Disclaimer: I don't own Fate/Stay Night or anything, please support the official release
Chapter 7: Kiritsugu Emiya
Mount Miyama
Shirou is seen entering a restaurant to meet someone. This place is infamous for its over use of red peppers in every dish.
In other words, the food is hot.
Very hot.
Imagine being stabbed in the tongue and then having salt rubbed into it, and you'll be on the right track.
"Ah, you're finally here, Shirou Emiya? I came early, so I have already started eating."
On the far left of the restaurant was none other than Kirei Kotomine, eating a plate of Mapo Tofu, though from his perspective it might as well be a boiling pot.
After his discussion with everyone, Shirou had set up a meeting with the false priest in order to confront him about the Holy Grail War. The priest asked him to meet up in a chinese restaurant this afternoon instead of the church… apparently he is a regular here.
"What's wrong? Don't just keep standing and sit down." Kirei said, trying to keep his composure.
He is sweating profoundly and unbuttons his coat; for some reason, he never stops for a drink, spiritedly moving his hands as if they will never move again if he stops.
Actually… is he just being stubborn or is it really that good?
"So, what do you wish to know? I am a busy man, so I do not want people to get attached to me." Kirei asked.
Yet you're meeting up with a teenager in a chinese restaurant...
Shirou takes a deep breath, "why did you lie about the grail?"
Kirei's eating pace did not stop, "I did not lie about anything, the grail is a wish-granting device and the war serves as a ritual to summon it."
Shirou glares at Kirei…
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Do you want some?" Kirei asked.
Shirou slams his hands on the table, "no!"
Kirei looks at him confused (or at least as close as you can get) "then what is the problem?"
"Why didn't you tell me that the grail was corrupted?" Shirou asked.
Kirei abruptly stops his pace to look at Shirou slightly surprised though he was able to hide it well, "what are you talking about?" He continues eating his hot food.
"My Servant told me what was 'living' inside the grail and what would happen if it granted a wish. He also said that it was because of that wish that resulted in the fire ten years ago."
Kirei didn't say anything and continued eating his tofu. This Holy Grail War has been very strange lately, and now there was this predicament.
Just who is this Foreigner?
"You are correct Emiya… the grail is corrupted." Kirei admitted, "it happened back in the third war when the Einzberns cheated and summoned an irregular Servant, much like yours. It was far too weak to be of any use and was quickly defeated, however, it seems that its soul became trapped in the Holy Grail and has corrupted it to what it is today."
After digesting that information and realizing that Frank was telling the truth, Shirou had a determined expression on his face, this is more than enough reason to destroy it.
Kirei noticed the expression and smirks, "that look reminds of Kiritsugu."
Shirou was caught off guard by the mention of the name, "you knew Kiritsugu?"
Kirei smiles.
He was enjoying the fact Kiritsugu's name came out of Shirou's mouth.
"He and I were both Masters during the Fourth Holy Grail War. I was the Master of Assassin while Kiritsugu was the Master of Saber." Kirei stated.
Shirou was now more compelled to ask the priest more but also conflicted about it, "why didn't you tell me Kiritsugu Emiya was a Master in the previous war when we last met?"
Kirei's smile grew further, he wasn't looking guilty in the slightest. "Is it not obvious? What good would it do to you to know that your father was a Master? Kiritsugu Emiya's achievements have nothing to do with you."
Shirou knew that Kirei's answer wasn't wrong. Even if he was a great Master, it doesn't mean he gets a benefit out of it.
Still…
"Did I become a Master because I'm Kiritsugu's son?" Shirou asked. He was raised as his son, and studied magecraft under him. The only difference, however, was that they made contracts with different Servants.
Still, the fact remains that there is some kind of connection here.
Kirei put down his spoon and wiped the sauce on his mouth with a napkin. "That is none of my concern. I have never heard of a Master's title being hereditary, and in any case you are Kiritsugu's adopted son. It is rare for an unprepared person to be chosen as a Master. I do not know why you were chosen as an exception."
Shirou deflated at the statement, so there was no connection between them, it was all by chance.
"Though this could be interpreted as the grail making you atone for Kiritsugu Emiya's sin of denying power." Kirei said.
"My father denied the Holy Grail?" Shirou asked, surprised.
"That is correct. Kiritsugu Emiya came to this town to obtain it. The Holy Grail answered his pure wish, and maybe the Holy Grail though he would be a fit owner." Kirei's expression did not change though Shirou could feel the atmosphere growing denser, "but he destroyed the Holy Grail at the very end. To end the war, he betrayed everyone and everything he stood for."
"He didn't betray anyone. Kiritsugu destroyed the grail probably because he found out about its corruption; he didn't betray anything." Shirou retorted, there was no way the man who took him in would do something like that.
Kirei chuckles at that, "it seems you do not know what Kiritsugu was like before, so why don't I tell you?"
Shirou was put off by his ominous smile... it was the smile of someone with delight.
A man was seen lighting a cigarette with a rifle by his side. He wore a black suit and trench coat. His face is blank and his black eyes are vacant. He began walking towards his next target...
"Kiritsugu Emiya was a magus unrelated to the Holy Grail War. He lived for his desires and objectives, and sought the Holy Grail as a result. A miracle he could not make come true himself, an ideal he could not implement with mere human power. He could not cast away his immature dream that should have been given up, and sought the Holy Grail to make it come true."
He is seen killing various people, in one of them he had tricked a man to sign a Self-Geis Contract with him only to then be shot dead by a sniper.
"Kiritsugu was hired by the Einzberns, one of the three magi families that are the cause of the system, and was hailed as their greatest asset. Having learned during the last three wars, the Einzberns sought out a mage who specializes in combat as their magic was not suited for that. Therefore, they had put their trust in Kiritsugu, who was not part of the Mage Association. They had taught him about the Holy Grail, gave him the power of a Master, and a woman to produce a successor. It was like accepting a commoner into a noble family."
Kiritsugu is seen with a woman by his side leaning on his shoulder. She wore a burgundy blouse with a brooch, a white skirt, thigh-high white boots, and black tights. She had platinum hair and red eyes.
"The Einzberns treated Kiritsugu exceptionally, and Kiritsugu answered their trust. He defeated every Master in the war while I was the only one who survived our encounter. He was precise, careful, brutal, and cruel. He showed no pity for his enemies. Once the decision was made, he would act. He killed a Servant, let the Master beg for help while crawling on the floor, and ruthlessly shot him in the head. He showed now emotion even after killing. Neither the supremacy of his strength nor guilt in killing the weak."
Bodies littered the ground, buildings were on fire, and at the center of it all was Kiritsugu Emiya, aiming his gun at someone before pulling the trigger and killing them, showing no hesitation or remorse for his actions.
"In short, he was a machine. He did not have any emotions to begin with. There was no space for his human emotions to enter."
"My father… was a machine…?" Shirou said in disbelief.
"He thoroughly attacked his enemies, allowing no chance to counterattack. He would use families as shields and their friends as shackles to win the war. If he were in this war, you would hate him to your very core." Kirei told him.
Shirou was at a loss for words.
"He threw away his personal feelings for his goals, but in the end that proved to be his own weakness. He betrayed everything. The Einzberns entrusted their long standing desire to Kiritsugu and the Holy Grail manifested after the first five Masters were defeated. It was a wish no human could make a reality, a wish Kiritsugu Emiya desired… but he threw it all away at the last moment. The Holy Grail disappeared and the war ended. And that's who the magus Kiritsugu Emiya was." Kirei stated.
Shirou just sat there, trying his hardest to deny his story… Kiritsugu was nothing more than a cold-hearted killer, and that he was connected to the Einzberns. It does explain why Illya was so interested in him.
Shirou did note that the priest would often show emotion when he talked about Kiritsugu, almost like he had some sort of grudge, "... Kotomine, did you hate my father?"
Kirei merely smiles, "of course, we were opposite sides of the spectrum. Matou and Einzbern considered us the same kind of person, but we treated each other as natural enemies. We simply could not stand each other. We both lived for contradictory ideals, but Kiritsugu lived for his ideal and pursued it with pride until the moment he denied the Holy Grail. "
Shirou again kept quiet and listened, this was way too much. He wanted to confront Kirei about the Holy Grail and instead found out that not only was his father a Master in the last war, but he was an assassin hired by the Einzberns.
Shirou ponders if Illya has anything to do with it.
"Well, that is all. I have given you the information you seeked." He left some money on the table and was about to leave.
"Uh… no, hold on! There is still something else I want to know about." Shirou pleaded.
"If you have any questions, make it short. That took longer than I thought." Kirei said.
"...! Yeah, about that… You said that the Einzberns gave Kiritsugu a woman to produce a successor… do you know who that is?" Shirou asked.
Kirei simply raised an eyebrow, "you mean Kiritsugu did not tell you? I am surprised. From what I know, Kiritsugu had a daughter who is participating in the Holy Grail War as a Master. The Master of Berserker if I recall." He said and left the restaurant.
Shirou was left completely stunned by the revelation… Ilya, the little girl who tried to kill him two nights ago, was Kiritsugu's daughter.
But wait…
If that's the case, then why does Illya look like a 12-year-old? Shouldn't she at least be twenty? That doesn't make any sense.
He'll have to ask her later about it…
With no reason to stay any longer, Shirou left the restaurant and made his way home.
Unbeknownst to him, however, a man in a velvet coat watched him leave the building, only to then disappear in a puff of smoke.
Evening
Everyone was sitting down at the table enjoying dinner… or at least that's what it's supposed to happen. Shirou, Sakura, Illya, Souichirou, and Caster (who was technically Souichirou's fiancée) were trying their hardest to ignore the force of nature that was Taiga Fujimura, who was having dinner adjacent to them.
On her own.
In a separate table.
With a huge bottle of sake next to her.
Here's the thing… Taiga is a simple, yet highly energetic person, but when something bad happens to her (i.e. not eating her food for some reason) she becomes, what's the right word for this… unruly.
Think of it this way: if a normal Taiga is the clingy little sister, then a drunk Taiga is the same as a needy daughter.
"I don underztan… h-how come YOU get all the girlz? Wa *hic* iz dis, a frikking Shounen manga!?" Taiga was intoxicated.
Shirou sighs, "Fuji-nee, for the last time, they're just staying here because they have nowhere to go."
Taiga took a big gulp from her sake bottle. "Yea daz wt they all say… and the next day *hic* you all sharing a bed togadar!" She then began to cry, "I don underztan… I'm the pretty one an' yet I'm still single…" Taiga drinks from her bottle again, "am I gonna be *hic* single forever?"
"Fuji-nee… come on, I'm sure you'll find someone someday." Shirou said, trying to comfort the depressed tiger.
"Waaaaaaaah, Shirouuuuuuu!" Taiga clings onto Shirou and cries a stream of anime tears on his shoulder. He sighs and pats her head.
Everyone else was left appalled by the scene and simultaneously asked "how is she even a teacher!?"
Illya giggles, "who would have thought the infamous Tiger of Fuyuki could turn out to be such a weak kitten? It's adorable~"
Taiga abruptly stops crying. She lets go of Shirou and walks up to Illya. The next thing everyone saw were rows of sharp teeth mowing down on Illya's head. Illya yelps and attempts to get the tiger off her head but to no avail. She runs around, making a huge mess. Souichirou and Caster already left the room, not wanting to deal with the shenanigans (mostly Caster; Souichirou just wanted to finish his dinner).
Shirou and Sakura let out a tired sigh… this is going to be a long night.
Later that night…
I stood in front of the main gate, ready to leave.
After the disaster that was dinner, I told Caster and Souichirou about my plan and that they should watch over Illya and the others until I get back. Caster hesitated at first, but with her Master/lover by her side, everything will be fine.
Now it's time to-
"Where are you going?"
I turned around to see Rider…
With Shirou and Sakura!?
"What are you three doing here!?" I asked, surprised.
"Rider told us where you're going, and we decided to come with you." Shirou said.
I look at Rider with a frustrated look on my face, how the hell did she find out my plan!?
As if answering my question, Rider spoke "Caster informed me what you were planning."
"And let me guess, you told Shirou and Sakura as well." I speculated
Rider nodded.
Damnit…
I scratched the back of my ear, "so what are you here for? Are you trying to stop me? Because let me tell you, I am very stubborn."
Shirou shakes his head and held up a metal pipe, "no, we want to help you."
[... what?]
Sakura stepped forward, holding her hands close to her chest. She was afraid. "Please, Frank-san, let us help you. Grandfather isn't like other magi… he isn't even-"
"Human? Yeah, I already know. I mean the man has black eyes, and if that doesn't convince you, then there's also the rotting flesh smell that radiates off of him." I said.
"How do you-"
"It also doesn't help that he's using those disgusting familiars of his to keep himself alive which by the way, did not stick since he is just a walking corpse now. Not to worry, I have the perfect tool to get rid of our little pest problem. So it would be a good idea if you all stay here." I said.
Shirou shakes his head. "No Frank, we're coming with you. I don't want to see you putting yourself at risk for us. I want to help you fight Zouken."
I let out a defeated sigh, he's so stubborn…
"Fine, but don't do something stupid." I said and me and Rider disappeared into spirit form (I finally figured out how to do it).
"Hey, what are you kids doing out here!?"
Sakura and Shirou look back to see a surprisingly sober Taiga… wearing a tiger onesie? (It even comes with tiger paws!)
"Fuji-nee… what are you wearing?" Shirou deadpanned, he wasn't that shocked that she would wear something like that. Sakura was indifferent as well.
"Oh this?" Taiga pats her stomach with her paws, "do you like it? These are the best payamas I've ever had!"
"Umm, that's great and all… but why?" Shirou asked.
Taiga had a paw on her chin, "well, it started last week…"
(Flashback)
The Tiger gets her Claws (T: Hey!)
We see Taiga Fujimura walking through Mount Miyama, carrying a bundle of bags filled with… things.
"Alright, time to go home!"
See with Taiga, there is never enough money. She would spend her salary on the most ridiculous stuff as well as alcohol (which would explain why she never moved out of Shirou's house). One day, she walked upon a shop she'd never seen before.
"I was on my way home after one of my *cough*, *cough* business ventures when I found this small shop that caught my eye. Thing is… this shop was never there before and I go through that route everyday. It had a weird name, too."
"I think it was 'The Marshall Room' or something."
Taiga opens the door and is greeted by odd, yet charming music that seems to calm her soul. The interior had a Victorian theme while the walls were colored red with gold decals, giving a sense of mystery. The antiques inside seemed out of place… like they don't belong here. Further inside, she could see more modern products being sold here like DVDs, video games, plushies, statues, and manga but they were all stuff she has never heard of, like what the hell is a Pokémon and why is this yellow mouse so damn adorable!? She walks up the counter and presses a button, a buzzing noise can be heard in the back.
Seconds later, someone appears. He was an old man, about 50 years give or take, with grey hair and beard. He had red eyes that, while may appear intimidating, held kindness but portray a youthful nature despite his age. He wore a black dress jacket with yellow highlights and what appeared to be a cape on top of it. He also wore white gloves as well.
Honestly, his regal appearance makes him like some kind of nobleman from a distant land.
Yet he is the owner of an antique shop.
"Hoh? A customer? I don't get many customers these days… mostly because the coordinates to this place are a mess. I tell you these Rayshifts are just ruining my business." He takes a closer look at Taiga and arches a grey eyebrow, "a human? Interesting… It's not often that a human comes here."
"Uhhh… what?" Taiga was confused.
The old man notices this. "Apologies, I didn't mean to confuse you. My name is… hmmm… how about 'Jewels' for now, yes that will do."
"My name is Taiga Fujimura. So, Jewels, was it? What is this place? I've been here many times and I've never seen this place before." Taiga said.
Jewels smiles. "Why, young lady, this is the Marshall's Room: a place that exists between the astral and physical worlds, capable of existing in different realities. Only those with exceptional potential can find and enter this place… or at least that's how it's supposed to work." He sighs, "I don't understand how someone as ordinary as you managed to find it. Haaaah… I'm getting too old for this."
A cross-popping vein appears on Taiga's forehead. "WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME!? I AM ANYTHING BUT PLAIN! iF YOU DARE CALL ME PLAIN AGAIN, I WILL PUNCH YOU SO HARD YOU'LL BE NEEDING A SET OF DENTURES!"
"HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA! So the girl has the heart and the claws; as expected of the Tiger of Fuyuki." Jewels bellowed laughing.
"DON'T CALL ME TIGER!"
Jewels finally calms down and gets an idea. "How about I give you something, you know, as an apology to my last comment." He leaves Taiga while he goes out the back. A few minutes later, he returns with a cardboard box. "Here. This should serve as an apology." He hands it to Taiga.
Taiga takes the box and opens it, and inside was a tiger onesie. She takes it out and unveils it in all its splendor. It has a hoodie with tiger ears and even comes with tiger paws.
"So… what do you think?" He asked, a smile slowly forming on his face.
"What… do I think?" Taiga asks as she begins to tremble. She snaps back to him with stars in her eyes. "I LOVE IT!"
The old man laughs. "Good, and from the looks of it, it'll fit you nicely." The old man sighs. "That old thing has been in storage for quite a long time you know… it's even older than I am. They say it can grant wishes." Jewels said and sent her a wink.
"Really!? I'm sold! How much do you want?" Taiga asked with excitement.
The old man shakes his head. "Nothing, like I said, it's been in storage for a long time, so you can have it if you want."
"Thank you so much, I'll always wear it!" Taiga exclaims and makes her way to the door.
As she leaves, she hears the old man tell her something. "When you see the young Tohsaka heir, tell that I'll pay her a visit after the war is over and that her sister, sword boy, and their friends are welcomed at any time." The door closes.
"Hm?" When she turns, all that was in front of her was a brick wall; its as if the shop was never there. "The heck?"
(Flashback ends)
"Since then, I've made sure to wear this onesie every night," she wraps her arms around herself, "its so comfy that I might just wear this forever~"
Shirou and Sakura (as well as Rider and me because we never left) were left flabbergasted by Taiga's thought process. How she just let someone so suspicious give her something and then walk away without even asking anything about it!? Then there's that shop owner, everything about him screams "strange."
[That name though… it sound familiar...]
"Soooooo, wanna tell me where you two are going in the middle of the night?" Taiga asked in a playful tone.
As they were struggling to think of an answer, Taiga was knocked out by none other than Caster (when did she get here!?)
"Don't worry, I'll take her inside. You children do what you need to do; crush that parasite for me." Caster used a spell to suspend Taiga in the air, then walked back inside with her body close behind.
With the crisis averted, Shirou and Sakura take their leave though they had a feeling it wasn't going to be easy.
Omake: Tofu Panic
My eye twitches.
This is impossible.
In front of me was a plate of Mapo Tofu, cooked using too many hot peppers. I might as well be eating fire.
How is anyone able to eat this thing?
Only someone with a sick mind, that's how.
"Frank-san?" Mashu asked.
"I don't know why I picked this. I don't even like tofu…" I whimpered.
"If you do not like it then why pick it at all? You are such a contradictory being."
"Hmm? Suddenly it reeks of hypocrisy in here…"
Turning to the source of the voice was a man in a simple priest garment and a golden cross around his neck as well as a blue stole. I noted he was rather tall, standing at 185 cm in his mid twenties. He has brown hair that's just long enough to cover the back of his neck and has vacant brown eyes with no visible pupils.
I knew the moment I saw him that he was Kirei Kotomine though there was something… off about him.
"Well, well if it isn't the Catholic Church. And what's this? No little Timmy glued to your crotch. Progress!" I said with a smirk.
I've always wanted to say that.
"And look at what we have here: a lost lamb looking for guidance." "Kirei" said.
"Excuse me! But I'm the most badass Servant in the Multiverse! I've beaten a lot of Heroic Spirits to get this title and I deserve to be called such."
Kirei gives me a smile, "well then, mind if I ask you your name?"
"Only if you give yours first, papist."
"Heh. Very well, my name is-"
"Rasputin!"
Someone else now enters the fray.
She was a young woman with a slender physique, blonde hair tied to a ponytail with a black ribbon, and green eyes. She was wearing an old-style white dress with black details that seemed to fit her perfectly.
This was the Saber-class Servant: Artoria Pendragon. But everyone calls her Lily.
"You changed the menu again didn't you!? Don't you know no one here likes mapo tofu!" Lily exclaimed.
Rasputin looks at her with disinterest, "what you want doesn't matter… what matters is what you need. Mapo tofu is a blessing from God, the fact that it exists means that there is hope for humanity."
"It's super spicy and no one can last 2 seconds with that stuff in their mouths! Honestly, I'm starting to think you're only doing this to make us suffer." Lily speculates.
Rasputin said nothing and snickered. Lily pouted and the two start arguing about mapo tofu of all things.
[What are we watching?]
I said nothing and stood up, leaving these weirdos alone. I am not dealing with shenanigans on my damn day off!
Unbeknownst to all of us, Mashu took the dish and began eating it. "This is good."
The practice of establishing a Geis is forming a curse over a target that imposes a mystical restriction over one's action with the consent of both parties. Rin describes it as something that cannot be used readily as it is one of the worst curses. The version she uses on Shirou Emiya forces him to not go against any of her commands for the duration of the Holy Grail War. The verses of the incantation travel through his nerves to become infused into his body and mind, and the binding of the spell, described as a "second heart", is placed right next to his heart. It is similar to a Command Spell used on a Servant, but it is not almighty in its applications. It cannot be used to command anything to do his own life, but it can be used to bind him at her own command.
One even more merciless version of a geis is a Self-Geis Scroll. Placing a written contract upon a scroll of vellum that would appear as only meaningless figures and well-made patterns to those who are not magi, it is a curse that directly binds the Magic Crest of the target. The signature of the declarer is signed in blood and infused with Magical Energy to show that the spell has been established and activated. The contract lists the target of the binding magecraft, an oath from the target, and the conditions to accept the contract. Once the conditions are fulfilled, the target will give up part of their free will, and the contract will be confirmed as an unbreakable curse. It forcibly uses the functions of the targets' Crests upon themselves to enforce the contract, and it is a power unable to be erased by any method in theory. Even if the caster's life is lost, the Crest would bind the soul of the dead man and not pass down to future generations. It is a very dangerous magecraft made for the treacherous society of magi where a contract involving offering a maximal concession that absolutely cannot be disobeyed is required.
Author notes
Here's lucky 7, enjoy! I'm not going to spend too much time on this but I added the Kiritsugu segment to be in line with the conversation in Heaven's Feel, though slightly altered. It's boring but hey, we see Taiga wearing a tiger onesie so we might get something interesting in the future.
Am I dragging this? A little but I wanted to slow it down a bit.
Next chapter might be a bit shorter than this one, so look forward to that.
Feel free to comment/review.
Peace~