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Chapter Five

Shirou had screwed up. He was not sure what exactly he had done to push things over the line, but he knew that at some point he had gone too far. He'd pushed Rin further than she was comfortable with, not just once but many many times. Which might not have been a problem, but what was inexcusable was that he hadn't stopped to reward her at any point for meeting his expectations.

He thought about what that woman had told him, in his dreams. Kind, but firm. Quick to punish, but quicker to reward. A proper Master is selfish enough to demand that his Servants fulfill his needs, but selfless enough to ensure their needs are met in return.

All he had been yesterday was selfish. He had felt like Rin was enjoying herself, he'd caught her smiling enough times when she thought he wasn't looking, but that wasn't the same as taking care of her needs. In the future he needed to find a balance, where both he and her could enjoy his position as a Master.

Unfortunately, right now he couldn't apologize.

"Emiya-kun, I will be back later. Practice while I'm gone." He said, reading the note out loud. He'd found the note on the desk of Rin's room this morning, when he'd entered trying to explain his mistake last night. The word 'Emiya-kun' tortured him. He could tell himself that she had written that in case Fuji-nee or someone else found the document, but he knew the real reason.

It hurt. He never wanted Rin to call him anything but Master for the rest of her life. Even pretending she called him something else hurt.

There was no word on where she was or what she was doing or even when she expected to be back. Just 'later'. She was mad. She was mad for sure.

Even so, this was far too childish a stunt to pull in a conflict like this. When he was finished apologizing she was absolutely due a punishment for this.

So, he spent the day doing as she had suggested and practising his mage craft. It was probably because his mood was diminished, but he found it hard to improve himself as easily as he had before when Rin had been with him. He certainly wasn't getting any worse, but he was making far fewer great leaps and strides.

He worked well past lunch and into the afternoon with still no sign of Rin. He was making up his mind on whether he should check out her house or not when the phone rang. He practically ran to it. "Hello?"

The voice that responded was not Rin's, but he did recognize it. "Emiya."

"Shinji?" He was the last person Shirou had been expecting a call from right now. "What is it?"

Shinji made an annoyed sound. "Emiya-kun, you're the one whose been badgering me so much about coming over to see my sister. Now you're annoyed that I'm finally calling you?"

"Oh, sorry." Shirou hadn't realized that he'd been rude, but he guessed the stress of Rin's disappearance had made him snappy. "I apologize. Does this mean she's well enough to come and see?"

"Yes, that's what I'm saying. She's finally ready." Shinji sounded oddly happy about that. "Why don't you come over and visit her? I'm sure seeing you will really raise her spirits."

Shirou didn't answer right away, thinking about Rin. He didn't want to be any more separated from her than he already was, but at the same time... he had no idea when she would be back. Checking up on Sakura was important, and it wouldn't take long. Besides, it might be better to show up while she wasn't around so that he wouldn't have to explain her to Sakura and Shinji. "Alright. I'll be over as soon as I can."

He left a note for Rin before heading out. His much more detailed than hers.

X X X

It had been a long time since Shirou had made the journey to Sakura and Shinji's household, but he still remembered the way. As he walked, he thought about Sakura.

It had been strange, how suddenly she had practically vanished. The day before she had become confined to her home had seemed like any other day to him. Sakura had been smiling happily, and showing off her searing skills in the kitchen. Then suddenly... she was gone.

It made him uncomfortable to even think about. As someone who strove to be a Hero of Justice, he wanted to look out for other people. And as someone who wanted to be the ideal Master...

He shook his head. Idiot. Sakura wasn't his. Ever since Rin had become his Servant he felt like that part of his personality had gone into overdrive. He would only be causing trouble for Sakura if he started acting like her Master. Even if it did drive him crazy that he didn't know what was going on with her. And even if making her wear a naked apron like Rin had was an irresistible fantasy.

When he finally arrived, he knocked slowly on the door. He would feel calmer when he finally saw her.

Shinji answered the door instead of her, with a rather smug smile on his face. "Emiya. You're finally here. I was afraid you would be too late."

"Too late?" Shirou frowned. "Is Sakura being moved or something?"

"No, no." Shinji said. He was still smiling. "It will all make sense soon. Why don't you come downstairs, and I'll show you to her?"

"Downstairs?" Shirou asked. He'd never seen that part of their home before. And besides, Sakura's room was upstairs, so wasn't it strange that she wasn't being kept there while sick?

"Yeah. Follow me." Shinji said, suddenly sounding impatient. He strode off, leading Shirou deeper into the house, through a door he had never seen opened before, and down a long set of dark stairs and into... into...

Into some kind of dungeon.

Shinji didn't seem bothered, but Shirou felt like a thousand bugs were crawling all over him. What was this place? Why did it feel so wrong?

Only a few torches lit the room. Ahead of them, a small figure stepped into the light. "Sa...kura?"

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Shinji began to laugh, and a terrible chill ran up Shirou's spine. But he could only move forwards. "Sakura? Are you alright? What's going on? Why are you dressed like that?" She clothing reminded him... of Rin. The outfit of a Servant. But Sakura wasn't -

"Hahahaha!" Shinji laughed at the top of his lungs. "Hey, worthless sister. This man here, he's one of the people hurting that precious Senpai of yours!"

"What?" Shirou asked, swivelling his head towards his former friend. His clenched his hands. He had no idea whatsoever what was going on. But if Shinji was hurting Sakura then –

Sakura's head tilted upwards. There was a madness in her eyes, like she was looking at him without really seeing him. "You... hurt Senpai?"

"What? Sakura, it's me." He tried to say. Shinji only laughed at his fear and shock.

A strange knife appeared in Sakura's hand, with a chain wrapped around one end.

Shirou threw himself to one side, guided by instinct that he had no right to suddenly possess. It was the only thing that could have saved his life, because as soon as he had finished moving the blade had gone through the spot where his head had been.

"Sakura!?" He shouted in surprise.

"You hurt Senpai!" Sakura screamed like a madwoman. She tugged on the chain and the knife attached flew backwards, arcing towards Shirou. He was unable to move quick enough this time, and the blade left a long cut through his arm.

"Damn it!" He cursed. He was completely defenceless. And he still had no idea what was going on. "Shinji! What the hell are you doing!"

Shinji just laughed and laughed, like he couldn't hear him at all.

With a sharp tug, Sakura brought the knife on a chain back towards herself. "I won't forgive anybody who hurts Senpai!"

"Hahahahaha! Aren't you grateful, Emiya!?" Shinji called out, still smiling. He was holding a book in his hands, with a black binding. "No matter what you say, she's unable to see you as anything but a threat! Aren't you lucky to have such a devoted junior!?"

"Shinji!" Shirou shouted. Sakura dashed towards him, moving at speeds that only Demi-Servants could reach. Although he raised his arms to defend himself, he might as well have done nothing at all. When she kicked him, he went flying backwards into a nearby wall.

Damnit! If only he had a weapon. If he had a weapon he could _ Shinji. He could –

If only he had a weapon, like those twin blades of Rin's. With something like that, he could defend himself.

There was nothing around to protect himself with. Nothing at all. He needed to retreat. As much as he hated the thought of leaving Sakura behind, if he did he would at least be able to find Rin and try to bring her to safety.

But it was naive of him to think that he could even run. By the time he had taken two steps towards the staircase, Sakura was already in front of him.

He was going to die. He was going to die. He was going to die.

His command seals burned. He closed his eyes tight, and shouted for the one thing in the world that he thought could save him. "Rin!"

The first of three command seals on his hand burned away, and Rin Tohsaka appeared before him. She was already dressed in her combat gear, weapons drawn. Without missing a beat, she placed herself in between Sakura and Shirou, which made the other Demi-Servant back off. "Master!?" She cried. It was a terrible situation, but hearing her call him that made him think that everything might just turn out alright. "What's going on. Is that –"

"Tohsaka!?" Shinji demanded, speaking over Rin. Now it was his turn to look shocked to his core. "Tohsaka!? What are you doing with this idiot?"

Rin angled a blade towards him. "Watch what you say about my Master."

"Your Master?" Shinji asked. His expression had turned rather pathetic now. "This man is... Sakura! Kill him!"

Sakura sprung into motion at his command, but Rin was just a little bit quicker. Sakura's knives and Rin's twin blades clashed at rapid speeds. Rin held her ground, refusing to back away, but taking no opportunity to attack when she had an opening.

"Rin!" Shirou called out. "We're retreating!"

"Yes, Master!" Rin responded. For the first time she stuck at Sakura, a quick kick that did more to distract than it did to harm. Then she moved backwards, grabbing Shirou and pulling him up the stairs with her.

"Sakura!" Shirou called out. A pit had formed in his stomach when he thought about leaving her there with Shinji. But he couldn't attack until he knew he had a way to save her from... from whatever Shinji had done to her.

"Sakura! Heel!" Shinji called out. Sakura pulled back, abandoning the pursuit.

Rin did not let Shirou go until they were back home. As soon as they were safe, she grilled him for a long time about what had happened.

X X X

"I can't believe this." Rin said, staring at the walls. She hadn't taken his explanation well. Neither had he, for that matter.

Sakura was a Demi-Servant. Shinji, a man who had no magical ability whatsoever, was her Master. And he was using some trick to make Sakura believe that Shirou, and likely anybody he wanted to, was somehow a threat to Shirou's safety. It was not the kind of revelation that could be easily shrugged off.

"Rin. We're going to save her." Shirou said. He did not know how. Even if they ki – defeated Shinji, that would not necessarily return Sakura to normal. But they were going to do it somehow. He was sure of that.

All they needed... was the perfect weapon.

He and Rin sat in silence for a while. Each of them clouded by thoughts.

"Master – "

"Rin – "

They stopped, blushing. "Go ahead." Rin said, looking away from him.

"Rin... I'm sorry." Shirou said. "About yesterday."

"...You mean you're going to stop making me do ridiculous things like wearing naked aprons around the house?" She asked, wearily.

Shirou frowned and shook his head. "No, of course I'm not. I'm just going to be taking more care of your needs while I do so."

"Geez..." Rin said, bowing her head. "Somehow I thought you would say that." There was a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, but she refused to let it rise all of the way.

The two of them sat in companionable silence for a while, before she spoke again.

"I'm sorry. About running away. Both this morning and... and last night." Rin said. A blush rose to her cheeks as she recalled the memory of last night. "You could have died. I'm sorry."

"Where were you?" Shirou asked.

"I told myself I was patrolling." Rin said. "Really I was just running from my problems by heading around the city looking for threats. And thinking about... things."

He waited for her to elaborate, but she did not. He wanted to push her, but... he held back for now. It was alright if she didn't want to open up to him all at once. They had plenty of time.

"Rin... you know what has to happen now, right?" Shirou asked.

"Yes." Rin turned and bowed her head to him. Her face had grown even redder, even though she was doing a good job of seeming like she wasn't nervous when she spoke. "Master, I am very sorry about my actions. Please, p- punish me."

He put a hand on her head, patting her hair. "Good job, Rin. Come with me."

More about Rin's perspective on the day will be given in the next chapter, where she gets the POV of the scene.

I hope I surprised at least some of you with Sakura's current situation! I'm sure most people knew Shinji was up to something though.