AN: Tried my hand at Date a Bullet. You can treat this as an Omake or an interlude. Please enjoy reading.

Bullet of Fate (FGO x Date a Bullet Fanfic)

Ritsuka immediately reorients herself, blinking as she gazes toward the open sky. The last time she remembered was that she was crying herself to sleep, about how every day she dreaded that she can't go back to Chaldea because she's just a normal human being. She can't afford to reveal her insecurities toward her Servants, especially Mashu. She hated them being pitied toward her. She wanted to show that she was not concerned a little bit about their situation.

It will be ok, because Sherlock, Da Vinci and Sion were busting their brains out on how to figure out the way to bring her back. She was sure of it.

Ritsuka rubbed her eyes once more, making sure she wasn't dreaming until she realized something. Oh right, how foolish of her, of course she would be in a dream once again.

When she has been rayshifted here in this parallel earth, she has rarely been visited by these Servant Dream scenarios. Maybe, she was just so focused on her mission that she barely remembered any dreams. Yeah, that would be a fitting theory…

Honestly, she was kind of looking forward to the Servant who owned this memory and if it came from Chaldea, then that could be one of the keys in setting her free from this world.

Blinking once more, she realized that the sky was painted in a myriad of colors, a proof that she is indeed in a dream world.

"Uh, neat." Ritsuka commented as she raised her upper body above the yellow-colored grasses and stared at the horizon. Behind her was an obvious dead end, an edge that she didn't anticipate While in front of her was a school and an opened gate.

"Neat." She remarked again.

She tried to stand up, her legs still wobbly in comparison and adjusted herself from this gravity. Aside from the weird surroundings, all seemed to be normal.

Turning around, she found herself raising both of her arms in instinct.

*CLINK*

A flintlock's muzzle pointed at her forehead without any warning and maybe already loaded with bullets.

Right in front of her was a frowning Kurumi, which surprised her. Today she has learned that Spirits that she has contracted might be capable of this phenomenon too.

"Hi there, Kurumi." Ritsuka attempted to be more friendly, she's not confident that a bullet to her head will wake her up. "Could you please lower your gun?"

The [Nightmare] obliged, albeit reluctantly, her face was still marred with frustration as the flintlock dematerialized by her dress. "This is surprising… I could feel that I could fondly remember your face but at the same time, nothing comes to my head."

"Uhm, I managed to contracted you, remember?" she tried to juggle her mind. Kurumi's eyebrows still scrunch up in confusion but eventually she nodded in confirmation.

"Yes..." Even Kurumi's voice was tinted with hesitation as her eyes danced around, trying to remember something. "Even if my memory is fuzzy at the moment, I could tell at first glance that I could trust you in the first place. " she smugly said.

"Really?" Ritsuka was uncertain how to react.

"Relax. Maybe back in the world, I might haven't interacted that much… that's why my memory is getting fuzzy." She reasoned. "Nevertheless, another reason why I'm invested in you is because of that."

Kurumi pointed at that campus, which made Ritsuka look back.

"So that's your school, eh?"

Kurumi just grunted. "None, can't get any reaction... which means that's not my school." Ritsuka nodded. "Anyways, if my hunch is correct then we might encounter someone there." Kurumi then smirked. "Possibly opponents."

Ritsuka nodded enthusiastically. "Then I'll be your support… by the way, this is not your dream, right?" She questioned her.

Kurumi just blinked. "I do not know what you are talking about." Gazing further at Ritsuka, she then tilted her head. "...and I must assume that this isn't yours either."

Ritsuka swayed her head in denial, her heart skipped a beat. "So this place is something else?!" She was alarmed; being trapped in another world might be disconcerting but another dimension? Please give her a freakin' break!

Kurumi was somehow amused by Ritsuka's panicked expression as she proceeded beyond the gate.

"What are you doing?"

"Calling my Servants." Ritsuka explained.

Kurumi just raised her eyebrows. She paused for a moment, waited for several seconds, expecting for a miracle that would occur here. So far, nothing's happening. "So it is working?" She asked her.

Ritsuka just shook her head. "No use…" She sighed. "So I might rely on you partly." She admitted which made Kurumi scoff and moved on. "Also, Shadow Servants, I think I can temporarily call on them."

Kurumi was already ahead before Ritsuka added another explanation, and thus was forced to jogged on. Kurumi didn't hear her at that moment. It seemed that Kurumi was already disinterested with the topic.

But something stopped her. Kurumi looked down and found a delicate, white cat patting her boot. It looked up upon her face with those pure blue eyes. The white ribbon wrapped around its neck indicates that it has an owner.

Nevertheless, Kurumi proceeded to stoop down and picked the cat, which was surprisingly submissive.

"You're one lucky cat, I guess?" Kurumi said as she caressed its back softly and repeatedly with an accompanied smile.

Ritsuka was already beside her.

"Oh, a cat!" This reminds her that this time, Fou wasn't around with her this time. Instinctively, Kurumi frowned and swayed her body away from Ritsuka, away from letting her pet the cat. Of course, Ritsuka was just being cautious and wouldn't even touch the cat, not that she did not notice that Kurumi was being innately selfish.

Both of their ears perked when hearing the announcement. Ritsuka herself was very much alarmed. So this is indeed a battlefield of some sort. Ritsuka gave Kurumi a wary gaze toward [Nightmare], who on the other hand was quite unsure of what she-

← THE LAST PARTICIPANTS, TOKISAKI KURUMI AND RITSUKA FUJIMARU, HAS ENTERED THE BATTLEFIELD →

would do with the information. She still kept on caressing the cat by the way, seeing it was comfortable upon her arms.

← 30 SECOND UNTIL FOR THE GAME TO START →

Ritsuka was visibly nervous, of course. she has the right to be concerned, especially if the game means a literal fight. She subconsciously clasped her other wrist bearing the command seals.

← DEAR PARTICIPANTS, INDULGE YOURSELVES TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT →

…

← THERE WILL BE ONLY 1 PERSON LEFT STANDING →

…!

← PLEASE FOCUS ON KILLING WITH ALL YOUR LUST...ENJOY! →

Holy Freakin' no way, Ritsuka's thoughts exploded. This is some freakin' Holy Grail War! Genuine or not, Ritsuka couldn't help but be wary right now. Through the retelling from Da Vinci, Dr. Romani and Sherlock, Reading the past HGW and her past experiences from various singularities and lostbelts warned her that this kind of competition has no pleasant ends.

Ritsuka was troubled. Kurumi just raised her eyebrow.

"Relax, even I am quite dubious of what was announced… say, a prize in the end..." Kurumi chuckled and Ritsuka just sighed. "This is all but a big red herring… and please, I won't strike you down like a greedy competitor."

"Thank goodness, although I do think that there is no such thing as some omnipotent holy grail that could grant you a wish without any repercussions." Ritsuka remarked. This is what her job entails. "I think we need to stop this meaningless war."

Kurumi only looks at her with amusement. "Oh? Did I hear that right?" Then she chuckled. "Fufu, foolish Ritsuka… being contracted with you doesn't mean I need to follow you, you know."

Ritsuka sweatdropped. "R-right, I forgot that you are not a Heroic Spirit in a sense-"

Kurumi was grinning like an idiot. "I'm joking, you know... " Ritsuka just kept it to herself but she was already fuming within her head. "No wonder those servants of yours made you adorable that much."

"..." Ritsuka just pouted in annoyance.

"On the other hand, I might also rely upon you too..." Kurumi added.

Rituska then just chuckled. "Then I hope I can be useful to you..."

Both of them eventually proceed to enter the grounds.

Barely have they touched the grass when a projectile of sorts was flying toward Kurumi's face.

*BANG*

Kurumi's pistol flared into existence and shot the offending kunai down the ground while still carrying the cat. Ritsuka meanwhile just stopped there for a moment, looking for the offender until she set her eyes upon a single woman not far from them.

"...and who the hell are you?" Kurumi asked as she tilted her head.

The woman, dressed in a mixture of a school dress and ninja garbs, answered.

"Sagakure Yui."

Kurumi then pushed the cat toward Ritsuka's arm without even uttering a word nor listening to Ritsuka's rant. It would be more comfortable wielding her weapons with both of her hands free.

"We have to "kill each other", right?" Kurumi stated, already smiling in anticipation. As usual, Ritsuka felt safe being on the sideline for Kurumi's battle like a Master. The only thing left was to cheer for her.

*BANG*

Before the ninja schoolgirl could move, Kurumi already shot her in the chest. It was a clean shot as one could see through. Ritsuka could only hold her breath, this was just too surreal for a ninja to get caught that easily.

The ninja's body seemed to be floating as it fell to the ground until it dissipated.

Of course, it was just an illusion. The ninja was just somewhere out of sight. Ritsuka looked around warily, expecting the ninja to ambush her right after the theatrics, even Kurumi was keenly observing her own environment.

After a minute of silence, they have finally decided that the ninja girl outright left them without any surprises.

"I think she disengaged." Ritsuka remarked. "Maybe she was just trying to gauge your threat level."

Kurumi just gave Ritsuka a side glance and smile as she retrieved the cat from Ritsuka and continued petting it; she really had no care for the world. Ritsuka attempted to make sense with her when someone was shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Help! Someone help me!" A blue haired girl scampered toward them and Ritsuka's command seals were flaring with red. It was obvious that something was chasing her.

Flying dolls. They're cute but somehow Ritsuka has a feeling they were about to maim the victim. Freakin' Kurumi didn't even care about the world as she kept on petting the cat.

It has been a long time that she hasn't utilized this part of abilities since she overly relied on her Servants and it seemed that it was now a good time to use them.

Shadow Servants. In emergencies that would cut her off from her Servants, Ritsuka found a way to borrow her Servant's Spirit Origins temporarily.

Then a body materialized out of nowhere, a shadow that was garbed in scant clothing, barely covering her dark-colored skin. A multiple dirks just enough for the dolls currently present, appeared suddenly in her hands and threw them expertly with no hesitation nor error.

Each doll fell flat to the ground, another set of dirks flurried by the shadow that pinned all of the dolls down to the ground to make sure they wouldn't be moving again.

The poor girl was out of breath, kneeling before them. Ritsuka offered a hand.

"T-thanks for saving me!" She thanked them, only to be greeted by a muzzle of the gun. Out of fear, the girl raised both of her arms in surrender. Kurumi has materialized a pistol in order to aim at the poor girl's forehead.

Ritsuka could only give Kurumi a dubious stare. "Really?" She said in disbelief.

"Aside from us, don't you think it made more sense to not trust anyone here in this world?" Kurumi said with a devious smile. The cat was busy caressing Kurumi's legs with its body, unaware of the pressure presented.

"I swear to my life that I'm not an enemy!" The girl was already crying ugly and thankfully Kurumi laid down her weapon. Ritsuka was already comforting the poor girl as she caressed the girl's head.

Ritsuka could only give Kurumi a cold glare and disappointed sigh. "You know, let's give her a chance then..." The Master of Chaldea suggested as she cupped the poor girl's chin up. She was visibly restraining herself from crying like a river.

Ritsuka then fondly smiled at her. "It's ok, we are not going to hurt you… just tell us everything you know."

The poor girl just nodded. After all, what she can do with these two.

"I see, I see… you both just came here recently..." The girl was enthusiastically speaking with them, far cry from what happened recently. The trio were settling by the side of the building, partially hidden by the shade. Entering directly into the main building is not a big idea.

The girl was warily looking left and right, peeking by the corner. Both Ritsuka and Kurumi were content being behind her, seeing she knew more about this place.

"So, you two remember your names?" Kurumi and Ritsuka nodded.

"I'm Kurumi Tokisaki, a Spirit." The [Nightmare] introduced herself and then she pointed at Ritsuka. "Ritsuka Fujimaru, a human." Ritsuka felt proud at being presented by a Spirit.

The girl just gave them a blink. "Quasi-Spirits, to be exact. Am I right?" she commented as a matter-of-fact. Ritsuka and Kurumi looked at each other with uncertainty.

Then she remembered that moment. "Spirits are calamities that lived here a long time ago. They have the power to destroy the world, basically Goddesses."

Kurumi just looked smug at Ritsuka from that apt description.

"But they were all gone till now and all that was left were Quasi-Spirits." the girl declared. "and also, it's impossible that you are a human." She said,

Ritsuka just blinked curiously. "Why not?"

The girl looked confident. "Because you have powers, duh!" Ritsuka was still baffled. "What do you call that summoning a phantom out… nevermind." It was decided that it was a waste of time convincing her. Let them believe who they are for their own sake!

"How about the reason why the two of you are here?" The girl attempted to divert the topic. "Nope. Not even the slightest." Ritsuka answered. Even Kurumi readily agreed with the Master of Chaldea with her simple nod.

The girl just tilted her head in confusion. "You know what, let's introduce ourselves and I know it's getting too late but… Hi. I'm Higoromo Hibiki, nice to meet you."

Hibiki held both Kurumi and Ritsuka's hand.

"Hibiki, I knew it sounded redundant but why do we have to kill each other?" Ritsuka asked. As much as it mirrored the Holy Grail War from her textbook, it would be more helpful if Hibiki could narrow it down.

"To make our wish come true..."

Again, Kurumi and Ritsuka looked at each other in concern.

"The Quasi Spirit who governs over the tenth region, Malkuth Has the power to make wishes come true!"

Now Ritsuka was convinced that whoever that 'Quasi-Spirit' was, they could have been in possession of a Holy Grail.

"Kurumi, I think we need to stop Malkuth, or whoever it was." Ritsuka whispered toward Kurumi.

"W-Wait, please don't be hasty at the moment… I'm not yet finished explaining..." Although Hibiki was aware that these two have the power to face any challenges, she felt the need to supply them with important infos, so she cleared her throat. "This place isn't the world you used to know. This is the Neighboring World, a world where girls who are no longer human lived."

Ritsuka nodded. So this is why Hibiki was dubious when she called herself a human. Also, why exempt boys? That's a question she wanted to be answered by Hibiki.

"Hey Hibiki, who initiated this death game?" Kurumi asked.

"I don't know her name but she was known as White Empress : Queen."

Kurumi thought for a moment, trying to discern whether she has a familiarity with that name.

Of course, Hibiki was aware of what [Nightmare] was thinking. "Also, I can help!"

"How?" Ritsuka asked.

"I'm well aware that I might not be the strongest Quasi-Spirit here… but I am very knowledgeable. You two are very strong, not to mention that you two already team-up with each other."

Ritsuka just blinked twice. "If you think that we will dispose of you after all of these, then you are wrong."

"That's reassuring but..."

"And also, we will not eliminate all of the participants if that's what you are thinking about... unless they have the intent to kill us." Ritsuka explained.

"But what about your wishes then?"

"Hibiki, there is no such wish that came true… this is all just a ruse, a fake." She added. "Besides, we have no wishes." Ritsuka did a double-take when she saw Kurumi hesitating for a moment. Really?

Ritsuka chose not to mention it right now. Hibiki meanwhile was too hard-headed to believe in her.

"Urr, this is just too hard..." Hibiki was muttering to herself, almost on the verge of crying as she clasped her head. Ritsuka looked concerned and troubled. Truly, Hibiki seemed to need help but not Ritsuka as thought. Hibiki was firmly rooted to her belief that this death battle is legit, much to Ritsuka's annoyance and concern.

Before they could think of what would be next, Ritsuka tried to reach for Hibiki,catching her in a tumble.

*CRASH*

Hibiki's eyes widened in recognition. "It's Biscuit Smasher." She identified one of the Quasi-Spirit who happened to try to ambush them. A knee-deep crater was formed instantly from Biscuit Smasher's unique hammer.

"*tsk* I missed it." The hammer wielder muttered to herself. She's of a diminutive stature and yet she can easily hold the hammer with ease. She then pointed to the Master of Chaldea and Kurumi, who was content being an audience.

"You two, the last two participants." She said as a matter of fact. Ritsuka just grumbled, a shadow-servant already forming. Hibiki is content hiding behind the Master of Chaldea.

But before Ritsuka could command, Biscuit Smasher already swung her hammer, producing dust and shockwaves. Ritsuka and Hibiki were caught by the force, but before they were about to smash into the nearest building. Ritsuka's shadow-servant took action.

*KABLAM!*

A loud crash can be heard and a large hole was formed on the side of a certain building.

Biscuit Smasher witnessed the whole scene before taking her attention to Kurumi, who already let the kitten go and armed herself with her flintlock and musket.

"Wise of you to separate me from Ritsuka-chan." She deduced with an evil grin.

The hammer wielder just nodded. "I just reduced your effectiveness in battle by half."

"That's a relief then… I am free to dismember you with that worrywart!" Kurumi said with a sadistic glee.

...and multiple shots ranged through the air.

Ritsuka rubbed the back of her head in pain, for at least she wasn't wounded. In the nick of time, she managed to prevent herself from being too wounded, as well as Hibiki whom she was clutching, thanks to Rider's chariot shielding them from debris and impact. the Shadow Servant, having its duty performed dissipated as well.

Ritsuka stood up and realized she found herself on some kind of stage. She then helped Hibiki stand up. Returning to her consciousness, Hibiki yelped when she recognized the dolls sitting on the stage nonchalantly. Ritsuka paid attention and saw another seemingly innocent girl swinging her legs by the stage.

"Oh, didn't know I'm having visitors today?" The girl teased them. As usual, Hibiki just retreated behind Ritsuka. The Master of Chaldea was becoming wary all of the sudden.

"It's Panie Ibusaki, the Doll Master!" Hibiki informed her. "She's the one trying to harm me." Ritsuka recognized the dolls on the stage as identical to the ones hunting Hibiki earlier.

Doll Master raised her hands in accordance, as she tried to make herself look harmless. "Calm down, I won't attack you… not unless you give me the reason to."

"What are you doing?" Ritsuka asked. Hibiki's clasped on her clothes just tightened a little bit.

"Seeing that you are here already… I just want to team up with you, that's all..."

Ritsuka was glad that was the first wood the girl had uttered, but she was wary that the girl still had something to add so she listened carefully.

The girl then just blinked twice. "There's no doubt that you are powerful, just like that Kurumi girl you've allied with! It's natural that I need to be friendly with the powerful after all?"

Ritsuka was tempted to downplay Panie's description of her. "That's great then." Then she thinked of the moment. It's a shame that she had never asked Hibiki about it earlier. "Tell me then… What is your wish?"

The girl just clapped. "I'm glad that you asked! I just want a big, big cake!" Panie gestured using her arms.

Seemed childish according to Ritsuka, until she wasn't ready for her next words.

"...so I can have fun with my friends that I turned into dolls."

A snap can be heard, amidst the deafening silence. Ritsuka has now summoned a Shadow Servant in stealth. She now considered Doll Master as dangerously childish and she doesn't want to get involved. This is so unlike when she was summoning a Servant in the chambers.

There is obviously no time to make bonds with her.

"So capisce?" She said as she raised her pinkie finger at Ritsuka. It seemed that Doll Master was so sure that Ritsuka fully agreed with her.

Ritsuka just chuckled to herself. "Thanks, but no thanks." She said as she waved back. Then she patted Hibiki out of assurance. "I think I might be content with Hibiki here… you don't have the same wish as hers, I bet." Those last words were being whispered at Hibiki, who agitatedly swayed her head in denial, she might have a wish but that wish isn't as twisted as Panie's.

"See?" Ritsuka teased Doll Master, who pouted in annoyance.

"Hmmph, you're no fun!" Panie concluded. "I could have made you the most pretty doll after all the petty fights." Ritsuka could feel her skin crawl after hearing her honestly conveying her intention, but she remained steadfast. "Perhaps that Kurumi girl can be convinced to be my partner… by your head!"

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

All the dolls trying to stealthily assault Ritsuka were all dropped down and ripped apart by some kind of bullet.

A spunky shadow Servant wielding a large pistol materialized beside Ritsuka. The Master of Chaldea just looked forward.

"Hibiki, just stay close and I'll protect you." Ritsuka assured Hibiki. "It seemed that I needed to take her down too."

...TO BE CONTINUED-