You know I am stunned I got this out as I did. I had to rewrite it about twice because I felt like I skipped around to much. Maybe its because I am a bit to willing to get to the good stuff.

Anyway, before we get started I like to thank everyone for helping this story get past a hundred favs and followers. Thank you to everyone for it. Also, a thanks to the reviewers.

Disclaimer: I do not own Typemoon. I just made the fanfic.

Twenty-seven magic circuits. That was the number that Shirou possessed. For most first generation magi having more than a bare minimum to use spells was impressive. Twenty was usually seen as the standard. From what was gleaned they were each of a high quality meaning that the boy would have been a rare find. That is had he been a first generation and a human.

Being a Dead Apostle made the number and quality seem more natural. Though the strangest thing was how Shirou activated his circuits. He didn't seem to need a visual trigger. It was possible for someone who either through talent or years of training to do it subconsciously. This did paint a picture that Shirou might have already received training in how to use his powers.

Though when it came to Magecraft he was having difficulty with anything but basic Reinforcement and Structural Grasping. Both of which Shirou seemed to almost immediately get the hang of like it was nothing. Kiritsugu himself wasn't a talented or well trained Magus but he did know the basics as well as have some understanding of basic spells for each of the five elements. Illya had a hypothesis on why that seemed to be.

"Maybe his element is something else?"

An unorthodox element would be something to teach. Though if that was the case he was going to have to find some way to figure out what it was. His father once had the means too but that was long since lost to them. Instead they could try to figure it out on their own. Which would meant that Shirou was going to have to experiment on his own until he discovered his element.

The storehouse that had been turned into a makeshift workshop as Kiritsugu figured. Avalon remained in the suitcase along with much of his old Magus Killer stuff in a corner while the rest of the room had a few chemistry sets and the like for Illya. It turned out that she did indeed have the Einzbern gift for using alchemy. The problem was she had no real idea what she was even making when she tried it. To be honest if it wasn't for Shirou being a Dead Apostle he was almost certain the poison potion she had unknowingly made would have killed him.

Speaking of his Dead Apostle adopted son, his only sign of this being his workshop as well was a bunch of junk and stuff that he had started fixing up. As well as a few things he had accidentally broken from overcharging them with Reinforcement by accident or by not using Structural Grasping to realize the faults in it. From the looks of things Kiritsugu noticed he was trying to put some of those things back together. 'I think one of those isn't going to be fixed.'

Walking out of the storehouse turned workshop he headed back into the house. The sound of the tv on wasn't much of a surprise as he saw Illya watching a magical girl show. In the months since she started to settle in she began watching the local animation of Japan. She never really had a tv before and it showed when she couldn't understand how to use it. At least until Shirou showed her how. Now she wanted to catch every episode of her favorite magical girl series.

"Hero of love!" The character on the screen spoke as she gained a pink outfit with golden trim. In the characters hands a star wand appeared with fluffy wings on its sides. She struck a pose as she held the wand forward at the villain of the week. "Princess Moon!"

Illya shouted in joy as Princess Moon fought the villain of the week. "You go Princess Moon!"

For a moment she wondered what it would like to look like a magical girl. Even started playing the motions of a wand in hand. Of course, the fact she did have the ability to use Magecraft, and a typical mage would probably be annoyed by fictions depictions of the subject of magic, didn't matter to the homunculus girl. She thought it was amazing and if anything she was half way there to being a magical girl!

'Magical girl…' Illya wondered what she would call herself as one then the name hit her. 'Prisma Illya!'

"Illya, do you know where Shirou is?" Illya was caught out of her daydreams as she turned to her father.

Illya thought back for a bit and remembered him saying he was going to try out the new practice dummy he had made. Which meant he was in only one place on their property. "I think he should be in the dojo."

A swipe of the claws tore into the makeshift practice dummy that Shirou had set up within the dojo. Looking down at his hands as he then looked into the marks made into it. Practicing with his claws was Kiritsugu's idea. Partly because it was a way to defend himself, making up for his apparent lack of skill in Magecraft, and because he had wondered if it would trigger anymore memories. So far the latter hadn't happened but as for the former the results were somewhat productive.

Shirou had thought about attempting Reinforcement on his claws when doing so. It was something to ponder for later as he pulled back his claws and slashed again into the dummy. After the last swing cut into it and created another rare Shirou stopped and looked back down at himself. 'Nothing, not a new memory from just doing this.'

Shirou had to admit there was some curiosity of his past that he held. As much as it didn't bother him both Kiritsugu and Illya seemed to want to know more. After he showed a strange amount of skill with two basic spells it had to be clear to everyone that he had been trained somewhat in magecraft. Although, the wall he had hit was annoying to say the least. A nagging feeling always existed whenever he thought about it. Like there was something he was missing. As if he was taught something else but couldn't use it. He had thought about trying alchemy like Illya to see if he could do anything. It was something that most magi could use anyway. Even if most didn't bother with it.

A brief reminder of when he had agreed to try Illya's potion. His homunculus sister had hoped she had created a drink that could help with prana recovery or maybe even boost one's physical energy. Instead she ended up somehow creating a very potent poison. One that would have killed any human that drank the full contents at least twice over. Which Shirou did and if it wasn't for the fact he was a Dead Apostle would have likely killed him. True this didn't dissuade him from learning the craft, partly because he might have to do so regardless, but boy did it make him rather careful about it. 'Maybe there is a book that Illya could get or something?'

As naturally talented as she was with it, the girl was basically going in blind. There was only so much trial and error could perform and as much as he was able to deal with any accidental poisons, hopefully they couldn't get powerful enough to actually perform lasting damage, he really didn't like the idea.

Walking over Shirou looked at the practice swords, shinai that hung on the wall. Funny enough Kiritsugu had pointed out that from his mother's side of the family he was descended from Samurai. It was a weird fact he had learned from his own father. For some reason he kind of refused to elaborate further when Illya asked about her paternal grandfather.

"I see you been taken my advice to heart," Shirou looked behind him as he watched Kiritsugu walk in, eyeing his makeshift dummy. The claw marks on it were clear as day. "Has it given you another flash of memory?"

The question was answered as Shirou shook his head no. Putting down the shinai that he had planned to swing he walked up to the dummy. "No, I don't think my memories work that way."

Clearly that theory was a dead end. To be fair Kiritsugu figured it was something of a possibility it did nothing with his memory. As for his swings of his claws, that was a story in itself. True he didn't know how one could train with that but for some reason the strikes seemed refined to a degree. As if by muscle memory or that the attacks had been drilled in by a teacher. Both of which were equally probable. 'He has already shown a quick understanding of Structural Grasping and Reinforcement and now shows signs of a refined use of his claws.'

He had been trained to a degree. That much was obvious and made so much sense given his origins. Even if he didn't seem to know it himself, subconscious training and drills had resurfaced without much effort. If nothing else, finding out he had some skill was better than no memories resurfacing. 'Maybe…'

The idea that had formed within Kiritsugu's head was a bit spur of the moment but his curiosity to figure out if perhaps relearning the basics of magecraft would trigger a memory. Besides it was about time he did learn something else. 'I guess projection would be useful.'

"Shirou, I think it's time I teach you a new spell…"

A few minutes later Kiritsugu had summed up how Gradation Air, or Projection as it was commonly called was done. The visualization of an object by a mage who then used their prana to give it form. It was something considered rather useless by mages and even Kiritsugu who didn't quite follow the thinking of mages had to agree. There were certain situations that he knew of that made it worth knowing it but even then he found better alternatives most of them.

Holding out his hand Shirou tried to visualize something to project. A few items popped into his mind, a rock, a piece of wood, a picture, but one stood out that popped into his mind seemingly out of nowhere. A simple dagger that he felt like he had seen and held once. It became the only thing in his mind as he spoke his aria to activate his magic circuits. "Trace On!"

The visualization of the dagger formed in his mind, What it had been made out of, a basic steel with a cloth grip. How it had been made which was a in a somewhat old time forge. It wasn't much more than a recently made thing used for decoration then actual use and it history showed that being made to be hung up. How Shirou knew about this he didn't know nor did he care.

Kiritsugu watched as the project was formed, taking note that Shirou projection looked like it was being formed out of a red fluid. A fluid that gave the appearance like it was free flowing blood. The projection took shape as Shirou held a dagger in hand. "How's this?"

Shirou handed Kiritsugu the dagger he had just projected into being. Kiritsugu looked and felt it and was actually amazed by it. Projections tended to be hollow and would fade away quickly after being created unless feed to keep up. The dagger, however, felt more like it was the real deal. On a whim Kiritsugu stabbed the blade into the dummy that was still set up. Instead of breaking under the use like a hollow blade would the dagger instead struck the wood and edged itself into it.

His eyes widened as the implications of what had just happened had set in. Somehow Shirou had projected a dagger, not a hollowed construct based on an image in his mind, but an actual dagger! The projection did dissipate, into motes of light proving it was still a projection, but the mark it had left was real. 'How?'

Illya watched as her father had brought her brother things to use Structural Grasping on and then attempt to try to use Projection on. The knives were close to almost perfect, the forks took more work according to him. A few of the things were as hollow as any other projection even if they had some degree of soundness to them. As for the weird effects of his Projection that raised a question in itself. Though it was probably nothing but a quirk about who he was, or a sign he might have had another element.

"So, I was right his element is uncommon," A smirk of pride was on her face at this. That just begged the question of what the element was. "Maybe its something like Sword?" The two others in the building turned to her as Illya pointed to the shinai that had been Projected to a near perfect quality. "I mean he projected that and it looks almost the same just like the kitchen knives."

It seemed silly to think that Illya's random hunch was correct. Although now that Kiritsugu thought about it this did seem to make some sense. His dagger was solid enough to leave a mark, the kitchen knives were real enough to use, the shinai didn't have a blade and yet he could project it just like them. Unorthodox elements tended to affect how certain spells functioned after all.

As for Shirou his mind turned to the idea that Illya had. His element being Sword. 'Sword.'

Suddenly another image flooded his mind. A four year old him stood in what he thought was a mage workshop of kind while another watched over him with a book. Around were weird looking devices, books, and a few artifacts that seemed either broken or under glass. The figure was shrouded in a haze of shadows and yet he knew that not only that he could trust them but that also that he loved them. A few moments later the figure kneeled down and placed a hand on his head. Words were spoken in a language he… knew but couldn't speak well. After that a brief pause came over them both before the figure voice spoke.

There was a distortion that blocked him from hearing what was said. The meaning however was clear. His element was sword.

"Shirou?" His memory flash was over as he noticed Kiritsugu and Illya staring at him. All his Projections had disappeared as his control over them had faded away the moment his mind was clouded.

"Sorry, it was another memory flash," Recollecting himself he looked at Illya. "You're right, my element is Sword."

Sword as an element was indeed unorthodox and for a brief moment Kiritsugu had wondered if it was Avalon doing given the state Shirou was in at the time. That thought was shot away once he was reminded that he answered after a flash of memory flash. His element was likely always sword. "That memory told you that right?"

Shirou paused as he recalled the memory. How hazy it was with the figure in it and found out that even the room he was in was faded. It was like part of the memory had been burned away. A brief flash of the fire came to him. "Yes."

For some reason whenever he looked at the hazy figure and was unable to know who they were, a deep sadness came over him. It was like he was forgetting someone important. Someone that loved him and he loved back. Looking at Kiritsugu it clicked as to just who he was thinking about, a parent. He couldn't remember one of his parents! What was worse is despite the fact he was feeling this deep sadness it was strangely not affecting as much as it should.

There was just a disconnect of emotions. Something was fundamentally wrong. It annoyed him yet it didn't seem to matter. A contradictory mindset that even Shirou knew was wrong. 'Maybe it's because I only have so many memories back?'

Shirou chose to believe that was the case.

As Kiritsugu was effectively hopeless with preparing anything to eat that wasn't take out or microwavable, Shirou could attest to that, the duty of cooking effectively came down to Shirou for months. It had continued like that for some time too. Until recently as the newest member of the house of three had decided to join her brother in making the food.

Illya had at first shown basic understanding of how to cook. A bit of a surprise given that her father couldn't at all. Though it wasn't really much and it was probably only because alchemy tends to deal with cooking objects in some of the more basic methods. Regardless she was taking to helping and cooking rather quickly. "I think the rice is ready."

"Alright."

A few moments later Illya and Shirou had everything set as the family of three sat down to eat. On tv the news played talking about the weather, and a bit about local events. The biggest being the explanation for the Fuyuki fire that had burned down a good part of the city. Shirou froze a bit at that. A flash of the flames coming into his mind. An event that had nearly killed him and which reduced him to remembering almost nothing.

Illya for her part hadn't thought much of the fire and what it had done. Seeing her brother tense up as he most likely recalled it a question formed in her mind. Her parents had taken part in the Holy Grail War and her papa had survived while her mother didn't. The war's end came with a fire that had managed to nearly kill her new brother, a Dead Apostle, and reduced him to being unable to remember himself. "It was magical wasn't it?"

Shirou turned over to Illya as the homunculus girl looked at her father. Turning his head then to Kiritsugu who had a sigh. "Yes, it was."

There was something they both knew and for some reason they were not telling him. By the sounds of it Kiritsugu knew just what it was. It made sense if he thought about it. Kiritsugu had to have a reason to be there at the time and whatever it was had to be the reason that Illya wasn't with him or allowed to see him. "Do you know why the fire happened?"

A pause came over Kiritsugu as he put down his food. Of course, he knew why it had happened. He had commanded it to happen without much thought. In the end the contents of the Lesser Grail was spilled and Fuyuki burned. Shirou, however, didn't need to know the full truth. At least not yet. "A ritual malfunctioned one which I tried to stop from happening but ended up causing more harm than good."

Illya had a suspicion about what he was actually meaning. For a moment she thought about pressing the issue so her father could tell them more but figured that he would tell them in time. She trusted her father after all.

"I'll tell you both about it some other time," Kiritsugu had a bit more on his mind then this. Namely his favor to look at Illya to understand what had been done to her before she was born and about a certain fact that come tomorrow the both of them would begin school. 'Maybe things would go right for a change with that.'

Rin Tohsaka sat at her desk looking out the window as class had yet to begin. A few seats were empty here and there as the students talked to each other about recent events, one of which concerned the fire. A blaze that was difficult to describe given how sudden it was unless one wasn't a mage. She knew it had something to do with the Grail War. Apparently an explanation had finally been given as to what it was for the rest of the world to make since.

"Hey, did you see that white haired girl who walked to school with a boy she called her brother?"

"You mean the red haired new guy?"

"They don't look all that alike."

"Actually, they both have red eyes."

"They do?"

"I think so I only got a glimpse of it."

"If you aren't sure you could have just said so."

"Hey!"

Rin was only barely paying attention as her classmates gossiped about the new students that had shown up. The description of them both being red eyed and one having white hair didn't bother her much. Although the combination of red eyes and white hair seemed rather familiar to her. The bell rang as class settled down into their sets as the teacher walked in.

"Class we have a new student today," The teacher motioned to the door. Walking into the room and for the class to see was the source of their conversation from before. A white haired, red eyed, albino girl. Rin just looking at her could feel something familiar about her just by her looks. Like she had seen a picture of her somewhere before.

The new girl gave a bit of a bow to the class before her. It was one grade below where she should have been in but that couldn't be helped. Illya wasn't dumb or anything but an issue arose in putting her into the correct grade. For one her ability to read and write in anything besides German was lacking. There was also the fact that her homeschooling was largely incomplete due to the Einzberns not really caring at all about it. In hindsight it should have been obvious that they didn't because they were planning for the possibility that Kiritsugu had failed them. In the end she was able to at least be put into the same grade as Shirou after a bit of learning how to write in Japanese.

"Hello, everyone my name is Illyasviel Emiya, but you can call me Illya."

Rin didn't pay much attention as she stared at the girl. It was in the back of her mind as to why she looked so familiar. The other in class got to ask a few questions which Illya confirmed. Yes, the boy with her was her brother, she took after her mother, and she had spent much of her life in Germany. Finally she was told to take one of the empty desks and lessons for the day started.

Once lunch rolled around Illya had head off to find her brother so the both of them could have lunch together. Rin, who was suspicious about something, chose to follow the girl as she ran to her brother, a redhead who Rin could just make out the red colored eyes. There was probably some sort of relation between them both. Maybe they shared the same father or perhaps the boy was adopted. Rin was about to catch his name before his sister led him out. 'Shirou Emiya, Illyasviel Emiya.'

Illya had to admit school was both fun and boring. In the Einzbern Castle she was mostly just tutored by her parents or on occasion one of the homunculus maids who were technically her aunts. It was mostly on there own time and the subject matter was flexible. At school this wasn't the case and Illya had gotten rather bored of it. The one thing that made it better than her life previously was there were other kids. Most of them seemed friendly enough and one of them even showed off a book with pictures in it called a manga.

Though there was one person in her class Illya was a bit wary of. Rin Tohsaka, likely the new head of the Tohsaka family, was in her class. Their father had told them both to watch out if anyone at their school had the name Tohsaka. Shirou didn't know why but Illya did. The Tohsaka family was one of the three families alongside the Einzberns and the Matous who helped found the Heavens Feel or the Holy Grail War. It was likely that Rin now has suspicions about Illya.

Shirou took to the routine of school rather easily. Much like Illya he was likely homeschooled, what else was there to be Dead Apostles didn't have the means to create their own schools, and yet he found himself strangely ok with everything. To be honest the only thing he had to deal with was people wondering about what he did for fun and the like. It probably helped that unlike his homunculus sibling he didn't stand out all that much despite the red eyes, or the retractable claws. Maybe it was because his name was less of something to stand out with compared to his sisters? Illyasviel wasn't exactly a name of something from Japan and add in her albinism and it would be obvious who was going to stand out between them.

Walking into the house Shirou called out to Kiritsugu. "Dad, we're back."

The both of them found Kiritsugu looking over something within the main room. Putting away the paper in hand he turned to both of his children. "Shirou, Illya how was your first day of school?"

"It was alright no one really noticed anything off about me," Shirou answered without much in the way of care either way.

"It was kind of boring but there was only one issue," Illya's expression was one of worry. "One of my classmates is a girl named Rin Tohsaka."

Kiritsugu cursed his luck but also felt like he should have expected this. He was starting to slip with his planning and assessment. Something that he knew could be blamed on how tired he really was. The nightmares just didn't stop and for some reason the pain in his magic circuits kept flaring up lately as well. "Does she suspect anything about you?"

Shirou watched on as he realized the importance of this. Illya going to school was something she had begged Kiritsugu when she learned that Shirou was going to attend. The only issue was the possibility of someone from either Tohsaka or the Matous finding out. Illya had been rather stubborn about it and Kiritsugu had relented. In hindsight maybe holding off until after Shirou went was the better idea.

The danger was less about the Einzberns finding out where Illya was, the Einzberns were distant with the other founding families after all. If Illya was found out it wasn't like they would contact the Einzberns to come and get her. No, the issue would be that they would investigate why a new mage family took up residence in the area. There were a few ways that could go about and one of them was Shirou being found out.

Of the two Kiritsugu was certain the Matous were the least threatening or concerned about the whole thing. There was a suspicion about what the head of the family had done to himself that the Einzberns had. No, the Tohsaka family were the ones he worried about the most. They had a connection to the church and such knowledge of a Dead Apostle living here would get their wrath.

Perhaps, it was instead best to see about taking care of this issue himself. Talking to the Tohsaka girl would get him an idea about her and maybe ensure that Shirou's secret remains hidden. "I'll take care of it so don't worry."

Looking through her workshop Rin tried to find anything that would shed light on why the Emiya girl looked so familiar to her. She knew that it was in here somewhere and she was going to find it. Rin avoided the more dangerous times that she didn't have the means to counter and looking through anything else was taking her time. Finally, she came across one that answered it. A picture, one made using a Magecraft, was taken of the founders of the Heavens Feel ritual.

Rin's eyes focused on the woman in the religious looking dress. Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, the Head of the Einzbern family just before the onset of the first Holy Grail War. The similarities between her and Illyasviel Emiya were there and it couldn't have been a coincidence. 'She's an Einzbern homunculus.'

To Rin this seemed out of place and was kind of insulting. She was the Second Owner of Fuyuki and there was probably a mage family affiliated with the Einzberns to some degree living within her territory. Another part of her wanted to point out that they could have technically already talked about it with her legal guardian but she was certain even that fake priest would have informed her about another mage family in the area.

The only question was just where this family was living. Tomorrow she could follow both Illya and her "brother" to their home and confront whomever was with them. Hopefully their parents were of the reasonable sort. The sound of the doorbell being rung caught Rin from her planning. "Who could that be?"

The doorbell rang again after a few moments, likely in case the occupant of the home hadn't heard it the first time. Rin, who was finally at the door, opened it to see who it was. Standing there was a man that Rin did not recognize who was looking at her with stoic eyes. Eyes that made her think about her guardian. "Rin Tohsaka I assume?"

"Y-yes."

"I am Kiritsugu Emiya, I wanted to talk to you about my family."

Just like that the plan she had formed in her mind was now tossed out. It seemed that Illyasviel and Shirou's guardian had come to her. Kiritsugu for his part looked at the girl before him. One as old as Shirou but who had to step into a role that she likely should have undertaken when she was older. Such was the unfortunate truth of the Holy Grail War. 'Illya was fortunate enough for me to be able to get to her in time and Shirou…'

Before he could finish his thought Rin motioned him inside. "S-sure I actually wanted to talk to you about that."

A few moments later Kiritsugu sat with the girl who was technically who he should have talked too about living here. At least if he was a Clocktower affiliated mage. Which Rin had found out he wasn't. "A retired freelancer?"

"Yes, my last job was over and I figured it was best to retire with both of my children to my homeland," Indeed his last job was over. One of which forced him into retirement from being the Magus Killer.

"One of your kids is an Einzbern so how do I know you aren't affiliated with them?"

Kiritsugu paused as he had hoped that the Tohsaka girl hadn't figured out about that. Though he did come up with a somewhat believable excuse on the matter. "Illya has no connection to the Einzberns beyond being given to me as a payment for getting them something they had wanted."

Technically it was the truth though very loosely. Irisviel being his wife was allowed as a payment for being the Einzbern Master in the war. Illya came as something of a bonus but Kiritsugu would never see his relationship with either of them. However, he needed an explanation as to why Illya was even with him. The Einzberns were not ones to depart with one of their own easily after all.

"Just what was so important?"

"They wanted a catalyst, something that they hoped would guarantee them victory in the war and figured given I had just lost my wife that they could get me to retrieve it for them in exchange for a daughter," That was a full on lie but it had to sound believable after all. The Einzberns did have a tendency to spend much on a catalyst as the last few Grail Wars showed. Giving away a homunculus as payment for one was a bit of a stretch but it sounded believable.

Whatever it was Rin could only guess that it was something important. Though handing away a child didn't seem possible to her. Immediately she stopped that thought as that was what had exactly happened with her family and the Matous not long ago. "So, what about Shirou?"

That question required a less extreme explanation. Minus the Fuyuki Fire it was rather easy to explain. "Illya wanted a little brother and after I rescued Shirou I adopted him."

With the explanations out of the way Rin let out a sigh. Now that she knew about another mage family she had to make a choice. "Fine you can stay but I want to come over some time to check up on you all ok."

A pause came over the two. Kiritsugu weighed the pros and cons of his answer. On one hand Illya wasn't in danger but Shirou still was. Still, there was a chance the both of them would befriend Tohsaka and that might make things easier for both of them after he passed. "I don't see why not."

In the cold Einzbern Castle Jubstacheit looked as thile substitute was growing rather nicely. The golem mind was fixated on the success of this project. His own existence was made to ensure that the Third Magic was realized and that was indeed the only thing the golem cared for. It was why he had been made and what every decision he had ever done was about.

The loss of Illyasviel and the protection that her father had made it impossible to get the girl back. As much as he wanted to speed up the production of the substitute for the now taken girl he couldn't afford it. There wasn't enough material from her to do so. One mistake or mix up would lead to a failure that couldn't be fixed. A failure that would render the whole point of the Einzberns mute.

As such the only answer was to ensure that they took things slow. Once the replacement vessel was grown to full it wouldn't be hard to get her prepared for her purpose. He had taken a lot at the Grail systems and knew that the next war was likely to happen soon. Whatever that traitor Kiritsugu had done had caused a good portion of the energy gathered to flood back into the system. The golem gave it at most ten years before it was ready.

A lot of what I have planned in lead up is what will change as the Fifth Grail War once we get there. As for right now we're in the Kiritsugu arc. Named for the fact that Kiritsugu is a driving force but we all know his time is limited. Oh, and yes I decided to alter the aesthetics of how Shirou's projections look when he forms them.

You can probably guess by reading the title. Anyway, I welcome your thoughts and whatever else my readers.

Cya all next chapter.