C620

"Artie..."

He set Mordred down to stare at the aproned woman. "You're not calling me 'King' anymore?"

As Mordred cried "Mommy!" and tackle-hugged her, Artorie wiped her hands on her apron. She lightly stroked Mordred's cheeks before lifting her head. "What nonsense are you saying, Shirou? Why would I call you 'King'?"

She wore a gentle smile, but her eyes were scary.

"Ah...just joking around," he laughed weakly.

It was then that Ritsuka, who'd been lying in front of the TV playing video games, popped out her head with an "Welcome back, brother!".

Shirou wasn't surprised. He simply nodded, faintly smiling back.

Sakura emerged from the kitchen, a dish in hand. Gazing gently at him, she said "Go wash up, dinner's almost ready."

"Got it," he headed for the bathroom.

Ritsuka smirked challengingly at Arcueid. "Hey Arcueid, wanna go a round? This time I'll take you with two hands tied behind my back!"

"Damn you, looking down on me! I'll make you see just how formidable I am!" Arcueid ground her teeth, storming over to Ritsuka.

Entering the bathroom, he didn't wash his hands. The first thing he did was splash water on his face.

Gazing into the mirror at himself, his eyelids sank slightly. No one knew just what he was thinking, not even himself.

But...

Could this be...paradise?

He clenched his hands tightly.

"Dinner's ready, brother," came Sakura's voice.

"Coming."

He splashed his face and exited the bathroom.

Sakura had set the table full of delicious food.

Mordred dashed over. "I'm first!"

On the sofa, cheeks flushed and eyes bloodshot, Arcueid mashed buttons intensely. Facing Ritsuka casually operating with one foot, she perked up. "Time to eat, Ritsuka! We'll pause for now. Doesn't mean I lost! Just dinner time, so it's a draw!"

"Oh, okay."

Ritsuka's toe rapidly tapped the controller. On screen, her fighter unleashed a long combo, KO'ing Arcueid at half health.

"NOOO!!"

Arcueid clutched her head, screaming.

"That makes 209 wins, 0 losses," Ritsuka smirked, extremely satisfied as she sauntered to the table.

Mordred sweetly called, "Auntie!"

Ritsuka beamed before glancing at Arcueid. "Hurry up and serve me rice and dishes, Arcueid."

Arcueid ground her teeth. "Why should I?"

"Who said losers have to follow winner's orders all day? Going back on your word?" Ritsuka smiled at Mordred drinking milk. "Mordred, what happens to promise breakers?"

Still smiling, Mordred replied, "Promise breakers have to drink cold water with thousand needles inside! Shameful Aunt Arcueid is going back on her word!"

"I never break my word! My integrity is unmatched!" Arcueid fumed, grabbing dishes. "It's just some bowls and chopsticks, hmph!"

"This spinach soup smells amazing, Sakura..." Artoria inhaled deeply by the pot before grabbing some bowls.

"Your braised pork isn't bad either," Sakura smiled back, carrying dishes over.

"Yummy!" Mordred beamed eagerly.

Artoria stroked her head before frowning at him. "Why aren't you coming?"

Busy competing with Ritsuka for pork, Arcueid glanced over too hearing that. "Yeah, get over here!"

"Come eat together!" Sakura and Ritsuka called.

"I wanna sit with Daddy!" Mordred shouted.

He stared at them as his hidden hand suddenly clenched tight enough for nails to pierce his skin, and traces of blood started seeping out.

"Coming,"

Shirou revealed a soft smile as he slowly walked over.

Joy and laughter filled the table.

Just then, Sakura's phone rang. She took the call before returning with a smile.

"What was it?" he asked.

"Mom and dad checking in, asking if we were alright and had enough allowance. I said of course," she related with a laugh.

"I see..." he murmured before asking, "Where are they now?"

Ritsuka answered instead, smiling. "They're freely travelling, reveling in their world of two. Now that we're independent, they can enjoy their couple time."

"Is that so..." he nodded slowly.

"Ah!" Ritsuka suddenly cried, glaring at Arcueid. "You bastard, you stole all my pork when I wasn't looking!"

"Where's your name on it? I didn't see any," she cackled.

Ritsuka ground her teeth, furious.

Covering her smile, Sakura said, "Don't be mad, Ritsuka. After all, it's rude to lose your temper at a golden cockroach."

"Quite rude indeed...hey wait!" Arcueid started nodding before realizing. "Golden cockroach!? That's too much, Sakura!"

"Ara? Did I call you that? How awful. Even if you were a foul, sewer-crawling roach, a polite lady like me would never say so directly. Right, Arcueid?" Sakura said gently behind her hand.

"It does seem...No no no!"

Arcueid got spun around by her words.

Not getting involved, Artoria simply covered Mordred's ears, who looked puzzled. "Why are you covering my ears, Mommy?"

She smiled gently. "Some words aren't for children."

"Oh, okay." Mordred continued eating.

Seeing their antics, Shirou couldn't help but laugh loudly.

"What's so funny, Shirou! Your sister is scolding me you know, how can you still laugh so heartlessly!" she complained.

"Sorry, sorry...it's just, such nostalgia...feels so relaxing," he chuckled.

"Hmm, if you say so," she eyed him doubtfully before adding, "Fine, you're forgiven."

He smiled softly.

Just how long...

Had it been since he'd laughed so easily like this?

It was as if all burden had vanished from his shoulders.

After dinner, disgruntled Arcueid battled Ritsuka again. And this time, Ritsuka upped the ante by using just her left leg.

Sakura washed up as he got dragged downtown by an insistent Mordred, together with Artoria in tow.

Around 6 PM, dusk was falling. Many were out on evening walks.

Shirou bumped into quite a few familiar faces -

Merlin being chased by Kay for using his looks to ruin Kay's reputation with girls...The Emiya family, greeting him as they passed...Teacher Scathach, classmate Guinevere, sister-in-law Morgan, friend Gilgamesh, online buddy Solomon...Even at the temple, incorporated as abbot was Zouken trying to extort incense money from Issei.

Shirou's fist beneath his sleeve clenched tighter and tighter. Not from anger, but...

"Daddy, daddy!" Mordred suddenly pulled his hand, pointing eagerly at the toy stall ahead. "I wanna play that...Can I?"

Crouching down, he stroked her little head gently. "Of course, princess."

"You're the best, Daddy!"

Overjoyed, she kissed his right cheek.

Shirou blanked out.

When he returned to his senses, he closed his eyes for a long, long time before paying the stall owner to rent a toy pushcart.

Sitting inside, Mordred beamed "Let's go!" as Shirou and Artoria pushed her through the streets, passing the vacant subway station again.

Shirou halted, staring at it. Aside from the broadcast announcing the 7 PM train, it remained empty.

"What's wrong?" Artoria turned back worriedly.

He pursed his lips before pointing at the empty station. "Why is nobody here at this subway station?"

She softly replied: "Because no one wants to leave this city."

Hearing this, his breath caught.

"You won't leave either. You won't leave me, Mordred, Arcueid and the rest...right, dear?" Artoria asked, almost pleading.

She gazed at him beseechingly, awaiting his answer.

But Shirou turned his head away without responding.

Artoria lowered her eyes.

"Daddy? Mommy?" Mordred looked back puzzledly.

"It's nothing, dear," Artoria forced another smile.

Pushing the cart on, she left him standing there.

Shirou stood trembling all over.

"Where's Daddy going?" Mordred asked.

"He'll catch up," she gently replied.

He turned back to the empty station, staring at the schedule - the last train was at 11 PM tonight.

Glancing back, he pursed his lips and hurried to catch up with Mordred and Artie.

Returning home...

It was late into the night, so Arcueid stayed over.

They happily played several rounds of board games before bidding each other good night.

Unable to sleep, Mordred pestered him for a story.

Indulging her childish demand, he didn't refuse.

Sitting by his daughter bedside, he picked up a story book and began reading The Ugly Duckling.

"No! I don't wanna hear about the ugly duckling!" Mordred yelled.

"Why not?"

"The ugly duckling was abandoned by his swan parents. I don't wanna hear that story. Because, because, Daddy and Mommy would never abandon me!" she shouted. "Choose another story!"

Shirou's hands shook as they held the story book.

He flipped open the book for a rather heartwarming tale to tell Mordred, who gradually fell asleep.

Closing the story book, he got up to leave, only to see Mordred's little hand grabbing his sleeve tightly, like clutching someone who would never come back again.

He had to carefully pry her hand off before tucking it into her blanket.

"Daddy...daddy..." she mumbled in her sleep.

Shirou gazed at her before turning away, leaving the room.

He headed for the front door.

A gentle voice spoke behind him. "Leaving?"

He turned back. Artoria stood there in her gown.

He was silent for a time, then finally nodded.

"Why leave? Don't you like it here? Can't you...stay with us, Shirou?" she asked softly.

"This place...is my dream homeland, yet also my burial ground."

He said. "It's getting late. I must take my leave."

Hearing this, Artoria wept.

Amidst her tearful eyes shone a mournful yet beautiful smile. "Have a safe journey, dear."

"Ah..."

He nodded, heading to the exit.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

"Shirou..." Arcueid's voice.

"Brother!" Sakura and Ritsuka pleaded.

"Daddy, don't go!" Mordred cried.

His legs were so heavy. Harder and harder with each step.

Yet he didn't look back, only proceeded ahead out the door.

The house faded like a mirage, the souls scattering like mist.

Shirou struggled on towards the station.

"Shirou..."

"Shirou...!"

"My child..."

Along the way, He encountered so many people. So many things he had vainly wished for in reality.

Yet he didn't stop.

Head bowed, each step heavier than the last, slower than the last, he finally arrived before the vacant subway station.

10:59 PM. 

Right on time, yet later than anticipated.

Still, he bought his ticket and boarded the empty train, taking one last look back at the dreamlike city.

The subway car was empty except for someone dressed in black robes that hid their face sitting inside.

As the train started moving, Shirou stared blankly at his hands.

"Why did you leave that city?" The black-robed figure approached, questioning loudly.

Shirou kept his head low without answering.

"Did you forget - that was exactly what you sought!"

Shirou lifted his head slightly to gaze upon the figure.

Seeing his 6-year-old childlike likeness staring back, he was unfazed, having expected this.

"Why did you leave?" the boy demanded.

Shirou: "....."

"Why?" the boy kept shouting.

Shirou placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. In the other, he traced Kanshou and stabbed straight into the boy's abdomen, impaling him against the subway wall.

"Why?" The boy's voice shook. "I'm you. I only ever wanted what you have - my friends, my love beside me. Not power. Not wealth." He coughed, blood bubbling on his lips. "So why would you leave? How could you abandon our city, our life? There's no perfect world out there. Only loss. Hardship. Disappointment."

"Out there, you'll suffer in ways you can't even imagine." The boy's eyes pleaded with Shirou. "All that talk of finding meaning in pain, of growing stronger through loss... Those are empty words that betray you. Why leave everything we ever desired behind?"

Shirou raised his head, "Because what I want has never been only my own happiness."

Only then did the boy notice the faint tear tracks marking Shirou's face.

"If I remained, I would be the only one happy. But that kind of happiness...isn't what I want. I can't stay, because in reality, there are still people waiting for my return."

Shirou closed his eyes, killing off the boy with a single strike.

No. He had killed off the part of himself still clinging to that empty paradise.

With a crisp ring, the married sword fell to the floor.

His eyes squeezed shut against the tears as memories of his loved ones washed over him.

"I can't stay here..."