…Save them…
…
…
…Save them…
…
…
…Save them…
[I fucking heard you already.] He looked back at the sad existence that is his past self. [I fucking can't!]
Save them…
[Look at yourself!] His past self isn't even the boy who wishes to become the Hero of Justice anymore. He has worn out, lost all the light of life inside him and yet he is still moving. He literally became a zombie for that single purpose… Save them.
[Look at me!] The he right now also isn't that boy anymore, he is just a thousands years old soul trapped in that boy body, all beaten up and tired. [I just fucking can't]
…Save them…
[Did you ever think that this is all meaningless?] He sighed at his past self, defeated. [Did you ever entertain the idea that if you haven't got into this mess in the first place then they will all live?] The zombie didn't respond. [Think about it. Saber, Rin, Sakura, everyone will live if you just do nothing.]
…Save them…
[Of course you don't.] He chuckled. [You just can't comprehend that thought.] He laughed at his past self. [The thought that because of your belief, because you want to help them, you- yourself set them on the path toward their doom?]
…
…Save them…
[Fucking. Why did I even bother.] He groaned. [I'm trying to reason with a literal zombie.] His past self may not listen to reason but the he right now was determined. To confirm whether his worst fear is true or not, he would do nothing in this Holy Grail War.
…
…
…Save them…
[She isn't even my Saber, you know.] After a long silence, he softly spoke again. [We all know deeply in our heart, but just can't accept it.] Tears fell out of his eyes, he was crying. [That our Saber was already dead the first time.]
… His past self didn't respond…
…
…
"Well I will be your Saber!" A familiar man's voice appeared behind him, sending chills through his very soul. He knew that voice, the voice of a person- monster he disgusted the most. Kirei Kotomine… wearing shining armor over blue dress… "Is this not to your liking? Or perhaps I should ~strip~"
[Ahhhhhhh….]
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"
Saber heard her Master terrified scream. Fearing for the worst, She instantly rushed in, breaking wide open the room door. "Master! What's wrong?" Her Master was in the room, safe… thankfully. She scouted around the room for any sign of attack… but nothing. The room was completely normal. It seemed that her Master only just had a nightmare. "Master, I'm here-." She tried to comfort the boy.
"AHHHHH!" Her Master screamed even louder, he looked at her like he saw something extremely disgusting. "Your dress! Take it off! Take it off!" More than being offended, Saber was more confused. Was there something wrong with her dress? "Bleach! I need to bleach my eyes… No! I need to bleach my brain!" Her Master keeped on rambling and she didn't know what to do.
…
Her Master finally calmed down, thank the Heaven above. He fell back down the mattress and sighed. Seeing her still standing there looking at him, he asked. "What do you want?"
"I met the Servant Archer and his Master." Saber reported. "His Master is currently in your living room."
"Rin Tohsaka?" Her Master looked surprised.
"Yes, I believe her name is Rin." She confirmed, remembering the name Archer called the girl.
"And you didn't kill her?" Her Master asked her with a puzzling look.
"I would have cut her down but she said she saved your life." She stated.
"Normally she didn't get the chance…" Her Master muttered to himself. "Does this mean the summon didn't trigger… Maybe I was right… Not yet" He shook his head. "Nevermind."
"I'm also sorry for taking the liberty to invite her inside." Saber bowed her head. "I need to wait for your confirmation."
"It's fine." Her Master yawned and waved her off. "I don't really care." He acted like he was going back to bed.
"Master?" Saber had to ask again. "The Archer Master is still in your living room."
… Her Master stopped half way through and sighed. "Fine."
Rin Tohsaka wasn't weak. Rin Tohsaka wasn't crying all night last night. Rin Tohsaka wasn't scared of the Saber Servant. And she definitely didn't jump in joy when the scary Servant finally left. Yes! She was the head of the Tohsaka family. She would not-. The door slid wide open. She definitely didn't flinch. And she definitely didn't sigh with relief to see Shirou Emiya on the other side.
…
Shirous Emiya didn't say anything, he just stared at her. Was something wrong with her face?
"What did you do to her?" Emiya looked at his Servant.
The Saber Servant shook her head. "I didn't do anything."
"Really?" Emiya looked like he didn't believe his Servant's word. "She looks like had been dragged out of a sewer."
"That… That's rude! I don't look like that." Did she? Rin hurriedly pulled out her pocket mirror and checked… She looked normal? She then looked up and saw Emiya's amused face. Angry, she shouted while pointing at him. "Is that the way to talk to the one who saved your life?"
"That is debatable." Emiya scoffed. "Who saves someone's life then leaves them to die an hour later?"
She did blush a little. It was foolish of her to just leave him there alone… in the school hall… in the middle of the night… right after he got stabbed… Ok, she messed up big time. "I still saved you, did I?" She tried to defend herself, but her voice was quieter than a mosquito.
"Yeah, Yeah." Thankfully, Emiya didn't deny it.
Rin regained her composure. "I honestly didn't expect you of all people to be a Magus." As the head of a Second Owner's family in this area, it was disturbing that she didn't know. "Much less a Master."
"Magus? What's that?" Emiya gave her a confused look.
You gotta be kidding… Rin felt her blood pressure just raised. "Emiya, you honestly believe I would buy that?"
"I honestly don't know what you are talking about?" Emiya said earnestly.
"I don't believe it." Rin muttered. "You summoned a Servant." She shouted while pointing her finger toward Saber Servant. She then immediately stopped as the Servant gave a glare.
"Oh her?" Emiya lazily scratched his head. "I have no idea where she came from."
"I… you?" Rin was completely baffled, there is no way this fool could summon a Servant. "Then do you know what the Holy Grail War is?"
"Of course, I know what the Holy Grail War is." Shirou puffed like a child showing off his knowledge.
"Ahh, good." Rin exhaled in relief.
"A Pokemon tournament, right?"
…
"What?" Rin couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You are kidding right?" She was this close to strangling him.
"What's a Pokemon?" The Saber Servant asked. "I'm afraid the Grail didn't grant me this information."
"You haven't played Pokemon before?" Emiya looked at Saber like he just saw an alien. "Did you live under a rock or something?"
"By the Lord and God." This was too much, Rin had to cut in, she was beyond hysterical. "Listen!" She slammed the table. "The Holy Grail War is a battle royale between seven Masters who summon seven Servants, HEROIC SPIRITS!" She slammed the table to make her point. "NOT some children's v-"
"Yes." Emiya nodded like he was agreeing with her. "Each trainer chooses a Pokemon with different types to battle with."
"You're going to get yourself killed with that line of thinking!" Rin could feel that one of her veins had popped. "Do you even remember what a Servant did to you?"
"Huh." Emiya frowned a bit. "I didn't think that Pokemon could attack people."
"Yes! Thank you!" Rin was grateful that she talked some sense into the idiot. "Because this is not-"
"But, I suppose it makes sense in the anime."
That was it. Rin had had enough. She gave up trying to reason with this… IDIOT. "I strongly suggest you go to the church to relinquish your Master title and ask for protection."
"Eh?" Emiya questioned. "Can't I just give you my Pokemon instead?"
Rin pinched the bridge of her nose. It was insulting that he kept calling his Servant as a Pokemon. "No, Emiya. A Master can only support a Servant."
"Wow." Emiya looked at her weirdly. "I didn't know you are that weak of a trainer."
"Excuse you!" Rin was offended. This moron dared to look down on HER? "I have you know I'm a prodigy Magus capable of manipulating all five great Elements."
"That was a bunch of words you threw around." Emiya shook his head. "Don't worry I get it." He looked at her as if he was sharing his sympathy. "I too was a weak trainer once."
Then this imbecile dared to insinuate he is better than her? "That's it. I'm going home." Rin stomped outside. "And if you somehow survive this, I will kill you myself."
Rin flinched as the Saber Servant drew her sword at her threat. Somehow she had completely forgotten about the Servant in the room. Scared, she ran full tilt out the room and called for her only protection. "Archer? Archer? Pick me up! Pick me up!"
Thankfully Saber didn't actually want to kill her. She gave his Master a questioning look. "You enjoy teasing that girl."
"It's one of the few things I can still enjoy in my life." Her Master chuckled as he was having fun. "And believe me, It's been so far and between these days."
"Still, that girl is our enemy." Saber frowned at her Master nonchalant attitude. "I think we shouldn't just let her go."
"Eh?" Her Master lazily scratched his head. "I wasn't joking about giving you to her."
"Master, you want to…" Saber looked at her Master strangely. "You don't wish to win the Grail?"
"Honestly, no." Her Master gave a nod affirming her suspicion. "I only summoned you to save my ass from Lancer."
Saber took a good look at her Master. She didn't expect this at all. She expected her Master who called for her would at least have the same goal as her. She did even expect her Master would betray her like her previous Master. The one thing she didn't expect is her Master to be indifferent to the Grail and the War.
"Master, then I wish you would follow that girl's suggestion." Saber finally suggested. "I don't wish to drag an innocent bystander into the war because of me."
"Oh, the church?" Her Master looked at her like she was crazy. "I mean… if you like to?" He yawned. "Just don't blame me if you wake up tomorrow to see a blonde prick lying next to you."
"What does that mean?" Saber demanded. There was again something cryptic coming out of her Master's mouth. He knew more about the war than he let on. He knew about Lancer's true name. He even hinted that knew Lancer's Master. That kind of knowledge shouldn't be on the person uninterested in the Holy Grail War."
Her Master just shrugged, not even bothering to answer her.
Saber frowned, her Master reminded her of someone. He was giving out hints as Merlin would. And as much as she respected the old Wizard, she despised and hated him for scheming behind her back, even if it was for her own good.
"Master. I will be straight at you." Saber looked straight into her Master's eyes, threatening. She warned. "If you hinder me from achieving my goal in any way, I won't hesitate to kill you."
"Yeah, I completely believe you." Her Master nonchalantly waved off her threat.
Saber frowned further. Was she not clear enough? Or was it because he didn't believe she would kill him? Or it was simply because he didn't care.
"Then I have to ask. What is your plan for us in the future?" Saber asked.
"Nothing much." Her Master yawned again. "I'm going back to sleep. And you can do whatever."
That couldn't be right. Saber looked at him intensely, trying to dig up any hidden meaning in his words. "Are you telling me, Master, that you won't do anything and let me handle the war for you?"
"Something like that." Her Master yawned. "It's more like I need a vacation, and you can die in the sewer if that's what you want."
She didn't like the implication her Master made that she would fail. But she supposed this was better than finding another Master. She wouldn't be comfortable working with any other Magus from this era. She still had a chill on her spine when thinking back to the previous war.
"You do understand that others will still target you? " Saber had to make clear with her Master the risk he would take when he was still her Master.
"Not that will matter." Her Master simply waved it off. "And I'm sure you can protect me."
Saber couldn't understand her Master. Did it mean that her Master didn't value his own life? Or did it simply mean he trusted her that much? She was kinda flattered.
"Ahem!" Saber coughed. "I suppose we reach an agreement then." This would be troublesome. She would have to do everything without her Master's support, and she would have to fight with dead weight on her back. And there was still a problem with her current condition. "But you have to understand Master. As I am now, I can't confidently protect you."
Her Master looked at her strangely, then he nodded. "Ah, that! You can't replenish your mana."
It wasn't strange for her Master to notice. "Yes. It seems our contract was incomplete. As a result, I'm having difficulty replenishing my mana and can't switch to my Spiritual Body." Though the latter part was more on her than the contract.
"I can't really do anything about that." Her Master shook his head. "Well, maybe…" Then he seemed to come up with something but then dismissed it.
"Master, if you have an idea then say it." Saber demanded. "Unless you want me to drag you to the church and relinquish your Master title." That wouldn't be ideal but if it is the only course of action she has.
"Fine." Her Master relented. It seemed he also thought it was a bad idea. His cryptic words were still weighing on her head.
"Even if it is dangerous?" Her Master asked.
"Yes." She could handle danger.
"Painful?"
"Yes." She could handle pain.
"Somewhat euphoric?"
"I'm sorry?" She gave her questioning looks.
"Scratch that..." Her master said in haste. "Even if it is somewhat morally wrong?"
"That's…" She compromised. "If it doesn't go against my Knightly oath."
"Ok then…" Her Master didn't say anything more… "Hmmmm…"
…
…
…
Her Master suddenly got up, with excitement he declared. "Alright! Let's go and kidnap a little girl."
"I'M SORRY? WHAT?"