Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.
Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi
Chapter 10: L'Imperatrice (Part I)
The night sky above was dark.
But of course it was: it was the night of the New Moon, after all. Add to that all the pollution characteristic of the cities of the modern age, and there was little starlight to make up for the lack of moonlight.
Not that Sakura actually needed the moonlight, of course. At least, not on this night. In fact, the New Moon's lack of moonlight was part of the ritual, symbolizing at once an end and a beginning. The end of the previous Lunar cycle, and the beginning of the new Lunar cycle.
And so Sakura sat in the middle of a suburban woodland, over a spot determined by her divinations as suitable for her ritual. Here, she tapped into the ley-line beneath, and by her mysteries and the power of her blood, sought to influence it to her will.
Flames burned in the middle of a stone circle, green like corposant and edged with white ghost-light. They burned hot though, like normal flames, and indeed, had already reduced the kindling and logs from when Sakura first set the flames ablaze at sunset. Now, though, the flames burned, and kept on burning, despite the absence of physical fuel.
Prana was enough.
A miracle in its own right, made even more so by Sakura lacking affinities for the fire element. And yet the flames burned, eagerly feeding on the mana welling up from the ley-line below, dancing to the tune of Sakura's music.
Sakura sat on a camp stool to one side of the circle, behind a street organ painted a simple purple with red edges, elegant flourishes carved into the wooden exterior. A brass horn sprouted from one side, from which tinkled out cheerful music as Sakura turned the street organ's crank at an even pace, and which took on an eerie air in the dark of the New Moon, and the ghastly flames of the witch-fire before her.
Every once in a while, Sakura would reach down with a free hand, and dipping it into a tray mounted to one side of the street organ, tossed out a handful of gems into the flames. Each and every time, the flames roared in grateful acceptance of the offered fuel, jade, obsidian, tourmaline, and agate crumbling in the witch-fire and allowing Sakura's od to trickle into and feed the witch-fire.
All around her, the woodland was quiet but for the sound of Sakura's street organ, no animal daring to make a sound much less move in the face of such an…unnatural, spectacle. Similarly, the air was quiet and still, no breeze breaking the solitude of the woodland, as though the very air itself bore witness to Sakura's efforts to keep her witch-fire burning until the sunrise, and so finish her ritual.
Her men were there, though. They patrolled along the edge of the woodland, armed with both mundane weapons and mystic codes their mistress had given them. No bounded fields could be set here, lest they perturb the ether or disrupt the flow of mana through the ley-line beneath, and render the ritual meaningless.
And so it fell to Elisa and the men and women under her command to keep…interlopers, from ruining Sakura's efforts.
All through the night they kept watch, turning away policemen, the homeless, late night wanderers and those simply curious, and by means of borrowed magic made them think that they had other business elsewhere. And so the ritual proceeded, eerie and cheerful notes dancing in the cold night air in the dark of the New Moon, until the skies above lightened, midnight blue giving way to ultramarine, and then to rose and pearl, as the Sun rose into the sky.
One more time the flames roared as though in acknowledgement, and then went out.
The ritual completed, Sakura allowed herself to stop turning her mystic code, and then slumped down in exhaustion.
My God…what a night.
Rin Tohsaka sighed as the hired help began carrying their things back inside the Tohsaka mansion. Well, it was mostly just clothes and other necessities: she might have been under arrest, but the principle of innocent until proven guilty was something even the College of Law followed.
Not that it was really surprising, as that principle had originated with the ancient Roman state. So while the College of Law might laugh at such modern…innovations, like Human Rights, writ of habeas corpus and other such time-honored principles, though, were held in high regard.
The concept of bail was not recognized, though.
So while Rin and her mother were allowed to live in relative luxury during Rin's trial and the many hearings thereof, they had remained under arrest, under constant watch with their every movement closely guarded.
But with the trial over and done with Rin largely proven innocent, they could finally go home. At least, after Edelfelt had made clear where things now stood. The thought made Rin's fists clench in frustration, and not for the first time.
A sister…
…I had a sister all this time, and my mother never told me.
Why?
Why didn't my father do more after what happened sixteen years ago?
Why didn't mother tell me about our – my – family in Finland?
Why hide behind so many lies and secrets?
Why?
They would have ruined everything had not it been for Luvia…
…my cousin…
…the cousin I never knew about until recently.
Just like my sister!
"My lady…"
Rin blinked at the sudden diffident voice behind her, and turning, looked on as a kimono-wearing maid gave a polite bow. "There's a woman at the door, asking to see you." The maid said.
"Who is it?" Rin asked. "What did they want?"
"She introduced herself as Elisa Rodriguez, my lady." The maid replied. "She says she's here on behalf of the Second Owner."
Rin blinked and then drew herself up. "Send her in immediately." She ordered.
"Yes, my lady." The maid said with a bow, and then turning, walked away. Rin sighed, then slowly walking around the living room, ended up before a large portrait of her father hanging in a gilt frame above the mantel. She stared into the portrait's unseeing eyes, wondering if her father would ever have shared all his secrets and the reasons behind them had he not died when she had still been so very young.
Of course he would have.
Wouldn't he?
Rin blinked and then turned as the maid arrived with an older woman in tow, the latter wearing a black and white business ensemble, a greatcoat draped over an arm. "Elisa Rodriguez, I presume?" Rin asked.
The tanned and dark-haired woman stood to attention and gave a curt bow. "You presume correctly, Lady Tohsaka." Elisa said. "I apologize for intruding so early in the morning, and so soon after your arrival…"
"Then why are you here?" Rin interrupted, determined to not appear weak at the very least, and give the impression that recent events had broken her in any way.
"…very well then," Elisa said after a moment. "I am here on orders from Lady Sakura. She apologizes for not being able to meet and greet in person, but she has school to attend to at this time."
"School?" Rin echoed in disbelief. "My sister's attending school here?"
"Yes." Elisa said with a nod. "Is there a problem with that?"
"…it was just a surprise, that's all." Rin said, narrowing her eyes and meeting Elisa's own. "Is that all you're here to do?"
"I am also here to extend to you an invitation to meet with Lady Sakura this evening, and have dinner with her." Elisa said, pulling out a letter from a pocket and extending it to Rin. "Naturally, the invitation also extends to your and my lady's mother."
Rin stared at the letter for a few moments, and then stepping closer, took it from Elisa's hand. The envelope was unsealed, allowing Rin to pull out the neatly-folded letter inside quickly. Both the letter and the envelope were made from top-quality parchment, the kind you expected the elites of magi society would use for personal correspondence.
And…
…which Rin herself had never used once in her life.
Indeed, several months ago, Rin would have dismissed the thought of using such parchment an extravagant waste, and derided anyone using them when perfectly-serviceable and more economic paper was available. Now, though…
…she didn't know what to think.
Pushing that thought aside, though, Rin quickly read through the contents of the letter. It said nothing more than what Elisa had already said, if couched in more…flowery, language. Thinking things through quickly, Rin made her decision.
"I accept my sister's invitation," she said. "But I cannot make promises with regard to our mother's presence. She is currently…recuperating, from the stress of recent events."
Elisa gave a polite bow. "If that is your response, then I will convey it to my lady." She said. "If there is nothing more, then I will take my leave."
"Well, there is one thing…" Rin began.
"I will answer to the best of my ability, Lady Tohsaka." Elisa said with a nod.
"I get the feeling you're not just a messenger." Rin said. "What are you to my sister?"
Elisa gave a small smile. "I am lady's chief retainer and personal bodyguard." She simply said, but the unsaid things said so much more. That is, if Sakura had sent her chief retainer to bring a simple invitation to Rin, well…
"I see." Rin said with a nod. "I understand. You may take your leave, Miss Rodriguez."
Elisa gave a polite bow, and then turning sharply, left the living room, escorted back through the mansion and outside by a maid. Alone with herself, Rin let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding in, and fingering the letter from Sakura, took another deep breath.
Breaking the news to her mother was going to be an ordeal in itself.
"Oh good, you're all here." Sakura cheerfully remarked, sitting balanced precariously on the rooftop level's safety railing.
"Two minutes." Ayako said with arms crossed over her chest.
Issei coughed. "First of all," he said. "Edelfelt, sitting there is very dangerous, and second, it's against the rules."
Sakura shrugged. "Your opinion is noted." She said. "Now then…getting to the point, I'm inviting you all to dinner tonight, Shirou, Mitsuzuri, and Ryuudo. At my place, of course, my treat."
Shirou raised an eyebrow, while Issei pushed his glasses up his nose. Ayako snorted though, and then placing her hands on her hips, drew herself up. "And why exactly would we accept your invitation?" she asked. "We're not exactly close, you know, and if you're trying to show off or bribe us into becoming your…"
"Rin's back from London," Sakura said with a dismissing gesture with a hand. "And she's coming over for dinner tonight. In fact, she'll be expecting to see you tonight, and I doubt you'd want to disappoint her."
Well, that was a lie, Rin certainly didn't know anything about Shirou, Ayako, and Issei joining them for dinner tonight, in fact, it was supposed to be a surprise. But that wasn't important, and the three of them didn't need to know that, what they don't know won't hurt them or something.
"…you play dirty, Edelfelt." Ayako accused.
"And you are plain rude," Sakura snapped. "Ever since the day we first met."
Ayako sniffed and glared at Sakura, who met her gaze evenly. After several long moments, though, Ayako gave way first, and left in silence. Well, mostly in silence, as she paused right at the stairwell entrance.
"What time?" she asked.
"Dinner will be around seven-thirty in the evening." Sakura said. "Please do be punctual, and appear presentable."
Ayako sniffed again, and then left, leaving Sakura alone with Shirou and Issei. "Will Rin really be there?" Issei asked.
"Yes." Sakura laconically replied.
"Then I look forward to meeting her again." Issei said with a curt nod. "I apologize for Ayako's rude words and actions, and thank you for your generous invitation. Rest assured, I will be there punctually, and in presentable attire."
Sakura nodded, and with a polite bow, Issei also left, leaving Sakura alone with Shirou. After a moment, the former smiled at the latter.
"Well, that went well." She said.
"What are you planning, Sakura?" Shirou asked with a sigh.
Sakura shrugged. "Making my sister comfortable," she said. "And figuratively dousing Mitsuzuri with a bucket of water. This should ease her up quite a bit…that, and assuming her relationship with my sister is what it seems to be, easing her off with a hot and husky reunion night between lovers."
Shirou made a face, while Sakura smirked. "Something wrong, Magus Emiya?" she asked.
"No comment." Shirou replied, and Sakura laughed.
"It seems Lady Aoi has not accompanied Lady Tohsaka for tonight's dinner." Elisa remarked.
"Unsurprising," Sakura said, standing on the other side of the map table in her mansion's situation room. Both of them kept their eyes on a holographic screen with a live link to one of Sakura's familiars, one of several conducting surveillance of the Tohsaka mansion. "Considering recent events."
Elisa nodded, and then Sakura turned to her with a small smile. "Speaking of which," she began. "Are you sure? If you become a surrogate, it'd increase your standing within House Edelfelt by more than a few points."
"I'm sure it would." Elisa said before smiling back at Sakura. "But I'm happy where I'm at."
"Hmm…well, I guess that I'm having second thoughts about having to share, in hindsight." Sakura admitted, and Elisa chuckled.
"Think things through next time, Lady Sakura." Elisa said, using formal language considering there were others in the room. Some watched more surveillance footage, while others were monitoring the airwaves or the telephone lines. A trio of women were even manning radar consoles, with infra-red backups on standby.
"Hmm…thanks for the reminder." Sakura said with a nod. The she gestured, changing the hologram to three new ones. "And here are our other guests: Shirou Emiya, Issei Ryuudo, and Ayako Mitsuzuri."
"They do look presentable, at least." Elisa said before quirking an eyebrow. "Very formal, though, in Mister Ryuudo's case."
"And I'm not very formal?" Sakura asked, gesturing at herself in a full dress of blue brocade with elaborate embroidery in white lace, along with a matching pair of white leather boots with gilt buttons. White velvet gloved her hands, while hanging earrings of gold and jade could be seen poking through the luxurious mass of ringlets her hair had been styled in.
"Good point." Elisa conceded. "Perhaps it's for the best that Lady Aoi isn't attending tonight's dinner."
"True," Sakura admitted. "Considering my style is quite common in the family, my appearance tonight would probably give her a panic attack."
"Yes, I think so too." Elisa agreed.
Sakura nodded, and then reaching into a pocket, brought out a pocket watch in silver, which she opened with a flick of a finger. "Ten to seven…" she said softly. "…they should be here within the next fifteen minutes…punctual of them…excellent."
"Dinner should be ready by the predetermined time." Elisa remarked.
Sakura nodded again. "Good," she said. "It wouldn't do for the host to not be punctual, when the guests clearly are."
One thing was for sure, whatever was planned, Ayako rushing over at the sight of Rin and pulling her into a passionate kiss was not part of them. "A-Ayako…people are staring…" Rin complained, struggling to get out of her girlfriend's tight embrace, her face flushed and heated.
"Let them stare." Ayako said, gently but firmly catching Rin by the chin. "We've got several months to catch up on, you and me."
"I…"
Whatever Rin was going to say, it was lost with another round of passionate kissing. The maids murmured to each other, even as their smug mistress walked over to Shirou and gave him a knowing look and smile.
"Shut up." Shirou said, and it took all Sakura had to keep from laughing out loud.
"Oh don't be like that," she said while tapping him on an arm with a folded fan of blue silk and pearl-inlaid wood. "I must say, though, you're looking well tonight. The same for you as well, Mister Ryuudo."
Though if she were honest, Sakura preferred Shirou's style over Issei's, Shirou wearing a simple and sober business ensemble in black and white. Rather unoriginal when all was said and done, but its simplicity was its selling point, making him look presentable without making him look…severe.
Issei, on the other hand…
…Sakura had nothing against kimonos, but Issei's very formal black and grey kimono (complete with crests on the shoulders) made for a very stiff appearance. Not that Issei seemed in any way stiff, awkward, or just plain looking out of place in what he was wearing. On the contrary, he looked quite comfortable, like he was perfectly in his element.
…
…
…
…
…
No surprise there, in hindsight. They might not be friends, but Sakura knew enough of the man by now that he was very much a stickler for the rules (of any kind).
Though, if he'd actually added a sword or two to the set, Sakura would have been impressed enough to ignore the stiffness.
Hmm…assuming I don't have anything to take me away from here – or even that – I think I know what Christmas present to give him.
"You're looking very well tonight as well, Miss Edelfelt." Issei said with a deep, Japanese-style bow. "Is that silk, if I might ask?"
"100% hand-woven brocade, in fact." Sakura replied with a western curtsy.
Issei gave a small smile at the amusing contrast between their nonverbal displays of respect. Anything more he had to say had to wait, though, as Rin and Ayako finally broke away from each other and walked closer. Ayako looked wary, but Rin only had eyes for Sakura.
Sakura noticed, and giving a smile that actually had Shirou, Issei, and even Ayako's eyes widening at how just like Rin's smile it was, tilted her head. "We meet at last, sister." She said. "You're looking well, all things considered."
"I guess I do." Rin said before swallowing dryly. "You're also looking well…Edelfelt took real good care of you, didn't they?"
"Of course they did." Sakura replied, looking ever so slightly curious. "Why wouldn't they?"
Rin's eyes narrowed by a fraction. "No reason." She said.
Sakura inclined her head ever so slightly. "Shall we continue this at a more appropriate location?" she asked. "The foyer isn't the most comfortable place to speak in."
There were no objections, and after a few moments, Sakura was leading them away to a sitting room.
"Tea, anyone?" Sakura offered.
"I'll have a cup." Issei immediately said.
"So will I." Rin said.
Ayako and Shirou followed suit, and within minutes, all of them were nursing cups of tea each, though only Sakura added a dash of honey to hers. The rest took theirs black, and while it was subtle, she could see they'd have preferred green tea to black tea.
Unsurprising, considering this was Japan, but Sakura preferred black tea, having grown up with it. Not that they seemed to particularly dislike it, though. It just seemed to not fit their palate.
"So," Rin began. "Luvia's told me you've been busy the past couple of months, taking care of your responsibilities as Second Owner."
Sakura raised an eyebrow, Shirou winced, while Issei and Mitsuzuri both looked rather wary. Then they looked surprised, as Sakura just burst out laughing.
"Oh very clever," she congratulated them. "Pulling the wool over my eyes for so long, to think you knew all about the Moonlit World all this time."
"Well, yeah," Ayako said more than a bit smugly. "We are Rin's friends, after all."
"More than friends, from the look of things, in your case." Sakura said before turning back to Rin. "Oh don't give me that look, for all that Mitsuzuri's been quite hostile to me for all this time, they do seem the trustworthy sort, so I'll trust your judgment on this. If you think it's safe letting them know about the Moonlit World, then so be it."
"Thanks…I think." Rin said, before giving Ayako a look. The other woman looked a bit sheepish, before mouthing "I'll tell you later" to Rin, who sighed and took a calming drink of her tea.
"But yes," Sakura said after a drink of tea of her own. "I've been keeping busy. The Matou property has now been completely contained, between my efforts as well as the wards left behind by the College of Law. Shinji Matou has also been neutralized, at least in part, though contingencies are in place."
"Is Shinji really that dangerous?" Rin asked. "I mean…yeah, he's Zouken's direct descendant, but Zouken's dead, and Shinji's…"
"Makiri Zolgen isn't dead." Sakura interrupted. "It reappeared while I was containing the Matou property, and while I destroyed that body, you never know with vampires. Especially since it taunted me before that body was destroyed, saying "death is only the beginning". Of course, it could just be a bluff, but you never know."
Sakura paused and shrugged. "A report has been filed to the College of Law." She said. "It has been acknowledged, and the records updated to reflect the fact. The execution on sight order for Makiri Zolgen stands, and any and all that give sanctuary and assistance to it shall be branded heretic and renegade, with appropriate sanctions to be levelled by the College of Law."
"…but," Shirou began. "Shinji…didn't the College of Law let him go in the first place? If he was so dangerous, that Zouken could use him as a way to…I don't know, do something, I doubt they'd have let him go."
"Hmm…I wouldn't exactly say they let him go." Sakura admitted. "In truth the official documentation with regard to his brief incarceration by the College of Law has final disposition left blank, and up to the discretion of the Second Owner."
Sakura paused again. "In short," she said before taking a drink of tea. "They dumped the job of dealing with him once and for all up to me."
"You let him live, though, from what I've been told." Rin said.
"Makiri Zolgen could really have been dead at the time." Sakura said. "If so, killing Shinji would have been meaningless death, and I don't deal in meaningless death. I'm a soldier of fortune, not a murderer."
That got raised eyebrows all around, while Rin continued. "But now?" she prompted.
Sakura shrugged. "Makiri Zolgen could still really be dead after our confrontation." She said. "But if it's still alive…well, like I said, contingencies are in place."
Sakura took a drink of her tea. "Speaking of which," she said. "I don't know if Luvia told you, but as head of the family, she's agreed that you could so much better. Therefore, your engagement with Shinji Matou is null and void, effective immediately, and the matter declared closed with finality."
Rin wasn't sure how to react to that.
"Whoa…" Ayako said with unmasked awe. "Is that a roast pig?"
"Yes, it is." Sakura said.
"…I think we should start over." Ayako said after a moment, and Sakura laughed while Rin smiled. Nearby, though, Shirou just placed a comforting hand on Issei's shoulder, as the latter looked really unhappy at the sight, no thanks to his devoutly-Buddhist upbringing.
Not that roast pig was the only item on the menu, of course. It was just the centerpiece. There were also a pair of fish dishes, cooked in cream and mushroom sauce with vegetables, along with plenty of mashed potato and black bread. There was cheese and butter, and as the maids helped them sit, offered them a selection of drinks.
"Eh…I'm not really someone who knows how to pick wine." Ayako admitted quickly. "How about a beer?"
"I'm fine with beer." Shirou said.
"So am I." Ayako said.
"Water, thank you." Issei firmly said.
"…I think I'll start with red wine for the pork…" Rin said while examining the selection offered to her, and pointing out her choices. "…and then white wine for the fish later."
"Hmm…excellent choices, sister." Sakura said as she noticed her sister's choices.
Rin shrugged. "I have my moments." She said.
"Hmm…so it would seem." Sakura conceded. "I'm wondering though…mother was invited too."
"Ah well…she's indisposed." Rin delicately said, unable to meet Sakura's eyes. "She sends her apologies, but hopes we enjoy the night, regardless."
Sakura hummed, not quite believing Rin's vague response, and from the look on Issei and Ayako's faces, she could see it was the same with them. That, and there was relief there as well.
"Something you want to say, Ryuudo and Mitsuzuri?" she asked.
Issei looked disinclined to answer, but Ayako wasn't so limited. "Missus Tohsaka doesn't like us." She said. "That's pretty much it, when all is said and done."
"Actually…it's more that she doesn't like my closeness with you." Rin delicately elaborated. "Mom doesn't mind me having friends, it's just that…well, you're not magi, or even spell-casters, so she thinks it's improper that we're so close."
"…I'm guessing that your relationship isn't known to mother?" Sakura ventured.
"She has suspicions." Rin said, looking very downcast. "Mom's…tried, to confront me over it in the past. I've managed to deflect her suspicions, but…it's not that I'm ashamed of Ayako, but…it's mom. I can't just…"
Rin trailed off, though Ayako took her hand and squeezed tight with reassurance. Rin squeezed back, and giving her girlfriend a tender smile. Sakura hummed at the sight, and remembering past conversations with Luvia on Rin's problems and how Aoi Tohsaka had been largely responsible for them, silently thanked Ayako, Issei, and Shirou for keeping her sister sane.
Where does someone with no ability to use magic like mother gain the right to talk about what being a magus is about?
Much less claim that we cannot and should not aspire towards happiness, whether it be with our friends or family?
The arrival of drinks caused Sakura's dark thoughts to dispel, and as she smiled while leading the toast, decided against pursuing this topic further.
A/N
L'imperatrice: The Empress, the third card of the Major Arcana. It's traditionally depicted as a woman in regal attire seated on a throne, holding a scepter and wearing a crown with twelve stars. The scepter symbolizes the Empress' authority over life, and the twelve stars on her crown her dominion over the year. The Empress is also enthroned amidst a wheat field, further symbolizing her power to grant healthy growth to those she favors.
The card's associations include new opportunities, abundance of resources or opportunities or anything that might answer needs and wants both, stability, even maternal care or auspicious prospects for a pregnancy.
Again, thanks to [USER=87080]Cubia[/USER] for helping write this chapter. In particular, the part where Aoi wouldn't approve of Rin's closeness with Ayako and Issei, and especially about Rin and Aoi's schoolgirl lesbian romance. That, and that Rin wouldn't hide her true nature from her close friends (of which she had none in canon, hence her keeping her true nature secret there).
