Greetings readers! At the time of this chapter's release, the FF site is facing issues again, specifically, its email alerts are down and unresponsive. If you are following my stories, you may either join the discord server I made for Kintsugi no Fusei (Link is here: yHJAWDNbRHor) or subscribe to my AO3 account (TheUndyingWill), or even follow me on SpaceBattles instead to remain notified. Thank you, you may now read the new chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fate/ stay night and Fire Emblem: Awakening. Or any other intellectual property I reference for that matter.

Special thanks to RedRat8, Sleep, Zelenin, and Shadeking666 for Beta Reading this chapter.

Kintsugi no Fusei

Book 1: On Fields of Fate

Chapter 11: A Flame Anew II

The sputters of burning wood were the accompaniment to the animated conversation between two sharp minds, accented by the harried scratches of ink-dipped quills on parchment. It was a rhythm only occasionally broken by a sip of tea or mouthfuls of snacks prepared on short notice. Either way, those sounds gave Shirou focus as he began to put the finishing touches on his newest project.

"Trace on." With but a whisper, the thunder crackled within him and flowed down through his fingers. The energy interacted with the assembled pieces he held and provided him with the whole blueprint of its structure, what he needed to improve or fix was now visible to him. Another pulse and that made it like putty in his hands, which gave him enough give to change it to his liking.

Structural Analysis finished. Reinforcement and Alteration commencing. In his mind's eye, a forge woke to life with fire and hammers met anvils, ready to shape the material to his design.

Removing the minute imperfections and flaws. It must not break, not to the elements nor any force laid upon it.

Metal smoothed over evenly as the excess fell onto the work cloth he had placed beneath him and his project in even strips, any minor gaps before becoming rigid once more to the assigned shapes. Overall, the frame was now stronger than it was before despite being lighter and having removed some material from it.

Refining the creation process. Though it would only be temporary, he had to ensure it would serve its purpose well, and so that others may have possible use of it.

With that in mind, flexibility and plasticity were a must, so Shirou made sure to imbue such properties into the foldable frame. He also made sure that it would be resistant to rust and for extra measure, made it hydrophobic. Now, the end is near. Hmm…maybe Robin would like it if I made it more comfortable and familiar to her.

The thought spurred him into motion as he then took the next materials he needed, cushions and sheets of leather. While he did so, he thought of shapes to carve on specific pieces of this project. Taking great care, he cut and wrapped the materials to their proper places, his material transmutation spells binding them to the frame with ease and imbuing them with properties that would ensure maximum comfort.

Finally, utilizing the fancy but steady motions he learned from writing the local language, he began to carve. Sweetfish on the footrests, blueberries for the handrests, and for a bit of humor on her part, the bird she shared the name of for the headrest.

"Alright, I'm done." The redhead whispered as a smile bloomed on his face upon examining the results of his labor, a foldable chair with wheels.

A wheelchair. A fucking wheelchair. I can't believe that this is the one thing you asked me to provide you and Morgana with the design for all these weeks ago. A certain bound figure groused within his mind. A complaint that merely made him smirk.

And yet, you provided it to me all the same. So, what does that say about you, Archer? He retorted.

He expected a reply from the grouch, but none came. A small victory, all things considered, compared to the pain that his counterpart had put him and Robin through earlier.

With that said and done, Shirou gathered the excess materials and placed them in his new knapsack along with the work cloth before he reentered the living room. Mother and daughter had filled several parchments by now and were still at work, splotches of dried ink on their dominant hands. Some of them he believed were plans and others letters already sealed tight with a wax symbol from a large ring that Morgana wore. Its face had the visage of a dragon with a sword.

A little bit on the nose there. The champion thought before he made a grunt. "Ladies, am I interrupting anything?"

"Shirou!" Robin was the first to pause in her writing as she shifted back in place in her seat and wiped away some sweat that had gathered on her brow. "Give me a second. Are you done with your project?"

"I must admit, I am curious as to what exactly he had asked me to commission." On the seat by her left, Morgana folded another letter and made quick work of it with practiced motions. She had less of an inky mess compared to her daughter, but only because she had a different mess due to the candle wax she was pouring to seal the letters with.

"Well, it's—" As he made to reply, it was at this moment that Robin had ceased wiping most of the sweat and turned to him then. Moreover, her appearance now made his mouth go slack.

The albino was smiling once more, her pearly whites visible and her lips still a bit moist, which brought forth a shine he could not help but notice. Her right cheek also had thin splatters of ink, as if she had been absentmindedly tapping her cheek with her quill as she thought. That only highlighted how her eagerness was apparent on the pale flesh, with the hair that framed her face now tucked behind her ears.

But again, it was her eyes that left him spellbound. The rich purple color alight with the flames of her passion and determination. It was like what he had seen before when she was trying to walk. A bright flame made manifest from her confidence and courage.

And now that flame burned brighter, its intensity more stable now that she knew what she wanted to achieve. In that fire was hope, strong and with glorious purpose. To blaze a trail where her family would break free from the darkness that bound their family to their fates and bring forth a future beyond their fates.

The path she was undertaking was a bold one, for she would have to fight a war on many fronts and she had yet to find or recruit her army. The only thing she had now had to be pooled together and grow. Her wits and knowledge from her previous lives, what resources and connections her mother could provide, and all that he could offer now as her sworn knight.

Whatever would happen, he would not let the beauty of her flame be snuffed out. Not to anyone nor the darkness within her. The fire that was Robin, his Empress, would grow strong. And he would be there as her witness. Her guardian. Her Knight.

"What's going on in that head of yours Shirou?" Her voice jolted him out of his thoughts and made him focus on her anew. She was still smiling but the glint in her eyes was playful, even teasing, and he could not help but gulp as it drew him to her features once more. Why did this suddenly feel different?

What should I do? I need to say something! Shirou shook his head and let instinct take over for him as he took out a clean piece of cloth. He approached Robin and took a knee before her, the distance between them being close enough. Carefully, he wiped away as much of the ink as he could from her cheek, words escaping his mouth as he did. "Well, Robin, I thought my Empress needed a break. Your persistence is admirable but we still have time."

"Oh?" The former royal remarked with an eyebrow raised and a grin as she placed her ring over the wax.

"Hueh?" The pale-haired woman tried to keep still as he did his task, though he could not but notice the sound was endearing. Was it because he called her Empress?

His lips stretched upwards as he registered the opening. "If this keeps up, I think the left side of your pretty face will soon match this mess on your right."

Robin's breath hitched. "My what?"

Confused at the reaction he was given, he simply continued to wipe her face and decided to rephrase his prior message. "I said you need a break soon if you don't want your pretty face…oh."

His hands stilled and so did his mouth as he realized what he had done. Or rather, what he said. Out loud. Twice. As sincere as his thoughts can be.

The pale tactician's face was not so pale anymore. Reasoning that it chafed because of the rubbing was rendered moot when deep red colored both of her cheeks. Her purple orbs remained still on him and her lips slightly ajar. Words failed to escape them.

Then, there was the expression on Morgana's face as she reclined back in her seat, looking thoroughly entertained at his interactions with her daughter. In fact, she merely made a circling motion with her hand as if to say continue.

Hold on, are mothers even supposed to be invested in things like this? He wondered as his ears grew heated. Or is it just her?

You would be surprised at what people would find entertaining. Was the response of a certain voice in his head. If anything, this one's mild.

On second thought, he really did not want to know.

As Shirou tried to regain focus, it was then that he felt familiar hands upon him before the unexpected happened.

The warm lips of Robin Daraen touched his left cheek.

It was only for a moment as she withdrew at the amused gasp of her mother. And the crooning of the Griffon peeking outside the window. Yet that moment felt like an eternity to him as his widened eyes turned to her face once more.

The redness was still there but it had subsided a bit and gave her face a rosy sheen. Her soft lips, those same lips that had just been on his face were simply pressed together as she beamed at him. Combined with the warm, if a bit coy, look in her purple eyes he was stunned for the second time in very short order. Was this really what this day had in store for him?

"That is very sweet of you," She leaned close once more, her breath hot on his left ear as she whispered. "Thank you, my Knight."

Unbidden, a shiver went down the so-called knight's back as the words she uttered gave him a sensation he couldn't understand. It was much too far to be called unpleasant. Ardent, rich, and far too smooth. Indeed, it was like a raw heap of elation.

What have I done? Perhaps…perhaps I shouldn't have teased her too much. Lightheaded, the urge to lie down and just process what was happening so far became increasingly tempting to the divine dragon's champion. And that was only to drown the near-deafening beats currently ringing his ears—well, that and to make sure that his ribcage didn't suddenly give up on him with how hard the life-giving organ inside it pounded.

To think that my day started by getting my ass kicked in my mind by a guy who can't even get out of a tree. Then getting woken up and for this day to become like this. I guess plans truly don't survive the first encounter huh? He closed his eyes and shook his head briefly as a grin emerged from his face. Fine then. Two can play this game.

"Alright, Pale Princess. You've won." Shirou said as he took her hands off of him, but not before he resisted the urge to fight fire with fire by giving them a peck each. He instead settled for gently squeezing them as he stood up. "I should go now. I have to give you your prize."

Then with a wink, he waited no longer as he made his escape into the kitchen, while the loud gleeful whispers of Morgana were brought to bear on her daughter.

"Little Bird! I have just the most lovely of ideas!"

"Wha—hey! Mom! Stop! Shirou! I'll get you for this! You hear me! I'll get you!"

Even as the parent and child began to squabble like children instead of being rational adults, he went back to work on finishing the meals he had been cooking since he had access to the kitchen. There, he found himself back in his thoughts. In that instant, he clearly remembered what Robin had told him just a few hours ago.

"With you, I am." Four simple words she had uttered then. Now, the colors in the world seem so different from before. It was brighter, yes, and that was good. Still, he could not help but worry about the implications of it, and if this path was for the better.

Lacking as he is now as an amnesiac champion of Naga tasked with a mission and saddled with a shade, even he knew the weight of those four words. Not only that but the numerous interactions he had so far with the would-be conqueror. The budding intimacy between them. With the new lines drawn by her goals and his own to consider, he wondered.

What more would they be willing to cross together now that she was his Empress and he was her Knight?

Am I the best for her? Am I really what Robin needs? Though it was futile, he could not help but think of such thoughts. For deep inside his mended heart, he felt the guilty pang of a muted pain. As if to tell him, he had failed before and he could fail yet again.

And that feeling alone forged one enduring thought. A wish of his own to be specific. Shirou wished not to fail Robin, for he could not bear it if he would hurt her. To hurt her was to hurt him and that would not stand.

The divine arm and the growing core triggered his circuits, manifesting on his body. Unknown to him then, his eyes were of polished steel and burnished fire as he declared.

"I am…the crucible of arms."

In the world still sealed, mending and growing under the blessing of Naga, the shade of the counter guardian grunted as dawn began to peek through the darkness of the distant horizons. Though warm, the light was still in its early stages, clouds still partially obscuring it. What rays of it that did pierce and illuminate the lands were refracted. Drawn to several bonfires, alleviating the intensity of the flames.

If it had been a week before or even as early as the day that Morgana had tested the vessel in combat, this would have been a cause for concern. But that time had passed, and the boy had survived the attempt at Tracing and the subsequent shift to Alteration. That didn't even take into account his survival of his first test. That survival paved the way for this possibility.

Upon noticing rays upon the weapons closest to him, Archer took a deep breath and let loose a sigh longer than that. "And so, it begins. Took you long enough."

He spared a glance at the bow and married blades that he used most, the flame concealing them lightened. If the fool truly wished to surpass him, he had to know how he fought. Gaining access to these weapons would be an important step to achieving such a goal.

Then his eyes were drawn to another one nearby, a sword fit for kings, a reminder of that ethereal night he could barely remember now. Even still, it and its owner remained a pinnacle, an ideal to surpass. Or at the very least, try to.

"The crucible of arms, huh…" The bound being muttered as he reclined back on the roots in thought before he snorted, a sardonic smile on his face. "Get to work on passing my crucible first, Knight. Then, we shall see."

Having said this, he closed his flaming 'eyes' and slumbered, waiting for their next bout.

It was beneath the bright beam of the noon sun that the oaken door of the Daraen home was opened and the three of them exited the building. However, they all came out differently and not at the same time.

Shirou walked out first, carrying the folded form of the wheelchair he had finished in his metal arm, partially covered by the work cloth he took out of his knapsack. In the other, he held a large basket which had also been covered to protect its contents from the elements. He set them both down nearby and waited for the Daraens to leave the house, content to remain silent and stew in his thoughts again.

What do they mean? He ruminated, remembering the weight of the phrase he uttered in a trance in the kitchen. They were not just words, for no mere words could explain the intense feeling of his soul becoming more whole. Why had he called himself a crucible of arms? And why did it feel like that something was just beneath the surface, waiting for him to make use of it?

The temptation to say them once again just so he can solve this mystery stirred.

However, he was not alone.

"WARK." Sharur the Griffon warbled from a healthy distance away.

The redhead turned his eyes to the creature, being reminded that for all that he had learned so far through Robin and what he could read, there appeared to be some exceptions to the normally noble and prideful creatures. For what else could explain his uncharacteristic skittishness towards him…or the fact that he had apparently taken after his rider's curiosity and strange excitement if that moment of him looking from the window was any indication?

"...I don't even have a bow with me. You do know that, right? You can go closer if you want to." He offered in peace. Despite this, the griffon made no move to go closer, as if doing so was a sin, and simply settled for looking at him instead. That is before he took deep sniffs through his beak and eagerly wagged his tail.

"WARK. WARK?" Morgana's mount squawked out, initially confusing the champion of Naga before he followed its line of sight and found its focus on the covered basket by his foot.

"Oh, so that's what you want…" Shirou muttered, his tone flat as he gave Sharur a blank stare. "Yeah, I'm not giving you our food."

"WARK!" Sharur insisted, eyes pleading. A sight that boggled him enough that he swore to make an annotation in the book of Magical Creatures that he was given as soon as he and Robin got back home.

"But it's not even enough to feed you!" He pointed out, to remind the creature of the sheer difference between their serving sizes and what he had prepared. "Seriously, there are more than enough boars and pigs on this island to feed you. You have wings and claws!"

"WARK!" Even in the face of this fact, it seemed this overgrown bird-cat remained persistent.

Shirou scratched at his head to try and ward off the growing ache. "If I knew you were going to be like this, I wouldn't have fed you that smoked boar from way back then."

"Now, now boys. What's with all this racket happening outside?" Morgana voiced loud and clear as the door swung open.

At that, the Man and Griffon swiftly exchanged looks before they nodded tersely in silent agreement. They would table this discussion for their sake. But it was far from over.

Then he turned to face the Daraen mother and daughter. As his eyes beheld the two, the older albino was first to exit, her body partially obscuring the younger as she helped her walk outside. Curiously though, strapped to her back was a wrapped package and a pair of swords, which seemed to be a paired katana and a wakizashi.

Wait, could it be that those are Niten Do'raku's swords?

Whatever further speculation he could have for why she brought them was washed away the second he saw his Empress.

Not only was Robin cleaned of ink after a brief wash, but she was also clad in new clothes and a rather surprising color change. A white shin-length spring dress of Ylissean-make pleasantly adorned her recovering form with a purple shawl wrapped around her shoulders while a belt secured the fabric of her attire around her waist. From the belt hung a prism locket, the contents of which contained magic judging by its scent and he found it to be quite pleasant, reminding him of flowers. For footwear, she wore a dark pair of sandals.

For the first time in a long while, he found her tresses bound back into her preferred manner. The front delicately framing her face while braids lead to her customary twin pigtails. Her pale hair now bore the lightest tinge of rouge that was darker at the roots like the core of a bright pink flame and her purple eyes looked around with a shade closer to that of the deep blue seas. There was more color to her now, her skin a healthier shade even as most of her scars remained, the raw redness in them faint and the faded mark on her right hand was absent. And if his eyes did not deceive him, her face sported quite a blush as she looked anywhere but where he was aside from glances that made her face redden even more.

Why? Shirou thought with wonder before he also noticed the gleeful grin on Morgana's face. Ah, that might explain why.

Whatever plan that her mother had concocted, it likely involved him and Robin. The question now was to find out what it was. Moreover, how exactly could he help alleviate the embarrassment she felt so he could ignore his, when the time of reckoning comes?

"Alright young man, will you show us what you made?" The mother asked as she kept her daughter upright with one hand and winked. "I love my Little Bird but the day won't wait and she has to fly no?"

"Mother, please…stop." Robin groaned as her apparent embarrassment began to subside as she finally looked and held her gaze with him. He lifted an eyebrow, an inquiry all but palpable but she shook her head and whispered to him, later.

"Well, I won't keep you all waiting." The Champion of Naga took hold of the cloth that covered his project and removed it, revealing the wheelchair for mother and daughter to see. "Here you go."

The Daraen mother and daughter pair blinked owlishly and a few seconds passed, their eyes going to and fro as they examined his project. Eventually, they spoke in sync. "Shirou, what the hell is that?"

"A wheeled chair, you can call it a wheelchair for short!" He piped up as he approached them, though not before he swiftly snatched the basket back up when Sharur twitched. "Take a seat, Robin."

The two albinos exchanged a look before they shrugged. Morgana helped Robin get onto the seat, watching as she reclined and placed her feet on the footrests. "Huh, this is a lot more comfortable than I thought it would be."

"Want to put it through its paces?" He asked, receiving a curious nod in return.

And with that, Shirou began to push slowly and made to circle around the courtyard. It was smooth so far, given the paved nature of the ground beneath them with Robin simply taking it in. But there was more for him to show her still.

He stopped pushing the wheelchair as both Morgana and Sharur shot him a curious look.

"You see these smaller wheels affixed to the large ones?" The knight pointed out to his empress as he went around a bit so that he was in her view.

"Yeah, what are they for?" She asked, giving the said parts the lightest of touches.

He simply grinned. "Try rolling them forward with your hands. Don't keep holding on when you do though. Let it go."

With an intrigued hum, the pale tactician did as he had explained. Grasping the large metal rings more firmly, she pushed them forward and let out a surprised squeak as she let go. The energy she exerted was transferred and the wheelchair moved in the same direction, even if only at a short distance.

"WARK? WARK?!" The griffon squawked.

"Fascinating!" Morgana exclaimed. "I wonder how I'd fair in that?"

Shirou simply remained silent, watching and ready to move when necessary as Robin scrutinized the wheelchair. Eventually, she grabbed the push rings again and pushed with a grin. As it moved, she continued to push at steady intervals, going faster or slower at her leisure.

Soon, she proved her ingenuity anew as she slowed to a stop and grabbed the push rims. She pushed with her right and pulled with her left, which made her go left. She soon switched her motions to turn the other way with growing ease, culminating when she managed to make a full 360-degree turn. Moreover, the smile on her face only ever grew even as she started to pant at the effort she exerted.

Eventually, she stopped and he made his approach. He knelt before her then took out a clean cloth from a pouch in his knapsack and offered it to her. "So, how was your prize?"

"I think…" Robin trailed off as she took the offer and wiped away what sweat she had gathered on her. She then loosened her shawl to continue there and heat swiftly flooded his face as it revealed what she hid underneath.

The dress she wore was held only by two strings from the front that were tied behind her neck, which bared much of her shoulders and even a hint of her cleavage. An area that she was now busy wiping while he was still there!

Though he knew it was already too late when the image was already ingrained in his mind, he looked the other way…only to find the cheeky faces of a mount and rider directed at him.

At their reactions, he remained as stoic as his face could manage. In his mind though, he let out a long-suffering groan. I can't wait to get away from them.

That thought gave him comfort, even if only a little.

"...this is pretty great!" The would-be Plegian conqueror declared and his attention was drawn to her again. He felt relieved to see that she had finished and readjusted her shawl.

Of course, he tried to ignore the feeling of disappointment that it also brought. He did not need to give the nosy duo more ammunition.

"Good to know you like it, Robin," Shirou said with a grin to match hers.

Robin nodded and then looked at her mother as she walked towards them with Sharur following. "We'll be going now."

"You have my blessing." She said with a wink, which earned her an exasperated head shake from her child. "Before you go, I have gifts."

The former royal first took the wrapped package from her back. "Sir Shirou, I have made a purchase recently and thought this would suit you just fine. Try it on."

The Knight and the Tactician stared at each other briefly before she raised her hands and accepted the basket he still held. Meanwhile, he stood up and accepted the package which he then swiftly unwrapped. When he finished, his eyebrows rose at what greeted his sight as he held it out for the others too.

In his hands was a well-made white haori decorated with blue clouds outlined with gold. The clouds on the sleeves were narrower and followed a pattern that evoked tiger stripes in his mind. Lengthwise, it looked like it would reach his upper thighs when worn. A quick Structural Analysis revealed to him that although it had been made years ago from Chon'sin, it had been kept in pristine condition by a Secret Seller called Anna.

"The craftsmanship is amazing." He could not help but voice his thoughts aloud. Upon turning it around though, he could not help but tilt his head as he found something missing. "There's no crest here."

"Well, the Anna I got it from did tell me it was commissioned for a Ronin so that explains the lack of a crest," Morgana revealed. "Now that you're Robin's Knight though, I reckon you would like to be the one to add hers once she comes up with one."

"Well, guess I've got homework to do then." Robin japed.

"Don't take my oath as a sign to foist it onto me though. I've only recently gotten better at writing your language." He added wryly.

The mother chuckled. "Oh please, from what I know of you, you'll do it anyway."

They all shared a round of laughter at their expense before she brought the sheathed pair of blades from her back and held them out for him to take. "I do believe these would suit you better than my old blade. Speaking of, I would like to have it back."

"Hold on, give me a second." Quickly but with all due respect, he wore the haori over his clothes, the latter of which glowed as he invoked his thaumaturgy. In a flash of circuits and inspiration, they were modified. His dark long-sleeved shirt became a kimono and his pants became hakama, if a bit more snug than they usually were.

From the cloth wrapping, he fashioned a red uwa-obi to put around his waist to make his hakama secure and for which to hold the pair of blades he was offered. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do for his shoes. Finished, he removed the belt that held Morgana's sheathed Royal Blade and swiftly exchanged it with the uwa-obi. When it was properly wrapped and tied in the correct knot, he made a satisfied grunt and said, "Alright, I'm done."

Bizarrely, the mother and daughter pair looked at him with green in their eyes. Robin was first to speak up afterward, all while she shook her head. "Tsk. Your magecraft really is a cheat Shirou."

"I pray that you never meet an Anna…or if you do, make sure that you've read that fine print and got proper compensation for the fate about to befall you," Morgana added as she nodded with an aura of pity while she gave him the pair of blades she offered.

"What the hell does that even mean?" He asked as he became more concerned, but the two women only sighed before chagrined smiles bloomed on their faces as if they knew of a great big joke he was unaware of.

"You'll learn one of the great mysteries of this world—" The daughter began to say.

"—And it's probably sooner than later." The mother finished sagely.

"..." The redhead remained silent as he stared at them blankly before he offered the sword back to its owner. This was a rabbit hole that was not to be explored.

"Oh! Don't worry about losing access to the Pit House. I gave Robin a new key, it should be more convenient than this old thing." Morgana explained as she gestured to her sword before she turned to her daughter. "I'll leave it to you to tell him what we discussed."

The tone was teasing yet the same emotion did not reach her eyes. If anything, it bore the same serious weight as when she had asked him to take care of Robin in her stead.

A cursory glance revealed a multitude of emotions flashing through Robin's face all at once, far too fast for him to decipher before she settled for a resigned look. As their gazes met, she gave him an uneasy smile. It all but told him what she would discuss with him, might be of serious weight and consequent change between them.

Seriously, what did they talk about? Shirou mused with a little trepidation seeping in that he made sure to keep off of his features. He knew not if he was successful in that task, for he knew time was up. "I just want you to know, there should still be plenty of food in the kitchen for lunch if you want."

Morgana gave him a thankful nod. "I'll keep that in mind. You have my gratitude."

"Looks like we'll be going now, Mother," Robin said firmly as he went behind her and took hold of the push handles. "Take care of yourself and my brother, okay?"

"Of course. You take care of yourselves and each other too, you hear me?" Morgana insisted as she gently examined the sword she owned. "Your lives are now bound. Where it leads to, will be up to you both. Whatever hardship or triumphs you will face, do it together."

"We will." The sworn pair said in sync, the timing of which caused them both to chuckle. "See you later."

The steady footsteps and turning wheels on the unpaved ground joined the choir of nature. There the familiar pair continued onward with a simple goal. To explore all that it had to offer them both.

And so Shirou simply took his time as he pushed the wheelchair in front of him while his eyes occasionally drifted. He could not help but simply watch as its occupant looked around them with equal parts nostalgia and newfound wonder. It was all that he could do now really, not with the humbling weight of all that had happened in the past hours alone. All of that, yet the day was far from over.

"Hey, Shirou. Or should I call you Sir Shirou?" Robin inquired as she tried to look back at him. However, that task was far harder and perhaps unnecessary in her seated state. Not wanting her to strain herself, he simply leaned above her so that he was partially in view.

The champion of Naga hummed as he stewed on that thought and the answer he came up with made him smirk. "You tell me. Should I be calling you Your Majesty? Your Augustness? Pale Princess?"

Said Pale Princess' right hand reached up and pinched his right cheek. "Don't you get smart with me! I ought to call you a househusband or a chef for that."

"But I already am that for you anyway, remember?" He pointed out, which earned him another tug from his pinched cheek in an attempt to invoke pain. However, it only made his smirk grow in response. "Oh dear, looks like the power has already got to your head. Whatever shall I do as your knight?"

"Shirou, you…hmph!" She soon let go of his cheek and puffed hers, eyes closed and arms crossed before her as she did so to punctuate.

"Pfft." Shirou tried not to laugh at such an expression but that was a losing battle as chuckles escaped his mouth. "Ahhh ha ha ha!"

Robin huffed again at his laughter, yet the smile that threatened to tug at her lips was all the confirmation he needed of what she actually felt. "You—hehe. Oh, I'll get back to you later. Again. Mark my words, tease."

"Alright, you got me. I was just messing with you." He said as he ceased his chuckles and then added. "You know I'll always call you what you want me to call you. And you can always call me what you want to call me. That remains true regardless of you becoming my future Empress and I, your sworn knight."

"So it's okay if I call you my Servant then?" For some unknown reason, the word made his head twitch.

"I don't know. Do you want me to call you my Master?" His response baffled him just as much at the sheer familiarity. It was at the tip of his tongue but the knowledge just remained out of his reach.

"Mmm…tempting. Very tempting." She whispered, her eyes trained far away as red filled her cheeks.

Oh no. I'm not letting you get any ideas! Shirou thought as he quickly turned her wheelchair around so that she would face him and grabbed her wheelchair's handrests. Snapping away from her thoughts, she realized what he was about to do all too late.

"Shirou wait—!" Robin could only hold on for dear life with one hand while the other secured their basket as he pushed forward and ran.

"Slow down!" Even as her twin tails battered at his face and partially obscured his vision at the speed he ran, he continued still even as they went past through fields of green. Red colored her face as she screamed, yet it did not match the rouge of her glamoured hair, remaining light as she kept eye contact with him.

Had it been any other wheelchair, it would have long since buckled at the force he was putting it through. This one though, was built and modified to last longer than most while retaining comfort. A detail that seemed to sink into the pale tactician's mind the longer he ran as her screams began to lessen in volume and intensity.

Or rather, that her screams changed from shock and terror of falling off the wheelchair to elation at the wind and scenery blowing past them. "Gods above Shirou! This is more fun than I thought!"

"I told you before, Robin. I won't let you fall." He reassured her while her head shook with a giggle.

"Indeed, you did." She expressed warmly, her eyes all but twinkling as she lifted her left arm off the handrest and placed it directly over his right there. "Can you take me to the Rinne?"

Slowing his pace, Shirou cast his eyes over her head to get a full view of the land once more. "Do you mind telling me what and where it is?"

"If you don't know, it's the river we saw a glimpse of earlier," Robin mentioned. This reminded him of the river that he had first seen in this world, the very same river where he had taken her nearby then. "Yes, it's that same river you're thinking of. The one where we first met really."

"Is it that obvious?" He asked as they slowed down to a stop. He then rotated the chair so that she would face forward when they moved again and knelt so their faces were level.

In response, she booped him on his nose with her free hand as she flashed him the most playful smile he had seen from her yet. "Sometimes. It's rather cute."

The sworn knight's free hand rose quickly to the appendage the future conqueror had touched. The cold of the divine metal provided him a much-needed distraction from the heat that bloomed on his face as she released a round of silent giggles. He could only feel a bit comforted that her eyes were closed then and his hand was large enough to cover much of his face as he beheld hers. …you're the cute one. Not me. Wait. Damn it.

Was his face destined to feel on fire this day? Then again, he was enabling her to do this so that was also his fault. It was hard to resist.

"Alright, let us go there."

"When I'm Empress, you have to keep cooking for me. I accept no excuses, Shirou." Robin muttered as she sighed and laid down on the blanket beneath her, satisfaction palpable.

At her words, Shirou snorted as he put away the used dishes and utensils back into the empty basket. "Robin, considering that we have little to no allies until then and that you plan to conquer a country secretly run by cultists, I would have to keep cooking for you."

"Indeed! I won't be able to taste test your food if you don't cook for me." Robin added before she twiddled her fingers and reluctantly patted the space beside her. "Speaking of, I should get you up to speed. You are my knight, you should know what my plans are."

"I see." Setting the basket aside, he took his place beside her and closed his eyes. "So, what's the plan?"

"The plan is to get me back to traveling and fighting strength first. I can't initiate a rebellion against the Grimleal and King Gangrel if I can't be with my forces, let alone lead them into battle and beyond that."

"I'd say you're getting close." The redhead said with an approving nod. "When the time comes, we're to spar then?"

"In good time? Yes." The albino agreed. He had to suppress a grunt and peek when the cloth rustled from her movements. " I want to experience how you fight. It's one thing to see my mother fight you but nothing beats experiencing it. I'll be able to incorporate your skills in my tactics a lot better. Think of the possibilities! Even better, my Pair Up!"

Incorporate him into her tactics? He had to admit, he was curious about what strategies she would come up with and what role he would play. His long-range archery would assign him as a Sniper, an unconventional one with his ability to Reinforce arrows to burst with mana at the level of explosives or modify them with Alteration to imbue them with a new property. While his swordsmanship was still developing, the fact that he could access the skills of others when he used their weapons would allow him to at least match or surpass the opponent depending on the weapon he chose to use.

I am the crucible of arms. I guess that would be one way of looking at it. He thought as he opened his mismatched eyes before he scrunched his brows together in wonder. What's this about her Pair Up though?

"Alright, that would be the most immediate of the short-term plans. Anything else?" Shirou asked as he turned to face Robin, who had once again turned curiously red as her glamoured hair and her gaze far away. "Wait, what's wrong?"

"Nothing!" She yelled suddenly as she turned to face him while she twiddled her fingers before her once again. "It's just…it's about my mother's plan."

Intrigued, he readjusted himself so that he laid on his side to face her while he grasped her jittery hands to try and alleviate her nervousness. "Is it dangerous, Robin?

"Well, no." The pale tactician muttered as she held on. "It's just, it's about us."

The champion of Naga remained silent as he gave her a nod, a sign she took to continue. "It's a good plan and it would keep off some suspicions about us when we can go to the Farfort and when we finally travel to get things ready for the Rebellion."

"But?" He asked as the blush on her face deepened.

"I don't want to put you on the spot, it'll give you more burdens from me when you've already taken on an oath as my Knight and there's still your mission from Naga to consider." She answered as she tried to pull away from him.

Yet their hands remained together.

"You are not a burden, Robin. Trust me. Trust your knight." Shirou said as he brushed the back of her hands with his thumbs. "I think I can handle it. Tell me what it is."

At his words, Robin looked back at him, her eyes a bit more confident even as they remained inquisitive. "Shirou, are you sure about this?"

He nodded decisively. "Tell me."

She pressed her lips together.

And when she opened them, his world turned upside down.

"You're a wandering Ronin who rescued me from Plegian captivity and we decided to elope!"

Shirou blinked once. Twice. Thrice. Then the fiery heat consuming his face soon matched the one on Robin's face. No wonder she was reluctant to reveal this to him. It even put to context some of her earlier reactions to him after her discussion with her mother. And now, deep in his gut, he just knew that Morgana was cackling back in the Daraen homestead.

"...what do you think about it then?" He asked her.

"It's…it's not a bad idea. It's a good one." She admitted and when her eyes met his confounded ones, she elaborated. "Look, it would be much easier to explain that you're my husband and I'm your wife, hypothetically, when we're supposed to be incognito here in the Farfort and possibly beyond that until we can initiate my conquest of Plegia."

"Give me details please." Shirou requested as he tried to make sense of this plan.

"Well, you look convincingly like a Chon'sin Ronin with Valmese blood while I can pass off as a distant cousin of Mother to explain my captivity," Robin explained as her hands fidgeted in his grasp and her eyes closed shut. "We hardly look alike so we should say we're um…lovers who eloped. It should make it easier to explain any closeness we have as empress and knight by being a couple rather than for us to pretend to be siblings. I am so sorry that Mother made this plan and I roped you into it!"

Silence reigned between them, broken only by the sound of the river water rushing near their feet or that of the nearby creatures. Still, they were all drowned out by the sound of their breathing, be it her flustered exhales or the depths of his intakes. Both of them were so different and yet at the end of it all…

We're both people. He thought as he released his grip on her and sat up. He knew what to do.

Her breath hitched and her eyes opened wide in terror.

"Shirou I‒!" A boop on her nose stopped her short as their gazes locked together. Gently, he wiped away the stray tears from her eyes.

"Robin, I'm not leaving." His words mollified her as he opened his knapsack and took several pieces of metal along with strips of leather. His mind had already picked the form and design. All he had to do now was to make them a reality.

Lightning struck a molten core and the forge within him roared to life. Circuits lit up on the metal before Alteration changed them to his liking. Two asymmetrical birds were formed, one white and the other black. Both birds were burnished with gold, the lines of precious metal gave them the appearance of having been shattered and then mended afterward.

The white bird bore sharper features as befitting for a hawk, the shape of a gleaming blade and half a core of flame evoked from its golden decorations. The black bird was of a softer touch as appropriate of a robin, its aureate adornments forming the other half of the flaming core and silhouette of a resplendent crown. From the strips of dark leather, he continuously braided them until he was left with two strands that became strong yet supple enough before he hooked each bird to their respective strips and made them into loops.

With a flash of reinforcement, Shirou was done and he presented them to Robin who was now sitting up. "They're not rings. But do you think this could be convincing enough engagement jewelry for the both of us who eloped?"

The person in question was rendered speechless, her mouth slightly parted as she looked at the jewelry and him then back again in quick succession. "Did you even think about what this plan would mean?"

"I did." The white-speckled redhead responded as he raised the pair of jewelry before them. "And this is my answer."

He slid the black robin in place with the white hawk and the birds embraced together, their singular outstretched wings fitting perfectly as they met. Moreover, it made the three different components of the necklaces' golden design align in unison.

A strip of gold from the robin's wing formed the missing edge of the blade on the hawk's wing. The core of flame from the smaller bird's chest was made whole by the flame-like spot on the larger bird's upper wing. And the sharp crest of the hawk completed the crown on the robin's head.

It was a statement. Though they were different, they were both united. His sword was hers as it was his. A fire was shared between them, to tend to it and one another. And their purpose would be as one.

"...you really are a dangerous man, Shirou." Robin eventually muttered with her cheeks flushed and a shy smile on her face, the wind gently swaying her rouge-tinged hair behind her as she tucked a stray lock behind her ear. "Do you do this for any girl you meet? You'll make me jealous in no time."

Shirou found himself rooted in place as she scooted closer and loosened her shawl to bare her neck for him, a sight that made him gulp as the weight of the jewelry on his hands was now all too real. "Well, put it on me…dear."

With a brief shiver that he suppressed as his spine tingled from the last word, he unlocked the two necklaces and carefully adorned her with the white hawk. In return, she took the black robin from his hands and sat on his lap as she gently put it on him. On a whim, she interlocked them again and so did their eyes as she looked up and leaned against him.

"Are you sure about this?" The glamoured woman asked and he could not tell if the heat came from her breath or his face. Nonetheless, the fire in her eyes drew him in like a moth to a flame. "Whatever happens in the future, we will now be bound by our stations, our masks, our respective purposes until they are fulfilled. Is it really okay for you to bind yourself to me like this Shirou?"

At the question, the scarred man's thoughts were brought to the woman that continued to fade in his heart and mind as her echoes ached him still. He had his suspicions of who she was to him now, of how he had failed her terribly. And how unconsciously it had shaped his decisions regarding Robin.

If she even was alive, he had left her alone and he had burned himself out to embers for her. All that remained of those embers were who he was now, kept alive and mended by the flames of others who gave him a new chance. If she lived, was she now but embers too?

Whoever you are, I hope you forgive me. Live freely.

And thus, he plunged into the crucible, a flame anew.

"Kintsugi no fusei." Shiro took her in his arms and the heat between them evoked him to make his decision. "Let these necklaces, these golden bindings of asymmetry be proof of my oath to you."

Robin wrapped her arms around his neck as she straddled him while he supported her. Tenderly, she placed her forehead against his. "Then let me make my oath to you."

They exchanged smiles and spoke.

"I promise to always protect…"

"Robin Daraen."

"Shirou Kingsfang."

"From all harm and all threats."

"As our fates become intertwined."

"We swear to care for each other, come what may."

"So let us soar together undaunted."

"And may we forge ahead."

"My Knight."

"My Empress."

With their oaths made, they broke apart for space even as their embrace remained unbroken, still linked together, just like the necklaces interlocked between them. Deep breaths left their lips and it took all of Shirou's focus as he drowned in the glamoured ocean orbs while he yearned for the true purple of Robin's eyes. The temptation to close what little distance remained between them was present just like before.

And it was here that he finally realized what the fire consuming him was, a realization he could not deny.

I'm in love with Robin.

My responses to the reviews (Phantoms in the Sparks and KnF Outro):

Dareth: Thank you! Don't know how long it'll be since I'm working full-time now but I'll still update.

Guest 1: That was quite the review. I'm glad to know that this has become one of your favorite fire emblem crossovers and that the interactions between the characters work. As for the bad future, well, we'll take a gander on what happens in the next part of the paralogue. That is one of the reasons why I titled it Kintsugi no Fusei and trust me, I got a lot more stuff to reveal in the story.

Guest 2: Thanks for the review, but you already know that I did update with an actual chapter.

LockeBelmont: Thank you for the compliment! If you liked the chapter before I wonder what you thought of this one then.

A Whimsical Seishin: Thank you! More developments are coming in the next chapters!

DestinySkyDemon: I'm a fan of Code Geass so I took the chance to incorporate them in some way. It's not a full crossover though, I just took those characters for the plot. But anyway, thank you for the review!

Dimihd: Thanks! Hope you like this one!

DragonTetho: The problem with that is I didn't include C.C. here, even though I like her and Lelouch together. In any case, sort of a spoiler I kick things to high gear in the next chapter. I hope you liked this one though. Thank you!

Hashirama 1710: Yes, in Robin's timelines, she descended from Lelouch the Rebel and Kallen the Crimson. In this current timeline, Morgana and her son (and her dead alternate baby self) are descendants of Euphemia the Gentle and Suzaku the Pale.

prietar: You are very welcome. I hope you liked this update.

ZelretchObserva: Thank you for the review!

Author's Notes:

Hello there everyone! It is I, Will!

As I've said in the message before the chapter, FF currently has email alerts down (again) so do follow me on either AO3 or SpaceBattles. You may also join my server, where I and the cover artist of KnF have posted art for the story.

Anyway, don't hesitate to tell me what you thought of this chapter in a Review. Seriously, reviews do help me when it comes to writing. Love it or Hate it, do tell me for improvement!

I hope I was able to entertain you all!

Till next time, this is Will S. LaVi.