An Opportunity of Fate

by PML7

Counter Guardian Emiya is given an offer he cannot refuse. He must somehow save Fuyuki City from the ravages of the Fifth Grail War without being allowed to participate himself! Can he influence his younger self and his friends from his youth enough to save the world before Emiya has to use a Counter Force against the Grail, destroying Fuyuki City and the surrounding area?

8. Chapter 8

An Opportunity of Fate Part 8

Ilyasviel von Einzbern-

Ilya stared out the window at the drifting snow and tried to ignore the pain. There was medicine on the table waiting for her, but she had told herself that she didn't need it. She had borne the entire existence of Heracles for more than a year without Grail support hadn't she?

And in truth the pain wasn't really that bad. It was nothing compared to what she had already gone through.

It was just so damn uncomfortable!

The changes her body had gone through over the last couple years had been unexpected. By her or by her family. She would never be tall, but now she was almost sixty centimeters. And she had started to fill out.

But her body's sudden surge to maturity was only half of the changes. She was a homunculus, just like her mother. But her hair was no longer pure white blonde, it resembled more of a steel color. And brown had begun to contaminate her red eyes.

Somewhere along the way mistakes had been made with her. Some of her human genetic material considered supressed was beginning to make itself shown.

There had even been talk of cancelling her participation in the upcoming War. That she wasn't pure enough of a vessel for the Grail. Whispered talk of scrapping her.

Her father and mother had failed after all. Maybe there was some genetic flaw in her. Maybe it was hereditary.

But her circuits were of the highest quality and of a number far exceeding that of any normal human. And her larger body allowed for an incredible level of od. Enough to support a heroic spirit the likes of Heracles without Grail support.

Last year, before the Grail had truly begun to awaken had been hellish. They had set her out in the forest, alone amongst the various hungry chimera with only Berserker for a defense. His every movement had hurt her. His very existence had threatened hers.

But they had survived. She was safe now. Even from her family. Because of him. He was their hope for a return to glory. For a regaining of the Grail.

While a part of her was excited about it, about the fact that she had a good chance of winning. Most of it didn't matter. Because she herself could not win. It was impossible.

She was the Grail. Her mother had supposedly lasted as a separate being until the fifth Servant had died. If she was lucky, Ilya herself might retain sentience of a sort until Servant number six. After that she would merely be a conduit.

This war WOULD kill her. One way or another. She had no hope of any other outcome.

That was why these changes in her body were so frustrating. What was the point? It would have been easier and more convenient had her body simply stayed as it had been. If her body hadn't matured.

Why did the world have to be so complicated?

One of the reasons, perhaps the main reason she was avoiding her medicine, was in the hopes her body's discomfort would drive out her mind's.

She had received a short letter. Delivered in secret. She opened and read it once more. Looking at the sad man whose picture had been included. He looked so tired and old. So unlike her memories of him.

My dearest Ilya,

I have tried to see you, but they will not let me in. I doubt now that we will ever meet again, in this life at the very least. I have never been religious, but I wish now that I could see you and your mother once more. I have loved you both so very much.

The one thing that sustains me is the knowledge that you will not face what your mother did. You will not lose yourself to a tainted Grail. We both thought we knew what it would entail, the pain it would cause.

We were wrong. The Grail is tainted. Cursed. I have told the Einzbern family, but they do not believe me.

I have taken steps to see the War will not occur again. I can not explain how, I am not sure this letter will not be intercepted. But know that I have done this in part to save you, and should you develop enough, your children.

I wish I could see you one last time. But I am dying. The curse of the Grail has me firmly in its grips. I hope you will remember the good times, before the Fourth War, and forgive me for what happened later.

I will always hold you in my heart, my beautiful little Snow Angel.

Kiritsugu Emiya.

Ilya carefully folded the letter and placed the picture within. Life had been so much simpler before. Why did it have to be so complicated?

'Hang on, old man. I will be there in a couple of years. And you can tell me yourself why you think the Grail is tainted. And I can meet the boy you replaced me with.'

-Scene Break—

Sakura Matou-

The world was darkness. And Sakura hid.

It was similar to the chamber in which she trained. But there were no Crest Worms here. There was no near silent writhing mass that crawled around and under and through her. There was merely silence.

A familiar voice called out to her. "How long do you plan on hiding there? Do you really think you can shut out the real world that way?"

Sakura opened her eyes and saw a girl, of similar height to her. Similar build too. But the coloring was different. Her eyes were a bright red, and her hair snow white. "Who are you?"

"I would think, you of all people would know."

That voice did sound eerily familiar. But she couldn't or wouldn't place it. She looked at the girl again. Her dress was quite risqué. It was body tight, showing all her assets. The lower part of the dress wasn't all of one piece, looking like it was made of tendrils of black fabric that moved and shifted, showing glimpses of the girl's legs all the way to the upper thigh.

NO. Not black cloth. Stabilized shadow. How Sakura knew this, she wasn't sure.

'I could probably make something like that.' She absently tore off a piece of the darkness that surrounded her and Shaped it. It was an odd mix of Projection and Alteration, used at roughly the same time. And it was easy for her.

She felt the cloth she had made. Smooth like silk, more comfortable than cotton, and more flexible than lycra. Sakura smiled. Would Sempai look at her if she were dressed in something made out of this? If he could see her body clearly?

"You are thinking of Shirou, aren't you?" The pale girl smirked.

"Um, er, no?" Sakura waved her hands, the tiny bit of shadow winking out of existence.

There was a chuckled from the other girl and the world changed. It was her bedroom, and she was standing naked in front of her mirror. The other girl laughed and twirled around to face her. She waved her arms and strands of shadow shot out and wrapped themselves around her. Forming into a dress.

It was similar to the one the other girl wore, but it was less daring if just as skin tight. The fabric felt good against her skin. The skirt wasn't split and draped down to around her knee. But it felt light and airy, not heavy at all. Sakura swayed slightly and the skirt swayed easily, drifting up to mid-thigh. She blushed. This was better. But she didn't know if she would ever have the courage to wear something like this. Particularly in front of Shirou.

She frowned. It wasn't like she couldn't pull off black, but it wasn't her favorite color. Purple. Was there a way to make this purple?

She felt as the other girl rested her head on her shoulder and looked with her into the mirror. "It is going to take some practice to make this anything other than black, I think. But if you work at it, it should be possible."

Sakura jerked away and looked at the other girl, "Wait! What are you doing to me?"

"Nothing, you nit wit. You haven't figured out who I am yet, have you?" She twirled, her divided skirt riding high enough to see she wasn't wearing anything underneath.

"Have you no shame?" Sakura barked out.

The girl smirked, "Do you? How far would you go, my dear, to get what you want? Trust me, it is farther than you think.

Both of them dressed in such similar garb, they looked like twins, with only the coloring mismatched. But she acted completely differently. Wanton. And there was a wildness to the girl's red eyes. "You almost hurt that boy back there. You almost killed him." She knew it was true. Knew the girl had been there. Had done those things.

Sakura could feel… echoes of it. The taste of the boy's lips. The sound of his screams. The pleasure as the energy had poured from him into her.

The girl put her hands on her hips, "I didn't did I? I listened to you, but I made it safe. He won't ever try to do that to a girl again." She laughed.

Sakura shivered. It was so similar to her own laughter. No. She didn't want to believe it. "Stop it! Stop pretending to be like me!"

Again the familiar laughter, only now there was a twist to it, a jaded cynical twist to the laughter she so seldom let be heard. "You don't get it. But I will say this. I will NOT let you be hurt. If you won't rise to the occasion to protect us, I will. Do you understand?"

"No. Get away! I don't want to be like this. I don't want to…"

The red eyed girl held onto her, "Sakura, I am you. I am the parts of you that you don't want to admit you have. I am your anger, your bitterness, your aggression." She smirked, "Some but surprisingly not ALL of you of your sexual adventurousness. Just know I will always be here, Sakura. We will talk again."

A flicker and she was alone, still clad in her garment of shadow. There was a knock at the door.

"Are you okay, Sakura?"

It was Shirou. His red hair was bright and it was joined with a blush as he took her in. "You look wonderful in that dress."

She looked at him. He was so handsome. And this was a dream. It had to be.

So she walked over and said, "I love you, Sempai."

And he looked down at her and gave her a kiss. They kissed for a time before, she willed the shadows to part, for him to see her. He paused and as in a dream they were together in bed.

He was so much better than her brother. Sempai would never revel in pain and humiliation. She just knew it.

She was close. So very close.

And distantly came the sound of foreign words. They pulled at her, tearing her away from her dreams…

Not yet. Please not yet!

Sakura's eyes opened. She was in a place that felt both familiar and utterly strange. And looking down at her were worried blue eyes framed by dark hair arranged in two pigtails. "Rin?"

Sakura gasped as she was hugged and held close. What? What had happened. Was this another dream?

Rin said, "I thought we had lost you. Nothing would wake you up, and, and…."

Sakura felt wetness on her cheeks. Was, was Rin crying?

For a moment she was simply dazed by it all, before her own arms held her sister close.

How long had it been? How long since they had held each other?

Rin said thickly, "You scared me. You really scared me. I thought I might have lost you. You can't do that to me, okay?"

Sakura pushed herself away, "Why?"

Rin wiped a few tears from her face, "You are my sister that is why."

Another voice quietly said, "Rin, I am going to go down stairs and tell Dad about what is going on."

Rin nodded, "Sure, go. We will probably be here for dinner, why don't you call Taiga and see if she will starve to death without you. And have her bring some take out." She looked at Sakura, "You will stay for an early dinner won't you?"

Shirou left.

Sakura looked down and said, "I don't know. I should probably get home."

"Please stay?" Rin smiled at her. It was the same smile she used at school. The one that had charmed the teachers and most of the students. The only reason why Issei Ryudou was the Class President was because Rin didn't want it.

But Sakura remember the old RIn. Remembered her charming her father and mother to get an extra treat. And bossing Sakura around behind their backs. Sakura had to smile. Even though she knew Rin's secret, her smiles still worked on her. "I will need to see if Shinji is home. If he needs me to cook for him, I will need to go."

Rin sighed, "Well…. I suppose you could invite him over too."

Sakura looked at RIn in shock. It was no secret that Rin did not like Shinji. Convincing Shinji of that was somewhat difficult as he was enamored of her sister. "Okay." She looked down, "I don't understand. Why are you being so nice to me? Is it because of Shirou? Did he ask you to be like this?"

Rin sighed. "No. We both belong to different families now. And I thought that it was better that we simply pretended like we had never been sisters."

Sakura said softly, "I was told to pretend you and mom never existed."

Rin winced. "That is wrong." She reached out and captured one of Sakura's hands, "It won't ever be the same. But I still want to know that you will be okay. That you are safe and loved."

Sakura looked down. How could she tell her sister the horror of her life? How could Rin possibly relate?

Rin looked at her closely, "I feel like I no longer know you."

"You don't"

"I would like to."

"Okay."

Rin said quietly, "Are you a magus?"

Sakura paused for a moment. And nodded. "I am not a very good one. Not yet."

"I never knew. Not for the longest time. Why Dad gave you away. Not until I started reading about the Fourth Grail War." Rin sighed, "I came across a journal. Dad's journal. If you want I will let you read it."

Sakura looked up at her. "I would like that." She looked back down. "Mom is dead, isn't she?"

Rin wiped another set of tears from her eyes. "About a year ago. She is buried at the old Church. Next to Dad." She looked down at her lap. "I usually go the first Sunday of every month to lay flowers on their graves." She glanced up, "Do you want to come with me next time."

Sakura nodded. She had to know. This was almost too much for her. Something she had never expected in a million years. That her sister did indeed still care for her. Rin was still clueless to how bad Sakura's life was. But maybe Sakura had been wrong to assume that Rin would know what was actually going on. And now that Rin was here, Sakura didn't know how to tell her.

What had made the change? Sakura reached out and lifted Rin's face so both could see eye to eye. "I need to know Rin. I myself have never had the courage to reach out to you. I have always been weak and shy. That is probably why I was the one handed to the Matou…."

Rin shook her head. "No. Not at all. Dad wrote down why he did it. I don't know how hard your training is, I know mine has been painful…."

Sakura looked at her sister. 'You have no idea.'

Rin continued, "He gave you away so that you could use your talents. You are supposed to be as gifted as I am. Your elemental affinity is supposed to be a little odd, but still. No, I never reached out because I thought you were going to have a normal life. That you didn't have to worry about walking with death on a daily basis."

"Oh. Matou training is… different than normal mage craft. I, I really don't feel comfortable explaining right now…."

Rin smiled, "We will have to live with the fact we both have secrets. And that will be okay. But I want to be friends. I want us to have a least a little of the closeness we were robbed of."

Sakura smiled back, "Okay. But you still haven't told me why. It can't just be that you found out that I was studying mage craft too. I know how competitive you are. You may fool the school, but not me."

Rin rolled her eyes and tossed her head back, "You always were stubborn." She sighed, "And perceptive." She took a deep breath, "Downstairs there is a man who has lost everything. The one thing he craves is to see his daughter one last time before he dies." Rin reached up and wiped a few more tears that sprung from her eyes, "He is so full of regret, Sakura. He had everything he truly wanted, save an impossible dream. And he gave it all up for that dream. For nothing. He gave it all up and all he and his wife and his daughter have received is pain and suffering." Rin pulled Sakura close again, "I don't want to go through life with regrets like that. We have already lost so much time together. I don't want to lose more."

It was too much. It was like a dream come true. Sakura had occasionally dreamed the she might develop the courage to approach her sister. But never had she thought the proud Rin would approach her first.

She clung to her sister. And cried.

-Scene Break—

Cassandra Martel-

Cassandra knocked on Lord El Melloi's door.

A servant answered, "A Miss Martel. His Lordship is expecting you."

Cassandra was ushered into the lavish apartment that the Lord enjoyed. The electronics always surprised her when she came in. Most of the Clock Tower didn't have any electricity, at least not in the residences. Waver had an expensive flat screen television and a gaming console.

Boys and their toys. Her younger brother wasn't a magus and he was addicted to his Xbox. He had even tried to get her to look into some of the newest gaming equipment when she went to Japan.

He didn't know she probably wouldn't survive.

Then again, that was why she was here. To improve her odds.

She found him in his study, reading some arcane tome or other. "Sir?"

He smiled and looked at her, "Ah, Cassie. So were you able to find the location of a suitable catalyst?"

"Yes. There is an expedition on the island of Salamis. From my contact there, I should be able to pick up something related to my hero."

"So. You are still fixated on Ajax Telamon? If you were looking for a Trojan Hero, why not Achilles or Odysseus? Achilles is the better warrior and Odysseus is more cunning."

"You asked me to find someone who can help me survive the war." She held her head high, proud of her choice, "Ajax fought the entire length of the war. He was never wounded. And he never depended on the Gods to aid him. No, maybe the others are more talented. But Ajax will see the fight to the end."

"Well then, my dear. I guess we are going on a trip to Greece. Pack your sunscreen!"

Cassandra could only smile.

-Scene Break—

Ayako Mitsuzuri-

Ayako gazed at her grandfather as if he had a few hidden eyes somewhere. It had started so normal. She had told him about the fight. He had asked her so many questions regarding Shirou. Like had he chanted anything at any time. Had he done anything beyond the normal?

That had led to more about poor Emiya. She basically related almost everything she had ever seen or heard him do. Then after about an hour there had been a pause when her mother had entered and brought them food. She had kissed Ayako on her forehead and told her to be honest with her grandfather. To tell him everything.

And she had.

Not just about Emiya and all his weirdness. But also about Tohsaka and Matou. Everything she knew about the Fujimura's A constant flurry of questions.

Finally there was a pause while both of them finished their now cold, but still good food. The dish had been her favorite. Pity that she had spent more time trying to figure out what her grandfather wanted than enjoying it.

When her mother brought in desert a few hours later, Ayako knew something strange was going on. Finally after sitting there quietly watching her Grandfather mull over what he had learned she had to ask, "So why are you asking me all of this?"

"You my dear have dangerous friends." He said gravely.

"Mr. Ayase said that too."

Her grandfather nodded, "He is right. They are dangerous. Both in who their families are and who they may themselves become." He closed his eyes, "I seriously doubt Taiga Fujimura will follow her own father and grandfather into the world of crime. She is already working on an English degree and has taking teaching classes."

"Okay?"

He sighed, "The others are more problematic. The Matou have a bad reputation for a reason. The Tohsaka have a similar one, although their reputation is not as dark. They command respect and not as much fear. But both families have connections that go far beyond what a normal family might be considered to have."

"What does that have to do with my being friends with them? And really I am more of a friendly rival with Tohsaka than a friend. Sakura…. Sakura needs someone like me. She needs someone to teach her to stand on her feet, and to have more confidence in herself. I will not abandon my friend!"

"You have no idea of what you are talking about! These people, these families are ancient and powerful in ways that no one understands! If you go against the Matou bad things happen to you. It is like the world turns against you. And you die. Do you understand me, Ayako. People have DIED when facing these people. The Tohsaka are not much better. As for Emiya…." He looked away, "I do not know how he fits in to this, but he was a participant in their last contest."

"Contest?"

"Ayako, you know only a little of what my job was. You have only really known me since I was retired. Before that I was an information broker and an operative. Even now I occasionally have people consult me about my past work."

Ayako looked at the old man. "You were a spy?"

"I started working with the Americans when they were occupying Japan. Later I helped build the counter intelligence operations here in Japan for the national government. My contacts with the Americans were useful." He shook his head, "You can imagine I lost friends over this. I used to be close to Raiga Fujimura, believe it or not. We are contemporaries. And both of us have had to deal with the strange contest twice. Once when we were children and again when we were old." He sighed, "Every sixty years, although I can hope it will not strike you. I can hope it is finally over." He looked down, "But I doubt it. And trust me when I say, that when it happens again, your friends will be in the thick of it."

"Help me understand. Please. What are you not telling me?"

"Your friend Sakura, her family is in deep collaboration with an ancient and powerful conspiracy group, based out of Europe. What the source of their power is, we don't know. Getting too close simply results either in the agent being turned away and ruined, or in their death. Tohsaka is not only hip deep with that group, but has contacts to a sub group of the Catholic Church."

Ayako stared at her Grandfather. Was it dementia? Had he finally gone crazy? She had known that her grandmother's death had been very hard on him. She had died visiting family during the Great Fire eight years ago.

According to her father he had never been the same after that year. He had been retired that very same year. What had happened to him?

Her Grandfather smiled, "You are looking at me like I have finally gone insane. Trust me, I am used to seeing it from your father. But he has yet to prove me wrong. And trust me, he has tried." He shook his head, "The thing is, all of it is so well covered over if you didn't actually have a connection to it. And the few stories that remain are jumbled at best. I was lucky I wasn't on the front lines trying to find out what was going on or I likely would be dead myself." He looked off into the distance, "I lost a lot of good men that year."

Ayako just sat there watching him. He didn't seem crazy. But how could she tell?

"Perhaps it is easiest to talk about what happened the second time I got involved. There were several things causing us trouble at the time. First were the budget cuts that never seemed to end. The Soviets were gone, and while we were useful to the local police, we were seen as an extravagance at a time when Japan couldn't truly afford it. There was a serial killer on the loose, causing more than a little drama in Fuyuki City and the near by cities. But most of all, there was the return of a notorious mercenary and suspected terrorist that was setting up shop just outside the city."

"Okay."

He looked at her with a wry smile, "The name of that potential terrorist is Kiritsugu Emiya. And before you tell me how harmless he is, I could show you a long rap sheet of suspected actions and incidents that he was either tied to or participated in. There simply wasn't enough hard evidence to convict him." His mouth quirked up wryly, "And there is the fact that he probably had worked for the Americans more than once. Odd how they were not forthcoming about some of his more notorious actions."

He chuckled slightly and continued, "Still, it was a concern. Fuyuki City was finally getting the money it needed invested to put it firmly on the map. Only a small dot on the map maybe, but on the map. Then things started to happen. Strange things. Lights in the sky. Massive chaos and unexplained property damage. All leading up to the fire…."

He went silent. Thinking of her grandmother she was sure.

He continued, "That fire wasn't natural. Every single person who died burnt to death. Autopsies showed that no one died of smoke inhalation or asphyxiation. Not a single person near the center of the fire survived." Again his mouth quirked, "Except one."

"Who?"

"Shirou Emiya. Mind you all of the families that I told you about, all of them suffered casualties. Raiga lost a daughter, Zouken Matou lost a son, Tokiomi Tohsaka died…. All these occurred outside of the firezone too. Tohsaka actually had his arm ripped off…." Her grandfather shook his head. "The fire claimed everyone. Even the few orphans who had been at the edge and wounded, simply disappeared. Only Shirou Emiya remains. Given your descriptions of him, I am not surprised. A man born out of his proper time, a remnant of the age of heroes and gods perhaps."

Ayako pulled back.

"Oh yes, they were real. According to some sources there are still pockets that remain. Perhaps he is from one of them. A living relic. Or something else. I can not say." He turned and opened a briefcase. "I am glad I brought this. It is time I passed it along. I thought perhaps your brother, but I think it will serve you better." He pulled out a scabbarded short sword. "I believe the other blade of this set has been passed onto his granddaughter Taiga. Even with all our differences since our childhood, he never asked for it back. He gave it to me to cement our friendship and honor my courage." He passed it to Ayako. "And I give it to you. I pray you never need it. But that it will serve you as it has me should that fateful moment come to pass.

Ayako took the blade. She stared at it confused. The style of the hilt looked similar to the sword she had seen Taiga hold. Would it glitter blue like the katana Taiga had? She slid the blade slowly almost reverently from the sheath.

It felt… right in her hands. She closed her eyes and felt it. It was strange but somehow it felt alive.

Her grandfather said, "Yes. I was right to give it to you. It has accepted you as its owner. It like your friend is a relic of days gone by. A fitting secondary weapon for those who have to deal with rogue Kami and Youkai. A good choice for a born Archer."

She opened her eyes, "Grandfather, I, I can't accept this. Father certainly will not let me keep it. But thank you. I, I…" She didn't want to give it back. It felt… right in her hands. She caressed the hilt.

Her grandfather smiled at her, "You will never lose it. I once left it in a hotel in America. It was always in a certain piece of luggage that I had to have specially checked when I travelled. And by mistake that bag had been left behind. The blade was waiting in its sheath for me when I got home. According to legend, had I needed it on the trip, it would have been there. It chooses its owner and stays with them until another claims it."

"That is impossible Grandfather. We don't live in manga or story tale. These things do not happen in real life!" She tried to pass it back to him. But she found she didn't want to let it go. It called to her.

"My dear, this land of ours is special. It is unusually spiritually active. It always has been. It is why we have the large Temple on the Mountain, even though we were once a small village. It was Western money that got our city to grow. This was once a rural land. Even when I was growing up the City was much smaller. It let us miss out on a lot of the craziness before and during the war, not all of it, but most. Our family has lived here for a long time. Before the Meiji Restoration we were samurai, as were the Fujimura's. Only the Fujimura's didn't serve the local Daimyo like we did. They served the Temple Complex. They protected the monks when they left, and accompanied them on their missions of exorcism. The blade you hold was forged there."

He took a sip of tea, "Ah, but I doubt you care for the blade's history. You want to know how and why I got it, and why I am passing it to you. I was a young and impressionable child who was caught up in the circle of a much more charismatic figure. Raiga Fujimura. I am not surprised that he managed to claw his way to the top in such a ruthless business. Or why he has lasted as long. Anyway, this is back in 1934, and strange things had been happening in our little city. People were missing, strange sights had been seen. One of the mansions in Shinto was completely razed one night, as if by explosives, but not trace of explosives were found. No one knows why. Does this sound familiar?"

Ayako pursed her lips, "It sounds like the situation you described that happened eight years ago."

"Yes! Only Raiga and a gang of children were determined to find out what was really going on. Raiga's father was in the Army in China at the time, and Raiga had a great deal of freedom. He took a pair of ancestral swords and promised that with them he could protect us. We believed our leader could do no wrong and so we followed him into the forest."

There was a pause and he continued, "One by one the boys' courage failed. Until it was only me and Raiga. I was about to leave when Raiga praised my courage. I later learned he was about to turn around himself. Only my continuing had kept him going as far. It was then we heard sounds of battle. Both of us hid behind the trees and crept up closer. Raiga handed me the lesser of the swords and told me it would protect me."

Another pause, "But what I witnessed there…. Nothing would have protected either of us. The two beings there were not human. They were monsters in human form. You could feel the unearthly might radiate off of them. They could have killed us in a heartbeat. Luckily they were consumed in their own fight. It was like a battle out of a story book. A western knight against a Greek hoplite. After a half hour, the hoplite won and the knight fell and simply vanished."

"Both Raiga and I stayed very still. We didn't move until long after the hoplite had left. We returned home. Neither of us told any of the others about what had happened. You my dear, are the first I have fully recounted this to. Although my wife knew most of it. Raiga and I never talked about it again. He told me to keep the blade. That my courage had earned it."

He looked down at the table. "As has yours. I will support your decision to support your friend. You will have a good fifty years or so before you need to fear the return of this nightmare. Perhaps it will not return. I hope for your sake, and your children's that it is so."

"Thank you." She continued to rub the hilt of the blade she had been given. She stood up.

"Ayako, do me one favor. Give me one promise."

"Yes?"

"If ever you find out whom or what caused that fire, avenge your grandmother for me. It will likely be a close held secret, one that you can't tell me. Just let me know she was avenged."

"I promise." She turned to go, her mind awash with impossibilities and wonders. 'None of this was possible. Right? This was all a fantasy.'

But she had seen flickers of blue fire trace along the blade she now carried. She had so many questions and she wasn't certain it was safe to ask. But maybe. Maybe it was time to do some investigating of her own.

-Scene Break—

Issei Ryudou-

Issei got out of the car and followed the Doctor. When the Doctor was here, Issei found himself spending every free moment with him. There was simply so much to learn, and it was much easier with someone who could explain the principles behind it.

Learning to see the way the world looked through the eyes of the variant of onmyodo that the Doctor practiced was difficult. Some of its weakness came from incorporating other systems magic into its own syncretic blend. But then he had to. Too much of the original material had been purged and lost in the modernization campaigns.

Other families and traditions might have a closer to the original version, and it would be stronger. But the Doctor only had what he had. And so he had to cobble together a variety of concepts and beliefs from a series of systems. Some of them Western, but most were traditional Japanese.

Why they had stopped at the Fujimura residence, Issei had no clue. Taiga was waiting.

They were ushered in and shown a boy who was rocking back and forth in the middle of a well lit room. He was muttering to himself, "Please, keep the light shining. Oh, I promise I will change. I promise I will be good."

The Doctor stopped when he entered the room. "This is bad." He pulled the chain pendant out and began to whirl it around. "Issei, I want you to try too. See what you can sense."

Taiga just tapped him on the shoulder, "I knew there was something special about you."

Issei looked at her, "You believe in this?"

Taiga's face crumbled and the joy faded. But she nodded, "I am a failure at it. All the training to use a sword only to find I am useless at everything else. Grandpa is right, our family has grown weak."

The Doctor's voice was curt, "Issei focus."

Issei calmed himself. He closed his eyes and breathed in deep, attempting to harmonize his own ki with the world. He spun the pendant and opened his eyes. Keeping his mind empty, allowing the world itself to show the distortions in its normal flow. "I feel something…."

"Keep going boy. Tell me what you sense."

"It feels strange. More artificial than what I have seen. But powerful. Very powerful." He could feel sweat bead on his brow. This was so hard. And the energy he felt was frightening. It had warped the poor boys aura.

"Western Magecraft. Wielded by a powerful practitioner. The user is strong but unskilled. Young would be my guess. Or new to the power. Can you sense anything else? Any elemental affinity? You should be able to do that by now."

Feel the distortions. Feel how the world was twisted. It was beyond human senses. But for a time he could fool his body into sensing what it could not. To allow the pendant he had made to act as his sight and hearing and scent.

He had practiced this. Most often to sense the connections between things and find something lost. It could also find large amounts of a pure element, water being easiest. But never on something living. Never on something distorted.

Mist. A dark forbidding mist. Not evil. But angry and hungry.

It was all Issei could do not to back away. He said in quiet shock, "It ate part of him. Like a mist, or a fog. Only it's, it's like nothing I have ever seen or felt."

Taiga gripped the sword at her hip's hilt. "A Youkai? In Fuyuki?"

The Doctor shook his head, "Western Magecraft, Miss Fujimura. Although the description is worrisome. Were there any teeth marks or signs of blood loss from the boy?"

Taiga shook her head, "No. The report I heard was that he had attacked Sakura Matou." Taiga kept talking, but Issei stopped listening.

There was something else. Faint. It had not effected the boy directly, but like a strong perfume it had left traces. He ran through his Western elements. Fire, Water, Wind, Earth and Ether. It was part of Earth and part of Fire, but neither precisely. It didn't quite fit.

It was odd. But his curiosity was up, he wanted to know. He spun the pendant faster, actually allowing the pendant to intersect with the outer part of the boy's aura. He ran through the Japanese Elements. Still the same, only now he could sense an odd taint of Void to it as well.

It came to him. Metal. The Chinese Elemental system didn't have Air or Void. They had Wood and Metal. And this felt like metal.

Issei slumped down. "Iron. The second person. Iron. Maybe Steel." He felt wide open now. He tried to focus, tried to shut his sense down. Taiga bled off tiny wisps of Fire, and the Doctor traces of Wind.

The boy in front of him was crippled. He might recover, but he would never regain what he had lost. What had been eaten.

Issei shivered again. He hoped he never met what had attacked the boy.

The Doctor mused aloud, "If he attacked a Matou…. He got lucky. I have seen their handiwork before." He shook his head, "He is beyond the little I can do."

Taiga said, "Grandmother had me call you because you were in town. You have more familiarity with the foreign magics. And with a Matou involved..."

"Tell her it wasn't a curse. A direct attack of some sort to the spirit." The Doctor looked pitying at the boy, "It will be a long time before he is healed."

Taiga shrugged.

Issei just sat there, breathing deeply. His senses were slowly returning to normal. "Miss Fujimura, was anyone else there? Or just Sakura?"

Taiga was slow to answer, "Well Ayako was there. She and Sakura are inseparable. And Shirou. They were attacked on their way back from the Archery Dojo in town."

The Doctor pursed his lips, "This Shirou. It wouldn't be the charge you were given would it?"

Taiga tilted her head to the side, "Well, yes. Grandma did tell me to watch over Shirou-kun while I was helping Kiritsugu. But I have never seen anything truly odd from him. Nothing like an Inversion Impulse at all." She looked down, "He does practice magic of a sort, Western style, so I can't tell you much about it. He likely thinks he is keeping it hidden."

The Doctor nodded, "Following after his adoptive father I suppose. That is surprising in itself. Not many people are capable of Western Magecraft." He frowned. "Does he ever go to a particular place to practice it? Some place hidden from the casual eye?"

"Yes. But I don't know…."

"Taiga, it is for the common good. Besides I do not have to enter, it would likely be dangerous if I did. But even if he has a barrier up, the barrier itself will tell me much about him. If he truly is demon born or a hybrid, it will show up in his magic."

Issei blinked. "Excuse me? Are we talking about Shirou Emiya here? The man is no saint, but a demon? He is the most helpful and brave man I know."

Taiga walked over and held Issei by the shoulders. "Don't let him know! Please! I don't know what I would do if he stopped cooking for me! Mama tries, but he is so much better."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow, "We are talking about a being who might flip out and kill everyone in the local area and you are worried about him not cooking for you?"

Issei frowned, "Emiya is a good cook. But why are we thinking my best friend is a demon?"

"Do you remember that cursed park you showed me too? Where part of the old city burnt down? Shirou Emiya was the only survivor. He survived something no other human did. Apparently I was not the only one interested in him. Taiga's family has always had a small connection with the occult. Kiritsugu was apparently cursed by whatever caused that horror in the park. That was not a natural fire, Essei. Not natural at all. How did this one boy survive, unless there was something special or different from him?"

Taiga tilted her head, "Issei, there is something strange about Shirou. And not just his wonderful cooking. A year and a half ago, he fell off the roof. You know how he is always doing repairs over at Tohsaka's? Well he had started on his own home too. And well he fell. I was certain he had broken his arm. It was swollen and he couldn't move it at all." Her voice grew hushed, "On the way to the doctors he developed a fever of some sort. His body was hot and he had passed out. I was worried about an infection. The fever had moderated by the time we got to the hospital. By the time he went into X-ray his arm, there wasn't a break, although the arm was heavily bruised and swollen. The doctor gave us some pain medication for the bruises and told him to be more careful. Within a couple of days the bruises were gone. I love Shirou. He is like a younger brother to me. But there is something odd about him. And ever since you both saved the Tohsaka girl it has only become more pronounced."

The Doctor mused aloud, "You know that could be it. The girl is a magus, too. Politically connected in their society, or so I hear. And powerful in her own right, despite her age."

Issei freaked out slightly, "Wait, wait. I have called Tohsaka a witch before. You mean, you mean it is TRUE?"

Taiga led them towards the Emiya estate next door.

Issei followed them, his mind spinning. Shirou a demon. Tohsaka a witch. Little Sakura being protected by some powerful shadow mist creature. "Are any of my friends normal?"

"Power calls to power, my dear apprentice. Likely you would have felt the same way about them even if your powers were latent. You would have had a hunch about certain things and people. And most people are mostly mundane. I should warn you that the more you develop these talents, the more you will draw the attention of others who are involved in these matters. And you will be drawn to them." He paused, "Still, do not breach the silence regarding these secret matters unless you are certain it will be well received. They are secret for good reasons. Those who talk too much do not long survive these circles."

Issei grunted.

Taiga opened the front door to the estate calling out for Kiritsugu or Shirou. There was silence. "I suppose this is for the best. Follow me."

Once more Issei felt a peace settle upon him as he walked through the door. He had never truly analyzed the Emiya estate using his new knowledge. He did so now.

How had he missed it? The placement of the windows. The plants. Even the small pond. All of it was deliberate. He stopped to look at one of the weight bearing pillars. Sure enough there were tightly carved symbols in the wood. "This house is protected."

The Doctor looked back at him, "And not just by the East. There is a Western Boundary Field that covers this place. Strong and subtle. My guess is it is Kiritsugu's. Come we need to take a look at this workshop Shirou uses."

Issei just followed, really looking at the Emiya estate as if for the first time. "It is amazing."

Taiga just smiled, "Grandmother's work. It is her medicine that has helped Kiritsugu all these years. When she learned he had been cursed, she had him make a few small adjustments to the way the house was configured." Her voice was sad, "I wish she could do more. That she could heal him." She looked away. Issei thought the high strung woman might actually be crying.

They came to a small toolshed. Taiga wiped the tears from her eyes and said fondly, "This is his little workspace. He does repairs here to various things too, but this is where he practices his magic." She chuckled. "He falls asleep here often enough. I have even staged some blankets in there for him."

That overwhelming scent of metal came to Issei again. He had smelt something like It before. On one of Shirou's birthdays, KIritsugu had taken him to and old style smith. Shirou had stared wide-eyed while the smiths had worked on a blade using old techniques.

Shirou had always had an obsession with swords.

He absently took out the pendant and began it whirling, clearing his mind. It was easier this time. From the workshop, one that he had been in before mind, chatting idly with Shirou while he worked on some broken device. Only tonight his mind was more open, noticing details he had sensed but only slightly. The heat of an intense flame, the smell of molten and cooling metal, a distant sound of anvils being struck, of the hiss as a blade was quenched. "This isn't a workshop…. It is a forge."

The Doctor cuffed him on the shoulder, "Snap out of Issei." He sighed, "I will need to teach you to calm your Sight as well as being able to use it. It can confuse and delude as easily as regular vision."

Issei nodded.

Taiga looked at the Doctor. "Well?"

The Doctor nodded, "I am glad you brought me here. I have good news. Shirou Emiya is not demon touched. Nor is he a hybrid." He paused a look of wonder on his face, "I would have you continue to watch over him if you would, both of you." He shook his head, "He isn't demon touched at all, but he is touched."

"By what?"

"By a dragon. By one of immense nobility and self-sacrifice. How or why I do not believe I will ever know, but that spirit must have protected him on that day. It, no her essence lingers within him even now." He began to walk towards the entrance, returning to the Fujimura estate.

Issei was quiet. His life had just turned upside down.

The chaos would continue. For when Taiga returned home, one of the servants was waiting.

Bad news. Kiritsugu Emiya was dying.

-Scene Break—

Kiritsugu Emiya-

Kiritsugu nursed his tea. He smiled as his son happily worked in the kitchen. His son loved making others happy. And Shirou had found one of the easiest ways was simply to feed someone a great tasting meal.

Kiritsugu laughed gently, Taiga might be infatuated with him, but she loved Shirou's cooking. Breakfast and dinner she was there. And because Kiritsugu only spoke English to Taiga to improve her English skills, it had forced Shirou to learn it as well.

He was proud of his son. If only he could keep the boy from self-destructive acts like trying to take on ten boys at the same time. Kiritsugu shook his head. How could he keep the boy from trying to be a hero? He had hoped to ignore the impulse, to drag his teaching of magic to a crawl. That hadn't worked.

So after he had saved Rin, Kiritsugu had tried the other tack. He had presented a harsh training regime. So had Rin. Unfortunately Shirou had flourished in the challenge. With the exception of firearms, Shirou had soaked up everything Kiritsugu taught him. The boy had even used some of his limited magic in ways Kiritsugu hadn't fully considered.

Kiritsugu had learned enough about architecture and explosives to know where to place a bomb. Shirou was learning. But Kiritsugu had never used Structural Analysis to the same level Shirou could. The boy could usually figure out how to disarm a bomb almost instinctively when using that talent.

Shriou was naturally gifted. It was like fate was pushing him forward to be a hero, no matter how hard Kiritsugu tried to stop it.

He sighed. At least Shirou was at least a little prepared. He was still too reckless and inexperienced. Not nearly ruthless enough. Not yet.

For now, Kiritsugu would have to hope that some of Rin's casual callousness would rub off on the boy. He would need it if he truly tried to be a champion of justice in the real world.

No one could save everyone. You were lucky if you could save anyone at all.

Rin came downstairs. "Why is Shirou in my kitchen cooking?"

"Taiga called and said she was too busy. Shirou was only too happy to pitch in."

Rin sighed, "But it is MY kitchen. He has his own."

"Not everything is a competition, princess."

Rin just glared at him.

Kiritsugu merely smiled back.

Rin tossed her head back and looked away. "Fine. But he will have to clean up after himself."

Kiritsugu said dryly, "I doubt that will be a problem. So how is Sakura."

Rin suddenly looked vulnerable. "She is okay. I guess. She is taking a shower now. I have her clothes in the washer."

"What is wrong, princess?"

Rin pounded on the table, her face suddenly full of fury, "They are doing something to her. I can tell. Her body, when I healed it…. It was wrong. It is like she is full of some sort of parasite. Only they are part of her." She looked down. "And there is nothing I can do about it."

"Zouken."

Rin gritted her teeth and hissed, "Zouken. I am not ready. Not yet. He is too old and too powerful. It will take YEARS before I am ready to face him." She pounded the table again,

Shirou came out of the kitchen, "Are you okay RIn."

"I am fine. Just don't break anything in there, okay? If you break it, you have to fix it."

Shirou just smiled fondly at her, "Sure thing Rin. Dinner will be ready in about a half-hour. Will Sakura be joining us?"

Rin just nodded. She hit the table in frustration one more time. And then she put her hands in her face.

Kiritsugu reached across and touched one of her arms. Moving even that little hurt. "Everything will be okay, Rin. We just need to work together and plan. We will free your sister." He felt his own voice choke, "What you did for me this morning, those pictures…. I don't think I can ever repay you Rin."

Rin looked up at him fiercely, her eyes still bright with unshed tears. "I will make sure you see your daughter again."

Kiritsugu lied, "I know. But Sakura first. She is close at hand. We just need a way to get rid of Zouken."

She looked down, "I know. It is just I feel like there is a clock ticking. That I only have a limited window to save her. And I don't know if I will be ready in time."

Kiritsugu said softly, "That isn't the Rin I know. Where is your confidence? Your pride? Have faith in yourself."

Rin just sat there for a few moments. "You are right. I can do it." A fire lit in her eyes, "No. I will do it. I will do anything to save her. To save her and then to save your Ilya." She took the hand he had placed on her arm. "With your help and Shirou's, how can I possibly fail."

She then winced in pain.

Kiritsugu watched in horror as the Command Spells wrote themselves onto Rin's wrist. "No. No. I made sure it wouldn't happen again. I placed those explosives. I made sure."

Rin rubbed her wrist, "What is wrong?"

Kiritsugu babbled, "The main line will twitch away from where the Grail is hid. It wasn't supposed to happen yet. It wasn't supposed to happen ever again." Kiritsugu felt as an intense pressure weighed down on his chest.

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe!

No. he couldn't abandon them. He couldn't abandon his kids now. Not now.

That giant next to Ilya. That monster….

'It is happening again. Nothing I did changed anything. It is all happening again.'

And the world went dark.

-Scene Break—

Shirou Emiya-

Shirou sighed as he peered at his father's room. Somehow Rin had managed to save him. But he was still dying. Kiritsugu had days at best. Hours most likely.

They had taken him home. Placed him back in his room and tried all the medicine he had been given. Nothing seemed to take.

Even now Rin was in there now, doing her best to try and give him a little more time. To relieve some of the pain Kiritsugu was suffering.

Taiga was still sitting at the breakfast table staring at it. Her breakfast was untouched and cold.

The whole house was silent. Waiting.

Rin exited the room. Her face was somber. "Taiga he wants to see you."

Shirou walked over to Rin as she slowly walked to the living room as if in a daze. "Rin?"

She turned to him as if shocked, "Sorry." She just ambled forward dazedly. In her hands was a vial of medicine. A red vial.

Shirou closed his eyes for a moment. Of course. He should have known. "Thank you, Rin. Thank you for helping him."

Rin's eyes were still dazed, "I just killed someone. I have never done that before. I, I just killed someone I loved. Maybe Issei is right. Maybe I am a monster inside."

"Rin. You are braver and tougher than I am." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "He didn't even ask me. He knew you were strong enough to do what he needed. I, I should have done it. I am sorry."

Her eyes were so very wide, her face white. "I killed him Shirou. He asked me. And I did it. Even after I broke my promise. I told him he would see his daughter again. I killed him….. And he thanked me." She looked down at her hands.

He held Rin close, "It is not your fault. He was already dying. You just gave him a little time without the pain."

Rin looked at him as if she were seeing him for the first time. She said softly, "I am sorry, Shirou." One tear following another. "I am sorry. I am so sorry."

The strength seemed to flow out of her with the tears. Her legs wouldn't support her. As she sobbed, she kept whispering , "I am sorry." Over and over again.

Shirou did. He held her close to him and soothed her. He really wasn't comfortable doing this. Particularly considering what had happened a few nights ago.

When she had kissed him. That kiss had confused him. Rin had insisted it was just an experiment. And maybe it was, or maybe it wasn't. But he couldn't look at her the same way.

Rin wasn't just his cranky magecraft teacher. She was a girl, a beautiful girl. One that he admired, even as he feared her. And she felt so good in his arms.

To say Shirou's emotions were in a knot right now would be like saying water was wet. He was completely confused. But if he could hold her and make her smile again, even those evil smiles that meant only trouble, he would be happy.

He felt a tap on his arm. Taiga looked at him, her face grim. "Your father wants to speak to you. I will take care of Rin."

Rin backed away. "I am fine." She smirked at him, although you might need to change your shirt. You look like you got caught in the rain." She turned slightly, "Thank you, Shirou." And she walked into the kitchen.

Shirou watched her go. He then looked over at Taiga. "Thanks."

Taiga quietly said, "I am going to go home for a little bit. But I will be back later. Call if you need anything. Or if something happens." She looked down, "Kiritsugu has named me your guardian. You are a good kid, and I won't interfere too much in your life. But if you need anything." She turned and left.

Shirou turned and went to his father's room. "Dad."

Kiritsugu was sitting up. "Shirou, help me to the porch. I want to watch the sky as we talk. Is that okay?"

Shirou just moved to help him. He settled a few pillows and blankets down and they sat down to talk.

That was all they did. They talked. Kiritsugu talked of his past and gave some tips about the upcoming Grail War. Shirou talked about his plans and dreams.

Rin was still in the house. But she only disturbed them with tea and food.

When they had finished dinner, Kiritsugu turned to him, "You plan on being a hero still?"

"Is it wrong to want to help people, Dad?"

"No. Just promise me you won't sacrifice the ones you love for others. That you will protect them as you would anyone else. Remember a hero can only save those whose side he is on. Be on your side. Help your people. And if you can, if you must, do what you can for the world." He looked firmly at Shirou, "But do not do what I did when I betrayed Irisviel. We could have fled. We could have done any number of things. But for my dream I let her get absorbed by the damn Grail. I betrayed her for my dream. Promise me you will not do the same."

"I promise."

Kiritsugu sighed in contentment, "Good. You know that Rin is going to be involved in the next Grail War right?"

"Yes. I am going to help her."

"And if you are also chosen? You are my son and you have the right sort of mental framework to be chosen."

Shirou shook his head, "I don't care. I will still help her. We have already talked about this. She wants to win, simply because she wants to win. She knows the Grail is cursed, that it won't save her sister." That still shocked him. Although now that he thought about it, outside of their coloring, they looked very similar. "All I want to do is to keep people from getting hurt."

"Good, good."

They talked for some time after. At some point Kiritsugu grew silent. Shirou kept talking. Filling the silence.

But he knew.

His father was dead.

He looked up at the starlit sky, "I will keep my promise Dad. I will protect them all. And I will be a hero. I swear!"

It was at that moment his hand flared in pain.

And he too was chosen to fight in the Fifth Holy Grail War.

-Author's Note-

Sheesh this was a long chapter for me to write. Just so much to say. The next part takes place after another time skip. But in it Servants will be summoned. The war is right around the corner.

Let me know what you guys think. If anyone has any questions, please let me know.