backyardbbq | Fate / AU CMO post

[As he transforms, fur and fangs giving way to flesh and a more human mouth, he falls. He may have won the battle, eliminating Rider from the war, but at what cost? He's used up nearly all of his strength on that transformation and subsequent battle, and it takes everything he has to keep from completely faceplanting into the ground.

There, on his hands and knees with wreckage around him, he just gasps for air. Each transformation takes a lot out of him, and while the fights are usually hazy whenever he uses his Noble Phantasm, this one had some surprisingly clear moments.

Inaba, standing there in the open, putting herself at risk for his sake.

The enemy Master, seeing Inaba, and resorting to dirty tactics.

The rage that followed as Atsushi barely acted in time, eliminating the Master before he could do anything to her.

And then the fight. The fight with a relieved Rider, happy to not be under that man's thumb anymore.

Well, Rider isn't around anymore either, at least. They're not out of the clear yet, another Servant could show up and finish him off easily. Or her. Not all Masters and Servants play this war game honorably, after all.]

I-Inaba...

[He can barely hold himself up, but he's still looking to her. He's sure he's a mess now, his clothes likely ripped from his transformation, but he cares little. What matters the most right now is his Master, and making sure she is alright.]

Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?

[As long as she is alright, he will be too.]

[ The whole fight was definitely a lot, and while she should have known better not to lower her guard like that or even put herself out like that when she knew that Masters wouldn't always play nicely, but they managed to make it out fine, even if someone died in the process.

But that guy was pretty horrible, so nothing of importance was really lost.

She crouches down, putting her hand out for him to grab if he needs it, even if she is very much aware he could just go back to spirit form it it were necessary. ]

I'm fine. I'm sorry, I was reckless and put you in danger like that. . . Anyway, we need to get you out of here soon, before any of the others catch us. I should be able to get us quickly back home.

[ She might not be extremely athletic but magic makes up for it, to be honest. They should be okay if she does that, since she'll be a blur to any passerby and once they're behind the barrier of her home, it should be safe.

At least, she's fairly certain of that much. ]

[Fun fact about Atsushi: he's not particularly fond of his spirit form. He likes being solid, being seen, and he usually defaults to just hanging around. Though in times like this, being in spirit form would make much more sense, he concedes.

But still, he takes he hand, and he pulls himself up. He's wobbly on his feet from a lack of energy, but he should be fine. Maybe.]

I'll leave that to you, then.

[Hopefully she doesn't mind him holding onto her hand as they move, though. It's a solid reminder of why he's still here, fighting this fight, even when he feels so worn out that he would like to take a long nap. And by the time they get within the safety of the barriers of Inaba's house, he is going to pretty much collapse onto whatever piece of furniture is closest.

He's face-first on the furniture, but his muffled voice can still be heard:]

Think I could sleep the rest of the grail war away?

Edited 2018-12-25 05:07 (UTC)

[ To be fair, while Inaba doesn't personally mind him being solid from an emotional standpoint, she is very much aware that keeping him like that is actually draining her quite a bit; taking quite a bit of a toll on her. She's fine - at least from what be conceived as from a 'normal human' standpoint, but she was a magus.

Normal left the building the moment she was born.

Sure, she might not have the magic crest due to being the younger sibling in the family, but she was the more competent one of the two of them. Her older brother didn't care about the Grail War, and in fact laughed it off when she wound up being chosen out of the two of them, placing his hand on her shoulder before their family decided to leave the country for greater pastures - "Looks like you'll be getting your wish, Himeko,"

. . . it's true that she knew what she wanted to wish for, but she hadn't even told her own Servant that much, instead hiding it behind a wall of insecurities and slight distrust - it wasn't him, it was her, it was always her - as she smiled and told him that her goal wasn't the wish. It was simply just to win the war.

But that was just a lie that she told herself. To convince herself that was the truth.

However, that wasn't important right now. It's the moment that they're finally inside that she notices it happening and she feels her body almost failing her the moment the door closes behind her and they're both safe inside of her gated (both literally and magically) home, letting out what may be conceived as a sigh of relief as her eyes fix on him practically collapsing onto the nearest couch.

She'll have to drag him upstairs, won't she? ]

If you did that, I might have to join you...

[ Goddamn it, you can practically hear the exhaustion in her voice. The amount of mana that it took to keep him in this world was definitely a lot more than average. Sure, summoning him as a Berserker made it slightly easier in some parts - she had to summon a Berserket due to not having a proper Magic Crest, and her circuits weren't exactly the best, either - but more difficult in others.

The 'difficulty' part being primarily control. It was a given that all Berserkers would get more power due to the Mad Enhancement, but the one she had in front of her, was well... he was like this. The 'Mad Enhancement' part mostly came out in battle, whenever he transformed. But each time that happened, it drained her pretty badly, and this time, she knew that they were way overdue for a mana transfer.

She just did not know how to feel about it, or what would happen if she even dared to bring it up with him. ]

But we can't just do that — I can't, if I want to get my wish. . .

[ And then she realizes what she said and immediately tenses up at the fact that she just said that. She fucked up. She didn't mean to say that, but it wound up coming out anyway. ]

[Funnily enough, Atsushi instantly figures it all out as soon as he hears those words. Or he figures out as much as he can from the information provided, at least. Inaba had lied about not wanting the wish. She had lied about only wanting to win the war. She did have a wish, and it was one that she couldn't- or wouldn't- share with him.

But he isn't offended by this. He's been around Inaba enough by now to know that's just how she is. She closes herself off and doesn't let others see her 'true self'. So Atsushi doesn't take it personally at all. He knows she has her reasons, and that for her to even share that much must be a sign of how tired she is.

So instead of demanding anything, or looking offended at being lied to, he simply turns his head slightly so he can look at her. And when he sees her, he smiles. It's a smile that tells her 'yes, I heard that slip-up, but I'm not going to ask about it,' and his words a moment later confirm just that.]

Should I go into spirit form for a while? It sounds like you need to rest as well, and in that form I won't be draining as much of your energy.

[He doesn't like being in spirit form. For most masters, he would have been petulant enough to demand they use a command seal to get him to stay in spirit form. But Inaba is a sweet girl, and he won't be like that with her. If she requests it, he will go.

After making sure she makes it up to bed first, of course. Sleeping on a couch is bound to be uncomfortable.]

[ She lets out a rather put out sigh when she sees that smile of his, leaning up against the door because she knows just how exhausted she really is, even if she doesn't want to show that sign of weakness to anyone, especially not to her own Servant. If he did press now, she probably would easily answer him - there'd be no use in lying now that she's managed to crack, even if she feels very aware that the sort of wish she wants is one that is. . . pretty embarrassing.

He might actually make fun of her if she admitted it.

So the fact that he isn't going to ask (right now) is a huge relief off her shoulders. ]

Please. [ She usually doesn't do polite, not like this, and especially not in front of other people. ] I'm going to have to take an eighty-four year nap in the span of a few hours because I know that we'll probably have to do a mana transfer once I wake up. . . which I was hoping to avoid.

[...ah. And there's the thing he has been avoiding all night.

He does know that it's probably going to be necessary, especially if they're going to win this grail war. He just plain uses too much of her mana to not need one, which is another reason he would have preferred to have been summoned as a Caster instead of a Berserker. But it is what it is, and he's not unfamiliar with the concept of 'mana transfer'. Familiarity doesn't make it any easier, though.]

...er.

[He's actually sitting up now, and he's turning...bashful? It's a strange look on the guy who has been permanently cheerful (or raging) this entire grail war. But he is young, even if he is a heroic spirit. His apparent age might betray just how little experience he has in these matters.]

I'll still go into spirit form, b-but don't feel like you have to do a mana transfer later. Not if you don't want to. I'd rather it be...mmm.

[And because he is a little shit, he goes into spirit form right then instead of explaining himself. Have fun stewing on those words while you rest.]

[ Unfortunately for her, she just did not have the capability for a proper summoning. That's what happens when you're not the first born, when you're not the one to inherit the magic crest of your own family but still get the command seals that marked her as a proper Master. Not her brother, but her. Of course, while that did cause backlash from her family-- disappointment for aniki, disinterest for her, she took nothing of it as the rest of the family made the decision to leave Japan.

They just simply did not care about her in the slightest bit. Whether she won or lost was no skin off their back, as long as their prized son was still alive.

But she wanted to prove them wrong. Of course, that had nothing to do with the wish that she had in mind. And that's why she chose the Berserker route.

Although when she notices his bashfulness, she can't help but look at him with dark, widened eyes, looking surprised at that sort of expression on his face. It's kind of cute, if you ask her, but she won't say that. Not right now, and especially since he immediately went into spirit form leaving her with that. . .

Geez.

She tugs her center bang a little sheepishly before letting out a heavy sigh and attempting to drag herself upstairs and into her room, immediately falling face first onto the bed before muffling the words: ]

You idiot. . .

[ Yeah, just going to take that nap now. She kind of hopes that she doesn't somehow see one of his memories at a time like this, because that would probably suck, especially since it might ruin the fact that she still has to do a mana transfer.

Even if he doesn't want to, if she wants to win, there's no other choice.

And it's not like she's entirely opposed to the idea, either. ]

[What's that, Inaba? You want a memory while you sleep?

SURE HAVE A MEMORY

---------

"Yo, Atsushi-kun!"

Atsushi looks up from his work desk. He's in an open office, with several other desks and workers doing their own thing that day. Two people are at one desk, looking over a file while one of them types at a typewriter. A third is doing his own work. Another is slacking off and doing nothing but relaxing at his desk. And given the number of desks in the office, it's fair to say maybe four or so more are not present at the moment.

Atsushi's own desk has a typewriter and some papers spread out on it. He seems to be typing up a report on some missing persons, but other than the fact that it is dated for 1938. Next to his desk stands a rather tall man with dark brown hair, who has bandages covering his arms up to his wrists, as well as on his neck.

"Dazai-san?"

The man- Dazai- smiles as he holds up a piece of lined paper that has been written on.

"It seems like we have a break in our 'missing magus' case. Care to investigate with me?"

Atsushi gives the man a hesitant look, but as soon as he takes the paper and looks at it, his eyes go wide. And as he hands back the paper with the drawing of a summoning circle on it, as well as directions on how to make it, he says, "Yes, I would like to."

From there it jumps forward by at least several weeks, if not months. It's nighttime now, and a chill has fallen, given the puffs of air visible as Atsushi breathes. He's running, and he barely makes it around a corner before a burst of fire shoots down the street he had just been on.

"Dazai-san, it's no good! That thing is targeting US, not just the servant!"

Dazai scratches his chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm...Well, that does seem like an effective way to end the fight. Kill the small, squishy master, and the servant will disappear." Given that no command seals are visible on Dazai's hands, it's easy to guess at who is the master here.

Atsushi grits his teeth. "And what are we supposed to do about that?!"

"I'm not going to do anything," Dazai says, correcting Atsushi with the tone that a senpai might use with the person under their care. Then he places his hands on Atsushi's shoulder and turns him around, facing him back in the way he had just come from. "You have magic of your own. Not enough to fight a servant, probably, but you can make the other master regret giving the order to attack you. Show them your beast, Atsushi-kun."

And then he shoves a screaming Atsushi back into the fray.

-------

Hm. What a memory, huh?

Anyway, by the time Inaba wakes up, she'll be able to smell food cooking. Because Atsushi has predicted her awakening, and is making her something to eat.]

[ That. . . sure was a memory, and not one that Inaba necessarily liked, for various amount of reasons. When her eyes flutter open, she just finds herself staring at the ceiling, mulling it all over in her head a little, many questioning thoughts popping up in the back of her mind that she's uncertain to actually ask.

Does she even want to, at this rate?

The smell of food cooking does surprise her, however; enough to make her stir out of bed and change into something more appropriate for the house instead of the outdoor clothes that she collapsed in. Her indoors clothes weren't anything extravagant though; a sweater with a short skirt and thigh highs - something that seemed more cute than what she usually wore, that she usually preferred, as she usually wore pants and a lot of blacks and greys instead of the bright pinks that she had on now.

She doesn't even bother checking what time it is when she walks down the stairs to where the kitchen is. ]

. . .Berserker?

[ Is he still in the kitchen? What's he making? ]

[It's dark out, which means 'evening' or 'some ungodly hour in the morning', but regardless Atsushi seems to be moving about as if this is a totally normal time of day to be cooking. He had actually been humming to himself, prior to Inaba walking in, though he stops when she speaks up.]

Ah, hello! Your food will be ready in a moment.

[He's making omurice, and it seems like he will indeed be done shortly. There is also enough food there for like five people, but given Atsushi's massive appetite it's pretty easy to guess where all of that food will be going.

He's also changed his clothes too, out from his 'summoned' clothes to a long-sleeve shirt and some sweatpants. It seems as though he likes going casual when not out fighting other servants.]

Do you feel rested?

[ Regardless of whatever it is the food does smell good, and she's actually a little relieved that he can cook because, well. Inaba absolutely cannot, although she was definitely willing to live the fast food or alternatively frozen food life. ]

Thanks. . .

[ She really appreciates it, straightening herself out just a little. ]

And yeah, I think I slept okay.

[Admittedly, he only knows a handful of recipes, but the ones he does know he can cook pretty well. So Inaba won't starve in the next few weeks, at least.]

That's good, you were out for a while. I know I should've stayed in spirit form, but I thought you might like something to eat when you woke up.

[He might be fretting a little, though that seems to be his natural state.]

[ That's still better than the zero that Inaba knows. . . but she has a lot of money so it's not as if they have to worry about that. Except for the fact that Inaba is frugal and tends to buy cheap food.

She's not good at this. ]

I did, but you really shouldn't have. Are you sure you're going to be okay, though? I did rest up, but that doesn't mean that you're going to have enough mana for the next battle.

We'll find a way to make it work. But that can come later.

[Look at him, Sir-avoiding-the-topic. He'll just busy himself with serving up a dish for Inaba.]

Food, water, sleep, warmth. You need all four of those to survive. You've got a good house to live in, so 'warmth' is covered, and you just slept. So you need some food and water now.

. . . you're dodging it, aren't you.

[ Just going to blandly call him out on that, she's not stupid. ]

And I know that. I can feed myself? I've been doing my own meals for a while now.

[ They're frozen foods, but it's not like she's had any problems with them before. ]

[Crap, she sees right through him.]

W-well I'm your servant, aren't I? I want to take care of you.

You do realize that's the wrong kind of servant, right?

[ And, again: ] Still dodging it, by the way.

It still counts! I have to protect you. Even...

[Even from emotional damage.]

...

You know what mana transfer means, right?

Of course I know what it means. Just because I'm not some perfect magus that didn't inherit the magic crest, [ she sounds a little bitter there ] doesn't mean that I didn't do my studies. I'm very much aware of what it is.

[ She sighs a little, running a hand through her bangs. ]

And I wouldn't have offered it as a suggestion if I was entirely opposed to the idea. You probably wouldn't want to do it though, right? That's why you've been avoiding talking about it. . . [ That's what she thinks, anyway. Why would anybody want to do that sort of thing with her? ]

Ah...right, sometimes I forget that you're not going into this as blindly as I did.

[Is it story time? It's definitely story time.

But first he's going to pass a plate over to her, and then scoop up a huge mound of food for himself.]

What do you know about the third grail war?

[ "As I did."

Well, that definitely confirms things, even though she already had a guess from the memory she just saw in her dream just then. ]

Not much. How is this relevant?

It happened back in the late 1930s, right before World War 2. As it so happens, one of the Masters involved decided to start killing potential masters before the grail war began, in an effort to thin out the herd of potential masters. Their thought being that, with weaker masters as opponents, they could ensure victory.

Unfortunately for them, their efforts didn't go unnoticed. A senior detective and his trainee managed to figure out that this person was murdering others, and the two went and tried to capture them. But the trainee was, unknowingly, the lost child of a magus family, and thus had the talent needed to summon a servant. Which he subsequently did, at the insistence of his senpai.

Is the plot twist to this story that the trainee that summoned a Servant was you?

You make it really hard to tell a dramatic story, you know.

[But yes, it was him.]

Look, the point is, it's not just about giving mana. It's...really intimate. And can have unintended consequences sometimes.

For Inaba!

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i can't believe i haven't tagged this back since last year, i could have sworn i did

I've been waiting since last year, hdu

top ten anime betrayals right here

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