Ch8
Rama stared in shock and disgust at the scene before him. He threatened Lancer's master with his own fiancé? Yeah he wanted to win the grail but using a hostage like that was cowardly.
"Maiya it's alright I'm here," Kiritsugu said his voice close to sobbing as he held Maiya's bleeding body.
"Oh god Maiya," Irisviel said covering her mouth tears falling down her cheeks. They carefully approached Kiritsugu who was holding Maiya's body. Maiya's body had a gaping hole in the middle of her chest, blood poured out of her as her eyes closed and her body became lifeless.
"Kiritsugu I'm sorry," Irisviel muttered avoiding the gaze of the corpse.
His master set Maiya's body down and stood up his body shaking. "I couldn't protect her," Kiritsugu muttered. "I honestly thought he would kill her."
"A master and servant are a team," he said softly. "A master should never sully his duty by ordering a servant to kill themself."
Kiritsugu turned his gaze cold, "If you had taken care of her sooner this wouldn't have happened."
He clenched his fists meeting his master's gaze. "Maybe if you didn't do such dishonorable tactics this wouldn't have happened. We were having an honorable battle, I could've her if given the chance."
"Honor? What do you know about honor?" Kiritsugu said coldly. "You did a lot of things to get your wife back in your life, this war is the same."
He clenched his fists glaring at his master, it took all his willpower to not punch him. "Don't bring Sita into this I loved her," he said through gritted teeth.
"And I love my family," Kiritsugu said frankly. "I will do anything for them even if you consider my tactics lowly."
His master's gaze was cold as he walked up to him. "If you really want something you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty."
"But to do such dishonorable acts what would your loved ones think?" He said as Irisviel avoided his master's gaze.
Kiritsugu just walked ahead and chuckled. "Didn't you do one such act to reunite with your beloved Sita? Don't tell me you always acted honorably on the battlefield."
The air around him became agitated. "Don't you dare compare us," he said coldly. "My love Sita is stronger than anything you can dream of."
Kiritsugu turned around to face him his gaze cold as ice. "If you want to win you have to be willing to get your hands dirty. What use is honor if you are dead?"
"By doing such dishonorable tricks?" He yelled. "You never planned on letting them live," he pointed to the scroll on the ground. "Emiya Kiritsugu you are a ruthless man."
"If you want to be with your beloved you better be ready to do anything to annihilate your enemies," Kiritsugu said raising his voice. "Sticking to foolish ideas such as honor and duty will do you no good on the battlefield. All you have to do is fight and win. You're the servant and I'm the master. Soon we'll have our goals trust me."
"Without honor and duty the world will be in chaos," he said. Kiritsugu just walked away and ignored him. "I know a person like you can only get such a hard view of life because you once believed in being a champion of justice." His master froze and glared at him before walking away.
Kiritsugu Emiya I've never seen such a disillusioned and cold hearted man. Watching his master drive off a part of him felt sorry for him. Still I must complete my duty. I will follow him for what kind of servant disobeys his master?
With a sigh he looked up at the sky. Sita I'm coming. I promise we'll reunite as soon as possible. My master and I may have different means of fighting but I'll get to you I promise. As much as Kiritsugu Emiya annoyed him he would do his duty as servant to obey him.
Sita I'll do anything for you.
Caenis stood in front of her master who had his face hands. "How much longer can you survive?" Kayneth asked his voice a mixture of various emotions along with the realization that he could not win the war now. He couldn't supply her with the right quantity of mana for her to materialize.
"I probably have about one good fight left in me before I disappear." She gritted her teeth, she didn't want to go out like this but she knew she had to conserve her energy right now. "The way I see things you have two options."
Kayneth looked up at her, "What are they?"
"One we go our separate ways. You go back home with your tail between your legs and get pity," she said folding her arms and staring down at her master. "Two you stay. You hide somewhere safe while I go and die in a spectacular way fitting for me. I return to the throne of heroes and you go home and spin the story in whatever way you please."
Kayneth rubbed his head he looked gaunter than when they first met. She still remembered his pompous attitude and his prideful demeanor, right now it was all gone. His money, health, and fiancé were all gone. Truly the face of a man who has lost everything. Normally she probably would've laughed at her master's loss but right now she could see in his eyes that he just wanted to survive.
"I've been here long enough I want to see this war through and live if I can," Kayneth said resting in his wheelchair. "That way I can at least say I fought to the end."
She laughed. "Good choice I guess without your bitch fiancé you really had a pair between your legs. Anyway I think we should make some sort of alliance."
"Fine but with who?" Kayneth asked.
"Saber's master is out of the question he would most likely backstab up," she said folding her arms. "Archer and his master give off the same vibe. I say the best bet is to work with Rider."
Her master frowned, "Out of the question! I won't work with that failure who is my former student."
She leaned over and looked her master in the eyes. "We don't really have a choice now, do we? Unless you want to end up dead I recommend we work with them. You don't have to like this brat but he is the least likely to kill you and Rider wouldn't try to harm you. Do you want to live or not?"
Her master's body shook, his eyes avoiding her gaze as if deciding what to do. "Fine we'll meet with him but I won't be subordinate to him."
She laughed, "Don't worry the sooner this war is over the sooner you can return to your Clock Tower and play victim."
"True. This entire war has been a fiasco for me," Kayneth said shaking his head. "I honestly just want to get out of here alive."
"Well don't worry you'll do that and more," she said. "Come on lets prepare to meet them."
She turned into her spirit form to conserve energy. Hopefully I can go out without big bang. As much as she wished she could go and face off against all these strong servants and beat Saber she knew her time was limited now.
Well there is no point in complaining about it. I'll keep moving forward like I always do. She wasn't going to just fade away, no she was better than that. She would make sure she went out with such a bang that everyone would remember her.
They sent a message to Rider and his master and once they got a response they headed out to the rendezvous point located at a park. Once they arrived at the park they waited until the image of Rider and his master came. Rider's master was a small boy in a green shirt who frowned at her master and folded his arms.
"Yo Lancer glad to see you," Rider said placing a barrel in front of them.
"You brought alcohol?" She asked not that she was complaining.
"Of course what kind of parley would this be without a drink," Rider said pouring two glasses for them.
Meanwhile, their masters were having a stare off, the disdain hey had for each other was pretty evident. Though knowing how you are I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of your students despised you.
She drank the alcohol. "Not bad but nothing compared to the old days. Anyway lets cut the chit chat we want an alliance with you both."
Rider's master looked at the incredulously his gaze turning to Kayneth. "Really? You want an alliance with us?"
She sighed as her master just glared at the boy. Jabbing him with her elbow Kayneth cleared his throat. "Y-Yes," he said almost painfully. "We want to work with you and Rider Waver."
The boy Waver folded his arms giving her master a hard look. "You who humiliated me in front of everyone and called my ideas want me to help you?"
He does have a point. She sipped her wine and was about to say something but Rider gave her a look to hold her words.
"Look I know we had our differences. But I have nothing left," Kayneth said his voice trembling. "I lost all my mystic codes, my fiancé, and almost lost my life. Waver I don't want to die yet I can't go back with my tail between my legs. I really need to come out of this alive."
Waver folded his arms his arms and exchanged a look with Rider. "Fine I'll consider it on one condition."
"Anything," Kayneth said quickly.
"I want you to say one good thing about me," Waver said looking her master in the eye.
Don't do screw this up. She sipped her drink as she looked at master who appeared to be wrestling with some deep issue. Dude just give him a damn compliment.
Kayneth took a deep breath. "I admire your tenacity Waver Velvet. Despite not coming from an important mage family you came to the Clock Tower and despite our difference in beliefs I think you are very brave for coming to the Clock Tower a place of tradition and present your ideals.
Waver Velvet's face was calm but she could detect some sort of satisfaction in them almost a glint of pleasure that the man who humiliated him acknowledged him. "Fine I guess we can be in an alliance," Waver said.
Rider nodded, "Sounds good. Lancer more wine?"
"Sure why not," She said as Rider poured her another glass. "To be honest with you guys I don't have much time left. I have like one fight left so we have to make it count."
"Don't worry we are in the same boat," Waver said avoiding her gaze. "Rider is only maintaining himself right now."
Rider nodded. "Indeed but don't worry I intend to give it my all."
She laughed and raised her glass. "Lets toast to our victory."
Rider smiled and raised his glass, "To victory." The two toasted and drank their wine.
Rama clenched his fists as he sat across from Irisviel. "He is evil," he muttered. "Kiritsugu Emiya is a ruthless man."
"Rama I know he is extreme," Irisviel said. "But please remember he is just doing this for those he loves. I don't like these methods either but if they are for the greater good. I love him with all my heart, surely you can understand that."
He nodded avoiding her gaze. "I do." He wouldn't deny that Irisviel loved Kiritsugu, even if he showed it in a different way."
"Sometimes we have to look at the greater good," Irisviel said. "I don't agree with him but for our family's sake, I try not to notice."
The greater good. His mind wrestled with that. After all it was him doing a cowardly act that put the damned curse of separation on him. I would do anything for her but I will always uphold my duty. Even if that duty involves serving Kiritsugu. But deep down there was doubt, could he really do such wicked acts to get her back? Karma would catch up to him one way or another.
Irisviel put a hand on his shoulder. "Saber please we all have a common goal. Despite your difference, you and Kiritsugu both want your loved ones. So please for the sake of our families lets fight together."
"Fine," he sighed getting up. "I'll be back I need a walk."
Irisviel nodded. "I understand. I'll be right here."
He left the safe house and walked down the road thinking of his master. His means are despicable but still Irisviel is right we both want to be with our loved ones. Could he do it though? Could he do lowly acts to get Sita back? He loved her dearly but didn't want her coming back to be brought on the backs of the lives of many people.
Would she even accept me for doing such acts? He loved Sita with all of his heart but could he commit evil to get her back? In life I was bound by duty as king and husband. Duty is everything but my heart yearns for you Sita. I want you back by my side.
He took a deep breath and thought of his master. He is not a good man but he has a family too. I guess working with him for a common goal won't be such a bad idea.
It was then that he felt the power of a command seal surge throughout his body. Saber go and save Irisviel! His master's voice rang in his head, he could hear the desperation in it.
"Irsiviel," He quickly ran back to their safe house propelled by the command seal.
His eyes widened as he saw their destroyed hideout. "Irisviel!" He ran inside and saw a gaping hole in the wall. He ran to it and saw a figure in the distance carrying Irisviel.
