Chapter 1: The Last Longing of the Heart

The flames echoed around me like screams, and the water could be felt on my face, ears, and even breathing was difficult.

little by little my eyes were opening, to be able to see in front of me a glass wall.

*scanning*.

I closed my eyes and my magic power went all around me, every object, its materials and even where I am.

*still I'm in a laboratory*.

I looked at my small hands, that explained why the magic power flows slowly through my body, but something could be done.

I stretched out my hand and a sword manifested itself by breaking the glass, I came down all at once, my body fell against the ground, the glass cut some parts of me, but it doesn't matter, I can feel the smell and the temperature of the flames.

"I must get out of here"

I can speak, but my voice is so childish, of course, I'm just a kid, the height and everything says it clearly, I took the summoned sword and using it as a cane I started to move forward following the wind current.

*How did I get to this place?

my memories are not so clear, I only remember the suffering and pain.

"coff coff"

the smoke already started to fill my weak airways, the sight quickly blurred, consciousness lost.

"damn"

I couldn't take it anymore and my body hit the ground in a second.

----

pov: shirou

my previous life began chasing a promise, one that took me a long way of more than 100 years in which I lost everything, but when I got to it, it was too late the darkness corrupted it, I tried to change everything fighting for the good of humanity, even so I was betrayed as usual, I broke my vows as a guardian and as a hero, I left aside my ideal and here I am, dragging myself through my life.

__________

"hey? hey I found a kid..."

her hands took me, it was so simple, from her voice I could clearly deduce that she was a woman even though I could not open my eyes let alone breathe.

Maybe it was already too late for me, but I could feel her tight hug and her steps, the movement brought me back, her young but worried face, with some ridiculous clothes caught my attention, the fire in her eyes for the decision made.

"what are you doing in this place?"

a male voice caught her attention, she bit her lip confessing her crime.

"I am a heroine of high rank, I have the right to participate in this operation."

after that I don't remember what happened, maybe it was a dream, I don't know clearly.

________________________

pov: narrator

Thus a day passed in the Tokyo hospital where the young man was referred, they never clearly understood neither his whereabouts nor the reason, they knew something was an experiment for the genes in him, they only matched dead people, even so they decided to give him a chance.

With the brightness of the morning Shirou opened his eyes, to see the white room in front of him and a doctor a few inches near the bed taking notes from the machines he was connected to.

"You woke up, that's good, very good, wait a second."

Although it seemed like a dream, Shirou kept silent and observed the situation, everything is different from what he has always known, even his body is that of a child, the only thing that remains is the dull face he gained over the years and his white hair.

out of that it even looked like a second chance fallen from the sky for him.

so inside a doctor.

"hello little one do you remember anything about what happened?"

with great calmness he tried to ask so as not to disturb the infant in front of him, but the infant shook his head.

"do you know who your parents are?"

again he shook his head, but this time from his lips came a childish voice.

"i have no parents."

For a moment he was surprised but then went back to taking notes, he looked at the infant sadly, as if lamenting him.

Shirou quickly bit his lip he had only seen that look once before, on the self from the past.

"Do you remember your name?"

"Shirou.."

he replied vaguely and without encouragement, at that attitude the doctor just smiled at him as he finished taking notes and then left the room with complete calm.

Shirou went back to observing the surroundings calmly, almost meditating freely.

"I can feel it, even though my magic circuits are not complete, I can feel the energy overflowing out of me, it's not at my normal level, but enough to face threats."

already calming down he let out a sigh as a young white haired girl made her way into the room, proudly she looked at him in a determined manner.

"Hello boy."

she greeted him casually, her brown skin even seemed to be similar to his own, but distrustfully he watched her.

"I'll say it clearly so you can understand."

she looked very determined and even confident with what she would say.

"the authorities think you are a threat, since you were created through an experiment and since we can't let you wander around the place alone, a hero will have to act as your guardian, until things change."

She said it calm and simple, as she took a seat at the foot of the bed, facing the door on the right side.

"I see."

Shirou let those words out, with some regret but at the same time inner calm.

*things haven't changed everything is still the same, they're still waiting for the best moment to stab me in the back*.

but she continued speaking, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"they said they could lock you up or even dissect you, they talked a lot of things, but you have the will to fight, I saw it in your eyes the day you came to this place, so do you want to fight?"

Shirou's spine shivered at the woman's words.

*Willing to fight? is she crazy?

memories flashed through his mind, how much he had lost, how many he had saved, his goodbyes, his deaths, having to dig graves for every person he tried and failed to save, for every person he ever cared about, the betrayals, and even through it all, he always looked ahead, filling his head full of the colossus of his own heart, he always looked ahead filling the hill with swords, he never looked back, maybe once he looked down, but he gave himself a rebuke from which he learned, all those experiences and he was still standing, still he searched the ends of the world for her, still he risked everything to bring her back.

tears streamed down his face in anger and regret, he clenched his fists tightly, showing his magic circuits through his body.

"I do want to fight!"

for a moment she rushed thinking she had done something wrong, but when Shirou answered her she smiled in satisfaction.

"I couldn't expect anything less from my adopted son."

Confused Shirou raised his head at her words.

*adopted me? but I don't know her?

with a warm smile she looked up at him.

"I am Usagiyama Rumi and from today I will be your mother."

from the bottom of her heart, she always wanted a chance to start over, even though she thought she didn't deserve it.

Her last wish in the deepest part of her heart was fulfilled.

Shirou clenched his fists and tried to smile at her, nodding with all his might.