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?

13. Chapter 13

An Opportunity of Fate part 13

Issei Ryudou-

Issei sat there calmly waiting for Ayako. He had been surprised when she had called him asking to meet here. It was ironic really. He had just finished the charm he had made for her and he had planned on giving it to her tomorrow at school. Although he had wanted to make sure it had been private so that no one made any mistake about what it meant.

He just wanted his friend to be safe. If his classmates saw him handing her a charm, they would tease him mercilessly. Both for chasing after one of the best athletes in school when he had always tried to remain uninvolved in romantic affairs, but also for trying to woo her by using traditional magic on her.

His cheeks burned. Not all talismans were for protection. And if he wished he could craft something like that. How effective they were was very much debatable, but he could do it. Issei still did not have a true measure of his strength yet. Most of what he had done up until now had been simple protective charms.

The School itself was full of them. They basically protected against evil and misfortune. Other ofuda he had added increased focus and concentration, both of which fit the purpose of the school and its core concept. Between the two types he had placed he had reduced accidents and he hoped conflicts inside the school. He was also curious if it would have an effect on the average grade the students received.

The Doctor had been unsure about that, but Issei was fairly sure it would help a little. Focus was part of what was needed to learn after all.

Issei smiled at himself. The world was so much larger than he had ever thought. Once he had planned on following his father's footsteps. Now he wasn't so sure. It wasn't the discipline or hardships faced in being a monk that were causing his new deliberations on the subject, but rather how closed in and insular it could be. There was a massive world out there and he had finally taken a peek at it. And while so many of the mundane things that drew his fellow student's attention held little interest to him, this strange new world did.

That there was such a need for protection spells made him wonder, why? Where there that many creatures that sought out to harm mankind that they were truly necessary? Or was this practice for the other tasks he would need to be able to perform? The minor spells simply there to reduce the amount of natural chaos and misfortune that was a human's normal lot in life?

Issei simply didn't know. But he was starting to understand some of what he could do. Carving those charms had done wonders for his understanding, because he was fairly sure he understood the reasons for the differences between the ofuda he had made for the school, the ones he had made for a few homes he had protected, and the charms he had carved.

It was simple. They reinforced the concept of the place or person. A school was a place to safely learn, and his ofuda merely reinforced that. They drove away the potential for misfortune and evil spirits that may wish to pray on those who would learn. A home was a place to safely rest, and they would reinforce that.

He looked around the Copenhagen and wondered what kind of Ofuda he would craft to fit this place. They would have to be different, and likely he would have to charge the owners.

That was another thing. Crafting his ofuda for himself, for his friends, or for those whom he had a duty to protect, there was no need to charge another. No need to make the school pay him for his work there. He was the Student President after all, and his work to protect his fellow students naturally flowed from that. Even after he graduated, the following classes would still be his kohai. He would still have obligations to help and protect them.

And he would. But should others ask for his services, he would have to charge them. Money was not required of course, but something of value would have to be given. Otherwise the possessor would not truly value the charm, and it would lose potency. Of course, overcharging someone for a charm would cause misfortune to strike Issei.

An interesting balance and conundrum. It was another reason why this path interested him. It was one thing to study and understand various philosophies, but to be forced to observe and live them fascinated him.

Still he knew this new world held dangers. He had gone so far as to craft three ofuda that could actually be termed as 'spells' as an extra precaution. Something powerful was coming. He only wished he had the opportunity to practice with them. But….

What he had crafted and steeped in the deep wells of power of Mount Enzou using the books the Doctor had left him honestly frightened him. So much power tied to a strip of paper. He had made three of them as with the creation of each he had felt a knot form inside of him. A deep tension that was tied to each ofuda. They were different from the others, unfinished. Oh, the brush strokes were finished, but the chant to call upon the power in them was not done. And so the power that he had gathered remained in them and waited, and so too did a part of himself.

Perhaps with age and experience he would be able to form more than three, but for now…. For now he was curious if they would even work.

He looked up and saw Ayako walking toward him. Why was she so dressed up? She was just meeting him, not someone she needed to impress. Issei flushed slightly as he noticed the slight hint of cleavage her dress showed. His eyes flitted up to her eyes, blushing harder.

Ayako just stood there, trade mark smirk emblazoned proudly, one hand on her hip. "So. You like the dress do you?"

He coughed slightly, "Um, er yes. It is pretty. You are pretty." This was ridiculous. He had seen her in swim suit last summer! It had covered so much less than this. He had spent years with her and had never felt this awkward before.

Ayako dryly said, "Well you and Shirou keep saying I should be more feminine at times. Well? How is this look, hmm?"

Issei looked down. That was the problem of course. He had spent so much time with Ayako, becoming good friends with her, considering her one of the guys. It wasn't something he had done with Sakura or Rin. Sakura was always so sweet and kind. Rin was the same on the surface she showed to everyone, only he had known better. And had learned better once she had become friends with Shirou. She had even been his first crush. Albeit hidden. Learning that under that sweet feminine image lay a manipulative tomboy…. Well it had taken a little while for the crush to fade, even knowing what he knew.

What could he say? The witch was horrifyingly attractive. He could almost see what Shirou saw in her. Issei still thought Sakura the more appealing of the two girls poor Shirou was in love triangle with. Then again, Sakura was a Matou. And they had a bad reputation. Maybe there was more to the secretive girl than he knew.

Issei sighed slightly. Worrying about his other friends wouldn't change his current problem. He couldn't deny it to himself any longer. He had always known Ayako was a girl, but now he had to admit to himself he was attracted to her.

Issei prided himself on controlling his passions. Moreover on his chastity, not simply of the body, but also of the mind. It wouldn't do to have the son of the head of the local Temple openly lusting over his classmates. His older brother was enough of an embarrassment. Issei could remember hearing his father's lectures on the need to control the passions to his rambunctious brother over and over, and had sworn to himself not to be such a burden to his father. To be stoic. Reserved. Uninvolved in anything that did not concern him.

Maybe it was time to cut Ayako loose. To stop being her friend. It would be a necessity at some point, as she was not involved with the supernatural. And it would be safer if she never was. Yes, perhaps he could convince her to leave them all be. Maybe he should talk to Sakura. Convince her that it would be in Ayako's best interest if they did not keep dragging her further into things that she shouldn't get involved in.

Ayako laughed, "Oh, Issei, what am I going to do with you?"

Issei looked up and watched as Ayako seated herself across from him. He steeled himself, "Ayako, there are some things I need to…."

Ayako shook her head, "After dinner. I can see by your expression I will not like what you have to say." She looked down and sighed herself, before staring directly in the eyes, "I have things to say to you as well. And I do not know if we can remain friends afterwards. So please, Issei, let us just enjoy a nice dinner as friends?"

Issei swallowed. He could see in her eyes she was serious. She had something she wanted to discuss with him and it was so important that it might rupture their friendship. Maybe it was for the best. But to spend a little time with her before she left him forever sounded nice. "Okay."

At Ayako's suggestion he tried the fried fish. It wasn't bad. Both of them talked about simple things. School. The balance of funding between the athletic and non-athletic clubs. Ayako in particular had a really funny story regarding Shirou and some woman who claimed to be a scout for the Japanese Olympic Committee.

All too soon it was over. Issei reached into his pocket for the charm he meant to give Ayako. No matter what happened, he still wanted her to be safe. And while it was not a major protective charm, it was the best he could make at this time. "Here, take this. No matter what happens afterwards, I want you to keep it."

Ayako calmly looked at it and nodded, "Fitting." She quickly put it around her neck. "A protection charm I presume?"

Issei just stared at her. He had given her a necklace. She was taking this awfully calmly. What she said next nearly flattened him.

Ayako stared him in the eyes, "Oh, don't give me that look. Magic is real. You gave me a protective amulet. You are a practitioner of Onymoji and perhaps other occult arts. Shirou, Rin, and Sakura are Western Style Magi."

Issei recoiled back. "Ayako…."

Ayako looked away, "Damn it. Damn your damn honest face Issei. It is real. All my worries and suspicions are real. Magic is truly real. My friends are practitioners. And I who thought we were friends have been left in the dark."

"Ayako."

"I mean were any of you ever going to tell me? Or would there come a day when you would all just disappear from my life. Possibly erasing my memories, altering my feelings, and who knows what else."

"Ayako!" He reached out and held her hand, "This world I am in is dangerous! It is safer for those who are not involved to stay uninvolved. And once you cross that line, once you knowingly become involved it is nearly impossible to get out. Power calls to power, knowledge to knowledge, mystery to mystery. Seemingly impossible or improbable things will become common place." He calmed himself for just a moment, "Listen to me. I have only been involved for a short time, and just on the outskirts of it, but already I have seen a share of wonders and horrors. This is not a safe or kind world, and I want you to be safe Ayako." He had never realized her hand had felt so soft. There were a few calluses from her Archery practice. But the back of her hand that his thumb was running over was so smooth."

Ayako sighed and stared at his hand. "Well, it seems Sakura was right about one thing." She looked up at him, wiping a tear from one of her eyes. "Was it too much to ask for one of you, for any of you to actually trust me?"

Issei was quiet and tried to withdraw his hand. But she held on to his. And to his chagrin, she was the stronger.

She looked up at him, holding his hand and stroking the back of his with her thumb. "You weren't the first person I confronted, you know. I honestly didn't think you were involved at all. And then Sakura was so firm about the proper placement of that Ofuda you gave me." Ayako smiled, "my investigations had come to the conclusion that she was indeed involved in the supernatural, then she would know the real from the fake." She laughed a little, wiping another tear from her eyes, "You know my dad. Always going on about traditional things. I have dragged Sakura into various shops, Heck, we have visited your Temple and she never reacted like that. But she saw those and she was adamant that I have one."

"I made those to protect the school. In concept, since you are a student I have a duty to protect it should work, yes. I can make a better one for you, but I may have to charge you. Not sure. I will have to think about it."

"I see. How much to you need for this charm then?"

"Nothing. I made it for you. It is a present. You are, or at least were my friend." Issei had to look away. He really didn't have many friends. And it would be strange not having Ayako drag him and Shirou out to have some fun. Sakura always backed her up, and Rin often followed.

He looked down, distraught. Who would be the instigator of such things now? He hadn't really thought about it, but in a sense all of them, himself, Shirou, RIn and Sakura, were all involved in magic. All of them were loners of a sort. Where would they be without Ayako?

He would probably still be friends with Shirou. Shirou was always so helpful, and was honestly one of the few people Issei could talk to. Would Rin and Sakura still be interested in Shirou? Would either of them even talk to him? Or would he be alone? Would he even have realized he was lonely?

Ayako half laughed, half sobbed. She then sighed. "You are not making this as easy or straightforward as I had hoped. But then I guess that is fine. I just didn't expect to react so much. Seriously, I don't usually wear makeup because I exercise so much. And it is such a pain to reapply after a workout. So I thought, hey, Issei is always taunting me about not being feminine enough. I think I will go all out to impress him. And I did, didn't I?"

Issei nodded and looked at her. "Yeah. You look nice today. But to be honest, I like you the way you are as well."

"Thanks for that," Ayako ruffled through her purse and lifted out a recorder. She put the earphones on and listened for a moment and nodded. She reversed the tape a little. "I am going to fix my makeup a little. I want you to listen to this while I am gone. And then we will talk."

Issei nodded and began to listen. His face turned white as he heard Rin announce she was a magus to Ayako. And that she would erase her memory. Which must have happened for this confrontation to have occurred. His heart burned with the courage Ayako had showed just dealing with Rin and all of them after this. And the trust she had shown him by directly confronting him about it. Ayako could not possibly know that he couldn't remove her memories like Rin had.

And then he began to listen to what Rin was saying. About Sakura and Magic and everything. He had been listening for a few minutes when he felt something disturb the Copenhage. He felt as something evil entered. He looked up from the back, looked into a couple of mirrors that showed the entrance.

Two women, only one of which was human. They didn't fit with the clientele either. Both were dressed as if for a party, while the Copenhagen was more of a family pub/ local bar. It wasn't really part of the dance scene.

He watched through the mirrors as they were given at a small table near the front. One of the women, the human one walked out of his sight into the bathroom. The other looked up into the mirrors and smiled at him.

He shivered. She had seen him. How he knew he wasn't sure. But his new goal was to get himself and Ayako out of here alive.

And he wasn't sure his meager skills would be enough.

-Scene Break—

Arturia Pendragon-

Arturia pedaled the bike through the neighborhood. Funny how much had changed and yet so much had remained the same. She could still remember taking Iri to the back-up site. She could remember watching as her friend, (because even with the short time she had known the woman, she could still think of Irisviel as her friend, even if her husband had been her most hated enemy at times), recover in the same shed she had just been summoned in.

Even the old Circle they had used was still there. Buried under boxes maybe, but Saber, no she was Rider this time. She could still feel it.

She was riding quickly, probably too quickly for a bike like this to normally go, but the motion soothed her. And scared her a little. She could feel as if part of her were changing. As if part of what made her her were being forced into a pattern that wasn't really who she was.

Sure she had spent time riding. It was a great way to get to and from and around the battlefield. But even then she had mostly fought on foot. Excalibur worked best with both hands. She was a swordsman first, last, and always. A Rider second. So why had she been summoned when a Saber had already been drawn?

Would she have been twisted into an Archer class had that been the only class remaining because she had hunted with bow and crossbow on occasion? Caster because Merlin had taught her things? Namely how to protect herself from Morgan le Fay? She had jousted on occasion, did that make her a Lancer?

She simply didn't understand what had happened. Or the pressure in her head that was trying to acclimate her to it all. Trying to make her fit.

To be summoned again to fight this war, only to be summoned by an Emiya? The son of the man who she hated almost more than Mordred? At least she had understood the motivation of Mordred, he had merely sought to kill her and take over the nation. Which he would rule so very badly. The boy wasn't ready for it. It would have all fallen apart underneath him.

But Kiritsugu…. He had slighted her at every turn. Had not even really deigned to speak with her. Only through Irisviel were any of her questions answered. His lack of honor, no his veritable CONTEMPT of honor and all she had lived for….

And then after enduring such slights, to be forced to destroy the prize they had both been fighting for?

Madness. Simple madness.

She felt as her anger and rage called upon her armor and it came to her. But it did not reinforce her, it did not comfortably surround and protect her. It reinforced the bike that she rode. Increased its strength and stability. Which it desperately needed as she was nearing 100 kph. She rapidly sliced through the town, avoiding most of the traffic, What people thought as she sped by them she neither knew nor cared.

She just needed to think. To clear her thoughts and remove this pressure. Finally on the road outside of town she stopped at the beginnings of a forest. The beginnings of the Einzbern territory.

Only it wasn't her territory this time. How had the Einzbern's reacted to Emiya's treachery? Had they sent someone? What had happened to little Ilyasviel. If Emiya was truly Kiritsugu's daughter, then he would know.

She sighed and looked back. She should return. She had left her Master behind and in the hands of strangers, albeit seemingly friendly ones. She had been in dereliction of her duty.

She slowly pedaled back, lost in thought. What was she going to do? She was going to help the boy who summoned her, but would she trust him?

She pulled over. There was one thing she had to do first. Whatever was attempting to change her had to stop. She didn't know what it was or whom, but she was about to confront it. She called her blade to her and dispelled Invisible Air.

Right at this moment she didn't care who was watching or how it might affect the War. She only wanted the pressure in her head to stop. It wasn't magic, or not normal magecraft. She was immune to such interference. It was something intrinsic to this body, to how it had been made. And she needed to make a point to its creator.

She transformed into her dress. Even if she couldn't call her armor to her, she still wanted to be herself in this moment. She stared at the overcast night sky and called out to the heavens in Cymric. She held aloft Excalibur and called its power to her. "My name is Arturia Pendragon. I am who I am. I will not bend to your whims or your desires. I will not become that whom you seek me to become."

In her hands Excalibur became a bar of light, motes of light surrounding her and brightening up the darkened roadway. "I will not bend. I will not break. And I will NOT bow! I am the King of Britain and I will not allow the whims of some paltry contest to change me, not even to achieve my heart's desire. If you must have your precious Rider, strike me down and replace me. OR accept me as I am!"

She swung Excalibur to the heavens and was about to activate it when she heard a tired woman's voice softly say in her mind, "Very Well. Return to your Master, King of Knights. I will leave you as you are."

Arturia looked around to find the source of the voice. But there was no one there. And the pressure in her head was gone.

She was herself. Nothing was going to change that. But she was still in Rider's body. That hadn't changed. Her armor would still not answer her. She was still Rider.

But her mind was her own. A compromise she could live with. It would make things more difficult. The abilities of this body would be harder to judge without the changes. She would have to learn to adjust.

She biked back towards her Master's home. He likely had questions. But then again so did she.

It was late and hopefully he would be willing to deal with both tomorrow.

-Scene Break—

Medusa-

Medusa used a trace of her power to calm the victim she held. The woman had been stunned upon seeing her feed upon her boyfriend and now was trying to resist her turn.

Shinji's mocking laughter didn't help. How she hated the one whom she called Master at the moment. But the book he held compelled her compliance, and so she was dancing at the mad boy's tugging at strings.

He would make a mistake, this much she was sure. But would he make one that she could survive. Or would he doom the both of them. That was the true question.

Medusa desperately wanted to save her true Master, the one who had summoned her. She had even gone so far as to shape most of her familiars in a form that consumed the insects her Grandfather used as his familiars. They were hunting even now.

Who knows they might even get some useful intelligence too.

Medusa gently bit the woman's neck and with her magic cut a small channel to her aorta to drain her blood. She sighed gently and began to suck as she felt the hearts blood begin to flow into her. And she began the ritual to drain the woman's essence.

It would have been much easier to simply rip her mind and soul away. To transform her mind into prana and consume her. Maybe other servants would do so. But Medusa remembered the old ways. And she honored them.

For what this woman was offering her was a gift. A sacrifice. And in return Medusa gifted her by inducing sensations, pleasurable sensations that would reach all the way to her very soul. These were things most mortals would never experience.

Was it any wonder the woman was sighing in pleasure? Even as the mind recognized Medusa was killing her, the soul wanted more. So she drank the woman's hopes and fears, her strengths and weaknesses. She drank all that made the woman who and what she had been.

And as the body bucked feebly one last time and Medusa whispered into her ear, "Thank you, Chihiro Anami for your gift, may your trip to the Source be peaceful." The body died, and the mind evanesced. And the soul disappeared. Back to the Source.

Medusa let the body fall. Once such rituals were done to strengthen local spirits to allow them to provide a miracle. When she had been a goddess she had never needed to do it herself. When she had been broken and turned into a monster, she had never been so gentle.

But now, in this time and this place…. She needed the power to do what she must. A part of her wept at the necessity, but if she was to save her True Master, she needed the power.

She did not look forward to deploying the Blood Fort. So many children to be sacrificed.

Well, while it was a pity, it would make her strong enough to snuff out that evil blot Zouken Matou.

Shinji kicked the body, "So do you like drain all the blood? Are you some kind of vampire?"

Medusa wiped the small trace of blood at her lips. "It is ritual magic, Master. I don't need much, just a constant flow to allow me to drain the mind."

He looked at her, "Do you need more? There is another park nearby. Maybe we can nab another set of daring lovers like these two."

"Not tonight I think. She was the third tonight. I just want to go home and bath. And then we can be together again."

Shinji's face brightened. "Come on, let's get back."

Medusa shifted to her spiritual form and followed behind. In truth he wasn't a totally incompetent lover. And the sex would keep him from going home and receiving new orders from Zouken. The longer she could keep him isolated increased the likelihood of Shinji making a mistake as well.

She didn't have all the time in the world, but she did have some time to be patient.

-Scene Break—

Ayako Mitsuzuri-

Ayako stared at the mirror in front of her. Hearing it had been as hard as she had thought. Even shy, sweet, and honest Issei had lied to her, if only through omission. Her friends, and they were her best friends, had not trusted her with their deepest secrets.

True these were deep and dark secrets. She could imagine why Rin and Shirou and even issei would hide it from her. But Sakura. Her beloved kohai. Why didn't she trust her? Didn't Sakura realize that Ayako would do anything for her?

It all stemmed from that one magical day when she had heard that wonderful note. That cry for help. And when she had been unable to help whoever had called, a part of her had searched to help someone in need. And she had found a nearly empty and emotionless girl, a girl without a single friend. And she had opened the world to her.

Looking back on it now, magical was probably the right way to see that day. That note had probably been some sort of magical spell. Had Sakura cast it? It was unusual for her to just randomly wander, to be where Ayako had found her on that day. Ayako had never really pried into what she had been doing that day, or why she had been out. Ayako had merely done her best to help Sakura.

Talking with Sakura about all this was going to be painful. But it had to be done. Ayako was done with the lies. She would help Sakura in any way if she would only be honest. And if what needed to happen was that Ayako cut ties with her…. That would hurt, but she would do it too.

There was a clank as something metallic hit one of the sinks. Ayako stared at it. Her sword. She had left it at home, as she could think of no way to carry it, let alone a need for it. But there it was. She opened the blade and it was flickering blue.

She had been training in blade work since she had gotten the blade. Mostly practicing with Shirou and occasionally Taiga. Taiga had been happy to show her and Shirou had just shrugged. But Ayako remembered Taiga's blade, the blade that was the sibling to hers. It too had flickered blue in the presence of magic. Or something. Magic had been involved she was now sure.

She would have to ask Taiga about it, although she wasn't quite sure how to bring up the conversation.

A blond foreign woman walked into the bathroom, a predatory gaze firmly planted on her. She whispered something and the other women in the room began to leave. The woman stayed near the doorway, and by her smile was quite willing to block Ayako's departure.

Ayako hefted the blade but did not unsheathe it. No need to escalate anything. "Who are you?"

"Fascinating. You are the one I was sensing and yet you have no active prana presence at all despite the mystic code you are wearing." She laughed, "Such a useful tool and it isn't even keyed to you. How precious."

"I don't know what you are talking about, but I have to ask you to get out of my way."

The other woman moved forward keeping her eyes on Ayako. She whispered something in a foreign language and Ayako paused. She could feel a cloudiness to her mind like something was trying to control her. She could feel herself calm. Resisting would do no good. She should just do whatever this nice lady wanted.

No. From deep inside of her a wave of anger swelled. She was a Mitsuzuri! No one compelled her. No one commanded her without her consent. "Get out of my mind, bitch!" And she drew her sword completely. It was like a bar of blue fire in her hands.

The woman paused and sneered, "Bow to me child!" She whispered a few more words in a foreign tongue.

Ayako felt a deeper heaviness, but she felt her anger more. She was under attack and she allowed her reflexes to respond. She moved, her eyes on the woman's balance point and slid to her side and quickly cut at her.

The woman's face was full of shock and she seemed sluggish to move out of the way. The blade hissed as it bit into the woman. She had read that there was often a sense of resistance as the flesh of the target tried to bind the blade. But the blade cut through the woman like a hot knife through butter. There was a splash of blood as the blade exited and the woman fell to the ground.

Ayako stood there in horror. She had just killed someone. She saw as the blood began to soak through the other woman's dress and pool on the ground. Ayako stood there stupidly and watched as the blood dripped from her blade. She had cut at least four inches into her abdomen. She must have missed the ribs.

At the very least she had cut into the intestines. Possibly the stomach or liver. Maybe a kidney.

'I am in shock.' She thought to herself as she began to shake.

The woman on the floor coughed and turned slowly to face Ayako, "I am going to kill you slowly. I will cut away tiny pieces until only your bleached skull remains." She held closed her wound, "And you will still be LIVING! I will keep you in my workshop and you will lament the day you hurt me!" She hissed something and something sprang from her hands.

Ayako, still stunned moved out of the way. Her movements seemed so fluid, so easy. Still she felt the sting as something cut along her trailing arm. There was an impact sound from behind her as she continued to dodge.

She needed to escape. How she was going to deal with this travesty, she wasn't sure. All she knew is she needed to run. She easily moved past the door and ran smack into another woman. She was about the same height as Ayako and had an easy smile. Her hair was a light blue and her eyes were the same. "Going somewhere?"

Ayako tried to run past her.

The woman said a single word. And Ayako froze. She was no longer in control of her body. And she couldn't bring herself to care.

"Turn to face me child. Hmm…. A normal girl of the period. A pair of magical earrings of some note. But not keyed to you. How did you survive my impulsive Master?" A pause as the woman examined Ayako, before reaching for the charm Issei had given her. "Fascinating. I didn't realize anyone still practiced magic like this. Not a standard protective charm at all." She smiled, "Reinforcement of self-concept. That is a fancy sort of magic for your typical talisman peddler. I do believe I will need you to show me your peddler before I consume you."

Ayako could only stand there. Was this why her friends had wanted her to not be involved? Only by Issei's comment, now that she was, could she get out of it. Or was this the line he had warned her of?

Assuming she lived. Which at this moment she didn't think likely. Once this woman found out Ayako had killed her companion….

The woman cocked her ear, "I really should go save my Master before she messily bleeds to death in there. But you fascinate me. Perhaps just a sip of your essence…."

Ayako felt an intense existential pain sear through her. She could only stand there. Until the woman commanded her to do something she was paralyzed. She would stand there and simply allow the woman to core her like an apple and consume her entirely. And she would stand there until the last ounce of strength left her.

She was going to die the most horrible of deaths. Eaten by a Youkai. Would there be anything left of her to reincarnate or would she simply be gone for all time?

The woman laughed suddenly, "A protector of others. A hero. My dear you truly are an anachronism. Perhaps you can be useful to me outside of being prana. Stay here." She paused and looked at Ayako again, "And I like your dress. The bloodstains don't help, but you still look pretty cute." She walked into the bathroom.

Ayako knew she had a perfect chance to escape. But she couldn't move.

Issei came up to her then, "We need to go."

Ayako just stood there and stared at him, a tear slipping down her cheeks. She wanted to leave with him. She wanted to go. But she had been told to stay here.

Issei said quietly, "She has enchanted you." He thought for a moment. He grabbed her arm.

She resisted him. She had to. She had been ordered to stay.

He smiled sadly at her. "So. Perhaps this is for the best." He took out a slip of paper and placed it on her forehead.

What did he think he was going to do with that?

"Sleep."

And she slept.

-Scene Break—

Medea

Medea smiled softly as she healed her companion. It brought back old days. She would need to compound some herbs to keep her from spending too much prana if this was going to be an ongoing thing. She said, "So, I can't believe you got bested by a small slip of a girl."

Amelia frowned, "She had some sort of protective charm. I didn't sense it but it must have been powerful."

Medea laughed, "It just reinforced her will. Among other things. I was thinking of taking her on. Making her a pawn we can use to strengthen our chances."

Her master was not amused, "The girl tried to kill me!"

Medea nodded, "Yes, first impressions are important. But she managed to protect herself from a magus once, that kind of moxie and skill could be useful." Medea smiled, "And trust me, my charm spells are much more effective."

Her master glared at her, "You do know you are not Caster. You are not the best magus in this War."

Medea shrugged and said casually, "Perhaps. But compared to the rest of you bumpkins, my magic is vastly superior." She gave a broad smile, "And you know it." She tilted her head in thought, "Although I have no plans on using magic directly to fight Caster, or for that matter the Knights. I will do the sensible thing and hit them were they are weakest. Their Masters." She patted her Master, "Don't worry, everything will work out. You will get your power and I will get to live in a world without meddling gods."

Amelia stood up weakly. "Hmmph. Well we will likely need to gather more people for you to consume since you had to heal me."

Medea turned to go fetch her new toy. And it was missing. She shook her head. The boy. How many bets he had been the charm maker? This was becoming more amusing by the moment. She ran to the owner of the bar, a man whom she had already charmed to be her servant. "Did you see a boy carrying a girl and leaving this place."

He nodded, "He paid, and then went out the back. His friend was sick, he said."

Medea smiled, "I know. I was just trying to help him. Thank you very much. I will be in touch."

"Yes, my Lady."

Medea ran out the back and stared at a piece of paper hanging in midair. The boy stood there defiantly just past the doorway. He called out;

I call upon the Kami, both local and divine

To aid us in our mortal peril,

A foreign enchantress seeks to snare us,

I beg for your help to aid and guide our escape!

Medea smiled as she felt the magic manifest. The boy carried the sleeping girl away.

It would be the work of a single word and she could have swept the magic away. It would take but instants to chase them down and take them.

And yet. She stood there smiling and watched them go. Instead she raised her hand in benediction;

I tell the spirits of this time and place,

That I mean no harm to those who flee,

I will neither chase nor hunt them.

And from my web I set them free.

The enchantment she had set on the girl would fade shortly. She shook her head. Just children. Her eyes shown as she remembered her own days as a child. Back before a goddess had cursed her to love a man she had never met. Before the betrayals that had set her life's course.

If she won this war, she would track them down. Not to harm or kill them. But to perhaps watch them. Maybe even teach them a thing or two. She hugged herself.

Her Master came out and looked around. "Where are they?"

"I let them go. In a dozen years or so, the boy may be quite formidable. The girl shows some talent as a warrior. They would make a good team."

Amelia just stared at her, "You let them go?"

Medea looked at her, "Do you drown puppies in your spare time?"

"What? No! What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything. They were just children, in the wrong place at the wrong time. If they get in our way again, things will be different. But if they stay away, well I say let them grow."

Amelia grunted, "I really wanted those earrings. In a contest like this, magic resistance can be a godsend."

"True. But who knows what fate may have in store for us." She reached out and grabbed her Master's hand. "Come let us find a place where there are dark corners where I can safely consume some people."

And they left.

By the end of the night there were sixteen unusual deaths. All but three were from drug overdose. From a drug they had never seen before that evening.

It was called the Golden Fleece. And it lead to an intense sense of euphoria before leading to a crash consisting of severe physical, mental, and even spiritual weakness and in the case of thirteen men and women death.

-Scene Break—

Shirou Emiya-

The house was dark. Even Rin had gone to bed. Tomorrow was a school day, and Shirou also planned to go. But he needed to wait for Rider's return.

Somehow they had started on the wrong foot. He had thought that the duel would calm her. He suspected that her pride was hurt not being a Saber this time. But the woman had been closed mouthed about it.

He felt as she neared and a there was a knock at the gate. He let her in. She was no longer in a black suit, but rather a blue dress.

And she was beautiful. He had noticed it before, but now as the light of the moon shone down upon her hair, she seemed soft and fragile and so beautiful. He simply wanted to protect her.

Yet she was Rider, one of the Heroes summoned to fight for the Grail. Moreover this was Arturia Pendragon. She was not defenseless.

He would have to remember that. "Welcome back."

She bowed to him, "I am sorry I left. I should have stayed to keep you safe."

Shirou shook his head, "You needed time to think. That is fine. Father said you were different from other Servants. That you didn't have a spirit form. Is that still true?"

"Yes. It would be best if you lead me to your room. I will watch you rest. I will let no one harm you."

Shirou shook his head, "No, that wouldn't be right. I had a bed made up for you. We can make permanent arrangements tomorrow. But for tonight, just rest there. Tomorrow will come soon enough." If he were lucky, he might get four hours of sleep.

"Shirou. We need to talk."

Shirou looked back at her, "I don't doubt it. I have some things to ask myself. But for now, I am tired. We can talk tomorrow."

"Yes." She stood there staring at the sky.

"Well, you are welcome to come in whenever you are ready. I am going to sleep." He walked into the house, looking back at her one more time. Her eyes were still fixed on the heavens although what she was looking for, Shirou could not guess. "And Rider?"

Her brilliant green eyes fixed on his, "Yes, Shirou?"

"Good night."

She gave him a weighing look before solemnly nodding, "Rest well, Shirou." And she turned her gaze back to the heavens.

Shirou went into the house in to sleep. And his dreams were peaceful.

-End Part—

A/N-

Well I hope you folks enjoy this part. Sunday is finally finished and we get to start a brand new day on the next part. We have seen bits of what the others can do, this part let both Ayako and Issei shine a little. Let me know what you guys think.