So...Vengeance Conflagration got quite the response. Whether it'll get posted as a full story is, as always, up in the air, but as of posting this sample chapter, there have been three chapters written. Once I write eight, as per my usual idiom, it will get posted as a full story. That might be a while, if it gets done at all, but hopefully, you'll get to enjoy Harry and Jalter's misadventures in the Fourth Holy Grail War.

It's worth re-emphasizing that the Jalter from this story and the Jalter from Fate/Grand Order are, effectively, two different people. They were more or less identical when they are first summoned, true, but in Fate/Grand Order, Jalter's Master, effectively, was Gilles de Rais. Here, it's Harry, so a certain amount of...imprinting, I guess you can call it, is going on. It doesn't necessarily mean Jalter's going to be good in this story right off the bat, it just means she's going to be more righteous than her mad Targaryen-like self in the Orleans Singularity of Fate/Grand Order.

It doesn't necessarily mean she's going to be good by conventional means. If she is a hero, she's going to be one of those edgelord types that were once so popular during the 80s and 90s in comics, or else like a member of the Suicide Squad or something similar. And considering that Harry is not the paragon of mental health here (though ironically, now that he has some company and someone to talk to properly other than himself, he's beginning to heal), his influence won't be all that healthy. But it will be enough. Plus, Jalter, being away from Gilles' influence, will begin to consider the nature of her existence sooner, something that will shake her (even as early as the next chapter). But there will come a particular turning point in the fic when Jalter realises, despite everything, that she has lines she would not cross, and she has the capacity, even if only a small one, to be a hero. A dark hero, a vicious anti-hero, but a hero all the same. Like Kiritsugu, only less dispassionate and indiscriminate and more pyromaniacal.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy...

VENGEANCE CONFLAGRATION

CHAPTER 2:

CONSTERNATION

Kirei Kotomine was troubled. Not that this was a particularly unusual state of affairs for the young priest and former Executor of the Burial Agency of the Holy Church. He despised himself, his inability to take joy in anything, save for the suffering of others. He was being used as a pawn by Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kirei's father, Risei. Admittedly, if there was one person in the world he was utterly loyal to, it was his father, and he was willing to obey his edicts and by extension Tokiomi's, if only it would get him the answers he sought.

In fact, it was the questions he wanted answered that perturbed Kirei most of all lately. Why had the Grail chosen him, of all people, to be a Master? And so early, too? Three years prior to the Grail War, he'd received Command Seals, the stigmata marking him as a Master. It was this desire for answers, in fact, that had him agreeing to Tokiomi and Risei's little plan more than any loyalty to his father, no matter what Risei Kotomine thought. Perhaps the Holy Grail, even if it wasn't the cup of Christ and thus one of the most coveted relics of the Church, would provide him his answers to his existence.

He had been ordered to summon his Servant early. Specifically, an Assassin Servant, one of the many holders of the title Hassan-i Sabbah. It was his father who found the relic, a skull-like mask belonging to one of the later holders of the title, known as the Hundred-Faced Hassan. Their special ability, born of a multiple personality disorder they had in life and which they exploited for their missions, allowed them to create nearly a hundred distinct bodies. It was all part of a plan they had to fake Assassin's death so that they could use Assassin as a scout without anyone being any the wiser.

However, he could hear his father and Tokiomi arguing over their covert communication device (which resembled an old gramophone) about what had just happened. Apparently, some Magus of unknown power had infiltrated the Tohsaka estate, somehow transforming themselves into a snake. Rin had apparently adopted it as a pet when she realised it was friendly. However, said snake was, at least according to Tokiomi (and Kirei was sure that the dandyish Magus was lying through his teeth), an assassin who tried to kill him, only to be repulsed. Risei was probing Tokiomi, but the man was proving recalcitrant and unwilling to discuss the matter, insisting on checking the plausibility of using Assassin to track this man down.

Kirei merely waited until the conversation was over, and his father approached, the burly older man looking a little shaken despite his usual serenity. "I take it you heard that, my son?"

"Indeed, or at least I caught the gist of it. Tokiomi seems…unusually worried."

"Not only that, but far more secretive than his usual manner," Risei said. "If anything, he was panicking. He seemed to be hiding something, far more than one would expect from a Magus. He is an old friend, I have learned to tell what the cues are. While it is concerning that a Magus has this ability, and was able to infiltrate Tokiomi's estate, if he was an assassin, he could have killed Tokiomi off far more covertly, instead of forcing a more overt confrontation. No…I think my old friend is lying to us. This isn't to say that this mysterious Magus isn't a threat to his life or his plan, far from it. But I feel ill at ease, my son. Tokiomi is not only hiding something, but covering it up in a manner that is far less elegant than he usually would. He wants us to use Assassin to track down and kill this mysterious Magus as soon as possible. He also asked…well, demanded that I have you put Assassin to watching Kariya Matou. Until now, he seemed to think Kariya's involvement in the Grail War to be a cause of some amusement. Now, it seems to be of some actual concern."

"Then what are your thoughts on this, father?"

"…I don't know. The Tohsaka bloodline has made many enemies over the centuries, even before the Holy Grail War was established. However, I doubt it is an organised assassination attempt. I believe that the mystery Magus stumbled across a secret of Tokiomi's while spying on the behalf of a third party, and either attempted to blackmail him about it, or found it objectionable. It is the latter that truly disturbs me. The Tohsaka family has many skeletons in the closet, I am sure…but what if there was something that I would take issue with? Is that why Tokiomi wants him dead? Regardless, I intend to be more measured than Tokiomi, and capture this Magus for questioning. I want to be absolutely certain as to why Tokiomi wants him dead."

"I see. Should I send Assassin after him?"

"We don't know where he is. He disappeared soon after he was driven away by Tokiomi," Risei said. "However, it's possible that he would try again in some manner. Tokiomi is currently strengthening his defences at his manor, while preparing to send Rin and Aoi to safety. He is also making preparations to summon his Servant earlier than planned. And in truth…" Risei looked over at the Spirit Board, an item that monitored the state of each Servant, listing the ones summoned so far. "…I think we might be able to find out who they are anyway. See?"

Kirei nodded. The Spirit Board had already listed two Servants: his own Assassin, and a Caster. But then, he saw a third Servant listed, and he did a double-take. "…Avenger? Does such a class even exist?"

"Not normally, no," Risei said. "I would hazard that the intruder is most likely to be the Master of Avenger, though I cannot rule out the possibility that he is the Master of Caster, as Casters are not at their best in direct assaults on enemy territory, instead carving out territory to make their own. However, Tokiomi saw no Command Seals on the young man's hands."

"…But Avenger? I was told there were seven classes by Tokiomi."

"True, but there are a number of extra classes that could come to the fore in special circumstances, my son. In the last Holy Grail War, I spoke at great length to the von Einzbern representative, a lovely young lady. I was confused about the Avenger she had summoned, and while she did not elaborate, being rather coy beyond Avenger being a 'spirit of vengeance', she did regale me with a discussion about one other class. In cases where too many Masters are collaborating, a second set of seven Servants would be summoned, and a special Servant, a Ruler, would be summoned to act as a referee. I joked at the time that that would make me utterly redundant. Still…she claimed a saint would be the most likely candidate for a Ruler, so it pains me I would not meet a saint in such a role. Still…Avenger in the previous Grail War was a weakling who died early on. We cannot assume that this Avenger is as weak."

Kirei frowned. That was indeed concerning. "…What do we do?"

"We are accelerating our plans. I would like you to have Assassin provide extra security around the Tohsaka manor until we are ready to stage our little farce. Then, and only then, will we start tracking down Tokiomi's mysterious assailant. For capture and questioning, not killing. Indeed, if we can invite him to speak with us civilly and he accepts…as much as I do not wish to suspect Tokiomi of any wrongdoing, I wish to discern the truth first before passing judgement."

"…And if Tokiomi has done something wrong?"

"…If it is something that will truly make our relationship null and void…well, even if I cannot take overt action until the Grail War is over, I will be renouncing our friendship. However, should this assailant prove to be merely another enemy of Tokiomi's…then he will die…"

Harry followed his Servant through the rest of the manor he had found himself in, a palatial mansion in the forest on the outskirts of the city he was in. Fuyuki, it was called. He thanked Hermione for the Japanese lessons she had crammed into his brain. He wanted to get away from Britain after he finished Hogwarts, and Voldemort, and she helped him. Not that she could help him when the Ministry once more stabbed him in the back.

Harry shook his head to try and dispel those thoughts. Stop that, he thought. Forget that Snape exposed the Horcrux in your scar as one big posthumous 'fuck you'. Forget that the Ministry wouldn't listen to you when you said that Horcrux had been destroyed thanks to Voldemort being too trigger happy with the Killing Curse. Forget that your friends, when they tried to speak up, were shouted down by the sheeple of Magical Britain. Forget that those bastards chucked you through the Veil to kill you off and the Horcrux, and hopefully seize your money into the bargain. Forget that they let you linger in Azkaban for two years before doing so. You're no longer in that world. You're separated from your friends, but your enemies can't get you too.

Then, out loud, he said, "You still have your saving people thing. You have a girl who is subjected to inhuman horrors on a daily basis, and a man willing to undergo similar things to save her. Focus on that. You're going to kill Zouken Matou and Tokiomi Tohsaka. You're going to save Sakura and Kariya, and with them, Aoi and Rin. If anyone gets in the way, you either shove them aside, or you burn them."

"…Master, you're talking to yourself."

Harry blinked, before he looked at his Servant. Jeanne d'Arc, or rather, her dark side. The cruelty of most of her previous expressions were gone, replaced with what looked like genuine concern, mixed in with a little sardonic amusement. "…Sorry, force of habit. I was alone in my cell in Azkaban, so talking to myself was probably the only thing keeping me even remotely sane. Though calling me actually sane is a bit of a stretch."

"I can tell. I won't judge, though. I don't really consider myself a paragon of sanity myself. Still…I wouldn't suggest lingering in this manor, Master. This is definitely a Magus stronghold," she said, as they walked down the opulent, darkened corridor. "We're lucky not to have tripped any lethal Bounded Fields. In addition, while there appear to be no occupants, it has been maintained, and there are signs of recent cleaning."

"…I guess. I haven't really been paying attention."

"Then pay attention, or you could die in a rather ignoble manner, and I will vanish with you unless I find a new Master," Jeanne said, shooting him a look of both annoyance and concern. "Bordel del merde…just…listen to me. Follow me, and do not touch anything in this house without asking. That includes door handles. I'm trying to figure out if this place has any storerooms. The Grail's filled me in. This is the home and base of the von Einzberns when they're in Fuyuki. They're one of the three Founding Families of the Holy Grail War. So if they find us squatting here…"

"…I get the picture. I overheard Tokiomi and Zouken speaking about the Holy Grail War," Harry said. "Apparently the von Einzberns hired some infamous assassin called Kiritsugu Emiya…shit, if he finds us here…"

"Exactly. The Grail hasn't supplied me with information about Emiya, but if the von Einzberns have hired him as their proxy, he is doubtlessly formidable," Jeanne said. "However, I think we should search out some storehouse and loot it of any valuables or currency we can find. Assuming they have any. The best place to look is in the second most highly protected place in this mansion."

"Why the second?"

Jeanne sighed in annoyance as they approached an entrance hall. "…You really do come from another world, don't you? Here at least, Magi have a Workshop, a place where they do their magecraft and research. That would be the most heavily protected. Any more mundane valuables would be less protected." She then stopped, and then frowned. "…It seems that our presence hasn't gone unnoticed. There is a human coming here. Not a Master, unless it's the Master of Assassin, I'd probably be able to sense a Servant by now. But definitely a Magus of some kind. Master, I suggest you stay back, in hiding."

"…Got it. And stop calling me Master. Call me Harry."

"Later." She gestured him to hide behind a grand staircase in the entrance hall, while she vanished in a cloud of blue particles. Then, he heard a door open, then footsteps…only to hear a sudden grunt, and then tumbling noises. "…Who are you?" The noise of a choked cry, a woman. "…I won't ask again. Your little toy pistol can't hurt me. I was about to leave with my Master before you started nosing about. So, if you tell me who you are now, I won't roast you alive until you do. Hmm? Won't talk? You must be Kiritsugu Emiya's pet. Ah, your eyes betray you. I'd kill you, but I don't think my Master would like that very much. So…" There was a brief bit of fumbling. "Ah, thank you for your kind donation to the cause. And by the way…" He some whispering for a while, though not the words, before he heard a crack. Then, Jeanne's voice called out, "The coast is clear, Master. For now."

Harry emerged from the shadows, and went up to where Jeanne stood over the body of a dark-haired Japanese woman. "Who is that?"

"I'm guessing Kiritsugu Emiya's underling, given the way she reacted to the name. Who else would be lurking around here but a von Einzbern lackey? She's unconscious. While I would prefer to kill her, I think you'd object to that, so I had a more interesting idea."

"What do you mean?"

Jeanne merely tapped her nose in a coy gesture. "Let's just say she's going to be a messenger…and a lit fuse that might actually make things easier for us. Anyway, I decided to get some money out of her wallet. It should be enough for now. I'll mug some idiots later. And…" She held up keys on a chain and jangled them. "Car keys."

"…Do you know how to drive?"

Jeanne shrugged. "I've ridden a horse in life. Don't worry, I intend to ditch the car long before we get anywhere where the police might find us. I'm not stupid."

"…That's not reassuring," Harry said.

"Don't be a wimp. C'mon. I want to try…what do they call it these days? Ah, yes, burning rubber…"

Harry sighed as he followed Jeanne out of the mansion. Somehow, he knew she was going to be more trouble than she was worth. Still…he was stuck with her now. And maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't regret summoning her.

He hoped…

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

Oh dear, Harry. I think you don't know what you're in for. But by the same token, neither is Jalter. She gets a conscience who she thinks is entertaining and useful for more than torment. Of course, they've just knocked out Maiya, and Kiritsugu is NOT going to be happy that his assistant and mistress got attacked…though what did Jalter tell her?

Also…Risei has doubts about his old friend. I think that, as loyal as Risei is to Tokiomi, he would balk at what is being done to Sakura, and given how Tokiomi seems to be panicking over nothing, Risei is concerned. Risei may be willing to flout the rules somewhat to give Tokiomi an advantage, but if he learns about the Crest Worms…well…yeah. He's probably going to tell Tokiomi to fuck off…albeit at an opportune time.

No numbered annotations this time.