"Now that I'm all caught up, I would very much appreciate it if you so happened to have some kind of antidote to provide me with." Artoria spoke calmly but Kiritsugu could tell that her tone was threatening.
"Really? I figured stuff like that wouldn't normally affect you Servants that much..." Kairi looked surprised as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Kiritsugu took that as an opportunity to intervene.
"It's not a big deal, but it might hinder her performance enough to make a difference. I would appreciate it if you did what she says. Unless you don't actually have something like that."
"That's not it. I always keep some of it on me in case I get exposed myself on accident. Having to share it for the first time just caught me off guard y'know?"
Kairi replied as he casually tossed a small vial at the King of Knights. She caught it mid-flight and observed it for a moment before downing the whole thing, it's effects already relieving her of the dullness that was ailing her.
"Thank you. And with that, we are even."
She tossed the empty vial back to the Necromancer before turning to her former Master.
"What is our next move Kiritsugu?"
Kiritsugu cupped his chin, deep in thought as he considered how to proceed, Artoria and Kairi looking at him patiently.
"Well, I hate to say it but there aren't many places left we can check. She wasn't being held in the dungeon, or even her room. She may be in the Workshop that they use for the Homonculi's development, or she could be with Acht. We know were we can find him but he'll be guarding himself at all times..."
"Well that only makes this easier right? I can go and look for the old geezer, see if I can't get something out of him if I do, or you can find her in that lab of theirs and we can get out of this place." Kairi said with a grin and Kiritsugu frowned.
"That would be wise, but splitting up might leave us vulnerable to further ambushes. Splitting up would expedite things, but is it a risk we can take?"
"What would you have me do then?" Artoria inquired with a raised brow and Kiritsugu thought about it for a moment before smirking.
"Well, now that you mention it, if most of their attention is diverted elsewhere there would be less risk in splitting up…"
Kairi laughed at Artoria's disappointed expression briefly. It was obvious that the King of Knights was not particularly excited about being a simple diversion.
"Well, if nothing else you are pretty distracting."
That statement stunned both Artoria and Kiritsugu before the latter was forced to stifle his laughter when she leveled him with a fierce glare.
"In case you're wondering, I was referring to the more destructive kind of attention only Servants are capable of." Kairi found the need to explain himself, although the grin on his face never quite disappeared.
"I can already tell that you and Kiritsugu will get along just fine..."
Artoria sighed and with that, left to fulfil her next objective.
"Y'know, If someone told me yesterday that the greatest King of Britain was actually a girl, and a young, easy to tease one at that, I'd probably ask for whatever they're smoking."
Kiritsugu smiled at Kairi's words. Sure the King of Knights was a girl. Sure she was also probably Taiga's age, at least physically. But he had to remember that the same person that could goof around and act naturally around a young kid like Shirou, was also a person capable of leading a country, entire armies to war and never falter.
"It doesn't make a difference anyway. The things that King Arthur has done won't change because the legend mentioned a male King. If nothing else, that only makes those achievements even more impressive, wouldn't you agree?"
"I suppose so..."
After a brief moment of silence, the two walked away in opposite directions, Kiritsugu heading towards the Workshop and Kairi leaving to look for Acht. It wasn't long after that when the fruits of Artoria's labor were heard, with multiple crashes and clashing of blades echoing throughout the castle.
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"Shirou, are you here?"
Taiga called out for the small redhead from the living room. She had just come over to look after him until Kiritsugu came back from his business trip and fully expected the boy to be either in his room, the kitchen or the Dojo. But she didn't find him in any of those places.
With a sigh, she set out to find him quickly and have him prepare dinner. It was getting late and a one-sided game of hide and seek wouldn't do much to relieve the tiger's hunger.
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Shirou stepped into the shed clumsily, dragging the heavy sword behind him until he closed the door and set it on the floor carefully.
He had been so entranced by the sword, Merodach, that he had just stood there staring at it's magnificent blade long after the King of Heroes' departure.
Then there was the fact that he could tell what the sword was called, even analyze it's making and purpose. He didn't know how he did it, but he definitely did something unconsciously.
And lastly, the one that gave it to him in the first place. Gilgamesh, proud owner of every treasure in the world and the very first Hero of human history.
He didn't know what to think about the man. He seemed dismissive and overbearing by nature, yet when he found something that interested him, he devoted a great deal of time in regards to it.
It felt even weirder that the King had taken an interest in him specifically.
He could accept that, no matter how weird it felt to him. The man had thoroughly explained his reasoning. The problem was entirely different.
It was the incompatibility of his reasoning with Shirou's. The sheer difference in perspectives regarding both the incident that scarred his mind, and the value of humans themselves.
Where the King thought that Humanity was worthless unless responsible for the creation of something valuable, Shirou believed that humans were valuable by nature. The mere fact the Humanity existed and kept striving despite everything could only mean that as a species they were worthy and capable of greatness. In short, everyone was valuable because they existed.
And while that simple thing wasn't really of any importance to Shirou, wanting to give someone even a fraction of the happiness that Kiritsugu had when he found him, that was important. That had meaning to him.
If others could be happy, wouldn't that just be great?
That's what bothered him about Gilgamesh. Why would people that want to be happy, people that aspire to live, not be allowed to do so simply because they didn't create something of value? Those were just things anyway. Incomparable to the value of life.
That bothered him too. That simple fact that all life had value certainly was true when he thought about it. He could agree with that instantly. But it didn't feel like it applied to him for some reason.
He took another look at the sword now resting at his side on the floor and he could feel the nagging sensation that his thoughts brought him beginning to disappear.
If he could feel happy by making others happy, that also gave his life meaning, didn't it? But he wasn't necessarily needed for anyone to find happiness. He couldn't help everyone after all. In fact, he couldn't help anyone. He just kept moving until his legs gave out, and then he pushed on until he couldn't.
He flinched. The feeling of fire and ashes around him wasn't pleasant, and it never really went away, forcing him awake at nights on occasion.
That's right. What meaning is there in a tool that wants to help everyone but is unable to save anyone?
The sword gleamed with the moonlight that shone through the windows and Shirou once again was entranced with it.
He had seen that Merodach was responsible for many legends, not through it specifically, but from what it stood for. A model for someone to grow into something of their own. One could say that it valued their worth and revealed their true nature, always in the form best suited to them.
Well, that wouldn't help him much. After all, this sword was a model for each and every sword that came from it's concept. It wouldn't be possible for anyone to make something with it as a model when they didn't know what Emiya Shirou was meant to be in the first place. And especially when he didn't know either.
He could relate with Merodach in that sense, weird as that was. Neither of them capable of greatness, but both wanting to inspire and help others fulfill their goals. And so long as that was possible, everything was as it should be.
But was that enough?
Before Shirou had a chance to ponder this, the door to the shed was kicked open and a screaming Taiga rushed the young boy immediately.
"Shirou! I've been looking everywhere for you! I'm. So. Hungry..."
Shirou for his part simply rolled his eyes, already used to Taiga's antics and her enthusiasm over his cooking. He was getting better at it, if everyone's praise was to be believed and that made him feel a bit proud of himself. He supposed that appeasing people's needs for quality food also led to their happiness, fleeting as it may be.
"Fine, I get it. Get up so I can whip up something for us. I'm getting a bit hungry as well."
"THANK YOU!"
Shirou followed Taiga out of the shed, watching the girl run off towards the Household at blistering speeds, barely managing not to trip on the way.
He glanced at Merodach one last time and closed the door behind him with a sigh.
"Who knows, if things don't work out I can always try being a chef..."
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The castle shook as the sounds of battle were only getting louder as time went on and Illyasviel von Einzbern couldn't be more terrified.
Initially, the explosion that first struck earlier hadn't concerned her much, the Homonculus responsible for operating on her assuring her that it was simply the result of an experiment gone wrong.
It was when the sound of gunshots and metal hitting metal were heard that Illya grew concerned.
It hadn't let up at all and the worst part was the fact that the sounds were getting louder. That could only mean the ones responsible were also getting closer.
"A-Are they coming for us?" Illya fearfully asked and the Homonculus that prepared it's equipment at the side of the workshop promptly ignored her.
It was always like this lately. Ever since Mommy and... Kiritsugu left, everyone ignored her unless they specifically wanted something from her. Already the preparations for the next Grail War had dragged her into that life and Grandfather had already informed her of what her role in it would be.
It was very simple actually. Victory or the end of the Einzberns.
Too many chances had already been wasted trying to reclaim the Third Magic and the family wouldn't be able to provide the necessary resources to fight again. The 5th Holy Grail War would be their last.
For Illya, this meant nothing. Either way, she was going to die. Either as the vessel for the Einzbern's victory or as a Master that met it's end in combat.
Her thoughts were constantly plagued by the same thing these days. Her mommy, drowning in the dark while Kiritsugu leaves her to die with Illya begging for him to come back.
He never did in the nightmares and it was starting to look like he wouldn't come back in reality either.
She obviously couldn't dismiss the slight chance that it really was Kiritsugu that came here today, that he came back just like he promised.
The voice insisted that hope was futile and that delusions only served to hurt her more.
The sounds of gunfire echoed once more and Illya again turned to the Homonculus. She couldn't move, restrained as she was on the operating table but she could still look around.
"Just to inform you, your nerves and basic human functions will be altered severely by the procedure to the point that your growth will be immediately halted and most of your body will be composed of Magic Circuits. Because of the dangers of such an experimental operation, I will need to sedate you so as to be able to work with minimal resistance."
Illya gulped. It wasn't a question and the Homonculus moved to administer the sedative before a loud thud sounded from the steel door that protected the workshop.
Before the Homonculus had a chance to arm itself with anything, the door was blown off it's hinges with another pair of explosives and the assailant took aim, readying their weapon.
Not a moment later, the Homonculus slumped to the ground, motionless as the bullet hit it's mark and Illya could only stare dumbfounded at the one who had come not to hurt her, but save her.
"Kiritsugu…" her mouth gaped open and the man turned to look at her with a smile that made her feel warm despite the winter cold.
"It's okay my princess. It took a while but Daddy's here for you now."
Not wasting any more time, Kiritsugu approached the table and used a knife to cut the restraints, however Illya didn't move at all from her spot.
"Are you real?"
Kiritsugu flinched. He had promised to come back and while it did take some time and a lot of help, he was surprised at Illya's behaviour. What could she possibly experience to make her believe that him coming back for her couldn't be real?
He gently clasped his daughter's hand and leveled her with a serious look.
"Illya. I'm here. I'm not leaving you behind again."
She was starting to have trouble looking at the man, the image in front of her getting blurry as if... Ah, she was crying.
With that realization out of the way, she could clearly notice the warmth of his hand clasping hers and she reached out to touch him.
Kiritsugu couldn't take this anymore. He wrapped his arms around her in a loving embrace that was very much unlike him, but one that he desperately needed to give.
Illya's tears finally fell and the hug was all that she needed to make sure that this wasn't some kind of joke being played on her. Her daddy was really here after all this time. He was here and he said he wouldn't leave her again.
She buried her head in Kiritsugu's chest and cried. She poured out all the pain and the longing inside her as she let everything out while her father hugged her tighter as if to tell her that everything was okay. And it was.
"P-Papa... You... Why did you?"
Kiritsugu watched Illya softly raise her head to meet his eyes as she spoke those words. He wasn't wondering what she was talking about. Iri's death wouldn't be kept from Illya. There was no reason for it to be a secret and the Einzberns wouldn't care about an 8 year old's feelings enough to break it to her nicely.
"I had to. There wasn't any other choice and I promise to tell you everything but first we need to get out of here."
She didn't seem pleased with that answer. There wasn't anything to tell her that she would like and was also true so he left it at that for now. She however quietly accepted that they would be leaving and only spoke one more time.
"I-I'm really happy you came back Papa."
Kiritsugu could only smile at that.
"Me too, my little princess. Me too."
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Author's Note: The promised upload that was meant for earlier this week was delayed for personal reasons. Hopefully I can prepare another double upload or something close to it to make up for it. Oh well.
Review Corner Time!
DragonTetho: In the Fate Route when Shirou and Artoria encounter Gilgamesh the first time, he hints to his real identity by mentioning that he gave immortality to the snake. That makes me think that the Saint Graph of Archer Gilgamesh is more like a culmination of everything that makes him the King of Heroes as a Heroic Spirit, including all of his adventures until his death. That could also be a side effect of the dialogue being written before Caster Gil had been introduced but for now, I'll keep it because it doesn't really change much. His personality won't change to match Caster Gil's just because he has those memories in this fic.
Dan1142000: Literally everyone I've talked to is in agreement that Mordred deserves better than Apocrypha and I'm always glad to see more adaptations of her as the years go by. Kairi is no exception. I find his character and motivations to be completely different when compared to most people in the Magi circle and that is imo the reason why people initially took a liking towards Kiritsugu. His appearance in Lord El Melloi II's Case Files has also improved his standing as a character in my eyes and has also solidified his position in canon for me. It would be criminal of me to not include him and while I can't confirm what his role going forward will be, or even if it's an impactful one, I can say we all need more Kairi in Fate.
SentinalSlice: It's funny how people forget that Shirou is such a unique case to the point thathat not much can help him that he can't figure out on his own. There's only so much one can do figure out just what exactly he can do when going in blind and most lf that was shown in the UBW route and somewhat in Fate. And while the poor kid does need some time to sort things out, his most traumatic experience being quite fresh still for starters, there aren't many opportunities where one can find peace and quiet in a family like his xD
In any case, hope you all enjoyed the Chapter and remember to stay safe :D