Return to Ashes
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The morning after yesterday was peaceful for the most part, Shirou and Saber spent their day training in the dojo, Irisviel was either playing on the Xbox or watching movies, while Kiritsugu had been using the new family computer for the intended purpose of research around the world for these years he had been dead.
While he had no interest in global affairs or politics, he still kept up to date with it on the matter, but more importantly he wanted to understand the fate of the world of magus and mage craft as a whole.
Thankfully such sites existed and offered quick knowledge in general, but obviously that didn't mean they showed everything.
Still it was enough of a head start for Kiritsugu as he has decided to go back into his old line of work as a mage killer and lesser known hitman for hire if it meant to payback Fujimura.
Eventually his train of thoughts ended when he heard the doorbell ring.
"Wonder who that could be" Kiritsugu asked out loud, "Maybe it's our son wanting to pay us a visit" said Irisviel.
A possibility for sure, but they won't know until they answer the door as Kiritsugu had made his way to answer it, but saw that Shirou had beat them to it.
"Oh, hey guys what brings you all here" greeted Shirou as Kiritsugu could barely see who his son was talking to, before he let them in.
Instantly his eyes widen when he saw that one of the guest was in fact Lancer as he slowly backed away and arm himself in case they came here looking for a fight.
Eventually he retreated back into the living room and pretended like he saw and did noting as he sat back on the computer.
"Everything good dear", "Yeah, our son got it" said Kiritsugu as eventually he heard the gathering of footsteps into the living room.
"Sorry for our intrusion" greeted Lancer with a smile, "Thank you for having us" said Bazett with a bow as Caren remain stoic.
"Who are your friends son" asked Irisviel, "Right everyone, this is Lancer, Bazett, and Caren, the ones who helped me in making everyone here including you guys to have a second chance at life" said Shirou.
"Well it's finally nice to meet you, and you have our thanks in giving us a second chance to be in our sons life" said Irisviel, "No need to thank us, we're more than happy to team up again and stop anything or anyone who tries to mess with the Holy Grail" said Lancer.
Just as the mood was getting good, Caren had turned her head and notice the man looking at the screen of a computer was the one responsible for allegedly killing her father the first time around.
Making her way towards Kiritsugu, the man had turned his head around and brandish his gun on his lap as a means to deter the girl from trying to do something stupid.
"Let me just ask you first, are you Kiritsugu Emiya" asked Caren, "Yes" said Kiritsugu calmly.
"Is it true you had failed in the attempted killing of one Kotomine Kirei" asked Caren as the atmosphere seemed to have gotten more and more tense.
"Admittingly" said Kiritsugu as his curtness put everyone on edge, that is until Caren fell to her knees and began to pray.
"Lord, please excuse this incompetent killer of magus for not only his dirty underhanded sins, but for failing to kill that apostate and heathen of my father" said Caren as Kiritsugu was speechless over what had happened as he was more than certain this girl had insulted him.
"And please lord forgive Shirou, who had not only failed in informing us who is parents were, but more importantly how he had to take up the responsibility of cleaning up his fathers mess on 3 different occasions" said Caren.
"Alright Caren, you made your point, now could you quit the holier than though act already" said Bazett as she felt embarrassed over the girls antics to this day.
"And please forgive this woman who stand behinds me, who not only allows her partner to continue his polyamorous ways, but is intimate with him to the point that no man or woman should be doing out of wedlock" said Caren.
"Ok that's enough, that's enough, sorry about that everyone" said Lancer as he got behind Caren and covered her mouth before she'd say something that might get them permanently evicted.
Still, this interaction alone left an imprint on Kiritsugu as her mentioning of her father and her rather flamboyant display right now fits the description of Kotomine during his sons time got the man irritated.
Note to self, hunt down and trace all those from the Kotomine tree, and kill them all, thought Kiritsugu.
"So let me get this straight, you're Kotomine's kid" asked Kiritsugu as Caren could only nod at his answer.
"Son, you never mentioned this to me" said Kiritsugu as he looked at Saber, "I didn't think it would matter much, since she hates Kotomine with a passion like the rest of us" said Shirou as Caren was finally allowed to speak.
"Yes, shortly after my mother had died, my father had abandoned his duties in raising me and left me in the care of my grandparents to the point that I've gone as far as to change my last name to that of my mothers maiden name, and throughout my years working as a nun performing exorcisms, I've kept tabs on my father's activities of during his time in the 4th and 5th Holy Grail Wars, and if it hadn't been for the bravery of your son, he'd still be alive and would have already destroyed more than half the world's population" said Caren.
"So you're not upset that your father is dead" asked Irisviel, "I'm glad he's dead, that monster had quit being my father the moment he abandoned me, that the only reason why he still remains fresh in our minds and is still talked about were because of the man's actions" said Caren.
"Now that, that's out of the way, could you please put away your gun or do I have to pray to the lord for forgiveness on your behalf for the rest of the day in order for you to trust me" said Caren.
Seeing as she wasn't a threat and that he may feel trigger happy if he had to sit through her antics again, Kiritsugu holstered his weapon, before Caren took this as her chance to invade his space and thoroughly examine him.
"What are" said Kiritsugu, "Shh, I'm just trying to see if there were any anomalies or even a connection as to this bad juju I've been feeling these past few days" said Caren before putting her hands on Kiritsugu and moved it at her leisure.
Once she finished shaking Kiritsugu's head around like a magic 8 ball, Caren released her hold and had a concerned look on her face.
"No, no you're all good" said Caren before she began to smirk, "Than why the frown" demanded Kiritsugu.
"Why not" said Caren as she made herself a spot with the others, "Hold on, didn't you said you were feeling a bad omen just now" asked Shirou.
"I have been, though to be honest I can't say exactly who or what is causing it, if there's anything to be concern about" said Caren, "But you're definitely sensing some sort of menacing activity" asked Saber.
"Yes, and what's concerning is that it's growing more and more like an infected scar the longer I stay at the church" said Caren, "Look I told you, if you're really feeling uncomfortable and freaked out about that place, you're more than welcome to move in with me and Bazett here back at our apartment" said Lancer.
"And like I've said before, I can't risk it, less it is something dangerous and I'm not there to stop it any further" said Caren before she looked at Kiritsugu again.
"Kiritsugu, I know we just met and this maybe sudden, but in the odd chance that this evil manifest into something that not even I can quell, I'd like it if you'd be prepared to step in and stop whatever it is by any means necessary" said Caren.
Taking the moment to think about it, for all Kiritsugu knew it could be a ploy for the girl to kill him on behalf of the church, on the other she did help Shirou in giving him a second chance to do right, and the only way he can do right is by killing even in its tracks.
"Alright, but if you're to require my help, I need you to allow me to set up some surveillance equipment of my own, and some other necessities in case it becomes something that not even I can stop" said Kiritsugu.
"Very well, and if you should need anything else from me, I'll be more than happy to provide" said Caren as she began to head for the exit.
"Leaving already" asked Lancer, "Like I said, I have an obligation to keep an eye on the church" said Caren before bidding goodbye to everyone, but more importantly leaving Kiritsugu an uneasy feeling.
Present
Arriving at a safe house, Kiritsugu gathered his equipment as the Shepherd of Fire waited outside listening to the radio.
"Fuck, I know I'm in Mexico, but the least they could do is play me some real 90's rock music" said the Shepherd of Fire as he began to shut off the radio and search through the glove box for a CD for him to play, but stopped in mid search.
Sensing that something was amiss, the man stepped out of his car and made his way towards the trunk and began to pull out a SPAS-12 shotgun and proceeded to load the weapon.
Stepping away from the car, he aimed his weapon towards the foliage in front of him, before taking in a deep breath as the end of his weapons barrel started to glow red.
With a pull of a trigger the Shepherd of Fire, fired a buckshot of stone towards whatever was out there as it gave a crying yelp.
Lowing his weapon, the Shepherd of Fire turned his head to see Kiritsugu making his way towards him.
"Any idea as to what or whom you were firing" asked Kiritsugu, "I've an idea, but we won't know until we know" said the Shepherd of Fire as he lead Kiritsugu in.
At about 50 yards from them, they walked over to see that lying dead on the floor with stone filled in it's chest was a man with dog like features.
"What the hell is this thing, some sort of chimera" asked Kiritsugu, "No, it's Xolotol, or at least another piece of him" said the Shepherd of Fire as the being began to erupt into flames, before the flickering embers gathered together in the sky and flew fast in the opposite direction.
"This Xolotol, is he the target I am after" asked Kiritsugu, "No, Xolotol is what you could call the god of death here by the locals, and he's only ever appeared to me whenever I send a client on a true suicide mission" admitted the Shepherd of Fire as both men looked at each other.
"Lucky for me, I've been meaning to die for a while now" said Kiritsugu as both men head back to the vehicle.
"Look, it's none of my business man, but you should learn to value your life, you've got a family waiting back for you, and while I normally I give my clients the chance to back out on this mission, sadly this one is to dire for me to give you that choice" said the Shepherd of Fire.
"What are you getting at" demanded Kiritsugu, "Look, I know that everyone today wants to die, but trust me if you got loved ones dependent on you, you'll be hurting them more by letting yourself get killed and taking the easy way out" said the Shepherd of Fire.
"Mind your own damn business, besides, I do a lot more harm to my family being alive than dead" said Kiritsugu as his employer let out a defeated sigh as they got in their car.
Once the Shepherd of Fire began to start up his car, he started up their conversation again.
"So did you ever found out what was causing your sons friend a lot of anxiety" asked the Shepherd of Fire, "No, I unfortunately left long before knowing the outcome of that" said Kiritsugu.
"Right, so… what happens next" asked the Shepherd of Fire, "What happens next is you start telling me more about this job you got me doing, and if I make it out of this suicide job of yours alive, I'll be more than happy to tell you the rest of the story" stated Kiritsugu.
"Ok, cool" said the Shepherd of Fire as he knew when it was better to talk about business, but even as he began to talk about the actual mission, Kiritsugu's thoughts wondered back towards his final days with his family and how it all fell apart.
Alright guys, new chapter fresh for you guys to enjoy, and I hope you like, now that we're actually getting closer towards the end here.
Next chapter we'll finally have a big happy family reunion involving Illya and Berserker, whom I personally think learned how to mellow out and not be this rampaging hulking monster anymore, so be sure to stick around for that.
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