"Saber, how does steak for tonight sound?" Shirou called from the kitchen, smiling to himself, already knowing the answer.
"WONDERFUL SHIR…I mean, isn't that quite an expensive dish?" Saber caught herself quickly. Saber's abilities as a gourmet were second to none, but she had learned a bit about trying to take care of her tastes on a budget, even if she didn't particularly enjoy doing so.
"Nah, its fine its fine. I had planned to be feeding all of us today, but Fuji-nee just called and said she would have a late conference, Tohsaka is in training today and Sakura is putting in extra hours at the dojo to help out Mitsuzuri. So it's just us tonight, and there is a sale on meat today, it's a rare occasion to just enjoy something for the two of us, so why not splurge a bit? Besides, Sakura mentioned there was a sale going on at lunch today. I already got several cuts at a good price on my way home."
Saber felt her cheeks redden a bit with happiness. "That…that sounds truly pleasant, Shirou."
Shirou busied himself in the kitchen with vigor. Cooking a family meal was fun, and kind of his specialty, but it was also enjoyable to make something smaller. He had been preparing for this for a bit now, and felt good about the meal's prospects. He had marinated the several cuts of lean strip he had purchased already, so now he only needed to add oil and heat the two cast iron pans he would need. Saber had a large appetite, but two cuts along with the side dish should be enough to satisfy even her. He started heating the pans and began preparing egg and potatoes for the traditional potato salad he would make alongside. When the heat was right, he placed several steaks onto the skillet, turning each once after about 45 seconds, and then allowing them to be placed directly onto the pan itself. Reminding himself not to forget the rotations needed, he began boiling carrots and slicing some cucumbers and onions. The meal was coming along fine.
Meanwhile, Saber sat in the living room, alone; she didn't feel the need to watch the television and simply sat patiently nursing a small cup of tea, listening to the busy sounds of Shirou cooking in the kitchen. The sound of meat searing on the pan began to fill the house and made her stomach growl pleasantly with anticipation. A fine meal right now, and then she and Shirou would have plenty of energy afterwards for swordsmanship training tonight. If the meal was as pleasant as it smelled, she might even forgive him for copying moves from Ride...maybe.
!
Without warning the TV turned on by itself, sending out a large amount of white noise, but Saber could see a small shape beginning to take form in the snowy picture.
"Shirou!" Saber called, recognizing this as something not normal and therefore something he should see.
"Coming!" he called, as he set the meat to a low heat and walked out to meet her. Saber always thought Shirou looked appealing in his apron, but that wasn't something she would share unless asked.
"There is no doubt Shirou, it's..." Saber began, looking at the slowly clearing image.
"HELLLLLLLLLOOOOOOO ONIII-CHAAAAAAN!" "A vibrant voice shot out of the television and reverberated throughout the room.
"Ilyasviel." Saber finished unnecessarily.
"These four days can get a little boring sometimes eh? That's why I have decided to have a little game to pass the time!" Ilya giggled in merriment. As was often the case with her, her innocent demeanor and crazy actions could be a confusing combination.
"Four days…?" Saber asked in confusion. Shirou shook his head; he felt like he knew what Ilya was talking about, but also didn't quite get it either.
Behind Ilya, the screen bloomed spectacularly into an overhead view of what appeared to be some kind of insane obstacle course.
"Ta-da! Introducing...!" As Ilya spoke, letters appeared on the television set, like a game show preview segment.
"Ilya's Castle, yay!"
What sounded like canned applause then blared over the television's speakers.
Saber and Shirou exchanged an uncertain look. Ilya usually wasn't a bad girl, but when she really went all out, sometimes it could be really hard to tell the difference.
"The wonderful game show that is sweeping Fuyuki, five Masters and their Servants, willing to risk it all in three days of furious trials of strength, skill, and luck for the chance to win wonderful prizes!" Ilya declared triumphantly, "And what's this week's prize you ask? Why, it's a wonderful beach vacation for two! All expenses paid, the finest cuisines prepared by the most world renowned chefs, wonderful activities such as snorkeling and hang gliding…"
As she spoke enticingly, the camera angle shifted over a very dazzling looking vista of pristine sand, sparkling waters, and all manner of pleasurable activity scenes embellishing the prospects of victory.
"Ooh, and the nightlife!" Ilya went on, "Bars with the finest refreshments, romantic, private beaches to swim in all alone with that special someone and…this!"
Ilya took out a key that looked like what you might receive to a rental bungalow.
"This my friends, is the key to your private beach house during your stay, a quiet little one bedroom with a bounded field around it so precisely created that without this key, the king of conquerors and all his men could assault it for the entire night and in the morning, not a scratch would be on the wall nor a sound in the premises, juuuuuuuust the thing if you ever wanted to FINALLY get some alone time with someone without a bunch of annoying people always getting in the way!"
Ilya's expression grew very sly at that, staring at the key in their hand as if it was a delicious sweet she might devour…or possibly, that she was hungry to utterly consume something else.
"Oooh, and did I mention, the winner of this key can invite aaaaaaanyone they like along on their trip, and whoever you invite can't say no!" she said in a sing song voice. "Of course, if nobody wins, I guess I would have to keep it myself, wonder what I would pooooooosibly do with it, eheehee."
Ilya had gone from sly to almost evil looking, and her face grew very large in the television set. "So, if you want that prize, or just want to keep it out of someone else's hand, then head up to the Einzbern castle, and let Ilya's Castle…BEGIN!"
With a crackle of static, the TV shut off. The room was plunged in silence; it the seemingly normal, peaceful room, it was almost hard to believe they had just received a crazy offer. Or a threat, either.
"Uh...that girl…" Shirou said, holding his head with one hand. Having a little sister was a lot of fun, but sometimes he wished Ilya was the kind whose version of mischief involved sliding down banisters or throwing water balloons, rather than stirring up city wide disturbances and death defying ordeals. Ilya's boredom might be considered the enemy to all Fuyuki...!
"Huaaa…"
Shirou turned when he heard a dreamy sigh come from his usually composed partner. He had expected her to be wearing one of her usual stern expressions, but instead she had her hands clutched together, and her eyes held a wistful look.
"Foie gras, caviar, truffles, shark fin, bird's nest soup, mutsutake mushrooms splendid alfonsino, spine lobster, jinhua ham, Peking duck, ginui fowl, soft shelled turtle, wasonbon sugar, mastsuzaka beef…"
Saber recited, clearly from memory, she was...well, it was a bit unladylike, but she was practically drooling. After a moment, Shirou recognized it as the list from her beloved High Class Foods You Have to Try Once magazine, the one Fuji-nee had slyly placed hoping to entice a richer menu out of Shirou or Sakura…well, for a gourmet like Saber that book had represented an impossible, yet beautiful dream, but Ilya's promo had mentioned…
Again, Shirou glanced over at his Servant, a quiver of fear working its way up his back. She was still lost in dreamland, but her armor had manifested, her fighting spirit was clearly boiling over.
"The finest cuisine by the best chefs." Ilya had said something crazy like that; could that have been an insidious ploy?
"Th…this is crazy, Saber…" Shirou began, uncertain "We don't need to go getting into a fight like that, I mean, the contestants…some of them won't be enemies…"
"UNACCEPTABLE!" Saber roared in response. Actually, Shirou couldn't help but think she looked a lot like Taiga in that moment.
"You promised me a wonderful meal alone when you could manage it and requested I be patient, you will not break your word to me!"
"Ngh…"
That had hit a weak spot. When Saber had shown him High Class Foods You Have to Try Once, her eyes had shone with tears of happiness, and with a heavy heart, Shirou had admitted they simply couldn't afford such exquisite fare, but seeing her look so regretful, had promised if it was her, one day he would treat her.
"I…I will, but, Tohsaka..." Shirou started. That was a big danger. Shirou couldn't guarantee who would show up to fight. Sakura and Rider he thought wouldn't, and even if Caster, someone he had been able to get along with surprisingly well lately showed up, for Saber he would have been prepared to make a stand, but Tohsaka was a problem. A world class miser like her would not ignore a chance to splurge on someone else's dime, and that guy would be dragged along with her. If Shirou showed up to fight, Tohsaka would be at the front of the list, and he had a feeling she would go all out.
"…"
Shirou had expected another outburst, but saber had just stared at him askance for a moment…but she was emitting a very strong aura at the moment, for a moment, Shirou felt like he would have been better off if she had started berating him. This really seemed dangerous.
"…I see, Master. You not only intend to break your promise, but the reason is because you believe I am not capable of winning this fight. Or…is it because you believe you will receive this prize without me, and wish to accompany another?"
Shirou felt himself blanch and step back. Saber was wearing a tight grin on her face, but he could see a vein beginning to pulse on her forehead.
Dangerous!
When Saber got truly angry, she could be worse than Tohsaka, and that was clearly happening right in front of his eyes. Well, it was true; if nobody won, Ilya would probably invite him, though that didn't seem to be what Saber was saying, but beyond that…
Well, that guy was a lot better about figuring out how things could go, but Shirou knew at least this much; if he and Saber did not participate, then he would be sitting around with his Servant, who would be furious about him not believing her and that he had broken his promise, he doubted he would survive his next swordsmanship training; in the worst case scenario, her ahoge might even come off…!
"G-Got it Saber! You and I will win together!"
"Hnn?" Saber let out a pleased and surprised start. His rapid shift caught her off guard for a moment.
"…Accepted. I will not let any stand in the way of my master."
Saber's fist was clenched tightly at her side, and a wicked gleam twinkled in her eye. Saber had always possessed a rich lust for victory in battle, but he suspected her fighting spirit had been maximized more by the thoughts of lobster and beef then by the thought of honorable combat. Damn that Ilya, at least he figured he could count on Sakura and Rider not being around…
"…Master, shall I prepare for battle?"
Sakura and Rider had been eating dinner at the library when a nearby radio had crackled with Ilya's voice and told of a strange contest. Conveniently, despite Rider's popularity their section was currently unoccupied so they could listen and speak freely.
"Rider, do you…do you think Senpai will be there?"
"Saber may convince him. We may hope so."
"…?"
Sakura turned a confused expression towards her servant, silently waiting for an explanation.
"Saber is very powerful and will not allow harm to come to Shirou. If for whatever reason they should decide to attend, her victory will be likely. Even if the enemy was Berserker, Saber has her sword. Should she win, I don't doubt she will spend half the time gorging herself or smacking Shirou around with a shinai. Though Saber is our enemy in many matters, she would probably be the safe choice to hope to win. Because the next most likely would be…
"…Nee-san." Sakura finished, catching on.
"Yes. Besides Saber, I would consider Archer the most dangerous. He was defeated by Berserker before, but Archer is not the type to lose the same fight twice. And unlike Saber, Rin is someone who would be…dangerous to leave alone. If Rin and Shirou were to enter that beach house where Saber would not be there to chaperone them…
Thwack! The sound of Sakura's hand smacking the table in front of her reverberated through the library.
"It's decided, you and I will be there to take first place no matter what!"
Rider grinned to herself. Lately it seemed like her main duty was to protect Sakura from her own indecisiveness. Plus, a vacation would be fun, assuming she was allowed to come along too. If not, settling some old grudges would be worth it on its own right.
"Hooooooooh~?"
Tohsaka Rin was eying her servant with a piercing glare. Archer privately thought Rin must practice her ability to fix someone with a stare.
"Archer…you really think both Saber and Rider will be our opponents?"
Archer could see that Rin's temper was boiling nicely. She had been quite thrilled at the prospect of forcing him to work his ass off so that she could spend the day lazing around being pampered. Archer also suspected the rule about the invited not being able to refuse would thrill her: if there was one thing his master enjoyed, it was the ability to bully people (one idiot in particular) so to pop her bubble, he had noted she would be fighting some friends, resulting in their current stare down.
"Saber will not allow her status as the strongest servant to be challenged, and will certainly drag Shirou along, as for Sakura…well, Rider has a grudge against Saber, plus there is the reward. It is clear, however, that the most likely winner is the Einzbern girl."
Rin put her hand over her mouth and assumed a serious, almost studious expression, her temper most likely forgotten in planning tactics.
"Right, no matter who is on top, Ilya just wants an excuse to bully Shirou and brag. Everyone is probably meant to tire themselves out then lose against Berserker. But she underestimates us, isn't that right?"
Archer smiled. It was going to come to this no matter what in the end: Rin was very conscious of her possessions, and one of hers was in danger of being taken now, and besides…
"Very well, Master, I would like to settle the score with Berserker myself."
Bazett looked at her servant. They had been out on a date at the flower shop when a TV in a store front window at lit up with a surprising tale. Lancer had smirked when he heard of the prize and was now showing his teeth in a feral grin. He looked at his master, who glanced back at him. She carefully tugged on the glove on her right hand, making a fist to ensure it was perfectly snug. Without even exchanging a word, they changed directions at once, walking towards the outskirts.
Caster was not a woman used to being at a loss for words, but her feelings for her silent master often left her tongue tied. A beach vacation with Kuzuki-sama…..! Even against every servant in the city, she, the weakest servant would prevail! Caster knew she was becoming quite starry eyed and worked to school her expressions into her usual self-assurance, her master generally did not like doing needless things, but if she phrased it right…
"Caster."
Kuzuki's calm voice cut into her thoughts
"Umm, yes Master!" Caster said, unconsciously snapping to attention.
"Let's go." Kuzuki said, without inflection, rising to his feet and walking towards the door.
"R-right." Caster responded with a reddened face. While her master's back was turned, she pumped a hand into the air in victory, but when Kuzuki felt the movement in the air and turned back, she was placidly putting on her robes. Because her face was hidden in the robes, even he couldn't see the smile.
"Senpai!"
"A-ah…"
Shirou felt a cold chill run up his spine, though Saber seemed unperturbed by the new development. As Shirou and saber had walked along what passed for a path in the Einzbern forest, mostly a trail of rubble Berserker had left that was the closest thing there to a straight line. All of a sudden Sakura's voice rung out behind them, when they turned, both Rider and Sakura had fallen into line behind them. There was a bit of danger in the air, Rider was wearing her battle gear, Breaker Gorgon and black leather as opposed to glasses and business casual.
"S-Sakura….? Why are you….?"
"…Huuuh? Isn't it obvious Shirou?' Rider's arrogant, but sexy voice interjected smoothly. "Sakura and I want to go to the beach. Don't worry, Sakura may let you come if you promise to be good." Though Rider was ostentatiously talking to Shirou, she knew that would rile up Saber, and Saber was always at her worst when she was angry and not thinking straight. Even a tiny edge could prove telling in battle.
"Senpai…you…you did come huh? Were you…wanting to go with…Saber?"
Even Shirou thought Sakura might have intended to say something else besides Saber and had changed her mind at the last moment, actually, Saber had dragged him out today, he hadn't made a dangerous choice like that yet! He was trying to figure out a response when…
"Oh? Emiya-kun…..and Sakura?"
A far more expected enemy appeared, but for some reason, Rin seemed even more scary than usual.
"Are you two having a strategy meeting? Or planning to cooperate?"
Rin had a bright smile as she walked up, but Shirou could see the beginning of a vein twitch on her forehead. Archer as always, walked a bit behind her, looking like he was having the time of his life. That bastard.
"Ah, afternoon Tohsaka, Sakura and I just ran in to each other!"
"So you and Archer did come…"Sakura muttered dejectedly. She seemed to wilt a bit as her sister sized her up.
"Of course, and you, Rider, Shirou, and Saber are here, so it's a game for everyone! Though…you two being here in advance huddled together…could it be you were looking for two bites at the apple? As long as everyone is agreed, you and Shirou could both choose who you liked, Though that seems a bit unfair."
Shirou noted that while Rin had an airy tone to her voice, her hands were locked into fists at her side, and if anything, that vein was growing larger, Tohsaka was taking an innocent meeting all wrong!
"…Rin. I can't allow such a comment to go by." In exception to the others, Saber's voice was steady and calm.
"My master will not be allowed to consider a possibility that is not his victory. If it's a contest, the only proper way to undertake it is with our heads held high in pursuit of a worthy goal, such as Foie gras."
At that, Saber nodded with a serious expression like she had said something profound, but Rin just seemed a little dumb founded. The first part of what Saber said was a good response, but hadn't it gone somewhere strange at the end?
"…Understood. Then you had no intention of working with Rider?"
Archer's voice unexpectedly cut in, he seemed to have quickly taken stock of the situation.
"Of course not, Shirou is my partner for this venture. Anyone else shall be cut down.
"S-Saber! Isn't that a little…"
"Ah, hey kid, you are doing well for yourself again, you greedy bastard!"
As one, all the eyes in the area turned to see the boisterous person who had called out; of course, it was lancer with his master Bazett walking up the trail.
"Look at all the beauties you have, kid; you have to tell me your secret! Of course, if I kill you, maybe I can just take all your plunder!"
Completely oblivious to the amount of energy crackling in the air, or maybe just completely unconcerned by it, the knight in blue walked up and said something completely outrageous.
"Lancer, that's…" Bazett tried to cut in, but Lancer just plowed right through her, "You know, this gives me some ideas, that beach invite is mandatory! So many choices for me to pick from, it's like having a flower between every finger! Is this how you feel all the time?"
"SHUT UP LANCER!" Bazett's angry voice wrung out though the forest, and her fist flashed out with her trademark speed solidly towards her own servants temple, but Lancer was more than capable of dealing with his occasionally tsukkomi master, tilting his head aside to avoid the first blow and smoothly leaping into the branches of a large tree more than twenty meters above.
As if he hadn't even been interrupted, he called out smoothly "By the way, if any of you wants me to look at you first for our trip, make sure you wear something cute when we fight!"
After he finished, the knight began smoothly running across the top of the tree line, darting forward as easily as if he was on a lane of smooth concrete, quickly leaving everyone behind.
"WHO SAID YOU GET TO PICK WHO GOES ON THE TRIP?" Bazett sprinted after her servant shouting those words, leaving the rest staring at each other in bemused confusion.
"…"
The sound of firm shoes against the leaves alerted them to the arrival of their last guest. He never slowed his gate as he and his servant passed between them, Soichiro Kuzuki. Now that everyone there knew who and what he was, his aura was in its own way just as threatening as a Servant, one could see the rippling of explosive muscles under his clothes that could dispense death without a whisper of warning or wasted movement. Behind him, walking with sedate grace was his Servant. Caster was often considered the weakest Servant of the war, but she was a merciless and intelligent opponent. She too seemed to pass by without even noticing, however, as she and Kuzuki passed she half turned, outside her Masters line of sight, the others readied, prepared for some threat or cheating spell that might give her the advantage, but instead all she did was produce a slim white gown that looked elegant but provocative, and winked once, after that, she left and followed after her master.
Several sets of eyes glanced back, Saber looked a little aggrieved, and just a bit worried. Caster's affections had always been something of an awkward subject. After a moment she composed herself.
"Shirou, we shall be late if we dally here to long, let us go."
"Err…right."
Though less enthused then his servant, Shirou followed soon after, tossing a good bye wave to the sisters and their Servants and proceeded into the forest.
The five masters were arriving, the battle of Ilya's castle…would soon begin.