There is nothing in the world that is more unwelcoming than Castle Einzbern. There was nothing on its facade that suggested life and the environment that surrounded it seemed too cold and harsh to be bearable for anyone. It was majestic and regal, but it was frozen... As if time had forgotten it.

This frigid exterior was no glamour -the Einzberns never tried to hide their power and wealth - but it belied the bustling network of people within. Inside this Winter City was the never ending movement of servants, assistants, mages, scholars, and alchemical masters all eerily possessing the same silver blonde hair, alabaster skin and fiery ruby red eyes. They never all slept at the same time. Even in the dead of the night, one will be able to hear incantations or explosions or alien roars somewhere deep within the Castle.

However, that wasn't all that made the family peculiar. There was one other fact that set them apart from other mage families: The Einzberns worked within a unforgivingly rigid family hierarchy.

At the bottom were the servants. They were homunculi with the same genetic make-up as all the Einzberns, but they were not endowed with Magic Circuits. They were basic models, so to speak. They were programmed to do menial work and, unlike their superior "relatives", their design was closer to normal humans. The main difference was that they were programmed with limited autonomy. They could only make decisions that were related to their programmed jobs.

On the next tier were the chamber assistants. They were mostly like the servants, but they were designed to help in laboratory procedures and so were bearers of the Einzbern secrets. They were unbreakable, programmed to self-destruct when interrogated.

Several steps above them were the scholars, Einzbern family members who were not born with magic circuits. They were devoted to writing every single event in the history of the Family. They never left the vaults except for special occassions (like Irisviel's wedding and the banquet held every fortnight).

Above the scholars were the mages. These were Einzberns in training. They were over-bearing, jaded juveniles who thought they were princes of the world by virtue of their blood but they could easily be silenced by one of Irisviel's pointed stares. They often assisted the alchemical masters.

The alchemical masters were expert mages who were unfortunate enough to be born after the Elders. In the natural course of the world, they should be in charge of the family by now, but since the Einzbern elders discovered the Elixir of Life, they were deprived of what should have been their birthright. They resented the Elders - their parents. They resented outsiders like Kiritsugu even more.

At the top of this rather tense food chain were the Elders. They were an "aged" group, having drank the Elixir of Life only during their advanced years. They were highly-skilled mages and expert alchemists who can create life almost from nothing. They were cold and inexorable, but having seen many, many years, they were less arrogant and obstinate than their natural-born children.
Some of them were fond of Irisviel - more fond of her than their own children perhaps because of her extraordinary beauty and talent - and so Kiritsugu tried not to judge them too harshly.

In a class all on his own was Jubstacheit von Einzbern, the King of the Winter City, the High-Mage, the Lord Father... and Kiritsugu's unwilling and discriminating father-in-law. He rarely showed himself to the "privileged" couple and when he did, it was almost always accompanied by a summons. He had no fondness or love for Irisviel (who was his most perfect child yet), but he valued her beyond all the other Einzberns. Kiritsugu hated him to the core.

Which was why he dreaded this long walk to Acht's workshop. Irisviel was supposed to accompany him to this sure-to-be-unpleasant interview, but she had been disappearing into her own workshop in the West Wing more frequently these days. He would ask her what she was up to if only he did not think it would be unfair. He himself would be gone for days at a time, sometimes not explaining where he was going precisely. He had no right to question his wife what she was doing when she was just inside the Castle. Besides, if he were to be completely honest with himself, he would be forced to admit that all this fussing was only because he really, really missed her. And right now, when he was in at the stage of denial, he didn't care to admit that at all.

Upon reaching the door to the workshop, Kiritsugu knocked three times and waited for Acht to bid him enter. He stepped in when the door opened on its own.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me, Lord Father," he said coolly, walking towards the ornate desk where the old man was studiously examining a piece of rare metal.

"You said you needed something that is of relevance your mission," Acht replied without looking up.

"Yes, Father."

"The support you are receiving is not enough? I thought we have provided you with everything you need."

Acht's tone drawled, containing the subtlest hint of sarcasm that was not lost to Kiritsugu's ears. He still refused to look at him despite his being right in front of the large desk. For a moment, Kiritsugu was tempted to grab the specimen he was examining and throw it across the room, but he realized this would be detrimental to his chances of winning over the family head to his scheme.

"Your support is more than enough," he said carefully. "But, it is - how do I say it - outdated?"

Acht looked up and stared at him incredulously. Finally.

"Outdated?" he repeated slowly, as if he had just encountered the word and was testing how it sounded. "We are dealing with magical methods, my son. They have not changed in centuries."

Which is why you are all predictably easy to kill.

"You were the one who insisted on using my methods," Kiritsugu pointed out.

"In the battlefield, you are free to employ whatever strategy you deem best."

"We are already in the battlefield."

"The battlefield is in Fuyuki City."

"The battlefield begins where the preparations are to be made."

Acht's eyes narrowed. He knew what his son-in-law was about to ask. After all, Kiritsugu had been in Castle Einzbern for more than a year now. It was only a matter of time before he would begin demanding some changes and privileges. But, he had expected the young man to delay his preparations, distracted as he was by his family. Apparently the time had come.

"What is it you ask for, Master Emiya?" the old man finally relented after a tense pause.

"Where do you want me to begin?"

"At the beginning. That is always helpful."

Kiritsugu resisted the urge to smirk. This was one of the things that both irritated him and made him admire the old man. He. still had fire in him even after two hundred years. And despite all the defeats he's suffered, he will always be the condescending, over-bearing, delusional, son of a -

"I want phone lines connecting the Castle to the rest of the outside world. I want cellphone signals to become accessible here in this dead zone and computers with internet connectictivity that will allow me to communicate with my associate Hisau Maiya as well as my intels at the Clock Tower. I want stereos installed in our study -"

"Do you have a list of these demands?" Acht cut him off, one-hand raised, eyebrows furrowed in obvious displeasure.

"Yes, I already furnished your assistant with it," Kiritsugu replied.

"Are your ridiculous requests so numerous? Would it save time to have Amaliric bring your list to me?"

Kiritsugu smiled sardonically.

"No, I'm almost through," he said. "I want a television screen and cable channels to go with the stereos and..."

"A television screen? What on earth do you need that for?" Acht interjected. Kiritsugu ignored him and named the last, most extravagant request:

"A car."

"A CAR?!"

"Two cars, to be exact. One to be kept here. The other to be stashed in a hotel in Fuyuki."

"Master Emiya," Acht intoned warningly, rising from his chair. "I understand some of your requests and are prepared to grant them if you insist they are necessary for your mission. But... stereos and TV screens? Why, I've never heard of any mage family ever stooping so low! They are worthless tools that distract from what people should really be doing. You propose to bring those unnecessary and idiotic contraptions in my house? AND TWO CARS?! If you needed to get out of the Castle, we could very well ask for rentals. The same solution could also answer your transportation concerns in Fuyuki. There is no need to purchase such undesirable mechanisms! I fail to understand their relevance in your situation."

"They're meant for Irisviel's education."

This gave the family head pause. Acht might be an iron-fisted jerk especially when it comes to sharing the resources of the family to outsiders, but he suffered from one peculiarity: he could never deny Irisviel anything with regard to her education. Back when Kiritsugu was just beginning to teach Iri, he had asked for books, magazines, vinyl records, paintings, photos - basically anything he could use to teach her - and Acht granted them without even so much as a resistance. He was always curious as to how fast and how much Irisviel could learn. He did not really care about her per se, but it seemed the novelty of having his prowess verified would never completely wear off.

"Hmmmm... Do you have an estimated cost of these ludicrous items you propose to purchase with the family's resources?"

"Yes. I've also detailed the exact items I want."

Acht studied him for a moment and heaved a heavy sigh.

"Very well. I will have Amaliric bring me the copy of your list and then send servants to purchase what you are asking for... On one condition."

How predictable. Kiritsugu thought.

"You will be the one to oversee the installation of everything. Including the satellite disk for the TV."


One Week Later

Friedrich was a proud cable man. He'd been a cable man for the last 15 years and he was the best in his job. He could work through anything, at any hour, on any day. But not on days like this.

The snow had fallen heavily last night, just like the weather channel said. So, today the earth was covered by a thick, undesirable blanket of snow that had enough time to solidify overnight. And since it was December, the temperature had dipped to minus 10.

No, Friedrich did not expect to work on days like this.

So, why was he headed to this remote, unknown forest in the middle of nowhere with no other direction apart from 'drive north from the town of Bern until you reach a checkpoint?

"Because you're a damn fool Friedrich Schrieber, that's why."

When Alfonse called him up this morning telling him he got a job in one of those castles further north, he had jumped straight out of bed and into the shower. Jobs in those castles were extremely rare since most of them were museums, but there were a few in the are who had residents in them. One - Castle Einzbern in particular - was rumored to house an ancient and powerful family that dabbled in magic. Locals said that the members of the family were so beautiful, they couldn't leave the Castle without being mobbed. Others said they were the worst form of purists, marrying each other just to preserve the bloodlines. Still, others believed they were skilled enough in the art of alchemy that they didn't need to marry anyone just to ensure their continuity.

These were superstitious beliefs, of course. Friedrich had worked for enough great families in his time to know that none of them were sorcerers. They might be great escapists and illusionists (especially when it came to taxes), but they had no real magic. The family living in Einzbern Castle would be no different.

Still, though. He thought. It would be interesting to see what kind of people lived in an actual castle.

He drove out about 15 mi from the last village until he reached the expected checkpoint. There he was stopped by a pale-haired man with dark red eyes wearing a white fur-trimmed coat that blended with the horse he was riding. If he and the horse weren't standing near Friedrich's car, they could have easily been missed.

"Are you Friedrich Schreiber?" the man asked in detached tones, leaning down into the open window.

"Yes," Friedrich answered. Who in the world still rode horses for transport?

The man looked very odd, he decided. There was something so... disturbing about his face... something unnatural. He definitely looked human, but Friedrich couldn't shake the feeling that he was anything but.

"Can I see your identification?"

He handed over his ID and his driver's license. The pale man examined his documents carefully and then returned them to him saying,

"Follow the road until you reach a man dressed fully in black. Ask no questions. He will direct you to your destination."

Ask no questions? Why would I be asking any questions?

Thirty minutes of driving later, he found out why.

The person the pale man told him to look out for was just as dark as the other was light. Yet, they were similar in one respect: they both looked just as cold and just as uninterested in anything around them. He was definitely not German... or European for that matter.

Japanese, maybe? Friedrich thought.

"You're Friedrich Schreiber from the cable company?" said the man in perfect German.

"Yes," answered Friedrich, handing him the same documents he showed the other man and the work order from his boss. The Japanese man perused his documents even more meticulously than the pale man did and once he was satisfied that they were not forgeries (at least that was what Friedrich thought), he stashed them inside the pocket of his trench coat.

"Good, you're just in time," he remarked. "I'm Emiya Kiritsugu. I'm the one you were conversing with on the phone. Can I ask you to step out of the car?"

Friedrich thought this was an odd request, but he'd gotten weirder ones before. Besides, something about this man told him it's a very bad idea to get on his dark side. So, he stepped out of the car and allowed Emiya Kiritsugu to inspect every nook and cranny of it. It took the man only about five minutes to conclude that he wasn't bringing in anything other than what a cable installation necessitated. Then he turned towards Friedrich once more, holding out a rectangular piece of black cloth.

"Wear this over your eyes and do not remove them until I tell you."

This was said so nonchalantly, so familiarly it gave the cable man the impression that this Emiya person has done this several times before. What was it about this black-clad Asian that made Friedrich's hair stand on end? He certainly looked normal enough - definitely more normal than the pale man from a few minutes ago. And he hasn't acted too out of the ordinary. So, what was it? What was it about him that made him seem... threatening?

Friedrich had worked for eccentric people before, but this was by far the weirdest scenario he has found himself in. The family in Castle Einzbern must be really shady people if they were this paranoid about their security and if they dealt with people as suspicious as the man standing before him. It was probably a bad idea to service them. But... what was it that Alfonse told him this morning? That they were paying him five times what he normally got? That's more than enough to give to the children's hospital this Christmas. Besides, it's just one job...

"How am I supposed to drive with my eyes covered?" he asked, realizing later how stupid that question was. Mr. Emiya didn't seem to mind, though.

"I'll drive."

The journey took about an hour and half more. Friedrich's eyes were covered the entire time and not once did Mr. Emiya address him. He tried starting a conversation several times, in the hopes of alleviating the feeling of danger in the air, but each time he was met with one-syllable answers. Not very encouraging. So, he stopped. When they arrived at the Castle, Mr. Emiya told him to get out of the car and remove his blindfold.

What he saw astounded him.

Castle Einzbern was, by far, the largest castle he has ever seen. It was completely white, with high turrets and numerous windows that made it look like it never truly belonged in the 21st Century. It boasted a wide courtyard and promised acres and acres of frozen gardens beyond the immediate vicinity. It was protected by high walls that would have intimidated even the bravest of climbers. But, it wasn't beautiful. No, Friedrich thought. Beauty needed an indication of life and warmth - two things that this Castle did not have by the truckloads. The Castle was magnificent, opulent, extravagant and awe-inspiring, but it was not beautiful. He could not imagine living in a place as cold and as impersonal as this.

"The satellite will be installed there," the man Kiritsugu said, pointing to a nearby turret that was not quite as high as its brothers. "It's not the optimum position for a signal, but that's the farthest that my father-in-law will allow."

Father-in-law? This man was a member of the Einzbern family?

Kiritsugu continued on.

"The cables will have to run as inconspicuously through the hallways as possible. Make them invisible if you can. You're not allowed to drill holes on any of the wood surfaces, either, so you'll have to find a way around that. The first few rooms are in use, so you will have to work past them quickly. Also, everything will have to be finished within today. We'll pay extra if it's necessary."

"Is there anyone I should avoid?" Friedrich asked candidly, smiling at Kiritsugu and then realizing he must have made a terrible joke when the other man raised an eyebrow.

"You'll avoid everyone, if you know what's good for you," Kiritsugu answered icily. "The family is very particular about who enters the house."

Just then, the sound of galloping horses was heard echoing across the courtyard. Friedrich turned his head to see who could be out riding when it was this freezing. From a distance - and coming closer at neck-braking speed - he spied a pair of white horses carrying distinctly female riders. He turned towards Kiritsugu questioningly, but found that the Asian's gaze was fastened on the approaching riders. Is it a trick of the light or has the man lost a little bit of his severity?

The riders halted just before the horse's hooves hit the first step of stairs that lead to the main door, rewarding all those present - including the white-clad servants that seemed to have appeared out of thin air - with a spectacular show of horsemanship. Friedrich squinted to get a better image of the rider.

He couldn't yet see their faces, but he was sure that the riders were not of equal stature. One was taller and cloaked in what could only be a fur coat made entirely out of ermine and the other slightly shorter and stockier and wearing a more modest cloak of wool. The former must be a daughter - if not the lady - of the house.

Both women alighted and handed the reins over to the attendants. Friedrich expected them to continue walking towards the house without even so much as a glimpse of their faces and was genuinely surprised and dumbfounded when the taller woman threw back her hood and revealed a face that would make even angels weep out of envy.

She must have been the most beautiful creature on the planet. Her hair was as fair as those of her servants, but it shone more luxuriously. Her eyes were an alluring shade of dark red and her cheeks were tinged with a healthy shade of rose. She had an aquiline nose, matched with high and sharp cheekbones that lent just the right amount of sharpness to make her seem more dangerous. But what was more captivating were her lips... they were thinner on top and fuller at the bottom, and seemed always to curve upwards in a generous smile.

Friedrich's heart melted just at the sight of her.

"You didn't tell me you were riding today," Kiritsugu called out to the goddess as she came nearer. She laughed musically, but waited until she didn't have to exert herself to be heard before she answered.

"I was going to tell you, you know. I was even going to ask you to come with me, but it seems you already made plans."

Her voice sounded like wind chimes and though her outward appearance reflected the frozen terrain of her home, she seemed kind, warm and full of life... which was why Friedrich was genuinely surprised to see her plant a familiar and affectionate kiss on Mr. Emiya's cheek. His facial expression did not so much as change, but Friedrich did notice how his arm instinctively wrapped around the woman's waist in a gesture that was equally protective and possessive.

"Who is this?" she said, turning towards Friedrich. He never had problems talking to beautiful women before, yet now his throat seemed to have gone dry. He couldn't do anything except stare at the very picture of perfection before him.

"I... uhh... My name is... uuuhh..." he stuttered.

She looked at him strangely, then addressed Mr. Emiya once again.

"What's wrong with him, Kiritsugu? Is he broken?"

"NO!" Friedrich exclaimed a little too loudly which earned him a surprised stare from his employers. "No, what I meant, Ma'm was that... I am not broken, oh, no. I am a perfectly functional human being. I mean, I can't be broken. Broken is for machines and I'm not a machine... I am... human... I..."

The woman continued looking at him, confusion spreading across her beautiful features. He saw how she struggled to keep smiling.

"I'm Friedrich Schreiber, Ma'm. From the cable company."

"The cable company!" she exclaimed, joy once again radiating from her. "Kiritsugu hired you, then? For the T.V.s?"

"Yes, Ma'm."

"That's wonderful!" She turned sparkling eyes towards the man Kiritsugu. "My love, how did you-?"

"I told him it was for your education," he told her, trying - and failing - to conceal a disdainful smirk.

"And he allowed it just like that?"

"He put up a fight and several conditions... one of which is for the work to be finished in a day. You should head inside if Mr. Schreiber is to start working." He relinquished his light hold on her and glanced towards the door. "I don't think he can function half as well when you're out here distracting him."

Friedrich opened his mouth to protest, but was saved from making the effort by the lady's laughing rebuke of Mr. Emiya's words.

"You're being absurd," she said, rolling her eyes. "But, you're right. I should be heading inside. Ilya's probably awake by now and I should go see to her." Then, extending her hand to the still-too-stunned cable man who failed to notice notice how archaic the gesture was, she said "Thank you so much for coming today. It's cruel to make anyone work when the temperature is this low, but our need is urgent. I can't let you in the castle for respite or food, but I'll make sure the servants provide for you."

She gave Mr. Emiya a quick kiss on the cheek and disappeared through the heavy double doors. Her disappearance jarred Friedrich out of his stupor.

"I'm sorry, Sir," he apologized hastily. "I didn't mean to - "

"It's alright, Mr. Schreiber." Mr. Emiya cut him off, the cold, detached expression once more forming on his features like a mask. "It's not your fault. We don't receive a lot of visitors here and the few that have had the privilege have reacted to the sight of Irisviel the same way you have. Don't worry too much about it. With your luck, you probably wouldn't see her again."

This was said so matter-of-factly, Friedrich didn't know whether to feel relieved or frightened. On one hand, his employer didn't at all seem surprised (or concerned) with the attention the woman Irisviel was getting. On the other, his words were spoken with an air of finality, there could be no doubt as to their certainty: Mr. Emiya was sure he would never see her again.

With these rather sad reflections in mind, Friedrich began working on what could have been the most difficult assignment of his career.


One Month Later

By the stroke of four on the third Friday Iri had not spent with him and Ilya, Kiritsugu was done pretending her absence was not driving him nuts. He tried telling himself he didn't have the right to know everything she did - he didn't disclose every single one of his activities to her after all - but he discovered quickly how difficult it was not to be curious when he knew she was somewhere within the castle. What has she been working on these past three weeks? And why did she come to bed late almost every night?

"What do you say we go on an adventure around the Castle, Ilya?" he asked the toddler in front of him who was busy building towers with large Lego pieces. Kissing her downy head, he added, "Think you can help Daddy find out what Mommy's been up to?"

Upon hearing the word 'Mommy', the little girl looked around expectantly, and when she didn't find the lithe and supple form of her staunchest ally against nightmares, she turned towards Kiritsugu with outstretched arms.

"Mama," the baby Ilya called out.

"I know. I miss her too. C'mon, let's go find her."

He picked up the giggling baby from the floor and headed out.

He wandered aimlessly for a while, sometimes letting Illya down so she could run ahead of him. She'd stop at random corners looking at the most uninteresting things: a plant, a carpet, a vase. Several times, however, she stopped in front paintings. Some were of unfamiliar landscapes, others were of ancient members of the Einzbern Family, now long dead. But Illya stared at them one by one. Seriously, intently, as if she could remember them. When she chanced upon a portrait of Justeaze Lizreich von Einzbern, she squealed "Mama!" relieved to finally be able to give a name to such a familiar face.

"That's not your Mama, Princess," Kiritsugu corrected her with a shake of his head. The toddler looked at him, then at the painting, then looked at him again. "That's your Aunt Justeaze. She was a homunculus like your Mama."

"Omuncus?"

"Yes, a homunculus. And one day, your Mama will explain everything."

Illya stared at the painting a little more, then, apparently deciding that her father was right and that the picture was of no significance to her whatsoever, she sped down the gallery to inspect a knight's armor. Kiritsugu, on the other hand, studied Justeaze's face closer.

The resemblance was uncanny. As much as he'd like to say that his wife's beauty was unique, here was a testament to the contrary. Justeaze Von Einzbern looked exactly like Iri. They had the same face, the same narrow shoulders, the same frosty hair. Not by a single strand of an eyelash did they differ. Yet, something not quite physical set them apart.

Justeaze's eyes did not shine with wonder and curiosity like Iri's. Her thin lips did not curl slightly upward, hinting at a disposition that was as apathetic as Iri's was excitable and passionate. Justeaze's eyes were cold and her expression disinterested in whatever surrounded her the moment she was immortalized. Iri was her clone in all physical attrubutes, but Kiritsugu suspected that no two women could be more different in personality.

His wife was easily perfect one. With a perfunctory nod, he continued watching over Ilya.

They explored many rooms that day. Most had very little in them, but some held wonders. There was one filled with maps, maps of the ancient world where the Einzberns had mined their precious and peerless metals. There was one filled with musical instruments that were in pristine condition despite their age. There was another brimming with plants from floor to ceiling. Then, of course, there was the library, the ball room, the bath houses, several chapels, a throne room... The usual places you'd find in a castle. By the time they reached Irisviel's workshop in the West Wing, Illya was curled up in Kiristugu's arms deeply asleep.

"Iri? Are you in here?" he half-yelled, half-whispered as he opened the heavy metal doors.

"Kiritsugu? Is that you?" asked a dismembered voice from deep within. "Stay where you are. The mercury hasn't quite stabilized yet."

From the back of the room, Kiritsugu saw strings of light that could have been bolt lightning but for their unnatural grayish-bluish hue. He couldn't make out what they were for sure, but he was certain the alchemy at play here wasn't the same kind most members of the Einzbern family would use.

"Is Illya with you?" asked the still-dismembered voice distractedly.

"Yes, she is."

"Well, make sure she stays put. I mean, it's quite safe, but..."

There was a sound akin to a machine powering down and suddenly, the flashes of light were gone. The room reverted to its familiar luminescence. A few moments later, Irisviel emerged from behind a tall steel wall wearing Master robes with her hair pinned up into a slightly disheveled bun.

"You should have told me you were coming in today," she said, coming closer to give both of them a kiss.

"And give you enough time to hide whatever it is you're doing?" Kiritsugu countered. He kissed her back and smiled. "Absolutely not."

Irisviel shook her head at him, stroking their daughters back. "Oh, look at her. She's exhausted. Were you wandering about the castle all day?"

"Well, not the whole day," Kiritsugu replied, his own features softening to match the loving expression in Iri's. "But we did go into several rooms before we came here."

"And what did you find?"

"Not much, to be perfectly honest. I mean, how can a castle have so many rooms and yet neither a dojo or a shooting range?"

"We're not exactly a very combat-oriented family," she replied laughing and taking his free hand to lead him to where she just emerged moments before.

"How'd you train your soldiers, then? Out there in the snow? I suppose that's possible. You can just make some kind of potion that would make them... freeze-proof."

"HAHA. Very funny." She rolled her eyes at him. "Actually, there was a time when we had garrisons. It didn't used to be so cold and the land used to be arable. But then, Justeaze Von Einzbern was created and well... She sealed off the entire mountain and changed the weather. They called her the "Saint of Winter". After that, there was no need for soldiers. People just stopped attacking."

"You mean, this entire arrangement came about because your beloved ancestor wanted cut corners? In case she didn't notice, the place isn't anymore cost efficient."

"No... In hindsight, it might have been too much. But, the family likes the isolation."

"Your isolation made you all ill-equipped to face the outside world," Kiritsugu pointed out, raising his eyebrows at her.

Irisviel sighed. "Well, I can't deny that. Although, I'm hoping these might even the odds."

She stopped in front of a rather long table laden with what looked like ten very fine strings. At first glance, they looked like very long strands of silver hair. Closer inspection, however, revealed that they were, in fact, made completely out of mercury .

"What are they?" Kiritsugu asked, stretching out one hand to touch one strand, while keeping the other firmly around Ilya's legs.

"They're my version of a weapon," Irisviel answered with slight trepidation. "What do you think?

He walked the length of the table and said nothing. His mind could not understand how something so fragile could possibly stand a chance against a battle as intense as the one he was expecting to happen in Fuyuki. These were too much like Iri: clean, graceful, and perfect for bringing forth life. Could they endure relentless attacks?

"Is it safe to show me how they work with Ilya here?" he asked trying not to let his doubts bleed into his voice.

"I think I have the calculations right, but... I'd rather not risk it. You see that table over there?" Kiritsugu's gaze followed the direction of Irisviel's finger where a table was sliced cleanly in irregular pieces. "That's what happened the last time I lost control of the wires."

"Have they ever hurt you?"

He knew, of course, that they have. Irisviel was a mage through and through, after all. Such risks were only normal in her line of work. Nevertheless, the fearfully protective husband in him wished she wouldn't expose herself to such dangers - even if they were necessary.

"Yes," Irisviel answered with a nod. "But not irreparably, as you can see."

He took a few moments to consider it.

He didn't doubt the abilities of his wife. He knew that when it came to alchemy, she was unparalleled. She had Magic Circuits even his father could not imagine. But, alchemy wasn't the kind of magic used to defend or attack enemies. It was meant for creation and poison, not full-frontal battle. Nevertheless, he had to see what his wife has accomplished.

"Let me just get Ilya down and then, you can show me."

It was half-past seven when they entered the Einzbern Testing Room located further within the curious recesses of the West Wing. Did it say something about him that of all the rooms he visited today, this was the one that felt most familiar to him? It was freezing cold in the testing room and instead of the smooth walls that separated the castle into large compartments, it was enclosed by rough stone. It also smelled strongly of cleaning agent... As if something had just recently bled in there and someone had meticulously cleaned the spillage using chemicals. To Kiritsugu, it felt like he was in the old days. If only he could have a real cigarette...

"Where do you want me?" He heard Irisviel ask. And immediately he was transported back to the present, all too aware of how long he has been deprived of his wife's company.

"At the other end of the room, about six feet from the wall," he replied.

He watched his wife's full figure walk gracefully to where he directed and realized for the nth time (and definitely not the last) how thankful he was that he was the only man in her life. There was absolutely no chance in hell that other men would not kill for just one glance from her. Friedrich the cable guy was a prime example. It was a good thing that Kiritsugu felt secure in his wife's love. Had it been otherwise, the smallest gesture to another would incite terrible jealousy in him.

He was never not aware of her. Every fiber in his body prickled when she was around. Even with his back to her, he could tell if she was smiling, or frowning, if she was standing still or holding something in her hand. What he felt ran deeper than desire... Desire was fiery and raw and it fades into nothing when its object is absent. This was peaceful and calm - as if her essence stirred something from deep within him, making him feel more alive and whole than he ever had in the last ten years.

"My love? Are you alright?" Irisviel asked, noting his distraction.

"Hmm? Oh, yes, yes. I was just... Thinking..." Kiritsugu answered sheepishly.

"You looked quite serious. Is it anything I can help you with?"

"You've already helped by being here."

It was a cryptic answer that brought furrows to her forehead. But, she wanted to show him something and the moment didn't seem ripe for heartfelt confessions. So, he laughed it off and asked her to proceed her demonstration.

"Well," she began hesitantly. "We both know alchemy is not the kind of magecraft best-suited for battles. It's closer to chemistry than anything and while it's useful for building, defending and poisoning, it's hardly useful if one wants to attack. Then again, the kind of alchemy we Einzberns have developed is capable of infusing life not only to creations with a biological base but also those that are made of metal. So, I thought... Maybe it's possible to create something so attuned to my mind that it can attack without my having to verbally or physically command it."

"So, you want to create a machine that operates like a drone?" he asked, piecing her plan together.

"Precisely, but instead of the usual drone, I thought that perhaps it should be able to change its shape according to the needs of the weilder."

"I can see how that could work. Can you show me?"

Irisviel closed her eyes and immediately, the strings glowed an electric blue. They followed every movement of her fingers, spreading and lashing as quickly as his wife gave internal commands. They were graceful, beautiful and deceptively delicate. With a flick of her wrist, it sliced the vases to her left into a even little pieces. So fine-tuned and responsive a weapon could make even the least harmful person deadly. Then, she uttered a spell in High German and the strings came together to form a hawk. The next moment, it was airborne. It looked almost real, except that it had neither flesh nor feathers. Its glow betrayed that it was made of metal. Its perfection cemented its being completely unnatural. The Einzberns truly had an uncanny gift at playing God.

"It looks good," he commented. "But, it'd have to be able to do more than just slicing or giving a pretty lights show. Have you ever tested its speed and maneuverability?"

"I've just managed to get it off the ground, actually. It was a bit of a challenge keeping the mercury together. I had to make several adjustments in order to minimize the use of prana. After all, it would be impractical to make it invulnerable at the expense of the wielder's focus."

He nodded. Her understanding of attack and defense was impressive. He held out his arm and the creature landed on it. It observed him with blank eyes, though he knew that any movement was controlled by Iri. "Can you see anything it sees?" he asked, watching the hawk mimic the movement of his head.

"No," she replied as she came closer. "I can't make it work the same way as a familiar. Familiars are configured differently. I'd have to give it some remote-sensing capacity, work on its optics as well as create a processing system I can tap into without completely losing focus on my immediate surroundings..."

He loved that her mind was already on the modifications. She didn't speak much of her knowledge about the alchemy and it often surprised him how detailed she can get.

"...perhaps if I switched to gold instead of mercury? No, it would be too unruly..." she prattled on, getting lost in her world of chemicals and incantations.

"Iri," he interjected gently. She didn't seem to notice. "Iri!" he repeated a little forcefully.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I got a bit carried away. What is it?" she smiled apologetically

"Don't mind what I said," he replied, letting the bird fly away again. "I don't need new familiars. Maiya already has them. Why don't we work with what you have?"

She sighed and then smiled. "Alright. I suppose we'll need to set another date for the gun test. Do you think we should purchase new ones or are the ones here in the castle enough?

"You mean those artifacts I found in your 'weapons' room? They belong to a museum, my love. We'll have Maiya send over new ones."

"Fair enough," she disassembled the hawk and coiled the mercury strings into neat circles. She beamed at him with sparkling eyes. "I'm so excited! We're finally doing some preparations together!"

"Don't be like that," he replied, taking her hand and leading her out of the room. "You'll be just as involved in planning our strategy as I will be. I just... don't want to start yet."

"I'm afraid the family will not approve, Master Emiya," she replied in a rather good imitation of Elder Olga's voice. "The Grail should be your foremost concern."

He laughed at this then pulled her in for a kiss. "Well, I think," he said as he broke from her lips. "The family can just screw themselves." She pushed him away in mock rebuke as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh, stop it. You know the work will catch up with us eventually."

"I know, but I have a very limited time with you and I don't intend to spend it all on talking about strategy."


The Thursday After

There was tension at the table as the clock on the mantle piece ticked away to quarter past seven. Every fourth Thursday of the month, the entire Einzbern Family gathered at the Great Hall to dine together in frosty silence broken only by soft murmurs. Kiritsugu, being married to Irisviel, had the peculiar and unpleasant honor of being invited to this dinner. Always, he had entered with Iri. Always, he just sat there and interacted with no one unless he was asked. He stuck out from this group like a sore thumb - clad in black instead of white. He knew his presence made them uncomfortable but he would still be invited anyway because he was technically family. If he were completely honest with himself, he would admit that he only came because it got the family all riled up.

And right now, they were REALLY riled up.

"Master Emiya, where is Irisviel?" the Lord Father asked from the head of the table with his eyes narrowed in displeasure. To his right, his consort, the Elder Olga, tapped her fingers impatiently on the table.

"I wasn't with her all day, Lord Father. But, she said she will be late for dinner tonight," he answered coolly.

"Very well, then, I see no reason to wait still," Acht raised his hand to signal the servants when his consort objected.

"No. We will wait for her. She must be made to see her actions are ungrateful and out of place. She seems to have forgotten the rules in this household, then," replied Lady Olga. "And maybe even her place in this family. She is merely a homunculus. She mustn't - "

Her increasingly hostile diatribe was cut off by the opening of the heavy double doors and the sound of Irisiviel's footsteps on the marble floor. A collective gasp rose from the table and Kiritsugu's face broke into a proud smile.

"Forgive me for being late, Lord Father, Elder Olga," Irisviel apologized, curtsying briefly to her superiors before fluttering through shocked and jealous stares. "The dressmaker was rather slow in making certain alterations." Nobody reacted to what she said, which seemed to give her pleasure. They all just gaped at her. And for good reason too. Even he couldn't keep his eyes off her.

The only thing that would merit the approval of the Elders were the colors she wore: white and gold which matched with all of them. The rest of her gown was a complete deviation from tradition. It looked as if it would be more at home in the mild summer temperatures of Greece than it ever will here in the frigid mountains of Germany. It showed far too much of her alabaster skin. It hugged her perfect curves in all the right places and it flowed around her ankles, making it all the more glaring to everyone present that she was easily the goddess in this room in spite of her being "merely a homunculus".

"Child," Acht acknowledged her in constricted tones. "What on earth are you wearing?"

"Well," Irisviel began as she took her place beside Kiritsugu. "I thought since the castle is getting upgrades, it would only be fitting to try something new." She gave him a sly smile as she felt his hand rest on her knee reassuringly. Acht cleared his throat.

"It is not commonplace to flaunt one's body at dinner - "

"It is vulgar!" exclaimed Elder Olga. "Have you taken leave of your senses, homunculus? What made you think you deserved to make us wait? And then, you appear before us dressed in this... patchwork! You should be ashamed."

"Forgive me, Elder, but I fail to see why," Irisiviel answered wryly. "There was no need for you to wait for me. No doubt my husband informed you I will be late and as you have constantly reminded me that I am nothing but a tool, I imagined you wouldn't even notice I was gone. As for my choice of clothing, I don't think it is anymore vulgar than having TV screens installed in some of the rooms and cars parked in the unused cellars. It's simply part of the modern world which our family must adapt to or die. Besides, being a homunculus, it isn't like none of you haven't seen my body before. In fact, I think you've all seen me naked."

This kind of reply has never been heard in these halls before. That much was obvious. The younger Einzberns were severely dissatisfied with their uncelebrated status in the family but they have never spoken out of turn - whether because of fear or complacency, Kiritsugu didn't know. And now, here was his sweet, gentle, well-mannered wife shining in glorious arrogance and astounding awareness of her beauty. It was an even greater shock to them than her clothing.

"How dare you - " Elder Olga roiled, slowly rising from her chair.

"Enough." Acht silenced her. He signaled for the servants to begin serving dinner. "Clearly, the child has learned a great deal from her tutor. We cannot undo what she has learned. Master Emiya, I hope you remember to teach my creation only that which will not cause trouble in my family."

"My wife is fully capable of deciding for herself, Lord Father. I had nothing to do with this," he squeezed her knee and was rewarded by a hand laid above his own.

"I think it's refreshing," declared Master Liebwin, the plant alchemist fondest of Irisviel. Irisviel bowed her head to him and the rest breathed in relief. They could always count on good Master Liebwin to alleviate any kind of tension and he had status enough for others to feel safe in joining his conversation. "We should make small changes the same way the elements we handle change."

"Yes, why shouldn't we?" concurred a younger master who had a mouth slightly wider than the Einzbern make. "I wouldn't mind having new contraptions in the castle. Especially those that would make it easier to communicate what one wants from the servants."

"I wouldn't mind having one of those television sets. If we can find a way to make it work with our methods, it might make studying the smallest parts of my insects easier. Although, the contraption seems completely grotesque," declared one.

"I'm quite fascinated by that car. A creature with the same speed would give it a run for its money," declared another.

And so, it was that the Great Hall was finally filled with chatter among magi who would not normally talk with each other. From her perch beside Acht, Lady Olga seethed though her ire was made impotent by the silence of her consort who ignored most of the chatter. Acht was ancient enough and wise enough to know that this fascination with technology was but a passing fancy. They were attracted to the new the same way magpies were attracted to shiny things.

"I think you might have done your family a favor," Kiritsugu said to her as the appetizers were served and they were accorded the privacy of dinner conversations all around. "This is the first time I've ever heard your family talk to each other."

"That wasn't my intention, but, if it makes family dinners more interesting, I'm not complaining," her attention was claimed by the female apprentice beside her who was far too interested in the workings of her womb. Iri, being an expert at making polite rebuffs, told her in the vaguest of ways how it functioned. She was the Lord Father's creation and her secret mechanisms cannot be revealed by anyone except the Lord Father alone. This young apprentice, however, was overeager, taking her for a fool just because she was of a lower kind.

"But, how does it sustain life? What material is it made of?" the apprentice pressed on, clearly unable to take a hint. "You can tell me! I'm not planning to create someone like you. I just need to know."

"The Lord Father will be able to explain this better. Perhaps, you should consider apprenticing with him," Irisviel soothed, the gentle smile remaining on her lips. It took the power of insulting away from her words. It seemed as if she truly knew nothing about how this ambitious young woman's application has been rejected thrice now by Acht when in fact, she knew how hard the apprentice tried. In this way, Irisviel knew she was superior: Acht encouraged her to explore as much of Justeaze's knowledge as possible if only to feed his vanity. Nothing was more effective in shutting up an Einzbern than wounding their pride.

Kiritsugu watched the progress of this conversation and several others with inconspicuous eyes. Most drawled, but there were some that were more animated. He didn't expect them to be making jokes and laughing soon, but he had to admit it was amusing to watch frosty individuals talk to each other. The master to his left asked him questions and he answered them - albeit disinterestedly - being just a little bit more candid as a tribute to his wife's efforts. All in all, it wasn't too bad of an evening.

"I don't remember your going to your dressmaker for that dress," he said later as they readied themselves for bed. It tugged just a little bit at his heartstrings that they appeared more domestic in this moment than they ever had: just a husband and wife dressing down after a fancy night out. They'd even checked on Illya before they went to their chambers.

"That's because you're always out the door - Can you help me with the clasp, my love? - before I even get to say anything about it. It's like you have this sixth sense when it comes to getting new clothes."

He stood behind her where she stood in front of a mirror and rested his hands on her waist. Their eyes met in the reflection.

"Do you like it?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

"You look exquisite," he answered with a kiss on her shoulder. "Which is why Elder Olga can't stand you. You'll be forever young while she's forever wrinkled and gray."

Her reflection laughed and then she turned to face him, placing her arms on his shoulders, her hands behind his neck. "I don't really care what she thinks," she declared quietly. In the darkness of the room, her ruby eyes glinted delicately, pulling him into their wonderful depths. He rested his forehead against hers.

"I love it ," he whispered. He smoothed his hands over the soft material of her skirt. "But, where on earth did you get this design?"

"The internet," she answered breaking from him so the cloth was barely a kiss on his fingers. "It's a wonderful place to discover new things."

He shook his head at her and then proceeded to undress. "Has Illya seen you in it?"

"Yes," she answered, her voice muffled by the silk sleeping gown she pulled over her head. "She's the reason I was late. When she saw the gown, she loved it so much she just lay down on it and refused to let go."

He moved to the bed and pulled back the covers. "I didn't think girls that young could appreciate fashion already."

"You should have seen the way her eyes lit up," she said as she joined him on the bed. "But, I don't think she's interested in the design. She just likes the fabric. I had a difficult time moving about the room because she kept on chasing after my hemline and then catching it like it was some kind of puppy."

"And, of course, you ran around and let her chase you."

"What else was a mother supposed to do?"

Irisviel snuggled closer to him, her head resting on his shoulder like a pillow as his arm wrapped around her. He lay contentedly on his back with his free hand under his head. He didn't know when this became the norm between them, but he found himself slowly realizing how used to her he had become. The only one missing now was Illya, but she was too small not to get crushed between them. He sighed.

"Don't," he heard her say warningly. He smiled. How does she do that?

"Don't what?" he asked unable to keep the amusement in his voice.

"You're doing it again, sinking into your world of despair. I can feel it, you know. I can always tell."

"I'm sorry." He adjusted their position so she was nestled deeper into him. "I'll stop myself now and go to sleep before I ruin your triumphant evening."

"I think it was more of a triumphant month for both of us. We've made progress here," she reached up to his face and kissed him. "Let's just live in the moment. Good night, my love."

"Sweet dreams," he hugged her closer to him. "Oh, and Iri?"

"Hmmm?"

"You were amazing."


Author's Note:

1. I'm sorry. It seems I wasn't very particular with the gown I had in mind. For those who are curious to what this would look like, I was thinking more along the lines of the gown Taylor Swift wore in the 55th Grammy's. I could honestly picture Irisviel wearing it. Anyone out there who can do a decent fan art? :D

2. I know it seems odd for Kiritsugu to be sweet like this, but I'd like to think he was perfect and loving in the nine years they were together. I don't believe he can stay distant and cold because in my mind, he's just completely in love with her. If you're not comfortable with a Kiritsugu who's more human and less depressed than usual, I suggest you stop reading here because I'm not letting up. I've always wanted them to have a bit of happiness since we all know how the story is going to end.

3. I would love to hear from you guys, so please feel free to write reviews. Let me know what you think about the way I characterized Irisviel and Kiritsugu. I'm trying to stay as faithful to canon as possible, but I might be failing. :)