A Change of Heart – Chapter 1
This story is set during the Heaven's Feel route of the game. But this is set during random days of the route, so I may fit very little from the game into this. The characters might seem out of character, but that's because of my own touch to this story. This story is a Shirou/Rider love fanfic, with plenty of humor.
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It had been several days since Sakura started staying at the Emiya household as a permanent resident. The house had three residents now, Shirou, the owner of the house, Sakura, his friend from school who had helped take care of him when he was injured from the archery club, and Sakura's Servant, Rider.
For now, the 'Shadow' has not manifested yet and killed people, and Sakura is still attending school.
But Shirou has lost Saber in the confrontation with True Assassin. He doesn't know how it happened, but when he finally got to her all that was left was a blood stain and Assassin glaring at him. Saber meant a lot to him. They understood each other and had somewhat similar ideals. He hasn't gotten over it yet, but Sakura tries to support him as best she can.
As for Rider, she does not interact with Shirou much. She only speaks to him if it involves Sakura, or a strategy meeting. But one day Rider had taken an interest in Shirou, and decided to sit down and eat lunch with him and Sakura.
Shirou was surprised to see Rider at the table, for some reason he thought she hated him. But he couldn't be more wrong. Rider liked him, he was a pleasant boy who cared for others from the bottom of his heart.
And he seems to care for Rider. Whether he realizes it or not.
"Hmm? Rider, you're joining us today?" Shirou asked.
Rider looked over at him and nodded once.
"I see. Do you have a food preference? Or do you eat anything?" He asked her.
"Senpai, I'll hel-" Sakura started to stand up, but Shirou stopped her.
"No, Sakura. You sit and rest. I've got lunch covered."
Rider looked back and forth between the two, and softly chuckled. Shirou and Sakura both looked at Rider with surprised looks. That was the first time they've heard her laugh, and Shirou thought it was beautiful.
"Shirou," Rider called out as he walked into the kitchen "I'll eat -anything- that you prepare." Her voice came out silky and smooth.
Shirou stopped dead, and half turned his head with an awkward smile on his face, "The way she said that sounded like it had a lot more meaning to it. Oh man, I hate being a guy sometimes." He thought to himself as he turned back and started fixing lunch.
After twenty minutes Shirou finished cooking lunch. He served it to Sakura and Rider, fixed his plate and sat down. "Itadakimasu!"
After a few bites, Rider gulped down what food she had in her mouth and said in a voice that made it seem like it was the first food she'd ever eaten.
"Amazing...Shirou this is amazing!"
Shirou looked at Rider with a awkward look. "I-I'm glad you enjoy it. It's nothing special really, just one of my simple dishes."
"But still, this is great. No wonder Sakura was such a good cook with a teacher like you." Rider praised him.
Shirou was used to this kind of praise since Fuji-nee, Sakura and Saber were always complimenting him, but for some unknown reason, Rider made him blush.
Sakura wasn't really paying attention, but when she looked up to ask him something, "S-Senpai? What's wrong? You look..." Sakura stopped eating, and looked at Rider, then Shirou. She had a scornful look on her face.
"Senpai!" Shirou looked at her
"Yes, Sakura?"
"Senpai, do you think that Rider is beautiful?"
Shirou's face paled "What?"
"I asked if you think Rider is beautiful?" Sakura asked again, anger showing in her voice.
Shirou didn't know how he should respond. He liked Sakura, and he liked Rider. If he answered truthfully he'd hurt someone, if he lied he'd hurt the other.
"Shirou, I too would like to hear your answer."
He couldn't tell if she was glaring at him with that mask on.
"Well, Senpai?" Sakura demanded, slamming her hands on the table.
"Well, Shirou?" Rider said, leaning forwards.
He looked from one to the other, and he started to sweat. He slowly backed away from the table, and his back hit the wall.
"Crap. Well, guess I'll have to say something."
After a moment he finally spoke, "Yes, I think Rider is beautiful. But I think you are beautiful too, Sakura."
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, "Really? Are saying that truthfully, Senpai?"
"Yes I am, Sakura." He blushed as he looked at them both, then turned his head away, "Dammit! What have I gotten myself into?"
Rider sat quietly. She was surprised. Most people feared her, or were very uncomfortable around her. "He... he thinks I'm beautiful?"
Shirou started to clean up the mess from lunch, but Sakura insisted that she do the dishes. He finally gave up and then excused himself telling them he would be outside if they needed him. He walked out into the crisp winter afternoon trying to clear his head and to come up with a plan to end this war.
"So I need a way to fight a servant, or another master. Guess I need to train." Shirou said to himself as he headed towards the dojo.
Once there he began doing sit ups, push ups, and training with his shinai. He was so involved with his training that he never noticed that Rider had come into the dojo and was quietly leaning against the wall closest to him, watching intently.
Shirou swung his shinai to the side, fighting a mental opponent. He sidestepped, dodging the mental attack, and slipped on the sweaty floor. He didn't even try to recover and landed face first. He eventually rolled over and rested, still oblivious to the watching Rider. He finally opened his eyes, and there she was looking down at him.
"Huh? Rider? Is something the matter?"
"No. I was curious as to where you ran off to, and I find you in here training." Rider couldn't help it. She had to ask. "Tell me Shirou, why do you still struggle to fight? You've lost Saber. You have no reason to fight now."
He gazed at her for a few seconds while he tried to think of an answer. After mulling it over in his head so that it would make sense to her, he finally responded.
"Rider, I'm fighting because I want to end this war. I'm fighting to protect my friends, and people I care about. I'm trying to save people."
Shirou had a determined expression on his face. He got up and continued his training. Rider thought it was a stupid reason, but after thinking about it she saw why Sakura liked him so much. It's because he cares about others. But she also saw the downside of his ideals.
"You don't care about yourself or what happens to you. Shirou, you'll die a sad death if you continue down that path." She said quietly to herself.
After another hour of training, Shirou collapsed against the wall and drank from the kettle of water he had nearby. Rider was still in the dojo with him, and she went and sat down beside him. She didn't say anything to him, but just sat there.
He didn't mind either way, he was glad to have some company. Ever since he lost Saber, he's had no one to train with or talk to much. Fuji-nee wasn't much of a 'training' partner since half the time was spent beating him, and Sakura is either at school, sleeping or busy cooking. Something about Rider intrigued him, and if she's here with Sakura he should try and get to know her a little.
"Hey Rider, mind if I ask you something?"
She nodded.
"Do you hate me or something?"
She was surprised to hear him say this. No she didn't hate him, what made him think that?
"Eh? What made you think that I hate you Shirou?"
"I don't know. The other servants I've talked to talk to me a lot. Even though were enemies. You don't ever seem to say much, and from past events whenever you do I feel like I'm being scolded."
Shirou sighs and takes another long drink from the kettle.
"Maybe I'm just over thinking. Forget I said anything Rider."
"If thats what you want, okay, but Shirou let me correct you. I don't hate you, as a matter of fact I like you a lot. You seem dependable, you care for others which from what I've seen of other people in this town is rare, and you want to stop the fighting. I can see why Saber was chosen by you, and why Sakura likes you so much."
Shirou must have had a surprised look at his face.
"Shirou, are you alright?" She asks in a concerned tone.
"Y-Yeah I'm fine. It's just that when I hear a girl say something like that, I....I....."
By this time his face is red, and he can't even speak a full sentence. She understands what he's trying to say and when she thinks back to how she said it, she blushes.
"I see." is all she could say.
After a few minutes of silence Shirou stands up and thinks for a moment. After pondering it over he looks at Rider and asks,
"Rider, want to come shopping with me? I need to get some extra food and maybe we could get you a change of clothes. If Fuji-nee saw you, and your outfit she'd kill me."
"Eh? I don't know. Sakura might need me here."
"Well, alright. I just thought I'd make the offer."
Shirou stood up and held out his hand,
"Come on, I'll walk with you back to the house."
Rider hesitated for a few seconds then took his hand. After she was up she looked at him and tilted her head to one side
"So, is this how you ask a girl out Shirou?"
Shirou's face turns beat red and he quickly jumps back letting go of her hand
"N-NO YOU'RE MISUNDERSTANDING! I'M JUST BEING POLITE!"
Rider stood there, quiet for a bit. Shirou thought that maybe he said something wrong, or made her mad. She finally walked past him and out the door.
"Huh? Did I make her mad?" He rubbed the back of his head, sighed, and started cleaning up the mess from his training.
Back inside the house, Sakura was almost done cleaning the dishes when Rider suddenly appeared beside her.
"Oh. Rider is Senpai alright?"
"Yes he is. He was in the dojo training." She chuckled "Until his face kissed the floor."
"What?" Sakura became worried, thinking that he might be hurt.
"He's fine, really. But Sakura, he did ask me a strange question and I thought I should confront you before I give him an answer."
"What kind of a question?"
"He asked me if I wanted to accompany him to the store. I told him I wasn't sure in case you needed me here."
Sakura frowned at the idea.
"Why would Senpai ask her instead of me?"
She thought about it while she scrubbed the last dish, and from Riders view she thought that plate was going to crack. So she had an idea.
"Sakura. I think I know why he asked me."
"And why is that?" She asked as she roughly put the dishes away.
"Well, for protection. He lost Saber, he's defenseless."
That hadn't even crossed Sakura's mind. Rider was right. None of the other masters knew, and if he went out now it would be almost like committing suicide.
"Alright Rider, go with him. And protect him, please."
"Yes, Master." And with that she left the room.
Rider checked the dojo and he wasn't there. She checked a few more rooms and still couldn't find him. So she finally checked his room. She knocked.
"Shirou?" She started to slide his door open, and she caught a glimpse of a naked back when Shirou quickly moved away from the open crack and put his hand on the other side to prevent her from opening it further.
"I'M NOT DRESSED!" He yelled in embarrassment "I'll be out in a couple of minutes."
She quickly closed the door and and stood there, here face a slight shade of pink.
Shirou finally emerged from his room and noticed Rider just standing there, completely zoned out.
"Rider?" He poked her.
"Eh? Oh, Shirou I'm sorry about that. I guess I'm used to it being Sakura and not needing to wait for a reply."
He sighs and accepts her apology.
"Oh, if were going shopping we should go now. Rider, are you coming?"
"Yes I am. I told Sakura I would accompany you on your errands, since some of the masters may not realize that you've lost Saber they think you'll still be a threat."
They begin to leave when Rider stops.
"Shirou, do you want me to stay in spirit, or human form?"
"Hmmm. Human form. I think it would look weird if I was trying to pick out girls clothes. Or it would look odd if I was asking you a question when other people see that there is no one else around me." Shirou said.
A few minutes later they made it to the intersection and was standing by the bus stop. Shirou jerked a thumb at it.
"Bus? Or walk?"
"Err, walk. I'd draw to many stares on the bus. At least right now most people are at work right?"
Rider looked around as they continued to walk.
"Yeah, most people are still at work. Although, school will be letting out soon. So if were stopped by anyone I know and they ask about you...."
Shirou glanced at Rider
"I'll tell them I'm a distant relative from your father's side visiting. Or.."
Rider had a wicked smile on her face. She stepped up beside Shirou and put her arm through his and grabbed his hand.
"I could say I'm your secret lover that no one knew about."
"WHAAAAAAT?!"
Shirou's whole body turned dark red and he tried with all his might to get away from her, but he couldn't budge. She had him and he knew it.
"Is she trying to give me a heart attack? Saying things like that will only make me....make me....."
Several naughty thoughts went through his head and he felt a tingling sensation go up and down his spine. He stiffened and hoped that Rider wouldn't notice. He dare not look.
"Huh?! Emiya?!" A male voice called out.
Shirou froze, all the color from his body drained.
"Oh God, Oh God, oh God not him, please not him!"
He turned around. And there he stood, Issei, the student body president, glaring at him.
"Yo, Issei. What's up?" Shirou asked trying to act natural.
"Emiya, I know it's not my business but who is this dreadfully attractive woman you have clinging to you? You kind of stand out." Issei said, still glaring.
"Well...you see...she's...."
But before he could finish Rider butted in.
"Oh my, Shirou hasn't told you? I'm his fiancé and lover. The names Rider."
She said it like it was natural. Shirou turned ghost white and Issei's mouth dropped.
"Your....his....fiancé and LOVER?!?!"
He then looked at her again and noticed her outfit.
"Emiya, that outfit. Are you two into S&M?"
"What?! Issei that..." But when Shirou looked at her outfit that is exactly what he saw.
Rider knew what S&M was. Oh she was enjoying this for some odd reason, so she decided to take it a little further.
"Master." she said in a cool seductive voice as she walked up behind him. She put one arm around his neck and draped it down his chest, and hiked one leg up his side and locked her foot around his knee.
"R-Rider??!!" Shirou was shocked, speechless and all his blood was draining to a certain area.
"Master, what would you like me to do? Shall I go get the whip? Or a different collar? Or..."
But before she could finish Issei grabbed Shirou by the collar and drug him away from her.
"Emiya. Please...tell me its not true. Otherwise I'll have to drag you back too the temple and purge you of all evil!"
Shirou was scared. But he was grateful that Issei pulled him away from her. He looked over at her and saw that she was trying not to laugh.
"EMIYA!" Issei was serious, dead serious. Shirou gulped.
"Yeah Issei, its true. Well, part of it. She's not my fiancé, but she is my lover."
He said this loud enough for Rider to hear.
"Hah. Take that Rider. If your going to embarrass me, I'll give it right back." Except there was one....minor....problem.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY EMIYA-KUN?!?!"
Shirou looked in the direction of the angry booming voice and there was....Tohsaka Rin. Red faced and marching his way. She had seen and heard everything.
Shirous blood turned to ice. He was dead. Rider was scared too.
"Oh..." He began
"Crap." Rider finished.