Fuyuki Church: Vampire Weekend

Rider carefully moved Kirei to better cover, trying as hard as he could to breathe deeply. He knew where the enemy Master was, what about the servant? He closed his eyes and focused his instincts, concentrating as hard as he could.

Kirei peeked over the bench he hid behind to see the Master standing atop the hill.

"That's him, alright. His Servant is gone, but he may not be completely helpless." He nodded to Rider. "We can attack him from two sides to keep him off-balance. If possible, we should take him alive."

"I might be able to charge him with Hippogriff and stun him!" He paused, sheepish. "Although maybe that's too strong..."

"Yes, that would likely kill him." He looked over again, ducking when a second spray of gunfire rained down on them. "He must be desperate to make such an open attack on a Master and Servant alone." He pulled his legs in close and prepared to make a dash out of cover. "Whenever you're ready."

Rider drew his sword and gave it a few twirls. "Ready!!"

Kirei dashed out of cover, hopping over a ruined wall and making his way to flank the enemy Master to the left. The Master was ready for him, having reloaded his gun, but Kirei was ready for him as well.

Kirei brandished four blades, deflecting most of the bullets with precise movements. He ran full-speed toward the Master, taking all his attention and leaving him open for Rider.

Rider seemed to soar low over the ground, sword at the ready. He aimed at the back of the Master's head and struck it dully with the pommel of his sword cushioned in his fist, hoping to knock them out.

The Master was astonished when Kirei deflected his bullets. He had seen Kirei fight firsthand, but had still managed to underestimate him. Damn it.

His window of opportunity was closing. Rider came in on his other side to strike him. Normally a human would be incapable of dodging, but he had one last trump card.

"Time alter... Triple accel."

Mana surged through his body, and time slowed to a crawl. Rider's movements, though still incredibly fast, had been reduced to a speed he could still attempt to dodge.

Damascus carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

The hilt of Rider's sword missed Marnin by inches.

He could only keep this up for a few more seconds. In that time, he had to take Kirei down. Stealing his contract was his only remaining chance at taking the Grail.

He dropped his submachine gun, pulled a pistol from a holster on his hip, and took aim at Kirei.

Marnin attacks:
Damascus carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

Kirei blocks:
Damascus carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

Kirei raised his blades to intercept the bullet. To Kirei's surprise, the blades cracked and shattered to pieces, though they slowed the bullet by enough time to dodge. A magically reinforced bullet... how novel.

But by continuing to concentrate on him, the Master had left himself open to another attack by Rider.

And, to Kirei's delight, he felt Archer speeding toward them.

[[Archer will arrive after the next round.]]

Rider dove in with another jab!

fuyumin carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

At the same time, Kirei leaped in with a powerful punch. The Master couldn't possibly dodge both.

Kirei attacks:
Damascus carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

Marnin dodges:
Damascus carried out 1 launched of one (CLASH.) :

Marnin raised his hand in just enough time to knock aside Kirei's punch, but the hilt of Rider's sword grazed his head.

His time magic ended and he was thrown to the ground, and before he could get back up again, Kirei struck him in the back of the head, knocking him out for sure.

Atalanta finally arrived on the scene. After some observation, she quipped, "Well, I suppose you didn't need my help after all. Good job." she surrendered the weapons she'd gathered to Kirei. "I thought you might make use of these."

Rider was the image of an over-excited puppy. "Miss Atalanta!! I got to help!!"

She chuckled. "You did! And as I said, a good job as well. Are you both alright?"

Kirei looked over the weapons thoughfully. Though he had some training with traditional firearms, he probably would still get more use out of his Black Keys. "I sustained a few minor wounds. Nothing to really worry about."

Then he remembered his father. Without pausing to explain, he went running back into the remains of the Church, to his father's body.

Atalanta followed. It occured to her after the look on his face that she hadn't seen Risei.

Kirei came to Risei's body and looked down upon it silently. After a brief moment of shock, his body began to shake, and he fell to his knees as tears began to fall from his face.

Atalanta put a hand on his shoulder. Knowing what she now knew, she wasn't sure what element of this was upsetting him, but she would provide some comfort nonetheless. She let him cry for a few moments, before speaking, "I know this is difficult, but we should find a new base. Quickly. We still have a dead apostle to defeat."

After a few moments of sobbing, he dried his tears and nodded. "Yes. But first, there is something I must do." Slowly and gingerly, he rolled up Risei's sleeve, revealing the Command Spells still covering his arm. Kirei paused. "He truly cared about me until the very end."

"As most fathers would, I'm sure." she agreed. "Do what you must."

Rider gently laid a hand on Kirei's arm. "Of course he did, that's what fathers do. Whatever you have to do now, we're with you."

He looked up at both of his Servants blankly, then back down at his father. "Before he died, he said something. 'John 4:24.' At first, I was confused. But now I understand."

He lifted Risei's arm, placing his father's hand on his right shoulder, and placed his own hand on Risei's shoulder, linking their arms.

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

A bright blue light enveloped them both suddenly, flowing from Risei to Kirei. Archer and Rider watched as the Command Spells on Risei's arm disappeared, one by one. Once they had all disappeared, the light faded, and Kirei stood up.

Kirei then rolled up his own sleeve, showing the Spells that had been transplanted onto his own arm.



In his eyes, grief had been replaced by steely determination.