As much as I love little moments like these, I really dont think that this fits the mode. Still, I thought it might be bad to pass up, and transitions help with the flow of the story... and I'm a sucker for how well this played out XP.

Off-shots are unnecessary chapters that dont necessarily contribute to the story.

Pretend it isn't here, unless your looking for a moment with Lancer. The real deal will be up either tomorrow or the day after.

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Archer set himself between Berserker and me the moment the doctor's eyes faded to normal. He looked so… down-trodden, so depressed, as Lancer led me away, a gentle, guiding hand on my shoulder. I look up at him and see a vague, disappointed look in earnest, and instantly I feel like a child who earned a proper scolding.

"He wasn't doing anything."

"The situation said otherwise."

"He was just explaining stuff to me."

Lancer rubs his eyes with his free hand. "Miss Hashimoto, you are tied to the Holy Grail. We do not understand the situation we are in, but we cannot allow a menace like that to bring harm upon you. No, let me take that back." He stops walking and holds me by both shoulders. "As a knight, I cannot allow you to fall into harm's way. You are innocent of whatever crimes we as individuals have brought forth to this realm. You are not to blame for the world around us, yet you are a part of the situation. It is our duty to protect you, now that you are involved. Do you understand why that husk of a man makes me worried?"

"Yeah, but he's not-"

"I don't know what that thing is," Diarmuid turns over his shoulder to eye the man still sitting on the ground. His orange eyes dance in the fading light. "I do not know what that beast is and is not. All I do know is that we have yet to trust him."

"I trust him."

"Why do you say that?" He turns back to face me; he looks just as frustrated as he does worried. "What could compel you to say that?"

"It's the same reason I can trust you. He doesn't want to hurt me, he wants to find a way to… to end whatever the hell is happening here. Isn't that enough?"

We stand in silence. I can hear Archer murmuring with Berserker.

"Lancer. Lancer… is that what you prefer to be called? Archer calls you that. Can I ask you something?" His beautiful face softens and turns slightly. "You may address me in any way you see fit. What is on your mind?"

For some stupid reason, I can't look him in the eyes. "Why… why am I a part of this? Because I recited some stupid… spell?"

Lancer watches me quietly. My ears burn in embarrassment – he must think I'm nothing more than a toddler, the way he looks at me.

"I do not know what put your brother in this situation. Perhaps it was the idea of obligation to his fellow man. Perhaps he simply wanted to summon the Holy Grail for himself. Whatever happened to him… happened." Diarmuid Ua Duibhne softly cups my chin; the instant he touches me, I'm overwhelmed with the flaming desire to be held by him.

He quickly pulls his hand away, looking back at Archer and Berserker. "I was made aware of your brother the instant every fellow Servant was, yet I was too far to act on any ideal of my own. If I had been in closer range, I may have been able to combat your brother's fate. Fate has a mysterious way of managing the life on this planet. Perhaps everything simply happens on its own uncalled-for accord. Perhaps every action is a part of a larger act of a silent god. Whatever the case, we are here today - is that not compelling enough to walk forward?"

"Takao died doing the same thing I did, yet I'm here and he's not." I growl desperately, unable to control my thoughts. Why am I even talking to him? He's a legend, living and breathing! I have no right to be here!

"The moment you attached yourself to the Holy Grail, every servant was made aware of your presence. You make for quite the Master, young miss Hashimoto. You are here because some of us are kindred in spirit and seek to protect our ideals." He watches Archer apprehensively. "Some of us, so it would seem, carry chivalry close."

"I'm not a Master! I'd be one hell of a sad excuse of a Master!"

"Why is that?" He looks up, leans over so his face is closer to mine, and points to the newborn stars in bleak night. I can feel his breath on my skin. "Do you see those… things? In my time, they were but guidelines filled with fables. Today, man plans to explore the heavens and beyond."

"Wait, how do you know that?"

"Every servant is made aware of the present time once they materialize." He smiles at me. "It has not been long since I was here last in this day and age, but I still marvel at the progression around me. Those stars once were the only tools man had to explore the darkness – today, you have an infinite array of weaponry to explore and conquer the world, yet the stars still remain." I look at him; there's a faint, fatherly gleam in his eyes. "And as they once led mankind, they now simply brighten up the fearless wandering in the dark. Leaders come in all forms, Miss Hashimoto, just as Masters do." He catches me staring at him and draws back, a wicked, beautiful smile prying at the corners of his lips.

"Masters are mages," I try again, "Masters at least know what they're doing. Hell, they even sign up for the Holy Grail, willingly!"

"And did one force you to explore the contents of that novel? Did you act out of another's accord, and not your own?"

"… well, no. Bu-"

"But nothing. You, Miss Hashimoto, are just as qualified to be here as the rest of us. We thus have every reason to protect you.

I could have stayed like that forever, just staring at the stars beside that wonderful man.

Its cold outside when you're alone.