Yes, the chapter is a bit short. I apologize for it but I figured given what it has it makes up for it... probably. Anyways, thanks to everyone. From the readers to those who fav, follow and/or review the story thank you.

Disclaimer: I don't own typemoon.


Four long and painful years. That was how long it seemed that he had since being cursed after commanding Artoria to destroy the Grail. Kiritsugu knew in the back of his mind that his life was soon to be up. He held out for as long as he was able but it seemed that giving up his Magic Crest had not done him any favors with suppressing the curse. He had no regrets about that one bit.

Kiritsugu turned as he noticed that someone was sitting with him under the Moonlit night. Turning his head just a bit he saw that it was Shirou who had decided to join him. The boy he saved from the fire he had accidentally caused, discovered he was a Dead Apostle, and who had become his son. 'Something is strange about him and I never realized it until now.'

In the four years it seemed that Shirou hadn't had the need to drink blood once. Kiritsugu had a theory about that being the work of Avalon. A theory he couldn't confirm as his ability to use magecraft was effectively gone. There was no one who could or would have been willing to help him with his curse and he knew it. "What are you doing out here?"

Lately Kiritsugu had been bedridden as he had grown rather sick. The curse taking its toll on his being. Rin had been quick to point it out to both his children about it when she was able too. They both worried for his health but that was pointless. He had been living on bored time for years anyway. "I wanted to see the stars and reminisce about the past."

"About what exactly?" Shirou sat down next to him as Kiritsugu's mind immediately moved to the one thing he had above else. The many regrets in his life.

Years of living an ideal while being broken from it. Shirley, Natalia, Maiya, Irisviel and so many others. He had failed so many even as he saved so many others. The only two he could say he had saved for certain were Shirou and Illya. "When I was young I wanted to be a Hero of Justice," A soft smell formed on his face as he thought back long ago. "It seemed so childish back then but I kept going for that dream as I got older."

"Well did you succeed?" Shirou still didn't know much about his past even after all this time. Illya wasn't much of a help in that regard either.

The answer was obvious to Kiritsugu in the end. He never really could succeed in his goals. "I could only save the many at the cost of the few and even then I failed," Such was the fate of Kiritsugu Emiya it seemed. "I guess you can say I got too old…"

Ironic given that he wasn't even in his forties yet. Being cursed and slowly dying from it really did a number on him. He felt like his body had become decades older. Right now he was certain he was at death's door just waiting until his body finally gave out. "Then I'll do it."

Shirou's words caused him to turn over to the boy. Even with everything else he was in the end his father. Even though he had known for years why he had ended up in Fuyuki, and still got glimpses of his life from before, Kiritsugu had saved him. In some ways he did look up to him. "I'll become the hero that you couldn't."

"I'm glad," Not much thought was put into his reply. Kiritsugu felt tired and could almost feel himself wanting to slip away. To rest one final time.

Kiritsugu closed his eyes and felt himself lead against the doors edge. In the back of his mind he could hear her voice calling out to him. Irisviel was waiting for him and he wanted to go to her. "Papa," He felt himself return to consciousness as he looked at Illya. "Why aren't you in bed?"

He remembered that she was now twelve years old and thankfully it looked like she wasn't going to be stuck looking like she was a pre-teen for the rest of her life or suffer any health issues. Sacrificing the Emiya Family Crest had indeed done what was hoped. 'She's going to look almost like you Iri…'

It was more accurate to say that Illya was going to look like Justeaze, her technical grandmother, but that didn't matter to him. "I was just reminiscing about the past," Speaking of the past Kiritsugu knew that he wasn't likely to get a chance to tell Illya ever again. "Illya about how your mother died…"

"She became the Lesser Grail," Those words caused him to turn to her in surprise. Illya looked out into the yard as she didn't look at him. "I had suspected that mama's death was connected to the Holy Grail War." She moved her head up and looked at the night sky. "I am right, aren't I?"

Silence came over Kiritsugu as he didn't know how to respond to this. Illya had figured it out on her own and seeing how she was his daughter he really shouldn't have been surprised. Although, maybe it was just that obvious. "You were next Illya," Illya turned her head to Kiritsugu who just looked forward, recalling all the times he was incentivized to win the Fourth Grail War. "You were an incomplete Lesser Grail and those modifications were done for you…"

Nothing else had to be said as Illya knew what her father was going to say. She was going to be altered into becoming a Lesser Grail, to suffer the same fate as her mother. A fate that was never to come to pass now. Illya knew that her family's Magic Crest had been sacrificed for her to live and to grow. Most Einzbern Homunculi didn't have much of a reason to care about that. They were made and recycled on death. A biological machine that existed for a purpose and who likely didn't care enough to think beyond that.

She was different from them. Illya had known it for years both before and after being rescued by her father. While they were made, she was born. All they knew was effectively given to them, while she had to learn it. Finally, for them they had a family without any parents or siblings, while she had a mother, father, and later a brother. Arguably, Illya was the first real human born into the Einzbern Family in centuries.

Kiritsugu leaned back on the doorframe as he felt himself starting to slip back into unconsciousness. For a moment he could almost see Irisviel overlaid on top of Illya.

"I'll become a hero for you."

He cursed himself for not realizing this when that happened. Shirou was probably going to end up going down the same path as him. Made worse by being a Dead Apostle. Maybe had he next been so out of it he might be questioning himself and wondering if this was the case. "Illya promise me," The image of Irisviel faded as Illya turned to him. "You'll keep your brother grounded, to appreciate and care for what is in front of his eyes."

This request seemed a bit strange given how it seemed a bit sudden. Regardless Illya would do it. "I will papa."

Kiritsugu had a smile at this. Hopefully, Illya and maybe even Rin could keep him alright. Maybe he was overthinking this. Either way he didn't really have any more time to care. Closing his eyes one final time Kiritsugu saw her. A smile on her face as she held out her hand. One he accepted without much thought. To be with her again after everything.

That night the Magus Killer, the technical winner of the Fourth Holy Grail War, Kiritsugu Emiya had passed away.


Just because they had known that his death was enviable did not mean that they were not unaffected by his passing. Illya, however, had it worse of the two. When Rin told them about the curse he likely had, Illya just knew that he had been suffering from it for a while. More than likely he had been doing so ever since the Holy Grail War and had never told her even when he came and got her back.

She had been in her room crying the day after he had died. With her mother and father both gone she almost felt completely alone. Her family had almost all been taken from her by that stupid war her family had helped create. All for something that they had never won ever. None of it mattered to her at all. 'I hate you all!'

"Illya?" Shirou's concerned voice spoke through the door to her room. The redhead wondered for a moment if he should enter the room before deciding to do so. Illya didn't look at him as she sat in the corner of her room wrapped in blankets, tears, some dried and others fresh had fallen down her cheeks.

She didn't seem to acknowledge him but she knew that he was there. The only reason she didn't feel completely alone was because of him. Most of her friends she had made at school didn't know nor could they know about what she really was. Rin knew about much of the truth but not the full truth. Shirou knew nearly all of it. He was the only person she could confide in about everything. The last member of her family.

"He had been sick the whole time," Illya looked at her arms and at her covered body. "Papa focused so much to get me back and to allow me to live a normal life…" Anger swelled in Illya's voice as she thought about her grandfather and the Einzberns. "It's not fair he shouldn't have to go through all that trouble because of grandfather."

The pure venom within Illya's voice as she said the last word was clear who she blamed above all else for all of this. Well, there was one other person or rather group of people. Those who created the stupid Heavens Feel ritual in the first place. Even though without it she wouldn't have existed didn't even register or if it did it only made her madder. "I could have been just a normal girl but to everyone in my family I was a tool only mama and papa ever cared for me!" Her anger broke as she huddled with herself. "They both died for me."

Shirou didn't say anything as he walked up to her, got down and hugged her. Illya returned the hug as the two of them just held one another. After what was a few moments Shirou spoke up. "Illya, you know they did everything because they loved you."

"I know it's just I want us to all be together," A little fantasy she occasionally had was her whole family living together. Her mother, father, and Shirou as a family with her. Even though she knew what an impossibility it was, she couldn't help but picture it. "Shirou, I don't want to lose you too."

"I know and don't worry Illya, I am not going away anytime soon," He tried to reassure her. The two siblings let go and sat together. Shirou wiped away a stray tear that fell down Illya's cheek. "Come on Illya, staying in here all alone isn't like you."


"So, it looks like the Master of Saber has met his end," There was dismissiveness to this statement. Holding out for four years while under a curse was impressive by the standards of the modern day but the thing was it was the modern day.

Gilgamesh had caught sight of the man at least twice in the four years. During his walks and brief excursions around the city and area. All to look on to the modern world. A world that had done nothing but disappointed him. Six billion humans and mediocrity reigned with them. Hundreds had died in the fire and the city didn't seem all that effective. Wars could wipe out thousands and yet nothing seemed to matter. No great heroes would pop up and at most the world paid it no mind.

Gilgamesh had been tempted to take matters into his own hands. Tempted to remain the world who their King was but begrudgingly Gilgamesh knew that was probably suicide. While most of the beings in this age held not a candle to him a few did still exist which could give him a run for his money and force him to use Ea. Even that didn't necessarily guarantee him victory.

"If only you were here to hear this."

Lodging around the Church tended to be what he did most of the time. Occasional entertainment from the modern day was taken as without it he would go quite mad. Kirei was the one who usually did so. 'But he is off on some assignment for Church.'

On that thought the doors to the Church opened barely catching his attention. It was probably either Kirei returning or some of the faithful to the deity of this place. "Hello?"

The latter of the two it looks like. Gilgamesh didn't even move his head towards the wandering faithful. Not like he cared about some nameless person to either acknowledge their existence other then passing. "The priest isn't here."

"I see," The man didn't leave and instead walked to the pew that Gilgamesh was lodging in. Given the man didn't seem to leave there had to be a reason so Gilgamesh turned his head. Before him was a young man dressed in garb from the Holy Church. "I take it you're an associate of his?"

It seemed that another mission had come for Kirei. Something though didn't seem to add up. That priest was already off doing something for this organization. Might as well see what it is for him. At least it beat his boredom. "I am, I assume this is about something to do with what a rogue mage in the area?""

"Not exactly," The Church Agent walked up a bit to the altar. "I am from the Burial Agency and before I continue what do you know about the Dead Apostle Ancestors?"

Servants summoned by the Fuyuki Grail were given basic information about the group on the off chance that one of them showed up during the Grail War. Gilgamesh had gotten more information on them during his time spent in the modern day. He saw them as parasites in his garden. The fact they are indirect creations of the world did not matter. Although, a few of them had to given his respect for the power they likely held. "What does this have to do with them?"

"The Burial Agency keeps a record of each of the Dead Apostle Ancestors, any successors they possibly have, or any Dead Apostle of notice to the best of our abilities," He turned over to Gilgamesh with a grim expression on his face. The agent had no idea what the relationship between the both of them was. Maybe Kirei's apprentice or a relative but it didn't matter. "It has come to our attention that one of the Dead Apostle Ancestors we suspected we had killed may in fact still be alive."

Either the Church had been mistaken or the Dead Apostle had been able to fake their own death convincingly. Whatever the case this did have a bit of his attention. Not enough to do anything about this mind you but still. "Really how did you figure that one out?"

The agent didn't try to look at Gilgamesh as if debating if he should let the information out. There was something that they must have not wanted to get out. After a few moments of debating the agent made up his mind. "Because one of the Dead Apostles who we managed to interrogate claimed that the Twenty Second is alive and is looking for their missing Successor," Reaching into a picket the agent handed Gilgamesh an envelope. "All the relevant information is on this I hope you can give it to Kotomine."

Gilgamesh took the envelope and watched as the agent left the building. The King of Heroes just placed it down to the side. Sure, there was a bit of interest in this whole thing. But he didn't really care beyond the passing relevance. Out the corner of his eye he noticed a little insect that had flown about trailing the Burial Agent. 'It seems someone else is taking an interest in this…'


Sakura followed behind wordlessly. Getting her to follow her brother wasn't hard as she didn't seem to have much in the way of actual friends. Shinji had always found that a bit odd about his adopted sister. Though he never really cared much to figure it out why. So, she wanted to be a recluse. Either that or she was really shy and needed help in that department. "You know Shirou has a sister, she's about two years older than you but who knows maybe you're both get along."

Making friends wasn't something that Sakura thought she would ever be able to do. Especially not after everything that had been done to her. Sakura watched as Shinji had stopped walking and looked up to see just why he had done so. She felt herself freeze up as standing in front of the gate to the Emiya estate was her. "Well, Rin Tohsaka I didn't think I would see you here."

Rin turned to the source of the voice. Her eyes moved from Shinji and to the figure behind him. A brief feeling of regret and a desire to ask her how she was doing crossed over her mind. That didn't last long as she remembered that she had to pretend that they were not sisters anymore. An arrangement some part of her knew that she didn't have to strictly adhere too anymore. Yet, after everything Rin couldn't find it within herself to go against it. instead of dwelling on that she refocused on Shinji.

"I am here for Illya," Rin and Illya's friendship had become something that had long passed from just the privacy of two magi rivals. Most of their class and pretty much their grade knew that they had been friends. "I take it you're here for Shirou?"

If you asked her Rin wondered how Shirou had unknowingly just briended the son of the only other mage family in the city. Although, that was using the term rather loosely. Shinji Matou, like the rest of his bloodline, was effectively dead when it came to magecraft. "Well, yeah his dad died and what kind of a friend would I be if I didn't come by and see him," Shinji motioned to the girl behind him. "Plus, I figured Sakura could use it to try to have a friend for once and Illya seemed like the best bet."

Sakura tried not to look as Rin's attention was brought back to her. She was uncomfortable with all of this but she didn't voice it. Shinji thought it was best and he had been the only one of the Matous to be nice to her since her Kariya. Arguably the only one who had been nice to her at all. Save for one other. Even after almost four years the day that boy had come to help her was still fresh on her mind.

"Rin, Shinji?" Both of them turned towards the familiar voice as the two Emiya siblings walked out of the house. As Shinji and Rin turned to their friends, Sakura caught sight of the two siblings. The albino girl had to be Illya, the older sibling. As for the other one, Sakura couldn't believe her eyes.

He was the boy who had taken on those bullies. For a moment she wondered if he remembered her or not. Sakura didn't pay much attention as Rin and Shinji talked with the siblings at least until Shinji motioned to her. "Shirou, Illya, this is my younger sister Sakura."

The two siblings looked at the younger girl. Illya felt like she had some sort of connection or understanding about the girl. Given that Illya had never seen her ever before Illya had to wonder why. There was something within the back of her mind telling her about it but it was more of a feeling than anything else. 'Something doesn't add up.'

Shirou, however, felt like he knew who the girl was. The answer came as he caught the girl's scent. "You're that girl who was being bullied by those boys."

Everyone there was curious about what Shirou meant by that. All except for one of them. Sakura couldn't believe that he actually remembered her. 'He actually…'

"Wait, what was this about her being bullied?" Shinji questioned finding it rather hard to believe that anyone would bother with such a thing. To him it just felt like a pointless waste as Sakura barely seemed to react to anything at all. If you asked him, bullying Sakura felt like a waste of time. "I mean that just sounds pointless."

No sooner as those words left his mouth did everyone look at him. The two Emiya siblings couldn't understand why he would say that. Rin, however, felt annoyed that he would even say that about her younger sister, even though she immediately tried to push that thought away. "What?" Shinji just looked at the three people staring at him and seemed taken aback by this. "Look I am thankful you helped her but I can't understand for the life of me why anyone would waste their time."

No one commented about this. Shirou just decided to give his friend the benefit of the doubt. He probably couldn't understand why anyone would just bully a seemingly shy girl. Shirou's nose caught the same strange smell that he had gotten from her. Only now it seemed even stronger than before. 'Shinji doesn't have it himself, so what is going on here?'

Out of the corner of his eye Shirou caught sight of something flying around the group. It was almost out of reach but Shirou could catch sight of it. Whatever it was didn't look like it was natural. Turning his head towards it the insect paused before leaving in a hurry.


Out the eyes of both familiars Zouken Matou stood thinking about what had happened. When one of the familiars he had on patrol caught sight of a member of the Burial Agency. The difference was subtle but he knew it from two close calls with them. What the agent met with the remnant of the last war he had learned something that Zouken had strongly suspected. He had on occasion kept tabs on the more independent and borderline renegade families in the far east.

One of them whose history he did not care to learn had said to have a close relationship with a Dead Apostle Ancestor. A relationship that couldn't be proven but who Zouken suspected existed. None of his spying showed anything that lead him to believe that one of their members had been taken for such a role. He thought about keeping tabs on the Burial Agent until he left but then his other familiar he sent to check up on the Emiya household made him pause.

Yes, he had been aware that the Magus Killer had died. The man wasn't much of an issue as far as he was concerned. When he heard that Shinji had befriended his son and wanted to take Sakura with him, Zouken allowed it as he figured he might as well spy on them. Imagine his surprise to see an Einzbern leaving the house and not only that but the Dead Apostle he suspected of having subtly taken control of the local yakuza. He had to be the boy Shinji had befriended.

'The boy likely was subjected to hypnosis, or perhaps Mystic Eyes of Enchantment,' Great the idiot just led Sakura to a Dead Apostle who was likely in league with the Magus Killer, or the Einzberns. Zouken knew he should have tossed him into the worm pit alongside his mother. 'Wait a minute something's not right here.'

If the Dead Apostle was indeed this Shirou Emiya that Shinji had befriended for years then the number of murder cases were the blood had been extracted should have been long. The Dead should be roaming about serving their master. All of which would force the priest to act and dispose of the Dead Apostle or be disposed of in return. None of that had happened at all. Either the Dead Apostle was feeding on wildlife, riding the local blood bank, or had found some other alternative means to satisfy his need for blood. As unbelievable as the last one may seem there was alternatives a Dead Apostle could temporarily partake in that their kind had developed and ways to bypass the need for it.

'A missing Successor…' The thought crossed him again as his familiar left as soon as the Dead Apostle, Shirou Emiya, had caught sight of it. While that thought crossed his mind Zouken wanted to dismiss it. A coincidence was what it had to be. However, as he thought about it the more it made sense.

The Emiya boy had to be the missing Successor. It would explain everything really. He was likely aware of ways to hide his feelings or alternatives to hold it off for as long as possible. Oh, there were holes in his reasoning. Zouken was no fool to think this was a hundred percent accurate. The first issue was why he was with the Magus Killer or why an Einzbern was with him. The other was the fact the Tohsaka girl hadn't realized his true nature, or if she knew why the priest hadn't already killed him.

There was only one way to confirm it and that required him to try to contact the Twenty Second. Easily done if it wasn't for the fact he was very certain the few families who could didn't already dislike or hate him. In Zouken's defense he didn't think he would honestly ever need anything from them. 'That is assuming he even is the Successor in question.'


Taiga had decided to leave some of her things at their house now that she was officially their guardian. Most of it was tossed around without any care or reason. Shirou just found himself cleaning up after her and while he didn't mind it probably would become a habit. At least until Illya turned eighteen which by that point she would inherit full control over the estate. Though by then Shirou would be seventeen so there wasn't really more than a technicality to Illya becoming his guardian. Speaking of inheritance, Illya had become head of the Emiya Family as far as mage society's concerned. The bits and pieces that the two of them had gotten was that Kiritsugu's father had earned a sealing dissention and from what Rin told them it didn't mean that Illya or Shirou would be unable to join the Clocktower or one one of the various affiliates of the Mages Association.

Neither sibling knew that was a good idea. Rin and her family may have been affiliated with the Mages Association for centuries but they both had reasons for why that was a bad idea. For Illya she would be easy to point out as an Einzbern. Her family would catch wind of her and come to take her back. Something Illya was never going to do. While for Shirou he knew doing so was likely a death sentence for him.

'I wonder if we trust Rin enough to tell her the truth?' Shirou had actually been thinking about this quite a bit these last four years. Rin was indeed their friend and they both knew she saw herself as their friend too. 'Maybe we…'

Shirou was brought out of his musings as he saw something that seemed out of place with Taiga's usual stuff. A bow and a few arrows that seemed to just stand there against a wall. She had said that she had agreed to help the archery club a few days ago and it looks like she had forgotten about it. "I guess I could return it tomorrow for her."

Taking the bow in hand Shirou felt a sudden rush of familiarity. A nagging desire started to form in his mind. To go outside and shoot the bow. To practice it one more time. Shirou blinked in confusion for a moment. Realization hit him as he knew that he had held a bow and had practiced archery for years. 'Why do I know how?'

A blur was all his mind could come up with. No memory flash was coming to him. Like a wall existed that couldn't be brute forced through. Examining the bow in his hands Shirou kept feeling the desire to shoot it constantly echoing in his mind. Whatever was associated with this desire was important to him. So, much so that despite not even knowing why he knew that he had to do it. Just so he could know what was so important to him.

Walking outside with the bow in hand Shirou looked around the yard as his eye turned to the wall of the estate as a target. With his free hand Shirou projected a single practice arrow. This was better than using one of the ones that were with the bow. 'Let's see what this is all about.'

Shirou started to hear someone's voice in the back of his mind. One that was distant and heavily distorted yet the meaning behind the words were there. A target appeared in his mind in front of him. No the memory of a target had formed in front of him. An arrow let loose from the small bow being held by a five year old version of himself. It fell right in front of him. A voice spoke but it was distorted as if the memory wasn't fully clear. Shirou rested the practice arrow on the bow string.

The first memory he had managed to get back replayed in his mind. Of him practicing outside of a castle with animals watching over him. The memory became more clearer and now he recalled just what it actually was. Familiars had been sent to watch over him per request so that he didn't accidentally cross the bounded field. A request granted so his *** wouldn't worry while he played outside.

Moving the bow to level the voice continued to speak to him. Instructions on how to use the bow began to replay. The target was still there but now he was six. Bow and arrow in hand he pulled the string back and let loose. This time the arrow didn't just fall in front of him. It didn't reach the target but it had flown. Words were heard this time less distorted but still he couldn't tell much about them.

As he pulled the bowstring back slowly, the second memory he had gotten back became more clearer. He had been basically tutored by his *** for much of his young life. Besides the fundamentals of reading, writing, and math, there were also the things he learned pertaining to his existence as a Dead Apostle Successor. He was designated successor for one of the Dead Apostle Ancestors. By his *** to be specific.

The arrow was ready to be released. He was seven years old and when he fired the arrow it would actually hit the target's outer rings. Once again the voice spoke even less distorted than before. Just barely he could make out something. "G***d j*b."

Shirou let it go as a flood of understanding came over him. When he found out his element and began training into Magecraft he learned the three spells he knew very quickly. Reinforcement, Structural Grasping, and Projection. His first projection was the dagger he had shown Kiritsugu. When he managed to seemingly make it solid, when he performed his first Trace at age seven he learned something else. Shirou had been developing a Reality Marble. Something owed to how he was brought into the world. Because he was born a Dead Apostle.

Finally, the arrow struck the target. Shirou was eight years old and had done it. A strike dead center just like he had watched happened over and over again. On his birthday no less. This time the voice spoke and there was no more distortion. It was clear as day to him at last.

"You finally did it Shirou."

Standing there he only looked on. Not a single thought was given to the practice arrow or even the bow that was in his hands. His grip on it had faded and naturally gravity took over as it fell to the ground. No movement was made for a few moments after as if he was just a statue. A tear slowly fell down his cheek as a whirlwind of emotions finally started to flood his mind. In the end the only thing he did was say one single word as the rush came to an end.

"Mom…"


I know how this might have gone and feel but to be honest I had thought of this for a long time before the story had begun. As such I thought about it all and figured I might as well use one of the vacant seats. As for if Shirou's mother will show up that is something I am actually debating if to or not. Anyway, if you're still on this now the Kiritsugu arc has ended.

Yes, I hinted at the reason that someone who focuses on Swords got into archery was because of his mother. Basically had he never removed Avalon and live more or less as a normal human this would have explained why he chose the club he did. Even if unable to remember anything Shirou would probably still have a feeling of "this feels right" that he probably wouldn't question.

Well, I'll cya all next chapter.