Author's Notes:
One more to go…then I am completely revamped and ready to take on some new writing.
NNN
(Archer's POV)
Issei Ryudo in a nutshell: average height, short blue/raven hair, blue eyes reflecting unease, a strained smile, sweaty palms, shuffling feet, apparently afraid of Rin. In other words: a moron. He's definitely unlike the other guys at Rin's school who…well…get tongue tied around my master or ask her for countless dates. No this guy is a real oddity because he appears to be genuinely afraid of girls, even beautiful ones—
I'm not sure where that thought came from but it's not a thought that should be entering my mind. Rin is my master and she's—
Leaving you behind because you're an idiot…
God, I hope that I will never be anyone else's servant and that I do a better job at keeping track of him or her than I do with Rin should something go wrong. I'll just nonchalantly catch up so I can hear the conversation before drifting back into my own thoughts. Yes maybe I could have gotten an easier master to keep track of. One that didn't order me to make tea, next I'm sure it will be cooking and cleaning. Maybe I'd get a master that wasn't so stubborn, independent, headstrong, but maybe, I'd get one that wouldn't have come back for me in a battle that I was outmatched for. So perhaps having Rin for a master isn't such a bad thing after all…it just complicates things.
NNN
Issei Ryudo was nervous. No he was more than nervous. The one girl that he couldn't stand more than anyone or anything in this world had come to darken his doorstep. He merely prayed that the gods would hear his pleas and smite this evil. The evil Rin Tohsaka was babbling about this year's cherry blossom festival at the temple and that since the Tohsaka family was a prominent supporter she was interested in seeing the grounds and preparation. He'd gladly give her money to get her off of these sacred grounds. Perhaps he could pawn her off on his father and be done with the entire awkward situation, and then he'd cross himself several times for purification purposes before continuing his day as though nothing had ever happened. At the moment he wanted to take the broom he was carrying and smite her himself, but he would refrain from doing so since there were currently visitors performing their daily offerings and prayers.
"Your father, as always, I'm sure will do a wonderful job organizing the festival," complimented Rin with a sincere smile that made Issei cringe. He would not be affected by her evil female charms.
"Yes, father has been working adamantly preparing the grounds and the temple for the occasion," he explained, his eyes looking in all directions to pinpoint his father and be rid of the Tohsaka nuisance at his side.
"Are you ill?" she inquired with the arch of an eyebrow, "You appear to be flushed and perspiring."
Damn her powers of perception! He had underestimated his enemy!
"No," he stalled, "I have just been working diligently assisting with preparations," he continued to explain, his eyes frantically darting across the grounds now before spotting his father.
Oh thank the gods! He was currently flagging his father down, waving the broom high over his head as a beacon to alert his father to come to his aid. When his father finally caught on and he knew that he was going to be rescued from Tohsaka's evil clutches he quickly informed his father of the situation.
"Father, Rin Tohsaka is here to see you in regard to the preparations for this year's festival," he rushed on, "I told her that you wouldn't mind showing her around. Well I must be off, work to do!"
Before a greeting could be exchanged the teen was off and running with broom in hand toward the furthest corner of the grounds.
NNN
(Rin's POV)
Well that was definitely unusual. But at least it got me into the grounds and in a perfect position to gain information regarding a new master.
"Ryudo-san," I begin with a bow out of respect, "it is a pleasure to see you again. I hope that I am not inconveniencing you. As the representative of the Tohsaka family it would be an honor to see the preparations for this year's festival."
Archer, do you sense anything?
"It is an honor to have you," greets Ryudo-san, "it would be my pleasure to show you around. I do hope that as always you will join us for the festivities this year."
I can't be sure. It feels as though an essence is being masked.
I agree. Please keep your guard up as we tour the grounds.
NNN
(Archer's POV)
Rin seems genuinely happy to be conversing with this priest. It's a side of her I'm not used to seeing, as though she were an ordinary girl and not a master involved in a dangerous war. A master who could have died…
"Rin!"
Something within me awakened at the sight of Berserker—in his attempt to crush my master—that I don't care how many times he knocks me to the ground or how many wounds he inflicts upon me as long as I save her. Rin can no longer hear me, but I can hear the horrid sound of bone splintering within her body as I create yet another pair of blades—panting—I pull myself up off the ground once more and charge at my enemy.
"Why don't you just stay down?" ponders Illyasviel, her expression reflects her boredom and perplexity of the situation, "Do you really care that much about Rin?"
I continue to ignore her as much as I honestly can, focusing solely on the threat before me while dealing countless blows to the servant's body. But the question has struck a chord within my mind and as my eye catches sight of the unconscious girl, I find myself thinking of things that were better left in my past. I couldn't let anyone else die.
Another wound has been inflicted, this time causing me to kneel—blades in hand—before the mighty Hercules. I will not be defeated by him, my master is growing paler and I need to envision a blade that is mighty enough to free Rin and escape.
"Ryudo-san," Rin's voice pulls me out of my reverie, "the grounds are quite beautiful. I am certain that this year's festivities will be as wonderful as last year's, perhaps even better."
Rin's blue eyes move toward what appears to be the older part of the complex. My eyes linger on her face.
"H-How did he do it?" cried Illyasviel in disbelief watching as her servant took the blade to his abdomen a thunderous roar accompanying his anguish.
This was the right blade to create I think, before leaping up to catch the girl falling out of Berserker's grasp. I catch her in my arms, sparing a quick glance at her pale face, there's blood on the cover of her mouth indicating that I rescued her with little time to spare. I can hear Berserker's roar and spare a glance at the servant starting to pull the blade from his abdomen before taking to the sky, the wind's current assisting me in my retreat. I cannot sense and my eyes cannot detect Saber or her incompetent master, assuring me that they have made it out of the forest.
"It's such a shame that the housing complex is vacant," she hints with a smile on her face, "It would help us to remember what life was like back when this shrine was refuge to so many."
"Oh, we actually do have two of the buildings in use," replies Ryudo with an encouraging smile, "It had been a long time but a few years ago, I think it really has been that long, a man showed up looking for a place to rent and then not more than two weeks ago a woman came to seek refuge."
"How nice," commented Rin as that calculating expression briefly crossed her face, "I would very much like to meet them, are they at home?"
It's hard for me to focus today for some reason. Perhaps I'm not fully recovered, although I know that Rin has fully healed my wounds. Something happened to me during my first battle with Berserker, I do not know if my charade is faltering or how long I can keep it up, but what I do know is that I feel a sense of commitment to Rin, more so then when I was first summoned. It's strange for it does not bother me, the idea of me disappearing from this world, but I do not wish the same for Rin…not in this lifetime or any other.
I've carried Rin to the top of the stairs of the mansion and kick open the door with the last of my strength. I collapse to one knee, one arm still supporting my master around her shoulders, her cheek rests against my chest. I can tell, even in the dimly lit room—for the curtains are still drawn, Rin opposes early mornings—that some color has returned to her face.
She looks peaceful, my master, lying securely in my arms and I feel this sense of awareness, as though my place in this war is to remain by her side. Rin, who is normally guarded and calculating, looks innocent and vulnerable and there is a part of me that wants to protect her. A few minutes later when I am able to stand with her in my arms, I think that I must be completely delirious with such thoughts and slowly walk toward the bed in the center of the room to gently place my sleeping, bossy, independent and pigheaded master on her bed with a smirk appearing on my face, because she is bossy, independent and pigheaded and these thoughts sound much better than that other nonsense that my mind was previously spouting…but she is still my master and I am pleased to be her servant. I cannot go too much further before I feel my body slump up against the nearby wall after giving in to exhaustion. The barrier around the mansion is up and I won't be able to have my wounds healed until Rin awakens. I finger the familiar red pendant in my pocket the one from so many years ago and drift off to sleep…
NNN
Archer? Archer, are you listening?
I wince, because her voice sounds impatient and I've been caught daydreaming…well, at least this time she hasn't left my side following after some teenaged idiot.
Yes, Rin?
Did you hear what Ryudo-san said about the woman never leaving her quarters and taking meals inside of the building? Apparently she is an honored guest of the family and preparing for a wedding…
Yes…
I'm obviously lying but I hope that my ever observant master won't notice as I continue to make myself look somewhat competent.
She could be assassin's master.
But then there's the man who has been living at the temple for a few years…
"And the gentleman," Ryudo must have been continuing…how long was I unaware of the current conversation, "is seldom at home so it isn't a wonder that anyone would suspect him to live at the temple. He's a teacher, I believe."
Archer, he could be someone we already know.
But the woman could be his servant, the timing would make sense.
Yes, I agree. The timing would be acceptable for summoning; however, one thing that confuses me is the man being a teacher. Saber said she encountered a male assassin. I find it hard to believe that a servant could pose as a teacher.
"Perhaps I know him," replies Rin with much interest, "What's his name, Ryudo-san?"
"I'm terribly sorry miss but when people come to my shrine I cannot divulge such information it would be betraying their trust."
"Of course," apologized my master, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
Rin, the woman could be assassin's master or the teacher could be assassin's master.
Good point, Archer. Or we could be missing something entirely. We will need to attend this weekend's festivities and see what we can ascertain.
Rin, is that wise with Illyasviel and Berserker still alive?
Illyasviel wouldn't be foolish enough to risk the exposure, she knows the rules as well as I do and the penalty for exposing the war. Besides it gives us an opportunity to strategize about taking care of Berserker and we can continue our search into assassin's master.
NNN
"Assassin, did you get a good look at our enemies?"
"Yes, however, I do not understand why you did not allow for me to confront them. Guarding the gates of this temple was your order. The few people at the temple could have been drained of the mana and a barrier could have been made to keep out humans."
"Patience," replied his master, gazing through a crystal ball, "I wanted to observe our enemies and I have learned a great deal today. Rin Tohsaka is the perfect sacrifice in order to summon the holy grail. After all, her family set this city aside for the purpose of the grail wars; therefore, she's full of magical circuits."
"And what about her servant?"
"An Archer should be no match for you," whispered his master, "besides, in a few days they will come to us for the festival. Therefore, we can be patient for a while longer."
Master and servant gazed into the crystal ball revealing the blue eyed dark haired teenage girl as she left the temple grounds with a smile on her face.
"Until then Rin Tohsaka, do sleep well…"
NNN
(Archer's POV)
Archer, what's wrong?
The smile on her face erased itself immediately as she stood at the base of the temple stairs, staring straight up at me.
Rin, I cannot shake the feeling that the entire time we were on the grounds there was a presence watching us.
Rin frowned, I know what you mean…but I couldn't pinpoint its location either that's why we're going to the festival. I did, however, get a feeling of unease that assassin's master could definitely be the one collecting mana, which if that's the case would make—
I interrupted her train of thought, It would make them a difficult opponent. And we still have Berserker to worry about. What is your course of action?
We should start our search of the city tonight. I'm not comfortable knowing that Berserker, Lancer and Assassin have the upper hand at the moment. Archer…
Something about the way she's looking at me makes me feel uneasy and her words strike a chord somewhere from within my mind.
Archer, I know that you don't remember who you were and I thought at first that it would affect our pact, but I can put that aside. I need to know that I can trust you because we're going into this war now and the masters will be far more advanced than I am, so I have to have complete faith in you as my servant. Any hesitation could result in both of our demises.
Rin…
Why am I hesitating? Because I know why I'm in this time and what I'm here to do…I knew that the pendant would act as a catalyst and yes, I told myself I was prepared when I lied to her the day I was summoned about my identity. However, now I feel as though this may not be such an easy feat.
I'm sorry if I've offended you. There are times when I feel that even if you did recall your past that you would not share it with me, and I would not force you to do so…however, your silence and often sarcasm worries me. It makes me feel as though you are hesitant to fight along side of me, but after seeing you in your fight against Berserker I'm ashamed to think so little of you. Archer I need to know that—
Rin, let's go home. The past few days have been hard on both of us. I'll make us some tea and we can talk about our tactics in this war. I will assist you in any way I can.
She seems appeased and the crease in her brow has disappeared. Her blue eyes look calm and her expression accepting of the idea. The trip to the temple has taken longer than expected as the setting sun follows my master while walking down the street that will lead her toward home.
Rin's words continue to bother me. My mind's eye flashes to Rin's peaceful face when I held her in my arms.
Could I truly ever betray that sleeping girl?