Fate/Inheritance

*Ting* *Ting* *Cling*

The sound of humming metal echoed out of the vast graveyard of swords, it felt like the chimes that accompanied the hymn of a choir in a church. Focusing on where the sound came from, my senses landed on a set of conceptual swords, Black Keys and special ones even. Normally I would had ignored it and find a better and fitting weapon for this occasion to choose but the owner of this particular set of swords made me pause.

A set of Black Keys used by a certain Saint, when he started on his path on giving humanity salvation in exchange for its future had wielded the conceptual weapons under the guise of a priest, an Executor.

Countless malevolent creatures felled on the blades and exorcised them that even the monstrosity that the mixture of the Impaling Prince and the insane patriarch of a magus family had only made the count increase to one.

It did not save its owner though when the Counter Guardians swarmed the flying fortress he protected dearly when his wish had made the subconscious minds of all humans felt the wrongness of the change they felt and acted on self-defense.

Seeing the blades, I felt the irony holding my tongue as an idea appeared on my head. Will it not be proper to send him in a much better and proper way? I thought, as they were projected on my hands, without permission.

Seeing the blades, Yamada knew what I would do next and silently observed the surroundings in vigil as Sake gently separated from Akaze and gave him an encouraging and proud smile. Remembering to set up quickly a Bounded Field to isolate around both of us. I Sighing one last time, I held them between my fingers I looked at him solemnly and started the Baptismal Rite.

"It's time to pray, o fallen warrior." I said as I held the Conceptual Weapons near my c.h.e.s.t.

'I will kill. I will let live.'

*thud* *thud*

A set of black keys stabbed through both of his arms, pinning them to the ground as they started to burn the rotting flesh with blue purifying flames.

'I will harm and heal.'

The blue flames intensified with my words and I was startled that instead of pain, a serene look had appeared at Akaze's face as he resolutely gazed at his mother with a loving look.

'None will escape me.'

"Gnnn" a muffled yet pleasant groan escaped his mouth as another set stabbed through his legs which started to burn them. The pain as each conceptual weapon started purifying the vile flesh started to appear on his face yet… why are you laughing to your death? The question rolled on my tongue yet I pressed on.

'Be crushed'

As the exorcism flames had started to burn his whole body, his mouth pursed and started a hymn of sort. One that made me place an image of the rustling of the sakura trees as they bloomed at the silent intricate pathway up to a tori gate.

'I welcome those who have grown…'

Another set of black keys had stabbed through him, now on the c.h.e.s.t. As the blue flames flared in more fervor, I can barely see his visage now as it is covered by the thickening blue flames.

'…old and those who have lost.'

Yet… I somehow saw his eyes widened and looked above and I saw the ghost fire on his eyes saw move as if seeing something invisible and flared more as if in shock of what he is seeing. Yet the most shocking thing was tears…tears!! Had flown at his empty eye sockets as he saw something that made me curious. Yet I continued the Rite.

'Devote yourself to me, learn from me, and obey me.'

Another set of black keys was thrown to his c.h.e.s.t as they stabbed to him with force that made his posture crumble a bit. Yet I saw his 'eyes' continued to pour out tears he looked back to his mother and smiled. A shy and innocent smile had appeared on his face akin to that of a naïve boy.

'Rest'

I fell to my knees as I knelt and clasped my hands akin in prayer. A ceremonial sort of thing to do, for the Black Keys will finish the job. I can only pray to the one who held dominion to this world's dead souls to bring him peace and I prayed to that of God whom I had almost never prayed to in my life.

'I am light and relieve you of all your burdens.'

'Thank you…' A relieved voice whispered on me as Akaze's gaze one last time as a projection of a Black Key slowly formed above me, floating and ready to be launched. I felt Akaze's gaze connect with my mine as…

'–Ask for forgiveness here. I, the incarnation, will swear.'

I reflexively held something dangling in my neck, kissing it one time as I felt the cool metal and uttered the final words.

'[– Kyrie Eleison: Lord, Have Mercy]'

*Stab*

As the last Black Key stabbed through the now ash of the late Akaze, I looked at the relieved smile of his crumble as his body turned into dust. I opened and closed my hands as I ignored the sight of Sake crying as the feeling I felt the bone crushing feeling of guilt. It was the first time I felt the very weight of taking a life.

"....!!!!" I crumbled to the ground as it shook me to the core while I screamed in voiceless agony. The sensation felt… different than my old experience of killing. Before… the sensation of killing a living being felt surreal… like it was a necessity and normal (later, I realized how skewed my perspective coming from a person of the modern age). Yet now… why does it feels maddening as the crushing knowledge that I took someone's life with my own hands overwhelmed me overtaking me as I knew in my knowledge that I could had sa–

"Calm down William!" Yamada's voice broke my silent mourning as I felt not just his hand held my shoulder but EMIYA and Cú Chulainn had also held me metaphysically as they voiced out to me to calm down. Blinking my eyes in confusion, I held myself from saying a single word as I noticed that Sake had somehow noticed me and had actually been holding me in a warm hug as she desperately comforted me even when I noticed her tears won't stop pouring out.

Chuckling and voicing out my thanks not just for the two currently with me but the 'others' who occupies my body.

"Wha–!" Yamada suddenly cried out in astonishment. Startled, I looked at where his gaze is pointed out which was me and I also cried out in astonishment. My Archer Install is still holding in as the red and black color scheme is still there yet my body is somehow releasing a descent amount of magical energy that is visible to the n.a.k.e.d eye. Yet, the faint trace of its form is what made me look startled.

[Even if it looks transparent and barely holding its form. That thing is without a doubt, clothing from the Holy Church.] EMIYA's voice was tinged with seriousness as he said that, making me nod reflexively.

Even if it's akin to a blue hologram with motes of blue light coming out, the black cassock of the Holy Church stands out, except it is flickering like a broken lamp. A golden crucifix is being held in arm gently as it flickered and vanish into motes of light. I also felt the heaviness and cold metal of something pierced on my ears as it bleed to me that I am wearing earrings making me shiver and felt like I can feel my mother's devilish rage is approaching me.

[No need to fear, I mean no harm.] A gentle male voice whispered in my ears as I unknowingly growled alongside the sound of EMIYA's snort. I know the owner of that voice. No, EMIYA 'knows' the owner of that voice.

I felt my eyes blur for a second as a memory surfaced in my head. A spiky white hair adorned with that 'gentle' smile on his tan skin while wearing that black cassock of his with his hands clasped behind his back as even if it was a mere memory, it kept sending alarms in my head, especially that twinkle in his eyes complimenting that cross in his neck and his earrings that is being bathed in moonlight coming from the stained glass window behind him.

"[Amakusa Shirou Tokisada]" I and EMIYA spat at the same time.

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A/N: No Omake this time.