The after party was seemingly going to be a success. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, drinking, dancing, and whatever else that tickled their fancy. Within reason of course. While this party was open for everyone, they thankfully didn't stock any heavy alcohol or the like given that children would be present. Everyone could relax and open up to their friends and family.

Well, except one very livid servant of the sword who was currently shaking Beast by the shoulders.

"What were you thinking?" Saber seethed as she shook her ally. She refrained from slapping her but if she gave her a stupid answer, she would do it. "You could have ousted us and this war if they didn't believe that you were wearing a costume."

"I… Thought… it… would… be… fun…" Beast said as she was being shaken to what felt like pieces.

Archer tapped Saber's shoulder, which caused her to relent her hold on poor Beast. "We both agree to do this so I also hold some blame here."

Saber turned her glare to the servant of the bow, "And pray tell, how did you two come to know each other?"

Beast smiled and poked her cheek, "Now that's pretty simple. For you see, I wanted to have a chance to talk with Archer and Assassin. So I decided to pay them a visit."

Archer sighed and rubbed her forehead, "By showing up at the church as a giant wolf and telling me that she came to bargain."

Assassin appeared through the crowd and chuckled, "Now that was a sight to behold." She leaned on Archer's shoulder. "It reminded me of the time I came across a few legendaries but I have to say, she's bigger than the three of them combined."

Beast couldn't help but smirk as she put a hand to her chest, "Thank you. I am a rather large goddess when it matters. My enemies run before me in fear."

Joseph rolled his eyes, "She's pretty modest too." That earned him an elbow in the side.

'We agreed to have this one show together," Archer smirked. "I thought it worked out perfectly."

Saber narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, "I am still miffed with the both of you. Beast, you should know better then to risk someone finding out about you. As for you young lady," she turned her attention to Archer.

Archer blinked in surprise, "Young lady?"

"That dress is far too revealing," Saber spoke with conviction. "You are a musician. Not a lady of the night."

Archer blushed at that, "You can't tell me what to wear."

"I am a king and your elder," Saber said with authority. "You will go in the back and change into something more suitable of your age."

Archer glared at Saber, "I am a servant and can do what I want."

"Not when I am present, young lady."

Archer let out a growl. She then marched over towards Waver, who had wisely not gotten involved in the earlier escapade, and hooked her arm around his. She didn't bother to hide her blush as her breasts pushed up against his arm. To which he blushed as heavily as she did. She turned back to Saber, "I am dancing with Waver."

"You can't dance with him until you change," Saber shook her fist.

Archer harrumphed and stuck up her nose, "Come on, Waver. Show me a good time."

"If you dare land a hand on her inappropriately, I will have your head, Waver." Saber growled.

Waver was just silently crying, not sure whether he was really lucky or really unlucky. Saber huffed and crossed her arms, noting to herself that she would keep a close eye on Waver and Archer. Just in case.

Assassin just giggled and tapped her side, "Aww, look at you. Going all mama bear. You're a natural if I've ever seen one."

Saber blushed, "I… I was not acting like a mother bear. I am just trying to help her."

"So you say, mom." Assassin smirked. She waggled a finger in Saber's face, "Don't think I forgot about that time you adopted her. Seems like you remembered too~"

Saber huffed and crossed her arms, "That is irrelevant."

"Oh don't be like that," Beast chimed in. "Being a mother is wonderful. Didn't you have a child?"

Saber frowned and looked away. The memory of Mordred pleading to be accepted left a searing scar inside her, "I wasn't that good of a mother."

"Pish posh," Beast said with conviction. "You have great mother material. I should know given I had one and so has Assassin."

Assassin nodded. She clapped her hands together, "Yep, but you don't seem to want to talk about it right now. We'll get to that later. Right now though, we need to get you into a dress."

Saber's eyes widened and she recoiled, "A dress? I am already dressed as is."

Assassin's grin grew, "Oh but you need something as cute as you." She sweeped Saber off her feet and carried her bridal style.

Saber blushed at the motion, "Assassin, let me down."

"Nope," she giggled and ran off with Saber in hand. Beast chuckled and followed after her. The people who had noticed the commotion just laughed at their antics.

Sola-Ui was over at the punch bowl. She had been more or less over here by the table for most of the party. Oh she took her time to have some fun here and there, but her heart just wasn't in it. Not tonight. That was mostly due to her own confusion. Keyneth was an issue that her heart and mind couldn't reconcile on. Just thinking about him left her confused. It didn't help how he acted when she was rescued.

/

Flashback

Sola-Ui had been terrified out her mind when she found herself at Caster's mercy. She was everything her elders had told her and worse about the monsters of old. She might as well been a deformed Dead Apostle. If this turned out for the worst, she would have been drained dry like all those other unfortunate people.

Yet now she was free. Free and able to get out of that insipid cavern. She couldn't help but take deep breaths to catch the clean air about her. It made her happy beyond belief. She was alive. Really alive and well.

That's when she saw him. Keyneth. He was staring at her as if he couldn't believe he was seeing her in the moment. She opened her mouth to speak to him. To say something, but she didn't know what to say.

Before she could, he ran up to her. His arms seized her body and pulled her into a close hug. She gasped in surprise as he caressed the back of her head. "Keyneth/" She whispered into his chest.

"Sola-Ui," he softly spoke to her as if he was afraid she'd vanish. "I'm so… so glad to see you again. I thought I lost you."

Sola-Ui frowned, "You thought you lost your trophy?" Her more cynical side popped up. She couldn't help it. This whole marriage was out of her control. It was a farce. There was no love in it. That's what she would keep telling herself.

"I thought I lost the woman I love," Keyneth's response made her pull back and look him in the eyes. He was crying. The tears ran down his cheeks as he looked at her. His hand trailed up to her cheek and rubbed it. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you like that."

Sola-Ui was silent for a moment. Her mind was processing this set up. She couldn't believe he would be crying over her. He didn't actually have feelings for her, right? The others were just teasing her but as she looked into his face, she could tell he did care.

Her face started to heat up till it matched her red hair. She buried her face into his chest to cover it up, "Sh-shut up. Don't say things like that in public. It's embarrassing."

/

Sola-Ui found her cheeks heating up again. She patted them to try and cool them off. It wouldn't do to start acting like a fool here. No it would not. She had to be calm and collected. She was in the middle of enemy territory, even if this was a party. Now wasn't the time to think about Keyneth and how good it could be to kiss him.

Why was she thinking about that? She decided to drink away her problems with the punch. Not the best drink to forget your woes, but it tasted good. That's when she felt someone tapping her shoulder. She turned around to see a young man wearing a white tuxedo and mask. She quirked an eyebrow, "Can I help you?"

"Yes you can," his voice made her pause. She remembered it. Then she looked into his purple eyes and they shimmered. "You can help me quite a bit."

Maiya looked through the lens of her sight, cradling the gun in her arms with care. She was tasked with watching out for the Russians in case they tried something. Hopefully it wouldn't come down to that. Too many witnesses after all. She was on top of a building which gave her a perfect oversight of the east and North of the area. Kiritsugu would watch the west and south. A perfect area of sight if they were found out somewhere in the middle. She would not disappoint him.

A small part of her was agitated that she hadn't been able to do much in this war as of yet. That couldn't be helped. The masters and servants themselves were more than enough to finish this war. If everything went as smoothly as it had been, it would be another week, two at most, before the war would be over. Too long for her tastes. Perhaps if they pushed themselves, they could finish this faster.

That would be ideal. The quicker they ended the threat, the less chance they would adapt. They may be magus but they weren't entirely stupid. They could learn. They could kill them if push comes to shove. So it was important that she would do her best to make Kiritsugu proud. That was the least she could do for the man who saved her.

"Maiya," Kiritsugu's voice came from her walkie talkie. "Is everything clear on your end?"

Maiya lifted the walkie talkie to her ear, "Everything's clear. No sight of the enemy yet."

"Good," Kiritsugu said. "Everything is clear on this end too. It looks like the Russians and Avenger are going to sit this one out. Most likely to regain lost energy. Still, sit tight. I don't trust Irina to not try something."

"Understood," Maiya nodded before putting it away. Yes, she would make him proud if it was the last thing she did.

That's when she heard the sound of footsteps. She quickly spun around, earning a grazing shot along her temple. Nothing serious thankfully so she fired her gun right at the attacker. Said attacker put up a shield of ice. Maiya's eyes widened as she recognized the attacker.

The ice shot out and Maiya had to jump to her feet and roll out of the way. Two pieces of ice slashed along her back, but again, only grazing wounds. She raised her gun and fired again. Irina ran right at her, using her ice magic to surround her arm in thick ice to block the bullets and moved them with Maiya's aim. She could see exactly where Maiya's shot would land and blocked it.

Irina shot out her other hand and grabbed the gun. In an instant, it turned to ice and shattered. Maiya's skills were the only thing that saved her from losing her hand as well as she pulled back. She sent a punch right at Irina's head.

Unfortunately for her, Irina was quicker. Her already encased left arm came up with a sharpened point, slicing off hand of Maiya's arm. Her other arm, that thankfully wasn't encased in ice, launched forward and punched Maiya hard in the face, breaking her nose. Maiya was sent flying to the ground.

"You're good but you're not that good," Irina chuckled as Maiya started to sit up right. "It seems Kiritsugu was slacking off when he trained you. He must really not care if you live or die. How sad." She tutted.

Maiya glared at her. With her strength, she shot back to her feet and got into a battle stance. She pulled out a knife from her belt.

Irina smiled and returned the gesture, "Normally I'd just shoot you, but I'm going to enjoy breaking Kiritsugu's toy."

"I am no toy," Maiya snarled before running towards Irina. Irina stood her ground as Maiya came right at her. She turned and sweeped her leg, hoping to catch Irina's own legs and trip her up.

Irina caught it in one arm, "Too slow." She grabbed it with the other and threw her to the ground. Using her magic, she gripped Maiya's leg hard, freezing it. Maiya gritted her teeth as she kicked Irina over and over to let her go. Irina just smiled down at her cruely. "Still defiant?" She gripped the leg harder and it shattered into pieces of icy flesh as though it was glass.

Maiya pulled her head back and let out a small scream before Irina slammed a foot into her belly. She glared up at her and tried to stab her. Irina caught the hand.

She smirked, "Nice try." Again, she froze Maiya's hand much to her pained cries and broke it. Irina took in a deep breath. "So satisfying. I however can't stay to play for long." She pulled out her gun and pointed it at Maiya's head. "So sorry, dear. You would have made for an interesting protege if the world was different."

Maiya closed her eyes. 'Kiritsugu, I'm so sorry. I wasn't able to make you proud. Please… please forgive me.' her heart ached as deep down, all she ever wanted was his love…

Then the gun fired.

Kirei stared at his father, who was pacing back and forth in the church. Ever since the defeat of Caster, he had been mulling over whether to give the servants an extra command seal. While his father was an honorable man, the events thus far in the Grail War were pushing the secrecy of the war to the limits. They were just thankful that Caster had gassed everyone into slumber or there would have been a mall worth of witnesses.

That meant he was hesitant to give such masters even more command seals. He had given an extra to Aoi to make sure she could keep control of Archer. Archer had proven herself a strong servant and if they were to be victorious, it was crucial they kept her under their control. The rest of the masters were another story.

Kirei frowned as he looked at his own hand. It was bereft of a command seal as he had used one to keep Assassin from killing Caster and her master. It angered him that he had to do so, but he gladly did it all the same. The look of anger and anguish over being unable to stop Caster herself was exquisite. Perhaps the reason he thought so was because of Caster, but he admitted to himself that her magic just gave him the push he needed.

"I think tomorrow morning," Risei Kotomine stopped and turned to his son. "I will give the other masters another command seal. They have earned it and they would be suspicious of me if I turned them down. This will also allow us to explain Aoi's third command seal since Rider's master had seen Archer already being summoned by one."

Kirei nodded, "As for me?"

Risei moved closer. Kirei loved his father. He loved him dearly. Risei moved his hand closer and a red glow made it known that Kirei now had three command seals. "That should do it."

Kirei nodded as his father turned his back on him. He loved his father. He was the only man he could rely on. He was the only one he could trust. He loved him.

Like his wife.

A bullet tore through Risei's torso. He gasped in pain and fell onto his knees. Two more punched into his back before he fell forward. He gasped and sputtered, not quite dead but twitched in agony.

Kirei moved forward, glad he still kept one of the guns of the russian's on hand. It would prove useful when explaining who had killed his father. He stood there, watching him bleed out. It was beautiful. Such death. Such emotions. It was like drinking the finest wines. He moved forward and kicked his father so that he was facing upwards.

"My son," Risei croaked out. "Why?"

Kirei smirked, "Because I can't afford to allow the other masters another command seal. Not this late in the game." He pointed his gun at his father's head, "Also, to show you the truth. Your son is not the angel you thought he was, but the devil."

He fired.

Risei Kotomine was dead. Kirei couldn't help but stare down at his body and laugh. It was so poignant. The death of his father should have affected him more then anything but it just filled him with such joy. He truly was the devil in human form. Yes, such darkness needed to spread. He needed to see and experience more of it. He looked down to his father's arm. Now all he had to do was take those extra command seals and he would be set for the rest of the war.

Oh such a joyous night this was.

Well that's two death's this chapter and another few coming next chap. You might be able to guess who bites it, but I won't spoil. XD Sorry to those that liked Maiya. I like her too, but honestly, I couldn't think of much to do with her. I hope I did her justice with what little I could. Still, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and please leave a comment. They are greatly appreciated and I hope you do well till next time which shouldn't be long.