Fuyuki Church
The grand hall of the Fuyuki Church was bathed in candlelight, the flickering flames casting shadows against the stone walls. Standing atop the altar like a judge passing a verdict, was Kotomine Risei.
'Tokiomi had decided. As his ally, it was my duty to ensure the war unfolds according to his vision. A shame, perhaps, that I must dirty my hands in politics rather than faith—but such was the nature of this conflict.'
His deep voice carried across the empty pews, but his words would soon reach every Master in the war, except Issei.
"In accordance with my duty as overseer of this Holy Grail War, I must announce a grave violation of the rules." He declared, his tone measured and heavy. "Caster's Master has engaged in acts of aggression against those uninvolved in the war. Civilians who had no part in this conflict."
Risei clasped his hands together as if in prayer, but the words he spoke next had little to do with faith.
"As such, in the name of the Holy Church, I offer a Command Seal as a reward to any Master who eliminates this criminal."
The decree was final on the orders of Tokiomi.
The message spread swiftly, whispered by unseen messengers and relayed to the various Masters of the Grail War.
—-------------------------
Fuyuki Hyatt Hotel – Kayneth's Suite
Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi swirled a glass of deep red wine, watching the liquid swirl like blood in the candlelight. His fingers tightened around the delicate stem as he processed the announcement.
"A Command Seal, is it?" he mused aloud, reclining in his opulent chair.
A bounty had just been placed on Caster's Master. The Church had made its declaration—one fool had overstepped, and now the rest of them were being invited to correct his mistake. A command seal was a valuable prize, and an easy one if the target was truly as reckless as Risei's words suggested.
Standing nearby, Sola-Ui stood with her arms crossed, the dim lighting casting sharp shadows on her elegant features. She regarded him with the same impatient disdain she always wore when the subject of battle arose. 'How irritating.'
"A convenient excuse, wouldn't you say?" she remarked, voice laced with venom. "Or do you plan to keep hiding behind Lancer like a coward?"
Kayneth's fingers clenched tighter around his glass. A lesser man might have reacted to such blatant provocation, but he was not a lesser man. He was a Lord of the Clock Tower, a magus of unmatched refinement and prestige.
He exhaled slowly, setting his wine down with a quiet clink. 'How predictable. She mistakes patience for fear, tactics for cowardice. It's laughable, really.'
"Caster's Master… a fool, to break the war's rules so blatantly," he continued, his tone smooth and measured. "If the Church deems him unworthy, I see no reason not to remove him myself. A Master without morals is hardly a worthy opponent."
Sola-Ui scoffed. "You talk of honor, but where has it gotten you so far? Hiding in this room while others make their moves? Face it, Kayneth—Lancer is the only reason you have any claim to this war at all."
His jaw tightened. He turned his gaze toward her, eyes narrowing slightly. 'She never stops, does she? She knows nothing of true magecraft, of strategy, of the weight of command.'
"Do not mistake caution for weakness, Sola-Ui." He said coolly. "Unlike common barbarians, I do not simply throw my strength away recklessly. A proper magus chooses his battles wisely."
Sola-Ui let out a breath through her nose, clearly unimpressed. She turned slightly, shifting her focus to Lancer, who had remained silent throughout their exchange. Her gaze softened—just slightly.
"And what of you, Lancer?" she asked, her voice losing some of its earlier bite. "Do you not tire of waiting? Or are you content to play the obedient dog?"
Lancer, who had been standing at attention near the wall, finally lifted his gaze. His emerald eyes held a quiet depth, unreadable yet not entirely indifferent. There was a faint hesitation before he answered, but when he did, his voice was unwavering.
"I am a knight, my lady. My spear is my lord's to command."
Kayneth smiled slightly, pleased with his Servant's loyalty. 'Yes, that is how it should be. He understands his role. Unlike some.'
He rose from his seat, adjusting the sleeves of his fine coat as he strode toward the grand window overlooking the cityscape of Fuyuki. The night stretched out before him, the twinkling lights of the city below reminding him of the countless pieces in this grand game of war.
"Lancer, we will eliminate him at the earliest opportunity," he declared. "There is no need for delay. A fool who lacks the discipline to respect the war's rules is not fit to continue participating. If we must remove him ourselves, then so be it. Consider it our first step toward victory."
Lancer inclined his head slightly, expression unreadable. "As you command, my lord."
Kayneth smirked to himself, savoring the shift in momentum. 'Yes… this is how it should be. The war will proceed on my terms, not anyone else's.'
From behind him, Sola-Ui exhaled, shaking her head.
"I wonder, Kayneth," she murmured. "Are you truly thinking ahead… or simply grasping for a victory that keeps slipping from your fingers?"
He ignored her. There was no need to entertain the words of someone who failed to grasp the true nature of the war.
—-------------------------------
Eisenberg Castle
Kiritsugu Emiya sat alone in the dimly lit study, fingers tapping rhythmically against the wooden table. The soft glow of a nearby monitor flickered against his sharp features, illuminating the unreadable expression on his face.
A Command Seal.
'The Church had just put out a bounty on Caster's Master. That alone was strange. The Holy Grail War was a conflict between magi—bloodstained, ruthless, but with its own rules. The Church, despite its claims of neutrality, rarely intervened so openly. And yet, here they were, offering a Command Seal as payment for an execution.'
Across from him, Irisviel frowned, her silver hair cascading over her shoulder as she shifted in her seat. Her crimson eyes held a quiet intensity.
"That announcement… something doesn't sound right about it," she said, watching him carefully.
Kiritsugu exhaled through his nose, his gaze still locked onto the screen.
"Obviously. The Church doesn't care about civilians."
"Then why would they go out of their way to—"
"Honestly? I don't know." He interrupted, his tone clipped. "If Tokiomi and the Church are working together, I have no idea what they get from eliminating Caster's Master. The timing is suspicious."
His mind worked through the possibilities. Was this an elaborate ploy to thin the number of Masters? A smokescreen for another scheme? If Tokiomi was involved, then this wasn't just about punishing someone for breaking the rules. There had to be another layer to it.
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he considered his next move. If nothing else, this decree had one clear benefit—it painted a bright, obvious target on Caster's Master. The other Masters would be drawn to the hunt, which meant their focus wouldn't be on him.
A useful distraction.
"Maiya." His voice barely rose above a murmur, but it was enough.
From the other side of the room, the silent woman—Maiya Hisau—stood at attention, waiting for orders. Her dark eyes held no emotion, only focus.
"Have you found anything about the Master of Caster?"
Maiya's response was as precise as ever. "Unfortunately not, Kiritsugu. I searched, but there's no trace of this Issei."
Kiritsugu's fingers tapped the table once more. Issei. A name, but no information. No movements, no presence in the city's surveillance. Either the man was incredibly skilled at remaining hidden, or he wasn't playing by the usual rules of magecraft.
Neither possibility sat well with him.
"Hmm." He exhaled slowly, pushing aside his curiosity for now. "Then we'll use this opportunity to eliminate another Master. Do we have the location of the Master of Lancer?"
Maiya nodded. "He is currently staying at the Hyatt Hotel."
Kiritsugu's lips curled into a cold, humorless smirk. Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi. A proud, arrogant noble from the Clock Tower. The kind of man who clung to outdated notions of honor and prestige. A man like that would never see his death coming—because he wouldn't expect a fight that wasn't on his terms.
"Then we start preparing." His tone left no room for discussion.
Irisviel watched him, a faint trace of sadness in her expression, but she said nothing. She knew Kiritsugu's methods. Knew that when he set his sights on a target, there was no hesitation, no sentimentality—only the cold calculation of a man who would do whatever it took to reach his goal.
—------------------------------------
Waver's Apartment
The announcement had barely finished when Waver Velvet shot up from his chair, pacing frantically in the small apartment.
"A Command Seal… an actual Command Seal," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his messy hair. "That's— that's a huge deal, isn't it? That means an extra order for Rider. I could…"
His voice trailed off, uncertainty settling in.
Across the room, Rider was lounging on the floor, legs crossed, downing an entire can of beer as if the announcement were nothing more than idle gossip.
Waver turned to him. "Should we—"
"No," Rider said firmly, not even looking up.
Waver flinched. "But—"
"No," Rider repeated, setting his bottle down with a loud thud. "We are warriors, not cowards. Caster and Issei are enemies worth fighting, we'll face them both in battle, not as hunters chasing scraps thrown to us by some priest." He scoffed. "A true king doesn't pick fights for a cheap reward."
Waver swallowed hard, lowering his gaze. "Right… yeah, of course." His stomach twisted with unspoken conflict. Rider spoke as if the matter was settled, but was it really so simple? 'Every Master in the war would be hunting down Caster's Master now. If they ignored this opportunity, would they be putting themselves at a disadvantage?'
Even if the idea lingered in his mind, Rider's conviction left no room for argument.
Rider merely grinned, reaching for another can of beer. "Good! Now, stop pacing like a nervous scribe and sit down. You're making me dizzy."
—---------------------------------------
The afternoon was quiet, save for the distant hum of city life and the occasional rustling of leaves. Perched high on a telephone pole, an owl with deep crimson eyes observed the sunlit residential district below. The creature's head tilted slightly, its keen vision locked onto a house nestled in the quieter part of the city.
The familiar had followed the injured boy here—trailing him from a safe distance, never once revealing its presence. It had taken patience, but now, the prey was cornered,
—-----------------------------------------------
Tokiomi's Study – Tohsaka Manor
Tokiomi Tohsaka lowered the enchanted mirror on his desk as it showed the boy entering the house, his face impassive yet contemplative. The image of the unfamiliar residence lingered in his mind.
'So that is where they've been hiding.'
His mind worked through the implications. The boy—Caster's Master—was clearly weakened, possibly injured. And more importantly, he was not alone. He felt displeased that people who have nothing to do with the Holy Grail War might get injured by what he was about to do. As records show a single mother and daughter living there but rescuing his daughter, Sakura came first.
'Sakura is there.'
His grip on the desk tightened. His daughter, taken from him, was in the clutches of that foul magus. And now, she was defying him, speaking against him, surely the result of Caster's manipulations. Hypnosis. Brainwashing. There was no other explanation.
Tokiomi closed his eyes briefly, inhaling deeply. It was clear what had to be done.
He soon reached for the old antique phone and dialed.
—---------------------------------------------
Fuyuki Church
The moment the phone rang, Kirei Kotomine answered, his voice steady and impassive.
"Master Tokiomi."
"I have found my daughter's location," Tokiomi stated, his tone carefully measured, carrying the weight of authority. "Sakura is being held within a residence occupied by Caster's Master."
Kirei remained silent for a beat, absorbing the information. "And what would you have me do?"
Tokiomi exhaled slowly, fingers steepling on the polished wood of his desk. "Eliminate Caster's Master. Ensure Sakura's safety and return her to me. As for the women in the house… they are irrelevant. Avoid harming them if possible. We can erase their memories afterward."
A brief pause followed. Then Kirei's voice came through, level as ever.
"And what of Archer?"
Tokiomi's fingers twitched slightly against the desk. He had anticipated that question. Bringing Archer into this mission would be disastrous. Gilgamesh had taken an unnatural interest in Issei, and if he caught wind of this operation, he would abandon all orders to confront the boy on his own terms.
"No," Tokiomi said firmly. "Do not inform him. This mission belongs to you—and Assassins'. Handle it efficiently. Quietly."
The silence between them stretched thin, tense but unshaken. Then, finally, Kirei answered.
"Understood."
The line went dead.
Tokiomi leaned back, exhaling slowly. The wheels were in motion. By dawn, Caster's Master would be nothing more than a memory.
And Sakura would be home.
—---------------------------------------------
Hana Residence
The air inside Hana's small home was thick with tension, pressing down on them like an invisible force. Despite the quiet, an unspoken understanding settled over the group as they gathered the last of their belongings. The walls, once a source of comfort and warmth, now felt suffocating—more like a prison than a home.
Yuuka tightened her grip on the strap of her bag, her fingers trembling slightly. She cast a sidelong glance at Misuki, who sat rigidly on the couch, her hands clasped together, lips pressed into a thin, tense line. The weight of what they were about to do hung between them, heavy and inescapable.
"This is… really happening," Yuuka muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Misuki exhaled slowly, the rise and fall of her shoulders the only indication of the deep breath she took before nodding. "Apparently so."
It wasn't just a house they were leaving behind—it was the only life they had ever known. The echoes of Yuuka's childhood, the laughter, the arguments, the quiet moments of peace… all of it would remain here.
But when they looked at Issei, still bandaged yet standing strong, determination in his eyes despite his own exhaustion, the choice became clear.
"We're with you," Misuki said suddenly, meeting Issei's gaze. "No matter where this takes us."
Yuuka let out a quiet chuckle, blinking rapidly as if to fight back tears. "Can't exactly let you go off and get yourself killed without us, can we?"
Issei rubbed the back of his head, smiling at them. "I appreciate it, really."
And as Issei looked at them, at the two people willing to throw away everything just to stand beside him, he couldn't help but smile. No matter how uncertain the road ahead was, he wasn't walking it alone.
Across the room, Sakura clutched the hem of her dress, lost in thought.
She had been silent the entire time, watching as the others packed with purpose. Unlike them, she had no attachments here—this was not her home. But then, was there anywhere she truly belonged?
She was only a child, but even she understood that the world had never offered her a place to call her own.
Issei had saved her without expecting anything in return. He had shown her kindness without even knowing who she was. He fought, endured pain, and suffered—not just for himself, but for the people around him.
For her.
Her thoughts drifted to her father, to the distant memories of her old home, to the suffocating walls of the Matou estate, and the coldness and pain that had defined her life for so long. Compared to that, this warmth—this chaotic yet genuine kindness—felt like something she never wanted to lose.
Steeling herself, Sakura took a deep breath and stepped forward, stopping at Issei's side.
"I…" Her voice wavered, but she pushed through. "I want to come with you."
Issei blinked in surprise, as the thought of her coming was obvious. Before he could say anything, she quickly added, "If… if it's okay for me to come."
He hesitated for only a moment before smiling. To him, it was a given—Sakura was his responsibility to protect. There was no question.
"Of course."
Sakura let out a quiet breath of relief. She didn't know what the future held, but for now, she was happy.
She could stay with her hero.
Leaning against the doorway, Tamamo-no-Mae watched the scene unfold with a knowing smirk.
"Good, good." She hummed, tilting her head playfully. "About time my dear husband started taking responsibility~!"
Issei shot her a flat look. "I was always taking responsibility."
She giggled behind her sleeve. "Not nearly enough, darling. But now, you'll get to introduce me to my wonderful in-laws! I can't wait to make a good impression!"
The sheer confidence in her tone made Yuuka and Misuki exchange wary glances. Meanwhile, Issei sighed, scratching his head. The thought of explaining everything to his parents—his injuries, Sakura, and the fact that he now had an eccentric fox-wife, not to mention finally having a girlfriend. This was already giving him a headache. On top of that, he still needed to figure out where Hana's family would stay.
Still, despite her teasing, there was something genuine in Tamamo's words.
She was happy.
Not just because Issei was finally taking decisive action, but because they were all moving forward—together and Tamamo was a step closer to becoming a proper wife.
"Get back!"
Sherri's warning barely registered before the explosion tore through the home.
The walls of Hana's house buckled under the sudden force, the shockwave ripping through the building. Glass shattered, debris flew, and the floor cracked beneath their feet. Heat and dust filled the air, suffocating and blinding, turning the once-cozy home into an unrecognizable ruin.
Issei barely had time to react. His body was still sore, his movements sluggish from his injuries, but his instincts screamed—danger.
As the dust began to settle, a tall figure stepped forward from the wreckage.
Kirei Kotomine.
Dressed in dark priest robes, he moved with an unsettling calm, his piercing gaze sweeping over the group. Behind him, shifting in and out of the shadows, were countless figures—Assassins. Their silent presence was suffocating. A death sentence.
Kirei exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable.
"Tokiomi wishes for the return of his daughter," he stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "Your existence has become an inconvenience."
Issei gritted his teeth. He could barely stand, let alone fight at full strength, but he forced himself forward, arms raised in a defensive stance.
"You're really bad at knocking." He muttered.
Kirei didn't respond.
He moved.
Faster than a human should.
Straight for Issei.
At the same time, the Assassins shifted—cutting off Tamamo before she could intervene.
A fist struck Issei's ribs.
The impact was brutal. Even with a quick Reinforcement from Sherri, he felt something crack, the force sending him skidding across the ruined floor. The pain was instant, white-hot and searing through his body. He barely had time to recover before Kirei closed the distance, his strikes relentless.
A palm strike to his chest. A knee to his stomach. A backhand to his temple.
Issei gasped, barely managing to block another hit, but his strength was fading. Damn it! He had pushed himself too far against Gilgamesh, and now he was paying for it.
He tried to summon Boosted Gear—but it didn't respond. His body was too weak.
Kirei's gaze remained cold and analytical. As he was delivering another punishing blow. "This is your limit."
Issei hit the ground hard, pushing him far from his opponent.
"""Issei!"""
The multiple Assassins moved in. Their orders were simple—eliminate everyone except Sakura.
Yuuka and Misuki barely had time to react before the masked figures lunged, blades gleaming in the dim light. While one went to retrieve the girl.
They had no weapons. No way to fight back.
And yet—
The moment the daggers should have pierced their flesh, something stopped them.
Multiple barriers.
A shimmering, golden veil pulsed into existence around them, repelling the Assassins like an invisible shield. The masked killers reeled back, hissing in confusion.
Then—a sharp crack split through the air.
The temperature in the ruined home shifted—mystical energy surged outward, thick with malice and divine power.
Tamamo-no-Mae stepped forward.
Her golden eyes gleamed beneath the flickering light of destruction. The smug playfulness she usually wore was gone—replaced by something ancient, something dangerous.
Behind her, three brilliantly glowing tails flickered, their presence alone warping the air.
The Assassins hesitated, instincts screaming danger.
Even Kirei's usually impassive expression tensed slightly as he turned toward her.
Tamamo smiled cruelly, her gaze flicking toward Issei's battered form on the ground.
"You know," she purred, rolling her shoulders, "I've been very patient, letting my dear husband take the lead." Her voice, smooth yet dripping with venom, rang through the broken remains of the house. "But I think it's time I reminded you all why my name is feared in legend."
She raised a single delicate hand.
Magic surged.
A pulse of power erupted outward—curses, thick and suffocating, flooded the air like a tidal wave. The very atmosphere darkened, pressing down like an unseen force.
The Assassins shuddered. Their limbs stiffened, their movements sluggish—weakened.
"Oops!" Tamamo giggled cruelly. "Did I just sap all your strength? What a shame!"
One Assassin lunged.
Tamamo flicked her fingers.
Violet fire exploded over his body.
It wasn't normal flame—it was hungry, malevolent. It didn't just burn—it consumed.
The Assassin didn't even have time to scream before he ceased to exist.
Kirei moved.
Fast.
A blur of motion, he dashed toward Issei with lethal precision. If he killed the boy, Caster would be useless.
His fist, crackling with violent prana, shot forward—aimed straight for Issei's heart.
But he struck nothing.
Issei had vanished—his form melting into Tamamo's embrace.
"You will pay!" Her voice echoed behind him, dripping with vengeance. "How dare you hurt my darling!"
Kirei turned just in time for a blast of raw, malicious energy to slam into him.
The impact was devastating.
He was launched backward, crashing through the remains of a wall. The curse twisted into his body, coiling through his limbs like writhing serpents, sapping his prana, poisoning his strength.
He forced himself up, but Tamamo was already upon him.
Her claws gleamed with power as she slashed—a crescent wave of energy exploded outward.
Kirei barely twisted away, but the attack tore through his coat. A burning sensation seared his ribs.
For the first time, Kirei Kotomine felt pain from an enemy's attack.
He narrowed his eyes. Dangerous.
Tamamo's tails lashed out, scattering the remaining Assassins as they tried to flank her. One misstepped—
Tamamo snapped her fingers.
The Assassin froze.
A glowing sigil flared beneath his feet—a binding curse.
Before he could react, chains of spectral foxfire erupted from the ground, wrapping around his body and dragging him downward.
His screams were cut off as he was swallowed into the abyss.
Tamamo laughed, twirling a lock of her hair. "Oops! Guess he won't be making it back to the Grail War~!"
The remaining Assassins hesitated—fear creeping in.
Even Kirei knew—this was no longer a winnable fight.
His cold gaze swept across the battlefield.
Assassins—half dead.
Issei—injured, but still alive.
The other women—protected.
This mission was already falling apart.
With an almost inaudible sigh, Kirei made his decision.
"Retreat."
The remaining Assassins vanished into the night, melting back into the shadows. Kirei, despite the pain in his body, moved swiftly, disappearing into the darkness just as the next wave of Tamamo's magic surged forward.
Tamamo clicked her tongue in irritation.
"Ugh. Figures they'd run the moment they start losing." She crossed her arms, her ears twitching as she turned to the others.
Issei slowly opened his eyes, he wanted to continue being in Tamamo's hug as her breasts are healing his broken body but they were still getting attacked and with that thought he got back on his feet, breathing heavily.
He looked at the ruins of their home. Then at Tamamo, still glowing with power, her three tails swaying in the wind.
"...Remind me not to piss you off." He muttered with a weak chuckle.
Tamamo's expression brightened instantly but the worry in her face continued.
"Darling! You say that as if I'm not the sweetest, most lovable wife in the world!" She beamed, her tails wagging. "But don't worry~! So long as you keep treating me well, I'll always be on your side!"
Yuuka, Misuki, and Sakura stared at her, still processing the devastation she had just unleashed.
"...You're terrifying," Yuuka finally whispered.
Tamamo simply winked. "Flattery will get you everywhere, dear~!"
Issei sighed, shaking his head. They had survived. But now, their enemies know where they are.
"Master, it's ready." Sherri announced as the watch started blinking.
The air crackled as the portal surged to life. A swirling vortex of blue light expanded, illuminating the rubble-strewn battlefield where only moments ago, battle and destruction had reigned.
"Go! Now!" She ordered.
Issei barely had the strength to move, but he wasn't about to hesitate. With a final glance at the ruins of Hana's home, he stumbled forward. Yuuka and Misuki helped support him, their faces conflicted at the devastation as they left behind everything they had ever known. Tamamo entered with a grin of excitement.
Sakura hesitated at the edge of the portal.
Fuyuki. Her past. The city that had caged her.
A hand extended toward her—Issei's.
She took it.
The group stepped into the light.
And in an instant—
They were gone.
—-----------------------------------
Night, Kouh, Park (6 months before canon)
The sensation of weightlessness faded, replaced by the feeling of solid ground beneath their feet.
A familiar night sky stretched above them—one that shouldn't have been possible.
Issei staggered slightly, still exhausted from the night's battles. As he steadied himself, his eyes widened in shock.
They were back. In the same spot that the watch had taken him.
His home. The park was just as it had been when he left—no signs of battle, no time having passed. The town was calm, peaceful— as if he had never left at all.
"Like I said, Master. Only thirty minutes."
(It's good to be back. Partner, I know you feel as if everything was unresolved but at the moment you are too weak.)
"Plus after every world we go to. The watch will record it and make it possible to return. When you feel ready we can always come back."
"Really." Yuuka says in excitement at knowing she can return home.
"Of course. I would not lie. It's even possible to return at the exact time we left."
(For now relax and the moment you feel better, we shall start your training.)
Issei did feel like he still had some unfinished business and with a breathless laugh. After all the chaos, all the fights, it felt surreal. But he did want to return and punch that asshole priest and that golden bastard.
He turned to look at the others.
Yuuka and Misuki took in the new surroundings expecting something more but it looked just like their world. Sakura clung to Issei's sleeve, uncertain but unwilling to let go.
And Tamamo?
She simply stretched, completely at ease.
"Well, well~! It looks like I finally get to meet my dear husband's parents!" She said cheerfully. She was a bit startled by the amount of magic in the air but didn't think much of it. "I do hope they'll approve of me!"
Issei groaned, rubbing his wounds. "I'm sure they love you."
Tamamo just beamed.
"Don't worry, darling~! I'll charm them in no time~!"
Issei simply smiled and turned to the girls, ignoring the pain. "Welcome to the future of 2008 and my home."