Okay, this was late for a number of reasons.
One: we're doing a large final project in one of my college classes, so I've been doing research on what's needed.
Two: I've been working to get the platinum trophy on God Eater 2: Rage Burst. I did.
Three: my laptop battery. Like I had mentioned, a software issue with it makes me unable to charge it when it's turned on.
Four: it takes a while to boot up, so I only do this when I have a large chapter idea.
Five: I've been working on the lemon next chapter as well. It's about 3,000 words so far.
Six: we adopted a small dog recently. Since I'm in a wheelchair, I like lap dogs. So my parents got me one.
[Tender Scenery]
When Akiko woke up the next morning, she found herself still in Lancer's arms. He was already awake and gazing down at his Master.
"So how was the rest of yer sleep? Ya didn't have any more bad dreams 'bout my past, didja?"
Akiko shook her head. "No, I didn't."
"Good. Ya don't need to experience mistakes I made long ago."
"Maybe, but it helps me to understand you better. By the way, how are you feeling today?"
"Still a bit tired, but better than yesterday at least." Lancer slid the covers off the both of them. "But my injuries are still there. 'Fraid I can't speed up the healin' 'till we get to the ley line."
Akiko got out of the futon and started getting out clothes to put on. Lancer just materialized his modern clothes. "Well, at least the mana transfer worked somewhat."
Lancer glanced at her. "Hey, after what happened yesterday, do ya think you'll have school today?"
"I don't know," Akiko admitted as she got her tan tunic on over her white shirt. "Emiya seems to know what's happening at school better than me or Tohsaka, so I guess we'll see what he says."
"But yer still gettin' dressed fer school. So that means ya believe it's likely school won't be cancelled."
"I'm just getting my uniform on just in case we do have school today. Then I won't have to rush to get changed." She finished tying the red ribbon. Then she turned to face Lancer. "Let's head to the kitchen."
When the two entered, they were surprised to see Taiga at the table with Rin, Archer, and Saber. But no Sakura. Instead, Shirou was the one fixing breakfast. The Master and Servant sat down at the table. Akiko glanced at Taiga.
"So you were discharged from the hospital?"
"Yup!" Taiga replied. Then her eyes locked onto the food Shirou was setting on the table. Once everyone got a plate of food, Taiga spoke up again. "And you wouldn't believe what the doctor had the nerve to ask me!" She made her voice deep like a man's. "It's unusual to see a patient as healthy as you are, Ms. Fujimura! Would you care to donate some blood?'" Taiga made her voice normal again. "Come on! I'm just as sick as everyone else!"
Shirou swallowed the food he had in his mouth. He was sitting next to Saber. "At least they didn't have to cancel school today."
Akiko looked at him. "Oh, they didn't? I would've thought they would after yesterday."
"It's strange, though," Taiga said, taking a bite. "The only explanation they gave us for what happened was something about chemicals in an abandoned classroom."
"Maybe that's what it was." Akiko hoped that explanation would be enough to satisfy the curiosity of others. If it wasn't, there may be more of an investigation. And it may uncover traces of what really happened.
"And even though Sakura's still in the hospital, she isn't that sick. So she'll be discharged tonight," Taiga added.
"It's good that it sound like no one is suffering from major complications," Shirou said with a sigh of relief.
[End OST]
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
A little later, Taiga left for school, leaving Shirou, Rin, Akiko, Saber, Archer, and Lancer in the kitchen. Then, later, the six of them got ready for school. The Servants were waiting for their Masters to get ready. When the humans came out, they saw the Servants waiting for them at the front door. Archer was leaning back on the wall next to the door with his arms crossed. His eyes were closed and he was tapping one finger on his forearm impatiently.
"About time," he said. "And Rin and I have something to say."
"Oh, right, about the investigation?" Akiko looked at Rin. "So? What did you discover?"
"Well, as we thought, the victims were the mages sent here. But Archer and I found something else."
"You did?"
Rin nodded. "I sensed traces of mana at each crime scene, but Archer was able to tell it was from a Servant."
"Wait, a Servant?!" Shirou, Akiko, Saber, and Lancer all exclaimed at the same time.
"That's what it was," Archer said, opening one eye. "And that means the culprit is related to the Grail War."
"But why mages?" Shirou asked. Akiko turned her head to face him.
"Mages are larger sources of power than regular people. This Servant is probably looking for a large boost in power."
"That's a sick way to go about it!"
"It is."
After that, the six left the house and went in the direction of the school. The three Servants were walking a step behind their Master, covering them from attacks from behind. Then Akiko spoke up when they were away from others on the sidewalk.
"You three will keep an eye on the school as usual," she said, looking over her shoulder at the Servants.
"Well, of course," Archer replied. "Especially with the incident yesterday." Saber nodded in agreement.
"Hopefully that won't happen again today. But it's best to play it safe."
[Gentle Everyday]
When the school came into sight, the Servants broke off and headed for the trees. As the three Masters went onto campus, they saw that there wasn't as many students milling about outside as usual. About a third of students and teachers were still in the hospital. Though most, like Sakura, would probably be discharged tonight. When they entered the school building and went up to the third floor, Akiko noticed something that mildly got her attention.
She looked around. "Will wonders never cease? Shinji isn't stalking us since Tohsaka and I are here. He must be keeping his distance from us because of yesterday."
"Probably. Anyway, let's get to class before the bell goes off and we're counted tardy," Rin said. The two girls went to class 3-A while Shirou went to class 3-C. Rin went to her desk by the window while Akiko sought out Ayako. Like Taiga, she had been discharged from the hospital last night. She found her friend sitting in her desk. Akiko went over and Ayako glanced over at the teen as she drew near.
"Hey, Mitsuzuri, just curious. I haven't seen Shinji. Know where he is?" Akiko asked.
Ayako shook her head. "I don't think he's even at school today. He didn't show up for archery practice this are you asking? I though you didn't give a crap about him."
"Like I said, I'm just curious," Akiko replied. "I just noticed because he didn't bug Tohsaka or I when we came in."
"Yeah, that is unusual. But like I said, I don't know anything either."
The rest of the school day went normally, without any incident. When the final bell went off, the three Masters left together. At the front gates, they were joined by their Servants. It wasn't until they were halfway back to Shirou's house that something happened.
[End OST]
A creature that looked to be a bird made of crystal swooped down to the group. Rin looked up and held out her left arm. The bird landed on her forearm. Then it chattered and chirped to the girl. Then it shattered, the broken pieces that fell to the ground looking like glass. Then Rin looked at the others, who were all staring at her, waiting for her to say something.
"What was that about?" Shirou asked.
"Let's get away from the school, then I'll tell you," Rin replied. They were surrounded by not many outsiders, but outsiders nonetheless.
Shirou blinked in confusion, but didn't say anything else. So the group walked in silence, going down the sidewalk further.
[Footsteps of Destruction]
"I have something to tell all of you now that we're away from anyone who might overhear," Rin spoke up when no others were near the group. All eyes were pointed at her. "Right after Shinji fled, I had one of my familiars spy on him. However, at night, something happened."
"Did the familiar lose track of Shinji?" Akiko asked.
Rin shook her head. "No. Something happened to Shinji."
Shirou spoke up next. "Is this related to the reason he wasn't at school today?"
"It is," Rin replied. "I didn't think it was strange at first until just a little bit ago. But now I do know. That Shinji was eaten."
"Wait, what?!" Shirou exclaimed.
"It may be hard to believe, but that's what my familiar reported," Rin told him.
Akiko crossed her arms. "If it's a Servant, then it has to be either Caster or Assassin. After all, we haven't encountered either yet."
"What 'bout Berserker?" Lancer asked his Master.
"I doubt it. After all, that monster's strong enough as it is. Illya most likely wouldn't feel the need to strengthen her Servant by having him eat mages. Since Shinji was without a Servant last night, he would be easy prey."
"If the person responsible runs out of Servant-less mages in the city, then it could go for Masters with Servants next," Rin said.
"...And we could become targets," Shirou finished. "Shouldn't we let Kotomine know?"
"No," Akiko replied. "He's most likely already figured this out as well. And we should wait to tell him until we at least know who the murderer is."
[End OST]
The rest of the way back to the house, no one else spoke. Inside, they all went into the kitchen. Of course, Taiga wasn't there yet. She was still at the school, wrapping up her duties.
"Well, it's time for me to go to work," Shirou said.
[Time Together]
Saber stood up, facing Shirou. "After what happened to Shinji last night, I cannot afford to leave you alone. So I will accompany you to work."
Shirou sighed. "I'm not a baby. I can look after myself. Besides, I have a Servant still. So I'm unlikely to be attacked just yet."
"That may be true, but your abilities as a mage are low," Saber insisted. "The culprit may not care that you have a Servant and might decide to get rid of you before you get stronger."
Shirou sighed again. "Fine. You can come if it will make you feel better."
Saber smiled and closed her eyes, looking like she was feeling triumphant. "I am glad that you understand my viewpoint."
[End OST]
Rin glanced at Akiko. "I take it you and Lancer are going to leave for work as well?"
Akiko stood up. "Yeah. Let's go, Lancer. And I hope that you don't collapse again."
"Like I said, I'm feelin' better. So I should be fine," the spearman replied.
Shirou looked at Rin. "We'll, I'm going to leave the house to you and Archer until we get back."
"Fine. Have fun."
Akiko sweatdropped. "Work isn't exactly 'fun'..."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
[A Beautiful Melody]
As soon as Akiko and Lancer stepped through the front door of Ahnenerbe's, Susumu glanced at them.
"Lancer? You're here? Are you sure you're up to working today?"
"Don't worry!" Lancer replied, grinning. "I feel much better!"
"I hope," Kazuhiro said as he stepped out of his own room. "That 'accident' caused several of our customers to become uncomfortable and many ended up leaving early."
"They probably though that being here any longer would get them sick too," Akiko said as she headed to the back room to get changed into her uniform. Lancer followed her, going to grab his own and get changed in a stall in the mens' bathroom.
When Lancer got his uniform and went out of the back room to get changed, Maiko spoke up. "Even though you're feeling better, Lancer, try not to push yourself too hard!"
Lancer had his back to the waitress when she finished. He just raised his right hand in a hailing gesture to show that he heard her. "Don't worry. I'll be careful." Then he turned his head to look over his left shoulder back at Maiko and grinned. "But thanks fer yer concern, cutie!"
Maiko blushed intensely. Only when Lancer disappeared into the bathroom did Susumu speak up. "Did he just flirt with you, Eguchi? I though he and Hashimoto were dating."
Maiko was still blushing, staring at the closed mens' bathroom door. Kazuhiro chuckled and turned to his office. "You're lucky that Hashimoto didn't hear that, Morikawa. Otherwise, she would have killed you."
Susumu looked at Kazuhiro and sweatdropped. "...I take it you would let her, wouldn't you?"
"Well, I'd be mad at her for offing my only cashier, but I know she does martial arts. And I also know that she's been a black belt for several years. So she would kick my ass. Besides, I could hire another cashier."
"Oh, that make me feel so much better..."
Kazuhiro chuckled again as he went into his office, reaching back with his right hand to grasp the doorknob. "I like to know those kinds of things about my employees so I know if they can kill my ass if I get on their bad side." His door was closed behind him.
The shift went normally for Akiko and Lancer. And Lancer didn't suddenly collapse again like yesterday.
[End OST]
After the shift was over, Akiko and Lancer changed back into their street clothes after helping tidy the place up. Then they walked back to the Emiya residence. By now, it was night. The moon was in the sky, surrounded by a few clouds.
Once the two entered the house, they went straight to the kitchen like they normally do, for dinner. But only Rin and Archer. No Shirou and Saber. Rin stood up, looking at Akiko.
"Emiya called. He says he has to work late, so just you and I will go to Ryuudou Temple with our Servants."
Akiko sighed. "Hopefully we won't run into trouble on our way there."
"We still have two Servants, so we should still be fine if that happens."
"Yeah, but Lancer doesn't have enough mana to fight back."
"Well then, we'd better hope we don't get pulled into a fight," Rin said as she got her jacket off the coat rack near the front door.
Akiko just sighed again. "Geez..."
Once the four were out the door, the Servants grabbed each Master and leapt off toward the bridge with them. They were moving so fast that if anyone happened to look up and see them, the Servants would be gone in an instant. This would make the person who saw them convinced that they had only imagined it.
At the bottom of the stairs to Ryuudou Temple, the two Servants landed on the ground and stopped. Akiko looked up at Lancer.
"Is something wrong?"
Archer was the one who answered her question. "There seems to be some kind of bounded field surrounding Mt. Enzou. I don't know what it does, and I'm pretty sure we don't want to find out."
"Is there any way past it?" Rin asked.
"There is," Archer replied. "An opening in the bounded field exists at the stairs."
"Then I guess we'll go in that way," Akiko said.
Lancer looked uncertain. "This feels like a trap, don'tcha think?"
"I guess there's only one way to find out," Archer said, going for the stairs. "Let's go."
Lancer sweatdropped. "...An' ya'll call me reckless..."
"He's right," Akiko said to Lancer. "Trap or not, we still need to get you to the ley line."
Lancer sighed that his Master was also being reckless, but decided not to argue. He would most likely lose anyway. So he ran up the stairs, following Archer.
"I won't allow you to get past me."
[Whirlpool of Fate 2]
The four stopped at the sound of a new voice. It belonged to a man standing in front of the Ryuudou Temple gate at the top of the stairs. The man wore a purple haori over an even lighter purple kimono. Over his legs was a purple hakama. It wasn't as purple as the haori but it was darker than the kimono. He had blue eyes and long blue hair tied up into a high ponytail. On his back was a long katana in a blue sheath.
Lancer and Archer set down their Masters and got their weapons out, taking fighting stances.
"Are you a Servant?!" Lancer demanded.
The man smiled. "Indeed I am. I am Kojirou Sasaki, an Assassin-class Servant."
Archer barked a single laugh. This was uncharacteristic of him, so it shocked Akiko, Rin, and Lancer. "You just gave us your true name? Are you stupid?"
Kojirou continued to smile, not at all offended by the light insult. "It is only natural to name onesself before fighting, no?" The man reached back and pulled his long katana from its sheath. The blade was long. To keep it off the ground. Kojirou held it at his side in a way that the blade was slanted down about 15 degrees from the handle.
Lancer grinned. "A close-combat fighter! A perfect match fer me!"
"Even after that mana transfer, you still didn't have a lot. Not nearly enough to fight a Servant." his Master said. Akiko held up her right hand even to the middle of her body. The back of her hand was up. And it was pointing to Lancer. "My Servant Lancer," Akiko spoke. Her three Command Seals began glowing with a red light as she invoked one of them. "I grant you the mana stored in one of my Command Seals." One of the marks, the far right wing shape, faded. It was still visible, but it looked so scratched up the mark was almost gone completely.
A light blue glow enveloped the outline of Lancer as the mana flowed to him. "Are ya sure about usin' up a Command Seal to give me mana?" he asked.
Akiko lowered her hand. "I am. It may not even be enough for you to use your Noble Phantasm and fight, but it should be enough for you to only fight off one Servant." Akiko faced Rin. "But the fight will be hard on him."
Rin nodded in understanding of what Akiko was implying. She meant this for Lancer to survive fighting Assassin head-to-head alone. "Archer will support Lancer." She turned to her Servant. "We don't know what kinds of tricks Assassin has up his sleeve, so just to be safe, use arrows to support Lancer."
"Very well," Archer replied. He turned around and took a massive leap, towards the city.
Lancer spoke to the two female mages behind him, but not taking his eyes off his opponent, who was about five steps up. "Both of you get back so ya don't get caught up in the fight."
Akiko bit her lower lip. Part of her made her want to stay and support Lancer. But she knew he was right. With her low mana levels, she would only be a hindrance to him, one that could get him killed. And while Rin was not low on mana, she needed to keep Akiko safe. If she let the silver-haired girl die, Lancer would make sure to kill her before he vanishes.
"Fine. We'll wait at the bottom of the stairs. Good luck," Akiko said to him.
[End OST]
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Once the two Masters ran down the stairs, Lancer and Assassin were the only ones left near the temple entrance, both staring the other down.
"Get outta the way, an' I'll let ya live," Lancer said slowly, holding his spear at the side of his body with both hands, diagonally.
Assassin smirked. "And if I say no?"
Lancer bared his teeth. "Then I'll kill ya!"
[Lightning Swordsman]
Lancer struck first, seeming to vanish as he went at Assassin at blinding speeds. He stabbed his spear forward at Assassin's head. Still smirking, Assassin made the spear's tip go past his right ear by bashing the blade of his katana onto the shaft.
"Not fast enough, I'm afraid," Assassin said. Then he kicked with his right foot, hitting Lancer in the chest. As the spearman was shoved back, he backflipped, landing on the same stone step he started on. As soon as his foot hit it, Lancer lunged at Assassin again, swinging his spear sideways at the samurai's neck. Assassin held his katana next to his neck to block the incoming weapon. The blade stopped the lance, but this was just a diversion. As soon as Gae Bolg was stopped, Lancer launched a kick with his right foot at Assassin's face. The blow landed, making the two break apart so that three steps were between the two.
Assassin was covering his face with his free hand. Blood coming hard out of his nose coated his palm. Some leaked off the sides of the appendage and hit the ground like drops of rain.
Lancer grinned as he positioned himself and his spear to strike again. "Heh! Betcha didn't see that comin'!"
Assassin lowered his hand from his face. His fast healing as a Servant made his nose stop bleeding. "Laugh now while you can. But once this fight is over, I will have the last one."
"We'll see 'bout that!"
The two spirits vanished. Then sparks showered over the second step between the both of them, the midway point, an instant later. The two were suddenly there, their weapons grinding against each other, both of them slightly in the air as they pushed their weight against their own weapon.
The feet of both hit the ground a second later, the owners still pushing their weapon against the other. But the two Servants were on the same step. There wasn't any room for them to shift back or forward. In fact, it was so cramped, that their weapons were clashing at the side of their bodies. Lancer and Assassin were shoulder-to-shoulder with each other.
While Lancer was wobbling slightly, uncomfortable with fighting in this close of a proximity, Assassin was fine with it. He is used to fighting closely like this. So while Lancer's attention was focused on the two clashing weapons, he didn't see Assassin throw a backhand at his his right cheek with his left hand. And it was a hard blow, too. Lancer went flying back, soaring over several steps. He hit a large square of stone dozens of steps down on his back, his right cheek having a forming bruise on it.
Lancer groaning slightly, trying to regain himself, his vision blurred for a few seconds. His vision cleared just in time for him to see Assassin in the air over the spearman, katana gripped in both hands and positioned to stab down. Lancer, thinking fast, rolled to his right just in the nick of time. The tip of the katana dug into the stone, cracking the hard material around it.
In the moment Assassin's attack had left him frozen, which was less than half a second, Lancer got up onto his feet. His legs were bent, like he was squatting. He leaned his body, his own head aimed for Assassin's. He held his spear horizontally in his right hand, ready to stab. His legs quickly extended again like a pair of coiled springs, launching his body forward. His spear stabbed forward, going for Assassin's head.
Assassin though quickly and, to defend himself, held his left hand up and grabbed the tip of the spear head-on. The tip sliced through flesh. Assassin ignored the pain and used his skewered palm to redirect the spear. It was made to go past his head, the bloody tip grazing the samurai's left ear. The entire tip had gone through Kojirou's hand and now the beginning of the crimson shaft was in it.
"What?!" Lancer exclaimed, his red eyes widened in surprise. Assassin grinned and, with his right hand on the handle, ripped his katana out of the ground. Before Lancer could react fast enough to let go of his spear and fall back, the blade of the katana entered him under his ribs.
"Gh!" Lancer grunted through clenched teeth. A metallic taste was filling his mouth and small trickles of red liquid seeped out from the small gap in between the divide between his two rows of teeth. Then Assassin tensed the hand wrapped around the handle of his weapon like he was about to do something else to harm the other Servant. Before Lancer could find out what that would be, he jumped back, ripping himself free from the katana while pulling his own spear out of Assassin's hand. When the weapons were freed from flesh, each blade pulled out blood from either wound. The liquid flew through the air in an arc.
Kojirou was no longer smiling. But he still looked calm. He had let his injured hand go limp at his side, blood rapidly dripping from the tips of his fingers. "You're quick enough when it comes to retreating."
Lancer grinned, showing both rows of teeth. "Heh, the fun's only startin'!"
Assassin's smile returned. "Oh? So you have other tricks up you're sleeve?"
"You'll just hafta find out the hard way!"
Away from the fighting, atop a building in town, Archer smirked.
"Good, Lancer. You have Assassin completely distracted."
[End OST]
He projected a sword into his outstretched right hand. When he put it in the black bow he held in his left hand like an arrow, he pulled it back and the weapon thinned into one. He released the tight string and the "arrow" went flying through the air, towards the two fighting Servants.
At the same time, a headache made Akiko double over and clutch the sides of her head in pain. Rin took a step toward her, arm outreached, before pulling it back. She remembered Akiko telling everyone she suffers from chronic headaches.
A vision went through Akiko's mind. Lancer and Assassin jumped back after clashing weapons yet again. A single arrow turning into dozens of arrows flew through the air at them. When Archer fired that arrow, Lancer knew it was coming to where he was. But he thought that the man would be aiming to only take out Assassin, so he didn't attempt to defend himself. He was wrong about the samurai being Archer's only target.
All except one went into Assassin. A single one impaled Lancer through the heart. Even with Lancer's Battle Continuation, even he would last only a little longer than any other Servant with a pierced spiritual core. Archer wanted to make it seem like Lancer's death is just an accident on his part. In reality, he just wanted to get rid of more of the competition. He wasn't counting on Akiko seeing the truth.
The headache vanished and Akiko's head shot up. Arrows glinted red in the sky before flying at the stairway. She may be too late, but Akiko had to at least try to warn Lancer of what was coming.
'Archer's gonna try to kill you! Dodge!'
'What?!'
"What?!"
That was Rin. She was staring at Akiko with shocked, wide eyes. The arrows vanished into the trees.
[Nightmare]
Lancer and Assassin had just jumped back away from each other, Assassin's back facing the temple gate and Lancer's facing the bottom of the stairs. He had just heard Akiko shout at him in his mind. He started turning to his right, eyes wide. "What?!" He was only halfway turned when the hail of red hit and blood flew from both Servants on the stairs.
"LANCER!" Akiko cried as the arrows vanished. She ran up the stairs to see what happened. Rin was mad at Archer. She grumbled at him, communicating to him.
"Get over here. Right. Now! If Lancer died because of you, you're in even bigger trouble than you're already in!"
Wind whipped at Akiko's face as she ran up the stairs as fast as she could. When she was about to the section where the Servants were, she saw blood running over the stone steps and dripping off the edge to the step below. She knew that most of it should be Assassin's blood. But how much of it was Lancer's? Did she manage to warn him in time?
When she reached where the Servants were fighting, Assassin's was back against the stairs, his body vanishing like the arrows that went into his chest already had. Blood was pouring out of the numerous wounds quickly. And Lancer...
Lancer was on his knees, gasping for air. The motion of him turning made his body shift slightly, changing the arrow's target. Unfortunately, its new target was his left lung. It felt like someone had stuck a white-hot metal ball into his chest. The arrow had already vanished along with Gae Bolg, allowing Lancer to put both of his hands over the wound to try and keep the air from escaping. His eyes were squeezed shut in pain and his teeth were grit. Scarlet dripped down his chin.
[End OST]
Akiko ran over to him, going down onto her knees. "Don't worry. I'm here. I won't let you die." Lancer only acknowledged her by opening his left eye slightly and looking at her. She placed her hands over his and tried to pull them away. Lancer wasn't making it easy. Akiko didn't blame him. Blood was just pouring out, so that was a way to try stemming it. But of course, while he was keeping his hands over the hole in his chest, the blood was free to go out the one in his back. Thus, trying to cover it wasn't helping. But it was instinct. He had to be in a lot of pain after all.
Akiko began using a healing spell on Lancer's chest. But the green glow from her palms was tiny. And it went out a second later. Rin was coming up the stairs, dragging Archer by the ear. Then she saw Lancer's wound and Akiko trying but failing to heal him. She let go of Archer and faced her own Servant.
"Keep an eye out for enemies while I help Hashimoto heal Lancer. And if you try that arrow thing again, I'll use a Command Seal to make you commit suicide!" She ran over to Lancer and went to her knees. "I'll help out in order to make up for your inability to do so right now!"
"Try healing his lung first!" Akiko told her.
Rin grit her teeth. "An organ like that was hit?! Damn you, Archer!" Rin covered the wound with both hands, green light coming from them. She directed the healing power to the punctured lung. While she was doing that, Akiko growled and glared at Archer.
"Why did you try to kill Lancer along with Assassin?!"
Archer faced her and narrowed his eyes. He crossed his arms. "How did you know that was what I was aiming to do?"
"Don't dodge the question!"
"We were going to be enemies again later. It would be better to kill a future enemy before then."
Akiko growled again. "But that's later. This is now! And right now, Lancer's your ally!"
Rin spoke up. "I'm sorry for what my Servant did, Hashimoto."
"Don't worry, I don't blame you!"
"But I'm also curious. How did you know that Archer was aiming to kill Lancer?"
Akiko started sweating. When this alliance was over, it would be good for Akiko if Rin didn't know about her power. "Um, lucky guess?"
Rin looked doubtful, but didn't ask more. She sighed. "I need to make sure this doesn't happen again." Her two Command Seals glowed. "By my Command Seal, Archer, as long as our alliance stands, you are forbidden from harming anyone in it!" The U under the upside-down U on the back of Rin's right hand faded after it flashed.
Archer smirked. "Not like I was gonna do something like this again."
Rin glared at him. "With you, it's better to be safe than sorry!"
Akiko glanced at Rin. "I'm surprised you're willing to help save the life of a Servant that isn't your own."
Rin looked back at her. "You two are allies. I don't think I need a reason to save one."
The two were silent for a bit. Then the light faded from Rin's hands and she stood up. By now, Lancer was awake. "However, since that Servant isn't mine. I'm not going to use too much of my mana on him. I only fixed his lung. I still need to save the rest for my own Servant as well as spells."
Lancer glanced at her. "So it's fine if I move now?"
Akiko shook her head. "Don't go trying to get up! You'll strain yourself too hard!"
"I'll be fine," Lancer insisted. He tried to stand up, but only made it on one knee before falling forward on his Master. His chest was against hers, his chin resting on her right shoulder.
"Take it easy! You've lost a good amount of mana!" Akiko said.
Lancer gave a hoarse chuckle. "I still have enough to live. And plus, we're almost to the ley line. Then ya won't hafta worry fer me, hopefully not fer a while."
With Assassin, Lancer even says in the anime of UBW, "Hell, I'd rather not fight him [Assassin] one-on-one."