Dark Alliance: Prelude

Two down…one to go. That's the situation here as two of Enma Ai's companions are in after falling prey to Gilgamesh and Caster's ambush (with some unlikely assist from Kikuri), and now True Assassin makes his fanfic debut. Since his appearance in the anime series is limited, I'll try to expand him here and give him a lot of exposure, even though I haven't seen him much on TV since I wasn't a fan of the ANIMAX-dub back then.

While the action's here, I will give some Rin x Takuma moments which will show some hints on romance since I stated in my previous fic, "New Lease In Life", that I'll be pairing these two. Although the age gap is quite near (Rin being 17 and Takuma aged 14), I see some potential in these two. Well, enough said, so now I'll be spearheading this chapter and get a move on.

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Disclaimer:

- Fate/Stay Night is owned by TBS, CREI and Type MOON

- Jigoku Shoujo is owned by ANIPLEX and Well I Think

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Hell. Wanyudo was getting exhausted as he used most of his powers to break free from the pod he was caged in, but to no avail, seeing that his cage was strong enough to withstand such an attack. Then the pod opened and he thought he succeeded, and just he was about to get out, someone was thrown in, colliding with the elderly man, and the pod closed. Getting his bearings back, he was surprised to see who joined him: Hone Onna! He realized that she too was assaulted, and could only guess who brought her here: Kikuri.

"So you were also ambushed?"

"Yes…the one who ambushed me was…"

"…one of Kotomine's conspirators. The Spider brought them back to life. I don't know as of yet the motive behind this…but now Ren is in trouble. The one who took me down was Gilgamesh. Kikuri played a hand on this and…"

"Yeah…she held me back and I was down. Then she brought me here. Maybe…they're after someone…but I don't know who and why he hired those guys to do something for HIM…"

"Perhaps he is after someone who knows of the mistress…I can't think of anyone other than…"

"Wait…only three persons came into contact with the mistress…"

"Hajime Shibata…his daughter Tsugumi…then…"

"Takuma."

"What would he want with any of the three…they're not a threat…"

"Wait…Takuma has some degree of spiritual power…he has the ability of foresight…"

Silence enveloped the pod and the two companions of the former Hell Girl realized why Kotomine and the others were brought back to life by the Lord of Hell. And now they realized that aside from Takuma, there are those who are in danger. But it wasn't the Shibata family who are targeted, but someone else.

"We must find a way out of here…"

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On his way to the school where Rin Tosaka is studying, Takuma Kurebyashi is now pondering on whether to drop it at her house or go straight to her school, as he was half-way there, wondering what the students there would think if they saw him talking to her. His face blushing whenever he recall her face seeing her for the first time. Unlike meeting with the late Seri, who see her as an elder sister-type, Rin is a different case. Also, when looking at her school ID, he learned that she was three years older than him, and yet he finds himself drawn to him.

A few meters behind him, another student his walking his way. He is in senior high and his school uniform is the same as the one Shiro Emiya is wearing. He is Shinji Mato, and he is among the "Masters" who survived the Holy Grail War, but lost his Servant, Rider back then, but surprisingly he retained most of his magic. He saw the younger teen in front of him and saw what he is holding, which he recognized it and became suspicious.

"Hmm...that book and ID, they belonged to Rin...what is that pipsqueak up to...? I bet he's going to woo MY Rin...well, let's see what happens if that is the case...but I doubt it...he a little short and she goes for hot guys like me..."

As the two kept going, Shinji managed to get a glimpse of Takuma's face, and recalled the word about him being the object of ridicule when he was being blamed for his mother's death and the mass disappearance of a lot of people at Lovely Hills, in which he was labelled as the "Devil's Child". Even though the news stated that Mr. Kuebayashi has cleared his son of any involvement, Shinji came up with an idea on how to embarass and discourage him in front of everyone, including Rin. Some of Shinji's "co-bullies" came and they came up with a plot to humiliate him and continued to head for school.

Takumi, however, is unaware of what's happening behind him despite possessing the ability of foresight. But that didn't end there, as Takuma's bullied from his schol were also following him, and when they and Shinji' group met, they all have something in common: humiliate their target and to make Takuma an outcast in the eyes of everyone else.

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At a restaurant, Ren was serving food and drinks to a couple of customers and business is flowing smoothly and he was adjusting quite well at the events that happened three years ago. He was still quite at loss at Enma Ai's departure and wondered if she is now with her family now that they're no longer being "held hostage" by the Lord of Hell. And he still recalled that he and his two companions made it clear to HIM that they rather serve Enma than HIM or Kikuri. After that they left and went on their separate ways. They didn't concerned themselves on what wiull happen next or who will replace them, since they severed their ties with Hell. As the last customers left after 15 minutes, the restaurant is now vacant of diners and he awaited the next ones coming in.

"I wonder how Wanyudo and Hone are doing...? I hope they're doing fine after we split up. Still I wonder if Kikuri has found our replacements...since we left. And still there's no word on how and where the mistress is at the moment."

Suddenly a customer came as the door opened and the owner of the restaurant told Ren to attend to the newcomer. Ren did so but paused as he saw who it was: It was Kikuri! She was dressed in a casual kids' clothes and he wondered what she is up to. He looked around to see if there is anyone else, but then the current Hell Girl made her intentions known to him.

"I came to make an order...a take-out order. One whole slice of Pan Pizza and a Big Mac from McDonalds...and a whole box of Mister Donuts. And add a little insurance of car batteries, please..."

The restaurant owner came and saw who is speaking and seeing that she was just doing some prank so he told her to leave if she is not doing any real orders, but then Kikuri glances at him.

"Okay, here's my order...a head of a man...ha-ha."

Using her loincloth, the Hell Girl choked the man to death in a swift motion and beheaded him at once, and blood spilled over some tables, alarming Ren. He began to suspect something malicious from her and went on a defensive pose seeing what she is capable of.

"Just what do you want, Kikuri??!! You just killed an inocent man! this is not your style and not your way as the new Jigoku Shoujo! "

"Well, just want to ask you one question...join me or oppose me?"

"Neither."

"I see...I saw...I see-saw, up and down...but with that kind of answer...you go down...where your two friends are waiting..."

"Two friends...does she mean Wanyudo and Hone???"

At that moment, he noticed that the scene outside the window changed color and soon he realized that he is now in the Sunset World and then True Assassin barges in, smashing through the window, charging towards him.  

Ren dodges the assault, in which the attacker smashed several chairs and tables into several pieces, and he realized that he is facing an opponent who is not so ordinary. In fact, he seem to recognize the attacker. He tried to recall him while dodging the attacks, and soon he learned that the attacker is the one who is sent to Hell along with Kirei Kotomone, in which they were killed during the Holy Grail War. He wondered why he was brought back to life and who autorized it. He then got an idea on who did it.

"I can't believe that the Lord of Hell brought you back here. Kikuri...why is he after me?? And what do you mean by joining Hone and Wanyudo down there??? Are you up to something??!!"

Ren's answer went unheeded as True assasin went on the offensive as he sliced off all of the furnitures inside the restaurant. Seeing no option, Ren jumps out of the restaurant, realizing he is still within the Sunset World. As he turn around, True Assasain jumps out, ready to make the kill. He gritted his teeth and sumoned a pair of katana blades and a sword fight ensued. Kikuri peered from the window and saw the two fighters clashing blades in a fast-paced fashion. She went to the kitchen to get some food from the refrigerator. As she came out of the restaurant, True Assassin was throwing out "Projectiles", which are dark-colored daggers, but Ren uses his dual weapons to repel them, but then the attacker used his other technique, "Presence Concealment", in which he renders himself semi-invisible, but as he re-appears ad about to do a sneak attack, Ren spotted him and slashed both arms and kicked him away. But then True Assassin used his other technique, "Self-Modification", thus both his arms were re-attached.

At this point Kikuri decided to end this fight quick so she can get on to her next assaignment, and wrapped her loincloth and halted Ren's attack, and True Assassin began to clobber Ren until he was knocked out. After that she instructed him to meet up with Caster and Gilgamesh while she ferries Ren back to Hell. The two went seperate ways and as the two left, the restaurant went back to the real world, and when customers entered, they shrieked upon seeing the onwer's corpse and the wrecked tables and chairs and summoned the police.

To Be Continued...

Looks like it'll be Kotomine's turn, now that his three allies have done their assignments.

Preview:

Rin and Takuma will meet for the first time, and love sparks will come flying around...but not after Shinji and the bullies harass him. What will Rin and Shirou do?