Bone of a Sword (Battle)

(Emiya house, while the last chapter is taking place)

(Shirou)

Kojirou picked up his sword which was lying on the floor of the corridor outside Shirou's room, having gone through the its wall, as well as the wall of Sasaku's room which was adjacent to it. The Saber sighed while examining his... "Actually what type is it?" Shirou asked curiously. The question had begged to be asked from the moment he saw the weapon in question.

"It's a pole for drying laundry," his Servant's Servant replied dryly. "But it's broken now."

"Hm," was all Shirou said while watching Kojirou try to straighten the monstrously long weapon by bending it back with his foot. When we summoned a Saber, I thought we were set for close combat, but then Einzbern shows up with Lu Bu. But now Rider's turned into quite the hard-hitter herself. We're lucky she's too concerned with Sakura's well-being to hold grudges.

Kuro eagerly followed the other Knight outside to the open courtyard as he tested his field-repaired sword. Rin did as well. As expected of a Heroic Spirit of the sword, Kojirou expertly moved his blade about to examine how it would perform. The results were not encouraging though, judging by his growing disapproval.

"I didn't think Noble Phantasms could be damaged like that," Rin said after a moment. "I mean Rider, she is Medusa right? She shouldn't have any legend of unarmed combat or so on?"

"She was, but isn't anymore.," Kuro spoke up while eying Kojirou. It wasn't sure if her frown was for him, his sword, or Rider's condition. "Medusa is already an anti-hero, which has its own issues, but... well you know what she turns into in the legends."

"Gorgon?" Rin asked after a moment. "Are you sure about that? Servants can be summoned in different classes sure, but they don't even switch between those, let alone turn into another them."

"You're asking me?" Kuro responded, turning her attention to the topic. "Gorgon is one of those very dangerous beings that can pose a threat to humanity's very existence. However she came to that form, I wouldn't mistake it. Well, ok she's supposed to be black colored rather than white, but as you can see, she's still strong enough to break Noble Phantasms with one hit."

"This isn't quite at the level of a Noble Phantasm though," Kojirou admitted, having given up before finishing. "And a Servant with high enough relative Strength can do this. So maybe not any Servant, but plenty that aren't as powerful as you seem to be suggesting."

"Can I take a look?" Kuro asked, right as Rin immediately spoke up with, "How does that even work, you're a Saber and your sword isn't a Noble Phantasm? That makes no sense at all, your class is about the weapon... it's the class name!"

"Hmph," he scoffed while glancing at Shirou. Well if it's as he says, no harm in letting Kuro try her special, er, tricks on it. He simply shrugged in response, and Kojirou handed his damaged sword to the Archer, who ran a finger up the long blade. "It's about Heroic Spirits who use swords. Not all legends about swordsmen involve swords that destroy cities."

"Besides, that weapon itself is the proof," he continued as Kuro's expression grew serious. "It isn't even the one I remember using while alive - while long, even that one was only a little above half the size of this one."

"Trace, on." Several glowing lines started running up and down the weapon, catching Rin's attention. "Is that an analysis Skill?" she asked. "Like the Structural Analysis magecraft."

"Basically." Returning the sword, Kuro looked over at Shirou. "He actually is a Saber without a Noble Phantasm level sword. Do you know how that's possible?"

Shirou just muttered noncommittally, "It never even came up, we didn't have the time." He realized that Kojirou was the only one there who wasn't at all confused or puzzled. "Kojirou, what is the center of your legend?"

"Killing a swallow with a sword."

"I can make a replacement," Kuro said after everyone had come to terms, somewhat, with Kojirou's choice one-liner of a non explanation. "It'll just be a temporary fake though, I'm no blacksmith. Casters should have Item Construction, maybe Sasaku can fix the original."

"Can you make anything?" Rin asked immediately. "Like those other Noble Phantasms you used- oh!" She stopped mid-sentence.

Kuro simply shook her head but declined to answer, instead holding out her hands and closing them slightly as though about to grab hold of something. She closed her eyes and concentrated briefly. "I am the bone of my sword."

A bright flash later, a new sword filled her hands, complete with sheath. Kuro offered the hilt to Kojirou, and when the latter had taken hold, the sheath disappeared. "I think you can probably use your own - gotta save on mana costs."

"How come your copy isn't damaged though?" Kojirou asked after merely lifting the blade into a stance. Kuro grinned with an air of accomplishment. "My analysis actually 'reads' the legend which the Grail materialized into your weapon. Thus, I gave you a copy of what the Grail would give you, not a copy of what you gave me."

"Well," he agreed with sudden cheer, "Let's have a match then. I owe you as much."

"Wait a second," Rin interjected, but too slow for Kuro who more quickly and certainly more loudly responded with, "You're on!"

"I really hope she's not underestimating him just because her weapons are actually Noble Phantasms," Rin fretted, remembering that just earlier Rider had so damaged Kojirou's original sword just by hitting it. Together with Shirou, the two of them were the only audience for the 'rematch' about to take place. Neither of them knew what had happened in the pair's previous battle.

She looked over at Shirou who was also worried. Unlike her, he had seen Kojirou about to run Sakura though and wasn't sure if it was ideal to be rearming a potential loose cannon. Then again, if Sakura... no that won't happen...

Kuro took a stance, left forward and right held back. Facing her, his calm contrasting her enthusiasm, Kojirou raised his replacement sword effortlessly.

(Kuro)

Though her two swords were Noble Phantasms, and his one was not, Kojirou had a higher Strength which meant the match was closer than merely comparing the weapons would suggest. Even more importantly, he had the advantage of range, an extreme one. However, she had something in mind for that.

Practically jumping into the attack while turning, she whipped the white sword forward, catching the Kojirou's advancing tip and moving it to the side. Putting left forward was only a feint - she pulled it in without slowing at all. Kojirou's first attack was deflected from an unexpected angle, and she rapidly closed into grapp-

Almost as though expecting this, the swordsman stepped back while turning, dragging his point back between him and Kuro before turning the whole blade into a massive sweeping cut that sliced through the air at remarkable speed, especially near the end powered by the sheer length.

Kuro's black blade blocked it easily enough, but the momentum threw her back out. Damnit, that's the same trick Sasaku used.

Continuing to cut, Kojirou began moving forward, first at a walk, then a trot, gaining speed while repeatedly forcing Kuro back. Rin was trying to comment or something, but the exchange was hardly one-sided. Yes, her Archer was being pushed back, but that was only a question of momentum. Kojirou never managed to get his point, let alone edge, past Kuro's swords, and similarly her his. In fact, the two of them were tracing out a circle while this exchange continued.

While Kuro couldn't get a good read on his many different cuts or thrusts, she did gain some insight about his style. I see. At maximum range, he will thrust, but falls back into medium range cuts.

Overedge. Bringing her two weapons together as they grew in length and heft, she steadied her feet and prepared to dive in. Seeing this, and probably guessing she could deflect his attacks by covering herself, Kojirou stopped in his tracks.

She passed where his point would have been, if he had not already abandoned thrust attacks. He had one blade, and she could cover multiple of its lines of attack. She had taken care to keep low, so when an attack finally connected the force would pass through her into the ground. Any moment now...

She caught the brief narrowing of his eyes as Kojirou suddenly unleashed his Noble Phantasm. Just as she had learned from the blade itself, it was a technique, though she couldn't tell much beyond that.

Unlike before, this time Kojirou blurred but his sword came at her cleanly. Only, three ways at once. -That's quite the trick.- Since it apparently wasn't possible to close all that distance, the only option left was to close without traversing it. So it comes to this then.

((Crane Wings))

Throwing her two swords at him, Kuro transferred herself to his rear, bypassing his technique with her own. Without even looking, a new pair of shortswords was in her hands as she-

Kuro had a moment to see Kojirou's right elbow heading towards her face. Of course, Sasaku would have told him about it.

(Kojirou)

When he saw Kuro steeling herself to move on the attack, Kojirou immediately guessed what technique she was about to employ. In exchange, and as a final test of his new sword, he decided to bring out his own.

((Tsubame Gaeshi))

She threw her weapons at him, apparently leaving herself defenseless but of course that wasn't the case. He allowed the three swords to continue on their paths, certain that they would only cut air.

Kuro disappeared. Kojirou immediately swung his right arm back, as his left barely kept his sword under control. The feeling of a solid impact meant that she had fallen for the bait "opening". He turned, easily returning to a two-handed grip, bringing his sword down on Kuro, who was on the ground just in front of him.

(Rin)

"Ha ha ha," Rin laughed triumphantly, though she was still utterly shocked by the Saber's technique which she had just witnessed. "Kojirou, it's your loss."

"Wait a moment," Shirou said indignantly, but she only pointed at the two of them. Kuro had fallen down a little in front of Kojirou. The Saber's weapon was so long, and the Archer so short and close to him, that he couldn't actually hit her due to the ground being in the way.

Kojirou simply shook his head, straightening his posture and rapidly raising his hands. The sword pivoted effortlessly around the middle, eventually coming down at a much steeper angle, which was more than able to reach Kuro.

"She could have gotten in your face faster than that," Rin objected, but Shirou immediately saw the issue with that. "There's no way she could get on her feet faster than he moves his arms. And while she might be able to roll, he would still be able to control range.

"But she can... wait, how do you teleport?" Rin asked, suddenly remembering that such things usually involved True Magic or something like the Grail. "No, wait, before that, how did you have three swords just now?!"

"Damn it," Kuro muttered, letting her swords fade and getting to her feet as Kojirou backed away. As his weapon was made by her, he couldn't simply put it away like the original. "Shouldn't have interrupted us."

"You'll have to consider that a draw for now," Shirou said, suddenly remembering what was going on inside his room, which instantly brought back the worrying. "No Rin, it is a draw, if only because you interrupted before they properly resolved it. If they want another round it'll be a restart anyway."

She shrugged nonchalantly. Truth be told, Kuro was in the worse position there. Also, by the feel of it, her Archer used a decent amount of prana to teleport, while the Saber did not. However, had she picked a slightly different location, Kojirou's surprise counter wouldn't have worked. Provided that the technique allowed such flexibility, of course.

She looked at Kojirou, who was thanking Kuro again for the sword. It perfectly matched the capabilities of the former. Yeah, I'll bet.

But more importantly, his technique. That shouldn't be possible. She made up her mind on a course of action as Shirou was re-entering the house.

"Can you explain how that works?" She asked directly, figuring that as a warrior, he was likely to respond badly to any perceived attempt at subtlety. Besides, he had chosen to show it off.

"I cut really fast."

She didn't buy it. Even though her eyes couldn't follow the fighting, she knew one thing - there was a point where the energy of his weapon was multiplied threefold. Even if not a Noble Phantasm, it was still a Servant's weapon and thus the difference was unmistakable to any decent magus , especially at that distance. "Bullshit, there were three swords. Explain properly, or not at all."

He simply raised an eyebrow, and for a single shivering instant, she saw herself being cut apart by that technique.

"I told you. I was trying to cut a swallow," he said finally, taking out his sheath and using it to sling the sword Kuro had made over his shoulder like a rifle.

"I'm ready to listen to the full story," she said firmly, sitting down to prove the point. "Try me."

"By the way," Kuro added suddenly. "I noticed that you put away your sheath whenever fighting, is that okay?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" he answered her first, somewhat to Rin's annoyance.

"Kuro, why did you distract him," she grumbled over their link. "It has to do with the legend of his death, remember 'Kojirou, you've already admitted defeat!' when he did that."

"Oh, I see," Kojirou said after a moment, apparently taking a while to remember his own legend. "Well that was a fictional encounter, wasn't it? I mean, many people in the current age know it as fiction too, so it isn't like a widespread misunderstanding that might get engraved into a Saint Graph."

l

(Kuro)

After Kojirou told the two of them his story about trying to cut a swallow with a single sword, Rin left flabbergasted at the outcome of such a 'ridiculous obsession'. She was also muttering something about dimensional refraction, which didn't make much sense to the two warriors. But her admiration, of sorts, was as obvious as her lack of ability to be honest about it.

"You know, I think she's having difficulty deciding out if you were holding out on her or not," Kuro commented while they were sitting next to one another, looking at the tree growing the courtyard.

"And why shouldn't I? She tried to kill my Master," he replied without any hostility. "It's not wise to trust magi, especially with the knowledge they want."

"Oh, she might act tough, but I'm pretty sure she'd never hurt onii-chan," Kuro said, though Kojirou corrected her. "It's his Servant who summoned me, however they try to tell it."

"Huh? Is that a problem?" she asked in innocent confusion.

"Hmph."

(Kojirou)

Does her Master think it wouldn't occur to me that the two of them can communicate even if she's not here? he thought upon hearing Kuro's question.

"I'm not interested in magi and their manipulation games," was all he said. "If you have something to say, say it cleanly."

"I doubt Rin is playing any games,"Kuro replied after some thought. "I mean, she has to do what Sakura says, and Sakura does whatever Shirou wants. If anything, onii-chan is just following Sasaku's advice by the sound of it."

"Casters are magi too," he said curtly, though this was mostly to hide what he already knew about his unconventional Master's objectives. "I just want some honest battles between warriors. What about you, why join this melee?"

"Huh? I didn't choose, really. If anything, it chose me, or rather the Grail did." Kuro explained her, or rather Sasaku's thoughts on their shared state. Kojirou nodded, realizing that they might be even more unusual as Servants than himself.

"That child never tol- why are you laughing?" he asked when her giggles interrupted his grumbling.

"Unless you had a very different life from the legend, I'm pretty sure all of us count as children to Sasaku, given she was apparently an immortal for centuries before becoming a Servant, or however she puts it. I guess she never mentioned it to you."

"Hmph."

Indeed she never mentioned it. That's odd, especially I was poking to try and see her reaction to being treated like a child, he mused, not sure what to make of it since she had a good reason to do otherwise.

Now that I think about it, she seemed genuinely surprised that Shirou's Command Spells didn't work on me. But since that's the case, she must have Command Spells somehow. But... she never tried using them?

l

Notes:

At trapdere: I was only referencing the FGO "ascension" mechanic. It just establishes that Servants can change somewhat (though it's mostly just a gameplay mechanic like levelling).

Sasaku obviously has a backstory, but as the "you forgot yourself" complication is playing out, it's only different in that we don't know any more than she does... actually she'll talk a bit with Shirou soon, I'm sure (he's as curious as you are). It won't just be one vague dream thing either.

Knowledge of the Sowa (also "Sense of Subtle Elegance") prevents opponents from ever being able to read Kojirou's attacks. Sadly Lu Bu can tank due to being armored.

Kojirou didn't actually explain how Tsubame Gaeshi works in part because he doesn't understand the exact mechanics of what he's accomplished. He is a 'simple swordsman' after all - he knows everything about the properties and its use, not necessarily the theory of the Second Magic and so on. I don't think Rin will take up trying to cut swallows.