Disclaimer: We don't own the Fate series, any of the fictional series the various servants come from, or Type-moon at all. But we're bored and imaginative, so sit back and enjoy the madness.

Forsaken: Rejoice, Dear Readers. Your patience is being rewarded.

glasbowl14: No Matter what you do, or where life takes you, you needn't worry; I'll always be there

…to look at you funny and say "Well that doesn't make any sense."

FFR: Yeah, that sounds like me. Sense isn't always guaranteed.

Chapter 1: Feuding Cousins

/Iwai Residence, North District of the city, 7:30 a.m. (Tuesday Week 1)

"I will be fine, Caitlyn, really. Thanks for letting us stay the night, but it would really be for the best if we got our own spot to hideout in."

"Rubbish. Unless you plan to glamour some innocent landlord, you running off on your own and wasting funds on something as mundane as rent is just plain rubbish. You're staying with me Eiji. I used to babysit you when you were 5, and you ain't that much different now."

"Caitlyn, you never babysat me, you just bossed me around since you were 7! You're just two years older than me, quit acting like-"

Eiji didn't get to finish his defiant speech, as Caitlyn had snatched him and placed him a head lock. Berserker moved to strike the young woman, but Eiji frantically waved him off while trying to pry himself free of her grip. Caitlyn was shaking him to and fro in her grasp.

"You. Are. Staying. Here. With. Me! I'm letting you run off and shack up with some local floozy."

Sighing, Eiji saw that he might of made a mistake. Clearly Caitlyn was still holding on to that old conversation she overheard their parents having when they were younger.

"Caitlyn, we are not engaged. My mother should have never promised you that I would-"

Bringing his head up closer, Caitlyn licked the back of Eiji's ear. He froze up in response and quit resisting, shivering a bit. Berserker looked curiously at this interaction between the two, as his cheeks flushed red at the sight. Caitlyn noticed this.

"Oh, did you're Servant die a cherry boy?"

Not recognizing the phrase, but getting the meaning, Berserker became incensed and sulked off to the room prepared for him, his footsteps leaving broken imprints in the ground.

Breaking out of his trance, Eiji saw his Servant stomping off in a foul mood. Finally breaking free of Caitlyn's hold, Eiji turned around and retreated backwards from her, keeping his eyes on her while doing so.

"Just what did you say to Berserker?"

"I was just teasing the fella. Who would think a hero would get all bent out of shape about being a virgin?"

"…you know I'm still one, right? It's kind of a sensitive subject with guys, hero or not."

Looking her guest up and down, Caitlyn licked her lips upon hearing this.

"Well, I'm happy to help you out with that."

Eiji was at the door to his room like a lightning bolt, with a speed that would make even Servants jealous.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Closing and bolting the door, Eiji heard Caitlyn sighing in frustration, before apparently dropping onto the couch and turning on the morning news. Sighing himself, Eiji collected himself as he planned his next move.

It's not like I don't find her beautiful, but she's like the others. The Edelfelt girl and more have been after me ever since I was young, partially because all of their families want to "align with the Tohsaka victor". God damn mages, it's the fucking 21st century and they're still pulling that arranged marriage crap. If I knew that she felt this way for me completely on her own and wasn't being pushed on me by her folks, that would be one thing, but…

He snapped out of that mindset, slapping his own cheeks to focus.

Now is not the time for that, Eiji. We can deal with Caitlyn's lust for us later; right now we got to consider how we're going to proceed. Do I send out Berserker alone to track down and identify other Masters' strongholds and what class of Servant they have? Mom and Father went out with their Servants, though they got jumped by that War's Berserker by being out themselves. Then again, Father mentioned how an enemy Caster went after Aunty Taiga, so it's not like staying here with Caitlyn is the best option either.

But then I did tell her it would be better if I just left, but that woman is more stubborn than Mom sometimes.

An image of Rin mentally hearing him popped into his head, and he adjusted his last statement.

Scratch that, no one is more stubborn than Mom.

The mental Rin was now more pissed, leaving Eiji frazzled at just the imagined thought of his mother berating him. Perhaps if he imagined a mental Aunt Artoria laughing in the corner and offering to comfort him while Rin rages, he'd be able to cope like in his childhood. But going that far would be silly…

– Breaking news, reports of the local arsonist being sighted in the South district continues, as police tighten the net around the degenerate. The culprit is said to be a young man, accompanied by a woman with questionable clothing who appears to be able to defy gravity. The young man is suspected of arson, sex-related charges of an undisclosed nature, and assault. While those filing the assault charge are noted criminals, the damage done to the motel room is credited exclusively to the young man. –

"Caitlyn, what on Earth are you watching?"

"Channel 11 news. Care to come join me?"

Smiling weakly, he answered.

"I'm good."

– Descriptions of the boy suggest that he's of middle or high school age, possibly 15 years old. He possess neat combed back purple hair, sign of clear delinquency… –

"Wait a minute…"

– said to dress in a neat school uniform, though how he expects this to counter his delinquent hair is anyone's guess, and wears glasses. A woman who met a young man matching his descriptions describes him as a 'rude, impatient little (word we can't use on air), and that it doesn't surprise her that he's the type to force himself on girls. Says he made disparaging remarks towards her because of her gender, and tried to prevent her from making her family dinner. –

Despite the nonsense about the sexual predator like charges, and the arson and assault, the description of a rude purple haired young man sounded an awful lot like…

"Tendou. Dear God man, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you're a Master too?"

Coming out of his room and checking the television screen, Eiji saw a video shot from someone's phone being broadcasted, of a young man clutching on to the legs of someone who appeared to be a young woman, while they were aboard a large flat piece of paper. The two then soared off into the air, the young woman apparently laughing her head off, while Eiji heard the young man scream in a familiar voice.

"That IDIOT! Why is he fighting in the Grail War, he knows I'm here already. What, does he want to come kill me or something, or does he not know the rules of a Grail War?!"

Caitlyn looked up at Eiji, who was standing behind her fuming as he tightly gripped her sofa. Her face was soft and understanding, having heard Tendou's voice and recognized it as well.

"Eiji, I'm so sorry. I can't believe Tendou went and got a Servant of his own."

"He's always been like this. It's like whatever vendetta Aunty Sakura never had manifested in him. Why does he hate me for what Grandfather Tokiomi decided to do?"

Reaching up to nurse his face with her hand, Caitlyn tried to reassure him.

"Oh come on, it's Tendou. Yeah, he can be abrasive and competitive, but I'm sure he's not here to fight you. Or you know, at least not kill you. It's not like it's a rule that one Master has to kill the other Masters, your parents didn't off each other after all."

According to Mom, she 'tried' to end Father plenty of times, though knowing her…

"And not just them, since Aunt Sakura was apparently a Master as well; clearly he would know about Masters surviving despite being relatives with other competitors. He might just be here to show you up."

Calming down a bit after this, Eiji vaulted over the couch to sit down on it next to Caitlyn. The idea that his cousin was just here to one-up him made him chuckle a bit, not out of doubt of Tendou's abilities but because it would totally be something that goes through his mind.

Berserker had opened his door when he heard Eiji yelling earlier, and looked at the TV screen to see what was causing his rage. Seeing what appeared to be a Servant flying off with a young man, Berserker seemed to enter his class' angered state at the sight.

"Master and Servant…will we be pursuing them?!"

Noting his Servant's excitement, Eiji thought for a moment before answering.

"Yes, but not as enemies. That Master is my cousin, so we're not going to hurt him."

"…the Servant?"

"Her, you can drop, but only if she tries anything. No reason to be rough with people we can talk out of fighting."

"Understood. Do you have an idea…where your cousin would go?"

Scratching the back of his head, the young Master couldn't come up with an immediate answer.

"I mean, he's always been a bit of a miser, and we didn't really 'share' at family get-togethers. Though to be fair, I guess it would be more accurate to say he doesn't like to over-spend his money. So if that cheap looking motel that caught on fire was a place he felt like staying at, our best bet is to try and find places with either low rent or in an equally cheap overnight price."

"That would probably be in the South District. The mayor likes to focus so much on us here in the North District, that the other areas tend to be underdeveloped. South District is where a lot of teens like to go to for a cheap room. You know for…"

"Yeah I get it Caitlyn, thanks."

Moving for the closet, Eiji opens it and pulls out a red cotton jacket. Next he retrieves a green satchel that jingled with sound as he moved it, the various gems he's forged making noise as he straps the bag over a shoulder. Berserker came up alongside him and took his parka, which materialized with him. Eiji gave him a surprised look as he saw his Servant putting on his a coat of his own.

"Aren't you just going to 'Henshin' later? Why bring a coat?"

"Can still be cold…when not transformed. And besides, you said to take the Servant down…if she tries anything…may not have to."

Nodding his head down with eyes closed and a small smile, acknowledging the fact and finding it funny that the Berserker is less concerned with fighting than he is, Eiji laughed a little and closed the closet. Turning around to face Caitlyn briefly, Eiji bowed to her, which Berserker nervously copied on sight.

"Well we're off. This thing with Tendou should be resolved soon; it's nothing to worry about. We'll be back before you know it."

"You better."

Turning around slightly, the two of them left through the main door. Seeing a man getting on a motorcycle across the street from them, Berserker looked longing at the machine as the man rode of, something Eiji noted as he followed his Servant's line of sight.

"Right, you Riders and your machines. Maybe I'll get you one later, would be useful to have."

"Not of the Rider class…my skill is diminished as I am."

"That's cool, I can ride myself. You can just hang on in the back."

Catching a tram, the two rode it down to the South District, noting the changing types of citizens as the ride got closer and closer to their destination…

/Lunen Park, South District, 9:00 a.m.

Searching around town, they heard a lot of people talk about spotting a young man matching Tendou's description, but at least 3 leads led to a purple haired delinquent who had decided to hold up a couple of convenience stores this week. Having simply picked a bad time to be going around robbing people, as the heat from Tendou's spectacle was now following on his lap, the delinquent was rendered unconscious from a single tap from Berserker. The duo left him by the entrance of the local police district, with an iron bar twisted around him to keep him from moving.

Checking out some of the area's cheap hotel, none of them had Eiji's cousin within them, and after asking the first landlord Eiji decided that is was best to not ask directly, rather having Berserker scout in spirit form.

Coming to an unfinished looking part of the town, barricade away from the regular populace with fences and barbed wires, Eiji and his Servant found the area to be occupied with empty motels and under construction apartment buildings. Berserker seemed to stir as he picked up something in the air, becoming slightly agitated by the scent.

"Mana is strong here…definitely a Servant nearby."

"Right. Go back into Spirit form then. I don't won't to spook my cousin, making it seem like I've come to take him out first."

Nodding in agreement, Berserker disappeared into the air. Looking around, Colin spotted light coming from a nearby Subway station. Descending its stairs, he saw a small gathering of homeless people around a fire in a steel can.

Even in a developing city, people who can't make it get thrust into poverty. And with all these empty buildings too; couldn't they have offered them housing with all the effort they're putting into this place? Or at least a ticket to somewhere else.

Turning around to leave, he suddenly heard a very familiar voice. It was whining about something, as usual.

"Look at this, they're saying that I was holding you against your will! They're making me out to be some sort of pervert!"

An unfamiliar voice answered the Matou heir, though Eiji could only make out some of her words. Moving towards the voices, turning quite a few corners in the process, the Tohsaka heir came across his cousin, squatting in a ticket masters office seemingly talking to himself.

Knowing better, he announced himself from around the corner, so as to not startle Tendou too much.

"Yo Tendou, is that you?"

He heard the sound of Tendou jumping up in alarm, seemingly banging his foot against something due to coming up to fast.

If I had just walked up to him, he'd likely of hurt himself on something out of fright anyway. Staying back a bit lets him collect his dignity before he's ready to see me. And you know, without him blaming me for his pain.

"…Eiji? You're here?"

"That I am. You're not going to toss an acid termite at me or anything if I come out, are you?"

"What? No, I'm not going to attack you! And you know damn well that my Origin-"

"Controls ants, I know I know. You're still getting provoked by that 6 years later. Lighten up, man."

Eiji noticed that Tendou's Servant hadn't said anything since he made his presence known, and while he doubted his cousin would order an attack on him, he had no idea how the Servant would react to him. Coming forward, he approached the office while appearing to have not a worry in the world.

"Seriously though cousin: what are you doing here? You know it's my mission to complete my mom's work. It's not like I want to be here, but Aunt Artoria and Father won't let mom go, and I'm not letting Father put more on his shoulders than he already has. Why did you come?"

"You think I wanted to? Grandfather Zouken is forcing me into this! I want to be miles away from this mess!"

"Zouken? I thought you're mom kicked him out years ago."

"Yeah, well he's been pestering me for months now, once word got around that another Grail War was about to start."

Eiji made the mistake of letting a piteous look show on his face, which only earned him his cousin's anger.

"Don't give that, I don't need your sympathy! Why do all of you think I can't handle myself?!"

Recognizing what he did wrong, but confused by his cousin's attitude, Eiji tried to smooth things over with Tendou.

"What are you talking about? You think our family doesn't be- dude you discovered your origin by accident when we were like 7. No one thinks little of you as a mage."

"Right, that's why you're the one with arranged marriages set up since you started walking. And I'm the one with the creepy exiled grandfather."

Starting to realize the real reason Tendou might have agreed to….no, set out to be a Master, Eiji started to lose his patience.

"Oh quit making it seem like Zouken's holding your dog collar. You're doing this because you're freaking jealous of me?! Is that it?!"

"What's there to be jealous of?! You're only the star child, the little gem master. Yeah whoop-di-do, I learned how to control ants at age 6. How many girls want to hang out with the kid who can control insects? Even the guys wouldn't play with me, since I took all the "fun" out of messing with bugs!"

"So to feel better about yourself, you cowed in to Zouken and trained to become a Master?! Sorry to tell you this Tendou, but this is pretty stupid place to have a pity party for yourself! And if you think for one second I'm going to just leave you here, then-"

"Oh, what do you plan on doing with my Master?"

Eiji suddenly heard a voice behind him, and for the second time that day a pair of lips came extremely close to one of his ears, whispering like a naughty imp.

"And just when I was breaking him in…"

Tendou turned scarlet, implying something rather…imaginative from what his Servant meant by 'breaking him in'.

Eiji turned around to see a petite young woman returning to physical form behind him, posing like a bear about to devour her prey.

Not recognizing that she was doing this in a playful, teasing manner, Berserker changed out of his own spirit form and rushed at her from the end of the hall, shouting to transform as he drew close.

"AMAZON!"

Performing a dashing reverse-lariat, so that his forearm's blades came forward, Berserker attempted to take off Caster's head. Seeing him in time, she comically ducked backwards, looking in awe at her assailants arm as it flew past where she was moments before.

Landing on the other side of the room, Berserker turned around in an attempt to continue, but Eiji ordered him down.

"Berserker, calm down! She wasn't going to attack me!"

Tendou ran up alongside his Servant, whispering into her ear while keeping his eyes on Berserker.

"You weren't really going to do anything to him, were you?"

"What? Little old me? I'm harmless, practically fragile I tell you; wouldn't even hurt a fly."

Eiji eyed the flippant Servant cautiously, his hands already gripping a magical gem tensely. Recognizing how his cousin looks when he's preparing for hostility, Tendou braced up himself.

"Look, Caster can be…difficult to deal with, but so far she hasn't done anything to extreme."

"Burning down a motel isn't extreme?"

"That wasn't her, necessarily…"

Seeing the situation between the four of them deteriorating, Eiji tried to calm himself and be the peacemaker.

"Look, cousin. Neither of us want to kill each other, or see the other get hurt. But you have to know that yes, I'm better for the job at hand than you are. Hell, you're not even here to dismantle the Grail, if you're serious about working for Zouken. Go to the Church Official, surrender you claim as a Master, and go ho-"

"Flood Wall!"

With a quick wave of her hand, Caster caused the ground beneath Eiji to split and a wall of water came busting out like a geyser. Having suspected her of trying something, Eiji clicked the back of his heels quick at the first sign of danger, leaping back and having a small barrier from beneath both his feet. White gem shards shattered underneath his boots soles after being used, and Eiji was sent sailing back though the air to the wall behind him.

Tendou gave his Servant a look mixed between shock and anger, waving his arms in alarm.

"What did you do that for?! There was no need for that!"

"Oh what, he was going on and on. Besides, what kind of Servant would I be if I let my Master be swindled out of victory by some cheap words like that? You've already gone through the trouble of summoning me, why throw it all away because 'White Streaks' here wants you to?"

Being rather sensitive about the single streak of white hair running down the middle of his head, Eiji's opinion of Caster became dropped from annoying imp to rude little devil. Tendou started arguing fiercely with Caster, resembling his father more from when he's forced to share a room with Rin: cat-like bickering and some rather dismissive language regarding women in general.

Berserker rushed in front of his Master, his right hand clutching at his Battle Grip in preparation for a fight. This time Eiji said nothing to calm him down, instead locking eyes directly with his cousin.

"You do not want to do this."

Sighing, the Matou boy stopped berating his Servant and met Eiji's gaze, a steely determination appearing in his eyes that wasn't there before.

"No. But if you try to stop me, I will knock you down a peg or two."

The two pairs of Master and Servant stared each other down. Well, the three boys seriously locked eyes, while Caster was doing a goofy jig in anticipation.

What broke this tension was not one of these four making the first move, but a low buzzing sound come from down the hallway. At first, none of them paid it any attention, but Berserker seemed to grow alarmed by the noise. Suddenly, he made an abrupt 45 degree turn and pulled out his Battle Grip weapon, flailing it wildly as bullets came flying in towards all of them.

"VIOLENT BREAK!"

His weapon was once again in the shape of a barbed whip, and he expertly parried each bullet like they were nothing. Eiji watched in awe at just how fast his Servant was able to move. Tendou was distracted as well, so much so that he failed to notice one or two of the shots were making it past Berserker's defenses. Caster, having eyes that track movement better, did not.

"Quit daydreaming and pay attention!"

-knocking her Master out of the way of some incoming fire. Had she not shoved him so far, he might have appreciated the gesture more.

"Jeez, you're as gentle as a gorilla! There are better ways to save a person, you know!"

The thing responsible for the hail of bullets flew closer, revealing itself to be an assault drone, looking more custom made than military grade. Still, the work done on it was impressive: small but decently armed, grey in color and sporting some unknown hover technology that made is more silent than drones that rely on rotors or propellers.

"Graahh!"

A shame then, that Berserker had to smash it to pieces. Leaping at it, he caught the floating weapon in one hand and smashed it against the floor, stomping down for good measure.

This leap had taken him back out into the unfinished subway's main hall, rather than the corridor they were all in earlier. It was here that he was greeted by sudden spear thrust from his left.

"Hrraah!"

Turning in time to block the thrust, Berserker found himself being carried backwards by the force of his new opponent's charge. The man, or rather Servant was a heavily bearded individual, a glowing scar across his left eye and a large similar mark running down his left shoulder and chest. His right shoulder had on it a shoulder guard featuring a ram, and was garbed in a battle skirt and sandals typically depicted as part of some Greek warriors outfit.

This Servant, Lancer, was also carrying a huge shield. To his annoyance, Berserker found that pounding away at it while he was being carried away did seem to do anything to it, besides making it grow red and brighter with each strike.

Best…stop doing that.

Having had enough of this, Berserker twisted to the side, letting go of the spear and managing to roll off away from Lancer. The huge man slid forward still, before halting and turning to face his opponent.

"Beast, there seems to be some thought in you. Perhaps you won't be such an easy kill."

Growling in response, Berserker knelt before him on one knee, the other ready to kick off the ground the moment he felt he could close the gap between them safely.

Lancer didn't wait long before charging at him again with his spear in his right hand, though this time Berserker was ready. Rushing at him as well, he spun around as the spear was thrusted at him and swatted it aside with his left arm's blades, before continuing on to Lancer's body and taking a swipe with his right arm. Lancer brought up his shield in time, blocking another strike and gaining more of a glow to his shield.

Getting more enraged with Lancer being able to no sell his strikes, Berserker unleashed a flurry of swipes and elbow strikes, trying to either beat down Lancer or cut him across his exposed areas. While some hits landed home against flesh, Lancer managed to keep his shield up against almost half of Berserker's strikes. Finally, after his shield had gotten blindingly red, Lancer changed his posture and moved back a step, briefly exposing his chest while the red mana from his shield travelled across his arms and shoulders to his spear. Spinning and swinging his spear in a wide arc, he almost caught Berserker in this blow.

Having enough sense to see a glowing attack and know 'dodge that', Berserker leapt back to a nearby pillar and pressing his hands up against it, launched off of it back towards Lancer, as the Servant's spear smashed through the bottom of the pillar.

Not wanting to risk whatever power that shield had, Berserker changed tactics. Dropping down to a slide and giving Lancer a swift sweep kick, he managed to get his opponent off of his feet. Ascending quickly and spinning in mid-air, Berserker planted a powerful double kick right in the middle of Lancer's abs, sending him flying down the escalators behind him.

Giving in more to his battle savagery, Berserker charged on down after him target, ready to rip him apart.

Eiji came out of the corridor and into the hall, turning in time to see his Servant rush after his prey/opponent. The fight between the two Servants was going so quickly, Eiji only managed to get there by the time Berserker had sent Lancer flying off. Impressed to see his Servant handling himself, he moved to go witness the fight down a level but stopped upon hearing a hissing noise in the air.

Snapping his fingers, the red magical gem in his hands grew and enveloped his hands, producing claw-tipped ruby gauntlets on each. Once again snapping his fingers, though this time in the direction of the hissing sound, Eiji released various shots of fire, melting the incoming icicle missiles

"Lancer's Master, I presume?"

The person responsible for firing those ice blasts stepped out from behind a corner. It was a young man with pale skin, white hair and red eyes. Eiji had studied enough from his mother's notes to know who, or what he was dealing with.

"Oh, a homunculus huh? I guess the Einzberns are here to party again?"

"By your red coat, I take it you're the Tohsaka brat that's been making waves."

"Oh I'm nothing special."

Noticing the gloves on the homunculus' hands, and how he seemed to be fidgeting with them, Eiji sensed he was doing this deliberately to draw attention to them. While there's nothing wrong with this, the young man could feel that this action seemed forced; almost as if he was…

"Besides, let's talk about you. Like the fact that you're standing in for whoever's in control of Lancer."

The homunculus didn't betray any emotion, but the way he instead held up a hand and started forming a sharp ice shard in the air above it gave away that Eiji had made a point. It was the rushed job in which he was forming the spear that suggested this homunculus didn't want him around long enough to figure any other details out.

"Winter's Sting."

"Surtr's Tongue!"

Dashing backwards just to be safe, Eiji washed over the incoming icicle missiles with the same flame streams as before. Taking out an emerald coin, he flipped it towards the homunculus, with the power his gauntlets gave him sending it flying like a bullet. The artificial human was able to raise an ice wall in time to stop it, though upon impact the coin shattered, releasing a miniature tornado that broke the wall and spun the homunculus about, before smacking him against a wall.

Seeing a chance, Eiji dashed forward with a clawed gauntlet stretched out ahead. This was a mistake, as the homunculus quickly rose and made a gesture with both hands, taking control of the broken shards of ice and powdered snow caused by the damage to his ice wall. The various bits of ice and snow flew towards Eiji's gauntlet, circling his wrist before forming a solid ice shackle, with which the homunculus telekinetically tossed Eiji against the opposing wall, and then expanded the ice to stick to it, freezing the young man against the wall.

Quickly he started to heat up the ice, but the homunculus kept apply more from the broken wall with one hand to keep it from melting completely, while forming a small ice dagger in his free hand.

"Too think Tohsaka's heir would be the first Master to fall. There's a poetic irony to that."

"You're rather sure of that."

Using his own free hand, Eiji placed his other gauntlet's clawed finger on the ground, and from it blasted a small line of fire, which quickly encircled the approaching homunculus. Not foolish enough to stay in a ring of fire, the artificial man leapt out as soon as he saw what was happening, but fiery arms from the ring formed and reached out to claw him, cutting into his arms and legs as he moved away.

"Gandr Shot – Flamberge!"

Pointing his now freed gauntlet at the homunculus, with his index finger pointed like a gun, Eiji fired off flaming curse shots shaped like a small German wave-blade sword. The homunculus quickly formed ice shields on his arms to block the shots, but one went through his right thigh and another through his left shoulder.

"Now then, how's about telling me where Lancer's real Master is? It's rather rude to send a lackey to fight in his stead."

– That's hilarious. Do you know what your grandfather did while he worked for my masters? Having Marco there face you is saintly compared to the honor-less garbage pulled by Kiritsugu Emiya. Of course… –

Another drone came flying in, this one armed with what appeared to be disk shooters, and a small handgun like weapon in comparison to the assault rifle on the last one. Reinforcing his legs before the thing started firing, Eiji dashed in a zig zag pattern, avoiding the incoming shots as the drone peppered him.

– I'm not much one for honor either. Guess that makes me more of his successor than you, little Eiji. –

"You know my name. I'm touched. Care to share yours? Otherwise this is going to be a very awkward conversation."

Marco, the named homunculus from early, got up to leave. Eiji turned back and fired off another 'Gandr Shot – Flamberge' in his direction, but the red-eyed magic user countered with a massive ice wall, walking off behind it like it was the most casual thing to do. The voice from the drone continued talking, the tone a lot more playful now.

– Don't you know? It's bad luck to get your reaper's name. The afterlife gets messier for the nosier dead. –

Eiji leapt through an empty magazine store's window, crashing down behind the counter to take cover, and placing an amethyst small statue of an owl on it to see what his opponent was up to without sticking his head out.

"That does not sound like an afterlife in any belief systems I've come across. And I've danced around with quite a few of them."

Seeing the drone sway to the left, Eiji took his chance and popped up, flicking out another emerald coin. This drone had considerably better defenses, as upon seeing the speeding object it erected a small force field around itself, preventing it from being bashed against any surface and mostly maintaining it place in the air, resisting the tornado blasting against it.

Just where does this person get such lovely toys?

As the tornado disappeared, the drone switched out its handgun with what looked to be…a small grenade launcher. Eiji's gut dropped in fear as he saw just how much ordinance was being sent his way.

– It's curtain call, Tohsaka. –

"Yeah, I'd really prefer it if you didn't do that."

Suddenly a swarm of flying insects formed and surrounded the drone, before impacting into it with great force. Upon doing so, they seem to burst into little packets of acid, melting and eating into the drone as they did.

Despite being slower than a bullet, which was the speed the emerald coins were going, these bugs managed to contact and damage the drone without triggering its shields. One lone, metallic ant emerged from the core of the drone, pulling with it various wires and important looking parts from within. Apparently the sabotage had begun earlier.

The drone dropped to the ground, continuing the melt as a few last flying ants bombarded it with their sacrifice. Coming out from the previous corridor, Tendou walked into the hallway, looking over at Eiji crouching behind the store counter while scratching the back of his head.

"…I sent Caster after the other two Servants. To help yours, before you ask."

There was a brief silence between the two, before Tendou continued.

"Well come on, are we going to go take down Einzberns punk or what? He did just rag on your grandfather."

Smirking a bit, Eiji vaulted over the counter (collecting his owl familiar as he did, those are expensive), and ran past his cousin, slashing through the still present ice wall blocking the exit as he did.

Tendou shouted after his cousin, annoyed at having been passed after offering his help.

"Hey, slow down. You nearly just got wasted back there, why you in a rush to go fight him without me?"

"Why are you always so slow? If you moved quicker I wouldn't have to work as hard by myself. I softened it up for you!"

Playfully cursing back and forth, the two normally vigilant mages failed to take note of the increasing amounts of wire strung up along their path, or pick up on the feeling of being watched.

Sitting on the balcony of some yet to be finished apartment building, Hoshi viewed the two through her tablet, taking note of the magical armaments on Eiji and noting the small satchel that was quivering on Tendou's side, due to the activity of the captured insect queens within. At first sipping from a mug, she put it down and began to use the controls on the glove to input attack patterns to her remaining drones. Based on the subway entrance they emerged from, if they were as competent as the reports suggest the Tohsaka and Matou heirs could find her within 3 minutes to surveying the area.

Not taking that chance, she pressed an option on the corner of her tablets screen, priming the charges of some traps she'd laid.

Taking one last look at the two, Hoshi found herself staring rather long at Eiji's face. Not knowing why she found him so…distracting, she set the tablet down and checked her custom-made Uzi.

I can do this. I will do this. The Einzberns didn't take me in out of pity, or warmth. Victory for House Einzberns, or death for the stray. That's what I've been taught all this time. Well-

She loaded her Uzi, making sure the Manitcore quill bullets were accounted for.

-this 'stray' is about to show everyone just what she's capable of.

FFR: And So it Begins, Good and Proper.