Chapter 37
Sang Rouge : Bêtes Jumeaux

Leviathan sat comfortably perched on the corner of an office building, trying to peer into the madness that was the conflict below. He and Saviour had arrived there too late to see anything but Berserker's chariot careen into the bottom floor of the office building. While he was disappointed he could not see much of anything from his position, he could not help but be amused by his Servant's desperate nerves.

"I suppose you are glad I did not opt to miss this particular fight?" Leviathan asked, looking to Saviour. He stood tense beside Master, his palm resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword while his fingers rapped its grip furiously. Judging by the strained expression on his face, it was only Leviathan's will that held him at his Master's side.

For a moment, it looked as if Saviour would ignore his Master's bait. "I will be glad when it is all over and I can claim her," the Servant finally grunted.

"You know she may not survive this little conflict, don't you? Of all Servants your obsession could be facing, this is the one Servant that may just destroy her." Leviathan's grim words were accompanied by a sick sneer.

Saviour let out a shuddering sigh. "That won't happen. She's mine. I won't let it happen."

"You would directly interfere to save her?" Leviathan asked, struggling not to laugh. "How… kind of you."

Turning to his Master, knowing that he was playing mind games, Saviour made his reply with absolute seriousness. "I either make her mine, or she dies by my hand. No one else can have her but me."

"Oh, Saviour." Leviathan had to chuckle. "I did not expect Archangel Michael himself to be so proactive in the saving of heretical souls."

"Now, now," Kinjo said, rubbing the fresh closed wound on his chest. "Don't lose your nerves. You only just found them. Let me and my body get in the way of your own confidence and I'll murder the both of you without even trying to hold back." He stared at the young Master slumped on the floor before him. He could tell that his Blood Rite's regenerative properties had already shot Torsten's confidence instantly. Kinjo heard the sound of shuffling on carpet behind him.

Roux rose to her feet quickly, keeping her eyes fixed on Kinjo as he turned to face her once again. "That's some potent regeneration magecraft." She fought to keep herself sounding confident, trying to distract the Master of Berserker long enough for Torsten to put some distance between himself and Kinjo. "How many lives went into the creation of something such as that?"

Kinjo snorted, impressed. "And how would you know if I killed to achieve this spell?" As the pair began to speak, Torsten began to slowly slide back from Kinjo. He tried to be as quiet as possible, even with the Master already distracted by Roux's inquiries.

"Any form of healing that powerful without a constant usage of mana or some kind of item has to have been…" The word caught in Roux's throat at the thought. Kinjo's eyes narrowed at the miniscule sign of weakness. "Sacrificial in nature." She looked Takeo Kinjo up and down, his sword and scabbard each in separate hands. His knuckles had gone white from gripping both as tightly as possible. "I wouldn't put it past you to kill anyone that got in your way regardless."

"May as well put them to good use, eh?" he joked. He flexed the fingers on the hilt of his sword. Roux could see his patience was beginning to wear thin. "I hope that theoretical astuteness translates to deft application in combat." He took a single step forward, to which Roux's first instinct was to quickly jump backwards.

She bit her lip, the pain clearing her mind. Calm down, calm down! I can't let him win before the fight has already started… He took another step, the distance between him and Torsten increasing as he grew ever closer to Roux. She took her eyes off Kinjo for a split second, checking how close to the wall she was. There was only one more step she could take before she was cornered. We need to get out of this room and in the open.

Torsten, standing, took a quick moment to check his left hand. The cut made by his own scythe had stopped bleeding, but still hurt. The ache in his right shoulder from being slammed into the office wall was dull, but persistent. He looked out of the office to see the scythe on the floor, a few metres from the office door. I'm not going to be able to do anything without it…

Roux started to move to the side, closer to the broken glass front to the office and the open door. Kinjo followed, slowly matching her pace, an animal stalking his prey. Torsten couldn't tell if he was paying him any mind, but without his scythe he knew he wasn't going to be able to do much. If even my scythe got shrugged off, I might need to… He looked at his right hand to see it shaking in both pain and fear. I might need to use the Crest. For a split second, the ragged and lifeless face of Adelheid Rotmensen superimposed itself upon his mind.

Roux's voice pierced the veil of confliction that had enshrouded his mind. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve." Her attempt at a sly smile was half-hearted and she knew it. Her back now to the smashed glass of the front of the manager's office, Roux started her slow and steady march backwards, broken shards of glass crunching under her feet.

"Then why attempt to flee me?" Kinjo said, licking his lips. He ran the tip of his blade against the side wall of the office. He traced a deep cut through it as he moved ever forward. "Why flee when you can fight?" In a concentrated effort, he froze on the spot.

Roux flinched, taking a longer than usual step back. Her heel hit the bottom of the metal frame that once held the glass now strewn across the office floor. She stumbled back, quickly sweeping her other foot back outside of the frame to catch herself. However, the lapse in concentration was enough. Kinjo lunged at Roux, sweeping out with his scabbard. He aimed for her head, but she fell backwards under its reach. It screamed past her face, almost clipping her nose.

Failing to keep her balance, Roux fell onto the carpet outside the office as Kinjo made to follow through with his blade. He raised it above his head, jumping forward and through the broken office window to deliver a fatal blow to the down Roux when, in flash, Torsten threw himself into the crazed Master from one side. The collision sent Kinjo completely off course, but as the pair collided, he landed an elbow-strike to Torsten's chin that sent him flying. Torsten hit the floor face first outside of the ruined office, rolling quickly to one side and jumping to his feet.

The attack he expected from behind never came, which he knew could mean only one thing. He's only targeting Roux. He turned to find Kinjo already advancing on her once again. She had quickly leapt back to her feet while Kinjo was distracted, but she couldn't handle him alone. Looking around, Torsten quickly found his scythe lying on the floor nearby and fetched it before charging at Kinjo from behind.

The Japanese Master heard Torsten's less than subtle approach easily. Kicking Roux away, giving himself space to move, he swung around and blocked Torsten's scythe with his scabbard. There was a small pause as both Master's gazes locked. "Isn't this just wonderful?" Kinjo remarked before making a swing with his blade at Torsten's side. The young Master leapt back, avoiding the blade and dislodging his scythe from Kinjo's scabbard. "Two on one! I just can't believe it!"

Torsten attacked again, making a horizontal sweep of his scythe. Kinjo blocked it with his scabbard, just as Torsten predicted. "You're not the only one who doubles up on weaponry." Taking one hand from his scythe, he Projected a second scythe. Kinjo's eyes widened in surprise as Torsten let loose a second swing with his newly crafted weapon. Kinjo's attuned battle instincts allowed him to react with little hesitation, blocking the second scythe with his own blade.

"So even you have some tricks up your sleeve." Kinjo's face was so close to Torsten's, the young Master could smell his rancid breath as it billowed from his mouth like poisonous fumes. "Show me mo-" As Kinjo spoke, a gleaming point of silver shot through the left side of his chest. He flinched, gasping hard for breath as his left lung and his heart were skewered. Torsten looked to one side of his opponent to see Roux standing behind him, a projection of her rapier in her hand and stuck into Kinjo's back.

With a battle cry befitting Lancer, Roux tore the sword out of Kinjo's back only to begin stabbing him repeatedly. Each blow piercing his torso straight through, leaving a gaping hole in its wake. Kinjo endured each blow without faltering, grunting in pain as Roux's rapier tore through him over and over. Torsten watched in sickened awe as the tip disappeared and reappeared through Kinjo's chest. The fact that the battle crazed Master had not fallen yet was terrifying enough, but it was when Torsten looked up to see Kinjo still smiling his maligned and ecstatic grin that Torsten felt a chill shoot down his spine.

Eyes darting from the Master's gored chest to his evil face then back again, Torsten noticed that the holes being formed by Roux's rapier were stitching themselves closed. His flesh knitted itself over and across the bloody wounds and left no trace after about ten seconds of being created.

This is never going to work, Torsten realised, his terror growing. There was nothing he could think to do. If Takeo Kinjo could regenerate from becoming a human pincushion, the pair of them were left with little options.

Suddenly, Roux cried out from behind Kinjo. "Get out of the way, Torsten!"

Without hesitation, Torsten flung himself back and away from Kinjo. The Japanese Master took one attempt to swipe at Torsten as he jumped away, but stopped short. His eyes bulged in their sockets as he froze in mid-swing of his sword. He began to shake and shudder, as if the world around had suddenly become frigid.

Dissipating the projected scythe, Torsten slowly edged around the Master. Kinjo's eyes tracked him all the way. Torsten found Roux staring right at Kinjo's back, her left eye a shimmering yellow. There was no physical discharge of electricity, but Torsten was sure that if Roux figured she could not cut Kinjo into submission, she'd be forced to cook him instead.

With relative ease, Berserker was able to fend off both Saber and Lancer as the pair launched attack after attack. Despite the clear disadvantage of a two-on-one fight, Berserker's animalistic instincts and raw strength made any form of offense difficult.

Berserker was not, by nature, a thinking Servant, fractured pieces of information could penetrate her fractured mind. Mostly, these packets of data were restricted to orders given by her Master. However, a single wishful thought sat in her mind and drove ever forward in this battle.

This battle is the last of the War.

Victory was assured in her mind, as it was in every single fight she had partaken in during the course of the Holy Grail War. This battle against both William Wallace and Brynhildr was no different. The logical conclusion of this was obvious even to Berserker.

Defeating Saber and Lancer meant total and absolute victory.

With victory so close at hand, Berserker unleashed her full power and unrestrained fury against both Servants standing in between her and her Master's obtainment of the Grail.

Both Saber and Lancer, both battered and bruised but still able-bodied enough to fight, now held off on their assault. The pair of them stood before Berserker waiting for her to strike first, breathing hard and knees shaking. The silent and unspoken hope between them was that acting first would let Berserker make the first mistake, even if that meant going on the defence against the monster of a Servant.

"Well?" Saber grunted, wiping a layer of sweat from his brow. "Are you goin' tae attack or not?"

Before Lancer could even grimace at the fact Saber taunted the behemoth before them, Berserker struck out. Using the heavy head of her spear like a hammer, Berserker attacked Saber from above with a vertical blow. Saber opted to block instead of dodging, raising his blade horizontally above his head and bearing the crushing brunt of Berserker's hammer-fall attack.

Saber's muscles bulged and eyes boggled as he strained under Berserker's spear. He made a quick glance at Lancer who, puzzled at first, understood what he was trying to do. Lancer quickly burst forward, aiming Gungnir for the opening now created by Berserker's swing.

Unfortunately, Berserker also caught wind of Saber's plan. She pulled her shield over her open torso, Gungnir deflecting off it to one side. Unsure of whether to jump back or keep forward momentum, Lancer made the rush decision to try and run under Berserker's extended arm that held her spear.

Crack!

Berserker brought down her elbow on Lancer. The bony joint brutally slammed into her upper back, stopping her in her tracks. Lancer made a sharp rasping sound and collapsed to her knees and tried to drag herself away.

"No!" Saber screamed. Enough weight was lifted off his blade by Berserker bending her spear arm that he batted it aside and made to strike. He knew that if he didn't occupy Berserker immediately, overwhelming Lancer would be easy for the behemoth.

As Berserker's spear was thrown wide, Saber jumped over Lancer's crawling form and lashed out with a quick swing of his blade. The swing was one handed, leaving his other hand free to latch onto Berserker's spear arm and try to arrest it's movement. All he needed was a few seconds for Lancer to get out of the way and they could try again.

Berserker, however, refused to make that an easy task. Saber's blade struck her shield so hard it stuck in the thick and gnarled wood. With her other arm within Saber's grasp, Berserker used the only limbs she had free to fight back.

Just as Lancer scrambled out of the way and to her feet again, Berserker landed a kick in Saber's chest. Even with his chest plate, Berserker's enormous foot winded the Scottish Servant. He held his ground, digging his armoured boots into the floor that crunched beneath his feet.

Dislodging his blade from Berserker's shield with a sharp tug, Saber battered at the monster. "Get yer arse in gear and hit her!" He bellowed at Lancer who was still shaking off the blow to her back. "I cannae hold her forever!"

As if on cue, Berserker wrenched her arm free of Saber's grasp and made to thrust at Lancer. Still in pain, she rolled out of the way just before the behemoth's spear skewered her on the spot. Saber wrapped his arm around Berserker's now extended spear arm, once again trying to subdue her offensive capabilities.

Continuing to assail Berserker's shield with his sword, Saber's endurance was running thin. "Come on! Dae it now!"

With an almighty roar, Lancer threw herself into the fray. She flew at the pair with Gungnir held before her, ready to impale the behemoth from the right side. Berserker, unable to guard against the extra attacker, tried to drag Saber into the range of Lancer's spear, but the Scottish Servant shifted his weight and held fast.

The tip of Gungnir pierced Berserker below her right arm. As the spear ploughed straight through her, lungs punctured, ribs fractured and flesh rended, Berserker did little but stare at Lancer. As Gungnir finally burst from the opposite side of Berserker, slick with her fresh blood, some of the first shreds of emotion that either Saber or Lancer had ever seen on Berserker appeared.

Her eyes bulged out of her skull as her entire head seem to twitch with anger at the blonde woman before her who had run her through. Saber stopped his tirade upon Berserker's shield and Lancer froze for a split second as the pair of them stared right back at the behemoth.

Saber gulped "I think we pissed her off."

"Jo, are you sure you should be-" Torsten started before being cut off by Roux's raised hand. He watched as she tightened her expression, keeping her dual-colour gaze on Kinjo's form. She's pushing herself again.

Roux groaned. "No choice." She spoke through gritted teeth and fragments as her left eye glowed a vivid yellow. "If this goes on… We're dead… Best just end it now."

Takeo Kinjo was still stuck in a half-formed sword swing, twitching as his muscles spasmed from the electricity coursing through his body. Inside, he was slowly being cooked by the current flowing through him, healed and then cooked again in an endless cycle of pure pain. It was only sheer willpower that stopped him from falling to the floor in a heap of shaking limbs. If he collapsed now, then it really would be all over for him.

"Torsten," Roux managed to add. "Make it quick."

Torsten's grip on his scythe tightened. He knew exactly what she meant. Taking a deep breath, he moved to one side of the incapacitated Kinjo. He was bent forward, his sword arm half extended with twitching fingers barely clutching his sword. As Torsten lined himself up with Kinjo's bare neck, he noticed Kinjo's gaze.

From one side of the laboured Japanese Master, Torsten could see one of his eyes glaring at him. It was as if he was being dared, without words, to run the disabled man through.

"His eyes are exactly like hers were…" Torsten said out loud to himself.

"Do it. Now!" Roux insisted.

Torsten raised up his scythe, gulping as his resolve solidified. I have to kill him. It's... him or me.

It was just as Torsten made to bring down his scythe that a flash of silver swept across his vision. For a second, he didn't know what had happened, until he noticed that Kinjo's sword dripping with blood at its tip and at the end of its unfinished arcing motion.

"Torsten!" Roux screamed. He looked at her, she had stopped the power of her Mystic Eye and was instead staring at him, eyes wide in horror.

Feeling a warm sensation wash down his chest, Torsten looked to see a massive gash carved into his body. However, before he could even comment, he was sent flying by a sudden kick from Kinjo. Leaving the ground, he slammed into a desk behind him and rolled over it, out of Roux's line-of-sight.

Takeo Kinjo straightened himself up, flexing his arms and legs as he turned to face Roux. "It's been fun, but if you've got tricks like that up your sleeve, I'm afraid I'm just going to have to kill you."

Author's Note:

Man, it's been a while. Too long. Far too long. From a death in the family to a rather tumultuous time in University, everything got in the way of me writing.

No longer! I should be back, if on a slightly more slack schedule. My apologies for the delay, but it couldn't be helped.

Like always, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. ^^