Happy New Year. Ah, writing went slow this month, so I decided to post it on New year's day. Thanks for your continues support. Hope you can keep enjoying it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fate/stay Night: Across time
Chapter 36: The last one
Shirou slowly opened his eyes. His body felt a bit numb, but he slowly managed to push himself up to a sitting position. As his vision focused, he looked down at his body. Upon seeing the clear cut in his clothes, the vivid image of Agravain's face flashed before him. His clothes, soaked in his blood. "How am I still alive?" No matter how he looked at it, this wound had been far more severe than any other he had incurred up until now. When he moved his hand in order to stand up, he felt something lying on the ground. He picked up ruby pendant and inspected it. He took it and looked at it. "Who left this?" With a grunt he stood up. "Somebody saved me. I'll have to return this when I find out who it belongs to." He looked at his bloody clothes again. "Arturia is going to yell at me. I better get home quickly."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tohsaka strolled leisurely along the sidewallks through the city. The regular bystander would think she was alone. If one would not count the Servant following her in his spirit form. "Excuse me, Master. What is the point of our trip through the city?"
"To give you a better perspective of the city and it's layout." Tohsaka answered. "Going to every place in person gives you a better idea of it."
"That is not quite true. If we go to the top of one of the skyscrapers I can get a good view of the surrounding area and it's layout." Archer responded. "My class isn't 'Archer' for nothing. I can easily make out the name of that printed on that billboard on the other side of the river." He pointed towards Shinto.
"Amazing. The Archer class is really made out of Archers." Tohsaka commented.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Of course not." Tohsaka assured him.
"I'll take your word for it. That said. Shouldn't we be getting back? Lancelot and Guinevere might be waiting at your front door right now." What Archer had said could very much be the case. It was late into the evening.
"I know." Tohsaka looked at the night sky. "We'll continue our trip tomorrow. However, I will make a quick stop at the school, since we're close by anyway." Archer sighed.
They soon arrived at the school. "I think it's rather calming when it's this quiet." Tohsaka looked around as she walked across the yard. She suddenly turned around. There stood Lancelot and Guinevere. "What are you two doing here?"
"You were not at home. And after we got tired of waiting, we decided to take a walk." Lancelot explained. "Are you by yourself?"
"Of course she isn't." Another voice rang out. On top of the wall stood Lancer. "Isn't that right, Mister?"
Archer materialized. "Servant Lancer, I take it?" He asked rhetorically.
"Indeed." Lancer jumped down, landing several meters in front of Archer. "So you're host is also a Master." He glanced at Lancelot and Guinevere
"We didn't reveal the truth about your Master either." Guinevere reminded him.
"I know. I'm not accusing you two of anything." Lancer put her at ease. "It's not your business after all. Now then." He directed his attention to Archer. "Who is my opponent? You don't strike me as the proper, single combat type? I'm guessing you're Archer." Archer merely looked at him silently.
"I'm confident in my guess. Come on Archer. Take out your bow." Archer remained silent.
Lancelot and Guinevere took some distance from the two combatants. When they were a safe distance away, Guinevere couldn't help but grab Lancelot's hand and squeeze. Though she understood Tohsaka's situation in all of this, she liked Tohsaka and wouldn't want to see anything bad happen to her. She wanted to know what Lancelot thought about the odds and possibilities of this fight. Lancelot could not answer. From Lancer's fight with Morgan, he had glimpsed Lancer's combat potential. He knew that at this range a bow would be useless against him. Then again... Archer might have something up his sleeve.
"Archer! You won't get any support from me." Tohsaka informed him. "Right here and now, show me what you got." Archer smiled.
Lancer readied his spear. "Very well then. Here I come." And he went straight for Archer. As the spear swung towards Archer, Archer moved his arms as if to catch the spear. But then a curved, black sword appeared in his left hand. It redirected the blow. Surprised, but not hesitating, Lancer began a series of attacks, which Archer either skillfully blocked or redirected.
"Archer is very good." Lancelot explained to Guinevere. Even though he could barely make out what was happening, his extensive experience told him what he needed to know. "His technique is pure. I think that lady Tohsaka truly has drawn the best card for herself. Archer leaves an opening to guide his opponent and blocks the subsequent attack. It's risky but effective."
"But he's an Archer. I thought Servants fight using a method that befits their class." Guinevere pointed out. She was right. Lancelot too, wondered about that.
Lancer striked again. And this time he managed to destroy Archer's sword. "You're mine." Lancer grin was predatory.
"Archer!" Rin shouted. For a moment she could clearly see the end for her Servant and her participation in the War. But Archer had other plans. He whispered and suddenly two blades appeared in his hands to deflect what should have been a killing blow. Everybody was surprised. But Lancelot however, began to suspect something. The way Archer procured his new swords, felt familiar to him.
"Your Archer is quite amazing!" Guinevere yelled at Tohsaka over the sound of the battle.
"He most certainly is." Somebody else responded in Rin's place. Bazett had arrived. "Tohsaka Rin. So, you did become a Master. Not unexpected." Her eyes spoke volumes. "It will soon be over."
Bazett rushed towards her. Tohsaka managed to dodge Bazett punch in the nick of time by reinforcing her legs. Bazett's empowered fist struck the ground, shattering the soil into a neat crater. Tohsaka fired a barrage of Gandr shots at her. Bazett dodged them easily and began to close the distance again.
Archer knew from the outset that Bazett would surely beat Rin without much effort. Lancer blocked him at every turn. "I won't let you." Lancer assured him as he destroyed Archer's twentieth blade. "Just how many of those do you have left?" Lancer felt annoyed by Archer's seemingly endless supply.
"More than enough." Suddenly Archer jumped back and threw both his swords at Lancer. Lancer ducked and began to close the gap again. Archer already had two new swords at the ready. Suddenly, Lancer had realized that Archer hadn't been aiming for him.
Bazett felt the impending danger. She jumped backwards to avoid the first blade, giving Tohsaka the chance to get some distance. Unfortunately, this placed her in the path of the second blade. Lancer deflected it in the nick of time. As he did with the other two Archer had thrown after him. "That was low." Lancer growled at Archer, who had secured Rin and widened the gap.
"I had to protect my Master." Archer justified.
"Tsst. Which land's Heroic Spirit are you? Your class is Archer, but I've never heard of an Archer using dual swords. Who are you?" Lancer pointed at Archer with his spear.
"Oh? This wait-and-see approach isn't like you. Where did all your spirit go?" Archer tried to provoke him.
"Provoking me, are you? You sly old man. Just answer the question." Lancer demanded.
"I have no obligation to answer you." Archer reminded him. "You'll have to discover my identity yourself. Unfortunately , your identity is easy to identify." Archer grinned. "Only the swiftest heroes are chosen to be spearmen and you stand head-and-shoulders above them. There are not even three spearmen of your skill in the World. And then there is that bestial agility. That leaves only one candidate. Ireland's Child of Light, Cú Chulainn."
Lancer's killing intent spiked. "You flatter me, Archer. Guess being too famous has its disadvantages." He took two steps forward and readied his spear and began to channel a huge amount of prana through it. "Then, will you face my mightiest blow?"
"I won't stop you. You're an enemy that I must overcome eventually." Archer prepared himself to face the blow. The atmosphere was heavy. Everybody could feel that Archer was at a disadvantage here.
Suddenly the loud bang of a door opening traveled through the air, followed by a voice yelling: "Wait!""
Everybody turned towards the direction of the sound. "There are still people here?" Bazett reacted. "There can't be any witnesses. Lancer!" Lancer returned to his Master's side.
"What are you going to do?" Tohsaka had a bad feeling. "You're not going to..."
"Why are you so surprised? We can't have anyone witnessing this." Bazett prepared to persue.
"Let me do that!" Bazett regarded her. Tohsaka didn't know this woman enough to know what she would do and Rin wouldn't want to see one of her fellow student killed. "It may have been a student, so please..."
"Please let her, lady Bazett." Guinevere came to Rin's aid. Lancer translated what she said. "I believe this is enough fighting for one evening. And besides, we did keep your secret." Guinevere referring to her and Lancelot staying silent about Bazett being a Master.
"So, you're asking for a favor," Lancer chuckled and looked at Bazett. She gave a nod. "Very well. Just this once. You can pursue those two."
"Two?" Tohsaka asked confused.
"There were two persons who saw us." Archer clarified. "I could see someone dressed in armor fleeing into the building followed by someone of smaller stature."
"That's bad. After them Archer!" Archer quickly dematerialized.
"Tohsaka Rin." Bazett spoke. Rin looked at her. "You won't get a pass next time we meet." Rin nodded, grateful for the bullet she just dodged and went after Archer.
"Thank you, Bazett, for your kindness." Guinevere bowed. "I owe you two."
"It's alright, Guinevere. With this I don't owe you anything anymore. Until the next time we meet." She turned around and left with Lancer, who made a see-you-around smile.
"She is a very interesting person, don't you think?" Lancelot looked on with Guinevere as Bazett disappeared.
"Now don't you dare." Guinevere teased him. Bringing a grin to Lancelot's face. "But yes, she is. And kind of lonely too." She ended with a sigh.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After waking up, Shirou made his way home. Looking at the pendant, he wondered who had saved him. And about Agravain, who tried to kill him. He walked through the streets, making his way home. If anyone would see him like him this, they would freak out. He shook his head at the thought.
"Shirou!" Shirou looked up to see Arturia and Kay. "There you are. I told you not to stay out so late. What happened!?" Upon getting a better view of Shirou's state, Arturia rushed up to him and grabbed his torn, blood stained clothes. "You were attacked. By whom?"
Shirou averted his gaze, avoiding Arturia's glare. "Agravain." He said.
"He attacked you? Where?"
"I encountered him at school. There was a fight there. I don't know who was fighting, but Agravain had been observing the fight when I ran into him. When he ran I followed him into the building, where he... well." He held up his torn clothes.
"However, it seems that your healing magic has saved you once again." Kay reasoned that that was the case. "Odd, though. Agravain is never this sloppy."
"No, he most certainly killed me." Shirou said, surprising them both. "My healing was not as powerful for some reason. But it seems that someone has saved me. Although, I don't know who, as I had lost consciousness before then."
"And you don't have any leads?" Kay inquired. Shirou took the pendant out of his pocket. "So we do have a lead."
"Anyway, let's return home." Arturia looked at an owl sitting on a nearby streetlight. "Merlin. Inform the others that we have found Shirou and are returning home." The owl hooted once and left. "Let's go."
Not long after that they arrived. "Truly, Shirou. You shouldn't have let Shinji talk you into it." Arturia scolded him, as she removed her shoes. Shirou had just told them the reason why had still been at school. "You should be a bit more selfish."
Looks who's talking, Shirou thought. For all the time that she has been here, she had pretty much remained the same. True, she had attended school, made friends and enjoyed quite a few things, but once she would return home, she will guaranteed revert back to being the king she always had been. Shirou noticed Kay looking at him. He knew that Kay had thought the same.
Gawain and Bedivere soon arrived. After expressing their concern they went to the living room and discuss what had happened. "We should not postpone it any longer." Arturia had decided. "We will drive Morgan back before the end of next week."
"Agreed." Gawain said. "We've been here too long already."
"We all knew this day would come." Bedivere sighed. "I will sure miss this place."
"This place? Or Taiga?" Merlin quipped. Bedivere blushed.
"Does anyone know where Shirou went?" Kay asked.
"I believe he went to the storehouse to practice." Bedivere pointed in the direction. "He is probably reflecting on what happened to him."
Inside the storehouse Shirou was busy projecting weapons. His skills are improving little by little. His projections lasted longer and are more durable than in the beginning. In his head he still wondered who had saved him. Outside of his field of vision, the floor began to light up. It was a magic circle. "That fight that went on in the school grounds was most likely two Servants fighting each other. Agravain was spying on it when I ran into him."
He placed his hand on his heart. He had gotten closer to death then ever before. Thinking about his brush with death, he could feel a powerful resolve growing inside him. "Whatever is going to happen, I can't die. My life was spared, so I can't die. I have to fulfill my obligations. Yes. I can't just die for no good reason." It was then that he noticed the bruise on his hand lighting up as a red glowing symbol appeared on his hand. Before Shirou had realized what was happening, a powerful wave of energy blew through the store house, blowing a myriad of items aside and lighting up the place. He reflexively covered his eyes. "What is going on?" When Shirou opened his eyes, he was met with a perplexing sight.
"Servant Saber. I've come in accordance with your summons. I ask thou...Are you my Master?" The blond haired girl asked.
"Arturia?" Shirou muttered.
She reacted displeased to her name. "I take that as a yes. Master... I ask you that you refer to me by my class." For some reason, however she didn't recognize him. "My Sword shall be at your side henceforth. Your fate shall be my fate. The pact is now sealed, Ma..." Suddenly she winced for a moment, as she felt a vivid image went through her head. "...s...ter... Shirou?"
The sound of footsteps could be heard and Arturia and the others entered the storehouse. They both turned to look at the door. "Shirou? Is everything alright? Merlin felt a surge of magic in this place. Did some...thing..." Arturia fell silent as she stared at ...well...herself. Saber too, looked at her incredulously. "Who...? What are you?" Merlin and the other knights were equally perplexed.
"Merlin?... Gawain? Kay? Bedivere?" Saber stammered. "How? What is happening?"
"Shirou? What happened?" Merlin grabbed him. Though he seemed more excited than concerned.
"I don't know. But I think I somehow summoned her as a Servant for some reason." Shirou looked at Saber. Saber reacted shocked by that statement.
"You didn't summon me on purpose?" She asked. "Are you saying that you summoned me by accident?"
"Huh? I mean, of course I summoned you. I just didn't think it would be you specifically." Shirou though that that was the best answer. It would probably be bad to say that he had no idea about how that happened. Luckily the others picked up on what Shirou was trying to do.
"So, you didn't have a catalyst then?" Saber tilted her head. "I see. With that out of the way." She looked at the rest. "What is going on here?" Saber stepped in front of Arturia and examined her. "You are me?"
"It... it would seem so." Arturia stared back. "Kay got scratched on left arm by the lion cub I had adopted."
Saber shook her head. "His right arm." Arturia clenched her jaws. "Lancelot sprung Guinevere from jail before the execution."
Saber frowned from surprise. "No. He saved her from being burned at the stake, killing several knights in... the... process." She grabbed her head in pain. A vision wen t through her head. She had decided on Guinevere's fate. Merlin, Kay, Gawain, Bedivere were there. As well as Tristan, Ector and … Shirou? Her Master? That wasn't right. That was not how it happened.
At the same time Arturia grabbed Saber by her arm when she saw her agonizing expression. Now she grabbed her head in pain. Memories. Hers, yet they were not. Lancelot was dashing across the plaza towards the stake where Guinevere was waiting for her execution. She saw Lancelot killing Gawain's brothers and escaping with Guinevere. This was what hadn't happened, but what she knew should have happened. The difference was... Shirou. The pain abated and the two girls took some distance from each other. "What happened?" Saber asked
"I think you could call it interference." Merlin had a theory about what was going on. "This Servant is the same Arturia as our Arturia. But at the same she is not. There exist magecraft which allows one to access old skills through communing with past selves and allowing them to posses you. I theorize that it is something along those lines. Because they are both Arturia, their memories interfere with each other."
"So that's what it is?" Gawain was worried. This could lead to all sorts of complications.
"We should sit down and try to figure out how to deal with this." Kay moved outside.
"Kay?" Bedivere cocked his head.
"Why don't we go inside and discuss this at length. Saber's summoning has created complications which should be addressed immediately." Kay urged.
""Agreed."" Both Arturia's replied in unison. They looked at each other uncomfortably.
"This is weird." Saber remarked.
"That makes two of us." Arturia empathized.
Following Kay's suggestion they moved outside towards the main building. Suddenly Saber stopped and looked in the direction of the compound's wall. "What's wrong?" Shirou asked.
"There is another Servant and his Master nearby." Saber began moving in the direction. "I will face the enemy before they attack."
"Enemy? What are you...?" Before Shirou could stop her she jumped onto the roof. Everybody was amazed by how effortless she did that. Arturia would need to use prana burst to jump that high. This was the difference compared to a Servant
"Hey, wait!" Arturia called out. Saber looked at her. "If it is Archer and his Master, I ask that you won't fight them."
"You may be me, but I'm a Servant. I'm only here to fight." Saber responded coldly. Arturia felt unnerved by Saber's emotionless reply. Was this how it feels for others talking with her? Saber jumped over the wall.
"Wait!" Shirou yelled. He rushed towards the gate to go after her. Suddenly Arturia was next to him. Understanding what she wanted to do, he grabbed hold of her. Using Prana burst, she jumped over the wall. Merlin used his magic to open the gate, as the others went after them.
They heard the clashing of swords. As Shirou and Arturia closed in they saw Saber clash with a Servant clad in red. He was holding his own pretty well against Saber with his twin swords. Then Saber smashed through the man's swords with a powerful attack, exposing the man to a killing blow.
A white, sparkling light appeared around Saber. It was obvious that this was the result of a magic attack. Behind Archer they saw Tohsaka. She had tried to stop Saber, but had failed. Saber, however, didn't pay it any attention. Just as Excalibur was about to come down, Shirou called out again. "Stop, Saber!" One of his command spells disappeared.
"Shirou. Why do you stop me?" Saber asked indignant. "Are you mad? I could have killed him right here and now." At the same time the others arrived too.
"So that's how it is." Tohsaka motioned Archer to stand down. "Good evening, Shirou. Looks like you are the last Master."
"Looks like it." Shirou muttered.
"Judging from your interaction with her ...Is she an ally?" Saber pointed her sword at Rin.
"She ain't an enemy, if that's what you mean." Shirou scratched his head.
"We are on friendly terms." Arturia declared. Saber narrowed her eyes.
"Very well. I will trust you on this. And given this absurd situation, I can assume that every other Master already knows who I am." It was more a statement than a question. "I'm off to a bad start."
"It would seem so." Kay said. "This is very pertubatory."
"Most definitely. Who's orders will we follow?" Gawain wondered.
"You should follow hers." Saber answered. "I'm here as a Servant to win the Grail." She ended the matter. No one had any objections. It was only logical.
"Mind if we discuss this inside? It's kinda chilly tonight." Tohsaka made her typical brush through the hair gesture, as she walked passed Saber and Shirou. "This will prove most interesting. Archer. Guard the area would you."
"Of course." Archer responded. His eyes met Shirou's. As they looked at each other, Shirou couldn't help but feel a dislike towards him. Why was that. "It's impolite to stare."
"I wasn't starring at you." Shirou retorted.
"Next time we meet, you won't be walking away." He subsequently vanished. Shirou sensed killing intent in that moment. Directed towards him.
As they went inside, Kay moved next to him. "Shirou. From what we've learned about the Holy Grail, it grants a wish to the last Master and Servant."
"That is what Tohsaka told us. What about it?" Kay quickly threw a glance at Arturia. Now Shirou understood. Kay was worried about what wish Saber would like to see granted. In other words, what Arturia might want to see granted.
Once they were inside, they began to explain the situation to Saber. After they were don, Saber had grown awfully quiet. "So... The destruction of the Grail had created these portals that connect the present day, to our, my, era? And they've been around for ten years now?"
"That's basically it." Rin finished. Saber's expression was difficult to pin down, but definitely showed signs of doubt and anxiety. "Anyway. Say, do you have any problems with supplying her wit Prana?"
"I don't think I really know how to." Shirou admitted.
"He is not capable of doing so." Saber informed them.
"He ain't?" Tohsaka asked. "I'm surprised that you're so forthcoming about this matter."
"It's best to have Shirou understand the situation he is in. Besides, you would have noticed it sooner or later." Saber continued.
"We'll I shouldn't have been so surprised about it. Even when I've interacted with you so often these past months, I still don't know you all that well." Suddenly she jumped up and rubbed her head against the wall, startling everybody. "Damn it! What a waste! If I was Saber's Master, this War would be as good as won."
"You're saying that I'm not worthy of her?" Shirou objected.
"Of course I am. You hack!"
"Don't let her get to you." Arturia came to his defense. "There is more to a pact than just power." She looked at Saber, who agreed.
"Seeing as you have a problem supplying Saber with Prana..." Merlin interrupted. "Perhaps I can help you with that. I could make a pact with Shirou and..."
"That won't be necessary." Arturia, Saber and Shirou responded in unison.
"At least for now. We'll think about it." Shirou added quickly. Merlin giggled.
"Now then. Shall we go?" Tohsaka calmed down.
"Are going somewhere?" Merlin asked.
"Yep. We are going to the church." She turned towards Emiya. "Shirou. Since you sacrificed one of your command spells just now, I'll repay you. Come with me to the Church. That priest will fill you in on everything you need to know."
Shirou looked at the others. "I think it would be wise to do so. If you go, we'll come with you." Arturia declared.
"Fine then. Let's go Tohsaka." Shirou stood up. "Oh, wait a second. Won't Saber be confused by this time? We already know that her memories are not the same as Arturia's."
"Good point." Gawain agreed.
"That is not a problem." Saber said. "Servant's adapt to the era they are summoned to. Further more, I've already been summoned for this war once before."
"Wait? You've been summoned once before? What are the odds?" Tohsaka was shocked.
"Well, then. Shall we go?" Saber stood up.
""If we're going, we should do so well armed." Bedivere entered the room.
"Where have you been?" Kay asked.
"Just getting our weapons." Bedivere laid down the weapons he had retrieved. Kay grinned when he picked up his sword. "Shirou. I brought your bow as well." He handed Shirou his bow.
"Thanks, Bedivere."
They soon arrived at the Church. Shirou was kind of happy about this. Having two Arturia's made the atmosphere feel awkward. "It looks rather eerie tonight." Merlin commented.
"Yeah. I feel the same." Gawain agreed. "Shall we go inside?"
"Let's. Kotomine Kirei will explain everything you need to know, Emiya." Tohsaka lead the group.
Saber suddenly stopped. "I'll be waiting here."
"Why?" Tohsaka asked. "Do you have a past history with that Fake priest?"
Saber nodded. "He was one of our adversaries during the fourth war. Whatever you do, don't trust him."
"I know." Tohsaka agreed. And they continued onwards.
"Is that guy truly that untrustworthy?" Bedivere asked.
"Yeah. He might not be trying anything yet, but you better keep your guard up around him." Was her advice. "He was my father disciple. And after my father's passing he became my teacher. But I don't trust him."
"Wait that priest is also a Magus?" A wry grin played on Bedivere's lips. "I see. A fake priest."
They opened the doors and they entered the Church. "Oh. You've never accepted my repeated invitations, and now you're here with unusual guests. Rin." The priest finished as he turned around. "I take it that he is the seventh Master, then."
"Yep? Master of the Saber-class Servant." Tohsaka declared. "And you already know who they are."
"Indeed, I do. King Arthur and her knights. This is the first time we meet face to face." Kirei walked towards them.
"And you are the Priest, Kotomine Kirei." Arturia asked. "Rin has told us a thing or two about you already."
"Like me being a fake priest?" Kirei laughed. "Why don't get to the point. Saber's master. What is your name?"
"Emiya Shirou."
"Emiya?" What are the chances, he thought. "I take it that you came here to learn more about the ritual? All of you." He let his eyes go over them.
"Yeah. I made a pact with Saber. I know the basics of the War. Seven Servants and Masters fighting over the wish granting device called the Holly Grail. However, I'm not qualified to compete, because I'm not a proper magus." He felt the gazes of the others bore into him. It made him feel nervous. "You really ought to chose someone else."
"You really believe that Shirou?" Bedivere asked disappointed. Shirou nodded.
"You see. You'll need to explain things from square one." Tohsaka remarked.
"Indeed. This very serious." Kirei moved closer to Shirou. "Emiya Shirou, you cannot yield your status as Master to another. It has been conferred to you and thus you are bound to it. The Holy Grail has chosen you to participate in this Ritual."
"The Grail has chosen him?" Gawain interrupted. "How is that possible?"
"I'll come to that in a moment. The Holy Grail is an object of great power. You only need to look at the Servants for proof. To the one who obtains it, it is a source of limitless power." Kotomine continued.
"But if it so powerful, then why not share it?" Shirou asked.
"When it comes to objects of such great power, it is not that clear cut." Merlin pointed out.
"It is as he says. It was the Grail who decided this. In order to find the one most worthy of wielding it's power, it has the Masters and Servants fight each other to the death." Kirei finished.
"I don't really like this idea of killing others." Shirou clenched his left hand.
"Don't worry, Shirou." Tohsaka tried to assure him. "We don't have to kill each other."
"This is a fight to the death." Kirei reminded her.
"Hush, Kirei!" Tohsaka yelled. "Listen. The Holy Grail that appears in this city is a spiritual object. In that case, we can't touch it."
"And thus, you would need to eliminate the other Servants." Shirou finished her. Tohsaka nodded. "In that case, we could avoid killing the others."
"But that is easier said as done." Arturia shot down his hopes. "Isn't that right, Kirei?" Kirei nodded. Shirou looked at her.
"It is as she said." Kay jumped in. "It's obvious how powerful the Servant's are. So it stands to reason that even with a Servant it is difficult to eliminate another Servant."
"And thus it would be more efficient to kill of their Masters, since they anchor the Servants to this world." Gawain finished.
"I have no wish I would like to see granted." Shirou decided. "What if I used up all my spells right now?"
Everybody looked at him with either shock or with a blanks face, except for Kirei.
"Wait. That would be rash." Tohsaka argued.
"Doing that would mean forfeiting your rights as a Master." Kirei continued. "But I can not imagine any Magus who would waste magic as powerful as these Command Spells. But if you are determined, then break your contract." Kirei prompted. "Use your command spells to break your pact with Saber. However..." A smile appeared on his lips. "Doing so would be the act of someone less of a novice. A coward."
This struck a nerve with Shirou. He glared at him. "That bastard." Kay muttered silently. Bedivere and Gawain looked at him from the corners of their eyes. "This guy is trying to goad him into it." They others nodded in agreement.
"Have I convinced you? If not, then do it. And I'll shall guarantee your safety until the War ends."
"Why is that necessary?" Shirou asked.
"I've been tasked with overseeing the cycle of the ritual." Kirei continued. "Protecting the Masters that have lost their rights is top priority."
"We've suspected as much that there was such a thing." Merlin interrupted. "How many cycles have there been?"
"This is the fifth. The cycle repeats itself every sixty years. The last one was ten years ago, making this one the shortest yet." Kirei let his gaze go over everyone. "Each and every time the War grew more brutal. The Masters were driven by their own desires and engaged in indiscriminate slaughter."
"Scum." Gawain spat. "Magi never change."
Shirou clenched his fists. "What would happen if the winner would be a complete bastard."
"The Holy Grail is the omnipotent wish-granting chalice. We would be powerless to stop the one which the Grail has chosen." Kirei began circling them. "If you don't want that to happen, win it for yourself. At least it would mean that it won't fall in the hands of an indiscriminate killer."
"I don't really have a reason to fight." Shirou concluded.
"Even if the actions of the winner could end in disaster?" Kirei smirked. Shirou was wavering. "Fine. Then you don't have any interest in the events of ten years ago?"
"Ten years ago? What do mean?" Shirou suddenly felt anxious.
"Ten years ago, the Holy Grail fell in the hands of an unworthy Master. I do not know what he wished for. But we could all see the aftermath of that disaster." Kirei spoke about it calmly, like one would speak about ancient history.
"Disaster? You mean..." Shirou grew pale. Arturia looked at him worried. Suddenly, she fell saw a familiar vision in her head. She had seen it in her dream. The burning city. The boy. In the distance loomed an eerie shadow. Like an evil tower, topped by what looked like a black sun.
"The New Fuyuki fire." Arturia murmured.
"Oh. You know of it?" Kotomine was surprised. Arturia and the others nodded. Shirou looked at them stunned.
"Yes. Merlin learned of it during our stay. He also discovered that the Grail was somehow responsible for it." She admitted.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Shirou felt betrayed.
"I had some doubts about whether or not we should." Arturia averted her gaze. "I'm sorry." The others too, felt the sting of guilt. Shirou suddenly felt dizzy and grabbed a nearby bench to prevent himself from falling over.
"Shirou. Are you alright?" Tohsaka moved in closer, as did Arturia.
"Tell me. Has anyone ever won the Grail?" Shirou pulled himself back together.
"One man had obtained it once, albeit briefly." Kirei admitted. "Nothing happened to him." Kirei had anticipated Shirou's next question. "Simply causing the Grail to appear is trivial. Once all the Masters have gathered, it will reveal itself in time. Last time the Grail had not yet reached completion. The result of a foolish man, letting sentiment get the better of him..." Kirei clenched his hands behind his back. "As Rin said, it isn't necessary to kill of the other Masters. But if you don't do it, the Grail will never be complete. It choses the Master who is most worthy of it. That is why that man, who avoided fighting, did not win the Grail."
"Simply put, it is meaningless unless you finish of the other Masters." Tohsaka scoffed. "In the last War, the one who got the Grail was weak."
"This is all that I have to say." Kirei stood in front of Shirou. "Emiya Shirou. Make your choice."
Not long after that, they were back outside. "I'm sorry." Arturia muttered. "We should have told you about our findings. I was afraid that you would feel compelled to join the Holy Grail War if you knew."
"I understand why. Not that it matters now." Shirou sighed. "Let's win this thing." They arrived at the gate where Saber was waiting for them.
"How did it go?" She asked.
"As you would expect. I'm participating." Shirou said. He held out his hand. Saber accepted the handshake, albeit a bit confused. Then she smiled.
"Allow me to renew my vow. As long as the Command Spells are on your body, I shall serve as your blade." Everyone around them smiled. In that moment Shirou felt determined. He couldn't let that tragedy from ten years ago repeat itself.