A Tale of Falling Lilies

by FR0M4G3

A Prophecy, a summoning, a change. The War that was supposed to take place had been uprooted, and a new story had taken its place. A story about pain, about overcoming pain. A story about hurt, about healing. A story about the End of the World.

11. Day 2

PoV: Tohsaka Rin

….

….

….

…bri….

…briii...…

.Briiii….

Briiiiiing~

"...Hm.."

Something is ringing-

Briiiiiiiing~

-I turn over in my bed, trying to ignore it to the best of my abilities.

Briiiiiiiing~

Something is invading my sleep-

Briiiiiiiing~

-I sandwich my head between both sides of the pillow.

Briiiiiiiing~

Something is bothering me.

Briiiiiiing~

I contemplate skip-

Briiiiiiing~

"Ugh, fine!"

I sit up, throwing my blankets off of myself with a huff, and rub my eyes in exhaustion. Hair a mess, and clothed in my pajamas, I greet the world with an annoyed scowl on my lips. I stifle a yawn-

Briiiiiiing~

-not really wanting to wake up just yet. Ignoring the continued ringing, my irritated gaze scans my room, intent on silencing the restless machine that ripped me from my slumber, before landing on the silent alarm clock.

'...Silent alarm clock…Huh?'

I blink owlishly, shaking my head.

'..Silent alarm clock..'

I blink again, and this time I rub my eyes again.

'Silent alarm clock'

But this reality doesn't change, it's the undeniable truth that my alarm clock wasn't the one behind the incessant noise that had dragged me free from my much needed sleep. I turn my gaze to the windows, just now noticing that-

Briiiiiing~

-it was still dark out, the moon illuminating my still darkened room.

Yet the ringing continued unabated.

It took my brain finally losing the haze of sleep before I thought to turn my gaze towards-

Briiiiiing~

-my apparently ringing phone?

I stare at the phone in bewilderment, baffled someone would even bother to call me at such an ungodly hour. Who could even think to call me right now? Rather, who would even be awake to do so?

My confusion, however, is quickly replaced by extreme, mounting annoyance. I'd been enjoying a nice dream, a very nice one if I do say so myself, so to have it callously and rudely interrupted by some jerk…

I ignore the twitching of my eyes-

Briiiiiing~

-as I slip out of bed.

I ignore the grinding of my teeth-

Briiiiiing~

-as I cross my room.

I ignore the building anger undoubtedly-

Briiiiiing~

-showing on my face as I walk up to the phone.

Briiii-

"WHAT IS IT?"

I ignore my indignant yell into the phone. After all, whoever had thought to subject me to this form of torture at this hour deserved it.

Hypothetically speaking, of course, had I yelled. A Tohsaka heiress never yells. Or loses her calm. It was entirely beneath me.

"I'm glad to hear you're so full of life at this hour Rin," a deep, annoying voice answers over the phone, "Have you been waking up earlier like I'd advised?"

The bastard had the nerve to chuckle.

"Kirei, you'd better have a good reason for calling me so early in the morning, and of course I never took such ridiculous advice!"

I did not yell. I did not yell. I did not yell.

"I see", he had the audacity to sound disappointed at that, "I merely thought to inform you that a certain problem of yours had arrived in Fuyuki."

A problem of mine? I scour my brain for what he could be talking about. Having just woken up, I wasn't exactly at my best at the moment. I'm more than a little confused when I come up blank.

I question, my voice a cross between miffed and confused,

"What problem are you talking about?"

He hums,

"How forgetful of you, shouldn't the heiress to the Tohsaka family be on top of anything and everything pertaining to her city?"

The nerve of this fake priest,

"I'm not in the mood for your crap, you sadist. Just tell me what the problem is so I can go back to sleep."

He acquiesces, though I can hear the smile in his voice,

"Very well," He seems to take pity on me, something that aggravates me to no end, but thankfully begins,

"I have been alerted by my contacts that the Edelfelt family heiress has arrived in Japan and will likely be seeking to become a Master in the upcoming Grail War."

I abandon all thoughts of going back to my peaceful sleep the second I process the words coming out his mouth. I'd already known Edelfelt was likely to rear her ugly head soon enough, but for it to be this soon…

I can't fight the grimace burning onto my face,

"...I see, do you have any more information for me or is that all?"

"Pertaining to the Edelfelts? No, as I'm sure you know, their security and anti-espionage methods are both of the highest order. Gathering even this much was both difficult and extremely dangerous, Rin."

I sigh, a little disappointed,

"Yeah, I hear you. Call me if anything comes up, I'm going back to sleep now."

The sleepiness I'd thought gone from before had returned with a fierceness.

"Ah, Rin, you shou-"

I cut him off, no longer bothering to try and filter my annoyance,

"Goodbye, Kirei."

I slam the phone down, ending the call. He'd been saying something before I cut him off, but it'd seemed like he'd gotten all the important information out of the way already. Perhaps it was rash of me to presume, but I'm allowed some annoyance at his random call.

Especially since he knows very well how I feel about getting up early.

My previous grimace returns, however, his words weighing on me.

Despite my tiredness, I couldn't simply dismiss that fake priest's information. Out of all the Masters that I knew would show up in this war, aside from the Einzbern, the Edelfelt would bear the biggest challenge to me. Especially since I already knew who the Master would be, and had heard all about how impressive she was despite being the same age as me. For news of her renown to reach all the way here in Japan only increased my view of her as a threat.

I let out my second sigh of the night, before making my way back to my bed.

Tired as I am, it'd be foolish of me to try and approach this problem without being at full capacity. It was certainly something that shouldn't be put off, but I accept that I'm in no condition to plan out something so complicated and dangerous at the moment.

Climbing back into my western bed(I'd never really cared much for futons), I pull the blanket back over my exhausted form. I try my best to ignore the mounting feeling of dread in my chest, and instead let the peacefulness of sleep pull me under.

I don't sleep as peacefully as I'd done a mere five minutes ago, thoughts of the upcoming War following me into my slumber.

-Elsewhere-

"Ah, Rin, you shou-"

The man in dark robes is cut off by an irritant voice,

"Goodbye, Kirei."

The phone hangs up with a clack, and Kotomine Kirei sighs, before simply placing it down in acceptance.

"How unfortunate," he muses, standing by a small table in a corner of a church. The lights were all off, and so the half moon hanging in the sky serves as the only thing illuminating the otherwise dark church.

"I'd been meaning to inform her of the fact that Archer and Saber were the only two open classes left, but it seems I caught her at a bad time."

Despite his words, the priest is smiling, as if he finds her unpreparedness amusing.

"I'm certain she's received her Command Seals, I can only hope she plans to summon a Servant sooner rather than later."

The moonlight around the dark man seems to bend, as if purposefully cloaking him in shadows. He is a tall man, very tall in fact, clothed head to toe in an attire befitting a member of the clergy. Sporting a golden cross necklace around his neck, brown hair frames his face in a slightly messy hairstyle. Everything about the man looks normal, in fact, of the participants in this coming disaster, he's likely to be the most unassuming of them.

At least, until one took a gander at his eyes.

Dark brown eyes match the rest of his shadowed features. But whereas, everything else about the man was just dark in color, his eyes are actually a light brown color. Yes, the reason those eyes could be considered 'dark' was certainly not because of the color or the tone, but rather a much deeper, more dangerous reason.

"Hmph. To throw away such an opportunity from the Grail is the height of foolishness. Though I expect nothing less from that mongrel, Tokiomi's blood."

In contrast to the priest, the young man that has seemingly appeared out of thin air is nothing less than exemplary.

To say he merely "stood out" was a gross understatement. If the man ever bothered to find himself in a crowd, it wouldn't be wrong to say every last person there, regardless of age or sex, would be drawn to his radiant features. Blond, golden really, hair sits perfectly on his head. Perfectly cut bangs, adorn his ruby like eyes. Light, creamy skin, with not a blemish in sight, accompanies the rest of his perfect appearance. Even the basic clothing he's wearing, a black biker jacket with matching pants followed by a plain white shirt, looks amazing on him. The man is nothing less than radiant, and the sheer aura that bleeds from him only further extenuates his impressive presence.

The priest merely chuckles at the man's offensively, dismissive words.

"I cannot agree more my King, though I will say, Rin is far more interesting than her father."

The man snorts, before turning his head away in disinterest,

"Pebbles on the side of the road are more interesting than Tokiomi. Your words of praise fall flat, Kirei."

The priest simply nods, his smile never leaving his face,

"Perhaps, but I do truly believe Rin is quite the specimen. I believe you'll quite enjoy her performance in this coming War."

The Golden King glances back at the priest, head still turned, and drinks in his expression. A cruel smirk breaks through his mask of boredom,

"Are you saying this because you are fond of her? It'd be unbecoming of you to take the side of that family of mongrels once again in this War."

Kotomine simply shakes his head,

"I can admit I'm a bit biased towards her, but I promise you my King, I will do nothing of the sort. Merely, as the person who looked after her after parents' untimely demise-

The king snorts in amusement.

-I simply believe she will most certainly catch your attention."

The golden man tilts his head right, then left, as if mulling it over.

Eventually, however, his expression returns to its previous arrogant look.

"I suppose I'll take your word for it, for your sake as much as her's, I hope she does not disappoint me."

The priest merely chuckles at the thinly veiled threat, before turning to look out the window. His eyes roam over the moonlit city, the majority of its lights turned off at this hour, before landing on a decently tall building with the majority of the lights still on.

"I have the utmost faith my King, Rin, no, this War shall not disappoint you in any way."

Amidst the darkness of the city, the Fuyuki General Hospital stands out like a beacon.

-Scene-

"..."

"..."

She blinks, drinking in my tired appearance.

"You look terrible, Rin."

I roll my eyes at her bluntness,

"Really? What could possibly make you think that?"

Standing at the gates to the school, and donning the school's female uniform, was my best friend and closest confidant, Mitsuzuri Ayako.

She quirks an eyebrow in return,

"Yeah, sorry, bad morning?"

I scoff, crossing my arms in indignation,

"Try awful. I was woken up real early for something I couldn't ignore."

She nods,

"I get it, waking up early's a pain for everyone. I don't think there's anyone who would given the choice not to."

I grumble out my agreement as we begin our trek into Homurahara High School. Despite my complaints, I tend to arrive here a little early anyway, both to have some time to myself before class, and to uphold the image I've so painstakingly built for myself.

The brunette to the side of me smirks teasingly, ignoring the looks we're getting from the students around us.

Or rather, the looks I'm getting.

"But to think even the great Tohsaka Rin could have bad days, even I find it hard to believe."

I can't help my second eye roll of the morning, moving slightly less gracefully than usual,

"I'm not some perfect goddess ya know, I make mistakes like any other person. It's perfectly normal to have bad days."

(No I am not trying to convince myself as well.)

The captain of the Archery club just laughs,

"Could've fooled me. We've been friends since our first year of highschool and I've never seen you have a bad day ever."

"First time for everything," I retort,

"More like the only time," the Archery club captain shoots back.

We've just entered the building when I notice something odd,

"You didn't head to the Archery club," I note, before properly taking in her appearance this time, "and you're wearing your school uniform and not your kyudogi."

She shoots me a surprised look,

"Wow, you must be really out of it if you only just now noticed that."

My face burns under her naked concern,

"I-I, ugh, how come you're not going to practice?"

Ayako simply eyes me a little, before turning away, opening her mouth to answer.

But before she can answer, one of the lowerclassmen to the right of us says something that catches my attention.

"Hey, did you hear? That foreign transfer student from the upper class arrived today!"

His buddy to the far right answers with just as much enthusiasm.

"Yeah! I heard she came in reeeal early this morning in a decked out black car."

My eyes widen.

Student #1 gasps,

"Really? I figured she'd be pretty rich, but to come to school that way?"

Anxiety eats away at me from the inside,

'There's no way she's actually here already, Kirei said she'd just arrived in Japan!'

Student #2 nods,

"One of the upperclassmen said she was like, a foreign princess, or something."

I hope,

'Maybe it's someone else?'

Student #1 pops the big question,

"A foreign princess huh, that's cool. Did anyone get her name?"

Student #2 smiles, and his answer seals my fate,

"Yeah, she said her name was-"

---

"E-Edelfelt-san?"

I'm standing in front of the door to my class.

Well almost every student in the school is right now.

But more importantly, I'm standing there to witness the most disgusting, most repulsive thing my eyes had ever seen.

I'm entirely sure the Archery captain feels the same, if for different reasons.

"Oh please, call me Luvia."

Because standing in the front of the class, adorned in the Homurahara girls uniform, was a foreign girl.

Not just any foreign girl.

A really annoying foreign girl.

Long, luscious, golden locks flow freely from her head. Even her hairstyle, the drill-like design, was flashy and aristocratic. Her eyes a cross between amber and gold, and they were full of joy, the joy one would feel at a pleasant surprise.

Except this surprise was anything but pleasant.

Because Luviagelita Edelfelt had arrived-

"We're friends aren't we, Sherou?"

-and she was hugging Emiya Shirou like the dearest of friends.