He Who Protects the Living

AN: Well well! I've broken 100 reviews. Congrats to Grinja for being my one hundredth reviewer.

I was a little disappointed that no one caught the reference to Majikoi in the last chapter. The reference was - "And fire is my stomach." - said by the character Wanko as a reference to FSN. Arai kaji was the first to find this, though he didn't get the reference.

I made a mistake last chapter, putting in Saber telling Ichirou(What you guys are calling my Shirou) her identity. I already did that in chapter 3. I went back and fixed that error, I am deeply sorry I made it in the first place.

*IMPORTANT* - Many people wondered why Hollow Ichirou exists. Here it is: When Masaki died in chapter 1, Ichirou felt all the emotions a plus feels when they turn into a hollow. This combined with his reiatsu, damaged his soul. Cracked it. Thus his hollow was born. It just needs a push to completely seperate them.

Chapter progress is as always on my profile. PM me or review with any questions.

Last Time: "Who you will fight, is yourself." Zangetsu stated, as his coat took the form of Shirou, but not.

Shirou stared in surprise at, well, himself. It would be like looking in a mirror, except this person was completely white. He took in the yellow eyes, the inverted colors of Zangetsu.

"Hello king. I will be killing you today!" the figure spoke in an odd double tone voice.

Chapter 5: The New Threat

"What is this Zangetsu?" Shirou scowled at Zangetsu. "Why is there another me?"

Zangetsu did not answer.

"So sorry king! But you have more pressing matters to attend to!" cackled Shirou's disturbing other self as he launched himself towards Shirou.

Shirou immediately got himself on guard, blocking a slash that would have taken his head off. Shirou took a look at his other self's insane yellow eyes, his grin almost splitting his face.

Shirou knew one thing from looking at this specter. 'If I don't fight, this, thing, will kill me.'

Shirou immediately threw the specter off of him, scowling as he heard the gleeful cackling.

Shirou himself took off as the white version of him had done moments ago, for once driving an enemy onto the defensive.

He slashed at the white him's head, who blocked, a clang sound filling the air, only to receive a slash to his back as Shirou used burst to flash there.

The specter only laughed harder, turning in an instant and kicking at Shirou's legs. Shirou jumped up, and slashed downwards as the specter blocked then sent Shirou flying through several swords as he tumbled through the ground.

The specter used burst himself to be on Shirou in an instant, who on the ground could only try to block. Shirou manipulated the cloth on his sword to wrap around the specters legs, tying them, then pulled and sent the specter to the ground himself.

Shirou stood and kicked the specter with a loud yell, so much reiatsu pumped into it, it visibly burst from the point of impact. The specter was sent tumbling backwards, unable to gain balance after having his legs tied.

Shirou immediately followed through. Swinging Zangetsu, Shirou called out, "Getsuga Tensho!"

A large blue crescent slash came out, carving into the ground and scattering swords as it hit a no longer smiling specter. A large cloud of dust sprung up as Shirou remembered where he had learned that particular move.

Flashback

"To effectively use my prana burst," Saber began, "You must pump so much prana, reiatsu in your case, into your body that it strengthens it by many times. In reality, my body is very frail, but my huge amount of prana makes me able to to use this effectively."

Shirou frowned. "In that case, will I be able to learn this?"

Saber nodded. "Perhaps you do not feel it Shirou, but much power runs through you. At the peak of your power during the fight with Berserker, you almost had a fifth of my supply of prana. For a human, this is an incredible amount of power. I believe this is due to the nature of your powers. Reiatsu, not prana."

Saber continued. "A fifth is still not enough to use this for long periods of time, and your human body breaks down as you use it for too long as well. Due to this, it is best you focus your bursts to move quickly, and into single parts of your body, such as your leg to kick or your arms to slash."

End Flashback

Shirou watched as the cloud of dust cleared, revealing the white specter was now bleeding, his shirt torn up revealing a large slash on his chest.

The figure gasped out, "You are strong. But you do still do not grasp the true power that lies within Zangetsu."

Shirou scowled. "What the hell do you mean!" he demanded.

"I know Zangetsu's power! The ability to magnify my slash many times. This is known as the Getsuga Tensho." Shirou argued.

The figure cackled more as he stood, the bleeding slowing down. Shirou scowled harder as he saw this. 'This bugger heals when you injure him. Healing looks like something conscious though. I have to beat him before he has the chance to heal.'

"Zangetsu is a zanpakutou of enormous power. You have barely reached the tip of the iceberg of his power! Learn how weak you truly are king!" the specter laughed harder as he took a hold of the cloth on Zangetsu and started spinning it.

"What in the worl-" Shirou was interrupted as the specter launched Zangetsu towards him, holding it by the cloth.

Shirou stabbed Zangetsu onto the ground, and readied reiatsu in his leg to quick the sword upward. "Getsuga Tensho!" the specter gleefully announced.

Shirou only had time for his eyes to widen in horror as his kick connected, and a huge dome of blue power enveloped him. Shirou's scream resounded as he was burned by the power.

Dust covered the ground, swords flying as the dome burned out. The white specter recalled his sword, laughing like a maniac.

"B-bas-tard." Shirou tried to get out as the dust cleared, "Ho-ow do yo-u know, t-the Getsuga Tensho!"

"Hehehehe, hahahahhha, ahahaahahahaha!" The specter just kept on laughing. "Do you see your weakness now king! How do you expect to win if you can't even figure out the extent of the one power Zangetsu has given you!"

Shirou gritted his teeth, using Zangetsu as a crutch. "I-I may not know the Getsuga Tensho that well."

Shirou stood, hair covering his eyes. "But I am going to be a hero of justice. I can't die here because of something so silly as you're stronger than me. If I can't win, then I just have to try harder. If I can't hit hard enough, I just have to hit harder. And if I can't figure out the extent of my powers."

Here Shirou raised Zangetsu to point at the specter. "Then thanks for showing me one of them!" Shirou roared out, his reiatsu forming around him, a black skull behind him.

Shirou spun Zangetsu on his cloth, running at the specter who gleefully ran towards him as well. He roared once more, forcing power through his entire body as he threw Zangetsu. "Getsuga Tensho!"

The specter laughed hard, mirroring Shirou. "Getsuga Tensho!"

The swords collided in midair, an explosion beginning as the twin Getsuga's fought against each other. The specter's Getsuga slowly began to overcome Shirou's.

The specter laughed more, "You should just give up and be my horse king!"

As the power of the white spector began to overcome Shirou, Shirou desperately tried to find a way to win. The specter's Getsuga overcame Shirou's.

"Hahahahahaha! I'm king now! Me!" the white specter laughed as he reveled in his victory. So sure was he that he had won, he never noticed Shirou until it was too late.

The sound of metal tearing through skin, and the white specter's gasp filled the soundless contours of Shirou's soul. Blood poured down the specter's mouth as he weakly looked down to find a pair of twin curved swords in his stomach and back. One had a black edge and silver body, one had a silver edge and black body. They each had a yin yang symbol on their guard.

The white specter weakly looked up at a very much alive Shirou, though looking a bit worse for wear. He had burn marks on his face, his torso was bleeding from the Getsuga the specter had thrown at him.

Blood also came down the side of his face, his face set in a fierce scowl. The specter weakly, even as his body began to fade away in black particles, managed to get out, "H-how..."

Shirou recounted his tale.

Flashback

Shirou desperately tried to find a way to win. He looked around and his eyes widened as he saw a twin pair of curved swords. His mind flashed to an image of a figure in red, wielding twin swords, one black, one white.

These swords were different however. Whereas Archer's swords had been white and black, these were the same color as all the swords in the field, those of Zangetsu. One had a black body and a silver edge, one had a silver body and a black edge.

The Getsuga of the specter overcame Shirou's. Shirou let go of Zangetsu, pumping as much reiatsu through his body as possible for defense. He burst towards the swords, and grabbed them even as he was hit by the Getsuga.

Dust clouded the air, and Shirou struggled not to pant or make a noise as he heard the specter laughing madly once more, and burst towards him with what little reiatsu he had left.

Shirou got in front of the specter, who's eyes widened as he put one sword in his stomach, then twirled and impaled him in the back with the other. Blood that was not his splattered Shirou.

End Flashback

"Hehehe." even dying the specter laughed. "Maybe you are worthy of being king."

Shirou sighed in relief as the figure completely disappeared in black particles. Looking at them he blinked as he saw Zangetsu absorb them into his coat as he had released them and given form to that monster.

"You did well Ichigo." Zangetsu acknowledged, bowing his head.

"Cut the crap Zangetsu." Shirou said, scowling as his body sagged. "That, that thing almost killed me. What the hell was that thing?"

"He was you. A part of you, containing all of your worst emotions, your anger, fear, despair." Zangetsu stated. "You did well in overcoming him. And in the process, you discovered the next of my powers."

"Your avoiding the question! That thing could have killed me!" Shirou argued, trying to walk towards him.

"But you didn't die. I had faith that you would overcome this trial. Had you not, then you would not be worthy to wield my considerable power." Zangetsu looked at Shirou coldly.

A shiver ran down Shirou's spine. This may be a part of Shirou's soul, but he would not tolerate his weakness.

"You have discovered my next power Shirou. I asked you before this battle, why these swords were here. You used a pair today, against your other self." Shirou looked down to where the imitations of Archer's swords were lying on the ground.

"Aren't these Archer's swords?" Shirou asked, picking one up.

"That sword you hold in your hand, these swords that you see all around me, they are all me." Zangetsu stated. Shirou looked at him stunned.

"Then-" Shirou began.

"That's right." Zangetsu nodded. "My true ability, is to turn into any weapon you desire, then enhance it. Some have unique power's, which can be imitated but never copied with reiatsu. They are all capable of the Getsuga Tensho."

Shirou looked around. "Your true power is adaptation. The ability to adapt to any situation."

Zangetsu looked happy. Or at least, Shirou assumed so from the way his lips seemed to twitch ever so slightly upwards.

"Of course this ability comes with a cost." Zangetsu stated. "You can change me into any weapon, even more than one. Multiplying me however, makes my strength divide. It also takes a considerable amount of reiatsu to change my form. You have to actively support my form when it is not in it's base state."

Shirou sighed. He could just never catch a break. "Alright. Thanks then, Zangetsu."

Zangetsu looked up as a voice started to sound from the sky. "It seems your woman is worried for you. Injuries you receive in here appear on your body."

Shirou blushed cherry red. "Wh-what are you saying Zangetsu-ossan!? Saber is not my woman!" he finished yelling.

Zangetsu chuckled as Shirou disappeared from his soul. Zangetsu finished chuckling, and looked to the sky. "Make it so that it doesn't rain in here anymore Ichigo. I hate the rain."

-This is a page break. Deal with it.-

Saber was sleeping peacefully. Servants didn't dream. Or at least they weren't supposed to. That night however, Saber was treated to many sights. She saw a fire. A woman, crushed by burning rubble. Pain, pain in her heart.

Saber suddenly gasped awake. She looked around, green grass, blue sky, a forest. 'Where am I?' She suddenly saw a woman. Saber began to call out to inquire where she was, but stopped short as he took in the woman's appearance.

A woman, with blond hair and yellow eyes. 'Wait!' Saber thought in alarm. 'Is that...Me?'

Indeed the woman looked remarkably like Saber. Almost like, her mirror. Wearing black armor with red looking veins. The woman looked at Saber, and Saber felt a shiver go down her spine.

Saber opened her mouth to speak, but the world grew dark and Saber knew no more.

-This is a page break. Deal with it.-

That night Shirou dreamt of his father's last day on Earth. Kiritsugu didn't do much in his last few months, and Shirou regretted not seeing the actions of an animal that knew when he would die.

That night was the night that Shirou promised to his father that he would be a superhero. Shirou now realized that you could not save everyone. He could do nothing for the few spirits that hanged around for so little time.

That woman, his mother. He could not save her either. He could not save Kiritsugu in his last moments. Saving everyone was foolish. But he was growing stronger. He would become strong enough to save all his precious people.

He would save everyone he could if he could not save them all. He would be a hero. Someday.

Shirou woke as the sun's rays shined on his face. Taking a look at his body, he grimaced as he saw the wounds. The slash marks that the white him had left on him were crusted over with dried blood.

Shirou went to the bathroom and washed the blood off. Remarkably, as soon as he washed it off, Shirou noticed that there were no wounds on his body. He could have sworn he had felt pain when he woke up, so where were...

Shirou dismissed it as unimportant and finished his morning rituals. As he was walking down, he heard a someone come in. 'Oh. Maybe Sakura finally acknowledged that she can come in whenever she wants.'

Sakura always insisted on knocking and waiting for Shirou to come to the door. Shirou always told her it was fine but she didn't listen. The girl was a saint.

He was confused then, when he saw Taiga running in, looking for food.

"Fuji-nee? Where's Sakura? She should be here by now?" Shirou asked her, face in confusion.

This stopped Fuji-nee in her tracks. "Ara? Sakura-chan isn't here? Well, when I walked her home last night she seemed a little odd. Maybe she was upset because she had to go home. I'm sure her grandfather just needed her to do something." Fuji-nee then adopted a pitifull expression.

"Shirou!" she moaned to him. "Feed me!"

Shirou sighed. It was like having a pet. "Fine fine. I'll have breakfast done soon. Let me go get Saber and I'll get started."

Fuji-nee then adopted a smug look. "So Saber-chan is still asleep is she? Wear her out lat night? Shi-rou?"

Shirou stumbled and blood rushed to his head. "Wh-what the hell do you mean by that?" he roared at her. She just looked at him with a smug smile.

Shirou scowled and said "She's an early riser. She's probably in the dojo right now, waiting for me to get her."

Shirou stormed off with his regular scowl then. 'Fuji-nee has the totally wrong idea!'

He pretended he couldn't hear the sound of Fuji-nee telling him not to make her an aunt already. His thoughts were now cleared of Sakura with this new annoyance.

Walking into the dojo, Saber greeted him. "Good morning Shirou. Did your training with Zangetsu last night prove fruitful?"

Scowl lessening as he caught sight of her, he sighed and said "Yeah. Learned a couple of new tricks. Come on, time for breakfast."

Following him out the door, Shirou left Saber in the dining room as he went into the kitchen. As Shirou started on breakfast, all his worries left him as he began the process.

A little while later

Shirou looked at Fuji-nee and Saber devour his food with amazement. He looked with approval at Saber's manners, in contrast to Fuji-nee who was shoveling it all down.

Shirou ate, relaxed, but started choking as Fuji-nee finished up and then asked Saber something ridiculous.

"So." Fuji-nee smiled cunningly. "How was Shirou last night."

As Shirou choked, Saber did not catch the connotation and said, "He performed quite admirably. His attacks were quite strong, and he can make his sword do some impressive things."

As Fuji-nee cackled and asked for more details, Shirou choked and a deep blush covered his face. He looked at Saber in embarrassment and horror as he heard her response.

"Sa-saber!" Shirou choked out to her.

Fuji-nee ignored him and asked Saber how long he had lasted. Close to passing out now, Shirou listened in horror to Saber's next response.

"I was surprised actually. He lasted many hours, until we were both exhausted." Saber did not seem to understand what it was that Fuji-nee was trying to ask her.

Saber heard Shirou choke and looked at him in concern. "Are you alright Shirou? Did you perhaps eat too fast and get something stuck?"

Fuji-nee was laughing even as Shirou denied her claim. "Well stud, I have to get to Archery club. I'll see you later." Fuji-nee zoomed out of the room before Shirou could do something to her.

Saber watched her run away. Shirou was now feeling better, but could not look at Saber without a blush because of the images he had gotten during that little talk.

"I like Taiga." Saber declared to him. "She seems very honest and open. That's a rare trait. I can now see where some of your traits come from if you were raised by her. She also seemed interested in your training with me."

Shirou blushed as he heard Saber's last sentence.

"Are you getting a cold master?" Saber asked, leaning in closer. "Perhaps you trained too hard the night before. Perhaps you should rest today. Exhaustion is the enemy."

Shirou sighed. He mumbled out to Saber to not call him master anymore, but he was starting to get used to it. It seemed she called him that when she was worried.

They both froze as the TV news suddenly reported "-Over fifty victims were found earlier this morning, and they are undergoing treatment-"

"This is a master's work." Shirou solemnly said.

"Yes." Saber agreed, an intense expression on her face. "A servant sucking out people's souls. I suspect Caster might be behind this."

Shirou swore under his breath. He had not expected the other master's to act so quickly. "Saber." He called to her.

"It seems we're going hunting tonight." Shirou declared, face set in determination.

Saber nodded in approval. "I believe that is the correct course of action Shirou."

"Well." Shirou announced, standing up. "It's time for me to go to school. Be careful Saber, call me if someone attacks the house."

"The same to you Shirou." Saber told him, walking him to the door. "You are strong, but be on guard. Even the strongest can be taken off guard. Complacency is the enemy."

"Call me if anything goes wrong. Stay away from Rin, if she is there." Saber told him as he put his shoes on.

Shirou paused. He had forgotten about Rin. "She tried to kill us. Well, I doubt she'll attack me with so many people around. Still, be ready Saber. If she attacks, I'll need your help."

Saber nodded. Shirou walked off.

-This is a page break. Deal with it.-

As Shirou walked up to the gates, he suddenly froze as he crossed the threshold. Taking a discrete look around, he didn't see anyone else seem to notice or be affected.

He scowled. It felt like something was off. Almost like color seemed dull, but no one else seemed to feel anything...

He took a sniff at the air. There was the scent of blood. He took a look around but no one seemed to notice. His mind flashed back to his fight with Lancer. Smelling the air for his sword. A scent that reminded him of death.

There was something here. That was the only thing he could conclude. He didn't know what however. Deciding that he should be cautious, he went into the building and up to the third floor. That's where his classroom was.

As he walked down the hall, he froze suddenly as he caught sight of someone. Rin also froze as she looked at him. She hadn't expected him to be there.

'I thought he was the skip school to fight type.' Rin thought as she turned away to go to her own classroom. It wouldn't be good if they fought there.

She took a step, but froze once again as someone caught her elbow. "Rin. We have to talk. Now." Shirou commanded her. Rin took a look at him. In place of his usual scowl, he had on a serious look.

Shirou took her away, to the roof where it would be more private. Around them, people began whispering to each other as they saw Shirou walking with Rin's arm in his hand.

On the roof, Rin ripped her arm off of Shirou's grasp. "What do you want Emiya?" She asked him, acid in her voice.

"This isn't the time or place to fight Rin." Shirou told her seriously, crossing his arms. "Something's wrong with the school. When I walked in the gates I felt something, and smelt blood. If it's you that's doing this..." He left the sentence open. His meaning was clear.

Rin scowled right back at him. "I didn't do it Emiya. I didn't notice anything but I suppose you would. It was probably another master." Rin pushed her way past Shirou. She stopped near the exit.

"You'd better watch yourself Emiya. I didn't think you'd come to school, but as long as your servant isn't here, I'll kill you." Rin stated, as she walked down.

Shirou scowled, troubled. 'There's another master here?'

'But why would Rin just go out and tell me if we're enemies?' Shirou was confused as to what Rin was trying to do with that. She goes and tells him that, then tells him that she's going to kill him?

It didn't make any sense. Shirou shook his head and followed her down. It was best not to think about it too much. He and Rin would fight one of these days, but not today.

Lunch Time

Shirou had spent much of his morning wondering what Rin had been trying to do when she told him about there being another master, but he kept on drawing blanks.

Shirou stood as he heard the bell. It was lunch time. If he stayed in the classroom, the guys wouldn't talk to him because they were scared of him, and the girls just spent their time giggling at him.

Probably making fun of him. So, he spent his lunch time with Issei in the student council room.

Making his way, he looked out for her, but did not see a sign of Rin. She was probably avoiding him. He walked into the student council room.

Sitting down, he saw Issei with his head down. He blinked. "You aren't eating today Issei?"

Issei shot up, startled. As his eyes focused, he saw Shirou and relaxed. "Ah. Emiya. It's just you."

Shirou repeated his question. Issei nodded. "I already ate. I just want to get some sleep right now."

"Don't you go to sleep early at the temple?" Shirou questioned as he started on his bento.

"Yeah. So I shouldn't be tired, but these days it's like I just can't get enough rest. So I try to sleep all that I can." Issei told him, yawning.

Shirou frowned in his mind. That aura around the school. The one that smelled of blood. Surely Issei being tired and it had no connection...

Shirou shook his head. It was probably coincidence. People got tired all of a sudden like that. But just in case, he and Saber were going on patrol that night. It wouldn't be bad to start at the school, what with Rin being there and apparently a third master besides them.

There was a knock on the door.

"Issei, someone's at the door. I think it's Kuzuki-sensei." Shirou told him, just about finished.

Hearing Kuzuki-sensei's name, Issei stood and opened the door. He greeted the serious sensei, and Shirou caught bits and pieces of their conversation. Something about the archery club, a missing person, and Shinji.

Shirou scowled as he thought about Shinji. He was going to have a talk with him, but he wasn't there that day. He wouldn't put it past that guy to do something like that if he got pissed.

Issei said his good bye to sensei then sat down. "What was that all about Issei. A missing person, the archery club, and, Shinji." Shirou scowled at saying his name.

Issei took his head out of his arms when he heard him. He thought for a moment, then said, "Oh. Well, you aren't an outsider so it's fine I suppose. It seems someone in the archery clubs gone missing. We believe Shinji has something to do with it, as he's not here today, and he was the last one the person saw."

Shirou nodded. "I wouldn't put it past him if he got pissed. I got that much, but who's the person."

Issei looked at him. "I believe you know her. Mitsuzuri Ayako." Shirou froze. 'Ayako?' She was a good friend of his. They weren't particularly close after he had quit the archery club, but they were still friends.

-This is a page break. Deal with it.-

Shirou spent the rest of the day wondering about Ayako. She was a tough girl, so it was unusual that she would go missing. He didn't know what he could do however. He had the grail war to worry about.

In the end, he decided that she was made of tough stuff and would be back soon. If he didn't fight the war, she could get hurt or killed anyway. Either way he was protecting her, and that way he was doing it from much more sinister forces.

Shirou stood and gathered his things as the bell rung. The link between he and Saber allowed him to call to her, and so he would call for her so they could start their search at the school. Although the feeling from that morning wasn't strong, Rin had said there was another master at the school. That was somewhat worrying.

He waited at the gate for her, watching the other kids leave. She got there within a few minutes, still in her dress. He had not had a sense of urgency, and she had known they were going hunting. Whoever was still there watched as she walked up to him.

"Shirou. I am here. Where will we begin our search?" Saber inquired as she walked up to him. Around them, people whispered about a beautiful gaijin talking to Emiya Shirou, much like that morning with Rin.

Shirou explained to her the feeling he had gotten that morning, Rin, the other master, and Ayako. Saber nodded in understanding.

"So, I want to walk around the school, and see if we find something. I doubt whether the other master is still here, but we can look for clues. After, I suppose we can only walk around the town waiting for someone to challenge us." Shirou finished explaining to her.

Together, they looked around the school, but could not find anything. They spent hours looking for even the slightest hint, but nothing was there.

"There is nothing here Shirou. It is possible that Rin attempted to deceive you when she told you this this morning." Saber told him as they stood on the roof, watching the sun set.

Shirou sighed. "Yeah. I guess so. I guess, I just wished that Rin wouldn't have to be an enemy. It was foolish to think so."

"Rin knows what she has to do Shirou. She will stop at nothing to get the grail because she is a typical magus." Saber told him, standing behind him as he leaned over the railing.

"Alright. We spent plenty of time here, so let's go home and train. We can look more tomorrow." Shirou told her, standing straight. He didn't notice that he implied it was Saber's home as well.

Neither did Saber. Saber simply nodded. "Time is not our enemy. We have plenty to look."

They started to go towards the exit, when a scream tore through the air. Shirou and Saber both froze, then rushed back toward the railing, and catching a glimpse of purple.

Shirou cursed. "That must be a servant. Saber, go after him, I'll check and see who screamed." Saber nodded, donning her armor and summoning power in a flash of white.

Shirou summoned Zangetsu in a flurry of black, and also summoned his reiatsu in a burst of black. He jumped down the stairs, running to where he had heard the yell.

On the first floor, he saw an opened emergency exit. Rushing in, he saw a girl laying down. He checked her over. "Good, she's just unconscious."

He couldn't let Saber fight alone. He used his burst to flash towards the woods, feeling for Saber. As he was going, he thought he saw something. A flash of blue, a smirk. He stopped immediately.

"Shinji!" he called out. Shinji saw him and his swords, almost as tall and wide as his body, and panicked. He tried to run away, but he was too slow. When he turned around, Shirou was already there.

"Shinji!" Shirou almost growled out. Shinji tried to shake off his fear. He gave a fake smirk.

"Emiya! I was hoping that you and I would have a chance to talk. You see-" Shinji was brutally cut off when Shirou grabbed him from the front of his shirt and pushed him onto a tree.

"Cut the crap Shinji. You were the last person that was seen with Ayako before she disappeared. You did something to her didn't you Shinji. Where is SHE!" He asked, shaking him and yelling out the last word.

Shinji looked at the slightly taller orange haired boy with fear. He swallowed and tried to saw something when Shirou shook him again, demanding an answer.

"I-I don't know anything about that Emiya! I didn't do anything to her! She was the one threatening to expel me from the club!" Shinji babbled on a little more. Shirou believed him, looking at Shinji.

"Then what are you doing here Shinji? Why haven't you been at school lately?" Shirou continued to interrogate him.

Shinji swallowed and tried to tell him once again. "You, that sword Emiya. You're one too, a master for the holy grail war."

Shirou dropped Shinji in his surprise. Shinji shook his clothes, mistakenly believing that Shirou was interested in what he was saying.

"I'm a master too see. I'm not a magus though. Magecraft has been lost in my family for generations. But the grail chose me for some reason. Why don't we team up Emiya?" Shinji asked him a smirk that screamed out he was sure that Shirou would say yes.

Shirou scowled, but that didn't deter Shinji. Shirou had a reputation for scowling all the time, though no one really knew why.

"What about Sakura? She's not involved in this is she?" Shirou questioned.

Shinji shook his head, laughing. "Of course not. Even if my family isn't capable of magecraft anymore, we pass the knowledge down. Only the eldest child receives the knowledge. We're a pretty old family, so you might benefit from that too, though you seem capable already." Shinji admitted, looking at his sword.

Shirou narrowed his eyes. Shinji spoke. "I even have some starter information. You can have it as a sign of trust. There's a master at the top of the Hyudou Temple."

Inwardly Shirou smirked. He had no intention of siding with Shinji, but now he knew the identity of one more master, and the location of another.

Shinji took Shirou's silence as a yes. "Well then Emiya, I-" Shinji was cut off once again as Shirou put his huge cleaver at his neck.

"Now Shinji." Shirou drawled out. "That's some useful information, but whoever said that I would let you go? You're a master after all. Tell you what, give up your command seals and I'll let you live. Sakura would be sad if you died."

Shinji started shaking in a mixture of fear and anger. 'How dare he!?' Shinji thought furiously.

"What are you talking about Emiya! You do not want to make me an enemy!" Shinji snarled out.

Shirou pressed Zangetsu closer, drawing a few drops of blood. Shinji stopped. "I said, give up your command seals Shinji. Sakura will be sad if I kill you, but I will kill you if you don't give up now. You're servant isn't here to protect you right now."

Shinji cowered slightly, but stood his ground. "You don't have the guts to kill someone."

"That's where your wrong Shinji." Shirou told him, taking his sword away to slash down. "One of the first lessons my pops taught me was that to be a magus is to walk with death. To protect my family, to protect this town, I will kill you."

Shinji saw he was serious. "RIDER!" he yelled out frantically as he took some kind of book out.

-This is a page break. Deal with it.-

Saber took off from the roof in pursuit of the servant. She noticed Shirou summon his sword and jump down the building out of the corner of her eye.

She followed the purple blur into the woods. "Stop!" She called out.

Out of nowhere, what seemed to be a large nail or dagger came out, aiming for Saber's head. Saber, who had her sword out already, blocked. The nail stopped, seemingly blocked by air to the casual viewer.

A woman, quite beautiful with large, ahem, assets, and purple hair down to her ass came down. She was wearing black, with something covering her eye's.

"Servant Saber." Saber declared, blasting off the ground toward the purple haired figure.

"Servant Rider." Announced the woman, crouched down like a lioness about to catch prey.

She disappeared. Saber stopped and began looking around. The Rider class was known for their speed, though she could not see any kind of steed.

Nails attached to chains came out from nowhere, attempting to pierce Saber's body. Saber was not slow by any means, and blocked every single thrust.

Rider appeared on the branch of a tree. "Well now, you're quite good. And that sword is a real pain, invisible." She spoke in a seductive voice, licking the edge of her nail.

"And you are quite fast." Saber told her, acknowledging that much. "But do not try to deceive me. You try to give your master time to get away."

Rider inclined her head. "Clever too. But you won't be leaving these woods."

Rider approached her up close this time, chains coming to trip her up. Saber jumped over them, slashing down toward Rider, who bended backwards at a ridiculous angle.

Rider continued on into a handstand, kicking her legs out to Saber, who was still in the air. Saber caught the kick on her sword, coming down to the ground as gravity took hold.

Rider threw herself from her fingertips, landing in a crouch and sending her nails from two opposite directions. Saber disappeared out of the path of the chains, and Rider's eye's widened slightly as Saber appeared behind her.

Saber twirled around to stab her in the back, but Rider ducked, and trying to give Saber a mule kick.

Saber jumped back, then continued with her momentum and shot forward. Rider did not move out of the way fast enough this time, receiving a slash mark on her back.

Rider stumbled, but did not show any other expression of pain. To a servant, it was a wound not even worth mentioning.

"That is not pure speed. That is some kind of technique, your feet never touched the ground." Rider spoke as she jumped onto a tree.

Saber gave her something close to a smirk and played her game. "Who knows. Maybe it was a technique, maybe I'm just that fast."

Rider barked out a laugh, and readied herself to attack, when a cry ran out throughout the woods.

"RIDER!"

Rider sighed. "My master is useless." She disappeared through the trees, hopping on them to give her more speed.

Saber wouldn't have any of that however. Saber burst forward, running through the trees to follow.

-This is a page break. Deal with it.-

Shirou memorized Shinji's cry. 'His servant is Rider.'

He watched as Shinji took a book out. "You shouldn't have done this Emiya!" Shinji cried out in a mixture of fear and anger.

Shinji opened the book and made three slashes of shadows come out of the ground and attack Shirou.

Shirou stood unmoving, slashing through the shadows with a swipe of Zangetsu.

"No way!" Shinji cried, falling on his butt and moving away. "Just what are you?"

Shirou made to move forward, when a purple haired woman burst out from the trees. She stood in front of Shinji in a crouch, nails poised to attack.

Shirou held up his sword in defense in an instant. 'So this is Rider. I don't see what she's supposed to be riding though.'

Just a few seconds after Rider, Saber also burst out. She took a look and blinked at seeing Shirou.

"Shirou. I have engaged the enemy servant." She spoke, standing by his side.

"It seems I am no match for Saber. She is just a stronger servant than I am." Rider admitted to Shinji, who took a look at the slash on her back.

His head twisted in anger. "Stupis bitch! Can't you do anything right!"

Shirou and Saber scowled simultaneously at Shinji's treatment of his servant. "Well Shinji. You can't fight anymore, and my servant outclasses yours. Give up."

-End Chapter 5-

AN: Well, I had things to say, but I forgot most of them. I promised an omake last chapter, but lack of time just killed me. I've decided that once this story is over, I'll put all the omake's of Shirou's childhood and such into an optional chapter.

Ichirou's confrontation with Rin was the hardest part of this chapter. I'm beginning to notice a pattern forming. I usually start my chapters with a fight and end them with one.

I hope you like this chapter, sorry it took a little longer than I had hoped to get it out. Please PM or review with any questions. Read my AN at the top if you haven't already, it is slightly important. Thank you all for reading and enjoying this.

Ja ne!