Here's the final chapter of this little side story. Major fluff coming from all sides so be prepared.

I do not own anything.

Forward Together

History never had been Ritsuka's strong suit, nor had gymnastics; he was ironically, always more of a numbers and measurement kind of person. Those traits always made him something of the odd man out of his circle of friends, but it did grant him a measure of respect among them. Numbers and math hadn't done him much good in his new job-Master and savior of humanity. On the positive side, he'd gotten more physical exercise and crash-courses in history than any historian could have ever hoped for. All those things made his current predicament perplexing, so much he was sure he could have written a book on it.

"Huh, what would I call it? A 'Master's Guide's to Saving Humanity'? Talk about a crappy title." The teenager jested hanging his head. "All this thought for a book that'll never be read, or at least not read by the right people." Who exactly were the right people? If he were sitting in some study in a centuries-old building he was sure he'd get a lecture on what was to be written and how it was to be written, magi tended to be incredibly picky about leaving their work behind. In that way, Ritsuka was somewhat glad he was writing in his journal free-form, it was his own style, completely unrestricted and unfailingly tactless. He was sure if an experienced magus read it he or she would break out in tears that the writer was "this uncivilized" as he'd heard some magi describe people like him. That was good, something told should the world ever face a situation like this again straying as far from the path as possible was probably what was going to be the deciding factor. It'd worked well so far for him.

In the two years he'd worked for Chaldea Ritsuka had discovered several ways for him to relieve his mind and body of stress. The various Servants he'd amassed had all given him pointers, some better than others. Of all things, writing had turned out to be his de-stressor, and one hell of a way for him to commune the nonstop rollercoaster of feelings his tenure as a Master of Chaldea had put him on. He finally understood what his literature teachers and aunts had told him about how blissful it was putting pen-to-paper.

"Ya' know, finding a publisher for this is going to be pretty damn hard. Shame too, this little adventure could be a best-seller, couldn't it?"

Laughing lightly Ritsuka paused to bask in the joy of Joan's body physically touching his. She'd been supportive of his writing habits, at least so long as he kept them in moderation. If he ever veered off from writing his life story into writing "stupid, romantic horseshit" she'd promised to cut off his fingers then burn the stumps. He'd kissed her cheek and promised her no such thing would ever happen, besides, he could barely write his own life story. Never would he be an author on the level of Shakespeare or Andersen. "As amazing as that would be, I think I prefer it what's written down here stays between you, me, and the Fujimaru family."

Giggling in girlish delight Joan caressed his cheek before kissing him. It didn't matter that she was fresh out of the shower garbed only a towel, any physical contact with her boyfriend was always enough to ignite the fire inside of her. Even when they withdrew for air she made sure their foreheads remained connected. It had become a private joke between them when he said the words "Fujimaru family", though a part of her still very much bristled at the implication, the majority of her body always ripple with joy. She would have liked to have chalked that up to her reincarnation, but in the privacy of Ritsuka's home she allowed more…mushy-reasons to be accepted.

"Just make sure to mention how you had a beautiful and powerful witch at your side to pull your dumbass out of the fire when you needed it."

"Or make the fire burn hotter."

In peacefully silence Ritsuka continued his writing with Joan leaning on his shoulder, the warmth of her body evaporating the residue water from her shower and fueling Ritsuka's strength. If he had one thing to say to Shakespeare and Andersen, they were right about a muse, he had his, and she wasn't going anywhere any time soon.

It was funny as originally Joan was somewhat against the idea of him keeping a journal. Dr. Roman had somewhat encouraged it as a way to relieve stress, but there were darker whispers amongst the Chaldea staff. He was the last Master of mankind, and if he went then humanity went with him. Pressure like that had to be relieved in some way, and writing turned out to be it. More than a few pointed out the hypocrisy of writing a journal where if the writer died than any potential readers died with him. Ritsuka tried to be a little more optimistic, like if he'd succeed in saving humanity but died in the venture he'd at least leave something behind. Back then writing was one of the handful of ways he'd been able to keep from letting the unimaginable weight placed upon his shoulders from crushing him. There had been fear lining his ever word as he put them down onto paper.

The worst kind scenario was he did die and his writings were sent to his family. There was as about as much chance as them believing it as there was finding a penguin in the Sahara. Then again, given the direction his life had taken, Ritsuka couldn't completely roll out that happening too. Surely his parents would be heartbroken, as would his sister. From their point of view, it'd be as if he up and left, and then they have to grapple with the thought of him being dead. From the bottom of his heart he hated that very scenario, but a part of him, a part that had grown hard and cold, knew he had to prepare for it. One could have said with every word he wrote he continuously tempted fate.

And yet, here he was, sitting in bed, a beautiful woman at his side, alive and well. Either by some miracle or dumb luck, he'd managed to keep himself alive, and was doing pretty alright for himself.

"You know, you could keep one of these too." He playfully jabbed when he heard Joan yawn. "For future references it may help."

"Me, write? Look, just because you and the others may have found a way to raise my reading level to…decent, doesn't mean I'm suddenly gonna turn into a poet or author." The truth was actually far more…whimsical as Ritsuka had discovered after proposing the idea a few times. Joan actually wanted to avoid doing written work for as long as possible, at least until they returned to the modern world…and Joan was forced to assimilate. No mistake, she was a dragon-riding, dragon-commanding witch able to lay waste to armies and look good while doing it, but that sort of thing…wasn't exactly useful in the twenty-first century. Her insecurities had been masked well, but eventually Ritsuka had peeled them back, and together they confronted them. Reading lessons, writing lessons, math lessons (they had Moriarty to thank for that one, much to Joan's chagrin), and so forth; it was amazing how much one could learn when they were literally surrounded by some of humanity's greatest writers, engineers, and professors. As one would have suspected, being in the presence of such people allowed even a "farm girl" to rise to a high schooler's education level. It'd come in handy when Ritsuka returned to civilian life with her.

"Any idea what you want to do when all this is over?" Ritsuka asked.

"Besides spend time roasting your sorry ass, none at all."

"Really? I seem to remember coming across a certain sketch book filled with some pretty cool designs. Must have belonged to Artoria Alter."

He really didn't have to spell things out, all Ritsuka needed to do was mention the name of the sword-wielding Alter Servant. "Like hell she does! You think that stupid Brit could come up with drawings as cool as mine?! She can't draw worth a shit!" The snicker face of her boyfriend was enough to get Joan to realize she'd been doped, again. "Ya' know, sometimes I think I let you get away with too much." Seductively she pushed him down onto his back, his journal closed beside his head and his face an easy smile despite the dark aura emanating from his lover. "You're forgetting how dangerous I can be, do you need a reminder, Master?"

There were several things a good could have felt having a beautiful woman clad in only a towel straddling them with eyes blazing with maniacal fire. Some would have argued arousal as the dominant emotion, others fear, but for Ritsuka, he felt only a peaceful joy that had him feeling like he was walking on air. Any second the towel could have slipped exposing Joan's flawless body, but neither of them would have carried. They continued smiling at each other, the playful malice in the Avenger's eyes fading away second by second. Finally, she chuckled then rolled off of him to go finally dress herself for bed. As she did so Ritsuka went back to his writing.

Some time ago Joan would have been a little offended that Ritsuka wasn't watching her as she got dressed. Whenever she showed skin there was a part of her that demanded him give her his full attention. She liked to think she'd outgrown that phase, ludicrous as it sounded. While she hadn't shaken all of her "bad habits" she believed in her formerly pitch-black heart she'd matured just a little into a…better woman. Look at me, the supposed embodiment of hatred and wrath, and here I am…playing, being a…Slipping on her shorts she moved towards one of the bookshelves. Just as Ritsuka had a place for all his books, so too did she, and so too did she have a…journal so to speak. Joan tried not to remember when Da Vinci discovered she'd taken to sketching and drawing, the overzealous inventor had nearly driven the Dragon Witch to burn her and half of Chaldea down to the ground just to get her to shut up. She kept telling herself her drawings weren't anything special or incredible, that they were far cries from the works created by more seasoned hands, but Ritsuka…had bewitched her again.

She'd lost a lot of things when Chaldea was destroyed, a lot of things she'd come to value more than her own life, but not all of them. The sketchbook wasn't anything grand, just a simple black-covered ring-bound book with a couple dozen pages for her to draw in as she saw fit. When she first got it, she tried to tell Dr. Roman and Mash that all she was going to do was use it as firewood, that turned out not to be the case; before she knew it, she found herself doodling in her off time, taking care to guard her sketches from wondering eyes. When she moved in with Ritsuka she realized it was only a matter of time until before her lover found her sketchbook.

"You know, if you wanted to, you could go for an art major when all of this is over. Seriously, these are some of the best drawings I've ever seen."

Cradling the sketchbook, she remembered the flustered response she'd given, threatening to sear his eyes. "Do you still think so?" Both of their eyes met at the same time. As expected, his knowing smile indicated he knew what she was talking about meaning she didn't have to beat around the bush. "Do you…think anyone would find my drawings acceptable?"

"If they were good enough to be praised by Leonardo Da Vinci and Sherlock Holmes I'm sure someone in the modern world will give them a look." He answered patting the spot next to her. Quietly she took a sit beside him and threw open her sketchbook, the pages she landed on depicted Lancer Cu Chulainn as he was about to throw Gae Bolge, a scarlet wind swirling around him as he prepared to do so. "I've fought beside humanity's best and worst, and you've drawn them in action, we make a good pair."

"Huh, what I should be drawing is all of them dying painful deaths. Wait a second, I know I drew one of those." Skipping through the pages Ritsuka saw old faces that filled his heart with both warmth and dread. No one would have expected the Dragon Witch of Orleans to have been a gifted artist, which made her talent all the more treasurable in Ritsuka's opinion.

"I think you should show that one to Kadoc and Anastasia."

Joan's eye twitched. "Like hell I will."

"I think they deserve some kind of good reward for a few days of good behavior."

"I thought the reward wasn't I don't roast either of them."

"Verbally or physical?"

"Do you want me to roast you too?"

"If you can't show your sketches to two co-workers how do you expect to show them to your superiors when they ask you for designs?"

Damn him and his logic. "Oh, so now they're co-workers? Last I checked one of them was still seating a cell getting his meals through a slide-through door like a dog."

"Yeah, about that, I sorta arranged a talk with them tomorrow. I think it's time we changed that."

"You've ran it over with Detective Smartass and Da Vinci, I take it?"

"Yep, I've already got their approval so the only thing that's left is…us."

Her pouty expression dissolved in an instant. Breathing in through her noise she flipped the pages until she came upon the first of her "Avengers Section" as it'd been dubbed. The first was Angra Mainyu, the being said to embody all of humanity's evils. Contrary to all that…Ritsuka and Joan had actually found him to be a somewhat more pleasant person than either imagined possible. Well, Ritsuka did, Joan mostly liked taking jabs at how weak her "predecessor" was compared to all the buildup. To compensate for that Joan made sure all her drawings of Angra Mainyu depicted him in his full dark glory-a tattoo-covered figure bathed in waves of pitch-black darkness, and a wicked smile plastered over his face. Page after page, the false god was drawn as evil incarnate. Angra Mainyu had been rather ecstatic about seeing a "truthful" portrayal of himself. Next was the Count, sorta. Most of the sketches Joan had done of Edmond were in a word, goofy. This naturally had to do with the…strained relationship between the two.

Well, strained didn't exactly cover it. More like Joan acted as any younger sister would have with her big brother. It was cute and he enjoyed teasing her over it, even when she threatened to kill him if he didn't stop. Regardless, once he laid eyes on the drawings the French Servant had done of him the Count of Monte Cristo had remarked she had an "artist's hand" before vanishing in a whiff of darkness leaving behind a foaming Jeanne Alter.

Hessian Lobo had been an interesting case, Joan seemed to have a hidden fondness for the pair, not that Ritsuka blamed her. Though original enemies, like ninety-percent of the people she knew, Joan had gradually warmed up to them. He'd noticed she seemed particular fond of Lobo. On that one he felt his sister's words had been right, cute animals appealed to everyone, granted Lobo wasn't exactly little and cute was one of the last words one would have used to describe the bluish-white giant wolf capable of outrunning a motorcycle and turning a tank into metal scraps.

Gorgon, she was both terrifying and beautiful, admirable as Joan had once said. Rather out of amusement, admiration, spite, or some combination Joan had taken to drawing the Greek woman with a head full of venomous, hungry-mouthed vipers as she was so commonly depicted in myth. The cautious of Chaldea's populace believed Joan was trying to invite disaster by drawing her as such, Joan didn't really argue with that sentiment.

Brief as their interactions were, Ritsuka liked to think she'd captured Antonio Salieri in her few sketches of him. The real him instead of the dark yet cool looking demon…thing he turned into. He was sure when he eventually summoned the musician to their new home base he'd be at least a little happy to see a portrayal of him as he was in life-untainted.

Leaning her head against his shoulder she sighed. "We're making some big assumptions, like there's even going to be a 'happily ever after'. Look at me, even if I'm human, I'm still an Avenger, I'm not supposed to talk like this."

"Maybe," the Japanese teen admitted. "But, like you said, you're human, and hoping is part of being human."

"Always have an answer to everything, don't you, Ritsu?"

"Actually, I like to think I've just gotten good at rolling going with the flow of things, as hectic as that is."

"Whatever the hell it is," she kissed his shoulder. "Don't ever give it up. It's probably one of the only things keeping you sane."

"I actually like to think that's part of your job now, you're a big reason why I'm able to get up every morning and go through this crap."

Shutting her eyes, the pale-haired woman comfortable leaned against her lover while quietly closing her sketchbook. Her faint breathing continuously tickled Ritsuka's neck, soothing him and whatever remaining nerves he might have possessed. "There you go again, stealing my lines. It's a wonder I haven't found some way to make you pay for all the crap I put up with because of you."

"There's always making me give your dragons dental jobs, it's one of the many odd jobs I've got used to doing."

"Oh please, I've been around you so long all my pets have practically gotten used to you. I'm talking about something that'll actually annoy you."

"Huh-uh, so you're okay with meeting Kadoc and Anastasia tomorrow?"

"Yeah, yeah," yawning she removed herself from him and laid now upon the pillows. "Tomorrow we offer an olive branch to the pair that trashed our home and killed all our comrades, isn't life grand?"

Chuckling all the way Ritsuka shut his book as well and put it away. Even when shutting off the lights he looked back over at his bed. Though dark Ritsuka could perfectly make out almost every object in his room, a possibly holdover from going through countless scuffles and deadly ordeals. Joan's sleeping form was always a sight to see, to him it was one of the most tranquil things he could have pictured. Sighing in content he walked over and moved himself under the covers. Laying a hand over her waist he nuzzled her shoulder.

"You shouldn't worry too much about them reading it, whatever bad habits they may pickup from me, I'm sure they'll be enough of you to balance things out. Our kids will be hot-blooded, but cautious enough to watch it." Joan whispered.

Tightening his grip, he lightly kissed her neck. "I keep hoping all of this will end with us defeating the Crypters, but I can't be that optimistic. Writing in that journal…I just hope I'm preparing them."

"You're talking like that book is all they're going to have to go by to guide them." Turning over she zeroed in on him with those supernatural-golden eyes. First, she intertwined their legs, then she pressed her forehead against his. Eyes closed in bliss she said, "We'll be there with them, protecting them. Come what may, no matter who or what we're up against, we're making it through alive." The first time he saw Joan's eyes turn into draconic slits, he'd been both fascinated and terrified, time had turned the terror into completely amazement. "Most parents tell their kids all kinds of stupid fairy tales about knights and crap like that, but we'll tell our something different. We'll tell them no matter how great the adversity, they can win, because their parents faced down the same odds, and they came out on top. If they stumble, we'll be there to pick them up."

He could have listed a mountain of things that had changed since becoming a Master and gone into vivid detail about every one of them. Undoubtedly at the time the woman lying in his arms was the pinnacle change he was grateful for. She was his strength and drive, and without her Ritsuka knew facing down the threat of the Lostbelts would have taken a greater toll upon him. As long she was with him he knew he could overcome anything that came his way.

"Thank you, Joan."

Kadoc had never been a tea person, matter of fact, until he came to Chaldea, he was sure he'd never had a cup of tea in his whole life. Growing up it didn't exactly fit into his childhood, and none of the people he knew ever felt kind enough to brew him a cup for whatever reason. By the time he was brought into Chaldea's fold, he'd grown something of an aversion to tea, to him it had become a "rich man's commodity", something he could never afford as he was neither rich in money or magical ability. Coffee had become more of his speed, which ended up going hand-in-hand with his "zombie appearance" as Beryl sometimes called it.

And then he met Anastasia.

He remembered the first time she'd brewed tea for him. At first, he'd battled with the urge to turn her down, but eventually he decided to give it a shot, and that turned out to be one of the best decisions he'd ever made. Now, he believed he wouldn't accept tea if it was brewed by anyone else besides Anastasia. When she took the bullet for him, literally, he truly believed that would be the last time he'd ever have tea again, and yet here he was, sitting in his cell-room, enjoying a fresh brew with her.

"How…do you like it?"

"It's…more sugary than usual. I take it you had some input from the…staff?" It still felt worried talking about his prisoners as…normal people. Hell, over the past few days Kadoc had started to see himself less and less as a prisoner and more of a…guest. The whole thing was still quite surreal for his point of view.

About six days, close to a week had passed since he and Ritsuka had…talked. No matter what happened to him, Kadoc would always remember that day, never before had he felt such an enormous amount of rage, despair, relief, and even happiness in short intervals. If he'd known what day it was on the calendar he would have marked it.

Anastasia…Ritsuka's Anastasia was a tad bit shyer than the one he knew. She wasn't quite as cold to him as his Caster was, but she was noticeable more reserved around him; she was watching him, analyzing him. Kadoc didn't blame her caution. From her perspective she'd been summoned then thrown into an emotional roller coaster she never asked for so it was natural she was on guard around practically everyone. When she caught him, Jeanne Alter had remarked Ritsuka had "softened her up" for him, Kadoc had grown used to being taunted, and the reincarnated Servant's taunts were no different than those of his past bullies. Still, it could have been his imagination, but when she spoke to him he thought he could detect a faint sense of…encouragement from her. He'd told Ritsuka he'd landed himself one odd Servant, and an even odder girlfriend, but given Kadoc himself, he didn't exactly think he had room to talk.

Starting his relationship from scratch with Anastasia had been…interesting to say the least. The night she came to him to talk, he'd felt like his heart was about to explode. They sat together, side by side on his bed, not really looking at each other. She asked of the Anastasia he knew, and he told her, she asked what similarities she bared to his, and he answered truthfully.

She asked if the Anastasia he knew was happy serving him, and he couldn't give a definite answer. In light of that she'd decided to get an answer herself by continuously seeing him.

Day after day, she came to his door, a tray full of brimming tea at the ready for the two of them. In a sense, it was just like old times.

"Do you like the extra sugar? If not I can change the recipe." She politely offered.

"N-No, it's fine. I…uh, I actually kind of like the extra sugar. Just wish I had some place to…burn it off." It wasn't like sugar made him hyper, but from time to time he did get a little fidgety. That was probably the only reminder that he was still a prisoner of war, sorta.

"Hm, that may be change after tomorrow."

The devil-may-care tone of her voice surprised him, and worried him.

Looking at him almost shyly it became obvious she'd been building him up to something, and was about to reveal what it was. For once, Kadoc didn't feel angry about it, despite the sudden tightness in his chest. "Ritsuka…says he would like to speak with you tomorrow at noon. He's been talking with Holmes and Da Vinci, I believe they plan on releasing you."

Wide-eyed, he stared at her half-expecting Anastasia to state she was joking with an absolute stone-face, or for the world around to crack and shatter like glass hitting the ground.

"You shouldn't sale yourself so short."

"Huh?"

"You go on like you're less than useless, like your entire existence is unwanted and unneeded, but that is not the case." In one of the rarest shows of affection he'd seen from her she took his hand, his right hand, into hers. Her hands were cold, but not like ice, cold like soft powdery snow. It was comforting. "Originally, you were chosen to be one of the seven original Masters, and then you were chosen to be one of the seven Crypters charged with rewriting human history. Even defeated, fortune continues to smiling upon you by offering you a third chance, such a thing rarely happens, even to the most fortunate of people. In spite of all the pain you've inflicted upon them and what you aimed to do, Chaldea's survivors have shown willingness to overlook that and offer you a place at their side, no strings attached and under no forcefully conversion. Back in my time, such a turn of allegiance only occurred after one had been physically and mentally tortured to the point of wishing for death. Compared to many, you've been blessed with great fortunate, so don't squander it."

Pure silence filled up the small room like leaking gas. Kadoc's face consisted of a wide-open mouth and wide-eyes, an expression that was extremely alien to him. He sat in beside her, unable to properly speak or hear at her…uplifting declaration. Very few people had spoken such encouraging words to him, in fact, those that did could have been counted on one hand. Even when they were in the Lostbelt together Anastasia had never been quite as direct as this new embodiment was.

His open-mouthed silence seemed to unnerve the Russian princess a tad bit as she turned away, a light blush playing at her cheek. "I-I…I fear I have interacted with that witch too much."

That was the window Kadoc needed to regain some measure of composure. "I-I've heard you two…have been hanging around each other quite a bit. You two aren't by any chance…"

She really did try to look intimidating in front of him, she really did, yet Kadoc felt nothing but…amusement as she glared at him. "While I may have had to make…accommodations to the current situation, I will not acknowledge anything but a professional relationship with that…woman. We both simply serve the same Master, and that is all. Nothing more, nothing less."

For the nth time Kadoc truly wondered what went on outside of his makeshift cell. From what he constantly heard whenever he was allowed out or someone came in, quite a lot. "O…kay, whatever you say."

"If you are release, it will no doubt be under the original employ of Chaldea, to serve out your original purpose." Minor as it was, she noticed a shift in his demeanor-a down turning of his eyes and shuffling of his legs. "Does it bother you to return to them after your original betrayal?"

"It's not that, it's…" Racking his hand over his head he tried to find the words to describe the turbulent emotions swirling about inside his heart. "I just feel like I'm…back to where I started. When this…when I…"

"Do you see yourself as Ritsuka's…sidekick as they say?" The Russian princess suggested.

He would have liked it if she was a little less…blunt, but maybe blunt was what he needed. "You…aren't beating around the bush, are you?"

"Do you believe I should be delicate when dealing with you? Technically speaking, we are…" What exactly were they? They'd talked and discussed things with each other, rather personal and private things. Their relationship had progressed a little too far for a Servant and her…former Master. Even with her royal vocabulary she found it hard to find words that accurately described their relationship to each other. Turning her head away she continued searched in privacy, hoping Kadoc wouldn't catch on too quickly to her rising embarrassment.

"Since you asked, I…kind of do, but at the same time, a part of me is…hopeful."

Out of the corner of her eye Anastasia was sure she caught Kadoc smiling. He rarely smiled, but when he did, she found he looked rather…peaceful.

"I was the tail end of A-Team, and just about everyone knew it." He begun hunching over, his elbows on his knees. "I was going to have a Caster that could do all the work for me with what little mana I could give him or her. Stick in the back, provide support, keep my head down, and if the time came do what was needed. That was my plan…hehehe, needless to say all that went up in smoke."

Spying his hand Anastasia reached out and took it. "Do you still dream about it? Your death?"

"Is it wrong that I've gotten used to dreaming I'm sitting in a metal pod, my body completely immobile, and screaming my head off when I start to feel my flesh burn? Most people get therapy for stuff like that."

"You're not most people, Kadoc, as I've told you."

"Heh, maybe you're right, but anyways, I still think about it. I…I don't want to go through that again. At the same time though, I don't want to spend the rest of this…war sitting here in this room, unable to do anything." Gripping her hand tighter than he realized he gnashed his teeth. "I hate myself for being so useless as a magus, and I hated Ritsuka for doing what I couldn't do, but…focusing on that hatred won't do anything for me. About a week ago he…talked to me. He was scared too, and still is, but he keeps going."

"Naturally, though he may look an inapt peasant, there is something…unique about him." The white-haired girl concurred.

"Ritsuka told me he kept going because people depended on him, his family, his friends, his girlfriend. I…don't have any of that. My parents died when I was fifteen, and I never really made what you could call friends to lay down my life for, or at least I don't have any I'm trying to save now." The faces of his teammates flashed before his eyes sending a ping of guilt through his heart. From the start he knew it was a competition and they were all competing against each other. He knew he was going to be in the bottom brocket from the get-go, so was Hinako. They'd resigned themselves to losing and decided to make the best of it. "I don't have a family or found family backing me like he does, but…in spite of all that…I don't want to give up. Even if I don't have a Servant with me, I just don't want to go back to feeling like I'm some useless sack of shit!"

"Then don't, fight with him, with her, with…" Quick as a wolf sniffing blood he snapped to her, frightening Anastasia just a little. Him obviously meant Ritsuka, her could have been Mash or Jeanne Alter, and the last one was…

"Did…the other me really…take the bullet for…that man?"

"…Yeah, he did. Jumped right in front of Billy, despite barely being able to stand herself."

According to Holmes and Da Vinci Kadoc's Lostbelt was doomed from the start, and so was everyone in it. In spite of that, he continued to press on because he wanted to make his Anastasia Tsar. She'd read his files and admittedly, she wasn't sure how such a weak-looking person could find the inner strength needed to stand against such a wicked fate. Over the past week she'd gotten her answer, and seeing him attempting to muster up that same courage was the final piece of evidence she needed.

"If I were to say I was going to fight beside Ritsuka, would you follow me?"

"E-Eh?"

"I said, if I were to fight beside Ritsuka would you follow me? Would I be worth it?"

What kind of question was that? Kadoc felt his mouth moving again before his mind could comprehend what was going on. "Yes, even if I wasn't your Master I'd…"

"If not for saving the world…could you at least fight for me…as my personal agent?"

Of all the things he'd heard in the past two weeks that one was probably the most ridiculous.

"You were willing to remain at the side of that Anastasia through death and despair…because you cared for her. Is it possible I…could be worth such devotion as well?"

Was she…blushing?

How was he supposed to answer that? He wasn't trained for this! Really, no man was!

As the magus panicked he recalled his conversation with Ritsuka barely a week earlier and how he'd spoken of his relationship with Jeanne Alter. He hadn't talked with someone like that since…since…not even his high school years were as crazy as that discussion!

Taking his silence as a no Anastasia removed her hand from his and abundantly stood up. Turning on her heel she was mid-way to the door when she felt Kadoc's hand grab her wrist.

"I would…if it were you…I'd do that."

Behind her curtain of white hair Anastasia's eyes widened considerably. Slowly, she turned back around so they were face to face. "Kadoc?"

"I…I do have something I can keep going towards, I may not be able to save the world," He started letting go of her hand and taking a step back to give her some space. "But I can help you help him save the world. A guy like me…I should at least be able to do that, can't I?"

Slowly, the Russian princess's lips curved into an upwards smile of genuine affection. Reaching out she framed the gray-haired youth's face. "I believe there is only one way to answer that."

Both parties were seated directly across from each other on a couch with a gold-lined glass table in-between them. At Ritsuka's request Mash sat rather uncomfortably in a cushy sit between them. Should hostilities break out for some reason he trusted her to be fast enough to react in time, though he hoped they'd all been able to move past that point. Anastasia had prepared fresh cups of tea, to which all of them save for Joan had thanked her for.

Though the differences were subtle, Ritsuka was able to deduce Kadoc's physique had begun to change a little for the better. The bags under his eyes weren't quite gone, he said they were "natural" to which Joan had mercilessly joked about. His body was no longer rigid and tightly-wound like a spring, but more relaxed. Lastly were his eyes, he'd learned how to read a great deal about a person through their eyes over the course of his adventures. Before Kadoc's coppery-like eyes were filled with nothing but worry, emptiness, and a tinny bit of anger, none of those things remained. When he smiled at him, he didn't scowl or shrink away, he actually smiled a little back at him.

"So, prisoner, ready to submit?" Joan fired off kicking up both her feet onto the table. She'd been told almost a hundred times not to do so or deface the furniture, but all that served to do was motivate her. Ritsuka believed she got a kick out of dirtying all the high-priced furniture in the mansion with ash, soot, dirt, and from time to time blood. Given her personality, Holmes had concurred and stated they'd best resign themselves to it. The maids and butlers were not happy.

"I was under the impression I'd already done that. I have been on my best behavior for the last couple of days." Seeing Jeanne Alter in battle had made Kadoc slightly terrified of her. He'd read the reports of the Dragon Witch of Orleans, now personal Servant and bodyguard of Chaldea's last (loyal) Master. Facing her once had him counting how many seconds it'd take for his mind to shut down from the pain of being burnt alive, but things were different now. Though he still trembled a little at the aura of malice the woman walked with, he knew she wasn't completely without some shred of humanity.

"We'll be the judge of that." She fired back attempting to scare the youth with her piercing glare and voice. "If you ask me, we've been a little too lenient with you."

"U-Um, Alter-san, I actually think we've been pretty fair to him. He hasn't caused much of a disturbance, save for what he did to senpai." Almost as soon as she said it Mash wished she could take the words back. Kadoc's head fell a little while Joan snickered and Ritsuka raised his hands in surrender. "S-Sorry."

"I-It's no issue. Besides, look at me, barely even a scratch left." Winking at caused the Demi-Servant to break out into a flustered blush. Beside him he heard Joan snort and mutter something about "bottom" but ignored it. "Anyways, I called you here cause…well, it's not really an interrogation. I sorta suck at those."

"You suck at a lot of things, if he wanted to interrogate you, he would have just left you with me, by yourself." Joan added shooting a wicked smile at Kadoc and Anastasia. "Without the ice princess there to protect you."

"I have no desire to protect this man, if anything it is the opposite. He is not my Master, he is my agent." Anastasia fired back her usually haughty voice stunning the three Chaldea survivors.

Ritsuka and Mash exchanged a look before bursting into uncontrollable laughter while Joan simply scowled at the blushing ex-Master.

"Geez, you really are head over heels for her, aren't you?" She growled.

Anastasia narrowed her eyes. "It's not as if his devotion to me is unsightly, it is just as strong, perhaps stronger than Master Fujimaru's devotion to you."

And like that, the gates were thrown open and the temperature of the room skyrocketed. It was a good thing no one was touching their tea or drinking it as the brown liquid quickly began to boil, and the metal tea cups grew visibly brighter. Mash began to comically panic while Ritsuka, wearing an almost blissful expression, placed a hand on his girlfriend's shoulder to calm her down. Seeing it Kadoc couldn't help but let out his first true laugh during the meeting.

"Seems you've got yourself one scary but devoted girl."

"Yep, I can say the same about you." The Japanese Master responded with a laugh causing Anastasia and Kadoc to blush bright red. "Since you're already agreed to become her agent can I take your decision to join us as a yes?"

He could have said yes and ended the whole meeting right there, but Kadoc was in a mood and he needed it to be satisfied. "I…know you've both answered me in your own way, but…I need to know…why? I destroyed Chaldea, I took away all of your comrades. So…why are you being so kind to me? Even offering me a chance to come back?"

"Putain, I already told that ice sculpture beside you!" Joan roared grabbing at her hair. "Kicking your snow-covered asses across Russia was enough for me! That and seeing you cry like a bitch when your Servant faded away, that was enough for me, don't make me say it again!"

Once he was sure Joan's rant had run its full course Ritsuka spoke up. "Like I told you a couple of days ago, I'm…willing to look past that. Part of the truth is…we can kind of use the extra help."

"You've already figured out my Lostbelt was pretty weak, huh?"

"Da Vinci told us when compared to the others you were-"

"Second to last, not hard to see why." Joan interrupted.

"Knowing that, can you really say you want a guy like me on your team?" His question was genuine. "I'm a piss-poor magus, as far as athletic ability goes I'm pretty average, and I'm a pessimist."

"No, you're not, Kadoc-san." By speaking Mash swung the attention onto herself. Thankfully, she'd done enough growing up as to keep her nerve with eyes on her and remain clear-voiced and focused when speaking. "Y-You can be a little negative at times…but you're never a full-on outright pessimist, or at least not as bad as some of the ones we've come to know. On top of that you're…you're…" Taking a deep breath of air she threw out the next set of words hoping they'd stick. "Both you and senpai are really strong-willed! Even if neither of you think you are!"

As was expected, silence greeted her causing Mash to mentally retreat inwardly. The one who broke the silence was the last person she expected, or wanted.

"Hahahahahaha! Look at our little Shielder, seems after all these crazy adventures she's finally grown a spine, and a damn strong one." Joan roared resulting in Mash's face turning redder than an apple. "If she could grow a pair, stand up against enemies five times her size and power then so can you, don't you think?" To avoid the witch's leering gaze Kadoc tried to focus on the ground, and when that failed he found his eyes drifting over to Mash. The whole affair simply made Joan laugh even harder.

"See, you're already a part of the team." Ritsuka stated trying his hardest not to laugh as well.

"You call this a team?" An embarrassed Kadoc sneered.

"Yep, you definitely should have been with us in Chaldea. Compared to the antics we used to get up to this is actually pretty tame, right Mash?"

"Y-Y-Y-Yes," The flustered girl stammered out hoping to shift attention away from herself. "W-W-We can accept you, will! T-That is if you'll…"

"You may not think you have anything to offer, but you never know, you could surprise us all." Kadoc's attention fell back on Ritsuka, who remained in his seat with a carefree smile. To the other four sitting beside him the fact he was able to hold onto something so simple was a miracle into itself; they all had seen bits of the darkness he held inside, and it wasn't pretty. "The thing about trying to save the world ending…it brings out the best and worst in everyone, or at least that's what I've found out. Luckily, I've seen more of the former than the latter, and I don't think you'll be any different."

Kadoc smile was half-impish, and half touched. "Some day you're gonna have to tell me how the hell you're able to stay so…upbeat about all this. Most people would have caved under the pressure."

"If we live through road trip I'll tell you." His eyebrows rose and a look of deep thought came over his face. After shooting a quick glance towards Joan he turned back to him. "You think any of the…things we've been through would make for a good book?"

"Don't tell me you're planning on writing a book about this. The Magus Association would never allow such a thing to be written, much less printed."

"Well I've…kinda already started writing some of it down. Helps that as of now there is no Magus Association." Ritsuka laughed to which Kadoc joined him.

"A bunch of asses, aren't they?"

"Totally."

"Which is one of the reasons I haven't fed you to one of my dragons." Joan happily added. The ridicule and scorn the organization had treated them with still left an immensely bitter taste in her mouth. It'd taken nearly all her self-restraint not to fly out and kill them all when they branded them heretics for doing what needed to be done to save humanity. She supposed if there was one positive to the Crypters overwriting human history with their own it was that band of pompous jackasses were no longer living. Heh, maybe if we tinker around a little we can make it so now of those pricks are ever born or become big-shots. A little low-key, but that could work.

"Is that normal?"

Rather she was blind or uncaring of them Joan continued to darkly cackle to herself as she pictured the faces of the Magus Association members who'd she love to put through hell. To tear their precious reputations and lives down and stand triumphantly over them proclaiming her victory.

"Don't worry, she's just day-dreaming." Ritsuka waved off.

"I've noticed this myself, the witch seems to enjoy detaching herself from reality." Anastasia stated using her powers to cool the tea enough it was now drinkable. "It appears her brain can only do so much work before needing a break."

The two humans and Demi-Servant withheld chuckles as Joan finally realized the conversation was still going on. Though she hadn't heard Anastasia's statement one look at the faces of her compatriots told her she'd been the butt of a joke.

Zeroing in on her Russian counterpart Joan seethed, "What did you say, ice princess?"

"Nothing that warrants repeating, witch." She calmly fired back.

Laughter burst from the lips of Ritsuka, Mash, and Kadoc as the two girls began another silent standoff with nothing but their eyes. In spite of the clashing waves of heat and cold they all felt right at home, maybe because in a way they were home.

Kadoc fell back in his seat, one hand going over his chest as he usually did. This is…enough. This feeling of…yeah, even if I can't do anything worthwhile…this'll be enough for me. "Even with me, it's gonna be a tough fight, Ritsuka. Like Joan said, I was second to last, and the other Crypters aren't going to be pushovers."

For the first time since the sit down began Ritsuka's face turned serious. "I know, A-team…the guys who I could train for a hundred years, and probably never match."

"Then we'll just have to work extra hard to compensate for that, won't we?"

Like a giant pendulum the attention of the group shifted to Kadoc. Everyone's eyes were wider than usual as they realized for the first time since he probably came to Chaldea as a prisoner he sounded…cheerful, ready. One by one smiles lit up the faces of the other four, Anastasia's smile perhaps being the brightest.

"Hey, stop smiling at me like that. It's not like I'm joining you all because I think we have a chance I just…don't have anything better to do." He tried to argue not liking the sudden warm mode that seemed centered on him. "Against the likes of Beryl, Pepe, Kirsch, and…Daybit, we probably have less than one-percent chance at coming out of this alive, let alone going up against the Alien God."

There was something…jarring about hearing two Servants laughing together, well, a Demi-Servant and reincarnated Servant. Mash's laugh was soft and jovial, Joan's was dark and somewhat twisted.

"Less than a one-percent chance?" Mash began.

"You have so much to learn about how things work around here, newbie." Joan cackled eying Kadoc with her ruthless golden orbs.

"We've faced tough odds before, that part never changes." Ritsuka sighed rubbing his neck before looking at him with a one-eyed smile. "I'm not gonna give some long speech about how we're all gonna make it through this, because there's a real chance one or all of us couldn't, but I'm don't plan on letting that stop me. The world may not be perfect…but I love enough I'm willing to push on and fight for it."

"As your shield and Servant, I'll be there protecting you." Mash echoed looking more upbeat and cheerful.

"And as your girlfriend and professional ass-preserver, I'll be damned if I let get yourself killed." Joan smiled reaching for his hand, not caring who saw. "You made me a promise, and you're keeping it."

"As your Servant, I am yours to command and all those who stand before you…Viy will deal with them accordingly." Anastasia stated holding up her doll, a thin smiling playing at her lips.

His mouth twitched a little before he answered; internally he debated rather or not he should have given one last show of resistance but seeing the smiling faces of his…comrades he decided against. "I guess…I'm back in Chaldea's employ."

"Kadoc-san, you…when we…you don't have to be with us all the time. I know you…" Mash struggled to find the words, recalling memories of the home she'd lost what felt like a lifetime ago. It was clear the pain was still there, and likely would remain for the rest of her life, but she wouldn't let it consume her. "I know how close you were with Pepe-san…and Beryl. You…really looked up to him so I can understand if-"

"I want to face them, all of them." He cut her off sounding resolute. "Even if we're enemies…I know they'd want me to be on the frontlines facing them. They were always pushing me to be more assertive, and…even though we've all changed, I don't think that aspect of them has. Besides," Grinning he face Ritsuka. "If he's out there fighting on the front, as his senior I should be there too, shouldn't I? Can't have you upstaging me all the time, can I?"

Joan slapped her boyfriend across the back as he blushed realizing he now had a "senpai" of his own. "Mash! Go tell Da Vinci to fire up her new whatever-it-is! And tell her that if it blows up in our faces my dragons are going to be having fried Italian for dinner, with a side of cooked Englishman." That last part came out with an all-too familiar laugh.

"Da Vinci has a…new invention?" Anastasia questioned feeling something afoot. "What is it for?"

Grinning sheepishly Ritsuka looked between his former enemies. "It's…for you two. See-"

"You're worth shit to us as you are now, Kadoc." Joan cut in. The shock of her using Kadoc's name for the first time was short-lived as what he spoke next complete blew him, and Anastasia away. "You need a Servant, and lucky for us, you've got a perfect one right beside you, so congratulations you two, seems you're back together."

Utterly stunned the pair looked first at her then to Ritsuka who held up both his hands in defeat. "Holmes and Da Vinci have been working on a way to, well, hijack Servants. If it helps us against the Crypters they're willing to give it a shot. We were thinking if you…accepted our offer you and Anastasia could…"

"I was not consulted about this!" Anastasia snapped, though she didn't quite seem as angry she intended. "I will serve who I please! I answered your summon, so I serve you, Ritsuka, I…I…I…" For a brief second everyone present believed Viv would emerge from the shadows in an attempt to kill them all. The worry died with an almost exhausted sigh from the Russian royal. Getting up she joined Mash by the doorway. "Come along, Kadoc."

"H-Huh?!"

"Do you not remember? You said you would be my agent, then you will be my Master as well. You will never leave my side unless I permit it, and you will sample every mixture of tea I create, is that understood?"

Not one beat was missed with her statement leaving the ex-Crypter completely mortified. This…this wasn't the normal Anastasia he was used to. Not that he was in a hurry to complain about it though.

"Hah! Look at you, she's already got you whipped." Joan howled getting up and joining her fellow females. "I'm not even sure which one's going to be doing all the fighting."

While Ritsuka rose Kadoc remained in his seat, his mind still struggling to process the events of the last ten minutes. He barely announced Ritsuka's outstretched arm until the girls giggling grew too loud to ignore. The former enemies met eyes, not a shred of hostility between them, only a growing sense of kinship.

"Hey! Just because you're below average doesn't mean you're out of luck! You've got a guy like me beside you, so don't hesitate to reach out, alright?" Beryl had once said to him when he felt his insecurities threatening to consume him.

"A Caster, hm? Well, make sure to buildup trust, a good working relationship is key, sort of like the one all of us have. It's a great thing to be about to rely on someone, ya' know." Pepe had assured him when he told him what kind of Servant he wanted.

I think I understand a little more, you guys. Kadoc thought taking Ritsuka's hand. He felt a few tears building up in his eyes and tried to force them away. Though he hadn't exactly made the greatest of impressions on them, he still wanted to maintain a certain image in front of his new friends. With Mash in the lead the two pairs walked through the hallways.

Even if guys like us are average, He thought watching walking side by side, eventually finding a familiar cold hand slipping into his.

We can still find ways to be useful to someone somewhere. Ritsuka echoed clasping Joan's hand and her returning his light squeeze.

And for guys like us, that's enough to keep us going all the way to the end.

So that's the end, rather optimistic and open-ended since there's six more Lostbelts to go and who knows what they'll bring. Overall, I hope this story was able to leave positive taste in everyone's mouth as that was what I was going for.

If anyone's interested I've got two Fate crossover stories planned for the summer so keep an eye out for them. Until then Happy Memorial Day!