Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Purified by Fire, Dancing with Fairies

Chapter 13

Fuyuki City woke to another day, streets bustling with pedestrians that ranged from businessmen in suits, to schoolchildren in uniforms of various cuts, while vehicles of every kind rumbled by on the roads, already packed bumper to bumper with the morning rush. The sky above was clear and blue, with only the faintest wisps of cloud, promising a warm and sunny day ahead.

A middle school-age girl rushed out of a love hotel, brushing her hair and smoothing out her uniform before hurrying along, quickly vanishing out of sight and notice into the crowds going to and fro on the street. Minutes later, and an older boy came out of the hotel, albeit at a more sedate pace, standing on its steps for a few moments stretching his limbs before looking up and down the street. And then stepping down the steps he turned and also vanished into the crowds.

"You seem to have enjoyed yourself, Master." Rider remarked.

"I did." Shinji agreed, feeling very pleased with himself. "My partner from last night was quite into what we were doing…not that she didn't have incentive, one way or another."

Shinji paused to chuckle mentally. "I…see…" Rider slowly said. "I take it you got your money's worth?"

"Oh yes, I did indeed." Shinji said. "Hopefully I can meet up with her again in the future, she was the best partner I've had in quite a while. Not as experienced as others…but I can't really hold that against her. Her enthusiasm more than made up for it…and she was cute. Though that's only to be expected, seeing as she was only thirteen and all."

"I…see…"

"Do you disapprove?"

"Hardly," Rider remarked. "Prostitution is the oldest trade in the world, and she is not really a child anymore, modern laws notwithstanding. Not that they apply to you, Master…yet."

"We've both minors so…yeah…" Shinji thought with a shrug. "But, I also get the feeling you want to say more. Go ahead."

"I simply prefer my women more…mature." Rider said. "However, that is a matter of personal taste, nothing more and nothing less."

"…and the fact she was only thirteen doesn't bother you?"

"Back in my day women were married off once they had their first blood." Rider responded with a mental shrug. "That can happen as young as twelve summers of age. Your partner was…thirteen summers of age, yes? And it was consensual on her part, in any case. So no, it does not truly bother me."

"I see." Shinji said with a nod. "Well, enough about that. How are things on your end?"

"My prana reserves are replenished."

The answer short and straight to the point, and carried an air of not wanting to discuss the matter further. Understandable, Rider in life had been quite a decent person even by modern standards, not that his hands were in any way clean of blood, though it wasn't as if any hero's hands ever were. He was not averse to doing what needed to be done…though as was the case in this matter, he did not take any joy or pleasure in doing so.

It just had to be done, and that was all there was to it. Shinji couldn't really fault him for that. Magi used the same excuse after all, when it came to pursuing the Root or ensuring the success and prosperity of their families. He knew that quite well.

Though…unlike Rider…in plenty of cases among magi…said excuse was really only just for appearances' sake. Plenty took joy and pleasure in doing what needed to be done, though…depending on what that necessity was, it wasn't wrong to do so. For instance…was it so wrong to enjoy sleeping with beautiful women in order to replenish one's prana? It wasn't as though Shinji was forcing himself on them, was he?

But going back to Rider…

"Were you noticed?" Shinji asked. It was a natural concern, and which Rider understood despite his lack of desire to discuss the matter further.

"I was as discreet as I could possibly be."

"I see."

Shinji paused his thoughts and movement to stretch his limbs again, and then then turning a corner went down an alley and then around another corner and down another alley to a less-travelled side road. "Better, yes?" he asked.

"Less crowded, so yes."

Shinji smiled at his Servant's agreement. "Then," he said. "Going back to the topic from earlier, last night could be considered a good night. We managed to replenish our prana reserves, avoided getting caught in your case, and for that matter being forced into battle so soon. Yes, I think it was a very good night indeed."

"Perhaps," Rider considered. "Though it may also be considered the calm before the storm."

"…do you really think so?"

"If we were in Einzbern and Berserker's places," Rider asked. "Would you let a draw that resulted despite having an advantage go? Or even without putting ourselves in their place…would you let a draw go when you had the advantage at the time? I wouldn't…I'd come back and settle the score properly. Would you do different, Master?"

"No…I guess I wouldn't…you're probably right…damn it…but if so, then why didn't they attack last night?"

"They probably couldn't find us." Rider ventured. "That…or they're preparing something. That Noble Phantasm of Berserker's is particularly troubling. How in the gods' names did he manage to get up despite taking Bellerophon head on? It doesn't make sense."

"Noble Phantasms don't necessarily have to." Shinji pointed out. "They are crystallizations of a Heroic Spirit's legend, miracles in themselves."

"Yes…there is that…" Rider conceded. "Perhaps there is a clue there…"

"On who Berserker is?" Shinji asked. "Yes…maybe…a hero whose legend involves…surviving what should have been guaranteed death…that's not a very useful clue though. Plenty of heroes fit the category, even you."

"Yes…they do…I do…"

Shinji sighed. "We'll just have to hope for the best then." He said before narrowing his eyes. "And prepare for the worst. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. As for you…the next time we meet Berserker…go all out from the very beginning, understand?"

"Yes, Master."

"SABER!"

The shout echoed through the entire house, and within moments Saber was rushing through the house to the bathroom, the blonde Servant coming to a halt outside the door. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Get in here."

Saber drew back in shock. "W-w-w-w-what?" he stammered out.

"You heard me."

Saber coughed primly, in an effort to regain his composure. He wasn't blind to his young Master clearly having something of a…childish, infatuation with him. It was endearing in its own way, but it would also be…inappropriate, for him to respond past a certain point. "This is…unexpectedly forward…" he delicately began only to be interrupted.

"Don't get any ideas," Ayame said, her tone sharp and businesslike, and Saber blinked before narrowing his eyes. "I'm presentable, so come in already."

"Right," Saber said before sliding the door open and stepping in. Ayame was sitting beside the bathtub on a stool, most of her body wrapped in a towel to preserve her modesty. That said…the same could not be said for Rin Tohsaka, who was lying in the water with not much else to preserve her modesty.

"Take a look at this." Ayame said, holding out Rin's right arm. "Please tell me that is not what I think it is."

Saber did as asked…and promptly blanched. The arm was turning violet, the skin wrinkling up and the fingers especially had grown dark with even the nails beginning to turn black. There was only one thing that could mean. "It's gangrene." He said.

"I was afraid of that." Ayame said, clenching her teeth in frustration while palming her face. "Any suggestions?"

"We need to take the arm off."

"Yes, that much is given…but if we do that, she'd just bleed to death afterwards."

"Don't you know healing magecraft?"

"No, I don't."

"…take her to the hospital?"

"And how do we explain we chopped off her arm?"

"You could always…alter…their memories…"

"Too dangerous…" Ayame said, massaging her temples. "Altering superficial memories is easy because they don't really contradict much with deeper memories and thought functions. I don't doubt though, that treating an amputated arm plus making sure no complications come from it or why the arm was amputated in the first place is anything but superficial. To avoid…um, sticky, situations I'd have to um…construct, an entirely…fantastic, scenario…to explain why her arm got gangrene and needed to be chopped off, and then alter memories connected to it to avoid contradictions that could ruin the spell, and then memories connected to those, then other memories connected to those, and so on…and considering these are medical professionals…"

Ayame trailed off, and Saber nodded slowly. "Yes," he said. "I see what you mean. To cover it up would require you to change too much of the memories of the people involved, and might potentially compromise what they know and need to know to perform their profession."

"Exactly…not to mention I've never exactly been too fond of altering people's memories…it's necessary sometimes but…"

Saber nodded again. "It's not right." He said, and Ayame nodded before snorting.

"Coming from the girl who came up with the Phantasmagoria which deliberately messes with people's heads…" she muttered, and Saber smiled sympathetically.

"I wouldn't say that." He said. "The Phantasmagoria might force those subjected to it to face a trial of their spirit, but from what you've told me about the Phantasmagoria it doesn't violate their very being the way that altering people's memories do."

"Maybe…" Ayame said after a sigh and then glancing at Rin. "Also…taking her to the hospital…what if the pain and shock of losing an arm causes her to snap out of her coma, and she goes berserk?"

"A magus gone berserk…" Saber echoed before shaking his head. "That doesn't sound good."

"It isn't."

"So what do you plan to do?" Saber asked. "We can't just do nothing. If we do, her arm will die and spread poison to the rest of her body, and she will die. If she were still an enemy, we could excuse it – shakily I admit – as part of war…but she is not an enemy. Not anymore. What's more we've taken her in as a prisoner of war…she's our responsibility. We can't let her die like this. It'd shame and dishonor us both."

Ayame didn't say anything, instead sitting cross-armed with an unhappy expression on her face. "Do you want to ask the fey for help?" Saber asked.

"Tempting," Ayame said. "But…that would depend on if they want to help. If not, then we're sunk."

"But it is worth trying, yes?" Saber pressed. "They might not want to help…but they also just might."

"Yeah…" Ayame said slowly. "I…don't know. And that brings up worries of its own."

"Oh?"

"Based on the stories…the fairies might consider helping her as leaving her with future obligation to them. If she wakes up and finds out…"

Ayame trailed off and sighed, shaking her head. "I don't want to impose that on anyone." She said. "Even if it is to save their life. Being obliged to the fairies, the Fair Folk, can very much turn out badly."

"That coming from someone who can summon them and wield their powers." Saber said teasingly, and Ayame snorted.

"And now they've charged me with putting down the Matou Clan." She said. "Not really a bad thing, the Matou deserve to be put down…but it's dangerous, very dangerous. I'll do it, but I'm against a family that goes back five hundred years. You get what I mean, right?"

Saber nodded glumly. "It could be worse." He said. "But it's already quite a heavy obligation as it is."

"Yes." Ayame said with another sigh. "The only other option at this rate is to ask help from other Masters hoping they can use healing magecraft but um…"

"You don't trust them."

"No…do you?"

"No."

"There you go."

"What about your sister?"

"…yeah…I don't know." Ayame said evasively. "I want to trust her but…my gut says she's not too fond of Tohsaka…and she's still technically an enemy. Sure, Tohsaka doesn't have command spells anymore, but…yeah…it only takes getting a fresh set and…she's back in the game."

Ayame sighed and shook her head. "The other Masters are pretty much magi through and through." She said. "Their response to the potential threat of Tohsaka is to simply kill her. I'd…really prefer not to do that."

"The Overseer then? He might be able to help."

Ayame didn't say anything for a long time. "He might." She admitted slowly. "But…you know…dad's warnings and all…and I promised him I'd stay away from that place…"

"…I understand how you feel," Saber slowly began. "But, if we can't trust the other Masters, can't take her to a hospital, and can't help her ourselves…do we really have a choice?"

"Even if the Overseer can help," Ayame countered. "Can we trust him to?"

"We could always stay there until he finishes helping." Saber said. "Furthermore, even with your father's warnings on the kind of person that he is, the Overseer can't just trample over his responsibilities."

"He's not responsible with helping an active Master though."

"He's not helping us he's helping Tohsaka."

"…that said…he might not want to release her from his custody after she recovers…and with dad's warnings…I'm worried about leaving Tohsaka in his care."

Ayame paused and snorted. "That coming from the girl which put her into a coma and probably caused the gangrene in the first place." She muttered. "What a joke."

"Wait…you caused the gangrene?" Saber asked, shocked. "How? Why?"

"It wasn't deliberate, and I didn't think it would happen at the time." Ayame said glumly before holding up her arm and showing off her command spells…including the ones she'd taken from Rin. "It must have been caused by taking her command spells. I should have known taking them by force would have consequences…damn it…"

"So that's why you feel responsible?" Saber asked.

"Is it wrong?"

"No, it isn't."

Saber and Ayame were silent for a while and then Ayame moved closer to Rin. "What are you doing?" Saber asked.

"I'm going to try and snap Rin out of her coma." Ayame said. "Who knows? She might be able to help herself."

"I…see…" Saber said, nodding slowly and looking on as Ayame stared at Rin, no doubt thinking how to get the other girl to wake up.

SLAP!

In an instant Saber was behind Ayame, holding her arms up in the air…after she'd slapped Rin in the face. "What are you doing?" Saber asked, aghast.

"Trying to wake her up!"

"Somehow I doubt slapping her is going to work." Saber said, looking at Rin who'd sunk back into the tub. "You've been washing her all this time, yes? If getting splashed with water – hot or cold – couldn't wake her, what makes you think slapping her would?"

"Alright, alright, I get it!" Ayame said, squirming in Saber's grip. "Just let go already!"

Saber nodded and let go. Ayame rubbed at her wrists, and then reached out to pull Rin closer again. For several moments she stared, and then…

SLAP!

Again, Saber restrained Ayame after she slapped Rin on the face, and wrestled his struggling Master away…and then her towel fell. The silence was profound…

…until Ayame's scream literally scared away all the birds on and around the property.

"I still think this is a very bad idea." Ayame growled, struggling to keep up with Saber…and carrying Rin on her back (her punishing for slapping Rin a second time).

"Yes, so you've said earlier." Saber said with a sigh. "Look, like I said earlier, if the Overseer acts inappropriately or abuses his authority, then we'll just have to kill him."

"You do realize that's going to cause a lot of trouble, right?"

"And the Overseer overstepping his bounds won't?" Saber countered. "The Overseer's duty is supposed to make sure the rules and conduct of the war is properly observed, and to provide sanctuary to defeated Masters. Both require the utmost trust in his person and judgment…and thus breaking that trust deserves nothing less than the harshest penalty."

"It's not that I disagree but I doubt his superiors in the Church would think the same."

"…maybe," Saber conceded. "But from what I know the Church has little influence in this corner of the globe. You should be able to get away with being right."

"…y-yeah…"

Master and Servant walked up the street in silence, and then turning a corner climbed up a short flight of steps that led to a large courtyard beyond which stood Kotomine Church. Crossing the courtyard, Saber opened the door for Ayame, stepping in behind her. "Hello?" Ayame called as they walked down the aisle towards the altar. "Is anyone here?"

"I am here." A deep voice said from the shadows as they approached and causing Saber and Ayame to turn their heads in its direction. A tall priest in a dark habit wearing a crucifix approached, looking at them with a dour expression, dark eyes matching the man's hair. "Welcome to Kotomine Church. I am Kirei Kotomine, Overseer of the Holy Grail War. And you are?"

"Ayame Emiya, Master of Saber." Ayame replied, instantly on guard while beside her Saber donned his armor with a flash of light.

Kirei's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Ayame…Emiya…?" he echoed, his lips twitching ever so slightly into a smile.

Ayame blinked, drawing back for a moment, and nodded. "I am." She said.

Kirei smiled wider. "Well then," he began. "How may I be of service to you? As an active Master, there is little I could do for you…and yet, what little I can do is freely offered."

"This is Rin Tohsaka." Ayame said, indicating the unconscious magus on her back. "She's a…defeated Master. We were keeping her as a guest but…things have changed."

"I see." Kirei said with a nod. "And how might things have changed?"

"Saber, show her."

Saber nodded and walking around Ayame, gently took Rin's arm and pulled up her sleeve. Kirei's expression fell and he stepped forward, examining Rin's arm with narrowed eyes. Once he finished, he stepped back, and fixed Ayame with a neutral expression. "Her arm is gangrenous," he said. "A most serious situation…and one I assume, was caused by you taking her command spells?"

"I was unaware that this would happen at the time."

"Ignorance is not an excuse to escape responsibility with." Kirei responded before briefly closing his eyes. "That said, you had every right as the victor to take her command spells. And the damage is much less than expected…I can see you made an effort to make it as gentle as possible. Other magi would simply have taken the arm as a whole. You have that in your defense."

"Yes…I guess I do."

Kirei smiled. "Come," he said, stepping aside and holding out an arm to invite them further inside. "Let us take this matter to somewhere more appropriate. You – and Rin – are fortunate that I have skill in spiritual surgery. I will be able to help her."

"You speak familiar of her." Saber observed as they walked deeper into the church.

"We are." Kirei admitted. "She is after all, the Second Owner of this territory. We had a professional relationship between us, just as there was between myself and her father. No, there is no need to worry, Ayame Emiya, for the consequences of harming the Second Owner. Given it was done in the context of the Holy Grail War, it cannot be held against you."

"That's a relief…I think."

"It is indeed." Kirei said, leading them across an atrium to his quarters.

"My examinations are finished."

Ayame and Saber looked at Kirei as he joined them in the living room, half an hour after they left him and the unconscious Rin alone in an examination room. Ayame and Saber had been…reluctant, to leave them alone together, but in the end had acquiesced after Kirei had guaranteed he would be professional, and whatever doubts they have of him were unfounded (and Saber had telepathically urged Ayame to provide a show of trust in good faith when at present they had no physical evidence to warrant hostility).

"And?" Ayame pressed. "What's the verdict?"

Kirei smiled thinly at her words. "The bad news is that her arm is a total loss." He said. "I will have to remove it before decay sinks in too deep and spreads poison through her whole body."

"I…see…well, we kind of expected that already…"

Kirei nodded. "There is more good news than bad, however." He said. "You brought her in early enough that there should be no risk of complications beyond that of shock from the removal of her arm, and that can be handled with little difficulty. Furthermore, a puppet replacement arm of high quality should be easily procurable, as the Tohsaka Clan is quite solvent. And finally her crest is undamaged, and can be removed and even transferred to her other arm with relative ease."

"Wait, her crest…oh no…it was…it was on her right arm?"

"Indeed it was." Kirei confirmed with a nod. "You must consider yourself fortunate, as while rising against the Second Owner during the Holy Grail War is excusable, destroying or damaging a crest even in such circumstances is…problematic. Though, it need not be your concern."

Ayame sighed in relief. "What of her comatose condition, however?" Saber asked. "Will she ever wake up?"

"I will wake her once the surgical procedure is complete." Kirei said. "That said, for reference in…resolving, her comatose state, how did she fall into such a state in the first place?"

"Uh…let's just say she um…got caught in a spell of mine that um…well, simply put, subjected her to a…trial of spirit…yeah, let's go with that."

"Ah, I see." Kirei said, nodding in understanding. "Nothing too serious then, executor training involves similar trials, and outcomes such as that which have befallen her are not unknown. I am aware of measures that may be performed to resolve them."

"Wait, executor?"

"Yes," Kirei said with a nod. "I am a former executor, if you must know."

Ayame's mouth fell open in surprise, while Saber looked curious. "An executor?" he echoed.

"Soldiers of the church…elite ones," Ayame explained, quickly regaining her composure. "They're usually tasked with hunting down vampires, demons, heretics, and the like."

"I see." Saber said with a nod of thanks before turning back to Kirei. "I suppose that accounts for the warrior-like air I sense from you."

Kirei bowed respectfully. "I am honored that you think as such of me." He said.

"Anyway," Ayame said. "How long will it be until Rin is awake?"

"Concerned, aren't we?"

Ayame didn't respond at once. "I am responsible for what happened to her." She eventually admitted. "And I don't run away from my responsibilities. My dad raised me better than that."

"I see." Kirei said with a nod. "I doubt Rin would too happy to see you, though. As you said, you are responsible for her misfortunes."

"Let me worry about that."

Kirei snorted but nodded afterwards. "Very well," he said. "I must prepare for the operation, and then carry it out. I must then wait for her physical condition to stabilize before waking her…do you have a phone number I may have? I will contact you when she is awake. Or perhaps even, before I would wake her."

"And when can I expect you to call?"

"Depending on how the operation goes," Kirei said. "Late this evening at the earliest, though it might also be tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

Ayame didn't reply at once, instead sharing a look with Saber. After a few moments, the clearly-unhappy Master scratched her head and sighed. "Do you have pen and paper I could use?" she asked.

Kirei walked over to a nearby table, and pulling a drawer open provided pen and paper. Ayame scribbled down her phone number, and handed it to Kirei. "Rest assured," Kirei said as he took it back. "No matter what reservations you may have against me, I take my responsibilities as the Overseer and as a healer seriously. I will do everything in my power to help Rin, and I give you my word I will provide you with the opportunity to meet your responsibilities to her once she awakens."

"We'll hold you to that." Saber said, and Kirei bowed.

"Yes," he said with a smile. "I'm sure you will."

Kirei watched from an upper floor window as Ayame and Saber left the church grounds. He didn't recognize the Saber, though given his armor and the insignia on it…

…a Knight of the Round? But which one? Regardless, the King of Heroes would not be pleased that 'his' Saber was not summoned in this war…assuming he didn't already know of course, for all that the King of Heroes hadn't made an appearance yet, something that had genuinely surprised Kirei.

Unable to wait sedately for the war to start, the King of Heroes had wandered off soon after the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War, with Kirei expecting him to return at the latest at the beginning of the fifth one…only…

…he hadn't shown up.

Was he dead?

Unlikely…did he lose interest, perhaps?

Not impossible, the King of Heroes could be fickle in terms of attention, but…

Kirei narrowed his eyes as Saber and Ayame vanished out of his sight. Saber and the potential for delightful mayhem it would cause with regard to the King of Heroes aside…

…Ayame Emiya…

…now, there was a face he hadn't expected to see ever again. The white hair wasn't there the last time he saw her, though given he'd assumed she'd died during the Great Fire…

…yes, it must have been caused by shock. Did she remember who she was? Who her parents were? Or did the shock and trauma of the Great Fire cause her to have amnesia?

Still, to think Kiritsugu Emiya had been the one to pick her up after the fire, and likely fixed her up after undoubtedly serious injuries, barring her shock-whitened hair. Her home after all, hadn't been too far from the epicenter of the blast.

Kirei smiled as he turned away. This had much potential, oh yes, very much so. And he was going to do everything he could to make that potential reality…anything less would be a waste, and thus a sin.

Not to mention, it would undoubtedly amuse the King of Heroes to some extent, and that was always a good thing. If nothing else, it would help keep the blonde's temper in check.

"Ayame Emiya…" Kirei thought. "Or should I say Kuchinashi Tachibana? Daughter of Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kaname Tachibana…to think you were alive all this time…and with Kiritsugu Emiya of all people…no matter…welcome to the game…"

A/N

Didn't see that coming, did you?

And here's Kirei…but wait, where is Gil?

Sorry Rin, I'm going to have to take that arm, I'm afraid. As Sola-Ui said in Fate/Zero, taking command spells without the bearer's consent – and she was a specialist in magical medicine – would involve removing the bearer's arm in the process. Oh, the fairies managed to reduce the damage to an extent…or rather delay, but we still need that arm. Don't worry though, your crest is safe. Are we good?