Chasing You Through Time

Kinda Sorta Friends

It was the second night of the Holy Grail War, and things seemed to be escalating quickly. Rider was the first to go, and next was Assassin (that one being my doing). Assassin and her master put up quite a fight earlier that night, the battle drawn out and tearing up an old park. The battle was a success, and I came out with nothing but minor injuries. My master, Minori, was not as fortunate in her battle against Assasin's master, who proved to be tougher than expected. There was a deep cut along her shoulder, not too serious, but it would keep her in bed for a bit. It was her friend, Kashima, who helped prevent any further injury.

In the short time I've known her, Minori has proven to be a tempered, hard headed young woman, who in the heat of battle seemed to dive in without hesitation. Her companion, Kashima, on the hand, was the exact opposite, calm and level headed. He seemed to have known Minori for years, and was accustomed to dealing with her fiery personality. In battle their two styles blended together nicely, forming a powerful duo. Honestly, I was surprised that Minori was a master and not Kashima. Kashima seemed more of the master type. Not that Minori wasn't a good master, not in the slightest. Her plan against Assassin and her master was brilliant, and was executed almost perfectly. Almost.

"I told you it was nothing!" Minori said, swatting Kashima's hand away. He had already taken care of the injury on her shoulder, and was now trying to tend to a small cut on her forehead.

"Minori." Kashima said sternly. He was a few years older than the twenty-year old girl, but the way his hard voice shut her up made the age gap seem bigger. Minori sighed in surrender, and Kashima began to tend to her wound. When he was done she relaxed back onto her bed with her eyes closed, head sinking into her pillow.

I looked at the injured girl, and a pang of guilt hit me. It's my job to protect her, and I let her down.

With a small sigh, I bowed, "I apologize for not protecting you, and not doing my job correctly." The feeling of disappointment in myself burrowed its way deep in me.

Minori's eyes opened with my words. Her usual eyes bright with emotion softened as she looked upon my bowed figure. "Archer, the order I gave you was to kill Assassin, which you accomplished flawlessly. I count tonight as a great success." A smirk slid it's way onto her face, and she waved her hand, "Besides, it was just a little scratch."

"A little?" Kashima and I spoke in unison.

"The point is, I'll be fine."

Kashima grunted a laugh, "Not at the rate you're going."

Minori shot him a glare before focusing her attention back on me. "Archer, I think you should do a bit of scouting before morning, if you're up for it. Kashima and I should be fine here."

Giving her a soft smile, I did another quick bow, "Of course, Master." Then I retreated away into spirit form.

Heading out into the city, I let myself relax a little for the first time that night. The bound field around Minori's house was strong, she had Kashima with her, I was fairly certain no other servant knew where she resided, and I no longer had Assassin to worry about. It was a good beginning.

Gaining a good view point of the city, I looked out with wiry eyes. After a moment of nothing, I was getting ready to move, but then something caught my eye. Blue. I couldn't help the smirk that made its way onto my face. The thrum of my blood banishing the tiredness away from my body. Summoning my bow, my smirk widened. Drawing an arrow back, I sent it flying towards the blue lancer.
He froze as my arrow whizzed past his head, penetrating the wall beside him. "Tsk," Cu yanked the arrow out of the wall, "Is it just me, or has your aim worsened over the years." then snapped it between his fingers. "Seems you're getting sloppy," Cu glanced over at me, sharp canines gleaming in the moonlight, "Emiya~"
A chill ran down my back, and I narrowed my eyes at him. I hated when he said my name that way, with that drawn out ring, which is exactly why he loved it. "Sometimes I regret telling you my name. It gets annoying hearing you say it like that." I let my bow disappear, and walked towards Cu who was now casually leaning on his spear.