Bit of a longer break than I would have liked, but I had some other stories that needed tending to. I'd like to say this chapter wraps up the cliffhanger last chapter finished on…but it really doesn't and just sets a few things in motion. Some very bad and far-reaching things. Have fun reading and guessing what those things are!

I do not own anything.


Fox Tails and Whirlpools

Chapter 14 - Kind and Unkind World Pt.1


When Damon Wyss woke up, he felt an uncomfortable tingling in his spine as he stretched up his arms to the morning sun. He knew immediately that something either terrible or unpleasant was going to happen. He'd learned by experience to trust his body's near supernatural way of predicting danger. It was something he found Hakuno had developed as well and it allowed the pair to bond quite well in spite of their Servants practically hating each other's guts. They'd been told that they were developing something close to the ability of the Eye of Mind Skill. Their friends had joked it was proof the in-training doctor and cyber-ghost were moving up in the world. At the very least it helped keep them alive.

Alive, such a fragile state of life that could change at the drop of a hat. As a doctor, Damon devoted his life to ensuring those around him remained as alive as possible for as long as possible. It annoyed his Servant quite a bit, and Munisai wasn't shy about letting him know it. That same wish, that impulse was what caused him to change course to the small and ideal village he'd originally planned on passing through on his journey to the so-called Hidden Leaf Village. Once he and Munisai sensed Alecto's presence in the area, things had taken a sharp turn. With great difficulty, he'd watched her begin her attack on the Hidden Grass Village and waited for the ideal time to strike. Munisai was all too enthusiastic about being sent out against another Servant, even one as deranged as Caligula. Honestly, it had all gone so well he almost forgot the uncomfortable tingling in his back had never truly left.

And then the village head came right the hell out of nowhere and surrendered God knew how many people to the lunatic woman he used to look up to.

"Are you out of your Goddamn mind?!" Thundered the African-American male, directing the full force of his gaze to Shimeji. With his Palette Swap still in effect, arcs of golden lightning were dancing around him, and they only intensified as he took in the cold, near dismissive stare the village head gave him. "Do you have any idea what this woman is capable of? What she'll do to your people?"

Shimeji regarded him with all the coldness of a snake before pouncing on its prey. "I…have an idea, but that pain is bearable compared to what she could further inflict upon my village and its people."

"But Lord Shimeji!" Cried the redhead, looking distressed and ready to collapse any second. While no doubt worried about her daughter, what she'd just heard had thrown all of her emotions into even further turmoil. A line was about to be crossed in which there was no turning back from that. "You…you…you can't just surrender an entire clan to an unknown enemy! Especially a clan that has loved and defended the village for years! It's wrong, it's-"

"It's what must be done, Momo!" Snapped the red-eyed man, his glare silenced the female villager in a heartbeat. For a fraction of a second, his glare seemed to soften, become pleading almost. "I…I wish I didn't have to, but there is no other way, not one that will spare the village further harm!"

"Um, hello? I'm standing right here!" Barked the Master with narrowed eyes, holding up his hands, which themselves cackled with electricity. "As we speak, my partner is turning her Servant into sliced sushi!"

"I wouldn't be so sure of that. Caligula may have his faults, but he's survived this long, as have I and you in spite of all the odds." Declared Alecto in a near flat tone. In response to the sharp glare Damon shot her, the Greek woman merely shrugged as if it were of no consequence. Clearly, Alecto's dismissive attitude towards everything not pertaining to her goals had remained. "The deal is set, I need only have your forces be made aware of it." Her fingers rose and snapped with a sound that resembled a bell being rung.

The village head stepped away in shock and concern at the teal-colored seal that appeared at his feet. His eyes remained wide and his body ready even as a new beast emerged, a snail. It was large enough to fit in the palm of one hand…and its shell was quite unusual as it resembled a speaking mic. The strange creature's eyes zeroed in on Shimeji, who admittedly jumped as they locked with his.

"Consider the snail like a microphone, your voice will be transmitted through all of my-"

"ENOUGH!" Roared Damon, his body erupting in a storm of lightning as he rushed forward, his fist drawn back and ready to implant itself in the skull of his adversary. "I WON'T LET YOU DO THIS!"

In a flash, Alecto's eyes regained their mad fire. "AND I WON'T LET YOU STOP ME!" Gray-colored energy wrapped itself around the former doctor's arm and she swung it forward. The power of pure force met the strength of lightning, and the ground paid the price, as did the dozen or so buildings around the pair. Both Masters were pushed backward, though their eyes spoke of nothing but utter determination. Said determination was represented in their fists, which tightened and glowed with power seconds before being aimed at their opponent. Alecto counted how longer their pummel duel lasted - a total of thirty seconds before Damon grew tired of it and went for a different tactic. The hairs on her right side stood up as a split second warning she heeded.

Damon mentally cursed in seeing his kick blocked, and that it barely caused Alecto to budge an inch. He tried to hit her from behind, appearing some twenty feet above the mad doctor then coming down with an axe kick he'd used several times before. Sadly, Alecto saw the move coming and ducked out of the way just in time. A decent-sized scorch mark was left where Damon's heel at come down. Quickly, he spotted his target in a crouching position far to his right, immediately he dashed for her.

Only at the last second did Damon hear the word, "gatōpardos", did he realize that Alecto had changed tactics. She was going to match him speed for speed as evident by the yellow glow that surrounded her body. Alecto's fist slammed into his gut while his own rammed itself against her cheek. Both humans felt a sharp jolt of pain run through their bodies, but they pushed past it and continued to strike at one another, their blindingly fast blows canceling the opposing attack out.

Momo Uzumaki was at a crossroad. Her eyes darted to her village leader, the man who'd allowed for her and her daughter to take up residence in the Hidden Grass Village. Said man was busy speaking into the microphone snail, commending an entire clan to death or worse. If she attempted to strike him then she might as well be plunging a kunai into the heart of her dear daughter. Saving her at the expense of others…how am I…As if sent from on high, a thought occurred to her. Momo tore her gaze from Shimeji to the battle going on between the two strangers, one fighting to defend her village and the other having invaded it. I…I can't attack Shimeji, he's already given the order. But…but…

Their arms had become little more than yellow blurs swiping at each other. Blood had been drawn on both sides in the form of cuts, scratches, and even scorch marks, but nothing major or enough to end the fight. Said fight was going to go on until one of the pair switched tactics, or an outside force intervened. The latter is what happened.

With her enhanced senses, Alecto saw the air-based attack coming. Swiftly kicking up her leg, the Greek woman met the oncoming air blasts with a single arc-shaped projectile of her own. Momo was temporarily blinded by the explosive backlash born from the two attacks colliding. Her moment of blindness was exactly what was needed for the Greek to rush toward her, her elongated claws screaming for blood. While they did draw blood, it was not from the in-hiding Uzumaki, but from the young man whose scorn she had earned so easily.

When he'd come to the village Damon had a gut feeling he was going to get a little banged up. He'd gladly take getting sliced up by Alecto's beast-like claws over something like the stingers of her scorpions and insects or the bite of her modified serpents and rats, especially the rats. All that said, it still hurt having his protective coat torn through and his flesh ripped apart. He couldn't help but wince in pain, an opening that allowed for Alecto to slam her right leg into his left side. A barely muffled cry of pain fell through his lips. High on the primal power fueling her as well the smell of Damon's blood, Alecto flatten her right hand then thrust it forward. Damon wasn't as dazed as she'd hoped as he caught her attack, and delivered a rather painful electric shock to the renegade researcher as payback.

Alecto fell back, her now feline-like eyes shooting fire at Damon, who returned the glare with equal intensity. The blood dripping down his right shoulder seemed of little consequence to him. "Damon," she began, her voice as cold as the ice that once covered the north pole of their original world. "This meeting is over. I'm taking what I came for, rather you choose to follow me or not is your decision, but I am getting my husband back!" With her increased strength, the black-haired woman was able to take to the skies in a single jump. A black shadow zoomed in from out of nowhere, catching her just as she reached the height of her jump.

"Dammit, I won't let you do this!" Shouted the African American teen as the aura of lightning surrounding him faded.

"Wait, before you go after her, please, let me heal your wounds!" Shouted Momo with a concern expression, hoping she'd catch the dark-skinned male before he could run off. Holding out her right sleeve, she revealed the collection of bitemarks she'd accumulated over her tenure in the Hidden Grass Village. "Bite me!"

"HUH?!" Exclaimed the American with a face red as a cherry and eyes wide as dinner plates. "Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-You w-w-w-want me t-t-to do what?!"

"Just do it." Barked the hidden of the now-decimated village. Damon's shock quickly transformed into scorn as he turned his dark brown eyes toward him. Shimeji merely gave him a dry stare. "That woman is perhaps the best healer in this village. Bite her arm and you will see, afterwards if you wish to stop them, then do so."

Rather than argue, Damon bit his tongue and did as instructed. The slight blush on his face remained as he hesitantly bit into the dirt-covered skin of the redheaded woman before him. In seconds, he felt life energy pass through his lips and into his body. Pain became little more than a distant memory.

The young Master pulled away, his eyes wide and shimmering with gratitude. Normally, he would have attempted to stutter our a thank you, but the words died in his mouth as he noticed the difference between the redhead before him. Her skin was paler, if only by a slight margin and her eyes momentarily unfocused. Damon sensed it, the slight reduction in her life force. Glancing downward, he saw the countless bite marks on Momo's arms. He felt his blood run cold.

"P-Please," she began bringing his focus back onto her. "J-Just…help our village, please." Pleaded the redhead. "My daughter is…she's…"

"I'll find her." He immediately affirmed. "I promise, I'll find your daughter. What's her name?"

"It's Karin." Answered the woman, attempting to regain some measure of composure. "Karin…Karin Uzumaki, by the way, my name is Momo Uzumaki."

Though the situation around them was still grim, Damon did his best to smile. Years ago, he never would have thought of doing such a thing, but he'd learned the value of a smile in a dark situation. Sometimes it made the difference between hope and despair. "My name is Damon Wyss, a member of the Fox Catcher Resistance, and I'm…I'm sorry we brought our problems to your world."

He had a gut feeling he was going to be saying that a lot, as would his fellow Fox Catchers, provided they could get a word in.


"Young ones, open your eyes. That battle is…almost over." Boomed Munisai's dismissive voice.

Naturally, Karin was the first one to speak. "B-B-But t-t-the s-s-screaming! Y-You…you almost killed us!"

A dismissive snort followed. "Is that what you call being saved? Such ungrateful girls, neither of you will make for good wives once you come of age."

"Hey! You take that back, you big jerk!" Snapped Karin as she began kicking and screaming in the samurai's arms. "Hey, Ryūzetsu, say something! Don't let him just talk smack about us!"

In perfect contrast to the redhead, the dark-skinned girl's voice was meek. "Is it…is it okay for me to open my eyes?"

There was a short sigh, "Did I not already say that?"

What they opened their eyes to was the aftermath of a shipwreck, or something close to it. Gone was the mast luxury barge that they'd come to investigate. They were standing on the shore of the lake, along with dozens of other dazed and confused villagers, many of whom were probably being kept in captivity beneath the deck of the ship. There were unions and searches for loved ones, and screams of terror as some attempt to swim away from the floating body parts that had been dropped into the water. Karin and Ryūzetsu screwed up their faces as they registered the scent of blood. All too quickly did the words and actions of the ship's owner come back to them. Thankfully, it seemed the mad emperor had been annihilated along with his twisted ship.

"You…really did it. You…you saved us all." Whispered Karin, truly unable to believe what she was seeing. More than a few pieces of wood and a few broken statues floated up to the surface. Visibly shaken, she looked to the dark-haired male, who was watching the water with a dark glint in his eyes. It troubled her. "Hey…Mister Saber, are all samurai as strong as you?"

"Hah! Only a handful. While I will admit, the swordsmen of your world have…potential, they're nothing compared to me, or those who clashed swords from my world." Laughed Munisai while stroking his chin. "All of you who've just been given back your lives, if you wish to keep them, then flee now!" His words were delivered like a clap of thunder. Without hesitation, the villagers began scrambling more than before. If Munisai had to guess, some of them might have felt what was coming next. "Girls, remain behind me."

"What? What are you-"

Karin's question was cut-off by the explosive burst of water coming from the lake. Needless to say, it served as quite the motivator for the still-scrambling villagers. Karin and Ryūzetsu jumped back behind Munisai, who kept his composure as the water swirled into a massive tower. From the blue curtain, a pair of blood-colored eyes glowed like searchlights in a raging storm.

"Trax Bastardis!" Screamed the mad emperor of Roman as he emerged from the water. How he was still standing was a mystery to onlookers, what with missing a good chunk of his left shoulder and his left arm barely hanging onto his body by a few fleshy strands. The fact the limb hadn't fallen off completely was something in a small surprise itself. Cracks and tears adorned his formally regal attire. Caligula's left eye had seemingly been burnt shut, along with most of his face being obscured by blood gushing from wounds above his eye; his one remaining right eye had become little more than a pulsating mass of red. "You…will…you will pay for this! By Jupiter's name, you will pay!"

Expectedly, Munisai snorted in partial annoyance and partial dismissiveness. "First off, I see those modifications your Master made to you have done some good, then again, I was holding back in my strike. Second," His katana was drawn and raised to eye-level, the stainless steel reflecting the cold glare in the Saber Servant's eyes. "I told you before, your gaijin gods have no place in this world. Now, my gods on the other hand…well, allow me to send you to meet them!" As before, his speed was unreal, so unreal that Karin and Ryūzetsu hadn't realized he'd taken off until the dust was in their eyes. The Servant's blade was little more than a silver flash moving through the ground then the water.

Said water responded just as he came within striking distance of the Roman emperor. It was hard to tell exactly what had helped, all the onlookers could tell was that great force had been released as evident by the explosive burst that nearly shattered their eardrums. There was a momentary pause for several as the sound and the shockwaves along the water were more than they could take. Such hesitation proved to be their undoing.

The water struck with all the speed and ruthlessness of a snake on the prowl. There was barely any time for the villagers to scream as their lungs were filled with the magic-infused water that carried them away, slowly breaking their bodies down into raw nutrients to be used for Caligula. Arguably, the one positive side was that for those caught up in the watery attack, their death came quickly and relatively painless. All that said, to onlookers it was still a grisly sight, one that motivated them to get as far away from the lakeshore as possible. Amongst them were not the redhead and gray-haired young girls who'd journeyed with the samurai on his "quest" to slay the mad invader of their home. Still clinging to one another, they sat where they were frozen in partial shock and awe at what they were witnessing. Their unlikely savior and guardian landed on the ground barely a minute later, his sword held out and his eyes still bearing the same dismissive glare as before.

"Hehehe, you had your chance to kill me, and like the filthy commoner you are, you went and wasted it! Make no mistake, the same will not be said for me!" It was as if Caligula had emerged from a fountain of eternal youth, what with his previously fatal injuries having been cleansed. Equally so, his eyes gleamed with the light of madness as he stared down his opponent. The swirling tides of water around him condensed into two orbital rings that maintained their positions around him. They would have seemed beautiful, near-mystical for their silver glow had the remains of human bodies not dropped from the twin rings and clattered at Caligula's feet. "Vermin, the time has come for you to pay the price for destroying my beloved ship! Gemini Aqua Via!"

Spacing his feet apart, Munisai sheathed his sword, one hand hovering above the grip. At the Berserker's command, the rotating rings of H2O rushed forward, their forms reshaping into vaguely-shaped faces screaming for blood. With speed rivaling that of lightning, the samurai drew his blade, releasing a crescent-shaped blast of air in the process. The projectile stopped the fire watery mass dead in its tracks, splashing droplets all across the shoreline, the second went for a high approach. Munisai saw it coming and responded with the exact same attack. As if they were living things, the watery tendrils were withdrawn back into Caligula's personal space where they merged together into a single sphere. Caligula's twisted grin was momentarily reflected in the orb before hundreds of whip-like tendrils exploded outward.

One look at them and Munisai knew what needed to be done. The sword in his hand was planted into the ground in favor of a new one that materialized in a flash of emerald light. As with the previous blades, this one's blade was of a different color - bright green. "Midori-ken!" The newly-summoned weapon was held out and its power immediately called upon. From nowhere came the light-green windy tendrils, coiling around Munisai and his young charges. The emerald cocoon of swirling winds deflected the Berserker's attack, though it was not enough to detour him, nor did Munisai plan on staying on the defensive. His left hand flattened. The windy cocoon burst outward in all directions pushing back the tendrils. Munisai took off in the brief window of time that followed. Green tendrils coiling around his weapon as he sped towards the Roman emperor.

Caligula thrust both his hands into the watery orb thus sending forth a spiraling blast. The samurai swung his katana, meeting the attack head-on. Munisai slid backward, but was unharmed by the attack. His Western foe was both amused and infuriated by this; he'd tried the long-range game and that had failed, now it was time for close-quarters combat. There was a brief chill that fell over the area, then came the sound of water freezing. In seconds, the watery orb had been divided into two and morphed into a set of over-sized claws fasten to Caligula's arms. Against the wind-infused katana, they held up quite well, and with Caligula's strength steadily growing, Munisai had to admit the fight might actually become challenging.

Their fighting styles were as different as night and day - Munisai's focused and controlled while Caligula's wild and barbaric. It wasn't that surprising given the emperor was on an energy-high from the "snack" he'd had barely five minutes prior. Though that high would eventually end, and when it did the advantage would swing back in Munisai's favor. In the back of his mind, where logic still held some authority, Caligula knew that, that's why he shifted the size and sharpness of his claws in hopes of overwhelming the Saber's defenses. In his half-delusional mind such a thing was possible, but for the swordsman, it was pure fantasy.

Steadily, clash after clash, cracks were beginning to form in the ice claws. The aura of wind had not weakened, it had grown stronger with every blow dealt against the Roman. Munisai kept his composure as the ice shapeshifted into a different form - arm blades. Raising his sword into a vertical position, he stood firm against the two swipes that Caligula launched against him. Infuriated, Caligula shaped the ice on his right hand into a spear, he immediately thrust toward his opponent. The samurai responded to the attack with a thrust of his own.

Karin and Ryūzetsu couldn't help but jump hearing the explosive burst of air and thunderous cracking that followed. Both sounds were quickly joined by Caligula's pain-filled screams as blood spewed from his mutilated right arm. He'd brought it on himself believing he had the upper hand against a man with strength and experience far, far eclipsing his. That didn't stop him from trying. The shards of ice pulsated, then liquified and rushed into the countless gashes that had been opened in his right arm. Caligula's face went from furious to gleeful as he rammed his now oversized right arm forward. Munisai saw the attack coming, along with the razor-sharp spear-tip that was his left hand.

It was a block few would have been able to execute, and even fewer able to hold. The katana held back the empowered fist while drawn wakizashi kept the frozen spear at bay. Both men gnashed their teeth as their eyes met one another, pure disdain for the other shimmering in their eyes. They both knew in seconds the deadlock would be broken, and when it was, one of their lives would come to an end. There was little doubt whose life it would be.

Munisai was ready to end it, but that was when fortunes changed. The hairs on his neck stood up in a way they hadn't in years. "Girls! Get out, now!"

His concern, whatever remained of his parental instincts had forced their way to the surface, and in turn given Caligula the opportunity he'd been waiting for. The Japanese Servant didn't give him the pleasure of a scream, he was far too composed for that. What Caligula did get was the sweet, sweet feel of flesh being torn apart as drove his left-arm spear into the Saber's side, piercing through the skin and finally drawing blood. There was a brief moment of disorientation as Munisai felt the spiritually-toxic water mix with his body, a delay that gave Caligula time to perform a follow-up attack; unlike his previous blow, this one wasn't successful.

Munisai bit down the pain as he leaped backwards, and took aim with his wakizashi. The short sword spun through the air until finally hitting its mark in the Grass ninja about to make a grab for the young Ryūzetsu. Naturally, the girls shrieked in horror as the headband-wearing man fell backward, his chest impaled by the samurai's weapon. Their fear only grew as Karin instinctively clenched onto Ryūzetsu, feeling dozens of hungry eyes fall upon them, or more accurately, her. Munisai continued to engage his foe, his wound only barely slowing him down. In the meantime, the girls quickly became surrounded by a group of Grass village chunin and jonin. Several cast a disgruntled look toward their slain comrade.

"You, redhead, step away from the Enoshima child." Barked one of them, perhaps the senior member.

Remarkably, Karin stood her ground. "W-W-Why? W-Why aren't you guys helping Saber stop that guy?"

The man's eyes, black as chiseled marble, looked at her with something resembling pity before straightening up. "By the order of Lord Shimeji himself, all members of the Enoshima Clan are to be turned over to these invaders. Now, step aside."

Neither of the two could speak as all the air had left their lungs. Karin couldn't believe what she'd just heard, how cold and callous the village she'd grown up in could be. Actually, scratch that, she knew when push came to shove the village's overall safety took priority above everything, and everyone, else. Already knowing the reaction, she turned to find a completely stunned, and terrified, Ryūzetsu. She wasn't shaking, she was breaking down, physically and emotionally. Her brain had registered the words spoken and had come to the appropriate conclusion. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she fell to her knees. It was clear at heart, she was bracing for the inevitable.

Karin had other ideas.

One minute the wakizashi had been impaled in a corpse, and the next Karin was brandishing it with furious fire in her eyes. "Back-off! All of you, I don't care if you're chunin or a freakin' Kage! You're not touching Ryūzetsu!" Given her small stature, the wakizashi in her hands seemed less a dagger and more of a full-on sword, one she could barely hold-up straight.

To a few of the assembled ninjas, it was amusing, to others, outright pathetic. The senior shinobi found it to be the former.

"Cute threat, now put that thing away before you hurt yourself, or we have to take it away from you." A kunai was drawn and pointed at the young Uzumaki, causing her to flinch in fear. "This a matter of village security, step aside and you won't get hurt."

"But my friend will, and that's not going to happen!" Shouted the Uzumaki girl, further brandishing the weapon.

Through her tears, Ryūzetsu couldn't help but look upward in awe at the redhead defending her. She'd known her for barely half a day, and yet here she was willing to fight her fellow villagers to protect her. "K-Ka…Karin…you…"

"She's Momo's girl, so go easy on her." Commanded the jonin leader, singling to his comrades.

Karin knew she didn't have a snowball's chance in surviving what was to come. Even if they didn't kill her, she'd was still going to suffer quite a bit of pain, and odds were, they'd bar her mother form healing her until she'd taken care of the other villagers. There was a chance she could die and that terrified her, but the thought of leaving the person trembling behind her to die scared her more. Karin didn't believe she could be a hero…but maybe she could at least be a little like her mother, who saved lives at the expense of some of her own life. If she could be something at least a little like that, then she supposed she could be happy.

The shadows fell over them like descending rain. Both girls shut their eyes bracing for the pain that was to follow; Karin let fear and instinct take over as she swung her weapon, already knowing she wasn't going to hit anything.

Karin and Ryūzetsu had an idea of what to expect - the feeling of boulder-like force smashing against their bodies leaving them crippled. Instead of that, what they felt was wind, a near gentle breeze that had them wondering if they'd died fast and gone straight to the afterlife. They heard the sound of multiple bodies hitting the ground, followed by strangled gasps for breath they realized weren't their own. Slowly, they opened their eyes, somewhat expecting to find a familiar face upon them.

As hard as it was to believe, Munisai's face had…softened somewhat. There was still an air of hardness, but as he stood over them, his proud and mysterious form casting a shadow over the pair, they felt safe. Their eyes couldn't help but wander to the wound on his left side, where once there was blood there was now a blacken-batch of burnt skin. It was repulsive to look at, but it served as a testament to the tenacity of the swordsman.

Around them lay the ninja who'd formerly surrounded the pair. Several of them were bleeding from cuts and wounds that now littered their bodies. Chief among them was the jonin who'd been threatening Karin, he was gasping while holding the side of his throat. Through the daze of pain and confusion, he managed to shift his beady black eyes onto Munisai. As before, the swordsman thought nothing of the hatred he was showered with.

"Be grateful my Master is the merciful type, he'd throw a fit if I slew the very people we came here to save." Snorted the dark-haired Servant, placing his jitte across his shoulder. His head turned to the right where Caligula stood, completely immobilized for the moment. "Bind", or the kanji for it, floated before the Roman emperor, a light-blue field of energy emitting from it and binding the Berserker where he stood. Veins formed along his body as he struggled to move against the restraint, and if left alone he would surely break them.

"That's…that's…sealing ninjutsu! Hey, Mister Saber, you never told us you knew ninjutsu!" Shouted Karin with awe yet excitement coloring her face, looking at the injured but still alive warrior.

"Ninjutsu? To think you, the high and mighty swordsman, totted as Unrivaled Beneath the Sun would sink so low as to use tricks like this against me!" Laughed Caligula. A piece of calmness had returned to him, though the maniac fire in his now black and red eyes continued to glisten.

Munisai grunted as the wound on his side decided to remind him of its existence. He had no intention of dragging this battle out any longer than he had to. "Believe what you want, my Master's job is saving lives, mine is ending them. Now, allow me for me to introduce you to my death god." Sliding his feet apart and angling his blunt weapon, Munisai was once more engulfed by a near-invisible aura of raw power. Behind him, the girls saw the signs and immediately held onto one another. They prayed this would be the final time.

Rather than fear, Caligula grinned madly at the samurai. "Ending lives, huh. Then, by all means, carry out your attack. It will be the end…for myself and little Ryūzetsu."

A moment later and Munisai realizes fate had indeed changed fortunes. The hairs along his body stood up, warning him of what was coming. Wide-eyed, he searched the surroundings, finding the answer he was seeking in the sky. First, he saw the forest-green light flash like a star. Afterward came the wave, and then the suction.

Spinning on his heel, he turned to Karin and Ryūzetsu. The latter had only a second to feel it in her bones before the invisible hand of magecraft began to pull her away. That was when Munisai acted; sheathing his jitte, he sprinted toward the girls and threw his body over them. They cried out in alarm, but he could feel their tiny forms against his chest. That was good, so long as he could feel them, especially Ryūzetsu, he knew that they were safe from the suction wave.

"Ah, I guess even that D-ranked Magic Resistance can come in handy sometimes, can't it? Well, in that case, let the girls listen to it!" Exclaimed Caligula, rearing his head back to let loose with another round of maniacal laughter.


The screams came from all directions and varied in intensity and pitch. Men and women, young and old, it mattered not for if they bore even a shred of Enoshima Blood, they were grabbed by the magic wave and pulled toward the sky. Arms and legs flailed about in desperate attempts to fight back. Once they came within a five-foot radius of the source of the suction wave, their struggling ceased. Their bodies glowed emerald green before turning into lumps of energy that was quickly absorbed into the urn-like device held about Alecto's head. Deaf was the Greek woman to the screams for mercy and confusion, all she cared about were the state their bodies were in. Mentally, she examined each Enoshima clan member as their bodies were transmuted from physical matter to pure energy for transportation.

Yes…yes! I'm so close! With this, I can bring him back! Concluding the thirty or so clan members she'd captured to be enough, Alecto lower the urn then shut the lid on the metallic container. The oval-shaped openings in the container emitted sickly green light, showing it'd been filled with worthy contents. Said light was reflected in Alecto's innocently deranged eyes as the vessel that would help her fulfill her deepest wish. Only the loudest of explosions and quakes happening beneath her brought the dark-haired woman's mind back to reality. With a light kick, the Hippogriff that served as her mount spread its wings and made for the lakeside where her Servant had been battling.

The stitched-covered beast landed on the ground with an echoing thud. Within seconds of her landing, Caligula himself broke free of the sealing jutsu he'd been under.

"You look like you've been having fun." Alecto noted, taking one look at her Servant.

Caligula snorted at his Master's statement. He could see she was in high spirits, while angry, he didn't quite have the scorn needed to break it. Not only that, but one look at the urn in her arms told him their mission had been accomplished. That brought a smile to his face. "I can't I say didn't. I suppose you're being here means that play-time is over, huh?"

"Indeed it is, get on. Our business in this village is done with." Stated the brown-eyed woman, patting the spot behind her.

Caligula's murderous grin returned. Now free, he pointed his finger in the direction of Munisai and his young charges. The swordsman had yet to make a move, or rather he knew he couldn't make a move without potential consequences. "Did you get enough of them? Alecto, there's one more Enoshima, standing just right over there. Sure you don't want one more?"

Expectedly, Ryūzetsu jumped in fright. Karin protectively stood in front of her, and Munisai stood before her. A new katana materialized in his hands, just as sharp as his previous blades and fully ready for use.

"We have as many as we need to do what must be done." Her words naturally caused her Servant to pout, openly at that. "What becomes of the rest of the Enoshima Clan and this village is no longer our concern. Come."

No sooner had she spoken the words did Munisai fire off several arc-shaped blasts of air. From seemingly out of nowhere, water rose up and formed into a blue wall that took the blasts with little difficulty. The swirling tides were maintained as Caligula mounted the Phantasmal Beast that formerly belonged to his chatterbox of a comrade.

While he may have despised that annoying pink-haired bug…he felt the obligation to avenge him burn bright as he glanced at the once majestic beast.

"You can try to stop is if you wish. But if you do, what about the girls?" Challenged the emperor. When silence greeted him, Caligula finally burst into laughter. "Ah, at long last, I've been waiting to see that face. Until we meet again, peasant swordsman!"

The heavily modified Hippogriff flapped its wings, then took off in a literal gust of air. Far faster than Munisai could ever hope to rival, it became little more than a dark dot in the clear sky. In seconds, it was gone, and with it the two lunatics who'd single-handedly crippled the Village Hidden in the Grass.

Sheathing his sword, the Saber-class Servant finally turned to face Karin and Ryūzetsu. Naturally, the latter was crying, and the former was doing everything in her power to soothe her. It was an impossible task as the only people capable of doing such a thing were now as good as dead.

Munisai! Munisai! Can you hear me? What's the situation? Came his Master's voice, sounding as frantic and tense as he'd expected.

Ah, Damon. The situation is terrible and as Frank and Emily would say, "fucked up". Does that cover it for you?

There was a short sigh of acceptance on the other end. Alecto and Caligula?

Gone, and with their quarry in hand. The village is still standing, at least mostly, so don't go beating yourself up over this. By the way, I have two little girls that may be needing your help.

Thankfully, they'd come far enough that Damon didn't fire any low jabs at the fact he was a parent unlike him. From the tone of his voice, the African-American could tell things were bad. It just so happens I'm looking for a little girl myself. Her name is Karin, she's-

Right here with me. Splendid, it saves us the trouble. Munisai responded before sparing a glance at the two girls. Seeing them hugging one another, tears streaming down their faces made his eyebrow twitch. With the battle over…the human in him had begun to show its face. Damon…hurry up, hurry up before I decide to do something outrageously foolish.


"Nice place."

"Thank you."

"Meh, I've seen better."

"Yes, with the way you lived your life, I'm sure you have. Darling, how about we just serve them behind the counter then send them on their way? That way, this dirty little mutt here won't stink up the shop too much!"

"That's it, we're finishing what we started in the forest! Let's go, witch!"

"Gladly, I've been meaning to-"

"Tamamo."

"Okada."

In a near perfect recreation of earlier in the day, the Caster and Assassin went dead silent at the combined voices of their Masters, who themselves had deadpan looks on their faces. Both males had long since realized this was going to become a trend, and decided they might as well get used to it. So long as they kept their Servants from physically attacking one another, it was a victory for civility.

The shop had been closed for the day given that Hakuno and Tamamo had somewhere to be. It would reopen tomorrow and remain so, at least until the couple's lives were disrupted by the next big event. Really, they needed to start looking at getting some more employees, human ones. Luckily, they had a pair standing right beside them. Said pair continued to quietly size up the well-sized and peaceful-looking sweets shop the couple had built for themselves and their adoptive son. In one look, both Master and Servant had taken note of the layers of Bounded Fields that protected the building-four, all of which were well beyond their ability to break. That was exactly why Hakuno busied himself with deactivating them temporarily.

Just like I thought, you haven't lost your edge, Kishinami. Noted Chandler as his brown-haired counterpart turned the key and opened a small gap in the barriers to allow them in. There's a reason you survived all that shit on the Moon Cell, and there's a reason you'll probably be able to survive this world's shitstorms. It's why you'll be…

"Huh, actually looks better on the inside than it does on the outside!" Okada said, barging on into the shop without even waiting for the owners to invite him in. Tamamo scowled behind him. "I guess this isn't a bad place for my Master to work while I'm out on business."

"For your Master? Reminder, idiot, you're going to be working here too! As a janitor!" Cried the fox-eared Servant, grabbing the swordsman by his scarf and spinning him around. A venomous scowl of his own manifested, but Tamamo's had Okada's beat. As the lights flipped on it, the truth became evident in Tamamo's golden eyes. "You will not touch one thing in the kitchen, that is my domain! You will only, and I mean only, man the register when my husband or myself give you permission! And you will not take one piece of food, no matter how small, from these shelves without paying for it! Understood?!"

"Just say yes so we can get this over with." Chandler groaned, seeing the rage within his Servant about to explode outward through his mouth.

As the only one left, Okada shifted his gaze to Hakuno, half-desperate for him to rescue the manslayer from the situation. "Kishinami, say something! Speak up!"

Tamamo looked to him, silently demanding for him to agree with every one of her conditions. Chandler looked at him merely asking for him to settle the matter as quickly as possible. He came to a decision in seconds. "For now, you'll do cleanup and help around with supplies, if you want something on one of the shelves, let me or Tamamo know so we can replace it. If you want to learn how to cook, I can carve out some time to teach you, but we'll be practicing with knives. I don't trust you enough to let you do something stupid like play chef with your katana. Oh, and try not to scare away the customers when you're on duty. It's bad for business."

"Maaaster!" Cried Tamamo, looking ready to tear her hair out.

"So the chief has spoken." Chandler mused, crossing his arms.

Okada still looked rather cross, but no longer on the verge of throwing another temper tantrum. "Who the hell made this kid emperor anyway?" He grumbled before regaining a bit more composure. "Fine, if those are the rules, I'll follow them. But no treating me like a lackey, got it?"

"Done." Answered Hakuno with a bright smile.

Tamamo, in contrast, continued to scowl but followed her love's lead. "Break one rule and you're getting demoted."

"He's already starting out on the bottom of the layer." Hakuno whispered.

Turning to the brown-haired man with a grin, Tamamo held up one of her talismans. Her eyes possessed the wicked amusement he'd long since learned to be wary of. "We turn him into a statue and post him outside the shop, or let children and customers paint on him for fun and a fee. Just think about how much money we could make! Perhaps even rent him off on special occasions."

"Dammit, I can hear you two! You want me to cut you up!" Screamed the dark-haired Assassin with a head that had grown three times larger in the blink of an eye, his face snarling in a comical manner.

Neither of the Holy Grail War Victors seemed concerned with their new employee's violent ranting, and neither did said employee's Master, who began to lightly whistle to pass the time. As quickly as his anger came it left the manslayer; deflated, he turned his back to the trio.

"Oookay, now that we're past torturing Okada, can you show me where we're going to have this…operation?" Began Chandler, looking to Hakuno and Tamamo. Though he knew they had a tendency to pull off the impossible, he wasn't quite ready to accept the possibility they could cure the curse eating away at him. Chandler had seen too much to believe his luck could possibly be that good.

"In the back, trust me, this place is bigger than most people give it credit for." Stated Hakuno, giving him an encouraging smile. It was just like him to pick up on his unease and do his best to lift his spirit. Even though he tried to fight it, Chandler couldn't help but give him a small smile of his own. As they say, it was the thought that counted. "Hey, Okada, you coming?"

"I'm going to do some inventory on your stupid shop." Grumbled the Assassin, still retaining his pout. I'll catch up."

"If one thing is out of order, I'm frying your sword-wielding ass." Immediately snapped Tamamo, giving him a sharp glare before heading into the back with Hakuno and Chandler.

Alone, the manslayer let out what almost felt like an exhausted sigh. "I gotta admit…this place…isn't that bad." Rows of tasty treats and tables set up for customers to eat and drink at their leisure. Not to mention the sweet aroma that filled the building even though it'd been closed for the day. All of it, the quiet serenity of the place and cozy little position it occupied in the village…truly, his former enemies had carved out their own little heaven in such a short span of time. A place like this…I can understand why that-

His thought was cut off by the familiar shiver that ran up his spine. The nostalgia and tranquility he'd previously lost himself to vanished. Alert, he searched the store for the source of the disturbance. Instinct had him putting his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to be drawn at a moment's notice.

Okada advanced through the rows toward one of the side doors. With every step, the chatter grew louder and louder until he didn't even need to focus to hear them. Momentarily, he thought of what fools they had to have been to give themselves away so easily. He'd apology to Hakuno and Tamamo for the potential blood-splatter, but at the very least he'd get some excitement in after the day's events.

His blood pumping, the dark-haired Servant rounded the corner to the aisle ready to face the intruders.

"GAH!"

"EH!"

"HOLY COW!"

"You know, he's kinda cute up close."

He wasn't quite sure what he was expecting to find, but a pack of little children certainly wasn't in Okada's predictions. Neither was he prepared for said children to go from being scared of him to looking at him like he'd just descended from the sky. Honestly, it was a bit…odd, especially the way the whisker-faced child was looking at him. Immediately, he realized this one was Hakuno and Tamamo's adoptive son; he could see the similarities between him and the pink-haired Caster already.

"So, I guess this means you're out of jail, huh Mister Assassin?" Spoke up the blue-eyed boy, taking the brave step forward. He ignored the frantic pleading of his fellow children to step forward, showing little fear of him in spite of the previous day's events.

"First off, it's manslayer." Okada answered, straightening up and relaxing a bit. "Second, what you brats out of school or something?"

"Actually, yeah, we are. I decided to bring everyone here so we could hang out and study, what are you doing here though?"

Yep, this squirt's got guts alright. Concluded Okada, focusing his attention on the spiky-haired blond. "Well, your…parents invited me over, starting the day after tomorrow. Me and my Master are going to be working here."

"So you're on parole for attacking my dad? Seems kind of light." Snapped the dark-haired boy, having gained a small bit of confidence. Okada recognized him as the second child that had witnessed his battle with Tamamo as well as the second youngest child of the Uchiha head. Mentally, he rolled his eyes at his turn of luck.

"Well, it just so happens that your village elders decided instead of a cell, I was of better use out and about! Children, consider yourselves blessed for you are in the presence of Okada Izou, one of the four legendary Hitokiri of the Bakumatsu era!"

If he thought there'd be any applause, then he was sorely disappointed.

"Hito-what?" Questioned the girl with pink hair.

"Never heard of it." Lazily said the one with black hair tied up.

"Um, is that some sort of special ninja rank?" Offered the chubby one, his hands holding what looked to be a bag of potato chips.

Okada felt his eyebrow begin to twitch.

The one with dark hair and black eyes crossed his arms. "Who cares, whatever it is, it's still not as strong as my dad!"

Finally, the one with blue hair and eyes pale as the moon spoke up. It was immediately evident she wasn't used to speaking in public. "U-Um, I-I actually think it's some sort of assassin-"

"Manslayer! It's manslayer!" Roared Okada on reflex, his eyes now glowing red in anger.

The blowback became evident as the six children jumped, but none more so than the pale-eyed girl. Without missing a beat, Caster's adoptive child was in front of her, his arms spread out in a manner he'd seen far too many times, a little of slight fear but hard determination on his face.

Yep, this is definitely Kishinami and that fox's child. Sighed the orange-eyed man as the red glow of his eyes died down, trying to rein himself back in. Suddenly, death on the battlefield seemed a hundred times more appealing. "Hey, relax, relax, all of you. Hey, son of Wicked Eyed Fugaku, my dispute with your father has been settled. So stand down, that goes for the rest of you. I'm a manslayer, not a child-slayer."

"Man…slayer," Startled the pink-haired girl, suddenly looking a bit fearful. "So…does that mean you've…killed people before?"

Okada gave her a dry stare. "…Quite a few now that you bring it up. I actually held a record during my time."

His words passed over the children like a tidal wave. It was once more hammered home just who and what they were dealing with. Or at least, most of them got the hint.

"Mom said you were crazy, dad said you were over…over…"

"Overenthusiastic?" Offered the blue-haired girl with a timid voice.

"Yeah! Thanks, Hinata! He said you were just overenthusiastic. Sometimes I hear people call me that." Said the whisper-haired boy with a nod, not apparently knowing the full weight of his words.

"…Eh, I guess that could work." The black-haired Servant shrugged before thinking. That kid, still such a damn bleeding heart, even after I tried to kill his wife. Again. He'd probably forget it, but Okada thought it'd be worth the effort to be a bit nicer to Hakuno the next time he saw him. For now, a more urgent matter had to be tended to. Gathering a breath, he began, "Alright then, since this is our first formal introduction, I'll introduce myself! I am the slayer of a hundred men! One of the four deadliest men to walk the streets of Edo during the time of the Meiji Era! My name is-"

"TAMAMO SMASH!"

The six children could have sworn they felt their feet leave the ground. Okada, meanwhile, felt what it was like to be a nail hammered in. Stars danced in his swirling eyes, then floated up and began to orbit his head, along with a few cute chirping yellow birds.

"All…hail…looord…Meijii…" And down went one of the four Hitokiri.

All six kids stared in awe at the being who'd brought down one of the Meiji's era's most fearsome samurai. Her mirror hovered by her side while she laid one hand flat and breathed out calmly.

"Mom, that was awesome!" Exclaimed the Leaf's sole jinchūriki with twinkling eyes.

Ears twitching in joy, Tamamo winked at her son and his friends. "Never forget, while manslayers, gods, and demons of all sort may come, before the might of a fox they shall all fall to the wayside."

"Wow, she's really strong." Said Sakura and Chōji in unified awe at the female Servant.

"More like she's really scary." Mumbled Shikamaru.

"Well, my dad's still stronger." Sasuke stated defiantly, crossing his arms. Clearly Tamamo heard her, and clearly, she was amused by it as evident by her giggling.

Shyly poking her head over the shop owner's son, the Hyūga heiress worked up the courage to speak. "U-U-Um, h-hello, Mrs. Kishinami. S-S-Sorry i-if w-we're intruding, N-Naruto, h-he let us in and-"

"Oh, think nothing of it! I'm actually glad he finally brought back some friends to play with!" Waved off Tamamo, putting the pale-eyed girl's worries to ease. "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Hinata, Chōji, and Shikamaru, feel free to help yourselves to anything on the shelves. Me and Mr. Okada here will be in the back with your father and Mr. Ardoin will be in the back…finalizing some things regarding their employment. We'll be done in a jiffy so take your time!" Without a moment's hesitation, Tamamo grabbed Okada by the leg and began dragging him along the floor, the entire way he groaned like a drunk fighting off a hangover.

As she disappeared behind the counter and eventually the door, Sasuke looked to Naruto. "You know, she's kinda scary when she wants to be."

"Seriously, Sasuke?" Yawned Shikamaru. "All moms are like that."

"She seems…a lot nicer than everyone said she'd be." Hinata muttered, giving the boy beside her a soft smile he immediately picked up on. "I'm…I'm glad you have such a caring mother, Naruto."

Hearing those words Naruto couldn't help but blush. Times like this was where when he expected to open his eyes and for cold and harsh reality to come crashing down upon him. It was when he felt the soft pats on his back and felt a hand on his shoulder was he reminded that it wasn't a dream. Those things were the reminder that the world could be merciful, even to people like him who'd seen none up until that point.


"How come they get to eat free but I can't?" Grumbled Okada as he finally regained his senses and stood up.

"Hm, let's see, one of them is my son and the rest are his friends who happen to be children. Oh, and I like them all, how's about that?" Answered the Caster with a roll of her eyes that the Assassin mirrored. Rather than continue the argument, he focused on the topic at hand.

Once, it might have been a storage room, a rather small one. Now it had been made into a pseudo-medical room with a single bed and shelf full of items that Okada looked over. Sitting atop the bed was his Master, looking a tad bit nervous. Normally, he would have launched a light jab at such a thing, but not now, and certainly not when he was feeling the same sense of unease. Standing across from him was Hakuno holding…

"Water? That's it? Your great cure for my Master is a glass of water?" Scowled the manslayer, looking between the human and his Servant.

Tamamo answered his snappy glare with a dismissive one before taking her place beside her husband.

"You remember what I told you about the Luna Corona inside of me?" Began the brown-haired teenager, looking to Chandler.

"Yeah, I do." His face was grim, and it wasn't because of the curse currently eating away at his life force. "So, how long until the damn thing makes our lives a bigger hell?"

Still holding the see-through pitcher, Hakuno's right eye rose in a moment of contemplation. "Knowing my luck, I'd say about…two weeks, a month if I'm lucky. You know it's not too late to make a run for it."

"La connerie. I've thrown my chips in here so I might as well see how things turn out. Besides, the moment we do make a run for it, our heads have six-digit bounties on them." Shrugged the green-eyed former tracker. "That said, if Scorn shows up, we're bolting. No offense, but I'm not suicidal."

At that, Tamamo laughed. "Running won't do you much good as my 'sister' will more than likely just scorch the village and everything in a three mile reduce to molten glass. But please, by all means, make a run for it just so you can go to the afterlife with the honor having fought for your lives." She looked ready to continue the verbal pissing match, but peace fell upon her face as she turned to her Master-turned-husband. "Since arriving here, I've…started to regain quite a bit of my former power, Okada, as you must have realized. This land is rich in energy for us Servants to feed on. Correct?" The swordsman gave a short nod. "Now, not to stroke my own ego-"

"Like you don't do enough of that already." Snorted Chandler.

"But I'm a witch," Tamamo continued, not showing any displeasure at the interruption. It was quite startling given those who knew the fox on a somewhat personal level. "My husband on the other hand, well, count your blessings he has the mercy of Buddha."

The two men looked to the man in question. Hakuno's eyes had slid shut while his grip on the pitcher had tightened. He was concentrating, and the physical effects of such were on full display. Silvery light manifested around his body. In his hands, the pitcher of water began to shimmer like a lake or pond reflecting the light of the moon. Yes, moonlight, that's what Chandler and Okada were reminded of seeing the bright luminosity. The latter couldn't help but go slack-jawed with even Chandler following suit as he watched the light concentrate on the pitcher. Brief as a shooting star, there was a flash that temporarily blinded him. When his vision returned, he saw Hakuno was still holding the pitcher of water, except said water was now glowing with an ethereal shine.

Chandler remained silent as Hakuno took a glass cup from the shelf and filled it up. The light remained as a portion of the water left the container into the glass cup. Without a word, Hakuno stepped forward and offered it to his former pursuer.

To the side, Okada stood at the ready in case anything went wrong. Watching him, and Chandler himself, was Tamamo, she too ready to act if things went south.

Muttering a silent prayer, he didn't really believe in, the dark-haired French national took the glass and downed its contents in a single gulp. Immediately, he regretted the action. "That…tasted better than a shot of burgundy. Mind if I have-" Amazingly, there was no pain, only a…rush almost that left as soon as it came. Hakuno caught the glass as it threatened to slip from Chandler's hands. His expression became one of awe as the enchanted liquid was digested within his stomach and its nutrients spread through his body. Placing his hands at the rim of his shirt, he pulled upward.

"No…no way, by Lord Meiji…" Mouthed Okada.

I knew there was something special about you, Hakuno. I knew it the moment I saw you. Mentally giggled the fox-eared Servant. You really are a kind person.

Though the red growths remained, they were twice as smaller as they were before. Chandler's body visibly shuddered as the terminal growths that had once worked their way up his body began to recede. Recede, not vanish.

"Since we got here and I found out what this…souvenir, I've been experimenting with it to see how far I can push it." Hakuno began placing the pitcher on a nearby table then leaning on it. Holding up his right hand, another burst of silvery light was born, this one lighting up the whole room. "Besides creating ice and being able to project light, I can infuse water with my energy, spiritual energy, to make it into healing water. Think of it like Fionn's Healing Hands Skill." A moment of disappointment crossed his eyes. "If he were here then-"

"Hakuno," Chandler cut off. "Forget it, you're good enough."

"Not good enough to cure the curse entirely." He responded.

It was true, both Hakuno and Tamamo could see the red infection still eating away at his spirit. For Okada, while he couldn't see his Master's spiritual self, he could still spot the tiny red knots along his abdomen. Yes, the curse classified as a virus had been beaten back, but not removed entirely.

While testing his arm, Chandler's eyes seemed to soften. "I've got more strength than I had before, if I have to take regular injections of your spirit water, then so be it. That's miles better than slowly dying out on a hospital bed. Does anyone else in the village know?"

"Only Lord Hokage," Answered the younger male with quiet seriousness. "I've got a feeling we won't be able to keep the secret for long, that's why I'm going to be practicing my Indu technique."

Chandler and Okada looked to one another than Hakuno. "In…du?"

Smirking, the teenager held his hands apart, the silver glow now shining in both palms. Rising from the pitcher, moving the lead in the process, the water floated over to the space between his hands. Before their eyes, the silvery water churned and morphed as if it were alive. Hakuno's smirk only added to the spectacle. "Indu, 'bright drop', a literal drop of moonlight and it'll cure all of your ills. Or almost all of them."

The former tracker joined the Japanese native in his laughter. "Great tagline, bet it'll be a real profit-maker once you put it on the shelves." Out of the corner of his eye, Chandler saw Tamamo clam-up, though it was only for a second. Rather than press the issue, he figured it best to stay on topic. "So, I'll be taking regular dosages of your…Indu until we can find a cure for the Higanaban Curse."

"Just about covers it." He agreed before returning the water to the container. "Should anyone else show up in the village or I meet anyone who's infected, I'm going to help them."

"No arguments from me. Besides, the more practice you get, the closer you can come finding a way to break the curse for good, which I'm all up for. No offense, Tamamo."

"None taken, besides, I'd find it deeply fulfilling if my Master were to be responsible for saving the lives of so many." Quipped the Caster before latching both arms around her husband, who as usual, took it in strides.

"I can't believe our fates are in the hands of a housewife and house husband! This is ridiculous!" Shouted Okada, tearing at his hair.

"It stops being so crazy once you get used to it." Hakuno offered, ignoring the butterfly kisses his Servant-wife kept sprinkling him with. "So, yeah, I don't know how long my Indu will keep the curse suppressed, but if you feel it rearing up drop everything and come see me."

Compassion of Buddha, maybe, more like compassion of a saint. Mused the Frenchman, observing the teenager. "If your healing water is able to hold back Scorn's curse, then maybe we can convince Easton and the Executors that you're one of God's chosen ones."

Tamamo immediately stopped her smooching while Hakuno's eyes narrowed. He looked completely different from the laid-back young man who'd just helped him prolong his life.

"…I was hoping Comstock and Kabaiel would be all we'd have to deal with as far as religious wackos." Sighed the Japanese youth. "Where'd you guys run into them? Are they close by?"

"No, thankfully, we took a ship to get to this continent, leaving them stranded behind." Chandler answered, feeling his skin crawl at the memory. He'd never liked learning about the Crusades at home or in school. True enough, meeting one of the most famous Crusaders of all time had been an even less pleasant experience. "You guys mentioned Comstock and Kabaiel, so I'm assuming they made it through?"

"Made it through, Chandler, they chased us into the inner sanctum. It was sheer luck that Kenelm, Guan Yu, and Scorn got ahead of them and were going to kill us first then take the core." Hakuno answered with a sigh. "I'd say that makes two members of the Church we have to worry about, but we don't know how many more of their agents made it through."

"Hmph, I don't see why you two are so worried." Began Okada, crossing his arms in defiance. "So what if some of the Church's bastard Executors and their Servant dogs made it through. This world is ours, not theirs." He finished with a dark smile that only a "manslayer" could have worn.

Tamamo's smile was of a similar caliber, truly befitting her title of witch. "For once, Okada is right. Besides, I've gone head to head with that Bible-spouting buffoon, and defeated him. Here, with my powers at their peak, it will be no different. Actually, I'm looking forward to battling the 'King of Crusaders' again and showing him the full extent of my powers." To emphasize her point, she too held up her palm. In stark contrast to the silver moonlight that Hakuno had summoned, golden fire swirled within the palm of the Caster. The temperature in the room jumped from comfortable to absolutely sizzling, enough so that Okada felt the desire to shed his coat and kimono and scarf. All that was to say nothing of the aura the Caster now possessed, it was both demonic…and yet felt oddly divine. For a moment or two, the two men didn't believe they were looking at a housewife but of something else, something…dangerous.

Even if Scorn has the bulk of her power, Started Chandler. Tamamo was ALWAYS holding some of her own power back...

How much of a culture boost is she getting? No, moreover, since she's the "original" does that mean she can draw on the powers of the others? If so, then that means…Okada thought with increasing fear.

Seeing she'd make her "point" known, Tamamo closed her fist causing the flames to vanish. Chandler and Okada were only mildly put at ease. "I believe that's enough to talk about our problems, anyone feeling hungry?"

"Since Naruto brought some friends over, now's the time to impress them. Go on ahead, we'll catch up." Spoke the married teen with a soft smile. "Since you guys haven't had much to eat, feel like staying for lunch?" Dumbfounded, all the two men could do was nod their heads.

"Great, Okada, come with me! This will be your way of apologizing to the children for scaring them half to death!" Stated Tamamo, taking the swordsman by the arm and dragging him out of the backroom, much to his confusion and protest.

Having regained some measure of composure, Chandler looked back to Hakuno. "You're taking all of this…well."

"How else am I suppose to take it? It's not like this is the first time my life's been in danger." Sorrow fell over his eyes as he glanced downward. "Or the first time I've put innocent people in the crossfire because of my problems, I'm just…hoping I can do better."

As with before, Chandler would have been better off not saying anything. Instead, he said something, "If you were so bad at it in life, then how come a decent-sized army of Masters, Servants, and NPCs chose to follow you into the heart of the Moon Cell to stop a band of raving lunatics, megalomaniacs, and a genocidal fox demon? As far as I'm concerned, you've done a good enough job so far, so keep doing what you've been doing." His gaze hardened as he stood up. Chandler not only felt healthier he looked it as well, a true testament to the Hakuno's newfound abilities. "Whoever finds us first, will you be able to use those powers to fight and even kill?"

Hakuno's hand rose, and once again, light was emitted from it. Instead of silver, the light was blue. In a short flash, a knife appeared in his hands. It was a combat knife, sheathed in a dark holster, a color that matched the darkness of the hilt. His years of service had given Chandler the ability to recognize the weapon instantly, it was modeled after the KM 2000 BW used by the German Army. The Japanese teenager unsheathed the blade by barely an inch, yet what was unsheathed shined with blue luminous.

"For what it's worth…Alshcer would have been proud of you, Hanzo too." Started the older male while the younger one sheathed the weapon then dismissed it.

"I wish they were here with me, it'd make things a lot easier, but they're not. I'm going to do what they told me to do - keep living on, and making sure those I care about can do so too."

"Does that…include me?"

The smile returned, the smile that had won the hearts and minds of quite a few people, and several unlikely people. Chandler had a gut feeling he was going to be one of them as Hakuno lightly slapped his shoulder. "Come on, lunch is on me this time around. You can entertain everyone with a few stories about where you've been the last month or so."

"Fair enough. By the way, this place got any wine?"

"You know, we have this one customer who owns a wine store a few blocks from here…"


Pretty sure the title for this chapter spoke for itself, sadness on one end and joy/relief on the other. I'd say that's the end of the Hidden Grass' troubles…but they're not, no, I'm not done torturing them just yet. The next few chapters are going to have some Kishinami family drama, some more Master-Servant adventures, and looking at the aftermath of a Hidden Village unceremoniously getting its ass kicked.

Trax Bastardis roughly means, "filthy bastard" and gatōpardos is Greek for "cheetah".

Gemini Aqua Via means "twin water road" and is one of this story's Caligula's Noble Phantasms. More information regarding it next chapter when I can fit Caligula and Munisai's Servant profiles in.

Midori-ken is Japanese for "green blade" and yes, this is a rare instance where wind is portrayed as green instead of some shade of blue.

A jitte is a specialized weapon that was common amongst the law enforcement of ancient Japan. Since no one was allowed to carry a sword in the presence of the shogun, these were what they used-baton-like weapons that served as symbols of police authority. In life, it's said Munisai was a master at its usage and even his son Musashi's Niten Ichi-ryu was said to have been based on his father's own style, the Tori Jitte Ryu.

la connerie is French for "bullshit" or more plainly, "crap".

Indu, as Hakuno somewhat explained in-story, is another name for Chandra, the Hindu god of the moon. Fittingly enough, he's known by many titles and Indu literally means "bright drop" thus I chose it as the name for Hakuno's healing abilities. I'll come right out and say it, most of the techniques Hakuno develops are going to be named after moon deities and lunar-related topics. It's very similar to Fionn's ability to turn any water he touches into healing water, albeit the scope depends on Hakuno's skill level.

On another note, a moment of silence for the Bramble Cay melomys, which last week scientist officially declared extinct as a result of man-made climate change.

That's all for now, so until next time as the story continues!