Disclaimer: I do not own Fate Stay Night, Highschool DxD or anything else.

Fate: Devil Night

Chapter7: Grail War II

Human World
Japan: Fuyuki
Emiya Residence

Medea awoke to the sound of birds chirping and an unfamiliar ceiling, one that was distinctly Japanese. She was lying on what appeared to be a futon and the blanket covering her was warm, very much so. Looking around at the room she was in there didn't appear to be anyone nearby, just a relatively empty room. Checking herself over, she noticed that her prana had been replenished some and the curse she had received from her old Master was no longer affecting her. She was still disappearing but that was no longer an immediate concern, it would take a couple of days before she would disappear as long as she conserved her energy. It was more than enough time for her to reach Mount Enzou and the magic leyline.

But that brought up a question, several of them actually. How was she alive? She was certain that she'd been about to die trudging up that accursed mountain towards the temple that sat on the leyline, the rain pelting down on her with every step she'd took until she'd finally collapsed. She vaguely recalled hearing someone say something to her at the end before it all went dark but couldn't remember who had spoken. Had whoever it was saved her?

If so that raised more questions, ones that she was unsure if she wanted to know the answer too. Who was it that saved her? Why did whoever it was save her to begin with? How did they save her? She knew that no normal person could have possibly done anything for her yet here she was, still very much alive. Was it a Magus? Another Master perhaps? But that made even less sense, after all, why would another Master save her?

She heard the door to her left slide open and looked up in surprise. It was a boy—a young man—with red hair and dressed in modern civilian clothes. He was carrying a tray full of Japanese food in his hands and a blue towel under his arm. He stopped in surprise when he saw her awake and blinked twice, probably to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Was this boy a Magus? He certainly didn't feel like one, in fact, he looked like a regular normal human but she could tell that he was something else. Caster didn't know what to think as she looked up at the redhead standing before her.

"Hello," the redhead said with a nervous look. "My name is Emiya Shirou; it's good to see that you're awake. I thought you weren't going to make it for a second there…"

"What are you?" Caster asked with narrowed eyes. "I know you are not human, I can feel it."

"I'm a devil," Shirou answered honestly.

"…Why did you save me?" Caster asked the question.

While it was true that he had apparently saved her, she was still wary of his intentions and the distinctive inhuman aura surrounding him certainly didn't help. Still, in her weakened state she wasn't sure if she could take him, especially at this distance. Her only close-range weapon was her Noble Phantasm Rulebreaker and that would require too much energy to manifest. She didn't even have enough prana at the moment to conjure a Dragon Tooth Warrior never mind her spells.

"I don't need a reason to save someone," Shirou answered simply.

That was it…

The answer he'd been searching for all this time…

He was someone who wanted to save everyone he cared about, but that didn't mean he was just going to do nothing when he saw someone dying in front of him. He hadn't known what it meant to truly save someone and still didn't, not really. Still, he now had an answer, at least partially. He'd saved this woman's life because she was dying, and yet was she really saved? Vividly he recalled another scene like the one he had found her in, collapsed on the ground as the rain fell down, waiting to die.

It wasn't the same…

But it was close enough…

"What do you want?" Caster questioned further.

She was willing to give him a chance considering he had saved her life…

"Nothing," Shirou replied honestly.

"…What?" Caster asked confused.

He'd saved her life and didn't want anything in return? Why? Humans didn't do anything for free so why would he? Even gods—especially gods—didn't lower themselves to helping out another without asking for something in return. Who was this boy to not want anything from her for saving her life? Was he an idiot? A devil he called himself, weren't devils supposed to want something for their services? Damn it, this was confusing and not something she wanted deal with at the moment.

She already felt the headache coming on…

"I don't want anything from you," Shirou explained. "I didn't save you for any kind of reward; I saved you because it was the right thing to do."

Caster simply stared at him…

Yes…

This boy was definitely an idiot…

"You're a fool," Caster told him.

Now she felt the headache hit her…

"…Are you hungry?" Shirou inquired after a moment.

"…Yes," Caster nodded in reply.

"Let's get something to eat."

Human World
Japan: Fuyuki
Matou Mansion

Matou Shinji walked quietly through the dark western style manor that had been his home for the last ten years, his footsteps echoing throughout the corridor with each step. The mansion was dark and dreary with an almost haunted feeling. It wasn't a nice place to live but to him it was home all the same, despite having to deal with Zouken and Sakura. The latter usually kept to herself by staying out of the way while the former spent most of his time locked away in his workshop in the basement below the manor.

He knew that he was a disposable tool to Zouken and the only reason he hadn't been fed to the worms was because the old bastard wantin a pawn to fight for him. He had been lucky having somehow manifested Magic Circuits at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War and Zouken had chosen to train him up to be a weapon. He was useless at all forms of Magecraft though, and Zouken had given up on him long ago. Still, since he had Magic Circuits it was possible for him to become a Master in this new Holy Grail War. With Shinji under his command and Sakura acting as the war's Lesser Grail, Zouken actually had a good chance of winning the Holy Grail.

Of course Shinji had no intention of letting that happen…

Shinji had his own plan and he would see it through no matter what the cost. Even though Zouken had trained him, the old bastard was a monster that Shinji couldn't stand, not to mention that she had taken his rightful place as heir of the Matou family despite him having Magic Circuits within him. He was willing to play along for now but once the Grail War started Shinji planned on betraying him and taking the Holy Grail for himself. He would then use it to free himself from Zouken's clutches and become the head of the Matou family. Zouken had made him into a weapon, and as a weapon his sole purpose was to be wielded. He was a slave to Zouken's will at the moment and would continue to be unless he killed the old Magus. He could try running away, but what good would that do? If he did that then he would hunted down and devoured by worms, and that was something he wouldn't allow to happen.

All he cared about was his own life…

That was enough for him…

He kept walking even as he felt the back of his right hand erupt in pain. Marking started to etch themselves into the back of his hand as blood started to pour out from the wounds. He ignored it, simply continuing on his way to the entrance of the Matou workshop. As he finally arrived at the entrance he looked down at the back of his right hand and wiped away the blood with his sleeve revealing three markings appearing like a dragon's body. He knew what it was; after all he had been expecting it for some time now.

It was a set of Command Sigils…

He descended into the darkened corridor, making sure not to fall down the staircase leading down into the basement below. Oh how he hated this accursed place, the dark dimly lit workshop owned by the Matou family and used primarily by Zouken himself. It wasn't just a workshop, it was an armoury filled with hundreds—thousands—of worms that Zouken had gathered over the years. Each one was dangerous on its own but together they could swarm over most other Magi and devour them.

Shinji descended the stairs and emerged into a large open chamber that was dimply lit with a green light. He stepped down onto the platform overlooking the chamber and stared down into the abyss. In the center of the room was a pit of worms, a pit that Sakura was forced to frequent at least once a week in order to better synchronize the worms within her properly with Zouken himself. Thankfully her next 'session' wasn't scheduled for another couple of days, and if he had his way Shinji would never let her go back into that pit ever again.

Speaking of which…

Sakura stood at the edge of the pit opposite Zouken clutching her left hand which had clearly been bleeding judging by the pool of blood on the floor beside her. Shinji didn't say a word as he descended down to the floor below and walked up side his adopted sister. The moment he did so the worms in the pit started moving out and into the holes that dotted the walls, no doubt going back into hibernation. Their exodus revealed three green magic circles drawn on the stood floor in the center of the now empty pit.

"So it's finally time," Zouken mused. "You have both become Masters as I expected you would."

'Grandfather…' Shinji thought as he stared blankly at the old man.

"I have procured two artefacts for you both to use," Zouken continued as a few of his worms came out from one of the holes along the wall and deposited two items beside them. One looked like a regular piece of wood and the other appeared to be a mirror of some kind. "These will be the catalysts you will use to summon your Servants."

"…When do we start?" Shinji asked the question.

"Right now," Zouken answered plainly.

Shinji and Sakura looked at each other before nodding and crouching down to pick up the artefacts. They descended into the pit and placed the two down on two of the three magic circles before climbing back out. Sakura had raised her left hand towards the magic circle with the piece of wood resting in it while Shinji raised his right hand towards the one with the mirror in it. Finally Zouken raised his hand towards the still empty magic circle and together they began.

"Silver and iron to the origin, gem and the archduke to the cornerstone. The ancestor is my great master Schweinorg," they chanted and the magic circles lit up with a green light. "Shut (fill), shut (fill), shut (fill), shut (fill), shut (fill), repeat five times, simply shatter once filled. I announce, yourself is under me, my fate (doom) is in your sword. In accordance with the approach of the Holy Grail, if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer. Here is my oath, I am the one who becomes all the good in the world of the dead, I am the one who lays out all the evils in the world of the dead. You, seven heavens clad in three words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, oh keeper of the balance!"

The magic circles exploded with light and wind which consumed everything it touched. It lasted for several seconds before the wind died down and the light dimmed revealing three figures standing in the pit atop the magic circles. One was a woman with light blond hair and black armour encasing her form lined in red. Her eyes opened revealing their yellow colour as a sword appeared in her hand, obsidian black in colour and covered in crimson runes. The second figure was another woman, this one always dressed in black only it was a much tighter outfit and less protective. She was tall with purple hair and had a blindfold over her eyes. Finally the last figure was a man dressed in black with his right arm wrapped in bandages and wearing a white skull mask.

"Servant Saber," the first woman started. "Upon your summoning I have come forth, now I ask, are you my Master?"

"Servant Rider," the second woman continued. "I have heard your call, now I shall ask, which one of you is my Master?"

"Servant Assassin," the lone man finished. "I have answered your summons, now I will ask, who is my Master?"

"I am," Zouken was the one who answered. "Though Saber and Rider have been summoned by my grandchildren, you will all obey my commands."

"…And you are?" Saber asked finally.

"Matou Zouken," the old Magus replied. "Your first order is to familiarize yourselves and prepare for the coming battles."

"What's the plan?" Assassin inquired further.

"When morning comes, we're going after the Einzbern family's Lesser Grail."

Human World
Japan: Fuyuki
Emiya Residence

Medea had never tasted anything so good in her entire life, not even at the finest of a king's feasts, and certainly not after disappearing from the world at large. However this was clearly the work of a devil because there was no way this food had been made with mundane hands, not with how it was affecting her so much. The redhead was certainly a good cook if nothing else, though she still had reservations regarding him.

"Thank you for the food," Caster said as she placed the now empty bowl down on the table. "Though Servants do not get any real substance from meals, I do enjoy a good meal when it comes along."

"If you're still hungry there's some more food in the fridge," Shirou offered.

"No thank you," Caster waved him off. "I'm full for now."

Shirou nodded and started clearing the table, picking up the empty plates and bowls. He took them into the kitchen and placed them down on the counter. Caster stood up from her seat at the table and walked over to help him, carrying a few more plates in her hands. Once they were all on the counter, Shirou started washing and drying them one after another. Finally he put the last plate down, now fully clean again, and turned back to the table. Caster had already sat back down and was watching the TV in the corner of the room. Shirou sighed as he sat down and turned the TV off.

"So," Shirou started. "What are your plans?"

"…I still intend to win the Holy Grail," Caster answered finally.

There was no way that she was giving up the chance to claim the Holy Grail despite not having a wish for herself. With the Holy Grail's power she could finally attain the peace that she sought, or at least that was what she was hoping for. Though she didn't consciously know it at the time, what she really yearned for was a home to call her own, like that distant memory of her standing on that beach back in her homeland so long ago.

"I'll help you," Shirou said simply.

"What?" Caster asked confused. "You would help me, just like that?"

"Yes," Shirou nodded.

"Why?" Caster questioned further.

"I don't think it's wrong to help someone," Shirou replied with a knowing smile. "Besides, I'm a Master without a Servant, and I intend to fight too."

"Why?" Caster asked again. "You could just give up your Command Sigils and flee, so why would you go so far? Is it for the Grail? Do you want it that badly?"

Shirou paused for a moment to consider her words and closed his eyes as he remembered. The fire, the one caused by Angra Mainyu, the dark god that even now probably still resided within the Holy Grail. He remembered the flames, the destruction, and the dying people all around him. He remembered walking through that nightmare and finally laying down to die when the rain started to fall. Finally he remembered looking up at his father's face and being saved when others hadn't been.

"Ten years ago at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War there was a fire," Shirou began. "I was there when it happened, and I was saved that day. I promised myself that I would save others, and if I walk away now I'll never be able to forgive myself for not at least trying to save the people I care about in this city. Ten years ago I couldn't do anything, but that's not the case this time."

"A fire?" Caster asked confused.

"My father won the Fourth Holy Grail War," Shirou explained. "However he discovered that the Holy Grail was corrupted at the end of the Third War when a Servant under the Avenger class was summoned, it was a dark god called Angra Mainyu. It was weak but when it died, its soul corrupted the Holy Grail and made it so that any wish it grants can only result in mass destruction and death."

He wasn't lying Caster realised, she'd grown used to lying herself and knew how to tell when someone else was lying to her. If what the redhead was saying was true then even if she won the Holy Grail it would probably bring about a disaster on a global scale given the magic involved in its creation. Still, perhaps if she could isolate it then she might be able to find a way to purify it and eradicate the corruption given some time.

But to do that she first needed to win the war…

And for that she needed a Master…

"Will you become my Master?" Caster asked him. Shirou froze at the question and sighed, calming himself down. He knew that this might happen when he saved her last night and brought her back to his place. She was a Servant and required a lot of prana to maintain herself so she needed a proper Master to power her form.

And he had been planning to summon a Servant anyways…

"Alright," Shirou nodded in agreement. "Let's go to my workshop and forge the contract."

Caster nodded and the two of them stood up from the table. The redhead led the way, sliding the living room door open and stepping out into the corridor with Caster following close behind. She didn't trust him completely but he seemed like an honest young man and was willing to give him a chance considering he'd saved her life. If at a later time he proved to be as horrible as her previous Master, she would just use Rulebreaker on herself again and break their contract like she'd done with Atram.

She followed Shirou out into the courtyard and across it towards the shed at the back of the property. He slid the door open, making sure to alter the Bounded Fields in place so that they didn't trigger the defences as Caster approached. Shirou entered first and she followed him inside a moment later. He closed the door behind them and locked it, sealing off the shed from the outside world. Caster looked around at the shed-workshop that the redhead boy had created and saw that it was much different than Atram's had been. There was a magic circle in the center with boxes filled with notes surrounding it as well as dozens of discarded objects littering the place, each one of them prana constructs that she could easily identify as being made through Projection Magecraft.

So this was his workshop…

"You have an interesting workshop," Caster commented as she walked forward and stood in the center of the magic circle.

"Thank you," Shirou said as he raised his hand towards her. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Caster nodded as the magic circle lit up under her.

"I hereby announce, thou shalt fall under my command and they sword shall control my fate. Abiding by the call of the Holy Grail," Shirou chanted as his Command Sigils lit up with a dull crimson light. "If yee accedes to this will then answer me! I swear that I am all that is good in the eternal world! I swear that I am the vanquisher of all the evils in the world! Thee, clad in the great trinity, obey my will Guardian of the Heavens!"

"I accept your oath under the name of Caster," the purple-haired Servant declared as the contract was made. "I shall accept you as my Master, Emiya Shirou."

The air around Caster exploded with a dull red light as electricity sparked all around her, the room suddenly becoming a lot brighter because of it. The wind spun around her as prana covered her form, condensing into a shroud of protective energy. Finally after a few seconds the light and wind died down leaving Caster standing in the middle of it, her cloak waving slightly to the side. She stood there as the prana disappeared and the light from the magic circle died down completely.

The contract had been forged…

"It's done," Shirou sighed in relief as he felt his prana flowing through the connection they now had. He'd originally used Avalon as a way to send her his prana earlier but he had taken it back once she was out of danger the previous night. Now that they had a contract he was able to freely transfer his prana to her in order to sustain her and bring her back up to full strength.

"…So what now?" Caster inquired.

"Now we rest," Shirou replied. "There's somewhere I want to go tomorrow."

"Where?" Caster asked the question.

"Einzbern Castle on the outskirts of town," Shirou answered with a knowing look. "If a Grail War has started, then the Einzberns will have sent a representative to fight. The Einzbern Master for this war will probably be Illya or Chloe."

Illyasviel von Einzbern…

Chloe von Einzbern…

His sisters…

Author's Notes:

Here is chapter 7 and Shirou finally has a Servant to fight alongside. As you can see Caster and Shirou are now contracted to each other after talking things out between them. On the other the Matou family are on the move having summoned not one but three Servants with Zouken, Sakura and Shinji all being Masters. I know that Shinji doesn't have Magic Circuits in canon but this Shinji manifested them after the end of the last Grail War and is more along the lines of the Fate-Extra Shinji.

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See Ya Later…