In Spite of War- Chapter 3
Chapter 3 – An introduction
Shirou stood tiredly as he carefully eyed the troops surrounding him; despite their hesitance their eyes gave away their anger. It was not surprising, after all the man they swore their lives to protect now lay dead by his hand.
Revenge was no doubt running through their mind as they circled around him cautiously.
Muscled protested as he raised his swords into a guard position, he weighed his options and considered trying to simply break through towards the frontline, however the bodyguards of Nobuyuki would not let that happen easily. While he could easily dispatch the entire retinue shortly he had every single soldier in the vicinity all with swords and spears levelled against him. It seemed for the third time that day; he would be forced to cut himself a path.
Then a loud commotion was heard, and its source was approaching quickly.
Knocking away anyone who attempted to stand in his way Shibata Katsui forced his way into the circle his own personal guard cutting a swath into the demoralized troops.
Making his way into towards Shirou he ignored the angry glares of the enemy troops.
"Yesterday, I saw you with my Lord Nobunaga. I did not have a chance to speak introduce myself but I am Shibata Katsui, General of the Oda army."
Shirou gave one last glance to the troops who now seemed nervous at the additional reinforcements before giving a nod to the newcomer.
"Shirou Emiya."
"Good," he said before he turned to the troops and bellowed. "THE TRAITOR COMMANDER NOBUYUKI HAS BEEN DEFEATED BY EMIYA SHIROU!"
The resulting cry echoed across the whole battlefield as both armies stopped to process the meaning behind the announcement.
It did not take long though, for the Nobunaga loyalist forces it simply meant one thing.
"UUUOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!"
Victory.
~3~
With the rebel army eventually surrendering the battle was soon handed to the bureaucrats as the untouched reserves moved forward to tend to the battlefield and the hard job of listing the dead began.
Those who had fought throughout the battle though were treated to a simple but satisfactory victory feasts as soldiers enjoyed their first major military victory since the Oda's slow decline after the death of the previous Oda head.
Emiya Shirou on the other hand was entreated to a different honour.
"You know despite being the man who quite simply, singled handily won us that battle, you don't look so happy." Mused Oda Nobunaga as he nodded gratefully as Kou served him a small plate of wine.
Shirou merely shook his head, "Despite our victories it's a shame that so many lives were lost. Especially since a good number of them were by my hands…"
The two sat in silence for a little while Kou looked nervously between the two, outside the revelries of the celebrating soldiers rang throughout the area, they would continue to do so until alcohol and exhaustion would take its toll and send most collapsed on the group asleep.
"Then do you hate me Emiya Shirou?"
The question came without anger, fear not with any assumptions. It was merely the question of a man who wished to know the thought set of the man sitting opposite him.
Shirou on the other hand was quiet understandably flustered. After all while he may look weak and lazy, this man is the head of state of the land he is currently sitting on. Not to mention while he had acknowledged that he was currently not in his own world line it would be hard to find anyone from his world who have not grown up knowing who the warlord Oda Nobunaga was.
"Oh course not Lord Oda, this civil war was not your fault an-"
His almost reflexed response was quickly interrupted by the calm voice of Nobunaga.
"But the fault is mine, after all a civil war only breaks out when enough people have come to resent or become dissatisfied with the current ruler. One could argue that the fact that thousands of families will now be missing a father, a brother or a son all comes down to my weakness and my inability to lead the Oda properly."
So can you still say you bear no resentment to me? You who wished this war to have not happened in the first place."
"I.." Shirou could not speak, he struggled to answer. To explain the complex feelings even he didn't truly understand.
"I don't hate you." He finally forced out, he couldn't explain the rest of his feelings but he could say that with absolute confidence.
"I definitely don't hate you, you are a good person and from the reputation I had heard of you while I travelled as well as meeting you in person I know you are a benevolent ruler. I do not regret fighting for you at all…I merely wish I could have saved more people."
The last part was said in an almost desperate manner.
He wasn't sure if he was still feeling the effects from the battle earlier or if it was from quiet almost baring his soul in front of a man he barely met two days ago however Shirou felt incredibly tired.
"I see." Said Nobunaga as he accepted the response, despite the vagueness of it he couldn't help but feel that he had just received a giant clue on the enigma that was named Emiya Shirou.
Gently taking the bottle away from Kou's grasp he filled a small plate of wine. He then raised it and offered it Shirou and held his own serving level with his cup.
"Then let us have a toast." Noticing Shirou's reluctance, Nobunaga added. "Not to today's victory but to the fact that the two of us are lucky enough to enjoy this peace."
He couldn't help but then grin cheekily before adding, "Especially while we're both being served by such a beautiful young princess."
"Brother!" exclaimed a blushing Kou.
Shirou however was almost shocked with such a quick change in mood. The heavy tension from earlier had completely dissipated instead replaced by the open smile of the Oda lord.
However he quickly recovered, smiling as he received the drink gratefully. "Yes that definitely is something I will drink to."
Even he couldn't resist a bit of teasing as he added in, "After all it's not every day I get tended to by such a cute girl."
Kou merely remained silent as she pouted, desperately willing away her furious blush as the two men laughed at her expense.
The next morning Shirou was summoned once more by Nobunaga. Despite spending a rather long time with the Oda lord in the short time frame they knew each other Shirou was still unsure about what he thought of the man.
While he appeared and usually was easy going the man seemed to being surprisingly mysterious, especially when at times his tone could be as sharp as a blade and firmer then stone.
However if there was one thing Shirou could discern form his conversations with Oda Nobunaga was that he could definitely believe that were it not for his sickness.
Oda Nobunaga would have become the man who could of united Japan.
"Ah there you are Shirou; please take a seat and join us for breakfast."
Giving his own greetings he took a seat.
"Good morning Mr Emiya please have some tea."
Smiling at Kou he accepted the warm drink before deciding to correct her.
"Please Kou don't call me Mr Emiya, makes me feel too old and it would be too weird if you were the only one between us who were so formal."
"Eh? So should I call you Emiya?"
At that reply he made a show of pretending to think hard behind
"No, call me Shirou!" he exclaims while nodding.
"Eh! But that's too informal!"
Flustered Kou began to blush slightly at the dismissal of social protocol.
Her protests were interrupted by the laugh of Nobunaga as he warms Shirou lightly.
"Oh you should act so familiar with my cute little sister; I have no intentions of handing her over yet."
"Brother! You can't possibly, but me and Emiya; eh but." Kou further flustered by the teasing of her brother was then calmed by the patting of her brother.
Pat, Pat.
"Hee, hee Kou you're too cute."
"Brother …"
Putting out a pout as she released she was being teased; Shirou smiled as he took a sip of tea. While their physical appearance and even personalities were of complete opposite, the youthful beauty definitely reminded him of Illya. In fact the current scene in front of him reminded him of the simpler days back in Fuyuki.
The fact that those days now remained absent still saddens him.
His musings were cut off as Nobunaga turned his attention back to him after successfully pacified Kou.
"Shirou, I am the kind of person who will say; those who conquer other countries can go ahead. I'm not interested in such things. However as you saw yesterday not everybody is in support of such a lackadaisical policy."
Along with my sickness I am no longer capable of leading Oda to unify Japan. As such if things remain as they are, Japan will never find peace as this era of warring states will keep on going."
This statement had been in fact a question, a question so obvious that even someone as dense as Shirou could understand.
"You were being serious when you were asking me to lead Oda."
It was astounding how powerful that one sentence was; after all just yesterday a civil war was fought so Oda Nobunaga could retain his position as the head of state. However here was the man offering the position to a person he just so happened to meet at a dango restaurant.
"Of course, after all you said you wish to save as many people as possible correct?"
The question was almost rhetorical.
"Of course."
"Then save the many future generations from the burden of living through the warring states era. This path will be bloody, but will be nothing but be a drop in the ocean compared to the many who have suffered till now and those who potentially may suffer."
"But I have no idea how to lead a state." He began, he wasn't sure if he wanted to lead Oda. He wasn't even sure if he agreed with the words of Nobunaga. To kill the few to save the many that kind of thought was so fundamentally wrong. Yet at the same time hadn't he already understood that to save everyone was impossible?
But there was still a part of him that wanted to try, no not just want need to try. The man called Emiya Shirou was as stubborn and hard to bend as his swords at times. But could he also turn down this offer?
"All you have to do is take care of military affairs; Kou will assist you with domestic issues. So will you do it?"
"I don't think I'm cut out for it."
"But nor am I and unfortunately Kou is too young and pretty to take such stressful job, what would I do if she grew stress marks, and in such a young age."
Pat, Pat.
"Brother…" Kou didn't even protest at the teasing, she was just worried looking at her brother.
It seemed Nobunaga wasn't going to make this easy. But Shirou wasn't sure he could rule though, in fact despite Nobunaga's promise before the battle he doubted that he would be so willing to give control to someone he just met a few days ago.
How does one even rule a feudal state? I t was hard to believe just eight years ago he was nothing but a high school student whose only notable trait was his ability to fix things.
But could he reject it? When accepting could mean he was capable of not just saving individuals but hundreds and thousands?
"I accept."
With two words the path of Japan was changed.
As the two walked upon the wooden floorboards which paved the manor Shirou gave Kou who was leading the two an inquiring look.
"Kou it seems I will have to burden you once more, please help Emiya lead Oda. Please forgive this useless brother."
For Nobunaga to take such drastic actions what were his true intentions behind this?
Kou eventually broke the silence between the two not breaking pace as they kept walking.
"Brother is really sick, more so then he lets on. We don't know how long his going to last and he worries what will happen to me once he is unable to protect me."
Shirou stayed quiet allowing Kou to continue.
"There was a reason why he keeps going on about the dango restaurant. Should anything happen to Oda, we would most likely have to go into hiding."
As she talked tears began to well up in her eyes, were these tears of worry for her brother? Or the bitter sweetness of having a brother who would go leaps and bounds for her despite his illness.
"Don't worry, we'll just simply find a doctor; there has got to be one capable of curing your brother in Japan. We'll just simply find him. "
Pausing to look up at the reassuring smile given by Shirou she also smiled lightly before quickly brushing away her unshed tears.
"Then we shouldn't waste time Mr Emiya, the council is just around the corner."
"Oh? But didn't I tell you to call me Shirou?"
Shirou chuckled gently as she flushed, "I could never be so informal! It would also be so embarrassing and-".
Still smiling, he quietly took the lead as a stuttering Kou ran to keep up.
"Ah, Mr Emiya, wait up!"
His introduction as the current Lord of Oda was surprisingly mixed. Shirou expected complete opposition to his appointment. However while many did voice their dissent almost just as many gave their approval.
Further discussion however was quietened by the pleading of Kou.
"Please everyone, for both my sake and brother's please giving your support to Emiya."
As the court fell silent Shirou then understood the loyalty the young princess she inspired. While she did not have the firm voice or intimidating strength of a strong ruler, her youth and beauty along with her kind personality was more than enough to make up for it. Whether it was intentional or not Kou's innocence had turned everyone into a doting older brother who did not want anything but to protect and spoil her.
Breaking the silence an elderly voice addressed the court. "If Princess Kou has asked us of it, then who are we to do anything but obey?"
"We should be ashamed for even questioning her highness! Ashamed!"
"Kou looked so anxious, it is so sad how we have forced such a young girl into such a stressful position."
Shirou turned to face the source of the voices and then proceeded to blink.
Then when he done he decided to do it once more.
"Ah Emiya, this is 3G he has been my teacher and has worked closely with me and my brother for many years and is a trusted advisor."
Kou introduced, though Emiya was still trying to grasp on the appearance of this new person.
"You have three faces…or is it three heads…I don't….what?"
"Ohohoho, you are not the first to be so baffled by my appearance Emiya Shirou. I am a Youkai and while it is unusual for you please allow me to lend you my aid."
Shirou finally snapped out of his daze, it was after all quite unlike him to be rude human or not.
"Thank you, please take care of me."
Offering his own small bow he couldn't help but slightly shiver when his eyes met the man in front of him, he couldn't help but think he was going to be forced into something unpleasant as the glint in 3G's eyes reminded him eerily of Tohsaka Rin.
"Now it wouldn't do for our new lord to be unacquainted with his land please start with these reports. I'm sure with someone as youthful as you should get by with no problem."
Even Kou had a certain insidious gleam to her eyes quiet in contrast to her usual graceful demeanour. Her kind smile did not reach her eyes as she guided him toward a table with writing devices and more noticeably a large pile of scrolls and paper.
"It's important for the lord to establish domestic policy so the country can thrive."
So Emiya Shirou was introduced with the wonders of paperwork… He wondered if this was karma for teasing Kou too much.
So over the weeks Emiya busied himself as under the guidance of Kou and 3G he slowly became more acquainted with the land and people of Owari as well as the political landscape of Japan.
Emiya had just woken up and was proceeding to the main dining hall for breakfast.
He was surprised when he saw one dressed in tight, what appeared to be leather armour. Short purple hair went down to her neck, though what was most noticeable feature was the fact that she currently had a long Katana strapped onto her right shoulder.
"Good morning, Ranmaru is it?"
She barely acknowledges him and walks by.
"….eh, did I do something wrong?"
"Um…Emiya I'd like to ask something of you."
"Oh Emiya is it now? I thought I told you to call me Shirou."
Kou pouts, "It's not respectful to address the lord of the state in such a familiar manner."
Shirou raised an eyebrow, "Isn't it even more disrespectful to not listen to his orders though?"
Kou spluttered as she tried to think up an excuse before whining when she realized That Shirou was teasing her.
"Mou, Emiya is being meant today."
Shirou continued to chuckle, he couldn't help it. While Kou was almost completely opposite to Illya, Kou's youth and naivety reminded him of her constantly and brought out his 'inner big brother' so to speak.
"Anyway you were going to ask me something earlier?"
"Ah, right I wanted-"
The two were interrupted however by a new arrival.
"Oh, you're here!"
It was hard not to recognize the voice behind that, after all this was the same voiced capable of echoing across battlefields.
"How are you doing, Princess Kou?" Exclaimed Katsui Shibata, despite the earliness and setting the man was still wearing his golden armour as he rushed up to the two.
"Hello General Katsui", replied Kou as she saw the man approach.
Shirou was then mildly disturbed when the usually brazen general immediately started to act like a shy eleven year old as he hesitantly offered Kou a hair stick with an apple ornament.
"U-um…I brought you this. I bought it since it looks so cute. I think it's a bit cheap for someone like you to wear, but will you accept my gift?
As Kou accepted the gift and continued the conversation an alarm inside Shirou's head was going off and a small part of his brain was waving red danger flags as the 'inner big brother' was beginning to be more than a little worried.
"Hehe, then I shall be going now", said Shibata before blushing and leaving.
When he disappeared around the corner Shirou merely gave Kou a look as she awkwardly held the hairpin and blushes when she notices the stare directed her way.
"Um…yea he kind of likes me." She explains struggling to rationalize the actions of the general.
"So you mean his a lolicon."
"No it's just that he likes brother and me, he just spoils me sometimes!"
As Kou desperately attempted to retain the honour and dignity of the over-affectionate general, Shirou just shook his head in disbelief.
"And I thought I stopped having to deal with them when Illya grew up."
Despite somehow becoming the lord of a country, he had found himself to frequent the small dango house multiple times a week as he sought to relax when not managing the various issues and problems of a feudal state.
It was on one such visit on a slow day he found himself once more in conversation with Oda Nobunaga.
"So how are you managing, oh Lord Emiya?"
"Don't you start with the Lord Emiya, I think I heard enough of that to last me a lifetime."
Nobunaga laughed as he reached towards the stove to take the kettle off. Finding the tea leaves he started the slow and long process of serving tea, while it wasn't a proper tea ceremony Shirou couldn't deny that the man seemed well experienced in the practice.
"So how are the duties of ruling a country?"
Shirou groaned as he complained about the paperwork, it didn't help that while it was Japanese most of the writing was written in an old traditional style that went beyond the standard education he learnt when he attended high school.
"Oh I see Kou and 3G have mercilessly pushed all the paperwork to you, quite sly of them."
While 3G and Kou were more than willing to pick up the slack when he fell ill, it didn't miss his eyes how almost a small piece of their soul died whenever additional reports get delivered just when the pair finish their current workload. If it wasn't because he was ill, he would have found the circumstances hilarious.
Speaking of which…
*Cough* *cough*
Nobunaga quickly turned to the side and coughed into his hands violently as Shirou quickly stood to grab some water.
Nodding gratefully as Shirou handed the man a cup, he took a long swill of the clear drink before calming again as he coughs subsided.
"Nobunaga…"
Oda Nobunaga merely gave Shirou another glance before focussing once more on preparing tea.
"Usually I can control myself better; its fortunate Kou wasn't here to see this."
Looking at the smile Nobunaga gave him in an attempt to ease him; Shirou wasn't fooled as he asked the sickly man.
"How is your sickness?"
The ex-lord did not reply immediately, in fact he continued to finish up on the tea and then offered to Shirou, who silently accept and made to drink before asking a question that sent the young man choking and coughing.
"Will you marry Kou?"
Sounding much like the sick Oda lord from before, Shirou cough and gasped as he struggled to get air back through his throat.
"What?" Thinking it was a joke Shirou looked questioningly at the brother who just offered his sisters hand in marriage.
What he found on Nobunaga's face wasn't the gleeful reaction of seeing someone get tricked but instead of a tired old man whose sickness robbed away his youth.
It was then Shirou realized the true meaning behind the question. It was not a proposal but an answer, to his question earlier.
"I would be fine you know? You're a good man Emiya; the fact that you took the job seriously these past few weeks and haven't done anything at all selfish is proof of that."
Shirou merely shook his head, he did not, could not; believe that the man in front of him was that sick. Just several days ago he was happily making dango and giving out bags of chestnuts with pictures of Kou on them.
"She needs you more then she needs me, you're her brother not me."
Nobunaga merely looked Shirou in the eye.
"It is precisely because of that, I am asking you Emiya Shirou. I am dying and before I pass on I want her to be safe, no I need to know she will be safe. "
While Shirou could understand the man's worry he was confused, after all wasn't Kou loved by the people and held a lot of support in the court, it was hard to believe that Nobunaga would trust him someone who came along several weeks ago over the trusted vassals who served him for years.
"It doesn't matter if Kou is favoured by the people or by the court."
Nobunaga went to grab something inside his robes, and began to unwrap. Shirou's was surprised to find it was a map of Japan.
"Currently Oda is here." He pointed Owari marked with a red flower which lay right in the middle of Japan. Then he pointed to a territory marked with an elaborate shuriken design
"To the west lies Iga, who have already severed ties with Oda, the same to the east with Tokugawa, but what is most worrisome is this."
Pointing to the north there was a large territory twice the size of Owari. It was marked with what appeared to be a heart that's been set on its side.
"Ashikaga who have already invaded us once to secure more territory and most likely to do it again, if it wasn't bad enough the Hara Shouji the leader of the Hara faction has married Ashikaga Aki."
Shirou could already see the perilous position Oda was in as Nobunaga explained things in detail.
"Beyond that are the Takeda who have already made their intentions clear that the wish to conquer Japan. Uesugi and Houjou keep them in check however should either of them fall Takeda will likely easily take the other, most likely taking control of North Japan. "
Then there's the Shimazu who have already gotten most of the south and control the only bridge to the continent, meaning they benefit enormously economically and probably possess the best equipped military in the country. They are only held in check by the Mouri whose head Mouri Motonari is an army just by himself. "
Nobunaga looked at Shirou right in the eye; Shirou couldn't help but slightly shiver, once again the sickly and friendly Oda Nobunaga had disappeared; instead sat a warlord who once had eyes to conquer Japan.
"Each and every one of them can potentially end Oda; in fact we are lucky to survive so long in the first place. However it is a matter of time, and when that happens the guards, the politicians and the people who all vow to protect her will either be gone or betray Kou themselves."
Oda Nobunaga breathed out and almost as if going with was the Nobunaga who was a warlord.
"I told you earlier that if you had to conquer Japan, however I'm not that kind of guy I'm more than happy to spend my days here in Owari. I just want to make sure Kou is safe before I pass on. That day against Nobuyuki you proved that you were more than strong enough to protect her, she is already quiet beautiful and more so when she grows up."
He let himself chuckle. "Just don't let her cook for you."
"Then I'll just conquer Japan."
Nobunaga was the process of taking a sip from his tea when he stopped halfway, his eyes wide as they look towards Shirou's.
"You said something earlier as well, if I truly want to bring peace to Japan I have to remove all borders and unify the people. So that's what I'll do I'll make sure Kou will never come to harm."
Shirou's eyes blazed in determination as he returned a look back at Nobunaga who still look at him surprised.
"I thought…you didn't want to fight in fact despite spending the last month ruling you haven't even done anything to imply that you wanted to conquer anything not to mention Japan."
Shirou scratched his head sheepishly at that reply.
"Well…you're right however it's something that must be done. I just wanted to get the domestic issues in order because if I don't she scolds me pretty harshly you know? Not that I'm scared of her but she kind of reminds me of a little sister so I don't want to disappoint her…"
As Shirou began to ramble Nobunaga laughed, for once feeling more alive than he had in years.
"Hahaha… I knew I was right in trusting you"
Placing a hand on Shirou's shoulder he quietly told Shirou, "Then I leave Oda and Kou to you."
Shirou smiled, "Don't die on me yet, I'll make sure you see a united Japan and a Kou happily married before you pass away."
"Hehe, is that you accepting Kou's marriage proposal?"
"Not in that way!"
~3~
Sorry for the delay guys, hopefully as I improve both my writing quality and quantity will go up for.
I like to thank everyone for their responses as well as criticism because that's something I definitely want as a fledging writer!
Addressing come concerns regarding Shirou's power level and personality, I do agree with some points you've made after all one of the things that made me stop reading a lot of fanfiction (Naruto in particular) is just the abundance of OOC and God! Naruto's whose only relevance to Naruto is that the two characters share the same name.
I'm trying not to do that so I like to justify my Shirou a bit. First of all I will make a confession is that I part of the reason why I made Shirou like this is because rather than develop him as an Enforcer gone AWOL, or as a hero I wanted him to slowly become a general and a warrior.
So therefore having him just shoot off Caliburn would be rather stupid in the way writing works because it would just make things seem too easy. It would turn out a bit like that Onepunch man crossover, which while brilliant would be hard to write beyond a one-shot format as it would be hard to develop any tension or action in general.
That's why in this crossover This Shirou is the Fate ending Shirou, the least powerful version who had minimal exposure to Archer and whose only trump card Avalon was given to Saber before she disappeared. This means that he is very far away from Unlimited Blade Works to the point where he doesn't even know it exists and his tracing is limited but better thanks to the help of Tohsaka and Illya.
Also in regards to him dismissing the Holy Grail War, this Shirou is one that decided to pursue the path of a hero after the Holy Grail War and went off to various warzones to be this hero. There he will see casualty centres filled to the brim of wounded and dying, people missing limbs, eyes and organs. This was the guy who had entered a battlefield where hundreds are dying on the shores of a beach in the Pacific. Compared to his experiences in the 5th HGW it just lacks the scale of a true war.
While yes weapons capable of destroying the planet were used, that doesn't mean the sheer horror it caused was on par with an actual war. By your definition the small skirmishes that are fought in anime like Dragonball Z are wars because the participants all have powers capable of levelling cities and planets.
So comparing his experience in a real war where he was forced to watch hundreds of thousands kill each other while the casualties numbered in the millions in HGW it was more of a battle royale between beings of incredible power. Is like comparing apple and oranges.
However you are right that Shirou's personality is quite awkward, in fact I believe his characterisation is my weakest area and I will try to work on that.
Also apologies for the lack of spellchecking last chapter, and I encourage more criticism as it lets me get my head thinking as well as improve my writing. Until next time.