It seemed that everybody in the school was talking about Kotomine Shirou. The usually responsible son of the local priest had arrived late - and sometime before lunch the rumors of his engagement had already begun to spread. Some had even claimed that they had seen a ring on his hand - and in many minds the rumors had been all but confirmed.
There remained, then, only the question of who he was engaged -to-. The obvious suspect in many of their minds was none other than Tohsaka Rin - the school idol, who had known Shirou for years now. A few others believed that Rin's friend, Mitsuzuri Ayako, had managed to steal Shirou away as she too had been often seen with him, since they first shared a class as freshmen. There were several others as well, such as Taiga - his home room teacher, as well as Issei, the -male- student council president.
At one point, there were a few who stated that he had even made an entire harem of all of them - as well as the entire female track team.
Many of these stories, though, were regarded as nonsense, and were spoken of only in humor. However, amidst all of the candidates the gossipers had pointed out, Matou Sakura was not among them. Of course, this was no surprise.
He probably didn't even know she existed. That wasn't strange - they were simply strangers.
---
"Kotomine Shirou" by Mereo Flere
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I don't own Fate/Stay Night.
---
For Ryudo Issei, the day had been a nightmare. The rumors that had surrounded Kotomine Shirou had quickly spread, by now having mutated into a series of monstrosities. It was frightening how he himself had gotten entangled into this mess - and even more frightening that so call factions had started to form.
Eventually, it wasn't a matter of who Shirou was engaged to (though they were sure that there -was- an engagement). Instead, they were arguing over who the guy belonged with. At one point, he tried to break apart some of the bickering - with disastrous results.
"And that's why you're hiding out here in the club."
"...yes."
It had been quite a surprise for Sakura when Issei had burst through the door and, just as quickly, shut it behind himself. His choice of hiding places, however, was a curious one.
"Couldn't you have just gone home?"
"I..."
Issei didn't know what to say. Technically, she was right - school was over after all. So, why come here of all places?
He straightened up, pushing his glasses back into place. After clearing his throat, he looked at her and said, "I have my duties as president."
"Which you just ran away from," Sakura pointed out.
"...you're really helpful today."
"That's what I'm here for."
Issei just couldn't win.
---
It would be difficult to explain the relationship between the student council president and the second year in the archery club, precisely because there was no relationship between them at all. They knew each other through different people, such as the club's captain and vice captain, Mitsuzuri Ayako and Sakura's brother Shinji, but...
To begin with, she always seemed to be at a distance. It wasn't just with Issei û in general, she was a hard to approach girl.
Of course, it wasn't as if she had her own fair share of admirers. While she may not have been a school idol like Tohsaka was, she was pretty and a kind girl, so it was natural for her to be well liked. But, to put it simply, she was not a social person.
Most likely, it had to do with her brother, Shinji. Even in the club, he had heard talk of how he seemed possessive of his sister û jealous whenever another man approached her. Even Issei had been warned to stay away from her. However, her own personality as well played a part û never approaching people on her own, nor even going against her brother.
If Issei thought about it, this was the first time he was alone with her û and today was the most her had ever heard her speak. It was a small change, but still a sudden one and he couldn't help but feel that it was for the better.
However, something bothered him.
An empty archery range. Never mind the other club members; neither the Ayako or Shinji were here. If memory served him correctly, there should have been no reason for the club to be canceled.
ôAre you complaining, senpai?ö Sakura asked, a weak smile on her face. ôPerhaps I'm not good enough company for you?ö
ôWha-ö Issei's eyes widened, before shaking his head. He hadn't meant to phrase it in that way û but...
ôN-no, not at all,ö he said quickly, trying to avoid a misunderstanding. ôIt's just that û shouldn't the rest of the club be here?ö
Sakura smiled as she watched Issei become flustered, enjoying his reaction. Nonetheless, she decided to answer, rather than play around a little longer. ôThe captain had some stuff to do in town, and nobody felt like coming to practice if she wasn't.ö
Issei sighed. He knew exactly what that was like; if the leader wasn't around, then it was hard for the other people to become motivated. But that still didn't explain Shinji û normally, he would jump at the opportunity to be in charge.
ôWhat about your brother? He didn't come either?ö
ôAh,ö Sakura said, casting her eyes downward. ôThat is...
ôI believe I may have angered my brother. He probably won't be coming around for a while.ö
He blinked, genuinely surprised. For someone like Shinji, Issei would have expected the other boy to find more reason to come to practice û to yell at Sakura, or try to embarrass her. That was, after all, what he did to other people when they made him mad.
It was certainly a first. ôJust what happened?ö he asked, knowing he was getting too involved.
ôIt's...nothing.ö
Naturally, Issei didn't believe her at all.
---
For Matou Shinji, it had meant everything to begin with. A boy born to a magus family, without any magic circuits at all, during his entire life he had dreamed of becoming a magi.
And yet, in the end the one who would inherit the crest would be his younger sister û adopted from the Tohsakas. A child who had been unwanted in her own family was the one to take his rightful place...
To say he was bitter would not do the feeling justice. Even though he knew what she had gone through û even what he had put her through, the fact remained that he was jealous that she could use magic.
That was why, when the fifth Heaven's Feel came around û the Holy Grail War where magi became masters, and commanded heroes from the past to do their fighting, he saw it as his chance to prove himself to his grandfather that he was worthy. That he could fight and win û surpass his sister and Rin both.
But...
Sakura had been the one chosen to be the master. It was only to be expected û she held the circuits, and she held the command seals. When that servant, Rider, had been summoned there was no reason for her to hand over the seals to him.
No. To his grandfather's eyes, it would simply be inconvenient û pointless. The old man who had seen, time and time again, the Holy Grail slip away from their fingers would not allow his grandson to take Sakura's place as the master.
That's why, even though it was through no fault of her own, the anger in his heart directed at her only continued to burn stronger. For Matou Shinji, who only had his pride, regardless of how false it was, he wouldn't settle for giving up now. This could be û and probably was his only chance to prove his worth.
Still, it couldn't be denied that it was impossible for him to summon a servant as he was. He lacked the magic circuits û and without that, he wouldn't be able to call upon the prana necessary for the ceremony. Without a catalyst it became even more difficult û not that beyond impossible was any more disheartening than it was before.
But, it wasn't as if he hadn't studied magic at all. He may have lacked the ability, but he still held the knowledge. Pouring through the family library throughout his life, he had searched for something û anything that could help him. There, he had discovered something interesting; the specialty of the Tohsaka's.
Storing power in a medium wasn't something that other magi couldn't do. However, in this the Tohsakas excelled, using gems to store their prana to be released later û perhaps all at once, or a little at a time. That was why he knew that if he could get a hold of one of those, he could manage it.
It was his only hope.
---
Today was his chance. Normally, Tohsaka went straight home after school; today, though, he had seen her walking off in a different direction û towards the other city across the bridge. He had no qualms about breaking into her home either; for his goal, there was nothing he would do.
Besides, he had always wanted to see what it was like inside her house.
A western style house, much like his own û but the difference was almost startling. The Matou Residence always had its curtains drawn, and almost no light what to speak of; living there was almost like being blind, and one had to remember where everything was.
Here, however, it was bright û not that he could complain. It made searching for the jewels easier. Every magi had a workshop where they could conduct their research û usually hidden and kept out of place. However, because of that it was usually well guarded û more securely than the barrier around the house, at least. That's why he avoided the basement, where he expected it to be.
Because of that, he decided to carefully search the rest of the house before he would risk heading downstairs. Deciding to begin with the bed room, he headed there first.
---
Had Rin been a little more careful û and decided to keep the jewel in a more secure place, he probably would not have found it. Perhaps he would have been looking until she arrived, at which point she would have caught him red handed.
As it was, though, luck was with Matou Shinji today. The large red jewel sitting on the dresser had immediately caught his eye û and though he decided to look a little longer, he had disappeared long before she returned home.
Which was why Rin herself had spent the better part of the last few hours scouring her own house, trying to find the jewel. To say she was panicking would be putting it lightly û after all, she had intended to use it for he summoning. More than that, though, it was a memento of her father û the last gift he had given her from beyond the grave.
To lose it was depressing û unforgivably careless.
Yet, as she watched the clock, she knew she was running out of time. Soon, the hour of her highest level of magical strength would approach. In the end, she decided to make do without it û after all, she could always find it later.
In that way, the day ended without Tohsaka Rin unaware of the theft that had taken place û nor could she possibly know what the thief intended to do with it.
---
That night, Matou Shinji had prepared a magic circle. Like others before him, he performed the ceremony, relying on the Tohsaka's jewel to carry it out.
Even then, though, it would have been impossible. He had no ability, no talent as a magi û and absolutely no experience. Even a regular catalyst would have failed him û unable to bring out a servant no matter what he had done.
But, fate had smiled upon him.
The one called forth bore a connection to the jewel û to the land, and even Shinji himself. Bordering on the edge of a failure, that servant had appeared as crimson light bathed the walls of the room. The Heroic Spirit, a person that shouldn't be here, nonetheless stood in front of Shinji û arms crossed as he judged the man. Tall, with a tan complexion, the muscular build of the man û that befitting a warrior û convinced Shinji that this servant was definitely, definitely, definitely superior to the one his sister had summoned.
A stern expression was on servant's face, that softened as he saw the boy in front of him celebrate the success that had almost escaped him. A mad smile was on Shinji's face, who had proven that he could do it after all.
ôI take it,ö the servant said, a smirk on his face. ôThat you're my master?ö
Shinji grinned back, deciding to excuse the servant's tone of voice. After all, he had performed this, all on his own. Nothing could take away his victory now.
ôYes,ö he declared, holding up the hand that now bore the command seals. ôThat's right û I, Matou Shinji, am your master.ö
The servant nodded, understanding. ôVery well,ö he said, acknowledging the boy before him as his master.
And, that was when the sword appeared in the servant's hand. Shinji, without any time to react, saw it fly towards his face.
There wasn't even time to scream.