Along with this story, I have been working on another. Like I've said, I'll be posting it after I'm done with this story. I'm trying to work hard on it, but I don't know if it'll turn out as well as I hope it will. Here's some previews for each Master-Servant pair in it. They will be like the character trailers for Fate/Zero. I'll post one each chapter, going up to chapter 23. To be honest, I know I should have started on chapter 19, but the idea came to me when I was going to sleep, and I want to get it out of my system before I forget.
Altera: "My original name was Altera."
Servant: Saber
Master: Hisao Matsuda
Hisao: "You're a person, not a machine!"
Altera: "I will kill you."
The next morning, when Akiko and Lancer entered the kitchen to eat breakfast, the Master noticed that everyone was already there. However, they weren't dressed for school. Taiga and Sakura were missing.
"Where's Ms. Fujimura and Sakura?" Akiko asked, looking around the room for the two. "They also weren't here last night for dinner."
Shirou shook his head. "I don't know either. But this may have something to do with it. I just checked the phone an hour ago. There was a saved voice message. From the school. School is cancelled today and tomorrow."
"But why?" Akiko asked as she and Lancer sat down at the table across from Shirou, Saber, and Archer. "We didn't get a notice beforehand and it didn't snow hard."
"They didn't give a reason for cancelling school," Shirou explained. "I tried calling the Fujimura group to ask Fuji-nee if she knew the reason, but the guy who picked up told me she was too upset to talk to anyone."
"We also tried calling Sakura to find out why she didn't show up here last night, but the phone went to voicemail," Rin added. "I have a feeling that something strange happened last night."
"They were going to be late because of an archery meet last night, right?" Akiko said. "Maybe something major happened to them. I'll call Mitsuzuri."
Akiko got up, Lancer silently watching her. He hadn't given his input on what he thought of this situation. The Master rushed to her room and quickly got her cell phone. She found Ayako in her contacts list and dialed for her. Several rings were heard and Akiko thought at first Ayako wasn't going to pick up and all she would get was the voicemail. Then she heard the sound of the other end of the line being picked up.
"Hello? Mitsuzuri? Are you -"
"Hashimoto?! Is that you?! Please help! I'm so scared!"
[Whirlpool of Fate 2]
"Mitsuzuri?! Calm down and tell me what happened!"
"I told my parents, but they don't believe me! They say it was just a wild animal, but I know what I saw! Please, Hashimoto! You have to believe me!"
"Hold up! What are you talking about?!"
"A big...thing! And it killed someone in the club! You need to help me! I don't know what to do!"
"Are you sure you didn't just imagine it?"
"You sound like everyone else I talked to! You really don't believe your own friend!"
"It's not like that!" Suddenly all Akiko got was the dialtone. "Mitsuzuri?! Mitsuzuri, are you there?!"
"What's goin' on?"
[End OST]
Akiko looked over her shoulder and saw Lancer leaning back against the doorframe. Akiko closed her phone and put it away.
"Something happened last night to the archery team. Something that scared Mitsuzuri shitless. She thinks I don't believe her so she hung up."
"Figured somethin' like that. The other two Master-Servant pairs are going to investigate the school fer clues as to what happened. We should go as well."
"Fine." Akiko stood up. "Getting some answers may help me be able to calm Mitsuzuri down."
Akiko grabbed something quick to eat from the kitchen and went out the front door with Lancer. Shirou had made sandwiches for them, and left a slice for Akiko. It was early in the morning, so only a few other people were on the sidewalk. The leafless tree branches were swaying in the wind.
"I hope to God we don't run into the killer at the school," Akiko said once she and Lancer were out of earshot from anyone else. "After all, Tohsaka thinks it's a Servant."
"Even if we do, it'll be fightin' three other Servants."
"But will that even be enough? We've encountered every other Servant in this War, so it's most likely not one. It might not be a Servant, but something else entirely. And just as dangerous. We'll be in for a world of hurt if it's as strong as Berserker."
"Let's try not to think 'bout somethin' like that..."
"It seems we meet again, mongrels."
[Into the Night]
The two froze in their tracks at the voice and looked back at once. Standing on the sidewalk behind them was a man with blonde hair and eyes just like Lancer's. Actually, now that Akiko thought about it, she had seen this man before. He was the same one from the cafe that day. She looked around wildly. This man was a Servant. So a fight breaking out was very likely. But luckily, the sidewalk was free of witnesses.
This man gave off a different air than when Akiko last saw him, in the cafe. It was heavier now, more foreboding. It made Akiko think she was going to die fighting against him. Even with Lancer at her side. The power coming from the man that Akiko was sensing is crazy. The way he was standing showed that he was confident in his own fighting ability. This man would kill her Servant no problem.
The man grinned, though not in an amused way. The smile suggested that he was thinking of something devious.
"We wouldn't want mongrels interrupting us." He raised his left hand and snapped his fingers. "Lowly beings do not have a right to gaze upon my glory. And that includes you filthy animals."
The scenery didn't change. However, a chill went up Akiko's spine. What did he just do?! "Did you activate a bounded field?!" Akiko demanded.
The man's smirk didn't drop. "It was something I set up before we met." His gaze switched to Lancer. "So he is Ireland's so-called 'Child of Light'."
"How do you know Lancer's true name?!"
The man didn't bother to glance back at Akiko. "My Master. I'll admit that he is pretty knowledgeable. Now, Servant. You may be a demigod, but that doesn't change the fact that you are still a mere guard dog."
"Did you just call me a dog?!" Lancer shouted, switching from his modern clothes to his battle attire. He made Gae Bolg materialize in his right hand. He twirled the spear before squatting into an attacking position, grasping the weapon in both hands, the tip pointing to the enemy. "I won't let you get away so easily fer that..."
"Lancer, calm down!" Akiko ordered him. Then she glared at the opposing Servant. "And who the hell are you?! We've already encountered every other Servant!"
"How is it that you cannot tell who I am just by witnessing my magnificence?!" the man growled.
"Oh, stop bein' a prick an' just tell us who ya are!" Lancer shouted.
"You dare to speak to me in that manner?!" the enemy snarled. "You need to learn how to show respect, dog!"
[End OST]
(The Golden King)
Before Lancer could do anything else, a golden portal appeared beside the man. A blade came out of the middle of it. Then once the middle of the stain-free steel appeared, the entire sword shot forward at blinding speeds, going right for Lancer. It pierced the man right below his right knee, making him back up a step. He was gritting his teeth as the sword in him vanished into flecks of golden mana, allowing his blood to flow out of the wound freely.
"Lancer!" Akiko exclaimed, rushing over to the wounded Servant. She went down onto her knees and placed both hands on the injury. Green light came from her palms and the bleeding slowly stopped. "You have the skill Protection Against Arrows. Even though the weapon was a sword, it was still a projectile. Why didn't your skill stop it?"
"It was a Noble Phantasm," Lancer answered. "Thus, it was too strong for the skill to stop - Watch out!" the man suddenly shouted. He shoved Akiko back with his right hand, stopping the healing spell. The bleeding had been slowed to a trickle. At the same time he pushed Akiko, Lancer jumped to his left. Three swords that shot at Akiko's head ended up hitting the ground. But instead of simply vanishing, they blew up.
The two looked back at the opposing man. Three of those golden portals were around him. The man was smirking, like a cat who had just cornered a mouse.
"I suppose you mongrels should at least know the name of the person who will end your lives. My name is Gilgamesh. But I hardly need to put any effort into exterminating flies. My Gates of Babylon will be enough for that. So rejoice in the fact that I will deign to go easy on you."
Lancer took off at blinding speeds at the Servant. Weapons of all shapes and sizes were fired at the spearman, but he weaved all over, barely avoiding them. One came at his face just as he weaved out of the way of an incoming spear. Thinking quick, he jumped straight up and the incoming weapon hit the ground where he just was.
"I'll take yer head!" Lancer shouted, spinning his spear and then holding it in a stabbing position with both hands. He was coming down at an angle, the tip of his spear going for Gilgamesh's head.
Gilgamesh chuckled. "Do not get overconfident, dog." Then several Gates appeared over Gilgamesh, all angled at Lancer. A dozen weapons flew at the warrior. The man quickly switched his attack to defense and spun his spear quickly in front of his body, knocking away the weapons that were coming at him.
When Lancer's feet hit the ground, he was right behind Gilgamesh, their backs facing each other. Lancer spun around, stabbing his spear forward. Gilgamesh also spun around to face Lancer, holding a sword in one hand and using it to block. Then a rain of weapons came down at Lancer, making him take a massive leap back to avoid them.
"Did you really think you would be able to put a scratch on me?" the enemy chuckled darkly. A dome of golden portals appeared around Lancer. "Now die!"
All that could be seen were bolts of golden light coming from the Gates at Lancer, then dust coming from where the knight is an instant later. The impact of the weapons hitting the ground was so great that the cloud of dust expanded, going up into the sky higher than the tops of the trees.
Lancer came flying out of the cloud of dust. He had jumped to his right as soon as the weapons were fired. But he didn't come out unscathed. Cuts littered his body and a long slice went all the way down his upper left arm. He ignored the pain and continued his advance.
As soon as one foot hit the ground, he sprang forward at Gilgamesh, stabbing forward with Gae Bolg in his right hand. A Gate appeared next to Gilgamesh and the blade of an ax came out, blocking the strike. But as soon as the spear hit, Lancer pulled it back and vanished, running too fast to see. He appeared an instant later behind Gilgamesh, stabbing again. Gilgamesh's eyes widened in surprise. He started having to look over his shoulder for Lancer to reappear. Several Gates outlined the king, sword blades sticking out of each and taking Lancer's next attack. When Lancer vanished and then appeared again, striking at the other Servant, the same defense happened. His attacks were fast. Lancer's form would appear for just a fraction of a second as he struck before vanishing again. The strikes also didn't have much power put into them. They were for determining a weak point in Gilgamesh's defense. Lancer wanted to conserve as much energy as possible so he could go all-out on the weak point.
Clang clang clang clang clang clang!
A melody of metal hitting metal rang out. The king's surprise was gone, only to be replaced with annoyance. He growled, red eyes darting around as they struggled to keep up with the blue Servant. He was able to see Lancer right before the Servant attacked, because the man would halt for a second. This allowed for Gilgamesh to react quick enough to make the Gates defend against the assault. This man was being exactly like a fly. Though most don't harm you, their buzzing is annoying. And they never go away on their own. And just like a fly, this man needed to be caught and have his wings plucked off before being flattened by a swatter.
Steel showered Gilgamesh as the blades of three swords shattered when they tried to block a pretty powerful attack. Then he thrust his hand out at Lancer and two Gates appeared, two spears being fired at Lancer. But the man seemed to vanish again and the spears ended up hitting empty ground.
Lancer reappeared beside Gilgamesh, swinging his spear sideways at the man's neck. "Now ya die!" The spear ended up being blocked by a silver chain that also had a golden glow to it. Lancer's surprise at the chain's sudden appearance only lasted for an instant, but that was all the time that was needed. A Gate showed up behind Lancer and a spike with another chain on it came out. The chain wrapped around Lancer's wrist.
Before he could be restrained further, he attempted to run. However, when he yanked the chain, the loops of silver didn't separate like Lancer expected. It stayed in place and Lancer ended up dislocating his left shoulder.
"Gh!" he grunted at the sudden, sharp pain followed by a throbbing ache. More chains came out, wrapping around Lancer's other wrist, around his shins and ankles, two around his torso, and one around his neck. The golden light coming from the metal snakes illuminated the captive and made truly look like a Child of Light.
"To force me to bind you with Enkidu, you seem to be worthy of some of my attention, dog." Several Gates appeared, all pointing at Lancer. "Now die, mongrel!"
Akiko quickly thrust her palm out, it pointing at Gilgamesh. "Suaco ekess tir mojka mrith malsvir [1]!"
Harsh wind assaulted Gilgamesh, slicing his clothes. He shielded his face with both arm, turning his attention away from Lancer for a moment. And this also weakened the chains' hold on him. He was able to rip his right arm, his torso, and both of his legs free. Then he used Gae Bolg to cut the chains around his torso and his left arm. He jumped to Akiko's side, his left arm hanging limply at his side. At the same time, weapons fired from the Gates, hitting the ground where Lancer just was. The broken chains that held the Servant dangled onto the ground before vanishing into a dust of golden mana.
A halberd flew out at Lancer as he was trying to get away. The man spun around and knocked the weapon away with Gae Bolg, all in one motion.
A sword had been launched right behind the halberd, so Lancer didn't see it until it was too late. The blade plunged into Lancer's right shoulder, punching easily through the armor. The man was knocked to the pavement on his back.
Akiko bit her lower lip. Lancer was taking too much damage. And his left arm was useless. At this rate, this golden Servant would kill the knight. "Lancer! Retreat for now!"
Lancer grit his teeth as he stood. The sword was still lodged in his shoulder, going through it all the way. Then the weapon vanished into golden mana like the others. Blood was flowing out of the wound like water coming out of a leaky faucet. "I'm not about to chicken out of this fight!"
Gilgamesh laughed, still having his arms crossed. "I have to say I applaud your effort despite the odds you are facing, dog! But I am afraid to tell you that it will all be for nothing in the end. You will die if you continue to stand against me!" To prove his point, a sword shot out and impaled Lancer through his right thigh, making him fall down onto that knee.
Lancer spat. It was supposed to say 'you think I really give a shit?', but he ended up spitting a glob of blood. So much pain radiated from each of his wounds, but he did his best to ignore it. "So what? Even if ya kill me, my corpse will still come after you, seeking yer throat!"
Gilgamesh barked a single laugh. "Such arrogance coming from a lowly dog! It looks as if you need to be taught to sit and be silent!"
"Arrogance?! Yer one to talk!"
Akiko bit her lower lip harder, drawing blood. If Lancer wasn't going to fall back willingly, the Master would just have to force him. She lifted her right hand in front of her body, back of it facing up. Her two Command Seals began glowing.
"By my Command Seal, Lancer, retreat!"
The left "wing" faded. All that was left was the hollow, red diamond. Lancer's body began trembling, trying to resist the order. Gae Bolg vanished from his right hand in a dust of blue mana.
"I'm...not...gonna...back down..!" he ground out. But, against his will, he jumped back several times, going into the cover of the trees on either side of the road. Going as fast as she could, Akiko ran after him. But Gilgamesh didn't move a muscle. The Gates of Babylon shrunk and vanished. Gilgamesh smirked.
"It seems that mongrel that is the dog's Master has some sense about when it is time to abandon the fight. But as long as I am alive, I am certain we will encounter each other again. If that happens, I will make sure the dog draws his last breath before he retreats again."
(End OST)
Lancer and Akiko were hiding behind a tree and panting. Akiko caught her breath and spoke first.
"Hey, how are you holding up now?"
"I'll be fine," Lancer replied. Then he tried to stand up. However, he grunted in pain and fell back down. "Dammit!"
"Is something wrong?!" Akiko demanded.
"I was able to run from Gilgamesh because yer Command Seal forced me to, despite my condition. It also kept me from feeling any pain from my injuries. However, now that it's worn off, I can feel major pain in my right leg when I try to stand. I think he severely damaged my soleus."
Akiko just blinked in confusion. "...What?"
Lancer groaned, but in pain. "My calf. It'll hurt too much fer me to walk until it's healed." He pointed to his right thigh. "It's one of the places where one of the swords hit me." He glanced at Akiko. "My left arm's dislocated. I was originally going to hit my arm against a tree to pop it back into place, but I need to do it while on my feet to brace myself. If my body heals with my arm still out of its socket, then I can't fix it on my own. Can you do it for me?"
Akiko hesitated. She didn't want to cause more pain for Lancer. However, if she didn't do this, his pain would be long-term. She sighed and went down on her knees next to the man. She gripped his left arm with her left hand and her right hand was braced on top of his left shoulder. "Do I need to push up or pull down?"
Lancer grit his teeth, bracing himself for the pain that was soon to come. "Push up."
"Don't cry out too loudly. Gilgamesh may still be nearby, and we don't want him finding us again."
"I know," Lancer replied stiffly. "Just hurry up and get it over with!"
"Here I go..." Akiko warned the Servant before using all the strength she could muster to get the left arm back into place. A muted scream was heard from Lancer's mouth. The man was biting his lower lip to keep himself as quiet as possible. He was biting the flesh so hard that it began to bleed.
After what felt like hours to him, but was probably seconds in reality, a sickening click sounded from Lancer's left shoulder. Akiko let go of the man and leaned back, using the back of her left hand to wipe away the sweat forming on her forehead. Lancer moaned, his right hand rubbing the joining between his left shoulder and arm tenderly.
"What the hell was that Servant doing?!" Akiko panted. She was keeping a lookout to see if the man was coming after them. So far, there was no sign of him. "Why did he just now show himself?!"
"He sure did pick an unusual time to have his first fight. But he's not comin' after us, right?"
"No."
"That's seems odd. If he was truly intent on winnin', he would've followed us to finish the job."
"Was he judging our strength?"
"I dunno. But it did feel like he was playin' with me."
"He could be warming up."
"But fer what?"
Akiko turned her head to look at Lancer. "We think the killer is akin to a Servant, right? Maybe he's also chasing after it and wants to be ready to face an unknown enemy. However, if that's the case, we should work together."
"To put it bluntly, I would rather die than work with him. 'sides, do ya really think he would be the type to work with others?"
"...You have a point. Anyway, we should head to the school and tell the others about this."
Interlude
Police tape was covering the front gates to the school. All was silent around the two humans and the two Servants with them. Only the chirping of birds broke the still air.
"It's faint, but I do sense mana here. Most likely, it was from a Servant," Saber said as the group stopped right in front of the yellow barrier.
"I do as well," Archer added. "But we know it's not one of us in the Three Great Knight Classes, and we all doubt Berserker is responsible, so who could it be?"
Rin put a fist to her chin, thinking. "...Maybe the culprit's not a Servant, but one similar to one."
"Is that possible?" Shirou asked.
"I don't know of any previous recorded cases of a phenomena like this, but there's a first time for everything."
"An anomaly might have occurred during the process of the Grail summoning the Heroic Spirits," Saber put in.
Shirou was looking around at the school past the tape. "Where should we begin looking?"
"I'm not sure," Rin admitted. "I guess we'll have to do a thorough sweep of the entire place."
Almost as if on a silent cue, Archer stepped forward. Yin-blade Kanshou appeared in his left hand. Rin stepped back as Archer raised his left arm over his head. He brought his arm down on the middle of the criss-crossing yellow strips. The blade cut the tape effortlessly. Both free ends of the tape fluttered down, hanging down from their attachment to the gate and resting against the metal. Kanshou vanished, it's role fulfilled.
"Wait, won't we get in trouble for this?!" Shirou demanded.
Rin closed her eyes and sighed, her hands placed on her hips. "There aren't any cameras or witnesses around us to expose us for being the ones doing this. We should be fine." Then Rin opened her eyes, turning her head and glaring at Shirou. "But if you blabbing about this to anyone, then we will be in trouble!"
Shirou held his hands up, palms out, in front of his chest. "Hey, I wasn't planning on doing anything like that!"
Rin huffed and sharply turned her head away, looking again at the gate. "You'd better not!"
Saber stepped forward. "If we did get in trouble, wouldn't it just be Archer? After all, he is the one allowing you to do the trespassing?"
"No, we're all accomplices. So if one of us gets caught, we're all going down together," Rin replied.
"Wait!"
Shirou felt the blood drain from his face. "Shit! We got caught!"
Rin glanced back over her shoulder at the voice. "Oh, cool your jets. It's just Hashimoto."
[Footsteps of Destruction]
Shirou followed Rin's gaze. He felt a wave of relief wash over him that it wasn't some random person who just spotted them. Saber stiffened next to him. Something was wrong. Akiko was helping Lancer walk and Lancer was injured! The man had changed into his modern clothes so he wouldn't stand out, but red stains still made their marks on his clothes.
"What the -" Saber murmured.
"What happened?!" Rin demanded.
"It was a Servant. But not one we've seen before."
"An eighth Servant?! But there shouldn't be eight!"
"Then explain what it was that did this to Lancer!"
Akiko's sudden hostility made Rin take a step back. Her eyes were wide and her hands were out in front of her chest. She was pushing her hands out and then pulling them back in, as if she was signaling to Akiko to back off. "Sorry, sorry! Yeesh! I was only stating a fact!"
Saber glanced down the road Akiko and Lancer had come from. "I do not sense or see an enemy coming after you two.
The class called Archer could see things very far away, almost like having a telescope on their face. This allowed the Servant in red to gaze down the road, but to see much further than Saber could. "I don't see anything either. Whatever it was, you two seem to have lost it."
"We've seen that Servant before, at the cafe where Lancer and I work," Akiko added.
Rin had an "I can't believe you!" look on her face directed at the other female mage. "Why didn't you say anything sooner?!"
"We hadn't seen all of this War's Servants at the time, so I thought he was one of the seven. When it became clear that he wasn't, I had already forgotten all about him."
Rin let out a long sigh. "Don't let my opinion of you drop as low as what I think of Emiya...We'd better let Kirei know about the Servant."
[End OST]
"If we're going to New City, can one of you boys help Lancer walk?" Akiko asked.
The one who was stuck assisting Lancer was Archer. Neither were happy at the idea of them being stuck together for probably hours. However, helping walk Lancer to the school after the fight tired Akiko out. She wouldn't be able to handle helping the man walk all the way to the Church.
"Damn, why do I have to assist you..?" Archer grumbled.
Lancer huffed. "Trust me, I didn't make this choice. I hate it as much as you."
The only other option was Shirou. But when Archer tried to pass the job off to him, Saber protested like she had a stick up her ass. Clearly she still isn't over the whole "Lancer nearly killing Shirou twice" thing.
Interlude out
After about an hour of walking (plus Archer and Lancer complaining non-stop), the group finally came to the large iron gates at the top of the hill in front of the Church.
As Rin pushed one of the doors of the gate open, Shirou spoke up. "Do you think Kotomine will be fine with us barging into the Church unannounced?"
"I don't give a shit whether he has a problem with us coming in. Besides, we didn't exactly give Kirei a heads up that I'd be showing up with you that morning," Rin grunted as she got the door all the way open. "You Servants will have to stay out here according to the rules."
"We know the drill," Saber replied as the other two humans entered the Church yard, the door to the gate closing behind them.
[Church on the Hill]
In the Church, even though light was pouring through the windows, it felt as if there was a chill in the air that made Akiko and Rin shiver. At the end of the room was a man reading the Bible. His hair was brown and slightly long, to his shoulders. He wore a long, dark-blue robe over black clothing. Around his neck was a necklace with a golden cross. His back was to the three.
Akiko remembered meeting this "priest" right after her Command Seals appeared. However, she felt uneasy during her entire meeting with him and she didn't know why. The same feeling was creeping back, and they haven't even begun talking to him yet.
"Ah, Rin. It looks as though you and Emiya have returned," Kirei said, turning around to face the Masters. "And we have not spoken for quite some time, Hashimoto."
"Enough with the pleasantries, Kotomine," Akiko said. "We have some news to tell you."
"News? And what would that be?"
"It seems there's an eighth Servant," Rin said.
Kirei didn't look at all shocked at this news. He just continued to stand in front of the three with his hands joined behind his back. "An eighth? That should be impossible, as there are supposed to be only seven Servants total."
"I know, but it's true," Akiko told him. "Lancer and I fought him. We came here to see if you know something about this."
Kirei smirked. "I do not. If I did, I would have informed the remaining Masters."
"So you really don't know anything? Even though you're the Overseer?" Rin spoke up. "You don't know of any error or loophole in the Grail system this time around?"
Kirei looked at her. "No. As far as I am aware, everything is functioning as it should in this War."
Rin and Akiko exchanged looks with each other. Something's wrong here. They know for a fact something strange is going on in Fuyuki. But Kirei, the Overseer, says nothing out of the ordinary is going on in the War. Does he in fact know what Rin and Akiko are saying and he's just not telling them?
Shirou, not sharing the girls' suspicions, spoke next. "Well, tell us if you get any new information on this."
Kirei's smirk didn't drop. "Of course."
[End OST]
The questions stopped there, though Rin and Akiko had more questions than answers. Still, they followed Shirou out of the Church. Since Rin was the one who pushed open the gate, it was now Akiko's turn. She grunted as she pulled the door towards her and then held it open as Shirou and Rin went through thee opening. Once they were out, Akiko followed them out onto the hill, sliding the metal door shut behind her.
"Well? What did he say?" Saber prompted as she and Archer, still helping Lancer, began walking away from the Church with the Masters.
"He said he doesn't know any more than we do," Shirou replied.
"How can he be clueless?! He's the Overseer!" Lancer shouted.
"My ear is right next to your mouth, moron!" Archer growled.
"How many fucks do you honestly think I give?"
Akiko pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Ugh, they're starting to give me a headache!"
Saber closed her eyes. "Same here. Would you two stop your fighting?!"
Saber's tone meant that she was honestly ready to behead the two just to get some peace and quiet. "Sorry..." Lancer and Archer mumbled, almost too quiet to be heard.
"...I think Kirei's hiding something," Rin said after a moment of silence.
"Yeah. I think so, too," Akiko replied.
Shirou cocked his head in confusion. "He is? But why would he?"
"I got a bad vibe coming from him after he said he doesn't know anything," Akiko told him. "It felt like he got concerned for a moment after we mentioned the eighth Servant. What about you, Tohsaka?"
"I just never trusted him," Rin put in. "That smile of his always gives me the feeling that he's hiding something."
Interlude
(Church on the Hill)
Now that the three Masters were gone, the Church was empty with the exception of Kirei. Or was it?
"Gilgamesh, they are gone. You can come out now," he said without turning his head.
A man with blonde hair came through the door leading to the courtyard. It was the same man Akiko and Lancer fought. "I was not able to suppress my mana at an Assassin's level of ability, but it seemed to be enough to avoid detection by ordinary humans. It's a good thing they didn't suspect you of harboring me," Gilgamesh said, glancing at Kirei as he spoke. He seemed to be in a completely relaxed state, as if he and Kirei were working together and thus there was no need for Gilgamesh to be on guard around him.
"No, the girls probably do suspect me," Kirei replied. "But they don't have enough evidence to prove it."
Gilgamesh chuckled. "Well, if they did, then this situation would have turned ugly."
Kirei glanced at the Servant out of the corner of his eyes. "Why did you reveal yourself to them?"
Gilgamesh leaned back against a pillar and his arm were crossed in front of his chest. His eyes were closed and he was smirking. "No reason. I was just bored so I wanted to pick a fight with one of the Servants that survived this long."
Kirei narrowed his eyes slightly. "I do not think that you should be so casual, Gilgamesh. If something had gone wrong, then the Masters and Servants could have found out that I am harboring you."
Gilgamesh opened one crimson eye to glare at Kirei. "You forget your place, mongrel. Regardless of our connection to each other, you do not order a king."
Kirei smirked, looking forward again and closing his eyes. "At ease, My King. I was not giving you an order. Merely advice for the future."
Gilgamesh closed his eye again. "Very well. I shall overlook your disrespect." He opened both of his eyes and looked straight ahead with a serious expression. "That aside, what are your plans for dealing with the 'other issue'?"
Kirei glanced at him. "Oh, the one killing the mages of this city. Well, if you must know, I'm waiting for the remaining four Servants and Masters to sort out and deal with the issue first."
"But will that be enough, I wonder. We are aware that the Masters of the Three Great Knight Classes are working together, but this is an unknown enemy. Its strength may surpass their's. If they teamed up with Berserker and his Master, then they may stand a fighting chance."
Kirei smirked. "Are you concerned for them?"
Gilgamesh bared his teeth. "Fool!" he hissed. "I am not expressing concern for those mongrels! I am only stating my own thoughts!"
Kirei sighed. "Of course, King of Heroes. Please forgive my words."
"You are fortunate that I am in a good mood. I shall be lenient."
"Thank you. If I may ask, would you be willing to lend your aid to the other Masters if and when they confront the mystery foe?"
Gilgamesh let out a long sigh, as if thinking it over carefully. "...They are not even worthy of gazing upon my marvelous figure. But when the time comes, I may change my mind."
(End OST)
Interlude out
[1] Wind to do away with evil