Fate/Stay Night Zero

Suzumiya Yuki

Disclaimer: Characters and anything else familiar belong to Type-Moon.

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-XIII-

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Ring…

The annoying sound wakes me up. For some reason though, my body doesn't seem to want to perform the task that should follow. That is to say, I am still sleepy and don't want to get up. Five more minutes will have to do. In worst case I can just hurry up when I get ready to make up for the lost minutes.

…Ring…

But are they still counted as lost if I am to gain more sleep? What a dilemma! I will have to think about this later but for now, more sleep.

…RING…

"Alright already… I am getting up right now!" So I say but my eyes are still closed when I reach my hand up to smash the damned timer! Okay, that is weird. "Where is it? I'm sure it…" Sure it is what?! That it should be by the bedside drawer!

…RING.

Now that I am fully awake the sound is loud and clear but that is…"That's the fire alarm!" Looking around frantically, which doesn't take long seeing as I am looking for only one person, I let out a curse. Not bothering to check myself out, I bolt for the door and down the stairs.

"SABER!"

I let the name slip from my lips as a scream – of panic for I now probably know what is going on after smelling the air and seeing it too. Now you know that air can't be seen unless…I come to a halt once I reach the end of my quest. "What in the world are you…No! Stop right there Saber! Put that down this instant!"

Panic grasps my chest as I run over to the sink, grab a bowl, fill it with water and then teleport to the cooker beside Saber who steps back and lets me power the water into the pan of fire! The frying pan sizzles and a darker cloud of smoke smacks me right in the face. After a coughing fit that lasts a few seconds, I turn to glare at Saber.

The anger and confusion that I might have been feeling left me as soon as I look at her still beautiful face even as it is all different shades of dark colours. I can't see her eyes since they are hidden behind golden bangs. She looks like a sorry wet puppy and it is all I can do to not cry out – 'So moe I am gonna die.'

"Forgive me Rin I…"She stops there and her head moves a little to the right. I turn as well having surmised that she is probably looking behind me and I am met with a black pan that I am sure was stainless steel the last time I used it, which turns out to be yesterday. There is this charcoal black blob in it. I have no idea what that is but…the broken empty shells of eggs on the counter suggest that the blob is eggs – or were eggs.

My heart melts and not for the poor eggs but for my cute Saber. "Oh Saber, you were trying to make breakfast!" The notion turns me all kinds of tender. "I am really grateful Saber, but perhaps we should give you lessons first before we run out of pans, ne?" I let out a soft laugh but it doesn't last long when I see Saber's shoulders slump even more, if it were possible.

I walk over to the first time apron-clad Saber and put my arm around her shoulder in a cheering hug. "Come now Saber, don't look so down. It's not like you are in trouble or anything."

"Really Rin, you are not mad at the attempt to burn down your kitchen and eventfully your house!?" She finally lets me see her beautiful aquamarine eyes. There is no way I, or anyone else for that matter could be mad anymore after seeing such a face! I squeeze a little more at her shoulders to reassure her all the while resisting the feeling to crush her in a full body hug.

"Not at all. Besides, nothing you mentioned is actually burned down. Come now, let's go clean up and we can both make an attempt at breakfast making, okay?" I look at her for an answer and she nods, her face lighting up to its usual sharp and confident self. "Now that's the Saber I know, but first, let me turn off this alarm. It is giving me a major headache."

*

"Alright Saber, almost every breakfast, well in the western world that is, has to have two or three major foods. These include eggs which are mostly taken fried, some fattening meat where sausages and bacon are much preferred, and a drink be it coffee, tea or cold like milk or juice." Having freshened up, the noise gone and the kitchen put back in order with some easy magic, here we are learning to cook. Now I don't want to make a King, no matter a late one but once a King always a King, cook but there is a side in me that very much is looking forward to tasting Saber's – a King's cooking. The thought makes me let an evil laugh slip from my lips.

"Are you alright Rin?" I come back to myself and cover it up with a cough. The thought of being the first person ever to taste a meal prepared by a King sure makes me feel like I am on top of the world. Before that not so distant dream comes true though, a certain King has to learn how to cook.

"Sorry about that Saber. Okay, what we are going to prepare is an Omelette, which is one way of cooking scrambled eggs. The ingredients are as you see laid out here; eggs, green onions, fresh tomatoes, salt, and oil. "I turn a little to my side to be in reach of the cooker and turn on one of the plates.

"I switch on the cooker at medium heat like so. Grab a small bowl and break the eggs into it. Cut the onions into tiny pieces and add into the eggs. Add a dash of salt. Keep in mind to always use small amounts of salt when it comes to eggs, I don't really know why but salt in unusually strong when it comes to eggs. Last but not least, cut a small hole on the tomatoes and squeeze the juice out and into the eggs." I explain as I go about each step. There is no need to look at Saber to know that she is paying attention seeing as I can literally feel her determination beside me. Also the sounds of approval she lets out after every step is enough.

"Before mixing everything, take this time to put the frying pan on the hot plate and add a little oil, like so. With that done, mix everything together but also mind that usually, the tomatoes are cut into pieces and added in. I don't really care for the over powering taste, that way would leave pieces in the eggs so this is very much fine. Add the solution into the pan and cover up. While the heat spreads, I usually go brew the coffee and prepare the table."

We do just that and with two people doing it, it takes less time though enough for us to go check on the omelette's progress and turning as needed. Once the eggs are done, I show Saber how to fry the sausages and bacon which wraps up our preparations. It's time to eat.

"Thank you Rin. This is very different from what I was attempting earlier on." So she says but half her attention is already on the wishes of her stomach I know. Not offended in the least I smile at her thinking how that is so Saber.

"Not at all, not at all Saber but…I thought you said that you weren't noble born! Having grown up a commoner you must have prepared your own meals, right?" A few nights back, Saber told me a very secret bedtime story of her life as Arturia before and after she became the King of the Knights. She had been just a common young person who, on her sixteenth year, was smiled upon by the gods and was finally able to succeed in freeing the enchanted holy sword – Excalibur – After countless times of trying the same task since she was seven and failing.

"Well, I did cook of course but the ingredients and methods of cooking are very different than they are now. The times have changed a lot Rin." She says all this in between eating but manages to not spill anything all the while. What elegance! I smile and decided to join her in this energy regeneration ritual I have to partake in every now and then. Hm…I should add that in my prayer.

Breakfast continues in comfortable silence between master and servant.

*

Skip-Skip-Skip. Hello there cute girl. Nice morning is it not, you over there! Sigh…Of course I am not actually skipping since I have an image to keep – 'you've been in an extremely happy mood since we left the house Rin. Is there something in particular that's made you so?'

'Well Saber, as a matter of fact today is the day the High School archery competition is to commence. I hope you haven't forgotten that I was invited to it.' I answer Saber as we round up on the school main gate. This is my first chance after all to start showing that I care. Maybe I can score some points this time.

'Ah, I see now. By the way Rin, you haven't talked to me about your…situation with this Sakura person.' Cringe. I was hoping to hold that conversation off for a while, maybe if possible forever but alas. Oh well, I guess tonight is the perfect time after the competition.

'Sorry Saber, truthfully I have been stalling for time but I will tell you tonight I promise.' I can sense her nod and that subject is forgotten but just as I let out a breath of relief, a freezing bucket of water is dumped all over me. I actually glare around looking for the culprit but it's then that a realization hits me.

Yes, I am cold but most definitely not wet and I am standing in the middle of the school gateway. This is a magical chill that I am feeling and so does Saber it seems for – 'Rin, did you feel that? The spell has gotten much stronger. I fear it is going to activate soon.'

'Yes, we have to do something before it does. After the competition when we come back, let's look around for the spell roots. I can't actually stop it but maybe we can delay it long enough to derail it from its target time. Hopefully, the caster will show and then we shall force them to deactivate it.' Saber agrees so I leave that on my to-do list for today. I make my way to the gym to say hello to Ayako and of course see Sakura.

As if my day couldn't get any more negating, there is no one in the gym. Forget that, the gym isn't even open! This is bordering on strange since I have never actually found it closed. Am I just early? It can't be, after all there are students walking all over and a quick look at my watch confirms that I am actually even a bit later than usual.

The bell for first period rings as if to spite my lateness. I guess I will have to talk to Ayako during break. I head for my class and sit through Kuzuki-sensei's boring lecture. At the end of his class though, I am forced to pay attention as what he says is this –

"And that is all for today. Also, please go home straight after school today. As you might have noticed, the competition has been cancelled due to the absence of three of the members in the archery club." Students start murmuring and asking questions, which I too want to know the answers to like who, why, where and what.

"The captain Mitsuzuri-san was found unconscious near the school ground and hasn't gained consciousness as far as I know. She is in the neighborhood hospital. As for the other two, Matou Shinji and Matou Sakura-san of year one are just absent for reasons yet to be known. The school attempted to contact their home but there was no answer. In any case the police have been contacted so there is no need for worry. Therefore, don't wonder off after school by yourselves. That is all."

That Kuzuki-sensei, he gives off the air of creepiness but I guess he is a softie at heart. The teachers come and go but my mind is somewhere else. I have a bad feeling about everything. Ayako has to be a victim like the other people who have been filling the news lately about falling in comas. She shouldn't be in a life threatening condition but I will have to slip into the hospital to give her a hand.

The problem now is Shinji and Sakura. Seeing as they are both in the archery club, it is easy to assume that they have also been victimized just like Ayako. I guess the police would conclude the same were they to find their house empty. I on the other hand doubt that. For starters, just yesterday I found out that Shinji's a master as well, no matter how shocking that was to learn. The Matous' line of magi ended a few generations back, well, not including grandfather Zouken. I have great doubts about that old man's age, let alone his life. Shinji being one with a big mouth of course spilled the beans as to how he is able to be a master. Apparently his grandfather passed to him a powerful magic book with command spells. And that is it.

Wait, could he be the one responsible for this dreadful curse on the school? No, it can't be. That is high class spell casting right there and no matter how big that book is, Shinji is still only human. There is no way he has the skills of that level. But then who…Arg I am getting off track here with so many things to think about.

As for Sakura, I have all reason to doubt she is a master and she that could be a victim either, that is to say a victim of whoever is causing chaos in the city that is. Her level of mana is on par with mine so even if she were to be sucked it would take her only a few minutes to get back on her feet. But then why was she absent as well? It's as if something is trying to make itself known to me but before I get to it the bell rings for break.

I should go talk to Ayako's classmates maybe they know something that would be of use. Hopefully they noticed something the last time they saw her. Wasting no time in order to catch them before they leave their classroom, which is just next door, I grab my bag and head out. Getting there, I make my way through the rush of the students going out and thankfully the three girls I am looking for aren't among them.

Makidera Kaede, Mimuro Kane and Saegusa Yukika - These three are the ones I am looking for and thankfully they are still in the room obviously worried about their close friend. These girls sure do make a strange triangle and add in Ayako and they would take the gold for weirdest quadrate. There is the brains with the glasses and everything, then the brawl who is on the track team with really long legs and the other type – the moe type – the 'that girl sure is cute' kind I mean. Ayako closes the gap.

I walk over to the three and have to cough to get their attention. Once 'moe' sees me she almost breaks down in tears. "T-Tohsaka-san, you should have seen her, she looked h-horrible. If it weren't for the doctor's assurance we would've thought she was…was…" That is all she says before she breaks down in tears. 'Brawl' walks over quickly to the distraught 'moe' and hugs her in comfort.

I guess I won't be getting anything from her. I look over to the brains of the three and she sure looks better than the others. "When did you last see Mitsuzuri?" I ask as gently as possible. She says that it was when they left for home last evening but Ayako had to stay behind still driving her members through intense last minute training. "So you didn't notice anything strange about her at all?" She shakes her head and says no more. Feeling my spirits dampening the more I stay within 'Moe's presence, I nod and walk away.

'Well, that sure was unproductive.' I sulk as I aimlessly wonder the halls. I don't even feel hungry at all to eat but I am not alone and my companion sure likes her food. And so with that I have a destination, which is the school roof top where Saber can have her meal. Though I have been the only one who usually comes up here, it doesn't surprise me to find someone else there.

"Ah Tohsaka, I was starting to think you wouldn't show up." That would be Emiya-kun. But of course - He would be the only other student I knew to come up here. He seems to have been waiting for me before he starts his lunch which lays there unopened. He must have information to share which is good for I am in need of some good news right now.

"What can I say Emiya-kun, I'm a busy person. Don't ever expect me to be punctual every time." I walk over and sit on his right. Some time ago, I ran into him on one of my nightly patrols of the school and after a funny conversation that I don't wish to repeat, we decided to join forces, for now. The only reason I haven't wasted him yet is because of Sakura. I reach into my bag and pull out two small bentos which I open and place near me. Sure enough Saber materializes and starts to dig in after absent-mindedly replying to Emiya-kun's startled 'G-good afternoon –S-Saber-san.'

Poor guy is way head over heels in love with her. Perhaps seeing my look, Emiya-kun clears his throat and reaches for his food as well. I ask him where Archer is to get him started. "He went to check on the inhabited buildings in this city. After what happened to Mitsuzuri-san I thought that there might be other victims dumped off somewhere like that." Well, aren't you the hero of the day!

"Well that's good, I guess but did you find out anything about this spell over the school? I am sure you felt it too – it has strengthened quite a lot and I fear it's going to activate sooner than we expected."

"Actually as a matter of fact…" He takes another bite and swallows. "Last night I was here again and I found certain areas where I felt like a little current was running through me whenever I would be over them." That is very intriguing indeed. "At first I thought it was the source but then there were more than one, more than four – From there I got confused so I decided to tell you who knows more about magic and stuff."

"Just the thing I was looking for. Good work Emiya-kun." I slap his back but with more force than I wanted it seems seeing as he chocks on his food. "Ah sorry about that Emiya-kun, but if those are what I think they are, then we will accomplish two things, if all goes according to plan." I don't even know how he knows these things seeing has he has zero magi knowledge. I guess he was just not guided in the mystics. Who knows, maybe he has more potential than even myself. Yeah, right!

"And what exactly do you think they are? Also, what are these two benefits you speak of?"

"Well, to put it into simpler terms, you know how you make a line from joining many points, right? Well, this spell needs to be closed over a certain area of focus. In this case, our school. My guess is that it will be like a semi-circular dome once completed so there have to be more than enough roots for the capillaries of the spell to spread out. If we take away some of those, it means the time of completion will be reduced and this way, things won't go as planned for the caster. This will prompt the culprit to show themselves hence the two benefits."

"But will the person responsible really show up?"

"They have to show for their plans have been exposed and since they are participating in the war, they might want to get rid of the pests, which are us. On the other hand, if they are cowards who don't want to fight, they still have to come and remove the spell. I doubt, no, I know for sure that they won't come during the day so it has to be at night. Judging from the damage I sure hope to do to their spell, they will come tonight."

I can't stop the excitement. I sure hope this is like that encounter with Lancer. I am itching for a fight, a real fight this time. "I will be meeting you tonight then Emiya-kun. Say hello to Archer for me, will you." I put the now empty boxes into my bag and Saber dematerialized as I make my way to the door.

*

It is around ten o'clock at night. Emiya-kun, myself, and our servants, Saber and Archer, are at school going about the plan that was set out earlier today. I have just dispelled yet another 'stem' which makes this the eighth overall. "Well then Emiya-kun, onto the next, shall we."

"Good work Tohsaka, I can feel the spell already losing its grip on me." Well of course, who do you think I am? The strange thing is that we haven't been going in circles like I had anticipated but we have been going to random places.

"Well, the only place I know of that we haven't been to should be the gym." Yes, we have just been walking around the school to every possible place hence why it is so late and we are still here. As Emiya-kun says, the gym is the only location we haven't been to but if my memory serves, the gym is…

"I forgot that it was closed today." Emiya-kun says after he tries to open it.

"Step aside Shirou let me take care of that." Archer says while stepping up to the lock. He has a strange medium sized black sword which he swings swiftly over the lock. There is no sound of contact of any kind but moments later the lock falls into his waiting palm.

We enter the dark gym and I start for the light switch. When I flip it however, nothing happens. "The lights aren't working." I inform the others.

"Leave that to me Tohsaka." Emiya-kun says some words that sound like 'trace' and soon after a beam from a torch lights the area. I am taken aback by that.

"How did you do that Emiya-kun?"

He gets flustered all of a sudden. "Um…Well, when I think about an object hard enough I can materialize it."

"You mean you can create stuff from nothing?" What kind of magic is that? Is that even possible?

"Well, to put it in a nutshell, yeah. But there are exceptions. Size definitely does matter." I am speechless, and Saber too is actually impressed and says so. Emiya-kun tries to hide his blush at the complement from Saber stuttering out some words while Archer grins to himself.

"Alright, I will have you explain that to me in detail later on but right now, let's get this over with. I want to go home." Emiya-kun walks around the gym, we are currently in the indoors court area with the basketball posts. The three of us stand to the side watching him feeling around the area.

"There is nothing here, but perhaps in the back?" In the back we go towards the changing areas and eventually into the back archery range. We don't get to make it that far before we find what we are looking for, in more ways than one.

"Well, I was starting to think that you would never make it but I expect no less from you Tohsaka." They are in the back relaxing area for the archery club where I drank tea with Sakura last time. Sitting in the big sofa all smug is none other than…

"Matou Shinji…What the hell are you doing here now. Look I told you already that I am not interested in your-"

"Still troubling your lovely self over that Tohsaka? My being here has nothing to do with you, well, not in the way you think at least." The bastard cuts me off with a silly smug on his face. There is a twist of anger in his face as well. Heh, I guess he is still pissed at being brushed off.

"What are talking about Shinji? You shouldn't be here, it isn't safe and where were you all day today? And where is Sakura, she is missing as well you know."

"Well aren't you quite the questionnaire Emiya. Oh well, you have good timing for I am in the mood to give answers. Where was I all day? Well, that is an easy one. You see, I have been right here since last night. I slept right over there in fact." We look over to where he is pointing and there is a folded futon.

"As to my doing said activity, you see I had plans for tonight. Very big plans which, as all plan 'A's go, they never go according to plan. In my case, a certain couple of individuals, namely the ones standing right in front of me now, conspired to get in my way. I had to move plan 'B' into action which required me to sleep over."

"So this thing over the school is of your doing then? But how, you aren't capable of casting such strong spells. I am not sure this is even a spell." The bastard, so the gym being closed was his doing as well.

"You are correct as usual Tohsaka. The only reason I am able to be a master is because of this book that my grandfather gave to me but even it is very limited. My servant is the one who cast the thing. Correct you are again for it is not a simple spell but, maybe it's better to be referred to as a 'curse'. Your attempts are to be commended for causing enough trouble to the point of delaying the process for, as I'm sure you're aware it wouldn't have stopped until its goal had been reached or the caster had removed it."

"What about Sakura-san - do you know what happened to her?" I ask as that is the only thing on my mind right now.

"I was getting to that! As you know Tohsaka, I have little to no magic potential so my servant wouldn't be in top form. This thing over the school as you might have surmised was to collect mana for my servant. Now seeing as that plan has been stumbled upon, I had to look to other sources of mana and wouldn't you know it, there was one close by, very close indeed." So saying, the purple haired bastard clicks his fingers and suddenly there is light.

I narrow my eyes at the sudden brightness. I hear Emiya-kun calling out Sakura's name and my head whips around to him. I follow his gaze to one of the corners and…Gasp. I go cold all over. This time I can't explain the coldness but it goes deeper than my bones. I am frozen at the spot, my eyes glued at the form before me.

"I had originally brought her here with me as company - after all, I have my needs as a human being and…as a man. But as it turns out, that Sakura is filled with unlimited mana. Or so Rider says-." He never got to finish his sentence.

I don't know exactly what happens next but I am brought back to my senses by Saber's warning call of my name. I look around for her in a daze and see her facing away from me with her sword drawn and moments later deflecting something metallic.

Looking around the others, I see a horrified look on Emiya-kun's face as he blinks at me. Now why would he be looking at me like that? There is a mixture of surprise and some other emotion I can't quite explain. It comes after the sickening sound of ripping flesh and blood splattering. I look down to my right shoulder just above my breast.

Now here is a curious thing, I see a hole through me with no blood coming out of it as if something is holding it back like an invisible cork. That is not what is curious though - it is when I look at my hands and see them all bloodied as if I have just pummeled someone bloody. Now that has never happened before! I only get time enough to grin silly before I feel my body flying through the wooden walls and into the grassy range outside on my back.

The stars sure are beautiful tonight.

I only get to hear Saber crying my name before everything goes black.

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To Be Continued....

A/N: I am going to read through Chps 1-12 and will re-up them next time.