Fate/Tempus Odyssey

Really, telling the truth could have easily been a mine field. However, Masamune did not interrupt as Shinji told his tale, of the flight from Chaldea and the things that had led to their mission; of the great enemy who was attempting to incinerate all of humanity. The soup tasted enough like miso to be tolerable. Really, it must have been it's direct predecessor as a food.

For his part, Masamune was a fine audience, humming and ahhing at the right moments. Hijikata was far less of an audience, his face taciturn the entire time. It was a very surreal experience, one that would not likely happen again.

Of course, that meant it happening again might as well have been inevitable to Shinji.

"Well." Masamune whispered, stirring his soup absently in his hand. "That is more specific then what I was told, but what you know has holes." He whistled just a bit, leaning back. "Let's fill some of those holes then. I am Masamune Date, summoned by the will of man in the Saber class to protect the order of humanity in this era."

"We gathered." Sheba's voice was just a bit sarcastic. "You are the only Servant, then?"

"No. I know at least four others." Masamune retorted. "… One of which is our enemy." Sheba just sighed.

"I was afraid of that. Was he summoned by the wish upon the grail?"

"I think it happened in the reverse order, actually." Masamune admitted. "He was summoned and then the grail was used." He took a long draught of the soup, before putting the cup down. "The servant summoned was a Lancer. His name… a bad omen."

"You know who it is?" Shinji spoke up. He could feel a tingle down is spine. He was sure he wasn't going to like the answer.

"Yes." For the first time, Hijikata spoke up. "Okita and I fought him thrice during the flight from the capital. Each time, he repelled us like flies. He bears the Mon of a time long lost, that of the Heike. His name..."

"Taira no Kiyomori." Shinji's mouth opened slightly, the words tumbling off his breath. His throat felt dry, and there was little to calm his shaking hands. "He's our enemy?"

"Yes." Masamune just nodded. "In some ways, it would be easier if it was just one of the three great monsters."

"I'm lost. Context, Shinji?" Heine's words were almost urgent, glancing between the young and old Japanese men. Shinji just took a long breath to steady himself. Indeed, it was Masamune who actually answered him.

"Taira no Kiyomori is the villain of one of the greatest tales of our country." He stated. "It is recounted in the Heike Monogatari, which would not be unlike the Matter of France or the Illiad, in terms of reading material. It recounts the war between the Heike and the Genji for control of Japan. The long story cut short, the Genji won, and the Heike were cast down." Tapping a finger, Masamune's gaze travelled between the foreigners. "Kiyomori is a Servant whose epithet is 'Beloved King of Flames'. He is a Servant who employs demonic magic. His Noble Phantasm is what destroyed the entirety of Kyoto in mere hours and before the end of this week will scour all life from this basin. In terms of firepower, I am thoroughly outmatched." His lips began to twist into a small smile.

"We have more Servants." Heine spoke up. "Another squad that infiltrated the city, and five more Servants besides. A fighting force of ten Servants is surely more then enou-" It was Saint George gently placing a hand on Heine's shoulder that stopped him.

"Unfortunately, some opponents can't be defeated with superior Servant numbers." Saint George whispered. "Masamune. What is the name of his Noble Phantasm?"

"… O' Beloved, Release the Gate of Rashomon." Came the answer. It was Hijikata's voice. "I was present when it was deployed. It summons a giant gate filled with demons." Masamune nodded.

"The onmyo calls it a supreme Noble Phantasm, one of the strongest in Japan period. Possibly comparable to what he called Japan's point of light." Masamune mused. "The casualties are immense. I requisitioned soldiers from the surrounding area, but it's all I can do to hold the road and maintain its safety. Killing demons is more suited to Sanada then me, but he isn't here."

"Sanada?" Shinji muttered. "Nobushige?"

"Yukimura, yes." Masamune nodded. "He'd easily tear the whole army apart. He was a bit like that." Masamune's voice was almost wistful.

"You speak of a onmyo, a Caster I presume?" Sheba asked. Masamune grunted the affirmative.

"He claims he's Abe no Seimei." His voice was almost a growl. "But he wondered off a while ago claiming that this was beneath his talents. I thought the legend would be a bit more agreeable, but if he is Abe no Seimei, then he is one of the more unpleasant men I've had the pleasure of meeting." Shaking his head again, Masamune lowered his head. "There is another matter; Kiyomori was summoned with another spirit in tow, though it doesn't bear a class."

"Another spirit?" Heine glanced between the Servants. "Is that possible? For a summoning to retrieve two spiritual bodies?"

"It is rare." Saint George admitted. "It's not entirely dissimilar to the relationship of Rider and mount, just in a less limited context. However, you would think their legends would need to be intrinsically linked."

"It's his beloved, isn't it?" Shinji asked. "The fox of the road."

Masamune just swallowed, before nodding.

"It is one of the three great monsters, yes." He admitted. "The spirit summoned was the Kyuubi-no-kitsune."

There was a long, pregnant pause.

"I don't believe you." Sheba was the first to speak. Masamune just chuckled.

"No, I speak the truth. Though in her current state, I don't think she goes by the name." He answered. "She looks like a pink haired girl right now, without a hint of fox features. The sword she held was almost certainly the Murakumo-no-Tsurugi."

"If you were fighting someone of that strength, it would be impressive your still here." Atalanta spoke up at last. "There is more to this tale."

"Well, yes. As near as we can tell, she got sick of him within five minutes and left in a huff." Masamune just flopped on the ground.

"Aren't they lovers?" Astolfo just helped himself to another bowl of soup. Hijikata nodded in the affirmative. "That's sad. Kiyomori did something to upset her."

"Presumably." Masamune grumbled. "Far as we know, she's somewhere in the cliffs. You can't actually leave the basin. I'm sure you can work out why."

"The singularity was sealed by the world to protect itself." Sheba nodded. "Entry in and out is impossible right now."

"Great for them, not so for us." Masamune did not sound at all happy. "I can't replenish my troops, while they have more troops then it would be possible to fight off." He rolled back onto his ass, his eye scanning the group. "The question is, heroes, what are you going to do?"

It was a very good question. After all, this was not a fight that a head on assault could win. Multiple heads turned to Astolfo, who blinked.

"What, why are you looking at me!?"

"You and Masamune are the only military commanders here." George pointed out. Astolfo's face just got redder.

"What!? But I don't know the first thing about fighting an army of demons!"

"Neither do I. This is new territory for the both of us." Masamune just smiled. Astolfo coughed once, then twice.

"Master?" Shinji just nodded. Permission obtained, the paladin leaned forward. "Right. Charlemagne always said assess the assets available to you! So, what do we actually have." Raising a finger, he began to count. "A army of soldiers. A total of… uh..."

"Ten Servants." Sheba confirmed. "Only five of which are here."

"Right." He glanced at Hijikata. "You are the leader of the Shinsengumi, right? Shinji mentioned you were a police force?"

"Acting leader. Our numbers are reduced to maybe seven, of which only three of us are here." Hijikata answered drily. "Maybe less. I don't know if Okita succeeded in her idiocy in the capital." Astolfo deflated at that.

"And our enemy has a holy grail and an army of demons." He muttered. "The solution is obvious. We have to gather more men, more fighting strength. We need to hamper the enemy. Get any advantage we possibly can." Glancing around to a series of nods, Astolfo just put a hand on his chin. "Uh… any suggestions?"

"A mass summoning, maybe?" Heine asked. "Could the Argo support a temporary mass contract?" Sheba just shook her head.

"We're straining as it is." She retorted. "It'd take Leonardo days to prepare enough vessels. It might work for a backup plan, but we have to work with what we actually have for now." However, the idea of obtaining more Servants gave Shinji an idea.

"You said you knew of four others. Abe no Seimei and Kiyomori are two. Who are the other two?" Shinji asked. Masamune blinked, before glancing down.

"I know a pair of ninja were summoned. I encountered them two days ago." He answered. "It was harrowing. I don't know what their objective is, but their last murder was near the east." He answered. "I have a guess at another one that probably arrived, too. It's said wherever the Heike are, the Genji are sure to follow. It's likely Yoshitsune will arrive soon to face Kiyomori, if it hasn't happened already."

"Yoshitsune could probably assist." Shinji muttered. "Ninja, I'm not so sure." His thoughts were interrupted by Hijikata coughing.

"If I may, they say that the northern mountains have been cursed for weeks." He declared. "I don't know if it relates to this 'singularity' of yours, but the rumour that oni are in the area has been kicking around for a while."

Shinji simply stared. Such a rumour was almost convenient. Indeed, a oni might be something they could convince to lend aid. However, there was another facet to Hijikata's words.

Was it genuine, or was it a trap?

"There is one other we are ignoring, if I may." George declared. "This Kyuubi-no-kitsune. If we could convince her to help..." He left it hanging. A long moment passed, before Atalanta sighed.

"She is the kind to be hopelessly attached." She muttered. "It might be a fools errand."

"You know her?"

"In a sense. The memory is faint, but we have met before." The huntress did not seem particularly eager. "We have options, Master."

"And your opinion, Atalanta?" Heine asked. She did not immediately answer.

"This place is deeply spiritual." She muttered. "It might be possible to convince the spirits of the forest to lend aid." She glanced away, a little pink faced at what she'd said. "Things like forest spirits were not common in my homeland, but I believe that I could obtain their aid."

Shinji just pursed his lips, glancing at Sheba.

"What do you think?" He asked. Sheba did not immediately answer.

"It's a test of sorts." Her words were soft. "Not a deliberate one, but one of circumstances. If we cannot defeat Kiyomori, we cannot obtain the grail. He no doubt has it, after all." She hummed just a little. "But to defeat him, we need more power then we have."

Letting out a long breath, Shinji glanced at Astolfo's eager face.

[ ] Link up with the group within Kyoto first.
[ ] Attempt to make contact with 'Kyuubi-no-kitsune'.
[ ] Head to the north to the mountains.
[ ] Search for the Onmyo.
[ ] Make your way to the ninja.
[ ] Beseech the forest spirits for assistance.
[ ] Scour the area for the hero of Genji.
[ ] Write in.