24-hour Hotel in Fuyuki

Yui and Lazarus entered Shinto, the bright, modernized downtown district after a few hours of walking. She looked behind her warily. Kirei was following behind, but at just enough of a distance to appear creepy. Of course, only the three of them knew that all four Servants were also present between them. She'd asked them all to remain in Spiritual Body when they reached the populated city center.

Having the deadly priest walking behind her made her skin crawl, but Kirei seemed to not even notice them. For the entire walk to Shinto he only stared at the ground, apparently deep in thought. She still didn't like it.

"Hold on one second." Yui stopped the group not outside a hotel, but a department store near the river. "We should get our four friends some clothes so they can walk around in their Material Bodies without getting weird looks."

Lazarus nodded energetically. "I definitely agree! But let's be quick about it. I think everyone could use a good rest." He headed into the store with Yui, letting her pick the clothes. He was sure she was much better at it than he. The mage appointed himself as bag carrier though, to contribute at least a little. They finished their walk to the hotel and checked into their rooms, finally able to sit down and rest.

Caster changed into his outfit, shimmying on the tight jeans and short sleeved button down shirt that accentuated his figure. He turned in the hotel room mirror, looking at every angle. "Oh my...! This modern fashion doesn't leave much to be desired, I see!" He smirked and tossed his hair over a shoulder.


Rider whirled behind him, the folds of an A-line skirt sewn over a pair of short shorts. Flamingoes danced in line across his lime green tank top, his hair full of small decorative clips. "I love trying on clothes!! And you look so handsome, Phillipus!" He grinned when the taller Servant gave him a flattered chuckle behind one hand.

Atalanta had jeans and a simple t-shirt. She was also given a hat to hide her ears, but it wasn't necessary at the moment. She had also asked to have some shorts for sleeping, as the jeans didn't seem horribly comfortable. She sat on the bed, picking at the hem of her shorts and lazily moving her tail back and forth. She glanced over to Kirei. There were two rooms, and she had decided to stay with him. He seemed rather sullen. She padded over to his bed and sat beside him, though she didn't know what to say.

Rider ran through the doors connecting the rooms. He jumped on the bed, gently catching Atalanta's tail and giggling. "Got you~!"

"Astolpho, please..." she said taking her tail back away from him.

"Aww, okay." He let go and lay on his stomach next to her, quiet for a while. "Are you... okay?"

"I was more concerned about Kirei..." she said, looking to her former master.

Kirei stared blankly out the window for some time, before sighing gently. "I am... not certain," he answered at length. "I thought I was close to finding an answer. Now that I'm not a Master..." He looked down at his hand. "Even if their plan to utilize the Grail works, I might never get it."

His servant put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "They seem...very open. Almost ridiculously so...I'm sure they will share whatever knowledge they have with you. Perhaps they can help you where the grail war failed? "

"I don't know... I still don't know why a person like me was even chosen. I have no wish for the Grail. If I ever had a wish, it would only be to find out why I was chosen. Perhaps if I do see the Grail being summoned, I can learn something."

He rubbed his eyebrows. "I also must apologize. We were defeated very swiftly, though I don't think there's anything I could have done differently. I stayed with you and was killed by Berserker. If I had separated from you, I would have been killed by a trap. If I had stayed behind altogether, the four of them would have swiftly overwhelmed you."

"We never did have much of a chance. I'm surprised they won so easily, considering how... soft they are. But everything seemed to fall into place for them."

Atalanta shrugged, "It's fate. And if their plan works, then we'll all get what we want. I'm sure Lazarus will find you a great curiosity, being chosen by the grail when you have no wish." she smirked as she teased Kirei.

He grimaced at the thought of Lazarus finding him a "curiosity." "So then, what do you plan to do in the meantime? While we wait for them to put their plan into motion? Are you still planning on contracting with one of them?"

"If my writing takes too long, then yes. I think that Lazarus is very interested for someone to contract with his servant, especially, so that he may study it. At least, I think that's what he was yapping about on the way here. I agree with their view that the future servants should have knowledge of past encounters, so I will do my best to record my experience for a possible next incarnation, or simply for posterity in general. After that, then I will simply go to the grail. I'm not horribly interested in anything in this time, and staying would only be a strain on someone's mana, whether it be mine or someone else's. "

Rider gasped. "But! You're my best friend here!! You have more time than I do! I should be the one..." Tears welled up in his eyes and he sighed. "I'm always such a crybaby..." He sat up and leant against Atalanta, hugging her waist.

"Kirei-san, you did your best. You stayed with us, and looked after us for as long as you could. You were doing what you were told, and only looking for your own answers, right?"

Atalanta hugged her companion, "It's alright. We will both go eventually, but you are much more sociable than I. I feel like you will easily make friends with the others. I want you to have a chance to do that. Kirei was a good master, but I think if one of them had found you, you would have been better off. Happier..."

He gasped in offense, then ran over to cover Kirei's ears. "I'm perfectly happy where I am!! Don't make him feel self-conscious! Just because I'm having fun now doesn't mean I couldn't before!" He moved his hands, one on Kirei's shoulder and the other perched on his hip, expression indignant.

"It's been an honor to spend time with you both as a Heroic Spirit of the War. Sure, it was hard at first! I've been through a lot! But we all have! We both lost masters and can relate that way! Kirei-san lost his father, too! That means that we should stick together! Well, until now I guess." Rider's presence changed, letting everyone within range know that the babbling brook of his words was about to run free.

"I guess since Kirei-san's command spells are gone, everything's changed. Now Caster has them all, doesn't he? Hey! He's so handsome, don't you think?? Although Yui-san and Berserker are total cuties, too!! You noticed, right? Ahh, I used to spend so much time with the ladies in my day! Oh, you're beautiful too, Atalanta, of course! But you're more of an older sister to me, you know? Anyways..."

Atalanta chuckled as he went on, and thanked him for the compliment. When his torrent of words slowed, she said, " You see? You're much better in this world than I am. Perhaps you can cuddle with Paracelsus. I'm sure he'd enjoy it. Also, I did not say Kirei was not a good master. I simply implied that the others might have been a better fit for your personality."

Kirei grumbled. "You don't need to defend my honor, Rider. I'm fully aware that most people can't get along with me. It doesn't offend me."

Astolfo blushed and jumped back from Kirei, bowing twice in quick succession and apologizing. "Sorry, Kirei-san..."

However sad it made him, he had to consider Atalanta's words. He didn't want to admit it, but she was right. "I'll... I'll take the contract with Phillipus. Just stay with me until you're ready to go?"

"Of course I will," she assured him. "My time with both of you has been worth visiting, even if my wish doesn't get passed on."

He beamed happily and grabbed her hands, swinging them between them. "Astolfo and Atalanta, best friends forever~! We'll have to let every incarnation of us know that!"

She smiled warmly, letting him swing her hands, " I definitely agree. I'll make sure to make a note of it in my writings."

While they spoke, Kirei appeared lost in thought again. Finally he looked up into Archer's eyes. "Atalanta. Everything you said the morning after the Dead Apostle battle. You still mean it, don't you?"

She nodded, "Of course. I wouldn't say it otherwise. But my biggest hope for you is that you find balance. Even if pain is what satisfies you, one must know when to take satisfaction and when to be patient and wait for it."