This chapter is longer than usual. There is going to be a lot of background info in this chapter mainly because I want to get to the war as soon as possible. It's almost been a year since I started this story and I still ain't there. So, here we go.
Chapter 6
Matou Byakuya sat stiffly on the couch. He hoped the news would be good. Again, he hoped that the priests would tell him that they managed to locate and exterminate the old worm form good. God knows he deserved it. Not just for what he did to him, but for what he did to his family, what he would do to his son… what he did to his wife. Matou Zouken deserved it. Byakuya would not loose any sleep for betraying him, but he would loose sleep for knowing he was still out there. The priests did promise however that Zouken would not be returning anytime soon, and that was some comfort. He also heard that the Mage Association had branded him a criminal, so he will seek no refuge from any magus who does not want the association and the Church after them. He would be on the run for the rest of his life, and Byakuya very much doubt the old man would be foolish enough to come back to Fuyuki, especially in his condition. Not for petty vengeance against him. He knew his ancestor's activities well enough that he would not risk it in his condition. No, Byakuya was safe for the time being, and because of his actions, he had the protection of the Church.
In the office that once belonged to Tohsaka Tokiomi, Father Hansa Cervantes and Father Kotomine Kirei just finished delivering the news that their efforts to find the rogue magus had once again proven fruitless. It's been over a week since the search commenced, and there had not been a trace of the old man. Byakuya's knowledge of the old man's habits and the secret bases known to him were helpful, but ultimately led nowhere. They were able to find clues to where he had gone, but it all led to a dead end. What they did manage to determine was that he was not in Fuyuki anymore.
"The old man is slippier than we anticipated." Hansa observed.
"He is a long lived magus." Kirei explained. "It would be a mistake to underestimate him. Well, for at the very least we managed to clear away all, if not most of his familiars located around Fuyuki, especially those within the girl. How successful was her purification by the way?"
"A complete success." Cervantes explained. "The worms have been completely purged from her body, so the old man can no longer use her. You did well to sedate them during the confrontation, Matou Byakuya."
"T-Thank you, Father Hansa." Byakuya replied hesitantly.
"Well," Hansa said shifting in place. "I think I will be joining Father Sancraid. He and fellow Executors will be meeting members of the Mage Association regarding how to best handle the search for the elder Matou, as well as travel plans for the younger one."
Byakuya perked at that. "Travel plans?"
"Sakura's travel plans." Hansa explained.
Byakuya remembered. Father Hansa will be taking Sakura to Vatican City for further treatment and mental healing. His hopes were that whatever unholy thing Zouken did to Sakura would be further eradicated and that whatever trauma was done to the girl would be treated. Honestly, he was less concerned about that and more concerned about protection from the Church. He did not hold illusions that they would stay around forever, but he did not expect the Executor to leave so soon.
"Worry not, because of your cooperation, you will be protected by the Church and God's grace." Father Kirei explained. "Know that I will be in charge of protecting you, and under my watch, you will not be harmed by Matou Zouken. You have my word."
"Thank you Father." A relieved Byakuya thanked feeling reassured.
"Now then, I will take my leave." Hansa said with a bow. With a final bow of acknowledgement, he left the office, shutting the door behind him.
Kirei walked to the window and watched his fellow member of the Assembly of the Eighth Sacrament walk out of the front door and towards the front gate. When he was satisfied with the distance of the other priest, Kirei made up his mind and turned to the other man who shifted once again uncomfortably in his chair.
"It must have been quite the ordeal for you." Kirei said in a sympathetic voice walking past the blue haired man. "Living with such a monster all your life, forced to follow the rules of a man who clearly saw his own family as either toys for his own amusement or test subjects to be used and thrown away."
Byakuya swallowed. "It was a… difficult life." He agreed.
"Your son and daughter are truly are blessed," Kirei commented. "To have a man such as yourself to finally rise up and speak out against that appalling human being."
"I'm just… sorry I did it so late." Byakuya said nervously.
"We are but human" Kirei commented. "And though it took you so long, you finally confessed the truth and saved that girl, and possibly your own son, from the fangs of a truly horrific man. And for that, I am sure God is smiling down on you for being so wiling to reveal the truth of your own free will." Again, Byakuya shifted uncomfortably. "What is, wrong my son?"
"What do you mean?"
"You seem nervous, almost as if you are keeping something hidden."
Byakuya began to break out in a cold sweat. He averted his eyes, facing the window. "N-No, I'm not hiding anything."
"Are you sure?" Asked the priest.
Suddenly, a clicking sound echoed throughout the room. Byakuya turned towards the origin of the sound and saw the large frame of the priest in front of the only exit to the study. Kirei's hand came down from the latch that had just locked the door slowly and deliberately as if he was making a production of it. That cold sweat broke out more apparent than before as the priest turned around and looked at him with cold calculating eyes. Gone were the eyes of the friendly man who assured him everything would be fine. Now what was staring at him was not a man at all, but a being that looked like he was trying to find the best way to surgically open him up.
"Now oh lost lamb of God." The priest said as he approached the fretful man. "What could it be you are hiding?"
"Wh-What are… I…" Byakuya tried to get out as he crawled backwards onto the other side of the couch. "I told you… I…"
"You and I both know you did not willingly betray Zouken, at least not without some…shall we call it… incentive?" Kirei interrupted. He knew the truth. He at first suspected it was some kind of power struggle within the Matou family, but the more he learned of Matou Byakuya, the closer he came to the conclusion he could not have betrayed Zouken willingly, not without an outside force guiding him or giving him the material or magical tools needed to succeed. He started suspecting it when the old worm suddenly burst into laughter during their initial confrontation, and further investigation proved his own hypothesis true. He truly was a spineless worm. He just traded licking Zouken's boots for someone else's. Kirei needed to know whose, and now seemed like an excellent opportunity while he had the chance to investigate.
Byakuya tried to back away further, but managed to fall off the couch and land on his bandaged hand. He yelped in pain, grasping his hand in a vain attempt to relieve the pain. Byakuya's train of thought momentarily left the priest as he nursed his wound, but just as suddenly changed back to the large man as his wide shadow covering him like a dark cloud blocking the sun. The frightened man looked up to once again to see the piercing eyes of Kotomine Kirei looking down at him.
"Y-You're supposed to…" He began.
"Protect you from Zouken." Kirei interrupted. "And I plan to do so. Zouken shall not harm you." He put emphasis on each word. He made his not so veiled intentions clear. Zouken would not harm him. He made no promise he himself wouldn't.
"But…" Byakuya protested. It was all he could do. How did this happen? What did it mean? Wait… could this be what that accursed woman meant when she gave him that message?
"Now, " Kirei said kneeling down to the panicking man's level. "Tell me my friend. What is it that you are hiding?"
The young girl arrived in her father's study. The young blond haired girl approached the man with the grace of someone of her standing. With a delicate curtsey, she addressed her beloved father with the respect he deserved and the love she wished to express.
"Good morning, father. You wished to see me?"
"Good morning my dear daughter." The gentleman greeted the young girl. He reclined in his large chair like the gentleman he was and addressed his daughter in a business like tone, yet with the same regal affection of a father addressing his heir with the unspoken affection only the child can truly sense. "There is something I wish to discus with you. Some new information has come into the family's hands and I wish to use it to the best of our abilities, and by that, I mean the best of yours."
"Mine, father?" questioned the girl.
"Yes." Confirmed the family head. "I believe this is the perfect opportunity for you to take back the honor that was lost from us so long ago, while at the same time, spreading your wings and educating yourself in new and exciting ways. You are at that age when your talents are beginning to take shape. I advise you to take advantage of this new opportunity."
"Opportunity?" the girl repeated. "Do you wish for me to take a new hobby, father?"
"Of a sort." The man confirmed. "Allow me to explain."
And so the older man explained. He went over information the girl already knew and what the girl should know for the future. Afterward, he went over what he would like for her to do and what she should prepare for. The conversation was long, detailed, and a very insightful one. When it was completed, he questioned the girl if there was anything she would like him to go over again. When she confirmed there was nothing more, he sympathetically knelt forward and with an air of melancholy sighed.
"I am sorry to push this onto you at such a young age my child." The gentleman apologized. "But understand, when we reclaim our honor, I don't want the naysayers to claim it was an adult stealing from a child. Therefore, it will be your duty to challenge the last Tohsaka and restore the family honor. What say you my child. Will you go to Fuyuki and undertake this challenge?"
The young girl considered this for a few moments. She grew up hearing many stories of the scheming Tohsakas and how they deceived their family. She heard how they killed one of the sisters, though now that the new information has been brought to light, she was now led to a different conclusion. Thievery. The Tohsakas were thieves who stole from her family, and that could not be forgiven. Of course she could not let her father sully his hands by fighting a mere child. But of course with the head of the Tohsaka family deceased, that only left the single Tohsaka heir left to obtain revenge on, but to seek vengeance on a mere child was far beneath a gentleman of her father's caliber to soil his hands. This had to be the girl's duty, one heir to one heir. She would carry the burden of her family and restore the honor her grandmother and great aunt lost all those decades ago.
"Worry not my dear Father." The girl exclaimed with confidence. "For I, Luviagelita Edelfelt shall take it upon myself to travel east and claim the land that belongs to the Tohsakas for myself. I shall start with what the Mage Association will offer, but I promise you, I will have it all, and eventually, I will have everything of theirs as well. "
"Excellent, my dear Luvia." The man jovially exclaimed. "As expected from my daughter to take on a new challenge head on.
"Oh course, father." The girl, Luvia said with all the air and dignity her title presented. "I am not afraid to try something new. If I can humiliate the ones who wronged out family so long ago in the process, it will only be further satisfying."
"Such a spirited child I have. Come, celebrate with me my daughter."
"Yes father, I shall."
"Bahahahahaha" the father bellowed in a well-spirited laughter.
"Oooohohohoho" the daughter followed in the manner of a noble lady.
Laughter filled the room as father and daughter bonded through laughter.
"She will be here soon." Kotomine Kirei stated as he looked out the window. Hearing a grumbling. He turned around and saw the twin tailed form of Tohsaka Rin, her face buried in the couch of her father's study, trying her hardest to not look at the man she deemed a 'traitor to her father' for going along with the whole ordeal. He sighed with pity. It seemed as though no matter how many times he explained it to her, she just refuses to accept the truth. "Rin, it's going to happen regardless. You may as well accept it and move one."
"I don't want to." She stubbornly said. "It's dumb." As if that settled the matter.
She must be upset if she's acting her age. "I'm afraid whether it's 'dumb' or not is not the issue." Kirei said. He thought for a moment trying his best to decide how to word what he was about to say. "It's more of a matter of your father…" he paused for a moment as Rin raised her head from the couch and glared at him. The stare and its meaning was obvious. It was saying 'be careful with what you say next.' She need not worry. He had every intention of doing just that. "He made some… mistakes. And those mistake were some that… certain people could not ignore." He paused once more to let that sink in. "I'm sorry, Rin. Your father would not have wanted you to inherit the consequences for his mistakes, but sometimes that how it is in the world."
Rin looked away, angered by the unfairness of it all. How could this be happening? First her father's death, then her mother's mental break down, now this? "Father couldn't have known!" The young Tohsaka Rin exclaimed in an attempt to defend her late parent. "He would have never given Sakura to that monster if he knew what he was doing, what he would do."
At this point, she had a general idea about what had been going on. The past several weeks of visits from Church and Mage Association officials as well as Tohsaka Tokiomi's own former business partners and allies made sure of that. The investigators had enough sense to spare the child of too many details, so they did not go into specifics of the 'training methods' of the Matou family. But she does know that Sakura was put through 'torturous' training and that she was made into a test subject for blasphemous experiments. That much was made clear at the very least.
"I know child." Kirei said in an attempt to placate the young girl. "And anyone who knew your father knows that as well. Matou Zouken was just too crafty. He lived a long, and knew ways to sweet talk your father into giving him what he wanted."
"But why does my family have to lose its position as the Second Owner because of it?" Rin asked. "It was that man who did bad things. He's the heretic who made Sakura suffer, not father!"
"While you are correct, I'm afraid it is more complicated than that." Kirei explained. "True, many people feel as though your father should have done his duties better, but what followed also harmed the Tohsaka family."
The problem was it was not just the scandal with Matou Zouken that caused the uproar, but a whole series of scandals that soon followed. As it turned out someone managed to leak several documents of the Tohsaka household. The documents that were leaked were ones kept within the Tohsaka residence, holding sensitive information of the political machinations of the Tohsaka family, and one of the biggest political blunders one can make is letting one's political opponents, and sometimes political allies, get ahold of sensitive information. In this case however, much of the sensitive information his late teacher would have preferred kept secret was now sent out to many of his political opponents.
A shame too, if Tohsaka Rin ever became savvy enough to play the political field, she may have used these connections later in life. Now it appears that those connections would be irrepealably severed. Kirei would have pitied the girl, if pity were a feeling he understood. Well, she was a clever girl. He was sure she would pull through somehow. Maybe this would be a good learning experience for her, a way to teach her to lead a more humble life.
"Fear not, child." Kirei comforted. "The Mage Association has not revoked your right as the Second Owner, not really. They just feel as though the Tohsaka family has become… lax in their handling of the land."
"You mean we're neglecting the land?" Rin translated using the word she had been hearing the adults around her use when they thought she wasn't listening. "Because we associate with people like Matou Zouken and can't keep secrets, we can't take care of the land?"
"Now," Kirei said in a calming voice. "It's not like that at all. It's just that with times being as they are, the Mage Association needs to feel like the land needs proper care. It is their land after all, and they need to be sure that it is being treated the correct way. That is the duty of the Second Owner."
"And they think I can't do anything because I'm a Tohsaka?"
"Because..." Kirei said cautiously choosing his word. "… They feel the Tohsaka way no longer works. They want to try a different direction. Call it an experiment. You will still be the Second Owner, it's just that you will be… sharing the title."
She shuttered at that. Magi did not like to share. Rin in particular did not like the idea of sharing the title of Second Owner, a title that was hers by birthright, with another Magus.
"What do you mean, 'sharing the title?'" Rin asked bitterly.
"Exactly as I said." Kirei explained. "You will get a piece of Fuyuki, and another family will get a piece. If there is a situation that involves Fuyuki as a whole, both Land Owners will get together and discuss things civilly."
"You expect me to be civil with usurpers?" Rin exclaimed.
Kirei continued as if he did not hear her. "The family that is interested in the territory will have their own heir live here for some time and perform the duties of a Second Owner. They will act as your equal and with their help; you both will perform the duties necessary. I actually think it will be an interesting learning experience for both of you."
"Am I supposed to work with some old man as an equal?"
"Oh no." Kirei said. "The representative they have in mind will be your age."
"My age?" Rin questioned.
"Apparently they are intrigued by the idea of becoming official Second Owners in the future and wish to expand their own hold by managing land which is of value to the Mage Association. They feel as though this is a good first step in that direction. Whether or not this is a permanent arrangement remains to be seen, but the family want their daughter to be sent here as the other Second Owner to learn and affectively maintain it."
"Daughter." Rin repeated. "So it's a girl my age."
"Indeed." Kirei stated. "It must be comforting for you to have a female peer your age."
"But why go through all this?" Rin asked. "Why not send an adult?"
"Maybe they just don't want to give the impression they are picking on a child." Kirei suggested. Rin, though insulted, understood the logic behind it. It would probably be politically damaging to steal from a child. "This goes without saying, their family does not like yours. They have a point to prove, but they still have a sense of dignity. Having their own child take you on and defeat you on even grounds would certainly give them a more satisfying victory than having an adult come in and bully a child into submission. Personally, I don't even think the family is all too interested in the land to begin with. I just think they want to correct the wrong that was done to them so long ago by your ancestors."
"If that's the case, than I can face them in a magic duel at any time." Rin exclaimed with bravado.
"And you think that will satisfy them? No, the family wants revenge, and the best way they can get it is by taking away what you value. After all, in their minds, your family took something from them."
"That wasn't proven!" Rin exclaimed.
"Not according to the pedigree."
Rin grunted as she was reminded of the secret pedigree. Supposedly one of the documents that was leaked was a secret pedigree written by her grandfather which stated that her grandmother was apparently related to the family that now thinks they have a claim to title of Second Owner. It was because of that document that the Mage Association is actually considering adding Second Ownership to them.
"And you're actually considering okay with this, Kirei!?" Rin asked, betrayed.
"I owe a lot to your father, and I agreed to watch over you if anything were to happen to you." The priest stated. "However, I am also an impartial observer, a tutor meant to nudge you in the right direction. I will not tell you how to respond to a certain situation or person. I will not express approval or disapproval. My own opinion of matters of magi does not matter. No, I will simply do my best to tutor you as a Second Owner and hope that my best is better than the other girl's tutor. That is all."
Rin simply glared at him. If that was an attempt at making her feel better, it felt hollow and half-baked, just like Kirei himself. "Forget it." Rin pouted getting up from her seat. "How in the world did those stupid documents get out anyway?"
Kirei had his theory. Looking back at the magical pulse bomb incident a few weeks back, he remembered he was in a very big hurry to leave. It never occurred to him to lock up the manor and he spent a good deal of time outside the mansion, fighting Zouken, vainly tracking him down, and investigating his workshop. By the time he got back, over four hours had passed, a four-hour window where anyone with any magical ability could have done anything with any article they found. He did not find anything odd when he returned, but if he checked the fax machine, maybe he would have noticed it was warm when it should have been cold. Soon after, he discovered that the very same documents of the Tohsaka house were circulating among Tohsaka's peers.
"All I can give is theories." Kirei explained.
One in particular found its way to the last family Tohsaka Tokiomi wanted any contact with. That was a secret pedigree that more or less proved who his mother was, if it were taken seriously. And now they were taking it seriously, and they were using it to rob Rin of her inheritance. No, not rob Rin. From what Kirei understood, they planed to assimilate Rin. The Tohsaka took something of theirs; they are simply taking back what was taken away. He theorized that ultimately, they want Rin to become part of their family, whether it is as a branch family member or as a servant, he could not tell, but ultimately, he felt they did want her to become subservient to them. Well, if they could accomplish that, more power to them. Rin was a fighter.
"I suppose there's nothing that can be done about it." Rin sighed.
"Nothing but show them your way works." Kirei suggested. "Remember, the reason for this little project is because they feel as though the Tohsaka way no longer works. If you wish to prove them wrong, I suggest you work hard, and show them exactly what it means to be a Tohsaka. Otherwise, you will have to be second best to some invaders from the west."
Rin once again glared at him. As much of a pain he was, he did make a good point. She could not back out now. She had to fight on, for the sake of the Tohsaka name. This little set back was not going to keep her down.
"Right, I'm not letting anyone beat me." Rin stated with confidence. "Not that family, not anyone."
"By the way, how long are we going to refer to them as 'that family?'" Kirei questioned. After all, it was not like either of them did not know whom the family was they were talking about that was moving in.
"As long as I want to." Rin stubbornly said, refusing to give her new 'partners' the dignity of being named out loud.
"You will be a fiery one when you are older, young Rin." Kirei stated. His attention once again turned towards the window as something caught his eye. "They're here."
Rin groaned in displeasure. "I still don't understand why the family head didn't come himself. Shouldn't he at least come personally to see what he's getting his own daughter into?"
"Apparently he has his own business to take care of elsewhere." Kirei stated. He heard some grumbling from Rin about how apparently the man was 'too good to bother with such menial task' but did not press her on it. "I hear however the representative that will accompany the young ojou-sama is, he is trusted by the family head, so you may consider him the family's mouth piece for the time being." Rin continued to grumble. "I also advise that you restrain some of your animosity. Presenting yourself as a respectable and mature young lady will certainly help show you are more capable of handling the responsibilities of Second Owners than openly defying them."
Again, she grumbled, but straightened herself out. As much as she did not like to admit it, he had a valid point that time. If she was going to chase these foreigners out, she was going to need to show she was a responsible person, and acting like a spoiled brat would not be favorable. "Very well." She said resigned. Let's go meet that… Edelfelt-san, shall we?"
"I believe she would prefer if we refer her as Edelfelt-sama." Kirei corrected.
"No thank you." Rin said, as politely as if she was offered a treat she did not care for. Kirei felt as though she would have like to say something a bit less civil.
With Rin standing beside him, Kirei watched the two figures exit the limousine and approach. One of them was the representative, an old man dressed in the attire of a butler with a bushy mustache, beard, and a pair of thick glasses. Next to him was the unofficial Second Owner, the stand=in for the older Edelfelt and heir to the family, Luviagelita Edelfelt.
The little girl stood proudly in an elegant blue dress, her long blond hair in ringlets. He noted the way the young lady walked, and took in her surroundings, and compared her movements to so many in the higher class he had seen in the past. Her parents did exemplary work in rearing this child to be a proper lady. He wondered if this first meeting would be more civilized than he originally anticipated, so long as Rin keeps her temper.
Both of the Edelfelt representatives stopped before the Tohsaka head and her guardian. Kirei began the introductions after a slight pause. "Greetings. I am Father Kotomine Kirei. Allow me to introduce the head of the Tohsaka family Tohsaka Rin." The introduction was short and to the point. Rin curtsied upon the introduction. Good, she chose to not chew somebody's head off this time.
"Hello, Father." Greeted the old man. "I am Auguste. Personal butler to Miss Luviagelita Edelfelt-sama, heir to the Edelfelt family name, and inheritor to much of the Fuyuki territory so graciously rewarded to us by the Mage Association."
"What and audacious introduction." Thought Kirei. "They are not afraid to make a point that they now hold power in Fuyuki." He quickly glanced at Rin. If she was affected by that introduction in any way it did not show. "Looks like she's keeping her head so far. I wonder how long that will last?"
Rin advanced towards the awaiting party and met the girl in front of her levelly. Both girls looked at each other, sizing each other up for the first time, an unspoken but all too apparent animosity present just in the way they looked each other in the eye. This was it. The first meeting would be the foundation of their future working relationship, and everyone knew it. What will the little ladies do?
"Good day to you, Edelfelt-san." Rin greeted.
"Oh, Miss Tohsaka," the other gill brushed off. "There is no need for formalities. You may address me as Luvia if you wish."
"Is that so?" Rin said. "If that is the case, then I suppose you can call me Rin." The blond girl nodded in response.
"Well, it looks like things are going well so far. " Kirei thought. "I was half expecting Rin to being throwing the first punch and half expecting the young Edelfelt to start gloating. I congratulate both partied for their restraint. "
"I must say," The blond said after a pause. "This is a lovely house you have."
"Thank you, Luvia." Rin thanked. "It's been in my family for generations. But I'm sure your house is beautiful as well."
"Oh it is." Luvia explained. "It's much larger, with many more rooms and a much vaster and greener garden. I have pictures if you would love to compare."
"That almost sounded like bragging." Kirei thought. He looked over at the butler who cleared his throat. Clearly it was a signal to the young ojou-sama to tread carefully. Apparently he was given instructions to keep the young lady from going over board. This told the priests that the head of the Edelfelts also wants to keep this first encounter as civil as possible. Again, Kirei wondered how long it would last.
"Well, I suppose we all can't be as well off as some." Rin said with a shrug. Good, she chose to shrug off the offhanded comments.
"Strange," Luvia said. "One would think being a Magus who specializes in jewel based magecraft would be well off. I do hope the rumors of your family needing hand me downs just to supply your Thaumaturgy are unfounded. "
Rin twitched at that. "There are such rumors? I was unaware of that."
"Oh, no need to worry yourself about that." Luvia said brushing the whole topic off.
"Be wary, Rin." Kirei thought. "It looks like this little one is trying to provoke you just to see what she is capable of getting away with, and judging from your expression it looks like she is getting what she wants, for now at least."
"Well, that's the thing about us Tohsakas." Rin said with a confident smile. "We are a crafty bunch."
"Crafty is it?" Luvia question. "Is that what you call it?"
"If you mean getting away from our cozy lives and actively seeking higher knowledge, yes, it has made us craftier. It is the reason we are apart of something bigger and grander, such as the Holy Grand War."
"And yet you have not won a single one."
"And neither has your family." Rin countered, causing a small chink in the armor of invincibility the Edelfelt girl once possessed. Her smile deepened upon finally getting a small reaction from the smug girl.
"Well, so much for good first impression." Kirei thought. "I suppose there's nothing left to do now but enjoy the show.
"I'm sure if my family tried again, the result would have been different." Luvia defended.
"And yet they did not." Rin said. "Strange how that worked out."
"I suppose it couldn't be helped." Luvia said. "After all, we did not want thieves stealing from us again."
"O-Ojou-sama," Auguste tried to intervene, only to be immediately interrupted by a vexed Rin.
"Just for clarification, are you referring to my family?" Rin asked.
"We long suspected that you took part of our Magic Crest and added it to your own. That alone is enough to convince us of your deviousness, but actually forcing our dear aunt to marry into your family as if she was a concubine when her own family believed her to be dead. Truly barbaric."
"Allow me to correct you on a few points, Luvia-san." Rin defended. "First, it was war. The Edelfelt Sisters knew what they were getting into when they entered. Whatever we claimed from them was considered spoils of war and thus, ours for the taking. If their Magic Crest was taken and added to our own, it was our right to do so. Second, there is no proof that the claim is true. Just a document that you received from a random stranger that the Mage Association took as true."
"A pedigree signed with the seal of your grandfather that guaranteed the name and lineage of your grandmother, my Great Aunt."
Rin shivered at that. "A photocopied pedigree, not the original." Rin stated. "No one knows where the original document is or even if it is genuine."
Actually, Kirei knew. It was one of the many documents that was supposed to be locked away in the house but was somehow leaked to the public. Funny thing about Rin's reaction, hers was pretty similar to her own father. Tohsaka Tokiomi somehow adamantly refused to acknowledge the fact that he was in anyway related to the Edelfelts despite having this document as a constant reminder. From what he heard even his own mother refused to confirm it and Tokiomi himself never wanted it. If it were true, Kirei wondered how much Tokiomi's mother hated her former family to never confirm it. Apparently there was something about having the surname Tohsaka that induced a natural hatred for anything Edelfelt, even if it is the same blood that supposedly runs through your veins.
"The Mage Association confirmed its authenticity." Luvia assured. "They were very thorough with their investigation of the document too. And with it, it gave us just the credentials we needed to take over your lands. After all, we are tied by blood, are we not?"
"According to you, and your money."
"Are you implying we bought your way into this position?"
It wasn't too far from the truth really. Kirei knew there were other candidates, it's just that the Edelfelts had all the necessary resources to back up why they were the most qualified to fill the role. They obviously had the money to back pay the right people that were important. Also, they had the credentials; the document featuring the blood ties to the family helped plenty. Another important factor that the Mage Association took into consideration was the fact that the family already had ties to the Holy Grail War. Truth be told, they wanted as few Magi family tied to the ritual in the east as they could, and among the families that applied for the role of Second Owner, the Edelfelts were already bound the Fuyuki despite the troubled past with the ritual. The only real issue they had with them was the fact that they were a roaming family. They were a mercenary family with tendencies to get restless if they stayed in one place for too long. Despite that, the Edelfelt family was indeed the best choice for the Second Owner to assist the Tohsakas.
"I assure you, all our credentials are genuine." Luvia stated.
"Even though your family has very little experience actually supervising Spiritual Land for the Mage Association?" Rin challenged. Kirei could have easily pointed out the same could have been said for Rin herself, but he kept quiet.
"It cannot be so hard if they let a child such as yourself take such a role." Again, Kirei chose not to point out the fact that her own father sent a child to take on a role. At this point either girl can be the pot or the kettle.
"My, such a high opinion you have of yourself, Luvia-san."
"Of course I do, Miss Tohsaka. One does not take control of land and not have the confidence of a true conqueror."
"Is that what you call yourself? A conqueror? Because I have a less flattering word for you."
"I take it you are referring to the word thief, Tohsaka Rin?"
"You used the word now, not I."
"I am not stealing anything. I was given the land. It's not thievery. Think of it as annexation. Besides, as I said earlier, your family took from mine, what's wrong with mine taking something from yours, especially considering how atrociously your family treated your own land, is it any wonder it ended this way?"
"And considering how your own family can't even keep track of its own family members and magic crest, what makes you think you'll be able to handle an entire land?" Rin spat, all restraint gone causing the blond girl to glare at her in an uncontained fury.
"It appears as though these ojou-samas have officially given up all pretense of civility." Kirei once again thought amused. He looked at his watch and checked the time. "I'm amazed they lasted this long." He turned his attention back to the two girls, Rin looking triumphantly at the furious blond girl. She certainly was satisfied she finally managed to make the Edelfelt girl drop her arrogance. Then he turned his attention to the butler who was looking at him pleadingly. He had also remained silent as the two girls spoke, apparently like Kirei, he wanted the two girls to get better acquainted without adult supervision, but now he was looking at him, pleading for him to preform his role as a guardian and scold a child who was speaking out of turn. Well, he supposed he should; after all, these two would be working together for a long time.
"Y-You barbaric girl?" Luvia growled through gritted teeth. "How dare you? Do you not know who you are speaking to in that tone?"
"Oh I know exactly who…"
"Rin…" Kirei interrupted in a flat but authoritative tone. Rin glared at Kirei's sudden interruption. "I believe it is time to settle down. It is very unbecoming of a lady of the Tohsaka house to act in such a way." Rin's grunted at Kirei's attempt at calming the heated situation. "You really should be more aware of yourself. What would the Mage Association say if they saw the head of the Tohsaka family act in such a way?" Rin began to pout again as he once again reminded her that this was a situation she had no say in and had to get used to fast. She wanted to say more, but there was nothing she could say, nothing that would not sound like a childish excuse.
"That's right," Luvia said triumphantly taking the opportunity to take a jab at Rin's moment of weakness. "You…"
"Ojou-sama…" Her butler, Auguste, interrupted Luvia. The young girl turned to see the elderly butler looking at her with reproachful eyes. He had been waiting for an opening to speak, and thanks to Kirei, he had been given one, now he would use it to diffuse the situation. "I am sorry to say you have not been very lady like as well."
"Auguste, you…"
"If you do not correct this behavior, I am afraid I will have to tell Madam about this very un-lady like conduct today." The young girl looked like she was ready to protest more, but she decided better of it, hanging her head in surrender.
"Now then, I think it is time, for you both to apologize to one another." Kirei stated. Both girls grumbled at this. "'And if he sins against thou seven times a day, and returns to thou seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him.' Luke 17:4." Kirei quoted from Luke. "I think it's time to forgive one another, do you not agree?" Again, both girls grumbled, but they sighed. If nothing else, they were good Christian girls, and when a priest brought teachings from the Holy Book into the argument, they had no choice but to concede.
"If Tohsaka Rin is willing to apologize for her rude behavior, I suppose I am willing to acknowledge my own wrongdoings."
Rin glared at her, but took a deep breath, deciding to be the adult in the situation. "Alright. I'm sorry. I went too far." A short pause fell upon them as Rin waited for her apology.
"Hmm, is that all?" Luvia asked with defiance. "Don't the Japanese people bow when they apologize?" Again, Rin twitched in irritation.
"Actually…" Kirei started as he began to correct the inaccurate statement.
"Oh, right how could I have forgotten?" Rin interrupted. Kirei raised his eyebrow at that. What exactly did she 'forget?'
Rin then stood up straight, titled her head far back, and in a quick motion… gave the heir to the Edelfelt name a head-butt to the forehead, knocking the blond girl on her backside. "I apologize!" Rin yelled 'bowing.'
Silence fell upon the group. Kirei could do very little but sigh heavily at the sheer moxie of his pupil. That, and take in the exasperated expression of Auguste and the outrage of Luvia. He expected another tirade from the blond girl, but much his surprise, she simply got up and with a serene expression held her head high.
"I see." Luvia said calmly. "So that is how the Japanese people apologize, do they?" Kirei suspected the young Edelfelt had her doubts in the authenticity of that apology. Sure enough, her next action more or less confirmed his suspicions. "Well…" Luvia said tilting her own head way back. "I also apologize!" Luvia yelled as she too slammed her forehead into Rin's knocking the opposing girl back. Unlike the blond, Rin was prepared, and simply staggered back and kept her balance, glaring at Luvia.
"O-Ojou-sama," Auguste called in surprise. Clearly he did not expect his own young mistress to react that way.
"I'm sorry I was rude to you!" Rin called back slamming her forehead into Luvia's again. This time, Luvia did not stager back or even budge. Both girls simply stood their grounds, pressing their foreheads against one another like two rams with their heads pressed together wrestling for dominance.
"I am sorry for my unruly behavior!" Luvia called out pushing head forward.
"I'm sorry for being a poor host!" Rin said lashing her right hand out. It was caught by Luvia's left hand.
"I am sorry for being an improper guest!" Luvia apologized lashing out her right hand only for hers to be caught by Rin's left hand. Now both girls grasped each other's hands, their foreheads pressed against one another, the biggest, most un-child-like grins plastered on their faces. They then began to move around in an attempt to push the other back.
"I'm sorry for making you feel unwelcomed." Rin apologized as she pushed forward.
"I am sorry for not bringing a gift when visiting." Luvia apologized when she pushed back.
Auguste looked back and forward between the girls, waving his hands frantically as if trying to make up his mind about what to do. When a decision was made, he cleared his throat, and was promptly sent put back in his place when both girls gave him a sideways glance and told him to "Stay out of this!" when he tried to break out the fight.
"F-Father! Do something!"
"I doubt they'll listen to me even if I tried." Kirei shrugged. "I think it's better to let these two work things out for themselves. It might even be healthier for them if we let them have their little confrontation. Who knows, getting whatever hostilities they have for each other out now may leave room for friendship to blossom in the future. So let us leave them be." Some distance away, he heard a crash and turned to notice the two girls no longer had their foreheads pressed against one another. Now the young Tohsaka had the Edelfelt heir in a headlock while the other girl was pulling at her cheeks, both now completely abandoning any pretense of apologizing to one another and simply engaging in a childish fight. So a civil meeting. Well, they were children after all.
"But this is…" Auguste began.
"Worry not good sir." Kirei assured. "Let's just watch them and make sure they don't take their little tussle too far. In the mean time, the two of us have things to discuss as the guardians of these two young ladies."
"R-Right," Auguste agreed, still keeping an eye on the two girls. "Father Kotomine, there actually was something very important I wished to confirm."
"And that would be?"
"I am sure you are interested in exactly how it is the document came into the possession of my master. It was very curious. Just a day few days after that dreadful business with the Matou family you yourself were involved with, the family received a manila envelope containing a copy of the document and a letter explaining what it was. Needless to say, we were very shocked to learn what was claimed to be the fate of the long lost youngest Lady Edelfelt by the hand of the Tohsaka head of the time, and through such a completely whimsical way of deliverance."
"Other families received documents in similar manners." Kirei thought. "All of them manila envelops mailed at random locations with no return address. It was a pattern similar to what Matou Byakuya used to send us those materials." That is, had he believed Matou Byakuya truly had sent those materials.
"While he is grateful to that individual for the opportunity presented to him and the Edelfelt family, master is very interested in exactly who it was who sent him the document, yet he is unable to find exactly who that person and/or persons are."
"Something else we have in common." Kirei thought. He did not believe the Edelfelts came to the conclusion the documents were stolen during the Matou attack. Most likely they drew the same conclusion that the perpetrator stole the documents during or sometime in the Aftermath of the war when the Tohsaka residence was most vulnerable and used the Matou scandal as an excuse to expose those documents to add fuel to the metaphorical fire.
"Unfortunately I had my own hands tied with this whole Matou affair. I wish I could invest more time into the matter with my master's document, but my duty to my order comes first."
"You can't be at fault for that." Auguste said understandingly. "I don't suppose you are interested in working together to find this mysterious assailant, are you?"
"Working together you say?" repeated the priest.
"Indeed. You see…" he paused as something the two girls did caught his attention. "Ojou-sama! You know that move is forbidden!"
Kirei turned to see exactly what that forbidden move was. Indeed, it certainly looked like a grappling move that was probably banned in any respectable wrestling sport. It amazed him that Rin managed to break free from it and counter with her own move that would have been a lot more painful had the young Edelfelt been a few centimeters taller… and probably male.
Auguste cleared his throat trying to get back on topic while keeping a nervous eye on the girls. "Now, the master is very dubious about the intentions of such individuals. What do they hope to accomplish by harming the Tohsaka family? Also, is this related to the misfortunes happening to the three founding families of the Grail War? These are questions that we must answer."
That last bit caught Kirei's attention. Three families? Does that mean… "I are you sure your master is not looking too far into the situation? I know the scandal with my teacher's documents leaking came after the Matou family exposure of heresy, but is that just a horrible case of mudslinging to further discredit Tohsaka Tokiomi?"
"We thought that too. But with what has been happening with the Einzbern family, we are beginning to question that."
"Einzbern? Something is happening with the Einzbern as well?"
"You didn't know?" Questioned the butler. "Apparently some of the partners of the Einzberns have been gradually cutting ties with the Einzbern family."
Now this truly was new to Kirei. He was never one to keep up with the news of magi. Often the only real news he paid attention to was one where a real disaster happened, mostly the more violent and horrible ones. Business and politics never much interested him, but from what the butler was saying, it sounded like he should start taking interest in such topics.
"You're sure of this?" the priest asked.
"It's true. Magi families that once had ties with the Einzberns have been slowly doing less business with them. Usual trade partners have been trading less and contracts are either terminated or renegotiated."
"All this within these past few weeks?" Kirei asked in disbelief finding the timing unlikely.
"Actually, this has been going on for a few months now." Auguste explained. "At the time we did not find anything odd about it, you know how it is with business relationships, they can change at the drop at the hat. But then these sudden scandals hit at the same time, and now we've begun to wonder. The Einzberns loosing partnerships, the Matou's heresy, the leaking of Tohsaka documents, all three founding families the Holy Grail War, and all months after the Fourth Holy Grail War."
"It's certainly too much of a coincidence." Kirei agreed. "Then again, does anyone know the reason for these sudden decline in cooperation?"
"We're not sure. It was not until recently we discovered this pattern, so we never really had a chance to investigate."
"I see." Kirei thought about this for a moment. "An intriguing development. Yes, very intriguing indeed. And you wish to cooperate with me to find out if there is some sort of conspiracy against the three families?"
"If the Edelfelts are going to become more involved in the Fuyuki territory, we feel it is more than necessary to discover if such a conspiracy exists and if Ojou-sama is in any way in danger of being targeted because of her involvement. As such, we must find out as much about the individuals who leaked the information about the Tohsakas as we can. If not, at the very least we would like to know if they are related to the Einzbern family's loss in patronage or the rebellion of the Matou household."
Kirei was sure they were related, though he did not voice it out loud. Instead, he told the worried butler of a more pressing concern. "I suppose it is a matter that should be investigated. Worry not my good sir; I will do my best to look into who ever it is that leaked my teacher's documents. In the mean time…" he pointed to the location of a far off distance. "It's probably better if you stop those two from doing something they will regret later."
Auguste turned to see the two girls, their clothes torn, bruises covering their bodies, and now brandishing glowing pole arms and attempting to whack each other with them over and over again. Auguste stood their mouth agape and shocked as he saw the two swing at each other with glowing items.
"It looks like they got tired of grappling and took to using magic tools." Kirei calmly observed.
"Wh-Where did they even get those?" Auguste questioned in a panic.
"Those staffs are sparing tools my teacher and I used to spar with one another in a form of exercise. It appears those two managed to get to them while we were speaking." Kirei smirk and nodded with approval. "They're very skilled. A little too aggressive, but with some practice they could master the use of those tools. Worry not, those tools are only meant to stun rather than harm. If they come into contact with the glowing part the worst that can happen is a tingling feeling they will feel for days on in."
"That's not important right now!" Auguste retorted.
"Oh, that's right." Kirei stated as if he just remembered something that slipped his mind. "Where are my manners? Here are important guests and I did not bring out any refreshments." The priest gave a small, apologetic bow. "Wait here while I bring out some drinks and snacks. I hope he young lady is fine with juice. Worry not, it is not from concentrate." He then turned towards the Tohsaka house and began to walk inside.
"W-Wait Father!" Auguste called back both frustrated and disbelieving at the complete nonchalance at the priest's attitude towards the young girl's and their escalating fight. Noticing the intensity of their battle, he gave up on trying to get the apathetic man involved and rushed over to the girls. "Ojou-sama, Rin-sama, please put those down! Young ladies should not…"
When he got close enough; he was rewarded for his concern with two sudden unexpected blows. One of the poles struck his chest compliments of Luvia, and the other thanks to Rin. Electrical impulses surged through the butler's body, and he fell out of consciousness. For a moment, neither girl did anything. They just looked at the out cold old man with concern. Luvia was the first to break the first silence.
"You!" Luvia angrily yelled in accusation. "How dare you strike down a servant of the Edelfelt family?"
"What?" Rin angrily asked, outraged at the other girl's allegation. "You hit him first! If anything you should be arrested for abusing your servants!"
"Now you slander the good name of Edelfelt?" I demand satisfaction for this insult!"
"Come and get it!"
At once, both girls began a fresh round of blows with their pole arms either deflecting or dodging, but failing to hit the other directly. Kirei observed the scene for a moment longer before continuing inside the house, a small smirk on his lips.
Passing the threshold of the mansion, Kirei closed the door behind him and silently walked deeper into the house, paying little heed to the mock battle raging on outside. He did not go too far, stopping only when he noticed another figure not too far away from the hallway that was invested in the battle taking place outside.
"I remember locking those tools away in the basement." Kirei stated in a firm voice, yet in a tone that suggested he was more amused than irritated. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about how they managed to get in the hands of those two young ladies, would you?"
"I confess I may have had a hand in making sure the young mortals acquired those tools." A young voice replied.
"May I ask for what purpose?"
"I am simply intrigued in understanding how skilled they are in the use of weapons. Their grappling skills were subpar, so I simply added weapons in the mix to add to the excitement. Still, I hoped there would be more excitement, but alas, they are but little cats scratching at each other for territory. Oh well, it is as expected from children. It was rather entertaining seeing the two of them knock out the manservant though, and the name-calling is very colorful. The insults commoners call one another these days are vibrant compared to my time."
Kirei resisted the urge to point out the blatantly obvious. The fact that what was standing before him was in fact a child, or rather, the child form of the last surviving Servant of the Holy Grail War. With hair of gold, and eyes of red, the servant Archer, stood before the window looking out at the children with vague interest. He had not always been like this. Before he was an adult that stood proud, tall, and with the authority of a real king. Now, having taken a potion which reverted him to a much younger stated, he became a more docile, if still rather prideful child. It was hard to believe that the child would one day grow up to become the same arrogant being Kirei knew so well.
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, fifth king of Uruk, and said the oldest most powerful Heroic Spirit in the Throne of Heroes. It was because of that his former teacher, Tohsaka Tokiomi sought the strongest Servant for the Holy Grail war, and found the best possible catalyst to summon it. Thinking about the fossilized snakeskin again got Kirei chuckling again.
He went to the basement to check on the snakeskin more on a hunch then anything else. The hunch was proven correct when he found the box it was hidden in to be empty. When he told the young Archer of it, he used one of his tools to track it down to a fire pit next to the bridge where they theorized they destroyed it and dumped the ashes in the river. Considering that they immediately destroyed it after stealing it, Kirei concluded they wanted to make sure nobody used the sacred relic to once again summon another Heroic Spirit of the King of Uruk for the next Holy Grail War.
"Oh if only they knew how wasted their efforts truly were." Kirei thought finding the situation amusing to know end. While he believed stealing and destroying the relic was not their true motive, he did not doubt it was a delightful bonus for them, a bonus that would be fruitless when the time came. If he ever found the people responsible, he would love to see the expressions of their faces when the King of Uruk made his eventual triumphant return, and not just any one, but the exact same one from the last war.
"Thinking about something amusing again, Kirei?" asked the younger Gilgamesh noticing the priest's amusement.
"Just recalling current events." Replied the priest. "The past few weeks have been lively."
"Indeed they have. So much mischief has been going around lately. Are you sure you are not the cause in any way?"
"As much as I would like to take credit for the strife of the young Tohsaka and the exile of the old man of the Matou household, I am not responsible for any of it. I did manage to determine that there is however a group of people involved, and that they know more about the last Holy Grail War then any outside should. It seems "
"Plans do have a tendency of changing." Archer agreed. "Just look at what happened to Tokiomi."
Indeed. He his former master had an excellent plan drawn out and things did not turn out well for him at all. Kirei could not forget that night. How his master was betrayed by a Master he trusted. That fried who turned out to be an enemy. How that enemy master killed his teacher, the final look on Tohsaka Tokiomi's face as he was run threw in the back by a certain dagger, it all ended with Kirei ultimately failing his role as protector and student. But he could not despair. No, he had to continue the fight for the grail, and Archer gave him that opportunity. He had no Servant, and Archer had just lost his own Master, so why not form a contract with his own Servant? Shouldn't a student take up a teacher's sword and finish what they started? Shouldn't Kirei win the war for his fallen teacher? Why not? He was obligated by duty, wasn't he? And in the end… it all turned out for the better, did it not?
"If the Grail truly grants the victor's wish, Kotomine Kirei, what you see is exactly what you desired the most."
Those were the words of the King of Heroes as they stood before a ruined city. Destroyed buildings, a fire, raging, tormenting screams, and in the center stood Kirei, standing bloodied with and opened wound on his head, and his right arm missing from the elbow down. Behind him, the nude form of the Servant Gilgamesh observed the wounded priests, his body now made physical after being drenched in the dark mud.
"This is… my wish…" he commented, nursing his wound while at the same time, gawking at the destruction. "Destruction and pain… makes me happy?"
It was in that moment, among the screams of pain, and the burning of property and persons, he realized for the first time what he was. It was there and then, Kirei realized the wickedness in his own soul. People who were being tormented, the tortured screams, the burning corpses, all of it filled him with the deepest joy he ever felt.
"Haha…" Unable to contain himself anymore, be broke out in a fit of laughter. "What am I?" He asked himself. For a long time he realized what he was. He knew and feared the part of him that realized he enjoyed the pain of suffering of others and tried his best to suppress it. But now here he was, embracing it, letting it lose, enjoying it, and he despised himself for it. Yet he could not help it. He was a walking contradiction. A sinful creature that enjoyed the suffering of others yet hated himself for it. What kind of existence is he? What kind of God would allow him to exist like this? What exactly was he? He had to know. He needed to know. All he did was fill in question marks, but he ultimately did not solve his own problem. What he needed was to find the ultimate solution to his dilemma.
"Even if it takes my whole life, I must understand." Kirei stated with determination, ignoring the pain from his missing right arm. He had too. There were simply too many contradictions within the equation to overlook. So he would continue his pursuit, no matter how long it would take.
"That's all right too." The King of Heroes declared. " I, Gilgamesh, will see how you will carry through your fearless faith in the pursuit of your way."
Once more, Kirei looked around at his surroundings, savoring the beauty of the destruction around him. Indeed, this was what he wanted and hated all at once, and it was granted to him thanks to a being that was in all respects similar to him. Angra Mainyu. Maybe through that creature, a being that was contrary to human ethics, he can find some way to justify and prove his own existence. Indeed, maybe if he sought that creature, witness its own rebirth, maybe he himself will understand everything. Maybe it will all be clear, and all he went though will be worth it. Maybe it would be worth loosing his arm, getting his heart blown apart, betraying his master, fighting in this war, the loss of his family, the fight against Emiya…
His frown suddenly dropped as he recalled the last moments he had with his fallen enemy. That was right. Emiya Kiritsugu. He did not know what caused it, but in those final moments, something changed in him. He should have been in despair. He had failed his goal, and was about to die, but he still managed to do that. Why? What was it that he managed to accomplish that warranted that action? What happened in those final moments that allowed him the luxury to do that? Kirei could not help but loose interest in the surrounding environment as his thoughts once again turned to his old nemesis in the final moments of the Holy Grail War. In those final moments…
"Why are you suddenly so melancholy, Kirei?" Gilgamesh asked noticing the man's sudden change in spirits.
"It was Emiya Kiritsugu," the fallen priest said depressed. "In his final moments…"
While Kirei was not completely satisfied that night, he at the very least felt as though he had some sort of accomplishment in ending the war. There was however one thing from that night that did not sit well with him, and that was the final moment of Emiya Kiritsugu. He had spent many sleepless nights thinking about the illogical action that his adversary took that night, the final action of a dying man. He did not understand why. It seemed so insignificant, after all, had he not won? Had he not defeated him in the end? And yet, how was it in the last few moments…
He broke off from those thoughts. There was no point in dwelling on them in this particular time. For now, he had to focus on other matters, namely whoever it was whom he had to blame for the shenanigans of the past few weeks. So far he still had no clues. Who ever these people were, they were careful to cover their tracks. The only clue he had came from the current Matou head, if in name only, Matou Byakuya, and even with him they were very careful with him.
"A Self-Geis Scroll." Kirei questioned.
"Yes," the terrified Byakuya confirmed. "I had no choice! She poisoned me, I just signed the paper!"
"And guaranteed Zouken's downfall?" Kirei confirmed. Of course he had too. He realized from the beginning the man was coerced into betraying Zouken, but upon actually hearing the reasons why, be could not help but feel a bit disappointed despite expecting something along these lines. Apparently when he was drinking in some seedy bar late at night, some scantily dressed foreigner offered him a drink and he in all of his alcohol induced wisdom accepted it, not knowing it had been infused with a magic poison. In order to obtain an antidote, he was forced to sign the scroll, sealing his fate. In exchange for his life, the drunkard needed to help the mysterious benefactor to oppose Zouken, and of course…
"And I don't suppose it is because of that scroll you cannot tell me anything more?" Kirei questioned.
"I can't!" Byakuya confirmed. "I can't say anything else! I'll die if I say anything!"
That would not be a major lost, and Kirei was curious to see exactly how that death would occur, but he reigned in those desires for the moment. Maybe later. "The fact that you aren't dead yet means that they ARE allowing you to let some information slip." He pointed out. Considering how careful these people are, he did not believe they would let a loose-lipped coward like him prattle on like this and not be punished for it. Whatever the terms of the contract was, it was specific enough that the traitor of the Matou family was at least given enough liberty to say this much. Maybe there was more. "So, is there anything else you would like to share?"
"T-There is…" the nervous man confirmed. "They said… to give you a message…"
"Oh… me personally?
"Yes…" Byakuya cleared his throat, and then braced himself. From the look on his face, he looked like he really did not want to say the message, but he muscled through it.
"I know where you got your heart."
"Do you now?" Kirei thought in amusement as he returned from the kitchen with a tray of finger sandwiches and drinks. "They claim to know, yet my fellow Executors don't look at me differently. I wonder what game this mysterious group is playing." It had not been the first time he had such thoughts. If they really knew, why has he not been given the same treatment as Zouken? The most obvious reason was probably because unlike the old worm, Kirei actually had a clean reputation by comparison. Still, it disturbed him to know there were mysterious individuals looking at him in the shadows giving him vague warnings. What his enemies knew did not worry him. It was the lack of knowing who his enemies were that was disconcerting.
He walked over to the window next to the small King of Heroes. "Has the pecking order been established yet?" He asked.
"Not yet, no." confirmed the young blond. "My, those two have such a high amount of stamina for such small bodies. Their hatred for one another must fuel their passion to truly spectacular levels." He reached for one of the cups of juice on the tray and took a sip. "I must say, when I first learned of the thieves who stole my catalyst I had mixed feelings of them. At first I was crossed with them for stealing from the king. True it was skin from the snake, but it still was the catalyst that brought the king to the world, i.e., it was something that belonged to me. But then the action brought forth this grand entertainment, and now I feel in a forgiving mood." He then took a finger sandwich and proceeded to eat. "Indeed, I now feel as though I should invite them over and have a good chuckle with them as we watch these two minxes fight to the death."
"I wish I could feel the same." Kirei complained. "But it appears as though they are not as open minded when it comes to enjoying the art of suffering as I am. In fact, I feel like they appear to be disgusted with me."
"Are you still hung up with what that dead man walking said?" the small king asked referring to Byakuya. "Speaking of which, is he still remaining silent about your little talk?"
"He knows very well I am his protector." Assured Kirei. "As such, I won't need to put a Geis on him to behave himself. I just need to remind him Zouken's still out there and there are no other priests who can take control of Fuyuki at the moment, so he would do well to keep on my good side.
"Indeed." Nodded the young king. "That's one loose end taken care of. "But what do you intend to do with the other one, namely the one who appears to see into your soul?"
"I suppose I should keep searching, but it is clear that whoever they are, they are smart enough to keep hidden when they wish it."
"Are you not worried they will do something against you like the old worm or your teacher?"
"Like what?" Kirei questioned. "I am a member of the Assembly of the Eight Sacrament. An Executor, and the son of the well respected Kotomine Risei. Prior to the Fourth Grail War I have lived a respectable boring life. What could they possibly have on me? The most they could do is what they already did. They used that Son of a Worm, Byakuya to warn me they know who I am. All they can do is use scare tactics on me, and even then, I do not scare easily."
"No, you do not." Agreed Gilgamesh. "But remember, when your heart was destroyed, Avenger blessed you with a new heart. If your fellows Executors found out, that could be… messy."
Yes, that could be troublesome. Well, as far as he could tell, there was no real way they could find out. His heart functioned like any other organ and from his own studies; it could not be detected with any of the Churches spells. He did not believe anyone could tell it was given to him from Angra Mainyu. He told as much to Gilgamesh.
"I can only do what I can." Kirei stated plainly. "Until then." He looked out in the courtyard. "I suppose I could help the young lady prepare for the next Holy Grail War. That alone should kill some time."
"Umu," Gilgamesh agreed. "And when we get bored, we can always have these two fight for our entertainment."
Kirei watched as the battle began to die down, and both girls beginning the process of slowing down their assault, collapsing on their knees and panting while still glaring at each other with venom in their eyes. Kirei's smirk broadened a bit as he saw both girls, bruises covering their bodies, tears in their eyes, hair disheveled, and ultimately, the utter feeling of loss as they stewed in their anger.
"The next few years will certainly be interesting." Kirei commented.
Father Hansa Cervantes waited on the bench for the girl to return from the small shop along the way. As Matou Sakura's escort, he was careful to stay near her at all times, and was very reluctant to leave her by herself, but he decided to give the girl some space. It would be a well over 12-hour flight from Fuyuki to Rome, so he decided to give the girl some space for now. Besides, he was close enough to sense if there was anyone who approaches her with any ill intent, especially any familiars. He doubt Zouken would be foolish enough to try anything now in such a crowded airport, but he was not about to drop he guard, especially now that they were so close to leaving Fuyuki. He may be a bit paranoid, but often it is when one feels the safest the enemy will choose to strike. Whether or not Matou Zouken would act upon his thirst for vengeance was on him.
The young priest sighed as he looked around. While he did not exactly discourage the calm, he would have liked more excitement. The old worm had put up a decent fight before he fled, but that was it, he fled and it was unlikely Hansa would see him any time soon. It couldn't be helped though. He had to take the girl to Rome for her own protection. That itself was an important task that needed to be done, and while he preferred to hunt, he still felt some satisfaction in knowing he was protecting a small child. God knows she had suffered enough. For now he would look after he until they got to the Vatican. From there, Bishop Dilo would watch over her for the next few months until she had healed. She would be in good hands. Hansa himself knew from experience of the old man's kindness and willingness to heal a lost soul. If he could not help this child, he could think of very few short of a heaven descended saint who actually could.
In the mean time, he had to actually get to the Vatican, and his flight would not be for another few minutes. He still had time to kill. For now, he would watch the child, read his book, and wait for his flight, his own dissatisfaction not withstanding. Still, he could not help but reflect on his own disappointment with how everything ended. Not just with the worm gone, but also with the fact that he felt that he could not help but feel there was more to the story. No matter how many times he went over the scenario he could not see a man like Matou Byakuya pulling this plot off. He voiced his suspicions with Father Kotomine, but for some strange reason, he seemed supportive of the man's story, despite contrary evidence. Well, it didn't matter. This was Kirei's territory, so it was his investigation. Hansa was sure a man as experienced and reputable as him knew what he was doing. Besides, he had his own task to…
Suddenly, he looked up, his attention caught by a sudden sensation. He clearly sensed it. Someone was using a magical tool near by. He got up, prepared to make his way to where Sakura was, but stopped when he realized where the sensation was coming from. He looked a couple meters to his right at a near by trashcan. Cautiously, he made his way to the trashcan, looking around to see if anyone suspicious was watching the priest. When he got there, he looked to the side and noticed a brown paper disposable bento box lying next to the trashcan. From the clear top, he could see a paper, a smaller box, and a stone charm that was giving off that magical energy he was sensing. Apparently this was the source of the magical energy he was sensing. Whoever left this box wanted the priest to find it and left that charm as a beacon.
As he knelt down and picked it up, he picked up a small hint of ashes coming from within the trashcan. Peering in, he noticed a pile of ashes he recognized as organic matter. The priest theorized that someone had used a familiar to deliver this item then put their familiar into the trashcan and caused it to self-destruct.
For a moment Cervantes held the box wondering what to do with it. He did not believe anyone would leave a trap for him in such a public place, but he could not be sure. Analyzing the box, he sensed no other taps apart from the magic beacon. Looking over at Sakura to make sure she was safe, he opened the box.
The first thing he examined was the beacon. When he found nothing of interest, he put that aside and looked at the piece of paper. Unlike the letter that Matou Byakuya supposedly wrote to the Church, this note was short and to the point.
If there are no activities by the Einzberns in one month, look into them. Keep ears open for our contacts.
Also, be wary of Kotomine Kirei. That man is not as he seems. There is a reason we trust you with this rather than the supposed Supervisor of Fuyuki.
Hopefully, we will not have to contact you again. But if we do, know you can trust us. Wait for further evidence within one month.
"Interesting." Father Cervantes thought. If Hansa had his suspicions before, he had deeper suspicions now. Evidently now a mysterious benefactor believes that there is more to whatever is going on in Fuyuki than on the surface, only now they are including Father Kotomine. True, he found it odd that the man was so insistent of supporting Byakuya's story, but to think he would have some sort of active role in whatever cover up may or may not be present. What does it all mean? Then again, he can't really take this letter as gospel. He would need more convincing evidence. Which brought him to the last part. Within one month. What will happen within one month?
Hurriedly, he gathered the contents, put them all in his pocket, and after determining the disposable bento was nothing special, threw it away. It looked like he would have to add a bit more to his report when he returned to Rome.
"Father," Father Hansa Cervantes heard the monotone voice of Sakura called to him. He turned to see the purple haired girl approach him. He checked his watch and noticed it was time he instructed her to return to him.
"Good girl, Sakura." He complimented. "It's almost time for us to board our flight." He looked over at her, a small bit of Churchly concern for the child. "Are you sure you do not at the very least want to call her and say goodbye?"
Sakura paused for a moment. She knew whom he was talking about. Tohsaka Rin, her former sister. She actually considered meeting her. She wanted to confront her, to talk to her about her experience, and talk to her about what her grandfather did to her. But what would that accomplish? Would that undo anything? Would that make them family again? No, they gave her up to the Matou family long ago. A small part of her felt something for her old family, but she could not find it in her to meet her. She just could not see her as her sister anymore. A part of her still felt some sisterly affection for Rin, but that part was a minority now, replaced by a larger, more apathetic part that just didn't care.
"No thank you." She flatly said.
"I see." Father Hansa Cervantes said with understanding. He did not press the matter further. Respecting the girl's wishes, she reached out to her. "Then let us depart." Grasping the girl's hand, they made their way down the hallway, to their flight.
The woman in the long coat watched as the 16:00 flight to Rome took off. With a deep sigh of relief, she crossed out another task off her list. So far, everything was going according to plan. Matou had been neutralized, the Tohsakas had been demoted, and hopefully, she had put enough suspicion on the accursed priest that the Church would at the very least keep a closer eye on him. In truth, putting suspicion on the priest was not all too important. Harming him is not important to the plan, and going after him would only be out of her own personal vengeance, so she would not do any more against him unless necessary. Her own actions against him would be 'Plan B,' in case what she had in mind failed. At the very least she managed to get rid of that catalyst. She was probably being too cautious, but if what she was about to do would ultimately prove fruitless, she needed assurance she would not have to deal with a similar servant in the next Holy Grail War.
The woman sighed to herself as she saw the plane fly off, though her eyes were focusing on something other than what was in front of her. She recalled the last few moments she spent with her son.
Irisviel was in front of her home, a taxi was waiting for her outside, and Taiga was at the front door giving the mother and son their time alone to say their goodbyes. And so there they were, the white haired woman kneeling down to the boy's level, looking him in the eye affectionately.
"Shirou," Irisviel said to the young boy. "I'll be going on a business trip soon. You're going to have to be a good boy and take care of things for me until I get back."
"When will you be back?" Shirou asked.
"I don't know." Irisviel answered honestly. "Hopefully in a week, but we'll see. In the mean time, listen to T-chan. I will be home soon."
It would be hard for her to do. It was the first time since they met that the two would spend days apart. Sure Shirou would occasionally spend the night at a friend's house, but Irisviel was still at the very least in the same city as him. Now they would truly be apart. And Irisviel was finding it hard to let him go, but it was something she had to do. She briefly recalled memories of her daughter and leaving her behind much like this, only this time she told herself it would be different. This time she told herself she would return. Though she was not sure.
She returned to the present day and scolded herself for her moment of weakness. Of course she would return. She would come back, and this time, she would not come back alone, not after everything she had been through, not now. And so, Emiya Irisviel reached into her pocket and pulled out her ticket. Checking her watch she nodded to herself and prepared to leave. Her flight to Germany would soon be ready to board.
"I'm ending this now." Irisviel said under her breath as she prepared to board her plane. It was time for her to get her daughter back.
A/N
Next time. Things get real. I had to rush this chapter, especially near the end, but I hope it came out all right.
