4th Day – Cooperation

He was dreaming, but this time it wasn't about the fire, it was about a more recent memory. Once again Shirou was talking with his father, Emiya Kiritsugu. Once again they talked about Heroes of Justice and once again Shirou vowed to follow his father's footsteps.

He woke up. Once again, Emiya Shirou was in his room. "Huh, what was going on again?" He tried to get up with his right arm, but he felt such pain from his shoulder that he almost fainted. Oh yeah, I almost got myself killed. But he still felt like something was still missing.

Taking better care not to move his right arm, Shirou got up and went to wash his face, after that he made his way to the living room. Even that felt like an enormous exertion to him.

Good thing it was Sunday, he'd have the luxury to relax and recover his shoulder as much as possible. It'd be terrible if Sakura or Fuji-nee saw how his shoulder was. Yep, it's good to be able to relax. He repeated it to himself as he stepped into the living room.

"Good morning, Emiya-kun. I hope you don't mind it but I let myself in without your permission." Tohsaka Rin was sitting in a cushion, calmly sipping tea.

"Tohsaka! Why are you…?" Then it completely hit him. Of course she was there. Considering what had happened last night, it would have been strange if she had just abandoned him.

"Why? How rude of you! Who do you think treated that wound of yours after you fainted from the shock? Also, who helped carry you back here? At least show some gratitude!" She had an irritated face. Well, she does have a good reason I guess.

"I'm sorry Tohsaka, I shouldn't have worried you."

She was taken aback by his answer. "W-who is worrying about you? Idiot, it's just because it would reflect bad on me if something happened to you while we were still cooperating." She crossed her arms and looked away.

Something did happen though. But he wasn't going to say that to her, after all, Shirou still valued his life. "Oh, right, we only had a truce until today right? That's a shame, I guess."

"Oh, if you want to talk about that, then…" She seemed to have something to say, but it was like she had difficulty in coming to terms with it. "You see…" Shirou had to suppress his laughter. What was she having trouble with? "Hey, why are you grinning?" Her irritated face came back.

"Oh, nothing, please continue." Her personality was so far from his image that maybe Shirou had to laugh not to cry. But she was cute.

"You sure?" She still looked at him suspiciously then sighed. "Anyway, what I want to say is that maybe it would be a good idea to extend our cooperation. How about that?"

"Huh?" That was what she was having trouble with? Shirou's mind froze for a few seconds.

"That's what I thought, after all we are both Masters, a long-term cooperation would be problematic and all…" She said in a voice which sounded disappointed but knew that such a response was a possibility.

Shirou's mind finally came back on. "Wait, Tohsaka! Don't misunderstand. I'd be happy to extend our cooperation; it's just that I couldn't imagine you proposing that." Immediately Shirou regretted his choice of words.

He thought he saw a vein pop in Tohsaka's forehead and a smile full of killing intent appeared in her face. "Oh, so that's how it is. You couldn't imagine me asking for an extension of our cooperation because I seem that cold to you?"

There had to be a way for him to defuse this bomb. "No, it's just… That, right? Didn't you say that normally Masters don't cooperate for long? Since you're such a great Master, I think you'd prefer to act alone…" Please let those have been the right words.

"Oh so you think I'm arrogant and can't make use of proper opportunities?" He missed. The pressure kept mounting up.

"My bad. That was not a good choice of words." He looked down hoping he looked apologetic. "It's just that I don't think I'm very appropriate as far as an ally goes."

This time he got it right, as the pressure disappeared and Rin switched to a more pensive expression. "Well, you are a half-assed Magus and half-assed Master. But I guess" She smiled at that. "that you compensate that with your almost stupid honesty and trustworthiness."

Shirou almost blushed and then realized that he wasn't only being complimented. "Well, I guess you stuck with a half-assed Magus like me as an ally." He mumbled. "But what made you change your mind after insisting that it was a limited matter yesterday?"

Tohsaka didn't seem comfortable with it, but she answered the question anyway. "Well, you saw Berserker after he transformed, right? I don't think either of us would be able to defeat such a ridiculous opponent alone. Don't you agree?"

Shirou didn't really want to think about the mad warrior who gave him that shoulder wound. Still, he had to agree, that Servant's power was nothing short of ridiculous and he felt that he would have no chance against him with Rider. He nodded in agreement.

Tohsaka seemed satisfied. "Well, now that we're done with that, I have to go home right now to prepare a few things. Do you know where Saber and Rider are?"

He shrugged. "Beats me. If you want me to I can help you look for them." Now that Tohsaka mentioned them, Shirou realized he hadn't seen them yet.

They looked in the whole house but could find neither Rider nor Saber, which could only mean one thing.

"Come, Tohsaka, I think I know where they are."

As they approached the dojo, Shirou knew that his bet was right. A sound of clashing wooden swords could be heard from outside.

As he entered the dojo, Shirou was breathless. Even if it was not as impressive as a real fight, a sparring match between Servants was still quite the sight to behold.

Saber was clearly the superior swordsman, but not enough to overwhelm Rider who, despite spending much of the match on the defensive, managed to not get pushed to the wall and even launched some attacks of her own.

Something was bothering Shirou, but he couldn't quite tell what it was. Perhaps… "Tohsaka, why are they wearing the same clothes?" He looked to his side, but Rin seemed even more entranced than him. "Tohsaka!" He tried speaking louder.

"Huh? What?" She seemed surprised that he was talking to her. He finally caught her attention, but his chance was gone as the Servants finally realized that their Masters were present and stopped sparring.

"Oh, Master and Saber's Master. Good morning." Rider was the first to talk. Something was bothering Shirou.

Before Saber could follow with a greeting of her own Shirou replied to Rider. "Rider, I am not 'Master', my name is Emiya Shirou, and 'Saber's Master' is Tohsaka Rin." That was it. When Rider didn't call them by their names it just seemed so impersonal.

"So, would Shirou and Rin suffice then, Master?" Shirou almost replied in exasperation when Rider quickly corrected. "Oh, I'm sorry. Would that be fine, Shirou?" He looked at Rin and she didn't seem to mind.

It was Saber's turn. "So then, would you prefer if I called Rider's Master Shirou, Rin?" Rin nodded.

That was it then. But there was still something else that was bothering him. Oh, right! Why are the both of you wearing the same clothes?" The same white shirt, blue skirt…

"What? You got any problem?" Rin had a defiant look. "Those were the only clothes I had lying around; you don't have any clothes for women, right?" Shirou had to concede that she had a point, but still.

"I don't know, I can't help but feel that it is wrong somehow." Shirou mumbled to himself.

Rider looked as if she thought it had an easy solution. "Well, if you're truly dissatisfied, I can just give the clothes back to Rin and walk around in my armor. Rin said we should use clothes from this era to not call unnecessary attention, but I personally don't mind."

Shirou pictured Rider in her armor, looking like she was riding to war. It was definitely not a good idea to leave her like that. "No. That is not an option Rider, but you staying in the same clothes as Saber is also not really…"

"Then, do you want me naked around the house?"

"Wha…?"

"Oh, so that's how it is, you had this kind of taste, Emiya-kun." Rin was smiling devilishly.

"No, damn, you're wrong!" He denied it while blushing furiously. Then he turned to Rider. "And don't say something like that with such a serious face!" Her face continued serious.

"So then we're down to the last option. We could use the day to purchase clothes which you think are suitable for me." Shirou's face got red again.

The devilish smile came back. "O-ho, I understand, that certainly would be a viable option for you Emiya-kun, perhaps… Wasn't this your plan all along? Certainly Rider is beautiful and any man would want to go on a date with her." Internally Shirou was cursing Rin. How could she do that to him? Perhaps if she hadn't said it he would have been able to persuade himself that it most definitely wasn't a date.

"Date? I am unfamiliar with this word, how is it related to purchasing clothes?" He wasn't sure whether Rider's obliviousness was a good or a bad thing.

"Okay, listen closely Rider…" Rin approached her as if to tell a very important secret, except she was grinning the entire time.

"Stop! Just stop, okay, Tohsaka? I'll just talk things out with Rider and if we do buy clothes we'll give back the ones you lent to us. Didn't you have to go back to your home?" A huge success.

Rin immediately had the look of someone who had forgotten something and finally remembered it. "Right! There's a bunch of things that I have to prepare. Saber, let's go."

Rin hurriedly left the house along with Saber. Shirou felt awkward making her leave like that, but it better than the situation that was developing. I feel like I just beat Tohsaka. He turned strangely satisfied from the door as he saw Rin off. But he was surprised by Rider's angry face as he entered the living room.

"Now, explain to me very clearly. What were you thinking?" She spoke in a stern voice, not shouting, but perhaps because of that, Shirou's sense of danger was more intense.

"What?" Was she talking about the conversation just now? "If you want to stay with those clothes…"

"Don't play dumb." Her glare got more intense. "I am talking about last night. What were you thinking when you jumped in front of Berserker?" So that was what she was talking about.

"Thinking? I don't know, I just jumped to try to save you, I don't think I was really thinking." That was the best reply he could think of.

Rider didn't seem impressed at all. "Well, then next time you'd better think. What if he hadn't tried to finish me with a thrust? He could have cut you head off! What if he had pierced your heart or lungs? You can't put your life at risk like that, Shirou." He understood what she meant. It made sense. But he still couldn't agree.

"Of course I can, if it is to save a woman, i will put my life on the line anytime! Besides, I didn't get gravely injured." Rider gave him a look as a mother would at an unruly child. She poked his right shoulder with force, making him almost fall over in pain. "Ouch, what was that for?"

"Not a grave injury? It's a miracle that you can even move your arm still." She stood up to leave the living room.

"Wait. Where are you going? The conversation is not over."

"No, the conversation is over. I have voiced my opinion on the matter, it your choice whether or not to consider the merit of it, though we will come back to it if another such situation comes to pass. As for your question, weren't we going on this 'date' thing so you can purchase clothes that you think are more fitting for me?" Her tone was normal now.

Shirou forgot the conversation they had just had and once again had his face completely red. "It's not a date! Look, we are going to buy clothes, but it's definitely not a date!" He had to keep denying it, or else he might not be able to fool himself.

It was a more complicated process than he thought. His plan was to ride to Shinto, enter the nearest clothing shop and emerge from it with the clothes. Despite her insistence that Shirou pick out the clothes for her, Rider kept rejecting the pained choices that he made.

Time passed and as he grew more and more frustrated, Shirou threatened to use the Command Spell to make Rider choose the clothes which she thought looked the best, but gave up when she pointed out that. "I might end up choosing something over your budget." But at least it convinced her to pick out the clothes herself.

In the end she chose a few changes of skinny jeans and small shirts that left most of her arms visible. Shirou considered voicing his opposition, but then realized that they couldn't really afford to stay in Shinto much longer without having to eat lunch.

Shirou thought he would have the benefit of a quiet lunch but saw that this wasn't going to be the case as he approached his home. "Oh, Tohsaka, what are you doing in front of my house?"

"You're late, you idiot!" He had mentally prepared himself for her teasing, but apparently she had stood there for too long, so the mood for that had passed. Instead, he was dealing the full brunt of the wrath from a Tohsaka Rin that was made to wait for a long while. "Why did you even lock the house?"

"Why?" He had to recover himself. "Well, you usually lock the house when you leave the house. Wait, what is that pack on the ground?" He tried to process the meaning of it.

"Exactly! I was just going to my home to take a few things. I wanted to have everything ready by lunch, but apparently you took your sweet time with your date." So it meant that Tohsaka was moving in, right.

"Huh, how come you're simply moving in? Also, it wasn't a date!"

"Of course I am moving in, we're cooperating now, right? We're going to make our main base here. Then, I have to bring my workshop here." She ignored the latter part of his speech and stormed in as he opened the door.

Saber bowed slightly before entering. "Excuse me."

Shirou stood there helplessly, unable to stop the invasion of his house. Would he be able to relax?

It was night, long past midnight. A lone figure trudged through the streets of Shinto. Considering the strange coma accidents that kept happening around the town and the accompanying rumors. "It's a gas leak. No, there's something strange about the electric grid. It might be a terrorist attack." It was strange that anyone walked outside at such a time; it was something only crazy people or drunks would do. Despite his walk resembling the latter, Matou Shinji was neither, though he might sometimes wish to be a drunk, if he thought it would ease his pain a little.

"Assassin, did you find any Master?" He talked to nothingness, and it replied him.

"I'm sorry, but my answer is negative, Master."

"Is that so…" Shinji smiled weakly as if there was something funny going on. "You mean to tell me that I came all the way over here for nothing?" He seemed on the brink of uncontrollable rage when he suddenly calmed down. Maybe it was because he was completely out of breath. After a moment he resumed talking. "Whatever. We will just use the opportunity to get you more energy. You know what I mean, right?"

"Yes, Master. I do have the choice of victim right?"

Shinji replied impatiently. "Yeah, yeah, just don't waste too much energy looking for someone that suits your tastes." Assassin didn't reply. He was happy that his Master had something in common with him, a deep rage against the world, which took from them something which they thought was theirs by right. Well, in Shinji's case, things were much more in his head, but it didn't matter. Everyone rages for a different reason, whether unreasonable or not. He didn't care about his Master's rage's unreasonableness. What bothered him was that it was too unpolished, too unfocused. But he would change that.

"I will teach you, Matou Shinji, the proper way of attaining revenge against those you feel have wronged you." He smiled as he saw a proper victim in an alley.

He was drunk. But it didn't matter. He had a reason for it. Life was shitty, so it was only fair that he do something about.

"So what if I robbed that stupid bitch to get drunk, huh!" The man shouted at the trash can as if it was accusing him. "No like ma' gonna geh anotha job." Not after he hit his boss' boss. Yeah, life was tough for dumbasses that attacked bigwigs.

So it didn't matter, didn't matter at all. So he wanted to get drunk. But getting drunk wasn't easy, so he stole from some woman to get the money for the booze. Now he was feeling the after-effects. It was so soothing. He felt like he was about to drift away to another land. He closed his eyes and… Opened them again.

Somebody was there. Who? The police? No, something else. The man was wearing a hood, he thought he saw a cross somewhere. The man kneeled next to the drunk and said something he didn't hear. "Wha? Yoo say, yuu… Bu…Bu… Aby Boozonee? Yeah, I like booze?" His tension was gone. If the person was some kind of religious, he probably wouldn't get in trouble.

The man smiled. "Yes, you like booze. Tell me more about your sins, I will see what I can do about purifying them."

The drunk would never rob anyone ever again.

Meanwhile, Emiya Shirou tries to sleep despite being assailed by the image of many blades, as if it was his duty to bring them into existence. Something is wrong. There is no guide, so the boy should learn of them by himself. But there is no problem, it's for that reason that the boy exists. To bring all of those blades into existence.

4th Day end

Hey, time for this day's bonus round. This time we look at Lacer's Stats:

General)

Master: ?

True Name: Leonidas

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Strength: A

Endurance: B

Agility: B

Magical Energy: C

Luck: B

Noble Phantasm: B

Class abilities)

Magic Resistance C: Nullifies all magic that requires less than two verses. Cannot block large-scale magic.

Details)

Leonidas was the most famous king of Sparta, home of the great warriors of Greece. Reigning during one of the Persian invasion, Leonidas gained immense fame for leading the Greek army that held out against the Persian army in the Thermopylae for quite a while despite overwhelming odds against them. It is said that the only reason they were defeated was that a traitor showed the Persians a secret way around the small corridor which favored the much smaller Greek army.

Skills)

Battle continuation B: Can only be killed by a clear death blow.

Outnumbered fighting A: Bonus due to being outnumbered. For every opponent beyond the first, the user receives a parameter point that is given in the following order: Strength, Endurance Agility. For example, if he is fighting four opponents, he has a bonus of 1 Strength, 1 Endurance and 1 Agility. Against two opponents he only has a bonus of 1 Strength.

Defensive specialist B: Skill at maintaining a defensive position. Fights better once he has chosen a place to stand his ground.

Protection against arrows A: Can defend against any kind of projectile, as long as his shield is strong enough to withstand the attack.

Noble Phantasm)

Spartan Phalanx,

Unbreakable Shield Wall of Sparta

Leonidas summons for a brief moment his Spartan army, giving the defensive and countering power of the famed battle formation "Phalanx".

As the power of the summoning lies in its conceptual power as an almost unbreakable military formation, it creates an almost impenetrable wall despite none of the Spartans carrying a legendary shield.

It having two phases, once the enemy's attack is blocked, an opening is always created for a counter-attack, no matter how fast the recovery should be for the blocked attack. (The counter is limited by range).

Rank: B

Type: Barrier then Anti-army

Range: 2-4 (counter)

Maximum target: 1 (barrier) 300 (anti-army)