DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Fate/Stay Night, Fate/Zero and any related series belongs to Kinoko Nasu, Type-Moon, Gen Urobuchi and/or their respective owners. I don't gain anything from the following text.

The Crimson Saber

Chapter Four: His Body Is Made Out of Swords.

Kiritsugu Emiya stared in incomprehension at the white haired Servant in front of him. There was only one thing he could say in this situation.

"...What?"

And that was the best way to summarize his train of thought. It just didn't make sense. He didn't have a son, and Saber didn't look like him at all. Granted, Illya was identical to Iri but the Servant also didn't look like her, the only similarity was the white hair. But, he also didn't say to be his son. Could this man be some kind of ancestor of his? No, he said that he considered himself a Hero of Justice...

"You heard me right, Master. My name is Shirou Emiya, and I think of myself as a Hero of Justice. Surprised, aren't you? You don't summon your adoptive son everyday."

"...What?" His mind was unable to understand the meaning behind his words.

The Servant now identified as Shirou Emiya sighed. "You truly are having a hard time believing it, aren't you? Very well, it will take a while but I guess that it's a good way to show it to you."

Saber put his right hand on his father's forehead, saying a few things under his breath the ritual to his memories to him started.

(Scene Break)

Kiritsugu was there again. The fire that he had seen in his dreams. Only that this time it was through the redhead boy's eyes, and there was no white haired man speaking to him.

It went similar to his dream, only that at some point the boy had fallen, his legs giving up.

He reached his hand towards the sky, only to find that it was caught by a bigger hand.

There stood a man with messy black hair and even darker eyes, tears of joy in his eyes when he found the boy.

That man...was him. Kiritsugu recognized himself in the memories, and then he realized.

Shirou Emiya, the Servant Saber and the boy were the same person

(Scene Break)

Kiritsugu saw as the boy was adopted by him, and how they grew to love each other as father and son. Eventually, Kiritsugu had taught him Magecraft, nothing much, he watched with unhealthy amounts of cringe how because of his bad explanations the boy had almost killed himself more than once doing Magic Circuits with his nerves, something suicidal at best.

In a particular night, Shirou and him were watching the moon under the sky. It wasn't something weird, they did that pretty often, yet the amount of 'weight' that this memory seemed to have made Kiritsugu pay incredible attention.

"When I was a kid, I wanted to be a Hero of Justice." Kiritsugu saw himself suddenly speaking.

"You 'wanted' to? Did you give up?" Shirou asked, confused.

"Yeah, unfortunately being a hero is a time-limited thing. When you grow up it gets harder to call you one." The Kiritsugu of the memory sighed. "I should have realized it earlier."

"I see, I guess it couldn't be helped."

"Yeah, it really couldn't be helped."

"Yeah, and as it can't be helped I'll take your place. It's impossible for you since you're an adult, but it should be alright to me. Your dream, leave it to me.

"I'll make it come true." That part for some reason stuck Kiritsugu the most.

Then, the memory Kiritsugu laughed.

"...Yeah, I'm relieved." And then, he closed his eyes to not open them again.

Kiritsugu knew that in this particular day, something important, perhaps fate, was decided.

(Scene Break)

The days passed, and alongside the young woman Taiga Fujimura as his legal guardian the life of the one who was apparently his son continued.

He was always there, helping people. Were it fixing devices at his school with what little Magecraft he knew, or helping random people in the streets, the redhead never asked for a reward.

It reminded Kiritsugu of himself when he was a kid, only that Shirou was much more extreme in it and didn't seem to care at all about his own well-being.

One day, when he was seventeen years old, he stayed until late cleaning the Archery Range of his school. He wasn't even a member, he had dropped a year before after a shoulder injury, but his willingness to help other people was to that extent.

When he ended, his attention was caught by a particular sound.

Steel clashing steel.

Naturally, Shirou went to investigate what it was. In the middle of the courtyard two men, one clad in a blue tight uniform wielding a spear and other that Kiritsugu knew pretty damn well.

Almost two meters tall, tanned skin, white hair, steel-colored eyes and dressed in a crimson-red shroud. It was impossible to mistake him for someone else. He was clashing with the Blue Lancer using black and white Chinese swords. He recognized that swords. He had seen them in his dream of the Hill of Swords.

The swordsman lacked any grace or skill, even Kiritsugu, someone who knew nothing about how to wield a sword could see dozens of openings in his stance. He could be found lacking both in speed and strength compared to the spearman, and yet he was keeping up. Why? Because he seemed to know wherever the Lancer was going to hit.

Before the spear user could move, his foe had already blocked. He moved before his enemy, almost as if he could see the future. Of course, Kiritsugu knew that it wasn't the case. It was more like anticipating the enemy's moves using as his base the previous attacks. That was the high ranked Eye Of The Mind that his Servant had combined with a unorthodox fighting style, which curiously enough, Kiritsugu had never seen him using before.

Eventually, Shirou made too much sound and the Lancer heard him. The boy, noticing this, ran and ran. Kiritsugu knew that he stood no chance. The one who was pursing him was a Servant, and a Lancer at that, who were fairly known for their high ranked agility.

He stopped for a moment to catch his breath, and that was his fatal mistake.

Lancer took material form in front of the boy, and stabbed him in the heart with his weapon.

"Sorry kid, nothing personal, just my Master's orders."

Then, everything went black.

(Scene Break)

Kiritsugu wasn't worried. Saber wouldn't have shown him all this for the boy's life to end like that, he didn't stuck him like the kind who wasted time in senseless things.

Because of that Kiritsugu wasn't too surprised when the boy opened his eyes again.

Shirou made his way towards his home, only for Lancer to attack once more. Shirou, having been waiting for him, took a piece of paper from the floor and channeled his od through it, reinforcing it. That was one of the only three mysteries he knew, Structural Analysis, Reinforcement and Gradation Air were the only things in his arsenal.

He managed the make his way towards his workshop, were Lancer trapped him. Shirou refused to die, saying that it was too soon...

...That he hadn't saved anyone yet. And then, Magical Energy flowed, as a new Servant had been summoned. Clad in blue armor and wielding an invisible weapon, the blonde Saber appeared. Together, those two made their way through the Fifth Holy Grail War alongside the heir of the Tohsaka family, Rin Tohsaka and her Servant, Archer.

Many things had happened. Some had pained him to see, like Illya's death alongside her black Berserker, others were disgusting, like the attitude of Shinji Matou, and others were surprises, as the hostile attitude from Archer 'Saber' to Shirou, or Shirou's inhuman skill with Projection Magecraft.

At one point, the Servant Caster used her Noble Phantasm to steal Shirou's Saber, and Archer betrayed them and joined Caster's side. Granted, while it was hard to picture his Saber doing something like that, under the right circumstances Kiritsugu supposed that his Servant would do such a thing.

Shirou and the Tohsaka had lost, or so it seemed. Without even a single Severnt on their side, how could their hope to win? That was when they received unexpected aid from the Servant Lancer.

The Irish hero joined them temporarily, and kept Archer busy while the two Magi fought Caster and her Master. It would have seemed suicidal to anyone, while the young Tohsaka was a good Magus compared to Caster she was nothing, and Caster's Master was an experienced assassin. How could they hope to win?

They managed to do so, to Kiritsugu's surprise. Rin Tohsaka was able to catch Caster in close combat, whose skills in that were pathetic even compared to a human, and Shirou kept Caster's Master busy.

However, Shirou wasn't enough, and her Master saved Caster. That was when everything seemed to be lost, but they were interrupted by someone.

"Trace On." The unmistakable voice of Archer/Saber sounded from behind, and several swords formed in the air, killing Caster.

Archer then killed Caster's Master.

Shirou ran to his Saber's side, only to barely avoid a sword that came aiming at his head.

Archer/Saber tried to kill him, as several times before.

The blonde Saber couldn't allow that, so she engaged Archer in combat. But that couldn't last. Both of them were Masterless Servants, but only one of them had a B-ranked Independent Action. Archer had the clear advantage.

Then, something Kiritsugu wasn't expecting happened. The blonde Saber and Rin Tohsaka formed a contract.

Archer couldn't keep up with her, so he did something that Kiritsugu WAS expecting. He called forth his Noble Phantasm.

"I am the bone of my sword."

Words all too familiar to Kiritsugu leaved the white haired Servant's mouth. That's it, he didn't have any more doubts...They HAD to be the same person.

"Unknown to death, nor known to life."

"So, as I pray..."

"Unlimited Blade Works."

Then, all became dark and Kiritsugu found himself there. Upon the Hill of Swords.

"N-no way, Reality Marble..." The Tohsaka girl spoke, translating to words Kiritsugu's own thoughts. So this is what the Unlimited Blade Works and the was, a Hill of Swords. It was the same of his drea--

--No, that wasn't right.

Everything looked the same, except for one thing. The gears in the sky, they weren't moving. They stood rusty and broken, unmoving in the clouds. In his dream they were moving, so what was this?

"So then, Archer..."

"That's right, in life I was never swordsman nor a bowman. I was a Magus."

"And your Magecraft, is it your Noble Phantasm?"

"Sort of. I had never a Holy Sword nor a Demonic one, just this place. So, if a Noble Phantasm is the closer thing to a hero then...

"This wasteland is my Noble Phantasm."

Then, everything faded to black.

(Scene Break)

Kiritsugu found himself in front of his Servant again, only to find that both of them were panting.

"Damn, I should have asked Rin to teach me how to do it properly..." Saber muttered under his breath. Unknown to Kiritsugu, he was cursing because the ritual was a failure. He had hoped to at least show the whole Fifth Holy Grail War, yet he only made it to EMIYA's deployment of Unlimited Blade Works.

Well, it was a good point, he supposed. At least Kiritsugu saw the King of Heroes in action, that would make him careful around the Archer of this War. Furthermore, he surely made some kind of connection, right?

"W-what was that?" Kiritsugu asked, despite knowing what the Servant was about to respond.

"My memories, though I failed to show all I wanted to. Do you understand now?"

"But, then, who was that Archer?"

"Ah, so you're intrigued about him? Well, I supposed you would be if I didn't show all my memories. That man was the Counter Guardian EMIYA, my alternative self. A man who sold his soul to the Will of Humanity in exchange of power."

"...What?" That was all that Kiritsugu could say at that.

"Come on, it surely isn't that hard to believe after all you saw...

"Dad."

Right when Maiya and Irisviel, who had been silent until now, were about to voice their own opinions a voice sounded from behind.

"Ha! I knew it!" It was a voice unmistakable to both Saber and Irisviel.

Saber jumped to his back, Kanshou and Bakuya appearing on his hands. He had failed to notice the approach, too distracted to pay any attention to his senses. Were the newcomer someone else it would have been a fatal mistake.

"Rider." Saber spoke, glaring at the man. Several blueprints formed on his mind, and the best runes to draw were about a move of his fingers to come to life. His Prana reserves were low. Caladbolg II, dozens of broken copies of Kanshou, his Bow, and especially making Kiritsugu see his memories in so little time was a huge strike to his Circuits. No matter how strong he had become, to his core Shirou Emiya was a third-rate Magus.

"I must say, I wasn't expecting you to be summoned, much less in the Saber class. Judging by your legend the best classes for you would be Caster and Assassin," Rider scratched his chin. "But life would be really boring without surprises, isn't that right, Shirou Emiya?"

"Heh, so I was right. Fighting three Dead Apostle Ancestors and several centuries old vampires at once doesn't go exactly unnoticed," Saber sighed, a resigned yet defiant smirk formed on his lips. "Much less if you managed to got a draw, I guess."

"What?!" Irisviel, Maiya, and Waver shouted at once, all of them unable to fully understand that. Kiritsugu just stared at him with a 'What the fuck?' look.

"That's right, lad. This man," He gestured to Saber with his right arm. "Managed to get a draw in such a fight. I'm not sure how I would fair in a battle against him, what I think to be his Noble Phantasm is a good counterattack to mine."

"Oh? So you know about it? Well, I guess it was a really important part of my last years." Saber shrugged.

"Of course, everyone who spend some time in the libraries of the Throne of Heroes knows about the man whose body was made out or swords," Rider grinned at him. "Granted, it was in the bottom of the libraries, really easy miss, but I saw it. I saw who you are. A third-rate Magus who has only one true talent.

"To give form to what is in your mind."

"D-d-denial of Nothingness? N-no way..." Waver was getting paler and paler as he imagined fighting a Sorcerer. There was something on his face that kept Saber from correcting that wrong assumption, some guilty pleasure he found in seeing the future Lord El Melloi II like that.

He blamed Rin for that.

"So, why are you here, King of Conquerors? The mock in the fact that you have discovered my true identity?"

"Hmm, I originally came here to check what was that pulse of Magical Energy, but it seems that you already took care of it. So, I instead have a proposal to you, King of Swords," Saber's left eye twitched at the nickname. "Will you join my army?"

Saber looked at him for a few moments, and then started laughing. At first it was small, barely noticeable, but it then became something big. However, while there certainly was amusement in it, it wasn't that which caught everyone's attention. It was something else. That was a twisted sad laugh, one filled with regret, as far as Rider could tell.

"Sorry Rider, but I already have a King." Saber said, a sad smile formed on his lips.

"Ah, I see," Iskander moved his head in acknowledgment "I should have thought so, but being fair, the bits and pieces about her in your legend are pretty unclear. I should be the one apologizing, Shirou Emiya. I'm sorry."

"No problem, so, anything else?" Truth being told, Saber was starting to like this Iskander guy. That was one of the reasons of why he didn't kill him when he turned his back to him, the other being his, while not low, certainly worse than he was used to Prana units left. He couldn't hope to call forth the Unlimited Blade Works in such state, and he wasn't sure to what extent Rider's power reached.

"I have nothing more to say, Servant Saber. I can tell just by looking at you that you aren't in your best conditions, and you still have issues to solve with your Master and his allies. But hear my words, I'll be the one to beat you another day."

Saber couldn't help but smile slightly at that. In a way, Rider remembered him of the Assassin of his war, Sasaki Kojiro. Of course, their overall personality was completely different, but the way that he spoke of their future match made him recall the fictional Heroic Spirit talking to Arturia. The nostalgia was pretty intense there. Ah, those days in which he was just an inexperienced teenager, he missed and hated them at the same time.

He missed them because he had lost many things since he leaved Fuyuki City alongside Rin and Arturia, and he hated them because how inept he used to be. To think that he could be such an idiot...

...No, that wasn't right. Unlike EMIYA, he was still the same idiot. An idiot who wanted to save everyone, even if he knew that it was impossible.

Granted, life had changed him. It reminded him time and time again in the most cruel ways that his dream was impossible. Just an illusion. But, it was a really beautiful illusion, one that he was happy following.

"Yes, I'll be looking forward our match too." His little smile grew slightly bigger, a distant look on his face which made clear that his mind wasn't right there at the moment.

"Until next time, King of Swords."

...He truly thought of calling him that as something polite, didn't he?

Saber sighed.

"I have a lot to explain, don't you think?" He said, a resigned look on his face s face. "Okay then, pay attention. It all started when I was five years old..."

And then Saber basically explained the story of his life until the end of the Fifth Holy Grail War. He could have done the same with Kiritsugu before, but he wanted for his father to see it all by himself, for different reasons. As it was a personal feeling, it was also because of logic. He knew his father well enough to know that he wouldn't trust him just like that, so he needed to truly show him it. Not just speaking about it.

"...Kiritsugu?" Iri asked to her husband, a confused look on her face.

"It's all true, Iri. I truly summoned my future adoptive son...But now we have more immediate issues, like where are we going to sleep. I had seen something like this coming, and thanks to Saber destroying the Castle, we'll be able to use it. I used some contacts to get a house in the Miyama side of the City. We should be going now."

Everyone nodded, and Kiritsugu leaded the way with Saber at his side in Astral Form, scanning every millimeter of their surroundings. He didn't want any more surprise newcomers.

It was pretty much the surprise, if the house Kiritsugu was talking about was the one he thought that was he would be a bit happier. He hadn't been in that house since he was twenty years old, after all.

He wondered if the kitchen was still the same?

(Scene Break)

From afar, a man stood, watching. He had long black hair which had a strand hanging down his head. Were once was a handsome face now was a dark thing that barely reminded of a human face. His once stoic figure was now something that inspired fear, and his black, tight outfit was full of cuts and blood.

He had two spears in his hands, both of them being as dark as Kanshou under a starless night, one being short and the other long.

And, behind the once Servant Lancer, was an old man laughing like a madman.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

AN: IT'S ALIIIIVEEEEEEEEE!

No, now being serious, if you wanna know why it took me so long to update check my other Fic's, 'Just a Bowman' Author Notes. I explained everything there. If you don't give a shit about that fic then just skip right to the AN, it's at the bottom of the chapter.

Did I say before that I'm lazy as fuck? Well, that's not the reason of why it took me so long to update (Or at least not the main one...), but it IS the reason of why I'm not explaining it again.

Anyway, into the actual chapter. I writed the whole 'Shirou explaining things to Kiritsugu' at least a dozen times until I shrugged it of as acceptable, but don't misunderstand my words. Even I recognize that it could have been MUCH better were the Author a skilled writer. Which I'm not, by the way.

But for those that were disappointed, don't worry. Next chapter we'll get into more Shirou-Kiritsugu interactions...Really awkward intersections.

So, yes! Even Shirou likes Broskander. Let's face it guys, you just CAN'T dislike that guy.

And did you expect that final scene? Because were I the reader I wouldn't have done so~

Anyway, I've been practicing a bit and I think that my third-person writing is improving. For all of you that don't know, I'm much more comfortable writing in first-person, but I started writing this fic before I realized that and I think it would be rude to my readers for me to change it midway.

So, don't have much more to say aside from the fact that I'm seriously still needing a Beta. Please PM me if you want to be the one helping this poor soul!

See ya guys!