Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Different Fates

Chapter 9

"Matou-senpai…" Sakura said cheerfully as she walked up to the purple-haired boy. "…can we talk?"

Shinji Matou looked at her suspiciously, turning away from the classmate he'd been talking to at the time. "What is it?" he asked.

"My apologies…" Sakura said with a small bow. "…I meant can we talk privately?"

"What's so important that it can't be talked about in public?"

Sakura didn't reply, instead locking gazes with Shinji. She had no Mystic Eyes, but Shinji flinched and gave way with a sigh after only a few moments. Excusing himself, he followed Sakura up to the roof. "What's this all about?" he demanded once the door had closed and – without his knowledge – bounded fields fell into place around them. "If it's about the Holy Grail War I don't know anything, and even if I do it's worth my life to squeal. So…!"

"I want to ask you a favour." Sakura said, cutting Shinji off. The boy fumbled for a moment, and then caught himself.

"Favour…?" he echoed. "The great Sakura Tohsaka asking me for a favour…? What's the world come to?"

"Well for starters it's something only you can do." Sakura said with a shrug. A little flattery never hurt, though in Shinji's case it just bounced off. The boy was clearly very wary of her. Wise…but ultimately meaningless: Sakura would get her favour, one way or another, though a part of her felt…regretful, if worse came to worst.

I'm no different from her in the end.

"Oh really…?" Shinji asked. "So what's this favour you need me to do?"

"It's simple really." Sakura said with a small smile. "You see I need to separate your sister from Emiya-senpai. Together they're…troublesome, for me you see. But Emiya-senpai is the weak link, for reasons I don't intend to discuss. It's better not to know, I suppose. But if I'm to expose that link to break it, I need your sister out of the way. And I'm going to need your help to do that."

"I think I can see where this is going." Shinji said while frantically shaking his head. "The answer is no Tohsaka. This is worth my life and…!"

"Of course I understand that your assistance in this matter would be seen as…treason, by your family." Sakura interrupted. "After all, what I need you to do is to pretend to deliver a message from Zouken Matou, the one person who can bring Rin Matou to heel. I don't care what you say, what lies you have to weave, or what tricks you have to pull Rin Matou has to be on the way to the Matou property once classes end for the day. Now…"

"Didn't you hear me Tohsaka?" Shinji interrupted in his turn, angrily shouting at the younger girl. "The answer is no! There is no way I am…!"

"As I was saying…" Sakura interrupted. "…this will be seen as betrayal. As such, I am willing to offer protection. Not my personal protection, for reasons that are entirely my own, but I'm sure the Church would be more than accommodating…"

Sakura trailed off as Shinji stormed off to the door to leave, only to find himself unable to touch the doorknob. Or for that matter, to come within an inch of any part of its surface, each and every getting stopped by an invisible field of force. "It's called a bounded field, Matou-senpai." Sakura told him. She sighed. "There's probably not much point in talking further, but won't you at least seriously consider my request? It's not like you have a reason to be loyal to the Matou Clan. You are after all, bluntly-speaking, a reject. That's why my sister is now your sister. And why she treats you the way she does."

Shinji whirled, eyes ablaze with fury. Sakura met them without flinching, though she was surprised someone who always got pushed around like Shinji could have such anger in him. "Perhaps that was a poor choice of words…" Sakura said with a small bow. "…but my offer stands: I'm not asking for what little family secrets you know, Matou-senpai. I'm just asking you to play messenger for me, and I'll see to it you get protection afterwards."

Sakura paused and tilted her head. "And as I said…" she said. "…what reason do you have to be loyal to them?"

Shinji clenched his fists, looking down at the ground. There was anger there on his face, bitterness at being made to face the truth of his existence. But he couldn't deny it. But neither could he just ignore over a decade of ingrained fear and obedience to his 'family'. Not after what his grandfather had done to his mother. Not after what his grandfather had done to his uncle.

Not after what his sister had done to him.

"…leave!" the eight year-old boy shouted at the other girl, who'd silently endured his tirade even as he accused her in every way of being nothing more than a common thief that had somehow managed to get into the family, steal their appearance and name, and now sought to steal their greatest secret and treasure: the magic that should be his, the rightful Matou heir.

"Leave and never come back…!" he shouted again, and Rin just tilted her head to one side mockingly.

"Do you want it that badly, what I already have?" she asked, and Shinji saw red.

With a scream of childish anger, he reared back and tried to backhand her with all he was capable of…'tried' being the key word. Instead she caught his arm before its hand could strike her face, and before he could react she stepped forward, bending and twisting his arm back as though she was ripping a branch from a tree.

He screamed as pain erupted from his destroyed shoulder, collapsing writhing and whimpering in agony on the ground at Rin's feet as she released his arm. She wasn't finished though, and a tearful but defiant glare turned to one of pure terror as she raised a foot over his leg. More insults and invectives turned to fresh screams as her reinforced limb broke his thigh bones, and Shinji collapsed crying, all anger and defiance gone.

He was after all, still just an eight year-old boy.

It didn't end there though. Ignoring his pleas, Rin had dragged him down by the hair all the way to the basement, right up to the very edge of the pit he'd spied her lying in during the previous night, her nude body writhing and covered with worms, insects, and all sorts of filth…the same filth that still writhed in the pit.

"Is that what you really want?" she spat at him, pointing at the pit with her purple irises all but glowing with magical power. "Do you want those…things all over you…in you? DO YOU?"

Shinji broke, babbling and begging at the girl with purple eyes and hair and pale skin standing out like a demon in the darkness of the basement. With a sneer and a snarl of contempt, Rin turned and left him alone.

Left alone with nothing but the sound of…things crawling about in the darkness, Shinji cried for what felt like hours at the time, but he'd later learned was barely ten minutes. But then help finally came…

Grandfather…

Initially he'd rallied, showing off his injuries and accusing Rin of attacking him out of nowhere. To his horror the old man had simply laughed at him, and then had 'healed' him. He would never forget those…things the old man – if man he still was – had allowed to burrow into his leg and arm, and the sheer pain and wrongness as they writhed in his flesh.

It didn't matter if they left once his arm and leg were fine…

…it was at that moment, with the memory of what had just been done to him by his 'sister' and 'grandfather'…with the memory of what had been done to his mother…

…it was at that moment he realized the hollowness of his ambitions and dreams.

The Matou inheritance…? He should have known better.

He should say no. He should walk away. Not out of loyalty or anything truly admirable, but simply because the consequences of betrayal far outweighed any satisfaction he might gain from 'striking back' at the monsters who called themselves his 'family'. But despite what rationality, prudence, and instinct screamed at him to say no, and to simply walk away…

"What guarantee can you give me?" he found himself whispering.

Protection…Tohsaka offers protection.

Is it enough?

Can I get away? Not just with betraying them, but from those monsters as well?

"Father Kotomine is a retired Executor." Sakura said. "He can't help you until you reach his church, but once you're inside even your grandfather would be a fool to try and reach you. Though, you should make for the church once classes end for the day: I wouldn't want to be in your shoes once Rin discovers the masquerade. I'll give you a letter of introduction."

"This all sounds all well and good…" Shinji snarled. "…but what about after the war? I know enough that my grandfather – though not our sister – wouldn't hold this against you. Not really: magi will be magi, and what you're doing is normal and probably even expected. Me…? I'll be a blood traitor…"

At this rate, I'll end up just like mother. A breeder to be used as needed and then thrown away afterwards. Worse, it'll probably be with her. Not with Rin…I won't have brats with her.

I don't want that.

I DON'T WANT THAT!

"The Holy Church takes the concept of sanctuary very seriously." Sakura said. "I'm sure you'll find plenty of options available to you. I daresay you might even find a future in our world with the Church, more than you could hope to gain by staying loyal to your family in this moment. In fact, I'll even ask Father Kotomine to discuss said options with you."

Shinji didn't reply, resolutely meeting Sakura's eyes instead. Sakura didn't break the gaze, the breeze picking up sending leaves, dirt, and their hair flying. It died down after a moment, and then Shinji spoke up. "How do I know you plan to keep your word?" he asks.

Tohsaka is still Rin's sister.

Even if Rin burned the bridges between them long ago, they still have the same blood.

The same blood…

Can I trust them?

Can I trust Tohsaka?

"I'm not signing a geis, Matou-senpai." Sakura replied. "You'll just have to trust me. And you'll have to trust the fact that despite myself being arguably no better than she is, I'd like to think of myself as…better than her."

Her face fell at the last, and she looked away. After a few moments Shinji snorted. "Alright…" he said before shaking his head. "…but I won't trust in you. No, instead I'll trust in your pride Tohsaka. Let's see how much it's worth. Where do I get my introduction letter?"

Sakura glanced back at Shinji. "Come to the Calligraphy Clubroom after lunch." She said. "AFTER the message has been delivered, understood?"

Shinji snorted and nodded, and half-turned towards the door. "Understood…" he said. "…can I leave now?"

Sakura gestured and deactivated the bounded field, allowing Shinji to leave. The moment the door closed shut, Sakura's face twisted in disgust, and she spat to one side. As Rider materialized, Sakura sank down to sit on the ground, resting back on her arms.

She sighed and briefly closing her eyes, looked up at the blue skies. "What's wrong with you little lady?" Rider asked.

"I feel disgusted with myself." Sakura replied. "Engineering betrayal…? I've sunk so low."

"War is dirty business." Rider remarked. Sakura snorted.

"I know." She said. "It just didn't sink in until now, that's all."

Rider stayed silent for a few moments, and then he raised an eyebrow. "Sister…?" he laconically asked.

Sakura glanced at him with narrowed eyes. "It was my father's decision." She eventually said. "He only needed one heiress, and I was deemed more suitable. So she was sent away for adoption."

"To a rival family…?"

Sakura shrugged. "All magi are rivals." She said. "But some are closer than others. Allies of convenience or friendly rivals, you could say. The Matou and Tohsaka are such a case. Seeing as the Matou had no…worthy, heir and my family had a spare…"

Sakura trailed off, but Rider nodded his understanding. "To maintain the understanding between your families…" he said. "…the spare was given away. I've seen it before. Times have changed, but it seems the games played by the nobility haven't."

Sakura snorted derisive agreement, much to Rider's surprise, though she didn't say anything. For a time silence stilled the air, and then as the bells rang the end of morning break Rider spoke up as Sakura got to her feet. "What would you have done if the Matou boy had refused?" he asked.

Sakura didn't answer at once, patting herself down instead. "I'd have dominated his mind…" She replied while fixing her skirt. "…and made him perform the needed task regardless."

Rider snorted. "It is to be thanked then…" he said. "…that he accepted your offer."

"Indeed…" Sakura said. "…though even in that case, I'd have offered him sanctuary with the Church. One way or another, as long as he did what we needed him to do, then he should be rewarded."

Rider nodded his agreement, and Sakura made to return to the lower floors. "Let's go Rider." She said, and the Servant vanished into astral form.

"Rin…"

Rin glanced as her brother – well actually stepbrother though few other people knew or needed to know that – approached her at lunch. She raised an eyebrow. "Well isn't this a surprise?" she remarked. "What's so important that you'd break with routine and approach me like this, little brother?"

Her tone was sweet and benign, but there was a hint of steel beneath it, causing Shinji to tense up and start sweating heavily. He tugged at his collar before speaking. "G-grandfather…" he stammered. "…he asked me to bring a message to you."

Rin looked back at Shinji from her lunch, her expression unreadable. "Go on." She said softly.

"He said you should come home tonight."

"It's not the weekend yet."

"Yes well…" Shinji fumbled, briefly looking away to wipe at his face with a handkerchief. "…with everything that's going on, he thinks that… that the usual weekend sessions might not be enough, so…"

"Adjustments need to be made…?" Rin finished, and Shinji jerkily nodded his head.

Rin looked away, seemingly staring into space in thought, but Shinji found himself rooted where he was standing. After several moments, Rin closed her eyes and chuckled bitterly. "My weekly reprieve ends early…?" she said, partly-opening her eyes. "…it's not the first time it's happened, and I know it could happen any time, but even so…I…"

She glanced sideways at her brother, who was standing looking all but petrified where he was standing. She narrowed her eyes and met his, and they shook, barely holding in place. She could see fear, terror, desperation, and…hope?

Now what could be…ah I see…is he hoping I won't lash out? Or that I'll ignore the summons? And suffer the consequences as a result…?

Is that what this is, grandfather?

A test…?

After all, every time you've summoned me back early, you contacted me yourself, through the worms you've left in me.

And now that I'm a Master, along with my established habit of sleeping at Shirou's place whenever I can, are you trying to see if I remember my place?

Rin's hands curled into fists, and Shinji flinched back. Rin looked away and chuckled. "Fine…I understand…" she said softly. "…I got the message. Now leave."

"Right after class…you I mean…grandfather said no side-trips or…"

"LEAVE!"

Shinji fled, and Rin turned back to her meal with a foul air.

Just a little more…just let me see this war to the end…once I win this…it can finally end…I'll be free…free…free…free…free…

Outside the classroom, down the corridor and around a corner, Shinji slumped against a wall breathing hard. For several minutes he just stayed there, until with a final deep breath he stood up straight.

He'd done it.

HE'D DONE IT.

HE'D DONE IT.

WHAT HAD HE DONE?

With another deep breath, he cautiously took a look around the corner and around him, and satisfied that no one he knew – or knew him – was around he cautiously went on his way. That wasn't really unusual, given he was – no matter how galling admitting it was – a usual target for bullies.

As such those who saw him pass by, whether on his grade or those below, either ignored him or noticed him only in passing. Finally, he reached his destination. Sliding open the doors, he stepped through the doorway and the threshold of the cunningly-hidden bounded field before the closing the doors behind him.

"Well done…" Sakura remarked. She was sitting casually at a table, a sealed letter on the table beside her. "…I saw the whole thing thanks to a familiar watching from a tree along the school's boundary. A bit far for Human eyes, but sparrow's eyes are surprisingly-sharp."

Shinji stayed silent. "The conversation was brief." Sakura continued after a moment. She picked up the letter and held it in one hand. "And rather interesting to boot. Weekend sessions…weekly reprieve…very curious…"

"Tohsaka…" Shinji said, and Sakura smiled at him.

"Do you expect me to ask for the meaning behind what you and her talked about?" she asked, and held his eyes. For several moments they just stared at each other, and then Shinji licked his lips, swallowed dryly, and looked away.

Tohsaka's eyes are brighter, softer, and have a different colour. But while they aren't as…obviously threatening as Rin's…they're so deep.

And in those depths…there is…something…something so like Rin…

Sisters…in blood…

Sakura laughed and shook her head. "Don't worry…" she said. "…I won't ask. Most other magi probably would, but not me. And I'll even tell you why: your sister is the Matou Master in this war, but that's the whole point. This action is on my part directed primarily at her. That it compromises the Matou investment in the war is just unfortunate collateral. But if I were to try and get what secrets you know – and you might know more than I originally thought – then it would be an action against your family."

"Scared, Tohsaka…?" Shinji asked softly.

"Just prudent…" Sakura said with a small laugh. "…in a fair fight, I probably won't last long against Zouken, at least not without extensive preparation on my part."

She lifted the letter with slow theatricality, and then held it out. "As promised…" Sakura said. "…a letter of introduction. Your cooperation is most appreciated. Just make sure to get there as soon as you can, or it won't be of much use, if at all."

Silence fell, Sakura smiling softly while holding the letter out as Shinji stared at it. And then, slowly, he reached out and took the letter. He looked at it as Sakura lowered her arm, and then he glanced at her. "My pride's on the line." She said. "Just get to Kotomine Church, and our business will be concluded."

Shinji glanced back at the letter, and then to Sakura again. And then he slowly slid the letter into his jacket. "That's that then." He said, and Sakura nodded.

"Yes it is." She said.

"I'll be going then."

Sakura nodded again, and then Shinji turned and left. As the doors closed, Sakura leaned back in her chair and sighed. "Part One complete…" she said softly. She then glanced at Rider, who hovered invisibly near the windows. "…Part Two begins once classes end. I'll be counting on you, Rider."

"You're taking a huge risk with this plan, little lady." The Servant replied telepathically.

"I know." Sakura silently replied. "Victory goes to he who goes the furthest."

"There's also such a thing called prudence."

Sakura chuckled. "Yes…" she silently said. "…I know."

"This sounds too suspicious for me." Shirou said to Rin. The two of them were talking in an out-of-the-way corner, students passing them by chattering as they left for their clubs, homes, or elsewhere after class. The sky outside the windows was already turning to the red and orange of Sunset, though it was still a couple of hours off. "We decide to stick together as part of our strategy, and on the same day this pops up. Something feels off."

"And normally I'd agree." Rin said. "But I don't see any indication not to take my brother's summons from our grandfather at anything but face value."

"Couldn't Tohsaka have bribed or threatened him or something?"

Rin shook her head. "My grandfather is a harsh taskmaster." She said with surprising seriousness. "And he's not one to tolerate disrespect or anything of the sort. Do you really think someone like that would forgive treachery? You know magi Shirou. Family is…everything, to us."

Rin bit back her bitterness at those words, fighting to keep it from showing whether on her face, in her actions and eyes, and in her voice. Not completely, as Shirou looked ever so slightly concerned, but he didn't press the topic.

It wasn't his place.

And in any case, as far as he knew, it was only in the case of failure or discipline. He knew nothing of the nightmarish truth behind the façade the Matou Clan presented to the world.

And he would never know.

Not if she could help it.

"My brother would never dare risk...the consequences of being bribed or 'convinced' to assist Sakura." Rin continued after a long moment. "The only way that would happen is if Sakura used mental interference, and I'd have noticed if she had."

And even then, their grandfather would still have punished Shinji for not warning Rin afterwards of Sakura's plans and actions. Unless, of course, he remained under mental interference or his memories had been altered.

A part of Rin wondered if she should have checked deeper into her brother's mind than just a mere cursory scan. And the fact that Shinji had left school with surprising alacrity – according to Shirou who was in the same class as her brother – once classes had ended was more than a bit suspicious.

But…what if the message was real? The consequences of defying her grandfather, even if in response to a provocative action by an enemy during the Holy Grail War, didn't bear thinking.

What an idiot. This is what happens when you disobey grandfather.

Just rot…just rot and let the worms eat you…you deserve it…liar…liar…liar…liar…LIAR!

"Rin…?" Shirou asked in concern, and Rin glanced at him. Apparently she'd spaced out.

"I'm fine." She said. "In any case Sakura's left as well, according to Archer. Apparently, Rider was with her, though her Servant's masking made it difficult to confirm at first. In any case I doubt Sakura would go around without a Servant at this point in the war."

"I am."

Rin laughed and shook her head. "The circumstances are completely different." She said.

"True…" Shirou said with a laugh of his own. "…alright, you go home and sort out whatever family business your grandfather has in mind. I'll finish up what needs be done here, and I'll head straight home."

"Finish…?" Rin echoed.

Shirou rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah…" he said. "…the student on afterschool cleaning duty had a date so…"

Rin reached out and flicked Shirou on the forehead. "Idiot…!" she hissed. "By the time you'll be finished it'll probably be dark! Bluffing is dangerous enough as it is but you…!"

"It'll be alright." Shirou interrupted, placing his hands on Rin's shoulders. "I'll head home straight afterwards, and if anything goes wrong, well, I have command spells. Don't worry: I don't plan on dying. After all…"

Shirou paused and actually winked at her. "I can't let someone we can't trust have the Grail can I now?" he finished.

Rin stared at him for several moments and then sighed. "Idiot…" she said. "…next time, consult me first. And stop trying to act cool. It doesn't suit you."

"It doesn't?"

Rin smiled and sighed again. "No, it doesn't." she said, and reached up to cup a cheek. "I like you better as you are. I'll trust you, so take care of yourself, alright?"

Shirou stared into Rin's eyes determinedly, and took hold of her hand with his own. "Yeah…" he said. "I will."

In an empty classroom on the ground floor, hidden behind concealed bounded fields, Sakura sat Japanese-style on the floor, Muramasa sitting crosswise over her lap. "Archer has withdrawn." Rider reported telepathically. "Most likely he will rendezvous with his Master along the route to her home."

"And leaving Emiya-senpai exposed." Sakura replied in kind. "Just as planned…"

"And should the Emiya boy summon his Servant by means of a command spell…?"

"Then I would do the same for you." Sakura answered. "You can handle Saber one-on-one, can you not?"

"Impudent child…"

Sakura chuckled and fell silent. "We'll wait a bit longer." She said while looking at her wristwatch. "Enough time that any…large-scale eruptions of prana or violence won't catch Rin's attention and draw her back. In the meantime, continue to escort my double."

"I know." Rider said. "I'll just follow the plan: until you call on me, either by our connection or a command spell, I will escort your double home and remain there until called for."

Sakura nodded, though Rider couldn't see it. The emotion was conveyed though, and the connection fell silent. Sakura glanced down at her sword, regarding the sheathed blade in silence.

Will you be drawn tonight, Muramasa? Will you taste blood? Will you take a life? Or will you merely mark another?

Either way, should you be drawn I will be counting on you, Muramasa.

A/N

Magi just keep on scheming and scheming and scheming in this chapter. How it'll all end will be revealed in time…

Count Valerian: yes, that assumption is correct.

Magister Fay: no, she doesn't know tessenjutsu yet. She's only sixteen, barely an expert in kenjutsu. One thing at a time, or two, maybe three apart from magecraft, that is. I won't reveal her other specializations (spoilers), but she's not a master of any of them. Skilled amateur at the least, minor expert at most: that's all I'll say on the matter.

Der Furst: the prince, really? No spoilers.

What happened between Rin and Sakura eight years ago will be revealed before this arc ends, and then this story will go on hiatus while I return to Moonlit Fate.