Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Snow White and Her Children

Chapter 7

Satomi presented several dossiers to Rin and Sakura, who looked at them with expressions of surprise and dismay. "Um…was the Matou family ever that big?" Rin asked.

"The main lineage is indeed composed only of Magus Matou," Satomi began. "Along with his estranged son and daughter-in-law Kariya Matou and Aoi Zenjou, plus his two grandchildren, Shinji and Hikaru. However, our investigation has led us to several other magi families in Japan, who may be considered branch lines of the Matou lineage of magi."

"May be considered?" Rin asked.

Satomi nodded. "Unlike proper branch families," she began. "They did not receive crest fragments from the main line. Instead, they simply married into, or took Matou daughters as wives in times past."

"Less branches and more allies and relatives by marriage then." Sakura murmured. "In hindsight, that's not a surprise."

"Hmm…true…" Rin thoughtfully agreed. "…we already know Magus Matou has other properties elsewhere in Japan…"

"Only in Japan though?" Sakura asked worriedly. "I mean…Matou is older than we are, and yet we've managed to marry into the elder Edelfelt lineage of magi. Surely Matou is more than capable of the same."

"We did look into the possibility." Satomi said, and causing Rin and Sakura to turn to her. "Our investigation has led us to two magi families in the Ukraine, not descended from or married into or with the Matou, but sharing the same parent lineage. That is, the elder Zolgen lineage of magi."

Satomi paused and slightly lifted the tray on which the dossiers rested for emphasis. "The details are in the dossiers." She said. "I've also separated them, with the dossiers for Kariya Matou and Aoi Zenjou to the left, and the ones on the right being of related or allied families of the Matou."

Rin nodded slowly while Sakura took the tray from Satomi. Another maid then stepped forward, carrying a clipboard with her. "Ladies Rin and Sakura," she began. "We've received a telegram from Lady Valkolumi in London. Its authenticity has been confirmed."

"What does mother say?" Rin asked.

"She'll be departing from London at four in the afternoon tomorrow." The maid. "Depending on the flight's progress, she should be arriving at the same time the day after tomorrow. A number of allies will be accompanying her, and we are to prepare to accommodate them on their arrival. Both of the secondary residences in the city are to be refurbished and made ready for habitation, and defenses brought up to standard. We are also advised that the Holy Church will be sending an envoy and who will arrive ahead of Lady Valkolumi's arrival. Lady Valkolumi expects that we will treat said envoy with due courtesy."

Rin and Sakura looked at each other. "…did the telegram say who the allies our mother managed to pull together are?" Sakura asked after a moment.

"Yes, my lady." The maid said with a bow of apology. "From the Department of Mineralogy, there is your cousin, Lady Luviagelita Edelfelt…"

"Luvia's coming?" Rin and Sakura asked in chorus.

"…that is correct, my lady." The maid answered after a moment recovering from the interruption, and the twins grinned from ear to ear. "…from the College of Law, there is Enforcer Bazett Fraga McRemitz, Keeper of the Fragarach, from the Department of Archaeology Grand Magus Touko Aozaki…

"OH. MY. GODS." Sakura said with eyes wide with awe and excitement. "The Touko Aozaki is coming here? The one who became a Grand Magus at the age of twenty?"

"Who did the impossible and revived the Art of Puppetry from the decline it's been in since the Renaissance?" Rin followed through, her eyes also wide and alight with awe and excitement. "And who not only managed to fend off repeated efforts worldwide to enforce her sealing designation for years, but also managed to make it so costly the Clock Tower actually revoked it?"

"That Touko Aozaki?" the twins chorused once more.

"I-I believe so, my ladies." The maid said after sharing a concerned glance with Satomi.

The twins pawed and babbled in Finnish at each other in an effort to calm down, before finally linking arms and holding hands, squeezing each other's fingers tight. "Anyone else?" they asked.

"Um…yes…! There are a few others." The maid said with a cough. "Well, two other significant personages. From the Department of Spiritual Invocation, Lady Reines El-Melloi Archisorte, and from the Department of Modern Magecraft Theories, Lord Waver El-Melloi II."

"…Lady El-Melloi and her chief flunky, huh?" Rin said. "I've heard of Lord El-Melloi II, he's said to be the greatest instructor the Clock Tower has in this day and age. But…"

Sakura nodded in agreement. "Yeah," she said. "Between our dear cousin and Grand Magus Aozaki…"

The twins shrugged in unison, throwing their hands up in a 'what can you do' fashion. "It's like comparing a candle to the Sun." they chorused.

Again, the maids looked at each other worriedly. "Will they be bringing staff of their own?" Rin asked.

"Ladies Luviagelita and El-Melloi have indicated they'll be bringing small households with them." The maid said. "Lord El-Melloi II has only brought his aide with him, while Enforcer…McRemitz, has come alone, as has Grand Magus Aozaki."

"We'll have to keep all that in mind then," Sakura said. "When it comes to preparing their accommodations, that is. That said, refurbishing both of the other mansions in a single day is going to be quite the challenge, to say nothing of bringing their defenses up to speed. We might have to skip school tomorrow."

"I don't like it either, but we might not have a choice." Rin said with a sigh. "I only hope mother will understand when she hears about it."

"I'm sure she will." Sakura said. "Needs must, after all. Besides, even if we did go to school and left it all to the staff, she'd be even angrier that we didn't at least personally oversee the refurbishment, to say nothing of helping out."

"That's true." Rin agreed. "On another note…does the telegram mention when the Church envoy will arrive?"

"Yes, my lady." The maid said with a nod. "She should be arriving from Rome at noon tomorrow at the earliest."

"And their name?" Rin asked.

"Sister Caren Ortensia," the maid said with a bow. "The telegram also mentions that Sister Ortensia will introduce herself to the both of you before rendezvousing and lodging with Father Kotomine."

"Then we'd best get things moving in the morning," Sakura said. "Before heading back here around noon, to meet with the envoy."

"So it would seem, Sakura." Rin said before sighing. "In the meantime, we'll study these dossiers. Looks like we might not be getting any sleep tonight."

"I'd suggest a cutoff time at say…midnight?" Sakura immediately disagreed. "We need to get some sleep, otherwise we'll wear ourselves out completely come tomorrow morning. If we did that, then we wouldn't be at our best, and we need to be at our best, considering how busy we're going to be."

"…not to mention we'll be meeting with a VIP from the Church…" Rin said with a slow nod. "…I see your point. We'll do as you suggest, study these dossiers until midnight, and go to bed for some rest before getting back to work tomorrow."

Sakura nodded at her twin before looking back to the maids. "Have the dossiers been forwarded to our mother as well?" she asked.

"They have been, yes." Satomi answered. "I thought it only expected of me, given the regular updates sent to Lady Valkolumi ever since her departure."

"Hmm…true…" Sakura admitted.

Rin nodded. "I agree." She said. "Well done, Satomi-san."

"Thank you, my lady." Satomi said with a bow. The twins nodded at her, and then Rin was speaking again.

"We'll start looking over those dossiers you provided us." She said. "In the meantime, please bring us coffee and biscuits, to keep us going with until midnight."

"Yes, my lady." Satomi said with another bow, her fellow maid doing likewise next to her. "I'll bring them up as soon as possible."

"Thanks, Satomi-san." The twins chorused, already starting to lift the dossiers from the tray. The maids bowed themselves out in silence, leaving their mistresses to work in peace.


Birds twittered in the cool morning air, before flying off into the skies. Sunlight shone down over the expanse of Fuyuki City and its suburbs, shafts of light lancing through gaps in the trees' canopies, their leaves coloring with the passing days of autumn.

"Emiya-san," Hikaru said as he walked into the living/dining room after Taiga had gone for the day. "Thanks again for the new clothes."

"You're welcome." Shirou said, glancing over a shoulder from where he was washing the dishes.

"What happened to the Tohsaka twins?" Hikaru said, sitting down at the table and removing the plastic cover placed over his breakfast.

"Ah…they're busy today." Shirou said. "In fact, they're going to be skipping school."

"…something's happening, isn't there?" Hikaru worriedly asked.

"Their mother's coming back from London." Shirou said. "And she's brought some friends with her. So they have to make things ready for them. They also said once their mother and allies arrive, we should be able to take some risks."

Hikaru snorted and nodded. "Yeah, I can see why." He said. "If it's just my grandfather against the twins, then it wouldn't be anywhere near a fair fight for them. He'd put them down and walk over their corpses, before dragging me off like he's always planned to. But once Missus Tohsaka and her friends arrive, if my grandfather tried to throw his weight around, he'd be the one to get buried six feet under."

"Hmm…kind of…" Shirou said, and looking over a shoulder. "…from what I understand, even with Aunt Valkolumi and her friends, if things got hot between them and your grandfather, the latter's old and powerful enough to stalemate them. They wouldn't lose, but they might not win either."

Hikaru hummed before taking a bite of his breakfast. The conversation stilled for several minutes, Hikaru eating his breakfast while Shirou washed the dishes. "Thank you for the meal." Hikaru politely said after finishing. Shirou nodded at him over a shoulder, and then Hikaru was leaning back. "Even if Missus Tohsaka and her friends aren't guaranteed to take my grandfather down if he decides to be all big and bad, that's only if he focuses on them, right?"

"Pretty much." Shirou said. "That's why we should be able to take some risks. Like say…contacting your parents, and putting a guard around them. Even if your grandfather found out and tried to go after them to get to you, he'd be weakening himself, enough that Aunt Valkolumi and her friends could take him down for good."

Hikaru sighed. "I really hope that's the case, Emiya-san." He said. "If only for my mother's sake…and I also hope I can go home soon. No offense…"

"None taken." Shirou reassured Hikaru. "If nothing else, getting you home safe and sound from here on out is the only way to resolve this incident properly."

"Yeah, the twins said that too." Hikaru said before sighing again. "That said, I don't think things will ever go back to normal even after this…incident, gets resolved."

Shirou was silent for a full minute, the only sound to be heard being the birds outside, and a cloth wiping the dish he was holding dry. "Nothing stays the same." He finally said in a soft voice. "Everything changes as time passes them by. All we can do is keep up, and not get left behind."

Hikaru snorted again with a wry smile. "That last two things you said mean the same thing, Emiya-san." He said.

Shirou snorted and smiled himself. "Yeah, I know." He said.

Hikaru sighed. "I know things wouldn't have stayed the same even if my grandfather didn't have me kidnapped." He said. "But…nothing like this…I just wanted a normal life, with normal changes over time…you get what I mean, right?"

"Yeah, I do." Shirou said, rinsing his hands before drying them, and then walking over. "But…I hate to sound uncaring or something…but what we want and what we get in life aren't always the same."

Hikaru sighed again. "…I know." He admitted. "I guess all I can do is try and live as normal a life I can have even after this, right?"

"Looks that way," Shirou said with a nod. "Though, about that…ever think of learning magic yourself? I mean…you don't have to be a magus, just a spell-caster…someone who uses magic for mundane reasons…like say making sure anything like this doesn't happen again…or something like that…"

Shirou trailed off uncomfortably, and Hikaru laughed. "That wasn't a very convincing recruitment speech, Emiya-san." He said with a grin.

"I wasn't trying to…oh, never mind."

The two young men shared a laugh. "What are your parents like?" Shirou asked. "I mean…you've told us before that your mom was a delicate person but…I'm sure that's not all there is to her."

"Of course not," Hikaru said, before glancing at a clock on the wall. "But while I'd love to tell you all about my parents, maybe we should do that later. I wouldn't want to make you late, Emiya-san."

"Good point," Shirou said with a nod, and then getting to his feet. "Well then, I better get going. You'll be fine by yourself, right?"

"The past few days prove that, don't they?"

"Guess so…see you later, Matou-san."

"Hmm…see you later, Emiya-san."


"How's it going on your end?" Rin asked her twin about half past noon, as Sakura returned to the Tohsaka property. Well, technically there were three Tohsaka properties in the city, at least ones not rented out to various businesses and individuals for fair and reasonable prices. One – the 'primary residence' – was where the Rin and Sakura lived with their mother, and had been the home of the Tohsaka lineage of magi for centuries.

At least, the grounds were: the original mansion burned down during the Third Holy Grail War over sixty years ago. The mansion that now stood on the property was built after said war, though completion had been delayed by the economic difficulties and social upheavals that resulted from Japan's involvement and defeat in the Second World War.

The other two properties – the 'secondary residences' – actually originally-belonged to the Edelfelt lineage of magi, but following the marriage between Tokiomi Tohsaka and Valkolumi Edelfelt, both properties were formally transferred to the Tohsaka, or rather, the new Edelfelt-Tohsaka branch line. Even then, both properties had enjoyed regular preventative maintenance and had their real estate taxes paid for by Tokiomi's father, his wife (and Tokiomi's mother) being one of two Edelfelt Masters who had fought in the Third Holy Grail War.

In short, both properties already de facto belonged to Tohsaka even before their formal assimilation into the greater Edelfelt lineage of magi. De jure belonging came with Tohsaka's formal assimilation and recognition as an Edelfelt branch family.

"We've managed to get rid of all the dust." Sakura said, having drawn the short stick in the selection by lot earlier in the morning. Rin got the 'easy' assignment, that is the secondary residence literally across the street from the family's primary residence. In contrast, Sakura had to oversee the refurbishing of the secondary residence across the city, not far from Kotomine Church. "And we've managed to bring most of the furniture out of storage. We should be done on that end before the afternoon ends. What about you though?"

"About the same as you." Rin replied as they walked back towards the Tohsaka mansion. "Though we're having trouble getting the fountain in the yard working, and prettying up the gardens will take at least the whole week to finish."

"Huh…I'd say we're in the same boat when it comes to the gardens." Sakura said. "Though the fountain in our yard's working just fine."

"Lucky you." Rin grouched.

"Want to change places?" Sakura offered.

"No thanks," Rin said. "We both have differences in style when it comes to running things. Subtle, true, but they're there. Switching places will only confuse our staff."

"True enough." Sakura agreed. "On another note, we're about halfway through replacing the drapery, and should be finished by this evening."

"Just in time for the deliveries of consumable stocks to arrive, huh?" Rin asked.

"Pretty much," Sakura agreed. "Electricity, gas, phone services, and the plumbing all seem to be working fine."

"Same on my end," Rin said with a sigh. "Looks like the only real hiccup is the fountain. I guess I should be thankful that's the only problem, but still…I'm greedy aren't I?"

"Hmm…maybe…" Sakura teased. "…but if you are, then so am I."

"In what way?" Rin asked.

"We're reflections of each other, aren't we?" Sakura asked, pausing in the mansion foyer. Rin hummed, smiled, and finally shrugged.

"Yeah, we are." She agreed, and sharing a grin with her twin. "Come on then. Let's go have some lunch while we're waiting for Sister Ortensia."

"Yes, let's."


Rin and Sakura stared. Caren stared back.

Rin and Sakura's eyes were wide with surprise and disbelief. Caren's eyes were relaxed and unconcerned.

Rin and Sakura pointed at Caren as one. "You're a kid!" they chorused.

Caren raised an eyebrow. "So are you two." She serenely replied.

"…that's…" the twins chorused, trailing off as they found themselves unable to provide a proper rejoinder.

Caren nodded as though in understanding. "Just as age has no bearing on being magi," she said. "So too does it have no bearing on being an exorcist. Shall we get down to business?"

The twins visibly fumbled, and then audibly giving up in exasperation, gestured for Caren to sit with them around a table. A maid walked forward, and placing a tea set on the table, poured tea for them all before bowing and stepping back.

"I shall get to the point." Caren said before taking a drink. "The Holy Church fully supports Edelfelt-Tohsaka in your current endeavor to end Heaven's Feel once and for all. As this is now also officially an Association-backed operation, our cooperation will be of a subdued note, and you and yours will be expected to take the lead in this matter. Regardless, our support – within reason – is guaranteed."

Rin and Sakura drank their tea while silently absorbing Caren's words. "I'm grateful to hear that." Rin finally said, slowly tapping a finger against the coffee table. "Though I find myself curious: my family and your organization have a long history of…amity, between us, born of our…history, going back to the sakoku and again throughout Heaven's Feel's iterations."

"You speak of your family previously being secret Christians during the Tokugawa Shogunate," Caren said. "And your…scrupulous, following of the rules of Heaven's Feel."

Rin just hummed while taking a sip of her tea. "I have received no instructions on that matter." Caren continued before taking a drink herself. "Personally, I do not believe in the idea of burning bridges simply because of changing circumstances. There has to be reason and rationality such a…drastic, decision."

Again, Rin hummed while taking another drink. "I share that opinion, sister." She said.

Caren gave a serene smile in response. "Then I am glad we are able to understand each other." She said.

Rin smiled back, though next to her Sakura still kept her face neutral. "I'm rather curious, sister." She said. "Surely you did not just come here to deliver such a message, no matter how reassuring they are."

"Indeed I am not." Caren said with a nod. "I am also here to provide support for Father Kotomine in the performance of his duties."

"That only makes me even more curious." Sakura said. "Father Kotomine is a former Executor, and a fairly-reputable one at that."

"But one who has served in no combat missions," Caren firmly said. "Or undergone performance evaluations, for over a decade. While I am confident in Father Kotomine having done what he could to maintain his skills, and he retains his experience from before leaving active duty as an Executor, I dare to say he is not quite on the same level as he used to be."

"…fair enough." Sakura said. "I'd question if someone as young as you could properly make up for Father Kotomine having gone to seed…but I see no need to return to that topic, do you?"

"Indeed I do not." Caren said with a nod.

"So what now?" Rin asked before taking another drink.

"I will proceed to Kotomine Church, and meet with Father Kotomine." Caren said with a shrug. "We will discuss private matters with regard to Church affairs, and how we will proceed with supporting your endeavor. And of course, settle in."

"You'll be staying at Kotomine Church I assume?" Rin asked.

"Indeed I will." Caren said with another nod. "If that was meant as an invitation to lodge at your residence, then I am grateful for the offer, but I must decline. Please accept my apologies."

"No, it's no trouble at all." Rin said.

Caren nodded and then finished her tea. "If there is nothing more…?" she asked, and both Rin and Sakura got to their feet, Caren following suit.

"Even if you aren't going to be lodging with us on a regular basis," Sakura began as she and Rin walked Caren from the sitting room back to the front. "Should you have any reason to come and stay as a guest, then our doors are open to you."

"I am grateful." Caren said. "And I may just take you up on that offer, Magus Tohsaka."

Sakura smiled lightly. "Please," she said. "Call me Sakura."

"And call me Rin." Rin said.

"Very well then…Rin, Sakura," Caren said with a nod. "Please call me Caren as well."

Rin and Sakura's smiles widened further, though the rest of the walk to the front was done in silence.


"Good afternoon, father." Caren serenely said. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Caren…" Kirei said, all the while fighting to keep his eye from twitching. This was…unforeseen. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to assist you." Caren replied.

"…I'm happy to hear that you'd be willing to…share, the burden of being the Overseer of the Holy Grail War." Kirei said after a moment, and struggling to keep from sounding and looking confused. "But really, there is no need. I have everything in hand."

"I'm sure you do, father." Caren said with a nod. "However, I am not here to assist you in enforcing the rules of the Heaven's Feel contest."

"…then what are you here to assist me in?" Kirei asked after a moment, now sounding ever so confused.

"Why, I am here to assist you in ending it, of course."

"…what?"

"Ah…I see. So Missus Edelfelt-Tohsaka did not inform you?" Caren innocently asked. "Or her children, for that matter? How very curious…"

Kirei was feeling…confused. There was also this sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, that he'd missed something important, and that a certain trio of blonde hyenas had managed to pull the wool over his eyes.

And yet…despite that…

…he should be feeling angry and betrayed, except he wasn't.

That was…unexpected.

"…is this…karma, for betraying and murdering my teacher?" Kirei silently asked himself. "If so…the Lord has quite the sense of irony."

"…light of the malfunction at the end of the last Heaven's Feel ritual," Caren was saying. "Along with the apparently-early beginning of the next ritual…"

"It wasn't a malfunction." Kirei absent-mindedly corrected, though he still had enough control not to say it out loud. Even if she was his daughter, there were some things Caren didn't need to hear or know about. "I wished for everyone around me to die, and the Grail granted my wish…by blowing up half the city. Ironically, Kiritsugu Emiya who was right next to me managed to avoid getting killed by the blast…somehow…"

"…and so here I am." Caren concluded.

Kirei pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd heard everything Caren had said, but his state of mind was such that he was a second or two behind when it came to understanding much less responding to her words.

"So…my reliability is in question because of my past association with Tokiomi Tohsaka?" he finally asked.

"Yes, that is correct." Caren serenely answered.

"And you are here to ensure my…compliance, with the Church's orders to assist Valkolumi Edelfelt-Tohsaka and her clique's move to end Heaven's Feel?" Kirei asked again.

"Yes, that is also correct." Caren serenely answered once again.

Kirei fought the urge to palm his face. They – the Church hierarchy – actually sent his daughter to make sure he wouldn't go against their agenda. As if the bonds of blood actually mattered to him, and would stop him from using the Grail to reach God, and ask Him that one question which had always haunted Kirei: why?

Even if she was his daughter, if Caren got in his way, he'd kill her in a heartbeat.

Right?

"…I'm not saying I will not comply with the Church's directive," Kirei delicately said. "But…assuming I do not – academically-speaking – what are your instructions thereof?"

"I am to report your treachery and await assistance and/or further orders." Caren said.

"…that's it?" Kirei asked.

"Yes, that is correct." Caren said with a serene nod.

This time, Kirei really did palm his face. The Church…certainly had a great deal of confidence in Caren. That, or they were underestimating his ruthlessness, his amorality, and his lack of regard for what other people called family.

After all, did he not lament Claudia not because she had died, but because he had lost the chance to kill her himself?

Did he not cast Caren aside as a babe due to his inability to raise her properly?

And now that she stood once more before him, looking so very much like her mother…

…was this not his chance to wrap his hands around her neck, and squeezing, savor the sensation of killing his own family, and her feelings at being betrayed and murdered by her own father?

It would be so easy…

…just a few steps forward…

…and…

Kirei sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose again. The thoughts were there, but they lacked…substance.

How very curious…annoying too…but less so than I expected…

…but more curious than anything else…

…what is this?

"I'm sure you're tired from your long journey." Kirei said with a very insincere smile. "Shall I show you to your room so you might rest and freshen up?"

"Thank you, father." Caren said with a beaming smile, and again Kirei felt that sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. "That is a most wonderful idea."

"Follow me, then." Kirei said, leading the way while Caren followed after him. "While you are settling in, I shall go and prepare a light meal for the both of us."

"That is also a wonderful idea, father." Caren agreed behind him.

"I'm sure it is." Kirei said before making an exasperated thought. "I need a fucking drink."


A/N

Poor Kirei (not really, he deserves it), Caren's only just arrived, and she's already driving him nuts.