I do not own Fate/Stay Night nor any other Servants depicted here.

In Search Of Answers

Rider didn't know what to make of this. His day started off fine; after getting the money from Luvia's butler, he took a trip to the other side of the town via bus. Most of his morning he spent exploring the more modern side of Fuyuki. He had hoped that he would be able to find a Master or two on his walkabout but it seemed that it was just wishful thinking on is part. He even went ahead and bought something at a random store as to not look like he was wandering around aimlessly. It was a little white, rectangular thing which played music. It was alright... could be better. And then, of all people he had to come across, was her.

"What's wrong?" Illya asked, her bright red eyes staring at him with fake innocence as she licked her triple scoop ice cream of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

He shook his head. Him stumbling across her was unexpected to say the least. If anything, he would have at least bump into Lancer's or Caster's Master, but it had to be her. She recognized him too and she had demanded he accompany her around. He had a feeling that she had no qualms sending Berserker after him, not to mention the Servant in question was following after her in spirit form. So, he did as she asked, if only to tell her later on of the new information that was revealed the previous night. And who knows, maybe she could come to a truce. Though, there was still the question of her relation with the young guy that Luvia seemed intent of reeling in.

He just leaned back on the bench, quietly waiting for her to finish her cone. Admittedly, the scene was sort of nice; the mini park next to the river was serene and peaceful at this time of day. The moment he heard the crunch of the wafer as she began eating the cone, he decided to speak up.

"Luvia discovered something important last night," he casually mentioned, watching her carefully as she was finishing her treat.

"...I don't really care what your Master found out," she replied in a similar manner, with a bit more playfulness to it, "I got what I wanted. You should be glad that it isn't time yet." She got off the bench and began brushing her clothes down, clearing off any stray crumbs.

"The Grail is cursed."

She froze. Very slowly, she turned around to face him. Gone was the playfulness and sweet looking face. It was now full of seriousness and cold looking. Something he would have come to expect from a magus.

"There was a survivor or two from the previous War," he said as he eyed her warily, the little girl slowly seating herself once more, "We met Archer. She said she suspected Caster did something to the Grail. Luvia has some doubts, but Saber seems to vouch for her." Then he muttered to himself, "Wonder how Saber knows her though..."

Whether Illya heard that or not, she didn't show. She sat there stony faced, digesting the information she had just gotten. "What would you have me do with this... information?" she asked carefully.

"I don't know. I was hoping... maybe a truce of sorts?" he suggested as he shrugged, "Archer doesn't seem to be like the lying type. Maybe you could hold of attacking any of us until we sort this out?"

"No."

"Hmm?" Rider hummed in surprise. He half expected some sort of cautious or mature decision. Then again... her family sent a kid, of all things, to represent them. Who knows what sort of people they are?

"I was told that letting all of you survive was a mistake," she said to him coldly, "I am starting to see the wisdom of that advice. Whether you tell the truth or not doesn't matter. I will have words with my... Onii-chan..." The last word was pronounced rather venomously. She got up, turned to him and suddenly smiled, "Thank you for the ice cream, mister."

With that, she skipped on her way, seemingly without a care in the world.

A sigh escaping from his lips, he ran his hand through his hair. Without a doubt, it was a little unnerving to see that. And then he groaned, "Damn, I hope I didn't make this worse."

Homeroom period has ended. The other students began leaving their classrooms, either for after school activities or heading straight for home. Shirou had already packed away his stuff and was leaving the near empty classroom, intending to head to the student council room to ask Issei if he needed his help with anything.

"Senpai."

Much to his surprise, Sakura was waiting for him outside the class. "Oh? Sakura?" he sounded, looking puzzled, "Is there something wrong?"

"Um... Senpai, please go straight home," she requested after a pause.

"Eh?" he uttered, his eyes widening a bit.

"You know the situation we are in, Senpai," she told him, a little bit of worry seeping in her voice, "While Officer Mackenzie-san had told us things before-hand, there are three others who don't know yet. And... I... worry... I mean, the others could act and you might not even know until it's too late... and..."

"But... I thought ," he replied, his face softening in understanding, "You worry about me since Saber... couldn't exactly follow me around and defend me..."

"And... they might find out Saber's identity from you."

He shook his head and said, "She never told me who she was. Since I'm not a really good at 'that', she didn't tell me for our safety."

"Still..." she said, looking downcast.

He stared at her for a moment, feeling slightly uncomfortable at making her like this. "If my safety means that much, then I'll go home early today," he relented.

She gave him a relieved smile. "Thank you, Senpai," she said gratefully, and then informed, "Tohsaka-senpai and I will be back later on. She offered to do the cooking today."

"Oh... alright, I'll see you then," he nodded, a little curious as to why she offered to do it today. He waited a moment, watching her turn around and go round the corner to the stairs. They never did discuss what everyone would do around the house. Then again, Luvia was never around during meal times, presumably eating at her own house. That left the cooking to the other three. It does make sense in a way.

"I guess Tohsaka planned that out beforehand without telling me," he thought to himself as he started moving again. He did say that he would go straight home after all.

His journey back home was uneventful, yet when he tried to open the front door, he found it locked. It took him a moment to remember that Sakura had gone off with Rin. "Must still be shopping for ingredients," he mused to himself as he unlocked it, "Still, it's been a while since I came home this early."

"Hello, Emiya."

That slightly jovial and familiar but arrogant tone startled him a seconds, but turning around, his eyes widened in surprise. "Shinji?" he said in surprise.

The blue haired boy chuckled and replied, "Yes, Emiya. It's me." He was dressed in his uniform. Oddly enough, Shirou never bumped into him at school today. He had many questions. He must have had a questioning look on his face, since his friend held up his hands to placate him.

"Calm down, Emiya," Shinji told him, "Even though I have all the answers to your questions, you still need to breathe to ask them."

The red head took a deep breath, as his friend suggested. Then, he asked, "What happened to you?"

"Something extremely good, Emiya," he started with a smirk, "I am learning things that I would have never learned had I not found that book. Oh yes, Emiya, so much that I think my sister's skill as a magus can compare. Yes, Emiya, I know you know." In spite of Shirou's shocked face, the Matou male continued, "Do not worry, I'm quite fine with that. After all, you are a Master too. Yes, I know that as well, together with many other things. For instance, did you know there is a Master and Servant living at the temple, right under Ryuudou's nose? And that the Servant is responsible for the series of deaths happening to the yakuza lately? The poor, poor boy and his family doesn't even know how dangerous it is." He shook his head, "A pity if something should happen to them."

"Wh-what?" the red head muttered in shock.

"Oh, you didn't know yet? Perhaps Tohsaka, my sister and that Edelfelt should have searched more actively instead of getting worked up over Berserker," he said arrogantly with a sneering smirk. Pausing to look at the evening sky, he said, "Well, it seems time is passing us. I must go. There is much to do and much to learn. Goodbye, Emiya."

He watched his friend walk down the lane and round the corner, moving out of his sight. He felt quite troubled with this new bit of information. Issei's family unknowingly hosting a Master? It sounded unbelievable. But... if Shinji was telling the truth...

"Tonight," he muttered to himself as he closed the door, "I will go and make sure tonight."

"I shall follow, Master," a voice suddenly said.

Surprised, he spun around and came face to face with Saber. Stunned, he just stared at her in surprise.

"Master?" she asked, puzzled with his reaction.

"Oh... it's Saber, right?" he said finally, able to regain his bearings, "Sorry, it was so sudden, I was surprised."

"My apologies if I startled you, Master," she informed me, "I heard the door and came to investigate."

He nodded, understanding her caution. "So... you heard us?" he asked.

"Yes. I also agree in checking this out," she continued, "The more we know of our enemy, the better."

"Then it's settled," the red head decided, "... And maybe let's not involve the others. This is just... scouting." Getting a nod of acknowledgement from his Servant, he asked, "Um... Saber... I thought you'd be sleeping..."

"There is no problem with staying awake..." she began.

"Rin, I feel worried," Sakura half whispered. They were done with their ingredient run and were on their way back to her Senpai's home. There was quite a bit of food in their plastic bags and at the back of her mind, she wondered what her former sister was going to cook.

"Why? Is it about... our current situation?" asked a puzzled Tohsaka.

"Well... that and... Edelfelt-san," she told her.

"... What did she do now..." grumbled the twin tailed magus with a frown, her mood now soured.

"... She said she wants... Senpai."

Rin halted in her tracks. She turned to face the later, wide eyed. "That girl... said what!?" she stammered in astonishment.

Sakura stopped as well, suddenly finding her shoes interesting as she blushed. "I... It's alright, Rin," she finally said with some determination after a bit of silence, "I... I'm not going to let that get to me. I won't give up."

Rin gave her an encouraging smile, fully understanding what she meant, and said, "Come, let's get back to Emiya's house. We have dinner to prepare."

Giving her a grateful nod, the violet haired girl followed after her.

In the house, they found Shirou chatting with Saber in the living room. "We're home," announced the twin tailed Master.

"Hello, Senpai. I'm glad you took my request to heart," said the violet haired junior with a happy smile.

"I shall retire to my room, Master," Saber informed him before getting up and leaving.

"Ah, Senpai, I'm sorry if it was too sudden. We should have told you earlier," Sakura explained as the other girl went straight to the kitchen, "Rin-senpai said that since she was staying here for the time being for free, she offered to take turns cooking dinner with you. Will you be fine with this, Senpai?"

"Don't worry, Sakura. I'm... actually quite fine with this. At least, she is contributing while she stays here," he told her, still looking a little unsure about it. After a pause, he told her, "I'll be in my room resting. If Fuji-nee comes, tell her to prepare the bath herself once in a while."

"Ah, yes. Please take your time," she responded, "I will let you know when dinner's ready."

"Sella! Leysritt! I'm home!"

"Welcome home, Miss Illya," greeted one of the maids warmly, "Dinner will be ready soon."

"Alright. I'll be in my room then," she replied quickly, her head tilted down and not looking at her, "Let me know when it's done." She tried to walk quickly up the stairs.

"Is something wrong?" the maid asked, showing a little concern, "Miss Illya. Please tell me what's wrong?"

The little girl stopped. Slowly, she turned around, looking a little worried. "I conversed with Rider earlier," she admitted.

The former made a surprised sound and said, "He found you? In the middle of the day? Surely he wouldn't have..."

"It is of no consequence," the latter told her with conviction, finally meeting her gaze, "I am still confident in Berserker's abilities to eliminate them when the time comes." She then gave her a grin, "Don't worry, Sella. I'm fine."

"... Very well, Miss Illya," the maid replied, her worried look melting away, "I will call you when dinner is ready."

Giving her a nod, Illya hurried up to her room. After closing the door, she threw herself on the bed, staring at the ceiling that was held up by the four posts.

"You did not inform your helpers of the rest?" Berserker asked as he materialized.

"They do not need to know,"she told him, continuing to stare at the top, "They have enough worries of their own to think of this. I do not want to add any more."

"Even if it's a curse?" he questioned further.

"If it was true, then... I have no problem maintaining a truce while we try to produce a solution," as she sat up, "Before that happens, I wish to confront him again."

"Your brother?"

"That boy is not my brother," she protested heatedly, glaring at her Servant, "He took my father away. He is the reason my father is not around. He is the reason my father did not come for me. I will have his head decorating my bedroom before I declare truce with anyone." She flopped back on the bed, once again staring at the ceiling. "Once you and I have recovered, we shall continue. I will have revenge," she said with a smile.

"How much longer do you think they will take, Senpai?"asked Sakura.

"I don't know," Shirou admitted as he rubbed his head, "How long have they taken... an hour?

Dinner had came to a halt as earlier, he suddenly brought Saber to the table, introducing her as a friend of his father's. Taiga did not take to kindly to this and blew up on him, as well as interrogating the calm and collected Servant. This somehow led to a spar between the two, which Saber won. One thing led to another and now the three were left seated at the table while the Servant and the supposed guardian of Shirou's conferred in his father's bedroom.

Rin had taken to staring at him, a mix of disapproval and annoyance showing only slightly on her otherwise calm face. One that the red head could see clearly.

"I bet you think I did something stupid," he guessed, directing his statement at her.

"... Isn't it too late to say such things?" she asked in return, "Yes, I disagree with what you did. Stuff like this will only bring you trouble later on. If you are not prepared..." She left it hanging to emphasize her point. Turning to Sakura, she stated, "After this, I'll be resting in my room for a while before going out to scout for the others. Hopefully, there is a chance that we could reason with them... if they could be reasoned with."

The violet haired girl nodded, as if already knowing what to do.

"I guess I'll be staying here then," stated Shirou. Getting slightly surprised looks from the girls, he explained, "I know I'm not the most capable magus. If I go out with you right now, I'll be more of a risk than if I stayed at home."

The twin tailed girl then narrowed her eyes in suspicion, slowly saying, "That... is odd, coming from you, Emiya. I cannot help but to wonder if there is something else behind those words of yours."

"Tohsaka, there is nothing else behind my words," he retorted, "Is it wrong for me to state the truth? I know my limits."

"Oh? I didn't realize you knew," she rebutted, "That's not what I saw a few days ago."

"Senpai. Rin-senpai. Please, stop arguing," pleaded Sakura, looking a little distressed, "Maybe we should talk about other things. And... and what if Fujimura-sensei and Saber are finished? They might catch you arguing and..."

"... Fine. I'll hold my tongue for now," relented Rin, giving the red head a warning glare. She then picked up her cup of tea and swirled it around as she looked into it.

"Alright, I'll stop it," sighed Shirou, also not wanting to let this get out of hand. After a moment, he muttered, "I wonder when will they finish?"

The night was still. There was no breeze and little moonlight to go by. The school was deserted. Until now.

It started with a dot. A pink... red... ever changing colored dot. The dot became a line. A curved line that connected and became a circle, slowly being filled with mysterious symbols not meant for human eyes. The circle was small, large enough to fit one. A flash of dazzling light and it disappeared. Shinji looked a little sick. He turned to the book to his side, already floating and opened up.

"Does it always feel this way?" he asked weakly, his first time using the Teleport power.

You will get used to it, it read as he took in a few deep breaths to calm his heaving insides.

"... Is everything ready?" he asked after a few moments.

All is complete, Master. You only need to place them in their proper formation.

Nodding, he held out his hand to it, "Give them to me... and show me where to put them."

Eight pages flew out the sides. Each one settling into his open hand. Each one containing a burnt, eight pointed star. The book turned a page, a map of the school burnt into both faces. Eight burn marks then appeared on places around the school. Lines were drawn, the points connecting, forming the same star on the pages in Shinji's hand.

The blue haired boy smiled darkly. If he knew how easy it was to gain power... knew of the book... he would have done this a long, long time ago.

"Let us commence," he declared as he walked to the first point, "Time to bring my family's name into the light once more."

"You know, I have to ask..." spoke up Rider as the both of them walked up the wide path that led to the church, "Why are we here? Didn't... Noel, was it? Didn't she say to not tell the priest?"

"... Rider, there are two things currently on my mind," she told him as she stopped walking. Turning to face him, she crossed her arms in front of her chest and said, "First of all, don't you find it strange that she referred to Saber with such familiarity?"

"...Ye-ah... what are we getting at?" he asked after a moment of thought, "I mean, it does look weird. And I did wonder how Saber knows her and all..."

"Eventually, we will confront her and Shirou. But right now, it is that priest which is our second concern," she told him as she moved a bit to look at the church, "Rin mentioned something that night. That the priest was her senior." Turning her head back to him, she continued, "What if... he knew Tohsaka's plans for the war. The previous War. What if he also took part in them? What if he was one of the Masters as well?"

"That sounds kinda far fetched..."

"I know, I know," she retorted, turning away from him, "That last one did sound ludicrous, didn't it? Still... he would have been privy to his teacher's plans, so it would be very likely that he knew exactly what happened during that War. He may have even witnessed a few of the fights that happened. This, I fully intend to find out for myself." Having said her piece, she went on her way to the church.

Rider shrugged but in his mind, he had this uneasy feeling ever since the church came into view. Something was off with the church. He wanted to let her know but she seemed quite intent on meeting the priest.

"Something tells me that I might need your help, ladies," he muttered to himself as he followed after her. He crossed his arms, his right hand catching a heart-shaped crystal that fell out of his sleeve. Keeping it hidden, he moved to catch up to her.

Master and Servant walked the empty streets, not a word exchanged between them. At the dead of night, they didn't have to worry about bumping into anyone they knew. Still, Shirou was still a little unsure with the silence between them, still thinking of what Saber said earlier. He was still adamant in his stance that everyone should be at the table, eating together.

"Even if she isn't used to such things, it still isn't right that she secludes herself away like an outcast," he thought as they reached the bottom of the temple steps.

"It feels strange."

He looked at her, puzzled by her frown. "What feels strange, Saber?" he asked. Perhaps what Shinji said was true? Did Saber sense a Servant?

"... Like there is a hidden power, waiting to be unleashed... waiting to burn everything in it's path,"she told him cryptically. She looked grimly up the stairs. "Let us go, Master. We have come this far, let us see which Servant has fortified itself here," she stated as she took the first step.

He nodded. It was what they were here for in the first place after all.

He watched as they continued on their way. He had been trailing them ever since they left the house. It was fortunate that he spotted them leaving when they did. Else, he would have been none the wiser. He sighed and muttered, "It seems they are about to do something that may be out of their league... without back up no less." He shook his head and said, "Truly, what my Master sees in the boy... he means well, but has not the power to do so."

With that, Assassin drew his hand down his face, the black mask appearing to hide it. He walked in after them, hoping nothing will go wrong.

Commentary:-

Right. Done and done. Finally. My apologies for taking so long. It was tough trying to find time to do this, but now it is complete and ready for viewing. If you didn't already know, I edited the char sheet for Lancer to move Eldar Psychic Powers from NP to Skills. Thanks for your feedback, people. On to other things. Another calm before troubling things start to happen again, if you will. And to top it off...

Servant - Rider

Identity - Snow Villiers

Game - Final Fantasy 13

Strength - B
Endurance - B(A)
Agility - C(B)
Mana - D
Luck - D
Noble Phantasm - A++

Skills

Riding - A

Magic Resistance - E(C). See Paradigm Role

Bravery - C(A). See Paradigm Role

Noble Phantasm

Metal Pole, Fallen Weapon - E~C. Anti-Unit Type. A simple black metal pole. It's power increases the more magic Rider pours into it. At it's maximum rank, it becomes a large ice axe with the axe head on one end with a smaller blade at the other. Meant to simulate the weapon he made from the Anubys axe during the Yusnaan main story arc. At the maximum rank, it resembles the l'Cie Bardiche.

Paradigm Shift, Adaptation Of The Battlefield - A, Anti-Unit Type, Self. Rider seamlessly shifts between offensive and defensive strategies or Roles during combat. Commando boosts his Bravery and Agility. Sentinel boosts his Endurance and gives him Magic Resistance. Ravager is rarely used, but the innate affinity for water ad ice magic is used to form his weapons of choice, using the Metal Pole as a backbone.

Stiria and Nix, Twin Sisters Of Shiva - EX. Eidolons are the equivalent to nature spirits in Rider's world. Both can be considered ice elementals and are very capable summons unique only to Rider. They assist him both offensively and defensively. In addition, both can combine to activate a Gestalt Mode, a form which the summoner can ride. In a manner of speaking, Rider and his Eidolons can become one in battle. The sisters' Gestalt Mode is a motorcycle.

And there you have it. And why did I present Rider stats now? Well, we'll just have to see in the next chapter. Before I go, please read and review. Would you so kindly?