Fate/Burning Will

Chapter 8: Raging Fire

Hello everyone, I'm back with some more Fate/Burning Will goodness. School's been killing me lately so this came out later than I wanted, but I managed to get it out. On another note, I've seen that some of you are wanting an update on my Aureliashipping fanfic. I'll fully admit that I am lacking in motivation for it, as it was initially a spitball idea that I started on a whim. Regardless, I will see it through till the end (one way or another, I plan to finish all my fanfics; I don't like discontinuing things abruptly).

With that said, here's chapter 8. Hope you enjoy.

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Saber knew something was wrong.

She had instinctually woken up in the middle of the night, as if she had a gut feeling that something had happened to Natsu. He wasn't in the room with her, and when she went outside to look for him, he wasn't there. What she did see, though, were threads all over the place. They extended far away from the house, almost forming a path on their own. This was what Saber needed to follow to find Natsu, and that she did.

Now in her battle attire, she followed the path laid out by the threads. This led her to a long stairway, which itself led to Ryuudou Temple. She had tried to go through the side, but a Bounded Field that repelled the very concept of Heroic Spirits had been put up. She was forced to go through the front, and up the staircase she went. That is, until she saw someone waiting at the entrance, his presence enough to force her on guard.

Clutching her invisible blade, she confronted the man, although she was several staircases below him.

"If I may, what Servant class are you?" She asked.

"The Assassin-class Servant," he responded almost immediately, before going a step further and revealing his identity, "Sasaki Kojirou."

The fact that he had revealed himself to her was a shock in itself. Servants typically refrained from revealing their identities, as their identities also included their weaknesses. However, Assassin had revealed himself without a second thought.

"Isn't it natural to identify oneself before combat?" He questioned, seeing her confusion.

"When my opponent identifies himself, I am honor-bound as a knight to do the same. Once I have done so, I will force you to step aside," she answered, prepared for battle, "My name is-"

"No matter," he cut her off, drawing his blade from its sheath, "My blade will tell me all I need to know of my enemy. If you wish to pass, then force your way through."

In that moment before they could clash, the barely visible threads that extended past the temple began to burn up. It wasn't just there, either. The flames spread through the entirety of the threads, likely even reaching back to the Emiya household where they originated. This feat could only be accomplished by one person.

Saber smiled knowingly. Natsu was just fine.

"I accept your challenge," she declared, and the battle commenced.

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As Natsu prepared to battle Caster, he heard the sounds of blades colliding with one another. On top of that, he caught the scents of two people, one of whom was familiar to him.

"Saber's here, too," Natsu grinned, "There's no way we're losing now, especially not to someone like you."

"You're that confident in your victory? Surprisingly enough, that dog Assassin is keeping her at bay better than I expected."

"Assassin? Is that another Servant? So, you're working together."

"Me, working with him, who is merely my pawn?" She questioned before laughing hysterically at the prospect, "He has no Master, you see."