Shirou's first clue that something was seriously wrong was when, after lessons begun, it was Soichirou Kuzuki who entered classroom, not Taiga. And while he had nothing against stoic history teacher, but he was Tohsaka's homeroom teacher, not his. And while Taiga was childish and whimsical, she didn't shirk from duty. He remembered cases when she came to work obviously sick or hung over. This could be only bad.
The second, big clue was when he was called aside by Kuzuki after the lessons and told that school rang to Fujimura Raiga about Taiga's absence only to be informed that she was last seen heading out to work. He was also informed that Fujimura Raiga wanted to see him.
Shirou knew why. Yakuza head Fujimura Raiga was family man, fiercely protective of his only granddaughter. He was also Kiritsugu's friend and after man's death took it upon himself to help Taiga rise Shirou. Teen suspected that he was as functional as he was thanks at least partially to him. Old man gave hints of having knowledge of magecraft many times, but never pressured for info. In world of mafia there were secrets best kept hidden and Raiga understood need for secrecy.
But now, when there were mysterious accidents happening in the town (similar enough to those from before decade), he took Taiga's disappearance between his home and Homurahara Academy seriously. Which was why Shirou went immediately after school to Fujimura house, three streets away from his own, just on the edge between Miyama and Shinto. He was carefully directed towards garden by one of retainers, before being left alone as his host was informed of Shirou's arrival.
You are worried. With your life style I would think it wouldn't shook you so much.
I... I mostly kept Taiga at distance so she wouldn't be hurt. I didn't want to lose any more people.
Saber took the hint and reminded silent, while Shirou was observing quiet garden in nervous anticipation. Finally, soft steps of Raiga's feet echoed on the floor and man slid next to him. Shirou observed him from the corner of an eye. Old man's face betrayed no emotion. Bad sign. Taiga inherited man's exuberance so if Raiga opted for emotionless persona...
"We found man who was tasked with watching over Taiga on her way to school two hours ago. He is dead." Shirou blood froze. It was worse than bad. If someone killed one of Raiga's man to get to his granddaughter, there was no telling what old man would do. "He was practically bisected. And do you know where we found the body?" Shirou shook his head, too afraid to speak, least he invites man's wrath. "Dumped under the bridge. This wasn't coincidence, Shirou-kun. Whoever it is, that person is mocking us. Taiga was taken from under our noses. They struck as soon as she left our official territory. In light of your's and Kiritsugu's... secret world, I have doubts about my men finding the culprit. They are, of course angry. Mostly at themselves."
"I will find her. Even if it's the last thing I do, I will return your granddaughter well and alive, Fujimura-sama!"
Shirou bowed before the man. He was entirely honest. Whoever hurt Taiga was dead man walking. Teen observed Raiga's face. For a moment he was afraid the man would berate him. Call him stupid and naive. Or worse, blame this mess on him. And than yakuza's face softened and his body relaxed. His sharp, grey eyes warmed.
"I know, Shirou-kun. If so, than I can rest assured that my granddaughter is in capable hands. I will, of course still be having my men searching."
"Then I will be leaving, Raiga-sama. I must return home to leave my things there and warn my temporary tenant that I will be leaving. Good bye."
"Good bye, Shirou. Good luck"
Shirou returned home just before sunset, on the verge of nervous breakdown. Thankfully, upon hearing about his trouble Satsuki offered assistance. Normally he would decline, declaring matter to be too personal to be comfortable. But it was Taiga's life at the stake so he was grateful. Between two of them they would cover greater area. It was decided that Shirou would began in Shinto and go outwards, while Satsuki begun on the outskirts and working her way through Miyama all the way to Mion River where they would eventually meet.
His mood didn't improve at the sight of crowded streets of Shinto. It would be at least few hours before last laggards left to their homes. Working his way through the crowded area wouldn't be easy. Or pleasant. Yet, he had no other choice but to roam the streets, hoping against hope to find something. It was frustrating job and even Saber's attempts to distract him from unpleasant thoughts didn't alleviate his mood much. And his mood definitely didn't improve when he caught sight of white hair.
Shirou instinctively turned and found himself face to face with Ilyasviel von Einzbern. Woman was smiling pleasantly while he tensed. Certainly, she wouldn't start anything when there were still people roaming the streets?
"Emiya, just the man I was looking for." She must have noticed his nervousness as she hold her hands up. "No worries. Today, I am here to talk."
"Why?" Shirou narrowed his eyes. Ilyasviel didn't strike him as talkative. Not to enemies.
"Must be there big reason?" He stared in disbelief, which caused her to actually chuckle. "Okay, okay. I will admit that at thirst I have thought nothing of you. But after yesterday... well, lets say that I am interested in person Emiya Kiritsugu rised. It is somewhat important to me, you see."
Shirou debated for a while telling the woman to get lost. It was what his heart was advising. He had no time for talking with clear enemy, Taiga needed him! Yet Ilyasviel didn't seem as person to take 'no' for an answer. Not calmly anyway. And if she wanted to talk over...
"It better be worth it." She smirked triumphantly in response.
In dark basement of Matou house, lone figure sat among its crawling occupants. Thousands of bugs crept throughout the room, skittering of thousands of tiny legs creating constant hum. They traveled across and trough the body of sitting girl, who ignored them while she concentrated on her task. She let her consciousness expand beyond her body, reaching slowly to bugs further and further away, borrowing their senses. She became aware of more and more as her mind reached further.
Red Knight at the top of the stairs to the basement, as immobile as statue, sword hold in both hands, its mind slumbering but ready to take action and begin slaughter at its master's orders.
Old Worm sitting in dining room, plotting and processing information.
Tohsaka in her mansion, sleeping off effects of their last battle, deprived of prana by her Servant trying to get back into shape after Berserker almost killed him.
Einzbern meeting Emiya, hostility between two of them obvious even to simple minds of Matou worms.
Enforcer closing on Dead Apostle.
Kill.
She brushed dark voice away with practiced ease. She was to close to risk everything.
Kill them and be free.
She shook head. Grandfather would find out. She still remembered uncle Kariya devoured by worms after he defied grandfather. He didn't save her. He broke his promise. She hated him. She hated them all. She hated her sister.
Nobody will mourn her.
That was it, wasn't it? Big Sister could be killed. Easily. And she could spin it to grandfather as eliminating master from the war. Caster had no chance against Berserker.
Take off the leash from the mad dog.
She could feel Berserker's eagerness. Her Servant easily sensed her rising dark urges and responded in kind. It would be easy. One order, one word and Big Sister would pay.
But then she remembered Emiya's Servant. Golden light of Noble Phantasm, gentle demeanor hiding core of steel. Holy warrior. Protector. Wouldn't it be delicious irony to desecrate it? It would certainly calm Darkness crawling just under her skin. Her sister could wait. Revenge was best served cold and all. She wouldn't be able to properly enjoy it if she was half maddened with dark urges.
And so, Sakura Matou opened her red eyes, bugs crawling away from shadows slowly rising around her. She suppressed them easily, but none of grandfather's familiars returned.
"Berserker, move out." Red Knight moved, vanishing silently, already eager for battle.
Sakura closed her eyes and returned monitoring the city trough countless insects. Skittering of insects soon returned.
"So, what do you wanted to talk about?"
They sat in small restaurant, with few customers on the opposite end of hall. Shirou had to admit that it was good choice. They could freely talk, yet starting a fight would mean killing non-involved people. Which was something that was frowned upon even by more ruthless magi.
"You don't need to be so hasty, Emiya. I decided to get to know you."
"Should I feel honored that I managed to pick your interest? And what did you mean back there? You sound like you care more about my relation to Kiritsugu."
"During previous War he was our... representative." Shirou frowned at barely restrained venom in woman's words. "I do not know detail, you realize, but grandfather made sure he would be loyal. Emiya Kiritsugu was living like royalty and in return he had only to insure that Einzberns would win tho Holy Grail. And yet, even though he was last master standing, he ordered his Servant to destroy the Grail and killed Einzbern homunculus sent along with him as part of proposed by him plan. Grandfather was furious, of course. But Emiya seemed to vanish and didn't return to his previous life, so Einzberns were content to let him live."
"And yet, he was murdered by four of yours. Almost in public, I must add."
"Really now? I will really have to report Sieg's idiocy. And we have reasons. You see, after two years of being off the radar... Emiya Kiritsugu returned to German. He breached our defenses and carved bloody path on his way inside the castle. He was forced to retreat before he managed to get to grandfather. Or me. We lost number of high quality homunculi and few smarter members of family. Grandfather decided he couldn't risk Kiritsugu making another attempt. For what it's worth, it was to be silent thing."
"That... doesn't really help. Is it all? I have something important to do." Shirou stood up. He needed time to think. He doubted Ilyasviel was lying. She wasn't the type to do so without some form of gain. And so far she had major advantage in this War. Besides, he needed to find Taiga. He stopped though, when he heard albino's chuckle. "What's so funny?"
"It's adorable of you to think our chat is over. I said I wanted to know you. So far I only told you about Kiritsugu to show my... good will."
"You should ask then, instead of talking. Now, is there really anything else?"
"Why, Emiya, one would think..."
"You are stalling."
Both of them paused. Saber was silent so far and if she was right... This was getting suspicious. Ilyasviel was set firmly on killing off her competition. So why should she try to make effort to get to know them? Her laugh only served as confirmation.
"Hmph. What a shame you caught me already. Well, if it came to this, I have no choice then."
She picked up her bag and pulled out familiar object. Shirou froze as he watched Ilyasviel von Einzbern holding Torashinai with smirk on her face. His blood boiled in rage and he barely restrained himself from attacking.
"Why do you have it?"
"Oh, so you recognize it? Good."
"You kidnapped Taiga."
"Kidnapped is such an ugly word. I would say I invited her to stay."
"Her guard was killed just so you could get her." He barely restrained from shouting. Ilyasviel frowned.
"It was to be expected. Leysritt may be smart, but as two year old she just doesn't have proper imagination. I guess it's good thing I told her to keep that woman alive, isn't it?"
"What... what do you want?"
"Nothing much. Just for you to stay here, with me, just a little longer."
Shirou understood underlaying meaning. Ilyasviel wasn't here to fight. But that just meant she got another master to go after Satsuki. She was stalling, after all. Not for herself but still. And Shirou would let her. Because she had Taiga and she demonstrated already that she was ruthless enough to kill her if he didn't comply. He hold the table, his knuckles white. Right now there was no one else he hated as much as Ilyasviel von Einzbern.
"I hope you are happy. Because I will kill you. You attack innocent not involved in this war. You attacked Taiga and for that I will see you broken, even if it's the last thing I will do."
Satsuki coughed bit of blood after the last hit. Woman in front of her was unlike all the other masters. Others preferred retreat as soon as they caught onto her nature. Well, Einzbern was good enough that she wasn't sure how it would go. But this one, she was different. She and Lancer attacked them as soon as they entered woods. And woman's punches hurt. Her limbs were glowing blue. Probably some weird reinforcement.
"You know, when Einzbern approached me about Dead Apostle in Fuyuki, I was expecting something... I dunno, more terrifying? Stronger? Yes, you can make kiddies soil themselves when they realize what you are. But I ain't some weak willed researcher, girlie. I am Enforcer. I hunt Sealing Designations and Dead Apostles for living. And you? You ain't good for anything more than warm up."
Satsuki glared at her opponent. She was right. From the very start woman in business suit was dominating their fight. Satsuki had to admit she was severely outclassed. Even with reinforcement she couldn't land a punch.
"Break time over. Now, stand still so I can remove you head with punch!"
Lancer grinned as he ducked another kick. He was finally having good fight. Caster was cheating asshole on short leash, Archer never left his master's side and Einzbern was rarely leaving her castle, and Berserker... mad warrior just wasn't proper opponent. No opportunities for banter, that one. But Rider was good. Challenging enough and knew how to fight. She used those chains and daggers of hers more to navigate trough the forest than fight. And her kicks hurt.
Spearman lunged forward, his spear exploding into flurry of thrusts. Rider parried them with one of her daggers, just enough so he wouldn't even graze her and at the same time she was closing in. He twisted his spear to hit her with shaft but her fist already collided with his chest and sent into the tree. He coughed before standing up. Damn woman could hit.
"Oi, Rider, what you say we take it somewhere more open?" His only response was another kick aimed at his head. Lancer ducked, watching her shatter tree and chuckled. "Not much of conversationalist, huh?"
Satsuki managed to duck under magenta haired woman's punch and threw uppercut. Her opponent easily sidestepped and kicked her in the stomach, before her right hook sent Satsuki hurling into the tree. Vampire choked on blood, barely staying up. Damn woman's punches and kicks were inhuman. It wasn't just reinforcement too. It shouldn't be possible for human to do so much damage with only reinforced strenght.
"Is that all you got? Pathetic."
Satsuki didn't even had time to prepare herself when woman's punched her into gut, following with hook to the jaw. She was bleeding heavily, her vision blurry. Next kick send pinned her to the tree. Woman's foot was pressing on her throat.
Is that it? End of the road? Why? Why do I lose another chance? Another life torn away from me? It's not fair! Why me? Why? Whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy...
"Aaaaarrgh!"
Lancer and Rider paused when they heard Rider's master's scream. Then, his master's presence vanished, even if link between them providing him with prana remained.
"It would seem my master is in trouble. I trust you don't have anything against kicking up a notch, Lancer?"
Lancer turned back to Rider, and froze when his eyes met her light purple irises.
