Chapter 17: Listen to the Rain
The girl reacted with magic, but it was already too late. She managed only to slow the creature down. Giant arm reached her and she was thrown in the air. Her little body flew a few meters and stopped on the wall.
It was raining all night, dark and heavy clouds were hanging over Fuyuki. Even city lamps seemed half-asleep, giving far less light than usual.
In a small room in Matou residence the boy was sitting on the bed and the girl was lying with head on his lap. She was sleeping calmly, safe and happy, ignoring the loud sound of rain.
Both of them had similar hair color, a different shades of purple, although boy's hair was almost white already. With scars on his pale skin, the kid looked like some kind of an exhausted wraith.
A long-haired woman materialized near him and sat on the bed. She was wearing the eye cover, black as her tight costume.
"Master, can I ask you something?" – she said, quietly enough to not disturb girl's rest.
"Of course, Rider. What is it?"
"You share the same family name and appearance, but you are not siblings, am I right?"
"Ah, yes. I remember only that I was saved by Sakura from an accident. She did not say what exactly happened, but I suppose it was a car crash." He was trying to remember something, but gave up after a short while. "Anyway, Matou family helped me to recover, adopted me, and gave a chance to become a well-trained magus, after discovering my barely existed circuits. It's more than I could ever imagine. All thanks to Sakura." He said with gratitude, stroking gently the hair of resting girl. "I just don't want her to feel lonely anymore."
The girl whispered boy's name in her sleep, with lovely smile.
"You didn't have to tell me all of this, Master. Short 'yes' or 'no' would be enough."
"It's nothing, really." He shrugged. "And you have right to know what you want about your Masters. You will be fighting to death for us, that's the least we can do to repay you."
"You are a strange person, Master." Long-haired woman said after a moment of silence. She seemed somehow content, and gave the boy a suspicious smile. "Please do not push yourself too hard and try to rely on my abilities." She stood up, ready to leave.
"Thank you, Rider. You are very kind."
She did not answer, embarrassed, and vanished into spirit form.
Someone was watching the scene from the outside, hidden behind the trees and impossible to be detected. Strange shadow among shadows thought how easy this boy would be to kill right know, but quickly abandoned the idea.
First of all, it was enjoyable to watch the kid suffer. And he was not a primary target, only a bonus. The shadow among shadows left, letting him be, along with his delicious pain.
The wounded woman was still unconscious, but her face regained some healthy colors. She was strong and had great chances to completely recover. Rin was sitting near the bed, watching raindrops running lazily down the glass.
She was trying to imagine how would she feel in woman's place. Without her Servant, not dead or defeated, but forced to serve an enemy Master.
And she couldn't. There was always Archer nearby, for long ten years. She got used to his presence, and the two got along well, sometimes not even needed words to communicate.
Rin smiled, remembering her first dream of field full of swords, so long ago. Once it was a depressing place, with giant gears on the sky, heavy wind and no single grass blade on the wastelands. But years passed, so did dreams. And this hidden world of Archer was changing, little by little, to the point that only swords remained from its original concept.
Now there was a green grass up to the horizon, the blue sky and a gentle breeze. So calm and nice there, that it become Tohsaka's favorite dream.
"I guess he does not even know how he changed." She closed her eyes, listening to the rain. "This guy is hopeless, truly. But he's MINE, a gift from my father. And I will not let anyone steal him from me."
"Master, I don't mind the rain, but are you sure you want to fight today?"
"Oh, come on, we need to find some Servants to win quickly and go back to father, right? And we have an umbrella, so this night is good as any other."
She was whistling and jumping through the puddles, like a little white fairy with umbrella.
"Saber…" She stopped suddenly. "You noticed?"
"Yes, I can feel it too. An enemy Servant."
They heard a terrible sound in the alley, sound of breaking bones and tearing apart the flesh. Master and Servant went forward carefully. After few more steps, umbrella fell out of girl's hand and hit the ground with a splash.
"Saber, is it…?"
"Master, turn around and don't look, please."
Girl did not listen, but she partially covered her eyes, disgusted.
A giant was sitting there, in the rain, on the narrow road between the buildings, and was tearing apart human corpses.
"Why are you doing this, monster?!" Saber stepped ahead, sword in her hand. She was truly magnificent, burning with righteous anger, a deadly intent in her eyes. "This is not what Servant should do. Explain yourself!"
She did not receive any answer. Strange humanoid stood up and threw a dead body at her. Ilya squealed. Monster growled and shook his head, clearly enraged by the sound.
Arturia did not wait any longer. She moved forward and struck the enemy with all her might. But her sword just rebounded from Servant's skin with an empty sound, doing him no harm.
"Impossible!" Saber lost her composure and ogre almost hit her. "What are you? What kind of resistance is that?"
"Saber, look out!"
As if in reaction on Ilya's scream, raging beast changed the target and attacked the girl instead. It seemed really mad right now, its speed increased drastically. It was charging with the force of accelerated train…
"Ilya!" Arturia cut Berserker's back, again with no result.
The girl reacted with magic, but it was already too late. She managed only to slow the creature down. Giant arm reached her and she was thrown in the air. Her little body flew a few meters and stopped on the wall.
"Ilyaaaaa!" Saber was desperately trying to break through enemy's defense, to push it back, and take care of her Master. "Ilya, please answer me! Ilyaaaaa!"
But girl was lying there in silence, like a broken doll.
Arturia clenched her teeth and attacked furiously. If not its unnatural hardness, the creature would be already cut to pieces.
"Ilya!" Saber was calling her name again and again, desperately trying to wake her little Master up.
"It's… ok, Saber." The girl smiled, despite the pain in her red eyes. "I'm fine…"
"How?"
Ilya's chest was shining with a golden light. A powerful relic was healing her from inside, and after few more minutes, girl was able to stand up and support her Servant with offensive spells. Saber breathed with relief and managed to corner raging beast at last.
"Stay back, Ilya. I will destroy it with my Noble Phantasm…"
"Saber, don't. We're in the inhabited area, even my barrier won't hold Excalibur's blast. You may blow up this whole street."
Saber mumbled angrily through the clenched teeth and focused on defense. Berserker's was slowing down, his movements became heavy and clumsy. Yet even with Ilya's magic, there was no way to break the deadlock without completely destroying the surroundings.
Suddenly an energetic arrows came from unknown direction and hit the ground between fighting Servants. Saber dodged easily, but giant seemed completely surprised and – strange but true – terrified by this unexpected, noisy assault.
The creature moaned painfully and escaped, with a grimace of harmed child on its face.
Ilya just sighed with relief and raised her umbrella from the ground.
"Not that I really need it, I'm so wet and dirty already..." She smiled, as if nothing bad happened, totally healed. "Rain is not my favorite thing, not at all." She shook her head with disapproval. "What's wrong, Saber?"
Arturia was still tensed, like she was expecting another attack of unknown sniper.
"Strange… But I recognize these arrows."
He, again? She almost growled with anger. This time I won't let him take the Grail from me!