After they finished their task, they went to sit on the sofa in the living room. Only he and Masaki were there since Ichigo and his father went to their rooms. Meanwhile, the little sisters were sleeping early, being exhausted from school.
"What do you want to know?"
"I want to know more about the technique. How do they fight with their bow, what kind of tools they used to help their fights... Everything about it." He looked straight at her, "I met another Quincy lately. And I realized that I knew nothing about my own power. I want to learn more, mom."
"Are you talking about someone from Ishida's family?"
The mention of the family surprised Shirou, but he quickly calmed down.
Knowing each other might be a given since both of them were from Quincy clan, and he guessed that Ishida was a well known Quincy family.
"Yes. I am."
"Well, what did he use to fight?"
"He used a Quincy Cross and used some weird technique to make a bow from the reishi around us. I think he said that's how Quincy fought. But I don't understand anything about it, I never saw any Quincy cross or anything."
Masaki sighed at his reply and chuckled slightly. She reached into the inner pocket of her blouse, pulled something out, and gave it to him.
"Here."
A cross-shaped necklace with a five-pointed Quincy star at the end.
"This is a Quincy Cross. With this, we can form our weapon."
He studied it, a silver-colored cross.
Something seemed to call out to him when his hand made contact with it. Something familiar yet different. It was hard to explain. The feeling he had when his hand held it, as if his body remembered the touch of the metal.
"It's not a weapon itself, it's a medium for a Quincy to channel their powers and create a bow. A spiritual bow, just like how Shinigami has a spiritual sword. Maybe that's the easiest explanation I can give since I can no longer use any Quincy power."
Indeed, Masaki had lost her power that night. It was due to an unknown cause, something that Shirou didn't understand at all.
But he didn't dwell on that matter, it was not important right now. Instead, he focused on the new information that he had learned.
A medium to channel their power and create a weapon, a bow, huh? A tool, an equipment that he didn't know before.
'A magical tool then.' He concluded, 'It might work the same way as Tohsaka's gems.'
"Every Quincy has one, though it can be different depending on the person's taste. Mine is a necklace because it's more discreet, but I have heard of some who use rings and bracelets."
"Can I examine this more thoroughly?"
"Sure." Masaki gave permission with a smile, knowing what her son meant.
Nodding, Shirou concentrated at the cross.
Search, select, analyze, project. That was the usual process of his Tracing.
While his specialty was tracing swords, examining a tool with Spiritual Grasp wasn't that difficult. He could see any weapons' history and trace them to make a copy.
"Trace On."
Blue circuit ran across his hand, extending toward the cross.
And the moment his circuit touched it...
A flood of memories rushed into him. An immense power that came with it, flooding him and assaulting his consciousness.
It's as if he had been thrown into a raging sea. His mind became overwhelmed by a powerful surge that threatened to drown him, his soul was swept up in an unstoppable tide of emotions.
Experience that made this weapon something it became now.
A memory where his mother met his father, a former Shinigami Captain, and saved him flashed into his mind. It showed how she defeated a Hollow with a small bow made from Reishi, how she shot an arrow and killed the Hollow with a single strike when it bit her.
And then it showed how Isshin saved her when the Hollow exploded itself to take her down with it.
Another memory came after, the day a Hollow corrupted her soul, forcing her into the edge of death. The memories about Isshin saving her by exchanging his power to seal it.
Leaving Ishida's family and then married Isshin. This cross accompanied her since her first fight, even though it was useless now since her spiritual power had long since sealed inside of her. And it was a memento from her family that she wanted to keep.
Unlike before, he knew how to use this Quincy Cross to create a Spirit Weapon now, but he wouldn't use it. It didn't suit him at all.
Too weak for his preference, yet spent more power than tracing his nameless bow.
Shirou's breath was ragged when he finished, cold sweat ran across his brow. He wasn't supposed to see that many memories, only the weapon's memories.
But the Quincy Cross had a direct connection to Masaki's soul, it was more than a weapon. Not only that, their connection as families allowed him to see more, just like when he gained all Archer's experience back in the Holy Grail War.
His vision was swimming and his head felt heavy. It was an overload of information, a flood of emotions and memories that was hard to control.
It felt like an eternity before he regained his composure.
"Shirou? Are you alright?" Masaki asked in worry. She reached her hand out, trying to pat her son's shoulder, only to stop when he raised his hand.
"Yeah, I am okay." He answered while rubbing his forehead, "I am sorry for worrying you. I will return this."
"Hmm, do you not need it?" Masaki accepted the cross and asked, "Quincy usually uses their own Quincy cross to manifest their weapon, you can keep it if you want to. It might be useful to you."
"Thank you, but I will pass. I don't think it will work well for me so it's better if this stays with you, mom." Shirou answered, giving her a small smile.
The weapon was much more important than he initially thought. How could he use it?
"I see... Then, is that enough? Do you want to ask anything else?"
"Yes. About Quincy's technique." He said.
The memories didn't give him enough information, only how to create a spirit weapon and fire it. He wanted to know more since the situation had changed from before.
More technique meant more tools to survive, something he desperately needed.
Masaki thought for a moment and then answered, "Hmm... Well, I think you already know the most important one. Hirenkyaku. You can use that to move in a fight, the way you move right now is good. As long as you keep improving, you should be alright."
"Okay, but what about other techniques?"
"There is something called Blut. It's something every Quincy has, a skill that can be used to reinforce the body and protect against physical attack." Masaki answered.
"As a mixed-blood, you need to learn it through training. But for a pureblood Quincy, Blut is a skill they have learned since they were born."
"Ah!"
He remembered.
9 years ago, a similar blue circuit ran through his mother's arms. At first he thought it was a magic circuit. Now, knowing more about Quincy and spiritual power, he understood the truth.
He already tried to activate something similar in his training but to no avail. The concept of Blut was something he couldn't grasp right now, he needed to experiment with it.
As usual, he was just a third-rate, a faker who could only copy a skill. He was lucky enough to be able to use the movement technique.
Asking for more seemed too much for his third-rated self.
'I have Rho Aias for defense against long-range projectile attack and swords for close range. I don't think I need Blut to protect me, but it won't hurt to learn. Still… Even as Quincy, I am also imperfect, huh? Not something worth a surprise.' He chuckled.
Knowing he couldn't use it in a short time, he sighed in defeat and decided to pursue the path he had long walked, that was to be a sword.
A sword to be wielded, a blade that protected, that was him.
Emiya Shirou, now Kurosaki Shirou.
Shirou talked more with his mother about various things. The serious discussion was finished, so he asked her about what kind of food his father liked. He wanted to have revenge after that gorilla called his cooking loveless.
He had a pride as a cook and it had been hurt. He would do everything he could to make sure the next time they eat together, his father wouldn't dare say anything like that.
"Fufufu. You have quite a surprising competitive side in you, Shirou." She said, amused by his seriousness, "But, okay. I'll tell you everything you asked."
Laughs and giggles were exchanged, and a small discussion between a mother and child. The atmosphere was good, a moment they cherished dearly.
But then Shirou felt something.
He looked over into the horizon before turning back to his mother.
"I forgot that I haven't bought pudding for Karin and Yuzu yet." He said, standing up from the couch. "I will go and get it. It won't take long."
Masaki's expression softened. Her brown eyes, seemingly already guessing what was happening, held a gentle light as she looked at her son.
She knew how Shirou was. Gentle and kind yet headstrong at the same time.
Even if she tried to stop him, she couldn't do anything. It's in his nature, the kindness and the bravery. It's in his heart and soul.
Her son was strong, stronger than she had thought. And that was why Masaki didn't try to stop him.
"Be careful, Shirou. Bring me some soda as well." She said, holding her cheek and smiling gently.
"Sure, I'll get you a can of soda." He replied with a gentle smile, turning to leave, "Love you, mom."
Then he was gone after saying words he seldom spoke.
Masaki watched his back disappear in front of the front door. Her lips were curled into a smile, her eyes twinkled with amusement as she thought about her son's bravery and strength.
"I wonder who he took after."
***Chapter End***
Something strange happened! Why could he see the memories? Isn't he supposed only to trace experience?!
Also, why was he in hurry? Could it be?!
More powerstones?! Give it to me!
Might I interest you with 20 advanced chapter? It's in my pat- reon /ShuviLily