Night 21

Saber claimed that she would do her best to find out more information about Lancer and his master, but without Rin to help her navigate Fuyuki, the task was a little more than daunting. Still, Saber needed just a little bit of space from her master in order to sort herself out and refocus on the primary goal.

The grail. That was all Saber needed. Once she obtained the grail, history, as she had unfortunately shaped it, could be changed, and her honour could finally rest.

Rin's reaction continued to haunt her even in this moment. Try as she might, Saber couldn't shake the part of herself that agreed with her master's words. Yet, without the grail and the wish it provided, how would Saber continue to fight?

The answer was so simple, but Rin had made it abundantly clear that the strange emotions Saber was harbouring had misled her. It made sense, truly. Rin was right. Saber was being immature and foolish. She was living out a past that had been stripped from her in place of ruling a kingdom. Her life had been full of majesty, glory, and obedience. Her life had been grand in every regard…save for relationally.

In Saber's heart, there was a hole that she was never interested in exploring or dissecting. No. There was no time to occupy her mind with thoughts of true love and unbiased commitment. There was a kingdom to rule. There is a grail to win. There is a past to remedy.

Saber walked down a fairly busy street in Fuyuki City, her plain white shirt and blue skirt seeming very out of place compared to what everyone else wore; which came in all shapes and sizes. It was incredible, now that Saber had time to take it all in. At Rin's school, all the students were forced to act and dress fairly uniformly. However, once outside of school and work, the people of Fuyuki City appeared to go completely out of their way to individualize themselves. Such persons would be considered quite eccentric or even sick in Saber's time, but the differences in this period were aplenty. Uniqueness, when handled correctly, helped humans thrive, yet could just as easily isolate them from the main crowd. It was a fine line to balance.

'Come see the newly opened cat café! Dine while enjoying the relaxing warmth of a cute feline on your lap! Me-ow!' A woman dressed in what Saber knew to be a French maid's attire and fake cat ears beamed, handing her a small packet of tissues with directions and a decently done graphic.

'Oh, um, thank-you.' Saber responded, although the woman moved right along to the next person passing by, not missing a single beat. A similar occurrence took place multiple times with slight variations in the presentations. By about midway down the strip of shops and high-rise buildings, Saber had accumulated more than seven different types of cards and tissues, all inviting her to places of entertainment. It quickly became apparent that this was an effective, if a slightly annoying, way of bringing awareness to the sheer number of spots to spend money.

Saber tried not to let herself be overwhelmed by the amount of streets, side streets, and side-side streets she could explore, but without Rin, she was quite ignorant as to where would be a decent area to start searching efficiently for Lancer. Realistically, she doubted progress would actually be made, and decided just creating some space between her and Rin would be for the best for now.

Why had she begun to make such a bold claim in the first place? What was she hoping to gain? This existence was utterly temporary. It wouldn't matter in a few days. A moment of lunacy goaded on by jealousy? She didn't even know what she felt. How could she?

Saber stopped and pulled off the main street, seeking refuge from the crowd for a moment while she slowed her heart rate. The idea of being without Rin was much more painful than she anticipated. Air felt heavy. Her chest was collapsing. She had found her soulmate as a person. Be it romantically or strictly through a friendship, Saber longed for Rin more than she ever wanted to. The only way she could move forward would be to isolate her emotions like she had as king. Saber was a professional at such navigation of her mind. It would be simple.

Saber shuffled along through the crowd of a main street in Fuyuki City only long enough until she found another sidewalk that extended following the river close by. It's not as though she was going to find Lancer and his master amongst a mass of people like that anyway.

The quiet of the riverbank immediately put Saber at a little more ease. She had disposed of most of the handouts she had been given except the cat café one, stashing it in her skirt pocket without thinking much about the reasons why. Eventually, the path opened up to more grass and various art displays that only added to the level of tranquility found in this slice of Japan. Children ran about with balls, laughing and giggling as their parents watched from afar, drinks or cameras in hand. Elderly couples strolled on past Saber, nodding to her kindly with sincere smiles of acceptance. A jogger stepped off onto the grass in the effort to not disturb others enjoying the sunny, yet slightly overcast day. Birds flew overhead. A family of ducks swam nearby. This was peace. This was prosperity. The past Saber regretted so led to this moment of unhindered pleasure.

Perhaps I'm wrong. Saber mused, still unable to give up her mindset yet softening more to her master's arguments.

A soccer ball bounced off of Saber's leg as she lost herself, the impact causing her to leap back as though an assault was being carried out against her. Two little boys, dirty from rolling around on the ground, cautiously observed the woman who seemed to stand between them and more hours of fun.

Saber collected herself, knelt down, and brought the ball up, smiling as best she could.

'Is this yours?' She asked, trying to sound kind.

The braver of the two boys stepped forward, rubbing his nose and nodding vigorously.

'Here you are.' She passed the thing, both boys nodding a little haphazardly prior to running off, laughing after a comment was made. Saber smiled a little wider now, the sun beating against the back of her neck and reminding her that this was all so extremely brief. She had her chance to live. It was time to move on…

Saber sighed, walking further down the path and revelling in the world as it changed. She walked for more than an hour, travelling throughout a part of Fuyuki City and seeing more people soaking up the day. Mothers walking with strollers, chatting feverously. Men off to the side with fishing poles and cigarettes, guffawing at what was sure to be a hilarious joke. School boys cutting class and looking proud of their mischievousness. It was all so beautiful.

Saber reflected on the outings with Rin. This was her master's life. This war was but a fraction of what Rin hoped to accomplish. This wonderful world was the world Rin knew. Saber was not a part of it. She could never, realistically, be a part of it all.

'Vulgar, is it not?' A voice broke Saber's tranquility. She hadn't even given much attention to the individual sitting on his own upon a bench just a little into the side of the path. She looked about for someone else that he may have been speaking to, but saw nobody. Saber could only presume it was she who was being engaged.

'I beg your pardon?'

'This world; it's repulsive.'

'I see…' Saber decided to let it slide, knowing it was pointless to interact much with a soul who had such polarizing views to her own.

'I doubt it. Only a true king would see the rot that envelopes this planet. Frivolity and sloth; it's all repelling.'

Saber's mouth twitched. Was it just a coincidence this person had mentioned the concept of a king so quickly, or was he somehow involved in the war? The young man had blonde hair that fell just above his eyes before shaping the rest of his face. His black jacket and fitted pants made him almost seem like a model. He had his arms outstretched behind the bench, and barely opened his eyes as he clearly watched Saber slow.

'I happen to believe the opposite, so I am sorry, but I cannot entertain your statement much further.'

The man finally opened his eyes, a crimson iris locking Saber in place. He had to be part of the Grail War somehow. Either that, or he was just a freak that enjoyed creeping others out with bizarre, but artificial, physical attributes.

'You surely jest. The planet wreathes and wails; raped of its natural providence for the most arbitrary ends. If those ends included the joy of a worthy ruler, I would potentially be willing to listen to your argument, yet that is not the case, and thus, futility only tests my patience.'

Saber lowered her gaze, spacing her feet part just slightly.

'Who are you?'

'Who am…?' The man's sharp eyes blinked with confusion before his arrogance found itself once more. 'I see. You have lost your memory, my fierce lion.'

'You know me?'

'I do, although it is too soon for our paths to cross beyond the transfer of some words.'

'Are you a servant?'

'I serve nobody.' The man growled, looking to the sky briefly before smirking and relaxing again.

'Then a master.'

'Of sorts, one may say.'

Saber glanced around, seeing the multitude of civilians enjoying their afternoon, oblivious to the war happening underground. She couldn't do anything in this moment.

'Lancer's master?'

'Not quite.'

'Then…'

'This topic bores me. I'm the one who performs the inquisitions; not my subjects.' The man leaned his cheek on his fist, eyeing Saber mercilessly, causing her to cross her arms and adjust her mind. 'You remain worthy enough, I suppose.'

'I am more than worthy of anything you may appraise.' Saber hissed back.

'Oh?' The man mocked, standing finally and leaning in close to Saber. 'You would dare make such a bold claim in the face of Gilgamesh, the one true king and first hero?'

'Gilgamesh…' Saber breathed, sparks of memories stabbing at her brain. 'So, you are a servant…somehow…'

'Understandably you do not comprehend everything just yet. That is fine. Just be aware that I exist and that I think you will do nicely. I have observed you enough to know that this desire is not just a passing notion.'

'Whatever do you mean?' Saber didn't want to ask, but any information on this mysterious player was worth it. At least she had found something to report.

'My wife, naturally. The ruler of the new world desires company, as it were. Of course, I expect your mouth to do a little less talking, but even the proudest beasts submit to a more powerful being. I deserve everything this crumbling planet can offer that is good, and you should consider yourself fortunate that I wish to count you among my collection.' Gilgamesh went to touch Saber's cheek with the back of his hand, but she flinched away, her mouth tightened and eyes glaring.

'I think not.' She responded quite simply. This appeared to be amusing to Gilgamesh, his deep laughter not the reaction Saber predicted considering everything she knew about the man thus far. The enigma walked away, more than less dismissing Saber over bidding her farewell.

'Oh, I was hardly asking.' Gilgamesh let the claim float in the air, Saber's enjoyable afternoon, which was hastily becoming early evening all too quickly, suddenly tainted by this idiot of a man.

'When the time comes, you will regret speaking to me in that way.' Saber said eventually, looking around to make sure she was alone again. If this individual was actually Gilgamesh, and some sort of hybrid servant/master, Saber would have to inform Rin immediately. He didn't seem completely insane, which was the only other alternative.

'Ridiculous.' Saber huffed once more. She continued back the way she came, eventually leaning over the metal fence that protected anyone from falling into the river. The very idea of marrying that man left the most revolting of tastes in Saber's mouth. He was everything she hated in a person and more. He didn't look at Saber as a person; he looked at her as a thing to possess. It had always been that way wherever Saber was. She was an idea. She was a thing. She was a concept.

Yet, Rin treated her like another girl. Rin looked at her with respect, admiration, and acceptance. Rin understood Saber's faults and strengths. Rin complimented her. Rin believed in her. Rin talked to her, not at her. Saber closed her eyes and squeezed the blouse covering her heart. She supposed she had allowed herself to take this true relationship too far. Perhaps she was overstepping her boundaries due to the foreign practise of friendship.

I was being naïve. It is the friendship between Master and I that I love.

Saber sighed in relief. That made much more sense. She would have to explain herself to Rin the next time they spoke. She longed for it so, despite only a couple of hours having passed.

As if in response to Saber's lamenting, a tug at her soul took place, warping the very plain of existence around her, Rin's voice uttering her name in desperation. She was being summoned via a command seal. Something was happening. Her master needed her.

Saber equipped her armour and entered the grail's opened door feverishly so that she could protect Rin from whatever threatened their success. She wouldn't lose. She wouldn't lose anything again.