Chrysalis
DISCLAIMER: Fate/stay night © TYPE-MOON. This story's mine.
(monster hospital – will you still be there for me?)
Sakura stands before the room's full-length mirror, half-dressed and bleary-eyed, head pounding from the number of things she's been thinking about and must think about still.
It hurts. Knowing what she's done, what she's almost done, wondering if Sempai will be all right, wondering how Nee-san will deal with everything, wondering what she's really and truly become.
She places her palms on her body and stares blankly at herself. It feels like there should be scars and bruises all over her, and yet her skin is somehow pristine. She remembers doing much this same thing after Grandfather let her out of the basement, or after Nii-san hurt her, and thinking that her body looked exactly as sullied as she felt. How cruel, how ironic, that now they're gone and she's become an even worse abomination she seems as perfect as some marble statue.
"…Sakura."
She blinks and sees in the mirror that Rider is standing behind her, and feels a rush of gratitude. Although this is costing everyone so much, she is selfishly glad that this at least means Rider can stay with her, will always be with her.
Sakura begins to turn, tries to form a weak smile, but Rider just embraces her from behind, her cheek resting against Sakura's temple, breasts pressed against her shoulders. And Sakura closes her eyes and leans into her warm Servant. If she keeps her eyes open she will surely cry.
"Sakura."
She can't keep the sniffle from escaping, but all Rider does is brush a finger over her cheek to catch the tear before it can fall.
"It's all my fault, Rider—" she begins, but Rider just holds her closer. As if to say so what if it is.
"You are my only Master, Sakura. …I don't like it when you say those things."
Sakura looks back at herself in the mirror, at Rider holding on to her protectively.
…Sempai, Nee-san, Rider. …She doesn't know what she did to deserve them, but she should probably devote the rest of her life to thanking the world for the fact that they were here when she needed them most.
"Master."
The quietest whisper.
"…It's that boy, and unreliable as he can be, he promised. Things will be all right."
Sakura wraps her own arms over Rider's and tries to smile, tries to believe.
"You're right."