I don't own Fate. Fate is the property of Type-Moon, and no financial gain is made from this or is sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.
Guardian of Zero
Chapter 10
The body bags were zipped closed, and then the forensic coroners picked them up for transport away from the scene. The two police inspectors stood watching from a quiet corner while other detectives continued to peruse the crime scene, and other policemen kept nosy media and neighbors away.
"This is one hell of a case." The younger of the two said quietly. "Three out of a family of four dead for apparently no easily discernible reason, no signs of forced entry, and our only suspect has a solid alibi."
The man's partner nodded and gave a grunt of agreement. The summary of the crime was exactly as he said: the bodies of the father, mother, and son were perfectly healthy, apart from the fact that they were dead that is. The fact that all three of them had died with apparently dazed expressions made it all the more surreal, as did the fact that no on-site analysis could find traces of any sort of chemical toxin either in the house or their bodies to have caused either death or their…disturbing expressions further added to the mystery of it all.
The house was locked from the inside. The family's daughter – who had called the police when upon arriving in the morning and found her family dead in the living room with the TV on – was verified to have spent the night at a friend's house, although the inspectors decided to gloss over the fact that said friend was also a girl, and that their relationship was implied to be more than just 'friends'.
And this was simply the latest in a series of similar, no identical cases occurring over the past week.
"What the hell is going on in this city?" the older inspector muttered under his breath. "First there was just a serial killer…then a streak of robberies with absolutely no leads…then there were those strange battle scars – of all things – at the docks reminiscent of something out of TV…veterinarians and tree huggers going on about unusual animal behavior…rumors of a UFO over the city…and now this…"
"I don't like this." His partner said.
"…what don't you like?"
The question was asked rhetorically, as none of the strangeness in the city was something that should be or could be liked, but the younger man took it seriously. "Everything…" he said. "…I don't know why or how I know, but I get the feeling that this is all connected. I get the feeling that we're missing something, but that knowing more would not end well. And worst of all…"
"What?"
The younger inspector sighed and rubbed his eyes before answering. "...I get the feeling that worse is yet to come."
The older inspector didn't say anything, and looked away to look over the living room a second time. He didn't say anything because he too felt the same way and just knew that something worse was yet to happen. It was infuriating, knowing that there might be something he could do but couldn't due to ignorance.
A commotion outside drew their attention, and the two made their way outside to find some of the detectives returning to work after shooing off some crows. Ah yes…unusual animal behavior worrying the tree huggers, given the sudden proliferation of the black avian in the city for some reason or another.
"What do you think chief?" his partner asked.
Inspector Muraki lit a cigarette and looked up at the cloudy sky as he enjoyed a smoke. "Something is about to happen…" he muttered. "…I don't know if it's an earthquake, a volcano, a tsunami, or terrorists or even an alien invasion, but I say we need to keep our guard up on this."
"It seems that the Matou Master has begun gathering prana at an aggressive rate." Risei discussed the matter with Tokiomi and Kirei in Kotomine Church. "With Assassin gone, no doubt he believes he can cloak himself in the shadows with no fear of us going in after him."
"It would be a safe assumption on their part." Tokiomi concurred. "To an extent of course; Berserker is formidable, and it would be easy for them to avoid a frontal battle with a pursuit or a search force by withdrawing into the labyrinthine network of underground tunnels and back-alleys. However sooner or later they will have to leave, at which point they will prove vulnerable to their foes. Their pragmatism is admirable, but it risks provoking others who might find their methods…distasteful."
In truth Tokiomi did not believe Kariya capable of such acts. The man was…weak-willed, having turned his back on the Way of the Magus out of his unwillingness to accept the harshness of magi training. Such a ruthless means of strengthening one's Servant did not fit with him.
But then again…he had become a Master, and for a Berserker-class to boot. Not only that but Berserker had proven strong enough to briefly face off against Archer and then Saber, and then take a direct, near-point-blank hit from an Ether Cannon with only cosmetic damage. It had sent the Servant flying of course, but Tokiomi and Kirei both knew through the late Assassin that it hadn't truly harmed Berserker.
The man was full of surprises. Was he always this ruthless? If so, then I will have to watch my back.
"Perhaps we can use this." Tokiomi mused aloud. "Attacking civilians is technically against the rules of the contest however I don't see why we should pin the blame on Berserker and his Master."
Kirei and Risei exchanged curious glances. "What do you mean?" the elder Kotomine asked.
"Any magus could drain the life-force of the victims and then leave them in the condition they were found by the police." Tokiomi explained. "We may have identified Matou as the perpetrator, but that is only because of our familiarity with their branch of magic. The others will not have that luxury. I propose therefore that we use Caster as a scapegoat, and turn all others against her."
Risei looked uncomfortable. "I beg your pardon…" Kirei interjected. "…but would that not mean using your own daughter as…"
"Caster is my daughter that is true." Tokiomi conceded. "However just as she has her goals in this contest, I do as well. We all do, is that not correct, Risei?"
Risei nodded slowly in agreement and Tokiomi smiled slightly before continuing. "Caster claims to have been one of Zelretch's students." He said. "If so, then an alliance between her and one of such standing as the King of Conquerors could prove most dangerous. If we can ostracize her…"
"…you wish for me to use my authority as the Overseer to briefly halt the contest and have all others target Caster…?" Risei interrupted.
"Yes." Tokiomi said. "It is a shame, I would have wanted to meet this incarnation of Rin and test her, but the opportunity to knock out another Servant and with it end a potentially war-winning alliance of Servants and Masters is too good to pass up."
"…it would also expose Sakura to Matou." Kirei observed, and Tokiomi and Risei alike glanced at Kirei with surprise. The man was a bit surprised at himself as well. There was a note of…distaste in his voice over the idea. It was…unexpected. But then again…so was the image of Caren in Sakura's place.
"And that is a concern why, Kirei-kun?" Tokiomi asked quizzically.
"Masters and Servants tend to reflect each other." Kirei explained, ignoring what that said about him considering his late Servant. "Now consider Caster, no Rin's motivations. Furthermore for the Grail to make a child a Master implies that her desire must be of considerable intensity. And that desire resonates with Rin's own otherwise she would not have been able to summon that particular Servant without the proper catalyst. But with Rin Tohsaka a Counter-Guardian, it is unlikely in the extreme that she would have a catalyst."
"In other words…" Risei said neutrally but with a hint of pride in his eyes as he looked at his son. "…Sakura's desire to avoid Matou is equal to Caster's desire to save her."
"We all know what the Matou magecraft entails." Kirei said. "Her motivations are perfectly understandable."
Tokiomi sighed and wearily rubbed his temples. "I understand that the Matou magecraft is brutal." He said. "The training is essentially torture. Do not misunderstand: under normal circumstances, I would not consent to have any of my flesh and blood to undergo it. However these are not normal circumstances. My daughters' potential are simply too great to be ignored, and therefore sacrifices have to be made."
Risei's lips thinned, and he was about to say something when the fourth being present decided to enter the conversation. "Tell me Tokiomi…" Archer said while lounging on a nearby pew. "…do you happen to have a hobby of disappointing me?"
Everyone stood silent, unwilling to provoke the King of Heroes. "First there was that pathetic show early in this war, so easily pierced by the gaze of your daughter – she is admirable in ways that you are not, mind – and then having me turn my back on battle…" Archer continued to list his grievances. "…and then defiling the sacred truce of parley by sending Assassin to not only spy, but attack during Rider's gathering."
"With all due respect Your Majesty…" Tokiomi began soothingly. "…the gathering was against…"
"The moment I graced it with my presence…" Archer interrupted the man coldly. "…the rules of the contest became irrelevant. I am the King. If I recognize truce and parley, then it is legal, regardless of the petty rules you lowly mongrels have made up."
"And now this charade of yours…" Archer continued, venom dripping with every word. "…you were watching along with Kirei weren't you, through Assassin's eyes? Tell me Tokiomi, do you really intend to dishonor with your foul slander the woman who, despite being a mere Counter-Guardian, I have recognized as having the heart of a true hero? Who are you to accuse one such as her, who bears Humanity on her shoulders, with such false and base accusations?"
After a moment Tokiomi bowed at the waist, while the two priests looked on in astonishment, completely forgotten. "Forgive me Your Majesty…" Tokiomi seethed at the humiliation. "…I have forgotten my place."
It didn't go unnoticed by the Servant, who looked away in disgust. "Get out of my sight." The golden king spat. "You are useful to me, but if you value your life then leave before I rip out your lying tongue."
Tokiomi stood and left, and Archer snorted in contempt as the church doors slammed behind the magus. "Trash…" he spat. "…how dare he even consider slandering his betters? She may be his daughter, but she is worth three of him at the least. To say nothing of lying before me, as well as so easily discarding his own children…if not for his uses, I would see him hang here and now."
Coughing to clear his throat, Risei turned to his son. "My son…" he began. "…I am proud. It seems that at long last you may have found the answer that you are looking for."
"I…I do not understand it either father." Kirei admitted. "Even now I feel…hollow."
"But at that moment…" Risei pressed. "…you felt sympathy, did you not?"
"I merely saw Caren in Sakura's place." Kirei replied. "I…I felt disgust, anger, and a desire to avenge such…abomination."
Risei nodded, and once again Archer spoke up. "Priest…" he began irritably. "…I will not pretend to understand your woes, nor will I attempt to do so, for they are below me. But if the thought of your daughter brings you peace, then by all means, attempt to come closer to her."
Kirei blinked, and after a moment Risei placed a hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps my son…" he said. "…it is time you stopped avoiding her. She may in fact be the answer you are looking for all this time."
Archer stood, and the two priests turned to him as the blonde walked out of the church. "You have been spending too much time with that mongrel Tokiomi." He sneered as he vanished into light. "Remember your responsibilities to your child priest."
Kirei turned back to his father. "What do you suggest then, father?" he asked.
Risei smiled. "When this war is done…" he answered. "…I will have Caren brought here. Really now, you've spent too much time apart, and I would like to meet my granddaughter as well."
"I understand."
"Please…" the woman begged. "…for God's sake stop this!"
"God…?" Uryuu Ryuunosuke echoed. The young man was crouched over the nude body of her husband, his eyes carefully plucked out and his innards just as carefully removed as 'material' for Uryuu to make an abstract 'flesh sculpture' of the Human body.
Unfortunately the man had died from the shock before he could really get started, which was very disappointing for the young 'artist'. The screaming was also annoying. Screaming was useless, so he didn't understand why they even bothered to scream in the first place. Not to mention that shouldn't people be honored to become art?
That's why they go to gawk at art pieces in a museum, don't they?
Of course, like all great artists, Uryuu believed himself ahead of his time and was therefore unrecognized as a result. And like all great artists, he didn't let that stop him. On the contrary, he used it as motivation to drive himself onwards, to make more and even more beautiful pieces of art for posterity's sake.
He had no doubt that when he was dead and gone, he would be remembered among the likes of such people like Monet, Gogh, etc. He found their pieces somewhat boring, but being somewhat outcasts themselves he also found them as something of kindred spirits.
But for now, the young man turned his attention to his two other 'subjects'. Mother and daughter had both been stripped down to their underwear, and had been bound and gagged, although somehow the mother had managed to work her way past the gag. "Why do you think God would want me to stop?" Uryuu asked in his turn, tapping his knife quizzically against his cheek. "I mean, I'm only doing this because it's on his script don't you know?"
"Huh?" the woman asked in fear and surprise.
"I want to know the answer to that myself." Caster asked as she paused, about to enter the living room herself, but deciding to let the matter play out for a few moments longer. Her familiars had finally tracked the son of a bitch down, and she'd teleported over to the back of the house and quietly snuck in with the full intent of kicking ass, but this definitely was something she needed to hear.
"Think about it for a second…" Uryuu said happily. "…God loves virtues like courage and hope, but all those things are useless if you don't have anything to be brave or hopeful against. That's why it's only logical that he likes things like pain and terror too, wouldn't you agree?"
Wait, what?
"Don't get me wrong…" he continued, paradoxically stroking his victims' hair comfortingly as he did so. "…I don't really think of myself as a hero. In fact I daresay I'm actually a villain, and I'm proud of it! But if there are heroes and villains, then there has to be a script and someone writing that script about how they do things, where they fight, how their fight ends, and what happens afterwards. What else can you call someone who does something like that but God?"
This guy is nuttier than a squirrel.
"T-that doesn't make any sense!" the woman exploded. "Y-you're insane!"
Uryuu just shook his head and tapped it wearily. "Don't you get it?" he asked. "Right now, I'm cast as the villain, and you're cast as the victims. That's the way God wrote it down, and there's nothing we can do about it."
Uryuu paused, and then grinned, causing his victims to flinch back in horror. "Anyway…" he continued. "…since you know that now, why don't we all play the part we're supposed to play as best we can? I'll be the misunderstood villain who enjoys what he does, and you're the victims who'll be providing material for my next masterpiece. But…I'm not finished with my current piece, so just wait quietly for now, okay? You can scream as much as you want later, I promise."
And without waiting for her answer he pulled her gag back on with one hand…and then turned as he heard the kitchen door open and close. "Hey…" he asked Caster as he stood up and took a few steps towards her. "…who're you supposed to be? Red Riding Hood…?"
Caster responded by grabbing a nearby chair and throwing it at him, sending him flying and causing the chair to break into pieces. "The analogy does make sense." She thought to herself as she advanced, drawing her own dagger as she did so. "With my hood up, and considering its color, I suppose I do look like Red Riding Hood."
"Ouch that hurt…" Uryuu groaned as he struggled to get up, and through the haze of pain he saw his attacker cut the ropes binding his victims. "…hey, what do you think you're doing?"
"Oh you're tough, I have to admit." Caster said as she strode over and picked him up bodily, ignoring his struggles as she did so. "But it seems that you've fallen over. Let me help you up."
And without another word she promptly threw him out the window. "Feel free to call the cops." She told the freed victims before she leapt after Uryuu through the broken window, although unnecessarily, as the mother was already on the phone.
Grabbing Uryuu by the neck as he staggered to his feet, Caster immediately slammed him into a convenient tree. A hidden knife stabbed towards her chest, only to break as though striking concrete. Caster rolled her eyes.
As if a knife like that could hurt a Servant.
"Cool…" Uryuu gasped out, struggling to breathe through Caster's chokehold while shakily holding up the broken knife to gape at it. "…how'd you do that? And who are you really?"
"Trade secret…and going by your earlier ravings, I'm the hero." She hissed before head-butting him into unconsciousness. Allowing the young man to slump to the ground, she looked around before reaching up and breaking off a sturdy tree branch.
A moment later and it was altered into a coiled rope, and nodding with satisfaction picked Uryuu up and slung him over a shoulder. "As you carry the flowers in spring…" she whispered, feeling the element of wind respond to her. "…carry me now, great wind."
Her spell coming to life with a faint shimmer around her feet, she flew over to the nearest lamppost, and heard the sound of approaching sirens. Hurriedly, she levitated the madman off her shoulder and while he hung limply in the air like some sick sort of puppet, she tied one end of the rope to the curved, metal neck of the lamp and reinforced them both before fashioning the other end of the rope into a noose. This one went around the young man's neck as he began to return to consciousness.
"W-what's going on?" he stammered out as he realized that he was high above the street, being held up by Caster as she tied a noose around his neck. The police sirens were getting closer too.
"You my friend…" Caster said cheerfully, all the while tightening the noose and patting him on the back. "…are about to set off, French Revolution-style."
With a salute and while whistling La Marseillaise she released the levitation spell, causing Uryuu to abruptly fall, only to be arrested with a choking sound. With a vindictive and satisfied chuckle Caster flew off, letting the madman strangle to death even as the police cars came around the street corner. The policemen rushed out as their vehicles screeched to a halt, gaping in shock as the long-sought serial killer's face turned purple. His hands worked frantically at the noose around his neck, but vainly, and after a final, desperate gasp for air, his body slackened and hung limply in the air.
He was dead.
A/N
'Guest': oh Caster has a second Noble Phantasm apart from the Jeweled Sword. I'd rather not rush it though otherwise people will start shouting 'FUCKING CHEESE!'
I understand I'm taking some liberty with Kirei, but I hope it isn't too much. I really hate Tokiomi though, so I've no regret having him tongue-lashed by Archer (who I prefer to portray as a stern but fair King), and he really is cruel and neglectful in canon (though not as obviously I've written) as he is here. Kirei though…I like him, so I've decided to make him a bit more Human. Oh he's still screwed-up, but Humans aren't one-dimensional beings, so I decided to bring a bit of the man's humanity up in the form of his paternal concern for Caren.
I hope I did Uryuu justice, though the guy is a pain to write, and his mentality makes me sick to my stomach. Therefore I'll admit having fun writing him getting hung (literally) by Caster.
