A Stranger I Remain
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Back in the present, we're finally reach the no point of return with Kiritsugu and his employer as they reached their destination as far as splitting off and sending Kiritsugu to face whatever conflict he had agreed to.
"All right, this is our stop, from here on you won't be able to access anything else, nor will anyone else be able to escape or enter from here on out" said the Shepherd of Fire.
"Understood" said Kiritsugu as he began to gather up his weapons and exit the vehicle.
"Right, well if you got everything you need, than I wish you luck, I'll radio in my team to start setting up a barrier" said the Shepherd of Fire as he began to pull out a canister of kerosine and a knife from the trunk.
Just as Kiritsugu was about to run off ahead to end this nightmare, he stopped in his tracks and turned to his employer for the last time.
"Thank you… for hearing me out" said Kiritsugu as he was certain that he was going to die today, and you know what he was alright with that logic of mentality for the last few years now.
"Anytime stranger, just do some justice for not only the world, but for yourself in stopping whatever or whoever might be there that could go after your family" said the Shepherd of Fire.
Acknowledging the words of his employer, Kiritsugu began to finally head out as the Shepherd of Fire began to splash kerosine on the ground and formed a pentagram seal.
As he continued to run towards whatever conflict was set before him, Kiritsugu thought back of his time with the Shepherd of Fire and how they not only talked about his family life, but how Kiritsugu realized that he truly did screw things up, and has no one to blame but himself.
Years Ago
Some time after their date night, Kiritsugu begrudgingly allowed Shirou to join him on one of his missions, specifically one where he had to take out and deal with a mad magus who's gone rogue, in an attempt to achieve true immortality.
While Kiritsugu was hardened, and was a true professional at his job, Shirou was not prepared for witnessing his father in action.
Yes this mage had purposely gone and sapped away the life force of many individuals, be it adults or children, and had some help during his crusade, and he was clearly need to be stop.
What Shirou expected was that they wait for the guy to step outside his house while he walked around his estate or taking a smoke break during his private moment of time.
What Shirou instead had to witness was his father allowing his enforcer to escape when Shirou confronted him prematurely, with a child at hand, as Kiritsugu explained they didn't know where they were conducting their rituals in the first place, and blames Shirou that his involvement might put the whole operation at risk.
Shirou would argue that he couldn't stand seeing a child get abducted like that in front of him no less, but was more shock to see how his father could less for the child's well being if it meant he was able to find his man and their location.
Thankfully they did found their base of operation, as they held a lot of prisoners, ready to be sacrificed in the name of the magus' ambition, and while you think this would have been their cue to destroy the facility, kill the guards, and rescue the hostages, and save the day, it wasn't all that simple since their main target wasn't there.
For a whole hour Shirou had to remain hidden and remain by his fathers side, and stomach through the crying plea's for help or someone to save them, to even having to witness people die before him, just so that they can ensure their target had came.
Once their target finally arrived, Shirou decided that he couldn't wait no more as he charged in head first to kill this monster before him and put this nightmare to rest.
This of course infuriated Kiritsugu as he had a plan laid out, where there would have been a minimum amount of casualties as all the prisoners had been killed, and their target would have escaped, if not for Kiritsugu chasing the man down and killing him out on the streets amidst a large crowd of people.
Once he had returned to not only made sure his son was alive, but also the facility was destroyed beyond salvation, they both finally went back home, where things began to escalate even greater.
"What the hell kind of crap was that" demanded Shirou as he slammed his hands on the table as Kiritsugu remained apathetic.
"I should be asking you the same questions son, but I do hope you realize now that the path to becoming a hero of justice, isn't all about walking around like a gallant knight in shining armor, thinking things will go your way" said Kiritsugu.
"I know that, what I didn't know that the hero I aspired to be was a cold hearted murderer, who'd risk letting innocent people die" shouted Shirou as Kiritsugu felt insulted about being called a murderer.
Evidently their argument got everyone's attention, including Archer who came here earlier in the day to visit Irisviel and hear from Shirou's experience.
"Like seriously, we knew who the target was, we found their base, and all you asked me to do was sit there and watch them continue to kill innocent people" said Shirou as this hit Saber hard as she still recalls her master being absolutely apathetic and not acting when Blue Beard went on a city wide rampage.
"Listen to me Shirou, and I'm gonna say this for the last time, my methods while is not the most action filled, is arguably more life saving than your idea to run in there head first with blades in hand, or need I remind you how you nearly got yourself killed and almost letting our target get away" said Kiritsugu with a cold look towards his son.
"We could have easily split up and saved all those people, we were a team for god sakes" said Shirou, "Oh ho ho no, no that is where you got all this wrong and why this mission was almost a bust, 'we' are not partners, not yet, you were under my wing and were to follow my every move to learn, and watch, and only act when I told you too" said Kiritsugu.
"And quite frankly out of all my previous partners in the past, you're probably the worst son, but I'm willing to give you a second chance if it means that you now understand your place in our current work relationship" said Kiritsugu.
"All I understand is that my dreams of becoming a hero is more greater than ever, especially if it means I can truly save more lives and not accept casualties as casualties when people die when they're killed" said Shirou as he glared at his eyes with unflinching determination.
"If you can't accept the fact that death is a necessary thing for the greater good in life, than you'll be wasting your life as not a hero, but a damn martyr ready to die" said Kiritsugu as this was the kind of things Archer wished he could have heard in his time line and really hope that Shirou would listen to him and learn from him.
"Give up on not only being a hero, but also on becoming a mage Shirou, you'd make everyone around you feel less worried you" said Kiritsugu as he began to pull out his smokes and lighter.
"Make me" Shirou said defiantly as he got his answer when Kiritsugu threw some chopsticks at Shirou with enough speed that it knocked him back and left a scratch on his forehead.
"Shirou/Onii-chan" shouted everyone as they gathered around the red head, "Kiritsugu Emiya, you've gone to far this time" said Irisviel as she was disappointed in her husband for being so cruel.
"Iri, I love you, but you're being too naïve and keep encouraging the boy to do the wrong things in life" said Kiritsugu as this really struck a chord with everyone.
"What if I am, what if you're wrong and our son is capable of becoming the hero he dreams of, the hero you dreamed of becoming, the type of hero that no one has to die, and if they do they can come back to life like nothing has happened" said Irisviel.
"Bringing people back to life like nothing has happened or thinking people could change puts a huge unknown risk and variable on a lot of things, what if our son had revived a powerful enemy who's holding a grudge against him, and is waiting for the right opportunity to strike him where it hurts, where it hurts me, where it hurts all of us" shouted Kiritsugu.
"Are you still having an existential crisis, Kiritsugu I thought we've got over this" said a frustrated Irisviel, "You may have gotten over and accepted the situation, I never did, further more it's not only my existence that I fear and question, it's all those that my son had blindly agreed to revive without a second thought" said Kiritsugu.
"I've already told you, none of us are enemies anymore, if anything you're proving to be the biggest enemy and threat to not only us, but the world" said Shirou as he got up back on his feet as the scratch Kiritsugu left him with was bleeding.
"I'm only the biggest threat because it means no one will come after my family ever again" said Kiritsugu, "You know for someone who tells me that my views are short sighted, yours isn't all that better, I mean what happens if you were to die then huh, than all the enemies you have made will come after your family, or did you forget how I was the one who ultimately had to deal with Kotomine" said Shirou.
"Never mention that name in this household again, or did you forget about your friend who lives in the church that Kotomine himself had once resided in" said Kiritsugu.
"Enough of this, look I know we've had an eventful night, but please let's calm down already" said Saber as she finally chose to step in.
"This does not concern you Saber" said Kiritsugu as he glared down at Saber in the same way he used to as her master.
"Don't you dare talk to her like that!" shouted Shirou, "I'll talk to her however I want!" shouted back Kiritsugu, "Kiritsugu that's our son you're yelling at!" shouted Irisviel as she got in between them.
"And what are you gonna do about it" yelled Kiritsugu as he got his answer when Irisviel decided to slap him across the face as the man recoiled a little.
Turning his head back, he saw that while his wife didn't want to resort to hitting him, she'd be more than happy to it all over again, if it meant she'd protect their children from anymore verbal or physical assault, and that was before Kiritsugu was hit by the realization that no one in this household was on his side.
"Alright, if that's how you all want it, than so be it" said Kiritsugu as he brushed passed his family and the other residence and made his way towards his room.
"Where are you going" asked Irisviel as she followed Kiritsugu as he began to do the one thing no loving couple wanted to see.
"I's grabbing my things and I'm leaving" said Kiritsugu as began to pack away some clothes in his suitcase, before Irisviel tried to intervene, but was stopped when Kiritsugu shoved her away.
This moment shocked the both of them the moment Irisviel's back collided against the wall and made a loud thud sound as Kiritsugu regretted the action immediately.
"Don't stop me, I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have tonight" said Kiritsugu as he only needed to step out the room to see that the maids and Saber had already drawn their weapons to really emphasis the fact that Kiritsugu was no longer welcomed as this was the final nail on his coffin.
Without saying a word, Kiritsugu began to exit the house the other way, and he left in the hurry since he was already in ear shot of hearing his wife crying.
Once he was already towards the main entrance of the house, he saw Archer there waiting for him.
"What do you want" said Kiritsugu, "Well obviously I should come here and thank you for smacking some sense into Shirou as to the reality of what it means to be a hero of justice" said Archer.
"However, I think what you're doing and how you're acting right now is stupid, like really stupid" said Archer, "Thanks for the input" said Kiritsugu as he was just about done with everyone.
"Look, could you quit being stubborn and listen to me, you've got something nice for you right here, and I know you have no reason to trust the things your son has said or the things he do, but he's got a point as to no one is currently our enemy, and you going back to what you are is only going to put all of us at risk" said Archer.
"If I have to kill every known magus or mage in this world to keep my family safe, than so be it" said Kiritsugu as this was not the answer Archer wanted to hear.
"Look I have no right to say how to go about your business since I'm guilty of making the same damn mistakes to an extent, but think about the fact that if you were to get yourself killed, than we'd be all screwed, no matter how powerful we may be" said Archer as Kiritsugu ignored him and continued to walk on.
"Your actions put my past self, Shirou, at risk in becoming not only a hero of justice, but one who might come after you, and go down a path that's more fucked up than mine, I mean do you seriously want that" said Archer as Kiritsugu thought of it for a moment, but simply chose to ignore it since he figured this was not his problem, and prayed to god he'd never have to fight Shirou to the death.
"Just turn around apologize, we're your family, we care about you, we love you, I mean come on dad I love you, so please just stop what you're doing and we can find a way to move on as we work on this" said Archer as he finally got Kiritsugu to stop in his tracks.
"You and I are no more family than the fact you are adopted, you're not my son, much less a human being for all I know, and shouldn't even exist alongside with me, or anyone else for that matter, so listen to me once as this'll be the last parental advice I'll be giving you, sometimes being dead is better" said Kiritsugu.
"Goodbye" said Kiritsugu as he did something no one has done to Archer in a long time and that was hurting his feelings as he stood there and watch a sad man would gladly abandoned and hurt those that loved him the most.
While all this was happening, back at the church, Shinji was finally able to successfully revive the one man who will aid him in getting his revenge on Shirou, Sakura, and everyone who wronged him during the 5th Holy Grail War.
All he needed was for the right night where the thoughts of the one man everyone feared was at an all time high, and upon further reading had learned he needed to sacrifice his limb in order to perform this revive ritual.
Materializing right before his eyes, as he had finished wrapping up his stumpy right arm, was Kirei Kotomine, fully revived.
"Hmm, this is quite a peculiar arrangement" commented Kotomine as he realized where he was, the things around him, the bodies, and the man responsible for giving him a second chance.
"I suppose I have you to thank" said Kotomine, "Damn right you do, now if you don't mind, think you know a spell or ritual to stop my arm from bleeding here" said Shinji.
"I do, though please tell me, what do you plan to do with me now that I'm alive" asked Kotomine, "Heh, you and I are going to team up, and we're going to kill all those who have wronged us" said Shinji.
"Ah yes, I do seem to recall you participating in the Holy Grail War, though what surprises me was the you weren't a magus, and yet you not only participated, but also revive me as well" said Kotomine.
"I suppose I got Shirou to thank for that since I've been reborn as a magus with magical circuits, and no longer having to rely on that useless step sister of mine" said Shinji.
"So the boy lives, how… unfortunate" said Kotomine, "Yeah, that crazy son of a bitch somehow found a way to revive everyone, but you, just recently, more so I heard a rumor that he managed to revive his parents" said Shinji as he got Kotomine's full attention.
"Tell me, young man and be honest, are you to tell me that the one named Kiritsugu Emiya is alive here in this world" asked Kotomine as he got up in Shinji's face.
"Hey personal space means anything to you, also how should I know the guy's name, I just said it was a rumor" said Shinji.
Hearing the fact that Kiritsugu Emiya may be alive to Kotomine filled the man with a sense of joy as this means he's got another chance, another shot on settling things between them.
"Tell me young man, what is your name" asked Kotomine, "My name is Shinji Matou, the true heir to the Matou family" said Shinji with pride.
"You honor me sir, now I think it's best that we get out of here and get down to business" said Kotomine with a smirk, "Took the words right out of my mouth" said Shinji with a smile of his own.
There you have it guys a new chapter and the first one to be published on this account for the new year, so I really hope you guys like it, like I said we still have our January 5th update coming up, so I'll see you guys real soon.
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