Chapter two: Oath and honor
Rin Tohsaka was no petulant child. However at that moment, on the evening after her home was robbed, what she wanted more than anything was to stomp a hole through the Archery club floor.
She did nothing of the sort of course, Tohsakas were elegant in everything. Well, except their children but, then, douchebags with chin fluff they impotently call facial hair are often ridiculous twats of the highest order. And they, like dead people, do not count.
Rin had been called there by Ayako Mitsuzuri. Calling Ayako a dear friend would not be a stretch. Ayako, like many others who had heard the commotion or seen the black haired girl's house, was worried about the School Idol.
"I'm going to stay at a hotel while the repairs are finished", Rin explained.
Ayako pouted, her face puffing up.
"Try again", she said, flatly.
Rin blinked in surprise.
"What? I don't have anywhere else to go but a hotel", she insisted, clueless of her friend's obviously-waiting offer.
Ayako's cheeks deflated and, in a split second, she grabbed the empty serving tray sitting on the table between the two. Before Rin could react or wonder why, a flat clunking sound echoed as the tray connected with her head.
"Idiot! You have a gaping hole in your front window which will cost who knows how much and you're going to spend more money?!" Ayako snapped, narrowing her eyes at Rin.
Rin paused and collected herself. "What about your family, your brother? Would taking me in be OK with them?"
At this, Ayako paused. She hadn't considered it, she was only concerned that her friend was in trouble and, perhaps, in danger of either becoming homeless, or worse.
“Not the point, you can't go wasting money at a time like this!" the brown haired girl insisted.
Issei Ryudou, student council president, chose this moment to interject into the argument. He had, in fact, been there since the conversation started about Rin's home. Not one to interrupt others he had simply stood there waiting for an opportunity to finish what he came for.
"I came here to remind Mitsuzuri about the club budget reports," the bespectacled boy stated. "However, as student council president I can't ignore the issue you're facing, Tohsaka. If you might accept a suggestion, I think I can solve this issue."
Rin frowned inwardly. She was now facing an assault on two fronts.
"If you have an idea that doesn't impose on anyone sure", Rin said, hoping to trip Issei up.
Unfortunately, the boy simply ignored the condition.
"While I'm hesitant to put more work on him, Emiya already knows about your situation. Furthermore, Miss Fujimura does as well, Tohsaka.
Basically, you're quite past the point of denying assistance. Emiya's home is rather large as you're aware, with Miss Fujimura already visiting there regularly you'd have nothing to worry about with regards to Emiya's intentions. Of course, if you require further proof of his character being just, I'm willing to vouch for him as, I'm sure, would Mitsuzuri."
Rin panicked in her head, scrambling for a tangible reason, some excuse that would make sense to these two, but found none. She knew Shirou was a magi now, but she hadn't learned what kind, at this point he might be ready to kill her. It was true that he hadn't harmed Sakura, but he was friends with Shinji, it could mean that he had made a deal with the Matous.
This small thought process in the back of her head exploded into one big overriding thought.
Shirou could be a Master preparing for the Grail War. Oh God, she might have to kill him!
It was a terrible, paralysing thought, so powerful that it took Ayako shaking her to bring her back to reality.
Shaken as she was by the imagined possibilities, she gave no more fight in front of the two and resigned herself to their idea of imposing on Shirou Emiya.
That of course would come later, for the immediate moment she had to secure a new catalyst to ensure her participation in the Holy Grail War.
Heading towards the church, she entered to find an unusual quartet of men instead of her loathed guardian Kirei Kotomine.
Two of them were garbed in priestly vestments, a strange dark skinned person with tattoos showing on his wrists likely extending up his arms and a blond whose smile seemed to be barely containing a laugh. Neither seemed dangerous, in stark contrast to the other two men.
The first was a man in a brown long coat. Every fiber of Rin's being screamed at her to run and hide in a tiny hole to pray, cry, and hope he forgot she existed.
The second, a man in black body armour, was far more powerful. But, while more dangerous, Rin felt, in some strange way, that the white-haired man was someone she could trust.
"Rin Tohsaka, I presume", the blond said, already knowing the answer.
"I am, and you are?" she replied.
"Alexander Pendragon, I am the present arbiter of the Holy Grail War. Father Kotomine was called to answer for the information uncovered regarding the Fourth Holy Grail War. To that end, Rin Tohsaka, you too shall be made to answer for them. And, before you start trying to convince me to do otherwise I should tell you I already know about the loss of your catalyst and that you have no other with which to summon a servant and participate in the Holy Grail War", Satoshi answered, still smiling.
Rin nearly started to cry. If not for her iron determination, she might have started believing that it was all a dumb dream.
But, instead, she merely stared at the blond and replied, "so long as the penalty is reasonable and I'm made clear on what was done to earn it."
"Your father conspired with the Fourth War's arbiter to cheat the contest known as the Holy Grail War and assure his victory, Kirei Kotomine was a willingly participating party in this. As such, you will answer for this crime as the current Owner and head of the family. Upon summoning your Servant, you will relinquish a single command seal to me. If shown to be a proper, upstanding master it shall be returned to you." Satoshi said, his smile never wavering.
Rin wanted to strangle the man but, at the same time, she could see why such accusations were taken so seriously. While she did not believe them, it was clear that the blond did, which, of course, meant that, even if he had been lied to, Rin would, at least for now, suffer as a guilty criminal would.
Seeing that her situation was rather bleak were she to try and betray the new priest, and given that he seemed to be implying that he had a catalyst for her, Rin decided, somewhat reluctantly, to agree to the blond's terms.
"Assuming I'm right in my understanding of this issue that is a reasonable price. But, to be clear, you're saying that, in exchange for the single command seal, you're absolving my father's accused crime in the eyes of the Church and replacing my lost catalyst with another, correct?" she asked, paying close attention to the blond.
Satoshi shrugged. "People are people, I can't guarantee everyone in the Holy Church will forgive you. You will, however, be held in equal standing after this, your father's crime extends beyond his cheating but those debts are not yours to pay. As for the catalyst, yes I have one, a sword. No doubt with this in your hand, you, Rin Tohsaka, will summon a powerful servant", Satoshi said, revealing the weapon from behind the podium.
"Galatine, the sword of Gawain, knight of king Arthur", Satoshi added, holding it out for her to take.
Rin blinked in surprise, whoever this priest was, he wasn't the sort to be messed with. Anyone obtaining a relic of that level was no pup. Steadying herself, she walked over to him.
"I could take this and not return, you realize", she said.
"I'm not a cynic, I believe that Rin Tohsaka is a good person", the blond replied, handing her the sword and sheath.
Rin was taken aback by this, for everything that he had said prior she thought him a plotting type but this was clearly an honest statement, naive or otherwise. And, that made her feel guilty about making her pseudo-threat.
Taking the sword, she stepped back. And, without looking at the blond, she gave a small bow, before leaving the church in a great hurry.
