"-ews has also told us that some people have claimed to see strange animals out in the woods." The news lady finished talking on screen, with the man behind her speaking up soon afterwards.
"Oh please. It's more likely just the residents' imagination." The man proclaims. "This is just like the gas leaks and how it's supposed to be magical explosions, or a sleep spell that has made certain people asleep. That isn't real."
"And yet the strange explosions and comas are still occurring." The woman points out. "And so far, we hav-"
"And enough of that." Shirou says as he turns off the television. Granted, he heard a bit and was worried as it seems the news was catching on to the oddities in the city. It made sense in a way. I mean, no way will the people believe that a building exploding is because of a gas leak, as even Shirou found that hard to imagine.
People falling asleep because of chemicals. Experts on television were saying they detected no chemicals, and yet seconds later other individuals said there were. People contradicting themselves meaning that there are two groups. One that was trying to investigate the truth...and the other making up lies.
"Must be those who want to keep Magecraft a secret." Turning, Shirou saw Musashi setting a box down full of food. Who had also watched the news report and shaking her head. "Gotta say, while technically a good thing, the longer this war goes on the more 'mystery attacks' will keep happening."
"You know what's going on?" Shirou asked with Musashi nodding.
"In other worlds I've been in, there are those who try to hide Magecraft from the regular people."
"Like, to avoid panic?" Shirou suggests.
"Kinda." Musashi then looks a bit sad. "But in reality, it's so that the magus can continue their experiments safely away, with those experiments being far from ethical."
"Ethical?" Shirou begins to look worried. "What...what do you mean by that?"
This time, it was Ozpin who answered who came into the room. Having overheard the conversation and sighs. knowing exactly what was going on. "Basically put Shirou, the magus, while I don't understand their motives entirely, I can imagine they hide Magecraft because their intentions are something that wouldn't be smiled upon in society."
Musashi nodded, as she crossed her arms. "I've seen many magus. Aside from a few, most would sooner kidnap and kill to reach their goals, and yet ensure they do it in secret so that they can continue their experiments. Criminals hide in the shadows to do their dark deeds like regular criminals, only in some ways worse."
No way. Shirou, he wanted to deny this. To claim that it couldn't be true. Yet, words from his father Kiritsugu come to mind, a magus himself.
"I've met many magus before. Many who have gladly murdered to ensure they can continue their experiments without bother. All for their obsession of reaching something they'll never attain in their lives."
"Ah." He did mention that. Shirou had forgotten since he's been having a crazy week, but now he remembered. "So then...is it the magus trying to...cover this all up?" What was truly happening in his home and city.
"I can assume so." Ozpin believes it. "The Magus must be doing their best to cover-up the actions of magecraft and Servants. Of course, I doubt they can cover-up everything to a certain level."
Streets, lights, cars, and other small scale destruction can be explained by a mundane 'answer'. But what about murders that exceed a certain level? Buildings that topple down? These mysterious sightings growing more and more seeable and less mysterious? Of course, so long as the ordinary people had no clue or hint of what is truly going on, then they won't find an answer.
'Just like my battles and wars with her.' Ozpin thinks, as he has seen people trying to solve certain mysteries that involve him. None could do so however, as they lacked the means to understand the truth, nor did they know the history of their world.
"Then we need to stop the other Servants, before they make things worse." Shirou declares. If other Servants like Caster were causing problems, then they needed to stop those Servants before even more people got caught up in something they shouldn't belong in.
"Got it."
"Of course."
With Musashi and Ozpin with Shirou, not wanting to see the innocents burn and die from the horrors that may occur later on. In order to do that first though, the three had to prepare for something. Mainly, moving to the Matou home.
It came to everyone's surprise that Shirou had been invited to the Matou home. Where Shirou decided to at last reveal that he was in a partnership with another Master, one he knew and called a friend. A person called Shinji, who is willing to work with them for the time being and help them stop the other Servants, mainly Caster who in some way is the current threat right now. Her actions put many civilians at risk and as such, must be stopped.
Which is why everyone gathered what they needed. Some bowls, blankets, a bit of food, a few personal items, and so on. Of course since both Ozpin and Shirou lacked such personal items, they were mainly helping Shirou get the stuff he wanted. Leaving the rest in the house and not taking too much since it seems Shinji was willing to give them some things during this alliance aside from a safe place to live in.
Eventually, they were all ready.
"So I guess this is all we need." Shirou checked his backpack which had a few changes of clothes. "Hopefully nobody robs this place while we're gone."
"I doubt it." Musashi says. "The people of this land seem trustworthy."
"Well, I suppose so." The neighbors Ozpin saw were rather nice. "But ignoring regular robbers, I also don't think we'll have to worry about any magical attacks occurring since we'll be gone."
"Yeah. That'll be a relief." Shirou was glad that his house wouldn't be ground zero for an attack. That would suck a lot. More so since he wouldn't have the money to fix it all. Shirou might live a bit of a frugal life, but he still wanted to purchase the latest books and games now and then.
"I'm just hoping this Matou home has plenty of food." Musashi bellows as she grabs a few bags, ready to leave. Ozpin doing the same. "I wonder what deliscouse stuff they'll have."
"Right...eat…" Shirou wasn't sure how to break it to Musashi than Shinji might not be willing to feed her. Since apparently she didn't need to eat, as Shinji told him. glad he won't be the one to tell her. That'll be Shinji's job.
"In the meantime, Shirou, have you told those close to you that you'll be moving out for a bit?" Ozpin thought of Shirou's teacher, Taiga. Apparently she came here often.
"Yeah, I told her this." Shirou had called her and informed his father's friend about what he was going to do. Taiga just says she'll go to the Matou house then which made Shirou feel uncomfortable since he didn't want her to get caught in the struggle. Then again, maybe she'll be safe and for the time being, Shirou had to accept it.
"Great." Ozpin smiled. "Anybody else?"
"Not really." Shirou checks and he sees everybody has everything they need, and with that he walks toward the front door with the other two following him. "I mean, who else should I tell?"
"Oh I don't know." Then, just as Shirou opens the door, he and the rest see none other than Archer who gives a smug grin at them. "I say you forget a lot." Where behind him, a very cross looking Rin is seen.
"Oh." Shirou gulped. "H-Hi Tohsaka."
The second her eyes narrowed, Shirou knew he was in trouble.
"And done." Shinji says as he looks at the now vacuumed floor of his room. "Certainly a room fit for me. Hehehe." With his room done, Shinji left his room to put away the vacuum. Once he did so, Shinji then went to the living room where he did a few slight adjustments to the couches and chairs until he felt satisfied. Good. "Sakura!"
"Y-yes Brother?" Sakura answered from the kitchen.
"Do you have the food ready?"
"I do."
Deciding to confirm it, Shinji went to check it out. Where he's greeted by the sight of a stove full of finished cooked meat and some bowls with other delicacies. Deciding to taste-test it, Shinji grabbed a fork and then stabbed a piece of meat off and put it in his mouth. A bit of chewing and Shinji nodded.
"Good. It seems you did this right. Perfect when Emiya and his allies come. I expect such meals from now on once they live with us." Shinji tells his sister, who, with her back turned, blushes.
"L-live with us?" She then asked, wondering if she heard right. Shinji groaned as he had to repeat himself. What a fool.
"Of course you dunce!" He says to her aloud. "If I'm going to win, then I need allies. Allies who won't get attacked or kidnapped because they live in a house that has no bounded field." Sakura nearly squealed in delight. "And you better not complain! This is happening whether you like it or not."
"Y-yes brother. I understand." Sakura began to smile. So Shirou would really b-b-be staying here with them. With h-her! The thought of that made her breathing a little erratic while her cheeks remained red. To think that despite how tragic the Holy Grail War can be, such fortune would actually come to her like this. Shirou would now be living with her in the Matou house.
'Not to mention, the training has started to become less lately.' Not to mention not as rough as originally. Her grandfather being more focused on something else, while her brother's commanding of her has also grown less strict. Not perfect, and while it could be better, Sakura couldn't deny she was enjoying her life a bit better right now. As such, the young woman did her best to make a meal she knew Shirou would love.
A knocking is then heard.
"You get it." Shinji told her from the living room. "I'm going to set up the television for later."
"Okay." Sakura stopped what she was doing and washed her hands. The food wasn't quite done, but it is nearly ready. That must be Shirou. So quickly she dried her hands, and before she left to the door which knocked again, she checked herself in the mirror. Once she had done so, Sakura then happily went to the front door to greet who she was certain is Shirou.
Grabbing the knob and unlocking it, Sakura twisted it open and smiled while saying, "Hi."
"Hello." only to be surprised that instead of Shirou she saw...Rin?
"Er, her Sakura." Then behind Sakura, is Shirou who looked at her awkwardly. Beside him is none other than the old man her grandfather told her about, and a beautiful woman who's undoubtedly Saber. One who is very close to her senpai. Shoulder to shoulder.
"Are they here?" Shinji's voice is then heard as he goes to the front door with a smile. "Welcome allies," He then spreads his arms wide. "I see you have chosen the path of victory thro-Tohsaka!" With wide eyes at seeing the woman who dared to stand him up, he sees Rin looking unamused as she then taps the ground with her foot.
"We need to talk."
Ozpin sat down as he drank some water young Sakura gave him. She seemed to glare at him for a moment, but he must have imagined it as he didn't recall doing anything to her, let alone even meeting her properly until now. While he sat down at the home which gave...strange feelings whilst Musashi ate the food Sakura served with a smile, Ozpin is now capable of witnessing the talk between three Masters.
"Oh, so now you want to team up with me!" Shinji huffed. "Sorry, but this alliance has no room for women like you." Shinji then grabbed Shirou and brought him to his side. "It's a men's club."
Shirou looked uncomfortable.
"Yeah right!" Rin then grabbed Shirou and pulled him towards her. "It was us first and will only be us. I don't know how you escaped my sight as a magus, but if anything, it's us two who don't need you."
"Um," Shirou then tried to speak up. "Can't we all just get alo-"
Before Shirou could even finish, both Rin and Shinji glared at him and shouted, "Shut up!"
Ozpin is wrong. It's not three Masters talking. It's three teenagers instead.
"I don't suppose any of you are willing to calm down and then talk like equals, instead of runty teens, are you?" Ozpin then spoke as he sipped the water. Wishing he had hot chocolate instead. The two looked at him nastily and not pleased.
"Shut it old timer!" Shinji yells, not really thinking straight. Or not more than usual anyway. "I only let you here because Emiya begged me to."
"Begged?" Shirou didn't recall that.
"And I bet you just strong-armed him into this so-called alliance of yours." Rin then shouts back. Rin then yelped as she felt cold water on her shoulder. Turning, it was Sakura who just gave a 'Whoops' sound as she had a now empty cup of water.
"My bad Tohsaka." Sakura says with slightly emotionless eyes. "I tripped. though...what are you talking about? Sports?" Rin looked panicked for a moment along with Shirou, as since for all they knew and believed, Sakura knew nothing at all of what was going on. So Ozpin spoke up.
"Your brother and classmate are just talking about their...kendo club. Correct you two." Ozpin smiled while looking at Shinji and Rin. While the former rolled his eyes, Rin decided to go for the lie.
"Er, yeah. That's what we're doing?" Rin says as fast as she can.
"Right." Sakura didn't look convinced, but didn't say anything anymore. Instead, opting to go to the kitchen where she likely wouldn't hear anything. "I'll just finish the rest of the food."
"You do that." Musashi says as she finishes her plate of grilled chicken and hopes for more. Shirou himself stood up and looked ready to go to her.
"Let me help-" Then Ozpin stopped him.
"Ah, Shirou. Remember, this alliance of the kendo club is about you." The headmaster subtly reminded Shirou why they're here.
"Right." Shirou stopped himself from following Sakura. "I nearly forgot. Uh. Sorry Sakura, maybe next time."
"Yes senpai." Sakura then went to move back to the kitchen. "..." Yet just before she did, Ozpin swore he saw her throw him a cold gaze just before she left their sights. Was it really his imagination? Regardless of what he thought, Rin used this time to create some magic circle of sorts with Ozpin looking at it, intrigued by it as it reminded him of the glyphs, with Shinji doing his best not to look amazed. Once the circle vanished, Rin sighed.
"There. I put a small bounded field so Sakura won't come near here, and ensured our voices can't be heard." Now that was good work.
"That's great." Shirou says, glad Sakura won't be able to hear the true conversation that was about to happen. "That means we can, you know, talk about...the alliance."
"There is no alliance!" Both Shinji and Rin then say at once, with Shirou sighing, Musashi too busy eating, and Ozpin shaking his head.
"Come now, both of you." Ozpin spoke to the two Masters. "Instead of shouting like children, it'd be best if you speak like actual Masters. You are magus, are you not?" While Shinji huffed and crossed his arms, Rin growled but composed herself.
She didn't like it, but Ozpin is right. A Tohsaka should be elegant and mature, and act as such. Putting on her 'mask', Rin spoke more softly this time. "Very well. I suppose yelling at one another will get us nowhere." She then narrowed her eyes. "Unless of course one of us wishes to continue whining."
"Whining!" Shinji says angrily. "You're the one who stood Emiya and I up when we came to your house, and refused to answer us so we could talk."
"And you responded by breaking a window." Rin coldly tells him, making Shinji flinch. Having learned all about that from Shirou when she interrogated him. "You didn't even consider I was out, which I was."
"W-well," Shinji tried to find a counter argument. "Whatever. The point is, you're trying to take away Emiya from me, who had promised to be my ally until the very end." Shirou didn't mind partnering up with Shinji, yet he's certain he never said those things. Rin rolled her eyes.
"You probably just forced him into an alliance."
"At least I offer him good intentions." Shinji replies back. "What have you done for Emiya? Nothing I bet."
Rin looked like she wanted to yell back, however she forced herself to be calm while she thought of what she wanted to say next. A few seconds later, she had her response. "Look Shini, the fact is Emiya and I were in an alliance first." Rin then patted Shirou on the arm. "I aid him, and he will aid me. While I won't deny you might help, might...The fact is, you haven't shown much what to offer him. I mean, inviting him to your home? Sounds like a way to backstab him once your alliance is over."
Shinji gritted his teeth. Becoming more and more annoyed by Rin while Shirou then tried to defuse the situation.
Come on guys." He started. "Can't we just get along? I mean, look. Yes I allied with you Tohsaka, but having a third Servant with us could greatly help us out."
"Yeah." Shinji goes along with Shirou. Riding off his words. "With my Servant, battles will be much easier. Plus, Emiya will be safe here compared to his old house. Unless, what, you'll offer him your home?"
"No. But I can make a basic bound field in his home." Rin replies. "And while a third Servant might help us out, I'm not sure if we can trust you at all with this."
"Then what can you trust?" Ozpin then asks aloud, looking at Rin. "I apologize if I'm being blunt, but for what reason do you not trust this young man? Has he done something to you, or do you know something about him?"
Rin gritted her teeth as Ozpin asked his question, with everybody now looking at her to hear her answer. An answer she didn't actually have. Aside from finding him to be pathetic, Shinji hasn't actually done anything to warrant her to disagree with this alliance. It was childish in some ways, but she just didn't want him with her and Shirou. Still, there was one reason she might use, and Rin decided to use it.
"Okay, fine." Rin says. "It's true aside from his...antics at me from school, Shinji hasn't done much." The seaweed boy started to grin, until Rin continued. "However, if he wants to join, then he needs to show us who his Servant is." Rin chucked a thumb at Musashi. "That's Emiya's Servant, and mine is Archer. So...what's yours?"
Shinji was now in a tough place. He could either show his Servant now, or refuse and everything will fall apart.
"Fine, come on out Rider." So Shinji then went ahead of it and from behind him, the woman of mystery came out. Blindfolded eyes, long lavish hair, a rather small and tight dress that showed those curves with a bust that put many including Rin's to shame with Musashi checking Rider out instantly with Rin blushing alongside Shirou.
Though it didn't last long as Rin then growled. "So it was you who sent Rider to the school."
In other words, Shinji was responsible for the attack there and on them. Shirou also realized this, though before he could continue Shinji spoke up. "Woah there, that wasn't me." He then declared. "Yeah I had Rider nearby, but I never once told her to assault some girls. I had her watch for any enemy Masters."
"Bull." Rin scowls. "It took me a second to realize, but you aren't even a proper Master. Like Emiya here, you can't give your Servant much mana, so you just had her attack others to fill her up."
"Again with the accusation." Shinji huffs as he throws his own glare at Rin. At this point, it looked like another argument was about to happen. So Ozpin took out his cane and stomped it on the ground, grabbing their attention.
"Good." Ozpin said. "Now then, if we can move along from further arguments here, let's get back to business." His eyes then went to Shinji who flinched at the headmasters gaze. "You said you didn't command Rider to do these actions, and maybe that is true. Yet the fact is, she did which leads me to wonder if you can even control her properly."
Ozpin didn't like considering Servants as slaves, as they certainly were more human-like than what this Holy Grail War entitled. Yet as Rin told him and Shirou, these Servants must listen to their Master. With Shinji doing a poor job at it.
"I can control her!" Shinji proclaims. "She just, uh, does whatever! I-I mean-"
"Tch. Wow." Rin rolls her eyes. "So you're not a bastard. Just incompotent, which is worse." Shinji seemed to turn red in embarrassment, but then anger at being called incompotent.
"Y-y-you-!" He sputtered as he got up.
Ozpin then decided to just wack Shinji in the head with his cane, making the teen fall on his chair again. The seaweed head looking shocked.
"Moving on," Ozpin continued as he then looked at Rin. "Is it possible what he said. His Servant doing these things behind his back." While Ozpin would question Rider, she seemed to be the silent type and not in the mood to talk. As for Rin, she just sighed.
"Well, it's not impossible." She admitted. "It has been known that some Servants act against their Masters wishes." The most known example being the Berserker Class which, due to their insanity, always acted against their Masters commands at times. Thus why most Masters try to summon Servants that aren't Berserkers. "Even then though, it doesn't excuse Shinji for not reigning her in."
"But," Shirou then spoke up, to give his thoughts without interruption. "If we join forces with Shinji, then we can ensure his Servant doesn't go against orders." While Shinji seemed relieved to think someone is defending him, that stopped when Shirou glared at him. "I'm willing to believe you Shinji, for now. But know this," Shirou then walked up to his friend who suddenly felt just a bit smaller. "If you actually did have Rider do those things...then…"
While Shirou didn't say anything after, to Shinji it sounded like a threat. Yet the seaweed boy refused to show fear, and did his best to compose himself. To act like a magus.
"Sure Emiya. Of course." He smirked. "I'll be sure to better reign in Rider so she doesn't do any of this again."
"...good." Shirou says as he backs off and sits back down. "Then...we're good I guess."
"Cool." Shinji says.
"Men." Rin shakes her head at this dumb sight and then raises her hands. "Fine. Shinji, you can join. Mess up though or try anything funny, then I'll sick Archer against you."
"And I'll take Rider." Musashi says as she still looks at Rider as she appreciates the silent beauty. "It could be fun." Rider felt a shiver and took a step back.
"In any case, I'm glad we sorted all this out." Ozpin smiles and is glad there is no more tension. Granted, everybody will undoubtedly keep a close eye on Shinji even if he is with them, but the chances of him doing so are low.
"Yeah, sorted out." Rin grumbles as she then raises her hand and gets ready to disable the mini-bounded field she placed. "In the meantime, I suppose with this we're all working together. And as such, we should target the other Servants now."
"Caster." Shirou says. "We need to get her as soon as possible."
"Not without a plan." Rin tells Shirou. "She's a powerful Servant with magecraft from the Age of Gods."
"Plus she has that handsome Assassin with her." Musashi giggles as she thinks about the Servant a bit. "He won't be easy."
"Then we go for another Servant like Berserker." Shinji then declares. "He'll be easy to beat."
"Shirou, how are you friends with him again?" Rin asks with Shirou shrugging, only to make Shinji mad. "Whatever the case, we can plan tomorrow." Rin at last disables the bounded field as she stands up and stretches, ready to go home. Not wanting to stay here any longer. "I'll try to come up with something, and you guys...do whatever you think might help out."
"Sure Rin." Shirou says. "Just be careful."
"Hehe. Who do you think you're talking to Emiya?" Rin smiles as she then leaves. Once she left, Sakura came in as if she had been waiting, with plates of food to serve.
"Here you go everyone. Enjoy."
"Thanks Sakura. You're the best." Shirou compliments with Sakura smiling while Shinji just huffed and went into eating. Musashi doing the same while Ozpin got his plate, which seemed a bit smaller than the others. Also was that a small worm on it?
'I wonder what I did this time?' Ozpin thought as he began eating with the others. Knowing that by tomorrow they must face another a Servant again, only this time prepared.
Something Caster was not at the moment. Though for good reason, as a black boney boar roared at her.
"What the hell are these freaks?" The Servant growls as she annihilates another group of the shadowy familiars she's seen. "And where do they keep coming from!?"
Ever since the day those fools escaped, Assassin has been noticing more and more of the creatures. Not enough to get attention, and Caster's own memory erasure spells and perspective twisting aided, yet it was still troublesome as she couldn't detect them through normal means. While she tried to capture a werewolf, it suddenly vanished away in smoke.
Still, with her knowledge and magecraft, she has been getting better at keeping them in place and even began placing certain items that seemed to attract them by emulating emotions. Particularly, fear and anger.
'Whatever these things are, they seem to actively hunt humans, or I suppose sapient creatures.' Caster thought as she saw that for all the hunting they did on the mountain, they avoided animals. 'Still, who would send them to do that? I suppose it doesn't matter. Though it is becoming problematic continuing them here.'
While Caster would gladly use the people of this city for her work, she wasn't cruel or would kidnap them in mass for the sake of it all unless needed. Yet whoever kept sending out these familiars seemed to have them attack anybody regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender. While most seemed to be here on this mountain, some seemed to have escaped and she couldn't bother with those as she didn't want the few people here to notice the ones on the mountain. Thankfully, Assassin helped her out and she already told her Master to be wary.
While a vast majority she saw were easily killed, Caster still remembered the boar from before and how it was unusually strong. While the ones after it were pathetic, Caster noted some of them, particularly the ones who were bigger and had more bones, were just the slightest tougher here and there.
"Still, it doesn't matter how strong they are when my spells can just wipe them out." With Assassin's skills and her magecraft, dealing with these familiars which only knew how to use muscle power were easy. Caster then flew off, unimpressed by them.
"Clr…" Not noticing another of the creatures. One of them was a small beetle that clicked it's mandibles, as it saw it's new prey.
Ozpin finally gets to show why he's good at negotiations, and Shinji joins the party but with strick rules. With all that done, it's time for the heroes to strike. However, before they can meet Caster and Assassin, Illya comes knocking to see her big brother. What a sweetheart she is, with Berserker in tow to meet the rest for a playdate. That'll be fun for everyone. Right?