4 Assasin 1. The final preparations.

Tokio, 6:30 (local time)

The flight was long, so that I not only slept as much as I wanted, but also studied and restudied all that my hirer had sent me on the situation.

The story of the Holy Grail Wars had counted for about 200 years, there had been 5 wars.

The Wars are based on the system of Servants, Heroic Spirits, called by a Magus who becomes a Servant. There are seven Servants all in all, they are distinguished by their class – Saber, Lancer, Rider, Archer, Caster, Berserker and Assassin.

A strange system, as for me. I am not the greatest historian in the world, but not all heroes of the past can fit easily. For example, martial artist, rather numerous even in Japan itself. Of course, there was something about alternative classes, but I didn't understand everything.

The system was created by three families of Tohsaka, Mato and Einzbern.

The first are rather typical magi family from Association with nothing interesting. Except for the fact that they are in charge of Fuyuki. The second are a family with almost no successor in their line with lack of information on them.

And Einzberns are rather legend in Europe. Mysterious and powerful, they sit in their territory and don't let anyone in. None of those who tried to steal their treasures ever escaped alive. There were rumors that one hot head tried to do it 5 years ago but no one could say something for sure.

So they are to be the most dangerous opponent. Or…

My sight is caught by a profile of the winner of the previous war.

Emiya Shiro. A young boy of only 17 years old snatched a blackjack right in the beginning of the War, a Saber, clas that is supposed to be the strongest. The hirer didn't manage to get the details but got some points. Shiro-Saber duo crashed all opponents, united with Tohsaka Master, Rin Tohsaka and even prevented a masterplan of the Church supervisor.

Later that Tohsaka girl went to the Clock Tower for education and took him there and…

Blank page. Not completely. Enough for a short profile, but that is all. Too little for a magus with such an achievement. Which is especially suspicious when you look at the scores where he looks like a mere medium.

Usually such characters are either some future evildoers or get "adopted" by the Association to work for the good of the whole world (loud laughter from the backstage). And this one freely goes around the world and even joins some military conflicts around the world. Let me take a look, Africa, Middle East, South America…

Wow, that's cool! No matter what his true abilities are, this guy is danger No. 1.

Now, let's look at the city once again. Fuyuki is rather big, if you ask me, but there is a small hint for those who want not to get lost in a city. Never learn routs by heart, remember check-places. Here, bridge, a burnt down park, a church, station, temple…

Alright, that's enough. How much time left? What? 2 more hours? What the hell should I…

Oh, right. I've got to practice my Japanese. Though I got the basics "downloaded" in my brain, my history of studying English tells me that theory is not enough. My first trip abroad showed me that I was no better than a Russian from American film-caricatures. Feeling ashamed I renewed all I had and level-uped my English, so that now nobody can believe that I am a Russian.

Morale, kids: learn languages properly.

I mostly paid attention to pronunciation rather than hieroglyphs. Though I tried them too. Rather surprising, but it turned out to be rather relaxing. After you try out the same character a couple of dozens tomes.

Head started aching in about 15 minutes, but there was nothing to do. After an hour of hard studies and a pill of painkiller I managed to take a nap and woke up as we were landing in Tokio.

There was about 30 degrees Celsium. Maybe, I can really have a vacation here?

I wish I had some time at least for sightseeing in Tokio. But I've got to meet the hirer's agent here and go to train to Fuyuki. Maybe, after the victory, then I'll have lot of free time…

Just like in every country there were cabs near the airport. I took one. The driver was glad to talk to a foreigner in Japanese and did his best in explaining me my mistakes, while we were moving to Hamarikyu park.

It was atmosphere I liked. Hate going by taxi with bothersome silence or talks about nothing to kill time or when a driver simply likes to talk about everything.

It was rather early, so the traffic was not that terrible.

In the depths of the park there was a young man, busy with some kind of painting so deeply, that he didn't pay attention even to me until I patted his shoulder.

"Who are you? What do you want?" – he shuddered.

"Keep calm, tovarisch, KGB is in charge" – I was so amused with his state that involuntary decided to joke, saying this with the worst Russian accent I could.

The painter looked at me as if I grew a pair of horns and a tail. I decided not to develop the joke and silently showed him a half of a coin. (Hello spy stories about XVIII century!)

The guy put his hand in a trousers pocket and took his half and got enlightened.

"Here" – he took a suitcase that was lying on the ground near him and gave to me.

"Is that all" – I asked just in case.

"I am a courier, man, bring things that I am given. And don't look inside.

I nodded.

"May I ask a question?"

"Wha?"

Following his reaction, he has already managed to dive back into work.

"Why working so early?"

"Ah? Ah… University art project. Gotta finish it today".

"Ah, got it".

Pleasure to know that such stuff happens everywhere.

And then quick rush to the railway station before the traffic erupts and twelve more hours of sitting in trains. My ass was aching, as if I was slapped all that time.

So, when I arrived at the station of Fuyuki I was happy to move once again, so that I might fly into the sky if I could.

The hotel was half an hour from station, so I decided to have a walk. I wish I shouldn't, so hot it was outside.

The hotel was located in Shinto part of the city. Rather typical thing. Not a Hilton, but rather respectable place.

At the desk there was a pretty girl. Rather business-looking in that suit, maybe a bit plain but still rather pretty. Why not to step up to?

Hey, don't blame me! I am a young man with no current relationship, young handsome and active.

When the desk-girl noticed the gaijin incoming, she got a bit nervous but relaxed when heard me talking in decent (I hope) Japanese.

"Good day, I've got a room booked for Sergey Sheremetyev" – just in case, aware of my last name's difficulty, I handed a piece of paper with my name spelled in English and with katakana (as far as the Google advised) because I already had problems with my family name.

Checking in took little time. Either I wrote everything correctly, or I was the only one foreigner here. Which won't be good.

On the one hand, living in hotel is smarter than you can think. The rule of not leaking information on magic binds the hands of the participants. If you hide in the crowd, hardly anyone would try to use spells. Unless the caster is sure it would destroy everyone around, leaving no witnesses. Or on the contrary, some tricky spell that would kill me alone.

Anyway, I'll have to think on some additional place for may base some other time.

Oh, where are those babushkas, that stand near the train station and sell a place to sleep for small fee?

While I was thinking the desk-girl gave me the key of my room. I smiled as brightly as I could, making her blush and left.

The room was a standard one. Though my hirer was on the payroll, I didn't feel for a lux. And for what?

First I had shower, then the unpacking. I wish I had time for a bath with complete dinner and sleeping in horizontal shape, bat there was no time. I had to call for Servant the same day to stay in the game. There were only two Servants inactive, so the time was of essence.

After the shower I took on a T-shirt with hidden sheath, put there a knife, carefully placed other clothes accordingly and hid all the rest in the wardrobe, covering all the stuff with a cloth with blood-inscribed eiwaz rune. Paranoia? Maybe, but paranoia deprives you of sleep, and carelessness deprives you of all the rest.

There was some time until night, so I decided to have a walk. I behaved as a baka-gaijin on a vacation. A strange one, of course, because he went to a rather uninteresting Fuyuki instead of any other touristic city.

After a dinner in a fast-food and a good walk I went back. It was 21:00. Still had some time to sleep horisontally.

And hour and a half I went down with the case. There was no that desk-girl, instead of her there was a young man. Pity.

The temperature outside fell down to the point of "cool". In spite of rather late time the city was rather active. People walked here and there, cars ride on their business.

I found a taxi and went to the southern border of the city.

I was to call a Servant. The ceremony was rather a piece of firework, so it would be better to do it in an inhabited place. I didn't manage to find a good place within the city, so I decided to go to the wood outside the city. I greatly doubt that some local would wander around past eleven p.m.

The car stopped at the city church, I pay the bill and dwelled deep into the forest. 50 meters. 100 meters. 200 meters. That should be enough. I found a clearing and started the preparation. It included a complicated symbol on the ground, magic candles and the catalyst.

I opened the case. There turned out to be a basket hilt of an epee. It was rusted all over so it was difficult to say something in particular. I put it in the middle.

And the spell. I was chanting it for some time, feeling the energy leaving my body.

For some time there was nothing, but when the last word left my mouth, it was as if something exploded. A bright flash blinded me, at the same moment I felt the presence of something. On pure instinct I rolled away and bumped into something soft which made me jump away with the knife in my hand. From where I was a second ago sounded pleased laughter.

"What a jumpy Master I've got!"