Fate/Triumvirate

By: Bubbajack

Beta: Heliosion

Disclaimer: I do not own FSN

Ch.1: Calm before the Storm.

'This dream, again?'

Shirou Emiya stood once again atop the hill, a place he visited every night when he closed his eyes ever since his old man, Kiritsugu Emiya passed away. He stood in the shade of a cherry blossom tree in full bloom. The cloudless, azure sky stood in sharp contrast to the rest of the scene. For as far as the eye could see in any direction there was a wheatfield that stood at waist height. Pink petals floated in the breeze and wheat stalks bent to the force of the wind. Beams of sunlight poked through the branches of the cherry blossom tree under which he stood. Shirou knew this had to be a dream for this place was too picturesque, too perfect to be found anywhere on earth.

Or so he thought anyway.

"This place is peaceful," Shirou said to himself and not for the first time as he stared out at the endless expanse of golden-brown stalks.

"Sempai."

Shirou gave a wistful sigh. This was also part of the routine. "But it looks like it's time for me to go again."

"Sempai, it's time to wake up."

The wheatfield disappeared in a flash of blinding light. His dream was over again.

Blearily, Shirou opened his eyes. Blinking several times before he found himself staring up at the roof of his shed, the light from the lone lamp shining directly into his eyes making him wince slightly. Sitting up, the auburn-haired boy offered a tired smile to the sweet young girl who'd awoken him.

She had long purple hair and amethyst eyes, she was already wearing her school uniform which consisted of a pure white shirt beneath a brown blouse and black skirt which did little to hide her feminine figure, not that Shirou would ever comment on it. It was his job as her sempai to protect her from such people after all.

Or so he reasoned. It was his duty of care to take care of his friend. The poor boy was completely clueless as to the girl's affections for him.

'She's been happier since Shinji went overseas to study abroad.' Shirou thought to himself. Shinji was too heavy handed with his sister and being away had really opened her up as a person which made him both happy and a little sad as she was seemingly not needing him as much as she had before. "Thanks Sakura."

Pouting at him, Sakura Matou chastised him gently. "You shouldn't sleep in your shed sempai, it's the middle of February, you could get sick."

"Sorry to worry you." He apologized with a short bow from his sitting position.

"Good, now go get ready while I get started on breakfast." She started to leave before turning around. "You'd better hurry, Taiga should be here any minute."

That was all the motivation Shirou needed to blitz past his Kohei and into his house, a hungry Taiga Fujimura was a dangerous thing after all. 'Sakura has been coming out of her shell more lately. I mean I never thought she'd tease me of all people. She must really, really be glad Shinji is gone, not that I can blame her.' Shirou thought this as he slipped on a fresh shirt careful to make sure his door was shut beforehand. He didn't need Sakura seeing what his top hid.

Tattoos covered his back and shoulders. Yakuza tattoos. The bushido code was etched onto his shoulders, while his entire back told the story of a koi fish swimming up a waterfall and becoming a dragon.

He was a walking piece of art.

Shirou, was in fact a fully-fledged member of the Fujimura-gumi, an underling to the big boss and kept this to himself for the most part. Taiga knew of course, and he got his job at the Copenhagen mostly to keep his ear to the ground for Raiga-san, at least when he wasn't repairing everyone's bikes and going on the occasional hunting trip with Raiga-san. The oyabun (boss) had the decency to keep him out of anything too shady and paid the young man well to keep his ears open when at work for rumors of any other outfits moving into Fuyuki along with fixing the groups bikes should they breakdown amongst other tasks juniors had to perform for their sempai. Thanks to this and his own job, Shirou was already quite well off, and if anyone asked, he wasn't actually lying when Kiritsugu left him a large sum of money which really wasn't a lie, that money just went towards the upkeep of his home.

Throwing on a long-sleeved shirt, brown blazer and, slacks he quickly marched over to where his shoes were waiting by the entrance to his home as was customary. Since it was February, Shirou decided to bring his white sweater and black scarf with him.

'That way Sakura won't worry so much.'

He made his way into the kitchen and seamlessly assisted Sakura with finishing breakfast. They had just finished placing the omelets and miso soup on the table when the front door opened with a resounding 'BANG' and an exuberant voice called out for attention.

"Shirou! Breakfast!"

"In here Fuji-nee! Nice to see you too by the way." Shirou had taken a drop of his sarcastic side which he usually kept under wraps so as not to offend anyone seep through.

Taiga Fujimura all but bounced into the room with the exuberance of a teenager despite the fact she was an English teacher of twenty-five. The brunette woman was bright eyed and bushy-tailed as always, not that anyone would mention her being bushy tailed, lest they taste her cursed Tora Shinai, a shinai that wouldn't stop till it tasted blood.

Ruffling her little brother's hair, Taiga beamed at him with her green eyes. "Now, now, nee-chan is always happy to see her little brother. She shouldn't have to voice it at this point! Now, lets eat before it gets cold!"

"Itadakimasu!" The trio said before they all dug into the food.

As Taiga inhaled her food like she always did, she looked over her rice bowl at the two teens across from her. 'Shirou bless him, is still totally oblivious. Still I suppose that's a good thing. If he realized Sakura had a thing for him… The two of them alone in this place? Pff, I'd lose my job once they found out two students were doing it right under my nose and I was the guardian of one of them…' Taiga let her gaze linger on Shirou then to Sakura eating placidly then back to Shirou. 'Then again, Shirou practically lives and breathes the bushido code, I doubt he'd do anything to Sakura on principal alone.'

Finishing her bowl and holding it out for thirds, Taiga informed him of what she had been asked to pass on. "Shirou, Gramps wanted you to go on a hunting trip with you today if you can."

Shirou nodded as he filled his surrogate big sisters bowl. "I should be able to, yes. Did he say what we were hunting this time?"

"Big game he said."

Shirou's golden amber eyes widened ever so minutely before he nodded. "Right, I'll be there."

Taiga took her bowl and began chowing down, but she got out between bites. "Good I'll let him know."

Sakura had stayed quiet up to this point. "Do you hunt with Raiga-san often sempai?"

Shirou nodded. "When he needs me, yeah." He plucked the last omelet off his plate when he noticed Taiga eyeing it up and plopped it into his mouth leading Taiga to slump in defeat.

Sakura gave her sensei one of her extra omelets causing her to grin and all but suck the food down her windpipe as the Matou continued her line of questioning. "Do you hunt big game a lot sempai?" Sakura's eyes glittered with concern. "I'd hate to hear you got hurt."

Shirou calmed his perpetual houseguest. "No need to worry, I've done this plenty and being the captain of the archery club helps."

Sakura looked relieved. "Ah, I suppose that's true. Speaking of, shouldn't we be going soon sempai, sensei?" Sakura asked as she glanced at the clock on the wall.

Taiga abruptly stood up when she saw the time. "Sheesh is it that time already?! I gotta go! Seeya!"

Just as quickly as it came, hurricane Taiga had left leaving a devastated breakfast table and dirty dishes in her wake, the only sound of her passing was the fading rev of her scooters motor on the wind. The two students looked at each other before they laughed. They quickly got the dishes done before heading out the door themselves.

Sakura was in seventh heaven. She was walking to school alone with Sempai for a change. Usually by now, Tohsaka-sempai and her replacement would've made their appearance and she would've had to put on a brave face or all hell would break loose and while she was against violence there were mornings with Shinji no longer around to antagonise that that her that she actually had the energy to be pissed off at her sister rather than tired from being abused by her 'big' brother. Seriously, things had improved for her since Nii-san had left. She still had to endure the worm pit, but she had long gotten used to the feeling of the Crest Worms writhing in and out of her body and had learned to 'turn herself off' for lack of a better term and render herself an unfeeling doll. Without Shinji around to see to her 'needs' Zouken was forced to begrudgingly teach her some of the more advanced Matou magecraft, which led Sakura to setting up bounded fields all around town soaking up the ambient mana in the air, and periodically sending it to herself to keep her worms sated.

Sakura noticed Shirou looking conflicted about something. "Sempai, is everything alright? You seem distracted."

"Tohsaka and Sakatsuki-san haven't shown up yet. It's unusual."

Shirou's offhand comment caused Sakura to pout, not that he noticed. 'Those two aren't even here and that's all he can think about. It's always about Nee-san and my replacement!'

Miyu Sakatsuki was a young fifteen-year-old girl Tohsaka Rin had taken in off the streets a year ago. Sakura couldn't stand the girl. It wasn't bad enough that her sister had replaced her, no, she doted on Miyu, watched her like a hawk, mothered her, and spoiled her to no end. It was as if she was shoving ten years or so of affection into one person and rubbing it in her face in the most efficient time scale possible. It was infuriating. It made her want to… Sakura struggled for a reason to be angry being placid by nature… Ah it made her want to burn the dinner in anger! 'She could do all that for a girl she didn't know, yet she pretended her actual sister was a complete stranger.' Sakura cast her sempai a furtive sideways glance. 'What's more, she has an obvious crush on sempai. My sempai! Everyone thinks she's so great, but I know she's mocking me! She has to be. That has to be why she calls me…'

"Sakura-sempai! Shirou-sempai, help!"

Sakura was pulled out of her dark musings by a certain someone she secretly despised her frantically calling her name. Miyu, Tohsaka-sempai, along with Yukika Saegusa, Kane Himuro, and Kaede Makidera, Class 2-A's Track Trio were being harassed across the street by some rough looking delinquents.

"Sempai what should we… sempai?" Sakura looked to Shirou to see that he had left her side. She quickly found him making his way through traffic, towards the delinquents ignoring the shouts of the people in their cars, his sights were set on the girls in distress. He was literally playing at Moses only one bad car driver and he'd be spending another two weeks in hospital. 'Oh dear, this isn't going to end well.' Sakura thought as she watched the scene unfold.

Shirou ignore the flashing red hand that said it wasn't safe to cross the street, the honking of horns didn't reach his ears, nor did the shouts of angry drivers. To him they were inconsequential at the moment. He had tunnel vision tinged with red, and right now, it was homed in on the delinquents harassing his classmates across the street. He stopped just behind them, taking them in.

All five were the typical fair, blonde haired, unkempt appearance, piercings. Shirou filed them away as generic trash that his brain had no need to remember from second to second. They had the damsels in distress pinned against the wall, leaning in close enough that their smoke riddled breath would stink and preventing them from moving by the sheer vicinity. They weren't his sempai of any kind, his sempai at work would be shot for not wearing a proper suit, and Shirou reasoned Rin keeping them away from Miyu was the only reason they hadn't all lost their teeth yet or were calling home to their mommies to fix their boo-boos.

"Gentlemen." Boy, did that word feel inappropriate. Garbage, hmmm maybe 'things' perhaps? It seemed wrong to assume they were at the same place in terms of evolution as anyone else there. Calling them Neanderthals was almost insulting. "My classmates and I really do need to be getting to class before the tardy bell rings. So, if you don't mind?"

The quintet turned around. One who had a mohawk sneered upon seeing what looked like a normie playing hero and shot his mouth off, brandishing his fist which was wrapped in a chain. The fool hadn't even found one that wasn't rusty as it was staining his fingernails. "Eh, you say something huh? You got a problem with us having a conversation, huh?"

With every word he spoke the punk got closer and closer to Shirou, getting louder as if the volume was supposed to be a deterrent with every word until he was right up in his face. Looking past him towards another member of the group, Shirou calmly declared his intentions.

"I suggest you get your friend and leave before he gets himself hurt. Also, leave your wallets behind. You can at least do the decent thing and pay for these ladies lunches today, don't you think?"

An older boy with his shirt hanging off his shoulders like a cape, blanched upon seeing who his new recruit was talking down to. "Shit, shit, shit! Yaomasa, get the fuck away from him now ya moron! Don't you know who that is?!"

"Some punk who thinks he can be a hero." The now named 'Yaomasa' aka the idiot aka the hospital bound asshole who was going to die said, a smirk on his lips as he shoved Shirou in the shoulder hard. He may as well have tried to push a mountain over as Shirou's strong build kind of shrugged its shoulders and ignored the weak ass punk trying to push him.

The head delinquent aka the smart one who knew when a bitch was going to die shook his head frantically, terror building, as his frequency of shaking became powerful enough to make a hole in the sidewalk. "You idiot. That's 'Red Oni' Emiya. You know the guy who punched out six of Kaoru-sempai's teeth and broke three of his ribs when he tried to steal that purse last year?"

"What?" That was all the delinquent got to say before the level of intelligence of this group simply was too low for anyone who could speak two words could handle. Shirou's arm, the herald of destruction towards fucking morns lashed out like a snake, curving inwards at a right angle before hitting Yaomasa in the jaw. In a dramatic repeat of poor Kaoru-sempai's fate several teeth clattered along the sidewalk as the delinquent fell to the side, Shirou's knee coming up to knock the wind out of him when he nailed him in the stomach. His buddies hissed in displeasure or just maybe it was the sound of bladders being evacuated in double time. He didn't really care as by removing his knee from the man's stomach, pretty much mining for gold from how deep it had been shoved in he allowed him to fall to the ground a bleeding mess, before turning to the man in charge aka the smart one again.

He looked ready to beat the land speed record as soon as he could. Shirou appreciated self preservation. It meant less punching and a tidy uniform. Everybody wins, well except the guy who had a huge dental bill.

"About those wallets? You can give me your cell phones so I can call my boss to go talk to your boss." They all blanched until their skin looked like a corpse washed up on a beach after a week in the ocean. "I'm sure he'll be happy to explain just who runs this part of the city." He kicked the bastard in the ribs again when nobody complied right away. They all heard the snap of another rib, like the crack of a whip. "I have the emergency services on speed dial if you don't hurry up. I'm sure they'll do you all a special rate if we order five ambulances at once."

The still conscious members of the group hastily found their senses, fished around in their pockets, throwing whatever money and cell phones funnily enough they had at Shirou's feet before picking up their fallen member and retreating as quickly as they could. Shirou waited until they were out of sight before claiming his booty. Shirou bent down to pick up the yen, remembering lesson to count it only to have a small pair of arms latch themselves around his neck.

"Sempai, that was so cool! You were all like, leave the wallets and get lost. Then that guy pushed you and you were like pow, then boom, right in the stomach! Where'd you learn to fight like that?!"

Miyu Sakatsuki, adoptive little sister of Rin Tohsaka, cute as a pixie stick in her junior school uniform was hopped up on adrenaline or maybe it was sugar from how Rin spoiled her from seeing her sempai and crush beat up one of the guys who was harassing her nee-san plus her entourage. She was all of fifteen with short ash-black hair and dark green eyes. She was also hopelessly in love with Shirou Emiya. He was warm, kind, and heroic, like the heroes her mother used to read to her about before she passed away and Miyu was forced to survive on the streets, fleeing from that man. Miyu knew Shirou would protect her if she knew her circumstances, but she dared not involve him.

For as far as she knew, he wasn't of the Twilight World. There was no room for heroes there but sempai would be perfect if they were holding auditions.

"Nice right hook Emiya, where'd you learn how to do that?" Kaede Makidera, the 'Panther of Homamura' ever the eccentric one of the trio asked who 'mimicked' the free tooth extraction punch. Shirou winced at how she held her knuckles. Ji-ji would eat him alive for such poor form.

Returning Miyu's hug, Shirou replied to both her and Kaede. "I got into a lot of fights when I was younger, to the point where someone took pity on me and taught me to defend myself."

Rin was giving him a once over as if seeing him for the first time. Her stare felt like it was seeing into his soul. "I didn't know you could fight Emiya."

"It was impressive," Himuro, the silver-haired 'straight woman' of the trio complimented.

Shirou bowed respectfully at the praise. It wasn't the first time either but those had been burly tattooed men in the onsen and not cute girls so it meant more this time.

"Thank… thank you for saving us Emiya-san." Yukika managed to get out this out albeit sheepishly, giving him the warmest smile, she could.

He waved off the thanks. It was all in a day's work to punch some punks out of his turf. "Think nothing of it. Here, this is for all of you." He handed them the money the delinquents left behind. "To pay for your lunches."

Seeing her chance to tease him, Makidura smirked. "Lunch on Emiya-san? My how forward. It's a date I guess. See you at lunch then!"

"Wait what?" Shirou had just been blindsided.

"What?" Rin didn't like the sound of this… Tsundere protocols kicked in.

Miyu stopped her foot on the ground and pouted. "No fair, I want to go on a date with sempai too!"

Both Shirou and Rin looked to her and squawked at the same time. "What?!"

"Sempai!" Sakura had finally made it across the street. That had been the longest green light in the world. "You shouldn't be so reckless sempai. What if you had gotten hurt?"

"Sakura-sempai!" Miyu, the sempai seeking missile threw herself around Sakura's waist and it took all of Sakura's willpower not to throw her in front of a car. She allowed herself the day dream for not acting on her homicidal impulses and returned the hug instead.

'Play nice, the usurper... Miyu's just an innocent girl… don't make a scene in front of sempai… think happy thoughts... Like how much pressure I would need to exert to snap her neck and finally shut her up.' Sakura thought darkly to herself bringing a pleasant smile to her face. 'Or set her on fire? Oh, maybe feed her to the sharks at the aquarium.'

Sakura briefly dreamed a nice dream. Shame the city had no aquarium. Could she drown her in the wave machine at the water park instead? She shook her head. It would be hard to make it look like an accident then.

Kaede laughed at their reaction, ruffling Miyu's hair who in vain resisted her perfectly brushed hair being tussled into oblivion. "Give yourself a year… I think this blockhead will still be available." The dark-skinned panther of homamura sent Sakura a knowing look. "Probably."

Shirou was lost. His neanderthal came out as usual when girls became a subject. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Kaede slapped him on the back. "Nothing… don't miss our date for lunch handsome." She shot him a playful wink before walking away with her friends. "Don't forget our…" Something caught her eye and she retreated into the safety of the clique like a herd of wildebeest.

"Date sempai?" Sakura was not amused, judging by the sharp glare and sullen pout she was sending his way. 'Bitches are gonna die!'

Shirou was instantly shot in the heart. Too much pout was bad for his health.

The group arrived just before the tardy bell rung. Rin politely excused herself to see Miyu to her classes, taking the girl by the hand and all but dragging her away. Miyu never stopped waving to Shirou until she was out of sight and even then she valiantly waved her disembodied arm for a few moments until it was violently pulled away.

"That Miyu sure is energetic… what?" Shirou couldn't understand the looks he was receiving from the women around him.

"There's a limit to how clueless someone can be you know?" Kaede told him with her hands on her hips, as if she was chastising a small child. "How can one boy be so blind and dumb and…"

"I get the idea… I think?" Shirou said, rubbing his chin. Kaede threw her hands into the air and stamped her feet. All it made the school boy do was wonder why she was doing some interpretive dance routine. 'What does it take for a girl to speak plainly?'

Yukika threw in her two cents with an accompanying giggle, causing her chin length brunette hair to sway slightly. The giggle was making Shirou's brain go 'Red Alert! Red Alert!' "I think it's cute like a concussed squirrel banging its head off the tree."

"It does have it's charms." Himuro admitted fixing her glasses. "But only to a point then it gets sad."

Shirou looked between the three. "What are you three talking about?"

"See what I mean?" Himuro said, turning to Shirou. "We'll explain at lunch Emiya-san. Till then." She bowed and the other two followed suit, before making their way into the school.

Rubbing his head in utter confusion, Shirou made his way into the school. "See you at the club later Sakura, have a nice day."

"You too sempai… Enjoy your date." She added the last part under her breath with enough venom to kill a city block.

"Did you say something?" He asked this, turning around to look at her quizzically.

"I said I'll see you in the dojo sempai," Sakura replied hastily, plastering a smile on her face. The smile was so fake that any sane person stepped around her even those who hadn't seen it but were just in her general vicinity.

The cute archery girl was not happy.

Lunch came around quicker than Shirou would've liked. The Yakuza henchman was nervous as he made his way towards Class 2-A, every step an echoing step towards prospective doom in his head. 'Was Makidera just teasing me or was she being serious? If she's been holding some form of affection for me, I've had no idea! How does one even act on a date?' Shirou had no experience with women. Taiga was an alien existence that would never find a husband so she didn't count. He only knew Taiga had chased off half a dozen suitors simply by being her that her father had arranged for her to meet. Shaking his head, the horrible, horrifying thought of one day Shirou himself being arranged for one of those meetings away, he quickly veered off course towards the English room and knocked.

"Come in, come in!" Taiga called. The Christmas Cake was happy to say the least.

When she saw her beloved little brother enter her classroom, with a look of consternation on his face, Taiga was immediately on alert. Perking up in her seat, she resolved to solve her cute little brother's conundrum.

"Ne, ne, Shirou-kun what's wrong?"

Shirou took a moment to answer, his face scrunched in intense concentration as if he was contemplating the secrets of the universe. What came out made her actually sigh in relief, tension slipping away so much she nearly slid back into her chair in relief.

"I got asked out on a date this morning… and I have no idea what to do."

Taiga after recuperating from her hard big sister moment, regained her vigour and smirked like the cat that ate the canary. "So, she finally built up her courage enough to ask you, did she? Good for her."

Shirou blinked in confusion. Did everyone know already? Even Taiga, the woman who was more mouth than woman. "Wait you knew?"

Taiga shrugged. "Sorry Shirou but it was obvious to everyone but you."

The young student deflated at his stupidity. Why didn't this stuff come with a manual?

"So, it's been obvious Makidera-san has had a crush on me? How long has this been going on for? Why did you hide it from me so long? Why did everyone?"

Taiga's grin widened. "That's right…" Wait, something didn't sound quite right just then. "Makidera-san the girl on the track team? She asked you out this morning? Sure it wasn't someone else like say..." She just stopped and hid her mouth with both hands. Only two types of people did that in real life. People in anime or Taiga when she almost blurted something out that was important.

"Were you going to say something?" Now Shirou was curious about this secret Fuji-nee was keeping from him.

"I… I can't say." Taiga said firmly. "I won't say!"

Taiga big sister powers activated! Shirou usually backed away when she roared but this time he didn't, disrupting the natural order of all things.

"Fuji-nee."

"Shirou." Shirou clammed up. He recognized that tone. It was her 'Yakuza Princess' voice. She only used it on him when he was either sticking his nose in things that didn't involve him, or when he was genuinely getting on her nerves which hadn't since that time a couple of years ago when he ran over that rival gangster at the Yakuza picnic with a golf cart. She had roared at him for hours after her father agreed to pay the medical bills and reimburse the course for the loss of their vehicle. What? His sempai had told him to do it. Sure, he drank a lot beforehand but an order was an order… Hmmm he hadn't seen Tadashi-sempai for a while... Taiga took a breath and continued in a less serious tone, the princess taking over from the Yakuza which together made her saying 'hello' to sound like, 'You sir are going to die in the worst manner I can conceive.' "I can't tell you because it just wouldn't be fair to the girl in question. Now, tell me what happened with Makidera-san this morning."

Shirou recounted casually pummeling a delinquent and somehow being roped into paying for the Track Trios lunches. To her credit Taiga treated this like a daily occurrence which it had been since her grandfather filled her in about the family business. It was a funny story truth be told involving a fugu scam, blood and a machete. "So, is it a date or not?"

Taiga rubbed her temples. 'I don't need headaches like this during school hours. Why did Shido-sensei find my bourbon in my desk?... And the gin in my scooter compartment?' She thought this to herself before she proceeded to answer her adorably clueless little brother. "Knowing what I do of Makidera-chan, I doubt it's a date."

Before Shirou could so much as sigh in relief a voice came from the doorway, causing him to freeze up.

"It's not."

Never had two words relieved a person more. Shirou turned to see the Track Trio standing in the doorway. Himuro looked as stoic as ever, Yukimura was doing her best to stifle a giggle, while Kaede was glaring at him with a blush on her face.

Stomping up to him Kaede bopped him on the head. "Idiot!"

"Ow." His deadpan delivery was apt.

"I wasn't asking you out! It was a joke! You hear me? Joke!" Kaede accentuated the word 'joke' with an additional swat for each syllable to his head.

"Ow, ow, ow." This was going to take a while. Shirou lost his patience about five seconds later. "Alright, alright, I get it. I've never been asked out before, can you blame me for being confused?" The poor Emiya held up his hands in surrender hoping to dissuade anymore assaults to his person. "I bruise easily so please stop."

Kaede ignored the deadpan tone and turned away with a huff. "Idiot!" She made her way back to her friends.

Yukimura chirped up. "I think its cute, that he was so confused. It was sweet how he came to you Fujimura-sensei. I didn't realize the two of you were so close."

Taiga bowed to the trio holding up a hand and closing one eye. Shirou was embarrassed she was copying Magical Girl Chi-chan's famous pose. "I'm Emiya-kun's legal guardian. I'd appreciate it if you kept that to yourselves though. If word got out, the students might think I was playing favorites."

Himuro smiled lightly and gave a thumbs up. "Mom's the word."

Taiga returned the gesture with much more exuberance. "Your awesome Kane-chan."

The silver-haired girl nodded once, as if agreeing with the assessment. "Come Emiya, I believe you owe us lunch. See you around Fujimura-sensei."

Shirou looked at Fujimura-sensei for support but only found her back as she 'worked' by rummaging in one of her drawers. Shirou sighed and departed, knowing there was no haven here.

Fujimura Taiga was later heard roaring as no alcohol would be found in that drawer.

The four with bread from the cafeteria in hand (Shirou had to give the boss a 70% cut of all shakedowns so it was all he could afford) were huddled up on the roof, covered in jackets to keep warm. Their reason for being on the roof in February was simple. Himuro didn't want their conversation to be overheard, and she knew full well no one in their right mind would be eating lunch on the roof.

After she had finished off her curry bread, Himuro addressed Emiya. To Shirou, it was when he realised that he was surrounded by sharks… he meant girls which amounted to the same thing to a teenage boy with no obvious mean of escape.

"Now we can talk about what we came here to discuss."

"Which is?" Shirou was genuinely confused as to what they wanted to talk about. His eyes skirted to the stairs blocked firmly by the girls.

Pushing up her glasses, Himuro, began her presentation as her friends politely clapped. "Your incredible cluelessness when it comes to the opposite sex."

Shirou felt the sudden urge to pick his jaw up off the floor, all notions of escape evaporating as the most unexpected complaint came up. "I'm… I'm sorry, what? Did you really say what I think you..."

"Dude," Kaede said, getting his attention by fixing him with a deadpan stare. Those were eyes that promised death if he fled. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed how many girls in this school have a thing for you?"

Shirou jerked his head to the side like a rusty truck door that didn't want to move. "You're kidding right?"

"We are not," Himuro affirmed. "Yukika has the list."

"There's a list?!" Shirou squawked.

The sweet girl cleared her throat as Yukika handed her an actual fucking list in paper with hearts doodled on the margins. "Ahem, the list of girls we're sure have feelings for Emiya-san consist of Tohsaka-sempai, Sakura-san, Miyu-chan… we thought Fujimura-sensei liked you, but now that we know she's your legal guardian we can strike her off, and…" The curveball whacked him on the face. "Ayako Mitsuzuri."

Shirou blinked as if in a daze. So many girls! A harem worth easily! So many he had known for ages and Miyu-chan? Wasn't she still playing with dolls? Surely… It was too much for him to take.

"I… you can't be serious?!"

Himuro took up the conversation again. "How about you tell us how this can't be possible, and we provide a counter argument Emiya-san?" The best way to get through to someone was to make it impossible to deny something was true. Failing that, she had a baseball bat to beat it into him if required.

"Tohsaka doesn't like me, she constantly bickers with me. She only hangs around me because Miyu looks up to me like an older brother." Shirou felt confident he'd killed two birds with one stone.

Yukika spoke for the group now. "Tohsaka-sempai bickers with you two reasons." Oddly he heard the sound a revolver going off. "One, she's a perfect example of a tsundere, and two…" Another metaphorical bullet went off and Shirou flinched as if he was bleeding to death from her words. "She can tell Miyu has a thing for you and is doing everything in her power to keep her away from you, or at the very least keep an eye on the two of you so Miyu doesn't do anything foolish. That girl reads way too many romance light novels."

"Tohsaka doesn't trust me to be alone with Miyu-chan does she?" Seeing the track trio shake their heads, Shirou tried a different tactic. "Well, just because she thinks Miyu has feelings for me doesn't mean it's true." He was hanging by a thread.

"She hugs you all the time." Kaede pointed out.

Shirou reiterated a previous point. He had fuck all in his deck to play otherwise. "She thinks of me as an older brother."

"Remember when she had you take her out for ice cream and a movie last year around this time?" Kaede reminded him.

That felt like a trap. Was it a trap though?

"Yeah what about it?"

Kaede's stare and voice became deadpan. "It was on Valentine's Day, Emiya, and you took her out for ice cream and a movie…"

Shirou's mouth fell open for a moment. He did recall receiving some odd looks that day but thought nothing of it at the time. The girls could almost see the light bulb going on over his head as realization set in, his golden eyes widened, and he paled so badly a stiff wind would have finished him off.

"Oh my… That would… make her misunderstand things."

Stupid, thy name is Shirou Emiya.

Kaede grinned, crossing her arms and nodding. A woman who was victorious in her battle of words. "Yep, the school was talking about that for almost a month afterwards. How did you not hear about it through the rumor mill?"

"I spent a lot of time in the student council room after that. Apparently, a lot of things got broken that Issei needed fixed."

The track trio shared a look and in perfect synch they mouthed the same line to one another 'Issei saved him.' They then shook their heads in unison.

Himuro decided Shirou had stewed enough in his own stupidity and got the conversation back on track. "Which leads us back to Tohsaka. She acts all haughty around you due to Miyu but at the same time, have you noticed whenever you even remotely compliment her, she breaks out into a stuttering mess, then pretends like she doesn't care?"

"Yeah?"

"T-sun-der-re!" Kaede spelled out for him. She had prepared beforehand, a dictionary with the word in it on her phone.

Shirou hung his head as the definition matched the facts. "Am I a bad person for not noticing this sooner?"

The sheer pathetic way he said that had Yukika rubbing his head comfortingly, petting him like a small furry animal. "No, you're just a typical male. It's nothing to be ashamed of but I'm afraid the condition is terminal."

Shirou knew Yukika meant well, but that just made him feel worse.

"But after a while this just got to painful to watch, so we had to step in," Kaede replied with her hands folded behind her head voice filled with exasperation.

'Rub salt into the wound why don't you?' Shirou thought to himself. His pride still stinging from Yukika's earlier words.

"Moving on," Himuro continued. It seemed to be her job to keep her friends on task. "Matou-san should be obvious, should she not?"

"Yeah, I mean how could you not notice? The girl has been coming over to your house for more than a year now. People thought you two were dating in secret for a while, until you took Miyu out on Valentine's… then a new set of rumors started." Kaede finished all this with a sly smile. He just knew she had helped spread a few for fun. "Playboy Emiya?"

"That's enough teasing Emiya-san, I do believe he's seen the error of his ways." Though she came to his defense even Himuro couldn't help but smile.

Shirou tried however weakly to deny this. "Sakura, she's family. That's why she has a key."

Kaede's eyes widened. "She has a key to your place, and your not dating her?! C'mon man! You've all but made her your girlfriend, or maybe even your common law wife without actually doing it! She probably gets half your money if you die! Have you no shame!"

Shirou felt as if he was being stabbed with spears with every accusation the panther of Homurahara made towards him. Truly hindsight was twenty-twenty.

Shirou's tone was drier than Death Valley with his response. "Thanks, Kaede-san." Seeing the looks he was getting from the three. "What?"

"Who is the real Emiya-san I wonder? Is he the kind helpful person everyone knows, or is he the delinquent fighting boy with a dry, sarcastic wit?" Himuro wondered aloud.

Shirou looked at the three quizzically. "Huh?"

"Yeah, its like you flipped a switch and became another person this morning." Kaede mused. "It was cool don't get me wrong, but it felt totally out of character for you."

"Well you were all in trouble so…" Shirou shrugged. "I did what I felt I had to."

Yukika noticed something when he lifted his hand up to scratch his head. "Shirou-san, your hand! Did you hurt it this morning?"

Shirou looked at the back of his left hand. There was a red smudge there. "I don't think so, I hit him with my right hand, maybe I cut myself on accident in the kitchen this morning?" Shirou didn't know for sure.

"Last but not least we have Ayako Mitsuzuri." Himuro brought the conversation back to the more important topic fixing her glasses as she did so. She had clearly been enjoying herself way too much.

Shirou knew he had them this time. He had to. They had to be wrong this time. His sanity needed this. "There's no way Ayako likes me, she sees me as more of a rival. In fact, I think she's still miffed I got chosen as Archery Captain over her."

"Her family runs a dojo; martial arts are in her blood. The fact you surpass her in not only archery, but also swordsmanship, makes you a viable suitor to marry."

"Eh!"

Himuro nodded, taking a sip of her canned tea before continuing. "Yes, her parents don't want her marrying just anyone. They want her to marry someone capable. They had her lined up to marry the heir to another school, but then she mentioned you, and how you surpassed her in two forms of martial arts. This has piqued her parent's interest in you. They are letting her pursue you at her own pace though she may be just using this as an excuse to get out of an arranged marriage we feel she wouldn't bring this up without reason."

Shirou nodded slowly. "And you know this… how?"

"Girls changing rooms." Kaede admitted. "Girls talk you know?"

"Oh…" Shirou took a moment to process that. The idea of girls talking terrified him for some reason. "So, what do I do?"

The girl fixed her glasses again, 'Damn this wind.' Himuro thought. "Now that you're aware, you just need to choose someone Emiya-san."

Shirou became concerned. "Wouldn't everyone else get hurt if I did that though?"

"That's true," Himuro admitted, "But can things truly continue like this now that you know the facts?"

Shirou pondered aloud. "Isn't there a way I can make everybody happy?"

"Oh no!" Kaede was on her feet making a giant 'X' with her arms. "Don't even think about going down that road! This is real life, not an anime! The harem route is a dream, it would never work!"

Shirou looked at his watch, ignoring the fact someone mentioned a harem at all. 'There's still some time left before lunch was over.' He made up his mind. "Hmm. Well if it's all the same to you three, I'm going to get a second opinion about all of this."

"Sure, go ahead and talk to Issei-san." Kaede prompted, shooing him towards the rooftop door. "He'll confirm everything we said, but he won't be happy about it."

Shirou was dumbfounded. "How'd you know I was going to see Issei?"

Kaede gave him a look that screamed 'duh'. "He's like your only friend in this school man."

With his hand on the door handle, Shirou turned back. "I have to know, why help me with all of this?"

Himuro chimed in for herself and her friends. "Well, like we said, it was getting hard to watch this go on. However, since you helped us out this morning, we felt it was time to throw you a bone."

Shirou couldn't help but smile at the trio. "You three are good friends."

This declaration of friendship caused the three to smile as Shirou left the rooftop to seek a second opinion.

"Come in." Issei Ryuudou called when a knock came at the Student Council door. Issei sat in a folding chair enjoying his lunch on an unused Ping-Pong table. He smiled when he saw it was Emiya of all people, of the few he could count on around here to keep the school's budget down and help with school functions. Additionally, he was part of an even smaller group of people that Issei considered friends. "Ah Emiya, there you are. Were you fixing something around the school instead of eating lunch again?" This wouldn't be the first time the redhead had done so, and while Issei found it admirable, going without nourishment did no one any good least of all Emiya himself. "You should take better care of yourself you know?"

Shirou smiled at his friend's gentle rebuke. "Don't worry, I ate Issei, on the roof with Kaede Makidera, Kane Himuro, and Yukika Saegusa."

This surprised the Student Council President. "I didn't know you and 2-A's Track Trio were close."

Shirou rubbed the back of his head, "This was a recent development…" Shirou became serious. "I need to ask you something Issei and I need you to be honest with me alright?"

Feeling the weight of the conversation had shifted from levity to something more prominent, Issei sat up straighter in his chair. "Alright Emiya, tell me what's on your mind and I'll do the best I can."

Shirou took a deep breath. He needed a moment to organize his thoughts. "Issei, is it true that multiple girls in the school like me as more than a friend?"

'Damn it! Who blabbed?! I'll have their heads!' Doing his best not to lose his composure Issei questioned his friend for the idiots who gave it up. They would be finding the worst jobs in the next school festival. "Who told you this?"

"The Track Trio, they brought it up during lunch." Shirou admitted. "The fact Tohsaka-san, Ayako-san, Sakura-chan, and Miyu-chan like me. They were pretty convincing, but I wanted to know for sure… is it true Issei?"

Now Issei was in a bind. For he had already promised not to lie to his friend. As a monk who lives at a Ryuudou Temple he takes his vows very seriously… on the other hand, he'd bet several thousand yen that by the end of senior year that Emiya wouldn't end up with anyone. He could ensure he'd claim the pot right now with but a few words… but Emiya was his friend…

Truly it was a conundrum. His vows or his pocket? In the end Buddha won over.

"It is true my friend," Issei affirmed, adding, "If I were you, I would ignore it. The pleasures of the flesh only lead away from enlightenment."

Flopping in a seat across from his friend, Shirou became solemn. "I don't know if I can ignore it Issei, it wouldn't be fair to them."

Knowing he was shooting himself in the foot Issei did what he could to help his friend with his dilemma. "That's just so like you Emiya. You want to help as many people as you can. Your like Kannon, the thousand-armed buddha of compassion. You always reach out to help people in need. In this instance however, you have a choice to make."

Shirou nodded. He'd half hoped Issei would tell him it was all a joke but even though he didn't know the Track Trio very well, they didn't seem the type to play a cruel joke like this. "Thanks for trying to help Issei, I appreciate it." Shirou stood up. "Class is going to start soon, I should go."

"Of course, see you later Emiya."

The moment the door to the student council room shut Issei held his head in his hands. "Damn those girls, they just lost me three hundred thousand yen!"

How was he going to buy that car after graduation now?

The final bell for the day had rung and Shirou found himself dragging his feet as he made his way towards the archery dojo. He knew he had a job to do as the captain but both Sakura and Ayako were there, and he had no idea how to act around either of them now.

'What do I do? Should I just act like everything is normal? I guess I could give that a shot.'

"But can things truly continue like this now that you know the facts?" Himuro's words came back to haunt him like a ghost.

"Emiya-san." Shirou turned on his heel finding the Track Trio standing behind him in bloomers and tee-shirts of all things. Any normal boy would've given them a once over and a wolf whistle, he however became concerned they were dressed like that in this weather.

"Shouldn't you three be in the gym? It's too cold for you to be out here dressed like that."

Half lidding her eyes, Kaede was full on sex kitten. "Like what you see Emiya?"

Shirou's tone was flat, the joke unappreciated after she basically took a machete to his worldview. "If I say yes, will you go inside before you catch your deaths?"

Gently tugging his cheek, Kaede cooed playfully. "There's that deadpan snarker we've wanted to see."

Pulling her friend's hand away Himuro made with the explaining. "The gym's basketball lines are being repainted and the floor is going to have another coat of clear coat applied so we can't practice for the next couple of days. We also realized shortly after you left that we might've made things awkward for you and decided to come here for moral support."

"Dressed like that?" Shirou couldn't help but bring up their attire. "You almost gave me a coronary."

"So, you did like what you saw." Kaede teased.

"The coach still makes us dress," Yukika explained, not at all bothered by Shirou's comment their outfits were quite eye-catching after all, and Shirou was a teenager. To Shirou it confirmed the rumours that the old man in charge of the team was a pervert.

"Anyway, shall head inside?" Himuro asked, needing to fix her glasses yet again. "As you pointed out, it is rather cold to be dressed like this."

"Right follow me." Shirou led them into the archery dojo proper, its long wooden floors gleamed and, despite the range being open to the elements, it was still kept plenty warm thanks to various heaters that had been donated to the clubroom by the Fujimura-gumi.

"There you are captain." Ayako Mitsuzuri smiled at him when she saw him approach. She was the same year as him with her dark brown hair framing her face and matching her eyes. She was already in her shooting uniform and was both relieved to see Shirou had shown up and confused as to why the track trio was following in his wake. "I thought you might've gotten roped into fixing something for the Student Council again. Why is the Track Trio with you?"

"We have names you know!" Kaede shot back. "Do I need a name tag?"

Himuro stepped forward to speak, ignoring the outburst. "Track was cancelled due to the gym being repainted. Shirou-san let us come and watch you practice. I hope that's alright, Mitsuzuri-san."

Ayako looked to her captain for confirmation. Getting a nod, she shrugged. It was out of her hands. "If Shirou's ok with it I don't see why not. It's not like it matters if you stick around anyway as long as you don't make a lot of noise when people are shooting."

"We'll be quiet," Himuro promised, shooting Kaede a look as if to reinforce that oath.

Turning towards the changing rooms, Shirou did the necessary explaining. "Feel free to make yourselves comfortable. There is tea and snacks over there if you can wrest them from Fujimura-sensei."

The last thing Shirou heard before heading into the changing rooms was garbled but he was sure he heard it right.

"Alright sensei, hand over the Taiyaki and nobody gets hurt."

"GAO!" The tiger released her roar of challenge and battle was joined. Shirou decided to take his time to get dressed.

Shirou returned from the changing rooms, to an amusing sight. That of Kaede Makidera and Taiga Fujimura pulling on each other's faces like small children, seemingly fighting over a box of Taiyaki.

"Really Fujimura-sensei? Aren't you supposed to be the teacher who oversees this club?" Shirou did his best to sound like a disappointed little brother. "Shouldn't you be more welcoming to visitors?"

Taiga acted like she'd been told there would be no dinner. "But… But… But Shirou!"

"No buts," Shirou chastised. "Your a teacher remember? Your supposed to be setting the example… I shouldn't even have to be telling you this. Now stop picking on Kaede-san so we can get back to actual archery please."

Taiga, with her tail tucked firmly between her legs, went to sulk in the corner while Shirou took control of the club like he usually did.

"Nice job defusing that mess Emiya." Ayako praised. "As funny as it was, I was afraid we wouldn't get any actual archery done today. You really know your way around Fujimura-sensei. It's amazing."

Shirou waved off her praise. "It's nothing really. Would you like to shoot first today?"

Ayaka considered the idea for a moment before shaking her head. "No, we have guests. We should give them a proper showing of what the Archery Club can really do. You should shoot." Ayaka's declaration surprised him, yet she motioned to the Track Trio who while seeming inconspicuous were actually paying rapt attention to their conversation. "They should see our best at work."

Shirou honestly couldn't tell if Ayaka was flirting with him right now or not, but regardless, she had a point. As the Captain of the Archery Club he should put on a good display for their guests. He gave a nod.

"Sure, why not."

As Shirou approached the shooting line, both Ayaka and Sakura sat down in seiza position next to the Track Trio. Ayaka spoke in hushed tones. "Watch closely now you three, your about to see something amazing."

"Why are we whispering? Emiya is just going to shoot a bow," Kaede commented in low tones.

Ayaka shot her guest a short but poignant glare. "Just like there is more to track than just running, there is more to Archery than just shooting the bow. Sakura, if you could explain the steps to them as Emiya goes through the motions that would help I think."

The Matou nodded not taking her eyes off the object of her affections. "Sempai has already completed the first two of the eight steps. Ashibumi, taking ones place at the firing line, and Dozukuri, forming the body. See how Sempai is straight backed and how his body and posture is forming a straight line from shoulders to feet?"

"Yes, I'm assuming this has a practical purpose?" Himuro questioned.

"It does," Sakura affirmed, "It prevents the bowstring from striking the archer's face when they shoot." The moment Shirou took the bowstring into his right hand, Sakura continued. "Sempai has moved onto the next step, Yugamae, readying the bow."

He turned his head to face the target and raised the now nocked arrow and bow above his head.

"Uchiokoshi, raising the bow. The archer raises the bow above the head to prepare for the draw."

Shirou pulled the bowstring back while pushing the bow itself forwards away from him.

"Hikiwake, drawing apart. The archer starts bringing down the bow while spreading his arms, simultaneously pushing the bow with the left hand and drawing the string with the right."

Shirou had reached full draw with his bow.

"Kai, the full draw. The archer continues the movement started in Hikiwake, until full draw is achieved with the arrow placed slightly below the cheekbone or level with the mouth. The arrow points along the line set up during ashibumi." Sakura glanced at the mesmerized Track Trio who were watching Shirou's every move with rapt attention now. Her explanations had drawn them in and brought the art of Kyudo to life for them. "Now comes the fun part."

The air, and even time itself seemed to still. For a brief moment, no one even dared breath in the archery dojo… then, Shirou released his arrow.

"Hanare, the release. The technique results in the bowstring being released from the right hand and the right arm extending behind the archer."

Even after the shot was fired Shirou stayed stock still as if in a trance or daze. Himuro looked concerned. "Is this normal behavior Sakura-san?"

"Don't worry, this is just the last step in action. Zanshin, 'the remaining body or mind' or 'the continuation of the shot'. The archer remains in the position reached after hanare while returning from the state of concentration some would even go so far as to say Zen associated with the shot."

Shirou quickly came out of his daze and lowered his bow before stepping back. He turned towards his guests. "Well, what did you think?"

The three had been so wrapped up in Sakura's explanation and actually seeing Shirou shoot they didn't actually see how well he did. Getting up, the Trio looked to the target Shirou had been aiming at. He'd scored a dead center perfect bullseye.

Yukika was the first to congratulate him. "Wow, that was amazing Shirou-san!"

"Yeah, you hit dead on! What luck," Kaede complimented.

Himuro shook her head. "That wasn't luck, that was skill plain and simple. Shirou-san is just that good."

Shirou tried to be humble. "I'm really not that…"

But certain people weren't having it.

"Sempai really is that good," Sakura praised.

Ayako threw in her two yen. "Yeah do you know he's only ever missed one shot, and this guy actually called it beforehand? It's like he's got a sixth sense when it comes to archery."

"Wow…" Yukika was enthralled. "That's amazing Shirou-san!"

Shirou was glad they seemed to enjoy his display. It meant they might be receptive to his proposal. "Well then, how about this? Would you three like to try your hand at archery for the next couple of days? Since you can't actually do your club anyway, I thought you might like to give this a shot."

"Will we need new uniforms?" Himuro asked.

Shirou shook his head. "No, you only really need a glove which we have plenty of spares of, and a chest guard."

"Chest guard?" Kaede echoed she looked at Sakura and Ayaka and noted they yes, they were wearing hard plastic guard around their chests, while Shirou hadn't needed one. "Why do we need chest guards?"

Sakura coughed blushing a bit before explaining. "Its to prevent the bowstring from hitting you in the chest when you fire."

"Oh… ouch!" While Kaede was the most vocal, but both Yukika and Himuro didn't seem too thrilled at being struck in the breast by a bowstring.

Shirou politely pretended he didn't hear the previous conversation like most men did when women talked about feminine things. "So, interested?"

The three looked at each other and nodded. Shirou smiled, glad he could help them out. "Great, let's get started."

Shirou found himself impressed by the Track Trio by the end of practice today. All three had managed to hit their targets. Kaede had the most trouble always hitting either around or just outside the bullseye, while Himuro would strike the bullseye occasionally. The biggest surprise was Yukika. She only managed to hit the furthest ring on her first shot, but every subsequent shot after that came closer and closer to the center until she managed to land her shots there.

"Very impressive Yukika-san." Shirou praised at the end of the club activities for the day. "I've never seen someone improve so quickly in one day. It's astounding really."

Yukika blushed and smiled at the praise. "It's nothing really Shirou-san. Once I realized firing the bow was just an active use of geometry it was easy for me to compensate my shots to…" Seeing everyone staring at her Yukika pressed her fingers together bashfully. "I'm in the advanced math class with Tohsaka-sempai."

Ayaka couldn't help but whistle. "So basically, you can calculate the flightpath of the arrow in your head?" Seeing the girl nod timidly, Ayaka couldn't help but shake her head in amazement. "Emiya, you might be a natural, but if Yukika-san can out think you when it comes to shooting it hardly matters."

Shirou couldn't disagree completely. "Yukika-san does possess an impressive skill."

The girl beamed under all the praise she was receiving. Truth be told, she was only average at track and joined because Kaede insisted much like she did with Himuro, who would've rather been in home economics. They joined the track team to spend more time with their friend but of the two of them, only Kane had found she had some talent for it, specializing in the long jump, while Kaede was already a prominent sprinter.

Yukika was thinking that perhaps she was in the wrong club. 'It would be nice, to be in a club where I'm actually good at the sport,' Yukika thought to herself as she followed her friends to change back into their school uniforms.

Shirou, Sakura, Ayaka, and the Track Trio were making their way towards the school gates when Shirou noticed someone casually leaning up against them as if waiting for someone. He was wearing a white jacket that was trimmed in fur, and a black shit beneath that along with black jeans and biker boots. The thing that tipped Shirou off to the person's identity was the long curly purple hair the man sported that went all the way down to his shoulders.

Shirou couldn't help but stop and call out. "Shinji?"

Shinji looked up saw Shirou and his little sister and smiled, before walking forwards with his hand outstretched. "Emiya! You been taking good care of my little sister while I was away man?"

Seeing Shinji going for a handshake, Shirou met him halfway gripping his own palm firmly. 'He's gotten stronger since he's been away,' Shirou noted absently noting he was no longer the limp noodle he used to be. "I've been looking after her like I always do, I hope that's ok?"

Shinji smiled at him, Shirou felt that it was more sincere than he recalled. "Sure, sure, I trust her with you after all." Shinji then looked past his friend, and called out to Sakura, "Hey Sakura! What do I gotta do to get a hug from my favorite little sister? Dance a jig?"

Sakura who had been staring at Shinji like a deer in headlights up till now snapped out of her daze and made her way over at a pace at which a condemned person might walk to their execution.

'It seems my happy days with sempai are over.,' Sakura thought as she moved to embrace Shinji, plastering the fakest smile she could on her face. "It's good to see you again nii-san. I had no idea you were coming back."

Shinji just chuckled and ruffled her hair in an affectionate manner. "Well it wouldn't have been much of a surprise if I'd have told you I was coming now would it?"

Sakura was in a state of confusion. Shinji had never been this affectionate towards her, not after he learned the truth of her adoption into the Matou household. 'What is going on here?'

Shirou did his best to break the ice. "So, Shinji, what was it like overseas?"

Shinji put his hands on his hips and looking down with a smirk. "Total crap man. In London, where I studied, it rained all the time, the air smelled like car exhaust, and the food…" Shinji shuddered. "The food was… not terrible, but their idea of fish over there was tempura frying and only tempura frying. After a while, I was dying for some sushi or udon."

"Yo, Wakame." Kaede greeted using his old nickname of 'seaweed' due to his hair, hoping to rile him up bot instead only causing him to chuckle. "How'd you get here from the airport?"

"Nice to see you too panther. Still running?"

Hands on hips, Kaede gave him a deadpan glare. "Duh, and you didn't answer my question."

Jabbing a thumb behind him, Shinji casually replied to her. "That's how."

The teens saw a silver and chrome Harley Davidson parked just across the street from the school's entrance.

"Matou?"

The group turned to see Rin standing there with Miyu. Shinji waved casually towards the school idol. "Hey Tohsaka." He saw Miyu and looked curious. "Who's the kid?"

"This is Miyu Sakatsuki. I'm her legal guardian." Rin got defensively in front of her ward.

Shinji quirked an eyebrow. "There letting kids raise kids now? Is Japan slowly turning into America or something?"

Tohsaka bristled at the perceived slight and prepared to knock Shinji on his ass when he made his way towards her while reaching into his jacket pocket. Stopping just out of her striking range, he took a knee and pulled of all things a sucker out of his pocket, offering it to Miyu. "Here kid, even though I'm sure you're just chock full of sweetness already have some extra sugar, on me."

The candy disappeared from Shinji's grip in a blur of motion. Looking at him with innocent eyes as she held the lollipop, the girl stared curiously at the newcomer with the cool bike. "Are you friends with Nee-san?" Miyu inquired

Shinji chuckled as he picked himself up and dusted off his pants. "No not really. You're nee-san could hardly stand me before I left. Not that I can really blame her."

"Who are you and what have you done with Shinji Matou?" Rin asked narrowing her aquamarine eyes at him.

"Very funny Tohsaka. People can change you know?" Seeing the incredulous look he was getting from the school idol he shrugged. He didn't come all the way back to Fuyuki to convince her of anything. "Anyway, I mainly came here to say hi and pick Sakura up from school. Since I'm back I figured we could go out for dinner and catch up, unless you had plans already, of course?" Shinji looked to Sakura waiting for an answer.

Sakura didn't have plans per se, just what she usually did. Going over to sempai's place and cooking dinner with him before heading back to the Matou house. She could've easily said yes and seen how Shinji reacted, to see if this was some kind of mask or front he was putting up. But something about how he was acting… Sakura wanted to know what brought this on. So, Sakura found herself shaking her head.

"No Nii-san, I don't have any plans."

Shinji was ecstatic. "Cool! Let's get going then seeya around everyone!" Shinji waved before he made his way over to his motorcycle, the engine roaring to life like a jungle cat.

"I'll see you all tomorrow." Sakura bowed to everyone, shooting Shirou a silent apology before she rushed to the bike, putting on the helmet he offered her before taking off down the street.

Kaede voiced what everyone else was thinking at the moment Shinji and Sakura had left. "What the hell happened to Shinji overseas?"

Shirou didn't know, but it seemed to have made him a better person, so he wasn't going to complain. "Whatever happened, it seems to have been for the best. Shinji's attitude seems to have improved. The only thing we can hope for is that this is permanent."

Kane nodded, fixing her glasses. "I agree, if Shinji has developed more characteristics akin to an actual human being and not a baboon, we should consider this an improvement. One that hopefully sticks."

With that hopeful thought in everyone's minds they parted ways for the day, each wondering what could've happened to Shinji Matou.

Shinji pulled into the parking lot of a very ritzy looking steak joint. Sakura honestly half expected him to to drop the act and become his usual mean spirited self once they were out of sight of the others, but she found herself entering a lavish establishment instead. The floors were your usual gleaming polished wood, and the upper storey was being held up by solid looking pillars that smelt as fresh as the day the lumberjack chopped them down. In the middle of the room was a plain blue tiled dance floor that had a mixed bag of patrons dancing to some music while others sat around quaint tables eating and drinking. The hostess, a young college age girl who looked bored that really didn't go with the elaborate purple and gold kimono as she stood at a reception booth, her hair into a bun and held up with a pair of chopsticks. In fact, if Sakura was not mistaken that light was her cell phone which wasn't very professional. All that was missing was her blowing bubbles with some gum.

Shinji swaggered over oozing charm and talked (or was it flirted the panties off) to her for a bit as the dead girl walking gazed at her glamorous surroundings, feeling rather subconscious and naked at the same time with all these fancy dressed people making her feel underdressed to be in such a place wearing only her school uniform after a long day in classes. She was drawn out of her coltish, borderline childish gazing left and right when Shinji touched her shoulder, causing her to attempt to defy the earth's gravity with how high she flew up, startled to say the least in a manner so obvious she may as well have worn a sandwich board with the word 'scared' on it.

"C'mon, you can look around later, I've booked us a private room so we can talk without being overheard."

The funeral march started to play in her head. Here was the moment of truth!

"Nii-san," Sakura asked worriedly, grabbing his arm as Shinji headed towards the stairs where their waitress, a cute young girl again around the same age as the hostess and equally glammed up if maybe a bit better with the makeup who kept batting her eyes Shinji's way, was waiting. "How are you paying for all of this?"

Shinji's magic wallet produced cash, several thousand-yen notes in front of her. She looked at it like she knew her brother didn't have that sort of money. He smirked at her in a way that didn't make her feel violated. It was strange to say the least like a lion promising not to eat the two legged gazelle and actually doing it.

"Don't worry about it."

The two Matou siblings were soon settled into a private booth and their pretty waitress left them with a special glare for Sakura when she thought nobody was looking with their laminated black covered menus to decide what they wanted. Once the curtains of their booth were pushed over, and the waitress's footsteps faded into the distance, Sakura turned to Shunji, slightly miffed that she thought that her brother was her date to see the eighth wonder of the world. Her brother, Shinji 'freaking' Matou was sitting on his knees, palms flatly pressed on the floor and with his forehead following suit. Sakura's mouth fell agape slightly and honesty to god she pinched herself hard enough to make her say 'ow' in pain due to the absurdity of this miraculous miracle worthy of sainthood if one were to see it. No, she wasn't suffering from the effects of today's mushroom dish at the cafeteria, she indeed recognized the Dogeza position immediately of course, but she couldn't for the life of her comprehend why Shinji was doing it.

Her mind did remind her again that A Shinji was in fact begging for forgiveness and B he was talking equally incredulous things. So yeah, she started to listen. Listen she did…

It was strange, so very, Very, VERY… she had better stop that… strange!

"Sakura? Did you hear what I said? I am… so sorry Sakura. Please forgive me for all my transgressions imouto."

"Nii… Nii-san?" Sakura was having trouble making words at the moment. "Nii-san?" She repeated this like a broken record for her sanity was equally cracked at this time. Weird shit was afoot.

Shinji refused to raise his head but words clear as day backing up his 'reforms' was clear as day. "I know I don't deserve forgiveness, not after how I've treated you… after what I've done to you, and apologizing isn't nearly enough to earn your forgiveness."

"Nii-san, you… you don't…" Sakura interjected only for Shinji to interrupt her in turn.

"Let me finish please!" Shinji had raised his voice slightly but there was also a plea there. She recognised a plea as good as anyone seeing to begin with the girl pleaded a lot for everything to go back to normal. She could tell despite her reservations that he needed this. Sakura nodded frantically, fell silent, and Shinji took that as his cue to continue. "I know just apologizing and asking for forgiveness isn't enough, so I'm going to prove it. Starting with acting like the big brother I always should've and keeping you safe… I hope, in time, you will find it in your heart to forgive me for everything." Sakura made it speak so Shinji, the horrible big brother of the year ended with a stoic conclusion that made the girl believe her brother at least believed in what he was saying. "After I've earned it."

There was a heavy silence in the room, thick enough to cut with a chainsaw or block a shotgun blast at point blank which the younger of the two Matou's finally broke. She had so much going on in her head. She wondered first if this was a trick. She had never known to her big brother to be so resolute on anything that did not benefit him directly and anything else was a distant second to his selfish life. If this was the case it was one hell of a trick. He was spending money on her! Shinji despised giving her the coins to get juice from a vending machine. He had once made her nearly dehydrate by taking all her change on the hottest day of the year! Still her nature was to forgive. Sakura had not much choice living with the Matou if not to forgive or become the hateful monster her host and his grandson had been. So this, any light at the other end of the tunnel? Heck, she was not very courageous by nature, enduring hell was not the same as facing it after all but this… She was willing to at least try… and if she got hurt? She knew pain, a familiar friend to her so taking one more chance on her brother was worth her getting a decent meal before the beating back home if this was a ruse…

Sakura would soldier on as always and so she would take the first step... First, by gently placing a hand on her brother's head. It was a new experience feeling his hair… It felt like a new beginning.

"I never hated you, Nii-san. I hate Tokiomi Tohsaka for sending me to the Matou, I hate grandfather for what he's put me through, and I hate Rin for pretending like we're strangers and replacing me with that girl." Sakura paused to collect herself. Confession was very good for the soul. "But I've never hated you, feared you yes but never hated."

It took Sakura a moment to notice Shinji was quivering from his Dogeza position like a volcano about to go nova. Her thoughts betrayed her as she recognised this shaking for anger before a fit and backed away. What actually happened again supported his claims that the guy was reformed.

"How… how can you say that after I was so cruel to you? I just stood by and let you get thrown into the Worm Pit. I've insulted and belittled you for years!" Shinji's voice came out thick and heavy with emotion.

Sakura took a moment to consider it. Her introspective made Shinji look ashamed. "I guess it's because… in you, I saw a lot of myself."

Shinji stiffened and looked up at her with tears, confusion in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Nii-san… Shinji," Sakura corrected, showing her mettle as Shirou-sempai had demonstrated to her even if after today she was not quite sure what sempai actually was with those girls… Focus, focus! Situation sempai was another day's problem. "I was thrown away by the Tohsaka family, and completely forgotten about by them, because I wasn't good enough. You weren't made the Matou heir because you weren't good enough. Neither of us was ever good enough for our families Nii-san. So, we were either tossed aside or replaced."

"Sakura…" Shinji had no idea she was so nihilistic.

Sakura gently grabbed Shinji by his shoulders and helped him up into a sitting position. "That's why I don't hate you Nii-san, your just like me, tossed away by a family that expects or needs nothing from you. You know what it feels like to be thrown away, belittled, and discarded. I could never hate someone, who also knows exactly how that feels." Dusting off his coat, Sakura concluded with honesty, and words that made Shinji feel immense guilt yet at the same time relief as unspoken words were finally out in the open. "I can't help but wonder what brought this on though. Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment."

Shinji picked up and looked over the menu the waitress had left. "It can wait till after we eat. I've said the most important part."

Sakura smiled. There was nothing more needed said. All the painful stuff was out in the open and to her surprise she was no longer tense.

Shinji may be a nicer person, but he still had decadent tastes. He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu, Kobe beef steak while Sakura sufficed on simpler if no less delicious fair in the rump steak. After their meals were done, washed down with soft drinks the two got back to the topic Sakura broached earlier.

Shinji sighed. "I don't suppose I could interest you in dessert?"

"Nii-san, stop stalling." Sakura gave him a slight glare with a mild pout, her heart racing as she actually expressed something other than blank obedience plus it worked on sempai. She figured it might work on this new Shinji.

Holding up his hands in surrender, Shinji begged off. "Fine, fine, just quit doing… that. Geez, I'm surprised you haven't gotten Emiya into bed with you yet with a pout like that…" He gave her a suspicious look. "You haven't have you?"

Sakura suspected this was the overprotective big brother vibes her classmates had spoken of once. It oddly comforted her but it also...

"Nii-san!" Sakura's crimson blush was all the answer Shinji needed. "Of course sempai hasn't…" She blushed again then a tiny tick appeared on her forehead when she remembered who had had lunch with him today. 'Some ho's are gonna die!'

She blushed again. Where had that come from?

"Good! That means Emiya is still clueless and I don't need to castrate him."

Sakura gave Shinji a pointed look. She blushed but this time stared quite fiercely at her brother. If it was to protect the sanctity of her future children with sempai or her brother's threat her feelings were quite mixed.

"I believe we were talking about you Nii-san?"

Shinji rubbed the back of his neck. "Right. Well, as you know Zouken all but sold me to the Clocktower because my circuits were so thin they couldn't be detected at first right? They were all stunted like I hadn't tried to use them until they had really degraded? It's super rare for that to occur in a magus family even in one like ours where circuits had begun to vanish from our lineage."

Sakura nodded. She knew Zouken had done as much but never learned why. His biggest dream had been to be a magus and to find out it was because your wiring was faulty had to be heartbreaking.

Shinji's face took on a twisted hate filled look like he used to have before he left. "Well this guy… I really don't want to use his name it's like gargling vinegar found a way to strengthen my magic circuits like pull them further apart to let prana flow properly."

Sakura covered her mouth. She hardly dared believe it. No wonder Zouken sold him to the highest bidder and Shinji meekly accepted it. The old bastard… sorry grandfather had something to gain from it. It was a miracle.

"Really? You have what you always wanted?" Despite herself, she was extremely happy for him.

Shinji held up his left hand and closed his eyes. He imagined a butterfly forcing its way out of a cocoon, his mental trigger. Seconds later, his left hand twisted and contorted until it was a a bloody curved and serrated twelve-inch knife made of jagged bone and twisted, torn flesh. Sakura looked at how easily Shinji weaponized his own flesh and bone.

"Does it hurt when you do that Nii-san?"

"Every single time," he affirmed, boldly hiding his pain behind a raised, pitched voice before warping his hand back to normal, this time the pain was more apparent. His power brought him great pain "With no small amount of money and magecraft, my Origin, that of Flesh, was discovered. Through it, I found I specialize is biological based magecraft. Familiar creation, bodily alteration, creation of magical plagues and the like."

"That must've been so painful for you." Sakura was the embodiment of empathy, watching the guy wipe his hand clean of blood.

"Nothing compared to the Worm Pit I'm sure." Shinji said, downplaying his own experiences. "Anyway, this Lord made it quite clear that by helping me, he owned me. That I was his dog. That he didn't just own me, but all of the Matou Clan. He's a real piece of work this guy." It was clear there was no love lost between the Master and his dog. Shinji sighed. "Which leads us to our current discussion. Has the old worm made you summon a Servant yet?"

Sakura's eyes widened in shock. "You know about the Grail War starting early?"

Shinji gave a mirthless laugh. "Know about it?" He showed his sister the back of his right hand which held a single command seal, the other two already smeared out from use. "I'm already a participant."

"I… Grandfather was going to have me summon my Servant tonight," Sakura admitted.

Shinji nodded stroking his nonexistent beard in thought. "Good, good. This could still work then." He told his sister. "Sakura, do you think Emiya would let you stay at his place for awhile?"

Sakura blinked. "Stay with sempai?" Nothing would give her greater euphoria, joy, happiness, jubilation… She started to smile at the vision of her and sempai playing house together, the two partaking in young honeymooning couple things. 'Welcome home Shirou, do you want dinner, a bath or…' The rest became too X-rated for her maidenly heart at least in front of her brother… In private perhaps later with one of sempai's shirts… Okay, too much again. "Possibly, why?"

"I don't want you directly involved with the people I know. They're magi, real magi Sakura. They're extremely dangerous and I don't want you anywhere near them. The only way I can keep you away from them, is if you stay with Emiya till the Grail War is over."

Sakura cocked her head to the side. "What does sempai have to do with the Grail War Nii-san? What aren't you telling me?"

Sighing Shinji admitted. "The people I'm working with, well they know a lot about Emiya's old man. He was a freelance magus Sakura. From all I've read up on, a damn good one too. The Magus Killer they called him. They want his son, adopted or not, watched."

"You want me to spy on sempai for you?" Sakura asked incredulously.

"It's either that or become a frontline fighter for our side. At least this way you won't get hurt. I'm just doing what I can to keep you safe."

"Our side?" Sakura was confused. "What do you mean by that?"

Shinji blinked. "You mean the old worm hasn't told you?" Shinji pressed a hand to his forehead. "Must be going senile in his old age." The newly minted magus explained in layman's terms. "For reasons none of us really know, instead of the usual seven Masters, we've got three times that number running around in this war."

Sakura's mouth fell open. "Twenty-one Masters. All here in Fuyuki? Are you sure?"

Shinji rubbed the back of his head. "Well the Einzbern sent a missive to the Mage's Association saying the Grail was acting up sooner than usual, possibly due to possessing massive amounts of mana from not having chosen a winner for so long or from how the last war ended. Before we knew it, seven people had been chosen from within the Association itself, but the Tohsaka, Matou, and Einzbern are always guaranteed a seat at the table… then reports came in of even more people having command seals and we knew something was up. So far, fifteen people have been confirmed to have been granted Command Seals by the Greater Grail."

"One massive grail War here in Fuyuki… will Fuyuki even survive?" Sakura was genuinely fearful of the result.

"To be honest I don't…" Shinji was cut off by a shrill whistling coming from his coat pocket. "The masters are calling for their dog. Excuse me for a second." Shinji stepped out into the hall before he answered his phone. "Yeah, what is it?"

The voice that came through on the other end was cold, sinister, and tired. "Is that anyway for a dog to greet his masters? One would think a dog would know better than to bite at the hand that feeds it."

"Even a dog will one day turn and kill its abuser if pushed far enough. Now, what do you want?" Shinji snapped back.

The man on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment. "Lord Leonardo demands your presence; the council is meeting."

Shinji sighed. "Can it wait? I've just seen my sister again for the first time in more than two years. You of all people should know how important family is, Julius."

There was a pause, a meaningful one.

"We'll be waiting for you, but you'd best bring a peace offering."

There was a click, and the line went dead. "Nice talking to you too asshole," Shinji said before returning the phone to his pocket and heading back into the room. "Looks like we're going to have to cut this party short. The dog can hear the master whistling for him."

"I see." Much to Sakura's surprise she found herself disappointed, she was actually enjoying spending time with Shinji as weird as that statement still was like the time sempai tried to get her to call him by his first name… not that she managed that. "Please be safe Nii-san."

"We're not going to part ways just yet. I need take you back home… and have a word with the old worm."

"Nii-san," Sakura said warningly. "Just because you have magecraft now doesn't mean you can challenge grandfather. He's old, older than both of us put together five times over."

Shinji just smirked at her. He had something up his sleeve. "Sakura, Sakura, relax. Have you forgotten what I specialize in?"

Sakura had to admit, it was exhilarating riding on the back of a motorcycle. They sped through traffic, the roar of the engine, like a mythical beast of legend, heralded their coming and made note of their passing. Sakura still thought Shinji was overreaching, challenging grandfather, who had been head of the Matou house for the past five centuries, however… he exuded this unshakable confidence that made her think that maybe… just maybe… her nightmare was nearing its end.

As they pulled up to the decrepit mausoleum that was the Matou Mansion, Shinji flipped down the kickstand to his bike and approached the wrought iron gate.

"Wait here Sakura."

Even from here, Sakura could hear the buzzing of the Crest Worms in the air, like cicadas, something that should be impossible in the cold of February. As Shinji approached the gate, he gave a mighty front kick, denting the mental and causing the locked gates to swing wide open, allowing him to pass.

"Nii-san, please be careful!" Sakura said, calling after his back.

"I'll be fine, don't worry," Shinji assured her as he walked into the gloom of the Matou estate. The chittering of the crest worms grew louder as Shinji approached the front door of the Matou Mansion. 'Yeah, that's right you old bastard, be afraid.' Just as he had to with gate minutes prior, Shinji kicked the front door open this time, rendering it to naught but splinters. The place still smelt of rot and decay, a foulness Shinji always hated. 'Time to man up and make things right Matou.' With these thoughts in his head Shinji made his way into his old home.

"My, my, look who it is. The discarded failure of the Matou house has returned." The aged croak like voice of Zouken Matou rang out through the halls of this wretched ruin, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Had this been Shinji from a few years ago, he likely would've trembled at the mere sound of Zouken's voice. Now, he knew even greater monsters than him existed in this world, and Zouken was just a worm, hiding in the dirt doing what it could not to get squished by a bigger predator. "We need to talk old man, so get out here!"

"You have gotten even more arrogant in your time away I see." The croak came from behind him.

Shinji expected that. "Uca- Perplexa." He spun on his heel while at the same time converting his entire right arm into a biological glaive of magically enhanced bone, his bloody thumb forming a single claw, making his arm look like a pincer belonging to a fiddler crab. With his new appendage Shinji swung his now weaponized limb and sliced the old man clean in two.

Zouken looked surprised for just a moment, before he laughed, his keening sounding like wet rocks being ground together. "I see, the Harwey's have granted you magecraft. I wonder how much that cost them? Too much time and effort was wasted on someone like you I'm sure."

Shinji gave a derisive laugh. "Me? I'm just an attack dog, and I've been told to kill the worm in front of me."

Zouken was no longer amused, scowl on his wretched face. "I see. So, the Harwey's see me as an obstacle and they sent you of all people to eliminate me? Foolish."

Zouken's body broke down into hundreds of crest worms, each one took flight, their exoskeletons bursting open to revel pairs of wings and three-inch-long blades that protruded from their hungry voracious mouths. They were like a cloud of locusts, magically enhanced locusts.

Shinji smirked. He wasn't worried. The insectoid familiars swarmed him, hungry and ready to feed.

"Dynastinae- Kabutomushi." The Crest Worms bounced off of Shinji's armor. He was now covered in a glossy black exoskeleton with the helm in the motif of a Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle. Swinging his glaive-like arm, Shinji smashed through the Crest Worms like they were nothing and made his way towards the basement. Seeing he needed some force to remove the magically reinforced door, Shinji was forced to use another spell in his repertoire. "Architeuthis." Both of his arms split apart at the fingers becoming long muscular tentacles exactly like one would find on a giant squid. Digging his new appendages into the wall, Shinji tore the entire wall out, tossing it, and the door it was attached to aside before heading deep underground into the catacombs beneath the Matou house. Periodically, he would encounter more insects as he made his descent deeper into the depths of the earth. Squashing them with his tentacles was no problem, they hardly waylaid him at all. 'Zouken, he's stalling, but why?'

Shinji soon found himself standing above the worm pit proper. He soon realized why the old worm had stalled. Usually the pit had a dozen stone steps that led down to a small stone island which itself led to the vast chittering ocean of insects. Now though, the worms covered everything up to the sixth step. Shinji figured Zouken must've called in every Crest Worm he had tucked away in his various hidey-holes.

"Perfect." Knowing now was the perfect chance to rid the world and Sakura of this miserable worm forever, Shinji let himself freefall into the waiting hoard, a smile on his face. Zouken had overlooked several factors in his hubris, and that would be his downfall.

Firstly, he failed to realize that Shinji's magecraft was all biological in nature. He, in his arrogance thought the boy knew a few trifling tricks. Secondly, he assumed the Harwey's sent Shinji to kill him as a form of final initiation or test to prove his worth. When the truth of the matter was, Shinji's magecraft made him a counter to Zouken's. The last thing Zouken failed to realize was that though Shinji was incapable of enacting it, Shinji could still read up on how the Matou magecraft worked.

To bind onto one's self. That was the essence of the Matou's centuries of magical study. Shinji may study a different branch of magecraft, but his methodology was still the same. His abilities to alter his bodily structure came from the very foundation of binding what was he was using unto himself. That is what he did now. Hundreds if not hundreds of thousands of Crest Worms were bound onto Shinji, becoming apart of his own biomass, protoplasmic sludge to utilize as he saw fit. Once they realized what was happening, they tried to flee, likely under Zouken's direction, but the ooze of protoplasm swallowed them all like a tidal wave which only added to the wall of slime. The gelatinous glacier moved at a steady clip, consuming all it could, any bug that felt its touch was converted and added to the mass and speed at which the protoplasm spread.

Finally, it reached the edge of the worm pit and Shinji slowly pulled the expended biomass back into himself. The black soil of neo-genesis slowly crept back into his being and he felt… fuller than before.

"Is it done, my Master?" a feminine voice asked from behind him as he finished up his task.

"Yeah it is. What are you doing here Archer? I thought I asked you to stay with Sakura?" Shinji glanced at the woman who had been his companion for the past two years.

She had long tawny-brown hair that lightened to almost white at the tips, her mane held no silkiness but was rough like the pelt of a beast. Two catlike ears perked up out of that mess of hair, and sharp green eyes that glittered keenly with the intelligence of both a beast and a woman regarded her master calmly. She was a huntress clad in a dress of verdant green and trimmed in black leathers covered her chest arms, and legs up to her thigh in minor protection. Held casually off to the side in her left hand was a black and gold trimmed bow that thrummed with the power of a lunar goddess. Swaying from side to side behind her was a lioness's tail. This woman, who was a beautiful beast in human form, was the other half of the reason Shinji was trying so hard to be a good big brother.

She would kill him if he were anything less than that.

"Archer," Shinji sighed. "Why are you here?"

The Servant of the Bow cocked her head to the side quizzically. "Is it not my job to see to your safety Master?"

Shinji gave his cheeky servant a pointed look. "I asked you to stay outside with Sakura remember?" Shinji had long since learned he couldn't order the huntress of Artemis to do squat.

"She was beginning to fret over your safety and was on the verge of coming in to look for you, so I decided to come and put an end to things, if you hadn't already finished up by now. I know ending this wretch was cathartic for you Master, but do take your sister's feelings into account."

It was a light rebuke, but Shinji accepted it all the same. "Yeah, yeah, I'd best get back to her before she faints from worry in other words." As Shinji made his way out of the depths of hell, Shinji made casual conversation with his Servant, who was now in astral form. "So, how do you think it's going so far Archer?"

"All I can say for sure is that it's a start Master, and everything must start somewhere."

Shinji nodded. "Fair enough. That's practically a compliment coming from you. I'll take it."

"Silence, stupid male." Archer shot back, but there was no heat in her tone, so Shinji could tell she was joking with him in her own way.

The moment he ascended the stairs, he was almost sent tumbling back down them at the force with which Sakura barreled into him. "Nii-san! Are you alright?!" Sakura immediately started looking him over for wounds.

"Sakura," Shinji said softly, touched but a little annoyed that she was patting everything down. "Sakura, I'm fine. Seriously, look." Shinji held out his arms and spun in a slow circle, showing not even his clothes were torn. There was barely any blood on his sleeves.

Sakura sighed in relief. "Thank goodness." She then slapped Shinji repeatedly in the arm. "Don't worry me like that Nii-san!" Sakura accentuated every word with another slap to his arm, letting her displeasure be known.

"Sorry, I'm sorry… alright now, that's enough! I'm sore enough as it is." Shinji raised his voice an octave, causing Sakura to stop hitting his arm.

"Sorry Nii-san, I just thought… that you died and left me all alone, like Uncle Kariya." Sakura looked down when she said this.

"Hey now," Shinji said soothingly, guiding his sister into the dining room and sat her down on a dusty Russian made chair, taking a knee. "I'm not going anywhere, you'll be just fine. Ok?" When she didn't answer and continued looking at the floor, Shinji gave her a little shake, causing her to look at him as he smiled at her. "Ok?"

Sakura managed a smile. "Ok."

Shinji stood. "Good, because what comes next isn't going to be pleasant."

Sakura looking at her changed older brother confused. "Nii-san?"

Hands on his hips, Shinji closed his eyes. He didn't want to see the look on her face when he told her what came next. "In order to make sure Zouken is gone for good Sakura, I need to remove all the Crest Worms he left in you. This is… well I won't sugar coat it, it's going to hurt."

Silence, thick like a winter blanket hung in the air between the two for a moment. Finally, Sakura spoke. "I see. Yet by doing this grandfather will be gone for good?"

"Yeah." Shinji had opened his eyes but refused to look at his sister.

"Good, let's do it." Shinji's gaze snapped to his sister. She looked firm and resolute, he would almost say eager to get Zouken's vile creations out of her.

Shinji rubbed his hands together eager to finally have the old fossil out of both of their lives himself. "Ok, Sakura, just tilt your head back and open your mouth."

"Master, if I may," The two were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Archer from astral form. "Would it not be prudent for your sister to summon her own Servant first? Lest this procedure leave her drained and defenseless?"

Shinji snapped his fingers then pointed knowingly at his Servant. "Good idea, I didn't think of that."

Sakura was staring at the Servant in awe. "Nii-san, who is…?"

Smiling and jabbing a thumb in her direction, Shinji replied. "Oh her? She my Servant. I'll give you three guesses as to her class."

Archer give her Master a light swat across the head, sending his ears ringing. "Introduce us properly Master."

Giving his head a shake and ears a tap to stop the ringing, Shinji complied. "Fine, fine. Sakura this is my Servant, Archer. Archer this is my little sister Sakura Matou."

"Archer of Red, nice to meet you." Archer corrected with a polite bow.

"You as well," Sakura stated and returned the bow before questioning her brother. "Archer of Red?"

Shinji almost slapped himself in the forehead. "Ah, I'd failed to mention, the factions are split into three colors. Red, Blue, and Yellow. Red and Blue have already established themselves before coming to Fuyuki."

"So only the Yellow Faction is left huh?" Sakura asked herself. It had dawned on her that if she joined this war, she would be relying on sempai, while also betraying his trust. She didn't feel too good about that but what could she do?

"Correct," Archer affirmed.

Sakura looked to her big brother. "We have no summoning circle or catalyst Nii-san. I can't summon a Servant without those."

"Well, I can manage a summoning circle easily enough." Shinji squeezed his right hand together, causing black goo to flow from between his fingers. It wasn't blood, Sakura knew that much. It was too dark, and much too thick and syrupy to be blood. It created a small puddle on the floor before it spread out like spilt ink across a page, expanding in intricate curves and lines until a perfect summoning circle stood ready on the floor for use.

Sakura stared at the magic circle for a moment before turning to her adoptive brother. "Your magecraft is quite versatile Nii-san, but we still don't have a catalyst." Sakura gave a light shrug. "Though I suppose I can just depend on the Greater Grail to summon the most compatible Servant for me."

Shinji shook his head. "No, no, no! Someone you get along with isn't nearly as good as someone you know is strong." Shinji looked around hoping to find something to be used as a catalyst. His eyes landed on his own Servant, his eyes lit up.

"Master why are you looking at me like that?" Archer asked hesitantly.

"Archer, we could use you as a catalyst!"

"What?" Archer's tone was flat. "What makes you think that's a good idea, or that I would go along with it?"

"Think about it," Shinji began pitching his idea. "You were part of the Argonauti, the greatest Heroes in Greece. If we use you as a catalyst, the chances are high Sakura gets one of the greatest heroes ever. Plus I can personally boast for the power and might of Grecian heroes."

"Flattery will get you nowhere with me master." Archer crossed her arms but did seem to be considering the idea regardless. "It is true that I was a part of the Argonauti, but Sakura-san could just as easily end up with Jason or Medea. Jason is absolutely useless, and while Medea was a sweet and innocent girl while I knew her, she ended up as…" Atalante stopped speaking not wanting to continue.

Even Shinji became solemn, "True, but without something to use as a catalyst, we'd just be rolling the dice. At least if we did this, the chances of Sakura getting a decent Servant are high." Shinji smirked at his Archer, "Besides, I thought you weren't the type to abandon women and children, oh Hunter of Artemis?"

Archer's cheeks turned red. "That's… you are extorting my oath to the Goddess for your own gains Master!"

Her tone was accusatory, and Shinji didn't even bother to deny it. "You have your priorities, and I have mine. Sakura's safety is my priority. Now," He gave his Servant a look. "Are going to help or not?"

Archer huffed and crossed her arms before stepping into the magic circle. "Be thankful I'm not making you use your last Command Spell for that stunt master."

"I'll make it up to you I promise."

"You will buy me dinner, and it will not be a bento box or bread. You're going to get me something nice this time." Archer threatened him, her green eyes glinting with the promise of pain should he try and trick her... again.

'Shit, she's onto me!' Shinji thought before raising his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright, you win. I'll take you someplace nice."

Archer nodded, accepting his terms. "I'll hold you to that. Now, let's proceed."

Sakura looked back and forth between the master and Servant duo. 'Nii-san and Archer-chan would make a cute couple and keep another big boobed woman away from sempai.'

"Sakura, you still with us?" Shinji snapped his fingers in front of her a couple of times, snapping her out of her daze.

Sakura gave herself a shake. Sempai tended to do that a lot to her focus. Ah, sempai… Sempai was a lovely distraction. "Yes Nii-san?"

Shinji huffed. "Don't space out on us yet. Do the worm bother to let you know the summoning ritual for Servants?"

Sakura gave a curt affirmation. "Yes Grandfa… Zouken had me studying it all week, I can pronounce it by heart." Sakura had no desire to refer to that thing in any familial sense any longer. She wanted to buy some high heels and stomp on every worm stuffed inside her and then set them on fire… Wow, she was being passive aggressive today.

Shinji bowed and motioned towards the summoning circle. "Then the floor is all yours."

Sakura stepped forward and took a breath. 'I do this, and I'll be free of Zouken… forever.' She began to incant.

"Silver and iron to the origin. Gem and the archduke of contracts to the cornerstone. The ancestor is my great master Schweinorg.

The alighted wind becomes a wall. The gates in the four directions close, coming from the crown, the three-forked road that leads to the kingdom circulate.

Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill).

Repeat every five times.

Simply, shatter once filled.

I announce.

Your self is under me, my fate(doom) is in your sword.

In accordance with the approach of the Holy Grail, if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer.

Here is my oath. I am the one who becomes all the good of the world of the dead, I am the one who lays out all the evil of the world of the dead.

You, seven heavens clad in three words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, O' keeper of the balance!"

An oppressive amount of magical energy built up as Sakura began the incantation, reaching a fever pitch by the time she spoke the final line. Winds whipped from the circle, and a magical light show was on display featuring every hue of the rainbow, until finally with a last great burst of effort, it was done.

When the smoke cleared a Servant was standing in the summoning circle next to Atalante. She was older than both of the Matou siblings but not by much, eighteen to twenty at most and stood only a couple of inches taller than Sakura herself at 159cm/5'3, with lively peach colored skin and silken black hair in an elaborate braid. She was clad in both soft white silks and hard brown leathers, fit for one who was both a warrior and a rider she had what looked to be a crimson sash or flag draped across her right shoulder. She opened her eyes, revealing them to be a warm earthy brown. The servant looked right at Sakura and asked in an energetic if regal tone.

"I, Servant Rider have come at your summons. I ask of you, are you my Master?"

Slowly, dumbly, Sakura nodded. "Yes, yes I am." She smiled and bowed as was customary in Japan. "Nice to meet you Rider-san. Please take good care of me."

Instantly knowing the customs of the area and modern times due to the Greater Grail, Rider bowed though slightly less deeply herself due to her station.

"I shall be in your care from now on as well." Rider then took note of Shinji. "Master, are you aware there is another Master present?"

"Yes, he is my Nii-san. we actually used his Servant as a catalyst to summon you," Sakura replied contritely.

Rider turned and came face to face with Archer. The two Grecians eyed each other up as if probing for weakness. Atalante spoke first. "You are no member of the Argonauts."

"Argonauts?" Rider's rich brown eyes lit up with understanding. "Then you must be Atalante. The only known female besides Medea. You both would've made fine Amazons. That also explains my summoning, due to your connection to Herakles."

Atalante immediately knew who Rider was. "And you are Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons."

"Yes, that is I." Rider didn't try to deny it. "This war is strange indeed. I am getting information from the Greater Grail about multiple teams forming? Are we on the same team as them Master? This Yellow Team?"

"Sort of Rider. It's complicated," Sakura complained.

Rider just nodded. "War often is. Still explain as best you can."

Sakura looked to Shinji pleadingly. "Nii-san!"

Rider looked to Shinji arms crossed tapping one finger against her arm impatiently. Rubbing the back of his head, Shinji began. "Well you see Rider, it's like this…"

Once Shinji explained his plan and reasons for it, Hippolyta closed her eyes and hummed in contemplation, the few moments she spent thinking were some of the longest in Shinji's life. This plan hinged on her cooperation. He supposed Sakura could order her with a Command Spell but there are so many ways they can be worked around by cunning Servants.

Rider opened her eyes, having come to a decision. "I do not like having to deceive my allies. Deception is what killed me in life as I'm sure you know." Shinji flinched he did know that. The queen of the Amazons continued in a lighter tone. "However, I can understand and empathize with your plight Shinji Matou. I shall go along with this deception of yours…" The Matou's brightened considerably but before they could voice their thanks, she warned them, "But only so far as not being directly asked about it. Once that happens, I will not lie. Understood?"

Sakura spoke for the two of them. "Yes, thank you Rider. I don't like this either, but Nii-san is just doing what he thinks is best."

Rider spared Shinji a ghost of a smile. "I know, that's why I'm even willing to go along with this plan in the first place. His methods, while questionable, come from a place of concern for your safety. So, I am willing to go along with them for however long it may last."

"Thanks Rider, that's… honestly better than I could've hoped for, given the circumstances." Shinji admitted.

Hippolyta nodded once. Shinji clapped his hands together. He was really pressing his luck with Leo he knew, so he had to get on with this, and hoped that news of Zouken's removal from the board would spare him his wrath. "So now that you're here we can do what we originally intended."

Hippolyta quirked an eyebrow. "Which is?"

"Permanently getting rid of a decrepit old worm. This is going to be painful for Sakura and she's likely going to be weak afterwards which is why we thought it was best to summon you before we did it. You know in case an enemy master decided to try and do something while she's out of it."

"That was a smart decision."

Atalante coughed and gave her master a pointed glare. "Archer came up with it not me."

Sakura had sat down and leaned her head back. Shinji raised a hand over her head. "You ready?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes Nii-san."

Shinji squeezed his fist together, allowing some of the black ichor produced by his magecraft to drip into his adopted sister's mouth and down her throat. "For what it's worth I'm sorry… and I promise, this will be the last time I hurt you Sakura."

That was the last thing Sakura Matou heard before her body started to feel unnaturally warm. Her heartbeat quickened, she could hear it pounding in her ears, then it was like a million nails fresh from a forge had been rammed into her body all at once. Searing piercing pain shot through every pore of her body. She wanted to cry, to scream out, but she forgot how to do even that, so all consuming was the agony she was feeling at the moment. Her whole world consisted of heat, pain, and the thundering sound of her own heartbeat in her ears. Then, dozens of hundreds of images flashed through her mind. The first of a beautiful woman with long white hair, ruby red eyes, she had a quiet, kind demeanor.

'Justeaze.' Something told her. Together she and another were going to create a grand device. One that would lead to the betterment of humanity but poor Justeaze for whom she cared about so much, sacrificed herself to become the core of the project. Wanting to live to see the projects completion, Sakura became a part of her very familiars, her flesh became theirs, her will, their own. So, she waited for five hundred years, slowly, the ideal of seeing the project complete gave way to madness, the pain of living so long, something no human mind or soul was meant to endure, had caused her soul to slowly decay and to rot from within. Over time, she became obsessed with the project, not to see it completed, but to attain it for herself so that her suffering could end, an immortal painless body, that is what she desired… an end to the pain! Why did she put herself through this again? The project! Ah yes! The only thing that mattered was attaining the fruits of the project… nothing else… nothing else…

Sakura heaved three times before the black ichor she swallowed came back up the same way it went down. She'd never felt so tired, so physically, mentally and emotionally drained before, and considering her life before now, that was saying something.

Hippolyta lifted her master up bridal style. "Will Master be alright?"

"Yes, she'll have a fever for a little bit, but should be fine otherwise. If you take her to her room upstairs, she should be fine by morning if not the day after." Shinji looked at his sister whose hair was plastered to her brow with sweat she looked pale and frail right now, but he knew she would pull through. She was stronger than anyone realized. "I have to go, take care of my little sister Rider of Yellow… because nothing will save you if you don't."

Hippolyta chose not to acknowledge the hollow threat. "She is safe with me Matou-san. Never fear."

Shinji made his way to the door. "Let's go Archer, it's time to pay the piper."

Shinji had Archer break into an expensive tea shop and steal a ludicrously priced jar of Gyokuro tea. He also managed to find a Taiyaki vendor and bought as much as he could afford with the funds he had left. He hoped his peace offerings along with the news that Zouken was dead and they had a spy in an enemy camp would lessen Leo's ire at him.

He doubted it though.

Sensing his mounting trepidation, Archer reassured him through their bond. 'Don't worry Master, I'm right here with you. I'll stop him from going too far. Besides, we have allies amongst the others.'

Shinji scoffed as he pulled his bike in front of a lavish western mansion having long since past the bounded fields that surrounded the estate. They knew he was here. 'I have their pity Archer.'

'Not true. I see respect and concern in their eyes where you see pity. You aren't looking hard enough. Besides, your sensei isn't one for pity.' Archer reminded him.

Shinji let out a scoff as he made his way through the front door. "You've got me there."

The moment Shinji stepped through the door, his arms laden with bags, the air was crushed from his lungs and his face was smothered. It was no magecraft that caused this, but an overly concerned and affectionate Servant who was trying to squeeze the life out of Shinji while his head was smashed between her massive bust.

"There you are, you naughty child! What were you thinking, staying out late and worrying your dear mother?!" The Servant, a traditional Japanese beauty with long dark hair, skin like alabaster, and icy blue eyes that glinted with barely concealed madness in their depths.

"Ohoho, Berserker, let Shinji-san go. I'm sure he's sorry for being out late, but he can't apologize if he can't breathe."

Shinji collapsed on to his knees gasping for breath. He looked to his savior. An elegant European woman with her blonde hair curled into two drills, blue was her color, for she wore an elegant azure dress trimmed in white and brown leather boots. Her eye color matched her dress and she looked at him in equal parts amusement and concern. "Are you alright Shinji? Berserker didn't break a rib, did she?"

Gaining his wits back after his near smothering, Shinji smiled. "Nah I'm fine… still if I had just died, what a way to go, huh?"

Luviagelita Edelfelt rolled her eyes thinking. 'Men.' She offered him a hand up, which he accepted commenting. "You must be fine if you can crack jokes. Oh, what are these?"

Shinji picked his bags up off the floor. "Peace offering. I managed to score some high-class tea and found a Taiyaki vendor that was still open. I bought him out. Think doughnuts." He added the last part upon seeing Luvia's clueless expression. It was cute but made explaining common everyday items rather tedious. It was lucky that she was hot.

Hearing that description, she brightened. "Oh, it sounds interesting."

Berserker held out her hands for the treats. "Give them to mommy, she'll prepare everything properly for her children."

Shinji handed over the bags, as he felt his neck begin to heat up. "Here Berserker, knock yourself out. We got Gyokuro tea."

"Is there any other kind?" Berserker asked before patting his head gently. "Shinji-kun is such a good son. He makes mommy so proud. I'll prepare these right away, you children do try and get along in the meantime."

Once Berserker left the two magi made their way through the Edelfelt Mansion, the heat growing and a tightness forming around his throat in a band around Shinji's neck with every moment that passed. 'Hmmm I wonder who is the one tugging the leash this time? Probably Julius. He likely thinks I was out with Sakura this entire time, which isn't entirely untrue.'

"Shinji?" Luvia asked concerned.

"It seemed the dog is going to be punished for being gone too long," Shinji joked, his voice rough as they approached a set of solid wood double doors.

The Edelfelt heiress felt for him, truly she did, but Shinji had been forced to sign a Geas scroll. The Harwey's owned Shinji down to his very soul. She couldn't do much for him, but she would do what she could. Pushing the doors open, the two came upon a massive war room. Taking centre stage was a large circular table laden with maps of Fuyuki and its infrastructure, blueprints of buildings lay strewn across the table and plans were already being made.

Shinji couldn't pay attention to none of that though, for it now felt as if a cherry red hot piece of iron was being tightened across his throat like a torch. Runes that blazed like a brand etched themselves across the flesh of his neck and burned like hellfire, constricting his windpipe, like a choke collar for a dog. Shinji hit his knees gasping for air, all the while glaring at the man doing this to him.

He was in his late twenties, built like a brick shithouse, had long dark scraggly hair, a pallid complexion, and sunken blue eyes that were ringed with black denoting a certain lack of sleep. He wore a thick dark purple coat that just added to his cold demeanor. He currently had a small magic circle in front of his hand and had a finger pressed to it, staring at Shinji with his unfeeling eyes.

This man was Julius B. Harwey. The boss or bastard if you would.

Sitting next to him impassively was a young boy of about fifteen. Swathed in fierce if regal red suit, his green eyes stared almost impassively as Shinji suffered. His chin length blond hair was perfectly in place as always. He gave off the air of a regal prince or young king.

He was the younger brother of Julius, Leonardo B. Harwey. The little boss or little bastard poof cunt.

Leo turned to look at his brother. "Julius, one does not discipline a hunting dog for getting lost on a familiar trail. After all, it is not uncommon for them to take in any new sights and scents that may have accumulated while they were away. Our loyal hunting hound was likely just getting the lay of the land after being away for so long."

God, that prick really loved the sound of his own voice. Shinji was going to drink some tequila when someone killed the little bastard poof cunt.

Julius glanced at his younger brother but refused to relent. "Regardless, a dog should come when called Leo, they should be subservient to their betters."

"Enough of this!" Luviagelita demanded. "You forget, you are guests in my estate!" For emphasis she charged and fired a Finn Shot from her finger towards Julius, if only to make him relent.

In response, a man clad in a molted green cloak appeared and took the hit, the Finnish curse dissipating the moment it stuck his cloak. "Lady Edelfelt, please don't attack my Master again. I would hate to have to harm an ally much less a woman. Especially one that is providing us shelter for the duration of this war."

Julius glared at his Servant. "I did not require your protection Assassin." Julius would've said more, but a katana was suddenly pressed up against his jugular. Out of the corner of his eye, Julius Harwey could see Berserker had appeared, balancing two platters on one arm, with her katana in the other.

With a look of exasperated disappoint on her face, Berserker of Red spoke. "My, my, it seems I cannot let you children out of my sight for one second. I turn my back for one moment, and you start roughhousing."

Leo showed no concern for his brother's current predicament. Instead, he eyed the platters Berserker was expertly balancing on her arm like a veteran waitress. "What have you got there, Berserker?"

Berserker turned to him and smiled before setting the trays down. One was filled with steaming teapots and cups of tea, while the other was piled high with a small mountain of Taiyaki. "Shinji-kun was such a thoughtful boy. He stopped on the way home and got a treat for everyone. Isn't he such a dear?"

Leonardo calmly regarded his brother, still paying no mind to the keen sword blade at his throat. "See brother? You thought Shinji was out doing nothing and here he was getting us some of the local fare."

"Even better, he has something to report but in his current state…" Luvia ventured for him as he writhed of the ground helplessly gasping for air.

Huffing out a plume of cigar smoke, a certain magus spoke up. "Would you stop harassing my student already? Enough is enough."

"Yes," said a girl with a cowl over her head. "Leave my kohai alone."

"Grey, let me handle this." The man replied with a sigh.

The girl with the cowl bowed deferring to her teacher. "Yes sensei."

Lord El Melloi-II formerly known as Waver Velvet and veteran of the Fourth Holy Grail War resisted the urge to grind his teeth and his Cuban cigar, to pulp. In the decade since the last war, his hair had grown longer, he had gotten taller and filled out, but he still preferred his suits, and he'd taken up the bad habit of smoking from the sheer stress of having to drag the Archibald house out of the ashes he'd inadvertently brought it to. He'd had a handful of apprentices over the years, and all had risen to the rank of Brand within the Clocktower. The two with him now were his most prominent and his two biggest 'problem children'.

Grey Igraine, a descendant of King Arthur on her mother's side, whose family tried to use her as a vessel to summon forth King Arthur from the Throne of Heroes. She looked so similar to the Saber from the Fourth Grail War that he forced her to wear a hood to cover her face, something she easily complied with as Grey disliked the look of her own face.

'Not that it matters how she or I feel about her looks at this point,' he thought, glancing at her Servant who did not look amused at the spectacle even as she held a brilliant bone white lance that shined with the light of Miracles.

Then there was Shinji. He was hired by the Harwey's to teach the boy basic magecraft, but Shinji soon showed incredible aptitude for biological manipulation based magecraft. To such an astounding degree he was soon surpassing masters in the field who'd been studying it for centuries within a year. It had to do with the boy's origin of 'Flesh' and his already rigorous study of the Matou magecraft. Those two things combined to create something special. Lord El-Melloi II was certain that if the Clocktower knew just how far Shinji had taken his craft and that his element was also 'Flesh' making him an Incarnation, he would have a Sealing Designation slapped on him in moments.

"That's enough Julius," Leo's voice was firm. "Shinji has something to tell us and he can't speak like that."

The heat and constricting pressure on Shinji's throat ceased immediately. He coughed and sputtered for a moment before shakily getting to his feet. Two pairs of hands wrapped under either arm and helped him to his feet. Shinji looked to either side to see both Luvia and Grey helping him up. Glancing back, he noted that Archer had nocked an arrow and was prepared to fire.

"Thanks sempai, Luvia. Archer, that's enough. He'd be a waste of an arrow anyway."

Atalante loosened the tension on her bowstring before lowering her weapon entirely. "If you say so master."

The two women, who were stronger than their slender physiques let on, helped Shinji into his seat which was situated between Grey and Lord El-Melloi II. Once he was seated Leonardo steepled his fingers and eyed him with interest. "So, my hunting hound, what have you been up to?"

Shirou lowered his bow. The big game fell to the forest floor, unmoving due to the arrow that was lodged in between its shoulder blades. Raiga knocked the tobacco out of his old-fashioned pipe. "Nice shot as always Emiya-kun."

"Thanks boss," Shirou told his employer respectfully as the two made their way forwards to the downed prey. It began to mist as they stood over the fallen prey that had just about made it to the tree line, having taken a zigzag path in hopes to throw off Shirou's aim. "Who was he?"

Raiga looked down at the corpse of the European man in the suit. "Someone who wanted to sell the usual filth we don't allow in this city."

Among the Yakuza in Fuyuki there was an agreement, an accord of sorts. There would be no selling of flesh, guns, or hard drugs in this city. Shirou didn't know what brought it about, but he knew his old man was involved somehow as his name had come up a couple of times by his sempai when he tried loosening their tongues with sake. The accord even held five years after the old man's death. Was it respect, fear, something else? Shirou didn't know for sure but for the last ten years all the Yakuza groups in Fuyuki had stuck to more minor things. Protection rackets, embezzling, theft, racketeering, illegal gambling dens, and the like.

However, every once in awhile someone got the 'bright idea' to try and use Fuyuki's harbor as a staging point to get their product, whatever it might be, into the wider Eastern market. People like that were dealt with like so. Going 'hunting with Raiga' was simply code that something, someone needed to be taken care of to keep the peace.

Shirou liked the peace. He didn't want something horrific like that fire from ten years ago to happen again and ruin so many lives. So, he killed when he had to, to keep the peace. Even if he didn't necessarily like doing so, he knew that if such elements were allowed to get a foothold they would rapidly spread, much like cancer in the human body and much like cancer the easiest way to prevent was to cut it off at the pass, preventing it from spreading in the first place.

Raiga bent down and gripped the black shaft of the arrow protruding from the man's back. With strength belaying both his age and size, the wizened old man pulled the arrow out with a sick sucking sound. Wiping the bloodied broadhead off on the man's suit coat, Raiga offered it to his young protégé and grandson in all but blood.

"Here, wouldn't want to leave this behind Emiya-kun, and how many times do I have to tell you to call me Raiga-ojisan?"

Shirou smiled, he could never call his boss that. "Just one more time boss."

Raiga grinned, his impish features distorting even further. "Fine, be all prim and proper if you want to. Do you want a ride back? It's starting to mist."

Shirou shook his head as he made his way back to Raiga's classic Rolls Royce. There was a solid wood carrying case sitting on the hood. Shirou placed the bow and the arrow he'd fired into the allotted groves set in the box. He admired Kiritsugu's last gift to him for a moment.

It was a matte black yumi as slightly longer than he was tall, the entire piece was made out of some kind of synthetic material that consisted of ceramics and plastics like one would expect to find on the underside of a space shuttle, yet it still held the slender shape of a bamboo bow. The draw weight was so massive on it, that Shirou had to learn how to reinforce his arms just to draw the bow, a final test from the old man, he always assumed. Shirou gazed upon the bow for a moment more before he shut the wooden case and snapped the shining brass clasps shut. He turned to Raiga.

"Could you have someone drop my bow off at home boss? I'm going to take a walk. I need to clear my head."

Raiga motioned to one of his men with a nod. "It'll be taken care of Emiya, don't worry about it. Also, don't be getting sick! I won't hear the end of it from Taiga if you do."

Shirou called over his shoulder. "I don't get sick boss. I never have, as far as I can tell."

Shirou left the clearing then, and Raiga chuckled to himself. "No, of course you haven't." Raiga looked to his goons, then to the corpse. "One of you, clean up this mess."

Shirou had just crested the hill that led down to his street. He stood there in the dusk, the twinkling of the lights from various office buildings in the distance, his breath misting in the air. He heard the skip of footsteps approaching him from behind like those of a small child. Wondering what one could be doing out alone this late, he turned.

Shirou's breath caught. Exotic was the first word to cross Shirou's mind. For rapidly approaching him must've been a fairy or yokai of some kind for the young girl approaching him had an ethereal beauty. Long white hair, crimson eyes, wearing a deep purple coat, gloves and hat on her head. She looked so out of place in Japan where conformity was expected. The girl smiled at him in a devilish sort of way.

"You'd better summon it soon Onii-chan, or you'll die!"

Illya had wanted to see him for herself after only being shown pictures for a decade, to have something to focus her hatred on. Illyasviel von Einzbern wanted to meet the boy who replaced her. She never expected him to trek into her forest half an hour ago and kill a man with a bow in cold blood. This was unexpected. This intrigued her. Grandfather had told her Japanese people were savages who sliced their bellies open, so perhaps this had something to do with it, but from what she could pick up from her bounded fields, that man had done something bad and Onii-san seemed to answer to the ojiisan.

Illya left them alone, as far as she knew this had nothing to do with the War, or magecraft, so she had no reason to act. Still, now was as good a time as any to warn Oniichan to summon his Servant. She had done so, now it was time to go… that was, until she felt a hand reach out and clasp her shoulder.

Illya stopped. 'Is Onii-chan so confident in his mysteries that he wants to fight me right here and now? That's fine too I suppose, but I was hoping to draw this out a little bit.'

Illya turned ready for a fight only to see Onii-chan standing on the balls of his feet, bent down to her level smiling warmly. "Ojou-chan what are you doing out here all by yourself? It's cold and the sun is going down. Do you have anyone you can call to come pick you up?"

"I… what?" Illya was caught completely off guard by this line of questioning.

Shirou continued on. "Your hair and eyes are so pretty, and your clothes are so nice. You must be staying someplace nice right? Maybe a hotel in Shinto?"

'He likes the hair and eyes I got from mama.' Illya thought, blushing a bit. She had never got many compliments growing up. It was always study, avenge the Einzbern, achieve the Third. She didn't let herself get too carried away though. For all she knew, this could be a trick. This boy had been raised by Kiritsugu after all. Narrowing her eyes, Illya said flatly, "I'm not sure I should be telling you where I live Onii-chan."

Shirou rubbed the back of his head, "You've got a point Ojou-chan." Standing, he bowed politely. "I'm Shirou Emiya, and you are?"

Illya curtsied, years of Einzbern etiquette insisted she introduce herself properly. Plus, she wanted to see if her name induced any form of reaction from him. "Illyasviel von Einzbern. Nice to meet you Onii-chan."

Not one reaction. Not even a twitch of an eye from the amber eyed male. 'Did Kiritsugu tell him nothing of me and Mama?'

"Well Illyasviel…" Shirou began only to be cut off by the snow fairy.

"Call me Illya, Oniichan."

Shirou didn't know why she kept calling him 'big brother' but he didn't mind it. "Illya then. Would you like to come to my house? You can make a phone call and have someone come and have your parents come pick you up."

Illya frowned. "Both my parents are gone Onii-chan."

Shirou bowed in apology. "I'm sorry."

The pixie shook her head. "Don't worry about it Onii-chan it happened a long time ago… but there is someone I could call. So, which way is your house?"

Shirou pointed down the hill. "Just down this way, follow me."

'So, this is where Kiritsugu lived after the last Grail War.' Illya stood outside the Emiya Estate. She didn't sense any major bounded fields about the place. Just one minor one that acted like a glorified doorbell, to warn the owner if someone with ill intent had entered their property. No traps, cantrips, or curses lingered anywhere from what the homunculus could tell. 'This doesn't feel like the home of a magus at all! Something doesn't feel right…'

"Is everything alright Illya-chan?" Shirou asked, for she stood there at the entrance staring at it intently.

The Lesser Grail turned to him and smiled. "Everything's fine Onii-chan. I'm just amazed at how different your home is from mine that's all."

"Ah, yes this is a Japanese style mansion and your probably more used to Western ones," Shirou commented as he made his way inside. "Come on, I'll give you a tour before you make your phone call."

Mimicking Shirou as he took his shoes off in the entrance hall and putting on slippers, Illya was surprised at how open this place felt. The oppressive air a magi's household held wasn't present here. This place was light and airy it felt welcoming yet lonely. Not oppressive and cold like the Einzbern Castle back in the Alps.

"This is the living room." He pointed to the television and low set table nearby. She followed him into a spotless kitchen. The bamboo wood counters practically gleamed, as did the stainless-steel appliances. "This is the kitchen. I spend a lot of time here, as I like to cook."

Illya had the sudden urge to try his food. Someone who kept his kitchen this clean wouldn't even think of poisoning the food. "Can you make me something Onii-chan?"

Shirou was never one to ignore a request from anyone, but this little lady should be getting home. "I would, but your guardians might not like me feeding you."

"Please, Onii-chan?" Illya poured on the charm.

Shirou never stood a chance… poor bastard, poor, poor bastard, perpetuating the cycle of women dominating men everywhere. "Alright, but only after you call your guardians. I need to know what kind of time limit I have to work with. Deal?"

"Deal! Thanks, Onii-chan. Do you live here by yourself?"

Shirou nodded. "Yes, I do. My dad passed away when I was younger."

Illya decided to play dumb. "What was his name?"

"Kiritsugu, Kiritsugu Emiya."

"I knew a Kiritsugu Emiya once, a long time ago Onii-chan." Illya told him honestly.

Shirou was floored. 'Could it be the same person? The old man went on trips a lot. Was he visiting friends? Maybe she's the daughter of one of them.'

Shirou decided to take her to the dojo next. If she knew Kiritsugu, she might want to pay her respects. He showed her to the long room, its floors were of polished wood, and at the far end sat a small shrine to the old man, his picture set above an ornate katana surrounded by some sticks of incense. Illya's eyes honed in on the picture in a matter of seconds. Slowly almost hesitantly, she approached, feeling a mixed bag of emotions.

Sadness, anger, love, hate. All were present within her as she approached the shrine, her gaze focused upon the picture. She dropped to her knees and did a respectful bow. "He doesn't look like he was taking care of himself."

"He was always pretty sick when I knew him," Shirou affirmed, not wanting to say much and allow the girl to pay her respects.

"That is so like Kiritsugu." Illya felt… well, not better years of hatred couldn't go away just like that, but coming here, to this shrine helped alleviate the pain somewhat. "Where is he buried? I would like to pay my respects properly while I'm here."

"Up on Ryuudou Temple on the mountain."

Illya gave a nod. "I see, thank you Onii-chan." Shirou wasn't sure if she was thanking him for the information, or something else entirely so he took it silently. He finished up the tour showing her he had some spare rooms before leading her to the phone. Illya stopped in the hallway and pointed to a building he'd neglected. "Oniichan, what is that building out there?"

Shirou looked to where she was pointing. "That? That's my shed. Nothing out there but old junk I tinker with Illya. It's got a bunch of old metal and stuff, it's no place for an Ojou-chan like you."

Illya stomped her foot petulantly. "I wanna see it Oniichan. It's not a proper tour unless I get to see everything."

Shirou quickly caved. Illya even seemed cute when angry. He didn't like how he wanted to both pet her and run away at the same time. "Alright, alright, but there's really not much to see in there."

Illya skipped happily across the yard, for she knew if Oniichan had a workshop anywhere on the property, it had to be in that shed. If he didn't have a workshop there, then it proved that Grandpapa had been lying to her. Illya didn't like liars and from everything she'd seen so far, Oniichan hardly seemed like he knew anything of magecraft at all, much less more than her.

Shirou opened the shed for his guest's perusal and Illya was disappointed to find nothing particularly special inside. There was a green tarp that had pieces of junk on it, a metal pipe, an engine of some kind, a rock. Other boxes of junk were piled in the corners. This certainly didn't look like the workshop of a magus. However, looks could be deceiving. So, Illya decided to have a poke around. She felt a lot of mana was being collected underneath the tarp, so she moved it aside a bit and found, of all things, a Formalcraft circle, one meant to collect mana.

'I knew it! Oniichan does know magecraft!' She looked at the circle itself and noticed it was rather old as if it had been here awhile. Then she looked at the whole thing. She quickly realized the style used. 'This is an Einzbern Alchemy Circle. Mama must've made this… during the last War.' Illya didn't have many mementos of her mother, so to find this, here, startled her. She wanted to examine it more, or maybe cry, but she could afford to do neither without alerting Oniichan that something was wrong. 'I guess he's not a magus after all… which meant grandpapa lied to me!'

Illyasviel was not a happy girl at the moment. Someone was gonna die for this.

She turned to leave already planning all sorts of painful things to do to her grandfather when she accidently kicked the metal pipe. She looked at it, and sensed residual prana coming from it. Picking it up, she examined it. Due to possessing the Einzbern Sorcery Trait of Wish Granting, Illyasviel could use magecraft simply by willing the effect and pumping prana into the action she wished to perform, skipping the need for incantations altogether. Additionally, she could also tell what magecraft someone was trying to enact just by studying it for a bit. It was a side benefit of such a Sorcery Trait.

'Just a few hours ago, fifteen at the most, someone had tried enhancing the durability of this pipe. Reinforcement?' Illya glanced at Shirou who was cluelessly watching her handle his bits and bobbles. 'Why is Oniichan practicing such a useless skill…' Illya checked the pipe again and noted Shirou hadn't done a very good job at even this basic skill. That gave her a thought. 'Unless, that's all he's good at and he's not even decent at that?' She had to know. She needed to understand. She had already accepted her grandfather had lied to her, but the idea of Shirou being better than her was ludicrous at this point and she just needed confirmation. She needed to hear it from him. Illya turned to him with the pipe still in her hands. "Onii-chan, tell me something…"

The way Illya just spoke, like her voice was steel wrapped in silk, made Shirou instinctively take a loose fighting stance. "Yes Ojou-chan?"

Illya smiled like an angel but her eyes promised the pain of the devil if he lied. "Are you a magus Oniichan?"

The fact she even knew the proper term for one who practiced thaumaturgy told Shirou a lot. He didn't see the point in lying to her.

"I am," he curtly admitted.

Illya blinked and nodded. "You didn't lie." She smiled at him. "I like that about you Oniichan. I still don't know what I'm going to do about you, but I'm glad your honest. I don't like liars."

Shirou was thrown off by the sudden change in atmosphere. He slowly approached the pixie in his shed. "Who are you really, Ojou-chan?"

Illya turned her head to the side petulantly. "I don't feel like telling you right now. Kiritsugu didn't tell you about me at all, so I don't want to either."

Shirou huffed. "I wished you'd tell me how you knew the old man!" Shirou didn't like being left out of the loop.

"Pff!" Illya covered her mouth as she giggled. "Old man! You don't call him anything like dad, or papa, but old man?"

Shirou shrugged. "It felt appropriate." He got close. "How did you know him?"

"Not saying," Illya replied curtly. "Your supposed to be making me food while I make a phone call remember?"

Shirou opened his mouth to argue but stopped. He did say he would cook for her. He would hate to be a bad host. "Alright then, keep your secrets for now. I'll get them out of you another time. Come on then, back to the house."

'I haven't decided what to do about you yet Oniichan, but you're… interesting, I'll say that much.' Illya thought to herself as she followed Shirou back into the house.

"I'm guessing your guardians weren't too happy?" Shirou asked as he continued to cook from the kitchen. He could hear the woman on the other end of the line yelling from here.

Illya shot him a glare. "Quiet Oniichan. Sella can be… overprotective."

"I see, so how long until she comes to get you?" he asked as he put the finishing touches on dinner.

Illya flipped through television channels until she came upon a magical girl anime full of pastels and pretty colors. "Puella Magi Madoka Magica will begin shortly."

She was enthralled. "She should be here in about half an hour Oniichan."

Shirou put a plate full of Japanese style ribs, rice, and miso soup in front of Illya along with a spork. "That should be plenty of time for you to eat this."

Illya glared at the spork before her gaze flicked to her patronizing host. "I know how to use chopsticks Onii-chan."

"Sorry." He handed her a pair and the two ate while watching the show Illya picked out.

"Onii-chan…" Illya asked as it dragged on.

"Yeah?"

"Are magical girl shows always like this?" Illya couldn't help but ask as they watched a pink haired girl talk to an evil little plush doll.

"No, I've never seen anything like this before."

"Huh… I like it!"

Shirou blinked and looked at her. "Really?"

Illya nodded. "Yeah, its like this was produced by an actual magus…"

The two looked at each other startled. "You don't think…"

Illya picked up where he left off. "Its possible most magi don't bother with technology even televisions so this could totally fly under the radar."

The voice of Kyuubi came over the television acting as the announcer for the show. "Thanks for watching the first episode! Tune in tomorrow to see what happens!"

"Wha… but the only way we can know for sure is if we see all the episodes!" Illya whined. She turned to Shirou. "Oniichan, we need to get to the bottom of this! If someone is trying to reveal magecraft to the world through anime, we need to stop them!"

"We do?" Shirou wasn't too sure about that.

"Yes! Which means I'm going to come back here and watch that show until it's over, just to be sure."

Now, Shirou may not be the sharpest knife in the block, but he was fairly certain Illya was making up a pretty good excuse just to come over and eat his food every day, not that he minded. He enjoyed cooking for more than just Taiga who inhaled her meals. He shrugged. "If you say so."

The doorbell suddenly rang. "Your guardian is here. I'll let her in."

"No, I'll do it." Illya got up before Shirou could protest.

Shirou heard his front door open and heard Illya greet his guardian. "Hi Sella… Leysritt… Berserker-chan?!"

The voice of a stern woman spoke first. "Mistress, that you would go out unattended without an escort is bad enough, but to go home with a stranger, and then have them cook you a meal when we are perfectly capable of doing so is inconceivable."

"Now, now Sella," This voice sounded simpler almost childlike. "Maybe Illya just wanted good food for a change."

"Are you saying my cooking is bad Leysritt?" The first woman, Sella asked acidly.

"Your cooking, your attitude, both need work." Leysritt commented archly.

Sella spoke again, her tone promising pain. "Why you…"

The last person at his doorstep spoke, her tone filled with authority. "Enough, both of you! We have yet to even thank Illya's host ourselves due to your bickering. So, before we chastise her, let us thank him for his kindness."

Hearing four pairs of feet making their way towards him, Shirou stood to receive his new guests. Three beautiful women entered his home. The first two were wearing rather conservative black and white maid uniforms complete with hats. They looked identical to the point Shirou thought they might've been Illya's older sisters since they had the same skin tone and eye color.

The woman standing in between them caught his eye though. She too could've passed herself off as Illya's relative. Pale hair, with an even paler complexion, but her eyes all but glowed a luminous yellow, like that of a wolf. She filled out the black dress she was wearing perfectly, it hugged all of her curves and made her look like a lady of the courts. Yet beneath the beauty Shirou could sense a danger. This woman regardless of how pretty she looked was deadly. She was a trained warrior.

Shirou stood and bowed just low enough to be respectful, not wanting to take his eyes off this woman. "Hello, welcome to my home. I trust you found the place alright?"

The woman in the middle, which Illya referred to in the hall as 'Berserker-chan' eyed Shirou up, as if taking his measure. Finally, as if finding what she was looking for, she nodded smiling. "Yes, we did. Thank you for looking after Illya. We know she can be a handful."

Shirou shook his hand waving away such thoughts. "It was no trouble. I enjoyed having her."

Berserker nodded again, weird nickname but whatever. "We thank you for your kindness. We should be going now."

"Bye-bye Oniichan, see you tomorrow!" Illya waved as she was shepherded towards the door.

"Why would you be coming back here Mistress?" Sella asked as they walked down the hallway.

"Oniichan and I have uncovered a possible conspiracy to reveal magecraft to the general public!" Illya exclaimed happily.

The maid couldn't believe it. "I… you… we… we shall discuss this when we get home mistress. We all still have our duty to the Einzbern to consider before we go chasing frivolous plots."

Shirou didn't let out the breath he was holding until he heard their call pull away. When it finally did, he let out a long sigh of relief. "I thought that woman would never leave."

"Agreed."

Shirou's eyes widened and he turned his head to see an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous woman in a skin-tight black bodysuit of cloth and leather. Her hair was a curtain of shadow trailing down her back, her skin white as fresh snow, and her eyes red as blood, yet there was a deep sorrow there as well. Her eyes were matched in color by the two intricate spears she was holding in either hand.

"Is my face that fascinating?" the unknown woman questioned, sounding amused.

Shirou snapped out of his daze and flipped to his feet, into a combat stance due to sheer muscle memory. "Who are you?"

The woman gracefully stood revealing her goddess-like body in full. "I am a fellow warrior boyo. I've come to kill you as forming an alliance with that girl could be troublesome. However, a warrior shouldn't die with empty hands, on the ground like a common dog, so I shall give you a moment to arm yourself properly."

Shirou eyed the woman levelly gauging her words for a moment before nodding. "Follow me please."

Shirou led the way to his house's dojo where a small shrine to the old man was kept. There sitting just below his black and white picture of the tired old man, was that same intricate katana. Raiga had it commissioned shortly after the old man's death to serve as both memento and last gift to his friend. Issei's father even consecrated it himself before going off on a spiritual journey to another temple.

It was a stunning piece of work, the sheath was made of a single piece of ivory with pictures separated by bands of bronze, each depicting scenes from the Japanese creation myth. The tsuba was of solid iron in the shape of a sundial, the grip was genuine ray skin wrapped on black silk with the brass handle ornaments being that of hourglasses. Hanging from a brass half loop, wrapped into a cord and treated to withstand the test of time, was a length of the old man's hair six inches long.

Shirou gazed reverently at the blade with as much emotion as Illya did at his picture earlier. Slowly he stripped himself of his jacket and shirt. They would just be in the way.

When Lancer saw the intricate artwork on the boy's back along with his rippling muscles, she stopped and stared at both in appreciation. 'He is quite fit. The artwork is quite well done too, it is a shame to keep such a thing covered up all the time. Wouldn't you agree Master?'

'L... Lancer! Will you stop focusing on his back and look at the picture?'

Lancer couldn't help but tease her master a little for despite fighting monsters and magi on a daily basis, when it came to men, despite her age, she was still a maiden. 'Come now, simply seeing a man's bare back shouldn't unnerve you so.'

'No… well yes, but that's not the point! The picture is important!'

Lancer indulged her master and focused on the black and white picture instead of the back of the warrior she would soon be fighting. She saw a warrior who was tired, who though alive, had already died a spiritual death. One who was simply waiting for the end. It saddened her to even look upon a picture of such a man. For a warrior should die on their feet, weapon in hand, battle cry on their lips, and their beliefs held strongly in their heart. This man though, had been crushed on a spiritual level. It hit far too close to home for her.

'I knew it! That's the Magus Killer! He's a notorious freelance mage… if this boy is his son, then it's even more imperative we kill him before he summons a Servant. Why'd you even let him come here anyway?'

Lancer rebuked her master. 'It's bad enough I snuck into his house like a sneak thief master, I will not stoop so low as to stabbing him in the back like a common Assassin.'

'Fair enough.' Lancer's master conceded.

Lancer's attention was drawn to the sound of steel being drawn from its sheath. She found the boy, his back still to her, the sword in one hand, the sheath in the other. The blade was a dull grey, and seemed to suck in the light around it, the wave pattern caused by the hamon temper line made Lancer think of stormy waves at sea. She could feel a deep, dark curse coming from that sword, one even more potent than her own spear. Lancer tightened her grip on her spears, this wouldn't be as easy as she thought.

'That is a powerful Mystic Code the boy wields.'

'Be careful Lancer.'

Lancer scoffed at her master's concern. 'I'll be fine master. He's still only human, no matter the power of his weapon. Thank you for your worry though.'

The boy turned to face her with resignation in his golden eyes. Was he resigned to his death, or merely this fight? Lancer wasn't sure, but he was ready all the same. "Ready boyo?"

Shirou nodded stiffly once. "I am. Before we begin though, I would like to know one thing."

"Oh? Just one thing?" Lancer found herself amused by his willingness to stare death in the face and ask it a question. "What might that be?"

"What is the name of the person here to kill me? You can at least do me that courtesy, can't you?" Shirou inquired of his would-be executioner.

Lancer didn't see the harm, seeing as he would soon be dead. "My Class designation is Lancer of Yellow. However, my name is Scáthach, Queen of the Land of Shadows."

Shirou had no idea what she meant by class designation, but he got her name at least. He gave a polite bow. "Shirou Emiya, Scáthach-no kimi." Shirou used an old suffix no kimi meaning 'my lady' as in a lady of the court.

He was being so formal, even though she was about to kill him. She was starting to like this boy. "Here I come, Shirou-kun!"

Scáthach charged at him, using only a tenth of her strength. She wanted to see what he was capable of, not just overwhelm him with sheer strength. She swatted at him with her spears only for him to hop over them, and swing at her with his own blade. Lancer leaned back, avoiding beheadment by a hair's breadth. The Gaelic queen spun her spears deftly in her hands, getting him outside of her guard before she poked at him repeatedly through the numerous holes in his defense.

Yet he sidestepped, deflected, and dodged every single attack she threw his way, before swinging the sheath of his sword at her like a bludgeon. He just managed to tap her on the tip of her nose this time, surprising her.

'How is he doing that? His stance is full of openings, I've counted at least thirty, yet he's avoided every strike I've sent his way thus far.'

This boy just kept fascinating her to no end. She wanted to know more. Scáthach put a little more power into her strikes now, and the boy before he began to falter. She was honestly surprised he'd kept up with her thus far. It was then that she realized. 'Reinforcement? Rather sloppily done too.'

She took a stab at his head with one spear only for him to jerk to the side to avoid it, gaining a cut on his cheek as he charged in. She swept low with her other weapon, he could've easily blocked it with his sword, likely at the risk of shattering it, though probably not due to the mystery provided by the strong curse. He did not, however. Instead, he slid like a baseball player, stabbing his weapon into the tatami mats and used his momentum being halted to kick upwards hitting her in the chin. For a moment, all Scáthach saw was the wooden ceiling. Due to years of fighting, she felt the blade coming for her exposed neck and blocked it using nothing but muscle memory.

'Lancer stop messing around! He almost killed you there!' Her master was beginning to fret.

'Not to worry master, the boy is getting desperate, but that's not what concerns me.' Lancer looked at the boy who was huffing his body covered in a layer of sweat.

'What does?'

'The boy values that sword more than he does his own life. He was unwilling to risk it shattering against my spear just now. It is that important to him, being a last memento of his father.'

'You're trying to kill him, what kind of priorities does this kid have?' her master questioned.

'I don't know, but it makes him all the more interesting don't you think?'

'End it Lancer. I'll use a Command Seal if I have to.' Lancer could tell by her master's tone that she didn't want to resort to that method, but she would do so if she didn't hurry up.

"You've fought well," Scáthach praised, as if she were a teacher to her star student.

Shirou accepted the compliment with a nod. "You've been holding back on me this entire time, like a cat toying with a mouse."

The queen of the Land of Shadows gave a short contrite bow in apology. "Yes, I simply wanted to test your mettle. I meant no offense. Truly it seems a shame to kill such a promising warrior in an era when they are so scarce but orders are orders."

Scáthach bumped her output up to a flat E rank and delivered a swift kick to Shirou's stomach which sent him flying out into his backyard. Shirou landed on his back and rolled to a stop in front of his shed, not once letting go of his weapon. Scáthach watched impassively as he struggled to his feet. She lazily threw one of her spears in his direction, and much to her surprise, he deflected it. Preventing it from piercing his heart, instead it gored him in his right pectoral going through his ribcage and lung.

Shirou coughed up blood but he refused to fall. 'I can't die yet! I still haven't fulfilled my oath to the old man! Promised him I'd become a hero in his place.' Through sheer force of will, he kept himself on his feet and began a death march forward.

Scáthach couldn't believe the audacity of this human. 'Is it even right to call him human? Is he something else entirely?' she wondered as he marched on determinedly towards her, despite having a spear lodged in his chest.

Calling her weapon back to her with but a gesture and allowing his wound to bleed freely, Scáthach prepared herself for a final charge. The Queen of Shadows launched herself at Shirou Emiya, spears pulled back to gore him like a charging rhino. The moment she struck, Shirou spun on his heel completely avoiding the blow and used his momentum along with the weight of his sword to deliver a slight flesh wound to her right arm, the only real wound he inflicted throughout the entire fight.

Shirou was caught up in the slipstream her rapid movement created and was flung forwards into his shed. His blood pooled on the floor and Shirou weakly reached for the edge of a nearby table to pull himself to his feet. All he managed to do was pull an ancient scroll, a gift from Raiga-oyabun on top of him. It was an original copy of the Go Rin no Sho, the Book of Five Rings. Shirou heard Scáthach slowly approaching his position, yet he couldn't move anymore.

'I don't want to die yet. I haven't completed my oath to the old man, and Illya-chan is coming back tomorrow… plus I still need to figure out everything with the girls at school. I can't die yet! I want to live. I want to live!'

The magic circle beneath Shirou began to glow a bloody crimson as if it heard his silent plea to survive.

Her journey was never ending. This samurai continued her lone quest for the 'nothing beyond the one'. She journeyed from world to world, battling foe after foe, seeking the elusive state of nothingness. She had yet to find it despite all her wonderings. She was on her way to her next destination, when she felt a tugging. Something was calling to her. Information was being forced into her brain. Grail War, a battle between Heroes of the ages, this one grander than any before. Three factions Yellow, Red, and Blue. She was being offered the chance to participate and would be given a new title to go along with the many she already possessed.

Saber of Yellow.

The woman smiled. "It sounds like fun! Let's do it!"

The contract was struck. The woman felt herself being pulled away… an oath filling her mind and preparing to fall from her lips.

Shirou didn't know if it was the blood loss or something else, but the woman standing before him now was the most beautiful of the lot. Her bright pink hair was held back in a ponytail by a wooden black and red hair clip. Her eyes were currently closed. Her rough yet robust body was clad in a low-cut blue kimono with wide sleeves kept shut with a simple clasp, that allowed her belly to peek out through the folds. Four katana were strapped to her waist, and her legs were covered in simple sturdy looking iron armor. She opened her eyes; the color of her hair made her eyes stand out all the more. Bright vibrant green like transparent jade.

She spoke in an energetic yet formal tone. "I am Servant Saber of the Yellow Faction. I have come at your summons. I ask of you, are you my master?"

Word Count: 27,857 Number of Pages: 68 Date Completed: 3/13/2019

AN:

Gah, a new hell has come upon me! I… mean I am so happy that another fic has come into being thus says Heliosion, the poor fucker made to… WAIT A MINUTE… I didn't have much to do with this! Gasp… LE GASP! Is Bubba learning not to make common errors? I must contact the embassy! The signs are here. Nostradamus predicted the 'man who would learn some grammar would signify the end of the world.' We should look for flying pigs and guys named Josh who will be sacrificed to save us from this aberration to the universe!

But seriously this has been the most obvious project he never thought of until I got my shotgun and made him see the obviousness of this project. He can write a Grail War, eat pizza and he's all out of pizza without trying! So over to you Bubbajack! See you all later! Remember worship Stan Lee everyone! And remember that Bruce Lee died for all your sins… um I think that's how it went! See you space cowboys!

Helios… your an ass. But your my friend so I'll let it go. That said, I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of Fate/Triumvirate. Till next time everyone, I leave you with the first of many Servant profiles!

Servant: Lancer

Secondary Classes: Caster

True Name: Scáthach

Title: Queen of the Land of Shadows, Witch of Dun Scaith

Gender: Female

Height/Weight: 168/55kg – 5'3/121lbs.

Hair/Eye Color: Black/Red

Complexion: White

Alignment: Neutral Good

Parameters:

STR: B MAG: C

END: A LUK: D

AGI: A NP: A+

Class Skills:

Magic Resistance: Ability to nullify magic effects. (A): Immune to modern magecraft.

Personal Skills:

God Slayer: is where as the demonic realm's, [The Shadow Realm's], gatekeeper, Scáthach's continual slaying of multitudes of Divine Spirits has become a Skill. (B): This Skill is super effective against Divine Spirits. A 'plus' modifier is gained when attacking Divine Spirits, wraiths, and Servants with the Divinity Skill.

Divinity: Denotes one's closeness to the Divine. (E-): Scáthach gained divinity through sheer skill. Through her sheer will to find greater challenges she crossed the threshold from 'mortal' to 'divine'. Due to that however, her rank in this skill is very low.

Primordial Rune: is the possession of and knowledge about Runes that came from an older era. Those with possession and knowledge of Primordial Runes can also make use of the classic Rune Magic. (-): She has Runes hailing from Scandinavia, almost known as Scandinavian Magic Crests. These runes are different from the Runes modern magi use. These are Primal Runes with the power of the Age of Gods. Because of the Norse chief god Odin, they had spread throughout the world. She, who granted Cú Chulainn 18 Primal Runes, is as strong in magecraft as she is a warrior.

Wisdom of the Haunted Ground: is the intellect of the abyss, acquired as a consequence of surpassing humanity, killing gods and being left behind in the outside of the world. (A+): With the exception of those particular of certain heroes, almost all Skills can be displayed with a proficiency level of B~A Rank. Also, only towards those she has recognized as true heroes, it is also possible to teach such Skills. During combat, a Skill that she often employs is foresight of battle conditions by means of 'Clairvoyance'. Even in Ulster mythology, she often predicted the future with such foresight, even the final moments of her beloved pupil Cú Chulainn.

NP:

Gáe Bolg Alternative: Soaring Spear of Piercing Death. Type: Anti-Unit Rank: B+ Range: 5-40 Max # of Targets: 50

Lore: When the True Name Gáe Bolg Alternative: Soaring Spear of Piercing Death is activated, its capabilities combines the two functions of Cú Chulainn's Noble Phantasms, "Barbed Spear that Pierces with Death" and "Soaring Spear that Strikes with Death". First, a close-ranged attack from the first demonic spear would rob the enemy's movement by "pinning them in a spot in the air", and the second demonic spear would strike through everything if thrown with her full might. Obviously, any enemy caught in the line of the thrown spear would be killed.

Gate of Skye: Gate to the Magical Realm Brimming with Death. Type: Anti-Army Rank: A+ Range: 2-50 Max # of Targets: 200

Lore: is a Noble Phantasm possessed by Scáthach, related to the gate of the Land of Shadows. Scáthach temporarily summons a massive gate to her shadow realm, and it sucks in all life forms in range. If the target fails to resist it with one's Mana or Luck stat, they're sucked into the gate and are instantly killed. Scáthach can choose specific targets on whether to allow them access or not. Even if resisted, the targets' mana is rapidly drained, and they take major damage.

Ochd Deug Odin: Great God Carved Seal. Type: Anti-Fortress Rank: A Range: 1-80 Max # of Targets: 500

Lore: is the Noble Phantasm also known by Cú Chulainn in his Caster form. In modern terms, it is known as Matrix Wodan. It is a Noble Phantasm activated by invoking all the 18 original runes conferred by Odin to Scáthach together with the release of the True Name.

The power of the rune obtained by the Great God Odin of Northern Europe is temporarily released to bestow large-scale magic damage on the enemy camp. Furthermore, surviving enemies will have all their buff effects dispelled, the parameters of their abilities will be forcibly reduced by one rank and, in case they possess constantly active Noble Phantasms, those will be halted for 1~2 turns. An extremely powerful trump card, there is also a possibility that use-restrictions have been applied by Odin—but details are left unknown.