In Spite of War.

By LookinForLuk

Chapter 1 – The Decision

The Holy Grail War wasn't really a war, though I guess Holy Grail Battle royal, or Holy Grail Contest, didn't really have that ring to it. I mean sure in the end the casualties numbers almost a thousand, and magic beyond most mortal understanding and imagination was casted. Perhaps it was the pride of Mages pride wounded by the fact that their mundane counterparts truly knew war.

They fought with millions, and in the millions were the casualties. Weapons so powerful were brought to bear by the mundane, weapons with such firepower that only those who have transcended simple mage craft and descended into sorcery had any hope to match.

So to call a tournament in the town of Fuyuki a war was as stupid as calling the petty feud between two arrogant teenagers a war though some who have watched a shouting match between Tohsaka Rin and Luviagelita Edelfelt would disagree with that statement.

Shirou tended to call it a disaster waiting to happen. Though he regretted saying it out loud once during lunch which definitely didn't earn him any points to the already irritable Tohsaka heiress who already had an earlier spat which the blonde noblewoman.

To his credit he was right as it was exactly the result of one of their spats that landed him in his current predicament. It seemed no amount of years on the battlefield and facing creatures beyond the imagination could prepare you when an Edelfelt and Tohsaka go to town on each other.

~1~

In the past years he had travelled to the Middle East, Africa and eventually even his own home region became a battlefield as Asia-Pacific relations finally reached critical mass. He had seen mighty convoys of military grade steel travel across deserts littered with explosives. The cruelty of ambitious warlords and mighty armada's with their great cannons roar in anger as they approached the enemy.

However nothing ever quite prepared him for the scene he saw in front of him.

The sight of a thousand men clash, not in guns or explosives, but in armour and steel as they charged at each other determined to end each other's lives with their own hands. Blood flew as limbs, torso and head were subjected to barbaric acts before being trampled on as men behind took the positions of the deceased.

This was the most primitive definition of war, the truest definition. One without grandeur or glory, but of blood and tragedy…It was sick.

"Do you not like the sight in front of you?"

"Who could enjoy this?!" He seethed.

The man had talked earlier behind him did not flinch at his tone, he merely sat relaxed in his seat while his little sister clung to his sleeve, she unlike her brother was quiet distraught.

"Why? Do you not believe in the songs and tales of bards and musicians, of the praise and glories they sing? Do they not cry of the beauty of the battlefield and the romance of the battle?"

Shirou tried to protest to call them all fools yet could say nothing at all, after all wasn't he just the same? Hadn't he admired the tales of heroes as they clashed with evil and rivals? Hadn't Saber or his father shed blood for the greater good and as such had tales of their deeds made known across the world?

Yet wasn't that hypocrisy the basis of his ideals? He was a fool who fought for others but refused for others to fight for himself, who would fight till he breaks knowing he would never let the opposite occur.

"You said you wished to see peace and to save people in Japan. While admirable we both know such an act is futile, after all for every life you save another hundred are slain elsewhere.

Shirou could not deny that, to save everyone was a miracle not even the Holy Grail could grant.

"Then how do I make the war stop?" It was a desperate question, one born of hopelessness as he stared at the battlefield before him.

"End the war."

This was not the voice of a tired man sitting next to his sister, no now it was the voice of Oda Nobunaga, the warlord who in another world, in another life would make his name feared across Japan.

"End it as quickly and ruthlessly as possible, remove all borders and unify Japan under one banner. Then and only then shall Japan see peace. "

Shrou could only look agape at him as Nobunaga raised his arm, and almost immediately the marching of almost two hundred mobilizing troops could be heard.

"End this battle, and gain the respect of my army. Then Oda is yours Shirou Emiya." He had to stop as he started coughing.

"Brother! Don't push yourself…"

Oda gently pushed Kou away from him, before smiling weakly at Rance.

"What do you say my friend? Willing to do this sick man a favour?"

Shirou could only watched shocked at Nobunaga's proposal, last night Nobunaga had proposed the idea before but back then he was drunk and Shirou thought he was joking. Now though he wasn't so sure.

He made to reply but he was interrupted as a messenger rushed in.

"Sir the right flank is struggling it seems Ranmaru is unable to break through, Lord Shibata is holding but Maeda is struggling to hold his ground on the right."

It was then Shirou noticed that the sounds of battle had been slowly approaching since the beginning of the conversation. It seemed the enemy was making headway in trying to breakthrough into the army's headquarters.

"It is do or die Emiya Shirou; you have to shift the tides of battle if you wish to accomplish anything."

It was the last push he needed.

"I'll go."

"Good, Kou please get help Emiya get ready."

"Yes, broth-"As Kou made to stand up she was interrupted.

"That won't be necessary, will the troops be ready?" Shirou asked.

A captain who just recently appeared spoke up.

"The troops are ready, we are awaiting your command my lord."

'Well that was weird way to be addressed', Shirou thought. Though it made sense as if all went to plan he would be pretty much the leader of Oda. He still wasn't quite sure he wanted that yet though.

As he let himself get led away, the blueprints of two familiar swords lie in ready, and his hands twitched as if anticipation of grasping swords.

~1~

Welcome to my story which I admit isn't great but I think satisfactory for a first attempt. Geez, one of the most annoying things with this was due to the crossover I really intended this to be more of a comedy light hearted thing, with a splash of dark elements here and there.

Instead all I get is a Serious Shirou who I'm struggling to figure how to use in the story yet still have a lot of the more…err…interesting elements.

Though I take it as a challenge I will enjoy.

In which case I'm struggling to decide on how honorifics should be used in this story, as I found the use of –kun, - sama, and etc all to have rather inaccurate assumptions within the western anime community and in many cases I personally cringe whenever I see it.

So I decided to stick the English equivalents for both your enjoyment and to stop those with in-depth knowledge of the Japanese language not murder me for murdering the Japanese language.

Though if people prefer the honorific system I would be more than happy to switch to it and do some light editing.

Also like many fanfics relating to F/SN I like to thank Gabriel Blessing for the inspiration and also for getting me into Type Moon in the first place, also Marcus Galen Sands and Neolfa who have also written great fiction that I enjoyed immensely as well Daneel Rush who has inspired my own writing style with his own.