2x Accel

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[Video; filtered to Shirou]

Shirou. Could you come to my hotel room?

[Action]

[Unlike his typical daily assessment of the town, Kiritsugu currently allows himself an afternoon of waiting for his son. Things seem to be mellow enough to lend importance to a much more urgent situation, that of Shirou's participation in the Grail War.]

Comments

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...

[He was about to ask his father, but this works as well.

So he's going to Kiri's room.]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[Kiritsugu opens the door once Shirou gets there. Opening the way, he removes himself from the doorway, allowing him entrance.]

Good to see you.

[There's clearly a hidden meaning behind those words. That of a father who really means it, and isn't saying it out of politeness, which Kiritsugu has never been good with. This situation reminds him of the last time he greeted someone in a hotel. He didn't direct a word at Maiya back then, but Shirou is different. He was never meant to be a tool of battle. Considering what he knows of Shirou, every second he keeps seeing him safe has become a gift. That is what one can infer from his tone.]

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...yeah, good to see you too.

[Judging from what he can glean from the tone, he knows that Kiritsugu is glad that he is safe.

But that can wait.

He enters the room.]

So... why did you call me here?

[He knows that there must be a reason for him to be called here.]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to talk.

Shirou... apart from Ryudo, do you know anyone else in this city?

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...

Yes.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[Without a spare moment--]

Do you mind if I ask whom?

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...Saber, Lancer, Gilgamesh [Spoken with contempt], as well as someone called Ryuunosuke.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

You...

[A little bit of disbelief in his voice. He tried so hard to avoid this. So why...?]

You took part in a Holy Grail War.

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

I did.

[There's no refuting it, he did it because it was the right thing to do.]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

Why? I told you what would come out of associating yourself with magi.

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

I know, but I participated not by choice at the beginning.

[IN FACT IF ITS NOT FOR THE WAR HE WOULDN'T BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW.

Gdit Cu Chulainn and that spear of his.]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[Nonsense. Emiyas never die when they are killed.]

[Except that one time.]

...You survived it, right? Is everything really okay back home, Shirou?

[He almost feels like letting it go, if only because he's safe. In a way, Kiritsugu's responsible to. He was the one who failed to prevent another War.]

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...yeah, the War has ended, so you don't have to worry about that.

[Also everyone is okay and all's well!

Except Saber fading away ;_;]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

Good... I'm relieved. I've made preparations so there isn't a next one. I'll modify them once we get home.

It kills too many people to be allowed to continue.

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...just like what you did to the hotel?

[...yeah. He went there.]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[Lancer. Saber wouldn't know, considering she was never made aware of that particular activity, and though word doesn't have trouble getting around in Prospero, Kiritsugu figures Diarmuid for the type who's at least moderately careful with his identity.]

...I didn't know the Grail was a lost cause by then. It would have saved far more lives than the ones that could have been lost there.

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

So you just killed all of them to get the Grail?

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't feel right about it. Not at all. However, that's simply because the end result turned out to be futile. Kiritsugu does not believe in miracles anymore. He does, on the other hand, believe in choosing the lesser of two evils.]

Yes... I did.

[He has a solemn expression, but his tone of voice remains unflinching. This would be the worst time possible to falter. At the very least, he has to show Shirou how terrible the path he has chosen can be.]

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...

So you sacrificed them, for a Grail you destroyed yourself?

[What is there in Shirou's voice, in fact, was honest curiosity, with a hint of anger mixed inside.]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

For one I attempted to destroy. Since you participated in another War, the only conclusion is that I failed.

I know what you're thinking, Shirou, but if its destruction had succeeded... if the fire hadn't come to pass... then maybe my actions would have been justifiable.

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...

[With that, it has been confirmed that Kiritsugu's attempt of destroying the Grail caused the fire.

...Shirou stayed silent for a while.]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

...I regret taking part in it. Every day.

I've told you before, Shirou. To know magecraft is to know death. For this reason, I can't let you follow that path.

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...

Sorry, but I'm not going back on my word.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

...

[Kiritsugu feels desperate. A feeling countless battles against magi could create is now caused by seeing Shirou follow the same path.]

At the very least, for now, stop being an acquaintance of Uryu Ryuunosuke.

[fatestayhome.livejournal.com]

...why?