Chapter 3: Exposition

-Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate or Kamen Rider series

"So that's what a shotgun wedding feels like."

"Senpai, that was not a legitimate or legalized wedding. It's a shame."

"If I say it's a wedding, it is one." My arm was grabbed before it was pressed between two soft mountains. "Now dear, why don't you try this. I made it just for you . "

"This is a clinic for Senpai to recover, not for you to have a delusional event."

"Besides, it's not like my dear master is against our destined marriage."

"The truth of the matter is an old fox taking advantage of a young man."

"Oh, is that jealousy I hear in your voice?"

Then two dangerous gazes turned my way.

"Goshujin-sama, now that you're awake. Let us leave this prison." It took a considerable amount of willpower to stop my body from reacting. "We have much work to do, like planning how to decorate our love nest."

Slender yet unnaturally strong hands started to drag my healed body off a white clinical bed. Before I left the blanket, another set of hands pulled my left arm. With abnormal strength that surprised both myself and my… soulmate.

My body lurched back onto the bed. Like magic, the blanket tucked itself under the bed, tighter than any hotel bed I had ever slept in.

Sealed in place, my left arm was soon squished between a different but equally soft mound.

Wait… Sakura…did your breasts grow bigger!

"Let go of Senpai right now you harlot!" Purple eyes glared into yellow slanted eyes. "He's still tired and confused from summoning you."

"That's why it's important that I get him away from this prison and tell him everything he needs to know you misleading little devil."

Contrary to my fear that my body was going to be ripped apart in a cliché tug of war. Both ladies just held me in place. Neither making a move, they were waiting for an opening to steal me away from each other.

If I weren't so damn confused about what's going on, I would have loved to savor this moment.

My mind was busy trying to figure out what the hell the Moon cell was. Nothing added up, was I really not in Fate Stay Night and instead, I was in a spin-off. So many questions keep popping off in my head.

Was this grail corrupted too? Is there an egotistical god-king trying to commit genocide on humanity for failing to live up to his standards? Was Alice safe in the middle of this blood bath?

Given what I know of how things go in Fate. She is most likely a servant or an extremely powerful master that was shoehorned into this.

"This is the safest place in the entire school for Senpai, I-"

"Because this place is under your authority, right?" An accusing tone filled Tamamo's words. "You say it's a neutral area for masters, but you sure have made a lot of interesting modifications to it. Like that hidden room over there."

Following Tamamo's gaze, my eyes landed on a large green closet. The words. [Medicine] were pained in bold red words across the closet's metallic surface.

"If I was not here, you intended to drag him into that domain you set up."

Sakura said nothing against the accusation, I could feel her heartbeat slow on my hand.

Wait… this place is under her full control.

Now that I have a servant and a caster at that. I gained the confidence to carry out what I promised Sakura.

Gripping my servant's arm a bit tighter, instantly I tried to reach out to her through our bond. She stopped her glaring match with Sakura. Warm gold eyes met my own, a wave of reassurance and confidence struck me as I conveyed to her what I needed. Instnatly she mentally sent me what I wanted.

Emboldened with the knowldge me to say something I've kept my mouth shut about for days. I tuned with confidence to look at the girl I've looked after since I arrived in this mess.

Her once warm eager eyes were stone cold and distant.

"Sakura, Zouken isn't listening, is he?" My hand in her arms glowed blue faintly, whatever power I obtained from the Eyecon responded to my desire.

Spreading out my senses, Tamamo reluctantly informed me telepathically how to look into someone for a parasite. Yet somehow I felt her snickering at the end.

My surroundings faded from view and I was in an empty void. In front of me was a gigantic pink sphere that was surrounded by various chains and barriers. Then a barrage of emotions overwhelmed me.

The chains moved slightly, then like snakes, they lunged at me. Only for a golden glow to emerge from my back. The familiar presence of my familiar appeared behind me and I was dragged back into reality.

The sight of a slightly frowning Sakura greeted me.

None of what I saw matched anything I read about the Fate series, not even from the other series like Apocrypha, Grand Order, or the other Type-Moon works.

The thought that the world I saw was a reality marble came to mind, but Sakura never developed one in any of the routes. Then... who was in front of me right now.

"Who are you?"

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, the girl before me let out a resigned sigh.

"Senpai you've become really aggressive did the fact that you summoned a vixen that's willing to satiate your primal needs make you this way. Then I should have just pinned you down on a bed a long time ago."

Fighting down the blush and my base desires I made to ask again but she beat me to it.

"Won't you please go back to looking at me like you used to?" A hurt frown settled on her face that made my heart waver. "Not only did you invade my soul, but the look you're giving me also hurts Senpai."

Her words made me waver but after seeing that weird world in her soul, I could not let down my guard.

"Now now. Don't worry. I'm not the last boss you need to defeat to get your happy ending."

There were a lot of things I should have said or done at that suspicious line, mainly pulling my hand away from hers but... from the brief connection we had. There was one emotion that was directed at me that made it incapable for me to see her as an enemy.

Love.

"Allow me to formally reintroduce myself. My designation is Sakura Matou, an A.I program made by the moon cell. My duty is to look over your health throughout the Moon Cell's holy grail tournament."

With a snap of her fingers, holographic screens appeared all around us. It was like something straight-

"Something straight out of a sci-fi anime, right?" A hologram of the moon appeared between us. "As your ever-reliable Kouhai, let me welcome you to the Nasuverse version of the matrix. It's on the moon."

Retracing my steps, I found my way into a familiar hallway. A blue light shone from my inner breast pocket.

Mikon! Just when I was happy that we were finally away from that pesky devil. Why do we have to come here!

Reaching into my coat, I pet the Eyecon containing my servant. It was an oddly heart-warming sight, seeing the eyeball-shaped device cooing under my touch.

Because I promised her, we will meet again, Mi chan.

Retracing my steps, the sight of a familiar hallway greeted me. Despite the fact that the school was full of masters with servants, this place was barren.

They might be all busy setting up their rooms! We should do the same and make our love nest already master. Don't you want to spend some quality time with your sexy and cuddly wife?

Suggestive images appeared in my mind, causing me to waver and stop.

You want to do it don't you my dear-

The images stopped abruptly as a hologram of Sakura appeared by my side.

Stop tempting Senpai, you horny fox.

Tch, your back.

I could not fully comprehend the full extent of how it was possible but according to Sakura who had taken the place of being my girl on the chair, only I can see or hear her. Tamamo by extension because of our bond was able to jump in on our communication.

Regaining my bearing I start a brisk walk towards a familiar door.

Anyway, about the other masters, most of them are in the arena. The image of an Eyecon appeared on the screen. I highly recommend you going to the arena to train after this subplot. Your current opponent is making a lot of progress with his newfound power.

Despite being in an alternative universe, this version of Shinji Matou's powers was similar to his uncle and grandfather. Making and controlling familiars.

The screen displayed the teen laughing as a hoard of flying insects swarmed and drained the energy of an attack program. Within seconds the program dissolved into particles and the insects grew bigger absorbing the data of their prey.

His servant, on the other hand, a red-headed pirate took a swig of her alcohol by his side. Francis Drake, I recognized her instantly. She was one of my most used characters in the game Fate Grand Order.

Fighting her was going to be a pain, a lot of firepower was needed to match her Noble Phantasm. After this, a lengthy conversation with Tamamo is needed. It is embarrassing that I know more about enemy servants' ability than my own.

Thank you for the information about Sakura, it would have been dangerous if we had encountered them in the arena. You're a very dependable Kouhai.

Fufufu, praise me more. Don't be shy and add in "beautiful" next time.

Mogu! Praise me too Goshujin-sama. When we fuse our souls as one it does not matter what enemy we face. We'll immolate them all.

A child's voice spoke up before the two of them got into an argument again.

"You're finally here!"

A weight lifted off my shoulders as I heard that voice. The door in front of me slid open and the smiling face of Alice looked up at me.

Immediately I ran up to her smiling all the way.

"Glad to see you made it safely to this stage."

Reaching out, I pet her hat.

"Umm, now hurry inside. Alice has prepared a Tea party for our reunion."

Alice? When did you start talking in the third person?

I was not expecting to see an identical version of Alice, clad in an identical black version of her dress walking upside down on the room's ceiling.

"We've made a hero-themed party just for you."

"These are nice treats, where did you get them?"

Seated in a red and blue seat decorated with white spider webs, I munched on a jelly-filled donut. While the two girls took delicate sips of tea.

The books I had read to the two had been placed away as we ate.

"Alice baked them."

"You sure are talented."

The black Alice or better yet Nursery Rhyme gave a dainty laugh at the praise. She was an interesting servant, the personification of children's nursery rhymes. Makes me wonder if a servant that is a manifestation of manga, comic or even a Tokusatsu servant be summoned. Meanwhile, my servant beside me was arguing with Sakura.

"-make a far better lunch than anything you can come up with you-"

Offering a donut, the fox-eared woman snapped her head towards me so fast I saw an after image.

"Let's avoid using certain words in front of children. Now here have a bite."

Her eyes lit up with glee and took a nibble. I gave the betrayed look that appeared on Sakura's face an apologetic gaze.

"I'll feed you some cookies I'll bake later."

"Oh, you can bake?"

The white Alice tilted her head in curiosity.

"We should watch the Disney film, Alice in Wonderland one of these days.

Tamamo moved her seat next to mine and my hand automatically found its way to her fluffy fox ears. The fox lived in the moment, forgetting her rivalry with Sakura, appearing to be content with my hand.

I expect to be hand-fed while you hold me Senpai.

Deal, I'll throw in a lap pillow as well.

"Nothing as fancy as the house Hansel and Gretel visited but I can bake simple cookies like chocolate chips."

Praise the internet, YouTube specifically. I might have been eating instant noodles most of my time at university. If it were not for those budget meal videos, instant ramen may be all that I've eaten.

"Wait, now that I think about it, next time I want to try baking together? There's an interesting type of cookie I like to make."

"That sounds like a capital idea, I always wanted to learn how to bake. Maybe we can watch a film while the cookies bake."

A sad smile played on her face for a split moment. If I had blinked, I would have missed it.

The possibiliy of a Tragic backstory has gone up. I might be able to throw away the possibility of her controlling a berserking monster but given how this series goes.

The master turned to her servant who mirrored her cheerful expression.

Wait, can't Nursery Rhyme summon things from stories. Yes I remember that she can summon monsters. I let out a sigh of relief, whatever hurdle came her way. I can count on Nursery Rhyme to protect Alice at least.

"I'm sure my brother here can bring a good film for us to watch." Said servant turned to look my way.

"I'll bring along a selection of films we can pick from." Answering with a smile, I took a moment to savor the moment. The master and servant talked excitedly about how to decorate the room for the next time while my hand pets my self-proclaimed soul mate.

Time sadly waits for no one and on her screen, Sakura pointed at a clock and motioned for me to hurry up. There was much for me to accomplish before the day was over if I had any hope of fulfilling my goals.

"Alice, I have to go soon."

"Aww, already can't you stay longer?"

"No, I can't. The people who I have to face are getting stronger as we speak. I'll come to check up on you again tomorrow."

"Ah, the other players in the game."

"Game?"

"Yes, the moon cell tournament is just one huge game where Alice can meet new people to play with."

This… this is dangerous. 'I cannot have her going through this death battle with that mindset.'

Looking at Alice in the black dress, she gave me a knowing yet resigned smile. The servant had no intention of correcting her master.

Given the age of the girl, I was not sure how I should go about this topic or if I even should. I did not know much of her backstory to say anything without stepping on landmines.

Was she raised to kill and slaughter other masters by her family? Was she just a normal girl with abnormal abilities who somehow made it into the competition?

I need to tackle this from a different angle.

"Alice what is your wish you want to achieve."

"Wish?"

"Yes, everyone who came to fight in the moon cell had a wish they wanted to achieve. They probably have sacrificed a lot and are willing to do anything to achieve it. What is yours?"

"My wish…" The white-haired girl seemed lost in thought. "I…I want to have tea parties, I want to play around, I want to spend more time with you and Alice. I… I just want to live."

The thought that I have to fight this girl to achieve my goal made my blood freeze.

"What about you brother?"

Through our bond, I could feel Tamamo giving me her recurrence. No matter what she would stand by me. It gave me the strength to stare right into Alice's eyes and speak about my childhood dream.

"In order to do that I need power-"

Shirou Emiya, you are not here.

"-the power of the moon cell."

The world may be different from mine and the one I read about but there are people I want to save in it.

"So I want...no I need to win this war."

So as a fan and as someone who wants to realize the same dream as yours.

"Don't worry, I'll make your wish real as well."

Let me take up your mantle.

"After all, if I crushed your wish to win. I would be a pretty horrible superhero."

Author notes: Life took a lot out of me till I found a will and time to write again. Hope you like it.

JD91B: I took a while but I'm happy you liked the story. Sorry it's not dead, I've just been really busy.

Faiz Atiq: Hope you like the update, still ironing things out.

Shogun lord poke burst: Nope the golden entity is from Kamen Rider Ghost, I think you can guess what it is. As for the MC, he's going to be an original rider.