Chapter 5 - Bad Parents
Dealing with the Tohnos
Compared to Makihisa, the rest of the household was notably easier to deal with. Her spies had already mapped out the entire spread of the Tohno clan. The procedure was simple. Sleeping gas and soul surgery. There were more steps involved to it than that, but in essence she did that on repeat.
The rest of the Tohnos were more sane, but less powerful. After dealing with all the side houses, she dragged their bodies in a large truck into the main manor. Before they even woke up, she did the same to Shiki and Akiha Tohno as well. The entire Tohno clan gathered in one place, she woke them up while they were still in restraints.
They looked angered, and ready to fight against her. She hadn't gagged them, so there was a cacophony of shouting and screaming. They felt like they were in a position to demand anything of her, so Kiritsugu fired a bullet that nearly missed one of their heads. Everyone went quiet. Good, message received.
"Your clan did something terrible. Makihisa was allowed to roam free after giving in to his Inversion Impulse." She explained.
One of them, an older man, argued back. "He did? What proof do you have? We surely didn't know."
There was a dossier she'd had her mercenaries build while she spied on him. She laid out a copy in front of the older man. The pictures alone were damning. "You all knew. At least, you had to have suspected when he asked for the children of the Fujou. Regardless, your innocence matters not. Makihisa is dead. And I've killed all your oni impulses. The Tohno clan is over as a family of demon-bloods." She noted.
Some of the crowd seemed to have a disbelieving look, but for those who had indulged in their oni-blood it was the answer to their unasked question. 'Why can't I overpower these bindings? Why is my blood so silent?' It seems they believed her.
"Makihisa's last wish was that his children not be raised as Tohnos. I will be taking them away from here. I'll also be taking Kohaku and Hisui Fujou. I don't think you deserve to care for them either. Any objections?" Irisviel asked.
There was another set of argumentative voices filled with objections, but she used a taser on every one of those individuals until people were no longer arguing. "Now that our objections have been dealt with-" She began.
"Wait. Don't we get a say?" Akiha spoke up. Her brother was silently supporting her.
"Don't worry. I will arrange for your needs, but I will not raise you. I doubt you'd want to be reared by the killer of your father, would you? But it was his last wish. Would you not respect your father's dying wish?" Irisviel challenged.
Akiha teared up, but tried to keep up a strong front. "No. If you killed our oni instincts, there's no value in taking us in. We're just civilians now. It really must be my father's last wish. I will do as father requested."
"I'm not leaving my sister alone." Shiki accepted as well.
"Great, now here are some papers arranging my guardianship over all these children for now. Please sign them." She gave them to the Tohnos. They had to essentially give up all their rights to Shiki and Akiha, but they weren't as torn up about it considering the children were getting none of the inheritance as well.
"Don't worry about being penniless. A mere Tohno Corporation is nothing. Let me introduce myself properly to you. I am Irisviel von Einzbern, head of Einzbern Industries." She curtsied. It was worth it just to see their dumbfounded looks. She wasn't one to brag much but these guys were dicks that cared too much about their standing in society.
After that was dealt with, she let them go on threat of Geis and dismemberment and took over the Tohno mansion for a bit. Kiritsugu and Maiya also took their leave, seeing as their job was done. After putting on some tea, she sat with the kids in their living room. "I'm sure you have things you want to ask, that you couldn't say in front of everyone else. I'll answer to the best of my ability." Irisviel offered.
"What did father ever do to you?" Shiki blurted out. He looked sad, angry, and resigned.
"Nothing. Makihisa Tohno has never done a single thing to me or mine." She answered.
They looked befuddled at this. They knew their father. Her getting revenge for something he might have done made sense. But to do all this when he hadn't even offended her?
"Then why? Why did he have to die? Why couldn't you just kill his demon side like the rest of us and let him live?" Shiki yelled, his eyes bloodshot.
"I gave him that opportunity. He did not take it. He said his sins were too many, and that they would die with him. He wanted to give you a chance to be your own people, without the shadow of the Tohno or your demon blood. That was his last request not as Makihisa the clan head, but as Makihisa the father." Irisviel explained apologetically.
"I hate you." Shiki said.
"That is understandable." Irisviel accepted.
"But I get it. T-thank you. For giving him that choice. I think my own clan wouldn't have done that." Shiki said with mixed emotions.
Akiha, who had been quiet up until this point, spoke up. "Indeed. The clan would never have done that. I share the same sentiments as my brother. Practically, I acknowledge you have helped us. But this bitterness will not go away so easily. Who do you intend to be our caretaker? Where will we be living?" She asked.
"I have a person in mind, but as of now I don't have any caretakers yet. You will travel with me until that has been arranged. I reside primarily in the United States, so that's where you'll likely end up living." Irisviel explained.
"Then I suppose I have only one more question. Our clan had no interaction with your own. What would prompt you to do all this? What have we done to draw your attention? Are you just some self-declared arbitrator of justice?" Akiha asked inquisitively.
"I am a magus, and I had a vision of the future. Your father would rape one of those new children your family was to take in. That's all there is to it." Irisviel said. And Akiha cycled through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Both Shiki and Akiha believed what Irisviel said. There was no reason to lie.
With no more words to be said, she lived in an uneasy truce with the siblings in the manor for the next few days. Shiki and Akiha packed their bags in preparation for moving. Irisviel arranged to buy the manor, and set it up so that the duo would inherit it. She also had most of the items in the house shipped over to the United States.
Then, Kohaku and Hisui arrived at their doorstep. "Welcome to the Tohno manor, you two." Irisviel greeted them warmly.
They both bowed politely. "Um thank you. Who are you? I don't recognize you in the information we were told about the Tohno clan. I apologize for any disrespect." Kohaku said.
"No need for such courtesies. I'm your new guardian, Irisviel von Einzbern. I'm sure you can eventually hear about it from your new siblings, but you'll be traveling with me until I arrange a proper caretaker for you. Your bags are already packed, so why don't you just follow me to our van." Irisviel said kindly.
Hisui tugged at her sister's hand. "Isn't this how kidnappings start? Unfamiliar adults ask you to get in their van?"
Kohaku nodded in agreement. "True, I think we are being kidnapped as well. But if Shiki and Akiha Tohno are in on this, maybe they hired her to kidnap them."
"Oh I see. It seems I've greatly underestimated the intelligence of our new siblings. A kidnapper in the guise of a guardian, a way to escape from any annoying clan responsibilities. Maybe we should ask them to teach us their ways." Hisui noted with a hint of awe.
"I can hear you, you know." Irisviel chimed in with her eyes twitching.
"Whoa she's got super hearing too. The Tohno have a good eye for talent." Kohaku whispered.
Irisviel sighed exasperatedly with a slight grin tugging at her lips. They were going to be problem children. But maybe they could cheer up the others.
Dealing with the Tohsakas
She opted to take a roadtrip to Fuyuki rather than a flight. Maybe it would be a good bonding experience? It was a good call, to be honest. Kohaku and Hisui were bundles of cheer, and won over the hearts of Shiki and Akiha without much difficulty. They made a stopover in Tokyo, where they saw the sights together and ate lots of food.
By the time they had made it to Fuyuki, she felt like they were all much closer to each other than when they had started. Even Shiki and Akiha didn't seem to look at her with those hostile gazes. She supposed with their sheltered upbringing and Makihisa's terrible parenting just these past few days alone must have been some of the best in their lives.
In Fuyuki, Kohaku asked a very important question. "What is your business here anyways? I kept thinking it was super-secret mage business but you kept buying an extra for every souvenir you bought us. Is there another kid on the way?" She said teasingly.
"You can think of it as a temporary sibling. Or maybe permanent. Depends on the circumstances." Irisviel explained.
A few months back, she sent a letter to Fuyuki.
Dear Tokiomi Tohsaka,
You seem to be in a bit of a bind with your daughter Sakura. You hope she can be raised by another Magus family, and perhaps the Matous will reach out - or have already reached out - to you for that reason.
Zouken Matou is a parasitic worm, both physically and spiritually. He just wants your daughter so that she can be his next vessel. If you're determined to give up your daughter, why not give her to me? I will give her whatever resources she desires to become a magus, and I am far more humane.
Yours truly,
Irisviel von Einzbern
After some negotiating he was happy to accept her offer, and she was going to go pick up Sakura. They pulled into the driveway of the Tohsaka residence. "Just stay in the van alright? I'll be back shortly." She told the children, heading into the manor.
Knocking on the front door, she was greeted by Tokiomi, with his wife Aoi and daughters Rin and Sakura waiting alongside of him. He smiled genuinely. "Greetings, Miss Einzbern. Thank you for your visit to my abode."
Following the proper courtesies, she greeted him as well. "Greetings, Mr. Tohsaka." After being led into their waiting room, she pulled out a large briefcase from her imaginary number space. It was quite a useful type of magecraft when it came to storage, she got the idea from Lev Lainur. Opening it, the occupants of the room were treated to a dazzling display of some of the most expensive jewels the world had to offer.
"As promised, these jewels, in exchange for taking in your daughter." She said succinctly.
He analyzed them carefully. Satisfied with his inspection, he stood up and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you. I leave my daughter in your care."
"Not a problem. Also, I know you magi disdain modern technology, but please accept these smartphones. I do not think your family should completely cut off its relations with Sakura. Please use them to keep in touch with her. I promise not to utilize Sakura in the Fifth Grail War, should it occur, so you need not fear me using this against you." She requested.
"If you are willing to go that far, I suppose I cannot deny it. Very well, Sakura may maintain contact with us as she deems fit." He said, and Irisviel walked out with Sakura holding her hand. Aoi and Rin were trying and failing to hold back their tears, and Tokiomi had a steely expression.
"The path of a magus is pretty trash isn't it?" Irisviel asked Sakura.
Sakura nodded as she cried.
"I'm not taking you away forever. That's not my plan at any rate. You may not know it, but there's a war coming in four years. Your dad has a pretty high chance of dying at that time. If he does, I'll reunite you with your mother and sister." Irisviel promised.
"You mean…my father has to die for me to be with the rest of my family?" She said with a shocked gasp.
"Would your mother have sold you for a briefcase of jewels? Your father cares for you in his own way, but magi make many sacrifices for their lifestyle." Irisviel said.
"Aren't you a magus too?" Sakura asked.
"You could say that. But personally nothing I could gain from the Root would be worth losing anyone I care for. So maybe I'd be considered a terrible magus." Irisviel explained.
"I'd rather be a terrible magi then. I wish dad was one too." Sakura said wistfully.
"I won't make you become anything. If you want to be a normal person, that's fine by me. If you want to be a magus, fine by me too. Now, let's introduce you to your new siblings." Irisviel patted Sakura's head.
The group accepted their new member without any fuss. As for other threats in Fuyuki, Ryunosuke Uryu had already been assassinated long ago by her mercenaries. Hopefully Gilles de Rais wouldn't plague the city this time. She could probably kill Zouken Matou, but she didn't dare while she had these children with her. And the last major threat was Angra Mainyu, who she couldn't deal with yet either.
The next morning, they were on a flight to Britain.