Hello all and welcome to the latest chapter to The Legend of Shirou Hayabusa. By the way, I am always looking for a willing Beta to look over my work because I know my grammar is sub-par, so if anyone is interested send me a PM please?

Now to be honest guys, I had a very rough time with this chapter, I wasn't entirely sure why I was just halfway there then my muse went to shit and I was just very disappointed in myself overall. So, if it seems sub-par then I sincerely apologize.

Now I hope you all enjoy!

"You're so dead, Kiritsugu!" ~Shirou Hayabusa

The Legend of Shirou Hayabusa

Chapter 2: A New Home

It wasn't every day that Kiritsugu Emiya found himself in these type of situations. In fact, he dared to think this was the very first predicament in which he found himself confronted by the small possibility of getting himself killed. Now, he had been in many life or death situations ranging from being at gun point, magical blasts of a many varietal elemental affinities aimed at him to completely destroy his body, and even having hundreds of undead swarming around him. He had been through much in his arguably short life so he wasn't a stranger to these situations. However what made his current situation unique was the fact that it held many variables in which hadn't happened to him before in these type of predicaments.

For one, he was in a highly packed public place, specifically speaking at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo. Second, was the fact his aggressor wasn't an adult or even a teenager for that matter, but was infact a child of only 5 year's of age under his belt. Third, and most importantly, was the fact the weapon with which he felt held the possibility was the sheer heat coming from the boy's glare aimed at his head throughout the entire trip from Fuyuki to Tokyo. Seriously, the heat coming from the glare alone made Kiritsugu idly theorize, for a moment, if dying from a glare that could melt your skull and brain was possible.

Then again, in a world where people had Mystic eyes, he was sure it wasn't entirely far off from the realm of possibility.

Now you may be wondering how Kiritsugu ended up with the ire of his new charge, and it all originated from the moment they left the home of his old friend with Shirou in tow. He had woken up bright and early before the sun had barely broken over the horizon as the trip to the nearest airport was in Tokyo. There was work in Fuyuki to build an airport, but as of now they were still in the process of getting it's foundation completed. So, he wanted to leave early to get to Tokyo by midday at least.

Yet from the very moment he and Shirou got into a taxi and took a trip to Tokyo, the boy had been glaring at him for nearly the entire trip. Briefly, he took in the sights of Tokyo just before turning back to glaring at him. He wasn't sure why, and for a moment he thought it was because of simple apprehension of him. Not that he could blame the boy, his father may trust him, but to the boy's perspective he was an unknown, and to a shinobi, an unknown was to be dealt with extreme suspicion until either recognized as a threat or seen as a beneficial ally.

He had also thought it was simple childish misdirected anger toward him, but that simply couldn't be the case. Shirou had, indirectly mind you, proved to the Magus Killer that the boy was despite his age far more mature then those of his generation. Hell, he was more mature then most adults he had met in his life, which said a lot considering who had dealt with in the past. So, he was sure it had to be the former as Ryu probably beat it into the boy's skull to always act as a Shinobi first and foremost before acting like a person, which was why he was treating him with such neutral suspicion.

'But he needs to work on that, he's acting too obvious in his scrutiny or perhaps that's on purpose to make me feel nervous? Hm, if that's the case he's somewhat succeeded cause here I am questioning the boy's motive for acting like this.' he thought before his mind went back to when he left Ryu's home. He tried to find out another reason as to why the red head was acting like this, and he could only remember all that happened before they left.

Flashback

The moment he felt the sun piercing through the thinly veiled blinds of the guest room, Kiritsugu's eyes expertly opened without so much as a wince to the morning sun. Having thrown himself into more battlefields and wars around the globe had made him immune to the harsh light of the sun blaring the first moment he woke up. It was pretty subpar to having the sound of an explosion right outside your camp or the shouts of men, screaming women and crying children in war torn villages and towns. Compared to that, the sun was akin to a lamp when opening his eyes in the morning.

''Best get ready to go, we need to get going as early as possible to avoid the traffic, Tokyo's always like that this time of the year.'' the ride from Fuyuki and Tokyo wasn't considerably long, just a little over 5 hours, but the traffic was atrocious by the time it hit 8 to 10 so he wanted to get there as soon as possible. Tokyo had the nearest airport, and that was why he wanted get going as soon as possible. That, and the fact the longer he stayed in Japan, and specifically speaking Fuyuki, the more likely he would be spotted by the Tohsaka's governing this city.

Not that he could remember having wronged the Tohsaka's one way or another, but he knew Tokiomi Tohsaka was a very well respected Magus of the Clock Tower, and a potential master for the War that was coming which was why he wanted to avoid any unnecessary conflict. He didn't want to draw the mans eyes too early or it would ruin any future plans for the war.

So he woke up, cleaned himself and got dressed and waited for his charge outside and soon enough he saw Ryu coming out with his son in tow. Though he did see them having words, but about what he wasn't sure, but he wouldn't pry as it was not his business what Ryu had to say to Shirou. Though he was slightly perplexed by the frown forming on the young red head's face, and taking a moment he saw the boy actually wearing normal clothing that wasn't apart of his training garb.

It was almost silly in a way as the night before he had witnessed the boy's ability as a Shinobi, and seen him in his training garb, but now he was wearing simple clothing befitting a child of his age. A simple long sleeved red T-shirt with a black hoodie, blue jeans and red shoes, overly simplistic, but it served it's purpose to hide in plain sight. A simple tactic for all shinobi he assumed.

However he did watch the two break from whatever they were speaking about, and Shirou walked away soon after and from watching the boy go on ahead Kiritsugu figured he needed some time alone. But when he went to Ryu to say his goodbyes, he was surprised to see the man watching his son go with a solemn expression.

''You alright there, Ryu?'' he asked, a tad perplexed at the expression currently on his friends face. The brown haired man on the other hand simply closed his eyes before turning his green filled gaze on him.

But instead of answering his initial question, Ryu's eyes was filled with a certain light that Kiritsugu hadn't seen the night before. It was actually something he could only remember seeing so many years ago when he first met the man before him. It was the resolve that made the man Ryu Hayabusa, the very same force of will that made Ryu such a force not to be reckoned with. The very same that instilled the primal terror in him when he saw the man in action, it was the resolve of a man who was ready for whatever was to come.

And it honestly terrified him...

''Kiritsugu...make sure Shirou becomes strong. I've made mistakes in raising him, but my biggest regret was putting him on the path he is on now. Momiji certainly wouldn't have wanted this for him, but there was little I could do besides this. Now, he walks down a path that I am sure will be the most difficult and bloodiest of them all. There is more to him then meets the eye, something I've known even before he was born, and I'm sure that whatever that may be it will emerge in him...given time. So when it does...'' he stopped to gaze directly into Kiritsugu's black orbs.

''Be ready because not even I am sure what he will become anymore.'' he said in the most serious tone Kiritsugu had ever heard come from the man. It was a voice of a man that was simply ready for the worst, and that alone sent alarms ringing in his skull. Let it be said, Kiritsugu was a very cautious man, almost to the point it was outright paranoia yet it is what kept him alive for the most of his life. So, when he heard Ryu speak those words, he was more than just a little disturbed and he spoke his mind on that matter.

"Ryu...there is something you're not telling me. I know you Shinobi have your secrets, but what are you trying to say? What are you hiding?" he nearly demanded information from Ryu, but that would prove costly for him. It was best not to overstep his bounds with the man because as crippled as he was, he was still the former Shinobi of Legend whose very mention of the name made the Magus Association and the Holy Church freeze up. He knew quite well that with how close they were Ryu could kill him in over 406 different ways without breaking a sweat.

But this couldn't be left alone, he simply could not go in without having something unknown to him which was the cause for his urgency, but Ryu simply gave him...a mysterious smile.

"You should know that we Shinobi always carry our secrets to the grave, you are just more informed then most simply because of our respect for one another. I simply say that Shirou is a very special boy, one of whom I know without a doubt will bring great change to this world, of that I am entirely sure of. Do not feel threatened Kiritsugu, while he may not show it, Shirou will not harm a single hair on anyone that's not done any harm to him...it's only those that have conflicted with his ideals that will meet their end with extreme prejudice.'' he said, and while that did calm the Magus Killer a bit it didn't completely absolve him of his caution.

Still, he would remain silent, he wouldn't call Ryu out on this any further as it was none of his business right now. If what Ryu said had anything to note it was the fact there was something very different from Shirou then other Shinobi children, and that he just needed to keep an eye on him in case something happened or changed in the boy. If it did, he would, for his respect and debt to Ryu, do everything in his power to make sure the boy remained who he was.

Sighing, he shook his head at Ryu's mysterious attitude right now, he could be cryptic as hell sometimes.

''Fine, I'll believe you for now, and I promise to keep my eye on the kid...but Ryu, are you really sure about this?'' he asked causing the man to raise an eyebrow at him, clearly asking him what he meant. So, he sighed and decided to clarify for the man.

''I mean...is this how you really want to die? I've known you for a long time Ryu, and I find it so hard to believe that you would simply want to die like this.'' he said with a small frown. Some small part of him that actually looked up to Ryu as a man whose deeds had been known throughout the supernatural simply could not think he would want to actually die like this. It was simply because, Ryu Hayabusa was a warrior unlike any other in this age and even in the past, he stood above everyone, even those of his own people. He stood on a precipice that no mortal could of this era could ever dream of reaching, and only those of the Heroic Spirits could possibly ever achieve. He was simply that strong, no one could truly deny that without looking like an utterly incompetent moron of the highest degree.

Which was why he found this situation so unfair for him, this man above all else deserved a better death then simply to wait for a curse to take him.

He deserved no less then that.

But to Kiritsugu's surprise Ryu simply chuckled while his eyes tore from him, and looked back to where Shirou walked away with a strange expression on his face. ''My end, Kiritsugu, will come with or without outside interference it is inevitable, and I have accepted that. However, I have steeled myself to confront this curse for years, and I will simply not lay down and allow some Sorcery to be my end. If I am to die, Kiritsugu Emiya, then it will be on the end of a sword of a worthy foe. One of whom I can look into the eyes and see the strength of the next generation and die happy. That is the kind of death I would want and the one I will get, even if I must defy destiny, fate and even death itself for!'' he said with a uncharacteristic grin that dashed aside Kiritsugu's own turmoil.

The moment he heard those words, seeing the expression on his face, and his eyes was all Kiritsugu needed to find solace in the fact that Ryu wouldn't simply die. But the motive in his words left him guessing...what did he mean by that?

Turning his gaze in the same direction, Kiritsugu thought about it, but simply could not find a solid reason. What was the motive in Ryu saying that? What drove him to say that?

What was the meaning behind those words?

'Hm, I can't keep thinking about it otherwise it'll just drive me insane. I'm sure it'll come to me later.' he reasoned on that, there would come a time he'll learn what Ryu meant, for now he had to get going.

''I see, well if you're sure then I will say no more. I won't pretend to understand what you mean, but I will respect your wishes. Now I believe I should go, I got a plane to catch.'' with that said he bid his friend farewell. All the while he could feel Ryu watching him leave, and for a moment he thought he heard him say something, but he figured it to be his hearing playing tricks on him.

"Take care of him...Kiritsugu..."

Flashback End

And that was how Kiritsugu found himself in this situation with his charge, Shirou Hayabusa. The two were currently on their way to their plane, where he used a minor hypnosis through eye contact on the guard so he wouldn't question Shirou's belongings in the form of his scroll his father had given him. At the reception desk he had been asked who the kid was, an innocent enough question, but one that held the potential to cause many misinterpreted variables, but he easily answered it.

By giving a half lie...

''He's my nephew that's coming to live with me for a couple of days while his parents are out on a vacation.'' he said, and Shirou seemed to go along with it for the most part just to keep up appearance. Good, the kid knew the basics of the basics of infiltration, expected of a Shinobi, he figured.

Still it did leave him a little perplexed at their being no discussion between him and Shirou, it bothered him a bit to be honest. He was supposed to train and raise this kid for the next 5 years so he couldn't allow this tense atmosphere between them to last. If it were anyone else, Kiritsugu wouldn't have cared, but this was Ryu's kid, and Shirou interested him enough to actually care.

So, the moment Shirou first laid eyes on his first ever air plane and he saw the wide eyed shocked expression from the boy he took that chance to break the ice between them. ''First time seeing a plane, I take it?'' he asked making Shirou blink before giving a small frown before ultimately giving a small nod.

''Yeah, dad only taught me the basic of academics of the modern age, but while he mentioned about these flying machines this is my first time seeing one let alone getting on one.'' he replied causing the older man to nod, he easily felt the apprehension Shirou had earlier lessen, but only ever so slightly, but there was some now for the plane they were to board, and he couldn't blame the kid. After all, he'd been trained in the wildness for most of his life, and was only allowed into Fuyuki for training purposes only, so it came to no surprise to him that Shirou was apprehensive about being out in the open and introduced to such technology.

''Don't worry, the first time for everyone can seem a bit much, but you'll only feel a sense of vertigo, and feel like your stomach's just did a hundred flips and end up in your throat by the time it's over with.'' he said causing Shirou to frown at that. That didn't sound pleasant.

'Then again I've been traveling at speeds far faster then most cars in Fuyuki, and running up sky scrapers and jumping from rooftop to rooftop in Fuyuki for a good few months. So how bad can it really be?' he questioned, surely it wouldn't be THAT bad would it?

XxX

Kiritsugu stared...

Shirou stared back...

Kiritsugu stared some more...

Shirou stared back even more...

Kiritsugu's left eyebrow twitched...

''Shirou...there comes a time when one must learn restraint...now I know you were in a rather precarious situation, but was that really necessary?'' he said through a tight frown on his normally expressionless face, but no one who knew him could really blame him. Right now, he and Shirou were walking away from their plane after it had reached their location, which was the Frankfurt airport in Germany.

The trip itself hadn't taken long and it was mostly an uneventful ride, hell he initially thought Shirou would have had a hard time with the lift off and landing yet if anything the boy seemed genuinely excited once the rush of vertigo slammed into them. No, it was the matter of when they were getting off and getting their luggage, when Shirou got his luggage one of his pockets came open and the scroll his father gave him fell out.

And unfortunately one of the employee's tried confiscating it thinking it to be a suspicious item, and it could be to the eye of an average individual, but the man had made the mistake of denying Shirou's request to give it back. When the man said no and was about to turn it into the police, Shirou acted without a second thought, and Kiritsugu was almost too slow to stop him.

He grabbed the man by arm, and nearly broke his arm holding the scroll had Kiritsugu not seen this and stopped him. If he hadn't he was sure the boy would have clearly shattered the man's arm in twine. The scroll was important, that much he knew for a fact, but the fact Shirou nearly crippled the man for it spoke levels of how much Shirou needed teaching in the ways of restraint and how to be a social human being.

''He nearly took my father's scroll...'' Shirou tried to defend his case, but admittingly to even him it was a pretty weak statement and it was something Kiritsugu capitalized on. He stopped, and turned to Shirou with a critical eye, one of which Shirou was made to stop at.

''Shirou, know it or not, you nearly crippled that man, an innocent, if I hadn't stopped you. I know that scroll is important to you, but you need to learn to restrain yourself, and think of other routes. You could have asked me and I would have gotten it back for you, people won't listen to the word of a 5 year old so rely on me and I would have gotten it for you.'' he said in a stern tone of voice to which Shirou scowled at, but ultimately for a moment sighed and bowed his head.

He knew he made a mistake, but it was on a subconscious level that he just reacted without thinking. The situation with his father was still fresh in his mind so anything from his father was as precious to him as his very own life. So the moment that guy took his scroll he just lost himself and, to his own self-loathing, nearly crippled an innocent man over it. Something that contradicted to his very own ideal path of being a Shinobi. The thought alone left a bad taste in his mouth and left him only feeling shitty.

And Kiritsugu's words only made him realize that fact, he just didn't think about it.

''...I apologize, I should have calmed down and asked you for help. I...overreacted. I'm sorry, Kiritsugu-san.'' he apologized and the Magus Killer knew the boy was telling the truth, he was truly apologetic about the whole situation. Giving a small sigh, the man shook his head, the kid apologized so there wasn't much else he could say. Shirou recognized his own mistake, and would aim to correct that in the future, he was sure of it.

Thankfully, he was able to put the man under a small hypnosis about the whole incident and made him give back the scroll under the pretense that it was a family heirloom.

''If you understand that then good, now we need to meet up with our ride.'' he said causing Shirou to perk an eyebrow. This was the first he heard of them meeting up with someone else, but then again when he thought about it. He hadn't even asked where they were going, where Kiritsugu even lived, and for that matter what they would be doing for the next 5 years.

...That thought alone made him question why he hadn't brought him up in the first place, but then he remembered why. He was so caught up with glaring at Kiritsugu that he hadn't put a thought into it. Once he realized his behavior from before, Shirou dropped in his in shame, that wasn't how a shinobi was supposed to act. They were to always put their emotions in check, and kill them when on the mission. As a shinobi, you should never let your emotions rule you, that was a rule his father had literally drilled into his skill when he was 3 year's old.

'I'm such a idiot.' he thought to himself, the reason he acted that way at the time sounded pretty reasonable to him, but now that he looked back, it was just childish. He had been spiteful, and wanted to blame someone for shattering his reality, and Kiritsugu at the time had been the target for his misdirected anger. He had no one to be angry with, and blamed him for no other reason then to simply blame someone.

It was petty, it was pitiful, it was pathetic.

'Well no better time then now to open up discussions with him.' the Hayabusa heir thought to himself before bringing himself out of his muse.

''I never did ask, but who are we meeting and where are we going, Kiritsugu-san?'' his question made the man pause, if only for a moment, before continuing his trek to the airport entrance. Though he did send a calculative glance toward his charge, and after a moment internally nodded to himself. Good, the kid was willing to break the ice with him, progress is progress.

''Well, we're going to the northern mountains of Germany where I currently reside. My wife and daughter live there with their family, and I am currently living there under the pretense of aiding the family in a personal matter. I sent a forward message to them to send us a ride back.'' he said causing Shirou's eyes to widen for a moment, that was the first he heard of this. Kiritsugu had a wife and a kid?

…..For some unexplainable reason, Shirou shivered.

''I-I see, but what matter could it be, I don't mean to pry, but father never told me who you were, and I'm still in the dark about how you two know each other. He never told me anything about you, and I'm kind of confused as to how you will be helping me in my training.'' he asked or more like fumbled his words. But Kiritsugu understood his confusion, Ryu didn't really explain anything to the boy now that he thought about it. So, it was probably up to him to explain to Shirou who he was, what he was, and of the other parts of the supernatural his father never told him about.

Well besides leaving out the part of the Mages Association and the Holy Church having been the ones who destroyed his clan and killed his mother of course. He'd rather not have a rampaging 5 year old shinobi powerhouse on his hands.

''Hm...I agree, well I guess I can start with this...'' then he turned and looked Shirou straight in the eye, and spoke with all the seriousness he could muster.

''Shirou...I am a Mage.''

For a moment, there was a silence between the two. Shirou stared directly into Kiritsugu's black eyes and scrutinized him for a moment. It would have felt like hours for others, but Shirou and Kiritsugu stared at one each other for what was really only a few seconds. But to the older man's surprise, Shirou merely shook his head.

''Well that explains the strange energy I feel from you, I'm willing to guess that as a mage you guys carry the spiritual half of chakra in your bodies? No wonder I had trouble sensing you at first.'' he mumbled the last bit, but he stopped when he caught notice of Kiritsugu staring at him as if he was looking at something strange.

''You...felt my prana?'' he asked to which Shirou shook his head.

''Well if that's what you call it yeah, I've always been very sensitive to the energy of the world, though I never really knew why. Because of this extra sensitivity I've been able to pick up on anyone's energy signature, even in the average human. When I first felt yours it felt strange, but now I've recognized it as the spiritual energy half of chakra.'' he explained while Kiritsugu nearly, nearly stumbled as his professional mind began to run a mile a minute as he began to think of how useful such an ability was.

It wasn't like it was uncommon for other Mages to be able to track another, but that was only under the conditions of either A: the other mage left a trail for the other to follow that was still fresh or B: Just recently initiated a spell allowed for others to pick up on it and converge on said mage. Shinobi, from what he knew, were people that lived off the land, they were the children of Gaia in the most physical of sense. They lived off the land, were raised in the wilderness, taught to always respect the land, so they always had a natural sensitivity to nature and more so to the energy of others.

But from the way Shirou was speaking it sounded like something entirely different.

''And how far does your sensitivity reach? Are their ways in which you can utilize that ability so far?'' he asked, curiosity running through him at this point.

The young red head closed his eyes in thought before shrugging his shoulders. ''As far as I know my reach can spread out to the whole of Fuyuki city, and if I tried to extend it further I'd be pushing the limits, but I could probably sense the half of the region. I've experimented a few ways in sensing others, but I just need to have physical contact with them in whatever way possible, and I'll memorize their signature right away. But the one I've used the most so far is my nose, it lets me smell the chakra flucuations in the air, and it enables me to track abnormalities or so I've learned. It's still something I'm experimenting with though.'' he explained, but as he reached the end of the airport he realized he was alone.

''Eh? Kiritsugu-san?'' perplexed he turned around only to blink once when he saw the older man had stopped in mid-step while his eyes were slightly widened. His shocked expression, for some reason, made Shirou feel slightly uncomfortable.

But who could blame Kiritsugu anyway? He had just been told something that quite literally shook him to the core. If what his charge had just told him was true then that meant Shirou could sense anyone in a vast wide area of his own choosing. He could expand his sensory ability to encompass the whole of Fuyuki, and be able to identify people that's he's come into contact in the past. And even able to smell abnormalities in chakra from within the air itself!

That was nothing like a mages or even a Shinobi's natural ability to sense energy.

This was something else entirely.

'If Shirou actually learns to master that ability he'll have a major advantage over anyone on the battlefield! In fact it would be a game changer for the...' when his line of thought reached that part of his mind he quickly shut the lid on it and threw it into the deepest depths of his mind. No matter how much of an advantage it would be for him, he could not drag Shirou with him into the War that was to come. The boy may be skilled, but he was only 5 year's old and he was not his father, if he was like his father Kiritsugu knew Shirou would have no troubling dealing with the Fourth Holy Grail War.

But he wasn't, he was a 5 year old boy still training to be a Shinobi, he would be slaughtered if he went into the War like he was.

'Then again I'll be having him for the next 5 year's, who knows how strong he'll be by then.' which was true, he would only have the boy for 5 year's because by then the War will have reached it's mark to begin. He would have to leave for the War that was too come, and send Shirou back...to Fuyuki City anyway.

...Shit

When he realized this fact, Kiritsugu's frown deepened before he kept walking ignoring Shirou's confused glance for the most part. If that was true, then he had a lot of work to do if he was going to be bringing the boy with him toFuyuki City. In terms of technique there wasn't much he could teach the boy, but there was some things; however the main reason as to why Ryu sent Shirou with him was because of one thing, the only thing Ryu figured Shirou needed now.

Experience...

And he knew Kiritsugu was the best teacher for such a subject, besides himself. Kiritsugu was a freelancer for hire, a man who would take on any contract that he felt would go along with his ideals and he took nothing else besides those. He took contracts that formed him all across the world and into the middle of conflicts around the earth. Some were battles concocted by the political brass of the world, and others dealt with the supernatural. Sometimes he was sent to kill off an infestation of Dead Apostles or a town/city or village overrun with undead. These were the contracts the Mages Association couldn't handle and reached out from their Enforcer ring and contracted Freelancers, though they immensely disliked doing so.

This was how Kiritsugu was initially going to train Shirou by putting him through the paces and introduce to him how truly sick the world was. Ryu wanted Shirou to learn how cruel and dangerous the outside world really was, and the man knew that only Kiritsugu could do such a thing. For he had experienced it first hand, he had seen the ugliness, the most darkest side of mankind, and how truly unfair the world was to the weak. It was why Ryu entrusted Shirou's further training to him.

'But if Shirou's sensory ability is as tactically beneficial as I think it is then l'll I need to him to become much stronger then Ryu initially ever expected him to be in the 5 year period.' the man thought to himself. As a Mage, Kiritsugu wasn't like eveyr other mage, he held no pride in his abilities, he merely used everything he had at his disposal as a tool to further his ideal. Because of that there was little to nothing he could teach his new charge. Plus, Shirou was a natural born Shinobi, and a prodigy from what Ryu had said, he was learning the rest of the arts passed onto him by his father's clan. So, in terms of technique he couldn't teach much, besides he wasn't sure a Shinobi could learn the techniques of a Mage, not even the most basic ones such as Reinforcement or even Projection.

'Still, it's better then trying nothing...' he figured before he shook his head, deciding to think on it later the Magus Killer looked over his shoulder and glanced directly at his 5 year old charge. ''Shirou, just to let you know, the family I'm living with is a Magus family that's lived for generations. They're a very stalwart clan of Mages and Alchemists so be respectful when we get there, alright?'' he asked only to feel relief when Shirou gave him a nod in return.

''That will not be a problem, if they are your family then I will treat them with respect, Kiritsugu-san.'' his reply was satisfactory, but Kiritsugu almost felt the need to correct him, because he personally only had his wife and child living amongst them. And while he was invited to live as an Einzbern, he still hadn't truly thought about becoming one of them officially. Only because the head of the Einzbern left him with a really bad impression the first time they met.

That happens though when the man discards his wife-to-be at the time out into the wilderness, saying she was useless to him as her chances of survival were nearly non-existent outside the walls of the castle. Though it was also his own fault at the time for saying that in the first place when he first accepted the summons by the Einzbern to come and meet with them. Still, he was to be apart of the family officially, once he completed his objectives.

Well that and he couldn't become one until he delivered the Grail into Jubstacheit's hands even though he was wed to Irisviel.

''Very good, our ride will be one of the Einzbern's retainers so from here on out be prepared Shirou, because you're about to enter the world of Mages.'' he said causing the red head to glance him with a slight glow of curiosity at the way he worded that, but it couldn't be helped because in Kiritsugu's eyes the world of Mages was akin to one thing.

It was like being surrounded by wolves in sheep's clothing, that was the fundamental truth.

The boy only gave a nod and soon the duo was infront of the airport entrance where Kiritsugu spotted his ride, it wasn't exactly hard seeing as their driver was a strikingly different person in appearance to the general populace. It was an older gentleman with short cut silver hair and red eyes, then trademark of every Einzbern. But Kiritsugu knew this man as one of the blood born Einzbern, and a long time servant of the current head of the Family. The older man wore a trademark butler attire which only seemed to compliment his overall appearance as an established loyal retainer to the Einzbern family.

It was then, as Kiritsugu and Shirou came up to him, that the man finally caught sight of them, and offered a respectful bow. ''Ah, Kiritsugu-sama, it is good that you have come back to us. Irisviel-sama and little Illya have been worried and have asked of your whereabouts.'' he asked though he took a curious glance toward the young red head at Kiritsugu's side.

For the Emiya, who caught the butler glancing at his charge, merely took the older man's words in stride, he knew the two would be worried as he had left in due haste without so much as leaving them or the Einzbern a reason as to why he left in such a hurry. But this was something he clearly couldn't leave alone, especially now.

''I'll explain when we get back Alfred, for now we must make haste. There is much I need explain to the Head about certain predicaments that have arisen for me.'' he asked which the man agreed with a nod, he opened the trunk for his luggage while giving the silent Shirou another glance. Curiously, the young boy was remaining silent while all the while looking out at the vast city of Frankfurt.

''I suppose the boy with you has something to do with this, sire?'' he questioned receiving a nod from the freelancer.

''Indeed, but we must be off, there is much I must explain to Jubstateich concerning the boy, so I would appreciate it if we made haste.'' he pressed making Alfred give only a nod. He wouldn't question Kiritsugu, despite not being of blood to the Einzbern he was married into the family and he was to be their Master for the coming war. That alone was enough for him to not question the man's loyalty.

''Very well sire.'' with another bow he took to the driver seat while Kiritsugu ushered in Shirou to the back seat while he got on the other side and without another word they rode off.

The ride itself was mostly silent for the most part, while Alfred kept driving Kiritsugu attended to his laptop to check up on any emails he may have missed from any potential contacts or those of his spies. Shirou on the other hand was gazing out from his window just taking in the site of one of Germany's cities called Frankfurt. His golden eyes took in the massive skyscrapers, the architecture that was so completely different from the ones he was used to in Fuyuki, and the overall feel of the city.

He could feel from the chakra in the air, what little of it he could feel anyway, painted him a descriptive enough picture of what this city was like. It was a city of modern civilization, that alone was enough to make Shirou dislike it.

'Well it's not that I hate it, it just feels too...stuffy? The air feels dirty, the chakra in the air feels stiff and stagnated by the lack of nature. Fuyuki wasn't anywhere near as bad, even the Shinto district wasn't this bad.' Shirou thought to himself with a frown. Still he couldn't help but admire the architecture for what it was worth. Compared to the skyscrapers in Fuyuki's Shinto district, the skyscrapers here dwarfed them immensely.

...For a moment he toyed with the idea of training ontop of those rooftops...

'Still I wonder what my life will be like for the next 5 years.' he thought about that as the car drove off to the distant mountains. There was no way in his mind that he would stop his training because of him being separated from his father, infact he would only push himself even harder then he ever had before just to prove himself to his father that he could rest easy knowing he could shoulder the burden of being the last Hayabusa. He knew all too well what that meant for him as well as the ancient lineage and the blood that ran through his veins. It had been one of the very basics taught to him by his father, something he was made the memorize since he was small.

He was the next in line of the Hayabusa, an ancient warrior Clan that safeguarded humanity from the forces of darkness and chaos. The ones who protected mankind from all sorts of entities ranging from the Fiends and Demons of Hell, Fallen Gods and even from humanity itself. If their machinations proved to threaten the world, Gaia herself, then he would act accordingly and put them down.

No matter the cost...

Thinking that, Shirou fished out the scroll his father gave him and he looked down at it with narrowed eyes.

'Father...when I come back, I promise to be strong, stronger then anyone. That way, you can rest easy so that when that time comes, you can see mom again and feel at ease knowing I'll be shouldering the burden from now on.' resolved to his oath, Shirou put away his scroll though he missed Kiritusugu's glancing at him all the while.

XxX

The ride to the mountains was one filled with a somewhat neutral silence, but while the two adults remained quiet throughout the ride, Shirou had taken it upon himself to memorize the route they were taking. Because he was sure it would come in handy if he ever got lost, and needed to find his way back. But the majority of his attention was on the mountainous region they were currently driving through. The moment they entered it Shirou had been hit by a feeling that was similar to a cleansing splash of spring water after having been stuck in filth. Once they entered the mountainous regions the chakra just splashed against him, cleansing him of all the impurities of the city, washing it away as if it was all filth.

Nature was incredibly strong in these mountains, chakra was thick in the air and while not as strong as it is in Fuyuki, it was still very apparent to him that these regions were a chakra rich environment untouched by the hands of man. The snow storms coming down upon mountains and snow filled peaks only made Shirou theorize that the wildlife in these regions must be much more durable and stronger through sheer adaption due to the climate of these regions. Something he knew would prove to be a good place to train himself.

Overexertion of the body, pushing it past it's natural mortal limits and above to endure even the harshest of weather conditions amidst the field of combat was the basics of the basics of Shinobi combat. To put the body through every situation that risked death was fundamental to honing your body to it's maximum to endure and adapt to every situation on the fly. There was no time to just stop and think in the field of battle, so you had to train your body to endure everything the world could ever throw at you and more.

That was a teaching he took to heart...

'I only hope no one interrupts me during my training.' it was troublesome enough when his father forbade him from ever pushing his body like that at his age. But now he had to a chance to put that training to use.

With those thoughts in mind, Shirou saw that they were coming over a hill and just as they did he was met with a slight tingling sensation though that passed just as quick. It almost felt like a barrier of sorts, not like the one surrounding his home, but not unlike it either. Just as he was about to wonder what it was his eyes caught sight of something ahead of them.

'Wow...' okay, color him impressed as his eyes grew wider and wider as he looked upon an incredibly large and expansive building ahead of them. It stood large and almost imposing in a sense, and it nearly reminded Shirou of the Forts he read about in History. Only this thing looked like an impenetrable fortress of rock and who knows what else it was made of.

Soon enough they came upon the castle like structure, and they soon stopped at the wall surrounding the foundation. When they got out Shirou's body was quickly assaulted by the sheer drop in temperature, it just plummeted from the warm heat in the car. However, with the thought of his future training in this weather he shrugged it off with some effort.

''Shirou...'' hearing his name he turned his head to Kiritsugu who gazed at him and to the castle. ''Welcome to your new home for the next 5 years.'' he said which the young boy only stopped to blink before giving the man a determined nod, one thing was for certain he was going to make the most of this.

With that said, he and Kiritsugu got their luggage while Alfred took the car to a nearby garage. The two though just walked through a small gate and started to head toward the main door. When they reached the door Shirou was nearly overwhelmed by the size of it, and just how detailed the thing was. He stopped as Kiritsugu gave it a few knocks before stepping away to his side where he spoke to him.

''Now Shirou, let me warn you beforehand, the people here can be very strange in their own way so be careful about your usage of chakra. This is a family of Mages and Alchemists after all, so proceed with caution, alright?'' he warned the boy not that he would let any harm come to the boy. While he was sure the boy was more then capable of protecting himself, he wasn't about to let anyone touch his new charge for the duration of his stay here. He just needed to explain things to Jubstachiet so the man wouldn't act out and try to kill the boy out of sheer suspicion.

Not that he would let him of course...

''I understand, I'll be careful Kiritsugu-san.'' hearing this Kiritsugu felt a sense of relief just before footsteps reached the door, and soon it opened to the two revealing a young woman in a maids uniform which mostly consisted of black and white. Once her red eyes landed on Kiritsugu they widened up with a glint of respect for the man.

''Oh, Kiritsugu-dono! You're back! Irisiviel and Illya-chan have been worried sick about you.'' she said to which the man just closed his eyes. He knew this all too well and was prepared for it all the same.

''My apologies, my trip has been rather eventful.'' he said stepping inside while Shirou hesitated, but from a nod from the freelancer he did so.

''I would imagine, but I am sure they will be very happy to see you again. However, I imagine you have some things to discuss with Jubstacheit-sama first?'' she asked glancing at the mysterious young boy at Kiritsugu's side. She received her answer when the Magus Killer gave a nod in return.

''Indeed, if you wouldn't mind taking us to him?'' he asked to which the young maid merely bowed her head in reply. Though she did offer Shirou one more curious glance before offering him a nod as well. ''Very well, if that you what you wish then follow me.'' with a turn she walked on with Kiritsugu and Shirou following her. Though while the freelancer kept silent, Shirou cast his gaze all around the rooms and halls with nothing more than a second glance, but in those time frames he took in almost every detail while laying down a mental map. Because surely as big as this place was, there was little to doubt he'd get lost without knowing the routes he had to take.

He was almost tempted to use his sensory to see the entire foundation of the castle, and use that as his method of laying down the mental map in his head, but he didn't want to run the risk of alerting the mages here. That would prove to be a troublesome situation for both him and Kiritsugu. So, he took the time to map out each hallway, every room he passed by all with a glance channeling with his chakra. And he had to admit, he felt extremely out of place as this place was, as his father would put it, too extensively detailed for his traditional taste. He much preferred the simplistic design of his old home to be entirely honest.

A few minutes later the 3 of them found themselves walking toward another grand door which the maid stopped and knocked a few times.

''My lord, Kiritsugu-sama is back, and is requesting to speak with you.'' she asked, and for a moment there was no answer. However soon enough the voice of an older man sounded behind the grand door.

''Send him and his little...guest in as well.'' the voice was crisp and stoic of any emotion whatsoever, and it instantly put Shirou on guard, not out of intention mind you, but out of sheer instinct his body tensed up at the sound of the voice. That alone made alarm bells ringing inside his skull, which made him wonder why that was, but that was soon answered as the young maid just pushed the doors open allowing him and Kiritsugu to walk inside.

He soon saw the reason as to why he was so tense...

It was because of the old man at the far end of the Castle foyer, his shoulder-length silver hair and beard that was like a frozen waterfall matched his near white-pale complexion. However it was the moment Shirou met the older man's eyes, once his golden orbs stared into the narrowed piercing blood red orbs of Jubstacheit, he knew for certain of only one thing.

This man...was foul beyond any sense of moral reason!

Shirou was completely numb to the world as he looked directly into the older man's eyes from across the room. The entirely world seemed to meld away as he locked eyes with the man, he wasn't sure he could even call him that! He only stood there, his body trembling in anxiety, his blood boiling to the felt as if it would combust into flames in his veins. His bones screeched like steel swords clashing against one another, and his senses were just screaming at him to kill this...this...creature right now!

'What is this?! This...feeling...the amount of evil I feel from this man...what is he!?' but despite his mental battle to get control of his body, he could do nothing as his eyes slowly began to narrow on the older man. His fingers slowly began to inch for his kunai beneath his hoodie. Despite how much he commanded his body to listen to him, his blood would have none of that, it demanded for this creature to die! For it's blood to be spilled, and it's soul flung back into the deepest darkest pits of Hell where it belonged.

He was oblivious of Kiritsugu's alarmed glance at him, he was numb to the entire world his hand inched for the kunai in his clothing and as he took a step forward his mind took in the needed amount of speed, velocity, distance and physical ability required to reach that man and remove his head from his shoulder all in the span of a second. Just as his blood of fire was about to burn from his veins, and his bones began to crack and reform under the pressure...

''PPPPAAAAAPPPPPAAAAAA!''

''Umph!'' he let out a grunt as he was stopped when a white missile slammed into his left side, so absorbed in his own world Shirou couldn't even come up with a response as he was sent hurling toward the wall with his aggressor. The impact wasn't as painful as it as surprising as the young red head could only blink in shock and bewilderment. His former state of mind was completely washed away in the wave of confusion that hit him. Why was he like this? Who hit him? Where was he again? And for that matter what was that weight on-

He froze once his eyes adjusted to the world again, and for a moment he saw Kiritsugu looking him before running his hand over his face. The older man he nearly attempted to kill in a mental, emotional and bodily induced state of strange fury was looking at him in a frown and...an older woman with long silver hair and red eyes, trademark of the Einzberns, was walking toward them with a worried expression on her face.

Then he looked down when he felt the strange weight on him shift, and his eyes nearly bugged out when he saw...a little girl...sitting on his lap while her little arms were wrapped around him in a vice like hold. The child in question had shoulder-length snow-white hair but her eyes were closed in what seemed like enjoyment, for whatever reason he wasn't sure. She was dressed in a purple dress and white dress shoes though her clothing was a mess from her tackling him.

''Er...''he tried to say something, but nothing really came to mind in this situation as he had never been put into a predicament like this one. For the first time, Shirou was completely out of his field and in and in a situation he had no experience in.

It was uncomfortable...

So he did the only thing he could do...he poked the girl on the head causing her to stir before she looked up at him with her round ruby red eyes. Shirou tried to think of something to say, but nothing solid came to mind, however he did a quick scan of the young girls chakra signature, and while it was abnormal, that was the farthest thing from his mind right now, he was instantly able to realize this girl was Kiritsugu's daughter.

….Who just mistook him for her father...

Oh joy...

''Um...who are you?'' she asked for a moment in nervous confusion as she could have sworn to have felt her papa's energy right here, and acted without thinking. So, she was truly confused when instead of dinging her father she found...a boy around her age...a boy she was currently sitting in the lap of.

However her question was answered by none other then Kiritsugu who, in a quick act to piece things back together before the situation could get any worse spoke, while sending a mental apology to Shirou for what was about to happen.

''He's your new big brother, Illya!'' he said while internally wincing from the look he got from Shirou. The sheer amount of shock on the boy's face was only matched by the bubbling amount of annoyance in the boy's eyes when he started glaring at him. Oh...there it is...he saw it for a moment, but he saw Ryu in those eyes.

But he winced from the wide eyed look he received from his wife and the perplexed one from Jubstacheit, the wince only grew when he saw Illya's eyes grow wide when she looked at him before she looked at Shirou in a strange new light.

'''He's my...big brother?'' she whispered and to Shirou's growing shock her arms seemed to wrap around him tighter, if that was possible. ''He's my...Onii-chan?'' she continued with a strange expression. But then the strange glint in her eyes lit up like a star, and a megawatt smile spread across her face.

It was a smile that honestly terrified Shirou.

''ONNNIII-CHAAAAN!'' her scream tore through his sensitive eardrums and made his hair stand on his from her shrill scream of utmost joy. For a moment, a single define moment, Shirou cut his eyes toward to Kiritsugu and just between them he glared with all the anger he could muster, unconsciously causing his pupils to straighten into sharp slits. This only caused the man to freeze up when he saw this while Shirou merely let loose a internal growl that sounded more like a beast than a humans.

'You are so dead, Kiritsugu!'

And that was Shirou Hayabusa's first day in the Einzbern Castle...

The next 5 years were gonna be eventful...

Chapter End!

Eh...when I read it again and again, I just don't feel it, I really didn't like the way I did the chapter, but it could just be me I don't know. I just felt the chapter as a transition was made to speed up to what I felt would be the more eventful pieces of the story that I would find the most enjoyable. But it felt so slow and awkward that it made my muse drop to shit, and frustrate me. I don't know, you guys tell me what you think cause I'm just lost right now. I'll get to work on the next chapter when I can get my muse back together.

Not sure I'll have the next chapter before Arkham Knight comes out which will probably suck me away, so who knows what will happen.

Anyway I'll be answering the reviewers questions from the previous chapter below:

silentstrixe: We are still far from that, but who knows what may happen.

ariboku34: To be entirely honest, I'm not all that worried about a pairing right now. I'm more concerned with Shirou's character development, but that doesn't mean I've not got plans in mind. Shirou will be playing a part in the Fourth War so don 't worry about that, but beyond that I can say no more.

Darkjaden: You will have to wait to find out! :)

Zero (Guest): I don't have plans for Shirou to learn how to use modern day weaponry, but that doesn't mean he'll just learn how to use a sword either. In the Ninja Gaiden verse it's all about them delicious weapons! Mmmmhm!

I think that about sums up everything so have a good day everyone!

Peace!