No Prayers, No Fate, No Reason to Live
Disclaimers I don't own the Fate series, be it Fate/Zero, or any of the 3 routes to the OG Fate series.
Decided to write this after watching the final chapter to the Heaven's Fell route, and wanted to write something while also joining the Fate community at long last
Also keep in mind this story is set in an alternative universe, so I hope you guys like it.
After the events of the 4th Holy Grail War, a huge uproar began, not only for those living Fuyuki City, or the country of Japan, but rather the whole world.
It had only been 3 short years since the end of the Cold War and the Soviet Union, and during that period the fear of nuclear war was nothing more than an afterthought for the world.
That all came to an end on the night when Kiritsugu chose to not only reject but destroy the Holy Grail.
However his efforts were in vain since he was the one responsible for not only killing Shirou's parents, but everyone who was there upon the Holy Grails destruction.
Granted he was blessed with a short lived victory, knowing he was able to save Shirou, but this all changed once he heard how this Holy Grail war and his actions that night caused a global panic.
When Japan wasn't able to find a conclusive reason or evidence to have not only caused a global scale fire, but the many missing, if not murdered victims of the innocent people of Fuyuki City, needless to say suspicion rose.
Accusations first came when America, had blamed Japan, and later Russia over taking advantage of these peaceful times to cause panic, and subtle attempts to take over and rebuild their communist regime.
Then accusations came back towards America, over their use and love of napalm used during the Vietnam war, and soon many other nations joined in and started to side and point blame towards one another.
And when all is said and done, the one thing no one ever wanted happened, World War 3.
During these next 10 years, many nations had succumb to a war that no one knows when it ended or if it ever will end.
As with war, it brings many nations into a booming economic state, neutral countries forced into taking part, and a whole pile of dead bodies, and nuclear wastelands and hotspots.
Granted it wasn't on the same scale as in the world of either Mad Max, or Fallout, as the only places in the world to have been reported to get nuked since Japan was China, the Eastern part and coast of the United States, Italy, and most recently Afghanistan.
Now with many resources like oil, being lost, and neighboring countries have been nuked to hell, rad storms would occasionally find its way into neighboring countries, putting this war in limbo state.
But while there is more to this history lesson we could all learn from, our real story begins here with a survivor and a member of Japan's newest enforcement, the Responders, Shirou.
Even as a cadet he had proven himself and has gone beyond the call of duty as he helps patrol the streets, dressed in a blue and white workers jumpsuit, as he carried with him a medical satchel, a small fire extinguisher, and can of mace.
Today was like any other day, making sure that everyone in the neighborhood was well fed, had clean water, and a means to keep warm at night.
"Here you go Mrs. Hasagawa, you'll be finding yourself and your son a lot warmer tonight" said Shirou as he handed her a newly rebuilt heater.
"Thank you Shirou, I wish there was some way I can repay" said Mrs. Hasagawa, "The fact you came to me in your time of need is payment enough as it is" said Shirou with a smile, before he headed out.
Walking down the streets, he saw his superior and the man responsible for training him waiting for him at the end of the street, driving a small police cart that had been repainted and renamed to as 'Responders'.
"Ready to head out" said a man who had dark skin, side burns, and a 5 o'clock shadow as he was dressed in the same uniform as Shirou.
"Sure am boss" said Shirou as he got on the passenger seat, "Shirou, I told you not to be formal and just call me Sanosuke already" said Sanosuke.
"Sorry force of habit" said Shirou as Sanosuke sighed through his nostrils, "It's cool kid, I guess someone needs to have manners during this time of friggin crisis" said Sanosuke as he continued to drive them down the street.
"I'm sure things are to get better, we just got to be patient, and be thankful we don't have to participate in this war" said Shirou optimistically.
"I swear if it wasn't for those damns yanks in not only nuking us, but discovering nuclear energy, we wouldn't be in this hell" said Sanosuke, as Shirou once again caused his superior to vent on how terrible the world has become.
"Come on, you don't know that, or anyone for that matter" said Shirou, "Damn right I do, and if what those boys, running this city has anything to say about, I believe it" said Sanosuke as they continued to drive towards their local station.
"Hey Shirou, heads up that cute girl and your stalker/boyfriend is at the station today" said Sanosuke as Shirou rolled his eyes.
"Shinji is neither my boyfriend nor my stalker" said Shirou, "Ok, but at least you didn't deny the cuteness of that girl with the bow this time" said Sanosuke as Shirou had a light blush on his cheeks before they parked up to the side.
"Shirou, about time you got your butt back here" said Shinji with his smug smile, "Shinji, Ayako, good to see you guys again" said Shirou as he accepted Shinji's passive aggressiveness towards him being resentful after Shirou quit the hunters group.
"Nice to see you too Shirou, so how's responder life treating you" asked Ayako, "Things are going great actually, I was able to save and repair a lot of things that we'd normally we'd have to file a report to the city and wait for at least 2 weeks for anything to any results and resources to happen" said Shirou.
"Well so long as your happy" said Ayako, "Personally I think you'd be doing us and society a better favor by ditching the repair man job and coming back and hunting for food" said Shinji.
"Shinji" exclaimed Ayako as she's been pushed to her absolute limit on her subordinates behavior, "I'm just saying, we wouldn't have to be doing a lot more work if not for Shirou breaking his arm and deciding to call it quits right after, hell even you've gone and complain about how things would be better if he was back with us" said Shinji.
"You're right Shinji, I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly and making you guys having to work even harder for all of us, however I recall that not a single day went by where I didn't talk about my dream of someday working with the responders" said Shirou as this sort of mature and otherwise responsible response, wasn't exactly the reaction he had been hoping for.
"Whatever" said Shinji as he began to walk away, "Sorry about Shinji, honestly I'm starting to consider to start hunting alone" said Ayako.
"Don't say that, you'll worry me enough to want to go back and give you a hand" said Shirou.
"To which I will shoo you away, however, should you really want to go back and join the hunting life, do it because it's of your own free will, not because I or Shinji guilt tripped you back into it otherwise" said Ayako.
"Alright Ayako, just be safe alright" said Shirou, "Will do, also I manage to bag some venison and set some aside for you" said Ayako as she handed Shirou a small leather pouch.
"Ayako, I can't take that" said Shirou kindly trying to reject the gift, "Just take it, we manage to hunt down enough wild life to feed people here for the next week, with the intention of trying to trade with some of the people on the east side of town for some fish and rice" said Ayako as she handed it to Shirou.
"Besides, we need you Responders to be in peak health and condition to help those in need" said Ayako before picking up her bow and a much larger bag of meat.
"See you around Shirou" said Ayako, "See you Ayako" said Shirou before she walked off.
"You know she has the hots for you right" said Sanosuke as he had been waiting on the sidelines smoking a cigarette.
"I don't think so, we just have a tight friendship, especially since we all trained outside the old school under big sis Fuji- I mean Ms. Fujimura supervision" explained Shirou.
"Still can't believe you're damn close to the granddaughter of the towns Yakuza, though I'll admit without her and their help, this place would be an absolute chaotic nightmare like back in the old capitol cities" said Sanosuke since there's been civil dispute and war amongst the Yakuza, town officials, the remnants of the government officials, on top of anarchists.
"Yeah" said Shirou as he begrudgingly wished to go out into the front lines and help maintain order, but as Sanosuke said, Taiga and her grandfather run the town yakuza, and while they'll allow Shirou to serve as a Responder in town, they told their men and other officials that Shirou was forbidden to leave town, less he gets himself killed.
"Attention to any available Responders, within the area, we have a shipment of medical supplies and clean water coming in the area as we speak must be escorted promptly" said a voice over the radio.
"Copy, we'll be on our way. Come on Shirou time to hit the road already" said Sanosuke before they hopped back in the cart and drove off.
Later
After another hard day's work, Shirou was eventually dropped off back home, where he had turned half of the estate into a public garden for the towns folk to have an alternate means of producing food.
"Seems to be growing well" said a familiar violet haired girl as she wore a plain old white t-shirt and jeans as her clothes were covered in dirt, while she finished harvesting some potatoes.
Eventually, she had caught sight of the man who was kind enough to let this happen, as she gently put her basket down and began to greet her Senpai.
"Senpai" called Sakura as she approached Shirou, "Hey Sakura, how are you doing today" asked Shirou.
"I'm doing good today, how about you" asked Sakura, "I'm feeling good as well, just need to wait around here so that the water tanker knows where to park" said Shirou.
"Then please sit down here and let me bring you some tea" said Sakura, "Thanks Sakura, that really means a lot" said Shirou as he began to take off his work shoes and sit on a chair he had placed outside the front door to his house.
As Shirou waited for the water tanker to arrive, his mind drifted back to his late father, as he wondered if he'd be proud of him for all his effort for trying to help his home town, community, and overall trying to be a the hero he had desired to be.
"Here you go Shirou" said Sakura as she handed him a nice cup of hot tea, "Thank you" said Shirou with a smile, before taking a sip from his cup.
Eventually the water tanker came, and anyone who had spent their day harvesting and cultivating turned back home for the day, leaving the 2 teens to ready a nice relaxing evening with dinner.
"Mind chopping the potatoes and carrots" said Shirou as he finished dicing up half a white onion before tossing it in the pan alongside the venison as it shimmered on a pan with oil and other spices and seasoning.
"Sure thing Sempai" said Sakura with a smile, before fast company came in the form of everyone's favorite teacher, or better said former teacher and legal guardian of Shirou.
"Sup guys" greeted Fuji, "Welcome Ms. Fujimura" greeted Sakura, "Hey, I've already said you don't need to be formal with me, especially when it's just the 3 of us at home".
"Can't be help big sis, you are a pretty big deal for all the relief effort you and grandpa do for not only us but for everyone here in the city" said Shirou.
"Which is why when yours truly does become in charge, I expect you and only you especially you to continue to call me big sis still" said Fuji as she wrapped Shirou in a playful headlock, "Hey careful" said Shirou not wanting to burn anyone, let along ruin dinner.
"So how was work today" asked Fuji as she released her hold on Shirou, "Good today, got to run into Shinji and Ayako, and I was able to repair that heater for Mrs. Hasagawa" said Shirou.
"That's good to hear, so how much produce did you get this month in terms of tribute" asked Fuji, "Sigh, too much for just one man" said Shirou as the one thing he didn't ask for, that people do for him anyway, is leave him a portion of produce for him as not a means of payment, but to thank him for all of his hard work.
"Well it's a good thing that it's mainly root vegetables, so that we can at least bury them back into the ground" said Sakura, "I guess that's a good thing" said Shirou as he and Sakura continued to cook.
"So big sis anything new to look forward to in terms of any support or reparations to not only the city but… ya know" asked Shirou, "The thought alone seems to be none existent" admitted Fuji as things were honestly bleak, but could be worse for all of them compared to the rest of the country.
"Chin up though, there's talk about trying to open movie theaters back in the area again, and well I think we could use something entertaining to distract us again from this war" said Fuji, before they all continued on enjoying their dinner.
Elsewhere
It had been a long time since representatives of the 3 magus families have came together in order to discuss further plans of this upcoming holy grail war.
With that being said, the people discussing for this up incoming holy grail war were as followed, Jubstacheit von Einzbern, Zouken Matou, and representing for the Tohsaka family is Kirei Kotomine.
"Ah, the man of the hour, the great and noble and arguably the immortal Zouken Matou" said Kirei with great presentation when addressing the man.
"Heh, Kotomine you know how to make an old man welcome" said Matou with a chuckle, "That makes one of us" said Einzbern as he didn't like an outsider representing for this meeting.
"Calm down now, for I see that we as men who came here under the understanding that our matters in regards to the up incoming holy grail war, should be in high spirits that we've been blessed with another one, in spite of the failed attempts of Emiya for destroying the previous Holy Grail in the last war" said Kirei.
"Don't you dare mention that traitorous bastards name in front of me, because of him the Holy Grail was destroyed, because you failed to kill him then, and shortly thereafter, and for what, for no particular reason" said Einzbern with resentful ire in his tone.
"And another thing, you have seen firsthand the Holy Grail before your eyes, and yet we're still able to summon forth servants as if the damn grail was still present in some for existent" said Einzbern.
"So either tell me why you invited us all here and if you so much did it to give a formal apology without so much as groveling, I'll kill you right here on the spot" said Einzbern.
"My word good man, I was under the impression that we were invited by the head of the Matou family" said Kirei, "What are you talking about, surely it was Einzbern who was responsible for orchestrating this meeting" said Zouken as this left everyone with an uneasy feeling and as their untrust for one another was reaching at a boiling point.
"Everyone let's calm down before we kill each other" came a new voice as this surprised the 3 men present.
The person in question was a man with a tall well built man, shaven head, sporting a villainous moustache and beard combo as wrapped proudly around his neck and above his shirt in black metal was an upside down cross.
"Who in the hell are you mysterious stranger" asked Kirei as Zouken and Einzbern knew who the man was, but more so his father when he had a presence in this world.
"No surprise an outsider doesn't know who I am, so allow me to introduce myself as Murdock, Murdock LaVey" said the man with a charmed smile that only the devil himself could pull.
"So you're the reason that we're all here" said Zouken as he remained even more uneasy as did everyone else.
"Explain yourself" said Einzbern as Murdock continued to approach them, "I think it's quite obvious, there's a holy grail war going on, and yet there's no Holy Grail to be offered, leaving the question how can that possibly be" said Murdock.
"You don't mean that it still exists" asked Zouken, "Of course not, this pompous wind bag with empathy and apathy issues here has stated and witness that thing your ancestors have crafted all those years ago destroyed" said Murdock before his devilish smile became devilish frown.
"Which of course has brought this world into the fucking state it has become, because your ancestors practically crafted a weapon that can destroy the fucking world if a mad man simply wished it" said Murdock as he was able to emit a terrifying presence that all these men have forgotten what fear was like.
"Be that as that may, that still doesn't explain why there's one being taken place right now" said Einzbern as all the men agreed to that fact.
"Yes, I'd like to know exactly why there's one being taken place, with nothing to be offered to the servants" said Zouken, "Yes, I concur" said Kirei as that was something that really bother him as he had to keep it a secret with Lancer.
"That's simple really, for the thing to be offered this time around just so happens to be in my families possession" said Murdock as he pulled a piece of cloth from behind him.
Unveiling it, it was a broken halo made up of stone so fragile the very wind itself could turn it into dust.
"This here was a gift my father was given upon him by none other than Lucifer himself, after my father established a church that worshiped his very son" explained Murdock as all three men were wide eyed and jaw dropping.
"You mean to tell us that there is" said Kirei as he couldn't finish something that was indeed forgotten in time and in history.
"That's right, Lucifer's cracked halo, unfortunately it's powers simply won't awaken either upon the next death of the head of my family, or until a hero, legend, or spirit of great reputation were to claim it" explained Murdock.
Now knowing what's been put at stake here, all 3 men looked at one another before silently nodding in agreement, before turning back to the man who offered the grand prize in this war.
"Ok, but whats the catch" asked Einzbern as Murdock returned his devilish smile, "It's simple really, the Holy Grail War shall continue, except there are a few changes in not only making this interesting, but also not causing the president to nuke us all to hell and back" said Murdock as the men listened carefully what he had to say as we pan back out of sight.
Emiya household
After seeing off his kohai, and his big sis, Shirou had turned to his work shed and continue to train in private to this day, as he promised to since his father's passing.
"Alright, let's give it one more go and then we'll call it a night" as he spent the night analyzing and refining the very same steel kettle he had left behind, next to other household appliance.
"Here we go, projection" said Shirou as he place his hand on the kettle, before activating the one and only skill he knows, "Trace on".
Even with wounding up with the same results, Shirou could only find himself smiling as this skill has proven to be very useful in these times of war, as he left the shed behind and ready himself for tomorrow.
So that's the end of the first chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it, and I can't wait to hear from you guys and your thoughts as to what you like, what you didn't like or whatever the case may be.
Also to any of my other followers who are waiting for me to update any of my other fic's, calm down and be patient cause I have a holiday special coming up in the near future for one of them, while the rest are going to have to wait for my annual January 5th update, cause sorry guys I got work and as an essential worker, this time of year is still surprisingly super busy for a lot of people, when it shouldn't.
With that being said, be safe, be good people, and support any to all of your local fandom communities.
This has been your Humble Narrator and official author Tobi Yaza. =3