Disclaimer: Still own neither Blazblue nor Type-Moon.

The important mission that had been entrusted to Servant Archer was currently put on hold due to an unforeseen complication.

Hesitantly, the girl stared at her greatest obstacle, the same one that had caused her to arrive late yesterday and one that she couldn't defeat no matter how powerful she was. Tauntingly, it lingered just out of her reach.

Could she really turn away and leave? It was so enticing…

But no. This was a war, an important battle, there was no time to waste against this foe and she was already late. For Emiya Kiritsugu's sake, she had to be strong.

A pathetic whine coming from inside almost struck down her gathered resolve.

Truly, this was a cruel dilemma that not even Terumi could have come up with.

Focusing her mind, she gathered all the strength she had gained throughout her life and closed her eyes.

Like someone fighting against a hurricane, Noel Vermillion turned away from the mocking pet store and the bewildered gaze of passerbyes after spending five minutes staring at its entrance. With hurried steps, she resumed her walk toward her initial destination.

She would most definitely never mention this to anyone.

Half an hour later, she was still no closer to accomplishing her mission.

Well, the real problem was that she had no idea where exactly Rider and his Master…Wave? Something along those lines, were located. Kiritsugu had determined a rough area based on where the chariot disappeared, but it remained simply an estimation.

And so, she was yet again stuck walking through town. If only she had any level of riding skill, she could have simply taken a car. Or, if Kiritsugu had given her any money, taken public transport.
But no, she had to walk.

A little voice in the back of her mind whispered that Kiritsugu had probably been too bothered by the news to think his order through and that she was also responsible for not thinking to ask, but she waved the thought away. It definitely wasn't her job to think in this partnership.

As if summoned, the one who was reponsible for most of the thoughts that she had put into the Holy Grail War chose that moment to appear.

A black shape in the daylight, Kotomine Kirei silently walked toward her, stopping just out of reach.

"Are you simply wandering aimlessly?"

The blunt question shook her out of her momentary surprise, causing her to shake her head.

"Of course not." It was offensive, really. Surely she didn't look that lost. "I'm searching for Rider and his Master."

The black eyes looked her over from head to toe and she could feel outrage mounting against amusement in them. That wasn't fair! He'd practically been crying just yesterday, he didn't get to laugh at her!

"I see." Expertly concealing his emotions, he indicated the street to her right. "Then you need to turn here, or you will simply pass by it."

"Oh." Embarassment showed on her face briefly before a more important matter overcame it. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

The look that she received made it clear that the man thought it obvious.

"As you are well aware, I was in no condition to have a proper interaction the last time we met. As such, I came to hear your decision."

Of course, that was not the only reason for his presence. Tokiomi had originally dispatched him to keep an eye on Rider's movements since using Assassin was no longer an option. The fact that Archer had passed nearby was only luck, but Kotomine Kirei saw this as a convenient opportunity.

Yes, he had acquired quite an interest in that Servant now, more so than as simply a tool. Emiya Kiritsugu had failed to meet his expectations, but his Servant had been present at the right time.

For Kirei, who had always searched an answer, to ignore such a coincidence would be an unforgiveable crime. The path that she had offered when he had been falling, morality decided by actions regardless of feelings, was something that he had to at least attempt.

However, that was only for the future. His mission from the Church and his own determination to stop her Master came first.

"You mean about the Grail?" At his nod, the girl sighed. "I can't betray Kiritsugu. I'll definitely keep my promise and defeat every other Servants."

Then he had wasted his time.
"But-" interrupting his turn, the girl continued. "If he's about to do something stupid, then I can't just let that go."

Not completely wasted, then. Although, this wasn't the commitment that he had hoped for.

"And so? What do you intend to do? Even if you have no intention of giving him the Grail, he can easily force your hand with a Command Spell if the others have been dispatched."

A harsh reminder, perhaps. But it was necessary that the girl understood her situation.

"I know that. He'd do it, too." Bright blue eyes lowered toward the ground in sadness. "So while I work for my Master's beautiful wish, I'll entrust you with saving my Master from his foolish wish."

"What?"

A smile appeared on her face at the fact that she had finally made him react.

"Saber, Rider, Lancer. I'll definitely stay alive after all of them are gone. Kirei, you have until that happens to find a way to stop my Master. I'll be happy to see humanity save itself."

Patting him on the arm, the girl began to walk toward the street that he'd indicated. He was sos surprised by the familiarity of the act that he didn't even flinch away.

"I think it'll help you, too. You'll find yourself yet."

As she faded from view by turning the corner, he closed his widened eyes. With a pleased sigh, the Executor contemplated the future .

So it was up to him in the end? Well, that was fine too. That wish for absolute peace, the emprisonment of humanity's spirit…he wouldn't allow it.

But he wouldn't kill Emiya. No, the man would live, live to see the importance of everything he'd wasted for this ridiculous ideal.

Live to see the worth of what he had been unable to obtain.

They would come soon. He could feel it, tension was in the air and he was almost shaking with excitement. Not that he would allow himself to do so and ruin the letter that he was writing.

Retrieving the vessel had been a genius idea, so much so that he was surprised that he hadn't thought of it sooner.

From the beginning, everything had gone wrong because he'd allowed the capricious situation to decide where he would fight. Both times, he had been ambushed or taken unaware. Not anymore though; with the vessel in his possession, they would have to come to him. Additionally, its proximity would seal Iskander's chariot and the Sword of Promised Victory.
Which meant that the Servants would have to face Lancer on even ground, the very situation that Diarmuid desired and excelled in.

Doubtlessly the fools would recognize that and try to strike at him directly. Tokiomi emboldened by his victory and the Einzbern coward would come directly to him, thinking that he was more vulnerable now than ever before.

Oh, but they would be corrected quickly on that front. Quickly and permanently.

He felt so much better now. His thoughts were clear and even his vision seemed sharper than before, without the strain that usually came with reinforcement magecraft.

Although, he'd been somewhat disgusted by the Holy Grail vessel. Had the Einzbern fallen so far that they thought that they could hide it in a doll?
He had thought about showing some courtesy to it, but there was no point. It was only a tool created by humans so there was no reason to treat it any differently just because it took a different shape. As such he had simply locked it in a soundproofed room so its pain would go unheard.

Ah, he was done writing. Idly, he lifted it and reread it in his head.

Having heard of the injustice that you suffered sixty years ago-

A good line, that. It would make the man think that he was on his side. Which he was. After all, he was freely sending precious information that some magi would be willing to kill for.

He wasn't too sure where the idea had come from; ordinarily, he would never freely share such important knowledge. But the more he thought about it, the more the idea appealed to him. After all, that information wasn't relevant to the path walked by his family and he certainly wouldn't shift toward it after obtaining the Holy Grail. So he might as well give a boon to another worthy magus. It was certainly better than letting it go to waste or, arguably worse, fall into the hands of some upstart like Waver Velvet.

After carefully closing the envelope, he rose from his seat and rang the bell to summon one of the hotel's employees to take the letter.
It was unconsciously that he used the snake-like chain to do so rather than his hand.

Truly, such a useful tool.