Chapter 3: A Hero's Quest

The day crawled. Daichi had been eager to contact Archer but had no moments. He tried during lunch break but were dashed when Shizuka appeared with their regular Bento lunch. Daichi abstained, preferring not to involve her in this mess. The school bell rang, calling the end of the day. He called home, hopefully Archer would pick up. The phone answered. "Archer, we need to talk, privately."

Archer replied. "Alright. We can meet directly." Good fortune, he understood the situation. That's a Counter Guardian, all this is his backyard.

Daichi suggested. "Meanwhile we should get you some clothes. Otherwise you'll stick out." A small investment, useful to curry favour.

"Hmm, that'll work."

"Good. We'll meet at Shibuya station, Hachiko statue. I'll be there in half hour." A common well known place, affordable and most important its easy to slip around. Archer said yes before he ended the call. Step one in place.

Daichi put his phone away as Shizuka dropped in. "Daichi, What are you planning for today?" Daichi told her. "Since we need some groceries too, I know just the place!"

"I'm sorry. I can't go with you. Emiya and I need some time together, just the two of us."

Shizuka's smile was way too cheeky. "Oho, some guy only thing?"

Better to leave it that way. "Yea, a guys only kind of thing." He clasped his hands together. "I'm sorry for that. Please bear with me."

Shizuka waved a hand dismissively. "Fine. I'll shop for some food so you won't starve tomorrow." Daichi's stomach tightened to a knot. I just shot myself in the foot didn't I? With a wave, he bolted and escaped.

The sun was starting to set. The crowds grew as rush hour began. Archer was waiting as Daichi appeared from the station entrance. With a nod, they walked alongside towards the shops. Archer asked. "That girl still with you?"

Daichi waved a hand. "I sent her off. I'd figure the apartment would explode if you two met each other."

Archer defended. "She made the first strike."

Daichi laughed. "Against a man who can dodge bullets. I'd say I'm impressed."

"Men would never win against women. You lose even if you win."

The million yen question. "How did you not notice her when you could find me in pitch black night?"

"I was distracted."

"Distracted, really?"

"Yes."

"That is very hard to believe."

"It doesn't matter what you think."

Daichi chose to leave it be. Archer moved on. "So, what is so secretive that you want to talk personally?" Daichi explained the idea of finding other superheroes and bringing them together. That way they could understand more about the situation at hand. Archer was perplexed. "That idea is rather stupid." How was it a bad idea?

"What's wrong about it?"

"You're taking the hardest approach. Not everyone's interested in your goals. You have no power to bring them to follow your authority. There is no reason for them to follow you. If they aren't so charitable, you can be killed." Daichi faltered a step before continuing.

"What would you have done?"

"I'd just leave it be and go home. You're just a kid. You have nothing. That means responsibility too. You don't need to be an idiot trying to get himself killed." Speaking from experience, didn't you Archer? Daichi turned to answer when Archer interrupted. "You are fortunate I need to find them as well."

"Aren't you planning for retirement?"

"As you said, there are other heroes out there. Because of it, there is a risk to this world."

"Risk?"

"Some inconsistencies I need to look into." They diverged off the main road into the smaller streets. "How well do you know about my universe?"

Daichi appreciated the quieter ambiance. "Nasuverse, I'd say above average. Mostly about your part of the universe. Speaking of which, do you know everything about your universe now?"

"Enough for now. Do you know the limitations of Magecraft and Gaia?" A nod. "Gaia's equivalent exists here but its abnormal."

Daichi blinked. "How can you tell its abnormal if you weren't here in the first place?"

"Call it a hunch. I probably won't be able to live in peace without resolving it. Better to nip it in the bud before it blows up."

"If that's the case, we're in it together." Daichi offered a handshake. "Here's to a good working relationship." Archer stared at the hand for a second. Surprised, that's a first. Archer accepted it. It felt rough and hard, a hand that wielded only swords.

"Sure. Thanks for buying." They were within the reach of the stores. The crowds in the smaller streets were starting to grow bigger.

Daichi bit a lip. "Please don't use all my savings." Step two complete. "When do we want to get started?"

"Tonight." They entered a store, one of the casual brands. Daichi waited at a corner as Archer searched for suitable clothes. He sent a quick message to Kazuko. The reply was a smiley. Archer grabbed a few sets before entering the changing room.

Tomorrow. Perfect timing. Shizuka wouldn't be around since she's going to the shrine with her family. How should they do the search tomorrow? Archer would probably know best.

Archer emerged from the changing room, dressed in black shirt and slacks. Another black coat and hat to top it off. Reminds me of his father, Kiritsugu. It'd suit him well to hide his dark skin and white hair. He sensed a really dangerous vibe. The man who would kill you if you looked the wrong way. An urge settled upon him. It must be done.

Daichi presented his left hand and announced. "Rejoice Emiya, for your -." Pain struck when his hand was twisted to its limit.

Archer stifled. "Don't try to act like that damn Kotomine. Never liked him a single bit." Archer let go with a huff.

"Warning taken." Daichi massaged his wrist. The counter guardian gestured to follow.

"Come, we got more things to buy."

They returned with success. Some clothes and a second hand cell phone to make communication easier between them. A quick dinner of Ramen in Shibuya to ease their stomachs as nightfall arrived. A memo was on the table. Food's in the fridge. You owe me one, blek. Daichi chuckled at the Akanbe sketch as he put it away. He did deserve it.

"You're lucky to have a girl like that." Daichi turned to see Archer leaning by the wall. He had changed into his new clothes earlier. They worked as intended, a shadow within the crowd. Daichi had raised concern about the body armour. Archer dismissed it on the notion 'Don't get into a fight unprepared. If you did, you have failed to prepare.'.

Daichi said. "I guess. You were the same with Sakura didn't you?"

"Yes." His eyes narrowed. "I owe her too much."

It feels invasive; to understand him so much. "There weren't much details since the end of Fate Stay Night. How, how were they after that?"

Archer grabbed the bag of his original clothes. "You mean Shirou's story."

Daichi leaned against the kitchen sink. "Aren't you still Shirou?"

Archer tossed away the coat. "I was him. I do have his memories, one that strive to be a hero. That however is not me. I was a version of him that won the Fifth Holy Grail war. My part ended upon my death in the Holy Grail war."

"That doesn't mean though that there's no Rin and Sakura in your time."

"After the war, I joined Rin and went to the Clock Tower. I needed to improve my skills in order to become what I wanted. Rin and I later had a falling out in our approach. We parted amicably and I travelled across the world alone as a freelance magus. I took on dangerous missions in order to protect the people. Rin had grown busy from her studies, apparently under that madman Zelretch."

"As for Sakura, I didn't get to talk much with her. We talked occasionally through e-mails, even lesser during my mercenary years. However, she fell sick and was slowly weakening."

"Was it because of-"

"Yes, the Crest worms that Zouken had implanted in her. One person can only survive so long with She kept it hidden from me all that time. By the time of my execution, she was already on the death's door. To think I would know about it just prior to my death."

"I see."

"Don't like what you hear? That is what my universe has been trying to do, kill us around every corner."

"The world you lived in is so dangerous but that didn't mean your world was wrong. It just meant there are more challenges."

Archer glared. No killing intent this time. "That is easy for you to say when you do not have to fight monsters that will tear you apart in a second."

"You fight despite the odds. You believed that you have changed. A Counter Guardian that always killed people in order to save mankind from extinction." Always fighting to protect humanity. Facing monsters, demons, abominations would make men scream and cry. There is no path but forward. Kill or be killed. "You took the cost within yourself. Despite all the killing, despite the destruction that you have done, that still didn't mean that your ideal is wrong."

"My ideal is a hypocrisy. Nothing more, nothing less." Archer pulled off his coat and shirt. Daichi tried not to stare. Too much.

Sorrow grew, seeing them on the man's back. White lines, faint to the naked eye. Dozens of them crossing across the sides and to the front of Emiya's body. The price he paid for being a hero of justice. I don't think I have the guts to endure that much. "Those scars must have hurt."

A pause before an answer. "They did. They were worth it." The scars on the back disappeared under the black under-armour.

Daichi posed the question as Archer fitted his overcoat. "We know that your world is fiction. Even so, I know that you're still real like how you stand here. Your words, your feelings are as real as this world is. I feel that I must ask this." Archer finished and turned for the door. "Hero of Justice, will you continue to save?"

Archer stepped outside the door. "That is for me to know." A leap and he was gone.

"How is it going, hero?" Kazuko asked through the phone.

"Enough with that, I'll never become one." Daichi lied back on the bed. "I've talked to Archer. He agreed to it." A glance to the clock told it was approaching midnight. Archer would be back if nothing happened in a few hours. Better I'm not around if anything did happen. I'd be dead weight.

"Good. I got nothing new so far."

Daichi suppressed a yawn. Archer had mentioned an important point. "Kazuko, I might be able to find the others but it doesn't mean I can convince them to join us."

"It's still a start. I'll try to pitch in from there. Once we know who's around it would be a matter of motivation." Motivation? Daichi continued to listen. "Motivation is what drives us forward. The little steps that we climb before reaching the top. It is the matter of knowing what are their motivations."

So both of them know how to go about with people. "That doesn't feel right."

"It's not a bad thing. I'm trying to give them what they want, whichever that are in my reach that is. If I can't, at least we can work together to our own benefit."

"What if their ideas lie elsewhere?"

"Nothing can be done. However, if there's a few, there must be more of them. They might be more amiable to the idea."

"Even if we reveal this to the world, what's next? What is that final goal we are trying to achieve? What is the point?"

"It is an opportunity. To change the world that we live in." This world would never be the same. What is real? What is fiction? Fiction tend to portray the stereotypes. Strong but cowardly men, evil governments that tortured its people. Rebellious freedom fighters struggling to save the day. How far would it be from the truth? Or is it his truth?

"For the better, or the worse?" Did the world need to change to begin with?

"Daichi, What does your heart tell you?"

"Honestly, nothing. We're still just teenagers. Mine doesn't know where it wants to go now." Everything about Daichi had thus far is a normal life. No experience he had would be able to give him an answer. Superheroes are fiction after all. They were fiction.

"Youth means nothing in the grand scheme of things. People our age fought in the world wars. We are just pieces on the chessboard."

"I'm starting to feel this is getting out of our hand." Daichi had been mulling about it. The thoughts of heroes lurking around Tokyo. Where there are heroes, there are villains. He hoped for more optimism but convincing himself was difficult. You can't hope to win against heroes that can destroy entire cities.

"You try to think hard but its not what you are made to be. Leave that to me." Kazuko's assurance wasn't helping.

Daichi had to be realistic. They don't have the know how to pull it off. "I understand that you are confident in pulling it off. Even so, as much as we want to make this happen, we need more help, adults especially."

A hiss through the call. "Adults mean nothing, remember that. They will never tell you the truth or help you when you ask for it. You just have to do the right thing even if it is dangerous." Daichi could not respond. "Be assured Daichi, that help will come from the right person when you need it the most."

"You're becoming all philosophical again. I really wonder sometimes if you are the same age as I am."

"It's all in the mind. I've spread some bait on the net so hopefully someone will take a bite. Good luck and good night." The call ended. Daichi put the phone away and stared at the ceiling. The unease hasn't let go. One step at a time.

Hmm… Daichi peered at the group of skyscrapers several blocks away. Nothing interesting thus far for the past hour. Maybe heroes aren't morning kind of people. Wait, that's ridiculous. It would be a few hours before lunch. The Tokyo tower was the prime spot to start their investigation. Archer's plan was to stake out the area and observe from afar. Daichi asked while moving the tourist telescope. "Archer, I know your eyesight is excellent. Just how far can you really see?"

Archer leaned against the railing as he pointed. "See that building?" A skyscraper the size of a hand. "There's a memo pinned on the board in the office at the 20th Floor."

The telescope could only see the outline shape of the memo. "Woah. That's with your normal eyes or reinforced?"

Archer wagged a finger. "Hush. This isn't normal chit chat."

Daichi glanced around. "Nobody here is going to eavesdrop." The crowd was big from the weekend. There were more tourist than locals, another bonus. The people were interested in the sights from the tallest building in Tokyo. Archer said he preferred a quiet place but the strategic advantage of the special observatory are in the tower couldn't be ignored.

"Better safe than sorry." Archer scanned his eyes across the horizon. The buildings all look the same from Daichi's perch. "Holy Grail wars were conducted at night to maintain secrecy. People were silenced to prevent word from spreading." He paused and pointed with a deep sigh. Daichi focused it over, small but certain was smoke. "Nobody cares apparently."

Daichi pointed the telescope at the smoke. That was at Sunshine city building at the Ikebukuro. Just a small narrow line of sight available but it served. "How do we know that it's them?"

"When you see two people flying."

"Are we going to help them?"

Archer opened the emergency exit door. "We'll see. Come." Daichi felt a shiver down his spine. It'll be alright. You'll get used to it.

He didn't. Diving through the air, mouth screaming involuntary as frozen ice travelled down his limbs. "I really hate this!" The vertigo of falling with every jump. The fear in the veins was hard to 's tight grip gave some semblance of control. Barely.

Archer huffed as he took another leapt from another roof. "I'll drop you off somewhere nearby. Don't move from there." Eyes staring at the wide blue skies under the clouds. Two small silhouettes darting around like insects within the metropolis.

"Agree absolutely!" Pink shot past their left, blowing up a hole on a nearby skyscraper. Daichi screamed. "Woah! Don't they have the idea of collateral damage or friendly fire?"

"You tell them that." Archer landed onto the roof and dropped Daichi onto the floor. The world spun before meeting concrete. Archer was gone by the time he stopped. Curses trailed behind as Archer prepared for the fight.

Emiya reached his perch two buildings away from the fight. From the roof of the skyscraper, it would serve as a decent observation post. Far enough to observe, close enough to join the fight.

A standoff. Two girls were in the battle. One was dressed in a red and blue uniform. Lightweight, no armour. He wanted to swear at the other. A Magical girl. Is everyone so obsessed with them? The woman in the uniform was injured, given how she was unsteady on her feet. Both participants were arguing it out. Should he interfere?

The Magical girl raised her staff, a love heart shape forming above her. Seriously? The shot struck in a gust of smoke. As though people would die so easily. The smoke was blown away with a wave of a wooden sword. Emiya studied the purple haired man. Another Creation. He reinforced his ears and listened.

The man spoke. "Sacred Tree Kuronagimaru." A large woman appeared behind him, dressed in samurai armour. "And this is my companion." Emiya focused on the abnormally large samurai. A spirit, that naginata would be trouble. "I don't like to use this against girls but I'm not the guy that would stop himself from using this to smash in your brain." The man spun his wooden sword. "I'm warning you, I'm strong." A smile, true confidence. "In the world I used to live in, apparently I was the final boss."

The purple guy is eager for a fight. Sharp ears and eyes could observe the minute details. The magical girl's panicking. Who is right? Who is wrong? Who benefits him the most? Emiya stood up. What would be the price to interfere? The phone rang. He answered, eyes still on the fight. Hideaki voiced. "Can you see them?"

"I do." Emiya turned on video call mode and pointed the camera. "Recognise any of them?"

"Purple guy's Yuya Mirokuji. The Magical girl's Mamika. The red girl's…"

Emiya interrupted. "Tell me quickly, which side are the good guys?"

"What? They all are the good guys. Well, except Yuya, not outright evil but he does his own thing." Emiya ended the call.

Most of them huh. Emiya flipped through the arsenals within his mind for the right weapon. The long bow projected into his hands. A black longsword, twisted into the shape of an arrow.

Ashibumi, the placement of the foot.

Dozukuri, the form of the body.

Yugamae, proper grip of the bow.

Uchiokoshi, raising the bow.

Hikiwake, draw the bowstring.

Each step autonomous, ingrained within fibre of being. Emiya took a deep breath, the target set in place. If he did shoot, who should it be? Magical Girl or Spirit Man. Which side would benefit him the most? Another woman joined the redhead girl. Green cloak, unarmed, probably a spell caster. Three to one numerical advantage.

His senses picked up another intruder. It dove from the sky. Spirit Man noticed the attack, turning around block. "Reinforcements?" Sword met lance as the owners stared at one another. A knight on a flying horse. Someone followed your reference Medusa. The knight broke off the attack, flying around for another pass. Spirit man yelled. "This is fun." The stab of the lance missed as the knight landed onto the ground. The knight's a woman. Emiya remembered a long lost past. Not the time.

The knight quickly grabbed Mamika before retreating into the air and away. Emiya contemplated shooting. The arrow will hit. Unnecessary. He lowered the bow, dispersing it to nothing. The other party gone, there's only one side left to talk to.

The red woman had brandished the sword at Spirit Man y the time he arrived. Emiya raised both hands as he approached. "I come in peace."

The sword turned towards him. "Are you a friend or foe?"

Spirit man chuckled. "Another one. Aren't we quite a party?"

The redhead woman tightened her grip. "Are you with them?"

"I'm on nobody's side. I'm just here to talk." By the corner of the eyes, the crowd were beginning to notice. He heard the faint echoes of sirens growing louder. They need to move fast.

"I don't believe you." Redhead winced from her wounds. The white haired woman held her steady. "You two are going to tell us everything."

Daichi felt pity for Selesia winced from her injury. Archer narrowed his eyes as they watched Yuya Mirokuji take another ravenous bite of sizzled chicken. Being cramped up in a diner was met with disapproval from Archer. However, the others had been eager for answers and quickly at that. Daichi chose to sit quietly and observe the group. Three of them were recognisable.

Selesia Upitiria leading protagonist from Vogelchevalier

Meteora Osterreich, Sage of the End of the World

Yuya Mirokuji, last boss of the Exclusive Underground, Dark Night.

The other two people within the group,a similar youth and an old man. Sota Mizushino and Takashi Matsubara. He assumed they were like him, caught within this mess in their own way. Mizushino had raised concerns about Selesia's injury but they were dismissed by Selesia.

Yuya Mirokuji raised his forks, mouth wide and bright eyes. "This is good. I haven't eaten anything since I got here. If only I knew the same money is used here…"

Archer scoffed. "And I can't care less about that." Selesia glared before grunting in pain.

Mirokuji pointed a fork. "Old man, so far I introduced myself. These girls already introduced themselves, even the boy you brought along. What's the hold up with you?" Their eyes stared at each other. Daichi turned towards the Mizushino sitting across him.

The white haired man crossed arms. "Archer."

"Archer, Archer class Servant from the Holy Grail war of the Fate Stay Night; Unlimited Blade Works." Sota Mizushino spoke up. Eyes glance towards him. Sota's shoulders stiffened before leaning back away. What's wrong with him? What's with his eyes? He recalled a similar feeling. Must be Archer. He made a glance. Archer's steel gaze, the very same. Matsubara must have caught some of it, unsettled eyes and that fidgeting finger.

Mirokuji raised a brow. "To think that the boy had to introduce you, don't you have any pride?" Archer remained silent, eyes staring deeply against the other man.

"What's wrong?" Selesia noticed Sota's discomfort. She turned her gaze back to Archer. "What have you done to him?"

"Nothing of the sort. My name is cursed, that's what happened." Archer replied.

"Is that so?" Selesia's eyes met with Archers. "I think-." A hand stopped her. Meteora nodded her. A long gaze before she pulled back.

Meteora said. "Introductions aside. How much do you know about the current world?"

"I pretty much know what's going on. We are fictional characters living in worlds made by other people. Here we are, taken to the real world. What a joke. I'd bet Syo would flip out when he hears this."

Looks went around. Mizushino looked like he knew the answer but those eyes don't look enthusiastic. Daichi chose to answer the question. "The main character for his story."

"That's right kid. You are more helpful than Archer. I like you more now."

"Just now you said about the Military Uniform Kid. Did that woman come to visit you too?" Daichi leaned forward into his seat. Wait, who is this kid they're referring to?

Mirokuji shrugged. "Who knows? I'm not interested. I don't remember."

Archer joined in. "Don't remember or don't want to?" Getting the answer would be helpful for him to understand the story. Why is Archer instigating everything? Is there a reason?

Mirokuji smiled. "Oh, we got a cocky one over here." Should he ask instead? Defuse the situation and get the info. Two birds, one stone.

Meteora leaned forward against the table and offered. "I'll trade you a meal for the information. Tell me what you know."

Mirokuji turned back towards his food. "I met her. I was transported here a while ago. She came soon after. She looks like a kid but the way she talks is like she thinks she's better than you. What a snob. She was with an old guy who really pissed me off. Then we got into a fight. I haven't seen her since."

Meteora asked. "An old guy?"

Mirokuji nodded. "I bet she's the same as us. I mean, no one else in this world can float in the air."

Archer quipped. "Thank you Mr. Obvious."

Mirokuji switched his fork for a spoon as his dessert arrived. "Your welcome, Mr. Jackass. That military uniform kid, she said that this world is the world of the gods. A world where anything can be created with words. And if I find the creator of my world, remaking my world would be a piece of cake."

Selesia asked. "You didn't believe her?"

Mirokuji started eating the parfait. "Force our creator to change our world? Yeah, remaking our world into a more fun place doesn't sound too bad. But now that I know that we're just being kept in a cage made by someone else, what's the point of fixing up someone else's insect cage? And I like living in the insect cage in its own way. I have friends and partners, and Syo. I wish those guys were here."

"Aren't you interested in finding your creator?"

"Of course I have a few things I want to say. The creator created our messed up world and stuck their hands in our relationships. In the end, that's what it is but I don't care about the creator. The author or whatever you'd like to call it is just a normal person, like everyone you see here. Not a god like we imagine. Of course I want to meet the creator and get my questions answered. You guys do too, right?"

"I do of course, in fact I've already met him." She turned to the right. "Right, Mr. Creator?"

Matsubara rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess I'm her author, I mean creator." Wait, he's the author for Vogelchevalier? Oh wow. I have to get his autograph later.

Mirokuji smiled. "Creator and created in one place. Well have you guys tried it yet?" No one answered. "Revision. You have the ability to tweak her character description, right?"

Meteora said. "I've also arrived at the same hypothesis. It's worth a try."

Mirokuji clicked his tongue. "What do you mean, you haven't tried it yet? You guys are so slow." He glanced at Matsubara. "You got a cigarette?" A flick of the lighter and a puff of smoke. "Good. This tastes better than the ones where I'm from."

Meteora asked. "Mr. Mirokuji, why did you start thinking about the possibility of revision?"

Mirokuji pointed the cigarette at them. "If the creator can change the world he created then he can change the abilities of the people he created too, right? It's so obvious." He took another puff. "Have you ever thought about it?"

"About what?"

"The reason we were chosen from the stories. The reason that we're here is that we leave a lasting impression on many people. That's what I think. You can call us popular or interesting or whatever you want. The people who stood out in that way were the ones who got a ticket to come to this world. That's what I think."

"I must be quite popular then." Archer said.

"Yes, you are very popular indeed, Mr. I don't want to give my name." Mirokuji stood up. "Thanks for the meal. I understand things that I didn't get before."

Selesia raised her voice. "Wait, we're not done talking."

"I'm going to do whatever I want." Mirokuji grabbed his sword. "That's how my character is anyway."

Selesia rose to her feet. "Are you going to start a fight?"

"Are you going to stop me?" Daichi felt a gaping abyss in the gut. Fighting in possibly the worst place. He glanced at Archer. Cold absence of emotion. "Whatever happens happens. I'm going to do whatever I want. I want to have fun." Mirokuji walked towards the door. "I'm not going to cause you trouble. I'm the kind of guy that never forgets what others did for me. See ya." Daichi felt his gut easing a little as the man left.

Archer stood up. "It's my turn to go as well."

Selesia stepped in between the door. "We heard his story but not yours." Archer was taller and imposing against her vibrant fire.

Archer said. "My story is nothing special compared to his."

"That didn't answer the question."

"I got here. I met the boy. Here we are. Does that satisfy you?"

Meteora said. "It will be acceptable. We won't push further on this."

Selesia glared to her response before returning towards Archer. "Whose side are you on?"

"Neither. I just wanted some answers. You can be assured that I won't be against you, for now."

Selesia grits her teeth. "Are you going to let that kid do whatever she wants?"

"Maybe, maybe not. It's my choice to decide what I'm fighting for. I'm going." Two of them stood in watch. A moment moved aside. Archer waved to Daichi. "Come on kid, I'll carry you back."

Daichi shook his head. "No thanks. I'll head home myself." He didn't want another round of flying. Maybe in another five years. No, make it ten.

Archer said as he walked out the door. "Suit yourself."

Archer took a leap and disappeared from sight. Daichi leaned back into his seat. "And he's gone."

"Why didn't you want to follow him?" said the librarian.

Daichi shook his head. "Flying is not my thing. I know where he'll go, probably." Mizushino jumped a little. Maybe a similar experience?

Selesia asked. "You are not afraid of heights are you?"

"More like afraid of not being in control. I'm not the one holding the reins. Don't you get it?" Mizushino and Matsubara nodded in agreement. "Besides I wanted to know more about all of you. We've talked a lot about Yuya Mirokuji but not about you guys. What happened?"

Meteora explained the story that happened to them so far. Daichi summarised the facts. "In a nutshell, Selesia was brought into this world two days ago while fighting off this Military Uniformed person. You three met in the real world and decided to meet with Mr. Matsubara, Selesia's creator today. You've somehow managed to find Magical girl Mamika and gotten into a fight. Yuya Mirokuji appears and changes things around. That's a long list. Meteora, you are just a day before her, correct?"

Meteora nodded. "It was still a short time. Fortunately for we managed to meet with Mizushino, otherwise we would be in a predicament about food and supplies." Daichi noticed Mizushino turning away with a flushed face.

Matsubara took a cigarette from the box. "The way you meet Archer is quite interesting. To start out on a quest to find superheroes in this world, I might have a new story idea." Selesia grabbed the stick and put it away to Matsubara's chagrin.

"Leave your dreams aside. We have another problem to talk about." Selesia sat in front of him. "Archer isn't cooperative."

Daichi pointed out. "Yuya Mirokuji isn't either."

"I'll handle him the next time we meet. Now then, you're Archer's sidekick in this whole business." Selesia leaned forward, eyes drilling into his. "How can we get him to cooperate with us?"

"I have no good answer for that." Archer was right. If you have no authority or motivation, you can't get them to follow you.

Matsubara rubbed his neck. "Archer said he's on nobody's side but you're here."

Because I need you guys. "I like to think I'm a peacemaker. I'll try to talk with Archer, make things a little easier if I can." Daichi posed the next question. "Going back to topic, who is this Military Uniformed kid?"

Selesia shook her head. "We don't know her details. She was there when we appeared into this world. We didn't have the best of terms. Had Archer say anything before about her?"

Daichi shook his head. "No." He wouldn't tell me if I didn't ask.

Meteora answered. "According to my hypothesis, it would be likely that Archer has also met this person." It would be reasonable. Worth discussing later with him.

"I can ask him later but I can't guarantee an answer." They nodded. "Can you describe this person to me?" Selesia and Meteora described the kid's features which Daichi took notes in his phone. White hair, twin tailed in a military uniform. Armed with a ring of swords. Nothing came to his mind. It did remind him of Archer's own abilities. She would be very dangerous.

"That's not much to go with but I'll see what I can do." Kazuko may be able to help on the search.

Selesia leaned forward, a finger on the chin. The others stared at her. "It just came to mind. Sota and Daichi look similar."

"No, we aren't the same." Daichi thumbed towards himself. "I'm taller, a bit older maybe." The glasses aren't the same either. Sota had a brown tinge of hair, his was closer to dark black.

Matsuhbara approved. "Fitter with more confidence. Good shoulders, you play basketball?"

Daichi nodded. "Yeah, I was regular in sports. Mostly during PE class." He had slacked a little since exams were coming. Shizuka had been committed to exercise since 'a fit body leads to a healthy mind'. He didn't argue and enjoyed the break from study.

Selesia teased. "You need to man up Sota." Sota turned his face away.

"Everyone has their own good points."

Meteora took over the conversation. "We're going to test the revision theory. Matsubara, do we have a place that we can use to test this?"

"We can do it at my place. I know someone who might be able to help as well."

"Wait." Daichi grabbed a pencil and paper and scribbled. "Here's my number if you need to find me." He slid the paper across the table. "I need to make sure my house hasn't exploded yet."

Selesia said. "Is Archer such a troublesome man?"

"Archer has his good and bad points. You just need to know which buttons to push." He learnt that the hard way.

Emiya waited within the dark confines of a warehouse. The moon was bright, slivers of it entering through the window. The place, once a mess had been restored to order. The walls were freshly painted. Goods and products neatly arranged on warehouse racks. He listened quietly before he spoke. "I didn't expect you to take so long."

Expected guest, the military girl appeared from the shadows. "Shirou Emiya. Are you finally interested to take my offer?"

Emiya stepped away from the wall, facing her. "I got myself some answers. However, I'd like more from the horse's mouth." The light clicked on, its bulb lighting the spot in between them. "How do we change our world?"

The woman was dour. "Is that all you want to know? It is straightforward. You have to find your creator and get him to change it."

"There's a fallacy to all this. If it was so simple, why do you need me to join you?"

"For a creator to change your world, there is a criteria. The power of the Creator do not come easily. The world must crack in order for it to fully manifest. Therefore, you must disturb the reality of this world. The greater the disturbance, the greater the power to recreate your world."

"There is a conflict to that. How would these Creators be able to make our worlds if the world they live in are always in peril? Have you not seen the peace? That is not a condition that they need but it is the one you have set. Are you really set to destroy this world?"

A hiss of poison. "The cowards, you must have talked to them."

Emiya jeered. "More like listen to them ramble. So, are you going to tell me otherwise. That we're just changing our world and not putting both of them into a plunge?"

"That's right." She spat. "The other Creations have left me, too cowardly to fight for the revolution. The Gods have betrayed us, made us their toys and entertainment in a lust for blood and pain. Can't you feel the need to bring vengeance upon those whom hurt the ones you loved so much?"

He had sacrificed everything in his journey. Friends, Family, Flesh and Soul. The pieces of humanity tormented in an endless spiral toward damnation. Pride of a protector shredded into tears of beloved. The pain rooted firm from the endless fighting. Growing like a tree, the killing ate the heart. Each murder, a person he swore to protect. Just so that humanity as a whole would be saved from destruction. His creator had done that to him, turned him into a monster. Rage, Anger, Hate. These emotions should embody within him. Revenge, destruction and purgatory should be answer. That reaction would have been normal.

"You have a point." Emiya could only agree. Let the world be destroyed. Turn the world inside out. Everything shall fall and your end as a whole will be complete. Counter Guardian Emiya would not survive this journey, just as he wished for all this he has to do is to help this girl in her mission.

She stretched a hand towards him. "Help me to make the worlds collide. Let them feel our pain, our suffering in return. This world is never fair and it shall be destroyed." That was what he wanted in the first place. To be erased from all history, never ever to fight or kill. For a creator to make such a reality that one must kill like clockwork, machines, he must have been very cruel. It is only rightful and just to remove such men.

Just say yes

He prepared his answer.

What you said is correct but it doesn't meant it is right

His mouth froze. A memory long ago. Days of a child with the entrusted dream. Kiritsugu Emiya smiled in his that boy. Why did he need to say that? A false hope in the dream of lies. His life is already over and it should end.

Even if I am a fraud, I know my dream isn't wrong

Another time. Standing atop the hill basking in the rising sun. The end of the Holy Grail war. He and Rin within the final moments. The end of his pursuit to erase himself. Continuation of the rekindled hope. It wasn't about me or my loved ones. His life had been born from flames of Fuyuki. Shirou Emiya's meaning had always been one and the same for all eternity. To save as I had been saved.

Will you continue to save?

To think that the kid had so much hope. The choice has been made. What are the options under his disposal? Could he repeat the Medea scenario? Join her ranks and find a good opportunity to eliminate her. Could he afford to kill a few innocent bystanders? He was an Anti Hero. Taking lives was not alien to him. It would be easy with a few arrows. If it was to his distaste, he could just wound them instead. No true harm.

A clench in the heart. The option just didn't feel right. This is against his being. He killed because he was given no choice. How could he choose to follow his darkened path when he had a chance not to? That girl would probably not allow him to get away so easily. It is not an option, not anymore.

Emiya closed his eyes. "We won't be a good match."

The woman paused. A clench of the fist and closed eyes. He could hear the exasperation. "I am very disappointed. You had so much potential for our revolution."

"I'd expected as much." He leapt back as swords struck from above. Twin swords, one black, one white emerged from the fingertips. Black and white moved about within a dance as grey swords attacked from everywhere. Sparks collide, steel upon steel. The walls scarred, the surrounding racks collapsed. He has no chance, not in this compact area. The twin swords spun into the air, another copy of Kanshou and Bakuya projected into ready hands. The flying swords crashed against the soldier, deflected by the ring of swords.

Emiya took steps backward into the open. "I'll tell you this woman. As much as you hate this world, it is not your right to break it." Emiya leapt away and made his escape.

Daichi drank a glass of cold water. Refreshing after an entire day out. Settling onto the chair, he had the moment to think. Another step closer on the plan. He has found the team. Once he convinced them over, they would be able to reveal the world the anomaly. Heroes from world of fiction arriving the new world. This would be enough to force the government to action. People wouldn't be hurt. That left the next problem to resolve. Can he get them to cooperate with his goals?

The creators might be more open to the idea but Meteora might prove to be an obstacle. Her logic and deduction skills are top notch thus far. She might not be as willing to cooperate with him without more information. Could he use this Military Uniform Kid to convince Meteora onto his side? Use the government support and most importantly the weaponry and skills of the JSDF as a leverage. That is what Kazuko probably has in mind after all.

His thoughts were pulled away by the door opening. Archer returned to the house. Daichi asked. "You weren't around. Where have you been?"

"Looking around. How were things with them afterwards?" Daichi outlined the points discussed. Archer shook his head. "Nothing useful."

Daichi stood up. He needed Archer to side with him or the persuasion wouldn't work. "Are you going to work with them?"

Archer put away his shoes. "I've always worked alone. No reason to change it. You can keep in touch with them. They may prove useful later."

A freelance mercenary in a dangerous world. Fighting alone so that others would never be hurt. Daichi put away his glass. "I want to tell you something. A friend of mine, Kazuko had been investigating about this." Archer nodded for him to continue. "We have a plan to reveal you all to the world. I need you on my side to convince to others to do the same."

"What is your goal behind that?"

"We want to force the government to be open about it. Take action and be responsible about it. Maybe fix things whenever problems came up."

"You're an idiot. Do you think being transparent is going to make anything change? You would just paint yourself to become a target. That is what you would be doing."

"I had thought about it but it needed to be done."

"Be wise kid. Don't follow the whims of others or your friends. You would end up manipulated and betrayed at the slightest thought."

"I believe he is right. We need to do something. How else can we stop others from getting hurt? If there are heroes, there are villains as well."

"That is a heroes job to fight against villains. Normal human beings will only feed to the slaughter."

"It is still a right that the people deserve to know."

"It is a fear that you threatening to unleash. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear. Heroes and villains battling it out for supremacy and justice. That tension creates Fear. People are fearful for their lives. For every day, they will run about their lives, scared, frightened. It eats at people kid. Nobody can live under its cloak forever."

"You followed your heart to be a hero of justice."

Archer spat. "That was a mistake. Everything behind it was worth it but still a mistake."

"How can it be a mistake if you find it valuable?" Archer remained silent. Daichi chose to change the topic. "Archer, have you ever thought of finding your creator?"

Archer walked towards his room. "Not now. There's bigger things at risk. I'll get to it when its time."

"What if you don't make it?" Archer raised a brow. "I mean, you always had the worst of luck."

Archer chuckled. "You're right, I do have bad luck. It doesn't matter. In the end, its what I do that makes the difference." Archer returned the question. "What about you? Why are you willing to stick your head into this war? There's nothing for you to gain."

"I need to. Otherwise there's no one else who will do it."

"Aren't you afraid of losing your life?"

"Would it be better to watch people get hurt when you could have done something?"

"Even if you risk hurting your girl?"

Daichi hesitated. "Shizuka and I aren't that way... You're right. She shouldn't be involved. I'll do something about it."

"Do it quick or you will regret it. This is a war and it is never bloodless." Archer closed the door.

Author's Notes: First off, thanks for reading and appreciate the comments. I have a few notes to say.

First off from our Guest, I was quite surprised when it was mentioned some of my works were left for dead. In my mind they were already completed (especially the oneshots etc). There may have been confusion and as such I have marked them as complete on the page accordingly.

I've seen a few requests here and there. I may consider it but that is to my consideration relative to the plot of the story.

I'll be tweaking around a few stylistic changes here and there. As such there may be differences more so in certain chapters. I won't inform when and where. Let me know if anything doesn't feel right.

Please continue to set your expectations for the next chapter. every 4 weeks. I may release it early but its a safe buffer / expectation.

Hope you enjoy reading this and continue to do so.

Regards

MarksmanKNG