"Good morning, Tohsaka."
Rin sighed dramatically as the two crossed into the school grounds. "So you did come, after all. I was hoping you'd be sensible and change your mind."
Shirou shrugged. "Fuji-nee forgot to pack a lunch, so I had to come to bring her one. It's not a big deal, really. I can still use my hands as long as it's nothing strenuous. Well, I have to head to the dojo to hand this over, so I'll see you after school, I suppose?"
"Ah, to deal with Caster. That's right." Abruptly, Rin smiled her innocent honors student smile. "Don't be late, Emiya-kun!" She swept off elegantly toward the school doors.
Ayako, standing nearby, turned her head as Shirou slid the door open. "Morning, Emiya! You brought Fujimura-sensei's lunch, I take it?"
"Yeah," said Shirou, stepping inside. "She's getting kind of spoiled, relying on me for food like this."
Ayako laughed. "Don't let her hear you say that. She's been pretty violent this morning."
"Isn't that normal, though?"
"Ah! Shirou, there you are!" Taiga slid to a stop, practice sword still in hand, almost knocking Shirou over. "You're so dependable!" She snatched the lunchbox and dashed off, holding it above her head like a trophy.
Shirou shook his head and turned back to Ayako. "She must have skipped breakfast or something if she's like this."
"Heh. I'm not surprised, if you didn't make it for her. She raves about your cooking practically all the time."
Shirou sighed, scratching the back of his head. "That Fuji-nee..."
Ayako laughed again. "Well, we owe you one for this. I'll see you around, Emiya." Ayako glanced behind her. "Oy, Sakura! If you want to say hello, don't wait all morning! Emiya isn't going to stand here forever."
Sakura blushed, but came over to them anyway while Ayako excused herself to return to practice. "Good morning, senpai. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help you with breakfast."
"Nah, it's no big deal," said Shirou, letting his hands fall into his pockets. "I woke up late, so I would have only made you miss club activities if you had."
"Oh." She hesitated. "Are those bandages on your hands?"
"These? Oh, I..." The words caught in Shirou's throat. He shifted his hands further into his pockets. He didn't want to lie to her. Instead, he asked, "Sakura, can I talk to you after school, before you go home? Just the two of us."
She blinked. "Eh? We're not having dinner at your place tonight?"
"What? No, you can still come for dinner. I just...this is something important, and I would rather not talk about it in the open. Fuji-nee will be in the way if we wait until then."
Her gaze drifted downwards, but she lifted her head again and gave him a faint smile. "I'll see you after school, then, senpai." She moved back to her archery station, humming as she went.
As Shirou left the building, he couldn't help but notice that the cheery tune sounded forced.
The school day passed by with nothing of note, except for Rin appearing at the student council room during lunch to harass Issei and send awkward glances at Shirou.
After the last class let out, Shirou took a spot leaning against the wall near the lockers. The students bustling through the room gradually trickled out. As Rin left, she gave him a meaningful glare, and an invisible force pressed a piece of paper into his hand. He unfolded it.
Emiya, meet me at the bridge at 9:00. Come prepared. - Tohsaka Rin
Shirou looked up to see her gone. Archer must have delivered it for her. She must be embarrassed about delivering it to me in person, huh? "She does have her reputation to consider," he said aloud.
"Um, senpai?" Shirou turned to find that Sakura had snuck up on him. "You said you wanted to talk to me before we leave school..."
"Yeah." Shirou scratched the back of his head. "I just..." The words died on his tongue. It shouldn't be hard. All he had to do was ask, was she involved? Yet, looking into her anxious face, he struggled to speak the words that could cause her to be endangered if he were wrong. And he dearly hoped that he was wrong.
"Senpai?"
He sighed. "There's no good way to say this, is there." He lowered his voice. "Sakura, do you know anything about the Holy Grail War?"
She didn't respond. Was it him, or was she looking paler than usual? She shook her head slightly and blinked a few times. "What...what are you talking about, senpai?"
Shirou ran his hand through his hair. "Never mind that. It's nothing for you to worry about." His eyes darted about as he searched for a way to change the subject. "Shinji hasn't done anything to you since yesterday, has he?"
Sakura quailed. "Please, senpai, that's not your business. My brother...he hasn't done anything. Don't worry yourself."
Shirou frowned. "You're not making me feel any better about this. I confronted him about it yesterday, and he wouldn't give me a straight answer."
"Senpai...please. I'm begging you. Don't get involved in matters of my family." Sakura's face fell, her gaze dropping to the ground.
"Oi! Sakura, there you are." Shinji strode around the corner of a bank of lockers. "Don't keep Emiya after school. You'll only make us all go home late."
Shirou curled his hands into fists. "Shinji, I asked her to stay after. She's coming to my house for dinner, anyway. It's none of your business if we stay a few minutes to talk before Fuji-nee comes out. Do you need something?"
"Hmph!" Shinji turned and stalked away. "If I do, you'll be the first to know, won't you?"
Shirou turned back to Sakura, but a rush of air interrupted him. Taiga popped up in front of them, grabbing them each by a shoulder. "Shirou, Sakura, what are you doing in here? There's food to make! Dinner won't cook itself while we walk, you know."
Shirou chuckled nervously. "My bad, Fuji-nee. We're ready to go now."
"You'd better be," Taiga shot back. "Don't think I didn't notice you trying to get her alone. Someone has to be responsible around here, and if you won't, the duty falls to me as your teacher!"
"Tonight's going to be another lecture night, isn't it," Shirou groaned. Sakura giggled and followed the two of them out of the building.
"Shirou," Taiga whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Who's that handsome guy following us?"
"Oh, Saber-san? He's a friend from another city that I met from work. He'll be in Fuyuki for a while, so I decided to let him stay with me. He's actually a pretty skilled swordsman. I think you would get along with him."
"Handsome and a swordsman? Now that's rare. Is he-wait a minute. Shirou, what are you thinking, letting some guy you barely know stay with you? You didn't even consult your big sis about this! What are the rules?"
"Fuji-nee, it's fine. He's a good guy. I got to know him well enough that I know he wouldn't do anything bad. He's very chivalrous, almost like a samurai. Besides, you never made any rules about letting people stay over. This hasn't ever come up before."
Taiga groaned. "Shirou, you're too trusting. I suppose he's all right, if you say so."
"That's good," said Shirou, "since I lent him some of Dad's clothes, because he didn't bring enough for how long he'll be staying."
Taiga almost tripped. "You what?"
"Ahem." Saber cleared his throat. "Fujimura-san, your ward is a responsible young man, and I am grateful for his offer of lodging. I can assure you that I have no ill intentions toward either him or anyone around him, on my honor."
"Huh?" Taiga stared. "Oh wow, even his voice-I mean, you're certainly welcome to stay with us, Saber-san. You'll be dining with us, I hope?"
"Certainly, if you will have me."
"O-of course!" Taiga swung her arm around Shirou's neck in a headlock. "Shirou!" she hissed. "Is he single?"
Shirou caught Saber stiffen out of the corner of his eye. "Uhh...yes, but I don't think he's interested in romance right now."
"So you're an expert now, is that it?" Taiga twisted Shirou's ear, and he looked pleadingly back at Saber and Sakura for help.
"I may regret this, but..." mumbled Saber, then in a louder voice, "...did I mention that Shirou has the same name as my son?"
Taiga actually tripped this time and almost took Shirou down with her.
Kirei's phone rang.
"Hello, this is Kotomine."
"Tell me where you got the information about Caster." It was Rin's voice.
"...Does 'looking into it' mean asking me for more information in your companion's absence, rather than gathering it yourself? I'm unfamiliar with the colloquial usage among people your age."
"Don't give me that, Kirei. He'd just get in the way and ask stupid questions. Who told you about Caster?"
"It was Lancer's Master who gave the report. Shortly before your visit last night, it seems that his Servant encountered Caster altering the structure of one of the leylines in the area of the docks, producing an unidentified magical effect. After a short skirmish, both parties retreated with no casualties. Caster's intentions are unknown."
"So, basically, you want me to investigate so I can tell you whether or not you have to do your job, attacking a Caster in his own territory in the process."
"Rin, do you really have such a low opinion of me?"
"Please, Kirei. You're ten years too late to start pretending you care about my well-being."
"I suppose it is my own fault for teaching you not to trust."
"Ugh, that's it. If you don't have anything else useful to tell me, I'm hanging up."
"I will speak with you later, then."
Rin hung up without replying.
Nine o'clock came, and none too soon. Dinner had been pleasant, with ample praise heaped upon Shirou and Sakura's cooking from all parties, but the mood was rendered awkward by Taiga's constant attempts to work out bits and pieces of Saber's personal information and history. Shirou was grateful for someone else to take the pressure, but he felt a little bad for putting Taiga put Saber on the spot, especially with their poorly-developed cover story. At least Saber could pass for Japanese. The presence of a foreign Servant would have been much harder to explain.
Shirou had caught Sakura glancing uneasily at Saber several times, but she slipped on a soft smile whenever she noticed Shirou's attention. She seemed to be hiding her worries, which worried Shirou in turn.
Finally, Sakura had left, with Taiga walking her home. When they were gone, Shirou slipped on his jacket and went out to the toolshed to retrieve a metal pipe. Saber gave him an odd look but didn't question his choice of tool. Shirou stuffed some extra bandage rolls in his pockets, and the two set out for the bridge. Rin was there waiting for them.
"You're late."
"Tohsaka, it's only two minutes, and we left as soon as we could."
She tossed her head dismissively. "Don't you know that you should arrive to appointments at least five minutes early? It's common courtesy."
"Yeah, well, we couldn't let Sakura or Fuji-nee know what we were doing, so we had to wait until they left to prepare."
Rin sighed. "Just...let's go. We'll want to move fast to minimize the time Caster has to prepare. I wrung some more answers out of Kotomine. Turns out, the Lancer Servant investigated down by the docks and found Caster messing about with the leylines. The Grail system is anchored on those, and since this is my family's territory, it's my job to make sure this doesn't get out of hand." She paused. "Kirei told me that the Caster of the Fourth War summoned a bunch of monsters and almost revealed the whole thing to the public. If this is anything like that, we'll want to nip it in the bud."
"I see," said Shirou. "So, do you have any advice on what to do, or a plan, or..."
"For you? Sure. Stay out of the way and try not to die. You can't keep up with me, and you definitely can't keep up with a Servant. Don't even think of trying that reinforcement trick of yours on the pipe, either. Your nervous system still hasn't recovered from that stunt last night."
Shirou huffed. "Fine. But if you get in trouble, I'm going in anyway. The least I can do is pull you out of danger if you can't protect yourself."
"Did you hear a word I said? You can't even keep up with me. I'm a proper magus with a Magic Crest and real training. That reinforcement spell you use? I can use it on my own body to increase my physical abilities without the backlash you took. You're literally useless except as a mana battery for Saber, and even that is questionable."
"She's right, Master," murmured Saber. "Your prana output is rather disappointing, if I am to be honest. I will not be able to fight at full strength, and if you are injured or exhausted, it will only decrease our chances of winning. You can't expect to be the hero yet. Have patience until your strength returns."
Shirou sighed. "Sorry, Saber. I just feel so...useless right now. I can't look at someone before me in need and hold myself back. I would feel like I'm betraying myself."
"And if you interfere in the fight of a stronger ally where you will be more a hindrance than a help? Would that not betray your ally's trust?" At Shirou's pained expression, he added, "I say this not to condemn your ideal. That dream was mine, too. But you must always keep your limits in mind. Otherwise, you will save no one." He paused for a long moment, filled with sound of their footsteps. "Take heart. You will not be forever useless. I believe this."
They continued to walk, passing from the bridge to the city. The skyscrapers of the downtown area loomed over them, blocking out the faint starlight.
As they continued, Rin turned to Saber. "Hey. I don't mean to be overbearing, but shouldn't you be in astral form to conserve your mana, since Emiya isn't doing his job properly?"
Saber frowned, and his form flickered, but stayed solid. "It seems...I cannot," he admitted. "The summoning may have been improper. I had the ability when I was first summoned, but I seem to be unable to access it now. My mana supply has decreased from the initial burst from my summoning. I fear that may be connected."
"Great," sighed Rin. "A Master who can't supply mana and a Servant who can't conserve it. You'd really have a better chance of winning if you gave up on Emiya and contracted with me, you know."
Saber stared at her with steel in his eyes. "That is not an option."
"Heh. I didn't think so." Rin brushed back one of her twintails, a smug look on her face. "Well, I think we're close enough now to have Archer scout ahead for us. Why don't you do that, Archer?"
A short gust marked the Servant's departure, and Shirou thought he heard a hint of grumbling caught on the wind.
Rin peered around the edge of a shipping container. "Archer, do you see anything?" she whispered.
I see the place where someone used a Dragon Vein, but there's no trace of a Servant, if that's what you mean. Don't think you can let your guard down, though.
"First, don't talk down to me. Second, they might be hidden by a bounded field. We haven't encountered one yet, and Territory Creation is expected of a Caster. Third, what's a Dragon Vein?"
I'll expect a barrier when I see one. Dragon veins, though? That's...complicated.
Rin squinted. "How complicated?"
Bloodlocked ability to manipulate the terrain at points of concentrated magical power.
"That's not complicated."
It is when you factor in who can use them and what they can do. I can tell that one's been used, but the effect isn't obvious. Just so you know, I have the skill too. Everyone in my family does. I thought you would have seen that when you looked at my parameters.
"Well, excuse me for not realizing that a leyline counts as a nexus of draconic power! Dragons vanished from the world back in the Age of Gods."
Hm. Your loss.
Rin scowled and turned to her other allies. "Archer says he knows what Caster did. Apparently, it's something called a Dragon Vein. There's no sign of an enemy Servant, so we'll investigate, but keep an eye out for traps."
"A Dragon Vein," muttered Saber. "Yes, that would make sense."
Rin turned to him. "What was that?"
"My apologies. I was merely repeating the information to properly digest it."
Rin could tell that wasn't it, but she let the matter drop. "All right. We'll stick together. I'll examine the affected area, and if we're attacked, you will remove Shirou from the battlefield while Archer covers me. You'll return immediately afterward to assist in the fight." Shirou looked ready to protest, but a look from Saber quieted him. Both nodded their assent. "Perfect," said Rin. "Now, with that settled, we'll commence the investigation."
The three walked carefully through the stacks of shipping containers with Rin in the lead. They emerged near the edge of the docks in an unloading area lit by a single streetlight. Rin glanced around, but continued, having seen nothing amiss. In the center of the pavement, a series of cracks ran in a radial pattern, forming a circle two meters in diameter. Raw mana wafted up from the cracks, causing a tickling sensation on her skin. Feeling nothing else, Rin stepped into the circle and bent over the center, where the pavement had cracked the most. The flow of mana was slightly stronger, but she couldn't sense any exotic effect. She stood up. "I seem to have met an impasse," she said. "Unfortunately, I'm not sensing anything more than a leaky leyline. That's what worries me. Archer, can you-"
"There's no need for him to leave his post," interrupted Saber. "I have the Dragon Vein ability as well." He raised his hand, and the mana flow surged, swirling above the broken circle with a golden glow. After a few seconds, it subsided except for a similarly glowing haze seeping through the cracks.
Rin's jaw dropped. "What? But that...that means-"
Saber ignored her, dropping to one knee and placing his hand in the circle. The haze seemed drawn to him, as if flowing into him.
He stood. "It's a healing tile. I doubt one was originally here, but it's possible to craft one from a Dragon Vein. I merely uncovered it."
Shirou moved closer to peer at it. "A healing tile, huh? What does that do?"
"What its name states. It heals wounds and restores stamina...I could, theoretically, use it as a supplementary mana source."
"Wait," said Rin. "Are you saying that you can make these from leylines? At any sufficiently strong intersection?"
"I cannot, no," said Saber. "I possess neither the precision nor the training. A Caster with dragon blood, though? I can think of a few for whom this might be a simple task."
The three stood in silence while Rin and Shirou digested the information.
"On that note," continued Saber, "we should move, because another Servant is approaching. I suspect that we have drawn the Caster's attention."
"Sadly, you have." A gentle voice from behind Rin. She spun, only for a hand to close over her mouth and an arm wrap around her waist. A sudden lurch sent her head spinning. When she opened her eyes again, she was atop one of the shipping containers with the hand still over her mouth and a dagger at her throat.
Shirou called her name, faintly, and Saber...Saber looked frozen. Odd. The soft voice sighed, and whispered, "I'm sorry. Truly." A lock of pale blue hair slithered over Rin's shoulder, illuminated by the single streetlight. "But...I'll have to hold you hostage for a little longer. Otherwise...my brother won't get the fight he wants."
AN: I really need to settle on a consistent format for my author's notes. Anyway, UndyingSoul98 beta read this for me, and he's a competent writer, so check his stuff out. Thanks for reading! Please leave comments and reviews, and I'll do my best to keep them in mind.
