Disclaimer: As always, I don't own anyone except Tomoko, her family, and Nagareboshi Cafe. Kei and her family belong to Lang Noi, and Saber belongs to Type:Moon.

The theme for this chapter is actually a recommendation from a reviewer, being the Fate/medley on the piano done by HalyconMusic on YouTube. I found since we've gotten into what I feel is the meat of this story, this long song is symbolic of what Saber's gone through before meeting her new Lady. For a shorter, more somber piece? I recommend the soundtrack titled The Flower will Bloom from the first Heaven's Feel movie. It took me remembering scenes from the first movie to finish this chapter.

This chapter kinda solidifies something that I've been having in my head for a while, and how this story is still a possible future of The Sea and Stars. Saber and Tomoko are intended to be a gen pairing/Platonic Life-Partners, people!

Content Warning for implied triggers and PTSD.

Please enjoy.


Chapter 6: A Dress, An Unchained Memory

An old man looked through his mirror with a smirk. No one but him really knew what world he was seeing, but interest was obvious in his facial expression.

"To think a simple civilian girl could charm the King of Knights without even drawing blood in contrast to her predecessors…"

There was a harsh laugh as he waved his hand through the dark air, leaving sparkles in his wake as he considered. "This world is certainly interesting. Filled with shinobi fighting each other to the death over their own politics, yet able to yield a girl so unlike anyone I've seen there. Even if I cannot affect it as much as any other universe at my fingertips, that does not make the possibilities intriguing. Perhaps, with her good…"

He took a breath, focusing his magic. The Kaleidoscope flickered at his feet, reflecting numerous colors in his direction as he sat back in his chair, white hair brushing the cushion behind him. "Perhaps a mere homunculus can live again. Wouldn't you agree, Justeaze?"

The sparkles in his hands turned white.

"Second chances are earned, after all. At least some Einzbern are not fundamentally evil as the rest of that family."


I have said before that you are not my first Master, Milady. Saber gently moved a pawn one space forward. I have been in two Holy Grail Wars prior to our meeting.

That much I remember, I thought back, placing a finger on the nearest bishop before considering. It would probably be better to use a pawn, so I moved one two spaces forward. But, um, Art-san?

Hm?

Are you sure about talking about this while we're playing chess?

Without a minute to spare, Saber had already raised one of her knight pieces to take my pawn. Welp. That one died quickly.

I believe we can balance the two, Tomoko. Saber raised her head to give me a smile. I could tell from the glint in her eye, though, that she was fully invested in the game. Well, shoot. If you do not mind.

I-I don't! I'm just… bad at chess? Trying to emphasize my point, I hesitantly moved a rook forward.

Yeeeeep. All it took was another moment and then that very same rook was already gone thanks to one of Art-san's knights.

Saber blinked, having put her newest knight down onto one of my squares, the glint in her eye flickering from shock before she recomposed herself, opening her mouth. "Milady, have you… have you never played chess?"

My face was starting to feel like it was on fire. Woo. Unwarranted embarrassment, welcome. I did not miss you. "Um. Excluding past memories, yes. I never had. I rarely found the chance to, anyways…" Considering the other ninja and my besties could be gone for months at a time and I didn't want to bother the other adults.

Soooo. This was getting awkward.

Saber was making a funny face. "Should we put the talk aside so I can teach you?"

"To be honest, this is really embarrassing, Saber, so just talk?" I squeaked, trying not to feel ashamed of my lack of knowledge. "I-I think it will go better that way…"

Needless to say, I probably should have expected Saber's furrowed eyebrows at my response. "Milady, there is no shame in not knowing something."

"Th-That doesn't make it any less embarrassing." I covered my face with my hands. Go away, blush, goawayblush. "Y-You help me plenty enough already, so—"

"That does not mean avoiding how to learn, Milady." Something was tugging at my fingers, and I opened my hands just a crack to catch a hint of almost golden blonde hair and warm green eyes. "I would be happy to teach you."

Lub-dub. Yep. There went my heart.

I slowly uncovered my face to glower at her. "…Art-san, you realize you're tempting me to hug you again, right?"

Saber blinked again before her gaze softened, a fond smile tugging at her lips. "I hardly see how that is something worth constituting as a threat, Milady," she chided, her hand becoming obvious in being what tugged at my fingers earlier. Her grip was still strong. "By now, your embraces are a part of you and it is something I have grown to accept." A soft chuckle echoed in the air. "Feel free to do as you wish."

My lip quivered. "Muuuu."

Saber smiled and pushed the chessboard to the side, barely jostling any game pieces while opening her arms. "Come here, Milady."

I couldn't help myself.

Saber still laughed once I threw myself into her chest, her arms immediately winding around me once I had nestled myself into her figure, embarrassed heat flooding every single part of my being. "At least your strength has not diminished in your emotional state, Tomoko," she teased above my head. "You could have easily pushed me down if you wanted to."

"B-But you're Art-san," I whined, feeling inadequate and warm and just comforted all at once. It was a strange combination to think about, considering the last time I felt like this. Maybe it was the casual clothing in her blouse and laundry detergent. "You're plenty strong to not be pushed."

"Perhaps so," Saber said, quieter this time, but there was no missing the warmth in her voice as she pressed a hand to the crown of my hair, brushing away a tangle. "But you underestimate your comrades, Milady. They trained you well."

I rested my nose into the side of her neck, trying to hide my blush. "I-I dunno what to do when you say all that, Art-san."

"Just take it in stride, Milady," Saber finished for me, brushing more of my hair. "Just take it in stride."

"Muuuu."

Saber chuckled. "The talk may as well have to be postponed for later. Take as much time as you need to recompose yourself, Milady."

"Muuuuu! Saber! Stop it! You're embarrassing me!" Wait. "Again!"

"Hehe."

How had she wormed her way into my heart again?


"This world is certainly closed off," the man mused to himself. "As expected of shinobi. Paranoid as always." While looking down through his mirror, the white sparkles in his hands weaved themselves into what seemed like the beginnings of a cloth. Gold borders accentuated the folds of the fabric, and the man smirked. "But that does not mean dreams have the same protection."


I probably should have expected everything to not go so smoothly soon after.

It started when Mama had approached me with her usual measuring tape, a smile on her face. The smile barely faltered when Saber had taken a step forward to look at her, her voice cheery when announcing, "Saber, may I borrow Tomoko-chan from you?"

"I do not mind, Hikari, but the look in your eye…" Saber immediately put on a funny face, her green eyes narrowed in Mama's direction out of clear suspicion. "What do you have planned?"

"It's not something dangerous, Saber," Mama retorted with a quirked eyebrow in false pretense, the gleam in her eyes still shining. "You just haven't seen me put on a fashion show yet!"

Oh dear.

My cheeks started to feel hot as Saber blinked, lowering her stance. "Fashion show?" Her shoulders slackened and through our mental link, I could get a hint of understanding and surprise, if I could call the rush of feelings that. "As in, modeling clothes?"

"I'm glad you already know of it!" Mama huffed through her nose, putting her hands on her hips, and I took a step back. "Tomoko-chan's been wearing the same dresses and kimonos every day—"

"Hey, Mama, they're comfy—"

"Not the point!" Mama continued, barely acknowledging me and my meek attempt at a quip with a single nod before turning back onto the stupefied Saber. "It's about time I give you a new outfit to wear! Saber—" to which Mama pointed a finger to with a grin on her face, "—will be the judge of it!"

"Oh. P-Perchance," Saber was looking more and more lost, staring at Mama's extended pointer finger with a face. Then again, Saber had just seen my version of bubbliness. She eventually had to see who I got it from. "How will I 'judge,' Hikari?"

"Just look and decide if it fits!"

"Fits?" Saber was definitely befuddled if her tone of voice was any indication. "But Hikari, your many pieces of clothing have been present throughout this entire establishment. My work uniform still 'fits,' so why would I need to judge if your creations do the same for your daughter?"

The last thing I was expecting was for Mama to turn to figurative stone with Saber's words. Then again, Mama didn't have as much exposure to Saber's tune of honesty as me, so this might've been coming sooner rather than later. "O-Oh, you," Mama said, her voice softer and most certainly flattered, "is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"I intended it to be as such," Saber replied mildly, tilting her head enough for the stray strand of blonde hair on top of her head to wiggle in Mama's direction. I think the old world called those kinds of strands "ahoges"? No clue why, though. "Your creations are lovely, Hikari."

"AAAAH, stop it, stop it, stop it!" Mama waved her hands in front of me and Saber's faces, nearly dropping her measuring tape while pulling me to her side. I don't think I had seen Mama blush so hard since that one time Papa teased her in front of the Academy when I was little. "You're going to embarrass me before I even do anything! Just let me take Tomoko-chan off your hands! Your little Master needs to look the part!"

Wait a second— "H-Hey, Mama," I protested weakly, just as her hands started to push me towards the hallway, "I-I can walk on my own—"

"Naaaaah!" Mama blurted out. "Just let me do this, Tomoko-chan!"

"Ah—" was all I could catch Saber saying with an outstretched hand before I lost sight of her thanks to a closing door.


Milady? Are you doing alright?

In any other situation, I would find Saber's mental voice to be comforting. But right now…

"Ow," I allowed myself to say under my breath as inwardly, I did my best to stay quiet. I-I'm okay, Art-san, I thought.

Inside my head, I could clearly hear Saber's hesitance as she backed down with a mild, If you say so, I will oblige.

Meanwhile, outwardly—

Another pin was placed into the hem of…well, whatever Mama was making as she absently fiddled with the pincushion tied around her left wrist. "Hm," she mumbled around a sequin stuck between her lips, one of her eyebrows furrowed against what I could see of her forehead past her bangs. "This dress is definitely a lot longer than those of my previous muses. Then again, I don't think I remember seeing this kind of design in the magazines I've read in the stores… what have I been drinking to give myself such a weird dream…?"

I did my best to not move, only giving myself a small window of opportunity to gently raise my arms in the large white and gold-trimmed straps of what was evidently a form of new ballgown, with the white fabric going down to cover even my toes and pillow at the floor. If not for my long hair and the wide girth of the straps at my shoulders, I would've been concerned with the dress showing off more of my upper body than I would've liked, especially with the little line of cleavage the bodice seemed to want to expose. The gold trimming on the folds and shoulder straps was at least nice, especially when the fabric was soft and comfy to walk around in, but… "Mama?"

"Hm?" she mumbled around the same sequin as she pinned yet another pin into the fabric still pooling at my feet.

"What is this, exactly?" Moving didn't feel like an option when the straps could possibly expose the red lily marks almost burned into my right shoulder blade. Command Seals, as Art-san said. But…

"A dress," Mama said simply and patiently, taking the sequin out of her mouth to stare intently at the hem of the clothing in question. "Not exactly my usual style, but the image called out to me, so here we are, Tomoko-chan."

"I-In a dream, you said?" I prodded, trying not to shiver at the little bit of wind coming in from the nearby window. Having my arms almost entirely exposed wasn't exactly a normal occurrence. And this situation, while not unexpected, wasn't exactly the usual "normal" either.

Command Seals, a new dress from a supposed "dream" — something was up.

"In a dream." Mama scratched her head at that one, mussing up her ponytail, and I did my best to not stare at the small streaks of gray dotting the black hair that I associated with my immediate family member. "It was a weird one too. Just the image floating around with a guy saying, 'Would you like to try this?'" Mama's attempt at doing a deep baritone would've had me laugh if not for the hamster wheel starting to turn in my head. Ominously too. "And it was a nice design, and it's even nicer on my baby girl, but there's something about how the fabric just sits here…" Mama clicked her tongue, looking very much put off about the little pile of folds sitting on the floor before looking up at me with warmth in her blue eyes. "You still look lovely, sweetheart."

"Th-Thanks to you, Mama," I said, trying to brush it off before the heat could start flooding my cheeks, but a shy smile tugged at my face anyways. "You do good work."

Mama beamed at me. "Let's hope Saber and your Papa like it too. It took a lot of work to make the dress fit. Now let me do your hair."

I really hoped so, because if my gut feeling was any indication, this dress wasn't normal.

Instead of voicing the thought, I let Mama take her hairbrush and start doing what she wanted.

After everything in my new life so far, moments like this couldn't be taken for granted.


Stepping out of Mama and Papa's shared room felt like I was walking on eggshells. Saber had gone silent during the entire preparation process, no thanks to our previous mental conversation, and knowing that the house had nothing but tile flooring made it hard to move quietly when any footstep could echo. Clamping down on my chakra wouldn't do anything either, because Saber's very existence apparently relied on my energy sources, so she'd know if I was there or not.

All that I could really do was quietly walk forward to where Saber was in the family room, holding my breath to not alert her.

Will this be okay or not?

The simple question had sweat build up in my palms.

Mama's presence behind me was expectant, happy, and waiting, so all I could keep doing was walk.

Still, in spite of my efforts, Saber looked up from her place leaning against one of the family room walls to meet my eyes once I entered the area. For a moment, I could've sworn I saw one of Saber's crossed arms twitch as her emerald green eyes widened at the sight of me. "Ah," she said slowly. "Tomoko."

"U-Um." I did my best to gulp down any saliva in my mouth in an attempt to wet the back of my throat. "H-Hi again, Art-san."

A single strand of blonde hair fell out of Saber's neat ponytail as she stood back to attention, her eyes taking in my appearance. With their darting up and down, I could've thought for half a second that she was drinking it in, more so with how her jaw slowly slackened.

It's the dress, it's definitely the dress!

"My new masterpiece!" Mama boasted, pushing me forward by the shoulders. "Saber, feel free to render your judgement!"

"M-Mama," I said, feeling my voice rise from the embarrassment. "S-Something about this—"

Saber took a deep breath, stopping whatever thought that was sticking on my tongue. Closing her green eyes for just a moment, she took another breath, the carbon dioxide coming out almost forced if not for how controlled it sounded. Then Saber opened her eyes and smiled softly. "The dress is beautiful," she said simply, taking a few strides forward to stand in front of me. "It is not like your usual style, Hikari, but it is fitting of my lady."

Mama beamed. "We're keeping this, then!"

I opened my mouth, found nothing in the face of those emerald green eyes, and merely stared as Art-san gently reached over to take a strand of my loose hair between her fingers. Mama had taken out all my hair ribbons, leaving my usual long hair to feel even heavier than usual no thanks to it flowing freely, and — huh?

Why was Saber staring at me like I was a ghost again?

Despite the smile on her face, Saber's green eyes seemed almost vacant as she reached into her pants pocket with her free hand, pulling out a simple white ribbon. I didn't know if she had one the entire time or had retrieved one from my room in the interval it took for Mama to set things up, but it was there. "Still, Hikari, I believe you did leave out one thing."

"Huh?"

Saber used both her hands at this point, wrapping the ribbon around the strand of hair still in her fingers to tie a bow. "Nothing quite suits your daughter like that of a hair ribbon," she said matter-of-factly, tightening the knot once my hair cooperated. "Without it, she may as well be an angel lost from heaven."

Mama blinked, her jaw dropping slightly. "Angel? That…" Mama put her chin in-between her right pointer finger and thumb as she closed her eyes in thought. "That wasn't exactly the image I was aiming for, but I can see what you mean by that…" Mama's words then proceeded to devolve into mumbles I could barely make out.

Once Saber's fingers let my hair fall back against my shoulders, I found myself releasing the breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Art-san…?"

Something was wrong. The energy that was coming through our link — our bond — for some reason, it felt wrong. Saber was having a moment again. Or could I even call it that? Her gaze was still focused on me to the point where I could pinpoint the exact second the light came back to her eyes, but the green color seemed almost faded. Darkened, even. She slowly blinked at me, tilting her head with that same eerie smile on her face. "Yes, Milady?"

I couldn't help but feel silly when asking, but all that left my mouth was a tiny, "Are you okay?"

Saber's eyes focused on me again. The green irises widened enough to reflect my image in their depths before narrowing, and before I could look into them more, Saber closed her eyes, that eerie smile disappearing with the gesture. She nodded to herself once, then twice. "Later, Milady." Past my shoulder, she said to the still mumbling Mama, "Hikari, I will require a moment outside."

Huh? Saber's voice was back, but what was she saying?

I tugged at the chest part of the dress just as Mama came back to Earth with a start, pretty quickly too. "Wait, Saber?"

I didn't even get the chance to get my word in before Saber shifted, and I did my best to not shut my eyes at the sudden gust of wind. Seeing Saber back in her Servant armor wasn't exactly new, but the uncovered Excalibur was nothing to laugh at. What warranted showing off the Promised Sword of Victory?! "I merely require some training," Saber said cooly, her blue hair ribbon barely brushing the front breastplate of her armor as she clenched her free hand. "Perhaps we can work on your fashion show another time."

I didn't even have the chance to open my mouth and speak a single word before Saber walked over, opened the nearby kitchen window and then jumped.

"SA—" was caught in my throat just as Mama's jaw dropped and she ran over to the now open view.

My mind was already thinking her name before a voice rang in my head.

I will return momentarily, Milady. Do not worry.

What do you mean, "don't worry," I'm already kinda—

The link cut off right then and there.

"Saber?!" Mama called out helplessly in the meantime, and I felt the breeze brush my exposed shoulders again. "Sh-Should we have done something else?" was said after a moment of pause. "Maybe I should've brought my spear to offer a spar for fun…"

Of course, there was no answer. And I did not expect Mama to offer that. I couldn't even hear Saber's voice in my head anymore.

What exactly just happened?


"STRIKE AIR!"

Saber thrust Excalibur forward with all of her might, focusing her mana on the trees in front of her, and the smallest bit of the tension in her shoulders faded with the motion as leaves whooshed past her. Tree trunks cracked as soon as the magic hit them, and Saber took a breath.

Training was still training, even in a different place, so far away from Fuyuki City.

Saber grit her teeth. "Not enough."

Normally, she felt alright with her power outputs. It was only mildly frustrating when handling Shirou's Magical Circuits, but he was not a true-born Mage compared to his father. Rin was her own manner of person, to the point and brazen to hide a heart gentler than anyone else. But right now, Saber was not with Shirou and Rin. The power flowing through her body felt different. Foreign, but empowering.

It was as though she could fight through legions of enemies without risk of collapsing.

Saber closed her eyes, channeling the energy within her blade. Excalibur hummed from the contact, almost vibrating from the power before Saber opened her eyes and sliced through the air with an overhead swing.

The air seemed to have been cut by itself once Saber brought the Holy Sword back, and she took a reverse grip on Excalibur's hilt.

"HAH!"

Another swing. The sensation of holding Excalibur felt like she was returning to visit an old friend, as she quickly fell back into a routine not unlike the days in Camelot, practicing her sword techniques.

"YAAAAH!"

Time passed slowly. Arturia would swing her sword, Excalibur would shine its familiar light, and targets in the form of clouds and stray bushes and/or foliage would be cut through. Training helped time fly faster, or so the modern world said.

It took a moment for Arturia to realize that tears were budding in her eyes. She paused mid-swing of her sword, taking a moment to raise her shoulder and wipe at her vision with her dress, before continuing.

This is a new place now. I am no longer in Fuyuki. Shirou and Kiritsugu and Rin are no longer my Masters. My current Master is…

"…Saber?"

Arturia stopped what she was doing once her ears registered that soft and timid voice. Turning around greeted her with the visage of Tomoko, no longer wearing that dress and instead donning a simple white blouse and purple skirt, walking closer. The worry was clearly evident in her face, contrasting the white ribbon that Saber had given her before. "Are you okay?"

Of course her new Lady would start with that.

Arturia opened her mouth, a reflexive response on her tongue before she closed it. The thought of replying a simple "Yes" felt more like an excuse than the truth. Admitting the truth was not an easy matter either, however. Arturia allowed herself a single sigh. "Not now," she admitted. The saying felt like sawdust in her throat, even when it was marginally close to what she truly felt. "Not at the moment, Master."

"Oh," Tomoko said quietly, and she wrung her hands together. If Arturia did not know any better, it would have appeared that her Master was praying. Instead, she could feel the anxiety and guilt pulse through their mental bond as Tomoko ducked her head. "I'm…I'm sorry, Saber."

No. No, Milady. I made the mistake, not you. I shouldn't have remembered Irisviel—

A wind blew between them. Tomoko shivered and Arturia knew by then she had made a mistake in running away.

You shouldn't feel the need to apologize.

"Tomoko, I—" Arturia let go of Excalibur without thinking, letting the sword dematerialize in favor of keeping her hands open as she strode over as quickly as she could. "Tomoko. It is not your fault."

Resting a palm against Tomoko's cheek did nothing to abate the clear concern on her Master's face, however. If anything, the gesture only deepened the lines on her forehead as tears welled up in her eyes. "Then what is?" she asked softly, her bottom lip quivering. "Art-san, I—"

What am I supposed to do for you?

Arturia shut her eyes, placing her other hand on Tomoko's face to cup both her cheeks and pull her in for a simple bump of their foreheads. The mere sight of her Master's upset expression was enough to cut into her very being. The mental question did not help matters, either. "Milady, stop talking. Just, for a moment. I beg of you."

It felt like a long time since Arturia felt this desperate outside of the battlefield. She knew it was a foolish thing to get worked up over. After all, it should have been a dress. A single, simple dress. But that gold—

Irisviel, I am sorry.

Arturia never did get to see Irisviel in her last moments before the Holy Grail had manifested back in the Fourth War. It still hurt.

I should have saved you.

A shudder ran through Tomoko's petite frame as she leaned into the touch, the barest sign of a sniffle echoing in the air between them.

The two of them shared a moment of silence. Then…

What am I supposed to do for you, Art-san? Did something… echoed quietly through their bond. It feels like you're hurting.

Please. Do not say anything. Arturia shook her head, gently wiping away the beginnings of Tomoko's tears with her thumbs. The gauntlets didn't matter — after all, they were made of magical energy. They couldn't rust in the face of any perspiration, especially not… Just let me have this, Milady.

Arturia was already feeling ashamed that she was the sole cause of her Master's tears yet again. Why did it feel like history was repeating itself? No matter what time, what place, what war, her Masters seemed to show no emotion or all emotions at any time. But right here, right now—

Tomoko's internal voice wavered, already showing signs that she was tempted to cry. Have what?

Arturia felt like she was being spoiled, but still admitted, Just let me feel that you are alive.

Tomoko's shivering stopped at that. It was as if she froze in time with how her breath stalled in her throat, and Arturia opened her eyes to gently raise her head and press a soft kiss to the space not covered by her lady's bangs. The gesture was enough to smooth out the stress lines covering Tomoko's forehead. "I am sorry," Saber whispered against Tomoko's hair, her hands falling to her lady's shoulders. "I cannot… I cannot tell you the story yet."

The response was just as quiet as Arturia's own prompting, yet still sounding eerily childlike. "Why…?"

Arturia took a deep breath. The admission felt like she was stabbing herself with Excalibur, but the truth was the truth. "Because I am afraid of losing you."

"Huh?"

"I—" Arturia struggled to put her thoughts into order, gripping Tomoko's shoulders tightly. "I have made many mistakes, Master. So many that I can no longer count them anymore. I may have done my best, I may have put those mistakes behind me, but if there is one thing I do not want for both of us that I have learned from all my time fighting—"

Tomoko's stare bore into Arturia's figure as the last visages of King Arthur surfaced.

"I do not want to risk seeing another person close to me die. Especially not a pure soul like yours."

Before Tomoko could voice anything, Arturia shut her eyes and cut their bond. She could already feel her figure fade out of the physical plane and into spirit form once Tomoko jumped in surprise at the lack of feeling.

I am sorry, Milady. I… I need to be alone for a while. I will see you at home.

Arturia already knew if she stayed any longer, she would hear her Lady start to sob.


Everything felt cold. Everything felt hot too, for some reason. Everything just felt wrong. Where did we go wrong?

I wanted to ask the world that. I wanted to ask Art-san that. But she wasn't answering my mental questions, and she wasn't around either.

The training ground felt empty, the wind was cold, and a part of me felt like disappearing.

The fashion show might've not been a good idea after all.


"So, the former King still has some problems to sort out. And even that girl struggles in trying to understand something she doesn't know." The old man glanced over his mirror with a dark laugh, shaking his head. "How human! How amusing! This world is truly amusing! Maybe I should send another catalyst down there soon. It would make things more like those modern movies non-Magi like."

The dark air around him stayed silent, having no voice to give an answer.

"Maybe your memory was too much, Justeaze. Or, no, you have her face, but you're not Justeaze, are you, Irisviel von Einzbern?" The old man twiddled his thumbs while staring at the image of the gold and white dress floating in his space, crossing his legs together. "What other things of yours shall I send down next to turn the tide? You should keep it interesting, little girl. The King needs more reminders of her past to keep her on her guard."


It didn't take long for a friend to find me. Obito's face popping out of a tree nearby was enough of a scare, anyways. Darn it, Uchiha with their eye powers.

"So, lemme get this straight. You have another housemate in the café now, just when I was out with Kakashi on a mission, taking her in without a problem."

"Muuu…"

Obito merely raised his only visible eyebrow at me, the right side of his lip quirking upwards for a moment as he stepped out of the Hashirama tree's shadow. "Cute noises aren't going to help you, Tomo-chan."

I shut my eyes in an attempt not to fidget. "I wasn't trying to make them, Obi…"

"Not the point," he said a bit more curtly. I felt myself wilt in my clothes with the tone of his voice, feeling all the more small. "You decided to keep her around even though," and at this point, Obito gestured to the wind-swept area of Training Ground Two, clearly motioning to the lack of leaves on the bushes and bare trees and all, "she could cause this much?"

"I-I can pay for it…" I said weakly.

Obito blinked at me before putting his face in one of his hands. "…Tomoko, that's not what I meant."

My sense of reasoning snapped. "Th-Then what did you mean?" I blurted out, feeling both scared and insecure because man, I messed up. I should've talked to Saber sooner if it meant not being grilled by one of my previous people right now. If it meant avoiding this whole mess. Obi felt angry. "Obito, I won't know if you don't—"

Without warning, Obito grabbed my right wrist and I found myself being pulled forward and into his chest. Arms encircled my back as a chin gently bumped the top of my head, and I felt myself exhale shakily. Unexpected hugs weren't exactly out of the norm for us, per say, but in the middle of a grilling? "You're panicking," he pointed out quietly, and my heart froze in place in my chest. "Tomo-chan, you—" A nose gently nudged the crown of my hair. "You could've asked us for help. Me, Kakashi, Kei, Rin, everyone. You didn't have to be alone with this lady forever."

This isn't a grilling.

My bottom lip trembled before I could voice anything. All I could do in that little moment was restrain the urge to cry out loud again and hug him back as tight as physically possible with my untrained arms. I'm overthinking again. Why was it that whenever I felt like breaking, someone found me? Kei, Obito, anyone. It just seemed to happen, no matter what. What came out of my mouth in the end was soft and vulnerable and showing how I was barely holding together. "…I get that, but I just wanted to help her, Obi."

A kiss pressed against the top of my head. Still affectionate, even after all these years. How did this man start to like me again? "I know, Tomo-chan. That's just how you are. But there are limits for you going and hurting yourself."

I felt myself shiver. "I thought I could do it."

"You're not a therapist, Tomo-chan."

"But I'm still her Master, Obi," I protested, feeling the tears start to bud in my eyes. "I still somehow summoned her like everyone else can with their contracts and, and," I tugged at the back of Obito's green flak jacket, "I brought her here, Obi, and because of that, she's still my responsibility."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean hurting yourself by putting everything you have into helping her, Tomo-chan," Obito said softly into my hair. "You'll burn yourself out if you don't step away and take a break."

"I-I wasn't trying to burn myself out…"

Obito went silent after that. Another kiss gently pressed against the top of my hair in the moment that followed and I shivered.

"…You're angry, huh?" I tried weakly.

"It's not a puzzle, Tomo-chan. I'm pissed," Obito clarified into my hair, and I tried not to squeak once he tightened the hug. "I could've come here sooner. You didn't have to shoulder this alone, Tomo-chan. Seriously, a contract out of nowhere that binds you to a human of all things?" A clearly angry puff of carbon dioxide brushed the top of my head, rustling some of the strands. "You could've been hurt."

"S-Saber hasn't hurt me, Obi…"

"That doesn't rule out the possibility that she could," Obito said hotly, and he let go of the hug to place his hands on my shoulders, looking deep into my eyes. His only visible eyebrow furrowed against his forehead, and he kept staring at me for a moment before sighing softly. "And that she already did."

My heart froze in my chest. "I-It wasn't her fault—"

"My girlfriend's been left alone crying in a Training Field, Tomo-chan," he interrupted, and I felt all urge of protesting leave me, "and excuse me, but it's really hard to believe that it's not her contract's fault when said contracted person is not here to defend themselves."

I ducked my head and weakly bonked his shoulder. The barest echo of a sob left my throat.

Obito immediately deflated at the gesture, his hands gripping my shoulders almost like Saber did earlier in terms of strength, his voice coming out apologetic. "Sorry," he said quietly. I already could tell he meant it and that it wasn't sarcastic. "I didn't mean to make it sound like I doubted you. But you're really taking on too much by yourself, Tomo."

"I-I thought I could do it, I really did…" My voice cracked.

"I know," he agreed gently, pulling me into yet another hug. "I know, Tomo."

I hid my face into the crook between his shoulder and neck, the tears hot and scalding on my cheeks against the cold air. "I-I want to help her, but I don't know what to do!"

"And that's okay," Obito whispered softly into my ear, tightening the hug and running his fingers through my long hair. "That's okay, Tomo-chan."

"O-Obi…" Another sob left my lips. "Wh-What am I supposed to do, then?"

"Let me take you home for some cuddles and then I'll help you figure things out." He exhaled shakily. "I-It's going to be okay. I promise."

I was too weak to really protest at that point.


The old man's eyes widened. "Oh. Oh my. That is certainly something I wasn't expecting. The girl wasn't alone?" He threw his head back to laugh again, louder this time. "What can one broken soul do for another? Oooh, I want to know more." Once his laughing fit faded, he leaned forward and put his chin in his right palm, grinning. "This world really is interesting. Now, young warrior."

The mirror changed to reflect the image of that one man, burn scar on his face and one eye concealed from view, holding the girl as they walked through the streets. They could have come from an old story book the old man remembered stumbling upon. How sweet. How… tempting.

"Let's see what you can do with one step already taken backwards."


Author's Notes: I feel like this ending is taken from my feelings towards the Cosmos in the Lostbelt arc of Fate/Grand Order. But this chapter was a long time coming, both in and out of universe, so thank you for reading this far.

I'll keep doing my best to bring you more. For now, Vy will sign out to tackle real life.

See you all next time.

P.S. Oh, and if it's not obvious. The old man is Zelretch. Take that information however you'd like.