Kiritsugu Emiya and Kirei Kotomine stood before each other, weapons in hand, then intent to kill prominent in both their faces.
The Holy Grail had led them both here, and now it was time to see who was the better mage, and more deserving of the Grail.
Saber faced Gilgamesh, blade in hand.
"You could end this here and lay down your blade," Archer suggested. "Why not denounce your master, and become my queen?"
"That would stain my honor, even if I did wish so." Saber gripped Excalibur with a harder grip.
She took one step forward, and the fight began.
Kirei delivered a slice down, only for Kiritsugu to dodge it, and send a good five shots at Kirei.
Kirei managed to stop four of the bullet, only for the fifth to tear through his right arm. His arm began to heal faster than he was bleeding.
Kiritsugu took account of this.
Saber charged forward, blade in hand.
Gilgamesh sighed, and lifted his hand. Five blades came into existence. The blades launched at Saber. She dodged the first one, a spear, only for a sword to his Excalibur, knocking her balance slightly off, leading the next two to miss, but the fifth, caught her in her left thigh.
She let out a scream of pain as blood began to ooze out.
"Yes, scream. Learn the place of someone who would claim to usurp me." Gilgamesh showed no smile. He held a cool look, keeping a close eye on Saber.
Saber stood, and took the blade out of her thigh. Instantly, the wound began to heal, meaning Kiritsugu's mana was still sustaining her. That was good.
Kiritsugu felt a slight tug in his guy, meaning Saber was using some of his mana. Better that than her dying.
He ignored it, focusing on his foe before his eyes.
The two charged at each other again.
Up close, Kirei went for Kiritsugu's throat. He blocked it with his M950. The gun geld up to the blow, meaning Kirei had not expected the gun's strength.
Kiritsugu took his chance, and fired an Origin Bullet at Kirei.
Kirei blocked the shot with his right arm, and jumped back.
Kiritsgug reloaded his gun while he jumped back.
Kotomine looked at his arm, noticing it didn't heal. He tried to clench his fist, only for his arm not to respond.
He turned his eyes back to Kiritsugu.
Both charged at each other again.
Saber deflected another blade as she made another attempt to get close to Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh jumped out of the way as Saber got close.
"Impressive Saber," he said, jokingly. "Its a shame some of those mongrels couldn't entertain me as much as you."
"Your arrogance will be your downfall King of Heroes," she said, annoyance showing her voice. She could not let him get into her head like this.
He just laughed at little bit.
Saber charged forward again, and fell right into Gilgamesh's trap. Just a few feet away from him, her arms and legs were caught by what appeared to be golden chains.
"The Chains of Heaven," Gilgamesh said with a laugh. "Be glad that it took these to stop you."
Right when he finished saying that, one gun shot broke though the silence.
Gilgamesh looked down at his chest as blood began to spill out.
The chains loosened around Saber's limbs and let her go.
She stood up, turning, and saw her Master, gun in hand. He had a gash on his forehead that was still bleeding, but it seemed to be the least of his concerns.
Gilgamesh looked like he was about to summon another weapon, only for Kiritsugu to fire another shot.
"Saber, use Excalibur now, before he gets control of his Nobel Phantasm."
Saber nodded. She raised her blade, releasing the mist that hid it.
"Ex-" she began.
"I am the kind of this world! I will not let a-"
A bullet to his head shut him up, and allowed Saber to use her Noble Phantasm.
"-calibur!"
She let lose her Nobel Phantasm, which engulfed Gilgamesh.
"We did it," Saber said, triumphantly.
Kiritsugu looked unsure.
"What is it?" Saber asked.
"The Grail can only grant one wish Saber," he said. "And only a master can use its power."
Silence fell between them.
"Look me in the eyes," she replied.
Kiritsugu looked her in the eyes.
"Tell the truth."
Kiritsugu sighed. "When the Grail talked to me, it told me everything, including who could make the wish."
"Your not lieing?" she asked.
"Why would I lie to you at this point?" he asked.
She looked into his eyes, and was forced to accept what he was saying.
She nodded. "I see. Then what do you plan to do?"
"Make sure my daughter will never suffer the same fate," he replied, taking the Grail.
Standing before the gate to the castle, Kiritsugu.
Jubstacheit von Einzbern was waiting there for him.
"Kiritsugu Emiya, may I be the first to welcome you back. I know it has been a long journey, but i must see what you have brought before I allow you in."
Kiritsugu nodded, and threw his bag to one of the homunculi servants. She nodded, and handed it to Jubstacheit.
He opened the bag, and pulled out the Grail.
His expression went darker in a matter of seconds. "Why do I sence no magic from it?" he asked.
"Because I have made my wish," Kiritsugu replied.
"That doesn't explain why i feel no magic."
Kiritsugu nodded. "Have you been to the pools recently?"
His skin went paler.
They all went to the pools.
The room, normally illuminated by the waters, was now dark, and forced them to light multiple torches.
The pools were empty, scoured clean. No water was even there. All the mana that once lingered, had left.
Jubstacheit von Einzbern fell to his knees. "What happened?"
Kiritsugu lit a cigarette. "Do you want to know my wish?"
He turned his head to Kiritsugu. "What have you done?"
"I have saved my daughter from her mother's fate." He turned to the head of the Einzbern family. "No matter how hard you try, no matter how much you kill or study, The Lesser Grail will never exist in this world, ever again."
He stood up, barely holding back his anger. "What have you done?!"
"The Lesser Grail," Kiritsugu repeated," is gone. The Holy Grail on the other hand, still exists."
Jubstacheit calmed down. "Where is it?"
He put out his cigarette. "Not here, but it still exists. And it will show itself again in the future."
Kiritsugu stood tall, and turned toward his daughter's room. "If you will excuse me, I have a daughter to see."
"How can you be so sure?" he asked.
Kiritsugu raised a hand, showing off his remaining two command seals.
"Daddy!" Illya screamed as she ran into his arms.
"Its good to see you again Illya," Kiritsugu said, embracing his daughter.
Illya stood there in his arms for a minute before she broke free and looked him the eyes.
"Wheres mommy?" she asked, knowing the answer.
Kiritsugu sighed. "She isn't with us anymore Illya."
Illya's remaining smile vanished as tears began to form. She knew as much was bound to happen, but she didn't want to admit it.
Kiritsugu's eyes also began to tear up, and Kiritsugu began to cry for the first time in a long time as all the events finally began to weigh down on him.
"I'm going to moveing to Japan with Illya," Kiritsugu told Jubstacheit.
He stood at the alter where Kiritsugu had summoned Saber. "Under whose authority?"
"My own," he replied.
Jubstacheit only sighed. "You have cost our family generations of study and research Emiya."
"But I have opened you back up to the world," he said, lighting a cigarette. "Alchemy is fine and all, but it will only hinder you if you don't study other magics."
"But the Third Magic-"
"Will only hold you back," Kiritsugu replied. "Its better to not know whats coming. at least it is for me."
He stood tall. "Fate is not set in stone. And knowing what is to come, can only lead to bad out comes."
"How?" Jubstacheit asked.
"Because people may try to change that fate. Or accept it, which may very well be worse."
Jubstacheit looked into Kiritsugu's eyes. "You saw what was to come."
Kiritsugu nodded. "And I changed it, and everything." He turned. "Illya has no reason to stay now since the Lesser grail is dead. You'll know where to find me."
Jubstacheit von Einzbern allowed Kiritsugu Emiya and his daughter, Illyasveil von Einzbern, to leave for Fuyuki, Japan.
He allowed it considering the fact that Kiritsugu was still capable of summoning Saber. Kiritsugu also offered a good point, it made no reason for her to stay since the Lesser Grail had been wished out of existence.
Jubstacheit should have been mad, but what he felt was joy. Kiritsugu Emiya had made it so Jubstacheit had to aim for the Grail, and so he couldn't take an easy way out. And this made him laugh.
It had been near two years since Kiritsugu and Illya had moved to Japan. Kiritsugu opened the door.
"Ahh, mister Emiya," the woman waiting for him greeted.
Kiritsugu looked to the child who was sitting in the third chair. His red hair was very messy.
"Shirou right?" he asked.
The boy looked up and nodded. His eyes were blood-shot.
"Please forgive his silence.," the woman replied. "He hasn't said anything since the accident."
Kiritsugu nodded, and walked up to the child. He keeled down.
Shirou turned his head away, and closed his eyes.
"Hey there," Kiritsugu said, putting a hand on the child's arm. Shirou looked up. "You don't have to hold all that sadness in."
Shirou kept his eyes closed, but tears were starting to leak their way out.
Kiritsugu wrapped his arms around him. "Its alright. You don't have to be strong all the time."
Shirou started to cry harder.
"I'm home," Kiritsugu said, opening the door.
"Daddy!" Illya shouted, running up to him.
Kiritsugu picked her up and gave her a big hug. "Its good to be back." He put her down. "Now, let me go ahead and introduce you to someone."
Illya looked behind Kiritsugu.
A boy with red hair was standing there. He looked around the same age as her.
Illya looked closely at him and smiled. "My name is Illya!" she said cheerily. She held out her hand.
Shirou looked at closely and nodded. "Shirou." He took her hand.
Kiritsugu nodded. "Shirou is going to be living with us from now on. I'd like for you to treat him like you would a brother."
Illya nodded. "Sure!"