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

Ayame/Zero…NOT

Part IV

"Hey," Rin asked. "Where are we? What is this place? And where are you taking us?"

The three of them walked through the fog-shrouded forest, a woman in a traditional Japanese kimono and a pair of children in dresses of a modern, western cut. Well, Rin and the woman walked. Sakura clung to the woman's collar, carried in the latter's arms as they made their way through the fog and the trees.

The woman smiled down at Rin, the distrustful girl walking close by. "A very good question," she said. "For we ourselves do not know where this place exactly is either. Normally the land beyond our home is very different from here, but thanks to the actions of the Traveler, things have changed, at least for a time."

"…huh…?"

"Such is the answer to the first question." The woman said. "To the second…this is a place where reality and fantasy meet. Where the real and the unreal, that which is and which cannot be overlap, and where things that were and are may yet be as they once were long ago, thanks to the Traveler."

"Just who is this 'Traveler', anyway?" Rin asked irritably.

The woman laughed. "We do not know her name, little one." She said. "Only that she is one of us and yet not one of us, at least for now. Kin and not-kin in equal measure, a solitary child born in fire and blood saved by the imprint of a dream, the wandering solitaire and hunter of those who would commit the ultimate sin, a witch and a thief one day destined to pass into legend. One day…sooner or later…that is the Traveler."

"I…I…I don't understand."

"We are certain you are not." the woman said with another laugh. "We do not either. Because in a way, thanks to the limits of your world, the Traveler should not even be right now."

"Huh?"

"Well, no matter." The woman said with a shrug. "Fantastic and incomprehensible it might be, but in our world of fantasy and illusion, what is so wrong about it? So it is, and so it will be, Traveler."

The woman laughed again, and then turned back to Rin. "Oh yes," she said. "It seems we have failed to answer one of your questions, where are we going, was it? We are going home, our home, little one."

"…why are you taking us to your home?" Rin asked.

"Would you rather we left you in this forest to fend for yourself?" the woman asked. "Things may be different in your world, but in ours it is quite a dangerous place, both within and without the domains of one's own kind."

"…why not just send us back home?" Rin asked.

The woman didn't answer for a moment, and then she briefly closed her eyes. "The Traveler's overlapping the realms across the veil will not last long." She said. "You will be able to return home in time, have no doubt about it, should you choose to do so. But having come this far, it would be such a shame for you not to see at least a little of this realm of fantasy and dreams, lost to your realm of limited wonder and superficial truths, and to not partake of our hospitality, we who have treated you much better than others in this world would have."

"…what does that mean?"

The woman smiled, but did not answer. "Won't you tell me," she asked instead. "What your names are, little ones?"

Rin narrowed her eyes but did not answer. Sakura, however…

"Sakura," the little girl said. "Sakura Tohsaka."

"Oh that's a nice name." the woman said with a warm smile, and Sakura smiled back. "It suits a sweet little girl like you."

"Thank you!"

"We have the honor of being named Rurichiyo Kazahana, Sakura." Rurichiyo said. "It is a pleasure to know you."

"It's nice knowing you too!"

"Did you know, Sakura?"

"What?"

"Your name, it means cherry blossoms."

"Yes!"

"And do you know the legend behind those flowers, and why they are so tied with the fates of your kind?"

"No."

Rurichiyo beamed. "Then let me tell you the story of the Princess Konohanasakuya." She said. "Once, the god Ohoyamatsumi who rules over the mountains and the sea had two daughters. One was known as the Princess Iwanaga, and the other the Princess Konohanasakuya. The former bore as her crest enduring stone born of the land, and the latter beautiful but fleet flowers of pink in the winds of spring."

"…cherry blossoms?" Sakura asked, and Rurichiyo nodded.

"Yes," she said. "Just like your name."

"Wow…"

"One day," Rurichiyo continued. "The Princess Konohanasakuya was walking on the seashore when she met the god Ninigi, grandson of the August Light of Heaven herself. The two fell in love, and in time, the revered grandson sought her hand from her father. Ohoyamatsumi was reluctant to give his leave however, and instead offered the Princess Iwanaga's hand. The revered grandson refused in his turn, for his heart was set on the Princess Konohanasakuya, and reluctantly Ohayamatsumi gave his permission, and the princess and the revered grandson were wed."

"Then what happened?" Sakura asked.

"In time," Rurichiyo continued. "The August Light of Heaven commanded her grandson to descend to the Earth from the Celestial Plains, and to bring order, peace, plenty and prosperity to the land and the mortals that dwell therein. The revered grandson did as commanded, and in time one of his and the princess' heirs would come to rule the land, bearing as the emblems of their right to rule the three gifts of the August Light of Heaven: the sword, the jewel, and the mirror."

Rurichiyo paused, and turning her head met Sakura's eyes. "The land, the people, and their ruler are one." She said. "None can exist without any of the others. Therefore, because of the revered grandson's choice of the cherry blossoms over enduring rock, Human lives are so short and fleeting…but so much more beautiful and precious for all that."

Sakura just nodded slowly, enthralled by the story, and Rurichiyo now turned to Rin. "And what about you, little one." She asked. "What's your name?"

"Rin," Rin said reluctantly. "Rin Tohsaka."

"I see…ah, we are almost there! Just a little more now."

Eyes turned back in front, and then Rin gaped. Just a bit further away, and the trees and the ground alike gave way to a sheer drop, the cliff falling with walls of bleak and hard stone to a great depth, from which water could be heard flowing and smashing against stone with great strength in the shadows and mists beneath.

Beyond the chasm however there was another cliff, rising from the depths below and running parallel on either side vanished into the distance. The forest resumed above the cliffs, shrouding what lay beyond, but Rurichiyo seemed to know, as she made for a simple rope bridge strung from one cliff to another across the chasm, without a care for the sheer drop below.

"I-is that really safe?" Rin asked.

"Are you afraid?" Rurichiyo challenged while stepping on the bridge, and then turning smiled at Rin. "If so, then you may of course turn back. But, we would think that something like this, which we or our people have little trouble crossing, would be preferable to turning back, and facing alone that which could be lurking in the fog and mist behind."

Rin narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists, and then Rurichiyo was extending a hand. "Come," she said with a smile. "Take our hand. Let us cross together, shall we, Rin?"

Rin hesitated, and then meeting Sakura's innocently-curious eyes stepped forward. Still hesitant, she raised her hand, and took Rurichiyo's offered hand. The woman smiled.

"There's a brave girl." She said, and then turning, led Rin across the bridge.

The forest was different.

Rin couldn't quite put her mind or finger on it, much less a word or words to describe it, but it was different. The trees were of the same kind, such as cedar and oak among others, but the trees were taller and bigger, the overgrowth richer and the undergrowth thicker. It wasn't just the physical dimensions that were different though, even the colors seemed to have changed.

It wasn't much, green was still green and brown was still brown, and the same went for the other colors that existed, but…

…it was fresher, more vibrant, more alive and striking to the eye than Rin had ever noticed before.

Even the air seemed to be different, thicker and thus harder to breathe in, and yet giving more…power, to the body with every breath. A single deep breath and Rin found her vision briefly swimming, and afterwards felt…powerful. Alive…confident…as though the whole world was ripe for the taking, Rin herself ready to accept and overcome any challenge that came her way.

Rurichiyo didn't seem affected at all by the forest and the air though, not that that was a surprise. She lived here, or around her after all, so she was probably used to it. That had gears turning in Rin's little head, and though she already knew the older woman had a supernatural air and greater power than Rin possessed here and now, she found herself wondering yet again: just who was Rurichiyo? What was she? A magus? A spell-caster? Something else? And what did she want here?

Those and other questions swam through Rin's head, the girl brooding it over as they walked through the forest, her urge to flee held back by knowing it would be pointless and could provoke…negative, results. And while Rin as a magus was prepared to die if not worse, Sakura…

…she wasn't a magus. As a spare, she was never even supposed to know about the supernatural, though she did as a courtesy on their father's part, but even then was never taught anything of the family's mysteries, or educated in the proper way of doing and even about thinking things.

If worse came to worse, Rin was prepared to face it. Sakura was not. And therefore Rin could not risk provoking it, if only for her sister's sake. She just couldn't.

Speaking of Sakura though…

…the little girl was staring all around her in wonder, from the golden beams of sunlight shining through gaps in the canopy, at the impossibly-rich and vibrant greens and browns and other colors of the forest around them, and while there were no animals given it was winter, it didn't stop her from looking for them, if to no avail.

Slowly but surely however, the forest gave way to open ground, and the trio found their path now resting on a raised embankment flanked by empty rice paddies on either side. Not too surprising, given it was winter, but it had Rin looking around in shock and surprise. The rice fields stretched as far as the eye could see, broken only by earthen walls around the plots, broken in their turn by wooden dams and marked with bamboo piping and simple ironworks, while here and there could be seen sheds and huts of wood and straw.

"Where are we?" Rin asked herself. "There's no way this could really be near or around the city. There's just no way. A-are…are we really…it can't be…she said…another world…but…how…daddy…please help us…"

As Rin fought panic and shock, Sakura was looking around in confusion. "What are all these?" she asked, gesturing with a hand.

"Rice fields, dear one." Rurichiyo said, and coming to a halt. "Shame you arrived in the winter, when the fields are empty and desolate. They're usually so green and alive, especially in the summer, or the spring and autumn when we plant and harvest."

"Oh…I see…I wish it was spring then."

Rurichiyo smiled. "We wish it were so too." She said. "Then we could sing songs and play music as the fields are sowed with rice, and eat, drink, and make merry when the Sun sets, celebrating the coming of yet another year."

"Wow…that sounds so fun…I wish we could visit when that happens! Can we? Nee-san…!"

Rin was jolted from her troubles by Sakura's shout, and she quickly turned to face her sister. "W-what?" she asked.

"Can we visit in the spring?" Sakura asked eagerly. "It sounds like they have a lot of fun in the spring, so…can we?"

"I-I suppose…"

Rin trailed off as Sakura gushed, and then Rurichiyo was pointing into the distance. "Ah," she said. "And here comes our ride."

"Ride?" Rin echoed, and then turning felt her jaw drop – again – as an opulent procession arrived. Similar to before, a litter of gilded wood, red silk, and colored embroidery was brought close by big men with bared torsos and shaven heads, wearing only dark-colored trousers over white socks and straw slippers. Paper bands were tied around their heads, and in addition to them there were other men with them this time.

Dressed in formal-looking kimonos, they bowed to Rurichiyo, and spoke in a dialect of Japanese so…unusual? Provincial? Old-fashioned…?

Rin couldn't understand, only that it wasn't long before Rurichiyo was helping Sakura into the litter, which was bigger than the one she'd appeared in. "Your turn, dear one?" Rurichiyo said with an offered hand.

Again, Rin hesitated, only to give way when Sakura poked her head out. Entering the litter, Rin appreciatively found it warm and comfortable, all silk and padded cotton with plenty of cushions, and then Rurichiyo was entering and then sitting down gestured with a fan through a window.

There was a sound outside, a signal of some sort, and then with a lurch the litter was lifted into the air, and then turning around, continued down the path. "There, much better, yes?" Rurichiyo asked with a smile.

"Yes!" Sakura said, holding a cushion tight.

For her part, Rin could only sit uneasily.

A/N

No Ayame for now, just Rin and Sakura, plus Rurichiyo. No, despite appearances, neither she nor her people are Human. What they are will be revealed in the end, but they are not evil. They can be really mischievous and even manipulative, to the point of unintentionally being malicious about it, but definitely not evil. Unlike certain magi who despite being Human (or who used to be Human) are far more malicious (and intentionally so) and evil than beings who were never Human to begin with.

Yes, I'm aware there's no cliff/chasm/whatever like that in the Einzbern Forest. But hey, as Rurichiyo said, Ayame casting the Phantasmagoria as she did in this story basically caused reality and the Reverse Side of the World to overlap. Thankfully it's a part of the latter belonging to more benign Phantasmal Beasts, but it's still a part of wonderland that's intruded into reality.

On another note…Rin, you need to learn to relax.