Chapter 4: The Wheel of FATE(3)

"I suggest you and all your family try to be understanding of the child for now, just listen to him and don't refute in between no matter how illogical his thoughts are."

"Let him meet his friends more often as the best cure for this is time and socialization, and make him understand that people are waiting for him and he is not alone."

"I strongly advise you to do volunteer work along with him and help him put some good out there in the world, it's proven that doing something that the person considers a good deed helps with lessening the guilt."

"In most patient`s minds, there is a feeling of repaying the guilt by making an effort to make the world a better place."

<making the world a better place...… path of saving leads to ruin, I don't want you walk this thorny Shiro>

 thought kiritsugu, looking at the shine of the sun he mussed 

<shirou on the darkest of my days you saved life, I will ensure that your smile be safe>

"Did you understand sir?" said the doctor

Kiritsugu shaken out of his thoughts nodded his head and said "Yes"

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The father and son left the hospital with an envelope containing all the reports and the prescription for Shirou. Shirou was recommended some nutrition supplements and all other results came back with good news he was healthy but just a little underweight and weak. 

Moving in the warm noon the pair talked about a variety of things and when Shirou asked what kiritsugu and the psychologist were talking about he replied 

"We were talking about your nightmares, he said that it will go away soon."

Seeing Shirou nod his father held his hands and they went along the market until they came across The tofu restaurant. The pair looked at each other and then continued walking(running) after moving to the lane on the other side of the road.

After having ramen as lunch at a family restaurant their destination was a supermarket. Kiritsugu can be seen pushing a cart and answering Shirou's questions about every grocery item he puts inside the cart. The staff laughed when they came across the antics of Shirou making him go red with shame. After paying for the groceries and carrying bags kritsugu pulled Shirou into a clothing store.

Kiritsugu went to the hangar and brought 4 pairs of the same suit again much to Shirou`s confusion. It is said that like father like son so even after expressing his confusion Shirou went and bought 7 pairs of full sleeve t-shirts and full pants with just a difference in colour between them.

Looking at each other`s picks the duo at least had enough shame to advert eyes. By the time they left the store, it was already evening. Taking a detour they visited the Fyuuki Grand Bridge.

Looking at the orange light rays coming from the horizon the emiya family stood there in a sweet silence. The view of the setting sun sent kiritsugu into deep thought

<After I ensure our Iliya and Shirou are safe, will join you Irisviel, Maya, Natalia. don't have any right to enjoy my few remaining years until shouldered the consequences of actions. Let emiya family crest end with me>

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Shirou watched kiritsugu cook while he read a cookbook they brought today.

<according to this book and comparing the food from restaurant with Dad`s I can conclude that he is a horrible cook, hence will take care of cooking cleaning. This least help> thought Shirou with a sparkle in his eyes.

When kiritsugu noticed this he also smiled as he felt that at least he was doing something right in all the wrongs he did. Dinner was a silent one that night, finishing the plates the ex-mercenary led Shirou to his room to sleep as he didn't want Shioru to be alone in case of a nightmare.

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Shirou woke up to intense heat and yellow light.

<not again, not here again ...….shit, I am sorry survived and you died,> 

His thoughts were a mess the same scene as the previous night repeated.

But this time he was caught very easily as he didn't even try to run properly and was buried in rubble from a building. Slowly Shirou closed his eyes amidst the flames and lost consciousness.

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Looking at his son struggling in bed kiritsugu`s eyes sharpen. 

"Wait for a little more Shirou, the drug will take a week to make, just wait for it"

Saying this he moved to wake the boy up and comforted him. The father and son then drifted up to sleep.

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Time continued to pass and Shirou`s days were spent learning cooking, studying, and talking with his dad.

Shirou fell into a habit of waking up early and preparing breakfast with Kiritsugu`s help whose requirement was slowly diminishing with the increase in his proficiency. At night they talk about all sorts of things from mundane things like hose cleaning to some stories(his previous works) shared by kiritsugu.

After 4 days after Shirou`s adoption kiritsugu took him to a book store and they bought all kinds of books including school books. Answering Shirou`s inquiry his father talked about the plan of admitting Shirou into school to get formal education, to which he happily agreed.

Shirou spent most of his time reading books when kiritsugu locked himself in the shed, making him super curious about the shed but after being told off once he didn't try to ask.

Shirou's nightmares were getting worse and now sometimes included clear faces of people most of whom, he didn't recognize. Sometimes he heard a a young woman`s voice filled with desperation shouting 

"you of all people, why!!!!!"

"STOP!!!!!" Followed by the sound of an explosion.

So 6 days went by since the adoption of Shirou.

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The morning sunlight was reflected by a mess of red hair and the owner woke up due to light entering his eyes. Fighting with the urge to stay in the warm bed to avoid the cool winter morning Shirou woke up and stretched while rubbing his eyes.

While cooking breakfast shirou noticed the distinct absence of his father and decided to go and find him after the meal was prepared. The older emiya was caught leaving the shed by the younger one around an hour later. 

Shirou noticed the slight eye bags under the man`s eyes but didn't comment, instead asked 

" Dad the breakfast is ready let's go eat."

"Let's go" replied kiritsugu while being pulled along by his son.

After having breakfast and cleaning the dishes as always Shirou decided that today he would clean the dojo before studying. Taking the needed equipment Shirou turned on the lights illuminating the dojo.

It was a medium-sized dojo with a floor caked in dust and calligraphy on the wall looking brown, the mad under the calligraphy was also covered in dust and the shinai were out of shape. suppressing his desire to explore Shirou focused on cleaning.

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When Shirou looked at the fruit of his labor Shirou had a satisfied smile on his face like a farmer looking at a ripe crop field. Removing the the mops and broom from the floor and into a corner he walked across the now smooth floor.

He felt as if the shinai were the most interesting things in the room. When he slowly picked up a new clean shinai he didn't feel any different until he turned around causing the wet handle to slip from his grasp, then he felt it as if invisible ropes restricted his hands. He felt as if a part of his muscles suddenly disappeared leaving him feeling a slight void of missing a part of himself. 

He picked up the shinai and started swinging it around, this gave him an exhilarating feel not unlike a chick taking its 1st flight. Lost in swinging a sword randomly Shirou became oblivious to the passage of time until he was pulled out of his trance by a shout

"Shirou get ready we are going out for your school admission".

Jerking out of his trance and rating his gaze he found a confused kiritsugu looking at him. A little ashamed Shirou placed the shinai on the stand and rushed out of the dojo after giving his father a nod.

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The emiya family left their residence dressed in the clothes they recently bought, leaving trails of footprints in the slight November snow. Then walked across the city till they came to the gates of Homurahara Academy, standing across the school Shirou felt a sense of familiarity with the academy, but unable to find the source he shrugged it off.

Entering the compound surrounded by woods they took the turn towards the elementary school branch. Reaching the principal office kiritsugu went to talk with the receptionist on the desk, asking about their appointment with the school principal that was secured through the Fujimura group.