"So, you've finally made it… big brother." The girl walks forward from her spot under the blown street lamp until she reaches the next one at her corner of the four-way stop. The constant light on her and the shorter distance between us really accentuated just how happy and carefree she seemed to be.

I swallow nervously at the ominous, gleeful child and what I can only assume to be her servant towering further behind her, standing like a statue in his spot, not following her forward. It was a stroke of luck that I decided to shove my cold hands into my pockets before I cut that corner, else the two would see how much they're shaking right now. I force myself to let out a little chuckle.

"Good to see you again too, 'little sis'. Although uhh, hey not to alarm you or anything, but I think there may be an escaped zoo gorilla about to sneak up on you." I'll try to appeal to her humorous side; make it seem I'm not scared or shaken. She too, lets out a little giggle.

"Haha, you're funny. No silly, that isn't a gorilla, it's Berserker." "Berserker"? That title doesn't bode well at all. Upon the mentioning of his name, the dead-still monster comes to life and emits a low growl that's akin to a lion's throaty warning howl. "So, big brother. Where's your servant at? You might want to hurry and call them out. Once Berserker charges, it'd be good to have something between you and him to take the blow, so you don't get eviscerated." Well that was… blunt.

"I-Is that right?" I respond warily, feeling less certain now after the girl confirmed she was indeed a hostile presence. "I was actually hoping maybe we could just go our separate ways for now, pretend this little meeting never happened?" The girl continues to cheerily smile at me and then tilts her head in confusion as though my words were incomprehensible to her. "I-I don't have a servant, you see. I'm not a master in this 'Holy Grail War'; hell, I'm not even a mage." Her eyes sparkle and immediately fill with wonder and curiosity.

"Really?! Ahhh, big brother isn't a master? Big brother isn't even a mage?! That's crazy… Then what have you been doing all these years?" Her last remark carried a much more serious tone and had an almost vindictive connotation. Her smile still remained, however.

"I've been living. Living a normal life that didn't involve all this craziness." She continues to stare me down until she suddenly turns from me and faces up the street behind her, towards Berserker.

"Really..." After responding she stands still for a moment. Stands still up until I hear her say, almost inaudibly from where I'm standing, "must be nice" under her breath. "Take him down Berserker." Her sudden command makes my eyes widen and the fear inside well up.

"Wait, you can't be serious!" Berserker heeds her command and begins slowly stepping towards us, all while humming a steady whir, like an engine starting up.

"Cut his arms off, disembowel him, flay his legs; I don't care. Just don't kill him or else I won't be able to keep him." This can't be real. This can't be happening. Why does this have to plague me all of a sudden? What did me and her do to deserve all this?

Her… My thoughts wander to Irisviel and what she's doing right now as the heaving monster towing the giant, monolithic sword draws ever closer.

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The church looks just the same as it did all those years ago when I first came to see it. Back then, when I'd heard the Kotomine church was in such close proximity to our house, I immediately came here to see if it was true. And, surely enough, on that day atop this hill stood the church, looking the same as it does now. I never dared to venture inside and meet the despicable man, but, now knowing his role in this war, I now have to confront him. Rin taps me lightly on my shoulder.

"Miss Irisviel, are you about ready to go inside? You look as though something's troubling you." I nod while trying to regain my composure, not wanting Rin to worry about my state of mind.

"Yes Rin, I'm ready whenever you are. Pardon my daydreaming, I was… just wondering if we made the right choice telling Shirou to stay behind." Rin sighs and facepalms herself slightly, showing her discontent with me bringing up the subject.

"This again? How many times do I have to tell you that it is for the best? We very well could have encountered a servant on our way here and may yet still on our way back. Knowing his temperament, I didn't want to take him just for him to start fisticuffs with one and get pummeled. It's safer and easier for both us and him this way." I sigh and nod softly, knowing logically that she is right, but feeling so strongly in my heart that she's wrong; that we should've taken him with us.

"You're right, Rin." I turn towards Saber who's standing diligently next to the iron gate. "And you're sure you won't come in with us, Saber?" Saber firmly nods her head without turning to face me.

"Yes, Irisviel. Unlike you, I don't think I'd be able to control myself from slicing him in two once my eyes fell upon him. Therefore, I'll remain out here." I notice Rin getting slightly alarmed from Saber's obvious hatred of the priest. I weakly laugh before stepping through the gate and heading towards the front door, Rin following shortly in suit. She once again taps me on the shoulder while we walk.

"I know I've already asked, but why exactly is it you two hate Kirei so much? I mean, I know he's a despicable guy, I just want to know what makes you both feel so strongly about him." I wonder about how to answer her without going too in-depth to all the atrocities about the previous war.

"Ummm, a lengthy family feud?" She doesn't look convinced by my answer but says nothing more as we reach the large door. I'd like to tell you more Rin, but I still don't know whether you're a friend or foe. I know only that you were raised by this man and that he is a foe. I can't confide in you fully until I'm sure your loyalties aren't tied to him. I remember the conversation we had earlier in the house as I contemplate the trustworthiness of the newcomer.

Emiya residence, 40 minutes prior:

I continue to watch Shirou's friend Rin, in surprise, as she walks into our kitchen and gathers the necessary components to brew some tea, without having even asked permission. I kind of got the vibe she was a brazen girl when she shooed Shirou off and forbid him from listening to us talk, but now I really see it doesn't take her long at all to get comfortable. After she sets the kettle on top of the heater to boil, she takes a seat across from me at the table.

"Now then, 'Shirou's mommy', let's get down to business." I giggle slightly at how adorable it is she's still calling me that. "What's so funny?"

"Ah, nothing. Although I should mention, you don't need to keep calling me that. I just told you to call me by that in front of Shirou to help loosen him up a bit. In case you haven't noticed, he can be a real stiff sometimes." Rin blushes slightly.

"O-Of course, I knew that! Who would seriously call you 'Shirou's mommy'? Anyways, what would you like me to call you?"

"Feel free to just use Irisviel."

"R-Really? Well in that case, call me Rin."

After establishing a first name basis, Rin talks about how she never knew Shirou had a stepmom and how she never would've guessed I'd be so pretty. We then chat for a bit about how Rin and Shirou knew each other before the kettle starts whistling and shooting steam out. Rin quickly steps up to grab it and bring it back to the table. After pouring herself a cup she notices Saber and I looking at her expectantly before blushing again.

"Ah, oh how impolite of me, would you like some miss Irisviel?" I shake my head while Saber scooches up closer to the table, next to me.

"I would appreciate a cup, though" Saber politely requests.

Once the two were contently sipping on their tea, I realize we had gotten sidetracked and begun talking about pleasantries instead of the matter at hand. I clear my throat, drawing the attention of the other girls back to me.

"Now then, so the Holy Grail War truly has started?" Rin places her cup on the table while solemnly nodding her head.

"Yes. When I'd last talked to the overseer of this war, he said that there were only two more masters not accounted for, including myself. Now that I've met you tonight, all masters should be active at this point." I sigh and frown, not having wanted the situation to be so developed at this point. I turn to Saber who'd been observing the conversation from the sidelines silently.

"Saber, what would you say to me wanting to withdraw from the Grail War?"

"WHAT!?" I jump back a little in surprise at the two girls shouting their response in unison. Saber rises to her feet with a serious expression.

"Irisviel you can't be serious, right? I-" Saber pauses and glances at Rin before turning her attention back to me to continue. "I know a lot must've happened to you in the previous war; in fact, I'm not even quite sure how you're still here today, but this is our chance to make everything right." So, she does have all her memories still intact. I hear Rin gasp and speak up across the table once Saber finishes.

"Previous war?... You were in the last Holy Grail War?!" I rub my head once again in slight disappointment at Saber for revealing that piece of sensitive information.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say I was 'in it'. Let's just say, I was indirectly involved with it. It was my beloved who was a master, not myself; I only know the gist about the war and what happened." I quickly try to reassure her that I knew very little about the wars and that I didn't play a major role. She looks disappointed by my answer, but still convinced, as she settles back down in her seat. Saber, however, still stood looking unsatisfied.

"Irisviel, I cannot stand for not participating in this war. I respect your feelings, but-"

"I'm sorry Saber, but I have no intention of fighting in this war. It makes it harder for me to refuse you knowing that you somehow remember our time together from the last war, but I just can't, not again… I have something more valuable that I have to protect now…" She seemed enraged by my answer, but she finally yielded and fell to her knees, begrudgingly retaking her spot at the table next to me. Rin seems a little uncomfortable from the awkward situation she found herself in the middle of, but she eventually collects herself and breaks the silence.

"I-I see. I don't know whether to be sad or happy that I'll be losing you as a candidate in this war… You said, 'something more valuable', right? Do you mean Emiya?" I nod at her. She ponders for a second before continuing. "I assume that's why he's in the dark about everything that's happening. Why you haven't been raising him to be a mage, a master?" She catches on quickly… I nod again. "I see. I was wondering why someone such as yourself who seemed like a seasoned mage wasn't training a pupil. So that's your method of protecting him." I nod and smile slightly while thinking about my precious Shirou.

"It's just," I continue "it's hard to protect someone like him. At some point he got it in his head that the roles were reversed and that he's going to protect me; almost like I'm the child and he's the guardian. Given his disposition, maybe it would have been best to teach him magic and inform him about my past. After all, it's hard to keep someone safe who seems to have no regard for his own life." Despite how upset I made Saber, she was still following the conversation along carefully. Once I finished my little tangent, she decided to speak up.

"Who is this Shirou Emiya anyways, Irisviel? He seems awfully important to you. You both said earlier that you were his mother, or stepmother rather?"

"Indeed. At the end of the previous war, my beloved rescued him from the Fuyuki fire and we adopted him. He's been with me ever since." Saber's expression softens slightly, and she sighs, appearing to be a bit more understanding now.

"Kiritsugu, huh?" Saber whispers under her breath.

"Anyways," I continue, wanting to get off the subject "you said you spoke to the overseer, Rin? May you get me in contact with him, so I can officially withdraw? I'd appreciate it if you could do it as soon as possible." Saber scoffs at my request while Rin nods her head.

"Actually, Miss Irisviel, he lives pretty close by to your house. We can go tonight actually, if you're ready." I feel relief wash over me upon her stating we could visit him so soon. Shirou and I may yet get out of this safe and sound. "Yeah, Kirei can be a real grump most of the time, but he'll just have to deal with a little surprise visit." …what?

"Rin… did you just… Kirei? As in, Kirei Kotomine?" I feel Saber tense up next to me and Rin's face lights up in surprise at my mentioning of his full name.

"Yes, that's him. Do you know him?" I should've known. The church is the group tasked with overseeing the war and his establishment is only a short walk away from here. Who else could have been the overseer but him? Saber answers Rin in my stead, as I'm taking a moment to deal with the realization and the memories of the vile man.

"Yes, Rin. Unfortunately, we do." Saber simply states.

"Unfortunately?" Rin questions. "What kind of beef do you guys have with Kirei? I've basically been raised by him and I can concur he's not too swell of a guy, but you two look like you saw a ghost when I mentioned him." I look skeptically at Rin after she reveals her relationship with him. How involved with Kirei is this girl? I stand up, deciding that meeting this overseer became much more important than I thought.

"Never mind withdrawing from the war. For now, I have to go meet this man. Immediately." Saber stands up next to me, her face filled with hope.

"Does this mean?" I nod at her reassuringly.

"Yes Saber, this changes things. We may have to get into the mix to disrupt this priest's plans, whatever they may be." I walk out of the room and into the hallway to go retrieve my coat to wear on our walk over there, hearing Rin call out "Plans? What plans?" to me as I walk.

Kotomine church, present:

I shake the chills out and bravely open the large door, unveiling the dark, candlelit interior of the church. Past the rows of long, wooden pews and at the base of the altar, stood Kirei Kotomine with his back turned to us. As I walk forward with Rin, I notice his appearance, at least from behind, differed since I last saw him; his hair being longer and his clothing now consisting of a long, dark blue robe. Unable to contain my anxiety anymore, I stop walking and shout out at him.

"Kirei Kotomine! I have some questions for you!" I felt embarrassed upon hearing my squeaky voice calling him out and trying to sound intimidating. I hear the sound of his bible slapping shut as he turns to face the two of us, a smile on his face. He focuses his attention on me and his eyes light up in surprise.

"Why, hello there. If I'm not mistaken, I know you from somewhere, yes?" I frown at the priest who's obviously playing dumb.

"Yes, you do. It's bad enough you're still crawling around from the last war, but now the church has decided to put someone like you in charge of this one?" The man laughs while walking a few steps towards us before stopping to place his bible on the closest pew.

"Indeed, they have. Who better experienced to oversee a war than one who survived one? Now, have you come here for a particular reason? Or just to insult a humble priest?" "Humble". Yeah, right.

"I'm just here to see what your goal is. I know your heart, Kirei Kotomine. There's no way you'd standby and not interfere in this war." My words don't seem to reach him, and he just maintains his blank expression, undeterred.

"Is it so hard to believe I am merely overseeing the war, no more no less? It isn't as if I can control whether or not the church assigns me this role." I furrow my brows at him, not believing his words for a second.

"Is that right? Nothing stopped you from using underhanded tactics and playing dirty in the last war. What changed since then?" This time he seems slightly unnerved by my words, but quickly covers it with a smile.

"I'll admit, with victory fogging my vision I may have acted a bit… uncouth, but I was a master back then. Much as your husband was and much as his methods were also." I grow angered at his casual mentioning of Kiritsugu and try to think of how to respond, but not knowing what to say. I don't have any proof he's planning to interfere, I'm just basing off of past experience. The priest walks away from us and picks his bible up again, before returning to his spot at the base of the altar, his back turned to us as it was when we first entered. "However, if you're so certain that I am planning something, simply win the grail and use it for whatever you want. I can't cause any trouble if you beat me to it, now can I?" Once again, I think of how to respond, but stop myself. Instead of answering the priest, I turn and begin walking out of the building.

"Irisviel, wait!" I hear Rin call out to me. "Why do you have to be such a snide ass, Kirei?" I hear her shout before quickly following me out the door.

Once outside, Saber walks up to us with worry painted across her face. "Irisviel, are you alright? You seem a bit shaken." I smile at Saber's concern for me and nod.

"I'm fine, Saber. I just wasn't expecting to get so angry when I saw that man's stupid face again." Saber sighs in relief and Rin laughs a little.

"I feel you, Miss Irisviel. He definitely has a very punchable face." I return a little laugh to Rin, feeling a bit calmer and more reassured at seeing her apparently not having any pleasant feelings towards the man. I think she may actually be someone we can trust… After glancing back one more time at the old church I turn and begin walking away.

"Come on, let us return home." Feeling worried sick about Shirou, I didn't want to waste anymore time away. I'm stopped by a heavy hand being placed on my shoulder. I turn to see Saber wearing her serious, stoic expression.

"Irisviel. Does this mean you will…?" I nod at Saber. While Shirou's safety will always be what is most important to me, I feel in my heart that staying until I know for certain Kirei Kotomine's intentions is what I should do. It's… what Kiritsugu would have wanted.

"Yes, Saber. I will fight."

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The bulky monster has almost reached the illumination of the street lamp his master rests under when he brandishes the gargantuan blade once in the air, with no apparent effort. I remember what happened the last time I tried to run from one of these and decide the only sliver of a chance I had would be to face him.

I will fight.

When I firmly state these words within me, I feel courage ignite in my soul and envelop me. I bite the fear wrapped around me by the head and swallow it, locking it away inside of me. My uneven breathing steadies, my hands cease to tremor, my rapid heartbeat slows to a normal pace.

I glare at the child, channeling my newfound valor into anger. Her smile falters and she looks taken aback by the level-headed, defensive stance I've taken towards the pair.

"You would sick your behemoth on an unarmed man who's clearly outmatched?" I ask her simply. She becomes even more dumbfounded by my question and matches my glare with a slight one of her own.

"But of course, I would. Do you think this is some kind of honor-bound duel? I came here to reclaim you as a trophy you idiot. Fairness and difference in power mean nothing to me. Power is meaningless in the face of Berserker, the strongest servant." I can't help but snicker at her proclamation. "Do you find something funny?" She asks as her expression evolves into an even angrier one and her tone becomes as hostile and defensive as my own.

"I do, yes. You claim your servant to be the strongest… when even I am certain death could easily befall him by my own two hands, given I had my proper armaments with me. Simply put, it's absolutely hilarious to me to see a little child showing off her toy thinking it is the hottest of shit when in reality it's a second-rate tool being implemented on another who was ambushed without anything to defend himself with. Very much like an idiotic mutt killing a cobra that'd been defanged and continuing to live its life in ignorance, thinking it accomplished something worthwhile, until the day it inevitably encounters its next viper and gets bit all over, ultimately dying convulsing in its own vomit and defecation." Every word I spat out with contempt. Every word carried with it 100% sincerity and truth from the bottom of my heart.

The child's face had continuously grown infuriated as I spoke when suddenly her expression became neutral and she closed her eyes. When she opens them, they weren't vibrant and emotional as they had been throughout our entire encounter, but instead blank and deadpan with pinpoint pupils. I pull my left hand from my pocket and reach behind me under my coat, wrapping my hand around the handle of the crossbow and resting my finger on the trigger.

"Nevermind. Kill him. Berserker."

She gives the command to her servant in a monotone voice right when his features were about to be illuminated by the light above her. Instead of taking his last step forward into the spotlight, he bellows out an ear raking roar.

"▂▂▃▃▅▅!" Despite the vicious attack on my ears, I don't cover them or even flinch. Instead, I yank the crossbow down, ripping the attached belt loop off. I line it up with the monster just as his war cry ceases. All at once he lunges forward, leaping over his master's head and passing through the illumination from above for the briefest of moments. For the first time I see the face of the creature who'd been patiently waiting to rip into me. Glowing, bestial eyes, a mouth wrenched open baring sharp fangs, a head and jaw structure indicating that of a Neanderthal-esque man, and a long, flowing mane of hair reminiscent of a lion.

He's in the air above the street. I pull the trigger. The bolt flies swiftly towards him until it enters his reach, upon which he seamlessly swats it away with his blade. He opts to deflect instead of dodge.

Good.

His feet grace the sidewalk on my side of the intersection. 5 bounds. 3 bounds. 2 bounds until he reaches me. To wait only a fraction of a second longer. I must draw his attack out. If I control when he swings at me, I control my fate within the next breath I take. Envision yourself where you are now. Envision where you'll be in one second, two seconds, three seconds from now. Sharpen your mind to its finest point.

Now.

Before he even decides when and where he'll swing at me; before he even tenses his muscles in preparation to take that second swing, I hum the small weapon in my left hand at him, right above his waist. Instead of letting it smack into him, he once again swings to shatter it before it reaches.

Horizontal slice; angled downwards.

The distance from me when he swings at the crossbow is so short that it'd only be common sense to hit me as well in the breadth of that one swing. I didn't force him to shatter the crossbow so much as I forced him where to position that one swing he planned to kill me with. As soon as I threw it at him, I'd already taken a step forward and jumped towards him.

My legs curl up into a tuck on my abdomen. My hand reaches forward only inches away from his face. His blade occupies the space my thighs stood less than a second ago. I extend and straighten my legs while pressing my palm against his forehead.

My feet plant firmly on the flat of his stone sword and my fingers curl into the bangs of his hair. He carries out the rest of his mighty blow. The force slings me up and to his left. The strength of his hair can't resist the force of me being propelled backwards and the roots of the locks I have clutched tightly in my left hand give way and are plucked.

I fly above the street in the same arc he flew to approach me until I collide with the sidewalk behind the child and skid a short distance. I quickly rise to my feet and turn to look back at the space I had just occupied. The servant stood with his blade in the air above his left shoulder, where it stopped after the wide-sweeping attack. His pose was reminiscent of a baseball player who'd just hit a home run. My feet screamed in pain, it felt as though I just landed flat on them after jumping off a roof. The girl jerks her head to look at me, her eyes once again brimming with emotion; shock.

"How'd you-" Her question is cut short by the servant once again shrieking.

He runs in a wide semicircle across the street and to the sidewalk opposite of the one the girl and I stood on. Right when he reaches the point parallel from me, he jams his sword into the asphalt beneath and lunges at me, his blade dragging through the street and slicing through it violently. If he swings from that angle, then he's going for an upper diagonal cut this time. He's not going to let me try and bait another attack out.

My mind races to decide my next move, but before I determine one, the young girl rushes in the street between the servant and me.

"Berserker, stop!" Upon her command, her hair billows upward slightly as her body is graced briefly with runic, red symbols. They glow vibrantly as Berserker rushes forward until his body comes to a dead stop, causing a shallow gust of wind to blow past me and the girl and little specks of the decimated street to pelt me on the chest. He once again stood as still as a statue, but now with his enraged expression still as lively as can be.

"Why'd you?" I begin to question the girl's motives as the glow ceases and the marks on her body fade. She turns to face me and reveals the strangest mixture of embarrassment and anger I've ever seen on someone's face.

"B-Be grateful you dummy! I went so far as to use one of my precious command seals on him, so he wouldn't kill you. You won't get such a blessing again!" She straightens her hair out with her hands before walking up and gently patting the motionless Berserker on the side of his face in a soothing manner.

"But… why?" I couldn't figure why someone so hell bent on killing me suddenly had a drastic change of heart. Her face loses any trace of embarrassment and turns serious.

"I decided there was some merit to what you said. No normal human can dodge Berserkers full-on charge, not even once. I guess you could say, I want to see this cobra when he gets his fangs back…" My formerly held stance on the girl softens a bit and I feel a little glimmer of hope for her spark inside me. "You have to be fully confident in yourself when I take you down. Only when all your preconceived notions and beliefs are collectively shattered in a single moment will I feel truly ecstatic in claiming you as my trophy." And just like that, the glimmer is extinguished. "It wouldn't even compare to that feeling if I let Berserker kill you just now when you were so serious and cool." Wait, "cool"?

I start to question her choice of words but stop when she jumps up and grabs on to Berserker's right shoulder. I watch her struggle for a moment until she finally crawls up and sits comfortably on the broad shoulder.

"C'mon Berserker!" She cheerfully shouts. Like a machine, the servant straightens out and walks away before crouching down and jumping upwards into the night sky. I watch the dark figure take a few bounds into the distance until I can't make him out in the darkness anymore. They sure can jump high…

I groan as I fall ungracefully onto my rear atop the sidewalk and lean against the broken street light. How can someone go from making a horrifying face like that and commanding their little Goliath companion to kill me to basically saving me and acting like an aloof child again? The bipolar mannerisms of the strange girl continue to haunt me as I try not to think about my aching feet. I realize I didn't ask her what her relationship to Irisviel is this time and begin to ponder once again how the two are connected.

I look down at my left hand which still clutched the locks I ripped from Berserker's head. But did the girl really save me though? I think back to what I said when I was possessed by that sudden burst of bravery; even I am certain death could easily befall him by my own two hands, given I had my proper armaments with me. It sounds like a bluff meant to unnerve an opponent and cause a tactical error, but when I said it I believed it with all my heart. So strange, even though this servant seemed far stronger than Lancer, I knew it was possible for me to beat him. Maybe it was a near-death misconception, but even now I still feel confident in my chances against him. It's a good thing too. I doubt it will be long before the girl makes another move on me. As I tentatively remove my shoes to rub my sore feet, I hear the bulb above me crackle and a halo of light falls on me. I sigh. "You made things unnecessarily more suspenseful tonight than they needed to be, buddy."