Commission -- A Peaceful Summer at Last 001

The Hawaiian archipelago consisted of over one hundred and thirty islands formed by volcanic activity in the Pacific Ocean, located approximately two thousand miles south-west of the United States mainland. There were eight main islands that were inhabited by humans, the largest of which was named Hawaiʻi. The uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands were classified as a Marine Protected Monument, the largest protected area in the United States and the fourth largest in the world.

Though from where Fujimaru Ritsuka, Master of Chaldea was standing, you wouldn’t think so.

The island of Kapou was two-thirds of the way along the archipelago and just shy of being smack bang in the middle of the protected zone, and yet a bustling tourist town had been erected to serve the plethora of Heroic Spirits in their downtime. It was officially summer, and it was time to party.

He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the blazing sun, taking in the immaculate roads and sidewalks, the maintained lawns and gardens as he pulled his luggage behind him. The road he was on took him straight to the hotel they would be staying at, a towering building several stories high that dominated the skyline alone. Though there were roads, Ritsuka saw few vehicles.

Other than the staff manning the stores, everyone he saw were Servants of Chaldea.

Just ahead of him, he saw Lancelot, Tristan and Gawain leaving the hotel, dressed in colorful swimming shorts and Hawaiian themed shirts, their muscular bodies on display. Knights of the Round, you wouldn’t believe it as they shoved each other and laughed, their cheerful voices filling the air with joy.

A little behind them, a woman of small stature followed. Beautiful, ethereal in appearance, she walked with a noble, royal bearing. She could only be a Queen – or rather, a King. Though at this moment, her expression wasn’t exactly what you would call Kingly, her face twisted in annoyance. She watched her noble knights from a distance as they fooled around.

King Arthur – though truly, Artoria Pendragon, King of Knights.

As the Knights of the Round continued on, Artoria was the only one to notice him, her expression softening as she caught sight of Ritsuka’s approach. In her hands she clasped a large picnic basket, the monstrosity almost dwarfing her even when she set it down on the ground.

“Master,” she greeted softly, a gentle smile crossing her lips, her annoyance forgotten.

“Saber,” he greeted in turn, admiring her slender body and attractive swimsuit; a simple white two piece that highlighted her trim waist, more modest swells and youthful, healthy complexion.

“Mash is waiting for you inside,” she informed him. He nodded gratefully.

The lobby of the hotel was more akin to a palace. Wide marble pillars towered above as he entered, a red carpet leading the way to the reception desk fashioned from dark hardwood, rich in color beneath the natural light that poured in through massive panes of crystal clear glass.

Many Servants loitered within, too numerous to count – the haughty and self-confident Oda Nobunaga, the sensual and introverted Medusa, the serene Jeanne d'Arc, the cocksure Cú Chulainn with his goading smile and many, many more. They were all dressed in summer wear, everything from bikinis to one piece swimsuits to sarongs, swimming trunks and shirts, umbrellas and beach balls and other beach paraphernalia clasped in hand. They were the pinnacle of humanity, the greatest heroes the world had ever seen – and yet in this moment, they looked normal, a group of people wanting nothing more than to kick back and rest their feet, and enjoy the beach and everything it had to offer.

Though normal perhaps wasn’t the correct word. They were all ridiculously handsome and beautiful.

“Welcome to the CBR,” the young woman at the desk greeted cheerfully, wearing a wide smile that showed her teeth.

“Uh, hi,” he said quickly. “Room for Fujimaru Ritsuka, please.”

Fingers sharply tapped across a keyboard, quickly bringing up his reservation. “Certainly. You are booked into our penthouse suite, top floor – would you like us to take your bags?”

Chaldea spared no expense.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll take them.”

“Senpai~!” a familiar voice called as the clerk handed over a keycard.

Turning, he came face to face with Mash Kyrielight.

“Mash,” he said warmly.

“Senpai,” she repeated joyfully. “You’ve arrived.”

“I’m here,” he confirmed.

Mash beamed as she grabbed the handle of his luggage without a word, and the pair of them made their way over the elevator. The penthouse was about what you would expect; opulent with breathtaking views, Ritsuka admired the shimmering ocean that stretched far beyond the horizon. His room had everything you could ever need; there was a large television and black leather couch with plush carpets, a fully stocked bar, a massive bathroom with an open shower and hot tub capable of fitting several people with room to spare, and a truly ridiculous bed that you could roll over in multiple times and not reach the edge.

It was too much. But it was his to do with whatever he wished.

“I’ll let you get changed, Senpai. Meet me downstairs?”

Ritsuka nodded. “Sure, see you there.”

When Mash was gone, he wheeled his luggage into the bedroom and got changed, shrugging off the white jacket of his Chaldea uniform and kicking off his shoes, and pulling off his black pants. Opening his bag, he pulled out a pair of gray and white patterned swimming trunks and a blue and white patterned button down shirt, the material light against his skin as he put it on. Securing the straps of his black sandals, he grabbed a pair of sunglasses and perched them on his head, resting in his hair.

A quick check in the mirror, he nodded at his reflection. Now he looked the part.

Grabbing a beach towel that had been prepared by the hotel staff, he returned to the lobby. Many of the Servants had already cleared out, leaving only a few. Spotting Mash waving out to him, he approached and saw that she wasn’t alone.

Chloe von Einzbern grinned at him cheekily. Class? Avenger.

They couldn’t be any more different. While Mash was fair skinned and voluptuous, Chloe was tanned and slender, skinny. Chloe was wearing a tiny black and fluorescent green string bikini, showing off large swathes of caramel skin that her baggy fishnet shirt failed to hide while Mash wore a slightly more conservative swimsuit. It was a white two piece with varying colored stripes, the bottoms tied together on the sides while the top was shielded by a thin mesh of fabric, hiding her more aggressive bust. A light pink hue dusted her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, her hands fiddling together as she peeked up at him through her hair.

“Heyo~!” Chloe greeted, hands on hips. “What took you so long?”

Ritsuka chuckled. “I didn’t think I took that long.”

“Senpai didn’t make us wait long,” Mash assured him.

“Speak for yourself,” Chloe complained, rolling her eyes. “Well, now that you’re here, how about we get going? If we dawdle too much, they’ll run out of ice cream.”

Servants didn’t need to eat, strictly speaking – but that didn’t stop them from indulging. While they didn’t require sustenance, they could fully enjoy the wonderful, endless flavors that the modern world had in abundance. At the mention of ice cream, Mash perked up.

“We should hurry,” she agreed, nodding.

It didn’t take them long to arrive at the coast. The sidewalk quickly transitioned into a wooden walkway, skirting the wide expanse of golden sand. Stalls had been set up along the length of the beach, and Ritsuka felt his mouth water as the various scents of delicious food washed over him. He hadn’t noticed before but found that he was quite hungry, his stomach cramping as it growled aggressively.

There was anything you could ever want; crisp, fresh fish and chips, towering burgers filled with bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato, loaded hot dogs and corn dogs, baked potatoes stuffed to the limit, tacos, sushi, takoyaki… and that wasn’t even getting started on the dessert stalls. There was ice cream, of course – but also things like fruit and cream filled crepes, waffles drizzled in chocolate or syrup, freshly fried donuts dusted with cinnamon sugar, milkshakes, ice slushies, and more.

Chloe practically drooled on herself as her eyes took in everything, her nose sniffing the air like a bloodhound locked on to a scent. One look at Mash showed him that she equally as taken, stars in her eyes as she looked around in wonder.

“What would you like?” he asked her, and she jumped, startled.

“Oh, um, ehehe,” she stumbled, unsure. “Everything looks so good…”

“It does.”

“What is Senpai getting?”

He wasn’t sure either but… when was the last time he had takoyaki? He couldn’t recall.

“I think I’ll get some takoyaki,” he decided. “And then come back for an ice cream.”

Mash nodded quickly. “I’ll have what Senpai is having.”

Chloe licked her lips. “Hmm. I’ll take a hot dog.”

Ritsuka ordered their takoyaki while Chloe pranced over to the hot dog stall. The staff were polite and yet he couldn’t help but notice their stressed expressions, the atmosphere tense as they quickly put together their order. They worked efficiently despite the strange vibe in the air and he watched as their takoyaki was freshly made, the little balls spun around in their specialized molds, fried on all sides until they were spherical and crisp. It was an art form all its own, and when they were placed on a long, open container, drizzled with sauce and finished with sprinkles of aonori and katsuobushi, it was done.

Ritsuka paid for their food but as they walked away, he couldn’t help but linger on the strange feeling he got from the workers. He wasn’t sure why.

When Chloe rejoined them with her hot dog overflowing with ketchup, mustard, cheese and onion, they stopped by the umbrella stall where you could rent beach umbrellas for the day. The beach was teeming with Servants, many of them simply reclining in the sun on chairs while others frolicked in the sea, laughter filling the air.

Further down, a volleyball net had been erected. Ritsuka noticed Medusa’s long, unmistakable hair at once, and by her side was none other than Artoria, her diminutive stature exposed beside the taller, curvy once-Goddess. She was quite the sight, her long, pale legs contrasting nicely with her purple bikini bottoms, her shapely chest contained by a matching top. Opposite them stood Cú Chulainn, a smug expression dominating his face as he tossed a ball back and forth between his hands, while behind him was another well known face.

EMIYA – or Archer, as he liked to be known as, stood with his arms crossed as the four of them exchanged words, appearing amused as Saber became more animated, waving her arms. Ritsuka decided to set up their things here, in full view of the match that was about to take place.

Chloe watched Archer carefully, an almost wistful look passing over her face for only an instant before she settled down with her hot dog, biting into it viciously. Mash skewered one of her octopus balls and popped it into her mouth, squealing as she began quickly chewing it.

“Careful,” he warned. “They can be really hot.”

Mash’s watery eyes met his own as she swallowed painfully, an awkward smile stretching her lips. “It burns.”

Cú Chulainn passed the ball to Archer and he took up position, readying himself. Saber and Medusa spread out, Artoria taking the back while Medusa moved closer to the net. There was a moment of tense silence as they eyed one another and then with an effortless leap, Archer slammed the ball with all his might.

Whatever that ball was made out of was certainly impressive. Was it a Mystic Code?

Ritsuka felt his hair shift as a shockwave rippled through the air, the ball becoming nothing but a white blur. Saber moved at once, hands clasped as she slid across the sand. The ball slammed into her clasped hands and rebounded into the air, Medusa getting beneath it. When it came back down, she used both hands to set it up, lobbing it to the left. Saber blurred, appearing within a blink of an eye, floating through the air as her back arched, arm reared back.

“Hyah~!” Saber shouted, her hand whipping forward and spiking the ball with a resounding clap.

She’d targeted an open space, the ball rocketing at the sand but Cú Chulainn was more than up to the task. His hand flashed and caught the ball, rebounding it up and towards the net. Archer looked like he was getting into position to set up his partner but at the last moment, leapt into the air and delivered a spike of his own.

Quick as a snake, Medusa lashed out and deflected it, Saber tossing it up high. They saw the danger, rushing to defend but Medusa wouldn’t be denied, the ball perfectly positioned close to the net. She rose up into the air, arm whipping down and connecting with the ball in a violent slash. It spun wildly, fired straight down and while Cú managed to get his hand on the ball, it passed underneath the net, the angle impossible.

“Point!”

Reclining on a chair in a white two piece bikini and matching sarong, Nitocris called while raising a hand lazily, apparently the referee for this match. Her bronze skin glistened beneath the heat of the sun, her fit body stretched out like a cat as she sipped at some type of cocktail.

Archer scowled as he fetched the ball, Saber giving Medusa a high-five. It was quite the cute sight, considering their height difference.

Back and forth they went, the air displaced every time they struck the ball. Their acrobatics became more absurd as each round passed, Medusa cartwheeling to save a point with her foot while Archer threw himself around with reckless abandon. The serious expressions they wore made onlookers feel like this was a duel to the death, as if they were competing for the Holy Grail or something.

“Point~!” Nitocris said happily, waving her glass around as Cú Chulainn hammered home a winner, the ball perfectly placed in the corner. Saber spluttered as she slid through the sand, unable to get across in time.

They were evenly matched.

Ritsuka popped an octopus ball into his mouth and chewed, no longer hot enough to burn his mouth and tongue. He hummed as the delicious, nostalgic flavor exploded across his taste buds. The octopus was tender with just a hint of chewiness, the sharp tang of the pickled ginger perking him up. It was both sweet and savory, and he found himself popping another ball in his mouth, and then another, and another. Mash was leaning forward in excitement as Saber slammed the ball so hard the net shook as the ball passed over it. Archer managed to rebound it up, just getting his hand under it before it hit sand but when Cú Chulainn tried to surprise them with a spike, Medusa used her height to block.

“Point~!”

Nitocris’ voice sounded a little slurred, almost spilling her drink. Nitocris-san – was it possible that you are a lightweight?

A crowd was beginning to gather to watch their antics, Heroic Spirits drawn by the fierce competitive spirit on display.

“Ahaha~! This looks fun,” Suzuka Gozen smiled with a few too many teeth, her fox ears twitching as she approached. Her class was Rider, her tanned skin glistening as she drew the eye with her pink leopard print bikini, and excessive use of chain accessories around her wrists, neck, and waist. For some reason, she wore ski boots on her feet of matching color.

It was a very striking appearance!

“A worthy contest,” a bright voice announced, a slender, voluptuous body vacuum packed into a black and teal one piece swimsuit passing by Ritsuka’s vision. “Fun, indeed~! Why was I not invited? To make merry under the bright blue sky, I am jealous~!” Miyamoto Musashi pouted briefly before smiling, hands on hips as her light pink hair swayed in the gentle breeze. “Can I play next?”

Ritsuka found it difficult not to look, glancing from creamy caramel to silken alabaster skin. He was surrounded on all sides by ridiculously attractive women.

“Chloe~!” a young voice shouted.

Chloe only had a moment to lower the remnants of her hot dog before she was piled upon, grunting as a small, slender girl leapt on top of her from behind.

“Illya, get off~!” Chloe shouted, struggling.

Illyasviel von Einzbern laughed happily as they struggled together, her long white hair pulled into a pair of cute twintails, her slim body clad in a frilly red and white one piece with a cute red bow on the chest, and a matching one in her hair. They appeared as two sides of the same coin, their features identical, their bodies matching. Only their eyes and hair, and the complexion of their skin was different.

Oh, and their personalities.

“Ahahaha~!” Illya laughed as Chloe tried to buck her off without much success.

“Illya,” Chloe growled, trying to pinch her.

“Hey, watch where you put those fingers~!”

Illya yelped as two fingers grabbed a hold of her butt and pinched, causing her to thrash.

“Why do you follow me everywhere?” Chloe complained loudly as she finally managed to escape when Illya flinched. Her voice and outraged face made it look like she was annoyed, but Ritsuka could see the truth of it in her eyes as she looked upon Illya. “You almost made me drop my food!”

“Aww, you look so cute in these clothes,” Illya ignored the hot dog that was being waved in her face. “You always show too much skin, though.”

Chloe’s brow twitched. “What of it?”

“Nothing~” Illya sang.

Mash giggled as the pair of girls continued to bicker back and forth. More Servants gathered as the match continued, crowding the area. In particular, Tristan, Lancelot and Gawain began cheering loudly for their King, waving makeshift flags around to show their support. Saber flushed all the way up her neck, across her cheeks and to her ears, yet her expression remained focused.

When Ritsuka finished his food, he asked, “Do you still want ice cream?”

Mash gave him a very serious look even though half of her takoyaki remained. “Yes, Senpai.”

“Ice cream?” Illya whipped around, suddenly no longer interested in bothering Chloe. “Master, can I? Can I?”

Ritsuka laughed. “Of course. What flavor do you want? I’ll bring one back for you.”

“Strawberry,” she said at once.

Chloe grumbled. “I’ll have chocolate peppermint swirl, Master.”

“Um, oh – I don’t know,” Mash panicked, cradling her head. “What should I get?”

In the end, she decided on vanilla. As Ritsuka made his way over the stalls, he heard Saber shout in victory behind him, the ground shaking lightly. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a large plume of sand.

Finding the correct vendor, he placed his orders. Once again, he couldn’t help but notice their stressed faces but this time, it was obvious what the cause was.

He would recognize those ears and tail anywhere.

A sensual, full bodied woman with creamy skin and striking golden eyes, pink fox ears and tail, and matching hair. She was dressed in a black one piece with an aggressively low cut, her plump cleavage on full display, her sides bare as thin strings tied it all together on her hips and back. A pair of glasses were perched on her nose, a clipboard resting in the crook of her elbow as she outlined their business strategy going forward.

“Moe is key,” she said cheerfully, though the undercurrent of a ruthless business woman was clear. “Smile until they are only too eager to fill our pockets with money. They want to give us everything they own, they just don’t know it yet~”

Did she really have to say that with such a cute voice?

Koyanskaya of Light, one piece of the original – assigned as Light, though sometimes it was difficult to see why. She was always up to no good, and from what Ritsuka could see, now was no exception.

She must have felt his eyes on her because she turned, her face becoming sly.

“Master~!” she cooed, a smirk dominating her expression. “What brings you here~?”

This was trouble waiting to happen.

“Koyanskaya,” he greeted. “You aren’t bullying the staff, are you?”

“Bully~? What are you suggesting, Master~?” she leaned forward suggestively, bringing her arms together to frame her bosom. “I’m just maximizing their motivational ability~♡”

“Is that so?”

“Of course~! What else would I be doing?” she asked, grinning. It was the smile of a shark, hidden behind the alluring veneer of a beautiful woman. “Don’t you trust me, Master~?”

“As long as that is all you’re doing, then it’s fine,” Ritsuka somehow doubted that was all that was going on but he wouldn’t interfere – yet. This was a week of relaxation. He wasn’t about to let Koyanskaya ruin it.

She giggled, sounding both cute and ominous. It was almost as if she could read his mind, daring him to step in.

“I am simply enjoying the fruits of modern humanity,” she tilted her head innocently. “Aren’t I a good Servant~?”

He didn’t answer that.

Four cones were presented to him, lined up in the holder. Ritsuka paid, taking possession of their treats.

Koyanskaya’s smile widened. “Thank you for your business, as always~♡”

He could feel the heat of her gaze on his back the entire way. Ritsuka would need to keep an eye on that one. Who knows what her true designs were.

When he returned to the others, he saw that the volleyball match was still going. Nitocris wasn’t even paying attention any more, focused on her drink. Someone had brought her another one, though this wasn’t the second or even third, for Ritsuka saw many empty cocktail glasses scattered around her in the sand – but by her side was someone new with matching olive skin that had taken over refereeing, though she didn’t appear particularly pleased about it.

Scheherazade was a woman with large, shapely breasts and matching hips, narrow waist, long, sensual legs and black tresses as dark as midnight. Instead of a swimsuit or even the usual clothing she sported aligned to her heritage, she was wearing a loose summer dress of western origin, the fabric a light blue in color. Her face was the picture of calm, cool – but Ritsuka could tell that the last thing she wanted to do was govern the competition between other Heroic Spirits.

Even if it was only a volleyball game.

Because competitions between heroes could often become violent, even when merry. Reckless personalities can lead to reckless actions, as they say. And if there was one thing Scheherazade was adverse to beyond all else, it was the possibility of death.

While the two-on-two battle for volleyball supremacy was heated and vigorous, there was no deathly intent on display. It was possibly the only reason Scheherazade was still here and willing to fill in for her friend, no matter how reluctantly.

“Senpai,” Mash called out.

The ice creams were beginning to melt so he quickly handed them out. Illya beamed happily as she began licking at her cone, humming a tune under her breath while Chloe followed suit. It wasn’t until Ritsuka sat down that he realized that someone else had joined them.

“Master,” a cool, beautiful voice said. “Welcome.”

Ushiwakamaru sat cross-legged, her long black hair tied back in a traditional ponytail, her slim, fit body clad in a tight dark blue two piece bikini. Ritsuka felt his eyes dip to her firm abs before settling on her hands which cradled a small box containing three donuts.

“Ushiwakamaru,” he said in return.

“’Tis a good day,” she declared, grinning. “The spirit of fierce competition is in the air. I must say, my blood is hot watching such determination.”

Medusa rose into the air as Saber set her up, her palm smacking the ball with a thunderous clap. Cú Chulainn caught it with both hands, sending it high. Archer leapt, faking out a spike before knocking it to the side where Cú appeared in a blur. Saber attempted to block by rushing the net, clipping the ball as it was slammed, Medusa diving and saving the point.

“Tch,” Cú clucked his tongue, eyes narrow as Saber rushed to set it up. Instead of going high with a lob, she hit it powerfully, the ball rocketing at the corner of the net. Medusa jumped and deflected it with a sharp strike.

Archer slid through the sand as he managed to connect with the ball, but the angle was horrendous. It flew out over the gathered Servants, and though Cú threw himself into the crowd to get it, he couldn’t quite make it.

“Point,” Scheherazade called coolly. “Match.”

Artoria and Medusa had won.

The Knights of the Round exploded with cheers which Saber did her best to ignore, rushing over to Medusa to give her a hug. They were both worked up from the match, jumping up and down before realizing the spectacle they were putting on and stopping.

Ritsuka chuckled to himself as he saw their embarrassed faces. Medusa was kinda cute when her ears flushed like that.

“Now it is our turn,” Lancelot announced, slapping his exposed chest. “I and Sir Tristan here shall do our King proud. Who should like to oppose us?”

Ushiwakamaru shoved an entire donut into her mouth, chewing vigorously before jumping to her feet. Swallowing, she shouted, “I shall meet this challenge~!”

She then swiftly turned to him, “Master, will you join me?”

Ritsuka gaped at her, startled. “W-What?”

“Will you join me on the battlefield?” she pressed, clasping her hands together as she leaned forward eagerly. “As we have many times already?”

“Uh – I don’t think that would be a good idea,” he said lightly. “I don’t think I can compete on such a level,” he then held up his half eaten ice cream. “And I still have this.”

She pouted before conceding. “A fair point,” turning towards the crowd, she yelled, “Who shall join me?”

“I will~!”

Ushiwakamaru’s face tightened slightly as Shuten Dōji pranced out of the crowd. Her swimsuit was just as revealing as her usual clothing; a black string bikini that somehow managed to cover the important bits no matter how she moved. Her long horns gleamed under the light of the sun, reminding anyone should they forget that she wasn’t human; she was a demon.

“Please treat me kindly~!” she clapped her hands together and bowed mockingly. Ushiwakamaru looked more likely to take her head than team up with her in volleyball.

This was going to be an interesting day.