Episode 3

Kirei Kotomine's lip curled in disgust as the air filled with the scents of burnt meat and burning cloth as a presence approached the church. What poor creature was about to step through the entrance? The doors slowly creaked open, causing the disgust he felt to grow as a figure limped their way down the center aisle. There were the faintest traces of mana wisps around them and there were all too familiar faded markings upon the left hand that was raised towards him. "What can I do for you, former Master of Saber?"

"Look at me!" Her shrill shout reverberated off the walls, waking the sleeping Hassan who instantly took notice of her sorry state. The closer she came to their master the more they gathered in case she decided to lash out hastily. Ms Chono came to a stop a few feet from reaching the Overseer, her burning embers for eyes spilling tears as her charred skin cracked then bled. "Those rotten brats not only completely defeated my darling Servant but they had the audacity to do this to me!"

"War is not kind to anyone."

Her eyes narrowed, a hiss coming from between her chapped lips. "I am not an imbecile, my plan was working perfectly until that wretched Ruler showed up."

The Hassan all inhaled softly, their gazes locked on their Master as he visibly recoiled as if the woman's words had struck him. He quickly crossed the remaining space between them and roughly grasped her chin within his hand. "Woman, no such Servant has been summoned in this Holy Grail War." He tightened his hold when she attempted to wretched herself free. "It was due to your lack of skill that your own Servant failed in a battle with another."

"Let's not be hasty, Master." All attention shifted towards the figure that materialized next to the alter, lounging as though they were watching an entertaining drama performance. His lips were lifted into a lazy smile as the woman's eyes practically raked over his skin that was visible thanks to the open center of his coat. When he had been alive many such as herself would seek him out for his body despite him not being the usual type that women normally swarmed; his entire demeanor was the opposite and it seemed to work almost better than those blonde princely types. He made a gesture for his master to release the woman and she all but hurried to his side when he held out his hand to her. Females were far too easy to manipulate yet he never tired of it. "Now, my dear, why don't you tell me everything."

. . . .

Yugi glanced down at his cell as it lit up, an incoming call from his grandfather, but hurriedly swiped to ignore it as they approached the Mazaki residence. "Sorry, gramps, I'll tell you someday." He was about to touch the entrance gate when he was called back by Ruler, saying that he should go first to alter the runes so that they could enter, and took a step back to allow them to pass.

Pharaoh didn't even look at the young mage as he passed. He wasted no time in entering then making a straight dash for her bedroom, all the while adjusting the runes that created the barrier he had put up himself. He had just placed her upon the bed when he noticed a hole within them as well as an unknown presence that was rummaging around in the kitchen. Possibly a burglar but there was an aged mana that was similar to a wine he once sampled. "Who goes?" He called, ensuring that he stood between the bed and the room's only entryway as footsteps approached. His amethyst eyes widened slightly as a weathered old man entered, carrying a tray containing three steaming mugs and a teapot that whistled softly.

"That grandson of mine has a lot to learn when it comes to fooling this old fox." Solomon chuckled, placing the tray upon the bedside table as he regarded Anzu with a sad look when she whimpered softly. "Don't you worry, I'll patch you up in no time." His wrinkled hand rested atop of her forehead as he turned his attention to the conflicted Servant. "Go, tell him to return home for now and that I will see him once she has been tended to. I give you my word that no harm will come to your master while I am here." His tone softened when the servant refused to move. "You do your master honor but I will not hesitate to cast a sleeping rune…oh goodness."

"Grandpa?!" Yugi's eyes were wide as he froze in the doorway. He had never been upstairs in several years since her father had given him 'my daughter's bedroom is forbidden to any man' speech but the voice of his grandfather had lured him beyond the issued boundary. Wide pale lilac hued eyes darted from him to Ruler and hastily closed the door behind himself when Castor approached. His cheeks burned when the old mage narrowed his gaze and asked why he had closed the door when no one else was in the residence beside his own servant. He'd been found out. "I can explain."

Solomon shook his head, crossing his arms. "That can wait, Yugi, but for now you must go home. I do not have time to deal with you and two patients." He held up a hand when his grandson protested and was about to sternly insist that he left when an idea occurred to him. The Ruler Class Servant looked incredibly low on mana as articles of their clothing disappeared while they took a seat upon the bed, looking as though they were on the verge of falling over, which meant that he would need more than this old man's mana to fully tend to either of them. Yugi's eyebrow rose when he crossed the room and stared him in the eye. "Unless you plan on passing on your mana supply to one of them I suggest you go home." Confusion shone brightly in his grandson's eyes, though the amethyst ones of the Servant shone with understanding. "When one is injured and lacking of mana, the other must offer their own by any means necessary."

"Great, I can do that." Yugi nodded.

He shook his head. "With Anzu as inexperienced as you are, there is slim chance next to none that it would be successful especially since her magical circuits are underdeveloped. The only possible way that she could receive any is if it is transferred first into her Servant," his head bobbed towards Ruler, "then he can transfer the mana to her physically."

A gut wrenching feeling wormed in his stomach. "What do you mean?"

All eyes shifted to the bed when both master and servant released a pain filled gasp, their hands finding the other's as their complexions grew even lighter. "There is no time," the Ruler Servant gasped, holding out his free hand. "Grasp my forearm and I shall do the rest." The elder mage's eyes widened but hurried to do as instructed and shook his head when Yugi hesitated. He wouldn't need much to heal his master but the young mage's mana resources were still going to be needed if they both were going to recover in a timely matter. His gaze met Solomon's, earning a nod, and the mage closed his eyes as he willed his magical circuits to open. The flow was slow but the affect was immediately felt as the pharaoh felt the familiar tingle of mana spread throughout his arm. He pulled away when the sensation had reaching his elbow and placed the same hand upon his master's wounds when the old mage stumbled backwards into his grandson. If he had siphoned anymore from the elder it would have caused problems for the one who had offered assistance though he wasn't involved in the Holy Grail War.

Solomon must had understood his actions and quickly ushered his grandson forward. "I'm too old for him to have use of my mana, Yugi, it's up to you now."

"I don't even know what's going on!" The teenager's eyes were wide with panic when Anzu gave a soft sob, the mana that had been accumulated around Ruler's fingertips manifesting into golden ribbons that entered her being. All of this was moving far too quick for his liking and he wasn't fond of the way his grandfather had simply accepted the servant's overtake of the situation. From the books he'd read, Servants could preserve their mana by limiting their appearance or outfit pieces to corporeal forms, which the pharaoh had removed all of the decorative jewelry until he was left the pharaoh in his simple tunic, but what upset the teenager most was how his friend was lying there in agony and that it had been his fault she had been hurt in the first place. The faint pink in his cheeks wasn't missed by his grandfather when the lace of her undergarment was torn away so the servant could better work. His eyes locked on Solomon's when his earlier words rang in his mind. "When you said that the mana could then be transferred to her physically…" The light dusting turned into bright red as his face burned when his grandfather nodded, answering his unvoiced question. "You can't be serious!"

. . . .

"Master, the one we hunt is nearby." Valkyrie's eyes carefully scanned the rooftop. Their previous battle had nearly destroyed the building, thanks to their Noble Phantasm, but it had been cutoff by the opposing Master's quick use of a paralyzation spell. Her master had been none too pleased about the waste of mana but he'd had little time to mourn for it since the one he called 'Heir Kaiba' took his turn to be offensive. The mage's skill was impressive, even to the warriors that made up her being, but she would never admit aloud that her master may be in over his head. They deftly stepped to the left when something brushed their long golden hair, casting a glance over their shoulder in time to spot their Master retract his hand to comb through his own dark auburn locks. "What are your orders?"

He looked about in a lazy manner, as if bored. "Don't tell me dat he turned tail. Things were just about to get interesting now that my Command Spells have been replenished." He tsked softly. "That damn Overseer is a bit too bland for my taste. I guarantee you he has never heard that deep violets are the rage while the head-to-toe black is so last year." His gaze wandered aimlessly until it rested once more upon his servant. "So, my dear servant, what wish would you ask of the Grail?" She didn't answer, her focus upon the lance in her hand as though she couldn't hear him. What a tease! He approached her with a smile lifting his lips. "Come now, if we cannot entertain ourselves without an opponent what does that make us?"

"A pair of fools who don't know when to quit." A pair of cold sapphire eyes glittered with amusement when they spun on their heels. Neither had noticed his presence, which had been there the whole time, which was disappointing in a way. Even with him seated upon one of the support beams that once held up his office that wasn't more than twenty paces away from them they hadn't noticed him. "Zigfried, you're losing your touch if you just realized that I'm here." His lips lifted into a smirk when the Van Schroeder fumed. His eyes had instantly spotted the newly restored command spells upon his rival's skin and bit back a huff. "I see you paid a visit to the Overseer. No matter, even those won't help you this time." Valkyrie spun as a soft hiss came from behind them, their eyes growing wide as they looked up into the maw of a monstrous white dragon.

. . . .

Kirei looked away as the woman crumbled to dust, his servant howling with near maniacal laughter as he cleaned himself up with the discarded coat. The Overseer was more than aware of the way mana could pass between Servant and mage but the act in itself was something he rather disliked. It had taken the former master too long to realize what was happening due to the immense physical ministrations of his servant to notice that he was consuming every drop of mana her being had to offer. If he hadn't just heard the story himself he would have still been in denial. To think that a Ruler Class Servant had been summoned for the first time in nearly a century was an extraordinary thing in itself but to hear that he had not only removed her Command Spells but also rendered her to the sorry state that she had come to them as was near mind boggling. It had filled the blank space he had been needing though when attempting to distinguish the identity of his own. "So," he called, effectively earning the Servant's attention. "If Ruler has been summoned, than that would make you an Avenger, one whose hatred is caught within an endless cycle."

"Polar opposites to affect the balance of the ever tilting scales that is the Holy Grail War." The servant crowed loudly, slipping off of the altar to bow lowly as his clothing reappeared with a snap of his fingers. "My master is truly wise."

"That particular class is specifically for vindictive warriors that bear great hatred in the past, each the embodiment of hatred itself and represent the dark side of the Holy Grail. What caused you become one who qualified by such a specific class?" A shiver passed down his spine when his servant fixed him with a look that would render any other person immobile. He had heard of the rumors of the Avenger Class, that they attacked their own master when given the opportunity, yet his own hadn't even attempted once to take his life. "Most enter the class due to a sour encounter with the emotion called 'love'. Is that what happened to you?"

The Hassan hissed shrilly as the servant suddenly launched themselves at the Overseer, his eyes wide and tainted with a black hue that rivaled their shadows as he was blocked by his master's spell that kept him from their being colliding, his livid expression cast within the green spell's light. A dark chuckle rumbled within his chest as his burning eyes bore into Kirei's. "It is none of your business, mage, so do not ask about it again." Red chains rose from the ground, entangling themselves around his being and forced him to the ground as a command spell was used. "Unhand me this instant!"

"Calm yourself, King of Thieves," Kirei sighed, smoothing out the wrinkles within his robes as his servant glared up at him. "You will learn that I as your master will not tolerate your antics unless I deem them necessary." His dead-like eyes widened with alarm when the Avenger roared, the Hassan remaining where they were as the red chains of the command spell flashed as he writhed.

"Not even your damned Command Spells will stop me now that I know he has been summoned!" The air filled with the sounds of shattering as he flexed and the chains became splinters. His lips lifted into a sneer as his master rolled up the sleeve that held the leftover command spells.

. . . .

"You have to promise that you won't go all the way."

The pharaoh glared at the young mage. "For the hundredth time, I do not have to promise you anything! While you are standing there blubbering like a half-drowned meerkat my master is laying here dying so no, I will not satisfy your measly musings by making a promise that does not mean anything!" His amethyst bore into Yugi's pale eyes, tone heavy with the hints of pain yet full of determination. "I will do whatever is necessary to save my master, even if it means that I will have to commit myself to punishment later. Nothing is worse than watching someone you care for pass before your eyes in what can only be described as a slow torturous death that none should have to go through. Our time together has been short so far but I would happily give the heart within my chest if it meant that she would have a chance to continue living. Not many can say they that about their masters, most merely view their servants as tools or objects to be used…" His gaze softened as it fell to the floor. "My master has treated me with nothing but kindness. I have to repay her."

Solomon, who had been watching the exchange between the two, rubbed his chin while deep in thought. The resemblance between them was uncanny yet their personalities clashed in a way that was most surprising; what one lacked the other forced the other to develop. All eyes turned to the bed as the young woman coughed, a thin trail of blood trickling down her chin from the corner of her lips. "Time's up." His hands fell upon Yugi's shoulders. "You both care for her in ways that the other cannot understand but you can at least acknowledge each other's feelings."

Yugi's gaze slid back to Anzu. Of course he cared for her, she was his best friend! How could either of them expect him to stand back and simply watch as her servant…no, a stranger… Shaking his head, he swallowed the lump in his throat and grasped onto the pharaoh's forearm. "I don't like this anymore than I like you," he muttered, eyes narrowing but allowing his circuits to open. "But I'll do anything for her even if I can't be the one to save her."

The Ruler Class Servant was nearly taken aback by the magnitude of mana that flooded into his being. Images of his master and the young mage ranging from childhood to current time flashed before his eyes, the almost painful longing that came with each memory were testimony to Yugi's feelings towards Anzu. His arms quickly caught the teen as he lost consciousness, the blazing mana within him manifesting as a golden fire that surround him as he quickly passed the teen to Solomon but not before he rested a hand atop of Yugi's head. "Admiration can only get you so far," he whispered into the sleeping mage's ear. "Only when acted upon do your true feelings gain light and can be given the opportunity to be accepted." Straightening his spine, he nodded once to both Castor and Solomon as they quickly departed then turned his attention towards the bed.

. . . .

His breathing came in short quick breaths, gaze locked upon the servant before him. "To think that even five command spells wouldn't be enough to force you to obey your master." Kirei had thrown away the overcoat, exposing his toned upper torso that had been well trained over the span of his life in preparation for each of the Holy Grail Wars as well as his profession requiring him to be sound in both mind and body.

"Don't be cocky, foolish Master of mine." Bakura growled, licking his lips as the mage glared daggers at him. "I can see it clearly now. You tried your upmost to become a son to be proud of, excelling physically and magically, but things don't always turn out the way we planned. Even with your advanced magical circuits you still couldn't make up for the one thing you lack."

Kirei's brows furrowed as his upper lip curled in a suppressed snarl. He of all people was well aware of his fault. Unlike most, he was not born right in the emotional sense. Not even marrying and having a family had made his hollow chest feel the warmth of love. The scene of his wife dying replayed in his mind like a broken record but his heart remained unmoved no matter how many times he relived it. Emotions forever to seem out of his reach, at least those related to what was supposed to be the root of every mage's power source. It was an ancient philosophy that had been researched throughout the times. "It matters little."

Cold eyes narrowed. "I can help with that."

A howl of pain erupted from the Avenger as the crimson chains around his being flared with heat that burned his skin. "Lies are not becoming of you, Servant."

"Of the many lies I have spoken, this is not one of them." Bakura gasped, lips lifting into a malicious smile. "With my Noble Phantasm, you will be as you've never been before."

. . . .

Seto rested a hand against the dragon's snout as it purred lowly, dropping the golden lance it held between its jaws. "That was quicker than expected." It huffed in his face as it morphed, returning to its more acceptable shape that looked similar to his own. He had supplied his Rider Class Servant with more than enough mana for the transformation but even it had not been enough to last more than the battle. The golden instrument of battle within his hands dissipated like smoke as the fallen Lancer did, his opponent out cold in the hole he had been slammed into during the fight. "I expected no less from my servant."

"Of course I would not fail."

Sapphire eyes locked on his fallen opponent, taking note that no trace of mana was left within the unconscious rival. "Take him to the nearby hospital then return to me." He didn't have to look to know that his servant sent him a sideways glare before it carried out his order then disappeared. His focus though was upon the horizon. The sun had set not too long ago, meaning that it was still early evening, and that it was a slight problem. There had been no sign of any other master besides Lancer's. Was he the only one in the nearby vicinity?

"Come on, now, I'm much older than you are so this whole lugging who thing should be turned around." His eyes quickly spotted the a shadowed pair that was slowly making their way down the street. One an old man who was clearly struggling to hold up a slightly taller yet younger individual who looked to be slipping in and out of consciousness. A very interesting sight to behold. He was taken aback by a shadow that rose behind them. "He is your master, why aren't you the one carrying him?"

A yellow stone appeared between his fingers, whispering a quick spell while tossing it towards them. It enclosed them within a sphere that would prevent any entrance or departure that he didn't allow. "So you show yourself to me finally." His brows rose when the spell shattered into small shards. "What?"

"Oh, what fun! A new person to entertain me!" The shadow morphed, becoming a magician looking individual that looked as though they stepped right out of a comic book with the bright and clashing color palettes that made its outfit. Tacky: yes; Thrown together: likely; Childish: absolutely.

Seto's gaze narrowed. Everything about this…thing rubbed him the wrong way all the way down to the sing-song voice he used. "Are you supposed to be a Servant or joke?" He had asked, was this what he was supposed to accept? His gaze momentarily rose up to the sky as if questioning the higher powers of why it had to be such a ridiculous opponent, only earning silence. The Master of Rider refocused upon the pair when the old man bowed his head in apology, saying that they were merely on their way home and weren't looking for any trouble. His jaw tightened when the old geezer even bent his head while asking for safe passage. "When a Master crosses the path of another, there are only two options that can play out: battle or surrender. Which do you pick, old man?"

"Not him, it's me." The teen with the craziest hair he had ever seen startled and stiffened. "S-sorry, we didn't mean to bother. Castor can be a bit mischievous sometimes so please forgive his rudeness."

"So you're its master." He cast a speed increase spell and launched himself towards the teen with an attack rune ready in his palm. "Let's duel."

. . . .

"I have yet to witness your Noble Phantasm in action. What makes you think that I will allow you to perform it upon myself?"

The King of Thieves smirked. "You've seen what I have done to Assassin, he's nothing more than my own personal plaything. And I know you've noticed that he isn't exactly feeling like himself either." His gaze directed Kirei's own to the Hassan that were watching in silence from their designated stations, a few looked to be poised to attack in case something were to happen, but above all most of their gazes were locked upon the largest shadow of all that was The First. "He has not yet said a word this entire time, yes? Why do you suppose that is?"

Kirei closed his eyes for a few seconds, examining the mana that was around the servant in question. He had noticed Assassin's strange silence but above all he had taken note of the strange markings that now covered the Old Man of the Mountain. They looked like cracks in his skin and armor that were a similar shade of crimson to his own servant's coat. The answer dawned on him as he glanced between the two, the command spells that had been in affect that held his Avenger Class Servant at bay diminished. "Your Noble Phantasm can turn Servants into their Alter forms then turn them into your own Servant."

"Very good. It's an exclusive power that only I posses so I would suggest you count yourself lucky." Bakura rolled his head, cracking for several seconds as he stretched. His eyes flashed dangerously as he grinned so wickedly that even caused the cold Overseer to feel a shiver pass down his spine. "It's known as The Alter's Embodiment Cradle. Once you're ensnared within it, all of your inhibitions and cares melt away until all that's left are the things that you could never bring yourself to act upon." He gestured towards his own servant. "From Assassin, I have quite literally swapped his class attributes without affecting his original class while converting him to his Alter. Allow me to reintroduce you to The First Hassan, originally summoned as an Assassin but now has the attributes of one of the most feared classes in existence, Berserker."

Kirei's eyes were wide now. Never had he heard of such a powerful Noble Phantasm in all of his life. Every book and person he had encountered never mentioned one that could perform such a feat; many could heal while most were attacks, none had he heard of that could apply a different class's attributes to a Servant and further cause them to undergo a transformation into an Alter form. Such power was unprecedented even to the Mage's Association. Even Assassin's former Master, though a child, had been defeated despite his ties to the ancient organization that held the world's deepest secrets in the palms of their hands. Add the fact that the defeated Servant then falls under a new contract with the one responsible for their transformation and you have an incredibly dangerous enemy that may be unstoppable…or the ultimate weapon. "Explain why you would offer to perform it upon one such as myself."

Quick Note and Forewarning about Next Episode:

It will be rated M for Adult Themes/Suggestions! If you are 18 or younger I suggest you skip the next upload.

As a hint, it will concern the original method that Shirou was able to pass mana to his Servant Saber in the original FateStayNight series.

See you soon!