not as planned

[maguskiller]

Who: Kiritsugu Emiya, Maiya Hisau, Archer (Emiya)
What: Things don't go according to plan in Kiritsugu and Maiya's attempt to maintain Saber dead.
When: Backdated to April 24, before Lancer's log
Where: Location of Saber's murder
Rating: R for potential blood, violence

The decision to deviate from the original point of the murder was not one made lightly. Maintaining a person permanently dead in a place such as Prospero was an ambitious goal. Indeed, Kiritsugu had often contemplated other places to deposit his former Servant. Ones that would demand less maintenance. Prospero was an island, after all. However, Kiritsugu didn't want to be subject to the downsides of said diminished surveillance. He wanted to make sure everything went according to plan. While the chances of failure would be almost null if they waited in the same place every time Saber revived, evidence would inevitably pile up with time, what with their intention of doing this dozens of times. Didn't matter how immaculate they left the crime scene in the long-run. Instead, Kiritsugu waits in one of the nearby allies, about half a kilometer away, with his customary long-range weapon of choice. At this time of the night, the only ones likely to be out were other Persona-users, and not so far from the dungeon. Through vantage points, they were able to cover any point Saber could pass through, with the exception of dead ends.

It is after a couple of minutes of the scheduled time that Kiritsugu notices something's wrong. Most people would consider such a short time to simply be accountable to chance, but that was not a concept Kiritsugu was not fond of. His left hand leaving the sniper, he reaches for the radio.

"Has Saber appeared in your line of sight yet?"

Comments

[emaiya]

The question takes her by surprise initially. Years of relying on Kiritsugu meant that she was trained to believe he made no mistakes. Whenever he asks her something along those lines though, it meant a mistake had been made.

That leaves her to question when it happened. Had Kiritsugu started to grow soft and she failed to notice it? Dismissing her paranoia rantings, she lifted an arm to answer his question.

"No." A pause lengthy enough to give the impression she had nothing more to say, but too short to be interrupted with. "What do you think happened?"

[thousandblades]

The street is quiet, even for the dark hour. With everyone at the dungeon, there's nobody on the street. The only one puncturing the darkness is a man dressed in red. His sword strapped to his back, he makes a striking figure. His stance is relaxed, but it was the little things that gave away the fact that he is expecting something.

Archer is hoping that they'll come forward. He doesn't want to hunt them down. He has a suspicion as to who has been doing this, but there's still a part of him that rejects it. He doesn't want to be true. He doesn't want the man whom he has admired his entire life to have done this horrendous act.

[maguskiller]

"We took all possible exits into account. She's still within the area." It's not a suspicion, but simply stating the facts. Saber could have figured everything out, and simply be waiting for a way to outsmart her enemies. Alternatively, she could simply be hiding in one of the closed alleys. Another troublesome possibility, one Kiritsugu has considered himself, is that she has received help.

Regardless of what happens, night isn't eternal. Things must be sped up. He starts packing the Walther, disassembling it and storing it into a case on his back. He affixes the shoulder strap not for comfort, but to be sure the priceless equipment it holds isn't damaged.

"I'll take the least used road there. Assume position within line of sight of the scene. Alert me if anyone is nearby. Should they have Saber with them, take care of them." Kiritsugu's entire reason for using radios was how difficult they were to keep track of with proper measures. The only way for anyone else to hear him would be by being in this desolate roof. It isn't long until he descends the stairs, a cigarette being stomped on the ground shortly thereafter. Can't give his presence away.

Kiritsugu starts walking towards the crime scene at a pace slow enough to allow Maiya to have it in her sights first. His mind races through the possibilities of who could have found out about their plans.

[emaiya]

"Understood."

There's nothing more to be said on the topic, so she doesn't speak. That's just how Maiya is, a refined tool that keeps her thoughts to herself and has little to no reason to get involved. There's a goal now set in mind and that's to keep a keen eye out for Kiritsugu.

Fluid movements are what she's accustomed to as she cautiously makes her way along the path set out in her mind, keeping the uncovered skin hidden in the shadows of night.

[thousandblades]

If Archer is worried, he isn't showing it. He regards his own life as nothing. Saber is safe, and that is all he can ask for. Here he is, his enemy most likely lurking in the dark, and there's not an ounce of fear in his body. Fear is something he discarded long ago in the pursuit of his ideal.

If anything, Archer is impatient. Even when he was young, reckless was always a good word to describe him. He has no problem throwing himself headfirst into a problem with little consideration for himself. The thought crosses his mind that perhaps they've caught onto him, but he discards it. He has no reason to suspect that, and such irrationality will only cloud his judgment.

"I know you're out there!" he calls out, hoping to force some kind of confrontation, "So why don't you come out here and face me. Or can you only prey on helpless victims?"

[maguskiller]

Kiritsugu stops in his tracks the moment the voice reaches him. Obviously, the words themselves have no effect on him. Kiritsugu has no honor to cast doubt on. It is the owner of the voice that gets a reaction. However, there is no surprise. Not even at the prospect of facing the man who would claim to be his son.

If what Saber said is true (and unless she was fooled herself, it is), then the man interrupting their plans knows magecraft. Just as well. They may be stripped of their power in this world, but magi were wielders of a very specific type of personality Kiritsugu and Maiya had grown experienced in dealing with.

But... the thought occurs to him that the man in red started as nothing more than Kiritsugu. A magecraft-user. Nothing else. Kiritsugu saw Shirou grow up with none of the prejudice towards unconventional solutions that magi so often had. In that case, his enemy may very well predict his movements the moment he sees him. Best to keep a low profile until then. Also best to not rely solely on the element of surprise. In case Archer survives Maiya's strike, Kiritsugu has the full intention of reaching for the one other firearm he prepared for this night: the PP-91. A sufficiently good temporary replacement for the Calico. He's half-tempted to arm a directional fragmentation mine on the spot, but the dim lighting and lack of alternative passage could very well turn it against him. Furthermore, if he dies and is able to disarm it during that time, he will suddenly find a lot more attention drawn to him.

He has no intention of stopping. He knew this moment was inevitable. In order to keep the Shirou he knows safe, he must deal with his future incarnation. It's not a difficult choice. If he doesn't do this, then he'll just lose both.

Kiritsugu is close enough to the scene that he doesn't think talking to Maiya is a good idea anymore. Fortunately, he has given his orders. Archer may not have Saber with him, but he has made clear he already saw her, saved her. Then there's only one thing they can do in response. No longer walking, he waits in his spot, hoping this battle ends before it begins.