19. Chapter 19

Shirou was now returning home and he was thinking of what the next step of his paln would be, and in the meantime he was also thinking of what he had to cook for breakfast.

As he thought about it he remembered that he now had to cook for 6 or 7 people, depending on if that day Taiga would come. There were now in his house he, Saber, Caster, Rider, Sakura, and Illya.

Now there were a lot of people to feed, so that afternoon he should go to the market district to buy something.

After a while, he had finally returned home, and as soon he opened the door he saw someone was there to greet him.

"ONIIII-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNN!" Illya screamed as she dashed toward Shirou to hug him.

"Oof." Shirou grunted in pain after Illya headbutted him in the stomach at Mach 1 and then hugged him. "G-Good morning Illya. Have you slept well?" Shirou then asked at the hypnotized girl.

"Yes I did, but now I'm hungry! Prepare something now!" Illya said as she looked up, with her dull and empty eyes, before she pouted a bit.

"Yes, yes," Shirou said as he patted her on the head. "now go in the living and wait for me there, I'll soon make breakfast."

"Ok, but you better hurry up!" Illya said energetically before she started to run to the living-room.

Shirou smiled a bit at the sight, he was happy to see that Illya was acting like a normal child and not as a ruthless Master like the night before. What kind of hell did she went trought to act like that at such age?

That morning he had spoken with Caster about Illya and she told him that the girl was the representative of the Einzebern, one of the 3 big families responsible for the creation of the Grail, and from her birth, she had been designed to take part to the war and be the Minor Grail. It was clear that for the Einzebern Illya was just an object, an asset that would win the war for them, even at the cost of her life.

She then told him some other details about the little girl and her conditions, and as she spoke Shirou started to grimace. In the end Illya too was another victim of the ruthless mages that found no value in human life.

He had to do something about her family too... but he could think about it in the future.

He took off his shoes and jacket and started to go into the living room, but after a moment at the end of the corridor, Sakura came out and greeted him.

"Good morning senpai... may I ask you who is that child?" Sakura then asked.

"...She is Illya, Berserker's Master. We saved her yesterday after defeating her Servant." Shirou said calmly, as he tried to not look at her directly.

"That child was Berserker's Master?" Sakura asked a bit shocked.

"Indeed, and not only that, she is the Minor Grail too. Her family had basically sent a child here to fight and die, even if she had won the war at one point she would have fused with the Greater Grail." Shirou said with a serious tone.

"What have you done to her?"

"Just like you Caster has modified her memories, but she now believes that I am her brother, other than that we also made sure that she will believe and do whatever we say to her. If I say that the sky is green she will start to believe that the sky is green, if I tell her to go to sleep she will immediately fell asleep, and so on..."

"...Is this really necessary?" Sakura said as she looked down to the ground.

"...It is, it's for her own good." Shirou said before started to walk to the living room.

"I see." Sakura said as she nodded, before silently followed him.

Once Shirou entered into the living-room he saw Illya playing with Rider's long hairs, and he noted that Rider was completely frozen in place for some reason... how strange.

He ignored the scene and went into the kitchen where put on the apron so that he could start to cook, but at that point, he noted that Sakura was still behind him.

"Sakura, you don't have to worry, I don't need help." Shirou said as he turned around a bit. Sakura still had to recover from the operation, so it was better to not make her do much.

"Ah, ok." Sakura simply said before she turned and went to sit at the table.

As he started to prepare the ingredients Shirou quietly sighed, from when he had told Sakura 2 days ago that he could not love her she had started to act that way, she silently followed him everywhere when she could and always asked if he needed help... this was not what he wanted for her... someone like him didn't even deserved her help and gratitude...

This whole mess called 'Holy Grail War' was almost over, and soon Sakura should start to live a normal life where nothing could threaten or harm her, but just like he feared her love for him was stronger than he had first imagined, and he was sure that it would create more problems in the future... but he now knew what to do.

As he was cooking he heard Saber entering the room and greeting everyone, especially Illya. She kneeled in front of her and gently told her: "Good morning Illya."

"Good morning Saber!" Illya answered cheerfully.

Shirou turned around and saw that Saber had a smile on her face, a sad one. He had yet to ask her what kind of connection she had with the person that resembled Illya, but he didn't know if he should, maybe it was a more delicate subject than he first thought.

After half an hour he had finished making breakfast for everyone and had started to bring the plate to the table, as he did a copy of Caster entered the room, greeted everyone, and sat at the table where she started to eat. If Caster had sent her copy it meant that she was still talking with Tohsaka, but he clearly knew that telling the girl everything she needed to know would require some hours, so he was not surprised.

After breakfast Rider accompanied Sakura returned to their room and in the living room remained only Shirou, Saber, Illya, and Caster's copy.

"...What do you want to do now?" Caster's copy asked as she turned to watch Shirou, but strangely, after he turned to look at her she looked away.

"After I'll rest a bit I'll go with Illya to her castle so that we can take some clothes for her, she will stay here for a while so she needs them" He said.

Caster's copy simply nodded and after a moment, she disappeared.

"We will go to the castle?! I have so many things to show you onii-chan!" Illya exclaimed.

"I know, but first I want to rest a bit, ok?" Shirou asked as he got up and saw her simply nodding in response. "Saber, keep an eye on Illya." He then continued before he headed toward his room where he would take a nap.

"I will." Saber said as she turned to watch Illya with a smile.

Shirou then went into his room to rest, and as he slept, he dreamed of Archer as he got summoned as Counter Guardian, and all the innocent people he had to kill.

After Shirou woke up from his nap and recovered his sense he immediatly headed back to the living room, where he found Illya watching the Tv and Saber observing her.

"Ok Illya, we're good to go now." Shirou said with a smile as he entered in the room.

"Yey! Let's go!" Illya said as she immediatly jumped from her seat before she ran towards Shirou. "I forgot to tell you earlier that I also have to introduce you Sella and Leysritt!" Illya continued.

"...Sella and Leysritt? You mean your maids?" Shirou asked. He had totally forgotten about the two women present at the castle.

"Yes!" Illya exclaimed.

"...We'll see, now go and put your shoes and jacket on." Shirou said as he moved aside from the door to make space for Illya to pass.

"Yes!" Illya said as she went to do what Shirou just said.

"Saber, are you ready?" Shirou then asked as he turned around.

"Of course." Saber said as she got up from her seat.

After that they got out of the home and started to walk towards the castle, Shirou would have asked Caster to take them there, but she was now occupied with Tohsaka and until now he had asked her too many favors.

"So, what are your intentions with Illya?" Saber asked as she walked alongside Shirou and watched Illya that was walking ahead of them.

"First of all now as a Minor Grail she has absorbed the soul of 3 Heroic spirits, Caster told me that right now her body is capable of handling them but they should soon start to harm her. With Caster's help, I'm sure that we'll be able to do something about it and save her life." Shirou said.

Saber nodded and then asked: "And?"

"After that, we should take care of those who have sent her here to die: The Einzeber." Shirou said with a frown. "Caster informed me that they are in Germany, but I'm sure that sooner or later we will be able to reach and eliminate them too. If we manage of doing it then all the founding families will be eliminated. With this all the research, studies, and discoveries about the Holy Grail will be forever lost... no other Grail War should happen ever again." As soon he finished saying those words Shirou saw a glint in Saber's eyes.

"Then what will you do about Illya?"

"After the hypnosis will wear off she can decide of what to do and where she wants to go... of course, we will make sure that she will not go back to those monsters she think to be her family."

"I see... thank you Shirou." Saber said with a grateful nod.

"...Saber, tell me if you want, but do you perhaps know who Illya is? Or she just reminds you of someone?" Shirou asked.

"...What makes you think this?" Saber asked as she slowly looked away from Shirou. She had forgotten that Shirou too could see her memories, probably he had seen Irisviel.

"The way you look at her, the way you talk to her, and the way you feel when you watch her are clear signs that there is something between the two of you... or the person she reminds you of."

"...You're right about that Shirou," Saber said as she remembered the dying Irisviel in her arms. "but that's not something I want to talk about right now." She then continued. Since now she knew that Illya was Shirou's sister It was better to stay silent on the subject until the war ended for good, or she may make some errors and slip some unecessary details.

"Oh... I'm sorry." Shirou said as he felt Saber's emotions. He could tell what had happened to the person that Saber was thinking about.

"No, you don't have to." Saber said with a smile and watched Illya who now was far ahead waving at them and telling them to hurry up. Luckily in the end Illya would not suffer the same fate as her mother, and it was all thanks to her little brother.

After some hours Shirou, Saber, and Illya had finally reached the Einzeber castle.

"Wow, it's gigantic." Shirou said impressed as he watched the castle. He saw from Caster crystal ball that it was big, but this went beyond his expectations.

"Onii-chan this castle it's not gigantic, this one is quite little compared to the other ones the Einzeber have in Germany." Illya said.

"Indeed Shirou, this castle is quite little." Saber commented.

"Oh, really?" Shirou asked surprised.

'It seems that we have different standards.' He then thought.

"Yes! But you have yet to see the interior, the inside it's way prettier than outside!" She then exclaimed and started to run ahead. "C'mon, follow me! Sella or Leyseritt should already be at the door waiting for my return."

Saber and Shirou said nothing and just followed Illya near the entrance, and after they reached her she knocked at the doorway. After a moment the door started to open and they started to hear someone.

"Lady Illyasviel! Where have you been last night?!" They heard a woman say as the door started to open. "I expect some explanation from you milady!" The woman continued as she opened the door and looked down at Illya.

"You don't have to worry Sella, I was at onii-chan's house and I slept there!" Illya said happily as she watched Sella with her dull and empty eyes.

"...Lady Illyasviel?" The woman, Sella, said confused as she looked down at her little master. What had happened to her lady? Why she was so strange?

After that little moment of confusion she looked up and saw Shirou and Saber standing behind Illya, after she did she loudly gasped and started to step back.

Illya then suddenly took Shirou's hand and started to drag him into the entrance as she said: "Onii-chan there is no time to waste! There are many clothes that I have to choose from and I need your help!"

"Sorry Illya, but I'm sure that Saber is more inclined towards this kind of thing, and I'm sure that she would be more than happy to help you." Shirou said with a smile.

"Ok." Illya said before she turned to Saber. "Saber, you've heard Shirou, I'll need your help, follow me." She continued before she turned around and started to walk away.

"Sure, I'll reach you in a moment." Saber said, before she turned around to watch the homunculus called Sella.

The woman was now around 10 meters away from her and Shirou, and right now she was now frowning and clenching her teeth as she watched them.

"Emiya Shirou... the son of the traitor... you're here..." The woman said as she watched Shirou with hatred.

"...Son of the traitor?" Shirou asked confused as he watched the woman.

"Leyseritt!" The woman shouted before she returned her attention to Shirou. "What have you done to lady Illyasviel?! Answer me Emiya! Have you come here to finish your father's job?!"

"...You knew my father?" Shirou asked frowning.

"Are you surprised?! There is no single Eizenbern that doesn't know that cursed traitor! Now tell me, what have you done to Lady Illyasviel?!" Sella said again.

As Sella spoke from the staircase appeared another homunculus, who had a giant halberd with herself. After silently watching Shirou and Saber for a pair of seconds she slowly started to get down the stairs.

"Shirou..." Saber started to say as she prepared herself to fight.

"Don't. Saber, it seems that they knew my father, and I have some questions to ask them. Now just go with Illya and help her at choosing some clothes." He then said before he turned to face Sella and Leyseritt.

This fight was just a 2 vs 1, he could beat them, but since they knew something about his father and they had somehow recognized him, despite all of his best efforts at not being found out during the duration of the war, he now had many questions to ask them.

Saber remained in complete silence for a moment as she realized that if she let Shirou speak with the two maids he clearly would discover who Illya really was. She started to wonder just how would he react to the news... oh well, she had no right to stop him from knowing the truth.

"As you wish, Shirou." Saber said before she turned around and went on following Illya. "Illya, wait for me!" She then said.

After Saber left the entrance only Shirou, Sella and Leyseritt remained. Shirou watched and analyzed the 2 homunculi and he remained surprised, he could tell that Stella was a homunculus oriented toward magic, while the other was oriented toward combat, they were strong, in fact, they were designited to fight even Servants. The one with the helebard, Leyseritt, was especially strong. He could tell that her strength was comparable to that of a servant, the halberd she had was far too dense and heavy to be used as a normal weapon.

"Before you do anything, I'm not here to fight." Shirou said as he looked at Sella and raised his arms a bit. "Yesterday we have defeated Berserker, so you Einzbern have lost the war, there is no need or reason for us to fight." He said.

"Do you think that we'll believe your lies Emiya?! We have made the mistake of believing you once, we will not do it a second time!" Sella said.

"If I'm a liar then where is Berserker? If I wanted to kill you then why are you still alive? You know that the woman that was with me was a Servant, I could have ordered her to kill you both but I did not, that's because there's no reason for the two of you to die. I have no bad intentions towards you or Illya." Shirou said as he was preparing to use his circuits.

"You don't scare use Emiya!" Sella said as she pulled out a hair from her head.

"..." Shirou remained silent for a moment before he turned to Leyseritt and asked: "You. You're a battle-oriented homunculus, right? Tell me, do you think that the two of you together really have a chance to beat me?"

Sella turned he head a bit to watch Leyseritt that had suddenly stopped walking down the stairs, after a moment of silence Leyseritt simply said: "Chances to beat you are low."

Leyseritt sensed that the person was strong, but he had no hostile intention toward them or Illya, there was no need to fight right now... but why Sella was hostile?

"Leyseritt, what are you saying?!" Sella exclaimed as she turned towards her, but after a she did she felt some gust of the wind behind her. She then turned around, just to see 5 swords floating mere centimetres in front of her, she then looked up to see 5 other swords that were floating and spinning up in the air.

"Even if I'm not strong as a Servant I'm more than capable of killing you both right here and now." Shirou said while he walked toward Sella, as the tip of an explosive sword was now on her stomach. Homunculus or not if he thrust it in her she would be blown to pieces a moment later. "As I told you before I'm not here to fight, so I'll tell you only once: Surrender." He said as he got in front of her and intently watched her in the eyes.

"..." Sella remained in silence and just gritted her teeth, after a moment she lowered her arms to her sides.

"I'm happy to see that you're a reasonable person." Shirou said as he dematerialized his swords. "Now, why you called my father traitor? How do you know who I am?" He then asked.

*1 hour later*

"You know Saber, now that we have everything we need we can ask Sella or Liz to take us home, we do have some cars here." Illya said as she walked down the long corridors of the castle. She had fun walking with Saber and Shirou, but now she was tired of walking and try on clothes.

"Really? Then yes, I think that we should ask them... transport vehicles like cars are such convenient things, aren't they?" Saber said as she carried 3 giant suitcases one over the other. In Illya's room they had found these giant suitcases, and right now Illya had more than enough clothes and stuffed animals for her long residence at Shirou's house.

"Anyway, do you know what onii-chan will make for lunch?" Illya then asked, she right now was feeling a little peckish.

"I do not, but I am curious just as you." Saber admitted, it was almost time for lunch after all.

At one point, as they walked down the corridors that would take them to the entrance, they started to hear Shirou's voice in the distance.

"-you're telling me that they have sent Illya here to die just for a matter of pride?! And you think that this is normal?!" They heard Shirou yelling indignant and furious.

"I-It's not a simple matter of pride E-Emiya, it's our duty as homunculus of the Einzbern! For over a-a thousand of years the Einzbern have tried t-to-"

"I don't care what your stupid family had tried to do! After all the things you did to her you have sent here Illya to die for a war that could have killed who knows how many other innocents!"

"Y-You are looking down the E-Einzeber Emiya! We a-are one of the greatest family of mages who ever lived-"

"And yet you've managed to lose your own war 5 times in a row! I guess that your family doesn't even know that the Grail has been corrupted! Even if Illya won the war you would not even be able to fufill any wish at all!"

"T-That's-"

"Enough!" Shirou said interrupting Sella. "Jubstacheit is the next bastard I'll kill after this whole mess will end!" They heard him exclaiming.

"...S-Say what you w-want Emiya, y-you will not be able to-" They heard Sella saying before she suddely gasped.

"I exterminated the Matou and we have the Tohsaka are under our control!" They heard Shirou exclaiming. "Now it's just a matter of time before I massacre your family!" He continued.

"Onii-chan! Why are you angry with Sella?" Illya said as soon she saw Shirou, who was now in front of Sella and grabbing her by the collar, before she started to run toward him.

Shirou turned around to watch Illya running towards him. The fire in his eyes died, he loosened his grip on the woman collar, and he gritted his teeth.

Illya, the little girl who he first thought was just another victim that was forced to become a master because of her family... was his father's daughter, his estranged sister.

Sella had informed him that Illya was convinced that her father had abandoned her for him, and that was because she was just an unwanted child. For over 10 years Illya had lived with the idea that no one ever wanted her, and since she also knew that as a future Minor Grail for the next war she knew that soon she would die too. She lived all of her life thinking of herself as just a tool that had to be used before of being thrown away.

For 10 years the poor girl lived without a mother, because she had died in the last war as she did her job as Minor Grail, and without a father, who she believed had left her. He was not surprised when Sella told him that she never cared about the war and she had come here just with the intention of taking revenge on him, and killing him.

As he thought about Kiritsugu he remembered those periods of times where he would go aboard for entire months without telling him anything of what he went to do, he could now knew where he went and what he tried to do: Save the poor Illya, his daughter, from the Einzbern.

Sella did tell to him that right now Illya should be around 19 years old, so what the hell have they done to her body? Did the process of becoming a Minor Grail stop her growth? Had they done something else to her? Was her life at risk right now?

He gritted his teeth at the thought.

They. Will. Pay.

"...Nothing Illya." Shirou said with a forced smile as he patted her head as soon she arrived near him. "Anyway, have you taken everything you needed?" He then asked with a gentle tone.

"Yes, but it's too much to carry home on foot." Illya said before she turned around to watch Sella and Leyseritt. "Sella, go take the car. Leyseritt, take the suitcases and take them outside, we're going at Onii-chan's house."

After she spoke Leyseritt, who was not sitting on the stairs, posed aside her helbard and got up, she then immediately went on taking the suitcases from Saber while Sella remained still.

"E-Emiya, you've y-yet to explain to us what have you done to Lady Illyasviel." Sella said still a bit shaken.

"Why do you care about what have we done to her? It surely still better than sending her to die for a pointless war." Shirou said as he turned to watch Sella. "Now just do what your master has ordered you and get out of here." He continued before he turned to Illya. "Illya, now could you gently go with Leyseritt and wait for me outside? There is something I have to talk with Saber." He said with the hint of a smile.

"Sure onii-chan!" Illya said before she went on following Leyseritt.

After a pair of second Sella left the entrance hall as well, the only ones that remained there were now Shirou and Saber.

"..." Shirou quietly turned to watch Saber, and he watched her for a long moment.

"..." Saber quietly watched Shirou without saying anything.

"...You knew, isn't it right?" Shirou asked as he watched Saber.

"Yes, I did." Saber simply said.

"Why you didn't tell me?"

"First, I was not sure about her identity. She right now should be around 19-20 years old but as you can see she has the aspect of a 10 years old child, in fact, I first thought that I made a simple mistake. Second, I wanted to tell you after the war ended for good, right now we have too many things to be concerned about."

"I... well.. no, you're right..." Shirou said before shinging and shaking his head. "...but I have one last question for you, Saber. The person that Illya reminded you of, was her mother, right?" Shirou said as he clenched his fists as once again anger started to rise in him.

"...Indeed." Saber said as she looked at the ground and recalled the dying Irisviel and anger started to rose in her too.

Both of them felt each other anger as they thought about Illya and Irisviel, two other poor victims of this whole disaster called the Holy Grail War. After a long moment, they looked each other eyes, and in that instant, they swore to themself that nothing shall happen to Illya ever again, even at the cost of their lives.

"...Shall we go outside? Illya is waiting for us." Saber proposed after that moment of silence.

"Yes." Shirou simply said before he started to follow Saber and took a deep breath to calm down.

*An hour later, Emiya residence.*

"Rider." Sakura suddenly called her as she got out of the kitchen.

Right now they were in the living room and they were the only ones present in the home. Sakura had no idea where the others were of what they were doing, or what was happening at all, as always. She had no idea if Shirou was now out there risking his life and killing other people, but she didn't ask any question, she didn't want to be a greater burden than what she already was.

"What is it Sakura?" Rider calmly asked as she was now sipping some tea that Sakura made her earlier.

"...What happened to senpai?"

"What do you mean?" Rider asked as she turned toward Sakura.

"Why this morning he looked so... distant?" Sakura said with a bit of hesitation. She did not know why, but she felt that Shirou in the morning had started to look at her differently.

"I'm sorry Sakura, but I have no idea of what could have happened."

"...Please, tell me the truth Rider, what happened last night?"

"I've been informed that Berserker and Archer had been defeated and Shirou has rescued the little girl we have seen this morning. The war has ended, soon Shirou and Caster should find a way to destroy the Grail."

"Just that? Then why Senpai looked like that?"

"That's probably because he is thinking about what he has to do next, I'm sure that soon he will start to act normally once again."

"...Really Rider?" Sakura asked hopeful.

"Yes." Rider said to reassure Sakura, but in truth, she had no idea if it was true. She had no idea of what Shirou, Saber, and Caster wanted to do for the next future. If Sakura had noted that Shirou had a strange look, then he was preparing something.

"...I'm really glad." Skura said before sighing.

Since she had discovered what had really happened to her, and what her senpai did for her, Sakura never really had a chance to talk with him. She wanted to thank him, she wanted him to notice her, she wanted him to truly understand that what she felt for him was sincere, but for some reason, he thought himself to be responsible for what had happened to her and could not accept her feelings.

Sakura took a deep breath and sighed. She knew that it was selfish, but she wanted to take some of Shirou's time to clear things up... she could just hope that she will make him understand, and incredibly, she was optimistic.

Before she could sit at the table she heard someone opening the entrance door.

"I'm home." Shirou said aloud.

After hearing Shirou Sakura got up and went to the entrance just to found Shirou and... two maids?

"This is where you will reside for now." Shirou said as he looked at the two maids. "The majority of the rooms in this house are already occupied, so the two of you will stay in Illya's room." He said before turning around. "I know that for your standards this house may be shabby, but it's still a more secure place than your castle since we have better defenses and 3 Servants."

"Three servants? How it's possible that you have three servants?" One of the maids asked.

"If your family had put some more strict rules or limits nothing of this would ever have happened, so I can say that is thanks to you." Shirou said before he started to walk down the corridor. "Follow me, I'll show you Illya's room." He continued.

After a moment Shirou saw Sakura, he simply greeted her just with a nod before he went on his way.

The maids silently followed him, while they were in the car Illya had ordered to listen to what Shirou told to them, so they simply followed Shirou's orders.

After a pair of moments, Shirou reached Illya's room, opened the door, and said: "Here this is the room, you will settle here. If you need help just call me."

After that, he passed the maids, who went into the room to settle Illya's possession, and he went into the living room where he found Rider.

"Rider, has something strange happened while we were out?" Shirou asked. Since he, Caster, and Saber had been out for almost all the morning the only one who had remained there had been Rider.

"Nothing strange has happened and no strange individual had tried to approach the home." Rider answered.

"Good, but keep to stay on guard, Rider, the war may have ended, but there is something else up."

"Could you be more specific?" Rider asked as she turned to watch him. If Shirou told her that something else was up she needed more details as possible.

"I'm sorry, but I too have no idea of what's going on. Just be ready to fight and escape with Sakura at any time."

"Understood." Rider said with a nod.

Shirou turned around, he now wanted to go to Caster's room to see if she had returned, but after he turned around he saw that Sakura was in front of him.

"Senpai, are you all right?" Sakura asked.

"...Yes, Sakura, thanks for your concern." Shirou said with a smile after a moment. "Is there something you need?" He then asked.

"Oh, no, I need nothing... in fact, I was here just to ask you if you needed my help in something."

Shirou started to carefully watch Sakura, even if she had yet to fully recover from the operation he wanted her to rest... but today may be a very special day for her, so why he should not make it a little bit better?

"Sure, as you have seen we have more guests. So could you gently just prepare the ingredients for lunch?"

"Sure." Sakura said with a smile before she started to go into the kitchen.

"Thank you, Sakura." Shirou said with a smile before he started to walk towards Caster's room.

After he reached Caster's room Shirou reinforced his senses to make sure that Sakura had not followed him for some reason, after a moment he knocked, and a moment later the door opened itself and he entered the room where he saw a hoodded Caster sitting on her chair.

"Hi Caster. I suppose that you have finished with Tohsaka." Shirou said.

"...Yes, it was easier than I first thought to explain her everything, and never once she doubted my words. The girl is even willing to collaborate with us and going along with all of our plans, this include both the destruction of the Grail and hide from both the Clock Tower and the Church the survival and presence of Servants in her territory." Caster said before she turned to watch Shirou.

"Huh, really? She really didn't have nothing to say against it?" Shirou asked very surprised.

"...Indeed. In fact, she herself said that she had no kind of grudge against us, on the contrary, she was very grateful for everything we did while she was unaware of everything. She said something about how helping us will be her first step to find redempion for not having helped Sakura when she needed help."

"I doubt that she would have been able to do something for Sakura if Zouken was still alive..." Shirou started to say. In the end it had been a good thing that Tohsaka had not discovered Sakura's situation earlier, or she now would be good as dead. "...but this is not what matters now, is she ready?" He then asked.

"...Yes, she is willing to come at anytime." Caster simply answered.

"Perfect." Shirou said before he started to turn around. "Can you ask her to arrive after lunch? Tell her that this way we can reunite the two of them as soon as possible... oh, and later I have another favor to ask you about Sakura."

"...If this is what you wish."

"Good, thank you, Caster, see you later at lunch." Shirou said before he got out of the room, he had now to cook for over 8 people, it would not be an easy feat but he was always open to new challenges.

"...See you later." Caster said before Shirou got out of her room.

After Shirou got out Caster sighed. Not even a day had passed from when she talked with him for over 5 minutes and she could tell that Shirou had somehow changed just by the way he talked and acted... what kind of mentality did he had now? He had been already influenced by her, so now how did he change after interacting and inheriting the memories and experiences of his future self? His outright suicidal, pessimist, and cynical self?

*10 minutes later*

"I refuse." Shirou said immediately. "This is my kitchen, and the one who cooks here is me." He continued as he watched Sella and Leyseritt.

"And I refuse to let lady Illyasviel eat something unrefined as your cooking." Sella said as she looked down on Shirou.

Shirou just sighed, turned to watch Illya who was sitting at the table, and said: "Illya tell me the truth, do you prefer my cooking or Sella's?"

"Hmmmmm, onii-chan wins 8 times out of 10." Illya said after a moment.

"What?!" Sella exclaimed.

"I mean, I just had breakfast this morning, but I can tell that his cooking is way better than yours Sella." Illya said.

"That's not possible!" Sella said after she looked at Illya and turned to watch Shirou. "It's because of the hypnosis that she is telling that!" She continued.

"No. She is telling what she is really feeling." Leyseritt commented. She was connected to Illya, hypnotized or not she could tell what she was really thinking or feeling.

"See?" Shirou said before he turned to watch Leyseritt and thank her with a nod.

Sella just greeted her teeth and turned indignant, since that morning too many things that were out of her control had happened, right now she was mentally exhausted, so she just gave up and went to sit at the table.

After that he returned to cook, there were not too many ingredients for a very varied lunch, but there was enough food to feed all the people now present.

As he cooked he was thinking about what to do next, later Tohsaka should come here for Sakura, then in the afternoon, he would have some time to go to the shopping district to make some food shopping and then he would have some time to talk with Caster before or after dinner. No, they had many things to talk about, so it was better to talk after dinner.

"Oi Shirou." Taiga called him from behind the counter.

"What is it Nee-san?"

"Just... who are these new people? Is the car outside theirs?" She asked confused.

Shirou stooped cooking and turned around, oh no, Taiga was here... when did she arrive?

"You know what? Just let me count a bit." Taiga said before she turned. "Sakura, Caster, Saber, Rider, a little girl and.. two maids? 7 girls, or 8, if you include me too... Shirou, what the hell have you done?" She asked as she turned back to him. "You know that when I asked you if you were building a harem I was joking, right? Could it be that I gave you some strange idea?" She asked as she watched him deadpanned.

"...Taiga, ask more questions and there will be no lunch for you." Shirou said as he watched her deadpanned too. Right now he had no idea of what he could say that moment, so he just went in with a threat.

"Shirou! Do you think that a threat will work?! I am your guardian Shirou, I have to know what the hell you are doing!" She said angrily.

"...Do you want to eat the feast that I'm preparing or not?" He then asked.

"...Ok, for now, you win. You're just lucky that I'm hungrier than usual since at school..." She stopped speaking for a moment. "Why have you jumped school this last two days?"

"...Do I have to repeat myself Taiga? No lunch for you if you keep asking questions."

"..." Taiga just watched him in complete silence with a surprised expression.

"Good." Shirou said before turning back to cook.

"...Shirou, did something happened?" Taiga now asked concerned. Shirou normally did not act this way.

"Many things have happened in the last day..." Shirou said before he turned a bit toward Illya. "That little girl, Illya, is Kiritsugu's daughter."

"..." Taiga widened her eyes and remained silent as she turned to watch the little girl.

The girl had crimson eyes and long white hair, if she remembers well this is how Kiritsugu had described Irisviel, his deceased wife.

So, Kiritsugu arrived here around 10 years ago, sometimes he would go aboard for entire months without telling her the reason, but he stopped when his sickness become too grave and then he died around 5 years ago... No matter how much she looked at her the girl she could not be older than 12 or younger than 9, the math adds up.

She then watched the maid and the clothes that they were wearing, everything of them spoke of high class... could it be that the family of Illya did not give Kiritsugu custody of the child and he went aboard trying to take her back? Maybe for this reason he never spoke of his personal life.

She turned back to Shirou who was now cooking. He would never say things like this if he was not 100% sure about it... the girl really was Kiritsugu's daughter.

"Yes, we have many things to talk about, but not today Taiga, how about next week? I'll be very busy this period." Shirou continued.

"Don't worry Shirou, we'll talk about it when you want to talk." Taiga said.

This was not something that she had ever expected, and she was sure that knowledge of having a relative had been very shocking for Shirou.

After lunch, almost everyone went into their room to rest or went to do their work, except Sakura and Shirou who now were now cleaning the living-room.

"And now I should keep feeding over 8 or 9 people three times per day for the next weeks? I can already feel my savings disappearing." Shirou said before sighing as he cleaned the plates. After the war, he should find a new part-time job to keep up with the expenses.

"You don't have to worry senpai, I'm here to help whenever you want." Sakura said as she took the last plate from the table and brought it to Shirou.

"Thanks for the help Sakura." Shirou said as he turned his head a bit and took the plate.

"You're welcome." Sakuta started to say. She now wanted to speak with him since he was not busy, she had to clear things with him now that she could.

"Senpai, there is something that I have to tell you." She then said.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I-" Sakura said before she got suddenly interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

"Sakura, could you gently go to open the door and see who it is?" Shirou asked as he turned toward his back to her.

"...Ah, sure." Sakura said after a moment.

As she got out of the room Sakura sighed, just when she had the chance and courage to speak with Shirou they got interrupted... she just hoped that whoever was the person at the door was not there for him.

Sakura reached the door and opened it, and after she did she flinched as she saw who it was.

"..." Sakura kept watching in silence and in confusion the person who was now in front of her.

"...Hi, Sakura." Tohsaka Rin said as she looked down to her side.