Chapter 4: Inherent Flaw

#16-Strength and power can only be measured by one's ability to wield them.

"What makes you so sure they're going to strike today?" Rin asked as we walked toward the Matou residence.

"They made a mistake with Mitsuzuri," the same mistake they may have made with me. "They brought too much attention to the disappearances. Attacking such a public figure means school will likely be suspended if anymore go missing, prominent or not. With that uncertainty, this may be the last day they can act."

Rin fell silent at the mention of Mitsuzuri. I knew she was worried about her friend, but there wasn't much I could say to dissuade such worries. It was entirely likely that she and all the other missing students were dead, completely consumed by Rider.

"Once we kill Rider, we'll interrogate her master. We'll find out what they did to her," for better or worse.

Rin appeared to be mildly reassured by my words, but I could tell she wasn't going to feel better until she got her answer.

Sakura greeted us as she had the previous day, a friendly wave and an odd look. If we kept doing this, Sakura may begin to see through the lie. Rin may get her wish of sleeping in.

Another quiet walk to the school, but this time I thought I felt a slight tension in the air. It wasn't often, but Sakura's eyes would flit over to Rin before facing the ground.

I'm not a dense person. Part of Father's training was learning to read and understand others. If you know the reasons behind their movements and words, you can better influence and manipulate with yours. I knew Sakura had feelings for me, which was another effective way of digging at Shinji. I felt a little bad about it though because I'd never be able to reciprocate. She was a means to an end, even if I'd grown to enjoy her company.

We arrived at the school and split off like last time, Rin telling me to meet her on the roof during lunch. I went to the Student Council Room only to find Issei asleep in a chair. I stayed with him until it was time for class, waking him up once it was.

We walked into the classroom, and I immediately noted our resident worm was nowhere to be seen. First, he acts cold and fidgety yesterday, now he's absent from school. Add in Mitsuzuri, and I find that pawn is likely his new occupation. It would explain why she needed to be taken as well. Shinji likely made a mistake that required her silence.

Time passed as uneventfully as any other day, with the exception that Kuzuki seemed bothered by something during class. Perhaps Caster's draining was beginning to affect him. I'd have to deal her soon.

I went up to the roof as Rin requested, assuming Issei wouldn't mind as he was probably taking another nap. I sat down beside Rin, watching her eat a sandwich as I unpacked mine. I assumed Archer would make our lunches like yesterday, but Rin had made these herself. When I asked why, she had brushed me off.

"When do you think they're going to activate it?" she asked, swallowing down the last bit of one sandwich half.

"Well," I bit into my own sandwich. "If it were me, I'd attack right now, during lunch, or near the end of the day, right after school let out. The latter option is riskier, but they'd gain more mana from the parents picking up their children."

"So, we're either about to be trapped, or we'll be waiting a few more hours."

Or, the third option I didn't want to consider. It's possible they wouldn't act today, meaning I had misread the enemy. The actions spoke of an impatient master, unwilling to wait for opportunities to appear. Add in their servant's poor opinion of them, and it spoke of one who acts rashly, only looking far enough to see what actions would bring results in the now. I didn't believe I was wrong in my assumption, but I had to consider the possibility.

"I suppose we'll see soon enough," I took another bite from the sandwich.

Several bites later, Rin spoke up once more.

"So, what do you think?"

"I think mine are better," I said with a smirk

The punch to my arm was a little too hard to be playful. Despite that, I saw Rin was giving me a smile

"I don't hear you complaining."

"I didn't say it was bad," I finished off the last bit of sandwich. "Just that mine are better."

"Well then, I'll tell Archer you'll be making our meals from now on."

"Now, why would I…"

Suddenly, the air began crackling with magic power. I lurched to my feet, Rin close behind, to see jagged pillars of red arc into the sky and coalesce into a crimson sphere. The sphere jostled around and opened to reveal a red eye peering out over the school. The pillars of energy began to expand, closing the gaps between them until they formed a giant dome over the school, the eye at the center.

As a red glow began to envelope the school, I felt my body begin to seize up. My breath caught in my throat while my heart felt like it was going through a pressure cooker. I was barely able to keep myself standing up.

"Shirou," Rin put a hand on my shoulder, and I felt a pulse of mana begin running through my circuits. The pressure in my chest lessened, and I felt like I could move again. "You need to keep circulating your mana. You won't be able to resist it otherwise."

I did as she said, flooding my circuits with mana until the pain became only a dull throb. My breathing eased as I stood straight once more.

"Guess it's my turn to do something," I said, raising my left hand to look at my command seals.

I stretched my hand out before me, feeling the seals pulse as though preparing for my command.

"By my command seal, I summon you. Come to me, Saber!"

Red light erupted from my hand a one seal flashed and vanished. A blue orb appeared as the air swirled around it. Saber, already clad in her armor, emerged from the sphere and kneeled before me.

"Master," Saber rose, her face calm and composed. "I came at your summons. What has happened?"

"Rider has trapped the school in a bounded field," Rin answered for me. "It's more dangerous than we thought, acting as a mana siphon. If we don't act quickly, everyone in the school will be drained."

"Saber," I drew my servant's attention back to me. "Can you sense where Rider is?"

Saber closed her eyes before turning to the door leading to the stairway.

"Stay close to me, Master," she moved toward the door. "We don't want to be caught unaware."

Rin and I followed her as she dashed down the steps into the school. As we passed each floor, I caught quick glimpses of students collapsed in the hallways, probably on their way to eat. We had to finish this quickly, especially since I was certain that copper smell wasn't there before.

When we reached the ground floor, Saber turned the corner towards the science classroom. Made sense. Science class takes place right before lunch, so it was almost guaranteed to be empty during it.

Saber slowed her pace, her hands going to her side as she walked down the hallway. We followed from a few meters away. If servants were about to do battle, we'd want to give them enough room.

As Saber reached the closest door, a familiar looking nail and chain pierced the door and struck out toward her. She swung the unseen blade to deflect the weapon. The nail whipped to the side before stabbing down to wrap Saber's leg. Saber immediately slashed through the chain before charging and bashing down the door, leaving me and Rin in the hallway.

Rin made to move forward, but I held out my arm.

"If Rider's there," I asked her. "Where's her master?"

She stopped and seemed to come to the same conclusion as me. No master would purposefully have their servant draw another into an enclosed space with them. Her master was somewhere close by.

"They could have hidden themselves on a different floor," Rin said, looking at the broken door. "Without their servant close by, it would be tricky to find them."

I heard wood break and glass shatter from within the room while I considered our next move. If they were hiding among the bodies, it wouldn't be too hard to sort out who they were, except for the fact that there were too many rooms to check. If Saber couldn't put down Rider in time, her master would be the least of our worries.

I felt the malice crawl up my spine, and I pushed Rin into the wall while lurching back to the opposite one. Large black waves shredded through the floor and ripped past us to slam into the end of the hallway.

"Why can't you have the decency to die already?"

I looked at the source of the angry cry. My eyes widened as the voice matched the face I saw peering at me from between tousled blue locks.

Shinji Matou stood there with a deep scowl on his face, a red book opened in his right hand as he stretched out his left. A black wave streaked across the wall of windows I was leaning against, shattering each pane of glass as it rushed over them toward me. I ducked down to avoid it, drawing a black key and hurling it at Shinji. I was surprised to see a shadowy wall appear before him and block the key before it hit him.

None of this made sense. The Matou family was crippled magically. Yet, Shinji was casting some kind of spell to both attack and defend. And it was Shinji!

"You must think I'm an idiot."

Shinji looked over at Rin who had begun to stand up. Black waves cut through the ceiling above her, sending debris to fall on her. Rin launched herself backward to avoid the rubble as I pulled three keys into my right hand and infused their blades.

"You think I didn't notice how you've been acting the last two years? I see through you, Shirou Kotomine, and I refuse to be mocked!"

Dark lines appeared in the air and shot toward us like arrows. I raised my hand, the keys' blades expanding to block the attack while Rin rolled over to stand behind me. The force felt like true arrows, the dark shapes screeching as they deflected above and below me to impale in the building. I wrapped my left arm around Rin as she pulled out a red gemstone and hurled it toward Shinji. We dove out the shattered window into the grassy park behind the school building as the gemstone exploded, a cloud of red wafting out.

"I thought the Matou were magically impotent," I said as we stood up, noticing a couple students collapsed on the ground and in benches. I grimaced in irritation. They'd likely get caught up in the crossfire if this went on too long. Not that it mattered if we couldn't stop this field.

"They should be," Rin replied as she drew another gemstone from her jacket. "Except for Sakura."

Sakura. Did she know this was coming? Had Shinji warned her? If so, she would have left before the field raised. That, or they set counter for her.

Questions for later. Shadows sliced through the building wall to form a square that fell outward. Rin threw a yellow gem toward the hole. The gem hung in the air, mana bleeding out to form a golden spear that streaked through the gap that formed.

There was a flash of light and the sound of rumbling thunder as the spear crashed into a pitch-black field. Both field and spear vanished as Shinji closed the book he was holding.

"There's something cathartic about this," Shinji said as he walked over the section of wall. "All that mana we collected, finally being used, and how blatantly outmatched you are."

He reopened his book as a pompous laugh filled the air. Rin and I dodged to opposite sides as waves lashed out at us. I hurled the keys in my hand toward Shinji. Two off to the sides, and one aimed for his chest. As expected, the direct key was deflected by his field, but, as the other two passed him, I redirected them toward the master.

Shinji quickly backstepped, barely avoiding the keys that impaled the ground where he'd been previously. When he did, Rin called up and fired a gandr at him. Shinji stretched out his hand and stopped the curse with his hand. Seeming to grab it, he drew it back and threw his arm out, a red-tinged black wave spreading out before him. I ducked down to avoid it, Rin following my example.

"This is incredible!" black lines appeared in the air around him. "It's everything I imagined!"

I projected black keys and launched them at the lines, each shattering against the dark arrows, but also causing them to dissipate. I noticed Rin drawing a purple crystal from coat and giving me a look. I projected three keys in each hand as several waves sliced toward us both. Instead of dodging like Rin, I charged the waves, weaving through a gap I saw between the attacks. I slipped through as Rin tossed the crystal above Shinji, who cast his eyes upward to follow it. The gem shattered, sparkling violet shards scattering overhead before crashing down on top of him, a purple dome forming on his body.

"What!" he cried as he was forced to his knees, the book falling from his hand.

I dashed over the distance between us, keys spread out at my sides, ready finish him before he could recover. Needless to say, it brought me no end of frustration when she descended from the sky.

Rider landed between us and slammed the spiked guard of her nail into my chest. The metal spikes bit into me, causing me to drop the keys as I careened backward and slammed into an empty bench that promptly collapsed under the force. As Rider charged me, I saw Saber dashing down the side of the school, leaping off to flip through the air and land between me and Rider. Saber's invisible blade slashed, causing Rider to dodged back toward her master. As she did, Rin rushed to my side and helped me to my feet, keeping her eyes on our enemy.

"This is where our game ends, Kotomine," Shinji said, standing up after Rider shattered the purple dome with her nails. "A shame, really. I was hoping for a more dramatic ending."

"This isn't over," I gently pushed Rin away. "Until your head is on my sword."

"Don't you get it?" He said with mocking laughter. "I don't even have to kill you. In another minute, this field will do all the work for me. The only reason I'm here is because I wanted to see your face when you realize you lost to me."

As if on cue, Rider let out a cry of pain and clutched a hand to the mask covering her eyes. The red hue began to drain away from the world, returning once more to its original color. Shinji glanced at his servant and then at the world around him, confusion and anger intermingling on his face.

"What did you do?" he cried in outrage.

Saber, not one to waste such an opportunity, charged the pair.

"Rider!" Shinji exclaimed indignantly, the slightest twinge of fear mixed in.

His servant reacted, grabbing her master and dashing faster than I'd seen her move into the building. Saber followed them, leaving me and Rin alone in the park.

I used the respite to examine where Rider had punched me, finding three shallow holes in my uniform. The pain had already begun receding, likely due to Avalon.

"I might have to start buying more if this keeps up," I muttered to myself.

Rin looked as though she was about to say something but was cut off by the resonating crashing that came from inside the school. Neither of us suggested going to investigate.

"Master."

We whirled around, me projecting a key and Rin aiming her arm, a gandr swirling on the tips of her fingers.

Archer looked completely unphased by our threats of violence, his eyes fixed on Rin.

"I came as soon as I saw Saber being summoned away. Once I had deduced the problem, I disabled the field."

"You what?" Rin exclaimed incredulously, her gandr fading away. "I could feel that thing's power. That bounded field was on the level of a noble phantasm. How did you dispel it?"

Archer gave me an odd look before holding out his hand. The air around his hand distorted, and soon, an ornate dagger of black and red with an iridescent, jagged blade appeared.

"With this."

He didn't elaborate further, but, strangely enough, he didn't need to. As I looked upon the dagger, information seemed to seep into my mind. Its structure, material, and capabilities flowed as with so many other weapons. I was surprised by this as, from what I gleaned from the situation, this weapon was likely a noble phantasm. Despite this, I felt reasonably sure I could recreate it, though I knew that thought was absurd.

From the look on her face, Rin hadn't known about this weapon either. I remembered that Archer claimed to not know his true name, which meant that Rin didn't. If this was his noble phantasm, what kind of hero was he to possess such a weapon, especially if he was summoned as an Archer?

As the dagger faded away, Saber ran toward us from around the corner of the school.

"Master," she said, glancing at Archer before speaking. "Rider and her master escaped. Forgive me. I was unable to keep up with them."

I felt my irritation begin to rise. This is what I had brought upon us, having so willfully blinded myself. Shinji, how many signs did I brush aside to let you get this far?

"Rin," I tried to keep the frustration out of my words, but I wasn't certain I totally succeeded. "There's something I need to check. Could you go to the faculty room and call 119?"

Rin seemed a bit confused by my question but began moving toward the hole in the school.

"Archer," she called to her servant.

Archer stared at me before turning to follow Rin, dematerializing as he did so.

When they moved out of view into the building, I spoke to Saber.

"Saber," I pointed up the building's side. "Take me to the fourth floor. Break a window if you need to."

Saber followed my finger before facing me again. I kept my face stern, not wanting to be bothered by useless questions. She seemed to understand.

The servant took me in her arms and sprinted toward the building wall. She leaped a few meters away, landing against the wall feet first before continuing to run up the side. When we reached the fourth floor, Saber stomped a foot on one of the hallway windows. The glass shattered inward, and Saber helped me through the window.

I didn't waste time waiting for Saber to slip inside. I began walking to where I knew class 1-C was. Despite what he might have done, Sakura was still his sister. It's only expected that he would've given her warning of what he was planning. Then again, Sakura would have likely been against something like this. It's possible…

I slid the classroom door open and was greeted by the sickly-sweet smell of cooking flesh. Students were slumped at their desks or collapsed on the floor; their bodies strewn in visibly uncomfortable positions. The students' flesh were red and raw, strange inflamed scars lining any visible skin.

Saber stood in the doorway as I began moving through the classroom, careful not to step on any of the unconscious victims as I searched. I found her, lying motionless beside a window seat. Her face and hands were lined with boils and burns. I kneeled, reaching out my hand to touch her before stopping myself. The rest of her body was probably covered in those burns. Touching her would only hurt her. I held my hand before her nose and mouth, feeling the soft movement of the air as she slowly breathed in and out.

Despite my deliberate actions, I felt an overwhelmingly irrational anger begin to boil in my chest. Why was I so incensed? I made this choice. I chose to let Rider and Shinji enact their plan. I knew Sakura would be here. If their deaths were required to win this war, then I would push the blade in myself. They didn't…

"Shi…rou…"

Sakura's eyes didn't open. She didn't even seem to know I was here. Her hand, red and scarred, weakly moved along the floor as though it was seeking something. Her features, pained and afraid, began to ease as I placed my hand over her's. I wondered what she saw in her dreams that caused her to speak.

I slowly drew my hand away and rose, the anger reaching a tipping point as it faded into a dark calm.

"Saber," I looked at my servant, her calm matching my own. "This ends tonight."

Saber nodded.

We vacated the school grounds as soon as we met up, my temper leveling out as sirens blared in the distance. Rin looked as though she could tell something was wrong but didn't bring it up. Instead, we talked about what we'd do next.

"We should investigate the Matou house," Rin said as we made our way down the street.

"Shinji isn't dumb enough to go back there after today," I said, a twinge of anger seeping back in from my stupidity. "We likely won't be able to find him till nightfall, which means he'll be setting the terms."

"No," Rin told me firmly. "Not again. Tonight, we set the terms."

She was right. Letting him decide the battleground without resistance was what brought us here. I was self-aware enough to recognize it was my hubris that nearly cost us. Father would've been disappointed.

"We need a plan," she continued. "And we need to find out what they did with the victims."

She still had hope that they were alive. I suppose she had to.

"Do you have any ideas, Shirou?"

"I need to think," I closed my eyes as the mansion came into sight. "Refocus. Consider our options."

"We might be running out of those," Rin said with a sigh.

We passed through the gate, Saber trailing behind us. Archer had left before us, claiming he would look around the city to see if he could track them down. I had a feeling there was another reason, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

Once we entered the building, we both immediately headed for the stairs, splitting off at the top to move toward our rooms. I closed the door behind me before unzipping and removing the bloody jacket and shirt.

I checked my chest where the spikes had pierced my flesh. The wounds had already begun to heal, less severe than the last few. I wiped away the remaining blood with the shirt before putting it and the jacket to the side. I lamented the loss of yet another uniform jacket, knowing I only had one left.

I threw on a black shirt, slipping once more into my red jacket before leaving. I found Saber outside, which saved me the trouble of calling her.

"Again," I said simply as I moved past her to descend the stairs.

When we arrived at the mansion grounds, we found Archer sitting on the grass with his arm resting on his raised knee. As we approached, he stood up, the blades I saw that first night materializing in his hands. I heard Saber's armor clink as she readied herself for attack.

"Shirou Kotomine," he pointed his white blade at me. "I will be your opponent today."

I felt my eyebrows rise at this statement. This servant was the oddest man I'd met. First neutral, then antagonistic, and now possibly helpful. He couldn't seem to decide how to interact with me.

"You want to help me practice?" I asked skeptically.

"I want to see," he lowered his blade. "How far you have to go."

How far I have to go? What did he…?

"You saw it, didn't you? The history of the weapon."

I stared uncomprehendingly before it clicked. The dagger.

He threw the white blade into the sky as he dashed across the distance between us. His hand gripped and twisted my collar, throwing me back where he'd come from with a whirl. I tumbled across the lawn, rolling to a stop facing the sky. I got a good view of the sword plummeting down toward me.

I rolled away as the sword dug into the ground where I'd been. I felt a kick to the gut which sent me flying a few more meters away. I began pushing myself up as Archer bent down to retrieve his sword.

"You claim that I am a failure," he said as I rose, projecting black keys into my hands. "But you can't even grasp your own power."

He rushed me once more, and I raised my blades to block his attacks. He rained several blows on me, barely giving me time to block each strike. I realized too late that the elegant blades in his hands were a bad match for my keys. Anything shorter than a longsword could slip between my defenses if I weren't constantly aware of where the attacks came from. I needed to create some distance and project a more effective weapon, but the servant was relentless.

"You say you're not a burden," Archer's blades dug into my keys, sending sparks as they clashed. "You say you're going to win this war. You say you're going to defeat Rin. How can you do that when you can't even fight back?"

The pressure suddenly increased, and my keys shattered. The blades slashed down, barely missing my body as he then whirled around, slamming the pommel of the white sword into my shoulder. Luckily, I had reinforced my body before the strike came, but the attack still stung as I was once more tossed away.

I managed to land on my feet, rolling my shoulder as Archer watched me with his blades at his sides.

"Weren't you the one who said you can accomplish anything without drive? Then show me!"

He charged again, and I began to understand. He was doing as Saber had, holding nothing back as he attacked. He somehow knew what I'd seen when he showed me the dagger and was trying to push me toward it. Was he implying my earlier thought was correct? Could I actually recreate that weapon?

Even if that were true, that still wouldn't help me right now. I saw the entire structure of that dagger. It was worthless in combat, though I somehow knew it could nullify thaumaturgy. Rule Breaker. All information I got from a glance, none of which would save me from the oncoming assault. But that gave me an idea.

I stared at the blades in his hands as he drew close, slicing through the air as they swung towards me. Strong, beautiful, and structured as though by an artist, these swords were a spectacle to behold as their 'history', as Archer had described it, opened up to me. Again, I felt that I could create these weapons and knew I had to by this point. I focused on the structure, the materials and form slowly appearing in my mind. It was close, but the image was still blurry in my mind. I found myself using my old focus from whenever I had trouble projecting. It had been awhile.

"Trace, On!"

Thee image solidified in my mind, and my circuits were flooded with power. I felt the blades form in my hands, and I swung them to meet Archer's.

Metal rang out across the lawn as our blades collided. Our swords clashed repeatedly, each matching the other blow for blow. I felt myself marveling at the movements that flooded my mind as we continued, each appearing as though it hadn't been considered till that moment. My body was having trouble keeping up, causing many close calls as Archer relentlessly struck.

An idea formed in my mind as the blades' history flowed through me. Parrying a sweeping blow, I danced backwards, letting the weapons dictate my movements as I sent Bakuya spinning from my right hand. I blocked another strike form Archer as Bakuya flew around and whirled toward his back, being called back by Kanshou. Archer spun, causing me to block his Kanshou while his Bakuya knocked mine away. That attack probably worked better when the enemy didn't know what the swords could do.

I began projecting a replacement, but Archer spun back toward me, driving his knee into my chest. Despite the reinforcement, I fell to my knees in pain.

"You're farther along than I thought," Archer loomed over me as my chest burned. "But not far enough."

I lifted one knee and began to push myself up as I noticed Archer flip Bakuya in a reverse grip and plunge it toward me. For a brief moment, a part of me considered letting him.

"That's enough, Archer!"

The white blade stopped just above my shoulder, its tip barely a millimeter away. I looked back to find Rin, having changed into her red turtleneck, glaring in our direction with her arms crossed.

"Don't you have chores you should be doing?" she asked as she walked toward us, her tone harsher than I expected.

Archer's swords vanished as turned his eyes to his master.

"You won't go farther than this," Archer said too quiet for Rin to hear as she approached. "If you don't know what you're fighting for."

He dematerialized as Rin drew close, leaving me to finish rising to my feet, sore body protesting.

"I thought you'd have learned your lesson after nearly losing your arm," she said with a scowl. "But I forgot you prefer to take everything to the extreme."

"You think that's why I'm a better fighter?" I sassed her with little feeling as I rolled the shoulder Archer bashed earlier.

"I'm being serious here," She grabbed my collar and pulled me down to be level with her. "You were acting strangely the whole walk home, and now I find you about to have a sword jammed down your throat. What is with you?"

I stared into her eyes, stern and inquisitive, and I felt something inside me harden.

"I'm perfectly fine," I kept my voice level as I placed my hand on her wrist, though, I didn't try to force it from my shirt. "I just need to think of a plan."

Her eyes flitted across my face, and I could tell she knew I was wearing the mask. She released my shirt but kept her eyes on me.

"We're going to stop them, and we're going to find out what they did to those students."

"And if they're dead?"

Her eyes narrowed as I said the thing she'd been trying to avoid. I kept my face unmoved, hiding anything that might give away the plan forming in my head.

"Shirou. Let go of my arm."

I slowly released my grip as she drew her arm away.

"I'll be in the workshop," she turned and walked back to the mansion. "Come find me when you're ready to talk."

I watched her leave before moving over to where Saber kneeled on the lawn.

"Was that wise, Master?" she asked, glancing at the house.

"Maybe not," I sat across from her. "But she won't like the plan I'm making."

"On that subject," her eyes came back to rest on me. "I assume this plan involves putting yourself in more danger than necessary."

"I'm merely finishing what I started," I waved aside her reprimand. "I let things get this far, so I have to stop them. Simple as that."

"And you believe Tohsaka will accept that answer?"

"I believe that this alliance was temporary. I believe that, if she were to try and stop me, I would be forced to defeat her sooner rather than later."

"I believe we will have to leave the manor."

"And we will," I closed my eyes and leaned back on my arms. "Luckily, I already have somewhere in mind."

Saber let the silence drag between us before speaking.

"You don't have to push away your allies, Master."

"Saber," I didn't open my eyes. "What would you in my position?"

A long pause.

"As king, it was my duty to protect my kingdom, and those who dwelled within. If it were within my power, I would settle things with mine being the only life risked."

I laid down on the soft grass, linking my hands behind my head.

"This is the path we will walk."

Even if it leads to destruction.

Rin stared at me, clearly irritated as I sat across from her in the dining room. The room was very much like the rest of the mansion, hues of beige, red, and white decorating the walls and furniture. The large dark wooded table between us stretched down a few meters on either side, a dulled yellow cloth that laid under a few candlesticks making a center strip down the middle. Saber to my right had just finished polishing off the last remnants of her meal while Archer did as he usually did and leaned against the wall behind Rin, eyes closed.

"Do you really think it's that simple?" she asked me dryly.

"I know it is," I answered. "This temporary truce is now null and void. Once I have killed Rider, we will return to grab my belongings. This is no longer your concern."

"And who decided that?" she crossed her arms. "Even if we are no longer allies, I have every motivation to seek Rider's demise as well."

"Do you think Archer will be fast enough to stop Saber in these close quarters before she has a blade to your throat? Or me, for that matter."

Rin's eyes narrowed.

"Is that a threat, Shirou Kotomine?"

"I don't make threats. I make statements. If you intend to interfere, then I will be forced to take measures to stop you."

Her glare intensified as I kept the emotion from my face. What I had to do was clear, and I was feeling calmer with every step I took toward it. At this moment, she was nothing more than an obstacle in the way of reaching that goal.

"Very well," she let her arms fall back to her sides.

I resisted raising my eyebrow in surprise. It was unlike her to give in so easily.

"I won't stop you," she pointed a finger at me. "However, I will be accompanying you."

I immediately opened my mouth to rebut her, but she was already cutting me off.

"I don't plan to interfere with your battle, and, to further prove this, Archer will be staying here."

That garnered a reaction from the servant, his eyes flicking open at her words.

"Master…"

"Not one word, Archer," her eyes remained trained on me. "This is my decision, or do I need to use a command seal?"

She wasn't going to be swayed. She'd just shown me how far she was willing to go in order to accompany me. At least this way, I knew where she was.

"You really are a troublesome master," Archer said with a shake of his head before vanishing.

We stared at each other for several moments more before I faked a reluctant sigh, standing as I did.

"We'll be leaving in a few minutes. You should get something warmer on before then. I have a feeling the night's going to get a lot harsher."

"Shouldn't you do the same? We both know that jacket isn't for winter weather."

I looked down at the jacket for a second before shaking my head.

"I'll be warm enough."

I turned away and headed for the door, pretending not to notice her face soften at my words. I couldn't afford any distractions. Everything, from the blood in my veins to the mana in my circuits, needed to be focused on one thing.

Tonight, I would do as I was taught.

I was a bit surprised when both Saber and Rin came down the stairs wearing coats and scarfs, white and red, respectively. Seemed the clothes weren't the only things Rin bought her a few days ago.

The entire walk was quiet, save for Rin's initial inquiry to our destination. The quiet bore no respite, however, as tension hung over our group like a thick blanket. It didn't matter.

We walked the whole way, serving to both allow night to sink further into shadows and give our enemy time to find us. Trying to seek them out would only waste time on a game of cat and mouse, as well as giving them the upper hand. Instead, they would find us, and be forced to confront us on our terms.

As we crossed the Fuyuki Bridge, I allowed my eyes to wander to the place Einzbern and I had talked the previous night. I didn't let them linger long, moving past without a second glance.

The moon continued to rise in the sky, dark clouds wisping past to occasionally cover the pale orb as we walked through Shinto's streets. Lights lined the concrete expanse as we made our way further inward, numerous shadows filling the alcoves and alleys that littered the city.

I recalled a time when Rin told me how artificial the city felt now, with the greys and whites encompassing the majority creating something starkly modern and false. I could somewhat understand her opinion, though I personally found nothing worthy of such a complaint.

As we reached our destination, the rough concrete and stone of the city transitioned into withered trees and grass. The barren limbs of the trees stretched out like talons against the sky, the moonlight flickering over them before being blotted out once more by the clouds. Saber's eyes roved over the surroundings, obviously aware of the feelings buried in the soil beneath our feet.

After another minute of walking, I sat down on the darkened grass, laying my arm on my leg and closing my eyes. All that was left to do was wait.

"I would just like to reiterate how much of an obstinate fool you can be," Rin said as I felt her sit beside me.

I didn't respond, letting the chill of the night breeze past as I waited for them to arrive. She could berate me the whole night if she desired, and she'd be no closer to deterring me. I felt like the park around us, cold calm laid over a fierce fire of anger, and I would not allow it to be extinguished.

Saber came to stand at my other side, her armor already equipped. We stayed there longer than I bothered to count, the icy wind from before beginning to peter out before ceasing all-together. The world seemed to become consumed by silence, as though it was holding its breath in anticipation. The clouds that had been covering the moon were cast away, allowing its light to reign across the sky and shine down on the blackened park.

There were no such things as coincidences.

Through a parting of dead trees, a single figure walked out from the shadows. His ragged hair glistened in the moonlight as he came into view several meters away. With every step, he opened and shut the strange book he'd been carrying around, making a rhythmic thumping sound that echoed through the empty space.

"Y'know," he said as he continued to approach us. "There was a time when I genuinely considered you a friend. Tell me, Kotomine. When did that change?"

Both Rin and I stood up, Rin standing markedly faster than me. I thought back to the first time we met. The first thing he did was insult me. It was an incredibly unique way to start our relationship, but I would be lying that I wasn't entertained by how hard he tried to anger me to no avail. There was something oddly endearing about how open he was with his opinions, no matter what they were. After a time, it seemed I wouldn't be rid of him, constantly approaching me to 'hang out'. Somewhere along the line, I suppose he wore me down.

One day, he invited me over to his house, and I decided it would be a good test of how far I could take this relationship. I had recently started my studies on the grail war and discovered the Matou's part in its creation. I thought of how great a coincidence it was that he was a member of the family.

My lessons on examining others were just beginning, and Father was taking me through the basics, leaving me still somewhat blind to the many subtleties that laid therein. However, one lesson stuck out when I visited the Matou mansion.

You can tell a lot about a person by how their family interacts with them, and Sakura showed me just how little of Shinji I truly saw.

"Sakura," I said simply as Saber moved to stand between us.

The book closed with one final thump, a frown crossing his lips.

"I thought as much."

I felt the bloodlust and dove for Rin, driving us both to the ground. There was a blinding flash behind us through the trees, and something streaked out, slicing and smashing through everything between us. Saber raised her unseen blade, and the light crashed past it, a loud ringing filling the air as the sword deflected it.

The light flew into the air, and I saw it begin to take form as I rose from the ground, helping Rin up as I did. I watched as the light spread out large feathered wings to each side. The figure slowly became the bright outline of a Pegasus against the starry night sky. Long waves of dark hair swept out from behind the majestic creature, making it clear who its master was. The beast let out a piercing cry as its mighty wings flapped, sending currents of air swirling out to rattle the bare branches of the trees.

"Rider," his book opened once more, its pages unbothered by the wind cast from the creature's wings. "I don't want a trace to remain. I wish to finally close this chapter of my life."

Rin pulled me away from Saber as the Pegasus reared up before plummeting down toward her. I pushed her behind me as shadows barely visible in the moonlight shot through the air. I projected keys into my hands and widened the blades, taking the impacts.

"I should really thank you for bringing Tohsaka along," several more, dark spears materialized around him. "Once I'm done with you, I can take my time punishing her in your stead. A fair trade, in my opinion."

I rushed to the side, putting more distance between us as I got a better view of the battle. The Pegasus dashed in like lightening, striking too fast for Saber to effectively retaliate. She was blocking the attacks, her own skill and instinct taking over as she waged an uphill battle against Rider.

"Where are they, Shinji?" Rin asked him angrily, calling his attention to her.

"Whoever could you be referring to?" he asked with a smug grin.

"The missing students," I elaborated, though we all knew he was aware. I just didn't have the patience for this right now.

"Oh," he said, raising a finger to his chin as spears sailed toward us both. "Forgive my memory. I often forget about my trash once I'm done with it. I'm sure they're around here somewhere."

Rin rolled away and fired a gandr at him only for it to splatter against his field.

"You really shouldn't worry so much. You'll be joining them very soon."

I blocked a few more spears and dodged to avoid a rippling wave almost a second too late. The shadows cast by the trees were excellent cover for his attacks, which was part of the reason I had chosen this to be our battleground. I wanted to leave no question as to who was the strongest here, which is why I hurled a key to impale itself in the ground at Rin's feet.

She nearly dropped the jewel she'd been preparing to use, the look on her face more shocked than I'd ever seen before. I put her out of my mind as I focused on Shinji, already replacing the used key.

"Well," I saw Shinji's face light up with a sardonic grin. "That's a surprise. I guess you treat all your friends the same way."

I could feel Rin's eyes on me as I slashed through a tree trunk and spun, kicking the tree with the force of my body to send it flying toward Shinji. Black waves appeared on the tree's bark and dices the trunk to bits before it ever reached him. I frivolously threw two keys at him while I began weaving through the trees. I could see his head following my general movements, but it was clear he couldn't pinpoint me exactly.

He didn't seem to need to. I watched the spears turn sideways and begin to spin like saws, flying toward me and chopping through the trees between us. I ducked under one before blocking another, the shadow grinding against my keys before careening further through the trees to cut more at odd angles. I leaped up and off another nearby trunk to avoid one cutting particularly close to the ground.

The sound of clanging metal from the servant's battle was suddenly drowned out by dozens of trees collapsing to the ground with a series of wooden crashes. I dodged and rolled, barely able to keep track of and avoid the ongoing attacks by Shinji amidst the clamor.

Even after the trees between finished their cacophony, I could hear more still slamming to the ground behind me. Shinji watched me with that same smug smile I'd grown to despise.

"Why can't you understand yet? No matter how blatantly it's put before you, you still can't see it."

He stretched out his hand, and a tidal wave of shadows rippled outward from him. I planted all six keys into the ground. My mana flowed into them, and their blades widened and lengthened until they formed a barrier between me and the oncoming wave. I placed my hands against them, reinforcing them as much as possible. The shadows struck like a giant hammer, the shadows shooting off the sides to rush behind me as the force beat against the blades. My circuits blazed as I replaced any segment of the wall that began to crack under the pressure.

When the attack finally ceased, I immediately dismissed the blades, calling new ones to my hands. My breathing came out harder as a sheen of sweat began to glisten across my brow. My mana reserves still had a healthy amount left, but my circuits were becoming heated from the mana flow.

"I am," his arm lowered, a self-assured smirk blatant on his face. "And have always been, better than you."

The world around me faded, unimportant stimuli sorted out till the only things that existed were me and Shinji. Black waves coiled out and sped toward me, multiplying and narrowing in where I stood. I threw the three keys in my right hand between them, searing through the gaps toward Shinji. I threw the other three out above him as I maneuvered away from the waves. The field deflected the keys, and his eyes flitted up to follow the ones sailing above his head as spears appeared and followed them.

I began running toward him, my arms spread out as six more keys appeared. I crossed my arms and threw, three keys spinning off to either side before curving toward him. With his spears trained on the keys above, his eyes followed the blades curling toward his sides, dark waves roiling out on collision courses with them. His eyes then focused on me, and a solid wall of shadows pushed out from him.

I pulled it from my memories, casting the blade forward the moment I felt it in my hand. The iridescent dagger shot forth, dividing the field without effort. Shinji's eyes widened as the black field rose before him. I continued to close the distance between us as the dagger passed through the field and dug its tip into his shoulder. The blade was usually too dull to pierce flesh, but apply the Iron Plate Effect, and even that dagger can deal damage.

Shinji cried in pain before yanking the dagger out and tossing it aside. His eyes came back up to watch me drive my fist into his stomach. His eyes bulged as the air suddenly rushed from his lungs, and I spun to slam the back of my hand into the side of his head.

As he fell to the ground, I projected a key and slashed it through the book he was carrying as it left his hand. The two halves of the book crumbled into dust as they hit the grass.

I turned my eyes back to the battle the servants had been fighting in the background. As Rider once more rose into the air after an attack, something seemed to catch her off guard. Her eyes remained covered by the mask she wore, her head turned toward me, though I couldn't make out her expression from the distance.

Saber narrowed her eyes in confusion as Rider hung in the air for several moments, her endless barrage of attacks having ceased. I directed the key in my hand toward her master, daring the servant to act.

A sheen of gold joined the blinding white the Pegasus gave off, and I was barely able to make out the blazing bridle that had appeared on the horse. She began to rise farther into the air, higher and higher till she was little more than another light in the sky. She then erupted like a blazing spear, rocketing downward once more. My eyes widened as the gravity of the immense magical force the attack exuded crashed down over me.

"Saber!" my head snapped toward my servant. "Can you stop her?"

I could feel we only had seconds to act. We either killed her now or retreated. If the latter, I still had one last thing to do beforehand.

"Master," Saber called to me as held her invisible blade before her. "Put your faith in me."

That was answer enough.

I watched as the air whipped up and swirled around her, coiling and rippling above her hands. As the blinding spear continued to fall toward us, I saw as the wind was cast away from her hands, and, as though a cover was being gently removed, a blade of shining gold was revealed. She drew the blade back, magic blazing across its length as each movement cast flecks of golden light into the air around her.

She fixed her emerald eyes on the impending doom descending overhead. Her armor burst into blue shards that seemed to flow into the blade as she opened her mouth.

"EX."

The world crackled as mana burst out from Saber, her sword becoming a torch of explosive power and energy as she thrust it toward Rider.

"CALIBUR!"

Starlight shot out from the blade to burn across the sky and against the spear that had been Rider. The two forces clashed sending cascades of torturous light in every direction as they fought for dominance. I held my arm up to shield my eyes from the onslaught of color, my senses overloaded by the collision, both physically and magically.

After several moments of intensity, the light faded from the sky, returning the world once more to only be lit by the moon. I blinked several times in an attempt to readjust to the darkness.

Saber had fallen to her knees, her sword planted into the earth as she leaned on it. Against the chill of night, her breathes came out hard and fast, puffs of mist exuding from her mouth. I looked to see Rin was also watching Saber, a look of awe on her face.

I turned my attention down to Shinji, having begun to recover his bearings and begin breathing. I put a stop to that by grabbing his neck and hauling him upward. I stared into his eyes, fear and pain evident in his gaze.

"Tell me again who's stronger."

I dragged him along the ground as I walked to one of the trees he'd missed in his rampage, slamming him against it.

"You're right, Shinji," my voice seeped frozen venom. "I did think you were an idiot, and I'm sorry. I let my own feelings cloud my judgement, but I thank you for opening my eyes."

#11-The bane of information is emotion. Never forget this, as it is a double-edged blade.

I began tightening my grip, seeing his face redden as his hands gripped my left arm. Raised from the ground, his feet kicked uselessly as they tried to find traction.

"This day revealed that I've been far too lenient in my actions as a master. I forgot what my father taught me, but you reminded me."

#23-Spare when necessary, kill when not, and never ignore.

I drew him back and bashed him against the tree again, his gasp of pain muted by my grip.

"I'm sure you desire a reward for such a helpful service, one befitting someone of your obvious power. But, before that, allow me to share one small bit of wisdom with you."

I leaned forward as his face began to purple, bringing my lips to his ear with a conspiratorial whisper.

"The only ones who kill should be those prepared to be killed."

#24

I drew back to see the terror in his eyes as his fate began to sink in. I felt a smile begin to spread across my face as the cold I'd felt since that afternoon began to be replaced by a glowing warmth as I lifted my right hand, the key I slashed the book with prominently displayed before him. I watched his eyes begin to dull as his consciousness began to fade, but he wasn't getting out so easily.

I released my grip and let him drop to the ground in a coughing heap. I bent down, grabbed his chin, and forced his eyes back on me.

"Don't try to struggle," I felt my smile deepen as I drew back the key. "This might take a while."

Just as I was about to drive it into his shoulder, the ground beside us exploded, dirt flying up to shower over us as Shinji cringed under my hold.

"You cannot stand there," I didn't turn around as my voice returned to a level tone. "And tell me he doesn't deserve this."

"The battle is over, Shirou," I heard her say, her voice sounding distant. "Rider is dead. No one else needs to join her."

"And that's where you're wrong. One life, as payment for the pain they've inflicted. A fair trade, isn't it, Shinji?"

He tried to speak, but I tightened my grip on his chin further, leaving him whimpering in pain and fear.

"What happened at the school isn't your fault."

I felt my grip tighten on the handle.

"Of course not. The only ones to blame are them. Which is why…"

"You have to be the one to stop them," she said, her tone irritated. "I've known you long enough to understand how you think. What I can't understand is why you're taking it this far."

I moved my hand from his chin and wrapped it in his shirt, pulling him up with me so he wouldn't get any ideas. I turned to face Rin; her right arm outstretched with her left hand stabilizing it.

"Issei," I said slowly. "Mitsuzuri. Sakura. These are only three of the dozens of people he is responsible for hurting. No, it is not my fault that this wretched fool decided to kill every person he's known to further himself, but I am the one that could have prevented it. I chose not to."

"And I agreed to your plan. How guilty does that make me?"

"This isn't about guilt," I felt irritation of my own begin to work into my words. "This is about what needs to be done."

"And it has been. It's over, Shirou. He can't do anything else."

I glanced down at the sniveling coward in my hand, his entire façade of superiority having crumbled over the last minute. I thought about Sakura. I thought about all those bodies scattered across the school, red and scarred. I thought about the fire, death and ash permeating the air.

"If I said I wanted to kill him," I looked back at her. "Do you really think you'd be able to stop me?"

I watched her eyes narrow, but the remained otherwise unfazed. I glanced over her form to see the truth. The slight shake of her right arm as she attempted to hold it steady. Her jaw clenched tightly shut to keep it still. Something hidden behind the stern and calm gaze. She was either concealing a seething anger, or she was afraid.

"Maybe not," her voice wavered for the briefest of instants. Her arms lowered to her sides. "But I know this isn't you. Shirou Kotomine is not a murderer."

I was certain my knuckles were white from how fiercely I gripped the key. She really thought it was that cut and dry. Death was the only constant in this war, and no one could avoid it. To fight as a master was to be ready to kill to make your wish reality. It's the only reason.

"I have to win because it's the only reason I exist."

You kill because it's the only way to move forward. You fight because you don't want to die. You win because it means you're alive.

"I'm fighting to die."

I was doing this so I could survive. Nothing else matters.

"That's not true."

Then what is!

"I won't let it take you."

…

I threw the worm, facing him as he watched me with fearful uncertainty.

"If I ever see you again," I drew my left arm back before slamming it into the tree I pushed him against. Directing the force of every movement into my fist, the trunk shattered before falling behind me.

What was I doing?

Shinji scrambled to his feet before running away without another sound. Something inside me ebbed away as I watched him go.

"Throw. Throw, and be done with it."

Rin slowly walked up to me; her face unchanged since we started talking.

"How many more will he hurt if I let him go? Why am I asking that? It doesn't matter! They don't matter!"

Rin stopped in front of me, deep blue eyes staring up at me.

"They die. They fade away. They're replaced. The world moves on. I can't care. I don't care!"

I stared down at her in turn, opening my mouth to speak.

"I…"

The slap burned against my cheek, effectively silencing my explanation. I was then further surprised as her arms wrapped around me.

"Your eyes," she said softly as her arms tightened. "There was nothing there."

I didn't know what to say to that. I couldn't even bring myself to embrace her. I slowly bowed my head, something inside me seeming to break.

"I'm sorry."

I don't know how long we stood there. The rest of the night became a blur. Saber had used a lot of energy in that attack, so Rin and I had to help carry her home. By the time we reached the house, she had fallen asleep. Archer was there waiting for us, and he offered to carry her up the stairs. I was about to object, but Rin beat me to it. We brought her to our room and laid her on the futon.

Rin left me alone with the sleeping Saber as I recalled my intention to leave here. Part of me was still committed to that, but I would have to do it tomorrow. Tonight, I was tired.

I took off my jacket, gently folding it over the desk chair before turning off the light. I didn't bother changing. I just wanted the night to be over.

I slipped into bed, closing my eyes as I idly wondered how I'd face her tomorrow.

My eyes slowly opened to the sound of the bedroom doorknob softly turning. Laying on my side facing the door, I saw Rin quietly enter the room. Even in the dim light of the room, my eyes had adjusted enough to make out the small cat faces printed across her yellow pajamas as she moved to my bedside.

"I know your awake," she said quietly, obviously trying to not wake up Saber.

I almost didn't reply.

"Have trouble sleeping?" I asked, though the words didn't have the usual playful mocking I'd put in such a statement. Not after tonight.

"Just move over," her words didn't have much bite either.

I moved myself closer to the window side, giving her enough room to lay down beside me. She slipped under the covers, facing me as she placed her head on the pillow. I stared into her soft blue eyes, and I felt as though a thin tension began to fill the air. Her eyes nervously flicked away, and I honestly couldn't remember the last time she was bothered enough by something to react that way.

"Can you," she continued to look away, the nervousness ever so slightly bleeding into her words. "Hold me?"

I was slow to respond. I gently edged my right hand under her, lightly grasping her back as I pulled her closer. My left arm slowly raised the covers as I curled it around her body, holding her close to my chest.

A gentle quiet fell over us as I felt a familiar comfort from her presence. My mind wandered back to those nights from what felt like so long ago. They were few, and my dreams were torturous recreations of the night I realized how cruel the world could be, but the moment I felt her arms around me, I knew I was safe. She was real, and that was enough.

"You scared me, Shirou."

I looked down at Rin, her eyes closed as she leaned against my chest.

"When I saw your eyes, I knew. Knew that, if you killed him, I would lose you."

I wanted to tell her she was wrong. Assure her that, no matter what, she would never lose me, but I couldn't. If Rin hadn't stopped me, I wasn't not sure who would be standing in my place. I didn't know what I should say to her, but I did know what I wanted to say.

"Thank you, Rin."

I remembered what Archer had said yesterday, that I was a burden, needing Rin to carry me. I knew why it had bothered me. It was what I feared was true. It was why I had to get stronger, be better. I could give any excuse to avoid it, but that was why I needed to defeat her. I felt that, only after I proved I could stand under my own power, I could find what I was searching for.

Tonight showed me how far I still had to go.

"What are you going to wish for, Rin?"

I let the silence pass between us, and I realized I didn't know why I asked. She had avoided answer last time, and I almost expected her to do the same tonight. Even if she did, I had a feeling I already knew the answer.

I was wrong.

"The fire…"

The fire?

"I'm going to wish it never happened."

I felt my eyes soften as I gazed at the girl in my arms. I couldn't understand… no, I think I could.

"Rin," my words were calmer than I felt. "I don't regret what happened."

"You should," the blue pools of her eyes looked up at me. "You lost everything that night. Your parents. Your home. Your past. How can you not regret that?"

I'm not sure. Even now, that all-consuming flame was still seared in my mind, cooled by the years I'd spent with it. However, I couldn't bring myself to regret what happened. It was beyond my control, something no one could have foreseen, let alone stopped. If I regretted what I lost, it would be a slap in the face of all I had gained. And…

"Because it's not all gone," I realized how true the words were as I said them. "I may not be able to remember their faces, or even their names, but I remember other things. The soft warmth of being held, a bright smile full of love, a comforting hand holding mine. The specifics are gone, but the feelings are still there. And besides…"

I struggled for a moment, unsure of how to word this. I decided that honestly was the only way.

"Then, I wouldn't have you."

She stared up at me as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. She looked away.

"You don't know that. We still could have met."

"But I wouldn't be me."

"But you wouldn't care," her face pressed into my shirt, the tears soaking through the fabric. "You would be loved. You would be happy. You would be safe."

My arms tightened their hold on her as though she might fade away if they didn't. I might fade away if I didn't.

"And what about you? How could I leave you alone when you were hurting too?"

Neither of us spoke as what we'd said sank in. Neither of us moved as a familiar warmth slowly enveloped us. Neither of us was willing to let go of the other.

"I'm sorry," I heard her quietly mumble into my shirt.

I didn't reply as I held her, feeling her breathe against my chest eventually reach a steady rhythm as she drifted off to sleep.

I thought about what we'd said. I thought for certain she would wish for her own parents back, but it seemed I misunderstood how much I meant to her. She was willing to give up her chance for anything she could possibly imagine just for the chance that I'd live a happier life.

"You can be so selfish sometimes," I murmured to the girl sleeping in my arms.

Then again, was I any better? I was going to give my wish to Rin all because I wanted her to be happy. I supposed I was just as much of a hypocrite.

I closed my eyes, uncertain of where this war would go after tonight, but, through it all, I would keep her safe, and I would win this war.

"I won't let them take you," slipped out between my tired lips as sleep claimed me.