FateStay Night Prismatic Chaos

by Alyeris

The second magic, the doorway to infinite possibilities. Exposed to it's effects from a young age, the Emiya Shirou that should have been is no more. In his stead is... Emiya Kirika? Why are there two Sabers? What's going on with this grail war!

3. Chapter 3

Hardly any spell-checking and a few months late. Here's part 3 of this somewhat fanservice filled fic of mine.

Disclaimer: I don't own any Type-moon products... In terms of property rights I mean.

A memory - The branching path

Sparks from the fires rose into the sky as the village burned. Orange and red, they glimmered against the dark backdrop of the night until one by one they flickered out.

A troop of soldiers clad in rough leathers walked out from between the ravaged buildings, taking care to avoid the stray flames that had spilled out onto the lone path that traversed the hamlet. Shaking their heads, they looked around for their lord, and approached to report when they found him.

"There be no survivors my king," said the leader of the group to their king and commander. "All slain, to the last woman and babe. Them Saxons were taking no slaves this time."

Garbed in a fur-line cloak that covered armour still stained with blood, the golden haired youth whom they served nodded coldly as he took in their report.

"What of the livestock?" he asked dispassionately. "Food as well. Did they take what was in the storehouses?"

The weather worn soldier paused, then shook his head slightly before he replied. "The livestock be dead as well. It looks like they may have taken some food, but most of it was left to burn."

"They were in a hurry then," the young king said rhetorically. "Very well man, leave me. You will need to sleep if we engage in battle tomorrow as I suspect we shall."

"Yes your majesty," the veteran soldier nodded, but then scratched his head. "Ah, but is it right you leave you alone sir? The wizard and the sirs are not here, and well, it seems a bit risky sir."

"I think I can take care of myself for one night," the king told her soldier in no uncertain tones. "Get back to the camp. Tell Sir Bedivere that we march at dawn tomorrow."

"Yes your majesty," the soldier and his companions bowed and began to make their way back to the camp, not that far from here.

As they left, one of the soldiers whispered quietly to the man next to him. "Did you see him? Not a dither about all those people killed. So cold, it's just not natural."

"Hush, the king's the king. That's all there is to it," the veteran told the speaker quickly, but he himself seemed a little discomfited as he walked away.

They spoke in hushed voices, but in the quiet night the king's enhanced senses made it seem as if they had spoken next to him. A shadow fell over the king's face as he pondered what he had just overheard, sentiments that he had heard repeated amongst many of his subjects before.

'The king has no emotions,' said some. 'The king is not a man like us,' whispered others. There were many other things that were spoken as well, but most if not all of the comments centred around the cold-hearted manner in which he carried out war.

The loss of the few for the salvation of the many. Territory given up and villages sacrificed to set the ground for a counter-attack that would defeat the enemy absolutely. That was Arthur Pendragon's way of waging war, and it was a way of thought that all understood, but few accept.

Somewhere deep in her heart, Arturia Pendragon may have thought the same, once. Arturia however had died the day that Arthur was born, and with her the part of the heart that would have hindered a king in making those decisions that necessity demanded. Arthur heard all that was said about him, but did not waver. Briton was frail, weak from years of feuding between its lord over the succession, the land tired from famine and the after-effects of four invasions. He could not afford to allow compassion to prevent him making the best choice for his kingdom.

So it was that Arthur stared into the flames that licked over the remains of the ruined cottages with an empty heart and a cold resolve. Homes that he might have saved had he divided his forces, but at the risk of being defeated piecemeal by the Saxon warband that awaited them on the plains. Cold logic told that this was not acceptable, and thus this village had been left to its fate.

A crash somewhere in the village. A roof falling in as the fire ate away at the supports below. Nothing unexpected, just nature taking its course. It was soon after this however that Arthur's keen hearing picked up a noise that was out of place in the middle of this scene of death. A babe's crying, coming from somewhere inside the village.

Arthur instantly sprang into action. He may have sacrificed the village for the sake of his soldier's lives, but this was not to say that he wouldn't save those who were still alive to save. Disregarding the fires that barred his way, the young king charged into the still burning ruins in search of the source of the crying.

It didn't take him long to find it. Led by his keen senses, he ran straight towards a house that had almost completely been consumed by the hungry fires. It seemed odd that anyone would still be alive in there, but the way of the gods were not for mortal men to ken. Reaching the building, Arthur plunged straight into the flames, trusting in the power of his scabbard to protect him from the heat.

The inside was filled with smoke, and it was difficult to see anything. Straining his eyes Arthur swept through the cramped interior in search of the babe, and eventually located the little one who was pinned under a burning log that had fallen from above.

Taking hold of the log, Arthur quickly threw it away to the side. He had moved fast, but apparently not fast enough, because the bundle of cloth that the baby had been wrapped in had begun to smoulder. The dirty fabric ignited by the fires that had clung to the log. Coughing slightly from the smoke, Arthur quickly stripped the cloth from the baby and covered the little one with his cloak. It was imperative that he get the baby out of here as soon as possible and he needed some way to protect it from the heat of the flames on the way out.

Charging through the burning ruins, it didn't take long for Arthur to reach a spot far enough away from the village so as for the heat not to choke the baby, yet still provide enough light to see by. Unwrapping his cloak, he examined the young life he had saved, and immediately sucked in a breath.

It appeared that he had been too late. The fires had already licked at the poor baby and a full third of its body was covered in burns. This was probably what had caused it to cry, and it continued to do so now, filling the air with loud notice of its pain.

Without immediate help, the baby was sure to die, and its chances were not so good even if it were to receive treatment. If it survived the night it would need a restful environment and attentive care to recover, both things in short supply out here in the middle of an army marching to war.

Living in an age where it was not uncommon for mothers to abandon their children in times of hunger, Arthur's first thought was to spare the baby its misery and grant it a quick death. The baby was unlikely to live, and even if it did, who would look after it? Better that she grant it the peace that came with death. So said cold reason, yet Arthur was unable to carry out the act. Some last vestige of his humanity, a leftover remnant of Arturia's soul, stayed his hand. The nature of the deed gave him pause as well. Although he had taken many a life since he came to the throne, those had all been those of full grown men, who knew full well what they had been doing. Never before had she knowingly taken the life of an innocent with her hands, and the question of whether she could bear that last stain upon her soul lent its weight to the hesitation that held her back.

Disjunction. Possibility nexus ßāͺ΅ƺд - (#)Y? #$*I(JLDSY(Jjdi(*pg*($$UTHATUAH

Something strange happened to the view then. As if two films had been played together on the same reel so that they overlapped on the screen. In one Arthur steeled his heart and extinguished the life that teetered on the precipice before him. This done, he stood and headed back to the warcamp, once more simply the cold and logical king who had sacrificed his heart for the kingdom. In the other image, Arthur acted very differently. Carefully wrapping the baby up so as to protect it from the chill night air, he ran towards the camp, calling for a healer as he went. The visible worry for the life in his hands would have surprised many who thought they knew him, the emotionless king who put thoughts of the kingdom before all else.

The same person, two different choices. That night beside the fires, the roads that two now very different people would walk were decided.

A memory /END

3-1

Early dawn. Early enough that the sky was still dark. Having escaped the grasp of Morpheus, Saber went to check on her master.

If she hadn't been so embarrassed by the... Connection ritual... Saber would have insisted that she stay in the same room as Kirika. It was the safest option, and if they were attacked a delay of a few seconds as she came from the room next door could be fatal. In the aftermath of that first kiss however, not even the legendary King of Knights had been stone-faced enough to insist that she sleep in the same room as her master. Not when Lily kept insinuating from beside her that she would love to do the same, but for very different reasons.

Shaking her head at the memory, Saber opened the door to her master's room. Lily was a mystery to her, both in her origins and her behaviour. From what little she remembered Merlin say on the matter, and the theories that Rin had come up with, she knew in her head that they were supposedly the same person. This was a fact that she had not yet accepted. She refused to accept that she could ever be so flighty, and Lily had declined to tell them anything of her background.

The door fully opened, and any thoughts about her frustrating 'twin' fled from Saber's mind. Kirika was not in her bed, which showed no signs that anyone had slept in it last night. She had not heard anyone enter or exit the room either. Alarmed, Saber began to think about what could have happened to her master. Kidnapping? She had not sensed anything as she slept, which left only the possibility that the criminal was able to hide from her senses. Servant Assassin then? Theoretically a servant of that class with the highest level of presence concealment could have penetrated the wards and pulled off the feat. It would have been very difficult, even for the servant of the shadows, but it was possible.

Saber stopped herself. She was panicking and over thinking things. Taking a deep breath she calmed herself and considered the situation once more. One, she was still here. This indicated that Kirika was still alive. Two, the room looked undisturbed. This meant that it was likely that Kirika hadn't slept here last night. Three, she thought she could sense Kirika in the kitchen. Four, she didn't sense any threat to her master through... Wait. What? The kitchens?

Wondering how her master could have slipped past her room to get to the kitchen, Saber made her way down the stairs to the main living area. She heard someone humming as she went towards the kitchen, and frowned when the sound didn't match the tone expected of Kirika's voice.

The reason for that was soon explained when she entered the kitchen to find Archer there instead of Kirika. Not finding the person she had expected threw Saber off for a moment, but the greater shock to her senses came from Archer's appearance. The male servant had discarded his jacket and had on a functional pink apron as he happily chopped away at some veges.

"Good morning Saber," he called out as he continued to work.

"Good morning Archer," Saber replied hesitantly. Seeing Archer prepare food with the proficiency of an old housewife made her wonder yet again about his true identity. Cooking and housework were odd skills for a servant to possess, and she could not think of any great hero who fit the image Archer had shown thus far.

"You need anything?" Archer asked when Saber continued to stare at him.

Saber shook her head. "No, I am fine. Have you seen my master?"

"Kirika? She's probably still sleeping in Rin's room," Archer told her. "It's a bit early for even her to be up isn't it?"

"Yes it is," Saber agreed. Strange. Why had she mistaken Archer for her master? Now that she looked again, she could distinctly feel the difference in their presences. How odd.

She turned around to go and check on her master once more, but stopped again before she had taken more than a few paces. It was too early, and her master needed to rest after all she had gone through last night. Also, there was the question of what she might find if she went into the room where Kirika and Rin slept together. Since she had been summoned she had observed the interactions between Kirika and Archer's master, and had the suspicion that their relationship went deeper than simple friendship. Confirming that suspicion would only serve to make her even more uncomfortable around her master than she already was.

"..." With no desire to explore her master's sleeping habits, Saber turned her thoughts to other things. "Archer, have you seen Lily?"

"Hmmm?" Archer looked up in the middle of tasting the soup. "Oh, her? She's out in the yard right now. She said something about needing to regain her edge."

"Regain her edge?" Saber seemed doubtful of her twin being so diligent. "Truly?"

Archer shrugged nonchalantly, more interested in the heat of the flame under the pot.

"Who knows?" he replied without much thought. "Why don't you go and check upon her?"

Saber thought about it. Her master was still asleep and Lily was by herself. No one else seemed likely to disturb them either. This was actually a good opportunity to have that long talk with Lily that she had wanted, but hadn't found the time for.

"I believe I shall," Saber told Archer.

Archer grunted in affirmation and Saber realised that he was absorbed in his cooking to the point where he had lost interest in everything else. With a rueful grin on her face she left him to his task and headed for the yard. Questions about Archer's true identity occupied her while she walked. The other servant was a mystery that only grew deeper the more she learned about him, and it amused her to compare what she knew with description of heroes she had heard about in her past.

The unmistakeable sound of a sword slicing through the air reached her ears as Saber stepped out into the yard. To Saber's honest surprise, Lily was actually training herself like she had said she would. Down, across, and a thrust. The three basic actions that formed the foundation of all swordsmanship. Lily repeated them over and over as Saber watched, her sword staying true to its path with a surety that only years of discipline could bring.

An irrational pang of jealousy struck Saber as she saw the sword in Lily's hand. Caliburn, the sword she had lost in a foolish display of pride against one of the greatest knights of her time. Though Excalibur was without a doubt a more effective weapon, she had always preferred the earthly splendour of Caliburn over the unworldly beauty of the fairy sword. Seeing Lily holding a Caliburn unbroken and whole made her fingers itch to take hold of her old sword once more. Many times now she had been tempted to ask Lily for the sword, not to keep but simply to hold for a moment or two, but she had refrained out of a fear of what the flippant girl would ask for in return.

"Whew," Lily let down her arms and wiped away the sweat on her brow. "Good morning, me."

As Lily delivered her quirky greeting, Saber's lips twitched. Whether in an aborted smile or a frown even she wasn't quite sure. Being called upon the fact that they were at their roots the same person was not something Saber was comfortable with. The fact bringing up too many questions about their respective lives that she did not want to talk about without testing the waters first.

"Good morning Lily," Saber answered. Her tone was polite and measured, holding function over any hint of familiarity.

Lily grinned. "Did you want to train as well? I'm ready for a short match-up if you are."

The offer was tempting. Very tempting. On any other day Saber might have taken it up, but that was not what she had come outside for.

"Not now," she said wistfully. "Our master is still asleep, and I don't wish to wake her this early with the noise. I would that we talk instead, if you are willing that is."

Lily noted the determined light in Saber's eyes as she asked to talk, and nodded. "Of course Saber. I've been meaning to talk to you myself."

Returning Caliburn to its ethereal state, Lily came and sat down on a lawn chair that was on the patio. Saber sat down across from her on a similar chair, and for a while the two simply looked at each other.

When she judged that they had stared for long enough, Lily smiled and gestured for her to speak, saying, "Why don't you go first Saber? You did suggest this in the first place."

"In that case, may I ask something a little personal?" asked Saber, taking up the offer.

"Be my guest."

Saber leaned forward expectantly. "Did you truly mean what you said about your wish? That you wish to have been born a man?"

Lily chuckled. "What do you think Saber? Doesn't your experience of our lives give you any hints of why I might have said that?"

"I am not sure what to think," Saber replied. "As I ruled I never thought of myself as a woman. That is why I ask you now. Why is it that the issue matters to you?"

When Saber had said that she had never considered herself a woman, Lily's smiled had slipped. By the time she was asked why her wish mattered to her, Lily's face had grown cold and contemplative.

"You and I really are the same person, aren't we?" Lily said as she stared out into the yard. "At least in our beginnings."

Saber wasn't quite sure what Lily meant by that. "If we are the same, than what about your wish?"

"Stories with similar beginnings can have very different ends it seems," Lily replied somewhat enigmatically. "Though I do not know your story, I nevertheless almost envy you in a way."

"What is it that you are talking about?" Saber asked, exasperated.

"Nothing important," Lily replied, dodging the issue. "But yes, I was serious when I said that I wish I had been born a man. As for the why... As I said before to our master, it would have made things much simpler."

Saber frowned as Lily flashed her a naughty smile. She remembered the disgusting comment that Lily had made at the church and wasn't impressed with Lily bringing the topic up again.

"... You jest when you should not," Saber said disapprovingly.

"What better time to play the fool your majesty?" Lily replied playfully. "For a fool must make fun of everyone and everything, including in the end himself."

Again Saber felt that something had been said, but was left unsure of its meaning. Talking with Lily was beginning to remind her of her talks with that lecherous old man who had been her teacher and adviser, and not in a good way.

"Leave your tomfoolery," Saber sighed. "If there was one reason I was gladdened by Merlin's vanishment, it was the absence of such a twisted tongue in my court."

"Then maybe you needed one," Lily answered straight back. "Let me ask you this. What was it that you could not say in front of me last time? Why hide your wish from me?"

Not that the spotlight was on her, Saber shifted uncomfortably. She herself wasn't so sure why she had done that. Her wish was a clear one, without any reason for her to be embarrassed by it. Then why? Was it because of what the Rider of the fourth war had said when they shared drinks below the moon? Or maybe it was because Lily seemed so much closer to the king she now desired for her people. Whatever it was, she was forced to face it now, or avoid Lily and the question altogether.

"I apologise for that," Saber said after a moment of contemplation. "I was uncomfortable with talking about my wish in that atmosphere, and I may have caused offense by not revealing it."

"No need to apologise," Lily assured her. "Just speak your piece."

"Very well," Saber took a breath and let it out. "My wish is that I had never become king."

Lily blinked. "... What?"

"What I said," Saber confirmed.

Lily held up a hand to stop her as she shook her head in confusion. "Wait, wait. What is this you are saying? You don't want to be king? Who else could have been king during our time?"

"Anyone other than me," Saber said in a subdued voice. "The power of the grail is absolute, and I will wish for someone to take my place who would prove a better king than I turned out to be."

Lily was frowning now as she stared at Saber. "You are serious? You wish to change the course of history? Make it so that our story never began?"

"I am the king of my people," Saber replied seriously. "It is my duty to do what is best for them, and this is what I believe to be the best choice for the kingdom."

Lily's eyes turned cold. "And what of us then? Would you be content to sink into obscurity? To deny everything that happened and all those who followed you?"

"If that is what is necessary?" Saber's gaze was cool and steady as she looked back at Lily unflinchingly. "Yes."

Silence. Neither of them speaking as Saber's pronouncement hung in the air between them.

"What happened to you and yours?" Lily asked when she finally broke the silence. "What happened that you would deny what you, what we are so completely?"

"How is it that you do not know, Lily?" Saber hit back. "Surely you must understand where I am coming from. Why else would you be here? Summoned by the grail and the contract you made with the world?"

Lily flinched, and looked away. "You knew?"

"I am the same as you, of course I knew," Saber told her. "Did you not expect me to recognise that you too are not a true spirit?"

Lily smiled bitterly. "I suppose I should have expected that."

The white knight sighed and loosened the ribbon that tied back her hair, letting her hair fall down to veil her face as she turned away from Saber.

"Perhaps you and I are not so different then," Lily said sadly as she stood back up. "But answer one last question for me Saber."

"What is it Lily?" Saber asked with a slight smile of satisfaction on her lips.

Lily turned and looked at Saber with tired eyes. "How did you lose Caliburn?"

Saber's smile fell. "... I lost it when I allowed my pride to lead me astray."

"I see," Lily said quietly. "Merlin didn't stop you?"

Saber drew a circle on the armrest with her finger as she remembered the mage. "He tried, but I didn't listen. He saved my life afterwards, and then led me to the lake where I claimed Excalibur."

"So you already had it back then..." Lily had her eyes closed, and her voice sounded strangely full of pain.

"What of you?" Saber asked, her curiosity piqued. "Why is it that you bear Caliburn, yet not Excalibur? Did not Merlin guide you to the sword?"

"He did, eventually," Lily replied, with her eyes still closed as if she was remembering something. "When earned victory was not enough, he led me to that same lake."

"Then why do you not have it?"

Lily opened her eyes, and smiled sadly at Saber before she headed back inside. "Because, I wasn't the one that I needed it for."

"What?" Saber was puzzled now. "Then who did you give it to? Gawain?"

Lily paused at the door to the mansion and said without looking back, "No. Mordred."

Having stunned Saber, Lily quickly went back inside, leaving more questions than answers in her wake.

-x-x-x-

... Caliburn, assimilation at 52 percent. ?#*CBR, assimilation at 9 percent. Gae Bolg, assimilation at 19 percent. Caldab$$#dgas, assimilation at 7 percent. Kanshou, Bakuya, assimilation at 71 percent. All true. Possibility line refraction - impossible. Fatal fragmentation of base processes. Recovering -...

Rubbing her eyes, Kirika sat up and greeted the new day.

"*Yawn* Mmm, morning already?" she mumbled as she looked at the clock. Seven fifteen. Just enough time for her to take a shower and get a simple breakfast ready if she hurried.

Realising that the clock was not hers, Kirika became aware of the fact that she was in Rin's room again. Looking down she found Rin curled up into a ball next to her, and blankly stared at her sleeping face for a while. Rin had bad sleeping habits in the morn, and it wasn't that often that she was able to enjoy a moment like this, so it took a while for Kirika to remember that she had to get out of bed and prepare for school.

"Ye-chah," Kirika leapt off the bed and lightly landed on the floor. "I will wake you in a bit Rin, so keep sleeping."

She got no response from the soundly sleeping girl, but Kirika smiled nonetheless as she went to her room to get a change of clothing for the new day.

On her way she got diverted as she smelled the lovely aroma of warm miso soup in the air. Going down the stairs, she stuck her head into the kitchen, and blinked when she saw Archer setting out the table for four.

"AH! Archer-san! I told you that I was going to make breakfast today!" Kirika cried out as she rushed into the kitchen.

Archer looked up, "Oh so you are up?"

"Gah, you already finished making everything?" Kirika muttered as she went around the kitchen, half-ignoring Archer. "Why didn't you call me?"

"You needed the rest," Archer told her. "Besides, I couldn't wake you up without waking Rin up as well. I didn't think we needed a grumpy witch in the morning, so I let the both of you sleep."

"Muuu," Kirika pouted as she looked over the dishes that had been prepared. All perfect, better than perfect really. The fact that a guy who looked like he had spent his life working outdoors had outdone her in cooking caused her to question her own skills, and she found them lacking in comparison to what she saw and tasted before her.

"By the way," Archer said casually. "Are you sure you are okay dressed like that in front of me?"

"Huh?" Kirika looked down at herself. What was wrong with the way she was...

"Kiyaaaaaaaah!"

Reactions hypnotised drilled into her by Rin cause Kirika to shriek and cover herself up with her arms. Dressed as she was in a half transparent white silk teddy, the action allowed her to conceal those parts most woman held sacred, but not much more.

"Hey, hey. No need to scream," Archer tried to calm Kirika down as he stood up and fetched his cloak from where he had hung it over a chair. "Put this on and-."

"Kirika?"

"Master?"

The door that led out into the back yard flew open as the two Sabers charged into the kitchen in response to Kirika's scream. They froze when they saw Archer standing over their master, the girl crouched down on the floor with her arms held protectively around her, and the other servant looming questionably over her with jacket in hand as if he had just taken the garment off.

"Uh..." Archer gulped as both knights began to glow with rage. "This reallyisn't what it looks like."

Archer's lame attempt to save himself from his destined fate triggered both outraged servants into action.

""ARCHER! DIE! ENEMY OF WOMEN!"" the twins screamed in eerie unison.

Swords flashed in the morning light, and misguided divine punishment was delivered upon the guilty.

Archer's Adventure - Dead End

-x-x-x-

Breakfast at the Tohsaka residence was oddly quiet this day.

"... Archer. Why does your face look like Berserker stepped on it then left you to die?" Rin asked as she stared incredulously at her servant.

"... I fell," Archer replied sullenly.

"Right..." Rin raised an eyebrow at the obvious lie, but didn't say anything. If her servant wanted to keep secrets, fine. This secret looked like it would only mean more pain for him anyhow.

With Rin satisfied, Archer cast a dark look towards those who had made him look like this, but only got disdainful sniffs from Saber and Lily. Kirika on the other hand seemed apologetic, but she was unable to say anything as Lily glared at her to keep her quiet.

Seeing that he wasn't going to get an apology for this, Archer scowled and returned to drinking his morning tea. The misunderstanding had been cleared up, but not before Saber and Lily had taken their litre of blood from his body. They also hadn't forgiven him for his perceived transgression, even when he explained that there hadn't been one.

Bloody women. In any argument between a guy and a girl, the girl always insisted that she was right, and did so even in the face of obvious evidence that they weren't. Even more annoyingly. They then proceeded to turn that falsehood into reality, until it became that the guy had been in the wrong all along.

... Bloody women.

While Archer sulked, the four girls had finished eating. Talking amongst themselves as each of them helped to clear away the dishes, they discussed their plans for the day.

"My decision stands Saber," Kirika said stubbornly as she wiped a bowl. "You cannot come with me to school."

"Master, don't be so stubborn," Saber sighed. "The grail war has started in earnest, and you could be attacked at any time. If you are not going to stay in a safe location, you have to at least have one of us with you."

"Archer's coming along with us. Isn't that enough?" Kirika pointed out reasonably.

Lily scowled. "Do you trust that pervert with your life Kirika?"

Rin's ears perked up. "What's this about Archer being a pervert?"

"Well you see Rin," Lily said in a sing song voice as she turned to face the other master. "This morning when -."

"I am not a pervert!" Archer screamed in order to cut her off. "How many times do I have to tell you? That was a misunderstanding!"

Saber didn't say anything, but had a very disparaging look in her eyes as she stared at the accused servant.

"Archer~!" Rin hadn't heard the whole thing, but it was enough. "You and I are going to have a talk after this. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Rin!" Archer snapped off a confirmation in response to the dark threads of emotion that threatened to choke him if he said anything else to Rin right now. Better to clear things up with Rin than to try and explain himself now with the unhelpful Lily nearby to interfere.

Meanwhile, Saber and Kirika was in a stalemate over whether or not the servant could follow the student to school.

"For the last time, NO!"

"I refuse to obey you in this master," Saber said for what was probably the eighth time. "Either you prove to me that you can defeat a servant by yourself, or one of us goes with you."

Kirika angrily brushed back her loose hair with her hand. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm going to be in a school with hundreds of other students. No mage is going to be stupid enough order a servant to attack me there. If it isn't a servant I'm certain that I can run away long enough to get to Rin or summon you with the command seal. You did say I can do that didn't you?"

Saber frowned but nodded. "Yes, but it wouldn't do to waste them master. Each of those allows a servant to do what would normally be beyond even us. It would be a waste to use them all like that. Far better that I go with you to prevent such a situation."

"Ah..." Kirika wanted to hit her head against the wall. "Lily, can you help me here? I mean, I wouldn't mind you guys coming if you could turn incorporeal like Archer can, but as you are... I just can't let you come with me."

"Lay off Kirika Saber" Lily said as she joined the argument on Kirika's side. "Let her go alone if she wants to."

"Lily!" Saber protested her twins surrender on the matter. "What do you think you are saying? We can't leave our master helpless like that!"

"She's right though," replied Lily. "No mage is going to expose themselves by attacking in daylight like this. Especially not a compound with so many people in it. At most she will be in danger of being assassinated, but since Archer is there that possibility almost disappears too. She can always summon us if she feels the need.

Grimacing, Saber reluctantly conceded the point. The command seals were there to be used, and it would be very difficult for any assassin to get past Archer's watch and pick off Kirika. Maybe she had a point.

"Fine, do as you will master," she finally said to Kirika. "But don't hesitate to use the command seal to summon us if you are in danger."

"Dont' worry, I'm not so stupid as to avoid seeking help as needed," Kirika said with a relieved smile as Saber finally backed down.

"Please be careful master," Saber added, unable to completely restrain her worry for her master.

"I said, don't worry," Kirika reassured her. "Just worry about how you are going to keep Lily from doing anything stupid while you wait."

Kirika had a point, and both of them turned to look at Lily as she in turn watched Rin interrogate Archer about what had been spoken about at the table. The fair haired young women was chuckling, visibly enjoying her fellow servant's suffering as Rin laid into him verbally and sometimes physically.

"..."

"..."

"Master?"

"Yes?" Kirika replied to her servant's call.

"Can I go with you?" Saber asked as she imagined what might happen if she was alone with Lily.

"No."

"..."

Rin exploded upon learning what had happened earlier from Lily, and the sound of laughter from Lily filled the air as Rin vented her fury upon her hapless servant. If any of the servants in this war could be suspected of causing problems, one of the top suspects would have to be Lily.

3-2

Walking to school with Rin by her side, occasionally saying hello to a familiar face. Falling into the familiar routine, Kirika could almost believe that her life was back to normal.

"You don't need to stick so close to me at school Archer," Rin said under her breath, shattering the illusion of normality. "Keep an eye out for threats against Kirika as well."

In his incorporeal state and communicating via the mental connection between master and servant, it was impossible for Kirika to make out how Archer had responded to his master, but from Rin's slight frown Kirika guessed that it hadn't been the answer that Rin had wanted to hear.

"Yes, but do you really think anyone would be idiotic enough to act with all these people around?" Rin sighed, then she leaned her head to the side as if she was listening to someone. "Assassin? Maybe, but during the day? I'm not saying that everyone will keep to the rules, but do you really think anyone would be that reckless?"

"You don't need to worry so much about me Rin," Kirika interjected, surmising what the disagreement was about. "If anyone is in danger between us two it's you. I'm not the one with the famous name here, and no one is going to target a nameless girl like me."

Rin gave her a dark look. "Kirika, it's been days since the war started, and if Assassin or anyone else has been scouting they will have seen you around me. Even if they don't know that you are a master they are bound to try and use you to get to me. It's safer for both of us if Archer watches over you as well.

Kirika didn't agree, but shrugged in response. If Rin was feeling stubborn she wasn't going to be able to persuade her to change her mind. Waving at a classmate of hers, Kirika put the thought aside for now, and resolved to speak privately with Archer later to make her opinion clear.

The two of them reached the school grounds, and had just taken a step into the school itself when Kirika froze, soon followed by Rin doing the same.

"The air..." Kirika whispered. "It's a lot sweeter and stickier than before."

Rin eyes were sober as she opened her senses as far as she could. "I can't be that sure myself, but it does feel as if the ward is stronger than yesterday." Saying that, she scowled. "At this rate the ward will activate in two or three days, rather than the week I first anticipated."

"Do you think the servant that set it noticed us yesterday?" asked Kirika.

"Probably, we weren't being that discrete after Lancer came," admitted Rin. "We will have to do what we can to disrupt the ward today. I would have liked to do something about the central sigil itself, but they will probably have taken steps to prevent that by now."

"Doesn't hurt to check," Kirika pointed out. "If the ward is complicated as you said it was they might not have been able to move it."

"I suppose," Rin admitted, then turned her head to the side. "Archer, can you go and check the dojo? Tell me if the sigil has been removed or not."

Again Kirika assumed that Archer had obeyed, as Rin nodded as if satisfied and assumed her normal poise.

"Are you carrying your Azoth?" Rin then asked Kirika.

"Uhm," Kirika felt inside her bag. "Yes. Do you want me to use it today?"

Rin nodded. "Yes. Since you don't know how to unwork the sigils you are going to have to brute force it and rip them apart with your prana."

"Will that work?" Kirika looked doubtfully at the short blade that she had reinforced with her spare prana everyday since she had gotten it three years ago. "What if the sigils just absorb it?"

Rin smiled more than a little crookedly. "If it was anyone else I might be worried. Since it's you though, there shouldn't be any problems as long as you are using your Azoth."

"Whatever you say Rin," Kirika said with a shrug. If Rin said it would work, it probably would. If it didn't, well. They would deal with it somehow.

"See you later then Rin," said Kirika as she began to head for her own class. "Lunch on the roof?"

"Yes, but I might be a little late," Rin replied. "I need to talk with someone."

"That's not a problem, I'll wait."

Kirika waved at Rin and went inside. Rin on the other hand headed out again with the intent to meet Archer in the time they had available between now and when class started.

The day went by quickly for Kirika after that. Lessons, talking with friends, and the other everyday activities of a student. For Kirika it all seemed like some daydream as she went through the motions while thinking about the strange situation she found herself in.

Mages, heroes out of legend, and the holy grail. If she wasn't a mage herself it would have seemed like some fantastical story straight out of a game or a book. There was no doubting she was involved now though. Two servants of her own, and a psycho lolita out for her blood. Or, was that out for her in order to go for the blood of the boy she used to be. Ack. She hadn't thought that there was anyone around apart from the Fujimuras or Kirei who remembered that old name of hers. These days she didn't even think of herself as Shirou, so it had been odd to see someone call her by that name. Well, not exactly, but the girl had been looking for her and that still counted.

Ding-dong. The sound of the lunchtime bell woke Kirika from the stupor she had been in. Looking down at the notebook in front of her, she realised that she had barely taken any notes in the last lesson. Her memory was no help either, the only thing she could remember being the fact that it had been social studies.

Berating herself for the lapse of attention, Kirika was on the way out to meet up with Rin when a reluctantly familiar face stepped in front of her.

"Where are you going Emiya?" Shinji said in the greasy voice he used with girls.

"To eat lunch," Kirika replied. "Is there something you want Matou-san?"

Shinji frowned a bit, but quickly covered the expression up with an ingratiating smile. "Why so distant Emiya? Didn't I tell you that you should call me Shinji?"

"Didn't Iask you to leave me alone?" Kirika said as she backed off a little. "Seriously, go play with one of your girls already."

It was rare for Kirika to dislike anyone, but Matou Shinji was firmly within the top 3 of a very short list in her mind. A quarter of the reason she had given up archery in the first place had been because the narcissistic jerk in front of her had continually harassed her. When he had stopped pestering her earlier this year she thought he had finally grown up, but it seemed as if her celebration had been a little premature.

"Oh don't be like that Emiya," Shinji said with what was now a strained smile on his face. "I just want to talk to you about something. That's all."

"And what would that be?" Kirika sighed. Maybe he would go away if she listened to him.

Shinji crept closer, and Kirika fought down the urge to step back again. She wasn't afraid of him or anything. It was just that the impression she had built up of him was that of a sleasy politician suffering from AIDS.

"I just wanted to tell you about the servant that put the ward around the school," Shinji told her quietly, driving any thoughts about his hygiene out of Kirika's head.

"How did you-," Kirika cut herself off, realising that this wasn't an appropriate place to discuss the matter.

Shinji smirked, knowing that he had gotten her attention with that little tidbit. "Come on, let's go and talk somewhere private."

"What?" Kirika's initial reaction was to tell him no, but her curiosity got the better of her. "In that case why not come with me and meet with Rin. She will probably be the better person to talk to about this."

"Eh?" The smile died. "No way. I don't trust that girl to not screw me over just for being a Matou. You can tell her what I tell you."

Kirika stared at Shinji, only then remembering that the Matous were one of the three families that had set up the grail system according to Rin. She didn't have any more info than that really. Rin had always appeared reluctant to talk about the other two families very much, in particular the Matous. Still, it meant that there was a possibility that Shinji was a master. In that case she wouldn't put it past him to try and do something to her after he got her away from watching eyes.

"Just come out here," Kirika told Shinji as she became aware of all the attention that were upon them. It was well known that although the two were in the same class they didn't get along, and the prolonged conversation that they were engaged in was making many people wonder just what had caused this strange event to occur.

Kirika led Shinji to the stairwell on the far side of the building from the cafeteria. Most of those who used these stairs had done so by now, and thus it was one of the more secluded areas of the school until lunchtime ended at least.

"Alright, we can talk here," Kirika said with her body coiled so that she could move at any moment.

Shinji appeared to be discontent with their surroundings, but he seemed to accept that he wouldn't be getting any further with her if he refused to talk now.

"Geez, a little trust wouldn't hurt," he complained. "I am trying to help you know."

Kirika raised an eyebrow. "Really now? Why would a member of the Matou family want to help potential enemies such as Rin and I?"

"Whoa, whoa," Shinji held up his hands. "You don't understand Emiya. The Matou line is basically dead. I'm just a normal guy who knows about this side through what I've read at home. I'm not a master or anything. See? No command seals."

Kirika frowned as Shinji bared his sleeves to show that there were no marks on his hands or arms. Was he telliing the truth? True, she had never felt anything like the presence that Kirei or Rin put out from him, but she wasn't skilled enough a mage to be perfectly sure. Rin would have been able to tell, which could be why he had been so reluctant to involve the other girl. There was also what he had said about the Matou line being dead. If that was true that meant that there were no longer any mages that were worthy of the title in the family. So how could he have found out anything about the servant who had set up the ward around the school?

"If you are so normal, how did you find out about this servant that you wanted to talk about?" Kirika asked to clear up her suspicions.

Shinji shrugged. "My family may not have any mages any more, but that doesn't mean we've lost everything. When I heard about the grail war starting I used the Ahriman Eye that we had in storage to check for dangers. I was surprised as hell to find that our school had a ward around it."

Thinking through his explanation, Kirika admitted that he could be telling the truth. An Ahriman Eye was a moderately powerful artefact that could reveal danger and track it to its source. One didn't even have to be a full mage to use it as long as you knew how to keep it charged. The most common method being a bit of blood gathered from yourself or another.

"So what else did you find out?" Kirika asked, giving him the benefit of the doubt for now. "You can't have called me out just to tell me that."

"Of course not," said Shinji. "I was about to say that I tracked the ward back to its caster, and that led me to find that someone had set up shop up on the mountain."

"Mountain?" Kirika asked, not sure which one he was talking about.

"Mt Enzou, where the temple is," Shinji told her smoothly. "I'm not sure which servant is up there, but they've been quite the busybody sucking out the souls of people all over the city."

"What?" Kirika blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Shinji looked surprised. "Hah? You didn't know? What did you think happened to all those 'gas leak' victims in the hospital?"

"I haven't being keeping up with the news," admitted Kirika, who remembered hearing something along those line a week ago. "Are you saying that there's someone who is going around attacking civilians?"

"Well duh?" Shinji rolled his eyes. "If you want to stop them, you might want to hurry. They've been collecting from more and more people lately."

Kirika's face was troubled as she processed that information. It was hard to believe that she hadn't had any idea that such a thing was going on. Sure, she had been distracted lately, but if it was so widespread that it was in the news she should have heard something at least.

"Thanks for telling me this," Kirika said grimly. "I need to go talk this over with Rin."

Shinji grimaced at the mention of Rin's name. "Ack, whatever. Just take care of that servant before they do something. I don't want to get hurt just because you two were too lazy to act in time."

Typical of him, was Kirika's thought as she nodded in confirmation. She should have known that he was acting in his own interests rather than out of any worry for those around him. No matter though. The fact that he had acted at all helped a lot, since she now had a tentative target which she could aim at.

Giving Shinji a brief nod of acknowledgement, Kirika headed for the roof where Rin would be waiting for her. If the mage on the mountain was the one who had set up this ward, it was possible that they might be able to dispel it subduing the caster themselves. She also had a personal score to settle with the servant who had chased her across the school a few nights ago. A servant she now suspected belonged to this unscrupulous mage.

How to take care of this unknown that was targeting innocent people was the main thought on Kirika's mind as she opened the door to the rooftop. Looking up to tell Rin about what she had just learned however, Kirika was surprised when she found that there was no one else here.

"Archer?" she called out, just to make sure that the servant wasn't around.

Getting no response, Kirika wondered for a while where Rin could be. She hadn't seen her on the way up here, but the direction she had come from was opposite to Rin's class. It was possible that she had gone to the cafeteria, but Archer had made lunch for them today (which had led her to wonder if he was the heroic spirit of housework). In that case the most likely reason was that she had been delayed, either in her class or on the way here.

She then remembered what Rin had said in the morning, about her needing to talk with someone. A classmate maybe? Kirika didn't know of anyone that Rin was particularly close to in her class other than the Himu-Maki-Sae trio, but it was possible that something had come up. The lengths that Rin would go to in order to keep up her image of a perfect student were quite amusing, and if this was in any way related Rin could be a while.

At any other time Kirika would have waited for Rin to finish and come up, but today she was eager to tell her friend about the information she had received from Shinji. There was also the consideration that she might be able to see Rin talking to someone in her 'miss perfect' mode again. This was a much rarer sight than one might think, and always provided her and Ayako with a good opportunity to needle Rin about her two-faced personality.

"Hu hu," Kirika got a naughty look on her face. "It's been a while since I had anything I could taunt Rin about."

Going back down into the building, Kirika began to look around for Rin. It didn't take her very long to find the other girl, and Kirika crept closer to see who she was talking to.

It took her a moment to place the unfamiliar face. Pretty, but a bit cold and emotionless. Kirika didn't remember anyone in Rin's class who looked like that. It was the almost purple hair that triggered her memories in the end. An overheard conversation between the guys in her class about the Ice Princess of the first years, whose trademark was the faded black hair that looked as if it had been dyed light purple.

Now that Kirika thought about it, the girl was Shinji's sister. Even so, it didn't explain the chill in the air. With arms crossed and mouth set tight, Rin radiated a palpable aura of anger as she stood there as angry as Kirika had ever seen her. Although Rin occasionally let her anger flare, those outbursts weren't that serious. It was when she was cool and collected as she was now that Kirika knew she was truly annoyed about something.

Kirika wondered what was going on as she peeked out at them. Matou was looking to the side, as if she didn't want to meet Rin's eyes. In fact, the way that she was huddled into herself gave Kirika the impression that Rin was bullying her. Knowing Rin though, that couldn't be right. She wouldn't do something like that... Would she?

"Keep your nose out of business that doesn't involve you Matou-chan," Kirika perked her ears as Rin spoke, slowly and deliberately. "If you are not a mage, than there is nothing between us. If you don't want to get hurt, keep it that way."

Matou kept her lifeless eyes on the window as she replied to Rin's frosty warning. "Is that everything you have to say Tohsaka-sempai?"

Kirika heard the strange emphasis that Sakura put on Rin's name, and was baffled by the strong reaction that Rin showed to it. A complete shutdown of emotions, as if someone had closed an iron shutter over Rin's face.

"I suppose you are right," Sakura continued. "There's nothing between us two, is there Tohsaka-sempai? In that case why don't you take this-."

Sakura was in the midst of raising her hand towards the ribbon in her hair when Rin lashed out at her. The sound of a meaty slap rung in the air as Rin's hand connected with Sakura's face, and everything seemed to come to a stop. For a moment Kirika couldn't believe what she had seen, but reality soon struck and she came out into the open to protest against Rin's violence.

"Rin, what do you think you are doing?" Kirika shouted as she stalked up to the pair.

"Kirika?" Rin looked shocked by her presence here, but soon composed herself. She looked towards Sakura, who was holding her reddening cheek with a hand, and then clenched her fists and began to walk away.

"Rin?" Kirika was stunned as she was ignored by her best friend. "Rin! Don't walk away! Come back here and apologise to Matou-chan!"

Flustered, Kirika chased after Rin who had disappeared around the corner. This left Sakura by herself, standing there in silence while holding the side of the face that had been struck.

"She hit me?" Sakura whispered to herself once she fully absorbed the fact that Rin had struck her. "She hit me." Sakura repeated in a tone of wonder. "But why? I thought she didn't care any more."

Her hand reached up to brush against the ribbon that was one of her most valued possessions. The same ribbon which just a moment ago had provoked such a strong reaction in Tohsaka Rin when its return was mentioned.

"Does she... Still remember me?" Sakura wondered out loud. "Does that mean she still... No, she said it herself. She's the head of the Tohsaka family now. She doesn't care about anyone who isn't a mage." Sakura began to mumble almost incoherently as she thought things through. "She remembers, but doesn't care? Then, why hit me? Does she still care? Is it because I'm not a mage in her eyes? Because I would be a master if I was a proper mage?"

A wild light began to seep into Sakura's eyes. It was so obvious to her now.

"So all I have to do..." Sakura whispered softly in a sing-song voice. "Is prove to her my worth as a mage?"

Slowly, a twisted grin stretched Sakura's lips. It was a manic expression, kin to those shown by a zealot who had finally found a cause to expend their body and soul for.

"In that case, I'll show you what I have learned," she promised to herself and Rin.

Having made up her mind, Sakura was about to return to her class and the fascimile of a normal life when she heard the clatter of hurried footsteps behind her. She idly wondered who was in such a hurry, and was surprised when she recognised who it was.

"Hah... Excuse me... Matou-chan?" Kirika puffed as she regained her breath after the short sprint. "Uhm, it might be a little strange for me to say this, but I am really sorry for what Rin just did."

Kirika bowed deep, and Sakura was left unsure of how she should respond. She didn't even know why this girl was apologising to her in the first place. Tohsaka Rin had been the one who had hit her, the one who had rejected her. For Kirika-sempai to come and apologise was meaningless. For someone who didn't know anything about the history between the two of them to come and butt in like this, it was even a bit annoying.

"That's alright Emiya-sempai," Sakura said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I was the one who provoked her in the first place. You could say I deserved it."

"Th-that doesn't excuse her!" Kirika stammered. "No matter how angry she was she shouldn't have hit you like that. What if she left a mark? Oh, that reminds me, let me see your face. We can't leave it alone if it looks like it's going to bruise."

"I am fine Emiya-sempai," Sakura protested as Kirika came closer to her. "Really, you don't need to do anything."

Though she was calm on the outside, internally Sakura was getting flustered as Kirika ignored her protests and intruded upon her private space. She knew that Emiya Kirika was a mage, and was worried that she might pick up something that would reveal the truth about her and the Matous before she was ready. That wasn't something she could accept, not when she had just made up her mind to show Rin what she had become. Tohsaka Rin was, could only be, a formidable mage. Even with the advantages that Sakura held, she was unsure of her ability to defeat the head of the Tohsaka family in a straight battle. It was therefore crucial that she retain every advantage she could, one of which was her unrevealed status as a full mage in her own right. An advantage that Emiya Kirika was threatening with her naive concern.

"I said I'm fine!" Sakura said loudly as she pushed the older girl away from her.

Kirika was at first shocked by the fit of temper from a girl who was famous for never showing her feelings, but soon became apologetic again.

"Sorry," she apologised. "I just wanted to help."

Looking at the girl who was smiling at her sadly, Sakura felt a surge of dark anger inside her. The anger was aimed partly at Kirika, but also at herself for her reaction to the older girl's approach. Wasn't it enough that this girl had stolen her place in life? Did she have to make her feel so ugly too? After what she had gone through Sakura knew that she couldn't by any definition be called pure. A stark contrast from this bright and innocent girl before her. Being confronted with someone who had everything she dreamed of made her feel as if the two of them were being compared by the world, and it found her wanting.

"I'm sorry too Emiya-sempai," Sakura told her as she forced herself to calm down. "I shouldn't have taken out my anger on you like that. Please accept my apology."

Kirika shook her head. "No it's fine, it was my fault for ignoring how you would feel right now. I should be the one that's sorry."

Sakura smiled weakly. She wished the other girl would just accept the apology so that she could feel better about herself.

"Uhm..." Kirika fidgeted as she looked at Sakura nervously. "Ah... Matou-chan? I'm not sure what happened between you and Rin, but if it's something I can help sort out could you please tell me? I'm not sure why, but both you and Rin seem really upset over the whole affair."

Sakura felt her face grow cold. "It's nothing serious Emiya-sempai. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get back to class."

"Huh? Ah, sorry." Kirika apologised again. "Heh heh. I bothered you didn't I?"

Sakura didn't reply and turned away from Kirika. She could feel her control over her emotions loosening the more she spent time around her, and she didn't like it. Before she could get away though, Kirika stopped her again, grabbing her by the wrist.

"Just a second please!" Kirika exclaimed when Sakura gave her a questioning look. "Uhm, it's not much, but please take this."

Something was pressed into her hand, and Sakura looked down and saw a small green gemstone in her palm. It wasn't that big or fancy, but she could feel the power contained inside the smoothly polished stone. Enough power that she was astonished that any mage would give it away.

"What is this Emiya-sempai?" Sakura asked, confused. "I don't have anything that I can give you in exchange."

"Oh, you don't need to," replied Kirika. "Just think of it as an apology for upsetting you. Besides, I couldn't just let you go like that." Kirika lifted a hand and brushed Sakura's cheek. "Rin would kill me if I let a girl pretty as you get their face marked when I could have prevented it."

"Emiya-sempai," Discomfitted by the surprise contact and praise, Sakura backed away, blushing slightly. "Thank you, but I really can't accept this."

"Oh?" Kirika got a playful look on her face. "In that case, I will have to leave you with no choice. Bye Matou-chan!"

Kirika let go of Sakura and hopped back. Turning, she was up and running towards her class before Sakura could even begin to think of a response to her unexpected generosity. Unable to stop her, the younger girl stood there quietly, watching her go.

When Kirika had disappeared up the stairs Sakura looked down at the gemstone that had almost been forced upon her. A chrysoprase, the traditional stone for healing wounds. Apart from the prana that she could feel just below the surface, she couldn't sense that anything had been done to it. Normally this would have meant that the stone was basically useless except as a spell amplifier, but the almost ridiculous amount of prana that had been crammed into it had turned the small stone into a healing charm that could work by itself. A valuable gift, especially to another mage that could use it to make healing serious wounds much easier.

Sakura felt a bit dispirited when she realised that the gift had been just that, a gift. It was unheard of a mage to act without asking for something in return, but she couldn't imagine that the naive girl she had just talked to would have planned something by the act. That meant that she had acted out of simple generosity, and the sincerity of her compassion touched Sakura, even as it upset her. If school rumours were true, the girl had lived with Rin for years. How could she not have learned proper protocol for a mage? Or was it just that she was that pitiable in the other girl's eyes?

Conflicting emotions turned inside Sakura's heart as she thought about Kirika and her gift. Gratitude, distaste, and other unfamiliar emotions that made her want to smile and frown at the same time. As always, Emiya Kirika was an existence that perplexed her.

Another student appeared out of the stairwell. Realising that she had spent too long thinking about things, Sakura headed back to her class, holding the stone up to her cheek as she walked. A mark would raise questions, and they wouldn't be any questions that she would want to answer. For that, she was grateful for the gift from Kirika, as her own proficiency for healing was quite abysmal.

When the gem first touched her skin however, Sakura jumped, surprised when she did not feel the coolness that one automatically associated with stones. Instead, the stone radiated warmth as it touched her sore skin. A comforting warmth, as if someone had laid their hand upon her. Not sensing anything harmful in the effect, Sakura let herself relax and enjoy the sensation.

Quite a few of her fellow students were surprised that lunchtime as Sakura passed them by. The Ice Princess of the first years, famous for her cool beauty and emotionless face. It was the first time that any of them had seen her smile so warmly.

3-3

When was the last time that the mood between her and Rin had been so strained? Kirika couldn't remember as she walked home in silence just behind her temporarily estranged friend.

Between Rin's straight forward approach to life and Kirika's submissiveness, there had never been any reason for the two of them to clash. Occasionally one or the other might lose their temper over something that had been done, but in these cases the offending party usually acknowledged their wrong and accepted the blame without any fuss. Today's standoff over Rin's harsh treatment of Sakura and her refusal to apologise or explain was probably the first time the two had ever seriously argued.

Truth be told, Kirika couldn't understand how things had gotten this way. It was clear enough that Rin was in the wrong this time, and it was unlike her best friend to refuse to admit to her mistakes. During the lunch hour, her unwillingness to at least explain herself had led to Kirika throwing up her arms and returning to her class in disgust.

She didn't know what she had expected to happen in the few hours between then and the end of the school day, but she soon found that Rin's stubborn nature had asserted itself in the worst possible way. Meeting up with each other out of ingrained habit, Kirika's had tentatively apologised and invited Rin to talk about what had happened, but met only silence in return. Rebuffed, Kirika had gotten annoyed herself, and hadn't said a word since they passed the school gate.

Trace on. Basic pattern set. Final pattern located. Possibility aligned. Structure confirmed. All phase, cancel.

Unused to such tension, Kirika distracted herself by going through the steps required to project her favoured swords, then cancelling the process before they could materialise. Although it came easily to her now, a few years ago she would have needed up to five minutes to do the same for a simple cup. This while sitting down and focusing on nothing else. She couldn't have imagined then that she would ever reach a stage where she could project a sword while walking along the street.

A lot of that could be attributed to Rin's efforts, Kirika thought morosely. They had spent a lot of their time during their first two years together refining her projection. They had worked on the basics of magecraft as well of course, but Rin had been adamant that she wasn't about to let her waste her broken ability by not developing it to the highest standard possible.

Kirika got even more depressed as memories of the past floated up inside her mind. Rin throwing a tantrum about her breaking the laws of magic, Rin telling her off for not dressing like a girl, Rin smiling at her chillingly while asking why she had cut her hair... Being dragged into the bath by Rin... Dressing up in a frilly dress under the strangely disconcerting eyes of Kirei and Rin... For some reason there were quite a few memories in there that triggered hidden traumas in her heart, but each and every one was a treasured recollection of the time that the two of them had spent together. The Rin in front of her now however, was not one that Kirika had ever seen. The incongruity between the girl she had grown up with and the gloomy young woman before her was not something that Kirika could deal with easily.

Increasingly fretful, Kirika cursed Rin's servant for being a coward and a scoundrel. A third party between them might have provided grounds for a conversation to ease the tension, but the somewhat sarcastic servant was remaining resolutely incorporeal. Bereft of any methods to break the ice, Kirika could only walk as she marvelled at how much longer the way back home seemed today.

Kirika breathed a sigh of relief when they finally reached the house. Once inside something would have to change, whether it be another confrontation or a retreat to their rooms. Anything was better than the nervewracking silence that had ruled over their enforced journey back here together.

Deactivating the ward around the house, they walked in, and stopped as soon as they reached the lounge. No matter how irritable their quarrel had made them, the scene they faced was enough to at least temporarily shock them into thinking of nothing else.

"... Saber?" Kirika called her servant's name in a shaking voice.

The so named servant blushed and refused to meet her master's eyes. If she did it was entirely possible that she might be the first heroic spirit to ever die from mortification.

"Afternoon Kirika, Rin," Lily greeted them as she came through the door. "What do you think? Does she look good?"

"..." Rin was trying to remember where the camera was so that they could record this moment for posterity.

"Ha, ha ha ha..." Kirika didn't know how to reply. Her instincts were warning her that voicing her honest opinion here would result in something black and terrifying coming out.

"..." Archer was silent, proving once again that his Eye of the Mind skill wasn't only for show.

The object of their attention was one King of Knights, currently dressed in a skimpy maid outfit straight out of an anime. Complete with garter belt and laced stockings, the overall image that was created when combined with Saber's innocent reactions was... While the girls stared with childish mirth threatening to overtake them, Archer took a moment to flush out R18 images that for some reason were very clear in his memories. Goddamn Shinji and his pornography.

"Lily..." Saber's voice was shaking now as the embarrassment of being caught like this began to consume her consciousness.

"Your honest opinion Kirika," Lily said as she ignored Saber's growing furor. "Do you think she looks better with these glasses or without?"

"Wait a second," Kirika frowned as she recognised the glasses that Lily held, and for that matter the maid outfit as well. If her memories were correct they were the ones that Kirei and Rin had forced her to wear...

"I thought I threw those away!" Kirika shouted as she whirled to face Rin.

"You thought you did," Rin commented. "You really should look at the back of your wardrobe sometime."

"The back? What else is there?"

Rin giggled. "What do you think?"

Kirika's mind whirled as she thought of all the embarrassing costumes she had been forced to wear over the years. She hadn't thrown out some of the more expensive dresses or plainer clothes, but the rest had been thrown out by... Rin? Oh lord, it couldn't be.

"You don't mean... All of them?" Kirika whispered, stunned.

Rin only smiled mysteriously at her, telling her everything she needed to know.

While the two masters were settling into a semblance of their normal relationship, the servants were playing around with Saber.

"So just why are you in this costume?" Archer asked as he burned Saber's current image into his head. Just because he was an eirei it didn't mean that he was... Okay, he was dead but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy looking.

"No reason," Saber growled. "And, I am taking this thing off immediately."

"Ah, no you aren't," Lily jumped in. "You lost the bet, and I told you it was going to be for the whole day. Surely you aren't going to go back on your word?"

"Guh..."

Stuck between her word and her honour, Saber was unable to decide on a course of action. Morosely, she hung her head, and would have accepted her fate if it hadn't been for Lily's next words.

"Hmmm, something seems missing," Lily said as she looked over Saber with a critical eye.

She turned to look at Archer with a confused look on her face.

"What's a nekomimi?" she asked the other servant. "My knowledge insists that her outfit wouldn't be complete without them."

Archer raised an eyebrow. "Cat's ears?"

What the hell had the grail stuck into her head when she was summoned here? He wondered as he looked incredulously at Lily.

Lily tilted her head. "I think I saw a pair back there. Let me just -."

The final straw.

"&-*%#^(^*++!"

Another afternoon at the Tohsaka mansionm, and another session of 'Let's play with Saber' ending with a bang. On a side note it took Archer, Kirika, and Lily two hours to clean up the damage from Saber's berserk rampage.

-x-x-x-

"You say Shinji told you all this?" Rin asked, her face grave as she considered everything she had just heard.

Kirika nodded. "Yes, he says he used the Ahriman Eye that the Matou family has. Apparently he himself isn't a mage, but he still knows how to use the artefacts that they have."

For some reason Kirika's explanation only served to put a frosty smile on Rin's face.

"Kirika?" Rin said cheerfully as she walked around the teatable to where Kirika sat.

"Yes?" Kirika replied nervously as she tried to sink into the couch. Nothing good could come of Rin smiling like this.

"Since when did you become such an idiot?" Rin asked as she leaned down to stare into her eyes. "Shinji says he wants to tell you something about the grail war, so you just up and follow him? Alone?" Rin took Kirika's cheeks in her fingers and stretched them about like dough. "Didn't it ever occur to you that he could be a threat?"

"Buuuu he shees heee issn't a maeeze (But he said he isn't a mage)," Kirika tried to explain.

Somehow understanding what Kirika said straightaway, Rin glared at her and pulled at her cheeks again. "You didn't know that before you talked, did you? And did you even suspect that if he can use items like the Ahriman Eye he might be able to use another artefact to harm you? Or even summon a servant? Could you please stop and think before you act?"

Shaking Kirika's head back and forth by her cheeks, Rin was kneeling on top of Kirika now, her previous position leaning over her friend being too tiring. Kirika's yelps of pain at this treatment went ignored by her tormentor and it was only when Kirika's eyes began to tear up that Rin let go.

"Uuuu," Kirika rubbed her cheeks. "That hurt."

"It was meant to," Rin told her drily, before she sighed and rested her chin on Kirika's shoulder. "Just be more careful in the future will you?"

"Yes mother," Kirika droned. "Ow!"

Rin loosened her grip on Kirika's hair and smoothed out the tangle from where she had tugged on it. "Do you need some lessons again Kirika? You are talking back a lot recently."

"No thank you," Kirika said hurriedly. "I will be good Rin, promise."

Rin chuckled weakly and draped herself over Kirika. She was mentally exhausted from the emotional turmoil she had gone through today, and Kirika was a comforting presence now that they had put aside their differences.

"Hmm," Archer cleared his throat. "Not to interrupt, but, what about this mage on the mountain?"

His voice took a while to penetrate Rin's tired mind. Even when it did it provoked a weak reaction as Rin pulled her head up and said, "Do you want to go have a look Archer?"

"If you tell me to, I will," Archer shrugged. "But if he or she has something to do with the ward around the school shouldn't you stop playing around and look to do something about it?"

Rin frowned at him, but admitted that he was right. "Oh fine," she muttered as she got off Kirika.

Redfaced from the display of skinship in front of the servants, Kirika coughed and asked, "About that, do you know anything about the mountain Rin? It seems weird that they would set up shop in the middle of the city. Aren't they asking for trouble that way?"

"That's not exactly true master," said Saber, still in the maid outfit. "The mountain is surrounded by a ward that rejects all but nature spirits, making it near impossible for a servant to approach. It is an easily defendable position, and the convergence of leylines on the mountain make it a good location for a mage to base themselves in.

"A ward?" Rin sat up. "I didn't know there was anything like that around the mountain. How strong is it?"

Saber thought about it. "If I had to compare it... Every time I took a step I would have to expend as much prana as I would fighting against an order given through the command seal."

Rin blanched. "That strong? But in that case how are you supposed to keep your servant around?"

"The ward doesn't cover the entire mountain Rin," Saber explained. "There is one path that runs along the stairs to the summit, and once you are inside the grounds of the temple I believe that the ward has no effect."

"Ah, right." Rin nodded to herself. "They would have to have it like that, or the land would die." Rin paused and frowned. "How do you know all this Saber? More knowledge from the grail?"

Saber shook her head. "No, it was something I heard during the last grail war."

"That's convenient," said Lily. "Anything else we should know?"

"Nothing that I can think of at the moment," Saber replied. "No one actually used the mountain the last time so I have never gone up there."

"Only one way in, and a mage who has a large reservoir of power to draw upon," Archer summarised the situation. "Am I the only one who thinks this looks like a trap?"

"If it's a trap, it's a very good one," said Lily. "Long range attacks are out due to the civilians on the mountain, and a covert strike is impossible due to the ward. If we want to remove the mage we have no choice but to charge in head-on."

"That's not the only thing. Are we sure that this is a human mage we are talking about?" asked Archer. "Caster and Assassin are as yet unaccounted for. The only reason we have to believe that Rider's master is up there is information from one of the three families of the beginning. We know that they have a vested interest in winning the war themselves. Are we sure the information is reliable?"

"No we aren't," said Rin. "But we can't completely discount Matou's story either. We know that servant Rider was at the school, and that there is a ward around the school which will drain everything inside of prana once it is active. Lancer is another possibility, but he doesn't seem like the type that would go for it."

Archer crossed his arms. "That reminds me Rin, are you sure that this boy is not a master in the grail war himself? It seems more than a little suspicious that a supposedly normal person would just happen to have the information that we needed at this time."

Rin flinched, reminded of the confrontation with Sakura earlier in the day. Kirika looked nervous as well as the subject of the Matous was brought up again. She didn't want to start another fight over the issue, even if she still thought that Rin should go and apologise to the girl.

"Rin?" Archer pressed his master.

"You are right," Rin replied slowly. "We need to investigate the Matous at least once. I wouldn't put it past that sleazebag to try and deceive us so that he can surprise us later."

Hearing a slight note of tension in the voice that she had heard every day for the last five years, Kirika felt her curiosity stir anew in regards to the relation between Rin and Matou Sakura. Just what was it that caused her friend to tense up every time the Matou line was mentioned? Was Sakura a mage? From what little she had overheard that did not seem to be the case, and Shinji had said that the Matou line was no longer viable as mages. So what was it? She didn't like being so clueless about something that affected Rin so deeply.

"How do you want to take care of things Rin?" Archer asked. "Investigating the Matous and taking care of the mage on the mountain. Do we take care of them one by one or split our forces?"

"..." Rin still looked troubled as she considered the options.

"I don't believe that we should have any problems even if we do split up," Saber asserted. "Lily and I should be able to take care of any threats on the mountain, and Archer could go look for clues about the Matous."

Kirika frowned. "Isn't that a bit dangerous Saber? We don't know what kind of traps are on the mountain."

"It matters little," Saber said confidently. "In case you have forgotten, my anti-magic rank is strong enough that no spells can harm me. Lily's anti-magic seems a bit weaker but together we should be able to deal with any threat."

"She has a point," Lily agreed. "Although I am not so sure that we should leave our masters alone. Wouldn't it be safer if they go with Archer?"

Archer scratched his cheek. "Guess it is a bit dangerous with Assassin still unaccounted for. How about it Rin? Split up like they suggested?"

"... That does seem like the best option," Rin said with a sigh. "What do you think Kirika?"

"Eh..."

Kirika's mind was split on the issue. She wanted to go with Rin and maybe find out a bit more about the part of her friend's life that had been kept from her, but she also felt that she should go to the mountain with her servants. Her instincts had served her well in the past, and there was actually a good reason as to why she should go with her servants. The personal significance of the former choice however was making her choice difficult, and it was after a lengthy pause that Kirika answered.

"Uhm, I will go with Saber and Lily to the mountain," Kirika declared quietly.

Saber looked at her disapprovingly. "Master, that wouldn't be very wise. You said yourself that there may be traps on the mountain, and while our anti-magic protects us from harm you don't enjoy any such protection."

Kirika shook her head. "It won't get to that. The reason I say I'm going with you is because I will be able to spot any traps on the path and tell you how to get through them. That's right isn't it Rin?"

"Huh? Uhm..." Rin wanted to say no in order to discourage Kirika from trying to go with Saber, but her honesty won out. "Yes, provided that they aren't ancient mysteries like the ward around the school."

"Kirika," exasperated, Saber forgot her usual form of address for Kirika. "I already told you, traps of that kind are no problem for us. Your being there will present a greater danger to us than such things."

"... I'm still going," Kirika said stubbornly. The more she thought about it, the more certain she felt that she was making the right choice. It might just be paranoia, but she somehow knew that if she didn't go with Saber and Lily something would happen to them. "I can't let you two fight without me at least being there."

She left unsaid that another reason was that she wanted to prevent the death of the mage up on the mountain if the attack was successful.

"Master, could you please listen to what I am saying?" Saber beseeched her.

"..."

"Let her come Saber," Lily interjected when it seemed the deadlock would continue forever. "She's going to be going into danger even if she goes with Rin and Archer. We may as well bring her along so that we can keep our own eyes on her."

"Again, don't say something so irresponsible," Saber sighed. "We can't risk Kirika's life when we don't know what is there."

Lily shrugged. "She said she can pick out traps herself didn't she? Or we can run ahead and trigger the traps outself to see what they are. Besides, I doubt that the other side is going to be any better."

"Lily is right," Rin confirmed. "We are going to have to go look inside the Matou residence. They've been on that land for 300 years, so they've had a lot of time to prepare defences."

"I am your master Saber," Kirika added. "Shouldn't you be listening to me?"

Beset on all sides, Saber had to concede defeat.

"Very well master. If you do come please stick right next to me or Lily unless we say not to."

"Okay," Kirika nodded. That much she could do.

"All decided then?" Rin asked the group. "In that case let's have dinner before we go out. It will be easier to move if it's dark."

Archer stood up and dusted his hands. "I will take care of it. Anyone have any requests? Or should I just make some Thai for once?"

"You can do Thai as well?" Kirika asked, surprised.

Archer smiled crookedly at her. "Thai, Western, Chinese, Japanese. Et cetera, et cetera. You name it, I can cook it. Why? Surprised?"

Kirika nodded, wondering once again if Archer's true identity was the heroic spirit of cooking. There was no other explanation for this perfect house-husband's skills.

3-4

A path without end, that was how Kirika had thought of the stairway up the mountain when she first saw it, on a summer night long ago. Going up the steps one by one with Kiritsugu by her side, the trip to the top had been like a trip to the moon, and she still remembered the mild disappointment she had felt when the only thing at the top turned out to be an old temple. Seven years later, the stairway no longer presented such a challenge to the now grown up young woman. Or at least it shouldn't have.

Lit only by the scattered streams of moonlight that slipped through the foliage, the shadowed path gave off an air that warned against all trespass into the temple grounds above. What dangers lay along its length was uncertain, but even to Kirika's untrained instincts, the sense of danger from the path was unmistakable.

"I don't sense any traps on the path itself," Kirika told her servants as she opened her eyes and got to her feet. "There are some spells and wards in place, but they all seem to be focused upon detecting and tracking enemies rather than defending the mountain."

"Confident aren't they?" Lily commented. "Do you think they are inviting us in?"

"No choice but to go forward and find out," said Saber as she went ahead. "Master, please stay back a little with Lily just in case."

"Could you please call me Kirika like I asked you to?" Kirika complained. "Being called master is embarrassing."

Saber's blush was hidden by the darkness as she resolutely kept her eyes facing forward. After the events of the last few days she felt that there was a line in front of her that she would never be able to come back from if she crossed over. Calling Kirika by name was just one effort on her part to stay on the safe side of the line.

The group quietened down once more as they began to climb the stairs. Somewhat relaxed after she found no traps on the path, Kirika found her attention turning to the world around them. A very different world from the one she normally saw by day. With colours faded into shades of grey, and dark shadows claiming those places that the light from the city and the moon did not reach, she wondered why she had never really noticed the difference before. It was colder too. A chill breeze blew down from the mountaintop, stirring the leaves of the trees as it passed. In the quiet of the night, the rustling noise of leaves brushing against each other was the only sound that could be heard from their surroundings. The movement of the treetops also broke up the light from above, sending silver specks dancing across the stone where the path had been overgrown.

The world in monochrome, beautiful in its own way. She would have to enjoy it another time however, as tonight they still had work to do.

"These stairs are rather long are they not?" Lily said in a mildly disgusted voice, breaking the silence.

"Somewhat," Saber replied. "Are you tired Lily?"

"Of course not, I'm just pointing it out." Lily shrugged. "Should we run up? Walking like this is a bit tedious."

"Ah, Lily? I don't think I could keep up with you two if you ran," Kirika pointed out.

"Don't worry Kirika, I will carry you," Lily told her with a smile.

Saber shook her head. "We are nearly there. It doesn't look like they plan to attack us on the way up so we may as well go slowly and carefully."

"Don't you think that's a bit odd?" Lily asked the two of them. "I mean, why drain so many people for prana, and then not use any of it when we are most vulnerable?"

"Maybe they think that what they have inside the temple is enough," suggested Kirika.

Lily was a bit doubtful. "Maybe. I can't help but find it strange though."

"As do I," Saber agreed. "I'm also worried about whether Rider truly is here. This is an ideal location for a Rider to use their noble phantasm, but no one has shown themselves."

None of them had any answers to the questions, so they continued to go upwards in search of an explanation. They were nearly at the top when all three of them stopped.

"There's some kind of ward in place around the gate," said Kirika as she felt the twisted flow of prana in front of her. "I'm going to have to take a closer look though in order to -."

"Please get back master," said Saber as she moved to the side to cover her master.

"Eh?"

"There's somebody here," explained Lily as she drew her sword. She too had been warned by her instincts to go no further, and was curious as to who could provoke such a feeling in her.

"Eh?" Kirika looked around, and didn't see anyone. "Where?"

An answer to her query was not needed as someone stepped out of the shadows of the gate. Kirika was surprised to see that it was a woman. A classical Japanese beauty with long dark hair, dressed in a simple white and purple kimono that complemented her slim but feminine body. She was holding a bundle of some sorts in her hands, a long stick-like item wrapped in white silk. The ease with which she carried it suggested that it was a familiar weight to her, and though it was too long Kirika found herself wondering if it was an umbrella of some sorts, the ornate paper kind that woman used to carry to go out. It would have fit the woman's image perfectly.

While Kirika admired the image straight out of a historical drama, her servants were left unsure of how to treat this person in front of them. The fact that they hadn't known she was here until they got so close hinted that this was not your average housewife, but they could not sense the power and mystery typical of a servant summoned for the grail war. Her open stance, lack of magic power, and apparent frailty all pointed towards her being your everyday normal human.

So why was it, that their instincts were screaming in warning?
- That to approach this woman recklessly would mean certain death.

Confused, Saber eyed the item in the woman's hands. The silk was draped loosely over the contents of the bundle, making it impossible to make out its true shape. Guessing as to what it could be, Saber thought that it might be a spear, as the shape was too long to be a sword.

Lily on the other hand wondered if this might be the mage that was supposed to have taken up residence on the mountain. It would be odd for such a person to appear so close to them, but it was still possible. Especially if they had something that they were sure they could use to protect themselves. Her guess was that the bundle held a staff, an enchanted one that would strike out at enemies somehow.

The woman stood there for a while, looking at them with a serene smile on her face while ignoring the hostile intent that Saber and Lily were sending her way. When she realised that none of them were about to approach, she smothered a laugh with one hand and took a step forward.

Instantly, the two knights raised their swords. Saber and Lily were both highly accomplished warriors, and they instinctively perceived the area around a person which was within their scope of attack. Though they did not know what weapon this woman held, they could establish a certain range through the warnings given by their instincts. Those almost supernatural senses were now warning them that only two steps separated them from the outer edge of this woman's territory.

"Stop," Saber warned. "If you come any closer I will take it as a sign to attack."

A small grin stretched the woman's lips as she stopped, so smoothly that it was as if she had never intended to get any closer in the first place.

"Who are you?" Lily asked when a few seconds had passed without a sound. "Are you a servant?"

In response to Lily's question, the woman smiled as if to a friend, and -

"- Servant Assassin, Sasaki Kojiro."

Announced her title and full name in a melodious voice.

"... Eh?"

"What... ?"

"..."

Kirika and her servants were left speechless. Never in their wildest imaginations could they have believed that there would be a servant who would reveal their full name to confidently. It went against all common sense in this contest of heroes, where the disclosure of one's identity meant the revealing of all of one's strengths and weaknesses. Kirika also was shocked that one of the most famous figures in Japanese historical literature was a woman. First King Arthur turned out to be a woman, and now Sasaki Kojiro. Who next? They had covered the West and East, so someone from the Middle East? Gilgamesh?

"You, what do you think -."

Saber began to question Assassin's motives, but was interrupted as Assassin looked at her sadly and sighed.

"I'm disappointed that you would answer me that way, Saber, if that is who you are. There is no elegance in so rude a reply," Assassin complained as if put out. "Is it not good manners to proclaim your identity before a duel? I am dismayed that a fellow swordswoman like me would be so tasteless, especially when they are as beautiful as you are."

She was... Right. Redfaced with embarrassment, Saber had no answer for Assassin as her fault was pointed out. As a knight she prided herself for her manners as well as for her martial prowess, and her honour dictated that she do as Assassin had said.

"I apologise for my lapse Assassin," Saber said as she bowed her head. "Since you have revealed your name, it is my duty as a knight to give you my own."

"Ah, Saber?" Kirika woke up from her daze. "Is that wise?"

"We have our pride as knights Kirika," Lily explained as she too came forward. "Sasaki Kojiro did you say? We are servants Saber, and were known during our lives as -."

"That's enough," Kojiro interrupted her gently. "I forget that others involved in this war are not so free to announce themselves as I am. Please forgive me for being so thoughtless."

She tred lightly upon the stone underfoot as she took another step forward. Just one step, but the atmosphere suddenly became heavy with killing intent as Assassin lowered the end of the bundle in her hands towards the ground.

"Who you were is not important," she told them. "What matters is that you stand before me now, bearing the title of a swordsman. The two of you bear different swords, but I can see that you are both confident in their use. Your refined auras, the beautiful way in which you bear yourselves and your blades, it all makes me shiver with anticipation."

Assassin's eyes glinted as her lips curled into an eager smile. With a quick flourish, she took off the silks that had obscured the contents of the bundle in her hands. As the cloth fell, a silver blade came into view, making eyes widen as they took in the almost ridiculous length of the curved steel that characterised a Japanese sword. A nodachi if one was to call it by its proper name.

"My name is not my own," revealed Assassin as she took the grip in her hands. "Sasaki Kojiro is a ghost if you will, a possibility that might have been, filled by me in response to the Grail's call. But what does that matter? All that I care about, all that you should care about, is that we now face each other. One swordswoman to another. What need is there for words when we have our blades? Is that not the nature of us servants in the first place?"

Having said her piece, Assassin took a stance. She did not move from the position she had taken, atop the step that overlooked the ledge before the temple gate. Saber and Lily realised that this was an invitation, a challenge for them to step inside the domain ruled by Assassin's long sword.

"You speak truly Assassin," said Saber, stepping forward to the edge of Assassin's territory.

Lily frowned when she realised that Saber had taken the initiative. She couldn't step forward now to challenge Assassin herself, as that would mean that it would be two-on-one. As a knight her pride demanded that she only duel someone one on one, and then only when they were in top condition. If she was going to get a chance against this intriguing opponent, she was going to have to do something.

"Assassin, may I ask you something?" said Lily.

Assassin smiled and motioned for her to do so.

"Thank you," Lily said courteously. "I would just like to know if it would be possible for one of us to enter the temple. We can't both go against you, and we have our own goals that we need to achieve tonight. Would you be willing to allow this?"

It was a wild shot that no one expected to succeed. Though Assassin was alone, one servant against two others was a much better situation than a master facing a servant alone. This was true of even a normal servant, but if that servant was the class with the strongest anti-magic of all, than to allow a servant past was not something Assassin could allow.

Yet, she did so anyway.

"Feel free to go inside," Assassin replied to Lily's query. "My orders were to stop one servant. Nothing was mentioned about a second servant and their master."

"Huh?" Kirika couldn't keep up with the way that Assassin kept overturning conventional wisdom.

"Alright then," Lily said happily. "Saber, could you please go ahead?"

"Me?" Saber turned to look at Lily. "Why not you?"

"What, me?" Lily pointed at herself in comic surprise. "My anti-magic rank is only B. Surely you aren't asking me to go in there when I might get caught in a trap that I can't get out of. You are a much better choice since you don't need to fear anything that the mage might throw at you."

Saber made a face. Lily was right, but she couldn't help but feel that she was being cheated somehow.

"Hah~." Saber sighed heavily and looked to her master. "Please stay here. If a mage is waiting inside I will not be able to protect you completely in the event of a grand ritual level attack." She paused and glanced at Assassin, who noticed her look and smiled back. Common sense dictated that Lily should win, but instinct warned of the opposite possibility. Slightly worried, Saber spoke to Kirika again. "In the event that Lily is defeated... Use the command seal to summon me. Please don't hesitate."

Though Saber's worry could have been taken as an insult, Lily said nothing as she loosened her arms. The same instincts that made Saber nervous told her that Assassin was not an opponent to be underestimated.

"If you are done?" Assassin inquired as she moved to one side of the path.

Saber noted the movement, and looked to Kirika one last time. "I will be going ahead master."

"Good luck Saber," replied Kirika. She was a bit annoyed that she couldn't go along, but Saber was correct in saying that she would only be a burden in the situation she described. Besides, she had to watch Lily's battle as well, and perhaps get an idea of why her servants seemed to be so unnerved by Assassin.

"Don't worry about Kirika," Lily told Saber. "I will take care of things on this side."

"Be careful," Saber told her in stead.

Exchanging cautions, the two nodded at each other and then headed for their respective fights. Lily took up position just outside Assassin's territory, while Saber went past them into the temple grounds themselves.

"All ready now?" Assassin asked once the temple gates had thudded shut.

"Come at any time Assassin," Lily told her opponent. "I too am a Saber, but call me Lily if you wish. It makes things less confusing."

Assassin laughed softly. "To think that I could enjoy a duel like this once more. It was worth being called back after all."

A gentle shifting of the feet, silk slithering as the long blade came up to meet the moon's light. Metal ringing as Lily took a stance, her armoured form settling into a stance suitable for charging forward. Subtle movements, but the force of presence behind them exerted an oppressive pressure on the air between the two combatants.

"Then, let us begin," said Assassin as she took the last step forward.

A single step to signal the start of the duel. As their territories crossed into each other, the two legendary swordswoman struck out with all the speed that they could muster.

-x-x-x-

The temple was quiet, unnaturally so. Where there should have been at least the background noise of the mountain, only heavy silence filled the air. There were no signs of life either, this in a temple full of practising monks. Even if they were all asleep the lack of vitality around the buildings was abnormal to the extreme.

"Or maybe not so quiet," Saber said sardonically as a rattling noise began to fill the temple courtyard.

Indistinct shapes began to lumber out from the shadows. Their numbers were in the low hundreds, and the unmistakable stench of sorcery hung about them. When the first of the slow moving horde entered the light, Saber was able to see that they were skeletons. Skeletal warriors to be exact, bearing weapons of bone and what looked to be bronze.

Striding forward, Saber headed into the heart of the line that the skeletons were forming. Sword held loosely by her side, her expression was completely relaxed as she looked to and fro across the courtyard.

No more skeletons emerged from unseen corners, but those that had already come out were more than enough to crowd the half of the courtyard they stood upon. Alone and surrounded by the horde, Saber's position looked precarious. Her instincts told her that each and everyone of these seemingly frail constructs were stronger than a grown man, and against a normal warrior the difference in numbers would have been absolute.

But, Saber was not your average swordsman.

"Servant Saber, here upon the orders of my master," Saber proclaimed to those in the courtyard and anyone who might be listening from nearby. "Show yourself mage, or -."

Saber moved, slashing at a pair of skeletal warriors that had come to close. Her prana burst ability flexed itself as her sword connected, and bones that could withstand shocks that could break steel shattered like eggshells.

"- Must I come and get you myself?" Saber finished as the broken pieces of the skeletons rained down around her.

There was no response that could be heard, but the sudden rush of bodies was answer enough. As the enemies moved in, Saber plunged into a dance of destruction. Bones and weapons flew through the air where she passed, none of the skeletons able to withstand the full power of the King of Knights.

Saber had just swept away another bunch of her foes when she felt a wave of magical energy spread through the ranks of her inhuman foes. The effects were instantly noticeable, with the skeletons moving faster and hitting stronger than before. Still, it was within tolerable limits. Even reinforced as they all seemed to be, they were still no match for someone who during her life had been compared to a dragon, the mightiest of phantasmal beasts.

Another pack of skeletons were returned to the dust, and Saber was about to turn to meet an attack when her senses suddenly warned of a dangerous attack. Instantly, she dived to the ground, taking a glancing hit on her shoulder that sent a jolt of pain down her arm. Overall though Saber thought she had come out ahead, as in return for taking that insignificant hit, she had dodged the iron stake that had been thrown at her with monstrous strength.

"Rider," Saber said her assailant's name as she rose up and clove another skeleton in two. "Since when did the Rider class abandon their dignity to take the role of the Assassin class?"

Rider didn't rise to the insult, and faded back into the background to prepare for another attack. Rider's attacks were not in themselves very dangerous to Saber, who had fought against opponents who were stronger and faster. Mixed amidst the attacks from the skeleton horde however, the ambushes from Saber's blind spots presented a significant threat even to her.

"To think that the Rider class would fall so low," Saber muttered as she compared her furtive opponent with the Rider from the fourth war. Just the thought was an insult to the giant among men that Iskander had been.

The odds were definitely against Saber now, but the staunch servant fought on tirelessly, trusting in her strength to turn the situation around. Had she been alone she might have decided differently, but Saber had a point of pride to keep before Lily who by now would be engaged with her own opponent. There was also the possibility that Lily might finish Assassin and come to help her. In any case, retreat was not an option here, and Saber plunged forward into the ranks of the skeletal warriors. Her sword moved constantly to sweep the area in front of her clear of enemies, and the swath she cut into the horde was enough for her to get some room to breathe and take stock of the overall picture.

Things were... Not so good.

She had underestimated how annoying the skeletons could be. The slight oddity she had felt as she fought them was explained as she saw that those skeletons she had broken had reformed themselves. Shattered bones fused themselves together as she watched, and repaired limbs flew back into position from where they lay scattered across the ground. Saber could also sense Rider moving around amongst the crowd, waiting for an opportunity to strike while her back was turned.

"Whew," Saber let out a heavy breath as the horde closed in upon her again. It looked like she had her work cut out for her if she was to remain here until the mage showed themselves.

-x-x-x-

While Saber played out a scene from a heroic epic, Lily was busily engaged in combat against what was probably one of the best sword wielders she had ever encountered. For her it was almost an unreal experience. The difference in their strength, the force imparted by the prana that was wrapped around her sword, it all should have meant that Assassin fell within the first few blows. In spite of that prediction, Assassin was completely fine. A soft tap against the side of the blade, a glancing hit on the underside of her swing. Overwhelming power turned away with almost inhuman skill. Saber's attacks expended themselves uselessly on the empty air or blameless ground.

Assassin was smiling as she swung her sword, completely relaxed and carefree. In contrast Lily was feeling the pressure as Assassin's sword continued to slip past her own. Both her instincts and body were working overtime as she dodged those strikes, each and everyone a critical blow should they connect.

Power wasn't the problem here. Assassin's sword had none of the superhuman strength that was normally expected of a servant. A trained human's level of strength, nothing more, nothing less. What was troublesome was how that power was used. Although Lily boasted an agility rank of A, Assassin still managed to exceed her speed at times, and used that slight edge to her advantage to strike at Lily between clashes. Unlike Hercules's brutal hammer blows, all of Assassin's attacks were aimed precisely at areas that would kill or maim.

This feels like I'm fighting Lancelot and Gawain at the same time, Lily thought to herself as she swept away another flickering jab.

After one last swipe to drive Assassin back, Lily retreated a little to catch her breath. Assassin chose not to pursue, and looked upon the fair knight with a happy expression.

"My swordplay is a little vicious isn't it?" Assassin asked cheerfully. "I'm so pleased that you are still alive. Monohoshizao would have taken most people's heads off by now."

Lily shivered a little as Assassin tenderly caressed her long sword. She liked Caliburn, but not with the kind of affection that Assassin seemed to hold towards her blade.

Assassin noted her reaction, and laughed softly as she raised her sword again. "I'm sorry, I am little strange aren't I? Most people don't understand why I am so attached to my beauty here... Though the young lady there looks like she might. How odd."

There was a note of surprise in Assassin's voice as she looked at something behind Lily. Realising that the only thing behind her was Kirika, Lily risked a glance back to see what Assassin was talking about. Even such a brief distraction was a luxury against an opponent of Assassin's caliber, but she trusted in the proud swordswoman to stay her hand.

What Lily saw was her master standing there, looking towards them with a captivated light in her eyes. Wait, that wasn't correct. Kirika was looking at Assassin like that, and nothing else. Somewhat annoyed that her master seemed infatuated with another servant, Lily cleared her throat and tapped her foot.

"Huh?" Kirika woke up, blinked, and saw Lily as she stood there.

Realising what she had been doing, Kirika blushed and looked away. What had she been thinking looking at Assassin like that? Okay, so she had seen what was possibly the ultimate level of swordsmanship that her own school of Tai Chi Chuan strove for. Big deal... Actually, it was a big deal. Neutralising strength with softness, turning the opponent's speed and power against them. The duel had done more for her own understanding of the way she should wield her twin dao than the last year of weekly training sessions under her master. However, the beautiful woman was their enemy, a foe to be overcome. Unable to interfere in the duel, she should have been showing support for Lily, not standing there engrossed in Assassin's swordwork.

Assimilating combat style (Possibility Line 95-UG#) - Ganryu (false). Recreation at 5 percent. Consolidating fragmented data from possibility lines 95-UAA to 95-*#$. Possibility refraction - Impossible: Lack of data.

Bowing her head and putting her hands together in supplication, Kirika silently apologised to Lily. Not quite satisfied, but knowing that this wasn't the time, Lily pouted and turned back towards Assassin.

"Ready to go again Lily-san?" Assassin asked.

Lily nodded, and raised Caliburn once more. "This time things will be slightly different."

"Ara?" Assassin's eyes widened as Caliburn began to glow with a golden light. "That looks dangerous."

With uncharacteristic gravity, Lily took position in preparation for a cleaving blow.

"This sword is the symbol of my kingdom," she intoned as she stared Assassin down. "Wielding it, victory is the only acceptable outcome."

"Then come at me Lily-san," Assassin said fervently "Prove that your sword is invincible, as so many have failed to do so in front of me."

"With pleasure!" Lily shouted as she darted forward.

As the holy sword of Briton, Caliburn was among the greatest of weapons to be found in European mythology and history. It was not a perfect weapon such as Excalibur was meant to be. Taken as a symbol of the king's authority, its role as a royal ornament had reduced its conceptual presence as a weapon. Caliburn also lacked the ability to annihilate armies with a single swing as other powerful swords could. Yet, when wielded by someone such as Lily who could afford to pour prana into the blade, its power to 'enforce victory' made it nearly unstoppable. It was this that Lily trusted in as she launched a searing series of blows towards Assassin. Her opponent's sword was a masterful piece of craftsmanship, but only that. A conceptual weapon could only be stopped by a mystery of the same rank or greater. Should Assassin attempt to block her attacks like she had before, Caliburn would cleave the long blade of Monohoshizao, leaving the servant defenceless before the finishing blow.

Lily was certain of victory as Caliburn swept in on a course to bisect Assassin. Thus it was only natural for her to be surprised when Assassin... Disappeared.

"What-?"

Off balance due to the lack of resistance to her attack, Lily's instincts screamed at her to take advantage of this temporary disadvantage to dive to the floor. Trusting in senses built up on the battlefield, Lily did just that, and saved her life as Assassin's sword carved a silver trail onto the dark night air.

Lily had escaped death, but her adverse position left her vulnerable. A quick roll to the side was required to evade a clawing slice towards her neck, and then she quickly raised Caliburn to fend off an incoming thrust towards her shoulder.

"Tch," Assassin clicked her tongue as she pulled back her sword, only to whip it out again, this time with the aim of cutting Lily's leg.

Lily somehow blocked the lightning quick strike, and scrambled back to her feet. In the short expanse of time between gathering her body and getting back up, Assassin launched three more attacks at her, all of which Lily dodged or blocked by the narrowest of margins.

Back on two legs, Lily regained some of her composure along with her footing. Blocking two more attacks of Assassin's long blade, she rewoke Caliburn's powers again, forcing the opposing servant to withdraw from the offensive.

Breathing hard, Lily kept close watch upon Assassin as she shuffled sideways to get between her opponent and Kirika again. She didn't understand what had happened just now. Caliburn had been about to connect when Assassin just vanished from her sight. It was a feat that could not be attributed to the presence concealment skill of the Assassin class. That skill was one that allowed the user to hide their presence, beyond detection at the highest levels. It was not however a means of escaping an attack. The position from which Assassin had reappeared was also incomprehensible. Lily's first warning that Assassin had counter-attacked had been a blow from behind her. Though she was not clairvoyant, her senses were still far beyond those of a normal human. She could not believe that anyone could escape those very same senses to move behind her, especially someone who possessed only the physical abilities of your everyday human.

A chill ran down Lily's spine as she thought about how close she had come to dying. Her feelings about Assassin hadn't been incorrect. This was indeed one of the most fearsome opponents she had ever faced.

"What was that just now Assassin?" Lily inquired as she calmed herself. "Was that your noble phantasm? Or was it your skill as an Assassin of the grail war?"

Covering her mouth with her sleeve, Assassin's eyes nevertheless revealed her amusement over Lily's question.

"Oh come now Lily-san. Do I look like the sort of woman who has an association with the magical arts," Assassin berated her lightly.

"Than how do you explain what you just did Assassin? Those were not human movements," Lily hit back.

Assassin laughed again, amused by Lily's choice of phrase.

"I wonder, have you ever walked through a forest on a moonlit night?" Assassin then asked as she quietened down.

Lily had no idea what that had to do with anything, but nodded. Night-time treks had been commonplace while she was on campaign, and on many nights the moon had graced the land with its presence.

"In that case, have you ever seen the way that the moonlight hits the earth? The way that the silver shadows dance about as the trees sway before the wind?" Assassin smiled and pointed at the ground next to Lily's feet. "Just as it is doing now."

Lily looked down, and saw the fragmented light of the moon upon the stone. The bright moon's rays were filtered by the foliage above, and were dancing as Assassin had described while the breeze ruffled the leaves. Spots of light appeared and disappeared as the treetops swayed, the position of the overgrowth determining whether or not a particular bit would enjoy the moon's light.

"I see, but I don't understand Assassin," Lily said after a moment. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything," Assassin replied. "You see, I was crossing a mountain one night when I saw such as display under the full moon. I was so charmed by the sight that I wanted to recreate it whenever I wished. Unfortunately, that proved more than a little difficult. Man is but a tiny part of nature, so how does one recreate the greater existence with only the smaller?"

Holding her sword up to the moon, Assassin admired the silver light as it shone off the tempered steel.

"An impossible goal, but shouldn't all dreams be such?" Assassin asked rhetorically. "The gods must have had a twisted sense of humour though. Because what should have been impossible..." She lowered the sword and smiled softly before she disappeared again.

"- Became possible," Lily heard Assassin whisper from just behind her.

Warned by her instincts only a fraction of a second beforehand, Lily was still turning when Assassin vanished yet again. She flickered like a phantom as she moved from one point to another, ignoring the intervening distance as if it were meaningless.

Like a ray of the moon's light, dancing over the stones.

"Gekkokage Shunpo," Assassin said quietly. "Not a very original name, but I never was very good at naming things."

Lily swallowed an angry retort as Assassin complained blithely about her lack of imagination when it came to names. What did a name matter, when the skill itself had reached the level of magic?

Observing from the sidelines, Kirika was just as shocked by Assassin's display as Lily was, if not more. She was a mage, not a very good one, but a mage nonetheless. Having been trained by Rin, she knew what the difference between True Magic and common sorcery was, and was confident that she could recognise it if she saw it. What she before her now, was a level of mystery just below that of the Five.

Warning, logic failure. Time-space phenomena perception destabilised. Read-error. Processing impossible. Illogic matrix initiated. Compiling. Pure recreation deemed impossible. Considering alternative possibilities.

Though teleportation was a phenomenon that science was quickly making its own, it was as yet a feat deemed impossible through sorcery. To achieve it in the physical world required the use of one of the True Magics, or a mystery that verged upon that high precipice. That was why Kirika was so confused now.

Because in Assassin's movements, she hadn't sensed any use of the paranormal at all.

"Why did you not use this before Assassin?" Lily asked through suddenly dry lips. "Had you pressed me with that kind of movements at the start I doubt that I could have stood against you for long."

Assassin scrunched her pretty brow. "I couldn't do that Lily-san. Even I know that gekkokage shunpo goes beyond the comprehension of those who see it for the first time. My pride is as a swordswoman, and it is only by the sword that I can claim victory. Anything else would only dirty the blade that I hold in my hands."

In the back of her mind, Lily praised every god that she had ever heard of for Assassin's unwavering pride. She too was proud of her skill with the sword, but she couldn't imagine herself being able to withstand Assassin's full range of abilities with Caliburn alone. She would need to unveil her second noble phantasm at the very least if she was to survive against such an opponent, and that was not something she could do lightly.

"Hmmm, what's wrong Lily-san?" Assassin asked when she observed that Lily seemed to be agonising over something. "If you are thinking about showing some of your hidden cards I suggest you do so. Now that I've shown you Gekkokage I don't need to restrain myself. You can't think to face me as you are, do you?"

"..." Lily had no immediate answer for her.

Assassin frowned. "Am I so light an opponent for you Lily-san, that you will not use your full power against me? If that is the case, very well." The sedate beauty vanished, to be replaced by cold death in the form of a woman. "My last technique. If this cannot change your mind. I don't believe anything will."

The killing intent in the air was sharp enough to cut as Assassin drew back her long sword. It was a strange stance that she took up, with Monohoshizao held level with Assassin's frosty blue eyes with the point towards the side of the path. There were a thousand open holes in her defence to Lily's eyes, but the servant of the sword could take none of them. Gekkokage Shunpo's inhuman speed sealed all avenues of attack, and something told Lily that this was not the only danger lying in wait for her if she were to charge in now.

She had no choice but to sharpen her senses and wait for Assassin to attack. Having seen Gekkokage, she harboured no doubts as to the lethality of this final technique that Assassin was so proud of, but still she waited. Against all her ingrained habits, she waited. Trusting in the instincts that had saved her life so many times to do the same for her once more.

Kirika's palms were sweating and her legs were unsteady as she watched. The killing intent that rose off Assassin was almost suffocating even from this distance, and Lily's determination was the only thing that kept her rooted to the spot. Having made up her mind to come out the victor in this grail war, she could not look away when her servant was about to gamble her life.

"Hiken," Assassin murmured as her killing intent settled over the stage like a thick fog. "Tsubame Gaeshi!"

At the moment that Assassin finished saying the name of the attack, Lily felt for the first time the chilly despair that came of certain death. Her senses took in the three strikes of the sword that had overcome the limits of possibility through sheer effort, and could find no way to escape. Up, down, left and right. All lines had been accounted for by the setting of the three ghostly blades, and their matched speeds cut off a retreat which was the only way that one could survive this attack.

She had lost. Raising Caliburn for what was possibly the last time, Lily prepared to spend her life in a manner that would at least give Kirika a chance to escape.

#JFsd83hw9 x d*SY#ko-29ry = ER8wh;2r!LIP? Cross-referencing matches. Conciliating data to profile phenomena. ID - Multi-dimensional Refraction Phenomenon. Attempting assimilation - Failure. Reason: 횩 짠 쨩#!incomplete i NǯG S$CR* ? )‑R m'" X,v ǩ}z fwW . Attempting conciliation with base framework. Failure. Reason: Paradigm link unstable at 11 percent. Existential instability too great to reconcile new aspects with original possibility lines. Expanding link. Accelerating personal reality consolidation to compensate.

Second Shard - recognised. Preparing groundwork for activation.

Time seemed to go past at a snail's pace for Kirika as she saw Assassin launch her attack. She had barely registered a movement when her sense of reality was shattered for the second time in just a few minutes. Three attacks, each coming from a different angle, all originating from the same point at the same time. An impossibility under the rules of the world.

How she knew this, Kirika didn't know. By all rights her eyes shouldn't have been able to keep up with Assassin's movements at all. Somehow though, it was as if she was suddenly seeing a few seconds into the future, understanding in theory how the attack could work and projecting the end result onto her field of vision. A picture filled only with the death of Lily.

Three strikes, of which Lily might dodge two. Yet the third cut off any avenue of escape, and would claim for itself the soft flesh of Lily's neck. As events raced towards this inevitable conclusion Kirika's mind became filled with a desperate need to save her knight.

"Lily!" Kirika shouted even before Assassin's sword had left its starting point. "Back!"

Kirika's short order combined with her strong emotions made the command seal upon her breast flare into life. Just as Assassin's long sword connected with its target, Lily's body shimmered into nothingness, and reappeared beside Kirika.

"Ugh," Lily stifled a groan as she fell to her knees. Her hand was at her throat, pressed against a wound from which blood ran freely.

"Lily!" Kirika cried out, alarmed. Then, remembering what the priority was, Kirika blasted open the connection between them with her prana. She didn't know any effective healing spells, so all she could do was pour her power into the servant and hope that Lily's natural healing would exert itself.

While Kirika hovered over Lily, Assassin stood where she was, silent. She was looking at her sword as if it had betrayed her, a dumbfounded expression on her face.

"I... Missed?" she stammered. "That can't be right."

Turning her attention to Lily, Assassin noted the blood. It flowed slower now, but Lily was still pale and unsteady. Only then did Assassin smile and relax her stance.

"I do not know if it was luck or skill that saved you Lily-san," Assassin said to them. "But I believe you have your master to thank for your life."

Unable to speak just yet, Lily nodded. If Kirika hadn't used the command seal when she had, Assassin's blade would have taken her head even as the other two strokes severed her limbs. It left the question of just how Kirika was able to predict such an event and use the command seal, but Lily was not about to question good fortune, and ignored that non-important issue as she focused on repairing her body.

Where things might have gone from there, nobody knew, and nobody would ever know either. Assassin had just opened her mouth again when a massive blast of air swept the mountain. Kirika and Lily caught the wind by their faces, and when they had cleared their eyes Assassin was already looking back towards the temple grounds.

"Annihilated? In one strike?" Assassin muttered incomprehensibly. "Ridiculous. That is not something that one human should be able to do. Yes master, I'll be right there."

She looked back towards them, a regrettable look on her face.

"I'm sorry to end it like this Lily, but I must answer my master's call," Assassin said quickly as she bowed towards them. "If I may, I would suggest that your master call back Saber. You don't look like you could fight properly right now, and I would not like to be ordered to target your master while you are vulnerable. Anyway, goodbye. I hope to clash swords with you again."

Another quick bow, and then Assassin flickered out of view with the phantom-like movement characteristic of the Gekkokage Shunpo. The departure of their deadly foe made the two let out a breath neither had realised they had held, and Kirika found herself tired to the bone as if she too had been engaged in life or death battle.

Another huge explosion rattled the mountain top, and Kirika remembered what Assassin had told them about Saber. Realising the danger that her other servant would be in should, no when Assassin joined in the battle on the other side of the gates, Kirika audaciously used her second command seal without hesitation.

"Saber, come back to me!" she ordered through the seal.

In response to her call the space before her rippled for an instant, and then spat out the knight whose armour was in much worse condition than it had been when she had headed inside.

Saber looked disoriented for a second before she saw Kirika and realised what had happened.

"Master, are you alright?" she said, worried as to why the seal had been used. She then saw Lily and got an alarmed look on her face. "Lily? Did Assassin do this to you?"

Lily nodded. "We should retreat," she gasped out. "Too dangerous. Shouldn't reveal so many phantasms yet."

Saber looked down at the shining sword in her hands. A bit late for that.

"You are right," she still said as she considered the foes she had faced. "Master, I'll carry you. Lily, can you move?"

Lily nodded and got to her feet. Saber confirmed that Lily could stand then moved to take Kirika in her arms. Kirika blushed at the position she was about to be put in, but realised that this was not a time to make a fuss. Allowing herself to be taken up, they were just about to move out when a derisive voice interrupted them.

"Leaving so soon dears?" a robed figure asked them from the sky. "That won't do. You should stay a while. I insist."

"Caster," Saber ground out the name. Alone she could have taken care of the troublesome servant, but with Kirika here their position was too disadvantageous.

"Run!" she told Lily as she took her own words to heart.

"Not so fast!" shouted Caster, raising her staff high. "Rider, Assassin, hold them in place! Ἄ請釗!"

Lily groaned while Kirika screamed as gravity turned against them. Saber herself was unaffected, but had to stop to dispel the spell with a burst of prana in order to safeguard her master. In that time, Rider and Assassin had obeyed Caster's order and had taken up positions to bar their path.

"Damn it," Lily cursed as she took in their situation. Caster above them, and two more servants below them, one of them the deadliest person she had ever met. Realising that there was no other choice, she made a snap decision to reveal her second noble phantasm.

"Saber, keep running, and don't stop," she said quickly. "Clarent!"

"What-?" Saber began to ask before she was cut off by a burst of blinding light from Lily's sword.

"Just run!" Lily shouted as she leapt forward towards Rider and Assassin.

Not sure what was going on, but willing to trust that Lily knew what she was doing, Saber followed her with Kirika slung over one shoulder like a princess being kidnapped by a viking raider.

"Ὑ釣濬蛤!"

Caster pointed her staff at the fleeing servants, and an tear opened in the skies above the mountain. From it descended a blinding column of light, but to Caster's surprise the ritual level spell splattered uselessly against the flaring silver aura that had surrounded the space around Lily.

Lily's charge ignored such distractions, and the white clad servant smashed into Rider like a knight on a charger. A sound like a hammer hitting a cow's flanks was heard as Rider was thrown back, much further than seemed reasonable for such a clash. Assassin attempted to fill the gap, but was unable to approach as Lily directed a wave of silver fire towards her. The way cleared, Lily stood in place until Saber had passed, and then swept her sword around up and up towards the sky. Silver flames followed the direction of her blade, and devastated the trees around the stairway. Rider and Assassin were busy keeping themselves alive, and had no thought to spare for others as the flames rose towards the the sky.

"ἀ債捿!" Caster screamed out a defensive spell as the unexpected attack consumed the air around her. The shield that was summoned stood in place for a few heartbeats, but was soon broken by the force of the flames. However, this was enough time for Caster to have teleported away, and the leftover flames wasted themselves on empty air.

When the three servants on the defensive team regathered themselves, Lily and Saber were long gone. Pursuit was considered, but soon abandoned due to the limitations upon Assassin, and the three soon retreated themselves to their respective bases of operation.

A titanic battle between five servants with no clear winner or loser. They left behind a wrecked temple courtyard, a devastated swath of the staircase the led up to the temple, and a number of challenges that needed to be answered. Whether this would happen sooner or later was up for the fickle fates to decide.

3-5

The Origin.

The first concept, the final answer. From it all things came, and within it could be found power beyond the realms permitted to mortal man.

It was in order to reach this impossible goal that the three households of Einzbern, Makiri and Tohsaka came together in Fuyuki. The body, the spirits, and the power of the land. Together the contributions of the three families formed a magical trinity that could, however briefly, open the gates to the Origin for even the most humblest among them. As with any attempt to reach that most holiest of places however, fate intervened in order to destroy that which had been wrought.

Perhaps it was the counterforce, that power which worked against anyone who sought that which was forbidden. More likely however, it was simple human greed that shattered the path that had been built. With the revelation that there existed power enough for only one attempt to reach forth into the Origin, the alliance of the three houses stood little chance of holding together. Each house had their own idea of how the Grail should be used, and with dreams hundreds of years old on the line, none of them were about to back down. In the conflict that ensued the chance was lost, and as each of the houses blamed each other for the failure, the seeds were sown for a struggle that would continue across the centuries.

Of those who had overseen the initial ceremony however, few survived. As long lived as mages could be, the passing of three centuries was more than any human could withstand. The few who still walked among the living could no longer be called 'men', and among them it was Matou Zouken who had given up the most as he jealously clung to his life and his goals.

Three hundred and some years he had devoted to chasing the grail. Three hundred years during which he had clawed together all the cards that he could in order to prepare his chosen sacrifices for the Grail Wars. Three hundred years of failure as time after time the Matou mages failed to subdue their opponents. Three hundred years spent watching as his family slowly fell from their once lofty position to become little better than a passer-by on the street. Throughout this time he had done some terrible things, but regretted nothing. Everything for the Grail, all for the dream that he had once shared with two others.

Three hundred years of endless effort. The results of which were now burning down in front of his very eyes.

"Do you have any idea what you have done, child of the Tohsakas?" Zouken asked of the arsonist with barely restrained anger evident in his voice. Behind him, the Victorian style Matou mansion burned as red flames licked at the left side of the house.

"After seeing what you were doing in there?" Rin glared back at the ancient monster of the Matous with defiant eyes. "Enough to know that I can't let it stand."

"Foolish girl," Zouken snarled, his withered face contorted with emotion. "What business do you have judging the path that another family has taken?"

"What business?" Rin frowned. "I am the second owner of Fuyuki, Matou. It is my right to judge what those who live here do."

"And just what is it that I have done that angered you so, girl? I have broken no laws of the Association, nor have I revealed any secrets to the world. So, I ask again. What right do you have to judge me, you insolent child!"

Rin clenched her fists as Zouken roared at her with a surprisingly deep voice for his shrivelled frame.

"By right of blood, Matou. I saw what was down there, and there is only one possible use for such things," Rin's nails dug into her palms as she tightened her fists with rage. "Do you truly claim to be innocent after submitting Sakura to such -."

Rin's angry remonstrations were cut off as Zouken suddenly began to choke with laughter. The old man's body shook as the laugh grew steadily louder, until finally he was supporting himself with his walking stick so that he would not fall over.

"That was what angered you? Such an insignificant detail?" Zouken shook his head, and then roared at Rin. "Such idiocy! Such naivete! You call yourself a mage? Not every path to magic is as neat and tidy as yours, child! Right of blood? Such rights were broken when your father gave the girl over to me! Yet, you still seek to judge what I do to her? You do not have the right!"

Wearing a visage twisted by anger, the Matou patriarch thumped the floor with his walking stick, revealing its double purpose as an artifact as black energies began to spread outwards from it.

"As you have judged, be judged, insolent child of the Tohsakas." Zouken growled as the black light began to gather into clumps of of twisted flames that hung about the bugs that always accompanied him.

"I had no intention of letting you go anyhow," Rin replied coldly as her crest began to glow with cerulean light. "Archer, kill him. We are going to be taking Sakura as soon as we find her and there's no time to waste with a senile monster like him."

"With pleasure, Rin," Archer answered as the servant appeared behind her, bow already drawn.

"Be gone!" Zouken shouted as he shot the bugs at the pair.

The Matou mage's age was not for show, as was evident from the spells that he commanded. Imbued with foul energies drawn from the mansion grounds, each of the bugs was equivalent to a C rank spell in terms of destructive power and effect. Had Rin been alone, she would have had to use one of her best gems in order to block the thirty nine bugs that were coming at her, or be ripped apart as the bugs blew up and spread their curse.

Zouken's failure however was the presence Archer by Rin's side. An eirei was a conceptualisation of mysticism far beyond that which most mages could command, and before such beings a spell such as the one Zouken had used as almost as useless as a kitchen knife would have been.

One shot, loosed before Zouken had even finished speaking. The prana charged arrow blew through three of the bugs before it split Zouken's head into a hundred pieces. Those bugs that had been destroyed exploded in the arrow's wake, setting off eleven of the remaining bugs as they flew.

A second shot, released a split second after the first. Five of the bugs were caught in its path as it headed towards the house. Zouken not the target this time as the detonations scattered the paths of another seven bugs.

A third shot. This time the arrow shredded Zouken's right shoulder and arm into mince as it punched through two of the cursed bugs. Another three bugs were caught in the secondary explosions and lost their way.

A fourth shot, with a final fifth shot released almost at the same time. The remaining eight bugs were picked out of the air before they got anywhere near Rin, and Zouken's upper torso was blown apart as the last arrow exploded upon impact.

Five arrows. All it took to negate an attack that drew on power charged over three hundred years. The most damage that Rin took in the exchange was a blast of air that made her close her eyes for an instant.

As Archer lowered his bow, Zouken's remains fell back onto the ground. Rin spent a moment coldly looking at the lump of dead meat before she sniffed and turned towards Archer.

"Good work, Archer," Rin told him in what was possibly the first time she had really complimented him since he was first summoned.

"Of course, Rin," Archer replied with a smile, only for the expression to falter as Rin continued.

"It's good to confirm that you really are an Archer after all. I was a bit worried after you started dancing around with your swords," Rin said in a cheeky tone.

"... Dancing?" Archer muttered as if shocked.

Ignoring Archer's fixed expression, Rin took a look around the devastated Matou estate. On the lawn, shattered garden ornaments and craters marked the centres of what had been a formidable ward system, destroyed by Rin and Archer as they forcibly gained entry. Further in, the once imposing mansion was a wrecked shell of its former self. What wasn't broken was fast becoming blackened as the flames spread across the building. It was possible that there were items in there that belonged to Sakura, but Rin had no misgivings in letting them burn. Better to destroy all trace of what was here, so as to allow Sakura to make a clean start to life under her care.

"No one's here, right Archer?" Rin asked of her servant to confirm what she knew.

"No, there isn't," Archer responded stonily, still miffed by Rin's opinion of his skills.

Rin nodded to herself. "Okay then. Let's go. I can find Sakura at school tomorrow and the anti-perception wards are going to fail before too long."

Agreeing, Archer fell into step with his master as the two left the grounds. Before leaving however he looked back once more at the spot where Zouken lay.

Nothing, just lumps of meat where once the old mage had been. It was strange though. He remembered little of the Grail War, but something in the back of his head was telling him that there was something about the Matou patriarch. What that was however, he had no idea.

-x-x-x-

An hour or so after the two left. The anti-perception wards that surrounded the mansion had yet to fail, and though a pillar of smoke was rising into the night sky, no one had as yet come to find out what was going on. This reprieve from the world's attentions however could not last, and from the sounds of sirens drawing nearer in the distance, it was clear that someone had spotted the telltales signs of a fire and had called the fire department.

It was then that the remains of what had once been Matou Zouken began to move. Bulging and rippling in a grotesque fashion, the still intact lower body began to draw numerous insects to itself. The chitinous mass covered the bloody lumps, and immediately began to gain a shape. As the seconds passed, the features of the mass of insectile flesh started to become defined, and the gaunt visage of Matou Zouken once more became visible to the world.

"Kuh... Gyah... Hah... Hah... I am getting far too old for this," Zouken groaned as he began to painfully raise himself up.

"Then perhaps it's time you find your eternal rest, grandfather," a cheerful voice suddenly told him.

Zouken frowned, and then relaxed slightly as he saw that it was Sakura. Then he realised what she had just said, and frowned in annoyance once more.

"I see that it has been too long since you were disciplined, girl," Zouken told her in a voice that promised pain in the near future. "Now, come over here. I need your help if I am to completely restore myself."

Stepping out into the ruddy light provided by the flickering flames that still clung to the burnt wreck that had once been the mansion, Sakura smiled coldly.

"Get your own help, old man," she told the figure who had until recently invoked terror in her with just a change of tone. "It's long past the time when you should have gone to your grave."

Noticing that something unusual was going on, Zouken stopped and looked closely at Sakura. Now that he looked, he could see that Sakura was very different from the subdued girl that he had ordered about just this morning. Dressed in a tight fitting plain black and red dress, the girl had an air of confidence about her that he had never seen before. Though she wore a smile on her lips, her green eyes were cold as they gazed upon him, and Zouken was displeased as he realised that the emotion he read in them was one of contempt.

"You forget your place, Sakura," Zouken warned her as he got to his feet by himself. His footing was unsteady however, and it took all his efforts not to fall over again.

"What place is that, grandfather?" Sakura asked calmly. "Crying in pain as the bugs eat away at my circuits? Whimpering at your feet after Shinji is done with me? Pray, tell me."

Something was very wrong about the situation, and Zouken did not like it one bit. Though he did not find the idea of using what little of his prana remained in such a fashion, Zouken realised that he was going to have to teach Sakura a lesson if he was going to suppress this rebelliousness that she had suddenly exhibited in the face of his temporary weakness.

Zouken sent a silent command to the insects in Sakura's body. He then waited for Sakura to fall to the ground in agony, the insects driving her crazy with pain and lust as they ravaged her body and soul. As the seconds ticked by however, nothing happened, and Zouken realised with shock that Sakura had somehow cut him off from the insects in her body.

"Wha-what? How?"

"Surprised, grandfather?" Sakura said with a giggle. "I bet you were not as surprised as I was though. How sneaky of you, hiding yourself away like that? I mean, who would have expected that the core of your true being would be hiding in my heart?"

The Matou patriarch's eyes grew wide as he took in the meaning of Sakura's words. They would gotten wider if that was at all possible when Sakura took something out of her pocket. A crystal ball, within which was suspended a mass of red flesh that moved to a soft steady rhythm. A human heart to be precise.

"Who... How?" Zouken was so shocked that he could not speak coherently.

"Huhuhu, let's just say that a new friend of mine is very good when it comes to surgery grandpa," Sakura told him gleefully. "So, I don't need to be afraid you anymore."

"Sakura, give me that thing," the old wraith of the Matou's told the girl as he recovered his senses.

Sakura blinked. "This? Why should I?"

"You have no idea what you are doing! Stop fooling around and give me that!" Zouken told her forcefully, habits ingrained over the last decade spurring him on.

Sakura's eyes grew colder. "Find then, grandpa. If you want it so badly, you can have it."

Saying that, she tossed the ball to Zouken. The old man jumped with surprise and scrambled to catch the crystal ball, and in his haste fell to the ground.

"A much better look for you," the adopted daughter of the Matou's told him. "A fitting position for an overgrown insect."

Zouken ignored her as he made sure that the ball was intact. Now that he had it in his hands, he could feel himself inside the ball, and was struck by the intricacy of the item that had somehow fooled him into believing he was still inside Sakura.

"What are you thinking, girl?" Zouken finally asked as he calmed down a bit. "You can't possibly be thinking to continue on as before after going this far."

Sakura nodded. "Of course not. I simply came here to tie up a loose end. It's fortunate though that Tohsaka-san came here first."

"What?"

Sakura smiled, her eyes again still cold. "It means that I don't have to spend as my effort to kill you, grandpa."

Realising Sakura's intentions, Zouken instantly raised his hands in order to call forth the remainder of his insects so as to attack Sakura. It was a pitiful effort compared to his earlier attack on the Tohsaka child, but it would be enough against this girl that he had raised as the vessel of the Matou family's future ambitions.

Or at least, it should have been enough.

"Break," Sakura said softly as she stared at the crystal ball in Zouken's hands.

As soon as she said the word, the ball shattered, exposing the contents to the air. Unbeknownst to Zouken, the liquid inside was not blood. Instead an alchemical compound dissolved in water was what had filled the crystal ball. When exposed to the air, the mixture instantly caught fire, covering the immediate surroundings with flames that burned hotter than any forge on the planet.

"Gyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Zouken screamed in pain and outrage as his true self burned, and with it his body and ambitions. "I caaaaan't die like this! Cursssse yoooou Sakuraaaaa!"

"Goodbye grandpa," Sakura said with a faint smile on her face. "I won't miss you."

She bowed slightly to the mage who had made her life a living hell for the last ten years, and ignored his screams and curses as she then walked away from her former life. The method of her severance with a portion of her life was much different than what Rin had imagined, but it was just as final. There was nothing more to restrain Sakura from doing as she wished, except such bounds as she chose to set herself.

What those bounds were, only she could know.