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Two comrades stood back to back in a void illuminated by a giant spinning wheel of beautiful stained glass, the Holy Grail. They had a pleasant chat, discussing what their time spent together was like and where they both had to return too. The first was the black figure of a man, Angra Mainyu, who stood facing his fate of returning to the nothingness from which he came. A cruel fate, but one he didn't mind. The other was a woman in a maroon two piece business suit, Bazett, facing the horizon of a new day.

They both made a decision to leave toward their respective exit at the count of three, this way there would be no regrets and no more stalling.

Three.

The shadow took a deep breath into his fading lungs. "Ah, don't try to steal a march and start running before the three seconds are up. This isn't a competition, you know."

Two.

Bazett answered anxiously, "Ahaha. -You're so naive. If it were me, I'd run away at the first second and escape while my opponent was waiting for the three seconds to be up."

One.

Angra Mainyu gave one last retort, "That's true. As for me, after waiting out the three-second count down, I'd shoot an opponent that did that in the back."

Zero.

The Holy Grail began to crumble and both partners let out a loud laugh as they shot off towards their fates.

His vision was now filled with nothing but the void and no trace of his partner's happiness behind him.

The sounds of the crumbling stained glass even began to fade away but he continued to run.

Not in any hurried manner, but a calm brisk pace like a man taking a morning jog at the peak of sunrise. It reminded him that if he had just waited a few hours he could've started the a "new" day all over again and felt the wind on his face. Yet he was no fool, now that his body was devoid of external information he knew that sooner or later even his mental capacities would be chipped away from him. He considered the tremors of the grail crumbling down to actually be something happening inside of himself.

Regardless, he continued to run with faith that he still remembered which direction the exit was in, chiding himself for not properly checking when he was still able to see.

Running through the fragments of sunny days, he could hear the sounds of lives blooming everywhere and see a sunny spot just for him. His legs were on the verge of stopping but he pushed forward through these memories and continued toward the exit.

It hurt, he yearned for the ordinary days he previously lived more than his own annihilation. The feeling of wanting to see something new, to know more of that day-to-day routine even if it came with the cost of returning to the shell of Emiya Shirou.

Struggling, he kept pushing forward in this eternal void. The only choice was to continue.

Grateful for the time he spent alive and bidding farewell to the people who were with him; the words of his former shell echoed.

"There is a difference between things that end and things that can't continue."

Those words gave him hope that if he halted he wouldn't be stopped forever. That even if he disappeared he would aim for what lies next.

His body was finally torn asunder as he felt himself reach his destination of oblivion.

"Goodbye, me."

That was his last thought as the void that became his vision was devoured by a blindingly white light.

His senses returned all at once throwing the mind he was prepared to lose into disarray with an explosion of data. The body that lost feeling and was destroyed inexplicable came to life again, every nerve and cell seemed to pull itself back together. The shell he once inhabited crawled back into existence with all the grace of a rusted nail drawn across tender flesh. How was it possible for this to happen? An answer to that question didn't exist for him.

This could've been taken as a cruel joke if he didn't regain his sight to the scene of a ruined forest along a country roadside. The marks on the trees clearly indicated some of the damage was from him, but the scorched trees and singed grass pointed to another party. That is when he finally realized the wrappings on his arms were wet with fresh blood and the disemboweled body of a beautiful brown haired girl just outside of his peripheral vision. He leaned up off of the tree he'd been slouched onto when he came to consciousness again, his bones and muscle still screaming in protest of life as he moved to take a closer look at the girl.

Her light brown complexion was reminiscent of his own, her fair face torn from exhaustion and pain was partially covered by the locks disheveled short brown hair. Her average body covered in what looked more like light clothing than armor. He pondered if it really would've made any difference in whether or not her body was opened up like a flower.

"You know, it would've been nice if you lived long enough to tell me what is going on."

The sore winner let out a depreciating laugh and picked up a ornate looking staff from her limp grasp. He began to fiddle with the rugged gemstones on the ends while collecting his thoughts. Clearly he wasn't attached to anyone threw command seals and he was certain Bazett left in the right direction. The air around him was ripe with the emotions he was very intimate with, maybe if he listened close enough he could even hear the shrieks of his leftover shards coming after him. That nagging feeling aside, this was not the air of Earth and the dead human laying in front of him was clear proof he escaped returning to the void.

Through some act of fate he was actually given a new chance at life, he wasn't sure the cost or where he even was at this point. Not that it mattered to him, this was his life to use anyway he pleased.

He gave the body before him a small nudge with his foot to roll the corpse onto her back and gave a hearty laugh toward the sky.

"What should I do now, sweetheart?" He pondered aloud to the deceased female as his hands tightened the cloth around his head and adjusted the red mass of cloth that covered his lower body.

Taking a step away from his first kill in this new life he was stopped dead in his tracks as an unbridled wave of anger and killing intent washed over his back. If it wasn't for the voice of those emotions he surely would've guessed the villagers from his past life came back to martyr him again.

"What have you done?" A steady feminine voice called out.

"What's a matter lady, she a friend of yours?" Avenger's mocking smile greeted a trio as he turned to the voice. A piercing set of amber eyes glared fiercely at him from the frame of a stoic face. A tall beauty with short black hair and pale skin. The woman was sporting a short red dress and short black shorts you could barely tell she was wearing beneath the red cloth. Looks aside her demeanor did not betray that she was the one oozing the displeasure. Beside her was a brown skinned girl, this one scantly clad with green hair. She was eyeing him cautiously and next to her was a pale boy with gray hair who's body was tensed and ready to launch.

"No. Tell me who you are and who sent you." A demanding tone came from the leader's throat.

"What," Avenger looked around, "little ol' me?"

"Who else is here!" The green haired girl took a step forward only to be stopped by the arm of the amber eyes.

"Shesh, no need to be so pushy, sweetie." A cackle rung through the air. "But your boss seems like my type so I'll let you know, people call me Angra Mainyu."

"So what, are we suppose to know that name?" The gray headed boy spoke up while the woman with amber eyes continued to take in Avenger's presence before parting her lips.

"Tell m-"

The sound of metal gears and mechanical pieces snapping into place rang out from behind Avenger's back and a scythe blade dropped down in the earth between Avenger and the corpse. It only took him a moment to leap back with a yelp of surprise as the blade then took a sweeping motion to force distance. Avenger sunk into his hunched over beast-like battle posture just as an arm wrapped around his waist and yanked him along like a limp sack of meat. The visage of the scythe wielding old man securing the body faded out of view within a few seconds of travel.

The daunting high paced travel continued for longer then Avenger would've liked but he could guess they weren't running without purpose. Trying to break the monotony of moving quickly through a forest Avenger kept up prodding provocations only to be met with "Shut up" or "Can it" from the dynamic duo that kept piping up earlier. Toying with the idea of drawing out his fangs and tearing apart the legs of the boy carrying him was beginning to become a very appealing change of pace. The idea of wanting an average life was draining like the ground that left his vision. Should he give this new life an honest try or just devolve into a beast that only follows his base instinct to avoid the responsibility?

"Like it's really a choice." Avenger chided himself.

If this wasn't an impossible dream provided to his sleeping self in the womb of the grail then it was the result of his last moments with the Master he ended up saving. A smirk grew on the mans face as he remembered all the goodie two-shoes rules she'd set up for him during the war.

"Gotta love the little things in life," a weight was lifting off his shoulder and he drew breath for a laugh but was met with a mouth full of dirt as his ride came to a stop and he was dropped to the ground.

"Bout time we made it to the rendezvous, I was getting tried of carrying this creepy little chatter box."

"Mercury, that's no way to talk to someone who may become a future ally." The black haired beauty casually tossed these words out but they held a gravity to them that told the boy not to speak any further.

"Shouldn't we be worried, Cinder! He ruined the plan." The second female in the group spoke up; paying no mind to the tattoo covered man as he rose to his feet spitting dirt from his mouth and brushing himself off.

"Emerald," the woman named Cinder walked toward the green haired girl and brought a hand up to cup her face, "I've told you before that I don't like to repeat myself." Emerald's body tighten and she bowed her head in compliance. "Yes, Cinder."

"Until I speak with Salem we handle this my way." It was this moment the same cackling laughter from earlier came from beside Mercury.

"You come across pretty lofty for someone who isn't even the top dog. Not that I mind." His voice drew the eyes of the three. Once again the two followers gave him a nasty look but the woman named Cinder remained stoic.

"Tell me, why did you kill that girl?"

"Because she was alive. Not that I remember the killing. Must've done it when I was called to wherever here is." A nonchalant answer left his lips while he twirled his finger idly at the surroundings.

"You killed her because she was alive? Without even knowing who or what she was? And why do you say 'called here' like you don't know where you are; surely the one who sent you didn't do it without telling you were to find that girl." The flood gate of Cinder's mouth opened.

A look of amazement spread along Avenger's face.

"It's not like I stuttered the first time I said it, lady. I'm givin' you a simple and honest truth but you keep makin' it complicated."

"Then spell it so I can understand you." A quick response came from the Cinder's lips. She came across like Bazett after a reset.

"I have no master, I don't know where I am, and I couldn't care less about the girl. Got it?" A mocking visage came across Avenger's face.

"I see." Cinder's hand gripped her chin. "I need a moment to think. You wouldn't mind sitting here with my associates would you?"

"I'll even do you a favor and not kill them." His casual admission to the potential death of the two stoked an animosity in them that was swiftly quelled by Cinder.

"I'll be back soon." With those words Cinder made her way away from the group until the taunting words of the man named Angra Mainyu faded.

Grammar is probably not up to par, dialogue may be stiff, this chapter feels incomplete but I'm bad at judging my own work and felt it needed to be posted sooner than later.

Updates will be erratic because my artistic streak is flick, hoping for a second chapter soon but I'm a dumb dumb who didn't make a rough draft of scenes to put meat on. I'll be correcting that hopefully. Harsh but constructive reviews are appreciated.