
"Da-daddy… Help me…"
Kiritsugu stared into the large, begging red eyes of his daughter, she haven't called him that for years now. He desperately tried to train his senses to detect any deception, to figure out what he was missing, but no matter how he looked, he could see no alternatives. He attempted swallowing, but his entire throat was dry. He could not afford to give up now, no matter what, this was his Fate.
"Complete obedience." His voice was incredibly hoarse, and it hurt to speak, but he carried on. "You will do everything in your power to get me the grail."
"The magic in these crests before your eyes are proof that I am the most powerful Servant, and I will only obey but the strongest Master. Prove yourself to me, and my magic will be yours to command without fail. I will not go back on my words with my magic behind them." The pale lips of the woman moved in slow motion, yet he was feeling too nauseous to be completely following the movements. However, he could still feel the strength of the magic filling the cold air around them. There was no other choice.
"Do with her as you wish."
"Daddy!? No…!"
Kiritsugu turned away, but it was in vain if he hoped to cancel to out the gruesome crunch behind him, followed by the sound of something dropping on the soft snow. He was too scared to look back.
He felt morbidly surreal, like he wasn't really in his own body as he listened the agony-filled sobbing and screaming of his wife. He mechanically turned around, his legs wobbly, and he stared at the scene with empty eyes: the prone, lifeless body of Illya lay in the pale arms of his wife, her small head bobbing at an unnatural angle as Irisviel held the child close. Illya's face had a grotesque display of fear frozen on it, tears still glimmering at the edges of the now dead eyes, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Kiritsugu slowly, unconsciously strode over until he could touch that face that he felt was rightfully accusing him. There was no mistake, it was real. He could still feel a hint of warmth behind the pale skin.
It was finally sinking in that her dear Illya was the limp corpse before him, and no matter how much the man tried to stop them, frightening thoughts assaulted his brain. Was it really worth it? Was a world without Illya really worth it? What was he going to fight for again? Was it really worth the sacrifices? He could feel his knees give way, but he didn't really feel the cold as he slumped into it.
"You disgust me." The stony whisper left the mouth of his Servant, and Kiritsugu's eyes bulged out. "Don't think for a second that I would listen to a word you had to say."
So he killed Illya for nothing, he sacrificed her for just to satisfy the whim of a mad Servant who wouldn't obey him anyway. Another life he crushed in his way to realize his goals. Was it really necessary? If he had at least accomplished something, if he had secured the loyalty of his Servant, but he still failed. Despite everything he gave up. Kiritsugu found he couldn't breathe, and he only vaguely comprehended that his clouded vision was due to tears burning his eyes.
"Hmph, whatever. You don't really deserve it, but I'll let you have another chance at proving your worth to me. You better not screw it up again." The man registered the derisive snort in the jeweled woman's voice, and his brain processed the words, yet he didn't quite understand. "But don't think I will take pity on you. I'm not erasing Illya's memories."
At that moment the body cradled in his wife's arm flickered with a magical mist dissolving off of what looked like a crystalline replica of the small white haired little girl, and his eyes focused in on the terrified face of his real, living and breathing daughter just a few feet away, in a spot that moments ago seemed nothing but a pile of snow.
"Tch, don't be so bewildered, illusions like this are nothing to a wielder of True Magic. You should have understood that already." Snorted the metallic eyed woman, pointedly looking away before soundlessly dematerializing. Still, he could hear her last words, uttered towards him with barely concealed anger. "You better be ready to take responsibility, you bastard."
The coal black eyed man never would have thought he would one day be so grateful that his unnaturally keen senses could be misled so much, nor that he would be thankful to a woman who tortured and played with him as if he was a worthless bug on her shoe. He had no way to deny the relief he felt washing over him either, despite all his convictions before that he was ready to throw away anything for the sake of his goal.
He thought he could bear all the blame, become a monster, and save humanity no matter the cost, but now looking at how his wife embraced their small child with pure bliss written on her beautiful face, an emotion he also couldn't help feeling, maybe he had some things to think about again. Then again, he couldn't just give up on his ideals either, not even when he clearly saw the betrayal burning in his daughter's ruby colored eyes.
"Iri, I'll be taking care of Caster from now on. Don't concern yourself with her anymore, just make sure Illya is fine."
The homunculus nodded weakly, and sniffled as she gazed into her husband's firm dark orbs.
"Master, if you may let me speak, I would like to point out that your plan with Kotomine is quite lacking, to say the least." The barbed enunciation of the word "master" did not escape Tokiomi, and he could feel one of his dark eyebrows twitch in irritation, though otherwise his face was blank.
"I did not ask for your opinion Archer." The blue eyed magus deadpanned nonchalantly, and continued on his way towards his workshop to check on any new intelligence.
"And I gave it anyway, out of the kindness of my heart." The silver eyed spirit goaded the dark haired man, complete with a mock bow of respect. The Tohsaka head knew his Servant was testing his patience, and he wasn't going to let him have any satisfaction.
"Hn, how would you improve it then?" Implored the magus thoughtfully, ignoring the bait.
"Personally, I would abandon it altogether." Shrugged the tall muscular man in a laidback tone, one eye closed as he watched his Master, his red clothed arms crossed over a broad chest.
"If you think I'm in the mood for jokes Archer, you are sorely mistaken. You seem not to remember that the test of your abilities the other day left a lot to be desired." Retorted Tokiomi in a controlled voice, but that eyebrow twitch was back much to the Servant's entertainment.
"That is of course just a temporary side effect from a faulty summoning, Master." Jibed the silver haired man good-naturedly, a blatant smirk on his tanned face.
Tokiomi's back went rigid for a moment, his hands clamped into fists, but he eventually relaxed, then promptly turned around and resumed his earlier activity of trying to reach the basement room as if nothing has happened. He heard a poorly stifled chuckle, but he didn't bother looking back.
"Very well, then let me suggest this:" Came the deep voice of the owner of the wildly standing silver hair as he followed the mage in the red suit, matching his pace with ease. "There would be a lot less suspicion if Kotomine's death was faked as well as his Servant's. We would have to put up a good show too to satisfy those watching though."
"Hm, you have some interesting ideas Archer, you might be of some use after all." Mused the owner of the red suit jacket, his steps only a tad slower.
"I wouldn't want to disappoint my Master." Declared the sardonic warrior behind him.
Tokiomi kept himself from sighing in exasperation.
"Father, Father!" This time his daughter's voice reverberated in the hallway, and interrupted him. He briefly wondered if he was going to get any work done today. Nonetheless, he turned to face the girl. "I have finished my homework, can I have a cookie now?"
"Rin... you need to have restraint. We are busy right now." The black haired mage tried to mollify the little girl, but he had a feeling it would not be an easy task as he recognised the voracious sparkle in the child's blue eyes.
"But just one? I really did my homework splendidly like a Tohsaka future heir should!" The blue eyed girl attempted to negotiate, not backing down.
"Archer, give her one of them." Ordered Tokiomi, deciding that it was less trouble letting her daughter have her way in this case than trying to placate her.
"I'm afraid that we are out of the cookies, Master." Sounded the calm baritone of the tanned spirit. "You will need to remember them the next time you restock our supplies."
The last part the steel eyed man added for good measure, in a sardonic voice that passed over the young girl's head who surely would have reprimanded him for being disrespectful if she realized. Still, he was successful at grating on the nerves on the Tohsaka head, though the man would not let it show.
"You mean, when you restock the supplies. After all, wouldn't that be included in a good Servant's task of duties." Tokiomi pointed out with a shrewd smile emerging on his face as if he could read the tanned man's unsaid dissent about how such things would be below a spirit servant.
"Buy it now Archer! I want the cookies now!" Rin decided to try her luck with the silver haired spirit before he could reply to the Tohsaka head, and her father had no intention of telling her off for bothering the warrior. Instead he settled on languidly crossing his arms over his chest to observe. This was payback.
"I still don't take orders from you, pipsqueak." Archer barked back, seemingly unaffected by the high-pitched whining, but he was unable to completely conceal a grimace.
"Stupid, pig-headed Archer!" Rin stomped with her tiny foot, her shrill voice not far away from a full blown tantrum. If you looked close enough, you could even see the first glimmer of tears in her sapphire coloured eyes. "You are totally useless! You should go away and never come back! Stupid!"
To Tokiomi's outmost curiosity, there was a grim look in the Servant's eyes at his daughter's words. He wondered how exactly she managed to affect the tall man so easily.
"Rin-chan, why are those cookies even that important? Is it worth being so upset about it?" The tanned warrior asked seriously, dropping his previous teasing attitude.
The girl blinked, her lips quivered, but she bit down on it, and she cast her gaze stubbornly on the floor. Yet, there was an air of sadness about her that wasn't to do with childish sulking.
"Mother always gives me a cookie when I do my work well." Came a small, murky whisper after a while. Tokiomi was taken aback, was his guarded daughter opening up at so little prodding. He was also finally piecing together that what he dismissed as just another fit from the girl was actually that she was missing her mother. "I did my homework today too, even though I had to do it alone, but no one gives me a cookie now…"
"Rin," The Tohsaka decided to finally address his daughter after her revelation of her feelings. "You have to understand that your Mother is away for her own safety. You should just focus on your own work to make her proud. There is no sense in despair-ehm?!"
The speech of the magus in the red suit was broken by a muscular arm stretched in front of him, silently signalling him to stop. He blinked, but his Servan't dark face was unreadable. Then it smoothed out with a kind smile, but it wasn't directed at him.
"I'll bake cookies for you without any delay, there should be nothing Rin-sama should want for." Archer stated with no hint of sarcasm as he swooped the child up effortlessly with one muscular arm. Rin was too surprised to protest, her face lit up by a rosy blush.
"So tell me, what kind of cookies does Rin-sama require?" The silver haired man queried as he gracefully balanced the girl on one shoulder, while walking in the direction of the kitchen.
"Oooooh!" Rin was all smiles now, her enthusiasm back with a full force, and the whole scene somehow made Tokiomi's heart ache with a dull pain, but he squashed the feeling quickly. "I want really big ones with white and dark chocolate and raisins, and also hazelnuts, and orange and… and…"
"I agreed to cookies, not culinary monstrosities." Reprimanded the tall man lightly. "You will have to decide on ingredients that actually work."
The Tohsaka mage who was left alone listened a while longer to the fading voices of his daughter and spirit servant. The figurative cogs of his brain turned and churned as he carefully pondered over something. It might be a reckless plan, but looking at the compatibility of the two, it did seem like an idea worth undertaking. He was not called cunning for nothing.
A/N:
Phew, things just kinda got out of hand there… I mean word count-wise. I was planning to have the next scene in this chapter too, but then the wordcount just kept increasing and increasing, and I thought it was best to stop now. Also gives more of a cliffie *is evil, but it is a known fact*, plus this gives a nice rounded POV for each of the four main characters of the story (except how Kiritsugu hogged most of it… the bastard…)
So in any case what I have to say is: Caster really has no finesse with kids, poor Illya. Archer on the other hand seems to be so good Tokiomi must be considering him hiring him as a permanent nanny. Also, fluff was promised, fluff was delivered. Character development (i.e.: psychological torture) happened. Yep, Caster is the kind of person who is just not going to take Kiritsugu's shit, and that man really needed a kick in the face. But don't worry, he will be all better (no, he won't be "cured" of his idiocy yet, but it is the beginning down a long long road).
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I hoped I haven't broken the Nasuverse too much still. *eagerly awaits what people have to say
Ah yeah, be warned, next update won't be so fast because Christmas is neigh upon us, and I will be busy with parties and things, but I will try my best for my lovely readers! Also next chapter will finally have some actions scenes… we will see how writing action scenes go for me… (wish me luck please!)
Thank you very much for reading! Your interest makes me impossibly happy!
Please excuse any spelling mistakes, I still lack a beta, and it's late here, and I'm too excited to wait with uploading until I had a proper read for errors. I will update it later if I find any. Also the mistake about Illya in chapter 1, thanks for pointing that out!
