Fate On(e) Savior
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
A/N: Thank you guys for your reviews!
coronadomontes: It's a really good idea, but I don't think she is going to do that. Not if she doesn't plan on staying around after the War. If she does though… now that would be a different matter.
Basefan: Usually you would be correct, but there are some circumstances that made me decide to have him behave that way. First: It wasn't a fight but staged. Second: The opponent was fake, so he had no reason to go berserk. So for him it was more an irritating thing that he wanted to be over as fast as possible. If he took the daggers at the beginning it would give his "opponent" a reason not to get close. And that's what he told Assassin to get this over with as fast as possible.
Guest: He really does swear more. I'll try to include that.
Chapter 3: Red or White
Akaji Akage walked through the Fuyuki Park. He was a seven-year old boy with auburn hair and brown eyes. He talked with his older sister who walked beside him on his left. She had long black hair and blue eyes, just like her mother who was walking some steps behind them, together with his father, who looked like an older version of him. When his parents noticed him looking at them, they friendly waved towards him and he happily waved back before turning back towards his sister. But she wasn't there anymore. Terrified he looked around but now even his parents had vanished. The trees around him lost all their leaves and turned bleak.
"Mother! Father! Hana!", he cried out loud, but they didn't reappear.
Frightened he ran forward, but everywhere he went awaited him the same nightmarish scenery.
"Not a nice picture, right?" He turned around, startled by the sudden voice and in front of him…stood another him.
"Did you do that?! What do you want?!", he asked scared. His other self showed no emotion.
"Yes, I did that and I want you to do something for me. You see, right now you are dreaming. Big surprise there. But when you wake up, go upstairs into the garret. Ignore everything in the room except the old chest at the very end. Your parents weren't able to open it, but you will manage it without fail. There is an old book inside. Hide it. After the school has ended, go to the place described in the book and then follow all the other instructions."
"What are that instructions going to be?", Akage asked suspicious.
"Just a little magic ritual. Don't worry about it too much. It will all be explained in the book."
"Magic! Really?!", the boy asked enthusiastically, but then tuned down again and eyed the newcomer suspicious. "And how do I know that this magic isn't something bad?"
"Magic isn't good or bad. It's only the one using it. You can disregard this as just a weird dream, but you can trust me, you don't want, what's going to happen if you don't follow those instructions."
"Well, then what is going to happen? Have you looked into the future or what?"
Instead of an answer the scenery changed again. And what he saw was…Fire. Burning buildings and people wherever he looked. Akage shut his eyes and covered his ears, but the heat and the screams of the damned never vanished. Then suddenly it was all over and he stood again in the park.
"That is, what is going to happen", his other self said. "An all-consuming fire killing every human it gets its hold on. Now decide carefully. What are you going to do?"
The young boy was still shocked from what he had seen. It was only for a moment, but he had felt as if he had been in hell.
"Who are you?", he asked his duplication. For the first time his visitor smiled and it wasn't a menacing but a gentle one.
"I am a sword born out of flames, just like you." With that Akage woke up.
When he did go to school the next day, he was rather tense. Just as his visitor had told him, he had found the book in that old chest. Now he knew, it hadn't just been a simple dream, but he still couldn't decide, if he should follow the instructions depicted there. After all, one of them had been to draw a symbol made out of blood. Even though it didn't had to be human blood, it still meant he had to kill some living things. That just screamed "Black Magic"! But at the same time, he couldn't forget what the visitor had prophesized him. The burning fire didn't left his memory and even though it was so short, he couldn't forget what he had felt at that moment.
"Hey, what are you spacing out for?", a high voice interrupted his musing. It belonged to Imono Kurou, his friend. She had blond hair and used two ribbons to tie it into two braids. She wore their school uniform for girls, a white blouse and a blue skirt.
"Sorry, I have just a lot on my mind at the moment."
"I can tell that", his other friend, Yukimi Kotarou said. He had black spiky hair and dark brown eyes and he wore a school uniform, too. His was a white shirt and blue trousers, just like Akage. "So, what is it that keeps you so busy thinking?!"
"Sorry, I can't tell, it is a really private matter!"
"What?!", Kotarou said in mock-anger. "You won't even tell your best friend?!"
"Sorry, I really can't", he apologized. "It is really private."
"I know, I know. Don't sweat it! I was just making fun. But you know, you can talk to us if you have problems, right?"
"Thanks, I will remember that."
"Attention, please", the teacher called out and everybody made their way to their desks. "Because of the recent murder cases all afternoon activities have been cancelled. Please be sure to go right home after school."
Murder cases. He already had heard there had been a lot of them recently, but now that he thought about it, what if the murder cases and his dream where somehow connected? What if he could do something to stop it? Now he had decided! He would read the book completely and if it could help, he would even do that magic ritual.
Right after school he did go to the place that was hinted at within the book. It was an abandoned warehouse. Quickly he chose a fitting room, made place for the circle depicted in the book and prepared to draw it. It was interesting to note that he didn't had to kill some animals himself. There had been enough blood for the whole circle in the fridge. That it was rather odd that the fridge in an abandoned warehouse was working, escaped his seven-year old mind. He was just glad, he didn't had to kill anything.
When he finally finished drawing the circle he took a deep breath and then looked at the paper in his hand. Apparently this ritual was supposed to bring heroes from the past back to life and those words were the key to it. Since he couldn't stand there the whole time with the – for him – rather heavy book in his hand, he had copied the verses onto a smaller paper. He concentrated a last time and then spoke:
"It's made out of silver and iron.
A foundation of stone and the Master of contracts,
Under the supervision of Clavis.
A wall blocking the impure wind.
Close the gates of all four directions.
From the throne, come forth and follow the forked road to the kingdom.
Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill!
Fill five times,
And destroy each when filled.
I announce!
My will shall create your body, and your sword shall create my fate.
As this is a summon of the Grail, if you accept my will and reason, answer me!
I hereby swear!
I know what is all good in the eternal world.
I fight what is true evil in the eternal world.
Bowing under the trinity in heaven,
Come forth from the circle of restraint, Guardian of Balance!"
From the first syllable on it was, as if he couldn't stop himself anymore. Not once he stopped to read a word twice, not once did he stutter or spoke unclear. An odd power surged through his body, accumulating more and more. He felt it rise in his chest, urging itself to be released. Louder and louder became his words until he screamed the last one out into the world!
Pain twitched on his left hand and some kind of red tattoo appeared. It looked like a sword with two tree branches right and left on it. The branches did go around up to the palm of his hand, but they didn't connected there. Then the circle on the ground glowed in a blinding white light, forcing Akage to close his eyes so he didn't got blind.
"Well, well, looks like I've been summoned to the Grail War. I am Servant Sa…ver?! Holy shit! I've been summoned as SAVER! How did that happen?!"
Akage slowly opened his eyes. Inside the drawn circle stood now a tall young man. He had dark tanned skin, white hair and gold-brown eyes. He wore a black clergy suit with a red mantle.
"Are you okay, Mister?!", Akage asked carefully. Was this a hero from the past? He sure didn't behave like that. But right now he was more interested in this "Saver". What did that mean?
The moment Akage spoke the summoned person looked first left and right and then down towards him. He looked at him with shock, his mouth wide open. Then, when he finally regained his bearings, the first thing he said was:
"Shirou?!"
"What is the problem, father?", Kirei asked Risei, who just asked to talk to him on short notice.
"We have a situation", the elderly priest answered. "The spirit board showed another summoning. Now there are eight Servants participating in this Holy Grail War."
"Eight Servants? I thought that was impossible. What class is it?"
He thought the Heaven's Feel would only allow seven Heroic Spirits to be summoned. One of each classes. If you waited too long to summon your Servant it could happen that another one summoned the class you wanted first and no matter what catalyst you had, you wouldn't get your desired class but would summon another aspect of that Heroic Spirit that fit to another class. Even if all Master used the added two lines for the Berserker-class, there would only be one Berserker summoned.
So, even if someone somehow managed to work around the limited number of participants, he also had to find a way to allow two of the same class. But then he remembered: In the Third Holy Grail War, the Einzbern managed to create a new class container.
"It couldn't be…Avenger?!"
"No, it isn't. The class name is Saver."
Saver. A new class he never had heard of before.
"So, someone managed to create a new class container. Do you think it was the Einzbern?!"
"No, from the information I have gathered the Avenger-class was too weak to be of any use. The Einzbern wouldn't gamble with that again. Also they would know that I, the supervisor would be noticed of this and would have to take actions against the responsible Master. They wouldn't want that to happen. Since Tohsaka Tokiomi summoned Archer, out of the three families that would leave the Matou. But they are dying out and Matou Kariya only took actions to participate in the war since one year ago. That shouldn't be enough time to create a new class container. That leaves someone from the outside, which should be even more unlikely, since no one else has enough information on the Heaven's Feel."
"Could it be connected to the fact that Gilgamesh didn't got summoned even though we had prepared a catalyst beforehand? To think about it, Assassin also differs from the usual Hassan."
"As it may be, we first have to contact Tokiomi and let him know about this. Then we have to keep our eyes open and especially take a good look, what kind of Servant this Saver is."
"Indeed, I wonder what kind of Heroic Spirit could be summoned as Saver."
In an alternate universe next to the core of the moon a specific Servant sitting cross-legged on some kind of throne sneezed.
"Bless you", his Master a man in his late twenties with black hair, glasses and a doctor uniform said to him, while waiting for someone to reach the place where he was and make his wish.
"How am I going to tell that my parents?", Akage muttered while he made his way home together with his "Servant". Now he realized he didn't actually thought this whole thing through. Not only didn't he went home right away after school, but he also brought a stranger to his house. Even if that stranger was supposed to be a hero from the past.
"Well", Saver said, "before you do anything else, you have to decide between two options." With that he took out a sheet of paper and read the content out loud, while at the same showing it to him:
You–––––
1. …Revoke your right as Master and search sanctuary at the church.
2. …Fight as a participant in the Holy Grail War.
Right, Saver told him about this so called "Holy Grail War". A battle were (usually) seven magi summoned heroes from the past and fought against each other until there was only one last one standing. It would have been good, if that had been written in the book, too.
"If I am going to fight, do I have to kill?", he wanted to know. After all, what else could "last one standing" mean? But his Servant surprised him.
"Actually, no", he answered. "You only have to defeat all other Servants. And since these guys are summoned from the dead that doesn't exactly count as killing, right? But except a few special circumstances, the Masters die much more easier than their Servants. Furthermore, a Servant who has lost its Master can form a new contract with another Master. Even if his Servant has been defeated, too."
"I see." He didn't wanted to kill people. Even if they wanted to kill him. But…
"These recent murders. Do they have to do something with this Holy Grail War?"
"Possible. If your Servant is weak you could order him to feed on humans. Nothing against a little midnight-snack for a Level Up. Although that probably wouldn't work that great with me because of my… special circumstances."
"Yeah, I remember. That usually Servants can go into something like a ghost form and that you can't. Something else I should know?"
"Yeah, in exchange for not being able to go spirit form, I got my own personally prana supply. Even though yours is helping a little, I don't exactly need a Master to continue to exist in this world. But don't worry, even though I don't need no Master to exist, I would need one to get the Holy Grail. So, no killing off the little Master." Akage ignored his particular sense of humor and concentrated on the important things.
"Right. The Holy Grail. It can really fulfill any wish?"
"That's the theory. The praxis…well, no one had yet managed to get him, so…" Saver didn't continue, but knowing what he meant, he asked the next question:
"So, it doesn't care, what kind of person gets it? What if someone, let's say wished for world destruction, it would destroy the world?"
"Yes. Theoretically of course." Akage sighed.
"Well, I can't exactly turn a blind eye on this." The fire flashed inside his mind. "I am going to fight."
"Huh, you sure about that?! You ain't the biggest Master around and this ain't no magical girls show."
"I know. But I won't exactly be the one fighting, right?! That will be you!"
"Sure, Master. So, what you gonna tell your parents?" Akage froze.
"Oh no! I still don't know!" Saver smiled and took out a new sheet of paper.
"You have now three options:
You can––––––
1. …Tell the truth. (Not recommended 'cause the Mage's Association would kill them if they found out about that.)
2. …Hypnotize them.
3. …Lie your ass out of the fire." Akage just looked at his Servant dumbfounded.
"Did you prepare these beforehand?", he wanted to know. Saver laughed.
"Nope, I've got High-Speed Writing A+. So, Master, what's it gonna be?"
"Would it really be that bad, if we tell them the truth?"
"Well, what do you know about evil secret organizations?"
"I guess you have a point. And since I don't want to manipulate them that leaves…"
"…the third option. Don't worry, Master. I've got you covered. Just let me do the talking!"
With that his clothes changed into the suit of a government official completely with tie.
"Wow! Is that magic?!"
"Really?! What gave it away?! Now shut up and bring me to the house of your parents. And look nervous when we are there."
Akage didn't have to act nervous when they finally reached the door towards his home. He was nervous. As soon as Saver ringed the bell, they could hear heavy footsteps and soon enough the door opened.
"Akage, where were you, do you know how much you worried us…"
Akage's mother trailed off, when she noticed Saver.
"Good evening", the Servant in question said, taking out an identification card. "Miss Akaji, I presume? I am Kotomine Amakusa. I work for the government. Can I have a word with you. It concerns your son. But we should talk inside about that."
She eyed him warily, but indicated for him, to come inside. Meanwhile Akage's father had made his way towards the door, too. Saver greeted him and he greeted back.
"Hana, Akage, please stay in your room", he told his children.
'Don't tell her anything', Akage suddenly heard Saver's voice inside his head. 'I am going to keep this mental link open, so that you hear, what we are going to discuss!'
Obedient Akage did what he was told, while Saver was asked to sit down at the living room table.
"Can I offer you anything, Mister Kotomine?", Miss Akaji asked politely.
"That is really forthcoming but I have to decline. Job conditions, you understand?"
She nodded and sat down on the opposite side, right next to her husband.
"So", Mister Akaji began, "what can I do for the government? Or to be precise, what has my son to do with it?"
He spoke calmly but the irritation was clearly visible. Saver cleared his throat.
"I won't cover it up by talking flowery, so I will come straight to the point. Your son has been marked. Literally."
"What?!" The couple couldn't believe her ears. What did he meant with 'marked'? Saver took out an envelope and took out a bunch of snapshots, showing body parts with strange red symbols. One of them, was Akage's left hand, clearly showing off the Command Seals.
"On his way home your son aroused the interest of a certain man belonging to a certain group of religious fanatics. Even though I've…dealt with the guy in question and managed to retrieve your son, this organization has still more members, who won't stop at anything until they have him and complete their sick rituals."
Mister Akaji looked horrified and Miss Akaji was white as a sheet.
"What can we do?", he wanted to know.
"You? Frankly nothing. The question is, what can we do! We were going to offer protection for your son. Though you won't be able to see him a long time."
"You want to take our son away?!", Miss Akaji repeated since she couldn't believe the words, he had spoken.
Saver just looked at her calmly.
"I think we all can agree, that it is better than the alternative."
Now it was Mister Akaji's turn again.
"Why don't you just take us all in for protection?!"
"Because you aren't targets. We don't have the resources to look after people, who didn't got their attention."
"Then how long do you expect yourself to take care of him?! Until you have taken care of the whole organization?!"
"Actually no. Or rather, it depends on what comes first. We have information on victims who were declared taboo by the organization after seven months after their marking has passed. It seems that someone who escaped them for that period of time would be off-limits. So, to be sure, we would take care of him for eight months and after that we would bring him back to you. But of course, the final decision lies with his guardians."
With that he looked expectant at the parents, which child he was about to take away.
"Can we talk to our son about that?", she asked.
Eight months. Could they really bear not to see her son for eight months?!
"Of course. Take your time. This isn't a decision to make lightly."
"Do you really have to go, Akage?", his sister asked him on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry, Hana, but it is really for the best." After some family talk they had decided to let Akage go with Saver. Even though he felt uncomfortable to lie to his family like that, it was really for their best.
"So, do you have everything?", Saver asked, still as Kotomine Amakusa.
"Yes", Akage answered, pulling a trunk after him.
"Good", he said and took his belongings out of his hand. "I'll be waiting outside. Goodbye, Mister and Miss Akaji."
"Please, look after our son", Akage's mother pleaded.
"Of course. I am a professional." With that he walked through the door, waiting for Akage to see off his parents. One last final goodbye, and they were off. Akage sighed, as his home got smaller and smaller.
"You know, it's the only option", his Servant said and Akage sighed again.
"I know, but it doesn't make it easier."
"Well, all you have to do is win the Heaven's Feel as quickly as possible and tata…you can go back to your mommy!"
"By the way, why seven month?"
"Because seven years would probably be too long for your parents to accept and seven weeks were too short, so they might get suspicious. Now we have eight months to finish the Heaven's Feel." Suddenly Saver stopped. "Wait for a moment, will ya? I'm getting a call."
Akage wondered what happened now, but decided to be quiet for a moment.
'So, what do you want?', Saver thought inside his mind. 'You usually keep to yourself, so what happened now?!'
'You know he is going to die?', another voice piped up within his mind space. Saver frowned.
'What do you mean?!'
'Exactly what I said. He is way too young, knows nothing about magecraft and doesn't even have the right mind-set for a Master of the Holy Grail War. Even with you here, he won't survive long enough for your book to finally take effect, even if it works, which isn't that likely either.'
'And what do you want to do against that? Teach him?!'
The silence was answer enough.
'Hmm… that might actually work… oj, you recon you can teach him that while he has the element "Sword"?'
'Why would you chose Sword? I know that Fire is called "normal" but why would you decide to give him Sword when you could make him an Average One?'
'Because Sword is too special to be compatible with any other element. And I know what someone with the combined element and origin of Sword can accomplish. Besides, there is already one magus with all five elements in Fuyuki City."
'So, you plan on changing his Origin, too? Curious. Hmm… I won't be able to teach him everything, but enough to make him survive this Heaven's Feel. Though I would have preferred to give him a Void Alignment.'
"Oj, Shirou", Saver turned towards his Master. The person in question pouted.
"I am not Shirou! I've told you my name is Akage!"
"Yeah, whatever. So, what do you say about learning a little magic?!"
A/N:
Hi guys and gals.
So, Saver and Shirou. Normally there would be no way Shirou – here I've given him the name Akaji Akage – would summon a Heroic Spirit in the fourth Holy Grail War. He just doesn't have enough mana capacity to support a Servant, at last not without special circumstances, namely Saver's special ability. And to the why he would summon a Heroic Spirit in the first place… I think some of you might have an idea about who would be able to do something like that and that might lead you to clues about Saver's identity, but it isn't really necessary for you to read this story.
Gashadokuro Amanojaku
