After cleaning up the mess... mostly because Fuji-nee would have a heart attack (pun NOT intended) if she saw the bloodstains, Shirou pulled out the futon and tucked Sakura in to get some rest.
That done, he poured Saber some tea and sat down with her to talk.
Saber looked amused and said, "Shall I take your trademark to be gory displays of blood and viscera, Master? Because this would be the third time since we have met that I have found you involved in such a scene."
Shirou sighed. "...I wish I could deny that. But I guess that having a magical device that grants functional immortality at the cost of enduring the attack before it heals you ends up making you a bit reckless."
"...A bit?"
"Okay, VERY reckless. But it worked out, okay?"
"...At least I cannot fault you for that." Saber's emerald eyes shifted towards Sakura's sleeping form. Then she said, "...I take it that you did not tear out a beautiful maiden's heart for some form of intimate display of love? Not that I would judge. I have heard that there are some barbaric displays of courtship..."
"First of all, I'm stopping you right there. Second of all, shouldn't you know for a fact that's not the case since you have modern knowledge from the Grail? And third of all, no, it's not that."
Saber chuckled. "I jest, Master. And I am aware. I was just adding some levity to the situation." She shifted her gaze to Sakura. "The fact that you did this... am I correct to assume it has to do with your words before? One of the 'few things' before you grant my wish?"
"That's right. It's a bit complicated, but there was an old monster of a magus who had inserted his soul into a Crest Worm and embedded it into Sakura's heart." Shirou shifted his gaze to Sakura, his golden eyes softening a bit as he looked at her. "...That magus would have made things hell for Sakura as the war progressed. And he would also have tried to participate in the war himself via Sakura as a proxy."
Saber's eyes widened a margin. Then they narrowed in thought. "...I see. That would be troublesome. Having a foe so close and holding an ally hostage... So that is why you performed a preemptive strike. Before he could utilize Sakura as leverage."
"That's right." Shirou nodded. "Although a bit messy... since I had the tools and the opportunity, I figured I would do it now before he had time to prepare."
Shirou had managed to see how to reconstruct a heart from Rin. He knew he had Avalon, and it was more effective than canon due to his reinforced connection with Saber. And not only that, Sakura didn't know much at all about Shirou's abilities.
So while Zouken saw that Shirou had summoned Saber, since that old monster had been around in the previous war, he must have known that Saber was summoned by Shirou's father. And so he would have assumed that she was likely summoned again due to some relic.
He would also have assumed that Shirou would have some tools similar to Kiritsugu, or that he would follow Kiritsugu's methodology. But...
'Unfortunately for you, old bastard, I'm neither Kiritsugu's heir OR Emiya Shirou.'
...The Shirou here and now was utilizing things that no one could or would expect.
Like the fact that since he had incorporated Gae Bolg's curse into his body by replicating it similar to how Avalon was disassembled and infused into his very cells, Shirou was able to reverse causality.
Not much.
It would, at best, just provide Shirou a bit of an evasion bonus in real combat.
But in close quarters, against a Crest Worm torn out from its host body, and when applying reinforcement magic deliberately wrong to ensure the Crest Worm turned into broken viscera?
Plenty.
Saber stared at Shirou. Then she slowly said, "...I am beginning to see why you summoned me, Master." An amused smile crossed her face and she said, "We may be a bit TOO alike in our methodologies when it comes to defending what we cherish."
"You mean razing everything to the ground, crushing the enemy, and ensuring insurrection is impossible?"
"...I would have put it in lighter words, but yes." Saber chuckled. "...Hm. Strange." She paused and said, "...It's quite odd. Being around you reminds me of being with my knights. Before, at least. When we were running around Briton performing various tasks."
Shirou smiled. "Well. I'm honored to hear that... but." He shifted his gaze to Sakura. "...We should talk about next steps."
"Yes." Saber focused. "You have saved the one you care for, but the war continues regardless. What is your plan, Master?"
"To start with..." Shirou shifted his gaze to the corner of the room at the 'presence' he felt in the room with his enhanced senses. "...You should know, Rider. Your Master is unharmed."
Saber tensed and turned towards the corner of the room, already reaching for Excalibur. "What-?!"
The air rippled and then a woman appeared.
Tall, with a crimson blindfold and skin-tight black dress. Long lilac hair, and chains with a pair of pointed tips as a weapon.
Rider... true name, Medusa.
From what Shirou remembered, she should be under Shinji's command with that fake book of command spells.
But since Shirou had just killed Zouken, she was probably freed to return to her true master, Sakura.
And it seemed she had returned here immediately after that.
Saber was tense. But seeing Shirou's relaxed form, she started to calm down as well. "...I take it this was within your expectations, Master?"
"I told you before, right? This place has a bounded field to alert if anyone with hostile intentions enters. The fact that Miss Rider is here and we haven't heard any bells... Well. That's telling enough, isn't it?"
Saber paused. Then she said, "...Fair point." She dismissed her weapon, although she stared at Rider. "...Is my Master correct, Rider?"
Rider was quiet a moment longer. Then she said, "...My Master talked about you often, Emiya Shirou. And she cherishes you a great deal." She tilted her head towards Sakura, then to the bits of blood that Shirou still hadn't managed to clean up just yet.
Shirou coughed. "...Don't mind that. I'll clean it properly after I buy supplies."
Like hydroperoxide.
Shirou thought he'd have some in the house, but it seemed like Emiya Shirou had been a bit too reckless since the bottle he found was empty.
And while Shirou could erase it with magecraft... it was only in theory.
He would rather not attempt it only to have the house's foundation crack or something and have to explain it to Fuji-nee.
Not to mention that the usage of magecraft like that would alert people all around...
The only reason that someone like Caster wasn't knocking on his house right now was because Shirou had limited his magecraft to a split moment as well as reduced to output.
...Well, he hoped he did.
Shirou would find out when night fell.
Thankfully, the other participants in the war at least abided by THAT rule.
Rider stared at Shirou for a bit longer. Then she said, "I heard it. Earlier. What you said to Sakura." Rider looked at Sakura. Then she looked back at Shirou. "...Do you mean it? When you say that you want to love her?"
"Of course."
An instantaneous response.
One that Shirou didn't have to fake, pretend, or prepare.
Because he DID want to love her.
Emiya Shirou did.
And the man who had become Shirou had always been more fond of Sakura than either Rin or Saber anyway.
...Though Saber would also always hold a part of his heart due to being the first route he played. Not to mention the fact that she couldn't be saved while saving Sakura...
But that was neither here nor there.
This was life now, and Shirou was living what he once read.
And he had no intention of sticking to the script.
Rider let out a faint smile. "...Good. Then... As long as you stay by Sakura's side, I shall be on your side as well."
Saber, quiet until now, looked over at Shirou. "...Master."
"Yes, Saber?"
"...I have to admit. I have seen and heard of turning enemies to allies, but this is the first that I have seen it done so swiftly... and as a side effect of saving the one you love..."
Shirou laughed. "Well. Get used to more crazy things around me, Saber. Because I have no intention of stopping."
Now, since he had resolved Sakura's situation...
'Who else can I neutralize or befriend the quickest?'
The longer the war continued, the more who would die. And the more entrenched they would be in the path they chose.
So...