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 pushed me to this point, won't bore you with the details, but here's to hoping that this crazy idea works! Sorry if it seems like it's a recap with lots of repetition but it's kind of the way my brain works in hopes of to get into the mindset I had been while originally working on this piece.

Episode 9

Through the fluttering linen curtains of the nearby window filtered in the weak rays of the rising sun, revealing a bed in the far corner of the room where a pair of figures lay. A fair skinned young woman with chocolate brown hair lay upon her side that was surrounded by a plain beige bedsheet while beside her laying on top of it was a wild haired man near her age who slumbered upon his back, one arm bent behind his head. Cerulean fluttered open as the call of her name sounded. Her head was throbbing, muscles were twitching, eyelids felt heavy, and every inch of her was begging to slip back into the blissful sleep where she felt lighter than air but a glance at the time pushed all of that to the back of her mind. It was Thursday, thankfully, meaning that her classes for the day would be on the easier and less physical side, exactly what she needed. How funny that she was looking forward to something that she thought mundane and borderline boring. Cracks filled the air as she stretched while rolling onto her back and smiled fondly when she spotted the figure beside her who also had begun to stir.

Most would raise a questioning eyebrow at the scene. The fact that she, a high school student, was sharing her bed with a member of the opposite gender was scandalous enough but the kicker was that the other individual beside her was clearly not from this part of the world let alone this country. They would be right on the last assumption since he truly was not from Japan. His features were much more defined than most in this modern age, what with his sharp eyes and monarch-like presence when he was near, but they would be farther surprised by the truth of how he had come to be at her side.

With tricolored hair that stuck up in a wild fashion, ebony locks with crimson tips and golden bangs that formed a natural crown upon his head, the ancient Egyptian being known as the Nameless Pharaoh brushed the undersides of his eyes with decorated fingers. The Ruler Class Servant, though mistakenly summoned by an inexperienced mage such as herself, had been led across time and space to her side in this Holy Grail War. Fate itself had a direct hand in bringing them together in the present. Though he had tried his upmost to remain respectful of his Master's affections and had even confessed that he too found it difficult to not act upon his own towards the young woman they were still finding themselves drawn to each other and nursed the delicate fragile bond that tied them together that lay beyond the ties of the magical war being waged.

Neither had expected to find the other, just as none had predicted that Anzu Mazaki, the daughter of the former incomplete grail who had claimed the homunculus Kisara, would become the new vessel of the legendary chalice. Not only that but her middle name was the first of his dear friend back in his original time, the young daughter of the Pharaoh's trusted advisor. She was not only his Master in this Holy Grail War but she was the woman who had touched his heart with her kindness and spirit. Before the once King of Egypt had realized it himself, he had grown fond of the young twenty-first century woman. Amethyst gems with ruby shards gained clarity as they opened then found cerulean, humming as her fingers brushed a bang that had fallen into his face.

"Guess that training and run in with Assassin took a bit more toll on the both of us than we realizes." She giggled softly when their gazes met, smiling when he responded by resting his head upon her shoulder for a moment before pulling away so as to rise up on a bent arm to better see her. It was brief but it had been just enough for his warmth to permeate her being despite the sheet he had tucked around her last night to earn her sigh of momentary bliss. "No, come back." A tremor slipped down her being when his warm breath wafted against her sensitive skin as she snuggled into his chest. "You can't just tease me like this so early in the morning, especially when I should be getting up…"

"I have done nothing." He chuckled, smirking when her arm wrapped around his being. "It appears that you are the one stopping yourself."

"You're so comfy though…"

The chuckle turned into a deep throated laugh when slender fingers lightly tickled his sides as her hands drifted towards his chest and gently took hold of her wrists. "Master, it is a school day and you will be late if you do not rise now."

Anzu hummed, snuggling closer until her nose brushed against his neck. "Five more minutes…"

Ruler's protest was halted as her supple lips suddenly met his throat, causing the words he'd meant to say turn into the ghost of a moan, and felt the fine hairs across his being rise when one of her legs rose to drape itself over his hip. His tunic that still had small tears from their late night battle against Assassin tore like paper from her slender fingers until the smooth pads of them were tracing patterns against the bare planes of his tan lean chest. Their mana levels had recuperated enough that they would be capable of defending themselves if needed but the invisible energy swirled and grew between the Mage and Servant as their beings pressed against one another. Physical affection was alien to him, even when he was alive, yet that didn't stop him from relishing in her displays. Despite him being a Ruler Servant and she his Master, despite their circumstances, there was no denying when a connection like this was made. A bend of his neck revealed more of his skin to her, which she took full advantage of to make her way upwards until her lips reached his jawline. Before their lips could meet he withdrew as the call of her name came again. "I am afraid that you will have to wait until later…" His rich baritone voice deepened as their gazes locked when his hands caressed her curves through the simple bedsheet. "…though I wish it were otherwise."

Anzu shivered, fair cheeks tinting pink as that smirk she'd grown fond of appeared when she managed to pull herself together enough to retreat slightly, and sat upright as her name was called for the third time. "I'm not deaf!"

"Then answer when I call the first time."

He couldn't help but bite his lip to hold off a snicker as she bristled, one of her slender brows twitching as she marched over to the bedroom door to wrench it open with a yank. "I'm your daughter, not your freakin' mutt!" He failed to hide it as she spun around and leapt onto the bed, stuffing a pillow into his face that only caused his smirk to grow. "And stop laughing!"

A figure appeared within the now open doorway, dressed in similar garb to the ancient king. He was the servant of Seto Kaiba, Anzu's father, as the Rider Servant known as the Priest of the White Dragon. Their shared countenance had caught her and his master by surprise but once someone spent enough time with the it was clear just how different they were. He had been the Pharaoh's most trusted advisor back in Egypt, his own daughter the closest to the prince. "Apologies for the intrusion," he called softly, withholding a chuckle when the young woman sat upright with a slack grip upon the pillow that allowed the Nameless Pharaoh's amused smirk to be seen. "But I am afraid that the time for fun and games will have to wait. You, Mistress Anzu, will be late if you do not hurry."

"Thanks, Rider, I'm getting ready now." She cast him a smile, earning a nod as the Servant disappeared from sight, then fixated her narrowed gaze upon her own as he stood. Her arms crossed over her chest as with a wave of his hand the tunic and pieces of gold jewelry appeared across his being. "Wish that trick would work for me," Anzu mumbled, shuffling to the nearby closet where she quickly changed into her uniform and applied a quick layer of foundation powder before reappearing. "Acceptable?"

Amethyst took a quick survey of her being. Though odd in color scheme with its calf-high white stockings, rosy pink pleated skirt that reached her knees, a button up jacket that was similar in hue to her azure eyes, small black tie in the shape of a bow upon her chest that was showcased by the white button up underneath, the uniform was quite fitting of the girl. It hugged in certain areas that showcased her shapely assets but not overly so that would distract one from carrying a conversation with her. "Exquisite."

Fair cheeks dusted pink as she nearly dropped the bag she picked up from the nearby desk. "No one looks good in these," she chuckled, turning to flash him a wink in passing. "But I appreciate it. Wonder what's for breakfast."

His gaze rose to the invisible barrier as she disappeared from sight along the path that would lead her towards the kitchen as it rippled. Something had attempted to follow them last night but was hindered by the protective warding. It couldn't have been Assassin, Rider was their ally as was Castor, so perhaps one of the other Servants was making themselves known. The call of his own name, not verbally but mentally, caused his lips to twitch in their corners as the connection of mana between himself and his master warmed as he too left the room. He was just in time to hear the beginnings of what was sure to be another classic showdown between father and daughter who were taking their seats at the center table.

"Where the hell were you two last night?"

"I needed some fresh air, sue me." Anzu crossed her arms while avoiding the stare of her father who sat across from her, flinching a bit when a light sting flared across her hand where a bruise protested when she moved. She made the mental note to herself to study healing spells next and rose while stuffing the toaster waffle that popped up into her mouth. The palm of her hand ghosted against Rider's shoulder in passing, earning the smallest smile to ever exist in human history from the Servant, and slipped from the kitchen as the doorbell sounded.

Seto's brow twitched, casting a quick rune that caused her to yelp and slide backwards until she was back within her original seat. "We aren't done yet."

He was the multimillion tycoon known across the world for his business strategies and ruthless but fair manners, yet few knew of the esteemed mage that was supposedly the last of the Kaiba family line. The original head of the family lost his own heir in an accident so when his gaze had traveled to the young prodigy that was the offspring of a branch of the family he decided the young boy was worthy of being at the forefront. Little did he or anyone know of the true genius they had found. Seto Kaiba went on to replace the head not just in social standing but also his position within the magical wielding communities. That would bring up the connection he had to a certain family known of creating homunculi, humanoid creatures with an abundance of magical power that would render their lives shortened to only a few years. Kisara had been one of them. Their paths had crossed right before the last Holy Grail War, before the chalice had claimed her as its vessel. A daughter was born to them just before they were forced to enter the fray which resulted in him being the sole member of the pair to return alive but his heart and spirit had been broken to such a degree that the last living reminder of his beloved was kept at a distance since he now viewed her as his personal reminder of the failure that he had been. It was because of his choices and selfishness that had lost him the beauty Kisara had brought into his otherwise dull life.

"I'm going to be late for school!" She looked in desperation to Rider and her own Servant, both who knew of her pride in the education and spotless grades, bottom lip quivering slightly when her cerulean gaze met each in turn. Then again, maybe she didn't need their help. A rune appeared within the palm of her hand as she swept it downwards but it was incomplete and it only resulted in her clothing becoming stiff as it stood upright, her hands quickly shoving dawn the uplifted skirt with an embarrassed shriek.

The Servants shared a look, one of amusement but also concern that such a simple spell had backfired on the young mage.

The young woman's eyes narrowed upon the sapphires of her father as her clothing fell to their original placements and the chair she had vacated met the backs of her thighs as she was forced to sit. "Whatever it is that you have to say can wait until I get home later!"

"Clearly you don't understand the fact that your role in this Holy Grail War has changed, Anzu, now calm down so we can properly discuss a battle plan." Sapphire narrowed in warning when she attempted to fight the hold he had on her. "You cannot afford to continue acting like a naïve, incompetent child anymore!"

Rider's glance rose upwards to the ceiling when a the barrier wavered. An unseen force had been attempting to penetrate the warding ever since the pair's return but their safety couldn't be guaranteed if they remained here no matter how his Master boasted of being a superior mage. "Master."

"Not now. I'm busy at the moment."

Ruler took initiative, his hands taking gentle hold of her biceps and effectively canceling the hold that the skilled mage upon her, and easily adjusted so that she was sitting atop of his bent arm. The smirk was back in place as she wrapped an arm around his neck for stability. "Shall we?" In a flash of lightening, too quick for the mage to counter, the pair were gone.

"What the hell just happened?"

"Master, now that I have your full attention, I suggest we focus upon more pressing matters." The Priest of the White Dragon dropped into a battle ready stance as with the sound of shattering glass, the barriers and protective warding crumbled into translucent shards around them as a figure appeared from above.

. . . .

The throbbing in her head hadn't gone away even with the assistance of some pain killers. Toaster waffle aside that she'd scarfed down, Anzu was glad of the few granola bars she kept in her bag which helped her stomach to cease its rolling and shifting. Was it because of all the excitement from last night or was her gut trying to tell her something? It was only getting worse with each hour that passed but the young brunette had mastered quite the poker face that prevented any of the other students or teachers noticing that she was struggling.

At least, until the fourth class had started.

A hiss slipped between her lips, the flare of pain searing up her arm nearly causing her to drop the pen she was using to doodle on the corner of the otherwise blank notebook page. Immediately feeling the concern of her Servant as he appeared within the tree right outside the window. The shadows of branches were enough to conceal his presence from anyone who would happen to spare a glance in that direction but she was quick to shake her head when their gazes met. What she had hoped to be an assuring smile became pained when a resounding heartbeat caused heat to erupt across her being. Walls of the classroom blurred to become replaced by trees as an unfamiliar scene was painted before her very eyes as flashes of colors in the shapes of runes briefly illuminated the surrounding foliage.

Yugi's gaze rose from his desk as a clatter sounded, finding the source to be the familiar pen of his friend, and felt ice fill his veins when he found her hunched over her notebook looking as though she was about to faint. "Anzu?" Hs whisper, barely above a breath, earned no acknowledgement from her but panic did fill him when her azure eyes shifted to vermillion. He quickly asked for permission from the teacher if he could take Anzu to the nurse's office and quickly ushered her from behind the desk while keeping her head bent low enough that one could see her glassy gaze. The young mage whispered, suppressing a flinch when her mana flared as the door slid closed behind them. "Hey, snap out of it!"

She jumped as if he had shaken or slapped her away, the red in her eyes remaining even as she blinked several times while wiping the sweat from her brow. "Y-Yugi?"

"I gotcha." He soothed, adjusting his hold so that his arm was instead around her shoulders so as to help her walk easier. "Come on, we're almost there."

"Where are we going?"

"Better question is what just happened."

"I-I don't know." She shivered, arms wrapping around herself as he took the turn in the hallway that lead away from the infirmary to instead head up the staircase. "All of a sudden I wasn't sitting at my desk anymore and was watching someone fighting."

Lavender eyes shifted to rest on Anzu as another wave of mana came from her being. It was changing with each ripple though, as if something dark was trying to rise to the surface. He'd heard all about Ruler and her's run in with Assassin last night but their levels had seemed fully recuperated this morning when the young mage had picked her up. The sweat that had been beading across her forehead seemed to multiply, making it a little harder to keep a hold on her when they approached the final doorway. It was more concerning that the vermillion hue of her eyes had yet to subside back to their normal cerulean.

The pendant appeared from within her clothing as they stepped out onto the roof, its chain so tight around her neck that it earned a choke until it was removed with a snap by a tanned hand decorated with gold. Anzu clung to Ruler as he drew her against his being, his amethyst eyes narrowing upon the small pendant as it flashed crimson. It was easier for her to breathe now without its weight, her breaths were coming easier, and the unbearable heat was seeping out of her body with each passing second. Her head fell to rest upon his shoulder as he passed the pendant to Yugi, the Servant turning his full attention to his master when she shed the outer jacket with a huff and the first few buttons were quickly undone. "I felt as though I was being cooked alive."

The Ruler Servant cast the young mage a glare when lavender eyes threatened to drift towards the new display of fair skin. A snap of his fingers caused the near see through white button up to instantly dry, preserving her dignity from the hormone raging mage's hungry gaze, and tilted her chin upwards so that the Nameless Pharaoh could survey her discolored gaze. "Your mana levels flared, Master, but in response to what I do not know." His brows furrowed in concern.

Their gazes locked on the pendant as it was dropped with a yelp of pain, its metallic surface glowing bright red, and shattered into millions of little pieces as it came into contact with the concrete beneath their feet. Somewhere in the distance came a sound that raised the hairs across their beings then were nearly blown over backwards by a sonic boom that resulted from an explosion. No sooner had the large smokey clouds begun to rise into the sky did her being seize, cracks appearing across her visible skin as vermillion eyes blazed brightly with agony.

Both mage and Servant found themselves frozen in place as her head cracked loudly in their direction. "Coming?" Her voice now sounded hollow, a few strands of her chocolate hair becoming shocking white as the red hue within both gaze and the cracks gave way to gold. Hands rose, palm facing upwards; she knew that neither had the capabilities of teleport and it would be the quickest way to get to where the explosion had taken place.

No sooner had they each had taken her hand did they find themselves before a mansion engulfed in towering flames. Once a beautiful stone and wood structure was now charred black with broken windows that looked straight out of a horror film. What was more surprising to the trio was that those who walked past on the street paid it no mind. Was it possible that none of those who didn't have magic training or hindsight couldn't see the destruction right in front of them?

An audible snap was heard and they quickly moved to hold back the young woman as she wailed. Her home was going up in smoke! Incantations spilled from her lips but none had any effect on the rising tongues of consuming flame. This was no accident. "I'm going."

"Master, wait!" He quickly took a firmer hold on her. The Ruler Class Servant had felt it the moment upon their approach that it would not allow he or the other mage to pass through being as it felt as though it was sourced from a certain individual with sapphire eyes. "Whatever battle transpired here, it is too dangerous to enter-"

Mana flared around her in a vortex, forcing them back several steps, but they found themselves awestruck as she entered the burning building without so much as a blink.

"Master!" Ruler rushed to follow but was sent reeling backwards by the wall of fire. Even his anti-magic skills were no match for whatever this was! "Curse it all," he growled, upper lip curling into a snarl when the young mage also tried his hand only to find that Yugi's runes didn't cause any change to occur.

Cracks were just beginning to form within his tanned skin, amethyst shifting towards violet, when the flames was extinguished in a flash of red light as figures appeared from within the now destroyed establishment. An unconscious Anzu was passed to the ancient pharaoh before the one who had carried her fell heavily to his knees, once pristine white robes now singed and heavily soiled. A tanned hand decorated with golden rings fell to rest upon Rider's shoulder when amethyst eyes found that not only did his Master bear his command spells but those also of the other Servant. They had once been trusted friends back in their original time, reunited by fate's hand during this Holy Grail War, and now they were comrades at arms not by ally means but by sharing the same Master. "High Priest of the White Dragon, you served your former Master well until the very end but your roll has not yet been fulfilled as of yet." he said, lowering to one knee so that their gazes could meet, "Now you have a new contract with someone else. Battle well in the war to come for the sake of she who now has become your anchor to this plane."

"My loyalty and strength are sworn to she who now holds my command spells." The Servant bowed his head, raising her hand so that her knuckles met his forehead, "in the names of the mighty Pharaoh of Egypt who knows the true names of the ancient gods and my former Master, I swear to protect and serve her to the full extent of my abilities."

"Return to the corporeal realm for now to recuperate your strength, Rider, there will be plenty of time to discuss the events that have transpired here at a later time."

And the High Priest disappeared like iridescent smoke.

A sneeze directed their gazes to the young woman who was now missing the cracks within her skin and both exhaled with relief when her eyes fluttered open to reveal cerulean. "I feel like I just got stuffed down a chimney that hasn't been swept in forty years," she groaned, glancing down at herself when placed upon her feet and found the entire uniform ruined by charcoal or smoke. Anzu yelped as a pair of fingers flicked her nose, whimpering as amethyst and lavender stared down at her with their arms crossed over their chests. "What was that for?!"

"For being reckless." They chorused then sighed as she scowled at them.

Yugi in particular was struggling to keep the pounding of his heart under control. All of this was happening so fast that it was difficult to keep up. His gaze shifted to rest upon her ruined home. "What are you going to do now, Anzu?"

Her expression fell as she too surveyed the damage. The only home that she'd ever known was gone now. "Well, on the bright side I don't feel like a ticking time bomb anymore so I'm going to count that as a win. Guess forming that contract with Rider was a better thing than even he thought so."

The Nameless Pharaoh cast a glance towards the young mage as he suddenly perked, turning away while fishing out a cell from his pocket, and took the step that would place him directly beside Anzu. She had been able to step through a barrier when he couldn't; it was an astonishing feat and made his admiration of the young woman grow. He, however, was not prepared for the sudden embrace she delivered as a few crystalline tears slipped down her cheeks. His expression became one of fondness as she buried her face into his tunic, one of his hands rising to pet the top of her head. "It is alright if you were frightened, Master, but I am proud of the bravery you showed today. I am not upset with you, more of I am disappointed in myself for being unable to follow you."

"Wait, you weren't right behind me?!" She yanked away from him with an expression of horror as she began to pace. "I thought you had! That's the only reason I was able run in there! I had to see if my dad was in there but the whole place was on fire! I knew he had Rider but what if they had gotten hurt?! I thought you were right behind me and that gave me enough mindset to step in there in the first place!"

"Please calm down before you fall into hysterics," he whispered into her ear, snatching her up in a tight embrace as she trembled. Amethyst eyes closed as she buried her face into the crook of his neck, her breaths deepening and slowing until they matched his own. Even the racing pulse he felt within her returned to its normal rhythm as he pet the back of her head. "I was unable to pass through the barrier but you were still capable of locating Rider and you both made it out in one piece." His hold around her tightened as he dropped his voice even lower so that none but she could hear. "I am relieved to see that it is only your clothes are singed and not your spirit, Anzu, but for the sake of my heart and sanity wait until it is determined that I am capable of following."

Her arms rose and wrapped around him tightly. "I was scared that he might have been in there, hurt or worse," she whimpered, "I'm sorry for worrying you but I had to go in there to find him. Atem, he wasn't anywhere in there…what happened to him?"

"Regrettably, I do not have an answer for you/" he whispered, enveloping her once more as she began to sob. "When Rider regains his strength, we shall ask him to tell us what has happened. We will find him, you have my vow not as your Servant in this Holy Grail War but as a man who was once king."

"Sorry to interrupt," Yugi cleared his throat, causing her to shift her head so that he could see their gazes could meet yet she made no move to indicate that she wanted to be released from Ruler's embrace. "If you want, you can come stay with Gramps and I until we figure out who was behind this."

She shook her head, straightening while pivoting so that her Nameless Pharaoh's hands rested upon her shoulders. "Thanks, Yugi, but I think it'll be safer if I just go to the main house for now." Nervousness filled her expression. "Although, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if you came with. The fact that I now have two Servants would earn a lot of unwanted attention and I would feel much better if you did…"

The Mutuo's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. Was she really asking for him to come along with her? It's been nearly a decade since she had stepped onto that property, heck he hadn't thought it still existed, and especially with all the recent happenings he'd doubted that Anzu would ever ask him to stay with her. It wasn't rocket science to see the bond between herself and the Nameless Pharaoh had changed to something beyond Servant/Master relations, it did sting a little but he'd come to respect her decision, and wanted to take his place once more at her side as the dependable friend he claimed to be. "You sure I won't make things worse? Our families haven't always seen eye-to-eye."

"I think they'll be okay with the whole thing now that you aren't after my hand." She giggled, lips lifting into a smile he hadn't seen in so long that he couldn't help but smile back. "I'll be counting on you!"

Amethyst eyes narrowed as a chibi Castor appeared from Yugi's hair to launch himself towards the young woman, his fingers easily plucking the tiny Servant out of the air before he could make contact with Anzu's face. "Yes, Toon Magician, that includes yourself but do not think that I will not be keeping an extra close eye on you as will Rider be." A flick sent the miniature Servant reeling back towards his Master as Ruler turned his full attention to his own when she turned so that their gazes met causing his curiosity to rise when he found her gaze clouded. "Master?"

Her lips pursed a bit. Just a moment ago he had said her name but now he was back to using the honorific? It had made the heart in her chest flutter a bit hearing him use it, never sounding so nice when coming from anyone else as it had whenever he called her by name, yet it was probably for the best that it was only used in private conversation. She should be looking at it as something special just for them. "Oh, nothing," she sighed, reaching up to rub her temples while glancing at the ruined home behind them. "Just wondering how on earth I'm supposed to explain this to them without dad since he kind of took over as head."

"Remember, Master, we are here beside you; you are not alone." He assured her with a firm nod.

She flashed him an appreciative smile then grew serious. "Standing here isn't going to do us any good, we're sitting ducks out here. Let's split for now and regroup in an hour at the train station." Anzu took a deep inhale through her nose while turning on her heel and away from the residence. Her entire wardrobe was gone along with her home but there was no time to waste in remaining here. Materials were needed before they left the city. "Time to go shopping." A groan rose up her throat when she realized that her bag was back at the school. "Ah, crap…"

. . . .

"What do you mean that you lost Ruler and his master?" Kirei Kotomine, the designated Overseer and secret Master, narrowed his eyes upon the Servant whose head was bent so low it was touching the ground. "You have been deemed the First Assassin, the Old Man of the Mountain, and have been altered by the Noble Phantasm of my own Servant yet you have the gall to present yourself before me as an utter failure."

"Now, now, Master, I am sure he tried his best." A white haired figure appeared within the archway of the sanctuary, their arm draped over the shoulder of a pale black haired Servant whose eyes were dull yellow in color that contrasted with the armor she wore. The pair crossed the length of the church, coming to a stop beside the kneeling multitude of Alter Assassins who bore a similar appearance. "Ruler is not one to simply allow himself to fall into a trap nor is he a reckless fool who would risk the safety of his Master by not remaining by her side. It is surprising that the girl has grown in abilities since our last encounter." Lips lifted into a malicious sneer as his tongue darted out to take a long stroke up the passive Alter Lancer's neck without earning a flinch. "This game is truly getting interesting."

See you next time!