Chapter 6

The startle of the alarm clock brought Rin out of her bed. It was no easy feat, she should testify - the safe, warm wrappings of her blanket and softness of the silk pillow was irresistible, compared to another dreary day ahead.

Eventually though, she had to get up. Mumbling something about the earliness of the hour, she dragged her feet to the bathroom, where she half-registered the image of her bed-headed self in the mirror. After she slipped into her school uniform, her head cleared a bit and she felt more like herself.

Rin walked into the Tea Room, an elegant chamber painted in a clash of white and pea green. As its name suggested, it was used for breakfast and afternoon tea. When she came in she was slightly surprised (and delighted, even though she refused to admit it) to see the table had already been set. A crisp white piece of table cloth, embroidered in a simple dark flower pattern, covered the varnished surface; on it laid the silverware, which looked handsome and glossy in the sunlight. There was even a small card that wrote what would be on the breakfast.

Hmm, not bad. He even polished them… Rin thought with a smile before mentally slapping herself. No! She could not let herself be impressed with Archer's work so easily. If anything, certainly not on his first day! Rin had to remind herself of the vow she had made. Yes, scrutinize his work. Kick him out if he fails to meet her standard!

Don't be too hard on him now. He did only started this job. A small voice in her quietly said.

Rin quickly waved it off.

"Of course not. Besides, it depends on his attitude, don't you think?"

As it so happens, the same man that had occupied her thoughts entered the room that same moment. He wasn't wearing his full butler uniform. He only kept an ironed white shirt and black tie, with matching trousers and shoes.

Rin couldn't remember the last time she saw Tadao without his formal clothes. The senior had insisted on upholding the dress code, which Rin had always secretly thought was too uptight. It was rather warm that day though. She couldn't really blame Archer if he wanted to ditch his jacket and vest.

As Archer served her breakfast - a Gull's egg omelette, which has the filling of the lobster from Scotland and crab and served with champagne, Rin looked up and searched his face quizzically. "Good morning, Archer." She broke the ice by saying. "I trust that you slept well?"

"That depends," Archer's lips curled up mysteriously. "on whom I see before I sleep."

Rin was biting down on a piece of bread when she heard, but she spluttered and nearly choked to prevent herself from spitting it out.

As she stared blankly at him, frozen in shock, Archer chuckled and quickly supplied. "Since that is you, I guess my night was good enough."

Dammit, he's teasing me again. Rin thought furiously. She began to fiercely attack her plate with her fork, one would think she was trying to dissect the slice of toast instead of eating.

"There's no need to be so mad, Master. I was only joking." Archer laughed softly, as if satisfied with himself.

She didn't know what was worse: his aggravating her every time they're in the same room or the fact that she always fell so easily for it!

"What did I tell you about calling me Master?"

"That you'd rather I didn't, Rin. Is that correct?"

She sighed. She wasn't used to being called with such familiarity either. Archer really was a guy of extremes. One instance formal, the next so casual it made her feel foreign.

He doesn't even realise how informal he sounds. But, it's not like I hate it or anything.

"Yes, Archer. That is correct." Rin couldn't help but sigh again.

"Forgive me. That title is what I usually address Lord Tokiomi. It's difficult to break the habit right away."

"My father?"

Archer nodded. The mention of her father spooked several questions from Rin.

"My father mentioned that he handpicked you to be my butler. And if I recall correctly, so did you." Rin paused, wondering. She'd rarely poked her nose in other people's business, so if Archer refused to talk, she'd never push him to. "How long have you been working him exactly?"

"A number of years. Why do you ask?"

"I see. That must be the case. It's not easy to have Father's good graces. He must really trust you."

"I suppose. He and I are bound to a contract. In some way, there is always mutual benefit for the both of us." Archer answered levelly, though there is something rather stiff about this particular answer, which of course, didn't escape Rin's notice.

"I see. But don't forget, Archer, you're my butler now. Anything my father has to complain, he'll have to bring it to me." She exchanged with him a fierce look, to which Archer seemed surprised but didn't say anything.

After that, the room was once again shrouded in silence. The only sound were the whispering willows behind the huge glass-paned window, the occasional song of the Japanese robin and the clicking of silverware against porcelain. Rin took another bite out of her bread and carefully resumed her meal. It wasn't what she'd normally have for breakfast, but it was admittedly the most delicious she'd had in a while.

When Rin did chance a glance at Archer, however, his face was calm and unreadable. He quietly waited for her by her side, his hands behind his back and ready to take orders and never once faltering in patience as she ate. His whole body was relaxed and still, with his head firmly upright he looked like an extremely well-sculpted statue, if not for how the light seemed to dance peacefully around his face.

"What is it?" He asked when he noticed her gaze, a brow curiously raised.

"I was wondering if you had somewhere else you'd rather be." She said.

"Don't we all?" He smiled, cool confidence practically rolling off his being. But suddenly, his features sobered and he frowned deeply. He almost startled her with the grave look on his face. "I can leave now, if that's what you wish. It seems my presence disturbs you."

"No!" said Rin, perhaps a tad too quickly. "I mean, it doesn't disturb me. Your presence... I don't find it intolerable or anything." Anything she said after that seemed to make things worse. She tried to fix it, but it was already too late!

Archer seemed lightly taken aback, which only seemed to add to his amusement. It would seem that her response was within his anticipation. His face relaxed back into his old flirting self.

"My my, I didn't realise you needed me so much, Master." He started, with that irritating voice. "No one would blame you of course, since the company of someone like myself is rather hard to resist."

"You misunderstand completely," Rin replied flatly, heat sinking into her cheeks, though from irritation or embarrassment she couldn't be quite sure. "As I was saying, you needn't be babysitting me if you have other chores."

"I see. Well, if that is the case, may I stay?"

Rin raised her voice sceptically. "Are you saying you're done with all your work already?"

"You asked whether I'd rather be elsewhere. Then with your permission, I'm content with my station."

Does he mean to say he's finished with all the work in the mansion so early in the morning? Rin thought skeptically. That's impossible, unless he stayed up all night! With this, Rin made a mental note to make sure that everything within the manor is in order before setting out. It would be nothing too new. She had made routine checks of the house herself everyday after her old butler left.

If he holds up to his words, then he is more impressive than I thought...

"Very well." Rin nodded.

It was strange how it didn't feel uncomfortable to have him here. Usually when she ate, Rin preferred to be left alone with her meal. But it was somehow different with Archer. She didn't mind his presence as much as she thought, which in itself was baffling considering how a moment ago she was mad at him for teasing her.

"Hmm, I think I'll get you something warm to drink. Does tea sound agreeable?" He said thoughtfully, opening his eyes after a moment. Before Rin could comment on it, he disappeared behind the door.

Already, so at home in a stranger's house... Rin noted. A small smile curled up her lips as she glanced outside the glass-paned window, waiting for her butler to return.

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"Tohsaka-senpai!" Sakura Matou squealed when she noticed Rin was approaching her, clearly startled.

Someone had just passed over them a moment ago and knocked all the paper and stationary out of Sakura's hands. The person just gave a half-hearted apology and didn't even stop to help her pick up her things. Rin scoffed at their retreating figure with distaste.

She bent down smiled at the purple-haired girl fondly.

"Are you alright, Sakura?"

Accidentally encountering Rin Tohsaka was clearly not first on Sakura's morning routine. But seeing how they attend the same all-girls school in Fuyuki, it was hard to miss each other.

"Y-Yes, thank you, senpai!" Sakura stuttered timidly. Sakura always stuttered when she was nervous around someone, and that someone came in the form of only a select few people (which, unfortunately, seemed to include Rin as well). Rin wondered if the girl was afraid of her, in which case there was no reason to. It was a fact that Rin still cared for Sakura even after all that had passed. Or, it could be that Sakura felt impaired when talking a senior?

Sakura's eyes were averted from hers as Rin gathered a bundle of paper and pens in her hands and gave them to Sakura. She received them with a timid thanks and a curious glance in her direction.

Rin innerly sighed. "How are you, Sakura?"

Again, the girl seemed startled by Rin's voice. "Oh! I'm, well...I mean, I'm well, senpai. Thank you for asking!"

"I haven't seen you lately. Are you still doing well at the Kyudo club?"

"Yes, it's great fun, senpai."

"And is that brother of yours, Shinji hassling you, Sakura?" Rin asked, scrunching her nose on mentioning his name.

In contrast, Sakura seemed flustered. "No, no. Brother Shinji has been very kind to me. And my butler takes care of me whenever I'm in trouble."

"Hmm, I see." Rin felt a bit more relief.

"Um, see you around, senpai!" Sakura bowed to her quickly and disappeared as fast as a fleeing doe.

Rin had wanted to ask so much more about Sakura. Was she happy, was she making friends, did she even have a boy she liked yet? But all Rin could find herself doing after Sakura had vanished was sighing, somewhat in worry. Although she couldn't well ask Sakura to defy her family, she wished the violet-haired girl would open up to her more, instead of being so distant.

Still, Sakura seemed okay. That's good I suppose. At least she had someone to care for her at home - her female butler, whose name Rin could not remember. She did recall seeing her with Sakura on several occasions, quiet and vigilant. That's right, she was the one with knee-length purple hair...

That made her think that she really hadn't seen Sakura around that much. Should she have paid more attention to her? Would that even be welcomed?

"Are you well-acquainted with that girl, Rin?" Archer suddenly asked, interrupting her thoughts before they carried her off with too many questions. Rin had almost forgot that her new butler was just standing a few paces away behind her.

"You can say so. Our families were very close. Sakura and I used to play together when we were little. I care about her like a sister." She explained, still deep in thought.

"And how about now?" Archer inquired. He was more observant than she thought.

Rin hesitated. "She's forbidden from talking to me."

"Oh?" He replied, in a tone that suggested he knew as much. He peered over Rin's shoulder, presumably towards the direction Sakura had come from. "I don't see her chauffeur. Did she come alone?"

"What's that? You interested?" Rin's lips widened into a grin, triumphant that it was her turn to tease him. Although she dreaded his reply (knowing that jerk he'd probably say something like 'I might be. What? You're not jealous, are you Master?'), if he did, she knew she'd make sure Sakura stays away from him for her own protection.

"Curious." Archer instead replied nonchalantly. The knowing gleam in his eyes made it seem like he'd guessed her response, and in which case would much rather deny her the chance of a comeback. Rin couldn't help be feel a little vexed.

At last, Rin decided that she wasn't to faze Archer by withholding from him a bit of information like this. "Sakura likes to walk to school."

"Is that so? I envy the chap." Archer replied, and smirked when the remark earned him a smack from Rin that was more painful then it looked.

Rin suddenly realised that while she'd been having conversation with Archer and Sakura, more students had arrived in front of the school, some whom Rin recognised from yesterday. As some of them were whispering and giving Archer adoring looks, she knew they'd been standing by the gate for far too long. With a twitch of annoyance, she declared. "Time for me to go."

"Have fun, Rin." Archer smiled and gave her a short bow.

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A/N:

Hmm, what did I tell you? I promised I'd update didn't I? Lately I found myself barely managing enough time to write my stories. But since Shitsuji no Monogatari have proved to be most popular with fans, I decided I mustn't let you down. So here's a little chappie. It's pretty filler, but it's what I can given how hectic my life's getting. I hope you guys enjoy it. Thank you for all your love, and thank you for sticking with this story even though it updates so slowly!

Check out my profile Idyllicdream on Inkitt to read the latest chapters before I publish them on fanfiction. It's a chance for you to give me pre-feedback and also input what you want to see in the stories as well.

Next chapter: Action. And an unsolved mystery.

Happy Easter holiday.