Tags: Innocent Girl, Childcare, Internal Conflict

Chapter 02 – Life/Hesitation

The funeral was a quiet affair, or rather, there wasn't even a funeral. As his father had requested, Shirou cremated the body and scattered them to the four winds. The only one who knew about this was him and the now six-year-old Miyu.

Shirou thought about what he should do now, but he decided to postpone any decision he would do regarding Miyu for now. If the books were accurate, he still had a year before she became a normal human.

Education? No, the disaster was too great, the number of remaining teachers and students that would be too low, not to mention the structural damages it caused.

'So all I can do now is idle away.' Shirou mused as he wracked his brain for activities that he could do. He couldn't do part-time work since he was too young, besides, the funds that Kiritsugu left would allow him to live comfortably for even multiple lifetimes. He already hit a wall in regards to magecraft and he already read all of the books regarding the Sakatsuki family.

'Leaving Miyu alone for too long is also a bad idea.' Even though Shirou trusted his old man's skills, it was better safe than sorry. Miyu might also go out to try and find him if he was out for too long.

'Miyu…' To be honest, he had no idea how he should treat her. He had wanted to become a champion of justice for so long, that it has become an integral part of his being. Should he lose it, he would simply return to becoming an empty shell.

'I just…' But he couldn't do it, he couldn't treat Miyu as a tool right now.

These two conflicting emotions clashed and resulted in a spiral of negativity.

Miyu didn't feel any emotion when Kiritsugu died, after all, she never saw the man. Although she was happy that Shirou was spending more time with her.

Miyu explored the large estate thinking of only one thing. 'Where is Shirou?' In her mind, everything other than Shirou is simply irrelevant, he was her world, the only person she knows that cares for her. She wanted to receive more of his kindness and be spoiled. Although…

'He is sad.' Miyu wanted to comfort him right now, to return the kindness that he gave her. Maybe if she played with him or cook together, he would cheer up. She won't force it though, after all, she didn't want Shirou to dislike her.

Miyu will continue being a good girl so that she would be praised and cared for by her important person, but first, she should think on where to go in order to find Shirou.

'It's too big.' There were a lot of places that Shirou could be, which made finding him in the large estate very difficult for her small frame. Even so, Miyu was successful in finding him.

He was sitting there, looking up at the stars with such a sad look on his face. Miyu approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around him, though she could barely cover his torso.

"Miyu?" Shirou questioned. He was confused as to why Miyu suddenly hugged him.

"Shirou has such a sad look on his face." Miyu answered. "So I gave Shirou a hug to make Shirou feel better." Indeed, she just couldn't stand seeing Shirou with such a sad face, so her body moved on its own to comfort him.

"I see, thank you, Miyu." Shirou smiled at Miyu and gave his genuine thanks, his burden easing a little. The conflict in his inmost consciousness however, intensified.

Shirou decided that he should start teaching Miyu. He would supervise and assist of course, and he wouldn't give her work that would be too much for her. Now, the first thing he is teaching her is about…

"Did I do good, Shirou?" Miyu asked with an expectant gaze.

Shirou assigned a small space for Miyu to clean while he did the rest of the area. He inspected the section dusted by her, and while there were still a few places she didn't clean properly, it was a great job for a first timer.

"You did great, Miyu!" Shirou beamed a smile at her as he stroked her hair. Miyu seemed to emit happiness at his words, her shy smile as she blushed and looked up at him was very adorable. "You can leave the rest to me." He retrieved his hand to grab the cleaning tools once more. He never noticed that Miyu never left and continued observing him.

The next one is…

"Here, Shirou." Miyu was presenting the processed ingredients to Shirou.

'Wait, did she…?' Shirou realized that Miyu knew what ingredient he was going to put in the food, and that she used a knife without his supervision.

"Miyu." Shirou started sternly "You shouldn't use knives without me looking." Miyu seemed to deflate at his words. Shirou felt he might have been too strict on her and decided to cheer her up.

"I'll teach you later, the cut isn't even, and until I think that you can't perfectly do it, I won't allow you to do it alone." Emiya Shirou is a man of the kitchen after all. He would forgive it since she is still learning, but he would definitely punish—er, scold her for mishandling ingredients if she continues in the future.

"Un!" Miyu replied cheerfully, happy that Shirou would spend more time with her. She would certainly do her best, since she had a feeling that Shirou would not accept any other option.

"Miyu, remember okay? You should also wash the back of your ears like this." Shirou said as he lathered the back of Miyu's ear with soap and rinsed her body.

"Hehehe, that tickles Shirou." Miyu was currently learning how to wash her body from Shirou. At first, she didn't know what to do when Shirou said that she should take a bath and that the clothes should be placed in the laundry basket. She managed to remove her clothes somehow, but then she realized that she didn't know how to 'take a bath'. She went out of the bathroom to ask Shirou, but when she found him, he looked very flustered. She wondered why…

After the 'bathroom incident' Shirou taught the concept of modesty to her and helped her from taking a bath to drying herself. He also taught her how to properly fold, wear and remove clothes.

That moment was when Shirou realized that Miyu didn't know a lot of things that people take for granted or common sense. Though in hindsight, being born and locked up in a house with a bounded field that keeps human wishes away, with only their mother, doesn't really give an appropriate environment to learn from.

'This must be how parents feel like.' Shirou mused. 'Guiding their children every step of the way until they can do it themselves.' Whenever Miyu would be able to do something that he taught her, he felt proud and happy, when Miyu achieves those goals, he also felt like he achieved something. 'This is the first time I felt something like this.' Not even when he helped Kiritsugu save lives.

"Let's get you dried up now, Miyu." Shirou took a towel and started drying Miyu, the towel soaking up all the water. "Do you think you can do it alone now?"

"Un, watch me Shirou, I will show you how I clean every part of my body." Miyu confidently declared.

'That sounded pretty wrong… maybe I should teach her about proper phrasing…' Shirou thought as he finished drying Miyu.

"What do you want to wear, Miyu?" Shirou asked as he laid out three sets of sleepwear.

Miyu contemplated on what to wear, and after a few minutes— "I want to wear Kuma-san today." She decided.

Shirou folded the other onesies and returned them to their containers. He then returned, seeing the now pajama clad Miyu, hugging a pillow, waiting for him. "Shirou." She said with a hopeful gaze.

"*Sigh*, Fine." Shirou acquiesced, he couldn't help but feel that he was spoiler her too much. But as Miyu's joy became palpable, he just couldn't bring himself to refuse her request. He laid down beside Miyu who immediately latched onto him.

"Shirou is warm." She said with a content smile on her face. He returned the hug and watched as Miyu fell asleep.

'Can I really do it?' Shirou hesitated. It has been 8 months since Kiritsugu's death. In another 3 more, Miyu might lose her ability as a wish-granter. 'She is so human now, no, I can't think like that.' Shirou eventually falls asleep while his mind clashed between saving the world and Miyu, but his heart already made a decision without him knowing it.

"Miyu, I'm going out!" Shirou yelled as he went out of the estate to buy groceries.

"Take care!" Miyu returned.

In this day, Shirou would meet people who he would call friends.

AN:

Can anyone tell me the year that Fate/Kaleid happened?

Kiritsugu died in August 20 in this fic.

Shirou's birthday is April 15, Miyu's is July 20, I randomly picked Shirou's birthday since I don't know when it is.

Shirou – 14, 12 months till 15

Miyu – 6, 3 months till 7

I will probably make a seasons themed chapter next.

So, what do you guys think about this chapter?

Also, Shirou is now a truant lol. Fortunately, disaster relief is more important to the government of Fuyuki right now.

Miyu just after rescue = Zero common sense and worldly knowledge.

I guess it's time to get roasted and grammar nazied. First fic btw.