Many thoughts coursed through Shirou's mind.
Some negative, some positive.
But one thought canceled them all out.
Fight.
There is nothing in this world but to fight, or to not fight.
Stop fighting, and those you care about will die.
Shirou had realized this.
The world around him blurred as he ran through the back alleys of the city.
There was much to do, and little time.
He had to find Sakusei before that man did.
It was seemingly impossible.
He had no clue where that man came from, where he lived, or who he was.
But Shirou had a plan.
Assuming that guy works with the government, he has some authority in this city. He most likely sent those guards after us that time.
Exiting through an alleyway, he entered the busy city center.
Trading one emotion to amplify another…
The Essence.
Power. I need power. To protect Sakusei…hesitation is unnecessary.
Shirou felt a powerful rush fill his muscles, and a slight blue haze covered him.
He was going to use Anger.
It won't be like last time. I'm in control.
The power continued to spread around his body, and his uncertainty and hesitation completely evaporated.
I did it!
He used Anger successfully.
It was time to begin.
He took a deep breath, and began to step out into the crowd.
But suddenly, he was grabbed intensely by someone behind him, and was pulled back into the alley.
He was being smothered by some unknown person.
Shirou tried to kick away, it should have been easy.
But he felt the Essence being drained straight out of him, leaving him weakened.
He couldn't move. He had no choice but to resign to being dragged along.
Suddenly, something was put over his head, blocking his vision.
He felt nauseous.
It had been almost an hour of being dragged to wherever his destination was.
His hearing faded in and out, and the voices around him were muffled.
Where am I?
He felt surrounded by cool air, as if it was winter.
We must have just gone into a building.
From this, Shirou got a pretty good idea of what was happening.
He had been taken to that man's, who's name was still unknown, private prison.
At this thought, he felt a chill.
It could be excitement, to defeat the one who had caused him the most harm.
It could be nervousness, the fear of losing.
It could be fear, of the one who is stronger than him.
Shirou didn't care about these feelings.
He knew what he must do.
He had to defeat him.
Suddenly, the blackness lifted away, and the whiteness of light flashed onto his eyes for the first time in what felt like hours.
He was in the white room.
He was inside "himself.
"Hello, Shirou."
A family face and voice appeared in front of him.
The man's eyes are sharp, but Shirou feels no fear looking into them.
As their eyes locked, the man seemed to notice his confidence.
To this, he smiled.
"You seem to have come to realize something?"
The man began to walk around Shirou, as if he were a shark circling his prey.
"Tell me, Shirou. What do you think about Sakusei?
"What exactly is there for me to say? She's who I want to protect."
"No, not in that sense. I mean about her power."
Shirou reacted with pure shock.
"H-how do you know about her power?"
The man grimaced deviously.
"Well, because I was the one who trained her. I created her."
Shirou didn't flinch, or look away. He wouldn't, no matter what he does or says.
"I was the one who created that god-defiant abomination, so I must destroy it."
"I don't understand. Aren't you just causing more harm by destroying her?"
The man looked at Shirou as if he was a child who just asked an absurd question.
"There is nothing more harmful than a devil like her! The damage she has caused is nothing in comparison to mine."
"What exactly do you mean?"
Shirou had heard nothing of any harm caused by Sakusei.
"Heh. She must still be lying to you, then," he smirked.
"Even if she is, that's okay. She'll tell the truth when she wants to."
"That's the logic of a driviling fool. You're being used."
The man expected Shirou to react negatively to this, but his face never twisted. Quite the opposite actually. He smiled.
"That's just fine, as well. It's as you say. I'm a lifeless doll. Dolls don't have logic. They simply exist."
The man's face twisted with that same hysteria and madness he'd shown earlier.
"How can you say that as if it's something to be proud of?!"
"However, I am an exception. While I may be a doll in essence, I'm still human. There's no denying that, as I am speaking my own original thoughts, and acting on my own. Following Sakusei is merely a choice of my own free will."
"That makes no sense! You understand that you are just a product of her imagination, right?! You were created as nothing more than a tool!"
Shirou flinched a bit, as these truths were still new to him. Shaking it off, he stood strong and looked towards the man.
"That's true. She created me." Shirou opened his palm, and then scrunched it to form a fist. "But I saw it. I saw the place that the old "me" was hiding. The "me" that has fought you many times. We don't just exist because someone creates us, but because someone needs us to exist. Sakusei needed me to exist, so I did. But she never constricted me. She made me free by making me exist, so it is my obligation, and free will to protect her."
The man scowled and looked down. It seemed he had nothing more to say.
"I don't know what's happened to you, but you seem to have gained a false sense of confidence. All those big words about freedom mean nothing if you're weak. You don't stand a chance against me."
Shirou was glad to hear these words.
"I wouldn't bet on it," He said, a smug smile on his face.
As if they're actions were linked, they both jumped back from each other, taking up fighting stances.
They stood, eyes locked. Just waiting for the other to move.
This is it.