She woke up to Cu sitting beside her on the bed.

"Hey, you're awake! Time to get up. We've got hunting to do!" He says excitedly.

She had a hangover for sure but it wasn't too bad. Her time with Cu last night was well worth it.

"Five more minutes?".

"Well normally I would say yes, buuut some of the guys were already yelling for you down the hall." He replies.

"Tobi?."

"Ya I think so." He places his hand on her waist looking down at her chest again. She was wondering what he was thinking. He had blocked his thoughts from her now but his eyes were telling her all she needed to know.
"Cu?"

"Yes princess?"

"You're staring at my chest again.".

".....ya...." He replies. "I just had my face in them last night, how do you expect me to recover from that?" He laughs.

"Time to go Cu." She replies.

She sits up and scoots by him. He watches her still sitting on her bed as she walks over to her dresser.

"You have a nice ass too by the way."

She turns back to him and sticks her tongue out.

She grabs a black sports bra, and black panties then takes off her shirt with her back still turned to him not giving him any warning.

He clears his throat.
"Jesus." He whispers under heavy breaths.

She slowly pulls her sports bra on and turns to him.
"Might need some privacy Cu."

"Awww...come on!"

She stands arms crossed waiting for him to make his way out.

"Ok, ok....you're killin me girl." He replies running a hand through his hair. "I'll be just outside."

"Mmmm k!".

She finishes getting dressed into her camo gear. Tight camo pants, a camo tank and some leather boots. She sheathed two knives into her thigh straps and tucked two pistols into her chest holsters.

She steps out into the hallway, Cu was leaning against the wall to her right.
"Camo looks good on you."

She raises her eyebrows looking him up and down.
"And what are you wearing? I don't think a blue body suit and metal pauldrons are going to be very stealthy, you might end up being the target."

"I have my own servant camouflage." He winks then disappears. She could see lines of blue mana blurred around the shape of his body. But he was invisible for the most part.

She gasps. "Oh ya I forgot about that." He reappears beside her.

"Hey you two! You're late! Let's go!" Tobi yells from down the hall.

"Ok!" She takes off down the hall towards him Cu following behind.

—————————————-

They all walk outside to see three black jeeps were lined up ready to go and their comrades geared up in all camouflage and tactical armor. Each carrying a gun aside from Shirou.

"Hey Cu! Come sit with us. I wanna hear some of those battle stories you were talking about yesterday." Tobi says patting his shoulder.

"Where is Veda sitting?" He asks Tobi.

"Masters sit with other masters in the front of the line. Servants are protected in the back." He replies.

"What? Shouldn't we be protecting our masters?" Cu asks.

"Maybe in the last wars you fought, in this war Masters are disposable servants are not. Protecting you is our highest priority." Tobi replies.

He can see Archer approaching out of the corner of his eye. He watches as he gets into the first Jeep in line.

"So why does Archer get to sit up front." Cu scowls.

"Well, he is a Master." Tobi replies.

Cu's mouth drops open.
"How is that possible?"

"It's a whole new war Cu! I'll explain more in the Jeep. Get in!" Tobi says.

"Alright just give me a minute."

Veda had forgotten about that. The roles have changed now, masters are the protectors of servants and servants are the leaders of the group. They must carry on the mission to rid the world of the curse so man can start over. Even if their master dies the servant is able to choose another and carry on.

Cu turns to her and put his hands on her hips.
"I don't care about the way the war is now, I'm doing things the old way. I am here to protect you no matter what and if Archer tries anything with you, send me a thought and I'll come smash his face in."

She laughs. "It's going to be fine Cu. Have fun with the boys, they are great."
She pushes him away and he regretfully watches her get into the Jeep with Archer.

—————————————

She looked over at Shirou, he was wearing his white cloak, black vest and pants. Not exactly hunting gear, but she had always liked this outfit the best.

"So "Master", how would you like to lead the hunt today." Shirou asks in a playfully.

She looks at him.
"I'm leading the hunt?" She asks.

"Yup." He replies.

She had never led a hunt before. This was exciting, she was able to sense animals around a lot better than most. Although she didn't have Archers eyes. He could see things no one else could, a perk from his class as an archer.

"Do you mean it?"

He starts the Jeep and signals the rest of the hunters. He throws it into gear and speeds off towards the southern wall.

She reaches over to Shirou putting her hands on the thigh closest to her.
"Are you sure?" She asks suspiciously.

He glances at her.
"Yeah, you've earned it. I've been too hard on you lately. But you are born to lead and I would follow you to the end of the world and back."

That was the sweetest thing he had ever said to her. She blushes and looks at him for a moment to make sure he was being serious.

"Thank you." She replies. This was strange for her, he has gone from angry to happy in just a few hours.

"What was he planning?" She thinks.

"Shirou?"

"Veda?" He replies.

She laughs.
"Umm, I need to tell you something."

"Ok, what is it?"

"Remember that weird heat signature I got on the gps?"

"Ya."

"Well me and Cu ran into it at the mall, turns out it's the Red Pyramid. It looked like a servant, maybe a berserker?"

"I think you're right. You're lucky to have gotten out of there alive." He replies.

"Ya I know. So if it is a servant, then we will have to face it at some point.....I wonder who it's master is."

"I'm guessing it's Medea the very servant who created the curse, it would have to be, she must have found him and subdued him into being his master. But it looks like she has no control over him and he's been roaming the streets of Tokyo for over a year now. What I am wondering is what servant the creature actually is? There's no way to tell with that cage on his head, and he's definitely cursed." He replies with a flash of concern.

"So Medea has a servant of her own. I thought she had a master already? This doesn't make sense." She replies.

"Well, she was known to carry a dagger called "the rule breaker", I'm guessing she may have it still and has used it."

"Well I'm glad you know so much about this." She smiles.

He glances at her and smiles back.

"I miss your smile." She says.

"Oh ya? I thought you were too distracted to even notice."

"That's not true." She replies. "Do you hate me?" She really thought he despised her right now, with all the anger he had over the last 24 hours.

"Hate you? Veda I could never hate you. You're the best thing in my life. Nothing will change that, not even Cu Chullain."

She sits back and recites his words in her mind. "You're the best thing in my life." A tear fell down her cheek and she wipes it away quickly so he doesn't notice.

"Why couldn't you have said something months ago Shirou?"

"It would have made things harder Veda. You know that. But you deserve happiness too despite the way I feel." He replies.

"God dammit Shirou! You make me want to kiss you right now." She crossed her arms pouting.

He grins at her frustration. "Ya, I've thought about that so many times. You have no idea....."

She lets out a small whimper.
He was driving her crazy right now. Then she realizes that this may be his tactic against Cu. So she  pushes it all out of her mind as much as she wanted to think about it. She couldn't have Cu reading her thoughts, he would have a fit about it. She was silent after that.

They drive through the forest along an overgrown road that leads to the back side of the mountains and stop at a lookout. Everyone piles out of the jeeps stretching their legs or getting their guns together. As for Veda, she was focused on the hunt and nothing else mattered. Just like Shirou has taught her.

"Eh Veda, you want a gun this time?" Tobi asks.

She shakes her head.
"Nah thanks, I got my bow."

Since she met Shirou he had taken over training her, and had taught her how to summon a bow just like he does.

Shirou step in front of everyone.
"Veda is taking the lead today, you follow her command. Understood?"

Everyone agrees, like they would argue anyways. There were ten of them in total, a good sized team. Hopefully they find enough sika (deer) or inoshishi (boar) to last them another month. With there being less humans around the wildlife has flourished, they were used to bringing back at least twenty of either animal.

She walks over to the edge of the lookout. There was a creek off in the distance and she could see some deer down the hillside. Cu was at her side now looking out into the distance with her. He sends her a thought, "how was your ride?"

She sends one back. "I'll tell you later, right now I'm in beast mode, the hunt is on!" She giggles out loud.

He chuckles.

Shirou comes to the other side of her.
"What's the plan?" He asks.

"There's some Sika just below us on the hill side, we can get those or....we can head into the forest to the right."

"What's to the right?" He questions.

"I'm sensing maybe fifty Inoshishi." She replies.

"Are you sure about that? It's an extra twenty minutes of hiking." Shirou replies skeptically.

"I'm the leader! I say we go to the right." She commands, then pats his chest.

He smiles at her as she walks away. She turns to the group who were bullshitting amongst each other.
"We head to the right." She orders. "I lead. I'll try to go slow." She winks.

They all laugh and all take the challenge.
"Ready?"

"Aye!" They all call in unison.

She turns to the hill and leaps off down a small pathway leading into the forest with everyone following behind. Shirou had gathered the best of his hunters this time. It should be an easy hunt in and out in no time.

——————————————
Shirou and Cu were in the trees above while Veda and the rest of the team were scaling the ground below. It would be at least 45 minutes until they reached the boars. But they were making good time.

Veda stops suddenly, her senses going haywire. Something was close by but she couldn't read it. Cu sends her a thought.
"Stop don't move!"

Cu and Archer still in the trees, wait in silence listening to the sounds of the forest. The other men behind her stopped and she signals them to standby and be quiet. Cu sends her another thought." Do you sense anything?"

"Yes, there's more than one. They are coming in fast." She replies.

She gives a signal to her team telling them to be ready. They cock their guns and crouch down as Veda summons her bow. She rises up quietly and knocks three arrows. Everyone watches her. Then she draws back on the string pointing the arrows ahead of her.

"Seek out!." She whispers. The arrows glow a deep purple she lets go. They shoot out in different directions searching for prey. Archer watches from a tree just ahead. He waits for the impact of the arrows before coming to her side.

He crouches down beside her and whispers in her ear. "100 meters, at least thirty of them, moving fast."

"Cursed?". She gasps.

"Yes."

"Shit, the sanctuary Shirou."

"Sabers back." He smiles at her. "He's asking about you."

She lets out a sigh of relief. Saber would be to hold them off until they got back.

"Tell him he owes me a beer!"

Archer laughes.

Archer signals everyone to get ready, as the sounds of stomping footsteps and shrieks from the dead close in.

She knocks three arrows again.
"Seek out." And let them fly. They make contact again.

Suddenly a deer comes into view. It bounds by Veda leaping between them just as silently as they are. Then shrieks tear through the bushes. Archer and her stand immediately knocking his arrows and shooting down several of them. The other team members begin to shoot making precise head shots. Cu was on the ground now throwing his lance into the head of a cursed, slicing through them like butter. This was an easy fight, two servants, herself and a fully armed team they would be back to the jeeps in no time.

There were just over ten left and they took them down before they got within arms distance. As the last cursed is destroyed everyone stands and gathers together.

"Well looks like the hunt is over." Tobi says.

"Yeah, we need to get back as soon as we can. The sanctuary is at risk. We will be fighting tonight." Archer replies. "Oh and sabers back."

Everyone cheers. Saber or Fergus Mac Róich is a brave warrior and a knight from the Celtic ulster era. He was known as the friend and foster father to Cu Chullain believe it or not. What a match up. He is also known for his huge magical sword and impressive combat skills. He calls Veda his "precious" and lets no one get within a few feet of her, not just because she is cursed. Cu is yet to know about him.

Cu comes to her side barely out of breath, like he could do this all day..

"So saber looks popular." He said rolling his eyes.

"Yes! I've missed him so much." She says overly excited.

"I take it you like saber." He scowls.

"Ya he's one of my favorite people everybody likes saber." She replies.

"Oh good." His voice was bitterly sarcastic.

"Just wait until you see who it is." She winks.

He looks at her suspiciously.
"It's Diarmuid isn't it. Dam it! I think the Hall of Heroes hates me." He replies.

She laughs.

"No it's not him, but that would be fun too." She grins.

"Stop that!" He replies.

Archer lifts his hand and whistles.
"Let's go!"

She bumps Cu with her hip and heads out with the rest of them. They get to the jeeps and Pile in, then speed back to the sanctuary.

She sits beside Shirou again tapping her leg anxiously, swearing this is the longest ride of her life. Veda just wants to get back and make the sanctuary is ok.

"You did great today." Shirou says snapping her out of thought.

"Really? I didn't do much." She replies.

"No you're a great leader. They would follow you into hell and back if you commanded. When I'm gone I hope you will take over." He glances at her.

Her heart nearly stops.
"When you're gone?"

"Yes Veda, you don't expect me to stay do you?. The Holy War doesn't work that way. Once we find the Grail that's it for servants. We go back to the Hall of Heroes and wait for our calling again."

She looks down wishing she could change that. He was right, the cycle begins again.

"Well if that's the case then I will summon you on the next war and the next and the next."

"That's nice to say, but what about Cu?"

"Right..." She replies quietly.

Great now she was torn between the two. This was so complicated it was giving her a headache. She leans her elbow on the window and rests her head on it thinking about both of them all the while wondering how she had got into this position in the first place. She curses herself for wearing her heart on her sleeve so often.

They were nearing the sanctuary wall, she could see the metal gates and tree line in the distance.

"Veda?" Shirou asks.

"Ya.". She replies avoiding eye contact.

"Things might get messy here, stay close to us ok. If anything ever happened to you I would never forgive myself."

She lifts her head analyzing the concerned look on his face.
"How many Shirou?"

"Over a hundred and more coming." He replies.

She scans the tree lines beside her almost instinctively as a tumble of fear penetrates her heart.

"They will be here by nightfall."

"Where are they coming from?" She gasps.

"The city, I'm not sure why they are coming. Maybe it has to do with the berserker you ran into."

"Dammit." She whispers.

"They can probably sense you just like you can sense them." He replies.

She sends a thought to Cu.
"They will be on us by nightfall, hundreds of them. Stay close to me. That demon might be with them."

"What? That creepy looking thing?" Cu replies.

"Ya, it's a servant... berserker class. We don't know what servant it is though."

"Well that makes sense now....sort of." He replies. "Stay by my side I will keep you safe."

She always feels better after talking to him. Cu was like her knight in shining armor, literally and she was falling head over heels for him. But Shirou was reeling her in too.

They arrived at the wall by noon, giving them time to prepare for the fight.
Shirou signals the guards to let them through. The large metal gates open into the valley and they drive through stopping for a minute to advise the front lines of what is to come. But saber had already doubled the troops and had everyone preparing.

They pull up to the bunker and jump out of the jeeps. Shirou rounds up everyone barking orders and corralling weaponry, there were people rushing about everywhere.

Cu comes to her side. "What's the plans miss?"

She turns to face him and put her hands on his biceps. "You and I are going to my favorite place."

And excitement lights up his face.
"Would that be your room?"

She laughs. "You're funny.... No! The armory! I wanna pick out a new gun."

"That's your favorite place? Oh man, you need to get laid." He replies.

Her mouth drops open, she gasps then hits his chest." CU!! One thing on your mind all the time! You're a terrible flirt!" She laughs.

"Hey I'm the best at it!" He replies in a cocky tone.

"Oh ya, telling me I need to get laid is not going to get you laid." She crosses her arms.

A familiar loud voice fills the air around them..

"Veda!! Come here girl!! I want to see that beautiful face of yours!" She turns around to see Saber arms wide open waiting for her.

"Saber!!!" She squeals and runs towards him, leaping into his arms. He holds her close, hugging her with his big mighty arms, then grabs her by her waist and holding her up in front of him.
"I think you got even more beautiful."

"I think you've been traveling too long." She replies blushing slightly.

He places her down and looks behind her at Cu who is staring at Saber just as shocked as ever.
"CU??!! Is that really you?!" Saber shouts.

"What in the hell?"Cu replies.

They walk over to each other arms wide open, and embrace each other in a mighty hug then slap each other's arms.
"My son, you're looking good! I bet the ladies are all over you!" He said laughes.

"Yeah...pretty much".

Veda finding herself slightly jealous of his reply, yes the ladies love Cu that was a given. He has been the talk of the sanctuary since he arrived, and he knows it.
"I'll leave you two to catch up. I'm going to the armory to pick out a new toy to play with." She says biting her lip and smiling at both of them.

They both sigh at her.

"Ok princess, come play with me after."

She laughs. "Only if you're good."

"Baby, I'm always good." He replies.

"Hey! Watch your mouth son! She's not some bar wench, she's a lady and you will treat her like one." Saber smacks the back of Cu's head. "Be a gentleman!"

"Alright, alright. Jesus."

But Veda was already walking towards the storage units laughing at them both