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

Cerberus

Part IV

"Did you hear that, Assassin?"

"Yes I did, Master."

Cerberus chuckled at her Servant's affirmation of her own reception of the message from the overseer. Apparently, Caster and his Master had finally pushed the overseer's patience over the limit, what with their abductions of children and adolescents, in such numbers that they were simply dominating the front page news.

Simply put, Caster and his Master were too high-profile to be put up with any longer.

"What should we do, Master?" Assassin asked.

"We will follow the predetermined plan." Cerberus replied, tapping her holographic controls and bringing up the dossier for Rin Tohsaka. "For all the theoretical talk about the so-called Butterfly Effect, our presence in this conflict has not yet truly changed anything, it seems. And here's to it won't for a little while longer."

"If things change too much and too quickly," Assassin remarked. "Then the value of your knowledge with regard to the contest's progression will drop, perhaps even to uselessness."

"I wouldn't say uselessness." Cerberus said. "The psych profiles will continue to be accurate insights into our opponents' characters, from which we can predict their probable responses against our movements. For the most part, of course. Caster's Master was never identified, and as such we have no information on that madman. However, it is as you say. As things change, the progression of the war will diverge from the usual chain of events, and render our information on the latter useless."

"If so, then we must adapt accordingly."

"Indeed," Cerberus agreed with a nod. "But hopefully not yet for a while. My plans with regard to Tokiomi Tohsaka require that his daughter put herself into harm's way, the easier for us to establish an advantageous situation before the battle even begins."

"That is the whole point of strategy." Assassin said with a nod. "To prevent a battle from being fought on equal, or worse, disadvantageous terms."

"Or simply put, to already have won even before the battle begins."

"As you say, Master."

Cerberus tapped the holographic controls, the screens shifting to show real-time images of key situations and individuals across the city. Cerberus watched and listened for several minutes, taking in the details of the other Masters' reactions to the overseer's command, and then focused on Kiritsugu Emiya.

"So," she said with a satisfied smile. "He plans to take advantage of the other Masters' preoccupation with Caster and his Master to position himself to stab them all in the back? As should be expected from the Magus Killer."

Master and Servant watched and listened as Kiritsugu discussed his plans for the evening to his partner, and then Assassin turned to Cerberus. "Should we interfere?" she asked.

"No." Cerberus said with a shake of her head. "We will simply observe, and allow Kiritsugu Emiya to eliminate Lord El-Melloi for us. It will cause trouble in the future for his children, but we're at war. Sacrifices have to be made. Besides…"

Cerberus trailed off, looking up with distant-looking eyes. "…it's not as if those experiences did not provide valuable lessons for his son." She eventually concluded.

"Master?"

Cerberus turned her head to look at Assassin. "Tell me, Assassin." She asked. "Is it possible for everyone to be granted salvation?"

"…I would first ask how is salvation to be defined." Assassin replied. "If the general definition is used, then I would say no. There are always sacrifices, for good or ill, one way or another, to achieve any end. Nothing can ever be achieved without sacrifice."

"…I once knew someone who believed that salvation could be brought to everyone."

"Then they are a fool." Assassin coldly said. "Such a thing does not exist on this Earth. Perhaps in the next life, but I would disagree with that. Not all are granted a place in paradise, so the imams preach. Or indeed, even the priests of the Christians."

"Quite…" Cerberus said with a nod. "In any case, enough about that. We will observe Kiritsugu Emiya's operations for this evening, and the future activities of Caster and his Master, as well as Tokiomi Tohsaka's heiress."

"Yes, Master."

The day passed uneventfully. Cerberus remained holed up inside Ryuudo Temple, periodically checking in on the status of the other Masters, though she spent some time with the head priest's son, Issei Ryuudo. Given her (magically-enforced) excuse for staying in the temple, it was expected that she spend some time with him, as she was supposed to be a friend of his father.

And so she did. Over the past months she'd been in the temple, she'd helped him with schoolwork, and even taught him some of her jujutsu. She'd taught him the basic stances, pushed him to regularly practice the katas, and even sparred with and discussed the spiritual and philosophical aspects of the martial art. Well, the ones suitable for a seven-year old boy anyway.

The Sun climbed up the sky to the zenith, and then down again towards the horizon. As it set, the sky shifted from the cloud-stained blue of a winter day to a dark velvet speckled with stars, while the view of the city from the temple glowed bright with the lights of a city at night.

Meals at the temple were simple but hearty, and held communally. As guests, Cerberus and Assassin ate with the monks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seated near the leaders of the religious community. After the last of those meals, the monks retired for their evening vigil, while Cerberus and Assassin retired to their sanctum to once again observe the war's developments.

Cerberus shook her head as she and Assassin watched Caster and his Master subvert another group of children and lead them away under cover of darkness, to wherever their lair was in the undercity. "Hard to believe that deranged son of a bitch is Gilles de Rais." Cerberus remarked. "Confidante and companion to Jeanne d'Arc. How on Earth could someone like that have been trusted by and held in such high esteem by a saint as…pure, and noble, as Jeanne d'Arc?"

"Perhaps he was not evil at the time?" Assassin asked. "From what I know of the Maid of Orleans, both as a fellow Heroic Spirit and from what history tells us, the Maid of Orleans would never have tolerated such a madman by her side. She would have slain him on the spot, or guided him to salvation."

Cerberus looked quizzically at Assassin, who met her Master's eyes. "Darkness and light exists in all hearts, Master." She said. "Mine, yours, everyone's…perhaps, when Gilles de Rais learned of the unjust fate placed upon the Maid of Orleans by her own people, it snuffed out the light in his heart. As said injustice was never admitted and corrected for centuries after her death, the darkness in his heart bloomed, resulting in the madman we now see before us, as recorded upon the Throne of Heroes."

"…wonders will never cease." Cerberus said with a smile. "The Old Man of the Mountain is a philosopher."

Assassin smiled slightly at such praise, and bowed as Cerberus turned back to their screens. "Nevertheless," she said. "We'll have to put him down eventually, and put the children and other people he and his Master have ensnared out of their misery. It's a shame we can't do it here and now, but we're at war."

"As you say, Master."

Cerberus nodded, narrowing eyes at a screen showing the Fuyuki Grand Hyatt Hotel being evacuated in a hurry. And at another screen, which showed Kiritsugu Emiya standing in a well-located hiding spot, similarly observing the evacuation.

All observers waited in silence, until finally, about an hour later, a series of explosions went off at the hotel's base, the structure above tottering and then simply crumbling down as its foundations were reduced to rubble. "Things seemed to be going as expected, Master." Assassin observed.

"Yes…" Cerberus said, tapping on her controls. More screens came up, showing Maiya Hisau at her own hiding spot, apparently having recovered from the beating Cerberus had given her during the previous night (no doubt with the aid of magical medicine), and the one-armed Kirei Kotomine, barely-visible through the Tohsaka mansion's windows as he wandered down a corridor. "And again, well done with Kirei Kotomime."

"I am honored by your praise," Assassin said. "But I do not deserve it."

"Oh?"

"I failed to kill him, and indeed, was forced to retreat in the face of Berserker's return."

"Is that so?" Cerberus asked. "But neither are particularly your fault, as Kirei Kotomine is an Executor of the Holy Church. His body was trained and honed to fight against monsters beyond the ken of most men, and it cannot be denied you are no match for Berserker. Retreating in the face of her return is only prudent, and even necessary, to continue to perform your duty as my Servant. And Kirei Kotomine is a worthy opponent, one whose measure you have now experienced in person. An indecisive defeat can be forgiven."

Assassin silently bowed. Cerberus nodded, and then turned back to the screens. She and her Servant continued to watch, as disaster personnel and policemen scoured the ruins for what they knew was a terrorist attack, but was more than that.

Eyebrows rose as the policemen and disaster personnel uncovered a pristine sphere of mercury, followed by amused snorts as the enthralled men loaded it onto a truck and drove them away. "Again," Assassin observed. "Things are proceeding as expected."

"Indeed."

Kiritsugu rendezvoused with his wife and Servant, the latter standing guard with Maiya as Kiritsugu conferred with Irisviel. "My family's sources have sent back a preliminary report." Irisviel said. "They're still trying to look into more…obscure, places, but so far they have no information on or any organization that calls themselves 'Cerberus'. The same goes for that golden hexagon she uses as her emblem, or that particular design of armor she uses."

"Have they checked the real world?" Kiritsugu asked.

"They have." Irisviel said with a nod. "Whether it's the real world or the moonlit one, she and her equipment don't exist. That said, it's only a preliminary report. More obscure sources are being looked into, along with a more, in-depth investigation."

"I see."

"They do have one lead though."

"Oh?" Kiritsugu said, his expression and tone brightening to a degree. "That sounds promising. Let's hear it."

Irisviel smiled and teasingly patted her husband on a cheek. "They've done an analysis on Cerberus' face as we've seen when she exposed herself at the docks." She said.

"And?"

"Her facial features are…mixed, but there's recognizable traits of Edelfelt lineage there, apparently."

"Edelfelt?" Kiritsugu echoed with raised eyebrows. "Shit, those damn hyenas are involved in this too?"

"Well, they did participate in the last war, so why not this one as well?"

"…and allied with Tohsaka, too." Kiritsugu murmured. "Which is rather surprising, since if I remember correctly there's some bad blood between them left over from the previous war."

"Maybe it was patched over recently." Irisviel said. "The Edelfelt have always been known among the magi of the Clock Tower for their close family, more so than other magi. And Tokiomi Tohsaka's mother was of their lineage. It's possible that in the interests of family, an olive branch was privately extended, and accepted by one side or another."

"Maybe…" Kiritsugu conceded. "Though if they are involved in all this, it'll make things that much more difficult. I'm wary about them for a reason: they might be known for being a close family, but their label as hyenas is well-earned. When it comes to a fight, they're vicious, brutal, and even bloodthirsty."

"Have you fought against them before?" Irisviel asked.

"No," Kiritsugu said with a shake of his head, and beginning to pace. "But I've met and worked with those who have, and who've also worked with Edelfelt before."

"So…it's just hearsay."

"Like all hearsay, it could be exaggerated," Kiritsugu admitted. "But it would be rooted in fact. That other magi consider the Edelfelts' label respectable speaks of their ability."

"So…how do they fight?"

"Like me, actually." Kiritsugu said, while scratching his head in annoyance. "Only purely with magic."

"…will that be a problem?"

"If they have something like my trump," Kiritsugu said with a sigh. "It will be."

"Edelfelt?" Tokiomi Tohsaka echoed in surprise. "You are sure?"

"Of her facial features indicating a descent from the Edelfelt lineage?" Kirei asked. "Then yes, I am certain. Of course, whether or not she is an actual Edelfelt is another matter entirely. The black hair is atypical of their lineage, as are other of her facial features."

"…well yes." Tokiomi said thoughtfully before laughing wryly. "She could just be an Edelfelt bastard…and I know about those quite well."

Kirei said nothing, knowing all too well about what his master was referring to. Specifically, Tokiomi and his children, who his mother's family considered to be bastards, simply because they had not given their consent, either beforehand or after the fact, to her marriage with Tokiomi's father. That her crest was subsequently repurposed as part of – and indeed, formed the bulk of – the Tohsaka Crest further complicated things.

"Child…not children…Tokiomi only has one child, at least according to the law." Kirei corrected himself. "In the eyes of the Lord though…"

"Well," Tokiomi said while tapping a finger against his desk, eyes fixed on the image of his (potential) cousin as exposed by the battle at the docks during the previous night. "If she is my cousin, I find it curious why my mother's family sent a bastard instead of one of their own."

"Perhaps it is meant to be an insult?" Kirei observed. "No offense intended, master."

"None taken." Tokiomi said with a wave of his hand. "And I see what you mean. A bastard to fight a bastard…though if she is a bastard, she is well-outfitted, and trained."

"A proper branch family, then?"

"Hmm…perhaps…"

Tokiomi sighed with regret as a thought came to him. Despite all the ire they'd heaped on him and his family, Tokiomi held no real ill will to his relatives on his mother's side. He completely understood their reasoning, and his mother had made multiple efforts to reach out and reconcile, only to be rebuffed each and every time.

For his part, Tokiomi had avoided involving himself with Edelfelt affairs, thinking that his mother's failed efforts were indicative that active attempts at reconciliation were more harm than good, and space should instead be given, and time given a chance to clear the air, for old wounds to cool and heal over, before reconciliation could be done. They were still family, after all.

But if Cerberus truly was an Edelfelt, whether a bastard or more likely, from a recognized branch…

Tokiomi sighed with quiet regret. "Maybe I should have sent Sakura to Edelfelt as a peace offering, after all." He thought. "It would have healed the rift between us, and prevented this development if Cerberus truly is a cousin of mine. But…"

Tokiomi sighed again, reclining in his seat to look up at the ceiling. "Even if she'd been accepted as one of them," he thought. "That's all she would ever be: a branch member, and born of another branch at that. With Matou however…she would be matriarch of her own family, with equal opportunity as Rin to reach the Root through the Grail, or failing that, go down in history as her great rival and as one who saved the noble Matou lineage from an untimely demise. No…this is for the best indeed."

Tokiomi nodded at Kirei. "I will consider this development in more detail." He said. "In the meantime, continue looking into her background, and in particular this lead. If she truly is my cousin from my mother's side of the family, then I must meet their challenge with pride and dignity, and in so doing, honor our shared lineage as true magi."

"Yes, my master."

Tokiomi nodded again, and with a gesture, dismissed Kirei. Kirei left with a bow, while Tokiomi resumed his thoughts on the situation. Unnoticed, a pair of red eyes viewed the whole exchange with disdain.

"What a pitiful sight." Archer thought in disgust, as he raised his wineglass to his lips.

"Well, I'm impressed. I think."

"Master?"

Cerberus scratched her head. "Lord El-Melloi's apparent backup…lair? Workshop?" she asked, sounding unsure. "Whatever you call it…is very…simple. I'd expected him to have setup a backup in another hotel or whatnot, but this is…unexpected."

"Perhaps that is the whole point?" Assassin asked. "Given the opulence of his previous stronghold, he must have predicted than in the event of its destruction and his escape, his enemies would assume his reserve stronghold would be more of the same. They would not expect him to retreat to a place like that."

"That's a good point." Cerberus mused, while stroking her chin. "Though his new lair leaves much to desired, not just in terms of comfort, but also in terms of protection beyond simply being unexpected of the man. In fact, from the look of things, it doesn't seem like he even thought it necessary to have a backup at all."

"Certainly," Assassin observed. "Beyond finding a location to retreat to, his new stronghold doesn't seem to have been prepared as well as it could have been, if at all. Limited comforts if at all, and from what I can see, defenses are lacking beyond Lancer and his Master and his Master's woman's magecraft."

"…maybe it's not so impressive after all."

"Master?"

Cerberus gave Assassin a deadpan look. "Maybe Lord El-Melloi never expected he'd have to abandon his lair at all." He said. "It's more likely he just sent a familiar to find him an out-of-the-way place to hide in after his lair got destroyed, leading to…that."

Cerberus waved in the screen's direction, and Assassin nodded slowly. "I see." She said. "Yes, that is certainly possible, if not indeed more likely. Especially once we take this lord's apparent character into consideration."

Cerberus made a sound of disgust. "Typical," she said with evident contempt. "So sure of how they can never be wrong, how they are oh so superior simply because of how inbred they are, they never once considered the possibility that they would come across someone who could and would kick their asses. Magi…"

Cerberus trailed off while shaking her head. "Hard to think this guy is actually Reines El-Melloi Archisorte's older brother." She said. "The resemblance aside, they are completely different people. Then again, that's probably thanks to Lord El-Melloi II's influence…those bastards back home ought to be more grateful…"

"…what should we do, Master?"

"This changes nothing." Cerberus answered. "It seems though that Lord El-Melloi is preparing to retaliate against Kiritsugu Emiya and his – from Lord El-Melloi's perspective – Einzbern employers. We will continue to observe, as per the predetermined plan."

"Yes, Master."

"Kayneth…"

"…WHAT?"

Sola-Ui narrowed her eyes. "Don't take that tone with me." She snarled, and Kayneth looked like he'd swallowed a lemon whole. After several long moments clearly spent regaining control of himself, he curtly nodded at her.

"I was planning on bringing this up after we'd defeated Einzbern and their Servant," Sola-Ui continued. "Though I certainly never expected not just our atelier but the hotel as a whole would be reduced to rubble…"

Sola-Ui trailed off, and then coughed after a few moments. "Anyway," she said. "In addition to looking into Archer's strengths and weaknesses as per his legend, I also made some inquiries with regard to who Cerberus might really be."

"…they found something after only a day?"

"My sources?" Sola-Ui asked, and Kayneth curtly nodded. "No…but from what my sources have told me, they have three possible leads to follow."

"And those are?"

"The first two admittedly offer only faint promise." Sola-Ui said. "They are Cerberus' own title, which may be a known alias somewhere in the world, or that of a shadow organization of some sort. The third though…"

"…yes?"

Sola-Ui's face fell in worry. "Kayneth," she said. "According to my sources, an analysis of her facial features as obtained during that battle at the docks seems to indicate she's of Edelfelt descent."

"Impossible…!" Kayneth hissed. "The Edelfelt are uniformly blonde! A brunette Edelfelt? Unthinkable!"

"…and what are the Edelfelt known for?"

Kayneth scoffed. "Mercenaries," he said with a sneer. "Greedy and dishonorable scum who expend effort and spill blood purely for gain, whether in coin or spoil. How they ever came to be acknowledged as magi is beyond me, to say nothing of such…regard, the Valueleta hold them in."

"Well…yes, there is that." Sola-Ui conceded with a cough. "But apart from that, what else are they known for?"

"…what else is there about them to know?"

Sola-Ui rolled her eyes. "The Edelfelt are also known for having a large family not just by magi standards, but by normal standards as well." She said. "More than that, their branches are generally at peace with each other, if not outright close, and all have crests. And before you start spouting more…condemnations, of their seeming flouting of orthodoxy, I would remind you why that is the case."

"…Ore Scales." Kayneth said softly, and with narrowed eyes.

"Ore Scales," Sola-Ui said with a nod. "And going back to Cerberus, and how she could be one of the hyenas of Finland…see where I'm going?"

"Yes, I suppose I do." Kayneth said while stroking his chin. "An Edelfelt…hmm…a branch member most likely, and a distant one at that…and given the overseer's earlier announcement with regard to Caster…Edelfelt's Servant would be Assassin, would it not?"

"By process of elimination, they would be."

Kayneth snorted, and then burst out laughing. "Assassin!" he laughed. "How very fitting, that such a lowly and dishonorable card would be dealt to the half-civilized savages of Finland!"

Sola-Ui's face fell as Kayneth laughed at his own disparaging remarks of the Edelfelt Clan of magi. And then unnoticed, Kayneth consumed by mirth as he was, her eyes narrowed, filling with malice matched by her expression.

Here's to hoping that particular hyena tears your throat out.

"…well, this is an interesting development."

"Master?"

Cerberus smiled with amused thoughtfulness. "It might not be just Lord El-Melloi who picks up on my looks and where I get them from." She said. "If others do too…hmm…yes…I can work with this…plenty of opportunity…"

Cerberus nodded slowly, smile slowly growing wider. "Yes…" she said. "I can definitely work with this."

And then turning her head, she smiled reassuringly at Assassin. "Don't worry Assassin," she said. "You'll get your chance to get back at that stuck-up bastard for calling you 'lowly' and 'dishonorable'. Last I looked, you had a place on the Throne of Heroes. He does not."

"I have taken no offense." Assassin said with a bow. "Honor is something we are expected not to have."

"But you do have it, don't you?" Cerberus asked. "Naturally, as assassins when you perform your tasks and fight your enemies, you would not hesitate to do what must be done to succeed, even if you must sink to methods honorable warriors and the like would not. But in other areas, such as when you give your word, or forge a contract…"

"I suppose in that light honor is something we do possess." Assassin said with a nod. "And I am flattered that you think so highly of me, Master."

"You disagree?"

"A contract forged is a contract forged." Assassin said. "The given word is the given word. Neither is supposed to be broken, honor or not. It is just professionalism."

"…that's an interesting way to view it."

Assassin inclined her head in acknowledgement. "As for honorable warriors," she said before sneering. "What honor? When they take a town or city or go plundering after a campaign, where is their so-called honor? Is it there when they burn the homes of the innocent? When they force themselves on helpless women, girls, and young boys? When they loot and take all they can carry off, leaving naught but broken and destitute victims behind them?"

Assassin shook her head. "How honorable of them." She sneered. "How noble and admirable of them. You and I, my brothers and sisters of Alamut, we may all strike from the shadows and take life without mercy or regret, but we are more honorable than those so-called great and noble warriors. For us at least, there is our pride in bringing death and only death to those we test our skills against."

Cerberus stared at Assassin, Master and Servant alike locking eyes for a long moment. And then Cerberus smiled, and nodded before turning back to the screens.

"Yes," she said. "I completely agree."

A/N

The situation continues to develop, with the other Masters now beginning to look into Cerberus' background. None of them are finding much, except that she may be of Edelfelt descent (which she actually is). And that may cause trouble for the Edelfelt in the future, not that they would really care. That family thrives on and positively relishes in trouble. As Luvia proudly says, they are 'the most elegant hyenas in the world'.

Some insights from Assassin here, and she does have a point. How exactly are the Assassins more 'evil' and 'dishonorable' than warriors who killed, raped, and pillaged without mercy, and whose legends whitewash crimes committed to achieve them?