Corrupted Love

by FateInspiration

Summary:

End of Fate/Unlimited Code, Arc Gilgamesh.
The Arturia we knew was gone, leaving room for corruption, desires and misfortune. Gilgamesh gets what he wants after several years
Desire or love ? Arturia Alter is here.
___
This story also appears on Wattpad

Notes:

Fanfic written by Basykail.
Inspirer de la serie Fate qui à été écrit par Gen Urobuchi , illustré par Takashi Takeuchi et édité par Type-Moon.

This story was in French and then translated into English. Forgive the translation error.

Chapter 1: Darkness of the Grail

Gilgamesh came to take Saber to Emiya's house, Arturia suffered a defeat and the king kidnapped her in front of her companions. Without waiting, Gilgamesh takes Arturia in front of the remains of the Grail of the 4th War. Weak after her defeat, she can not free herself from Gilgamesh and finds herself plowed into the dark mud of the Grail against her will. Immediately, corruption and curses attack her body, her vulnerable will. Darkness attacks her conscience and her heart becomes dark.

(For those who do not know this end : https://youtu.be/uY0ucEdDQpY?t=369)

-

« I'll show you my love until I grow tired of you, woman. Until then, let us enjoy the pains and joys of life as we please. »

These are the last words of Gilgamesh before she is totally in the mud, unconscious, lost in nothingness.

It was dark, there was nothing. The feeling of swimming in a vacuum and sinking little by little into the unknown depths of this strange ocean. Arturia was a light among the darkness, floating little by little, farther and farther into the darkness. Alone in this big space.

She allowed her body to be carried by an invisible current, the misty mind, lost in her consciousness. She did not know what was going on around her. All she really was aware of was that she had suffered a defeat. Lost ... against ... whom? She couldn't remember. All she knew was that she had lost and she was floating in the strange void.

She opened her eyes with difficulty ... The first thing she saw was a big halo of light, far above her, shining like an eclipse, illuminating the night. She realized at that moment that it was the Holy Grail, dominating the place and she was within it.

She remembers her purpose, her desire, her vow to obtain the Holy Grail. She then began to move, swimming against the current to rise to the surface, to obtain the Holy Grail. She held out her hand, hopeful, aware that he was right there, not far from her.

Drawing on her last strength, she tries to return to the treasure she was looking for.

"Do not touch that object ..." suddenly said a voice in the distance.

But she does not listen, she was full of dreams and envy. She wanted to fulfill her wish.

« It’s the Holy Grail... » Saber answered, happy to see it. « I must... I must using... I must using that for... »

She could not finish her sentence, concentrating on her swimming toward the surface as she descended deeper and deeper into the darkness.

« I told you... Do not touch that object... » Repeated the voice in the darkness.

A pale hand from nowhere grabbed Arturia's shoulder to hold her gently, preventing Arturia from moving forward. The King of Knights, surprised, became angry and turned furiously towards the person behind her.

« Just Who you are ? Why are you getting in my way ?! »

Facing herself, she took a moment to realize who was there in front of her. Arturia was shocked, they were both identical and different. Both were floating in this void, face to face.

« Who ? You ask ? » her double answered with a small confident smile. Her arms move out to Arturia. « Somthing like that... Just see and you can know, right ? »

Her double smiles at her, watching her with her golden eyes, empty, as if they had lost their humanity.

Arturia saw herself. They resembled each other perfectly, but her double with the hair and skin paler than his. And her double was dressed in black.

« you... you can't be... »

Arturia was terrified by what she saw. To see herself was disturbing and strange. But she was no stranger to her. She knew her double, she had already seen... she knew her origin ... Camlan.

« I'm what you are. I am you and you are me, Arturia. I am Arturia Pendragon. »

She was right, she was indeed her. She was her reflection, her dark side that she never wanted to confess.

« No... back from where you come from ! » Answered Arturia, wanting to get away from her double.

Her reflection gently mocked her, smiling at her with sympathy.

« I come from you. I have always been présent. I am the King of Knight ! The king who should have ruled his country with determination and power. I am your black feelings... Your true desire. »

Arturia was more and more terrified that she was really in front of herself. It was her darkest feelings, her feelings that she had always repressed for living with chasteter. Her double is what she most expressed when she died in Camlan.

She could not accept it ... she ... she refused to admit that she had ever felt such a thing.

Her double approached her, caressing her cheek with gentleness and protection.

« Don't Worry, it will be okay. You're tired of always fighting. I will fight for you. I will protect you. I will protect your light. You will be my light in my darkness. You will not disappear. »

Arturia shivered at the touch of her double. She was scared, afraid of what she was capable of doing.

« No ! I can't... I can't give in... If I give in, I'll... Everything that I am will cease to exist. »

The King of Knights begins to shed tears of anguish. She did not want ... she could not. Arturia was so exhausted to have fought bravely for her ideals ... but she could not give in, not now.

« Huuuuuuush... »

Her reflection approaching her, she wiped her tears and came to hug her gently.

« Everything you built will not go away. On the contrary, I well be your sword. I will be the one who will save you. Sleep Arturia. Let me do. Rest in me... »

Arturia was crying more. If she had been stronger, her reflection would never have existed ... she would never have needed to exist.

« No... no, I must not... » Clenching her fingers on the body of her reflection.

Her double smiled warmly before coming to put her forehead against her.

« Enough, it’s time to rest. Sleep inside of me. »

Arturia's face twisted in frustration. She was angry, but she felt so weak. The tears continue to flow in front of her impotence.

« Close your eyes ... »

His eyelids become heavier. Her weak will was unbearable. She could not fight against herself. She finally closed her eyes, crying in the arms of her reflection.

Her reflection hugged her warmly as if she were a child and stroked her hair.

Arturia’s body began to glow, turning her being into particles and merged with her other self.

The reflection placed her hands on her chest, still smiling warmly and closed her eyes to feel Arturia's presence in her.

« You didn't disappear. You are me and I am you. You will be my guide and I will show you the way!. We are Arturia Pendragon, the King of Knights. »

The reflection opened eyes and looked towards the surface. The halo of light was still present, much smaller than last time.

The new Arturia resumed a neutral expression. With determination she headed towards the surface.. to escape the dark prison.

Notes:

Thanks to xxxDreamingflowerxxx for her Help.

Chapter 2: Golden eyes

Summary:

Gilgamesh sees the result of the mud of the grail.

Notes:

The first chapter has been edited.
Take the time to enjoy the story.

Gilgamesh was standing before the dark matter of the Grail. The filthy mud whose colors and the texture was particularly repugnant to him. He crossed his arms and, he waited for the corruption and the curse of the Grail to do his work on Saber. He did not know what state his future wife will be, but he was certain that she could not resist corruption as he had in the past. He knew he was the only one in the world able to withstand such power.

He was at the old theater, which was now in ruins as a result of the 4th Holy Grail War. The remains of the previous summoning rested at the very bottom and had been closed off from the public ever since. The roof was for the most part on the brink of collapse. It was a miracle in itself that it did not give way in the last ten years. Despite its poor state, the building still stood tall.

The black mud began to show odd signs of turbulence, clearly revealing that something was about to emerge. A satisfied smile appeared on Gilgamesh's face, he was finally going to see the result of his work.

The tip of a black blade emerged from the mud. Unlike the usual Sword of Victory, a dark and demonic aura emanated from it. The Golden King observed it with unease, perceiving the red symbols adorning the weapon. But before he could comprehend the motion of the strange sword breaking out of the muck, it striked down furiously in his direction, all of the dark energy oozing from it surged against him. Like the strike of a whip, a burning fire cutting all in its path, immolating everything getting in contact with it.

Gilgamesh stepped aside just in time, not yet realizing that he had just evaded a fatal blow. A sense of déjà-vu crossed his mind, the remembrance of a purifying light able to destroy even the most sturdy of fortresses. But this one, in contrary, was defiled, a curse followed by darkness.

The King of Heroes had leapt several meters to the side. He blinked in quick succession, still surprised and furious to be attacked in this way. The havoc caused by this assault was astounding. Cut in half, the ceiling and the front of the building were now letting the rising sunlight inside, which drew a path to the black mud. Bearing the stigmata of the blow they had sustained, the stone and the wood were getting gnawed by the purplish aura that kept on burning them.

The Golden King, who was watching the carnage, saw motion in the corner of his eye and diverted his vigilance. Something light was getting out of the black mass. Turning his head to see it, he noticed the presence of a naked woman, standing proudly on both her legs. This vision was of true beauty and this body could belong to none other than Arturia herself.

She was standing up, straight, completely inexpressive, holding firmly a black sword with a crimson pattern, which infernal energy was fading away. Her body was all but naked, bathing in the morning glow, showing how much different she seemed. Falling on her shoulders and chest, rippling on her skin, her untied hair was paler than before... but what caught Gilgamesh’s interest, in this magnificent vision, were her golden eyes, seemingly void of any humanity.

The King of Heroes faced her, continuing to observe with an appreciative and satisfied look. He knew that the influence of the Grail on Saber would transform her, he was unaware of the true consequences that it had on the young woman, what was certain was that she was here, with a real body, emitting an aura akin to his own when he had obtained it.

He was going to reach out to her when she began to move in order to get away. She did not pay the King of Heroes any heed and instinctively headed towards the opening she created a moment ago as if she was guided by the morning light.

« Well, well...where do you think you are going, Saber? Do not think that I will let your attack upon me go unpunished… », he said, as he began to walk towards her.

But his words seemed to fall upon deaf ears, as if he was not even there. Frustration began to get a hold of Gilgamesh. Eyebrows furrowed, he approached her at an intimidating pace. He was certainly not going to let a woman put him aside, especially if she was destined to be his wife.

« Ignoring your King is punishable by death, bow before me, Saber ! »

When he was close enough to grab her arm, the dark blade again produced a purplish and black energy. Arturia finally set her golden eyes upon him, her ice cold gaze looked at the man as if he was nothing. She brandished her weapon, then put enough momentum into it to fling the demonic energy towards the King.

Gilgamesh saw this coming and barely had the time to open his Gate of Babylon before she struck horizontally him with her sword. The black power, in a lesser concentration after the first strike, violently collided with Gilgamesh And split the wall behind him in half.

The King of Heroes protected himself with a weapon to parry the blow. But the shockwave pushed him backward, making him slide dangerously under the now feeble structure of the building.

The dark energy disappeared, the roof collapsed on him.

Using her sword did not stop Arturia however. She kept on walking, returning her attention forward. She easily walked upon the rubbles, ignoring the roof falling down on Gilgamesh due to her attack. The King of Knights stepped forward towards the exit she had created, which peered into the outside world.

A cold breeze caressed her naked body, which made her shiver in return. The feeling reminded her of her new condition. The young woman looked down to observe herself, her flesh was born anew. Focusing her mana, she materialized a part of her clothes... a graceful black dress, boots with heels and a jacket on her shoulders. After she dematerialized her blade, a black ribbon appeared in her hand instead.

Arturia returned to her walk in a direction she chose randomly, her hands beginning to groom her hair. She ventured outside of the domain quickly rejoining the streets of Fuyuki, her gaze fixed upon the horizon.

-

Gilgamesh suddenly extricated himself from the rubbles that fell upon him. He was seething with anger.

« How dare she ?! I am the king of all that exists… If I must subjugate her through pain, so be it ! »

After he took a moment to finish getting rid of the stones, he stood up, dusting himself in a swift motion to recover his splendor.

He took a look at his surroundings, searching for Arturia, and found that she was not there anymore. He reached the outside through the same way she had went through a moment before, hoping to run into her before she got lost in Fuyuki, but to no avail.

Gilgamesh had an angered grin. He did not know in which direction she could have gone and running left and right to find her was out of the question.

The King of Heroes removed his golden armor to return to a more modern outfit, wearing a white shirt, a jacket and a black jean.

« Alright Saber… Know that I will find you again and I will finish what I started. You are mine until your last breath… »

A sadistic smile showed upon his face, frustrated as he was by his failure.

Notes:

I love Arturia Alter, she gives so much new perspective in the couple.

Do not expect romance right now but I hope you enjoy the plot of the story.

The chapters are short for the moment because I did not feel the need to develop them.

Chapter 3: Dark Church

Summary:

Gilgamesh return empty hands.

Notes:

At first, I had planned on fusing chapters 3, 4 and 5. But I will not be able to have much free time this summer to further the story. So in order to avoid making you wait too much, I have separated them to post them in the following weeks, but the chapters will be short because I do not feel the necessity of developing. Have a good reading !

Chapter 2 was edit a moment ago.
Thanks to my friend, Grëmist, for the translation.
Thanks to xxxDreamingflowerxxx for corrections and suggestions.

The doors of the church opened wide and Gilgamesh stepped in irreverently, disrespectful even, bringing the daylight inside this dark place.

The exhaustion from this night was taking its toll : the attempts were useless, the results disappointing... Frustration was still here. A crooked smile spread across his displeased face.

He walked to the nearest wooden bench at his disposal and flopped on it in order to ease his aching limbs. Having a real body had its benefits...but also its drawbacks. Regrets for not being a spirit crossed his thoughts, but were swiftly brushed off by the vision of the blonde head which weighed on his mind. His lost Belle he barely even seized.

Relaxing on the uncomfortable bench, his head leaned back accompanied by a weary sigh. His carmine eyes staring at the roof with disinterest, even if it was covered in splendid religious paintings. The cogs of his thoughts were grinding at high speed, leaving him no room to empty his mind.

Scenes from the last hours were haunting him and he couldn’t stop himself from analyzing each and every single details to get different conclusions from them.

But the result was obvious : He did not anticipate the effects of the Grail.

His chest began to quiver has he was silently laughing. His hand gently settled on his face, letting the rest of his blonde hair falling backward.

Suddenly, he laughed hysterically, letting his contrariety out and the irony of the situation speak out.

He was fooled beautifully, vanquished by his own longing, he had lost control over the situation. Still...everything had taken quite an interesting path. So interesting that he was feeling excitement from the challenge ahead and impatience... all that he could adore.

He laughed so much that his abdomen hurt for a moment and he let out a contented sigh as he settled down, running his hand across his face one last time before letting it slide to the bench.

« If I was still in my old era, I would say the gods were still daring to make me their plaything... » He commented.

He threw his other arm in the air, briefly opening his hand. A halo of golden light loomed above it, slowly letting a cup of gold filled with wine which he gently grabbed. The light faded when he pulled the cup down to his chest.

The King of Heroes straightened up his head and admired the liquid inside, making it twirl inside it’s vessel. The red of the wine was contrasting with the golden metal, and the daylight accentuated their colors through reflections of the light.

Gilgamesh crossed his legs and put his free arm behind the back of the bench, resting his face in the palm of his hand.

« Saber… No… I shall call you by your real name in due time.» He smiled at this thought. « Whatever your future actions may be, I am looking forward to what the Grail has made of you»

He gloated at this thought and a sarcastic grin crept upon his face until he decided to take a sip of his delicious nectar.

The gloomy silence of the church was soothing and, despite the discomfort of the place, Gilgamesh always liked to spend some time in there, sometimes talking with Kirei about diverse subjects that revealed the true facets of the Priest. It was ironic to see how much this man of God was in truth an envoy from the depths of hell.

Finally, his thoughts were emptying and serene, reveling in the fruity and sweet taste in his mouth. The presence of familiar mana entering the scene caught his attention, however.

« You're alone? » Resounded the deep voice that the Golden King recognized immediately.

Slightly opening his eyes, the King of heroes looked upon the man standing not far from him, still clad in the spiritual set he was usually in, showing a cold and calculating look as their gaze crossed.

The blond blinked, drinking one last gulp before answering to the priest with a disdainful smile.

« The opposite should come before long.» He replied briefly, with a slightly arrogant and confident tone.

The dark-haired man tilted his head to the side, curious, stepping closer.

« Oh? Your actions of tonight, will they have repercussions on this war, Gilgamesh? Should I be expecting complications from Her?.» Asked the man with black eyes, speaking of Arturia.

His disdained smile changed into an amused one upon hearing the question that he found somewhat stupid.

«All I can say is, Kotomine, that you can cross Saber off the list of the Servants.»

Closing his eyes, the priest slightly lowered his head.

« I see.»

He then began to walk towards the church’s doors, still wide open, upon the path of light the Sun was offering him.

« The war now only count six servants. The elimination of the competitors finally begins.»

He grabbed the handles of the doors, pulling them in a loud creaking, under the watchful gaze of Gilgamesh.

« What are you going to do now… Emiya Shirou » The priest expressed his thoughts out loud before the doors closed on him under the sound of metal and wood.

Notes:

I wanted the conversation between Gilgamesh and Kotomine to be short and with little details, first to avoid that an obvious conclusion would repeat from a chapter to another, but also to show the complicity that exists already between them. They have known each other for 10 years after all.

However, I do not remember if Gilgamesh knew the real name of Saber or not, so I stayed vague on this point.

Translator Note : Late on schedule, that’s on me. Sorry for the wait, the next chapters are likely to be translated quicker!

Chapter 4: Ocean

Who was she?

The surprised but mostly incredulous looks were focused on her, drawn to her presence and unusual attire she was admirably sporting. Curiosity, worry and especially dread were experienced by everyone she came across. All stood clear of her path, surrounded as she was by a wicked aura.

A goth?

A lady on her left, keeping her child close to her, watched her carefully. She didn't know what to feel about this little blonde woman clad in black. She wasn't hostile by any means, however she knew she had to be wary of her. Furthermore, she couldn't help but find her both graceful and attractive. The mother soon took her child by the hand to step up the pace.

A cosplayer?

But what was most unsettling for them were her golden eyes. Her irises without a semblance of life. When one of them caught her gaze, they looked away, trying to get out of her sight as quickly as possible. Still, she wasn't interested in them...they were non-existent.

Was she even human?

A simple cat, basking lazily in the sun, suddenly raised its head up, its irises narrowing when it caught sight of her. Getting up with a start, it hissed and growled in her direction, its fur raised on its back, before swiftly fleeing away as to get as far as possible from her.

Yet still, she gave them no mind.

-

Arturia kept on walking. Her steps echoed in the streets as if she was in a vast empty room, alone in a dark space.

She avoided the crowded places, calmly progressing forward, following a red line she alone could see. Moreover, she wasn't really aware of what was around her, like she was confined in a soundproof bubble.

The working of her thoughts was chaotic. Multiple things crossed her mind; tonight's events, Gilgamesh's revelations, the faces of Rin and Shirou before disappearing, the time spent in the mud, her resolve sheltered in her heart... But mostly memories appearing like flashes like she was struck by a whip. Informations imprinted in her with red hot iron, puzzling wounds of unknown origin, a pain still sharp. It was giving her a headache.

Infinite and sterile landscapes.

A desert?

Lifeless and ruined cities.

The aftermath of a war?

Battles for survival.

Famine?

The sun scorching the earth and the flesh, hunger, thirst... Death

Extinction...

Visions of horror that weren't disturbing to her in the slightest, but she knew they were dangerous. Informations she didn't know the meaning of yet and what to do with them. A dream? A vision? Another reality? Something the Grail offered to her before her awakening.

Her thoughts were troubled. It was neither impossible to analyze her situation in her current state, nor decide what she would do. She had to wait for the flow of her mind to ease up...

Her face was still perfectly inexpressive despite her terrible headache as she simply kept on walking in silence. She still hadn't said a single word. All of a sudden, she realized she arrived at a crossroad she knew.

Two paths stood before her. One could lead her to the school of her old master and the unexplored corners of Fuyuki...the other led to Emya's estate she was forced to leave last night.

Taking in consideration her options, she knew at this moment that her choice would be final. Her golden gaze swept across the two streets in front of her.

Yet her choice did not make her wait for long.

Looking towards the estate, she blinked, watching it with what surely could have doubt. But she turned her back on it, giving up on her old refuge without an ounce of regret.

-

Finally, she ended up on the beach...a shore she had been to ten years ago.

Iris...

The memories of the white haired woman made her heart ache, she missed her immensely and some of the Fourth War's events washed over mind, taking over the chaotic thoughts previously swarming her.

Her rancor against Kiritsugu, the surprising yet humiliating marriage proposal of Archer, her eternal friendship with Irisviel, the dishonorable suicide forced upon a knight, her guilt regarding Lancelot, the harshness of Iskandar during their reign, the horrible Caster... The result of this absurd war she had lost...

The Great-Britain she would never save...

The sound of the waves, wind and seagulls ruled the scene. The salted wind made her hair and dress move in a dance of its own making.

The afternoon had went on and the sun was still high the sky... How many hours went by since she had this body ?

Finally paying attention to it, she realized her body felt weak having walked for so long. She noted that her body wasn't tough, her legs requiring a bit of rest. Arturia felt like she was a newborn.

In the corner of her eye, she found a little wall she could sit on. As she approached, her vile aura made the seagulls that were there a moment ago flee in a panic. She sat down in silence, laying her sight upon the seas and the sky's reflections on the dancing sea.

The scenery was soothing and its sounds were like a lullaby allowing her to appease her thoughts and think clearly again.

The Grail had offered her a vision ? Gilgamesh's revelations about his intentions and the real nature of the Grail before her captured encouraged her to revise her option. Furthermore, now possessing a real body gave her new perspectives ; the King of Knights could live in the present.

The possibilities offered to her were numerous. Yet her memories and new knowledge reduced her choices...especially her convictions.

It was true that she could leave Fuyuki, begin a new life with this body. But the actions of Gilgamesh would then be an obstacle. She could decide to stop the King of Heroes, killing him and destroy the Grail again. But the vision was preoccupying, she ignored if the origin was the King's work or a prediction of a fixed fate. Finally, she could as well decide to end her life, returning alone on the hill of Camlann... But what more could it bring except waiting eternally for death ?

No, if she was in this situation it was because she had to do something. Her vow to save Great-Britain was now impossible, the past inaccessible. Only the present and future mattered now. She had to act...

Staying seated in silence, looking at the landscape, she did not enjoy its beauty. Her gaze was blurred by the darkness of her thought. In an inner struggle with herself, she spent long minutes motionless, only blinking from time to time. She was putting some order back into her mind and analyzing all her options to choose the best outcome.

A spark of ingenuity transpired in her eyes, widening her eyelid before closing them firmly.

« Caster... » She said, speaking for the first time since she had this body.

She opened her eyes and laid them upon the mountain on which stood Fuyuki's Temple, recalling a conversation she had with Shirou and Rin the past day.

Notes:

Do not be surprised if I'm vague on Salter's intents. Truth be said, I think you will easily guess it in the next chapters, you will discover the details later.

As you know, Arturia Alter is considered as a tyrant to get her way and whatever the methods. The difference between type-moon's description of the character and this fanfic is that, here, she doesn't lose sight of her ideals. She only has a different approach to things.

I will not put forward Arturia's gluttonous side in this story. I do not like this cliché side of the hero that needs to eat tons of food only to make them appealing. I know she has a young appearance because of Caliburn and Excalibur, probably the reason why she eats a lot or something, but I don't know, I feel like it denatures her character a bit in my opinion !

If you watched Fate/Stay Night UBW, you know the scene of the reunion between Gilgamesh and Arturia, where the King of Heroes reveal his intentions and the Grail's nature to the King of Knights (I'm only deploring the absence of a callback between them at the end of Fate/Zero...but what do you want... *Frustrated* ), well it's more or less what happened just before he captured Art in this story. At first it was to convince her, but he knew she would refuse :)

Translator note : ..."Likely to be translated quicker" say the past me. Well past me shouldn't make promises or forecasts because I'm a dummy dum dum. Sorry for the delay, as always! x_x
Author note : Don't worry *pat pat*

Other News :
So as you know I'm French and I'm calling on a friend to translate this story. But that's not the only one I wrote. If you are interested in reading other stories, even if it's in my native language, you can find them on Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Basykail
as well as additional chapters to Corrupted Love.

I did not dare to post them in French on Archive because almost all ArturiaxGilgamesh fic are in English. But if you want to see them in French on the site, I'll post them.

Chapter 5: He's no longer a master

Notes:

You have been waiting for a long time, right? Finally chapter 5 has been translated and updated.If you want more chapter, go and read the French version: https://www.wattpad.com/story/203539702-corrupted-love-fr-partie-1-dark-road. The translation tools are useful enough to appreciate the history.
I am currently working on chapter 10-11-12

Thanks to my friend gremist for the translation.

Night quickly came. The sun was setting over the horizon, ready to disappear and leave the night in its place.

Shirou was wearily walking, his gaze turned to the ground, desperate. He had run all day long, searching Fuyuki from top to bottom, closely followed by Rin. The young woman tried to reason with him from time to time, to prevent him from going past his limits, in vain.

The two teenagers decided to skip class in order to find the lost servant... Archer had to go his separate way in order to find even the tiniest clue. But all their efforts were met with silence.

The young black haired woman was walking some steps behind her partner. She observed him while they were returning to the Emiya residence. She dared not say a word...she didn't know what to say. Her heart shared his sadness, as she very much liked Saber, considering her a friend.

Saber...where was she ?

She had been missing since the previous night, disappearing in front of Shirou. To see Gilgamesh kidnapping her in front of his eyes had almost made him lose his mind. His instinct encouraged him to go after them without a second thought. But all of this had been useless, he had lost their trace in a matter of minutes, all along recalling the distressed calls of the knight lost at the hands of the golden man after their merciless fight. Archer took over the chase, but he too quickly lost their trail.

Shirou knew he was useless, a mediocre mage... Saber couldn't count on him to give her enough magic and so had to rely only on her natural abilities. He felt that it was his fault... that she deserved another Master, then perhaps she could have fight against him without any trouble.

Refusing to give up, he asked Tohsaka to tell him what she knew of the previous war. However, the young woman had few informations on the subject. Her father, who died at that time, made sure that she was far from it all. As for her mother, she went insane during that time. The only thing she knew was about the presence of the priest, Kotomine, who won this war and became the current supervisor.

Yet she wasn't sure that he would answer to Shirou's questions. Never had she managed to make him say anything about the war, apart from its rules and what was at stakes.

The young red haired boy still persisted and finally went to the church, the neutral ground of the war, in the afternoon. He pressured the priest to answer.

Kotomine welcomed them with a smile, faking to be surprised. As Rin suspected, he did not give any more information, only confirming the presence of Shirou's adoptive father and their respective servant. He took a malicious delight in detailing how he betrayed Saber by ordering her to destroy the Grail, even if he knew of her desire to obtain it.

But Shirou knew about it already, and hearing it again from his father's old enemy was like a kick to the guts.

« Look upon your right hand and tell me that you still have the commanding seals. If they are no more, then so is the Servant of the Saber Class and you are therefore not considered a Master anymore. The rules of the war allow you to take refuge here in order to protect yourself from the others participants. The choice is yours.»

Hidden in the shadows of the upper balcony, Gilgamesh smiled in devious satisfaction and was amused to see the decomposed look on the young man's face, who was confronted to the absence of the seals...he had been blind to it all. Furthermore, the presence of this mongrel was proof that Arturia did not went back to him.

However, even after going outside the church, Shirou refused to admit the truth and kept on searching for Saber around Fuyuki. He kept on going for a long time, until reason and exhaustion imposed back on him, prompting him to go back home to rest.

Rin couldn't leave him alone in such a situation. She wasn't considering him an opponent anymore. Just a simple human being in the middle of a war...she couldn't leave him defenseless. She followed him until they arrived at the doorstep of the Emiya residence.

Silence and emptiness filled the place. Only the declining light of the sun setting over the horizon gave it a semblance of life.

« Emya-kun ? » called Rin hesitantly.

As he was about to open the door, Shirou slowly turned to face her, his movements stiff and exhausted, looking at her.

Rin blinked in surprise, slightly blushing. She had not seen his face for hours and she was now realizing that his mental state had begun to deteriorate. This encouraged her in her endeavor. She was thinking about it for a while now.

Embarrassed, she squirmed a little as she spoke :

« I...I know that you cared about Saber very much. She was a precious friend to me too ! As long as we do not know more about this, I...I think that it is best I stay with you.»

The offer surprised the young man, as his eyes widened with incredulity. Some things came to his mind. His education forbade him to accept a young woman in his home and he was too proud for that. Furthermore, secretly, he had begun to imagine what to do next, but it required the absence of Rin...

He lowered his head, his hair hiding away his gaze...he showed a falsely reassuring smile.

« It's very kind Tohsaka, thanks for the offer. But I think I'll be able to get by alone now... I may be a dead weight for you. »

The young brown haired woman stepped up to him suddenly, only a hair strand away from his face, as to force him to raise his head up and look her in the eyes. The sight of the severe and determined face of Rin hit the young man who gulped down with difficulty.

« Do not lie to me ! I know your temperament and your bad habits. I aptly know that you will not give up that easily. Your obsession at playing the white knight will kill you someday ! If you do not find Saber, I just know you will go in search of this man in Gold »

Shirou looked directly into her blue eyes, taking a step back as to put some distance between the two of them. He was slightly blushing as they were so close to each other but he was mostly surprised to be scolded that way and his true intentions so easily identified by her.

« There is no way I am letting you do such a stupid thing ! All that you will be able to do is fail ! So, from now on, I will stay with you. I may not be able to prevent you from going, but I will at least be able to protect you from your own stupidity and especially yourself !»

Shirou did not know what to say. He was absolutely baffled and disarmed in front of her. He tried to find his words to answer back, but the voice of Rin's servant suddenly chimed in their discussion :

« Rin... Emiya Shirou is not a Master anymore. What he decides to do from now on is none of our concern » said Archer in his spiritual form, participating to the discussion.

« Do not butt in on this, Archer !» firmly chastened Tohsaka, unnerved.

Shirou was now with his back against the entrance door, still staring at his classmate, completely confounded. The young woman stared him down, threatening him with one of her gem if he were to refuse her offer.

The young boy swallowed again in silence, closing his eyes, his face tensing up as to try and find the courage to step up to her...but he could not muster it. A sigh of resignation escaped his lips, as his shoulders relaxed showing that he was giving up.

« Alright Tohsaka...you win. »

Rin backed off with a satisfied smile, letting him have some space. Putting her hands on her hips, she was standing straight and proud.

« Alright, Emiya-kun. I will now live with you until further notice ! »

« W-what ? » answered the boy, surprised yet again. « That's...that's not...»

Rin waved her finger negatively, showing that he had no right to protest about the decision.

« If I have to look after you, it will be from near, not afar, understood ? I hope that you have a guest room !»

She waved in direction of the door, signaling him to finally open it. Honestly...he had no power over this girl. He sighed again and turned to the door to open it and invite her inside.

-

The sun had already set for while as Shirou was preparing dinner. He took the time to show Tohsaka her room and Archer was gone to take back some of her belongings here.

The boy was not feeling particularly tired. He decided to prepare something simple, not having the courage to do anything grand. Fuji-nee and Sakura weren't there tonight... so this reassured the young redhead, as he did not have to justify the presence of Rin, and mostly Fuji-nee took a great interest in his social associations. He also wouldn't have to explain why Saber wasn't here...

Rin was seated at the table, quietly watching the television. There wasn't any worthwhile news exception made of the murders and disappearances that were happening for some days now. There wasn't anything to indicate who could be the culprit.

It took him awhile, but he finally finished preparing dinner and set up the table with the help of Rin.

The young black haired woman ate the simple meal and did not comment on the matter, being quite content with it. She of course noted that the boy was observing her with a preoccupied look... but she simply waited for him to speak up. If he had something to ask... he would.

It was however after a very tedious amount of time that he finally decided to.

« Say, Tohsaka... » he began as she raised her eyes to look at him as she was eating a piece of meat. « What would be your course of action now, regarding the war ? »

The young woman took the time to eat and thought calmly before answering. To be fair, she had reflected on it for the majority of the day. But now... she knew that Shirou was as stubborn as a mule, and that she had to take it into account.

« With the informations that we already have, there are several plans possible... We know where to find Caster, but we do not know who their Master is. Shinji is Rider's Master... I think I know where to find Berserker since their master is an Einzbern. The informations we are currently lacking are : Who is Lancer's Master, where can we find them ? And there is nothing we know about Assassin »

Rin slightly tapped her chin with her index finger. For the time being, she was not willing to put Shirou in danger. Especially since he had a tendency to charge head first without thinking about the consequences. This was not because he was underestimating his opponents, rather than he was overestimating his own abilities. So she was tempted to act differently to begin with.

« I say we search for more informations tomorrow. We'll try to draw Assassin out of their hiding place and... maybe we could try to find where is the golden "Archer". »

She hesitated with this offer, but this way they did not had to go into battle for now. On the contrary, the search for informations was much safer and allowed for a better strategic position.

Shirou had his arms crossed, thinking too. He apparently did not approve all of this plan, but he did not want to upset her.

He then nodded in agreement.

« Alright, Tohsaka. »

Notes:

A little summary of the current situation of the Fifth war so to give you the general context.

Archer is still as disdainful as ever with Shirou, even if it will be brief, as it isn't the main subject of this fanfiction.

Arturia will come back in the next chapter.

 

(I hesitate to post the French version on this site. And I hesitate to pass my other GilArt fanfics in French here too.
There are mostly English fanfic here.
Tell me what you think?

You want to see more ?
You can find me here :
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twitter.com/Basykail

https://www.wattpad.com/user/Basykail)

Chapter 6: Assassin's distrust

Summary:

At nightfall, Saber finally reaches the mountain.

Notes:

I know, I know, it's been over a year since the last update, I'm sorry. I didn't have a translator anymore and I didn't dare to ask to correct my English. But now it's done. I don't know the update rate, but not as long as the last one. Thanks for continuing to follow this story

Thanks to xxxDreamingflowerxxx for reading and correcting my beta.♥♥♥♥ Go read her fabulous stories!

Standing in front of a long staircase which led deeper into the mountain, Arturia silently observed the peak, admiring the structure of stone and wood that formed the arch at the entrance to the sacred place, Ryuudou temple.

Her hair and dress were swept gently by the wind as the woman coldly looked at her destination. Something or someone was watching her. It was a wary and untraceable presence to the naked eye. But she knew, it was there. Waiting for her to venture recklessly into its territory.

The woman closed her eyes and concentrated on her surroundings, trying to detect the entity who was observing her. Her body protested under her efforts, but she paid them no heed. The journey that had brought her here had been particularly exhausting. Her weak body had been pushed to the limit and now she felt that she could not hold on for long. It wouldn't take long before she collapsed.

She did not have to wait as her mysterious observer quickly made themselves known the moment she stepped on the stairway. The woman stopped abruptly. Blinking once before her gaze fell on the figure who had come to greet her.

At the very end of the stairs stood a man. Despite his height, he appeared to be of Asian descent. His indigo, long hair was tied into a ponytail and he wore a traditional light-purple umanori hakama and matching kimono. He carried a katana with him, which was peacefully resting on his shoulder. His piercing gaze was fixated on her, regarding her with distrust. Despite the hostility, the man smiled, as if mocking her. He was clearly not planning to act friendly. Moreover, he had already drawn his sword, hadn't he?

No words were exchanged as the two surveyed each other, analysing and predicting eachother's move. However neither of them were planning to make the first strike. Hence time passed as the two servants faced off in a staring contest.

The only sign the woman could detect, was the trembling of her arms while she was fighting the fatigue that had overtaken her.

She cursed her body. The man squinted his eyes slightly in response.

There was no need for her to appear strong anymore, yet she still decided to act bold.

The King of Knights continued to walk, taking a few steps forward and surprising the Samurai for a moment with her sudden action. He stopped her dead in her tracks when he pointed his katana in her direction. A frown crept on his face as he was unable to discover the woman's intentions.

She couldn't help but smile at the long-awaited reaction. "You are Assassin, are you not?"

There was no doubt of the man's identity. The only servant who had not yet revealed himself during the war was Assassin. Arturia had not imagined that a Heroic Spirit of the Assassin class could possess such a noble appearance. She remembered the previous war and the army of assassins that she and the other two kings had faced; they were discreet, mysterious and could easily blend into the shadows, unlike the man before her.

The man raised an eyebrow and squinted.

"That is correct." He paused before continuing, "My name is Sasaki Kojiro."

The black knight frowned, she did not expect the servant to reveal his name so easily. Curiosity piquet as she eyed the man.

"How surprising, did you just introduce yourself?"

"Is it not normal for a warrior to introduce himself before a fight? Even if you are clearly not in a state to do battle..."

Of course, he had noticed. Despite the dark aura she gave of, it could not camouflage her lack of mana. The trembling in her limbs were a clear give away. He could easily attack her and take her down with one blow.

"So you say that I am an easy target." She provoked him with a small mischievous smile. In any case, she voluntarily ventured inside enemy territory while being aware of the risk she was taking.

"There is no honour for me in killing indefensive women or children and I see no need in cutting an autumn leaf when it is about to fall."

"Interesting."

This Assassin appeared to have an honorable personality. He followed a code, similar to that of knights. Deep down, Arturia would have been interested in competing with him if she was not low on mana and he was not an obstacle to her goal.

"I did not come here to fight," She replied. Her statement made the man turn silent. His hand tightening on his sword, skepticism was present on his face as he warringly observed her.

"Is that so? Then why would a Servant venture into enemy territory? If not to fight... Or to die?" The man wondered, clearly indicating that she might just have suicidal urges.

His words brought a new smile to the young woman, amused in a sarcastic way despite the circumstances. She gently leaned her face to the side, more and more curious about this individual.

"That is a perceptive speculation," Arturia commented, "however, I am not a servant."

Seeing how the man's face twisted into shock and confusion, gave her a feeling of satisfaction.

The man did not seem to understand. In his eyes, there was not doubt that the woman in front of him was a servant. She emitted an aura that no human could possess. Assassin frowned.

Yes, his reaction definitely amused the King of Knights.

"Since you introduced yourself, it would be only fair for me to do the same, Assassin. However, I have no desire to draw my weapon. I am—"

"I do not want to hear it." He cut her off with a dry tone. Obviously not interested in the woman's identity. "State your business and then, will I decide my next course of action. You claim that you did not come here to fight, however a mere statement alone cannot guarantee your credibility..." The servant eyed her suspiciously, her mere appearance told him more than enough. She may appear harmless but her very presence was too sinister to ignore.

Arturia's eyes turned dark in an instant and her smile faded. The situation was becoming annoying and awkward.

"Speak! What do you want?" he ordered contemptuously.

The young woman straightened her head and crossed her arms to keep her patience. Such impertinence.

"I'm here to see Caster." she sighed blundly.

The man frowned. Arturia stopped herself from rolling her eyes.

"I know she's here. go ahead and inform her about my presence, let her decide what to do with me. Besides, I am certain that your Master and hers would also wish to enquire about my goals."

It was the man's turn to be amused. While his features did not change, Arturia could sense the mirth from him. It was annoying and as time passed, her exhaustion made her vision slightly blurred.

"There is only one Master here and that is Caster."

"Oh, is that so?"

"I am her servant, she summoned me here and bound me to this place to act as it's guardian dog. But I guess that has nothing to do with you."

Arturia did not recall it being possible for a servant to summon another servant. But somehow Caster had managed to achieve it. Whether it was an oddity or not, this was definitely an advantage to her. It was one master less to take care of.

"Very impressive. So, what will you do?" she pressed him.

The man let out a sigh in defeat and repositioned his Katana on his shoulder.

"Give me a moment."

Finally.

-

Caster materialized not far from Assassin. He gave her mentally a quick summary of his conversation with Arturia. Even though the woman had her face covered, the dark knight could feel the mage's eyes on her. Observing the woman who was still standing at the beginning of the staircase.

"Saber..." she mumbled, recognizing her immediately. The memories of their previous encounter at the school building came flooding back to her mind.

However, this woman appeared different from the servant she faced before.

Arturia did not have the strength left to stand. And so while Assassin and Caster were still conversing privately, she sat down on the steps to rest. Her body was still shaking and her eyelids felt particularly heavy.

Although she could only rest for a little while, it was beneficial. The woman simply concentrated on her breathing and caught the presence of Caster.

Caster observed her for a moment, unsure of what to do. Yet, she felt overjoyed that a lamb would jump into the lion's den so easily. Yet, even a lamb could be feared. A shiver ran across her spine. Caster noticed that the pure golden light that Saber usually possessed, had transformed into a terrifying shadow.

Cautiously, Caster began to descend the steps, not taking her eyes off the woman.

Arturia raised her head as she noticed the approaching servant. With difficulty, she stood up. Her legs were unsteady, but she managed to stand.

A magic circle appeared under her feet and kept her trapped in a small space while stopping her movements.

The blonde looked at the ground with disinterest, even if Caster had all the reason in the world to be cautious of her, it was a waste of energy. She locked her golden eyes with Caster who stood in front of her.

They exchanged wary gazes, despite Arturia not showing any sign of fear or of being intimidated by her situation.

"There is no need to be haste, Caster..." The dark servant commented.

"It's just a precaution." The witch replied with a cold smile.

Caster dropped her hood back, revealing her alluring face to the King of Knights and approached her captive. The mage's eyes perceived her with interest.

"It's a surprise to see you here. Alone and weak." An observation that she had no difficulty in making. She had not detected the presence of any human in the era. Caster circled around the blonde, monitoring her from head to toe. Arturia did not mind. "Assassin has reported to me that you claim 'to no longer be a servant'. What an amusing statement from a Heroic Spirit."

Arturia's eyes followed her every step, waiting for her to come back in front of her and gave her a complacent smile in return.

Caster appeared to be waiting for an answer from the young woman, however Saber merely raised her hand with her pale palm open for Caster to see. As if she was giving the servant an open invitation to examine her.

The purple-haired woman frowned, Saber's invitation was not reassuring to her at all. She was about to demand an explanation for her behavior, until she remembered Assassin's words. She had not come here to fight. This claim was backed up by the woman's lack of hostility; furthermore from her observation, it was clear that Saber was in no condition to fight.

Caster mulled over her decision. Her gaze lingered over Arturia who was still waiting. Finally she raised her hand and gently grabbed the hand of her prisoner.

Upon touch, her eyes widened in shock and Arturia's hand suddenly became the most fascinating object she had ever seen. She gripped the hand more firmly to take a closer look and stroked the skin carefully, discerning what was invisible to the naked eye. It took her a moment, but she was certain... Saber had—

"Impossible...!! This is... You...!"

"Yes. I have obtained a body of flesh and blood."

A body shaped by the mud of the grail, but a real body. Caster couldn't believe it. She eyed Arturia. Her gaze was riddled with questions.

"H-How?"

Arturia smiled, her eyes glinted in mirth. The woman tilted her head slightly. Caster's shocking reaction delighted her.

"How? It's thanks to the Holy Grail of course."

Notes:

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