It's hard when you love someone who doesn't love you in return.

Anna Zhukov, only surviving member of her once illustrious family, squared her shoulders and looked down at her Servant. His head was bowed, white hair gleaming faintly in the pallid light of the crescent moon.

"You understand what you need to do?" Anna said, noticing that her voice was strange. But today she would kill a man. For the very first time in her life, blood would stain her hands. Her Servant nodded, his hair bobbing.

"Yes Master. Your will, will be done," he said obediently and Anna gazed over his head. He should object to this. He should not want to do it. They were going to engage in a vicious sneak attack and take out Saber's Master. Saber was away fighting Archer and would be in no position to guard his link to the world. This beautiful Servant should be too honorable to do such a thing. "Master?" Anna blinked and looked down to see her Servant was looking up her now, concern shining in his aquamarine eyes.

"It is nothing, just a thought," she lied and he accepted her words instantly. Another thing that was wrong. "Come," Anna breathed, gently cupping his cheek before drawing him to his feet. They kissed then and the passion in it was like the most beautiful flame, taking her breath away. If only it was real.

Anna let her Servant lift her in his arms, before carrying her away in a speedy streak. Auburn hair flew wildly as she closed her eyes, reaching out to her familiars. They were already in position and answered enthusiastically, practically begging her for food. Anna soothed them with promises, feeling them shivering with impatience.

Soon, they would feast.

Anna looked at the dead man, beetles feasting on his corpse, and felt nothing.

This was surprisingly easy, Anna mused to herself as she watched a bug wiggling through a broken eye, deep into the gaping cavity. The other eye stared at her with blank accusation. It doesn't bother me at all. Vaguely, she wondered why. It should bother her, shouldn't it? Maybe it's because he fought very hard. Saber's Master had certainly done his best to kill her.

"Assassin is no more," her Servant reported and Anna nodded, feeling almost in a dream. They hadn't known Assassin would be here but it was convenient. Now they just had to worry about Assassin's former Master. Loose ends did always need to be cleaned up.

"The bugs need to feast a little longer," Anna said calmly. Her families' magic was closely related to that of their sister branch, the Makiri clan. But instead of worms, they preferred beetles and their baby forms, larvae. If she concentrated hard, Anna could feel the larvae inside her body. She was actually quite fond of them. She'd given several of them names. "Please stand guard."

"Yes Master," her Servant said before standing ready beside her, an alert sentinel. Anna closed her eyes for a moment. The bugs didn't bother her Servant at all but was that because they truly didn't, or because of his… issues?

Anna reflected on it as she waited for the insects to finish. She hadn't meant to summon the Berserker class Servant. That had been a pure accident and normally it would have spelled her doom. The Berserker card was notorious for destroying the Master who held it. But oddly enough, her Servant was extremely tractable and pulled only a normal amount of mana. Anna knew that meant he was grossly weakened from his usual state – he'd admitted as much – but that was fine. In fact, it was ideal. Her beetles took a fair amount of energy to maintain.

I only wish he were real, Anna thought, glancing towards her Servant. He was beautiful, golden armor gleaming in the light of a few small fires. It had taken her a while to understand what was wrong with him. So handsome, so devoted, so trusting and loyal… all of which was false, imposed on him by his Mad Enhancements. I wish I could speak to the real man. Or did she? Perhaps it was just as well he was insane. After all, what would such a hero have to say to such a thing as her?

Taking a deep breath, Anna called away the bugs before turning to her Servant.

"Take me home Karna," she commanded and he bowed his head before scooping her into his arms again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes, feeling the pain deep in her heart. They would mana transfer tonight. It was practical, to keep Karna's reserves as full as possible. And at these times, he professed to love her. Yet, Anna knew it was a lie.

It was so hard to love someone who couldn't truly love you in return.

Anna looked at the golden cup, sitting behind the crumpled body of an Einzbern homunculus, and felt hollow inside.

"I've won," she said, reaching up to stroke back a bit of auburn hair. It was disarranged and splattered with blood. She'd been the one to kill the homunculus, with her own two hands. She heard a sad crunch and glanced over to see Karna smashing the head of the final Servant, the Archer. That was the card the Einzbern's had drawn in this war. Anna suspected they'd been trying for something stronger but fate had had other plans in store. "…" Looking back at the body, Anna felt a shred of regret. The Einzberns wanted the second magic. That was, frankly, a much greater use than she intended to put the Grail to. And yet…

"Yes Master, we have won," Karna said as he walked towards her, his hands still dripping with blood and gruesome fluids. His blue eyes were adoring as a pet spaniel and Anna looked at her hand. She had one Command Seal left. If she wanted to access Akasha, now was the time to use it. It's a good thing I don't want that. I know I could never bear it. But she still had a use for the Command Seal. "My only wish was to see you here." Yes, he'd said so before. "Will you make a wish?"

"Yes. But first…" Anna lifted her hand. "By the power of my Command Seal, deactivate your Mad Enhancement," Anna commanded and Karna lurched, caught by surprise. In the middle of the war, this would have been a nonsensical command, a complete waste of a Command Seal. Now, though… Anna watched, nervousness making her hands clench, as Karna shook his head and looked at her. Instead of hazed by what he wanted to see, his blue eyes were clear and seemed to see her very soul. "Karna, do you love me?" Anna asked, unable to stop her nervous flutters. She was sure she knew the answer and yet… there was always that smidgin of hope…

"No." Anna managed not to flinch but it was difficult, as pure pain lashed through her. She'd thought she'd been prepared for this, she really had but it still… hurt… "I regret that I have caused you to love me." Anna knew his emotions well now and thought Karna was truly regretful. Perhaps even a touch guilty, as he glanced towards the golden cup. Anna took a deep breath before slowly letting it out. This was not unexpected.

"It's fine. I knew you weren't in your right mind," she said calmly and Karna glanced towards her with a frown. With his brain working correctly, Anna could practically see him wondering what she intended to do. "Now…" Anna walked up to the Grail and grasped it. She said nothing – she didn't want Karna to know – but she poured her wish into the vessel.

I want to bear his child. Something that should have been utterly impossible. Servants were formed of pure mana, they had no true bodies. Ephemeral as the wind, transitory as the flame of a candle. Every aspect of him is inscribed in the Throne of Heroes. I want an immaculate conception. Anna knew precisely how it could be done. Karna's power, a tiny copy of it, could be planted in her womb and wait for a suitable egg to fertilize, just like a normal sperm.

The Grail responded beautifully. A clear, concise wish that had a blueprint for how to carry it out… and the fact that the Grail was designed to access the Throne of Heroes by its very nature… oh, it was easy. Anna felt heat flow across her skin, a strange fullness and pressure. Vaguely she heard Karna's voice raised – was he asking a question? – before she crumpled. Hands that were oddly fluid caught her and eased her down. Even as she lost consciousness, Anna saw a white face, blue eyes looking at her intently. Sparkles of mana were beginning to drift free and even as her Servant vanished, Anna smiled.

Goodbye Karna.