Episode 8

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"What better way than to draw out Avenger's Master than if we were to act as though nothing happened?" She cast a glance upwards as they paused within the school's entrance gate. There, in the shadows of the tree branches, lay a Servant who watched the pair with a gaze that spoke of his displeasure in this course of action but also the acceptance that this was what had been agreed upon. Of course he would have followed them, she didn't expect anything else from him, he was hers after all. "Besides, it's been long enough since we've been to school that I needed to get out anyway. It was starting to get suffocating in that house."

To her left, the young Mutuo mage nodded his head while casting his own Servant an uncertain glance. The Castor had yet to return to his full size despite his mana levels returning to normal. He couldn't ignore the fact that he was the only Master of their little alliance that was totally dependent upon the other party members but until they could return the Toon Magician back to his full strength they would simply have to repay the favors later. "Yeah, having both your dad home and a look-alike is a bit much."

Amethyst eyes narrowed slightly when he felt a wave of regret and guilt pass over her. No doubt they were in reference to what had happened while she was under Avenger's control. There was nothing he could do or say that would make her feel any better so he remained where he was, silently watching over them as they continued on their way. Rider would have come along with them but he was unfortunately contracted to another who had left earlier in the morning for some business that needed attending to. His tanned arms crossed as the students settled into their seats, giving her a brief nod when her gaze met his fleetingly, and settled against the tree trunk as their lesson began. It seemed only moments later that a bell rang, signaling that the day was halfway done, and he quickly relocated to the rooftop to await the pair. He had just managed to put up a protective barrier when the door creaked open and he was greeted by the glittering gaze of his master as she approached.

"I hope you're not too bored." She hung her head slightly when he gave her a tilt of his head in confusion. "I guess a more skilled Master would have you out there scouting areas that our enemies would be hiding instead of you camping out in a tree all day while we attend class."

He blinked for a moment, the truth of her words more than assumption, but before he could offer any sort of counter a miniature magician appeared between them when his lips parted.

"Ah, mademoiselle, you truly possess a heart of gold! How kind of you to worry about your Servant in such an endearing manner!" The tiny chibi Servant made to embrace her face but was held back by a pair of decorated fingers that had latched themselves onto the cape attached to the Castor's shoulders.

"Let me remind you to keep your distance." The Nameless Pharaoh's eyebrow quirked with annoyance as he released the tiny magician in the direction of his Master and refocused upon his own with a sigh. "Though your words would be the case with any other veteran or trained mage," his hand became a fist as it rose to rest against his chest over his heart, "I am thankful and more than willing to stay close to my Master if that is what she wishes." He blinked as she stepped forward to slip her arms around him, uncertainty filling him when she tightened her hold for several seconds than retreated slightly. Ruler did not miss the look of intense jealousy and loathe upon the young mage's face. A smirk raised his lips as she remained near him as they sat to enjoy their lunches, his arms crossing as he leaned against the nearby wall to relish in the praise that she voiced when she found the bento box in her hands nearly bursting with food as she lifted the lid. "Replenishing your strength is vital" was the explanation he gave when she questioned the feast.

Shrugging, she raised a piece of chicken and popped it into her mouth, grinning widely as the flavors of orange zest and bite of pepper spread across her tongue. "So good!"

"Anyway," Yugi cleared his throat, smoothing his expression into one of content as he tossed her the drink she'd requested. "How are you feeling?"

She paused mid-chew of another piece of meat, evaluating and studying her limbs each in turn then swallowed the protein. "Well, no cracks or feeling like I'm a walking ticking time bomb, if that's what you mean. I actually feel pretty good considering all that…stuff." The young brunette blinked as Ruler moved away from the wall to seat himself beside her, his fingers rising to brush against the chain resting around her neck, the harp pendant at the end glittering as he raised it. Anzu swallowed thickly as he studied it intently. This was the closest they'd been since their awakening; her as the vessel of the Holy Grail itself and he from the summoning the ancient Egyptian gods to battle. She didn't remember seeing any giants but she did recall the tender healing moment that they had shared when he rescued her from the clutches of both Bakura, the Avenger Servant, and the grail's inner being. It was an intimate moment between them that she wouldn't soon forget. However, that did not mean she was unaffected by the closeness or care that the Nameless Pharaoh bestowed upon her. She was a teenage girl after all, hormones and a raging heart within her chest were normal for girls her age, but even though Anzu knew that she couldn't help but treasure their littlest moments such as this. He was so close that the warmth of his breath was felt against her skin as he carefully released the chain so that the pendant would return to its resting place upon her chest. "I-it hasn't flared up or anything. Those two knew what they were doing when they siphoned the mana that was nearly tearing me apart and forced it to take a new vessel until I could handle it."

The mighty Ruler's head bobbed in a nod as he leaned back, settling beside her, relief filling his features as she returned to eating her lunch. "Truly." He internally grimaced when the same emotions as earlier that morning radiated off of her in a near sickening wave as she glanced at her friend. "Master, if there is something troubling you, I will be more than willing to leave you two if it is a sensitive topic."

Yugi's eyes widened as she hurried to shush her Servant, their gazes meeting as she tried to hide her face within the collar of her uniform jacket. "What's up? You know you can tell me anything." A tendon in his jaw twitched when she prevented the pharaoh from leaving by taking a firm hold on his arm but he waited patiently as she seemed to search for words in her bento box's leftovers before putting it off to the side, taking a long sip of the black sweetened tea then also placing it beside the plastic container. Unease filled him as she bowed her head lowly, nearly so far that it was touching the ground. "H-hey, what are you doing?!"

"I'm sorry," she raised her head, locking moisture building cerulean upon his mauve. "I'm so sorry for what was said. I can never take it back, Yugi, and I'm-"

His hand had appeared against her lips before he even realized it himself but it stayed put even when her Servant cast him a glance. "No," he sighed, "it's my fault that you were feeling that way in the first place."

Anzu blinked as his hand fell away to cup her cheek as his gaze filled with remorse. "Yugi?"

"I guess I got so caught up in how I felt about you and what others were saying that I didn't even stop to consider that you wanted something, or someone, else. What you said were your true feelings although you were under someone's control they were still truthful. I'm not exactly subtle when it comes to my feelings for you but I should have taken yours into consideration." He bowed his head, hands falling to rest upon his thighs. "I call myself your best friend but I don't deserve to be if I blatantly ignore your feelings."

Ruler's brows rose slightly when she fell silent, her expression becoming one of utter shock and bewilderment. This must not have been what she anticipated. "Master," he whispered into her ear softly as her quaking hands rose to hover in the air, alarm building within his being as her mana spiked.

She'd heard his warning, just barely though, from over the blood pounding in her ears. How could Yugi think that it was solely his fault when she'd been the one who hadn't voiced against all the assumptions or set him straight when something was said that she didn't agree on? "It was- I mean- You can't-" Heat flared across her being as he raised his head so that their gazes could meet. Remorse, regret, and self loathe were within his wide gentle eyes as they bore into her own. A single tear slid down her cheek to splatter upon the concrete as she clutched her chest. "Yugi…" Both gasped as a cloak settled around her shoulders, the figure who had shed it turning his back and slowly disappearing as he took steps away from them.

"Guess he's not that bad of a guy after all," the young mage huffed, crossing his arms. "But I still don't like him."

"You don't have to like him, you just have to accept him." Anzu rolled her eyes but kept a tight hold upon the soft fabric when the wind caused it to flutter. Even if the sole reason that they met was because of this Holy Grail War she couldn't help but smile as the warmth of his being lingered within the cape as they returned to eating.

. . . .

"I swear, Yugi, if you don't stop that leg bouncing I'm going to-"

"What are you going to do, Anzu, send me flying across the room with another spell?"

Her cheeks puffed with anger as she glared up at him from over her textbook. "That was an accident!" She bristled as he stuck out his tongue then hurried to return to his own homework when a figure appeared behind her whose eyes shone with warning as he walked past with a steaming cup of brown liquid, earning a jump from the young woman as he took the seat on the end of the table. "When did you get back?"

"Just now." The tycoon and master mage sneered smugly as Yugi ducked his head. "I hear you returned to school rather than staying within the barriers."

"My Servant was nearby so there was no reason for me to stay cooped up in this house," she sighed, rubbing her temples as both her and her father's servants appeared on the far side of the room conversing lowly as they approached. "We were perfectly safe the entire time." The young woman bristled when her sapphire eyed father grabbed her shoulders. "What now?"

He removed a small little bug that none had noticed crawling across her clothing, the gaze of the Servants instantly darkening when they realized that it was a scarab that had been upon her person, Rider setting to work on checking the barriers while Ruler moved to stand beside her in time to snatch another from rising up her leg. "Looks like it was a good thing that you went after all. How long have you been home?"

Anzu shook him off, rising to stand in her chair as more appeared from beneath the carpet under their feet. Her wide cerulean eyes clenched shut as the two took turns in smiting each insect that came her way, not entertained in the slightest when it somehow turned into a game between the pair, and shot her friend a glare when he attempted to hide his amusement of the situation with a cough. "You think this is funny?!"

"No, I…" His expression became serious for less than a second before he broke out into a grin. "Absolutely."

"You're impossible!" Her anger simmered then waned as he began to laugh. Despite being surrounded by bugs and having both father and Servant protecting her from the onslaught, this was how it used to be. They would joke, tease, even playfully scold the other just as they were doing now. How long has it been since the air between them was this relaxed? "Stop laughing!"

Seto Kaiba's sapphire's blazed brightly. "Enough." They both instantly quieted, heads hanging slightly in silence until the last of the scarabs had been dealt with and she was allowed to return to her seat. "Obviously you weren't paying close enough attention, Ruler."

Her head snapped in his direction, eyes blazing. "Don't you even start. He's not my babysitter, he's my friend, so don't talk down on him as if he were one of your employees."

"He is your Servant and nothing more. Attaching yourself to him will earn you nothing but regret later. He is only here due to the fact that you cast the summoning, Anzu, do not forget that he will disappear into thin air once this war is done. What will you have then, hm? I can't guarantee that I will survive this one the same way I did the previous so that means that if I were to meet a Mage's End then you would be left here-"

"Master-"

"Kaiba-"

"So what?" Her eyes spilled with tears as she moved away from the table, gaze never moving or wavering from her father's as the others fell silent. "When have you ever cared what happens to me? You never did before and now you're acting all concerned of who I call friend? Why all of a sudden? So what if you meet a 'Mage's End' like a soldier in battle? So what if that leaves me here all alone?" Anzu took a deep inhale through her nose as she took a firm grasp upon the Ruler Class Servant's hand. "You are not the only one in this family who is a mage now, dad, I am not a child nor will I let you treat me like one. The heart in my chest is mine alone, not yours, and you have no right to tell me what I'm entitled to feel."

He rose to his full height. "It's not proper-"

"You're not going to stop me because I can't even stop myself." Her chin rose in defiance, the free hand that had been clenched into a fist wiping away her tears as she stared up at her father, cerulean giving way to bright crimson for a split second. "Mom was a homunculus but did that stop you from loving her? No! Did the fact that she was some artificially created life form who wouldn't live long enough age with you deter you? No!"

"That was-"

"Don't you dare say that your situation was different! Gah, I feel like I'm talking to a freakin' robot or something!"

A hand gently gave her shoulder a squeeze, drawing her away from the seething man. "Master of Rider, I believe you have said your piece. Some time apart will do you both good." The pharaoh eased her from the room, his eyes briefly meeting Rider and the young mage who watched with a pained expression as he led her up the stairs to where her room was. Paying no mind to the intense hold she had on his hand despite his fingers losing feeling was nothing compared to the pain within her gaze as he placed her upon the bed and began to clean her face with a tissue that he retrieved from the night stand. "Your words were kind and appreciated," he gently whispered as the raging storm within her gaze slowly dissipated. "I have said it once before but I shall thank you again, my master, your words and expressions of care move me."

The hold she had was released as she fell backwards to bounce on the bed slightly with groan. "I can't believe I just shouted at my dad!" Her hands rose to rub her eyes then shot back upwards and took his hand within hers once more but in a more relaxed hold as her eyes shone with worry. "Oh my gosh, your hand-"

"Will be fine." He soothed, cupping her hands between his own so as to still her movements, their gazes meeting. "Tell me, do you feel unhindered now?"

"That wasn't the healthiest thing in the world, nor the smartest," she shrugged with a sigh, "but I do feel a little better. Still got some energy that I feel the need to get rid of but yeah."

He perked as an idea occurred to him. "Master, you need not agree to, but if you would like to spar I am more than willing." Tanned lips lifted into an encouraging smile as she hesitated. A snap of his fingers procured a special kind of barrier within the walls that would protect the structure and various items from suffering from their shared blows. Standing, he gave a light tug on her hands.

. . . .

She fell flat against the floor, sweating profusely and trembling slightly as he hovered above her with a hand that bore a rune that was growing in size with each passing second. "S-snickerdoodle!" Anzu wheezed as he froze, the air of battle around him vanishing the second she voiced the safe word. "How was that one?"

"Your reaction time is improving quickly but it seems that you are still struggling with hand-to-hand combat." He helped her up with a tug on her hand, steadying her when she swayed and lowered the barrier with a wave of his hand when she snatched a nearby tissue to wipe the sweat from her brow. The Servant couldn't help but feel a hint of pride as she stretched, the air filling with pops as she did so. Her abilities and skills had increased drastically just within the few short matches they'd had. "Master, you have done well thus far so perhaps it would be wise for you to rest."

"Are you kidding? It's going to be at least several hours until I come down from that adrenaline high!" Anzu grinned widely. "Why don't we go for a walk to help cool off?"

He hesitated. It was nearing the midnight hour, though it wasn't unusual for her to stay active or awake past that point, but the lingering threat of Avenger and his Master were still things to consider. They would be exposed if they were to leave. "Master, with all due respect, I believe it would be wisest to remain here for the time being." The heart in his chest gave a heavy beat as she suddenly invaded his personal space, the mischievous glint in her eye the only warning he had before the room blurred then a breeze carrying the scent of cedar tickled his skin as walls were replaced by trees. She had teleported them without an incantation or rune? "Impressive indeed," he chuckled, nodding in mild amusement while matching her stride as she began walking. "You have grown much and in such a short amount of time that it is astounding."

"It's all because I have a great teacher though."

The ancient Pharaoh's face was kissed with heat as she cast him a glance, one that shone brightly in gratitude and adoration. He was growing to understand what her farther, Rider's Master, was insinuating, honestly he'd been aware for a long time now, but he still couldn't bring himself to reprimand or voice that she should not harbor such feelings for someone like him. It would only cause her more grief when it came time for their parting.

"I don't care what they say." She came to a stop, nearly causing him to run into her when she moved into his path. Hands folded behind her back, she tilted her head to the side when he took a step backwards for space between them, chest rising and falling with a sigh. "You can tell me if you don't feel the same way, Atem."

His breath caught at the gentleness she used when speaking his name. Though it had barely come out louder than a whisper it washed over him like a wave on the sandy beach, filling every cell in his being with warmth. The hidden emotion within her gaze and voice was almost too much for him to bear. "M-" Her fingers brushed against his lips, halting the title from leaving them then pulled away when he gave a nod of understanding. "Anzu, what I feel or do not matters little next to nothing." His gaze dropped from hers to the concrete sidewalk beneath their feet. "It will change nothing."

"Isn't it better to fight for something you care about than to fight for a meaningless reason?"

Amethyst rose to meet cerulean, finding them sad.

"Every Servant and Master is fighting in this war for the chance to have their wish granted, right? You never told me what yours is, the one that drove you to pursue being a Heroic Spirit." The young woman sympathetically rubbed his arm when he failed to form words. "I'm asking for you to tell me, I'm just pointing out that perhaps finding something to fight for would farther motivate one to fight in this war. I won't stop you from fighting," she stepped up so that their beings brushed, "but let me fight alongside with you. My feelings for you will never change so why not put them to good use? I may not have a wish but you clearly do and I'm going to do whatever I can to help make sure it comes true because it's the least I can-"

Tanned lips descended upon her own, cutting of the rest of her sentence, but a blissful sigh as she molded against him with eyes fluttering closed when his arms enclosed around her. It wasn't for several seconds that he released her from the kiss, the lids of their eyes rising like curtains in unison to reveal glittering gemstones of aquamarine and amethyst. "All the treasure and gold within the mighty empire of Egypt tarnish into nothingness before you." he whispered, fondly tucking some strands of chocolate hair behind her ear as pink entered her cheeks. "I deserve naught your words or feelings but I accept them, Anzu, so long as you allow me the honor of delivering the Holy Grail to you in victory." He bowed lowly, pressing the back of her hand to his lips. "This I swear upon my name: the day that I present the wish granting chalice is when our wishes shall come to pass and we must part ways is when my heart will remain here, with you, despite my return to the corporeal realm to await the next war."

Her lips, still tingling from the kiss, parted then fell into a thin line as a sound came from somewhere in the distance and dropped to the ground in time for a dagger to bury itself within the place she had just been standing, fingers giving his own a squeeze when he too was forced to dodge when another came from the darkness that surrounded them. They rose to stand as figures appeared from the shadows, each with a similar mask but different bodies and features as the pair stood back-to-back. The tension within the air was so thick that one could cut it with a knife as cerulean and amethyst carefully watched each figure in turn as they were maneuvered off the path. "What business do you have with us, Assassin?" She called, shifting weight to the balls of her feet when one made to swipe at her. "I have done nothing to earn your attack here tonight." Her eyes widened as a familiar temple came into view, a curse slipping from between her lips as they were forced up the staircase to stand within its courtyard.

"Answer her, Servant, we have no business with you yet you target then herd us like common cattle towards this place!" A golden outline appeared around his being when the ring of the cloaked figures took several steps to tighten the circle around them. "Master, a battle is upon us."

"Right." She nodded, rolling her shoulders while dropping into a stance that earned hisses from each who were present. "What, never seen a Master take a stand alongside their Servant? Here comes another shocker for you!" One launched forward, their several inch long claw-like nails reaching for her face, but was sent backwards with a hefty kick she landed to their midsection that sent them flying from the rune she had placed upon the soles of her shoes. "Continue that conversation after kicking these guys's butts?"

He gave a curt nod. "Affirmative."

"Then let's make this quick." Her lips lifted into a confident smirk that could rival his own as they braced when the line of opponents was broken by them rushing at the pair.

. . . .

"Master!" He hurried to her side as the last of the Assassins dissipated like smoke, amethyst casting a quick glance over his shoulder in time to see what could have been her clone disappear in a bright white light. In the heat of battle, especially between Servants, things tended to get a bit crazy. They had become separated in the fray but he had seen her through the raining blood and fallen corpses but it was not her; she was within the company of strange individuals, one man bearing a sword who stood protectively before a duo eyed woman and a harpy with talons that looked menacing indeed within the now fading firelight that was in result to an attack spell that had been cast. Their appearances were so alike that he would have been fooled if not for the invisible thread of mana that connected him to his Master. His arms readily collected her as she fell against him, tightening his hold as the rising sun peeked over the horizon. "We must return to your residence before anyone notices us or the state of this temple," he whispered in her ear while adjusting his hold so that he was carrying her with one arm tucked underneath her bent knees while the other cradled Anzu to his chest. In a quick spell, the pair disappeared in a bolt of lightning towards the west.

What neither noticed was the figure who was hiding within the historic temple's shadow whose lips lifted into a malicious sneer to reveal yellowed teeth. "What a surprise that those two managed to fight off Assassin." With a dark chuckle, he collected the fallen corpses with a flick of his fingers. "Though you have failed me, you are still worth something at least. I shall take great enjoyment in what comes next." The lingering traces of mana flared, forking across the stone covered ground until it pierced his chest and earned a choked exclamation when it manifested into a great dragon with two mouths that roared in his face then disappeared. His blood pounding from the display of power only fueled the inner emotions that swirled within his being. "It appears that the vessel has some fighting spirit." A striped red coat billowed as he pivoted on his heel, disappearing into the side of the building as a portal opened, and disappeared from sight.

Hey, all! Just a heads up that though its been forever since I last worked on some of these stories, I am revisiting them in hopes that I will somehow get out of the emotional funk that I've found myself in. Lots of things, won't bore you with the details, but here's to hoping that this crazy idea works!