Saturday, February 5, 1994.
With the arrival of the weekend, Rin took Sakura early that day to find Kirei Kotomine, who was practicing Eight Extremities Fist against a tree in the courtyard.
Watching the tree vibrate continuously, Rin used Reinforcement Magic and launched a flying kick at Kirei Kotomine. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Kirei Kotomine swiftly turned and blocked Rin's kick, while simultaneously using a clever force to let Rin land safely on the ground.
Kirei Kotomine withdrew his stance and asked Rin,
"Rin, are you planning to do morning exercises?"
"No, Kirei. Sakura and I plan to go to Fuyuki Church to see Kallen. We need you to take us, otherwise Mother won't let us out the door."
"I see. Understood."
Just then, Aoi Tohsaka passed by the courtyard carrying a basket of clothes to be hung out to dry.
Rin quickly stopped Aoi Tohsaka and explained her plan to go to Fuyuki Church with Kirei Kotomine to find his daughter.
Aoi Tohsaka set down the laundry basket, went back into the house to get a wallet, and pulled out two 'Noguchi Hideyo' notes (1000 yen each, roughly equivalent to 117 RMB in 1994) and handed them to Rin.
"Here, Rin. You and Sakura take one each to buy some snacks. Also, Rin, be polite when visiting Kirei's home. Sakura, please keep an eye on your sister."
"Alright, alright, Mother, I'll be polite. Go back to your work; Sakura and I are leaving."
Rin hurried to grab Sakura's small hand and walked out the gate, while stuffing all the 'Noguchi Hideyo' notes into Sakura's hand. Kirei Kotomine silently followed Rin and Sakura as they left the Tohsaka Residence.
Seeing Rin leave as if she were escaping, Aoi Tohsaka shook her head dotingly and headed toward the backyard with her basket.
In the taxi, Kirei Kotomine sat in the front passenger seat, staring blankly at the passing scenery outside the window, while Rin sat in the back seat, whispering to Sakura.
"Sakura, I have a plan later. No matter what happens, don't be surprised!"
Feeling Rin's breath close to her, Sakura's small face turned slightly red, and she nodded weakly.
Rin suddenly noticed Sakura's face had flushed. She reached out her left hand to touch Sakura's forehead and asked blankly,
"Sakura, what's wrong? Are you carsick? If you're carsick, why don't we get off here? We're close to the Church anyway."
Sakura shook her head in a panic and said softly,
"I'm fine, Sister. Maybe it's just a bit stuffy, so my face is a little red. It's okay."
Rin withdrew her hand from Sakura's forehead and rolled down the car window. Instantly, the cool early spring breeze poured into the car.
"Do you feel better, Sakura?"
"Yes, Sister, I'm fine. You should close the window, or you'll catch a cold."
Rin gave a thumbs up, revealing her white canine teeth, and said to Sakura with a smile,
"No problem, Sakura. A mere cool breeze is 'Muda Muda'!"
And so, accompanied by the cool early spring breeze, they arrived at the Fuyuki City Church before Rin could freeze into an icicle.
Just after getting out of the car, Rin suddenly let out a big sneeze. Sakura nervously walked to Rin's side and said with concern,
"Sister!"
"Daijoubu, Moetainai, Sakura. Don't worry, someone must be talking behind my back for me to sneeze."
As she spoke, she turned her head and looked at Kirei Kotomine with ill intent.
"Right, Kirei?"
Kirei Kotomine was startled and nodded reflexively.
Rin looked at Kirei Kotomine with satisfaction. Kirei really was a useful fellow; she was almost reluctant to let him go. She hoped he would be sensible... The three of them walked into the Church courtyard, where Kotomine Risei stood at the main entrance with a kind smile to welcome them.
"Kirei, you're back. Rin, Sakura, your father already spoke with me on the 'phone.' I'm terribly sorry, Kallen has just been brought back from Northern Europe and her body is a bit weak. I've sent Kallen to a priest in a neighboring city so she can recuperate there."
"Is it because of the Holy Grail War? Is that why you sent Kallen out of Fuyuki? Isn't it a bit early? There are still a few months left."
Kotomine Risei's squinted eyes suddenly snapped open. What was going on? Tokiomi shouldn't have told his daughters about the Holy Grail War so early, and Tokiomi's eldest daughter seemed to know everything about the Holy Grail War.
Rin Tohsaka ignored Kotomine Risei and led Sakura into the Church. After entering, she spoke to the dazed Kotomine father and son at the door.
"Shouldn't we come in and talk? Does the Church let guests entertain themselves?"
Kotomine Risei regained his composure and walked into the Church with Kirei Kotomine. Kirei, following behind, also closed the Church doors.
"Rin, how do you know about the Holy Grail War? Can you tell Grandpa?"
"Of course, it's because of the 'Man-Eating Hag'."
A thick mist suddenly appeared inside the Church following Rin's voice. Within the mist, an old voice continuously let out cackling laughter and chewing sounds. Kotomine Risei, seeing Rin's sudden hostility, slowly rolled up his sleeves and struck an Eight Extremities Fist pose. Kirei Kotomine also reached for his lower back, ready to pull out black keys at any moment.
A tense atmosphere lingered among them. After a while, Kirei Kotomine was the first to break the silence.
"Rin, why?"
"The Holy Grail War. Yes, it's because of the Holy Grail War. I want to participate too. I know your Church has command spells left over from previous Holy Grail Wars. I need them. If you can hand them over, I'll be very happy."
Kotomine Risei stared with wide eyes, curiously looking at Rin's flickering figure within the thick mist. He truly couldn't imagine how such a young girl could use magic of this level, enough to make even an ascetic monk like him feel his hair stand on end.
"Then where did you get information about the Holy Grail War? I don't believe Tokiomi would have told you?"
"From the ancestral books recording the Holy Grail War, of course. I am the future head of the Tohsaka Family, one of the Three Founding Families of Fuyuki. How could I not know? Oh, of course, you'll say my father would hide the books, but would that be useful against me? From my father's alliance with you to your plans, I know everything clearly."
Kirei Kotomine's expressionless face revealed a few hints of surprise. He still spoke in his emotionless voice,
"Rin, since you know clearly that we are allies with your Tohsaka Family, why are you preparing to attack us?"
"Because you are too weak, including my father. You're too naive. The Holy Grail War, although it's a ritual of summoning ancient heroes to fight, don't forget that no matter what, the Magi are the ones in control. You're too naive to think you can win the Holy Grail War just by relying on one powerful Servant. Servants, as incarnations of former heroes, are definitely not that easy to manipulate. So, I will also participate. I will join this Holy Grail War as insurance for our Tohsaka Family's victory."
Hearing Rin's explanation, Kotomine Risei lowered his sleeves and put his kind smile back on his face.
"Is that so? Tokiomi really has a remarkable daughter. Then how do you plan to convince Tokiomi? Do you intend to use magic to make Tokiomi submit as well?"
"Of course, I won't let him know. I said I'm just insurance. As long as you don't speak out, who would know all this? Right, Sakura?"
Sakura was startled when asked, then she remembered Rin's various actions from before. For the first time, she defied Tokiomi's orders and nodded firmly.
"And what about you?" Rin turned and asked the Kotomine father and son.
"Dispel your magic. I will give the command spells to you, and I won't tell Tokiomi either."
"I'm not that easily reassured." As she spoke, Rin pulled a Self-Geas Scroll from her bosom and threw it to the Kotomine father and son.
Kotomine Risei took the Self-Geas Scroll, read it carefully, and magic power surged from his fingertips as he signed the scroll. Then, he handed it to Kirei Kotomine behind him, and Kirei also signed it with his magical signature without a word.
"Are you satisfied now? Dispel the magic and follow me."
Rin waved her small hand, and the eerie thick mist vanished completely in an instant.
Kotomine Risei led them deep into the Church. After arriving at one of the rooms, he took out a left arm wrapped in bandages from a bedside cabinet.
As the bandages were unwrapped, the withered left arm covered in dense command spells appeared before everyone's eyes.
Soon, Rin had three command spells transplanted onto the back of her left hand. She then used 'Mirage' to hide the command spells. She gave the Kotomine father and son a ladylike bow and led Sakura out of the Church.
Just after Rin and Sakura left, Kotomine Risei could no longer keep up his act. He suddenly sat on the bed, gasping for breath.
"Tokiomi, you've really raised a monster of a daughter! Tokiomi, we're both old; the future era belongs to the young. Kirei, after this Holy Grail War ends, find an opportunity for Kallen to become Tokiomi's apprentice as well."
"Yes, Father."
And so, the strongest 'corrupt referee' faction of this Holy Grail War was born!
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