Disclaimer: Still own neither Blazblue nor Type-Moon.

Archer materialized behind Kiritsugu as he began the walk back to their temporary appartment.

Really, this was probably the best point of this body. Even if it wasn't equal to her original, the ability to freely change between the physical and immaterial was entertaining.

The biggest downside was the fact that a contract was required to maintain it. She had thought that the Azure might provide the necessary power, but it seemed that a source of prana was required in order to maintain the link between the construct and her.

Well, someone like her creators could probably find a way around it, but she couldn't.

"What is it?"

Of course, Kiritsugu had noticed her apparition. His voice, tight with tension, brought her back to the present.

"Hum…is something wrong? Since we left the meeting place, you haven't been yourself."

A bit of an exaggeration, but it was true that her Master seemed more worried than usual. Even after receiving the letter, he had been as controlled as always. Now, she couldn't help but notice that he sometimes glanced at shadows.

It would be too much to say that he was panicking, but this was as close to losing control as she had ever seen him.

"…" The man stopped and took a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders. "I believe that it may have been a mistake to come. I have confirmed that Kotomine Kirei is an enemy that must be defeated and what little he said held value, however…the price was high."

"Master?"

Certainly, she had been watching the meeting, but she had been too far to hear what the were saying. From what she could see, it seemed that her Master had been the one firmly in control, but now he said he had paid a heavy price?

Well, now that she thought about it, there had been something odd about the man he was talking to. It seemed as if he was wavering between two emotions, especially when he had left.

"I have confirmed that Assassin is still alive." It seemed Kiritsugu had regained his usual calm, as he began to walk again. "Additionally, it is likely that Kotomine Kirei will be targetting me from this point on. As such, our actions will be restricted – we will have to act as a conventional team of Master and Servant until Assassin is dealt with."

Well, that didn't sound so bad to her. Her Master wasn't the most sociable person, but he wasn't painful to be with. Beside, she had worked with people who instinctively wanted to kill her on sight in the past. In comparison, Emiya Kiritsugu's cold professionalism was an offering of friendship.

"Tonight, we'll focus on observing." Unaware of her thoughts, her Master concluded. "Assassin isn't a big enough threat to focus everything on him and Kotomine Kirei is a hard man to track, so we'll have to wait for a development on that front."

"Alright."

Just as she was about to return to spirit form, Kiritsugu's voice interrupted her.

"Wait, Archer."

"Yes?"

For perhaps the first time, there was a touch of awkwardness in her Master's voice.

"I told you of my wish before the battle began. At that time, I didn't ask what you wanted from the Grail."

"Oh."

A subject she had been worried about. It wasn't that she was ashamed of her wish…well, maybe a little.

Simply, how could she answer that question without doubts when talking to someone who wished to save the entire world?

"It's nothing great; I want to go back home."

Kiritsugu continued walking as he thought it over.

"I see. The place you call home still exists, then?"

Of course. Her Master didn't know, so it made sense for him to ask that question.

"Yes." In contrast to her hesitation at sharing her wish, she spoke with confidence. "If it didn't, it would be impossible for me to be here."

Kiritsugu's even steps stopped as he turned to face her.

"I had begun to suspect it, but…Archer, you are not a hero of this world, are you? To begin with, I haven't been able to find a reference to a legend that shares a similarity with yours."

Of course not. If he had asked, she would have told him from the start. Really, people who hated admitting they didn't know everything and acteed like it was something big when they figured it out were a bit irritating.

"No. Well, I don't know where it is compared to 'here', because we were chasing him, but…" She paused. Thinking about it, she'd never really thought she would have to explain it. "Anyway, I only arrived 'here' near the end and I...died, after the battle. I accepted the Holy Grail's offer to act as a Servant in exchange for a way home."

"I see." He looked at her with that same blank expression he had most of the times. Really, would showing emotions take that much out of him? "Then your determination is enough. Let's go, we have to prepare for tonight."

With a sigh, she lost her materialized form.

Still, at least he had bothered to ask. Hopefully, it had distracted him from his worries.

As she watched the sun descend, the young woman smiled.

Finally, she could go out again. Sometimes, Tokiomi's precautions seemed a bit too strict. Certainly, she approved of his decision that she avoid fighting during the day, but the other Servants would also agree to this; therefore, there was surely no reason for her to remain hidden in this house?

A part of her felt shame at being so impatient that a single day left her so irritated, but she excused it because of her company.

Really, what bad luck to have been paired with Assassin. If it had been almost any of the other classes, she would have gladly accepted an alliance. But to be allied with someone who targeted only a Master, while ignoring the heroes that served them…she could not agree to it.

Not that she considered enemy Masters to be untouchable; they remained enemies that had to be defeated. However, to deny their Servants the chance to protect them was an insult to the path of honor that she followed.

Still, she would at least grant Assassin that he had the good sense to understand that their methods were irreconcilable. If it wasn't for the fact that he was a rival for the Holy Grail, she would have called the manner in which he had accepted his role as a messenger to be an admirable show of humility.

But he remained a competitor and his act was a farce. Even if she took Kotomine Kirei's loyalty to her Master as genuine – and Tokiomi certainly thought it was -, that still left the fact that Assassin would undoubtedly make an attempt at slaying her Master to ensure his victory in the war.

Shaking her head, she dispelled the dark thoughts from her mind. Assassin's tricks could wait, tonight she would enjoy glorious battles. Tokiomi had agreed to let her finish things with Diarmuid and she intended to seize that opportunity before some new factor turned the war on it's head.

That joyful thought was broken at once as the space around her began to distort.

"Saber, I command you, come to me!"

This was the effect of a command seal? Had someone attacked Tokiomi inside his own stronghold?

Without wasting a moment, she brought forth her silver armor; it might be necessary for her to intercept an attack immediately.

As focus returned to her vision, she corrected herself; it appeared that things were not quite that dire.

However, the scenery that surrounded her was barely recognizable as the entrance to her Master's mansion. The front door had been completely demolished and the garden was in ruin.

The enemy had apparently decided to bypass the mansion's defenses entirely by throwing a van through the front gate.

"Saber."

Looking behind her, she confirmed that Tokiomi wasn't wounded. Though he wasn't unshaken, she commended her Master for reigning in his temper and staying focused.

In fact, if it wasn't for the outrage that burned in his blue eyes at such a shameless display of power, she would have thought that Tokiomi was only mildly annoyed.

"The enemy Servant appear to possess the ability to bestow the characteristics of a Noble Phantasm to the objects that he grasps."

So it was a Servant after all and even though his defenses had been surpassed, it seemed her Master had gained some information on the enemy.

Well, that should have gone without saying. Tohsaka Tokiomi's prudence wasn't simply a matter of cowardice.

"Thank you." Stepping forward, she prepared herself to leave the house. "Master, you should escape. I will deal with him, but the enemy might possess a long-range Noble Phantasm."

Or more vehicles, but she decided not to mention that possibility.

"Then I shall take my leave. If possible, limit the damage to the surroundings as much as possible."

Without any further pleasantries, she felt her Master's presence retreat further into the house.

And from the outside, a roar told her that the enemy had decided that he had waited long enough.

With a blackened lamppost held in his right arm, the one who could only be Servant Berserker made his way through the front gate of the Tohsaka Mansion. He slowly advanced, the bloodlust emanating from his black armor daring anyone to step in his path.

Grasping her invisible sword with both hands, Saber accepted the challenge.