Chapter 7: Control

Oh, Matou! It's been a long ti-

He's curre- fo- old.

Hi- name -

Fragments of a past lost to time seemingly faded away in real time. A spirit, a being similar to that of a soul, watched the very essence of the young man's essence being torn away from him right in front of her. And yet she could do nothing. Her Master needed more magical energy to restore her wounds, and this was the only way to restore that much energy in such a small amount of time. Or so her Master told her - but she knew better than to believe that. The Servant she fought the previous night was correct, something was wrong with her Master, but Berserker had no way to interfere.

"A familiar should not be concerned with its Master's decisions."

A raspy voice emanated from the old man standing at the top of the stairwell in the darkened basement. Matou Zouken mocked the woman watching over her Master while he descended the flight. They both mirrored each other's feelings, neither one seeing the other as human. Both were dirt in each other's minds, the vampire viewing Berserker as a tool, and the spirit viewing Zouken as a worm to inhabit that very dirt.

"Will you not acknowledge the one who addresses you, Servant?"

Berserker didn't even turn her head towards the sound of Zouken's voice. Instead, she stepped towards Yosai, almost as if to shield him from the entity that calls himself the boy's grandfather. Yosai lay flat on the floor with a large ritualistic circle drawn beneath him. Bugs squirmed around the boy, mostly festering around his head. Slime excreted from the worms matted his blue hair, and one worm even crossed his closed eyes, soon to be flicked away from the now kneeling Servant. Berserker could feel the link between her and her Master, and while her wounds from the altercation with the Servant she couldn't identify were now mostly healed, she was draining the boy much faster than she would have liked. So a ritual like this was needed in order to obtain the Holy Grail.

"You know, Berserker… That boy willingly decided to take on this ordeal. To make me, his loving grandfather, happy. Heh heh…"

Zouken cackled, but was met with no response other than the sound of squelching and slithering that was constant in the basement. Berserker was set on not wasting her time on the thing that called itself her Master's grandfather. She didn't know their background, but with what limited time in this age she had Berserker knew that something wasn't right with this "family."

A cough shook the silence, and with it Zouken vanished. Yosai coughed and squinted his eyes shut. The worms all around him dispersed, and scurried off into the darkness. Berserker crouched down and placed her hand under the matted blue head of hair and rose the boy's head. Yosai's eyes opened and observed his surroundings, along with his Servant's beautiful face. He could only think that such a beautiful face wasn't suited to fighting, but knew that she would need to in order to achieve both of their wishes.

"Berserker? Where is Zouken?"

"The thing known as Zouken is probably observing you and I right now, Master. It would be unwise to speak of any plans right now."

Yosai nodded, and placed his hand on the floor to push himself up. He was assisted by Berserker, who merely lifted the boy with one arm and placed him on the ground. The Servant disappeared with a golden shine, along with the suggestion to leave the house and go somewhere where they can talk in private. The pair, with only one visible to the outside world, would then exit the dark manor, and move towards the nearby road.

What is Zouken doing to grant you magical energy, Master?

Yosai didn't quite have an answer to this question. All he knew was that he would get sent dowstairs to the basement to begin the ritual. Afterwards he would black out, and would awaken sometime later. He would feel like his Magic Circuit was invigorated, but as a consequence he would physically feel ill. Black outs would happen more randomly, with no explanations. Telling all of this to Berserker, Yosai was concerned with what followed - or rather, the lack thereof. Berserker went silent, with no further questions to ask in response to what her Master explained.

"B-Berserker…?"

After about 5 minutes of silence, the two reached a crossing. Only then did Berserker give her response.

I would advise not going through with what the man plans for you.

Now it was Yosai's turn to be silent. He looked down at the ground, and only had a pained face to accompany the silence.

You think it is necessary to win this battle? To gain power through sacrifice?

"He is providing me with the magical energy to sustain you at your full potential. I don't think you'd be able to use your Noble Phantasm if I don't follow along with Zouken. Trust me, I hate him more than anything and I'd give anything to be able to kill him with my own 2 hands… But…"

Yosai slowed, showing his contempt. Berserker was right, that he thought it was necessary. However, he clearly didn't want to go through with his grandfather's ritual. He couldn't tell what Zouken was doing, but he knew it wasn't right - that something was being sacrificed to gain this energy, as Berserker put it.

Perhaps we should seek an alliance with another Master, then. You shouldn't follow along with what your caretaker wishes, but I need to restore my wounds, and an enemy Master already knows our camp. You have enough magical energy as is, Master. I will need to take more time to heal without the assistance of Zouken's ritual, but I have the energy to fight. And with that, I have the energy to win.

Yosai gave a look of shock. He didn't know Berserker for very long, but he could tell that she wasn't the type to go to others for help. With her being the one to offer it, along with her plan to hide out until she's fully healed, he could only realize that the situation must have been more dire than it looked. Either that Servant did a bigger number on Berserker than it appeared, or Berserker was truly concerned about what Zouken had in store for him.

"Alright, that sounds good. But then, who? Obviously that Servant that attacked us is out of the question. Especially since we don't even know its Master's face. But what about the Einzbern Master? She willingly helped us and restored our wounds, right?"

While he couldn't see it, Yosai knew that Berserker was shaking her head.

She restored YOUR wounds, Master. The Servant made it very clear that we are enemies to her. They only healed you out of obligation, not out of kindness. The best ally would be someone weak. One that can make use of my strength, while also adding to it. However, one that also isn't strong enough to pose a threat to us while our backs are turned. The Servant that helped us that day was strong enough to force the enemy to retreat after only 2 blows. That kind of power would only force us to watch over our shoulders every moment.

Continuing down the road, the boy could only think about how cunning his Servant really was. Despite being a Berserker, the Mad Warrior, she had better thought and strategy than he did. While it wasn't anything to complain about, he couldn't help but think that he was being outshone by his partner.

"It's 3:30. The sun will be rising in a couple hours, you know? We should find somewhere to sleep."

No response came from his Servant. The two were just now approaching the cemetery. The cemetery that all the foreigners were buried in. The cemetery that held -

Berserker materialized right in front of her Master, causing Yosai to walk straight into her back. While he was flustered, he was more confused as to why his Servant chose to appear right now.

"Berserker I -"

"Silence. We are walking right into the enemy camp."

Yosai began to freak out. The third Servant encounter in 24 hours? This wasn't just bad luck, it was some sort of act of God determined to eliminate the two early. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, however. He couldn't feel the presence of another Master - the slight burning sensation he got around the Einzbern Master - but he knew better than to question the Servant protecting him.

"Proceed with caution, Master. I will go ahead."

"Wait, Berserker, why don't we just retreat for now?"

The Servant turned her head, and the glare that Yosai received stated more than 1000 words. The look alone said that if any suggestion like that were made ever again, he would be torn in half. Berserker was already fighting her pride in wanting help from another Master, and needing to avoid what battles she could by hiding until her wounds were healed - but to Berserker, an enemy nearby was not a battle she could avoid. Her bloodlust hadn't been sated due to avoiding to eliminate that Servant the first day.

With two swords in hand, she ran towards the feeling she got - the Servant was towards one of the mausoleums in the center of the cemetery. She knew that something was off, however. She knew this Servant could also sense her, so why wouldn't it show itself? Berserker leaped towards the presence, but as if to answer her question, was quickly brought back down to the ground by an unknown force. When she looked at her feet, the feeling of hands gripping at her ankles disappeared. Following this, a swarm of insects flew around her, but was met with a swift slice, and the air pressure alone dispatching the entire swarm.

"Berserker! We don't have the time to be fighting right now! The sun is about to rise!"

Yosai chased after his Servant, but she only dashed further towards the enemy. However, as if to punish this thoughtless mistake, a group of undead spawned around him. Two of them grabbed onto the boy's arms, to hold him hostage. The third escorted the entire group forward, towards Berserker.

Berserker, sensing her Master's danger, quickly turned around to go kill the threats. But as she did, a voice called out to her.

"I wouldn't turn your back on an enemy!"

Growling, Berserker turned around and was met with her enemy. With a large staff and an outfit consisting mainly of gold, she could only think that this woman was a Caster. Berserker heard the footsteps of the zombies and her Master, and they all stopped right behind her.

"As you can see, I hold your Master's life in my hands."

"All I can see is a pig who would use hostages to prevent their inevitable death."

Caster didn't seem at all shaken by Berserker's taunts. Instead, she stepped backwards, towards the structure behind her. More flying insects swarmed behind her, all seemingly directed at Yosai. None attacked, but the threat was clear.

"If you wish to see your Maste-"

"If you want to survive, I'd suggest letting my Master go now."

Caster scoffed, but was met with a blade directed at her throat. In the time that she could blink, Berserker had appeared, and met Caster with murderous intent. The surrender was almost immediate, with Yosai being let go, the wasps disappearing, and the zombies returning to the dirt. Berserker's Master sighed, then walked over to his Servant. But the sword did not leave its position. Instead, Berserker firmly kicked Caster in the stomach, sending her crumpling to the ground. Berserker then brought the blade up, and watched as Caster began to look with fear of the death that awaited.

"Wait, stop Berserker!"

Berserker brought the sword down, but stopped short of Caster's head. She hadn't planned to kill the Servant, only instill fear in her, but with Yosai's insistence, the fear in the enemy Servant's eyes went away.

"What? Do you want something from me?"

Berserker sighed. She remained armed, but her murderous intent lowered.

"Casters pride themselves on their Territory Creation skill. And yet, we charged directly into your camp, and were able to defeat you in an instant. Either you are extremely weak, or your Master is weak. You won't survive against even the weakest Servants as of right now."

Caster grit her teeth. They were able to see right through her bluff.

"Give us the rights to reside in your territory. I can defend you while you enforce it, and in exchange I will make use of it as my camp. Of course, if you try to attack either me or my Master, I'll kill you on the spot."

Yosai paused. He knew that they were planning on asking to cooperate with another Master, but to threaten it would not create a truly equal alliance. An alliance out of fear is nothing more than distrust. However, he didn't have the strength of will to interrupt his Servant's negotiations.

"I… I have no other choice, I guess. But you may only reside here. I will not help you in combat, nor will you get any resources from my Master or I while you are here."

With that, the alliance was formed. Caster would have a bodyguard, and Berserker would have a camp to reside in while she tends to her wounds with her Master. All that was left was for the two Masters to meet each other, something Yosai dreaded. This would be the third Servant he's encountered, and the second Master he's met, in only two days. He felt as if everything was moving too fast for him, but it wasn't like he was against the assistance. He could only hope that these random blackouts didn't affect his alliance, however.

[x]

The ninja that were spread all throughout the city were constantly relaying information to the Master and Servant that resided in their run down building they called a base. The second Archer, one whom they couldn't attach a Master to yet, was the biggest enigma, and clearly posed some challenge to the Master of Assassin. Price could likely pin the Servant to Tohsaka Kazu, since the Tohsaka family were a lineage of the strongest magi native to the Fuyuki area, but he didn't want to rush any assumptions and only left it to a mere likelihood. They already pinpointed the first Archer, the one that the Einzbern Master called the "real" Archer, who had a Master that not only wasn't interested in the Holy Grail War, but also isn't even a magus. This was looking to be a rather easy mission for the Sealing Designation Enforcer. The only hiccup he could come across, outside of the fact that the second Archer was a much stronger Servant than his own by the looks of it, was the alliance between Berserker and Caster. This alliance was only made earlier this morning, but if he were to take out the pair he would need to specifically go for the Masters, as Caster's abilities seem to nullify the power in numbers strategy that Assassin possessed.

The sentry that Asher had Assassin place to watch over the church provided with somewhat troubling news. This man, the one that visited the Church earlier, was one that he had no information on. He wasn't in the briefing in regards to the magi in Fuyuki, but he wasn't some no-name regular human like Archer's Master. He knew enough about the Holy Grail War to know to go to the church when in search of guidance or information, as well as the likelihood of it offering protection. This meant that he most certainly was a magus, and that he was also a Master. His Servant, however, was an enigma. It could either be the second Archer, or it could be the Servant with the unknown class that attacked Berserker on the first night. Both of those Servants appeared to be stronger than the others, so Asher's lack of information on this man proved to be a point of light frustration.

"Assassin, have you located the man's residence?"

"Yes. I have a sentry watching over it at the moment. I can try to have it enter the house for more optimal surveillance, but that would risk them figuring out they're being watched."

Asher shook his head, and put his thumb to his bottom lip. The only thought going through his head was how to gain intelligence on the Master-Servant duo without compromising his own goals.

"Send another sentry to the house. How long will it take to reach there?"

"Minutes, Master. But… What will you have me do with them?"

"Reveal its presence. Pretend to remain hidden, but allow the enemy Servant to acknowledge your existence. How they respond will determine a lot about how we proceed." With that command, Assassin nodded his head, and together they waited. However, Assassin grew distressed, his face turning more concerned, and yet confused, by each passing minute.

"What is it, Assassin?"

Spoken more as a command than a question containing concern, Asher picked up on the concern of his Servant. He didn't care if the sentry was killed, with that he would gain information at least on the ability of the enemy Servant. Even if he didn't learn of the abilities, he could at least know which Servant the man possessed. Assassin knew this just as well as his Master did, which was the tactic they used on the second Archer as well as the Einzbern Master. This was different, though.

"Master… They are not taking any action."

Price's face twitched. Assassin explained that he was certain that, if a Servant truly was at that location, they would definitely know that his ninja was in the house. He, as the Assassin Servant, had the Presence Concealment skill. He knew exactly how detectable he and his ninja would be at all times. However, the man - the nameless Master - didn't seem to care, much less even notice. Either he didn't have a Servant to detect the enemy, which was unlikely, or the Servant was baiting the intruder into attacking by pretending not to care.

"So, they choose not to retaliate. They're either confident, or feigning strength."

"Shall I command my subordinate to initiate an assault? I can - wait… Master, I'm getting a sudden report. The Master was writing in a journal of sorts, then left the house. I'm having the second sentry tail him now. And as for the journal… My ninja says that it simply reads…"

Asher was concerned by the pause. Did this pair somehow have more information on the other Masters than even he did?

"Try harder."