Up in Flames
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Once Taiga had dismissed herself for the evening, Kiritsugu was finally able to spend the night alone with Irisviel as they readied themselves to go to bed at long last.
"That Taiga is a really nice girl, and I'm certain that our son was in good hands these past few years" said Irisviel as Kiritsugu was having consistent moments of being in deep thought and was left unaware they were talking to him.
Seeing as they had planned to talk about it from the beginning, Irisviel took the initiative as he leaned in and blew into her husbands ear breaking him from his stupor once again.
"Sorry Iri, just I have a lot on my mind" said Kiritsugu as he continued to change into his nightwear.
"I know, but we've the whole house to ourselves now, so we can talk freely on whatever is concerning you" said Irisviel as Kiritsugu let out a relaxing sigh as that is what he was planning on doing before the evening came to an end.
"Besides the obvious question in regards to us being either alive or not, there's a lot of concerning things on my mind, specifically all the regrets I had hope to have left behind when I died, but it seems that everything I've been avoiding is finally gonna catch up to me" said Kiritsugu.
"Like what" asked Irisviel as Kiritsugu face his wife and looked at her intently, "Like how I discovered the true purpose of the Holy Grail, how it was in actuality the ultimate weapon of destruction and that I was too late to save you from becoming the catalyst needed for it to appear" said Kiritsugu as he remembered everything so vividly.
Failing to beat the clock in saving his wife, he had only managed to bid farewell to a mindless husk with no memory of who he was, who she was, and more importantly their daughter.
"But we had agreed that I would give my life for not only the Einzbern family, but for you as well" said Irisviel, "I know and I've regretted that decision for the remainder of my life, if I could go back in time, I'd have changed it all and take you away somewhere far away and our daughter as well, but I can't- I couldn't even because I was labeled as a traitor towards the Einzbern, and was so burn out that I couldn't even let her know what became of us" said Kiritsugu as he was loosing his composure by the minute as feelings of sorrow and pain filled his heart once more.
Gently placing her hands on his face, Irisviel lifted his face up to face hers, which had a caring smile on her face.
"I know you must have been through a lot after the 4th Holy Grail War, and I'm sorry I couldn't be there by your side with you during your times of need, but I need you to understand that everything had happened for a reason we're not in control of" said Irisviel.
"Cause even if you could go back in time and change things, I wouldn't want you to, only cause I wouldn't able to enjoy the most happiest reunion in my life" said Irisviel as she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
"Thanks for your kind words Iri, but I've caused so much hatred, so much harm in my life that I don't think I should even deserve a second chance at it" said Kiritsugu as he was greeted by swift slap to the face by Irisviel.
"Don't you dare say that, I don't care how much pain and regret you have, but don't even think you don't deserve to be here right now next to me" said Irisviel with a stern look as Kiritsugu held his face.
"Those are selfish thoughts right there, especially since it wouldn't be unfair for me or Illya, or our son Shirou to know that I'm alive and you're not" said Irisviel as she began to calm down a little.
"If you have any regrets, it's fine so long as you intend to make amends, cause I don't think either one of use would be alive right now if you weren't willing to put in the effort" said Irisviel as she leaned in to hold her husband dearly before he began to return the gesture.
"I… don't know if I'll be able to" said Kiritsugu softly, "Like we told Taiga, we'll do it all one step at a time" said Irisviel to encourage him with words of strength and a much healthier mindset.
"So you say, but… truth is it's a never ending mile upon milelong path of misery I had left behind" said Kiritsugu as he began to pull away and think about the pain he had inflicted on the 2 only other people who either should or did matter in his life.
"Like we said one step at a time" said Irisviel with a smile as Kiritsugu put a soft one on.
"So, speaking of our son, I know that Taiga said you had adopted Shirou shortly before you were acquainted, but she seemed to have left out an important piece of detail, mind telling me" asked Irisviel.
"Sigh, it was a long night shortly after your death, whilst I was busy fending off and killing that mad bastard Kotomine, I had ordered Saber to relentlessly destroy the Holy Grail" said Kiritsugu as Irisviel was aware of the sudden hitch in his speech upon mentioning Saber's name.
"But in an odd twist of events, the Holy Grail had destroyed a large area within Fuyuki City, killing the lives of innocent people, families, and children" said Kiritsugu as he averted his eyes from Irisviel.
"It was at that moment I had wished to have destroyed the Holy Grail sooner, and maybe in a much safer place, instead the lives of innocent had to pay for my heroic action" said Kiritsugu as he began to shake in place before he took a deep breath and calmed down.
"It's funny how I was so desperate to search and save at least one life, just one life in all the destruction I had indirectly caused, but… when I found Shirou, just barely alive, I knew I would do everything in my power to make sure he pulled through, because he was the one to have saved me that night" said Kiritsugu as he put on a genuine smile for the first time since their conversation.
"I may have killed his family and have taken away a much better life for him, but I made sure he lived, and when he was fully recovered, I did the responsible thing to adopt him, not only because I owed him, but because I needed to be reminded what the price of becoming a hero was" said Kiritsugu.
"And what was that price you paid for" asked Irisviel, "Happiness, hope, and a small chance to experience fatherhood" said Kiritsugu as he turned his head to see that it was getting late in the day.
"We should be turning in" said Kiritsugu as Irisviel nodded as they both began to finish their routine before turning off the lights and calling it a night for tomorrow is going to be an eventful day.
"Kiritsugu" said Irisviel, "Yes Iri" answered Kiritsugu.
"What ever happened to Saber" asked Irisviel as she had to ask before her potential return for tomorrow.
"…I betrayed her trust, I… chose not to inform her of the information in regards of me learning the dreaded truth about the Grail, the very same Grail she was determined to attain, and even though we had rightfully earned it, I robbed her of her wish, by forcing her against her pleas to destroy it before she disappeared, damning me for what I intently done to her" said Kiritsugu.
"And you're worried she might have been the one to serve our son and could be returning tomorrow as well" asked Irisviel as she waited patiently to hear his answers.
"Yes and if she still holds any animosity towards me, I don't blame her at all, in fact I'm more than ready to face the consequences" said Kiritsugu.
"Promise me that you won't allow her to kill you, at least not without a fight" said Irisviel as she entwined her hands with Kiritsugu's.
"I promise" said Kiritsugu before kissing his wife good night and get some sleep since they're expecting tomorrow to be the most eventful day, and for Kiritsugu he knew it was going to be for him at the very least.
Alright guys, I think I'm going to end things here, cause starting next chapter, we're finally gonna have Shirou, Saber, Tohsaka, Archer, Sakura, and Rider joining the Emiya household at long last, so expect to see 3 out of these 6 new upcoming characters reactions are upon meeting the fully revived Kiritsugu and Irisviel.
Otherwise just want to thank you guys all once again for all your support I was honestly surprise how many of you guys liked it, though I think I should consider that I'm doing a good job as a writer.
Until next time, be safe, be good people, and please support your local fandom communities.
This has been your Humble Narrator and official author Tobi Yaza. =3