For current readers who got the notification:

Just redid chapter 1, turns out I made a couple of errors and accidentally mixed up Jubstacheit and Justeaze. I took took opportunity to add some extra lines and make the dialogue less awkward. Thanks for pointing it out Mitakitochimoto, I'll work harder to make sure mistakes like that aren't in later chapters .

For new readers just finding the fic:

I hope you enjoy!

The large moon cast its ephemeral glow down on the Japanese landscape below. The air was crisp, but not quite cold yet. Despite the town of Fuyuki being a relatively metropolitan area, the only sounds were the rustling of bushes and the soft breathing of the inhabitants of this town as they slept peacefully in their homes.

Nighttime in Fuyuki always seemed a bit melancholy to Kiristsugu, but maybe it was how moonlight reminded him of his late wife and the child he left behind. They both shone so beautifully, their white hair giving the impression of otherworldly beings. Not that there weren't actual otherworldly beings that roamed or slept on the earth like ORT, but it's the sentiment that counts.

The Einsberns, more specifically Jubstacheit, may be rat bastards, but he couldn't bring himself to blame them for his troubles. They had after all given him both Iri and Illyasviel, that had to mean something. It made up for how they took everything from him, promising him the ability to save everyone then so cruelly destroying his dream with Avenger's corruption. They're willful ignorance had doomed him.

He could, however, blame them for keeping his dear Illyasview from him. Every time he tried to see her, he was turned away. If he didn't have his son, Kiritsugu contemplated, he would have likely ended it all years ago.

"Old man?" Called out a young voice, high pitched in the way only a child's voice could be. Shirou, the one person Kiritsugu was actually able to save. Honestly, it was a bit pathetic how much Kiritsugu had gotten attached to the kid. He relied on the boy for cooking, and ever since the curse had started being more active, cleaning.

"Why're you crying? Was it the comment I made earlier about how poorly you cook? I didn't-"

Kiritsugu pulled out his handkerchief and began dabbing his eyes softly. He really needed to pay attention to his surroundings more, he didn't even hear Shirou open the door to the patio.

"No, I'm alright, just reminiscing about the past I suppose." He patted Shirou on the back. Focus on the here and now. At least he had Shirou and the Fujimura family, even if that Taiga kid kept trying to put the moves on him. He appreciated her, but Kiritsugu would never be ready to move on from Iri. Plus the age difference. He may not be that old, but he wasn't interested in a high schooler, even one that was 'legal'.

"Well come in soon alright, you might get a cold." This was the third time Kiritsugu stayed up this late just staring at the moon, and Shirou was starting to worry. His adoptive father didn't have good health, so staying up so late in such cold temperatures wasn't good for him.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Why don't you come and join me, I could use the company." The young boy nodded and walked over to sit next to his dad. Things were silent for a long stretch of time.

"The fire still bothers me. I dream about it every night, everyone dying around me and you finding me in the rubble." Kiritsugu hadn't known that, but unfortunately he couldn't really help Shirou with that. He had the same problem, and comforting Shirou might just backfire.

Shirou turned to him, "I had given up everything, including all hope of surviving. But you saved me. You gave me everything I have now, so please don't beat yourself up so much."

The silence stretched on. Kiritsugu was shocked. How did Shirou guess? Was his guilt and shame so obvious that even a child Shirou's age could guess where his mind had drifted to? Shirou was perceptive though, he had to admit that. Still, he appreciated how Shirou tried to cheer him up. Kiritsugu coughed to hide his embarrassment. Crap, was that blood?!

He knew he didn't have much time left, but was the curse really progressing that quickly? Was he really going to leave Shirou with no father? Despite his progress, the boy's eyes were still almost as empty as when he found him! If Kiritsugu wouldn't be around to raise him, then needed a goal, a purpose, something to direct his life without a parental figure's guidance.

A quiet but heavy voice rang out, just as Shirou got up to go back inside and get some sleep. "When I was your age, I really wanted to be a hero of justice, a superhero."

Shirou turned back to Kiritsugu intrigued. "What do you mean you wanted to? Did you give up?"

Kiritsugu let out a small chuckle, the deep melancholy behind it clear. "Yeah, I guess so. Once you reach a certain age, you just can't do it anymore. I wished I realized that sooner."

The red haired boy gathered himself after a couple minutes. "Then I guess I'll have to become one for you! Just leave it to me!"

Kiritsugu smiled, patting his head. He was glad he could finally re-

PAIN, EXCRUCIATING PAIN.

Shirley: DEAD

Norikata: DEAD

Natalia: DEAD

…

Irisviel: Dead

REGRET

He could put that pain on Shirou no matter what. He may still believe in his dream, but he would never damn Shirou to the hell he went through. Shirou had already gone through enough.

"No,"

"What do you mean, no?" Shirou looked quizzically up at Kiritsugu.

"No, I can't let you do that." Kiritsugu frantically wrapped his arms around his son. "Please, promise me you will never try to live my dream like that! Don't accept other people's desires, like that. You need to discover on your own."

"Ok, ok! What's gotten into you? Why don't you want me to follow in your footsteps, though? I get not following other people's, but your dream is so great!" Shirou asked defensively. "If it's what you're always thinking about, I'm willing to risk it! Even if I have to go through what you did, I wont quit! "

"Living someone else's dream, or even living your own in the wrong way will only bring you pain." His voice was steel, brokering no room for disagreement. "I'd much rather you find your own path, be your own person. If you want to be a hero after that, then that's fine. Otherwise your ideals will only be able to save ideals."

Shirou looked troubled, but accepted the lecture with a nod. How was he supposed to make such an important decision? What did he really believe in? He knew that he admired Kiritsugu's, but was that really what he wanted? He wasn't happy about it, but if following Kiritsugu's advice gave him a smile like that one then...

"I'm happy." Kiritsugu smiled, calming down. "Now let's get inside. You have to get up early tomorrow if you want to make enough food to feed Taiga!"

Shirou groaned, making Kiritsugu laugh.

That night Kiritsugu Emiya passed away in his sleep from the curse of an old god.

Zouken Matou put down his phone. It was all he could do not to destroy the blasted device! It was bad enough that he had to use such vile technology. He hadn't been this angry since Kariya had rejected his training, then came back with the GALL to demand things from him. The memory calmed him down though, just imagining the pain he had inflicted on his descendant for that injustice brought a smile to his face. It didn't last long though.

Byakuya was dead. And not only that, for Zouken would have actually welcomed the death of that wretch, the idiot had taken Shinji with him! Sure, the boy had no magic circuits to speak of, but his personality was nearly perfect to further break the Tohsaka child. Either he would win the grail, or their spawn would bring it to him during the next war and back the Matou name! Or at least it would have.

Zouken had gotten a call from Misaki General Hospital. Apparently that retch had been too damn intoxicated to drive, foisting the responsibility off to his son in the middle of busy traffic! This turned out predictably, Shinji dying at the scene, and Byakuya dying on the ambulance ride to the hospital. If Bakuya had not died, Zouken would have made sure the fool would live every second of the remainder of his life in agony!

It was just his luck. Now he needed to adopt another outsider to take on Shinji's role. It wouldn't be the first time he added new blood, but it was becoming unpleasantly common. But how to find a suitable replacement? It needed to be someone with at least a basic understanding of magecraft, or the association might swoop down on him. Letting Shinj learn of it, was a stretch in and of itself, only possible due to the boy's heritage. Normally no one without the aptitude for the art was even aloud rudimentary understanding.

A few hours later a worm slipped through a crack in the wall ofZouken's "bedroom", or rather his study. He hadn't needed sleep in over seventy years. Though it did accelerate his decay a bit, the extra time he could devote to studying and improving his magecraft was well worth the hassle.

His familiar was back with some interesting information. There was a bounded field, belonging to neither the Tohsaka, Matou, or the Holy Church somewhere in Fuyuki's residential ward. It may be rudimentary and relatively weak, but it was still something.

After calling his contact in the city's government to ask what information he had on the residents, Zouken was met by yet another surprise. His twisted facsimile of a face contorted into a grin, sending shivers into the spine of his granddaughter Sakura, who had come to ask whether or not she would be receiving training that night when her grandfather didn't show up to the worm pit.

The funeral for Kiritsugu was held a week after his passing. It was a quiet and quick affair, only attended by the few people he had befriended while in Fuyuki, and Shirou. After the short ceremony only Raiga, Shirou and Taiga remained in the Emiya household.

Shirou hadn't shed a tear the entire time. He was sad, yes, but he was more determined to find out what his father had wanted for him. Was it even possible? Could he fill the void that encompassed him ever since the fire? Honestly, he didn't think so but he had to follow Kiritsugu's wishes for him. He owed the man who saved him that much at least.

"Shirou," Raiga intoned, waving the boy toward him. "I am greatly sorry for your loss."

Shirou just nodded, not really feeling up to speaking at the moment.

"If there is anything me or my group can do to help you, just ask. I know Kiritsugu left you a decent sum of money from his jobs, but-"

"Big sis Taiga is here for you!" She may have kept herself calm and collected during the funeral, but now that it was over Taiga was sobbing uncontrollably. She pounced on him, tangling him in a bone crushing hug "I'll come over and check on you as often as I can ok? I'll help you with homework, cook mea- well not that, but…"

Shirou awkwardly patted her back. Jeez, now he was the one comforting her. He could already tell this was going to be the norm in his life for now on. How Taiga expected to eventually be a teacher while being so childish herself, Shirou had no idea.

Raiga cleared his throat, giving Shirou a sympathetic look. "Anyways, don't hesitate to come over to our building, ya hear?"

The redhead smiled at the yakuza boss who acted like a surrogate grandpa to him, he wasn't sure about the offer but he appreciated the thought. He might not want to be a hero of justice, but working with even an honorable yakuza group didn't sit right with him yet.

"Thank you, I really appreciate it. I'm glad you guys attended." Shirou began walking to the kitchen to prepare some udon for his guests "Now let me go make some lunch." He would have to make extra since Taiga was here, but he was sure he had enough ingredients to make a small army's worth.

He was about to set the table and call the Fujimura's over when he heard loud arguing coming from the doorway. He made it over to the door, only to see Raiga gritting his teeth and holding a very angry Taiga. She looked like she was about to kill someone! Raiga was barely more controlled, albeit still as furious. What could make them so upset?

A genial old man and a social worker were at the door, holding some important looking papers. Did Kiritsugu owe them something, or?

"Ah, Shirou! I was hoping to meet you soon!" Something didn't feel right to Shirou. He always had good senses, and this man felt like trouble. Also, wasn't that a bit of an informal way of greeting someone you just met? He dismissed it though,, the old man was clearly a good person if his father did business with him at some point.

"Hey, nice to meet you. Is there anything I can help you with?" Raiga's silence and Taiga's growling made Shirou nervous, so he subtly created a circuit just in case. Strengthening might not work the best if things turned violent, but it was better than nothing.

The old man's dead eyes sparkled in amusement. Shit, was he a mage like Kiritsugu? The only ever mages Kiritsugu had told him about were from the Clocktower. They were incredibly dangerous.

"My name is Matou Zouken, and as of today I will be your guardian." His eyes turned towards the Fujimuras. Shirou's ears exploded with the sound of ringing. The bounded field detected hostility and warned its owner of it. Why was it triggering now? Was it malfunctioning because of Zouken's power?

"Unless of course," the old man grinned wider, "anyone has objections they would like to sort out?"

Raiga recognized the threat for what it was. He also recognized the name Matou. "No," he growled. Taiga looked up at him in disbelief, not believing how her grandfather could give Shirou up so easily. All he could do was continue restraining her as Zouken stepped into the Emiya household.

The ringing stopped.