Welcome back! I actually intended to post this chapter after the next one of "The Einzbern Grail War". That one is still not quite finished, but I'm in a good mood today (which likely has also something to do with my decision to skip Game of Thrones, thinking that life is too short...). Now here we are, just where we left Fuyuki the last time...

Chapter 4 - Sacrifice

Jaime

After the first couple of hundred meters the knight of the Kingsguard started to feel bad about having dragged Irisviel along. She wanted to enjoy the city and being among people, but instead he guided them on a straight line through back alleys and run down apartment blocks. But the knight of the Kingsguard also knew that he simply needed to make sure there were no further secrets between him and his Master. The last one felt like quite a betrayal despite all of Irisviel's claims to the opposite.

Got you!

After some amount of travel the odd couple of lady and knight finally arrived at a tall hotel building which was in a startling state of disrepair. It was just like Kiritsugu to keep a low profile by living here instead of using the filthy rich Einzbern's money to get a proper inn. Upon entering Jaime didn't even bother to ask the reception, the mana flow between him and the magus killer was enough a trace for him to pin down his floor and his room on his own. The knight in the expensive suit and the silver-haired flower still drew the attention of both the receptionist and her surprised looking cat upon themselves as they entered the elevator.

There you are... room 703.

He felt the presence of Kiritsugu behind that door. There was nowhere to run for him. He looked at Irisviel with a smile containing triumph and mischief at once. She wasn't quite so eager, her reaction looked pleading to him. But for the knight there was no way to turn back. He knocked at the door. There was no reply. Jaime held his ear close, but he couldn't hear a thing. There was total silence inside. Despite that, his gut feeling told him the squinty-eyed bastard was still in there.

"Room service!", the knight shouted with impatience.

There was still no reply. And there was still a suffocating silence on the other side. But...

Bloody bastard!

With terror Jaime realized that the presence of Kiritsugu vanished... and its distance grew fast.

He must have taken the window!

He watched to the corridor on his left. There was an emergency exit leading to stairs on the outside. Kiritsugu had most likely jumped towards them to escape. There was no time to waste. He left Iri at the door and left through the emergency exit with all haste. Having arrived outside, he looked down and saw two figures in black running towards a car parked nearby. Jaime realized that he had no way to reach them before they escaped... at least with conventional means.

Seven hells, Kingslayer, don't forget you can now piss on the laws of physics...

After grimacing and internally admonishing himself for his forgetfulness, Jaime switched into Spirit Form. As a ghost he was not only invisible, but also didn't need to stick to walking. He closed the distance with mindblowing speed, half jumping half gliding through the air. Somewhere on the ground he saw how one of the figures had already jumped into the car, the other one was luckily Kiritsugu who was just in this moment opening the door of the co-driver seat. Jaime didn't allow that to happen. He materialized directly next to him, slamming the door shut. The hitman stepped away and looked into the viciously smiling face of the knight. Jaime was more amused by his Master's attempt at pretending to be unsurprised than he could say.

"Saber?", he simply said, only slightly lowering his guard.

"The very same", Jaime smirked. "What a coincidence to meet here of all places."

"Where is Iri?", he asked with a frown so hard Stannis would be jealous.

Worried, are you?

Jaime looked back at the hotel and Kiritsugu followed his gaze to the stairs of the emergency exit. Above them a silver-haired figure stood, watching the two men warily. Jaime waved at her, but when he turned back to Kiritsugu he saw that the man had already looked away. He was focused on some little plastic device in his hands.

"What is that about?"

"I'm just disarming the explosives in the room", Kiritsugu replied matter-of-factly.

It took the Kingsguard a couple of seconds to realize the meaning behind his Master's words. In his mind he saw the picture of a fiery nightmare in a way not unlike Wildfire flashing up.

"You can't be serious", Jaime laughed, but his laugh sounded more nervous than he liked.

The utterly serious look Kiritsugu shot him was answer enough for him. Jaime felt at a loss for words.

"What if we had been the room service?", he asked incredulously.

"Maiya specifically asked the staff not to bother us", Kiritsugu replied, waving towards the person who still sat behind the driver's wheel, waiting surprisingly patiently for their conversation to end.

"Mistakes happen!", Jaime objected.

"Better safe than sorry. I am not one to take chances", his answer was as immediate as it was blunt.

Jaime knew what it meant to be cautious, but this was simply ridiculous. While the knight was still busy struggling for words Kiritsugu gestured towards his partner and she wordlessly left the car to join them.

"Well then... if you are here, it is all the better. There is something I need you to see", Kiritsugu began with a barely audible sigh. "Let's hurry before anyone sees us together."

Jaime hesitated. He wanted to shout out his dismay at the false game Kiritsugu played with him. But he also saw his point.

"Fine", he groaned. "Let's get back so that Irisviel can join us. I'm here as much for her sake as for my own stretched nerves."

If the hitman was startled by these words he didn't show. They wordlessly climbed the stairs again and soon enough Iri guided them through the emergency exit she held open. Together they entered the sticky hotel room Kiritsugu and his silent assistant had stayed in. It was an incredibly modest room where the only additions its guests made were a couple of bags scattered on the floor and on one of the beds. Few of them seemed to contain clothing. More of them contained weapons and Jaime guessed one of them was filled with aforementioned explosives. But that was no surprise. It was as ordinary as it can go with someone like Emiya. But Jaime felt something else that was off the moment he stepped inside. It was the smell. Sweat mingled with... something more intimate. Jaime saw that while one bed sheet was obviously never in use due it being used to showcase a bunch of coffers with weapons of various sizes, the other one was in wild disarray. For some reason Jaime felt anger swelling up in his stomach.

Did we disturb them at something else?

He looked at Irisviel, who was eying her surroundings in a similarly wary way. But she didn't say anything. She probably didn't understand the implications as well as he did, Jaime thought.

As expected, she's just too innocent for her own good.

He had to admit he himself had a hard time believing it. Kiritsugu didn't seem like a man who so eagerly abandoned his vows. The knight sighed. It seemed men were just men no matter which time and which world he visited. He tried to calm himself down. He had to work together with that bastard, there was no chance to get out of his own oath so easily. So he really shouldn't confront him while he was riled up.

"Fine. You guys first", he grunted.

Kiritsugu nodded towards his 'friend'.

"Maiya."

She faced Jaime and Iri with cold and joyless eyes. She was a plain woman, Jaime thought frowning. He wondered how a man no matter how depraved would prefer her to a beauty like the silver-haired woman next to him.

Then again, I've spend a good decade watching a drunken oaf shunning my dear sweet sister... not that she wished him to be in her bed anyways.

Maiya however begun to speak matter-of-factly and Jaime listened closely to her monotone voice while she strode towards a small video recorder on the ground.

"There was an incident yesterday at the Tohsaka residence. Apparently the fighting has already begun", she activated it and the boxy TV sprung to life.

Am I too late?, Jaime wondered while creeping closer to make sense of the screen.

It showed the dark surroundings of an ominous manor in the midst of Fuyuki's foreign district. Something came crashing through the beautifully tended garden, cleaving through a whole series of magic traps like they were nothing. It was an immensely tall knight on horseback, with a young boy clutching frantically at his back. But the knight of the Kingsguard had no eyes for that one. He was focused on the heraldry on the knight's shield.

No way!

Jaime couldn't help but gape at it in utter disbelieve. On a gold field, a crowned stag in black. House Baratheon. His mind raced. He felt his heart pounding in excitement. His sword hand itched, only this time it was no phantom pain. It itched for battle. The way Kiritsugu had put it Jaime had expected to fight completely unknown heroes of this strange world, people who meant nothing to him. But this knight was from Westeros like he himself. And while he was indeed not that bright when it came to his general history, he knew how to listen when it came to tales of virtue and bravery. This was a Baratheon, a house which had brought forth quite a lot of distinguished knights who wore this sigil. And it was the sigil of legendary House Durrandon before it. A gleeful smile crept up on his face.

Who am I about to face? The Conqueror's right hand Orys Baratheon? Ser Raymond Baratheon of the Kingsguard? Or even the Laughing Storm himself? I wouldn't be the first Kingsguard to challenge that one. Or is it a Durrandon? Do I get to react the Battle of the Last Storm with Argilac? Or is it one of the many Durrans, these black-haired beasts of men? No... Don't tell me it is God's Grief himself!

Everyone was possible in this Grail War affair and that simple fact reduced the knight to his fifteen years old self. For every name Jaime sprung to mind, his curiosity grew immensely. He paid no heed for that his Master and his companions saw Jaime's open amazement. He just cared for the identity of the opponent he was about to face. And he cursed the fact that each and every one of those stags used these antlers as helm decoration. Without any more clues figuring out his identity would be nigh impossible. It might have been a clue that he used a warhammer to smash in the front doors of the manor, but since that was a very sensible choice of weapon when you are about to confront an armored opponent, Jaime was still at a loss after the knight disappeared inside and out of view.

"The Servant entered the building for approximately ten minutes before he left again", Maiya explained and pushed the fast-forward button while talking. "Whatever happened, it was a short visit."

Then she stopped and Jaime watched the impressive figure leaving on the same way, minus the triggering deathtraps. But this time he looked slightly different. His helmet was removed and Jaime looked into the face of a black-bearded, black-headed hulk of a man, hanging his head lowered. A man he knew all too well.

"No!", he exclaimed, all his hopes at once smashed into pieces. "Seven hells, no!"

Jaime pushed Maiya away from the recorder, pushing the pause button himself, only to gape longer at that miserable face.

The Gods must be mocking me!

"You know this man?", Kiritsugu asked, being the fool that he was.

"Of course I know!", the knight spat back, still struggling from the shock of being thrown back into his bearded current self. "It's the drunken oaf, the whoremonger!"

Maiya stared at him blankly, Kiritsugu frowned and Irisviel threw a confused glance at her husband. Sighing, Jaime tried to calm himself, suppressing the sudden urge to punch something. Instead he just ran his left hand through his hair in exasperation.

"It is King Robert of House Baratheon, first of his name", he sneered especially the last part in his most sarcastic voice. "He happens to be the second king I served..."

... and the father to my children...

"Is that going to be a problem?", Kiritsugu asked bluntly.

"Huh, what?", the knight needed a few seconds to process what his Master meant.

Before answering he faced back to the TV, with the implications finally dawning upon him. Kiritsugu must have been afraid he would put his vows to protect the king before his vows to claim that thrice damned chalice.

"No, not really", he finally admitted softly, his mind having gone blank in the meantime.

That stinking moron meant nothing to him and so did his vows. He remembered the anger he felt each time he stood guard while that drunken fool forced himself on his sister. Considering as what his sweet sister had exposed herself after all, Jaime might have felt pity for Robert, but part of him was sure that his treatment of her was just another factor adding into her madness. If he had treated her well and forgot that accursed child of the North, maybe things would have turned out differently. And yet Jaime felt disappointed. Robert in his prime was a formidable warrior, some say the strongest man in Westeros, and yet this reveal had robbed him of all the joy he would have felt by crossing swords with someone more legendary.

Well, with five others to go there is still a chance to meet someone more interesting...

"Maiya, please tell Saber and Iri what you told me before", Kiritsugu meanwhile asked.

"Very well: Considering the amount of time between entrance and exit, combined with the fact the Servant seemed in no hurry afterwards we have to assume that he neutralized whatever enemy he faced inside."

To be expected. Whatever you might say about Robert, the man knew how to fight. Knows how to fight, I mean...

Jaime nodded.

"Despite that I also observed the light being killed soon afterwards", Maiya continued. "So it seems someone still survived the assault."

"Maybe he left the Master alive", Jaime guessed.

"Or they allied", Kiritsugu interjected. "It appears doubtful he managed to finish a Servant in so short a time."

He looked at Irisviel and she responded to his silent imploring with a shaking of her head.

"It could also mean that he hasn't found an enemy after all", Kiritsugu said then, looking thoughtful. "It is still very early for the ritual, maybe Tohsaka wasn't successful in his summoning yet. Even then, why should he leave a possible Master alive?"

"An enemy you know is better than waiting for someone unexpected to replace him", Maiya proposed.

"Maybe. It can still be a ruse to make Tohsaka appear weak, only to set up a trap for the next Master charging in. Saber, what can you tell us about that Robert Baratheon?"

The knight mused how he should put his words. The Kingsguard must protect the secrets of the king after all. But oh well, this here was about the principle.

"I'm not sure Robert is bright enough to think up something so back-handed. As foolish as he is, he values bravery in battle above all else. He prefers frontal assaults and has the experience and the raw strength to prevail with that tactic. On the other hand... Even without Jon Arryn at his side he showed some low cunning in the rebellion. And he has this uncanny charisma of his. Lock him up in a chamber with his worst enemy for an hour or so and you'll see he will have befriended him. That's why I believe both options are entirely reasonable."

Kiritsugu gave an acknowledging grunt.

"I see. We should try to keep an eye on Baratheon and his Master then to see what connection they have to Tohsaka. If there is an opening on the side of Tohsaka, we should exploit it. And the sooner the better."

With this their plan was made. Kiritsugu and Maiya would concentrate on the scouting, with the grumpy ex-hitman concentrating on Robert and the dull-eyed wench concentrating on that Tohsaka guy, whoever that was.

"You and Irisviel should keep walking around the city in order to detract attention from us", Kiritsugu finally said to Jaime. "And do not meet up with us like this again, you may have already compromised our cover."

"I hope you don't expect me to be sorry", the knight sneered back at this derision.

Kiritsugu blinked.

"You came because you wanted to tell me something. What is it then?"

Jaime glanced at Irisviel who stood behind her husband. She showed again the same pleading 'Please don't make a fuzz out of it' face she had made before. And like before it confused Jaime to no end. He wanted to send her out, but he also knew that it would be improper to lock her out of a subject regarding her own life. He sighed, raising his left hand in a waving motion.

"You see, it is not a huge thing", the Kingsguard began darkly. "I just wanted to give you-"

Jaime's right fist cracked him across the mouth so hard the hitman went tumbling down to the floor. It wasn't even close to an actual punch, the knight made sure of that, it was just a brush. And yet it was enough to make the surprised killer land on his ass. Irisviel gave a short shriek and Maiya glared at him looking like she was about to jump.

"No more surprises, Emiya", Jaime growled. "You kept Iri's true role in this sick game to yourself. Why?"

Kiritsugu wiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand, all the while staring at Jaime with his hard eyes.

"Wasn't your own reaction answer enough to you?", he replied coldly.

The knight took a deep breath. His anger was still rummaging in his bowels, but at least he had been able to vent a little bit of it.

"Oh, don't make me laugh. You brought this upon yourself. How did you think you could explain it to me when she... when she...", it was such a mad thought, he couldn't even put into words.

"Until then I thought I had figured you out", Kiritsugu defended himself, swallowing his own anger. "When I told you our goal you laughed about it. So I couldn't risk it to immediately let you know what sacrifice needs to be made in order to achieve it. Even though I have to admit that I hadn't expected a man who calls himself Kingslayer to reveal such softness."

"Sacrifice?", Jaime laughed bitterly, waving with his left towards the silver-haired woman. "This sacrifice stands right there!"

It was now finally the moment for Iri to step forward. But much to the knight's dismay she decided to stop at the side of Kiritsugu.

"Please, Ser Jaime", she pleaded. "You may feel left in the dark, but I knew my purpose from the very beginning. Don't be upset for my sake."

"What do you mean, since the beginning?", Jaime asked aghast.

"It was decided even before my birth. It is my purpose given to me by my grandfather... and the fate I have decided to embrace."

How can she be just fine with this?

"And it was decided at my birth that I would inherit Casterly Rock! So much for that!", he exclaimed angrily. "Fate is nothing that is decided by our fathers, we forge it ourselves. I took the White, you could just say no, couldn't you?"

"As I said, even though it was decided by my grandfather, I myself have decided to accept it for the sake of the miracle."

The miracle? Don't tell me she means Kiritsugu's childish fantasy...

Jaime looked back and forth between the couple while Emiya himself struggled to his feet.

"You have heard her version...", he said with finality.

"Aye... and yet it still sounds like madness."

The knight took a deep breath. He realized that all eyes in the room where fixated on him. He knew that he was the person who was out of place, but it seemed crazy that nobody except him was able to see how wrong everything regarding this ritual sounded. Instead they made it look like he was the unreasonable one.

"The battle has started. We cannot allow ourselves to quarrel about details", Kiritsugu broke the short silence. "That's why I need to ask you, Saber: Will you fight regardless of the sacrifice?"

"I already pledged my sword to your cause", Jaime said in a resigned tone. "As I see it I don't have much of a choice, only you two have. I will fight. And will win. If I have to. But let me tell you this: This talk is not over."

He went toward the door and for once Jaime Lannister had no quip on his lips.

"Iri? Let's go. You wanted to see this city... and I owe you to make up for the detour."

Sola-ui

"And here we are at our biggest sight", the head monk declared proudly while touring them through the insides of his temple.

The place was like any other historical Japanese building. It was quite large, boasting an enormous yard in which the monks did their morning exercises and despite its modest purpose there went a certain kind of craftsmanship into the roofs and walls which looked like some kind of Asian half-timbering. Well, if the inner walls weren't made of paper, something Sola-ui at first found amusing, but after a while started to get annoyed from.

Who can live in a place like this? And what the hell are they doing in winter? Freezing to death?

They were walking over some kind of hard mats while the head monk showed them a dusty bedroom that seemed out of use for centuries.

"According to the legend, this is the room where the legendary wandering monk resided after taming the dragon god living under the river Mion. He had prayed three days and three nights before the mighty beast acknowledged his spiritual power."

What nonsense...

It should have been a simple scouting mission while Kayneth was busy setting up his defence perimeter at the hotel. Both a necessity and a good opportunity to better learn to know that intriguing character her otherwise useless fiancé managed to drag back into life. They were inspecting the temple grounds upon mount Enzou when the head monk approached them, most likely thinking they were a pair of tourists. She couldn't really fault him for that, Lancer even decided to come in his physical form, wearing jeans and a red jacket over his orange shirt. Casual clothes he had bought for himself in London. Sola-ui herself wanted to avoid lingering here for long, but Prince Oberyn eagerly accepted the man's offer to show them around and since then they were touring the Ryoudou-temple.

"... and then the wandering monk lived happily ever after, teaching the other monks how to do this fascinating grappling style of your people", Lancer finished the sentence of their guide with an amused smirk.

The head monk seemed taken aback, struggling a bit for words.

"Uh, have I already told this part of the story before?"

"Twice actually", Oberyn replied, never ceasing his generous smile.

"Oh... sorry about my rambling then", the muscled monk scratched the back of his shaved head in embarrassment.

Sola-ui meanwhile wandered a bit around, wondering how much time Lancer was planning to idle away anymore. It was that moment that a little boy with glasses on his nose entered the place, eying both of them with suspicion plainly written on his face.

"I wish you a good day", he said, bowing towards the two strangers before turning towards the head monk. "I didn't know we had guests."

"Oh don't worry, we don't stay long at a place like this", Sola-ui sneered, her impatience getting the better on her. "It's just that the head monk tries to impress us enough to make a donation."

The four-eyed boy glared at her dubiously while the monk himself tried to shrug it off.

"Is it that obvious, eh?", the fool laughed heartily.

Prince Oberyn then stepped between her and the boy, going to his knees to be on eye-level.

"What my friend actually wanted to tell you is that we don't want to keep your father from his more important tasks, you understand?"

"I understand that she is a quite rude woman...", the boy groaned.

"Issei!", his father called out chidingly.

Only minutes later they were finally released. Sola-ui and Lancer climbed down the long stairs leading towards the district of Miyama. The Prince's good humour seemed to know no bounds, something Sola-ui admitted was something she could be envious of. And since she liked him better sporting his charming smile, she wasn't one to complain that he had his fun.

"Milady seemed to be a little bored. Are you not interested in the history of this place?", he asked with not a hind of reproach.

Sola-ui knew she had to smooth the situation over. She had already witnessed his curiosity in regards to foreign cultures when he accompanied her in England, therefore she knew he wouldn't understand if she tells her that she has no interest in the life of these people.

"It is... a bit difficult to take his explanations seriously when he knows barely anything about the place he truly lives in", she finally said with great care to her words.

Prince Oberyn scanned his surroundings.

"He did say it is a place of great karmic importance", he admitted. "Sure enough, he is not aware of this weird curse that keeps me from entering from any other angle except these stairs."

"It wards off spirits", Sola-ui explained. "Maybe some centuries ago there was indeed a Magus from an eastern school who used the leyline under the mountain to form such a defence mechanism. But the mountain contains even more mysteries this fool is blind to."

"The Grail?", Lancer asked, his expression having turned seriously.

"Indeed. The Greater Grail even, the construct that gives birth to the vessel of the miracle. The very same we are currently fighting for."

The Prince of Dorne nodded in understanding. Something Sola-ui was always happy to see. That man was not just some medieval thug like she had feared before the summoning. He was obviously a learned man who had at least some basic knowledge about magic. Therefore he was quick to understand even complicated subjects and always eager consume more knowledge. His sharp wit, his courteous behaviour, his wild aura... Sola-ui had to admit that she was really enjoying his company.

"There are four of those fallen leylines in the city, aren't there?", Oberyn asked when they arrived back on the streets of Miyama.

"There are. The Greater Grail is just one of them. Two of them are occupied by factions of the Grail War, the Tohsaka residence and the church. Since the church is considered neutral ground setting up a base there stands out of the question. The last one however...", Sola-ui sighed. "Sixty years ago it was just empty farmland. But now... These eastern morons should have done the sensible thing and secured the area, but instead they allowed the government to cover it with a whole residential district. I have heard the centre of the convergence is now below the Shinto city hall."

Tohsaka residence is the closest to here. But a familiar would suffice for a closer look, there is no reason to provoke that Master by showing up ourselves.

Sola-ui's train of thought was interrupted when a plain white football rolled in front of her feet. Both of them stopped and looked out for its owner. To the left of the sidewalk they were using was a big playground where half a dozen children had been playing around noisily. One of them approached them, a little girl who dipped her head apologetically.

"Gomen nasai", she called out in that native tongue of hers.

Sola-ui hesitated, looking at the ball to her feet.

Oberyn seemed upset about me being so dismissive of that brat earlier. Maybe I should...

She picked up the ball, donning her most gentle smile and mentally preparing herself to give that filthy toy to the careless native.

"You need to be more careful, little one", she said with an amiable voice.

The girl stopped, not coming closer anymore.

"You come from far away?", she said with heavily accented English.

At least she is not totally uneducated...

"We kind of are...", Oberyn answered in her stead.

"How do you like Fuyuki?", she asked.

"Oh it is great... and I have the feeling it is going to get more exciting with every minute", he gave one of his sharp smiles, one of those which could cut a cake.

"You live here?", Sola-ui then asked, feigning interest.

She looked at her with her grey eyes.

"I am new too. But the children here are welcoming enough", she giggled. "Want to join our game."

"We are too busy, I am sorry", Sola-ui tried to sound not too annoyed at the suggestion, instead she tried to go forward, wanting to give back the ball.

She immediately ran into the outstretched arm of Lancer. Sola-ui threw a confused glance at him. His smile was still there, but his eyes were serious.

"You are staying close nearby?", the girl further implored, seemingly unaware of the strange behaviour of her company.

"You are terribly curious for a country girl...", he gave a well-timed chuckle. "You'd do good keeping this trait of yours."

"I can't help it", she returned his smile.

Something was wrong. Sola-ui was completely unable to sense anything unusual, but her guts told her that this situation was just totally off. Even the children who had played with her seemed to know that. They stared at the three of them with confusion plainly written across their faces. And then Prince Oberyn leaned closer to her, all the while never lowering his arm, never signalling Sola-ui that the danger is over.

"Valar morghulis", he said.

The words meant nothing to the Magus and yet it was enough to send a shiver down her spine.

"Valar dohaeris", the girl replied immediately. "You came from farther away than you made yourself look like."

"I could say the same of you", Oberyn stated darkly. "But it is terribly brave of you to approach me like this, I give you that. What if I just strike you down?"

"In front of the children?", she asked with a dubious expression.

The Prince of Dorne shrugged.

"Maybe I don't care."

The girl didn't reply to that. And neither saw Prince Oberyn any reason to prolong the conversation. It was as if the entire street was swallowed by silence, drowning out even the noise of the cars behind them. Then the girl turned towards Sola-ui, her expression softening immediately.

"Can we please get our ball back at least?"

For a moment she just stood there awestruck. But then she threw it towards the strange girl and she caught it easily.

"A good day then. I hope you have an enjoyable time here", she bowed before running off back to her friends.

Her mood seemed completely changed after she joined the other kids, resuming their game of football in the dirt.

"What did that mean?", Sola-ui asked warily.

"Trouble", Oberyn looked thoughtful. "We need to be extremely cautious from now on... and I advise you to wash your hands."

Kirei

The priest sat in a chair, having his fingers folded pensively in front of his face. He was in the hotel room he had set up his makeshift base in. And he was also still contemplating what that meant for his alliance with Tohsaka. Since the initial plan had failed he didn't dare make contact with his father considering that he was still officially a Master, so he was on his own. On the table in front of him lay the documents he had sent to him instead. The identities of the Masters known to the church. Besides him and Tokiomi there were two Magi of the Mage's association, which was not very surprising. One Master was still unknown, but according to the inspectors guarding the greater Grail, all Servants were already summoned. And as Tokiomi had already deduced, Zouken Matou himself has announced that his nephew Kariya had successfully summoned a Servant of the Berserker class. Kirei was sure that these curious eyes at the Tohsaka residence belonged to him. But it was an interesting choice for a Master, that was for sure. As far as Tohsaka knew that man had abandoned the life of a Magus years ago. An act Tokiomi regarded as disgraceful and seemed even a little angry at the mention of it. But then there was the last one of the seven... the Einzbern Master who drew the curiosity of Kirei like no other.

The Magus Killer, Kiritsugu Emiya...

Like Kirei himself he seemed a restless person, at least in the years before he joined the Einzberns. And a dangerous person, too. A person who seemed to care for nothing but success, a man who was able to sacrifice as many as necessary in order to eliminate a single target. He was unable to feel anything, that's how it looked like for Kirei. An alike spirit who both drew his interest and terrified him more than he could tell.

"Am I interrupting you at something?", an awfully young voice ripped him out of his thoughts.

Oh right, it is already this late.

The most unusual Assassin had appeared in his room, eying her surroundings more out of boredom than actual curiosity. Kirei turned in his chair to face her.

"How went your mission, Arya?"

"Good enough, I have found out the identities of two of our enemies", she said in a tone that seemed more thoughtful than proud.

"You sound not like you like what you've found out."

The girl shrugged, now glaring at him with her empty eyes.

"That people like Joffrey for some stupid reason qualify as heroes should have been hint enough that there are only monsters around", Arya said bitterly.

"Kariya's Berserker?"

"The worst of all."

Kirei sighed after she had so mercilessly confirmed his gut feeling.

"Who is he?", he asked after a small pause.

"The Mountain. A cruel bastard who calls himself a knight. I still regret to have not given his name to the many-faced god back at Harrenhal. Do I have your leave to make up for that?"

The priest frowned at the notion.

"You think you can defeat Berserker on your own?"

Arya grimaced.

"No... but I could kill his Master. This way he will surely disappear and die as well."

"I'm not sure...", Kirei pondered his thought. "Maybe we could make use of Kariya and his Servant instead."

"The Mountain's liege lord Tywin Lannister always made use of him. And it were always the wrong people who suffered for it."

"I keep you words in mind", he waved with his left hand in the air. "Go on then, what else have you found out?"

The girl made a short bow.

"I have met the Servant of the man Archibald El-Melloi. He was inspecting Miyama together with a woman who seems to be an ally of his Master. I'm afraid that I can't tell you much about him yet. He has a funny accent, but despite him being familiar with the Faceless Men, he is not from Braavos. There is a chance I find more out if he'd wear heraldry, but I'm afraid I'm not good enough to recognize a difficult one."

There was something odd about the story she told. Kirei had a bad feeling about it.

"You say he is familiar with your kind. How did you find that out?"

"He saw through my disguise when I approached him", Arya said. "My pardons if I have overstepped the boundaries of your orders. But I thought I could find out more by conversing with him."

"What happened, happened. You don't need to be sorry", Kirei replied begrudgingly. "It is good to know that we need to be careful with that one. I assume your usual tactics will be ineffective against him?"

"Possibly", was the girl's cold answer. "But if it helps, I believe he is now overestimating my abilities."

Indeed Kirei pondered how that could be useful. A paranoid enemy might be wary, but he also behaves more predictably. And yet he remembered that Arya said she now knew two identities. There was still one more left...

"You have found out who Emiya's Servant is?", he leaned forward, unable to hide his curiosity.

"The Kingslayer...", Arya stated icily. "Even with a beard and without his golden armor he is easy to identify. I have watched him and a woman with Targaryen features entering a motel in Shinto, meeting up with Emiya and another woman. Both seem allied with each other."

"Targaryen features?", Kirei asked with a frown.

"Silver hair, purple eyes. I had never seen one before, but I have heard the stories."

Red eyes, not purple...

"She is a homunculus, an artificial human created by the Einzberns. It was to be expected that the Einzbern Master brings the sacrifice for the ritual."

The girl's eyes narrowed.

"Sacrifice?"

"To create a vessel for the Grail, a body needs to be sacrificed. Don't get me wrong, the idea disgusts me as much as you. But this woman is just a puppet, created solely for this purpose", Kirei explained with resignation in his voice. "As far as I know, homunculi are bred in vats and born without soul. They have no mind to speak of, so that sacrificing one shouldn't be a problem."

That's as far as ethics go with Magi, I'm afraid...

"I somehow doubt that", Arya replied warily.

"Doubt what you want. If there is no homunculus, someone else would be chosen by the Grail as a vessel and destroyed. There is nothing we can do about it", Kirei sighed. "What else can you tell me about this Kingslayer? His moniker seems quite fearsome."

Assassin nodded.

"Some say he is the best swordsman in all of Westeros. Not without mentioning how low the bar has fallen, but they still do. They say he killed the king he served. I just know he is a bad person, just as bad as his sister the queen. He killed Jory, Heward and Wyl. Good men in service to my father, each of them. They were my friends", she bit her lip.

Kirei swallowed the bile on his tongue.

"You want to avenge them?"

"If possible, yes."

He nodded in understanding. It was interesting to know that this Emiya was plagued by a Servant known for his fickle attitude. Maybe their role in the Grail War would turn out shorter than expected.

"Your eyes are still out there?", he asked, still sunken in his own thoughts.

"Always", was the short reply.

"I myself am very interested in this man Emiya. Let us watch how he and the Kingslayer work together... I have a feeling we don't need to wait long for an opportunity."

He hoped to see satisfaction in her eyes, but all he was able to read was indifference. If he promised her the certain death of those she wanted to see dead, her reaction might have been different, but like this... He had found himself in a difficult situation with both his companion as well as Tokiomi's being too weak to take anyone head-on. Charging blindly ahead like Rider did could end in a disaster. Waiting for enemy moves and taking them out while they were busy killing each other, that is what he had in mind. And yet, he doubted the girl would understand his reasoning.

"You have done a good job today", Kirei said.

The girl looked up at that, obviously startled.

"A praise from you, strange man?"

The priest shrugged.

"Isn't that what is expected from me to say?"

"It is", Arya said warily. "I just... didn't expect it from you."

"You found out a lot in just one day", he stood up, now towering above her. "Let me accompany you tonight, then. I can't let you do all the work, can I?"

And with these words he strode out of the room, having already equipped himself with his Black Keys beforehand.

All seven are most likely from the same world... and all of them seem connected one way or another. This affair is going to be a lot more intriguing than expected.

Irisviel

A soft breeze went through her hair, all the while she felt the refreshing coldness of the water tipping her toes when she walked on top of the white sand. Winter was close upon Fuyuki, but coldness was never something Iri was ever bothered with. She had felt true coldness, once. A chilling that struck her down and made every movement agony. A freezing numbness that swept every single thought out of her brain until she just wanted to lie down and sleep forever. This salty wind was no coldness like that, not by all means. It felt like life, not like death. After a long day of exploring the world of society, always accompanied by the shadow in the black suit, she was only slightly exhausted and yet still wanted to enjoy as much of it as possible. After she had walked among more people than she had ever seen before, it was a nice change of pace to visit this lonely beach to get an impression of what the sea is like.

"It's so much fun to walk around a new town, accompanied by a gentleman", Iri mused.

The golden-haired man next to her seemed a little taken aback by her sudden notion.

"My pardons for nearly ruining it...", he said with a grave voice.

This topic again...

"Don't ponder on it. You were a perfect knight, always at my side, always attentive", she said, slightly dismissing his objections with her smile.

"You do me too much honor, your Grace."

Iri sighed. He might be all courteous, but sometimes he could also be quite sombre. She turned away, watching how the light of the moon was shimmering atop the waves. It was a truly beautiful sight with the huge full moon illuminating the night's sky.

"Do you like the sea, Ser Jaime?"

The knight stepped to her side, following her gaze out into the sea.

"I suppose I do", he said, his green eyes glancing at her. "How about you? I guess this is your first time seeing so much unfrozen water in one place."

"It is... When Kiritsugu... when he showed me pictures of the ocean, I had hoped to just once see one with my own eyes", Iri chuckled lightly. "My ambitions must sound awfully small to you."

She expected him to joke about it, like so many of the things he said were jokes. But when he denied it, his face was dead serious.

"No, not at all", he said, continuing his own gaze to the horizon. "You must know that the castle I was born and raised in was towering above the Sunset Sea. I woke up to the sound of waves and went to bed with the smell of salt in my nose."

Irisviel tried to imagine the picture he was painting and yet in her mind the castle atop the mountainside always turned out to look like the one of the Einzberns.

"It must have been a great sight to behold."

The knight nodded.

"Sometimes I imagined how it would be, leaving all of it behind", he then continued. "To just flee across the sea. Joining a sellsword company, fighting pirates in the Stepstones, visiting the Free Cities. Maybe these thoughts were the proof that I indeed spent too much time in the company of ribald uncle Gerion."

He is still nudging towards that topic...

"But you never did...", she tried to counter him.

"Not over the sea, no", Ser Jaime turned towards her, a bitter smile on his face. "But I fled nonetheless."

"And you rue it to this day, don't you?"

"I... I don't regret having given up Casterly Rock, if that is what you mean. I just regret the kings I served and the things I allowed to happen since then."

"You see", Irisviel tried to speak as confident as possible. "If I were to flee, I would always regret the things happening thereafter. Kiritsugu as well. All of them. Until the regrets will inevitably consume his soul."

Ser Jaime gave a grunt.

"He is not the only person you love, right? Think about what your death will do to your daughter."

"There is nothing I need to worry about as long as Kiritsugu succeeds. Then my death will have saved her life."

"And if we fail? Isn't that quite a lot of risk to bet on only my sword?"

"Kiritsugu will not allow that to-", a gasp went through her throat.

A shiver went through her entire body, a shiver that was not caused by the cold. It were her magic circuits which were vibrating, announcing the presence of something powerful and ferocious.

"Did you-"

"I felt it as well", Jaime cut her short.

"This someone is inviting us", Iri observed.

"Indeed. How shall we proceed, your Grace?"

She knew this moment would happen. All things had to end and this was the beginning of it. But she would face it with her head held high.

"We should take him up on his offer..."

For a moment Jaime seemed surprised, but his frown soon turned into a smile.

"As you wish."

Following the presence of their enemy the two of them didn't have to go very far. It lead them to the nearby docks, where the natural partition through the large metal containers was reinforced through a well crafted bounded field. Whoever was responsible for this certainly knew what he was doing.

"I am glad you came. I already feared all my opponents would be so craven to not show their true faces", a heavily accented voice called out.

Jaime tensed.

"Keep your distance", he warned her softly.

She knew she could defend herself if necessary, but she was also fairly sure that fighting a superpowered Heroic Spirit on her own would be foolish. Therefore she stepped to the side, allowing the knight to have all the room he was going to need. And when she turned back to the battlefield, a figure clad like the sun had appeared right in front of them. With his Armor scaled with copper, shield in gold and red and a murderous spear tucked under his armpit, he was a terrifying sight. And when his eyes met the ones of the golden-haired knight in the black suit, he formed a smile with a vicious edge to it.

"Ser Jaime sisterfucking Lannister!", he gleefully called out.

Iri looked towards her protector, watching how he reacted to the insult. He paused a little, raising his chin, but otherwise took it in stride.

They know each other as well?

Their opponent now raised both his arms to the night sky as if in prayer.

"Our meeting is the ultimate proof that the Gods are truly blessing me! Of all the poor fellows they could have chosen for me to kill they have gifted me with a Lannister!", he then retrieved his spear and pointed it at the knight. "Why so silent, Kingslayer? Have you finally run out of snide remarks?"

Jaime's initially cautious reaction was meanwhile fully blown away. Now he just stood there, chuckling to himself.

"My pardons, Prince Oberyn, I was too busy getting this image of you being a smear on the floor out of my head. What did you say? Maybe you should come closer if you dare. But be careful with your neck. The best way to kill snakes is by chopping off their heads after all..."

"You won't get close enough to land even one blow", the enemy Servant threatened..

"Is this a challenge? Pray tell what is it you are making your bet with? A bag of Dornish sand? A couple of stones? Or one of these baseborn daughters of yours?"

Much to Iri's surprise, this thought seemed to amuse their opponent.

"Are you tired of your golden-haired whore to make such a bold proposition?", he laughed darkly. "Go on, you have my leave to take your chances. But don't complain to me if you wake up and find your testicles removed."

"Ah... as pleasant as exchanging barbs with you always is, we both know that we came to exchange blows of a much different kind."

"So it is..."

After these words, the two men remained silent for a couple of seconds. Only the wind brushing along the containers was audible. A wind that soon enough turned into a strong gust. The source of it was Jaime himself. He emitted an aura which was illuminating the night, driving the darkness back into the deepest corners. Iri herself had to cover her eyes as the blinding light burned into them. And when she dared to open her eyes again, a billowing white cloak was the first she saw amidst the slowly subsiding aura. The black-suited gentleman had disappeared and was replaced by the knight of the Kingsguard. From head to toe Jaime was encased in heavy steel. Untouched by paint and polished until it had turned into a mirror, this knight didn't look white anymore. His armor and shield reflected the moonlight, giving him a bluish shimmer that reminded Irisviel of the ocean she had admired before.

"I hope your sword is as sharp as your tendency to look dramatic", Prince Oberyn chirped.

"Trust me, Ser, it is sharper", Jaime Lannister replied, brimming with confidence.

The white knight drew his sword. Iri had not seen it drawn before, she would have remembered such a blade very well. The steel was so dark it nearly turned to black, red ripples going through its entire length like blood-filled veins. It seemed to pulsate when Jaime weighed it in the air. Even he himself observed it with unabashed marvel as it cut audibly through the air.

"Now, let us dance!", the Kingsguard announced eagerly.

And the sun readied itself when the moon charged into battle.

Author's notes: So... if you have read my comment to A Certain Random Guys "A Servant of Ice and Fire" in which my idea to this story was born (if haven't done it till now: Big recommendation from me for his shorts, even though they need an update badly), you may have noticed that I expected Jaime and Kerry to work together splendidly, at least for a time. I was as suprised as you are when I realized just how sick Jaime is to being a bystander while atrocities happen. Well, I dare to say this makes the path they are going to take no less interesting, even though it made me slightly suspicious of how our dear King Arthur was able to keep up with him for so long without calling him out on it. It seems the original Saber has far more patience than this one.

Well, so much for now. I hope I was able to entertain a little!