Hello, sorry for the delay on this chapte. Hoped this would be done way earlier, hopefully next chapter won't take as long.
So, this can be considered as the story taking place after the prologue and main time period. Won't spoil anything, you will see what i mean by reading the chapter.
Beta read and Co-written by D-Quarter005 and NimtheWriter
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-???-
The rain poured down on the young boy's surroundings, the Buddhist monk's prayers echoing in the background as they faced a tomb where the name of his father was etched: 'Kiritsugu Emiya.'
Everything around him felt surreal, parts of his vision darkening the longer he concentrated on that name. But the boy did not care. He did not cry, nor did he scream.
The only thing left within his mind was his promise, the closest memory of both of them sitting on the porch, basking under the radiant moonlight. At that point, he had never realized he was spending his last moments with his father. Perhaps he did; the signs were there, but he chose to ignore them, ignorantly believing that his father would get better, regain his strength, and live out the rest of his life for many decades to come. Yet once again, he found himself alone in a cold and isolated world.
"Everything is going to be alright, child." One of the priests, whom he had frequently visited in the past, placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. The head of the temple, a father with a boy around his age, wore a grave expression but managed to put on a reassuring smile, trying to comfort the young boy. "Life holds many surprises and challenges. Some of them may make it seem like it's the end of the world, when in fact, it's just the beginning of your journey, an obstacle that you will eventually surmount and grow stronger from. You and your sister are always welcome to live here whenever you want, and I will raise you no differently than my own, that I promise you. We have plenty of empty rooms gathering dust in this temple."
The boy wanted to feel happy, to smile and thank the old man, but he was unable to do so. His expression was a blank void, resembling a puppet more than anything else. His lack of response made the old monk sigh before embracing the young child. Shirou watched his surroundings, feeling the gentle pats on his back, which did little to change what he was feeling. The same memories of his last moment with Kiritsugu played in his mind, as vivid as the day he was rescued by that stunning smile surrounded by hellish fire. That first memory served as an anchor, along with the promise he made, reinforcing it even further. He looked around, finding no one else but himself, the monk, and a young boy in the background watching curiously.
'Strange, there should be someone else here…' he thought. It didn't take long for his mind to catch up. "Nee-san." He whispered, finding it unusual for his sister to be gone so early, or maybe she couldn't stand the sight of seeing Kiritsugu's grave? He heard it was a normal reaction for many people according to some of the men working for the Fujimuras.
Neither of them cried at his passing, perhaps she couldn't let herself cry in front of him? He didn't know.
'She's been acting odd lately, for a few days now that I think about it. Did she sense that he was going to die?' Initially, he thought her strange behavior was the result of something happening in her personal life, but current circumstances made him hesitate to make that presumption.
"Thank you," he said to the monk before walking away, leaving the graveyard until he reached the front of the temple where other people were dressed in black funeral kimonos. Their faces were blurred; no matter how hard he tried to concentrate, they wouldn't become any clearer, except for one person who ran to him with tears streaming down her face. He didn't say anything as she embraced him, whispering apologies in his ear repeatedly, barely able to hold herself together. This time, his hands went up on their own, returning the hug, copying what the monk had done and trying to comfort her by patting her back.
"It's going to be alright, Fuji-nee." The tremors from her shoulders grew more evident, his words having the opposite effect of what he had hoped.
"I'll be there for you, Shirou. Your big sister will never abandon you."
That he knew she was being truthful about, "Where is Nee-san? She didn't come?" he asked, wondering where the green-haired girl was. She had been missing during his conversation with the monk, and he wondered why she spent so little time back there.
"Eto? She's... she's waiting over there, I think she needs some space to breathe." Taiga pointed at the stairs leading to the temple, where his adopted sister stood, wearing a black kimono, gazing at the sky with an unreadable expression. The surrounding trees and branches created a cover from the rain, yet she was soaked from head to toe. He approached her, not saying a word, and went to grab the sleeves of her kimono before gently tugging it.
"You shouldn't stand in the open like that without an umbrella, you'll catch a cold," he gently chided her, despite feeling many emotions. He had to keep it together in front of his sister, knowing she must also be suffering from this tragedy.
"Oh, Shirou... sorry, I was lost in my thoughts." Noticing her brother's worried expression, she tried reassuring him with a weak smile. He wanted to inquire more and make sure she was feeling well but held back. "It's just so disturbing; just last month he was still with us, we planned to travel together to Kyoto after finishing our exams — yet here we are now. It's like… it's… just that everything changed in the blink of an eye and I wonder at times if I'm not just having another nightmare."
The boy couldn't say much on that matter, for he perfectly understood her emotions. Their father had been growing weaker by the day; these past few weeks alone, he had been spending most of the day in bed without even moving. He seemed to have barely any energy and his body was growing more emaciated by the day. Both of them, somewhere at the back of their minds, suspected this would happen sooner rather than later, but the sight was still hard to accept.
"The priest and Fuji-nee's grandfather offered to let us stay with either of them for now. I told them that we were fine," he said, looking backward once more at the few people who came to pay respect to his late father. "Do you want to stay longer?"
He tugged her sleeves gently once more, breaking the girl out of her thoughts before she looked at him with another strained smile and shook her head. "No, I don't feel comfortable staying here any longer, let's go back."
Grabbing onto his hand, both of them made their way down the stairs of the temple, walking together in complete silence without uttering a word to one another. The atmosphere was thick, a myriad of emotions brewing within both of their hearts with an equal amount of raging thoughts.
"There aren't many people," he broke the silence, a statement to which she agreed with a slight nod. "The old man did say that he didn't have that many friends and the few he had didn't even know he was alive. But I'm surprised so many of Fuji-nee's family knew him, they all looked genuinely sad today."
"I guess they respected him, even if most never spoke to him. It's a good thing there aren't any magi around, he was quite infamous after all."
Eventually, they reached their home as the rain came to a stop. Shirou noticed how the atmosphere felt different. His home, despite not having been renovated or changed whatsoever, felt somehow foreign to him, colder and much darker. The colorful exterior looked dull as if the world itself had lost its shine. But he didn't pay it any attention and followed his sister inside.
"I'll go make dinner."
Without waiting for any kind of confirmation from his sister, he entered the kitchen and turned the stove on before going through the fridge for ingredients. Shirou did not have the option to dwell on his thoughts. As he began to cook, the familiarity of the routine brought a semblance of normalcy to the otherwise somber day. The sizzling of vegetables, the bubbling of broth, and the rhythmic chopping of ingredients provided a comforting background noise.
Eto joined him in the kitchen, but unlike in the past, he didn't say anything and quietly let her help him out with the basic preparations — it wasn't like she wasn't capable nor risked setting the place on fire by just boiling water. The silence between them was heavy but not oppressive, a shared understanding of their grief and the need to move forward. As they sat down to eat, he glanced at his sister, who managed a small, tired smile. Finishing the food in relative silence, each lost in their own thoughts, yet the presence of the other provided a silent support.
"You made enough for four people."
Did he? The habit of cooking food for both Kiritsugu and Taiga remained ingrained in his daily habits to the point he hadn't even noticed. "We can save the rest for tomorrow."
"Hm…"
After dinner, as the evening drew in and the house grew quieter, he found himself staring at a photograph on the mantle. It was a picture of their family, taken years ago, before illness had claimed the vitality from his father. His sister joined him, and together they stood in silent tribute to the man they had lost, drawing strength from each other's presence.
"We'll get through this, Shirou," she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll make him proud."
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{Break}
A few days had passed since the passing of their father. With the funeral completed, all that was left was the paperwork and legal proceedings, which the Fujiwara head insisted on taking care of himself. Having mentioned that even if either he or Eto tried to handle it by themselves, trouble would sooner or later find them given many of the documents Kiritsugu had were forged — so best to leave such things to the experts.
Both he and Eto were grateful for his aid, the man was willing to offer more but both politely refused.
One thing Shirou couldn't help but notice was how his sister's strange behavior was becoming more frequent. It wasn't new either, having started weeks before Kiritsugu's death, but lately it had gotten worse. She'd lock herself in her room for hours or disappear from the house entirely — sometimes in the middle of the night. Whenever he did see her, she looked distracted, going through her day as if in a daze, sometimes even muttering to herself. Whenever anyone tried bringing it up, she'd act evasive as if nothing was wrong.
'I should confront her about it, even Taiga is starting to worry.'
It was clear that something was wrong and she was trying to hide it. But that only made him worry even more. Had it only started recently, he would have assumed it was a normal reaction to losing someone important to her — everyone has different ways of dealing with grief after all.
He didn't know exactly what she thought of Kiritsugu; whether she genuinely saw him as her adoptive father or not was something he never questioned in the past nor did he feel the need to. As long as they were happy, that was all he cared about. But he remained certain that she genuinely respected the old man, and his passing must have taken a toll on her mental health just like it did for everyone else, which is why he didn't say much at first following the funeral.
"Is something the matter?" he asked the girl who had been sitting outside on the porch where he and the old man sat the day before he died. "You barely speak or even eat for that matter, even Taiga is getting worried about you. You might even catch a cold if you stay outside for too long."
Were ghouls… or half-ghouls like her even capable of getting sick? She never did catch a fever or even the cold, though Shirou recalled that he himself never got sick in the first place. Nonetheless, it was strange seeing her be so quiet all the time. It reminded him of how she acted back when she first started living with them; how they would barely speak to one another.
"You should be in bed by now. Can't sleep?" she asked, to which he nodded. "It's the same for me, I tried closing my eyes for a good while and couldn't do it, so I hoped coming here and getting some fresh air would help ease my mind. I even thought about making tea, but I was afraid the aroma would wake you up. Can't be too careful around that sixth sense of yours whenever someone walks into the kitchen — it's almost a supernatural trait."
A light joke to lighten the mood, though she wasn't completely wrong. He was just a very light sleeper.
Her attention now returning back to the sky, Eto whispered quietly, "He used to do this a lot as well, didn't he?"
"Yeah, with a cup of hot tea and a couple of snacks." The boy added, wondering if he should prepare some tea and crackers next time. "Are you thinking about the day of the funeral or something else?"
"I guess I was just thinking about some things that I'd put off for the last few years; things that I tried to forget about. Now that Kiritsugu is gone, I'm starting to realize some aspects of my past can't be ignored and left to rot forever."
The past huh… a rarity to hear it from her. Other than some basic information she provided of her prior life in Tokyo, Eto never truly brought up her past unless he asked. So for her to bring it up now in such a manner sounded worrying to say the least.
'Maybe she's feeling homesick? That can't be, from all her stories I've heard, that place is not something one could consider as a home. Struggling to survive while being chased by the doves must have been a nightmare.'
Taking a seat next to her, both quietly watched the stars shining brightly in the surprisingly clear sky. Even though Fuyuki was a brightly lit city, the light pollution from the town didn't reach the area where their house was, making it possible for them to see the stars in clear detail. Unfortunately, there was no moon tonight, making it that much darker outside. The atmosphere felt strange to the young boy, as he was more worried about his sister than anything else.
"Is it related to your past life in Tokyo? I thought you weren't bothered by it," he asked, hoping to help her in any way possible.
She shook her head in response. "No, nothing like that. I accepted that part of me a long time ago, before I even came to Fuyuki."
"Then, did something happen in Tokyo recently?" His question came out instantly, this topic mulling within his mind for quite some time. "You can tell me what's the matter, you know. You don't need to pretend everything is alright when it isn't; I'm not blind."
"..."
"I've noticed how you've been closely following the news on events in Tokyo lately. You've even been researching it online. It's because something bad happened that you're worried about isn't it?
"It's not anything important, Shirou. Just…"
"Then does it have to do with that one news story a while back? I remember how shocked you and the old man looked. I don't think I'd ever seen you look that way be-"
Eto's icy glare cut him off mid-sentence, her single kakugan flared as she tensed up, balling her hands into fists. Shirou could only gulp and lean away from her, unsure if it was safe to remain this close, yet unwilling to just leave her like this.
After a brief moment, she let out a sigh and relaxed, her right eye returning to normal. "Sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that."
Her younger brother gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay, I'm the one who should apologize. It's just… I'm worried about you. I can tell if something's wrong and I want to help somehow but I can't do anything if you don't tell me."
Eto inhaled deeply, "You're not going to let the matter rest, aren't you?"
The determined stare was all that she needed to see to know his answer. She should have known he wasn't one to give up so easily. Especially when it involved someone close to him, there was no way he could ignore it.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't think this is something you can help me with and I don't want you worrying over things you can't do anything about."
"We won't know that for certain until you tell me, so just say it."
He was being forceful, the boy was very aware of that but preferred to keep it up regardless in order to earn some answers.
Eto stared at him before letting out a long sigh. "Alright, yes something did happen in Tokyo recently that has made me agitated in a way. It made me realize that there's some parts of my past I shouldn't have left behind and some parts I can't leave behind. It also has me worried for the future of ghoulkind in Tokyo, especially in certain areas. I've been thinking of ways I can help while finding out all I can and it's left me with a lot on my mind recently," she finished with a smile.
"..."
Something about that smile always felt off to Shirou. To any onlooker, it might look like a harmless smile, but he knew better. That was a smile his sister wore when she was planning something that she didn't want others to know about. It was a smile he'd seen a lot recently. But what could he do? It wasn't as though he could force her to tell him everything.
Truthfully, he didn't like the sound of what she'd said one bit. Whether they were ghoul or human did not matter to the young boy, clearly there were people in Tokyo who were suffering unjustly and to make matters worse, it was affecting his sister. His fists clenched at the realization that he couldn't even do anything yet, not even knowing where to start if he wanted to help those people.
"I'm sorry to hear that. But at least you're safe. Even if Kiritsugu is no longer around, I'll protect you, and so will Taiga and her grandfather. So you can live here peacefully without being afraid of these people coming after you anytime soon," he said confidently.
This was one of the few factors, other than his desire to achieve his father's dream, that motivated him to get better with his magecraft. Progression was slow, but despite that, he never stopped polishing what little he had, doing so every day, even after the funeral, with relentless effort. His sister was still beyond him. They spared once when he wanted to test out some of his reinforced creations, and the battle was pretty one-sided, yet he swore to one day reach a level where their roles would be reversed.
Hearing his words, the girl showed a beautiful and grateful smile, yet her eyes told a completely different story. One with sorrow and even a hint of unwillingness before it was replaced by determination.
"I know you will, you little brat. That's why it's my job as an older sister to make sure you're always safe and sound." She ruffled his red hair, an action which he would have disliked in the past, but now he let her do without complaining.
"Ah!" Though he didn't expect her to suddenly wrap her arms around him and pull him close for a deep and tight embrace.
"Nee-san?" Despite momentarily having a hard time breathing, the boy sensed something off with her behavior. Her shoulders were trembling, and he could hear the faintest sob escaping from her mouth. The girl was most likely still recovering from what happened with Kiritsugu, and it was natural for her to cry. Shirou remembered the many pieces of advice he learned from Taiga on how to console a girl when they acted like this. Something he was grateful to have listened to and remembered for such a scenario.
"There, there, I'm here for you. You always count on me," he said while patting her back. Her hold on him tightened along with her sobs becoming more frequent, yet she still tried to suppress them.
"I love you, Shirou."
"I love you too, but don't expect me to say it again because it's kind of embarrassing." His cheeks flushed ever so slightly at the memory of how both women in his life would tease him whenever he said such things and have fun at his expense. But now was probably the best time to say it to help put her at ease and remind her that he was there for her. You may be my big sister, but that doesn't mean a little brother can't protect his older siblings. Just to wait, I'll get better with my training and I'll protect you along with everyone else.
"..."
"I mean it too!" he insisted, interpreting her silence as a sign of doubt. "I won't be a little boy forever, and when I get stronger, I'll be able to help you and the other ghouls in Tokyo. Even if you say no, I'll face any danger if it means protecting you and anyone else who needs protecting, that I promise.""
"You will… won't you?" she responded, her voice tinged with hopeless resignation. "Even if I tell you not to, even if your big sister forbids you to jump into danger, you'll still do it without hesitation every time, won't you, Shirou?" She giggled, though it lacked joy, sounding almost desolate. "Even if I scold you, even if I tell you I will hate you if you put yourself in danger for my sake, you'll still do it without any fear or care for your own life. You don't realize that one of the few reasons I'm so happy right now in Fuyuki is because you are here with me. Unfortunately, that's the kind of person you are, and no matter how much I tried, I failed to save you."
Her words made him raise an eyebrow in confusion as he had trouble comprehending what she was trying to say. Was it wrong to want to help others? He recalled how Eto was always quiet and apprehensive whenever he told her about his conversations with Kiritsugu about becoming a hero, not as supportive or happy as he had expected. "But in the end, I'm still your big sister, and that means no matter what, I'll protect you from any danger, even if it means protecting you from yourself. I will never, ever rope you into the dangers of my life; that is a sin I would never be able to forgive myself for."
He wondered what she meant, his curiosity turning into worry with the strange things she kept saying. But, just as he was about to ask, the boy felt a pulse of magical energy spread across his body in an instant. "—!?" It wasn't drastic, but enough to make him lightheaded, his consciousness starting to fade.
"It's very late now, Shirou. You need to go to sleep and wake up tomorrow to live a life you deserve more than anything else. One away from all these nonsensical and dangerous affairs related to ghouls that should have been my business alone from the beginning. I want you to live the life of an ordinary boy: go to school, make many friends who will support you no matter what, have fun, laugh, get a girlfriend, and live the life many can only dream about. You have that option, and I will not allow your stubbornness to throw it away."
"E…to?" In his last vestige of strength, he called out her name and managed to glance at her one last time before everything turned dark. The last image his mind processed was that of his sister smiling at him with tears streaming down her eyes, gently placing a kiss on his forehead and leaving him with these last few words: "Goodbye, Shirou. This is my way of protecting you."
{Break}
(???)
"Shirou!"
A voice called for the young boy to wake up, a slight nudge to his side pushing him out of his comfortable slumber.
"Wake up, the water park will be opening early this morning. I don't want to be stuck behind a long waiting line!" Despite the comfortable and warm sensation of his bed, the boy slowly opened his golden brown eyes and mumbled something under his breath.
"It's still an hour before sunrise. Since when do you even wake up this early?" he asked, his voice hoarse, glaring at the energetic woman next to him. She was already dressed in stylish attire she would never wear on a normal day. Seeing her sunken eyes and the clear signs of having drunk too much caffeine, it was evident she hadn't even gotten an hour of sleep. Reluctantly, he pushed himself up and quickly got ready for the day.
"It's barely six in the morning and didn't you say there were still administrative matters left over from the funeral?" he asked, the energetic girl freezing for a brief moment, her smile diminishing before she forced it back on and gently slapped his back. "You don't need to worry about that. Grandpa already has everything handled, and we can visit Kiritsugu again this afternoon. I'm sure he'd be very happy to see his son smiling more than anything else." He nodded, aware that Taiga was just trying to place him in a different environment to distract him from any depressing thoughts. It made sense—his father had just died, and now he lived alone in such a big house. Anyone would worry about how a child could handle that.
"You don't have to worry about me, Fuji-nee. I'm not feeling down or anything like that. I still have to clean up the house and the old man's room." He wanted to show her and everyone else that he was fine, that despite what they thought, he could handle living on his own instead of moving in with the Fujimuras. There was no way he could abandon this house, which held so many memories of him and his father. Taiga smiled genuinely when she saw him already cleaning up his room.
"Oh, you're really a big boy now. Despite your age, you act so mature. As your sister, I should probably start to worry that you'll be stolen away by one of the high school girls! They would kill to squeeze those cute chipmunk cheeks of yours."
"Oi, stop saying weird things! Help me out with the cleaning."
"Agh, but I just got here!" she whined, sitting up straight before looking at him seriously with a disapproving look. "You need to learn how to treat your guests with respect and spoil them whenever you can with plenty of food." His answer came in the form of a pillow smacking her face, making her fall back, letting out a series of giggles.
"So the big sister suddenly turned into a guest, huh? Stop trying to be lazy and take these clothes to the washing machine. I never used these swim trunks, so they're pretty dusty."
"Wait, so does that mean you're coming with me!?" she asked with a giant smile on her face. He didn't even need to look back to imagine the girl behaving like a golden retriever, which suited her more aptly than calling her a tiger. Though she reacted more to the latter so he had no plans of changing it anytime soon.
"Only for a few hours. I won't stay there for long."
"I'll call Neko! That damn woman better not wear any bikinis just to tease you…" Her fingers tapping away on her phone, the girl finally left his room, giving him a moment of peace which he used to clean up his room quickly. Walking to the living room, he looked outside at the mostly dark sky with hints of the sun peeking in the distance. Looking at the clock, it was clear they were up far too early and would still need to wait an hour or two before the water park even opened.
"Guess I'll move some of his stuff now." There were still many items that belonged to Kiritsugu loitering around the living room. Stacks of newspapers, books, and even his old kimonos that were previously cleaned and stacked lay around. Pictures on the wall of both of them together, visiting many different sites, amusement parks, the countryside, and even going to the cinema for the first time. All of them were definitively taken by Fuji-nee, who accompanied them everywhere but weirdly enough never appeared in the pictures, leaving an awkward space next to him in the photos.
He grabbed a few items and walked through the hallways, thinking of where he could store them until he remembered the spare bedroom that had been left untouched ever since he came here. It was set up as a room for guests to stay in, but the only guest who ever spent the night was Taiga who already had her own room. Opening the sliding door, he was surprised to find the area still looking very clean and barren. The old man wasn't one to keep up with his chores regularly due to his condition, and Shirou didn't have any memories of ever cleaning this place, yet it remained spotless without even a layer of dust.
"Must be because there's no wind passing through here with everything closed, I guess. Or maybe I just don't remember the last time I cleaned it." Shrugging his shoulders, he placed the items on a nearby empty desk before carefully arranging them in the empty wardrobe one by one. After half an hour, he had managed to put all of his father's belongings there. He left the private items within Kiritsugu's room, which he decided to clean only occasionally.
"I hope there are no insects or rats here. Best to check." It bothered him that he didn't remember ever cleaning this room, yet it remained so spotless. He was sure his father couldn't have done this, considering the old man couldn't even boil hot water, let alone use a broom in the living room. For a former assassin who was infamous amongst the supernatural world, he sure did lack plenty of important skills when it came to living normally.
"Hm?" While surveying the room, something sitting on an otherwise empty bookshelf caught his attention. "A book? Dear Kafka…"
He read the title out loud, a quick look telling him it was a storybook of some kind. Flipping the book over to read the back cover, he wondered where it even came from. It appeared to be a horror novel, and he was certain his old man wasn't one to read that kind of genre. Despite that, there was something about the book that felt off to him. Opening the first page and reading a couple of lines gave him a strong sense of deja vu.
"Hmm?" This didn't make sense. Even though he was certain he'd never read this book before, the writing still seemed familiar; to the point where he could practically guess the next words before he read them. These thoughts grew by the second until it turned into a slight migraine enough to force a grimace on his face. Furrowing his brows, the boy saw flashes of lights before shaking his head to relieve the pain. Reaching out for the wall with his free hand to steady himself, he tried to bring his breathing back under control. "Damn it, this never happened before… maybe I should lay off practicing magecraft so late at night for a bit."
Despite his initial doubts, it was clear to him that there was something odd about the book in his hand. The pain in his head receded enough to allow him to think more clearly. Had he seen this book before? For some reason, his thoughts on the book turned to thoughts on the room he was standing in. It seemed strange to him that this room was fully furnished when it was supposed to be an unused bedroom. Not only that, but the desk in the room looked like it was made for a student rather than something more general.
His fingers traced the back of the book's spine, his eyes continuously glossing over the finer details while he sat there for a few minutes in complete silence. Uncertain what to do, his hand hesitantly opened the first page, leading to a blank page with the title written in black ink in the middle.
"Dear Kafka," he said again, glossing over the contents, making the previously passed migraine return with vengeance. "Argh!" The pain grew until he couldn't withstand it anymore and fell onto his knees, his surroundings turning dark as if melting like heated wax. Everything turned black as his body sunk further into the ground. "What's happening!?" Panicking, he tried to turn and flee, only to have his hand grabbed by something. His head whipped up, and he stared at a feminine figure whose features he could not distinguish, looking at him with black and red eyes.
"Nee-san loves you, Shirou."
The sight terrified him to the core. "Ahhhhh!"
.
.
.
"Wah!"
Golden brown eyes snapped open with terror, as he gave a shout and pulled himself up through pure reflex.
"Hah... Hah... Hah..."
The young boy had grown into a young man, now on the cusp of adulthood. Shirou breathed haggardly as he gazed around his room, sweat pouring down his face and soaking his shirt. "Damn it, not again." He whispered to himself, taking a deep breath and passing his fingers through his messy red mane. Lazily, he looked at the clock next to his bed. It seemed he had woken up earlier than he would have liked.
His eyes then trailed over to his bookshelf, specifically to the book on top, the same book he just had a nightmare about. This had been happening more frequently lately, ever since Taiga first recommended the author to him: Sen Takatsuki, a relatively new famous horror writer who'd made her debut when she was only seventeen with her best-seller: Dear Kafka.
A slew of emotions marinated on his face, from uncertainty about what could have happened back then to resignation at reaching the same conclusion as ever from his lack of knowledge. "Just who the hell are you…?"
Now that his mind became clearer, he was able to momentarily reminisce about his childhood, the day when his father's death changed everything in more ways than one, the sense of paranoia and emptiness that rested within his heart every time he tried to think about it. He didn't know why he was experiencing this in the first place but knew it couldn't be normal. His memories were tampered with by someone, whether it was his late father's doing or another person entirely he couldn't tell.
But it was the only explanation he had to make sense of this constant feeling of familiarity he kept having throughout the years; especially over the last several months. Somehow, that book had stirred up something inside him as his sense of deja vu seemed stronger than ever now along with the nightmares. Strangely, it was only that particular book that he seemed to react to even though he'd read all of Sen Takatsuki's other works.
"She'll wake up soon, best I start making breakfast." He said while pushing away these thoughts that had haunted his mind for years, knowing that they would only serve to ruin his mood.
"Oh? I should stock up on eggs. Only five left, but it should be enough." Closing the refrigerator, he started opening the windows, letting the fresh morning air into the house. Stopping for a moment, he let out a yawn and stretched his arms with a sigh. The sun's rays peeked out from the distant sky, birds chirping, and the sound of bell chimes he installed near the entrance ringing.
A peaceful atmosphere that helped him set his mood back to a more jovial state. Enough to put a smile on his face as he turned his back to the scene and walked into the bathroom. After quickly washing up, he turned on the gas stove and started to cook. A few minutes later, the sizzling sound of the eggs coupled with the aroma of the fish he was grilling attracted the attention of a certain someone who lazily walked out of her room and laid down on the ground, her face pressed against the tatami. Unable to even reach the kotatsu, she slowly drifted back to sleep. Chuckling at her antics, he cleaned his hands and walked over to the little girl, gently patting her silky white hair.
"Good morning, Illya," Shirou whispered, his voice gentle as he bent down to pat her some more.
Illya mumbled, "Hmmm…."
Shirou chuckled, watching as she buried her face deeper into the tatami mat. "Don't sleep on the floor. You can rest your head on the kotatsu over there. If you stay here, you'll catch a cold."
Her response was another sleepy, "Hmmm…."
"I won't wait five minutes. Last time I listened to you, you somehow brought out a blanket and pillow and went to sleep in front of the entrance."
Illya barely opened one eye, responding with a slightly annoyed "Hmmm?"
Shirou sighed, running a hand through his own tousled red hair. "Fine, I'll give you some ice cream, but this shouldn't be a daily occurrence. You shouldn't be consuming that every day in the morning. It's not good for your health."
Finally motivated by his words, Illya slowly turned her head. Her deeply drowsy crimson eyes met his golden brown ones. Despite her childlike appearance, which suggested she was barely ten-years-old, he knew better. This girl had the power and skill to nearly kill him multiple times, breaking many of his bones with the aid of a certain Greek heroic spirit. Her delicate features were deceptive, hiding the strength and resilience within.
"…Up…"
"Sorry?" Shirou asked, leaning in closer, thinking he had misheard her.
"Carry me," she said, her voice soft but insistent. She stretched her hands upwards, eyes still closed, making no attempt to get up on her own. Shirou couldn't help but smile at her childish demands.
"Aren't you supposed to be the older one here? You should be the one taking care of me instead of the other way around, Onee-chan." He emphasized the honorific, knowing it would elicit a reaction.
As expected, energy suddenly surged back into her eyes. Illya sprang up, her face close to his, a look of surprise and excitement lighting up her features. "Call me that again!" she demanded with enthusiasm, her voice carrying a hint of the joy she rarely showed.
Shirou felt a spark of joy himself, but a mischievous part of him couldn't resist playing a little game. "Ehh? I just said that it should be my duty to take care of my little sister, but you should help out from time to time."
"You didn't say that!" Illya pouted, her cheeks puffing out in an adorable display of frustration. Shirou found it hard to suppress his laughter at her expression.
He reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately. "Alright, alright. I'll carry you this time." He relented, giving into the girl's demand, lifting her gently into his arms. Light as a feather, naturally given her small frame. One capable of powering a Servant like Berserker with no issues yet now one of the most fragile things in his eyes.
She nestled against him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she yawned. "That's better," she murmured sleepily, her earlier annoyance forgotten.
As much as he wanted to stay like this for longer and let the girl enjoy the moment, he had other matters to attend to first. Carefully carrying Illya over to the kotatsu, setting her down with gentle precision, he draped a warm blanket over her, making sure she was tucked in snugly. The cold temperature continued to linger, still too early to warm up until the sun was fully out. "There, now you can rest properly. I'll finish making breakfast," he said softly, offering her a reassuring smile before heading towards the kitchen.
As he reached for the pan, another pair of snow-white hands grabbed it before he could. Rather than surprise, Shirou's expression showed exasperation, accompanied by a hint of stubborn resolve as he turned to face the second person who had taken up residence in his home alongside Illya.
"Good morning, Sella," he greeted her, trying to keep his tone light.
"Good morning to you as well, Master Shirou. Please, do not burden yourself with the task of cooking breakfast for the young lady and yourself. This is something I should handle," Sella insisted, her grip tightening on the pan as she slowly pulled it towards her.
A homunculus maid initially created to become an artificial grail but deemed a "failure," her role was changed to serve Illya at the Einzbern castle and later, during the Grail War in Fuyuki. Their initial meeting wasn't exactly ideal as she saw him as an enemy at the time (he still remembered how he almost got pierced by a halberd wielded by her fellow maid, Leysritt). However, their relationship had improved considerably since the war's conclusion. She was someone who, like him, shared a distinct desire to take care of the many chores around the house by herself.
Shirou wasn't going to give up so easily. He applied equal force, pulling the pan back towards himself until it was suspended in a tug-of-war between them. "What are you saying? You're an important resident of this household, not a maid or a guest. Illya treats you as family, and so do I. Besides, ever since I was a kid, I've been the one who cooks for everyone. I know my way around this kitchen better than anyone. Also, I told you to just call me Shirou…"
Sella's expression hardened into a look of determination as she continued pulling. "I cannot allow that. Your kindness is wasted on me. You should go to the living room and spend time with Lady Illya. She needs her brother, especially now. You two were at each other's throats not long ago."
He winced at the reminder. During the Holy Grail War, their first meeting had been anything but peaceful. A strange young girl had appeared, calling him her brother, only to immediately command a giant servant to crush him. It had taken time, but eventually, they had put their animosity aside and reached the tentative peace they shared now.
"Illya is perfectly capable of looking after herself for a little while — plus, she's sleeping soundly at the moment. And aren't you her maid? You should be with her, not here fighting me over a pan," he shot back, his grip firm.
The white haired woman's eyes twitched with irritation, and she began to lose her composure bit by bit. "My duties include looking after her and the house. You're denying me my purpose, the reason I was created."
Shirou's tone softened, but his previous statement remained. "You're not just a machine designed for a single task. You're a person, Sella, and I want to treat you as such."
"..."
She did not saything, an emotion similar to frustration flashed before her eyes before it returned to normal. To alleviate the atmosphere, he added with a teasing smirk, "Besides, Illya said she prefers my cooking."
That had the desired effect, as if she got punched in the gut by an invisible attack that made her flinch at his words. Though a part of him did kinda feel guilty for striking such a low blow. He knew that, while Sella could cook, her skills didn't match his, or even those of Sakura. Over the past year, he had learned Illya's favorite dishes and made sure to prepare them while keeping her diet balanced. It was one of the few ways he could care for her, now that the chaos of the war had passed.
"You're not going to give up, are you?" she said, her tone sharpening as her frustration became more apparent. She grabbed the pan with both hands, her expression now a full-blown scowl. "Why are you being so unreasonably stubborn, Master Shirou?"
"Unreasonable? This is my kitchen, and my rules!"
He gritted his teeth, matching her determination as they both pulled at the pan in a ridiculous stalemate. Neither was willing to back down.
For someone who wasn't a combat oriented homunculus and mostly took the role of a teacher according to Illya, she surprisingly held more strength than he anticipated. Then again, it wasn't something he couldn't overcome but he didn't want to accidentally hurt her.
"Hehehe, you two get along nicely." From her spot at the kotatsu, Illya watched them with a smirk. She stretched her limbs before rising to her feet. "I'm going to pay a visit to Leysritt. I'll be back in a bit after you two stop flirting with one another," she called out casually.
"Illya!?"
"Lady Illya!?"
Both Shirou and Sella froze, their intense expressions dissolving into shock. They exchanged a glance, the tension between them replaced by a shared awkwardness as they watched Illya step outside. Both felt a twinge of sadness when they saw where she was going.
With a sigh, Shirou was the first to let go of the pan. "Fine. You can prepare half the dish while I take care of the other. If you need anything, let me know," he said, grabbing a kitchen knife and starting to chop vegetables.
Sella gave him a curt nod, and the two worked together in relative silence. Soon, breakfast was ready, prepared with a blend of their combined efforts. As Shirou set the table, he glanced towards the courtyard. He could see his olde—uh… little sister kneeling next to a tombstone, her figure small and fragile against the backdrop of the early morning.
Sella walked up next to him, her gaze following his, her expression softening with a hint of sorrow. "She would have liked it here," she murmured, her voice distant as she recalled memories of the past. "Leysritt never did enjoy going about her duties much, preferring to act lazy whenever she could. I often had to chase after her to get her to finish her chores. Having someone like you willingly take on her tasks, and with better efficiency, would have been a dream come true for her. She would have loved spending more time with Illya."
"I'm sorry," Shirou said quietly, a guilty weight pressing down on him.
Sella shook her head gently. "There's no need to apologize. I was too weak to save her and barely managed to survive myself. But she passed away in peace, knowing that the one she protected is still alive."
Shirou clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as painful memories resurfaced. The image of Leysritt's body, lying in a pool of blood amidst the ruins of a snow-covered castle, haunted him. He remembered the rain of noble phantasms launched by the arrogant King of Heroes, and how powerless he had felt. He hadn't really known the maids at the time, yet her death still weighed heavily on his conscience.
"I'm just happy that Lady Illya can spend her remaining time living freely, surrounded by people who care for her," Sella continued softly.
"She will live… you will live," Shirou said sternly, cutting through her words. He understood the underlying meaning of Sella's statement and rejected it completely. "Both you and Illya will still be here, even after a decade or even half a century later. I made a promise to you both. I swear, I will find a way."
Visibly, she wanted to smile but ended up sighing at the boy's words, her expression sad but resigned. "It's unlikely, Master Shirou. Without the aid of the grail, you shouldn't burden yourself with trying to accomplish the impossible. You've already achieved a miracle by getting us this far. So please, just take care of her for what time she has left."
Without waiting for his response, Sella walked out to join Illya, standing loyally behind her and perhaps silently paying her respects to her fallen sister.
Shirou took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within him. Even if the odds of finding a way to save Illya were impossibly low, he refused to give up. Time was not on his side, and already he could feel the familiar dread of watching someone he loved weaken day by day. The thought of seeing Illya suffer the same fate as his father, slowly fading away until death claimed her, was unbearable.
But how could he prevent it? What could he do to stop the inevitable?
"I still have options," he said to no one in particular. The strain of absorbing the fallen heroic spirits combined with the modifications done by the Einzberns were taking their toll, causing her body to gradually shut down. The problem lay in her nature as a lesser grail and a homunculus rather than any injury or illness. It wasn't something that could be healed through conventional means nor any noble phantasm that he was aware of. True magic might have worked, but as Sella said, the grail was gone and with it, their best chance at true magic.
Still, he wasn't ready to give up yet. If the problem couldn't be solved by the supernatural, perhaps the answer lay in science instead. That thought had been on his mind for a while now, though he knew the kind of reaction those two would have if he told them his plan. Like many conventional magi, those two didn't have the highest opinion of modern technology even if they were willing to tolerate it for his sake. All the same, he would give it a try; if it meant saving Illya, he didn't care how many "taboos" he'd have to break.
His phone rang, interrupting his inner musings. Looking at the name displayed, he quickly answered. "Good morning Fujimura-san, you're up quite early."
The voice of Taiga's grandfather who ran the Fujimura estate sounded from the other side, his voice hoarse and deep yet kind and energetic. "Hahaha, I'm an early bird who prefers to relax and watch the sunrise! Despite my age, it's always preferable that I keep in shape with a light jog in the morning before taking care of any business my men bring me."
The complete opposite of his granddaughter, the one who absolutely refused to wake up early and had to be dragged out of bed to even make it to her classroom on time and not mess up her image as a teacher.
"Is this about my request?" Shirou asked, hoping to get started as soon as possible. Time was definitely not on his side, and wasting more of it at home would only serve to stress him out as the ever shrinking window of opportunity to save Illya grew smaller even if she enjoyed their daily routine in Fuyuki.
"It wasn't easy. The situation in Tokyo has changed a lot over the past several years and the local laws are much more strict against newcomers looking to settle in the city. Not to mention how expensive it's gotten lately, are you sure you want to do this?"
"I am." There was no hesitation, money was not a problem for him in the least. "I already made up my mind and I'm aware of the issues and risks."
"Good, then listen up. I was able to call upon some old connections I made in the past and pull some strings, though it would have been very preferable if you'd let me use my own money to bribe some of them, I'll respect your wishes nonetheless."
The boy scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "You really didn't have to go that far you know… I was just asking if it was possible and for some advice. I could have handled it myself."
"True, but I did it anyway. Regardless, I managed to secure a good spot for you. The apartment is a two bedroom and near the center. Rent is reasonable and it comes with furniture, the landlord is an old friend of mine so don't worry about any paperwork — that old coot owes me a lot of favors. Though I must warn you, there has been some recent activities going on in that area, violent gang related crimes and even some reports of people getting killed and people disappearing. I'd say it's just some people blowing things out of proportion but still, best to remain vigilant. Is this truly worth it?
Known for some of the most advanced medical science and technology in the world, Shirou believed that this place was the first step he would take to finding a solution to save his sister. He hoped that with everything available there, they would at least be able to extend her life through some means until he found a more permanent solution. Otherwise, he would have to try his luck in Europe.
Initially, he'd considered traveling to Europe first as Germany was also known for its advancements in the field of medical science. He'd even planned to reach out to Rin for help. Ultimately, he decided Tokyo was the better choice as it was closer to home and he wanted to avoid weakening Illya even further by dragging her halfway across the world. Besides, Rin had already done so much for him during the Grail War that he couldn't bring himself to trouble her further.
"When will everything be ready?"
"At any time, when you get there just give that person a call and they will meet you at the station. Hah, it's sad to see you go young man, even my men are sad they won't see you around much anymore — I suspect they just enjoyed having their things fixed for free. But I know this matter must be important for you. I may not know the details, but I wish you the best."
"Thank you."
"So when will you be leaving? At least let us throw you a farewell party before you go, you know how Taiga is. If she finds out you left without telling her, she'll fly right over to Tokyo just to give you a slap across the face."
Though it sounded like a joke, Shirou knew it was 100% true.
He looked at the two girls finally walking in from outside, his sister smiling so brightly despite knowing she was living on borrowed time. That smile was something he never wanted to lose, she was the only family he had left.
"I'll come by later this evening and we will leave tomorrow. I still have some things to take care of and some other people I need to say goodbye to,"
Already, he'd made arrangements to transfer to a university in Tokyo to continue his academic studies. A cover story for why he was going there in the first place in case anyone he knew became overly curious. He even planned to go there at least occasionally to help maintain the illusion that he was a transfer student.
"I see, then I'll see you soon, we have a feast to prepare." With that said, the call ended and Shirou took a deep breath. Strangely enough, his mind briefly flashed back to the book, Dear Kafka that kept popping up in his dreams lately. From what he knew, the author also lived in Tokyo.
'I guess I can look the author up when I'm over there and try to understand what happened in the past — Sen Takatsuki… For now, best to get ready to break the news to Fuji-nee.'
.
.
.
"WAAAAHHHH—! SHIROU IS LEAVING ME!"
Suffice to say, her reaction was exactly as he predicted, albeit enhanced by the consumption of multiple bottles of sake. Even Sella was worried about the girl's health, while Illya was eating quietly and enjoying the food.
"It won't be that long, law school isn't like medical, I'll be back before you know it." He explained to the brunette who was giving him a bear hug, using enough strength to cause some discomfort but he was willing to let her do as she pleased for today.
"Hahahaha! Don't hog the boy like that, Taiga, he needs to fly on his own and become a real man eventually."
"Shut up you old fossil! He's my child and I raised him to be with me forever!"
"Hahahaha!"
Since when did he become her child? Shirou was pretty sure that he was the one who did all the raising, going as far as scolding her whenever she would stay out until late at night drinking and even grounding her once.
Some of the men working for the family also joined, some having the same reaction to his departure as Taiga.
"Wuuuuu! Why must you leave us, Shirou! I still haven't taught you how to fire a gun like I promised you!"
"What the hell are you teaching the kid, Kabuto!?"
"Shut it man! Tokyo is a dangerous place! He can take some of the older Thompsons we have in storage as a gift! Super reliable!"
"Shhhh! Don't scream out loud that we possess firearms, you idiot! We don't want the cops knocking on our door."
"Isn't that the chief of the police crying over there?"
"... The hell he's crying for?"
"Dunno, I heard he went through a nasty divorce."
"Damn."
Indeed, Shirou would miss them. They were a rowdy bunch, and he knew full well they weren't committing any dangerous crimes or hurting people. Taiga's grandfather just happened to also be an avid collector of firearms from what he said himself.
"Thank you, Kabuto-san, I'll be back and you can teach me how to use a gun then." It was hard to talk through Taiga's crushing hug… did she fall asleep? "Fuji-nee?"
"You won't get into any trouble will you, Shirou?" The woman whispered, her voice having sobered up and containing a hint of sadness. "Nee-san won't be there to keep you safe from some nasty folks, there are plenty of those in Tokyo. Don't trust everyone like you do here, they will take advantage of your kind nature. If someone is bullying you then call me, I'll destroy them with my bokken."
A smile bloomed on his face as he gently rubbed her back. "I won't. I'll keep Fuji-nee's lesson in mind, I don't want people to be on the receiving end of Torashinai in the hands of the dreadful Tiger of Fuyuki."
"..."
Her hold tightened, Shirou felt something moist on his shoulders and soft whimpers.
"I'll miss you too."
He meant every bit of those words. Hah, if she continued holding him like this then he suspected she wouldn't let go anytime soon.
Jiiiiiiiiiiii~!
He didn't miss the piercing glare coming from Illya in the background, she wanted to say something but just pouted and continued to eat while others continued to pamper her with more deserts.
A few brave men even tried to talk to Sella and got rejected by a cold glare.
All in all, it was a farewell feast he'd remember forever.
But for now, he needed to go outside for some fresh air. The stench of alcohol from Taiga was getting on his shirt and kept stinging his nose. So after excusing himself and telling the others he'd be back in a few minutes, Shirou found himself near the entrance of the front yard, with the only thing accompanying him being absolute silence and the cold wind.
"Senpai?" Her attention was drawn by a melodious voice coming from nearby, looking over to find a young girl with purple hair standing by the entrance, wearing a long coat sweater and red patterned scarf due to the cold weather.
A warm smile stretched on his face, he wanted to see her as well before leaving.
"Hey there, Sakura. Guess you heard the news."