As stated, updating old chapters as a build-up to the new release.
Last time on Fate Zero.
1. Lelouch enacts his plan to take out the other Masters.
Zero: Operation Rope-A-Dopes is go.
2. Waver proves to Rider who wears the pants in their relationship.
Broskander: Not for long!
3. Sola gets charmed...again.
Zero: Obey me.
Sola: Yes Master!
Zero: Wow...I didn't even use my Geass yet...
And now, on with the show!
Fate/Zero Requiem
An Alternate Tale of the Fourth Holy Grail War
Eleventh Night: Clash of Ideals.
"Are you sure you're alright, Iri?" Kiritsugu asked, the Magus Killer looking up from the map of Fuyuki city at his wife's sigh, a sentiment shared by Maiya and Saber, the King of Knights standing at Irisviel's elbow protectively.
"It's nothing." Irisviel assured him, the female Homunculus hiding her exhaustion with a smile, waving off the concern of her Husband and friend "I'm fine Saber, really. Kiritsugu, please continue."
Kiritsugu frowned but said nothing, his eyes boring into his wife's crimson pair in silence for a few seconds before returning to the map before them. From the moment he had returned to the castle, Kiritsugu had not let Irisviel out of his sight, the concerned, and rightfully so, Magus checking her over with both mundane and magical methods to determine if there were any residual effects from Archer's Mystic Eyes.
While she didn't have the Magic Resistance of a Servant, as an Einzbern Homunculus based on the Justeaze line, Irisviel was privy to all the knowledge of the Einzbern, and as such was more than capable of negating effects that tampered with the mind, as evidenced by her shrugging off Diarmuid's Mystic Face despite it's penchant for enchanting women.
However, Archer's Mystic Eyes were powerful enough that even Saber's Magic Resistance might as well have not existed, the King of Knights submitting to their effect almost instantaneously, only snapping out of it when Kiritsugu had been forced to waste a second command seal.
It was therefore only understandable that Kiritsugu was wary of any lingering effects on his wife, though for the most part it seemed that whatever effect Archer's Mystic Eyes had, they were apparently short-lived.
'That, and that it apparently affects the target's short term memory.' He muttered, recalling how both Saber and Irisviel had reacted with surprise to learn they had knelt, curtsied in Iri's case, before Archer, Saber seeming to take the revelation with particular ire, especially given how Archer had embarrassed her in front of Rider before retreating.
"As I was saying, the bounded field encompassing Ryudou temple atop Mt. Enzo prevents any supernatural creatures from entering save through the front entrance." He continued, as if merely stating a fact rather than giving due warning "Saber needs to be aware of this if it becomes necessary to approach the shrine."
Irisviel flinched, the Homunculus turning to regard the Servant in question, who hadn't left her side once since returning to the castle, and was now standing as if cast in stone, only the cut of her jaw and the look in her emerald eyes betraying any emotion she might have to Kiritsugu's callous dismissal of her presence, the tension between Master and Servant so thick she doubted even Excalibur could cut through it.
"Excluding the Temple and the Tohsaka Estate, the only other Key Spiritual Grounds properly equipped to carry out the formation of the Grail are the Fuyuki Church and the new housing development to the east of the CBD." Kiritsugu continued, heedless, or perhaps it would be better to say uncaring of his Servant's opinion "Once the War enters the final phase and the number of Servants have been narrowed down, it's imperative we seize control of one of these locations. Any Questions?"
"Saber." Irisviel spoke up, tactfully trying to bring her protector into the conversation despite Kiritsugu's obvious desire to ignore the King "Is there anything you like clarified?"
"Nothing in particular comes to mind." Saber assured her, shaking her head with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, yet nonetheless conveyed her appreciation for the woman's concerns "Kiritsugu's explanation was sufficient."
Irisviel sighed, not missing the not-so-thinly-veiled sarcasm in the Servant's apparently flippant reply, choosing to instead turn her attention towards her husband, who was eyeing her once again from across the table with an unreadable expression.
"In any case," she spoke up, suppressing a slight shiver at that alien expression on her beloved's face "should we assume that the other Masters will be hunting after Caster?"
"There's no doubt about it." Kiritsugu confirmed, his expression grim as he turned his attention back to the map before him "Given the compensation at stake, I can't see either Archibald or Tohsaka letting anyone else take him out."
It went unsaid that they were hardly any better off. In fact, with only a single Command Seal remaining, it would be more accurate to say they were the ones who most needed to claim the reward for taking Caster's head.
"That being said, at the moment WE have the advantage when it comes to Caster. Or should I say, Baron Gilles de Rais." Kiritsugu noted, a cynical smirk adorning his features as he recalled the information Irisviel had dropped in his lap following his and Maiya's return "For some inexplicable reason he seems to believe Saber to be Jeanne d'Arc, which is to our benefit. All we need do is sit back and wait for him to come to us."
"That isn't enough, Master." Saber objected, the King of Knight's eyes like frozen emeralds as she voiced her displeasure with this course of action "If we simply sit back and wait then the number of victims will only increase, we should go after him now, before the damage spreads any further."
"Iri, have you seized control of the spells governing the forest's bounded fields?" Kiritsugu enquired, giving no indication other than a slight pause to indicate he'd heard a word the King of Knights had said, Saber's fist clenching as she fought the urge to slam it onto the table, knowing all too well that such a display would only embarrass her further.
"I have…" Irisviel admitted, turning her concerned gaze towards Saber once more "But our real problem is the curse on Saber's left arm. Eighteen hours have passed since you defeated Kayneth, but Saber's arm won't heal."
Kiritsugu frowned, turning to look at his Servant for the first time since returning to the castle, ignoring the guarded look Saber sent his way as he glanced at her injured limb, the thumb hanging limp and unresponsive despite her clenched fist.
By all rights, the curse of Gae Buidhe should've lifted with either Lancer's death or the destruction of the Golden Rose itself. While Kiritsugu had little doubt that Lancer could've survived the explosion of the Fuyuki Hyatt, Kayneth would not have been so fortunate, and since Diarmuid lacked the Independent Action Skill that would allow a Servant to survive without a Master for a time, Kayneth's death should've sealed his Servant's fate as well.
"Iri, you're certain you sensed a Servant pass away last night?" the Magus Killer inquired, his expression calm as he held his wife's eyes with his own "What time was it, exactly?"
"I can't really say for certain." Irisviel murmured, her lips pursing in recollection "I know it was shortly after Caster accosted us on the way back to the Castle."
"Which means, of the remaining Servants in this war, only Rider and Berserker's locations were unaccounted for following the encounter at the docks." Kiritsugu deduced, his expression grim as he recalled how Archer had aided his and Maiya's escape from Kotomine Kirei following his attack on Kayneth "Given the wounds he received from Iskander's Noble Phantasm, it's possible that Berserker was the one you sensed."
"Should we thus operate under the assumption that Lancer is still alive?" Irisviel inquired, casting a concerned glance towards Saber, who seemed to perk up slightly at the idea that her fellow Knight was still in the game "Perhaps it would be best to seek him out to remove the curse before focusing on Caster?"
Kiritsugu glanced from Saber's crippled hand to his own, his sole remaining Command Seal a harsh reminder of the situation they found themselves in. On the one hand, in her current condition, Saber couldn't effectively employ her Noble Phantasm, but was otherwise quite capable of battling a Servant like Lancer head-to-head.
On the other hand, with but a single Command Seal his position as a Master was in jeopardy. From what Lancer had displayed, even without Magic resistance a Servant was able to fight against the command seals to some effect. As Saber's magic resistance was doubtless the highest in the War, it would likely take more than one to force her to kill herself once the Grail manifested.
Or rather, such would be his thoughts if he were a conventional Master in this war, bound by the laws and traditions that dictated how and when a Magus should conduct themselves. As the Magus Killer, a heretic to whom Magecraft was merely a tool to supplement his skills, relying more on modern technology and combat tactics, there was no need to limit himself to so few options.
"Lancer can wait for now." He declared, his expression calm "If the curse hasn't lifted within twenty-four hours, then we'll assume Kayneth somehow managed to survive the destruction of the Hyatt."
"Wouldn't it also be possible that Lancer found a new Master?" Irisviel proposed, though even as she said it she had her doubts, as there was no way any conventional Magus, especially a Traditionalist like Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi, could've anticipated such an attack, let alone survive it.
"Assuming Lancer survived Kayneth's death, the only Master currently without a Servant within the immediate area at the time was Kotomine Kirei." Maiya spoke up, her expression hardening at the memory of her encounter with the Executor turned Magus "Given that his immolated corpse was apparently identified at the construction site this morning, I find it unlikely that Lancer managed to contract with him in time."
"Archer is certainly thorough, I'll give him that much." Kiritsugu applauded, Saber's eyes narrowing as she detected the subtle praise in her Master's tone, something he had never shown so much of an iota towards herself, despite her best efforts.
"Since I was unable to identify Kayneth's corpse before the rescue teams arrived, we'll assume he survived and make preparations to hunt him down before he sets up a new base of operations." Kiritsugu instructed with a cold smirk "In a way, Caster's rampage has come at a good time. Both Tohsaka and Kayneth will be scrambling to replace their missing Command Seals. While they focus on hunting down Caster, Maiya and I shall flank them and take them both out."
"Master…" Saber grit out, Irisviel turning her head to see the King of Knights glaring at her Master with disdain that far outstripped her anger at Rider's interruption the night before "Just how despicable can you get?! I could care less for your obvious disdain for Heroic Spirits, but why do you not allow me to fight? The Rules of the Grail War are set up to prevent meaningless bloodshed by preventing civilian casualties, yet you fraudulently ignored them when you attacked Lancer's Master, putting countless lives at risk! My promise with Lancer aside, I cannot comprehend why you would resort to such despicable means to achieve your goals…" her eyes narrowed in accusation "Or are you saying that you have no faith in your own Servant, Emiya Kiritsugu?!"
"Have you done anything to earn that faith, O Proud King of Knights?" Kiritsugu retorted coldly, surprising even himself with his statement even as Saber recoiled as if slapped across the face, her eyes widening at his words before she averted them in anger.
"Kiritsugu!" Irisviel chided, the Magus Killer sighing at the disapproving look in his wife's crimson eyes, noting out the corner of his eye that even Maiya was quirking a brow, as it was entirely unlike him to react to provocation, or rather, entirely unlike the man he used to be.
"That will be all for now." He declared, pointedly avoiding making eye contact with either woman across from him as he stepped back from the table after gathering up the documents and map "Iri, you and I will remain in the castle and prepare for Caster's assault. Maiya, you return to the city and gather intel. Report to me if the other Masters show any signs of movement."
"As you wish." Maiya acknowledged, the stoic woman inclining her head towards her mentor and his wife before turning on her heel and marching out the door without a word, Kiritsugu following suit after gathering up the map and documents on the table, never once glancing in the direction of either his Servant or wife the entire time.
Later, Einzbern Castle...
Irisviel sighed, shaking her head at her husband's lack of tact, placing a comforting hand on Saber's shoulder, knowing the proud King of Knights would never accept words of comfort in this situation, before moving to follow after the man, intent on giving him a piece of her mind.
Contrary to Archer's assumptions, she had always known there was another side to Kiritsugu, a side that differed greatly from the kind, loving husband and father she'd come to know and love over the past nine years. It was a side that he'd done his best to keep from tainting her, from tainting Illyasviel, with the sins of his past.
In other words, the Kiritsugu she had grown to love and cherish, the Kiritsugu whose dream she wished to make possible through the Holy Grail, was NOT the man that had so callously trampled over Saber's feelings and honor as a knight.
It seemed that, somehow, he had reverted to the cold, impersonal killing machine that Grandfather Jubstacheit had brought in nine years ago to serve as their ace in the hole, back when Irisviel had been little more than a doll, her sole purpose to guard the Holy Grail.
She flinched slightly as she caught the faintest scent of tobacco, Kiritsugu's preferred brand apparently, yet another thing the man had sacrificed during the nine years they'd lived together out of respect for her distaste for it, and eventually out of concern for their growing child.
That he'd started smoking again despite her continued presence troubled Irisviel. Not out of pettiness, as she knew how hard it was for a person to kick the habit, but because it was yet another sign that he had reverted to the Kiritsugu from Nine years prior, the other being the presence of his apprentice, Hisau Maiya.
While this wasn't the first time they'd met, Kiritsugu having handled all of his affairs through Maiya during his stay at the Einzbern Estate, Irisviel knew very little about the woman other than the fact Kiritsugu had apparently rescued her during one of his missions and she'd followed him ever since, becoming one of the very few people that the Magus Killer trusted to back him up in the field.
In short, she was a woman who had known Kiritsugu, had been a part of his life, far longer than Irisviel could ever hope to match, something that didn't sit well with her for reasons she ascribed to her women's intuition.
But as much as such things troubled her, it was not Maiya that drove her to confront her husband, but rather his callous treatment of Saber, whom she had come to regard as both a friend and confidant in this war.
She wasn't expecting any miracles, at least not until the Grail Manifested that is, and so didn't expect the two to get along, but at the very least there was no need for him to humiliate her like that.
"Kiritsugu." She called out, having followed the scent of smoke to find him standing on the balcony overlooking the front garden of their castle home. The Magus Killer, having no doubt sensed her approach, turned to look her in the eyes, and suddenly Irisviel's intended lecture died before she could even begin.
"Iri…" Kiritsugu croaked, Irisviel's eyes widening at the desperation in his tone, unable to say anything as he suddenly took her in his arms and held her tight enough to hurt, tight enough to feel the trembling of his frame against her own "If I decided to just abandon everything and run away right now…would you come with me?"
"Kiritsugu?" Irisviel stammered, gaping up at her husband in shock, having never in her wildest dreams imagined that a man like Emiya Kiritsugu would ask such a question "What about Ilya?" she asked, fear for their little girl and what Grandfather Jubstacheit would likely do to her apparent in her eyes "She's still in the castle!"
"We'll go back and pick her up, killing anyone that stands in the way." Kiritsugu vowed, Irisviel shivering at the blood lust the man was leaking as he spoke "After that…I'll devote everything I have to our family! I'll protect you and Ilya with my life!"
Irisviel blinked, her crimson eyes widening in realisation as she felt the tremors wracking her husband's body, the suppressed sobs that he refused to voice aloud causing his normally firm arms to tremble like a child's. No matter how much he might act like it in front of Saber and Maiya, Kiritsugu was no longer the man he'd been nine years ago.
Gone was the cold and emotionless killing machine that killed without remorse or hesitation. Gone was the man with nothing to lose, the Soldier whose cruelty knew no bounds, willing to even throw his life away provided it helped him accomplish his dream of saving the world.
And it was no-one's fault but Irisviel's that he'd fallen so low. Had she not met Kiritsugu, had they not fallen in love with one another, had she not borne his child into this world, then he would've remained unchanged.
Instead, the man once hailed as the Magus Killer finally gained something to lose, and with it, lost that which had made him such a force to be reckoned with.
It was clear to her now that Kiritsugu was trying to return to his former self, to become the Magus Killer once again in order to better protect her. But nine years as both Husband and Father had changed him to the point he had to struggle to maintain his mask of cruel indifference, leaving no room for him to accept or even attempt to communicate with Saber, as that was NOT something the Magus Killer would do.
"Will we even be able to run away?" she wondered aloud, wishing to comfort her beloved but unable to find the words. How could she, when she herself was the source of his predicament?
"We can." Kiritsugu insisted, his tone desperate as he hugged her tighter, his gaze locked onto something only he could see in the distance "If we run now we can still-!"
"You're lying." Irisviel cut in, gently and cruelly shattering her beloved's fragile illusion even as she gently returned his embrace. "You could never run away." She insisted, placing her head against his chest, eyes closed as she listened to the beat of his heart "You would never forgive yourself for abandoning the Grail and your ideal of saving the world."
Tears formed in her eyes as she envisioned the result of such an event, knowing full-well the path that her husband would take, even if she wasn't doomed to precede him "As your own first and final accuser, you, Emiya Kiritsugu, would end your own life as penance."
They stood in silence, the man once known as the Magus Killer and the woman once little more than a doll, the cold night air ruffling their clothes as they took comfort in one another's embrace. "Archer confronted me following my attack on Kayneth." Kiritsugu spoke up at last, his voice calmer than it had been before, though still carrying a hint of uncertainty "Iri…he knew about us…about Ilya."
"What?" Irisviel gasped, her blood running cold as she looked up at her husband, knowing that Kiritsugu would never make a joke like that "How is that possible? The Einzbern's never announced her birth, and I never mentioned her when I was out with Saber!"
"Tohsaka must have spies in the Association, it's the only possible explanation." Kiritsugu deduced, his expression grim as he gazed out at the forest "He must have instructed Archer to reveal their awareness of her existence as a means of earning my cooperation. It would also explain why he aided me in rescuing Maiya from Kotomine Kirei."
"Tohsaka Tokiomi…wants to ally himself with us?" Irisviel repeated, her confusion understandable, as from what little she knew of the Tohsaka head it was unlikely he'd propose such a thing, given his obvious disdain for how both the Einzbern and Makiri had forgotten the true purpose of the Grail War.
"That's the impression Archer seemed to give me, though he never said so outright." Kiritsugu admitted, his expression contemplative "He's no ordinary Servant, Iri…his actions are calculated and give the impression of a tactical mind, though said tactics aren't something you'd expect from a 'Heroic Spirit'." His eyes narrowed in thought "If anything, he reminds me of how I used to be, and that scares me more than anything else."
Irisviel said nothing, though a shiver of apprehension washed over her at the idea of having to face a being who embodied the man Kiritsugu had been nine years prior. As terrifying as The Magus Killer's reputation had been, and indeed still was, the fact remained that Emiya Kiritsugu was just a man whereas Archer, as a Heroic Spirit summoned by the Holy Grail, a proverbial Legend made Flesh, was anything BUT.
Had Kiritsugu been the man he'd been nine years ago, he wouldn't have batted an eye at the prospect of facing such a foe. He would simply have adjusted his plans to accommodate the threat Archer posed and acted accordingly.
Now, after Nine Years of stagnation had reduced his skills and resolve, with the fear of losing his loved ones holding him back, feeding on his insecurities, Kiritsugu found himself backed into a corner with no escape in sight.
"I won't let you fight alone." She vowed, gently caressing her husband's back "I'll protect you. Saber will protect you." She paused uncomfortably "And you also have Maiya-san…"
Kiritsugu said nothing, the two of them simply standing there, content to remain in one another's embrace, the moon shining overhead illuminating the eerie blackness of the Castle grounds, only for the moment to he shattered by the trill of Kiritsugu's phone.
"Maiya…" he muttered, answering on the first ring, his tone reverting to that of the Magus Killer, much to Irisviel's discomfort, the Homunculus looking up at her husband in concern as his brows furrowed "I see…keep monitoring them until I get there." He instructed, hanging up the phone before turning to look at his wife "There's been a disturbance in town…"
Deserted Street-Fuyuki...
"Lancer…" Kayneth called out, his expression decidedly sour as he strode through the deserted streets of Fuyuki, the vase containing his Mystic Code tucked under one arm, a feat made possible thanks to the weight-reducing Magecraft cast upon the priceless antique "Have you gathered anything that might allow us to determine Caster's Location?"
"Not yet, My Lord." Lancer apologized, appearing before his Master in a crouch, his Spears at the ready "He has most likely sequestered himself somewhere, tracking him down without any clues as to his whereabouts will take some time."
"That goes without saying." Kayneth cut in with a glare. As the Weakest Servant in terms of physical strength, it stood to reason that Caster would eschew direct combat unless certain of victory. Masters of the Caster class typically opted for a 'Wait and Observe' approach, fortifying themselves whilst using their Servant's scrying ability to determine the identities and abilities of the opposition.
"Renew your search," he instructed, turning his gaze back to the streets below, only to frown as his Servant remained in his crouched position before him "Did you not hear me, Lancer?"
"Forgive me, My Lord…" Lancer implored, Kayneth's brow quirking at the concern he detected in the Knight's tone "However, given our current situation, I cannot, in good conscience, abandon your side, even if it means defying your orders."
"Our 'situation', as you so put it, is the direct result of you disobeying me in the first place." Kayneth snapped, his expression hardening as he glared at the Knight of Fianna "Had you simply followed my orders and aided Berserker in finishing Saber, I would not have had to waste a Command Seal and Saber's Master would have been eliminated."
Lancer grimaced but held his silence, his features calm, but you only had to look him in the eyes to see that Kayneth's words, his lack of faith, hurt the Knight of Fianna more than any blow could hope to accomplish.
"If you truly wish to redeem yourself, then do as I command and bring me Caster's head." Kayneth continued, his expression cold as he turned his back on the Servant "If it is fear for my safety that keeps you from obeying, then cast them aside. Until Caster has been eliminated, combat between the other Masters has been forbidden."
"Saber's Master has already displayed a tendency to disregard the rules of the Grail War." Lancer opined, his expression calm even as Kayneth's body tensed at the reminder, the Archibald heir's expression darkening at the memory of the hotel bombing "She may attempt something during the hunt."
"It is my fervent wish that she does." Kayneth confessed, schooling his features into a confident sneer as he glanced down at his Mystic Code, already envisioning the humiliation he would enact upon the Einzbern's accursed doll "I look forward to eagerly beating the rules of Magical Combat into her body." He turned his attention to Lancer with a scowl "Now quit wasting time, get out there and don't come back till you-!"
He trailed off, eyes widening in disbelief as Lancer rushed right at him, Spears drawn back and ready to strike.
Cliffhanger!
I know, I'm evil, this chapter was mostly Team Kiritsugu coming to terms with recent events, Kiritsugu himself realizing that the 'rat trap' is not only larger than anticipated, but also on fire.
Nothing changed since last time.