"Dinner's here..." Shirou said when he entered the house, voice taking a monotonous tone that creeped everyone else out, holding up a brown bag full of containers of food. Given that his kitchen's currently destroyed he ordered take-out for the first time since Kiritsugu was alive.
"You get California rolls?" Rin asked. "I've been wanting to try them.
Shirou fished out the container of them from the bag. "I didn't forget."
They were about to start eating. Though Illya's with them now, it felt empty without Saber and Archer. The only warning they got was the sound of flapping before a Chi-You appeared through the destroyed wall.
"This thing again?!" Lancer demanded. His spear materialized. "Yeah, ya aren't gettin' -" Six more flew in before he could finish, three blocking him. "Oh, come on!"
"They're really insistent this time!" Rin exclaimed. She fired a Gandr at the Chi-You she was facing off against, but the thing swatted it down. "Wha -?!" It must have high Magic Resistance.
There was a scream and all of the Chi-You suddenly pulled back. Lancer saw who one of them held despite her kicking wildly. "Akiko?!"
Rin turned to Illya and Shirou, who were with her. "What happened?!"
Illya was the one to answer Rin's question. "She was trying to help brother defend me from two...then a third swooped in and grabbed her."
"But why did it go after her?!" Shirou demanded.
Illya looked down in shame. "I wish I knew..."
Rin put her right hand on Lancer's left shoulder. He looked like he was ready to give chase. "It's getting way too late for us to look for where Hashimoto is being taken. First thing tomorrow, the four of us will search for and rescue her."
Lancer growled. "Fine!"
Illya was silent. All she did was look at Lancer out of the corner of her eye.
It was night out. Rin and Shirou were asleep. Lancer was supposed to be as well. But he wasn't. He had a plan for tonight.
He carefully opened the door to his room and went out the front door without waking the other residents of the house. Even though the moon was full, only a little light from it shone down on the yard that he stepped out into. That was because it was mostly covered by passing clouds. Good. Even those he passed by on the way to his destination shouldn't spot Lancer unless they were actually looking for others on the sidewalks.
He wanted to rescue his Master. She had the type of personality he enjoyed the most from a woman. She may seem cold to people she's just met, but if they take time to really get to know her, she shows a warmer side to them. And she's pretty strong-willed too. She's not afraid to speak what's on her mind, even if that thing may upset the recipient. At the same time, she does hesitate to express her feelings. Like love. It felt like a challenge to Lancer to get her to finally act on her feelings for him, even if she did pretend it was for another reason, and he enjoys a good challenge.
Without so much as moving a muscle, Lancer materialized his battle attire over his body. He also materialized Gae Bolg. He clutched it so tightly in his right hand that his knuckles turned white.
"Just hang on, Akiko. I'm gonna save ya," Lancer whispered to no one in particular. He crouched, ready to take off at full speed for the temple. He didn't know exactly where in that location Arius Nova was holding Akiko hostage, but he would be able to find it by locating where her presence was coming from. Because their pact had not yet been severed, the link between the two would let each track the other down no matter where in the world they are. Even if she insisted they're partners, that doesn't change the fact that he's her Servant and she's his Master. He had a duty to protect her. And he would do it, even if it costs him his life in the process.
"Planning on leaving?"
A voice, quiet yet loud to Lancer's ears as he had hoped to sneak out without getting the others involved. He quickly looked behind him over his left shoulder to see who it was that had spotted him. It was Illya. She was still in her pajamas, as if she had just gotten out of bed and made her first stop the front doors.
"Illyasviel! What're ya doin' here?!" Lancer demanded, though he remembered to keep his voice down to an indoor one so he wouldn't wake the other two up.
"I could ask you the same thing," the little homunculus replied simply, not scared at all by this Servant who might seriously be considering killing her so she wouldn't notify the two ex-Masters. "You're planning to rescue your Master, aren't you?"
Lancer stood up fully, turning to Illya. "'Course I am."
"Because you're her Servant?"
"No. It's because she's important to me."
Illya smiled. "I figured the bond between you two was that strong. That must be why you took a hit from Berserker for her. Very well. I won't try to stop you from doing this. And I'll keep the other two from knowing about this as well."
"Thanks, Illyasviel."
"Make sure you bring Akiko back safe. And I wish you good luck against Arius Nova. When you get back, make sure to call me Illya."
"Yeah. See ya soon." After he said that, he made a beeline for the temple without acknowledging anything. He was moving way too fast to be seen, especially since it's night. He reached the depth of the cave under the temple in no time; it was amazing he didn't end up smashing through anything. It was only when he reached his destination that he stopped. Akiko was unconscious, trapped by a web of crystal near the pillar. Near the base of the Greater Grail was Arius Nova himself. It was like the Servant was expected.
"Huh, I thought you'd be here a lot earlier. Were you nervous since I killed that Saber Servant?"
Lancer grinned. "Just who ya think yer talkin' to? Oh yeah. You don't know a thing about me. That includes how much I wanna kick yer ass!"
"Oh? Is this human really so important to you. That's right, she's your Master. I'm afraid I need to borrow her for the time being."
"And why's that?!"
"Ten years ago, when Angra Manyu released his blessing on Fuyuki, this one came into contact with a fragment of the Holy Grail while fleeing the mud, but she was it too much of a hurry to notice it latch onto and burrow into her. It has been nurtured long enough, so Angra Manyu can now take her as his Master!"
"So you won't be seen as useful anymore. But you're still an individual. Don't you have a wish of your own? Your own will?"
Arius Nova paused for a moment, as if thinking of an answer. "...No. I am empty inside. My only desire is seeing Angra Manyu be reborn."
"So you'll be Angra Manyu's puppet to the very end. Pathetic." Lancer materialized his spear. "Sorry, but I won't let Akiko be his puppet either. I'm takin' her back."
Arius Nova spread his wings. "I'm afraid it won't be that simple."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
When the darkness went away from Akiko's vision, a scene unfolded before her very eyes. She saw she was in the kitchen of her own house, in front of the stove. A pot full of bubbling water was on a glowing-red burner. In the water was a mix of vegetables like green beans, carrots, and corn. She heard the floor creak near her, meaning somebody was walking over it. Akiko turned her head to look to her right, seeing who it was that was approaching her. To her surprise, it was Lancer! He was wearing baggy blue jeans and a grey-and-white long-sleeved shirt.
"Wh-Wha..?!" Akiko stammered.
This is showing your desire.
A new voice, one that Akiko had not heard before. It was like the person the voice belongs to was speaking directly into her head. And Lancer wasn't showing any reaction to the voice. Akiko must be the only one hearing it.
"The steak's cookin' on the grill," Lancer said to Akiko. Then he peered into the pot on the stove. "Looks like ya have the veggies started."
"What-What is this..?" Akiko questioned, seemingly to no one in particular. Lancer glanced at the mage and blinked in confusion.
"...We're gettin' ready fer dinner, Love. Ya hit yer head or somethin'?"
"'Love'?!"
"I've been callin' ya that fer years, an' yer just now sayin' somethin'? Ya sure are actin' weird."
"I'm acting weird?!"
"Yeah, ya sure are." Then Lancer held onto the back of Akiko's head and kissed her on the forehead. "Maybe ya should see a doctor tomorrow."
'I know I'm not the one messed up in the head!' Akiko thought. 'There's definitely something wrong here!'
There isn't.
That voice again!
'Who are you..? What's going on?!'
I am the one inside the Holy Grail. My name is Angra Manyu.
'A-Angra Manyu?!' But why he was communing with her wasn't high on her priority list of things she needed to know right now. 'What is this?!'
This is your desire of spending the rest of your days with the Servant you have come to love.
'What do you mean?'
How much clearer do I have to spell it out?! Your wish is to be with Cu Chulainn! This is how your life will be with the realization of that wish!
'What has happened between us then?! We seem to be close.'
You two are. After the War, you two began dating. Then after your six years of college were over, you two got married.
'M-Married?!'
Don't sound so shocked. After all you two went through together during the War, this result was obvious. This is the life both of you share now.
Akiko looked at the steel of the sink, seeing her reflection. Her face and body were different. She looked slightly older now. She was probably in her mid or late 20s. 'So...This is the outcome of my wish...'
You finally get it! And by giving yourself to me, I will order Arius Nova to stop attacking your Servant.
'He's here in the cavern?!'
Correct. He believes he can save you. But like Servant Saber, he will die.
'No! He's strong! He'll win!'
That's only in your head. But in reality, his blood will stain the ground. But as I said, I will order Arius Nova to spare your Servant if you give yourself to me without resistance. And as a reward to you, I will grant your wish.
'My wish...'
That's right. And by aiding me, this scene will become reality!
'If I help you...' Should she give herself to Angra Manyu?
You don't have to think twice about this. Just surrender yourself to me and you can spend your life in happiness.
Surrender herself. And she would get this. It was tempting, but...
Hmm? What's wrong? Just agree to my offer!
No. She couldn't. She knew the truth of what would happen if she surrendered her will. It would be destroyed. She would have no concept of what was happening around her. And besides...
She'll make her own happiness. She doesn't need anyone's help.
Why have you gone silent?!
"I'd better get a plate for the steak," Lancer said. He turned around and reached up, opening the cabinet door that held the plates. At the same time, Akiko turned her attention to the knife drawer to the right of the stove.
Huh? What are you up to?
Akiko didn't reply. She opened the drawer and took out a long, sharp-tipped knife for cutting meat. Then she turned her body, facing Lancer's turned back. The man got out a plate and didn't turn around to see what Akiko was looking at while holding a knife.
What are you planning to do?!
Again, Akiko remained silent. She slowly walked up to Lancer, holding the knife in a reverse grip.
"Goodbye..." she whispered. She raised the knife over her head in a stabbing position.
"Hmm?" Was all Lancer got to say before he felt a sharp pain enter his back. Akiko had just used the knife to stab her Servant in the back, the blade slicing through the muscle of his heart.
What have you done?!
Akiko pulled the blood-covered knife out of Lancer's back, letting him crumple to the ground as his legs gave out. He looked at the mage, eyes reflecting the shock he was feeling at Akiko's action. "But why..?"
Akiko spoke in a monotone voice. Her eyes were blank as she stared at the bleeding man. "You aren't the Cu Chulainn I know. Just an imitation."
Lancer's body was shaking, not only because he was slowly losing control over it, but also because he was genuinely afraid of what Akiko would do to him next. And he loved her too much to fight back against her. "Why would ya do this to me?!"
The area around the two slowly changed. Eventually, the two were alone, surrounded by something like the pitch-black of space. Yet Akiko and Lancer were still bright as if light still shone on them. It was too dark around them for Akiko to tell if they were boxed in or if it went on forever in any direction. It felt like she was still standing on solid ground. Even Lancer and the blood around him appeared to be on some kind of flat surface. But below Akiko's feet was all black as well. Was she standing on something transparent, like glass? If that was the case, if she accidentally broke it, would she and Lancer fall into nothingness for all eternity?
Lancer was trying to crawl away from Akiko, who was still gripping the handle of the knife tightly. Blood coming out of the wound on the man's back soaked into the shirt he wore. The rivers of red that weren't soaked up by the fabric fast enough dripped onto the jet-black ground to join the rest. It left a trail behind Lancer as he crawled away. But the movement was weak as he was slowly losing control over his body.
Akiko slowly stepped over to the bleeding man, raising her knife again. But this time, her eyes were no longer blank. Tears welled up in the bottom eyelids, threatening to spill over.
"You aren't him!" she shouted as her knife went into Lancer's back again. She wasn't aiming now. It went into the bottom set of his left ribs. Blood hit her face once again when the blade hit flesh. This made her tears spill down her cheeks.
She ripped the knife out as she got ready to stab the man. She was straddling the Servant from behind now, pinning him on his stomach. "You aren't him!" The knife went into Lancer's back again. She pulled it out and stabbed him over and over, screaming "You aren't him!" each time. When she had done this a dozen times now, she pulled the knife out of the new wound she made and didn't get ready to stab again. Instead, she dropped the knife to cover her eyes with both hands, weeping loudly.
It was then that Angra Manyu spoke into her head again. What do you mean it isn't him?! According to your belief, he is the same person!
Akiko remembered what she had said to Kirei. Even though his soul was copied, it hasn't changed! He's still has the same personality and memories he did his first life! So why was this time different?! His soul. Is his soul really the same?
No. It's slightly different from how she remembered. After all, this is someone Angra Manyu conjured up. He may look and sound like her Servant, may talk like him, but it wasn't him. It wasn't him. It wasn't him. It wasn't him. It wasn't him, alright!
Lancer weakly looked back at the woman behind him, blood spilling from his mouth. "L-Love..." His Battle Continuation was allowing him to cling to life, even though Akiko had already stabbed his heart. But for him, it felt like he was walking a tightrope, and falling off meant death. After all, Akiko had already cut several of his organs.
Akiko squeezed her eyes shut as she picked up the knife, raising it up over her head with both hands. "Shut up!"
When she stabbed down, Lancer fell silent when the blade entered him. Akiko cracked her eyes open to see why. The knife was buried up to the handle in the back of the man's skull.
'Well, now you have my answer, Angra Manyu. Even an offer of happiness for me won't make me give up my soul.'
I see...You're willing to go so far to prove that, are you? Very well. You have just given up a future together with your Servant! Now the real one will die!
'He won't. I have faith that he'll win.'
We'll see.