FZero Requiem - The forgotten Nightmare

by Sha Yurigami

Caster stood in the middle of a field of flowers, with Irisviel von Einzbern laying on a slap of stone, watching the suffering King of Knigts struggle to reach them while the rest of the world began to shatter like glass.

3. First Night

"Nothing is out of the ordinary yet…going by experience, it does not bode well if everything is going according to plan."

"Changing Plan A by two variables, if possible capture of another Master should become a priority."

"No. that would cause too much of a ripple and result in too much collateral damage after two weeks. Either reduce the number of 'x' variables or proceed as planned. They should already be aware of our actions though whether they are playing ignorant or…"

"If possible the recreation of those feelings have to be caused within two weeks, yet the amount of discourse between the parties is too vast. Changing of Plan A to Zeta as soon as possible. Experience with them has shown that any well laid plan can derail if ones actions are predetermined."

She heard voices. Voices without emotions talking about plans that were beyond her need of knowledge. Father and Mother used this tone often when addressing her, preferring to give more attention to her brother. When was the last time she felt that she mattered?

When she was young all she was allowed to be was the Sister of the heir. Never allowed to express emotions, neither allowing herself to grow attached to others. The least her family expected of her was to grow accustomed to the families Magecraft and bear the children of her fiance.

Kayneth Archibald El Melloi. One of the twelve Lords of the Clock Tower and the highest Authority in Mineralogy and Alchemy, not to mention a member of the Archibald Family which had a rich and extensive history. An old bloodline dating back enough Generations to please her parents expectations.

Not once did she have a choice in her life.

Until Kayneth's catalyst for the Holy Grail War was stolen.

She still remembered the fury he exhibited once he learned that someone took it. Stolen right under his nose. In her mind she found pleasure at his misery, laughing inwardly at his anger and fury. Not once had she given him the time of the day without cursing him under his nose. Therefore she felt nothing when he was stolen his supposed strongest Servant. He just needed to settle for his back up catalyst.

An Irish legend.

A man with a personality as loyal as he was beautiful.

She flushed when she laid eyes upon him the first time, not even trying to hide that she was smitten with the First Knight of Fiana. She knew of his legend, of the pain he endured and he told her about his wish for the Holy Grail. To have none and remain loyal to his Master to the bitter end…

Disgust seeped into her body, lamenting that a fool like Kayneth would receive the honor of having this man and not her. The only solace she found was that she was giving the Mana to supply Diarmuid. Her connection with Lancer was deeper than Kayneth's could ever go.

But-

Her eyes shot open. Disorientated she looked around seeing unfamiliar walls with paintings filled with human misery. "Whe-where am I?!" she asked aloud nearly screaming when answered.

"We are at the outer layers of the Greater Grail. Currently we are able to justify our existence on his plane by using the inherent pull a disappearing Servant possesses."

She spun around wide eyes, not believing her eyes when they laid on the face of Caster. He was dressed in a simply white shirt, tucked into his white pants, under a black and red vest smoking that stick of his before holding one out to her.

"Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, My name is Radius Aldria, the Caster Class Servant of this Holy Grail War." he announced before moving into the room again. At first she was unsure what she was seeing, it wasn't that the walls were covered in paintings but rather that they were moving like living beings. "Concern yourself not with the barrier. What you should know is that if you step out unprepared All the World's Evil will eradicate you. If you wish to leave just tell me and I transfer us back to the mortal plane."

"Where are we Caster?" she had to remain calm. Something was off with the whole situation. Why was she here? Why was Caster here? What was this place and why did he refer to it as All the World's Evil?

"It appears that you are still delirious," Caster commented making a chair appear from the ground, "We are currently within Mount Enzo, one of the three places the Holy Grail may manifest from the Lesser Grail."

What? She couldn't believe her ears.

"To be more precise, this is the pocket dimension below the surface of Fuyuki, when I established a room and took hold of the Leylines, I encountered what is twirling around us." Caster continued his explanation preparing two cups of tea and placing them on the table.

Sola Ui lowered her head, sighing. "What am I doing here Caster?" he only motioned for the seat that was forming across from himself.

"I apologize, I'm currently at approximately 34% output and converting the madness around us into usable Prana is taking more time than intended. This is sadly the best I can do at the moment." Caster said motioning at the twirl of Evil.

Reluctantly, yet befitting her heritage, she stood up and walked to the seat – noticing that the material was lighter than anticipated – before sitting down and taking the cup and saucer. A quick sniff and she determined that it was a cheap Japanese brand, drank it however out of caution since she did not want to displease Caster unnecessarily. To her surprise it didn't taste badly at all.

She carefully eyed Caster, watching him take a sip as well though he took his time to enjoy it, humming even. "What a surprise, I didn't expect to react to the taste of something." he said taking out a notebook and writing something down onto it. "If you are wondering, I'm writing down my experience in detail for reference in the future. It is not everyday I can experience being a human in these kinds of situations."

Sola-Ui shot back, her back touching the chair while she narrowed her eyes. "I, I wasn't thinking that." she took note of his phrasing, refrained from asking however.

Once he was done writing and once they both finished the tea Caster leaned back against the Chair looking at her with the same apathetic face as before.

"Before we start, may I ask what you remember from the night before?"

::: :::: :::

Fujimura Saika walked through the residence of Kayneth Archibald El Melloi. When he first saw that name he wasn't entirely sure how to pronounce it not what it meant exactly. He was however certain that he would find a clue as to what had happened in this apartment.

Archibald took residence in the penthouse suit with wide windows facing all sides of the Fuyuki Hayatt. The entire floor was booked under his name, saying something about him and his fiance being here for a business arrangement.

Carefully he opened the door leading into the living room. All other rooms were inspected by his colleagues and Kindaichi was walking behind him. The living room was spacious with two large seats placed into the middle of the room, one facing the window with is back towards the door and the other facing towards the coffee table between them. Left from the entrance was a wall with expensive paintings and two lamps between them though there appears to be a black spot on it. One the right of the door was a kitchen section that doubles as a minibar though the forensics team was currently gathering anything that placed inside the fridge and its surroundings.

Saika moved around the corner, into view came the large window with a large hole leading outside. His eyes fell on the coffee table again where a book was placed on though it was closed. Looking behind the seats was a table where glass bottles were placed though they appeared to be for some form of experiment considering their shapes and placement.

Carefully they walked into the room. Saika dropped himself onto the floor, examining the carpet. He ignored the hole in the large window for the moment, forensics will take care of the evidence surrounding it. He looked at the marks on the floor. Slightly denting the carpet though it was barely noticeable.

Footsteps. Three in fact. One was deeper than the other two though the soles appeared to have no profile. One wore heels. A woman? Wait!

"Hasn't the reception said that only two people were staying in this flat?" he asked one of the guys gathering up the evidence and putting out tape to mark whatever was relevant. They confirmed the statement therefore Saika continued, slowly turning his head to the entrance again..

Three people entered through that door. One possible a bodyguard that has remained hidden beforehand. They walked into the room slowly before coming to a stop right after passing the counter.

Saika examined the footprints, they appeared to be deeper; they came to a halt and stood there for possibly a minute or more shifting around their weight…all three were facing the middle of the living room. He looked around the area where the seats were located. Dents in the carpet.

Slowly he moved towards the seat, noticing that something was off. Why was one of the seats facing the window? Judging from the marks on the carpet it was facing the table before though even that was off by some small margin. His eyes traveled to the book. It was placed on the table with one corner over the edge though it was facing towards the seat.

Grabbing hold of the seats armrests he lowered himself towards the cushion. He stared at it intently before rising and reexamining the book – "Royal Crown", no author but a number was scribbled on a folded piece of paper– as well as the other chair.

Someone sat on that chair waiting for Archibald and his entourage to arrive. He was reading a book; some of the pages were folded, therefore sticking out while others had markings and numbers written on them – 1. 22. 9. 3. 5. 21. 8. 15. 14. – This person read until the original inhabitants were arriving and placed the book on the table. That person did not leave any footprints, nor did they leave any indication of being there besides that.

"Have someone check the security cameras. I want to know if someone entered this apartment or not." Saika looked at each side of the chair, trying to find something though the only thing that came around was some sort of formula carved very thinly into the material. "Also get me someone that transports this chair. It's vital evidence." There was no way someone could appear out of nowhere…but…

So, what happened when Kayneth and company entered their home and found this stranger here reading their books? Something was amiss, nothing obviously connected the meeting in the living room with the broken window. It had to however. The window was bent from the inside, meaning something was either thrown or pushed against it; he let go of the later assumption due to the lack of glass on the floor and the absence of blood.

Blood?

The Inspector looked around, slowly moving away from the chair and looking ahead. The black dot on the wall. It resembled a footprint. Why was there a foot print?

He slowly shook his head, this was getting absurd. Kindaichi-san hasn't done anything besides bothering forensics about the contents of the fridge. He clicked his tongue. Wait. He looked over to Kindaichi-san slowly moving his gaze down onto the footprints with no profile. Something was off about them besides that.

Without missing a beat he walked over to the floor and looked at the footprint without a profile. Saika leaned as close as he could on the floor examining the carpet. He traced the outline of the sole with his finger, careful no to disturb anything, but when he arrived at the tip he noticed that the fabric was parting slightly – in fact he noticed that a very subtle line was drawn in front of the feet, leading towards the center of the floor.

Crawling he followed the line, noticing that midway it changed directions. A small dent was in the carpet in the shape of a triangle – judging from the angle and position it was facing the wall. Laying down on the floor he placed the side of his head in a way that allowed him to see where the sharpest edge of the dent was facing.

The footprint on the wall. It was in the direction of the line.

The Inspector got up from the floor, holding his mouth and massaging and stroking his chin slightly. That didn't make sense. Nothing in this room made sense. From the seat facing the wrong direction to the amount of people that were supposed to be on this floor.

He got up from the floor, noticing only then the stares of his colleagues. Even Kindaichi was looking at him though more in interest than anything else. Wait. Kindaichi? Kindaichi was a private eye. This room a mystery. Mysteries need to be solved. A private eye solving Mysteries?

Saika chuckled slightly: When you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains however improbable must be the truth.

"It's Elementary my dear." he said with a smile while all men around him leaned backwards with slightly disgusted looks. Yet without stopping nor acknowledging his colleagues actions he began to recap what might have transpired.

"This is what happened: Kayneth and his fiance together with a third person – whom we have yet to identify – entered the room." The Inspector moved to the door reenacting the scene. He motioned for Kindaichi and another officer to follow him. "All three of them came to a halt however once they saw that someone was sitting on the chair facing the broken window – I believe at that time it wasn't."

"How can you be so sure that someone was here?" Kindaichi asked while he watched Saika sidestep the evidence and moved towards the seat. Instead of answering he put on white silicon gloves and lifted the book on the coffee table into the air.

"Because of this, this book was placed on the table in an unnatural position and I doubt that someone who comps his hair back like that European would leave his books like this. Look around you – tell me if anything in this home is out of order or placed where it shouldn't be. I'm fairly certain that even the fridge is clean and everything put into a system of order." The Inspector turned to one of the investigators waiting for the confirming nod before he continued.

"Someone Kayneth and his companions haven't expected sat on this seat reading this book – some pages are clearly marked but we can ignore that for now – The person sat with his back towards them. He either talked with them or did something else otherwise the other three wouldn't have stood over there for that long – shocked or not the first instinct a person has upon seeing someone they shouldn't is to either call the cops or attack the intruder or in most cases freeze – once the talking or the shock was over the unknown third companion rushed towards the seated person-"

"H-Hold up. What do you mean with 'rushed towards' I don't see any footsteps here." one of the officers asked watching Saika trace something on the floor.

"Here is a line in the carpet that doesn't make any sense. It's like the wind parted it."

"Uhm-"

"Yes, yes, that sounds improbable but hear me out." Saika held up one hand motioning for the others to remain silent, before he started to tip toe around the mark he uncovered earlier. "The attacker rushed towards the middle of the room – maybe to attack or just to remove the intruder but something stopped him! See this mark on the ground? It's deeper than the footprints. If I'm right, then the attacker stomped onto the ground on this spot specifically and changed directions. Since the hypotenuse and adjacent are larger to the side of the wall it is safe to assume that he jumped against the wall," He pointed to the black dot on the wall, circling towards it and moving his index finger across the rim " – leaving this footprint."

"And then?" Kindaichi asked replacing the burned up lollipop with another and putting the remaining stick into a handkerchief before putting it into his breast pocket – Saika noted that this was something the man used to do ever since they met.

"Elementary – he propelled himself against the wall and lunged towards the person who sat on that seat. Check the hole in the window once more, it has been broken from the inside meaning that those unknown people threw themselves out."

"Wait! Sir, please wait. We haven't found any bodies outside." one of the officers interjected, "What you said is way to ridiculous, too! How, no why would anybody willingly throw themselves out of a window from this height?! They would die instantly!"

Saika looked at the man, seeing the disbelieve. He walked over to the window and let his head reach outside – much to the shock of his colleague – before looking down into the abyss. The Inspector then saw it, on the facade of the building. Small, barely noticeable, dents and holes. "I want people on the floors 1,9, 11, 13 and 18 tell them to check out each of the windows insides the rooms 3,8 ,9 12, 4, 1, 2, 21 and 5 respectively."

"I-Inspector?"

"As ridiculous as it sounds I believe we are going to find ourselves some clues. Not to mention that there are footprints of the other two leading into the middle of the room – large steps meaning they rushed to see what happened but stopped midway for unexplained reasons." Saika stopped momentarily looking at an officer that came rushing down the hallway. "What's wrong?" he asked the new out of breath man.

"Sorry Inspector but Tohsaka-san has contacted the Chief of Police." a cold wave of uncertainty ran through the spines of all present – with the exception of two.

"He played his best card right at the beginning." Kindaichi began replacing another lollipop with a new one though his eyes were sharp enough for some to step back slightly. "Either he grew impatient with the investigation or –"

"The case concerns someone he is very much familiar with." Saika finished smiling like a starved beast. One of the older officers shook his head at him but the Inspector couldn't care less. "He fell for our trap –"

"And now it's time to meet him at the office." Kindaichi finished. Most of the officers looked at them with horror in their eyes.

::: ! :::

Radius was pushed back into the glass, Lancer's spears almost at his throat but he managed to push against them with the palm of his hand before both of them fell downwards. He heard the screech of the woman and Kayneth cursing.

"Caster! How dare you-" Lancer started pushing against him with the ground to Radius's back. He, however, just threw two left over sticks up, knowing that by the course he and Lancer fell they would arrive at the Servant's body.

Lancer out of instinct pushed against the glass facade launching himself upwards again while the sticks turned into swords which shot into the rooms. The Servant smiled at evading the attack before yelling in pain when the something shot into his leg. "What the-" he nearly yelled when he saw dozens of spears made of glass spiraling and ripping through his left tight. The spear wielder looked down at Radius seeing that he was standing atop the glass.

"It appears I needed a little more than 15% of Mana to shoot through your defenses…" Radius began stepping upwards as if gravity did not affect him. "You appear confused."

"W-What is going on Caster." Lancer managed to spit out grunting at the wound he received yet not letting up his defensive stance.

"Rather impressive, not even this situation deters you." Caster said dodging the spear heading for his head by letting go of the glass and dropping down a couple feet. Lancer smashed the glass that pierced his tight before jumping back into the fray. Readying both lances at his side he dropped down letting gravity accelerate him.

Radius didn't move – the end of his lollipop stick ignited into a brilliant flame before forming itself into a sword right in front of him – meeting the charge head on and blocking without any effort by leaning backwards and letting Lancer pass over him. The spear wielder cut into the glass, breaking it slightly to halt his descent and rush towards Radius by running on the glass facade.

Radius dropped his sword, letting it fall towards Lancer, whose eyes widened – especially because he saw this tactic before – running sideways across the surface until the flame sword burst into fire again and danced right after him, burning the floor and causing an explosion that chock the entire building. The flames without dying out reformed into dozens of smaller blades before launching towards Lancer and exploded right before actually connecting with him disorienting him.

Diarmuid was chased time and time again by the slowly multiplying blades which proved to become more and more dangerous the longer the fight was going. He looked down where he last saw Caster, his eyes flying open when he saw the amount of people leaving the building. Had they exposed the Holy Grail War.

"Do not concern yourself with the people Diarmuid. They can not see past the smoke of the explosions." Caster said right into his ear. Lancer shot sideways nearly falling off the building altogether laying eyes on Caster holding something in his left hand that did not make any sense. "Your first misconception is assuming that I have shown you everything I am capable off. The second is assuming that I need to touch something to make a weapon." Caster held up the object filling Diarmuid with more than dread.

"H-How?" Diarmuid muttered not believing his eyes yet his instincts guided him forward, trying desperately to stop Caster.

"Why shouldn't I have it? After all I have created countless blades before." Radius answered turning the night white for a single moment just as Lancer arrived to take his head.

When the night returned and the floor of the Fuyuki Hayatt building where the explosion originated started to smoke, Kayneth Archibald El Melloi stood at the edge of his now broken window watching the spectacle before screaming for his Servant to return to him. "Lancer, I command you to return to m-" he wouldn't finish his sentence however when he saw a flame shot upwards towards him with a figure in white holding onto something rushing right into his face.

The Magus barely had any time to react before Caster stopped in midair and placed himself onto a sword made of fire. Shaking off the surprise Kayneth looked at the Servant of Spells before his eyes inevitably wandered towards the object in Caster's hands. His eyes widened slowly, not believing what he was seeing.

"Lanc-"

"Fear not Kayneth. Diarmuid managed to deliver a wound onto me." Caster interrupted holding his left arms before the Magus and showing him the ripped fabric and the long scar that ran along his elbow. It was still fresh yet it wasn't bleeding. He then threw the glassified Lancer at Kayneth making him step backwards.

Lancer then turned into a sword in Kayneth's hands with the hand-guard the shape of the Servant's face. He almost screamed in shock and horror only to have the sword disappear. Bewildered Kayneth looked at Caster who slowly turned around and looked straight at Sola-Ui.

"No I understand. You were the one providing him with Prana, while his Master would fight the other Masters. While flawed it is something to be expected from the esteemed El-Melloi – nay something that any Magus worth their name should be capable of doing." Caster muttered not stepping off his blade and stretching out his hand towards her.

"I will give you Lancer if you assist me." was all he needed to say to make Sola-Ui stretch out her hand and disappear together with Caster, all the while Kayneth could not help but feel the dread in his veins at being left alone.

In his panic Kayneth rushed out of his room – to his horror he noticed that the security he placed on his floor was dispelled or ripped apart – and ran downwards. He still felt the magical signature of Caster in the building meaning he must be planning something, that much the Lord El-Melloi was certain off but to his added horror a siren ran through the night filling the entire building.

Shortly after a number of armed forces with Police written on the front and back ran at him. He would have panicked had it not been for the fact that his duty of keeping the Mystic Side of the world hidden. He was not going to risk disciplinary actions by the Clock Tower even if his soon-to-be-wife was in danger as long as he was edging this close to danger he needed to be calm – and then they shot him in the guts with rubber bullets.

When Kayneth found himself wake up he was being carried by Policemen and he started to trash around and curse for the disrespect he received especially since he thought he was cooperative before. The moment his eyes fell on Caster among the officers his patience ran dry as his anger founds its newest target.

Kayneth was dragged away screaming knowing that somehow he was played and that the Master of Caster was associated with the Law-enforcement of this nation.

::: ! :::

Caster placed his cup back on the table while Sola-Ui recounted her memories. She had quietly been screaming inside of her head at the revelation of Lancer's demise and began to curse the Servant in front of her.

Caster however only stared. "I believe it is time I explain how I could be in so many places at the same time." Sola-Ui looked at him, her brows raised but her composure held. The Servant raised his hands moving them to his face and slowly grabbed the sides – lifting it from his head and placing his face on the table.

She couldn't believe her eyes, nay she couldn't fathom what was in front of her: The face of Lancer was staring at her yet it was made of glass and held no emotion.

"What–" she couldn't comprehend what she was seeing. The glassy face of Lancer looked down on Caster's face on the table, took it and placed it back on.

"I believe that should explain everything." Caster said after adjusting his face. He took out a candy stick out of his pocket and into his mouth. "Once you have grown out of your shock you will understand–" he spoke as though he could read her like a book, "– which leads us to the matter I am proposing:

"I shall give you Lancer at the end of the war in exchange for you providing me with additional Prana and acting as a Master in front of Saber and her Master."

"Please give me time." Sola-Ui muttered holding her head. He was right, she was still in shock, she couldn't possibly make any rational decisions in her current mental state. Yet for inexplicable reasons she found herself entertaining the thought of possessing Lancer, to make him hers without anybody able to object her.

Yet–

::: ! :::

Waver was sitting with Rider in a cell. Both of them were surrounded by hoodlums who were sleeping on the floor or on the one toilet seat in the cell. The young Master was looking from group to group wondering how them being escorted to the police station brought them into this dirty room. Rider looked as unperturbed as ever though his eyes held a certain edge.

Before they were brought here, the policemen were talking to each other, looking over to them and Waver in particular and motioning to his hand with the Command Seals. He heard the words Yakuza muttered over and over and even Rider who brought up that Waver wasn't even from here the policemen remained calm in their judgment.

"I thought the Japanese were supposed to be welcoming…" he groaned only to jolt when he heard laughing from on of the laying men.

"Nii-chan, that ain' true." the man muttered turning over. Waver was immediately taken aback by the appearance of them man as well as his broken English. He wore lavishly expensive looking clothing with rich ornaments on his neck and buttons. Yet what irritated Waver the most was the man's face and how serene it was – and the tattoo that peaked over the collar of his shirt. "Don' ya know? Once ya got ink on ya them bulls ain' giv' a damn about what ya are. If yer' a foreigner then ya better pay up. That's what's dis' about Nii-chan."

"Ink?" Rider began looking over his shoulder at the man. "Do you mean like yours?"

"Doesn' matter." the man sat up keeping his posture relaxed though. "If yer a foreigner, then ya have money. If ya have money they'll let ya go. Simple right?"

"So it doesn't even matter if you have nothing to do with people like you, they just took the slightest chance to stuff their pockets huh?" Rider muttered his expression grim. "Where is their honor as peace keepers?"

"Oi, oi. An-chan, that ain' why. Times are hard. Recessions a bitch and with what happened couple years ago nobodies ready for a tragedy like that 'gain." the man said with a smile that showed all his teeth.

"What happened years ago?" Waver asked tilting his head slightly.

"Whaaaah? Haven' ya heard? Aum Shinrikyo. Was news all over the world An-chan! Dem fucks killed, maimed and murdered so many people an' yer try ta tell me ya haven' heard of dem?" the man laughed, there was no humor though. "Not that Ah blame ya. Those fucks angered the entire damn force and the police and of course-" the man grinned though his eyes got a dangerous gleam. "Us Yakuza."

Waver's eyes widened at those words. Had something like this really happened? Where was he then? Right, in the Clock Tower, too sunken into his own studies to see beyond the streets of London.

"Are you done with your chitchat?" one of the police guards came. He was lazily moving his keys as if to dare the thugs to take them from him but neither did, nor would. "Oi, Nishitani. You're being released." the thug behind Waver stood up from the ground just as the guard opened the cell before the guard turned to Waver and Rider. "You two, interrogation room." he said that last bit in English.

"Huh?" Waver wasn't sure what was going on. He looked at the Yakuza – Nishitani- who gave him a sheepish look before jumping onto his feet and moving out of his cell.

"Was fun talkin' with ya, An-chan. Nii-chan." Nishitani left like a King on a campaign laughing half of the way while Waver tried to look after him. The boy was then hefted up by Rider who stood up. The Policeman who came looked at them both with distrust, letting them out of the cell though, before closing it again.

"Get moving." he said and Waver complied. There was no use fighting a battle he would lose – especially because he needed to keep Magecraft hidden from the general public. How irritating. This doesn't right. He thought walking a good distance through the building.

He found himself and Rider sit in a room with a Mirror on one side. He channeled some Prana into his eyes and saw through it immediately realizing that it was a window for others in another room. There were three people inside though he couldn't see them clearly. Rider meanwhile yawned loudly and began to scratch his beard.

"So, why exactly were we brought in?" Rider asked the people on the other side of the window. Waver wondered if he could see through it as well but it was probably his instincts as a King. There were voices coming from the door they had entered through and someone objecting to something loudly before it opened and revealed an older officer with somebody else following after him.

Waver got up from his seat at seeing the person before Rider's hand fell onto his shoulder and forced him to sit down. He shot his Servant a look only to see the shock on the bearded face which morphed into a hard look.

The police officer looked at them wryly tilting his head slightly before taking off his hat and placing it onto the table. "I am Inspector Saika Fujimura." the European way of introduction, formal as well as spoken with a clear almost accentless voice. It made Waver relax a little though he couldn't avert his eyes from the man behind the officer.

"This is Kindaichi Matsudaira, a private eye that helped us with several cases in the past." Waver couldn't believe his ears nor his eyes when the cold blue eyes of Caster looked into his own. How could this be? What was going on?

"Is that how you want to play this, huh? Caster!" Rider yelled also staring at the man before the Inspector turned to Caster. They exchanged a look and Radius nodded.

"First, would you introduce yourself. Standard procedural, after that you may leave." Inspector Fujimura said with a bow before taking out a notebook and placing it on the table. He took out a pen from his breast pocket – Waver immediately noticed the gun under the Inspector's armpit – and began to write a couple things down.

"So, how much do I need to pay you to let us out?" Rider asked and Waver was certain that the King was pissed off.

"We don't take bribes. Now speak." the Inspector answered matter to fact completely evaporating Rider's steam which slowly morphed to a look of surprise.

"So you say, but someone in the cages told us otherwise."

"Tell me his name and I'll educate him personally."

"Nishitani." Rider said still glaring at Caster who was leaning against the wall. Smoke was exhaled and began to twirl into a spiral right beside him and below the security Camera that Waver only now noticed. He narrowed his eyes at the Caster before returning his attention to the Inspector.

"Nishi-…!" the man turned sharply towards the window glaring at it before he looked back at Rider. "Do you really believe the words of Yakuza? Well, if you do that would at least proof that you have no idea how this nation operates."

"Our Names are Waver Velvet and Alexander Rider." Waver began making Rider look at him. He looked at his Servant with a glare which made Rider leaning back against his chair – though his eyes were still on Caster.

"Oh, so you are the Grandchild of Martha and Joseph?" the Inspector concluded writing it down. Waver's eyes opened wide. "I heard from them that their grand kid gave them a visit but I never suspected that you would end up here. It has been decades since I last saw their children, how are they by the way?"

He was now very afraid for his life. The Inspector knew of the Mackenzie's, allowing Caster to know as well. His hiding place was now exposed and he knew that Caster would use that opportunity. However something wasn't right thus he remained calm and leaned back. "I don't know. And no I am not their grandchild, I'm an exchange student from Britain." he said making Rider shot him a look.

'The Inspector used the word "suspect". Not "thought" or "guessed" which would have fit more contextually and considering that he knew the Mackenzie's it isn't far fetched that he is friends with them. If you consider that the talked to me – the assumed grandchild – and asked how the Mackenzie's "children" are instead of "my parents", should tell you that he already figured out that I wasn't whom I claimed to be. Playing dumb isn't going to help us here Rider and at least we can mix the truth with small little lies.' Waver transmitted to Rider who leaned back and let him talk.

"Alex here is a friend of mine who came along. But since we are new here we didn't know many of the local customs." Caster looked at Waver while he tried to explain his and Rider's situation. Those cold unfeeling eyes were gripping him but he was not going to budge. If he slipped up even once–

"I see. Maybe they were so happy to have a young lad like you staying with them that they started to call you their grandchild." the Inspector added his eyes still calmly observing them. Waver had a vague idea what the man just did.

He gave them a way out, but at the same time it was a form of manipulation. If he agreed too easily the Inspector would just call the Mackenzie's here and since they are still under his brainwashing there was no telling what they were going to say. Had they been there behind the window Rider would have told him.

"I can only speak for us." Waver answered as calmly as he could. "It still doesn't explain why we were arrested and thrown into a cell with criminals. We were told that you wanted to talk about some break in or something, so why were we arrested?" he said the last bit with a little more force. If his facade cracked he would give leeway to both men before him although maybe the reason he could remain so calm was all thanks to the King beside him.

Rider's presence was both comforting as well as damning. The former for obvious reasons but the later is mostly due to Caster's presence in this tiny room. There was absolutely no telling what that man was going to do now that it came down to this.

"To be perfectly honest, that was nothing more than a ruse to get you two to come to the station." Inspector Fujimura said. Waver as well as Rider stared at the man as though he took their chairs away from them. "The main reason being that little tattoo on your right hand Mr. Velvet."

Rider was about to get up and summon his chariot to bust them out, that much Waver knew when he grabbed his Servant's arm to stop him. 'Sit. Down.' he urged making the towering man look at him with raised eyebrows. Rider stared at him for a good minute, visibly contemplating their options before sitting down once more. Waver himself already in overdrive and processing as many possible outcomes to this mess as he could. "What do you want?" he finally asked.

"I wanted to know where exactly you got it. To be fair we have seen two others with similar tattoos like yours and both of them were less willing to come to the station than you were." Inspector Fujimura explained folding his hands on top of the table. "Both of them are suspects of a planned terrorist attack on the Fuyuki Hayatt building."

That got Waver's attention. Two, there are two other possible Masters in the building, most likely accompanied by their Servants. His face paled at the situation he found himself in, involuntarily screaming out "Wait, are you suspecting us too?!"

"Of course not. You were found too far away from the building to be even considered witness. It is just your tattoo that has us curious." the Inspector countered. "Ma, ma, no reason to get this riled up. Just tell us everything you know about that tattoo and we will get you out of here."

It was as blatant a lie as Waver was willing to accept. He knew that he was slowly tying the noose around his own neck the further he let the man in front of him continue. "About that–" Rider suddenly began making Waver look at his Servant.

"That has got to be my fault here you know." the King said with a big smile scratching beard. "I got him drunk a couple nights ago and when we came to again he got that tat freshly printed on his hand and missed his panties!" he laughed boisterously clapping Waver's back with a soft smile. "Sorry about that!"

Waver felt his heart calm down. It had to be that Charisma that calmed him down, after all only when he relaxed a little could he register the words of his Servant more clearly. His eyes almost budged out of their sockets and his face reddened while he shot a glare at his Servant. "It's pants not panties! Only girls wear panties! I'm a man!"

"Could have fooled me." both the Inspector and Caster said at the same time and averting their gazes when Waver shot them a glare. He could hear laughter from the window and immediately got even redder. He folded his arms over his chest and stared the side with puffed cheeks.

Rider was holding back his own laughter, relaxed though and looked at the Inspector – completely ignoring Caster - "I'm sorry if that couldn't help you out." he said with a laugh.

"No need. You already gave us plenty to work with and I thank you for your assistance." Inspector Fujimura said with a smile. He stood up and put his hat back on before motioning for Caster to follow him.

"Hold on! What about releasing us!?" Waver yelled after them, standing up so fast that his chair fell backwards.

The inspector stopped at the door. "Right. There is still the matter of that bookstore you broke into." the man said slowly turning to them. His face was cast into a deep shadow, only showing his eyes, "No matter how drunk you were, that is no excuse to commit a felony, understood bozu?"

Waver almost fell over. Caster gave him a last glance before throwing a card towards them. "My name and residence. In case that you ever need my services." he said leaving right behind the Inspector.

Just before the door closed Waver heard a voice he truly did not want to hear screaming through the corridors. "How dare you! You damn orientals!"

Waver sunk to the ground. 'K-Kayneth' he thought before Rider took both of his arms and lifted him up.

::: Investigative Reasoning :::

"So let me get this right: Your name is Kayneth Archibald El Melloi. You are a University Professor who came to Fuyuki with your fiance for a holiday. Correct?" Mori asked reading his notes once again to see if he got everything right.

"How many damn times do I need to tell you?!" Kayneth screamed at him. Why were all those foreigners so loud. Mori tried keeping his cool.

"And now said fiance is missing?"

"Yes!" Kayneth shot back. "Where is your superior! I demand to speak with someone in charge!"

Mori's left eye twitched. "My superiors are currently handling a case of mass murder and are thus unable to answer your demands. Anyway, why didn't you get out of the building when the evacuation order was given?" he asked tightening his grip on his notepad but remained as civil as he could.

"Because–" Kayneth started before leaning into his chair. Mori took to his notepad waiting for the man to continue, maybe now they could get something useful. "I did not feel the urgency, after all we knew that the situation was in the hands of the capable staff, but my dear Sola-Ui had to make certain and wanted to call the reception. After that I lost contact with her and shortly after I went down and once I stepped foot outside you officers rushed and incarcerated me like a filthy criminal! I was minding my own business! How dare you, you damn Orientals!" he screamed so loud that Mori's eardrums were ringing.

Mori looked up from his notepad, looking straight into Kayneth's eyes. "Are you sure that your fiance didn't elope with your bodyguard?" the moment that question passed his lips Kayneth's eyes became bloodshot and almost escaped from his skull.

"WHAT?! Are you sane?! Why would Sola-Ui do something so stupid, senseless..." he droned on in profanities while Mori could only lean his head backwards. His eyes went to the window. He was almost certain that Inspector Fujimura and that Private Eye were on the other side now.

"Sir, I will not pretend to know your situation but at least tell me why you have a tattoo." Mori continued. "In case you didn't know, having ink on you is normally something reserved for gangsters."

Kayneth narrowed his eyes at Mori stopping his rant. He then sat himself sideways on his chair and rested his right arm on the table. "What I have on me or not is not important. My fiance is missing and you still haven't told me why I was arrested in such a barbaric manner!"

"You are a suspect for planting bombs in the lower floors of the Fuyuki Hayatt." Mori told him and immediately got an aghast look on Kayneth's face as a reaction.

"What–"

"There was a call to the Hotel about a fire that broke out on the first floor after that the staff evacuated the entire building as per protocol. Shortly after the police arrived and found bombs placed on said floor and the garages." Mori explained the situation visibly causing the Englishman to slowly run his hand through his combed back hair. "And since you were still inside after the bombs where taken out of commission you were arrested under the suspicion of being the perpetrator."

"THAT'S INSANE!" Kayneth shouted from the top of his lungs making Mori lean backwards holding his notepad up. "Why would I blow up myself and my fiance!? That's nonsensical!"

"And it happened not too long ago in this country." Mori shot back. Kayneth visibly paled, slowly realizing the situation they found themselves in.

On the other side of the Window Inspector Fujimura and Kindaichi watched the exchange between the men.

"He doesn't appear to be lying." Kindaichi said to the Inspector. He watched Mori writing down everything diligently and quickly. A welcome sight yet something was amiss. Fujimura turned to Kindaichi, his eyes hidden under the shadow of his cap.

"Tell me, what is your connection to most of them? All three of the ones we incarcerated have looked at you as though they seen you before." Fujimura began slowly crossing his arms over his chest. "I would understand Kayneth considering his age but Waver? Has that bozu been indoctrinated into the cult at such a young age? Not unlikely but if that were the case then this is starting to become bigger than we anticipated."

"They have met me indeed." Kindaichi answered. "Under one of my alias: Caster."

"…" Fujimura remained silent for a while still looking at the bickering Mori and Kayneth. "This is starting to sound like a damn fantasy novel."

Kindaichi raised his eyebrows. "Not a fan of the Genre?"

The Inspector tilted his head. "It can start sweet and all but those stories tend to become too big for their own good and involve the fate of the world or some other nonsense. Let me rephrase: I'd pick Sir Arthur Conan Doyle any day over Howard Phillip Lovecraft."

Kindaichi looked at him for a good second. "Isn't Lovecraftian fiction more in line of Horror?"

Two officers came running from the end of the corridor. Both of them looked exhausted and almost collapsed when they arrived before Inspector Fujimura. "Sir! Tokiomi Tohsaka's car has been sighted a short while away from the station!"

"He took his sweet time didn't he?" Fujimura said under his breath. "Anything else?"

"He- he is accompanied by a…well…" the officer was struggling for words but after several failed attempts and mustering his inner strength he finally managed to say it: "He is escorted by a flamboyant Gold wearing Playboy in a Ferrari."

Kindaichi and Inspector Fujimura looked at the Officers with blank looks. "I see." Both said ignoring the men and walking down the corridor. Neither of them wanted to give 'that' more thought than necessary.

"What kind of man is Tohsaka?" Kindaichi asked climbing up the stairs. Inspector Fujimura remained silent. He hastened the belts of his bullet repellent vest and carefully examined each individual pocket.

"He is not someone I like to talk with or about. My main grieve is about his father but Tokiomi-kun might as well be him. That family. The Tohsaka have been resident in Fuyuki ever since the beginning. It used to be a fishing town from whence the Black Ships could dock and exchange goods with the locals."

::: :::

"The Tohsaka Clan hails from the Feudal Lords that resided in these lands. Due to Fuyuki's powerful Leylines many Magi from Europe to Russia tried to take hold of these lands. The winner was my ancestor Nagato Tohsaka who was a disciple of the Wizard Marshal Zeltrecht Schweinorg Kishur. It was around that time that these lands truly became ours." Tokiomi explained to Gilgamesh.

The King had requested Tokiomi to tell him why these lands were supposedly his property. The explanation however was as dull as the fool himself and Gilgamesh found himself quickly bored. The main reason he came out into this venture was mainly due to Caster and his little charade.

His eyes had already seen that what laid in the future. "Say Tokiomi. What is a frog at the bottom of a well?"

The Master looked at Gilgamesh before answering: "Something who dreams of something outside of its reach?"

The King of Heroes smiled, his gaze never leaving the street as he hummed. Sensing that something was off Tokiomi straightened himself. "Did my answer not satisfy you my King?"

Gilgamesh shot him a sharp look making Tokiomi bow his head. "Don't question me cur." he said with a lowered voice. The Master remained silent and Gilgamesh smiled once more, he pressed the pedals of the limousine accelerating far above the speed limit.

When the two of them arrived at the Police Station it was woefully absent of Officers, save for a stray few cars and two man standing at a window talking. The Golden tuxedoed Servant parked the car square in front of the building not bothering to turn of the lights nor seeing the need to stop the engine. He stood up and left the car to Tokiomi making his way to the entrance and stopping immediately.

Tokiomi joined his side after bringing the car to a more suitable location – of course letting one of the officers do it instead of himself. "My Liege?"

"Tokiomi, no matter what happens from here on do not leave my side for even a moment. Stand behind me and do your talking, understood." The King of Heroes ordered opening the door at last. The Master behind him had his eyes wide open at those words before following.

On the other side were several men talking and typing their reports. The most important looking one among them looked over to them before moving to the back of the building beyond the farthest door. Gilgamesh himself decided to stand where he was with both his arms folded over his chest while Tokiomi heeded his words and remained behind him. Shortly after a man with eyes of a hawk came.

His stride was steady, quickly arriving in front of the King and Tokiomi. Gilgamesh saw his Master tighten his jaw and stand less relaxed than before. Considering how stiff Tokiomi usually was this was a pleasant surprise.

"Tokiomi-kun." the man began staring past the King and straight towards the Master. For once he didn't mind being ignored, the sight of Tokiomi on edge was too delicious not to enjoy. Thus he stepped towards the table beside his Master and leaned onto it. He knew that he was going to enjoy this.

"Inspector Saika Fujimura." Tokiomi said in a low almost appalled voice. "I see that you still do not trust me, us –" he continued looking at the Safety Vest this "Fujimura" wore. His eyes didn't look pleased, no it was something far more basic: Irritation. "– I believe that you have been ordered to release my guests?"

The Inspector ignored Tokiomi, averting his eyes to look at Gilgamesh. Bemused the King met the look with a smirk, before the man took off his hat and bowed in greeting. "I believe we haven't been introduced yet. My name is Saika Fujimura. I am an Inspector stationed in Fuyuki."

Oh the gall! Gilgamesh smiled genuinely already feeling the tinge of irritation from his Master through their shared link. Annoying as it was, it provided the King with entertainment he had not expected this night.

"Gil Archer." he answered with mirth in his voice and a wide smile. "Little Tokiomi wanted to show me his Fuyuki but frankly it is teeming with pests in every corner." his voice was dropping with poisonous honey, sweet yet insultingly harsh. "As someone who claims to oversee this city, you failed miserably."

His eyes saw the tightening jaw of Tokiomi, the light narrowing of his eyes – something akin to a human reaction. And the King was relishing in his Master's silent misery for he knew what would happen if he spoke back. The man in front of him however–

"I sincerely apologize for your inconvenience good Sir." Gilgamesh's smile grew larger. "As it stands we have been having troubles with those 'pests' as you so eloquently put it. And seeing how certain elements have been hindering any progress we have been running circles." Fujimura bowed in apology. "If you wish to be repaid maybe we can arrange something for you?"

The King laughed. His humor affecting some of the other officers who covered their mouths to hide their smiling. "So you claim that we are troubling you!" Red irises narrowed onto Fujimura who still hasn't lifted his face. "Very well mongrel. Your bravado amuses me! Tokiomi, talk your business least we intrude into these fine men's work!"

The shocked look on Tokiomi's face was priceless. More so since he had not expected Gilgamesh to side with the Inspector. The animosity between the two was more than apparent hence the King's delight to see yet another side of his stoic and boring Master.

"I understand." Tokiomi said with a slight bow before addressing Inspector Fujimura. "Well? My guests?"

"…" only now did Fujimura lift his head. The hawk like look still in his eyes. "First we have to confirm that they really 'are' your friends Tokiomi-kun. If you could verify that you truly know them than I see no reason not to."

Without farther ado the Inspector turned around motioning for Gilgamesh and Tokiomi to follow. The King was in mirth. Seeing Tokiomi's silver tongue stuck by someone who was his elder was a welcome sight. "History?" the King inquired with Tokiomi only saying: "It's complicated." as if that was enough to Sate the King's curiousity. He laughed, following the steps of the Inspector.

::: :::

Waver was pacing in the room. He couldn't sit still knowing that another Master was in the building. Rider was only watching him from the corner of his eyes sitting perfectly still with his arms crossed. "Say Waver," he began trying to get his Master from losing himself deeper in thoughts. Which failed just like all the other times he tried. Maybe a different approach was needed.

The Servant got up from his and walked over to the discarded card Caster left behind. That man was a mystery. One Iskander was certain could haunt them until the end of the war if they don't deal with him quickly. He understood why Waver told him to remain calm but that man – the more he tried to make sense of Caster the more he subverts their attention. Like a mirage or worse an illusion cast to cause doubt within their minds.

Rider bend his knees reaching for the card- yet Waver's hand prevented him from taking it. He turned around, wanting to know why he was stopped but the look on his Master kept his mouth tied. Waver's eyes were wide open, his mouth tight and his posture alarmed. Instead of taking the card he looked at it and tried to read what was on it.

He lead Rider back to the Chairs and seated them. "Something isn't right." he muttered under his breath. He lowered his head and began to ponder. "Why would he appear before us? With someone from the local Police as well…why wouldn't he say anything…"

"Did you figure something out?" Rider asked liking the new direction Waver's mind was spinning. "A hint about Caster's motives or something?" He asked fully knowing that nobody was watching them at the moment, safe for that camera thing in the corner.

Waver drew something with his finger on the table. He repeated the same motion twice before tapping his fingers in the middle of his drawings. Rider could make out sweat on the surface of the table morphing and twisting into a replica of them. The liquid moved and disappeared from the table quickly moving over the walls and covered the lens of the camera.

"What was that?" he asked genuinely curious.

"An application of Modern Magecraft. I overlapped the image of us with a liquid, it is a form of illusion based on Eastern Magecraft and the principles of Taoist Teachings of the Five elements. Think of it as a moving Image. Water is an essential part of both Eastern and Western Magecraft both associated with Life, Death and in this hemisphere with Illusions; although Alcohol would have done a better trick." Waver explained through their link finally relaxing.

"That is why Caster is scary…he doesn't apply Spells from a different age when he appears with civilians but rather Modern Magecraft." Waver lowered his hands laying them onto the table. "Modern Magecraft is all about the understanding of how legends and superstitions intertwined and applying its basics to create pseudo miracles."

"Civilians?" Rider asked ensuring that the conversation would continue.

"That Inspect just now was probably just someone he tricked. If you had checked his hands you'd have seen that he didn't carry any Command Spells; and even then Inspector Fujimura didn't address me like a fellow Master but rather a suspect to a murder or something. He is clearly suspicious of all of us but–"

While Waver continued to mumble Rider looked at the boy with wide eyes and a ever growing smile. "What makes you so sure that he wasn't working together with Caster's Master?"

"Can't be. Not with the way Caster tried to hypnotize the entire room. Not to mention if that man had truly been a Master then there would be allies within the force." Waver said still going of tangents that were presented to him. His eyes briefly fell onto the piece of paper.

"Was that what he did with the smoke?" Rider tightened his posture. "I find it stranger that he was accompanying that Inspector."

"Not really. Caster tried to use the concept surrounding smoke: 'That which is there but at the same time not.' to influence neither you or me individually but all of us. He stopped the moment you screamed at him and from the way he didn't even say anything the whole time it was clear that he was only observing us…not to mention Kayneth is here as well…"

"Something the matter boy?" Rider stared at Waver's downtrodden face. Something told him that Waver found something, something terrifying and at the same time completely contradictory.

"It– it can't be…" he muttered standing up and walking to the card on the ground. "Rider…what do you call 'Paper' in Japanese and what are the other translations?"

Iskander smiled. "Paper means Kami in Japanese. It refers to both Paper and Hair in equal parts but it also is a way to describe or call the divine."

Waver lowered himself, inspecting the card and not daring to touch it. It took him a solid second to finally take it and throw it to Rider. "Are you sure?" he asked the boy but he only nodded.

"It's a diversion." Waver muttered turning around harshly before he heard a loud yelled from the door.

::: :::

Tokiomi wasn't sure what he was shown. The man sitting on the other side of the window had white spiky hair and carried himself like a sick frail man. One eye was glassy and veins popped and moved on his face as though something was inside. He was clutching his arm which moved as though it was limb. Even if it couldn't be, there was no mistake as to who the man was, especially considering the mark that was on his hand.

"Is this–?" he began before Fujimura pressed on a button. The speakers activated and the voice of the man echoed through the room.

"How many times have I told you. I was just minding my own business before your colleagues decided to arrest me. You could at least have told me why." the man said calmly. "Would you please release me. I-I have to be somewhere."

"Kariya." the man flinched when he heard the voice from the speaker. Tokiomi shot Fujimura a look but the man continued to ignore him and pressed yet another button.

Kariya's eyes widened when he saw the people on the other side of the window, meaning Fujimura had just revealed them to the people inside. Tokiomi kept his lips tight before his eyes looked down on Kariya Matou.

The man's eyes widened as far as their could before the cripple shot up with his chair falling behind him. "TOKIOMI!" he yelled limping towards the window and hitting it with his one good arm. Though he was so physically weakened that it amounted to nothing, not even a dent when the force of his fist arrived on the surface.

The officer on the table got up to apprehend Kariya but Fujimura held up his hand. "Care to explain why Kariya-kun looks like this?" the Inspector asked taking off his finger from the button that connected the sounds.

"I can not say." he answered as calmly as possible. No reaction. No emotion. "This is the first time I have seen Kariya Matou since his return to Japan. He must have caught a disease of sorts for him to deteriorate this much."

"Parasites from the looks of it." the Inspector said his eyes hidden under his cap. "The veins under his skin have been moving unnaturally and from the looks of it they reacted the moment Karuya-kun got agitated. So I ask you once again. Do you know what might have happened to him?"

Tokiomi looked at the shriveled man that was put back into his chair. The veins were indeed moving and causing Kariya tremendous pain. It took him a moment to turn to the Inspector looking at the man in a composed manner.

"No."

"I see." Inspector Fujimura muttered before motioning for the others to follow him.

While the three walked out of the room the Inspector turned his head slightly to Tokiomi. "By the way, who exactly are you looking for?"

"Whatever do you mean Inspector?" Tokiomi asked. His eyes briefly turned to Archer but the Servant was only smiling with a bemused smirk.

"What were the names of your guests again? Clearly Kariya-kun wasn't on the list of that little party of yours I see." the Inspector still moving forward before he came to a halt again. He turned around knocking on the door. A few seconds later an other officer opened and looked at the group.

Tokiomi raised an eyebrow, "Aren't we going in?" he asked.

"Answer the question. Tokiomi-kun." the Inspector said, once again hiding his eyes.

Quirking an eyebrow once again Tokiomi sighed. "Those would be Professor Archibald El-Melloi and Mister Waver Velvet." Archer beside him smiled though he kept his tongue in reign. "Is that sufficient Inspector Fujimura?"

"Say, have you heard about the Fuyuki Hayatt?" The Inspector asked ignoring Tokiomi's words once again. Instead of letting his irritation show he only gripped his cane lightly before leaning onto it slightly.

"It's our newest Five Star Hotel. If I remember correctly Professor Archibald and his fiance had rent the penthouse." he answered though his eyes narrowed when Archer began to chuckle. "Is something the matter, Sir?"

At the question raised Archer only continued.

"I believe you heard about why Kayneth-kun was arrested right?" the Inspector continued motioning for the other officer to open the door farther.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"He was arrested under the charges of planning a double suicide with his fiance and had their bodyguard set up bombs in the building." Inspector Fujimura said not looking back at Tokiomi and Archer. "Mister Gil, would you like some coffee?" he added almost offhandedly.

To Tokiomi's horror Gilgamesh stepped into the room, smiling from ear to ear. "As a matter of fact, I do. Bring me your finest brand, not that I expect much from a small island like this." he insulted though from the corner of his eye he could see the aghast look on his 'Master's' face. The smile lessened however when he looked into the room and saw Kayneth Archibald sitting and arguing with the Officer.

The Inspector addressed the officer who excused himself moving past Tokiomi without so much as a glance. Tokiomi looked at the Inspector. "I was not aware. However it would be presumptuous to assume that he would commit suicide in such an extravagant manner. Are you certain it was him and not someone else?"

"Why didn't they leave the penthouse after the staff gave a warning of fire?" Inspector Fujimura asked. "Why did we find traces of gunpowder all over the place set to detonate once the upper floors are engulfed in flames. Kayneth and his Fiance were the only people who were inside the building."

"And where is his Fiance?" Tokiomi countered. "I haven't heard about her whereabouts yet?"

The Inspector gave him a short look. Instead of answering he looked at his watch before moving his head towards the window.

"I would appreciate if you could not ignore me Inspector." he warned the Inspector. Hi stance was relaxed but he leaned a little onto his cane.

"Slowpoke." Inspector Fujimura muttered before turning to Tokiomi. "Ah, right. Miss Sola-Ui aside from the fact that there is no way anyone could forget someone with an extravagant name like that, we have not seen her. Nor have we found traces of her existence outside of the Hotels check in data as well as the footage of the Security cameras."

"So you're saying she vanished?" Archer asked. Tokiomi glanced at him but the Servant only smiled.

"In essence. We suspect she up and ran away with their bodyguard." the Inspector answered.

"Say, you've been on and on about some bodyguard but have you even found someone like that?" Archer asked leaning against the wall with his hands in the pocket. "Well not that it really matters." he chuckled.

The Inspector ignored him as soon as the door opened again and a young Policewoman entered. She carried two cups of coffee with her. The Inspector narrowed his eyes. "Say, do I know you?" he asked the woman who only laid the cups on the table.

The woman had dark shoulder-length hair almost reaching a green black color , while her eyes were both lifeless and cold. She carried a cap on her head. She wore the Police attire with white gloves covering her hands.

"No Sir, I was enlisted only a day ago." the woman said not looking at anyone beside the Inspector. Gilgamesh's smile broadened watching how Tokiomi was still oblivious to the situation and had this single minded focus on Kayneth.

"I see." The Inspector relented motioning for her to go. She saluted before excusing herself.

"Would you release Professor Archibald, Inspector Fujimura?" Tokiomi asked hand reaching for his cup of coffee. "I have already confirmed his identity and considering that his family has diplomatic influence it will not suit you well to hold him in custody any longer."

"…" The Inspector ignored him one more time. As if deep in thought. "Sure. Let's move to the other side." he said taking the cup from Tokiomi's hand and placed it onto the table again. The Master was visibly appalled by the action but didn't voice his thoughts as he followed the Inspector.

Archer smiled at their interaction. Such a refreshing sight, to see his prom and proper and especially boring Master being toyed with like a school boy. He smiled from ear to ear, walking over to the table and downed the coffee Tokiomi had almost drank.

He laughed out loud throwing the cup over his shoulder to quickly join the clowns before Tokiomi suffers an unfortunate accident. "I must say though, this ages Poison is as disgusting as the rest!" he laughed.

The few drops of coffee he spilled after throwing the cup landed on the floor and began to darken the surface unnaturally before it slowly broke apart into tiny pieces with steam rising upwards.

::: Scene change :::

Irisviel began to park the car right in front of the castle they stayed at. "It must have cost a great deal of money and political influence to built this." Caster said getting out of his backseat. Saber stood beside her making sure that she was safe.

"We had it built two centuries ago. Back then was a different time after all." Irisviel said with a smile. "Would you like something to eat or drink Caster?"

"Radius is fine." he said walking after them. "A cup of Tea and a book are more than enou-"

"I disagree!" Irisviel interrupted. "You are a guest and the least we can do for you is offer you something to eat!" She said proudly puffing her chest.

Saber smiled at her though her eyes turned to Caster in a more serious manner. That was until her stomach began to growl like lions in the wild. She quickly averted her eyes when Irisviel looked at her, hand above her mouth.

"Then I shall cook." Caster said moving past Irisviel and Saber. The later two turned around almost immediately. "I shan't take no for an answer." he said moving towards the Maids that arrived to greet them. "Take me to the kitchens, I shall prepare a meal." Caster commanded and to the horror of both women the maids bowed and motioned for him to follow.

"Ho- Hold on!" Irisviel yelled running after them. Saber regained her senses soon after rushing after them as quickly as she could.

Caster never looked around while he moved after the maids. His eyes looking straight ahead. Irisviel meanwhile struggled to follow due to the maids leading Caster through many many roundabout ways. Saber meanwhile just moved towards the kitchen and waited inside for their guest and Irisviel to arrive.

She didn't need to wait long as Caster opened the door soon after followed by two more maids joining the first few. He didn't look at her sitting at the table and instead examined the kitchen for a hot minute before moving to the fridge. "Anything you'd like to eat my King?"

Saber stared at him with raised eyebrows. "I do not believe I gave you permission to call me thus Caster. In this Holy Grail War titles mean little." she said crossing her arms. A large growl escaped her stomach at that exact moment though making her grimace. "If I had to ask for something I would prefer to let the servants handle the cooking."

"I prefer not to." Caster answered taking out a large piece of Ham and the calve of a Sheep. He examined the quality of the goods taking out more and more before handing each piece to the maids who laid the goods right in front of Saber. The growling of her stomach grew louder with each passing piece of meat meeting her nostrils.

"Put back those, those and that. We won't need them tonight. Then begin to prepare those, cut the flesh into fine, as thin as possible. I'll handle the seasoning and prepare the sauce." Caster gave the maids various instructions. Each was very precise and carefully described. Saber watched all of them work meticulously, completing their tasks each at the same time before Caster began to prepare the pots and kettles.

He warmed the water at the same time as he warmed the oil on the stove. Three pans were prepared one with oil and the rest with butter. Carefully he performed each task almost like a machine, never missing a beat and at the exact moment. Never letter anything over cook or burn. The only dish he let burn up was of a type of Clams hereditary to Japan.

"Where have you learned to cook, Caster?" Saber asked the growling of her stomach not stopping for a second.

"My Mother insisted that I learn to cook for myself. It was mainly due to my sister being asleep most of her time. Besides–" Caster explained while taking a spoon and tasting the soup. "I had to take care of some children…" he turned off the stove and stirred the frying pan two to three times.

"Your sister?" Saber leaned forward.

"Exactly as I said." he answered. The maids began to take out the tableware from the cupboards. "As bothersome as it may sound. I took cooking up as a form of…"

Saber stared at him when he didn't continue. It was in that moment that the door to the kitchen was opened and Irisviel stepped in huffing and panting. "W-Where were you?" she asked out of breath. Saber stood up from her seat walking over to her and helping Irisviel to the table. The maids had already began to place the meals onto the plates.

"Irisviel…" Saber began. Her eyes were narrowing in a playful manner, eliciting an embarrassed reaction from Irisviel.

"Geez. It isn't my fault that this castle is so complicated." she said covering her cheeks.

Caster went to the plate in the middle of the room stabbing the cooked meat lightly with a fork before cutting a tiny piece of it and placing it in front of the nearest maid. The maid ate the piece chewing on it carefully before turning to him and nodding…although a few seconds later the maid then bowed and excused herself from the room.

Saber and Irisviel hadn't paid attention to her thus they too took a bite from the food presented to them. Caster eyed the for a moment before he walked after the maid earlier. He let his head look round the corner and saw the maid crying and trying desperately to dry her eyes.

He raised an eyebrow at the reaction before his eyes widened slightly. "Ah, do be careful. I was told my cooking had strange effects on people. If you notice anythi-" he looked over his shoulder into the room staring at the crying faces of Irisviel and Saber who couldn't stop eating. Chewing and crying.

"Why are you crying exactly?" Caster asked.

Saber didn't know either. While the food she ate did indeed taste delicious it was strangely familiar yet different enough to warrant her continued consumption of this food. She briefly looked at Irisviel who was currently covering her eyes while eating.

Caster looked between them sighed and then joined them. "Pardon me. It appears some of my feelings entered the meal." he said while leaning into his seat.

"Emotions?" Irisviel asked wiping her eyes. "How exactly does that work?"

"Whenever something is created, the feelings of the creator are transmitted into it. Be it craftsmanship or preparing a meal." Caster said taking his fork and knife and began to eat. "I was told numerous times that the melancholy I feel while cooking gets transmitted into my meals. While my own emotional capacity is limited I am not blind to the effect it has on others. Vexing as it is to admit."

Saber and Irisviel exchanged looks.

"You speak as though you aren't human Caster." Saber stated. Caster looked at her. His hand remained still in the air before he placed his fork and knife on the table.

"I could say the inverse to you as well Saber." Saber's eyes opened wide. His statement elicited a reaction out of her that Irisviel wouldn't be able to ignore. "Why, haven't you turned into your Spirit Form? Why did you dress yourself like a butler or bodyguard? It wouldn't be strange to assume that you had the same idea as Lancer though doubtful. You were aboard a flight, people saw and interacted with you and there were more than enough would-be Master's who saw you and Irisviel wander through Fuyuki."

"Caster," Irisviel began her tone even and her posture regal, "How long have you been watching us?"

"…" he leaned backwards a little. "I have been aware of you ever since you arrived in Fuyuki." Caster said with his eyes closed.

Both Irisviel and Saber reacted in the same manner. Shock was written on their faces but they quickly regained their bearings. "About that Alliance you proposed earlier." Irisviel began anew. "What would your conditions be?"

"Freedom to stay at this manner. Freedom to do as I please with Berserker and a cease fire agreement for my Master and I if I acquire them in the near future." Caster folded his hands on the table. "As compensation I will not set up a Workshop, I will provide aid to Saber in any given situation and given the opportunity I will hand over the Grail when all Conditions are met."

Saber stood up abruptly, her chair falling onto the ground in a loud manner while her hands slammed onto the table. "Hold on. All of those condition are heavily tilted in our favor. Caster what is your game here!"

"Radius." Caster countered. "I prefer if you called me Radius, Arthur." the air grew thick the moment he said her male name. A pressure resembling a tidal wave exuded from his very being.

"Speak. Radius." Saber commanded, not the least bit intimidated by the atmosphere.

Radius sighed. "I consider my dealing with Berserker as important as the Grail."

"Why?"

"Because I do not appreciate Knights who bite their King's legs like starving mongrels." Caster looked into her eyes. Cold. Was all Saber felt when she looked into his left eye while the right at least had the spark of life.

"You speak as though you know him." Saber muttered relaxing despite the implication of Caster's words.

"I do not need to know him. But his being in this War is an unnecessary element that is better off disappearing in disgrace like his legend." Saber glared at him.

"Uhm." Irisviel's voice made Saber turn to her. "Both of you, uhm, do you know who Berserker is?"

Saber leaned back against her chair while Caster took his fork and knife again.

"An old friend." Saber said. "A fallen Knight." Caster answered at the same time. Both Servants returned to the consumption of their meals while Irisviel blinked and looked between them.

"Are you perhaps talking about the Knight of the Lake, Lancelot?" Saber paused. The question itself was innocent but hearing her old friend's name and being reminded of his betrayal to the Kingdom and his fellow Knights of the Round Table.

"He lost his sanity. Betraying not only the King but his country and his fellow Knights while Arthur was campaigning in Europe. His betrayal gave Mordred the excuse to rebel and in turn lead to the End of Camelot and King Arthur's reign." Caster explained, answering in Saber's stead while putting another piece of meat into his mouth.

"Caster. I warn you." he looked up from his plate, looking at the King of Knights.

"Has the past truly gripped you so fiercely?" Caster asked, his tone unchanging. "Has Morgana's betrayal to the court not hardened you to these situations? Or is it because he betrayed your trust and took off to his own castle with your wife. Figurehead she might have been."

"I'm not here to let you criticize me Caster!"

"Nonsense. I am talking sense to someone who isn't truly dead yet." Caster looked at Saber. His left eye was hidden under his hair but the aura it exuded was thick and laced with a foreboding signs. "Is that not the reason why you can't make yourself disappear? I do not know how you managed to do it but be as it may I have to ask: In what state is your body at the moment?"

"…" Irisviel looked between them. Her brows drawn together and her hands folded on the table.

"You…" Saber's eyes were hidden under her bangs. "Just what exactly…" she looked at Irisviel before she averted her gaze. Irisviel lifted her hand, placing it on Saber's shoulder. The King looked back at Irisviel, nodding.

"Right now my body must be carried by Sir Bedivere."

Irisviel's eyes opened as wide as they could. Her hand didn't leave Saber's shoulder. "But that–" she began. One hand rose to cover her mouth.

"I see." was all Caster said before he began to eat again. "I apologize if I intruded into your personal matter. And I apologize that I had to force you to tell us the truth." he said casually while Saber's and Irisviel's eyes shot towards him.

He reach for his left eye and plugged the eye ball out, laying it onto the table. In its place however the eye of a beast stared at the pair before him. Saber slowly let go of her tableware. Caster's right eye was looking down on the plate while his left was still staring at them. "What, what is that eye– "

"As long as this eye is on me, nobody can lie to me. You can twist your words, mince the meaning or convince yourself that you lied but all this eyes sees is the truth." Caster took the eye ball on the table back into his eye socket. "I believe in terms of Magi in this time this eye of mine is classified as a Mystic Eye."

"A Mystic Eye that sees through lies?" Irisviel muttered under her breath. Caster glanced at her for a brief moment before looking at Saber once again.

"…" Saber leaned back into her chair. The food all but forgotten. "Why reveal this to us?" she asked him. "We haven't agreed to this Alliance yet and revealing something like your Mystic Eye to us despite this–"

Caster took out another lollipop out of his jacket pocket. "I despise lies." he said. "Lies, they come so easily, so casually that most do not realize that they are lying. To lie means to hide the truth, to hide ones intentions. To hide ones true self behind a mask. Each line spoken, each false statement, every moment, either to others or yourself will make that mask grow to the point where the truth becomes indistinguishable from the lie." he divided the food on the plate into two halves. The only difference between the halves was the placement of one small piece of carrot.

"I told you my reasons for joining you. I do not care much for the Holy Grail." He finished his meal almost instantly. So fast yet without breaking etiquette. He took the plates from the table and brought them to the sink where he slowly began to wash them clean.

::: Scene Change :::

One officer was moving through the floor. He carried a tray with two mugs of coffee. The one feature that stuck out with him was his black Spiky Hair that appeared below his cap while his facial expression was impassive and void of mimic.

Inspector Fujimura led Tokiomi and Archer down down one more flight of stairs before showing them to the room where Kayneth was held in. He knocked on the door thirteen times before Officer Mori came to open it. He looked inside the same time Kayneth turned to look at him. A vein protruded from his forehead before he relaxed and calmly stood up.

"About time." he said making Mori turn to the room again.

"Sir, the inquiry isn't ove-" the young man started but was interrupted.

"It is now." Tokiomi Tohsaka said entering the room. He walked past Mori and headed straight towards Kayneth. Both Men stood before the other almost instantly. "I apologize for my lateness Professor Archibald. I wasn't made aware of your circumstances until after the police came to false conclusions." Tokiomi said bowing slightly.

"Hmpf," Kayneth lifted his head, looking down onto the bowing figure of Tokiomi Tohsaka. "While I agree that this farce has gone on for too long, at least you had the decency to come in person to clear up this misunderstanding."

"But of course." Tokiomi lifted his head. A smiled lightly motioning for Kayneth to follow him. The Professor folded his arms behind his back while following Tokiomi. His eyes briefly looked at Mori before they turned to Archer who still remained outside.

"Hmpf, I still need to have my belongings returned to me." Kayneth said looking down onto Inspector Fujimura. "I expect them to have them by the time I'm leaving this pitiful place."

Inspector Fujimura looked at the men, watching their movements before turning away. He heard a disgruntled growl from Kayneth. Letting his eyes wander he caught sight of one of the officers who came down from the stairs. He noticed something was amiss, however what remained absent from his mind before he was until his eyes caught the gun hefted in his gun holster. Something raced in the back of his mind. "Hey, you, are you new too? Haven't they told you to carry a low caliber gu-"

"Huh?" The Inspector turned to Mori. The young officer looked at him in confusion. "Uhm, Sir? Did you forget that the new recruits arrived just last month?" he asked making Fujimura's eyes open wide. Within the same moment he turned to the newcomer.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

The officer lifted his head, under the cap unfeeling eyes locked with Fujimura's. He knew that face. He's known that face for many many years.

"Kirit-"

Everything became white.

A loud sound burst from the entire building. From the outside people saw the fire spreading from the lower floors of the Police station which quickly reached the higher floors.

When Inspector Fujimura came to again he felt footsteps beneath him. The ground was shaking and the sound of screaming could be heard all over the place. He quickly shot up from the ground. His eyes were still blurry and his ears were ringing uncontrollably. He saw a dark blur move past him but before he could even think about reacting the sound of gunshots echoed through the floor. When he could see clearly again his eyes caught sight of Gil Archer carrying Tokiomi Tohsaka with one arm while a golden ripple like light with a sword in the middle floated in the air.

He felt something fall, quickly turning around. He feared the worst. Inspector Fujimura saw a figure falling on top of him. Still confused he tried to stand up again pulling the body of him. "Mo-Mori?!" he panicked while he got up and stared at the body coming eye to eye with the blown off face of Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi. His mind went still for a moment.

Not comprehending what he was looking at he then felt Gil Archer's piercing stare. He slowly turned around. There was a sword stuck in the place before him, it was slowly disappearing into Golden Dust while the sword next to Gil began to disappear into the Golden Ripple. "Be grateful Mongrel. Luck has been on your side this time but from here on I advice you not to mess with my affairs or you will experience the consequences."

With those words Gil Archer carried Tokiomi to the stairs. "Ah," Gil turned his head slightly, slinging Tokiomi over his shoulder. Before leaving he said: "Before I forget. Tell Caster that he may play his little games for a bit longer, but he should beware whose playground he's choose." There was blood dripping. Inspector Fujimura looked to the ground, seeing the drops. His eyes then caught an arm that hung from the other side of the Interrogation Room. Quickly opening it he saw the unconscious body of Mori Kogoro laying in front of him.

Once his shock passed he coughed violently. Despite there being smoke he didn't feel the tell tale heat of fire nor the pain of being thrown across the floor. Subduing his coughing he tried to stand up. He experienced something like this before. That much was sure. Though his mind was not in the right place to sort his memories.

When he felt confident in his feet again the Inspector checked Mori's pulse and body for anything unnatural, didn't find anything however to which he sighed out of relief. The sounds of a machine gun echoed from the floor above and another explosion was shaking he building.

This was a diversion. That much he was certain of. A stun grenade? Possibly two. Maybe even smoke bombs? The Inspector coughed again. His hand reached for his gun under his jacket. Slowly he pulled it out. He was still seeing two images, meaning his brain was rattled. "Shit." he muttered before walking out of the room. He lowered his stance and kept a tight grip on his weapon.

Moving out he immediately stopped. On the stairs the unconscious body of an officer laid. There wasn't any visible blood but he had to be careful. He quickly checked for the pulse before moving upwards.

On the next floor he came to a halt once again. What stopped him however was another ridiculous sight. The big foreigner and Waver Velvet stood over a destroyed door. The big burly guy wore a red mantle over some Greek looking armor instead of the T-Shirt Jeans combo from before. He stilled his breathing listening to the best of his ability.

"Rider! We have to get out of here as fast as possible!" the lad said holding the bigger man's hand and urging him to follow. "If we don't leave immediately we might get caught up in whatever Caster had planned to do here!"

"You still haven't told me anything, Waver."the bigger of the two said following him. Saika was still to far away away to hear everything but if the panic in Velvet's voice was anything to judge by the current situation might escalate further. Saika leaned down again, holding his hand over his mouth.

The big guy turned his head over his shoulder. He could feel it. The Inspector knew that those eyes were looking for him. He waited for the big footsteps to leave, almost reacting when he heard the breaking of a wall and a high pitched scream "RIDER!" before he released his hand and took a breather again. He waited another second or two before the sounds of gunshots filled the air. His eyes shot wide open and he forced his body to get up once more.

The sight greeting him was a destroyed wall opposite of the Interrogation room Waver Velvet and Alexander were held. His mind stopped for a moment before he tightened his jaw and pressed onward. He checked up on the condition of each of the men who laid on the ground, before feeling his guts turn around when he realized that at least two of the four o the floor were dead. Each of them had a bullet hole between their eyes.

Saika heaved. His chest hurt and his eyes were closed, pressing the eyelids together tightly and gawking his teeth together. Once again another gun shot forced him to stand up and move on. Smoke came down from upstairs. His knees were buckling but he forced himself onward. His body was aching but he forced himself onward. His heart was beating irregularly but he pressed onward.

Once he reached the upper floor a scene of carnage greeted him. Two officers were slumped over their desks. Blood, fire and debris was everywhere. The walls and the ceiling were about to give in. at least four of colleagues were having a bullet fight with one of the assailants. He lowered his stance, almost crawling towards them when his eyes fell onto a body right in front of him laying on the ground.

His eyes went wide open. His jaw dropped slightly while his eyebrows pressed together. "Ran-" he began before another gun shot interrupted his thoughts. One of the officers collapsed. Half of his face was missing when he fell onto the ground.

Inspector Fujimura didn't have much time to process what happened. He shot up and shot at the attacker. From his periphery he saw two people. Both dressed like policemen yet their equipment military grade. Screaming and shooting, screaming and shooting. That was all he felt could do while everything around him crumbled and fell.

There were so many wounded and passed out men on the floor. If by chance the fire spread to the lower floors faster than the firefighters could arrive there would be numerous casualties. Yet each bullet he shot missed its mark. Never even closing on the attacker. One shot of a high caliber rifle was more than enough to penetrate this bullet proof vest, breaking at least a rip and making him collapse onto the ground while blood dropped from his abdomen. He held himself up with his arms, weakly looking up and seeing cold almost lifeless eyes stare down onto him.

"Kiri-" he began before the man shot at him – or it would have had a body not decided to move in front of him. It was so fast and sudden that even his attacker had not seen it coming. The Chief Inspector rushed towards the attacker with his gun raised. Blood was oozing from his stomach and his face riddled with shrapnel. "Ra-Ran-"

Before he could register what happened Ranpo's gun was pushed aside and got punched in the gut and thrown on top of Saika. The Attacker then turned around looking down onto the wounded policemen raising his gun. "Nothing personal." he muttered. "Just doing what's necessary."

Before the shots could be fired however he stopped.

Saika felt it before he heard it.

The growl of a wolf.

He couldn't turn around due to Ranpo's body laying on top of him. He was afraid that his friend and superior officer would bleed out if he moved. Yet all those thoughts stopped when he felt this beast behind him.

"Caster." the attacker muttered. The gun was lifted towards the one behind Saika.

"Leave." a single command. Spoken in a tone that left no room for argument.

The attacker lowered his gun, putting it into his pocket once more before he turned and left together with the other one.

"Prevention of Information leakage." Kindaichi said slowly walking to him and Ranpo.

"Kin-" Saika began only to panic when Kindaichi tried to lift the body on top of him. "Wait –" he stopped himself. Kindaichi was burned all over the place. The flesh on his left arm had been burned badly and half his face was covered in blood. There was shrapnel ebbed into each of his shoulders and two bullet holes in his once white tuxedo. He was dressed in more red than white now.

"…" Kindaichi didn't say anything when he slowly lifted the Chief Inspector. "He doesn't have much longer." he said solemnly before falling sideways himself. "I put out the fire upstairs and ensured that the casualties were as minimal as possible…I didn't account for him to directly attack the station after the failure of the Fuyuki Hayatt bombing…"

"Kin-Kindaichi…" Saika began only for coughing to interrupt him. Blood. Blood came from his mouth. However the coughing also came from the body next to him. "Ran-Chan!" he screamed almost doubling over from the pain in his guts. He cursed under his breath reaching for his friend.

"S—s-til-l a t…erri-…ble sh-o…t as… – ever." Ranpo muttered coughing up blood. He didn't mutter anything else. He only reached out for Saika's face and patted it once before his bloody hand fell.

Saika's eyes shot wide open. "Ran-Chan?" he tried to take the hand. Tried to wake his friend up. Screamed yelled and through up blood until his throat was hoarse and the sirens could be heard from the distance.

"RAN-CHAN!"

.

.

.

Halfway through his screaming he fell unconscious. The next time Saika came to he found himself in a hospital room. He opened his eyes and looked down. At the end of the hospital bed laid his niece. Curled up like a cat she snored as loudly as ever. Resting in the corner of the room was his protege Mori. His Police cap was placed over his face and from the heaving of his chest he took a guess that the boy was asleep as well.

He looked to his side and saw Kindaichi next to him in the other bed. He too was awake but only stared at the ceiling.

"…"

"How many made it out?"

"…The casualties at this point are around ten people. The rest were injured but most of them were only unconscious. All in all, the worst case had been avoided though it is certain that the assailants will try to finish both you and me."

The Inspector remained silent. "How long?" he asked after a few minutes. His head was hurting and his eyes were feeling drier than after a night through investigation. A hand tentatively pat the area he felt the bullet pierce. Reaching for the bandages he grimaced at the prickly sensation and how his chest hurt from the strain.

"I suspect they won't show themselves until the night has arrived though I am uncertain whether they ignore all odds and still try during the daylight." Kindaichi guessed. "The bullet stuck to your rips. Had it not been for your vest it would have pierced your left lung."

"…" Saika looked up to the ceiling. His eyes closed while he tried to calm his breathing. He still felt it on his cheek. That hand was cold despite the heat inside the building.

"Officially you were wounded during a raid of a local gangs." Kindaichi said, he slowly sat up on the bed and turned to the Inspector. Saika slowly turned his head to him, his eyes slowly widening. "The building has been repaired almost perfectly and most of the injured staff have altered memories of the events of that night. There have already been four people arrested by officers who went on patrol that night."

"Wha–" the Inspector's eyes were wide open, his jaw slack. His mind was on overdrive yet he couldn't grasp what Kindaichi told him. "What are you saying?" he asked trying to keep his composure.

"I'm trying to tell you that whatever happened last night, never happened to anybody but the two of us." Kindaichi said looking at Saika.

It took him a moment but the Inspector turned his head and looked upwards. He breathed slowly. His eyes blinking while his mind was running circles. "How?"

"I am not allowed to tell you." Kindaichi said. "Telling you anymore than you already know will put you in further risk. A risk that no amount of pragmatism could justify." he attempted to get up. His eyes turning to Taiga sleeping on the bed. Saika followed his eyes and he too felt the weight.

"Do you have a phone?" he asked the Private Eye. Kindaichi looked at him, a brow raised. Saika turned to him his eyes narrowed. "I won't ask again."

Kindaichi reached into his Hospital gown pulling out a strange looking rectangle. "You need to press the green button to make the call." What it was didn't matter to the Inspector when it was given to him. He saw buttons and numbers on it so it was at least something similar to so Walkie Talkies and those ridiculous Mobile Phones from ten years ago.

When he pressed the numbers he heard the tell tale ringing of a phone. Holding the rectangle next to his head he waited.

.

.

.

The phone rang.

The office was as rowdy as ever with the men enjoying their drinks and talking about the newest developments of tech and the women brawling over the last slice of pizza. At first nobody heard the ringing, after all they didn't know a phone existed in their office. The commander has been lenient on what was allowed in his office and not but non of them saw anything resembling a phone here, after all the Chief Only had Masks and Statues of strange creatures in the Office.

The door was slammed open and the Chief trotted into the room. Everyone got up from their place and saluted to him. He waved at them before moving over to what looked like a squirrel-deer-hybrid and put his hand into its mouth. Each of the soldiers looked in shock at his actions until he pulled out something that looked like a phone from the 80s.

Pressing the blinking button he put the shell to his ear. "Yo, Nuraryhon here." The soldiers perked up each of them putting on their serious faces. There weren't many times when the Commander would use his nickname, meaning this was a matter of utmost importanc- "OH! Mura-chan! Tis been so long! Haha!"

Or not and most of them face palmed. "So just another one of his war buddies." one muttered while the others shook their heads. "Maybe we should inspect those damn statues after all. This is the fourteenth time he pulled something out of one of them." another added and most of them chuckled.

Then the ground shook. All their eyes went to the Chief. His foot broke the wooden floor beneath it while the entire atmosphere around him grew rigid. "Don' fuck with me Mura." was all he said when his intensity grew. Whoever he spoke to must have told him something that made the Commander furious. "Alright. I'll tell Kicchan and try to get in contact with Jocchan. What do you mean with why not Licchan?…" he clicked his tongue. "Ah, right. She changes her number all the time. Sure I'll get in touch with her too."

He sighed putting the phone on the table. Everything was silent. He left his spot before the statue walking over to his seat at the end of the office and threw his green jacket over his shoulders. He looked at his men, at everyone waiting for his commands. "Mates. Ran-chan's dead." the reactions he got were mixed, irritated even.

"Who did it?" they didn't fall on their heads, they had a vague feeling what this was about.

The Commander however only sighed. His head tilted down before he took out another old phone out of his office table. He pressed the call button and held the shell to his ear. "Yo, Licchan. Ran-Chan bit the dust." a Pause. "No. Kerry got him."

The entire atmosphere in the room changed. Tension spiked and everyone who listened immediately went out of the office down the corridors to their rooms. Each and every one of them put on their gear, took their guns and caps and returned to the Commanders office.

"Yeah, they listened. Yep, they are also roaring to go. Do you want to call Kicchan or should I? Hm, you'll get Jocchan? Alright, then I'll get in contact with Kicchan. Yeah, yeah, it was Mura. Don' remind me, he still hasn't figured it out but I guess he's already suspecting it if he's calling me! …yeah, I'll go get permission before we sortie."

He looked at his men. All lined up with their guns and blades hefted to their sides. His eyes looked at each one of them before nodding. "Are ya ready?!" he asked them jumping up and walking in front of them.

"YES, ADMIRAL FUJIMARU!"

::: :::

"Mikon?" a young shrine maiden perked up, her pinkish white hair cascading onto the floor and dragged after her while she slowly walked into the middle of the room. The crows on the window frame stared at her while she bowed. White light shone outside yet not a single ray entered the room.

"Your Highness?" she asked. "Have you seen?"

The man in front of her wore a golden Kimono with traditional Japanese ornaments. His face was hidden by the cloth draped over his throne while his arms rested on lavish armrests. "Indeed." he chuckled softly. "It is time to add another to the Hundred Nights."

The Miko immediately stood up and pulled a mirror out of her sleeves presenting it to his Highness. "And the Holy Grail War?"

"It happens on our island. Maybe we should have a talk with Tokiomi-kun sooner." he answered with a soft smile. The scenery shifted letting the white light from outside engulf the room before it disappeared from sight and observation.

The last sight Zeltrecht saw when he tried to find them again was the serene look he got in return from the man in the room. "Not every day I see a human aware of me." he whispered letting his back rest against his chair. "Hm, I should return my focus back onto that Situation again." was all he muttered before he felt a familiar presence.

"I see. You again." he said turning slightly and looking into the faceless white figure standing on the edge of realities.

The scene changes once again.

::: :::

The man sat on a bed. The apartment his assistant and him occupied was sparse though the amount of ammunition and weapons laying behind and in front of him was enough to wage a small time war against an entire military unit. "Have Fujimura Raiga confirm this once again." he instructed while taking apart his gun. "If Saika truly is a Master we need to find and eliminate him but if it was a ploy by Caster then we at least got rid of two contenders for the Grail."

The woman in the back of the room put on her pants. She took off the uniform throwing it onto the ground before turning to the small laptop on the counter. Walking over to it she moved her finger on the touchpad moving the cursor to the mail icon on the desktop. When she read through the mail she stood up once again before turning to the man on the bed.

"One of our informants just sighted Kayneth's fiance arriving at the Tokyo Airport." She said, turning to the man on the bed, she remained silent.

"What's wrong?" he picked up on her behavior turning to look at her over his shoulder.

"She was accompanied by Lancer."

The man's widened, then narrowed. "Have them find out what flight she's taking. There is no way the Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri family would welcome her back without her fiance. We have to find out where she's going." he paused for a moment, lowering his head and looked through the window down onto the streets of Fuyuki. "Can you?" he began, his tone vague.

"If necessary I will. I'll tell them to prepare the package." she answered moving back to the suitcase and pulling out a phone. She quickly tipped in the numbers and held the shell to her ear.

The man watched her through the reflection of her on the window. He lowered his gaze to the gun he dismantled before slowly starting to put everything back together. Within moments he was finished, right when his partner finished her call and turned back to him. "I will contact you as soon as possible Kiritsugu."

Without wasting a moment she ran out of the apartment, leaving Kiritsugu behind to ponder.

"What's going on?" he wondered aloud. "Has she become the Master of Lancer? If so, why is she not participating in the Grail War?" he looked at the gun in his hand before his eyes wandered to the papers hung on the pinwall. Every paper held information on the Servants that appeared so far. With the information they had on Lancer it was easy enough to deduce that Sola-Ui might have fallen for the Servant. "Love huh?" in the corners of his heart Kiritsugu felt something. It disappeared just as quickly without his even realizing that it existed at all.

Kiritsugu looked at the information they had on Caster. It was a single paper. Written on it were his name, some parameters and some skills that might exist. Nothing else.

There was not a single indicator that this Servant had ever existed in the first place. Nothing about him matched any known or obscure Heroic Spirit besides some overlapping features from folklore or fables. Yet in the back of his mind he had a feeling that the answer was more obvious than it first appeared.

Dismissing the thought for now he turned away from the wall.

"Saika-san looked healthy." he muttered before standing up and taking another phone out of the suitcase.

"Yes it's me. I'm collecting the favors you owe me." he addressed the people on the other line. "I am in Fuyuki for a job and need assistance. I already prepared the Geass Scrolls so none of you need to worry. How many?" he looked over his shoulder. To the wall and outside the window. "Send me the best you've got Marisbury Animusphere."

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:::: End of Part 1 ::::

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A/N: I hope I haven't made you wait too patiently. As you might have guessed this story is massive despite only being 10 chapters max. and the 10 th chapter is an epilouge which can make you guess already how many chapters each "Part" will take!

Just in case I want to thank all the reviewers and commentators who read this story. It might sound strange but I took a bet on how many people would even give this story a chance to begin with.

FWI Caster is not the main character. He is an obstacle that needs to be overcome but why, how or where I won't tell.

Please leave some feedback if you have some time and let me know when I made a grammar mistake or two!

See you next time!

Yours dear,

Sha Yurigami