DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Fate series, or any other series I write about in this site. Neither do I own the image on this story as well.

Blades of Fate

Prologue

"Arigato gozaimasu," Shirou thanked the taxi driver courteously as he gave a bow of respect and politeness towards the man before shutting the car door while carrying a small bag in the other hand.

Once the taxi drove off into the distance, Shirou turned around and breathed in a deep breath of fresh Japanese air while closing his eyes peacefully as the sakura petals drifted through the air in the calming breeze. Opening back his eyes, Shirou gazed at the nostalgic road before him. How many years has it been since he's last been here?

Too long. That was all Shirou knew. It had to been at least ten years since he has even touched Japanese soil. Several years ago, he had gone to the London Clocktower and studied there under Rin's tutelage and the magi professors there as well. After a brief two years of study, he decided to separate from the Mage's Association as he went off on his own to accomplish his dream to become a Hero of Justice.

Going from war-torn countries to the most remote places in the world that are suffering from natural epidemics, Shirou went to them all, helping with everything he had to offer to the people. However, just as Archer had said to him in the distant past, it was impossible to save all.

The constant nagging dilemma to save the realistic majority and the idealistic all unceasingly bothered Shirou. Although Shirou knew that at times it was impossible to save all, it didn't mean he can't try. Even if this act of justice one day ends up breaking him to the edge of insanity, Shirou was going to make sure of one thing, that he is never going to regret what he's done. If he did, Shirou knew he will never be able to face Archer or Saber ever in the face again. Nor would he be able to see his treasured family and friends because of his weak resolve.

After all the years he has spent away from home aiding the world, Shirou was finally unable to do any more. Both the Church and the Mage's Association had somehow got everything under cover and Shirou was left without anything to do. Of course, Shirou did ask if both organizations needed to enlist his aid, however, to his disappointment both rejected his offer. Whether it was out of goodwill or pure unnecessity, Shirou for once felt like he didn't know what to do next.

It was through a digitally sent video recording created by Rin, Sakura, and Illyasviel given over to the Mage's Association for him personally did Shirou began to realize how long it has truly been since he's last seen them.

Seeing their familiar faces and personalities once more brought a warm feeling of nostalgia into Shirou's heart as he reminisced the recording that depicted the daily lives of whom he considered family.

"Is it on?" the familiar voice of Rin which has slightly matured since the time they've been apart resonated in the room she was in as Shirou stared intensively at her slightly aged facial features shown on the computer screen in a library he was at watching the video recording.

Walking away from the camera lens, Sakura was shown quickly scurrying over to where Rin and Illya were as she nodded her head in confirmation to her sister's question. "Yes, Nee-san, it's on," Sakura replied politely, now no longer using her sister's last name to address her.

"Um … okay, how do we do this?" Rin asked Sakura as Rin glanced at her, unsure of the ins and outs behind technology.

"Just say hi to Senpai, like you would with a letter," Sakura answered, apparently still having not gotten over with using the title she addressed Shirou with during their school years.

"Oh, is that so," Rin commented in realization as she breathed in and out while she gathered her composure together. "Okay, let's start!"

"Are we done yet?" the voice of Illyasviel interrupted right when Rin was about to open her mouth as Illyasviel pouted in boredom.

Rin was about to open her mouth in reply before Illyasviel once again beat her to the bell. "I'm hungry."

"—"

"And tired," Illyasviel added at the end right when Rin opened her mouth partway to begin speaking as Illyasviel gave an audacious yawn.

Nothing was spoken as a deadly silence permeated in the room while Rin eyed Illyasviel threateningly, making sure that she will speak no more.

"Shut ... up," Rin finally said slowly as she gave a sickly sweet smile while looking down at the white silvered hair homunculus.

"Hmph," Illyasviel's pout worsened as she crossed her arms in defiance while swinging her head to the side opposite of Rin. "You shut up," Illyasviel rudely retorted.

"What did you say, you brat?!" Rin asked as her eyes glowered at the "child" who has been a thorn in her side for the past several years.

"Nothing, Miss Tohsaka," Illyasviel scoffed haughtily, feigning politeness as Illya smiled evilly at her verbal counterattack.

Rin's eyebrow twitched in annoyance as she continued to smile at the spoiled Einzbern girl. After all those years of putting up with Illyasviel's nuisance, Rin was about ready to skewer Illya from head to toe, render her lifeless until she submits to her.

"I am so going to—"

"Kill me? Torture me? Or burn me at the stake alive in public view before gruesomely taking my poor mutilated body and stick it up in the pole for all to see as a public example?" Illyasviel blurted out almost too passionately as her words barely avoid being slurred together in an incoherent jumble.

"Wha—?! NO!"

"Tch, tch, tch," Illyasviel clicked her tongue in succession while wagging her finger in front of Rin's face as if reprimanding her. "It's not good to have those unpleasant thoughts," Illyasviel continued until she leaned over and playfully poked Rin's nose unexpectedly with an evil obnoxious grin. "Bad Rin," Illyasviel ended sweetly.

Rin didn't say anything for a moment as a shade of darkness covered her eyes while she glowered at the ground menacingly. The suppressing aura emitted by Rin spoke clearly of one that wants to kill.

"I-lly-a-sviel," Rin punctuated each syllable as she fixed her eyes straight at her lifelong nemesis with anger and fuming hatred. "That's it!" Rin snapped. "I am going to STRANGLE you, worm! ARGH!" Rin leaped onto Illyasviel as Illya scurried out of the attack's way as they both began a chase of cat and mouse in the limited spaced room.

"Ehehehe~" Sakura chuckled awkwardly, acting as this is an everyday occurrence as the camera continued to roll on without stop.

…

…

…

"Take eight," Rin announced, her eyes gloomy and devoid of color as dark patches made itself apparent from under her eyes. Even Sakura who hasn't done anything much herself seemed a bit winded as well. Illya … well, she remained Illya all along.

"Hi Shirou," Rin waved sluggishly as she gradually began to lose the perfect composure she was always so keen and worried about.

"Hi, Senpai," Sakura waved at the camera with a cheerful smile, further accenting the matured beauty that has grown on her throughout the years.

"Shirou," Illyasviel said when it was her turn. "When are you coming home?! I've been waiting for so long!" Illya complained audaciously.

Rin's eyes twitched dangerously as she struggled to keep her face straight when Illyasviel spoke out of turn. "So …" Rin dragged the word out, wordlessly shooting a glare at the homunculus nuisance, "how are you doing, Shirou?"

"Yes, Senpai," Sakura nodded her head in agreement. "We would all like to hear from you."

Illyasviel nodded vehemently at Sakura's statement. "Yeah, it's about time you got back home and ditch your Hero of Justice thing so you can play with me forever!"

The sound of Rin's teeth grinding on top of each other could be heard as Rin's facial muscles twitched uncontrollably. "You would never say that in front of Shirou's face, would you?" Rin asked Illyasviel coolly.

Illyasviel nonchalantly brushed her hair over to her side as she patted down her wrinkled dress to smooth it out. "Yes, I never would," Illyasviel answered.

"ARGH! YOU BRAT!" Rin gave an earth-shattering yell as she chased after Illyasviel, ready to beat the life out of her. "YOU DARE MAKE ME REDO THE RECORDING BECAUSE YOU SPOKE SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER MEANT?! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Rin shouted a flurry of curses as she unleashed a barrage of Gradr shots in the room while Sakura eyed at the two chasing figures with an exasperated smile, as if there's no helping it.

…

…

…

"Take twenty-six," Rin groaned in front of the camera, no longer attempting to straighten her slouching exhausted back.

"Hi Senpai," Sakura began by taking the lead. "It's been a while since we sent you a letter, so I, Rin, and Illya have thought to come up with a nice recording for you."

"Hi Shirou," Illyasviel said just above a whisper for the camera to capture the nigh inaudible voice.

"Hi Emiya-kun," Rin waved her hand in front of the camera lens while giving what resembled as a smile … though a bit more forced.

"How are you doing, Senpai?" Sakura asked softly in a smooth soothing voice that showed her concern for Shirou's wellbeing in the most perfect way. "We hope you are doing well and we are praying for your safe travels. If you ever have the time, please come and visit us!" Sakura said with a cheerful beaming smile full of subtle anticipation. "I promise you I will cook the most mind-blowing meal you have ever eaten in your life once you come back!" Sakura exclaimed as she waved her arms outwardly in front of her as if showcasing something with delight.

"Sakura's food is a demon," Rin mumbled half-asleep. "It's too good …"

Illyasviel absently nodded. "But Shirou's better … always," Illyasviel added in the end after a short pause.

"Hey," Sakura pouted cutely. "I promised Senpai I will beat him the next time we meet together!"

"Anyway Shirou," Rin spoke aloud, this time her eyes looking straight at the camera lens, "we will be sending this recording to the Mage's Association, so once you come back to the association from wherever you're at, I'll send someone to give this to you when you get there."

"What's the point of telling him all this?" Illyasviel mumbled aloud while twirling her hair in boredom.

"Huh? So we can send him this message telepathically to his brain," Rin stated as if the question was obvious.

"Uh, Nee-san, I don't think you can do that with the camera. This isn't like magecraft," Sakura explained as lightly as possible, hoping not to offend her egotistic sister.

"Oh," Rin replied evenly. "Then in that case, why are we sending this message?! Shirou will never have the time to go to the Mage's Association and get to see this!"

"Cause you told us to, stupid," Illyasviel stated as she stopped twirling her hair. "Are we finished yet? This got boring a looooooooong time ago."

"Ugh," Rin gave a sound of frustration as she grabbed her head. "It doesn't matter! What's done is done. And if that reckless idiot manages to see this message in the light of day, he had better at least write us back!" Rin gave an annoyed sigh, probably wondering why she went through all that trouble recording a video as she continuously avoided the answer "because I'm worried" that constantly pestered her mind.

Rin stomped her way up to the camera that was on a table as she fumbled with the device, turning it around in all angles with keen examination.

"How do you turn this off?!" Rin shouted, frustrated at how such a device can escape the brains of a Tohsaka.

"You press the red button on the camera, Nee-san," Sakura patiently informed as Rin twisted and turned the device in her palms in search for her target.

"Ah, found it!" Rin exclaimed as she prepared to press the button.

"Not that one, Nee-san!" Sakura quickly rushed in to stop Rin's hands before she can touch the power button. "That's the power off button."

"Argh! Does it matter? Anyway, how do we delete the other twenty-five 'takes'?" Rin asked.

"That's … a little more complicated," Sakura began hesitantly.

"I'll figure it out," Rin interrupted with determination as she pressed every button combination imaginable on the camera, completely not discouraged or deterred in her resolve when she heard her sister's silent cries of dismay.

After several minutes of accomplishing nothing but disaster, Rin, the honorary proudful member of the Tohsaka family, gave up on the one impossible task that has ever so thoroughly defeated her … the camera.

"I hate this," Rin said with a gloomy expression that threatened the very lifespan of the handheld device in her palms. Setting the camera down onto the table ever so "gently", Rin called it quits as she glared at headache-inducing technology. "Just send it to Shirou already, Sakura," Rin virtually commanded as she stomped out of the room in a flustered anger, all of the reaction miraculously caught on tape.

Sakura gave an awkward chuckle at her sister's behavior while Illyasviel yawned openly before treading up the stairs with drooping eyes and a slouched back.

Sakura smiled at both of the retreating figures before looking straight at the camera lens with a beaming and somewhat exhausted smile as she walked over to the recorder and stopped the ongoing recording with a resounding click.

After witnessing the heartwarming video, Shirou promptly decided to use the time he had available for a short vacation back to his hometown in Japan and spend some quality time with his friends in whom he considered as family.

Shirou continued to saunter down the familiar roads and walkways, and in just a couple blocks away, he will be finally back home in the place that served as the base for the Fifth Holy Grail War. Resuming back his steps, Shirou tread along the spring scenery, the air freezing cold and the ground wet from the frequent rainfall recently. Everything was exactly how he remembered here. Oddly enough, nothing notable has changed throughout the passing years though Shirou is able to off and on pinpoint something that was not there before.

Turning around a curb on the road, a howling gust of wind blew straight at Shirou as his red and white hair ruffled messily at the biting cold wind while it stung his exposed face. Lightly treading forward, Shirou was finally greeted with the sight of his home entrance in full glory. Shirou gave a small smile at the sight, it seems like someone has been frequently maintaining the building while he was gone from home.

Without hesitation, Shirou opened the gateway entrance as he walked along the stone laid path going across his lawn to his front door. Shirou then slid opened the unlocked Japanese styled doors and proceeded to take off his shoes.

"I'm home!" Shirou called out in the house, making sure there was someone here.

However, Shirou was met with a deadly silence.

Glancing down, Shirou noted that two pairs of shoes were on the front porch, one that is a child's size which is unmistakably Illya's. The other one, however, could be any one of his friends, or maybe a friend of Illya's who he has never got to meet.

Stepping into the hallway of the house, Shirou reminisced the constant chaotic fiasco that happened among his close-knit friends during the Holy Grail War. Saber, Arturia, always collected and as calm as ever to the tsundere Rin who is always at war with the manipulative Illyasviel. And lastly, there was Taiga who always rocked the house with her extraordinary behavior and otherworldly actions to Sakura who is shy yet a really kind-hearted individual despite all that she's been through.

"Rin … Illya? Sakura? Anybody?" Shirou called out, his voice rising louder and louder with each name he said.

For a moment, nothing could be heard. However, with his reinforced hearing, Shirou could hear a flurry of chattering down the hallway to his left. Determined, Shirou quickly paced himself when he was finally able to locate the noise.

Touching the paper thin door in front of him, Shirou immediately detected a highly concentrated magical membrane across the door as if resisting him from entering.

"A Bounded Field?" Shirou thought inwardly in surprise, and a very concentrated and powerful one at that too. And if Shirou had to guess, the bounded field is meant to make sure both outside and inside attacks won't influence the other side, a protective shield in other words but on both sides instead of the traditional one.

In addition, judging by the way the Bounded Field is constructed, Shirou knew from experience that this field is meant for warding outsiders away. Even Shirou himself, a magus, can feel its tugging and suggestive effects. This just tells you how much trouble the person constructing the Bounded Field has gone through for the sake of security.

However, Shirou, through battle hard experience, resisted the Bounded Field's effect on him through mana and pure willpower as he trudged on and slid open the light wooden door, fully prepared to trace Bakuya and Kanshou out and expect the very worst.

However, what he was not expecting to see is Tohsaka Rin and his sister, Illyasviel, rushing frantically back and forth in the room behind the door under a panicked frenzy.

"Hurry up, Illyasviel!" Rin yelled out, urgency clearly laced in her voice.

"I'm trying, ugly!" Illyasviel snapped as her eyes were filled with absolute concentration at the task at hand.

"It's going out of control," Rin tried to warn calmly though the fidgeting of her fingers gave away her true inner turmoil.

"Shut up! You're making this – ah – harder!"

"Oh no," Rin said gloomily. "Shirou is going to kill us if he ever hears of this," Rin said as she banged her head on the table in frustruation.

"Kill?" Shirou repeated uncertainly, already uncomfortable where the subject is heading upon entering the frenzied workspace. "Um, do you—"

Shirou was interrupted by an unware Illya who has surprisingly not yet detected his presence.

"Hey! Get over here and help already! I'm losing control!" Illyasviel shouted.

Rin quickly took out the gem she had in her arsenal and placed them hastily on the table before chanting a lengthy spell as mana began to get drawn out from the precious stone. The concentration of mana was so thick in the room that Shirou thought he could actually suffocate in that environment at a given rate.

"Rin …" Illyasviel warned, for once using the woman's real name as Illyasviel's voice began to falter and get higher.

"What!" Rin snapped, her brief moment of concentration now broken.

"It's about to—" Illyasviel said with a strained voice as sweat beaded on her forehead. Pure mana in the air that can almost be seen with a naked eye due to the immense concentration began to flicker uncertainly with multiple hues of colors.

"Almost done," Rin interrupted, her eyes blazed with intense focus.

"—go 'kaboom' …" Illyasviel trailed off as the mana in the air began to flicker faster and faster, growing hotter and hotter by the millisecond.

"What?!" Rin exclaimed again as she took her eyes off of the gems once she felt the quickly rising temperatures.

"What's going—" Shirou tried to voice his thoughts once again at the bizarre spectacle.

"I can't—" Illyasviel rasped as her hands collapsed onto her side in exhaustion.

Finally, as if by an immense pressure build up, like a geyser, mana expanded throughout the entire room in a split second before shooting out to its only exit that is not covered by the Bounded Field. The pure essence of mana then combusted at the sudden release of pressure as fire raced right at Shirou.

Shirou's eyes widened at the unexpected development as he hastily reinforced his body to its limits before the waves of flames hit him full force. The unmeasurable heat first hit him, then intense nausea proceeded afterward. Feeling as if the entire world is spinning, Shirou resisted the urge to vomit. It felt in every way like his brain got inserted into a blender.

Finally, after a minute of struggling, Shirou unwillingly passed out as his eyes closed to the sweet bliss of unconsciousness.

"Please don't tell me that was Shirou," Rin finally broke the five-minute stunned silence.

Illyasviel slowly nodded her head, her tongue completely dry and devoid of words. Even Rin's signature witty remarks were now no longer registering in her brain.

"What happened to him?" Rin asked. She had her guesses, but Rin wanted confirmation from Illyasviel.

"Since our production of the Jewel Sword of Zelretch was incomplete before it got destroyed halfway into the process, the immense amount of buildup mana would have either destroyed the blade itself or would have sent the aftermath of the destroyed sword to another far-off dimension. And considering the sword's ability to pull infinite possibilities from other parallel worlds into this world …" Illyasviel trailed off.

"Shirou may have been zapped into another world," Rin filled in the rest of the sentence.

Illyasviel numbly nodded.

"And we have no idea where he is in the infinite number of possible worlds," Rin continued.

Illyasviel nodded once more, her eyes staring blankly ahead.

Rin sighed as she placed her hand on her forehead. "Shirou is so going to kill us …"

Illyasviel, without a shadow of a doubt, nodded once more with melancholy.

Thank you for reading!

I hoped you enjoyed this somewhat lengthy prologue! Please tell me your thoughts on this chapter by reviewing! I will love to hear any comments, questions, suggestions, etc. you have in mind!

Also, please make sure to check out my other stories as well which can be seen in my profile page. The most popular story being Fate Blade Zero, a fiction where Shirou goes back in time to the Fourth Holy Grail War at the end of the Fifth War, and the second story being Apocryphal Hero. Details can be read under the description/summary of the story page. Thank you very much! – SteelBlades333

Japanese Word Translation:

Arigato gozaimasu – Thank you (formal)

Nee-san – Older sister (formal)

Tsundere – This word is a Japanese term for a character development process that describes a person who is initially cold (and sometimes even hostile) before gradually showing a warmer, friendlier side over time.

Chapter 1 – "Master Again?" has been deleted and will be rewritten due to most readers being confused with the plot. This time, instead of starting off the chapter with Saber Lily's and Saber Alter's interactions with Shirou right off the bat, I will be starting with Shirou going back in time but right before he summons Saber Lily and Saber Alter. The new chapter will be out in a little over two weeks of time. Thank you for reading and I hope you understand! (Written on 7/23/2018)