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?

16. Chapter 16

An Opportunity of Fate part 16

A/N- Please note that Medusa's section is dark. Not horrific, but dark. You have been warned. Happy reading.

Rin-

Rin sat quietly in the Discipline Office. She had never actually been in this room before now. It was sparsely appointed, a few chairs and a desk. There was a small hallway were others could wait their turn to be called in, but they had done her the courtesy of allowing her to wait in the office itself.

One spotless academic career ruined in an instant of mindless fury.

But Shinji had had it coming. When she had seen him as she had exited the Administration offices, she had been annoyed. Her elation at easily getting Rider a pass to follow Sakura vanishing at the moment she saw him. Every word afterwards had sparked her rage even more.

She really would have killed him. She was a little worried by the fact she wasn't concerned about how casually she had nearly killed a classmate. It had even felt so good. Moving her body as she had trained, watching the results as Shinji cried out in pain or slammed into the ground.

Very gratifying. And a little worrisome. Was she secretly a monster?

Roland quietly asked her, "You have never fought an actual battle before have you?"

Rin looked up at him. He was still in a spirit form, but one that she could still see him in. About half way actualized. She looked down, "No. I have done a lot of training. But never…."

"Sparring with your friend, I would guess." He chuckled, "Not bad on your first real outing. You had that poor bastard completely outclassed. And… I presume those charges you made against him are true?"

"Yes." How was she going to get out of this. She had openly declaimed against him. There had been countless witnesses to her actions. And in front of the Admin offices at least one camera. Hypnosis was useful, but there were limits.

Were the police on the way? What would happen if she were sent to jail during this Grail War. She would be leaving Shirou and Sakura to fight on all alone.

"You are certain."

"Yes. Some of it I have gotten from my sister, others I have been able to infer from her actions and those of Shinji Matou." She gripped her hands tightly, 'I have no legal proof, but enough for me to know it is true."

"My Lady, I am your sword for the duration of this conflict. Simply say the word, and I will cut him down."

Rin looked up at him, "Just like that?"

Roland nodded. "I am in your service. Mind you I prefer to know the details myself. And it is easier to serve if I know my mistress is a good woman."

Rin snarled, "A good woman? I nearly killed someone with my bare hands. And it, and it felt so good and right. You consider that the act of a good person?"

Roland nodded, "Good means many things to many people, my Lady. It all depends on context. Does the Good Lord approve of your actions? Quite possibly not, and thereby in a sense they are not good. But you were defending your sister and trying to gain justice for what he had done unto her. You were definitely honorable about it. You declared yourself and he did not retract any of your statements. He did not deny it. It was not perhaps the best way to claim justice for his actions perhaps, but an understandable one." He looked down at his own hands and frowned, "I have done worse for less."

Rin stared off at the wall, "But did I do it for her? Or for my hurt pride?"

Roland sighed, "I can't see your heart. I would say you should pray on it, but you do not share my beliefs. Maybe think on it." He paused a moment. "It can be both you know. "

Rin just huffed loudly.

Roland sighed, "What happened to my fearsome master?"

Rin glared at him and said calmly, "I have spent my life trying to build up an image. An image of calm cool elegance. And in one moment of anger I have ruined it. I have ruined all my plans. My sister was raped by a family my father gave her to. The Grail I once aspired to is poisoned. My friends are out there trying to stop Caster's plan to consume the school, and I am trapped here because I couldn't control my temper!"

Roland placed a hand on her mouth, "Hush, someone is coming. And if you need help, ask me and I will help you. That is what I am here for, plus you and your friends seemed very close. You can trust them."

Rin glared at Roland but said nothing. She heard the door beginning to open and she took a deep breath. Calm. Self assured. Serene.

It was Kirei Kotomine. He had on a subtle smile that he looked down at her with. "So I hear you had a bit of a temper tantrum this morning. It left quite an impact on the school officials. Seeing as they all saw you deliver your righteous blows to Shinji Matou." He smiled. "You have truly done an excellent job in swaying the opinion of your school administrators. A direct physical assault on another student, and they decided, after a considerable time I might add, to suspend you for today. They decided that that was sufficient, barring any outcry by the Matou."

Rin sighed in relief.

"Truly, Rin, your political skills deserve a measure of praise. You truly are developing the skills to survive in the Clocktower. Or perhaps even the Vatican." He laughed, "Truly, although you despise me, a fact that I personally savor, you have indeed paid attention to the more subtle teachings I have given you over the years. The control of your persona, the control of information surrounding you and your friends. Not a single teacher or administrator questioned whether you had the right to beat up Shinji Matou. They all assumed that your personal proclamation was correct." He raised an eyebrow at her, "As I presume that it was?"

"Yes."

Kirei smiled again, "This may very well be my last lesson. It is very basic. It is very simple. And it is often ignored for fancier and more complicated ruses. The truth is important. Even when you lie or deceive, the truth is still key. In fact the best lies consist mainly or best of all, entirely of the truth."

Rin stood, "As you should know well, false priest."

Kirei reached out to her arm and twisted it to see the Command Spells. "Very good. You were planning on coming to the Church to be entered as a combatant?"

"Yes. But then you are here now. I have Servant Saber. Now go ruin someone else's day."

"I suppose that is marginally acceptable. But you had best make sure your good apprentice Shirou Emiya makes his way to the Church to declare or I will need to take steps. The War is waiting on the two of you after all." And he left.

When he left Roland finally spoke again. "That man is evil. And he was your guardian and teacher?"

Rin looked at the now closed door, "I avoided him as much as I could."

"A good thing. I do not often evoke the desire to kill a priest, but that man…. I don't know if you can see it, if you can feel it…. But he is living poison."

Rin took a deep breath. "And he is also the referee for this Grail War. Killing him is not an option."

Roland pointed at the empty door, "That man is responsible for keeping this War in check?"

"Yes."

"What kind of Contest is this?"

Rin frowned, "A broken one."

Roland nodded and completely disappeared, leaving Rin to her thoughts. She was released an hour later and told the conditions of her return. Which essentially boiled down to the fact she was not supposed to even go near Shinji Matou. Nor was he to come near her. On pain of further suspensions for either of them.

And then she went home. There she gathered supplies and more luggage for her occupation of Emiya Shirou's home. Security had escorted her off school grounds, so she had been unable to contact anyone or find out what had been learned about the Boundary Field surrounding the school.

Instead she focused on gathering the tools she would need to investigate the scene later that night. Included in the tools and tomes she had was a small notebook that she had crammed one day full of KIritsugu's insight into Boundary Field theory. Even if he hadn't worded it as such, that was what it had been.

It was valuable. She was even tempted to share some of the royalties with Shirou, since so much of the basic groundwork was his father's. Assuming she ever presented her latest work to the Association. She could definitely use the money, but the technique showed so much promise….

Their current problem was a barrier after all. Rereading the notes Rin had to shake her head. So much of the logic in his theories tossed out basic assumptions on the build up of Bounded Fields. She paused and looked off into the distance. So much of the proper use of Magecraft was in dealing with the basic ground rules of the system you practiced.

Kiritsugu hadn't thought that way. He hadn't truly been a Magus at all. A heretic of sorts, a magic user. But she had tested some of these theories, had found holes in what had been considered by some of her text books to be impregnable to be much easier to bypass than there were supposed to.

Rin stared off into the distance and said, "How much of what we know is wrong? How much is based on false assumptions. And how can I use this insight to strengthen my magecraft?"

"Mistress?"

"Nothing. Just thinking aloud." She looked up to see him smiling at her. There was a mixture of sadness along with pride in his gaze. "What?"

"You truly are a magus. Here you have a beautiful day, hours yet before your friends arrive. What do you do for enjoyment? You read ancient dusty tomes and plot out the evenings spell craft. I find it so strange to see it in such a beautiful young maiden. And you have the heart and soul of a warrior. I am glad I was called to serve you."

"Eh, I don't sound like that. You sound like you plan on dying. And you are my Servant and a Saber. We will beat the odds and find a way to end this travesty without too much bloodshed. And I can go back to my books, and you can go back to your Aude."

Roland sighed, "Would that it would be so simple. I feel now the same way when we retreated from Iberia. Certain that we were following the right path, but also aware of the onrush of doom." He waved his hand, "Pay no attention. I am having a melancholy moment, I will go fix us both some tea." He left.

She stared after him for a moment before returning to her studies and plans. She would never admit it, but at the moment she felt the same as her Servant. But what else could she do?

And so she waited for her friends to return.

-Scene Break-

Cassandra Martel-

Cassandra held her breath and activated the Circle. She tapped her wireless keyboard to check to see if it was working. Then she moved the wireless mouse.

And grinned. It worked. Her laptop was now sealed off from all magical influences, but still receptive to radio signals. It would be a pain to recharge all the batteries that were being used, but this would give her the longest period of time to use her digital workshop.

Even Waver had laughed at her when she had proposed this. But when he had explained how he had found Caster's lair in the previous War, she had tried to think of something similar.

She had placed several magic sensors on both sides of the river, and by using triangulation she should be able to locate the presence of any large concentration of prana that was in the surrounding area. By her calculations it wasn't efficient enough to actually track Servants. But she would be able to tell where a fight was occurring.

And most likely where the various Servants and Masters were lodging. Any magus worth their salt would have a travelling workshop to help fight the War. Even if it were merely a collection of Mystic Codes, it still should leave a mark on the levels of ambient prana.

This should give her an advantage, possibly allowing her to ambush other Servants. Ajax had mighty defensive powers, and was incredibly strong. But his Noble Phantasms, while strong, were defensive and supportive in nature.

Rho Aias was strong. Among the strongest conceptual defenses in existence. But could it stop an Excalibur blast? Cassandra shivered, not that Arthur was likely to be summoned again. Surely there were similar attacks that others would have. Or Iskander's Ionian Heteroi? Ajax had held off armies on the plains of Illium, but such a massive army of Servant level warriors?

Her Servant was strong, but stacking the odds in her favor definitely seemed the way to go. And so she had brought a computer to a magus war. It wasn't really that it would help with the detection. Rather it was running all the numbers, allowing for trends to be followed.

It was going to be a long afternoon.

-Scene Break—

Sella-

Sella dutifully carried out her duties. She had always found them soothing. Particularly dealing with the Garden and the various Familiars she had crafted. Properly guided, plants were orderly. And seeing through the eyes of an animal never truly paled.

After the Garden and her duties there she conducted a routine search of the various Familiars in the City and analyzed the information they brought her. She penned a small report for Ilya, that her Mistress might or might not read. Mistress was not one to have much patience for the small details outside of her alchemy, but then she was still young.

Ilya von Einzbern was a wonder to Sella. A mix of human and homunculus on a scale Sella did not comprehend. The odds of something like Ilya happening, even given that she had been born through natural, if assisted, childbirth were extreme. By necessity, Sella had access to the files of all that had been done to Ilya in her adjustment, and nothing fully explained her odd nature.

Sella sighed and continued to her next task. A quick survey of the Castle through the various sensing devices and….

Cookies? She watched the scene between Ilya and Leysritt again. She took a deep breath. Leysritt was infatuated with Shirou Emiya. It had been bad enough when she had been afraid that Ilya was infatuated with her brother, a man they were still under orders to kill from the Elders.

With a sense of dread she flipped the sensors to show her the kitchen. And while it was a disaster, it wasn't as bad as she feared. The damage to her kitchen had more to do with the full scale alchemy apparatus that Ilya had dragged in and placed on the kitchen island.

What exactly were those cookies being made with?

She deactivated the sensors and began to rush to intervene in the cookie debacle when she stopped. What was she going to say? That baking cookies for Shirou Emiya, a man they were still slated to kill for the glory of the Einzbern family, was idiotic? That the crush Leysritt, and to a lesser degree Ilya had for the man was also not only stupid but modestly insane?

He was human. He had a human life. He had several human girls chasing after him. From the little Sella had observed Sakura Matou had all but jumped him that very morning. RIn Tohsaka had seemed close to the man who apparently was her apprentice, too close for simple business relationships.

Leysritt was a homunculus. She had NO chance with Shirou Emiya. None. Ilya only slightly greater.

Yes the man claimed to desire to save the Mistress. And as far as Sella knew he was the only one who had even mentioned a possibility of Ilya living past the next few weeks….

Sella began to shake. She looked around for somewhere to sit or rest or calm down. But she was in the middle of the hallway leading to the kitchens.

And she simply broke down. She fell to her knees and could not stop crying. Ilya was going to die and there was nothing she could do about it. Leysritt would die too. And as much as the girl infuriated her with her flighty manner, Leysritt had said it correctly.

Sella had spent every single day she had been alive with the other girl. Every single day with Leysritt and Ilya. Sometimes there were others too, but always those too.

They were her life. Her, her family. And they were going to die and she was going to live. Only one sliver of poisonous hope to be seen at all. All it would require to follow was to completely abandon her loyalties to the Einzbern's as a whole and give it completely to Ilya.

Which she had already declared she had. But had she? Or was she hedging her bets, willing to play along with her Mistress while assuming that she would be there at the end to collect the Prize from Ilya's dying hands as Plan required of her. To take the Dress of Heaven from a sacrificed Leysritt and make Ilya wear the remnants of one of her caretakers to properly manage the ceremony.

Should she act like her two naïve comrades and grasp for that single shimmering hope? Or do her duty, a duty that was programmed into her very life to support the Plan that the Einzberns had allowed her to exist for. She should report this to Control. They would ready the Crash Team to….

Well nothing really. Ilya with Heracles was basically unstoppable. But they could take steps to eliminate Shirou themselves. And then this craziness in Ilya and Leysritt would stop. And things would go back to normal.

And in a few weeks both would die.

One by one her circuits lit up. She wasn't human and they didn't hurt. Rather she was a magic oriented homunculus and the circuits brought her comfort, at the higher levels pleasure. Magic was what she had been made for, and a high order aria or complex ritual could provide an almost orgasmic sense of well-being and pleasure through her. She might never be able to have real sex, but she would always have her magic.

Of course, high order spells and rituals were blocked to her unless she was allowed to perform them. But there were some spells, defensive and offensive spells that had been written into her, similar to a Crest that she could cast as needed.

Her personal favorite was Lighting.

Her hair was standing on end and her hands were arcing with electricity even as she sobbed helplessly, uncertain as to what to do. Duty had been drilled into her, duty to the Einzberns. But she, she LOVED little Ilya. She loved the woman who had made her.

What should she do?

The air in the hallway filled with the scent of ozone as Sella reigned in her powers, as she kept the volume of her sobs down.

She didn't want to disturb Ilya after all. Let her enjoy herself baking cookies with Alchemy while her maid decided whom to betray. Either way it would be best for Ilya to never know about this whole incident.

Sella had thought she had at least until Wednesday to find a solution to this problem. Imprinted upon her at birth were several unshakable commands. She had to protect Ilya from any threat and see to her well-being. And she had to remain loyal to the Einzbern family under pain of death.

Did she try to play both sides? Try to reconcile both commands.

Or did she choose one of those commands and follow it to the end, knowing that death lay on either road.

How she wished she had someone, anyone to talk to about this. But she was all alone. And at the end of the day, she was only two years old. None of the imprinted knowledge she had been given at birth helped in this situation.

She wanted to lash out, to release the massive amounts of energy she had summoned, to fling bolts of lightning in every direction. Shattering the hallway, shattering the mansion itself.

Carefully avoiding the kitchens of course.

She felt as a part of her broke as she came to her decision. Not the quick answer she had thoughtlessly given Ilya a few days ago. But a concentrated choice to do what she wanted to do rather than what she had been created to do. In that instant Sella became a rogue homunculus. Programming in her head began to shatter and scatter under her own self made desire.

She waited for the after effects, for the programmed counter that was implanted in every homunculus. The chains of internal commands that would send the renegade homunculus into convulsions and a very painful death.

Sella waited…. And it did not come.

Sella trembled as she stood. She was defective after all. The internal compulsions that commanded her life began to part inside of her, leaving her free to act as she would. Ilya may have given her an incomplete body, but by accident she had given her a full mind.

Sella's sobs stopped and hysterical laughter began. Sella had the one thing forever denied and desired by most homunculi.

Sella had free will.

And while it was stupid and naïve, she would take the tiny sliver of hope than the certainty of death for her loved ones. Her laughter began to still as she began to plan. And Shirou had better be serious or the man would pay.

She let the power subside, using only the trace amounts needed to clean the tear stains and repair the creases from her emotional moment. Just because she had free will didn't mean she was going to change her personality. She was who she was.

She calmly walked into the kitchen and looked around in mock distress. "What are you both doing here?"

Leysritt's face fell and her eyes filled with shock, "Sella!"

Ilya on the other hand stood there next to a small amount of cookie dough she was infusing with some alchemical substance. She raised on hand, the other on her hips and declared proudly, "We are ushering in a new age of cookies!"

Sella raised an eyebrow. "By using alchemy?"

Ilya stood up straight, "And why not? I am an alchemist of the highest order after all!"

Leysritt just wrung her hands nervously, eyes switching between Sella and Ilya.

Sellla reached over to one of the cooling cookie pans to snag a cookie. She looked at it first, not quite perfect, but not exactly burned or undercooked. She took a bite and….

It was good. Delicious.

"Not bad." She took another bite, "A bit high in ether elements though. Are you trying to enchant the people who eat the cookies in a certain way? Or is the ether aspect just left over from the process." She looked at Ilya, "You do realize that too much unfocused ether by products are bad for humans. The last thing you want to do is kill someone with Grain toxicity."

Ilya looked at her pans of cookies with horror, "I hadn't thought of that! Is it too high? How much is too much!"

Sella ate another cookie and said, "Well, that depends on the person. Take us for instance. We are homunculi, ether is part of our essence, much more so than a human. We are probably safe." She looked at her half eaten cookie, "And if you focused the ether, channeled it into prana to work a spell of some sort, well the cookies become tiny little crispy potions."

Ilya nodded, a notepad nearby, taking notes. Sella smiled, she would have to remember to mix in practical work with her magic lessons. Maybe Ilya would pay better attention.

Sella looked over at the other maid, "Leysritt!"

Leysritt looked at her fearfully, "Yes, Sella?"

"Get me an apron. It looks like you both need help."

Ilya said, "Hey! These are good cookies. Maybe I need to do some adjusting, but still."

Sella did something she rarely allowed herself to do. She smiled. Sure this was stupid. But Ilya was happy, and that was a good thing. Knowing the basics of baking wasn't a bad thing for Ilya to know, and this also could be considered magical training. "Ilya, when you are crafting for a mystic code or making some alchemical device, is it not better to have the best item to use as a base?"

"Well, yeah."

Sella said, "Then let me show you how to bake these cookies right, and help you mix in the alchemy to make them perfect." She frowned. "What exactly are we mixing into these cookies?"

Ilya frowned and looked at the various batches, "Well first I just wanted to Reinforce their Cookieness, but that only did so much. It would probably work better if I made better cookies as the base."

Sella nodded.

Ilya smiled up at her, "So then I got the idea of mixing in concepts into the cookies."

Sella dryly said, "You are baking Conceptual Cookies?"

Ilya waved at the series of magical circles and bubbling alchemical equipment, "It is simple. I just had Leysritt donate some of her excess emotion and….."

"You are infusing the cookies with Leysritt's unnatural infatuation and desire for Shirou Emiya?" She looked sternly down at her Mistress. "You realize that she has no chance at him. That this whole enterprise is doomed to failure."

Ilya's face contorted with anger, "Look, Sella, both of Leysritt and I are facing imminent death. Yes, I am very aware this is foolish and that her chances are about as good as our surviving the month. Horrifically bad. But…."

Leysritt cried out, "Mistress? Do you mean that? It is hopeless?"

Sella looked down and gritted her teeth. She looked over at her fellow maid, "It is very close to hopeless, Leysritt. Be honest with yourself about this."

Leysritt began to cry.

Ilya glared up at Sella, "Why? Why do you always have to be so mean?" She moved to comfort Leysritt.

Sella yelled back at Ilya, "I am not being mean, I am being realistic." She grabbed the apron from the numbed hands of the crying Leysritt, "Now let's get started."

Ilya held tightly to Leysritt, "What is the point then?"

Sella took in a deep breath. She had to remember that despite her greater age, Ilya had been sheltered and protected from many of the darker side of life. Things magical aspect homunculi had to know when dealing with other magi. "If you think it through, all of us are doomed Ilya. Assuming the best case scenario, and that you succeed in the Heaven's Feel, Leysritt will have sacrificed herself to provide the Dress of Heaven, and your mind will be crushed by the last Servant. I will get to claim the prize for the Einzbern, but what then? Do I live without you? No, at best they will purge my memories. Most likely they won't bother, and I will simply be recycled for my components and a new homunculus built to whatever they need. Or something strange happens and you are defeated early, and we all probably die. Our only hope, and it is SLIM, is that somehow your brother, a man we have all sworn we would kill, mind you, can save you. And if you are saved, so are Leysritt and I. Anything that increases those ridiculously small odds, I am in favor with. Just because it is stupid, doesn't mean it shouldn't be done." She ripped her hood off and tossed her hair.

The hood had a bad habit of slipping into her eyes when she was cooking, so she usually removed it. She began working her hair into a bun so it wouldn't get in the way.

Leysritt and Ilya just stared at her.

Sella snapped at them, "What? Isn't there a quote about lighting candles against the dark? Shirou Emiya is dim candle to provide hope with, but it's better than nothing."

Still they stood there.

She growled, "These cookies aren't going to bake themselves, let's go, go, go!" She clapped her hands repeatedly.

Leysritt swallowed heavily, and wiped her face. "What do you need me to do?"

"Get me the ingredients for another batch of dough. We will start with sugar cookies and work our way up from there."

Leysritt nodded and went to fetch the ingredients.

Ilya stood there, hands wrapped defensively around herself. "I don't see how you can believe you will bake better cookies that what I did."

Sella smiled wryly, "Mistress, cooking is like alchemy. It is part science, true, but there is an artistry to it that raises the great far above the merely good. You may be a better alchemist than I, but I am by far a better cook. Come, let us bake these silly cookies and greet your brother later this evening."

And so they baked.

-Scene Break—

Medusa-

Medusa disposed of the now nearly bloodless and altered body of Kaede Makidera. Nearby a perfect replica of the girl in marble stood inside of a magic circle. Every line of her body immortalized in stone, even as her body was reduced to ash. "I am sorry, my dear. I wish I could bid that your next life would be a more pleasant one…." Her eyes closed in pain, "But while he is just, he is also cold and cruel. Your life in death will likely be an unpleasant one."

There was a rustle of chains to her left. Kane Himuro remained to be processed.

Medusa walked over and drank a cup of Nectar. Not enough to dull her senses, but enough to kill some of the pain of what she was doing to these girls. Of what they would soon face.

"Release me! Where is Kaede, where is Saegusa! Where am I?"

Medusa walked over to the naked girl, chained to a nearby tree. "I warned you when you entered here that nothing that you took here would be free. And yet you and your friend both had a lunch of Ambrosia and Nectar with me, both of you listened to my stories, I brought both of you pleasure."

Kane flushed, "I am not like that. I like boys, I, I…."

Medusa smiled sadly, "Nectar alters the mind, much like alcohol, but without the crash. Mortals often make fools of themselves when they indulge."

Kane's eyes widened, "But Kaede and I, and you we are all girls. What we did wasn't right." She looked around, "Where is Kaede?"

"She has paid her price. Her bill is paid. Now it is time for you."

Kane was shivering and crying, "And if I pay, you will release me? I can see my friends?"

Medusa sighed and stroked the captive girl's cheek, "Not exactly. The price is your soul. Are you willing to give it to me freely, or must I take it from you? You will find the process most unpleasant."

Kane blinked, "But if I give you my soul, what, what would happen to me?"

"Your body will die. Your soul will not be allowed to return to the Source, but instead will be a bargaining chip for me." She frowned, "I will sell your soul into slavery for a time for services to be granted to me."

Kane's voice was hysterical as she said, "You are going to sell my soul? I am going to be a slave of, of some monster or youkai or demon?"

"A god, actually. Not of this time and place, but here in my Temple, I can reach back and contact him." Medusa sighed, "In the end, it doesn't really matter what you choose. I will have your soul. I will sell it. It will simply be in better condition if you offer it to me freely."

"What kind of monster are you?"

Medusa answered honestly, "A reluctant one. Now one last time I must ask you before I forcibly remove your soul. Will you give it to me freely?"

"Never!"

Medusa unchained the struggling girl and carried her to the altar. She made a few cuts to start the bleeding. The blood was important to the Circle she would use for the summoning. Medusa had even gone so far as to enchant it to keep the blood from losing its freshness.

The girl continued to struggle, even as Medusa secured her to the table. She let the words the girl was screaming wash over her. She deserved each imprecation.

Medusa swore to herself that she would never willingly serve a Matou. Not even Sakura, for it was her weakness that had forced Medusa into this position. If Medusa could free the girl, she would, but she would never willingly serve her.

After she readied the girl, she readied the statue that would anchor the girl's soul to this world. Otherwise the soul would drift back to the source. It needed an anchor.

The girl stopped screaming and began to weep, finally accepting her fate.

Medusa returned to the girl. She stood above her and began to chant in the Divine Words, preparing the ritual.

She placed her hand on the girl's pubic mound.

I take from you your genitals,

For they speak of a future you will never possess.

No child shall pass this gate, for you are to be a sacrifice.

Medusa smoothed her hand over the girl's genitals and they were gone, revealing only smooth flesh from navel to back. Instead the marble statue nearby suddenly gained what the body had taken from it.

Medusa slid her hand higher on the girl's belly, to her navel.

I take from you your navel.

For it speaks of generations past that you are severed from.

No mother shall mourn you, for you are to be a sacrifice.

Medusa felt a tear slip from beneath the Breaker Gorgon. She hated this part. Not only make her later ritual possible, but it would remove memory of the girl's existence from most people. This had been seen as a mercy to the family that had to sacrifice a loved one for the benefit of the community.

Until today she had never cast these dark spells. Even in her darkest moments, even when she had embraced her status as a monster, she had never cast these spells. And now here she was destroying the lives of others.

Would she never escape this fate?

Her hand slipped higher, sliding past the girl's breasts along the curves of her neck to her mouth.

Kane was simply laying there whimpering. These changes were not cosmetic. Each part of her that had been taken and placed in the statue had removed not just real flesh, but also the concepts of each. The girl had had both her past and future taken from her. And she was feeling the mystic pain of being severed from the human race, one part at a time.

I take from you your face.

Your mouth, your eyes, your nose and your ears.

For each allows you to interact with the present that you no longer belong to.

No one shall know you, for you are to be a sacrifice.

Medusa moved her hand across the girl's face, and it was gone. The body beneath her struggled as it could no longer breathe. Medusa hurried to finish the spell.

I take from you your mind.

For it is the mortal anchor to the soul and your mortal life has ended.

May the name of Kane Himura echo throughout all of time,

Even as it is forever forgotten.

For she has become a sacrifice.

Medusa quickly linked the Wraith that had been the girl to the Statue next to the body. No need to waste the girl's sacrifice of life.

Medusa set about finishing the Summoning Circle with the dead girl's blood and finishing up preparation for the upcoming tasks.

It was going to be a long evening.

-Scene Break—

Issei Ryudo-

Issei sat quietly in the Discipline Office waiting for Mr. Kuzuki to arrive. He didn't think he was in trouble, for they let Ayako go at her mother's request. While he was late, and he was not looking forward to the discussion he would be having with his father later, he didn't think he was in trouble at school.

Mr. Kuzuki walked in, silent and stern as always.

Issei rose and bowed slightly to the man. He was familiar with Kuzuki, as he lived on the mountain with them. A strange man, but an honorable one.

"Sit down Ryudo. You are not in trouble. Or rather you personally are not in trouble." Kuzuki sat down heavily on his side. "There is something acting on the students of this school. This morning Rin Tohsaka attacked Shinji Matou."

"What?"

Kazaki raised his hand to forestall questions, "Odd yes, but that is not all. When we questioned Tohsaka, the Matou boy could not be found. There are video traces of him being picked up and carried out of here. There is no way he could have left under his own power." He looked through a couple of files, "No one saw her though or has seen Matou since he was carried out of here. Moreover both the boys and girls track teams are missing. The entire teams. For reasons I do not understand only myself and Taiga Fujimura are concerned about it. I have been ordered NOT to look for them. That they will simply show up." Kuzuki looked at him expectantly.

Issei blinked. What was going on here?

Kuzuki continued, "Both your good friend Emiya and a new transfer student, Lily King, are also missing. According to Sakura Matou, they went looking for the track team." He continued to look expectantly at Issei.

"Sir, I do not know how I can be of any help."

Kuzuki nodded, "Issei, you know I live at the Temple. What you may not know is that I am aware of the Moonlit world." He looked away, "My past is unimportant, but your father gave me sanctuary at the Temple, and I have tried to atone for the crimes of my youth." He looked back at Issei, "But the nature of those foolish actions I once took part in have given me knowledge I can't truly forget. I am aware of your actions here, Issei. Your charms to protect the school. What I am asking is whether you have a method to find the missing students."

Issei looked down and thought. 'My actions in the world are beginning. My first chance to truly aid others. And they are my classmates, I will not need to demand payment.' He looked up at Kuzuki and quietly said, "Yes. But I was asked to ensure that Sakura went to the Archery Dojo during lunch. There is someone she must meet there."

Kuzuki nodded, "I will make certain it happens. Go and meet Fujimura at the Student Council office and find those students. I will cover for your absence."

Issei calmly walked through the empty corridors. Class was in session. He wondered who was covering Kuzuki or Fujimura's classes. Taiga was waiting for him, leaning against the wall. At her side was a sheathed sword. Issei gasped, he recognized the blade. It was the one she had when they had gone to check on Shirou's workshop.

Taiga smiled at him, "So they found you, huh? I told Kuzuki you might be able to help."

Issei nodded curtly, "We should hurry. Ayako was attacked by a powerful Youkai last night. If the track team is being lured in by something similar…."

Taiga nodded, "Let's go."

Issei pulled out his pendant and began to spin it. They followed it into the woods.

And then things became strange.

-Scene Break-

Ayako Mitsuzuri

Ayako stood, bow in hand staring at the target, deliberately trying to ignore the person behind her.

Eiko Mitsuzuri said calmly, "You will miss. It will land in the second ring, on the left hand side."

Ayako gritted her teeth and tried to calm herself. She was a better shot than that. But as the arrow left the bow, she was certain that her mother was right. She glared back at her mother, who was now smoking a cigarette and calmly watching her. "When did you start to smoke?"

Eiko adjusted her glasses, "About the last time I had to deal with all of this. Right about the time I first Inverted. Damn magic, always makes me nervous."

"I still don't understand why you won't talk to me about it."

Eiko smiled, "That you have a nonhuman grandmother? That I am frightened that the full impact of that skipped a generation and went straight to you?" She tossed one finished cigarette to the ground and fished another out of her pocket. It then spontaneously lit and she began smoking."

Ayako's jaw dropped. How had her mother done that? It was impossible. "Are you a magus too?"

Eiko mumbled around the cigarette, "Not really. I do dabble with some alchemical stuff, like those test strips I use on you kids. Just some minor stuff my brother taught me to use. Your boyfriend is more of a magician than I am, Ayako." She rolled her eyes, "How you managed to corrupt such a chaste boy, I will never know." She chuckled, "Good job, though. That boy is seriously in love with you."

Ayako flushed and turned back to the target. Regular class was still in session, but somehow her mother had convinced the administration to let her shoot in the archery dojo until lunch. Issei was supposed to bring Sakura to her.

She already missed him. She hadn't expected that. But somehow she found him calming. Soothing. A rock in the chaos of her life.

She pulled back the bow.

Eiko said, "This time you will miss the target entirely. Possibly due to a bad crosswind."

Ayako looked back at her mother, who just shrugged. She turned, focused and made the shot. As the arrow left the bow a massive gust of wind flung the arrow from the air. It didn't come even close to the target.

She turned to face her mother, "What are you doing? And why are you making me miss my targets? If you don't want me to shoot, you should have just let me go to class."

Eiko took the cigarette out of her mouth and examined it. "What makes you think I am doing anything? Nothing that strange has happened. Just a gust of wind. Could have happened at any time."

"Okay. What about your cigarette. You lit it with magic, didn't you?"

Eiko put the cigarette back in her mouth and wryly said, "Is that what you saw? Isn't it more likely you didn't see me light it with the other cigarette before I tossed it to the ground? I am chain smoking after all. What is the more likely possibility, Ayako. That I am using some strange form of magic, or that you simply don't remember correctly what actually happened."

Ayako just glared at her.

Her mother just smiled and said, "Come on, you said that Olympic Scout wasn't just interested in Emiya. She said you had promise too. Show me what you have got."

Ayako calmly collected her thoughts. She needed to hit the target, preferably a bullseye. Her mother rarely saw her shoot, unlike her father who watched every competition he could. She breathed in and out, just like Emiya had shown her. She meditated and became the target. She loosed the arrow and knew it would hit the center.

Her mother called out, "A good shot, but the arrow's fletching is loose and it will hit the outer ring because of it."

Ayako concentrated on the arrow as it flew and felt as a pressure, an odd pressure struck the arrow and it wobbled off course.

It should have hit the center, but somehow failed. She nodded to herself. Her mother was doing something to her shots. Her mother was teasing her. Toying with her.

Ayako felt as her heart began to speed up and the world began to slow. Every movement seemed crisp and perfect as she prepared another shot. "You won't stop me this time, mother. I WILL make this shot."

Eiko just shook her head slowly, "You know, your archery would be better if you took better care of your equipment. Arrows with loose fletching. Targets that are off set. Bows in poor condition. It is a wonder none of you kids get hurt."

Ayako could feel her anger build, could feel each heart beat. She knew her bow. It would not fail her. She had checked the arrow. It would not fail her. Her aim was impeccable. Her form perfect. She was the target. She would hit it so hard and so fast it would split in two!

Ayako felt again a pressure acting on her shot. But she didn't let it affect her. The target was already hit. She was merely waiting for the arrow to complete its journey.

It hit splitting the target in two. Her mother was laughing and clapping behind her. "Very good, very good. You managed to stop me from spoiling your shot. Of course the odds were in your favor in the first place, making the unlikely happen will probably take you a while."

"What are you talking about?"

"It is the majority of your gift. Of course, you are stronger than me, you might have inherited more than I did. I don't know."

"Mother you are confusing me. What are you talking about?"

Eiko looked sidelong at Ayako, "Didn't Issei tell you?"

Ayako ground out, "When did he have time? You rushed us out of the house and to school. He didn't have time to tell me anything!"

Eiko tilted her head to the side, "Ah. Yes. Maybe I was a bit hasty. I guess I will have to break it to you yourself."

Ayako glared at her. She loved her mother. She did. But there were times….

Eiko snuffed out the cigarette. "Now watch closely." The cigarette hit the ground, parts still red hot. Eiko pulled out a new cigarette. She stomped on the one on the ground.

And Ayako could feel the world twist ever so slightly. A tiny ember from the cigarette on the ground was kicked up and just happened to touch her mother's new cigarette. And lit it. Her jaw dropped.

Eiko puffed on the new cigarette contentedly, "See, the gift you have allows you to twist probability to some degree. It isn't magic. It has to be something possible. With the right mage craft, you can set ice on fire. Your dad is always hiding my lighters, so I have had to learn a few tricks to light my cigarettes."

Ayako was shaking her head, "No. That isn't possible. There is no way you could have done that deliberately. It isn't humanly possible."

Eiko smiled sadly at Ayako. She took a long drag of her cigarette, "That is unfortunately true. It isn't possible. Not for a normal human anyway."

Ayako felt her face pale. "But that, but you can't mean, I mean that would mean that I, that you are…."

Eiko took her cigarette out and examined it, "Not fully human. Of course, Dad was a magus, so who knows? Maybe less than half."

"Your father, my grandfather was a magus. He was, was like my friends?"

Eiko smiled and chuckled, "And you wonder why I smoke. You should be grateful I don't drink like I used to. Ah my wild college years. Well that can wait until Sakura arrives. Seeing as that involves her, and well it is painful enough I only want to say it once." She looked far away, "Sometimes it truly takes perspective to see the effects of your actions. To truly know regret." She shook her head.

"Mom?"

Eiko took a few puffs of her cigarette and asked, "Do you remember those camping trips we used to make when you were a kid?"

Ayako grinned, "You mean those excursions into the Closed Forest. Dad constantly mumbling about trespassing and Minori whining about not being able to watch his anime? I don't remember you having a lot of fun either."

Eiko looked away, "Do you remember the girl you used to play with in that little secluded valley?"

Ayako laughed, "The one with the overgrown cabin in it? Oh, we had so much fun. She even taught me how to swim in that pool beside the waterfall. How I used to love to swim." She frowned, "Why did you persuade me not to join a swimming club, and push me at archery anyway. Dad would have let me, and I know he was the one pushing the old samuri ways because five generations back some family member of ours was one. I suppose I am grateful now, because I love archery. But back then it was such a drag. I mean it wasn't until that one day, that day when I met Sakura I really fell in love with the sport."

Eiko shook her head, "No, I remember talking with the instructors. He said you had talent. You just needed practice and a desire to learn." She sighed, "The day you met Sakura. My second Inversion. The day I realized it wasn't a mistake. That it was something I couldn't ignore." Eiko closed her eyes, "Ayako. On that day, did you hear a horn sound?"

Ayako remembered back to that day, "Yes. Someone was calling for help. It was really strange, and I knew that I wasn't ready to help them yet. But that I would be. And I hit the center of the target. It had seemed so easy. And, and then later after practice, I found Sakura just wandering around. Looking lost and needing a friend. I suppose I adopted her as my kohai that day."

Eiko's voice was pained and conflicted, "Yes. That was also the day I knew that this day would come. No. I only want to say it once. Focus, Eiko, focus."

Ayako stared at her mother. A mother she had rarely seen rattled. Always calm. Always confident.

Eiko opened her mouth to say something. And then closed it. She then sighed and snuffed her cigarette. She didn't light another one. "I guess I just have to say it. I didn't want you to focus on any sport that relied more on simple physical talent rather than skill. It would be too easy. You are naturally stronger and faster than most of your peers. If anything you limit yourself to what you believe you can do."

"Why because I am not human?" She said sarcastically.

Eiko simply nodded, "Exactly. Because you are not fully human. As for swimming." She began to laugh. She opened her mouth to say something but she couldn't stop laughing.

Ayako just stared at her. What had happened to her mother? Had she finally lost it?

Only…. That trick with the cigarette. That strange force she had felt resisting her archery shots.

It had been real.

Eiko finally calmed down, "No if track would have been too easy for you, the Swim team would have been too dangerously easy for you." She shook her head, "Do you remember when you and Ako used to go diving in that pool beside the waterfall? To examine those pretty stones on the bottom?"

Ayako smiled at the memory. Somehow those memories were somehow brighter, more polished than the other summers she had spent. It had been almost five years since the last time she had gone. "I should go back there some day. I wonder if Ako finally moved away."

Eiko wryly said, "Somehow I doubt it." She shook her head, "Ayako, do you remember how long you used to stay down there?"

"Yeah, I think I got to be able to hold my breath for more than a minute and a half."

"Ten minutes."

Ayako stared at her mother. "What? Why didn't you jump in to save me?"

Eiko shrugged, "You were with your Grandmother. I used to do the same thing. Mother isn't purely a water spirit, but that is where her greatest strengths lie, I think. I lived in that little house you played in until I was five. That was where Father slept. His workshop was in some cave I never found." She shook her head, "But then Father died. And Mother, well she always meant well. But she wasn't all I needed and so she called my brother to come and get me. I was a little strange at first, but I adapted quickly to normal life." She looked sad and pensive.

Ayako was about to ask more when there was a knock on the door.

Eiko closed her eyes and said, "Come in Sakura. I have been expecting you."

Sakura came in, her hair dark for a change. The color of her eyes was red. She looked both different and the same. "Mrs. MItsuzuri, MItsuzuri-sempai."

Eiko growled, "How many times do I have to argue about this today. Call me Eiko, just like you do when we are at my home, okay? And your friend is Ayako. I have heard you calling her that before. Do so now. It is just the three of us girls here, no one to judge us. First name basis. Understood?"

Sakura's reaction was strange. Different from usual. Casual and considering, almost untrusting. "Very well. Eiko. Ayako. Why did you call me here?"

Ayako looked at her friend, "Sakura? Are you okay?"

Sakura just laughed bitterly.

Eiko smoothly walked past Ayako and held a hand to her forehead. "No temperature. But your eyes… Your hair. I remember when that was close to your natural shade. Very close to your sister's." Eiko sighed, "Only it isn't the natural color anymore is it. Your hair finally completely turned white. And your eyes…. Nearly red." She shook her head, "What did that demon do to you?"

Ayako looked at her mother. Sakura's hair was white? It looked a strange almost black color.

Eiko continued, "And you didn't even dye your hair. You just twisted nature to do it."

Sakura looked at Eiko with suspicion, "How can you know that? I didn't have time this morning…. And that secret at least I have been able to keep." She backed away from Eiko.

Ayako felt as if something unnatural began to fill the room. As if the shadows had come alive. She looked around worriedly and said, "Yeah, Mom is full of surprises today."

Eiko said quietly, "My father was a magus. Some things you just learn to recognize." She touched Sakura's hair, "Your element isn't Earth that is for sure. It would be a better black." She frowned, "It isn't one of the classic elements at all. Although, water. You have some control of water."

Sakura laughed, "So even those secrets are being shed today? What a nightmare day. Like Shirou will ever have anything to do with me. Assuming he wasn't just leading me on. No. Sempai isn't like that." She shook her head, "I have to trust him if I am to trust anyone."

Ayako cried out, "Sakura, what is wrong? I will help you in any way I can. You should know that by now!"

Sakura merely smiled bitterly, "You will hear it soon enough. And while I am sure it will get more vile with each retelling, you both deserve to know the truth." She took a deep breath and began, "I haven't hidden that I am adopted, that Rin is my sister. But some of what has been done to me, well I thought I had hidden it better than I had. But Sister found out. And today she blurted out half of my families deepest and darkest secrets. Aloud. In front of witnesses. Right before she nearly killed Shinji."

Ayako whistled, "Perfect Miss Tohsaka goes berserk. What could trigger that controlled to do something like that."

Sakura closed her eyes and sighed. "Because he raped me. Repeatedly."

Ayako didn't notice she had fallen to her knees until she realized she was looking up at her friend.

Eiko simply said, "That boy is a dead man. I am not sure how it is going to happen. But that boy is going to suffer some fatal bad luck the next time I see him."

Ayako cried up at her friend, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Eiko simply said, "Zouken Matou."

Sakura sighed, "Exactly. The bane of my existence, much more so than my brother. Shinji only hates me because I stole his legacy."

Eiko softly said, "So. That was why Tokiomi did it. He gave you away to receive a different families Crest."

Sakura asked again, "How do you know all this?"

Eiko smiled sadly, "I was a friend of your mother's. We went to college together. Hung out. I even went on a few dates with her, Kariya Matou on my arm, Tokiomi on hers. Not that Kariya ever gave a damn about me." She shook her head, "He only had eyes for Aoi, and she had fallen for the Tohsaka charm. She didn't even complete her degree. Just because you marry isn't a reason to give up on your dreams. And it is totally possible to do the last year pregnant. I know I did."

Ayako said, "Excuse me?"

Eiko said with a sad smile, "You probably don't remember it, but the first time you met Sakura you were I think, four? Huh, maybe only three, the years pass by so quickly. It was the last time I met with her kids in tow. The last few times, well we met briefly for tea. Tokiomi never really liked me. But then I was always anti magus at the time. The last time we had an argument. Over you Sakura. I heard he was giving you up to some other family. Some deal between families. We never really talked and she never had time to meet me."

She shrugged and sighed regretfully, "And until we met again, when Ayako brought you back into my life, I simply let it go. Maybe if I realized what I was capable of then, maybe I might have tried something. But when I found out the family, found out you had been given to the Matou…. I tried to forget. I tried to forget that I ever held you. I thought of you as dead." Eiko's voice dropped, "Some of the things Kariya whispered to me when he was drunk…." She shivered.

Sakura said calmly, "Those were likely true. Grandfather is evil and very powerful." She clenched her fist, "If he has made a mistake with me, it was that I have broken in the wrong spots and in the wrong time." Her eyes flared red and the shadows twitched, "The Sakura you know? The one who has tried to pretend she lived a normal life? She has shattered like a fucking plate."

Both Ayako and Eiko pulled back at Sakura's use of profanity. The girl had always been kind and conscientious. This new girl seemed so very angry.

Sakura continued, "But I am not about to let him have that satisfaction. I cannot kill him yet." She smiled darkly, "But I will find a way. Just as he will seek to use me. I need neither your pity, nor your assistance. Thank you for the baking tips and the warmth of your home. Thank you Ayako for all you have done to help me." She looked between the two of them, "No. I can't handle this right now. I need space. I need…. Time."

Ayako rushed to grab her friend, "Wait, Sakura." Shadows swarmed at her, but didn't quite reach her. She tripped first. And it seemed like the shadows distorted as the grew closer to her.

Eiko whipped off her glasses, her eyes gleaming gold. "I love you like my own daughter, but if you hurt Ayako, Shinji won't be the only unlucky Matou."

Sakura's face was now mottled with flecks of white and red, "You have no clue what I am capable of."

Eiko just smirked, "You are right. Don't know. Don't care. I am fully aware of what I can do however. So if you want to tangle with me, go right ahead, little girl."

Sakura growled and a wall of shadow moved at Eiko. Who dodged. And dodged and dodged. When had her mother gotten so athletic.

And her mother's comments came back to her. That Ayako had been holding herself back. And if that were true then her mother should be capable of….

But that would mean it was really true. That not only her friends users of magic, but that she was magic herself. She felt her heart begin to race and once again the world began to slow. Sakura suddenly seemed VERY powerful. But also clumsy and slow.

Her mother was weaker. Much weaker than Sakura. But quick. Not only in physical speed, but also using her gift to somehow increase the likelihood of her escaping Sakura's grasp. But sooner or later she would be caught by Sakura.

A tear came to her eye. She would have to defend her mother from her best friend. How had it come to this? She reached over and the Heart of Courage was in her hands. With one motion the blade came free, glimmering a bright blue. She didn't want to kill Sakura, only make her yield.

Sakura noticed her and a wall of shadows rushed at her. Ayako moved as fast as she could, but she didn't have the speed or knowledge to dodge all the way out of the shadow's grasp. For one brief second she could sense and endless empty void and the certainty of death.

And then it was over. Sakura was crying and holding her and begging for forgiveness.

Eiko was shaking as she said, "Well that ended better than I feared. I will be back in about a week, Sakura. We really do need to talk about all this. But you really do need to clear your head. Ayako needs some time too, I think. Both of you have had quite the shock today." She brushed her shirt, "Well, I will be going."

Ayako pushed herself up to a sitting position, "Mom! But you haven't told us anything!"

Eiko took her glasses and put them back on. "Ayako, I have never wanted you to know about your past. I wanted it to merely disappear, one more drop of inhuman blood in the vast sea of humanity. But the moment you brought Sakura home, the moment you stood up for her and supported her like I didn't do Aoi…. I knew this day would come. That you would be sucked into the world of magic, and that would lead to your own gifts waking up. All it would have taken is for me to disrupt your friendship. And that early it would have been easy to do. But I knew a bit of what had been done to Sakura. I knew she needed someone, anyone who would be a true friend to her. That the daughter could be what the mother wasn't. And so I did my best to let your friendship blossom, and did my best to help Sakura in my own way. That is really all I have to say. But if I can keep Minori out of this, if I can at least let one of my children live a normal life. I have to try. And so I must leave."

"Eiko…. I am sorry."

"Mom…"

"I love the two of you. So don't kill each other, okay, kids?" Eiko turned to go, "I will see you both when I return, and I am sorry."

And Eiko left.

It was quiet in the dojo for a few moments. Sakura cleared her throat. "So. Been a long day for you too, huh?"

Ayako sighed, "Not every day you find you aren't human."

Sakura sighed, "Welcome to the club."

Ayako just snorted. She looked over at Sakura, "Are you going to be okay?"

Sakura smiled at her, "I don't know. I think I am going to skip the rest of the day. Meet up at Sempai's for dinner?"

Ayako said dryly, "Apparently that is where I will be staying for the next week or so."

Sakura smiled, "How ironic. And that house used to feel so empty."

Ayako sheathed the Heart of Courage and stood up. "So, want to fire at a couple of defenseless targets? Blow off some steam?"

Sakura looked over at the archery equipment. "Maybe a few shots. But I really do need some time to think."

Ayako smiled at her friend, "Fair enough. I do to. But before we leave, maybe share a little about our days? I know I need to talk a little about it."

"That bad?"

Ayako smirked, "I would say you have no idea, but somehow I have a feeling you more than understand."

Sakura laughed, "Yeah, sorry about before."

"You didn't kill me. You could have. But you didn't."

Sakura shook her head, "But I could have. I am dangerous. Not safe at all to be around." She looked at her shoes. "I nearly jumped Sempai this morning. I wanted him so badly and he was sleeping. And he had an erection and, well."

Ayako just blinked. "And I thought I was bad." She tilted her head slight. "Or maybe I was worse. Or, well, he caved in easily enough."

"'He caved in?'"

Ayako looked at her friend. Could she actually say this out loud? She tried to moderate her speech, but her she spoke quickly and her voice a little high pitched, "I slept with Issei this morning."

Sakura blinked. "So the reason you were late wasn't because of an accident, it was…."

"Hot passionate, and well a little awkward sex."

"With calm and stoic Issei. The man who half the school thinks is gay. I want details." She tilted to the side, "Does your mom know."

Ayako blushed and blurted out, "She caught us."

"Awkward."

Both of them grabbed a bow and Sakura the protective equipment. And they talked for a little while.

-Scene Break—

Shirou Emiya-

Shirou wiped his brow. Finding the hidden warren of Caster was turning out to be impossible. For several reasons.

The first was the nature of the different Bounded Fields. They all distorted distance and direction, but each did so at a different angle. Making navigation nearly impossible. Only Arturia seemed immune from the distortion, but even that couldn't save her from the simple optical illusions.

Second and perhaps most important was their growing tail of Track team members. All of them were disoriented and confused. But Shirou was able to make them follow him and Arturia. Or rather Arturia was.

Shirou could hound them along, but Arturia would simply command them to do things and they would do it without question. 'Lily King' was becoming one of the more popular people among the Track team. She had already been asked to join while she was here, as well as half a dozen phone numbers from the guys and one from a female track member. And considering how starry eyed everyone was over her, they were probably just the ones brave enough to ask her.

And then his rag tag group met up with Issei's and Taiga's. Taiga was stalking about with a bared katana like she was an action star in some fantasy movie. Issei was his usual quiet self. But he seemed able to find the missing members simply by waving a pendant back and forth.

Maybe using Issei they could track down Caster….

Arturia shot that down fast. "She will be too strong in her Workshop. We need to draw her out. Make her fight us, rather than have us run into her illusions and traps."

And so they led the remaining track members back to the school, almost in time to get to their last class.

Issei kept looking back into the forest. "I feel we are forgetting someone."

Shirou looked at the list of active Track members. "No, everyone is accounted for."

Arturia asked, "What about these two, Kane Himura and Kaede Makidera?"

Issei asked, "Are they new? Why do they sound familiar?"

Shirou shook his head, "I already asked everyone. No one knows who they are. Everyone is accounted for."

Issei sighed, "So. Now you know that I am involved."

Shirou looked around, "And you know?"

"About you and Tohsaka and Matou, yes."

Shirou's voice took on a bit of hysteria when he said, "And Taiga?"

Issei shrugged, "Sort of. You will have to ask her. The Fujimura's used to have a connection to Ryudou Temple."

Shirou shook his head, "But Taiga?"

Arturia said, "We should go home." Her stomach growled. "Maybe an early dinner? We did miss lunch."

Shirou nodded gently. "We should wait for RIn."

Issei sighed, "She got sent home early. A nasty fight between her and Shinji Matou. There are some rumors that she killed him and is using her families influence to cover it up."

Shirou just glared at Issei. He knew his friend didn't get along with her, but seriously?

Issei blinked, "Um, Emiya, I am not kidding. It happened. And Shinji Matou is missing. I didn't say I believe the rumors. Tohsaka is manipulative, but I don't think she is a cold blooded killer." He did pause for a moment, "Of course if the rumors are true, then I can almost understand."

Shirou grabbed his friends arm, "What rumors?"

Issei looked at him strangely, "That Matou raped her."

Shirou let go of his arm.

Issei blinked again, "You mean, you mean it is true? Sweet Sakura was…." An expression Shirou had never seen flashed across Issei's face. Rage. His voice was thick, "Ayako will kill him." He paused for a moment. "And I will help."

"Issei…."

His friend shook his head. "I need to find Ayako. See if she has talked to Sakura Matou. But tomorrow… tomorrow we really need to talk." And Issei left.

Arturia's stomach grumbled again. Shirou looked at her and she just grinned sheepishly. "Let's get you something to eat."

-Scene Break—

Sakura Matou-

She stood clad in shadow on the top of the Bridge over the Mion River. She looked down at the water far below. A tiny part of her wished for the simplicity that would happen should she fall off.

She would plummet to her death and it would all be over. No more worries about hurting her friends or Sempai. No more worries about the things that had been done to her and what they would make her do.

No more endless hunger. It gnawed at her now. The creatures inside of her had their loyalty more than half won, and their nature as well. But the effects still hadn't changed. The internal pressure was building.

She needed intercourse soon, or her dark side would find someone to feed off of. There was no way she could ask Sempai tonight. Not after the debacle that was school.

So she was pondering the elemental question of sex or death from some random stranger. Which would be easier to live with afterwards?

And then he came. He was moderately dark skinned, but Indian not African. He smiled at her, "So Miss Matou. How did you come to be here?"

"I just needed some peace and quiet."

"On the top of a bridge?"

Sakura sighed, "It has been a long day." She sat down on the ledge. A few shadows lay close enough to pull her to safety if she needed. "It is strange meeting you here, Archer."

"I was just on the lookout for the old man, when I saw you. I remember that night in the park and I decided to make sure you were okay."

Sakura laughed a little unevenly. "Not exactly."

Archer smiled at her, "I am not a man of many words, but I have been told I have some skill in listening. Do you care to tell me about your day? I promise not to judge."

Sakura looked at Archer, "That is because you do not know me."

Archer sat down next to her, "No, my dear. I swear I will not judge you. I will only listen. Sometimes even the unmanageable seems possible once you have talked it out."

Sakura laughed bitterly, "Why not. Half the school knows my worst secrets. Why not tell them all?"

Archer smiled at her. "I am listening."

And so Sakura began to talk. At first she was cautious, but Archer knew the right words and the right questions. Bit by bit she shared everything with him.

Everything.

When he left her she was sated and optimistic. She still needed to talk to her sister, but while her new situation would be difficult, she no longer needed to hide. She watched with Reinforced eyes as Arturia, Shirou and Rin walked along the bridge to the other side of the street.

Ah, the church. They needed to confirm their status with the priest there.

She moved swiftly among the soft shadows cast by the moon. To her new home.

They would be hungry when they came back. She would have dinner waiting.

-Scene Break—

A/N- Well here comes the end to another part. Monday ends next part and Tuesday is the battle for Homurabura Gakuen. (Although Monday night is going to be a train wreck itself.) Hope this part was enjoyable and if you have any comments or questions let me know.

Thanks for reading.