Chapter 3: A New Home

They have arrived to the place they will call home from this day forth... though it's not completed yet.

Construction is underway as the structure had aged through time where grass, moss, and mold dominated the property and weathering had crack the concrete and stone components of the Japanese mansion. Workers are allover replacing ruined materials for fresh ones and reinforcing key structural areas. Even incomplete, the structure itself is of a rare style, and it can be considered a rare example of architectural history and meaning.

Kirisugu and his now adopted sons are located at the gate's entrance.

"Sorry for the noise." He rubbed the back of his head with nervous smile. "Renovation plans are still underway since I recently purchased the property."

Much to his relief, both the boys scanned the unfinished home with eyes filled of wonder from how large the property is.

"Big." Hisashi compared his height to the building.

"Are you rich Kiritsugu?" Asked Shirou, thinking about how much a place like this must have cost.

The man gave the boy a an unreadable smile. "Not exactly. I just had an account that's been stored away for quite some time." He plainly informed.

"Must have cost a fortune." Shirou spoke out his thought.

"You could say that," he held a distant stare for a moment which Hisashi noticed, "but it's an investment that's well worth it." Kiritsugu supposedly beamed a toothy grin. "Anyways, how about we enter the house. Luckily for us, the living room and kitchens are available, and there are a few completed rooms where you can put away your belongings."

Hearing his words, the boys nodded and hefted the luggage they had in their possession.

Moving on the path to the door, they can see the workers mowing down the overgrown grass and weeds while others patting fresh pavement on other corners. On closer observations of their surrounding, it seems that their are other buildings on the property separate from the main house.

"Make sure to watch your step once your in the building," Kiritsugu said with his and on the sliding door handle, "there might be some tools and material laying around the house, make sure you two don't trip on anything and get hurt." He kindly warned.

"Okey, we understand." Shirou complied as Hisashi nods his head and gave a nodding gesture.

Kiritsugu chuckles. "Good."

Sliding the door opened revealed a hallway where a large uninstalled cabinet stood to their right, leftover floor boards a few steps into the hall, and someone left a hammer here.

Generally, Kiritsugu was inwardly glad the it is relatively clear to walk by.

"Make sure to leave your shoes here," the man shifted through a bag he is carrying and pulled out a pair of red and blue slippers in the boys' size, "and use these in the house."

Slipping out of their shoes with the slippers, they explored the interior. The kids were still wrapping there heads around how they went from hospitalized orphans to being adopted into a large household; oh and their adoptive father was some kind of magician too.

While Shirou slightly felt relieved that he would not be thrusted into the unknown at an orphanage, Hisashi's ever so blank gaze took in the sight of his new home around him, as the blue eyes started to glimmer like a peeking horizon of a deep blue ocean.

Walking past the construction workers and the volume of noise they produced, no issues impeded them as they arrived into the living room that also counts for a dining room.

Freshly installed light green tatami mats for the flooring, empty shelves, rice paper doors, a table at the centre, and a small kitchen connected to the room. It's got an original taste and definitely an authentic Japanese style room.

"Make yourselves at home." The father welcomed as he took off his coat.

*Thump*

"?"

What immediately caught their attention from the soft sound was the youngest boy laying down on the floor face first.

"Hisashi!?" The red head started to panic, wondering if his adoptive brother wasn't fully healed even though he was discharge from the hospital. "Are you alright!?"

"Tatami~"

There goes the tension.

Apparently he had an expression of relaxation despite the lack of reflexes in his facial muscles, only flush cheeks were noticeable. He seemed to like the flooring mats and laid down in a childish way on impulse, and right now he was behaving similarly to a cat.

"Jeez, you scared me there for a second." Shirou released a breath. "Didn't think you like tatami's that much."

"Me either~" Hisashi is still in cloud 9.

Kiritsugu had to chuckle, seeing as one of the children he pick up turned out to be a very innocent soul. "I'll see if I can make us something to eat in the mean time."

Before the man could enter the kitchen, Shirou got in his way.

"Is something the matter?"

There's determination in those golden eyes. "Can you teach us magic?"

This question snapped the little boy out of his trans and looked at the two. For the briefest moment, while he kept a straight exterior, Kiritsugu was conflict about teaching them "magecraft." As quickly as that feeling came, he offered a smile to them.

"Not right now, the first rule is to not reveal the nature of magic to others. So for the time being, we will have to hold off on this until the construction on the house is done." He reasoned, though he will have to find a way in talking them out of learning the mystic arts. "Besides, you two just got out of the hospital, so rest is what you need right now."

"But we've already rested enough." The boy objected.

Much to his dismay, Shirou seemed to have more to say about the matter, although his ears pickup a ruffling noise behind Kiritsugu.

"Nii-chan." Shirou looks past his new father to see Hisashi lifting up both of their luggage. "I want to see our room."

Scratching his cheek, well regardless, with a sigh he walked towards the younger sibling.

"Alright, let me help you at least since I'm the older brother here." The golden-eyed boy said thoughtfully. Once he took his own luggage and Hisashi's, he asked Kiritsugu before he got ahead of himself. "Where's our rooms?"

The man blinked first before replying. "Go down the hallway, keep following the path and there will be three doors. The rooms themselves are separated by fusumas, and you can increase the room space by opening them; you can place your things in there for the time being. Upstairs only have one room available which I was planing to use, but if you wants to use it, then I can change where my room will be."

"I think we'll stick with the first floor. Thanks Kiritsugu." Said Shirou as he started walking. "Come on Hisashi, let's check the place out while we're at it."

With that they left the room, much to the man's relief and surprise. Now that he's by himself, he head for the kitchen. The sudden request of Hisashi's allowed him to relax somewhat, though in the back of his mind, Kiritsugu had the feeling that boy's eyes were on him when he left, much to his confusion.

OOO

The brothers walked through the path their adoptive father directed them to. Passing by some workers and offered a short and polite greeting, though in a slightly awkward and hesitant fashion. Before around the corner of the hallway is a missing floorboard that reveals the concrete foundation below, beside that, there aren't any other hazards that would be an issue; not to mention that their place only needs a few more days to be completed.

Once the boy's found the available rooms, Shirou offered to Hisashi. "So which room do you want?"

His pokerface still present in all of it's glory. "Whatever Nii-chan's room would be." ...the little boy is quite clingy for some strange reason.

"..." With a sigh the red headed brother slid the door open, and as expected, it is spacious and empty. "I guess we'll go with that for now."

The floors are yellow tatami mats, which matches the walls, doors and complete with the shoji window that lets the outside light in. Sliding these light yellow fusuma to the other rooms can transform it into one large space; so two young boys sharing this place will not be an issue.

Proceeding to placing their stuff on the ground which mainly consists of their clothes. While the silence was slightly uncomfortable to Shirou, due to the fact that he has a little brother who's hard to read sometimes, he decided to bring up a topic of discussion.

"So Hisashi," Shirou made sure he was listening, "is there anything you want to do?" Since their unpacking is quickly done.

"Mmm..." The young boy tilted his chin up while tapping it with his index finger, and admittingly made for a unique depiction of thoughtful. "Explore?"

Short but frank, and Shirou didn't mind it one bit. They could familiarize themselves with the ins and outs of this place since they didn't have anything else to do.

Though Shirou's line of thoughts halted when he smelled smoke.

"Is something burning?"

Hisashi noticed too as he rushed out of the door and headed to the direction of the source.

"Hey Wait up!"

The oldest boy follow suit of his little brother, but he didn't need too get far when he found Hisashi stuck in the missing part of the floor.

"Help." He blankly called out with raised arms.

"How in the world did you fall in there?! It should have been right in front of you!" Shirou reached for the little arms. "You need to be careful next time." With a heave he pulled Hisashi out of there, and after that he dusted him off. "At least you're alright."

"Thank you." Hisashi's genuine small and soft smile could melt the heart away.

"No problem." Responded Shirou. It felt fulfilling to be depended on, especially by an unusual but innocent little brother.

But enough of that, they notice how there's greyish smoke floating above the ceiling. Were they having a fire?

Rushing in the direction of where the smoky mist is coming from with more caution. If it is a fire, then in all honesty, these boys already had enough of that for one lifetime.

They reached the disturbance, and it was coming from the living room. The workers gathered around the door while gawking in shock at the cause of the smoke.

"Cover it with a lid damn it!" A man shouted.

The boys pushed their way through the bodies and witnessed a sight they never expected to see, a cooking pot was on fire, and the flames themselves were unusual large for that matter. Kiritsugu slammed the lid on top of it and managed to suffocate the flames before it got out of control. Whatever was in the pot is charred black beyond recognition.

Profoundly embarrassed, the man that cause the commotion looked at the boys with cold sweat and a twitchy smile.

"Sorry boys," he apologized, "perhaps we could order take out?"

The youngsters were rather speechless by the spectacle, though it was hard to tell with Hisashi when he just tilted his head, while the others in their vicinity either went back to work or stuck around for a bit.

"We just finished the kitchen." One of the men said with an exasperated groan. "You'll have to pay extra if you burn place down."

Kiritsugu scratched the back of his hair. "I'll... keep that in mind."

This is how the first day of the boys' new home started.

O.O.O

As progress continued on the house plans, Kiritsugu's attempts to practice cooking for his sons either charred or goes up in flames. There was one time that Hisashi thought about using water to put out the chaos, only for the fact that the oily fire became worse instead, much to their dismay; and it got the both of them in trouble with the oldest boy. At this point, and fed up with the near destruction of the kitchen, Shirou banned Kiritsugu from going anywhere near it while he began to learn how to cook. Hisashi was allowed in since that water incident was a one time thing, and he wanted to learn how to cook with his brother.

Aside from that, the boys offered to help with the construction by either carrying around tools and equipments for the guys and providing refreshments for the them as thanks for fixing the place. While Shirou made things like sandwiches and tea as practice, Hisashi helped with the distribution of the food to the workers, which they sincerely appreciate. The younger boy's display of lending a hand by carrying their equipment was endearing because of the strong front he displayed despite how shaky his arms were from lifting more then he should. This in turn made Shirou quite proactive in helping everyone he could see that needed assistance, and the little bother is no exception, regardless of the little one's tame pouts. Overall the brothers are very well liked by everyone.

Right in the final stretch of the construction, they had an unexpected visitor.

The individual in question had quite the intimidating aura around him that gave of the "anything goes" kind of sensation. Besides wearing a pale green haori and a darker green hakama, the tiger striped kataginu is the real eye catcher, and his face had some of the scariest features that the boys had ever seen in there lives.

While Kiritsugu and Shirou held some weariness in the man's presence, Hisashi blatantly walked up the man out of curiosity and said "tiger?" to him.

Just a few short seconds, it cause the man to laugh at the top of his lungs and patted the boy on the head, saying how he is the first kid he ever met that didn't run for the hills upon seeing his face.

"You've got an innocent little lad you know that!" The man said with a big grin while ruffling the boy's black hair.

"You can say that again." With the tension gone, Kiritsugu offered his own smile while Shirou dragged Hisashi to his side and fixed his hair. "So who might you be?"

With a gruff hum the man crossed his arms. "The name's Fujimura Raiga, I hear that you are new to the neighbourhood. Thought that I could come and say hi to ya." Raiga's scary grin became energetic. "Mind if I intrude?"

He's blunt, that much is certain in Kiritsugu's mind. Though with the warm response he gave to Hisashi, it wouldn't hurt to make an acquaintance here.

"Let's have some tea." He sigh with a smile.

"Gladly."

OOO

Finding out that you became friends with an actual yakuza boss would make for quite a story to tell.

The Fujimura Group operates in Fuyuki city as it's territory, which kind of explains the sudden visit from the said leader of the group. Making sure that the new resident of the area was not a trouble make, only to find out that he was an ex-mercenary that wanted to live the rest of his days in peace. The men working on the house were extremely nervous by the guy being in close proximity, though as much as they tried to keep to themselves, a few cuts and hammer accidents occurred to which the boys responded with first aid.

The leftover weapons from his work and a certain war was offered to be bought by Raiga, which added liquidity funds to the Emiya residence by a decent margin. Obviously the conversation is kept away from the boys when they were making tea and snacks and bandaging the workers.

After the hospitable welcome, they saw him off to the entrance as Raiga left on a good note and stated that when he comes by again, he will bring his granddaughter along too.

"He was... energetic." At least Shirou eased his discomfort of the man himself, understanding that he didn't mean any harm. Though he felt sorry for the guys, all because they were scared out of their wits."You were brave to go up to him and call him tiger like that." He complimented his little brother.

"Grandpa tiger."

Shirou deadpanned, "... okey?" He's not completely sure how to respond to the comment.

The display of the brothers put a smile on the father's lips. They got along well despite the defining difference in their personality.

And deep down... he wished that his daughter was around for this.

"How about we head back inside." As Kiritsugu said this, his smile is far more forlorn then it should be.

The brothers complied to his suggestion, but they could feel that something's off, especially to a pair blue eyes.

OOO

The house is completed. Polished wood, newly installed doors, and all the dust and tools produced by the construction is cleaned up. It is the embodiment of a Japanese-style building with a classical elegance befitting the area on the northern end of Miyama town.

Despite the little scare the construction workers had with the sudden visit of a crime boss, they found the boys living here to be soothing individuals to be around, and even went as far as to offer being called again if there was anymore need for renovations; probably due to how much the boys helped them out around the place.

Kiritsugu started planning for the boys to go to school now that everything is settled. Shirou would start in first year elementary while Hisashi would be in kindergarten. Shirou did not have a problem with the arrangement, although with the way his little brother had his head down in a nod, he wanted to be with Shirou in school.

Currently it is night time. Close to midnight as the moon is high and lit up in the night sky, the boys were asleep in their room as Kiritsugu sat himself on the porch.

It's a tranquil setting, an illuminated night of a blue hue, the sounds being produced by crickets, it's a display that should have calmed to soul. Yet aside from this, the broken man on his lonesome gazed at the moon with a look of longing.

"I'll devote everything I have to just you and Illya!"

Memories that never faded.

"You would never forgive yourself for abandoning the Grail and failing to save the world. As your own first and final accuser, you would end your own life."

Arms wrapped around a broken dream.

"I'll protect you."

The price he paid on a broken promise.

"Iri." The words from the heart, shatter beyond any hopes of repair. "Should I even be here?"

A silent despair filled question that no one will answer to this empty man.

Much of his inner mourning and self-contempt has to stop for the time being, because he was made aware of the little footsteps coming up behind him.

"Papa?"

"!" His eyes widened and the meaning of the words rang in his ears as he abruptly jerked his head, to see the little boy in his kimono with sleepy eyes.

"Hisashi? What are you doing up so late?" For a moment, there was an overlapped image of Hisashi with another child that was once in his life.

"Bathroom." The boy said while gingerly rubbing his drowsy eyes.

It's pretty common for children his age to wake up late at night in need of using the bathroom, and Kiritsugu judge from the direction the black haired child came from, he had just finished using it.

The father let out a breath and focused on the boy. "You should head back to bed, it's almost midnig-?" He stopped mid sentence.

Hisashi had walked up and sat next to him, then in a casual and comfortable manner, laid his head down on Kiritsugu's left lap like a pillow and faced towards the lawn.

The action itself was staggering to the man's mental fortitude, in any other time he would have found the gesture cute, but currently it was chipping away something within his emotional state.

"Are you sad?"

The words came out softly. They were just three little words that came from an untainted soul, yet at his age he seems to understand things that most people tend to miss or ignore.

"Hisashi..." Kiritsugu pushed out. "I-I'm not sure what you mean." He attempted to persuade the little boy, though it might have been to convince himself. "I just have a lot to think about."

Silence was the response, and for the adult, it was awkward and mentally crushing on his already crippled being. Ever since saving these kids, this pragmatic man, for the first time in his life, felt that he has found his salvation when everything about him died on the final night of "that" war. He has his regrets, and there is nothing he could do to change his choices, but somehow, the little bundle that rested his head on his lap, felt in some way that something deep beneath has plagued his father.

Even if the boy was not too sure as to what he is doing in his sleepy state, he knew that something insurmountable weighed in his fathers heart. This is his way of bleeding off a part of it.

"You are not alone."

Fissions formed within him, the dam that formed around his heart shook, the grief, the sadness, far more profound then the pain of his body. He shouldn't let it out, he has done too much to deserve anything else, he abandons his ideals, his beliefs, his promises, he had abandoned everything and started this new life.

He didn't deserve to forgive himself, and he knows it on personal level, he lost too many people because of it. Yet... this small life below him wanted to drag something out of his adoptive father, weather the man himself wanted to or not.

"It's okey... to be sad." He voice sounded sleepy.

Was it really? What right did he have for his emotions to show? Is this what the boy wanted? ...Or is it what he needed?

"Thank you... for saving us..." The purity in the boy's words. Gentle and kind, ignorant yet aware at the same time, the genuine appreciation behind them. It's too much for his father to bare. "Papa." The young soul finally slumbered into the dreams.

"..."

It is silent once more. Only the faint breeze made music in the moon lit night, all is quite where not even the bugs made a sound, or it should have been.

A man's heart began to spill, the floodgates burst, and tears are the end result. First his hand was pressed against his face, then the sleeve of his haori is used to adsorb the saddened fluids before a drop could ever fall on the sleeping angel.

Sorrow was never meant to be held. It could only be contained for so long, before it erupted and shatter with it's container. Kiritsugu cried when he shot down the plane, in desperation for the woman he loved, when the fire burned everything around him, and he cried tears of joy when saving two lives in that hell.

This is the first time he has shed tears in such a peaceful setting, no war, no conflict, no one he needed to kill, just the quite atmosphere under the moon; and everything within him flowed out in a quiet sob. So many years has manifested in a single moment.

How much time has passed since his eyes leaked? Perhaps five or ten minutes, second or hours more or less? He didn't care to pay attention to such details, but now, everything is back in tranquility.

As the moon light shined on him, the man felt lighter, his sleeve is quite soaked, and even though his eyelids were puffy and red, the empty eyes themselves gained a little more light; as if a small reemergence of a lost past.

He looked down at his son, sleeping like a baby with a small expression of content on his face, as if he has accomplished something.

"What will I do with you." Stated Kiritsugu while chuckling. Then he stroke the boy's head in a soft and affectionate manner. "Thank you." He whispered in sincerity.

The drowsiness caught up to him, and it is his turn to sleep. His eyelids fell and vision turned black. He is still a distorted man, has his regrets, and far from forgiving himself, but he at least will hold on to the remaining life he has left for the boys' sake; and for Illya too. This is a purpose he has found.

Kerry.

Kiritsugu.

He couldn't remember if he had a dream that night, but for the first time in his life, he had a peaceful sleep under this moonlit night.

OOO

The sunrise dawned a new day, as the singing birds and morning light roused an auburn haired boy awake.

Shirou sat up from his futon. "Morning already?" He stretched his arms and gave a yawn. "Hey Hisashi, it's morning."

While rubbing his teary gold eyes, there was no response from his adoptive brother. Now that he looked at the futon to his right, it's empty.

"Hisashi?"

Deciding to get off his futon immediately and went off to search.

"Hisashi!" He called through the hallway.

His first stop was the living room. So far no one was there, and thank goodness Kiritsugu was not in the kitchen.

"I wonder if he's at the porch?" He speculated since he and Hisashi liked to hang around there.

It hardly took a minute for Shirou to reach his destination, and what he saw gave him pause.

"Old man?"

Kiritsugu is sound asleep in an upright position while leaning against the wooden post whereas his little brother treated the man's lap like a pillow.

Frankly, Shirou was out of the loop from the implications of this display, but upon seeing the peaceful expressions they had in each other's presence, it made the boy smile.

"I guess I'll wake them up later." He decided and rolled up his sleeves. "I should get breakfast ready."

It's just one of those days at the Emiya residence.

OOO

Kiritsugu finalized the schooling application for Shirou and Hisashi. So in a few days, they will be attending school to start their basic education. Shirou is currently organizing his elementary supplies and books in his bag, Hisashi is on the floor drawing on paper with crayons, and Kiritsugu sat himself at the table while reading the newspaper.

On this particular day, there's a knock on the front door.

"I'll get it." Said Shirou while putting down a notebook on the table and scurried off to the door. His brother put down his yellow crayon and followed his tail.

"You didn't need to follow me you know." Shirou sighed as they are in front of the entrance.

"Mmm?" This little boy was playing cute with his head tilt and deadpanned eyes, and quite frankly, it's working.

The redhead sighed once more in resignation. "Never mind."

When he slid the door open, the first person they saw was a girl in her teens.

"Um... who are you?"

"Hiya nice to meet you~" she greeted to Shirou's question, "my name is Fujimura Taiga. I heard a lot about you to from grandpa." The girl energetically spoke.

"Grandpa?" The boys asked in sync.

"Hey now Taiga-chan, better settle down there before you scare them off." A familiar voice was behind her.

"I don't want to hear that from somebody with your mug!"

"Ah! You wound my heart. What happened to the cute little tiger who adored her grandfather."

"DON'T CALL ME TIGER!" She shouted with such fury that the boys could have sworn that they heard a tiger's roar.

They just stood there while a limelight of an argument proceeded to play out in front of them between Raiga and the newly introduced Taiga.

"Shirou, Hisashi, who's at the door?" Kiritsugu made his presence known after hearing the commotion at the entrance.

"Ah Kiritsugu, how have you been?" The crime boss said his hello nonchalantly while holding some sort of white bag in his right hand.

"I'm doing well, thank you for asking." He looked at Taiga for a good few seconds, feeling a sense of nostalgia from her. "You must be Raiga's granddaughter."

The teen was in a daze upon seeing the man in his early thirties, then abruptly she shook her head frantically, much to everyone's confusion.

"M-my name is Taiga." She stuttered in her intro and bowed. "It's nice to meet you."

While it raised Kiritsugu's brow, he thought nothing of it and opt to smile; though now she seem to have gotten a little red in the cheeks.

"Like wise, I'm Emiya Kiritsugu." He patted the boys' shoulders. "You two should introduce yourselves." In response, they first bowed.

"My name is Emiya Shirou."

"Emiya Hisashi... nice to meet you."

Taiga crouch down to their height level. "Ah~ look at you two being all nice and proper." She spread her arms out, came in close, and then taking the opportunity she grabbed the two into one armed hugs.

"Eh!?" Shirou was taken by surprise, not use to having his personal space invaded like this.

"?~" Those blue eyes blinked a few times, until something sparkly seeped into them.

"Aren't you two just the cutest~"

The grown men had to chuckle to this, it's interactions like these between the younger generation that made the men glad they have children.

"You are welcomed to come inside." Kiritsugu gave his permission.

Raiga laughed. "Thank you very much. Come now Taiga, let go of them before you accidentally strangle the poor lads."

She lets go of the boys and pouted at the her grandfather. "Hey! What do you mean by...?" She paused and noticed how there are little arms hanging around her neck.

Much to their unrestrained surprise, they all stared at how Hisashi has his feet off the ground and hung onto the girl like a koala.

"Fuji-nee-chan~"

Something primal awoken within her. Looking at those eyes that shine like stars in the blue sky, and that expressionless face that could hold all the innocence in the world enhanced the aura around him appear that much more adorable to Taiga.

This is her reaction...

"Kya! What is this?!" Hugging him closer then before and rubbed her cheek against his. "How can something so cute exist in this world!" Apparently her maternal instincts are kicking in full throttle.

The guys were absolutely stupefied by this, even the crime boss has never seen his granddaughter react this way before.

"Was the lad always like this?" Raiga had to ask as Hisashi looked to be relaxed from the energetic coddling.

"Honestly, I knew he was an affectionate child," Kiritsugu scratch his cheek, trying to comprehend what is happening, "but this is entirely news to me."

Shirou looked up at the hugging individuals. At first he was worried by how aggressively her embrace seemed to be, but with how content Hisashi appeared judging by a little smile, Shirou is out of his element at this point.

"Can I keep him?"

One thing is for sure, Hisashi learned what hugs are like.

OOO

Somehow, they manage to calm things down as the they position themselves, though the young teen insisted that Hisashi would sit on her lap at the porch while the men are in the living room, and Shirou is making tea for everyone.

"You drew this?"

Taiga is holding a picture Hisashi had drawn earlier. Usually you would see either simple shapes, doodles, or just scribbled lines that filled up the paper, but what the black haired boy drew could be described as esoteric. It started out as a large cloud shape with swirled lines in it that felt kind of planned out. What made it interesting was the kanji that is written along with the drawing lines, even the characters themselves were made into shapes like yellow stars and green kanji meaning wind and breeze that is drawn into wind shapes and other forms that's hard to describe. It's a creative take on making pictures and learning how to write at once.

"Holy cow this boy's a genius." Taiga praised, but she noticed how the boy leaned against her with closed eyes and short breaths in between. "Aw~ he's asleep." She thinks it adorable in all sense of the word.

"He really likes his naps." Shirou came in with tea and juice on a tray. "So make sure not to wake him up until he does so himself." He made a hush gesture in being considerate to his little sibling.

"Roger that." She whispered in salute. "I can see that you are the responsible brother in the house."

"Well I try my best, it's not that big of a deal." He brushed off as he gave a cup of tea to Taiga and left the juice to Hisashi for later.

"Ah Ha~ modest as well I see." She placed a mischievous smirk on her face. "I bet you would make a good house husband for a girl one of these days."

He went red in the face. "I'm not old enough for that!" He retorted and left for the living room.

"He's fun to tease too." The teen giggled to herself as she stroke Hisashi's head.

Shirou made his way to the kitchen after calming his nerves. While putting away the tray, Kiritsugu and Raiga are at the table.

"Now that I'm done with that, I'll be heading to my room." He left to finish preparing his school materials.

Left alone, the men sipped on the tea in relaxation. Then Raiga spoke first.

"Shirou has gotten better at making tea."

"He's always been one to focus on improving himself." That, and the fact with how horrid Kiritsugu's skills were in the kitchen. He even smiled at the fact, though there was a twitch in the corner of his lip.

An odd silence permeated the room as the yakuza eyed the man in a more analytic gaze.

"You have changed since my first visit."

The owner of the property blinked. "What do you mean?" Kiritsugu had a hint, but is uncertain of under what context?

"How do I put this." Raiga contemplated with a hand under his chin. "You've held a heavy atmosphere of a man that's given up something that meant absolutely everything to your existence, as well as someone who was close to the brink of keeling over." He stated brashly.

"And now?" The father of the boys had to ask.

"It's still there." The yakuza boss sighed. "You probably lost a lot of people close to you, but it's not as weighted at it was before. In fact, there seems to be a little more light in your eyes, if just barely." He unwinds his tense shoulders and offered a smirk to his friend. "Is it the boys?"

With how close to home Raiga got with his words, it goes to show that the head of organized crime is as sharp as they came. "In a way, they've liberated me." Kiritsugu half answered.

"Man," the guy gruffly expressed, "it's alway vague answers with you."

"Sorry, that's all I have for now."

"Nah. Whatever it is, at least you look brighter, despite the dead-fish eyes you've got there." Raiga joked to lighted the mood.

So they made there opinions known, though the man could feel that there is one more thing on the ex-mercenary's mind.

"So out with it. You have a request for me?"

Kiritsugu sighed and collect his thoughts. "Sooner or later, I'm planning to go on a trip to retrieve something that is important to me." His gaze became distant. "I worry about the boys. Even if they will become old enough to take care of themselves, it would leave me with a clear conscience if they had someone to look after them." Once he looked at the elder man, he bowed. "While the boys will be in school, I hope that maybe Taiga could spend time with them in my absence. I know this is asking much from me, but please-"

"That is enough." Raiga stoped him in the middle of his plead. "There no need to make the request."

Sitting back up from his bow, Kiritsugu witness a genuine smile on the rather scary face.

"Even if you didn't ask me in the first place, I'd take care of them in a heart beat." Cackled the old man. "Those fine boys have grown on me. Hell, Taiga-chan would tear me a new one if I didn't do anything to support them, especially if what we saw earlier has anything to go by." A pretty grim prospect in some cases, but the good intention still stood. He gave one more stare on Kiritsugu that held ready yet forlorn eyes. "If in one of these days you decide to cross over Sanzu River, I'll take them under my wing. They won't be involved in my family business, but Taiga-chan and I will treat them like family."

The yakuza had a feeling that something complicated is still going on in this man's life, he could even feel that this calm and determined man himself is weaker that what a man in his age should be. He knew that this is as much help as he could offer, but at least it ended on a satisfying note.

Kiritsugu hardly have word to describe the elation he felt in Raiga's words, so he bowed respectfully once more. "Thank you so very much Raiga-san."

"Ha! You're welcome, keep in mind not to kick the bucket just yet."

"I will do my best." Though he was not sure how long he could keep that promise.

"Chin up will ya!" As Raiga made the statement, he took a small bottle of sake out a bag he had beside him; and it looks to be a vintage brand. "Let us drink to celebrate!"

"..." With a deadpanned expression, Kiritsugu was speechless, almost actually. "Isn't it kind of earlier in the day to drink?"

"Nonsense, it's never too early to drink on a good occasion." He pulled out two cups from the bag and went on to pour the liquid in them. "Besides, with that constant gloom you have on ya, this should do the trick. This is the good stuff I had stashed away."

He has made his verdict. In a way, this is a kind of oath they had establish in terms of tradition, so these kinds of things are not that simple to refuse. As reluctant as Kiritsugu was to drinking, he might as well finish what he started.

So the ex-mercenary picking up his sake cup.

"To a promise of friendship and to the future of the next generation." Announce Raiga in high spirits.

"In hopes to a better future for our children." Kiritsugu said his piece, and in hopes that one more child join this family.

Before they taped there cups, the hallway are producing noise from running footsteps.

"Make way for the Taiga airline!"

"Wee..."

"Hey! That's dangerous you two!"

Taiga ran through the halls while lift Hisashi over her head as the boy held his arms and feet out like a plane, enjoying the high ride. Shirou on the other hand chased after them with worries of his little brother's safety and if the girl will trip on her feet.

After that little display of mayhem has passed, the yakuza boss laughed his head off while the father of the two seemed quite concerned if they will be alright.

"Bah haha don't worry about them. My granddaughter is quite light on her feet, so you don't have to fret over Hisashi-kun's safety." He chuckled with certainty in his words.

"If you say so..." Kiritsugu wasn't so convinced though.

"Well now without further ado, let's have a toast."

With a shrug of relinquishing his concerned, Kiritsugu lifted his cup while Raiga did the same.

"Kanpai!"

With that, a promise between mutual friends is established for the sake of their families. The Emiya household is about to get livelier from now on.

OOO

I hope I executed their characters well in here.

A warning for readers of this story. I've been in need of more research on the canon material for Fate stay night. This story I am making is quite ambitious, so I will be looking in depth into the Fate Stay Night VN, Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II, Kara no Kyoukai, and maybe Fate Hollow to get better ideas.

So I will still be working on the story, but it might take longer to finish because of the precision I'm investing into the story. So until then, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

PS: My mom is having twins next month, so that might slow me down too.