Chapter 4: What Lurks in the Dark

"To break the spirit of a Sword Warrior and turn it into… this… Unforgivable!"

The smell of decay and wet soil was overwhelming.

It's probably a tomb, Tohsaka realized, although she couldn't truly look around. She wasn't able to move either, which felt somehow disturbing at first.

Then she understood that, in this creepy dream, her body is made of steel.

Although literally imprisoned in a grave, Rin wasn't afraid of the dark. She rather felt... bored. But also certain that the waiting will soon be over. Someone will come for her – him? - again, powered by greed or other kind of desire. Humans are possessive creatures, after all, attracted to sparkling, pretty things.

And he'd been told, too many times, that he's bewitchingly beautiful. So much that people forgot about his main purpose – he supposed to be a tool that defends and kills, not a treasure.

Because of this long and painful misunderstanding, such gorgeous sword, a crane, that should give longevity and good luck to its owner, in reality couldn't save anyone. So maybe it was better to rot in a tomb than bring misfortune to someone he cares about?

"Tsurumaru…" She wiped off the remnants of that weird dream and slowly opened her eyes.

Birds were chirping cheerfully outside, praising the sun as usual. Nothing but few puddles remained from the last night's storm. Rider almost immediately knocked to her room – he probably was waiting in the corridor all morning just to greet and surprise his Master.

"Good morning, Master Rin! It's a…" It seemed that he ended up surprised instead. "What? Is there something on my face?"

Until he asked, Tohsaka didn't know she was staring at him so shamelessly. She tried to hide the embarrassment under a smile.

"No, I just realized that I forgot to thank you yesterday."

"What for?" He looked at Rin suspiciously, checking her general condition. Maybe she had a fever or suffered from some internal injuries? "It's a duty of a Servant to protect his Master."

"Maybe. But I'm really grateful for saving me. Thank you, Tsurumaru."

He blinked, surprised by such drastic change in Rin's behavior, but then just… smiled. Tohsaka, with her newly acquired knowledge, understood why such a tiny thing made him genuinely happy.

"Does it mean I can surprise you with a special breakfast, Master Rin?"

She swallowed, suddenly pale. She wasn't yet ready for this!

"I guess so... But just this once," she added hastily, seeing a wild sparkle in his eyes.

It wasn't as bad as she expected, though. Just very sweet, because Rider decided to mix various kinds of jam and put them on their toasts all at once. After all they'd been through last night, sugar seemed rather helpful, so Tohsaka didn't complain.

"What are your plans for today, Master Rin?" – Tsurumaru asked after the meal, when he was washing the dishes. No one really asked him to do it, but he seemed to have fun with simple human activities.

"I think we must talk with Emiya first."

"At school?"

"No, at his place." Tohsaka lazily stretched on the chair. "I'm taking a break from school for now, it's not wise to put the students in danger, when Archer and Lancer are sniffing around. Not to mention that weird Assassin." She sighed. "Besides, I want to speak with Saber. He remembers the last war, so…"

Rider only nodded, fully understanding her motives. He was also sure that Mikazuki will do what he can to help. Speaking of which…

"You want to propose them an alliance, Master Rin?"

"A ceasefire for sure, yes." She smiled triumphantly, seeing his reaction. "I suspected you'd be pleased about it."

"Sure, the more the merrier." Tsurumaru chuckled at Rin's serious expression. "I'm joking, just joking. Now seriously: they both seem reliable to me. That boy looks like someone who would rather hurt himself than betray you, Master Rin."

For some reason it didn't make Tohsaka happy. Not at all.

"So you've noticed it... That dark side of Shirou Emiya. The fact that he never smiles."

She stared at the window, deep in thoughts. Rider was observing her for a while from under his snow-white eyelashes.

"Don't worry, Master Rin." A warm, caring tune sounded in his voice. "He'll be fine as long as Saber is with him. Mikazuki may behave like a weird old man, but he treats his duties seriously."

It seems to run in the family, Rin thought and smiled to herself, suspecting that it will be a very good day.

"Since the day of your summoning I have a feeling that you would kill me, if you could."

Assassin shivered at the sound of his Master's voice. Although this movement seemed barely visible, he still was angry at himself for not being composed enough around this man… creature… or whatever category Matou Zouken belonged to.

"A sword cannot truly hurt its master," Assassin replied simply. "As a tool, it can only cut a finger, if its wielder is not careful enough. Or break when it's needed the most."

He couldn't see the old mage's reaction to this answer, just his motionless back on the chair. There was something inhuman in his silhouette, covered in the darkness of this ever-gloomy room.

"It's a shame you're just a tantou, Yagen." Zouken chuckled, and it wasn't an innocent, pleasant sound. "You have a dignity of a soldier and deserve more than to be a mere Assassin."

The Sword Warrior did not react to his words, just stood still, waiting for commands. He'd been summoned here to fight, not to be praised. And pretending to be a human being, with emotions and other stuff, felt totally unprofessional for him.

"You're right, Assassin, we should get straight to the point. Our plans have changed and I have a special task for you." Zouken's fingers caressed the knob of his staff, which looked like the mage's own bald skull. "The priest must be eliminated, I don't care how. He's changed the rules too much already."

"Understood."

The mage hummed, pleased by such simple answer. No complaints, no stupid questions, just willingness to act. Even if Assassin already realized, that this is a suicide mission, he didn't show it.

"Keep in mind that, if we let Kotomine do as he pleases, it won't be a Grail War anymore. Now go and don't come back until it's done."

Zouken didn't need to turn around to know that his Servant immediately left to take care of this important job. He didn't believe in Assassin's success, he had left behind hope and other pathetic emotions long ago. But one thing he knew for sure – desiring the Grail had no sense anymore.

The old mage smiled bitterly to himself. All that left for him in this war was a twisted pleasure of watching other Masters not getting what they wanted the most.

Shirou woke up to a smell of green tea and freshness of the morning air. Such characteristic draft could mean only one thing.

"Someone forgot to close the veranda door," he murmured half-consciously, stretching in his futon. Since no one else stayed for the night this time, it must have been Mikazuki's doing.

For a second Emiya wondered, if letting Saber wander alone is a good idea, but quickly shook off such stupid thoughts. Mikazuki wasn't a slave and could do what he wanted, as long as no one sees him. Besides, he probably was guarding the place, not simply enjoying his morning tea in the garden, right?

After a short shower Shirou joined the Servant outside. Saber smiled and patted the boards near him, showing the boy to sit down and talk for a while.

"Did you sleep well?" – he asked between slow, careful sips of his still steaming drink.

"Yes, thank you for advice." Indeed, he felt surprisingly well-rested, considering everything what'd happened yesterday. "I can think clearer than before. And there are some questions I forgot to ask."

Saber nodded, like an experienced old man, who knew he was right from the very beginning.

"What do you want to know?"

"Who is that girl named Illyasviel? And why did she call me her 'little brother'?"

Mikazuki sighed and slowly finished his tea.

"I didn't want to interfere with your family matters, but since it's been said already..." He put the cup away. "Illyasviel von Einzbern is a daughter of Irisviel von Einzbern and Kiritsugu Emiya."

Shirou was silent for a long moment, and Saber tried to not disturb him, understanding that his young Master needs to think it over. He waited patiently, motionless like a crescent moon, that watches the mortals from above, but does not stick its nose in their affairs.

"That… changes many things," Emiya said eventually, with a serious, almost painful, expression.

Mikazuki slightly tilted his head, like if he wanted to read Shirou's mind.

"Do you want to abandon the war?"

Shirou slowly shook his head.

"I would consider such option in different circumstances. But now, when I know that father Kotomine is plotting something, I can't turn my back on the war and its possible consequences." He sighed. "I may be weak, but with you I'm not powerless anymore. And I want to talk with Illyasviel. Explain some things. Understand each other, if it's even possible."

Saber reacted with one of his tiny, crescent smiles, and Emiya almost sighed again. He never knew what his Servant was truly thinking. Since getting nervous about it will bring him no good, he decided to just accept it and trust Mikazuki instead.

"I'm afraid it will be difficult, at least as long as Illyasviel is a Master," the swordsman noticed, helpful as usual.

"Then we will defeat Berserker." Shirou shrugged. "If this is what it takes to talk with her normally, it's already decided."

Mikazuki gave the boy a long, curious look, before he burst out laughing.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha! Impressive! So you want to defeat one of the strongest Sword Warriors just to talk with your sister? Ha, ha, ha!" He needed a moment to calm down. "This is wonderful! Know that I'm proud to be your Servant, Shirou Emiya."

"That's…" Shirou nervously ran a hand through his tousled hair, not sure if he'd been actually praised or ridiculed. "I just hope you won't change your mind, Saber."

"I've been observing you for the last ten years, you can hardly do something stupid enough to make me change my opinion about you."

"Right." Although it sounded like another half-praise, half-insult to him, Emiya just ignored it. "I didn't even know about your existence, until you suddenly decided to give me a hard time." He shivered involuntarily at the memory of a 'drill' whirling near his stomach. "Can you at least explain why you reacted to Tohsaka's presence like that?"

Mikazuki chuckled nervously, a bit embarrassed.

"Sorry for that, but it was the only way I could warn you that other Servants were nearby. Even with magic involved I was nothing more than a piece of metal back then."

"I see." Shirou frowned, thinking. His mysterious 'sickness' made sense now. Well, maybe not all of it. "I guess it's true in case of Tohsaka, but what about Sakura? There's no way she's a Master, right?"

The look Mikazuki gave him in response was hard to describe. Shirou blinked several times, oblivious to the meaning behind his Servant's silence. Finally, the realization fell on his head like a wet rag.

"Oh…" Cursing his own stupidity, Emiya analyzed the facts. "Are you sure, Saber? I mean… Wait, so that's why Sakura doesn't come to visit anymore?! We should speak with her too, I guess."

Before his Master managed to fully recover from the shock, Mikazuki was already on his way to the kitchen.

"Where are you going?"

"To prepare more tea," Saber replied flatly. "The one brewed by Tsurumaru was good, but I want to impress our guests with something special."

"Guests?" Shirou raised an eyebrow, not truly convinced, but joined his Servant inside and began the preparations. "Can you predict the future or something?"

"It's just experience. We can talk about it again when you reach my age, boy."

Shirou didn't comment it, moved by care and warmness in Mikazuki's voice. He let himself focus on planning the meal for four instead. After all, guests were easier to handle than weird thoughts or fights to the death… even if Tohsaka was one of them.

"Can you sense Caster from here?"

Lancer looked around with a worried expression. They stood on the stairs to the Ryuudou Temple, surrounded by trees and bushes. This tunnel of green and crouching shadows was a perfect place for an ambush, so they tried to be even more careful than usual.

"My deepest apologies, Master, but the mountain itself has a huge spiritual aura…" He shrugged, a bit embarrassed. "Even if all other Servants were hiding here, I probably couldn't tell. But there are some traces… like memories of emotions in the air. Someone tried to force his way through the main gate and failed."

"I see." Bazett focused. As a trained Enforcer she could easily detect Bounded Fields, and even disarm various types of barriers. The one around the gate, however, was far beyond her abilities. It seemed that the mage - probably Caster himself - every time personally decided, who may enter his domain, so the spell was hard to deceive or overwrite. But it wasn't particularly hostile towards them either. "Well, I guess we just have to go there and check it for ourselves."

Tonbokiri hesitated. He clearly didn't share the enthusiasm of his Master.

"Maybe we should rather focus on the enemies we've found so far and destroy them first?"

Bazett shook her head, proceeding up slowly but with a graceful self-confidence.

"We know their locations, it will be difficult for them to hide now. It's wise to know every enemy first, so we can plan our tactics ahead."

Lancer hummed something to himself and nodded, satisfied with such explanation. He followed her up the stairs, but stopped after few steps, alarmed by a strange sound in the distance.

"Look out, Master!"

A blurred humanoid shape flew out off the bushes above their heads.

"Assassin!" Tonbokiri didn't wait and charged at the enemy Servant, but the small tantou-wielder dodged him smoothly in the air.

"Calm down, Lancer, I'm not here to fight you," he said, when he landed on a branch. It looked like he was running from some unknown danger. "I'm sure you'll understand that I had no other choice."

"What are you talking about?"

Before Assassin managed to answer, the air froze suddenly around them, like if something sucked out the oxygen and replaced it with dark magic. Bazett immediately took a 'back to back' position with her Servant, ready to fight.

"What's happening?" – she asked, observing the shadows, which thickened slowly and formed an army of more or less humanoid wraiths. Their auras were similar to that of Touken Danshi, but weaker and a lot darker. "Who sent them after you, Assassin?"

"You'll see soon enough." Yagen rolled his eyes, seeing Tonbokiri's angry face. "Don't give me that look, it's a small fry for great warriors like you two. See you later!"

And he just resumed his wild charge through the sleeping city, pretending that the shadow assaulters were not his problem anymore.

"You little…!" For a second Lancer looked like he wanted to follow Assassin, but the wraiths attacked before he could make a move. He knocked down the first wave with a burst of energy, like an angry grim reaper.

Behind him Bazett took care of another group with her magically strengthened fists. One blow meant one defeated enemy. She kept destroying them like a fighting machine, without any signs of fatigue, but...

"Is it me or they're just keep coming?" – she asked eventually, realizing that this methodical extermination had no visible effects.

Lancer shrugged; with so many enemies around he preferred to focus on the fight.

"You can just leave them to me, Master. They're so week I can go on all night," he said, mostly to cheer Bazett up. "No, wait, I can sense something. Another Servant has arrived. Stay alert, Master!"

Indeed, a tall, muscular figure emerged from the shadows near the temple gate. His ridiculously long hair seemed to move on its own and his eyes emitted an otherworldly, demonic light. The wraiths gathered at his feet like an obedient pack, waiting for orders of their leader.

"It... can't be!" Lancer almost dropped his weapon, when he recognized the Servant surrounded by shadows. "You are… THAT Demon Blade!"

Bazett swallowed slowly behind his back, impressed by the raw power of this additional Servant. He was insanely strong, as expected from a Saber-Berserker hybrid.

"Is he…?"

"Yes." Lancer usually sounded serious, but this time a completely new tune ringed in his deep voice. Bazett wasn't yet sure if this was sadness or a completely different feeling. "The infamous cursed blade of Muramasa school. My kin."

"Huhuhuhuhu, isn't it Tonbokiri?!" The weird Servant raised his hand in a welcoming gesture. At this signal the sword-wraiths disappeared into thin air. "In celebration of our unexpected reunion… shall I undress? Oh, and forgive me this commotion. They're like brainless hounds, once they're ordered to attack, they don't really care who's the target."

"They?" Bazett raised an eyebrow, trying to understand what's actually going on. "What are they?"

"You really can't tell, mage?" The mad Servant tilted his head; it was hard to tell if he's amused or rather disappointed. "I expected more from Tonbokiri's Master."

Bazett gave him a furious look, but did not say a thing. She kneeled on one knee to examine the remnants of defeated wraiths.

"They're…" Her eyes widened at the sad and terrifying truth. "Broken swords turned into shadow Servants?"

"Why? How could you?" Lancer's hands, clenched on the spear, were shaking from anger. "To break the spirit of a Sword Warrior and turn it into… this… Unforgivable!"

"Huhuhuhuhu, why are you so nervous, brother? I don't want to fight you." The mad warrior didn't react openly to Lancer's outburst, but Bazett noticed that his hand moved slightly down and found the hilt of the sword. She took it for a good sign – the other Servant recognized Tonbokiri strength, maybe even feared him. "I was just following that dirty little rat, but since fate brought us together again, I may have a proposition for you…"

"First explain yourself!" Lancer coldly interrupted this chaotic speech. "Or I'll cut you down, like a fiend you've become."

Bazett was observing them in silence, barely able to breathe. The tension between both Servants felt unbearable, even for her. They were so alike, yet so different… She suspected that the entire mountain would suffer from their clash, and could do nothing to stop it.

Surprisingly, the swordsman was first to retreat. Either he told them the truth and meant no harm or he was plotting something. But who can actually guess the motives of a madman?

"Fine. But not here. Not now." He turned around, nonchalantly showing them the way. "Meet me at the church. I'll be waiting."

He disappeared as suddenly as he had arrived, taking the darkness with him. Bazett could swear that, when it was finally over, the entire Mount Enzo breathed out a sigh of relief.

Sorry if You expected more action, but I felt like some things needed to be said at last. Such chapters are important as well, for the sake of the entire story.

Thank You for sticking around for so long. Don't hesitate to leave a comment, I really love to read them!