I'm just pulling stuff out of my hat now. It is what it is.
The lines beneath somewhat describes this whole debacle. They once lived together and were able to work with each other. When Kiritsugu failed, they were no loner friendly with one another and Acht intends to sacrifice his daughter once Kiritsugu learned that he should have protected his loved ones the most instead of pursuing a impossible goal.
This is something not related, but I am also the artist that did the
Naruto and
Xanna rendition for
Noodlehammer. Please check out his stories, they are pretty good and I am simply trying to repay him back for giving me his permission to draw for his fic and criticize some of my stories. Maybe I will draw something for this story, but I'm really not in the mood this time.
Chapter II: The rebirth of Shirou
With vengeance, retribution will be sought with time
The sacrifice, the crime
Apostles feed upon the flesh and in return the poor soul reaches our
wrest crippled mental torture the chance to be immortal
Once friends betrayed so ruthless, now dead his friend and friendship
Once friends betrayed so heartless, memories crushed to ashes
Shirou stepped down the stairs to eye level between them and simply adjusted his tie and stood there waiting for Acht to act. Acht simply slammed his cane down to the ground and complex magic circle came into being on the floors and walls.
"You underestimated me Kiritsugu, do I need to remind you that this is my domain. You walked right into my trap"
A glint and a minuscule amount of movement was seen. Shirou put his hand over his cheek and felt blood on his hand. He opted not to seal the wound in case Acht has more tricks in his sleeves.
"You know, I never did figure out why never were able to pass through my Bounded field. I first thought you didn't actually care about the doll and simply left for finer pastures. But it couldn't be that, the previous effort you took to come here proves that quite clearly. So what did you do now to be able to trespass the estate?"
"..."
"Quiet than usual hm. No matter, this is the end for you. Watch Illya as I crush your hopes and dreams!"
Shirou tried to leap back but it was too late, a gust of wind and glimmers of threads flashed through his body. As he slowly fell apart Illya looked on with a horrified expression on her face while Acht simply stared disappointingly.
"Father! No... He can't die"
She screamed out to her father and ran down the stairs and abruptly stilled to a halt once she noticed something very unnatural about the pieces of his body. Shirou's blood glowed an iridescent red and they flowed and slowly turned to Crimson Dust. His body falling apart like sand as they floated as if an undetectable wind were blowing them in random directions.
"What is this source of Prana? It... It feels like melancholy. What has Kiritsugu done?"
Dust gathered around a single spot and formed two solenoids. Arcs of electricity gathered between the solenoids and a burst of fire propelled a two inch metal pellet to Acht's position. But Acht knew something was up once he saw the two floating items and whispered something imperceptible as the ground raised up and he quickly stepped back.
The pellet pierced through the rock and brick, hitting the ground and creating a small shock wave that pushed Acht to the ground. He coughed and used a German sounding spell to blow the dust away. Looking up at the two solenoids he quickly orders his threads to slice them apart. But the two items turned back to dust and a metallic human skeleton started forming near Illya.
Acht tried to cut it apart but the threads simply passed through with no negative effects. Facsimiles of flesh or organs was seen in the formation of the body, a sickening feeling overcame Illya, but she endured it through sheer shock.
"Illya. Didn't I say you need to stay where you were?"
Illya looked with wide eyes as he reformed with suit and all. Acht was momentarily stunned by of what is in his perception a seemingly Dead Apostle level feat. Servants and residents observing the room saw the spectacle with stunned eyes. Illya broke the silence with a question that was on everyone's minds.
"Dad, h-how?"
He simply looked back at Illya and stared at the ground as if he was contemplating something. He finally looked up and told her the truth.
"Illya, I am only partial Kiritsugu. I have pieces of his soul and memories inside of me. But I am mostly made up out Crimson Dust. I am Shirou, your step brother..."
"Whe-where is the rest of my father?"
"He is dead Illya..."
As she fell down to her knees with wide eyes, Shirou created a crude molecular sharp blade that oscillated in a high frequency and cut down the threads that reattempted to slice him. The ground rumbled as the residents and Acht tried to clasp him with the bricks lying on the ground and send curses to him which he dodged by turning his body into Dust once again.
As he spread his awareness around and used his factory filters to create more Dust, his computational power increased and chose the most optimal path that he could take without much bloodshed and cause more unnecessary trauma. Acht didn't know where to attack once spread his mass that much and no one notices the Crimson Dust entering their mouths. Most Magus circulate Od throughout their magic circuits to repel foreign magical activity, but Dust wasn't purely a magical substance. Blood began to seep from their orifices and the servants and onlookers fell down unconsciousness one by one.
The primal intelligence focused on the body of Acht and felt anger for the first time in his life. Relishing in the feeling, the primal intelligence slowly started disintegrate the body. No longer restrained by safety reasons the body was harvested of it magic crest and circuits. Memories were discarded for useful knowledge and all what was left behind was a skeletal form that he couldn't much use for beyond increasing his mass.
Reassembling himself he grasped his head and fell down to his knees. Existing in other people bodies wasn't without consequence, the nature of his soul was strange considering he was made out of multiple parts but once it entered somebody else, he become part of them for a split moment. By absorbing Acht, he assimilated parts of his soul that Shirou himself can't comprehend. His nature as a logical person knows that souls can be observed but he cannot not fully understand its effect on himself so he simply copied the parts that contains the soul and discard it by throwing up on the ground.
"Dad... Shirou?"
He stood back up and let the Dust fix up his clothing back to its pristine state. He looked up in to the ceiling, as if the answers of the Universe were somehow grained the marble. Sighing in turmoil, finally he spoke to her.
"I... I don't know. This existence of mine is confusing. I have the memories and ideals of Kiritsugu and posses knowledge that I shouldn't have. I don't know who I am Illya... I am sorry"
This was also the first time he felt sorry for something, he actually felt human for once. Even if his concept human was warped, he didn't try to suppress these feelings again because of logic. He now realize there is more to logic than he initially realized. The trip was a thing he had to do because somebody told him to. Now it was because he felt something for Illya. His crumbling identity reshaped itself, and the two beings: Kiritsugu and Shirou truly merged together and formed a new identity with the intelligent adaptiveness of Shirou and the ideals and emotions of Kiritsugu.
"I don't understand Daddy, but if you have the soul of Kiritsugu and his memories then there is no difference to me, I don't care if you are half my brother!"
She grasped his suit and cried onto his chest. Shirou simply held her with a confused expression. He looked around the room and came to a resolution. He Changed back to his birth form, which was still eleven years old even though he only shrunk a little bit.
"Illya, look at me. Can you still love me even if I change my form?"
She stopped crying and wiped her tears from her face and looked up and saw his new face. She stared into his eyes and looked down with a blush on her face.
"I don't care how you look like baka. I know that's still you"
His face softened upon hearing her and took her and pulled her to the middle of the room where the skeletal remains of Acht lied on the ground. He used his Dust to change the bone structure to appear like kiritsugu and then ignited the fat he smeared on the bones by oscillating the air molecules with Prana. leaving nothing behind beyond carbonized bones as he and Illya watched on.
" Why are you burning his body?"
"I am faking my own death so I can impersonate Acht and take control of the Einzberns. It is the path with most the advantages"
"I am fond of you da... Shirou, but that sounds like a very stupid plan"
"When they learn that Acht is dead they'll try to find us and hunt us down. It is better this way. I have his crest and memories, so it should work... I hope"
She looked up at him with concern but stayed silent upon the matter. She looked down on the homunculus servants lying on the ground bleeding and walked over to them to kneel and check them.
"Are they dead Shirou?"
"No, I simply prevented oxygen from going into their brain and knocked them unconsciousness while blocking their nerves from sending signals to their bodies"
"Then why are they bleeding?"
"The homunculi immune system is somewhat unique. Their blood seems to be a defense mechanism against foreign bodies. It isn't white blood cells either but something similar"
"The what now Shirou? You mean Resistance?"
He looked thoughtful but shook his head.
"I don't know, but its better we start to make up an alibi for my death before they wake up"
Dust floated of his surface layer and slowly rearranged his facial structure and body type to Acht. He walked next to the corpse and picked up his cane from the ground and analyzed the mystic code. Using trace pieces of Acht memories he drew the conclusion that the cane was a catalyst that amplified the power of his transmutation spells with Mana in the air and used minimal Od to function. The weaknesses he saw was because it relied on preparation and charging, it used time you don't have if you were in the middle of a battle. His memories from when he was the Magus Killer teached him that. The threads was something new but familliar to him considering Irisviel made it. Although the fine cutting by transmuting the matter it touches was new to him. Disrupting Resistance required a high amount of power after all.
He thought of something important that he needs addressing and stopped his artificial creation of life that harvested physical nerve circuits and removed the concept to instead use Acht memories to create artifical nerves converted to magical circuits using his cane. This was a more efficient way to do things instead of creating homunculus in his body and killing them off, even If they only had the mental capacity of a animal.
His first thought three years ago was that you make up magical energy by converting nerves to circuits, Kiritsugu memories of that particular topic were lost between the time he was dying and he tried to revive him by preserving parts of him in his body. But Acht new memories disproved that. The circuits weren't really physical entities. They were connected to his soul and materialize Od in his body from the Ether. Shirou wrongfully assumed that he actually had to create new life to get new circuits when he simply could create nerves directly and convert them into circuits.
"Dad- no Shirou, why is this so confusing! Why are you spacing out!?"
Shirou snapped from his concentration and thought about telling her about his immoral actions that he's done but decided against it for more important matters as he sees the servants and family members were waking up from their forced paralysis.
"Don't worry, I am simply reorganizing my body to Acht's magical signature, you should stay subdued in case they figure something is up"
As they stood up and looked on in confusion, Shirou slammed the cane on the ground and transmutated the floor to its previous state. He looked up on all the individuals on the stairs on balconies and sighed in disappointment.
"Shameful, were you people so weak that you got knocked unconscious so easily? Servants! Clean up this mess and dispose of the corpse, I want it done discretely. Don't bother trying to study it, it was merely a artificial construct... What are you waiting for? Go on with it!"
As the servants registered his words, they scrambled to acomplish his orders while the family members merely talked his hushed tones to each other and left for the medical wing. Shirou merely looked apathetically and turned to Illya. He forcefully grabbed her arm and pulled her with him up the stairs to his study room.
"It seems a change of plans is necessary. The grail needs to be taken care off"
As he arrived in the study, he sat down on the comfortable chair and looked out of the window on the side of the room. As he planned and schemed, Illya sat down on the opposite site of the desk and stared at him with a confused but also concerned expression.
"Acht knew that the Grail War would begin fifty years earlier, he punished Kirits... Me, by not allowing to see you. He would make you a lesser grail and sacrifice you simply so he can win the War. He was more interested in winning than actually reaching Akasha or making a wish... How petty of him"
"I already know that Shirou. If you have his memories you would already know we discussed it. I-i am sorry for doubting you father, he told me that you abandoned me for... You? It is rather confusing for me to tell you apart"
He took pity on her and turned back into Dust. Reforming and adjusting for the new blueprint he created until he assembled himself into a more mature looking Shirou instead of eleven year old form. He stared at Illya's hair and changed his to white on a whim, hoping to deepen his familial connection with her.
"I am more Shirou than Kiritsugu. His ideals and memories may be part of my psyche now, but I am also more a machine. Its difficult for me to convey or feel emotions. But the love I feel for you is undeniable, I would gladly give my soul and all earthly possessions for you"
He reached over the desk and held the side her face in his hand as if he were a appraising a priceless gem. Brushing a hair strand from her face he noticed tears coming from his eyes. Reaching over to his face, he felt droplets falling his hands.
"Is this what sadness and happiness feels like? So long I have felt nothing, now I finally know what I'm been deprived off"
Illya stood up and walked by to his side and held him into her arms. She lightly cried against his shoulder and silently sat on his lap.
"I am sorry for abandoning you Illya, I could have tried harder"
"Don't blame yourself. I always held faith in you. You did your best and now you're here aren't you!"
His tears disappeared back into his body and he straightened himself up. Using Dust to lower his chemical activity in his brain he put a stop to the drama.
"You're right, I need to stop feeling sorry for myself. Kiritsugu side should know better. I should know better"
"I'm happy Shiro- Onii-san. But from now on I will only call you father when you change your appearance. This should make it easier to communicate"
"That's good, it is rather confusing to be father and brother at once. Now this what we are gonna do..."
"00110100 00110111"
As Shirou discussed their plan to keep his identity safe and the ruse intact he planned to create a homunculi clone of Acht with help of his Dust and magical knowledge of the old man. In the following days he collected materials and created a magic circle in one of the ritual chambers with express orders for the other family members to not disturb him.
Using the remains of Acht in his body, he created a adult homunculus and used his Dust to make him appear more like Acht while keeping the brain mostly empty. Using the Dust to link him to that body, he controlled two entities at the same time without any problems and Shirou left the chamber while pretending to be a new homunculus project.
His new body explained to the family members that Illya and the new homunculus, who is himself will live in Fuyuki city and scout the area while preparing for the Grail Wars five years in advance. There were some minor objections but as the head of the family his word is law. He gave himself four servants to go with him and restore the Einzbern castle in Fuyuki forest.
Illya and Shirou then took a private plane bought using Acht's money to Kyushu Japan, Kumamoto airport. And departed for Fuyuki city by buying a limo and letting the servants transport them there where they arrived at Emiya residence in the late evening.
"We will stay here for now, Ada and Lorraine will go to the Einzbern castle. Sella and Leysritt will stay with us"
"As you command master, we will part at once"
As he moved in he was hit by a moving shadow and both Sella and Leysritt stood rigidly in attention.
"Shirou! I was so worried about you! Where the hell have you been! Did you dye your hair! Who are these people!?"
"Master Shirou, is this woman annoying you? Should I dispose of her?"
"What!? Who are you, talking to me like that you maid fetishist!"
"Hm, I'll have you know that I am in fact, a maid. Uncouth brutish woman"
"Grrr"
As Leysritt and Taiga butted heads against each other. Shirou rubbed his forehead in frustration and sighed.
"Enough!"
leysritt immediately desisted and bowed to Shirou while Taiga mouth went wide open in shock in seeing Shirou express emotion for the first time. She never ever saw him get angry nor happy. She always worried about interacting with other people when Kiritsugu homeschooled him because of his condition.
"Leysritt, Sella. Put the bags and suitcases upstairs second room right. Come back down once you're finished"
As they went on to do their orders and going past the stunned Taiga, the left the corner of the stairs and Shirou looked into the eyes of his caretaker. Although he knew that she first came here because she loved Kiritsugu and his cooking. She eventually grew up to take care of his disabled self. But his dual identity made him have mixed feelings about her. She softened her expression and held his arm in her hands.
"Shirou, can you please explain me whats going on?"
He simply sighed and pulled her and the silent Illya to the living room and sat down on the kotatsu. He gestured the two to do the same and watched as they sat down and he procured a set of papers from somewhere unnoticeable.
"Taiga, I left you a letter that said I would be gone for a few days. Did you read that?"
"Yes, but you should ask me before something like that. Kiritsugu entrusted your safety on me"
"Yes, the reason I went away was because what Kiritsugu didn't tell you is that I have a sister in Germany. A legal dispute and petty difference made it so that her grand father kept her there without the possibility of her seeing her father. Before he died he made me promise that I would look for and bring her back"
She looked surprised that Kiritsugu had a daughter and looked in concern to the timid little girl latched onto the arm of Shirou.
"I see, Kiritsugu was a rather silent and melancholic person. I never would have thought that he had such past behind him"
"It's okay now at least. I managed to convince her grand father to sign these papers so that she can a identity here, you'll be the official guardian"
"That's okay, anything for Kiri's daughter. But who are those two woman upstairs? And why are you able to... Express yourself... when you have that condition?"
"Ah yes, those are the servants of Illya. Her grandfather is somewhat of a rich nobleman in Germany so they're here to take care of her needs"
"What!? I can't have you living with two adult woman in this house! They could ensnare you in their venomous grip!"
"I don't what you're talking about Taiga, they are just simple here to do chores and housecleaning"
"Please tell me that you will cook Shirou! I was so hungry when you were gone and I ate ramen all week... Hgnnn"
He sweat dropped as her stomach growled like a hungry tiger on its deathbed and dropped her body onto the kotatsu.
"No, I'll still be cooking our food like usual. I wasn't that impressed on their cooking skills"
Pulling her head from the table, she put her arms up in the air and stars twirled around her eyes.
"Woohoo! I don't need to buy takeout anymore! Wait a minute, you avoided my second question !"
Shirou sighed once again and stood up. He walked to a a feudal era painting on a wall and turned around to look her seriously in the eyes.
"Ancient alien beings came upon me from a bright light and gave me a set of magical mushrooms that they said would give me any knowledge I need and also give me tremendous amounts of luck. Ever since that day I have been exposed to fortune upon fortune, and regained my emotions by eating the brains of dead people and miraculously gaining their memories and emotional experiences... What I just said is the complete truth"
"..."
"..."
"Shirou, I know that you're mentally handicapped. But that's the most stupidest thing I have ever heard..."
"I believe you Onii-san, I know when you're telling the truth!"
"Don't fall for his stupid lies! Even a kid wouldn't believe that!"
While they discussed the legitimacy of his claims, Shirou did in fact gain all his knowledge from ancient alien magical mushrooms. That's where all of his knowledge comes from although his nature as a biological computer also helped to better comprehend the information the mushrooms ingrained into his brain. While the claim that his emotion is somewhat half true. There were emotions in the memories, but he only could experience it with a proxy. Only when he truly merged with Kiritsugu and formed a new identity was when he felt emotions for the first time.
"Stop, I think it's time for us to go to sleep and Taiga to leave for her home. We can discus this later tomorrow"
"Fine! But we will talk about this later okay! And no avoiding the question!"
Shirou sighed once again as she left the room with a rather temperamental gait to the front door. As the door slammed close, he pushed Illya into his lap and put his chin over her head while looking bored and apathetic to the wall in front of him.
"Onii-san, I think we should go to your room. The maids should have already be finished by now"
"Okay Illya, let me adjust my Dust for a moment"
Pulling himself p from his seated position, he held Illya's hand and guided her up the stairs to his room. He opened the Shoji door and saw Sella and Leysritt tangled up in his and Illya's clothing. Rubbing his eyes and sighing for the millionth time, he spread his Dust and untangled them from the heated position.
"We apologize master! This will not happen again!"
"Just... Just fold the clothing and put them in the closet at the back of the room. Your two rooms is on the opposite side of the hallway just so you know"
As he watched the two poorly do their job, he thought maybe it was a mistake sending Ada and Lorraine away to the Einzbern castle. Not intending to reminisce about things he can't change, he saw them leaving the room to argue which get which rooms. Turning back to his futon, he sees Illya changed in her pajamas and laying on his bed.
"Illya, that is my bed. Don't you want to sleep elsewhere?"
"No, come sleep next to me. I don't want you to leave me Onii-san"
His eyes closed in understanding, he resigned to do everything she asks for as he promised and used his Dust to make himself wear a simple t-shirt with shorts. Laying down on the futon, he pulled up the blankets over their body.
"Good night Illya"
"G-night Onii-san..."
As he shut down his metabolism and stopped burning high amounts of glucose. He closed his eyes, but felt arms circling him. One hand in particular was going a bit south.
"..."
"..."
"00110100 00110111"
