Yoki shinai chapter 4
A/N: Merry Christmas and Happy new year, minna! I didn't get to update for almost a year. So consider this as a Christmas gift (xD). Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Never owned it.
Warnings: This is chapter 4. In case my story interests you, go ahead and read from the very beginning.
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Haruka's POV
Haruka watched with glee as soon as she saw Arturia fall down like a ragdoll. When she heard the soft thud of her limp body, she mentally giggled.
"At last! The legendary King of Swords has fallen! My plan went exactly as I wanted!"
She scanned the crowd's reaction after the fight. Some are cheering, well, especially girls. Some are momentarily shocked but got out of the canteen as if nothing happened. And there are ones that wore the same worried faces.
She returned her sight at her also-fallen servant.
"Berserker…"
She grieved for a short time. She may be a little harsh for using a man who's none of her businesses, but Haruka admits that he's a good and well-trained fighter. The only thing that bothers her is the boy who helped Arturia and took down Berserker. Yes, she recognized him. Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, the captain of lancing team. She gritted her teeth.
"Another nuisance…"
But Haruka just sighed. Diarmuid's rescue might be out of mercy of seeing Arturia like that. She has no time think of any other reasons but this.
"Maybe he means no harm..." She thought.
She picked up her empty tray smeared with food sauce and returned it to the counter. Once again, she stopped walking and stared at Berserker who was now taken by guards. Haruka didn't even admit that she's the one who brought him here through financial ways.
The pack of students are now slowly filing their way out to get ready for afternoon classes. And with a smug smile and a tilt of her glasses, she joined them.
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"Breathe in, breathe out! Breathe in, breathe out…"
She's panicking for no particular reason. Arturia was now standing in a grass field with dark clouds above. Between her hands, she held something heavy and cold. She let her eyes drop and with a gasp, she realized that it's her katana. The only difference is that, this time, it's a real sword. Not the wooden one anymore. She quickly returned her gaze at her surroundings and scanned it.
"What am I using it against?" she thought nervously.
There was nothing before her. But she narrowed her eyes and about a mile away, she spotted something familiar. It's not a what, but a who. Crazy, really. She never thought that her eyesight was this good. She can spot an enemy a mile away? She let out a shaky laugh and got ready.
"Why am I so nervous anyway? This isn't the first time I've faced an opponent. I'll make this quick and painless."
Her confident thoughts immediately vanished as soon as she saw what her enemy would be like.
The same 6-footer, with a wild shirt and black complexion. Just the sight of him made her legs go jelly. The man hasn't even budged but it feels like Arturia has been punched multiple times in the gut already just by his glares.
Then the man moved towards her. She felt chicken and ran away. There are tears in her eyes. She looked back and realized the man is closing the gap between her and him. For a build like his body, he's a fast runner. He reached for Arturia.
5 inches, 3, 2…
Arturia screamed and choked back a sob. She can't beat this man. She's afraid and by the looks of it, she's already lost.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
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Arturia's blood-curdling scream made Rin jump.
"Hey, hey! Arturia! Are you okay? Why are you screaming?" Rin quickly transferred to Arturia's side and comforts her.
Big beads of sweat ran down to Arturia's temples. She lets out big puffs of air and lie down again. She's not standing in a dark, grassy field anymore; she's in a well-lighted room with a blanket draped on her small frame. She sighed and realized that she's in the infirmary. All the events now replayed in her mind and she now knew the reason why she's here.
"HEY ARTURIA!" Rin called her by the ear, loudly this time.
"…what?" She groggily asked.
Rin pursed her lips and put her hands on her hips.
"Last time I checked, you've been breathing heavily in your sleep. I suspect it's just a nightmare. But then, you suddenly screamed at the top of your lungs. I asked you what's wrong and you just sighed. Is that how you treat your first visitor?" Rin frowned.
"I'm really sorry, Rin! How long was I out?" She immediately apologized as she scratched the back of her neck, but winced at the sudden movement.
Rin crossed her arms and closed one eye. She pretends to be upset but drops it as soon as she saw her friend's discomfort.
"Arturia! Are you okay?" she helped her friend drink some water first. "Tsk, you really shouldn't be moving too much. The school nurse told me that. You are hit right in the stomach and she advised me to tell you that you won't be taking classes for two days. It's not that critical but just to be sure. By the way, you've been out for almost 2 hours."
"Wow. Thanks, Rin, but, two days? That's a little bit long. I've got club practices to finish and classes to catch up." Arturia said.
"Those can wait. We need to ensure your safety Arturia…" she furrowed her eyebrows and wore the same worried look back at the cafeteria.
"Oh, speaking of classes, shouldn't you be back?" Arturia asked.
"I made a leave for the first period. And I promised to come back this hour." She sighed. "I can't leave you Arturia."
"Hahahaha!" Arturia laughed out of nowhere. And she just felt the need to do it.
"What?" Rin demanded.
"You sound like a mother, Rin. But thanks, anyway. I'm fine, really. You should go back to classes. You can always come back after." She winked.
"You sure you can take care of yourself?" Rin asked suspiciously.
"Of course I can!" Arturia snapped.
"Well, okay. I'll leave you here. Oh! And there's food at the table, in case if you're hungry. Take care, Arturia." She waved goodbye.
Arturia waved back too.
She hates to admit it but the silence makes her lonely. She wanted some company and someone to talk to. But it's not the people's fault if they're busy. She sighed again. The tick tock of the clock is the only sound she's hearing as of this moment. She looked up and began counting the seconds, minutes…
The door of the infirmary bursts open and there stood a student. It's the same student who rescued her.
"Diarmuid." She thought.
She was shocked of his sudden appearance. She rarely sees him on the campus and now, here he is, visiting her. She straightened as Diarmuid moved towards her.
"Arturia, don't be so tense." Diarmuid laughed. It's like music in her ears. She joined him and realized how tense she is. Her shoulders straightened and as soon as she slumped lazily, she grimaced again. The pain shot up to her and the best she can do is to clasp her stomach.
"Arturia, are you okay?" Diarmuid rushed to Arturia's side to help her.
"I-I just want to lie down…" Arturia said between breaths.
Diarmuid nodded and helped her slide back down to her bed. The contact is still awkward but she doesn't care anymore. It hurts.
Diarmuid got himself a chair and sat down by Arturia's side. He stared at her. No sympathy, no mock, no cocky behavior displayed, like a certain someone who just involuntarily pops up into her head. He just stared.
"Stop it."
Arturia took this as an opportunity to study lancer's features. She craned her head to the right side. He has an average complexion, his jet black hair was messy, he also has a mole on his right eye and she realized that that is the famous love spot. Girls really love that mole in him. Be it, students or ladies or older women. She gotta admit, he's handsome, but she doesn't feel the same way for him like others do.
"So how are you?" Diarmuid asked, breaking the silence.
Arturia snapped herself and slipped back to reality.
"Oh, I'm okay." She replied shortly.
Another awkward silence followed. She can't bear it anymore, so she started a proper conversation.
"By the way, thank you for bringing me here. I think no one would bother to do so." She laughed.
"Yeah, way to start a conversation, Arturia" She thought
He starts laughing too.
"Someone should. And it's my honor to bring the King of swords to the infirmary." He smiled.
"Haha… well, thanks again." Out of habit, Arturia scratched the back of her neck again and smiled wearily.
Now that she thought of it, she have fought Diarmuid once in training and because of this, she got the title 'Saber' while he's 'Lancer'. She almost lost to that fight if the teachers didn't call for a break. His fighting style is superb.
"uhhm… Have you seen my katana?" Arturia asked.
"I gave your katana to a kendo club member. He said he'll take care of it and give it to you as soon as you're back." He told her.
She sighed. She has to make one again. Just when another unbearable silence is about to happen, the door bursts open again. Arturia adjusted her eyes to the light and found herself squinting through it. Her eyes widened when she saw the familiar golden locks that shone brightly against the light.
"Gilgamesh!?" she nervously thought.
"Saber! Who dares do this to you!?" He walked up straight to Arturia and slammed his palms to the mattress, shaking the bed. He didn't even recognize Diarmuid's presence.
"What are you even doing here in the first place?" Arturia snapped back.
"Hah! You should even feel honored that I took up my time to visit you! Not all girls get to have a personal visit from me!" He crossed his arms and smirked.
"What a conceited bastard…" Arturia thought.
"If you may excuse me, Saber. I believe my time is done here. Get well soon." Diarmuid stood up and slightly nodded.
"Ahh, Thank you again, Diarmuid." Arturia called.
Gilgamesh eyed Arturia then to Diarmuid as if he just realized him now. He narrowed his eyes as he called out.
"And who are you?" Gilgamesh asked, referring to Diarmuid.
"I am Diarmuid. I'm the one who brought Arturia here, 2 hours ago." He replied shortly.
It was followed by another unbearable silence and Arturia could feel the tension between the two as the atmosphere of the room changes. They stared at each other like they're passing messages secretly. Arturia has to break the ice.
"Gilgamesh, your presence here isn't necessary." She frowned.
Diarmuid took this cue for him to go out. As soon as he's outside, he sighed.
"I'll invite Saber some other time to fight with me." He thought.
Back at the room, Gilgamesh keeps on talking about how Saber should feel grateful that he visited.
"I heard the news that you were knocked out by some mysterious and unknown man. I promised myself to visit you after 2 hours. Shouldn't you be happy, huh?" He smirked again.
Arturia rolled her eyes.
"Thanks but really, I'm not happy, just a little surprised. You were the last person I expect to visit." She snapped.
"Oh? Lady, why don't you just acknowledge my presence here and welcome me as an important guest?" He smiled crookedly with a hint of glint in his eyes.
"What a sadist!" Arturia thought.
"It's my time to rest. Why don't you give me that? Your fangirls have already done the best they can to hurt me." She replied angrily.
"Well, it's not my fault. And it's not like I told them to go attack you."
"Okay. That's it!"
She forgot all about her injury and moved rashly. She suddenly got up to bed and start grabbing something like a lamp post beside her bed. She imagined it as her katana and wants to poke it to Gilgamesh.
She made a mistake again. As soon as she made the motion of thrusting her hand forward, she immediately felt the pain on her insides. She can't bear it so she crumpled down on the floor.
"Oi! Arturia!" Gil shouted, though Arturia felt like she heard it miles away.
She felt weak while she lay down on the cold floor. The room got quiet and she couldn't muster her strength to look up if Gil's still there. Well, she doesn't care, anyway. But after some minute of agony, she felt strong arms that lift her up in bridal style and carry her towards the bed. She didn't faint but her vision is blurry.
"No way!" She thought as her eyes widened.
Gilgamesh is the one who carried her. His face is completely different a while ago, but now, he's deadly serious. There's a hint of worry in his eyes that it's almost hard to believe.
"Ah, uh… Thanks." She stammered but winced again.
Gilgamesh sighed and sat down in a chair Diarmuid occupied a while ago.
"You should be more careful, woman. I may be a cocky person, but I know what agony means. Try not to be so rash and take your time resting." Gilgamesh replied quietly.
It's a sudden change of attitude that it makes Arturia more uncomfortable than the pain in her gut. She tried to open her mouth but what can she say? Gilgamesh headed for the door.
"So long, Saber…" He waved goodbye and the door closed with a light bang leaving Arturia dumbfounded than ever.
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A/N: heyoo guys! Thank GOD that was done. So whadd'ya think? I guess the Gilber moment is a little of a cliffhanger but whatever. I'll try to update 2 chapters this year. The BERSERKER revelation part is the idea of one of my reviewers! Thanks btw.
Thanks for reading the 4th chapter of Yoki shinai! Don't forget to review!