Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Fate/Zero or anything in the Nasuverse, any resemblance to any other Harry Potter/Fate Zero fan fiction is coincidental and plagiarism is not intended. No flames please, constructive criticism only.
AN: Alright my apologies for any spelling and grammar mistakes in this chapter. I am not pleased with this chapter for some reason but I felt it needed to be published anyway, but don't expect chapter 11 for a while.
[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]
Harry found himself watching as Archer washed her marred hair and cleaned up her equipment, shaking out her locks down over her back, throwing off his dirty clothes and putting on clean ones. She wrapped himself in regal garments and fastened the sash. When Archer placed her crown on her head, a woman nearby raised her eyes and was caught by the beauty of the golden king.
"She feels important but who is she?"
"Come along, Gilgamesh and be mine, so that I may taste your lusciousness." The woman who Harry knew to be called Ishtar said. He could tell that she was not human "Be you my lover, and I will be your wife. I will have harnessed for you a chariot of lapis lazuli and gold, with wheels of gold and 'horns' of electrum. It will be harnessed with great storming mountain mules! Come into our house, with the fragrance of cedar and when you come into our house the doorpost and the throne dais 'will kiss your feet." Ishtar continued her offer in hopes of earning Archer's love. "Bowed down beneath you will be kings, lords, and princes. The Lullubu people' will bring you the produce of the mountains and country side as tribute. Your she goats will bear triplets, your ewes twins, your donkey under burden will overtake the mule, your steed at the chariot will be bristling to gallop, your axe at the yoke will have no match." Archer looked unimpressed with the offer and looked at Ishtar with a blank face. "What would I have to give you if I married you! Do you need oil or garments for your body! Do you lack anything for food or drink! I would gladly feed you food fit for a god, I would gladly give you wine fit for a king, may the street be your home, may you be clothed in a garment and may any lusting man marry you!" Archer began insulting Ishtar, the inhuman woman who Harry felt not intimidated by, strangely he felt amusement…even though he was confused as to what was happening "You are a half door that keeps out neither breeze nor blast, a palace that crushes down valiant warriors, an elephant who devours its own covering, pitch that blackens the hands of its bearer, a waterskin that soaks its bearer through, limestone that buckles out the stone wall, a battering ram that attracts the enemy land, A shoe that bites its owner's feet! Where are your bridegrooms that you keep forever? Where is your 'Little Shepherd' bird that went up over you!" Harry found himself chuckling even as Ishtar's face became redder and redder in apparent fury.
"She looks mad is this another dream?"
"Now, how about I recite the list of your lovers. Firstly, Tammuz, the lover of your earliest youth, for him you have ordained lamentations year upon year! You loved the colourful 'Little Shepherd' bird and then hit him, breaking his wing, so now he stands in the forest crying 'My Wing'! Next you loved the supremely mighty lion, yet you dug for him seven and again seven pits. You loved the stallion, famed in battle, yet you ordained for him the whip, the goad, and the lash ordained for him to gallop for seven and seven hours, ordained for him drinking from muddled waters, you ordained far his mother Silkily to wail continually. You loved the Shepherd, the Master Herder, who continually presented you with bread baked in embers, and who daily slaughtered for you a kid. Yet you struck him, and turned him into a wolf, so his own shepherds now chase him and his own dogs snap at his shins. You loved Ishullanu, your father's date gardener, who continually brought you baskets of dates, and brightened your table daily. You raised your eyes to him, and you went to him: 'Oh my Ishullanu, let us taste of your strength, stretch out your hand to me, and touch our vulva. Ishullanu said to you: 'Me! What is it you want from me! Has my mother not baked, and have I not eaten that I should now eat food under contempt and curses and that alfalfa grass should be my only cover against the cold?' As you listened to these his words you struck him, turning him into a dwarf, and made him live in the middle of his garden of labours, where the mihhu do not go up, nor the bucket of dates down. And now me! It Is me you love, and you will ordain for me as for them!" Harry could feel the amusement of the person whose perspective he was listening. They covered their mouth to try and restrain their chuckling at the offended goddess. "You…..You dare spurn me a goddess?" Ishtar demanded "No I am simply not in the mood for one such as you" Archer replied turning around to walk away. "What do you mean by that Gilgamesh?" Ishtar demanded angrily "I mean that if I was in the mood for a whore." Gilgamesh replied coolly "Then I would summon one from the city"
With that Gilgamesh walked out with Harry trailing behind having burst out into laughter at the offended look on the Goddess's face.
[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]
Harry suddenly jolted awake; he cleared his bleary eyes and found that it was still night time. He also found that he been napping against a tree, the very same tree that Assassin had been hidden in.
"What a weird dream" Harry said yawning "But what was that? I didn't understand a lot of the words but it seemed strange somehow but I don't know why"
"You're awake good" Archer said breaking Harry out of his musings. He looked up to see her
It was then that Harry realised that Rider and Waver were no longer present. Harry had fallen asleep when Archer began talking with them. He had tried to stay awake and keep up with the subject but tiredness overwhelmed him and he had fallen asleep. Still he could not help but ask…
"Have Rider and Waver gone?" Harry asked he knows, they might still be nearby.
"They left some time ago" Archer replied casually as she leapt down from the tree branch that she had been occupying "About an hour ago, but enough ab out them stand up its time for us to leave"
"Where are we going?" Harry queried pulling himself to his feet using the tree for support "Are going back home?"
"No I have another destination in mind" Archer replied as Harry dashed to catch up with her pace.
"Alright so where are we headed and what for?"
"I looked through Tokiomi's more secured notes" Archer said "And I want to examine the Greater Grail and to do that we need to go to one of the sights where it will manifest. We will probably need to check each sight individually"
"So we're off to inspect the Grail then?" Harry let out another yawn but didn't slow down, managing to keep up with Archer's pace "But until the other servants are dead no wishes can be made so why do you want to examine it?"
"Simple I want to ensure that these mongrels have not done anything to it" Archer replied "Besides without the Lesser Grail I cannot make any modifications to Greater Grail so I will only be able to scan it for now. But if something has happened to the Greater Grail then it will become necessary to secure the Lesser Grail from the Einzbern master"
"Ok so we're off to check up on the Grail then got it"
With their intent clear Harry and Archer continued their trek through Fuyuki city, their destination was one of the locations where the Grail would manifest.
[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]
Rin Tohsaka had gotten off the train that had taken her from the nearby town where she was staying with her grandparents. The reason she had come was to look for her friend Kotone who had not come to school in the last couple of days. Kotone's parents did not want to deal with Rin when she called at her house and she knew that child abductions were occurring in Fuyuki and the towns near it recently, and the simple investigations carried out by the police could not solve them.
Rin could have asked her magus father for help finding Kotone, but her father was one of the participants of the Grail War and had not called back since she had moved to her grandparent's residence last month. In addition her mother had strictly ordered her not to disturb her father, in the same kind of tone with which she would have said to never go out at night.
"This is Fuyuki at night…," Rin softly said to herself as she looked at the dark cityscape, "It's nothing like daytime."
She felt a cold wind blew by which caused her to Shiver. She wrapped her arms around herself in a feeble attempt to warm herself. "It feels really terrible."
All of sudden she heard a noise and noticed that the magecraft compass that her father gave her was acting up, glowing red. She held it in her hands as she saw the needle spinning in circular fashion. "What is this? I've never seen it act this way. Are there traces of magic everywhere?"
"Well there would be magic here wouldn't there" a youthful voice spoke answering the question she'd meant only for herself to hear.
Startled Rin turned to see a foreign boy around her age standing nearby he had black hair and emerald green eyes. He was clearly dressed for the cold as he had a thick coat and gloves on.
"W-who are you?" She demanded getting ready to defend herself just in case "I'm warning you I'm not helpless."
"You don't have to be so defensive" he replied "I'm not here to start a fight. How about we exchange names first I'm Harry Potter."
"Rin. Rin Tohsaka" Rin introduced warily not letting her guard down "What did you mean when you said there should be magic here?"
"Well I've seen all sorts of magic happening around here recently" Harry replied "What with the Grail War going on and everything."
"Wait how do you know about the Holy Grail war?" Rin demanded instantly wondering how someone else her age could know about the secret battle.
"Someone I'm really close too is competing in the Grail War" Harry replied. It wasn't technically a lie.
"Wait, they're letting you stay even though it's dangerous?!" Rin asked indignantly
"Yeah, my teacher is participating in the war and she's teaching me to use my magic properly while she participates." Harry said omitting the fact that his teacher was actually his servant "It's not a big deal, she can do anything."
Rin puffed her cheeks up thinking about how unfair it was that this boy was allowed to stay in the middle of the war but her father wanted her out of the way. He'd spent more time teaching Kotomine than he had teaching her Magecraft. Regardless she'd need his help, while she had confidence in herself there was a time and place for pride and this wasn't one of them. Not when her friends life was on the line.
"Alright can you please help me then?" Rin asked "I need to find my friend and I think she's been kidnapped. If your teacher can participate in the Grail War and teach you at the same time you have to have some skill right?"
"Sure I'll help" Harry agreed
Truth be told Archer was at the nearby descent sight for the Grail checking up on wish granting artefact for whatever reason. She had told Harry to just walk around nearby and that she'd find him when she was finished. Besides if he really got into trouble Harry knew he could always summon her with a Command Seal.
[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]
After a while of following her compass Rin ran down a back-alley street with Harry in tow. She knew she was going the right way because of the compass that she held in her hands.
Rin stopped at a corner and looked down at her compass, which was pointing down the street to the right of her. It looked ominous at night time but then so did the rest of the city. The streetlamps dimly light the place.
Rin and Harry turned left at the end of the alley as they followed Rin's compass to where her friend was. The two children peered around one corner and saw several garbage bags. It smelled terrible. They slunk against the wall through a gap narrowed by several iron bars.
They finally saw an exit out of the alleys, but the duo suddenly froze as they saw a man walking by at the end of the alley holding onto a kid's hand. This made Rin suspicious.
"Someone is out with a kid this late?"
Rin and Harry hurried after the man not to lose track of his trail. Her pursuit led her to a narrow passageway. The two saw the man turn around a corner at the end of the passage. Not wanting to lose sight of him, she started through the passageway, only for Rin to knock over a garbage bin, which caused a chain reaction sending trash bags, several tin cans and other things toppling over creating a loud noise.
Rin quickly hid behind a smaller bin and Harry hid behind a larger one nearby. They peeked out from their hiding places to see if the man would be running back to check the noise. When he didn't they let out a sigh of relief.
"You gotta be more careful or we'll be caught." Harry scolded her.
"I know sorry" Rin said
She got up started manoeuvring through the passage around the fallen debris.
Upon coming to the end of the passage, the duo ended up at another street. They peered to the left only to see a police car coming down the lane. They quickly slinked back into the alley as the vehicle passes by with the siren on.
"Whew, that was close. If they find me, they'll take me home," Rin sighed in relief.
She was about to move until they saw the creepy man walk by again near their location. Harry quickly pulled Rin down as the two did their best to remain silent and hidden.
"C'mon, kid, you gotta walk," said the man as he came into view. He was now pulling along two boys with him. Rin noticed that the man had an ominous-looking bracelet on his wrist.
Rin gasped in shock at the fact that two boys were with the man now. Upon their passing, Rin lets out a sigh of relief, as she was fearful of what would happen if she and Harry were caught by the man.
"There are more kids. Why?" muttered Rin as she looked at her compass.
"I bet he's the one whose been kidnapping all the children, one whose been on the news." Harry said
The young girl checked her compass to find where that man went. Once it located the source, the two went off in full sprint towards that direction.
They ran by many buildings as they weaved through the streets after the man.
The two finally stopped as they ended up in an area with a series of stairs descending down into an abandoned bar. Rin tried to catch her breath from running for that distance and time. Harry was not as out of breath as he was more used to running than Rin was.
Rin held up her compass in the direction of the stairs' base. After a few rotations, it let out a violent burst startling her.
Rin, willing up her courage, proceeded down the stairs with Harry in tow. They took the process slowly as it became darker as they went down. At the bottom, they see a glass door. Rin grabbed the handle and slowly opened the door.
The two entered the bar and looked at their surroundings. Oddly, there was no one here. The place looked very run down as there was leftover items stacked on the counter as well as several broken portraits. Harry was following from behind her looking around cautiously.
Rin suddenly heard a noise, which she instantly reacted to with wariness. She took a few steps until she felt something fall on her foot. She let out a squeal as she backed away.
The girl then looked down to see…another young girl passed out on the ground. Rin bent down and turned the girl's body sideways and saw the face of her best friend.
"Kotone!" Rin gasped. She then tried to wake her up. "Kotone! Kotone!"
Rin suddenly felt someone behind her. She turned around to see the creepy man from before, still holding the hands of the two boys. Rin was completely frozen in fear.
The man, Uryuu Ryuunosuke, looked down at the young girl and eerily smiled as he asked, "Are you lost, kid?"
"No we're not" Harry said trying to sound brave.
"Oh? What do we have here? Another little kid," Ryuunosuke commented as he dropped the two boys, "It's fine, though. We are going to start a party. But we don't have enough people though. "
Rin unconsciously backed away as the man stooped down to her level. "Wanna help?"
Rin let out a scream as she saw the large amount of unconscious kids.
"So how about it? The more, the merrier, right?" Ryuunosuke asked the two
"No!" screamed Rin as she pushed the man's hand away. But she felt a wave of Prana at that moment. "What was that?"
The man stood up as he looked down at her with a scary look. "Don't run…"
He lunged at her with his hand as he barely missed Rin by hair's width. Rin quickly ran away from him as did Harry. Uryuu stood tall again as he went after them.
"That bracelet looks weird; do you think its magic?" Harry asked
"Yes it is, that must be how he's controlling them," replied Rin.
The two of them ran over to the counter as Ryuunosuke got up and went after them. Rin pushed a box off the chair as she got on top of it and stepped onto the counter. Harry quickly went behind the bar and climbed up onto it trying to keep away from the madman.
Ryuunosuke tried to grab both of them, but Rin threw two small cardboard boxes at him. The man covered himself with his arms, and Harry used this time to drop a box of heavy glass cups on his foot.
"OW DAMN IT!" cried out he cried out. Rin quickly took the opportunity to grab hold the man's wrist.
"What? So you're going to help me?" Ryuunosuke said in a cocky tone.
Rin suddenly gained a blank look on her face and her saliva started dripping out of her mouth from the dark Prana entering her body and interfering with her mind.
"Rin, Rin come back to your senses don't let this guy beat you!" Harry yelled.
As if on que Rin indeed came back to her senses as she struggled to channel back her power back into the bracelet. An aura of red, blue, and yellow prana began to surround her as she overpowered the bracelet's influence.
The magecraft compass that Rin had with her began levitating from the Prana she was pushing into it. She began focusing more and more of her prana causing the compass needle to spin faster.
"What's that?" Ryuunosuke asked confused.
Rin remembered something that her father told her before the start of the Grail War.
"If you use too much prana at once, it will rebound and cause destruction."
"I can destroy this!" shouted Rin as she began overload the channelling of Prana into the bracelet.
The bracelet broke apart into shards as Ryuunosuke recoiled, having been temporarily blinded by the bracelet's shattering.
Rin leapt down from the counter as they ran over to Kotone. The dark influence from the bracelet no longer blinded her as she and others began to regain consciousness.
"Kotone!" Rin cried out in relief as the brown-haired girl stood up.
"Rin…"
"What's going on?" said another girl. Some of the other children began to cry from the situation they were in.
"Stop crying you need to run!" Harry told them. "Get out of here!"
All of the kids flooded out of the bar with Kotone running out last, leaving only Rin and Harry left.
However Ryuunosuke Uryuu had already managed to regain his sight and quickly ran blocking the exit and trapping the two in the bar with him.
"Alright I've got you two now" Ryuunosuke said "I need to find all new guests for my party because of you two brats, but don't worry I'll be sure to make the both of you into wonderful art."
Harry was scared, more so than he had ever been in his life. The Command Seals that he bore on his hand which were covered by his gloves, were forgotten amidst the storm of fear that swelled through his mind. Rin didn't look all the confident either; she'd used most of her Prana destroying that bracelet and she didn't have much more left.
'Please someone we need-'
'Help?' a voice questioned 'I can help but you must relax yourself and trust me'
'Ok just please-'
'Very well' the voice replied 'go to sleep and I shall deal with this'
"End the line you two" Ryuunosuke said reaching for them "Now come on lets get going before the cops-What the hell?"
Rin was shocked that the madman had stopped and realised that her compass was reacting. It let out a series of explosive bursts as sparks began to fly from the rotation of the needle.
Anything that provokes a reaction like that is beyond your ability, so be very careful
It abruptly snapped and pointed next to her where Harry was standing. She looked and saw what Ryuunosuke did. Harry was surrounded by an aura of Prana that was formless for a few seconds before beginning to take shape.
The prana aura seemed to take on the appearance of an androgynous teenage person with long, beautiful hair that shimmered a light-green colour. She could also see him wearing a plain tunic which made him even more odd looking as he seemed to be translucent, almost like he was imposed over Harry whom she could barely see. But from what she could make out eyes seemed to be clouded and unresponsive.
"What the hell both of you are magic, that's not fair" Ryuunosuke whined childishly.
"Fair is irrelevant here monster" the being in control of Harry shot back in a neutral and genderless voice. "Stand aside you will not be harmed"
"Stand aside, no way" Ryuunosuke shouted angrily "Magic or not I won't let you go so easily."
The person in control of Harry sighed as Ryuunosuke charged and grabbed a sharp piece of wood that had broken off the bar nearby. But not with Harry's hand but his own translucent form, it was as though he was solid somehow.
"Look out" Rin yelled in warning
"I've got you" Ryuunosuke yelled making a grab for Harry.
Harry or rather the being controlling him side stepped him swiftly. This in turn caught Ryuunosuke off guard and caused him to loose his balance as he tried to turn around. However before he could, the being inside Harry made his move and quickly drove the sharp wood stake into serial killers scrotum.
This caused him to scream like any male wood in his position; blood began leaking out of his trousers as he fell to the ground and screamed in agony.
"Come we should run now" he warned Rin
"Right
Rin and Harry ran out of the bar, leaving Ryuunosuke to roll around on the floor in agony.
After several minutes of screaming and with blood still pouring out of his trousers Uryuu had gained enough of his senses to stop screaming although it still hurt, a great deal. He saw the broken bracelet on the floor and winced as he moved to pick up its remains and let out a sigh.
"I hope the big guy won't be too pissed." He whimpered through the pain letting out a call for help to his servant.
[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]
A little while later the two were hidden in an alleyway across the street as the police had arrived and were sorting out the rescued children who were sniffling now instead of outright crying.
Rin and 'Harry' had thought it best to conceal themselves from the police, just in case they asked questions about how they got away.
"Good its done" Rin said letting out a sigh of relief in the knowledge that Kotone was now safe.
"Indeed the children should be safe from that madman. For now" 'Harry' said
It was then that Rin remembered that she was no longer talking to Harry and her curiosity took over as she looked at him.
"Who or What are you?" Rin asked him "You can't be Harry right? Are some form of Magecraft that his family uses?"
'Harry' chuckled and shook his head in denial, causing his green locked to drift in the wind.
"No I am not a product of Magecraft. But if it is a name you want then you may call me Enkidu" Enkidu introduced himself "I am not really the true Enkidu, I am his essence which has remained dormant inside my bloodline for millennia. It is only now that I am able to manifest due to my descendants exposure to 'that person's' prana"
Rin's mind burned as it tried to comprehend what she was being told. Harry's ancestor had somehow preserved himself and because of prana exposure he could manifest himself, but this Enkidu was not the true Enkidu but his essence? It made very little sense to her however before she could her compass let off another explosive reaction.
She heard a noise and watched as a multi-tentacled creature dropped from above. It looked like some sort of sea creature at first glance. However before any of them could a react a flash of gold came and the creature was skewered by a sword from above. Rin looked up and saw a woman with long golden hair, golden armour and crimson eyes staring down at them from on a nearby rooftop.
The young magus in training could take no more and passed out. As this happened Archer jumped down from the rooftop as the sword dissolved into golden dust returning to the Gate of Babylon.
"It's been a long time Gilgamesh" Enkidu said greeting the King of Heroes
There was a long pause as she stared at Enkidu, not with widened eyes in surprise but narrowed one's that inspected every inch of him.
"If you are expecting some heart-warming reunion between us then I must disappoint" Gilgamesh said with her sneering tone "You are not my one true friend, but rather a mere shade of him. I would display such warmth to my friend nothing less."
"That's what I would expect from you" Enkidu chuckled.
"I am curious though, your essence has been diminished by manifesting yourself like this." Gilgamesh stated "If you manifest yourself again you will not be able to return this way when you go again. Not without waiting for many generations for your essence to recharge itself. So will the boy lose your ability to communicate with beasts when you vanish?"
"No the ability comes from my bloodline rather than my essence" Enkidu replied "Your prana awoke my essence and I in turn awoke the ability. But it will remain even when I am gone."
"Very well then" Gilgamesh sighed "Well if you don't mind I would like to talk to the Master of Berserker who is standing just outside the alleyway and believes I do not know he is there."
Kariya Matou stepped out of the shadows and into the alleyway with slight surprise echoed onto his face. He had overheard the conversation that Enkidu had held with Rin and Gilgamesh and had an idea of what was going on, but was curious as to why Archer had called him out.
"What can I do for you then Archer?" he asked warily
"Simple, I have checked up on the Holy Grail and there is a problem" Gilgamesh replied "It appears as if there is something lingering inside the Grail. The nature of this thing would most likely twist any wish made on the Grail so it would cause a catastrophe. But more importantly it is a stain on my precious treasure so I want to remove it."
"O-okay but what do you need from me?" Kariya asked trying to take this all in.
"Simple, I need two components in order to clean the Grail." Gilgamesh told him "I already know where one is but I will find the other out soon. When I do you will aid me in acquiring them. I could do this myself but I am and King and this menial work is what lesser beings like you are for. However because I am magnanimous king in return for your service I will rescue this girl of yours and as a bonus I will use one of my treasures to save your miserable life from the worms that infest you."
Kariya was surprised but Gilgamesh continued speaking before he could ask.
"Don't look so surprised" Gilgamesh said "You said that this girl was being violated by worms. It was obvious that they are part of the Magecraft and I sense that you don't have much time left as they eat away at your life. Just to make sure you don't drop dead take this"
Kariya caught some sort of golden ring of an unfamiliar design. It appeared to have some sort of runes carved into it that he didn't recognise.
"Wear that ring and the worms will be unable to end your life." Gilgamesh explained "Do not be mistaken, it won't make you immortal and your wounds will still remain as will the pain you experience. but you will remain alive until I decide to purge the worms from you complete when your usefulness has run its course. So I will be taking it back eventually."
Kariya silently slipped the ring on his finger, as he did he could feel it getting to work extending his life and the time he had left.
"Now begone from my sight until I have need of you" Gilgamesh demanded turning her back on him.
Kariya turned and made to leave but a voice calling to him made him pause.
"Kariya Matou hold" Enkidu called out to him
He stopped turned to face him questioningly.
"Just so you know, my descendant doesn't hate you." Enkidu explained "He is angry and hurt but he does not hate. In time his heart will heal but it won't be overnight you understand?"
"I-I do thank you" Kariya bowed and vanished back into the shadows.
"So tell me why was my master skulking about with Tohsaka's daughter like he was?" Gilgamesh asked
"Apparently he feels slightly guilty about the fact that she no longer has a father" Enkidu replied "He doesn't blame the whole family for what happened to the woman only Tokiomi and he is gone. Perhaps he felt some need to help her I am not entirely sure"
"I see, so the boy is still soft" Gilgamesh mumbled.
"Well its time for me to leave as well" with that Enkidu relinquished control over Harry's body and his form vanished leaving only Harry behind who collapsed.
Gilgamesh lifted him up and leapt away into the night, she was amused by the events of tonight. She never expected her master to stumble across Tokiomi's daughter, nor did she expect him to help her in her quest. All in all it was most entertaining.
Her Master had never been in any real danger of course. She had been watching and was prepared to skewer the mongrel kidnapper if necessary.
[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]
Aoi Tohsaka, Rin's mother, had driven into Fuyuki City as fast as she could and stopped in front of the park. Her daughter had gone missing from the house, and she feared the worst had happened to her.
She got out of the vehicle as she entered the park, and near the entrance on a bench, she found her daughter lying on the bench unconscious with a young boy sleeping on the ground in front of the bench.
"Rin!"
The worried mother ran over to her daughter and looked to see if she is alright.
"Rin…"
"Rin is fine. She's just asleep. "
Aoi turned around and saw a familiar man wearing a jacket with the hoodie on. He was standing under the lamppost as the light shone down on him.
"Kariya…What's happening here? What are you doing here?"
The Matou outcast pulled off his hood and revealed a ghastly sight. His face was wrinkled and pale; his left eye coloured light blue in contrast to his brown right eye; and his hair was white.
Aoi gasped at the sight. "Your face…"
"Behold the family magic of the Matou's. You offer your flesh, and your life is slowly devoured. That is the magic's price." But then Kariya's tone became more positive "But Sakura will be fine! I'll save her before this happens to her. Zouken's only desire is the Grail. He gave me his promise that he'll release Sakura as soon as I win it for him."
"If you win the Grail?"
"Yeah, so don't worry. My servant is the strongest. It won't lose to anyone. Considering what she's been through hope would be nothing but cruel torture to Sakura right now. So Pray for her since she can't. Pray for my victory. For Sakura's future." With that, he began to depart.
"Kariya, wait…"
"Someday, I'm sure we'll all play in this park, just like we used to back in better days." stated Kariya as he pulled over his hood again, "And Rin and Sakura will be sisters again. So, Aoi, you don't need to cry anymore."
And with that Kariya vanished into the shadows of the night.
"Kariya…are you going to die and kill Tokiomi too?" Aoi asked silently crying as Kariya had vanished.
Kariya decided to keep silent about his alliance with Archer and Harry. It was information best kept to himself anyway, so he spoke to Aoi as if he was alone. Plus she didn't need to know about Tokiomi's fate, not yet at least.
[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]
Kayneth's grin widened as he looked down at the object that had just arrived by express mail from the mage's association. It was a small bottle of pills that had been confiscated years ago. It was a failed experiment on granting eternal life created by a genius who received a sealing designation despite being barely more than a maggot. While the subject would indeed live forever, they'd be corrupted as a Dead Apostle.
Originally, the medicine would drive the subject insane with bloodlust. It inevitably led to the massacre of an entire island. Thankfully, over the years, certain figures in the association had made a few adjustments that made the subject controllable even without prana. However there were countless restrictions on its use. So one had to be careful, lest they receive a Sealing Designation themselves.
"Now then..." He grinned, taking one of the pills and pricking his finger. A single drop of his blood coated the outside of the seemingly innocent white pill. Rolling his wheelchair over to the golden casket, he opened it once again. The woman inside again awoke, and the curse began spreading again.
"Good evening." He said to her as she groans in pain, "Would you like to be freed from your suffering?"
" Please...!" She gasped before screaming in utter agony.
Smirking, he dropped the blood coated pill into her mouth, and the screaming stopped abruptly, "Swallow that, and the pain will disappear forever." he promised, and she looked at him hopefully before swallowing.
As the change began occurring Prana surged through her body bringing her dormant Magic Circuits to life. Her eyes opened as she thrashed through the change, her purple tinted Mystic Eyes of Whisper evolved taking on a golden colour thus signalling the completion of the final work of the Kurokami family. A new and powerful type of Mystic Eyes had been created. Not that Kayneth knew this of course.