Disclaimer: I in no way own any of the franchises I am writing about. Fate/Stay Night is the property of Type-Moon.

Though still shaking due to the pressure, Kanshou held strong under the red spears weight, blocking the weapon from claiming his life once more. As his other had a familiar glow once more appeared, Bakuya the white mirror image and married sword of the one he had been parrying in his other hand. Thrusting forward in a straight strike towards the unguarded abdomen of Lancer.

Clang!

In a flash the beautiful engraved shaft of the spear spun around directly knocking the approaching white flash aside. Before the butt of the spear continued low with the intent to knock Shirou off his feet.

A quick jump luckily saved him from having his legs knocked out from under him, but it left him precariously unbalanced. With no feet on the ground a fast kick to his centre easily sent him flying away, tumbling across the ground as he attempted to stand back up expecting the attacks to continue.

"My, my, so you're a magus huh. This will be better than I expected." The hounds red eyes seemed to glow as his previous lazy smirk turned into a wide grin, spear moving from where it rested on his shoulder to a more ready position. "Let's see how long you last."

"Ok so that didn't work." Shirou moaned as he sat up from his shed floor, his hand tracing over his stomach as the phantom pain of being run through by the cursed weapon, his body throbbing despite no wound having ever been there. 'Haa.. It seems actually being run through is too much for even Rin to heal. I've gotten used to the level of healing I have when Saber's around and Avalon is properly working.'

While the boy still had little care for himself, he hated the feeling of hurting those close to him and the sight of Rin crying over him as he lay there dying and blaming herself for his death the previous night hurt him even more than bleeding out.

Lost in his thoughts he did not hear the sound of someone approaching. "Ah senpai you're already up." Looking down at him from where he sat on the floor one of the girls he loved gently smiled at him.

Schooling his features he easily faked a smile back. "Yes Sakura I can't keep on relying on you for everything right." Fighting the urge to confront and confess all the horrible truths he has learned and secrets she kept hidden away, all for this small calm piece of normality in her everyday life. Especially, as he had no idea how to truly save her at the moment.

With a small pout she replied. "It's no trouble senpai, I'm happy to help you."

"I know but I don't want to always burden you." Standing up and taking her hand. "You know how important you are to me." Not taking notice of the blush creeping up her face and holding back the true emotions he wanted to exclaim.

Then without thought he lent in, placing a small kiss on her lips just as he had many times. Before hearing a ruckus in the house. "Ah that must be Fuji-nee, let me just let her know we're here", and with that he wandered off into the house not taking notice of the girl he just unexpectedly kissed for the first time as she spiralled off mentally.

While sitting at the table with the excitable Taiga and the more reserved than usual Sakura, Shirou was deep in thought of how he should proceed with his day seeing as how in the previous loop he hadn't even made it 24 hours before dying again. 'The servants are too much for me to handle, that time with Gilgamesh was just sheer dumb luck.' Looking down at the red bruise-like marks starting to appear on the back of his hand he knew what he needed to do.

"Hey Sakura are you alright, you've barely touched your food." His thoughts were interrupted at the sound of Taiga.

"No. No problem sensei." with a fierce shake of her head and a shy glance at Shirou she quickly replied, attempting to divert all her attention back to her nearly untouched food.

"Well if you say so." Taiga responded with a suspicious glance shot between the young boy and girl sitting with her, one as dull as a doornail and the other only a few shades shy of a tomato. "But if you're not feeling well let me know and I'll call your guardian to pick you up and stay home for the day."

"No." He anxiously shouted, surprising the two women. Rubbing the back of his head and awkwardly laughing, "I mean if Sakura's not feeling well she can just stay here for now. There's no need for her to go all the way home if she just needs to rest." Not wanting Sakura to go back anywhere near that ancient monster if he could help it.

"Actually Fuji-nee I'm not feeling that well and thought I might take the day off." Realising this was perfect opportunity to saty home for the day.

"Really, Shirou I've never known you to get sick in my year of knowing you. It must be you sleeping in that shed of yours. I always say you need to get a good night's sleep." She complained as if she had done so hundreds of times before.

"Yeah, you're right Fuji-nee." Shirou replied, looking down as his eyes glazed over. Despite the recent situation he has found himself in, his nights have remained a cacophony of flames and screams of that dreadful night ten years ago and likely will remain so for the rest of his days.

Looking at his face and being reminded of some of those first few years of knowing the boy, Taiga's tone softened. "Well if you're really not well, stay home today and get some rest, I'll let the school know."

"Ok." While he did feel guilty at lying to the two of them as he watched them get up and leave, he knew it needed to be done. He was going to attempt to summon Saber during the day in preparation for the fight at the school this evening. But first he had to open his circuits again.

Hello everyone, it's been a while. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I can't say how often I'll update but I'm gonna make an effort to keep on writing in my free time. Thanks.