Note: I do not own anything in this fanfiction.
Prologue: The Time for Rebirth Hath Come
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What is the Holy Grail war?
The mages described it as a ritual of slaughter, where seven mages summoned Heroic Spirits of the past into seven separate classes to fight among themselves. Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin and finally, Berserker. The last standing pair of Master and Servant would get their wish granted by the Grail.
It sounded like a bargain to anyone who was in desperate need of something; be it fame, power, wealth, self-worth, or even world peace or domination. Yet no one exactly questioned how the Grail worked. How did it grant the wishes? Was it like the genie from the story of Aladdin? Could one wish for more wishes? Was it truly omnipotent like everyone made it sound?
Kiritsugu had to admit that everything about the Grail sounded suspicious, but this was a different thing. He felt it, deep in his bones. Something was amiss with this war.
Saber's Master felt his stomach sink as a punch struck his abdomen with the force of a speeding truck. He felt his feet hover above ground, with the rest of his body following. Before it slammed into the wall with great velocity. The air within his lungs rushed out of his mouth. Then he dropped to his knees, gasping for air. Sensing his enemy's approach, he dodged to his left at the last moment, successfully evading the foot which came crashing down where his head had been just moments ago. Kiritsugu wasted no time; placing his hand in one of his coat's many pockets, he armed himself with a switchblade after he holstered his Thompson Contender momentarily. A flick and a slash were heard, coming from Kiritsugu's attempt at ending his opponent's life with a cut throat. But to no avail as he found his attack deflected as easily as shooing a fly.
Another try, another failure. Kiritsugu's relentless assault was met with unending defense. If he was to be compared to a chainsaw, his opponent was as hard to cut as a stone wall.
Just as the priest attempted a counter attack, Kiritsugu activated his circuits. "Time Alter: Triple Accel!" he whispered. His body's movement sped up drastically, allowing him a chance to dodge away, putting some space between himself and his opponent.
Kiritsugu took the chance, discarding the switchblade as fast as he could, then re-arming himself with his machine gun and pistol. He took aim, unloading his Calico M950's magazine, then lining up a shot with his Thompson Contender, which disguised itself among the other bullets.
Kotomine Kirei rushed forward towards his target, swiftly dodging and deflecting his way through the valley of speeding bullets using his incredible speed and powerful Black Keys. His heart skipped a beat, as from the corner of his eye he spotted a different threat; a bullet unique among the others was aimed directly at his chest. It also moved faster than he could dodge.
With great struggle, Kirei was able to move his hand into the trajectory of that bullet, successfully blocking it. He staggered in pain as he felt his arm flailing backwards, before it hung down uselessly.
Seizing the opportunity while the priest processed his pain; Kiritsugu lifted his arm forward, revealing the red symbols on the back of his hand. "With my command Spell I order you! Saber! Come to me!" he commanded. One of the two red symbols on his hand disappeared, then a blond, green eyed knight appeared from thin air, accompanied with a flash of light.
At first, she seemed bewildered at what suddenly happened. After all, she was on her way to combat Archer, but all of a sudden she found herself by her Master's side. She thought about the possibilities and gritted her teeth, gripping her invisible blade next to her face in a battle position, then lunged forwards towards the priest.
Her blow never connected; the roof suddenly exploded. Sparks of electricity and debris fell down, stunning them, then a black muddy matter flowed down, seemingly engulfing them both. Kiritsugu, who was the furthest away from the core of the explosion, immediately made a mad dash towards the exit upon noticing the suspicious matter flowing from the ceiling. He had a hard time escaping, as the exit was a bit far from his location and his wounds were still being healed. But with some perseverance, he made his way into safety.
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Saber opened her eyes once again, then immediately stood from sheer surprise. Looking around, she saw a long red carpet and white pillars. The walls were made out of solid stone and the windows were colorful and engraved with pictures of knights, dragons and crosses. Behind her was a golden throne, with crimson red cushions and jewels as decorations. "This is the throne room of my castle in Camelot." she realized, "Am I dreaming? Or is this some sort of mental attack?"
"The King of Knights in all his fame and glory... A sad tale of the King who just wanted to make his people happy..." a voice spoke mockingly inside her head.
"Who goes there? Show yourself, you coward!" she demanded, trying to lift her sword and take a stance. Only then did she notice the blade's absence.
"Oh I would love to do that. But I really can't at the moment... Instead, let me grant your wish as recompense." the voice echoed within the castle walls. Suddenly, the gate which was locked before unlocked then slowly opened. A shadow of a person appearing in the light which came in through it.
Saber's eyes widened in horror and in surprise at the same time, as the figure drew closer to the light. The horned helmet, the silver armor decorated with red strips and black lines.
There was no doubt.
This was her knight.
The knight of betrayal, Mordred.
Wordlessly, Mordred walked across the throne room. The only sound fracturing the heavy silence was the Knight's plated boots colliding with the carpeted floor. And much to Artoria's surprise, she bowed down in front of her.
"King Arthur, a discussion if you do not mind. It is important," Mordred said as her helmet unlocked itself, revealing her face.
Artoria recalled that exact line from her lifetime as King. It was the day when Mordred revealed herself to her as her son—
"That's right. Your wish to change the past, I can make it reality. All you have to do… is acknowledge your son, free him from the witch, and properly teach him to become king. That way, Camelot will not fall." the voice made itself known again within Artoria's head.
"Your highness... Are you feeling alright?" Mordred asked, lifting her head up to look at Artoria's very complicated expression.
"What is going on... What's the meaning of this? Who are you? And why look into my memories without permission!" Artoria thought to herself, knowing the voice communicated telepathically.
"Like I said. This is no memory, this is reality. I took you back to this moment in your life, make a different decision and you can change the past. Isn't that what you wished for?" the voice spoke again.
"Stand." Artoria said, addressing her knight.
The latter complied.
"Come closer." She commanded.
Mordred did not approach before she uttered a confused "Uhh... My King? Are you—"
"Come closer, I said!" Artoria interrupted her, not allowing her a chance to continue her words.
"That's right... Give her what she deserved and did not get." the voice said again with its alluring tone.
Mordred stood eye to eye with Artoria, unable to look her King in the eyes.
"Raise your head." Artoria told Mordred. The knightess raised her eyes gradually until their gazes met, and before she could speak again, Artoria pulled her into an embrace, wrapping her arms around her.
Mordred was shocked, her mind suddenly turned off. "Fa... ther..." she muttered, her voice fading away. Overwhelmed by the sound of a droplet impacting the floor.
"No, no, NO! What are you doing! What did you do?!" the voice screamed inside Artoria's mind. The throne room and its surroundings faded to black.
The droplet became a shower, a crimson pool of blood formed on the ground, painting Artoria's face and armor red. Mordred's body dropped to the ground, with Carnwennan, King Arthur's dagger sticking out of her throat.
"If you think that a weak reiteration of an event that occurred within my lifetime would be enough to break me, then you're in for a lot of disappointment. Camelot was bound to fall." Artoria proclaimed, feeling her surroundings shift. "My wish upon the Grail is simple. I want someone else to pull the Holy Sword of Selection. Someone more capable to be King."
"Curse your idiotic behavior! Did you not think of the possibilities?! Without the rebellion taking place, you could've saved your Round Table! Their blood is on your hands!" the voice went on, shedding its alluring facade.
"Perhaps. That may be so, but then their sacrifice would be in vain. Even if Camelot fell, Britain still went on!" Artoria spoke with confidence. "Now, if you're done hiding, show yourself vile creature. It's time to end this!"
The scenery switched; Saber's eyes widened in clear horror.
"Watch. This is no illusion this time. This is what would happen should anyone lay hands upon the Holy Grail." the voice commented with a more... Demonic tone this time.
Saber looked at a destroyed Fuyuki, blood and black mud covered everything, the sky, once black as the night, now as red as blood, with a massive halo in the horizon pouring that black, muddy matter into the city.
Saber dropped to her knees, barely able to stop herself from throwing up. The haunting screams and crackling of fire echoed in the background. Then, as suddenly as they came, they stopped.
She found herself within a church, with rows of stools and a shiny golden cup sitting on top of an altar.
"Take the grail."
"TAKE THE GRAIL! ̶͍̇̕͝ψ̶̛̦̲̉͂͗̌̄͆̚ ̴̞͚̙͖͈̼̎͑̈̐́͠͠T̶̤̱͔̟͗͛͗̂͝Ȁ̵̩̖̦̠͜͝ͅK̷͇͎̝̃́́E̶̛͙̱̓̊͒͆̊̚͠ ̷͇̊̊͂͋̋T̴̪̠̪̟͇̊͑͝H̵̨̧̲͕͇̯̺̘͊̓͑͗̉͗È̶̻͓̯̫̌̀͒̃͘ͅ ̸͖̹̟̦̤͆̉͜Ĝ̵͙R̷̞̙̱̤͉̈́̐̍͘Ă̴̩̍I̸̝̅͒͜Ļ̴̫̩̘̆́̀̅͛͆͠ ̴̧̨̹̬͕͈̣͔̓̈͊͆̈̓͐͝T̴͉͐Ȃ̵̢̮͈̰̳͔̱̋̈́̆̀͝ͅĶ̵̛̦̱͕̓̿̃͗͋E̴̻̽͛̌ ̷͓̞̺͔̭̋̑̏̒͝T̴̢̼̭̘͙͇̂̑̆̆͛͐͐̕H̸̰͎͖͎̙̯͐E̵̪͎͎̗̼̤̽̈́̓͗ ̸͈̌̂̋̀̓͝G̶̬̏̓̆̽͌̎̕R̴̝̞͊̀̿̓̕A̶͈̮̣̱͌̇͌Ì̵͇͍̯͐̊̓̃̊L̴̨͉͍̝̙͛͂̄̀̐̚ ̵͖̳̪͙͚͌̈͑͜͠Ṯ̷͔̳͆̃̎̚A̴͖͙̣̼̜͆̌̍̏̑Ḳ̵͖̹̔É̶̘̩̪͒̈́̋ͅ ̴̣̗̬̓̆͋T̷̨̻̀̄͗͛̐̀̾Ḩ̵̛͖̫͕̙͖͐̐̐̾̌͌E̷̱̦̠͂̉̈́̃͆́ ̷̨͔͇̺̞̯̬̌̾̐̓̽́̃͜Ĝ̶̙̜͖̯̙̟̱̀̈́͜͝͝R̸̡̙̳͛̀̈́̃̌Á̴̛̪̪̭̄Ḯ̴̧̛͚͕̪̯̼̱̆̕ͅL̷̨̤̰̹̓̔̂͊ ̴̧̯̲͚͓̗̀͗͋̓̕͠ͅͅψ̶̲̤͖͔̥͑̈́̇̋ ̶̛̼̱̺͔͇͊͗͠ψ̴̝̤͓͖́̔̀ ̶̛̞̺̽̆͛͐̆̀"the voice continuously repeated inside Saber's mind. She clutched her head with one
hand, trying her hardest not to pass out from the pressure.
She felt like every part of her was screaming, as if a million curses were being engraved onto her body.
Her sword's invisibility undid itself. With all her willpower, she gripped the weapon in both her hands and raised it above her head. Particles of magical energy floated around her and gathered at the sword's blade, which shone with a bright golden light.
" ̶͍̇̕͝ψ̶̨̛̦̲̮̠̥̉͂͗̌̄͆̚ ̴̞͚̙͖͈̼̎͑̈̐́͠͠T̶̤̱͔̟͗͛͗̂͝Ȁ̵̩̖̦̠͜͝ͅK̷͇͎̝̃́́E̶̛͙̱̓̊͒͆̊̚͠ ̷͇̊̊͂͋̋T̴̪̠̪̟͇̊͑͝H̵̨̧̲͕͇̯̺̘͊̓͑͗̉͗È̶̻͓̯̫̌̀͒̃͘ͅ ̸͖̹̟̦̤͆̉͜Ĝ̵͙R̷̞̙̱̤͉̈́̐̍͘Ă̴̩̍I̸̝̅͒͜Ļ̴̫̩̘̆́̀̅͛͆͠ ̴̧̨̹̬͕͈̣͔̓̈͊͆̈̓͐͝T̴͉͐Ȃ̵̢̮͈̰̳͔̱̋̈́̆̀͝ͅĶ̵̛̦̱͕̓̿̃͗͋E̴̻̽͛̌ ̷͓̞̺͔̭̋̑̏̒͝T̴̢̼̭̘͙͇̂̑̆̆͛͐͐̕H̸̰͎͖͎̙̯͐E̵̪͎͎̗̼̤̽̈́̓͗ ̸͈̌̂̋̀̓͝G̶̬̏̓̆̽͌̎̕R̴̝̞͊̀̿̓̕A̶͈̮̣̱͌̇͌Ì̵͇͍̯͐̊̓̃̊L̴̨͉͍̝̙͛͂̄̀̐̚ ̵͖̳̪͙͚͌̈͑͜͠Ṯ̷͔̳͆̃̎̚A̴͖͙̣̼̜͆̌̍̏̑Ḳ̵͖̹̔É̶̘̩̪͒̈́̋ͅ ̴̣̗̬̓̆͋T̷̨̻̀̄͗͛̐̀̾Ḩ̵̛͖̫͕̙͖͐̐̐̾̌͌E̷̱̦̠͂̉̈́̃͆́ ̷̨͔͇̺̞̯̬̌̾̐̓̽́̃͜Ĝ̶̙̜͖̯̙̟̱̀̈́͜͝͝R̸̡̙̳͛̀̈́̃̌Á̴̛̪̪̭̄Ḯ̴̧̛͚͕̪̯̼̱̆̕ͅL̷̨̤̰̹̓̔̂͊ ̴̧̯̲͚͓̗̀͗͋̓̕͠ͅͅψ̶̲̤͖͔̥͑̈́̇̋ ̶̛̼̱̺͔͇͊͗͠ψ̴̝̤͓͖́̔̀ ̶̛̞̺̽̆͛͐̆̀ " The voice continued screaming maniacally.
"Bathed... In the breath of the planet..." Saber chanted, closing her eyes with visible difficulty.
Suddenly the voice stopped screaming as if realizing something. "WhAT aRE yOu DoING?!" It asked.
"A convergence of humanity's will and hopes..." she continued, feeling her body give up on her slowly. "Witness its brilliance..."
"NO! STOP!" The voice screamed in one last desperate effort.
"EX...CALIBUR!"
And with that, the Sword of Promised Victory dropped forward, a torrent of energy blasting the lesser grail with a force capable of removing mountains, completely pulverizing it.
Saber's body finally gave in, within the infinite abyss which engulfed her upon the dissipation of the blast. She dropped face-down into the ground, breathing heavily.
"Congratulations... Vile creature... You win... But... I am taking you with me... Without the Grail... All Servants will disappear... Including you... Haha..." Saber said as she drew her final breaths. "It... Was a stupid wish... Was it not? Bedivere..."
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When Saber opened her eyes again, she found herself in a pitch-black abyss. There was no more pain plaguing her body, and she had no sword. She stood there silently, contemplating her decision. Was it worth it? Soon she would wake up under the tree again, with her loyal knight lying to her about the sword, she had her chance and she wasted it. But it was for the best, was it not?
"No. It was not worth it." a voice said from behind her, one that sounded identical to hers.
"Who's there?!" she shouted as she turned around, staggering upon setting her eyes on the source.
"Oh? But you're the last person not to recognize me. For I am you." The new arrival spoke, her pale hair dancing in the void and her golden eyes gleaming.
Saber was too shocked to talk, so the other Saber continued: "I'll be taking over from now on, you tried. Now it's my turn."
"What does this mean?! What will you do?! The Grail is destroyed! What will you take over?!" Saber lashed out at her other self, her Alternative Personality.
"Such naivety, you did not think that a simple blast destroying the physical manifestation of the lesser grail was enough to completely stop the Grail Wars from occurring... Did you?" The darker variant of Saber addressed the knightess, a villainous smirk drawing across her face as the other Saber began dematerializing. "It does not concern you anymore. Rest in peace, Holy King of Knights."
"Damn it... DAMN IT!" Artoria Pendragon screamed out. Her body dematerialized before her very eyes as her consciousness faded all of a sudden.
The black Saber's eyes widened soon after, her counterpart's memories flowing into her brain.
"What in Vortigern's flames do you mean 'The King does not understand human emotion?!' Don't joke with me!" She screamed out, black lightning dancing across her body. Her hands shook violently as she curled them into fists, her breathing became less organized. "No! I won't take this for an answer! Even if her methods did not work either, mine definitely will!"
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Kiritsugu stood on top of a Skyscraper attempting everything at his disposal to get in contact with Saber, but nothing worked. Eventually, his worries came true, as a pillar of rupturing light erupted from the ruins of the center hall, shortly followed by his command spells fading from existence.
He dropped to his knees, but before he could lament losing his wish, something even worse happened; just as the pillar of light dissipated, a massive halo formed in the sky, pouring down that muddy substance from before at alarming rates.
"What the hell did you do... SABER!" he screamed out, as he stood up and started running as fast as he could down the stairs, still injured from his previous battle but a bit better. The sheath of the holy sword, Avalon working its magic to fix the damage done to his body.
The muddy substance spread, covering a large area and eventually, as Kiritsugu was still struggling down the stairs with his mind racing at the number of lives lost and the amount of destruction caused, the entire skyscraper quacked and shook.
Saber's former Master almost failed at keeping his balance, but managed to climb out of a window, tossing himself out of the collapsing building.
"TIME ALTER: SQUARE ACCEL!" he screamed as he felt impossible amounts of pain coursing through his body. Yet, he persisted. Accelerating the speed at which his body operated, he was able to adjust the angle of his fall to slide on the collapsed building's side. Though it was not enough to fully circumvent the fall from hurting him, he did survive.
His body rolled on the ground a few times, then stopped on top of a floating bit of cement which split off from a building. Kiritsugu opened his eyes a few moments later, coughing up some blood. Then, he gaped at his surroundings in disbelief.
The halo hung above, as if it was a sign of the end of the world. Though it stopped generating the black substance. The rivers of black mud started declining, leaving behind a barren wasteland of death and destruction.
Kiritsugu mustered the rest of his remaining strength, standing up weakly, then started walking towards the rubble and destroyed houses.
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Amidst the roaring flames, between the rubble and the ash, was a boy with red hair. A child, completely surrounded by red burning blazes, yet remained completely untouched.
He did not care about the others who caught on fire nearby, nor did he pay any heed to the screams. His mind was completely blank. His body reverted to instinct in order to survive.
Barefooted, he walked on the debris. His feet did not get charred even though the ground was extremely hot, but even that did not shake him out of his dazed state as he continued walking mindlessly towards the highest place he could see.
A collapsed part of a building with some semblance of it still being solid seemed to fit that criteria in the young boy's mind. He reached his destination, then climbed the rubble to reach the roof. He rolled on his back as soon as he made it up there, his eyes widening in shock at what he saw.
The sky was blood red. The massive halo visible in the distance.
"O lost child, to the flames thou've been cast... Thy issue hast met their demise... Yet thou are destined to survive..." a corrupt, slow-toned voice rang within the child's mind. "Heed me and obey... As when the ashes are two... A flame alighteth..."
The child's consciousness faded, a new one created within him. He had no way of fighting back, feeling as if his soul was leaving his body
"Thou shall be baptized 'i the flames, reborn of the flames, as a phoenix which returneth from the great beyond... As thou art ash, and fire befits thee, of course." the voice chanted, delight clear in its tone.
The boy was gone. He was no longer the same person. Simply, reborn in the flames of what would later be known to the moonlit world as the Fourth Holy Grail War catastrophe.
"I shall be reborn countless times and then some more, and thou shalt be mine vessel, for my name is Phenex... And the Time for Rebirth Hath Come!"
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Kiritsugu walked and walked, feeling everything he ever worked for was meaningless. All that he ever placed hopes on disappearing in front of his very eyes. He heard countless screams and dying voices, unable to save any of them. This was his own fault. He shouldn't have summoned Saber... HE caused this... HIM. HIM!
His wounds were fully healed when he reached the final destination, atop a slightly elevated ground, he found him.
A red haired child was laying there, miraculously unharmed but completely unconscious. Kiritsugu wasted no time, even if his body seemed completely fine, he must have inhaled a large portion of smoke and gasses.
Kiritsugu extracted Avalon from within him, placing it on top of the child's chest. Then, with a soft push, it sunk inside of him.
A sigh of relief, it wasn't all a lie. He was able to save someone.
All those lives did not go to waste.
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His eyes opened and started examining his surroundings. He bolted up as a sharp feeling of nausea engulfed him for a good minute before it dissipated. It seemed like he was in a hospital or a similar location, the beds with sleeping children lined up alongside some medical components were a dead giveaway.
He looked at his hands in terrible confusion. "Why me?" the child whispered to himself, but to his surprise, he heard a voice within his head. "It could not be anyone other than thee." the voice whispered back with its slow, distorted tone.
The child did not know what to think of this. "What does that mean?" he asked.
The reply came shortly after: "Patience, child. Thou shalt know of all in due time... For now, I shall be thy instructor, and thou shalt follow mine orders, if thou seeketh strength, knowledge, or even pitiful fame, obey me and thou will find."
The child went quiet after that, thinking about what he had just heard.
"Hmm... But thou... Surely... Thou art not after such disdainful objectives... Thou seeketh something else... Something greater..." the voice continued, as if examining the child's thought process.
"Yes. I want to know. To realize. What does Death really means? I saw it, you know I did, you were there, those flames, those screams. There was no way for me to survive if it was not for you and that man." he declared, clenching his right hand into a fist. "Was such a thing truly necessary? Can it be avoided?"
The voice went silent for a moment, then it burst out into a sickly laughter. "To think that a mere human child wouldst think of such an idea... Even with a modified personality... Thou art truly a unique case... Very well! Thy wish will be granted! Thou only needst follow my instructing and thou shalt find thy answer."
The boy smiled in determination, but before he could reply to the voice again, a door in the corner of the room suddenly unlocked, then it slid open, revealing the figure of a man which resembled the one he was barely able to see before he passed out. He approached the child, placing a bag next to the bed then crouching down next to him.
"How are you feeling?" the man asked with a cold tone. "Does it hurt anywhere?"
The boy stared at the man without speaking. "He is a fine person to talk to. Do answer his questions, but do not mention mine presence." the voice spoke within the child's head again, the latter shaking his head negatively after hearing his orders.
"Good." the man affirmed, looking relieved. "Let's see... What is your name? Do you remember your own name?"
"Shirou." the kid said after a moment of silence. "Just... Shirou."
Kiritsugu felt worried at first, but dismissed it immediately after. "Listen to me Shirou. Tell me, would you like to go to the orphanage with the rest of the children here, or be adopted by a man you just met? You have to know that I am a very dangerous person. All kinds of bad people are after me and you may get in danger if you are with me."
"Do accept." The voice ordered within his head the moment he felt confusion.
Shirou kept silent for a good moment, then simply nodded positively and smiled at the man. "What's your name mister?"
Kiritsugu smiled back, he was happy at the boy's decision. "My name is Emiya Kiritsugu. I am a mage, Shirou."
"A mage? What does that mean?" Shirou asked out of curiosity. "Like a magician?"
Kiritsugu shook his head. "No, Magicians are a different thing. A mage is a human who can practice magecraft, which is like science. Magicians are people who are not limited by the rules. They create true Miracles. Unlike mages who can only replicate."
Shirou raised a hand to his chin as if pondering something, then simply shrugged. "I don't think I really understand right now, but that's okay. You can explain more to me later, right Mister Emiya?"
Kiritsugu was amazed at how he reacted, he expected a more... Childish reaction. But he smiled and stood up. "You're right, Shirou. Now get up, we have to go, there's a change of clothes inside the bag, change up and we'll go to our new home." he then paused, "And just call me Kiritsugu, you're an Emiya now too, remember?"
The red haired child smiled then obeyed. He stood up and changed his clothes just as requested by Kiritsugu.
Moments later, Shirou was holding his adoptive father's hand as they walked out of the building's door. It was then when he noticed someone staring down at them from the top of the building.
The voice within his head announced itself present again after a good while of silence. "Mhmm... The king of Heroes... Is a problematic foe... Unpredictable... Can be an invaluable asset... or our biggest obstacle... 'Tis a miracle he did not notice mine presence within thee just yet..."
Shirou did not know what the voice mumbled about. His eyes dropped down, meeting a different gaze this time.
Kiritsugu froze in place, as the figure of the priest Kotomine Kirei entered his sight. "You... How are you still... No... Don't answer that... I don't want anything to do with you anymore. Leave us." he said. Shirou noticed his grip tightening around his hand as he spoke. But did not think as much of it as the disturbing feeling that rummaged his insides as soon as he locked eyes with this supposed 'man of God'.
"Relax vessel... Do not let his sins obstruct thine vision... It is true, what thow senseth... He is dead... Yet still lives..." the voice came through again within the child's mind. Making him snap out of his state. He then proceeded to stare the priest dead in the eyes for a good moment, refusing to move when Kiritsugu attempted to drag him by the hand.
"Oi— Shirou!" Kiritsugu called out to the child. Who only moved after saying a word his adoptive father knew nothing of.
"Ananias." Shirou said. The priest's twisted smile immediately distorted into a scowl of pure hatred. But he allowed the two to go. The child suddenly acted normally again.
"What was that all about?" Kiritsugu asked, a tone of genuine concern taking over his voice.
Shirou simply shook his head, it simply happened naturally. He did not question it, especially with the relief, almost happiness he felt when he saw the expression change on the fake priest's face.
"Nothing. Just a word I remembered when I saw him." he replied with a smile.
Kiritsugu kept quiet for a while, then decided to shake it off with one of his usual "I see."s
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Author's Note:
Originally, this was a shitty 1k words prologue with plenty of spelling and format errors. But now as I remade it... I found myself nearing the 5k mark without being able to complete its story. So, I decided to split it up into two parts. This one is the first (Obviously) and the other one will tell the story of Kiritsugu after the 4th Grail war. As well as cover Shirou's character evolving. This took plenty of time and effort so I genuinely hope you'll like it. Leave a review please!