Chapter Four
Four Unfortunate City Kings
One Friendly Fool
"Thanks for the cloak, Caster," he said as soon as they were back within the Emiya manor.
"Certainly, Shirou," Caster said while looking down at his feet. It had been a long hike from Kotomine Church back to the residential area of plain old Fuyuki. And, though it had been late in the evening, Shirou had led them askew in the name of avoiding people. Some sonar implanted in his brain told him when someone was about to spot their little troupe.
She wondered briefly if his feet must be killing him. Rather, could his feet be aching? He took an explosion that could have only come from a Noble Phantasm directly. He came out virtually unscathed from the attack.
…Virtually. His clothes were completely incinerated. Hence why he had bundled himself within her cloak.
"Now that we are behind adequate protections," Saber began as she dismissed her battle armor, revealing the attire of a white and blue battle dress. "Shirou, I believe there are matters that cannot be withheld any further."
"We do, don't we?" Shirou asked in an innocent tone. It was as if she had told him there was a chance for rain and he should bring an umbrella. "It's about the Holy Grail War, isn't it?"
Saber nodded once. She glanced at Caster before going back to Shirou, "Yes, it is. But upon witnessing events unfold tonight, I would like to ask questions regarding you. A human in today's age should not be able to withstand against the likes of a Servant."
"There are exceptions…" he sulked like a child. "Alright, alright. Just gimme a sec to go put on some clothes. Caster, can you make us some tea please? I'll be right back."
"Of course," Caster said while heading towards the kitchen. With a wave of her hand did cupboards fly open, the kettle levitated out, was filled with water from the sink, and rested on the burner on the stove. However, she took time to look through her Master's inventory to pick which sort of tea she wanted to brew. He had such a colorful collection.
"I will say this right now, Saber," Caster began as she picked up one particular box from the cabinet. Her tone was playful but also laced with a faint warning. "I have no intentions at all in making Shirou my enemy."
Saber did not take a seat by the table. She stood erect with her attention fully locked on Caster. Her tone was crisp while as polite as can be towards a potential enemy.
"I concur. However, my words are not swayed by what he may be. Though irregular as the summoning performed, he is my Master. So long as he continues to strive for the Grail, he will have my full support."
"Hmm…" Caster hummed to herself as she eyed Saber. She paused to pull a strand of hair behind her ear. "And what if I told you Shirou has no interest at all in the Grail? If you recall, he was the one who said he would support us. He didn't specify whether he was going to go out of his way for the war at all. What will you do when he sees the war as an inconvenience to his… prearranged life?"
Saber gave a slow blink, masking her emotions to not reveal anything to the other woman. "I will keep my word. I will continue to fight for the Grail. Even if that means my Master cannot be there at all times.
"But what of you, Caster? Will you pursue the Grail as well?"
"You mean do I plan on stabbing you in the back at some point?" Caster asked with a cocked brow and a snarky smile. She had no intentions to hide her emotions like the stalwart knight. "There can only be one victor in the Holy Grail War, Saber. One Master and one Servant. Having you complicates things, doesn't it?"
It was the question Saber had indirectly asked. They were both bound to the same Master. They could work together in the war until all other Servants were dealt with. However… there can only be one victor.
At some point, Saber and Caster will have to fight the other over the Grail.
"I'm back," Shirou said while tugging on the bottom of his shirt. He stopped in his tracks to exchange glances with Saber and Caster. "Um… is everything okay?"
Caster almost snorted. The act might have been able to fool anyone else but she had started to get a grasp on his mannerisms. Everything he did was calculated. She wouldn't be surprised if he had finished and waited in the hall, listening to their conversation.
It was too convenient he came in at the perfect time before the two Servants were at each other's throats.
"Saber-chan and I were just having some girl talk," Caster said anyways, playing along with his charade. She waved a hand in dismissal, "Some things that can't be spoken in front of a boy, Shirou. Anyways, the tea is almost ready if you don't mind waiting a few more minutes."
"Oh, right, sure," Shirou said with an embarrassed look. His eyes wouldn't meet Saber's as he entered the dining area and took his usual seat at the table's head.
Saber took it as her cue to seat herself at his left. It was positioned to be close to him while being able to face towards Caster in the kitchen.
"Caster, I put your cloak in the laundry bin," Shirou said towards the Servant of Spells. "I'll be sure to wash it in the morning."
"That's not needed, Shirou," Caster argued. "It's just as phantasmal as I am. All it'll take is a bit of prana to bring it back to pristine condition. Besides… you don't mean to wash my garment with your laundry, do you?"
"I was going to wash it with the dress she wore," he mumbled. By 'she', he was referring to the strange woman the Master of Archer came with. "I know that much at least. Believe me. Both Fuji-nee and Sakura-chan gave me an earful about it. But I still don't get it. You can save so much water and electricity if we all bundle our stuff together."
"That is sound reasoning," Saber commented. Her head tilted slightly for a moment. "Shirou, the woman from earlier. Who is she? And does she not have a name?"
"Hmm…" Shirou tilted his head with a little more emotion than Saber's gesture. He crossed his arms as he looked away in thought. "She's… kind of just a stray that wanders here every now and then. I give her some food. It's only within the last year did I get her to start wearing clothes…"
He rubbed the side of his face with an uncomfortable expression.
Despite taking a Noble Phantasm and coming unscathed, he still had the claw marks left from the woman when he put her in the bath.
"So Saber," he spoke up suddenly. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"
She regarded him for a moment. He didn't fully answer her first question and he had ignored her second. But… it was his private affair. She shouldn't pry into it.
"Forgive me if my approach may sound rude. But I wish to be clear. What are you, Shirou?"
"…That's not very clear," he mumbled, almost sulking. "I'm a high school student? I'm not a magus like Tohsaka so I don't know how I was able to summon you."
Saber gave a small frown. "Please do not treat me like a fool, Shirou. I am asking what sort of person you are to be able to match the strength of a Servant."
"Ah, that…" Shirou muttered in a low voice and a nod of understanding.
…He said nothing else.
"Thank you, Caster," he said once the Servant came with a tray of tea mugs. He accepted his with an appreciative smile, blew on it a few times, and took a long sip.
Caster placed one in front of Saber before taking a seat at Shirou's other flank, being able to smile as sweet as venom towards her temporary teammate.
"Shirou," Saber spoke with a patient tone. "If we are to claim the Holy Grail, it's important I know everything I can about you. So that I can fulfill my duties as a Servant, to protect and fight in your stead. I need to know how well you can manage on your own on the chance I am unable to come to your aid."
Shirou blinked a few times with a slightly astonished look. "Huh. That is a good point…"
He put his cup down, crossed his arms again, and, the best way Saber could describe it, began listening for something. His head was slightly downcast while his eyes were sharp but staring at nothing. His brows furrowed once before relaxing.
"You don't need to worry about protecting me," he said with a gentle tone and a sincere smile. He picked his cup back up. "Nothing in this war can threaten me. Even if you and Caster came at me together. In fact, I could win the entire war myself if I wanted to."
He didn't say it with confidence. He said it as though it were truth. As though he had just looked outside and said the sky was blue.
Caster remained silent as she drank her tea. She had the expression that told Saber she had this sort of conversation before with him.
"…But how?" Saber asked. Her brows furrowed. "How were you able to defeat Berserker where it took two other Servants to quell? How were you able to remain standing when Archer used his Noble Phantasm? How can you do these things and not exhaust yourself?"
"That reminds me," Shirou said with a slight jolt. "Ah, Saber, I forgot to ask you. I already asked Caster. But what is it you want to gain from the Grail?"
Her brows furrowed further. "Please do not change the subject."
"I'm not," he said with a shrug. "I'll tell you what I told Caster. So long as you don't endanger the lives of the innocent, I will support you. But if your wish is something that'll demand my attention… I'll stop you. That's what I am."
Saber tensed at that. There wasn't a single iota of malevolence in his tone. If anything, it was perfectly innocent. He wasn't threatening her. Like before, he was stating a simple fact.
She remembered a time when that old pervert was still her mentor. He had said something so strikingly similar she couldn't help but be reminded of it.
"Shirou," she spoke up, recalling a conversation she once had long before. "What is more important? The sword? Or the sheath?"
"The sword," he answered immediately without a need to think. "In my experience, the sword gets rid of threats while protecting others. I don't understand the point of the sheath."
Yes. She once had the same response. But the old magus had scolded her for it.
"The sheath protects the sword," Caster pointed out. "Without it, the sword would chip, rust, and eventually break."
"I've never made a sword that could be broken," Shirou grumbled under his breath before sipping on his tea again. He put the cup down and regarded Saber once more. "Saber, you ask me who I am and what I can do. Can you tell me the same thing? I know Saber isn't your real name."
"You will have to forgive me, Shirou," Saber bowed her head in apology but didn't look away from him. "As you claim to not be a magus, I assume you also have no protections against their magecraft? Perhaps against offensive techniques of force… but what of the more subtle and elusive techniques? Such as assaults on the mind?"
"…Can you do that, Caster?" Shirou asked the one at his right.
"It would be redundant," she replied. "As I am your Servant, I can use our connection to enter your mind and hear your thoughts. Whatever thoughts there are, anyhow. Your head is rather vacant, Shirou."
It wasn't a joke, no matter how sarcastic of a tone she took. She couldn't hear anything. She wasn't sure if it was because her technical Master, Shirou's severed hand preserved in the workshop, was disconnected from Shirou or because of whatever it was Shirou truly was.
"I guess not if Caster can," Shirou sighed and went back to Saber. "Then that means you won't tell me your name?"
"A Servant's name is a great weakness in this war," Saber answered. "Should an enemy Servant and Master learn my name, they can research my legend and find any weakness I may possess; both of what I know and what I am unaware of. They would be able to find a way to defeat me."
Shirou frowned at that, but nodded. His hands released from the cup to cross his arms. He didn't say anything as he stared off into open space. He was lost in his own thoughts.
He moved, reaching for something in his jean pocket. His face warped to one of annoyance when the pocket was empty. He patted his pants in search for something. More annoyance crossed his face until he gave out a sigh.
"I'm sorry," he said eventually with a nervous smile. "I actually don't know how to go further with this conversation. Archer destroyed my notebook. That's two this war has cost me… Why don't we just call it a night?"
"It was a rather eventful evening," Caster supplied. "Two enemy Servants with a third blindsiding us and that mystery woman coming and going. I'm content with retiring. Unless you have something else you want to demand from our charitable Master, Saber-chan?"
Saber almost glowered at her. Her eyes were as sharp as steel behind a mask of utmost neutrality.
"Just one concern," she said while looking back at Shirou. "The sleeping arrangements. Shirou, I was summoned while an enemy Servant was attacking your den."
"Uh huh…" Shirou slowly nodded once, not knowing where this conversation was going.
"In order to ensure your safety and respond the quickest to a probable Servant attack, I would like to be quartered with you. Even better if I sleep directly at your side."
For a moment, Shirou didn't move. He didn't blink, he didn't breathe, and only stared directly at Saber with an inhuman stillness.
"Sorry, what?" Shirou offered a strained smile. "Saber, can't you just turn invisible like Caster? Isn't that enough?"
"Unfortunately," Saber responded with her brows furrowing slightly, "due to the irregularity of my summoning, I am an incomplete Servant. Though I possess all the feats and strengths of a normal Servant, it would seem I cannot turn into my astral form."
Shirou studied her a little longer. He exchanged a look with Caster. His expression was blank. Hers was full of skepticism.
"…I don't know how I'm supposed to respond," he admitted while turning back to Saber. "Um… Saber, I'm the best defense of this house. If anyone attacks, be it a Servant, a Master, or anything else out there, I will protect you both. This is my house and you are my guests."
It sounded like he was reading from a cue card.
"Perhaps," Saber pressed on. "But I lack the knowledge of your limits, which you refuse to release to me. I will not pry into it any further if you don't wish to tell. But until I understand the situation better this is what I propose. I do not know if the events tonight have dwindled your… strength. I do not know if you may be overwhelmed or outdone by an enemy Servant.
"We are each legendary heroes who have achieved everlasting immortality through impossible feats, Shirou. Do not be surprised if there is a hero out there with a Noble Phantasm that may harm you. I will not risk the chance if such a hero is summoned in this war."
He frowned with his face turning into one of conflicting thoughts. He looked away.
"I don't know, Saber…" he said. "It's just… you're a girl. It's improper to have us sleeping in the same room together."
"You don't seem to have any complaints about that Sakura girl," Caster added.
"You're not helping," he grumbled back.
"Before I am a woman," Saber spoke sharply. "I am a Servant. I am your sword and shield, Shirou. You will treat me as such."
More confliction. It overwhelmed him. His head slammed against the flat of the table.
"I'll figure something out," he said while slowly dragging himself up to his feet. "Wait here for a bit. Caster, don't forget to clean the kitchen."
"…What?" Caster blinked, sat up a little straighter, and looked at the catastrophe near the sink. All sorts of cooking utensils and appliances were stacked over the other due to the smorgasbord of confections Shirou had made for his mystery woman.
"I told you I was going to make you clean it," he said while walking back down the hallway and towards his room.
"I thought you were joking!" Caster called back. He didn't respond. She groaned, stared angrily at the labor, knowing it was staring back at her, and eventually sighed with resignation.
She could have argued better. There were plenty of witty remarks she could have used, comments she could throw that he had said earlier. But, at the end, she would still wind up doing it so prolonging the inevitable was pointless.
"I'd rather deal with the Berserker again," she muttered but stood and went to go face her greatest challenge yet.
Saber watched her for a moment, rolling up her sleeves and began to organize things with her magic. Pots and pans lifted out of the air as sponges, water, and soap began to slap themselves onto them and scrub away. Plastic containers were pulled out of the shelf while the fridge was opened to store away any leftovers.
Saber got up from the table and went to go find Shirou. She moved silently through the hallway until finding the one room with the light peering through the doorway.
"Shirou," she called out while knocking politely on the door. Without waiting for a response, she entered his room.
The room was large, if not a little Spartan with the lack of decorations. It had all the essentials such as curtains for the window, a dresser against one wall, a closet, and a small table at the center. Instead of wood for the floors, it was lined with tatami mats.
Shirou sat on one corner of the room. A tatami mat was lifted, revealing a secret compartment underneath. Within it was a fireproof box, opened, and containing a series of notebooks within sealed bags. He had a few of them sprawled out on the floor while reading intently.
"Shirou, regarding the previous matter," she said while approaching him. "There are things you need to take into consideration."
"I don't know," he said while looking up. His voice was monotone while his eyes stared at nothing. "I've never encountered a situation like this. How does a normal person react towards a Servant, who is female, wanting to sleep in the same room in the name of protection? Do I treat it as a supernatural occurrence and panic? Do I treat you as a female and freak out? Or do I treat it as a potential threat against my life and freak out…?"
"…Shirou?" she spoke to him, trying to gain his attention.
"There are three different ways to freak out over this," he continued, looking down and flipping pages of three different notebooks. "If it's supernatural then I shouldn't believe in anything happening and laugh it off in a delusional way. If it's because she's a woman then I should stutter, become fluster, increase my heartrate and produce sweat… maybe mutter nonsense of irrationality. But if it's a threat against my life then I either need to make measurements to ensure my safety… or flop around and possibly sob. Which one do I choose…?"
She watched him flip through the notebooks, compared inscriptions with others, and go back to previous pages.
"I might not understand what's going on…" Saber drawled out slowly, almost unsurely as she watched him behave like this. "But, in my opinion, I believe the entire situation is beyond normality."
His eyes flicked up towards her. She now had his full attention.
More than that. His eyes told her he was going to absorb every piece of detail she would say next. He would gorge on it, devour it, and make it his.
She sat down across of him with her legs tucked under her. "This is a battle between seven Master and seven Servants. There can only be seven Masters, chosen by the Grail itself in the entirety of the world. For you to have two Servants is an extreme irregularity. One might say you are twice a Master. You are furthest from normal, Shirou."
He became still. Lifeless. Yet there was still something sharp in his eyes. Something predatory and dangerous. It was the same presence he bore when he had decided he would kill the Einzbern Master.
Saber was not perturbed by it, though she will not deny she was ready to defend herself if needed. "Be that as it may, and in spite of your uniqueness, I must also say the way you are behaving right now is something any rational and sane individual would in the same situation."
"…Really?" he asked with something like hope in his voice.
Saber nodded once, "In a sense. People fall back on what is most familiar in times of crisis and desperation. I have seen it all too much in times of war. Be it the simple farmer to the proud warrior. They all fall into habits in order to quell their fears."
"But I'm not really afraid," he argued back, looked away in thought, and scratched the top of his head.
"Perhaps not fear, but you are certainly unsure of yourself," she continued in a soft but firm voice. "Insecurity is the enemy, Shirou. You seek guidance in… these books because you do not know how to come to terms with the reality presented before you. It is understandable."
"I guess that's one way to look at it," he muttered, thought about her words a little longer, and then eventually nodded. "Okay. So then, Saber, what would you do in this case?"
"You should trust me," she said simply. "I am your Servant. I am bound to you and have sworn to follow you during this Holy Grail War. We are in this together, Shirou. By my honor as a knight, I will serve you to the best of my abilities. I shall protect you and grant you council whenever you are in need.
"My first piece of advice is to allow me to remain with you in this room while you sleep."
Shirou's brows furrowed as he thought. His eyes remained locked with Saber's. He blinked a few times while she remained solid in her fortitude. She did not budge an inch to emphasize her approach.
"I guess… tonight is fine until I figure something out," he said with a resigned sigh. He began to gather the notebooks back and put them in their bags. "If you give me a minute I'll pull out one of the futons. I'll also try to find you something to wear."
"That won't be necessary," she insisted. "I am fine sleeping in this."
"Saber, that can't be comfortable," he eyed her dress before putting everything away and resetting the tatami mat. "If you're going to insist on this then you might as well do it right. Hold on. I might have something…"
"Shirou," her voice was firm. "I am a Servant. There is no need for you to go out of your way for something as mundane as sleeping attire."
"Caster said the same thing about food," he said while heading towards his closet. He began to rummage within. "But that didn't stop me from cooking for her."
His words made her pause. She couldn't imagine going without his food. As a Servant, all she needed was to feed off of the prana he sent through their connection. Food could be digested and turned into extra prana but the gain was so minimal it wasn't worth it unless consumed in unworldly sums.
Yet she couldn't voice anything out that might make him consider not preparing the next meal for the two Servants.
"Here we are," he said as he pulled out two pieces of garment for her. "Sorry if they're for boys. It's some of my old clothes from middle school. I don't think anything I have now will fit you. The bathroom is the first door right before the dining room. You can change and freshen up in there while I get everything ready."
He handed them over to Saber— a plain t-shirt and gym shorts— before returning to the closet and pulling out a matching futon set. He carried them across the room until reaching the center.
"Excuse me then," Saber announced and headed towards the washroom like he instructed.
A moment later, she returned to find Shirou dressed and ready for bed. He was in his futon but sitting upright while talking to Caster. The other futon was positioned right beside Shirou's.
The Servant of the Spell saw Saber in her given nightwear and couldn't help but smirk. "Why Shirou, I didn't know this was what you were into. Whatever will Sakura say once she finds out about this?"
He looked at Saber, stared for a moment, blinked, and then looked back at Caster. "I don't get it. Is that some kind of perverted talk? Saber isn't dressed in anything like Shinji's magazines. And I thought this war was supposed to be a secret. There's no way I can tell Sakura about either of you."
"You're no fun sometimes," Caster breathed out with irritation.
Saber said nothing to the two of them as she climbed into her offered futon and sank into the sheets. She remained awake, however, until Shirou retired for the night.
"Is everything comfortable, Saber?" Shirou asked her.
"Yes, thank you Shirou," she replied in kind. Though she would have preferred to remain in her dress. Should a fight break out and she conjured her armor and gown once again, the garments Shirou let her borrow would be ruined.
"Caster, would you like to join us?" Shirou offered with a smile. "There's another futon for whenever Fuji-nee stays over."
"As tempting as the offer is, there is a Bounded Field I need to resume working on," Caster said with a sly smile. "Plus, to be frank, I'm not as willing as Saber to share the night with you. I do have standards, Shirou."
Saber withheld her tongue. The words Caster had used insinuated something most insulting. As a Servant herself, she should perfectly understand their circumstances. Saber was not doing this to seduce their Master. All her words were true and Caster's underlined intent was questioning her honor.
"I'd thought I'd ask anyways," Shirou offered. "Can you turn off the lights on your way out? I'd appreciate it."
"Of course," Caster agreed. "Goodnight, Shirou. Goodnight, Saber."
"Goodnight, Caster," Shirou replied in a friendly voice.
"Goodnight," Saber returned neutrally.
Caster had a smirk as she walked towards the edge of the room, flicked the light switch off, and vanished into her spectral state.
Shirou yawned, lied down, and rummaged around until finding a comfortable position. "Goodnight, Saber. See you in the morning."
"Yes, goodnight, Shirou," Saber replied.
He took a deep breath, relaxed, and was instantly asleep. All expression on him washed away into tranquility as his breathing fell heavy with slumber. It was not a ruse like the prisoners of war or thieves pretended back in her time. Everything she could read about him told her he had fallen asleep the instant he desired for it.
She stared at his sleeping face. The only mark on him were the scars left by the moonlit woman the Tohsaka Master brought. She had seen him take the full strike of a Noble Phantasm that altered the terrain of the graveyard. He came back virtually unscathed saved for those same scratch marks from before.
Her connection to him was strong but ordinary. She could say she was receiving the same amount of prana as she would from her previous Master.
But Shirou claimed to not be a magus. Was he lying to her? Or was he not aware of his own abilities? No, impossible. He had been able to conjure a weapon that outranked Berserker's. He had been able to defeat Berserker effortlessly where it took the combined efforts of she and Caster.
Just who was this boy that had summoned her?
She stared up at the ceiling. Her mind could not find an answer. Her experience with the occult was limited. Perhaps if she had paid better attention to the machinations of that old magus she might be more knowledgeable in this field. But all of her experience only went so far as the sorcerers, necromancers, and her own sister who sought to destroy her and her comrades.
Nothing she faced in her previous life compared to what Shirou might be. Not the dark magi, not the Dead Apostle Ancestors, and not even the Dragons.
If anything… Shirou was closest to one of Gaia's Incarnations.
Impossible. Those were purely beasts. Shirou, while odd, was definitely human.
She would need a different approach if she was going to find answers.
She closed her eyes and forced her body and mind to relax. It wasn't anywhere near as instantaneous as Shirou's technique. But sleep found her soon enough.
…And she dreamed of a boy traversing through the fires of Hell.
0-0-0
Sakura walked through the open gates and immediately noticed something was off. There was a patch of land towards the wall, near the toolshed, that she could have sworn had been dead grass. The shed had always blocked that part from the sun and Shirou had struggled to keep the grass alive. For some reason, today, that patch was redone. Perhaps her sempai had laid out some turf in another attempt to keep the perfect balance with his yard.
She'll have to ask him about it later.
She continued to hum a tune as she walked up to the door, knock a few times out of habit, and used her key to enter.
"Good morning," she greeted to no one in particular, shut the door behind her, and began to change her shoes.
There was the sound of ruckus coming from Shirou's room. He was the only one who lived in the manor with the occasional guest staying over. She could have been wrong and assumed Taiga or Otoko had stayed over; the former probably drank too much but the latter hadn't stayed over since she and Shirou were in middle school and he was constantly in the hospital.
"Sempai?" she called out, put her bookbag down in the walkway, and began to head towards his room.
She heard his voice say something muffled by the walls and distance followed by the opening and closing of his closet and dresser.
Before she could approach his door and knock, Shirou had stumbled out of the room with his school uniform disheveled and him panting. He had a nervous smile on his face. He slammed the door shut before she could see what sort of mess he had made for himself.
"G-Good morning, Sakura," he greeted with an equally nervous laugh. He scratched the side of his head. "I didn't know you were coming. I thought you said your grandfather wanted you home for the rest of the week."
"Only in the evenings…" she responded while looking at him. Her eyes flickered to the door and back at him. "Sempai, is something the matter? It's still early so you didn't need to rush in getting dressed. Fujimura-sensei isn't here yet either."
"I just thought I overslept is all," he put a hand to his chest and let out a sigh of relief. "I thought you were Fuji-nee. She would have chewed me out if she found me sleeping in."
She laughed at that, "Better for me, then. It's Thursday anyways; I have archery practice in the morning. So I'm always here earlier than usual. You could have slept a little longer if you wanted. I wouldn't have minded."
She would have loved to wake him up. She would have loved to sneak into his room, watch him sleep for a bit, perhaps lay with him, and then carefully wake him when she was satisfied. She hadn't done that in a while.
"I'm up now," he grumbled to himself. "Why don't we get breakfast started then?"
"Last night was a full moon, wasn't it?" she asked.
"Yeah?" he looked at her, not knowing where this was going.
"So you have a lot of leftovers, don't you? You always make a lot of food on a full moon for that stray cat and always have leftovers for it. You tried giving her a bath again, didn't you? Your face is scratched. Breakfast is already made when all we need to do is warm it up. If you want, I can help you clean up a bit before Fujimura-sensei—"
She went to reach for the door handle and throw the screen back.
"That's okay, Sakura," he said quickly, putting his hands on her shoulder and pushing her away from the door. He smiled, sure, but she could see the strain under it. "It's just the futon and some laundry. I can take care of that. Why don't you start warming up the food so that way Fuji-nee doesn't complain when she does arrive? You know how she can be sometimes…"
She planted her feet on the ground. He nudged at her to get moving but she only looked up at him. Slowly, her eyes went back to the door.
"Sempai, what are you hiding from me?" she asked in a flat tone.
He hesitated in his answer. His complexion paled slightly.
"It might be a little messier than I like to admit," he said awkwardly, also failing to look at her in the eye. "I was working on a few projects last night and didn't bother putting things away. I don't want you to see."
"…Is that how it is?" she asked with her voice drifting off. "Okay then. Why don't you take care of it while I get breakfast ready then? Fujimura-sensei should be here any minute."
"I would appreciate it," he said with another smile. "Don't worry, I'll have everything sorted out by the time she gets here. It won't take too long."
"You should also fix your uniform, sempai," she told him before offering him a matching smile, turning around, and taking light steps towards the kitchen.
She kept moving at a leisurely pace until hearing the door open, Shirou's footsteps, and the door shutting again. She only stopped to look over her shoulder to see if he had tried to fool her. No, he hadn't. He had gone back into his room.
Now with hurried footsteps, she came back towards his door and threw it open before he had a chance to stop her.
She peered inside to see… nothing.
The room was spotless. There was no mess at all like he had claimed. All of his laundry was placed in the hamper, the futon folded neatly into a corner, and all his belongings put where they belonged. The only thing out of place was the one tatami mat uplifted with Shirou kneeling down with his safebox in his arms, ready to put it back where it belonged in his not-so-secret compartment.
"Ah… Sakura?" he blinked as he looked at her. "Is something wrong? Did you forget something?"
Her face flushed. How shameless of her. She could have sworn she had caught the scent of another woman on him. His behavior had also enforced her suspicions. But there was no evidence.
Unless the woman was shoved into the cramped space no wider than a single tatami mat. But the woman in question would have to be tiny. Possibly the size of a child, really.
"I… wanted to ask where you put the spatula," she said, finding the first thing that came to mind. "I didn't see it."
"Ah… it was washed so it might still be in the sink," he answered after a moment of thought.
"That's right… it should be… thank you," she said quietly, stepped back, and shut the door.
Her face was burning with embarrassment as she headed back towards the kitchen. How could she have accused her sempai of something like that?! It's not like they were dating in the first place!
0-0-0
"…How are you doing, Saber?" Shirou asked with an apologetic smile.
"…I could be better," Saber said with as little aggression as possible.
It was a little hard for her to not be upset with him or Caster. Without warning, they had emptied the space under the mat and shoved her in here. It was cramped. True she was a petite woman with the ageless body of when she first picked up the sword, but she had to bend and fold her body and limbs in ways she didn't think was possible.
Caster wasn't physical at the moment… but Saber knew the Servant was laughing uncontrollably at the situation.
"I'm really sorry…" Shirou said and meant it wholeheartedly. "But I don't want Sakura to get dragged into this Holy Grail War. My life is pretty normal and I'd like to keep it that way as much as possible."
"Unpreparedness is the enemy, Shirou," she lectured. "As well as reluctance. I understand your desire for a safe and familiar lifestyle, but surprises await at every corner during times of war."
"There sure are a lot of enemies…" he muttered.
"Indeed," she replied sagely.
"This wouldn't be a problem if you could turn into a spirit like Caster," he sighed.
She flushed at that, "H-How was I supposed to know I would be summoned in an unorthodox manner? I still do not know how you summoned me in the first place."
He didn't answer right away. He listened for a moment.
"Caster says there was a magic circle in the workshop that had been there before," he answered. "It responded to me when I tried to defend my home from Lancer. The Grail did the rest of the work. Even she says it is a little odd. But I think you should talk to her about that. I can't understand half the things she's telling me right now."
Saber would have nodded if she could.
"I know it's rude, but can you please stay here in my room for a bit?" he asked with another apologetic look. "Sakura and Fuji-nee will both leave early. I'll make you both breakfast for it."
"…I hope you have no plans in keeping me here in particular," she stated in a flat voice.
She grew agitated when Shirou was actually considering whether he should or not.
"Shirou~ I'm hungry!" another voice from within the manor announced its presence.
"That's Fuji-nee," he stated. "Sorry but I got to go. Caster, can you help Saber get out of there? And can you do something so no one but me can enter my room? Thanks."
He stood up and quickly exited the room.
A moment later, Caster materialized and drew a charm on the doorframe. She took her time approaching Saber. When she did, she stood there for a moment, crouched down, and continued to stare at her in amusement. She even had a smirk.
"…Well?" Saber demanded.
"Only if you say please," Caster snickered.
"I was put in this place because of you!" Saber barked back with her face reddening.
"Not so loud or you'll get Shirou in trouble," Caster scolded. "I don't know about you but I want to live long enough for breakfast."
Saber's lips quivered. She fell silent.
"And don't go blaming me," Caster went on. "It's not my fault you can't dematerialize yourself. And you and I both know you shouldn't blame Shirou and his lack of thaumaturgy. Whether he suspects something or not, you can't fool someone summoned under the Caster class."
Now, Saber shot her a distrustful glare.
"There are things you and I must discuss, Caster," Saber said. "Things we could not go over the previous night. I would prefer if Shirou were present… but I feel there are some matters that need to be discussed in private."
"I'm listening…" Caster's voice rang.
Saber looked away for a moment. Her cheeks reddened.
"If you can assist me out of this hole," Saber tried to look and sound as dignified as possible. "I seem to be stuck… Please."
"Hmm… no," Caster said while feigning consideration.
With her magic, she lifted the tatami mat and placed it on top of Saber. It wasn't a perfect fit since Saber's shoulders and hips were in the way. But that wasn't the point. The Servant of the Sword, a great and mighty legendary hero who had achieve the pinnacle of human triumph, was stuck.
Caster was honestly having too much fun. Besides, Shirou didn't exactly give her a time limit to answer his order.
0-0-0
"Shirou, you need to stop trying to give it a bath," Taiga went on once they were at the table enjoying breakfast. "Look at your face! This always happens whenever you try!"
"Fuji-nee, please finish your food before talking," Shirou said patiently. "And have you seen her? She's filthy. She's always covered in dirt and it gets everywhere when I let her in. So I have to give her a bath. Besides, I like to think it does her more good than anything."
"Why don't you adopt her?" Sakura asked from her seat. "You always put so much care into grooming her. She always keeps coming back to you."
"She's always welcome here whenever she wants," Shirou said before pausing to drink some of his soup. "I really think she's just too wild. Remember when she first started to show up? She doesn't beat me up as much as she used to. These scratches are more of an understanding between the two of us."
"Beat you up?" Taiga grossed. "Eh, I guess that's one way of looking at it. I remember when you broke your arm over it. How'd you do that, by the way? Trip over her or something?"
"Actually she grabbed it and just…" he made a gesture with his hands about breaking something in half. "At least she's more tame than Mercury-nee. That one just tries to eat me at any chance."
"I want to see her one day," Sakura yearned. "I always hear things about her but always miss her. Grandfather doesn't let me out of the house on full moons. He's very superstitious."
"You know…" Taiga leaned back and rubbed the bottom of her chin. "My old man is the exact same way. He always invites me over for dinner on a full moon. Huh. I never thought about it until now."
"That might be why she only shows up on a full moon," Shirou thought about it. "You know, animals are more sensitive to things like that than we are. She also only shows up when there's no one home. Sometimes she misses the full moon and sometimes she just shows up randomly."
"I should check out this book from the library," Sakura jumped in. "They have a catalogue of cats. Maybe if I show you, sempai, you can tell me what kind she is?"
"…Cat?" Shirou blinked at that.
"Eh, a cat?" Taiga shook her head. "Sakura-chan, don't you know? It's obviously a dog?"
"A dog?" Shirou blinked again.
"Dogs don't scratch, Fujimura-sensei," Sakura pointed out.
"Hmm. There is that. But her behavior sounds a lot more like a dog. Shirou, didn't you say she likes to roll around on the grass and dig up holes?"
"But dogs don't react as violently towards baths."
"Yeah but they do leave bite marks over the bokken from the dojo."
"Huh," Shirou spoke up. "I… never noticed the similarities. She does take after both of them. But there's a problem."
They both looked at him.
"Dogs bark. Cats meow. The only sound I've ever heard out of her was—"
"Ahhhhhhh~"
"That," Shirou finished, sticking his thumb over his shoulder towards the source behind him.
All heads turned towards the source.
The only sound being heard was the clatter of chopsticks falling out of Sakura's hand… and the wind blowing through Taiga's gaping mouth.
A woman, tall, elegant, beautiful, and mature walked into the dining area. Her hair and eyes were as silver as moonlight with the tanned skin of someone who thrived in the sun. Those eyes were only locked on Shirou as she approached him, knelt down, and tugged on his sleeve.
"Huh," he said and paused.
"Ahhhhhhh," the woman repeated, tugging on his sleeve once again.
"Sorry, sorry," he said with a smile. "I didn't expect you to be here. He didn't tell me. Hold on; I'll get you something. Ah… here. You can have this for now."
He handed her his plate of untouched food. He had started on the soup and salad while saving the main dish for last.
The woman's eyes lit up. She sat with her legs crossed, took the plate with both hands, and almost began to dig in with her face first.
She paused, her eyes flickering up towards Shirou with a look of unpleasantness. Shirou was watching her carefully. She frowned, readjusted her grip, and began to scoop the food with her fingers. Shirou relaxed and let her eat.
She put the first bundle of food in her mouth, chewed, and grew sour for it. She placed the plate down and glared at Shirou.
"There's nothing wrong with it," he growled, insulted for his own cooking being rejected.
She glared harder at him.
"It's still my cooking!" he argued. "The only difference is that Sakura warmed it up. How can you even tell the difference on who—"
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" Taiga slammed her hands onto the table and roared out.
"S-S-S-Sempai…" Sakura was shaking with tears ready to fall out. "W-Who is this woman? And why is she in… Sempai, is that my dress?"
The woman in question was wearing a plum and white dress that Sakura could have sworn she had lost not too long ago. And now she knew what happened to it.
Shirou looked at the two of them with a confused expression. "Her? She's the stray I've been talking about."
His answer had forced the two to blink.
"Ahhhhhh," repeated the woman, never looking away from him.
"Eat it," he told her. "It's fine."
Her eyes narrowed. Without looking away, she put one hand on the edge of the plate.
"Don't you dare," he told her in a flat voice.
She nudged the plate over a little bit.
"Don't," he said in a final warning.
…And she knocked it off the edge of the table.
In the next instance, the morning newspaper was in his hand and had been swung with enough speed to surpass anything Taiga could throw. It smacked the woman on the top of her head.
She put her hands on the spot as though it would leave a welt. Her eyes were glaring at Shirou in both anger and betrayal. They were beginning to water up.
"I told you not to do it!" he scolded, sighed, put the newspaper down, and stood up. He grumbled something incoherent as he went to the kitchen to fetch the broom.
"Shirou…" Taiga growled with her fists shaking and teeth clenching. The Tiger of Fuyuki roared out, "WHO THE HELL IS THIS WOMAN AND WHY IS SHE HERE?!"
"I told you," Shirou retorted as he came back. His face was full of annoyance at having to clean up the mess as well as having to repeat himself. "She's the stray that keeps coming back for food. I'm just as surprised as you are she's still here. She's usually gone before the sun's up."
He went to work scraping up the spilt food.
"But why is she in my dress?!" Sakura cried out.
Shirou stared at her for a moment. "Because… I can't have her naked? It's just indecent."
Sakura froze. Her face went blank for a moment. Quickly, the color began to wash away from her face. She realized what that statement implied.
"Wait a minute," Taiga put up a hand. She had to close her eyes while her brow twitched furiously. "Wait. A. Minute. Y-You're serious. She's the stray dog you kept talking about? For years? The one you mentioned would harm you for giving her a bath?"
The woman's eyes sharpened and her body tensed. Something dangerous crossed her face at the mere mention of the word 'bath'. She had a look as though she was ready to throw down with Taiga.
"…You thought she was a dog this whole time?" Shirou asked instead.
"Dog, cat, I DON'T CARE AT THIS POINT!" Taiga screamed. "She's not some animal like you've been making her out to be all these years!"
"…But she is an animal," Shirou said slowly as though trying to correct Taiga about a simple mistake.
"In what regard is she an animal?!" Taiga was ready to strangle him.
Shirou finished up, leaned against the broom, and thought for a moment. "Well, she loves to do everything outdoors. She's pretty dirty. She's very rough. She loves to scratch and sometimes bites me. Keeping her in clothes is next to impossible. The only way I get her to do anything I want is if I promise her food. And then she'll go wander off somewhere for the next month. Sometimes even longer."
Taiga was speechless.
Sakura was petrified.
Shirou was oblivious to what he had just said and went back to the kitchen to toss out the food and set himself a new plate.
"Ahhhhhh," called out the woman.
"No," he said from behind the counter. He gave her a stern look. "Now you have to wait. I told you not to do it and you did. You'll get more after."
The woman glared at him, then quickly looked away and sulked in her seat. She crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks like a child.
"Shirou…" Taiga struggled to remain in her seat rather than beating some sense into him. "I can't tell if you're just pulling a prank… or just mental. You! Who are you and how do you know Shirou!"
The woman she demanded answers out of glimpsed once at Taiga. It only lasted half a second as she went back to being angry at Shirou.
"She can't talk, Fuji-nee," Shirou stated as he went back to the table. He had two plates of food with him this time.
The woman noticed, went to reach for the second plate, and was swatted away by the same newspaper. She glared at him again before going back to sulking.
"What do you mean she can't talk?" Taiga demanded.
"…She can't talk," he answered slowly but plainly this time. "I tried teaching her once. She understands phrases and terms. But it's more like a Pavlov's Dog scenario. She can recognize things but can't speak like how we do."
"…Do you know who this lady is?" Sakura asked in such a quiet and defeated voice it was almost missed. The light in her eyes had gone out.
Both the woman and Shirou exchanged a look.
"Kinda, but not really?" Shirou offered.
"Just what is that supposed to mean?" Taiga asked.
"Well, I've known her for so long I know a lot about her," Shirou said while thinking about it. "Her identity to me is this stray that comes along every now and then. I never needed to learn anything else about her."
"Never needed?!" Taiga gasped. "Shirou, she could be a missing person for all we know! Her family could be looking for her! She could be a wanted criminal! Or worse!"
"I promise you she's none of those things," Shirou waved it off with a smile. "I've already looked into it. There aren't any records of her."
"That's the worse I'm talking about! A person without a record is worse! How did she get around without being noticed?! She might not even be from this country! Look at her! She looks foreign! No wonder she doesn't speak Japanese!"
"Fuji-nee," Shirou sighed, "you don't need to go that far. She's fine. She's been here long enough to be considered family."
"Fine? Fine?!" Taiga leaned forward and pointed at Shirou. "Look at your face! This always happens when she shows up! She scratches you! Shirou, did this lady cause all your previous injuries?! All the reasons you were forced into the hospital! And… the bath…
"Shirou, are you involved with this woman?"
Sakura squeaked. Her hand covered her mouth as she stared at Shirou.
He and the woman exchanged another look. He grimaced while she tilted her head in curiosity. Her eyes flicked once towards the food.
"I'm afraid to find out what she will do to me if I try anything," he said after facing Taiga. "It's nothing like that, Fuji-nee. I just take care of her every now and then. That's all."
"Sempai…" Sakura spoke up. "Was… Was this the secret you were hiding from me this morning?"
"Oh, no, that was—" he was about to answer when he forced himself to be quiet. "I-I mean… yes! Just her! I wanted to avoid this kind of conversation."
"…A couple minutes ago you were surprised she was still here," Taiga pointed out. "What else are you hiding from us?"
"Nothing!" he blurted out.
Her eyes narrowed.
He frowned lightly and sighed in defeat, "Nothing as big as this, I promise. Let's… um… j-just call it… guy stuff…"
His face reddened as he could only stare at the table.
A part of Sakura was relieved. If not only a little bit. It might explain his behavior this morning… but it could not excuse having another woman besides her.
She thought she smelled something!
"…I don't have time for this…" Taiga grumbled. Her face was red with fury as she was glaring daggers at Shirou. "I have to get to work. I'm not okay with this, Shirou. Not one bit. We're not done talking about this. We're going to finish this discussion later tonight."
"I work tonight," he replied.
"Then call in sick!" she demanded. "I'll call Otoko if I have to! And don't try to get out of this by taking up other jobs from Issei! I want you to come straight home as soon as school is over, do you understand me?"
"…Yes, Fuji-nee," Shirou grumbled.
"And, you're grounded!" she finished.
"Grounded?" he blinked at that.
"Grounded!"
"…You've never grounded me before," Shirou stated.
"That's because I've never had to! You've done some pretty stupid stuff when you were younger. But you learned. I thought after high school all of the stupid was finally out of you. But now do I realize you're twice as stupid as you were before!"
"Okay…" Shirou nodded once. "Then what does this mean?"
"Lights out by nine," she began.
"Okay," Shirou nodded again.
"No staying late after school! You're to come straight home!"
"…Okay," with a little more reluctance.
"No cleaning the house."
"Eh?"
"No gardening."
"Eh?!"
"And no cooking."
"EHHHHHH?!" All color from Shirou's face washed away in an instant.
He wasn't the only one. The woman became petrified. She understood that much.
"B-But those things are vital!" Shirou tried to argue. "I can't just ignore those things! Dad left me this place and I need to take care of it! A-And… cooking…"
"Sakura-chan and I can take care of those things," Taiga wagged a finger at him. "And, if needed, some of Tou-san's men can step in. Or Otoko. She often tells me how much she misses taking care of you when you were younger. And if no one's available, then you can survive off on take-out."
"F-Fuji-nee…" Shirou deflated.
"Nope!" Taiga didn't budge. "My word is law! Those are just the things to start with. The rest we will discuss later tonight. Come on, Sakura-chan. I'll give you a lift. We can leave this idiot for now. Enjoy the cleanup, Shirou. It'll be your last for a while. Savor it."
"Fujimura-sensei?" Sakura gestured towards the woman. "What about her?"
The woman's eyes sharpened for a moment. She immediately lost interest in Sakura and went back to staring at her cooling plate before Shirou.
"…I don't like her being here but…" Taiga sighed with displeasure. "Shirou, make sure she doesn't leave the house. I don't know how but keep her here. I need to figure out what to do with her. She can't stay here but I don't want her wandering around on her own either."
"Yes, Fuji-nee," Shirou sighed. Finally, he let her have the plate of food.
The woman's eyes lit up. She took the plate and began to gorge down, scooping in pieces of meat and rice with her fingertips.
Taiga watched her for a moment. She stood up, gathered her things, and headed out of the door.
Sakura followed soon after. She glimpsed once towards Shirou, then to the other woman, and back to Shirou.
She hadn't looked at him like this since the first time they met. Since the time she thought all life was hopeless and there was nothing outside of her grandfather's cellar. The life in her eyes vanished now that she saw her beloved sempai, whom she had given her heart for, was involved with another woman. She was nothing more than a toy to him, she realized.
She left the house without a word.
0-0-0
"You know…" Caster appeared and took a seat at the table. She had her cloak on but the hood was off. "I could have hypnotized them and erased their memories. That Sakura girl wouldn't be so heartbroken if I had done that."
"I considered it," Shirou admitted. "But I was told it was better this way. Both good and bad, really. Good because it will lead me to finding the larger threat of this war. Bad because it might put people's lives in danger. But I can't find it unless the threat makes itself present. Even worse, the threat is somehow connected to one of them. He wouldn't tell me which one or how…"
The mystery woman was observing him while she ate.
"I don't believe they are connected to the war," Caster stated her opinion. "I didn't sense they were Masters. Perhaps, if anything, that Sakura girl. The Tohsaka Master did admit she was a part of one of the founding families of the war."
"Zouken and I have an understanding," he stated in a flat voice.
Caster wanted to ask about it… but his voice warned her it wasn't a good idea to pry into it.
"Are you sure it is wise to toy with the heart of a maiden, Shirou?" Saber asked as she entered the kitchen. She was out of the nightwear Shirou gave her and back into her blue and white battle gown.
"If it means I'm one step closer to saving this city and millions of lives, then yes," Shirou stated simply.
Saber nodded with complete understanding. Sometimes it is necessary to perform evil. So long as he did not replace it as an act of good.
"But this girl is completely infatuated with you," Caster looked at him with disappointment. "Doesn't that mean anything to you? You're betraying her trust if you carry this out."
"Caster, you should stop," Shirou said.
"Stop what?" she demanded in a cross voice.
"You figured it out not too long after we met," he went on. "Don't think I didn't notice the pattern of your teasing and choice of words. I'm extremely observant of people for a reason. You know why. You know that I know. Don't pretend otherwise."
Caster said nothing. She leaned against the table while cupping her hands together.
"Should I be aware of this as well?" Saber asked.
"…It's fair," Shirou said after a moment. "In regards to our conversation yesterday, Saber, I'm not exactly a normal human being. My shishou would say we were more human than anyone else but, really, I'm probably closer to one of Gaia's Effigies."
She quirked a brow at that.
"I can't sympathize with people," he went on. "But I can understand them. I know how they think. I've studied them for a long time. I've learned their habits, their signatures, their emotions and reactions, and gestures. I can emulate them. I can be as human as the next person and no one will notice. But at the end of the day…?
"I have a heart of glass."
"…Nothing?" Caster spoke up. "You honestly feel nothing for anyone else? Not for the girl who is hopelessly in love with you? I had thought you were reclusive at the least. Perhaps a little antisocial. But completely apathetic?"
She was upset. The whole situation poked at a tender wound that had never finished healing.
"More like I can't," he said flatly. He didn't try to smile or shift the tone of his voice. He spoke with complete detachment. "I can only assume it's why I can get along with her so well."
He gestured at the woman at his side.
She looked at him for a moment… and went back to eating.
"Think about it," he shrugged, falling back into a more human façade with facial expressions and hand gestures. "Everything requires communication. Cells, plants, animals, and humans. There are just different types of communication. Yet those of the same type all try to converse with the other somehow in some way.
"She might look human. But she's exactly like me. The only difference is she's too engrossed with her side of things to understand humanity like I do. Yet… I just like being near her. And so does she. She's the only thing on this planet I can sympathize with."
"Shirou," Saber spoke up. "The Grail chooses seven Masters because it finds them worthy."
Shirou looked at her.
Her eyes hardened, "It didn't choose you for your power or your… pedigree. It chose you because you have something to desire. Something only the Grail can grant."
"I'm not interested in the Grail," he said straightforward. "I'm only participating to make sure someone doesn't abuse it."
"Then you mean to say you will be the one to choose who will win the Holy Grail War," she carried on the idea.
"More like I'll get rid of those who will use it to harm innocent people. So far I haven't seen any problems from anyone. But there are a few Masters I'm not aware of."
"My point," Saber spoke sharply. "All of these Masters desire something from the Grail. They all have something to strive for, something to compete against their betters, something they are willing to sacrifice and call upon us Heroic Spirits to aid them. You are no exception. It wouldn't have chosen you if you had nothing to wish for."
He was silent and still as he watched her.
"What wish do you have for the Grail?" she asked next.
"I'll tell you if you tell me yours, Saber," he retorted quickly, twice as sharp as her tongue.
They stared at another for a long moment.
"My wish…" Saber's eyes narrowed slightly but she never looked away. "Is to redo a choice I had mistakenly made. I wish to offer the position to someone more worthy."
He kept looking at her, observing her through his analytical eyes. At the same time, he was trying to listen for something. Something in the background he paid half a mind to while he tried to search her for something.
"Saber, you should rethink that," he said eventually.
Cold fury surged through her.
"What," she demanded with steel in her voice.
"You want to use the Grail to change something in your past?" though it came out as a question, it was more of a statement. "You want to alter the course of history? Something like that won't just change who among your circle will live and die. The lives of your enemies, their enemies, and their comrades will also be affected. Your single choice would create a ripple effect. Entire generations of people who are alive today might not exist after your wish.
"If you continue to pursue the Grail for this, I will be forced to put you down. Don't make me do this."
"…You don't know what you're saying," Saber spoke in a low voice. "You were not there, Shirou. You don't know what atrocities my choice had made. Everything is lost because—"
"I know, Arturia," Shirou snapped.
Her eyes widened. The blood washed away from her face.
He knew her name. It was never recorded. It was never shared with him. Her legend was warped. There should have been no possibility he knew who she was.
Caster shifted in her seat. She gave nothing away to share she understood the name or not.
"I know better than you do what redoing the selection process will do," Shirou went on. "Your kingdom won't be the only thing affected. Even the modern age and the future will be altered. Countless lives will cease to exist and new ones will arise. Humanity will be off balance. Even worse… some of my predecessors wouldn't exist. Like Lulu-ji… which means…"
He glanced at the mystery woman. She gave him an almost human expression, indicating she knew what he was implying but wasn't going to acknowledge his words.
"That's hardly fair, Shirou," Caster said. "You shouldn't be criticizing Saber's wish when you haven't told us your own."
"It's not criticizing," he argued. "I'm pointing out the consequences of her choice."
"Still sounds like critique to me," Caster continued. She also knew he had tried to deviate the topic. "What is your wish? Knowing you and your talk about protecting the peace, I wouldn't be surprised if you secretly wished for world peace."
"…No," he said with his brows furrowing. He almost looked upset. "My old man told me world peace is a mistake and I believe him. Besides, if the world was at peace, meaning she and I could get along completely, I'd be out of a job. And humanity wouldn't be able to stand up against forces like the Types. A complete utopia like in dreams means the human race stagnates."
"You would also kill the Master seeking world peace?" Saber asked incredulously. "You would kill a Master seeking destruction as well as one seeking peace. What then would you allow?"
"I like Tohsaka's wish," he raised a finger.
"You mean to keep it as a trophy?" Caster asked bluntly. "That's not a wish at all, Shirou."
"It also won't kill people," he nodded with satisfaction. "Things like that are okay."
"Can you give us an example?" she tried next with a slightly irritated tone. "Such as, for example, what you would wish for?"
"You're pretty persistent about this."
She only gave him a flat stare.
"I have no intention in claiming the Grail for myself," he began. "If there's someone with a better wish than mine, I'll gladly give it to them. But… if I were to have to ask for something, I suppose it would be… to be able to sympathize with people."
He shrugged, more emulating the habit than showing expression. After that, he passed on his cold plate of food over to the mystery woman.
She accepted it graciously and went for round two.
"Then does this mean you have no intentions in supporting us as our Master?" Saber demanded.
"No, I'll support you as long as I have to," he corrected. "Caster's wish might cause a few ripples but I'm told it's not as bad as yours. I'll be your Master a little longer, Saber. But if you want that wish… I will stop you before we finish. Be in mind I still have two other Masters to interview; the Master of Rider and the Master of Assassin. After that, we can figure out where to go from there."
"So then, this is our agenda for the war?" Caster mused with dry humor. "We carry our duties as Servants as if they actually matter to the grand scheme of things? Meanwhile you continue to search for this impending threat you're so certain will appear."
"That sounds about right," he nodded. "Anything else?"
Both Servants were quiet.
"Alright then," Shirou fell back into his human façade as he patted his knee and stood up. He began to gather things from the table. "I better hurry and clean this up. I have to be in school in a bit. Oh, but before that…"
He piled everything he could into one arm, put a hand on his waist, and looked down at the woman still eating.
She finished and handed him his plate. She looked up at him with eyes full of expectancy.
"What am I going to do with you…?" he asked himself. "Fuji-nee is going to be mad if you go missing and will blame me. I'll be in even more trouble than I already am. Do you think you can stay here today?"
She gave him a sour look.
"You can lay around in the yard," he gestured towards the main hallway. "You like that, don't you? It's just for one day."
Her eyes narrowed.
"…Okay, it might be more than a day," he admitted. "Just long enough for her to calm down. Then you can run off like you always do and I can make up some excuse for myself. Please?"
She just stared at him.
"I'm going to assume that's a yes," he stated and went to the kitchen.
A moment later he came back with three plates of food. One for the woman and two for his Servants.
"Caster, I'm going to need you for later today," he said while going back to the kitchen to finish the cleaning. "There's something going on at my school and I'm going to need your help. Do you remember where my school is?"
"I do but if it's so important shouldn't I go with you right now?" Caster asked as she began to eat.
He crossed his arms and thought about it, "I won't be able to direct you where you need to go. Plus I'm going to be busy with lessons to escort you around campus. It'll be better if you arrive after school."
"Will you need me to arrive as well?" Saber asked.
"I would like the help but… I don't have a spare change of clothes for you. And you can't turn invisible like Caster from what you've told me. People will get suspicious if they see you walking around like that. So it might be better if you stay here."
"And what exactly will I be doing?" Caster asked.
"People are going to die," he stated while he worked at the sink. "There's something around the school and if I don't find the source then the students and faculty will be in danger. I can deal with it myself but… my percent of success is a lot higher if you tag along. I'm guessing it's something magic related. It'd also be decent if I asked for Tohsaka-san's help."
"And seeing as her Archer nearly killed us last night, I don't think she's willing to oblige," Caster mused. "Very well then. I will arrive as soon as school is let out. It might be the workings of another Servant if you require my assistance."
"I would appreciate it," Shirou said, walking out of the kitchen while drying his hands with a towel. He sighed while folding it and placing it on the countertop. His eyes looked at the kitchen with longing. "I guess this is it then. I'll need to find another source to gather people. Maybe I should buy a game system and invite friends over? But then I can't offer them any snacks… This is harder than I thought…"
They watched him cross over the room to reach for his book bag.
"Just put everything in the sink when you're done," he told them. "Take care of the house while I'm gone. Oh… and please don't let her scratch up the mats. If you can, anyways."
He offered them a smile, a wave, and headed out of the room.
The two Servants regarded the woman. She had finished her plate and was looking at theirs with a sharp glint of hunger.
Saber pulled her plate closer to herself. Caster debated whether it was worth it or not to fight over a mediocre dish.
She eventually decided to hand it over. Besides, it wasn't really Shirou's cooking. He had taken the recipe from a local grocer rather than apply his unique kitchen magic to it. The woman didn't notice the difference and just gorged down.
"Now then…" Caster pondered while looking around the room. "I don't suppose either of you are willing to gossip over anything?"
Saber gave her a strange look. The woman regarded her for a moment before going back to her food.
"How drawl," Caster sighed, used her magic to summon the television remote, and turned it to a morning talk show.
