Look Up (For Zaku):

Today, Asano walked into a particular model shop in Little Tokyo known for it's wide collection of anime-related merchandise, a place of which he was a member of the club there, and had a reputation for being something of a master builder when it came down to it.

Some people would call it an art when it came down to it. Other people would call it a hobby. Asano thought of it as both. In the hands of him, a model was a nice, steady process, and produced a beautiful result.

The same applied to the figures he liked to collect and make dioramas with, a hobby he had started the year before when he had bought one of those figures for himself.

It was a good thing he made a.) a fair amount of money, and b.) he had inherited his family's rather large estate.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be here with something in mind.

He had to wonder, what to pick today? A figure and a model or two were what he bought, and lasted him the week if it was glue, and at most 3 days if it was plastic depending on the size.

He decided to eschew the models for now, and instead head for the figures section, where he perused the shelves for any figures he could use.

He wondered mentally what to pick. He was currently trying to make a diorama of the Fuyuki Singularity, and he was in the market for one particular figure...

Shielder. The last one he needed to complete the set.

Lo and behold, he found one. The last one on the top of the (rather tall) shelf.

"Hm. How nice." He thought as he walked over to it, strolling on by to get it, unaware of what he was about to stride into...

The Figure in Question::

Zaku had come to the model store to look for a good reference model or figure, it was the best way to make sure she was getting all the details that sometimes didn't come up in the manga or anime she watched or made cosplay of, and as she walked in she hurried to where she knew the model would be, having been here enough times to memorize where certain things would be, she got to the shelf and looked up to find that they had done the unthinkable! They had moved the model to the top shelf! far out of the short girls reach, "Nooo...." she said very quietly to herself as she looked up at the figure.

This wasn't good...worse of all it was the male worker at the front today, that meant she would have to talk to him, the very thought of that made her shake, and now she was going to attract attention if she asked for a hand getting the model, or just from her shaking, thankfully she was in the back of the store and no one usually came back here other then really hard core otaku with ether no life or liked figures like this one so she should be safe till she regained her composure...

It was about that time that fate and luck both decided to simply slap Zaku upside the head as someone, and worse of all a male, came into the isle and Zaku had just so happened to notice him as she looked up at the model, nearly freezing totally as she seen him walk into the isle, why TODAY of all days did a guy have to come to the back of the shop where they kept all the figures that most guys would get odd looks for buying? on top of that he was looking up at the EXACT same model she was here for, no no no non ononononoonononnononnononononnononnooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! she couldn't lose this model to him she needed it for her cosplay!

All this time her cowlick was going crazy flailing around and seemingly panicking in contrast to it's owner staying perfectly frozen in apparent terror, and it seemed to be looking for places to hide or possible escape paths.

Asano, for his part, didn't really notice any of this happening until he had grabbed the figure.
He noticed the unusual, rather interesting sight of the odd cowlick, and for once in his life, Asano had no idea what the bloody hell to make of it as he watched it move in ways that he was pretty sure were impossible.
Actually, the whole damned thing looked impossible. Who has a cowlick almost as tall as them?

"What the hell is with that cowlick? Is that some kind of odd machine?" Asano said, so surprised by the rather odd sight, that the thought just slipped out of his mouth.
And if THAT person were here right now, she would have slapped him upside the head for that kind of remark.

Zaku stood there as the man grabbed the model and she let out a little squeak as he did, though as she did it seemed to have gotten the mans attention as he looked at her and made some comment about a cowlick, she had no Idea what he was talking about and that confusion took her a bit out of her fear induced paralysis as she tilted her head to the side quizzically, her Cowlick wriggling back and curling into a perfect question mark over her head, and now on being able to see the whole thing it would be obvious that the cowlick itself was as tall if not a little taller then the girl it was attached to.

Now out of her fearful state Zaku looked at the Model and then to the man again "Umm..e..e.....e...e...e...excuse...z....z...z..z.Zaku...b.....bu...but..z....z..Zaku..w...was g...going..t...t...t...t.t.tttt.tt.t.to buy th....th...that...b..but.....s..she..c..could....couldn't reach it....c...cou.....could...z.....Zaku...p...please....h....h.....ha....have it? Zaku?....s...she ...n....n...needs....needs it...f...for a ...p...project...s...she is making....a....and it...it's the last one......Zaku" she stammered out, the stammering seeming to make the cowlick wriggle about, but everytime she said the word Zaku it seemed to snap to attention once again.

What the... he had to remind himself he wasn't dreaming. This world was strange, very strange, although in hindsight, it really wasn't.
Considering what was inside him, he really shouldn't have dodged.
... although he had to wonder how in the hell that cowlick was easily defying the laws of physics.

She honestly sounded like a mess. Annie by now would have just given in, and said to give it to her.
Also, he presumed that Zaku was her name, although why the hell that was a verbal tic was beyond him.
He weighed the options as he listened to her. What to do?
It was upon hearing that she had a 'project' he decided to listen to her.

"What sort of project would that be? Convince me. I need this for a project too." he said in a slightly less harsh, and more curious tone.

Zaku looked at the man as he made his question, and she looked around for a moment, peaking around the corner of the shelf to make sure no one was listening in before looking back at him, "ZAku..w...was...was....n..needing it..f..for reference for...for her c...cosplay outfit...she...she..h..ha...has been working on it...f..for a long time..b...but none of..th..the manga or...or anime gi...give good angels..o..on everytihng...z..Zaku n..needs the.,...m...model f...for a better..l..look at everything Zaku" she said as she looked at him, her cheeks starting to burn with a deep blush as she fidgeted quite a bit as she spoke.

Her cowlick meanwhile did the same little dance on her head as she stuttered, and then once again would snap to attention as she said her name, before it seemed to finally calm down and it seemed to be looking at Asano and it moved closer, moving as if it was sniffing him.

Hm. The cowlick appeared to represent her emotional state.
He supposed that that should be proof that she was telling him the truth, although it strained his hears to hear someone stutter.
So cosplay, huh? Hm.
Was that her craft of choice?

Well, it's not like she was competition otherwise to him in terms of blacksmith talent. When it came to THAT, he was the best, and he damn well knew it (until proven completely otherwise).
He thought about it as he looked at the figure. He wasn't honestly in the market actively looking for it, but, well... it was a while before another shipment would come.
He, in that moment, made his decision.

"Your name is Zaku, yes? Very well. I'll give it to you... provided you can answer this question: How can you demonstrate to me, here and now, that giving it to you wouldn't be a waste of a perfectly good figure? Show me a past cosplay of yours. I want to see the degree of quality it is." he said.

Zaku looked at the man as he made his query though she backed up a step and looked at him like he was creepy, her cowlick seemingly making a growling motion "H...how...d..did you know...Zaku's name? Zaku?" she said as she was a bit worried he was some sort of stalker maybe, or something like that. Then he asked to see one of her past cosplays, she didn't normally carry any on her, not even pictures, but today she had a few in her large metal backpack case, which she had to keep outside due to the size of it, she had been planning to work on them at her forge.

"O..okay...j...just wait here...Zaku" she said as she decided that getting the model for the project was more important then if this guy was a stalker. she then headed for the door and literally hopped into her large metal backpack safe like case, closing it up behind her and the case wriggled and shook as she changed.

The case then started to shake more violently as she seemed to be changing faster or changed her mind.

Inside she finished changing after having picked one that would work the best she hoped.


Finally the safe like pack opened and out stepped Zaku dressed as Saber in a picture perfect outfit, sword and all as she walked back into the shop, walking with that sure stance that Saber always projected, She then walked over to the man as she looked at him that gaze perfectly matching the girl she was currently cosplayed as. On top of that the metal armor was actually metal, made with perfection as well as the cloth being perfectly stitched.

"Do you need any other show of my skills?" she said with a tone and voice that was almost identical to the character even the way she projected her voice.

... she had no idea what she was doing?
... either she was so much of an emotional mess at the moment that she honestly had no idea what was coming out of her mouth, or it was an unconscious reflex.
He was hoping it was the latter, because the former would not be a good thing.

"Because you keep saying it consistently, like it's a verbal tic. I guess you don't realize that..." he said.

He waited for her for about a couple minutes, giving her about 5 or so, to do it.
Did she not carry any photos on her of them, or did she chicken out?

Well, soon he found out when she stepped out dressed as a near-perfect replica of Saber (the original, Artoria Pendragon one). He could immediately tell that armor was actually metal, and that made him smile inwardly.
Looks like she was stronger than she looked... and also fairly damned skilled if she could make it that good.

"Not bad. You look just like Saber.... complete with ahoge. Even a replica of Excalibur... although personally, i've made a better replica of that blade." he said as if stating a fact.
He had to wonder if removing it would actually be a reverse scale on her.

He sighed, passing her the figure.
"Here. Take it. You win. I can see your craftsmanship is very fine." he said, delivering the rarely-heard sounds of actual praise from him.

Of course, he knew that no one could beat him when it came down to swords.

Zaku stood there and then she heard the man mention the sword and she frowned at him as he seemed to simply brush aside her skill she walked to the till and paid for the model before walking back to him, "You call my skill into question?...you have some nerve" she said looking at him with a look of annoyance and a bit of contempt, kind of like saber would have in her early episodes.

"what makes you think your steel craft is better then mine? what proof do you have? Answer me" she said as she stood there glaring at him.

Though someone near the front of the store headed out muttering "Oh...lovers quarrel?"

Back with Zaku and Asano she continued to glare at him before she took a breath and shook her head "It matters little...you have insulted my skills and I cannot let that stand...I challenge you to a contest of arms!" she said as she glared at him once more. of course she meant blacksmithing but she still in the cosplay persona at the moment and so called it something else that wasn't even related to blacksmithing at all.

He narrowed his eyes at her comments. A serious opponent. He would have said the same.
And he was more damn ready to prove it to her.

"Easy. I have the skills to prove it. You, me, and a forge, girl. I'm not some messy fool who backs out when the pressure's on."He said, with a glare not unlike EMIYA's from the original episodes.

Thus when she went to challenge him, something that he narrowed his eyes at.
Well. Time to put their money where there mouth was.
He liked that. She went from being a scared little girl to someone who could genuinely hold their ground. The kind of presence that came from an artisan.

"Contest of.... are you challenging me to a swordfight? Think carefully. I am a blacksmith first, but I am also a swordsman." he said.

Zaku narrowed her eyes at him as he proclaimed to be both a blacksmith and a swordsman "A true swordsman, or blacksmith would not call into question the skills of another, nor would they give credit then slap it away with such an uncouth comment as you have done, if you wish to test both then we shall, but not here, My Dojo has the room for the duel, as for the forge, do you know of a place with more then one?"

She looked at him, he said he wasn't some messy fool yet he would so callously brush aside his own complement to another craftsmen, glorifying his own work over the one that he just gave a complement to, she tightened her grip on her weapon and looked at him a moment, "As for me I hold to no one weapon, as the challenger you may pick the weapon to be used in the duel" she said as she recalled the rules for such things before turning to the door, she looked back at him over her shoulder first though "As for the time, We may settle the duel easiest at my Dojo, the crafters challenge may be done once proper accommodations can be found".

With that she walked out and stopped at her large safe like backpack, grabbing it with one hand and lifting it up and slipping it onto her back, the metal pack easily larger then she was, but she made no show of effort lifting it nor carrying it "Shall we go?" she said to him her eyes still narrowed.

Hmph.
"I'm not a conventional swordsman. More of a Ronin. If you beat me, fine. I'll admit I was being cocky. I'll fight you at your dojo, and as for a place with more than one forge... yes. My house has two in the basement, designed such that I could potentially work on more than one project at a time if I had to." he said.

"Fine. Swords." he said.

"Yes. You lead the way. Let's have our blades settle this." he said.

She nodded as she lead him out of the district heading for the train to get them to the Backlight it was the fastest way to get to her dojo after all and she looked at him a moment over her shoulder, having to turn a bit due to the massive metal safe on her back "Even a Ronin has manners...as for having two forges...I do not see the point...one can only work at one forge at a time, not watching carefully could potentially over heat the metal you are working on...why take the chance..." she said as she turned to watch were she was going, though she barely needed to with the way everyone was making sure to get out of the girls way.

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