A/N: Ok, we've made it this far. Honestly I am kind of surpised that I've made so many chapters in the span of like five months, it has certainly been years since I've managed to produce this amount of output. Honestly this is probably the highest quality I've thrown out with this kind of production. The last time this happened was when I was publishing my first fanfiction on the site. I do have to thank the 61 people who thought this story looked mildly intersting for them to read whenever it gets updated at like 4 in the morning, and the 48 people who love this story thus far. I hope I can continue this momentium forward. Because I am going to be honest, I do have an idea about how the following chapters will play now!

Enough of my yapping, let's jump into what you are really here for! The story!

Chapter 9: The Sad Story of Sakura Matou

Once a long time ago, there was a family of four. A father, a mother, and two daughters. They lived together in a very big old-looking house. The mother took care of the household while the father worked as an entrepreneur.

It was a very nice, lovely household. At least that is what a young Sakura thought. She loved her father, her mother, and most of all her older sister.

She would play with her sister, and her sister would dote on her. Everything seemed perfect back then. It was a nice peaceful life, and Sakura would give up everything in the world to experience those days once more.

Despite that those were the days that Sakura never wanted to recall again. Not that any of those times were bad, but it is just nowadays, those times are painful to remember.

Those happy times crumbled on the day; she was told by her father, two simple sentences.

"From now on, you are no daughter of mine. You are the daughter of the Matou family."

Those are words that she would never forget for as long as she lived. The words that marked the end of her previous life, and the start of her current. She can remember the callous expression her father had when he said those words.

The words that got ingrained in a five-year-old Sakura Matou.

Her family gave her up, for what reason she had no clue.

"Daddy, daddy," young Sakura cried as she tried running back to him. Her efforts met with her father's cane to her face.

"Don't ever come near me, or my family again," her father said with the coldest expression she had ever seen, "begone you outsider."

Though her father has never been the type of man to openly express his emotions. There had always been a feeling of warmth that had radiated from him. That feeling of warmth was absent now. In its place was a coldness that she would eventually come to associate with mages.

"Now, now, Sakura," an eerie raspy voice said from behind, "your father didn't abandon you. He saved you."

This was a voice that gave Sakura chills down her back.

"Your grandfather is right. In time you will learn that this decision was the best for all of us," Tokiomi Tohsaka expressed as he walked away without a second look. Maybe it was to not face that decrepit old worm of a man, or maybe it was not to face his now disowned daughter.

Only Tokiomi knew for sure.

Either way that was the last time Sakura ever saw the man that was her father. Not with a head pat, or with a smile. Just some emotionless harsh words, and a cane to her face.

"Come now, it would be best to get you used to your new living arrangements," the raspy voice behind her said, and like that Sakura was led into the Matou estate by the head of the Matou family, Zouken Matou. She was scared just looking at him. If a person were to barely glance at him, he would look like a really old man. Though if one were to take a long hard glance; they would notice he is falling apart. There were always insects that surrounded the man as if his whole body was comprised of them.

"I'll let you get settled in before, we start your training," Zouken said to the young girl as he showed her to her room.

"Yes, grandfather," Sakura said only to turn around and see the old worm had already departed.

It wasn't like Sakura had much of anything to begin with. Only a suitcase full of clothes, a stuffed animal butterfly, and a pink-red ribbon given to her by someone special.

"Mommy, daddy?" Sakura muttered to herself as she started to cry, "I am sorry for whatever I did! I promise, I'll never do it again."

The poor girl started to blame herself for why her parents left her. That was the only logical explanation that a five-year old girl could make.

Unbeknownst to her, a young boy with blue hair was looking on.

"So, you're the so-called, savior of the Matou family," a kid with blue hair, suspenders, a buttoned-up shirt, and a red bowtie.

"Huh?"

"Grandfather must be getting really senile if he brought in a short stack like you," the kid arrogantly scoffed.

"Who are you?" Sakura said with a mixture of confusion and tears.

"I am Shinji Matou, the true heir to the Matou family," the boy said as he moved his hand through his seaweed-like hair.

"Does that mean you are my new brother?"

"It does, but.." Sakura ran up and hugged him before he could finish his sentence. While Shinji was definitely not like Sakura's older sister, he would do just for this.

"Hey, get off me, just because you are the savior of the Matou family. That does not mean that I accept you just yet," Shinji complained but those complaints fell on deaf ears as the young Sakura just continued hugging him.

"Eh, fine. Since you just got here. I'll give you this," Shinji said as he reluctantly gave his new little sister a hug. Although Shinji felt massive disdain towards Sakura's arrival; he couldn't help but feel just a little bad for the girl. He knew of her arrival from his grandfather, but that was about as much information as he got from the old man.

He didn't expect her to be so small and fragile. Certainly, someone not befitting of being the savior of the Matou family. Though being small and fragile has its charms as well as Shinji was figuring out.

After that it was time for dinner. The Matou household was rather small with it only being Shinji, Sakura, Zouken, and Shinji's father Byakuya. It was here where Zouken made a stunning announcement to the family.

"Shinji, Byakuya," Zouken announced, "This is Sakura; she is my new granddaughter, and will be my heir to the Matou family."

Byakuya didn't notice this announcement at all as he was downing his fifth sake of the night. Not like he really cared at all; Zouken told him ahead of time that this would be happening. In fact, he actively supported Zouken's decision because it meant that he could be even more carefree than he was before. He didn't have to deal with any of that stupid magecraft business, and he didn't have to get himself dirty to enjoy the Matou fortune. He didn't even have to take care of his son.

Shinji on the other hand was furious.

"Grandfather, I am the one who is supposed to be the heir to the Matou family!" Shinji exclaimed as if his reason for living was taken right from him by some foreigner.

"Shut up you idiot," Zouken exclaimed, "Sakura is much more magically inclined then you would ever be. That is the whole reason why I adopted her. So, the Matou's could have a fighting chance for the future."

Sakura cowered as Shinji gave her a death glare. His birthright was stripped and given to some random girl. The birthright he has been training so hard for. The birthright he deserved to have!

Any chance that Sakura might've gotten along with Shinji was now about as likely as Shinji becoming the heir to the Matou family. Not like Sakura had a fighting chance to have a good brother-sister relationship with him to begin with. This hatred was always going to happen, whether it happened now, or in the years leading up to the Fifth Holy Grail War.

"Be gone from my sight, and take your father with you," Zouken hissed as Shinji begrudgingly obeyed his grandfather's command, "I going to start Sakura's training tonight."

Shinji and Byakuya were gone without another word. Leaving only Sakura, and Zouken. Today was already a bad day for Sakura. Not only did her old loving family abandoned her they left her in the company of this old man and his family. Her new older brother hates her with a fiery passion, and her new "father" is an alcoholic with absolutely no concern for her well-being. Her only hope was that the training for the Matou magecraft would be like the training that she saw her old father teach her sister.

"What is my training going to be like, grandfather?" Sakura asked with curiosity. Zouken let out a big hearty laugh at the life blooming in the young girl's face. It confused, but more importantly scared the little mage. That big hearty laugh has some rather sinister undertones.

"First off, I have to get your body ready for the Matou magecraft," Zouken explained as he led the girl into the Matou family workshop. It was a giant basement that had a rotten vibe to it. There was a staircase on the side that led to the very bottom.

Sakura wanted to run and run far, far away. Something about this place smelled bad news. It was not like anyone really cared for her anyway. However, before she could start to run away, she was grabbed by Zouken as his body started to turn into a bunch of different insects. It was then that she realized that Zouken wasn't human, and that the Matou magecraft training was going to be far from the training that her father put her sister through.

As the days went by, Sakura Matou's teal eyes turned dullish purple as her black hair transitioned into the same purple color. It was a transformation not unseen by Shinji as he relentlessly mocked her at every twist and turn.

"Look at little miss fraud, think hair dye can make you fit in the family?" Shinji taunted her as he tried to get a reaction. A reaction that would never come.

Sakura could only stare at Shinji with her lifeless eyes and walked along.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" Shinji screamed.

Day after day, it would be more of the same. She would be bullied by Shinji during the day and then train in the Matou magecraft at night. She was far past the point about caring. Nobody was going to rescue her, and she would be all alone forever.

That was until a month after she came to the Matou household. A man with a scrawny frame with black hair, and black eyes visited.

"Uncle Kariya?" Sakura said as she encountered the man.

"It's alright Sakura, I am here to return you to the Tohsakas," Kariya said with a smile. Although Sakura's face was emotionless, she could hardly contain her excitement to be able to reunite with her sister again. Though that excitement fizzled the moment Uncle Kariya said his next sentence, "be strong, and hold out for another year."

Suddenly, Sakura's facial expression matched her inner feelings. She wasn't going to go home anytime soon, was she?

From that point on, Kariya joined Sakura's training session in the Matou basement. Though there were some days when Kariya couldn't join because he was too exhausted from the training methods of the Matou family.

On the bright side, Kariya defended Sakura from Shinji during this time. Though eventually Shinji was shipped off to a boarding school aboard.

These days continued as Zouken taught Sakura and Kariya the secret behind the Matou magecraft. Eventually Kariya's black hair turned white, and one of his eyes went blind. His bones were showing more and more by the day. It was like he was a living zombie with visible veins that pulsed underneath his blind eye.

"Sakura, if I win this war. I promise you. You will be reunited with your family, the Tohsakas," Kariya said as he clutched his body. Sakura was ecstatic, but even she could tell that her Uncle Kariya wouldn't win in his sorry state. She had overheard Zouken talking about how stupid Uncle Kariya was for trying to fight in the upcoming Holy Grail War.

Still Sakura held up hope that Uncle Kariya would win. Misguided hope, but the best hope she has had in a year.

Kariya pulled himself back to the Matou manor at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War, hugged Sakura, and promptly fell into the Matou basement. His remains were never to be seen again.

"It's useless," Sakura said as she witnesses this whole chain of events, "It's useless."

There wasn't even a funeral for Kariya as the days went on.

Shinji returned from school, and he continued his attacks towards her. Though something new happened, Byakuya started to help Zouken train her. It felt like her days were going to be misery for the rest of her life.

Then something rather unexpected happened. Her mother showed up after all this time.

"SAKURA!" A green haired woman said as she burst into Sakura's room with tears in her eyes.

"I am so sorry, I should've never let your father give you away like that," the woman said cradling the young Sakura in her arms. As much as Sakura wanted to say how much she hated the woman for letting her experience the Matou training for a year, Sakura was willing to forgive her mother as she sensed the sincerity of her actions.

"Kariya told me everything," Aoi Tohsaka explained, "he told me about the details of your training, and I couldn't think about letting my baby suffer like that. Your father is dead now, so let's go home." Sakura didn't know what to think about that. She was thankful that Uncle Kariya was able to tell her mother about what had been happening to her for the past year, but at the same time she was fearful for her mother's life. If Uncle Kariya was unable to save her. How would her mother, who was much weaker than Kariya, save her from the Matou house?

"Mommy, we need to leave now."

"I know, Sakura," Aoi whispered to her daughter as she took off with her in her arms.

"PUt DOwn ThAt gIrL," a drunk Byakuya shouted, "shE aIn'T yOuR dAuGtHeR." He was the only person in the way between them and the door. Moving Sakura to one arm, Aoi gave Byakuya a right hook. Usually that would not be enough to make a man fall, but he was off balance and drunk. With Byakuya out of the way, Aoi made a beeline to the door. Only for the door to be filled to the brim with insects.

"That is as far as you will go Tohsaka," a grim elder voice echoed in the house, "I won't let you steal my granddaughter like that."

"I am not sure what deal my husband made with you, but I guarantee you he never would have accepted your offer if he knew what you would've done to Sakura," Aoi said with courage.

"Perhaps so, but the deal was made, and it must be honored."

Unbeknownst to anyone, a young Shinji Matou was viewing this exchange at the top of the stairs. He was secretly rooting for Aoi to take Sakura home. If only so his natural birthright as future heir to the Matou family would be restored. Grandfather would have no choice but to have him learn the Matou magecraft, and with that he would be able to restore the name of the Matou to the world of mages.

"As her mother, I cannot let this stand," Aoi exclaimed, "I am taking Sakura back with me and that is final." Sakura was tightly hugging her mom at this point. She was scared about what was about to happen next. The insects that were blocking the door were no ordinary insects after all.

"Alright, if you think you have the ability to take Sakura back home with you be my guest," Zouken said as he chuckled a little. He knew he had the Tohsaka matriarch in checkmate. This was his house after all, and that is where mages are the strongest. Add that to the fact that Aoi has no magical abilities whatsoever. The cards were most certainly in Zouken's favor.

Aoi knew this too, but she would be a horrible mother if she allowed her daughter the opportunity to suffer more. She was looking for an exit, any exit. So, she turned around and ran back to the other side of the house. Shinji, interested in how this was playing out decided to follow the Tohsaka matriarch's escape route while staying hidden of course.

"Dang it," Aoi said as she ran into another dead end. Fear was pulsing through her face, but she had to stay strong for Sakura.

"My, my, this has been entertaining."

"What do you mean, Zouken?"

"Why else did you think I left door unlocked."

…

"I knew Kariya told you about Sakura's situation, but I didn't think you would actually come through with no plan. Guess your love for your daughter would be your undoing after all."

"I had to. It is a mother's duty to protect her children, and I've already failed. I am not going to allow my daughter to continue living in such dangerous conditions."

"Before I kill you, do you know what I was actually planning on doing to Sakura?" This caught both Shinji's and Aoi's attention.

"What are you planning on doing to my daughter, Zouken?" Aoi said with such disgust. Sakura could never recall a time when her mother had spewed such vehement hatred towards anybody. She was always quiet, but always loyal. In a way, Sakura was like her. In fact, this had to be the first time that Sakura had ever noticed her mother act out in a rash way.

"I never told Kariya, but I am planning on Sakura becoming my new vessel. I am a few centuries old; I don't believe I ever told Tokiomi about that fact," Zouken chuckled.

"You, you creep! Tokiomi put his trust in you, and this is how you repay him!" Aoi said with a mother's determination, "I REFUSE TO ALLOW SAKURA TO BECOME YOUR NEW BODY!"

"It's too late, my main body is already attached to her heart. Why do you look so mad, Aoi Tohsaka. Consider it a special treat that I bothered to tell you the secret of the Matou magecraft. It is rare that other mages much less commoners, learn the secrets behind a families' magecraft."

Shinji was beyond mortified. To think the Matou magecraft was really just his grandfather's (if he really was his grandfather) way of achieving immortality. It is essentially just stealing the bodies of other people. To think that it could be him in Sakura's situation, if he was a little bit more magically inclined. No wonder why Uncle Kariya wanted out of the Matou family. He would've become Zouken's puppet.

"Then…" Aoi started to break out in more tears as she realized there was next to nothing she could reasonably do. She hugged Sakura tightly, "I am so sorry, my baby."

"Excellent. I love to see that despair in your face. It has been a mighty fine day indeed, but all good things must come to an end. Give Kariya, and your husband, my regards when you arrive in hell," Zouken said as his insects started to surround Aoi Tohsaka. Shinji could only watch in horror as the bugs slowly surrounded her.

"There, there," Aoi said as she tried comforting Sakura. She knew her time was ending; the bugs that comprised of Zouken started to eat her from the bottom up. Although she was in so much pain; she didn't want to give Sakura any more worries.

"Mommy," Sakura cried as she saw her mother slowly become worm food.

"It's okay, Sakura. Be strong," Aoi looked to the side where she saw a shivering Shinji, "and be brave. Make lots of good friends, and try to get close to your sister, and your brother."

Aoi's body was mostly consumed by the worms as the worms slowly moved the mother and daughter to the worm pit in the Matou basement.

"I want you to live a happy life, and I am sorry that I couldn't be here for you or for Rin. Remember that mommy loves you," Aoi Tohsaka blurted as she was fully consumed by the worms. A slow painful demise for a mother trying to fix her husband's mistake.

Sakura was carried into the worm pit for some special training as a result of Aoi's failed rescue mission. Meanwhile Shinji followed the worm brigade, and laid eyes on the worm pit for the first time in his life. He puked on the spot; never in a million years did he ever consider that the training of Matou family was an endurance test in a pit of worms.

In another time, Shinji would find out this Matou secret too late. It would only serve to further fuel his antagonistic nature against his adopted sister, but here. He could only feel pity for the little girl who had just lost her mother, and disgust at the nature of how it happened. He saw the glance of Sakura's mother as she said the words 'get close to your sister, and your brother.' Almost like she recognized that for right now he would be one of the only guiding lights in Sakura Matou's life.

First, he would have to make amends.

"I know you saw all of that," Zouken Matou said spooking the younger Matou as he materialized right next to him.

"Grandfather?" Shinji said with a pale face. Worried that he is about to meet the same fate as Sakura's mother.

"Know all of this only happened because you are a useless son of a bitch," the old man claimed, "now run along. Nothing bad will happen to you if you do as I say."

"Yes, sir," Shinji said with the upmost fear. Almost as if that was what his grandfather wanted.

A few hours later, an emotionless Sakura made her way back to her room after her impromptu training session.

"I am sorry, Sakura, for everything I've done," an unexpected voice said as she entered her room. She saw her seaweed-haired older brother sitting on her bed.

"There is nothing to be sorry for, Shinji," Sakura said in the most emotionless tone.

"There is. I have been nothing but a jerk to you this entire time," Shinji exclaimed with some of the most remorse you would ever get out of the guy, "I've made fun of you, I've beat you, and you deserved none of it!"

"I do deserve it; I am a bad girl. I killed Uncle Kariya, and I killed mother," Sakura said.

"No, you don't," Shinji said with tears in his eyes, "You don't deserve it."

"It's my fault, father gave me away."

"No, it isn't."

"Besides didn't I take your position as the future heir of the Matou family?" Sakura questioned.

"You did, but I never realized what that entailed. I know I sound like scum but thank you."

"You're welcome," Sakura said before she was suddenly hugged by Shinji.

"It's ok, for now you have the best big brother in the world," Shinji proclaimed.

About a mile or two away, a young boy with red hair sneezed.

"Huh, I wonder where that came from?" Shirou asked as he continued cooking dinner for Fuji-nee, and his father.

Time marched forward as the Matou siblings grew up

While Sakura continued her torturous training under the watchful eye of Zouken Matou. Shinji took his time to learn about the eccentricities of mage culture.

Honestly it was something he should've done a long time ago, but to be fair what little boy wouldn't like the idea of magecraft? The ability to cast spells and do really cool stuff. If only he knew what the true goal of most mages were earlier, then he could've done something about Sakura's situation. No, it would not have made a difference; He would've met the same fate as Sakura's mother. To be frank, ending up as worm chow is the last that Shinji wants.

Through his research, Shinji learned there was at least one other mage family in Fuyuki, that being the Tohsaka. By process of elimination and given that both the father and mother are dead. The only natural candidate for the head of the Tohsaka family would be their eldest, Rin Tohsaka.

That would check out by how recluse Rin was at school. It must be hard balancing the duties of the second owner with the duties of being a student. He felt a little bad, but also a little pissed-off that she never once inquired about Sakura's wellbeing. Maybe the old worm scared her, or something, but still, she should have the connections to take out the old worm, and save her…

Though that probably won't happen due to how the world of mages works. As long as a mage doesn't reveal magic to the outside world, no other mage would act against them. One of the few things that old worm that is his grandfather did right is keep his methods a secret.

Then there is the case of his old friend. A few years ago, by chance, he met a gullible fool by the name of Shirou Emiya. A chill dude, but a complete idiot. Always yearning for this or that about wanting to be a hero of justice. What kind of hero of justice overlooks the obvious damsel in distress in front of him? Still, he is one of the kindest people he has ever met, and if he ever did learn more about Sakura. Depending on Shirou's actions. Either Shirou dies, or the entire Matou family dies. That was because of Shirou's relation to the boogeyman of the mage world.

When Shinji was researching mages, he came across the legend of the Mage Killer, Kiritsugu Emiya. Maybe that last name was just a coincidence. As it turns out, it wasn't.

A few years prior to the Fifth Holy Grail

"Why do you want to be a hero of justice?" Shinji asked Shirou as he and Issei Ryuudou had a sleepover at the Emiya residence. They were currently looking at the night sky in all its beautiful splendor.

"Yeah, I want to know that too," Issei added curious about his friend's big aspirations, "no offence, Emiya, but that dream seems really preposterous."

"None taken, Issei," Shirou said with a smile, "as my best friends. I think you both deserve to know the reason. It is because of my dad."

"What does Mr. Emiya have to do with it?" Issei pondered. Shirou took a deep breath, and looked out in the horizon, "Did I ever tell you; I was adopted?"

"No," both Shinji and Issei replied as they both looked at him with intrigue.

"Well, Illya is the biological child of my father," Shirou chuckled much to the shock of both Shinji and Issei. It was funny since Shirou looked a whole lot more like Kiritsugu than Illya did at first glance. Though through a little more examination it was obvious that Illya was related to Kiritsugu; she had his eyes and nose after all.

"Wow," was all Shinji and Issei could muster up.

"I know. Do y'all remember the great Fuyuki fire?" Shirou asked, deciding it was time to jump that fence.

"That one that started mysteriously?" Issei responded.

"Yeah, that one," Shirou said as he was struggling whether to reveal his survivor status or not. Ultimately, he decided it was best to reveal it, "I was one of the only survivors."

"Oh, Emiya," Issei could only say with sympathy while Shinji could only stay quiet. After all he had theories about why that fire had occurred, but right now was not the time nor place to disclose it.

"I still get nightmares about it from time to time," Shirou admitted, "I'll spare you the details, but it was there when my old man was on the scene searching for any survivors, and he found me. He adopted me shortly after."

"From there, he raised me like the son he never had," Shirou calmly stated, "I wanted to thank him, but how would I do that? A while ago, the old man told me he once had a dream. A dream to become a hero of justice. He also told me adults grow out of dreams. So, I vowed to him that night, I would achieve his dream for him."

"Living out a parent's wish, tch" Shinji remarked as he rolled his eyes.

"Matou, that isn't very nice," Issei shot back.

"As his friend, I think it is rather important to let know him that his father was right to give up his dream," Shinji retorted, "you can't stay a dreamer forever. Right, Shirou?"

"You're wrong, Shinji," Shirou coldly stated, "Giving up isn't an option. It would be a disservice to those who died in the fire, and to the old man. I made a vow, and I intend to keep it."

"Jeez, Shirou. I am just trying to prevent you from killing yourself that's all," Shinji sighed, "There are some battles you can't win."

"All the more reason to try harder," Shirou said with the upmost confidence.

"I am going to have to agree with Matou, here," Issei said pushing his glasses over his nose, "you must pick and choose you battles wisely. If you try going all out, you are only going to get yourself hurt."

"I suppose you got a point there, guys," Shirou sighed. He knew his friends had a very valid point, but the redhead just couldn't sit there on the sidelines while there were people getting harmed. Not if there is something he could do about it. No matter how big or how small.

Though just as Shirou was about to explain his point, Kiritsugu Emiya opened the doors behind them.

"Its time for dinner, boys," Kiritsugu said with a tired expression on his face. Well, he always has a tired expression on his face.

"Ok, we will be right there," Shirou said as the trio got up, and went to the dinning room.

"Isn't it a bit weird that your family's maids look almost like a grown-up Illya?" Issei noted.

"Kind of," Shirou shrugged, "apparently it is just a German thing."

It was this sleepover at the Emiya residence that caused Shinji to dig further into the history of the Emiya family. It was no coincidence that Mr. Emiya showed up in Fuyuki right around the time of the Fourth Holy Grail War, nor was it a coincidence that Illya, and the Emiya family maids look like Einzbern homunculi.

It was here where Shinji made a startling discovery. The Mage Killer, Kiritsugu Emiya, was hired by the Einzbern family to compete in the Fourth Holy Grail War on their behalf. The old worm has documented many behaviors of the Einzbern family. They were one of the three founders of the Holy Grail War system after all. One of those many behaviors was how they cheated in the Third Holy Grail War, by not only summoning one extra class servant, but two. Somehow, they never won, which doesn't bold well for a family that hates losing.

That might explain why Kiritsugu stayed in Fuyuki after the war. Not even the Mage Killer wants to face the wrath of the Einzbern family. Though that still doesn't explain the maids, but that doesn't really matter.

What really matters, is that there are actually two mage families living in Fuyuki as of current. He wonders if Rin was aware of that fact, or the fact that Illya is a homunculus. Though that is the least of Shinji's concerns. The Mage Killer has been living in Fuyuki for at least five years now.

He could probably kill both the Tohsaka, and the Matou families if he wanted to. He probably would if either Shirou or Illya were harmed. The only good thing that would come out of that is that the old worm will finally be dead.

Shinji's theory was only supported further by the way that Kiritsugu kept giving him looks after he introduced himself as Shinji Matou.

Maybe it would be best if he started to cut ties with Shirou. As much of as an asset that he could be, he could very much bring about the doom of the entire Matou clan. Though Shinji hates Zouken with a burning passion; he doesn't want Sakura to suffer more then she has to, and he still kind of wants to redeem the Matou lineage.

Though how would he isolate one of the kindest people he knows?

Sakura had gotten used to a sort of pattern. She would wake up, go to school, and then spend evening "training". She would go to bed, and the whole cycle repeated. Sure, Shinji had become a whole lot nicer after her mother died, but he was bound to grandfather as much as she was. Just in different ways. Her grandfather forced the two to do things that were unspeakable.

This is why she is a bad girl.

If she didn't exist, then her mother would still be alive, Uncle Kariya would be alive, and Shinji wouldn't be forced to do half the things he did.

Well, that was what she thought until one day at school, a girl with pale white skin approached her with her friends.

"Are you sure about this?" the rambunctious blonde hair said, "quiet kids stay quiet for a reason."

"Shut up, Tatsuko," the girl right next to her said as she smacked the now named, Tatsuko, into a wall.

"I apologize for my friend's action," the girl said as she went to retrieve Tatsuko to make her apologize as well. Meanwhile the pale white skin girl looked at this sight with a sweat drop.

Sakura had no idea how to respond to what just happened. It was like a gag manga came to life right in front of her eyes.

"Sorry about Tatsuko, I swear she is a really sweet person," the pale skinned girl said as she bowed, "I just wanted to say hi. I always see in the back of the class, and you never talk with anyone."

Sakura didn't know what to think of this. Someone besides Shinji is actively being nice to her.

"I guess I should introduce myself," the pale skinned girl smiled as she performed a curtsy with her school uniform, "my name is Illyasviel Emiya, and it is a pleasure to meet you."

"My name is Suzuka Kurihara," the girl who punched Tatsuko into a wall said as she introduced herself.

"And I am Tatsuko Gakumazawa," the girl who was punched into the wall proudly proclaimed as she introduced herself, "I am sorry about being insensitive earlier."

"It's fine, Gakumazawa," Sakura chuckled, the first time she had chuckled in years, "My name is Sakura Matou."

It was at this moment where Sakura felt alive. Like she was a real living breathing human, and not some puppet for a worm who was past his expiration date. At the very least, she felt more loved now than she had been in quite some time.

That feeling was nice…

Though were these bonds forged out of pity?

Were they secretly pretending that they wanted to be her friends for some sort of dare?

These thoughts did not elude Sakura as she was constantly thinking about the reason as to why this trio wanted to be friends with a worthless, meaningless whore such as herself?

There must be some sort of ulterior reason as to why they wanted to be her friends, but for now she just let it be. They provided another bright spot in a life filled with darkness, and worms.

There had been few and far times that Sakura didn't feel dead inside since joining the Matou family. Every time she hung out with this trio of friends consisted of most of those times.

Whether it was Suzuka's unique interest in boy's love manga, Tatsuko's shenanigans, or Illya's mischievous streak. Usually, it was the latter two happening in tandem that led to the most humorous results.

Such as that one time when Illya was curious as to what soda geyser looked like as she had never seen one before. Que, Tatsuko pouring in two bags worth of mentos into a two-liter Coca-Cola bottle. That was one big explosion, and it made a giant mess everywhere that they were then forced to clean up. Nobody knows how it created such a big explosion. Then there was this time when everyone found out about Sakura's crush. It was on Illya's older brother; the teasing especially from Illya was so embarrassing.

Even then, those would be some of Sakura's most treasured memories. Ones that she would treasure in her heart as worms assault her during her training session.

Maybe one day her life will get better. Maybe one day a knight in shining armor will come and rescue her and her brother from the clutches of her grandfather. Alas those dreams are only rooted in fairy tales, for as much as she tries to deny reality. She knows her fate; she isn't meant to have a happy ending.

She is supposed to suffer, and suffer, until her grandfather achieves his wish. It's not like there is much to that tale because she will die when her grandfather's wish is granted. That is the nature of how her grandfather molded her after all.

A tool meant to be disposed of after it is used.

At the very least, she does not wish harm to those that are close to her. Whether it be Shinji, Illya, Suzuka, Tatsuko, or her beloved senpais, Ayako, and Shirou.

The only people she truly wished malice on were dead like her father, or people such as Zouken, and the only other person who could've done something about her circumstance. The person who was chosen over her.

Yes, the Second Owner of Fuyuki. The one who ignored her this entire time. The one who turned a blind eye to her suffering, Rin Tohsaka.

Sakura is praying that one day, Rin can experience the same kind of torture and torment that she has had to endure for the past ten years.

That is the only upside she can view to the upcoming Grail War.

Time is ticking, and servants will have to be summoned soon. Shinji volunteered to fight in the Holy Grail War on her behalf. So, at the very least she wouldn't have to strike down her beloved friend, and her beloved senpai. Though she must wonder if this is for the best. He is doing exactly what Uncle Kariya did minus the training. However, unlike last time her grandfather got someone else to fight in the grail war as well. That increases their odds of winning, but would it really be worth it at the end of the day?

Only time can tell that story.

A story that is about to unfold…

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: And that's a wrap, folks! This chapter ran a little longer then I expected, but that's ok. I finally got that chapter about the Matous, I wanted to write. Though I did commit the mortal sin of making Shinji somewhat reedeemable. Let it be known that the only reason I decided to give him any sort of shot instead of writing him like an irreedeemable asshole like in canon was because of the Fate route. Where for a majority of his screen time it felt like he was just trying to survive. Though don't worry if this is the first chapter you decided to read, I decided to keep some parts of his personaility. Although I do give the reasoning within this chapter.

Now writing for Sakura. That sweet little bean deserves all the love and affection in the world. The way I tried to characterize her was a mix between what I got in the Heaven's Feel flims, and the fanfiction "A Wish Unforgotten" by WallabeeJump. A fantasic fanfiction by the way, I would reccommend checking it out if you haven't already. Anyways back on topic, I did try to write this chapter based around the torture, and overall bad things that happened to Sakura.

Speaking of which, I eluded to this in the previous chapter, but now we actually get to see what happens to Aoi Tohsaka. I gurantee you this, if she ever found out what was happening to Sakura. She would've gone full mom mode, regardless if it was a good idea or not. Given that Zouken is known for his sadism, I have every reason to believe that he would've tortured Sakura over it. Something that Sakura knew every since seeing Kariya die right in front of her eyes. Worst of all, there was nothing she could do about it. Zouken basically has full domain over the Matou residence. Though Aoi's failed rescue mission served a secondary purpose. It was the cataylst in Shinji's redemption arc; it let the boy know he was trying to mess with powers that were far beyond his understanding.

From my knowledge about canon, Shinji did indeed learn about the Matou's way of training. Only after having it hidden from him for most of his life. Though an older Shinji learned about by chance, and it didn't involve any anyone becoming worm food in front of his face. I gurantee you he would've changed his mind if he saw someone actively get devoured by worms. Instead he became more crueler to Sakura including doing things that would change this story's rating to M in a heartbeat if I were mention them.

Anyways, this chapter was supposed to end after the Aoi part, but I decided to let it continue because I felt I focused a lot more on Shinji this chapter then Sakura's woos. Then I proceeded to write more about the cracks in Shriou and Shinji's friendship. Obviously I couldn't end the chapter there. So I added that last part with Sakura meeting Illya, and co. As I've mentioned in previous author's notes, I have been trying to watch the other (watchable) parts of the Fate side of the timeline for better or worse. For those concerned, I have already thought about how to bring a certain character into the fold, and what I am going to do to get that point. Back to the point at hand, I specifically chose those two characters to age up based off how they interacted with each other in canon, that and that the other two characters are either timelocked to a certain age due to Fate/Hollow Ataraxia, and the other has an older sister, Shirou's age in canon well Prisma Illya's canon. Despite the exdous of characters from Extra, and Prisma Illya. As well as the servant shifts, I am trying to keep this story locked around a Fate/stay night-ish time of events.

Now, I think we are at a point where we should have some master clashs, and some more mysteries to be unveiled. Don't you think?

Don't forget to review. Review about anything, I like to hear theories, criticism, and ideas. Also if you liked the story how about favoriting or following. Dang now I sound like a Youtuber.

Next Time:

The Will to Fight

Till Next Time!