Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Rule of Three

The Magician

"…you mean to say that many of my…that is, our company's loans have already exceeded their redemption periods?"

Kaname sat behind her desk, hands folded on top of the wood even as she coolly regarded the client seated opposite her. Said client had already broken out with a cold sweat, after Kaname had explained the various papers she'd carefully and neatly spread out over her desk.

"So it is." She confirmed, with a subtle nod at the papers on her desk. "The total amount currently amounts to 2.99 billion Yen. As admittedly rude as it is to say, that amount is beyond your company's ability to pay at the moment."

"W-well…that is…"

"However," Kaname said with a comforting smile. "In light of our otherwise excellent partnership, as well as our civic duty to avoid potentially damaging confidence in the national economy in these trying times, our bank is more than willing to negotiate an extension to the redemption periods in question."

The client's face immediately brightened. "That is most gratifying to hear." The man said, while wiping at his face.

"Of course," Kaname began. "That only remains the case so long as your company is able to maintain investor confidence."

The client blinked, and then leaned forward. "Katsura Financial has doubts in our company's ability to maintain investor confidence?" he asked.

"The personal expenses of certain individuals within Ichioka Industrial has been a cause for concern for several years now." Kaname pointed. "Credit where it's due, your company has the matter largely in hand, as shown by the case of the former CEO, Kozue Matsutaro, seven years ago."

"Yes," Ichioka Industrial's representative agreed with a nod. "I must admit, it has been an issue our company's upper echelons have struggled with for some time now. However, as you yourself pointed out, we have made great progress in addressing the matter, and ensuring the individuals responsible for abuses made to face appropriate sanctions."

"Indeed," Kaname said while sitting back in her chair, and then looking sideways, out of her office's windows. "On that note, Yamanaka Chifuyu's tenure as CEO has been mostly successful, has it not?"

"Quite," Ichioka Industrial's representative agreed with another nod. "I'd hardly have thought it possible, but winning the contracts to manufacture spacecraft and satellite parts for JAXA, as well as a share in JAPEX-led ventures in deep sea oil and gas prospective can all be attributed to her leadership over the past few years."

"Among other ventures, of course," Kaname said with a smile, all the while still looking out the window. "She also negotiated a share with the Mitsui Group's rare earth mining operations, did she not?"

"…so she did." The client answered after a moment's pause, clearly confused where this line of conversation was going.

"However, it is also during her tenure as CEO that Ichioka Industrial has begun falling behind on its financial obligations." Kaname remarked, and causing the client to freeze. "One might even begin to wonder if, much like a certain someone among her predecessors, her achievements are masking her shortcomings."

"You…that is…does Katsura Financial think our CEO would…" the client fumbled, his cold sweat returning, even as Kaname returned her gaze to him.

"We do have basis for implying such." She said, opening a folder and sliding out a piece of paper to show the client. "These are Miss Yamanaka's personal transactions, or rather the ones covered by the company. Many are beyond question, in particular, travel fees and other such expenditures for corporate business, but even more than those are the ones which seem rather suspect. A two-week-long vacation in Hawaii? A winter skiing trip to Switzerland? A private house and property in the Netherlands?"

"…t-this is most irregular…" the client fumbled again, even as he shakily held and read the paper Kaname had handed him.

"Of course," Kaname continued. "This could only be a misunderstanding. The possibility exists that as CEO of Ichioka Industrial, Miss Yamanaka's personal transactions had only been accidentally included among your company's corporate expenses. If so, then it would only be to your benefit to look into this matter, and quickly resolve it before it becomes an issue."

Kaname sat back in her seat as Ichioka Industrial's representative left her office. One way or another, there would be a shakeup in the company, one which the current CEO was unlikely to survive. Well, she almost certainly would have to resign, and probably even have to retire soon after, but that should be the end of the matter. In any case, the government wouldn't have to get involved, as no matter the financial irregularities when it came to the company's money, it was all done cleanly when it came to questions about taxes and the such.

But of course; Kaname had personally overseen those transactions.

Yamanaka Chifuyu would be able to retire comfortably to the Netherlands with that boytoy of hers, Ichioka Industrial would stay solvent, Katsura Financial would not lose a valuable client, and a serious scandal would be put to rest as quickly as it would begin. Everyone wins, nobody loses, just the way she liked her battles to end.

If it weren't so unprofessional, she'd probably pour herself a drink and toast a job well done.

A chime sounded from her desk intercom, and Kaname hit the speaker button. "What is it, Emi?" she asked.

"Incoming call for you, Miss Tachibana." Kaname's secretary, Ogami Emi, said. "It's not a client, though. She just said she's family, and that it's really important that she talk to you. I was going to tell her to get an appointment, but then I decided it might be best for you to make that decision yourself."

"And…who is this person claiming to be my relative?" Kaname asked.

"Zenjou Aoi." Emi replied.

Kaname frowned, despite there not being anyone in her office to see it. "…I'll take the call." She finally said.

"Patching her to you now, Miss Tachibana."

"Thank you, Emi." Kaname politely responded, before picking up desk phone's handset, and putting it to her head. "Hello, this is Tachibana Kaname, of Katsura Financial Services Incorporated. How may I help you?"

For several moments, there was only silence on the phone. Well, not quite; it was barely audible, but there it was: breathing. Deep, heavy breathing, as though the person on the other side of the line was hyperventilating to keep herself under control. Kaname rolled her eyes, contempt rising deep within her.

It's because of so many weak and spineless women like Aoi Tohsaka that women around the world don't get the respect we deserve.

"Is this the best you can do?" Kaname asked. "You know, I was actually almost impressed, that you had the nerve to actually call me on my office number. I mean…it's not like you actually had an appointment. A call like this…it's completely against all social niceties, which tend to be…I don't know. Inviolate? Holy writ? Yes, let's go with that, for someone like you. And the only way you had to know my office extension was through Tokiomi's own records. I doubt he'd have let you freely look through those, considering how he thinks. Pretty brave of you, all things considered…"

"…stay away from my family." Aoi Tohsaka finally said, her voice dripping with venom. It was actually quite surprising…not very impressive, though. Oh, the territorial anger was there, and genuinely impressive, but the way Aoi's voice wavered…

…it was unlikely she could have done this much in a face-to-face meeting. All in all, a disappointment, once everything was said and done.

"Stay away from my husband." Aoi continued. "Stay away from my children. If you don't…I'll…I'll…"

"Idle threats…" Kaname said with a sigh, and then giving a scoff. "…what a waste of time. If you wish to discuss this further, then do so in person. Goodbye, Missus Tohsaka."

"I…!" Aoi began, only to be cut off as Kaname put the phone down. Then tapping at her intercom, rang up her secretary.

"Emi," Kaname began. "Don't accept any further calls from Miss Zenjou. Tell her if she wants to talk to me, then she should schedule a personal appointment instead."

"Yes, Miss Tachibana." Emi replied, and Kaname nodded.

"Good," she said. "That will be all for now, Emi. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Miss Tachibana."

Kaname closed the intercom, and then sighing, sat back in her chair. After a few moments, she turned to her computer, and unlocking the machine, pulled up the next set of business to attend to. She gave it a quick read, involving loans, down payments, bonds, and other collateral for land sales in Hokkaido up north. Prime farmland too, from the look of things.

Interesting…land prices in Hokkaido aren't as high as they are here in the south, but this should still make quite the profit. Done right, of course…hmm…

Mind already buzzing with how to make the most money for herself and her company on this deal, Kaname got up to make some coffee first before getting down to work.

A few days later and Kaname was standing in the the living room of a country villa, decorated in styles popular in Europe before WWI. On the opposite side of the room, an aging man dressed in European country wear was staring out a large window, and at the duck pond in the yard beyond.

"…if you'll pardon me for saying so," Kaname was saying. "The situation isn't looking so well for you, Mister Götz."

Anton Götz turned to glare at the young woman. "I do not need you to tell me that, banker." The man said with evident annoyance.

Kaname briefly closed her eyes, and looked away with a smile. "True," she admitted. "But today I am not here as a banker, but as a trader in the valuable commodities of information. Since neither of us seem to be very interested in wasting time with superficial courtesies, let us get to the point. Mister Götz, if you wish to improve your and your allies' situation, I have certain information you wish to look at."

Anton Götz, born Andries Booysens, looked intrigued as Kaname pulled out a sealed folder from her bag, and held it out as though it were an offering. After a moment, Götz left the window, heading for the couch, Kaname joining him and letting him take the folder. The man gestured for her to sit opposite him, Kaname obliging even as he broke the seal and began perusing the documents inside.

It took the exiled Afrikaner several moments to go through the papers, in which time a manservant had come with tea. He served them both, and then left with a bow. Götz finished reading, and closing the folder, set it down before silently staring back out the window in thought.

"A most ambitious plan," He admitted. "And very intriguing…but I must ask. What stake do you have in this, Miss Tachibana?"

"I am merely a trader of information, Mister Götz." She said. "I was sold this information along with the obligation of forwarding it to yours truly."

"So your interest in this is purely financial?" Götz asked.

"I prefer the word professional to financial," Kaname said. "But speaking frankly, then yes. Then again, don't we all?"

Götz burst out laughing at that, the Afrikaner sitting back in the couch. "True, true," she said. "Everyone masks it with pretty words and noble-sounding ideals, but at the end of the day, everyone in this world is in it purely for their own profit."

The man paused, and his eyes narrowed. "But," he continued. "If that's the case, then what's stopping you from selling me and my allies out to our enemies."

"Why, future profit, of course." Kaname replied, stirring her tea before taking a drink. "Buying and selling information may be my trade, but client information is always off the table. It simply isn't good business to disrespect their privacy in any way. In my line of work, a displeased customer not returning out of spite is the least to worry about."

"Yes," Götz said with a slow nod. "A bullet to the head would be more worrying, wouldn't it?"

"Yes."

Götz chuckled and shook his head. "Very well," he said. "I will take under advisement, and give a proper reply in a few days via the usual channels."

He paused and picked up his teacup to make a toast. "To a successful business venture, Miss Tachibana." He said, his voice only mildly mocking.

Kaname returned the toast in silence, and a small smile.

"This is a private lunch." Kaname idly remarked, as she sat in a café, having a meal after returning from her day trip to meet with her client.

"Now, don't be like that." The American sitting opposite her said with a grin. He gestured for a waiter, and after giving his orders, turned back to Kaname. "I hear Okinawa is lovely this time of the year."

[I'm your CIA contact, callsign 'Lynch'.]

Kaname gave the American a look, and then gave a sigh. "So is Hawaii," she responded with the proper code response. "So why not go all the way?"

[Acknowledged and ready to respond.]

The American delayed his response as the waiter arrived with his coffee and donut. The man took a bite out of the latter first, and then chewing and swallow, wiped at his mouth with a paper napkin. "How's business?" he asked.

"Going well, all things considered." Kaname said, idly stirring her own coffee. "The whole global economy been slow lately, at this point we're all just trying to keep business as usual. Even if things aren't looking up, keeping steady is still better than looking down."

"Yeah, I hear that." The American said with a sigh of his own, before he took another bite of his donut, washed down with some coffee. "It's not looking too good either back across the pond. Sadly, you people have more level heads than many of those on our end. Not too sure what it says about us, but personally, nothing good."

Kaname hummed at that, and then giving a smile, rested her head against an elbow. "Well," she began. "Here's something to brighten your day, then. I met with our client a while back, and he seemed pretty interested in the deal we offered him."

"He agreed to the deal, then?" the American asked.

"He hasn't committed yet," Kaname said. "But from the look of things, he's leaning our way. Unsurprising, it is a fairly high-risk investment, if one which'll pay big if it goes well."

"True." The American admitted, while eating away at his donut.

"In any case," Kaname said. "Considering the client's situation and history, I doubt he'll turn it down. With everything we've offered him, to say nothing of bringing up missed opportunities in the past, I'd expect the client to contact us in the next few days, to finally commit to our deal."

[Complete CIA support for the planned coup in Central Africa, and the opportunity to get back at the ones who screwed him and his over way back when, and our general friend wouldn't be able to resist.]

"Now that is good news." The America said with a smile. "Certainly the best news I've heard all day, and maybe for the past few days, even. Keep me updated, will you?"

"Naturally." Kaname said before taking a drink of her coffee. "You know me. I won't put in anything less than what my services are worth, until all the contract's terms are met. It's just good business."

The American laughed. "Yes," he said, finishing off his donut and coffee both. "And nothing motivates cooperation and encourages trust more than good business."

"Of course," Kaname agreed. "Bad business makes for unhappy customers, and how would I live then?"

"Quite," the American said, taking a look at his wristwatch before getting to his feet. "Well…thanks for your time, but I need to get going. I've got places to see, people to meet with, after all. Don't worry, though. I'll pay for my share, and your share, as well."

"I…"

"I insist."

Kaname raised an eyebrow, and getting to her feet, bowed. "Thank you very much." She said formally. The American bowed likewise, and then headed off for the counter, while Kaname sat down to finish her lunch.

The intercom rang, and Kaname hit the speaker button. "Yes, Emi?" she asked.

"Missus Tohsaka is here, Miss Tachibana." The secretary said.

"Send her in, Emi." Kaname said, before sitting back in her seat.

"Yes, Miss Tachibana."

A moment later, and the door opened, allowing an uncomfortable-looking Aoi to enter. The door closed behind her, leaving the two women staring at each other. Kaname was calm and collected, relaxed even, while Aoi struggled to stay calm, visibly fidgeting as she struggled to meet the eyes of her husband's mistress without flinching.

"Well, then," Kaname began after several moments. "You've come to meet me, so you might as well say what you want to say. And no need to butter it up. I don't need you flattering me, and I don't think you want to do so in the first place. There's also no need to drag this out any longer than it has to be. Time is money, after all, but what do you think?"

Aoi's hands visibly clenched into fists. "I…" she began, only to falter and look away. In the next moment, though, she recovered, glaring at Kaname. "I want you to stop seeing my husband."

"Oh, is that all?"

Aoi visibly bristled at the taunting response, but refused to rise to the bait. "I want you to keep your child away from my children." She continued. "I want you to stay away from our entire family, before you destroy it!"

Kaname scoffed at that, and shook her head. "This has all the taste of a television drama." She said.

"What did you say?" Aoi said.

"Don't make me repeat myself." Kaname said. "You're acting like a stereotype from a soap opera, right down to the cliched lines. In other words, you're wasting my time."

"I…!"

"You want me to stop seeing your husband, is that right?" Kaname interrupted. "I would gladly do so…except your husband values my financial talents. It's not me who should stop seeing your husband, it is your husband who should stop seeing me. Good luck trying to convince him, though. Believe me, it's like pulling teeth, getting that man to agree to any idea he didn't come up with, or to drop his bad idea of the day. As for the children…"

Kaname paused, and glared at Aoi, who flinched back. "I don't blame you for hating me." She said. "In fact, that you actually do hate me is something I respect. You're a person, after all, and not just a wallflower. But, I won't agree to letting the spite and bile between us adults to inconvenience – at least – our children. They deserve the best of us, and nothing else."

"I…I won't let that…that…that filthy child corrupt my precious Rin and Sakura!" Aoi spat, her anger finally boiling over, only to get transfixed by the coldness of Kaname's eyes.

"As I recall," she said slowly after a long moment. "Your parents' medical insurance is in arrears. As are the taxes for their properties."

The blood drained from Aoi's face, as she remembered just what Kaname was, and what she was capable of.

"You may go." Kaname finally said, and Aoi staggered back, before falteringly opening the door and practically running away. And as the door closed behind her, Kaname gave a sound of disgust, before spitting into the adjacent trashcan.

Kaname was preparing dinner later that evening when the doorbell rang. "Yes, just a moment please!" she shouted, carefully setting aside the finished burger patty, and then stripping off the disposable gloves she was wearing.

Heading out of the kitchen and to the front of her apartment, she peered through the front door's eyehole, and saw who it was. Then withdrawing the deadbolt and unlocking the door, she opened it to expose the red-clothed visage of Tokiomi Tohsaka.

"Daddy!" Kuchinashi said from behind her, and running to her father, who caught her in a hug before picking her up to carry her.

"Kuchinashi," Tokiomi said with a small smile, before glancing at his mistress. Kaname just gave him a look, before giving a matching smile and inviting him in with a gesture. "How are you today?"

"I've been good!" Kuchinashi said with a grin. "Ah! I'm doing homework now, though."

"Is that so?" Tokiomi said, carrying Kuchinashi back to the living room, Kaname trailing after them. "What kind of homework?"

"Ca-calli-calligra-calligraphy!" Kuchinashi said, struggling with the word more than a bit.

Tokiomi gave a laugh. "Then maybe I can help you with that." He said, before handing a paper bag he was carrying to Kaname.

"Yes, why don't you do that?" she said, taking the bag, and looking at the bag's contents smiled at the cake inside. Strawberry shortcake from the look of things, Kuchinashi's favorite. "I'll put this in the fridge for after dinner, which should be ready in a bit."

"And what is for dinner?" Tokiomi asked.

"Burger steaks, vegetables, and miso soup." Kaname said. "You want egg in your soup?"

"I'd be much obliged." Tokiomi said with a nod, sitting down Japanese-style at the living/dining room table.

"Ah! I want egg in my miso too!" Kuchinashi yelled.

Kaname laughed. "Yes, yes." She said. "I know, don't worry. Now then, I'll get back to cooking, so why don't you go back to your homework? And be good with daddy, alright?"

"YES!"

Tokiomi patted Kuchinashi on the head. "Don't worry." He said to Kaname. "We'll be just fine."

"I'll hold you to that."

There was a flash of light, and both Tokiomi and Kuchinashi looked up in surprise. They saw Kaname standing in the kitchen entrance, holding a polaroid camera. Kuchinashi immediately started yelling in protest.

"No fair, mommy!" she shouted, and waving her hands overhead. "You didn't say you…you would…you would be taking pictures!"

"Oh hush." Kaname said with a smile, taking the newly-printed picture and waving it in the air to dry it out. "This way is better, since it looks more natural than any pose."

"Your mother has a point." Tokiomi pointed out, and Kuchinashi childishly crossed her arms with a pout.

Kaname laughed at the sight, joining Tokiomi and their daughter at the table. "The vegetables need a few more minutes." She said, all the while taking a marker pen on the table.

"We're in no rush." Tokiomi reassured her, and then looking on as Kaname wrote something along the white edge of the photo.

'Tokiomi and Kuchinashi, doing calligraphy practice', it said, under a photo of Tokiomi gently but firmly guiding Kaname's hand holding a brush to draw a character on a sheet of paper.

"I'll put this in an album later." She said, before looking at the various papers left out to dry. "How's it going?"

"Kuchinashi's doing well." Tokiomi said, ruffling their daughter's hair, and causing the little girl to smile widely. "That said, she needs to remember not to forget proper stroke order. That's very important, Kuchinashi."

"Yes!" Kuchinashi said with a clumsy bow. "I'll make sure to remember from now on."

Tokiomi nodded with a sound of approval. "Very good." He said.

Kaname laughed. "I wouldn't worry." She said. "Kuchinashi rarely makes the same mistake twice, and even when she does, it's only because she's still just a child. Once she grows up and stops being, well, childish, I'm sure she really won't make the same mistake twice."

"That is good to hear." Tokiomi said.

"I can't wait to grow up!" Kuchinashi said, only to look surprised, after Kaname poked her on a cheek.

"Oh, that won't do at all." She chided. "It's nice to look forward to the future, but don't be in any hurry to grow up either. Childhood only comes once in your life, and it's the best time to make the best memories you'll ever have. So, make the time to enjoy it as well, alright, Kuchinashi?"

"Yes, mommy." Kuchinashi said with a nod.

"Wise words," Tokiomi said, and hugging his daughter by the shoulders. "Keep them in mind, Kuchinashi."

An alarm sounded in the kitchen, and Kaname hurried back to check on their dinner. Behind her, father and daughter, began cleaning up the table, before helping to set it just in time for Kaname to start serving their meal.

"ITADAKIMASU!" they said in unison, the three of them sitting together for dinner. Father…mother…daughter…it was times like that despite everything around and between them, Tokiomi and Kaname could pretend everything was normal about them.

In a way, not that either of them would admit it, it was a shame there was so little about their dysfunctional little family that was actually normal.

"Was it necessary to threaten my wife's parents?" Tokiomi asked with a weary sigh, once Kuchinashi had been tucked in and fallen asleep for the night.

"It got the point across." Kaname replied.

"That doesn't really answer my question." Tokiomi replied.

Kaname gave him a deadpan look. "And what would you have done," she began. "If someone, like say…your wife, described Kuchinashi as a 'filthy' child?"

"She called Kuchinashi a…filthy, child?" Tokiomi echoed in disbelief. "She wouldn't…why would…"

"Isn't it obvious?" Kaname said, joining Tokiomi at the table, and resting her head against an elbow. "She's a jealous wife. Stereotypically so, yes, but looking past that, I guess I can't blame her for hating me. I did pop the bubble, so to speak, and destroyed the…illusion, of a perfect family she had before learning about me."

"…but you won't accept her hating Kuchinashi?" Tokiomi asked.

"Would you?" Kaname turned the question around.

"No." Tokiomi immediately answered. "Kuchinashi had no say in whatever differences exist between me, you, and Aoi. And I am very sorry you had to hear something like that. Most important of all, it's a good thing Kuchinashi wasn't around to hear. No child should have to hear something like that."

"On that we are agreed." Kaname said with a vague hand gesture. "So, what are you going to do about it?"

Tokiomi sighed. "At the very least," he began. "I'll talk to Aoi about it. That much I can guarantee. Anything more than that, though…at the end of the day, she's still my wife. I can't be too forceful with her. Still…"

Tokiomi paused, stroking his chin and pulling at his goatee in thought. "…I suppose once she calms down there might be a way to get her to see reason." He mused.

"Oh?"

"Basically, I'll have to play to Aoi's sense of propriety." Tokiomi said. "It wouldn't do for someone of her rank to appear so…boorishly, jealous and spiteful in public. She has to at least give the impression of noble tolerance, after all."

Kaname snorted and burst out laughing. "How very manipulative of you." She said. "I like it."

Tokiomi gave a barking laugh and shook his head. "I knew you would say that." He said.

Kaname only gave a wolfish grin in response.

A/N

The Magician: a man stands in front of an altar, on which lie four tools representing the four cardinal directions, as well as one card from each of the four suits of the tarot. In divination, the card symbolizes a person's potential, as well as the realization of their talents.

Very fitting then, for Kaname Tachibana, a woman who has achieved high rank, great influence, and even self-sufficiency in the poisonously-patriarchal Japanese society and corporate world alike.

Now, before you go on to say 'too much' to that company's debt, remember that it's in Yen, which is hideously-inflated. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as Japan is an export-oriented country, so a hyperinflated currency actually increases their selling power. More to the point, convert it to dollar, and 2.99 billion Yen is…27 million dollars.

Yeah, it's a big debt, but not nearly as big as it sounds.