The Beast's Lair Dare Thread (Pick Your Poison)

[fraggle]

Right, now I can get Neir to write something right?

[Tobias]

say there isnt like a snippet length rule or anything is there? cause I am 1500 words in and not even close, likely to double it before I am done, so yeah.

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Same here, I already hit 900 words and that was just the set-up. I haven't even got into the shenanigans Fem!Gil and Shirou get into.

[Santo]

Right, now I can get Neir to write something right?

That's the way of it.

say there isnt like a snippet length rule or anything is there? cause I am 1500 words in and not even close, likely to double it before I am done, so yeah.

It's as long as you want it to be mon.

[fraggle]

Right

Challenge to Neir:

Idea: Kiritsugu didn't just save Shirou from the brink of death, he actually implanted Avalon on the exact moment of Shirou's spiritual death, meaning that his soul was already getting drawn back into Akasha for it's destruction.Then Avalon kicks in and drags it back to Shirou's body.

A paradox is created. The damaged soul of the entity known as Shirou should have been destroyed, but it is still alive. Thanks to the very timely intervention Avalon it was capable of ignored the fact that it shouldn't exist in the world. Form that moment Shirou's soul is pretty much Shrodinger's cat in the box, both alive and dead. Because he exists and does not exist at the same time the world cannot be sure if his actions are taking place because he does/ doesn't exist in the first place.

But the very nature of his soul has left Shirou completely empty and in a desperate urge to find a purpose he follows the ideals of Kiritsugu, hoping that becoming an Ally of justice will give his live meaning even though his origin of emptiness will doom his attempts to find inner peace, chasing the smile that Kiritsugu wore when he saved Shirou.

of course, the tearjerker is when Shirou finds out that he possesses a magic which can accomplish almost anything, but even that will never help him feel fulfilled. No matter how many people re can resurrect, no matter how many he can save...


His live will never have any meaning.

Please write me the story of this Shirou who is doomed to fail where Kotominei eventually succeeded, to find something that gives his life meaning.

[Elf]

Wow, okay, I have totally forgotten how to write Archer/Rin, but here is something short and slightly porny for Elf.

But it was short and sweet!

So, what is your dare Mini?

[Elf]

Archer awoke with a groan. His head was heavy and pounding like a hammer upon an anvil, and his mouth tasted like it was full of cotton. Light that poured in through gossamer curtains seared his retinas and the room was uncomfortably warm. Automatically he began to kick the heavy comforter off that he had somehow gotten under, scowling slightly at the garish tiger print on the fabric.

There was an odd smell to the room, something familiar, musky, and earthy at the same time. His nose crinkled at it as he scowled at the cheery yellow print on the walls and the huge bed he was on. His head pulsed and his stomach churned. The urge to gag was quickly repressed as he opened his bleary eyes to find out where he was.

And the former Counter Guardian almost screamed.

Deargodno. Deargodno. Lancer I am going to kill you.

Kendo trophies were placed upon a shelf, a slight gathering of dust keeping them from gleaming. A shinai was propped haphazardly against a wall and there were bits of clothing strewn across the floor. Heat filled his cheeks as he saw the black T-shirt and blue jeans he had been wearing last night lying a puddle of cloth on the floor. Next to them where the simple gray boxers he’d been wearing under the clothing.

His eyes widened as he saw his own long, muscular and heavily scarred brown limbs as naked as the day he had been born. Then he saw the green sundress draped over a chair and his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. There was a tiny moan from beside him and every one of his muscles locked into place. Tiny trembles ran from his head to his toes as a rumpled head of brown hair emerged from the nest of covers.

A strangled sound gurgled from his throat at the sight of a pale, muscular shoulder and the slim, almost swanlike neck that it was attached to. Foggy brown eyes met his into a face that was all too familiar. Ice was currently lodged into his chest as Fujimura Taiga smiled at him, leaned forward, exposing more pale skin and small breasts, and draped herself across his back.

“Good morning, Big Guy,” she said with a giggle as she walked her index and middle fingers up and down his bicep. Her huge quickly focusing brown eyes met his and she smiled broadly.

Dear God.

He swallowed as he caught sight of the trashcan beside the bed and the used condom sitting on top of a mass of tissues and dried up ink pens. His heart was thundering in his chest, sweat was oozing from his pores, his muscles were locked into place, and he was gulping for air. Taiga, for her credit, was oblivious to this as small but obvious breasts pressed into his back as she nuzzled his neck and clung to him with lean, muscular arms.

He choked, “G-good morning, Fuj . . . Fujimura-sensei.”

“After last night you’re calling me Fujimura-sensei, Big Guy?” Taiga said as she thrust her lower lip at him, “You can call me Taiga.” Her brown eyes gleamed with good humor, “Hell, I’d even let you call me Tiger!” With a laugh she kissed his cheek and ruffled his rumpled, white hair.

How much did I have to drink last night? Thousands of thoughts were racing through Archer’s mind. How did I let Lancer talk me into that? How quickly can I kill Lancer? Did I really have sex with Fuji-nee?

“You know, today’s not a school day,” she said with a smile as one of her hands wandered down his chest and into his lap. He almost yelped with strong fingers curled around him, stroking eagerly but clumsily. However his length didn’t care and rose proudly to the occasion.

Blunt teeth nipped at his ear as he endured the special hell of Taiga stroking him. He groaned and replied, “It isn’t?”

“Figured you could stay, we could play for a while, and then you can cook breakfast!” she said with an eager twist of her hand that made his hips jolt.

I did have sex with Fuji-nee. Now she’s giving me a hand job. And . . . his senses were beginning to blur together. Lightning was arching in his veins at her attention. He shook his head with a grunt and caught her hand.

She blinked up at him as he turned around to look her in the eye. And nowhere lower.

“Fuji . . . Taiga, what happened last night?” he asked as he kept his eyes firmly on her face.

A frown washed over her features before she looked down. Then her eyes looked back up and she tapped her lips with her index finger of her free hand. She answered, “Welllll I met up with you and that Irish friend of yours at Copenhagen. He said you were lonely and needed cheering up”

“Of course he did,” Archer said between clinched teeth.

She tilted her head and asked, “You’re not one of those weirdos who like young girls, Archer?”

An image of Rin came unbidden in his mind. Rin, who was in London and waiting for him to come after her. Rin who had betrayed by doing this unforgivable act. An unforgivable act that I can’t even remember! I am going to murder you Lancer. Then I am going to kill myself. Alaya taking me back should be punishment enough.

He swallowed, forced a smile, and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well, I know you’re close to Sakura-chan and Ayako,” she said as she started to chew on her knuckle.

Archer sighed and said, “Lancer’s dating Ayako. And Sakura, I knew her family from back when. She’s like a little sister to me.”

“I just know that Shirou doesn’t like you, and Shirou doesn’t not like people,” the Tiger said tilting her head as she blinked up at him.

And of course she’s going to be like this after whatever the hell happened last night.

Instead he replied, “Well, I don’t like the ginger punk myself.”

Then suddenly he went from sitting upright on the bed and then the next he was sprawled on the floor, bare ass naked, legs spread, and his erection pointing proudly at the ceiling. Taiga was scowling down at him, rubbing reddened knuckles. His jaw and cheek throbbed as he looked up at small breasts on an athletic, young woman.

He realized, dimly, that they were the same age physically. Mentally was something else. She stood up, bringing the comforter around her, and said, “Don’t you dare say that about him! Shirou’s a good kid.”

“Better than you deserve, right?” he said, shutting off his emotions in him.

She blinked, stared at him, and asked, “What do you mean?”

“He cooks and cleans for you, all but waits on you hand and foot, but what have you done in return for him? You’re the older one, but he’s the adult,” he said as he stood up, cramming himself into his boxers and then T-shirt. The jeans took a bit more care to put on, but at least his body was listening to his head at the moment and whatever arousal he felt had vanished.

“I know I don’t deserve him,” she said, her voice thick with tears. He stopped zipping up his jeans to look at her. Big, sloppy tears were pouring out of her large eyes as she stared up at him. “I . . . I know I’m needy and not very bright, but I love Shirou.”

Sighing, Archer walked over to her, grabbing a tissue from her nightstand as he did, and gently began to dab at her eyes. “Don’t cry, Fuji-nee,” he said with a sigh and a shake of his head.

Then he froze as soon as the endearment had left his lips. She stared up at him with wide eyes and reached out to press his hair down into his face. Large eyes blinked as Taiga stared up at him. She sniffled and asked, “Shirou?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice stumbling over the words until the syllables scrambled together. Fuji-nee’s not suppose to know about magecraft and all of that. Her world is supposed to be mundane and safe. Raiga wants that too.

She hugged him, and again he had his arms full of naked Taiga. He awkwardly patted her back as she sniffled against his shoulder. “Kiritsugu would have been proud,” she said, each word like a knife to his glasslike heart.

He hugged her close and said, “You weren’t supposed to know.”

“Now things are going to get weird,” she said with a sigh, “I mean, I can’t date you if you’re Shirou. Besides, Lancer got you so drunk last night that you didn’t know what was going on.”

Archer smiled at that and said, “I’m going to kill him.”

“Didn’t hurt your performance though,” she said with a grin and a wink, “I think I’m going to be jealous of Sakura-chan.”

The color fell from his face and he said, “Please don’t say that, Fuji-nee.”

“I’m sad though, Archer’s secret was that he’s Shirou from the future. No wonder you always freaked out when I hit on you,” Taiga said with a shake of her head and a sigh.

Archer studied her face and asked, “Why did you hit on me, anyway?”

“Because you reminded me of Kiritsugu,” she said with a smile through her tears.

He blinked and said, “I miss him too, Fuji-nee.”

“So, do the others, do they know?” Taiga asked as she let go of him.

Archer said, “The Kid, Sakura, Ayako, Lancer, and Rin know. Your grandfather has a good idea I think. Everyone else just thinks I’m some cousin of the Old Man.”

“So it’s a secret,” she said with a grin, her eyes bright.

He nodded and said, “You can’t let anyone else know. Not even Issei.”

“I won’t. Your secret, and last night, is safe with me,” she said with a nod.

Archer gave his sister another hug and said, “Good, and thanks. I think.”

“No problem, it was worth it. Big guy.”

Archer almost choked, but joined Taiga in her laughter.

[Tobias]

Bwahahahaha! That was worth the wait. Though I am angry. I had half hoped I might actually be able to finish first.


Ah well, a gentleman should never try to finish before a lady. Now if you excuse me I have to go inform the dojo that there is hilarilulz to be had

[Elf]

The thing of it is, it turned out to be . . . fluffier than I had planned it. Like I wanted to insert a tiny flash back with Lancer handing him more and more drinks.

[ILurkNoMoar]

Elf... This was beautiful. Archer x Taiga is one of my favorite pairings, so thank you.

[Suncofold]

That is understandable, but I will post a dare: Lancer having a really bad day where he's being trolled by Archer, Kotomine, and Rin at different points. Because Lancer suffering is funny.

Oof, that's gonna be tough. I've never written Kotomine, Archer, or Rin well before. We'll see what happens next week.

[Aiden]

... d'awww.

It was funny at first, but now it's just d'awww.

[ZidanReign]

I just came up with a great dare.

Someone make a one-shot at least bordering 5,000 words centered around this:

[Neir]

Right

Challenge to Neir:




Please write me the story of this Shirou who is doomed to fail where Kotominei eventually succeeded, to find something that gives his life meaning.

Urrr, can you pm that to me? On my phone, and I'm sure I'll need to look at it later.

I'm not quite sure I understand the premise, either.

[Misheard]

I'm glad you liked it, Elf! And for you, let's seeee.

Archer+Issei. Issei figures out his identity on his own.

[Tobias]

“So, were you planning on going back soon?”

Sakura Matou already knew the answer, there was something different in her sister’s demeanor today that suggested something things were different today, and as expected, Rin seemed to wilt a bit under the direct question.

“Ugh….” Rin sighed, smiling a bit sadly. “Can’t keep anything from you these days can I? Rin stirred a bit of cream into her tea, taking a moment to collect her thoughts.

They sat around the table in the Emiya house living room. They all had houses of course, actually, Shirou’s was probably the least grand, but it had a warm and inviting feeling to it that, along with habits set from three years back during the holy grail war that had changed everything, had basically ground it in the minds of everyone present as the go to meeting up face. Sakura smiled at the master of the house, who had got up to prepare a snack tray after she had given him a significant look. He had grown a lot, both physically and otherwise. It wouldn’t have been so long ago that Emiya Shirou would have only stared in total obliviousness if she had tried to hint she wanted a moment with her sister.

“I get a bit more leeway then most because I have to manage the territory, but even I can only skirt the rules so much right? I got a letter from the tower, reminding me “Of my duties as a respectful student.” Like I would slough off my studies because I am on vacation!” Rin grumbled as an afterthought. It was true though. Even though Shirou and Sakura had tried to schedule a lot of fun during Rin’s month long return from the clock tower, she had often had to cancel or only plan half days so that she could keep up with her studies.

That or spend more time bullying Archer. After the war had ended, the Servants who had been able to reform their existence and create a new spiritual core had not actually really needed, strictly speaking, their masters, but most of the war forged bonds had proven to have some enduring qualities and most of the Servant and Master relationships, if not the formal status, remained intact. Rin was no exception. Though her servant was a great deal more withdrawn then the rest, when Rin had asked him to look after her territory while she was away studying he had agreed readily. Sakura privately thought he had been happy to have meaningful work. Ever since she had got back though, her older sister had been pretty hard on the one doing her a favor.

“You really can’t blame them right Nee-san? You did say you were only going to be gone a week after all.” Sakura said perceptively, causing Rin’s head to droop a bit more. One thing Tohsaka Rin was not good at was hiding from her own mistakes. Actually, a perfectionist like her was one who absolutely couldn’t run from herself, so the fact that she was shirking her duties was rare and troubling.

It had taken Sakura a lot of time to figure out why, and even longer to get over the spike of jealously it had caused. She loved Emiya Shirou, always had, always would, and it was a cornerstone of the new life she was building for herself that Shirou would always love her in return. So when she realized that her sister, the one she could finally call nee-san, the person she cared for most save one had been pining for Shirou…that had required a bit of soul searching. It was easier when she considered her sister’s side of things.

There was a to a part of her life that now, filled with so much light and life, she could see for being the dark and wretched existence it was, she would never wish that on anyone, let alone Rin, and yet there it was. Rin could see something she wanted, but would never ever, move to claim it, and thus had started drifting. Waiting for a something she knew would never occur, so just watching and dreaming. That was not like her, and Sakura could see the way she threw herself into other things, studies, magus training, even an occasional fling that always ended badly, like that time with Lancer, just trying to keep moving.

“Nee-san,” Sakura continued after a moment of awkward silence, “You don’t talk much about the tower, have you met any boys there?” Sakura tried to phrase it as a graceful change of subject, but she could see Rin’s eyes twitch a bit, as if she knew Sakura had asked that question with a purpose in mind.

“Hmph, all over the place.” Rin replied with some honest ego. “I get invites a lot, some I even go on, but I almost feel bad. I think I may be getting a bad reputation as someone who leaves love confessions unresponded to.” Sakura had expected as much. That tore it; she was going to need to talk with some people later. She had done enough silent moping and dreaming to see just how bad an idea it was. But Tohsaka Rin was a bit too proud to face head on. She needed…



“A plan?” Emiya Shirou said blankly a few days later. Rin had been packed and sent off, kisses were shared, a few eyes had become teary, and promises to write, call and visit were renewed and exchanged. Shirou had been wondering why Sakura seemed preoccupied lately, and that had been his response back to him.

“Yyyyyyup!” Sakura said, smacking a closed fist into her other hand with a grin. Sakura looked different like that, cheery, upbeat, and almost chipper. She actually looked a bit like her sister, except with a little bit less ego and a bit more warmth.

“We are going to set nee-san up!” She finished brightly.

Emiya wasn’t sure what to say to that. Nobody knew Tohsaka better then Sakura did, except for maybe one person, but…

“How? And who?” Shirou couldn’t figure out Sakura’s idea. There had to be somebody in mind, but he didn’t want to think who might fit Tohsaka’s prickly temperament. Lancer was out, that had been tried before, Sakura thought he hadn’t been a bad person for Rin to lose her virginity to, but even at the time said that relationship wasn’t going anywhere, and shouldn’t. Heracles was a giant, even though surprisingly cordial at times, there were so many mechanics issues there that Shirou shuddered away from the very though thought. Gilgamesh was not even worth considering, and Kotomine Kirei wasn’t just not worth considering, but also, ewww. Sakura wouldn’t be so excited if she didn’t already have a match in mind so…

“Sakura…” Shirou couldn’t even finish the sentence. He didn’t need to.

“That’s right Senpai, we are going to set up a proper Master and Servant relationship!”

“I don’t even think that makes…” Shirou started, but Sakura quickly cut him off.

“Nonsense! Nee-san won’t be satisfied with a guy who isn’t her servant! You should watch out for those kinds of girls you know, they will take away your freedom in a heartbeat, then yell at you for not having any, hmmhmm!”

Sakura looked at him with a grin that seemed oddly possessive. Still, her smiling face, as it always did, warmed his heart.

“I don’t know, even if he wanted to, how would we…have you asked anyone else for help?” Shirou asked. He wasn’t sure how far along the idea was or how long she had been plotting. He thought he would hear first of course, but being a girl, she might have told…

“Rider isn’t returning my calls as quickly lately.” Sakura said, looking a bit downcast. Shirou felt a wisp of anguish at the thought of Rider and what she represented. Sakura would always have a stalwart protector in the exotic, statuesque beauty that had fought so hard for her in the war, but their relationship had grown apart a bit over the last year or two. Especially after Rider and...her had moved out into their own place. Shirou felt his mood quickly darkening.

“A-anyway,” Sakura hurriedly continued, perhaps realizing where Shirou’s thoughts were going, “So I figured you and I could do it if we talked to him, we could make him take the next step.”

“Sakura, I don’t really believe this is a good idea.” Shirou said, trying not to criticize too much, but also really not comfortable with trying to manipulate his willful friend. Let alone actually set up a relationship with Archer of all people. Shirou was truly, blissfully happy with Sakura and all, but…

“Hmmm?” Sakura put her hands on her hips and leaned in close to look at him up through her eyelashes. “Oh my, what was that look just now Senpai?” That certainly wasn’t a bit of greediness I just saw wasn’t it?”

Shirou noted that it was considerably more rare, but every once in a while Sakura could be really scary when she was angry.

“N-No Sakura, it’s just that…well, should we really get involved? Rin can handle herself you know!” Shirou back peddled, hoping to get by an awkward moment. Sakura he knew, from years of being with her struggled occasionally even to this day with a jealous nature.

“I-I know but…” Sakura trailed off. Shirou silently breathed a sigh of relief that the conversation had gotten back on track.

“I like what we have you know?” Sakura turned serious, and her eyes began to shine a little. “Nee-san seems to be shutting herself off a bit more little by little to the idea of finding someone, I want her to have what we have.”

Shirou still wasn’t sure whether or not he liked the idea, but what was a guy supposed to do when his girl looked at him like that?

“So should we call her? Talk to her?” Shirou asked, placing himself into her hands.

“No, I don’t think that will work.” Sakura’s reply was firm, as she straightened herself up and placed her hand to her mouth, lost in thought.

“I think we need to try the other side. Try Archer. He is totally hung up on her anyway, so if we can get him to take the first step, Nee-san will feel a bit more comfortable. She is hung up on him to, but she will never take the first step because she can’t sort out her feelings between Archer and...erm, I mean, she can’t sort out her feelings on him!” Sakura quickly changed sentences when she realized what she was about to say. Such secrets were just between girls! And definitely away from Senpai!



“Understood.” The red knight’s cold voice said, and hung up without a farewell.

Shirou stared at the receiver in shock. That had been…easy. Shirou had expected an argument when he requested Archer meet him and Sakura at a local tea café, but Archer had agreed after he dropped Sakura’s name. Thinking about it, Archer always had a soft spot around his purple haired girlfriend. Judging from what he hadn’t seemed to know when they had been combating the shadow in the time before Archer had been killed and Shirou had been forced to use his arm, it was entirely possible Archer hadn’t been able to save Sakura in his own timeline do to ignorance. He wasn’t the type to like owing someone, so it seemed he was a bit weak to her. They were going to need it.


They all sat next to a large, airy windy that had the area brightly lit on comfortably warm in the early fall weather. Sakura and Shirou had arrived just before Archer. When he too had shown up, to the minute exactly on time, they had somewhat awkwardly arranged their drinks and some light cakes, then settled down to try and have a serious conversation with a man one of them couldn’t tolerate and the other didn’t speak to.

Finally, Shirou sighed breathily, Sakura seemed to be relying on him to break the ice. He had an idea on what he could do to make Sakura’s plan go better, but it was risky, he would have to rely on her a bit. He placed his cup on the table and looked over at the darkly tanned figure. In the back of his mind he noted idly that he was now looking archer right in the eye. Guess that meant he didn’t have to worry about anymore growth spurts.

“Sakura and I,” Shirou began searchingly,” we asked you to meet us here because we were hoping you would think about something.”

Archer’s eyebrow rose behind the cup at his lips, he paused for a moment to finish his sip and then responded, “That being?”

“Well, Nee-san.” Sakura tagged in, causing archer’s attention to shift to her. It wasn’t a large reaction, but Shirou clearly saw Archer blink. It wasn’t a large tell, but Shirou knew he hadn’t expected that. If he could be pushed a bit more before they started fighting…

“Why? What’s wrong with her?” Sakura smiled a bit, but Shirou found himself frowning without meaning to, if he was worried about her enough to ask, he should check in on her more, shouldn’t he?

“She has…been getting worse. Lately, I mean” Sakura answered. “Oh! No, I don’t mean she is sick, but I feel like she needs someone she can rely on. Someone she can open her heart to. And…”

“We think you two are a good match.” Shirou said to help her back, reorienting Archer. When he looked at Sakura he was cool, but attentive, stern but kind. Shirou and he though, they always looked at each other with the disdain that only comes from looking at the worst parts of yourself.

“You want me to…” Archer trailed off, looking at Shirou in what appeared to be pure surprise, then of all things, he laughed. Mockingly yea, but also rich and loudly, neither Shirou nor Sakura believed they had ever seen such pure enjoyment on the cold knight’s face.

“Why on earth, would you,” And Shirou could hear the subtle tenseness on the word last word “Want me,” again, the shift of emphasis “to date Rin?” It was both a hard and fair question. Whatever their differences, Archer and Shirou had the same childhood. That meant the same memories, the same fire, the same pain…and the same crushes. It was like asking your enemy to take away your first love. Shirou felt speechless.

“B-Because she needs you Emiya!” Sakura cried out, growing emotional. She reached out and took Archer’s hand in hers. The act and the use of that named to strike Archer deeply. Shirou wondered how long it had been till someone had called him that, since he had heard, much less believed, that he was truly, uniquely needed.

Archer sighed. “Look, Sakura. I understand you are worried about your sister. But you asking me out here to…”

“She didn’t” Shirou cut Archer off. “Call you out here, I mean. It was my idea. She just went along with it.” Shirou left that statement hanging in the air. If only Sakura would…

“That’s right. She picked up. Shirou was the one, who thought you two should be together, he persuaded me, not the other way around.” Sakura finished quickly.

Archer looked back and forward between the two, and then back at Sakura’s small hand in his. Finally he turned to Shirou again.

“Why?” he asked. It wasn’t the first time, but for it was the first time it sounded like the steel had gone out his voice, he seemed bewildered that Shirou had done such a thing.

“Because Tohsaka is hurting, Sakura is right. Something has to happen. Doesn’t have to be now, and it doesn’t even have to be soon. But the longer it takes the harder it will be, and the more she will be suffering in the meanwhile. If someone can help her…”

Shirou shook his head, but his gaze never left that of the older bowman. “It doesn’t really matter who. If you have or had feelings for her…” Shirou trailed off finally. Archer knew it had to have cost Shirou something to ask him like that.

“…Tch”

Archer rose from the table without a word, stopping only to toss a handful of money onto the table, enough to pay for all three of the drinks, surprising because it was a well-known fact that Archer only did odd jobs when not busy stewarding the Tohsaka estate and was probably the poorest there, and left without looking back. Sakura shifted her weight as if to go after him, but Shirou held onto her arm.

“Let him go. He needs to think, that’s what he does you know, he thinks about things.”

Sakura bit her lip then nodded, rejoining Shirou. Then suddenly, her expression changed and she punched him hard, but with a playful expression on her face in the shoulder.

“What was that you ass, I thought I would never keep a straight face when you said the whole thing was your idea!”

“Sorry, sorry Sakura! It just occurred to me as we were sitting down. Archer isn’t one who is easy to persuade about anything, I thought maybe if we kept him off his game a bit, he would be a bit more honest with himself. You could see he was really thinking. You know…I know the guy. I mean, besides that. He was….up here.” Shirou said awkwardly pointing to his head. “Or….right here” He followed up, holding his arm. “Its….it’s complicated.” He finished, a bit lamely. Sakura nodded to herself, it made sense.

Without him noticing, Sakura peeked at her boyfriend over her cup. Tactical analysis to increase the odds of victory, Shirou didn’t like the man he might have become, nor did he like them, but when they were together, it seemed like they were learning, if unwillingly. They weren’t just representations of the worst parts of them, though that was the part of each other that they couldn’t tolerate, they were also embodiments of the best parts. Archer was cold and cynical, but brave, loyal, and smart. Shirou was impetuous, and sometimes childish, but gentle and sweet. Thinking about the encounter that took place, it seemed like Archer had seemed a little warmer, and Shirou had become a little wiser. It may have been a foolish fantasy, But Sakura found herself hoping that if things with Archer and her sister did work out, Maybe Archer and Shirou could be friends.

“Anyway,” Shirou said, finishing his cup. It’s up to him now. Nothing we can do but wait and see.”

Sakura nodded and joined him in his exit. She hoped that they had done the right thing, said the right stuff. This time, she wanted to be the hand that reached out and saved.


When she saw what the jingling bell at the door of her little bookshop announced, Rider was quite pleasantly surprised. Archer and she had not been close, or at least, not as close as she had once wished way back when, but they were sort of friends. She could always count on him to fix up her bike at cost, or even cheaper, in some cases. Good worker, good man. She had been expecting him for a few days now, now that he was finally here, she found herself repressing the urge to lick her lips. This was going to be quite enjoyable.

“Archer! Welcome to my store, here on business, or pleasure?”

“Pleasure, kind of, I guess.” Archer seemed a little out of sorts. She knew why. She had had a long conversation with her master on the phone a night or two back long overdue actually, it had been very nice to speak to her again, it had been weeks.

“Hmm?” Rider prodded, revealing nothing. It would be fun to see how much he was willing to give out.

“I…need to borrow some money.” He said, after a long pause. That was exactly what she expected. He always did favors for her, so if he needed one, it was easier to ask her, besides, his only other option would be to ask Sakura and Shirou for help, and he was more likely to eat one of his precious swords before requesting aid from Emiya Shirou.

“No, you don’t” Rider said, teasingly, reaching behind her desk. She came back out with a simple white envelope that was unmarked except for the imprint of lipstick. The tease, even settled down, Rider simply had a way of provoking. She was a creature who delighted in her sensuality. She pressed it into her hands.

“There is some money there, but also what you really need. A plane ticket to England. One way. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Shirou if you won’t. You may have to ask Sakura nicely though.

Archer stared at her, looking a bit cornered. Typical, no matter how old or wise a man got, give him a clue a woman was manipulating his life and he they all got that same deer in the headlights look. There was a delicious expression on his face though.
“…Thank you. And also…”

“And also I will keep an eye on the Tohsaka estate so Rin doesn’t have to feel worried, and I will ask Saber to keep an eye on the town. Was there anything else?” She said, smiling sweetly.

“Hmph. No, it seems I have needlessly worried.” Archer said, regaining equilibrium. He nodded and took her hand in thanks. For a moment, something seemed to pass between them, but it was Rider who first broke the connection and smiled. It seemed like a goodbye in several senses. Nodding again, Archer opened the door to leave.

…And then, for a split second, Rider felt a flicker of the killing intent that was indescribable vicious, unfocused but powerful, and then Archer’s presence was gone. Knowing what she would find when she turned around, Rider beheld the reason she had been willing to help Archer so willingly, why nothing had ever come of the heat that came between them.

Skin pale like a porcelain doll, tiny, elfin features marred by a jealous pout, eyes of gold that shimmered with passion, and occasionally, a hint of madness. The strongest knight of the war had returned home, clutching a bag of the kendo equipment from the class she taught.

“…So, was Archer well?” There was no mistaking the heat in the warrior’s voice. Rider clearly knew the warning signs. When Saber had come back, she had come back the way she had been when she had been slain by her former master. Amidst the roiling taint of desecration, the blinding rage worsened by her soul’s rejection of her betrayal, Saber had died by the hand of whom she wanted to protect. And it had cost her perhaps more than even the taint of the grail had.

“He is fine, leaving town actually, he will be gone for a while. A long while, most likely.” Rider said, a note of placation entering her voice. She rose from the desk and embraced Saber’s thin form. For a moment, she felt Saber’s muscles tense up, and then she relaxed into her arms, even holding her in turn, eliciting a smile from the purple haired woman’s face.

At the beginning, they hoped the darkness in saber’s heart might heal, returning her to the golden knight she had been, but in the same time that Shirou and Sakura had reveled in their love (and lovemaking) Saber had only grown more withdrawn. As Sakura and Shirou always spent time alone together, Rider had found herself more and more spending time with the distraught servant. She was completely rudderless in the worst of it, still filled with undirected rage, bitter at what she felt she had been on the cusp of and then lost, she had been broken. It didn’t help that Shirou and her were never able to truly reconcile. Easily they forgave each other for the acts they had committed, by neither, even to this day forgave themselves. One day, Saber admitted that even the taste of Shirou’s food no longer pleased her, it made her feel not hungry at all. That was the day Rider decided to take her away from there.

Leaving Sakura might have been the hardest thing she had ever done, they had both cried unashamedly, but her ward had chosen someone to tend to the wounds of her heart, and if her master had grown so much, then she, as her Servant, could do no less. Winning the heart of the tyrant king had been a slow, long process. But Rider knew, better than anyone what it meant to live knowing you could be a monster, and she knew what it meant to face the evil inside yourself. In the end, Rider thought saber was the more beautiful for it.

Rider placed a soft kiss on Saber’s cheek, causing saber to relax more into her embrace. The rare gentleness on her expression validated their time together.

It had been a painful time for Saber, learning to live again, but with her experiences came growth. The new saber was quicker to anger, demanding, and very jealous. But she was also filled with a passion she had lacked, a longing to live and be free that she had repressed in life. It may have been that she needed to have her bad parts brought to the surface so that they could be safely purged before Saber could move out from the weight of them.

“So I have a bit of bad news,” Rider said to the top of saber’s head.

“Ehh?” Saber replied, a bit rudely. She had never really regained her original refinement. Occasionally she acted just like a rude, boisterous knight.

“I just gave archer all our profits from the last three weeks, so I know we had a date tonight, but mind if we stay in?” Rider waited for an explosion that surprisingly didn’t come.

“Oho? So Archer is out of the way, and we have to spend time in tonight? Wonder what to do~” Saber’s look was smoldering in its intensity.



“Whelp, there he goes.” Shirou said. Archer had insisted they not have a giant send off, but Sakura hadn’t relented on at least her and Shirou seeing him onto the plane.
“Whaddya think?” Sakura said, leaning onto Shirou’s arm as they watched the plane end its taxing and began lifting into the air.

“Honestly? I think Rin is going to kill him in a week, two weeks, tops.” Shirou said, kissing the top of her hair.

“Bet you she doesn’t!” Sakura replied teasingly.

“Bet what?”

“Archer comes home alone, you win, Rin and Archer are on the same plane when she comes back next vacation, I do. Winner gets sole control of the kitchen and bedroom for three days. No, a week!”

“Deal." Shirou said, holding her against him. They had done all they could for Rin. And for Archer to, come to think, now they just had to trust them to do the rest.



Archer reclined a bit it in the only mildly uncomfortable coach seat. The stewardess brought him a glass of scotch over ice, a good thinking drink. Part of him didn’t believe he was doing this, leaving his hometown, chasing after a girl, Rin of all people, it wasn’t logical.

But on the other hand, he, Archer, never chased Rin to London. That boy hadn’t either. He was blazing new ground now; for once the future seemed opaque and impenetrable, but also not unpleasant either. There was no way to know what would happen when he got there, or what his master…and it had been a while since he had thought of Rin that way…would say when he arrived.


Guess he would just have to wait and see.

[ZidanReign]

*snip*

oh god what is this I don't even

[Tobias]

Me settling my debt. I may be a crappy writer, but at least you can't say I don't pay my tab at last call eh?

[ZidanReign]

Me settling my debt. I may be a crappy writer, but at least you can't say I don't pay my tab at last call eh?

Your not that bad bucko.

I just don't know what exactly just happened

[Tobias]

Eh? In exchange for that taiga fic, elf dared me to write what would happen if Sakura tried to talk archer into hooking up with Rin.


Kinda....snowballed.

EDIT:

Well! Since you do not like porn, how about Sakura is trying to play matchmaker for Rin because Sakura seems like the type when she's happily settled down (with Shirou) that she's going to want everyone else to be happily settled down too. So Sakura decides the best partner for her Nee-san is her Servant, but convincing Archer to make a move is something else all together.

that one