Author's Notes:

Coming right along now… POVs are indicated throughout the chapter…

NNN

"You were expecting someone else?"

Saber was shocked beyond belief at the sight before her, and as Shiro and Archer lowered their weapons she did as well.

"How is this possible?" she questioned.

"I'm sure that Rin would love to tell you about it; however, it will have to wait," informed Archer, taking in the sight of the mana deprived servant before him and that of her poorly trained master, "Illyasviel, won't be far behind. I'm positive she caught sight of us along the way and will be figuring out our location soon."

"Archer's right," replied Rin, her brow furrowing, "We have no way of defeating her at the moment. I've healed Archer to the best of my abilities but there's no way he can go another round with Berserker," she hurried to clarify "at least not tonight anyway." Her eyes scanned Saber's form, "Saber's mana levels are pretty low and we don't have time to replenish them without the risk of Illyasviel finding us first," the magus continued to think out loud, "We'll carry her if we have to, it doesn't matter how we do it but we've got to get out of the Einzbern barrier and back to the city."

"I object to this—

"Save it, Saber," interrupted her master, "Tohsaka's right, if we're going to get out of here alive we've got to move the fastest way possible."

Rin faced her companions, "Thank you, Emiya. Does anyone else have any more objections?" she questioned searching each of their faces, "No? Then can we get going before Illyasviel moves in on us?"

NNN

(Rin's POV)

Archer, I'm counting on you to do your best to foresee any danger.

Of course, Rin.

I glance back to find Saber being carried in Shiro's arms, before continuing our telepathic conversation,

It's unfortunate that Shiro has no way of restoring Saber's mana. So we're just going to have to make up for it somehow. I'm not used to running away Archer…so I really hate to have to say this but if we don't get out of these woods soon, we're probably dead. If given time I can, with Shiro's help, restore Saber's mana and we can use the advantage of having two servants working together against Berserker.

I understand what you are saying and although I agree it doesn't mean that I have to like it.

My servant is always completely honest with his feelings; I guess I admire that most about him. His scowl doesn't go unnoticed either as we hurry, seeing the rising sun start to cast shadows over the landscape.

I merely ask for your support, Archer.

I can assure you, Rin, that my support you will have throughout the duration of our alliance with them.

NNN

I'm not really sure how we made it out of the Einzbern forest. In fact I honestly can't recall a great deal from the time we left the abandoned house on the grounds until I found myself back at the mansion. What I do remember is telling Archer that I needed his support, thinking of Saber's poor condition and Shiro's vulnerability as we ran toward the city.

I sip my tea and a smile appears on my face, "This is wonderful tea, Archer," I compliment my servant, who currently occupies the cushion at the opposite end of the couch, "you really do have a knack for making tea."

"It's the least I could do," he informs me in a frustrated tone, "After all; you were hurt due to my inability to counter Berserker in time."

I let out a sigh and place the saucer with my tea cup gently on the coffee table before us. "Archer, I can recall that we had decided to clear a path for Shiro and Saber."

'Archer, we've got to somehow allow for Saber and Shiro to escape. I know it goes against the first rule of being a magus in this war, but when we win, I want to be able to say that we won because of my abilities as a magus and your abilities as a servant. Do you understand?'

'I understand, but I thought you had decided that we couldn't go another round with Berserker?'

'Yes…that's true, but I've got an idea.'

"The last thing that I remember is that we managed to distract Illyasviel and Berserker long enough for Shiro to get away with Saber and then I attacked Berserker before waking up here at the mansion," I inform with a sigh of disappointment at my own inability to have been more effective.

NNN

(Archer POV)

"Shiro, you need to get out of here now!"

My master's voice is absolute, and looking at Saber's appearance I can tell that one round with Berserker would be her last. Saving this kid isn't what I want to do, but when Rin gets something into her mind there's no convincing her otherwise.

"Rin, there's no way that you can—

"The more time you waste arguing with me, the closer Illyasviel gets. Now do as I say. Archer and I can handle this."

I can't help but smirk, she seems so confident in our abilities. She even adds, "We'll take another one of his lives and then meet you back at the house," with an accompanying wink. Stupid kid rubs me the wrong way and after what seems like an eternity I can make out his fleeting form carrying Saber disappearing into the woods…

Illyasviel and Berserker were on us before I even had time to react. Rin had concealed herself in one of the tree tops above, watching the scene play out as Illyasviel proceeded to tell me of the fun she was going to have with me before going after the stupid kid and his servant.

"So you allowed for Rin to go on ahead?" questioned Illyasviel with an angelic smile, "That was noble of you, repaying her for prolonging your life? I'm sorry to say that it wasn't for very long for once Berserker's done with you; he'll find Rin and the others and kill them all. If you'd like, you can surrender now and I'll make your death as painless as possible."

"Not interested," I remark as something flickers within my mind from my earlier battle with Berserker. I had informed her that she never did have any mercy…how careless of me, but then I did believe that I was going to disappear from this world.

"Very well then," replies Illyasviel with a sigh as if disappointed by my decision, then her smile reappears, "Kill him Berserker!"

I know that Rin is watching from concealment high above the fight. She is merely waiting for the opportune moment in our battle to intervene as I parry Berserker's blows. Then I hear her voice.

"Archer! Out of the way!"

My master leaps from her hiding place above, the sunlight blinding to the eye as I hear her chant a spell unknown to me before throwing a handful of gems toward Berserker. He is able to block all but one and as the spell takes effect ice engulfs the arm holding his weapon. However, before I am quick enough to attack, his other massive hand reaches out, ensnaring my master's waist. Rin has a look of alarm but it quickly passes as her mind rapidly wraps itself around the situation.

"I had a feeling that this might happen," she informs with a look of confidence, holding up four gems in between the fingers of her hand, " Gotcha!" she exclaims and as she throws the gems I watch them detonate while Berserker falls backwards his head and neck engulfed in smoke from the explosion.

I'd like to think that I didn't stand there gaping at my master like some love struck fool but if I had to say that I was impressed by Rin's quick wit, it wouldn't have been an understatement.

Rin let out of a sigh of relief, "Got him Archer," she informed, starting to free herself from Berserker's grasp, yet her eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before her, "It can't be. No way, that's impossible. Those gems should have blown his head clean off!"

Illyasviel's voice enters my ears, "I have to change my opinion of you Rin. I can't believe that you managed to take one of Berserker's lives. But he's still got seven left," she remarks, her eyes narrowing, "Now Berserker, kill her! Crush her!"

"Rin!" I exclaim, watching as the creature's grip tightens around my master's form without any mercy, "Rin, hold on!"

I quickly envision two long blades, one in each hand, they appear as I run toward Berserker, and my master's gasps are pained as she struggles against his grasp.

"Archer?" Rin's voice breaks through my reverie. Her blue eyes look genuinely concerned, "Where'd you go?" she questions with a smile playing on her lips.

"I was merely thinking about our encounter is all," I admit, for it is the truth, "I am wondering how long it will be before Illyasviel attacks us once more."

She holds her saucer and tea cup in her hands, her eyes narrowing in thought, "That all depends on how much she wants to kill us. With Saber on the mend now—

"I do not believe that you should have made them your first priority. You possibly could have tended to your own wounds first," I offhandedly comment, making it known that I disapprove of her earlier actions.

"And I already told you," she retaliates, "that other than a few bruised ribs, I've practically patched myself up," eyelids close over blue eyes as she takes a sip of her tea, "besides, I never was really in any danger because I have such a wonderful servant."

"Your sarcasm is not appreciated," I indicate watching as a smile appears on her lips and she slowly opens her eyes.

"Who said I was being sarcastic?"

Rin's remarks at times—I will admit—do tend to throw me off. One minute she's cold and calculating, the next endearing…it can be downright creepy, but I suppose if you live with her long enough you could get used to it. Hell, you might even find yourself getting to like her personality; note I said might.

"I just think that it was a risk going to assist them so soon after this morning's events," I observed, taking this opportunity to sample my own prepared tea.

"Saber will be another few days to recover and in the meantime I've placed a strong barrier around the premises," she's back to that calculating tone and her expression has changed, "If you've ever heard of the saying, keeping your eggs in one basket, then that's exactly what we're going to avoid. Illyasviel is strong but even she cannot get a servant into the Emiya residence undetected, and I don't believe that she would be so bold as to directly attack them within the city complex. That leaves her attention focused on us; we'll stay at the mansion from now on, after all, if I've learned anything about Illyasviel it's that she has an ego and hates to lose. We've already taken five of Berserker's lives, which I'm sure has hurt that fragile ego of hers. We'll need Saber and Shiro to assist us with the remainder of Berserker's lives, until then, we will want to start looking for other possible masters. There's still Lancer, who we've met but his master is unknown. And the rumors at Ryuudouji Temple, Saber confirmed that there was an Assassin there. That means that two masters are within this city and we need to uncover them before they find us."

"What would you like to do, Rin?" I ask, not because I'm curious, but because it isn't in Rin's personality to sit back and let someone come to her.

"I can go to Kirei and see if he knows anything or…"

I smirk because of the way her eyes reflect her motives, "Or?" I question to humor myself more than her.

"Or we can go to Ryuudouji Temple right now."

NNN

(Rin POV)

As I walk toward the temple I can't help but think back to this morning…

"Good morning master."

My servant's voice enters my ears and as my eyes start to focus I discover that the ceiling appears to be moving and that my head feels as though it were in a vice grip. Disoriented I turn my head toward the voice and my eyes widen in alarm. There slouched against the wall is my Archer, crimson the color of his jacket streaming from several wounds in his body. I sit up on impulse, but the action is too quick and I can feel a wave of nausea course through my body; however, I move past it, pushing the covers away and getting out of bed. My actions are slowed as I wince, I can already tell that my ribs have fractures within them.

"Archer, how?" I must sound like an idiot, a dazed and stupid little girl as I crawl before him on the floor.

"Berserker," he states as a matter of fact, one knee propped up, the other flat along the floor, his head tilted back as a trail of crimson spreads from a wound near his temple. He must be able to tell that I need a little more information for he continues, "You lost consciousness after Illyasviel ordered Berserker to crush you and I fought him to the best of my current abilities to free you."

"You got us out of there alive," I am grateful to him and I can tell at what price it must have been by the number of crimson pools on the carpeted floor, "Thank you. I'll heal your wounds now."

He holds up his hand in protest, "Heal your wounds first master, I'll be alright for a while longer."

Shiro and Saber's recovery process may be slower than I had wished to believe due to the fact that Saber was completely drained of mana and Shiro possesses very little knowledge as well as very few magus abilities.

Archer, I begin, knowing that he is by my side in his astral state as I continue down the road that will lead to the Ryuudouji Temple, I've been thinking more about the appearance of Lancer and the increase of missing girls. I believe that Shinji Mato, Rider's Master, was solely responsible for the missing teens; however, that still doesn't explain all of the cases of people who have been drained of their mana. Do you think there is a connection between Lancer and these cases?

That is a possibility. However it could be that yet another master has entered this war, waiting until his servant has obtained an enormous boost of power to attack.

That's an excellent theory, Archer. That's why we're going to Ryuudouji Temple to see if we can find Assassin's master; at least if we know who our opponent is, it may give us the upper hand.

There's still plenty of daylight left allowing us to get to the temple, make an investigation and be home before nightfall. Avoiding Illyasviel will be our top priority for the moment and I don't feel confident enough to take on another servant tonight.

The steps of Ryuudouji Temple come into view and I can see the form of Issei Ryudo as he sweeps the steps. One look in my direction and the sweeping stops, his face appears panicked and his body seems to start and stop as if he's debating on whether to flee from the scene as I start climbing the steps.

Here goes nothing, Archer…

I give Issei my best smile and watch as he crosses himself chanting something that may resemble that of a protection spell. I try not to take it personally…