Two weeks had passed since news had broken out of the missing girl Nana had been found. Once again, as I had felt during previous wars I couldn't help but feel surprised as the modern world still managed to carry on despite the battles being waged in the shadows. It made me wonder what life would have been like for me if my family was still alive and they weren't mages… and that I was a normal girl. Saber had noticed my gloom and quickly turned off the TV.

"Master..? You look troubled." She said as the concern and worry was written in stone on her pretty face. I tried to put on my strongest face and smile at her.

"It's nothing Saber, really." I said as if only to reassure myself more so than my Servant. Today was the end of Winter break and tomorrow school would be starting. I already had my school stuff packed and ready in my bag along with my winter uniform set out on my bed. Saber had already been insisting to me that she attend school with me for my protection. However, as good of an idea as it was to bring her along I was unsure of the kind of lie I would come up with to fool the school staff into enrolling her.

And so for the time being; as I had bought her a cell phone several days ago, that I promised if any trouble turned up at the school that I would contact her immediately. Part of me wondered at what was happening with the other masters. Archer and Donald had assured me that they would stay in touch before they had left when Saber and I were staying with Kai.

Since then I had heard nothing else from the other Masters or their Servants. If there was one thing about the Holy Grail War that irritated me the most, it was the quiet dealings in the shadows that could leave any sane person paranoid. As the day quickly passed I stared up at the ceiling as I lay in my bed wondering what else could be happening to the other masters of Red.

"I thought we were supposed to be a team…" I mumbled as I rolled over pulling the covers over my body and drifting off to sleep.

The next day began almost like any other; only as I bathed, ate breakfast and dressed into my uniform I psyched myself up for any contingency that might occur. I quickly slid on my jacket and ran out the door as Saber solemnly watched me leave.

"I really need to shop for some clothes for her…" I thought aloud feeling the sun beaming down on the slick and snow patched ground. However the sunlight did nothing to alleviate how cold it already was as I made my way to school; scanning rooftops, windows, and alleys as I walked.

In that moment I thought of the singing I had heard the night Rika left the house as she had come to visit. Somehow it seemed very well timed as she left, that singing would begin. What unnerved me even more was how seductive it sounded, as if it was trying to make me follow it to my doom. Just thinking about it had sent chills down my spine.

When I finally arrived at the school I almost felt relieved to see the familiar building and many of the students crowding out in front; friends chatting each other up, boyfriends kissing their girlfriends, and new freshmen students making new friends. It filled my heart with a sense of relief as I saw my own friends Rika and Akari waving me over to them.

As we embraced as a group sharing warm kisses on the cheek I began to feel as if the Grail war was only a distant memory. However; as we began chatting I would soon learn how wrong I was.

"Hey guys you hear about the new popular new kid at school?" Akari asked looking around as if searching for this new student herself. Rika and I crooked our heads to the side and were about to respond when I noticed a crowd of students nearby talking with someone.

"Hey that must be the new girl now." Akari said as she lead us closer. It was only then when I looked towards the center of the crowd I saw the handsome familiar young boy whom only a few weeks ago was happily offering his hands in friendship to me. Only now as he stood there donned in a girls school uniform while answering everyone's questions that was when he saw me and waved. I could only recoil in shock as I thought. Just what the hell is Rider doing here?!

I apologize if this is another short one guys. I had barely just finished my job working for the city two days ago so I could prepare for the fall semester at my local college and so it hasn't been easy operating while nearly always being half asleep. Anyway see you guys in the next chapter!