Author's Note:

This is a super short "intermission" so to speak to tie up last chapter's ending. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to post an update before I went on vacation. I do hope that you will be appeased with this small update.

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(Rin's POV)

I can't think straight; an overwhelming sense of pain overtook my body upon impact with the cement floor. I only had a moment to react; roll to my side, and off the alter as Archer's blades struck the unoccupied stone causing it to shatter. My body feels broken from earlier and newly formed injuries.

Caster's mocking tone enters my ears, "Oh? It would appear that you still have some life in you mage. That will make it all the more pleasurable for me to watch you die."

Losing her master has changed her opinion of how she wishes to kill me. Yet I don't have a moment further to process the idea before Archer grabs me by the collar of my dress and hoists me up off the floor. I struggle, yet it's futile, for in my weakened state I can't even muster enough strength to fight his grip. I search his eyes, silently pleading with him…yet there's no sense of acknowledgement.

Caster sounds nonchalant; I can hear her footsteps echoing off the cement as she appears to be pacing. "Archer, prolong her death. I wish for her to suffer by your hand as much as I have."

The next blow nearly does me in. My back lands against the stone wall with an unnatural sound escaping my body. I fight with losing consciousness. The effect has allowed for more bones to break and I have to close my left eye while blood seeps from the newly created head wound. My breathing is labored, I can no longer will my mind to control my body and as my former servant stops to stand before me I truly comprehend death.

I close my right eye; I don't want to see the end of my life. I don't wish to look upon Archer's face as he deals the final blow or the series of blows (if Caster gets her wish and I survive long enough to satisfy her). My father's image appears in my mind's eye and I can feel myself falling into ease. Is this what it feels like to die alone, father? Did you think of mother and me?

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Distant cries alert me that I have been unaware for some time. My right eye opens to find a force, with great spiritual pressure pushing back its adversary. I blink, trying to focus, yet it only appears to be two distinct colors: blue and red, combating one another. There's an exchange of words…

"You bastard! You gave me your word!"

"The word of someone who lacks pride is hardly one to put your faith in."

"Tch…are you so weak willed that you would allow for that witch to control you?"

The sound of metal deflecting metal rings out as my vision clears.

"La-Lancer?" I quickly come to terms with the situation. His back is to me, his footing is stable and he's shielding me from Archer's attack.

"Ah, finally awake, sleeping beauty?" He questions, pushing Archer back and watching as his opponent staggers.

"What are you—

Lancer cuts me off in mid-sentence and seriously states, "Save your strength."

An onslaught of blades ends our conversation; Lancer counters numerous fatal blows with a speed that I can hardly follow. I try to move, but I can feel the effects of the broken bones now that I am fully awake the pain makes itself known. I'm left to uselessly watch as the two servants go head to head in a battle of skill; yet it would appear that while Archer's blows are meant to be fatal, Lancer appears to be making every attempt to spare my former servant's life.

Archer's familiar words enter my ears and cause my eyes to widen in alarm, "I am the bone of my sword…"

And I know that we are running out of time.

"Lancer, we need to—

Lancer turns his attention for a fraction of a second; I see the blade, the attack, how it will all play out and will myself with the last of my strength, "No!"

I don't want to be alone!

"Yo?"

I open my eye and blink to find Lancer leaning before me with a toothy grin. "Neat trick, but in your condition I'm not sure how long it'll last."

I look past him to grasp the meaning of his words. Surrounding us is a barrier currently withstanding an angry barrage of swords raining down upon it. I must be in shock as Lancer gently lifts me into his arms, for I wince and my breathing becomes more ragged from the pain.

"I know sweetheart," Lancer whispers and I'm not sure if I have tears falling from the pain or from the look of intent on Archer's face, "That bastard hurt you pretty good, didn't he?"

Archer's look appears to be penetrating the barrier between us; the look of a trained assassin. I hear the barrier start to crack under the weight of the swords and bow my head, my hair falling to shield my face from view as Lancer disappears with me in his arms.

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(Archer's POV)

I lean against the stone wall with an arrogant air about me.

"You failed me, Archer."

I smirk, "Perhaps if you had been able to keep Lancer occupied longer with your puppets, he would not have been able to interfere. Besides, if you hadn't wanted for me to prolong her death, Tohsaka Rin would have been killed before Lancer's arrival."

"Oh…you speak so coldly about that girl, your former master," informs Caster with a smirk of her own, "Did you not once swear your loyalty to her?"

"I care not about the fate of a former master. I can easily obtain my goal without that hindrance."

"My, you are a cold man," she remarks, polishing a blade in her hand with a calculating expression, "Yet, now that she is under the protection of another servant it will make it harder to have my revenge."

"I wouldn't spend too much time on Tohsaka Rin. I would set your sights on Saber and her master," I offer.

"You have a splendid point."

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(Rin's POV)

I sit on the sofa and gaze out the window of the study. Rain leaves streaks of water on the glass and the sky alights as the lightning makes its presence known. I hardly notice when Lancer reappears at my side, having been so caught up in my thoughts.

He crouches before me and I can see concern in his eyes; I suppose it's more like sympathy really.

"I've permission from my master to stay with you until you've regained enough mana to heal yourself," he explains the current situation.

"Your master must either be quite kind or merely humoring me since I am no longer a master?"

"Nah, he's an ass either way," informs Lancer before dabbing a cloth into a basin of water and bringing the cool cloth to the wound on my head.

I wince in response, yet am grateful. "Thank you, Lancer." I realize that I haven't uttered those words. "Thank you for saving Sakura and then for saving me."

There's no sense in admitting that my careless actions resulted in the loss of my servant for it won't change anything.

"When you're well, I'll be sure to come up with a reasonable payment method," he responds and his grin at his own joke causes me to smile.

"You know Lancer," I softly state, "I really like people like you."

His grin widens as he rinses the bloodied cloth into the basin, "Then I shall definitely be considering payment."

I should probably be nervous; however, something about his demeanor makes me feel at ease. How peculiar that this servant, my once sworn enemy, is now the only one keeping me alive.

I sit patiently and observe his expression as he dabs away the blood from my face and gently tucks my hair behind my ear.

"You must have been quite the ladies man," I remark offhandedly having noticed that he seems well at ease with women.

"I may have had a woman or two in my day," Lancer comments with a smirk.

"Or three or four," I add to his confession with a casual tone.

"Alright little girl," he sounds offended and apparently deeming me a success or a lost cause for tonight scoops me up in his arms. "Honestly," he sighs, with regret laced in his voice, "if only you were older."

I shake my head in mock sympathy as he carries me up the stairs. "How noble of you."

"Yes, it is hard being with such a wonderful woman."

Our banter makes me sad. I have tried not to think of Archer since I arrived home. Getting used to having him around was a mistake. Didn't I warn myself early on not to get attached? Now I'm left with the realization that as a mage, I failed.

Lancer carefully sets me on my bed. "We'll figure it out tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" His voice has broken through my thoughts.

"You need to regain your mana and heal yourself before you're ready to reclaim that bastard as your servant."

I must be staring at him as though he has two heads for he chuckles. "Caster needs to be defeated. As a mage you can rival her magical capabilities," he informs me with a shrug to follow, "Once we kill her, you can form a pact with Archer once more and I can take on that bastard once and for all."

I come to my senses and give him a quizzical look, "And you're going to wait until he's my servant again? And your master is going to sit back and allow for this to happen?"

Lancer waves off my disbelief, "He's less of a bastard when he's your servant, and you let me handle that asshole of a master of mine. Besides, how can I leave such a wonderful woman alone?"

I sigh in defeat and lay down on my bed. It's uncomfortable and I'll need to cast a spell using some of my stored energy in several of my jewels, but for now I'll live as long as Lancer's here that is.

"Caster will try to attack me while I'm weakened. She'll know that my mana protects the mansion's grounds."

Lancer occupies the chair in the corner; the one that Archer used to keep watch in. He leans back, head bowed and arms crossed.

"That is if she doesn't target Saber or me first. Remember you still have that alliance with Saber and her master."

The room lights momentarily from the lightning and casts an eerie glow on Lancer's solemn face.

"I hate to think what you're ongoing services are going to cost me."

He smirks in the dimly lit room, "Maybe I'll just take you as my master."

I close my eyes and half heartedly reply, "Yeah that could work. At least I'm not an asshole."

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Sorry it was short. Please review and I will start the next chapter this week.