Disclaimer: I do not own Fate/Stay Night, it is owned by Kinoko Nasu.

The Tohsaka Clan War

Chapter 6

Shirou stood in front of the Fujimura Compound, stared at by a pair of muscular thugs…literally. As in they fit the stereotype: shaved heads and stubble-covered chins, pierced ears, and dark-colored jackets over obscenely-printed shirts and jeans. Chains hung on their belts, and they leered at Shirou who looked mildly exasperated at the attention.

"Listen kid," one of them sneered. "You look new around here, so I'm going to go easy on you. Now get out of here. This isn't a place for pretty boys like you. So shoo!"

"Um, yeah," Shirou hesitantly began. "I'm actually here on business, so…"

"Business?" the thug asked.

"Yeah, I called ahead actually." Shirou said. "Uncle Raiga knows I'm coming so…"

Shirou trailed off as the thugs burst out laughing. "Oh, that was a good one." The second thug said after several moments, and wiping at his eye. "You actually had us there for a moment. But really, you expect us to believe oyabun-sama would personally associate with a soft youngster like you? Yeah right…still, I haven't had a laugh like that in a long time, so like my friend here said earlier, we'll go easy on you. Now, off you go, kid. Go back to your video games and manga, and leave well enough alone."

"But, as I said, I…"

The thug from earlier growled while grabbing Shirou by the collar. "Listen kid," he said. "We're not joking around here. If it isn't clear to you…"

The man trailed off while holding up a hand, which was missing its little finger. "This compound here belongs to a…chivalrous, organization." He said. "And if you really did call ahead, we'd have been told about it. And we haven't…so I suggest you run along before I really lose my temper, and you know what, you're starting to piss me off…"

"…Kaneda-san, can I get a little help here please?"

"Hey, I'm talking to you kid!" the thug snapped, shaking Shirou by the collar, and raising a fist, his friend cracking his fists beside him. "You should pay attention to your betters when they do, in fact, I think you need that lesson taught to you the hard…"

Anything else the thug might have said was cut off as both he and his friends received hard slaps on the back of their heads. "Morons!" Izumo Kaneda snapped. "What do you idiots think you're doing?"

"Shingiin-san…" the first thug said, letting Shirou go in the process. "We…we were just…"

"IDIOTS!" Kaneda roared, and causing the two thugs to flinch. "Weren't you told that an old friend of the family was coming today? You should be thanking the gods that it was me and not Taiga-sama who caught you, otherwise you'd be getting more than just a slap on the head and a talking to."

"T-Taiga-sama?" the second thug stammered. "Family friend? Could it be…this wimpy…I mean…this young man is…"

"That's right." Kaneda said with a sigh, and scratching at his head. Unlike the thugs, Kaneda looked nothing like the stereotype. He was clean-shaven, and his hair was cleanly cut. His ears were free of any ornamentation, and with his business ensemble he looked no different from the typical salaryman on the street. "That young man is Shirou Emiya, the boy Taiga-sama raised, and the family friend we're expecting today."

The expression of utter mortification on the thugs' faces would have been comic…were Shirou not mortified himself, when in the next moment, they fell to their knees and pressed their heads to the ground in prostration. "P-p-please forgive us, Emiya-sama!" they chorused loudly. "Even though we had been told to expect your arrival, we failed to recognize you on sight, and treated you most disrespectfully!"

"S-stop that!" Shirou said, appalled, and giving an amused Kaneda an unhappy expression. "Seriously, it's fine, I mean…I mean, I've been gone for a few years, and…from the look of things you're new, aren't you? So it's understandable you wouldn't recognize me."

"W-We are most thankful and humbled by your forgiveness, Emiya-sama!" one thug said, still keeping his head on the ground.

"Henceforth," his friend began. "We will double our efforts to perform our duty properly, and seek to avoid a repetition of today's sins!"

"Seriously, stop it please!" Shirou pleaded. "People are staring! Look…can we just move on? You've already apologized, so I think that should be enough."

"Y-yes!" the two thugs said, finally getting to their feet and respectfully standing to the sides and bowing. "Please, enter as you will!"

Kaneda just laughed as a clearly-embarrassed Shirou stepped over the threshold and into the compound. "That was very well done." He praised Shirou, who just sighed deeply.

"Not really," he said. "All that could have been avoided if I'd just dropped my name…really now…"

Kaneda laughed again. "You've grown much taller and older since you last came here for a visit," he said. "But you're still the same sweet kid Taiga-sama doted over, aren't you?"

"There's no need to change that bit of me, is there?" Shirou asked with a laugh, and Kaneda laughed again.

"No, there isn't." he said, patting Shirou on the back. "How's that girlfriend of yours?"

"She's doing fine." Shirou said. "Could be better but…well, she got her degree, and we're…moving forward so…"

"Oh?"

Shirou smiled knowingly. "I'll tell you later, with the rest of the family." He said.

"Hey now, is it a secret from me?"

"Not really," Shirou said. "More that it's a surprise, and I wouldn't want to spoil that."

Kaneda made a disappointed sound. "Ah well," he said as they entered the house and made their way through the complex. "Good things come to those who wait…anyway…"

Kaneda trailed off as what felt and sounded like quick and heavy running could be felt and was quickly getting closer. The men's expressions turned deadpan, knowing quite well what – or rather who – it was, and then Shirou's turned to horror as Kaneda patted him on the back, and gave him a thumbs up before quickly taking his leave, all the while with a solemn expression on his face.

"Hey…wait…"

Anything else Shirou might have said was cut off as a young woman with light brown hair cut into a bob literally pounced on him, and all but crushed him against the floor with a tight embrace. "SHIROU!" Taiga Fujimura wailed with exaggerated tears running down her face. "YOU'RE FINALLY BACK! I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"

"Fuji-nee…I…I can't…I can't breathe…"

"YOU'VE BEEN AWAY FOR SO LONG," Taiga continued to wail, ignoring Shirou's struggles and pained whispers. "ALL ALONE WITH THAT WRETCHED TOHSAKA GIRL WHO STOLE YOU FROM ME…"

"Fuji-nee…" Shirou continued to gasp out, Taiga continuing to wail on top of him. "Someone…help…please…"


Raiga Fujimura laughed as he watched Shirou fidget while Taiga looked properly contrite beside him, the surrogate siblings seated opposite from Raiga across a table. They sat in a small room open to the interior garden, the walls bare of decoration for the most part except for a simple but elegant ink painting behind Raiga. Chinese vases stood on pedestals in every corner, while an exquisitely fired tea set rested on the table before them.

"Really now, Taiga," Raiga chided. "I know you were excited to see your little brother again, but you should be more gentle with him. Shirou-kun isn't frail by any stretch of the imagination but…you don't really know your own strength, do you?"

"But…I…I was just really happy to see him after all, that's all." Taiga said with a pout, and Raiga laughed and nodded.

"Yes, I suppose you are." Raiga said. "Still…try not to hurt him in the process. Besides, it might cause others to make misunderstandings…"

Taiga muttered something about Rin under her breath, and while Raiga didn't quite hear it, Shirou. "Fuji-nee," he said reproachfully. "You shouldn't talk about Rin like that. She's a good girl, very hardworking and reliable. She's just…not very honest, with her feelings and emotions."

Raiga nodded thoughtfully. "Her father was like that too." He observed. "I could say the same for his father as well…really, the Tohsaka Clan have always been aloof, though that's fairly typical of the nobility, even minor ones like the Tohsaka."

"Oh right," Shirou said. "You knew Uncle Tokiomi, didn't you?"

"I wouldn't say I knew the man," Raiga said thoughtfully. "But…we were…professional, with each other. We each had our role in the smooth running of things in Fuyuki, and we both had our secrets."

Raiga paused and chuckled. "He was a good man though." He said. "I could see that much. Same could be said for their clan, as far as I know. Aloof they might have been, but they took their responsibilities seriously. The man died far too young…Taiga, Shirou's girlfriend is a good girl. Trust me on this. She won't break his heart…and if he breaks her heart…"

Raiga paused and gave Shirou a meaningful gaze. "I'll personally discipline him." He said.

"U-uncle, I…"

"Yes, I know. You're not like that." Raiga said with a wave of his hand. "But, I had to say it. Elder's prerogative, I would say."

Shirou nodded. "Yes, I understand." He said before giving a small bow. "Rest assured, I won't disappoint you or Fuji-nee in any way."

Raiga nodded, and after giving a small sigh Taiga smiled and leaning over pinched Shirou's cheek with a smile. "I certainly hope not." She said cheerfully. "I raised you better than that, so I expect better from you…even if it is that Tohsaka you're with today…"

"Right, I get you…"

"By the way, what's in the bag you brought with you there?"

"Oh these?" Shirou said, glancing at his bag before smiling. "Souvenirs from my studies overseas…here you go, these are for you."

Taiga could only breathe in awe and delight as six boxes of fine and expensive Belgian and Swiss Chocolates were placed before her, and then Shirou respectfully slid a wooden case decorated with gold leaf across the table. "And this is for you, uncle." Shirou said.

"This is…!" Raiga said, his eyes widening. "Havana?"

"Yeah, took quite a bit of looking to find them," Shirou said with a smile and a shrug. "And they cost quite a bit too but…you've done so much for me over the years. We're practically family so…I don't really mind. Please, accept them uncle."

"Why Shirou…this is a magnificent gift…" Raida said, delighted while opening the case and taking out one of the cigars inside. Lifting it to his nose, Raiga took a delicate sniff of the wrapped tobacco leaves. "Hmm…most fine…"

"Huh?" Taiga turned from her chocolates and noticing what Shirou had gifted her grandfather promptly exploded. "HEY! SHIROU! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, GIFTING GRANDFATHER CIGARS? ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL HIM OR SOMETHING?"

"W-w-w-what are you talking about?" Shirou stammered out as Taiga shook him around by the collar.

"YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" Taiga roared, living up to her nickname as the 'Tiger'. "YOU GAVE HIM CANCER STICKS! AND AT HIS AGE TOO!"

"Oh hush, Taiga." Raiga scoffed, one of his men respectfully seated outside in attendance stepping in at a gesture, and offering a lighter lit the old man's cigar. "I've been smoking long before you were born. If tobacco could kill me, it'd have done so long since. And I'm old. I don't really have much time left, so I might as well enjoy it.'

"Uncle…"

"Grandfather…"

Raiga silently puffed his cigar for several moments, and smiled with satisfaction. "Bold, but smooth flavor," he said, wreathed with tobacco fumes. "Ah…it's been a while since I've had a Havana. You have my deepest thanks, Shirou my boy."

"I'm glad you like them." Shirou said with a smile and a bow, while Taiga fumed beside him. "By the way, I have something good I'd like to share with you two."

"Oh?"

"Oh?"

Shirou smiled and looking down blushed, causing Taiga to stare. And then he lifted his head, and dropped a bombshell. "I asked Rin to marry me." He said. "And she said yes."

For a moment, everything was utterly, deadly silent, almost like the calm before the storm. The men outside glanced at each other, and their once neutral expressions turned to grimaces, much like Raiga's own. They knew what was coming.

"WHAT WAS THAT?"


"It's not funny."

Rin ignored Shirou, and just continued to laugh. Shirou scowled, and crossed his arms while looking away. Rin kept on laughing, pointing at Shirou and forcing him to mentally count to ten to stay calm. Finally, after several seconds more, Rin subsided, and wiped an eye.

"I haven't laughed that hard in a long time." She said cheerfully. "Not since that incident involving an arrogant Frenchman, a toilet, and a stink bomb."

"I'm glad to have amused you." Shirou said dryly, but Rin just shrugged.

"So," she said. "What happened after that?"

Shirou sighed mournfully. "Two," he said. "Two boxes of expensive chocolate, and nearly the whole of a third box, were eaten by a single woman in less than five minutes just to calm her down. I should have bought more…"

Rin giggled. "Well, it's her chocolates, so if she wants to eat them all in one sitting, that's her business." She said. "And?"

"Uncle Raiga chided Fuji-nee for being loud, but…that's pretty much it." Shirou said with a sigh. "Well, on the bright side, they congratulated us, and offered to invite us to dinner to celebrate."

"You said no?" Rin asked incredulously.

"Bad timing, isn't it?" Shirou countered. "Mom's still recovering, and even if we could leave her here while eating out…it doesn't seem right, does it?"

"No, that it isn't." Rin agreed. "You explained things to Fujimura-san?"

"Leaving out the things that ought to stay secret, yeah, I did." Shirou said with a nod. "He took it well, and was the one who said that bad timing bit I said just now. Another time, I guess. After that…well, we talked about London, what we did while were there, new friends we made, places we visited, things like that. Oh…and our wedding…while I did say we've barely started planning…"

"Oh?"

"Uncle Raiga," Shirou said. "He said to tell him when we plan to hold it, since he could reserve us a country retreat to hold the wedding and reception at."

"That seems a bit…excessive…"

"Yes, well, we can't really say no." Shirou pointed out. "First of all, it's rude, considering the Fujimuras are all but family to me. Second, well…rejecting a gift from the local…syndicate…"

Shirou briefly trailed off and Rin smiled sympathetically at Shirou's discomfort at admitting the true nature of his surrogate family. "Isn't really…helpful, when it comes to good relations between the or a local old family and the major…underground, player…" he finished. "That's…pretty much it…actually. And to be honest, both reasons are good, and the first is more than enough to accept the offer, in my opinion."

"That's true," Rin admitted. "Still, that's far off…but when the time comes, yeah, we should involve the Fujimura with planning. I don't think mom would disagree, though they'd probably discuss on who gets what responsibility, on the details of the wedding and the reception."

Shirou nodded in agreement. "How about things on your end?" he asked.

"Our agents are still tracing the money trail," Rin said. "What they've got seems to lead to a major new holding company based in Tokyo, and which has been making waves in the domestic and global markets. I'm still not completely sure, but I suspect the stolen money was used to establish said holding company…"

Rin trailed off, narrowing her eyes and stroking her chin. "Whoever this guy is, they're smart." She said softly. "They figured they couldn't keep stealing money from us, and instead of just stowing their loot in a bank where it might be vulnerable, they've invested it and made it much less vulnerable and where it can 'grow' more money."

Shirou looked on as Rin thought in silence for several long moments, and sighed. "So what now?" he asked.

"I'm still waiting for all the money trails to be traced." Rin said. "Depending on what we find, we might have to go to Tokyo to personally check out this…"

"What's wrong?" Shirou asked as Rin trailed off, her expression angry.

Rin's response was to bite down on her finger, clearly in an effort to stay calm. "Bastards…" she snarled. "To think they were hiding in plain sight…knowing no doubt, that like most magi, I don't particularly pay good attention to the affairs of the mundane world…but the name…the name…it's like they're deliberately rubbing what they've done to our faces, those damn bastards…"

"Um…Rin?" Shirou asked. "I've lost you."

Rin gave him an icy glance. "The name of the holding company," she said. "Is Tohsaka and Company, Limited."

"…what?"


A large truck drove up to a dilapidated building, accompanied by several black Toyotas. Passersby looked on in curiosity at the sight, but then pointedly looked away and proceeded on their personal business as dark-suited men with sunglasses came out to stand guard.

The truck backed into the alley, and then the back was opened. A nude man and woman were thrown out, and then frog-marched into the building, where the Crowned Whore awaited them. She made a face at their state, and both the man and the woman were quickly wrapped in plain-looking yukata.

"What did you do to us?" the man hoarsely demanded.

"Such anger," the Crowned Whore remarked. "I would think you should be more grateful than angry, seeing as I have given your otherwise pointedly useless lives worth and meaning in the eyes of our great master."

"What?" the woman snarled. "You turned us into monsters!"

The Crowned Whore laughed with mocking amusement. At the sound, the man and the woman roared and charged forward, but then the ruby on the Crowned Whore's crown glowed, and with a gesture she sent her attackers flying backward with a shout of pain, clothes singed and edges blackening, and exposed skin marked with first and even second-degree burns.

"Such spirit," the Crowned Whore said softly. "Such fury…do not waste it against me. We serve the same master now, willingly or not, and so we must direct our efforts against her enemy, the Unchallenged Heiress. In due time, we will be rewarded for our service…and you may even feel…gratitude, for that which has been granted to you."

"You expect us to be grateful?" the man spat.

"Your strength, stamina, and agility are far beyond the Human norm." the Crowned Whore said. "Your reflexes are faster, and you heal faster as well."

The man and the woman looked at each other at that, and indeed, the burns on their skin were visibly healing in front of their eyes. And yet…the memories…the recollection of what they did last night…the taste of the soft flesh and the iron tang that came with it…

The Crowned Whore wrinkled her nose in disgust as the man and the woman vomited before her. "Disgusting…" she whispered.

"Gods above…" the man whispered, his face filled with uncomprehending horror. "What have we done…gods above what have we done…"

The woman gagged, and then looking around, scrambled for a sharp and jagged piece of metal nearby. There was a flash of light and the crack of displaced air and breaking stone, and the woman was sent flying with more minor burns and even cuts on her flesh.

The Crowned Whore lowered her hand, the jewel on her ring ceasing to glow as she did so. "So," she said with a sigh. "It seems you will not submit willingly…the woman at least…what say you, young man?"

The answer was a gobbet of spit at the Crowned Whore's feet. "Screw you, you bitch," the man spat. "And the same goes for your gods-damned master."

The Crowned Whore stared icily down at them for several long moments, and then she narrowed her eyes. "So be it." She said, and then the ruby on her crown began to glow brightly. The man and the woman gasped as they were paralyzed, rendered unable to move by its light. "The master had hoped you would simply accept your role in the Grand Plan, but, whether you did or did not, she saw the need for…bloodthirsty, hounds to be collared regardless."

The Crowned Whore gestured, and a man stepped forward, carrying a case. The Crowned Whore opened it, exposing a pair of collars, made from black leather with jade centerpieces. The Crowned Whore took them, and stepping forward bound them around the neck of the man and woman.

"Now," she said, stepping back as the ruby on her crown faded. "Rest, eat, and husband your strength for tonight."

"…yes, as you command."


Rin sat in the living room of the Kotomine Church. Several days had passed since she'd found out about 'Tohsaka & Co., Ltd.', and while there were still a few more leads that needed looking into, it was all but certain that the stolen money had been funneled into the mockingly-named company.

"Turning mockery into reality will be the perfect form of retribution." Rin thought. "They stole our money, and used our name, so it's only right that when the time comes, that company would belong to us. All that hard work…for its fruits to be taken away…it's just part of you deserve, you thieving bastards."

Rin blinked, and then turned to Caren as the priestess arrived, carrying a tea set with her. Placing it on the table, she poured a cup for Rin and gently slid it to her. Rin took it gratefully, and smiled while taking a sip. The tea was genuinely good, both the leaves used and the preparation.

"How has your investigation gone?" Caren asked, sitting opposite Rin and taking a sip of tea as well.

Rin quickly explained what had so far been found, Caren nodding in understanding every so often. "I see." She said, taking another sip of tea. "Academically-speaking, it was a wise move to do so, to invest the stolen money in the mundane world. As you yourself have deduced, it may have helped keep you from noticing for a time, magi in general not being too…observant, of the mundane side of things. And it certainly allows the money to…grow, and of course makes it less vulnerable than if simply stored – relatively – untouched in a bank."

Rin nodded, and then narrowed her eyes. "Though," she said. "It seems whoever they are, they've made a mistake by using my family's name."

"Certainly, that is so." Caren agreed with a nod. "Once you were onto their crimes, it helped dispel doubts that said company was…where, the money was being funneled into. And it offers further avenues for…retribution, should you choose to do so."

"I'll keep that in mind." Rin said, taking a calming drink of her tea. "For all they've done, I'll grind them down as hard as I can, leaving them with nothing for all the trouble they've gone through and all they've caused me and my family. Shirou's there too…"

"Be careful, Rin." Caren warned. "Certainly, eye for an eye was something prescribed by the Lord in ancient times for wrongs wrought upon one by another, but also remember: turn the other cheek. For in seeking revenge, one has a good chance of inadvertently digging one's grave next to one's object of vengeance."

Rin didn't reply at once, instead taking a calming drink of her tea again. "Yes, I know." She finally said. "I'll be careful, just in case."

Caren nodded, and taking a drink of her tea placed it and its saucer on the table. "Now then," she said. "I understand that you have been justifiably focused on your family's wrongs, but…your responsibilities, as the Second Owner remain. And I have reason to suspect that this issue may be connected to the wrongs inflicted on your family."

"What does that mean?" Rin asked.

"Have you heard of the recent swath of serial killings across the city?"

"Yes, of course I have."

"Good," Caren said with a nod. "Because they've been covered up. I looked into them, just in case, serial killings potentially being the work of some form of…magical beast or a Dead Apostle…"

Caren trailed off, and Rin narrowed her eyes. "What did you find out?" she asked.

"All the victims had their heads bashed open," Caren replied. "And their brains gouged out and apparently, eaten."

Rin gasped, her face blanching in horror. Caren refilled her teacup, and offering a refill did the same to Rin's teacup. "Many also had their spinal columns torn out," the priestess continued. "And the nerves within cut out and also eaten…and more than that, when I looked into them, it seemed someone's been…altering memories and fabricating or destroying evidence to keep the truth from…being exposed."

"Dead Apostle?"

"Unlikely," Caren said with a shake of her head. "They drink blood, and while the consumption of flesh is not unknown, just…brains, and nerves primarily being targeted…together with the cover up, this smacks more of some sort of experiment by a magus, perhaps, no, almost certainly a heretic."

Rin took a deep breath, and emptied her teacup in one drink. "Is that all?" she asked, while placing her teacup and its saucer on the table.

In response, Caren took a rolled up map beside her, and unrolled it on the table beside the tea set. It was a map of Fuyuki City, and using a red marker the priestess began marking the incidents known as serial killings over the previous nights. At first, Rin looked on with dark curiosity, but it wasn't long before her eyes widened and she gasped in shocked realization.

The string of incidents was not only getting closer, but was following a line straight to her property.


A/N

Some comedy, courtesy of the tiger and her grandfather. And then things get nasty.

Next chapter (or two), things finally go into action.