Chapter Seven: Night of War

Normal POV

Logan's senses sharpened as he caught a whiff of the familiar scent of rich coconut his body tensing instinctively "ehh, Logan-sensei?!" Rin Tohsaka's voice broke through the haze of combat her tone confused.

"Rin?" Logan replied cautiously shifting into a defensive stance his eyes narrowed as the girl's gaze landed on Shirou's still body and she let out a blood-curdling scream.

"Emiya!" Rin cried rushing to Shirou's side dropping to her knees beside him. Her hands trembled as they hovered over his lifeless body her expression frozen in shock "Emiya... damn it why did it have to be you of all people..." her voice cracked and tears began to well in her eyes.

Logan his voice low and grim said "it's too late kid I tried to stop the man the man that killed but he got the best of me," 

Rin wasn't listening though opting to ignore Logan completely she pulled out the red gemstone that hung around her neck the one her father had given her before the Fourth Holy Grail War. Filled with twenty years of stored magic it glowed with a deep pulsating light as Rin held it over Shirou's body.

"I won't let you die!" she exclaimed pouring all of her magic into the gem. A flash of brilliant red light enveloped Shirou's body the powerful magic working to reverse the fatal wound. Logan watched in silence arms crossed he had met many mages in his long life but never once did he think his student was one.

Shirou's chest rose and fell as his body slowly mended itself the spear wound closing. After a few tense moments his breathing became steady, and color returned to his face. Rin let out a shaky breath of relief but then her gaze snapped to Logan, eyes filled with suspicion.

"Why are you here, Logan-sensei?" Rin's voice was hard her usual haughty tone making a return. "what were you doing near Shirou's body?" she stood taking a step back, her fingers twitching as though ready to cast another spell.

Logan's raised his hands up in a surrender pose "easy there Rin...it's like I told you I was trying to save him earlier" his tone was sharp but calm otherwise not liking where this was headed.

Rin narrowed her eyes and extended her hand muttering an incantation under her breath "sigh...I see well I can't have you remembering any of this so forget everything you saw tonight-"

Logan felt a pressure in his mind as Rin attempted to erase his memories but it barely registered. His healing factor quickly nullified whatever magic she was trying to use on him. His patience thinning Logan let out a low growl and without a word extended the claws of his right hand with a metallic SNIKT their gleaming edges catching the moonlight.

"I'm no damn civilian," Logan growled letting his claws speak for themselves "and I don't take kindly to people messing with my head, so I'd kindly suggest you stop whatever the fuck it is your doing kid otherwise you won't like what I'll do."

Rin froze, eyes wide with shock, but before she could react a shimmering figure appeared beside her in a blur of black and red—Archer. He stood protectively by her side his steel gray eyes locked onto Logan with a cold calculating stare.

"Rin stand back," Archer said his hands materializing a pair of twin swords before settling in a defensive stance "if he's a threat I'll handle it."

Logan barely glanced at Archer keeping his attention on Rin "relax I'm not here to fight you or your pet buddy over there," Logan said dismissively "I'm taking Shirou back home tomorrow...but I want answers later tomorrow."

Rin still tense reluctantly lowered her hand "fine but only if you tell me who you really are," she said sharply still not trusting Logan.

Logan grunted retracting his claws with a SNIKT "tomorrow," he repeated. Then without waiting for a response he moved over to Shirou's unconscious form carefully lifting him.

-Later at Shirou's House-

Shirou's eyes fluttered open his mind hazy his body felt strange like it shouldn't be moving. Slowly sitting up on the tatami mat he blinked in confusion trying to piece together what had happened.

"How... am I still alive?" he muttered rubbing his chest where Cu had run him through with Gáe Bolg. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone gulping Shirou turned his head and saw Logan sitting at the low table drinking directly from a bottle of sake that Taiga usually kept hidden.

"Logan-sensei?!" Shirou exclaimed blinking in shock at the sight of his teacher casually downing alcohol "What are you doing here? What—what happened? How am I—?"

Logan already irritated and a tiny bit drunk slammed the bottle down on the table with a sharp thud "Shut the fuck up and listen, kid!" he snapped clearly in no mood for his rapid fire of questions.

Shirou flinched falling silent as Logan sighed running a hand through his unruly hair "you were killed. Should be dead but that girl Rin managed to save you," Logan's tone was rough but there was an undercurrent of something else—concern maybe.

Before Logan could explain any further the window behind them suddenly shattered and in came Cu Chulainn once more Gáe Bolg in hand "I thought I killed you back there, boy," he growled "should've double-checked," his eyes were locked on Shirou.

Logan shot to his feet claws unsheathed, already moving between Shirou and Cu "run!" Logan ordered, his voice harsh with urgency as he leapt onto Cu.

The two clashed again Logan's claws meeting Cu's spear in a fierce exchange of blows their fight was brutal with Logan attempting to decapitate Cu's legs off but a well-placed strike from Gáe Bolg sent Logan flying through the shattered window with a loud shout of pain "ARGHHH!!"

Shirou glanced at the downed Logan torn between fear and a fierce determination to help his sensei, but he knew he wasn't strong enough to face against whatever the hell this spear guy was. So despite how he felt about the situation Shirou turned and ran as fast as he could toward the shed.

Cú let out a mocking chuckle "oh no he's running to the shed what am I going to do" he said casually strolling after Shirou.

Inside the shed Shirou frantically reinforced the door but it was futile Cu easily ripped it apart. "end of the line boy," Cu taunted preparing to strike.

"Screw this!" Shirou yelled in defiance "my life was saved so I won't die that easily. I need to live, to fulfill my duties!"

Suddenly a magic circle on the ground flared to life and in an instant a tall, armored figure with blonde hair and piercing green eyes emerged launching Cu out of the shed with a powerful strike. 

Outside Logan recovered his claws ready but he froze when he saw Saber emerge his eyes widened with recognition "Artoria...?"

Saber turning to Shirou spoke with a calm yet commanding voice "are you, my Master?"

Shirou stared at her in awe "master?" he repeated unsure.

Saber nodded "your Servant Saber, has come in response to your summons. Master your orders?" however she soon narrowed her eyes "I see an enemy is nearby stay here Master I shall take care of it," with that she leapt out of the shed clashing against Cu who blocked with his spear in time. 

"Coward!" Cú sneered, pointing his spear at Saber "what's the meaning of this, concealing your weapon?!" he shouted but Saber remained unfazed "what's the matter Lancer? If you stand there, you'll give spearmen a bad name."

Saber's eyes remained locked on Lancer whose teeth are gritting with anger "fine if you will not come to me," Saber spoke calmly her voice steady and unyielding "I shall come to you."

Without warning she dashed forward, her feet barely touching the ground as she closed the distance between them with inhuman speed. Cú Chulainn was ready he spun his spear with precision, a blur of red as he parried her initial strike. Sparks flew as the unseen blade connected with the shaft of his spear sending a sharp metallic echo through the air.

Saber pressed forward, unleashing a flurry of swift, precise strikes her invisible sword slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. Cú expertly deflected each blow the clash of their weapons ringing out in rapid succession he danced backward using the full reach of his spear to keep her at bay.

However Saber's footwork was impeccable every time Lancer tried to gain distance, she was already a step ahead closing the gap with relentless pressure. The ground beneath them began to bear the marks of their combat slashes and cracks where their weapons collided.

Cú's grin never faltered even as Saber's invisible blade nearly grazed his cheek he pushed back with a forceful thrust driving her off momentarily "before you attack again," Cú said his tone suddenly shifting to something more curious "let me ask you one thing," he twirled his spear above his head before pointing it at her again "your Noble Phantasm—is it a sword?"

Saber's expression didn't change but her voice carried a subtle edge of amusement "who can say? It may be a battle axe or perhaps a polearm."

Cú let out a short laugh the challenge igniting something more primal in him "very funny, Saber!" he lunged forward his spear whistling through the air as he aimed a brutal strike at Saber's midsection.

Saber sidestepped with grace her armor gleaming under the moonlight she quickly countered with a sweeping strike aimed at Cú's legs forcing him to leap back.

"One more question," Cú continued as if their fight was nothing more but a mere game of banter to him "since this is our first meeting, would you be interested in calling it a draw Saber?"

Saber's eyes flashed with defiance "I think not. You will fall here Lancer."

Her voice carried the weight of certainty, and for a brief moment Cú's playful grin faltered. He planted his feet spinning his spear in a wide arc before charging at her with renewed vigor. The air seemed to warp around them as their weapons collided again and again Saber's invisible blade and Cú's Gae Bolg, both weapons created a storm of sparks and dust.

Saber advanced unrelenting in her pursuit "if you will not fight with all your strength I shall force your hand."

Cú chuckled darkly his eyes gleaming with excitement "is that so? My objective was simply to observe," he said with mock casualness but the sudden tightening of his grip on his spear betrayed his true intent "I'll have your heart!"

Without warning Cú thrusted his spear toward Saber but this time the attack was different. The world seemed to slow as his spearhead glowed with a dark red light and the very air around it warped unnaturally.

"Gae Bolg!" Cú roared unleashing his Noble Phantasm.

The spearhead shot forward like a missile the deadly curse reversing cause and effect—Gae Bolg had already pierced Saber's heart before it was even thrown. It was a strike meant to be inescapable a fatal blow destined to kill.

 Saber's instincts were honed from countless battles though and in a fraction of a second, she pivoted the invisible blade of her sword deflecting the lethal cursed spear with a well-timed parry that still struck her left shoulder. Her expression remained calm though her breathing had quickened from the sheer effort of avoiding death.

"A curse?" she muttered gripping her shoulder where she had deflected Gae Bolg "no… a strike that reverses cause and effect?"

Cú Chulainn's smirk widened "so you figured it out not many do you're good, Saber," he spun his spear again slower this time as if reassessing her "you are Ireland's Child of Light," Saber continued recognizing the heroic spirit before her.

"Yeah," Cú replied a little less smug now "I messed up though it needs to be fatal if I use that move or I'm in trouble."

For the first time Saber noticed the faint tremble in his spear hand his casual demeanor had masked the exhaustion from using his Noble Phantasm. He had failed to kill her with Gae Bolg—and now he was vulnerable.

Cú sighed his grin turning slightly bitter "my master is a coward you see. You dodged my spear so he's ordering me home,"

Saber stood tall, sword still at the ready "you would run?"

"You're more than welcome to follow," Cú said, stepping back "but if you do, be prepared to die."

Before Saber could respond Cú Chulainn's form began to shimmer as he turned to leave the battlefield "wait, Lancer!" Saber called out but he was already gone disappearing into the night.

As Saber lowered her sword finally taking a breath Shirou rushed toward her "hey are you okay? What the hell just happened?"

Before Saber could give a response, her attention snapped to a figure nearby that she hadn't noticed in her haste to combat with Lancer. 

Her eyes widened in surprise—and then narrowed with anger for not standing to far from Shirou was Logan watching the aftermath of the fight with a wary expression upon noticing her gaze on him.

Saber's fury ignited "I should have known you'd be summoned here, Sir James!" she yelled, her voice filled with disdain without any hesitation she launched herself at Logan her blade aimed directly for his chest.

Logan's eyes widened as he scrambled to block her strike with his claws "shit! Shit! Artoria, wait!" he shouted deflecting her blows with his claws barely having any time to even catch his breath "you're making a mistake here!" he continued trying to get her to stop. 

 Sabers was too caught up in her anger though she continued to strike at Logan pushing him further till the point where he started to kneel down from the pressure of her assault. 

-end of chapter seven- 

Alright I think I'll leave this at a cliffhanger any guess's as to why she would be mad at Logan?