Rin Tohsaka... wanted to kick someone where the Sun didn't shine.
As a magus, and a willing participant of the Holy Grail War, she was prepared for problems, ambushes, traps and all that. She was absolutely NOT prepared for the ugly truths it dragged out into the light and dropped on her front yard.
The Tohsaka were the overseers of Fuyuki City. She was the family head. The deeds of the Matou should never have remained secret to her. They lived in the same damned district!
To her own sister no less-
Rin hissed... well, she wanted to. The gag tied around her mouth made that harder than expected. Somehow, that made having her arms and legs bound even more annoying.
She was a first-rate magus. A genius.
How the hell had a little child managed to grab her?
Where was Archer?
He was amnesiac and weaker because of her botched ritual but dammit, she expected at least a bit more of him. When she'd been attacked on the way to the Emiya Residence by Berserker and his master, he disappeared.
His only words to her were, "Trust me."
...
Like hell!
It'd been a whole day or something!
There'd been nothing else since then. The white-haired bastard hadn't even used their bond to speak. Her random insults and provocations were met with complete silence. He heard them. She knew he did. The contract was still there. She could still feel it. A part of her mana being re-directed to maintain his existence in this world.
At this point, she'd take anyone... but no one knew...
Blind and bound, her frustration only grew since her capture. There was no fear to be found. Her captor hadn't even approached her since then.
Before she could lament further, her blinds were suddenly pulled away. The light hit her immediately, and it took her eyes a moment to adjust to her new surroundings.
She was... She was in some kind of cellar. No, a cell of tasteless brick. A dim bulb dangled a few feet above her. So that was why she felt so cold and damp. Yes, she was definitely in a cell.
There were even iron bars off on the far end.
Just beside them, a pale woman stood with her hands on her belly, one atop the other. Her blood-red eyes were half-lidded, clearly displeased with Rin's presence.
When the gag in her mouth loosened, Rin's words ended up being those of confusion.
"Are you a nun?"
"I am most certainly not." The lady answered plainly.
Well, she certainly could have fooled Rin.
Those outdated white gowns and head-covers were only worn by women of the cloth. The only other plausible connection that came to mind was to medieval era maidservants.
The one responsible for removing her binds soon made herself known too, stepping out from beside Rin to join her fellow maid (?). Their faces were nearly identical, she noted... just the newer one felt a tad shallower.
If Henry were here, he'd probably say something like, "Not a thought behind those saucers."
"Excuse me?"
"Ah, I'm sorry."
Dammit, why was she remembering his stupidity at a time like this?
The smarter maid cleared her throat. "Do not try to break your bindings. You will fail."
...Rin had already tried.
"And keep your comments in check. If you displease the lady, there will be consequences."
"Consequences." The other one echoed, nodding her head up and down.
"Who does she think she is?" Rin questioned calmly, "Targeting other masters is strictly forbidden. I think a member of the Einzbern family should have more-"
"Quiet."
Her cheek burned. The quieter one had slapped her. Rin bit her lip, pushing down the insults that came rushing up at the sheer audacity.
"Only speak when asked."
Fine.
If that was what they wanted, she'd let them think she was complying. It wasn't like Rin was heading into this blind. Thanks to her 'student', she knew who they were.
The Einzbern.
As rivals, she knew much about them. Surely, that knowledge would come in handy now, in some way... she hoped.
They'd clearly demonstrated their willingness to go after the master instead of the servant. What was to say Rin would even get to walk from this?
Nothing.
But, mulling in fear accomplished nothing either.
The maids continued watching her in silence. She stared right back. Soon enough, the click-clack of tiny footsteps was ringing through the corridor outside. The 'little lady' these women served rounded the corner with a child-like smile on her tiny lips.
A small child barely reaching her shoulders, with snow-white hair falling down her back and shimmering rubies for eyes. The traits that marked members of the Einzbern family.
She seemed innocent, ethereal, the kind of girl you'd want to pamper.
Rin knew better now.
"Hello Miss... Rin, is it?" She chirped, hands behind her back.
"And you're the Einzbern master, I take it?"
The girl didn't deign to answer. She tip-toed closer up until Rin could feel her breath on her face. Then, she cutely tilted her head to look at the maids.
Dammit-
The slap struck Rin's cheek just as she grit her teeth. It stung more this time, and she was sure the spot was going to bruise.
"Why capture me?" Rin bit out through the pain.
The child tilted her small head, poking her chin with a finger, "Um, I guess I just felt like it? Wait no, it's because you were with my brother!"
Brother?
"I don't know any-" The maid struck Rin again, harder.
"Shirou Emiya silly! So when I saw you out there by yourself, I just had to grab you. You see, Miss Rin, I want my brother to suffer."
...What the hell was this brat even saying?
"So I was thinking, maybe I should have Berserker violate you in front of him, or give him your head?"
The words didn't quite register yet. When they sunk in, Rin paled ever so little. The girl noticed instantly. Of course, she did.
She giggled cutely, moving her head from side to side as though she were humming to some melody.
"Has it settled in now? That was the plan before. I've decided it'd be much better if I break you BEFORE I send you to him. Isn't that great? You'll be just like your sister~"
At her words, rage came welling forth. The binds strained to hold her. Then, the maid was striking her, in the gut this time. The wind abruptly left Rin's lungs and she let out a violent cough.
Her captor giggled at that.
"You can even find out if it's really as bad as Sakura makes it look! Who knows maybe it'll even be pleasurable down the line."
Mad. She was mad.
"Do you think you'll get away-" Rin stopped halfway, but the strike never came.
Her fear was met with even more enthused giggles. Giggles that turned into full-blown laughter. She laughed freely, hands over her stomach. A good painful moments later, she settled down, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Who do you think will stop my Berserker?"
No one should have come to mind. Berserker's True Name was Heracles. The greatest hero of Ancient Greece. The Son of Zeus who overcame the Twelve Labours and became a deity himself. A hero without equal.
Yes, no should have come to mind.
Someone did.
Rin hated itself for it.
She was the reason behind him getting struck by a noble phantasm. But for some reason, that silly grin and that stupid confidence flashed through her mind all the same. She hated that that stupid smile even felt re-assuring right now.
Rin Tohsaka was not used to someone being there for her.
No would come, she told herself.
Common sense told her to shut up lest this mad child do worse. She really had no reason to respond to that question and risk even further and immediate injury.
But dammit, she was Rin Tohsaka.
"Last I saw, a girl was toying with him. What a pitiful servant. It's clearly because he has you as a master."
Those bright red eyes sharpened considerably.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"You're a cruel, half-mad bitch that thinks some pain justifies ruining the lives of others. Guess what kind of woman made Heracles suffer?"
Before she knew it, someone was grabbing her by the neck.
Rin laughed.
"W-What? The truth hurts? Awww, p... poor you! Emiya did nothing to you! You're just a monster-"
The grip around her neck tightened.
Archer was seriously so... useless.
Just as her vision began to blur, a great rumble shook the entire castle. The old walls groaned, and dust fell from the ceiling as the dim bulb exploded into bits.
"Leysritt!"
The dumber maid dropped Rin, looking around confusedly.
"Protect Mistress Illyasviel."
Coughing, Rin rubbed her bruised throat.
...Illyasviel, was it?
She'd remember that.
"You need to retreat." She heard the smarter one caution. "The Bounded Fields around the castle are gone. There is one-... no, multiple intruders."
Whether it was pride or some misplaced anger again, Illyasviel showed the first sign of being a proper master in response to the maid's report. She raised a clenched fist.
"It doesn't matter if it's one, or a hundred. Berserker will crush them all."
Those words were tested far faster than she'd probably expected when the wall behind Rin exploded outwards. The maids quickly moved to protect Illyasviel while, strangely, none of the rubble headed her way even neared her.
All the chunks of stone and brick froze mid-flight, suspended in air.
"Those thighs are as fine as ever~"
Rin recognised that voice. She stopped crawling away, and looked back with wide eyes just as a familiar youth stepped through the destroyed wall, a fist raised. When he unclenched his hand, all the floating rubble unceremoniously plopped onto the cracked floor.
"Ni hao, fine shyt."
Her eyes grew wet for some reason, but she smiled at his words.
"I'm Japanese."
"Yeah, potato potato."
...Somehow, those words were a lot more horrid compared to Illyasviel's vile plans for her.
She wanted to smack him.
"You again?" Illyasviel said calmly, stepping out from behind her maids. "Didn't you have enough last time?"
"I feel you have a very flawed recollection of what happened last time."
Damn right.
Henry raised his hands in surrender. "But no, as much as I wanna throw down, your beef is with someone else right now."
"If you think you're escaping Berserker-"
"Huhahahaha! Look at this! Being my herald suits you mongrel!"
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