So, this is my first time writing pretty much anything for pleasure, and curious if this is anything people might enjoy. Please review and tell me what you think, that's all I ask...

EDIT: Holy crap! Is this what people feel when they are acknowledged?! Even if it's only a few people, I feel amazing! Always felt that other writers were just being stingy with their chapters or wanted an excuse to not write when they say "review to get more" but wow! It really does have an effect. Wrote the rest of this chapter today, and I don't have a beta, so it's probably a little bit janky to read, but, here it is!

Beta Reader (Will S. LaVi): Yorokobe shounen! You now have the beta you wished for.

What-if: Hurray!

That being said, apparently because of the corona virus my campus is going to be shutting down for at least a month, so I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to write a bunch, or not at all.

DISCLAIMER: I own neither fate/stay night nor the picture I'm using. Sorry, would give the artist credit if I knew.

Fire. It surrounds him, though this isn't that night, nor a dream. Rather than the flames of destruction that birthed him, these are the flames of creation.

Strike. Strike. Flip. Strike. Strike. Again and again, he beats the orange metal, molding it similar to how he was molded, reheating it as needed, using his bare hands to wield the bar. Despite the aggressive heat within the workshop, his skin barely even sweats, thus allowing him to continue working without as many long breaks as he should.

Finally, he stops, inspecting the obvious straight blade, before quenching it in the nearby vat of oil, and setting it in the tempering oven, making sure the timer is set before he washes his hands. He can't worry Sakura or Taiga after all. Speaking of…

Knock, knock, knock.

"Right on time, Sakura." Shirou states, looking out of the open door towards the purple-ette, he begins shutting things down. "Time to make breakfast?"

"Um, right Senpai…" As the room cools and the heat no longer acts as a wall, she steps closer, standing in the door frame as she looks around and asks demurely, "Did you finish that new project?"

Smothering the fires and walking out with Sakura following in his steps, he begins. "Yep. So, what do you think that Tiger is going to request for her meal?"

"Ah, actually-" Speaking up just a second too slow, they walk into the dining room for Shirou to see that places have already been set, and from the smell, the food mostly done.

Sighing, Shirou turns to her. "Sakura, as much as you might enjoy cooking, haven't I asked you to tell me so we can enjoy it together?"

"But Senpai, you work so hard all the time-"

"SHIROU! IS BREAKFAST DONE YET?" Shouting, the mighty tiger pounces. Nearly breaking the door, again, and interrupting Sakara. Again.

"Sorry, but you'd have to ask Sakura about that." He replies to Taiga before turning to Sakura, "And Sakura, we'll continue this conversation later, but like I've said before: I'm never too busy to help you."

He checks the kitchen out right quick, watching as Sakura goes to the stove to check on the eggs. He sits down at the table, but not before bringing a few of the dishes to ease Sakara's load. Within a couple minutes, Sakara brings the last of the dishes and sits. Thus, the beast at the head of the table dives right in, quickly getting the lion's- or rather- the tiger's share.

"So, have you thought of rejoining the archery club?" Taiga asks, trying to sound innocent even as she continues mauling their meal.

Raising an eyebrow at the guardian, Shirou activates one of his most dangerous weapons: his sass. "Rejoining? I wasn't aware I was ever part of it. Indeed, the most I remember doing is bringing the occasional meal and having a couple competitions with Mitsuzuri. Sakura, do you remember anything like me joining?"

With a near invisible smirk, she and Shirou both pretend not to notice Taiga beginning to slouch as she replies, "Actually, I don't think so. Who knows, maybe you cooking her meals has caused her to see this illusion, you might have to limit them…"

Eyes bulging, Taiga nearly leaps across the table to shush her. "NO! Don't take away my Shirou-cooking! It's the only thing that keeps me going half the time!"

After the two bullies laugh at her pout, she settles back down and continues. "Besides, after Shinji's accident, half the girls in the club also dropped out. Say what you will about him, he got his fanclub somehow, and he always managed to get them to join the archery club."

"That reminds me, Sakara, how is Shinji doing nowadays anyway? It has to be tough being restrained in a wheelchair, especially in a western house like yours."

"Oh, he's doing well. In fact, the doctors think that he might even be able to get started on crutches next week."

"Yes, yes, it's great that he's doing well after falling down the mountain stairs like that, but more importantly, the club! Shirou, please! Just for a month, then with the new recruitment strategy I thought up, we should be great!"

"Uh-huh. A strategy that you thought up? I'd rather not be complicit in...coaxing other students. Heaven knows that we have enough stuff going on around town without you adding to it." Shirou put down, finishing his meal. "Speaking of school, running late again? Aren't you worried that they might dock your pay again if you don't hurry?"

"ACK! Shit shit shit! Gotta go, see you in class!" Speeding off, both teens could hear vague roars, though the dust cloud was too thick to see through.

"Well, now that that's taken care of, I'll be cleaning up. You cooked, so it's the least I can do." Leaving the girl looking slightly rebellious, he picks up the mess and begins cleaning. "So, now that Shinji is moving on to crutches, do you think he'll be able to work? It'll be nice if you didn't have to struggle so much to feed both of you."

"It's not like it's too much trouble thanks to you recommending me to the Copenhagen. For a small bar, they pay quite nicely. But to answer, even with crutches, it'll be awhile before Onii-san can get his own job. It's better for both of us for him to focus on schooling, as hard as it is for him." Sakura gets up and starts to dry the dishes as Shirou drains the water and cleans the sink. Ignoring his exasperation, they quickly finish cleaning up and with a small redirection to change, proceed to school.

Wandering around, the young boy takes in the sights while making sure the two men with him don't lose him. It wouldn't do to make Raiga-san worry after all. The cafe on that corner looks appetizing, with an open counter, showing the clearly professional cooks performing their craft. Unfortunately, Shirou ate already, and wasn't quite ready for dessert just yet. The bookstore across the street first looks quite inviting, but with the modern aesthetic, combined with the bookshelves dedicated to children's books, it likely doesn't have many books that would interest him. Then, as he debates whether to cross the street or to turn around and walk back the mechanics shop Raiga-san is currently in, he hears it… Something... Something that resonates.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Echoing through his, his mind, his body, and his soul, he has no choice BUT to go, to hear what this is coming from. While it's easy to hear the sound of steel against steel, this is not the sound of a wrench hitting a pipe. This is… older. Before Shirou even knows, his body has already moved, ignoring the uncles chasing him, running after the sound, no, the song.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The ringing of steel, the thrumming roar of a steady fire, liquid sizzling, no… quenching. Finally, he arrives at another garage, though instead of cars or engines, this garage is set up to work metal. And it's here he sees the cause of the song. Swords. This shop isn't a shop at all, but rather, a forge.

And Shirou is mesmerized.

Or at least, until the uncles show up, not quite gasping for breath. Taking an aggressive stance to mask their worry, they shout at him in stereo in order to be heard over the song, "Shirou, what the hell were you running for!?" This also has the effect of pausing the metal work, as the men look up to see who shouted.

"Er, sorry. I heard these people working and something told me that I needed to be here…" Shirou apologized as he rubbed the back of his head. Upon seeing that there's no trouble, most of the men get back to work... Save one, who after hearing Shirou's reply walked over, cleaning his hands on a rag.

"NEEDED to come here, aye? Sounds interesting. And why do you think that you needed to come here?" Though not as jacked as the stereotypical blacksmith, the man nonetheless had a respectable amount of muscle showing through his long sleeves, slightly more than Shirou's minders, and had a goatee to go along with his outfit, though the half-smirk on his face made him out to be friendly rather than intimidating.

Despite the looks the two yakuza gave him, he kept his smirk as he looked at Shirou for an answer.

"Look, I don't-"

"I… don't really know?" Shirou replied, feeling off-balanced yet steady as the song resumed. "The sounds just… feel important?"

"Shirou, you aren't supposed to talk with strange men when they ask questions."

"But doesn't that mean I shouldn't talk with you?"

"Gah!"

"Hahaha, well done! Reminds me of when I was a boy! When I was your age, I heard the song of the hammer and forge too, that's why I became a blacksmith!" he proclaimed. "My name is Yamato Nagi, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

"OH. right, I'm Emiya Shirou, the pleasure is mine. So, you hear it too?"

"Great, what are we, chopped liver?"

"Alright, I don't know who you think you are, but we need to get going. Wouldn't do to worry Oyabun."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, you two…" And of course as if summoned, Raiga appears, with the rest of the men he took with him in tow.

"Well now, someone care to tell me why you are quite far away from where I left you?" Not quite glaring, his smile was still terrifying to his men.

"I'm sorry, that would be my fault. We were just wandering around the block, but after hearing these people work, I felt that I had to find out what it was." Shirou quickly answered, knowing Raiga's patience, or lack of it, quite well, and that these two men don't handle pressure all that well, being fairly new.

Raising an eyebrow, Raiga questions. "And why is that?"

Only for the man, Yamato, to answer. "From what I heard, it sounds like he heard the 'song of steel', something that few people ever truly hear. You've got quite the special grandson here."

"Song of steel?" "And you are?" Shirou and Raiga question, turn their focus on him and thankfully ignoring the two watchers.

"Ah, I'm Yamato Nagi, and as for the song, that's a bit complicated, so if we could get somewhere more comfortable, I'll explain." Shirou and Raiga were lead to his office after Raiga has his men stand guard. There he introduces himself as they settle down at his desk, Shirou taking a stool so as to give Raiga the chair. "So, are you folks from around here?"

"Not quite, we're from Fuyuki, not that I see what that has to do with anything."

"Ah, that town. I was asking for something else, but that can wait for now. Now then, the 'song of steel' is what my sensei called it. When metal is being shaped, it tends to give off sound. What most people don't hear however, is that sound carries a rhythm, something that just seems to resonate with the worker's body and soul, telling them what shape that metal wants to become, how to shape it to make sure the steel gives 110%. My master always said that in order to hear it, one's soul had to be of steel as well, and their body tempered, and it's not something that can be taught, only refined. So, with that out of the way, the reason I was asking where you are from is because I'd like to take Shirou here as an apprentice, with yours and his permission."

Waking up, he glances at his clock. 2:00 am. "Perfect. Oh well, at least it was a nice dream this time."

Getting up, Shirou efficiently performs his routine, washing his face, brushing his teeth, and putting on his work pants. Grabbing a homemade snack bar, courtesy of Sakura experimenting, he moves out towards his workshop out back, only pausing to look at the moon, waxing till nearly full. Shaking his head, he continues, opening up the shed.

With the forge's quiet and moonlight striking the various swords and shields Shirou has, it takes on an ethereal tone, whispering to be used. The newly ground and polished blade sits on an anvil, waiting for the wooden handle to be grooved and a sheathe to be set in. However, first things first. Taking the blade, Shirou moves to sit on the ground in the back corner, taking the blade from the moon's light… for now.

"Trace, On." His Magic Circuits sparking, Shirou proceeds to use his etching tools to slowly indent a series of kanji into the fuller, filling them with his magic, insuring that he adds the correct concepts to each and every line and curve. Hours pass in this way, as he works the entire fuller, on both sides. Soon, he is done, but then wraps the sword into a heavy black tarp, to be ready for the next steps in the next few days.

After getting up and stretching, he then moves toward a half-finished blade. It will soon be a scimitar, placed beside a bag made from the same rubbery tarp material he covered the new sword in, although this bag carries a miasma that even someone like Mitsuzuri or Taiga could feel. Starting up his forges, he flips the stone ringing around it to reveal various runes and scriptures of different cultures and religions. He pulls on heavy latex and rubber gloves and grabs both, quickly glancing at the Old Russian calligraphy.

After the coals are at their hottest and nearly burnt up, he opens the bag to reveal one of the few things Shirou is genuinely repulsed by: dead Crest Worms. Pouring some into the fire, he uses tongs to handle the blade into the fire letting it soak the miasma the worms give off. Soon, he pulls it out, and begins to work the metal, twisting it as he goes, using Alteration to continually write Catholic scripture in Russian even as he hammers, purifying the miasma and turning it into its opposition, a holy aura, from a curse to a blessing. On and on he strikes, until a timer previously set goes off.

Slowing to a stop, Shirou proceeds to hide the unfinished product and worms, letting the miasma in the flames burn out before smothering the forge and resetting the stones, then shutting off his Circuits with a mental click. After which, Shirou steps to his other work space, lifting a cover to show a motorcycle, having been brought in half-destroyed by Kiritsugu when they moved in, nearly refurbished. After his passing, Shirou practiced Structural Analysis on the bike 'til he knew it as well as he knew everything else inside his house.

"Well, let's get on with this." sitting down, the boy proceeds to work on the machine until the alarm rings, telling him that he better get up if he wants to cook.

Issei found Shirou that day enjoying lunch on the roof, despite the brisk wind blowing around. He was simply gazing over the city, overthinking things as was his way.

"Glad I found you Shirou, do you happen to have anything planned for today?" Issei addressed, breaking him from his thoughts.

"Not particularly, more equipment malfunctions?"

"Indeed, recently that seems to be happening more and more often. Though, I could not help but notice that you seem to be thinking quite deep, is there something I should be aware of?"

Shifting his sight back towards the city, Shirou sighed. "Not really. Do you remember the bike that my dad left?"

"Yes, I remember you mentioning that broken death trap, what about it? Have you finally decided to sell it for scrap?" Issei started. "Or, now that I think about it, have you been using the metal for your projects? That would be rather cost efficient, I wager."

Chuckling, Shirou shook his head. "Issei, if you actually remember, I've been trying to fix the thing for a couple years now. Anyway, I actually finished putting it back together this morning. I've been deciding whether to sell it now, or trying to get lessons. I put them together enough, I think it's time I learn how to use one."

Leaning back on the bench, empty bento forgotten, Shirou continues. "But it's not just the bike. I've always wanted to be able to not just help others, but to save them. Now, as we get closer to being released to make our marks on the world, I find myself… frustrated, for lack of better words, with my limits. I thought that I had accepted them, that's why I use a forge in the first place, to teach others to save both themselves and their others… but now, I see the world, and I know that won't be enough, not for me. But, what else can I become, to make a difference? A doctor, even Doctors Without Borders, are too constrained for me. A soldier? They don't serve justice, they serve their countries. Mercenaries are bound by contract, not to mention have to follow the money. And as a vigilante, I doubt I would last long enough to make an impact to be worth it. Even with a year left, I feel that any answer I can think of will be the wrong one."

"... I see… quite the heavy topic on your mind , my friend." Issei spoke looking quite solem by now, also looking out into the city, missing as Shirou grimaces and opens his mouth to speak only to be interrupted. "However, I'm glad."

Now turning to his friend, he continues with a smile. "I'm glad that you believe us close enough to speak your mind to me. And as your close friend, allow me to try to give some advice; don't choose."

"H-huh?"

Chuckling at his friends now stunned face, he none-the-less turns solemn again. "Shirou, I do believe the quote is 'a jack of all trades, master of none, but better than a master of one'. Learn First-Aid and emergency treatment, create a mercenaries web of contacts and money, follow your heart as a vigilante, and learn how to be a soldier, so that you can lead. I noticed that in all the choices, you phrased it as if you were going to be doing so alone. However, doing so is impossible, to the point you would waste your entire life, only to constantly fail. Every hero that attempts to try to change their world, they either have their comrades backing them, or they fail. Robin Hood and his Merry Men. the Knights of the Round Table. Oda Nabunaga. Alexander the Great. All these men did their best to change their world, but they did so by leading. They taught their men how to handle themselves, and then stood in front of them to lead by example. It is no coincidence that in each of the men I named, the moment they failed to do so, either teaching or making themselves into an example, their comrades also failed, leading themselves into ruin. Even the children's TV shows do this."

Slowly growing more and more slack-jawed at his friend's speech, neither notice the bell ring, nor the eyes now looking at them from inside. However, it's the next line that strikes Shirou in his soul, Issei's form being compared to another, one he thought lost. A muscled man, with his hair in a bandanna to protect from the fires he worked with.

"Shirou, I know that you are going to become a great figure, you just need the right hands to help you." Issei stops there as he finally sees the look on Shirou's face. The mix of shock, understanding, and the brief flash of grief, giving him worry. Shirou then starts to shake his head slowly, quietly chuckling, but quickly becoming a laugh so grand tears start flowing from him. Eventually, he settles down before giving Issei a smile so heartfelt, Issei actually steps back. Unknown to them, so did the unseen watcher, though they also gain a truly massive blush unlike the school president.

"Thank you, Issei. I was told that a long time ago, but it seems that I had forgotten it. Pretty curious, the man that told me that isn't one to be forgotten easily."

Becoming embarrassed, Issei quickly tries to look away, only to catch a glimpse at his watch and pale drastically. Wordlessly, he offers the wrist to Shirou, who likewise panic.

"Oh, shit."

Arriving home late with ears still ringing from the beast's roars at missing much of class, after giving only a few pointers to the kohai in the archery club, and in no shape for a contest with Mitsuzuri after both the tongue-lashing and the -shiver- "unpleasant" rumors about why exactly him and Issei were late. Deciding to prepare something quick and easy to try to appease the guardian he knew would be coming over later, Shirou dedicated only half a thought as to why the door to the roof was cracked when he knew that it shut fully after Issei arrived.

"Huh… I always knew that Shirou and Issei were close, but I didn't realize that they gave each other such… sappy… speeches to each other like that." One Tohsaka Rin stated to herself as she sat on her bed, pulling a pillow towards herself to hug. "Though, for a smile like that, I would give a fair share of sap for as well… NO! Bad Rin! This is not the time to get stuck on a stupid crush, not when the war is less than a month away! Let's go!"

Throwing the pillow and running to the basement, Rin began working on her father's puzzle, hoping that it might contain a reagent to summon a "proper" servant. "Come on, Saber!" She said hopefully to herself.

The door creaked open, its sound much like that in a horror movie than in real life, no matter how well oiled said hinges were. 'Mmm, horror… wonder if Senpai would hold me if I acted scared enough.'

Thinking to herself, the young woman nearly missed the wheelchair bound boy in the opposite hall, if it weren't for the boy currently cursing at her hard enough to make Raiga-san raise an eyebrow. 'Probably before having his mouth cleaned with an entire bar's worth of soap.'

Quickly blanking at the thought, so as to not laugh or smile near her aggressive brother, she merely bows at him. "Nii-san, how are you?"

"You know damn well how I'm doing, you red hair loving bitch! Be thankful it'd take too much effort to find something here worth less than you to throw!" The painfully skinny blue-seaweed haired teen shouted. It cowed Sakura, though only because of the past damage he enjoyed inflicting, rather than anything he can do now. Indeed, he actually cut a rather sordid picture. Despite being unable to stand by himself, he somehow managed to combine the arrogance with a spinelessness such that even a worm would be insulted to be compared. The resulting look, especially in the sneer that decorated his face, would cause even the saints to debate backhanding, with a glove, of course.

"I'm sorry nii-san, did I do something to offend you this morning?" She cringes slightly, body still expecting to be hit even if her mind knew that he couldn't. nevertheless, she became quite confused by his reply.

"You existed. However, I suppose we finally have a reason for that existence, so happy day, I suppose. It came in the mail today."

"W-wait, the reagent?" Shocked, Sakura can't help but ask.

"Of course you dumb cunt, what else would it be! Now, come on, we need to get the basement set up so that you can use it tonight." Twisting the sneer into a smile, he continued, ignorant of Sakura's thoughts. "After tonight, I'll finally have a servant! Someone actually worth a damn! If you ask politely, I might even refrain from giving you to them, or at least tell them to take it easy on you!"

'Only a couple more hours, and then I'll be rid of you. Then I can wish to be pure again, for Senpai…'

First chapter: Done. Hurrah!

So, to go ahead and give you a list of the six (or seven) variations I'm going to be using are: "The Creator", "The Crafter", "The Sword", "The Defier", "The Avenger", "The (Blank)" with the possible seventh being "The King"

Of these, " " is to angst heavy for me to write, but you'll still get a good look at him after I bring all of them together.

And finally, I'm actually writing this while waiting for my transfer into advanced training for my trade school goes through. As such, don't really expect consistent uploads.