It Has to Be this Way
Disclaimers I don't own the fate series, please support any to all official releases as we conclude this story at long last.
He was in pain, he was tired, and his blood was boiling with rage for being forced to fight in this state again, but he was determined to kill Kirei Kotomine.
Racing back on top of the pyramid, Kiritsugu was disappointed to not find Kotomine back up here, but regardless used the height advantage to keep an eagles eye on him.
Seeing the man in question making a run back into the woods, Kiritsugu slid his way down the pyramid as he evaded and ignored any to every single conflict that was before him.
Barely making it in one piece, Kiritsugu had reached the edge of the forest and was easily able to track down and find Kotomine as he stood out in a clearing patiently waiting for his arrival.
"You know, I wonder if things had been different where if I had followed my then masters orders to forfeit and leave Fuyuki city, would I have still been alive and not have died by your sons hands, or better yet, what would have happened if you had manned up and came to love the Holy Grail for what it was, would we still be bitter enemies or rivals whom we respect out of each other's love for pension towards violence and destruction" said Kotomine.
"We are nothing alike, let's get that straight, and also no matter how much one man can speculate there's no denying the fact we're both terrible, horrible bastards to be born on this earth and are bound to hate each other" said Kiritsugu.
"Be that as it may, I do wonder, if it had not been for our servants for unintentionally interfering in our affairs, who would have one that fight" said Kotomine.
"Let's find out" said Kiritsugu as he pulled a combat knife from off his body, "I agree" said Kotomine as he pulled out Kiritsugu's Thompson Contender, before tossing it in the middle of the ground.
"Come on, be a man" said Kotomine as he began to pull out 6 daggers from his body and began to toss them at Kiritsugu who was admittedly overwhelmed at the situation.
Innate Time Control: Accel 3, thought Kiritsugu as he feigned charging in head first to deal with Kotomine, only slide right under him, to pick up his Contender before springing back on his feet.
Expelling out the used shell, Kiritsugu used his one good hand to reload his trusty weapon before having to duck and cover away from Kotomine's blade before the man raced forward and delivered a straight punch to his chest like before, sending Kiritsugu flying back into a tree as he coughed up blood.
Looking up, Kiritsugu glared at Kotomine as he prepared to pin him to the tree, but by using Innate Time Control yet again, he was able to swiftly fire a lethal round into Kotomine's left forearm as it dropped limped for a minute.
Using the opportunity to reload his weapon, Kiritsugu had stood tall ready to end things with Kotomine, but even with a broken arm, the man was still formidable and persistent as he tossed his daggers at him.
Dodging his way past the blade, Kiritsugu was left open to another attack by Kotomine as he closed the gap between them again, ready to plunge one of his daggers into Kiritsugu's chest, but Kiritsugu was prepared for this.
Being able to use Innate Time Accel for another time, Kiritsugu used his gun to clash against Kotomine's blade and swiped it out of harms way as he side stepped to aim his gun, to fire a clean round to his head.
Knocked to the ground, Kotomine began to pick himself up, much to Kiritsugu's surprise as he began to reload his weapon once more.
Turning his head, Kiritsugu was left satisfied knowing he had shot off Kotomine's lower jaw off as he felt this was the picture definition of poetic justice.
"It's over" stated Kiritsugu as he kicked Kotomine back on the ground and fired one last bullet into Kotomine's heart.
It's over, thought Kiritsugu as he let out a heavy sigh, before dropping to his knee's as he could finally rest at long last that he finally dealt with the worlds biggest threat for the last time.
Finally being able to catch up with his father, Shirou along with Archer, Saber, and Rin came into the clearing to see that once again an Emiya stood victorious over Kotomine yet again.
"Hey kids" coughed Kiritsugu as he was to tired to get up as Rin came by his side, "Hold still, I have something to heal you" said Rin as she wasted no time in providing aid.
"I take it we all won" asked Kiritsugu, "Basically, granted there's a lot more new servants that'll now be roaming the earth" said Arche as Kiritsugu began to worry.
"Please, tell me that it's not the Caster you and I faced Saber" said Kiritsugu, "I assure you that Blue Beard and his master are dead and are currently being disposed of properly" said Saber.
"Speaking of, we should really do something about Kotomine, less he finds a way to out live us once again" said Kiritsugu, "Agreed, I'm kinda tired having to constantly kill his ass" said Archer.
"Then perhaps I can be of assistance" said the Shepherd of Fire as he finally joined them.
After properly disposing Kotomine's body, everyone began to walk back to join the others and saw that everyone Kiritsugu had met was there, along with Lord El-Melloi, his assistant Gray, and to his surprise Iskandar.
"Good job Kiritsugu, I must say even if you didn't stop him initially, the fact you did put Kotomine down for good in the end, I say that your mission was a success, and that you will be paid for your work" said Waver.
"Lord El-Melloi, did you plan all this" asked Kiritsugu as Waver stood there before giving him a smirk, "No, I actually can't take any credit other than being able to get you here, since the real master mind behind all this was none other than your son there" said Waver as Kiritsugu turned to look back at Shirou.
"After your son and his friends were attacked, he wasted no time in organizing this, doing his research, and using whatever resources he can to get whoever was willing to listen to stand here as allies as we put behind the most genocidal manic to not only the world of mage craft behind us, but also the world" said Waver.
"Now, if you have any other questions left, you should be asking your son, as for me I got to get back home and prepare for tomorrows lecture" said Waver as he felt the proud hand of Iskandar rest on his shoulder.
"I always knew you'd be a great man someday master, and I couldn't be more proud to have chosen you as my retainer of today" said Iskandar with a hearty laugh.
"And I couldn't be happy to be reunited back with my friend" said Waver as Iskandar summoned forth his chariot to ride his master and assistant back home.
"Hopefully we don't have to meet again, and if so let's hope it's not to prevent another crisis here on this earth" said Waver as he and Gray mounted on the chariot, before finally riding back home.
"We should all go home too" said Shirou as Kiritsugu felt the pressured eyes from his son as he let out a defeated son.
"I don't know about that, I mean I said and did some terrible things to you that night, and seeing as Saber here isn't ready to forgive me, I take it the help isn't ready to accept me back either, especially what I did to your mother" said Kiritsugu.
"You're right, we're not all the ready to forgive you, but we're giving you chance and this is it now" said Shirou.
"More so, we all promised mom back home to bring back, even if it was for the last time" said Archer as Saber had her blade drawn ready to bring Kiritsugu back by force as she too swore to do this.
"Iri really wants a scum bag like me back" asked Kiritsugu, "More than you know, she loves you and actually has a surprise for you" said Shirou as Kiritsugu could tell this surprise was definitely big as everyone seem to know what he was talking about.
"Alright son, you convinced me for one. Let's go home" said Kiritsugu as the group finally began to make the trip back home.
Days Later
After arriving from the airport, Kiritsugu was forced to see a barber to finally get his hair cut and even a clean shaved as Rin had went out of her way to get him something more presentable to wear before finally meeting Irisviel after all this year.
Now with a fresh 9 to 5 haircut, and clean face, and wearing some black fall wear clothing, Kiritsugu was now standing outside the Emiya household after so many years again.
Not needing any form of pep talk, Kiritsugu finally entered the estate to find it mostly empty, a plan by his son no less, except for the sight of one woman.
You're as beautiful as ever and deserve so much better, thought Kiritsugu as he began to approach Irisviel after all this time, who heard his foot steps as she was hanging some laundry to dry out.
"Hey, it's me again" said Kiritsugu awkwardly as Irisviel stood there in silence unsure what to say, but the woman knew better that action spoke louder than words.
Running up to Kiritsugu, Irisviel kissed the man she still loved today, and even though it threw him off, Kiritsugu none the less return the affectionate gesture.
"Irisviel, I'm so sorry" said Kiritsugu apologetically, "I forgive you, in fact I'm really happy to see that you finally came back" said Irisviel as she held her man tightly for a minute to bask in the moment.
"I've been very selfish and I've done something I never wanted to ever do to you, are you sure you want to accept me back and have me stay" said Kiritsugu.
"That's… honestly up for you to decide" said Irisviel as Kiritsugu was now put on the spot whether he will finally take responsibility for being a neglectful family man or could run away and continue to live the life he wanted to as the infamous magus killer that the world needed.
"But before you decide anything, there's someone whom I want you to meet" said Irisviel as she began to pull Kiritsugu back in the house.
Walking past the quiet halls, they both stood outside an open door to a room where Kiritsugu saw a little girl, with fair skin, white spikey hair as she was playing with Bionicle's, the Barraki set specifically.
"Irisviel…" asked Kiritsugu in a hush tone as Irisviel held his hand, "Her name is Natalia Einzbern-Emiya, she's our daughter that I had shortly after you left" said Irisviel.
"And you know what she reminds me so much of you every time I look at her" said Irisviel as she began to approach the little tyke.
"Natalia, sweetie there's someone who I want you to meet" said Irisviel as Natalia turned her head to see her mother and a strange man she's never met before.
"Mommy, who is this man" asked Natalia as Irisviel approached her, "This man standing right here is your father, the man who had to go away to save the world" said Irisviel as Natalia looked up at the man.
"Are you really my daddy" asked Natalia as she really began to tug at her father's heart strings with her innocent question and hope filled eyes.
"Yes, I am your father Natalia, and I'm sorry for being gone for so long" said Kiritsugu as he knelt down to her level, before she decided to approach him, but stopped mid track.
"Are you going away again" asked Natalia as Kiritsugu knew he had the choice, and by all means had every right to be selfish and walk away, but if there was anything he had learned during these last few days leading up to his final fight with Kotomine, and his trip back home, it was that love and happiness were not the same.
His happiness of being the hero needed to bring forth some frontier justice in order to keep the world safe, his lust for not only guns and other woman, and pride of being this killer he was made to become by the woman who became his much needed mother figure was by all means no match for the love he has, much left is felt by the ones he called his family, and knew what needed to be done in order to return this ever powerful feeling.
"No, I'm not going away, I'm never going away, not ever again" said Kiritsugu as Natalia seemed to beam pure happiness before finally running up towards her father and give him the hug both desperately needed in their lives.
"You heard me Iri, I'm not going to leave you, any of you ever again" said Kiritsugu as he picked up Natalia so they can all enjoy a small family group hug, knowing that for once, happiness and love can exist now in the Emiya household.
Epilogue
Since his promise to stay back with his family for good this time, Kiritsugu thought it be better to instead pass his skills on to one of his children instead, and while Archer would have been a more than worthy candidate, he instead waited for Natalia to reach the right age to continue on her fathers legacy, however the girl did show mercy when the situation called for it.
Irisviel ever so patient and loving, wasted no time in ensuring that he and Kiritsugu finally got to see the world, enjoy the romantic dates no matter how lavish or humble they choose to approach it. She would also come to become the new owner of the Star Wars franchise after seeing the film testing of episode VII and has vowed to give the series a proper sequel trilogy it deserves.
Illya, who was more than happy to have her father back, was also a teenager dealing with her own teenage social life as she would eventually decide to instead drop out of school and become a professional streamer, known famously in Japan as the number one gamer girl to play on the XBOX in Japan rather than a Play Station, where she also sells merch, ranging from t-shirts to even her bath water.
Shirou Emiya, Kiritsugu's only son would eventually be cured of survivors guilt and martyr habits shortly after the death of Chester Bennington, which still breaks his heart to this day and instead became a professor who teaches the history of historic heroes of yesterday. Eventually he and Saber would move out and raise a daughter of their own.
Saber Emiya, the loving wife to Shirou chose to instead spend her days as a stay at home house mom, while trying to raise their rambunctious daughter, who after much convincing to Caster, was the reincarnated sole of her daughter Mordred, whom refers to Saber as her father and Shirou as her mother. It should be mentioned that during her pregnancy, she was heavily pampered and catered to by Kiritsugu as she finally decided to forgive him and now calls her dad, especially since she finally got to see the side she's been wanting to see since Irisviel mentioned it to her.
Archer Tohsaka, the more badass older version of Shirou would eventually choose to tie the knot with Rin, so long as he took her family name, which he was fine with. While he was a magus killer from time to time, he mainly works as a part time cook alongside Lancer as they both remain good friends to this day.
Rin Tohsaka, after personally confronting her revived father during the night they stopped Kotomine, she honored her fathers wish by putting him to rest as he was very proud of her upholding the family name, and apologized for being a bad father to Sakura. She continues to practice her mage craft to this day and like her brother in law Shirou, she became a teacher who teaches economics, when she's not acting as coach for the schools wrestling team.
Waver Velvet or Lord El-Melloi by those know him, still continues to teach his revolutionary theories of mage craft, while still going on adventures with Gray and now Iskandar, who is unfortunately wanted in the United States for demanding to face, than president, Barack Obama in person for them to send their armies for a friendly skirmish before going to war in deciding who's more powerful and has the right to rule the world.
While never free from danger, the Emiya family and their friends are more than ready and capable in facing the next adversary that comes their way, but now they'll do it together.
The End
And we're finally done, thank you guys so much for those who have been with us when the story first began, it wouldn't have gotten this far if not for your guys support, so give yourselves a round of applause for being awesome followers.
I don't think I'll be doing another Fate series related fanfic for a while after this, if so if it's not my heavily centered Kiritsugu and Saber centered fanfic, it'll be something different, and yet something I've done before, if and when that day does come around.
Until then, be safe, be good people, and please support your local fandom communities.
This has been your Humble Narrator and official author Tobi Yaza. =3