Disclaimer: I do not own ANY of the characters of Fate/Stay Night, i only own the plot.

Recap: Shirou goes through another researching session with Rin and find out some interesting information about the Tohsaka family. He leaves early though, only to take a detour and go to the bridge where memories of Saber fill his mind again.

A/N: Title was inspired by the song Cavalry in Blood, by Kawai Kenji. And since i'm on the title/songs subject, usually the songs have no relation what so ever to the chapter, i just use the name. I found it is easier than come up with bad titles myself. -hehe-

Chapter 5

- Chivalry in Blood -

A voice and a gentle shake of my arm woke me up from my dream. I tried to concentrate on it to determine who it was.

"Senpai?" I recognized Sakura's voice and I rose from the floor stiffly. That was when I realized I wasn't in my bedroom, but in the storage room. I remember that after we had dinner, I set to clean up around here, and after I was done, I laid down a bit to rest. That rest was, unfortunately a lot longer than I originally planned.

"Morning, Sakura," I said a little groggily and rubbed my back – it was always unbearably stiff if I fell asleep on the hard floor in the storage room. "What time is it?"

"Ten in the morning," she answered, and as if just realizing her hand was still on my arm, she retrieved it and looked away for a few seconds. Then her tender lavender eyes met mine as she smiled. "I let Senpai sleep in for a little bit."f

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to remember my last moments before I fell asleep, but for the life of me I couldn't. I shook my head and got to my feet as Sakura backed away a few steps to give me a bit of space to do so.

"Breakfast is ready," she said, having that small smile of her lips and cocking her head to the side. I returned her smile, but didn't comment while we walked toward the house together. Sakura's reply to my lectures was always the same and I learned not to repeat them in time. Sakura genuinely enjoyed doing all this for me, and while I was above and beyond grateful, I still felt a little uneasy sometimes about it. So instead of scolding her that she did too much around the house, I helped her along, as I always had and enjoyed her company to the fullest.

Unfortunately, this morning I couldn't enjoy Sakura's sole company for long, because just as I stepped into the dining room, all the noise erupted.

"Shirou, what took you so long?" Fuji-nee complained loudly. I sighed, took my usual seat and took some food into my place before I could start on my explanation.

"I tried to wake you up, Onii-chan," Ilya started before I could. "You know that sleeping in the storage room isn't good for you," she frowned at me as she took a bite from her food.

"I'm sorry, Ilya, I'm a heavy sleeper," I grinned sheepishly, then I spoke to all three of the present people at the table. "I apologize you had to wait for me."

"It's all right, Senpai—" Sakura started but her voice was quickly drowned out by Fuji-nee's.

"I have to have a late breakfast because of you! My stomach was ready for breakfast since seven!" she proclaimed while I tried my best to appear sympathetic, but failed at that remark.

"Your stomach is always ready for food, regardless of the hour," I raised an eyebrow at her while I looked at Fuji-nee from the corner of my eye to see her reaction.

She surprised me by merely hmphing and then returned to her food. Not long after that, her mood brightened considerably and started talking to Sakura about something I didn't catch. All these months when I succumbed into my quiet reverie has given me quite a bit of experience at blocking out unwanted noise from the outside. Although I was right there, I didn't hear a word about what they were talking about, although I was consciously looking from one to the other, giving the impression that I was listening.

I picked at my food unconsciously, yet again, hardly noticing what I was eating, but realizing how tasty it was. I looked at my right and tried to picture Saber there, eating with us, her eyes closed, lost in thought herself.

"What do you think, Shirou?" Fuji-nee asked me and my mental image of Saber was shattered. I looked at her and saw that she was waiting for an answer expectantly. It was too risky to give a random answer, so I decided to be honest and not pretend.

"What?"

If Fuji-nee felt any dose of annoyance or worry at my spacing out again, she surprised me for the second time this morning by not showing it. "I was just talking with Sakura about our plans this weekend and we were thinking of going shopping and maybe taking Ilya with us. What do you think?" she repeated her question.

My eyes flickered to Ilya who was smiling excitedly at me. But the look on her face, I assumed that she wanted to go. "That would be great!" I said, genuinely happy that they we going to take Ilya with them and have fun together. I was glad that at least Fuji-nee was putting on a conscious effort to make Ilya happy too, especially that the two of them were never on the best of terms.

Ilya squealed in glee because it was the first time that Fuji-nee took her along with Sakura shopping. I smiled at her, thinking how something so little can make her so happy.

"Won't you be lonely by yourself, Onii-chan?" Ilya asked me and I patted her head in a loving gesture.

"Don't worry about me, Ilya, you have fun," I smiled at her.

"Do you have plans for the weekend, Shirou?" Fuji-nee asked me and appeared she was just curious.

"I'm going to Tohsaka's this after-noon," I answered, taking another bite of my food.

"On a Saturday?" Fuji-nee questioned me, for the first time looking away from her plate and meeting my eyes.

I tried to appear nonchalant when I just realized that since they would be leaving the house for a while, I could've very well kept that information to myself. "Why not? The sooner we finish, the better," I said.

"Why doesn't Rin-san come here?" Ilya asked me.

"Tohsaka has all the books we need at her house. I'm just grateful she's letting me use them too," I answered and I was proud to see that I didn't have to lie further.

Fuji-nee nodded, understanding and returned to her food, as did Ilya. Out of the corner of my eye I saw that Sakura had her head bowed, and her hands folded in her lap; she wasn't touching her food at all. I frowned and peered at her closely. I couldn't read her expression because her long, lavender bangs were obscuring her eyes. "Are you all right, Sakura?"

She looked at me quickly, as if she just know acknowledged my presence. "You look tired," I continued. "You should've let me do the cooking this morning."

"Oh no, Senpai, I'm all right," she assured me, smiling and I let my worries at rest, although she still looked a little down underneath that smiling expression she put on.

"By the way, this is delicious," I told her, wanting to brighten up her mood. My compliment has the desired effect: she blushed and her smile widened.

We finished eating soon afterward. After Sakura, Fuji-nee and Ilya helped me clean up the table, I would remain to do the dishes while they went along shopping. Just as the other two were getting ready to leave, Ilya walked up to me and told me that she'll be back as soon as she could, but I told her – once again – not to worry about me and to stay as long as she they need.

"Besides," I add, "I'll be at Tohsaka's and then I'm at work until ten."

"Oh yeah," she said, just now remembering, "Onii-chan works on Saturdays." Ilya sighed, seeming put-down.

"Shirou," Fuji-nee said, coming to my side, "if you want, and if Ilya wants, I could have her over at my house for today and overnight."

I stared at her, completely taken aback. I looked at Ilya uncertainly. "Would you like to go?" I asked her, wanting to leave the decision up to her. Ilya looked confused and unsure of what to say herself, no doubt thinking what has gotten into Fuji-nee, first taking her shopping and now offering to have her stay overnight.

Ilya's red eyes flickered from me to Fuji-nee. As if to convince her, she added, "I have ice cream and a flat screen TV," Fuji-nee grinned and Ilya shared it at the news and nodded, agreeing to come at her house.

I looked at my not-mother and smiled at her. "Thanks for doing that."

She waved me off. "No problem, Shirou. Besides," she let a small smile on her lips, making her expression look loving, tender, "Ilya's part of the family. We haven't been on the best of terms in the past, but that doesn't mean things should stay that way." Fuji-nee looked down to meet Ilya's eager but confused expression and patted her head.

I nodded, feeling a rush of affection toward her. She took Ilya by the hand and turned to Sakura. "Off we go!" she pointed at the door as if they were sailing on a ship and she was the captain. I waved at them, keeping my eyes on Ilya – who was skipping happily beside Fuji-nee – before I slid the door shut.

I went ahead and washed the dishes, taking my time with them because I knew I will had quite a bit if time to spare before I headed toward Tohsaka's. My heart leaped at the thought of at least getting closer to some answers.

I scrubbed at the dirty dishes, my grip unconsciously slackening as I thought of how happy I would be if I could get to see her again – and not just in my mind – to see her smile, or hold her hand, or maybe feel her soft lips on mine for the second time ever or tell her how much I loved her.

I sighed and told myself I shouldn't rush things. The answer will come to me soon enough, I was sure of it.

——————————

"Shirou, you're early," said Tohsaka, looking surprised when she opened the door for me.

"I thought better early than late," I grinned sheepishly, remembering the last few times I was late when I had to meet with her.

She shared my grin and opened the door wider to let me in. "You got that right."

Tohsaka walked ahead the familiar way toward the library that I already memorized. Once we got to our usual table, we succumbed into our books and thoughts, barely making any conversation except for the few questions I had for her and barely making any progress.

Despite that fact, I was enjoying finding out all this new information about magic, things that I never would've dreamed of hearing or reading about and suddenly realizing they were possible. Although the process was sluggish, considering how many books on magic Tohsaka had, I didn't feel the least frustrated or impatient. At least not yet.

It was too early to think about that, but even so, i was feeling very hopeful. I didn't know if that was because it was still too soon to determine these things or because I genuinely believed it. It was, perhaps, a bit of both.

Regardless, I kept my focus on my studying and kept my thoughts at bay. It was harder than I thought. After an entire year of giving them complete control to roam in my mind as they pleased, I was suddenly reining them in. I succeeded, although they put off a good fight.

Just when I was reading about Tracing in a book about Magic Spells – I was merely curious and I trailed off unconsciously from my questions – Tohsaka informed me that it was quarter to four and I should hurry up if I wanted to make it to work on time.

"Why didn't you kick me out at 3:30 like we discussed?" I asked her, but felt grateful at the same time.

She shrugged and but didn't answer my question. I smiled at her. "Thank you so much for doing this for me," I said.

Tohsaka looked away and sighed. "You're welcome, Shirou. Now hurry up. You know how I hate people being late," she shooed me away from her doorstep and all I could do was wave at her quickly before starting to run down the hill the Tohsaka manor was on and through the busy streets and intersections toward The Copenhagen Bar, the liquor store I worked at.

I burst in through the door harder than I originally planned, the bell ringing loudly as the door smacked against it and I looked at the clock on the wall. It read 4:02 P.M. I was as on time as I could have been in the circumstances.

"Emi-yan, is that you?" I heard Neko-san's voice from one of the rooms in the back.

"Yes, and I'm on time!" I added unncecessarily and I heard her laugh.

"Come back here, we have a long after-noon ahead of us," she said and I walked beyond the door with the warning sign that said "Employees Only." What greeted me were more boxes full of freshly processed liquor than I've seen in a few months. Usually it's like this around November, probably with Christmas and New Years coming.

I stared at the packed room – there was hardly any room to walk through but a small trail. "What's all the commotion about?" I asked the owner.

She shrugged, but didn't seem troubled, which didn't really surprise me. This meant business for her, after all. "I could care less as long as business is going well," she grinned at me.

"What do you want me to do, Neko-san?" I asked her, using her preferred name instead of her real one as I always have.

"Your job today is move as many boxes as you can from here into the truck in front of the store," she instructed me and I was slightly bewildered, since I didn't notice any truck when I got there. I looked out the door and through the blinds, I could make out the white outline of a big truck, ready to pick up the merchandise to the desired destination.

I nodded and just as I was about to start, she continued. "And don't go overexerting yourself, Emi-yan, and take as many breaks as you need. Those boxes are heavy," her brows creased slightly as she looked at me.

I gave her an assured smile. "Don't worry about me, Neko-san."

I took a box and propped it against the open door so I wouldn't have to worry about it and started taking transporting the boxes into the truck. Neko-san was right. They were heavy. I briefly wondered how many bottles there were in each box. Six maybe? Or eight? But it didn't matter. I was used to the usual work at the The Copenhagen Bar, and boxes of six-eight bottles of liquor a piece has long started to be routine for me.

While I started taking two boxes at a time to speed up the process, Neko-san was working at the cashier, doing the weekly inventory and helping any customer that came inside.

I let my thoughts wander in the process, and did my job mechanically, already forgetting how many I already took toward the truck. I didn't even notice how two hours already passed until Neko-san literally had to wake me up from my trance to offer me a cold glass of water.

I didn't even realize I was panting until I came back down to earth. Neko-san's face was kind, but she obviously didn't appreciate the fact that I didn't listen to her about taking breaks. I took the glass from her and smiled gratefully.

"Thank you," I almost gasped out and I drank my glass in one gulp.

"You need some more, Emi-yan?" her chocolate brown eyes bored into mine. Just when I wanted to answer, out of the corner of my eye I saw that somebody stepped in the shop. "I'll get it," I told her as she went to take care of the customer and I went to the water fountain to refill my glass.

As I worked, time passed with unbelievable speed, as the sun slowly started setting, casting fiery rays in between the store's plastic blinds. I had to look away everytime those rays touched my face, sun being almost blinding. At one point, I looked away instinctively although the sun was far gone from the horizon. Slowly, the truck started filling up and the room that was initially full of boxes started clearing up without me even realizing it.

When I had close to only three rows of boxes all against the far wall, I felt a strong arm grip my shoulder. I looked over my shoulder and saw that it was Ryo-san, Neko-san's husband. "Shirou, I think that's enough for today," he said, his voice sounding gentle but firm.

"What time is it?" I asked automatically, not wanting to leave before my shift ended.

"Quarter after ten," he answered and let go of my shoulder. His face looked surprisingly soft, despite the many wrinkles it held, a sign of his old age and equal wisdom.

"I could stay to finish, I'm almost done—"

"No, Shirou, it's past closing time. Besides, I'll have Ichiro do the rest tomorrow," he said, referring to the employee who came to the Bar on Sundays among other days. "You did more than your fair share anyway. I'll have to think of something creayive to give him to do tomorrow," he grinned and flahsed me a set of still-perfect white teeth.

I obliged with my employer's wishes. "I'll be going then. Have a good weekend," I waved at the married couple as I exited the The Copenhagen Bar.

"See you Monday, Emi-yan!" Neko-san called after me before closing the door and putting the "Closed" sign on.

I smiled at the empty streets, walking slower than usual home, knowing that I do't have to hurry at home for Ilya or for anybody. For once, that sounded nice, not having to worry about anybody. I surveyed my surroundinds, and noticed how everything was clothed in the artificial light from the streetlamps. I looked at the sky briefly, but I couldn't find the moon. It was probably hidden behind one of the skyscrapers of Fuyuki city.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and allowed myself the luxury of going on a detour, enjoying the virtually deserted streets. It was a night such as this that I had that fight with Saber and I left her on the bridge, only to have to go back to her and bring her back home. The sky was clear, and everything in sight was quiet and still. Until he came.

I shoved away that image and tried to focus on Saber instead, which I could always do it the slightest effort. I breathed in deeply, imagining her sweet scent fill the air around me. I closed my eyes briefly, making it all the better as I did so. Then—

A powerful and terrified shriek filled the silence around me. I automatically opened my eyes, feeling myself rotted on the spot for few very tense seconds. I forced my body to obey my commands to look around for the source of the scream. I didn't see anybody, but I did see three shadows moving restlessly in the darkness a few ways away from where I was, across the street. I willed myself to walk further and get a better look of what was going on.

A voice resonated and I strained to understand what it said. By the intonation and how the words were rather slurred together, I assumed the owner of that vocie was drunk. "—Give us the watch, lady, and nobody will get hurt," he said, but it sounded more like "Gwibe 's th' wotch laddy, an' nob'dy'll git huirt."

Just as I got closer, I could hear a woman sobbing and I saw her on her knees, no doubt the same woman who screamed. There was somebody else present, but by judging how that person towered over the woman, he was in the same league with the drunkard doing all the threatening, no doubt drunk also.

Fresh, boiling anger surged through my veins and I ran as fast as I could toward the two men. I saw the one who has been silent raise his hand, as if readying it to strike and I forced myself to go faster before he touched the innocent woman.

I got there just in time. I stepped in front of the woman and grabbed a hold of his wrist. The man, now that I saw him clearly in the streetlight, looked like a bum who had too many drinks and was picking on a fight out of nowhere for the heck of it. Unshaven face, bloodshot eyes and messy shaggy hair underneath his hat was all that I could see beside the raised hand to strike the woman.

The man's bloodshot eyes focused on me from beneath his shaggy dirty hair as if he just now realized that I interrupted them. The other man had the same dazed expression as his partner. Despite what they were about to do, I hoped that I wouldn't have to hurt them…unless I had to. I was only vaguely aware of the woman stol sobbing at my feet, this time not terrified cries but somewhat relieved that somebody had actually heard her pleas for help.

"Who 'r you?" the man who threatened the woman spoke. He didn't want for an answer. "What d'you wan'? This's non 'f you' bus'ness. Go b'for' you git 'n tr'ble," he slurred at me, taking him twice the time it would take somebody sober to form those words.

"I'm afraid it is my business if you're gonna hurt this woman," I said, though I knew diplomacy would get me nowhere with two people under the abuse of alcohol.

The other man frowned at me and spoke. Luckily, he was a lot easier to understand. "We weren' goin' teh hur' 'er. We jus' wan'ed 'er gol' watch," he said.

"Sorry that won't do. You'll either leave her alone willingly or I'll force you out of her way," I threatened, and by no means was I bluffing. I was willing to put up a fight for the sake of her safety and her posessions.

"The boy wan's teh figh' 's," his parter said and it sounded as if he was snickering, but I wasn't sure. "I'll sho' 'im!" he bellowed, his already loud voice rang in the silence, making it echo in the deserted street. Le lunged at me clumsily, his fist raised to strike, but I easily dodged him and delivered a powerful punch in the stomach that undoubtedly left him breathless. He staggered against the blow and crumpled at my feet, gasping and coughing for air.

The other one, seeing that I just attacked his friend took out a knife and plunged at me. As I dodged his unskilled attempts to hurt me, I couldn't help not to compare this to sparring with Saber, which always left me numb and sore afterward. The drunkard aimed to strike again and as I recognized a moment of weakness, I pushed his fist aside inches before it hit my stomach and gripped it tight before twisting it beyond its limits. The man howled in pain and dropped the knife automatically. I heard a clank as the metal hit the pavement and right when I concentrated on that sound alone did I heard the woman's terrified sobs again.

I delivered a quick punch in the jaw that sent him to the ground. He, nor his friend, didn't moved at all after I was done with them. They were knocked out.

I took a quick glance at them before I looked at the woman, who apparently watched me the entire time. Her eyes looked purple and I had a quick flash of Sakura's face because of them. I shoved that thought away, knowing she didn't have any relation to my friend.

"Are you all right?" I asked her kindly yet quietly, not wanting to startle her even more. I extended a hand toward her, giving her my help to get up. She nodded rather shakily and took my hand. Her grip was fierce.

"Yes, thank you," her breathing sounded ragged. I looked her over in the artificial light and saw that she was all right. I let out a relieved sigh. I came just in time. "Thank you so much, young man," she said, and looked like she wanted to say more, but I interrupted in the slight pause.

"They're knocked out, and chances are they won't get up very soon," I said and instinctively looked down at my fist and noticed that it was smeared in blood. I looked back at the woman's purple eyes. "Do you have a cell phone, ma'am?" I asked her and she nodded. "Call the police."

——————————

The rest of the night passed by in a blurr. I stayed with the woman until the police arrived. As two officers took the drunkards in the back of the car, one of them questioned us about what happened. The woman supplied the information until when I arrived, then I filled them in with the rest. The officer congratulated me on my bravery and quick thinking and I just nodded, uncomfortable at the praise because I didn't count it as bravery or quick thinking. I counted it as what I was supposed to do. What I had to do.

After the police left, I escorted the woman to her home despite her protests and bid her a good night before I went, waving off any other thanks or means to repay me by, but I did accept a cup of tea before I left. By the time I was walking back home, it was past midnight.

As I walked, my thoughts took a strange turn and I wondered on how peculiar the world works. That nothing ever happens by mistake or by coincidence. If Fuji-nee and Sakura hadn't wanted to go shopping today, Ilya would've been waiting for me after I was off work. If I hadn't been working, Fuji-nee might not have offered to keep Ilya overnight at all, at least not today. If Ilya hadn't been gone tonight, I might not have taken the detour in town, therefore never knowing there was a woman on a deserted street crying for help.

Was it a mere coincidence or was it a sign that I should continue pursuing my dream since I was a young boy? I guess the answer is up to me. Should I think that it was meant for me to come by that woman in danger or take it as a coincidence and that the incident was nothing more is up to me. It always has been. And it always will be.

I won't let you down, Dad, I thought toward the heavens and knew that somewhere up there Kiritsugu Emiya heard me, loud and clear.

A/N: This scene wasn't orginally planned, it happened rather suddenly and unexpectedly but i welcomed it. It's part of Shirou's character, after all. And, as a side note, i don't knew Neko-san's husband's name, and i don't think they mentioned it in the series either. So i made it up. If anybody knows his name, tell me and i would be glad to change it.

Other than that, i hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, even if most of it was filler. More exciting parts are coming, i promise. :D

Read and review, please!