Alright, this took a bit longer then I had expected and I had to rewrite it a few times. Still, I say it was somewhat worth it. I noticed that the story nearly hit 200 followers. Thanks everyone for the support in that.

Disclaimer: I don't know if I should given I already said that Typemoon owns the franchise a few times already.


"Why is math so hard!" Shirou watched as Illya groaned at her math homework. A very regular thing ever since they had started going to school. It was the one subject that Illya seemed to be having the most trouble with. Shirou for his part didn't seem to have much in the way of an issue with any of his classes.

As such it fell more to him to help Illya with her homework. Though today there wasn't just the two of them but one other person. A certain two tail hair girl. "Do you always have to complain about it?"

True to her word her first few times Rin showed up was her checking up on the former freelancer mage family in the area. Now, it was less about that and more because she had practically become a friend to both Illya and Shirou. Them both being mage around her age, well a little bit of a year older in Illya's case, was an added benefit as it meant she had someone to practice with and compete against. At least with Illya.

Shirou couldn't be trusted with taking part in anything like a small practice fight between magi. The reason being that there was a risk he would reveal just what he was. So far Rin hadn't thought much about the red eyes he had nor had she picked up any sign that Shirou was a vampire. Everyone in the Emiya household would rather keep it that way. Explaining why was actually very easy in the end. Shirou could only use three spells after all and all of them were considered basic.

"Well, I think I might get started on dinner," As soon as Shirou said those words Illya forgot about her distaste for math. After all, if her brother was going to start dinner then so was she. There was just one thing to ask. "Are you staying for dinner?"

Rin didn't immediately answer as the albino girl had already left for the kitchen to start preparing for dinner. Truth is Rin had been occasionally staying for dinner because of how good it was. Also, because she usually had to eat the overly spicy food her guardian tended to prepare for her. As much as she wanted to stay and have some of the Emiya siblings cooking she couldn't. "No thanks, I got to get home soon anyway."

"Do you need anyone to walk you home?" Rin turned to Taiga who was watching her show on the tv.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to be a bother."

"Hey, no worries besides I got a new scooter I been wanting to break in more!" Taiga got up and practically dragged Rin out with her. The two siblings watched the scene wondering if they should speak up or not.

Focusing back on dinner instead, the two siblings went into a routine of Shirou preparing the meat, Illya the vegetables, and both taking turns with doing everything else. It was a routine they had developed after doing this together for weeks. Kiritsugu walked in noticing that both Taiga and Rin are missing from earlier. "I take it Taiga took her home?"

"Yeah, on her new scooter."

'So, that was the loud sound from before was,' Honestly he hoped the young Tohsaka girl wasn't scared completely by Taiga's tendency to play loose with the rules of the road. If her grandfather's stories about her with a bike were anything to go by.

A few minutes later the Emiya family table was set as they ate together in silence with an extra seat prepared for when Taiga returned. The silence was soon broken by the father of the house speaking up. "Illya tomorrow the both of us will be heading off to a nearby town in order to give you a checkup."

"Why I feel fine," Illya found this weird to hear. It wasn't like Einzbern Homunculi could get sick easily and her own check ups growing up in the Einzbern Castle had ceased as she got older.

A brief debate raged inside Kiritsugu mind on if he should tell them both. Illya had spent much of her life without being told about the awful truth of Homunculi. About how limited their lifespans were. Her mother wasn't likely to live long even if she wasn't the Lesser Grail. For Illya he was told clearly that she had the potential to live as long as a normal human or live as long as a typical Einzbern Homunculus.

A sigh escaped his mouth as he came to a conclusion. He couldn't keep this secret from them both. "As you know Illya is a Homunculus," He paused a bit before continuing, "Homunculi unfortunately do not live longer than ten to twenty years."

The two Emiya children stopped eating as they looked at their father wide eyed. Illya especially as she didn't even know about this at all. It was something that her family had mostly kept from her. 'Ten to twenty years but mama…' Illya heart sank as she remembered that her mother was at most only a year older than her, almost nearing ten. 'No…'

"Are you saying that Illya would…"

"No, Illya isn't like most homunculi," Their reactions were to be expected. The both of them had grown rather close from what he saw. "Unlike most others she has the ability to live with a normal human lifespan."

The worry and fear about Illya's seemingly impending demise was gone as Kiritsugu's explanation reminded them both of Illya's unique circumstances. She wasn't made in the traditional homunculus fashion after all and was born like any normal human child. It stood to reason that she should have had a normal lifespan anyway. However, with that out of the way there was the question of why their father wanted her to have an appointment.

Kiritsugu as if sensing this, answered the question which the both of them had unknowingly come too.. "Illya was modified before she was born and I was hoping the examination would tell us the extent of it."

"What kind of modifications?" Illya remembered that her grandfather had talked about the operation that was to happen to her had her father not come for her. The lies that had been disproved when he had shown up and taken her to her new home.

"I don't know the details but they were adamant that if I succeeded in what they wanted they would give you a normal life," As if they had any real faith in the outsider that had married into them. Pragmatism was all the Einzberns cared about when it came to Illya's existence. Perhaps, that was owed to the family being what was effectively a factory on autopilot. "I suspect that whatever they did might either make that a possibility or not."


Another dagger formed into being from the red fluid that signaled Shirou's unique form of Projection Magecraft. This one was just like the last five times he had done this. Placing it down he looked at the other copies of it all still solid without yet to disappear. Shirou laid down with a sigh as he realized that besides it, the shinai, and the kitchen knives he really didn't have anything else he could project. At least to his knowledge. Thinking it over Shirou just mumbled to himself. "Maybe I should go to a museum?"

"There you are," Illya entered into the storehouse/workshop as she spied the six daggers he had made within his corner of the workshop. Shirou had been doing this a lot lately. Projecting the things he had already projected before to see if he could get better at doing it. A teasing smile formed on her face. "You're not trying to fall asleep in our workshop are you?"

"That was only one time!" Shirou's protests only got a giggle from her. Of course, she would find it funny to tease him. "Besides you'll just drag me into bed if I do."

Illya would do that as she had gotten really used to sleeping with her brother after the first night. She still kept up her own room but really at this point Shirou knew it was a formality. Kiritsugu just thought it was cute and didn't seem to mind. Shirou just went along with it, not really finding himself able to tell her no.

Taking a seat on the floor across from him, Illya thought about the circle within the workshop. One whose presence she had always been aware of even though it was inactive. This place was where her mother had been. The circle inscriptions were ones she had used and Illya could tell just by looking at them. Being in here felt like being close to her even with her passing. Thinking about it brought the conversation from before back to her mind. About the fact that homunculus lifespans were limited.

"Shirou do you think that papa is right that I could live a full life?"

"Illya you know dad cares for you," An understatement given he had tried to get her back once before finally succeeding. "I am certain that he will do whatever he can to make it happen."

She knew that much. Her father had risked his life to get her back from the Einzberns. Illya had been pulled from the cold and uncaring life in the Einzbern Castle and now had one with her father, her adopted younger brother, and friends she had made at school. The only thing missing was her mother and that had saddened her at first. Now though she knew that even if she was still here her time would probably be limited or maybe she would have already passed on.

"I know but if he can't…"

"Then I will," Shirou cut her off as he didn't want to hear this anymore. Illya wasn't going to just die without living a full life. "I'll find some way I know I will!"

A silent pause filled the building as Shirou's declaration made Illya close her eyes with a smile on her face. She was the older sibling and yet Shirou just seemed to say that as if he was the older one. In her heart she knew that he would do everything he could. Opening her eyes she gave Shirou a hug. One that he was quick to return. "Thank you."

A few minutes later the both of them walked out looking up at the night sky. Off in the distance a shooting star passed by that Illya spotted. Silently she thought of a wish for her family.


Once again he saw himself back in the wasteland standing on top of the hill. Overhead the clouds moved while a red moon could be seen behind them. Even with it high in the sky the light seemed as dim as ever. Something did feel off or felt new about this place. Looking down Shirou saw that the ground was filled with cracks. Leaning down he saw that there looked like a red fluid flowing between the cracks. "Is that…"

"Blood?" Looking up Shirou saw himself looking back at him. Red eyes staring into his own. A look of annoyance was on his counterpart's face. "You haven't drank any blood in months have you?"

He wanted to ask what this was about but paused. Nothing had to be said as realization dawned on him. Dead Apostles had to drink blood. That was information that was edged into his mind but one he had never thought about or even remembered to focus on. Like having a book open without reading it. "No…" A realization of the danger dawned on him. "I haven't actually felt it all."

Staring into the other Shirou's eyes he watched as the expression on his face turned to one of neutral emotionless. His eyes closed for a moment before they opened with a glow. Shirou felt his body freeze as something entered into his mind almost immediately as there was real resistance as if he was being subjected to self-inflicted hypnosis.

Suddenly he found himself standing in a familiar scene. One edged in his mind. Overhead the sky seemed to open up. Then it happened like a torrent, of something came spilling out into the city. Everything it touched was burned and soon all around him are flames. Screams were heard as humans died, others trying and failing to save loved ones, and even those begging whatever god they believed in to save them in futility. For him, however, there was pain.

While the humans died he could have endured. Everything about them was objectively inferior to him. Yet, it was also a curse as the smell of ash, the sounds of pain, the glow of the flames, all of it was messing with his senses. He moved to try to escape to leave the flames but his sense of direction was gone as any signs or anything to serve as landmarks burned away in the fire. It wasn't even the worst thing. Most of the people probably had no idea but he did. A wave of curses came with the flames. Those passed soon with the fire, a brief moment of spellwork, but they had entered everyone who had been caught in it. Ensuring death would claim most of these unfortunate souls. Those with magical circuits could likely endure the effect and maybe even survive if someone came in time. But that time was fleeting and he knew it. Shirou felt it attack his very being and even he was unprepared when it had happened.

The existence of a Dead Apostle that was his very core resisted the curses inflicted on him. Tried to fight back against the true might behind the fire. Yet, it wasn't strong enough to overcome the curse as he was young and still developing into his own. The curses had a lot more power behind them. Circuits flared within him trying to desperately counteract the effects as the curses seemed his death. As he struggled overwhelmed by everything from his senses to the assault on his very being he felt himself fall to the ground. Unconsciousness threatening to lay claim to him. In desperation his hand reached up as he tried to reach for something in this pain. It was a blur then but suddenly his whole being was lit ablaze. A pain so quick it was numbing. The curses were gone but what remained of himself was gone. Not burned away into nothing, not destroyed, but turned into ash. Something else rested over it as if a seed was planted in the ash. To grow in it as it turned into soil. Into a new being. By some miracle something in the ash remained and reached out to the seed.

Shirou collapsed to his hands and knees gasping for breath. The barren terrain greeting him. Shock and panic filled him as he took a moment to recollect himself. Looking back up he only saw the other him looking on. "Why did you show me that!"

"Because it is why there is no worry right now for our need to drink," There was little emotion within his words. As if this was an obvious fact of life.

A moment of confusion at these words was there and gone with realization. The fire was one part of it. Burning and weakening all but his very core followed by the energy of the scabbard. "Avalon…"

Reduced to just ashes was his being. A fertile soil to use to create a new him. Avalon had tried that. Tried to suppress the Dead Apostle that was him. Perhaps, if it had the ability to think the scabbard would have thought it was a corruption. A part of the curse's actions. "Is that why I haven't had the need to?"

Before an answer could be given the dream came to an end. Rays of light broke into the room as Shirou eyes opened. For a moment nothing crossed his mind as Shirou processed it all. Again he had found himself within the barren wasteland in his dreams. This time he met what was possibly a remnant of his former self. Finally, he had to recall that once again in even more detail. Shirou shuddered as instead of the burning remains popping into his mind he felt the curses attacking him.

Once that faded into the back of his mind Shirou then remembered how his other self had shown him that. With his eyes glowing once he stared into them. It was from his perspective of the event. Not the perspective of Shirou as he currently is. He was the Shirou born from the fire and the other him was the one that had died within the flames. A ghost of himself that lingered within his very being.


With Illya and Kiritsugu leaving that just meant that someone had to watch Shirou. At least that was what Kiritsugu was able to tell Taiga when she had come over for breakfast. Truth was he was perfectly fine with Shirou being on his own. Outside of the Church, which Shirou had no desire to ever go there, there wasn't much in the way of anything dangerous for him to do. However, Taiga had let it drop that she was thinking of taking Illya and Shirou to see the sights of the city. Plus, if Shirou remembered he had agreed to spend the day with her. The plan was detailed as it was the day that Kiritsugu had brought Illya home and that took up most of the family's attention.

"So, Shirou, where do you want to go first?"

Shirou already had a few places in mind. First was to see the museum if only to see about feeling the swords and other weapons if they had them. After that he really didn't know anywhere else he would want to visit. Maybe Ryuudou Temple or have Taiga take them somewhere she wanted to go. "How about the local museum first?"

"Really?" Taiga didn't know why anyone would want to go there but then again that was just her. Shirou probably had developed a fascination with history. "Alright then I'll get my scooter and we can go!"

A few minutes on the thing made Shirou realize something. That she could never be given a car as she was more than likely going to cause an accident, or get cashed by the police. Both more then likely which would probably drag her family into the mess and Shirou knew that said family would probably start a whole incident. No wonder why she was only allowed a scooter. Hopefully, that would stay that way.

Stopping the surprisingly fast machine, the duo came to a stop just outside of Fuyuki local museum. Shirou was just grateful that the thing had stopped. "Alright, we're here!"

The building was rather sparse when it came to items of note. A few exhibits were from local areas, an artist rendering of what the place used to look like before the Meiji Restoration. Another from Ryuudou Temple was a donation of something minor. There were at least a few weapons. One was a Katana that was on display behind glass, a Yari which was held in display, and a tantou which were out in the open. Shirou was able to pull a quick Structural Grasping on the three of them when no one was looking.

The Yari was a replica as could be made out by how new looking it was. It was made within the last few decades and was mostly made with more recent materials. Most of the weapon's history was spent on display. All in all it wasn't very remarkable as the spear had nothing of note to it. As for the tantou danger, it was older, having been made in the early Edo period. The metal was old and showed the signs of a more traditional forging process when compared to the modern yari. It had been mostly regulated to a defense measure rarely having to draw blood. In a way Shirou should have expected that.

"I didn't know there was a battle fought here."

Taiga words brought Shirou's attention over to bits of local history and legends that were recorded. The one that strangely caught his attention was a piece of art depicting two men, one with a sword, another a spear fighting one another. It was a piece from a local artist that lived in the 1860s according to the writing drawing a dream they had. 'Wait, this looks a bit off…"

The armor was a bit to foriegn looking and the sword design seemed unorthodox for Japanese blades. Before Shirou could think about it anymore, Taiga's voice rang out again. "Hey, Shirou, they have a souvenir shop!"


She didn't know why she had decided to come to the park. Maybe it was an unconscious desire to be somewhere that once brought her joy or not. Maybe she just wandered in without much of a thought. Whatever the reason it was this that caused her current predicament. Three guys who were probably a year or two older than her had taken an interest in her hair. Which led to them bullying her about it.

"Hey, maybe she does her hair to look cool or something?" Sakura glitched just a bit at this accusation. Her hair wasn't purple because of that but because of what he had done to her. The thing who was her grandfather. A process that had utterly violated her very being.

If the young girl could voice her hatred it would be not only to the thing that was her grandfather but to her parents. Her actual parents who gave her up and to her sister who hadn't even bothered to see her. Such hatred she couldn't feel beyond a brief fleeting moment before she returned to just accepting her fate. There was nothing that could kill her grandfather. She knew nothing and would be taught nothing.

Accepting what happened to her seemed to be her fate in life. Abandoned by her family into a hell whose role was already decided. "Leave her alone!"

The trio turned around to the source of the voice as they were greeted by a certain redhead with red eyes. Shirou had watched the three of them bulky the girl and was having none of it. The three boys, however, just looked at the other one with a surprise that then turned into amazement. "Look, we got ourselves a real hero here."

Shirou's first instinct was to ready his claws but he fought that. As much as it would help he couldn't use them on normal people. His dad had been very clear not to draw too much attention to himself unless he wanted to fight against more experienced mages or even the Church which specialized in killing his kind. Still, that didn't mean he had to completely hold back.

"How about we teach him a lesson?" One of the boys threw a punch at Shirou. Instead of fetching in fear or the like Shirou caught his arm and tossed the boy to the side, taking him off his feet in doing so. The other two looked with fear before they rushed him.

Instinct seemed to take over as Shirou moved out of the way as one of them tried to throw a punch while the other moved to tackle him. For a split second an image flashed of himself taking part in a spare with an older opponent while being watched by someone else.

The flash, however, ended as a fist connected with his face. Shirou then felt another punch connect with his stomach before someone grabbed his arms and held them behind his back. The other two boys started hitting him as he seemingly couldn't fight back. Seemingly being the keyword. Had the boy been nothing but human. With the same great strength as before he managed to left the boy holding his arms back with his whole body and toss him off and into one of his friends.

The other didn't really have time to react as Shirou delivered a punch to his nose. A punch that held strength greater than any seven or eight year old boy should have. The boy cried out in pain from his now broken nose. As for the other two they watched as the friend collapsed rubbing the broken nose as Shirou turned to them.

One of them got up first and tried to do something only for Shirou to intercept him with a punch to the rib cage. The wind was taken out of him. The last of the group tried a frantic attack on him. Shirou without thinking swung his hand as for a split moment his claws formed and slashed into the guy's face. A scream echoed out of his mouth as the red liquid poured out.

A pause came over the other two as Shirou turned his head to them. He could feel something in his mouth elongate as he stared at the both of them. His claws were now almost out but neither kid noticed them. No, they looked into his red eyes as some kind of fear took over. For a moment Shirou could feel a desire to claw into them. To be done with them.

"Sc-screw this!" The bully who had been subjected to his claws picked himself up and left his two companions. As Shirou took a step forward at the other two they just picked himself up and ran as well.

Calming down a bit Shirou looked down and realized that he had indeed used his claws on someone. Silently he hoped that nothing would seem out of the ordinary because he really didn't have the means to use hypnosis or anything to make anyone looking around forget. Those worries were briefly put aside as he looked at the bit of blood that stained the edge of them. The crimson fluid on his claws looked tempting. A recall of his conversation, or well something, with his other self replayed in his mind.

"You haven't drank any blood in months have you?"

There was blood on his claws and for a moment a temptation lick the blood passed through his mind. Shirou was quickly able to suppressed this desire. There was something else to do right now. The girl that was being bullied was still standing there.

"Hey, are you ok?"

Sakura turned her head to the boy as purple eyes met red. Despite the fight it looked like he wasn't even injured. Like whatever had been done to him either had been healed or undoned. "Y-yes."

Shirou now that he was close to the girl could smell that something was off. Her scent seemed to be covered with death and the like. "Are you sure?"

Worry for her wellbeing coming from a stranger. If Sakura still had any hope in her life she would have told him about the worms. About what she had endured. There was no way he could help her. Nor did she believe a stranger would care even if he had helped her. "I'm sure," Her grandfather and brother were likely wondering where she was. "I should head back home now."

Watching the girl leave Shirou felt like he should have stopped her and pressed his questions. The scent on his nose was just wrong. Watching the girl leave Shirou for a brief moment thought he caught sight of something moving out the corner of his eye. 'Was that some kind of insect?'


Worms wiggled and moved about all around as one figure stood in the middle of them. Eyes watching through the familiar that was watching as the redhead boy was dragged off by the teenage girl. Normally, this wouldn't concern the figure standing within the pit of worms. He would just ignore it all as just random nobodies. Instead the boy was something that was both of interest and yet not.

True anyone who knew what a Dead Apostle was would be worried when one is discovered wandering around. Had he been a normal mage he would either try to deal with the threat himself or tell the local church official. For the head of the Matou family, however, there was little concern in doing so. Such an action was just as likelyjto get the Church to come after him for practically being one himself. Nor did the Dead Apostle existence in the area mean much to him.

Zouken had seen the other one who had popped up months after the fire. It was hard not to miss the familiars flying around. As someone who had on occasion had dealings with such parties he figured it was best to watch and observe why one was here. He could tell back then that the Apostle wasn't some random mage turned vampire looking for a quick bite. No, they had to have fallen under the purview of one of the Dead Apostle Ancestors. Now, months later another had shown up and seemed to have charmed the granddaughter of the local yakuza boss into being with him.

There was no coincidence if you asked him. With the death of the last Tohsaka head before his heir would be properly raised it would make sense to stake a claim to the region. If the boy, perhaps only in appearance given Dead Apostles tendency to rarely look their age, was here to take control of the criminal underworld in the area for his own master then so be it. Zouken had no desire to face off against a Dead Apostle Ancestor. It wasn't because he didn't think he had a chance. Certainly with some he could win via being creative.

However, the real risk in his mind was the possibility of them being aligned with one of the two leaders of their kind. Both of which Zouken knew would mean his death to cross. 'I could ask an audience with the boy...'

The thought was pushed aside. Sure he had dealings with representatives of the Dead Apostles in the past but mainly because of aligning interests. Generally speaking he preferred the idea of neither side interfering with the other. Though, he would admit it was strange that he would help out Sakura. Beings like them didn't tend to help people. At least not without motive to do so. Zouken didn't know what that could be right now. Anything, from knowing that she was Matou or this Dead Apostle just did it on a whim.

'Maybe I should keep an eye on him if I find out he is still in the area after a few months.'


Kiritsugu stood watching through the glass as the old Yggdmillennia mage looked over his daughter. Besides the Einzberns themselves there was only one group in the whole world that could help her without risk of the Einzberns catching wind of her and that was them. When he was with the Einzberns he knew how much they had despised the family for stealing part of the secrets to making homunculi. Now that he was effectively cut loose from the family he married into, Kiritsugu felt no obligation to care what they thought. Yggdmillennia was the best option and he will take it. Calling in several favors was worth it after all.

Kiritsugu mind moved to the worst case scenario for a moment. That perhaps the only ones who could help were indeed the Einzberns. A very terrifying thought as it meant that they may have always expected he will have to come back to them. Kiritsugu didn't know if it was arrogance or that they thought they had known him. This trail of thought was soon halted as the old man walked into the room having finished looking Illya over.

"I admit she is likely more of a normal human than what one expects from a homunculus," The old man had amazement at just looking over the girl. It had been a long time since they had been allowed to any end to study an Einzbern Homunculus even if it was done to honor a favor owed. "Under normal circumstances I believe she would develop much like a natural girl, even live a full human lifespan, but there are signs of minor alterations."

Kiritsugu knew that much. "Is it a problem?"

"As of right now no, but as she grows older that will be another story," Homunculi growing up was a rarity in itself. Most on record tend to just live and die at the age they are made to be. It was agreed it was possible but required special work that pretty much wasn't needed. Homunculi were seen as tools to most.

Just being able to study a Einzbern Homunculi was in itself a rarity to put it mildly. Einzbern Homunculi tend to be the higher end of their kind and as such they guarded the process of their creation. The fact, they effectively had there own independent society was something of a novelty if they weren't just something of a glorified factory controlled by a golem whose mindset was less human then it showed and more preprogrammed. Even Yggdmillennia who had managed to steel some of the knowledge in their creation only had the ability to make cheap knock offs.

This, however, was something of an opportunity that couldn't be passed up. Here was a homunculus that had been born in the traditional way and was likely because of this utterly unique. Even just this type of study, done to see if the child would be able to grow up normally, was in itself worth a new favor to the man before him. This might push their rather stagnant homunculi development forward. "There seems to be extra magic circuits within her that seem to be in a sense detached from herself."

They were not really detached but such a term was the closest to what they were like. Like a limp that was constantly numb and yet which still existed attached to the body. "A lot of health problems are theoretically to come about as she age, assuming she can grow up beyond looking like a preteen."

Extra magic circuits usually didn't form on a person. Outside of a Magic Crest the ones someone was born with was all they could get through natural means. As Illya had been altered in her development it was completely possible to do so. All likely in proportion for her role as the Lesser Grail. A role that was costing her the ability to grow up naturally, or if the health problems were to go by, a lifespan comparable to any homunculus. Kiritsugu wanted to curse himself for not realizing this sooner.

"Is there any way to fix this?"

"There might be a way though it's a bit of a difficulty," He looked into the eyes of the Magus Killer and saw a fleeting glimpse of something few would have expected from a freelancer who took out mages and Apostles. A worried parent for their child. "It would require a transplant of magic circuits, preferably from a relative as to minimize rejection or side effects, though I don't have to tell you how difficult the process would be."

It wasn't the difficulty of the process that concerned Kiritsugu. After all, that was a given when dealing with something like this. No, the issue was that the best candidate for this was a relative. The only family Illya had was Einzbern Homunculi who all more or less served as her family due to his genetically similar they are, and him as her father. His circuits were cursed and he knew that was just asking to pass it on to her. That was when it hit him. There was something that could be used for it and was related to her.

"What about using my Family Crest?"

A pause came over them both as the man looked at Kiritsugu in stunned silence. Any mage family would find what he was asking for as insane. After all, the Family Crest was lifetimes' worth of research and study. A means to ensure if they failed their descendants could keep on with completing the goal of all mage families. For Kiritsugu that didn't matter one bit.

The shock at such a thing subsided from the man as he realized that Kiritsugu was indeed willing to go that far. "If she is indeed your daughter then yes the process would have minimal risks but I must remind you that once it is done the crest will be destroyed," The knowledge hosted would be gone as they turned into just magic circuits used to fix the issues within the child. "Your daughter will effectively be forced to begin the line from square one."

"I know and to be honest I think it is for the best."


Ryuudou Temple was from what Shirou was told a Buddhist temple that from what little locate history given by the museum was built almost two hundred years ago. Old local legends had talked about the place where it had been built as some kind of spiritual point. Regardless of if that was true or not didn't matter. Shirou and Taiga had walked up and watched as a few of the monks went about their daily routines.

"You know my grandfather used to say that this temple was just a fake."

A statement one Shirou didn't expect to hear. Given how long the temple had stood there was no way it could be fake. There had to be more to this. "Why does he say that exactly?"

"He said it had something to do with it being a cover for some kind of cult ritual," If you asked her that explanation sounded far-fetched. Like what kind of ritual would even be so important that a literal buddhist temple was made to cover it up. "Also, something about the place where two youkai fought it out a few hundred years ago."

Something about the first part sounded like he should know what she was talking about. A nagging suspicion he knew what it was but couldn't really say what it was. Maybe it wasn't actually all that important given that he couldn't remember it nor did thinking about it trigger a memory. 'Still, why do I feel like I should know what it is.'

Ignoring it for now the both of them finished walking up the stairs that lead into the temple. Looking at the building gave a sense of familiarity to Shirou. Something was coming back up but Taiga cut it off before whatever it was could flash through Shirou's mind. "Hey, seeing how we're here I might as well let you meet one of my friends so stay right here ok!"

"Alright, sure," Immediately afterwards his mind returned to the feeling it had as he was pulled back into another memory.

He was standing in front of the temple itself waiting around. Coming to Fuyuki he had hoped to catch sight of what all the fuss was about with the magi and the like within the area. The thing that caused a bunch of magi to come and fight it out with special familiars. A wish was said to be granted to the winners and he wanted to see what they would wish for. Knowing magi it was kind of obviously either something to help their research or something else. He remembered being told they were very predictable.

The memory ceased as Shirou just stood looking forward as realization of what it meant came to him. Now he had some idea on why he had been in Fuyuki when everything had happened. Though the memory of him wanting to see the wish granting device caught him for a loop. There had been something that granted wishes that magi were fighting over not that long ago. 'Wait, it sounds like a ritual of some sort...'


I'll be honest I do not think that the Mage Association or the Church are able to 100% prevent all information on the supernatural from not leaking through. Although it's more likely an acceptable level is allowed through if its vague enough and not many directly believe in it. Given Fuyuki subjected to the same ritual every sixty years for almost two hundred years it makes sense a few bits of the truth of what's going on will bleed through but not enough for anyone but the most superstitious, or suspects something is off, to care about.

Anyway, yeah I figured I also explain a few things about Shirou in this chapter as well. Mainly things no one asked me yet but I think you all have been thinking.

Share your thoughts and I'll cya all next time.