Night 38

Rin was aware how quickly the Grail War could end once the true fighting began. The first few days were almost always the masters and servants feeling one another out. There may be a few scrimmages here and there, but the primary function of the early stages of the war was master getting acquainted with servant, servant getting acquainted with master, and every other pairing attempting to understand the abilities of one another through strategic espionage.

Nonetheless, the way no fewer than four servants were removed from the war within hours still astounded Rin. Gilgamesh, Lancer, Berserker, and Archer. All that remained were Assassin, Rider, and Saber. Under normal circumstances, Rin would deduce that she was the inevitable winner. Assassin was rarely an incredibly powerful opponent save for his stealth techniques. Rider was generally a jack of all trades, specializing in nothing, type of servant; although Rin seemed to recall something about an overly capable Rider class from her father's war based on some of his scribblings. Either way, Rin knew the proficiencies of both servants, and after witnessing what her Saber was capable of, she also knew she could beat them both, simultaneously, if need be.

Yet Rin couldn't relax as Saber guided her and Illya out of the Einzbern forest and back into Fuyuki City. Zouken Matou had corrupted the war, and he had done so using Sakura. This fact alone had driven Rin into a corner. If the old man's words even had a hint of truth to them, and Rin's own recent experiences with her sister seemed to support his claims, then Rin was in for a very difficult battle ahead.

The shadow was a mysterious entity as well. There was little doubt it had something to do with the false grail that Zouken had mentioned, considering its change in mass and aggression after Archer, Lancer, and Berserker had been defeated. It had literally absorbed Gilgamesh whole, likely resorting to doing so rather than possessing him, as it did Berserker, due to Gilgamesh's own malice. How Rin and Saber were supposed to deal with such a presence was beyond even Rin, and she knew she would have to seek guidance, and perhaps even protection, from the church if she were to face the creature. Assuming Zouken controlled the shadow, to a degree, would likely prove correct.

Thus, Saber successfully escaped alongside Rin and Illya out of the forest without further sighting of the nightmare. Rin hated to think they were simply "released", rather than having retreated. A cab was hailed, and soon enough, the trio of girls were on their way to the church to check on Shirou, Sakura, and Rider. It should've been a joyous trip, considering the victories won, but Illya had lost her Berserker, and Rin couldn't dismiss Lancer's chivalry toward her and Archer's strange bond as easily as she would have liked.

'How are you feeling, Illya-san?' Rin decided to ask in an attempt to divert her own contemplative mind for a little while.

'Fine. My arm is a little sore, but I should be okay.' The smaller girl kept her voice low, not wanting to distract the cab driver more than she already had with her pale skin, white hair, and red eyes.

'You ladies come from some sort of convention or something?' The driver asked suddenly, looking at Saber's somewhat out of place, yet obviously detailed and well crafted, under-dress.

'Something like that.' Rin decided to answer.

The rest of the drive was fairly quiet. Rin was left to her own mind, and that was sometimes her worst fear.

Finally, the cab pulled up to the church. The driver was evidently a little cautious about the strange point of interest so late at night, but he gracefully accepted a fairly generous tip from Rin, and was eventually on his way.

'I'm sorry that we have to come here instead of rest, but this seems to be a very dangerous time, and we best prepare ourselves properly. I need to make some inquiries of the church.' Rin organized her objectives as she, Saber, and Illya approached the intimidating structure. It stood tall and dark, its ancient presence exuding an odd sort of aura that Rin hadn't noticed prior to this moment.

'That is fine, Master, but…' Saber hesitated, glancing at Illya.

'I'm out of the war now, Saber. I will be helping Rin-chan from here on. It's the least I can do.' The girl shrugged. She had, at once, such an air of maturity yet adolescent mischievousness sometimes.

'Very well. I'm also concerned about your mental health, Master. Gilgamesh's words regarding your father – '

'Are irrelevant at the moment. Kirei Kotomine is likely dead by Caster's hand, and my father is long gone. How he died and who deceived him do not matter or change the fact that he's gone.'

Rin's words were stern, and her tone would send the most courageous of peers the other way, but Saber simply took her Master's hand, holding it tight without another utterance.

'So, it's really true…?' Illya observed, the group standing before the church's large doors now.

'W-what?' Rin felt her face burning, the mere touch from Saber easing her mind.

'You two are lovers?'

'Yes.' Saber smiled gently.

'Saber!' Rin flushed further.

'Ohhhh…!' Illya's eyes wandered over Rin and then Saber respectively.

'I-it doesn't matter! Let's go!'

Rin didn't even knock, she was so thrown by Illya's inquisitive eyes and Saber's bold claims. The moment the mage stepped into the building, however, her heart sank into her stomach and her chest tightened until she thought it would collapse. Shirou was seated at the head of the pews, Sakura likely resting near where Rider remained her sentinel, and working on her classmate's arm, wrapping it in a red cloth that was painfully reminiscent of Archer's own clothing, was Kirei Kotomine.

Rin's knee-jerk reaction was to tear into the man, demanding answers and beating him senseless until he told her everything she wanted to know. She knew such an approach would be pointless. Kirei was more useful alive than dead at this particular time. Besides, logically, Rin knew she might not be able to actually compete against the priest if they were to come to blows. He was the one who had trained her, after all, and he was known to be an incredible fighter in every regard. It was now a small wonder that he had survived Caster's invasion.

No. For now, Rin would use Kirei Kotomine. He had knowledge beyond Rin's, and it would prove utterly priceless in these final hours.

'Tohsaka-san! Saber! And…Illya?' Shirou beamed, although he suddenly grunted and winced as Kirei tightened the red cloth over his shoulder.

'Be still, Emiya-kun.' The priest spoke in his low, dangerous voice. He then turned his attention to Rin and her group while they approached the front of the church, his cold eyes lingering on Illya almost hungrily. 'You survived. I must say, I am somewhat surprised. Then again, you do have Saber with you.'

'I could say the same thing, Kotomine-san.' Rin swallowed, and it was as though she were attempting to push sand paper down her throat. This man had killed her father in cold blood. It was affecting her more than she wanted it to. Her hand shook, and she had to will it consciously to remain by her side rather than throttling the passive expression of this murderer before her.

'Hm. I have a role to fulfill yet.'

'I'm sure.' Rin couldn't help it. She felt Saber's touch and immediately breathed out the bottled up stress enough to function somewhat normally.

'Thank God you guys are okay.' Shirou smiled, rubbing his arm.

'Is that…?' Rin ventured.

'Yeah…' The boy glanced sideways, clearly thinking about his lost servant. 'Archer left it for me, I guess. It's ridiculously painful, but apparently it's a miracle that I'm still alive. I definitely wasn't expecting a transplant though! The healing arts are incredible. Heheh.'

Kirei sighed.

'It's true. I honestly am still taken aback by the match. Even twins, for all their genetic similarities, only have a 10% survival rate after such a procedure. Never mind that it's a servant's limb; a being that transcends modern understanding and earthly qualities of life.'

'And yet, you still went ahead with the procedure knowing full well that Emiya-kun could die.'

Kirei's stoic face gave little away.

'I provided him with the risks. He still made the final decision.'

Rin huffed, staring at Shirou strangely. He has always been an anomaly in her life. Now that she thought about it, she got the same strange, almost uncanny feeling from Archer. If only that fool of a servant had survived, she could have pried him for more information. Shirou didn't even know his origin, which was bizarre, but believable considering how they didn't get along from the beginning. Yet, the arm…and the same sort of projection magic…

'Fine. And what of Sakura-san?' Rin nodded toward her sister, seeing that she was, at least, wrapped in a comfortable looking blanket. She slept soundly, for the most part, although her brow was furrowed slightly.

'That…is another matter entirely. I performed a biological analysis followed by a mage-exclusive physical. You may not like what you hear.'

Rin already didn't like what she heard. This man's voice was driving her mad. He was a cancer to everyone he came in contact with. Shirou's life was likely now at risk because of Archer's selfishness, and could Rin even believe him when it came to her own sister? The same sister that this man had turned his back on?

'I don't have time to be emotional.' Rin answered proudly.

This reaction brought a small grin to Kirei's face.

'Very well. Zouken Matou cannot be defeated by normal means. He has elevated his lust for eternal life into a grotesque and unseemly realm in a way that only his namesake is capable of.'

Rin held her breath, feeling Saber's hand brush hers.

'Sakura-san is infested with mana worms. They traverse her mana circulatory system similar to that of parasites in a normal human's blood. Practically encircling her heart, rather stubbornly I'll add, is a somewhat larger worm that I can only assume is a piece of Zouken Matou, based on the foreign, but slight, hints of an entirely different mana line. This is a common practise for the Matou family in order to achieve an artificial competence and edge in the wars. Sakura-san was cultivated at a young age for this very war. She has been given the same attributes as the fake human next to you in order to serve as a vessel for the grail.'

Rin could barely hold back the tears in her eyes. Her sister…Why…?

'Can anything be done to remove the worms?' Saber asked innocently.

'I tried what I could, but they are as part of her as that arm is to the boy now.'

'S-she'll be okay though, right?' Shirou smiled, not believing his ears, surely.

'No. That is a delusion you shouldn't have, child. The closer the war gets to its conclusion, the closer she draws to death or…perhaps something worse. She will become a false grail; a Black Grail, if you will. She will become akin to a minor god momentarily before fulfilling the wish of the victor of the war and…well…it is hard to say. Many will die during the process; of that I can assure you.'

'…But something can be done.' Rin almost demanded. She could tell. Kirei was holding back.

'Well…yes. To a degree.'

'Tell me.' Rin almost wanted to add "You owe me", for with a word, she could have Saber kill the priest and barely feel any remorse about it.

'The Gem Sword of Zelretch.' Kirei uttered deeply.

Something in Rin's brain sparked, an uncomfortable sort of buzz passing over her right side.

'You can't be serious…'

'It will allow you to defeat Zouken Matou. He conducts the abnormalities within this war, but not even that man couldn't escape the Gem Sword's rumoured dimensional dominance. Your father has the blueprints, correct? It was a task assigned to his of few other families. You've surely seen it at some point.'

'But…'

'You have the projection abilities of Archer's remnants, the ancient memories of the Einzbern homunculus, and your brilliance as my student. Rin...it is your only hope if you wish to save Sakura-san from Zouken and the shadow that insists on corrupting everything. Save Sakura-san and then finish the war by allowing the doll to fulfill her role proper. Have Rider and Saber perform an honourable duel and be done with it after the threat of the Black Grail is dealt with.'

Rin understood in that moment. Kirei wasn't lying, but he wasn't being entirely selfless either. He wanted to see the grail. He wanted to witness its majesty and succeed as the priest overseer of this war. Whatever his reasons, Rin had been correct in not killing him. With this knowledge, no matter how daunting the task, Rin could potentially save her sister. It was worth a shot.

'I want to try.' Shirou affirmed ignorantly. 'I absolutely have to try to save Sakura.'

'Me too.' Illya looked up at Rin, her focussed gaze chilling. She wanted revenge for Berserker.

'Fine.' Rin nodded.

'Good.' Kirei stood up, pacing next to Sakura for a moment before placing his hand on her chest. 'I have stabilized and prolonged her life. She has an additional two days before her body begins to deteriorate as it started doing today. That is all I am capable of. I wish you both luck.'

'One last thing.' Rin started, catching her old mentor's eyes. 'Zouken Matou has Assassin now. He's dangerous, and – '

Kirei nodded, but it was more mocking than not.

'He will not have that creature for long. Just focus on the sword.'

The words were laced with bloodlust, and Rin knew that Kirei would be hunting soon. She almost hoped the man lost to either the shadow or Assassin, but more of her knew it was better for Sakura and herself if Assassin was removed from the picture first.

The night already felt like five merged into one, and it didn't seem as though it would get quieter any time soon.