The only culprit that came to mind then was Kirei Kotomine. There was no one else within the city capable of murdering that bag of worms besides that creepy priest, and myself, so discreetly.
Kirei had even incentivized me to go after Zouken, and helped me towards that end. The more I thought, the more reasonable the assumption felt. Of course, even more questions about the priest's motives came to mind as well.
I didn't need Caren's warning to realise that he had his own agenda for this Holy Grail War.
"What was the name?" I asked simply, craning my neck.
Assassin held his silence for a moment, then, "Yours. Henry Smith."
...
Well, that was just confusing.
I rubbed my chin, racking my brain for answers.
When last we fought, Zouken Matou fled after releasing a swarm of those disgusting Crest Worms of his. I had killed them all, yes, but even Kirei confirmed that the main body was still elsewhere. Zouken survived then. That was the last time I saw him.
Then, I removed the parasites buried deep inside Sakura's body. The fact that they were still alive confirmed that Zouken Matou survived that encounter as well.
So... how?
It made no sense.
"Are you sure?" I asked again, knowing how useless my question was, "Are you sure he wasn't just cursing God or something like a typical villain?"
"I am certain. He blamed you."
Maybe I'd severely weakened him?
In the end, I only shrugged.
"Good riddance. I don't mind taking the credit."
A joyful smile crossed my lips.
He was a useless waste of space that deserved worse than an instant-death. Actually, I found myself elated that he blamed me for his untimely end. Hopefully, Sakura could find some solace in his death, even if she held my forced actions against me in her heart.
I didn't even mind her dislike for me.
The actual threat had passed. She could heal with Shirou in time.
A strong burst of wind, and Medusa stood beside me. The monstrous Gorgon carefully put a hand on my shoulder, as though she were afraid her touch would hurt me. When I turned, she gave a faint nod, approval writ across her features.
Of course, Nobunaga was never one to let anyone leave her behind. The Demon King of Sixth Heaven pushed Medusa's hand off me a moment later.
"I resent this, Master." She crossed her arms, one eye closed. "I refuse to understand why, but I resent this, you disloyal man!"
I raised a brow but decided against answering her. Instead, I turned to Kuzuki. He... hadn't moved even an inch, back straight and fists clenched. His gaze met mine as I rose to my full height.
"Oh hey, I'm taller than you, mate."
He remained entirely uninterested in my attempts at making small talk. Raising my hands in mock surrender, I closed my eyes and stepped aside just as a dirk came tearing through the air, aimed for his neck. He swatted it aside with the back of one fist, just as the other one came snaking forth.
The first blow landed on Assassin's neck. The skin twisted, and blood sprayed forth, dirtying Kuzuki's cuff.
"He's... not a servant, is he?" Nobunaga's eyes widened.
My eyes caught the gleaming edge of a blade within Assassin's cloak. Kuzuki noticed immediately. The mad lad caught the servant's wrist just as the blade rushed out and bent said wrist to shove the blade right into Assassin's own throat. With a grunt, he made the servant carve into his shoulder with his own hands.
I brought my hands together, inhaling in deep concern.
...What was going on here?
Assassin stumbled back. Kuzuki rushed in. He gripped the cloaked servant by his neck, reeling back a straightened hand that... he shoved right into the man's gut. When he pulled back once more, his fingers dripped with warm blood.
In silence, Kuzuki Souichirou gave Assassin the old London special. When he stopped, I counted at least eight wounds in the servant's chest.
I knew the guy was fading but still... damn.
Suddenly, Kuzuki was behind Assassin, gripping either side of his head. His face showed no emotion as a nasty squelch broke the calm of the lonely road. With a thud, a corpse tumbled onto the asphalt.
In his hands, Kuzuki held a bleeding head.
"Damn."
Nobunaga brought her gloved hands together in a clap, a massive grin etched across her features. "That was pleasing. Worthy of praise, indeed! I shall remember you, oh strange foe."
"That was... something." I admitted calmly.
Kuzuki only stared at his bloody hand, and the fading, mangled corpse under his feet. He stayed that way long enough to make me grow concerned... and yet, I couldn't interrupt him. I had once placed myself in his shoes.
I understood.
No, I was far worse.
Then, he looked up at me with those distant eyes of his.
"What now?"
His question was a simple one. Unfortunately, I had no answer for it.
I stepped closer and stared into his eyes.
Indeed, there was no answer.
All I did then was softly pat his shoulder, and step past.
"She'd have wanted you to live."
Those were the entirely unfair words I left the grieving man, yet, in my heart, I made another selfish decision. If ever it became possible, I'd help him. A visit to Greece was only natural after how many servants from there I came across here.
-
My mansion was quieter than I remembered. The shadows were the tiniest bit longer. The corridors seemed a tad too dark, a smidge longer. I breathed deeply, even the air felt staler.
"God..." I put my head against the dinner table, and watched fire lick the crackling wood within the fireplace. "I want to go somewhere else."
Gilgamesh was the only foe left to face.
No one else came close. No one else mattered.
I wondered what Shirou would decide, whether Rin wanted to face both Nobunaga and Rider for the title of victor in this blasted war. With Zouken gone, Gilgamesh was all that mattered. That... just made things seem the faintest bit boring.
Unless... Assassin's death was a psy-op-
"You have the look of a drug addict searching for a fix." Caren popped from under the table like a cat. Her golden eyes peered right into my soul. "Ah, that is true. You are an addict."
"That has to be uncomfortable." I stared at the way she was... sitting?
She was sitting on the floor. Actually, she was standing on her knees. Her head resting atop her forearms, close enough to my face that I could feel her hot breath on my nose.
It smelled like strawberries.
...
Caren smiled faintly, "How was your day?"
"Pretty exciting. I saw a bunch of awesome stuff."
"Hm. Good for you." She turned her head. "I see you brought someone else home."
Chuckling, I lightly bopped her on the head. "Don't act like some abused housewife, you goblin. How many souls ya steal today?"
"About ten. Oh, I went outside."
Before I could raise the question, Caren reached back and retrieved a polaroid. The picture was oddly... not so bad. I was in it, of course, along with Caren, her arm wrapped around my neck. We were in the back of a car.
"Ah, from when we met."
"It seems so long ago, doesn't it? I had them made for my father."
I tilted my head, noting a 'BEFORE' written under the picture. "Pretty normal."
With a smug huff, the perverse priestess moved her finger to reveal a second picture behind the first.
That one possibly killed some part of my soul, honestly.
In this one, she was alone in an upper body shot. Her hair was all messed up with some gooey, white substance. Her face was bland as ever, but there was a bruise on her cheek and neck. One of her bandaged arms was covering her non-existent chest.
My heart skipped a beat.
"What-?"
"Make-up. Lotion." A little smirk crossed her lips, "What did you think happened?"
I refused to address that question.
"What's it for?"
At that, she smirked wider, climbing onto the table. She held the picture up, pointing at an 'AFTER' written under it.
"I snuck into my father's Church and left both in an envelope."
Woah.
"The envelope says, 'Congratulations'." She actually giggled then.
I had forgotten that she was an actual demon wearing human skin, and that her vile machinations were not solely reserved for myself. No, the same as myself, she genuinely enjoyed this horrendous behaviour that made her an outcast.
It felt like I remembered some forgotten part of myself hearing what she'd done.
"Dammit, you're awesome."
"I know."
"Teach me, oh great one."
Just as I bowed my head in respect, Medusa stepped into the dining hall. No, that was wrong. She froze in the doorway. I didn't blame her. With Caren on the table, holding her pictures, and me bowing down to her... I'd probably have done a double-take in her place too.
The Gorgon definitely SAW us too, considering her blindfold was gone, replaced by a pair of tinted aviators the same as mine.
Shamelessly, I gave her a thumbs up.
"We need to get you into a biker fit for the full mommy combo."
"Um-"
With pale cheeks tinted red, the Rider backed out of the door.
"I...I'll come later!"
-
Hope you enjoyed.
Please, do comment. It's the only way I can know if I did well.