A/N: ANOTHER UPDATE IN LESS THAN A MONTH?! GASP!
LOTS OF CONTENT IN THIS CHAPTER. OVER THIRTEEN THOUSAND WORDS WORTH OF INSANITY!
Loads of humor, too.
Hope you like i it. Well! In other news, the Patriots won the Superbowl. Whoo.
Also.
My newest story pretty much bombed.
I mean, An Endless Journey was essentially a dumping ground for my all Fate ideas henceforth, but OUCH...
Feelsbadman...T_T
Ignoring those little hiccups, here we are at long last. The next, long awaited chapter of A Most Unlikely Rider. Despite the trials and tribulations in my life, this was a joy to write, its just got so much personality. Had a blast writing it, even wracked with pain as I am...
...but structuring everything was a right BITCH to do!
So! Fair warning. We've got a bit of everything in this one; character building, romance, humor, combat, and even a bit of multiverse theory! Hope you brought a drink and something to munch on; because this chapter's a right and proper doozy.
DISCLAIMER!
I!
OWN!
NOTHING!
Now onto your questions!
Q: What's the combat system here?! I must know!
A: Pretty sure I've already been over this, but alright: in short, its basically a free-for-all. Servant battles outside of the arena can only last for three minutes-note the similarity to three turns as held by the game-before S.E.R.A.P.H. intervenes and forces both parties to disengage. Furthermore the rule for combatants still applies. For example, this time around, Hakuno and Naruto can ONLY encounter Shinji and Drake in the labyrinth because THEY are their opponents for this round. Of course, that doesn't prevent mischief outside of the arena.
This may change as the rounds drag on.
Hope this helps explain things~!
Q: How much time will be spent on each Selection. Also! More fluff please!
A: Generally, I'm going to try and divide each "Round" into two halves. Three at the most. Also, plenty of fluff in this chapter, so this ought to warm you up.
Q: Hey, is each "Servant" Naruto aware of one another? I mean you have Fate Grand Order as a premise to work off of, so why not?
A: Its...complicated. This chapter leads into an explanation there, of sorts.
Q: Judging by the previews, I sense some hostility toward Rin. Why?
A: Naruto isn't hostile at all. He simply doesn't put up with bullshit from anyone. Toss in some memories that may-or-may-not be his from an ongoing Grail War and he's left to wonder if he should trust her at all. Yes, I am fully aware that Extra!Rin and Fate!Rin are two entirely different entities, but
Q: Why did Naruto toss out his class name so much?
A: Because, for all his talk, he's a good person. He's honest too...sometimes to his detriment.
Q: What's the spacing for the story going to be here?
A: Again, traditionally, I'm going to make each Selection (Round) Two chapters. But that may change.
Q: Well. Naruto certainly made a splash didn't he?
A: Considering this is PURE Naruto with almost no alteration to his legend? Yeah, that's definitely something he'd do. Our boy's always been a bit of a prankster; that aside he genuinely likes to help people. He's still a bit of a dolt when it comes to romance, though not NEARLY as thick as he was when alive.
Bullies like Shinji on the other hand...
...well, he might change his tune once he realizes Extra!Shinji isn't as old as he appears.
Q: And now our little chick's gotten bolder! Y'know, the headband bit almost reminded me of a scene in One Piece with Nami and Luffy. Was that intentional? I know references are your bread and butter so I thought I'd ask...
A: One Piece did give me some inspiration in that regard, yes.
Q: What are the EXACT pairings?
A: *zips lips* You'll just have to read on and find out now, won't you?
Q: ...people are going to die, aren't they.
A: Naruto and Hakuno aren't omnipotent. They can't save everyone; nor can they always spare their opponents. S.E.R.A.P.H. literally won't let them unless they find a workaround. Of course, many of us know just what said workaround is now...don't we? But not all can be saved...
Q: DEATH TO THOSE WHO MAKE THE UMU CRY!
A: Naruto and Nero are...well, alike in a sense. You'll see what I mean.
Q: Seems Naruto's found himself an apprentice.
A: Of a sort, yes. He and Hakuno may well end up together. Or not. Only time will tell.
Q: Its nice to see Fate Extra and its games getting some love. Speaking of which, what are you going to do about the combat? Will it be turn based?
A: Bollocks to that! No turn-based fights here! That'd be nigh impossible to write. Long live the brawl!
Q: Ohohohoho~! Do my eyes deceive me, or is Tamamo gunning for Naruto?
A: If by "gunning" you mean she's intrigued/attracted, well...
Q: More NarutoxDrake!
A: They're not finished with each other yet...
Q: Wait! Hakuno was out for three days?! She doesn't have much time then, does she?! If memory serves there's only five-Nope! Seven!-days per week in each round! She's already lost out on half the time!
A: No, she does not.
As ever, reviews feed my engine of creation, so keep at it~!
Really, sometimes it feels that the kind words-and critiques-of you fine folks on this site are all that keeps me going. That and its always nice to hear from people. Now more than ever, considering the state of...well, my life. I won't bore you with the details, you didn't come here for that. Now then...
Someone stole the show here, just couldn't help myself.
Oh, and one last thing:
TFS for the win.
"I'm not a very good Master, am I?"
"No, its that kind of doubt that makes you a good person."
~?
First Selection (Part II)
...and that's what happened."
Hakuno cocked her head aside as her Servant completed his tale, considering the strange story Rider had just finished weaving for her. As ever, her Servant's jovial smile never wavered in the face of adversity. No, if she had to give a name she'd say it only grew broader beneath her incredulous stare. Though they had received-and were now safely ensconced within-their own personal room, she still wanted to shout her dismay until the very heavens above heard her. It was their own personal room after all. No one could hear them here. She understood that much. Accepted it, even.
She still flinched just thinking about it.
Yes, all things considered her Servant seemed inordinately pleased with himself for reasons she knew all too well; by all accounts, he'd committed a crime so heinous, a sin so terrible that not only had made him the talk of the school, but also the bane of Masters everywhere. Really, it was a miracle he hadn't been inflicted with a penalty outright. They had, however, been confined to the grounds for the remainder of the day. Rider didn't seem concerned in the least; no, he looked proud of his accomplishment. Now she just had to figure out why.
"So let me get this straight." The little brunette began slowly, choosing her words with delicate care. "You, ordered Kurama, to bite Shinji."
"Yeah-huh." Naruto's head bobbed in agreement. "Right in the balls. Won't be walking straight for the rest of the week."
Really, it made her want to crawl under a rock and die.
Sadly, the room offered no such escape.
Little more than a small enclosure, it barely qualified as a room at all. Scarcely furnished beyond a sleeping bag and what appeared to be a small space-heater of sorts, it was sorely lacking in every respect of the word. If not for a lone window offering a small glimpse into the world beyond she would've found the room altogether oppressive, really...
...and then there was the room's main fixture.
Perched upon a crudely-crafted throne of broken chairs and other assorted items he'd absconded from who-knew-where, Rider beamed right back at her with all the pride of the sun. Kurama, in a rare moment of solidarity with his partner's insufferable snark, lay curled up at the blond's feet. Nestled in small bed of crimson-and just where was Naruto getting all these materials!?-his body comfortably curled in the warmth of his tails. Was he trying to be cute?! He may have been sound asleep for all she knew!
At the mention of their opponent, however, the little fox turned his head and spat.
"Speak for yourself, I still can't get the taste out of my mouth...
"Cmon, you know that was worth it." Naruto's smile was still a ray of sunshine despite the brightness of the room. "If we hadn't put a stop to his prattling back there, he would've done something annoying later. This way, he's likely to tuck his tail between his legs and lay low for awhile. His Servant seems alright, though. Wouldn't mind plundering her-
Hakuno audibly yelped and covered her face. "Naruto!"
"What?" the blond exclaimed, beaming beneath her scalding scrutiny. "I was talking about her treasure! She's obviously a pirate, which means she must have a lot of booty to be had! What did you think I meant?" Indeed, he didn't so much as bat an eyelash when he made that statement. Hakuno almost believed him...were it not for the slight twitch of his lips. Rider claimed to be many things in life, but he was clearly a prankster first, and a Servant second. That part of his legend had come through loud and clear.
"I...you...you did it again!" she squeaked through her hands.
"Nevermind then," came the indolent reply. "Forget I said anything."
...your generosity knows no bounds."
"What can I say?" those pearly whites flashed out at her again. "I'm a giver."
In that moment, the waning light caught his face and something stirred in her chest.
It felt like she'd glimpsed the ghost of a king just now; the ruler he'd been meant to be in life, yet never became; someone who would've watched over his people, had his life not been cut brutally short. This was not a clever king. Not a cruel king. Not a terribly smart one, either. But he was a kind king nonetheless. One more than willing to lower himself to the level of others to understand them; someone who didn't consider himself to be above the rest merely because of the power he'd attained during his livig days. Almost like an older brother...no...more than that.
This was her Servant.
'Dear god I think I'm actually starting to-no!'
Never let it be said Hakuno Kishinami was that naive.
Painfully aware of her burning ears the young brunette averted her gaze. She'd been had. On some level she knew this; though whether Naruto's remark just now had been a feint, she knew not. Only that he was laughing and she was the one blushing. Again. Honestly! It was said that when one drew a Servant, you pulled the closest to your personality. In this case? Nothing could be further from the truth. Naruto was brash and bold, when she was timid and weak. Full of life and light and fire where she was little more than trembling embers.
Of course, Hakuno would never let him know that-
All at once, the lightest of weights settled upon her right shoulder, distracting the brunette from her internal monologue. With a start she realized Kurama had abandoned his comfortable nest to lay claim to her as his new vantage point. Hmm, a small, distant part of her mused. Lighter than she'd expected. Still, what was he doing there...?
"Stop teasing the poor thing and start strategizing already, will you?" the little kitsune yawned from his new perch. "You're going to break her before we get to fight anyone."
A blond brow rose. "Somebody's eager for combat."
"I will not be denied!"
Though Hakuno very much doubted the veracity of that claim given the fox's size, there were more pressing issues on the little master's mind. A niggling, pressing doubt that had been bothering her for the better part of an hour now-no, ever since they'd first set foot in this room. One she now gave voice to:
"Still, I have to ask...
"C'mon, why the long face, Master? Ask me anything you like, really! Ask away!"
...why is the entire room orange?" After a moment, this was the inquiry she asked of him. "Its ugly."
Much to her surprise, Naruto tumbled off the chair with a startled squawk as though she'd actually struck him.
"Ack?! You wound me Master! Your words cut deep!" a hand rose, clutching at his heart. "I don't think I'll ever be whole again!"
"Oh, please!" Funny, she hadn't known Kurama to be able to roll his eyes like that. "The room would've been far better in crimson and you know it!"
Naruto jolted upright. "Treachery!"
Despite her best efforts, the brunette felt her worries ebbing away as her allies squabbled. Had that been his intention all along? She almost wondered about that. No, no, that was impossible. Rider might be a kind soul, but strategy clearly was not his strong suit; he bulled through his obstacles through sheer force of will and strength alone; planning simply wasn't his strong suit. Not that he was lacking intelligence or any such matter, but...well...sometimes she honestly wished he'd use his head rather than lead with his heart like some blond buffoon, even if he was handsome...
...hey." blue eyes narrowed upon her. "You were thinking something naughty just now, weren't you?"
"Why, I believe she was!"
'I've been caught!'
Faced with their united front, Hakuno dodged that question with a vigorous shake of the head. Deny! Deny deny deny! They couldn't prove anything! So long as she held her tongue, Rider couldn't possibly guess what she had been thinking. Surely he wasn't capable of reading minds. Right? Right?!
Rather than challenge her, her Servant offered a smile.
"No need to hide it. You'll need that kind of thinking in the war to come. You're just a little chick after all."
Her confusion must've shown, for Rider climbed back into his chair and happily elaborated.
"As in you're a novice. An amateur. You're surrounded by fighters who have seen more action in a week than your entire life. Magi who would kill you for so much as looking them. Many will. That's why you can't afford to play fair. You need to use every dirty trick you can. Take those flaws of yours and wield them as a weapon against your enemies. This is war after all, and though I may be a Rider, I'm still very much a ninja. Honor serves no purpose here." Something gleamed in his eyes then as a strange thought occurred to him. "Speaking of which...your Command Spells."
Hakuno froze.
"Don't use them."
"Wait, what?" she blinked furiously.
"I'm telling you not to use them." Rider repeated bluntly, his flat gaze shifting to her marked hand even as she grasped it. "It might be possible to swipe some from other Masters as we defeat them, but until we're certain, you shouldn't wield them recklessly. You can use two at best, remember? Exhausting all three in this war means certain death. Do you understand?" When her head bobbed in reluctant agreement, he granted her a look of indecipherable scrutiny. "Excellent! While we're on the topic of amateurs and hypothetical battles...what do you know about parallel universes?"
...considerably less than I should, given the circumstances." came the rejoinder. "Why?"
Rider favored her with a grim smile.
"Here's the thing, kiddo. Multiverse theory's a bitch."
Straightening, he steepled his fingers and laid his chin to rest upon them
"Fact is, me, or at least another version of me contained within the Throne of Heroes, fought the Holy Grail War before. A lot of them are still fighting as we speak." he paused then, allowing the warped weight of his words to sink into the muddled mire of her thoughts. "Not "this" war of course, but a war nonetheless. Confused yet?" When her head bobbed, that small, insidious smile grew further still. "Good. You're learning. We'll be using those experiences to further your limited knowledge."
There it was, another clue for her to pick up and inspect, if she wished. She did. "Are you...saying you have multiple personalities?"
Kurama palmed his face. "Now you've done. Don't say I didn't warn you."
"You really didn't though...?"
"Not quite. Think bigger." Rider arms spread wide, as though to embrace the fading light itself. "Not multiple personalities, multiple incarnations. Different heroes by the name of "Naruto" who, by some means or measure, each reached the Throne of Heroes in their own way despite their differing pasts. Lots of Servants have them. Its part of what allows us to be summoned as so many different classes in the first place. Mine just happen to be more...numerous than most."
The silence proved telling.
"I wouldn't say that they belong to me per se," Rider relented with a small frown, "Its more like I'm vaguely aware of them, and they, me. Some of them are surprisingly vivid, but otherwise unimportant. Useless snatches of information that "I" never experienced, events that happened to another "me" in another world all the same. Perhaps there's some time-bleed from so many of us existing at once? Who knows? For instance, I know one version of myself eventually settled down, became hokage, and started a family. Even had a son. I could tell you all about him, his name, his face, how much of a brat he was, how he craved my attention and eventually received it in spades. Turns out, it wasn't at all what he wanted."
A strange, almost pained expression flitted across the blond's face.
...but just because I remember him, that doesn't make him my son." in that moment a tiny, bitter chuckle burst out of her Rider. "Ha! Pathetic, isn't it? Servants shouldn't be able to remember, but I do, even when I wish I wouldn't." a bandaged hand palmed his face, momentarily concealing those ice blue eyes from view. "Just look at me, Master, I'm a wraith grasping at memories that don't even belong to me. Really, I almost envy your amnesia sometimes. Those bastards aren't me, but at the end of the day most of them won their fight."
"What happened before, then?" Hakuno caught herself asking this. That brief flash of humanity had jabbed at something tender inside her; she knew what it was like to lack memories of oneself. From what he'd revealed to her just now, Rider didn't even have that luxury; his identity was torn and shredded, jumbled between lives he hadn't even lived, while his own was cut painfully short.
"Before you?" the blond blinked, taking his hand from his face. "I-we-dreamed, for the most part. Wasn't much else to do in the Throne."
Kurama harrumphed.
"That's putting it mildly."
"What is?" she pressed the point home.
Naruto dimpled again. "Its quite the list I'm afraid."
"We have time." Hakuno shot back, crossing her legs before her. If Rider and Kurama were going to be difficult about this, then she'd stand her ground. After all, he'd told her the importance of asserting herself. Even if it was only one tiny step at a time, every bit helped. As she looked on, a wan smile bloomed on the former's visage.
"Oho!" Rider jolted upright, pleased by her response. "My Master has some steel in her after all!"
"Well...?" A beat of awkward silence pushed between the unlikely trio.
"Eh, its...strange." he confessed, offering a small, helpless shrug in recompense for her earlier temerity. "I've never met them face to face yet I know they exist. Some have yet to be "born" or, well, summoned in a sense. Others have been kicking around far longer than I care to admit. Like a certain horned bastard who devoured a certain goddess rather than seal her away."
"Goddess...? Rider," Hakuno ventured cautiously, "Just what are you getting at?"
"Again, not me. I was very much mortal when I died." Those eerie blue eyes took on a slightly nostalgic hue, as though he were experiencing a particularly vivid memory. "Sure enough, godhood went straight to "his" head and he's been wreaking havoc around the multiverse ever since." Honestly, I'm not quite sure how to explain it myself without breaking your pretty little head, but I'll try. To my knowledge, I'm aware of nine iterations, including myself and excluding that horned bastard who seems so keen on meddling in affairs he shouldn't."
Kurama harrumphed softly. "If that isn't ironic, I don't know what is...
"Hush, you!" Rider admonished with a click of the tongue. "The point I'm making here Master, is this: life can diverge along countless paths. Unlikely as they may seem, the smallest choice can create a chain reaction, one you might not be prepared for. Take me for instance. I'm one of them; you called and I came. The others...well. Perhaps it'd be best if I just tell you outright rather than beat around the bush, ya know? Best to know who you're working with, here. But to understand that, you'll need to understand me. So let's answer your question."
Leaning back, Hakuno watched as her Servant began to count off his fingers, relentlessly ticking down one by one:
"I dreamed of a Caster, who accidentally ignited a war within another war."
"I dreamed of a Berserker, someone utterly devoid of all inhibition."
"I dreamed of an Assassin, fighting against impossible odds."
"I dreamed of an Avenger, drowning in cold, black mud."
"I dreamed of an Archer, laughing at the world itself."
"I dreamed of a Ruler, slaved to their own dogma."
"I dreamed of a Saber, wielding a broken blade."
"I dreamed of a Lancer, wrapped in chains."
Abruptly, his head tilted to regard her.
...and I dreamed of you."
Hakuno caught herself perking up at this, her fingers absently stroking Kurama's coat. "Me?"
"Well, in the moments before you summoned me to be precise." As she looked on Rider uncrossed his legs and laid his head to rest upon an upturned fist, regarding her cordially. "Its part of the reason I answered your call as quickly as I did, remember?" a small, sardonic smile plucked at his whiskered cheeks. "You see, for all my preaching and prattling, I'm really a selfish person at heart. Saber, Archer, hell, even Avenger. Any one of "us" could have answered your call, but I beat them all to it. I guess you could say...
Blue eyes crinkled in a strange, almost handsome expression.
...I wanted you all to myself." he purred.
Hakuno's frowning face went from placidly cool to alarmingly warm in an instant, her once pale skin snapping into scarlet shame as she covered her face. No! Stop! Bad girl! Bad! Down! Dooooown! He hadn't meant it like that! Dimly she became aware of his laughter-that she'd somehow cheered him up-but that did little to mollify her own steaming cheeks. Damn him and his teasing! In a tizzy she spun away from him, barely noticing the wildly incoherent babble bursting from her mouth.
"Whawhawhawhawhatareyousaying?!"
"Nice one!" Kurama crowed.
"T-T-T-Traitor!"
As such, she wasn't at all prepared when Kurama bounded from her shoulder to reclaim his customary perch upon Naruto's arm. There was a certain gleam to his eyes now...she hesitated to call it menacing, but it set her ill at ease all the same. Little did she know that she'd accidentally invigorated her Servant with her words; helped him find of a surety of purpose he'd been lacking. By rights, Hakuno knew she should've been happy. She had paid back her debt to him by lifting his spirits as he'd raised her own. So why...
"Right then, Master!" To her dismay, Naruto was already beginning to rise. "Time for training!"
...why did she have the worst feeling about this?
"Are you feeling up to it?" she hedged, almost wishing he wasn't.
The idea of combat was...frightening for Hakuno, to say the least. She still wasn't used to the idea of it; much less the notion of taking a life. Try as she might to resist, Hakuno was a gentle girl. She did not like to hurt. The idea of hurting others terrified her, shook her to her very core. And yet if she did not, then she would die. This conflict clashed within her, two halves of the same coin, trying to tear her apart. Whatever her feelings toward Shinji, she would still have to cut him down if she wanted to survive. She would have to cut, cut, cut and keep cutting, tearing everyone apart until only she and Rider remained until and ohgodshewouldhavetokill...
"Oi!" Kurama's sharp, silken voice snapped through her ears. "Kid's having a breakdown!"
Rider looked at her as though she'd grown an extra head and sprouted gills. "Can't have that, can we?"
A golden streak of light shot out, pulling her to him. He pressed his forehead hers, blue eyes blazing red. The sight of them frightened her. As she looked on, he tilted his head against her own, regarding her curiously. For all her earlier courage, Hakuno flinched away. Naruto wasn't having any of it.
Firm hands took hold of her face.
"Hey. Look at me, Master."
She did.
"I have been shot, stabbed, impaled, and poisoned." He told her this simply, as though they were merely discussing the weather. "Would you believe I even had my heart manually restarted, once? I have suffered every pain imaginable, endured every indignity known to man, mental, physical, even spiritual." for the first time since she had met him, an undercurrent of pride pushed through her Servant's voice. "At the end of it all, I only died because I'd been actively fighting a war, a goddess, and my best friend. In that order. So in other words...!"
His hands rose then, not to cup her chin as she'd expected...
...but to give both her cheeks a hard, painful wrench.
"Have some confidence, for crying out loud!"
"I'm sowwwwwwwy!"
"Good!"
At all at once Rider released her, leaving the baffled brunette to stumble away and crash down on her fear. Moaning, she clutched at her throbbing face and shot him a dirty look as she furtively massaged her aching cheeks. It didn't hurt as much as it did sting, yet for all his earlier outburst, Rider-and by definition Kurama-remained unfazed by her exasperation. Servant and Beast alike gazed back at her, neither showing so much as iota of emotion. No, not quite, she glimpsed the ghost of a laugh lingering on his lips.
"What was that for?!" she bemoaned him.
"To inspire confidence." That dazzling smile flashed out at her again, warm as any sunbeam. "Trust me when I say that nothing short of lopping my head off is going to kill me in this war. Kurama? Ha!" he slapped his knee and laughed harshly. "Good luck! He won't die so long as I'm around. Got that?" having declared his intent he learned forward on his pseudo-throne, stooping down to her level. "We're going to make sure you win if its the last thing we do. Do you understand? We'll do all the fighting. You just give the orders. Do that headband of mine proud, eh?"
Unbidden, her fingers rose, idly tracing the thin metal plate even now still wrapped against her forehead.
Despite this, Hakuno still faltered.
"But we can't enter the arena right now...
Rider certainly didn't; no, not at all, not in the least.
"True, we may be forbidden from entering the arena momentarily," Naruto preened back at her, "But that doesn't mean we can't gather information while we're able. For starters!" a lone finger rose, poking her cheek gently. "We know that our enemy is a Rider, like me. Also, she's likely a pirate and I got a glimpse at her twin pistols. That's a fine place to start!"
Hakuno paused, consulting her terminal. "It is?"
The screen that awaited her there revealed nothing, naught but Shinji's name, much less his Servant in question.
"Oh for the love of...let me see that thing! Get over here!" exasperated, the young man flung up his hands and grabbed her by the waist. Hakuno squawked, but before she could think to offer further protest she found herself swung into his lap-or nearly so-landing well between his legs on the throne. Even as her mind struggled to process that tidbit of information, he laid his chin upon her shoulder and reached across her body, idly pawing at the terminal in her hand. His fingers brushed the screen to create a faint glow; the terminal taking root in his memories, copying the precious information he'd acquired through touch.
Within moments Hakuno found herself staring at the striking likeness of a redhead bearing a jagged scar across her visage.
Here was a woman of unquestionable strength and will; someone who would not flinch in the face of danger; rather, one who embraced it. Her image alone held more backbone than Hakuno herself possessed. The thought was oddly humbling. Confidence. Yes, she needed to be more confident. Rider had sworn himself and Kurama to her service to be sure and she was working to master her crippling lack of resolve, but her weaknesses were still many and her strengths yet few.
Slapping her still stinging cheeks, she shook the shadows away.
"Is this her?"
"Indeed." Naruto hummed into her neck. "Now you know what she looks like."
"So she's a Rider?" Hakuno dared to risk a furtive glance over her shoulder. "Like you?"
Kurama and Naruto shared a long, significant look-and a smirk!-that wasn't lost on the little brunette. But to what purpose?
"Oh, she'd wipe the floor with us as we are now," the blond allowed after a moment of sustained silence, "But its cute that you think we're that much alike. I'm sure Shinji thinks the same. Twice the pride, double the fall, I suppose."
...why does that sound familiar, Rider?"
"Because, little chick, it describes our so-called-opponent to a T." Kurama informed her primly. "That runt doesn't stand a chance."
His statement made no sense; none whatsoever, on the contrary it set Hakuno on edge in the worst way. For both of them to willingly admit that they were no match for Shinji's powerful Servant, yet in the same vein to claim that he was the one who didn't stand a chance...it baffled her. She said as much.
"But you're both weaker than his Servant!" she cried! "You said so yourself! Why are you so relaxed?!"
"Ah! But that's where you are wrong, Master!" Naruto interjected, covering his mouth to hide a smile. "Strength isn't everything. Far from it! In the end, it comes down to...
...wait. Why was Kurama laughing?
It came as even more of a wrench when the little fox covered its snout with a paw and started snickering. Slitted eyes narrowed in thinly veiled amusement, its nine tails thrashing in scarcely concealed amusement; one its partner seemed to share judging by the silent shaking of his shoulders. Was she missing something here? Why were they laughing?
"She really thinks we're the same as that pirate wench! Ha! Oh, this is rich...
Doubling over, Rider reluctantly straightened and wiped a lone, mirthful tear from the corner of his right eye.
"My dear," her Servant replied, his voice a low rumble that stirred her in all the wrong places, "There has never been a Rider quite like Kurama and me. Our situation is...unique, to say the least. The closest equivalent to us would be our old friend Killer Bee, and we're not even sure what class that crazy bastard would fall under. But yes, she's definitely of the Rider equivalent. Shinji said so himself." at this his lips pursed in a thin frown of consternation. "That one is...well, he's an idiot, frankly. But!" A finger rose in elucidation. "His Servant responded to that title when he called for her so! Bingo! Valuable information. Now we just need to capitalize on it."
In a burst of motion, he shooed her off his lap and burst to his feet. "To the library! Away~!"
Following her smirking Servant, Hakuno reluctantly sallied forth from their room.
"Up you go!"
At least, this had been the plan. Her intention, really. But as with all things, her Servant surprised him. Instead she found herself scooped up in the blond's arms and swung up onto his broad back. Without thinking she seized his shoulders and hung on for dear life; it was only after those warm hands rose to cup her legs and steady her-rather, after her began walking-that she realized what her Servant intended. Embarrassment flushed her body from head to toe, once more rendering Hakuno's pale visage a lovely shade of ruby rose red.
"Rider, no!" to her shame, she caught herself whining and kicking against his back. "Stop! I'm not a child! Put me down! Right now! I mean it!"
Naruto didn't miss a single step; indeed he paused just long enough to swing the door open and step out into the hall beyond.
"Are you able to walk by yourself yet?" he inquired.
Her legs trembled traitorously.
...no."
"Then shoulders it is!"
Much to Hakuno's dismay the blond boosted her higher still onto his back and simultaneously took hold of her knees to anchor her in place. To make matters worse Kurama capitalized on this opportunity wholeheartedly and claimed himself a far more comfortable perch; one that was not currently occupied by the body one Hakuno Kishinami. More aptly, her hair. Left flailing for for balance she was in turn forced to sink her fingers into the mangled mane of gold that jutted from her Servant's head. Only then did she realize how this might appear to others.
"Nononothisisevenworse!"
She imagined they looked quite the sight. An unlikely trio, Rider striding down the hall without so much as a care in the world; her propped up against his neck, Kurama nestled content upon her head. Spirits, she felt like a scalded fish stripped of its scales. Everyone was looking at them. Her. She knew none of their faces, these hapless passerby, but with each passing moment she shrank inward on herself. The brief fog of melancholy had taken her Servant seemed to have evaporated altogether however; in place of that once dour expression Rider's face was firm and resolute, a visible spring to his step.
"C'mon, where's that spunk you showed me before?!" he jostled her lightly! "Show some enthusiasm!"
Reluctantly, the little brunette pumped her fist.
"Whoo...
"Louder!" Kurama goaded.
"Yay." she offered a sullen thrust.
One of those nine tails swatted her on the nose. "Pitiful!"
Persnickety little critter! To think, she'd thought him cute! Alright, maybe he was cute but she wasn't about to tell him that after this! Absolute bastards, the both of them! On some level she knew they were only trying to help her; draw her out of her shell-herself-and embolden her against those who would wish her harm. One couldn't afford to be a coward with so many enemy Masters gunning for your life. S.E.R.A.P.H. may have put rules and guidelines in place to prevent all-out war, but it one dirty trick outside of the Arena and her life would be forfeit. If that were the case, if she were going to die anyway...
A snatch of muffled conversation caught her ear just then:
"Is she serious? Making her Servant carry her around like that is just...
"Poor thing." a girl's voice trickled into her ear. "Maybe she's already broken?"
"Heh. Can she even walk?" an ill-looking boy sneered into a marked hand. "Doesn't look like it."
"Yeah, its only a matter of time." another agreed. "Shinji's going to shred her. Tch, isn't he a lucky one..."
Something cracked deep inside Hakuno's heart and her fists bunched painfully against Rider's unruly tangled mane.
Rider had been right after all; she was little more than a guppy in a sea full of sharks. And they were, each of them, hungry. They smelled blood in the water. Hers. There could be no mistaking the pitying-if not predatory-looks flung her way. Were it not for Rider and the implicit threat of a penalty hanging over their heads, she suspected some of them would have tried to take her out here and now. Damnit. Only a few minutes in and she was already tired of being afraid, tired of jumping at shadows, tired of being looked down upon. In private her shyness was something she'd yet to master, but she could put on a brave face in public at the very least-
"Master, would you look at that!" Rider crooned suddenly, turning a toothy smile upon the lot of them. Something terrible flickered in his eyes and she found herself holding tight to him. "Fresh meat!"
Hakuno froze. "Wait, I didn't say-
Kurama only made it worse. "Dibs on the tall one! I'm FAMISHED."
Faced with their shared aura of palpable malice, those snide Masters scattered like rotten leaves in the wind. Try as she might, Hakuno couldn't bring herself to pity them. Hmph. Served them right. She almost expected their Servants to manifest in response to Rider's threat but no, no one appeared to pick up the gauntlet he'd thrown down. Really, she almost found it funny how comically ashen they'd become before bolting. That lifted her spirits a little if nothing else. Although, that act they'd put on just now...
"Thanks." she conceded, though not without her own concern. "Were you really going to...
...eat them?" the blond glanced up at her on his shoulders with a small smile. "No. Fun to put them in their place, though."
"Hrmph! Speak for yourself." his partner jibbed, scarcely shifting in the nest of Hakuno's hair. "Data or not, I wouldn't mind taking a nibble...or two."
Hakuno caught herself cringing even as Rider openly guffawed. "Sheesh! What is it with you and biting people's heads off, man?! Wonder if we can find you some chocolate or something...
"Speaking of which...
Man and beast turned to face her.
Too late, she realized she'd been corned.
"Now then, I believe we were working on that cheer of yours...?"
Oh no.
"C'mon! Put more oomph into it, Master! Let me hear you shout! Show the world you're not afraid!" A short, sharp jump courtesy of Rider jostled her anew and despite her best efforts to maintain her hold, the little magus almost caught herself smiling. She knew he was trying to inspire her, to bolster her own flagging courage...and it was almost starting to work. Still, she remained stubborn -afraid of making a scene more like- and dug her heels in against her Servant's sides.
"Rider, I don't-
"Perhaps you'd rather go back to bed, then?" the less-than-subtle threat dangled between them. "Is that what you want?"
Her shoulders betrayed her, her body offering a tremulous shake at the thought of being alone. She wasn't used to being bullied like this; not out of any sort of spite, but rather a genuine desire. Strange as it might sound, they truly wanted to help her help herself. It didn't make her any less happy about it. Her first instinct was to turtle inward on herself-to simply shut out the world. Ordinarily she would have done just that...if her Servant didn't keep dragging her right back out again, kicking and screaming.
...no."
"Eh?" Naruto tilted his head away from her as though he hadn't heard that tiny squeak of defiance. "Was that the wind just now?"
"I think it was!"
"Damnit Rider, I said no! You're not putting me back in that bed again!" At her wits end, Hakuno gave his hair a sharp wrench, violently snapping the blond's head to the side. He merely laughed at her feeble fit and patted one of her knees, his rough palm warm through the pantyhose sheathing her leg. Another traitorous tremor wracked her body-this one of an entirely different nature!-but she refused to be swayed by and gripped the roots of his hair firmly in hand, despite knowing she wasn't doing any damage.
"Then you know what you have to do." Kurama chimed. "Say it! Shout it from the rooftops! What're we going to do in this war?!"
With pained resolve, she pumped her free hand into a fist and delivered a rousing shout.
"We! Are! Going! To! Win!"
"That's my girl!"
All at once, the hall came alive with the sound of Naruto's laughter. It was a surprisingly pleasant sound Hakuno reflected, a genuine bark born of equal parts surprise and shock. Perhaps he hadn't expected her to say it outright. Perhaps he'd thought she would simply back down. Perhaps he was simply proud of her and laughter was his only way of expressing it. Maybe this spirit-forsaken war wouldn't be quite so bad after all-at least, not if she had these two to help her through it. Regardless, she felt her cheeks burn with pride at what came next.
"See, there's the fire I was talking about!" Rider wheezed out between bouts of mad cackling. "I think I'm falling for you!"
"I can't believe you made me say that...
"Aren't you glad I did?" he grinned.
"Well, yes, but...
In that instant, a flicker of red across the hall caught her eye.
Ironically, the first thing that held Hakuno's gaze was the not the interloper himself but his hair; a stark, startling white in spite of the man's otherwise youthful features. Those steel eyes held hers for a long moment, the ghost of a smile plucking at his tan features. He was a warrior to be sure-though she didn't think him a knight-one clad entirely in black and crimson. And for some inscrutable reason, he seemed fixated on her. The strangest sense of deja vu tickled at her senses; she had the undoubted feeling that she should know this man, yet when she reached for the memory she found naught but empty echoes.
Abruptly, that steely gaze narrowed upon Hakuno.
"Ho?" a low, sardonic snort reached her ears. "Seems I've been noticed."
He seemed almost wistful at the sight of her and yet somehow pained at the same time, a noble sadness that cut deeper than her soul to strike at the very essence of her being. In another life, this would've been her Servant. Her friend. Her ally and perhaps eventually...something more. Of course, she knew none of this. Their paths were already separate from one another; they had diverged from the moment she'd summoned Rider to her side. Considering her for a mere moment more, he raised his hand and beckoned for her to follow, then turned his back to depart back up the staircase from whence he'd come.
If Rider was at all aware of their voyeur he did little to show it. Still...
Without thinking, Hakuno seized his hair and steered him toward the staircase. Her Servant offered a small hiss of surprise, but allowed himself to be directed nonetheless; though not silently by any means. She scarcely heard his protests. Something was tugging at her, urging her onward and upward, though she knew not what nor why, only that she needed to follow this stranger.
"Hey?! What're you doing?!"
"I want go to see the roof." she said simply.
A bead of sweat ran down his brow. "I gathered that much. Why?"
Should she tell him? He might think her silly, or a fool. "I...saw someone. On the stairs."
Blue eyes gleamed gold. Odd. She hadn't seem him do that before. "Was it another Servant?"
Reluctantly, her head bobbed. That crimson-clad man had been anything but human. Lying served no purpose here.
Even so she wasn't...wholly prepared for the shared grin that blossomed upon Naruto and Kurama's visage. It wasn't savage, no, not at all. If she had to put a word to it...excited? Yes, that was it. Somewhere in the back of their shared consciousness, a switch had been flipped. Hakuno wasn't sure she liked it.
"Weeeeeeeell then," the former offered a silent purr, "Why didn't you say so in the first place? If you wanna go up there so badly...hang on!"
Concern creased the brunette's brow.
"Wait, what are you-YIPE!"
In short order they crested the first flight of steps at breakneck speed, followed by the second, then quite suddenly the third. One after the other Rider bounded up the stairwell with ease; their ascent nearly soundless save for his muffled grumbling at her earlier antics. For her part Hakuno settled in to wait against his shoulders until they reached their desired destination, trusting in her Servant's strength not to drop her or play some cruel trick. A slow burn of excitement flared to life as they continued their climb; strange Servants aside, she was honestly quite curious to see the roof for herself.
"ORA!"
She started only when a booted foot cannoned into the door and launched it open, thereby announcing their presence to anyone awaiting them. Despite her best efforts not to appear impressed, the little brunette couldn't help but notice that said door didn't so much open as it did disintegrate outright, tearing itself free from its hinges
"Knock knock~!" Naruto declared loudly. "Anybody hiding up here?! Fight me!"
"Damnit," Hakuno hissed, "Did you have to shatter the door?!"
"Bah! That's the only way to make an entrance!"
As luck would have it, there was.
A girl with striking-yet-soft features and aqua eyes awaited only a few steps beyond the door itself, her body pivoted away from them. Midnight tresses momentarily concealed her face, bound in twin-tails on either side of her head by equally dark ribbons. Her clothing proved just as remarkable, a red blouse complimented by a dark, scandalously short skirt and...were those leggings? Initially she paid them no mind at all, opting to ignore Naruto's loud spectacle entirely in favor of focusing on a worn portion of the wall.
That soon changed when the door nearly flattened her.
"Just what do you think you're doing?!"
At some silent signal-likely from her own Servant as much as that flying frame-she threw herself backward, jolted upright and spun to face them with a startled squawk. Her once open expression immediately narrowed into suspicion at the sight of Naruto. Not that Hakuno blamed her; anyone would be on edge to see a Servant walking about in broad daylight; much less one that just kicked down a door and demanded a fight. From her vantage point atop Naruto's shoulders Hakuno was unable to see her Servant's expression, but it must've been terrifying indeed to make this one back up.
"Who in the blue hell are you?" she demanded of them, drawing herself up in an attempt to appear taller than she was-a pitiful effort considering Rider's height-to shoot them a dark glower. "Why are you here?!"
"Tell your Servant to stop hiding." by contrast, Rider sounded downright amused. "I can see him standing behind you."
'Where?'
Hakuno saw only empty air.
However, the blackette turned. "How did you-?!"
Those strange golden eyes crinkled as he smiled. "What can I say? Its a gift."
"Stop showing off your Sage Mode, brat." Kurama groused. "You're upstaging me."
"Hah!" the blond crowed, heedless of his partner's incessant grumbling. "I don't see you contributing anything useful, fuzzball!"
"I would if I wasn't the size of a damn puppy!" came the answering growl. "Do you have any idea how limited this form is?! I can barely even-
Faced with such chaos, Hakuno could only bow her head and apologize from her tenuous perch on the blond's shoulders. Neither noticed her; they were already lost in another argument, ranting and raving about some past slight that she couldn't understand. Clinging to Rider proved far easier now than it had been earlier; almost absurdly so with Kurama atop her head, given that she could feel either tense above or beneath her long before they blond flung themselves into motion. But really, she felt she owed this stranger an apology.
They had come barging up here on a whim after all...
With a supreme effort of will, she wriggled free from Naruto's grasp to slide down his back. For his part her Servant barely noticed, pausing just long enough to arrest her awkward tumble and set her on her feet before flinging himself back into the verbal battlefield once more.
"I really am sorry for all this...and him. He's not usually like this." try as she might to maintain her composure, the aspiring Master couldn't help but be embarrassed as sketched an awkward bow, "I guess I really didn't think there would be anyone up here...
"Oh." the blackette blinked back, only just now noticing her. "You've got a difficult Servant, I see."
Hakuno fought down a twitching eyebrow.
"You have no idea."
"I do, actually." the blackette dimpled, happy to find common ground at last. "Mine likes to run his mouth too, though not nearly as much as yours, apparently."
Well, now!
If the newcomer was pleased to discover a common talking point, then Hakuno was positively delighted. Euphoric, even. It felt...nice to talk to someone who wasn't a Servant, someone who wasn't utterly beholden to her life and by definition, her whims as well. Here, in this moment, she felt as though she'd made...no, not a friend, it was too soon to call this stranger such. An acquaintance? Yes. She rather liked the sound of that. Perhaps she could get along with this girl. Perhaps she wouldn't have to fight this one. Perhaps...
After a moment's hesitation she extended her hand.
...Hakuno Kishinami."
The stranger regarded it for a long, incredulous moment, and Hakuno nearly flinched in the face of that glare. Her gaze, sharp yet clear, a gem that outshone all others. For all her wavering attempts at friendship she was still painfully shy. It had taken a fair bit of coaxing on her part just to do this at all; even now the mere act of offering her palm to a total stranger was the extent of her courage for today. Had she made a mistake? There were supposedly rules that penalized outright combat on campus, but if one were clever enough-
"Rin Tohsaka."
Imagine her surprise then, when Rin accepted the gesture. A brief squeeze of the hand and she withdrew, regarding her curiously. That brief gleam of anger vanished, replaced by mild intrigue. As she looked on the ghost of a smile played across those full lips and she cocked her head to consider her, as though she were a small animal that the latter was thinking of adopting-no, that wasn't it. Taming. Somehow that thought filled her with dread. Urk. Hakuno almost missed the anger. Anger was something she knew, something she could react to. Understand. This...this was frightening.
"Are you sure you're a Master?" she posited. "You seem awfully...ordinary."
The poor girl nearly choked on her own spit.
'That was a low blow!'
Rin turned her gaze back on her, pondering that. No, not her, Hakuno realized. Tohsaka was staring well past her now; toward Rider and Kurama, who, rather than argue with one another, had instead settled for glaring bloody red daggers at one another. Or gold still, in Naruto's case. Kurama had mentioned something about Sage Mode. Did that have something to do with it?
"They're still at it, huh?"
The little brunette heaved a sigh.
"So...is your Servant to make an appearance?"
Rin recognized the jab immediately and feigned a smile. "Not likely. He's shy."
Hakuno would've likely said more to that effect, but Naruto suddenly laughed behind her.
"So he's a coward, then?" there was something dangerous in that smile, and she realized too late what he was doing; the act he was perpetuating. "Good to know. If he'd rather tuck his tail in and hide, he'll be easy prey-
The first blow was nearly the last.
Without the slightest iota of warning Naruto physically spun, rounding on Hakuno to seize her by the collar. Then he threw all his weight into his shoulders and by definition, the little magus resting there. Realizing what was about to transpire, Hakuno tried to cling on with the last of her strength, to no avail. Quite abruptly she found herself airborne again, her world spinning as she hurtled through the air. Strong arms-another copy?-caught her in mid-flight and alighted neatly some distance away. A harsh rending noise rang through the air, tearing at her ears as she struggled to make sense of it all, punctuated by an amused laugh.
"Aha! There you are!"
The white-haired Servant from before had clearly taken offense to that last remark and gone for a killing blow.
Naturally Rider had moved to intercept him of course; after all, he'd been the one to instigate this third party in the first place. His sole concession to the danger had been to fling her away-she realized that now-create a doppelganger to catch her, keep her from harm, and extend an arm.
Said arm was currently gripping a curved short-sword mere inches from his neck.
"Gotta say, that was a close one." the whiskered warrior purred, forcing the edge back, "Another second there and you would've had me. However...
Uncaring of his bleeding palm the blond held the white sword at bay, tan fingers gripping the pale metal. That was to be expected. What proved somewhat more concerning however, was the fact that Kurama had joined the fray as well. Despite-or perhaps in spite of-his pitiful size, he had intercepted their attacker's secondary weapon-a gleaming black blade-with naught but his teeth alone. Nor had he budged from his reclaimed place upon blond's shoulder. Somehow, even with his mouth full of metal, he managed to grin.
...did you really think that would work?"
"Well." the crimson knight sighed, "Can't blame me for trying...pipsqueak."
Rider and mount alike stiffened as one, but it was the latter who snarled. "I am going to break you in HALF you sarcastic little...!"
To the dismay of both magi, Naruto willingly shredded his hand to shatter the sword in his grasp and lashed out with an armored knee, driving his shin into stomach of the nameless Servant. In the same moment Kurama bit down on the weapon currently occupying much of his mouth, rendering it little more than broken shards in his toothy maw. Without missing a beat he promptly turned and spat them back in the face of Rin's Servant, who impossibly summoned another pair of the very same swords and bounded away, his arms a-whirl of crimson as he fought to deflect the shrieking chunks of metal.
Considering his bloodied fist, Naruto heaved a sigh.
"Well! That's going to take a bit to heal. Now then, why don't we all calm down and talk this out before someone looses a limb...?"
"Talk? You must be joking." Rin bristled at the insinuation, something cold and horrible flashing across her face. "There's nothing to talk about here at all, Servant." she declared, and the resolve behind her words sent a shiver shooting down Hakuno's spine. "We're in a war. Violence is a mean to an end in that regard. And as for you!" her gaze snapped to Hakuno with such force that the brunette actually flinched. "I don't know if you planned that little stunt to show off, or if you're just absurdly lucky. Regardless, if you're not prepared to kill your enemies then you should just take your own life and be done with it. Spare me the trouble.
Hakuno wanted to shrink away into nothing; the words struck her like a physical blow.
Everything had been going so well, too...
"Being a little harsh, aren't we?"
"Quiet, Archer!" Rin snapped. "And put your swords away already! Are you trying to get us penalized, attacking like that?! We're already in trouble as it is!"
"Whatever you say, Master." Reluctantly, the thus-named Archer did as he was bade. "Some things never change...
Rin absolutely hissed. "What was that?!"
A small, sardonic snort answered.
"Nope, didn't say a thing...
Not so Naruto.
Indeed, while Hakuno had expected her Servant to snap back at Rin, she found a far more terrifying expression awaiting her there.
He was smiling; yes, Rider's grin threatened to split his face. Archer? And one that wielded swords at that? Oh. Oho. Ohohoho. He certainly wasn't going to forget this. His adorable little Master might, but that tiny tidbit of information was even now being locked securely in the vault of his mind. A faint buzzing sensation tickled the back of his mind, one he puzzled at only briefly before dismissing it. Still, she'd insulted Hakuno just now; gone and punched another hole in the beleaguered vehicle of the poor girl's self esteem; one riddled with enough holes already. That just wouldn't do. An example needed to be made.
Flicking his fingers, he sent a silent command toward his clone and bade it take hold of her; to usher her downstairs and out of harms way.
"Give us a minute, will you, Master?" he didn't wait for her reply before advancing. "I'll meet you in our room. Eventually."
"What-hey!" she squawked as the silent copy seized her wrist in an iron vice. "I do not accept this!"
A familiar furry weight took up residence on her head, momentarily causing her to flail.
"Just roll with it, kid." the fox hissed. "In case you haven't noticed...
Slitted eyes shifted to the blond's broad back.
...he's furious."
Trusting in her instincts, Hakuno reluctantly permitted Kurama to hop down onto her shoulder; only then did she allow herself to be led away by the clone. There was no shame in leaving Rider to his own devices for a time; even if one of those devices happened to be a capable magus who'd expressed genuine interest in him. Wait...was she jealous? No! Surely not! If Rider wanted to interrogate an enemy Master for information then that was none of her concern. It didn't bother her. No. Not at all. Not in the least. Not even a little bit...
Slowly-awkwardly-she willed herself forward.
"Just...come back in one piece, alright?"
Naruto offered a small salute.
"Yes ma'am!"
To his credit, he held that salute-that fake smile-until he was wholly certain she'd departed. Until she, and by definition their connection, registered as little more than an afterthought in his mind. Only then did he allow the mask to slip, his smirk warping into an ill-scowl. Damn grail. He would've been quite happy without this influx of information in his head, this torrent of ghostly, unwanted memories and dreams that didn't belong to him. The Grail-supplied data was one matter; the rest, another.
On a some level he knew he shouldn't even have them; when a Servant was summoned they shouldn't be aware of their other selves. Yet he was. And they were. When Hakuno was nearby he could almost ignore them entirely, shut them out and focus on his duties as her Servant. Without her...well...really, it was enough to drive a man...mad.
When he finally spoke, he'd meant to sound pleasant, happy even.
It emerged as a growl.
"So. Tohsaka. Let's...talk."
Remarkably, Rin didn't flinch. This time.
That likely had something to do with Archer's presence.
"Is there something you wanted, Servant?" she asked innocently.
'Innocent my ass! You've been rubbing me the wrong way the moment I laid eyes on you!'
A muscle jumped in Naruto's jaw, a sudden spark of irritation that fanned the flames of his anger to a near-feverish degree. Through sheer will, he bit his tongue.
Calm down. some distant, detached part of himself took stock of the situation and ruthlessly rebuked himself. Breathe. You won't get anywhere if you start tossing out accusations left and right like an idiot. Rushing in will avail you nothing. Look how well that served us when we were alive. No, you have to be smart about this. Use your brain for once, you dolt!
"Well," he began sheepishly, "I'd like to ask you a few questions, but your buddy's glaring at me...
"Ho?" Archer favored him with a small sneer. "Don't tell me you're afraid...?"
"Of you? Hardly." Naruto riposted. "I just don't like you."
"Hrrmph. Rest assured, the feeling's mutual."
"He stays." it was not a request.
"Tch. Spoilsport."
He wondered about that; indeed, he'd been considering the matter for quite some time now. From the moment he'd laid eyes on Rin Tohsaka he had felt something. A connection that didn't quite...click, a flicker of unease haunted by the strangest feeling of nostalgia. As if they'd met before. As though they knew each other. Deeply. Intimately. Nothing could be further from the truth of course, he had never seen the exasperating little mage until this very moment. Yet that thought rankled and spurred something. Irritation. Dislike. Fear.
'I DO know her...well, not her per se, but...gods, this Throne thing is weird...or is it the Throne doing this?'
Faint recollections appeared unbidden, vanishing like dew fall when he reached for them, leaving naught but empty embers behind. He glimpsed a girl's face not unlike hers, but sharper; those aqua orbs roaring with fiery pride and determination. It stirred a strange longing in his chest. Did he know her? It was possible, he supposed. In a sense he could be summoned as a different class at any given time, even when already manifested as another. It stood to reason that an "incarnation" of Naruto might have in turn, met "another" Tohsaka.
They might not even be from the Moon Cell.
Still, something-or was it someone?-spurred him to speak.
"You know, Tohsaka...you almost remind me of someone. Or are you that someone? I wonder about that, you know." Ah. At last. There it was. A tiny crack in her ice queen facade, a thin, hairline fracture in the otherwise impenetrable wall that was Rin Tohsaka. "She had your face, you know. But you're not her, and that's neither here nor there I suppose." he feigned a shrug, mirroring his own silent unease. "Whatever they are, memories of "that" Naruto aren't my memories and "my" actions aren't "his." Still, for their sake, I'll say this just once. Ease up on my Master. She's new to all this."
"She won't get anywhere with that wishy-washy attitude." Remarkably it was Archer, not Rin who responded to his plea. "This is a war. People will die. You have to accept it. So will she."
"Yeah, yeah, people die when they are killed and all that." Rider replied glibly, waving a hand in dismissal. "I get it. Now shut up, sword boy. Who decided that? Hmm?"
"Sword boy? Haven't been called that before...
Rin blinked as her Servant sputtered. "What? The Moon Cell of course, that's-
His finger jabbed against her nose, cutting her off with a start. "No."
"I beg your pardon?"
"The answer is obvious. WE decide such things." Blue eyes gleamed red with resolve, and something in those wild slitted orbs roared at her to be silent or face terrible consequences. "Not the Moon Cell. Not the Grail. Not some stupid super computer that thinks it knows whats best for humanity. Us. People. Now, you may call my Master a helpless little chick...but gods be damned, this little chick will rule the Moon Cell if I have anything to say about it! If you and mister Sasuke-wannabe over there have a problem with it, then tough!
Peace out bitches~!"
Having said his peace, Naruto all but flung himself down the stairs three at a time before Archer could managed to draw a bead on him. At this point he'd just be overstaying his welcome and penalty be damned that would give Rin's Servant an excuse to attack him again, orders or otherwise. Still...an Archer who wielded swords. That was an anomaly all its own, and one he wouldn't be forgetting anytime soon. For now he'd file it away with the rest and track down his wayward master-
"UNHAND ME, WOMAN!"
"Nay!" came the rejoinder! "I shall keep you!"
As he reached the first floor a faint sense of sheer surprise snarled through the Master-Servant bond that bound him to Hakuno. Moments later, someone started shouting. Loudly at that. Keen ears pricked up immediately against his will, putting a spring into his step. Indeed, Naruto was just about to break out into a dead sprint when he realized he recognized those voices in the hall. More aptly, the one instigating everything.
"Such fire for one so small! If only you were my Master!"
"W-W-What're you doing?!" Hakuno's voice wailed! "Put him down right now!"
"I will not!" a woman's melodious decree answered his Master's mild-mannered mewl. "This fur...this texture...he's adorable! Umu~! He shall be my pet!"
"I'd sooner chew my paws off!" Kurama shot back.
"Nonsense! You will
Naruto paused at the corner, lingering just out of sight. Sure enough he recognized the scarlet dress as much as the one wearing it; for it was wholly impossible not to. Apparently Saber was silent enough to get the drop on his old friend. Who knew? This strange situation was only made all the more comical by what-who!-she was holding. Nuzzled against her bosom, a frazzled Kurama struggled to flee and found no recourse. An equally exasperated Hakuno furiously tugged at the arms holding him, to no avail.
"Will! You! Stop! Pulling! Meeeee!"
"Give him baaaaack!"
"Never~!"
As entertaining as this was, he really felt he should intervene. If this continued Kurama probably would snap at her, or lash out at the very least. Still, it wasn't every day that he got to see his partner so flustered outside of combat. Hmm. Maybe he'd watch this play out a bit more, just for kicks...what could possibly go wrong?
In the end the decision was made for him.
"Alright, now!" Raising his voice to be heard, the blond stepped around the corner. "What's all this, then?"
Huh. He hadn't thought Hakuno was capable of moving that fast, let alone grabbing his arm with that kind of strength. You really did learn something new every day. Judging by her frazzled expression he suspected Saber had put her through the wringer before he'd
"Rider!"
"The one and only!"
"This...this crazy woman took Kurama!"
A blond brow rose in mild bemusement. "Did she now?"
In that moment, Hakuno's terminal offered a plaintive beep at her side; one the caused her to briefly relinquish her hold on a terrified Kurama in favor of it. The message that waited her there sent her heart leaping and sinking in the same instant. A simple line of text that both filled her with dread and the promise of new hope as one.
"Hmm?" Naruto appeared behind her shoulder. "What does it say?"
Reluctantly, she showed him.
...it says we can enter the arena now."
"Sweet!" he offered her a cheshire grin. "Earlier than I expected at that! But before all that...
"Saaaaaaaaaaaaaave me!" Kurama wailed!
...we should probably get him back."
"Ah!" Saber perked up as those cobalt blue eyes met her own jade green. "I take it this little one belongs to you, Rider!"
Really, he was almost tempted to say no just to screw with her; but that would only send the kitsune into a fresh fit of pique; not to mention inflict more property damage than he was willing to deal with. Jamming a hand into his pocket, he reluctantly turned to face the belligerent blond. "Yes, he does. I'm going to have to ask you to give him back. He's not yours."
Sabers never made life easy, he found. No, not once. Not ever.
"Then I demand a duel!" To his dismay, his fellow blond thrust a finger at him, poking his chest with a confident grin. "The winner shall claim him!"
Kurama turned an alarming shade of puce. "I am not some prize to be claimed you fool of a woman!"
Naruto was of a mind to agree. "Where's this coming from all of a sudden?!"
"Silence! I have frustration to vent!"
Saber's request-nay, her demand-was so sudden, so wholly unexpected, that Naruto couldn't help himself. He actually snickered. In that instant his body betrayed him, his head tossed itself back nearly of its own volition, and laughed. A pure sound of mad mirth. He didn't know whether this sudden encounter stemmed from dissatisfaction with her Master or some personal vendetta or even a third category altogether; he simply didn't care anymore. Merely seeing her again lifted his spirits out of the muck they'd been mired in.
"Ohhhhh, thank you." he sighed, wiping a mirthful tear from his eye. "I think I needed that."
Green eyes glowed. "Then...!"
...nope. I refuse."
Nero sniffled.
"Hweh?! You can't refuse an Empress! I'll cry! Seriously, I'll cry!"
"Right." Naruto scoffed. "As if a Servant would actually...
A small, tiny sob fled from Saber's lips.
"Uh-oh."
It stood in such stark contrast to her earlier behavior that both Master and Servant actually blinked and the latter refused to believe it outright; even Kurama momentarily ceased his struggling to share in their shock. By the time he realized he could've used this opportunity to escape her clutches, the waterworks were already well under way. Her lower lip offered little more than a traitorous tremble, those bright jade orbs swimming with unshed tears. Hands balled into fists. To her credit, the red Saber did her best to bite her lip and hold on. To say that she failed spectacularly would've been the understatement of the century.
Cheeks flushed, eyes swimming, Nero Claudius looked to be at her wits end.
"I...you...to trample so thoroughly on my pride...waaaaaaaaaaaah!"
"Rider?! What do we do now?!"
"Why're ya asking me?!"
"Make her stop!"
In the end, surprisingly, Saber really did fling herself to the floor and start bawling. Ordinarily, young Hakuno might've found it funny if it wasn't so damn loud; if the sound of her lamentations didn't threaten to shatter her eardrums as much as her very spirit. Screw Noble Phantasms, this was a crippling attack in and of itself! Helpless, she flailed spectacularly and clamped her hands against her ears, wholly at a loss. Still, the tantrum raged on:
"You're awful!" Saber wailed, thrashing about on the ground! "Demon! Destroyer! Devil! Even my Master isn't as cruel as you! Shame on you, Rider! Ruining a maiden's one true wish!"
"Alright, alright, fine!" Exasperated, Naruto found himself left with no recourse but to fling up his hands. "I'll duel you for Kurama! Just stop crying already! You're making me feel bad, damnit!"
The change was near instantaneous.
"Umu~!"
...
...
...
...it would prove to be a trying afternoon indeed.
A/N: And there we go.
Final part of Round One will be next chapter. Hakuno and Nero just stole the show...
Pain isn't fun.
Pain of the heart, pain of the soul, pain in general. Reviews keep me writing, feedback even more so. Without them its hard to keep myself coming back; health woes and other issues aside, I've been around this site for more than a decade now, and it breaks my heart to see people leaving in droves. But me? I'm here to stay. Until I draw my last breath. Until my body is dust.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
It really hurts when I bust my ass writing long chapters for you guys and gals only to get...well...nothing...
...hope you enjoy the previews!
Potential ones at any rate...
...and one of them...well...
GET READY TO CRY.
(Previews)
Blood.
Gasping, she tumbled into his arms.
"Ah...I see. If this is death...if you're the one to kill me...then I accept it."
"No, wait!" Flailing, he grasped at her fading form. "Hang on! Damnit, I can fix this! I know I can...!"
...you're a nice person Rider." her pale visage curved in a small smile. "Too nice. Still...I think that's why...at the end...I think I really...did love...you."
"Waitwaitwait!" A new voice cried. "You there! Stooooooop~!"
That kimono was certainly...unique. She looked as though she would fall out of it any moment. Of course, that did nothing to distract from her beauty. He was rather reminded of...oh, what was the word again? The Grail-given information he'd supplied with offered it readily enough when he reached for it. A courtesan? "You're sooooo fluffy~!"
"I'll bite you."
Caster twitched.
A high end courtesan, then.
"Well, that's nice but we need to be going...
"Wait! I have...information! Yes! Information on that seaweed brat!"
Naruto and Hakuno and Kurama each exchanged a dumbfounded look between one another. "Seaweed?"
"I mean that blue-haired brat!"
Several floors below, Shinji gave a mighty sneeze.
"Why help us?"
Her tail was actually wagging. "Why, that handsome soul of yours, of course! Can I have it?"
At a loss, Hakuno could only follow.
How little she knew.
Splat.
"Um...it was an accident?"
Growling, Nero slowly wiped her face.
"Of course, you realize...this means WAAAAAAAR!"
Rani frowned."You are...a strange person."
"Yeah, I get that a lot. And you?"
"Who are you?"
Hakuno sputtered. "I'm...me."
"That's right!" Rider roared. "You're Hakuno Kishinami and you're not going to take this shit! Now get up and kick their ass!"
Archer was silent for a long, agonizing moment, considering his maimed leg. Then he palmed a twisted arrow to his hand. "Caladbolg...!"
Naruto hissed softly, struggling and failing to stand. "Ohcrapthatisgonnahuuuurt-
He was right on that account. It did hurt.
Immeasurably.
"I'll give you this much; your strategy was flawless. Really. I had no way to counter it. But you. Made one. Fatal. Mistake."
"Oh, and what's that?" the Master scoffed, sneering.
A flickering crimson blur burst behind him.
"You underestimated her."
Perhaps, had the "Master" been more knowledgeable they would've realized their peril; Rider could transfer his cloak with a touch, lend his energy to those he deemed worth. He'd done so earlier, mere moments before his legs had been blasted off his body. But they did not, and they WERE NOT and thus, they fell prey to the oldest trick in the book. Small knuckles swung back, forming a claw, the borrowed shroud mimicking her movements like some twisted puppet. Bright eyes blazed up, wild and furious, framed by wavy brown hair. A lone, fell declaration ripped through the poor Master's ears as he stared death in the face. 'I've blundered.'
"Get away...FROM MY RIDER!"
Then there was pain.
On her shoulder, Kurama bristled. "Idiot, don't stop! Run! Now! Move it!"
Too late; She found herself face to face with a man clad in flaming clothes, his slim body blocking the path. Eyes like death regarded her. She could see nothing else. Assassin. This had to be him. A cold breath hitched in her throat, her heart leaping into her lungs. It couldn't end like this, not like this...
"Want to feel something, girl?" the Servant purred. And then, quite suddenly, he moved. So did another.
Rider's forehead slammed against his with a dull crack and did not yield. Neither did Assassin. The two Servants stood stock still, neither giving ground, dead black eyes blazing into baleful blue. A crazed smile flashed out in the dim light and for a terrifying instant Hakuno didn't know who she feared more; the smiling killer who'd nearly claimed her own life, or her own Servant. Then Naruto laughed and her feelings shifted firmly toward the former. Probably because he was gripping the man's arm in an iron vice and looked just about ready to rend him limb from limb.
"Good grief, Assassin." Strange, he sounded almost...dissappointed. "Did you really think that would work?"
Grimacing, the redhead attempted to retreat.
An arm locked around his, trapping him.
"Going somewhere?!"
R&R~! =D