A/N: Thanks for the reviews and private responses, everyone! They were all extremely helpful, and I'll be sure to keep in mind what you have noted to me! Keep up the good work, and I'll be sure to reward you all somehow. Don't know how, but I'll think something out! ;)

Also, before we begin, I would like you all to be a bit more specific in your reviews (not saying the reviews I got for the first chapter sucked, though). I need to know not only glaring continuity errors, but what you personally liked and personally disliked about the individual chapters. Content, diction, grammar, just about anything overall that sticks out to you in a good or bad way. If what you have to criticize about is something that can be fixed, then I'll surely make the necessary fixes. But no flames, please; those aren't particularly helpful in motivating me to improve my style for you guys.

Alright, I believe this is it for the opening Author's Note. Onward with the new chapter! ENJOY!

P.S.: I actually forgot to add this in the last chapter: a few of the Masters will be OCs, but they all have familial connections to characters already seen in a property of "Fate", so their storylines will be limited to the ones provided for their family names. However, I have a surprise for one such family name... ;)

Edit: I decided to add an extra line of dialogue to the scene where Taiga rescues Laeticia from her perverted classmate. It's a small edit, but it's the result of a change I decided to implement in the story, right after the chapter's original publishing. You'll see why. ;)

Fuyuki City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
– Three years later –

Kirei disliked chess.

The syntax of such a fact didn't necessarily indicate a full hatred of the board game on his part. After all, he understood its purpose and efficiency as a game meant to test the mind and keep both players occupied. He could play a game of it, both casually and in a tournament, without making so much as a single utterance of protest, and treat both a loss and a win accordingly.

However, despite his willingness to play a game of chess whenever it was necessary, Kirei found himself completely unable to understand one thing about it: the lack of a physical reward. Specifically, one that would bring a true sense of fulfillment and satisfaction to the triumphant victor. One that would match the amount of time spent quickly formulating multiple strategies and counter-strategies, all to ensure the victor's success in a game that was trivial in the long term and would not serve any importance and significance that would last even after mankind's downfall. There was no true appeal and incentive in playing it, a board game that involved both parties taking risks, hence his dislike of the game...

"Check."

Kirei cast his eyes on the black King that belonged to him, situated at the bottom right corner of the chessboard. He noticed that a white Pawn sitting on the square directly in front of his piece, preventing him from moving upward on the board. He could not move diagonally to the left, lest his King face death at the hands of the white Bishop. He could move his nearby Queen in the white Bishop's way and sacrifice it, but he would rather not lose the most powerful piece to a lesser piece in such a way. Therefore, his only option was to go left at a horizontal line, away from the opposing Pawn and Bishop pieces. So, he moved one square to the left.

"So, Brother," he said after completing his latest move, "what say you?"

"About what, Kirei?" asked Shirou as he closely examined his pieces, seemingly oblivious to the topic.

"About you being a White Master."

Shirou's pupils briefly flitted to the marble-white Command Seals emblazoned on his hand.

"It's...rather shocking, to say the least," he replied as he moved his Queen downward, giving it a clear horizontal path into the black King. "Check."

"So it would appear that the Holy Grail deems you a worthy participant." Kirei promptly moved his King diagonally to the left by one square, where his black Queen was situated at the next square to the left. "For all the years that I've known you, I never thought you had Magical Energy in you. I never even imagined you would have a wish that you want granted."

"That's because I have none." Shirou's eyes narrowed seriously as he moved his Rook away from Kirei's Pawn, closer to the other white Rook.

Kirei blinked. "No wish at all?"

"None."

"Then...why would the Grail choose you?"

Shirou shrugged. "No idea. For now, I assume my only role in the War is to ensure Tokiomi Tohsaka's victory. He's a friend, and I'm obligated to help him in his goal."

"Always trying to help a person in need, huh Shirou?"

"Well, the wish he wants granted is a safe one for the world. Reaching the Root is a personal experience, and creating a path to it would not affect the world. I can only wish Tokiomi well in his journey."

The young white-haired man looked up and gazed further down the park both brothers were in. Kirei followed his gaze and noticed he was looking at Mashu, who was playing with two girls, both with black hair and aqua eyes. The older, more confident and outgoing girl was wearing a proper and prim-looking dress, and her wavy, long hair was styled into twin pigtails. The other girl, around Mashu's age, had shorter hair and was wearing a more modest dress. Nearby, Laeticia was keeping a vigil on the three girls, but was smiling fondly at them, while Caren was sitting beside her, reading a book with a vacant expression.

"To think," Shirou continued, abruptly switching topics, "it's been over two years since we got here, Kirei. I thought Mashu and Caren would never get along with the likes of Rin and Sakura Tohsaka. Laeticia's adjusting quite nicely as well."

"Yes," replied Kirei indifferently. "She's gotten used to that high school she enrolled in. Homurahara Academy, I believe it was called."

"Yeah, except when all the boys chase her around." Shirou's lips twitched briefly at the humorous remark.

Kirei trained his focus back on the chessboard. "Yes, she's still uncomfortable with that."

Shirou looked at his adopted brother with a raised eyebrow. "What, you're not helping her out with that problem?"

"Why should I?" Kirei casually moved one of his Pawns down one square, closer to the Rook that was threatening his Knight. "It is a trivial matter that would not affect the Holy Grail War's outcome."

"But it is optimal for Ruler Servants and their Masters, the Overseers, to have a strong bond if they are to supervise the Wars together. Considering Laeticia is the catalyst for Jeanne d'Arc, I believe it is fair to strengthen that bond as much as possible, so the Maid of Orléans will accept you more willingly as her Master."

"Ruler Servants are the equals of the Overseers, meant to supervise the Holy Grail Wars and nothing else. There is no point in establishing a friendship with my Servant when all we are going to do is watch over magicians fight to the death and prevent these battles from being known to the public."

"But a Ruler Servant is also your partner." Shirou promptly took Kirei's Pawn out with his Rook, adding the black chess piece with the rest of its ousted brethren. "A partnership cannot demonstrate its full potential if both members cannot cooperate with each other. It is like any other Master-Servant pairing. A Master's planning, tactics, and coordination in the battlefield will go to waste without a Servant to actually execute them. And a Servant will look no more like a wild, uncontrolled beast indiscriminately using violent attacks without the supervision of a Master. Even a Berserker Servant has its limits in self-control, depending on the Master's efficiency."

"But we are fighting in a war over a false chalice of power, and my catalyst's personality will be inactive for the entire duration of said war anyway." Kirei began sliding his Rook upward on the chessboard. "Interacting with people of the opposite sex should be the least of Laeticia's worries." He stopped on the same row of squares where the white King was situated. "Check."

"Being cold and tactical, as usual." Shirou moved his King down one square. "Just because Laeticia's personality will not be active during the War, it doesn't mean Jeanne d'Arc's personality will be any different. Remember, the Holy Church selected Laeticia as the catalyst because her personality, among other attributes, was the most compatible to Jeanne's. In addition, Jeanne will retain all of Laeticia's knowledge of the current era, so it would be best if she retained the knowledge that you are a good friend who can be trusted with anything and everything."

Kirei pursed his lips. "I'm a priest and a member of the world's most prominent organization of God. I believe that is enough to give me good credentials." He moved his Queen to the same horizontal row of squares as Shirou's king. "Checkmate."

Shirou blinked and examined the chessboard. He could move his King back up to its original position, but he would wind up losing it to the Rook. He could not go down vertically, for his Bishop was positioned there. Any hopes to move diagonally were dashed, as both squares were occupied by Pawns. He mentally cursed at himself for being aggressive with his Queen at the tail end of the game. He really needed to work on that strategy of his.

"Well," the younger man said, smiling kindly and raising his hands in surrender, "looks like you win again, Kirei."

"Yes, but for what?" Kirei thought as he looked at his brother.

Before he could ponder any further, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Shirou, Kirei."

Both men looked up. "Father," they replied simultaneously.

"What brings you out of the church at this time?" asked Shirou. Then, he noticed the serious expression on Risei's face as the priest neared. "What's wrong?"

"Things don't look good," Risei replied.

"In what way?"

"It appears we've found the first Black Master at the Clock Tower."

"The Clock Tower... That's also where two of the White Masters reside." Shirou's eyes narrowed. "Who is it?"

"A rather big problem." Risei pursed his lips, his serious expression looking much like Kirei's, interestingly enough. "It is the head of the vor Sembren family, and an eighth-generation mage. Feend vor Sembren."

London Clock Tower

"Goddamn narcissist... Pompous ass... Stuck-up dick..."

Waver Velvet's rant degenerated into repetitive insults a long time ago, and from that point till the present time, it caught the cautious eyes of more than a few students and employees in the halls. However, he didn't care anymore. All he could think about was the insults thrown at him by his teacher, the insufferable, narcissistic nobleman Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. How dare he dismiss his paper as mere fantasies! How dare he compare his family lineage to a newborn baby! How DARE he make a fool of him in front of the entire classroom! This offense was not something Waver was prepared to dismiss! He had to find retribution somehow, preferably in the form of something that would prove his magnificence to the Mage's Association and the entire mage world-

"So, it seems you have the Command Seals too," a familiar drawling voice said.

Waver immediately stopped in his tracks. Right now, everyone was in class, so the halls of the Clock Tower had to be deserted at this time, save for the occasional deliveryman and janitor. What in the world was a respected, diligent teacher like Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald doing, neglecting his class?...

Intrigued, Waver continued walking towards the direction he believed the voice was coming from, and as he did, he heard more talking.

"Ah, but it appears you've drawn the short straw, vor Sembren," a second male voice said, almost in a mocking, condescending tone. Waver recognized the speaker as Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, another instructor at the Clock Tower, the successor of the head of the Spiritual Evocation Department, and (if the rumors were true) Kayneth's soon-to-be brother-in-law. Another first-class instructor out of class?...

"Oh, shut it," snapped a third voice, also male. Waver didn't recognize this one, but judging by the surname used by Bram, he was most likely Feend vor Sembren, also a first-class instructor, though he hailed from the Elemental Department.

By this point, Waver reached an adjacent hallway and peeked into it, keeping his back against the wall. He could see the three instructors conversing.

"This could be a benefit for my family name anyway," continued Feend as he brushed a lock of his gray hair aside. "The Holy Grail likely chose me to make up for the dismal membership of the Einzberns' Black Faction. With my power and capabilities, I can usurp that bloody disgrace, assume leadership of the faction, and lead it to victory in the first stage of the War!"

"But for you to work alongside him..." Kayneth replied. He then tutted and shook his head in disapproval. "Your ancestors must be rolling in their graves at this-"

"I will make my ancestors proud, Archibald," snarled Feend. "Mere associations will no longer matter once I acquire my trophy and use it as the physical proof of my family lineage's power, something that cannot be challenged by anyone!"

"Your trophy?" Bram repeated incredulously. "Heh. I have never heard of such blasphemy. The Fuyuki Holy Grail, the omnipotent wish-granting device, nothing more than a museum relic ready to be showcased to the rabble in a glass case? What a waste of a wish-"

"You will regret it once I win the Holy Grail! You should be counting your blessings, for we will meet on the battlefield, and I will be sure to summon the most powerful and reliable Heroic Spirit there is!"

"And when that happens," Kayneth replied, sneering, "may the best mage win."

The nobleman promptly turned around with a swish of his coat and began walking towards Waver's direction, followed by Bram. The student felt his blood run as cold as the Arctic the moment Kayneth and Bram stopped beside him, their eyes drawn towards his form. The sneer on Kayneth's face widened.

"Well, if it isn't the baby," he said in greeting, and Waver gritted his teeth at the insult. "What are you doing, Waver Velvet? Don't you know that eavesdropping on the conversations of adults is an unethical thing to do?"

As much as Waver wanted to make a snappy comeback at him, he didn't know what exactly to say. And besides, there was a glare in Kayneth's eyes, one that he had never seen before. It seemed to suggest an intent of malice...or maybe more than that. Either way, he didn't want to risk challenging his instructor at a time like this.

"Waver Velvet?" asked Bram, scanning the student from head to toe. Then, he sneered as well. "I must say, you were right about him, Kayneth. He is small."

"He's been talking about me behind my back?!" thought Waver, all rationale slipping away in an instant. "That's it, screw this!"

He charged forward with an outraged yell, hoping to land a blow to Kayneth's smug face, but before he knew it, a powerful gust of wind violently forced him down. Hitting the floor hard, Waver groaned in pain and looked up to see Kayneth aiming his index finger at him, his sneer still in place.

"Really, Mr. Velvet?" the nobleman asked. "You would resort to cowardly physical attacks without relying on even a single hint of your prowess in magecraft?" He lowered his finger. "I would expect nothing less from a baby."

"Damn you..." spat Waver.

That only served to draw an amused chuckle from Kayneth. "And with a mouth to boot. I guess I will have to dock points from your overall class score-"

"Kayneth," interrupted Bram, his tone serious, "all formalities aside, what should we do with him?"

"I do not understand," Kayneth replied in a mock-confused tone.

"He's an outsider, a witness. He knows next to nothing about the Holy Grail Wars. By their rules, we have to kill him."

Waver's eyes widened in horror. Kill him? Did Bram really mean that? But...he couldn't die! Not yet! Not while he still had to prove his talent to the Mage's Association and assert his position in history! What in the world did he even witness anyway?...

"I believe that rule is applicable when the fighting starts," Kayneth replied smugly. "Not all of the Masters have even been selected yet. No, I believe it is in our best interests to let Mr. Velvet go. Besides..." A glint passed through his eye. "There is absolutely nothing he can do to jeopardize this operation."

Waver immediately understood the implication of that statement.

"However..." Kayneth bent down towards Waver so his face could be closer to his student's; their eyes bore into each other seriously. "If you ever breathe a single word of what transpired today, I will know. And you will pay dearly for your actions. Is that understood, Waver Velvet?"

Realizing he had just dodged Death, Waver had no choice but to nod. Kayneth smirked, stood back up, and walked past the fallen student.

"I will see you tomorrow, Mr. Velvet," he said in farewell.

Waver didn't look after his teacher. In fact, he was unsure of what to do right now. He was just lying on the floor, paralyzed. He couldn't even look at Bram in the eye as the latter continued to stare at him, no doubt mentally debating whether he should follow Kayneth's advice or not. Fortunately, it only took a couple of minutes before Bram decided to make his leave, but not before Waver heard the instructor grunt in displeasure.

Once he was sure Bram was gone, Waver sat up, struggling to maintain his breath. He wasn't sure what this was all about, but that much was for sure: he was nearly murdered, spared by his teacher only by a whim. And judging from what he overheard, it seemed that the high-ranking instructors in the Clock Tower were involved in some sort of war that involved...the Holy Grail? The actual chalice of Christian lore? The more he thought about it, the more Waver was intrigued.

He looked back, only to see an empty hallway.

"If you ever breathe a single word of what transpired today, I will know. And you will pay dearly for your actions."

Kayneth said he couldn't tell anyone. But he didn't say he couldn't look up more information.

Waver sat in one of the desks in the empty library, reading the first of many books he gathered, all of which had something to do with the Holy Grail. It took him a lot of time and browsing, and during that time, he continued thinking about what he overheard, not just from Kayneth, Bram, and Feend, but from random whispers and conversations by other students and even employees. They were all a bit far-fetched, but the primary topic was mostly consistent: it appeared that some high-ranking members of the Mage's Association were getting ready for some sort of war.

Finally, after hours of searching, he managed to find a section dedicated to the so-called Holy Grail War, already in the first book.

"This is it," Waver whispered to himself. "So it looks like the rumors were all true..." He read the text of the basic summary closely. "So, there's some sort of...game competition going on in the Far East... A game competition? Heh. Sounds a bit anticlimactic if the likes of Archibald and Sophia-Ri are involved."

However, he continued reading the section and found himself more drawn in with every word.

"So...240 years ago, the Einzberns, the Tohsakas, and the Makiris, three families of mages, worked together to summon the Holy Grail, a device said to grant any wish, in Japan's Fuyuki City. They eventually succeeded in their endeavor, but the Grail could only grant the wish of only one family. As a result, their alliance was destroyed, and they turned on each other. That was the start of the Holy Grail Wars.

"Every 60 years, the Grail will appear in Fuyuki and select seven mages from all across the globe to compete in secret battles to the death, to determine who is worthy of holding it. Each participant, known as a 'Master', must summon a Heroic Spirit known as a 'Servant'. Each Servant is a representative of one of the seven classes: Saber, the Knight of the Sword; Lancer, the Knight of the Lance; Archer, the Knight of the Bow; Rider, the Mounted Knight; Caster, the Magus; Assassin, the Silent Killer; and Berserker, the Mad Warrior.

"Under these seven classes, the Servants will fight each other to the death for their Masters, and kill the Masters whenever possible. Their battles are supervised by an impartial representative from the Holy Church, known as the 'Overseer', and his or her Servant, Ruler, the Standard-Bearer Who Correctly Guides the Holy Grail War. The last Master and Servant pair standing is declared the victor of the Holy Grail War, and they each can have their greatest wish granted by the Grail."

Upon finishing reading the section, Waver leaned back on his chair, sighing heavily as he processed everything he just learned.

"So, it would seem that this Holy Grail War is just a battle of pure strength and skill. Title, rank, nobility, they all mean absolutely nothing. Weak or strong, known or unknown to the world, it does not matter. As long as you have the knowledge and a wish to offer to the Grail, then you are selected as a Master."

He paused, his lips curving into a smile of satisfaction. He knew he wasn't supposed to tell anyone about the Holy Grail War. After all, it was supposed to be a secret mages tournament, now that he was well-informed on the topic. He would die (or worse) if he did, if what Kayneth said held up. Of course he wouldn't tell anyone about it, especially if a concept like that was supposed to be out of the realm of knowledge for most mages. Who would believe him if they could?

Participating in the War, however, was a different thing altogether. After all, Kayneth never said anything against that, now did he?...

Without a second thought, Waver took all of the books and began his trek to the secretary's desk. As he did, he felt a brief prickling sensation on the back of his right hand, but chose to ignore it. All he was focused about was the Holy Grail War, and how he was going to emerge at the top.

He could see it already...

The Tohsaka Residence
– Three days later –

Walking down the stone steps into the Tohsaka basement and Tokiomi's personal study, Shirou could hear the scribbling of his host's jewel-powered writing device, installed in place of a traditional ink printer. Having used printers several times before, he judged them to be more efficient than any of Tokiomi's personal devices, but he was aware of how opposed magi were to modern-day technology, and he chose to respect the decision to reject them.

Arriving at the bottom of the steps, Shirou found Tokiomi watching the device as it continued writing foreign letters on the aged, faded sheet of paper. Once the device was done writing the message, the Tohsaka head calmly procured a dagger and used it to cut the paper away with a metallic grinding sound that would easily make one's skin crawl.

"Pardon me for the intrusion, Tokiomi," he said.

"Oh, you are not intruding at all, Shirou," replied Tokiomi as he read the sheet of paper. "In fact, you arrived at an opportune time. I just received word that two more catalysts for the White Faction were found."

"Where, exactly?"

"One in Macedonia, the other near the Euphrates in Iraq. I intend to save those two for Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald and Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri when they arrive here in Fuyuki." Tokiomi glanced across his shoulder at Shirou. "So, how are Kirei and Laeticia?"

"Kirei's doing surprisingly fine, interacting with Laeticia. She's used to him now." Shirou briefly paused, then chuckled. "You know, Tokiomi, it surprises me to know how similar the two of them are."

"In what way?" asked the Tohsaka head.

"They're both quiet and plain. When faced with a task, they carry it out without losing their cool or even saying a single word, like they're machines. And they're both servants of God, first and foremost."

"Oh yes, I have noticed that." Tokiomi smiled slightly. "I believe the Holy Grail will never be able to form a Master and Servant pair who will have more chemistry than Kirei Kotomine and Jeanne d'Arc."

"You mean Laeticia Delacroix."

"Pardon?"

Shirou's expression had turned cold. "She's not a Servant yet, and she's certainly not Jeanne d'Arc yet. Her name till that point is Laeticia Delacroix."

"Oh, forgive me for my choice of words...or in this case, names."

Then, the Tohsakas' writing device activated itself again, writing out a message on a new sheet of paper. Tokiomi immediately stood up and turned his back on Shirou, watching intently as the device did its work. All Shirou could do was bore holes into the back of his host. He didn't really appreciate how Tokiomi viewed Laeticia as nothing more than a tool crafted for his convenience. More broadly, he didn't appreciate how Tokiomi viewed others as tools to bolster the continued success of the Tohsaka lineage. Namely, his wife and two daughters...

He had taken quite a liking to Rin and Sakura, which was reciprocated by them. He treated them like he treated Mashu, with gentleness, support, and warmth. Judging by how quickly they came to view him as a father figure, this kind of love he demonstrated to them was an approach Tokiomi did not take. The same went for Aoi, who quickly accepted him as a friend and someone to share her problems with. He wouldn't be surprised if she turned out to develop a romantic affection towards him.

In his opinion, there was nothing wrong with following the principles of a mage, but the responsibilities of a husband and father took precedence over everything else. To start this wonderful family solely for the purpose of continuing the Tohsaka name was nothing short of disgraceful to him.

His thoughts were dispelled by the sound of Tokiomi's dagger cutting the paper.

"What's that?" he asked.

"A message from another one of my contacts," Tokiomi replied, his voice grave now. "I've been gathering all the information I can on the Einzbern Master, the leader of the Black Faction."

"If I can recall, the Einzberns are notoriously proud of their pure blood. They're the kind of family that resorts to inbreeding to maintain their lineage."

Tokiomi scoffed. "The latter is more akin to fool's talk. But I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually did take that path. But since we're on that topic, I will have to say that the Einzbern Master is most interesting. Around nine years ago, the Einzberns suddenly allowed an outsider to marry into the family."

Shirou's eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

"As much as they are proud of their pure blood, the Einzberns have dedicated themselves solely to alchemy," explained Tokiomi. "As a result, they were unfit for combat, and they suffered terrible losses during the past three Holy Grail Wars. They must have finally run out of patience."

"So they just take in an outsider and have him or her marry into the family?"

"Yes, but the Einzberns did not bring in just any outsider." Tokiomi's eyes narrowed into slits as he read the paper. "He's known by a number of names, but only one stands out above all else." He turned to Shirou, the disgust evident on his face. "The Magus Killer."

Einzbern Castle, Germany

Kiritsugu Emiya knew no such thing as an easy day. Ever since he was brought in by the Einzberns to assist them in the upcoming Holy Grail War, he was always caught in some sort of work. Right now, he was staring at the table in front of him, examining the two groups of files of paperwork that he managed to organize. One concerned the members of his own faction, while the other concerned the Masters of the White Faction. As of today, two Black Masters were identified, along with four White Masters.

According to the files, the known Black Masters were:

Feend vor Sembren

Gender: Male
Age: 38
Birth Date: June 18, 1956
Country of Origin: Norway
Relatives: Ingolf vor Sembren (father, deceased); Kamilla vor Sembren (mother, deceased); Arvid vor Sembren (brother); Brynhild vor Sembren (sister)
Elemental Affinity: Lightning
Magic Specialties: Golemancy, Healing
Notes: First-rate instructor at the London Clock Tower's Elemental Department. Eldest son and current head of the esteemed vor Sembren family, and an eighth-generation mage. Developed a process to create extremely powerful Golems. Valuable asset to the first phase of the War. Priority of elimination: High.

Klaus Edelfelt

Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Date: December 28, 1960
Country of Origin: Finland
Relatives: Ransu Edelfelt (father, deceased); Riina Edelfelt (mother, deceased); Vilhelmi Edelfelt (brother, missing); Luukas Edelfelt (brother); Aune Edelfelt (sister-in-law); Luviagelita Edelfelt (niece); Saana Edelfelt (maternal aunt, missing)
Elemental Affinity: Water
Magic Specialties: Jewel Magecraft, Mental Interference, the Gandr Curse
Notes: Middle son of the Edelfelt family in Finland. Became the family's successor after elder brother received a Sealing Designation and fled. Family known for its specialization in the Gandr Curse. Mother and aunt, both twins, both participated in the Third Holy Grail War, aunt vanished without a trace afterwards. Has a grudge against the Tohsaka family like the rest of the family, which could be possible obstacle for the Black Faction. Must be kept at a minimal role in the War and away from Tokiomi Tohsaka at all times. Priority of elimination: Moderate.

Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes at Feend's file, which contained a photo of him staring smugly into the camera. An eighth-generation mage from a well-established family like the vor Sembrens, in all of his pride as a magus, would definitely not cooperate well with the rest of the Black Faction, namely its leader. As valuable as he was to the Black Faction's makeup, Feend would most likely also be a problem for the group's inner workings. He still had yet to figure out how to efficiently manage that.

"Kiritsugu?" a soft, innocent voice asked.

"Iri," the cold-faced man replied without even turning his head.

Irisviel von Einzbern approached, her white-and-gold gown fluttering smoothly and gracefully like a veil. Strands of her long, flowing silver hair fell from her shoulders as she bent down slightly to examine Kiritsugu's files. Her face was wearing a curious expression that bordered childishness.

"What is this?..." she asked.

"All of the information that I could gather on the Black and White Masters." Kiritsugu put his hands in his pockets as he pursed his lips. "As of this hour, we have identified two Black Masters and four White Masters. They're all very powerful in their own right. Some will be valuable allies, other will be formidable foes. This Holy Grail War will indeed be a violent one."

Irisviel glanced at the files of Feend and Klaus. "So these are our allies."

"Temporary allies, but yes. Feend vor Sembren and Klaus Edelfelt."

"Edelfelt?" The silver-haired woman looked up at Kiritsugu. "You don't mean..."

"Yes," the freelancer replied. "The same Edelfelt family who participated in the last Grail War."

"The last I've heard of them, the elder sister fled Japan after being defeated near the end of that War, while the younger sister vanished after being defeated by the Tohsaka Master. The Edelfelt name was put to shame after that, and they fell out of the ranks of other well-known magi families."

"Yes. But it appears the Edelfelts intend to bring themselves back into prominence with this Grail War. Already do I sense complications from that fact, especially when Tokiomi Tohsaka is concerned."

Irisviel blinked, then stared at the photo of Klaus Edelfelt. He had brown eyes and long golden hair, which was tied into a short ponytail. The smile was was wearing was genuine, but his eyes seemed vacant and unoccupied, as if the Edelfelt successor was lost in thought at the time the photo was taken. Not wanting to pry into that expression any further, she glanced at the other, larger pile of files, which held paperwork on who she immediately assumed to be the four White Masters.

However, before she could investigate them, she heard Kiritsugu's printer power up. Glancing towards it, Irisviel noticed it was printing out something, which she assumed was what Kiritsugu called a 'fax'. Indeed, she heard him exhale softly as he walked over towards the printer, waiting for it to finish.

"What is that?" she asked. "Another Master has been found?"

"Yes, Iri," replied Kiritsugu as he took the finished paper from the printer. He blinked in surprise after reading the first couple of lines. "It is the fifteenth Master, the Master of the Ruler-class Servant. Maiya's contacts are quicker than I anticipated."

Irisviel cocked her head curiously. "But why did it take this amount of time in the first place? The Masters of Ruler are always the Overseers, whose identities are immediately made known once the Holy Church makes their selection of the perfect candidate."

"That is because there is a second Overseer supervising the War, due to the higher number of Masters and Servants. For what I assume to be issues of formality, the Holy Church chose to not make this Overseer's identity known to all the participants."

"Oh. So...I take it that he's the Master of Ruler?"

"Yes. He is the son of the other Overseer supervising the War. His name is Kirei Kotomine." Kiritsugu finally turned around to face Irisviel's direction, but he was still reading the paper closely. "This says that he studied the basics of this Grail War under Tokiomi Tohsaka three years ago, splitting with him a few months afterward. During the past three years, however, he moved into the Tohsaka residence in Fuyuki with his daughter, brother, and niece. He appears to have already acquired the catalyst for a Ruler Servant, but details into that don't go any further."

Irisviel blinked in understanding, and watched as Kiritsugu continued to read the personal file intently. She quickly noticed how his eyebrows raised themselves for a fraction of an inch with every passing minute.

"Is something wrong, Kiritsugu?" she asked.

"No, not really," he replied. "It's just...Kirei Kotomine has a very interesting personal background. It says here that he followed his family around in pilgrimages across the globe since he was a child. He graduated valedictorian from the Theological College of Manresa St. Ignacio in 1981, having skipped two years."

Irisviel blinked again, this time in surprise. "He sounds pretty impressive."

"But suddenly," continued Kiritsugu, "instead of becoming a cardinal minister, what with his credentials, he instead focused his career on the inside of the Holy Church, and became a member of the Eighth Sacrament Assembly."

"I don't understand what the problem is, Kiritsugu..."

"If he wanted to become a member of a secret church organization, then he could've pursued that path from the very beginning. And in addition, until he settled onto his position in the Eighth Sacrament Assembly, he transferred three times to different departments. At one point, he was even an Executor." He lowered the paper and looked at Irisviel with an almost amused smile. "In essence, exactly what I was. A magus killer."

Irisviel's eyes softened in concern. "Is that supposed to be a problem?"

"No, not at all. Overseers are supposed to be impartial authorities. The Holy Church no doubt chose him because of his efficiency and lack of direction. The same thing likely applies for the Grail." The black-haired man then resumed reading Kirei's file. "Huh, interesting. Alchemy, Necromancy, Summoning, Divination, Healing... Iri..."

"Yes, Kiritsugu?"

He promptly handed the file over to the silver-haired woman. "Look at all the categories of magic he studied."

Irisviel blinked in surprise, then obliged and began reading the list. Her eyes widened at the amount of categories included. There was no way someone like Kirei Kotomine, who would only have access to Magical Energy for a limited period of time, would want to try and study so many.

"Why would he study so many different categories?" Kiritsugu asked, more to himself than Irisviel. "As a Master for the Ruler Servant, his primary function is to anchor that Servant to the world with mana. He can only use magic during the Grail War when such an act is deemed necessary by the Church, and even then, Overseers, as servants of God, are not so willing to use that which is against their beliefs and traditions. Why did he take the effort to learn all about magic in such a short period of time when it will be useless to him in the future?

"And furthermore, when he is studying one category, he gets to the point of nearly mastering the discipline, but then, he suddenly switches to another field and never looks back at it again... It's...It's as if he takes everything he's learned and throws it away like yesterday's trash... He must know that studying such magic is already useless to him in the long term, and yet, he continues his studies without a second thought, as if he's obligated to, not because he wishes to...

"He's never shown any passion for anything at all in his life. He believes in absolutely nothing. He has no deep desire, no wish of any kind to be granted..."

"I don't understand," replied Irisviel. "Are...Are you terrified of Kirei Kotomine?"

To her surprise, he smiled and answered, "No. Not at all. In fact, I am impressed. The Grail couldn't have picked a better Master for the Ruler class."

The Tohsaka Residence

Kirei walked down the staircase towards the ground floor, all the while examining his Command Seals. Right now, Laeticia was away at school, the girls were playing all over the manor (much to his annoyance), Aoi was cooking dinner for the family and her guests, and Shirou and Tokiomi were most likely down in the basement, discussing matters pertaining to the Grail War. As for him, well, he had been doing nothing but reading the empty passages that made up the Bible. Today, one such passage caught his attention, moreso than the rest: Jeremiah 29:11.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Every time he thought about it, he could feel that sickness grow and continue to manifest at the back of his head...

As he reached the bottom of the steps, he heard a girlish scream. Seconds later, he watched as Mashu dashed into the room, running as fast as she could while giggling with mirth, the arms and legs of her doll flailing wildly. Then, Kirei casually watched as she slipped on the marble floor, falling hard on its surface.

At first, Mashu remained sprawled on the floor, shocked at what just happened, processing the pain. Then, a few seconds later, the pain caught up to her, and she began crying.

Kirei stepped off the last of the stairs and approached Mashu's fallen form as she assumed a fetal position. She immediately noticed her uncle nearing and looked up at him, her sobs softening into whimpers and hiccups. Tears were falling down her cheeks and staining her shirt. There was a look of raw expectation in her eyes as she continued looking up at him, expecting him to pick her up, comfort her, and check on any wounds, just like her father would do...

But Kirei did none of that. He only knelt down beside her and watched as she continued to suffer from the pain...

But that only lasted for a couple of seconds, for Kirei then reached out consolingly to Mashu...

"Mashu!" a voice cried. "Mashu, are you alright?!"

Rin Tohsaka ran up to Mashu, blocking her from Kirei's view, and knelt down, inspecting her.

"R-R-Rin..." stuttered Mashu, sniffling. "It hurts..."

"What happened? Did you fall down?" When the purple-haired girl nodded, she asked, "Where does it hurt?"

"M-My kn-knee..." Her eyes began to water up with tears again. "I want Papa!"

"Rin?" another voice asked, and Kirei, Rin, and Mashu looked towards the hallway. Aoi was standing a few feet away, Caren and Sakura standing behind her. "Rin, what happened?"

"Mashu fell down and hurt her knee, Mother," replied Rin, gesturing to Mashu's leg.

"Oh, my..." Aoi walked over to Mashu, helped her up, and guided her to a nearby chair. "Where does it hurt, dear?"

Mashu didn't respond, but she weakly pointed her index finger to her patella. Aoi gently inspected it and noticed there was a small but developing bruise there.

"Oh, this doesn't look bad, my dear," the Tohsaka matriarch continued. "But if you want, I can get-"

"I want Papa..." whispered Mashu, hugging her doll even more tightly than ever.

"Oh, so you want to see your papa, huh?" Kirei immediately noticed the slight blush forming on Aoi's cheeks at the reference to Shirou, and he scoffed inside the confines of his head. "Okay, I shall take you to your papa. Come on, dear..."

Mashu took Aoi's hand, and the two walked out of the room, Caren following close behind. Sakura remained for a moment before going on her separate ways; as she did, Kirei noticed the younger Tohsaka daughter still had the disappointed expression that she had been maintaining for the past week. This left Kirei alone with...

"Don't think you can hide it from me, Kirei."

The Executor-in-training turned towards Rin. "I have no clue as to what you are implying, Rin," he replied.

"Don't play dumb, I saw you with Mashu!" snapped Rin. "You tripped her or something like that, didn't you?! Huh?!"

"I'm sorry, but you've misunderstood the situation. I was walking down the stairs and chanced upon Mashu falling to the ground. As her uncle, I was about to help her up to her feet and inspect her for any wounds that she might have suffered, but you and your mother took over for me. Quite nicely, I might add."

Rin's sapphire-blue eyes narrowed menacingly. "You can't fool me, Kirei. You may pretend to be a good guy and a friend of Father's, but I know the truth! You're really just a crook and a fake priest who hurts other people for the fun of it! Those are worse than any other person in the whole, whole Universe! I don't know what you're trying to do, being nice to Father and all, but I'll have you know that you aren't gonna win in the end, not if I have anything to say about it!"

Kirei blinked. "Rin, those are some pretty misguided, unfounded accusations. You must be careful in addressing people that way in the future. People might start to cast aspersions on your father. He is the man who's educating you and nurturing you after all-"

"Don't you dare say that kind of stuff about Father like that!" Rin interrupted harshly, her hands clenched into fists. "Listen here, Kirei! I will not let you do anything to Father, no matter what! I don't know what exactly you have up your sleeve, but know this: I will show you no mercy when the time comes, got it?!"

"What's up with the yelling?" a voice asked. Kirei looked back to the doorway and saw Shirou approaching. "Rin? What're you doing, screaming at my brother?"

Rin's eyes widened in shock at the sight of Shirou. Her face turned as scarlet as a tomato, and she began twiddling her fingers; Kirei could tell she had a schoolgirl crush on his brother. It almost disgusted him, knowing another female was attracted to his brother. Did Shirou have no shame?...

"Well..." replied Rin nervously. "Um... You see... I, uh-"

"She was just giving me some advice on how to watch over her father in the upcoming War," interrupted Kirei indifferently, ignoring the bitter look Rin gave him right afterwards. "Brother, I believe Mashu was asking for you."

"Mashu?" Shirou asked, blinking. "Wh-What happened?"

"She fell over while running and bruised her knee. She should be with Aoi right now."

Shirou's eyes widened in concern. "Mashu fell? Thank you, Kirei. I'll get to her immediately."

He left without saying another word, thus leaving Kirei and Rin alone again. The two quickly looked back at each other, Rin with bitterness and hostility, Kirei with casualness and indifference.

"Remember, Kirei," Rin snarled, "I know what you are really doing. I'n gonna make sure you don't do anything to Father, the rest of my family, and Shirou-san!"

And with that, Rin dashed away in the same direction as Shirou. Kirei sighed heavily and placed his right hand on his forehead.

It was difficult...

Homurahara Academy

Upon hearing the ringing of the school bell, Laeticia quietly packed her books into her bag and sought to make her leave, thinking about what to do first once she returned to the Tohsaka manor. However, before she could exit the classroom, she found her path obstructed by a certain classmate of hers.

"Hey, Dela-chan!" greeted the obnoxious-looking boy with black hair dyed in blond streaks. "Walking home alone again, I see?"

"Aw, great," another boy said; Laeticia recognized him as another classmate, but couldn't quite remember the name (Tatsumi, perhaps?). "There goes Ichikawa again..."

"Yes, for that is my routine as of late," replied Laeticia formally, struggling to keep her nervousness at bay. "Now please-"

"How about I accompany you?" Ichikawa cut off. "A fine maiden like you shouldn't be out on your own after school." He began scanning her form as he spoke, causing her face to turn pink in embarrassment. "Not when there's a serial killer on the loose..."

"I respectfully decline, Ichikawa-san," Laeticia replied. "Now please, I would like to leave now-"

"Come on, Dela-chan, I insist! As a master of kendo, I promise you that I will protect you from all that is evil!"

"You do not have to do that. God is my protector, and I assure you that He is more than capable of shielding me from any danger."

Ichikawa sighed heavily. "Here you go again about God-"

Laeticia's eyes narrowed. "Do I take it that you are opposed to God and His miracles?"

"No, no, not at all!" Ichikawa began waving his hands innocently. "I-I was just wondering if He probably deserves a break! You know, from shielding you and all."

"God needs no breaks on any day except for Sunday. And if my knowledge of the calendar is correct, then I believe it is still Friday." She then tried to move past her fellow classmate. "Now please, Ichikawa-san, excuse me. My guardians are expecting me- EEP!"

Ichikawa had suddenly placed his hands on her shoulders and gave her an intense look in her eyes. She could easily shake herself away from his grip and run out of the classroom, but the mere touch of his fingers on her shoulders, touching her delicate skin through her the sleeves of her school uniform, paralyzed her. She could only stare fearfully back into the boy's gleaming green eyes.

"Come on, Dela-chan!" he exclaimed, looking almost desperate in spite of his calm façade. "I would love to walk you home! Let me be a gentleman just for once and give you the protection you deserve- OW! OW, OW, OW, OW! HEY, LET GO! OW!"

"Oi, Ichikawa, you leave Delacroix alone right now or I'll be sure to rip your ear off for real!" snapped a first-year student who was standing in the hallway. She had light-brown hair tied into a ponytail and brown eyes. Strapped on her back was a case containing a shinai; Laeticia immediately recognized the tiger strap on it.

"Okay, okay!" Ichikawa shouted, struggling to tear off the hand that was latched onto his ear with a vice-like grip. "I'll stop, I'll stop! Cut it out, Tiger- ACK!"

It was a huge mistake on Ichikawa's part, for the grip on his ear had tightened, and the girl pulled on his ear harder. At this point, everyone in the classroom had their heads turned toward the scene transpiring at the doorway. It was almost a miracle the teacher had decided to leave as soon as class ended.

"What was that?" the girl asked. "I couldn't hear you over the loud ringing noise that is someone's stupidity-"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Fujimura-chan!" cried a desperate Ichikawa. "Please let my ear go! I'll behave, I swear! OH!"

Fujimura promptly released her upperclassman's ear and smirked as he bent over, clutching his throbbing ear and trembling. Watching as he stumbled to the center of the classroom, where his desk was, she looked at Laeticia.

"It's okay, Delacroix-senpai," she said warmly. "I scared him off."

However, Laeticia didn't respond. She was still paralyzed, her eyes as wide as they can be, her amethyst pupils trembling frantically as if she was staring into Death itself. Fujimura blinked, stepped forward, and placed a consoling hand on the older girl's shoulder, drawing a fearful squeak from her.

"Delacroix-senpai, it's okay," Fujimura continued. She then grinned and gave her a gentle bump on the shoulder with her knuckles. "Come on, I'll walk you home."

Miyama Town, Fuyuki

"You didn't have to do this, Fujimura..."

"Oh, stop it with the last-name-basis formalities! Call me Taiga! But don't confuse it with 'Tiger'! Boy, that name pisses me off!"

Laeticia and Taiga walked side by side on the sidewalk, passing house after house in Miyama. With every house they passed, the quantity of Japanese-style houses began to decrease, being gradually replaced primarily by Western-style houses. The border between Eastern and Western cultures became pretty obvious to Laeticia as she examined one house after the next. She couldn't help but wonder if the Lord Almighty would approve of such separation of cultures...

"Boy, you sure do live a nice neighborhood, senpai!" Taiga said cheerfully as she too examined the Western homes. "Now I have nothing against how my home looks, but I've wondered what it'd be like, living in the shoes of a gaijin who is seeing Fuyuki City, or Japan for that matter, for the very first time. It would be cool to view my home in a completely different perspective..."

"Don't you have to get home, Fujimura?" Laeticia asked, not looking at her underclassman. "I know the way, and I've already made a full mental recovery."

"Oh, don't worry, senpai! My home's in Miyama too. It should be a couple blocks over; it's not a long walk." Taiga then glared at Laeticia with a disappointed frown. "And for the last time, just call me Taiga! The only people who call me Fujimura are people who I have no respect for!"

"Well then, I'm pleased to know that I will be the first person to call you by your last name without being disrespected by you."

Taiga's frown became even more pronounced. "Jeez, Delacroix-senpai! So cold and to-the-point as usual!"

Laeticia only looked away from Taiga, refocusing herself on the sidewalk ahead. As the two girls stopped at a crosswalk and waited for the electronic signal to allow their passing, the French-born girl began to muse about the circumstances that led up to this event.

During her entire life until then, she had never stepped foot out of her hometown in Orléans. Of course, Laeticia did some research on the outside world, but she never thought she would leave home like this, not when she was fed with the belief that she would lead the existence of a Catholic nun, and probably even reach the honorable rank of sainthood, much like her role model, Jeanne d'Arc.

Then, she learned that the Holy Church, a secret church organization closely affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, had selected her as the catalyst for the Ruler Servant in the Fourth Holy Grail War, none other than Jeanne d'Arc. They had been keeping an eye on her alongside about a dozen other potential candidates ever since her birth, with her father being fully aware of it, as he was a member of the Holy Church himself.

The moment she learned of the outlandish news, Laeticia honestly didn't know what to think. On one hand, she was honored to know that she could play a hand in summoning her childhood idol into the modern world, but on the other hand...well, the violent, almost lethal circumstances driving this summoning served as an unbearable amount of pressure for her to shoulder. Was the purpose of her life nothing more than to be a tool for a secret bloody war against mages? It was something that haunted her mind like a plague to this very day.

Of course, she didn't take too kindly to her mission. She pleaded with her father to not let her do this, to see if there was another way for her to execute this mission. However, her father turned her down and sent her off with Shirou Kotomine, against her wishes. Shirou took her to Torino, Italy, so she could meet his father Risei, who was thought to be Ruler's Master. However, something changed, and Risei's other son Kirei was appointed as Ruler's Master, and therefore, Laeticia's guardian.

The Kotomine family themselves were kind and generous in their respective ways, so much that Laeticia quickly became accustomed to them. She was most comfortable with Shirou, for he always had this youthful, gentle, innocent look that warmed and assuaged her heart every time she looked at it. Risei was old but wise, understanding, and with an authoritative air, much like her own father. Naturally, Laeticia quickly became friends with the shy but sweet Mashu and the quiet Caren, who was a lot like her father.

Speaking of Caren's father...

Laeticia had a reserved opinion of Kirei Kotomine. He was quiet, cold, and tactical, much like her, to her general surprise. However, he had this emptiness inside him, like he wasn't truly dedicated to the task at hand. She was told by Shirou that it was because his wife Claudia died a few days before she met him. For that, Laeticia became pitiful towards Kirei, and hoped that through this mission, God could somehow grant him a new sense of understanding and purpose in his life.

In fact, her pity towards Kirei Kotomine was the primary reason she herself held an ounce of dedication to her pivotal role in the 'impossible Holy Grail War', as her host Tokiomi Tohsaka had once elegantly put it.

"Oi, senpai! Delacroix-senpai!" Taiga's voice pulled Laeticia back to reality. "We're crossing! Come on, let's go!"

Laeticia nodded softly before following her underclassman across the street. Once the two were fully crossed, she placed a hand on Taiga's shoulder, stopping her.

"I believe this is as far as you will go, Fujimura," she said. "You should go home now." She lowered her arm and bowed formally. "Thank you for walking with me, but I can manage on my own from this point on."

"You sure, senpai?" Taiga crossed her arms. "Ichikawa's right on one thing, and that's a serial killer being on the loose. More people are walking in groups now, and as your underclassman, it is my duty to watch over my senpai and walk him or her home!" She proudly jabbed a thumb into her chest for emphasis.

"I believe you've gotten the roles confused. But either way, my residence is just a couple of yards away now. I should have no trouble reaching it. Again, thank you for walking with me, Fujimura, but I can manage. Walk safely."

She promptly walked past a disappointed Taiga. As she continued walking up the slight incline of the street, Laeticia heard her calling out, stopping her in her tracks.

"It's Taiga and you know it, senpai!"

Laeticia blinked, then continued walking as if nothing had happened. Of all the people at Homurahara Academy, Taiga Fujimura was probably the only person who saw her for more than just her looks. She didn't know why; all she did know was that this admiration started when the two of them bumped into each other on the first day of the new semester.

Thinking back on it, there were times where she wondered if the two could be friends, but the matters of the Holy Grail War complicated that. For the protection of everyone around her, she had to keep herself at a social distance from her schoolmates and teachers. She had to keep up her reputation as Laeticia Delacroix, the soft-spoken, cold loner who always had her nose stuck in a book.

It didn't sound very desirable, but for Laeticia, she wouldn't have it any other way.

The Tohsaka Residence
– The following night –

Kirei walked down the hallway of the manor's upper floor, still replaying the image of the fallen, hurt Mashu in his head. He knew he had almost succumbed to his dark, twisted temptation during that incident. Fortunately for him, he managed to fight it off and moved to help his niece. He would've been successful if Rin Tohsaka hadn't intervened. Naturally, the priest was upset over that. But it was nothing a good night's rest couldn't solve.

He passed Shirou's bedroom, which was next to his (Tokiomi had made good use of the two useless storage rooms in the home). Seeing that the door was open, he briefly looked into it and saw Shirou sitting by the window, reading an aged sheet of paper. The moonlight was clear and unobstructed, illuminating his face and clearly indicating the concerned, almost disturbed expression he was wearing.

"Brother," Kirei greeted, catching Shirou's attention.

"Oh, Kirei," replied Shirou, smiling. "It's you."

The Executor-in-training stepped into the bedroom. "Reading something?"

"Yes. It's the information Tokiomi gathered on the leader of the Black Faction, the Einzbern representative."

"I see. And I take it that you're bothered by this Master, aren't you?"

"You could always read me like a book, Kirei." Shirou handed his brother the piece of paper. "I assume you've heard of the Magus Killer?"

"Only briefly and without specifics, but yes. So, is he the Master you're so concerned about?"

"Indeed. See, the Einzberns allowed him to marry into the family, having been so frustrated by their losses in previous Grail Wars. He is said to have gained his Command Seals a couple of years back, and had been making lots of preparations ever since." Shirou's eyes narrowed into slits. "Read that."

Kirei obliged and read the text. With every word he read, a light was slowly appearing in his eyes.

"This Magus Killer has been involved in dozens of assassinations involving heretical mages," he said. He looked up at his brother. "It sounds like he was much like an Executor for the Holy Church."

"Not necessarily," replied Shirou. "He's been involved in not just mage assassinations. He's appeared in a number of war-zones all over the world, offering his services as a mercenary. He's credited with around 500 assassinations in a period of a decade or so, but I suspect the number is higher, and that he has been active for longer than that."

"I guess this is truly disconcerting for someone who is on the opposite side of the War's spectrum..."

"It's not just his assassinations that I'm worried about. It's the methods he employs." Shirou's eyes narrowed even more, and he pursed his lips. "Tokiomi couldn't have described it any better: they are unforgivable. Sniping. Poisoning. Bombs in public places. He once brought down an entire jetliner because his target was on it. He's a man who would do anything without a second thought. Even if it meant collateral damage."

"So...what does this Magus Killer have to gain...by hiring himself out as a killer?"

"Money." Shirou closed his eyes. "And that's what terrifies me about him, more than anything else. He is willing to do all that he has done, for the sake of currency."

Kirei raised his eyebrows. "You think this Magus Killer is terrifying, Brother?"

"Yes. This man... He is absolutely terrifying in every way... He would tarnish a mage's pride, use ruthless and underhanded tactics, neglect the possibility of collateral damage, exploit the worst state of humanity, all for money. I have never seen such...such evil before." He blinked. "A man like that... He would never hand over the Holy Grail to the Einzberns. No, the reward at hand would be too tempting for him. He will betray them for the sake of his own wish. But...why would he put his life at risk to get the Holy Grail in the first place? The chances of him perishing are higher than the possibility of him prevailing."

"If I can recall," Kirei replied in a matter-of-fact tone, "the Holy Grail chooses those who need it the most."

Shirou pursed his lips again. "You're right, Kirei. Whatever his wish may be, he must want it badly enough that the Holy Grail would recognize him as a Master and a potential wielder. And that, Kirei...terrifies me..."

Kirei narrowed his eyes, watching as a dark expression loomed over Shirou's face. For once in his life, he was seeing his brother so legitimately scared of another person. Before that, he had always seen the good in people, no matter their alignment, no matter if he was forced to kill them as an Executor. Shirou always treated the whole of mankind as an infant that stumbled while trying to take its first steps.

This Magus Killer was certainly an interesting person...

"I see." He raised his head for a centimeter. "May I borrow this for a while?"

"What for?" asked a distant Shirou.

"If you are so concerned about this Magus Killer participating in the Holy Grail War, then I believe it is my duty as Overseer to compile all of the available information about him, just like any other Master. I will be sure to give special focus on him and relay everything I have learned to you so you can use it to your advantage." He raised the sheet of paper into better view. "But I cannot do that without a place to start. I believe this will be helpful in my pursuit."

Shirou looked at his brother and smiled that innocent, youthful smile of his.

"Thank God for you, Kirei," he replied. "I knew I can always count on you."

Kirei fought hard and long to stave off his disgust. He simply nodded, turned his back, and left the room, closing the door behind him. Once it was fully closed, the priest looked into the paper, continuing to read it. His eyes narrowed in focus with every passage he read.

"This Magus Killer... His assassinations always took place in clusters over a short period of time. They usually occurred in war-zones, but not just any war-zone. He would always appear wherever and whenever the combat was at its fiercest. He almost seemed to be obsessed with chasing Death itself. No, there's no way he would be in all of this for just the money. Shirou is correct on that regard. But...he has no concept of self-interest. His actions are completely disconnected from any thought of risk versus reward. He is...almost like..."

Then, a certain passage caught his attention.

"And then...he suddenly vanishes from sight nine years ago, the same time he is said to have met with the Einzbern family. It appears that this single encounter was when the Magus Killer found his answer at long last. ...So...what exactly did he find?... What was his answer?..."

Without a second thought, Kirei dropped the paper, letting it flutter to the floor. Once he entered his bedroom and closed the door, the paper became engulfed in flames, which quickly burnt it into nothingness within seconds before extinguishing themselves.

He wishes to be famous in the human mind

Chapter 0.25:
Prologue, Part II:
Assembling the Factions

Shirou: Of course, I understand my role in this Holy Grail War, Father.

Feend: Of all the people chosen to lead the Black Faction...

Zouken: So, you actually had the nerve to show your face here again.

Darnic: We have the perfect candidate for you, Shirou Kotomine.

Ruler: I ask of you, are you my Master?

Next Time:
Advent of the Standard-Bearer

A/N: And thus, we are introduced to more characters, both familiar and somewhat familiar. Kiritsugu learns about Kirei, but since Kirei's the Overseer and the Master of Ruler, he believes he is supposed to be an impartial third party and doesn't see him as a threat to his goal. Ironic, huh? (I hope that's not OOC for Kiritsugu.) As for Shirou, he learns about Kiritsugu and sees him as a threat to his goal. Another point of irony!

Also, yes, Taiga's found a way into this story. However, she won't have any pivotal role in the Holy Grail War; she'll just have a secondary role, no different than her usual role in "Fate/stay night". Hope I didn't mess up the timeline in regards to her, because something's telling me I did.

I'd like to thank those who reviewed:

Amatsumi:

1) What makes you think there'll be no Karna?

2) I am aware of those kinds of fics. Don't worry, I'll try to not overstep my boundaries and do more than I should be necessarily doing.

sarge234: I don't know what you mean by that. Do you mean you wanted me to conform more to the "Fate/Apocrypha" setting than the "Fate/Zero" setting?

FoxOnPie:

1) Why, thank you! Yes, I DID put a lot of thought into this. And I REALLY hope this bears a lot of good fruit. :)

2) Oh, I'm sorry Jeanne d'Arc is Ruler in this one. But considering the only other Ruler Servant in the "Fate" canon is Shirou Tokisada Amakusa (and believe me, I did not want to change another Servant's conventional class or, even worse, create an OC from scratch (I don't feel ready for that kind of effort yet)), I would have no other choice in that regard. Hopefully I make Jeanne interesting enough in this story! :D

Gashadokuro Amanojaku: Thanks! I'm glad you like those points! And you'll see more insight of Kirei and his relationship with Shirou later on, of course! Just stay tuned. ;)

Orange-Fuzz-Ball:

1) Thanks! I must say, it's fun merging "Fate/Zero" and "Fate/Apocrypha" into one, even though it's mostly in a Zero-like setting rather than a more fair balance between the two.

2) When you say cast, do you mean Masters and Servants? Because I DO have a bunch of potentially interesting pair-ups here... ;)

3) Well, I obviously can't tell you who will survive and who will die, but I do hope you have lots of guesses for that because I intend on being a bit unpredictable. :D

nrvbdnd:

1) I think I'm confident enough in myself. I should handle this fine. Believe me, I already have a field test in juggling between multiple characters, in the form of another one of my stories (and that story has WAY MORE characters than what should be expected here).

2) Thanks, I'll try my best to keep it up! :D

King0fP0wers (guest reviewer):

1) Well, if Shirou's supposed to be cunning and dark in "Fate/Apocrypha", then I wouldn't be aware of that, since I didn't read the light novel. Either way, I intend on putting Shirou in the shoes of Kiritsugu as a protagonist rather than an antagonist (I DO know Shirou's more of an antagonist in "Fate/Apocrypha"). So that would explain why he's less cunning and dark in my story.

2) Mashu, turn into Shielder? I've never heard such a thing! *sarcasm* ;)

3) I think I have one from "Prototype: Fragments" (I haven't checked my list yet and am not able to do so until way later). But I DO know, for a fact, that Tokiomi will NOT summon Ozymandias instead of Gilgamesh. No, I'm having him summon someone more surprising (and familiar)... ;) ;) ;)

blitz (guest reviewer):

1) Yes, there will be character development for Kirei that we haven't seen before, since he's more of a protagonist in the story for the time being. Aren't uniqueness and originality fun? :D

2) And that, my friend, is irony. Kirei has been putting up with a Kiritsugu-like figure (or Shirou Emiya-like figure, not sure which is closer) for his entire life in this universe. XD

3) Well, in THIS universe, yes, Laeticia is the catalyst. From what I've learned in "Fate/Apocrypha", due to the unnatural circumstances of the Great Holy Grail War (plus the continued presence of another Ruler Servant), the Heroic Spirit that is Jeanne d'Arc had to possess the body of someone who is, physically and spiritually, the closest to her own attributes. No Summoning had to be involved or anything else as far as I know. But I think I gave an inkling of this universe's Ruler Servant mechanics in this chapter, and I do intend on dumping more info in the next chapter, so don't worry. Your confusion should be alleviated soon. :)

Joseph Holmes: Thanks, but can you please be more specific in your review? What exactly did you like? Was there anything that you didn't like? Please point out more details so I can use them to improve the story and make it more of a good read for you. :)

Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter! TheCartoonFanatic01 is out. PEACE!