Sakura winced from where she sat, Akino nestled content on her lap. Oh, boy. "I, err... well, that is to say..." Even with her limited knowledge of the blonde knight, she understood seeing her tongue-tied like this was a rare thing. Well, it's her own fault. Two-timing never ends well. She muffled her giggle at the thought and how despite her best efforts, Saber couldn't offer any answer, let alone a good one.
At that, Guruko began to sniffle, his sharp little nose twitching up and down, as tears began to gather between his scrunched-up eyes. Rin tore her eyes away while sucking in her lips and cheeks, even trying to block out Ruby's gasp. Damnit, she groused at her own vulnerability almost getting exposed again. Join the Holy Grail War! Find out nearly everything you believed was either only half true or complete bogus. Get your heartstrings tugged on an hourly basis. What the hell was I thinking?
Seeing her canine friend like this nearly made Saber cry, too, but she pulled herself together. She scooped him up and cradled him even as he continued to avoid facing her. "Guruko, sweetie..." Her right index finger drifted to the top of his head and began rubbing little circles between the fur. "Just because I've come to love Toothless, too, doesn't mean I love you any less. I'll always have room for you in my heart." She pecked that spot before adjusting her grip so they could look each other in the eye. "I swear on my honor."
You sweet-talker, you, Archer smirked from where he leaned by the door frame. With rhetoric like that, it's a wonder she doesn't have a reverse harem by now. And whatever of that silly... envy that had been egging at the Servant of the Bow was tossed into a mental waste basket. However Saber had learned to be this open with her heart was trivial, after all, in comparison to the result.
Meanwhile, the Saber-cradled hound's whiskers twitched about in consideration until he finally leaned into Artoria's touch. "Oh, all right," he nuzzled her cheek, drawing a relieved giggle from her, "when you put it that way..." Guruko basked in the warmth of her embrace before adding a little quip. "I guess it's only fair since you're second place in my heart, too."
The Heroic Spirit of the Sword almost pouted at the words, her competitiveness rearing its mighty head, but she conceded that, yes, it was only fair. "Second to Kakashi, I presume?" She stroked his belly.
"Nope, he's third." She blinked at his playful barks. "Maiya's first." Her near pout promptly shifted into a giggle. Of course, silly me...
Lancer X joined in her laughter even while rubbing Urushi's back. "I get that." Her mind flashed to her and Yang's memories of playing with a certain corgi. "Owner's prerogative goes both ways, huh?" The dog beside her rumbled happily to confirm her suggestion.
Smirking beneath his mask, Assassin X turned to a certain comrade treasured by the whole pack as well as himself and stated faux-indignantly, "Last I checked, these are my hounds."
"They were," Maiya corrected with a proud grin. "Now they're mine." He laughed while she sauntered over to his partner still cradling the hound. "And you should consider yourself lucky you're still in my good graces, Saber. Toying with my darling's heart like that." Guruko pretended to whine, prompting her to gently pluck him free of Saber's grip and rock him slowly. "I know, boy, girls can be so fickle and cruel..." He bopped his head against her cheek and nuzzled her in gratitude and love; twin emotions reflected in the woman's smile.
Rather than be jealous, Kakashi Hatake could only watch and enjoy the tender exchange. And she thinks she has nothing to offer as a mother.
Oh brother, Archer rolled his eyes at the other Servant's tangible joy, that woman has him wrapped around her pinky and doesn't even see it. A greyhound was stretched out on the floor before him, but he would absolutely not succumb to the temptation to pet him. His Master had been fighting that same urge only to lose when the dog (right, Uhei) glanced up at her and thumped his tail twice on the floor, at which point she whined, "Oh, to heck with it, come here, you!" and fell to her knees before rubbing her hands all over him, much to his pleasure.
"Who's a good boy? Are you a good boy?" Rin yelped out a giggle as he licked her face; good Lord, when was the last time she'd played with a dog...? "You are, oh, yes, you are!" So engrossed in Uhei's affection was she that she almost forgot this dog's aunt standing not even two meters from her... And she couldn't bother to care. She had two Servants, let a fight happen, she was gonna snuggle the heck out of this ball of fluff-!
Fortunately for the Tohsaka hime, Maiya decided in light of seeing her genuine affection with Uhei and silent insistence from Shirou, Kakashi and Bee that she could be put on doggy-touching probation, so she simply passed Guruko back to Saber without complaint. Jury was still out on Archer, however.
Her nephew, mollified that a fight wasn't about to break out, nodded at the setting. "Right," rolling his shoulder as some exhaustion settled in from the cumulative training between him and his Servants, Shirou made for the kitchen, "if we want to have any food in our bellies before whatever insanity awaits us tonight," he stretched out his fingers producing a decent crack, "time to get started on dinner." Good thing he'd already been baking in advance, and Big Sis Fuji had called a couple minutes ago to say she was gonna be spending the night with her Grandpa.
Then an outstretched arm and a length of wood barred his path. "Not so fast." Tohsaka had risen to her feet and Sakura was holding out her staff from her spot at the table, the elder sister speaking for both of them. "Tonight's dinner is on us."
"What, now hang on-"
"Nuh uh, senpai." Sakura set Akino aside and stood up, prodding him slightly with her staff. "If you think you can let us stay at your home complete with breakfast and we wouldn't try to repay your hospitality, you've got another thing coming." She exchanged a nod with Big Sister. "We talked it over this morning, and in between my trip today, I went and bought all the groceries we need to fix you and your team something up as thanks. We Tohsaka's pay our debts." She tried not to laugh at how Big Sister's expression brightened even more from her closing statement.
Assassin X watched his Master fumble about for a retort even as he wondered where those groceries were. A quick glance at Maiya indicated she didn't know either, nor did Saber. "We swung over by the Tohsaka residence to drop the ingredients off before returning here," Bee explained, which made sense. And it proved that this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment idea but planned beforehand.
But this information also seemed to give Shirou a foothold. "H-Hang on, if your groceries are back at your place, then how do you expect to-?"
"We'll do the cooking and serve it at our place, of course," Tohsaka fixed him with her patented "are you an idiot" mien, though she seemed to want to look away the more he stared. "D-don't overthink it! It's only common courtesy considering you trusted us enough to let us spend so much time in your home. And a home-cooked meal ought to go a ways in balancing the scales of our alliance." Shirou dimly noticed Sakura and Lancer X rolling their eyes in unison when Rin put on a coy smirk. "Or does the great Shirou Emiya dare to doubt our culinary expertise?"
"No, of course not, I've worked plenty in one kitchen or another with Sakura, and she always says you're at least as good as her." Rin summoned her willpower to beat down the blasted heat rising in her face. Sakura's praise and faith in her kitchen-wise was one thing, but this slick dope saying stuff like that so matter-of-factly... "It's just..." At least Shirou's fumbling about gave her a chance get herself under control. "You don't have to do this, Tohsaka. You and Sakura already have so much on your plates, it wouldn't be right of me to expect a hot meal from you two even if the Grail War wasn't happening." Rin frowned at the boy. Was this just stubbornness, or did he seriously believe that? ...Stupid question, she was 98% certain what the answer was.
Shirou made to point out how huge Servants' appetites were when the sisters traded a glance and then shot twin determined stares at him. "Tonight's dinner will be made by us, Shirou Emiya, and I- we would like you and your team to partake in it." Rin's tone brokered no argument, and he searched about for help. To little success; Saber visibly wasn't picky about where her feasts came from among this group, Assassin X deliberately avoided eye contact, Bee shrugged, Ruby was clearly in full support of her Master's decision (and that negated the argument about how they were supposed to just run ahead and cook), Aunt Maiya preoccupied herself with the boys, and even Archer voiced no protests. Shirou had expected the jerk to say something like, "Let the idiot starve, why should we do him any favors?" But he simply leaned against the wall with an unreadable demeanor. So Shirou had to come up with something himself, but his primary argument -that they shouldn't waste such kindness on him- wouldn't be well-received said like that. How to put that diplomatically...?
Then the phone rang, further rattling his thoughts. "I'll get it." Aunt Maiya stepped out and made for the landline. "Emiya residence. Oh, hello, Mrs. Hagiwara. ...Right, Kyouko. Been a while. How's your ankle? ...Glad to hear it." The call was such a non sequitur it gave both Shirou and everybody else a chance to catch their breaths. Lancer X thumbed over at his aunt right the corner, so he mouthed Aunt Maiya's friends, nothing to do with magecraft. Run a nearby bakery. Both she and Saber perked up at the knowledge. "Oh, that was fast! We'll try to swing by and pick it up when we can, things are pretty busy on our end. ...Exactly, our guests, but they'll love it, I'll bet. Your husband's an artist."
Something clicked in Sakura's mind at the words bakeryand Hagiwara, and she turned to Rin who nodded. Right, that nice little shop opposite from Copenhagen. A regular meeting place for Homurahara students. The cakes there were deliciously balanced between sweetness and natural flavors, and not too pricey, either. Mother had even commissioned a birthday cake for the sisters two or three times.
"Look, it's great hearing from you, Kyouko, but..." Maiya for her part hoped to wrap up the conversation quickly. For one, dusk continued to approach, and she definitely didn't need any more civilians to get caught into the crossfire. For another, she and Shirou already had enough on their plates with magus business. "…That's tonight? Right, sorry, I've been a little preoccupied between the shop, our guests and a couple of... private matters. Where does the time go, am I right? …Look, I appreciate the offer, Kyouko, but it's a little inconvenient right now- No, I'm sure you and the others can have tons of fun without me. You don't need to wait up on me-" She blinked, her mouth hanging open for a second. "I'm sorry?"
The call's audience looked on bemused as Maiya Hisau stumbled into view, holding the receiver away from her before nearly yelling into it. "M-My what?" A less composed woman would've likely become a blushing mess, and she still failed to suppress her cheeks from pinkening a tiny bit. "No- No, Kyouko, I don't know what you're talking about- It's not like-" Her eyes narrowed and she rose back to her full height. "Did you now?" The phone's plastic began to creak and even crack a bit under her grip. "...Did you now?"
Ooh hell, Shirou began to sweat despite himself. Somebody's in big trouble. He looked around the room to find the hounds had all Poofed themselves away, and Rin, Sakura, Ruby and Bumblebee were all visibly uneasy themselves. Even Kakashi, Saber and Archer stood on guard. Good survival instincts all around.
"...I see." A frigid hiss escaped the Mage Killer's acolyte. "Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Hagiwara. I'll... consider it." The Servants in the room could just make out laughter on the other end of the call. "Cake buffet for dessert, huh? Yeah, I'm sure... Maybe. Bye." She only just kept herself from slamming the receiver in its place. "Taiga." Maiya nodded frowning to herself. "Has to be. Oh, that girl is in for it, I swear..."
"Illegal" Saber X sidled over with the same caution a soldier would treat an exposed landmine. "There a... problem, Master?"
He fought down the urge to transform and floor it as her head shifted his way. "Just a minor complication, Bumblebee." Maiya stormed past him to the table and poured herself a fresh mug of tea. "Right before the War started up, I was invited for a little get together with some acquaintances. With everything going on, it honestly slipped my mind, and now it's happening tonight, and they're all hoping I'll come, too." She eyed the steam wafting from the mug before chugging all the tea in one gulp and nearly slamming the cup back down.
"Well, uh," Shirou ventured not dwelling on how she didn't seem affected at all despite the scalding liquid, "Miss Hagiwara can be pretty persistent. I take it she's not letting you talk your way out of it?"
"Oh, no, she laughed my excuses off and assured me they didn't mind if I still joined them a little late." His aunt grumbled through her gritting teeth. "In fact, she insisted I should bring my boyfriend along while I'm at it." The temperature suddenly felt like it had plummeted a few dozen degrees. "You know, the silver-haired hottie in a mask that makes me brighten up like a sunrise?" Her right brow twitched with every syllable she bit out.
A weird sound escaped Assassin X as he turned away to cough into his hastily repositioned mask, setting his tea mug back on the table.
Shirou for his part kept his face as neutral as possible as he turned back to the most dangerous woman he knew with his hands up, palms towards her. "I had nothing to do with this whatsoever." Not that he hadn't picked up on the bond between Aunt Maiya and his teacher or that he disapproved, hell no. But he knew what she could do with a knife. Or a gun. Or a piece of wire. Hell, with a used toothpick once!
(In Aunt Maiya's defense, it was less than a week after Kiritsugu's funeral, the guy had caught her in a really bad mood, wouldn't take no for an answer and was kinda chauvinistic to boot. And Old Man Fuji was more than happy (once he finally stopped cackling) to cover the hospital bill. Including the colorectal surgeon that had to be called in from out of town.
Silver lining, not another salesman has visited the Emiya household since.)
Nudging Sakura behind her, Rin turned to Archer and gestured towards Lancer who was vibrating slightly but enough to generate a petal or two, fists in front of her mouth and eyes sparkling. He nodded and quickly moved over to prevent her from making a scene, lest they draw the woman's wrath upon her. Despite their differences, Rin Tohsaka had a good idea how Hisau might react to anything while embarrassed like this.
Meanwhile, Maiya had begun to pace, all the while muttering increasingly peeved to herself. "I am going to shave Taiga. Not just her hair, but her eyebrows, her-her nose hairs-!" She strangled the air for a second before snapping her arms to the side. "Her head will be a shiny cue ball when I'm through with her!" There's more than one way to skin a cat, Shirou and the Tohsaka sisters inadvertently thought in unison. Meanwhile, the King of Knights wisely kept a little discussion she'd had with the aforementioned teacher and her subsequent... encouragement... to herself.
Only one person had the guts to approach the fuming retired mercenary. "Now, now, take it easy, Maiya," she inadvertently slowed down in her pacing as Kakashi approached her with his hand raised placatingly, "this is all just a misunderstanding. If you want, Shirou or I could call Miss Hagiwara back and say that something came up. She can't be completely unreasonable."
"...Sure." The fire racing through Maiya sputtered out, and she suddenly found it hard to look at him. "But she can be pushy, trust me, you should ask her husband. Maybe I should at least send a Shadow Clone over just to placate her and her gang." She cleared her throat as a ridiculous idea popped in her head, preceded by of all things, the talk she'd had only a few hours ago. "You, uh... could do the same, I wouldn't mind. Introducing you. To them. They're all good folks." Wh-what am I saying?! Maiya suddenly felt like some dishonest schoolgirl with all this crap.
...Oh, good. I'm acting like Tohsaka.
Rin's eyes narrowed to slits at the way her little sister was smirking at the whole thing, she didn't look that expression one bit. Meanwhile, Ginrei had to ferry Ruby out of the room as a high-pitched sound slipped out of her mouth, and Shirou and Bee found themselves watching the King of Knights vibrate where she stood.
But leave it to a ninja to puncture the excitement. "Sounds great," Assassin X prefaced honestly, "but we'd still be putting them at risk if any enemy teams were surveilling us. It's hard even for Servants to tell the difference between a Shadow Clone and the real deal, after all." He stepped towards the phone, squashing down the weird feeling in his stomach. "Besides, if you were to show up with me in tow, it'd mean endless preconceptions about your love life no matter what I say. Better to correct it now, we wouldn't more gossiping about you spreading behind your back." And the last thing Kakashi wanted was for anyone to spread slander about a woman like her. (She deserves better anyway...)
"Right... wouldn't want that." It was the logical choice, Maiya knew, the safe choice. The best choice... Was all just a silly hope, in the end... (And he deserves better anyway...)
However, this resignation did not sit well with a certain someone stewing on the sidelines. "Now see here, Assassin X…" Saber grabbed the closest utensil at hand and marched over to her dear friend. "A lady, one whose character both of us can vouch for, has received an invitation to a party, and proper decorum states she should be escorted by a gentleman." Maiya's protests were decisively overtaken. "I have every confidence that Sakumo Hatake taught his son proper manners, so you ought to know the appropriate behavior in such a situation. Ruby, Archer, Bumblebee and I are more than sufficient to look after these three." She gestured to Rin, Sakura and Shirou before brandishing it in front of his nose. "We also already have dinner plans of our own thanks to the sisters' offer." She pointed at Shirou who promptly closed his mouth again, then returned to Kakashi. "Therefore, you can safely invest your time in Maiya and ensure she enjoys herself for a few hours." Her eyes sharpened at him. "Or must I elaborate on how you treat a lady with due chivalry?"
Assassin X knew better than to answer in the negative, but he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her choice of weapon. "…You're threatening me with a spoon?"
Pow! Everyone else winced from the sound and the "OW!" that echoed across the residence.
Saber X walked a brisk but cautious pace along the forest path, the Einzbern manor just a dozen meters away. No signs of trouble as he'd made his way in spirit form through Miyama Town, but he doubted that was due to any respect enemy teams had in the Grail War's rules. Respect for Ruler X's adherence to and ability in enforcing them, maybe, but more likely, they were simply gathering their strength, waiting for the right time to strike. Chihiro didn't fear any of them, but the sooner he reunited with Illya and Herakles, the better.
He stepped through the home's Bounded Field, feeling how it "registered" his spiritual signature and flowed past him like a mild breeze. Good, no sign of any distortion there, and as he studied the front of the manor, no battle damage. Today had been thankfully uneventful on Saber X's end, too; new information and lessons learned that he'd surely get the chance to incorporate soon enough, a few thoughts that would just as likely be occupying what quiet moments left for him, and the increasing surety that neither Shirou Emiya nor Assassin X nor any of their comrades were culpable for his Master's pain. If anything, they wanted to help, to protect Fuyuki. And given Dad's old creed, "to vanquish evil and protect the innocent," Saber X felt obligated to work with them. The tricky part would be convincing Illya (and Berserker) of that.
Then again, the avian familiar she'd sent to watch over him had been rather subdued for most of the day. It hadn't even acted up when he paused and exchanged some words with Sakura Tohsaka. It was honestly a little concerning, not least because Chihiro had barely heard anything from Illya all day. No messages to be relayed, no commentary, no scoffs at anything Assassin X might've said, nothing. Had she lost interest in following her familiar's observation, or did something happen...?
The door swung open as soon as he approached, and he nodded in greeting to the maid standing there. "Leysritt."
"Saber X." She bowed her head back to him before stepping aside. "Lady is in the main living room. She's waiting for you." A minor plea slipped into the homunculus' otherwise emotionless tone; another sign that something might be wrong.
"Thank you." The Servant of the Sword moved quickly through the halls, passively checking for any damage or signs of trouble, but the manor's interior looked pristine as ever. Still, it felt quieter than usual, and even Sella didn't give him her usual sour expression as she crossed paths with him on her way to the kitchen. Saber X wasn't exactly running at this point, but he did march very swiftly to the right door and open it maybe more forcefully than intended (Might need to replace the hinges later).
Berserker turned to face him, a low but rather peaceful grunt his greeting. He wasn't throwing a tantrum, either, that was a good sign, but the way his gaze flickered downwards- Saber X stood still, his keen eyes locking immediately onto their Master. Illyasviel sat on the couch with her legs curled up in front of her and her arms wrapped around her shins. Not a mark on her, but her whole posture seemed listless, and her red eyes were staring at nothing, from the looks of it. "Big Bro..." Even her tone was subdued.
He crossed the distance to the couch almost instantly (and without even invoking Nishiki) and stood before her until Illya dully patted the spot on her left, the invitation prompting him to sit down. She immediately hugged his side the moment he rested on the plush, and Chihiro curled his arm around her. "What's wrong?" He glanced about, only noticing then that there was a distinct lack of canine (not even dog hairs on Illya). "Did something happen while I was away? Did Assassin X's hounds upset you?"
"N-no," the girl snuggled in his side, "they were really... really sweet. So soft and warm... Bull was like a doggy Berserker." A tiny giggle slipped out, a sliver of warmth and life that hung in the air. "It's just... The little one, Biscuit... He told me things. A couple of things about Kiritsugu." He braced himself, but there was none of the usual fire inside Illya when she'd mention her father. "They sound... ridiculous, I shouldn't believe them, they're Kakashi's dogs, but-" She bit on her lip before taking a deep breath. "Let's, uh, stay here for tonight. No fights or hunts..."
Saber X blinked at the request. With all the conflicting feelings and sensations Illyasviel had been juggling since before coming here, he'd been expecting her to lead them out on the front lines. Not that he was complaining, but- "I... need to think. And... Can I talk to you, Big Bro? About the... stuff Biscuit told me?" She nodded her head back. "Berserker heard it, too, could probably clarify when I tell something wrong..." Their muscular friend rumbled his assent. "Can you guys... help me sort all this out? Please?" Then she finally looked up at Saber X with wide eyes.
"...Whatever you need, Illya. We're not going anywhere."
Rose petals swirled about in front of the Tohsaka manor's gate before coalescing into four figures, one of whom stumbled slightly. "Okay," Sakura shook her head as Archer helped her steady herself, "not sure I wanna do that all too soon again."
"You get used to it," Rin assured her while unlocking the gate, "eventually." No visitors, uninvited or otherwise, according to the Bounded Field. Good. As the quartet headed inside, though, Rin couldn't help but notice how Sakura seemed to "slip" around its detection. Doesn't look like she's doing it consciously, she wondered. Is that a recent thing, or has her magic always been this... superior to ours? The older sister shook her head. Irrelevant. They had more important matters to deal with, like preparing a masterclass dinner.
"Alrighty," Lancer X's voice helped her in focusing on that, "so, you two need an extra set of hands or something? We've got your backs!" Archer nodded at her statement, wow, he really was becoming a little more cooperative.
But Rin waved off the offer. "Better you two keep your focus on standing guard. The sun's almost down, and we don't need party-crashers showing up now of all times. Or at anytime, for that matter." She stepped into the kitchen and retrieved the rice cooker before adding, "Let me know if anyone shows up, Team Emiya or otherwise. And if you want to sample what we've made when we're done, we can set aside a little for you." As much as her Magic Circuits were still up to keeping them going, Emiya's relationship with his Servants proved that good food went a long way.
Archer noted Ruby smiling at the offer, then she saluted before Petal Burst-ing herself off to the roof. He hung back for the moment, though, one foot in the kitchen. Old habits really did die hard. "You sure you don't need any help with this?"
"Do not challenge a young lady's pride, Archer." This time, it was Sakura who replied. And the way she mock-glared at him was so much like Rin. "Moreso when there's two of us." Ginrei conceded with a hum and headed off to cover his friend's blind spots, albeit with lingering curiosity about what dishes exactly they had in mind. Whatever they make, it's nice to see them doing it together. Gotta preserve that if I can, crazy as it's about to get.
Sakura was unaware of the Servant's thoughts, and truth be told, not really interested in them at the moment. Her focus (and amusement) was on how Big Sister was assembling as many utensils and gear as were within arm's reach. "I thought we were cooking dinner, not preparing for a battlefield."
Rin shot a smirk over her shoulder that became a grunt as she set a heavy wok onto the stove. "Is there a difference? After the gourmet meals Emiya's kept putting before us, there's no way I'm gonna let people think my cooking can't match his. And with you on my side, surpassing him will be a cinch! ...Quiet you."
"I didn't say anything~" Propping her staff up in a corner, Sakura sauntered up to the drawer and started checking knives. "So, that's why you suggested this idea in the first place, eh?" She pretended to hum even as Rin deliberately avoided meeting her gaze. "How's that old saying go? The best way to reach a man's heart is through his stomach?"
Oh, how her Big Sister's shoulders bunched together and her ears turned such a lovely shade of red behind her tails. "Well, I don't seem to be getting through his thick skull anytime soon," she mumbled, grip tightening around a spatula. "I mean, did you hear him back there? We practically had to beg him to come to dinner. That guy keeps helping me out and helping you out and helping others out, all without expecting so much as a thank you." She scoffed. "I know, I know, nobody expects me to even know how to say thank you..." Sakura winced; that hadn't been what she wanted to say.
But Big Sister continued before she could get a word in, sorting through oils. "I mean, at first I thought it was just some outdated chivalry, Sh- Emiya wanting to play gentleman, but... He kicks up a fit about lives getting caught in the crossfire but is so damn nonchalant about his own life being at risk. He'd take off his own shirt in a blizzard to bundle up a puppy or something. It's like he doesn't even dare to try and think selfishly for one second! He's only just starting to think before rushing into a suicide charge, and that's only thanks to Assassin X, I'll bet." She paused to huff. "Honestly, that Servant and the way he and Hisau dance around each other... Helen Keller herself could tell they're crazy for each other, but either one keeps acting like they think they're not... good enough. It's kinda like that with Shirou, only turned up to eleventy-one!"
Rin shifted about and braced herself next to the stove, frowning down at the floor in frustration and... concern. "Am I just crazy, Sakura, or..." She sighed. "What's it going to take to make that boy care for his own life?"
"...I can't say for sure," Sakura prefaced as she slipped over and leaned against her sister's shoulder, causing her to look up, "but I think this," she waved her hand at their surroundings, "is a step in the right direction. So don't give up on him yet." That had been the advice Emiya-senpai'saunt had offered her yesterday. And so far, she hasn't been wrong. Sakura smiled at how Rin slowly but surely relaxed. She really had misjudged her, assumed the worst because of all this magus nonsense, but here Rin was, trying her absolute best to mend bridges with her, trading jokes with a Servant she'd been at odds with before, and openly worrying about a boy, not even because of a schoolgirl crush... but because she cared.
"You're right," a familiar fire sparked to life in her turquoise eyes, "I'll drag that boy out of whatever depressive funk has a hold on him, be it through magecraft lessons or exquisite food!" Of course, her competitiveness and stubbornness hadn't fully diminished, either. "Er, because he's a worthy rival, of course! Clashing with him only makes me stronger..." And the tsundere was still strong in this one.
But hey, baby steps. Rome wasn't built in a day. "Just don't slay him with your cooking the wrong way, Big Sister," she giggled ducking away from a playful swipe. Then her laughter evaporated. "And at least you can cook for senpai. Wish I could do the same for Atto." She fingered the handle of a pan.
Rin's own multitude of emotions ebbed away as well. This Atto business... another thing she didn't know how to feel about. The way some wizard from another world had become a part of her, rewritten her magic, that was baffling and fascinating and a little concerning all at once. That Sakura had kept it secret still stung, no less because Rin understood her logic (and part of her feared that under the right/worst circumstances she might've lived down to that egocentric, callous image her sister had of magi). Oh, part of her just wanted to appreciate the fact this miracle had brought her beautiful sister back into her life... but she couldn't help but wonder how much this miracle had cost. How many lives.
...No, all of these musings and fears were secondary. Top priority was Sakura and her safety and happiness. Always.
"You know, maybe we could bring him into the waking world." Sakura snapped her head up to gape at a contemplative Rin. "Based on the theory he told you, Atto is still partially a familiar in the form of the Heroic Spirit Gandalf the Gray, and he's technically a separate entity from you, right?" She nodded dully, prompting Big Sister to tap her chin. "So maybe if we... tweaked the typical ritual for summoning Servants, adjusted it so as to isolate his essence from your soul..." A hypothesis she'd never considered herself, well, maybe she'd hoped just a bit that Atto or someone like him would've appeared when she did that ritual, but she didn't mind that Mace had appeared instead, heck no! But still-!
Then Rin held a hand up. "But let's hold on the experiments for a better time, y'know, without looming threats." Right. The Grail War. The Holy Grail. Sakura sighed at her own hectic. I've already learned this much but I'm starving for more... Guess there's still some magus in me after all. A throat clearing snapped her out of these thoughts. "Sorry, I have no idea how to phrase this without it sounding awkward and I promise you I don't mean him any harm, but..." Rin's face scrunched as she visibly searched for words. "Do you know... or does he know... how much longer he can... stay with you?"
Rin had to ask. A ritual like what she'd suggested surely came with its own risks, like how intertwined Sakura's soul might've been with this wizard's. Who knew if they could be safely separated. Better to ask Sakura first... Yet she seemed even more hesitant. "Atto and I never really talked about it," she admitted. "I mean, I did have this private theory that his missing memories and mine were somehow connected, so that if one of us filled in the blanks, the same would happen for the other, and then when we both remembered everything, Atto... wouldn't need to stay in the garden... in my dreams... anymore. And where he'd go from on there..." Her lip wobbled slightly, but Rin saw it. "I have no idea." And she wasn't completely ready yet to part ways with her... father.
A Tohsaka's life was just plain convoluted, huh?
Then the younger sister clapped her cheeks. "Okay, that's enough gloominess, we've gotta get to work! Senpai and the Sabers will be here in less than an hour."
"Right, I was so caught up in all that training I didn't get a chance to ask before, so," Rin clapped her hands together while turning to her, "what exactly are the fruits of your little shopping trip?"
Sakura stepped grinning over to the refrigerator. "Well, I was inspired by what I found, let me tell you. Sales were all over the place today." She remained grateful towards her escort in letting her make a quick detour back here before returning to Emiya-senpai's home earlier; a good number of her purchases required proper refrigeration. Senpai would've likely offered his own kitchen and fridge, but that felt a bit like over-using his hospitality to Sakura, not to mention she might've forgotten to take them with her afterwards. "Netted me plenty of good ingredients at a nice bargain, and when I peeked by the fish market, they had these at a surplus supply." She withdrew from the freezer a sizeable pack and offered it to Rin.
Visibly curious, her Big Sister peeked inside as she moved on. "Anchovies? Interesting choice... you up for making Niboshi dashi, then? Maybe some tazukuri for dessert?" Sakura simply smiled before plonking a fresh bottle of extra-virgin olive oil on the table and holding up a full clove of garlic in each hand. Rin's expression quickly matched hers. "Ah... Think we can pull it off this time? Y'know, without almost giving Mother a heart attack?"
"Mother's not here tonight, and it's been three years." The young wizard set down the clove in her right hand to retrieve a knife. "You get the pot ready, I'll mince the garlic."
"Aye aye, chef."
"Can't say I ever expected this on my evening itinerary." Despite keeping watch on their surroundings, Maiya shot a mild smirk at the man walking in step beside her. "And I can't believe you let your guard down with Saber."
"Yeah, not my smartest move." Kakashi rubbed his forehead with a wince. "She sure knows how to emphasize her points." He let his eyes wander to Maiya; despite encouragement from Lancer X and Sakura to spruce up a bit, her attire for the evening consisted of a dark-green button-up shirt, dress pants of the same color, black boots, and a coat similar to Kiritsugu's but her size. Didn't stop her from being certifiably beautiful in the Copy Ninja's opinion.
He for his part had donned a clean blue shirt and switched vests but remained otherwise the same in civilian garb. No need to get too much into this, Kakashi had reminded himself at the time, this was just a little outing. And there really were better times to do something like this than right during a Holy Grail War of all places... But aside from wanting to avoid Artoria's wrath, this was probably the only chance a Servant like him could spend an evening with... Maiya.
Despite this, Assassin X still noticed her stiff posture, the quick steps she took leading them to the right house, the tiny glances she'd shoot his way before facing straight ahead... "You really don't have to go through with this." She froze, her hand already raised to ring the door bell, but remained facing away from him. "There's still time for us to bolt, and if you're not... comfortable about this..." He hesitated, then bit the bullet. "If you're not comfortable having me around..."
Maiya's shoulders slumped a bit as she slowly turned her head to him. "...I didn't say that." She tucked a couple of strands behind her hair before smiling at him. "And if I'm right about what's awaiting us on the other side of this door, I'm sure you're gonna be the most pleasant part of this evening."
"...My, what an honor." And if his heart skipped a beat at her words, well, thank goodness for shinobi training. So, as she rang the door, he offered her his arm with a playful, "The least I can do is pretend to be a gentleman. It's either that or invite more punishment from you-know-who."
"Well, we wouldn't want that," Maiya laughed even while her arm curled around his, relishing in the warmth. And you sure as hell don't need to pretend, Hatake. The door regrettably opened before she could say that out loud, and then Izumi Hagiwara was greeting them and kindly ushering them in where others already began bombarding them with hello's and questions while the woman of the house offered a quick hi and a teasing smirk at Maiya before returning to the kitchen. Now this is a battlefield.
Well, irksome as the playful grins shot their way were, and Maiya certainly wasn't done imagining all the wonderful ways she would discipline her honorary little sister later... Kakashi standing at her side with his fingers intertwined with hers and eye-smiling at her from the side... She could think of worse ways to spend an evening. Worse company, too.
Team Emiya didn't quite have as... convenient a method for fast travel as Lancer X's Petal Burst. Shirou and Saber could've ridden atop Bumblebee's alt-mode again, but that was hardly inconspicuous even after the sun was down, so they settled for walking to the Tohsaka residence, the Autobot in spirit form. They made good time anyway, especially since Saber insisted on carrying the oversized picnic basket her Master had brought along (and yes, maybe her actions weren't completely selfless in that regard, but she was restraining herself).
That said, the walk was still long enough for Shirou to think a bit. He partially worried that this dinner could be a distraction. What if Caster or Caster X's Darkened Servants struck somewhere while they were distracted? Well, the dinner was still early enough that they could mobilize, heck, he knew how fast their Servants were, but on that point, why get so much into a dinner? Neither Tohsaka owed him anything, and he'd sorta imposed on them by making them so worried about Shinji being in his home that they move in as well (a crazy solution, and no, even Shirou Emiya wasn't dense enough to recognize Sakura had ulterior motives when she suggested it). He fidgeted, some energy still inside his limbs despite all the training today. I knew I should've made at least one clone to keep going, he lamented despite Bee having dragged him out of the house. I've still got so much to learn...
The sentiment wasn't just aimed at his magecraft or jutsu or combat skills. Kakashi had encouraged him to find his own path, and he liked to think he had a better understanding of how much his adoptive father had been beaten by his own dream. But how was Shirou supposed to go about his life? What was the right way to being a Hero of Justice? To answer these questions, he sought inspiration from both the heroes surrounding him, Aunt Maiya included (how couldn't she be? She was the strongest... and scariest... person Shirou knew), and other Servants, all of whom had so many baffling abilities and personal convictions.
He'd even asked Ruler X about the group he'd been part of life, since the Servant was so steadfast and righteous, and the other Jedi were surely like him. "Yes, we Jedi existed as an Order to aid and protect the people of our galaxy. We dedicated ourselves to serving others, fighting for justice keeping the peace of the Republic." That sounded pretty much like what he expected a Hero of Justice to be... But then the warrior monk had locked gazes with him, those dark eyes almost making him sweat. "But the key term I use here, young man, is Order. The weight of our mission didn't rest on any single one of us, we stood together and supported each other. And we made sure to take time for other activities besides peacekeeping. No one can shoulder every last burden on their own."
That last line continued to dangle inside Shirou's head (and he dimly remembered a similar pensiveness in Lancer X's eyes afterwards) even if he couldn't wrap his head around it. Wasn't that the point of being a Hero of Justice? To make lives easier, to fight the battles others couldn't and shouldn't? He had a way to be in multiple places at once, for goodness' sake! Didn't that mean he was obligated to save more lives, too? How could he turn his back on it after getting so much help he didn't deserve, after surviving a fire that had claimed so many others... including a family he couldn't even remember?
"Hey." The boy blinked at Bee's voice. "We're here." He finally returned his attention to their surroundings. Sure enough, the trio were standing in front of the Tohsaka gate, the foreign Saber materialized to ring the bell. "Might wanna put on a smile," he joked, "or else the ladies might get the wrong impression."
"Wouldn't want that..." Saber frowned to herself at her Master's distracted answer. The way he'd been so caught up in his thoughts throughout the walk hadn't passed her by, either, no less because she recognized his demeanor. It was one she'd seen in the mirror during the Fourth Grail War. Bumblebee appeared familiar with it, too, which wasn't a surprise given the blade he carried as a Servant and and with it the memory of the leader he so deeply admired. Self-doubt was a vicious, relentless beast even for the strongest souls.
Well, she still wasn't much of a conversationalist, and she lacked Kakashi's talent for pep talks, but Kakashi wasn't with him. Might as well give it a shot myself. "You arepermitted to enjoy yourself, Master." The poor boy's shoulders stiffened like a plank, but Saber pressed on. "And I am not simply referring to tonight."
Shirou stood unmoving, not so much as a twitch. "...I don't know if I can believe that, Saber," he mumbled. "I appreciate everything you two and Kakashi a-and everybody else have done for me, but..." He swallowed. "But... I don't-"
"I understand, Shirou." Both the words and the surety in them cut him off. He looked up to Saber glancing to the sky. "There was a time I would've kept my distance from such levity, left others to it. Not because I thought little of them or such moments, but because I wanted them... my people to be able to enjoy them. I believed that being King meant casting aside my humanity." She became more melancholy with her retelling until a smile appeared on her face. "But I've repeatedly received encouragement to allow myself to grow beyond such limitations, to permit myself my humanity, and despite my best efforts, the lessons seem to have stuck. The ones who imparted them to me were, or in at least one case, are... impressively persistent," she laughed softly, a beautiful expression, Shirou couldn't help but think. And he had a hunch who some of those were.
"Little moments like these are part of what makes life worth living. And if I can learn to appreciate them without guilt, then so can you, my young friend."
Tension seeped gradually out of Shirou's body, and he managed to return her smile just before Archer opened the gate for them, the smile slipping into a neutral expression, but he didn't scowl at the Servant. And the other thankfully deigned not to rile him up, another blessing. He simply beckoned for them to follow him into the house.
"Be strong enough to be gentle." Saber paused and turned to Bumblebee at the words who grinned at her. "Three guesses as to who told me that, and between knowing you and him, I believe it with all my Spark."
Her smile widening, she let all of her sincerity flow into her next words: "Thank you for the honor." And as she followed Archer inside, Shirou one step behind her and Bee in turn behind him, the young monarch filed the advice into a special place in her core.
And then all three quietly savored the smells enticing them further inside, the two dressed guests barely remembering to hang up their coats. The Tohsaka's clearly hadn't been holding back in the kitchen.
Archer led them into the dining room where Ruby had finishing setting the table with her speed and noted, "I'll be up on the roof, you guys don't need me for this." He suppressed a scoff at the look in the boy's eyes drifting towards a plate; no doubt planning to set aside something for the Counter Guardian. Hard-wired faux-selflessness...But he was nice and kept his mouth shut. No less because he wouldn't mind sampling what Rin and Sakura had concocted after enjoying the scents of their collaboration. And what a dish they'd chosen.
Shirou barely noticed Archer leaving, partially because Saber almost shouldered past him to fully see the feast for herself. "Welcome and be amazed," Rin Tohsaka declared as she stepped proudly beside the table, Sakura next to her. Arrayed on the table was freshly fried rice, noodles, slices of chicken and beef, assorted vegetables and perfectly diced pieces of tofu with wooden skewers resting beside them, all of which already looked delicious enough. But the main attraction was a large heavy pot, practically a cauldron (and it took all of Shirou's willpower not to snort at the internal image of Sakura and Rin as witches cackling over a bubbling potion) with its contents still bubbling decently, and both steam and an enticingly powerful smell wafting from it. "Wow..." He sniffed again, noting the prevalent flavors within that aroma. "...It that bagna càuda? How exotic."
"Ah, you know this dish already?" Sakura tried not to giggle from the whisper of panic within her Big Sister's question.
"I tried it once during a little vacation," he explained with a mild grimace. "Well, I'm not sure that time counts seeing as it was an American redneck version, which meant it included bacon, mincemeat and extra grease on the side. I think my arteries are still a little plugged up..." Rin might've been mildly disheartened at the story if it weren't for the way his eyes shined fixated on the pot. "Wanted to give making it a shot myself, but there are a couple other recipes higher up on my list."
Thus the elder Tohsaka relaxed again, no less because she and Sakura were sure as hell better chefs than some gun-loving, loud-mouthed Americans (Hm, that might be where Ruby would've come from if she'd been born in this world), and hey, it was nice to know there were still a few culinary ways to throw Emiya for a loop.
"Glad you guys are having fun." Ruby couldn't help but pinch her nose at the aroma. Not that it smelled bad per say, but, well... Enhanced Servant senses. Blake would love this dish.
A muffled chuckle rumbled out, and it took a moment for Rin to realize it was coming from Emiya. Alright, she hid her own smile, I'm starting to get used to that sound. "Well, lucky for you, Ruby, I've got dessert covered." The girl set aside possible plans for finding out what a genuine laugh sounded like coming from Shirou as he opened the picnic basket and unveiled two sizeable trays, tugging away the cloth on top to reveal a collection of rich brown pastries with red poking out, a little steam still wafting from them to highlight their freshly baked status.
Lancer X's nostrils widened to about triple their size, and drool quickly began to pool inside her mouth. "Are those strawberry tarts...?!" She all but squealed at the alluring scent of her favorite food.
Sakura's own stomach growled from it, no less because Emiya-senpai set the trays not too far from where she was sitting. "It gets boring making stuff with just chocolate all the time." I hear that, she quipped despite the allure. No, dinner first, then dessert. That's how it works. She hid her smirk, too, at how her Big Sister and Senpai were watching each other closely from across the table. They just can't help themselves from competing, huh? Even when it comes to making food.
Oh, what fortune to be summoned by such a Master. A beaming Artoria Pendragon was already reaching for the trays...
Only for an equally beaming Ruby Rose to pick them up and pull them over to her.
Smile still plastered on her face, Saber gripped the other ends and tugged the trays towards herself.
Lancer X maintained her own sunny expression as she tugged them back.
Tug.
Tug.
Tug.
Tug.
Shirou Emiya, Rin and Sakura Tohsaka, and Bumblebee wisely backed away while watching the persisting back-and-forth between the knight-class Servants. It gradually ended with one final tug which left the trays stuck between both sides, both sweets-enthusiastic girls happily glaring sparks at one another.
Then "Illegal" Saber X barely managed to catch the tarts before they would've fallen, on account of Saber and Lancer X meeting each other in a sudden large cloud of dust, limbs and cartoonish fighting noises.
Shirou and Rin almost made to try and call their respective Servants off, but after a moment, they noticed a distinct lack of injuries or even intent for that in their brawl. So, trusting that this little game wouldn't escalate into a real fight, and with their bellies still rumbling from the delicious food before them, they did the sensible thing: make final preparations to enjoy the bagna càuda first. Bee for his part set the trays safely aside and picked out a particularly enticing strawberry tart for himself-
At which point the fight cloud dispersed, Saber mid-pull on Lancer X's hair, Lancer mid-tug on Saber's cheek, and "Illegal" Saber X suddenly looking and feeling like a deer trapped by headlights.
Even without instincts honed through centuries of wartime, the Autobot scout recognized the oncoming doom within those dual pairs of eyes locked unblinking on him. He raised his hands placatingly, even dropping the tart back onto its original spot. "Easy does it now... it's just one-" Bumblebee barely had the chance to yelp before they pounced on him. "Down, Saber! Heel, Ruby!"
Three human teenagers watched the swelling fight cloud before the sole boy among them hefted his basket and whispered, "...I set aside a few for us."
"I take back every derogatory comment I've ever made about your intelligence, Emiya." Rin returned the twin smirks her reply netted without an ounce of shame. And so they proceeded to the table where the bagna càuda awaited, confident the Servants would join them soon enough. This at least gave them the chance to get one full serving each before it was all gone.
Souichiriou Kuzuki sipped some tea in between partaking in his own dinner, his fiancee sitting happily beside him. Astrid was seated on the other end rather subdued for her state, leaving him just a mite curious as to what she might've been thinking at that moment. The Viking woman had acquiesced to the suggestion offered by Avenger X, expanded upon by Medea, and ultimately approved by him, and she had proven herself capable of the part expected of her, but otherwise, her thoughts, or what little she had left, had seemed elsewhere the entire day. Souichirou was by his own admission no expert on emotion, but he privately thought Astrid was wistful. Perhaps even... relieved? This despite them having a different target tonight instead of her ex-lover. Well, it mattered little at the moment with them enjoying the bread and food Medea had happily prepared herself.
(Truthfully, this dedication might've been more impressive than when she had earlier teleported an entire coop of chickens into the Temple for Stormfly to wolf down.)
He eyed the crystal ball set aside in the corner, the location that was their target to come still clear in its surface, and noted the heavy shuffles coming outside along with muted conversation between Assassin and Avenger X (perpetually banned from the dinner table). Might as well enjoy what little peace we have now, the ex-killer mused while his love offered to feed him. Who knows if any of us will experience it again anytime soon.
Well, here I am again, apologizing for the umpteenth time that it took me so long to update this story. This time, part of the problem lay in technological difficulties. I won't bore you with the details, just that it threw me off my game and took a hefty bit of time to resolve.
Another rather comedic and fluffy chapter, but as you surely determined by the ending scene here, this is where the rough stuff gets going. Guess this is how I keep myself going while I put the characters I've come to connect and sympathize with through the misery of a Fate story. I don't like seeing good people hurting, much less being the one who writes the hurting situations for them! I'm only human!
*Sighs* There's so much more I want to share with you guys, so many ideas, so many interactions... One prime example in this chapter was a talk between Shirou (Shadow Clone, but still), Ruby, Chihiro and Windu about the weight of constantly sacrificing oneself for the lives of others. Ruby and Chihiro I think would find the boy's struggles and wishes relatable while the Jedi Master would share some of his own wisdom on the matter, giving the (biologically) younger Servants something to think about, too. Might show snippets in a flashback or the whole thing later as a deleted scene.
I'd love to try and write the dinner date between Kakashi and Maiya, too, but that's a little beyond me at the moment. So, probably better to just leave it to your imagination for now.
I'm also playing around a bit with Servant rules, I guess, by the way I've explained Atto's presence in Sakura's soul. The inspiration for this came partially from a DC Comics storyline, Justice League Dark, where souls are said to be like holograms; "each piece contains the whole." And since Noble Phantasms are an intrinsic part of Servants, why not try and play with this idea a bit, I thought back in Zero Paradox.
I know some of you were expecting a fight this chapter, but you regrettably have to be a mite more patient (assuming Artoria and Ruby's little scuffle over dessert doesn't count). The fun (if you want to call what happens next that) is right around the corner!
Oh, yeah, I've got one extra pseudo-canon treat before signing off for now:
Bonus Scene: Litmus Levity
Rin grit her teeth while trying to will the balloon in her hand to stop jiggling, and for half a second, it almost looked like it was calming down… Bang! Nope. Another bust, she groused while tossing the rubbery remains to a steadily growing pile.
Sakura smothered her own desire to giggle as she smoothed her Big Sister's pigtails back down, the latter sparing her a grateful glance before glaring at a snickering Matou-senpai and his own water-filled balloon. "This ought to be a piece of cake," she grumbled beneath her breath, "I pour spells into gems all the time… Yes, I know gems are a lot sturdier than stupid cheap rubber balloons, Sakura."
"I didn't say anything." Once done, she patted Rin's head and looked over to the side. "And hey, Emiya-senpai isn't doing any better." Yet another Bang sounded out on cue, though both Tohsaka's blinked at the (unquestionably humorous) sight of the disgruntled boy with his hair swept back. Huh. Where had they seen that look before…?
Archer for his part subtly increased the distance between himself and the boy.
Meanwhile, Ruler X had left his three colleagues to walk about and talk with others while conversing quietly with Hortensia and her Servant who'd stopped by for a short visit. Shielder X even joined both Saber X's in a three-way, friendly if fast-paced spar. Other newcomers Miss McRemitz and Rider X were having a mild discussion about magecraft and other facets of the supernatural with Assassin X; the Viking among the group had little personal experience on the subject, but he learned quick and wasn't afraid to ask questions.
And Bazett for her part didn't mind sharing information as much as her colleagues. "…interpretations and sources vary, but in general there are five Elements commonly found among magi: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Void, or Ether depending on who you talk to," she was explaining. "But given what I've seen of your repertoire, I take you already know this?"
"A little," Assassin X nodded. "Back in the Fourth Grail War, I talked shop with a friend and native magus while we worked out how to make jutsu feasible for magi. What you just said is pretty similar to the five standard elemental natures we have back in my world, too, except that we have Lightning instead of Void." He glanced around, noting their talk was attracting an audience, and a little idea came to him.
He withdrew from his pouch a set of little square papers. "This paper was made from a certain tree on my world that is cultivated with chakra, which makes it naturally receptive to this energy. We use it in a sort of litmus test to determine natural affinity." He held up one sheet which promptly crinkled in on itself. "This reaction means I have an innate knack for Lightning Style. Otherwise, the paper would crumble into pieces if it were Earth, become wet if it were Water, ignite if it were Fire, or split in half if it were Wind." The shinobi then sauntered over to his Master and offered him the papers, Shirou accepting one. "That said, this single reaction applies for most of my world's denizens, but some have certain traits in their bloodline that let them elicit more than one reaction." Collective curiosity rising, the audience watched Shirou's paper first grow wrinkled like Kakashi's, but then it crumbled apart. "And they in turn have a talent for more than one element. And a little more."
"Interesting…" Rin closed the distance to have a better look at the papers. "This world's methods for determining elemental affinity range from tarot cards to personality tests, but I can't think of any that produce such vivid results." She inclined her head towards Assassin X. "Magi can learn to access other elements, though. I assume the same's true for your shinobi?"
"It's possible, but not easy. For those who only have one elemental affinity, it takes a considerable amount of training to be able to perform a second nature transformation." Assassin X tapped his shut left eye. "There are certain abilities which can expedite the process." He shot Emiya a quick look. "But certain techniques and elemental combinations can only be learned by those of the proper bloodline." As his Master nodded thoughtfully, Rin wondered what sort of tricks he had up his sleeve when Assassin X spread a bunch of the papers out on the nearby table. "Anyone want to give it a try yourselves? I guess this paper qualifies as a 'tool,' so I can make as many as I want. All you need to do is hold or touch a piece and channel a bit of od into it."
Curiosity won out, and one by one, everyone present took him up on the offer. Results varied from the predictable:
With Bazett and Master Bulq, the paper ignited itself.
With Ruby, Udonta and Master Tiin, the paper split in half.
With Maiya, the paper developed wrinkles like Kakashi's (which privately pleased her. And received more open (and teasing) delight from a certain few).
With Hiccup and Shielder X, the paper was reduced to crumbles.
With Shinji, Caren and Master Danva, the paper became damp.
Then there were the outliers:
Chihiro's crumbled apart, then the pieces burned away in midair.
Master Windu's first crinkled up before a small flame spread across its wrinkles.
Rin's caught on fire in the upper left corner, split apart in the upper right, became wet in the bottom right, and crumbled away in the bottom left. All that remained was a wrinkly stub; she'd half expected this reaction, but it left her basking in some of her old pride.
Rider's twisted in on itself and curled up into a shape similar to the marking on her forehead.
Bumblebee's folded together like origami until it became a small paper cube in his hand.
Sakura's emitted a bright (but not blinding) light that had an oddly calming effect on herself and everyone else. She blushed a little from comments of it suiting her.
Archer hesitated at first, but gentle prodding from his partner and his own curiosity eventually compelled him into accepting a paper. Instead of the result he'd expected (and would've been apprehensive about), the sheet stiffened and sharpened enough to cut the Servant's fingertip. Maybe this is the final endpoint, he theorized while tossing the paper, its tip embedding into the tabletop. Or maybe… Nah, with our luck, things will turn out worse for him.
Artoria had settled for going last despite her own interest; while she could've tried this test herself during the Fourth Grail War, she'd been preoccupied with other matters. Still, this War was a second chance for many things to her, why not cross this off the list? I suppose the most probable element for me would be Wind, courtesy of Invisible Air, she theorized idly after looking away from Archer's result. Or maybe Excalibur or Avalon's influence may elicit a reaction similar to what Sakura produced. Her fingers brushed against one slip-
And in her defense, she wasn't the only one who jumped when that little piece of paper roared.
It was a quick sound, but one that left its mark. Inhuman, low and powerful, resonating…
"…What in the actual…" Yondu recalled his arrow back to its holster as he looked about at the others. The red-hooded Lancer had hopped into a bug-eyed Archer's arms, the older Tohsaka was pulling the younger one away, some like Deuce, the robo-Saber and Ruler X's interns had deployed their weapons, and even the stoic types were gawking at the papers.
Kakashi himself needed to pick his jaw off the ground. "…Okay," he mumbled half-dazed. "Can't say I was expecting… that." He turned to his stunned best friend. "Any ideas on how you pulled that off?" Artoria shook her head slowly, but her eyes were locked on the paper she'd touched, and he could see the gears turning. And then he recalled her legend…
All the others started calming down again and began returning to their original talks and tasks; the test were all done, after all. Then they flinched as another roar came from out of nowhere, and all turned around to find Toothless backing wide-eyed away from the table and the papers atop it. For those in the know, though, it answered a question or two.
Saber for her part took silent joy in another link of her bond with the Dragon.