.
.
Night fell over the little house in Fuyuki, and while Martha and Glen slept quietly Diarmuid sat by the window, looking out into the blue-grey darkness. His Master was asleep, having healed himself from the punch a few hours earlier; he watched as Waver turned, strands of long dark hair falling over his face, the sheets of the bed rustling with the movement. There was no reason for Diarmuid to take physical form right now, but somehow he felt more at ease manifested like this - as if he could guard his Master better, somehow.
The hours passed in silence, and slowly the blue haze of early night gave way to an inky stillness. It was then that his Master began to stir, squeezing his eyes and shifting under the covers.
"I thought I told you to wake me when it's night," Waver said, and Diarmuid turned to look at him, quietly.
"Forgive me, my lord. But tonight I felt we should take more care with our preparations."
"Why?" Waver said.
"Well, it is just a feeling, my lord. But I believe everything will reach its conclusion tonight."
His body was silhouetted against the window, the orange light from the streetlamp framing his body like a portrait. He moved gracefully from the window sill to a standing position, squinting his eyes.
"The night seems too still," Diarmuid said. "I can't help but think that something will happen."
"You're probably right," Waver said. He pushed off the covers and stood. "There are only four of us pairings left- huh?"
There was a flash, sudden bursts of brilliant light.
"What was that?" Waver said. He and Diarmuid ran outside.
Outside, the sky lit up like Christmas, flashes of green and red glittering above them. "What is that?" Diarmuid said. "Fireworks?" Waver squinted his eyes and silently counted the code.
"That pattern. Four and seven, in different colors. 'Victory' and 'success.' Does that mean the Grail War is over?"
"No, that cannot be right," Diarmuid said. "For one thing, there are still three other Servants. And also the direction is not from the Church."
"So someone else is sending it, then," Waver said. "But why?"
"I believe it is a challenge, my lord." Diarmuid looked up, watching the fireworks bursting above him. "It is probably meant to lure us Servants out. It may very well be a trap."
Waver furrowed his brow and frowned.
"What should we do, Lancer?" Waver said.
"The prudent thing may be to wait it out. If there is more fighting to be done, we could wait until the crowd further thins out."
"...But?" Waver said.
"But there are times when striking first gives the greatest advantage. If we fail to act, we may find ourselves cornered later."
"So what do you think we should do?" Waver said. Diarmuid considered.
"I believe we should bring the battle to them."
xXx
.
They leapt in the direction of the fireworks, Lancer hoisting Waver on his back and leaping far across the buildings. Waver held on with his arms around Lancer's neck, too tense about the upcoming battle to feel embarrassed traveling this way. Lancer sprang forward, his body cutting through the air like an arrow, and Waver squinted his eyes at the feel of the wind rushing against his face.
"Lancer! Prepare yourself!" Saber said. Lancer and Waver turned.
The strike came from nowhere. Lancer barely managed to block, grabbing his sword, while Waver tumbled backwards, whacking his shoulder against the pavement. He scrambled backwards, crouching on the ground while Saber attacked.
"Where is Irisviel?" Saber said, savagely.
"Saber, I have no idea!" Diarmuid said.
"Do not lie to me, knave! I saw you take her with my own eyes!"
The strike came down hard, Diarmuid just barely managing to block. Saber swung, slashing wildly. She shoved her blade hard against his, a finger's breadth from Diarmuid's neck. "I ask you again, Lancer," Saber said, the weight of her body leaning into her sword. "Where is Irisviel?"
She pressed harder. The blade of his rapier bending under her weight.
"Lancer!" Waver threw out his arm.
Diarmuid's eyes widened. His sword glowed, a torrent of mana swirling up his arm.
"You can use this sword to fight, but you won't be able to charge it with mana. If you need to use any special moves you'll still have to materialize your spears..."
Understanding dawned on him: Caster did this for his Master, and Waver must have seen him. His head snapped back toward Waver, who was gritting his teeth and concentrating, hard.
His sword wouldn't break, not when his Master was reinforcing it with magecraft. He felt a surge of mana vaulting upwards, and he broke her hold, slamming his sword against hers and pushing her back on the defensive.
"So you fancy yourself a swordsman, Lancer," Saber said, and the invisible air thrust upwards around her sword, a tornado of spiraling energy revealing her golden blade. "Allow me to show you what a real swordsman can do."
She lunged, a barely controlled burst of power, a yellow flash of the blade, cutting through the air. He blocked and blocked again, his right arm swinging, blocking her strikes, before countering with a hard thrust. Saber gritted down and threw the weight of her body forward, the blade of Excalibur whacking into the side of the rapier.
"Lancer!" Waver said.
"Where is she?" Saber said. She struck, then struck again. "Where is she, Lancer?! Answer me!"
"I do not know!" Diarmuid said. "Saber! Servants cannot lie! You know this to be true!"
Saber slammed her sword into his blade, pushing him back. Each swing closer to cutting him, her movements growing stronger, overwhelming him.
A hard strike, and his sword went flying. She stepped near Diarmuid and pointed her blade.
"The advantage is mine, Lancer," Saber said. "I shall give you one last chance. Tell me where is Irisviel, and I may deign to let you live."
She pressed the tip of her blade against Diarmuid's neck. A bead of blood welled up at the tip. Diarmuid swallowed, breathing hard.
"Do what you will with me, Saber. But on my honor, I do not know."
Saber looked at him one long moment. Her eyes narrowed.
She dropped her hand, lowering her sword.
Waver ran toward them. "Lancer! Are you okay?"
"I am fine, my lord," Diarmuid said. He rubbed his neck, gingerly. "Thankfully, Saber believed me."
"Lancer, I am sorry," Saber said, and she released her mana, her armor giving way to her suit underneath. "I have been in pursuit of Irisviel these last few hours and I believed you to be the culprit."
"Wait, what?" Waver said. "Lancer's been with me. We didn't have anything to do with it."
"If it were anyone else, I would not believe you," Saber said. "But I saw it with my own eyes. A man who looked like Lancer kidnapped Irisviel, this I know for sure."
"Shapeshifting magic," Waver said. "That's got to be the answer. But which of the Servants can do that?"
"Archer and Berserker are the only Servants left besides the two of us," Diarmuid said. Waver nodded.
"So it must have been Berserker," Waver said.
Saber's mouth thinned.
"Lancer," Saber said. "I hate to ask you this now, as I was intent on killing you only a few short moments ago. But is there any chance you would entertain an alliance?"
Waver and Diarmuid glanced at each other.
"I know not where my Master is, two other Servants roam the area and Irisviel's whereabouts are thus unknown. It vexes me, but I require further assistance."
"Fine," Diarmuid said. "But why ally with us? You know we seek the Grail as well."
"I suppose when the time comes, we shall have to engage in honorable combat. But for now I have no one else I can trust."
Diarmuid glanced at Waver. "It's up to you," Waver said. Diarmuid nodded.
"Then we would be happy to help," Diarmuid said. Saber nodded, solemnly.
"I thank you again, my friend," Saber said. "Forgive me for attacking you."
"You were protecting your lord. There is nothing to forgive," Diarmuid said. Saber gave him an understated nod.
"The lights of victory were shot outside the Fuyuki Municipal Building. I believe Irisviel may be there."