The King of the Grail's Fate (Fate/Nasuverse)

Chapter XX: Two

"No need to be on edge brother, I can barely hear their voices in my head anymore after yesterday afternoon," Annabelle says dancing around and flourishing her dress. "You have a sister," Yor asks very confusedly. "No, she isn't my sister I have no idea why she calls me that-" Harrison says before he feels Annabelle wrap her arms around his waist tightly. "Stay away from my brother witch, he is mine," Annabelle says to Yor sticking out her tongue. Yor looks at Harrison with an accusatory gaze. "Listen I really don't know why she is here, especially because we are in the middle of school," Harrison tries to explain himself. "No, I am sorry H.R more importantly, what are these voices you are talking about," Yor asks turning her gaze to Annabelle. Annabelle scowls before she answers Yor reluctantly, "My name is Annabelle, and the voices are the voices of my parents, creators? Something like that," she says still refusing to release Harrison.

"Listen, Annabelle, I would love to chat now but as mentioned I have school and we need to go back," Harrison pleads with the small girl. "Fine I'll meet you later at your house, AND THE WITCH ISN'T INVITED!" she shouts the last part at Yor as she stomps off finally releasing Harrison. As Yor and Harrison begin hurriedly walking back to class Yor tells Harrison, "You better explain who that is, and I am inviting myself to this meet-up later. No way am I leaving you alone with that crazy child."

The rest of the day is but a blur to Harrison as he is concerned with hundreds of other things, the stress of the war starting to take its toll on him. His concern for Salter's health, his concern about how much time in his day is eaten by preparing and recovering from battles, and the other Masters trying to kill him or befriend him. It was too much and all he really wanted to do is take a break, get away from it all if just for a couple of hours. One break so that he can return at 100 percent.

------

Soon enough school does end, and instead of hanging around school later than usual, Harrison decides to drive straight home, Yor in tow in the car behind him. If not for anything else it was killing him not to know how Salter was doing. And as soon as he pulled into his parking spot he found himself running up the stairs to get to his apartment door, his heart racing. He could feel his heartbeat in his chest and hear the pumping of his blood as his anxiety building. Fumbling with the key, and missing the keyhole a couple of times Harrison finally slams it into the keyhole long forgetting about Yor or Annabelle.

Throwing the door open Harrison yells out into the apartment, "SALTER ARE YOU OKay..." his words die on his lips as he sees Salter washing dishes quietly looking at him very confused. "Oh thank god, I had this terrible feeling like something was wrong." Harrison breathed a sigh of relief. It is then that Yor catches up to Harrison out of breath from sprinting after him, "What is with you, and how are you so fast... SABER WHY ARE YOU UP!" Yor switches quickly from questioning Harrison to berating Salter.

"There were chores to be done," Salter responds matter of factly, though as she takes a step the sway in her form is clear to both Harrison and Yor as they rush in to support her. "No no no, you are not ready to be standing yet, you need more rest I am sorry," Yor says trying to comfort the knight. "A Knight cannot sit still and rest for days when there are battles to be won, and who will keep up with Righter's training," she protests.

"Berserker can handle that," a childlike voice says from the open door. When the three of their gazes all meet the door, they see Annabelle and Sakata standing before the door frame. In their shock, Annabelle continues, "I thought I said the witch wasn't invited." Yor is clearly upset by this notion, "I am no witch!" Harrison sighs leaving the two girls to argue as he takes Salter into his arms carrying her to the bedroom. Surprisingly she seems lighter than he would have thought, or is he more muscular than he remembers. "Let's get out of there while we still can," Harrison whispers to Salter as they slip away.

Laying her down in the bed he makes sure that she is set up comfortably, and he looks around his room when finally his eyes land on what he was searching for. He picks one of his favorite books up and places it on the nightstand next to Salter in case she wants to read. Placing a hand on her forehead before moving her bangs out of the way, Harrison plants a light kiss on her forehead. "Just a little longer okay, after all, it takes a strong will to do something when no one else will, but the strongest will to do nothing when there is something to be done," Harrison whispers trying to console Salter before he leaves the room following the sound of arguing.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO BREAKS, SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BECOME HIS MOTHER!" Annabelle is shouting at Yor. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER MASTER COULD BE ON HIS HEELS AT ANY MOMENT AND BAM THAT'S IT!" Yor retorts angrily. One could metaphorically cut the tension with a knife at this point as sparks could be seen flying between the two girls as they stared each other down. 

"What are you two arguing about," Harrison says sheepishly trying to deescalate things. "THE HOLY GRAIL WAR NOW BUTT OUT!" the two girls say in harmony. "Well, shouldn't I be a part of the conversation then," Harrison tries again to get involved. "Fine," Yor says pulling him to her side physically. "Harrison you'd agree we should keep up the training and our preparedness for battle, and not let someone who works and is controlled by an enemy join our alliance," Yor says throwing Harrison under the bus. "Ummmm Yor," he tries to get out before getting cut off by Annabelle as she pulls him to her side.

"I'll have you know there is no reason to, Harrison isn't on the radar for any of the big shots, he isn't worth their time, and the other Master is still recovering from their last battle, because unlike Harrison he can't have his chest blown out and get up and walk away five minutes later. ALSO, I AM NOT CONTROLLED BY THE ENEMY JUST INFLUENCED, AND THAT ENDS WHEN THE MASTER HARRISON ALREADY FOUGHT IS BEATEN." Annabelle says stomping her foot. "If anything we should focus on potentially getting another servant, as clearly our teamwork is minimal," Annabelle continues. Yor grabs Harrison's free shoulder and tries to pull him away, "Finally something we can agree on, I should get a second servant," Yor says. 

"YOU SHOULD GET ONE, WHAT MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL," Annabelle says fighting with Yor for Harrison. "That is my secret, Annabelle you wouldn't know as a little girl," Yor teases the girl. Suddenly an uneasy feeling washes over all of them causing both Berserker and Caster to materialize in the cramped room sensing the distress. Harrison feels queazy as the world starts to spin, his vision becoming a distorted shade of red. Yor and Annabelle go from pulling Harrison in opposite directions to leaning all their weight on him as they lose feeling in their legs, a sense of fear only equivalent to facing an unstoppable, or a true predator staring down a helpless prey.

"ENOUGH!" a voice echos through the room causing the servants as Salter makes the presence known having to limp out of the hallway clearly in a lot of pain, and very angry. "Both of you are acting like children, this is no time for senseless arguing. If the only one who knows of us is out of commission we take a rest break tomorrow and look into how to get Yor a second servant," Salter continues. Harrison is surprised that she voted for Yor's second servant and not his. "Annabelle you will accompany Yor and you two will get along, or I will make you get along forcefully," Salters voice harsh like nails on a chalk board lectures the two girls. Salter takes a sharp inhale as if preparing for a long rant, "Oh one last thing, Harrison and I are going to the beech."

"WHAT!?!?!!!?" They all say in unison.