Maiya utilized bat familiars with a certain feature no ordinary magus would ever consider: miniature video cameras and speakers for recording what they encountered. Kiritsugu had taught her a long time ago that illusionary wards magi sometimes employed weren't designed for affecting electronic equipment most of the time. Sure, the gear slowed down the familiars a bit, but the footage was of decent quality and most importantly reliable.
Both newcomers watched the masked Servant get tenderized by the green female and then vaporized by the golden male, listening to the dialogue and impact of weapons. Kiritsugu cupped his chin; he had an idea of what this had really been. "What do you two think?"
"It's too good to be real." "This looks like a setup." Those were Maiya and Assassin X's respective answers. They eyed each other for a moment, then the latter beckoned with his hand. Maiya continued, "There's too short a gap in time between Assassin entering the grounds and Lancer X's assault. An Assassin's Personal Skill is specifically meant to avoid a direct clash. And no partner appearing to aid him is also strange."
"Not to mention Lancer X herself suddenly appearing out of nowhere like that," Assassin X added. "It was like she had been lying in wait, hidden from any outsiders until she struck. But in that case, she could've silently cut him down the moment he set foot in the garden. It seems Tohsaka had been expecting Assassin's arrival."
Maiya picked up on the meaning of the Servant's other words. "And you think he wanted it to be a public execution."
A nod. "The outcome of this encounter seems a little too obvious, don't you think?"
"I do." Kiritsugu was very satisfied with his pupil and Servant's judgement; they had voiced all the thoughts that had come to him while viewing this. "But a crucial part of Grail battle is keeping your Servant's identity a secret. Why would he risk exposing both of his Servants when there was such a great gap between Assassin and either one of them?"
"And why did the Archer step in at all?" Maiya wondered out loud. Even from the first viewing, that part puzzled her. The female had every advantage over the intruder; killing him alone would've required no aid from her partner.
"Tohsaka must be planning something, and one of his Servants might be a little more willful than the other," Assassin X offered as possibilities. What little he'd made out from the recorded dialogue suggested that Archer had acted of his own will. Technically, that sort of insubordination could work in their favor, but considering how much destruction he unleashed in just a few seconds…
Not an encouraging thought. "Regardless of their partnership," the Servant started, drawing both humans' attention, "I think we can all agree it was planned beforehand that Assassin be killed in a public manner last night. And that begs the question: why?" A flicker went across his Master's face, and he nodded. The two were on the same page.
And two soon became three. "You believe Assassin's death was staged." Once again, Maiya quickly found herself catching onto the stranger's train of thought. It surprised her a bit. "But even through the perception of a familiar, that death seemed genuine."
Assassin X lifted his right hand, fingers curled upwards, to shoulder level. "I know more than a few ways of creating the illusion of me or someone else being killed. Some convincing enough to fool even a master pathologist." She saw Kiritsugu give a nod in confirmation. "It stands to reason that another Servant would have similar abilities. Especially since he shares my class."
The leader in turn had mulling over these possibilities himself. But a few pieces of the puzzle still eluded him. "Maiya," his protégé focused on him, "what happened to Assassin's Master?"
"He headed for the Church and requested its protection, which the judge agreed to. According to him, his other Servant rebelled and severed his contract with him."
"Convenient." Kiritsugu scoffed. "What's the Master's name?"
"Kirei Kotomine."
The two words made the trained hunter stiffen for a moment. Both Assassin X and Maiya noticed it, but only one realized the significance. His dull eyes sharpened with caution. "Maiya, have a familiar monitor the church."
"Is that okay? The church is a neutral zone, no active Masters are allowed to confront each other."
"Keep the familiar at a distance. Just close enough to keep an eye on it, but not so much the priest would notice."
Assassin X recognized this tension. Both he and Saber were thoroughly briefed on the preliminary reports of the other Masters and their capabilities. Tokiomi Tohsaka, powerful fire and jewel magus aristocrat; Kariya Matou, runaway at a young age having now crammed whatever magic tricks his family had to make a half-decent champion (though Kakashi advised caution with him and whatever Servants he might be working with "Desperation can be a powerful force."); Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, a prideful scholar likely believing he is taking part in some fancy game but still has enough knowledge and skill to be troublesome, maybe more than Tohsaka…
And the Executor of the church, Kirei Kotomine. Every single time Kiritsugu made any mention of him, it was with a far higher degree of wariness than all the rest put together. Narrowed eyes, twitching of the fingers, tension in the words… if he wasn't scared of Kotomine, then he was very, very wary of him.
And after looking through more of his history, the Servants began to understand why. Kirei was born with Magic Circuits despite his father or mother not having any preexisting connection to the magic of this world, had been a class valedictorian after skipping two years, yet instead of continuing his studies, he followed in Risei Kotomine's footsteps (after changing position three times within the chruch's institution).
"Alchemy, Necromancy, Summoning, Divination, Spiritual Healing…" Artoria read through the list of various branches of Thaumaturgy the man had undertaken. He remembered her eyeing the freelancer with a bit of confusion. "This skillset is impressive, Kiritsugu, and if he has been trained in combat by the church, then he could be formidable, but I fail to see how this priest warrants more caution than the Archibald lecturer."
Assassin X studied the dossier a bit more, and it took a little thinking, but then he realized. "It's not just the skillset…" he voiced his thoughts, perhaps forestalling an argument between the two (wouldn't have been the first) as they turned to him, "it's the fact that they're incomplete. Take another look." He ushered the King of Knights over towards his copy and pointed out key parts in the text. "See what each of these branches have in common?"
Her jade eyes narrowed at the targeted words. "…He hasn't truly mastered any of them?" A shake of his head. "Why? Was it because he simply loses interest in them? Some of my knights and soldiers would first attempt to master a sword or spear as their primary weapon, only to change their minds later. The same for people that had the opportunities to find a different apprenticeship than the one they originally had."
"That would make sense if it happened at the beginning of his academics," he argued, "but he kept going. And it's not like there was something stopping him. At any of these disciplines, Kirei Kotomine could've finished his studies far quicker than most, but then he would always just quit right before reaching the level of master. It's like…" Assassin X's fingers drummed against the file as he searched for a good comparison. "Like a runner going for the hundred-meter dash, overtaking all of the others, and then coming to a complete stop inches from the finish line before just walking off the track." Saber's eyes widened as she grew to see the concern. Himself a bit unsettled, the male Servant turned to the one who summoned him. "He's a wild card because you can't predict his movements. Am I right?"
Kiritsugu nodded once even as he continued to gaze out the window, appreciative that at least one could follow his thought process. "My theory is that this man casts aside everything he learns because it brings him no joy. No matter how much effort he's put into it. I… I don't know why the Grail would choose him, or what he might be after. Therefore, Saber, Assassin X…" Both Servants rose from their seats while their Master turned to face him with a merciless expression.
"Do not underestimate Kirei Kotomine. Should either of you see an opportunity, eliminate him without hesitation."
That order still resonated in the Copy Ninja's mind as it tried to puzzle out the situation. Right, the dossier had also mentioned that Tokiomi Tohsaka had taken Kotomine on as an apprentice for three years until Kotomine had received his Command Seals. From there, the two had severed all ties.
Or had they…?
"All right. Will do." Maiya had yet to learn more about the competition, so she was still in the dark about this man's threat level. A part of her ached over how the Heroic Spirit appeared completely unsurprised about the behavior of the man that she had dedicated her entire being to, but she pushed it down. What mattered most was helping Kiritsugu see his dream come to fruition. Her thoughts and emotions were irrelevant.
While his associates waded through their own musings, Kiritsugu moved back to the extensive, fresh off the rack hardware Maiya had procured. Among the benefits of him having been a freelancer all these years were solid contacts for armament and more than sufficient funds to acquire them. And spending the last decade in someone else's mansion had kept him from taxing the latter.
Now, as he slowly began to inspect each piece of equipment, it felt like all that time with Iri and Ilya, where he hadn't needed to be a relentless hunter of arrogant mages, where he could at least convince himself however briefly that he was a normal, decent man, faded away. Calico M950. Walther WA 2000 with AN/PVS-4 and Elcan Specter IR thermal scope. Steyr Aug A1. M67. Model 7290 Flashbangs. Smoke grenades. C2 plastic explosives.
The tools of the machine that is Kiritsugu Emiya, the Mage Killer.
Assassin X noted the trained, precise way of how the man wielded each piece of the arsenal, accompanied by the woman's commentary on certain details, reminiscing of how veteran shinobi like him would perform at least one thorough inspection of their gear prior to any mission. Younger novices would often make the mistake of simply going through their jutsu, confident that would be sufficient to survive. But here, there wasn't any sign of potions or scrolls or other magical artifacts. Though he had never actually seen let alone wielded firearms before, the Grail had provided him with basic understanding behind the science. Impressive in their own way, and if half of what Kiritsugu told me is true about this world's magic community, devastating to those who don't give them enough credit.
A tiny shudder passed through him as he imagined what these weapons could do back on his world. Genin, chunin, even jonin level ninja could fall at the hands of a powerless person with one of those and the proper training. How on earth could anyone dismiss such a creation? Are the magi here really that assured in the fruits of their studies?
While aiming the Walther at an imaginary target, Kiritsugu asked, "And the one I left with you, Maiya?"
"Here." She inclined her head towards the lone case that rested on the opposite bed. Putting aside the rifle, the Master moved this rosewood closer to him and undid the clasps, revealing one weapon that was completely unique to him: the Thompson Contender Custom, Kiritsugu Emiya's Mystic Code.
As he slowly, almost reverently (something rather unnatural for a man that prided himself on pragmatism, Assassin X considered) pulled it out of the case, the Heroic Spirit in the room sensed a ripple in the air around the weapon. An odd piece… Were it in a holster, the Copy Ninja may've mistaken it for a dagger. It appeared in design to be capable of holding only one shot, yet the size and length of the barrel indicated it was for a very large caliber.
And even without the Sharingan active, a strange feeling prickled in the back of his skull as his sight fell upon the bullets neatly arrayed inside the case. Something was different about them, he would bet his eye on that.
Kiritsugu for his part weighed the familiar handgun in his grasp, noting how his fingers still remembered every last little detail of the handle, the hammer, the trigger. His pondering went to his daughter, coupled with the uncomfortable question of whether or not he would remember her the same way.
Then his index finger squeezed the spool to release the chamber lock, allowing him to pull out the spent shell. He then quickly snatched up one of the Origin Rounds -his true secret weapon- and slid it into the now open slot, old reflexes guiding every movement within his limbs. The chamber snapped shut with a flick of his wrist, and Kiritsugu pointed the ready Contender straight ahead.
"…Two seconds," he muttered in slight disappointment. "I'm out of practice."
"…Yeah." Maiya's reply wasn't quite focused as usual, as her attention was currently on a certain organ open to see. Assassin X had closed his right eye and moved aside his headband to free his Noble Phantasm. Maiya peered slightly curious despite herself at the unusual eye, but he didn't notice.
…What is inside those rounds? Kakashi wondered at the energy within the raised weapon. Did he infuse pieces of his own chakra into them? How? …Why?
Part of him wanted to ask, part of him wondered if this was the sort of question best left unanswered.
Kiritsugu paid no mind to what watched him as he removed the round and placed both pieces back inside the case; he'd already gotten used to (and developed a respect for) that peculiar asset. His thoughts were elsewhere. "That Walther weighs more than Ilya. But she's already eight years old…" He knew these thoughts, precious though his little princess was, were a distraction. He knew he should focus on the conflicts ahead. He knew he should compartmentalize such things just as he used to, before the Einzberns had approached him. And yet, it felt so hard.
Kakashi replaced his protector to its usual spot, sympathetic to his Master's concerns. It's always something else when you go to battle with nothing to lose and when you go to battle with a loved one awaiting you. He would've said something, but what happened next made him raise an eyebrow.
Maiya closed the distance and slid her arms around his neck, prompting him to rise from his kneeling spot and turn around to her. The woman continued to hold her close even as she said, "Please concentrate on the here and now." She then pulled his head in for a deep kiss. "Don't let yourself be distracted by other things right now." Then came another kiss.
For a moment, Assassin X's mind flashed to certain… events he had… read about. …Okay. More than just strong loyalty, then. He felt a little awkward as a witness right now.
Then concern rose for Irisviel's sake. He'd come to view the artificial woman as a good friend, so how could he rightly cover for any sort of adultery her husband may have been committing? Even if said husband was his Master?
But another detail struck Assassin X as he peered closer; only Maiya seemed to show any passion in this interaction. But Kiritsugu appeared as emotionless as when he interacted with anyone else. He may've accepted the kiss, but there was no sign of the definite passion that would emerge from the man around Irisviel or Ilyasviel right now. Is it one-sided, then? But why would he allow it? Is it simply for her sake? Or is there more behind this?
Ah, I know a possible way to discern the truth… his hand drifted for his back pouch-
Only to freeze up when Kiritsugu broke the kiss to shoot him a warning glare. The Servant quickly threw up both hands and put on his eye-smile as if to say, "Don't mind me."
On some level, the gunslinging "magus" was grateful for the actions of two of his most valuable assets. They helped him clear his mind, organize his thoughts. He gently moved free of the embrace of the woman that helped him stay the Mage Killer, a pang of guilt surfacing when her eyes inadvertently showed a hint of pain at this rejection.
He didn't want to hurt her. But what she may've desired from him, he had already given long ago to another. And they both knew it.
So, instead of apologizing, he stoically said, "Maiya. I've made a few more strategies that should prove useful down the road. They come from interesting discoveries we had after I last contacted you." Kiritsugu nodded his chin towards his Servant from the Village Hidden in the Leaves. "Assassin X can bring you up to speed a lot better than I can."
He turned slightly to sit down on the bed, placed a hand on the case containing the Contender and looked fully at Assassin X. "Fill her in on everything we've discussed as brief as possible. The battles will begin as soon as the sun is down."
"Right." Assassin X tilted his head towards the door. "It'd easier with some demonstrations, and for that, we'd need a little more elbow room." Kiritsugu nodded his assent but made no move to get up. Kakashi quickly shot an apologetic glance towards Maiya; as much as this was necessary, he felt bad for taking her away from the man she was clearly devoted to.
Maiya registered this look, as well as an ache within at this indirect rejection, but she pushed it away and simply nodded in acknowledgement. It didn't matter. "The roof is easy to access and ought to be easy to access." She headed for the door, eyeing the Heroic Spirit. "We're going now?"
"Yep." He extended his hand towards the exit, a sign of him allowing her to move first. She accepted it without batting an eye. An otherwise redundant act of chivalry, but she got the feeling it was simply meant to show respect. One tool to another, she supposed. Well, it's a lot better than being hounded by idiot flirts.
One after the other they made to leave the room, allowing their leader a bit more time alone to prepare. His fingers drifted together as he thought about the coming battles.
But before they were completely gone, Kiritsugu called out one last order. "And don't even think about that damn book just because my back's turned, Assassin X." Simply mentioning it promptly fouled his mood. Anger: another effective way to calm his thoughts.
Book? Maiya wondered, looking between his arched back and the suddenly shaking Servant. What book?
"I trust you have at least some self-control…" A lethality of the same magnitude as his Origin Rounds slipped into the Master's tone, "right?"
Assassin X stiffened before hurriedly putting on a jovial tone. "OhofcourseIdoImaprofessionalShouldnttakeallthatlonglater!" And he swiftly ushered out a visibly perplexed Maiya as gently as he could, closed the door and shot an almost pleading look towards her. "The roof's a good place as any. Shall we?" A light tremor betrayed the coolness of his voice.
Maiya blinked. "…Alright." And they set down a rather brisk pace for the elevator. Definitely not like most guys, this one.
Meanwhile, Assassin X mentally released a sigh that reverberated across the insides of his skull while pushing the elevator button. 'Saber, my friend,' he sent a message over the psychic link Irisviel had helped them establish, 'we are in for one wild time.'
'…I don't think I want to know,' was her blunt, if slightly humored reply.
-154:44:37
Irisviel had thoroughly enjoyed her time in Fuyuki since their arrival a couple of hours ago. The sights, the sounds, the smells- yes, even that scent of ripe fish from near the sea, it had all been an incredible experience considering it was her very first time setting foot out into the wide world. To think, she had been so shy, huddling up in the car, but then Saber had offered to take a walk with her. And from there, well, it just felt like a locked door had opened up for her, allowing her to truly experience the world Kiritsugu knew.
Now she stood at the border of the beach, white fluffy clothes shielding her from the cool winds that played with the long strands of her hair, red eyes shimmering along with the moonlight reflected upon the water's surface. Tonight was a full moon, bringing the ambience to its fullest potential. "We seem to have taken too much time in the city," Saber commented in an apologetic tone behind her.
"No, no," Iri continued to smile, "this is beautiful. Like a mirror of the night sky." Climbing down to the soft sand, he took off her boots and stockings, allowing her bare feet to absorb the sensations. The light roar of the waves as they went back and forth, the coolness of the water splashing against her toes, the homunculus danced along the water. Every single moment was a gift to her. "I never thought," she said, stepping by the waves, "that walking through a new town alongside a gentleman would be so much fun." She played with a pebble in her hand.
"So, I was satisfactory as a gentleman?" Saber asked with an almost playful smile from where she stood by the border, clad in a pristine black suit. Unlike Assassin X or any other Servant, she appeared to be incapable of assuming a spirit form. This of course meant that her Master would have to provide more mana all the time, but it helped with the illusion that she was Irisviel's Servant.
Besides, Irisviel had seized this as an opportunity to pick out some outfits for Saber, much to her bewilderment and slight concern.
She remembered Assassin X joking, "How sweet of you to provide your wife with a life-size dolly," to Kiritsugu at the time. And how quickly her face drained of blood at the words.
The sardonic reply, "Anything for her," hadn't exactly relieved her of her worries either.
Sometimes, she had felt like those two ganged up to tease her. And even Irisviel joined in from time to time. The King of Knights was not used to being picked on.
But it cleared the tension a bit and helped Irisviel smile. "To a tee," was the white-haired woman's answer to her question. "You made a first-class knight today."
The blonde bowed to her. "I am honored, dear princess." This made Irisviel giggle as she turned back to the moonlit horizon.
"Saber," she asked after a little bit, "do you like the sea?"
"Not really," the female Servant answered truthfully. "In my time, where I lived, the sea would always bring enemies for us. I cursed it but never admired it."
"That's a shame. You're a woman, the same as me. But you never had the chance to enjoy yourself when you became King Arthur." Saber hummed in simple acknowledgement; she had understood what she had to sacrifice when she took on the crown. And she didn't regret casting aside her life as a woman.
Irisviel's next words made her think, though. "Assassin X seems able to enjoy himself."
"Yes," Saber's mood briefly soured as she recalled one particular pleasure they had uncovered about her partner.
However, it faded away as she remembered the rest of the man. How he always stepped in during the brief periods of strategizing when she would argue with Kiritsugu about one plan or suggestion before t escalated; how he fought in sparring matches with her, displaying incredible abilities beyond what she would've expected from one of that class; and how he made time for her once or twice where they could simply talk a bit about their homes. Assassin had listened with rapt attention about Britain, and the Hidden Leaf Village had sounded like quite an interesting place from what he had described.
(Artoria would've attempted to sample one or two servings of this "ramen" dish he had told her among his stories of a certain "knuckle-headed ninja" he had trained, but it seemed unbecoming of how a proper knight should act in the presence of a lady.
She had barely managed to hide her stomach growling from the enticing smells.)
Before she knew it, Saber was asking out loud, "How does he do it?"
Irisviel stopped splashing her feet for a bit. "Hmm? Who does what?"
The knight quickly cleared her throat before speaking again. "…Assassin X. I have come to recognize a seasoned warrior when I see one, and even with his relaxed demeanor, I have a sense that he has seen at least as much conflict as I have. That he has suffered. The way he said that creed of his," Saber could still see the steel in the Heroic Spirit's eye as he declared, "Those who abandon the mission are trash and those who abandon their comrades are even worse trash." Those words were carved into his very being, she just knew it.
Then she continued, gazing at the wide sea. "But he can still look casual, even joke, like he doesn't always need to take things seriously. How do you think he can do that, Irisviel?"
The lady eyed her knight with curiosity, feeling like she detected a wistful note in the Servant's words. "Maybe it's his way of dealing with the hardships," she finally said. Saber looked towards her again in inquiry, prompting her to continue. "I'm not really an expert in emotions, but I think that Kakashi does feel the burdens of his life, but he chooses to keep a relaxed appearance in spite of them." She lifted the back of her left hand to gaze at the Command Seal painted there.
"Alright then," Kiritsugu said in his usual monotone, a small suitcase at his side. The four of them stood in the front yard of the Einzbern manor, him and Assassin X about to board the car for the airport. "If everything goes the way it should, we'll meet again in Fuyuki."
"I'm already looking forward to it," Irisviel said, still wearing her usual Einzbern dress. Saber, currently in a white shirt and dress pants as an experiment, simply nodded, still throwing a cold look towards her sheepish partner.
It melded well with the stink-eye their Master shot from the side at him.
Noises could be heard from further away, but they collectively ignored it. Those were simply further preparations for the Grail War. The car rumbled behind the two men, as though the machine itself was waiting to leave. Iri moved to wrap her arms around her love one more time, which he returned with some slight hesitation (Kiritsugu the husband warring with the Mage Killer), then they separated.
That's when Assassin X's eye widened. "Ah, right," he said, his hand gently grabbing hold of the homunculus' right wrist. "Almost forgot…" was all he murmured as the other hand rooted around in the pouch strapped to the back of his hip.
Then before either of the other two could voice a protest or demand an explanation, he fished out a stoppered vial. "Please hold still, milady," the silver-haired Servant requested as he pulled out the cork and dipped his finger into the vial, withdrawing it to reveal a smudge of red paint on the tip. "If we want the other Masters to be fooled, we need to make the illusion as authentic as possible." Gunshots rang out in the background, but no one worried.
Kiritsugu nodded his assent, mentally kicking himself. Why didn't I consider that?
In a few swift strokes, both of Irisviel's hands now bore near-exact replicas of the Command Seals the real Master carried. "There," Assassin X inspected his handiwork one last time, "that should do the trick. And the paint shouldn't come off too easily, but just in case, don't scrub your hands too thoroughly, Irisviel."
"But that's unhygienic, Kakashi." The two shared a little laugh at the joke, with even the more stoic pair cracking small smiles.
Then Saber sobered. "By that logic, are you going to wear gloves to hide your own Seals, Kiritsugu?"
"Most likely. Either that or apply fake skin…" he trailed off in thought before catching himself. "For that matter, remember to pack mittens, Iri."
"Just in case the paint wears off?"
"That, and winters in Japan tend to be cold." A little smile played along his lips, which she returned in twice the size. Homunculi needn't worry too much about temperature, not to mention Germany had its own share of cold winters, but it was a sweet, sporadic sentiment. Another hug, then he swiftly made for the car.
Assassin X made to follow as well, but not before stretching out his open hand towards Saber. "Safe travels, partner."
Saber clasped the hand with her own and shook, wondering when the last time had been that she had made such an equal exchange with someone. Out loud, she replied, "You as well…" she smiled at him, "partner." He returned the smile in his usual manner.
Then the men left while the women went back into the mansion to complete their own packing. Irisviel was already giddily considering what sort of combinations she and Saber could wear.
Iri couldn't help but smile at the markings on her hands. One an ornate cross, the other a red version of the symbol on a certain ninja's forehead protector. They were obviously powerless, but on some tiny level, it warmed her heart to bear them. It was as though they connected her to Kiritsugu via the identical markings on his own hands. "…I think Kakashi acts with humor and kindness so that he remembers what they feel like. So that he won't forget them." She gazed up at the moon. "He's a good man. Even if I think he would disagree."
"Perhaps," Saber replied thoughtfully, recalling how Assassin X never once bragged about what he could do. His explanation of the Sharingan and those "jutsu" had all been extensive and factual, without any real self-praise. Humble seems to be his default state, the Servant of the Sword thought appreciatively. She respected one who was aware of his limits.
Then her eyes noticed the way Iri kept admiring the faux-Seals. "Irisviel," the addressee's head shifted towards the addresser, "you'd rather enjoy this sort of time with Kiritsugu, wouldn't you?" Saber wasn't offended at all; on the contrary, she thought the genuine bond between the pair was a wonderful thing.
But to her confusion, Irisviel's expression saddened. "He… couldn't do that." She smiled again, but this was a more melancholy one. "Those feelings would cause him pain."
Saber was shocked. Cause him pain? "I thought he was happy being with you?" she asked, trying to make sense of why this sort of joy would be painful to anyone.
"Oh, he would," Irisviel answered, returning to her fixture upon the full moon. "That's why he can't do it. Being happy is painful for him."
Saber frowned, trying to understand this logic. Her Master continued to perplex her. At first, he had simply appeared to be a misogynistic soldier with cold eyes. Then she got to watch him be a loving family man. Then she had learned more of his pragmatism and the yet idealistic wish of saving the world. And now she learned that happiness caused Kiritsugu Emiya pain? This was all a bit much for one single man. She wasn't sure what to think.
Then her features softened; there might be someone else who could help her make sense of these conflicting details. 'Assassin X,' the Servant thought in a certain manner, as though she had tied a scroll with a message to an arrow, nocked it, and then released the bowstring to send it at great speeds to her fate-chosen ally, 'if I were to tell you that Kiritsugu apparently finds joy painful, even when said joy is being with Irisviel, what would you say?'
Only a few seconds passed before his voice reverberated in her ears like he was standing right next to her and not somewhere else in the city. '…I would say that answers a few questions in hindsight.' The outlandish Heroic Spirit must've sensed her oncoming question because he continued. 'I've noticed small… winces from him whenever he interacts with his family. Hesitations before hugging or kissing. A few other actions more recently that I won't go into detail now. I'm no psychiatrist, Saber, but I've got a hunch a part of our dour Master believes he doesn't deserve to be happy.'
Saber weighed this theory and the evidence to herself while Irisviel wandered a bit more in the water. She wondered if the signs Assassin X had mentioned were really so obvious. Or was that he simply paid better attention than her to the people around them? Something about this possibility prodded a certain memory to light:
"The king does not understand the hearts of men."
She held back a wince. 'I… may have an idea of what that's like.' The sentence's vagueness had been intentional; as much as Saber had grown to like Assassin X, there were still a good many things she didn't wish to share with anyone anytime soon.
'Then I suppose the three of us are in good company.' Thankfully, he didn't press her. They shared a sad little chuckle over their mental link before Saber's eyes widened marginally as she registered a particular sensation. 'You sense it too, right?' Assassin X's voice was now as sharp as the projectiles he carried.
'Yes.' Saber quickly stepped across the sand to where her "Master" was still standing. 'Alert Kiritsugu. Irisviel and I shall act as discussed.'
'Affirmative. Watch yourselves.'
The homunculus didn't blink even as a grip came on her arm. She had felt it too. "An enemy Servant?"
"Yes." Saber nodded beside her. "Roughly a hundred meters away, in the shadows. He seems to be extending an invitation."
"How nice." Irisviel's mouth remained a straight line. "He's either trying to lure us into a trap or confront us head-on." Then she smiled at the other woman. "Shall we oblige him?"
Saber returned the smile. "But of course." Thus Irisviel quickly slipped on her footwear (and activated the little tracking device Kiritsugu had instructed her to carry at all times), and the two made for the unknown Servant announcing themselves.
Kariya groaned, shuffling along the darker parts of the city as he moved ever closer. He too had noticed the surge of mana, the unmistakable sign that a Servant was issuing a challenge. Even with the Crest Worms making their presence agonizingly known inside him, he had enough sense to keep moving. A familiar would be sent to watch the area, then if either of those Servants were to come within his sight… either one belonging to him…
His left arm was suddenly lifted and draped over something, distracting the reluctant "magus" from the rage stirring within him. A long piece of wood was then held in front of his nose. "It is only a loan for now," Caster X said while adjusting the arm over his cloaked shoulders, "but this ought to ease your load a bit more."
Kariya smiled at the elderly Servant and accepted the staff. "Thanks, but a guy looking like a homeless cripple being carried by a fairytale wizard? That might attract an audience."
Caster X gave him a playful wink. "Only if they bother to pay attention." The Master then noticed a slight shimmering in the air around them, like a Bounded Field of some sort. He understood, this was meant to trick the senses of any passerby.
"Well, in that case," Kariya hissed a bit while adjusting his footwork but nodded gratefully to his support, silently telling him that he was ready to move on. So, they walked together.
And sure enough, his staggering was much less strained than before. Not only because of Caster X's deceptively strong grip that kept him upright, but also a strange feeling that emanated from the Heroic Spirit of another world. The staff in his hand, thunking along the ground with each step, made him feel like he was a strong confident mage as he traced his fingers along the irregularities of its surface, not some broken beehive of a wannabe. The pain within didn't disappear but lessened, a welcome reprieve. Even the Worms inside of him moved about with less aggression, almost as if they were… cowed by Caster X's presence.
Berserker snarled and growled about somewhere behind them but made no move to charge ahead towards the enemy; his partner had counseled caution, stating that this Servant's invitation was almost certainly a trap, his Master had agreed with the assessment, and much to their mutual relief, the knight wrapped in darkness had acquiesced to a more careful approach with only a grunt.
As the trio walked with better speed through Fuyuki's allies than the leader would normally manage in his crippled state, Kariya's mind, relieved of the worst agony, trailed back to the moment he first met these two companions…
Both members of the Matou family could see someone standing within the Magic Circle after the flash of light. But even when the smoke had completely dissipated, it was next to impossible to make out any details.
There was a man, but he was dressed head to toe in sleek black armor, and even that was barely visible. A black aura seemed to enshroud his entire being like a mist, leaving it hard to judge more than general height and size. The only trait noticeable was the red glow from the visor of the helmet the knight carried, giving off a feeling of rage. As it peered down towards the that had called him, Kariya's already unsteady legs came exceedingly close to giving out. This Servant, the Berserker that had answered his desperate call, horrified him beyond measure.
"Well, look at that, Kariya," Zouken snickered to his panicking "son", "you summoned the Servant you sought. There might be some worth to you after all."
But the novice Matou found no comfort from the backhanded praise as he succumbed to a panicked coughing fit. A part of him fell into despair. Here he had gone and achieved his first task, and the Crest Worms had already taken away half of his limbs, he could barely keep himself from keeling over, and Berserker's violent gaze made him like a bug about to be crushed. How can I save-
Then a primal roar that cut through his thoughts rang throughout the chamber, following by an old, deep male voice. "Back, dark spirit!"
Kariya looked up and gaped in shock. Zouken's pitch-black orbs widened. The darkness emanating from Berserker had obstructed more than just his true form, it had also kept them from noticing that another had been standing behind the Servant of Madness the entire time.
A man of average height stood now at the edge of the Magic Circle, clad in long bluish-gray robes that a monk may have worn. A wide-brimmed hat with a long tip that was bent backwards covered much of his head, leaving a long grey beard and white teeth that currently gritted in exertion the only facial features visible. Both hands clutched a long, brown staff with one end showing small stubs of branches. Said end was pointing straight at Berserker, somehow keeping him from attacking despite his growl-laced efforts. To Kariya, he looked like a stereotypical wizard from old myths or children's tales, such as the ones he had read long ago before he grew disgusted with his family's practices.
"Who sent you here?" the unknown man demanded in a powerful tone despite the age within. "Have you inflicted such injuries upon that man? What is your purpose?" Berserker only snarled back at him, gauntleted hands stretching for his target like claws. But he showed no fear, thrusting forward with his staff. "Answer me!"
An invisible force pushed against the black knight, making stumble a step back. But he planted his feet and let out another howl, striking the ground hard enough to send a tremor through the floor that rattled everyone. Kariya fell forward but still watched in awe as Berserker swiftly collected some rock shards in one hand and threw them at the other Servant (yes, a Servant, Kariya could tell from the stats surrounding him) within one second. The darkened projectiles soared like arrows, forcing the old man to jump to the side as they collapsed part of the wall behind him, yet he swung his staff upwards, muttering something, while the tip glowed. A burst of light forced the approaching Berserker to a screeching stop, more rocks ready to be hurled.
"W-wait, Berserker!" Kariya finally managed to call out, stretching his arm out desperately. For a moment, he thought he would need a Command Seal to keep the rabid Servant from tearing apart the whole basement (gratifying though that image would be). The way the blasted creatures inside him went about increased his desperation.
Fortunately, it wasn't needed. Both Servants just paused all of a sudden before another attack could be made from either side. They said nothing, made no movements, they simply looked slightly upwards in silence.
Finally, the wizard murmured, "So, we are to be allies, then?" Berserker for his part threw back his head and began to howl like an agitated wolf, the sound bouncing all along the walls of the basement, when the other Heroic Spirit planted his staff in front of him and chanted something else. The broken branches atop glowed for a brief moment while the knight ceased his noise, actually relaxing from his usual feral posture.
Staff tapping along the stone, the wizard moved a bit closer to the knight, he in turn not attacking. "Such madness… such rage…" the former's voice was softer, more compassionate than before, Kariya could barely hear him. "What could have driven a man with your prowess to the near beast you are now?" Berserker only rumbled something in reply.
"Aaaa… ur…" None could be sure what he was saying or even if he was trying to speak.
The old man's head turned towards Kariya, and Berserker copied his action with unexpected calm. "You are the one that summoned us both, are you not?" Unable to even sit up, the man could only manage a weak nod. "You are the Master of us both, Berserker and Caster X." The man had moved his staff to his left hand and gestured from the other Servant to himself with his free right one. "Two of the fourteen Servants that have arrived for this War."
"F-fourteen?" Kariya repeated in shock. He tried to move his trembling hands in a vain attempt to push himself upright, tiny beasts wriggling across his skin, but only one arm worked at the best of times. He looked upon the ground, disgusted at his own weakness.
"Such pain. But I may be able to assist." Then he felt a firm but gentle grip on his left shoulder and heard something uttered in a language he didn't recognize. But whatever it did, the Worms suddenly grew still, and strength flooded his body. He tried to get up again, and this time, both arms and both legs followed his will. The Matou "mage" rose slowly to his full height, amazed at this development, and found himself looking into Caster X's face.
It was an old one, lined with many years, heavily covered in grey hair from all sides, but the hat no longer obscured the blue eyes this Servant possessed. Under bushy grey brows, they shined with wisdom and gentle compassion, enough that Kariya wanted to weep at the kindness shown to him, and even when the hand released his shoulder, he managed to stay upright of his own power. "Th-thank you," he said; even his breathing no longer felt like his throat would set on fire with each piece of air.
He smiled kindly. "It is the least I can do for my Master." Kariya's scarred face turned puzzled, causing the Servant of Spells to gesture towards his hands. "Take a look." He obediently looked down saw to his shock that both of his hands had Command Seals. The right jagged ones he was familiar with, but the left was a strange letter unlike any language he knew from his writing travels. Berserker remained unmoving rumbling at his spot.
Then a dark chuckle ruined whatever hope he was starting to get. "My my," Zouken sneered as he drew closer, "you actually manage to bring about two Servants, and quite powerful ones as well, my boy. You might save that girl after all." His smirk grew more sadistic. "Assuming you don't rot away from the mana cost-"
"Be silent!" Caster X's stern voice slashed through his taunts just as the long sword he drew from his side cut through the air. The entire blade glowed a holy blue, its tip pointing at the now very still Zouken's large forehead. "I do not know what sort of foul creature you may be, but your presence is far viler than that of Berserker. Ending you may be a boon upon this world."
Old though the Servant's body may have been, but even through the veils of his Mad Enhancement, the aforementioned knight recognized a fellow swordsman through his resolute stance. Recognized… and respected.
A little sweat trickled down Zouken's face as he eyed the weapon trained between his eyes. A normal attack wouldn't warrant any concern from him normally, but a Servant, regardless of class, was beyond any normal man.
And something about this one unsettled him. Some kind of Skill or attribute, maybe? Whatever it was, he had a feeling that he wouldn't be walking away easily if this… familiar chose to strike. And Kariya the little shit looked like he wanted to bolt up to the kitchen and scamper right back down so he could watch with some snacks.
"Let's not be hasty," the Matou patriarch tried in his most negotiable tone. "Ending me isn't going to solve all of your problems, Kariya. Or maybe you might want to think of dear Sakura…?"
The cripple glared at him, eyes widening and then squinting. "Where is she? If you've done anything more to her, I swear I'll-"
"She's safe," Zouken answered as smoothly as he could, "for now. I'm simply making sure nothing may befall her before you bring me the Holy Grail. It's the least I can do for my darling granddaughter."
Kariya trembled in fury, the Crest Worms beginning to squirm again. Him calling that precious little girl his granddaughter was a disgusting lie, but of course, the ancient bastard would've taken precautions, just in case he would've gotten any ideas with Berserker or the unexpected Caster X. If he let his Servants tear Zouken apart now, who knew where she may be or what might happen? "…That's enough. Put it away, Caster X."
The grey wizard's grip tightened on his sword but he reluctantly returned Glamdring to its sheathe. One look at this… man confirmed he oozed evil like few other beings he had encountered in his travels. But a girl's life seemed to be at stake. This was not the time.
Not yet.
"We're leaving." Kariya moved to hobble towards the stairs, silently dreading the effort that would await him. "Be ready to let her go when we return." He reached the first step, legs already beginning to protest-
Then he found himself braced from both sides, first one, then three seconds passed before the other as well. Shocked, Kariya turned to see Caster X on his left, and Berserker on his right. "Well, now," the elderly man nodded in friendship towards his partner, "you appear to have retained your chivalry even while losing your reason, sir."
"Nnnnnnn… sssssrrrrrr…" the shrouded thing hissed from beneath his helmet, but even so, he was impressively careful in the way his armored being supported his Master's broken body. With their help, Kariya made it to the top as quickly as he would a year ago. His heart felt like it rested in a cooling stream at this fresh feeling, this sense of support from the Heroic Spirits that had answered the call to aid him in this fight for Sakura's life.
Then the devil below opened his mouth again. "Oh, and be sure to greet Tokiomi for me should you meet him."
The mere mention of that man's name set the stream where Kariya's heart rested to a boiling torrent. Yes, he had not forgotten the one responsible for Sakura's anguish, for the burdens he was enduring. The one that would pay.
Berserker began to growl, sensing his Master's fury, while Caster X looked between the two with a wary expression.
"This ought to be a suitable spot." Kariya started at his Servant's words. They had reached a heavy container on the farthest part of the docks, close enough to find out what was sure to happen, but far enough that the two Servants with him wouldn't be easily detected. Caster led his Master to the large metal and let him slump against it with as much care as he could, accepting his staff back with a thanks.
Kariya had quickly found himself growing used to these many little acts of kindness and decency from his Servant. Despite not being able to head back to his apartment, lest his landlady scream at the sight of him, shoot him like some zombie and then toss him into a coffin to be buried, he had received no complaints whatsoever for choosing to hunker down on a dirty mattress in some Shinto alley or getting the bare necessities for sustenance from a convenience store nearby. On the contrary, Caster X had proven himself a kind, reliable, if somewhat gruff at times, companion. He treated Kariya's internal injuries with potent healing spells, offered reasonable suggestions for the battles to come, his own supply was so great that the Master really only needed to keep Berserker replenished (and at half the normal cost, too), and he had inquired gently about his circumstances. The Matou white sheep had told him everything about his family history, Zouken, choosing to walk away from magic because of both details, his own time with Aoi, how Tokiomi, the man that had stolen her from him, sent off Sakura to become the Matou heir, and how he filled himself up with Crest Worms and joined the Grail War to save her and punish Tokiomi for her suffering.
Caster X had disapproved of this last part rather strongly, but the only other source of argument had been what to do with the Worms inside Kariya. The otherworldly Heroic Spirit (Kariya still remembered his shock at hearing that seven of the Servants came from elsewhere) had strongly advocated that he try to eradicate the evil things with his magic; healing Kariya's body did some good, but it also meant there was more for them to chew on. But Kariya sadly had no other way to perform magecraft; Matou had seen to that.
So, much as he voiced his unhappiness with either issue, Caster X still swore to help him in every way he could. And Kariya couldn't find it in him to doubt him, for he couldn't remember the last time he had felt such a deep admiration of any magus. But this one, he exuded an aura of wisdom, benevolence, and kindness. That the Worms seemed to behave more when he was around, as though he intimidated them through his mere presence, was a bonus.
Heck, even Berserker seemed to approve of his partner. Once he grew to understand the reason behind the Servant of Madness' aggression, the wizard began to use calming spells on him that couldn't fully counteract Mad Enhancement (yet), but at least kept the knight from rampaging while they were around. He snarled and trembled around in spirit form through the day, but not once did he attack Caster X again. They were actually quite cordial with each other, Caster X taking the time to hold some conversations with him (even if Berserker's contributions were unintelligible noises).
As he released some flyers that would serve as familiars for the upcoming battle, Kariya actually had hope that he would take down Tokiomi, win this War, and save Sakura, Rin, and Aoi once and for all.
Caster X on the other hand worried over a great deal: his Master's physical health and obsession with revenge, the Berserker currently in spirit form but just barely restraining himself from answering the challenge issued, that monster Zouken, and the little girl under his thumb. He had yet to meet Sakura, but Kariya's affection for her was true, and he'd grown rather fond of the man that had brought him to this world. There was much to be done to help his Master and partner, and he needed more time to discern the best way to solve all of these concerns.
But now, the board was set for a different battle tonight, one he may have to take part in. Thus, all Gandalf the Gray could presently do was light his pipe full of Old Toby and steel himself.
-154:15:41
Even as night had long since come, cars drove this way and that across the 665 meters of Fuyuki Bridge. And atop this bridge, on one of its many red massive steel frames sat Iskandar, King of Conquerors. The mighty winds of the sea sent his long cloak rippling, but it remained safely around his broad shoulders. He himself calmly sipped from a wine bottle while on his crossed legs, unbothered by the forces blowing against him.
"Rider…" The same couldn't be said for the Servant's Master, huddling pitifully to the same structure. Tears welled up in Waver's eyes as his voice trembled with each stroke of air. "Let's go down already. Now!"
Rider took another gulp before glancing down at the student. "What? We couldn't have picked a better place as a look-out. Remind me to thank Qrow for suggesting it."
"I-I think he was being sarcastic when he said it…" Waver mumbled, glancing to the side, "…at least I hope he was…" then the wind picked up, making him yelp and remember his biggest concerns. "W-we're way too high up! I'll fall if you don't get me down."
"Oh, show some patience. Watching and waiting are important traits for any war. You could always read the book I gave you if you need something to do. It's good stuff."
His backpack rustled just above his rump that had risen in the air (which pretty much took away the last of the boy's dignity), the Odyssey book nestled inside ("Just in case nothing happens," Rider had said before grinning. "And maybe even while something happens!") Waver couldn't even think about reading or waiting, he just needed to be on solid ground again!
A light flapping could be heard over the wind for one moment, then Waver felt a slight tremor in the metal underneath him as footsteps approached. "Yo," Saber X's voice rasped out from behind him, the Servant bending over into the boy's teary line of sight just enough to see his face and a wave. "Sweet party you've got up here."
Rider smiled in greeting to his partner. "Ah, Qrow! Your choice in observational points is spot-on!" He tossed the bottle over, which the other Servant caught effortlessly. "Anything else exciting happening tonight?"
Saber X wiped the muzzle a bit before putting it to his mouth for a swig, then replied, "Movement from a couple other Servants nearby, but nothing big yet. I've got the feeling they're doing the same thing as us: waiting for someone else to take the bait." He sat in a casual manner on the other side of the huddling Waver, right leg propped up against the metal while the left swung about without a care in the world, before passing the bottle back with a smirk. "Y'know, when the guy down there first started waving his flag, I'd have thought you'd be first to go charging at him. Big ox chariot, trumpets blazing, all that jazz."
Rider laughed, swirling about the wine a bit in his hand. "I enjoy the clash of opposing might like few others, but I recognize a trap when I see one, my friend. Let another fall into it, then we shall see."
"Nice to know there are a couple of braincells inside that thick skull," the dark-haired Servant commented in good humor as he looked on towards the shipping yards of the docks, the point of origin from the mana rippling in the air. Two red capes fluttered like flags as their owners sat on the bridge, calmly awaiting the show.
Waver for some inexplicable reason didn't have quite the same sang-froid as his Servants, and he was just about to demand that they get him down when a loud bang! almost made him fall over the side with a yelp hadn't two arms caught him on either side. He looked down at the cars below and barely made out through his crying one that had shuddered over to the side and its occupant getting out with some loud Japanese swears. "Blown tire, I guess." Waver's eyes flickered up to Saber X, the Servant peering down at the very angry driver with that weird look in his red eyes.
Were Waver of calmer mind, he might've wondered what he was thinking about. In this state, though? "I wanna go home…" he whimpered as they deposited him back on their perch, clinging for dear life to the metal. "I wanna be back in England again…"
"I just told you to be patient," Rider sighed, disappointed in his Master's cowardice. Perhaps Saber X had been right in saying he was not ready for this War. But then, so few boys ever truly were. And he was not about to let a little sobbing ruin his anticipation for what was about to happen. Iskandar was pleased that his partner on the other hand understood perfectly: the waiting was a battle of endurance. A test of their patience to see if someone else would allow themselves to be ensnared by this brazen Servant.
A test that had paid off, Rider realized with a bright grin. Saber X shot him a sly look, confirming he had noticed it as well. "Eyes up, pipsqueak." Waver glanced with moist eyes at the leaner familiar. "Show's about to start."
The boy managed to find just enough sense through his terror to follow the Servant of the Sword's fingers. Yes… another signature was approaching the first one, bright and confident.
Rider laughed heartily. "This ought to be good!"
Saber walked ahead of Irisviel in the dockyards both gazing every direction in an attempt to find the enemy. The massive containers allowed many shadows to be cast against the light of the streetlamps, increasing hiding places. And aside from one Assassin not allied with them, there were other threats to be found within the darkness.
"Greetings," A smooth male voice rang out, drawing their attention. A single man walked from the other side of the yard, carrying something in each of his hands. "I spent all day searching this wide city for an opponent, but they all slunk away from my presence." A few steps, and the shadows would hide his features no more. "Even the one that made quite a ruckus some time ago. You alone showed enough bravery to acknowledge my offer."
The Servant stepped into the moonlight as Saber shifted to in front of her "Master." Her eyes scanned each detail of her opponent. He stood tall in teal clothing that appeared light, not really meant for absorbing damage but to allow movement. The closest thing to armor was a pad on his left shoulder. The man's face was quite beautiful even to Saber, who had little interest in such things; smooth features, slightly combed messy hair with one strand falling over his face, sleek brown eyes, a mole under his right eye. Then her attention drifted to the weapons he carried: twin spears in both hands, near completely wrapped in purple bandages that left only the tips visible. The one in his right hand was red and longer than the full height of its wielder's body, while the one in his left was yellow and only a third of the other's length.
"Such brilliant resolve…" the Servant praised with a calm smile. "That must make you a Saber, then?"
"I am Saber indeed," she confirmed his inquest, then quickly added, "No 'X' in my case. And you are a Lancer?"
"Correct, without an 'X' as well." The Servant of the Spear chuckled a bit. "These are truly circumstances to get used to. As if keeping ourselves from stating our names for a proper duel wasn't frustrating enough." He twirled both spears in practiced motions as his legs crouched into a stance for combat.
"You would fight me alone, then?"
"Improper though our duel may be, I refuse to sully it further with the interference of my partner. He's already enough of a surly one."
"I appreciate your preference and hope to honor it well." A bright light shined beneath Saber, winds howling about her. Her normal black suit was promptly replaced by the clothing and armor she had worn at her summoning to this world. Her treasured sword, enshrouded by Invisible Air, came into the grip of her right gauntleted hand and then met the left as well as the King of Knights assumed her own stance.
"Watch yourself, Saber," Irisviel cautioned behind her. "The only thing I can do here is back you up with healing magic."
"I can handle Lancer," Saber assured her, not taking her eyes off her target, "but stay on guard for his Master and the other Servant. Their lack of presence here is concerning. Either one could be up to something." She trusted Lancer wouldn't pull any deceitful tactics, but that didn't mean she was stupid. Hopefully her own partner wasn't too far away. "All you need to do is cover me, Irisviel."
"Alright, Saber. Then fight to win!"
"Yes, ma'am!" And so, the first real battle of the Fourth Holy Grail War began much like it did in so many other timelines.
Powerful legs took him down the streets, one after the other. He smiled as the sweet, unmistakable aroma of a battle beginning nearby filled the air. He could practically taste it.
These last few days had been so agonizingly boring for him. He'd checked just about every part of this stupid city and couldn't find any of the others. Nothing to do but lie around in spirit form, take a nap, and wait for one of them to show up.
Even then, his Magic Energy had begun to deplete. He wasn't one of those pansy Archers with that Skill that let them move around better without a Master and replenishing what he'd lost by biting normal people like some vampire was just gross. The only reason he was still here was because he had a lot bigger supply than most.
He'd probably only be able to have one good fight, though, two if he was lucky, before that was it for him.
But that was fine. A Servant was calling out to the others, a strong one.
Why the hell hadn't he thought of that?
Didn't matter. He'd just gotten an invitation for a fight to the death, and like hell was he gonna pass it up.
Berserker X rounded another corner, hand eagerly drifting for his sword's handle-
And found himself facing a brick wall next to some Chinese restaurant advertising for tofu. "What the hell…?" he snarled in frustration. "Where's the fight?!"
Well, Fuyuki City's layout isn't always the easiest to understand.
For those of you wondering about my "Class 1-A Watches The Incredibles" story, it got deleted by the admins on Monday. Sorry, y'all, I really, really tried to avoid that outcome, but no dice. Either way, I humbly ask you not to flood this story with queries, complaints, raves, or the like. Please leave ONLY REVIEWS RELATED TO THIS STORY. Thank you.
Rider X-
Class: Rider
Master: Kirei Kotomine
True Name: Megatron
Titles: Lord and Master of the Decepticons, Champion of the Pits of Kaon
Sex: Male
Source: Transformers Prime
Region: Cybertron
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Strength: A
Endurance: A
Agility: B+
Mana: B
Luck: D
NP: A
Class Skills-
Riding: The capacity to ride vehicles and animals. Rider-class Servants will typically possess a high rank.
A: Rider X can handle nearly all animals and vehicles with supreme prowess, be it land, sea, or air (air being his specialty due to Alt-Mode: Starship), even if they are less advanced than the ones of his homeworld. However, Phantasmal Species are beyond his abilities.
Magic Resistance: Grants protection against magical effects.
D: Rider X holds little natural immunity against magical threats, his willpower being the strongest factor rather than any experience in his past life. Magic on the level of High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals can overwhelm him, though he will put up a fight.
Personal Skills-
Charisma: Is a composite Skill consisting of a person's charm as well as the natural talent to command or unify an army or country. Increases the ability of allies during group battles.
A: Rider X successfully led a political movement that became an incredibly powerful army to overthrow the current government. With it, he came close to conquering his world were it not for the opposing army being led by an equally great person and his own misjudgment.
Tactics: Is tactical knowledge used not for one-on-one combat situations, but for battles where many are mobilized. Bonus modifiers are provided during use of one's own Anti-Army Noble Phantasm or when dealing against an enemy Anti-Army Noble Phantasm.
B: Rider X personally led his troops into battle as often as he could but also coordinated away from enemy lines successfully. He has a good sense for how to use any resource at his disposal.
The Path to Glory: The drive to continue on towards one's highest level, a refusal to settle for anything less. This Skill also grants the boons of Independent Action, Valor and Battle Continuation, albeit of one rank lower.
A+: Rider X was once a nameless miner, but from his first step into a gladiatorial arena, he gained more power and rose to be among the mightiest of his people's history. To him, physical injuries and even temporary defeat are annoyances of varying levels so long as the final result is him standing victorious. His thirst for more power and opponents to wield this power against seems unsatiable; there are no limits to what sorts of depravities Rider X would stoop to.
Noble Phantasms-
Alt-Mode Starship: "Conquest of the Upper Heights": B (Anti-Unit (Self)): Unlike most others of his class, Rider X does not summon a mount for battle; he is the mount. He can naturally assume a secondary form, an aircraft as large as he is big, able to carry another passenger (while generating a low-level protective field to keep the passenger from feeling adverse effects in flight) and still race through the skies with supersonic velocity. He is also equipped with rapid-fire energy blasters to strafe enemies on passes. Highly maneuverable, Rider X's air-combat abilities as a Starship are difficult to match at the least, and he can switch between this form and his regular one with but a thought.
?: A++ (Anti-Unit (Self))
?: A++ (Anti-Unit)
Bonus: (The True Reason Behind Kiritsugu Emiya and Artoria Pendragon's Less Tense Partnership)
"And the signs for all of them are mandatory?"
"When you perform a jutsu the first few times, yes. Memorization is a key tool for this as well. One misstep, and the jutsu either won't happen in the way it's supposed to or won't happen period." Assassin X explained as the duo were walking through one of the mansion's hallways. "But once you've reached a certain level of familiarity with a technique, one can perform it with a fraction of the mandatory handsigns. In fact, there are shinobi that only need a single one per jutsu, if that."
"Dare I hope you're one of them?" Kiritsugu appeared without emotion as ever, but there was a trace of levity in his voice. It was only a few hours before they would be heading for the airport to catch the flight to Japan, and both Master and Servant were feeling a little restless.
"You have fair reason to," Assassin X replied, silently pleased that an infinitesimal part of the man had opened up. "Handsigns are basically a way to help mold chakra into a certain way for a certain result. The more often the parts of a body do something, the more accustomed they grow to it, and soon enough, parts can be skipped for immediate effects."
"It's a similar thing with magecraft," Kiritsugu agreed, scratching the stubble on his chin. The discussions this last day had been quite interesting, and more than a little-
"HiyaaaaaaaaaAAAAAA!?"
Both men just stood there for about a minute, brains struggling to comprehend the sound that had just reverberated through every part of the castle. "…That sounded like Saber," Assassin X finally noted, trying to narrow down where the sound had originated.
"She was with Iri." Kiritsugu was already beginning to sprint down the hall. The Servant caught up to him in no time as they passed confused homunculi and members of the Einzbern family.
What the hell was that? An enemy attack? Why else would Saber of all people make such a cry? But how could they have slipped in this easily? Kiritsugu primed his Glock and Kakashi readied a handful of shuriken. Any adversaries coming into this castle would sorely regret it.
Assassin X wrenched open the door to the room where he had established his partnership with Saber, both men poured in… and blinked in incomprehension at what they saw.
Saber had pressed herself and a befuddled Irisviel against the far wall, eyes glaring with an odd sort of terror staring at something lying on the floor. The men stepped closer to see what it was-
Oh no! Assassin X's eye widened in horror as he rooted around in his back pouch, desperately to find what he was looking for.
Alas, it wasn't in its usual spot. He remembered now, he had taken it out to pass some of the time before Kiritsugu had telepathically called him to check on something. Then Irisviel had walked in and greeted him, he greeted back and must've accidentally left it behind on the table.
Now, resting half-open covers face-up on the exquisite carpet next to a spilled cup of tea, Kiritsugu leaning overhead, was his treasured first-edition copy of "Make-Out Tactics."
Cheeks flushed so furiously her blonde hair had almost turned red, Saber snapped her gaze towards Assassin X who took a step back from the emerald fire blazing in them. "YOU! Is that thing…" her index finger thrust through the air like Rhongyomiad (which she dearly wished she still had in this moment to purge the world of such foulness) at the mass of paper, "Is that disgusting work of primal f-filth truly yours?! Tell me Irisviel is wrong, Assassin X! Tell me this was sent by one of our enemies as part of some dastardly scheme!" She didn't care that she was screeching like a banshee now, this simply couldn't be true!
"Well, uh, you see…" Kakashi stuttered, incapable of meeting those indignant emerald orbs.
Kiritsugu looked between the two of them, Assassin X acting like a boy having caught in the act of cheating on a test, Saber looking like a furious mother ready to give him a thrashing, then his eyes went back down to the orange book with a cartoon thinking man on the front. "Iri…" he asked slowly, "what the he-eck is going on here?"
His wife shrugged lightly. "I'm honestly not sure. I come in here with some tea, greet Assassin X who was on his way to meet up with you, he left that book behind, and well, those letters there say 'Tactics' if I recall from our lessons. I thought it might be some strategy book that he was using to brush up on some plans, and I guess curiosity got the better of me." She giggled in a guilty tone. "Sorry, Assassin X, I would've given it back to you later."
"T-that's okay, Irisviel," Assassin X quickly reassured her, grateful for any chance to defuse this situation. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on his side. Saber continued to glare at him…
…And Kiritsugu had just picked it off the ground.
"Watch yourself, Kiritsugu!" Artoria warned him in such a stern tone that he almost obeyed her for a second. "What is written in those pages, no innocent soul should ever bear witness to!" She shuddered in utter horror for a moment. "I found Irisviel sitting in a chair, avidly reading that book. She was gazing at its contents so intently I grew curious myself and peered over her shoulder." Another shudder, accompanied by an expression far too haunted for anyone with such a face to normally bear. "T-that single page told of… t-two people… on a bed… with wine… a-a-and un-uncooked rice…" For the first time, she regretted the Grail-given ability to translate foreign languages and texts into her native tongue.
Ah, page 64, Kakashi realized with sweat beginning to gather under his protector. Yes, that's a… that's a pretty steamy one. Even by the series' standards.
And she continued to describe her harrowing first encounter with adult literature. "I struck it out of her hand and tried to put as much space between her pure soul and T-this c-carnal f-f-f-FILTH!" Saber spat out the word with every last shred of disgust she could muster, the result making him shrink back. And to think she had developed such a high opinion of her partner!
Gniargh, Merlin certainly would've approved of this lout…
Kiritsugu flipped through the pages, brow furrowing with each passing second. Irisviel continued to be puzzled about all the heat. "Carnal?" she asked in the sort of innocent tone a young child would have when using a swear word for the first time. "I'm not sure how meat refers to the context." She tapped a finger to her chin. "I've never read a book quite like that before…" With good reason, her scowling beloved thought, snapping the novel shut before his mind could properly picture its… contents.
Iri continued to speak, a curious gleam shimmering in her crimson eyes. "The story's pretty interesting, Kiritsugu, especially some of the scenes. Are they actually feasible?"
…How sheltered is this woman?! Never before had Assassin X been so grateful for his mask's ability to hide nosebleeds.
And was that steam or Invisible Air billowing from the top of Saber's head?
Plus, both Servants could've sworn they saw their Master's face increase in color for a moment. Especially around his nose.
The precious book was launched with speed rivalling that of a fired bullet back into its owner's hand, the ninja juggling it a bit for a second before stowing it away. "N-now now, everyone," Assassin X tried to keep his voice calm, hands raised defensively in front of himself, "we all have our little ways of getting through the days, right? And there's no harm done f-from o-o-o-one l-little b-b-b-book…"
A still-luminescent Saber hadn't summoned her sword (yet), but that may have been because her hands were currently gripping a chair's backrest so tightly the wood had begun to splinter between her fingers.
And judging by the heat of her glower towards her partner, his neck may be next.
Somehow, though, that seemed to be the gentler fate that awaited him.
"You left," Kiritsugu Emiya ground through each word with an ever-colder growing glare his way, "an erotic novel. One that practically redefines the term. Lying around. Where my wife could pick it up."
"I-I didn't mean to leave it-"
"Ilya could've found it."
I'm doomed…
If looks could kill, the one Kiritsugu cast upon him would've launched Assassin X straight through the Throne of Heroes and into all six realms of reincarnation.
And Saber's would've trapped him in Naraka for all eternity.
"Saber." The single word was curt, deceptively calm.
The girl of deceptive youth tore away her blazing emerald eyes away from her partner and towards the other man present. "Yes, Master?" She acknowledged him in the same tone.
"I have a special assignment for you, hopefully one that doesn't require a Command Seal." The Mage Killer's eyes never wavered from Kakashi. No matter how much he shivered. "The next time you catch Assassin X with that kind of literature in public or anywhere near my family, remove from him whatever body parts you believe he does not require for battle."
Assassin X paled at the implication, more so when Saber gave a curt nod in concurrence. "Understood, Master. And indeed, you need not waste your Command Seal for this mission. I swear on my honor as King of Knights, such travesties shall not go unpunished."
"Excellent." They even shook hands in agreement over this.
Irisviel was beaming at the professional, almost civil conversation between her husband and his primary Servant. She still wasn't entirely sure what all the fuss was about, but the results were promising. She couldn't help but give her most gentle, sincere smile at the strangely petrified Heroic Spirit. "You're really an incredible person, Assassin X! Their cooperation's getting better with each day!"
Yes… Kakashi Hatake mused as miniscule tears began to gather in his right eye, I've outdone myself