Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon. I also do not own the Megami Tensei franchise, it belongs to Atlus.

Disclaimer: this story is pure crack. Read at your own risk, the author will not take responsibility for instances of RAGE provoked by this work.

Upping the Ante

Chapter 9

"…on other news today, the police have released a list of names of individuals who disappeared last night. Said individuals are all suspected of being connected to organized crime…"

"Hey Sakura," Pixie called, and prompting a napping Sakura to open her eyes.

"What?"

"We're on the news."

"WHAT?"

Sakura shot up at that. "Well, not actually us," Pixie corrected. "More like our sacrifices last night. The police noticed, and publicly announced they've started an investigation on the disappearances."

"…reason to suspect that these recent disappearances may be connected with the abductions of children in recent days." the police officer on the screen was saying. "It is possible that the latter was part of a Human trafficking scheme by one syndicate, and that the previous night's disappearances are a reactionary response by another syndicate…"

"Turn it off or change the channel," Sakura said in disgust while falling back into her pillows. "The police can look all they want, they won't find anything, be it about what we did to those worthless pieces of trash, or about the magus abducting children and no doubt using them for some ritual or another."

"About that," Pixie said. "You sure you don't want to do anything about the latter?"

"Why should I?"

"They're in the same spot you were in fourteen years ago." Pixie said.

"…I was lucky." Sakura said bitterly, and covering her eyes. "I didn't have to be. Not everyone is."

"Sakura…"

"Besides," Sakura continued. "If that's how they roll, then let them. It's not like they're getting in my way, are they? If I can do what I want within my power, then others can also do what they want within their power. I'm not a hypocrite. Not like my liar of a father or my weakling mother…but if others get in my way or I get in others' way…then I'll decide it as it should be: might makes right."

"…I see." Pixie said sadly. "But, that magus seems to be targeting children indiscriminately. What if your sister…?"

Sakura didn't answer at once, but after a few moments she uncovered her eyes. "In that case," she said. "It becomes my problem."

"And then what?"

"Crossed paths…" Sakura murmured after a moment. "Which is the correct route past? The victor is always right, so I'll challenge and crush them, and make the right choice of way past."

"…I see."

"Hey, master?"

"What is it, Ryuunosuke?"

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"Why yes, indeed I am."

There were two of them. One was a young man of average height, with loosely-combed brown hair, dressed in a white shirt under a violet jacket and over matching pants. The other was an older man, who towered over his companion and wore clothes that would not look out of place in a Renaissance Fair, colored in dark violet though his elaborate collar had varying shades of that same color. The man's eyes bulged from his face, and thin lines arranged in arcane patterns were tattooed over his hands.

The two of them stood before an…icon, for lack of a better way to call it. A…man, flayed and blinded, had been impaled on a wooden stake, though not completely so, as the stake's point didn't extend out of his mouth. Sigils that would have the eyes of most who looked on it bleed had been crudely carved onto the man's skin, and barbed wire bound man and stake alike tightly, for no reason other than to cause even greater agony, as the man was already immobile.

For one thing, he was already impaled. For another thing, his limbs had been broken and his ligaments torn out.

But for all that, the man was still alive. And by all rights he should be screaming and writhing in his agony…but he couldn't. His throat was cut, impossibly enough, as it would have left him unable to breath, and yet…there it was.

The man's jaw had been wired open, and through his open mouth, his curious audience could see that his tongue had been removed as well. Bland, compared to the rest of what had been done to him, though they could appreciate the presence of the basics on what was otherwise the work of a master.

More interesting was how the man's blood did not touch the ground, instead turning into wisps of oily…shadow, as it dripped down from his body, through the air or along the stake, and vanished in moments. The icon as a whole poured out terror and agony in wave-like amounts, inundating the surrounding area. Rats, insects, birds, and other kinds of animals and vermin had already abandoned the place, and the workers who worked in this section of the waterfront subconsciously avoided it.

It had also drawn the attention of Caster's familiars, and it was that which had drawn him and his Master, Uryuu Ryuunosuke, to this place. And for them, such great terror and agony…

…it was like the finest of wines.

"C-C-C-C-C-COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!" Ryuunosuke gushed, literally jumping and flailing about in joy. "Master, do you know what this means?"

"Indeed I do, Ryuunosuke." Caster said with a nod. While not as expressive as his Master, the Servant's face showed respect and awe at the icon before them. "Another artist is present, and one of great achievement indeed!"

"There are more of these things around here, aren't they?"

"There are." Caster continued. "It seems they are meant to protect something further past this point, something more important than they are."

Ryuunosuke made a sound of awe and delight. "Let's go see, master!" he said, stepping forward only to be stopped by a firm hand on his shoulder.

"We mustn't, Ryuunosuke!" Caster said.

"Eh? But why, master? Don't you want to see what else is there?" Ryuunosuke asked. "I mean…if what's meant to keep people away is already so cool, then I'm sure what they're protecting is even cooler!"

"Oh yes, I agree. That is almost certainly the case." Caster said with a nod. "And I admit I am most curious myself. And yet…it would be most discourteous, would it not?"

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

Caster tutted, a finger wagging in the air almost like a schoolteacher admonishing a student. "Think about it, Ryuunosuke." He said. "And put yourself in the other artist's shoes. Let's say you were preparing a grand masterpiece, or had prepared one, and were waiting only for the most proper time to show it to all the world! Would you appreciate it if one came uninvited, and witnessed it before it could be at its greatest and most magnificent?"

"Oh I see what you mean, master!" Ryuunosuke said, frantically nodding. "Don't spoil the show, right? I see…it'd be really uncool if we did that. But…"

Ryuunosuke sighed and slumped theatrically in disappointment. "It's just a shame, that's all." He said. "I really wanted to see whatever really cool stuff the guy behind this has also made."

"Patience is a virtue, Ryuunosuke." Caster said, placing an arm around Ryuunosuke's shoulders and guiding him away. "And I'm sure that all the anticipation and frustration that comes with waiting for the unveiling of whatever spectacle is waiting behind such guardians are sure to make its unveiling all the more enjoyable than it would otherwise be."

Ryuunosuke nodded slowly. "You're right, master." He said with a grin. "Heh…there's a silver lining to everything, isn't there? But, you know what master?"

"What is it, Ryuunosuke?"

"Apart from seeing whatever cool stuff is going to get shown eventually," Ryuunosuke said eagerly. "What I really want to do is meet the great guy behind it, and those things back there too! I'm sure we can learn all sorts of cool and fun stuff from each other, and be really good friends! Don't you think so, master?"

"Well said, Ryuunosuke!" Caster said with a smile. "Truly, as the old saying goes, birds of the same feather will flock together! And indeed, no matter how great and magnificent an artist might be on their own, if they should work together with a peer and an equal, then the result could only be far greater and more magnificent than they could each achieve on their own!"

"That's right, master! COOOOOOOOOOOOL!"

Cheerful and deranged laughter echoing into the night, Caster and Ryuunosuke vanished into the evening.

"Ah-Choo! Ah-Choo! Ah-Choo!"

"My, my, bless you my dear."

"Thanks, Missus Mackenzie." Sakura said, wiping her nose. "Someone out there must be talking bad about me. Oh well, I don't really care to be honest."

Martha Mackenzie chuckled at that, going back to slicing fresh vegetables on the counter, the two women preparing dinner for tonight. "My, my," she said. "I didn't expect you to believe in such superstitions."

Sakura shrugged, stirring the sauce in the saucepan on the stove with one hand. "You never know with these things." She said.

"True enough."

Martha and Sakura cooked in silence for a while, but after a few minutes Martha took over the stove. "Sakura dear," she said. "Do you mind bringing a pitcher of water to the living room for Waver and his big friend? Oh, and there should be some biscuits in a tin in the cabinet over there. Bring them over as well, if you please."

"Right away!"

Sakura walked off, opening a cabinet to pull out a tray, on which she placed a pitcher of water from the fridge, followed by several glasses. Then walking over to the cabinet indicated earlier, she found the biscuit tin, and placing it on the tray lifted the whole set easily. "I'll be going then." She said.

"Alright dear, but don't rush now."

"Yes, Missus Mackenzie."

"Oh, and please tell them dinner should be ready in about…twenty minutes, at most."

"I will."

"Thank you, dear."

"Still playing video games, I see." Sakura observed as she entered the living room.

"Is that a problem?" Rider observed, playing video games along with Waver, sitting in front of the TV. Well, Rider was playing, while the sweating Waver was clearly trying to catch up what with the awkward movements he was making while trying to use the controller.

"Not really, just making an observation." Sakura said, setting what she'd brought from the kitchen down on the table. "Missus Mackenzie said dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes or less, but in the meantime, this should deal with any hunger pangs you might get."

"Hmm? Oh, biscuits…yeah, that'll do." Rider said, taking a biscuit after Sakura had opened the tin. "You want some, Waver?"

"Huh? Oh I…um…yes, please."

Rider grinned, taking several biscuits from the tin. "Help yourself," he said, Waver reaching over to get some biscuits for himself. Sakura watched them eat and play another round before nodding and making to return to the kitchen.

"Well then," she said. "I'm going to go and help Missus Mackenzie back in the kitchen, alright?"

"Okay!"

"No problem!"

Specter watched from the shadows of the trees as Kayneth approached Castle von Einzbern from the front. One of Sakura's drones had spotted the magus leave his hideout, and make his way across the city in the direction of the forest wherein lay Castle von Einzbern. Quickly determining that Kayneth was planning to engage in reprisal for the destruction of his primary base, Sakura had reinforced her reconnaissance capabilities, summoning Specter and sending it to get as close as possible while avoiding detection, and to witness the whole battle in detail. It was something a drone couldn't do, given how it was likely the battle would take place inside the mansion.

As Specter watched, Kayneth opened a metal test tube, and poured out mercury onto the ground. A lot of mercury, more than what a test tube should be able to hold, but then again…magic.

"Fervor, mei sanguis…"

The front doors of Castle von Einzbern were literally blown apart mere moments after Kayneth spoke his aria, the tall man passing through the ruined entrance and into the hall beyond. A blob of mercury soundlessly rolled along beside the man, who waited for the dust to clear before speaking up.

"I am the Ninth Head of the House of Archibald, Kayneth El-Melloi." Kayneth formally introduced himself. "Einzbern magi, let us duel for the Holy Grail and our lives."

There was no response, and Kayneth's face grew stern as he slowly swept his gaze across the hall for any signs of life. A flicker of motion caught his attention, and he narrowed his eyes at a CCTV swiveling to face in his direction. Kayneth smiled in amusement, keeping an eye on the CCTV while walking forward into the hall.

He'd barely taken a few steps when a series of explosions tore through the hall, shaking the mansion to its very foundation, dust and shrapnel filling the hall's interior. For a couple of minutes, the only thing that could be seen in the hall were the clouds of smoke and dust, but then they cleared, revealing a perfectly-spherical sphere of gleaming mercury in the middle of the hall. After a moment and it opened up, revealing the completely unharmed and unamused Kayneth standing within.

"Traps, is it?" he said softly and dangerously. "How low…very well. This is no longer a battle. It is extermination!"

Watching from the shadows, Specter briefly pulled back, and summoned others like itself. Now grown into a pack of four, the Specters flitted from shadow to shadow, across the hall and following Kayneth as he cut through the ceiling to his quarry. Hidden in the shadows, the demons watched as Kiritsugu emptied an entire clip's worth of ammunition in vain against Kayneth, the bullets just expending themselves harmlessly against Kayneth's mystic code.

And then to the demons' surprise, Kayneth's counterattack turned out to be just as effective, Kiritsugu quickly avoiding the tendrils of mercury lashing out at him and leaping past Kayneth. No…not quickly, the demons reflected. Time had been bent…somehow, the man having altered the flow to have it faster for him than for the rest of this world.

What an interesting development…their summoner would be very interested in this, even more so when Kayneth dissected how Kiritsugu had done it. But that was for later, when they reported to her, and right now they just followed Kayneth as he returned to the ground floor, flitting from shadow to shadow, watching as Kayneth pursued Kiritsugu.

The Contender fired, sending a .30-30 round through the air, and punching through Volumen Hydragyrum and Kayneth's left shoulder. The magus staggered from the impact, the massive round rocking him back a couple of steps, pain erupting from the wound even as blood poured out and stained into the magus' clothes.

But if Kiritsugu thought that would be enough (not that he did)…

"Scalp!" Kayneth spat. Mercury lanced out at the so-called Magus Killer, but the man had gotten the mystic code's measure, and without even resorting to his time alteration mystery, wove around and past Volumen Hydragyrum.

Raising his other weapon, he opened fire on full-auto, Volumen Hydragyrum quickly switching to the defensive and blocking Kiritsugu's fire. The gun roared…and then clicked on empty, Kiritsugu throwing a grenade before retreating.

The explosion tore up the corridor, but as the dust and smoke cleared, Volumen Hydragyrum stood unblemished and unharmed, Kayneth breathing hard and clutching his injured shoulder behind it. "He broke through Volumen Hydragyrum's defense…" the magus breathed, his mystic code flowing back into a blob beside him. "…I was careless…I need to be faster and more careful from here on out!"

Pulling his hand away from his shoulder, Kayneth stared at his own blood for several moments before closing his hand into a shaking fist. "Trash…!" he spat as he resumed the pursuit, Volumen Hydragyrum responding to his emotion and lashing out to tear her surroundings apart. "Disgrace to all magi! How dare he spill my blood?"

Abruptly Kayneth stopped and drew himself up. "You think I do not feel your spies cowering in the shadows, Matou?" he spat. "But at the very least, you do things properly! Now watch, watch as much as you want, as I make an example of that cur, Kiritsugu Emiya!"

Volumen Hydragyrum lashed out again, tearing up their surroundings further, the only response being the faintest hint of ghostly laughter from around them. Kayneth snarled but said nothing more, and simply resumed his pursuit instead.

The Specters flitted from shadow to shadow, continuing to follow Kayneth as he pursued Kiritsugu through the castle. Explosions from traps ripped through the castle several times, each time doing no damage to their immaterial selves, or for that matter, to Kayneth, protected as he was by his mystic code.

That the magus was able to sense their presence came as a mix of surprise and shock, though in hindsight, it should not have been. Limited the man might have been to the local system of rules as opposed to the universal system that governed all of creation under the Great Will, but…the supernatural was still the supernatural. Common ground was much wider than it might seem to most.

Though, if he could sense them, then he might still be able to hurt them. Thankfully though, it seemed that he no intention of doing so…for now. No, it seems the magus wanted them to witness for their summoner his making an example of Kiritsugu Emiya.

Whether he would succeed in that last though…well, they would see. Now, apparently, given Kayneth had finally managed to corner his prey. Their ghostly laughter echoed faintly as Kayneth ranted against Kiritsugu, of how he would make Kiritsugu beg for death after being subjected to horrific torment as punishment for making light of him.

How delightful!

Humans…once they discarded the veneer of civilization, nobility, and other such artificialities that they donned…truly they were no different from the beings of the supernatural!

Kiritsugu's response was to raise his primary weapon, and to open fire on full-auto. The Specters watched with interest as Volumen Hydragyrum used a thicker, and more compact defensive form this time. Instead of a single, relatively-thin layer of mercury, the mystic code compacted itself, forming a bunch of twisted, cable-like pillars that provided a thicker between its user and his opponent.

And then while firing his primary weapon, Kiritsugu raised his other weapon and aimed it at the magus and his defense. The Specters watched and waited, eager to see how the battle would go. The gun fired, and the bullet was blocked…

…and mercury exploded as the force which animated it ceased to be, the Specters stunned to silence. Kayneth stood in place, shaking and swaying, and then clawing at his chest, vomited blood and bile before collapsing with a splash into his ruined mystic code. For several long moments, the battlefield was still and silent, save for Kayneth's heavy and labored breathing, and then Kiritsugu reloaded, and stepping forward…

…in the next instant he pulled up his primary weapon and again, opened fire on full-auto. Sparks flew through the air, along with golden arcs as Lancer parried each and every shot fired by Kiritsugu, until at last the gun clicked on an empty chamber.

For a long moment, Kiritsugu and Lancer stared at each other, and then the latter spoke. "You realize I can easily skewer you from here, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes, I do." Kiritsugu admitted, already readying a command spell just in case.

Lancer narrowed his eyes, and then reached down to sling Kayneth over a shoulder. "I will not allow you to kill my Master." Lancer coldly told Kiritsugu. "And so long as you remain where you are, I will not harm you. But know this: the only reason you still live is due to the fact that it would dishonor the King of Knights to slay you where you stand."

Kiritsugu said nothing, and just as silent Lancer leapt out of a broken window and out across the forest beyond. Carefully but quickly, Kiritsugu moved to watch out of a window Lancer do so, not noticing the Specters flitting through the darkened corridor to position themselves around him.

The man was dangerous. Truly, the title of 'Magus Killer' was well-earned. Dangerous, perhaps even to their summoner. And while they had not been given the order to attack, neither had they been ordered not to. Here was an opportunity to take a potential threat off the board, and it would only take one of them to deliver all they had witnessed back to their summoner.

One Specter departed, and the remaining four Specters made to use their last resort. Once the one tasked with reporting to their summoner was clear…

…Castle von Einzbern, and much of the surrounding forest, were blown apart.

"Well," Sakura said, blinking at the report from one of her drones. "That was an interesting development."

Rider and Waver turned to her, the three of them sitting in the Mackenzies' living room after dinner. Sakura had tried to help with washing after dinner, but had been shooed away by Glen, who insisted on being the one to help his wife, and that Sakura should just go and spend some time with Waver instead.

"Did something happen?" Waver asked.

"It seems that Lord El-Melloi went after Einzbern, in response to that little stunt last night which blew up the hotel he was staying at." Sakura said. "Unfortunately, it seems that Einzbern was expecting just that, and some henchman of theirs faced off against Lord El-Melloi. It didn't end well."

Waver gasped. "No way," he said. "Lord El-Melloi…defeated…just like that…that's just…"

Sakura chuckled. "Oh?" she said. "I thought you didn't like Lord El-Melloi."

"I don't." Waver said with his cheeks pink. "But…he's also one of the most powerful and gifted magi alive today. Even I have to admit that. To think he was defeated so easily…"

"Well, he was." Sakura said with a shrug. "I don't know how, at least until my summons who were watching from inside get back. However, he's still alive. Lancer managed to get him away before the henchman could finish the job, though from the look of things while they were retreating, Lord El-Melloi's not in particularly good shape."

"Hmm…I see…" Rider said, tapping at his chin. "And how chivalrous of Saber too, to allow Lancer to get away with his Master."

"From the look of things," Sakura mentioned. "Saber and Lancer didn't seem to have confronted each other."

"What?"

"If I had to guess," Sakura said with spread hands and a shrug. "Saber was busy protecting her Master elsewhere, while that henchman of theirs dealt with Lord El-Melloi."

"I see, so that's how it is. Though if that's the case, I wonder why Lord El-Melloi didn't use Lancer against the Einzbern's retainer?"

"Maybe Lord El-Melloi wanted to defeat the retainer by himself?" Waver asked. "Lord El-Melloi might have assumed asking his Servant to do so would be overkill, and in any case, if it's a battle between magi, considering the way Lord El-Melloi thinks, well, even if he finds his enemies below him, he'd still insist on doing things properly."

"Defeating the retainer by himself, and then the master behind them, counting only on his own skills and talents?" Rider said, and Waver nodded. "Well now, that is a surprise. Considering how he talked back there…"

Rider trailed off, stroking his chin before smiling. "Perhaps he might not be a lost cause after all," he said to Waver and Sakura. "Seeing as it would seem he at least understands that achievement must be earned, and is willing to risk all to prove himself. If this defeat teaches him humility…yes…"

Waver and Sakura glanced at each other, and then shared a shrug. In any case, Rider did have a point, and Sakura mentally reevaluated her evaluation of the Lord El-Melloi. Perhaps he wasn't quite a lost cause after all, just as Rider said.

That said…

"It's probably best not to tell them Specter – probably more than one from the scale of the explosion – self-destructed and blew up the castle once Lancer and Lord El-Melloi left." Sakura thought. "They might not take it too well. Ah well, I guess Pixie's been avenged by proxy. How do you like being blown up for a change, asshole? Try and blow up my best friend…you got what you deserved, you son of a bitch."

Sakura smiled and turning her head at the sound of approaching footsteps, expressed interest along with Waver and Rider as Glen arrived with ice cream to share between them all.

Now then…how will this affect the course of the war in the coming days, now that Einzbern's lost their henchman?

A/N

Turnabout's fair play, as the Irish love to say. Kiritsugu's probably never been blown up before, let's see how he likes it for a change.

Yeah, I sped up the battle between Kiri and Kayneth, but hey we've watched it all before. No need to go into its details, just the general drift and some commentary from Sakura's demonic spies should do.

One last thing: wow, writing Ryuunosuke turned out much easier than expected, and very fun too.