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

Cerberus

Part X

"Sakura!"

Cerberus smiled benignly as Rin jumped up in surprise from where she was sitting, and running over quickly embraced her sister. Sakura however, was all but unresponsive, neither returning Rin's embrace nor responding to Rin's babbled delight at her presence. It was something that Rin quickly noticed, the little girl falling silent and her face twisting with worry. After asking Sakura a few questions and receiving only vague and dispirited replies, Rin angrily turned to Cerberus.

"What did you do to her?" she angrily demanded.

"I saved her." Cerberus replied without hesitation. "Saved her before the creature could finish the job! The same creature your father sold her to without hesitation!"

"…t-t-that can't be…you're lying!"

Cerberus scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Sakura," she said while stepping back through the doorway and priming the bounded fields around the room. "Why don't you tell Rin all about what you've been through while you've been with the Matou? I'll be back in a while, and then we can get those filthy things out of you."

Without waiting for a reply, Cerberus closed the wooden doors, ignoring Rin's demands and banging while turning and walking away. "I assume then," Kirei began. "That since Miss Rin is unwilling to accept your word at face value, you expect her to respond differently to her little sister."

"Yes."

Kirei hummed in thought for a couple of moments. "While I would concede it has a fair chance of success," he began. "Knowing Miss Rin's character, I would still think she would deny Sakura's tale of what has been done to her while in Matou's custody. Indeed, she might even think you've coerced Miss Sakura into telling such a tale to her."

"…I suspect that might be the case." Cerberus admitted with a sigh. "But I've also taken that into account. More importantly, I'm surprised you're not questioning Rin's presence here."

"I am not surprised that you had her in your custody given what I've learned of you in the short time we've known each other." Kirei said. "Though, I assume you took custody of her after you dealt with Caster and his Master?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Our own investigations indicated that Miss Rin had been searching for her friend, who was among those kidnapped by Caster." Kirei said. "Said friend upon examination showed traces of mental interference, though it quickly became academic once you came forward with your claim on the reward for Caster's death. Going back to Miss Rin however, it was already suspected that one or another Master had taken custody of her as a potential hostage, though which specific Master had yet to be discovered at the time."

Cerberus hummed in mixed amusement and thought. "Seeing as Rin was chasing after Caster and his Master," she said. "Wasn't I under suspicion?"

"You were." Kirei admitted. "More so than others, and indeed one reason why I was following you on Master Tokiomi's orders."

"Other reasons being?"

"You are Edelfelt." Kirei answered. "Master Tokiomi considers you to be the most dangerous magus in this contest, save for Lord El-Melloi. And you possess the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. More information is required, regardless of how…meaningless, this contest has become."

"Ah…and yet here you are, turning your cloak."

Kirei was silent for a long moment, until they reached an empty room. "Given your actions in putting down a God-forsaken monster," he answered. "Showing mercy and giving advice to said monster's slave-descendant to start over with, and rescuing an innocent child unjustly cast out to torment, I am inclined to give you the chance to prove yourself that you asked of me earlier. Furthermore, I joined this war to find answers to my questions regarding my nature. Answers I suspect Tokiomi cannot give me, and which you might have in part."

"I see…then I'm happy to have helped."

Kirei smiled slightly and gave a small nod. "And you have my thanks." He said before rubbing his chin in thought. "I believe this room will be sufficient to perform spiritual surgery in. However, I will need more light, and a high table to serve as a makeshift gurney. And given what is known about Matou magecraft…"

"Leave that to me." Cerberus said with a nod, and walked off leaving Kirei in bemused silence.

About twenty minutes later and the operating room was ready. Cerberus had brought in a portable table, which she'd padded with mattresses and sheets from other rooms, while Assassin had set up portable halogen lights. Another, smaller table had also been brought in, on which metal containers filled with alcohol were set. Instruments of various kinds had been selected by Kirei from those Cerberus possessed, and those were sterilized by means of boiling followed by an alcohol bath.

With the preparations done, Cerberus returned to where she'd left Rin and Sakura…

…and upon opening the door, was immediately attacked by a tearful and near-hysterical Rin. "You messed with Sakura's mind!" she screamed, kicking and punching at Cerberus. "You made her say bad things about daddy and his friend! You're trying to use her against me! It won't work! It won't! It…!"

Cerberus bopped Rin on the head, and then picked her up by the scruff of her neck. "Piece of advice, Rin." She said, her eyes cold. "Don't make accusations you can't back up with evidence. Others won't be as forgiving as I am, magus or not. And since you don't want to believe even your own sister, I think it's time we made you see. Father Kotomine…?"

"I shall handle Miss Rin." Kirei said with a nod, and appearing from behind Cerberus.

"Mister Kirei?" Rin gasped in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"What I must," he answered. "And the right thing to do. Now come."

Taking Rin's hand, Kirei led her away, while Cerberus approached Sakura. "Hey, Sakura," she gently said, while sinking down to where Sakura was silently sitting. "Let's go. We'll get those worms out of you, and then everything will start getting better."

For several long moments, Sakura did not reply. "You don't have to." She finally said. "Grandfather will just put them back in when he comes back."

"…no, he won't."

"He will."

Sighing, Cerberus gently helped Sakura to her feet, the little girl offering no resistance. She didn't resist either as she was guided to the operating room, where Kirei had taken off his habit and was rolling up the sleeves of the white shirt he wore beneath. Cerberus sealed the room, and activated the bounded fields she and Kirei had put in place beforehand.

"Now then," she said. "Sakura, we need you to take off your clothes."

"Hey wait!" Rin loudly protested from where she was sitting. "You can't make Sakura take off her clothes in front of strangers, or even Mister Kirei! That's not right!"

"It's alright, Tohsaka." Sakura said, as she began to remove the purple dress she wore, surprisingly (or not) wearing no underwear beneath. "It doesn't matter."

Rin could only stare in horror, while Cerberus' face was like stone, her eyes blazing like stars on a cold, winter night. That Sakura's flesh appeared pristine and untouched could not deceive her eyes, and she could see the horror inflicted upon them.

"…what are you going to do?" Rin demanded in a small voice.

"We are going to remove the worms that bastard your father sold her to put in her." Cerberus said, as she helped Sakura up and to lie down.

"…you should stop. It's not working, and I know you're lying so…"

"Miss Cerberus is most certainly not lying." Kirei said while disinfecting his hands with alcohol. "The Matou truly do put parasitic worms inside their bodies as part of their training and as their magecraft. That this is torturous even by magi standards is also true, as is the fact the worms use any means necessary to enter the body, be it the mouth or other orifices, or by simply eating their way into the body."

"No…no…NO!" Rin screamed, putting her hands over her ears. "YOU'RE LYING! DADDY WOULD NEVER…!"

"He would." Kirei coldly said, as he approached the operating table. "Indeed, he saw it as simply a bigger than normal price that must be paid regardless, so your sister can become a magus. I would disagree but…I had no say in the matter, at least until now."

"If you don't want to believe in our words," Cerberus just as coldly added. "Then watch and see, as we take out the worms your father's friend put in her."

At those words, Cerberus turned to Kirei, and nodded. The priest nodded back, and began the operation to remove the worms. Rin watched in horrified silence, as Kirei cut Sakura's body open and began removing black, fanged worms writhing and squirming, one after another, drowning them with reinforced alcohol, their bodies piling up in the receptacles over the following hour and a half. Even more horrifying was how Sakura didn't even flinch or cry out as she lay cut open on the operating table, her blood and ichor splattering out to stain Cerberus and Kirei's clothes as well as the sheets and mattresses she was on.

It was as though she was used to incredible pain, to her body being violated and torn apart, just like she herself had told to Rin at Cerberus' behest.

Twice Rin had to be taken out by Assassin to vomit, and twice she was brought back, and forced to watch as Cerberus and Kirei removed the parasites from her sister's body. By the time they had all been removed, the receptacles were filled to overflowing, and only then did Cerberus and Kirei begin putting Sakura back together. "To think the worms transferred their…allegiance, to her on Makiri's demise." Cerberus said in disgust. "So that's how they survived."

"Quite adaptable, indeed." Kirei said with a nod. "Though I imagine you don't regret removing them, do you?"

"I certainly do not. Do you?"

"I do not. Though Master Tokiomi might see it as a waste of an opportunity."

"Damn him and his opinions." Cerberus spat. "This is all his fault, and there's no denying it!"

"Indeed there is none."

On being put back together, Cerberus and Kirei wiped Sakura clean, and then helped the exhausted child into fresh clothes. And as Kirei and Assassin escorted her to a prepared bedroom, Cerberus confronted Rin.

"Well?" she asked with arms crossed over her chest.

Rin sniffed, and shook her head. "I...I…I don't know…what to believe anymore…" she said.

Cerberus was silent for a long moment, and then she nodded. "It's a start." She said.

"So," Tokiomi began, come following morning after Kirei arrived to report his findings. "What have you uncovered, Kirei?"

"Yes, master." Kirei said with a bow. "I have uncovered Kirsikka Edelfelt's lair. Surprisingly, unlike her predecessors from the previous contest, she has chosen not to base herself in a…proper, residence, instead opting to base herself at the temple complex atop Mount Enzo."

Tokiomi blinked in surprise, and then his eyes widened in realization. "Ryuudo Temple?" he asked. "I see! An inspired choice for a stronghold, and an obvious one in hindsight! Quite perplexing too, how none until the present have chosen to base themselves at such a natural fortress as the temple complex!"

Kirei stayed silent as Tokiomi waxed eloquent on the virtues of Ryuudo Temple as a base of operations. Revealing Cerberus' lair was something she had agreed to allow Kirei to report to Tokiomi, a significant risk to be sure, but one she admitted needed to be taken.

"Is there anything else you would report, Kirei?" Tokiomi asked.

"There is none." Kirei said with a small bow. "I apologize, but as you say, Mount Enzo and the temple above is a natural fortress."

"Hmm…indeed…disappointing, but understandable."

It was technically true. Kirei had nothing else he intended to report, and his apology for keeping things from his master was genuine. Ryuudo Temple also was a natural fortress. Now, if Tokiomi had phrased his question differently, things might be different…

…but he had not, and that was that.

"With regard to the Grail, though…" Kirei began, in an attempt to move the topic of the conversation to another matter. It was fairly transparent, but Tokiomi took it at face value, given how serious the issue was in comparison to all others.

"Unfortunately, it does seem as though we have no choice but to destroy the Greater Grail." Tokiomi said with clenched fists, and causing Kirei to blink at the show of genuine anger from the usually cool and unflappable man. "Damn the Einzbern and their greed…"

"You have reservations, master?" Kirei asked.

Tokiomi didn't answer at once, reclining in his seat to compose himself. "We will have to consider the how carefully." He said. "Angra Mainyu doesn't seem the kind to just sit by and watch as we try to keep it from achieving its goals, much less destroy it. And we have not the Jeweled Sword of Zelretch should it manifest an avatar, much like it would have in Cerberus' world."

"Then…"

Tokiomi raised a hand. "As I said," he began. "We will need to consider the matter further. I'll attempt to speak with the Matou, though my familiars have received no reply from Zouken on my attempts to open communications."

"I see." Kirei said, and making a mental note to inform Cerberus of how Tokiomi was trying to get in touch with Matou, and risking exposure of the events which had transpired therein.

"…get in touch with Einzbern," Tokiomi was saying. "And Lord El-Melloi as well. The former is only to be expected, and the latter might be able to provide insight and other contributions."

"Indeed," Kirei agreed with a nod. "Should I attempt to make contact?"

"No," Tokiomi said with a smile. "I shall handle this myself. Let's not advertise the…friendly, relationship between my family and the church. It could prove problematic in the future."

"As you say, master."

Tokiomi nodded. "Instead," he said. "I want you to attempt to make contact with Matou in person, and get an explanation of why they haven't been receiving my familiars, or answering my – or your father's for that matter – requests for a meeting. And of course, continue the search for my daughter."

Kirei bowed. "It shall be as you say, master." He said, and Tokiomi nodded.

"There's been an interesting development."

"Oh? What's it about?"

Kirei was meeting Cerberus at Ryuudo Temple, the latter with her sleeves rolled up while doing maintenance work on her wakizashi. The sound of steel scraping against a wet ground stone had Kirei's teeth on edge, though Cerberus stopped soon enough.

"Apparently Master Tokiomi has been trying to get in touch with Zouken Matou." Kirei said. "Seeing as you've disposed of the latter, as might be imagined, he hasn't been getting any response. I suspect you would not want events which have transpired at the Matou property from being discovered at this point, so I thought you would want to know."

"Hmm…anything else?"

"Master Tokiomi has tasked with me making contact in person." Kirei said. "And obtain…answers, with regard to the lack of a response."

"I see." Cerberus said with a nod. "Well, knowing you, you won't lie."

"Such is the Lord's command, yes." Kirei said with a nod. "I will obey."

"But…you would be selective in the answers you would give, so long as they fit the loopholes in the questions asked, wouldn't you?"

Kirei didn't answer, while Cerberus examined her wakizashi's blade. "Seeing as I've taken custody of Sakura Matou," she said. "And Byakuya Matou – who with Makiri's death has become de facto head of his clan – personally gave her to me, it can be argued that I am de facto Matou's representative."

"…I suppose you are." Kirei conceded after a moment's thought.

"Then," Cerberus said with a smile. "Inform Tokiomi that we…apologize, for not being able to respond. However, issues have arisen in other territories under our responsibility, and as such we've gone to examine them. Sakura has also been brought along the better to see for herself her…inheritance, and while the issue about the Grail is troubling, we're currently indisposed. Tokiomi can act as he sees fit, in his capacity both as Second Owner and as the leader of a founding family. Oh, and he's granted authority to invoke Matou's name, if only for the sake of a quorum among the founding families."

"…virtually all of that is an untruth." Kirei remarked.

"Yes…but, I am the one speaking the untruths. Not you."

Kirei still didn't look convinced. "And I would be spreading them." He said.

"Are you?" Cerberus asked. "Just say 'Matou's representative has answered that…' and add to that what I've just said, and technically you'd be telling the truth."

"…I'll consider it." Kirei said with a sigh. "If I cannot bring myself to answer as you asked me to, I'll just have to improvise."

"Hmm…well, I think I can trust you in case it comes to that."

"I am grateful." Kirei said with a small bow. "Speaking of which, where are the children?"

Cerberus waved off in a general direction. "Playing over there." She said. "Assassin is watching them. I think I'll let Rin settle a bit before proceeding with the plan. The next couple of phases need to be done quickly. You'll see why soon enough, I am sure."

Kirei said nothing, merely narrowing his eyes even as Cerberus resumed work on her wakizashi.

Later that night, Cerberus was sleeping soundly when a thunderclap and a short but powerful shake of the ground woke her suddenly. At the same time, mental alarms were going off, and cursing to herself, Cerberus rushed to her makeshift armory while issuing mental commands.

Meanwhile at the gate grounds of the temple complex, Rider and Waver stood in the former's chariot, Servant and Master looking on with curiosity and apprehension as tactical cloaks shimmered into inactivity. The automated turrets they'd hidden from sight came to life as they did so, tripods extending upwards before barrels extended forwards, mechanisms whining as safeties were released and 7.62x51mm NATO rounds were chambered.

No shots were fired as of yet, but Rider and his Master were standing at the crossfire point, and while the machine guns would never be able to damage Rider, his Master was entirely another matter. And Waver knew it, the boy shrinking down as he realized the sheer scale of the firepower leveled in his face.

Rider however, just looked impressed. "Come now, Cerberus." He called at the top of his lungs. "Your choice of location was quite inspired, and your defenses impressive. But, I am not here to fight. And seeing as you haven't turned your contraptions against us, I can see you're willing to speak first."

"So I am." Cerberus said, jumping down from a rooftop to land behind Waver and Rider. She held out her left hand, omni-tool glowing and ready to fire a bolt of plasma to incinerate Waver down to the bone with if necessary. "Rider…Lord El-Melloi II…what are you two doing here?"

Rider grinned and loudly thumped the two barrels sitting in the chariot with him and Waver. "Why to do battle, of course!" he said. "Not with swords or other weapons, but with wine!"

"…what?"

"You might recall how in the past I claimed to be willing to negotiate." Rider answered. "Well, let us do just that! I have extended invitations to others, and while I hope they answer positively, I am almost certain you would."

"And what makes you think that?"

"Your actions back when we stood on that battlefield near the docks." Rider said with crossed arms. "From those alone, I can see you as someone who would respect and indeed, welcome the truce of and participate in parley with which to resolve a conflict, without the need for blood to be spilled."

"…speaking of blood spilled, it's too late now. I killed Caster's Master, and Assassin killed him."

"Seeing as how he was going after children I'd say it's a most just death."

There was a long moment of silence, and then Cerberus glanced behind her. For several more moments there was only the gentle wind blowing through the trees, and then Assassin materialized as Saber and Irisviel appeared, climbing up the temple stairs and passing through the gates.

"Lady Einzbern," Cerberus said, eyes narrowed. "Here to take part in Rider's little get-together?"

"That is so." Saber answered for herself and Irisviel.

There was another moment of silence, and then with a sigh Cerberus deactivated her omni-tool. "Alright," she said. "If this is how it's going to be, then let's get to it."

Rider grinned with satisfaction.

"We should be thankful the bounded fields I've set up all over this place are keeping us from being noticed by everyone else living here." Cerberus grumbled while sitting on a rock, the whole party gathered in a Zen garden. "We're making quite the ruckus."

"That is a good point." Rider said with a nod, while setting the barrels down. "You have my thanks, Cerberus. I'm not really the kind to hold back, and while I see the need to keep things secret, I wish it were otherwise. So again, my thanks for such consideration."

"Um…you're welcome…?"

"More importantly," Waver piped up. "Don't you think you're a bit…underdressed?"

Cerberus raised an eyebrow. "Is there something wrong with what I'm wearing?" she asked.

To be specific, Cerberus wore only a black sports bra and a matching pair of shorts, a hollowed-out, golden hexagon in the middle of her chest adding a lone touch of color to her clothes. Besides that, she wore nothing else, showing off her well-exercised but clearly well-endowed body for all the world to see.

And while Waver had a healthy appreciation for the female body…

…it wasn't really appropriate to advertise it. Especially when the female body belonged to a magitech assassin who could probably gut him in the blink of an eye.

"Not from what I can see." Rider answered. "Warrior women were rare in my day and age, but the few times I encountered them…you'd fit right in, Cerberus."

"Thanks…I think."

Waver fidgeted but said nothing. "Uncomfortable, Lord El-Melloi II?" Cerberus asked.

"Stop calling me that!" Waver snapped. "I don't know where you got the idea, but I'm not related to…well, um, that guy."

"Not yet."

"…huh?"

"She's from an alternate timeline." Irisviel cut in. "I imagine in that timeline, you eventually got adopted into the El-Melloi. A branch member, maybe?"

"Branch member?" Cerberus echoed. "Well, yeah, after the fourth war in my home timeline, he was adopted by the El-Melloi, though not as a branch member. He became the brother of the El-Melloi heiress, hence Lord El-Melloi II. That is, her second-in-command."

Rider whistled and then laughed while striking a gaping Waver on the back. "Looks like you've certainly made your way up in the world, boy!" he said with a grin.

"But that's…" Waver gasped out. "That's not…how…what?"

Cerberus sighed, and activating her omni-tool, projected a hologram. Everyone else watched from her perspective, Waver's mouth again falling open at what was clearly him (albeit with very long hair) grumpily regarding Cerberus.

"Finished the job?" Lord Waver El-Melloi II asked.

"Of course." Cerberus' memory-self answered, the hologram showing a pair of men in a heavier version of the armor she wore walk forward. They had weapons holstered at their left hip, and they carried a round container with them. Lord El-Melloi II wrinkled his nose.

"God…Miss Matou, is that what I think it is?" he asked.

Cerberus winced as eyes turned accusingly in his direction. "Matou?" Irisviel, Waver, Saber, and Rider asked in unison.

"Whoops…" Cerberus said with a weak laugh before turning serious. "That was…a mistake. Anyway…look, something's happening!"

Eyes turned back to the hologram as a beautiful, blonde woman in a dark-colored dress appeared, and whose face bore quite the resemblance to Kayneth. "Who's that?" Waver asked.

"Your sister," Cerberus answered. "And Lord Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald's as well, Lady Reines El-Melloi Archisorte."

"…wait…so…I…Kayneth…EEEEEEEEEEH?"

Faces then twisted in disgust as Reines opened the container, and with a satisfied smile pulled out a severed head, its pale flesh visibly starting to rot, but the expression of agonized terror still visible on its face. "Ah…very well done, Miss Matou." Reines said with a matching tone of satisfaction. "My brother here shall see to it that your fee shall be paid. And a bonus of course, for bringing us such a wonderful gift."

"Reines, that's a man's head!"

"Better that than a foot." Reines scoffed. "Or for that matter, the whole body. What am I supposed to do with either of those, hmm? The head though…yes…plenty of possibilities…we can work with this."

"Matou…did you have to do this?"

"You asked for proof." Cerberus' memory-form answered snippily. "If you didn't want me to bring the head, then you should have been more specific! And from the look of things, Lady El-Melloi doesn't seem to mind."

"Indeed I do not." Reines answered before stepping down with equal parts elegance and warning on Lord El-Melloi II's foot, the man wincing but clearly knowing better than to try and get away. "You have fulfilled all expectations, Miss Matou. Thank you."

Waver looked really unhappy as Cerberus cut the projection, and noticing this, Cerberus smirked. "Whipped!" she said and Waver paled.

"Please tell me I didn't marry that woman!" he desperately burst out.

"No…though the gossip in the Clock Tower has her apparently trying to get you to marry one of her cousins."

Waver whimpered while clutching his head, Rider laughing hard while Irisviel struggled not to laugh at how darkly-comedic Clock Tower life tended to be at times. "Bringing a man's head to show proof of his demise," Archer's voice came then, as the man appeared in a shower of gold. "I like your style, Cerberus."

"You have my thanks, King of Heroes." Cerberus said with a nod.

Archer didn't bother to respond one way or another, instead merely walking over to disinterestedly observe the gathering closer. "And?" he said. "What did you want to speak about, Rider, that you would drag us out all the way out here?"

A/N

Rin finally gets it. Took her long enough.

And we get to one of the best parts of FZ, Rider's banquet. Will it go as it did in canon? Maybe, maybe not, we shall see soon enough. On another note, poor Waver. Whether it's Kayneth or Reines, he's always doomed to be El-Melloi's overqualified and (seemingly) unappreciated top flunky.