The ceremony in the open summer air was a nice touch in Shirou's eyes. He watched the scenery of the people gathered around the coffin in the middle of the field the crowd was gathered in. Shirou watched as the eulogy was given by Issei's father, who despite his seemingly stoic exterior, Shirou could see the cracks forming in the older monk's face as he was saying goodbye to his youngest son.

It was a somber occasion being back here in his old hometown. Watching his once close friend being buried after being so brutally murdered. Even after staying the night in his old home, talking and being with Fuji-Mee and Illyasviel again after so long apart, it didn't quell the sad reason for his return to Fuyuki.

As Issei's father spoke the final words of his eulogy, Shirou watched as the coffin was lowered into the ground and the prayers where spoken. It was a fitting goodbye to Issei, but that didn't make the tragedy of it all any less hard.

He exchanged pleasantries and condolences with Issei's family. To the best of his ability he tried to show his support.

And just as he was about to leave the graveyard filled with dearly departed souls he heard a familiar voice call out to him.

"Shirou!"

He looked up and saw quite a big surprise as Sakura was looking at him. She had gotten taller since the last time they saw each other. Right before Rin and him left for London the year after the defeat of the Four Kings, they had watched Sakura recover after what that maniac Richter put her through.

And even know it was a shock to Shirou to see Sakura like this. He always remembered her as quiet, timid and ever so slightly stubborn young girl but the way she was looking now. Dressed in a purple dress shirt and matching pants, it almost seemed like a completely different woman with a complete different sense of style.

"Sakura" Shirou responded as he walked over to her, embracing his old friend.

"I didn't know you had returned" she told him as she looked at him, observing his growth as it had been two years since they last saw each other.

"Yeah I came as soon as I heard the news. I just had to be here you know."

Sakura nodded in agreement "yes it's a very tragic situation. And it happened on the steps to his home…"

Shirou's mind kept thinking back to the moment that Taiga had called him and had told what happened to Issei. It was a no brainer that Shirou would immediately return home to attend the funeral.

Last night while at his old home with Taiga and Illya they had talked about the sheer brutality of it all. Well as much as all of them could with how grim the topic was.

"But how have you been. You and Rin I haven't heard from you both in a long time?"

Shirou nonchalantly snickered, it was true he and Rin had foregone contact with the people they left behind in Fuyuki because their studies where so intense. So he felt kind of sheepish in regards to Sakura considering how close they had been.

"We are fine. Rin had to stay behind because of studies and besides lets be honest, she and Issei weren't exactly best friends."

That small comment made Sakura giggle.

"Yeah I suppose so" she commented.

"And what about you? how have you been holding up?"

Shirou had to admit it was a breath of fresh air seeing Sakura like this. Like she was a new person, not only had she grown taller she also seemed to grow slightly more confident in her appearance.

"Well a bit after you two left for London my grandfather passed away. And ever since then I've been living under someone else's guardianship until I turned eighteen a bit ago. But I still stay with them and it's been good."

"Sorry to hear about your grandfather Sakura. Who have you been staying with? My first guess would have been Fuji-mee but she didn't mention it. So who is it?"

Sakura looked slightly uncomfortable and averted Shirou's eyes for a bit.

"Well about that…it's…"

"Hello Shirou" another voice said from behind him.

Shirou immediately turned his head around and he felt adrenaline immediately going through his body as he looked at the person who had called out his name.

It was Nasira Fallow, former member of the Four Kings and right-hand to Argus Manadek. She looked at him with a sympathetic smile. Her grayish hair looked slightly longer, now reaching towards her ears and parted down the middle. She was dressed as she had always had, in a fitting black suit and matching pants.

"Fallow…" Shirou said through gritted teeth, feeling a tinge of anger upon seeing her.

She began to walk over to him "it's good to see you again Shirou. First of all allow me to extend my greatest condolences towards you. I heard from Sakura you and this young man where close friends."

She extended her hand, but Shirou immediately swatted it away.

"What are you doing here? Did you have something to do with what happened to Issei?" he said accusingly pointing at her.

Fallow seemed shocked by his response "look I understand we have a complicated history here Shirou but I can assure you I had nothing to do with what happened to your friend. I swear it."

"Oh really? You didn't attack him as payback for Manadek!" Shirou again said accusingly as he stepped towards Fallow.

Until he felt himself being pulled back and then he saw as Sakura stepped in front of him, her hands to her sides and an angry yet also disappointed look on her face.

"Enough of this Shirou! Madame Fallow here had nothing to do with what happened to Issei. She was with me the entire night that it happened. She is a good person who took care of me after what Richter did to me and took me in after my grandfather died. So stand back now!"

Shirou was taken aback by her response. Not so much by the revelation that Fallow was the person who had become her guardian, but instead how she now so confidently stood her ground.

Fallow placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder "my dear Sakura I appreciate you standing up for me. But it's okay. I understand Shirou's skepticism towards my character. Allow me to explain myself to him."

Sakura stepped aside and Fallow stood before Shirou once more.

"Argus was my friend, but I couldn't forgive him for allowing Richter to do what he did to Sakura. Understand this Shirou, everything I've done since arriving back here in Fuyuki was to save her, that was all I wanted."

Shirou listened to her, he figured he would at least hear her out. Of all the Four Kings she had never done anything harmful to him or those around him.

"I don't know the details of what occurred that night and they don't concern me either. My association with Argus ended the moment he allowed for Sakura to be used as a blood bank with almost fatal results."

"But then why did you allow that to happen? You knew what Manadek was like and what he was planning? It didn't cross your mind he might go back on his word."

At this point Fallow let out an exasperated sigh and crossed her arms.

"Look Shirou you didn't know him like I did. You only know the man so consumed by his hate and anger that he didn't see clearly anymore. But I still remember the man that in spite of his anger still tried to do right by those around him. He had honor, he tried to do right by his children despite his ever growing hatred for Magi. Forgive me for thinking that at least some of that honor was still with him."

Shirou sighed as well. He didn't have the energy to keep arguing with her. And it appears Sakura saw that as well.

"Look Shirou I get that its difficult to see Madame Fallow after everything that's happened. But she has been nothing but good to me. I owe her so much."

She smiled at Fallow, who returned with a sincere smile back at her.

"Ugh I'm sorry okay it's just…after we encountered Gil in London I…"

"Wait you saw Mr. Gil in London!" Fallow interrupted.

"Well yeah and it wasn't a pleasant one. It was in a crowded gathering so he didn't exactly threaten us but it kind of shook Rin up quite a bit…"

Before Shirou could continue talking he heard the sound of his phone buzzing from his pocket. He fished it out and flipped it open. He thought it would probably be Rin calling but to his surprise the number was listed as unknown.

He nonetheless accepted the call and placed the phone to his hear "hello?"

"Shirou Emiya…" a deep voice spoke on the other end.

"Yes? Who is this?" he asked.

"You may call me Scar." the voice replied.

Scar? What kind of a name was that. Shirou was convinced this was just a prank phone call.

"Look if this is a joke then I'm not interested…"

"Did you enjoy the ceremony? It was quite moving. Didn't expect that for poor Issei once I killed him…"

Shirou's entire body suddenly went cold and his voice got stuck in his throat. He couldn't hear this correctly….could he?

"At a loss for words Shirou. That's good. That was what I was hoping for…for you to endure the suffering I went through…"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHO ARE YOU? AND WHY DID YOU KILL ISSEI!"

Shirou's shout made Sakura and Fallow step backwards as he was now red with anger yelling at the voice on the other end who was now silent.

"ANSWER ME YOU BASTARD! WHY DID YOU KILL HIM!"

"To make you suffer of course. Though if I'm honest that was only an added bonus, I did it to get you back here to Fuyuki."

"Wha…what? What the hell are you talking about! What did I ever do to you?" Shirou said, now becoming even more confused and tense.

"You took everything from me. And now I will take everything from you. Piece…by piece…" the voice almost growled on the other end and Shirou could feel a deep and tense feeling slithering up his spine.

"You should probably go home Emiya…I had a lovely visit there…"

"What? What do you mean? What is at my home!" he said but the line went dead. He turned around, only seeing the concerned faces of Sakura and Fallow.

"Shirou what's going on?" Sakura asked with worry.

At that moment in an instant all the adrenaline in Shirou's system went active and he bolted away from the pair and began running as fast as his legs could carry him. He had to hold himself back from using magic to enhance his running.

Everything went by in a blur from grass fields to street corners as he ran as fast as he could back to the Emiya residence. Being careful not to run into people as Scar's ominous message rang into his ears.

"I had a lovely visit there…"

"Fuji-mee…Illya…please be okay…" Shirou prayed as he ran. Turning the final corner towards his old home he ran through the archway and almost knocked the sliding door off its frame with how fast he opened it.

"Illya! Fuji-Mee!" he shouted before he saw the sight before him. The entire wooden floor of the entry way was covered in blood, almost as if it was a trail for him to follow.

His heart sank as he slowly followed the trail of blood. Afraid of what he might find at the end of it. The trail led towards the dining room. With almost shaking hands Shirou opened the sliding door leading into it.

And the sight in front of him made him fall into immediate despair as he sank to his knees.

In the middle of the room laying on her stomach was Taiga Fujimura. Her throat slit and laying in a pool of her own blood. Her eyes cold and lifeless.

A/N: So that was an intense two chapters wasn't it. With two big reveals back to back. The story is going to ramp up from here on out and I hope you will all stick with me throughout it like you did before. Let me know what you think of this twist right now and how it makes you feel about Scar's character. I'm curious so please let me know.