Fate/Hijacked
Chapter 6
The morning sun had barely risen when a sharp knock echoed through the Emiya household. Shirou, groggy and still recovering from the rather "eventful" night with Lady Avalon, stumbled toward the front door. He scratched his head as he opened it, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of Rin Tohsaka standing there, her arms crossed and her expression clearly irritated.
"What?" he muttered, still half-asleep.
Without giving her a second glance, he closed the door again. His brain struggled to process what he had just seen. Rin Tohsaka? At his house? This early in the morning? Surely, he was still dreaming.
On the other side of the door, Rin's irritated voice immediately cut through his thoughts. "Emiya, open the door! Now!"
Shirou sighed, opening the door again, and there she was, the very image of frustration. He noticed how Rin's eyes twitched slightly, a tell-tale sign that he was in for a long conversation.
"You're actually here… this early?" Shirou asked, genuinely perplexed.
Rin pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly on the edge of her patience. "Yes, I am. And unless you want me to punch you for slamming the door in my face, you'll invite me inside now."
Behind Shirou, Lady Avalon stood leaning against the doorway to the kitchen, a smile playing on her lips. She found the entire scene endlessly amusing, watching her dear Master bumble through the conversation with his fellow Master.
"Ah, Tohsaka, good morning! You're here earlier than expected. I do hope you've had breakfast," Lady Avalon chimed in with a honeyed tone that made Rin visibly bristle.
Shirou, realizing that he had indeed left his guest standing outside for too long, moved aside to let Rin in. "Sorry about that. Come on in. I'll, uh, make breakfast?"
"Good," Rin muttered, shooting a glance at Lady Avalon as she stepped into the house. "And no, I haven't had breakfast, so don't screw it up."
Breakfast at the Emiya household was typically a quiet affair, but today, the table felt tense. Shirou's cooking, however, remained consistently delicious, and for a brief moment, Rin's irritation seemed to melt away as she ate.
Lady Avalon, ever the playful spirit, once again praised Shirou's culinary skills. "My dear Master, this is truly a masterpiece. You really ought to consider opening a restaurant after all this Holy Grail nonsense."
Rin, despite herself, couldn't help but nod in agreement. "I'll admit, this is pretty good," she said between bites.
Lady Avalon beamed, giving Shirou an approving nod. "See? What did I tell you? It's practically a Noble Phantasm of its own."
Shirou, feeling a bit of warmth at the compliments, simply smiled. "Thanks. I'm glad you like it."
As the meal continued, Rin suddenly shifted gears, her eyes locking onto Shirou's. "Listen, Emiya, I didn't come here just for breakfast. I'm here to propose a formal alliance."
Shirou blinked in surprise. "An alliance?"
Rin nodded, placing her chopsticks down and folding her arms. "Yes. We both know that the situation's getting more dangerous, and there's no point in us fighting each other when there are bigger threats out there. Berserker, Caster, Assassin—any of them could cause more damage than we can handle on our own. So, let's work together."
Shirou's face lit up at the idea. An alliance with Rin would mean they wouldn't have to fight each other, and more importantly, it would reduce the risk of innocents getting caught in the crossfire. "I think that's a great idea. I'm in."
A small smile played at the corners of Rin's lips, pleased that Shirou wasn't being stubborn about the offer. But before Shirou could relax too much, she delivered her next piece of news. "Great. In that case, I'll be moving in here."
Shirou choked on his tea. "W-what?!"
Rin crossed her arms again and gave him a matter-of-fact look. "I'm moving in here. My stuff is packed and ready to be brought over. Since we're allies now, it makes sense for us to stay together, right?" Rin rolled her eyes. "Don't act so surprised. It's only temporary, and it's a lot more practical than me running back and forth between here and my place."
"Right..." Shirou echoed, though his brain was still scrambling to process the sudden declaration.
Before he could voice any further objections, Lady Avalon's lilting voice broke in. "Oh my, how exciting! We'll all be living together like one big happy family." She smiled sweetly at Rin, but there was a sharpness in her eyes as she added, "But just so we're clear, I'm not going to share."
There was no need for her to say what she wasn't going to share—Rin got the implication loud and clear. Her face turned red as she scowled, snapping back, "As if I'd want to, anyway!"
Shirou, oblivious to the deeper meaning of their exchange, tilted his head in confusion. "Share what?"
Archer, who had been quietly observing from the doorway, let out a long-suffering sigh. He had seen enough of Lady Avalon's antics to know exactly what she was up to, and watching the two women exchange thinly veiled barbs was already giving him a headache.
"Good luck, 'hero'," Archer muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "That's hell you're walking into."
Later that day, in the backyard of the Emiya estate, Lady Avalon and Shirou were engaged in a different kind of lesson—one that was far more crucial for Shirou's survival.
"You've been using an extremely dangerous and ineffective method for your magecraft," Lady Avalon explained as she stood behind Shirou, her hand resting lightly on his bare back. "Converting your nerves into temporary magic circuits? You're lucky you haven't destroyed yourself already."
Shirou winced at the memory of the painful process he had grown used to. "I... didn't know any other way."
"Well, you do now," Lady Avalon said, her tone gentler than usual. "Your magic circuits are already there. You just haven't been activating them properly. Here, let me help you."
Without further explanation, she closed her eyes and began to channel her mana into him. Shirou felt a sudden warmth spreading through his body, like a gentle current flowing from her fingertips into his skin. It was an entirely different sensation from the searing pain he had experienced when converting his nerves into circuits. This was smoother, easier.
As his circuits began to activate, Shirou gasped, his eyes widening at the newfound clarity he felt in his magical energy. "This... this is so much easier."
Lady Avalon smiled, her hand still pressed against his back. "See? You've always had the potential, Shirou. You just needed a bit of guidance." She leaned in closer, her breath warm against his ear as she added in a teasing whisper, "Looks like we've become one in another way, haven't we, darling? My mana flowing through your body and all."
Shirou's face turned beet red, and he quickly pulled away, his heart racing. "D-don't say stuff like that!"
From the rooftop, Archer watched the entire exchange with a bemused expression. Lady Avalon's presence in this war was still something he hadn't fully gotten used to. Seeing her so intimately involved with Shirou—who should have summoned Saber, of all people—was something he never expected. He crossed his arms and sighed.
"That woman is going to drive him insane," Archer muttered to himself. "But at least she's helping him... I think."
Omake
Throne of Heroes: Artoria's Wrath, Part 6
Artoria Pendragon seethed in the Throne of Heroes, her eyes burning with a mixture of fury and frustration. She had been watching everything unfold between Shirou and that insufferable Lady Avalon, and every moment was like an explosion erupting in her gut.
"I'm not going to share?!" Artoria shouted, pacing back and forth in the ethereal plane. "How dare she! That shameless, thieving succubus dares to imply that Shirou is hers?!"
She clenched her fists, her face turning a deep shade of red as her anger boiled over. "Shirou is my Master! I should be the one by his side, not that ridiculous half-succubus!"
Artoria's furious pacing continued as she grumbled to herself. "And how dare she go on about 'becoming one' with him..! She's completely shameless! At every possible opportunity!" She stopped her pacing and glared off into the distance. "And worst of all... I miss Shirou's cooking! That female Merlin doesn't even appreciate it properly!"
From the side of the chamber, the Knights of the Round Table exchanged nervous glances. Bedivere, ever loyal, tried to approach with caution.
"Your Majesty... perhaps it is best not to dwell on—" he began, but a murderous glare from Artoria made him step back immediately, hands raised in surrender.
"Not dwell on it?!" Artoria growled. "She's behaving like Shirou belongs to her! I'm the one who was meant to be summoned, not her! Shirou—my Master! How could the Grail allow this travesty?!"
Gawain cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to sound diplomatic. "Lady Avalon—er, Proto-Merlin—might have a... unique way of, uh, interpreting relationships, being half phantasmal species and all. Perhaps it's best not to—"
"Shirou is my Master!" Artoria cut him off, her eyes practically glowing with indignation. "She's taking advantage of him to fulfil her own hedonistic desires! Twice! I'm his rightful servant. How dare she claim him as hers with that smug look on her face?!"
Lancelot, who had been standing off to the side with a deeply uncomfortable expression, spoke up. "My king, Lady Avalon—"
"Don't!" Artoria snapped, pointing her finger at Lancelot, silencing him before he could finish. "Not one word from you about matters of romantic propriety, Lancelot."
Lancelot wisely decided to remain silent.
Tristan, ever the melancholic, strummed his harp softly, adding a mournful note to the atmosphere. "Ah, such sorrowful times, when bonds of loyalty are tested by—"
"Not helping, Tristan!" Artoria snapped, her eyes narrowing.
In the back, Mordred had her arms crossed, an amused grin plastered on her face. "This is hilarious. You're mad because someone actually booted you out the way of the summoning and snatched up your favourite Master this time, huh? Doesn't feel so great, does it?"
Artoria shot her a venomous look. "Mordred, if you don't want to be banished from this throne for eternity, I highly suggest you remain silent."
Mordred chuckled, shrugging. "I'm just sayin'. Maybe if you'd been a bit faster or a bit stronger, he wouldn't be getting all cozy with her." The Knight of Treachery then smirked in an incredibly smug, taunting manner. "Or maybe you should just admit that this female Merlin has better game than you."
Omake 2: Rin's struggles
It had been only two days since Rin moved into the Emiya household, and already she was regretting every decision that led her here. Not that she hated Shirou's company; no, the boy was as infuriatingly earnest as ever. The problem, of course, was her.
Lady Avalon.
Rin could barely get a moment alone with Shirou without the enigmatic Pretender Servant showing up. It was as if Avalon had some sort of radar for Rin's presence, swooping in like an overbearing shadow every time she tried to talk to him. Lady Avalon was everywhere, teasing Shirou, interrupting their conversations, and making it impossible for Rin to have a moment of clarity with him. No matter what she did, Lady Avalon was always there, throwing wrenches into her plans. It was like living with a clingy, overprotective girlfriend... except they weren't even dating!
(She had no idea that Shirou had already given his Servant the 'bone of his sword' twice now.)
One example was when Rin entered the kitchen, fully intent on starting her morning routine with a bit of normalcy. Shirou, ever the diligent host, was already preparing breakfast. She thought she'd help.
"Need any help with that?" Rin asked casually, trying to hide her awkwardness. Cooking with Shirou sounded like a normal, friendly thing to do, after all.
But before Shirou could respond, Lady Avalon appeared from seemingly nowhere, draped in an apron that looked suspiciously pristine for someone who claimed to be "helping" in the kitchen. She slid in between them with the grace of a dancer, linking arms with Shirou.
"Oh, Rin, how thoughtful!" Lady Avalon smiled, her voice like honey. "But my dear Master and I already have everything under control. You should sit back and relax. Perhaps you'd like to watch us cook together?"
Rin felt her eye twitch. "I was just trying to—"
"No need!" Lady Avalon interrupted, cheerfully stirring a pot. "You can just enjoy the meal when it's ready, hmm? We wouldn't want you to burn anything, would we?"
Shirou, oblivious as ever, glanced over. "Uh, thanks, Tohsaka. Maybe next time?"
Rin silently cursed as she slumped back in a chair, already defeated.
Finally, after days of being thwarted, Rin decided she needed a private word with Lady Avalon. She had to confront her directly about this constant interference. After hearing strange sounds coming from one of the bedrooms—Lady Avalon's so-called "workshop"—Rin approached the door with determination. Whatever this woman was up to, it couldn't be that important.
She knocked once. No answer.
Gritting her teeth, she knocked harder. "Lady Avalon, I need to talk to you!"
Still nothing. Frustrated, Rin pushed open the door.
What she found inside stopped her in her tracks. The room had been transformed into a makeshift stage, complete with bright pink lights and sparkles. Lady Avalon, dressed in a ridiculously cute idol outfit—frilly skirt, matching ribbon, and all—was standing in front of a video camera, singing and dancing with all the enthusiasm of a seasoned pop star.
"Shine bright, oh Master of mine~! We'll win this Grail, it's just a matter of time~!"
Rin stood there, slack-jawed, utterly speechless. Avalon twirled gracefully, her golden curls bouncing as she struck a pose.
"Tohsaka may glare, but she can't compare, 'cause we're the best duo, with magic in the air~!"
Rin's face went through several stages of disbelief before finally settling on sheer horror. "What... in the world... are you doing?"
Lady Avalon froze, her eyes wide as if she had been caught in some grand secret. Then, she flashed a dazzling smile. "Oh, Tohsaka! You weren't supposed to see this yet. It's my... personal side project. Every powerful mage needs a hobby, after all."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "A hobby? You mean singing in—what even is that outfit?!"
Lady Avalon looked down at her frilly idol costume and grinned. "Cute, isn't it? I designed it myself! I plan on debuting as an idol when the war is over. You know, for when the whole 'Grail' thing gets over and done with."
Rin was beyond words. She didn't know whether to laugh, scream, or cry. "You... are unbelievable."
Lady Avalon giggled and placed a finger to her lips. "Jealous, Tohsaka? Maybe I could design a matching outfit for you~"
Rin's eye twitched again. "No thanks."
Before she could retreat, Lady Avalon picked up a glittery microphone and struck another pose, winking playfully at the camera. "Don't be shy, Rin-chan. If you ever want to be my backup dancer, just let me know!"
Rin turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. "I swear, I'm moving out of this house."
Later that evening, Archer found Rin sitting alone in the yard, staring into the distance with a haunted expression.
"Having trouble?" he asked, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed.
Rin sighed heavily. "She's… she's everywhere, Archer. I can't get five minutes alone with Shirou without her showing up! And then… she was dancing. In an idol outfit. Dancing!"
Archer raised an eyebrow, barely containing his amusement. "You should've known. A woman like that? She's in it for the long game. Just be glad she hasn't started calling you her 'rival' yet."
Rin groaned, her head falling into her hands. "This is hell. Absolute hell."
Archer chuckled softly, patting her on the shoulder. "Told you so, Master."
