Fuyuki City
Matou Residence
30 January
The Sun peeked over the horizon, casting its rays on the city of Fuyuki. The rays passed through the window of a certain room in Matou Residence, waking up its occupant.
"Hmm?" Sakura mumbled as she groggily sat up and rubbed her eyes. It was a new feeling for her, to have slept so peacefully without any distractions.
"I take it, you had a pleasant night. Master." Sakura slowly looked beside her to see a young man, about her age, calmly looking at her.
' Soeverythingthathappenedlastnightwasn't adream.' Sakura thought as she recalled everything that happened last night, everything that felt like a dream to her. Both pleasant and otherwise.
" I can assure you I and everything that happened last night are very much real."
— — — — —
Flashback
A heroic spirit, Spirits of heroes who achieved great deeds in life, having become objects of worship after their deaths. From time immemorial, to future, any who contributed to human history or played a part can be summoned as Heroic spirit.
And here she was being carried, like that to princess being carried with just one of his arm, and treated with kindness by one such, Heroic Spirit.
Sakura shivered as the night breeze passed over her bare body, something her servant didn't fail to notice.
"Forgive me, Master. I forgot your lack of any garments and brought you out in such condition." Rider slowly lowered her, allowing her to stand on her own feet, and extended his arm outward, as in his arm a majestic Crimson cloak manifested which he wrapped around her.
"Thank you." Sakura quietly mumbled, not raising her voice, as she felt the cloak.
The cloak which made it as though, the cold and the breeze suddenly disappeared, and felt as though it's softest thing she ever felt.
"No need to thank me, Master. So long as I am materialised in this world it is my solemn obligation to make sure you are content." Rider said as he sat on the roof, of the Matou residence. An action Sakura followed, still using the mystical cover herself.
"Now that we are away from those filths, we can formally introduce ourselves and affirm our contract." Rider cheerfully nodded to himself, as he looked at Sakura with starry eyes before slightly bowing. "Ladies first."
Sakura stayed quiet for a while, looking at Rider who patiently waited for her to introduce herself.
"Sakura. M-Matou Sakura." Rider raised his brows at that, before smiling at his master.
"Matou Sakura. What a wonderful name." Rider placed his hand on his chest, before proudly introducing himself. "ServantRider, Ankit, SonoftheRakshasiSara. Though if you wish, you can just call me Rider."
Sakura didn't recognise Rider, but she did recognise and understand a key thing from his introduction. Primarily "Rakshasi", which seemed key things to him.
While not necessarily knowing Rider, or now introduced Ankit, she could make a guess as to how his history must be. She associated Rider, with figure like Ushiwakamaru.
Someone raised by a Non-Human creature, and then that person carving their name in history.
Even then, there was doubts in her heart. She didn't know him to fully trust him.
"Is there anything wrong?" Rider asked as he sensed slight hesitation from her. Sakura finched at that, before taking a deep breath and calming down.
"Why?"
"Why, what exactly?" Rider tilted his head, clearly not understanding her question.
"Why choose me as your master? Why show such kindness towards me?" She tightly clung to the cloak, her voice growing laced with fear and hesitation.
A moment of silence followed her question, neither of the duo spoke. Something that made her want to run away, to hide somewhere and never to be seen.
"Why? Huh?" Rider tapped his chin, as a smile appeared on his face, a smile that made her feel assured and safe.
"Well firstly, the grail choose you as one of the master, and you are extremely compatible with me as to why I was summoned. So me choosing that fake over you was simply not possible." Rather than hastily explaining everything, Rider chose to slowly and gently explain everything to her.
"As for the other question. That's just who I am, had it been anyone else in your position I would have acted the same way." Rider turned towards the moon, looming over them, showing its shine and beauty.
"It doesn't take much to show kindness and help to someone who is facing a difficulty."
" I know it must be strange to be thrust into something like this war, that too with a stranger." Rider said as he extended his hand towards Sakura. " Though I ask you to put your faith in me and trust me for the duration of this event."
FlashbackEnd
— — — — —
" How long have you been there, Ankit-san?" Sakura looked at the Heroic Spirit that she has formed contract. " You haven't been there the whole night, Right?"
Rider simply nodded at her words, he had been educating himself in the world current situation, especially of the land he was born in and the land he found himself in.
" Worry not, I haven't done anything to those filths as you instructed." Sakura didn't know what to feel at those words, whether to feel relieved or not.
"And do call me Rider, we don't know when we may encounter an enemy. You calling me by my name may expose my identity."
Sakura nodded before getting out of bed, as she did Sakura slowly realised something strange about herself.
" I-I don't remember wearing t-this dress." Sakura looked at the night gown she was wearing, not remembering putting that on last night, no she didn't remember putting anything on last night.
" After our brief talk last night, you fell asleep. So I brought you to your room and dressed you in an appropriate garment."
" How did you know of my room?" Sakura changed the topic, not wanting to linger on the fact someone else had to dress her and put her to bed, as though she were some child.
"I followed the room where your scent was most prevalent." Sakura started to feel more embarrassed as the conversation continued.
" Though I must ask, is it not too early for you to wake up?" Rider looked out the window, the sun had just risen. Most would wait for more to start their day, at least that what he believed.
" I have Archery classes early on." Sakura said as she shook her head.
"Archery classes?" Sakura could see stars in Riders eyes, something se didn't quite understand." You are an archer?"
" Well…I do practice archery." The shine in Rider's eyes only intensified at her words.
" Yes, you truly are a wise woman master. You understand the brilliance of archery." Rider nodded at his own words, proudly looking at his master. " It's decided, I shall accompany you and help improve your archery skills."
" You know archery?"
"That and a lot, Master."
— X — X — X — X — X — X — X — X —
A/n: Interesting fact, Ankit as a name means means Marked out, conquered, noted. But it also means, from multiple sources, The Chosen One.
The Heroic Spirit, Mc, is an reincarnated oc with knowledge of Zero and partially UBW.
And the Heroic Spirit, is partially of Indian Origin in modern world.
And lastly the ch may feel rushed, may rewrite/ change it a bit in future