Dante is in the house!

"Thoughts"

In the Far East on a little island group called Japan, in a remote region lays Fuyuki city. This city is unique in its own aspect. It is separated into two sections, Shinto and Miyama, which are the new and old sections respectively. The Miyama district is further split into two parts: the traditional Japanese houses district and the foreigners' houses district.

Although at first glance everything seemes to be normal, beneath the surface of this town lay secrets that are better to be left alone. However humans proved trough history that they foolishness knows no boundaries. It is only a matter of time when someone opens the grave and joins those who have already fallen.

Today was normal day for most of the citizens. Parents went to work, school was in session, the crime rates have… risen. Normal for all but one Tohsaka Rin. To her every morning was and will be a drag. She never was a morning person, but unfortunately, being an honor student means obligations to live up to. The multiple alarm clocks and morning showers help lessen the burden significantly, but still…why can't those clocks let her sleep? It's not like she lived that far from her school.

Her manor stood in the old section of the city. Being a prime example of European design, which tended toward more classical appearance. This morning our heroine was a bit pixy-led. Yesterday night she pulled an all-nighter to decipher her father's will. It had to do with something mysterious so a obtrusive inspection was needed. In the end she was quite content with herself. Though even if the mind is strong, the body is weak, so she succumbed to the call of her bed which was only a couple of hours ago. "Late. Being late is not good..." Murmured the girl and through great pain she abandoned the comfy lands of her pillows. Still half a sleep, she strode across her room and tired to find the doorknob and get to the living room. After pause to gather her strength she continued her way to the bathroom. At first she entered the shower with her nightgown, but before she opened the valve her mind deducted that something was amiss. She quickly disrobed, and let the warm water caress her body. Past the refreshing shower she quickly dressed herself and went in the kitchen for a cup of tea. Now she was ready for the day.

School was, in Rin's opinion, overrated. It was laughably easy and brought to much stress with it. Being one of the most desired females didn't help an inch. Her style let guys ogle her like hungry wolf their prey. The only problem with this picture was that Tohsaka Rin was not the prey, she was the predator. With long dark hair, usually tied in two pigtails, that made her look cute, and also radiated some sort of twisted sexuality, which the boys just couldn't ignore. Her cold demeanor tended to elicit even more adoration from her classmates, both guys and girls. It gave her a kind of aura of command, plus the feeling of unparalleled strength even with her petite appearance. Top those facts with an athletic body, and great mind so she really couldn't do anything being in the if she didn't already had enough problems.

Tohsaka Rin's life was business. She was barely 16, and was living alone for a long time now, so she got acquainted to solidarity. Although her manor indicated that her financial standing was firm, and her school-records promised a bright future, she looked like someone buried under a mountain of trouble. The problem lay within the girl herself. A secret, that Rin never could let out; her family being arcane users. Yes, Rin is a magus, a disciple of the mystic arts. Although it's nothing she could brag about. Actually she can't speak openly about it at all.
If we generally speak about magic, it is just what it is…magic, also known as strange things. The people who use it are …people who do magic, simplified: strange things. Ergo; a magus is a human who does strange things, nothing more nothing less. Most of them live in seldom and learn the family art at home; they are more researchers than broom-riding, wand-waving idiots that the world pictures them.

She opened the entrance of her manor, took her coat from the hanger. It was rather cold outside and the streets were empty. It was a little strange, but she supposed there were days like this once in the while. As she walked down the street her school came into her view. She was abashed that even the schoolyard was vacant. "Strange. Usually at seven thirty students are already getting inside. But I can only see some of the clubs begin their morning practices." Thought Rin, but her musings came to a short end as she was greeted by her classmate. It was Ayako Mitsuziki a girl with shoulder long brown hair, brown eyes, and the personality of a boy. She had a straight forward personality that differenced her from the other girls in class. She looked cheerful, and greeted Rin with a foxy smile plastered on her face. "Tohsaka, good morning, you are early today." Then continued." Although it is bit chilly don't you think."

Rin always felt a strange kind of kinship with the girl, they have been friends for many years now. Rin always thought that the girl knew more than she let on, and her speech usually carried a mischievous undertone. "Mitsuzuki-san, good morning." Greeted Rin and bowed slightly to her class mate. "Excuse me, but do you know precisely what time it is?" By now the heir of the Tohsaka family had a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Huh? It is almost seven. Are you still asleep?" Wondered Ayako and with a slight movement she weaved her hand before Tohsaka, trying to verify if Rin was alright. She was one of the few who knew Rin's problems with early mornings.

"Thought so. My clocks in the house were an hour to fast…all of them." Answered Rin. "Not just the alarm clocks, but the ones on the wand as well." Thought the girl bitterly.

The girls chatted a little more, than parted ways. Rin herself was not part of any clubs, but Mitsuzuki as the captain of the archery club had to prepare for the morning practice in the backyard.

As Rin made her way to the school she met the only person she never wanted to see: Matou Shinji. He was the vice-captain of the archery club. He had a lean built, with short dark-blue hair and blue eyes. Kind of like an idol at school; good looks, good grades, kind to girls, but his flamboyant attitude really aggravated Rin. That, and he made it clear more than one time that he was interested in her. Tough luck. After a few obligatory pleasantry-exchanges, Rin decided, to leave him in the dust. Of course this only made the vice-captain even more irritated then ever. He wasn't content being ignored in such fashion by a girl. Even if it was one one in the entire school. If one had took the time to look back at him, one could literally feel his own anger boiling him.

Rin entered the school, and went straight to her class. On the way, in the halls, she had a brief encounter with class-president Ryudo Issei and his friend Emilya Shirou. That Issei boy was more trouble than needed. He was probably the only person in school, who was suspicious about Rin's activities. As he often tended to say: Somebody is so perfect is always suspicious.

Emilya Shirou was an entirely different subject. Shirou had also a lean built like Matou Shinji, indicating, that he too was physically active, but the similarities between the two stopped right here. His short hair was red like the setting sun and his eyes glittered in a golden light. he had a kind personality, ready to help out both friends and strangers in need. "It seems he is doing some repair work for the school." Thought Rin as she went inside her class waiting for homeroom to start.

At the Tohsaka manor:

The school ended uneventful for Rin. The teachers advised the students who didn't had club activities to go home quickly. This was a procedure all well known by the students. Rin usually heads straight home after her classes end. She isn't in any clubs. Because once she leaves school, Tohsaka Rin is no longer a student. In the rest of the day she must become a magus of the Tohsaka family.

At home the message indicator on her answering machine, was blinking. She pushed the bottom letting the message play out. It was the voice of an older man, know as Kotomine Kirei, who reminded her of a deadline, which happens to be tomorrow night. Apparently there, were some interesting things going on and are only two seats remained. The message was clear; Hurry up girl and do what you must!

Indeed today was a special day, because Tohsaka Rin will join in the greatest skirmish in all history. She will be a participant in the Holy Grail War, here in Fuyuki city. In the fifth actually, but such a meager detail can be left out. A fight to the death, a ritual passed down centuries ago, for the one and only Holy Grail.

Fortunately the will that she was able to decipher last night, proved to be an asset in her upcoming task. The requirement to enter the war is to summon a familiar spirit, called a Servant and to form a contract with it. the summoning is also done with the help of a catalyst, which is an item in connection with the soon-to-be summoned servant. Unfortunately Rin doesn't possessed anything like this. Her only advantage was a pendant, passed down by her father, filled with ten years worth of her prana. Quite impressive actually, and priceless. Because it's unique feature, it mustn't be used carelessly. In a tough situations it could be her trump card, to reverse it.
Also she was of the Tohsaka family, the descendant of powerful mages who controlled this area since many generations. There are no other magi who could hope to control a Saber class servant but her. So, full with optimism she decided to engage in the summoning tonight, when she is at the peek of her power and force the "strongest servant" to appear trough sheer willpower.

At night in the manor's basement:

Time went by. Rin was waiting patiently in the basement of her manor, double checking everything. As the clock was about to strike two, she begun. She walked up to an altar made of ashlar confidently, ready to embrace her legacy."This is the best time-frame for my magical energies. Since this is my first and last chance I can't afford any mistakes" thought the girl, and began to focus. She fixated herself on the summoning circle before her. She began absorbing prana in her body, and started the incantation."I am already using half my jewels, I can't fail…for financial reason too."

The girl let's her body fill itself with raw prana to its peak, it was an intoxicating feeling, but also a dangerous one. It was not unheard of, being overwhelmed by power to such an extent that the casters body couldn't handle it any more and simply broke down. The body of a magus is like a circuit to connect the spiritual and the real. Even so it is still a body of a human, the limits were set by nature itself. Her body was burning hot, but she did not waver. She could feel it she reached her goal.
Now the only thing she needs to do is to empty out the collected mana within her in the circle to establish the connection. Her energies swirl around in the room and concentrate in the middle of the summoning circle, becoming a tiny rift in the middle of empty space. "Link established…connection stable. Perfect! Everything is perfect." But then, she could feel it. It was faint at first then becoming stronger and stronger."Something isn't right".
Usually if you summon a servant you don't need anything fancy. The grail itself calls for the servant the masters only needs to supply it with enough prana to keep them in existence on the material planes, acting as a sort of anchor. "But this…I feel like I am tugging on a whale wiht a fishing rod. I have drawn the strongest card for sure."

Just then IT happened. A huge wave of prana…no something different was tugging on HER! Clenching in her with all its might, and then it begun to pull, violently without mercy. Her prana was being sucked out of her, like a wild animal clenching its teeth inside of her, ripping out large chunks of her power, and blood in the process. This thing was so demanding that it took the mana literally trough her skin. Pain, she was in immense pain right now. But her mind was still focused, she couldn't allow herself to submit to this power, whatever it was, because if she did...
"If this continues I'm going to be burned out for sure, or worse. Hah…serves me right for underestimating a Servant" Her though process comes to an abruptly halt however as she looks at her support jewels. The prepared ones have been sucked dry, and crumbled to dust, worse those she carried with her for safety measures were also leeched on. They dissipated mana at an alarming rate. Before her eyes another one crumbled to dust. "This is bad! I need more mana, but where?" Then she remembered the pendant. "Father, please forgive your foolish daughter!" Alas she activated it. "Never thought that I have to use you so soon." She felt the burden on her body lessen, suddenly in a blinking light the unknown force took about 90% out of the pendants reserves. In a couple of seconds the pull came to a complete halt, and the light began to dim out. "Nine years worth…but if I succeeded then it was more than worth the cost" She opened her eyes fully expecting to see a servant in front of her. But nothing?…

"Huh?" Noting, nix, null, zero. Call it whatever you want, it's still the same. She spent so much ether, and nothing has formed!

Just then above her in the living room. BAAAM! A huge explosion could be heard.

"WHY!" The girl was in panic, she ran as fast as her exhausted body let her. She kept running without thinking. Into the house, straight at the living room. She tried to open the door but it won't budge. "Geez you're in my way!" declared the Tohsaka heir. With a crash she kicked the door open, and stared in to the living room. In that instance she understood everything.

The living room is a mess. Between the rubble, on a makeshift throne, created from her wardrobe, bed and other unidentified furniture, sits a man cockily, wearing a nice deep red long leather coat. On his fine toned chest like a second skin he wears a dark shirt, which does nothing to hide his firm muscles. His trousers are more baggy, but aside this minority is the same. The man seems to be in his middle to late twenties at best. But what really catches the eyes is his face. Sure he is handsome but the most exotic features on him are his hair. It is snow white, supported with deep blue eyes like glaciers on a mountaintop.
It is clear that he is the cause of the mess. But more importantly, the wall clock behind him is still ticking away time. And then she remembered: every clock in the house was an hour early today. That means it is only one o'clock and she isn't on her magical peak. "I did it again…I messed up in the most critical moments."

"Yo!" called the stranger in a laid back manner as if everything in the word was just and right. Seemingly completely oblivious to the fact that he just demolished the home of a complete stranger. "Ahm…nice room."

Author Notes:

I rewrote the chapter after I compared it to the third. It clearly lacked in too many aspects for my taste. I also corrected the tenses. I apologize for this inconvenience. This is probably the last time something grand like this happens, although I do have second thoughts on chapter one.

I like to thank all who reviewed the previous chapter. I always like if I become criticism. It really helps, because I am an author who lacks experience, also English is not my second but third spoken language, there will probably some mishaps in spelling or possibly grammar, even with the Words correction system. I would welcome a beta-reader. Until then I will do my best to write as correct as possible.