Chapter Five – Sakura's Arc, Part Three

Last Words

AQ – the AQ is at the end of the story…

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Rin's plan had backfired, and now another addition to the never ending pile of ruined plans, including any future with her one love,

Archer.

But that did not matter anymore as a more pressing concern stood iron footed in front of them. There was no easy way around it, not this time. Sakura stood motionless in the nightfall, the moonlight flooding onto her and causing a distinctive contrast between shadow and light. She let a smile creep across her face, and almost simultaneously, as if they could communicate to each other telepathically, Berserker charged, this time placing its cleaver in a lance like position as it stormed towards Saber. Rin knew that her servant could never withstand that much strength so she ran for cover, knowing what was to come. There was a split second as the two servants almost touched but Saber had anticipated one step earlier, leaping to the left at the last second. Rin couldn't help looking up to see if Saber had survived and a sigh of relief escaped her body as Saber shot her a quick glance. But there was not much time left before the next strike as Saber footed herself into a more agile position, yet before Berserker had started charging again Rin let out her own, almost wicked smile. "Now Saber, show me what you've got!" Saber let a smile of her own creep across her face,

"Yes Master!" Saber holstered her invisible blade at her waist, readying herself for Berserker to charge again, and again as he came into a blades length of Saber she dodged to the right, yet this time twisting on her feet and raised her arms up to strike the bare back of Berserker. Berserker could only turn off balance, its cleaver clumsily up in the air at a feeble attempt to block the course of Saber's blade, its eyes watching as the sword Saber was holding finally appeared, however only a flash, as the sword went slamming into Berserker's large cleaver, the force behind the blow sending Berserker off his feet, and Saber did not let the opportunity pass, sending another powerful blow, this time a broad uppercut creating a hurricane like wind behind the blade, as Berserker was sent sky rocketing into the air. Both Rin and Sakura stood in there in disbelief, and continued to awe as Saber prepared for her finishing combo blow, leaping high into the air as she raised her sword once more, yet this time Saber revealed her sword for a longer period of time, the golden trims of the blade shimmering in the moonlight. The sword shimmered brighter and brighter until eventually there was no more intricate details to be seen, instead a blazing light, its outlines resembling that of Saber's blade. There was no speech as Saber slashed downwards at Berserker's rough body, only a sharp, loud grunt from Berserker.
It was all over in a flash, one second Saber slashing Berserker in midair, the next, a large eruption of dirt as Saber gracefully landed near the clearing dust. Saber readied herself, moving back into a more defensive stance as the dust settled down. She of all people knew Berserker's most successful, and also powerful noble phantasm, allowing Berserker to regenerate from even the most fatal injuries. As the dust settled an almost ear-deafening roar boomed from Berserker, and finally, as all the dust particles dissipated into the atmosphere Rin saw why. Berserker was healing at an astonishing rate, watching the running wound turn to a scab in almost a second, and soon after forming a light scar where the wound had been. There was a moment as Saber grimaced slightly, her grip on her weapon become slightly weakened, then finally readjusted to the new situation as she raised her sword high and strong, directly facing Berserker as if it were a Kendo match. Berserker rose to its feet, all the damage it had sustained in its 'previous life' all but invisible.

And the conflict continued, yet this time Berserker was wary of its surroundings, striking fast and accurately, yet carefully restricting itself from any wild lunges. The battle had been raging on for longer than both Masters had expected and Sakura's temper had flared up, or more accurately, her 'new temper' that she had developed during the time of the Holy Grail War. Sakura could not suppress herself any longer as she whipped out a sharp, brutal command.

"Finish it now! I don't care if you have to waste anymore of your lives! Just DO IT, regardless of the pain!" Berserker twitched slightly, falling slightly out of pace as it stared at Sakura, its facial expression scrunching up as its thoughts lingered on the last phrase. It stood there for a moment, its face full of confusion as it finally reacted with a cry of defiance, its entire body composure tensing up as it acted on instinct, however Saber was quicker, using the confusion to steal up a few paces without Berserker realising, preparing for her next strike. It turned back to the immediate threat, and again caught off foot as Saber slashed horizontally, sending flesh and blood flying from the wound the blade had just carved out. Another cry of pain as Berserker reacted violently, out of instinct, the very thing Saber had planned for him to as she artfully dodged the backlash of Berserker's cleaver, moving underneath the thick arm and for a moment time slowed. Saber felt the aura of heat the body was generating, the stench of the sweating body and the fear, the fear in Berserker's eyes. It closed its eyes as a sickly crunching pain echoed as Saber impaled her sword through Berserker's iron-like chest. Another cry of pain, yet this time it extended into a long howl. Saber stood strong and steady, pushing further until the entire blade had pushed through as she placed her legs on Berserker's body, pushing herself away, the invisible blade retreating with her. The intensity of the howl seemed to have increased as the sword ripped out of the chest, Berserker now curled to the side as if it was cold. Saber raised her arms slowly, ready to decapitate her. "Give me the word, Master."

"Good work, but there is no need, not yet." Saber winced at her, confusion sweeping over her face, drowning out all the enthusiasm on her face. Yet Saber had no time to think as her thoughts were interrupted, but not by whom she expected. This time it was Sakura who had intervened, her face full of anger, impatience. "Regenerate yourself! Don't die on me!" She cried out. Suddenly all eyes were on her and Sakura realised why now. They could end this, right here, right now and slowly, cautiously she started backing away, trying not to make any sudden movements. Then something bizarre caught all three of their attentions. It was Berserker as he twisted on its body to face the other direction, directly at Sakura. No one dared move an inch as Berserker struggled to open its mouth as it started talking, something that none of them had expected. The voice was coarse and deep, yet it had with it a tone of wisdom as it spoke its last words.

"For once in my life… Just once I thought I had finally received a master not filled with greed… I guess I was wrong… I'm glad I am leaving this world…"

"Wait! Before you go--" and all eyes turned towards Rin, surprised. All except Berserker who remained facing the other way, waiting.

"I want to know. I want to know why you… you didn't turn on your master instead." Rin hesitated as she glanced carefully at Sakura who sent her a vicious glare back. Yet Rin did not look back as she waited for her answer.

"I would have… But look at me now…" Berserker chuckled darkly to itself as its body relaxed; knowing its time on this world was enough.

"Wait! Just one more thing!" Berserker waited, patiently. "I want to know why you did not regenerate your life again."

"My life is but a tool to a vicious and malevolent monster. What good was it if we won…? Just maybe I had thought I could become human… I could live one… But… she was not the Sakura I knew and loved… She has changed…" Berserker said coughing out the last parts. Then it hit her. I could live on…

She stood there, the words bringing new thoughts flooding into her head, new ideas and more importantly, a new conclusion.

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Things had been wrapped up nice and quick, Berserker allowing his life to move on into the ethereal world as they let Sakura go, letting her remorse in her own world too, and consequently allowing Rin some alone time to ponder through her thoughts. Thoughts that would be otherwise forbidden if not for her free time she had at hand. Thoughts that constantly flooded her mind, thoughts causing distress, anxiety. Thoughts of him.

The seconds ticked by as thoughts soon turned to dreams as Rin drifted away into her slumber. Seconds into minutes. Minutes into hours and eventually night became day, moon became sun and Rin had awoken, tears dry on her face, leaving Saber one conclusion, she had cried herself to sleep. However Saber knew not to ask her about it, instead simply ignoring it, going through meditation, to give Rin time, after all, she was only human.

How could I stop thinking about him? I couldn't, and I still can't. Why oh why does he have to leave? Why do things have to be this way? Why?

Rin felt the tears swelling up again and this time there was no suppression. She knew there was no point to stop it. She had tried last night and to no avail, and so the tears rolled down her cheeks like waterfalls as she sobbed silently on her bed, the thoughts, the memories.

The day he left me… the day he—

Rage consumed Rin whole like fire on oil. Rin wiped her tears away, her face now red with anger.

No remorse. Not now.

There was a soft knock on Rin's bedroom door as Saber entered cautiously, yet knowing she was in no harm, the daily session of reminiscing over. Rin glanced over to her servant as another thought crossed her mind. I wish I could be like Saber, to fight on without worrying about the pain… To be strong… Rin smiled weakly, "Looks like I better get up, don't want to keep you waiting." She almost whispered. Her bluff seemed to go unnoticed, but Rin knew otherwise than to doubt Saber's observation skills, instead deciding not to linger any further, the awkward atmosphere getting to her head. Rin rose off her bed, grabbing her school uniform with her in preparation for another tedious day.
Yet she smiled…

She smiled to the end of Berserker's Arc.

Berserker's arc of pain and destruction,

Both physically and psychologically.

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AQ – Sorry for that anti climactic death of Berserker, and things seem a bit choppy at school but I'll try my best to keep it updated.