From the start, i knew I had to repay everyone—My old man, Taiga…everyone I left behind.

That's why. More than anything.

I won't let them do as they please.

"Go away Emiya!" One boy shouted. He was holding a rock as two kids stood by his side.

"No, i won't!. Find someone else to pick on!" I stood in front of a girl, arms wide, shielding her.

"Stop defending her! It's her fault!" The boy kept shouting, just a kid's squabble, something trivial.

"I don't know what happened, but this isn't how you solve it!" I didn't budge, i didn't even know their face, i just knew i had to help them

"Tch, You always stick your nose where it doesn't belong!" The boy scowled, but eventually tossed the rock aside.

"Pshh, whatever, let's go. Let's leave the weirdos together" Frowning, he turned away, his friends following as he left.

I turned back to the girl I'd been protecting. She had purple hair, a small red ribbon tied neatly in it.

"It's okay now. They're gone" I hoped she was unharmed. I'd arrived just as the boys were picking on her––

"..." But the girl didn't seem to acknowledge my voice. She was just sitting there, hugging her knees, looking at the ground.

"Are you okay?" I took her silence as confirmation at the time. "Let me help you"

"Why.." She finally spoke before my hand could reach her. "..Why did you help me?"

A question, why would i help?, "Because i couldn't stand just watching it" an obvious answer but not to the purple-haired girl.

"You….shouldn't." I frowned, of course i should. "Yes i do. They wouldn't stop otherwise."

"...They..will pick on you now." The girl spoke, still looking down.

"Hmm? That's no problem" I smiled "I can take them on" in truth, i was happy, they would pick on me instead of her if that happened.

"You-you really shouldn't-" She flinched.

"Nonsense!, they were bullying you!" I cut her off. It wasn't about me. "Believe me, it's better this way."

"I.." She couldn't decide what to do.

"Here, take my hand, i'll help you up." I offered my hand, she finally looked at me. Hollow eyes, matching her hair. Her eyes seemed distant, unfocused, as if she was somewhere far away from this moment.

But i smiled. "I am Emiya Shirou" her eyes seemed to focus, a slight shift.

That was the first time i met her "...Matou..Sakura.."

I came home and–

"Shirou!" Taiga Fujimura stood at the door of the Emiya household, hands on her hips, a scolding expression. I don't know how many times i came home like this, bruises clear in my face, from the rocks thrown at me earlier. She was probably called by the school.

"How many times do I have to tell you?!" She was mad, no wonder. As i convinced her i could come back home alone, that i would keep myself out of trouble. Feeling sorry i broke my promise, I looked down.

"Sorry…Taiga." I couldn't meet her gaze.

"Hmph…" Finally, she sighed, she couldn't stay mad at Shirou for long, seeing him like this was her weakness. "It's okay. You just have to promise. And next time i will come to pick you up, understood?" She said sternly.

I looked at her again, smiling, "understood" hope this time i can keep my promise.

She sighed. "Come inside, i made something to eat." she was willing to let it go this time, and turned to enter.

"Uck, is it edible?" He followed but Taiga stopped mid-walk and i bumped into her

"Would you rather starve?" She turned her head, a vein popping.

"...I'll eat it."

Lunch was the same as always, Taiga talking loudly about her day as she stuffed her face with whatever she had concocted earlier. While I quietly ate, sometimes responding to one of her ridiculous stories.

"And then sash! I made him stumble back and he landed on his butt!" Taiga was recounting one of her kendo matches, making exaggerated movements with her hands

I laughed, Taiga was pretty funny most of the time, and her stories where always entertaining, if a bit overblown.

"You should pick up a sport Shirou, i'm sure it'll be fun!" She said, changing the topic.

"It's okay, i'm not interested.." I placed my plate down as i finished.

"I know you're still young, but that's all the more reason!, you should have some fun!" She was serious. "And you'll even make friends!, how about it?"

"No thanks…i'm fine, besides i'm more interested in helping around the house." I picked up the plates as i spoke

"You are no fun…hmm…how about Kendo?. That's right! Don't you wanna see your big sister's moves? I could teach you a thing or two, you'll be the youngest talent!" I ignored her getting ahead of herself, as well as her "big sister" comment, as she liked to call herself.

"Well, my old man doesn't like those dangerous sports, he told me-"

"Oh, shut it. He is not here, and i'm sure he will be glad once he sees you getting a hang of it! C'mon, pleeaaaaaaaase?" She put on those puppy dog eyes.

"Well..i can't say i'm not interested." I commented, i vaguely wanted to learn how to fight at the time.

"Yay!, c'mon let's go wash the dishes and go to the dojo!" She was in high spirits already.

After washing the dishes. We went to the dojo, she gave me her Keikogi, which was a little too big for me and handed me one of her practice shinai.

I looked at it curiously, before going to the center of the dojo as instructed.

"You should stand like this!" She adjusted her stance, a little differently.

"Shoulders relaxed!, your shinai should be like this!" She instructed me, showing me her own posture and grip.

"Like..this?" I changed in accordance with what she said.

"Yeah- yeah! Just like that! Maintain it!" She nodded, grabbing my body as to correct it slightly

"Now swing!" To her command, I swung, what came was clumsy, but not too bad.

"Great! Now let's go for some more!. Follow my movements!" She said as she put herself into position, as i followed her movements.

She made me do the same exercises she always does in practice. Time passed as we tried different techniques and swings.

To be honest, it was fun. And Taiga was really into it, laughing whenever i made a mistake, but it was all in good fun. But i could already tell that Taiga really was good, she looked more focused than i've ever seen as she swung her shinai.

"Hah…i think that's enough. So?, what do you think!" She turned to me with a big smile

"Heh…well it's really tiring, this wooden sword its too big for me after all." I chuckled, swinging the wooden shinai around

"It was fun then?! I knew it!" she got ahead of herself again "You'll be a master in no time! As long as i train you, we will reach new heights in Kendo!"

"Well, it was fun, but.." We already spent a lot of time here-

"Shirou, let's duel!" She looked at me with the eyes of a predator, now i'd seen two sides of her i've never seen before.

"E-eh?..o-okay" I blurted out as she was gripping my shoulders

"Nice, just like i taught you!, En Garde!" She excitedly went into position and faced me.

What followed was less of a match and more of an execution. I stood completely drained, trying to hold my Shinai as Taiga finally ended her attacks. By some miracle she didn't hit me one time, though I swore i heard the shinai creaking at one point. Or maybe she spared me, careful to not smash my brains out with one of her swings.

"You did really well Shirou! You are so talented!" She beamed as she retreated her shinai.

"Hah…hah…yeah…" I gasped

"So what do you think, Kendo really is a great sport!" She puffed her chest out, proud of herself. I didn't know what, maybe 'teaching' me the basics, if that barrage could be called basic training.

Regardless, aside from the last part it wasn't so bad. I felt like i was having fun, i could get the hang of this, if Taiga doesn't kill me first.

"Phew, well that's all for today. We should fig-practice more later!, but for your first time it was great, you learn quickly!" She nodded, proud of herself and him.

"Remember me…not to duel you again." It was over at the very least

Later on, after i finished showering i came to the living room and sat on the table.

Today was more eventful than expected.

I don't mind. Without my pops here, i thought things would be less lively. Glad i couldn't have been more wrong.

I stare at the tv, nothing on, my mind just seems to drift at times like this.

Nothing to do, 'is it okay if i don't do anything?' frivolous thoughts like that came to my mind, i couldn't help myself, when i was alone, i couldn't really keep myself still, if i let my mind wander–

Fireburnsnot!—'

My thoughts almost went into that direction before a voice woke me from my trance.

"Shirou, what are you doing?" It was Taiga, coming in, probably from the bathroom. "Huh? What are you staring at?, the tv isn't on"

"Oh-" I finally looked at her "Sorry, i was out of it for a second"

"Hmm…okay then. Why don't we watch something?" She sat beside me by the table letting it go, thinking it was nothing. I'm glad she came, just in time..

"Eh, another gas incident?" She lazily looked at the TV before changing the channel to one of those cartoons, she still liked watching those at her age.

I let myself relax, soon it will be time for dinner. I realize, i'm really glad, my days were peaceful.

I often think back on those days, when i had nothing to worry about.

After a peaceful dinner, Taiga goes to sleep, she seemed tired already. She always sleeps a lot, but she always seems to wake up tired. Funny, that.

I went to my room, but after waiting for Taiga to fall asleep, I sneaked out.

This is my chance.

I took out some keys i borrowed from my dad's drawer the other day. I'm lucky he always has spares laying around.

This will be the second time I get to see it for myself.

The storehouse. That old man doesn't want me to see it. He says 'only tools are there', but i know better, This must be one of those places where a sorcerer practices his magic!. I excitedly thought. I made my way to the yard and approached the storehouse. With a click, the lock gave way to my key, and with a creak, it opened.

Various trinkets laid about across the floor, some broken. 'hey- is that my bike?'

But what caught my eye was the ground. There, etched into the floor, was some sort of circle with some intricate pattern. I didn't have a clue what it was or what it meant.

But i was gleeful. Da-the old man didn't let me practice magic, even though i pestered him about it every time i had the chance, he always said it was too dangerous. But I won't give up that easily. I wanted to learn magic. 'I'll help my old man when he goes abroad. I'll be a true magus.' I won't be powerless anymore.

I closed the door behind me as i stepped in. The moonlight was the only thing illuminating the place. Luckily, there was a light switch nearby.

I could clearly see the whole place now. It was really unkempt, aside from the various tools, it was filled with dust. "Is…this really a sorcerer's secret base?" I wondered as i went and sat in the center of the circle.

Well i didn't mind, if i cleaned it, dad would catch me. Now…what should i do?

I looked around, some old books lay around, I picked one up and began flipping through it. There were some scribbles i didn't recognize, i looked at the cover, worn out.

I went back to the circle and thought about it for a minute. Maybe I should mimic what the old man does?

Just like that time I caught him in the act.

I should…cross my legs, place my hands together..and close my eyes.

'What did he say at that time?.' After I caught him, i once again pestered him about sorcery.

After thinking about it alot, he relented, saying 'Shirou, i will only teach you some stuff. But that's it' and it was less than some. But i remember it.

It was..'magic it's a way to release one magical energy'..' 'Mana' flows through the world, while 'Od' is created within'. The greater source is, of course, mana.

I think it was like that. I close my eyes, focusing.

'It's like if you were a filter'. I recall my old man's words. You suck up the mana and turn it into something usable. That filter, he said, is called 'Magical Circuit'

The talent one is born with is determined by how many circuits you have, i think he mentioned that.

'Listen, Shirou. To learn magic is to stray away from common sense. You die when you die. You kill when you must.' those words are still engraved into my heart. 'The essence lies in not life, but death. Magic is only a way to destroy yourself'

'I have no fear.'

"—Trace on." Those were the words created, to hypnotize myself. I need it as i have no 'magic crest' nor 'circuits' to use, as far as i know.

I need to create a line in my body to allow the passage of magical energy. To create such a line. A metal rod—that's what i envision as i 'insert it' into my backbone. When i insert it, and connect it to my nerves, i'll become a sorcerer.

'What i'll teach you will bring you conflicts. This is why you should never use it in front of people, nor cease your practice' I steady my breath.. 'Well, i don't care if you break that last one. But the most important part is that magic is not something you use for yourself, but for others. That way, you may become a magic user, but not a magus'

That's okay. I don't want to be a magus. I want to be like Kiritsugu.

"Guh–" Pain. I'm thinking needlessly. My connection almost failed. It would be fatal if i lose control now.

I resume my connection, breathing steadily. My headache disappears.

Finally I made a single magic circuit.

This process took me more than an hour.

So it's time to do the only magic i'm able to.

"—Analyze the fundamental structure." Strengthening objects.

"—Composition, analyze." It's like pouring poison into it. And to turn that poison into a tonic, as to not break down the object. To pour that into small open spaces.

The object I'm strengthening, a wrench, lays in my hands. Then—

"Ack!—" Pain again. Sharper than before.

"Hah….haa….haa…" Dammit, failure.

I suppose i'm still a beginner, something must have failed, i didn't follow the steps properly..

I gasped for breath, my hands shaking as I set the wrench down.

"I think this is enough for today.." I look at the wrench. Then put it down. I get up.

"I wonder, when will i reach you, old man." I say as i look out the window, the moonlight seeping in.

Tomorrow will be a new day.

Yo.

First of all, if you've read this far, thank you for your time.

Thanks to everyone who left or will leave a comment.

Lastly, let me cook.

Peace.