Disclaimer: Necromancy may be banned in the Mages Guild but it certainly isn't banned here.

I awake in probably one of the most uncomfortable positions imaginable, with both hands bound in front of my chest, in a room I can only define as being 'eerie'. It's dark as hell. Probably because the only thing illuminating the place is a single lantern sitting on the concrete floor twenty or so paces in front of me. It smells of mold and mildew and the air has a clammy sort of feel to it. I can't discern much else besides those few details but they're enough to tell me that I'm in some deep shit.

Is it sad that this isn't even the first time I've awoken in an unfamiliar place? In fact, I think this is like the thirty-eighth time this has happened to me.

At least I can actually remember the prior night's events this time. To reiterate a point I've made before, I'm not a 'glass half full' kind of guy but you have to take what you can get. Look on the bright side and all that.

And if there's a 'bright side' here it's most definitely the fact that I can remember what happened before my abrupt siesta. I can also remember the atrocious night terror I experienced during said slumber.

Summarizing the last few fuck ups I went through isn't even that difficult. Accepting that they actually happened is. Let's see … I was ambushed by an unknown enemy (this has to be the gazillionth time that's occurred) … got separated from everyone else … reverted back to the mental capacity of my brain-dead younger self … got saved by a known enemy … made myself look like a chump in front of said known enemy … and then passed out. And after that series of unfortunate events I had a vivid fever dream about Nero's suicide. One in which I was by her side while she died but unable to physically interact with her.

Alright, now I'm starting to think forgetting everything would have been a better outcome.

Fuck it. This is what I get for trying to be optimistic. I don't even remember why I'm bound up in what appears to be a straitjacket. I hope it's a straitjacket and not some sort of screwy gimp suit. I'd rather be locked up in a loony bin than trapped in a sex dungeon underneath a pawn shop.

I try to speak, and upon doing so I finally realize I'm gagged. Not with a ball, thank Pesci, but with a strip a duct tape. Ah, it appears my kidnappers have spared no expense on my behalf. They really splurged on this. Duct tape AND a straitjacket. None of that chintzy rope the peasants use. No, no, no. We're far too high-brow to utilize that sort of equipment.

While I can't determine exactly where I am, I can tell that the person who brought me here is an amateur in the art of abduction. For one, they gagged me. That's all well and good if we're in an area where my screams could alert the nearby authorities, but in doing so they've rendered me incapable of vocalizing my consciousness. Had they been diligent enough to appoint a sentry that would have been perfectly fine. Yet they hadn't.

There is absolutely no sign of life within my immediate vicinity. Unless you count the creepy scurrying I hear that is undoubtedly coming from some sort of pest.

Wait … I can hear that? How the fuck can I hear that?

It actually feels like there's something in my ears. What did they do to me?

This isn't going to devolve into some sort of insane plot where I'm brainwashed using a mixture of technological bullshit and subliminal messaging is it? I'm not going to get MK Ultra'd and become a Manchurian candidate, am I?! My name isn't Mason and I don't know what the numbers mean!

Dammit! Where's Nero? She has to be around somewhere, right? That was just a nightmare. It wasn't real. Well, in a way I suppose it was. It was another glimpse into her past. Albeit, a truly horrifying glimpse into her past. But it has no bearing on the present. What is she doing? Is she trying to find me? And if so, why isn't she just contacting me through the mental link we–

Why can't I hear anything?

No, not my normal hearing. We've already established that it's improved significantly for no discernable reason. The mental link that every Master has with their Servant. I should be able to hear Nero's thoughts and vice versa. And yet … there's … nothing?

Not even static? Just … nothing.

And my prana reserves … they're not being tapped. I'm not supporting her anymore.

What sort of fuckery is going on here? How is she running around without my prana? And how come I'm not able of communicating with her anymore?

Unless … she … she couldn't be–

"Looks like Sleeping Beauty finally decided to wake up."

Being lost in my thoughts, and the terrifying and inconceivable conclusion they were leading me towards, I miss the obvious clues that should have told me I'm no longer alone in this dreary room.

The first being the clickety-clack of high heels against a stone floor. The second being the sudden return of an all too familiar, and disturbingly pungent, scent.

As of yet, I've only encountered one horrid creature that'd dare to wear such an appalling brand of perfume.

"Any longer and I would have assumed you'd gone into a coma. That would have been a real problem for me, you know? I would have actually had to waste prana on you."

Halfway through her nagging, she actually enters my field of view. Walking into the miniscule area the lantern's illuminating.

She's exactly the same as the last time I saw her … except for the evident signs of exhaustion visible on her face. Those aren't bags underneath her eyes, are they? Please don't tell me she's trying to invoke the image of a certain eccentric detective. As her nemesis, I'll be duty-bound to adopt the characteristics of her foe. And, while I do enjoy them, I lack the strength of will to eat potato chips in such a slow and dramatic fashion.

"Before I release you, we're going to have a nice little one-sided conversation. I'm going to talk and you're going to listen." Yes, dearest Rin. I understand what the description 'one-sided conversation' entails. And I greatly, greatly dislike the idea. "A lot has happened since you went 'AFK'. Shinji's term not mine. I'll explain it the best I can and after I'm done, I'm going to remove that tape. I know I'll regret taking it off the moment I do but it can't be helped."

She disappears momentarily, the sound of her heels tapping against the ground tells me she's moved ten steps in front of her previous position. There's … a sound I can only describe as grunting. It's troubling to hear such a noise from the darkness. The last time I've been in such a situation, I'd also been forced to listen to a bunch of fetishistic zealots chant nonsensical trash. Alongside their grunting and paired with a faint slapping sound I was easily capable of identifying.

Much to my chagrin, mind you.

Thankfully, there is no such chanting nor slapping coming from Rin's dark little corner of the room. Instead, there's a scrapping noise. Or … perhaps a 'grinding' noise would be the better way to describe it? Whatever the case, it sounds like she's straining herself by moving someone rather heavy. In a normal situation I'd do what any sane man would.

No, not offer to help her.

I'd chastise her for being an idiot and not using Reinforcement.

What ever happened to working smarter and not harder?

A few moments go by before I discover what it is she's trying to move. Mainly because she almost kills us all when she knocks over the lantern with it. As much as I'd prefer dying horrible in a blazing flame over listening to whatever inane spiel she's going to prattle on with, Nero's status still needs to be verified. And I think one of the worst things you can do to someone is leave them without saying goodbye. Even if you've only known them for less than a week.

It's something I've done frequently and it's never endeared me to anyone.

Anyway, we don't end up burning to death like a Buddhist monk in 1960s Vietnam. Rin scrambles to catch the lantern before it's globe shatters into a million pieces. She practically dives for the thing, no doubt scuffing her knees and dirtying her attire in the process. I'm not going to complain too much. On one hand, I could have died (there is a sizeable amount of very combustible, moth hole riddled paper around). On the other hand, I got to see Rin make a fool of herself.

"S-s-stop looking so pleased with yourself!" 'Pleased'? Me? What would cause me to be pleased by this situation? Regardless of how satisfied I am to see you flustered with embarrassment, I'm still bound and gagged in an unfamiliar place.

I can't even capitalize on your stupidity by making a suitably scathing remark! How could I be 'pleased' with this situation?

Rin doesn't answer my unasked question. Instead, she places the lantern upright again and climbs atop the furniture she's moved. I don't know how to describe it. It's made of stone, quite big, and equally as grand. An altar, maybe? Or perhaps some sort of workbench? Maybe it's just an unnecessarily ornate table? No matter the case, it's undoubtedly fitting for her.

Quite literally considering she's plopped her ass atop it.

I can't say I enjoy the height difference this has caused between us. I'm taller by her when the deck's not stacked and we're playing fair but, with me currently sitting on the cold floor and her straddling this ridiculous granite monstrosity there's at least a head or two of difference between us. Having her loom over me isn't pleasant. It makes me feel like some sort of peasant groveling at the feet of their 'queen'. Pathetic.

"Alright, listen up because what I'm about to tell you is important." I refuse to make eye contact with her. Instead, I remain focused on what's at eye level. The edge of the table/altar/workbench. This leads me to staring at her legs. Or, more specifically, her thighs. Which in turn makes her feel uncomfortable. I can only hope this leads her to getting off the thing. "Huh?" She realizes where I'm looking before continuing. How fortunate. "W-w-what are you looking at?!" Then she attempts to kick me in the face. How unfortunate. I refuse to take this lying down, and angle my head down in such a manner that the kick would go high. Instead of breaking my nose, it collides with my forehead. In essence, I headbutt her foot.

A panicked attempt at causing me unearned harm ends up doing the reverse and she can only grip her foot in agony because she was too stupid to Reinforce it. Granted, doing so would have likely caused her to take the top of my skull off but ….

"Ow! Ow ow ow ow ow! What is your head made of?! Steel?!"

No, actually. Though it probably should be. Replacing my bones with metal or coating them in it (a la Wolverine) wouldn't even be one of the most dangerous things I've tried to do to myself with Magecraft. Wonder why I never thought of that?

Rin bitches and moans for roughly half a minute before shutting up and actually elaborating on the point she was trying to make. "Even when things are serious you can't stop from being a moron!" I could say the same about you. "Fine! I was going to ease you into this but I won't now!" 'Ease' me into what, exactly? "We think Saber's dead." You what? "And even if she isn't–!"

I cut her off there, struggling against my restraints as best I can in an attempt at breaking free.

"Stop it! That jacket's a Mystic Code specifically designed to entrap a mage. My mother designed it to seal off someone's connection to their Magic Circuits. If you keep struggling like that, you'll–!"

If I can't break through it then I won't. Instead, I try and push myself up, only realizing halfway through the motion that my legs are bound as well. Instead of the triumphant rise I envisioned, I crumble back to the ground in a bundled mess.

"What you're doing now is a waste of energy. Stop struggling and listen to the rest of what I have to say!"

I completely ignore her, instead continuing to resist my bonds in vain. All I need is to see the Command Spells. One glimpse will either confirm or deny her assumption. Until then, I'll reserve my judgement and remain relatively calm.

Yes, it is ironic that I'm saying this while wiggling around on the ground like an earthworm.

"I'm going to pretend you've stopped struggling and continue where I left off. It makes this easier for both of us." Rin sighs, halfway concealing her face with a hand while doing so.

Just let me see the damn Command Spells, you absolute moron! It'll take less than two seconds! I can't believe these simpletons haven't checked them themselves. You would think it'd be pretty important to determine whether or not the Master you kidnapped still had his Servant around.

Especially with, if my assumption is correct, Rin herself being a Master! At this point it's all but guaranteed to be the case. Why else would Berserker have saved me (regrettably, I still remember our interaction)? Hell, even if she is Rin's Servant, why would Rin have bothered with saving me? There are too many questions left unanswered. The most important ones involve Nero's disappearance.

And about half of them would be answered if I could get a good look at my back.

"We already checked. Your Command Spells have lost their glow."

That causes me to go still. I don't know if it's because it's a shock to learn these fools had enough foresight to check or if it's because this almost confirms the worst-case scenario has occurred.

Emphasis on 'almost'.

So what if they've lost their glow? That means nothing. If anything, their continuing presence means all might not be lost. Surely they should have disappeared completely if Nero's dead? Without a Servant, I cannot be a Master. That Tohsaka girl never mentioned a scenario like this but that's how it has to work, right?

Even in the dim lighting, I can tell that Rin's frowning at me. "Don't give me that look. I don't have a reason to lie." Apparently, the lingering hope I'm feeling was taken the wrong way. "Listen, I'll let you expend a Command Spell after we're done here. I'm just as curious as you are."

The phrasing of that first sentence sets off some alarms. 'I'll let you'. She says it as if she's doing me a favor. I was going to use a Command Spell anyway, because using one to bring Nero here would settle this matter for certain, but let's be real here. By using a Command Spell, I'm helping Rin more than she lets on.

Again, I very much suspect that she's Berserker's Master. Which means she's an enemy. 'Allowing' me to burn through one of my three 'precious' Command Spells, for something most would see as trivial, is in her best interests. I can only assume the two (three if you include the Matou brat) of us are going to enter a war of attrition after this. It'll go down much like the Cold War did, I imagine.

She would have killed me already if that weren't the case. Especially if she's under the impression that Nero's dead. There would be no reason not to. I'm in a weakened state and she's in a position of power.

And if Nero's still alive, which she has to be, Rin would have even more reason to kill me.

The fact that I'm tied up instead of pushing up daisies means my continued survival is to her benefit.

Likely because of the whole 'searching for answers to unspoken questions' thing she's got going on.

What a load of cryptic bullshit.

It goes without saying that Rin Emiya is not endearing to me. She likely saved me, yes, but she did so only because she has an ulterior motive. I can't particularly blame her for that but it's stopping me from giving a point in her favor.

I can only assume this entire thing was a farce. She set it all up. If I'm correct, which I think I am, then Berserker's initial attack was done so on Rin's orders. For what reason, I do not know. Was this some convoluted attempt at currying my favor? Was she doing it to buy time so she could investigate my property (good luck doing that with the four-hour walk)? Or did it happen because she's unable of controlling her Servant?

I significantly doubt it's the last one. This war's Berserker seems pretty lucid compared to what I've heard about the one summoned last time. Plus, Rin didn't seem too spooked about her appearance and she was also able of ordering her to rescue me when that fog hit.

Which is another thing. How do I know that wasn't Berserker's doing? It doesn't seem like the type of Noble Phantasm you'd expect from her class but it's not entirely impossible. Even if she didn't do it herself, Rin could be in cahoots with the Servant that did unleash it. I'm assuming it was the work of a Servant because it's more convenient. If a Master did that … I'm a bit out of my league.

This still doesn't explain what happened to Nero. None of it does. Is this another part of Rin's bullshit? Maybe the Command Spells are perfectly fine and Nero's currently doing battle with Berserker in an attempt to save me?

That's what I'd assume … if not for our link being severed.

Still … she said that I'm bound by a Mystic Code that seals my Circuits somehow. Maybe this is a side effect of that? Maybe she, or whoever brought that fog, has a Bounded Field set up that acts as a signal jammer and blocks communication between Masters and their Servants. It sounds impossible, but couldn't the same be said for most Magecraft?

She has some connection to the Tohsaka family. Why else would she purchase this shithole? If I want to be really paranoid, I'd even bring up the fact that she has the same first name as Raman's bitchy boss (a Tohsaka). I won't though. Rin's not an uncommon name. At least, in Japan it isn't.

She also obviously has some ties to the Matou family. After all, the brat did act like they knew each other.

Being involved with two of the Three Founding Families could easily explain her being able to come up with some broken cheat that lets her abuse the Grail's system.

If you're familiar with the innerworkings of something, it's relatively easy to tamper with it. It's no different than when I build something using Alteration and Transmutation.

Where does all of this get me? Well, for starters it strengthens that lingering hope I have that Nero's alive. Maybe not 'alive and well' but she's more than likely still kicking ass.

Except … would Rin really be that open to me using a Command Spell if Nero's out there? Would it be worth the risk just to weaken my resources?

Hmm … wait … of course it would! That's because there is no risk! After all, Nero was far more open to establishing a bastardized form of diplomacy with this girl than I was. If anything, bringing Nero here would only help her succeed in … whatever it is she's planning.

What if this is all some elaborate plan to set up an alliance? One where she'd eventually backstab us. I mean, her Servant did kind of suck and Nero's of the Saber class (the most desirable). Maybe I'm experiencing a naïve girl's attempt at 4-D chess?

Whatever the case. Everything will be fine once I get Nero back here. We'll figure out something. Even if we have to fly by the seat of our pants to do it. Well … my pants. Nero doesn't wear pants. Considering the 'ass window' in her dress, I'm fairly certain she doesn't even wear underwear.

Note to self: get Nero some pants.

Wait … why the hell would I buy her more clothes?! I already did that!

"I'm starting to regret gagging you. You're like a less cute version of Deku."

'Deku'? Why is she comparing me to those plant people from the Legend of Zelda?

"Get it? Because you mumble to yourself."

I don't 'get it' because it doesn't make any sense. They didn't mumble in the games, did they?

My eyes betray me, once again, and Rin can't help but sigh. "How do you not get the reference? That was my dad's favorite show back when–"

No. No, no, no. You don't get to reminisce about the past. You don't get to go into some weird little flashback sequence that I'll be forced to watch. I don't care about your daddy issues. I don't care about whatever stupid reference you were trying to make.

Let me out of this goddamn straitjacket, woman. I need to get Nero in here stat. Let her play the role of your shrink. With her Imperial Privilege skill, she could probably solve whatever your problem is after watching an episode or two of Dr. Phil.

"Ah. You don't care." Of course I don't! Why are you glaring?! You're nothing more than a stranger to me! No, you're less than that. You're an enemy Master! Why would I give a damn about your– "And here I thought it might cheer you up. Get your mind off of her."

By forcing me to listen to your inane personal drama?! How exactly would that cheer me up?! Why do you feel the need to cheer me up in the first place?! Nero's not dead!

Rin stares at me in silence for a few seconds. Seems like she's pondering something. I can only guess as to what it is. Eventually, she shrugs. "Forget it. I'm going to ungag you now. Just don't do anything too stupid. We put that on you in the first place because you were screaming in your sleep."

I was what now? That's more than a little unnerving. What were they doing me while I was sleeping? That nightmare was bad, but I didn't think it was that bad. It was just another vision of Nero's past. A part of her past that I already knew about.

Something to think about another time. For now, I have to ready myself for what's about to happen.

Rin hops off of her perch and sashays over to me. Alright, she doesn't walk quite that obnoxiously. She's not Kiara. I'm concerned she might try something but it's not like I can get away from her even if I wanted to. For now, I'll have to trust she's actually going to ungag me instead of slitting my throat.

Her hands go behind my head and I can feel her loosening a knot. The gag goes limp and she casually takes it off. Before she can even consider doing anything more, I start screaming at the top of my lungs. "By the power of my Command Spell–"

She clasps her hands over my mouth before I can finish, hissing at me as she does so. "What are you doing?! Didn't I tell you not to do anything stupid?! Do you even know what could happen if–"

I ignore her and quickly enter stage two of Operation Short-Lived Freedom. That involves performing cunnilingus on her hands until she's creeped out enough to release me.

"Ew! Why would you even do something like that?!"

It works. It works splendidly well. She unclamps her dirty mitts from my face the second I begin. And almost immediately, she realizes she's done goofed. It's comical how her eyes bulge as her failure becomes known to her. I wish I had a camera.

"By the power of my Command Spell, I order the Heroic Spirit Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus to return to my side!" I was told that when using a Command Spell you have to be extremely specific as to what it is you want. Kind of like making a wish using a genie. If you're too vague, things could go differently than you were expecting. So I say Nero's entire name. Her True Name. It's not like it matters. Rin knows already.

Speaking of Rin, she looks surprised for some reason. Which is weird. Maybe she thought I'd use the Command Spell for something differently? "Huh, I thought for sure it'd shock you or something. Maybe Command Spells are capable of getting passed the limiters."

I disregard her vague nonsense and instead take great delight in the warm spreading across my back. I don't really know for certain, but I'm sure that means one of the Command Spells is being used up. Which signifies that my order is being granted. Which means, in simple terms, that Rin's about to get her ass handed to her.

If only she thought the same. She doesn't seem at all fazed by this. If anything, she was more perturbed when I started licking her hand. Why is she more concerned over this stupid straitjacket than Nero coming to save me?

The answer becomes apparent as time goes on. We sit in silence. Rin eventually forgets about her mother's toy and instead just stares at me … is that pity I see in her eyes? Why is she looking down on me?!

"Check upstairs." It's been at least five minutes when I say this. Maybe the Command Spell misread what I said. Maybe because I didn't specify 'return to my side in this creepy ass basement' it only teleported her somewhere nearby. I don't even know where 'nearby' is because I don't know where I am but there has to be an upstairs part of this building.

Rin, behaving very out of character, doesn't even argue and instead walks over to the stairs she descended from. I hear a door open and then shut and that's it.

I'm starting to feel a sinking feeling in my gut. It has to be because I'm alone again in this horrible place. That's the only explanation. Once Nero gets me out of here I'm going to head to the nearest bar. Even if that happens to be Ahnenerbe. The odds of George not being around a second time are slim and that green-haired she-beast won't be able to do anything if he's there.

The door opens again, and I stay quiet as Rin's shoes clack against the steps once again. "She's not here." She says it without much ado. It's as if she's commenting on the weather.

"What do you mean?"

"Can't you hear? I said she's not here. Your Command Spell didn't work."

It's as if time itself freezes as I process the implications of her answer. Had I not known better, I would have assumed this was the work of some sort of Bounded Field or perhaps even a Reality Marble. But I know this is just a byproduct of the adrenaline coursing through my blood.

I've used a Command Spell. And Nero hasn't answered it.

The ramifications of this are numerous and absolutely none of them bode well for me.

There's that little part of my brain that's trying to come up with some excuse for this. Something that'll let me refuse to accept the worst-case scenario.

It's fighting an uphill battle. My mind's gone into flight or fight mode.

"T-t-the jacket?! Get me out of this damn straitjacket!" The first sentence comes out like a question. It's probably directed more at myself than it is at Rin.

Still, there's a shred of logic in this. She mentioned the straitjacket was a Mystic Code created by her mother (whoever the hell that is) to seal off a mage's Circuits. That could potentially affect things. I have very little information on how Command Spells work but maybe they're tied to my Circuits? Considering all the Masters in this war are supposed to be mages, that wouldn't be too unlikely.

"…." Rin just stares at me. She's judging me but I can't bring myself to care. Fuck her and her stupid games. I need to get out of here. I need to find Nero and–

"It should have worked. Command Spells operate on a completely different level than your basic Magecraft." I can't tell if she's singling out my Magecraft specifically or speaking about Magecraft in general. Either way, I don't particularly like her tone of voice. Or the pity in her eyes. With the poor lighting, I can just barely identify that emotion. Just like I can only barely see that she's chewing her bottom lip. "I … I can't let you out. Not yet. I still need answers. And this might be the only opportunity I have. With Saber gone–"

"She's not gone." Maybe I shouted this. Maybe I didn't. Whatever the case, Rin flinches. Barely. I still caught it though.

"She is. She might not be … she might not have returned to the Throne but she is definitely gone. I'm telling you that she's not in this building."

I don't know why, but I want to deny that. Even if it's blatantly apparent that she's not lying. If Nero were in the immediate vicinity she'd be here. Here in this crappy, creepy little basement.

And since she's not … well … that means Rin's telling the truth.

Nero's … somewhere else. She's not here. Even though she should be.

I used a Command Spell. They're supposed to be capable of performing 'magic'. Spatial Transportation should be something within the realm of possibility.

"If it had worked, Saber would have arrived here instantaneously. Lancer teleported to her Master's side when he used one." That freely given tidbit of trivia didn't exactly help matters. If anything, it just confused me even more. Now I was questioning not only why the Command Spell didn't work but also wondering what in the hell she was talking about.

'Her'?

"I was under the impression Lancer was a man." It's a question completely unrelated to the matter at hand. It has nothing to do with my current predicament or Nero's disappearance. And yet … I can't help but ask it. Maybe subconsciously I want to change the topic. To focus on something else besides the pit of dread that's formed in my stomach.

Or maybe I just want to verify that I'm not wrong about my assumption that 'Lancer' is that old guy with the spear. I'll probably have to kill him somehow in the foreseeable future and at the very least I should know his class. Of course, this is coming from Rin and, while I took her for her word when she said Nero wasn't here, I can't exactly trust anything else she says.

For but a brief second Rin's eyes shine with bemusement. Then it's replaced with comprehension as she apparently realizes something. "Oh." She actually mouths that as she says it. "I was talking about the Lancer from the last Grail War. I should have known you wouldn't have known about her. You don't strike me as the type to have done research before getting involved in this."

Ignoring the not-so-subtle insult I try and formulate the follow-up question this information necessitates. … And I come up with nothing. Where do I even go from here? She's clearly trying to lead me along this train of thought for … some reason and I can't say I particularly care about whatever it is she's going to bring up. I guess I'll try and get her to deviate from whatever topic she's trying to dredge up. Make her focus on information that'll be potentially more useful, even if I'll still have to verify it with another source.

"Do you know who this War's Lancer is?"

She's frowning at me again. "I told you that sort of information isn't free."

That's right. We've established this already. Oh well. Can't say I didn't try.

We sit in awkward silence for who knows how long. Neither of us know where to go from here. Both of us know what we want to bring up isn't something the other person wants to hear. I want to pester her until she releases me. She wants to bring up some bullshit story from the past War. It's probably tied to whatever 'answers' she's looking for. You would think my limited knowledge of what occurred would indicate to her that I'm not the one she should be asking her questions to.

Before I can start bitching and moaning over being tied up, Rin shatters that awkward silence with a proclamation I couldn't have heard correctly. "I'm sorry."

I have no idea as to what brought this about but I can only assume it has something to do with her 'inability' to tell me about Batman. That or she's getting ready to kill me. "Of course you are."

She actually growls at my response. "Damn it! Stop making this even more difficult! I'm trying to say I'm sorry about what happened to Nero!"

"What happened to Nero?"

She looks at me as if I've grown a second head.

"If you're really sorry you'll let me go so I can track her down."

Still she stares, mouth and eyes wider than you'd think possible.

"Or you could go into some pointless spiel about how you could 'tell she was a good person despite not really knowing her personally'. Please spare me the wasted words. You talked to her, what, once?" Rin flinches, undoubtedly because of the harshness of my tone. I continue before she can so much as try and interrupt. "Whatever you're going to say can wait until her death is confirmed for sure. And the best way I can do that is by asking the overseer if any Servants have died. Something that'll happen a lot faster if you let me out of this ridiculous suit."

I'm actually surprised that I mentioned questioning Kiara. I shouldn't be, because it's the smartest choice in this situation, but it only dawned on me that I should suggest it halfway through that semi-rant.

Rin doesn't respond for quite some time, and, despite not wanting to, I can't help but feel a smidgen of remorse. Even though I'm still operating under the assumption she's bullshitting me, and even though her apology was probably fake, I can't shake the gut feeling that there was sincerity in her words.

It's kind of sad to say it's wasted on me.

After all, if we look at this from an impersonal perspective, I've only known Nero for … what? A week? A fortnight at most? And even then, can I actually say I 'knew' Nero? Everything I know about her is based on a couple of dreams/nightmares, a few dozen conversations, and the apparently flawed background information I have on her reign.

Why should anyone try to extend sympathy to me over this? I don't deserve it.

I never really knew her. I'd be a bastard if I tried to claim I did.

"Alright. This isn't going anywhere." It may be the obvious, but it needs to be said. I've been absolutely over this conversation for most of its duration. Maybe it's time to try a different path? With the mention of Kiara, something that resembles a plan of action is starting to formulate in my brain. Might as well see where it goes.

"Agreed." She's quieter than, well, ever but I can still pick up what Rin says. Still not sure how that's the case considering my prior deafness but whatever. Maybe she's upset with me because I rejected her apology? Can't say how she feels matters that much.

"You're not going to let me go until you get your answers." That much has at least become obvious. I can sit here for a few hours and nag her until she gives in, or kills me, but the reality is that answering whatever she asks will probably be quicker than trying to resist. As much as it pains me to give in to her demands. "So, I'll give you what I can. But I want something in return."

"Aside from being released."

"Yes, aside from my freedom."

She doesn't comment on my rephrasing. "You're not really in a position to be making demands."

From a certain point of view, neither is she. I just have to make that clear. "Alright, in that case I'm going to eat my tongue."

"… What?" Rin's staring at me as if I've just said something in pig Latin.

"I'm going to bite my tongue off, chew it (thoroughly, might I add), and then I'm going to swallow it. After that, I'm going to spurt blood all over your floor and it'll probably get on you too."

I waited roughly one point two milliseconds before following that up with: "It'll make a really big mess. And even though your shirt's already red, it'll make one hell of a stain. Bad choice on the shirt color by the way. It makes it harder to notice an injury and, beyond that, haven't you ever seen Star Trek?"

Impressively enough, Rin manages to formulate a rational argument against my rapid fire of irrelevant dialogue.

She starts off by sighing (to be expected), frowning (also expected at this point), and crossing her arms in front of her chest in a very un-Nero-like way. By this, I mean she actually crosses her arms over her chest and not under them, concealing her assets instead of accentuating them.

I wouldn't have even made a note of that detail were it not for the unfamiliarity of it. I'd come to the conclusion that Rin's standard pose involved placing her hands on her hips. It was something her character archetype was expected to do. She was the pushy, bossy, girl. Using not-so-modern slang, one wouldn't have been remiss to refer to her as a 'Karen'. That type of person doesn't seem as the one that'd cross their arms over their chest. No, despite it being seemingly unimportant, that kind of position of the arms radiates insecurity.

The eyes are a window to the souls but your posture broadcasts to the world your inner thoughts.

At least, that's what my old man once told me. I think he stole it from a fortune cookie.

"One." She extends a thumb while saying that word and I could only assume she's going to continue counting down with more digits going forward. And on a sidenote, what kind of philistine starts a countdown with their thumb and not their index finger? "Jean-Luc Picard." In most other contexts that would have come across as a non sequitur. I got her point though. "Two." Up goes the index finger and once again I'm proven right. "It's a blouse, not a shirt." First of all, wouldn't 'crop top' be a more accurate term? And second of all, is there even a difference between 'blouse' and 'shirt'? Isn't 'shirt' just an all-encompassing term for any clothing that covers the upper body? Sort of like using 'soda' to refer to any and all soft drinks? Or is she trying to insinuate I was raised wrong? "Three. We both know you wouldn't dare to do something that drastic. You love hearing the sound of your own voice too much. It's why you even voice your thoughts aloud sometimes."

See? She's countered me pretty well there, hasn't she? I'm a tad concerned she found my threat of self-mutilation the least important thing to respond to (arguing against it last) but overall, she's made a compelling case. Except for the blouse thing. If what she's wearing is a blouse, I'm wearing a goddamn tutu.

A normal man would laugh this off, say something cliché like 'you got me there' and move on with his life. But moi? I'm going to put on my surliest voice and hit her with a line worthy of a B action movie star.

"If you think that, you really don't know me half as well as you believe you do."

Rin's response to that little zinger?

… She shoves a sock into my mouth.

Not even her sock. That'd be gross, but at least I'd still be able to identify the point of origin and react accordingly. (Rin probably doesn't have AIDS. She might have gonorrhea or herpes, but I don't think she has AIDS.) But no, it's a sock of unknown origin. She could have grabbed it from the garbage truck I tossed her into for all I know! So now it's not just gross, it's worrying too!

"Ten seconds. You get ten seconds to reflect on what led to this. Then I'm going to take that out, we're going to pretend you didn't try to divert the conversation in a way that wouldn't benefit you in any conceivable way, and you're going to answer what I ask you. Is that clear?"

No, no it isn't. It's as clear as mud because I'm only half listening to what she's saying. I'm more focused on figuring out how to breathe through my nose while also shutting down my sense of smell.

Ten seconds pass. She removes the sock, and we're back at square one.

"Alright, to start this off. What does the name 'Shirou Emiya' mean to you?"

Ah, looks like she's cutting to the chase. Good. As much as I enjoy verbally sparring with– Wait. What am I saying? I don't enjoy that at all. I was just doing that out of necessity. There was no way I was going to allow her to dominate the conversation in any meaningful way. If I allowed that she'd try and get more out of this arrangement than she has any right to. I'm already giving her far too much by indulging in these questions of hers. Anyway, I'm on a time crunch here. The faster I can get this over with, the better.

"Sounds like the name of a harem protagonist." For some reason, this actually makes her flinch. I continue along as if I didn't notice it. "I'm guessing the shared surname means he's related to you?"

"He … he was my father."

I note the usage of past tense and file it away for later.

"Ok? And? I've never heard of him. Was he some random stooge I got killed? Is that what this is about?"

She doesn't respond to any of that, instead she hits me with a question of her own. "What does the name 'Red Archer' mean to you?"

Involuntarily, I draw in a sharp breath. That's a name I haven't heard in a very long time. "More than you could imagine." It slips out unbidden, but it's God's honest truth. The Red Archer was a legend in his own right. No matter what shithole I ended up in during my many travels, people uttered his name as if it were a silent prayer. Well, the normal people did. The 'innocent', if you will. When things changed, when I started working with men I had no right to and in businesses I had no need to, his name was spoken as a vile curse.

He was someone to be feared and yet respected. A savior to the faceless masses. A scourge to those that sought to exploit them.

He started it all. Not directly, but indirectly. The first time I heard his name was in a bedtime story my dad told me. Had I never heard his name, or of his various heroics, I probably would have never decided to go forth out into the world.

I would have never tried to give people the power to save themselves.

My many failures would have never come to fruition.

"So, you despise him?" Once again, I hadn't even realized I'd been thinking aloud. It all just spilled forth, like a river rushing through a cracked dam. I have no idea why Rin's brought up the Archer, but I can't help but continue talking about him. If only to refute her misunderstanding.

"No. I don't think I could even if I tried. He was everything I could never be. I idolized him." That was embarrassing to admit, but it was the truth. Once upon a time, baby Dante Di Prinzi saw him as a real-life superhero. "If I were to blame him, I'd also have to blame my old man for telling me about him. But I don't. Everything that happened was a result of my own shortcomings and no one else's."

"That's … surprising to hear."

Oi! Is she only saying that because she didn't expect me to give such a mature response?! This dumb broad is acting like I have the self-awareness of a kid in junior high! Nero would have gushed over that sort of–

… Eh, fuck it. Who cares what Rin thinks, anyway?

"What next? Are you going to ask about my opinion on the Harweys? Maybe get my personal take on geopolitics in the Middle East? How exactly does any of this relate to one another?"

Rin, for lack of a better term, freezes. In a manner identical to what you'd expect to see from a child caught raiding the cookie jar. Her arms hug her chest even tighter, and I can swear I see her actually swallow a lump in her throat.

Ew.

Why exactly is she getting so anxious? What is she going to spill some half-baked conspiracy theory she's crafted with me? Is this going to spiral into me having to deal with yet another fool trying to manipulate me into joining their spooky, secret club?

"The Red Archer's real name … was Shirou Emiya. He was my father."

I can't help it; I break out in a fit of laughter. Had I not been bound, I would have probably reacted far more severely. The sheer audacity of this girl. She expects me to believe the Red Archer was her deadbeat dad? How stupid does she think I am? I can't even understand the logic behind this choice. Where is she going with this? What does she think she'll gain by using such a ruse? Did she somehow learn of my stance on the man and decide pretending to be his offspring would endear herself to me? Making it easier for her to manipulate me and turn me into a pawn in this War? Is that it?

Rin uncharacteristically keeps her calm. I'd expected she'd react to my guffawing with a temper tantrum. Instead, she hits me with an allegation I'd never expected to hear. "And you're one of the last people to see him alive."

Safe to say, that shut my mouth quick.

AN: It's been a hot minute hasn't it? Think of this chapter as an apology gift for all the birthdays, anniversaries, and miscellaneous holidays I missed out on with y'all. Seriously, what kind of jackass misses the five-year anniversary of their own story? Me. I'm that jackass. And yet despite being one, I'm ever grateful to all of you that stuck around or returned after seeing this update. I'm even more grateful to those of you that tried to check up on me in your own ways. The past two years have been tumultuous, to say the least. A lot of ups and downs. That being said, my inability to provide any updates to you wasn't because of any specific personal reason.

Quite honestly, I lost interest in writing. I love this site (though I did love it a little less when we had that annoying glitch that didn't let us read newly updated chapters for a few days after posting) and even though I haven't been posting anything I have been lurking around. Mainly reading and sparingly reviewing. Writing just wasn't happening. I kept putting things off, kept stalling, kept procrastinating. Ever hear the quote "perfection is the enemy of progress"? Winston Churchill said it and he was damn right lol. That's how it started, I was obsessed with writing the best chapter I possibly could. I realized after the fifth or sixth draft that it wasn't happening. I'm not an exceptionally skilled author and there are dozens if not hundreds of people on this site that absolutely overshadow me in talent. Things spiraled from there, my inability to create a close to perfect chapter caused me to doubt my ability even more, which in turn made me question this story (as well as my other story Transparent), and resulted in me hyper-focusing on the flaws. I've reread this story several times in the past two years and still find elements that I consider disappointing for one reason or another. I have no doubt this will continue even were I to actually manage to finish this. Even this chapter frustrates me. The largest reason it does such is what I consider my poor grasp on Magecraft in the Nasuverse. It's incredibly complex and I consistently feel out of my depth when trying to tackle it. You can easily see that in this chapter with this straitjacket Mystic Code. Quite honestly, I have no idea if such a thing fits into the rules of Nasu's world. Later on in the plot there are going to be other moments where I feel the exact same. It's inevitable. I've now since realized this and come to accept that I can only try my best and hope that any mistakes I happen to miss will be addressed by you all. Again, I'm much obliged to all of you.

This brings me to the reason why I lost interest in this story specifically. To be entirely blunt with you, I've lost the passion I once had for this franchise. There is a multitude of reasons why this is the case. The quickest way of explaining my change in opinion is simple. It's become too much. The series has become unimaginably large, and while I'm happy for Nasu and all of Type-Moon, I find myself wishing we could go back to pre-Apocrypha times. Certainly pre-Grand Order times. Back when all we had was the original visual novel, Hollow Ataraxia, the Studio Deen anime, UBW, and Zero. The world was large even then but it was concise. At least that's how I felt about it. I tried staying up to date with everything. I played Extra, I watched Apocrypha, I watched Last Encore, I even played Grand Order. For quite some time even. However, the grind was too much. Too many shows, too many alternate universes, and too much gacha. I grew tired of it all. It's saying something that out of all the random additions we've gotten to this franchise, the thing that's made me the most interested in it recently has been a mod for Crusader Kings III that came out. It's not a particularly good mod, it's not well-balanced, the elements of Fate added don't entirely fit the base game and it sometimes leads to humorous results but it has potential and the idea itself is just cool, in my opinion. Essentially, it's dumb, but it feels fresh. Is it the reason for this update? Not in the slightest. I've been sitting on this chapter for quite some time, but only recently have I felt comfortable enough to release it. At first, it was because of the above-listed reason and my feelings of inadequacy, then it was because I was hoping to have more chapters finished before giving any of you false hope. The latter wasn't working though, it was just stalling needlessly. Hence, this chapter.

And while I have you all here, I might as well say this:

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals and have a Happy New Year!

I'll see you all in the next chapter.