A note from the author:

To those who don't read my less popular works, I am alive. Yes, rejoice, I have returned and come baring fruits. So I've got some good news and (depending on where you sit) just plain old news.

First and foremost, I am updating a select few stories from my works for the remainder of this year, 2019. This is due to the fact I have far too many projects and a scatterbrain mind. I can't work on all of them due to my own faults. So, I'm setting up a schedule to have a few of them updated while the rest are left on the backburner for next year. I apologize if the stories you want isn't included at the moment.

The list is as following: Heart of Glass (until a certain event happens; est. 4-5 chapters), Seventh, the Dragoon (until story conclusion), Broken Rules (est. 3-4 chapters), and Doll Maker (undetermined amount of chapters).

I'll also be updating Synthetic Fox, my original stories on Fictionpress, and a currently untitled DanMachi story throughout the year between schedules. And, yes, I do realize my hypocrisy of making this schedule and a new project.

At the least, Heart of Glass is back in action and is going to be updated very frequently. I'm expecting the next chapter to be out within 7-10 days of this chapter's post.

Thank you all for your patience. Now, on with the show.


Chapter Six

Sakura's Day

Caster eyed the territory her Master had escorted them to. It was a large Western-style house with three floors and an expansive garden at the front. A low brick fence lined against the sidewalk with pikes of iron to stop anyone from climbing over. There was a gate, though it being open didn't mean just anyone was welcomed to step within.

Her critical eye could see how much work had been put on the wards. It was nowhere near at her level but was still significantly better than the wards she was quickly assuming in the Emiya estate. The ones surrounding the walls would detect intruders and sense malicious intent. The retaliation would be… gruesome. Enough so it made her lips curve into a worried frown.

While they weren't at her standards, these weaves have been applied in layers over the course of generations. It would take her years to reach this level. Weeks to unravel them.

"Shirou," she gave her two cents once they approached the gate. He didn't show any signs of hesitation. "Perhaps a bit of caution might be advisable. Challenging the likes of the Berserker might be your forte, but approaching a structure like this may require a more… delicate touch."

"I concur with Caster," Saber stated. Her eyes narrowed as her eyes flicked from one end of the wall to the other. "Charging headfirst into an enemy's stronghold without a plan is foolish. More so when it is evidently a magus' dwelling. Who knows what traps we may spring?"

"I know," he countered, stopping at the gate to look at them over his shoulder. His mask of humanity was gone. It was like talking to a statue. "This isn't the first time the old worm tried something behind my back. There is nothing he can do that will hurt me."

"So you've said previously," Caster muttered. "You underestimate the wiles of a magus, Shirou. Perhaps your previous attempt surprised him, but a magus always learns from their mistakes. Who's to say there isn't something new devised with you in mind this time?"

"I say," he said with finality. He turned back towards the gate and took his first steps into the Bounded Field.

Caster tried to stop him. She put a hand onto his shoulder and tried to pull him away. But he continued to move despite how solid of a grip she had.

As soon as he crossed the invisible line that separated the street from the garden, the magical wards surrounding the estate came alive. Black arcane energy surged in the form of lightning, fire, and malformed skulls screaming in agony. Curses of the darkest kind were unleashed onto Shirou.

Caster pulled her hand back before any of them could touch her. Even being so close to them was her gloved hand scorched at the fingertips. A quick spell on her part had her dispelling the curse, and yet the surface of her skin had rotten. This was just being near its presence.

Shirou was taking the full brunt of it.

And he continued to walk straight while this wall of blackness washed over him, wrapping around him like a thick layer of spider's webs. It cocooned him and inflicted inconceivable amounts of pain onto him.

He grabbed a clot of it at his shoulder… and pulled it off of him as easily as disrobing a mantle. He flung his arm off to the side and the gathering of black curses flew away, powerless and losing its potency as it drifted in the air. It fell onto the grass, scorching the terrain in a permanent black, before dissipating into nothingness.

"…Aren't you coming?" he asked as he continued his pace, paused, and then glanced over his shoulder. "Or did you plan on waiting out there? It's fine. I can deal with the worm myself. But I thought you'd want to deal with the Rider and her Master while we're here."

Both Caster and Saber could only silently gawk at him in their own way. The Saber had a stoic expression but her eyes told them how confused she was. And, if Caster was a betting girl, Saber also had a trace of fear in her eyes.

Caster was on the same boat. Her Master continued to surprise her. Only the most durable Dead Apostle Ancestors could replicate what Shirou had done. And those were the likes not even a true Heroic Spirit— not a Servant, but an Epic Spirit straight from the Throne— could stand against.

"Ahhhhh," said the fourth member of their troupe, whom Caster wasn't allowed to forget but would rather prefer to pretend otherwise. The silver-haired thing looked like she wanted to follow Shirou but was unwilling to cross into the threshold.

A sense of humanity returned to Shirou as he regarded her, "Oh. Just stay there. I won't be long. I'd tell you to play in the garden but this isn't my house… plus you can feel it too, huh? It's not a nice place to play in."

Silver eyes loomed around. The woman glowered and then plopped herself down onto the sidewalk.

Shirou smiled softly at her before turning back and heading up the walkway towards the estate.

"…After you," Caster offered with a gesture.

Saber gave her a distrustful look before extending her invisible sword through the invisible line. Nothing happened. Shirou hadn't exactly disabled the entirety of the wards in his stroll. If anything, he had created a hole of entry through this spider's web of curses and hexes. So long as they followed his path would they be fine.

The two Servants were quick to follow in his steps. Perhaps the Saber had the sense of protecting (or at least supporting) their Master but Caster didn't want to be too far away from his protection. It was difficult to tell what other traps lay in wait.

"The door is warded, Shirou," she told him. And then jested, "Should we ring the doorbell?"

To her surprise, he complied. He rapped his knuckles against the door a few times before reaching for the handle. Once again, a nasty curse reached out like a black viper and latched onto his hand. It seeped into his skin and flowed up like jagged thorns.

It didn't get further than past his wrist. He turned the handle, flexing what muscle lay in his hand, and it shattered the curse like delicate glass.

"Excuse me," he called out as he opened the door and let himself in. There was even a tone of politeness in his voice. It was almost as if he was entering a friend's place that always welcomed him.

That was… until the large nail flying at his head broke the illusion.

Saber moved around him in a blur and swatted the projectile out of the air. She stood in a guarded stance in front of Shirou.

The interior of the house was grim. While there were plenty of luxurious décor that spoke of wealth and history, it didn't exactly brighten up the area in the least. There was something in the air. No, in the very presence of the house itself. There was no happiness within these walls. Something made the entire territory horrendously unnerving. It was almost a physical aspect they could all see.

"You are a fool to have followed me," the soothing voice of the Rider called out to them. It took Caster a moment to find her. She was standing on the rails of the second floor, looking down on them with chains dangling loosely in her hands. A quick tug and the nail Saber deflected landed back in her grip.

"I'm not here for you," Shirou said with such dispassion it almost rivaled the aura of the house. "Saber, Caster, do what you want with her. I'll be back shortly."

He completely dismissed Rider as he broke off from their group and towards the right of the house. Rider watched him behind her visor with a curiosity anyone could see. It wasn't until Shirou had taken a few steps did she stir.

"You'll go no further!" the Rider shouted… almost in alarm. She leapt off the rail and threw her weapon at the back of his skull.

He never stopped walking as Saber was there to intercept. Her invisible blade deflected the nail, the second following its shadow, and her blade caught the net of chains heading after him. Her wind blade tugged on the chains, unwilling to let Rider have her way with their Master.

"You'll not harm my Master," Saber barked out. "We finish our fight, Rider!"

Rider clicked her teeth and rushed at Saber. But she never fought to defeat or overpower Saber. Her use of chains was to disarm Saber and force her to move aside. She was fighting desperately to get to Shirou, who continued to go with purpose and ignore their ruckus.

Saber was the superior Servant. She was an insurmountable wall— hilarious considering her miniature stature. She never budged against Rider's attempts to get around her. She was the one who knocked the more mature Servant back.

Shirou reached the far end of the hallway and turned towards the wall. He found a latch hidden as a decoration. A part of the wall opened up, revealing a secret stairway. He stepped in without a glance towards them and shut the door behind him.

"No!" Rider shouted and doubled her efforts. But to no avail. Saber brought her weapon around and would have carved into the woman's chest if those chains weren't there to catch her blade.

Caster raised her palm and unleashed a quick cast prana missile. It struck at Rider's torso and blew her into the wall. The walls of the house were warded with preservation magic. A blow like that should have had Rider knocked into the next room. While the defenses weren't strong enough for a battle against Servants, it would survive a battle of lesser proportions.

"Thank you, Caster, but I do not need your assistance," Saber stated in a simple tone. "I have unfinished business with this one."

"Don't be like that now, Saber," Caster smirked as she watched Rider push herself out of the imprint. She was watching them like a cornered animal. "I have a bone to pick with her too. You wouldn't understand but after seeing that atrocious bounded field at the school… let's just call it a matter of professional pride."

That, and they were still in the heart of a magus' threshold. Saber's Magic Resistance made her an invaluable shield should any more hexes pop out of the walls. There was also the chance Caster might get lucky and remove the girl from the War. One less Servant to fight over the Grail and all that.

Under the guise of competition, Caster joined Saber's side. She waved a hand and flung several prana shots at Rider… who scurried off to the side and flipped over the railings and onto the second floor.

If Rider wanted them to chase them deeper into the house, then so be it. Caster wasn't afraid! She had a Saber with high Magic Resistance!

0-0-0

It was another day down in the crypt. Another day for training and calibration. Sakura had undergone the same process so many times she didn't feel it anymore. The amount of wrongness inflicted on her was more natural at this point than her daily life as a student.

The Crest Worms invaded her as she lay on the floor. They slithered and crawled all over her body, inside and out, coming and going through whatever crevice they could find. They were trading places with the worms already existing in her body. They were eating at her flesh, defecating the excess, and leaving their larvae to repeat the process once they matured. They were ripping her apart as well as healing her, reworking her Magic Circuits in a painfully slow process to become the perfect Matou magus.

Grandfather watched the process. Always. Most of the work was done by the worms and they followed a habitual practice implanted into their instinct since birth. Sometimes, on those rare occasions he would notice a change within her, he would alter the ritual. Sakura couldn't tell what it was, but a master magus like him could.

The old magus hunched on his cane as his soulless eyes examined her and the worms as he had a hundred-thousand times before. Sakura had long lost the sense of embarrassment of being naked in front of him. Having a worm take her chastity as a prepubescent child would do that.

"Hmm?" her grandfather stirred. His head turned away from her as his eyes slithered on over towards the stairs.

Sakura only paid it some mind because of her grandfather's reaction. Beyond the sound of a hive marching throughout her, she distinctly heard the sound of footsteps. Odd. Shinji would never come down here. Not unless Grandfather ordered him to. But the old man's reaction said otherwise.

"I was wondering what that racket was up there," the old man's voice rumbled. His cane clacked once as he turned further towards the stairs. "It would seem my useless grandson had done something utterly foolish. To what do I owe the pleasure of your unexpected arrival, Emiya?"

…Emiya?

Life returned to Sakura by that name. Her eyes flicked towards the stairway.

Golden eyes peered back at her.

What… What was he doing here?

No. He had seen her. He had seen her in the one place she didn't want him to be in. And in this state; she was being violated by the worms as part of the Matou magic.

"S-Sempai…" she whispered in horror and shame. She sat up and tried to cover herself. She looked away and hid her face behind her hair. The worms crawling beneath her skin writhed in reaction to her anxiety. They pulsed like angry veins and squirmed in defiance.

She felt his golden eyes look away from her. It was like a spotlight had shifted to focus on another character.

"We had an understanding, Zouken," he said without a tone. It wasn't the gentle voice she had known. It was… so very much like the emotionless boy she had first met so many years ago.

"An understanding I have not betrayed, I assure you," Grandfather returned courteously. As if he were speaking to someone worth his respect. An equal. "I have only continued to further the education of my granddaughter, just as we agreed. Has there been some sort of misinterpretation, Emiya?"

"Tell me why there is a Servant within your household," Shirou demanded.

No one would dare to speak to her grandfather like that. No one. Those that had were brutally punished or… devoured.

Her eyes widened but she wouldn't dare to look his way. Servant. He was aware of the Holy Grail War. He was a contender. And for him to be here meant he had confronted Rider.

"…Utterly foolish indeed," her grandfather hissed below his breath. "I had expected the Grail to have overlooked your candidacy as a Master. You weren't meant to be a Master. You do not fit any of the guidelines we set up. I had no doubt you'd be involved one way or another… but not as a Master."

Sakura dared to look his way. All of Shirou's attention was locked on her grandfather. Her eyes widened once more as she spotted the jagged red marks on the back of his hand that made up a Command Seal, proof of his status as a Master.

"Answer the question," Shirou demanded once more.

"I am a Makiri," her grandfather spoke with a level amount of calmness, laced with begrudging anger for intended viewing. "I am one of the originators of the Holy Grail War. Someone from my household will always have a spot reserved as a participant. I am too old to be involved, but there is another with my name that qualifies enough."

"…I was under the impression Shinji was no magus," Shirou stated with a bit of hesitation. His expression and tone never changed. He remained emotionless.

"Neither are you, Emiya," Zouken countered. "And yet here we are."

There was a long silence between them.

"I have not broken my end of our agreement," her grandfather began, calmer and more in control now that Shirou's argument held no merit. "Sakura has not been involved in our affairs. You came here to claim otherwise? Where is your poof, Emiya? I have been nothing but a caring grandfather towards her."

"Answer me," Shirou stirred, like a statue coming to life. "Are you aware the Rider Servant has been preying on the lives of the innocent?"

Zouken cackled, "There are no innocents in this world, Emiya. But, yes, I had my suspicions my grandson would stoop to such levels. As he does not carry any Magic Circuits to support his Servant, he would need to find alternative methods to keeping her to par."

"And you have no intentions of stopping him?"

"He is a Master of the Holy Grail War," Zouken countered calmly. "However he wishes to act is up to him. So long as he does not expose the secrecy of magic, I see no reason to reprimand him. My only concern is the sloppiness of his work. He should have disposed of the bodies entirely and removed any evidence of his feeding."

"Then this is an affair involving the Holy Grail War," Shirou stated. "I cannot hold you responsible. I will be dealing with him then. As a Master as well as this city's protector. Do you have any disagreement, Zouken?"

"Even if you weren't a Master, you'd get yourself involved. It was only a matter of time before you went after my grandson. Do what you must. He is of no worth to me without magic."

Sakura almost forgot to breathe. Here were two people talking casually about what to do with Shinji. Shirou was talking about fighting him as a Master, potentially killing him, and her grandfather was dismissive about Shinji's wellbeing. For all his faults, Shinji was still her brother. She loved him no matter how cruel he was to her.

"Until the Holy Grail War is concluded, Sakura will be coming with me," Shirou declared next.

Sakura's head snapped up at him.

"…I must disagree, Emiya," her grandfather growled in a dangerous tone. A tone very few lived after hearing. "You have no grounds to take her from me."

"There is a war going on and you are a part of it," Shirou replied. "My Servants are currently engaged against Rider above our heads. Even if Rider is defeated, there is still the threat of Shinji being a Master. That doesn't remove him from the War itself. And considering your position, I cannot rule out another Master coming for you in hopes of gaining an advantage. You might be able to ward them off on your own, but there's no guarantee Sakura won't be caught in the crossfire. Does that suffice?"

"…Servants?" her grandfather questioned. "You summoned more than one Servant?"

Shirou gave no answer as he continued to stare into Zouken's beady eyes. Slowly, steadily, with each step echoing throughout the dungeon, her upperclassman descended further down the stairs and reached the bottom level. He never broke eye contact with her grandfather. He showed no fear or hesitation in approaching the ancient magus. The worms parted away from him to clear a path. They shrieked as though being in his presence was dissolving them.

"You're being hypocritical, Emiya," Zouken growled out. "I could hold the same argument about you. How do I know your unique position will not endanger my granddaughter?"

"He told me," Shirou's response was immediate, almost preemptively ready. "There is nothing in this war that can threaten me. There is no safer place for Sakura than at my side. Any danger lurking in the city won't be able to hide from me. All who do, or will, so much as think of harming me will alert me immediately."

Sakura blinked. A katana rested on Zouken's shoulder with the hilt held lightly in Shirou's hand. It hadn't been there before.

"Even if they're not in front of me," Shirou continued as he gave Zouken a pointed look. "Even if they're hiding elsewhere. I can cut them down… and make sure they never come back."

Her grandfather went inhumanly still. But his eyes flared with rage. Rage… and fear.

There was a void within the dungeon. Neither her grandfather nor Shirou so much as twitched. Like two statues cemented to stare at another for all eternity, their gazes locked onto another. The chittering and slithering of the worms ceased. The silence was thunder of itself.

"Sakura," Grandfather spat her name with venom. "Get dressed. You will be staying with Emiya until the Grail War is concluded."

Her heart skipped a beat. In joy, anticipation, confusion, dread, and hope bundled into one. She didn't know if she should be happy to get away from the Matou manor for some time. She didn't know if she should be afraid for her grandfather's retaliation.

She didn't know if she could trust Shirou. The mystery woman from this morning aside, he had been keeping even more secrets from her. How long had he been aware of the moonlight world? How long had he been connected to Grandfather?

What secret was he holding to make her grandfather bend?

The katana lifted off of his shoulder and was placed into a sheath in Shirou's other hand— yet another instrument that hadn't been there when Sakura last looked. Without a word or even a glance at her, he turned his back on Zouken and walked up the stairs. He walked with the grace of a man who knew his expectations would be met.

"…Grandfather?" Sakura spoke with barely a whisper, terrified for reasons she couldn't explain or understand herself.

"Do as you're told," the old man said with a low rumble, eyes burning with a cold fury at Shirou's back. He didn't move. He said nothing else.

0-0-0

Saber let out a frustrated grunt as her opponent slithered out of another strike. The Rider was a most devious serpent. While Saber relied on brute strength, bursts of speed, and sword techniques oft found in chivalrous duels between knights and kings, the Rider was nothing but continuous streams of agility, flexibility, and underhanded tactics that infuriated her pride and honor as a knight. Her body twisted and bent in ways that made Saber jealous.

No, it had nothing to do with the fact the woman was more than her head and shoulders in height with a mature, voluptuous body. Not at all! Saber was a sword first and foremost! After that, she was a King! She was a woman last, if not ever!

"Haaa!"

Her latest flurry of swings that tore apart the hallway had nothing to do with her jealousy. Not at all. This was a battle to the death between Servants. It had nothing to do with the way Rider's womanly lumps jiggled whenever she moved. Nor the knowing smirk of superiority from the taller woman.

By all means, Saber was the superior Servant. On an open field, she would be able to best Rider several moves ago. However, with a cramped and narrow hallway to engage in, Rider had all the advantages. She was banking off the walls to reach Saber at angles not feasible in common swordplay.

There was also the fact Saber's… associate was the least supportive of comrades. Caster took potshots whenever it was appropriate, but due to the narrow hallways some of them landed on Saber instead. Caster apologized… but something about that smirk on her face left Saber suspicious on how accidental it was.

In short, they were getting nowhere with this. Rider kept playing with them, leading them deeper into the mansion and—

"What are you—?!"

Caster grabbed Saber by the collar of her battle gown and flung her around. Saber was blasted with a myriad of black spectral entities that had leapt out of a painting. They struck Saber but her Magic Resistance dissipated them.

"Caster…" Saber growled. "Did you just use me as a shield—"

Caster swung her back around. Saber's instincts took over as she swung Excalibur around. Two more nails were deflected.

"Yup," Caster said without shame. "Now hold still."

Still holding Saber up off her feet, Caster placed one hand over her shoulder with the palm open and pointed towards Rider. Caster muttered arcane words of power at rapid speeds and magic formed in her palm. It took no longer than a second for a series of prana bullets to fire out of her hand.

Naturally, Rider dodged. She ducked, swerved, and leapt around as the barrage of bullets kept aiming at her. While flipping around, Rider flicked one of her nails at Caster's head.

Saber had half a mind to let it kill Caster for this humiliation. But… her sword was up and it deflected the nail. Her human decency forbade her from allowing her teammate (term used loosely here) from dying.

But she will not hesitate to cut her down the moment they were the last two Servants in this war.

"Release me!" Saber demanded with a flushed face. "I will not stand for this humiliation, Caster."

"But you're not standing," Caster giggled with amusement as she kept firing at Rider. "You're surprisingly light despite all that armor."

Weight had nothing to do with it. Any Servant is vastly superior to an average human. Even Servants with the lowest rank— E-Rank— were roughly ten times stronger than the normal human. There was no doubt ten humans could lift Saber.

Caster let her go and the Saber took a few steps forward to be out of her reach. The lithe Servant gave a curt nod before readying her sword once more. Rider was crouched down low with one hand flat on the floor and the other holding one of the nails at eye-level. She was ready to pounce— either at them like a predator or away like the hunted.

They were getting nowhere like this. A new methodology was needed if they were going to defeat the Rider. Saber could hack away all she wanted but it meant nothing if none of her blows could land. If Caster had more preparation, she could have used a large-scale spell to level the entire house. Their Master would surely survive… as might the Saber, much to Caster's frustration.

Blowing up the mansion wasn't an actual option, unfortunately. There was still light outside and any sudden blast would alert the mundane populous. She might be able to get away with it if it were nightfall.

"I must say…" Caster began to talk, trying to both find an opening as well as learn a little bit more about the enemy Servant. "You don't strike me as the sort to meddle with the arcane. It would explain why that bounded field was so paltry."

The Rider did not respond. There was a reaction, however. The chain dangling along the end of her nail clinked by the slightest twitch.

"It would be a matter of triviality to undo the seals," Caster went on. Her lips curved with displeasure, "I would prefer not to. The foundation is so amateurish I fear my own talents would diminish in undoing them. But if my Master orders me, there is little I can do about it."

"Is there a point to your prattling?" Rider questioned in a low voice.

"Only to bounce a few ideas off of a wall. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the function of the bounded field is to siphon the life force out of all of those within. If so, then it begs to question where all that collected energy goes to. Why, it would only make sense for it to go directly to the one who created the barrier, no?"

Rider didn't acknowledge the question.

Saber turned her head without looking away from the Rider. It was a gesture meant to question Caster's intentions and to hurry up.

This time, Caster put a hand to her mouth and give a few chortles of light laughter, "All that power… and for what purpose? Does your Noble Phantasm require that much power? Or… is it that your Master is so pathetic he can't even satisfy his own Servant? I did happen to see you sucking the life out of that one girl in the forest…"

Again, Rider remained silent.

It was starting to bore Caster, but she persisted on. "You're outclassed and outnumbered, Rider. You might be able to stave us off thus far, but how long will that stamina last? And even if you manage to elude us, you've made yourself an enemy of the Archer's Master by attacking that girl. It's my understanding your Master and mine share some sort of history together. Perhaps… we can all come to some sort of accord?"

Saber stirred; a slight increase in the grip of her sword. Nothing more. She didn't like where Caster was going with this but was willing to go along with it, if not to see how it all ends.

"…Are you suggesting an alliance?" the Rider finally spoke.

"My Master has given me his full permission to approach you however I see fit," Caster's lips curved this time into a smile. "Battle or barter, it doesn't matter to him. His only concern is to maintain the illusion of his normality. We can either continue this charade and bring this house to ruins… or you can side with us."

That finally got a stir out of Rider. Her head bowed low as her muscles coiled. She was ready to spring into action. The Saber saw this immediately. Her body tensed as her brows furrowed, though Caster was aware her expression was due to her words.

"Think about your Master, Rider," Caster continued. "You're but one Servant against three united. You might get lucky and take one of us out, but not all of us. And even if you are gone, your Master is still a threat in the war. My Master doesn't like threats, else we wouldn't be here."

There it was. That hesitance. Rider was considering her words. Now to give the final push and tip her over the edge. This was Caster's victory.

"Enough," Saber sighed with heavy displeasure. She lowered her weapon as she stood straight. She never looked away from Rider but turned her face slightly for Caster to see her disgruntled expression. "If this is how you wish to have your battles, Caster, so be it. But I will not use underhanded tactics to win the Grail. There is no honor in this. You will face the opposition on your own if this continues."

Caster tried her hardest to not gawk at the petite knight. Honor? Honor?! This wasn't a tournament full of festivities and drunkards. This was war. Pompous things like honor belonged to the foolish. "Saber… Try to see it my way. We either kill Rider through your barbaric means or we gain another ally to help in your cause like yours truly. Think of our Master. Do you really want to see him fight against one of his dear friends? Think of how heartbroken he will be."

Saber lifted her gaze off of Rider to give Caster a flat look. "Do not try to fool me, Caster. Your silver tongue will not sway me. However… I cannot excuse the potential calamity of that bounded field."

And just like that, all the leverage Caster had over Rider was gone. She wasn't sure she could beat Rider in a fair fight. As loath as she was to admit it, she needed Saber's raw power.

Saber returned to Rider and pointed the tip of her invisible sword at the enemy Servant. "I'm sure you have your circumstances, Rider, but I cannot forgive such vile acts. We hold a responsibility to leave those outside of the war uninvolved. I will be taking your head, Rider. If not for the crimes you have already committed then to ward off those you intend in the future."

She grabbed the hilt with both hands and reeled the blade back in a ready stance. That was the only warning as she launched forward like a silver arrow. Her feet splintered the wood beneath by her leap. Once more, she engaged with the Rider in combat.

As sparks lit up the hallway, as wood and plaster flew everywhere after each blow exchanged, Caster pinched the bridge of her nose.

"RIDER!" came a scream from the other end of the hallway. "HELP ME! WHERE ARE YOU! HE'S GONNA— AAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Rider continued to fight against Saber. But instead of drawing her deeper into the house where more cursed traps lay, she fought to get around her. She found her opportunity when she wrapped her chains around Saber's weapon and kicked off of the girl's shoulders. Saber had been able to nick her but it wasn't enough to cripple the Rider. The taller Servant bounced gracefully onto her feet and bolted back up the hallway.

Caster let her pass. The two exchanged a brief glance. Neither attempted to assault the other.

As quick as the wind, Rider was gone.

"Caster!" Saber spun around and flicked the still attached chains off of her weapon. Rider's instruments dissipated into ethereal once they landed on the floor. "Why did you not detain her? This was our chance to strike her down!"

"Your chance, Saber," Caster chastised her. "I am not a fighter like you. I have my own means of winning the Holy Grail War and I intend to use them to the best of my capabilities. You cannot rush into things without a plan. You will face the opposition on your own if this continues."

Saber's eyes narrowed, "I see. Is that where you stand, Caster?"

Caster found herself in a narrow hallway with an angry lion. Saber almost looked cute, like a cub who had its favorite toy pulled away. Almost. That cub could skewer her and none of Caster's magic would allow her to touch the Saber.

"I'm not a woman unwilling to compromise," Caster gave a disarming smile. It did nothing to help her but she already knew it wouldn't. "We both serve the same Master, Saber. Until the two of us are the last remaining, we should work together. I'm not asking you to abandon your code, but, merely, have a bit of flexibility."

Saber's eyes were as unmoving as a statue's. They were hard and cold.

"We'd best follow after her," Caster offered next. "By the sounds of things, Shirou found her Master and I don't think she'll like what's making him scream like that."

"Perhaps you should have obstructed the Rider before she could get to Shirou," Saber scolded in a firm voice.

"I have the distinct feeling he'll survive until we get there."

"…This isn't over, Caster," Saber said after a moment of contemplation. It was only a moment, no more than a breath of air.

"Of course," Caster nodded as she turned to the side and gestured down the hallway with the wave of her hand. "After you."

Saber gave her one final look before brushing past her, falling into a sprint. She was gone just as fast as Rider had been. Caster, meanwhile, took a more casual stroll down the hallway.

However, instead of going towards the battle, she slipped through one of the many holes in the wall Saber had made prior. She followed the path of destruction they had originally taken when pursuing the Rider earlier, unwilling to trigger any other traps that may lay within the mansion. Caster would eventually find herself back at the grand staircase and at the front of the house.

The very lovely and docile Sakura was waiting in the gardens. She was dressed in very modest attire with a suitcase resting at her feet. The girl's eyes flickered towards the doors, only to widen when she saw Caster stroll out.

"I suppose there's no point in trying to hide with all the noise going on," Caster smiled at the girl as she approached. "Hello, Sakura-chan. I've been watching you for quite some time. I am Caster, a Servant bound to your lover. It's nice to finally speak in person."

0-0-0

Shinji did what he did best: avoid confrontation. No, he wasn't hiding. He was getting out of Rider's way while she dealt with the Servants she sensed earlier. He was also getting out of his grandfather's way when the old demon would unleash hell upon the invaders. He was very good at getting out of people's way.

He had an entire life full of doing it. From whenever his late father got into a fit after a few too many drinks, to talking Emiya down whenever Shinji did something to Sakura, and to whenever his grandfather was in a bad mood.

The house shook once more and he flinched, covering his head with his hands as he squatted underneath his father's desk in the study. Ten minutes had passed and that useless Rider still hadn't driven the Servants away. And what was his grandfather doing? Didn't the old demon realize something was going on under his own roof? Was he just going to remain deaf while he worked on Sakura down in the crypt?

Shinji would have preferred Grandfather remain down there. The only reason why he wasn't doing anything was because he couldn't be bothered. But push him enough to get involved? Then no amount of hiding could save Shinji from his wrath.

He didn't hear another person enter through his chattering teeth. But he definitely heard the door click shut. And the lock bolt. And the footsteps steadily approaching on the wooden floors. Whoever it was approached the desk, already knowing he was hidden beneath.

There was a pregnant silence as Shinji held his breath.

"Shinji," a familiar voice sighed wearily. So familiar Shinji slammed his head on the underside of the desk at the sound of it. "Come out of there."

"E-Emiya?!" Shinji sneered and climbed out of his hiding spot, trying his hardest to ignore the pain at the back of his skull and not rub out the pain. He used the pain to fuel his anger. "You're the one attacking my house?!"

Emiya Fucking Shirou stood before him. His classmate was sporting a plain shirt and the school uniform slacks. His left arm was wrapped tightly in his jacket uniform. It was ruined with tears and bloodstains. Emiya didn't seem bothered by it in the slightest.

Upon noticing Shinji's staring, Shirou undid the knot and pulled the jacket free off of his arm. Some of it stuck to his skin with dried blood but he didn't flinch. He folded the jacket neatly in half before letting it hang over his other arm. There wasn't a wound at all on the wrapped arm.

Shinji couldn't help but lean his head back and let loose a wave of laughter. The relief of someone as pathetic as Shirou showing up was a godsend. "And here I thought Rider brought back a competent magus. You almost had me worried there, Emiya."

"I think Caster can fill that expectation," Shirou commented casually. Ah, so that was what Servant he had. Good to know. "I left her and Saber to deal with Rider however they want. You and I need to talk, Shinji."

Saber? What the hell was this? Was Shirou trying to psyche him out by saying he had two Servants? Idiot. Nobody had two Servants. Leave it up to someone like Shirou to be as witless as he was boring. No wonder the guy couldn't bag himself a girl.

Shinji clicked his tongue, "You haven't been over since middle school and this is what you do? You make a mess of things and threaten me? You're not even a magus. You probably got swept up in the war by the worst possible joke. You should know your place, Emiya."

"I know it very well," Shirou said as he took a few steps forward. The look in his eyes… for a moment Shinji started to doubt himself. "My place is right here in front of you. You told your Servant to set up that bounded field and hunt innocents. You had no right."

Shinji gawked at him. Did this fool have the sheer audacity to ridicule him?! He was so flustered he didn't realize how close Shirou was approaching, "No right? I am a Master of the Holy Grail War. It's eat or be eaten in this game. I will do whatever I can to win the Grail. I don't need an oaf like you telling me off. Get out of my sight before I—"

"You will bring down that bounded field," Shirou said, centimeters away from his face. Shinji moved away but Shirou kept the distance the same. His golden eyes blazed. "The one you have set up in the school. You will tear that apart and you will never go after another bystander again. I'm only giving you this warning because of our friendship, Shinji. But if you continue like this, I won't just break your arm this time. I will kill you."

There was something wrong with the way Shirou's eyes bored into his. Something inhuman. Something he had seen far too many times from his grandfather. The ancient magus spoke to Shinji as though the younger Matou were less than a cockroach. Shinji disgusted him but couldn't be bothered enough to squash him.

He didn't fully grasp the gravitas of Shirou's words until it was too late.

Before Shinji could so much as utter a syllable, his face was pressed flat against the desk's surface while his arm was bent behind his back. Shirou stood behind him, pinning him expertly with one hand on his head and the other around his wrist. Shinji struggled and squirmed, but every amount of effort only brought surges of pain by his own volition. He couldn't move.

Shirou's cold, dead stare bore down onto him. His grip tightened as he began to pull Shinji's arm further back.

"E-Emiya!" Shinji hissed and tried to fight harder, bringing more pain to himself. "Let go of me! I'll kill you! I'll kill you, I swear— Ah! Agh! Ahhhh!"

Shirou said nothing as he pushed a little harder, like testing the limits of Shinji's flexibility. He kept pushing the arm until the joint locked. And then he pushed harder. Pain flared through him. And Shirou pushed even harder in such a slow, methodical procedure to make sure Shinji felt as much pain as was possible.

While it was the pain that made Shinji break out into a cold sweat, it was the look in his eyes that made him freeze over. Shinji hadn't seen Shirou like this before. There was no emotion in his expression. There was no remorse or hesitation. He was nothing but a machine fulfilling its programmed task. He will do it and there was nothing that will stop him.

"R-Rider!" Shinji gasped. He clawed against the desk and tried to twist himself around. He couldn't get out of Shirou's grip and the pain was pinning him in place despite how much he wanted to get out of it. "RIDER! HELP ME! WHERE ARE YOU! HE'S GONNA—"

He didn't hear himself scream. His vision went white as Shirou jerked without warning. He just went from steadily torturing him to injecting him with every bit of pain originally intended for him throughout this session. It felt like an hour of being in this position was crammed into a single instant.

"You bastard!" Shinji gasped through tears and snot. "I'll kill you, Emiya! Do you hear me? I swear I'll fucking kill—!"

He let out another gargling scream as his arm— his disfigured appendage split in half— was twisted even further. He bucked harder this time to break free. The grip along his scalp was made out of stone as Shirou kept him firmly in place.

"You can hate me all you want, Shinji," Shirou's voice was deceptively calm. There was a certain light in his eyes. Intrigue. Not because he was enjoying this but because he saw something interesting in the way Shinji was squirming. Like a real magus poking and prodding a specimen to see how it reacted to thaumaturgical application. "But you will put down that barrier. You will command your Servant to stop killing those uninvolved with the war. I'm going to be watching you from now on. If I don't see any change within you after this, I will put you down."

Shinji snarled as he sent his most vicious glare back at Shirou, promising death. But Shirou was completely unfazed. His soulless eyes returned the glare with utmost apathy.

There was neither joy nor guilt in Shirou. The threat wasn't a threat. These were not words given from another human being. This was a sequence he was following as if something else was controlling him. He will do what was demanded of him and that would be the end of it.

For a moment, Shinji quivered. He whimpered as he realized his friend wasn't human. Never was human.

Shirou had less of a soul than Zouken Matou.

The perverse imitation of life returned to Shirou's eyes as his attention was brought towards the door. It blew open and a black blur swept through the room. Rider came in like a tsunami, flying through the air and spinning to deliver a kick that would turn Shirou into paste. Soulless or not, Shirou was just as human as Shinji. He couldn't even keep his place in the archery club because of a shoulder wound. What could he do against the likes of a Servant?

The arm holding onto Shinji's wrist was brought up and reached out as if to catch the heel of Rider's boot. The impact came next and Rider drove her foot into Shirou, knocking him off of Shinji and into one of the bookcases. Shinji flipped himself over, cradling his twisted and mangled arm by the elbow, and scurried behind Rider.

Only then did he smirk in victory. And gloat, as was his God-given right, "S-Serves you right! You come to my house, do this to me, and think you can get away with it?! And now you're—"

Shirou pulled himself out of the crumbled bookshelf, shaking books and wood splinters off of him like a layer of snow. He looked unfazed at first glance, but he had just taken a direct blow from a Servant. Even someone as useless and pathetic as Rider should have been leagues above human standards. He should be aching.

"…Not dead," Shinji hissed. "Fucking Rider. At least do something right for a change and kill him!"

"I intended to," Rider said in her monotone voice. Her covered face never looked away from Shirou's general direction. "Your arm. I impaled it. How are you unharmed?"

Shinji glanced at her and then to Shirou. She was looking not at the arm her boot had landed on. She was looking at the other arm— the one that had been wrapped by the bloodied jacket earlier. She said she impaled it? There wasn't a trace of a wound at all.

It donned on Shinji. He cursed, "His Servant must have given him something. That's fine with me. It just means he can take a bit more pain. Rider, punish him for his impudence. Make him beg for his life!"

"Master," Rider talked back while keeping her attention locked on Shirou. "It is not safe here. There are two Servants in the house. I cannot protect you from them both and deal with him."

"Don't you give me any of that!" he snarled. "Then rip off one of his arms and leave him to bleed out! Deal with him first!"

"You're not taking anything I said seriously," Shirou stated. He had watched Shinji and Rider as though their partnership was a new marvel to identify. The wonder passed and Shirou disregarded Rider to stare back at Shinji. "You think I can't touch you? Why? Because your Servant is here? Shinji, I will always be able to reach you. She can't protect you from me."

He took a step forward. Shinji took one back.

Rider moved faster than the human eye could follow. One moment she was standing still and in the next another leg was being brought around to knock Shirou's head off.

…Only for Shirou to catch it, spin, and fling Rider across the room with her own momentum. He moved just as impossibly fast as Rider had. The Servant flew and crashed through the far wall and into the next room.

Shinji could only gawk at the absurdity. Shirou, Shirou, had just batted aside a Servant as though she were a plaything. Whatever his Servant, the Caster, had given him wasn't just enough to survive a direct blow from another Servant. The charms or reinforcements or enchantments or whatever were strong enough to have him swat Rider out of the air.

Against something like this, what could Shinji do?

He squealed when next he looked. Shirou was close to him. Too close. Breathing down his neck close. He had moved without making a sound and now Shinji was defenseless. Instinct drove him back. His feet fumbled around and he tumbled over the low table. He fell on his side and landed on his arm— his broken arm. Pain flared but it only drove him to get away faster. He crawled on the floor as fast as he could towards the door.

His good hand latched onto a piece of smooth metal. The tip of a plated boot by the looks of it. His eyes roamed up the outer layer of a gown. A pair of emerald eyes bore down on him.

He screamed again and flipped himself over in haste. This… This was a Servant. He felt the thrum of power radiating off of this one. It was like when Rider was first summoned at the peak of her power. There was no dwindling from this one, however. This Servant was a whole tier above Rider… and standing right in front of Shinji.

A hand grabbed onto Shinji's collar and hauled him up off the floor. His back slammed into the wall. Shirou looked up at him as he was being held up high enough for his feet to not touch the floor. His eyes were as sharp as steel— a mere emulation of a human's aspect of determination.

"R-Rider!" Shinji croaked. His eyes flickered towards the hole in the wall across the room. Rider appeared at the edge at his command… but she didn't move to his rescue. "What are you doing standing there? Do something! Get him off of me!"

"I won't kill you Shinji," Shirou said, completely ignoring Rider's presence entirely. He didn't see her as a threat. "Not unless you ignore my warning. I would have stayed back and watched if Rider approached Saber or Caster discreetly. But you're making me intervene. For your sake, don't make me step in like this again."

Shinji tried to glare at him, tried to show he didn't care what Shirou threatened him with. All his bravado meant nothing as Shirou pierced through it with those ungodly eyes of his. And his Servant merely watched in silence; most of her attention locked on Rider's position but invested in her Master's exchange enough.

Rider remained stationary. She didn't move. She didn't speak. She merely watched.

"Go to hell, Emiya!" Shinji spat and threw a fist at Shirou.

The School Janitor didn't flinch. His skin felt as hard as granite as Shinji's knuckles spilt blood. Shirou took on an expression of pity— yet another lie like the others before. He tossed Shinji back into the room like a piece of soiled laundry.

Rider was there to catch him, the useless bitch. She lowered him down onto the floor and crouched down at his side, ready to fight if needed.

"Let's go, Saber," Shirou said, his back turned to the two of them. He was exposed but Rider wouldn't go for the kill. Not when Saber was watching them carefully. She waited until Shirou was out of the room before backing up and following after him.

Saber? What the shit? Was Shirou seriously continuing with that scheme? Was he still trying to make Shinji believe he had two Servants?

"Rider, you're absolutely useless," Shinji hissed as all the pain from this mess returned to him. His bent arm was screaming at him. "What good are you if you can't protect your Master? Useless! Nothing but useless!"

Rider said nothing as she remained in her crouched position. Shinji was left seething in pain and anger. He swore he wasn't going to let Shirou get away with this. He thought he was so cocky because his Servant gave him something to fight with? Shinji will show him. He'll make him bleed.

0-0-0

"You're… Sempai's Servant," Sakura breathed in the woman in front of her. She was beautiful with an aristocratic face that was almost elvish. She even had the pointed ears and the deceivingly charming smile.

"Yes," the woman, Caster, reaffirmed. "Well, one of them anyways. It's a bit of a story and I'm sure Shirou will tell you all about it."

She had heard from the conversation earlier Shirou had Servants, plural. This was one of them. This… mature figure with a grace and beauty that outshone Sakura's. This woman had confidence. And she was always at Shirou's side, his confidant. For her to reveal herself instead of being by her Master's side…

"What are you going to do to me?" Sakura asked with narrowed eyes. She couldn't stop her hands from shaking no matter how tight she gripped the hem of her blouse.

"There's no need to be afraid," Caster smirked with amusement. "I don't bite. Doing anything more than having a little chat might upset Shirou. I wouldn't want to be on his bad side. I've seen what he can do to those who upset him."

The smirk shifted as if Caster's words had been a punchline only she understood. Sakura surely didn't. But… then again… he was upset with Grandfather and the ancient magus had all but bowed his head to Shirou's demands.

"Was it you who gave him that sword?" Sakura asked. "Or was it the other Servant?"

"Hmm? Sword?" Caster looked genuinely confused for a moment. "Which one did he use? I suppose it doesn't matter. Neither Saber nor I gave him anything. But how strange. If there was anyone who would have known about his secrets, I would have thought it be you."

Secrets. Sempai was keeping things from her. A lot of things by the sound of it. Her heart clenched as she thought about it. She thought the two of them were so close. She thought they understood another. After all, they had been… intimate so many times throughout the years. But it would seem everything between them had been nothing but shallow passion.

"Pay it no mind, dear," Caster spoke after noticing Sakura's expression. "Everyone has their secrets. Even you, don't you? Or, at least, from what I have gathered from watching the two of you fool around, you never told him anything about your heritage, have you?"

Relief and shame crawled through her. Yes, she had kept the biggest secret from Shirou. She had no right to judge him. She had her reasons to never bring up the Matou magic in front of him. He must have had his reasons to keeping her in the dark as well.

"And now Sempai is a Master of the Holy Grail War," she grieved, matching Caster's eyes finally. She studied the woman intently, appraising her. Caster looked… bemused and indulged her. "Are you capable of protecting Sempai?"

"No," Caster answered without hesitation. The smirk lessened but never lost its mirth. "He doesn't need my protection anyways. The best I can do is support him from a distance and stay out of his way. I have no doubt we will win this war… if only I can convince him to support me."

It was strange hearing this from a Servant. They were almost gods in flesh with the amount of power they wielded. The Servant of the Spell, Caster, should be worth a thousand or more magi combined. Yet, she wanted Shirou's support as though he alone was the key to winning the war.

Shirou wasn't a magus. What could he…

Wait.

"A-Are you not receiving any prana from Shirou?" Sakura blurted out. Caster cocked a brow at her and Sakura took a step forward. Her fist clenched tight close to her chest. "D-Do you… Are you… Are you using Sempai to get what you want?"

A cold fury rose out of Sakura. This woman! There were two alternative ways to gain prana when the Master couldn't properly provide it. Like in the case with Shinji, who didn't have any magic circuits to fuel Rider, he had to find an alternative way of keeping her sustained. By the conversation earlier, he had chosen to have her feed on human lives.

But the other alternative…

Caster cackled behind her gloved hand, "N-No. Goodness, no. I have no intentions of stealing your man away. Let's just say I have my own source of mana intake. But… I wouldn't say no if Shirou were to summon me into his chambers."

"…Sempai wouldn't do that," Sakura said below her breath.

"You're right," Caster agreed. "He isn't that kind of man. He's never once looked at me as a woman. But I think you already knew that."

Sempai… Shirou… was a man hardly anyone understood. Sakura being the only exception. She knew him well. She knew he would never have an interest in anyone. She knew… because he was exactly like her.

"Caster," the topic of their conversation spoke sharply as he stepped out of the Matou manor and down the cobblestone walkway. "What are you doing with Sakura?"

Behind him was a petite girl who couldn't be any older than fifteen. She was small compared to Shirou but had such a sharp gaze it almost added age to her appearance. She too was beautiful with perfect, fairy-like features.

"Just having one of those girl-talks," Caster spun around and gave him a Cheshire smile and a wave of her hand to brush him off. "You know, something that can't be brought up around boys. I take it your business is complete."

He studied her, not believing her in the slightest. "I'll tell you about it later. We should head home before it gets any later. Fuji-nee is already going to kill me."

"Yes, because you're such a disobedient child," Caster teased. "Promising to come straight home and then staying late while you have an affair with the Tohsaka girl, only to run into the home of another girl. Whatever will your guardian say when she finds out about this?"

Sakura's attention snapped straight onto Shirou at the mention of Tohsaka Rin.

"She'll yell at me and then hit me with her bokken," he returned matter-of-factly, making Caster pout when he didn't react the way she wanted him to. He stepped past her and stood in front of Sakura. He gave her a soft smile, "Are you ready to go home, Sakura? What's wrong?"

She must have had a dark expression at the mention of him being with another girl, especially someone like Rin. She swallowed those feelings. "Just… trying to come to terms with this. There's… a lot we need to talk about, isn't there, Sempai?"

He scratched his head before giving her a reply, "Yeah. I guess there is. For now, let's just go home."

He moved around her to pick up her suitcase. She protested but he wouldn't have any of it. The only reason why she didn't put her foot down was because he reached for her hand and held it tight. With one hand carrying her baggage and the other in hers, he led her out of the Matou territory. His two Servants followed shortly behind. While in his presence, the oppressive aura that only thrived in this area washed away. She felt as light as a feather.

She turned once to look over her shoulder. She felt it but always knew it was there before.

Grandfather gazed out of the window before sinking into the darkness of the household.

At the gentle tug of her sempai, she turned away and followed in his footsteps.

…Only to find another pair of eyes piercing into her soul. The mystery woman from this morning was sitting on the sidewalk outside the iron gates. Her dress was wrinkled and she wore no shoes. She looked irritated for waiting out here. Slowly, with a grace of a feline, she rose to her feet and stepped up towards Shirou.

What was she doing here? Every dark thought Sakura had tried to keep down rose up. The mystery woman noticed but ignored her.

"Thank you for waiting," Shirou said to her. "Let's go."

Her moonbeam eyes shot down towards their conjoined hands. Shirou tilted his head to the side; his eyes flicked between the grip and the mystery woman, trying to figure out what was wrong. She rose one hand… and swiped at their grip hard enough to force them apart. Sakura felt like she had just been hit with a practice sword and began massaging her fingers. The woman glared up at Shirou.

"Why did you do that?" he questioned with his brows furrowing. "Sakura's done nothing to you. I'm not asking you to get along with her. You won't even be here long enough for it to matter."

The woman gave something of a mix between a snort and a growl, like a dog being upset at having its toy taken away but not enough to do something about it. She turned on her heels and started to head up the street… only stopping briefly to look over her shoulder to make sure they were following her. As if she were the host of the house they were heading towards.

Shirou sighed, adjusted his grip on the suitcase, and reached for Sakura's hand again. As if sensing his intentions, the woman stopped walking. She didn't turn around. And as if sensing her intentions, Shirou froze before gradually moving his hand back to his side. The woman's body became less tense as she resumed her pace.

"Sempai…" Sakura couldn't find the words that could explain how much she loathed this woman. How and why could she manipulate her sempai this much?

"One night," Shirou breathed out as if it took an enormous amount of effort on his part. "Put up with her for one night for Fuji-nee's sake. She's already in a bad mood for having to stay this long. She's usually already gone. She'll be gone by the morning and we won't see her again for a long time."

The fact he said this meant there was a sort of regularity. This was a habit. Which meant this had happened several times in the past. But how long? And why was she barely learning about this today?

What did this woman have that she didn't?

…Besides the figure of an Amazonian goddess.

They headed off once more. Caster had long vanished into the astral plane but Sakura knew she was watching them. Saber dispersed her armor, walking in an elegant white and blue gown. The petite Servant still looked out of place despite her attempt to blend in.

"This way," Shirou called out to the nameless woman. He wasn't going directly towards the Emiya estate as he turned down a different road. The woman, already on the other side of the block, turned around and trotted back towards their group. She also made sure to be at the front of the pack again.

"Where are we going?" Sakura asked.

"Home," Shirou answered before explaining further. "I like to avoid as many people as I can. I don't want anyone to see Saber. It's both to hide the secrecy of the war and because I don't know who the seventh Master is. They could be anywhere."

He didn't sound too thrilled about not knowing the identity of the final Master, which was understandable. Still, to already know the identity of everyone else was surely something. Sakura could only guess who half of the roster consisted of. To know this much meant Shirou had been through much since the start of the war.

She wanted to hold his hand now more than ever. It wasn't the woman in front of them that stopped her. The throbbing pain in her chest was what did it. Guilt and doubt clashed. Instead, she cradled her hands behind her back and walked silently at his side.

0-0-0

They arrived at the Emiya residence almost an hour longer than it normally would have taken. It had to be some magic from Caster that told Shirou the presence of others. Their route had been winding and he often stopped to allow traffic from further down to pass by. Sakura didn't mind… entirely.

It was dark by the time they stepped through the gates. The lights of the house were on.

The mystery woman, who Sakura couldn't understand was still capable of walking barefoot and not have bleeding soles, pranced through the garden before flopping straight down into a patch of grass. She lay flat there with a euphoric expression as though the mound of grass and dirt were a bed she sorely missed.

Sakura was left standing there in befuddlement.

"Caster, I'm going to need you," Shirou said aloud. His voice was firm. "Stay invisible unless necessary. Saber, please wait out here but be on standby. I might need you as well. If you can… please hide in the toolshed."

Saber gave a sideways glance at the building off to the side of the garden, "I understand if you wish for me to remain hidden from your guardian. However, Shirou, would you permit it if I hide in the dojo instead?"

"I don't mind but I figured you'd might want some rest before anything happens," Shirou turned a little more towards her. "There's a matt in the shed I often use whenever I'm working on something throughout the night."

"Fatigue is no problem of mine, Shirou," Saber shook her head. "I find the dojo to be a more comforting environment, if I must say."

Shirou paused as if listening to something. Caster must have said something to him. He eventually shrugged, "Suit yourself. Just don't get too comfortable. I'll call for you if I need you."

"Understood," Saber returned like a soldier before marching off across the lawn to another building.

"Sempai? What's going on?" Sakura asked him with worry etched in her voice.

"Hopefully nothing," he said with a huff. "Fuji-nee isn't the only one over right now. I'll protect you if anything should happen, Sakura. But I don't think they're here to cause trouble."

He said nothing else as he carried Sakura's suitcase towards the front door. She followed him, albeit a few steps behind. Sensing the change in mood, the dirty woman lifted her head and followed him with her eyes. A moment later did she rise to her feet and hurry after him, moving an arm's length away from him. He glanced at her but didn't comment.

"I'm home," Shirou called out as he opened the unlocked door. Sakura immediately spotted an extra set of shoes. Not Taiga's. These belonged to a young woman's. "Fuji-nee, Sakura's with me. There's a couple things we need to talk about."

"We're in here," she heard Taiga's voice echo down the hallway. She, and whoever else was with her, were in the dining area. She, Shirou, and the other woman headed straight there. They found Taiga sitting at the table. She turned to regard Shirou with a glare that promised unspeakable punishment followed by giving Sakura a curious glance.

The older woman stepped around and headed into one corner of the room. She sat on the floor and stared up at open air in front of her. Her eyes followed something only she could see. Everyone had mixed expressions about her behavior. Sakura and Taiga were both concerned. Shirou and the unexpected guest thought nothing of it as if they had seen it all before.

It was the guest who made Sakura's heart freeze.

"Hello, Emiya-kun," Tohsaka Rin greeted with a warm and friendly smile. She sat at the table with a cup of warm tea in her hands. "Please pardon my intrusion but Fujimura-sensei let me in."

"Tohsaka-san," Shirou greeted back. His tone didn't suggest he expected her to be here, only that he already knew beforehand. "What are you doing here?"

"It's a funny story," Rin smiled as if she had the joke of a lifetime to tell. "My house caught fire. Can you believe it? A toaster was left plugged in and my very old house burned to the ground. A toaster! I never bought a toaster in my life but there it was! All electric and stuff. Isn't that magical?"

Nobody was laughing. Not even Rin. Something in her smile suggested she was blaming Shirou for this.

"I'm… sorry?" he offered. "That's really unfortunate to hear."

"It is, it is," Rin agreed. "Since I have no relatives to turn towards, I thought about checking into a hotel until things settled down. But with my property deemed a safety hazard, I won't be able to rummage through anything to pay for it. It was at that moment of murd— I mean clarity did I remember your generous offer. You know, the one you gave me right before we parted from school?"

"It wasn't an offer and I said I'd get back to you tomorrow about that," Shirou returned bluntly.

"And so I've decided to accept your offer," Rin continued, completely ignoring what Shirou had to say. "When you said we would always have each other's backs I wasn't sure what to make of it. But I'm so glad we made this kind of arrangement together. Now we can work on that school project together. Just think about how much we can get done together like this. Do you follow, Emiya-kun?"

Sakura finally spotted the brown luggage case leaning against the wall behind Rin.

It was her worst nightmare made real.

"Nothing I say will matter right now, will it?" Shirou more stated than asked.

"I'll be in your care for a bit," Rin gave the sweetest of smiles that was laced with venom. After a quick sip of her tea, she noticed Sakura's presence. "Oh. Hello Matou-san. How are you?"

"Hello…" Sakura forced herself to say. She couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice. "Tohsaka-san. I'm sorry to hear about your home."

She couldn't stop clenching her hands together behind her back.


Pat reon: Arrixam