Chapter 3: Wheel of FATE(2)

While the father was strengthening the bounded field and expanding it to cover the whole house, the son took the cleaning implements and moved to the attic to start cleaning from there.

While mixing water with detergents and wetting the cloth Shirou was absent-minded.

<There was a test tube on that table with red hair floating in some kind of fluid, is most likely mine so what kiritsugu doing it?> Thinking of this Shirou was immersed in his thoughts until the spilled detergent on his feet pulled him out. Ignoring the curiosity about his now-father the boy started to clean earnestly and slowly fell into some kind of groove. 

In the blink of an eye the attic was cleaned the dirty bedding and curtains were put in the empty washing basket. Shirou admiring his handy work was pleased instead of tired, the thought of helping kiritsugu with something made him feel joy and ignore his physical well-being.

Then he moved on to the hallways and their rooms. Time continued to pass and it was noon when Shirou heard the sound of the doorbell when moving to clean the Engawa, He paused but then went to reach the door as he remembered that kiritsugu hadn't left the shed since morning. 

Opening the door Shirou is greeted by the scene of a scary-looking old man wearing a green yukata with a tiger-striped coat who was followed by a group of men dressed in similar tiger-themed outfits.

<These people look like gangsters, they might be here to trouble us>thought Shirou but then he remembered the gun in the shed and now had a slight suspicion of kiritsugu being a member of the yakuza. Before Shirou could think more keep looking at the face of the old man, his voice came 

"Who are you to kiritsugu emiya boy?"

"I am Shirou emiya, Kiritsugu Emiya`s son," replied Shirou in reflex 

The old man smiled hearing this but his facial features made him more scary with the smile.

Then the old man put his wrinkly palm on Shirou's head and said with a jovial tone 

"I am Raiga Fujimura a friend of kiritsugu, you can call me Grandfather Fujimura, Shirou"

Seeing his confused and embarrassed look of Shirou the old man released boisterous laughter not expected from one of his age ruffled Shirou`s hair and said 

"Nice to meet you Shirou, now can you go and call your father to the living room"

Saying this Mr. Fujimura instructs the people behind him to stay inside and steps inside with a giant man with a kind face, who on meeting Shirou`s eyes smiled gently at him and then followed Mr. Fujimura to the living room.

Shirou then goes to the shed through the lawn and knocks on the shed door till he hears the sound of a moving door. On seeing Kiritsugu`s questioning look he says 

"Mr Raiga Fujimura has come and he is waiting for you in the living room."

After hearing this the failed hero of justice instructs Shirou to go play in the house and locks the shed door. After making 3 cups of tea, he leaves behind a pan cleaning Shirou, and goes into the living room.

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In the living room 3 men, two young and one old could be seen sitting across a table and drinking warm tea.

The old man Raiga Fujimura breaking the harmonious scene said 

"Kiritsugu how have you settled in now? meet my son-in-law."

 the last part was said while he was pointing toward the gentle-looking giant young man next to him.

After this, the 3 men chatted with gusto. After suddenly asking about Kirtsugu`s wife and seeing the forlorn look on the man`s face Raiga trying to change the topic after asking something inappropriate said 

"Kiritsugu how about you teaching my granddaughter as a private tutor, you must have left your line of work after settling down. It will be a good change of pace"

After back and forth kiritsugu finally accepted this new job and it was decided that Raiga`s granddaughter Taiga Fujimura would come to the emiya residence next Monday. The 3 people then talked for some time and then bid farewell. 

When the fujimura were leaving Shirou's gaze kept alternating between his father and them, as if comparing the 2 and trying to come up with a conclusion.

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The night at emiya residence was quiet and warm. The father and son sat together reading a newspaper and the father answered the son`s question. Kiritsugu taught cooking to Shirou again on his demand while cooking dinner. After having their dinner and washing dishes Shirou went to his room and kiritsugu stayed in the living room.

After preparing his futon Shirou went inside after turning off the lights. He fell asleep trying to remember some dish-cooking instructions.

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The familiar environment of flames and rubble. The screams and the heat of flames were the usual shoot in the environment and the red glow coming from the horizon as if it was bleeding. Shirou started running again but this time he was a little calmer and after an indefinite amount of time he realized every path was covered in flames and he was standing in the middle of an unburnt island in the raging sea of flames.

Then it happened, he saw the shadow slowly approaching him like it was swimming in the sea of fire. He then turned around and saw that he was slowly getting surrounded by the shadows again.

The scene from before repeated itself where Shirou was torn and injured from the pulling of the cursing and begging human shadows. Slowly he was dragged into the fire and he was burnt alive again. He lost consciousness amidst the sound of 

"why was it you, not me!!"

 "why are you alive and we had to die"

 "you don't deserve to live, give us your place"

 "Please it hurts, please replace us."

 " come join us!!!!".

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" Go back!!, Don't pull me in there i am sorry you have to die and I am alive." Shirou was muttering in his sleep while sweating and tears were flowing from his eyes. Kiritsugu came in quietly this time and observed Shirou.

He gently woke up his son from the nightmare and gave him a bottle of water. Shirou grasping after waking up gulped down the whole bottle and then looked at kiritsugu. Looking at this the magus killer hugged him comforted him and took him to his room to sleep.

After getting into the futon Shirou softly asked 

"Hey, kiritsugu can I call you Dad."

Kiritsugu watching this flashed a rare genuine smile from his heart and said

"Of course Shirou, of course, you can call me Dad."

After affirmation Shirou fell asleep and his father kept looking at him asleep and thought

< I have to speed up the development of the drug for him, Shirou wait a little longer I will make sure you are safe>

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The next morning Shirou was shaken awake by kiritsugu. The pair then went for their morning routine and then met in the kitchen. Kiritsugu continued the tradition from the previous day by teaching Shirou to cook, after the breakfast was prepared they set up the dining table and sat down.

The table contained plain steamed rice, 2 bowls of thick miso soup, 2 rolled omelets, and fried vegetables as a side. The prepared tofu in the fridge was left untouched as both the father and son had enough tofu for a long time after the mapo tofu incident.

"Shirou get ready we are going to the hospital." said kiritsugu while cleaning the last plate. Shirou left the kitchen after a simple "okay".

Kiritsugu dressed in a black suit waited for Shirou who came out dressed in a white hoodie and simple pants. Kiritsugu dressed as such due to his wardrobe being filled with similar suits and Shirou only had 3 similar pairs of clothes which were picked up by kiritsugu in a hurry when he went out of the hospital before adopting him.

In the chilly morning air, they both walked towards the city general hospital to have Shirou have his final check-up. As they moved leaving footprints in the snow they reached the compound of Fuyuki General Hospital, Reaching the reception desk they clarified the location of their appointment. 

Reaching the appointed room they were greeted by the same middle-aged doctor as last time. Adjusting his glasses he asked 

"Shirou I will ask you some questions and take some samples for test so we can declare you healthy."

Seeing Shirou nod, the doctor motioned for him to sit on a round stool. Blood samples of shioru were taken and he was then taken to take various tests by the doctor. While waiting for the results the father and son pair were directed to a phycologist, who performed a mental health test on Shirou.

While the 1st doctor talked to Shirou the psychologist pulled kiritsugu aside and said

"Your son has major trauma from the incident and also has shown the signs of mild survivor`s guilt"

After checking the serious expression on Kiritsugu`s face he continued