Phoebe took a deep, long breath of Japanese air. There was something about it that seemed different yet-oh-so-right. It took her a few moments to realize what it was.
Freedom. For the first time in far too long, she was finally free from the stupidity that littered England's magical societies. Jack's hand slid into her own, and she smiled at the girl. The two got off the plane, collected the still out-cold form of Ron in the carrier...Phoebe hadn't cared to deal with drugging him so she just dosed him with Draught of the Living Death until she was ready to deal with his pathetic self again. So much simpler and she didn't have to clean up after him. Just move him every so often to make it look like he was awake.
The first thing she had to do was check out the house Zelretch had bought for them a month in advance, then go grocery shopping.
However her goals were immediately derailed the moment she saw a purple haired girl with a dead look in her eyes. Like she had given up hope a long time ago, and had learned not to expect anything good to happen without something absolutely horrible happening after.
It was one she had before she decided to insure Ron never touched her or got her pregnant...and then proceeded to get him hooked on legal muggle drugs.
She followed the girl to a mansion that gave her a bad feeling. It was like walking into one of Voldemort's bases when the Death Eaters were having a bit of 'fun'. Death, torture and many unspeakable acts all under one roof.
She would call Zelretch to ask what he knew of the girl she had seen...and if it would be worth 'volunteering' Ron for it in exchange for the girl. Not like he was of much use to her outside of a shield against idiots anyway.
Phoebe went the indirect route when it came to finding out why the girl had such a dead look in her eyes. She kidnapped the arrogant bastard who came out of the same house she had gone into and forcibly tore the information from his mind. What she saw utterly disgusted her.
There was no way in hell she was letting this stand. Fortunately she had a way of getting the girl out.
From what she got from the fool, Shin-something, the one he called Grandfather might be interested in turning a wizard into his next vessel. Enough so that he might be willing to part with the girl, Sakura.
She always knew Ron would be good for something...and as long as the body lived, the contract would still be in effect. At least until she broke it.
The boy left, his mind blocking out the memory of what happened. All he would know was he decided to skip school to pick up some easy girls...entirely unaware that she had knocked him out in her disgust his attitude and performed the same procedure that insured Ron would never get her pregnant.
Be a nice little surprise for the idiot when he realized he had pissed off the wrong witch and ended up neutered.
She walked calmly up to the estate armed with the Elder wand and the still unconscious form of Ron Weasley. Time to put the useless lout to some good.
She knocked on the door.
Zouken Matou was many things. Monster, Magus...but a fool was not one of them. Seeing the unconscious body of the man behind the strange woman who literally walked into his house and offered a trade, he knew something was up. Even with her assurances that the body possessed the same power she just displayed with a few words and a stick. A stick.
A single conjuration with no signs of deterioration and he wanted it. However a magus cannot become a wizard. A wizard could be magus-trained, but a magus couldn't spontaneously gain a magical core.
Not without a transferal of conscience and a hostile takeover.
Zouken looked at the girl with greed in his eyes.
"So what do you want in exchange for this body?"
"The girl. The one called Sakura. You get the body of a young wizard perfect for molding however you see fit, and I get her. I have a...use...for someone like her," she replied evenly. "I'll even throw in his wand and enough galleons to buy another if it doesn't suit you."
Zouken sneered. He had little use for Sakura outside of a body, and if he did this then he would have almost no use for her outside of using her as a lesser grail, if that. Besides, with the worm in her heart, he could possess her at any time, but the same couldn't be said of this body. No matter how...poor...the condition of it was.
"Deal. Where should I send the girl?" asked Zouken.
The girl rattled off a location far enough from her house that he wouldn't be able to find her simply by following the teen.
Shortly after Sakura returned home, Zouken had her gather her things and told her where to go. The girl didn't question him, thinking this was some new form of hell she had to endure. She had been broken long ago.
It took little time and a little more walking before Sakura entered the rather pleasantly furnished home. That was when she got the shock of her life as the woman shifted form to a rather tired looking raven-haired beauty that would put her former sister to shame.
"I freaking hate whatever the hell that thing you call Grandfather is."
Sakura stared blankly at her.
"Relax. You don't have to go back to that creepy ass worm pit ever again. Not if I have anything to say about it."
Sakura felt the faint stirrings of hope. Hope that she had thought long since quashed.
"...What do you mean?"
"I mean I tricked that creepy monster you called a Grandfather into accepting a wizard's body that will never have an heir. Once I add you to my family, the Matou clan will become permanently extinct," said the woman with an evil grin.
Sakura blinked.
"What?"
"Look, why don't you sit down while I make some tea and I'll explain things properly."
Sakura sat down on one of the chairs near the table, and accepted the strong black tea the woman handed her.
"My name is Phoebe Potter-Black. I am a witch and more importantly a self-serving, conniving, and very sneaky bitch with enough resources and common sense to pretty much do almost whatever the hell I feel like. I'm also the one who traded my 'husband', a bigoted idiot who's probably going to end up as your grandfather's next body, in exchange for your freedom and I'm willing to offer you the chance to say goodbye to the Matou family permanently."
Sakura blinked.
"Why?"
"Why you?" said Phoebe. Sakura nodded. "Because I know that look in your eyes far too well. I had the same one before I said 'enough' and took my own life into my hands. Coincidentally I almost wish I could see the look on that worm's face when he finds out what I did."
"What did you do?"
"I handed over a neutered wizard who pissed me off and removed any chance of that arrogant loser who calls himself your 'brother' of having children," said Phoebe with a straight face. Seeing the look of disbelief on Sakura's, her grin widened. "Never piss off a vet with access to modern medicine and a conjured scalpel."
Sakura, despite her best efforts to hold it in, giggled. The idea of Shinji being neutered had that effect on her.
"Now, once the old worm gets Ron, I'm calling in that annoying troll to see if he can help me make sure that idiot didn't leave any...surprises."
"Annoying troll?"
"He said his name is Zelretch. He's the entire reason I came to Fuyuki."
Sakura's eyes were wide. If she was on good terms with the Zelretch...then it was entirely possible she was finally free.
Zelretch only had to hear the gist before he burst out cackling. He knew helping the magicals 'Mistress of Death' would provide entertainment. And she didn't disappoint!
He gladly helped to rid Sakura of the tainted Grail pieces and the worms inside her body. Phoebe found it much easier to remove the cursed things when she finally earned the allegiance of Rule Breaker, Medea's dagger that was lost upon her death and recovered by the magicals.
The only reason she didn't accidentally summon the Witch (or her younger form) was because she had left it in the hands of Zelretch in hopes of finding out what it was while she summoned.
Within three days of offering up what was left of Ron to Zouken, Sakura was finally free of the tyranny of her 'family' and the evil monster that ruled it. She would never have to go to the worm pit ever again or suffer Shinji. To add to that, Phoebe was openly adopting Sakura into her family as she had Jack.
Sakura absolutely adored her new older sister. She loved being a Black and she loved the fact that she could now punch Shinji in the face the next time he started in on her.
The only reason she had never retaliated before was because Zouken would punish her after.
Maybe now she could reconnect with Rin... if her sister would let her.
Zelretch then told Phoebe she should register with the Church... apparently there was something interesting there if she was willing to risk going there alone.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Phoebe went, armed to the teeth with her wand and certain potions...as well as her trusty scalpel.
After she registered as the Master of Assassin, Phoebe left the church. It was only her natural instincts that kept her from being impaled from behind.
She twirled on her heel to find...an absolutely handsome blonde with the most stunning red eyes.
He seemed pleased by her stunned expression.
"Any particular reason you tried to kill me?" she asked.
"That fool Kotomine wants your Servant. Why he would want something as pathetic as Assassin I have no idea," said the man dismissively as he raised his hand to launch another barrage.
"...Uh-huh. And why would he send a king to do a Servant's job? Not that he would be able to get Assassin to work with him...she's more likely to kill him because he is a man," said Phoebe not impressed.
"So you recognize my status without being told. I may yet let you live, woman."
"You have the bearing of a great king and unlike most men I know, you at least have the power to back up your claims. At least your arrogance isn't entirely for show," she said honestly and without remorse.
The man smirked. He liked this woman. She was far more interesting than most women of this age.
"Hmph. You have amused me, woman. I shall allow you to live another day, but next time we meet I might not be so merciful," said the man.
Phoebe shrugged. She had dealt with egotistical assholes her entire life. One who could kill her from a distance and actually had the power to back up his threats was nothing new to her. Well outside of dealing with someone who at least wouldn't bore her to tears.
"So you've run into Gilgamesh. I'm surprised he let you go," said Zelretch. He was sticking around A) because Phoebe was an instant source of entertainment, and B) because he wanted to see Zouken's reaction to the fact she literally ended the Matou family in a way he wouldn't be able to declare a blood feud over.
Zouken had already taken over what was left of Ron's body...he was working towards making it more appealing since the man had become fat and sluggish thanks to Phoebe's concentrated efforts to keep him out of her way.
"I think I impressed him because I could tell he was a king and unlike every other man I'm forced to deal with, he had the power to back up his threats," said Phoebe, ladling in some food into a bowl.
Zelretch grinned. Phoebe paused in passing out dinner to look at him with annoyance.
"Alright you bloody troll, what exactly do you have your sleeve?"
"Tell me...have you heard of the Kaleidosticks?"
Elsewhere in Fuyuki and the Black Forests of Germany, two girls shivered with inexplicable dread as someone mentioned the bane of their nightmares...not that they were aware of it at that moment.
Phoebe took one look at the girly looking stick, and then at Zelretch.
"You have an unhealthy fascination for magical girl shows don't you?"
Zelretch only grinned.
"I'm game enough to try it out, but I get to pick what my cute furry side kick looks like," deadpanned Phoebe.
Zelretch let out a loud cackle.
Jack tugged at Phoebe's shirt.
"Am I not good enough to be your side kick?" she asked.
Phoebe easily lifted up the girl.
"No, you are my adorably homicidal minion and she's our enabler," said Phoebe with a straight face, looking at Sakura. Sakura, when she heard that, giggled.
Zelretch was laughing so hard he literally fell off his chair. Finally someone who got his sense of humor!