AN: I'm back. Unfortunately life conspired against me, so I could neither edit the chapter as I original intended, or keep up with my updating schedule. Nevertheless, I've kept you waiting long enough.

I'm going to publish up to chapter 30, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

[EMIYA SHIROU]

[THE GAMER]

[LV 27- 3500/26000]

[HP: 2700][MP: 35][MC: 27][ST: 850][SP: 11]

[STR: 42][DEX: 43][INT: 50][WIS: 33][CHR: 102]

Shirou stood at the edge of the Fuyuki memorial park looking at the stretch of nature like something out of a picture book.

Unlike its equivalent in the real world, the Mirror Park looked teeming with life. The grass was greener and the trees were in full blossom. Even though it was nighttime the colors were so vivid he could see them clearly.

He stepped past the threshold and he immediately felt the air become heavier, thicker, harder to breath. The concentration of Mana in the atmosphere was much more intense in there than it was just one step outside of it.

He was being rejected by this place, he could feel it in his bones. He was a stranger here, so much more than the rest of the Mirror World. The grass he had stepped upon had lost a bit of its luster, but recovered as soon as he moved a few feet away.

This was the effect that modern humans' Common Sense had on Gaia. It was no wonder then that they were at odds with each other. It was a shame that such a beautiful scenery could be brought forth only by completely scrubbing away human presence from it.

He felt like he was intruding in a hallowed place, a temple of sorts, profaning its sacred halls with his mere steps. He expected that this transgression would be punished swiftly, that whatever being lingered in this place would come for him straight away.

Yet there was nothing. He could feel no presence whatsoever. There was only the rustling of leaves caused by the light spring breeze caressing the trees.

If he didn't know better, he would have never believed this was the site of the infernal scenario from his earliest memories. It felt almost like a sick joke that such a paradise had been born from the pain and death of so many people.

Still, there was nothing he could or should do about it, except keep on advancing further.

There had to be something, anything, in this place. The lack of human visitors during most of the day dictated as much. Yet, no matter how much he advanced he found only more grass and more trees, at least until his keen eyes spotted something on the ground, far in the distance. He couldn't tell what it was from his position, but he came looking for something, so he decided that checking it out was in order.

As he approached, it became bigger. It was like some sort of shadow cast on the ground, as if someone had unfolded a black carpet and rolled in on the grass.

The closer he came to it, the stronger the wind started to get. Stronger and warmer. Much, much warmer. He was starting to have a bad feeling about it.

With slow, measured steps he approached it and once he stood near it he knew that his eyes had deceived him. It was no mere shadow. It was nothing as simple as a black carpet laying on the grass.

It was a hole, several dozen meters wide.

He frantically looked around at distant skyline of Fuyuki for reference. Without a doubt, this was that place.

'This is where it started,' he realized. He was at the epicenter of the fire that had scorched the city. The point of origin of that tragedy.

"What really happened here?" he wondered aloud. Why would something like a fire, no matter how terrible, would leave a hole like this in the Mirror World?

He approached the edge and dared himself to look down. There was nothing but pitch black darkness. He couldn't even tell how deep the hole was, but he had the impression that he wouldn't like to find out.

Regardless, he could see-

"..."

- nothing in it. Wait, did something just move? He had the impression that the darkness had shifted like a wave. Was it just his imagination? He leaned a little bit forward.

"Hi, what are you doing here?"

"!"

The voice right behind him made him nearly jump out of his skin and, more importantly, over the edge. He quickly whirled around, Shisui ready to strike, but his hand stayed itself when he took stock of the person who had unwittingly caught him by surprise.

It was a woman.

A beautiful woman, actually, with hair as white as the snow. She was wearing a black blouse over a white skirt and boots. She was beautiful in the way only a doll could be, with porcelain-like skin and blood red eyes.

[Irisviel Von Einzbern]
[?]

[LV. ?]

That's what the name over her head said, but Shirou's attention was drawn to a message prompt that flashed before his eyes.

[NEW QUEST: ALL THE WORLD'S EVILS (I)]
[Objective: Survive]
[Reward for Success: Survive]
[Reward for Failure: Life penalty, body penalty, freedom penalty, fame penalty, fortune penalty. Give the penalty that extends so much punishment, mud, darkness, and malice. "Elimination of human rights by castration, exile, execution, torture and sadism upon the body through digestion. denial by consensus of the colony that eliminates all honor"]

"Uhmm, hello ma'am… I was just exploring this area," he forced himself to say.

"My, that's quite brave of you, coming all the way here," she laughed. It was a melodious sound and one that gave him the shivers. "Don't you know that the farther away you get from civilization the more dangerous it gets?"

"Yes… I have been told that." Shirou would have taken a step back but doing so would have meant falling into that pit full of darkness that he could have sworn were reaching out to him. He moved a little bit to the side.

"Hm?" she tilted her head. A strand of hair slid against her blouse. It was a display of innocence that both fit her and didn't belong with her at the same time. "And yet you came here all the same. What is your name, little one? I'm Irisviel Von Einzbern."

Shirou swallowed, taking another step to the side. Worst case scenario he could dive diagonally and away from both the hole and this woman. "Shirou. My name is Emiya Shirou. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Einzbern-san."

The woman froze in place, eyes widening and gaze growing distant. "E...miya? Kiri?"

"... you knew my father?"

Her eyes regained focus instantly and zeroed on him. "You are his son?"

Shirou nodded cautiously.

"I see… I see. Fu fu fu fu," she laughed like a child who had Christmas come early. Then it must be fate that we met here. Let me introduce myself once more then. I am Irisviel Von Einzbern, Emiya Kiritsugu's one and only wife. I suppose that makes me your mama, doesn't it?"

There was a child-like glee in her voice, but all that Shirou could feel was an overwhelming threat.

"... you're lying." Shirou decided, moving a little bit to the side again and more importantly away from the hole. Something was definitely moving down there.

Irisviel seemed taken aback, but quickly recovered and advanced towards him, her smile getting wider and wider. Definitely wider than he was comfortable with. "Why do you think so, Shirou-kun?"

Well, for starters, because he never heard anything of Kiritsugu having a wife. Secondly...

"Because… because there's no way a slouch like dad could have gotten away with marrying a pretty lady like you!"

This time Irisviel did stop in her tracks for good. The smile on her face receded to something more human and more sincere.

"Oh… you are little flatterer aren't you? I like you, Shirou-kun. Will you be together with me forever? I'll be a good mama to you."

Shirou felt like she really meant it, but he also knew that it was a lie. Regardless, even if it had been for real, his answer would have been the same.

"Sorry, but I made a promise to dad. Besides, I've got people I have to go back to. Thank you for your offer, but I have to pass. May I go now?"

Irisviel smile froze.

"No."

The ground shook violently. It was only because of his great dexterity that Shirou didn't fall on his ass. The origin of this tremor, Shirou knew it perfectly well. It was the hole next to him.

Without thinking of a plan he listened to his gut feeling and jumped away from it. A moment later, something like a claw reached for the place where he had been standing, piercing into the ground.

A beast-like creature pulled itself up from the hole. With the exception of its white eyes it was completely black.

[Shadow]

[Lv.20]

Shirou stepped further back, preparing himself for combat, eyeing both the creature and Irisviel, but just as he was about to make up a way to fend off both at the same time another claw emerged from the hole. Then another. And another. And another. And another one.

[Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow] [Shadow]

"Oh… fuck!"

"Be with me forever, Shirou!" Irisviel sung happily and her voice was the signal for the shadows to let loose.

They swarmed him like a black tide of hatred and malice.

There was only one thing he could do in front of such a thing. A single available tactic.

He ran for his life.

Putting every little bit of Reinforcement he could into his legs, ignoring the HP loss prompts from the failed attempts, he burst away as fast as he possibly could.

Yet it was not enough. For each meter he gained, they made two. The space between him and them was getting increasingly shorter. He could feel their infernal screeches, like bone on metal, getting closer and closer.

Eventually he knew that he if he just kept running he would simply be killed from behind.

He whirled around, ready to fight for his own life.

The black wave was upon him, all darkness, fangs and claws, but they stopped in their tracks a few meters short of his position. However, they spread to the side and around him, circling him completely and cutting off any possible escape route. Behind them he could see even more Shadows climbing out of the hole. A seemingly endless horde.

The black sea parted, allowing Irisviel safe passage. She approached at a slow pace, hands clasped behind her back and a serene smile on her lips. She came to a stop right in front of him.

"Shirou… Running away like that wasn't very polite, you know? I see Kiri was a bit lacking in his education of you. Don't worry though, I will teach you everything a good boy needs to know. Come along now."

She held out her hand for him to take.

Should he take it? His chances of getting out of there alive with his own ability was somewhere in the negative percentile. Even if a single one of the Shadows had been weak, they could chip away at his health faster than he could kill them.

Maybe going with Irisviel was the best course of action? He had to make a decision.

"Sorry," he eventually said. "A hero isn't supposed to give up."

Irisviel sighed. "My, you are really your father's son, aren't you? That's too bad, but it only means that I'll have to drag you with me."

The shadows lept at him from all sides at the same time and Shirou clutched his blade tighter. He would fight for his life in this place, even if the chances of surviving were next to none.

But just as they were about to tore into him, another black wave came down from up above, circling around him like a protective wall.

"What?... Bats?" he wondered, checking his surroundings.

They were keeping away the Shadows. Not a single one could get through their barrier.

"You…" he heard Irisviel say. "What do you want now? That child is mine."

"..." someone answered, but he didn't recognize the voice, nor what he said.

He cautiously approached the wall off bats in the direction where he last saw Irisviel.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice behind him said.

Shirou's heart nearly tore out his chest again. He turned to face the other person who managed to get the drop on him for the second time that evening, and found himself staring at a young woman, possibly not older than seventeen.

She was wearing a t-shirt with a sleeveless jacket on it and a loose tie. On her lower body she wore knee-long jeans and her look was completed by a cap with a bat-shaped pin.

[Lilith Aensland]

[LV. 35]

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Lilith. But you already knew that with those eyes of yours. Isn't that right, The Gamer Emiya Shirou?"

"Wha-? How do you know about that? What's going on here?"

"How many questions. I'm a friend for the time being, and I've come to get you out of this mess you put yourself into. Oh, I know what you're thinking. How could you possibly trust a stranger who seems know your deepest secrets? Well, to answer that question, right now Onee-sama and I are the only thing standing between you and that woman's ugly friends. So, unless you changed your mind and decided to go with her we are the only chance you've got of getting out of here with all your limbs attached."

Shirou considered his options and found out that he had none other than trusting this person.

"What about the other person? Your… sister?"

"Oh, she'll be fine, you don't need to worry about her," she waved off. "Neither one of them can really harm the other, after all. They'll just tear at each other until they get bored and then they'll both go back home."

"Are you really sure? If we leave her now…"

"My… you really are like that. Yes, I am sure. Come along now or I'll leave without you."

She turned to leave and the circle of bats moved with her. Shirou couldn't help but follow or he would be left behind and into the sea of Shadows.

They moved at an easy pace, while outside the protective barrier he could hear the Shadows howl and throw themselves against the bats-wall.

Shirou kept his guard up, both against eventual break ins from the Shadows and from the mysterious Lilith. Who was she? What did he want from him and how did he know of his Gamer powers? He never so much as mentioned them to anyone else. Could she read minds? Maybe she had the same Mystic Eyes as him?

They proceeded in silence. Shirou had no clue how far they had gotten until his foot hit the cold, hard asphalt of the streets rather than the grass of the park.

"Here should be safe," Lilith said, turning to face him. Indeed Shirou could no longer hear the Shadows. With the exception of the flapping of bats' wings everything was quiet and that too subsided when Lilith snapped her fingers.

The bats dispersed into the sky, revealing the familiar sight of Mirror Fuyuki.

"Well. It looks like I'm in your debt," Shirou said, letting his sword go back into his Inventory.

Lilith tilted her head. "You are rather fast to trust strangers, all things considered."

"If you wanted to harm me, you could have left me where you found me. Whatever reason you had to get me out of there, I'm in your debt. Thank you," he bowed. "Still, are you sure she won't just chase us?"

"Oh, she can't get out of this park. It's been her dominion for the past ten years, but that's also as far as she can get. I'll be careful though. She's got her eyes on you. It wouldn't surprise me if she sent a few Shadows after you."

"They can come out?" he asked worriedly.

"They can, but they get progressively weaker the farther they go and the longer they stay out."

"Oh, thank goodness. Who was she really anyway? And who are you for that matter"

"You are Magus, Emiya Shirou. You should know better than anyone else that answers come at a price and right now you don't have what we want from you."

"What is that you want from me, then?" he inquired.

"For the time being we're just going to watch you. Onee-sama has some pretty big expectations of you, so she felt it would have been a waste to let you die here. I can't say I disagree with her on that point."

"What kind of expectations?" he asked, dreading the answer.

"Oh... you'll know when the time is right. It's been a pleasure meeting you, Emiya Shirou,but I've got to go now."

"Wait a second! At least tell me-"

He was cut off by a bat, swooping down in front of his face. When his vision cleared Lilith was gone and he was left alone at the edge of the park.

Shirou checked his surroundings but there wasn't anyone to be seen but he still felt watched. Whether he was right or just paranoid, he had no way of finding out, but considering what he had just been told, he was inclined towards the former.

With a sigh, he left the area of the park as fast as he could. He didn't want to put Lilith's words about Irisviel's range to the test.

He had a whole lot of questions going through his head and he had no clue where to start looking for answers. One thing he was certain about though. He would not be taking another step in that park ever again if he could help it.

[QUEST: All the World's Evils (I) Completed]

[Reward: You survived]

[br]

Irisviel stood at the edge of the park, lazily petting a Shadow while she watched Shirou disappear past a building.

If it hadn't been for that interloper she would have had him right where she wanted him.

He had gotten away this time, but it didn't matter in the end. Just a few more months and everything would be ready. When the time was right, he would bear her mark and he would come looking for her just like everybody else.

Such was the allure of the Holy Grail.

On that day he wouldn't be getting away a second time.

[br]

"Keep watching over him," the woman said from atop of the building.

"Are you sure he's the one, Onee-sama?" Lilith asked next to her.

"Only time will tell," she replied. "Time and the trials we will put him through."

"What if he breaks, though?" she asked.

"Then he will be broken," she stated ominously.

Lilith winced. She thought that Shirou was a very likable fellow, but her Onee-sama came first. She could only hope that he could survive what they would throw at him.

[br]

"Holy what now?" Shirou asked once he safely made his way back to Soul Society.

"Grail War," Yoruichi repeated. "It's a conflict fought every sixty years in this city, here in the Reverse Side. Magi chosen by the Grail get to summon Heroic Spirits from the past to fight for the right to make a wish. The last time it happened, five years ago, it caused the fire that burned all the way to the surface. I don't know any more details than that. I wasn't even in Japan at the time. The only thing I know is that ever since then no one who ventured into the park ever came back."

"Yeah, no kidding," he sighed running a hand through his hair

"Weren't you told not to venture into non-urbanized areas?"

"It's in the middle of the damn city," he protested.

"It doesn't matter. That park in the real world sees even less visitors than some remote places up in the mountains. What made you think it was a good idea? Do I have to draw you a map of all the places you aren't supposed to go or something? If you want to fight something stronger than slimes, try the docks. Something tough crawls out of the water fairly often, just make sure not to be dragged or pushed into it the ocean or you'll be done for."

"What about that woman? Irisviel? The things she said…"

"How would I know? If your father was ever married he must have kept it secret. Can't really blame him if he did. The Magus Killer didn't get as far as he got by letting everyone and their sisters know what he was up to in his spare time. Besides, that woman could have been a wraith or just some other spirit trying to mess with you."

"No… I don't think she was lying. I'm not sure exactly what she was… but she was not lying."

"You should be more worried about that Lilith gal and her sister in my opinion," Yoruichi continued. "Who knows what they want from you."

"Have you ever heard of them?" he asked.

"Nope," she shook her head, "but as you know there are other points were the real world and the Reverse Side meet. Heck, with enough power one could theoretically just tear a hole and go right through from one to the other. Besides, our job is keeping things in, not keeping people out."

"Well, there goes that route," he sighed. "I suppose I can only wait and see, huh?"

"Keep your guard up but don't be too bothered by it. Everyone down here's got someone after them at one point or another. In the Moonlit World if you haven't got any enemies, you aren't trying hard enough."

"Splendid," he replied sarcastically. "Just what I needed."

"If you wanted a quiet life, you should have stayed at home, playing Magus in your shed."

Shirou tossed her a mild glare. "Do you have any other wise suggestions or should I just see myself out?"

Yoruichi cackled. "I almost forgot you could be such a sourpuss, brat. Look, if you want more answers than I've got, you should ask another Magus. In particular, if you want information about the Grail Wars, you should try asking the local Second Owner."

"And who would that be?" he asked. Finally a lead he could follow.

"You don't even know that much? Don't get me wrong, but your father completely screwed up your education as a Magus."

"Yes, I already knew that. Actually, he didn't want to teach me Magecraft in the first place. He only did because I pestered him until he gave up."

"Oh, so you were a stubborn little bugger from the ground up, huh?"

"Yes. That's me. Now could you give me that name, please?"

"Ehh…. It should be a girl from the Tohsaka family. I knew her father, but I can't remember his daughters' names and I don't know which sister inherited in the end."

"That's more than enough. I can look it up myself. Thank you."

"I shouldn't be saying things, but Magi don't really like each other. If you decide to approach this person you should be extremely careful."

"I know, I know. I'm not just going up to her place and ring her doorbell."

"Knowing you, I'll believe it when I'll see it," Yoruichi replied unconvinced. "Anyway, good luck. Let me know if you find something interesting you might want to share."

"Will do. By the way should I report about the park to everyone else?"

"Naah," Yoruichi shook her head. "Everyone except you is smart enough to keep their necks out of it regardless. Besides, it seems to me that everything interesting you found out is rather personal. I wouldn't go around spreading information that could be used against me if I were you. You have raised enough eyebrows already. Don't think that people here haven't got their eyes on you just because they seem to dismiss you."

"... you just asked me to come tell you whatever I'm going to find out."

"Aww, but I'm not just anyone to you, am I?"Yoruichi purred seductively, leaning over the counter. "You wouldn't leave your good friend Yoruichi in the dark, will you?"

Shirou pretended not to be affected by the way her breast pressed against the counter, but he was fairly sure that his blush betrayed him. Damn hormones.

"We… we'll see about that," he stuttered. "I'm going now."

"I'll see you at home later," she sing-sang after him, breaking down in laughter only after he had closed the door behind him.

It looked like she wouldn't get bored of teasing him anytime soon.

[br]

He ended up returning home earlier than usual without having obtained anything other than a number of questions he had scant few clues on how to answer.

The fire from five years before was caused by this Holy Grail War, a conflict in which Magi summoned Heroic Spirits to fight for possession of this allegedly all-powerful artifact.

Kiritsugu was a Magus and he found Shirou in the fire. The likelihood that his father had nothing to do with the Grail War was not even worth considering at this point.

And then there was Irisviel, who claimed to be Kiritsugu's wife. He told her she was lying, because he didn't think it possible that Kiritsugu wouldn't mention to him about something like being married. However, he did sometime leave for extended business trips.

If he hadn't told him about the Grail War and the Magus Killer business, who knew what else he could have kept to himself.

Once he arrived home he went straight for the Kiritsugu's room. He hadn't gone in there ever since the funeral and even before that he didn't go in much at all.

He threw open the closet and started rummaging through his stuff. He knew that Kiritsugu had female clothes in his room. Shirou had even lent a dress to Saeko last time she had been there, but he never thought much about it.

Now, after meeting Irisviel, he had a whole new explanation.

He unceremoniously emptied the closets and sure enough he found clothes upon clothes of Irisviel's presumed size. Chief among them was a black blouse, a white skirt and white boots of the same making as those worn by the Irisviel in the Mirror Fuyuki.

No, not of the same making. They were exactly the same clothes down to the tiniest detail.

Was it true then? Was Irisviel really Kiritsugu's wife? Then what was their role in the Grail War? What happened to them? Why was Irisviel stuck down there, confined to the park with those creatures? Why did they obey her?

Shirou felt the need to find answers to these questions. He had sworn to himself he would not let a tragedy like that happen ever again and even if the next Grail War was still fifty-five years away he needed to know what he was dealing with in preparation for it.

Starting tomorrow, his primary goal would be digging information about Kiritsugu's past and his involvement in the Holy Grail War.

Little did he know that the tragedy was already looming upon the city once again.

XXX