Artoria Caster (Castoria) x Muramasa
One-Shot
Part 1
The warm glow of Muramasa's forge lit the room in orange hues as he hammered precisely on a red-hot blade. The metallic sound echoed rhythmically in the improvised smithy the old blacksmith had built in one corner of Chaldea. While it wasn't quite the masterpiece his previous workshops had been, it served its purpose.
Muramasa, with his usual calm demeanor, wiped the sweat from his brow as he inspected the progress of his work. Suddenly, a soft, though slightly nervous voice broke the silence.
"Muramasa, still working as always? If you keep this up, you'll wear yourself out before anyone manages to defeat you in battle," commented Caster Artoria as she entered the workshop carrying a tray of food.
Muramasa looked up and, recognizing his visitor, gave a faint smile—something rare from him.
"Well, if it isn't Artoria. What brings you here? Come to criticize my methods or just to make sure I haven't fused with the anvil?"
"Neither of those!" Artoria quickly replied, a light blush on her cheeks. "I just thought it'd be good to bring you something to eat. You can't work all day without eating something decent!"
She placed the tray on a nearby table with firm but slightly clumsy movements, as if trying to keep a serious attitude, though the blush betrayed her unease.
Muramasa set the hammer aside and walked over to the table, inspecting the food Artoria had brought.
"Hmm, smells good. Did you make this yourself?" he asked casually, though his eyes showed a spark of interest.
"Y-yes, of course. Why do you ask?"
Muramasa smiled slyly, something unusual for him.
"Just surprised. You're good with magic, but in the kitchen too? I guess it's rare for someone so... noble like you to take the time to cook for an old guy like me."
"Don't say silly things, Muramasa!" Artoria exclaimed, crossing her arms indignantly, though her blush deepened.
The blacksmith let out a small chuckle as he served himself a bit of food.
"Relax, I was just teasing. It's nice to see you still have that fire, Artoria. It's part of your charm."
Artoria, who was about to sit down, froze upon hearing those words.
"W-what do you mean 'my charm'!? Don't say things like that so suddenly!"
Muramasa raised an eyebrow, enjoying her reaction.
"Why so flustered? I'm just being honest. If you don't want me to say it, maybe I should keep it a secret, huh?"
Artoria couldn't help but cover her face with her hands, clearly embarrassed as she tried to come up with a coherent response.
"You're... you're so annoying! Always saying things like that as if they're jokes. Stop flirting with me!"
"Flirting? I'm not flirting! I'm just saying what I think, that's all," Muramasa replied calmly while continuing to eat.
Artoria glared at him, clearly frustrated by his indifferent attitude.
"You're impossible, Muramasa! How can you be so calm all the time?"
Muramasa shrugged, still smiling.
"I guess someone has to be, don't you think? Besides, it's fun seeing your reactions. You're too serious sometimes, Artoria. You need to loosen up."
Artoria sighed deeply, trying to calm herself as she sat down across from him.
"I don't know why I even bother with you. But at least eat everything, alright? I don't want you saying I brought this for nothing."
Muramasa nodded with a slight smile.
"Sure, sure. I'll eat it all, don't worry. But thanks, Artoria. It's nice having company while I work."
Still a bit blushed, Artoria couldn't help but smile softly at his words.
"You're welcome, I guess. But don't get too used to this."
Muramasa chuckled, taking another bite as he thought about how interesting it was to have someone like Artoria around.
In the end, amid teasing and small arguments, they enjoyed a moment of peace in the forge—a quiet pause amid the responsibilities and chaos that usually surrounded them in Chaldea.
Part 2
Artoria returned to the forge the next day, convinced she was only making a "casual visit." Of course, not because she was worried Muramasa might still be hammering away nonstop, nor because the blacksmith's teasing smile had been lingering in her mind. Definitely not because of that!
Opening the door, she found him exactly as he had been the day before: hunched over his anvil, tirelessly striking a blade with his hammer. Only this time, he seemed so focused he didn't even notice her arrival.
"Seriously... Are you planning to work until the forge collapses?" she asked, crossing her arms in an attempt to get his attention.
Muramasa looked up, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"You again? If you keep coming to see me, people are going to start talking."
Artoria immediately felt the blush return to her cheeks.
"Don't say nonsense! I just wanted to make sure you were... fine. That's all."
Muramasa set the hammer aside and wiped his hands with a cloth.
"Ah, I see. So you came to make sure this old man hasn't crumbled yet?"
Artoria rolled her eyes, ignoring his mocking tone as she sat down in a nearby chair.
"Whatever. But you could at least take a break. Hammering all day isn't good for anyone."
Muramasa shrugged before sitting as well, watching her with curiosity.
"I've lived long enough to know when I need to rest. Besides, if I stop working, what am I supposed to do with my time? Sit around listening to lectures from someone younger than me?"
"That's not a lecture!" Artoria protested with a frown. "It's advice. You should be grateful someone cares about you!"
Muramasa let out a small laugh.
"Alright, alright. I'll take it as advice then. But tell me, what really brought you here? I doubt you came just to give me a scolding."
Artoria hesitated for a moment before pulling something from behind her—a thick book with an ornate cover.
"Actually, I came to return this," she said, handing him the book. "It's about forging techniques, remember? You lent it to me a few weeks ago."
Muramasa took the book carefully, inspecting it like one of his own creations.
"Ah, yes, this one. I thought you'd forgotten. What did you think of it?"
Artoria looked away, slightly uncomfortable.
"Well... it was interesting. Though I don't understand how you can read such technical stuff and make it all seem so simple."
"It's experience, Artoria. When you've worked with steel for centuries, even the most complicated things become natural. Though honestly, I didn't expect you to read the whole thing. That's impressive."
"Of course I read it all," she replied proudly, crossing her arms. "If I want to understand how you work, I have to make the effort."
Muramasa smiled, clearly pleased.
"So, did you get interested in forging or were you just trying to impress this old man?"
Artoria stared at him in disbelief, blushing furiously once again.
"Don't be ridiculous! I just wanted to understand why you spend so much time on this. That's all."
"Ah, I see. I suppose that's your way of showing interest, huh?"
"It is not!" Artoria shouted, abruptly standing from her chair. "You're impossible!"
Muramasa raised his hands, as if trying to calm her.
"Alright, alright. Don't get mad. But if you ever want to learn how to swing a hammer, let me know. I'd be curious to see someone like you hitting steel instead of casting spells."
Artoria crossed her arms again, trying to maintain composure as she gave him a sharp look.
"I don't know if you're being serious or just trying to mess with me again."
"A bit of both," Muramasa admitted with a smile.
Artoria sighed, dropping her shoulders as she turned toward the door.
"Really, I don't know how anyone puts up with you. But I wouldn't be surprised if someday you completely wear down my patience."
"And yet, you keep coming," he replied with a light chuckle.
She didn't answer, though the blush on her face said more than words could. Without looking back, she left the workshop, leaving Muramasa alone once more.
The blacksmith watched the door close, smiling to himself before returning to the anvil.
"What a peculiar girl," he muttered. "Though I have to admit, she's making these days more interesting."
Part 3
The sun began to descend on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The ocean breeze gently brushed against Artoria Caster and Muramasa's skin as they walked along the shore, their bare feet leaving footprints in the wet sand. The quiet melody of the waves crashing against the coast was the only sound accompanying their steps, creating an atmosphere that contrasted with the tension both felt.
Artoria stared out at the water, her mind drifting far away. The sea, vast and endless, reminded her of the constant struggle in her life, but also the peace she occasionally found in moments like this—when there was no one else but her and the man beside her. Though he didn't say much, his gestures and presence spoke more than words ever could. Would he always be this distant?
Muramasa, for his part, remained silent. His eyes stayed fixed ahead, carrying the same composed calmness that always defined him. But inside, he felt something begin to shift. The wind tousled his hair, and for a moment, he allowed his shoulders to relax. Something about this moment, this calm, felt unfamiliar. It wasn't battle, nor the tension he was used to. It was the serenity of the beach—but also, it was Artoria's presence.
"Why did we come here?" Artoria suddenly asked, breaking the silence. The question, though simple, left behind a sense of uncertainty that couldn't be ignored.
Muramasa turned to her slowly, his face serene as always, but there was something more in his eyes. "What are you hoping to find here, Artoria?"
She looked directly at him, her expression serious but not hostile. "I don't know. Maybe something that will help me understand what we're doing… what I am to you."
Her words were more sincere than she had planned, and in an instant, a heavy tension slipped between them. Muramasa didn't speak, but Artoria could see a subtle change in his gaze—something deeper than his usual indifference.
The wind blew stronger, and the waves now crashed harder against the rocks, as if the world itself was reacting to the truth that had just been spoken. The young Caster took a step closer to him, her heart pounding.
"Is that so hard to understand?" she asked, locking eyes with Muramasa. "That after everything we've been through together, there's something more than just mission or duty?"
Muramasa, his eyes still fixed on her, studied her in a silence that felt eternal. The sun had almost disappeared, and only traces of golden light remained. The ocean looked as infinite as his thoughts, but deep inside, something in him began to recognize the truth in Artoria's words.
"I don't always have answers for that, Artoria," he finally said, his voice deep but soft. "I'm not good with emotions, or with showing what I really feel."
Artoria smiled—a slight but sincere gesture—understanding the complexity of the man before her. "I don't need perfect answers, Muramasa. I just need to know I'm not alone in this."
Muramasa watched her a moment longer, his eyes shining with an unexpected intensity. The silence between them was no longer uncomfortable; there was a new understanding, a quiet connection that filled the space.
They continued walking along the beach in silence, but this time, something had changed. The distance between them wasn't as great anymore. Even if unspoken, they both knew that something was shifting.
The sun finally sank below the horizon, and the beach was wrapped in the softness of nightfall—but for Artoria and Muramasa, it was that shared moment that truly mattered. Maybe there were still many unanswered questions, but for now, they could simply enjoy the peace that moment offered.
Part 4
The sea breeze continued to caress their faces as darkness slowly overtook the sky, covering it with stars. The two walked in silence, their footprints fading with every wave that reached the shore, as if the ocean itself wanted to erase even their presence. And yet, something in the air was changing—something palpable, though silent, like an echo that resonated between them.
Artoria couldn't help it. She felt a warmth in her chest, a mixture of emotions she couldn't quite decipher. There was something in the way Muramasa walked beside her—so distant and self-assured, yet at the same time so... unreachable. Despite everything they had shared, he remained a mystery to her.
"Muramasa…" Her voice this time came out softer, lower, as if she were carefully weighing every word.
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his expression impassive, but his attention fully on her. "What is it?"
Artoria's face flushed slightly. There were no more excuses, no more evasions. The time had come, and though her heart pounded in her chest, something pushed her to take that step. An impulse, a desire, a need to let him know what she felt—even if she didn't have the perfect words.
"It's just… I can't keep ignoring what I feel." She spoke, her eyes glowing with a determination even she didn't recognize.
Muramasa watched her in silence, something in his gaze seeming to read between the lines of what Artoria wasn't saying. She stepped closer, closing the distance between them, and without thinking twice, raised her hand and gently touched his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin.
"Artoria?" he murmured, his deep voice filled with calm curiosity, but also a faint warning. Yet before he could say more, she leaned in closer, and with a strong blush on her face, pressed her lips to his. There was no time for regrets, no room for doubt.
The kiss was stolen—not with gentleness, but with the urgency of someone who couldn't wait any longer. Artoria closed her eyes, feeling the touch of his lips take her breath away. It was a fleeting kiss, yet intense, a crash of emotions that surged through her entire being. When she pulled away, her face was completely red, and her breathing slightly shaky.
Muramasa, meanwhile, remained still, staring at her with a mixture of surprise and confusion. He hadn't expected that, and yet deep inside, something had ignited. A fire that, though small, was beginning to grow.
Artoria, her face now as red as the sunset that had just faded, couldn't look him in the eyes. "I… I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me, I just…" The words got stuck in her throat.
Muramasa finally broke the silence, and with a deep, calm voice, said, "There's no need to apologize. Maybe… we've both been waiting for something like this."
Artoria looked at him then, surprised, and saw something in his eyes she hadn't seen before: a softness, a vulnerability he usually kept hidden. Without another word, they simply stayed there together under the dark mantle of the night. The tide continued its rhythm, and their hearts—though shaken—seemed to find their own tempo in sync with the waves.
Part 5
The night had fully set in, but the gentle glow of the moon lit the landscape, casting playful shadows on the sand. Artoria and Muramasa walked in silence, unhurried, as if time itself had gifted them this eternal moment to be together. Whatever the future might bring didn't matter; all that existed now was the present—the connection that had begun to grow between them.
Artoria, her face still flushed from the stolen kiss, walked beside him, her steps lighter, as if her heart no longer carried such weight. Muramasa, though usually stoic, seemed more at ease, as if an invisible burden had lifted from his shoulders. Every now and then, their gazes met, and in those small moments, the world around them seemed to disappear.
"You know," Artoria began, her voice soft but steady, "I've spent so much time fighting my own fears… against what others expected of me... But I never imagined something so simple, like a kiss, could change everything."
Muramasa looked at her without saying a word, listening intently. He knew that for her, saying those words wasn't easy, but something in her expression confirmed what he already sensed: love had taken root—not just on one side, but in both. It wasn't surprising—not with her—but it was a reminder of how deep someone's feelings could run when they had learned to shield their heart for so long.
"I understand that more than you think," Muramasa replied in a low voice, his eyes searching for hers. "Sometimes, the battle isn't just against others. It's against what we refuse to accept in ourselves."
Artoria couldn't help but smile. In that moment, with the breeze brushing their faces, Muramasa's words rang with profound truth. It was as if the two had found themselves on a different battlefield—one where vulnerability wasn't a weakness, but a strength.
Muramasa stopped and looked at Artoria with an intensity in his eyes he had never shown before. With a firm hand, he took hers, interlacing their fingers. "I don't know what the future holds, Artoria. But I do know that if I'm going to keep fighting, I want to do it by your side."
Artoria's heart skipped a beat. That declaration—simple and without embellishment—was all she needed to hear. She didn't need grand promises or elaborate gestures; just those words, full of sincerity and commitment. And for the first time, everything she had gone through in life made sense. The battles, the losses, the doubts… all of it had led to this moment—this connection with him.
"And I by yours," Artoria responded without hesitation. "There's nothing more important to me than that."
Muramasa smiled—truly smiled—for the first time not out of victory or strategy, but because of the person standing before him. The cold determination that had always defined him gave way to the warmth of an emotion he could no longer suppress. Without another word, he leaned in, and this time, Artoria didn't hesitate. Their lips met again—not in a stolen kiss, but in one that was mutual, full of unspoken promises, yet fully understood.
When they parted, Artoria let out a soft, almost inaudible laugh. "Looks like there's no turning back now, huh?"
"No," Muramasa replied, his deep voice steady, now with a warmth he had never shown before. "There's no turning back."
They remained there, under the starry sky, the waves gently breaking at their feet. In that moment, the future felt like a blank canvas—ready to be written with every step they would take together.
They were no longer just allies in an endless war. They were something more. A couple, a force ready to face the world—no matter the challenges—because they knew that as long as they stood side by side, there was nothing they couldn't overcome.
And so, beneath the watchful gaze of the moon, Artoria and Muramasa walked forward together, ready to write their own story—one not bound by war, but by something far greater: love, loyalty, and the courage to be who they truly were—without masks, without doubt.
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Author's Note:
Well, that's where this one-shot ends…
I was really tempted to include Muramasa's sacrifice in the creation of Excalibur, and Artoria Caster's heart-wrenching cries of grief.
Such a powerful line from Muramasa about how he lives by the sword, and must die by the sword.
Muramasa:"It's a sacrifice I've long awaited, a fate I've accepted. I've given everything to the sword, and now it's time to give it my final breath. But I won't regret what happens, Artoria. It's my destiny."
Take care of yourselves.
I wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and whatever else comes your way.
See you in 2025.