It takes me a few minutes longer then usual to get dressed, as I have to check over my bandages as I go. The new, larger one across my stomach I can only assume is covering whatever happened to my back, but other then that nothing seems to have changed.

As I do so, my thoughts slide back into what I've learned. Basically, The holy grail war is musical chairs, played with only one chair and seven people to fight over it. It sounds a bit... ridiculous, and I have to fight the urge to laugh as an image of seven armed strangers dance around a golden chair to some hiphop song played on a boom box.

I wonder where Saber is. I realize I havn't seen her at all yet today, so I decide to look for her. I search through the house room by room, and start to worry a little as I can't seem to find her. I even head across the way to the guest house to look around, but none of the rooms look like they have been touched.

As I search, I try to think of what she would be doing but... I realize that I really don't know anything about her. In all the time since we've met, I don't think I've actually had the chance to sit and talk to her. I still don't completely understand who she is or how she even exists, but all I know is that I'm confident we can win this ridiculous war if I stick by her side.

After awhile I step outside and head towards the Dojo. I knock gently as I push the door open to announce my presence, and step inside. Over in the corner I see her look up. I smile. She is sitting in perfect japanese style. Maybe she was meditating. Shes wearing clothes I don't recognize, and I'm almost disappointed she isn't in her beautiful blue dress... but she makes them look good so I can't really complain. she looks... Refined. And it suits her well.

"You are awake, Mayami." she states calmly, rising to her feet. I just now noticed, but she's using my first name. It sounds so strange, with her inflection on it. I like it.

"Yeah, I just got up. How are you holding up?" I blush, realizing that she isn't the one who keeps getting injured. "Err, nevermind, guess that was a dumb question." I shake my head to try and empty out the annoying thoughts that keep floating in, like how beautiful her eyes are, and how graceful she looks even just standing still... Dammit! It's not working!

Surprisingly, she smiles softly. "I am quite well, thank you for asking... Though you are correct in your assumption that it is not me who you should be worried about."

I take a deep breath and wince as pain tingles across my back.

"Mayami." She's concerned about me, but I wave it off. I tense up as our eyes meet again, even though it is only for a moment. I feel like shit, but I need to talk to her while I'm still groggy from sleep or I know I'll be to flustered to think straight.

To late, my mind giggles at me. Shut up!

I gesture to the floor, and sit down. I try to keep my back straight to minimize the pain, but it still must have shown. Mayami, before that there is something I would like to address regarding last night."

As she stands over me, I try not to be to intimidated, and slowly nod. I already know what this is about, so I may as well get it out of the way.

"It is about last night. You are my master. It is troubling for you to take such actions. Battle is my duty, so you must concentrate on your role." I think the most intimidating thing about those words is how calmly she seems to state them. As if she is a teacher chastising a student for a wrong answer.

"I'm sorry, I... I couldn't help it. You were in danger, so I had to do something. You're my partner, for better or worse, and I made a promise to help you in any way I can."

"Impossible... You do not understand what servants are, but you have such faith in me already?" she looks genuinely surprised.

After a few moments, I begin to think I've said something wrong. "Err... Saber?" I wave a hand in front of her face. She shakes her head gently.

"As a servant, I appreciate your words. I would have been dealt a fatal blow had you not intervened. The method was not a good one, but your instruction was." she pauses, looking as if she is trying to choose her words carefully. "However... please refrain from such actions in the future. I can heal my wounds, but you are much more fragile."

The concern in her voice when she says the last sentence is touching. I don't want her to worry, so I nod. "All right, I apologize... It definitely was reckless. I'll try to do better next time." I lower my head in apology. After a moment, I feel her hand on my shoulder. I look up to see her smiling softly.

"That is a good reply, master."

I shake off my blush, and try to think of what it was I wanted to ask her. Oh, right.

"What I wanted to ask, Saber... Oh, may I call you Saber? I just assumed..." that's what everyone else was calling her, but it sorta sounds odd for a name. More like a title.

"Yes. Since I have formed a contract with you as a servant, I am your sword. I shall follow your orders, defeat your enemies, and protect you." Saber says so without hesitation. There is no room for me to question any of it.

"...become my sword... Is that to win the holy grail?"

"...is that not why you summoned me?"

"That was an accident, remember? I didn't even know what magic was at the time, let alone what the grail wars were." I sigh. "I'm sorry you were summoned to such a useless master... but I have decided to fight, so I will. I am an unskilled master, but... are you okay with that?"

"Of course. you are my master, Mayami. This fact will not change. A servant does not have the freedom to choose it's master."

"I know you didn't mean it that way, but now I feel even worse." I laugh at the absurdity of it all.

"Master... I will not allow defeat for you. If you have no chance at victory, then I shall make one for you. I will use any means at my disposal to ensure your success. We servants do not serve a master without compensation. We serve because we also desire the grail."

"I know... which is why I haven't given in yet." Saber looks shocked. Before she can speak, I shush her so I can finish. "Even if I have no wish for the grail I know you're counting on me to stand by you, because you do have a wish. As long as you need the grail, I will stand by you. Besides, I may think of a reason I need it too, eventually. Something tells me I'll have a few days to think on it."

Saber doesn't seem sure what to say. I think she's relieved that I will stay with her to fight till the end, but doesn't understand why if I have no wish for myself. Something she said earlier is bothering me though, and while she's thinking I take the opportunity to ask.

"Saber... you said you would use any means necessary?... Does that mean you don't care what measures you have to take to win? Like..." My mind flashes with images of the great inferno that destroyed so many lives so many years ago, even though that isn't what I had intended... Its strange, that my thoughts would lead there now.

"Mayami, that is not a possibility." she seems to sense what I was thinking. "I can only do things I will allow myself to do. I cannot betray my beliefs. It is against the knight's oath to harm those who are unarmed. But I must obey if you command it so. However, I will require you to use a command seal for treading inside me so."

I'm almost overwhelmed at her anger. At the same time, I am relieved. Her lack of doubt earlier almost made me think of her as a cold blooded killer, but now I know that is untrue.

I sigh, the relief evident on my face. "I'm glad. I wouldn't allow you to do such a thing, and I'm glad you agree. I... I'm really sorry, I insulted you without even realizing it." I hang my head in apology. I seem to be doing that a lot.

I can't see the look on her face, but her voice sounds a bit taken aback. "Ah... no, I leapt to a hasty conclusion without knowing your intentions. You are not at fault, so please raise your head..."

I do so just in time to see a small smile on the corners of her mouth. It quickly fades as her face returns to her natural calmness. A mask, much like Tohsaka's, I think to myself. Except Tohsaka's is a little easier to break through, I haven't the slightest what she's thinking when she's like that.

"Alright, I guess I just have one last question. Saber, Lancer, Archer... I know those aren't really your names, so why do you call yourselves those?"

"Those are the names of the class we hold for the war. It describes the role we fit into with our abilities. There are seven classes, one of each is summoned for the war. Some heroes fit into more then one category, and might be summoned as any they fit... but for the most part, each spirit usually has one class they are suited for."

"So your name isn't Saber, you just happen to be the servant summoned as the Saber class?"

"Correct. Saber is the only role I fit, myself. Heroic spirits, as you probably guessed, are the spirits of champions from the past, present, or future who have achieved some great deed beyond human capability. Whatever the means, we have reached the rank of gods with our own strength."

She doesn't even need to say that, I've seen what they are capable of.

"However, that is also our disadvantage. Being heroes, our weaknesses are recorded along with our deeds. Revealing our names, our identities, also reveals our weaknesses. It will not be a problem fighting a lower spirit, but every spirit has the means to slay others. If our weakness is revealed, then they will surely use it to their advantage."

"I see... so it makes sense not to use your own name. Who else is there then? I've seen you, Archer, Lancer, and Berserker."

"Rider, Caster, and Assassin have yet to reveal themselves to us. Every class has advantages and disadvantages, and that combined with our own powers makes most spirits about evenly matched. Assassin class servants tend to be very weak in comparison to other servants, but they may hide their presence from others, allowing them to sneak in and eliminate the master without the servant's intervention... where-as Caster class servants are physically weak, but are well versed in powerful magic that no longer exists in this age."

"Alright, that makes sense. But in that case, doesn't even knowing their class tell you how to combat them?"

"Not entirely, though it is a start. The problem with such thinking is that you must take into account the Noble Phantasm that each servant carries. It is a unique power or object that only that spirit posses. Heroes are not called as such by themselves, they have a weapon that symbolizes them and makes them a hero. It is a trump card of sorts."

My mind falls back to the man in blue, Lancer. The lance that seemed to draw power from the very air and pierce Saber with impossible movements. That was certainly something not fit for a human. The lance itself carried a powerful curse, but... part of it had to have come from the word he used as well, as if the weapons power is a combination of the weapon and the man using it.

It would make sense, then... no other person could take the spear and use it as he did. That itself is what makes it his symbol. However, the name of the weapon itself must be revealed to use it. This is why it is a trump card. If it is revealed to be used, it also can identify who its owner is. In exchange for revealing its name, the lance launches an unavoidable fatal blow. If it fails, however, the servant has revealed all his weaknesses.

"Then Saber, is your Noble Phantasm your sword?"

"...Yes, but I have not revealed its name. No servant should be able to name me at the present moment." saying that, Saber looks down awkwardly for a moment.

I realize why: I don't even know her true name.

"Mayami, I have a request about that matter." I nod, listening. "Usually, servants give their true names to their masters alone, to help determine future plans... However, since it would not make much a difference in our case, I..."

"I understand. I have no defences against the other master's spells, but they can't steal information from me that I don't have to begin with. I'll rely on you to decide when to use your Noble Phantasm." Thinking it over, it seems like the best plan. Tohsaka seemed to know exactly what I was thinking at times, and I wouldn't put it past her to be reading through my thoughts.

"Uh.... um, master... can you really decide so quickly?" Saber seems a bit startled.

I smile at her. "Actually, I've been thinking about it since you brought up the idea of names being weaknesses. I've thought it through, don't worry. my only problem now is spotting other masters in the first place. I can't sense magic like Tohsaka can, I never would have guessed she was a magus."

"Hmm... that could be a problem. Servants can sense other servants when they are nearby, but it is harder to sense them when they are in spirit form. Seeing as how i cannot..." She trails off, deep in thought. Suddenly she looks up at me, her face serious. "Master, can you close your eyes a moment?"

I close them, and I feel her press her hand to my forehead. I feel a prickling sensation, and gasp as an image floods my mind. I see Saber in her armor, with statistics and descriptions of her powers. It takes me a moment to calm myself, but I manage to steady the image and sort the information into a layout I can easily understand.

"Saber, what is that?" The information fades from my view as I open my eyes. I try a few times, closing my eyes and concentrating to bring it back up again until I have it down.

"You and I have a contract, so it is only natural for you to understand my status. What you saw is specific to you, every master classifies things their own way. In other words, what you saw was the information in the most comprehensible form to you. It is a standard concept for a master, so please check it often. Also, if you concentrate you should be able to add to it anything you know about other servants you see, for future reference."

"Its a bit... sudden, but I think I can work with it. Thanks Saber." Maybe now I can at least try to act like a proper master... to bad I was never any good at strategy games. "I'm sorry I'm kinda slow... this is still all a bit new to me."

"... you should not be 'sorry'. If you understand the situation, you should be deciding what to do next." She leans forward, expecting an answer. It seems she's like Tohsaka on this point, attack first.

"I... I'm not sure. Maybe we should stay on the defensive until we know more, perhaps until another master reveals itself to us. I'd prefer to stay away from Tohsaka at the moment, and we're not prepared to deal with Berserker."

"Master, I believe you are using excuses to cover the fact that you do not wish to fight. Do you not have the will to obtain the grail as a master?" Saber narrows her eyes. They are the calm eyes of a swordsman who will allow no disagreement.

"I... I'm just afraid of making a mistake. I've never been in a situation like this before, and I don't... don't know what to do." I admit it, I'm at a loss. Without a clear way to seek out other masters, and no magic powers to speak of, it seems like waiting for someone to find me is the only way to keep going.

Its quiet in the dojo for awhile. I don't know what Saber is thinking, but I can't bring myself to look at her. I feel so incredibly useless that its almost painful.

"Saber..."

"Master?"

"...do you regret your pact with me?"

"Not at all." No hesitation.

"...Thank you." I sigh. At least shes not as angry as I thought she is.

"Master... Mayami... You must still make a decision. I will stand by it no matter what, but for me to do so, you must say it."

"...Until I figure out how I can find other masters, we keep a low profile. You should rest when you can to conserve energy, since I can't help much there either... and..."

"Yes?"

My stomach grumbles. "And I think its time for lunch."


Since we skipped breakfast and its almost noon, Saber agrees to break for lunch. Since she can't turn into a spirit, and I'm not giving her enough mana, it seems a majority of her energy will be coming from food... or so she says. Personally, I like to believe she just likes my cooking. A lot. As in she would have eaten my share had I not eaten it so fast.

She helps me gather the dishes and bring them to the kitchen, though I insist I clean up myself. Something about the thought of her standing there cleaning dishes just strikes me as odd.

For a while, we discuss her power levels. She is firm in her belief that she will be fine, but I know she will gradually weaken the more she is forced to fight. Not to mention the fact that she will not have access to her Noble Phantasm, it would drain her way to much.

"I know, Saber, I... I just don't want you using it okay? If you push yourself and over do it, you'll fade... and then how will I be able to apologize to you?" We argue for the upteenth time. She is angry that I have forbid her from using her Noble Phantasm, and won't see reason.

Sighing, I place a cup of tea in front of her. Just as she is about to start the argument again, the phone rings. I feel my face blanch, I have a good idea who that would be. Sunday afternoon... and I skipped class. Fuji-Nee will be furious, but the consequences of not answering...

I carefully pick up the phone and... wince, holding it away from my ear as Fuji-Nee's angry voice comes streaming out of it. I push it farther away, as if she might reach a fist through and punch me. I wouldn't put it past her either.

After a few minutes of carefully picked answers and prodding, she finally relents and I hang up the phone. She agreed to let me off the hook, as long as I brought her in some lunch. I sigh, putting the apron back on.

"Saber, I need to head in to school. Can you watch the house while I'm out?" I can feel her right behind me, glowering daggers into my back.

It takes her a moment to respond, but I can tell she isn't happy. "Master, I should acompany you if you are leaving the house. Servants protect their masters. It is to dangerous to let you walk outside alone."

I wrack my brain for something, anything that I can do to convince her, but...

"Further more, you are inexperienced and would not last long on your own should you be attacked. I cannot allow you to do this, master."

"Saber, you can't turn into spirit form. If you follow me around, you'll be like a great big blinking light above my head screaming 'I'm a master!'. Wouldn't it make more sense for me to try and avoid that, at least for now?"

"Then you should remain here, where I can watch over you in safety."

Yeesh, she isn't going to budge. "Saber..."

I finish cooking up a sweet omelet for Fuji-Nee and pack it up with some rice. Walking towards the front door, Saber follows behind me.

"Saber, aren't masters 'sposed to avoid fighting in crowded places, and during daylight hours? The school will be packed with students..." My last ditch attempt at reasoning doesn't seem to be going well...

Saber sighs. "Master, I must remind you-"

Something flickers inside my head. A shelf drops down in front of me. I recognize who that me represents and nod to myself. Only one person can deal with someone as stubborn as Saber.

"Saber, I will not allow this damned war interfere with my daily life. This is not something that will be negotiable. You will be staying here until I return. Are we clear?"

I don't even wait for an answer as I turn and storm out the door. As I turn to slam it shut, I catch a glimpse of Saber's shocked face staring ahead as if she's seen a ghost. As I begin walking, I feel myself relaxing, and the shelf disappears back into the warehouse in my mind.

Hell, it even shocked me. I didn't realize it would be so... easy... to act like someone else like that. Its odd though... I wasn't angry with her, just a bit annoyed. So why did I snap and say something so mean? Thinking back, I frown as I realize my accent even sounded like hers, carrying her inflection into my words. I hope she doesn't think I was mocking her.

Ugh, way to go Mayami... I guess I'll have to apologize when I get home.