A/N: As a consolation, I wrote two chapters. These two chapters are meant to be as one long chapter, but then, you might find that one option boring.
Also, I must apologize to the long - time readers here if you find my literature here as pretty sloppy. I must have lost that creativity as I go on. But I am still struggling to find that inspiration from my experiences and lock it into my mind for good.
Forgot to clear that last sentence up as it is meant as a figure of speech. -.-
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Credits go to Gen Urobuchi, Nitro+ and TYPE – MOON for Fate/Zero, and Hiroshi Shiibashi for Nurarihyon no Mago.
Chapter 23: Misunderstanding
Stale.
Really stale.
Absolutely stale.
Even though the restaurant that they are in is of an average type with touch of flairs peppered here and there, it seems that Kejoro, Caster and Waver cannot enjoy themselves with the ambience that they are in as Rider continued to feed upon the truly decent morsels of food.
Rider stared at them for a short while, to see what reactions that they have.
"Boy, don't you have anything to ask them?" Rider quipped as he gulped in a large helping of what the modern world call as "soft drinks". Waver can only pout in annoyance at the large man's seeming obliviousness at the situation that they are in.
They have encountered both Master and Servant in broad daylight. Sure, it is a once in a lifetime chance to eliminate the competition, but then the reward for the elimination of the murderous Servant and Master pairing still stands.
Also, even if they have eliminated the other Caster and Master faction, composed of "a princess and a ghost of a local legend" like his Servant is wont to describe them, they will be immediately eliminated from the Holy Grail War just because they didn't follow the rules of the Holy Grail War.
"Hey, boy, you're staring at your food for the last five minutes." Rider noticed his Master's uneasiness showing once again and slapped him once again in the back in an attempt to cheer him up. But then, a simple backslap for Rider meant a world of hurt for him as his slaps are too strong to even be called a slap.
"Eat up! This is my treat! You're invited to my banquet too! Mwahahaha!" Rider bellowed as other customers looked on to the seemingly large fellow that they had over. Sure, they paid for their meals, but it doesn't mean that they can just do as they please as though this is their restaurant.
But then, on that day, no man or woman can ever tell that to the fellow who towers above them, with muscles as large as his voice and his heart can ever be. Kejoro and Caster can only accept the invitation with sheer uneasiness on their faces.
"Hey, Caster…" Waver called her attention as he munched on some French fries. Caster looked up to the boy with sheer curiousness in her eyes as she drinks her Jasmine tea.
"Hm?" Caster asked him in such a way that would make the boy blush in a madder shade of red. Kejoro can only let out a small smile on the boy's awkward situation.
"I…I know that you have addressed this earlier…but…why have you joined the Holy Grail War?"
That question now had Caster putting down the Jasmine tea in a tranquil manner. She is about to say it when Kejoro found a good time to stop Caster from blurting out some things in an angry manner.
"Only Saber and her Master can only know of our stand here in the Holy Grail War. If you wish to join in our cause, ask Saber and her Master." Kejoro replied discreetly but firmly, to Rider's utter surprise.
"Ah, I see." Rider mused as he took a large bite out of a big hamburger. "But still, if your cause is such of grave importance, why hide it from us? You know that you can trust us."
"The sheer truth can only hurt your feelings, Rider." Kejoro replied as she sipped on her Earl Grey tea. "We don't want you rushing to your death if we can avoid it."
"Is that so?" Rider narrowed his eyes on the pair who keeps far too many secrets for their appearance to be called a coincidence. Something tells him to heed to his suspicions, but for the sake of letting peace hover over the atmosphere that they are in, he did not pry in further to their objectives.
But that nagging feeling still remains within him no matter how much he doubts that feeling. He still sees Caster's hesitation in giving information. But then, it is a given since they pledge their allegiance to the strongest class of Servants.
Meanwhile, Caster feels that she cannot contain the information to herself any longer. Even still, she must persevere by it, or else, stopping the Holy Grail will be for naught.
Sooner or later, Rider will know of it, and so will the other Servants. So before chaos will ensue, they will make sure to finish the ritual abruptly with only a few people knowing about it, especially to the ones who are still believing in the Holy Grail's power.
The awkward silence between them is thankfully – or not thankfully – broken by Rider.
"I have a feeling that you are hiding something from me that is very important that can change the whole course of the Holy Grail War. But then, you don't have to shoulder it by yourselves just as the King of Knights has." Rider spoke as he eats his meal in utter bliss.
Caster felt the need to retort, but then Kejoro stopped her from doing so. Rider then continued his discourse as Waver watched in utter disbelief. But as he heard those words, little by little, it started to make sense to him, although he can't place it exactly what Rider is pointing to.
"Kejoro, you said that the truth can hurt me, correct?" Rider asked Kejoro, who replied with a curt nod. Rider then understood what that nod means, but then he only sighed at the two of them.
"That's a really heavy burden that you two are carrying. In all my days of conquest, never have I seen women of such age carrying a burden like the one that you are having now." Rider now emptied his tall glass of what is left of the soda drink. "Is it really all right for you two to destroy yourselves for the sake of that goal?"
"If we have to, yes." The two women declared in unison without them even realizing it. "No one will believe us even if we tell them. Magi only care about themselves."
"'Tis a sad place that you two live in. But then, so is my Master's self – proclaimed lecturer." Rider quipped as Waver now glared at him, as if he says that he still respects him even after all that the lecturer of the Clock Tower had said to him.
Even so, Waver Velvet feels like he is being left out of the conversation. He then asked Rider through his mental link.
What are these women talking about? Waver asked Rider as he sips on his own soda drink. Rider can only reply with a sigh and an answer to his mental link.
You will know of it when you have come to an age where you can understand the real world. Rider replied as he munched on a burger. Or maybe as early as after this war. Either way, the situation will be too much for you to handle alone.
But then, to confirm it, I have to see it for myself. Rider continued with a grin. Waver can only sigh at the last second optimistic phrase that he heard.
Crimson.
Some who are well versed in art can say that this color is the twisted representation of blood.
Only the people who have a vivid sense of imagination in slaughter can only comprehend the beauty of that color in its different shades.
Such is the color that drips on the water as Caster has finished sewing laboriously the fresh skins of young children on a book that is meant to never exist since that book, in the hands of a twisted and mad wizard, is able to summon creatures meant to be shunned by the mortal world.
Uryuu Ryuunosuke has never felt such bliss emanating from his being as his partner attempts to call upon such a creature that blasphemes God's act of creation.
"Danna! Go for it! This will be the greatest COOL that you will ever create so far!" The enthused teenager declaimed as he observes his demon hovering over the water in Mion – gawa. They have just completed the requirements of sacrificing five pure souls to the Spellbook of Prelati for initiating the ritual to summon a being of abysmal chaos.
Caster now opened the book with its cover made from human skins freshly cut off from the children and stitched it laboriously as a cover. Caster now chanted a forbidden language that is never supposed to be spoken of in the first place. For that line summons a being that resides from the netherworld.
The skins dissipated like mist as prana builds up to horrifying levels that can almost compete with the major leylines of Fuyuki.
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn
He recites that line five times; to make sure that the being heeds his invitation upon their world.
Each time he chants that line, the depths of the river rumble with a blood – chilling scream that only the aquatic life – forms can hear. Those screams get louder as the being begins its ascent towards the mortal world.
It is a being that reigns deep within the seas and lakes of the known world. That being is every human's hellfire nightmare and every worshipper's indescribable bliss at the arrival of what they can call a grotesquely magnificent creature that towers more than the heights of the known skyscrapers combined.
The stench emanating from that creature is what the human beings can describe as an odor from the deepest depths of the abyss where countless souls have died and offered itself to the magnificent creature of death.
The creature has an absurdly large amount of eyes, making escape for the one who will be trapped by this creature impossible. The victim will only feel helplessness and despair as the unfortunate human who will be caught by its thick arms will be sent immediately to the bottom of the pitch – black pit.
That victim will know what it feels like to slowly die alone, with no one to ever help him. That deep sense of despair alone can send him dying faster than the creature can eat him alive.
This being is the sole master of death and despair, paling only in comparison to other entities. But this entity alone is enough to wreak chaos, hopelessness and despair upon the human race if left alone.
The fear of the unknown. It is what every human being has dreaded long ago. This kind of fear far exceeds even the fear of death.
Fearing something that is not even known to them is even more horrifying to a normal human being rather than what they see and fear. The creature is now manifesting that very concept of the unknown and people are now frozen in place as they watch the spectacle unfold before their very eyes.
"Now, with this, we can put up the greatest entertainment that can rival the gods!" Caster proclaimed as he now offered himself as the heart of the unspeakable being that can only be comprehended by someone who has been to hell and back.
"With this foul mouth I praise your name! Arrogant god! Accursed god!" Caster proclaimed as the being finally makes its ascent. "We will now dethrone you from those lofty skies above!"
As Kejoro and Caster is about to make their way home, they felt the surge of power coming from the east. Caster felt uneasy with that feeling, as though the being dares to defile the land. Her inner goddess demands her to punish the being with her own might, but for some reason, she can only relent.
"So this is the feeling of a premature apocalypse?" Kejoro can only joke in a bitter manner as this is something that even Servants cannot fight against, unless the one who fights them is an Archer or a Saber.
"Well, this is our time to lend our help." Caster quipped as she prepared her mirror. "After all, I can't stand by and watch the whole city burn just because I hesitate in doing my sole duty as a goddess."
"Well, you're right." Kejoro sighed as she prepared her Dirks. "It may not be of much use, but at least it can do damage."
"Darn right it can, Kejoro – san." She smirked as she brought out her blunt katana and raised it high up in the air. She then sheathed it back in her mirror and made the mirror disappear from her sight. "Now, let's go!"
It was then that Kejoro remembered that there are still youkai residing in the city. She then called out to Caster.
"Wait." Kejoro just found a perfect time to ruin Caster's fun as she stopped then turned around. She then hastily approached Kejoro as if she is too excited to punish the beast.
"What now?" Caster asked in annoyance, before Kejoro laid out her thoughts on this.
"We have to prioritize the people first, right?"
"Yes."
"And we aim for no casualties."
"Yes, but what is the point in bringing that up now?"
"That, Caster…" She then pointed to the massive beast that is approaching the shores. "…is why I am bringing this up now. We can't do this thing alone, and we can't expect the priests to do something about the people there."
The situation dawned on Caster as her Master explained the circumstances. She nodded in agreement, but there is something missing in what Kejoro has said earlier. It is then answered by her Master before she can even ask about it.
"Youkai." Kejoro stated bluntly. "They are now living within the city. I can sense their Osore even though it's really minimal. They can scare people off the perimeter that we are about to set."
"That's a good idea that I have never heard in years, Kejoro – san." Caster complimented as she stared at the river, to which Kejoro took it as an insult.
"Caster, I implore you to never insult my meager intelligence." Kejoro stated flatly as Caster chuckled at the ghost's expense.
"I'm truly sorry if I ever insulted you, Goshujin – sama." Caster giggled as Kejoro can only put a palm to her face.
"And that is another title that I never want to hear in years, Caster." She now deadpanned as the night approaches.
She now drove it as fast as she can. In fluid motion, she swiftly avoided incoming traffic and brought the car to its maximum speed.
Emiya Kiritsugu informed Irisviel that the creature is one not meant to be underestimated as the creature is being controlled by a wild man. Based on what he said, it can only be the work of the Caster who still believes that she is Jeanne d' Arc.
Saber can only focus on that thought, but then she has other worries too.
One of them is Irisviel.
Shutting off one of the senses is not normal for a human. This must mean that her degradation as a Holy Grail begins. She knows about this as she accidentally overheard the conversations between her Master and Irisviel.
Irisviel is never supposed to go outside in the first place if she is that sick, but then she needed someone to operate what Emiya Kiritsugu described as a mobile phone. This will keep communication lines in check and it is much faster than casting complex Magecraft just to establish a line, which brings her to another one of her worries.
Her Master, Emiya Kiritsugu.
She knows Emiya Kiritsugu's thoughts too much, and yet she feels that she does not know that much about him.
The Shared Perception is supposed to let her peek in to the thoughts of her Master. She does not understand why he is so cold to her to the point of shutting down his emotions. He and she are supposed to have a same goal.
If she had a knight like that, she would severely reprimand him for his actions. But, he is not her knight.
If her Master's train of thought is ever correct, she thought that he will just commit suicide right there and then rather than to be her knight.
She then shook off those thoughts as she saw the abominable creature by the lake. She then hastily pulled the handbrake to maneuver the car to a complete stop and a perfect park. They then got out of the car, to which she now saw Rider soaring the skies and is about to battle the abomination.
They have indeed found the youkai.
But the youkai that are there are only feasting as though there is no tomorrow. Caster narrowed her eyes at that scene as Kejoro informed the bartender that they are about to make an announcement.
The bartender nodded, but then he left with a small warning to both of the ladies that are there. Even though it lingers in their thoughts, they are still determined to make them work together to save the people there.
They stopped caring about Fuyuki city long ago. In this town, as long as you don't meddle with the balance, the balance will remain as such. Tipping the scales often is not our cup of tea unlike where you really live in, Kejoro.
Kejoro now stood in the middle of the alley where the youkai are still being merry from the excess wine that they had. The music has now stopped in respect to the one who will make an announcement. In a loud and clear voice, Kejoro now declared her intention.
"I have come here to ask for your help." Kejoro began as Caster looked on. "There is a monster that is threatening people's lives right now and I want you to help us let the people escape the clutches of this nightmare."
But then, the youkai's response is to start up the music again to their merriment.
Kejoro's eyes narrowed in anger at the youkai's response. She can only have one thought as she stared at them in her anger.
How could they be so heartless?
"Please, look at our situation here!" She then pointed to the creature that is now ravaging the riverbed. "A monster is about to eat us and the people alive! Please, I beg you, for the sake of your peace! I promise that we will never bother you again if this situation will ever arise again!"
There is no time to waste as they saw the massive creature. Kejoro now pleaded with the youkai within the vicinity to cooperate with them, but it seems that her pleas went to deaf ears.
"Why should we care about a city turned into a cauldron more than one hundred and seventy years ago?" The youkai now coldly reasoned against Kejoro's pleas.
Given that they saw in the past that they will be turned into prana once they reached one of those accursed locations called major ley points, it seems to make perfect sense to them to have a reasoning like that.
"The people that are called Magi don't care for the human race at all." One of them spits on the ground like he just tasted an unlikely drink. "Unlike ourselves that we live off of people's Fears, they really drain the people's and the youkai's life force dry.
"They have no consideration for the human race. Heck, we are more humane than them in that we let our prey escape! In this city, humans and youkai survive together through mutual benefits. It is better for us that we leave this war be. We don't want any involvement in the chaos and madness called the Holy Grail War."
Kejoro just bit off the corner of the sleeve of her kimono as she listens to those words.
She knew they were afraid, but those are not exactly the reasons that she is looking for. Therefore, no matter how shallow her conclusions will be, this is the only way that she can admonish them for their actions.
"You little ingrates and rascals…" She is about to leave when she is stopped by Caster's words.
"Let me do the talking this time." Caster now walked on past Kejoro and forward to the youkai who are still leisurely drinking like nothing is happening with their surroundings.
"B…but…" Kejoro is about to say that they will not budge even a single inch even if the whole world will implode in blood when Caster interrupted her worries.
"Trust me, they will follow your orders before you even know it." Caster winked with confidence in her face as Kejoro can only stand and watch. She can only sigh in exhaustion.
Caster now began her speech with a story as she walked calmly towards them, never even minding the ominous atmosphere surrounding the city.
"Let me tell you a story about a goddess who wanted to be a human being." Caster now began as the youkai felt that the story sounded familiar, but they can't place their finger on it where it exactly is.
"Once, there was a goddess who looked down upon what the gods and goddesses call 'mongrels'." Caster continued as her own presence is slowly emanating from her form. "The gods and goddesses treat humans as such, but for the little goddess, she saw that there is such a distinct mark about the humans that makes them what they are aside from being called as 'mongrels'."
The youkai now listened intently to the story, never minding the time is now ticking as the magnificent yet ominous beast is about to unleash havoc upon the city.
"One day, she decided to become a human, to know what it feels like to be served and to serve." Caster continued, her prana steadily rising. "From there, she got the whole human experience: love, hate, anger, happiness, sadness, surprise, fear. She got all of those emotions and more.
"But in exchange, she lost her identity as a goddess, and the people identified her only by her human name. Still, her beauty is considered as ethereal and otherworldly to other people. She has retained this form so far, until that day when that onmyouji arrived.
"When that day did came though, as she looked herself in the mirror, she felt devastated and betrayed by everyone. Her true form had appeared overnight and she can consider it as a monstrosity. But still, she never blamed the emperor for his ensuing actions after the onmyouji accused her of being the reason for the emperor's illness. Still believing that he still loves her, she now faced eighty thousand soldiers for his sake, and out of her despair, she killed them with a single spell.
"She now realized that she is now an unstoppable monster, and felt grief for the people that she killed. In her deep despair, in her second confrontation with the people and attempting to plead to the people to stop their madness, she never noticed an arrow coming her way among the millions of arrows that the soldiers shot at her, and that marked the end of the goddess who wanted to be human."
The youkai slowly widened their eyes in shock as swirls of wind now slowly gather on her form.
"Now, I have a question for all of you…" Caster monotonously quipped as she now increased her reserves. "Who do you think is that goddess?"
Caster then casually inhaled the fresh air gathering on her before exhaling and leaving a brief spike of prana that momentarily shook the pavement. Accompanied with her stern and wary golden eyes, the hazy ominous vapor now surrounded the goddess.
The youkai can only shake in fear after they realized who she is.
"T…Ta…Tama…." There are no words for them to describe what just happened. Before they can even say the name of the legend, she now stared down at them, leaving them a word of caution.
"Say my name, and I will personally guarantee the eradication of your existence." She now declared with her eyes hazed in wariness. "I can personally assure you that no human will ever hear of your legends ever again, as though they have only experienced a moment of nightmare."
"Now, may I ask all of you to please cooperate with us, even for a really short time." Caster continued with a fickle smile as the youkai now stood in pale shock at what they witnessed. "Do I make myself perfectly understood?"
Their mouths shut in utter silence, the youkai can only nod their heads as a sign of agreement. Caster then twirled around to follow Kejoro.
"Well, all is set! Let's go, Kejoro – san!" Caster skipped giddily like nothing has ever happened. The youkai can only be appalled at the one hundred eighty degree turn in her personality. They have now learned their lesson.
Never provoke the gods to anger.
Both Servants and Masters are now concerned of the existences that threaten the ritual of the Holy Grail War. Gilles de Rais and Uryuu Ryuunosuke are two of those existences which threaten the ritual to such a disturbing degree meant to be taken care of by those who are concerned of the integrity of the secret that is kept for the past three consecutive wars in Fuyuki.
Although there are some of them who doubts the intention for the sudden halt of the Holy Grail War, and that each Master and Servant has their own intentions, on this night, their goal is one and the same.
A/N: Whew, what a joy ride!
If you follow my other story, you can find out obvious differences there, as well as spoilers. :)
Please enjoy the chapter, rate and review.