18—Forgotten Sanctuary
Still chiding herself inwardly, Rin finishes surveying the roof.
She's seen all she needs. Or rather, she knows now that Archer has.
And she can't feel those eyes on her anymore, either, which is a relief. She looks back over at Taiasu to see him staring fixedly at the roof, images of her close to the edge still flashing through his mind. Where his mask exposes his eyes, she can see his skin to be a few shades lighter than normal.
Maybe he's under the weather? Well, whatever. We should…
"Taruko-kun, we need to get going." Rather than let her thought complete itself, she turns it into words. "Whatever you did before, do it now. Archer, you too."
Looking at him, she gives a slight nod.
"Please go back to being a spirit for now. I'm not sensing those eyes, either. So there's no reason for us to stay."
"Right…"
Archer returns her nod as his form shimmers with light before vanishing. She looks back over at Taiasu to see him staring up at her. Something about his face makes her irritated, and it takes just a second to figure out what.
"What's with the stupid grin?"
"Huh? Was I?" He pats his mask around his mouth to find it true. "I guess I was. Well, you've been calling me shrimp, midget, and twerp. So when you called me by name, it was kind of nice is all."
"Uh…? Really?" She tilts her head, frowning thoughtfully. "Sorry, I didn't think it bothered you since you weren't saying anything."
"It didn't really," he says, shaking his head. "I mean, you were irritated. If you'd said those things now, when you're calm, I'd be upset, I think."
He shrugs dismissively, then claps the ground. The dust cloud released is far less opaque this time, given the roof isn't covered in dirt. But it doesn't matter. What does matter is the moment he's established his concealment field, he can feel his aether ticking away again.
And it feels like it might soon run dry.
By the time they've returned to residential Miyama, it's already past nine. Like Shirou had mused over the lack of people, so too does Rin.
Right now, it's like I'd expect it to be over in Shinto after midnight.
Frowning, she shakes her head, then looks at where Archer is standing.
"So that's pretty much it."
Since no one is around, she speaks freely with him as they make their return trip. Taiasu keeps mostly to himself, in part to avoid irritating Rin, but mostly because he has nothing to offer that wouldn't be just noise.
"Do you have a good idea of the town?"
"… Hm?" Archer mutters distractedly. "Ah, yes. I think so. I'll figure out the rest as we go along."
Rin nods.
"Then we're finished for today, I think. I'm still tired from getting you here, so we'll head home and rest."
They cross the junction and approach that concentric-arch bricked road up the gently sloping hill toward her house. As Rin looks up, she spies someone.
"Huh? Sakura…?"
Seeing her, she takes a quick step back, ducking out of sight. Following her lead, Taiasu ducks back as well, though he's unsure why. It's Archer who asks the question.
"Rin? Why are we hiding?"
"Shut up!" she hisses, pressing her finger to her lips. "I know that person. Since I skipped school today, I don't want to see her."
She keeps her eyes on the girl, who seems incredibly uncomfortable. Taiasu looks up the road as well, and it doesn't take long to see why. Nearby looms a tall man with eyes colored like blood, blond hair, and a dark pair of pants and matching jacket worn over his white buttoned down shirt.
Taiasu spots him as well, and the hair on his neck stands up.
That guy…? Wait, is he the one she was talking about yesterday?
He's about to make a move when Rin grabs his shoulder.
"Hey, what are you thinking?!"
"That guy!" He grinds his teeth. "Yesterday, when Shirou was seeing us home, she mentioned something about a guy hanging around. I think it might be him!"
"Oh, and what are you going to do, turn him into ice like you did Archer?" She thumps his head. "Think a little, twerp!"
"Well, no! But look at her!"
He aims his finger in Sakura's direction. Even in the dim light provided by the nearby street lamps, it's clear by how she's holding her hands at her chest, staring down and away.
This is not an interaction she's sought out.
"Are you just gonna let her—"
"Is that foreigner the one you know, Rin?"
Archer interjects into Taiasu's complaint, and she shakes her head in response.
"He's not. I don't know him. There are several Western-style houses around, so he might be visiting one of them."
She frowns, irritated at herself the moment the words pass her lips.
I say that, but I'm being too soft. I'm always like that when it comes to Sakura…
Inwardly, she sighs, then looks toward Archer's invisible form.
"What about you, Archer? Can you tell if he's human or not?"
"I don't know. He has form, so he should be. At the very least, as far as I can tell, he's not a Servant."
"Right." She breathes out a relieved sigh. "I don't think he's a Master, either. I guess it's just a minor quarrel."
Again, the words don't sit well with her.
But I don't think… No, I know she's not the kind of girl to get into trouble with a guy…
"Looks like they're finished with whatever it was," Archer comments as they separate.
Sakura pulls away, heading up the hill while the other person heads down toward them. Rin ducks further out of sight, pulling Taiasu in closer, just in case.
"H-Hey, careful!" he stammers. "Any more than that and you'll break my concealment!"
"Huh? You're… Oh, right." She sighs, shaking her head. "They couldn't have seen you, anyway."
"No, not that guy, but Sakura could have! At least I could have set her at ease, if she'd seen…?"
He stops mid-thought and mid-sentence as his brain switches tracks.
But Rider should be with her, right? I guess she was just uncomfortable…?
He sighs, frowning deeply. "Never mind… You're right, I'm being dumb."
Rin blinks down at him, then ducks her head as the tall blond man walks past. If he notices them, he pays them no consideration. Once he's far enough away, Rin looks back up the road toward Sakura, pondering.
But I thought she was staying at Emiya-kun's tonight…? Why is she heading back home?
"You should just give up your life."
Sakura freezes at the man's words. Rider tenses as well, ready to act at a moment's notice if the blond stranger tries anything beyond being weird.
"While there's still time…"
Finished with what he wanted to say, the man smirks as he walks past and down the road. Sakura trembles lightly in his wake, her skin losing a shade of color, but she forces herself to turn and continue on her way.
'Sakura, did you know that person?'
She shakes her head in response to Rider's question.
'I've seen him around, but this is the first time he's said anything to me.'
'Do you know what he meant?'
Again, she shakes her head.
Finished with collecting a few days' worth of clothing, and having already gathered what soaps, shampoos, towels, bath sponges, and other necessary personal hygiene products she needs, Sakura seals the duffel closed. As the zipper clips at the end, it brings a wide smile to her face.
I won't be coming back here… At least, not for a while. Maybe ever…?
That thought broadens her smile into something beaming.
That would be so nice…
She stands and slings the duffel strap over her shoulder. It's not incredibly heavy, but the sudden movement of it nearly topples her off balance. No longer hidden, Rider moves to steady her, and once she is, she turns and shows another appreciative smile.
"Thanks, Rider."
Rider nods, showing her own light smile.
With nothing keeping her, she slips from her room, closing the door behind her.
"What's with the bag?" As quickly as her smile had beamed at the thought of never having to return, it dissolves as she turns toward the accusing voice behind her. "Going someplace?"
She looks up to spy Shinji staring down at her, dressed in his casual blue jeans and white buttoned-down shirt, his face holding something between a leer and a sneer. Despite Rider being at her side, she still trembles in his presence as she looks for the quickest answer that will both satisfy his question and just let her leave.
"I'm staying over at a friends," she says, staring at the floor, unable and unwilling even to meet his eyes.
"That's a lot for just a single night…" Shinji stares at the duffel, his leering sneer recasting into a thoughtful frown. "So if I had to guess…"
His frown again shifts.
This time, into a knowing smirk.
"Emiya's, huh?"
The two words sap more of the color from her complexion. She swallows hard, trying to find some courage to answer what feels like a condemnation of her decision.
"What does it matter?"
He shrugs.
"It doesn't, really. Go have your fun." He looks from her to Rider. "Your amazon won't be around forever. We both know that. And we both know what it will mean when that day comes…"
He snickers as he turns his back to her and departs.
Just arriving at Shirou's house is enough to knock away the malaise from what the stranger and her brother had said. Finally, she feels safe and comfortable. Even the light pouring out through the front door feels brighter and warmer than it should. But even with all that, she still wrestles with a moment's hesitation before she slides open the front door and slips inside.
Invisible again, Rider simply phases through the door, and they move toward the living room. There's some noise, but it's subdued, and as she slides the living room door open, she spies the source, the TV, playing some news broadcast, and Shirou sitting at the table, staring at it vacantly.
When the door clips closed, it breaks his focus, and he turns to spy Sakura standing there with a bag that seems filled with enough for a week's vacation. He tilts his head, then has to suppress a light laugh as he stands and moves toward the door.
"Here, let me take that and I'll—"
Despite his best efforts, he catches his foot on the table and stumbles forward. Sakura winces, taking a step back to avoid the impact.
None comes, and by the time she has her eyes open again, all she can see are the full whites and ambers of his, and all she can feel is the hammering of her heart, and the slight tickle of his breath on her nose.
"S-Senpai…? Are…?"
"Sorry…" He swallows hard, his voice nearly cracking. "Guess you're not the only one who's clumsy…"
He looks up to see his hand glued to the wall, holding him away by just enough. Like hers, his heart slams in his chest at their sudden closeness, and he's forced to hammer down those intrusive thoughts that always crop up at moments like this.
D-Damn it… She's so close. Her eyes are so beautiful… What the hell is wrong with me!? I need to—!
Almost violently, he forces himself back. So hard he actually stumbles again, and has to stomp both feet to steady himself. It takes three full breaths to bring his thoughts back into alignment, and to stop his heart from flipping out. And what feels like a full minute before he's calm enough to turn around.
When he does, he can't see Sakura's face for her head tilted so far forward. But her ears burn just as red as he's sure his own had been.
"A-Anyway, let me take that…" More carefully this time, he takes a few steps forward to grab her bag. "And I'll show you to the room I got ready for you."
"Y-Yes… Thank you…"
Her words are barely a whisper, and her tone is almost ethereal.
The residence is very much a maze, with some rooms completely separate from the main complex. From the living room, Shirou leads Sakura through the halls to the northwest-most room. The door there is one which pulls, rather than slides, like the front door or the one to the living room. Once open, it releases the brisk chill it's been holding back, causing them both to shiver.
The room itself is fairly spartan. Just a full sized bed right beside the door, to the left as one enters. The only source of light is a standing lamp, and the few windows, though nothing pours through as the sun has long since set. There's a chair and a desk for sitting, reading, or studying, but beyond these, nothing of which to speak.
"It's not much, but it should keep you comfortable, Sakura." Shirou moves past the door and sets her bag down beside the bed. "So let me know if you need anything, like something to drink, or—"
"Senpai…" Again, her words are barely a whisper. Her resolve to ask might falter if she hesitates, so she has to force herself forward. "Why did you ask me to stay here…?"
"What do you mean, Sakura?" He turns around, showing an awkward half-smile. "We talked about it before, right? So it'll be easier on you. Since you're always here, and I can't convince you otherwise. And it's just until Shinji cools his head."
"Is that…"
She swallows down hard against the firm lump in her throat, turning fully toward him, her stare glued to the ground, hands folded at her waist. Pouring her every drop of will into finishing the question, in some vain desire that her hope might be realized by his answer.
"Is that the only reason?"
Her words catch him off guard. And make it painfully difficult to keep his own thoughts and feelings suppressed. Never once in his life has he considered yielding to his own inclinations, and it takes superhuman effort for him not to allow her question, heavy with implications, to make him change course now. The seconds it takes to form his answer feel like an entire eternity, and he has to preface it with a dismissive chuckle.
"C-Come on, Sakura. Of course it is." He takes his own turn, swallowing down, though his battle is against a drying mouth and throat. "What other reason could there be?"
Despite his best efforts, his tone wavers, invalidating his words, fueling Sakura's hope that her own feelings are not as one sided as she fears. But whatever the reason, the words spoken are a denial.
Even if they are as false as the ones she often speaks.
"R-right. Sorry…" She breathes out a heavy sigh. "Thank you, again for this…"
Shirou nods stiffly. In fact, his entire back, shoulders, arms, legs… His whole body feels like it's been entombed in cement for how stiff it feels from the past fifteen or so minutes.
"A-Anyway, just get some rest, since you finally can." He turns toward the door. "I imagine it'll be nice not to have to get up with the sun. I'll see you tomorrow, Sakura."
"Okay…" She bows lightly at his back. "Good night, Senpai."
After turning his head and offering a light nod, he steps out.
He's about to close the door when something occurs to him, and he turns back.
"Say, Sakura… Where's the little guy?"
Casually spoken, the words still fall with the force of a hammer, shattering her revery. With everything happening that day, she'd completely forgotten. No, but rather, every thought of him since she'd met the young girl Fujimura had brought over had been forced from her mind.
"Ah… um… I'm…"
She stutters, trying to figure out what answer to give when she remembers the small pearl in the pocket of her school skirt.
A skirt she's conveniently still wearing.
"Uh… Just…"
Is now a good time…? Should I tell him about Taruko-kun? I mean…
After minutes of stammering around, wrestling with her thoughts, trying to get them in order, which is about as practical as trying to herd cats, she invites Shirou to sit at the desk while she explains the whole truth about the oddly dressed off-worlding adventurer. Some parts, she leaves out. Particularly, about how his newly found sister had tried to murder the small man. That's not something she feels Shirou needs to know.
By the time Sakura's finished speaking, Shirou's having a hard time telling if she's hit her head, if the whole thing is a setup for some elaborate joke, or if she's actually telling the truth.
"So…"
He takes in a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts. After all, what sane person could expect to have this sort of conversation at any point in their life?
"Um… Just… Hold on, Sakura. I need… I can't…" His thoughts spin so fast they could beat a clothesline in the mid-day sun for drying linens. Trying to swallow nets him nothing but a wracking cough, as his throat has once again gone bone dry. "S-Sorry… I'm just…"
Quickly, he stands up and moves to the door.
"I'll be right back. I need—" He hacks out another cough. "—I need a freaking drink."
If he had the option, he might grab something stronger than water, but he settles for that, and another for Sakura, and returns about a minute later with two tall, cool glasses. One he hands to her, and the other he consumes a full half of before setting it on the desk and sitting down again. She takes a single sip from hers, then slides on the bed toward the desk so she can set hers down as well.
"Alright, let me just make sure…"
He looks from the ground, directly into her eyes.
Sakura's never been good at hiding when she's being deceitful or evasive, so it should be easy to tell if she's lying, joking, or telling the truth like this.
"What he said yesterday… That he's an 'adventurer'… That's true?"
Sakura's reply comes as a single, firm nod. There's no shift in her gaze, no slight tell that could betray a hint of deceit. Just a firm nod as she holds her gaze steady with his.
"And he's… not from this world?"
Again, she nods just as firmly as before, and Shirou palms his entire face, exaggerating his features as his skin catches on his hand while he pulls it down.
"Sakura… I wish I thought you were joking. So this entire time, we've been entertaining an… an…" He searches his vocabulary for something he can use. "An other-worlder? Like, what, is he from outer space or something?"
The suddenness of his question, and the absurdity of it, shatters the tense atmosphere in the room, causing Sakura to burst out laughing.
"N-No, S-Senpai, he's not an alien…!" Holding her sides, she slumps forward. "At-at least, not like… not like THAT sort of alien!"
Finally, she sits upright and wipes at her eye, tilting her head up, wearing a full smile.
"No, he didn't come here in a flying saucer or anything like that… As I understand it, he came here directly from some other world. I'm not sure how…"
Lost for words, Shirou's mouth falls open limply. Another full minute of silence passes before he's able to find them again.
"Sakura… honestly, I understand nothing about what's happening right now."
He sighs almost violently as his hand moves across the back of his head, running through his hair like his fingers might find answers there.
"Honestly, I was just wondering where he was. I guess I'd be wondering even more, now, since he's not here. I mean, is it really okay for him to be wandering around if he's from another p-p—" The word catches in his throat. "—planet?"
Sakura nods.
"Well, we've been in contact regularly, until recently. I am concerned some about the break in communication, but he did prove he can stay hidden. That's why I was comfortable enough letting him leave. Plus, despite how he looks and… acts, sometimes—" Recalling a few instances of such behavior, like when they'd first met, and he'd let his first impression of her fall from his mouth like an avalanche, she has to chuckle. "—he's not actually a child."
"I see…" Shirou breathes out another deeply held sigh. "Well, that is a relief… Wait, you've been in contact with him all day?"
She nods again.
"So what's stopping you from contacting him now?"
"Well, before I did, I wanted to prepare you… Because before he left—" She reaches into her skirt pocket, and from it brings out a small, softly glowing iridescent pearl. "—he gave me this. He showed me how it works, and I've been keeping tabs on him with it throughout the day. I've just been so distracted with everything the past few hours that it completely slipped my mind."
"I see…" Quietly, he waits, then gestures at the pearl in her hand. "So…? Were you going to…?"
"Ah—!" Flustered, she nearly lets the pearl fall from her hand. "R-Right, sorry… I'm just… really…"
Shirou lets out a small laugh as she gets a handle on the pearl. "I'm just not sure what I'd—!"
'Sakura?'
"EEK—!"
This time, the pearl actually does fall from her hand as another voice intrudes on her thoughts.
Not Rider's, or Taiasu's, but someone else's.
Someone familiar.
End Notes - I'm not dead!
Yes, it's been a while. Sorry about that. Fortunately, the reasons aren't upsetting. Nothing like 'my house burned down'. I actually got a full-time job, which eats into most of my time, so I haven't been able to work on this as much as I'd like. It's kind of annoying, but it pays well, and if I play my cards right, maybe I'll be able to leave it after a few years and have enough $$$ to do THIS full-time instead.
Living the dream.
Anyway, I haven't stopped writing - just slowed down a lot because of the aforementioned reasons. I have completed day 2, and am well on my way into day 3's events. Except that there are some things I've forgotten, which will require me to go add a few new chapters, inserting them between existing chapters.
So, for that reason, it's not likely I'll be uploading Day 3, in part or in whole, anytime soon. Because, as anyone familiar with the OG Fate knows, Day 3 is when ALL THE STUFF HAPPENS. EVERYTHING.
Okay, not EVERYTHING, everything, but you get the idea.
Until then, sorry for the delays, but as always, thanks for reading. Please (and I hope you do) enjoy.
