Chapter Text
Humanity.
Through the narrows of the Red Sea, the vast lands of Europe, and expanse of the oceans, humans have journeyed far and wide. Their curiosity and brave nature has led them through wars and space alike. History made up of events, such as: A maiden’s sacrifice signaling the end of a 100 year war in Orleans, France; the conquering of the seas by pirates and explorers alike, Fuyuki’s Grail War, and even what most would consider myth like the Age of Gods in ancient Babylonia. The Holy Grail, an omnipotent anomaly, capable of altering reality, bringing life into those of script and the past alike has been sought out and claimed by enemies and friends of humanity alike. However, in this instance… in a reality far removed from turmoil, the grail resides in what was once the sleepy city of Unisberg.
“Hey! Check it out! They got the newest game of Cario and Duigi!”
“That’s cool, but are you sure she is going to come? I still have homework to do.” Pip and Tim, elementary boys await to see their hero, a woman of talent and beauty.
The city of Unisburg, population of 22,004 people and a steadily sprouting hub for those looking for excitement, an occurrence that clashes with slow and steady foundations. People from all over, though no one knows where from, come for the spectacle of life there. A spectacle not even children could ignore.
“There! Here she comes!,” Pip nudges Tim, rousing him from his dreary expression. A Japanese woman no older than 30, with vibrant red eyes, and soft expression, calmly enters the local game store.
“Hello again Mrs, your copy is already on the counter.” Jeff, the game store’s clerk taps his post before positioning himself at the register. Pip and Tim stand in awe, drunk on their sights, they stand frozen.
“Thank you Jeff, and the potato chips?,” says the woman.
“Ah, on the house, you did pay extra on that preorder after all. Say your hair is a bit whiter today, did you do something?,” Jeff, a heavier set man, exerts himself bending down for a bag of chips.
“Yes actually, my housemate found a shampoo that goes well with the complexion of our hair. I’d say it worked out, for you to notice,” the woman awaits Jeff to finish her order. Her demeanor full of pride and grace, befitting of one once a samurai.
Jeff rose back up with the chips placed onto the counter,” Alright, and I’ll just ring you up now… that’ll be 60 dollars.”
“And please, add another copy of the game for that boy there.”
Jeff, “Sure thing.”
Once the transaction was made, the woman collected her items, smiled at the children, waved off Jeff and before long exited the store. This was a common occurrence for her on the release of a new game, wake up, tend to her daily needs, pick up her game pre-ordered long in advance and for whoever’s child who had sought their beauty, and then go home. The white haired woman lived in a sizable three story apartment just outside the hustle and bustle of the central city. The very apartment she begins to enter. Upon entry, her roommate, another Japanese woman with white hair held up in a spiral ponytail and pale blue eyes, stands in shock, yet another common occurrence for her. Musashi was always loud and or shocked about something. Whether it’s food, their lover, their feats or the sky being blue, and so she stood there with her gaped mouth and wide eyed expression…
“Agh! Archer! Your hair is so shiny, it really stands out against the black of your horns!” Exclaims Musashi.
“I told you not to point out my horns, no one should.”
“Archer, perfect timing I need you to go get some groceries for the week,” says a young man with black hair and dark brown eyes.
This man is the Master of the house, and by extent the Master of the four women that occupy the house… more or less. With that, Archer smiles her best smile despite her shot home aspirations and leaves their belongings at the door. Musashi continues on her way through the main central floor to where the kitchen is in pursuit of her significant other, the Master.
“Addy, do you know what sake was last in the cabinet? I drank it so fast, I forgot the brand…”
Addy, the household nickname for the Master Adam Stratos, a man of 21 years and 5’6 in height, a resting scowl, all wrapped with a keen sense for vibing, begins washing a multitude of plates. “You know I don’t drink, maybe one of our many guests would know… be it the emperor or that pirate, the pharaoh,“ Adam begins to scrub with a bit more vigor,” or perhaps th—.”
“Addy, buddy, sweetie, relax, we’re just helping them out and having a good time!” Musashi goes up behind her Master and for a big pat on the back, the impact echoing through the kitchen and follows with a kiss on his cheek.
“Yeah I know, I’m just wondering if we’re going to be able to go on our you know, our thing. Our place has become a sanctuary for everyone else but ourselves and the other two,” says Adam with hints of melancholy.
“Don’t worry! It’s still a week out, how about tonight. Me and you…”
“Yeah, me and you…”
“Can eat udon together! How about that? There’s nothing better to lift the spirits!” Musashi stands there with a big grin, as Adam without much contest smiles and continues on with the dishes.
Musashi Miyamoto, yes, the famed swordsman or in this case swordswoman, was an eccentric one. The vagabond found herself helplessly in love with the Master in a time unknown to record. Although, Adam should’ve predicted the events to transpire between his lover and the other occupants of his apartment. Musashi is chaotic good after all, and the life she wishes to live, will be exacted should she manage it.
“My Loooord!” A spritely young woman also of Japanese descent jumps into the kitchen. Her black hair flowing elegantly downward with the wind in her wake, the small loose plating over her exposed breasts begins to fall into place.
“Agh?! Where is your snuggy?!”
“Mhm? It’s in the washer, why?” Musashi walks up to her fellow servant and puts her arm over her shoulders.
“You see Ushi, he’s too embarrassed seeing so much skin! It makes me wonder if he has wandering eyes… agh! Do you?!”
Ushiwakamaru bursts into laughter, as Musashi hawks down their Master.
Adam flustered retaliates in kind, “W-what no! It’s because I’m trying to be on the straight and narrow that I ask for the snuggy!”
Musashi,” Ooh, you have to try?!”
“Ack! I’m just going to keep washing..
”Ushiwakamaru steps forth, “Haha, come on now friend, the Master wouldn’t be so mischievous. But I see, my standard attire is too much for you… I guess I can find something better to wear for your sake.”
“Thank you, Ushiwakamaru. So what did you need?”
“Oh right, Nightingale hasn’t been back yet, should I go find her?”
Adam placing the final dish into the drying rack turns around, Ushiwakamaru is leaning on the counter as Musashi rummages through the pantry in search of her evening rice crackers.
“I think she’s fine, the neighbors haven’t reported anything so she’s probably mellowed out somewhere.”
Ushiwakamaru nods and makes way to her room downstairs, just as the red eyed Archer enters the door with groceries in tow. Eight bags in each hand, held as if paper clips. Archer, “Alright groceries delivered. I’ll be using the tv now.” Musashi greets her and takes the bags, “That was fast, your fastest time yet I’d say.”
“I called on the way there for them to gather what we need.”
“Oh wow, that’s pretty smart!”
“Thank you for getting the bags, if you would excuse me I have to get to the tv.” Archer with haste sits on one of numerous floor cushions and installs her new game into her system as she turns on the tv.
The tv rings out, “This just in, a white haired Caucasian woman h—,” the system activates, and the living room tv becomes washed in green and white. Adam rushed to the screen.
“Archer! Go back! The news report was on!”
“O-ok…,” Archer begrudgingly switches off her game to the news. While Archer, as her class suggests, is an Archer, though her true name is hidden, her title is Archer of Inferno. And she has a hidden disposition, for madness enhancement with blood of the oni running through her veins! Her usual kind and collected demeanor could snap at any moment… However, fortunately for the Master now is not that time.
The tv now back on the news, “ The man was found with his heart being stimulated by the woman’s hand, miraculously saving him from a fatal stroke. The hospital staff, while relieved for the patients, are worried for their own safety.”
The news presents Nightingale, a beautiful European woman who also has white hair and red eyes, swinging around a hospital bed and keeping law enforcement at bay.
Adam, “Everyone we have to go! Ushiwakamaru! Get the car started!”
Within 8 leaps, Ushiwakamaru was out the door and starting the car in the lot, while Adam, Musashi and Archer followed in hot pursuit. Eventually jumping into a classic Toyoda Sprinter Trueno GT- APEX, and upon that action Ushiwakamaru, with all their riding prowess takes off! The door swung outward and then shut in part to the force of the turn, and the grappling of the Master trying not to fly out.
“Alright, Ushiwakamaru take the next left, that's going to be the fastest way to the hospital!”
“Say no more My Lord!”
Arriving at the hospital, the car drifts onto the scene, much like a red motorcycle on the highway, the tires screeching across the cold night’s asphalt. It did not take much effort to catch everyone’s attention, especially the gaze of a berserking nurse. The police chief Garret Milkson, breaks his typical calculated stride and into a frantic sprint towards the Master and the other servants exiting the vehicle.
“Master Stratos! Master Stratos! Get your servant under control! Five of my men are unconscious via an electric vital monitor and by means I didn’t know were possible!”
“I’m on it Mr. Milkson! Archer secures the perimeter, Ushiwakamaru tend to the people and Musashi back me up,” Adam rushes over to the entrance of the hospital where Nightingale awaits with a hospital bed held over head with one arm, the other is placed at her chest dutifully and cordially.
“Master, you should be at home, what are you doing here?” Nightingale asks sternly.
“I would be if you weren’t on the news! And can you please put the bed down, you’re scaring the police.”
“I cannot, they’re threatening my duty to nurse the people within this building, and find the cure for your sickness.”
“You can’t just enter a hospital and start treating people! And I’m not sick… please put the bed down already.”
“No.”
“...”
“Even when you say you’re fine, you’re not fine. I found the source of medicines, but I cannot find the cure for you. However, that can be fixed with brain surgery, in the meantime I can perform medical procedures on the patients within my sight.”
Adam steps a bit closer signaling Musashi to stay back, “There’s people who work here that can take care of patients, we need to go home, look you can help me there.”
Musashi, “Yes, yes! And we can have lots of udon too! Soup does the body good after all.”
Nightingale looks around, “Very well, I’ll contact the medical personnel here tomorrow, let us go now Master, we have an appointment now.”
With that, the Master with his three Servants and Nightingale proceed to the car.
Police chief Milkson approaches them in passing. “For goodness sake, can you just use a command spell next time, we have things to do.”
“Yeah, I can’t actually do that yet.”
Nightingale begins to retract from the vehicle as she pitches in on the conversation, “In actuality, I’m not his Servant and only call him Master out of respect. Say you have a crooked incisor on your bottom jaw, shall I punch it off for you?”
Adam hurriedly ushers Nightingale back into the car, shoving with all his might. Mr. Milkson, “What?!”
“Ahh, she means well! Like they say, no need for braces if you don’t have any teeth! Have a nice night sir!,” Adam enters the car when Nightingale finally enters the car of her own volition.
Ushiwakamaru begins to drive off at a much more steady pace, while Archer plays on her handheld game, and Musashi dotes on the Master. Nightingale is assessing her medical supplies stashed in her utility bag.
The Master speaks out for once during the ride home, “So um, Nightingale, what sickness do you think I have anyways?”
“So far, you have only made contracts with Japanese servants, when I looked into why that may be the case, I found the result to be known as weeb and deemed it a mental issue. Obsession is not healthy, Master, I will remedy that for you. My gun and scalpel are ready for procedure.”
“I-it’s not an obsession, it’s just coincidence! Look, you’ll be the cure, you’re not Japanese right? We uh, we don’t need to bring out any tools and wait, what were you going to do with a gun?!”
“How else will I open your head?” The Servants burst into laughter and song as they rode off into the night, although Master Adam was too busy being relieved he dodged a trip back to the hospital.