War's End

by VI Intelligence

This was something I wrote in the wake of the game Valiant Hearts, hope you enjoy it. Rated M for future. Death is the end for most journeys, save for few...a man is among these few who are given missions into new worlds, ripping apart tragedies and assisting heroes in the shadows. Recent update, chapter 14 is up and I have re-edited one of the early texts.

14. A Reminder, Plan in Motion, Morning

War's End

Hey guys, I am finally back! I have my holiday and I was working on my story chapters, so expect one or more updates to various stories sometime soon.

Disclaimer: Fate is owned by the Typemooners, the mysterious beings who are found in Japan. Their native environment is in the urban districts where they prowl in search of exotic experiences…of certain kinds. They are recognizable by their utterance of magical incantations that do no effect you too terribly unless it breaks reality, as well as long explanations that can be summed up in two sentences after a lengthy discussion, have perceptions of minutes in hours regarding time…and finally they also have various mottos, though the most infamous before attacking predators are 'people die when they are killed'. They are classified as SSS-rank in the bestiary of modern legends and are very dangerous that it makes Slenderman as dangerous as a child with tentacles for legs.

This is the longest chapter that I have written so far, so yay me!

Notes:

Bold with italics, mostly dream thoughts

Italics, flashbacks and mental contact

He opened his eyes, and in place of the bedroom he was currently resting was a dark void teeming with familiar sounds, the voices of two individuals echoing like a distant call as he stood up on his feet, noticing the courtyard and the knight and priest held in place by time. As he watched, the scene had faded from the knight and the priest, time soon began to turn back on itself slowly retreating as he watched various scenes running itself in reverse as the vision of the prison riot came into place, the images turning and playing faster in their backward rotation despite the humor he could have picked up in the situation before he felt the dark feeling of the previous flashback retreat. He looked around, his mind spun and confused by the sudden rush of pictures and detail which embedded themselves permanently in his memory, Amos noticing the sky turning brighter as he felt cold, the man shivering in his outfit consisting of a dark brown zipped up winter jacket with a hood drawn past the back of his neck and blue jeans.

That was the dream last night, now where will I end up?

As if to answer his thoughts, a single thought came to his mind: Camelot. The name itself did not ring any bells to him, but the history soon seeped into his mind, coloring it with blue skies and a stretch of wheat fields, the distant towns and villages as far as the eye could see while he found himself on a hill. A peaceful kingdom long forgotten by the English saved for the ramblings of a priest in parchment, the memory appear fresh in his mind as the large castle and its houses were suddenly taken from his sight replaced by a lonely city on the outskirts near the woods which was not too far from the borders of this little kingdom, the thick forest and surrounding the large fortification and its neighboring village below. He took the time to glance around, noticing that he had woken up in a confined walkway

Inside, he could hear voices. He looked down at his feet which had reacted to his will, the man noticing how they seemed rather small in this version of the dream but he didn't care instead moving down the stairs listening to a conversation which had been in the crescendo by the time he arrived.

"And Arthur, brave as he was, managed to drive his holy sword into the dragon's nose petrifying it for a second before it threw him off its snout breathing fire and charring many of the kings' armored guardians who bravely threw their shields in array against the dragon." The voice of a female was heard followed by an awed 'wow' in reply, the clapping of hands resounding in the large castle staircase as he moved downwards turning the corner before his expression turned from a stoic curious expression to one of utter surprise at the two occupants who were sitting near the large expanse of brick and grass.

Standing to the side stood two people an older woman in her 30's who was sitting at the stone wall of the large open air walkway between the gardens and the castle the arches of stone over her head while dressed in a formal dark blue dress with sleeves chestnut hair up to her shoulders blew to the side as a windy breeze followed her dark eyes sparkling with excitement as she recounted the tale of the legend of the land though it was her audience that captivated his sight, a familiar head of blonde hair and emerald eye was visible standing in front of him.

"Ravager?" he uttered but due to this being a memory his words would go unnoticed and unheard as he looked at her top to bottom. She had not changed from the time she was summoned, in fact she was a little shorter compared to her height now but yet he could see that it was the very same young woman she met in terms of physique though the actions that this Ravager was doing were not the same as her current self.

He looked at the dress, it was the hardest thing to ignore as it was the only glaring difference in her appearance the armor and dress that she wore was no longer there replaced by a more feminine touch in the dress, the stich-like patterns to hold the dress at the front while a white gown inside protected the modesty of the user besides the dress itself. When he looked at the color it was strangely not crimson instead it had been a lighter shade of it combined with brown to mix into an almost muddy color though he could make out the red in it, her hair too was cut up to the shoulder with a longer but not messy ponytail which meant she hadn't grew her hair out yet and was like an indicator of perhaps a separate time though he could see how different she took her hairstyle to Saber's. No braids in her hair, aside from the low ponytail that was tied up in a blue thin strip of ribbon that was the first thing that led him to notice how much she stood out in the midst of the garden.

The second thing was more importantly what she was expressing right then, the moment captured in his memory like a snapshot stunning him. Plastered onto the girl's face was a wide open smile, her emerald eyes were not dulled and sharpened with war but it was softer and had maturity in them the young woman not noticing his presence as he watched the remainder of the scene play out in front of him his mind reeling from seeing this new side of her personality that he didn't know about.

The young woman looked at the older woman expectantly. "So they managed to kill it?"

"Yes, that's right…though the dragon couldn't be used for any other purpose for its nature save for its scales, so the knights had to tear out the scales and from there were sent to the blacksmiths for armors."

"Fascinating, Arthur sounds like a brave king."

"He is one, the true king we all adore and know will be our protector of this land," the older woman replied with a measure of adoration and confidence in the monarch while the young woman stared out at the gardens seeing the various herbs and other plants scattered across the wide field thinking for a few moments before she looked to the older woman who had taken a break from her story, the woman leaning back on the wall to cast her eyes at the gardens and Amos had to admit it…he had been to various herbal stores but seeing this wide field on a castle was something else. He could see wolfsbane, a few other poisonous plants and a small crowded array of flowers that he heard in passing from an European man who used to sell him such poisons and herbal concoctions packed in various corners as if categorized and shelved for use. "Catherine…"

The woman now identified as Catherine turned to address the shorter woman of the two, her eyes questioning her gaze who had wandered over the gardens for some time before the young Ravager let out her thoughts. "Catherine, if you could, I wanted to ask about basic herbalism…"

The scene faded out to another one, the image warping and distorting into a whirpool of black as yet another vision came into view this time it was somewhere in the gardens, and the young woman was watching Catherine grinding several leaves together with a stone bowl and stone. It was at this time that Amos noticed three other presences at this spot, the man seeing two guards who were nervously watching the process each of them holding their halberds tightly though their nerves were not that shot, being outside while making potion brewing was a little better than having a tight space knowing all your equipment could be destroyed causing chain reactions. He then found his eyes falling to someone standing near Catherine, this woman had no aura of authority but was simply a bystander watching the proceedings though even so he only needed to glance at the robes before he noticed Catherine spying the woman in robes out of the corner of her eye.

"Catherine, you need to be a little more careful with that." Ravager spoke up helpfully from her side as she noticed Catherine's distraction, the light scolding making Catherine smile as she thanked the looked over the ingredients with care knowing that to touch the wrong one would lead to disaster, but still her curiosity was hidden from view though her fingers skillfully tracing each plant leaf and flower on the apparatus and wooden table told him she was clearly enjoying it. Her emerald eyes were lit up in a way that Amos recognized as analytical, just like in the past conversation with her the first time he awoke to her spite, there was something in her voice and her eyes when she looked over him and a silent cloud of judgment over his words and actions…

"So, if you're paying attention to the book…there are two approaches to do this, though one is riskier than the other do not use this method unless you are desperate and the materials are there. Firstly…" The woman in the robe continued to hide herself while observing the scene, training on Catherine as she periodically instructed the blonde girl, Ravager nodding as she eventually was given some materials to work with starting with a basic potion to use, the woman curiously staring at some of the equipment before she used her fingers to trace each herb Catherine and the robed woman giving an occasional glance. Ravager eventually got to work, Amos could see her struggle as she tried to estimate the amount with her fingers as she paused in mid-action unsure of whether to add a little more for effect or not, though her bold moves did not go unnoticed by the one in the robes whose analytical gaze followed with scorn and annoyance.

"What's with the change on this step?"

"Hmm, I felt like it didn't belong in the recipe." Ravager said as Catherine let out a hum of thought, Catherine observing the girl at work while the woman in robes opened up a tiny herbal book running her fingers through the pages. After a brief peruse, the woman shut the book taking the small sample, looking at the girl. After some time, the robed woman decided to make her presence known, walking into the garden though the frown remained on her face. Catherine was the first to notice her approach, the woman immediately pinching her skirt at both sides and bowed her head, Ravager still unaware of the presence until Catherine cleared her throat. "Lady Le Fay, good afternoon."

"Now what do we have here?" The woman, now identified as Le Fay, cast her gaze onto the small child who faced the robed woman with the mixed expression of annoyance and submissive respect. "Catherine was giving me some lessons on herbal concoctions, Mother."

"Is that so, child? Your focus should be on your swordplay than playing with alchemy," the woman coldly replied as Ravager's eyes looked away, the woman in robes ignoring the lack of respect while she glanced at Catherine the servant, and it was the first time that Amos could see from behind the pair directly into the robed woman's eyes the man taking only a moment before he recoiled. Staring upon them were a pair of emerald eyes, however the pupils instead of being round like a human's, was replaced by animalistic slits though the woman blinked showing it was functional to that of a normal man's.

What is with those eyes, it's like I'm looking into a serpent. And did she just call that woman Mother? Amos wondered as he continued to watch Le Fay eyeball the woman beside Ravager, her expression souring further. "Catherine," the servant tensed up at the mention of her name as Amos noticed her eyes were cast to the floor out of uncertainty, a sliver of fear subtly leaking from her pupils as she continued to meekly bow. Le Fay said nothing to the maid, instead looking to the child staring at her with a dark glare as she folded her arms under her robes, the woman exuding distaste. "Catherine, we'll speak of this later."

"O-Of course, Lady Le Fay." The woman replied meekly as she bowed her head lower.

"Child, your sparring instructor informed me to tell you that you have your sword training at the usual time. Catherine, I trust you'll help your mistress with preparing the armor," Catherine shivered lightly at the cold emotionless tone of her mistress while the blonde girl's expression was a serious one. If looks were killers, Amos had no doubt the tense air between the two was enough to make him worry about his own safety, considering one of the two was his partner. Continuing to observe, Le Fay had spun on her heel and left her billowing black robes trailing after her back, Catherine affirmed an answer after the retreating figure.

"Yes, Lady Le Fay." Watching the woman depart into the shadow of the nearby tower, the young woman let out a huff of hot air as she folded her arms her eyes narrowed. Catherine noticed this, the maid turning to look at her ward with concern. "My lady, I know this is tough on you, but you must endure. If you train hard enough, maybe you'll go to Camelot one day and see the king."

"I wish, if my mother did not forbid me from leaving this castle until the right appointed time. Even then she slanders the king like he is her enemy," Ravager retorted bitterly as she stomped her foot on the grass digging her heel into the dirt. Catherine said nothing more, the two women leaving for one of the towers within the castle fortress, Amos observing with absolute silence as he came to terms with what he had just witnessed. Again, like the day before he had received another glimpse into the life of the person who was known as a Servant, a spiritual entity sentient with the memories of the departed, and his partner in the current Grail War. While he was pondering on this, he looked up as he saw the scene slowly creeped into darkness, his eyes feeling heavy as he was asleep once more feeling tugged back into the waking world.

---

Present day, modern district night time

Amos' eyes snapped to life just as his vision within the dream blackened, the young man rising from the bed in the hotel as he watched the night sky to his left, the moon's dim bright aura was reflected by the amass of lights in the nearby buildings, forcing him to shift his body to the side facing away from the lights while he read the time on the nearby clock perched on the oak end table, the red digits glaring at his recently awakened eyes which squinted away before he felt his vision return to its usual sharpness.

11pm, an hour from midnight were the numerals shining in the black room.

"What a weird dream," Amos said as he pushed the covers aside, gently setting his feet over the side of the bed as he registered the time once more on the digital clock, Amos stretching his hands over his head while he did so he glanced over the hotel room furniture. The Irish magus Bazett had found them another hotel not far from the previous one, setting two separate rooms for each of them on the same floor though at different positions. From what he had learnt, Bazett was a very prepared magus who was never without a plan, and witnessing such heavy preparations of ritual circles (which he despised in spite of their intention to protect) all over the windows and the door to his room just confirmed just how paranoiac a magus could be. Either way, whether he liked it or not, the magic circles were held in place and Amos knew better than to screw around with magic when he did not understand it, the consequences would be devastating.

Amos looked down, noticing that there was a large shape in the blanket next to where he had been sleeping, the man blinking the crust out of his eyes as he absently reached out curiously, lifting the covers slightly to reveal a head of blonde hair. The sheets shifted in soft waves as the second bed occupant turned in her sleep, Amos tilting his head upon seeing something tall and yellow poking out of the pillow where the head was resting soundly without a sound. Watching in fascination, Amos groggily brought his index and middle finger to the swaying hair strands giving a glance at the owner who was still sleeping before he gently picked at it, noting how it created a shiver to the body beneath. After a few tugs at the light strand, Amos felt his mind spur to life before he stopped, the unwilling Master hearing a white noise in the quiet room as he turned to the window glancing at the surrounding walls.

"Well, she's very resourceful I'll give her that." He muttered staring at the dull blue light of a giant magic circle encompassing the walls and the sliding doors within its radius, the shimmering mana released small balls of light which circulated around the circle like fireflies floating around aimlessly, Amos watched it soon disappear alongside the markings darkening the room once more. While the magic circles unnerved him for many reasons, they were on a level of fascination that seemed beyond human understanding, for the reality of having them exist and function is a strange process indeed.

"It's only been an hour of rest for tonight, I feel drained."Sitting up, Amos decided to leave the bed and his Servant behind, making his way to the sliding doors as he unlocked and walked into the balcony noting the ground far below his feet. They had taken up residence at the 16th floor, a risky thing for Amos considering that he wanted to be close to the ground as possible should an attack occur. As he felt the wind breeze across his face, sending his hair flying to the back Amos pondered on the current task. He was getting no closer, the task of striking out at this threat once seemingly feasible had become a myriad of events and turns out of left field that he couldn't plan what to do next.

"…"

He thought of the team he had right now. He was paired up (by force) to a Servant by magical Command Seals which is like a slave brand except to control the slave, who is disgruntled with him and a magus who owed him a favor for saving her life (which again, he did not do or ask). If anything, as if he thought he could end the war as quickly as it began, he was dragged deeper into the hole started by a bunch of magi a few hundred years back instead. To make it worse, the war was a natural thing amongst magus, a process which was simply trial and error without any question to the system implemented by man, to Amos it could be torn apart like any system. Yet here they were, seven Masters and one goal to grant a wish to a forbidden artifact with the acceptable loss of human life to an extent, what a messed up world he was dropped into.

"Mages, magic and a deviation of miracles…what is this world coming to now?" Amos hung his head on the railing, his forehead hitting the rail with a soft thud feeling the vibration reverberate within his brain. The task was harder than anticipated, and he was in no shape to plan or strategize what was next on the agenda to ending this war. The most he can go on for now was to follow the lead of Bazett's revenge plan against some priest who happens to be the overseer of the War itself, for now he was the best lead on how to stop the War. As he spent time thinking things over, he did not notice the door slide open behind him and a head of blonde hair walking to his side her messy hair tied into a rough uncombed ponytail.

"Master," the blonde spoke with a cold tone as she looked out into the city with her emerald eyes, observing the dark street paved with moving dots of black and sleek rectangular cars passing underneath their balcony. "Ravager, I thought you were sleeping."

"I was, then I woke up," Amos said nothing to his Servant the two staring out at the city, each in their own thoughts until Amos breathed out a cold breath watching the hot carbon dioxide puff into a white stream dissipating into the expanse of the wind. "So what do you want to talk about? I don't imagine you were going to be here simply to chat with me."

Ravager nodded. "Master, I want to discuss the roles we'll be playing in this war...since it appears to me you are not receiving the message that has been repeated for the last few days." Not waiting for Amos to reply, the Servant cast her eyes to the horizon of steel. "The wish of the Grail is why we fight, Master. In Servants, each one of us has a desire, something that we wanted in our lives which was stolen from our grasps, something that we lived and yearned for that was either left unanswered or unfulfilled." The Servant stated firmly gripping the rails, showing no visible emotion, though from her body language Amos could sense tension aimed directly at him, the Master looking down at the ground.

"So what is your point by telling me something like this again? Are you suggesting that I follow the same, and just fight the War even though I am not a Master?" Amos asked, his eyes betraying no expression while he continued to watch the lights below.

"Hah, as though you have a choice." Ravager said mockingly as she watched Amos scowl. "Don't afford to give me that look of disapproval, no matter the Master's reasons or plans for the War, Servants will do anything to ensure their wishes are shown in possibility regardless of their Master or allegiance," Ravager said as she turned to stare at him sternly Amos giving her an offhanded glance from the corner of his left eye, the dimension hopper staring at his arm where his Command Seals lay barely covered by the rolled up sleeve of his shirt at the elbow. "It means Master, that sooner or later the Grail will have to show itself and you'll have to fight in this War whether your intent is to stop it or not. And I will not stand for being sidelined by a fool like you."

"And what are you thinking of doing, then? We both are tied by this…thing, and removal of the Seals can be done by accursed magic which would make things worse for both of us if it did come from this Holy Grail," he said firmly, facing his Servant. "Also I cannot afford anyone to have you as a potential asset to winning the War and getting everything for the Master's desire."

"You think just because you are an anomaly things would go your way?" Ravager laughed at her Master's words as she looked over the city. "Let me say it again. Don't be a fool and pretend you haven't noticed the fact that you are trapped. Master, non-magi or not, you are now a part in the play that the Holy Grail has set up for you…an actor with his role to play alongside mine on the center stage. We are both chosen pawns of fate now, even you can't deny that this is the task you're saddled with…and I don't afford to have weak masters unable to lift a finger to fight back. Like I said before," Ravager paused leaning back against the railing. "I will have my wish fulfilled, no matter how unwilling you are."

Amos eyed Ravager sternly. "You have a desire, is having something wished for you not enough for greed?"

"Don't compare me to such savages who desire peace and outright war, I simply want to reaffirm a right that was stolen from me. Rightfully! And your hesitation in battle to participate is a crutch to my goals," Ravager spat. "You on the other hand seem to be once a spiller of blood."

"...So you saw it then? My memory, or at least one of them."

"I will only say this: whatever control you thought you had over your actions, it is overridden the moment the Grail attached itself to you." Ravager said as she tapped the man's hand, her eyes gazing over the Command Seals. "If only I had the chance, I would take your arm and dispatch you right now."

"Don't make threats you can't follow," Amos retorted sharply meeting her gaze of steel with his own glare. Ravager on the other hand gave a smile at his expression, the knight giving a chuckle. "Looks like you still haven't lost that look in your eyes. However, you have been dulled by redemption...you should sharpen your edge if you are going to survive long enough to end this War." Ravager advised as she turned away from him, leaving the man to his thoughts.

"Hmph," Amos could only reply as he stared at the city, before a white flash up in the sky turned his attention towards the open night expanse, the rumble of lightning bringing a frown to Amos' face. Whatever was going to happen next, it would decide the relationship that he would have with Ravager…the dreams may help him find a way to get to her, but for now he had to settle with rest. The war is far from being over, and his Servant was threatening to leave him should an opportunity arise if he didn't live up to her expectations on this War. However, if that was Ravager's intent, Amos felt some worry in the result of someone able to break their contract and turn her against him. From what he had seen, Ravager was very determined in getting what she wanted, and the dream did clarify that there was someone she looked up to in the past called Arthur. Though he couldn't think of how the doppelganger might have fit into the picture however, this little clue was enough for Amos to start piecing her past together…he felt he would need it.

"*yawn*I should get some sleep though," Amos muttered as he walked into the hotel room, locking the door behind him to lay in the bed beside Ravager who had fallen asleep herself, the man looking at the Servant's hands tugging most of the blanket with her. Sighing, Amos reluctantly plopped himself on the bed closing his eyes as he exposed his body to the cold. Soon after, he fell asleep into the land of dreams, quietly praying under his breath just as he lost consciousness.

---

With Lancer, Fuyuki temple

The night moon loomed overhead, the air going stale as Lancer made his way towards Ryuudou Temple, the blue spandex Servant holding his lance tightly in a tense grip watching the stairs leading up to the familiar gate, his heightened senses watching the nearby woods for any sign of movement. Lancer felt a small hesitance before he began his ascent, watching the surroundings like a hawk as he squeezed the grip on his lance. Since his first visit to the temple to challenge the Servants within, this place was the most uncomfortable terrain that Lancer felt the most cautious around, the narrow steep path and massive forests on either side which stretched up into the sky boxed him in where even Lancer didn't doubt would give him an immediate disadvantage should he be attacked.

"This is too damn quiet, somethings not right here." He muttered as he stopped midway, the warrior's right ear twitched hearing a small crunch of dirt and leaves Lancer bringing his spear to point at the forest of bamboo shoots seeing a rustle in the distance, the mass of green and shadow unnerving him as his vision couldn't see further than the treeline. Lancer kept his weapon pointed while he quickly ascended the stairs, not wanting to lie around in a disadvantageous position where he could be ambushed on both sides, his eye still observing his right for any other strange movements.

"The boundary field is still active, which means Caster is either alive or the mana in this place is keeping the spell on constant activation." Lancer deduced as he reached the door, the warrior resting his hand on the door before he felt the chirping of the crickets die, Lancer feeling tense as the world around him fell into absolute silence. As he pushed open the door which opened with a soundless creak, Lancer felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand to attention while his instinct ran amok within his mind and body, Lancer pushing his way past the door without a second thought twirling his lance offhandedly the vast courtyard floor of the temple opening up to him. "…"

According to his cowardly Master, Lancer was ordered to investigate the strange disturbance near the Ryuudou Temple where he felt one of the Servants' spiritual aura die, with orders to check on Caster's status as an additional afterthought on the priest's part. If he were to find Caster alive, he was to eliminate her first before she can afford to rebuild whatever strength she still had from whatever that had caused the strange anomaly to show up. Or that was the plan laid out to him, however from what the warrior could gather upon his arrival was that things were to get a lot more complicated.

"Where's the gatekeeper?"

"Ho, what do we have here?" A deep male voice echoed out from the other side of the courtyard from the elevated boardwalks of the central temple complex, prompting Lancer to isolate the voice in the form of a hooded figure stepping out into the open courtyard, a long brown coat draped over his body while his hands held a pair of swords the weapon tips dragging itself against the concrete creating sparks. Registering the presence as that of a Servant, Lancer felt a tingle of excitement in his blood as he twirled his lance in response smiling at the newcomer, the hooded figure opposite him noticed the bloodlust on Lancer's grin as he frowned readying one of his twin blades to point outstretched at Lancer's throat, the Servant's hood rustling in the breeze while the two combatants glared at one another the air becoming a deadly vibe of promised carnage.

"So what's a Servant of the Grail War doing, barging into my Master's territory? From the look on your face, not for a friendly meal and wine to quench your thirst…and your breath," Assassin commented dryly in a sarcastic tone Lancer moving his dominant leg forward while he crouched, his predatory glance never leaving his face as his eyes narrowed.

"Move aside, I've got business with that Master of yours."

"And I'm afraid I can't let you." Assassin retorted as he noticed Lancer's stance, the spear tip glinting dully right at his chest while Lancer's eyes pulsed. "Good."

And he pounced. To Assassin who had distance between him and the target of approximately fifty meters, he did not anticipate Lancer's body literally vanish from his field of vision for just a split second, this virtually impossible human feat was stunning that even the most battle worn veteran would marvel this agility and covet it. For Lancer, this was the best opportunity that presented itself as the spearman noticed how Assassin flinched in response surprised by the extent of Lancer's mobility the fighter's hesitance giving him the high ground. Lancer saw the flicker of surprised fading fast, the warrior confident that he would still hit even if his opponent chose to attempt to flee as he let gravity bring him towards Assassin.

However for Lancer even with his speed could not anticipate Assassin's reaction, his opponent seethed inwardly as instead of withdrawing his blade from the air he decided to utilize his second blade sliding above the outstretched blade, meeting the lance's tip and length in a scissor block Assassin turning the lance aside to crash into the ground sending cracks and pieces of solid concrete flying obscuring his vision which Lancer took advantage of, swinging around the lance to land gracefully behind Assassin quickly removing his spear from the ground as he crouched once more.

"Too slow!" Lancer chided as he rushed the back of Assassin determined to finish the battle in one blow. Assassin in the meantime had stopped after he stumbled clear of the blow, the hooded Servant chanting a short verse in reply to the oncoming attack.

Per tenebris stavi potest transvadari ,Ego non timebis…nomini meo sancto pater vagina me in lucem.

"What?" Lancer's eyes heightened as he watched his weapon reach the torso of Assassin…and slid right through the chest of his opponent, Lancer withdrawing his lance immediately as he moved defensively. Assassin, or the thing that he became, turned around to Lancer with a small ghost of a smile before his body vanished into the dark leaving Lancer confused but barely enough to shock him, the spearman chuckling as he landed on his feet in mid charge twirling the spear in hand looking around the courtyard.

"Not bad for a trick."

"It's just skill," Assassin replied from behind him as he walked out of a dark corner from the temple, standing on the wooden steps once again as Lancer grunted irritably, his grip on the spear tightened as Lancer walked a few steps forward spear at his back. "Playing bodyguard to a witch…I did not see this coming upon my death," Assassin commented on the situation lightly gripping his swords as he descended down the path, the blades creating a familiar scratching on the ground.

"If you're just thinking you can go on with that same tactic to beat me, you better think of something else to really surprise me," Lancer commentated as he savagely charged, thrusting his spear against Assassin's blades as the hooded Servant retaliated with a parry and returned the assault with a thrust of his own, Lancer releasing his right hand from his spear to maneuver past the quick thrust spinning around to elbow Assassin in the stomach, the Servant stepping back as Lancer kicked up his lance into his hand. Assassin wasted no time in closing the distance slashing at Lancer's throat, the nimble blue haired Servant spinning away withdrawing his spear into a crouch as he looked surprised.

"What's with the hesitation, Lancer? Are you not here to kill Caster?" Assassin called out, Lancer frowning as his brows furrowed. Something didn't feel right when he had traded blows with the Servant; Lancer staring intently with his blood red eyes as he relaxed his stance keeping a trained eye for Assassin's legs, the question which he wanted to ask had escaped his mind. "Oi, don't say I ain't trying. But you're as decent as your predecessor, now that's just difficult. Why's your Master working with that witch anyhow?"

Assassin chuckled humorously, the fighter spinning one of his blades as he relaxed his tense arms, the stale humid atmosphere growing stuffy for the Servant. "Me? Working with that witch willingly? More like she made me work with her is the right way to put our relationship."

"So, Caster killed your master?"

"Perhaps, she told me how she always wanted a toy soldier." Assassin dryly remarked, shrugging in nonchalance to the reasons of Caster as his face hidden beneath the hood turned to a grimace. "Then again, I've had enough of being a toy soldier for one lifetime."

"Heh, I've been in battlefields my whole life. You can say war is pretty much what I've lived for." Digging in his foot, Lancer's veins around his eyes began to pulse violently the spearman giving Assassin a death glare. Assassin stayed motionless, the fighter shaking his head under his hood at the man's words. "One who revels in violence and war pays with a sword to the chest at the end of his road, though it seems you already knew that." Assassin gestured to Lancer with his sword, the latter crouching down.

"At least it was an honorable one, ready yourself!" Lancer declared, grinning as he leapt towards Assassin, determination in his eyes as the latter charged into the fray ready to cut the man down. Out of the corner of both men's field of vision as they clashed, another figure was watching the fight with complete interest observing every blow and agility displayed between the two, the figure shivering as a sudden shock of electricity passed through the forest as the person looked up. It was at that moment that a sharp aura of danger distracted it, the figure darting away as a crack echoed throughout the courtyard and the branch the person was standing on was scarred by a black mark. Lifting its head, the hidden observer noticed that the fight was stopped, Assassin glaring into the treeline where his shot had traveled into the forest Lancer following the smoking trail as he picked up a presence hidden within the bamboo trees.

"What the hell was that?" Lancer broke the silence between them clearly unaware of his surroundings, Assassin lowering the gun which was smoking gunpowder in the air, visible as it billowed into a wispy stream into the dark sea of stars. Shoving the ranged weapon into his belt, the Servant frowned as he glared into the trees where a small outline could be seen staring back intently at the pair.

The hidden observer retreated from their position in a quick blur, leaving the area immediately as a hum of noise strummed again throughout the courtyard before a small streak of lightning from the sky flashed into the forest above the two Servants, chasing after its prey before finding a mark. The lightning cut through a nearby bamboo tree, slicing through the hard wood as smoke and charred cinders fell to the ground in the ghost trail narrowing singing the intruder's hair. Back at the temple, Assassin immediately stepped back from Lancer as he turned his head towards the main temple building towards the origin, the man lowering his weapons when a black robe appeared from the complex's wooden steps coming to a quiet stop while a small dark violet stream of electricity cackling in the air from the outstretched hand draped in black. The new presence had a scowl under the veil of the hood, watching Lancer who turned at the presence of another magic entity nearby, Assassin giving a light bow of his head in greeting.

"Caster."

"I sensed two intruders walking into my Boundary Field, my bodyguard not present at his post, and I find you letting one intruder slipping past your eyes." Caster spoke with displeasure in her voice, the words thundered at Assassin in a rebuke, the man saying nothing as he gave no expression or movement staring ahead at Lancer his instincts watching for any aggressive stances. "You are not as perceptive as I believe you to be, Assassin."

"…" Assassin chose no reply to her pointless insult, the Servant spinning his blades as he got into a guard stance against Lancer, ignoring Caster's remark. "Caster, you should have kept yourself hidden even after driving out the second intruder, now I have the tough job of protecting you and fighting Lancer."

"I could have, but yet you weren't able to sense the nearby Servant until it was too late." Caster retorted, Assassin grunting in response as he tensed. "If you would please retreat into the temple complex, Caster, your conflict wouldn't have to end at the tip of Lancer's spear."

"Do not presume to be the Master holding my leash, Assassin." Caster warned with a dark tone as she stood behind Assassin, Lancer frowning as he assessed the two Servants in front of him now that the mysterious observer had been dealt with. The starting distance of fifty meters had shortened to around thirty, the only option for Lancer was to do a mad rush straight to Assassin and run him and Caster through. The Caster class isn't so unevenly matched however, she would repel him and Assassin could strike the killing blow if he wasn't too careful, her array of spells too is an arsenal Lancer needed to avoid. The image of Assassin with Lancer's spear through his chest came to his mind, the warrior noting how the man became intangible just by a chant and vanished out of range. It was a most troublesome ability, one he doesn't have a full grasp on, with so many unknowns on the table Lancer felt more alert than the 'sparring' matches he had been forced to participate in. Not that he was complaining, having another Assassin who was a straight up fighter was an interesting turn of events for him since he last tested his mettle against the other Servants, however even Lancer knew he was outmatched in an unfair advantage.

Looks like I have no choice about it, Lancer thought as he closed his eyes briefly before assessing his opponents. There was one method to ensure the plan was successful in spearing both Master and Servant in a single blow, or at least one of them. Lancer could only hope he was fast enough so Caster would not have the magical energy to stop him from doing it when it happened to Assassin.

"Oi, Assassin." Lancer called out as he spun his spear to the front, crouching low as he shifted his dominant leg to the back in a leaping stance. "I think it's time to stop playing around and really put it all on one strike, wouldn't you say?"

That look, just what is Lancer doing? Something doesn't feel right here, Assassin looked at Caster for a brief second, the woman almost unfazed by the display as Assassin refocused on Lancer who was sneering at him, the Servant hesitant before Caster's voice called out behind him. "I'm surprised you even came here, Lancer. I thought your Master would have taken the hint the first time when you tried to come here."

"Heh, you were hiding behind a Boundary Field and a bodyguard."

"Talk like that is for those who are willing to throw their lives on a sword for a pointless battle. You will never reach me."

"I just came here to defeat you, this is a war." Lancer stated seriously as the veins around his eyes crept to life past the skin pulsing harder as an aura of danger assaulted Assassin's instinct, sending shivers as Assassin's legs became unsteady under the pressure. "Prepare yourself, cause if you screw up…" Lancer leapt forward closing the distance as Assassin directly slammed his swords into a cross guard the hooded Servant sliding the lance to the left while he brought his left hand to slice Lancer's stomach. Lancer growled as he spun unlocking his spear as blood ran in a thin line on his right past the skinsuit, the warrior thrusting the spear while forcing Assassin on the defensive Assassin reflecting and parrying past Lancer's one dimensional attacks, Assassin eventually moving past the spear tip kicking him in the knee to weaken Lancer's advance before he sent a knee into Lancer's stomach finishing with a hard bash from the butt of his sword hilt. Seeing Lancer falter, Assassin leapt back as he avoided a slice by Lancer's spear, the latter man recovering while Assassin brought up his swords in defense however to both him and Caster's surprise, Lancer retreated further giving them some space before he shifted his back to face the two of them.

"Take this, Gae…Bolg!" Lancer announced as he charged towards the pair, Assassin shifting his eye to the weapon which was coming at a straight line for them, ready to slam the weapon to the floor. Just as he did, he heard Caster mutter a few words before he saw it. The lance which was almost reaching their feet had suddenly shifted upwards from its descent at full speed towards his heart faster than a bullet, the Servant using his sword attempted to block the strange lance just as a flash of red light met his eyes.

"HHHRRRGGGKK!" Assassin's body shuddered as a small trickle of blood flew in front of his face obscuring his vision, the fighter feeling the blood in his body drain as he stumbled back falling to his knees. Watching his target drop, Lancer moved towards the body snatching up the lance from his opponent's body, making no effort to minimize the full extent of the damage as he tore flesh and three ribs which were strung up on the spear's barbed exterior. Wincing with slight disgust, Lancer roughly removed the pieces of bone including several muscle tissues, Lancer swept his lance in the air to throw away the meat, bone and veins aside the collection splattering onto the ground in a heap before he turned his attention to the right and leapt away. Caster had reacted upon seeing Assassin get stabbed, chanting a spell as electricity cackled in the air and lashed out at Lancer, the beam striking a small crater in the ground while Lancer felt the air sizzle from the blast.

"You're next, Caster. Just surrender and die." Lancer announced to the woman, pausing. "Actually, you can try to fight me, I'll just make it quick," he added as an afterthought to Caster the robed woman looking to Assassin noting the dying Servant with little regard to him, Caster instead focusing on Lancer casting her right hand out to form a staff.

"Fine, if Assassin couldn't kill you…I'll deal with you myself." Caster confidently stated, though in her mind she was worried. A Servant of the Caster class faces some advantages, the most prominent being magic, mana pool, and environmental control all three are the keys for a Caster's fighting style of siege warfare and trap defense. However, at the cost of being attackers from a distance they were generally magus, meaning they did not study physical combat or defense. This was what Caster was facing, and upon seeing the feat of Lancer's weapon able to put Assassin into a corner, Caster wasn't about to take chances fighting from a distance in such a scenario. Instead, she decided to call for the remaining backup within the temple's complex.

"Souichirou-sama?"

"…What is it, Caster?"

"The temple is under attack by a Servant," Caster waited nervously while Lancer kept his stance, the man noticing her change in body language which had relaxed from the earlier tension, the warrior unsure of her hesitation.

"…I will be out shortly." The male voice replied simply after a moment's silence as Caster cut the link, raising her staff as she immediately jumped into the sky. As she did so, Lancer could only watch as the sky began to ripple like water distorting the atmosphere further, the warrior feeling his confidence tremble while each ripple began to form a magic circle Lancer gripping his weapon tightly while he accessed the new situation at hand.

"This isn't going well." He admitted to himself grimly, the sight of Caster's outstretched cloak spread like black wings the magic circles looming over him, the hum of magic tuning strongly in the air. Lancer was about to move before he sensed another presence coming out from the temple's interior, the Servant noting that it was unremarkable at best as it began to approach their position the spear-wielder unsure of how to interpret this sudden distraction. Lancer didn't have time to think about the human presence nearby as one of the magic circles flared to life spewing out a burst of pure mana in the form of a purple plasma flash, the spearman avoiding another set of three lasers firing simultaneously after it, creating more distance between him and his airborne opponent.

"I will make sure you are taken out of this conflict as quickly as possible, Lancer!" Caster sent out another bunch of lasers to crush the earth, Lancer barely dodging each one before the spells rained down keeping Lancer cornered. As Lancer danced around the battlefield, he was blindsided by a bright light from one of the spells blasting him backwards before six spells fell upon him, Lancer hastily running to safety by leaping to his left. Unfortunately for him, one of the spells found their mark near his right side, Lancer barely escaping the magic assault before he felt his right limb go numb.

"GGAHH, SHIT! MY ARM!" Lancer immediately fell on his knees as his brain registered the source of the pain, his weapon hand slapping Gae Bolg to his right stump cut clean below the elbow the scent of burning charred flesh and boiling blood wafting near him. Seeing her opponent fall, Caster landed on the ground as her spell rescinded, keeping her staff nearby just as she looked to the right at the steps of the temple, both Servants hearing the distinct creaking of the elevated wooden floor planks, interrupting the battle.

"Souichirou-sama…"

"Caster, is this the intruder?" The voice boomed across the stale air, Lancer rising from his kneeling position to take up a battle stance, his red eyes burning with both rage and pain as he used both emotions to dull his pain redirecting it towards Caster. The new person eyed Lancer as he walked in front of Caster, blank eyes trained on Lancer as the Servant looked down at his right stump cursing that his fighting potential was cut in half, the woman looking down at Lancer.

"Yes he is."

"…Do you want me to kill him?" The person with blank eyes asked firmly, Lancer twirling Gae Bolg with his remaining hand as he readied himself to fight another battle, though behind his mask of imperviousness Lancer was sweating at the prospect of being thrown into another fight. The human was not much to look at, wearing a formal suit and tie with glasses, he was hardly a threat to Lancer if he tried to take him one on one. Lancer would beat him easily as swatting a fly however his attention to Caster was the prominent problem at hand, and the battle seconds ago had showed him a wild card that Caster demonstrated. Lancer knew he could kill the human, but that meant playing the battle by Caster's rules if he chose to do so, and the Caster class was not known to be unprepared for situations like this. The sting of his arm was almost unbearable, the smoking flesh and blood reminding him of his new circumstance to fight against the odds.

Lancer did not have further time to think when Caster simply nodded as she descended onto the ground below the magic circles remaining in the sky, hiding behind her new protector as the man gave no verbal reply, shifting his legs while his right hand moved back to level with his head stretching out his left in front of him, the hands reminiscent of a snake's fangs. Remaining still as he watched Souichirou fingers hung in the air curved slightly downwards, Lancer backed two steps cautiously bringing Gae Bolg forward as a defensive position noticing that there was no oppressive aura from the blank-eyed man, in fact Lancer couldn't tell any bloodlust or rage from the focused expression he carried.

Lancer, this is Kotomine. You are to retreat from the battle immediately. It seems the mystery of the disturbance at the temple has turned up something interesting for us.

"Damnit…" Lancer growled at the interruption from his 'Master' cursing the man's call for retreat, the blue-haired Servant noticed Souichirou charging towards him at an inhuman speed closing the sixty meter gap in the span of three seconds, his hand jabbing forward for his chest. Lancer didn't let down his guard to be caught, jumping back a few feet to the right planting him close to the temple's gate before he sped off towards the entrance pedaling away while he glanced back at the courtyard, seeing his attacker suddenly stopping and lowered his hands showing no willingness to fight him.

"Souichirou-sama! Why did you let him go, weren't you going to kill him?" Caster asked Souichirou who had decided to stop and let the Servant run away with his life, the woman surprised by Souichirou's mercy towards the enemy as the magic circles which were ready to destroy Lancer dissipated into the air, Caster gritting her teeth as she watched her prey escape her grasp. Souichirou didn't reply immediately, the man watching Lancer's back fade from the steps of the temple before he sternly glanced at Caster rebuking her with his gaze.

"He was your problem since he came after you and the Grail. As I said many times, this war of yours is not my concern but yours. And also, if you really wanted to do so, you may go after him now." Seeing Caster go silent at his slightly angered tone unable to reply, Souichirou placed the issue aside as he looked over the damage, the man about to speak further before he noticed Assassin's missing presence. "What happened to Assassin?" Souichirou asked Caster before he turned to the temple steps and noticed the corpse of a hooded figure lying lifeless, a gaping hole of meat and torn muscle and ribs rising from the chest injury. As he approached, Souichirou noticed that Assassin's body was being covered by a spread of spirit particles which were detaching from the body like sand in the wind, the bright balls of light disappearing into the sky as the limbs of Assassin began to fade from existence. Souichirou looked on at this, emotionless at the loss though his frown deepened ever slightly, the man turning to Caster who had fallen silent her staff had long disappeared by her magic her mind planning her next move.

"So what's the next step now without Assassin, Caster?"

"Summoning another Servant will be a waste of time and mana, with Lancer's interruption now we are vulnerable to attack. That little display with Lancer took up a lot of mana even though I saved it up this far as well, I have to get Saber immediately as my new protector or I will not be able to continue this war with the mana necessary." Caster insisted as she turned on her heel and walked towards the temple, an idea forming to bring her the most valuable and irreplaceable Servant of all. Souichirou watched her leave before he observed the craters, the man turning around to head back into the temple after Caster taking one final look at the destroyed courtyard Souichirou bringing a hand to his chin.

"Looks like I have some explaining to do when Issei wakes up, and call Caster to repair the mess."

---

The next morning, Tuesday

Light shone through Shirou's bedroom past the rice doors, the small column of light falling on his nose as he laid upright in the futon. Shirou yawned as he stretched his hands out in the futon, the boy enjoying the warm body heat which was trapped within the futon for the night as he stretched out his arm the interior fabric of the small floor bed creasing with each sweep of his hands. Rising up, Shirou fought the urge to fall back into the comfort of the bed, sitting in his body heat as the cold air entered the room causing a shiver through his long sleeved shirt and pajama pants.

"Mm…" Shirou groaned out as he stretched his arms into the air feeling the crick of his shoulder blades as the joints popped, the boy placing a foot onto the hard floor shrugging off the last of his reluctance. Wiping his eyes, Shirou made his way to the bathroom and began to clean himself up, the boy brushed his teeth and splashed water on his face Shirou looking at his reflection in the mirror. Bringing a finger to his face, Shirou pulled at the small bags under his eyes noting the small distinct circles with concern checking the other eye to see a similar circle.

Then again, what did he expect from something like that last night? He had just watched a person die, seen her blood in his hands and his shirt when he tried to bandage the wound, despite Saber's protests and Shinji's presence at the battle itself. The typhoon of confusion, anger and grief struck him all at once as he stared at the mirror his mixed emotions stirring something in him, Shirou unable to comprehend the feeling within him.

Either way, the victim was left at the park bench after he had taken a few steps forward after Saber and promptly remembered to settle her nearby. He hadn't called the police, but upon reporting to Rin the Tohsaka magus immediately contacted the church to handle the victim, though from her sour expression Kirei must have said something to annoy her again. The track into his room was silent, he was surprised Saber didn't lecture him on his actions last night considering her attitude towards him talking to Rider was stupid, he knew that well enough of the risk being in the killzone of a Servant who didn't hesitate to end his life earlier. However, his father's words echoed inside of his mind, the last talk they had in which his father told him the dream he once held in high esteem so long ago.

I want to be a superhero.

Those were the ambitions that his father passed onto him when he died, it was the goal that Emiya Shirou was determined to do. Yet after that display of violence, he couldn't understand why there was a need to fight…he didn't know why they couldn't just lay everything down and walk away. This shouldn't be a war, there was no need to fight for a mythical object that could or could not exist and grant wishes.

But, what if it wasn't about walking away, but his opponents' will? How would Emiya Shirou save them then? How would a man like him hope to change the thoughts of his opponents?

He thought of Shinji, the determined look upon his face as he ordered Rider to kill them. He felt weak, reduced to watching from the sides as Saber fought for him. Fought while he uselessly sat there, watching, waiting…like a lion cub without teeth and claws to defend itself, barking his ideals from a distance while his opponents looked down on him. To some, it may be the only way, but for Emiya Shirou he wanted to be heard and felt with his own strength rather than have a girl do it for him.

Shirou sighed, he was a total fool. Pushing his hands off the sink, Shirou decided to push the doubts aside walking to his closet to get changed. Pulling on his school shirt and pants, Shirou suddenly perked his head up as he remembered something important. "Oh right, Sakura and Fujiwara are coming over to eat breakfast, I shouldn't keep Sakura waiting any longer," Shirou thought aloud as he walked out of his room sliding the door into place behind him making his way to the kitchen.

I shouldn't think about it now, besides, Saber is here and-wait a moment. Where is she?

"Shirou." Speaking of the devil…

"Hmm? Oh there you are, Saber," Shirou turned around to see the head of blonde hair just below his chin level, the boy adjusting his sight to glance at Saber's serious expression with a smile. "Good morning, did you sleep well?"

"I slept well, Shirou. Are you making breakfast?" Saber asked, barely suppressing her anticipation.

"Mm, actually since I woke up a little late today Sakura should be in the kitchen doing some dishes for us," Shirou answered before he paused placing his hand on his forehead and rubbed it. "Uh-oh, this isn't good at all."

"What's wrong Shirou? Who is Sakura?" Saber asked curiously upon seeing her Master turn a little pale, the Servant frowning at the prospect of breakfast being delayed. Shirou didn't reply, the boy immediately clasping his hand with hers, surprising Saber as he pulled her away from the hallway and inside his room closing the door behind him.

"Okay, that was close. Good thing she hasn't come to check up on me yet."

"What's wrong, Shirou? You need to explain what's going on." Saber frowned with disapproval at Shirou's confusing words and actions, the Servant folding her arms while Shirou racked his thoughts together as he spoke to her. "Saber, the thing is I was caught up in yesterday's events and forgot that my friend Sakura and my sensei Taiga are coming to my house for breakfast. The thing is, they'll overreact if they found out I had a guest, and who is a girl."

Saber raised her brow as she absorbed the information quietly, giving Shirou a demanding stare. "What do you mean they would overreact to me being a girl?"

"U-Uh, we-well you see…"

"Senpai! Are you home? I made breakfast!" A voice called from the hallway as quiet uneasy footsteps were heard from the walkway outside, Shirou feeling his panic shoot up to the roof as he looked at Saber placing a finger to his lips, giving her a gesture to wait in his room. Sliding the door open, he entered the walkway shutting the door while he replied pretending to stretch his arms smiling towards his left, addressing a girl with purple hair dressed in the school uniform covered by the kitchen apron. "Morning, Sakura. I just finished changing to my uniform."

"O-Oh, okay. I'm sorry for putting you in a hurry," Sakura replied as she rubbed her cheek nervously with her hand. "I hope I didn't intrude on anything important."

"It's okay, you weren't intruding at all. So is Fujimura-sensei around?" Shirou asked hiding his nervousness, of both women who would react strongly to Saber's presence when he introduced them to her eventually Fujiwara was considered the most hyperactive and more reactive towards introducing Saber to them, the thought of being hit by a shinai was not appealing to the redhead. Sakura blinked for a moment in thought. "Mm, she left a message for me to give you. She was going to go ahead to school for a staff meeting earlier, but she wants you to bring her a bento from today's breakfast," Sakura recited as Shirou unknowingly breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, well at least I won't have to worry about my refrigerator stock for the moment until dinner."

"That's mean, Shirou-kun. Fujimura-sensei just wants to grow, that's all!" Sakura scolded with a lighthearted smile, between her and Shirou Taiga was the biggest eater of them all wolfing down most of the breakfast and dinner by the time both of them had cleaned up. While Sakura treated it as Fujiwara's habit, Shirou's hurt wallet which he prepared for the groceries said otherwise even though his bills were paid for by Taiga's father who was the local yakuza in Fuyuki. To make it more troubling, Fujimura usually ate at Shirou's place on a daily basis simply because the food he made was more delicious than the cooks at her house could do.

"Eh, it's incredible she hasn't even showed signs of gaining weight," Shirou said with thought before he was punched lightly on the shoulder by Sakura. "Okay, okay I get it. I'll join you at breakfast soon just let me get my school bag from the bedroom first before I come over." Sakura nodded before she turned her back to him and went back to the kitchen, Shirou letting out a small sigh of relief before he went into his bedroom where Saber was waiting the girl containing a glare at Shirou. As if he was reading her mind, Shirou immediately spoke what was on her mind. "Saber, I'll make sure to give you a share of breakfast if this works out before I leave for school."

"Shirou," Saber said almost dangerously as Shirou closed the door not waiting for an answer, walking towards the kitchen where he sat down, looking at the steaming hot dishes and a small bowl of miso soup beside the rice bowl designated for him. "Wow, this all looks incredible. You're really getting better at this, Sakura." Sakura hid the small blush as she washed the last of the used kitchen utensil, wiping the knife slowly as she looked into the reflection of the sharp blade, lifting it to her eye level where she could get a quick glance at Shirou's reflection. "It's not without your teachings that I am able to cook or make these dishes, Senpai. Besides, if anyone is to be complimented it's you."

"Eh? I just gave you the recipes because I knew you could do it and you were determined," Shirou said sheepishly as Sakura wiped the last plate clean before placing it in the dishrack beside the sink before she moved to untie the apron, Shirou biting into a steamed broccoli as he turned his head towards Sakura's back, just as she shifted her hair aside to reveal the back of her neck. At that moment, Shirou felt his heart stop for a moment seeing Sakura with her hair held in the air by her right hand while she untied the knot around her neck, Shirou finding it hard to look away as he ignored the steaming food in his ricebowl.

She's…grown rather well since the last time I met her in middle school, was she always like this? Shirou thought as he placed a hand over his chest, the beat of his heart beginning to race the more he looked as Sakura placed the apron aside proceeding to bring the towel to wipe the dishes, humming joyfully. She was more radiant than any other day, though Shirou couldn't place a reason for why she seemed so…different to him now when it was just Sakura. She was a regular visitor to the home, and so far Shirou hadn't even stopped to properly look over Sakura who had been with him for a few years now. He could recall the first time he saw her, emotionless and stiff in middle school with her timidness earning friends few and far between while he approached her and saw her grow out of her emotional shell over the years whenever she saw him, the first time he made her smile after a year.

What was this feeling? He wondered as he placed his hands to his cheeks feeling hot from both the warmth of the bowl and something else, the boy immediately slapping his cheek. Come on, snap out of it Shirou. Sakura's matured with age and she has a beautiful body but…

"Senpai?"

"H-Huh, what is it Sakura?" Shirou stammered as he realized that she was looking at him from across the kitchen, Shirou looking down on instinct guiltily as if he had done something wrong. Little did he know that while he was trying not to stare, Sakura too was occupied with something which was closely related to Shirou as her eyes roamed over Shirou's face amused by his facial features covered by embarrassment.

"Senpai's an open book," She stated plainly, her eyes going to his shirt and his bare arms, Sakura feeling her heart beat as she allowed herself to be lost in the tantalizing muscle showing off its tone tracing the sight down to his chest. She almost giggled at his innocence as he turned back to his bowl, he wasn't the only one who was staring at her back just then, Sakura smiling as she watched Shirou go back to his food unable to say anything more as Sakura decided to speak first. "Nothing, Senpai…I saw you space out, that's all," she admitted before she moved to the kitchen, taking a glance behind to see Shirou sneaking a peek from the corner of his eye, Sakura continuing to clean the dishes as she felt a little hopeful. For years she had wished he would look at her like that, since near the end of middle school and into high school, and she being looked at by Shirou in that way was a first. Her thoughts went to his muscled arms, the memories where she would catch sight of him in the dojo training his katas and repairing various items, to the times where he would sweat while he cooked from the warmth and she would watch him for hours.

Oh how she wanted to take him now, to wish that he held the same feelings for her as she did his. To hold her in his arms, to go to the bedroom and skip school for the day pushing her down on that futon and…the things she would do given such an opportunity only present in her dreams which she cannot begin to describe. As those thoughts struck her, her body shivered as Sakura clenched her hand which was gripping the plate feeling a familiar hot urge in her lower body, causing her to gasp softly as she felt the fire spread through her upper body. Sakura immediately set the plate down on the side of the sink into the rack, turning around to leave the kitchen area as she walked to the hallway addressing Shirou with a more suppressed tone. "Oh, Shirou, I'm going to use your bathroom."

"Sure, Sakura but don't you have your club today?" Shirou asked, oblivious to Sakura's hidden emotions which were slowly pouring into her physical lust as Sakura bit her lip, keeping her back facing Shirou.

"No, today's a rest day from archery practice I just came early to…excuse me," Sakura hastily replied hanging her head down as she left straight for the bathroom as she did not wait for Shirou's reply, the girl entering the shared space of the toilet and bath locking the door securely behind her. Once she was safe, Sakura hastily untied her ribbon at the neck of her uniform letting the red thread fall to the floor as it was joined by her uniform's outer vest, Sakura unbuttoning her white blouse throwing it aside in the sink leaving her in her bra as she felt the instinct pulsing in her brain.

She was going to do it in his home, she was going to satisfy her lusts in Shirou's bathroom, where he was nearby and could hear her if she screamed. And in her honest opinion secretly, it was erotic and enticing an experience she couldn't ignore for long. Her hand immediately clasped her breast which was exposed to the cold morning air after she freed them from the last fabric maintaining her upper modesty, her fingers performing the same routine naturally as Sakura's breath stopped for a beat, her fingers continuing to pinch and rub at the areola flicking it to elicit a whimper from the girl just as her free hand tugged at her skirt, pulling the fabric upward as she roughly shoved two fingers in the darkness of her skirt Sakura flinching as she bit her tongue unwilling to draw Shirou's attention from the dining area. Lowering her inhibitions, Sakura immediately began to move her tongue around her lips feeling her lust slowly overtake her thoughts as Sakura began to clench against the intrusive fingers.

An image surfaced suddenly just as she continued administering her release, the image being that of Shirou and her skipping school on this very day, retreating into the room as he told her that he loved her so much. After this, they had kissed and

As she continued, she could hear the familiar voices in her head, like the past few times she had done so before as the image of Shirou thrusting his fantasized length into her began to erode, the erotic scene suddenly replaced by a black blot before her hands worked faster, reality and school quickening her pace. Suppressing the thoughts, she refocused on Shirou's well-toned chest heaving and his muscles straining and tensing as the imagined thrusts overwrote the shade of blue hair, the bare flat body of Shirou's healthy physique slamming into her. However, this moment of momentary illusion was shattered as the voices which were suppressed to a harsh whisper had begun to overtake the flowery image of love, the image of Shirou suddenly being overshadowed by an outline of someone very familiar to her as she gasped.

"No, don't…" she could only say before her mind was filled with a flurry of blurred images, the sight of crazed eyes and blue hair terrorizing her vision as the fire in her belly spread to her heart causing her to drop to her knees, however her fingers could not stop thrusting. At once, her vision was teary, the memories of a hand smacking her cheek to the sole of a shoe stomping on her face in the back of the school out of sight. She could remember the cheery students hanging in groups away from prying ears and eyes, the hot breath of that person as he clamored all over her body, the periodic lust of necessity for release…

Slut

Whore

Useless bitch

What a dirty woman you are…

Why, why is it always EMIYA huh?! Am I not good enough for you, you ungrateful whore?!

Sakura hitched her breath, the girl responding by hitting her head against the cabinet, the force of it sending her vision reeling as she continued to thump her head softly with dulled force. As she did, she could see the images and the voices grow in strength, frightening her. Sakura dragged herself on her knees towards the toilet, the fire pit causing her to feel nausea Sakura's fingering slowing to a halt, guilt and shame overcoming her emotions as she lowered her head. The fleeting image of Shirou and her in the dream was slowly being broken down…it was crumbling away as reality struck in her Sakura biting her lip as she slowed her thrusts.

Shirou was far from her reach. That one fact was evident in her current life, no matter the distance and the proximity of closeness they shared then and shared now. Even if he did notice her now, how much she had grown and matured into a woman was he really staring at her because of it? Was it just her illusive mind wanting to give her a taste of what she couldn't have? So what if he wanted her say in the future, would he care for her now when her sex was nothing but a tool which could be used and tossed away as that person pleased? She was not pure, she was not clean, her innocence wasn't present anymore but it was used up.

She was filthy.

Filthy. Filthy, broken and dirty and used like a toy, to be used and slapped and kicked at when no one was around to save her. Her sex was a pointless veil, a mask. Why did she want Shirou to take her now?

"Please, Senpai…forgive me but I couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop him," she said in between breaths as her fingers began to forcefully enter instead of the light rhythm she had subjected herself to forcing the image of that person out of her fantasy, the girl gasping for breath as she felt pain from her fingernails which dug at the fleshy walls the girl squirming before she pressed on focusing only on Shirou's face to dull the pain she was dealing to herself. Sakura felt her eyes water, the recollection of certain events coming to her brain as she continued her masturbation, ignoring the small trickle of blood as her finger punctured the flesh running down her fingers as it dripped onto the floor haphazardly.

"Senpai, Senpai…I'm so sorry I'm not pure, I'm sorry for being tainted," she quivered as the image of Shirou's smile continued to infect her mind and thoughts. Her head began to swim with various emotions, biting her lip as her body continued to be pleased by her willing fingers, continuing for two straight minutes before she convulsed reaching the climactic ending to her own anticipation. "Senpai, I love you, I want you in me….Senpai!" Sakura silently screamed the words under her suppressed as she felt her legs wobble and shake, the feeling of release exploded into a myriad of joy and happiness, the conjured image of Shirou releasing his lifeseed into her sending her over the edge into another round of orgasmic pleasure. As she descended from the euphoria of the orgasm, Sakura began to feel a sense of shame at her actions, the purple-haired girl turning her head to face the mirror with a blank stare. Staring back at her nakedness, she could see part of her back, her finger tracing along some red lines which were obvious traces of dried blood. Before she could contemplate further, a knock on the door surprised her as Shirou's voice called out past the door.

"Sakura? Are you okay?"

"Oh yes, I was just finishing up." Sakura called out, her voice hoarse and dry from the masturbatory session she had, withdrawing her sticky fingers which were coated with the slick discharge of her lust, Sakura licking it sensually before she tossed her white blouse aside and washed her hands. Quickly getting dressed in her uniform and straightening the ribbon around her neck, Sakura opened the door smoothing the last of her disheveled bangs aside to meet the eyes of one concerned Emiya Shirou.

"I'm fine, see?" Sakura said as she patted her skirt, showing that she was alright as small droplets of water from the tap were dripping on the floor, Sakura noticing this immediately went to the towel wiping her hands properly. "I'm sorry about that Senpai, I am dripping water all over your bathroom floor…"

"It's all right Sakura, I just came by because ten minutes had passed and I thought you were having a stomachache or something," Shirou said worriedly before Sakura motioned her hands in front of her face. "Oh no, it's nothing that serious but I had some things on my mind. Anyway, I was going to pack bentos for lunch at school since I ate breakfast, did you make one for Taiga-san's lunch?"

"Huh? Y-Yeah, I did. Even I won't want to deny Taiga-sensei's desire for food," he nervously chuckled as Sakura gave him one of her customary smiles in understanding, the memory of her holding a shinai to punish some unruly students a few weeks ago was still fresh in her mind, sending new shivers down her spine. While she remembered the disturbing memory, Shirou just realized he had a guest with food to attend to, the boy immediately backing into the dining area speaking to Sakura hastily. "I just need to pack some things in my bag and we can head off to school," Shirou said as he walked away leaving Sakura in the hallway, the girl clutching her chest as she looked at the dining area. For once, Sakura was glad that this little incident had an unintentional good side effect, Senpai was beginning to see her physical changes, this knowledge was enough for Sakura to gain more hope that this boy might be more aware.

"Senpai-no, Shirou-kun…I hope you'll continue to look at me more." She said as she left, unaware of the single blood drop that was left on the floor inside the bathroom.

---

Misaki city

"Tristian…-san, was it?" A pair of glasses was tipped shielding the eyes held within the confines of the tiny square frames, the dull black eyes observing the young man sitting opposed to him from the low end table, a tea set and cups letting off brewed steam into the air. The silent chirping of the birds was all that accompanied their surroundings, the guest in front of the old man wearing a red scarf with a bright yellow winter jacket rubbing his palms together while glancing at the garden behind him. Tristian rolled his shoulders nervously as he poured himself some tea from the tea pot refilling the cup while he allowed the man some quiet before he intentionally blew the hot air watching the puff of white in the open air disappear just as quickly.

"Please, just call me Tristian. It is better that way, makes it less tense for both of us since we are discussing something a little more personal in nature. Also, you saying it for the past ten minutes is a rather uncomfortable thing for me to handle," Tristian said as he gripped the cup of tea in a soft hold, bringing the drink to his lips and downed it closing his eyes briefly to enjoy the bland taste.

"I see, well it is rather personal regarding your request of my ward, which I have to say is…disturbing. As of right now, what you ask is very sensitive to not only the person in question but of my family's wellbeing. I cannot judge what she wants, but even then I have to disagree on your intent for her future as this request of yours is unacceptable to me."

"Well, your experience with the supernatural is taken into account, and you understand the risks of such a power being revealed to the world would cause. Yet despite this you cannot deny she is gifted with a specialty, and honesty is telling me to tell you that I have to ignore your refusal on this matter. Before you ask," the man held up his hand to the elder who was about to speak, his eyes watching the wrinkled hands which were tensed. "I am not coming to you because of ulterior motivations such as money or other physical means of payment."

The elder frowned. "You are asking too much of me now, even if you know as well as I do what it means to hide such a power not intended for this era or any era that is to come. And even if you are so certain it is her that is the person you seek, can you just find someone else for such a request, not specifically her?" Tristian looked empathetically at the old man was looking almost like a silent plead for him to not pursue the topic further, however Tristian could only shake his head in response to the man's query.

"I'm afraid not, I am not going to leave Misaki city until the girl meets me to discuss this request. The reason why I came to you, was because you know her since she was a child, you were her guardian and as such you have a right to know of what I plan for her. Then again, you may refuse and never see me again…at a cost to her life, and others." Tristian replied as he took his teacup and drank from it again, his fingers grabbing a mochi ball and biting into the soft chewy treat while the birds flapped away leaving the garden outside. The elder raised a brow staring sternly at Tristian, hiding his spike of anger at his implicated words, the elder sipping the tea as he calmly poured another cup for himself and his guest when he noticed Tristian's near empty cup. "Is that a barely concealed threat to my household and my institution, Tristain-san?"

Tristian took a puff at the hot tea, the man about to bring up the teacup before the heat from the refill caused him to place it down. "…No, it isn't directed at you to intimidate you or your household to follow through with what I ask of you, I simply approached you because of your right as guardian to the ward. But as I said, you have free will to refuse me. Only that the path will be much more…harder for both your household and I will have her anyway in the end, this choice is still a free one. How you judge my words will be left up to you," Tristian explained with a shrug as he eyed the elder for five seconds, the young man placing the empty teacup down and stood up from the table, the man adding another suggestion as an afterthought before he said anything further. "Think on it for a day, I'll come back tomorrow for your final answer after I approached the girl. If not, then this is the last time we speak and you never hear from me again, this I will promise."

"I think you know my decision concerning this matter, there will be no interference from you. I will not wish to have you approach the ward either, she has been through enough as it is and I won't have you tampering with her life further." The old man insisted as he set his cup down, with a bit of force as the water spilt onto the table Tristian closing his eyes as he gave a bow.

"Very well then." Tristian nodded in complete understanding bidding him farewell as the old man summoned a servant with a tap of his cane, the escort appearing from the rice door. As he prepared to leave, Tristian grabbed another of the mochi balls sitting on the plate stuffing it into his mouth before following the servant out of the guest room. As he did so, the man swept his bangs to the side while the servant led him past the various rooms and intersections of the large housing complex eventually reaching the main door leading out into the street. Tristian gave the servant a curt nod of thanks as he slipped on his shoes and walked out into the street, the servant trailing behind him until the footsteps came to a halt once he had stepped past the boundary of the house. Hearing the clang of the lock sliding into place, Tristian walked on down the road tugging at the red scarf which was wrapped warmly against his neck. Though he didn't get what he wanted, the man still could understand why the request wouldn't have gone that smoothly, and the desires that man had for the woman to live a normal life more normal than the one she had now.

He frowned, the man thinking about the future events that would happen as he placed a hand over his head. "Alaya…sigh, even in death your magical legacy gets to infest the world with the Akasha, your magi spread across the world to warp reality, all to satisfy control over the subconscious will of the 'people' and reach some kind of nirvana."

"Oh well, doesn't matter what you do…the Grail War will take away most of your control when it ends permanently. Once again, you will fail like you did all those years ago." Tristian opened up a piece of paper, unfolding it to eye the map of the city, tapping a small road leading out of the city into the forest nearby with a contemplative finger. Noting his destination, Tristian refolded the map into his pocket, the man turning the corner to see a taxi dropping off a passenger before he waved his hand in the air catching the driver's attention and entered the car in the passenger's seat awaiting the driver who was being thanked by the customer before he opened the door settling at the wheel. If the woman's guardian was not going to hand her over to him, there was another way he still had to ensure he contacted her.

"Where are you planning to head to?" The middle-aged driver said as he adjusted the mirror overhead, Tristian slipping some money onto the dashboard as he placed the seatbelt across his chest clipping the belt in the slot.

"…Reien Girl's Academy, and do go a little faster, there's someone I need to see."

End

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Author's notes: This is another long chapter I managed to write. Now I have to answer some questions.

Firstly, why did I kill Assassin? Well, it was simple really…the story was going to be a combination of Fate, UBW and Heaven's Feel, but this doesn't answer the question. The thing was that after months of internal debate on where the story should proceed, I had to kill Assassin for the story's reasons in future events.

Initially I had wanted Assassin to take a prominent role in the story, acting out as scout to Caster and put a few things in place. The plan was solid but presented a problem, the visual novel acted on a specific number of days when the war would go on for. While I would love to put several chapters worth of normal school days, I chose not to as it would convolute the events and the routes' important events, and another reason was because other Servants wouldn't simply rest when they are unlike Shirou armed to the teeth with magic and their Servants able to withstand more pressure in battle. Lancer didn't die, though. I call that a plus.

So about Sakura's masturbation scene, it's the second one in a row. It is to show a part of the desperation in her, like the first time, but here I wanted to place it here for well…I won't say it, spoils the surprise. Another thing I wanted to do, was to kickstart the 'Sakura route' by having him notice this physical change in her that he can't place it on. What can I say, the old Shirou was a person I kinda liked...save for his unrealistic dreams.

On a personal note, while I was writing this chapter the scene kinda…came to me like a natural flow of events that she noticed his sudden interest. It was as though the character wanted to be heard, so I placed the scene in it.

To be fair, this is not the first fanfic I've done. In fact I am new to the writing up sex and masturbation using it to further a point. If this didn't, I am sorry it wasn't timed right however hard I shifted through the scenarios.

Well, on to Tristian's end. I was not going to include his part in it, however I was watching a certain short film based on a similar work to Fate by Typemoon and so I wanted to include one of their drafted characters that never made it in their work to the Fate novel. So who is the mysterious girl? Actually who am I kidding, you won't find out until much much later, and I'm talking about a long amount of chapters away. Also note before I leave that this fanfic chapter will be updated and edited once I have relaxed my strained mind already.

I hope you enjoyed the new chapter, and once again have a good day.