A/N

Thanks for withholding those tomatoes… I'm saved! I just received major inspiration from a few fan made mangas and I hope I can implement them here, slightly altered of course. This chapter is nearly triple the usual word length, for compensation as I did not update yesterday.

Also, I noticed I misspelled Shiro as Shirou for the story. (No one told me about this!) Really sorry, I have rectified it from here on.

End A/N

Author's Disclaimer: I do not own Fate/Stay Night. In other words, I do not own the original intellectual property.

Chapter 6

Saber, Fuyuki City.

We are currently walking home now, arms linked together. I could not feel anymore blessed and happy than what I am experiencing now. Right beside me was the man I loved dearly, and with the fighting gone, I can concentrate on this now…

I sighed happily, and rested my head on his shoulder. He seems surprised by my actions, but did not say a word as we continued to approach our destination.

I looked at Shiro, he looked incredibly happy. He did not pursue the matter on how I got here. Perhaps he knows that I will tell him in due course. I could feel a kind of link connecting us together now, and I can feel fleeting emotions and thoughts emanating from Shirou. Perhaps it could be because he transferred some of his magic circuits over to me before.

Then again, perhaps it is something more.

Rin, Tousaka Residence.

"Arc…" I could not believe it. Right in front of me was the man I thought slain in combat more than ten days ago, a man I thought I had lost forever…

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Now that's a first." He smirked. Was it really him? His personality did not seem to have changed one bit, with sarcasm in every sentence. But that was one of the qualities I liked about him. Back then, we always bantered with each other… I never knew his true name though…

"How… How did you come back from the dead? It's impossible; the Holy Grail War is over! The Holy Grail itself was destroyed! You should be… Should be… De-…" I was cut off mid-sentence by him.

"Dead? That's so like you Rin. As predictable as always. Did you forget what I told you before? I am the strongest of the servants, everything is possible!"

"I can't have you surprised at every turn of events here…"

"But…But how…?"

"Come on; let's go in before you catch a chill. I will tell you more once we are inside."

He grabbed my hand gently with that warm, matured hand of his. I blushed slightly. I never knew my wish could come true… That he would always remain here, protecting me.

Archer's back.

Shiro, Emiya Residence.

We arrived home just in time for dinner. I led a tired Saber into my room, allowing her to catch some shut eye while I prepared dinner. I was cooking up a storm now, with so many mouths to feed. Almost everyone knew of Saber's monstrous appetite, who could probably eat as much as three man. And yet, how did she maintain that slim figure?

I blushed slightly at the thought of it. Gone are the days when she was in a 'Servant before a woman' thinking. Now, I will get to truly know a bit more of the Saber I have come to know and love. The door slide open then.

"Shiro, are you done cooking yet? Onee-san is hungry already! Hurry up!" As usual, the freeloading Fuji-nee has come for dinner again.

"Senpai, allow me to help you with your cooking!" Sakura quickly donned an apron, and proceeded to help me cook the rice and vegetables. With her help, the dining table was quickly set up.

"Woah Shiro, you must have a huge appetite today, you cooked up quite a feast!" She was already eyeing the meatballs.

"No, they are not for me." I replied honestly.

"For me then…? Thank you so much, Shiro!" Fuji-nee outstretched her chopsticks to pick up the meatballs while Sakura was still giving out the rice.

"Fuji-nee, where are your manners?" I reprimanded her gently.

"Hmmm…? Oh! Itadaki-…"

I sighed and stood up. "It's not that Fuji-nee. It's just that, how can you start dinner without everyone being present?"

"Err… Everyone…?"

"Just wait. Let me go fetch her." I exited the dining room and proceeded to my room.

When I entered my room, Saber was already fast asleep on my futon. Looking at such a face, I could not bring myself to wake her up there and then. I quietly knelt beside her, and observed a moment of peace.

"Shi-…ro?" She opened her eyes, and looked at me. With her head tilted, and eyes as big as saucers, she looked incredibly adorable. I blushed slightly.

"Dinner's ready…" I mumbled incoherently.

"Sorry, I didn't catch that, Shiro." The way she pronounced my name… I loved it.

"I said dinner's ready. Everyone's waiting! Come on!" I grabbed her hand, turned around and pulled her out from under the blanket, out of bed, towards the dining room.

"But… But… Shiro!" She seemed embarrassed by something. I turned around to face her.

"Wha-…" Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw; my next few words were caught in my throat.

My lovely Saber was dressed only in her undergarments.

Rin, Tousaka Residence.

"Oh, I see. So that's how you got back. Saber's request was to allow you to protect me once more." In more ways than one I hope…

He nodded, confirming what I just said. "She is with Emiya Shiro right now I believe." Those two lovebirds…

"Well, what do you want to do as a first step towards protecting me, hmmm?" I teased him, hoping to get him flustered.

"……" Then, as if to serve as the anti-climax, his stomach growled loudly and his composure broke. He blushed slightly and I raised one eyebrow.

"Well, looks like we have to feed you first, Archer-kun."

Shiro, Emiya Residence.

We entered the dining room, hand in hand. That is of course, after Saber got decently dressed.

"Shiro…What took you so lo-…" Fuji-nee stopped in the middle of her sentence. She stared at me, then at Saber, and finally rested her eyes on our linked hands.

"Sa-… Saber-chan…! H-How did you get back…!?" A surprised Sakura was staring at her. She looked like she just witnessed a resurrection of sorts. It was sort of true, to a certain extent.

"No… No…!" Fuji-nee seems frightened out of her wits. She kept one eye on Saber while at the same time dishing to herself large portions of the food. It seems she knew she would soon not have the luxury of having most of the food to herself anymore.

"Shiro-senpai, how long will Saber-chan stay this time?" Sakura seemed to have composed herself enough to ask. Fuji-nee looked at me expectantly.

I took one glance at Saber, hoping she would answer in my stead. She just coolly returned the look, awaiting my reply.

"She will be staying here for quite a whi-…"Suddenly, Saber squeezed my hand with immense strength. She cast one quick glance at me before answering the question herself.

"I will be staying here, permanently." She announced to everyone in the room there and then.

I was speechless.

Sakura was shocked.

And Fuji-nee was on the verge of tears.

Rin, Tousaka Residence.

"Well, that was quite a fine dinner. You are quite a chef, Rin." Archer is actually complimenting me!

"Than… Thank you…" I flushed slightly. I was not really used to receiving such compliments from people, especially from him!

"Hmm…? Drunk already? Your face is very red, Rin." He drained the last of his wine in one gulp. If it was even possible, my face turned a few shades redder.

"It's nothing… Just don't feel well… I don't think that the wine agrees very well with my stomach…"

"Oh? Is that so? Well then, seems like its bed time for you." He stood up, walked over, and picked me up bridal style.

"What are you doing!? I order you to put me down at once!"

"What does it look I'm doing? Sick people should rest in bed. Besides, you can't order me around anymore; I'm no longer a Servant." Damn it! My ace in the hole, gone.

"……"

Without another word, Archer moved towards the master bedroom, with me in his hands. He seemed to be treating me almost affectionately. His actions surprised me and I was rendered speechless.

But that did not meant it was unpleasant though.

Shiro, Emiya Residence.

We are now just lazing around, watching the news on television. Today marks the beginning of the school holidays after all, it is alright to be slacking.

"Shiro, before we turn in for the night, I have a few requests." Saber mentioned it out of the blue, in front of everyone.

"Hmmm…?"

"Firstly, I would like you to call me by my real name now, and not by Saber. I am after all, no longer a Servant."

"Servant…?! You mean you were Shiro's maid!?" A bewildered Fuji-nee shot a look at me. I shrank back.

"…Yes." It seems that Saber had forgotten that Fuji-nee was here.

"Err… Then we shall address you as… King… Arthur?" She shook her head and pinched my cheek, while at the same time pouting.

"Owww…! Okay, okay… Arthur?" She pinched with even more force now. I focused now, trying to recall those dreams I had, those insights in her life…

"… Ar… Tu… Ria? Arturia?" She nodded eagerly then, and gave a peck on the spot she pinched, at the same time massaging it.

"Nice name." Fuji-nee complimented.

"I agree." Sakura chipped in.

"Thank you." Saber politely responded. Now Arturia, she plowed on with the requests.

"Secondly, I would like us to resume our training in the dojo, starting tomorrow." She seemed serious about this.

"Sure." Finally, a chance to land a hit on her.

"Thirdly, this is regarding the rooming issue. I would like to sleep in the same room as you. I believe it would make some headway in our relationship." Her cheeks were stained red, but she truly meant it.

'Wha….What!? No! Anything but that! Us? In the same room? Impossible! I won't allow it!" I was blushing furiously now.

"Shiro doesn't love me anymore…? Very well… I shall leave then… There is no point remaining here…" She made an attempt to leave the room. My heart stopped beating there and then. Before she took one step out of the room, I leapt up, and clamped my hands firmly on her shoulders from behind.

"…… Ve-…Very well…" I can't believe I said it!

She turned around, and I felt sure there and then that it was all a ploy, an act. She was grinning from ear to ear!

"I PROTEST! Shiro cannot be near a girl at night! As a teacher…" Fuji-nee jumped up, ready to give reasons, but was silenced by a single glance from Arturia. How lethal…

"Shiro-senpai…" Sakura had a hand on each cheek, as if willing herself to stop blushing.

"It's going to be fine! I'm confident of Shiro! Rest assured!" Arturia assured them. At this point, everything was out of my hands now.

"……" After ten agonizing minutes of silence, Sakura and Fuji-nee announced their intention to return home. I sent them off, but not before Fuji-nee gave me an earful of threats, saying if I made Arturia cry… She will personally do something about it...

I returned to my room, tired from the hectic day, yet I knew that there was no way to avoid the biggest challenge ahead…

How to go about sleeping in the same room as Arturia in an appropriate manner.

I entered my room, and was shocked to see Arturia in her sleeping attire already, which consisted of an over-sized T-shirt of mine fitted over her. It draped to slightly above her knees.

She noticed me entering the room, and beckoned me over. Before I knew it, she kissed me firmly on the lips.

"Thank you…" She was holding a lion doll close to her chest. On closer observation, I saw that it was the one I wanted to give her during our first date. In the end, I could not summon up the courage to give it to her back then. I felt like apologizing, and I did.

"…Sorry… I couldn't give it to you earlier…"

"It's okay… It's the intention that counts…" She whispered into my ear, almost seductively.

"I…I think I better go change to my sleeping clothes." I rushed off, before I succumbed to temptations. Why is she making things so difficult for me?

Rin, Tohsaka Residence

"There we are, all warm and comfy." I didn't even know 'comfy' was in his vocabulary!

Archer had me laid down on my bed now, and I felt like drifting off to sleep any moment now. Archer turned around, making for the door. I grabbed his hand, not wanting him to leave the room.

"Stay here with me… please." I implored him.

"Rin… You are really drunk, do you know that?" Archer still had this cool composed posture.

"Somber or not… I want you here… Please? How can you protect me when you are not by my side? Did Saber not charge you with that task?" I knew I was clearly winning this battle, and it showed on his face.

"… Fi-… Fine. I will sleep ri-… Right here, by the floor. Does that make you happy?" Archer seemed to have lost his nerve now.

"No… I want you here." I patted the empty space beside me, on the bed. I must be really crazy or drunk.

"Rin, don't try to be funny, please. The floor will do. I can protect you just fine from here." He was almost begging me now. I adamantly shook my head.

"Here. NOW." I nearly screamed.

"……" Resigned, he crept under the blankets from the other side of the bed. He was facing away from me, sulking maybe? I snuggled up to him, and wrapped my arms around his waist, with my head resting on his back.

"…Rin…!"

"Don't complain Archer. I like this arrangement and I know you do too. Now, go to sleep." I ordered him.

"… I give up. You win, Rin."

It seems that I still have a certain degree of control over him after all.

Shiro, Emiya Residence.

When I returned, two futons were lined up side by side. I had this strange feeling that they were merely for show, however. Arturia was already in one, so I crept into the one next to her. She had already replaced the lion doll back in its original place, atop the desk.

"Sab-… Arturia, before we turn in for the night… I know this would be tough on you, but I would like to know how you returned…?" I needed to know now, whether if she was truly going to stay here for good. She sat upright.

"Shiro, Avalon granted me a chance to pursue my happiness, my paradise. I decided that my paradise can only be found with you. It granted me that wish, at a cost…"

"A cost…?"

"… I will tell you that in due course. Don't worry about it for now, Shiro." She gave me a brief smile. I leaned over, and kissed her firmly on the lips.

"Thank you, for coming back to me, Arturia. I won't make you regret that decision, I swear it."

"I know Shiro, I know." She gave me another beautiful smile of hers, before she lay back down.

"Good night, Arturia."

"Good night, Shiro." I was relieved she did not do anything to make things difficult for me. That strange feeling was incorrect after all. I got up, switched off the lights, and crept back under my blanket.

A few moments later, I heard some rustling. I ignored it, as it was probably just the trees outside, a regular occurrence. Then, shockingly, I felt someone creep into my futon!

"Arturia! What are you doi-…!" I was silenced with a slim finger of hers on my lips.

"Shh… We are both tired, so let's just go to sleep, alright?" She wrapped her arms around my torso. Instinctively, I wrapped my arm around her neck, resting my hand on her waist. She snuggled even closer to my side. I sighed contently, and closed my eyes.

Together, we entered dreamland.

A/N

You had been warned! I received a PM demanding more RinxArcher fluff, I tried to think up of some, but it is difficult as I can't really get Rin's character right. Bear with me while I brainstorm a bit. Next chapter will probably be fluff as well.

On another note, I'm not so sure about the frequency of my updates anymore. It is really difficult now then I have to study really hard for my examinations now. But rest assured, I will update after my exams, 2 weeks from now.

Please R&R. After all, that is what I'm writing for, to make improvements. Also, please score this chapter against a total score of 30 (15 language, 15 content). I would really like to see where I stand as of now.

End A/N