*Half a year before the 4th Holy Grail War*
Yuriko Hashimoto was a 39 year old woman, whos goal was to reach the Akasha, the root of all knowledge. It was actually Hashimoto clan goal to reach the root since the clan's birth. The clan had tried all different ways to reach the root but there was only one way for them to do it, to win the Fuyuki Grail War.
That's why Yuriko was in Fuyuki, making preparations for the war. Her first stop was Tohsaka residence. The Tohsaka and Hashimoto were old allies, who both wanted to reach to the root. Yuriko was hoping they could team up to destroy the other masters then they would battle for the Grail. It didn't matter which one of them won, as long as one of them could reach the root.
Yuriko looked at herself in the mirror again before she left the hotel. She smoothed out her white dress then fiddled with the 3/4 length sleeves. Stroking her raven black hair then making sure the large clip was tightly held in place. Then she met her own crimson brown eyes in the mirror.
"You can do this Yuriko. Make the Clan proud," She encourage herself.
Now she was ready, she grabbed her blazer and handbag as she exited the hotel room.
Taking a taxi to south Miyama town. She had made the journey to Tohsaka residence a thousand times, but it didn't stop her heart from pounding because importance of her visit.
Knocking on the wooden door of the Tohsaka house brought a strange sense of peace to Yuriko. Aoi, Tokiomi's beautiful wife opened the door.
"Oh, hello Yuriko" Aoi greeted as she let Yuriko in.
"Hello Aoi. Sorry for visiting without notice," Yuriko apologize.
"No, it's fine," Aoi told her.
Rin popped her head out of one of the rooms near the door.
"Yuriko!" She came dashing out of the room to hug the older woman.
"Hello Rin," Yuriko chuckled, returning the hug as well as stroking the child's hair.
Looking up at Yuriko, Rin tilted her head.
"Why are you here?" She curiously asked, thou it did come off a bit rude.
"Rin!" Aoi went to tell off her but Yuriko stopped her.
"It's alright Aoi," Yuriko smiled at her. "I am here to see your father," She told the curious child.
"He's up in his study, perparing for the next war," Aoi told her. "I'll go and tell him that you're here," She went on ahead of Yuriko.
Rin detach herself from Yuriko. They took each other's hand then followed after Aoi. Rin told Yuriko about all the new things she had learnt on they way to her father's study.
When they arrived at the study, Aoi was holding the door opened for them. Tokiomi was standing up from his desk to greet his guest.
"Yuriko, it's nice to see you again," He greeted her with a handshake.
"It's nice to see you again too, Tokiomi," Yuriko greeted back, letting go off Rin's hand to shakes Tokiomi's.
"So, what brings you all the way to Fuyuki?" Tokiomi asked after the handshake.
"Important business," Yuriko told him, looking down at Rin who was staring back.
"Rin go with your mother," Tokiomi told her.
Rin pouted before muttering 'fine'. Aoi whisked Rin away to another part of the house. Tokiomi gestured for Yuriko to take a seat on the couch behind her. Both took a seat on opposite couches to each other.
"Hashimoto clan has tried all but one ideas to reach the root," Yuriko started off the conversation.
"To use the Grail to reach the root," Tokiomi guessed.
"Yes," she confess. "The elders would like me to win the Grail for them. And I thought the best way to win the war was to team up with you, since our goal is one in the same,"
"I see," Tokiomi mumbled to himself. "It's logical. To choose one of the three founding families of the Grail War to form an alliance was the best choice, and our families have been allies for centuries,"
Yuriko nodded at his statement.
"Its doesn't matter which one of us wins, as long as one of us can makes it to the root it's fine with me," Yuriko told him.
Tokiomi nodded, his mind was made up. He could have both Kirie and Yuriko fight for him in the war then each other. Who ever won he would battle and defeat then claim the Grail for the Tohsaka.
"I agree to your alliance in the Grail War," he told her, shaking hands once more. "If I may ask, what servant are you planning to summon in the war?" He inquired.
"I was hoping to summon a Caster. The most famous one of them all," she told him.
Tokiomi's eyes widern. She wasn't thinking about summoning him.
"Yes, I'm going to summon Merlin. The wise wizard that helped King Arthur,"
"I assume you have the perfect catalyst?" Tokiomi asked.
"Yes. It's a jewel that once belong to him, he was quited fond of it. It's been ship to me as we speak," Yuriko informed him. "What about you? Who will you be summoning?"
"A legend among legends, the King of Heros, Gilgamesh," He told her. The look of surprise was clear on ravenette's face. "And like you I have found the perfect catalyst to summon him,"
Nodding to him, Yuriko stood up.
"I see we have everything sorted here. I must be going. I have a lot of things to be doing before I can summon my servant. Hashimoto house has fallen into disrepair during our time away from Fuyuki. I must see to it's repairs," Yuriko informed Tokiomi, leaving him to his thoughts. " I will contact you when my catalyst has arrived," She said as she left the room, going to say goodbye to Aoi and Rin before she left the house.
Now alone, Tokiomi had time to think about what to do. The first thing was to inform Risei and Kirie about the change of plan. Then he would need to introduce them to Yuriko. He would then give some information to Yuriko about the other masters. This Grail war was going to be intresting.
Half a year has passed since the day Yuriko made her alliance with Tokiomi. He had introduce Yuriko to Father Risei, the Supervisor for the 4th Grail War and his son, Kirie, another master in the Grail War. The four of them had discuss the plan for the war.
Yuriko's catalyst to summon Merlin had arrived a week after she arrived in Fuyuki. Tokiomi asked her to leave the summoning until he had summon Gilgamesh.
Now the time had come. Tokiomi had just summon the King of Heros, who was less then reluctant to help them.
It was now time for Yuriko to summon Merlin. Everyone was gathered in the underground workshop at Hashimoto house. Yuriko had already set up the magic circle for the ritual. She now was standing ready to begin the summoning ritual.
"So, who is this mongrel I'll be working with?" Gilgamesh questioned.
He was leaning on the wall behind everyone else, dressed in his golden armour looking utterly bored.
"I will be summoning magus called Merlin," Yuriko told him. "He's considered one of the most powerful magus in history," she added on.
Yuriko turned away from everyone, ready to begin the ritual. Her eyes met the sapphire on the small table on opposited side of the circle. The small oval sapphire according to her research, it was once apart of a pendant that Merlin used to where all the time.
Yuriko took a deep breath before starting the ritual.
"Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill. Repeat five times but when each is filled, destroy it," Yuriko started off quitely, slowly getting louder as she got further in. "Set," the circle started to glow once she said it. "Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason, then answer me. I here by swear that I shall be the good in the I shall defeat all evil in the seven heavens, clad in the three great words of power come forth from the circle of binding. Guardin of the scales!"
The light from the circle filled the room. When it faded away, shocked filled everyone. Standing in middle of the circle was no man but a young woman, no older then 21.
The woman had white hair with lavender hue. Her hair fell around her hips, the right-hand side was plaited while the rest was left down. Her bangs were neatly cut above her bright yellow topaz eyes. Her clothes were a mix between ancient and modern. The shirt was styled to look like a medieval tunic with a mandarin collar. The tunic's sholders had been cut out and shaped into a oval, with silver fabric lining it. The sleeves fanned out until it reach pass the elbow. The tunic was a pale turquoise colour. Around her waist was a thick leather belt. She also wore a pair of skinny jeans tucked into a pair of brown hiking boots. Around her neck was a white lace choker with a blue jewel in the centre.
The woman stared at them, probably wondering who they were.
"What is your class and who are you?" Yuriko questioned her.
"I am Matilda Ambrosius and I've been summoned in the Caster class," she told them.
Yuriko had gotten a Caster but not the one she wanted. She had no idea what this woman abilities were or what magic she practiced.
"Well, isn't this not interesting," Gilgamesh piped up.