AN: Going to be busy praising that luminescent sun like an immaculate father.


Chapter Two

Full Moon

The smile on Sakura's face was a wondrous thing.

What had once been a dead girl who had accepted there will never be an ounce of happiness in her life had become a doting ball of bliss. Yes, things were still terrible whenever she was forced to stay in the Matou manor for her training. But it was a dull ache she had learned to live with.

Most of her time was spent in the Emiya manor with her beloved sempai.

She was humming a tune when she approached his doorstep, knocked a few times, opened the door with the key he gave her, and stepped inside. She announced her presence and went immediately through the morning routine.

When breakfast was nearing completion, she went down the hall to check to see if her sempai was awake or not. She prayed he wasn't so she could wake him in her own way. Maybe she would brave a morning kiss.

No, she couldn't. It would be too embarrassing!

Granted, they had done more than kiss over the years. But, still, something like that was between lovers. And while she had made love to him repeatedly, it was a part of her training as a Matou Magus. Shirou, as dense as he is kind, could never understand her feelings.

He wouldn't understand anything unless she told him straightforward. But she could never have the fortitude to confess to him. She couldn't find it in herself to tell him how much she loved him.

It had nothing to do with embarrassment or the fear of him rejecting her. She knew he would accept her without hesitation. After all, he had given her a key and a permanent room to stay whenever she wanted. If she hadn't convinced him otherwise, he would have opposed Grandfather and forced her to move into his house.

She couldn't confess because she believed she didn't deserve him.

As much as joy as he brought to her, she knew it was nothing more than a fairy tale. Sooner or later the dream will come to an end and she will be forced to return to reality.

Such as now. Her Grandfather had demanded her to summon a Servant for the Grail War.

"Sempai…?" she called out with a few knocks on his door.

"I'm up, I'm up," she heard him grumble and make a few steps towards the door. He opened it shortly after. He was dressed but there were a few ruffles in his uniform. And his hair was a mess. He gave a yawn before giving her a soft smile and a good morning greeting.

She was fuming. She had wanted to wake him up. Alas.

"Sempai," she pouted anyways, "were you up late last night again?"

"Eh… Sorry?" he offered while that soft smile turned sheepish. He scratched at the back of his head. "I'm almost done fixing something for Issei. At least I didn't sleep in the tool shed this time…"

Sakura didn't say anything to that as she stepped forward and straightened his outfit. "You should take care of yourself better. Taiga will scold you again if she thinks you're being irresponsible."

"…I didn't sleep in the shed," he repeated with a mumble.

Her fingers folded the edge of his collar… but it lingered there. She hadn't realized how close she was to him. She could almost smell him.

"Sakura…?" he blinked at her. "Is something wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Her heart swayed when she looked up at those golden orbs of his. His eyes were always so gentle whenever he talked to her. So open and friendly. He worried about her and was becoming flustered when she didn't respond. She could see him trying to find some fault he made that made her this way.

That's why it hurt so much more to her. He didn't deserve her. She was spoiled, rotten goods. Had it not been by Grandfather's orders she would have ended this relationship. No matter how much she wanted to throw her arms around him and kiss him and say his name and breathe in his presence… she couldn't.

"No, it's nothing," she said with a smile and stepped away.

His eyes lingered on her for a moment. His lips curled into a small skeptical frown. But he didn't say anything further.

"Shirou~" roared the loud voice of Taiga from the entrance hallway. "I'm hungry!"

"I didn't make breakfast!" Shirou gasped while his entire complexion turned ghastly pale. A shiny glean of sweat appeared on his brow.

Her smile grew as she assured him. "Don't worry. I decided to make it today since you weren't in the kitchen earlier."

He sagged in relief and disappointment at the same time. "But it was my day today… I guess that's what I get for oversleeping…"

"Shirou~" called out Taiga again. His legal guardian was almost skipping down the hallway. Her eyes shone as she spotted the two of them. "Hoh…? Sakura-chan, thank you for waking up this bumbling fool. You already have my blessings so make sure to make a man out of Shirou."

"F-F-F-Fujimura-sensei!" Sakura's face lit up. She could feel her entire head burn.

Even Shirou blushed. But he also scowled at Taiga. "Fuji-nee… it's not polite to tease Sakura like that. And I was already awake. Besides, do you really think— is something burning?"

Sakura shrieked and ran down the hall. She must have forgotten to turn off one of the burners! She was sure she turned them all off when she left the kitchen!

But, sadly, yes, she didn't turn off one of them. The knob was almost off but not all the way. It was salvageable still if she stirred the pot and added a few more spices to hide the burnt texture.

"You know, now that I look at it," Taiga said after entering and taking her usual spot at the table right next to the kitchen. "You two might as well already be married. You already make the perfect housewife, Sakura-chan."

Sakura's face burned again.

"Fuji-nee, stop teasing her—"

He had gone to chop her head with his hand. But Fujimura Taiga, the master kendo practitioner and kendo team instructor, had been too fast for him. She swerved out of his reach, grabbed the rolled up newspaper, and smacked him upside the head instead.

"You're years too early to try anything like that, Shirou," she scolded him. "And don't think to take that tone with me. I'm still your guardian and you're my ward. You need to show respect for your elders."

"Says the woman who freeloads off of—"

"What was that?!"

"N-Nothing…" he shirked away and took his own seat at the table.

"Breakfast is ready," Sakura called out.

At that instance, Shirou stood up, not bothered in the slightest even when he just sat down, and went to assist her in serving the food. Twice their hands brushed against the other and she couldn't help but blush. She loved it when they made contact. Even little things like this.

It was a selfish indulgence on her part when she sat beside him at the table. Taiga gave her the usual Cheshire grin while Shirou stared confusedly at Taiga for it. He only shrugged.

"Itadakimasu," they all shared and began their breakfast.

"Oh yeah, Shirou," Taiga began with mouthfuls of food. "Did you know they found out what caused that plane crash?"

"Fuji-nee, please finish your food before saying something," he berated her. "It's getting everywhere. And no, I didn't. What did they say happened?"

A few days prior, there had been an accident. A private jet had crashed into the lake under the Fuyuki Bridge. The only casualties listed were those who were within the vehicle. There was no collateral damage.

"They're saying it was some sort of explosion," Taiga ignored him and went on. "One of the engines gave out or something like that. Made it combust and blew one of its wings out. The whole thing just fell straight out of the sky after that."

"One of the engines…?" he asked with an almost amazed tone. Sakura had noticed the shift in his voice. "The wing? I thought there was a large hole in the main compartment."

Sakura chanced a glimpse at him. While most of his face was scrunched with mild confusion mixed in with curiosity, his eyes were sharp and almost glaring at Taiga. She couldn't understand if he was upset about something nor could guess why if he was.

"That was just a rumor," Taiga waved it off with a smile that suggested she knew more than the average person. "Kinda like how everyone's saying it was shot down by a missile. But, come on Shirou. I think someone would have spotted someone on top of Fuyuki Bridge fire a rocket at a plane. I mean, is that even possible? Something like that is only in movies."

"…Huh," he said quietly. "Did they retrieve the bodies and find out who died?"

"I think they did?" she questioned more than answered. "I can't remember. It was all over the news so they'll probably say it again later tonight if you wanna watch. But hey, weren't you supposed to be on your way to Copenhagen around that time? Didn't you see anything going on?"

"I didn't hear about it crash until after my shift," he supplied. "I must have missed it. I saw the remains on my way home, though."

Sakura kept quiet. She didn't want to leave any comments about it and pretended to be engrossed in her meal. She had a feeling as to what really happened. It was highly likely a Servant had used its Noble Phantasm to shoot down the private jet. There must have been another Master on the jet.

She didn't want to say anything because she knew how Shirou got. If he learned someone might have done something to the plane then he would investigate personally. He was the local janitor, after all. He favored cleaning up everyone's messes, including cleaning up the neighborhood. He got into a lot of fights with small gangs over the years.

She didn't want him involved with something beyond a few thugs. If he went looking for trouble, he would find more than he could handle. A Magus was over what he could deal with. A Servant was out of the question.

…Perhaps she should have kept Rider after all instead of handing her over to Shinji. She could have used Rider to protect Shirou from other Servants.

0-0-0

"Welcome back, Shirou," Caster greeted as soon as she made sure he was the only one to return home.

It had been a few days since she decided to stay with Shirou. His home was spacious, lonesome even. It was rather vast for a single young man to live on his own. But almost every day that Sakura girl would come home with him. She stayed the night once when that Taiga lady (the word lady being used loosely) couldn't make it for dinner.

Caster was intrigued to learn her Master (yet another word used loosely) had a lover. She did not think the concept of love was something he understood. And perhaps he didn't. Other than lay with her, he treated Sakura exactly as he would with anyone else.

It was such a shame to the girl. She was deeply infatuated with him.

In the meantime, Caster was rarely idle. She was constantly at work setting the foundation of a fortress with her magecraft. While the Bounded Field placed around the estate was impressive, it was no better than a mundane alarm system. Caster sought to leave a few more detection charms, wards against those with malevolent intent, and veils for magic resistance.

In a few more days she could lay a few traps.

"Hello Caster," Shirou greeted with a friendly smile after she materialized. "Are you hungry? I don't work today so I can make you dinner if you'd like."

It was her cue to say spirits like her do not need sustenance. All the prana she needed came from the severed hand she had preserved in a series of magic containers. But the offer of his cooking was a different matter.

"I would be more than delighted and accept your kindness," she said while trying her best to not sound like a drooling mess. "Does this mean no one else will join us? You must remember I suggested it would be best if none else know about my existence."

He tilted his head while kicking off his shoes at the entrance. "Today it would be just me. Taiga is having dinner with Raiga-jii and Sakura said she'll be at her house for a few days. But… tonight is a full moon. That one's going to show up at any moment. I think it'll be fine if she sees you."

Ah yes. This mystery woman he has been mentioning for the past few days. Caster was curious to finally meet the one her Master has been riled up about. He had never given a name nor shared any deeper details.

It was much the same regarding the informant. Shirou also didn't name him.

"I promise to be on my best behavior," she responded while taking a seat at the table while he went into the kitchen. "But may I know more about this guest, Shirou? Is there anything I should prepare myself for?"

With arms full of produce, he tilted his head once more and looked at the ceiling. "Just… don't look at her in the eyes. She doesn't mind if you do but will feel challenged if you do it for too long. It's best if you look around her."

It wasn't the answer she was hoping for. She had wished to know more in order to curb her curiosity. But, she could wait until later tonight. It's not like it was something that was killing her.

Speaking of which…

"Shirou, I feel I must remind you about the War," she called out to him. "I believe we should discuss our plan of action."

She had told him as much as she could about it. There were seven Masters who were in a pact with seven legendary heroes called Servants. She told him about the seven classes of each Servant. And she told him about how they were to battle another until one Servant and Master pair remained to obtain the Holy Grail and to receive one wish each.

She had no qualms about telling him her real name. But she preferred to still be called Caster on the chance someone heard him say her real name. Otherwise they could strategize around her.

"I suppose we should," he muttered from the stove. "I really don't care all that much about the War itself… But I've been told its part of why so many people are going to die. It's my job to step in and make it stop. If people weren't going to die, I wouldn't mind participating."

"Then does that mean you will not assist me?"

He was quiet as he thought it over. "No, I don't think it should. I can help you if you need it. But that really just depends. Caster, what do you wish for?"

She didn't answer right away. It was a rather personal question. But he wasn't the sort she could have kept a secret from. Despite their relationship, she was still at the hands of his mercy. If he found her a threat then he will remove her just as he killed her previous Master.

She couldn't lie to him. His analytical skills of the human psyche were too sharp. He'd be able to tell just by the sound of her voice or choice of words.

Therefore…

"I wish to go home," she answered truthfully. She felt cheated at having to confess something so intimate. But it was another thing she was willing to sacrifice in order to survive. She was determined to win this War no matter what.

His eyes were upon her. There was no expression on him as he put all of his attention on reading her.

Eventually he looked away and went back to his cooking. "Okay. I'll help you if I can. However, my priority is to the people. I will act accordingly if their lives are in danger. Do you understand?"

Her answer was sharp and crisp, "Shirou, I have no intentions of making you my enemy."

His eyes studied her once more. After finding what he was searching for, he nodded again. "All right. Let's talk about this later tonight after dinner. Ah, do you mind turning on the television for me? I want to see if there's a report on the crash."

With a wave of her hand, the television remote control flew into her grip. It had been an awkward first experience trying to comprehend the strange device. While the Grail told her all about it and media, it was an entirely different experience handling it in person. But after a few trials and errors, she was comfortable enough to handle technology like this.

She turned to the local news station and stared at the luminous screen. She wished some of the scrying spells were as clear as the pixelated images flashing across the room.

There wasn't much displayed. A few petty scandals, some riot in another town, more sightings of that new Red Blur phenomenon, the anniversary of some local bakery, and other trivial matters that didn't mean much to Caster. It wasn't until Shirou started to serve their food did the report he had been anticipating show up.

"An engine malfunction?" he sounded cross by the report. "I didn't hit the engine at all. I was aiming at you, Caster. I know Gungir struck straight through the cabin. I wonder why they're not sharing that detail."

"Shirou, are you not aware of the proctor of the War?" she questioned while trying to nab a roll on the table. He smacked her hand away as he was setting everything down. "He is the mediator who makes sure the Holy Grail War remains a secret. It's possible he manipulated the media into covering any chance of sabotage. He might think it's a product of the War since it was my previous Master who was onboard."

"Itadakimasu," he said as soon as he sat down. Now she had permission to eat. "I guess that makes sense. You didn't tell me about that, by the way. Do you happen to know who or where he is? I'd like to talk to him. It'll make my job that much easier."

"…I do not know," she said slowly. She piled her plate high of all sorts of goodies while she talked. "My previous Master would have. I was not permitted to know nor does the Grail grant me this. Before I forget, Shirou, but what exactly is your position here? Are you the guardian spirit or something of the sort for the city?"

"Something of the sort," he said before stuffing his mouth with some rice.

She wished he would open up to her just as she would. It would have been fair.

But she didn't voice this complaint. He was her Master (regardless of what he claimed) and still the dominant force. If he didn't want to tell her then there was nothing she could do to make him. She also didn't want to prod at him on the chance it might irritate him.

She chose instead to focus on her meal. She had no idea what it was.

But by the gods it was better than making love!

No wonder that Sakura girl fell in love with this oaf.

0-0-0

"Such a feast…" Caster looked over his shoulder while he worked. "Is this all for that guest you mentioned?"

After dinner and after their discussion for the War, Shirou returned to the kitchen not to clean his previous mess. He instead went to work in preparing another meal. Or meals, plural. Every stove was lit and the oven was burning hot as he worked his own unique sorcery. He moved around ferociously, attending to everything with precision work.

"Well, I was just told I was going to have more guests than I planned," he answered without emotion. He was too deep in focus to put up his usual mask. "I decided to make everything just in case. Better safe than sorry. Any leftovers can be used for breakfast tomorrow."

He was just told? The phone did not ring nor had any of her sensory charms gone off. There was no magic in play.

…Maybe Shirou was ill in the head?

"She'll be here soon," he said suddenly. He lifted his head in thought. "I think. She entered the city a while ago. I wonder what's keeping her… Hopefully she didn't get lost again…"

"Shirou…? Where are you getting this information?"

He only offered her an apologetic smile before going back to work.

All the electronics went out as the mystic alarm had gone off. Someone had just crossed through Caster's barrier. Someone with violent intent. Someone competent enough to get around her magic wards.

Shirou scowled deeply and threw his handkerchief to the counter. Grumbling, he turned off the stove and walked out of the kitchen.

"Couldn't tell me others were going to show up?" she heard him under his breath as he marched out of the room and down the hall. "Yeah she's the biggest threat but that doesn't mean you couldn't warn me about this surprise. She's especially going to be a threat now that dinner is ruined!"

She followed him closely as he put on his shoes and threw open the door. A deep scowl scrunched his face as he stepped out and entered the yard.

There was a pair walking into across the pathway. A man and a woman. The woman was at the front, dressed in a maroon business suit.

Behind her at half a pace was the man. Tall and lean with useful muscle honed by combat. He wore a deep blue leather outfit with iron pauldrons. In his hands was a crimson spear longer than he was tall.

Caster immediately recognized the two for what they were. They were a pair of Master and Servant.

"Can I help you?" Shirou barked.

"Are you Shirou Emiya?" questioned the woman with a thick accent.

Shirou studied her while rubbing his hands against his apron. "Yes. Who are you?"

"This is the guy you were talking about?" the Servant sounded disappointed while he tapped his spear against his shoulder. "I don't know… I think that story was exaggerated. He's just a kid. Doesn't have the warrior spirit or nothing. I think someone's pulled your leg, Master."

The woman scowled at him but didn't retort. She instead returned to Shirou. "I am Bazett Fraga McRemitz. I am an Enforcer of the Magic Association. Do you recall a man by the name of Kaname Shisharo?"

Shirou's brows shot up, "Shisharo-san? Yeah, I remember him. Is that what this is about? Are you here to take revenge for him?"

"No, but I have been sent here to retrieve you," she answered. But her eyes flickered towards Caster. "But this complicates things. You are a Master of the Holy Grail War as well. I don't think I'll be able to take you without force."

"Um… then what does this have to do with Shisharo-san?" Shirou scratched his cheek next.

"Word on the street was you killed him," answered the Servant with a crooked grin. "If half the stories I heard about him are true, then that'd make you one crazy bastard to finish him. You'd give my Master here a lotta trouble."

Shirou's eyes met Caster's for a brief moment. He went back to the duo, "You weren't sent here by the Archibald family by chance, were you? Look, I really don't get what's going on but I don't remember doing anything to them."

"I am not here by the Archibald family," Bazett shook her head. "I have been ordered by the Magic Association to retrieve you for questioning. They would like to know what really happened to Shisharo."

"He wasn't using his sword right so I showed him how to do it," was Shirou's answer as if it were the most obvious thing on the planet. "Kinda like that thing you have in that canister. It's crudely made. And that spear… It's junk. You're not using that right."

Bazett blanched. Her shoulders stiffened for a moment before she spread her legs out and raised her fists. She was ready for a fight now that Shirou called her out on it.

"Hah…" the Servant twirled his spear around before getting into a stance himself. "I kinda liked you kid. But now you pissed me off. Shouldn't have said anything about—"

"This is how you use it."

Caster received a firsthand experience as to what would happen should she ever make Shirou her enemy.

He raised one arm at eyelevel. At the back of his knuckles appeared a silver wisp. It shimmered like diamond dust and morphed around like quicksilver. In less than a second it became a sword without a guard. Its blade was narrow like a stinger while its hilt was spiraled to be able to twirl around the fingers.

He wasn't the only one to have move. Bazett uncapped the canister strapped to her back. Something silver flowed out. But that was all Caster saw.

A gaping hole appeared in her chest. And then the sword Shirou had created was found impaled through the wound.

"BAZETT!" bellowed the Servant as he tried to catch his Master.

He froze in place with eyes wide as something he couldn't understand swept through the field. Absolute malevolence and lust for destruction consumed the place. The world was bathed in red as the prana in the air sang a song of death.

The next instrument in Shirou's hand was a hand-and-a-half sword with a barbed blade. This was the weapon that resonated the desire to kill. It wanted to devour blood and let life claw in desperation.

The blade did not soar out of his hand like it had with the silver one. Blood splattered from the Servant's chest with the blade materializing within.

"You…" growled the Servant. He should have been dead much like his Master. But still he stood, defiant, ready to fight to his last breath. He must have the Battle Continuation Skill, and one with a high parameter. "What the fuck are you? That was… This was the fang from my teacher…"

Shirou wasn't paying him any attention. His attention was locked on the back of his hand. He blinked a few times and moved it over his shoulder for Caster to see. An unspoken question was written in his eyes.

More Command Seals had sprouted on his hand. But Caster could still sense the connection she had with the severed limb hidden in his 'workshop'. It still fueled her with prana. This was something else entirely. Shirou had been chosen by the Grail this time to compete as a Master.

"Don't ignore me!" bellowed the Servant. He pulled the weapon out of his chest and raised his staff. He was panting as he was losing the energy to remain in this world. But with his dying breath would he assault Shirou.

Caster wasn't sure whether she should assist her Master or not. On one hand, he was more than capable of handling himself. On the other, she didn't have the credentials to fight what she could assume to be Lancer, one of the knight-class Servants. Even dying like this, she knew next to nothing about him. He could pull something unexpected.

Better safe than sorry, as her Master had said earlier. She chose to stay behind Shirou and see things through.

Something unexpected happen. But it hadn't come from Lancer(?) like she had predicted.

A powerful gust blew out the door to the toolshed that was her Master's workshop— which was such a silly thing to call it since he wasn't a practitioner of thaumaturgy but was adamant about calling it that. A blur of silver and blur shot out of the shed and collided with Lancer.

The spearman raised his weapon just in time for the tiny figure to slam into him. Bleeding and at the edge of his life, he fumbled around in his steps.

It was a tiny thing, to be sure. A petite woman in a blue dress and donned with silver plating was swinging around an invisible sword. Her strikes were fierce and powerful as each swing delivered a shockwave that shook the ground.

A deep gash cut into Lancer as his defense fell. He stumbled back to gain distance and to attempt regain his footing.

"Fuck…" he swore. "Two Servants? The fuck is going on?"

"Retreat," commanded the petite knight. "I will not strike down a wounded warrior, even if you are an enemy Servant."

"Heh…" Lancer gave a feral grin. It mixed in with grief. "Barely two days since I was summoned and already shit's gone bad. Didn't even get to nail my Master. She was kinda cute…"

"Shirou…" whispered Caster as an idea came to her. She pulled out her Rule Breaker and nodded her head towards Lancer.

Shirou scratched his cheek while he thought for a moment. He shrugged and conjured his own version of Rule Breaker. It was a beautiful blade that outranked hers by a large margin. For one, it was a straight blade rather than the jagged crystalline. And it glowed with the energies of the cosmos and colors not meant for the eyes of mortals.

With a flick of his wrist, Shirou casually launched it across the field and straight into Lancer's head. The Servant's head buckled sideways before he fell to the floor. In a matter of seconds he became dust as his body vanished.

"That's not what I was implying!" Caster spun on him. "Shirou! With your reserves we could have had Lancer under your command!"

Shirou blinked at her. "Lancer? Caster, did you know that guy?"

"He had a spear," she said while rubbing her head. Of course that was what concerned him. "I'm only assuming he was the Servant Lancer. Why… Why did you kill him?"

"I must concur," stated the other Servant. She turned sharply on her heels with her eyes narrowed. She walked briskly with square shoulders and her head held high. "That was a most dishonorable tactic. He hadn't the strength to continue."

Her eyes flashed towards Caster. Her expression was unreadable as she took in the presence of another Servant. But whatever went through her mind couldn't be guessed. She dismissed Caster for another time and returned to Shirou.

Shirou, meanwhile, had his head bowed with his fingers curled under his chin. His brows were furrowed in thought. "You're upset. I did something that upset you? I'm sorry that I did. If you're angry that I killed him, I had a reason."

"He invaded first," Caster defended.

"What? No," Shirou looked at her with a more blunt glare. "That I wouldn't have minded. That happens all the time. I'm more upset he ruined dinner. I need to get to the circuit board and turn everything back on. I have to finish cooking before she shows up. Can I ask you to clean up this mess? I'd appreciate it."

"…Happens all the time?" Caster repeated. "What sort of life… No, I'd rather not know. Yes, I will see to it the body is given a proper burial. I'll make it so she was never here in the first place."

"Please do," he turned and bowed to her. "I don't want to think what might happen if Fuji-nee started asking questions."

"Hold!" called the petite knight. "Are you the one who summoned me? Are you my Master? I have questions for you. Such as how and why another Servant is present…"

"Oh yeah huh…" Shirou looked at her with a clueless expression. He raised his hand and eyed the new set of Command Seals. "I guess I am? Did you just come out of my workshop? How in the world did that happen? I'm not a Magus so I can't figure… Ah, another time. I need to finish making dinner. Are you hungry? I'm preparing extra. You're probably the additional guest I was told about."

Caster eyed him. There was no way his comment earlier was accurate. Maybe he wasn't insane after all in hearing a voice in his head? Maybe her Master had precognitive abilities?

"Which Servant are you?" he asked suddenly.

"Servant Saber," she answered immediately. "Master, it is imperative we discuss our conditions for the War as soon as possible. I am also concerned over…"

She eyed Caster.

"Shirou," he corrected with the same tone he used with Caster on the first day. "Call me Shirou. I don't really want to be called Master or anything like that."

"…Shirou," she repeated and nodded once. "Very well then. Yes. I do like the sound of that better. I shall comply with such."

"Sure thing," he said while patting his hands on his apron. "Come inside. I'll make you something and we can talk as soon as—"

He stopped immediately with his eyes snapping towards the front gate. All expression washed away from him.

"Caster, Saber," he spoke in a low and dangerous voice. "Get inside. She's here."

Oh. Well. The mystery woman arrives and it puts her Master on edge. If the likes of a Servant hadn't done that… what sort of abomination could do that?

Saber's head was peering towards the gate as well. Her body posture shifted as the grip on her invisible weapon tightened. "There's another Servant. Shirou, stay here while I dispatch them. Unti I learn of our situation, please stay here, Caster."

"Wait!" Shirou called out to stop her.

But she bolted. A burst of prana shot out of her feet as she all but flickered across the field like a blur. She was out of the gate in the blink of an eye.

And her Master had moved just as fast after her.

0-0-0

Tohsaka Rin was not having the best week. First, that annoying priest kept badgering her about fulfilling her duty as the Tohsaka heir and summoning a Servant. She always had the intentions of doing so but found it annoying at being reminded on a daily basis.

Second, when summoning said Servant, she made a mistake. She had missed the time in which her magic was at her strongest by an hour. Her calculations had been off and she fumbled in her casting. The end result was to have her summon Servant Archer instead of her desired Saber. It didn't matter if he was one of the three knight-class Servants.

…It also didn't help that he popped up above her house and crashed through the roof. Nor that he couldn't remember anything about himself due to her fuck up.

By all means, Archer was still an amazing Servant. He was strong willed and viewed everything with an analytical professionalism (read: cynicism). This included towards her when they first met. She had to earn his trust and respect in order to fulfill his duty as her Servant. In the end she won and was able to take him out on something of a test-run.

They hopped through the rooftops of New Fuyuki's business district in order to pinpoint ideal locations of battle and for Archer to get a familiar layout of the land. She was more so amazed he was able to count how many bolts were on Fuyuki Bridge when they stood on top of a skyscraper several miles away. But that was due to his Clairvoyance ability.

The Archer class is really comprised of archers. Who'da thunk?

Now, the third reason why her week had been unfavorable would have to be because, oh, it was boring!

She had been prepared her entire life for this death match against Magi of her caliber and, begrudgingly, her betters. Her heart was booming every night with anticipation when she went on patrols with Archer. But nooooooo. There wasn't a single Servant in sight!

Three days wasted. Where the hell was everybody?!

"They're probably hiding," Archer commented. "Most of the time spent in war is preparation. Only a small margin of that is actual combat. We're probably the only ones out and about looking for trouble."

He had a point. They needed to find someone quick before their preparations could be complete. Strike while the iron is hot, she thought. Or, rather, to better say, hit them while their pants were down. If they could take them by surprise this early on in the War then the advantage was in their favor

It really didn't amount to much when her nightly patrols couldn't find anything.

However… Something did manage to catch her eye one school morning. When she stepped through the gates, she felt like she had just crossed through a layer of barbed wires that didn't want to let go of her. The air was suffocating with malevolent energies.

It took most of her training to not flinch. The only reaction that came from the perfect Tohsaka Rin was a slight widening of her eyes.

Someone had begun to set up a Bounded Field in the school. An extremely vicious one at that. It was a trap that was still in the midst of being prepared. But once it was and the weaver was finished, the amount of damage it could bring could kill everyone in the school.

Something of this magnitude being crafted so quickly… it could only be the workings of a Servant. A Caster, she leaned towards but thought differently. This almost felt sloppy and it made her, as a Magus, crinkle her nose (mentally anyways; she wouldn't dare do it in public). She couldn't imagine what a Heroic Spirit famed for their works in spellcraft would think about this.

Either way one of the students or faculty members was a Master.

Rin went through the charade of the perfect student for the remainder of the day. She smiled at her friends, offered advice to those who requested it, answered the teachers' questions, and chatted away about the latest gossip of rumors. She was the ideal teenage student.

But, while she went through these movements as easily as she breathed, her mind was racking up a strategy. She needed a plan of action for when she brought Archer with her to the school later tonight to investigate the scene.

0-0-0

"Tomorrow's a full moon," Archer commented suddenly.

She looked up at him from his spectral state. "What about it? Does it mean something to you?"

He was silent for a moment. "It's nothing. I thought it might mean something to you, Master."

She didn't know what he was trying to imply with that lie. She had a feeling he remembered something about himself but wasn't willing to share. Or, just maybe, it really was nothing. Maybe just a spark of a memory but not enough to define it. Maybe he had an impulse to check the phase of the moon as it was a part of his history but not enough memory to answer the why.

There was no point fretting over it. She let it go and crossed through the Bounded Field of her school. She had Archer help her hop over the gate while he leapt over it on his own in a single bound.

It was entirely indignant when the drop had her landing on her knees. She should have instructed him to carry her over instead. She'd been in his arms the entire time when they were parkouring across rooftops. A simple school wall shouldn't have been any different.

She stood quickly and brushed off the dirt with the dignifying posture of a Tohsaka. She didn't stumble. Ridiculous. It never happened.

"What are we looking for?" Archer asked with his business tone.

…But he still had that smirk. He wasn't even trying to hide it.

"The Bounded Field placed around here is incomplete," she answered immediately… looking straight ahead to hide her blush. "It only makes sense they would be building it while no one's around. No distractions. If they're not here then we can at least investigate freely. I might be able to figure out how to tear it down."

Having that said… she wasn't sure what to be looking for. Had it been a normal Magus then she would have an inkling suspicion. But this was a Servant with secondary magic abilities. Not only would they have an archaic way of thinking because of coming from a different age, but they would also have an obscure method of procedure because magic wasn't their forte.

The fundamentals should still be the same. The first was to set up a shop by making an anchor— the motherboard that ran most of the magic. And after that would be to set up smaller anchors that would channel that power around the field.

Worst case, she could at least slow their process until she either found the Master-Servant pair or figured out how to tear down this barrier.

"I don't think that'll be necessary," Archer said as he took a few paces forward and stepped in front of her.

There was the sound of rushing wind as a black blur came from the school rooftops. In a single leap did this creature jump from five stories and landed as gracefully as a cat to the quad. Her body was sprawled on all four limbs.

Without a doubt this was a Servant. Her body was tall and slender. She was dressed in a black dress with a short skirt that showed off her legs. Her hair was longer than she was tall and across her face was a metal blindfold. Yet, Rin could feel the eyes hidden within stare at them both.

She said nothing as she came at them in a single leap. With a twirl of her hand, she launched something at them with blinding speed.

Archer swung his arm around and deflected what it was— a large nail attached to a chain— with equally blinding speed. In his hand was a black dao lined with scarlet graphs.

A sword? Archer was using a sword? And a Chinese weapon at that? In no way shape or form was he remotely Chinese with his bone structure, that face, and his choice of attire.

Then again… Rin had next to no idea where to guess on what side of the planet he originated from.

"I'm not much of a fan of pushy women," Archer snided as he slapped away another thrown nail. "I get enough dealing with my Master."

…Rin chose to not comment.

The Servant came at him at close range this time. Her body was like the wind as she leapt around left and right, almost dancing as she twirled around to confuse Archer at how she was to approach him. He only stood his guard and waited for her to come.

She spun and brought her leg up for a kick. Archer ducked and brought his sword around to swipe at her while she was open. His attack was deflected by the chain— it wrapped around his weapon.

A powerful tug from the Servant had it pried out of his grip. The battle continued without pause as she kept her momentum, spun once more, and brought her leg around for another kick.

Blood splattered across the floor as Archer raised his other hand. A white dao appeared in his grip and slashed cleanly through her thigh. But, the Servant had anticipated this and had shifted her balance at the last second. The cut had only gotten so deep. Enough to hinder a normal human but nowhere near enough to stop the likes of a Servant.

"Tch," Archer gritted his teeth as he went through another series of swings.

The Servant began to backpedal to gain distance while flailing her chain and nail around.

Sparks lit up the night as Archer swung both his arms around. The black dao blade he had lost was back in his hand. Rin realized quickly they were a matching set.

Archer shifted in his stance. He tucked his body low while sliding both blades across of him close to his chest. His legs were spread, ready to kick off the ground in reaction to whatever the Servant sent next.

She didn't engage. Her head dipped slightly as though confused with his actions. Perhaps she sensed something.

She instead took a single step back and raised her weapon.

"Well if you won't come to me then…"

Archer threw his white sword at the Servant, who deflected it quickly up into the air. He rushed at her with his black sword raised for a strike. She danced around him, twisting her body in an elegant spin and back bending like a ribbon. She twirled, bringing both chain and nail around to swipe at him, to which he anticipated and deflected.

She brought it around again like a whip. He deflected it further, countered, tried to get into her defense. But she kept moving, hardly ever staying on two feet with the way she hopped around him. She was outmaneuvering him with her superior agility but just as much she couldn't get through his defense. It was as though he always knew where she was going to strike.

There was a whistle in the air. The enemy Servant didn't show any surprise as she slithered away from Archer. She had effortlessly dodged the white blade that had been deflected seconds ago. It had come back with the speed of a bullet. Had she been any slower then she would have been skinned. Instead, the white dao slid into the ground.

Archer picked it up and went back through his stance for another engagement.

Something caught both their attentions before they continued. Both of them looked towards the east.

At first, Rin didn't see anything. But as she looked where they were peering at… she felt something. Something that wasn't of magical nature. Yet it was potent enough to afflict her most primal instincts.

It made her heart race with sweat starting to clam her palms. It was as though she had walked through this retched Bounded Field for the first time… a hundred fold.

She wanted to scream and flee. But, the more rational part of her, the intellectual curiosity side of her that made her as a Magus, wanted to see what this thing was.

She came out of the wind. It was just a swirl of leaves and petals from the trees and flowers decorating the school yard. They danced around the quad while gradually growing closer to the group. And then a body began to take shape.

It was a woman. She was covered in dirt with matted hair and stained skin as if she had been living her entire life out in the wilderness. But she walked with the grace of a dancer— no, more like with the steps of one who knew they could walk on water.

Her eyes, the color of moonlight, shone with a primeval intellect.

Just looking at those eyes alone could tell so many stories. But, for one, there was without a doubt this woman was not human. She lacked the one thing that could never make her human. The soul, perhaps? Or was it something deeper than that? Rin didn't know.

The only fault with this woman would be her attire. She wore a yellow and blue striped dress that was shredded and just as filthy. She also wore it as if it were the most uncomfortable thing in existence. It showed with the way her hands kept tugging at the hem.

Those moonlit eyes of hers flickered towards them. Instantly, they landed on Archer's.

Whatever he saw in those eyes made his face pale. His blades vanished as he dismissed him, turned his back to the enemy Servant, and rush towards Rin. Panic was in his face. He needed to get them out of there.

Rin did not blink. But she might have with how the woman suddenly appeared to stop Archer. She was there behind him, one hand reached out and grabbing on to the back of his neck. As though he were weightless, she pulled him close to her.

Rin wasn't sure whether she should use a Command Seal to force Archer to vanish. Yes, she could. But then she would be left alone without protection against this creature.

The woman turned her head over her shoulder. Those eyes peered up, following the enemy Servant who climbed up the school walls in fleeing. In a few seconds, she was gone, and the woman paid her no mind.

"Ahhhhhh," said the woman, who turned back to Archer. Her face was expressionless as she opened her mouth wide.

Meanwhile, Archer was squirming in her inhuman grip. His hands clutched around her arm as she was squeezing him hard enough to have his face contort in pain.

The woman recognized this and decided to let him go. Archer immediately leapt back but never looked away from her. His hands were spread and body was tucked low, ready to defend himself if needed.

"Ahhhhhh," repeated the woman, this time pointing one finger to her mouth.

"…I think she's hungry," Rin said.

"Ahhhhh!" the woman said with a bit of excitement. Apparently Rin had guessed right.

And, hopefully, this woman doesn't eat teenage Magi.

"Well we better find something and fast," Archer said tensely. "I don't know what she is. But, Rin, you can feel it, can't you?"

Definitely. Rin could definitely feel something from this woman. Of course, calling this thing a woman was a flat-out lie and a half. There's no way whatever this monster could be human.

Her presence alone made two Servants want to flee. Hell, her presence alone made Rin want to hide and pray she would go away. It was taking all of her mental training to not do just that.

That… and if they lived through this Archer would tease her about it until the end of the War.

"But why come to us?" Rin couldn't help but question. "If she's hungry she could go attack some helpless person walking down the street. Hey, Archer, do you think this is that person who's been bleeding people dry lately?"

Rin pretended to not think she was today's helpless person.

"Ahhhhhh!" the woman said once more, her brows furrowed with impatience. She approached Archer with steady steps; it made him tense and summon his twin blades again. The woman paid them no mind as she reached up to him…

…And just tugged on the edge of his coat.

"…It seems like she knows you," Rin commented. "Think maybe she's some Dead Apostle Ancestor who knew you in the past?"

"Doesn't feel like it…" Archer said while slowly lowering his arms. His eyes never looked away from the woman however. "But I can't rule that out. Besides, something like that would have just taken my blood. It's not like I could have opposed her…"

Yeah, no kidding. The skin on his neck was starting to bruise.

Frustrated no progress was being made, the woman turned and pointed at one nearby tree.

A bolt of lightning cascaded down from the open sky and struck the tree. Instantly it ignited.

"Ahhhhhh!" said the woman while tugging on Archer and pointing at the burning tree.

That was… That was either a Marble Phantasm or an Authority. This was no Phantasmal Beast masquerading in a human body. This wasn't even a Dead Apostle Ancestor. This could be something created through the Will of Gaia directly or a Divine Spirit in flesh.

Either way, this was beyond Rin's job description.

Archer wasn't taking it any lighter. He paled as he came to some conclusion on his own. His eyes flickered to the woman, the hand latched onto his coat, to the finger pointing outwards, and then to the burning tree.

"She means to eat me after all!" he concluded. "She wants to cook me!"

"Ahhhh!" the woman brightened at the trigger-word 'cook'.

"Rin…" Archer gulped as his handling on his weapons shifted. "As soon as I grab you, use a Command Seal to get us out of here. Start walking towards me slowly."

Rin nodded once and began to do just that. She took the tiniest steps though. It was almost as if she wasn't moving at all. Her body creaked with how much effort she was putting into it.

The woman sensed something was going on. Or she wasn't as clueless as she let on. Her entire behavior could have been a farce.

Without warning, she closed the distance, gripped Archer's shoulders, and hefted him high over her head as though he were no lighter than a bed pillow.

"Rin! Do it now! She's gonna throw me into the—"

…And then slam him back down to the ground hard enough to leave a crater. Archer hacked up blood as something within him broke.

The woman bent over, grabbed the hem of his coat one more, and gave the same gentle tug.

"Ahhhhhh…" she said with a more annoyed expression this time.

0-0-0

Twenty minutes of playing charades later, and having the vending machine used as a bat against Archer when they guessed wrong, the pair broke into the school to access the kitchens.

As it turned out, this woman wanted Archer to cook for her. She sat patiently on the floor almost like a dog while her moonlit eyes watched him work.

Rin didn't bother to stick around. Like hell she was going to be anywhere near this thing who was as crazy as she was powerful. Rin excused herself to clean up the damages such as the burning tree and the vending machine. There wasn't much she could do on her end. All she could do was stop the tree from burning and realign all the glass that had shattered.

She took as much time as she could. A part of it was to get into the ladies' room and puke her dinner.

When she came back to the cafeteria, she found Archer handing the woman tray after tray of food. She devoured it sometimes with her mouth straight to the tray. Sometimes she would realize what she was doing, glare up at Archer as if expecting him to scold her, and began scooping it up with her hands.

Her eyes once looked at Rin. It was nothing more than to see who walked through the doors as she went back to her food.

Archer sighed and took a seat at the table closest to her. He was still on edge as his eyes never left the woman. "She just scarfs it down like it's air. Where does all that go? In any case, I think she's calmed down. I don't know what she'll do afterwards, however."

"The trick is to make sure we don't give her a reason to harm us," Rin muttered. "So long as we keep her satisfied we should be fine. Hopefully she lets us go once she's filled."

"…Should you contact the Magic Association about something like this?" he questioned. "Something like this can jeopardize the entire War if she remains in Fuyuki."

Rin curled her fingers under her chin while wrapping her arm around her waist. Her fingers in her off hand played with a few gems on the chance things went south. "That much is obvious. I'll have to contact that fake priest as soon as I can. For now, let's just focus on getting through the night."

They silently agreed while watching the woman plow through several trays of food. Rin thought about leaving a few bills for all the food stolen in the cafeteria but thought it would be best to have this look like a normal break-in. She'll make Kirei fill out the report.

The woman put down the last tray and smacked her lips. She said nothing, as expected, but remained sitting as she looked between Rin and Archer. She didn't look hungry anymore. Blank satisfaction, Rin supposed.

"We're going to go now…" Rin said as she began to slowly walk backwards out of the cafeteria. Archer followed her method. "Bye now. Take care. Stay out of trouble…"

They were almost to the door when the woman blinked, stood, and took a single step forward.

…That single step placed her right in front of Archer.

The Master-Servant pair froze in place.

Nothing happened. The woman only openly stared at Archer without expecting anything. She blinked once, tilted her head to the other side, and continued to stare.

"Okay, she knows you," Rin said. "That has to be it. Do you happen to remember having an affair with a goddess?"

"Rin, my Luck stat is shit," Archer muttered. "I'd have sooner pissed one off before getting lucky."

"She clearly knows you because she's following you around!" she barked. "Maybe you were her private chef or something in your former life?"

"What sort of Archer do you think I am?" he questioned. "I have a legend for being the cook to a goddess? And that qualifies me as the Servant Archer?"

"…It could have been a side job?" she suggested. "The moon. You mentioned something about the moon earlier."

"Yeah, I did. What of it?"

"Look at her eyes and tell me what you see."

Archer turned his head to stare at the strange woman. Whatever he found made him quickly look away. The woman, in response, blinked with a small twitch on her lips.

"Maybe I do know her," Archer swept a hand through his hair. "But I told you I don't remember anything. That's not important right now. What are we going to do with her?"

Rin gave out a very long and weary sigh. "I don't suppose taking her out to the woods and telling her to stay will work. Alright, tell her to go fetch and when she runs off, I'm going to grab you and teleport us out of here with a Command Spell."

"Rin, she's not a dog," he grumbled. "And I doubt that'll work too. She came straight to me out of nowhere. I'm pretty sure she'll have a method of finding me. And I don't want to do anything that'll tick her off."

"Then do you have any ideas, because I've just been grasping at strays here!"

"I noticed. Look, I don't know what to do either. Unless you have something strong enough stored in those rocks to shoo a goddess, I got nothing."

"You can't be telling me to let her follow us."

"Do you have any other ideas?"

"No! That's why I asked you!"

"How about this then? We let her stay close to me. I go walking around the park for a few hours. You go home and phone the proctor. If you need me, use our link. How does that sound?"

She's not a dog, he said. Yet he offered to take her on a walk.

"Fine, fine," Rin settled. "But don't complain to me if she takes you behind a tree and starts humping your leg."

Despite the situation, she could afford herself a little bit of fun.

Archer didn't look too pleased.

0-0-0

Archer returned at dawn. The first thing he did was serve himself a cup of tea and sit on the sofa he had broken on his first day. Rin treated it as if it was his fault.

"So, how did it go?" she asked cheekily though was genuinely interested.

"She's asleep," he answered after taking a small sip. "Dug up a spot in an open lot across New Fuyuki and buried herself. I wasn't sure what she was doing until I heard her snoring."

Well, that at least explained why the woman was so filthy.

"How did things go on your end?" he asked next. "You don't look so well. Have you been up through the entire night? If I didn't know any better I would have accused you of being concerned for me."

She pretended to have not heard the snicker in his voice. "It's nothing some caffeine and a little makeup can't fix. I talked to that fake priest as soon as I got home. He was no help whatsoever but did promise me he would look into it. However… He did make a comment about the moon."

Rin's eyes narrowed at that. That priest knew something but was pretending ignorance. She could almost feel the bold-face lie reach through the receiver and slap her across the face.

Other than that, this couldn't be coincidence. Archer had made a comment about the moon and so had Kotomine Kirei. Was this some sort of lunar goddess then? She spent most of the night going over her father's books and came across a few legends. But without any further details she was skimming through a plethora of stories.

It would have helped immensely if she only knew what Heroic Spirit her Servant was.

"I guess that explains why she sleeps during the day," Archer shrugged. "She didn't seem to be in a hurry though. She yawned and started to dig. It was more like she felt tired and decided it was time to sleep."

"Hopefully this is the last time we see her," Rin added but knew it wasn't going to happen. "Know what's strange? I could have sworn I've seen that dress before. The one she was wearing I mean. I just can't remember and it started to bother me all of a sudden."

"Could have been something she picked up locally," he commented dryly, almost dispassionately. "Broke into a store because she like the colors maybe? There was no blood so I doubt she killed someone for it."

"No use fretting over it, I guess," Rin leaned in her chair and checked on the clock. It was almost time to get ready for school. "This puts a hitch in our plans but I think it's still salvageable. Who knows? Maybe if we pay our respects to this creature we can have her help us in the War."

"Rin… be rational here."

"Kidding," she waved it off. "I would be too worried stepping on her tail with her around. Let's just wait until that fake priest calls back with something. If there's anything I can rely on him for, and that being the only thing, it's how serious he takes his job. I'll be leaving you here in case he calls while I'm at school."

"That's fine by me," he shrugged with his arms crossed. "Just don't blame me if she comes here looking for me. I'm only following the orders of my irrational Master."

"…Make sure she stays outside," Rin said after some thought. "I don't want dirt everywhere."

"That's quite the tall order, Rin," he responded snidely.

0-0-0

School wasn't any different than it was any other day. The only exception being the latest gossip going around the rumor mill about what happened to the tree in the quad, why the vending machine on the first floor doesn't work, and why the cafeteria staff was running amok. It amazed Rin how colorful the imaginations of her classmates could be.

It wasn't until towards the end of the day did something exciting happen.

Fujimura, the eccentric teacher and kendo instructor, brushed by Rin on her way to her next class. Now, this happened on a daily basis. And it was because it was on a daily basis had Rin not paid it much any attention.

But… Fujimura was wearing the exact same dress the mystery woman was!

"F-F-Fujimura-sensei!" Rin blurted out as she stopped the teacher on her tracks.

Heads turned as the ever stoic and graceful Tohsaka Rin had lost her composure. She cleared her throat and regained her posture.

"Eh, yes, Tohsaka-san?" blinked the teacher.

"About your dress…" Rin's mind raced trying to piece her words together. "I was wondering if you could tell me where you got it from."

"Oh, this thing?" Fujimura stuck her head up with a beaming smile. "It's fabulous, isn't it? It's my absolute favorite! The colors really speak to me. I couldn't help but buy ten pairs~"

Ten pairs… What in the world was this person thinking?

Fujimura tilted her head while engrossing herself in deep thought. "Where did I get it…? I think it was in town from a small shop. Oh, it was terrible! When I misplaced one of them I placed an order for a new one but found out that shop had closed! That was about… three years ago, I think."

Three years ago? By what mad obsession could have compelled this woman to wear the same outfit for the past three years? Every single day?!

"Oh no…" Rin feigned sympathy for her. "Is that so? Do you happen to remember the last place you saw it? You didn't leave it out for someone to take it, maybe?"

Fujimura squinted her eyes as she thought harder. "I could have sworn I left it at Shirou's house before I became a teacher. But he swears he couldn't find it when I lost it. The boy can't lie to save his life. So who knows what ever became of it…"

The event made her sad. Her shoulder sagged and she sniffled once. She looked ready to cry.

Rin offered her a napkin. Fujimura took it with much appreciation and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Eh," she then blinked after realizing something. "Oh no! I'm going to be late for my next class! Off you go, Tohsaka-san. I won't allow you to be late as well or I'll be the one in trouble!"

"Yes, well, thank you for your time, Fujimura-sensei," Rin waved with a smile and went to her next class.

Well that got her nowhere. Then again, it's not like asking about the same dress would have gotten her any closer to finding out whatever in the world the mystery woman was. All she got out of it was the mystery woman had the same taste in clothing as Fujimura Taiga.

But… as Rin thought of it further, that didn't seem to be the case. The woman didn't look like she liked wearing the clothes. Better, she was wearing clothes as if she were obliged to do so.

After that, there was nothing else she could discern on her end. She couldn't find the Master hiding among the flock— though she did ask around with discretion (feigning concern for her classmates) if anyone was absent. She also took up a few favors and student chores to get a chance to wander around the school grounds. She couldn't find anything regarding the Servant they fought last night nor the anchor to the Bounded Field.

At least the mystery woman had scared off the Servant from doing more work. There had been no progress in the Bounded Field's construction.

"What do you mean you won't help me out?"

As she was about to leave, she heard the shouting belonging to Matou Shinji. He had a flock of girls of the archery club around him while he was snarling at the honorary School Janitor, Emiya Shirou.

"Sorry, Shinji," Shirou put his hands up with a gentle and apologetic smile. "I can't. I need to get home right away. I have company coming over tonight."

"What're you talking about?" Shinji called him out. "Didn't she tell you? Sakura is staying home for the rest of the week."

"I know more people than Sakura…" Shirou grumbled. He was starting to get irritated. "Shinji, I said I was sorry. Normally I would have helped you; I just can't tonight. I have to prepare for…"

That was as far as Rin's interest got. It was the usual thing between those two anyways. Shinji would walk all over Shirou and take advantage of his kindness. And Shirou would just let it happen. Rin remembered when the two of them were friends in middle school. Something happened that made Shinji antagonistic towards Shirou.

And whatever happened made Sakura follow Shirou wherever he went. Good for her, honestly. Shirou was kinda cute and was a nice guy. He had a decent reputation in school as the School Janitor, always helping out others before himself. He was everything Shinji wasn't.

None of that was Rin's business anyways. She had a War to fight and a goddess to manage. Hopefully when she got home she would have some news from Kirei.

0-0-0

She knew that woman was there as soon as she entered the main gate. It was in the air. It was the same overbearing presence that bore a heavy weight on her psyche. The hairs in the back of her neck stood up as her heart began to race. It was her primal instinct to survive that was telling her the woman was present.

She was just as dirty as the last time they met. Archer had managed to keep her out of the house, somehow. She was lying on the grass, her body tucked with limbs crossed almost like a cat. Her head lifted up slightly to eye Rin and never removed her gaze. She continued to stare, and probably continued after that, when Rin crossed the path and got inside her house.

She leaned against the door and took a minute to calm her heart.

"Welcome back," Archer greeted as he materialized in the hallway. "She showed up about an hour ago. She didn't seem hungry so I left her be."

"She's just… there," Rin commented.

"So she is," he shrugged. "I don't know what she wants or what it has to do with me. But right now she's calm and not using me as a sandbag."

"I'm going to guess there was no phone call today…" she rubbed her temple.

"None whatsoever. I held down the fort the entire day without a single disturbance."

"You mean other than a goddess wandering into my yard."

"Did we agree she was a goddess?"

"I don't know what else to call her. How did you get her to stay outside?"

"I didn't. I don't know but I think she's trained."

"You mean like a dog?" Rin snickered.

"Maybe," he shrugged again. "She looked at herself, knew she was covered in dirt, and kinda just went to sulk in the corner. She's been out there ever since."

There was a knock on the door. Rin spun around to peer through the hole. To her surprise, it was the mystery woman. As if knowing she was being looked upon, her eyes flickered up towards the peephole, opened her mouth, and announced…

"Ahhhhhhhh."

Rin slammed her head against the door. "She's hungry again. Archer, keep her busy while I prepare something. I might as well make myself something as well."

"Sure, send the Servant off to deal with the monster," sarcasm dripped out of his voice. "What a wonderful Master I have to give me this honor."

There was an even louder knock on the door. It sounded more like the woman was trying to barge her way in.

"Get to it before she tears down my house!" she ordered and went to the kitchen.

0-0-0

A good hour later, Rin ordered Archer to bring a plate out to the lawn.

…And two minutes after that, Archer came back in with the shards of glass in his hands and the thick sauce drenching his hair and clothes.

"I don't think she agrees with your cooking," he stated flatly.

"There is nothing wrong with my cooking!" Rin argued. "My cooking is better than the slop they had frozen in the school cafeteria! It's organic!"

"I know," Archer tossed the shards in the garbage while using a towel to wipe himself clean. "And I agree with you. But she doesn't. She took it, glared at it, and then threw it back at me."

"You mean she didn't even try it?!"

He only shrugged.

There was a loud bang from the hallway. The door had been kicked open while the sound of feet stomping and breaking wood approached them.

The woman stormed through into the kitchen. Her eyes were glowing with a ferocity of a beast who had just had their tail stepped on. Those eyes were glaring straight at Rin.

Rin honestly thought she was going to die this day. To die because her cooking wasn't good enough.

It didn't happen. Instead, the woman went straight to Archer, grabbed him by his collar, and began to drag him away.

"So this is where I die…" Archer commented while he was being pulled out of the house. "To be killed off by a monster who disagreed with my Master's cooking. I somehow knew this day would come."

"Oh shut up," Rin snarled and followed close behind. "Where is she taking you?"

"You think I would know?" he shrugged once before crossing his arms.

The woman dragged him out of the house, through the gates, and into the street. And she continued to march. No matter how much Archer tried to pull himself free, she would readjust his grip and pull him along.

This was just getting out of hand…

Once, Rin believed, they got lost. The only indication was for the woman to stop abruptly, look around, sniff the air, and travel forward once again.

"To think a legendary hero is being manhandled like this…" Rin couldn't believe it.

"Master, I've tried to break free," Archer sulked. "She's not letting me go. And I would prefer to not have any bones broken. Or, I don't know, killed. There's nothing I can really do about it until she lets go."

"You're a Servant!" Rin bellowed. "Use your Noble Phantasm or something!"

Their answer to that suggestion was a growl from the woman. A legitimate growl that fit better with a wolf or lion.

They could only keep silent while the woman led them forward to parts unknown.

It wasn't until the sun had set did they find themselves in a more traditional Japanese-style neighborhood. The houses were large and spread far enough to where it would take an adventure and a half to borrow a cup of sugar from the next door over.

It was here where the woman stopped walking and dropped Archer.

"Finally," he stood quickly and brushed off the dirt that had accumulated on the edge of his coat.

"Ahhhhhhhh…" the woman said to him with clear irritation on her face.

"What do you want me to do here?" he asked her.

Her head snapped over her shoulder.

In the next instance, something shot out of one of the gates. It was a blue blur with a streak of silver. It came at them with a fierce rush that caught them by surprise.

The woman put a hand on Archer's chest and gently pushed him off his feet, flying a few meters back and crashing into another wall.

The invisible blade of a Servant struck open air after missing Archer. Her emerald eyes widened slightly in surprise but quickly readjusted. Her eyes flicked over to the woman and prepared for another assault.

The woman didn't move. She only stared down at the Servant with a dull expression. Her eyes flickered up towards something behind the Servant. Her eyes brightened.

"Saber!"

…Of all people. Of all people, it was Emiya Shirou who they had been led to? It was the School Janitor who was a Master and the Master to the Servant Saber?!

He grabbed the back collar of Saber's armored dress and lifted him up like how he would a small kitten. "What are you doing? Don't just go attacking people all of a sudden."

"W-What…?" Saber blinked a few times, surprised as if she hadn't expected her Master to be there. "How did you…? S-Shirou! Put me down! This is indignant!"

He did so while scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, I was just worried you confused her as a Servant. I don't think we've be having this conversation if I stopped you."

He was speaking about the woman. The woman, however, was as confused as can ever be. Her head snapped between Shirou, to Archer, to Shirou, and so on. The more her head swiveled around, the more confused she was looking.

"Ah, Tohsaka-san?" he blinked when he spotted her. "Were you the one who brought her here? Thank you very much. Are you hungry? I was in the middle of making some food. You're welcome to join us if you want."

Whether she found the solution to whatever ailed her or not, the woman's hand snapped to the sleeve of his shirt. She was going to abandon Archer in favor of Shirou.

Maybe she just follows her stomach…?

"Emiya-kun…" Rin was starting to shake with a myriad of emotions burning through her. "Do you mean to tell me… this is yours?!"

She gestured towards the woman.

"Eh…" he paused to think while scratching his cheek. "More like a stray that comes over for a free meal every so often."

The woman tugged at his sleeve while announcing, "Ahhhhhh."

"Right, right," he nodded and patted the top of her head like a pet.

She glowered in irritation but didn't remove his hand.

"Shirou, I must protest," announced Saber. "I wasn't wrong. Yes, I don't know this lady but she was not the one I sensed. This girl is a Master and that man over there is her Servant."

Man? More like a splatter in the wall.

"Huh…" Shirou blinked as his eyes reevaluated Rin. "That makes a lot of sense. I always knew you were a liar, Tohsaka, but I couldn't figure out what you were trying to hide. Now it makes sense if you were a Magus all along."

Rin wasn't sure if she should be surprised or ticked off. For everything that's been going on the past day and a half, she chose to be ticked off.

"Do you mind coming in anyways?" he asked. "I don't get what's really going on with this Holy Grail War and would like to ask a few questions. It would help me a lot and I would appreciate it. You're welcome to eat."

"Ahhhhhhh," repeated the woman.

"I'm going, I'm going," he said while heading towards the gate. "Just be patient. Geez, you're almost as dirty as you were last time. You know I'm going to have to give you a bath."

She immediately let go and hissed at him. He matched her glare with one of his own.

"No bath, no food. You know the rules."

Her eyes glared further with absolute hate. They glowed with a power that transcended the likes of Servants. But Shirou did not falter. He continued to stare at her, unflinching.

It was the woman who looked away, with great reluctance.

"Come on, Saber," Shirou called out. "You can join as well. We still need to talk ourselves, right?"

Shirou disappeared through the gates. Saber lingered for a moment, eyeing Rin. She didn't seem content to permit a Master into the lair of her own. But orders were orders. She only gave Rin a nod as she turned and followed suit after Shirou.

It took everything in Rin's will to not pull her hair out and scream.

Here, right here, was the fourth reason why her week wasn't going according to plan!