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

Different Fates

Chapter 17

Sakura Tohsaka, Knight of the Red Eagle Third Class, Sixth Rank Magus of the Mages Association sat at a table at an expensive seafood restaurant in downtown Fuyuki, dressed in her usual ensemble of a red, long-sleeved blouse with a black cravat and pleated skirt over black knee boots with a diamond brooch (and prana reserve) pinned to the cravat. Waiting for her sister, she read an 'eyes-only' report submitted to her as one of the Association's few ranking members in the Far East, i.e. the Supervisor of Fuyuki City.

More so given that Association influence in Japan was at a low point, what with Touko Aozaki a sealing designate on the run and her sister Aoko Aozaki (who should be a Wizard Marshall alongside Zelretch and Lorelei Barthomeloi given her status as the Fifth Magician) preferring to freelance rather than taking her place in the Association. The only Association magi of comparable rank in Japan at this point were the Sajyou and the Reiroukan of Tokyo, and they were a long way from Fuyuki…

…or for that matter, Misaki Town…the report made for dry reading, but the extinction of the Tohno Clan – in blood at least apparently the adopted heir Shiki was still alive and well – was of considerable interest to Sakura. Having fought with hybrids – albeit Deep One hybrids – in the past, she wasn't particularly sympathetic to the Tohno and their kin.

With Japan's Demon Hunter Organization effectively defunct, the Tohno Clan's destruction could only be a good thing, as what would have been an unopposed threat to the secrecy of magic – to say nothing of a threat to Humanity (or rather to the Japanese) in case they went out of control without the demon hunters to keep them in check (Japan was rather far from Europe) – was now dead and gone. Of course the Tohno branch families were still alive, as were their allies.

And the Tohno main family had kept them in check. Sakura made a mental note to recommend that the Association devote resources to keep an eye on them just in case. The question of course would be if the Association could actually do anything if things went wrong.

Or rather, could it do anything quickly?

Sakura's readings and her thoughts on the matter were disrupted as she noticed someone approach. Physically…and metaphysically…lightning split a boulder in her mind as she opened her circuits, the sheer vastness of the prana reserves of the newcomer sounding off alarms in her head. As the familiar numbness spread through her body, she closed the report and put it down.

She looked up and focused her attention on the newcomer: an albino girl in a schoolgirl's uniform, and carrying a schoolbag in one hand.

Well…there's something you don't see every day. Her master must have quite the fetish to dress his homunculi like so. What would be the point in sending a homunculus to school after all?

"Well…" she began. "…what does your master have for me? I have plans to meet with somebody today, so I'd appreciate it if we could do this briefly."

The homunculus took a step back, an expression of hurt on her face as she briefly looked away. The girl blinked once, took a deep breath, and then looked back at Sakura with a bittersweet smile. "You…you don't recognize me…?" She asked. "I…I knew it was inevitable but I…"

Of course Sakura recognized her. Or rather she recognized the voice. And her eyes went wide and her face twisted with horror at the realization.

"Gott im Himmel…" Sakura breathed, rising from her seat. "…Rin…sister…is that…is that you?"

"Yes, it's me Sakura. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

Sakura didn't say anything, making incoherent noises as she rushed forward and grabbed Rin by her arms. She wanted to embrace her sister, to hold her tight, but just from touching her she could feel…she could feel the extent of the alchemy wrought on her sister.

This is my fault.

She's not a Matou by blood so something like this was to be expected but to go this far…

What have I done?

What have I done?

"What have I done?" Sakura whispered in anguish, eyes tearing as Rin recoiled at her words.

Yes this is entirely your fault! You should be the one with white hair and red eyes! You should be the one made into a nest for parasites! You should be the one lying in that pit every night! Not me…!

I should be the one with jewels and finery! Never you! It was supposed to be me!

You took everything from me!

Rin took a couple of steps back, shaking her head with an unreadable expression on her face, denying both her sister's self-recrimination and her own unexpected bitterness. "Am I really that cruel?" she asked herself. "I could accept being bitter and regretful over what could have been…but would I really wish this fate on my little sister?"

Have I fallen so low?

"Don't say that." Rin said while meeting Sakura's eyes and taking hold of her arms. "I don't regret what's been done to me. And I'm happy for you."

Rin smiled. "You've really caught up to father and me." She said. "Well done…"

"But…"

"It's alright." Rin reassured her. "There's no need to rush things. We have ten years to catch up on, and we have the time to do it."

Sakura opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again with a sigh and a nod.

The sisters largely stayed silent throughout lunch, their exchanges composed of compliments over the food: fresh tuna belly, sea urchin, and shellfish washed down with green tea. It was all traditional Japanese fare (albeit expensive ones), and which Sakura was no longer used to. As such she confined herself to the tuna, staying away from the sea urchin and the shellfish apart from a few bites and letting Rin enjoy the rest.

Caution over an upset stomach later on…

…not that Rin didn't enjoy: the older girl had a good appetite despite her slender and willowy frame – was it a by-product of her alchemical augmentation?

It made Sakura feel bad as she watched Rin while nursing a cup of tea. Even more so as she realized that she – Sakura – had chosen the restaurant. She might have chosen it for privacy – few people were there and those that were had their own closed-off booths like she and her sister had – but now in hindsight she realized it might be taken as a sign of her being better off than her sister.

The Matou Clan wasn't poor by any stretch of the imagination, but still…

"So…" Sakura began as Rin finished. "…how are things?"

"Things…?" Rin echoed before taking a drink.

"Yeah…you know things…" Sakura pressed lamely.

Rin chuckled at her sister's awkwardness. "You don't have to be so awkward." She said. "Things eh…? Well it could be better but it's not so bad."

"Really…?"

Rin smiled – again with a bittersweet air that made Sakura's heart clench – before tugging on her hair. "I'm not a Matou by blood." She said, addressing the elephant in the room. "Alchemical augmentation was inevitable."

"But to that extent…"

Again Rin smiled. "The Matou family is dying out." She said. "It was necessary to take certain contingencies."

"Contingencies…?"

"I'm not saying that it didn't hurt." Rin said, lowering her face briefly before raising it again. "But I don't mind. I really don't. Being a magus is never easy. You and I both know this, even back when we were still sisters."

"We could still be sisters." Sakura murmured, her turn to lower her face. "And we still are."

"No…we can't. And we aren't anymore." Rin said just as softly, and Sakura looked to her with an expression of shock and hurt. "I mean…I'm not saying we should treat each as strangers, but at this rate…if we persist at this, we'll only hurt ourselves. We could and should be close friends, or friendly rivals even then…but that should be it."

Sakura didn't say anything for a long time, opting to stare into her sister's eyes instead. Rin stared back, red boring into blue until at length Sakura turned away. "If that's what you want sister." She said softly. "I mean…Rin."

It's not what I want. But it's the best for both of us, Sakura. This way…you have a smaller chance of getting dragged into my nightmare.

Rin gave a short, mocking laugh before nodding. "Anyway…" she said. "…how about you? How did things go at the Clock Tower? It isn't the most welcoming place for Asians after all."

"No that it isn't." Sakura agreed. "I mean they were polite, but cold. I had to learn English really quick when I first got there, but even so things could have gone better."

"But it did get better, didn't it?" Rin pressed. "I mean…you got involved with the German faction, didn't you?"

Sakura blinked at that, and then she chuckled. "So you've heard about that, huh?" she asked, and Rin smiled.

"Japan might be a backwater…" she said. "…but word does get around."

"So it does." Sakura agreed with a nod. "Yeah, I got involved with the Hohenzollern faction, which technically-speaking is the overall leader of the North German factions. The Wittelsbach is the same for the South German factions, though there are aberrations. Einzbern among others for instance, while the Habsburgs of Austria and their allies are aligned with the church rather than the Association, but you get the idea."

Rin was silent for a while after that, and the two girls nursed their tea in silence. At length Rin spoke up again.

"Everything's alright then?" she asked. "I mean…I don't want to speak badly about your allies but…"

"Yeah I know." Sakura agreed. "It was and remains a political decision on the Hohenzollerns' part, in line with the Egalitarian Elite Policy. As a descendant of one of Zelretch's apprentices with a five generation crest and a rare sorcery trait of my own, it's only natural I'd be considered a good catch so to speak. In fact I should consider myself fortunate that the Hohenzollerns and their allies are quite exceptional even when compared to the psychopaths and boot-lickers that infest the Clock Tower."

"But…" Rin began. "…you're still just a tool aren't you? Embellishment for the Hohenzollerns' lost crown, and breeding stock…sorry, I've said too much."

Sakura chuckled again. "No it's fine." She said. "It's the truth, and I can hardly deny it. But is it really any different from the way father treated us?"

"No…" Rin agreed. "…it's not too different – if at all – from the way your father treated you, and how my grandfather treats me."

Sakura looked surprised at that, and her eyes narrowed slightly. The moment passed, and then she nodded. "We can agree on that at least." She said. "But it's not like I don't get anything in return. Association with the Prussian royal family meant that I was given a fair chance to prove myself to the North German nobility, and while I can't exactly say it was easy…"

"I guess not…" Rin said with a laugh. "…but you did it in the end."

"Yes I did." Sakura agreed. "And once I proved myself, well the general sentiment among the bigots of the Clock Tower is that if the German nobility and more importantly the Prussian royal family accepted me, then who are they to disagree?"

Rin laughed again, longer this time, and with Sakura joining in. "Well it serves them right." Rin said. "To be made to swallow the bile and accept that Asians can be just as good at magecraft as they are that is."

"Isn't it?"

Laughter was shared again, and then Rin turned serious. "But it's not a one-way street." She said. "True you proved yourself, but in doing so you've set the standard for your performance. And you have to toe that line."

"I can't argue with you there." Sakura said while spreading your hands. "But like you said back then…I had to catch up."

Rin couldn't reply to that, and Sakura continued with a sad smile. "You were always better than I was or still am, Rin." She said. "Whether as a magus…or as a sister…"

"Thank you…" Rin said after a moment. She looked away afterwards though. "…but we…"

"Yeah I know." Sakura said, moving on to another topic. "Earlier you mentioned it not being a one-way street. And you're right. Apart from keeping to the standards expected of one of their intellectual circles, well eugenics is eugenics."

"You're engaged then."

It wasn't a question, and it was confirmed with a nod by Sakura. "How old is he?" Rin asked, imagining her sister engaged with someone probably at least twice her age.

"And serves her right…" a traitorous voice whispered in her head to her horror, and she barely managed to supress the urge to shudder. To her surprise though, Sakura just laughed.

"No it's not like what you think." Sakura said. "Her Highness Princess Louise Francoise von Preussen oversaw all the arranged marriages for the women of her circle. Baron Derfflinger is…well, he's three years younger than I am."

For a moment Rin was silent, mentally breathing a sigh of relief that her sister wouldn't be married to some closet pervert much older than her, and then what Sakura just said registered.

She burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" Sakura asked testily. Rin just laughed harder, pounding on the table with one hand before waving a hand in Sakura's direction.

"No…it's just that…I never expected you to be interested in someone much younger than you are."

"I am not a cougar." Sakura said hotly and with flaming cheeks to boot. It just made Rin laugh harder.

"Sorry, sorry…" she finally said, forcing herself to calm down and taking a drink of her tea to steady herself. "…it's just…well you've never gone to formal…well formal mundane education ever since you left for London have you?"

"Of course not…" Sakura said, miffed at her sister's laughter though inwardly it felt nice. It felt…normal, giving her hope that despite their earlier agreement to just stay as friends they still might…change that given time. "…and while I don't feel I should apologize for it, here I go: sorry for not having a normal life."

Rin's smile faded, and then it returned, the white-haired girl forcing down a surge of irritation at the other girl's words.

How dare you make assumptions about my life?

What do you know?

Rin coughed to get herself back on track. "Anyway, you're what fifteen?" she asked.

"Sixteen actually…"

"Yes I see." Rin said with a nod. "Anyway that would put you in the first year of senior high school. And if your fiancé is three years younger than you are, that would make him thirteen."

"Yes I know that. Your point is…?"

Rin couldn't help but grin. "My point is that he'd be in the first year of middle school." She said, and gave a laugh at Sakura's expression of abject horror. "Sorry Sakura, but if you had a 'normal' life as you put it, and you had a relationship with this Baron Derfflinger or someone of his age, then yes, you are a cougar."

Sakura fumed, unable to refute Rin's logic. "Can we just move on from this?" she asked, and Rin laughed before giving an agreeing nod. "How about you, how's your everyday life?"

Rin thought for a moment. "Not nearly as exciting as yours…" she said. "…I mean…I wish that I could get better with my brother…"

"A brother…?" Sakura thought. "There's another Matou heir out there, and my sister was still taken from me? Was zur holle?"

The answer came before she could vocalize the question though. "…hates my guts for 'stealing his inheritance' or something like that." She said. "As if I…as if it were my fault that he was born with 'dead' magic circuits."

"Ouch…" Sakura said with a wince. "…talk about humiliating. To be born into a magus family without magic circuits would be bad enough, but with dead magic circuits?"

"My thoughts exactly…" Rin said with a nod. "…I'd pity the idiot, but…well Shinji is Shinji. Trust me, if you meet the guy, you'll understand."

"I'll keep that in mind." Sakura said with a grin, but inwardly she was already considering this bit of information.

If he's been antagonizing my sister, or heaven forbid, mistreating her (though it's hard to imagine RIN getting mistreated by a magical dud) then I am going to make him feel as much pain as it's possible for a Human being to feel.

"Apart from that…" Rin said. "…school life's not so bad. I mean there are idiots who seem to think that just because…just because of how I look they're better than I am, but they don't make life burdensome. And the art club is quite welcoming."

"You're in your school's art club?"

Rin nodded. "Yup…" she said with a smile that reminded Sakura of better days.

Why do you smile so differently otherwise?

"…we're one of the smaller clubs, and we're perennially short on budget – though I can get grandfather to donate to our budget every now and then – but we're also one of the tighter-knit ones too. We help each other out, and in many ways we're like a small family of our own the way we know each other so well."

"That sounds nice. Enviable too…"

"Thank you…"

Sakura chuckled. "So…" she said. "…what art do you do best? Painting…? Sculpture…? Or something else?"

"Doll-making…it's hardly the easiest, and slightly dangerous too seeing as I work with wood and carving it is no laughing matter…"

Doll-making…? Scheiss…I never expected this. I never planned to root out Matou mysteries here and now but…they specialize in familiars. This can't be good at all.

"…Victorian fashion to be just right..." Rin was saying. "…of course finding good cloth is about as hard as getting the designs and colours right…"

Or I could just be overreacting. Hopefully…hopefully I am.

"Sorry…" Rin abruptly stopped with a blush, and scratched at her head. "…I'm rambling aren't I?"

"No, it's fine." Sakura said. "I'm glad you've such a lively hobby. Me…I just go around drinking tea and exchanging gossip with blue-bloods whenever I'm not in class or doing research or out on the field. Compared to that, your pastime is positively enviable."

Rin chuckled. "It's not that enviable." She said modestly. "But thank you anyway."

"You're welcome."

Again the two of them fell into silence, and then Sakura spoke up after a few long moments. "So…" she began. "…anyone in your life I should know about?"

"Eh?"

Sakura grinned cheekily. "Well…" she said. "…I did tell you about Johann – that is Baron Derfflinger – so what about you?"

Rin snorted. For a moment she considered telling Sakura about her apprentice – kind-of – but decided against it. Sakura was an enemy in the current contest, and he could be a weakness that she could exploit. She was a magus after all.

She probably wouldn't do anything that Rin herself would not do.

"Not…really…" Rin finally said. "…I suppose…that's a part of your life that's enviable. From what you say, I gather that you and Baron Derfflinger get along, don't you?"

"Yeah we do." Sakura said after a moment. "Though…he's more of a brother at this point…I wonder if things will eventually change as times change as well or…"

Sakura trailed off, and Rin didn't know what to say afterwards. It was clear though that Sakura while seeing her fiancé as a brother couldn't really at this point see him as more than that, and Rin couldn't help but worry about their future together.

Is it even possible for family to work without love? At least, that kind of love that is…?

But then again…Tokiomi and Aoi loved each other too…and they loved their children…

…it didn't quite work out as it should.

"What do you intend to wish for?" Rin blurted out, and then she clapped a hand over her mouth as she realized what just said. "I'm sorry, I didn't…"

"Nothing can bring the dead back to life." Sakura interrupted. "Not even the Five Sorceries are capable of that. If they can't do it, how can the Grail do it? It can't…and anything that it could grant me would be worth more if I achieved it on my own."

"Then…?"

Sakura didn't reply verbally, instead reaching into a pocket and withdrawing a small, palm-sized case. She opened it and showed the medal inside to Rin. "Order of the Red Eagle…" she said. "…Third Class. You know what it means don't you?"

"Politics…" Rin said sadly. "…win or die, is that it?"

"Yes, that's it. And seeing as I don't really have any use for the Grail, father only saying I have to win…"

Sakura trailed off, and with a sigh closed the case and slipped it back into her pocket. "What about you?" she asked. "What's your wish for the Grail?"

Rin didn't answer, instead looking down at her plate. "I've to win of course…" she said. "…and then what happens after is up to my grandfather."

Sakura blinked, her eyes fixed on her sister. "Rin…" she whispered. "…you…"

"It's not really any different from your intentions for the Grail." Rin interrupted with a smile. "The only difference is that I'm giving it to family. You however, plan to give it to your lieges."

Sakura was silent at first, and then with a laugh, she nodded in agreement. "True enough…" she said.

Still…when you said it…you sounded resigned…why?

It didn't sound like you.

"I guess this means…" Sakura said instead. "…that we can't really align with each other."

"No, we can't." Rin agreed. "Not even for a time."

A temporary alliance is possible…it should be…so why Rin? I…I hoped you would point it out, that we could be allies even if only for a short time…but instead…you…

Sakura blinked as Rin's wristwatch began to beep, and she glanced at it before pushing a button. "Sorry Sakura…" she said. "…I wanted to talk some more, but I guess we spent too much time eating. I've got things to do."

Sakura smiled sadly. "I suppose we enjoyed the food too much, eh?" she asked back, and shared a laugh with her sister. "I…I enjoyed seeing you again, and talking with you like this."

"As did I…" Rin agreed, gathering her things before getting to her feet. "…well then…"

Rin turned and made for the door of the booth, only to pause as Sakura called her name from behind her. "Rin…" she said. "…I know you don't regret anything, and that you don't want me to regret anything too but…I…I never wanted to stop being your sister."

Rin was silent, but eventually she nodded and slid the door open. "Goodbye Sakura…" she said, and then she left. Sakura sat in silence for a few minutes, mulling over tea, and then the door slid open to reveal the blonde form of Baroness Anika von Derrflinger.

"How'd it go?" she asked as she closed the door and walked to Rin's vacant seat.

Sakura snorted before unpinning her brooch and tossing it to the baroness. And then she retrieved the real thing from a pocket and pinned it to her cravat. "Must you ask that question?" she asked.

"I guess not." Anika conceded. "But do you really think…?"

"You've met Zouken." Sakura pointed out. "I wouldn't be surprised if he too had something with Rin to make sure she didn't spill anything. She was hiding a few things…not too surprising but…"

"But…?"

"That level of alchemical augmentation is unheard of, even if she wasn't of Matou blood and needed…assistance to assimilate their mysteries. And of course…"

"And…?"

Sakura was silent for a while, and then with a sigh she pressed a button on the wall. A few moments later and a staff member appeared, and Sakura gestured for the bill to be brought to her. "I'll trust my sister is as well as she shows herself to be." Sakura said. The bill arrived, and Sakura took a look. Wincing at the price, she placed a credit card in the leather folder before closing it and handing it back to the staff member who bowed and left. "For now at least…"

"But when things change…?" Anika asked.

Sakura's face was neutral, but both her voice and eyes were as cold as the North Sea in winter. "Then there'll be hell to pay." She said.

A/N

Hmm…nothing really to say here…

…well there's one: Hisui Route, True End. Not really relevant to the story, but I needed filler. And I'm sure the Association would take an interest in those demon hybrids, if only because if they ever got out of hand, they'd risk blowing the secret of magic out into the open.