One of the first things Ichigo learned living with a family was this; Don't mess with big bro.
Kurosaki Isshin was strong enough even with all of the siblings joining hands to attack him, but Shirou was a monster.
So no matter what happens, don't ever mess with him! Especially when he was in the kitchen.
"Food is done! Ichigo, call father, Karin, and Yuzu." Shirou wiped his hands and placed a set of plates on the dining table. As usual, the orange head haired kid didn't listen when he was occupied. "Ichigo, what did I tell you?"
"We're twins, why should I listen to you?" Ichigo snorted.
"Just help me call the others. Or do you want to set the plates yourself?"
"Hahaha! Of course, dear big bro!"
With how Ichigo loved his food, especially those prepared by his brother, he dared not refuse the command given. Their mom's cooking didn't even come close in terms of quality. It wasn't terrible or something, but Shirou's cooking was on another level..
He didn't know how his brother could make food that delicious, but that's not important.
Moments later, the whole family gathered at the dining table after setting everything for lunch.
As usual, Isshin reacted excessively when Shirou announced that his dish was completed.
"Masaki! Our sons grow up to be such wonderful boys! Your dishes are amazing, Shirou!" Isshin wept uncontrollably as he hugged Masaki who smiled in agreement at her husband's exaggerated manner.
"Indeed. There's no more trouble for us when he can cook like this." Masaki chuckled at how happy Isshin was right now. "But I am troubled that I have no chance to cook right now. My dignity as a mom has fallen. Oh~"
"Don't worry, mom. I love your cooking." Shirou said, smiling lightly.
"Mama! Shirou-nii cooked everything! Let's eat already!" Yuzu urged.
Masaki could only shake her head in amusement as Isshin calmed down, looking expectantly at her, waiting for permission to dig into Shirou's cooking.
Their father was a weird guy to say the least, he didn't resemble any dad that Shirou knew. While Shirou didn't know much about Kiritsugu to make any comparisons, he certainly never acted like an idiot, nor did he ever joke with anyone.
Sometimes he couldn't decide if Emiya Kiritsugu was actually a cold-hearted man, leaving him with such a heavy dream and expectations, or the very reason he could become someone worthy as an Ally of Justice.
While Shirou didn't understand the man at first, he knew that Kiritsugu had always carried some sort of guilt with him and he probably thought it would be best to just die because of that sin.
"Ahhh~, they grow up so fast."
'Yes, indeed...'
Shirou might look fine from outside. But he was never the same man as he was before. No longer would he lose anything, this family had given him a precious gift that he hadn't found for a long time.
It was his resolve. A resolve he used to hold dearly in the past.
He would never waver again like last time.
It was his duty to protect everyone...
His gaze turned serious. The gleam on his eyes sharpened, the aura of 'something dangerous' around him made the air grow heavier. Something similar to his magic circuits glim for a moment before it vanished.
Whatever those things were, Shirou couldn't activate them like his magecraft right now, so that should be impossible. But it didn't mean they had lost their functions completely. If what he believed about himself was true, Shirou wasn't as powerless as he looked.
There was a way to solve his problems...
Isshin glanced at his son for a moment with a serious expression before his expression returned to the usual idiotic, loving father.
***
Things weren't as simple as Isshin had thought. After all his sons and daughters went to sleep, he sat in his clinic with his wife.
"That was Blut Vene, wasn't it?"
He looked at Masaki who stared back with a worried look.
"I felt a surge of energy in his body. Probably something similar to reiatsu," Isshin nodded. "You noticed it?"
"I'm just curious." She admitted. "It was definitely Blut."
Isshin scratched his cheek, trying to remember every detail that happened this afternoon.
To be honest, he wasn't too surprised that Shirou had developed a skill used by Quincy. His wife was one, after all.
However...
"Isn't it too fast?"
"Ryuuken's son can already use reiatsu and conjure his bow. I don't think it's too early?" Masaki suggested.
"He received Ryuuken's training. You said it yourself that he was exceptional. Not to mention, Ryuuken was a pure-blood quincy, and his son's blood is thicker than Shirou's." Isshin sighed. "This isn't something he developed out of instinct, if I didn't read it wrong."
"So you're worried?"
"Their spiritual senses are pretty much awakened, so Hollow won't take too long to find them. Maybe the amount of energy that bursts out of Shirou will attract one or two of them. Not to mention, Ichigo also seems to be able to see spirits." He crossed his arm.
"Even without me as a quincy, our children would be in danger anyways." Masaki shrugged. "Still, we will protect them. At least, until both of them are ready to stand alone."
"Right."
For now, they would protect her family, until the day those children could face danger by themselves.
"Say, if they happen to get attacked, what will you do?" Isshin asked curiously, lifting his eyebrow.
"Well..." Smiling gently, Masaki replied. "I will protect them with my life. They are my cute kids, after all."
"Masaki..." Isshin muttered softly while gazing deeply into her brown eyes. "That sounds so stupid. That's why I love you so much." His mouth formed a wide smile as he stood up and left the room.
***
Waking up at the same time with the sun rising was Shirou's daily life. He would usually go to a workshop and train his tracing magicraft after this, but not in this life.
Instead, he had a more important job to do.
"Hey, Ichigo. Wake up or you will miss breakfast."
That job was so important, why? Because his brother couldn't wake up without help.
Looking at his brother whose drool wet the pillow, Shirou shook his head. He approached the bed and was about to pinch Ichigo's nose when the boy suddenly jumped and kicked him.
Shirou immediately raised his arms and blocked it, however his brother was really strong for a kid. If it wasn't for his combat experience from fighting against stronger people like Lancer and Gilgamesh, Shirou probably wouldn't have been able to block the kick.
Then, he grabbed Ichigo's leg and proceeded to throw him out of the bed.
The boy crashed down to the floor before sitting up, staring at Shirou who stood above him.
"What was that for?! I am still sleepy!" Ichigo shouted.
"Idiot. Get ready before we run out of breakfast." Shirou chopped the younger boy's head.
"Nggg..." Ichigo gritted his teeth in annoyance while rubbing his aching head. "Stop treating me like that, geez."
"Then you can stop kicking me whenever I try to wake you up." He huffed. "Or do you want Karin to do this job? I heard she was asking whether she can help yesterday."
Unlike Shirou, Karin's way of waking him up was more... savage. And he wouldn't want to kick her instead of the older twin. And Yuzu... Well, she just jumped on top of Ichigo's body if she woke him up, upsetting the orange-head's stomach.
"No thanks! She'll definitely hit my stomach harder."
"Great. Then we agree that you won't kick me tomorrow?" Shirou offered a hand at Ichigo. "Promise me, then we can talk about breakfast. Yuzu and Karin has been waiting."
Ichigo took Shirou's hand and got up to his feet, looking away from the older twin. "Yeah, promise."
"Then go brush your teeth!"
Shirou chuckled when seeing Ichigo dashed into the bathroom while wearing his clothes, almost tripping over. Already used to taking care of troublesome people, like Taiga who often crashed into his house, Ichigo was less difficult than dealing with a wild tiger.
Ichigo would obey after a small threat or punishment. He walked out of their bedroom after tidying up Ichigo's bed and putting a blanket on his own bed.
After breakfast, Shirou planned to go out with his mom again today, but Yuzu stopped him.
"Big bro, are you going somewhere?" She asked, tugging on his sleeve.
"Well, yeah. What do you need, Yuzu?" He turned back at his sister.
Yuzu didn't need to tell him the reason since there was only one thing she wanted. Her big sad eyes were pleading for his company. "Sure. Where do you want to go today? I will accompany you."
While shopping was important, his sister's request was more urgent than missing a chance to buy some fresh vegetables. Plus, there were two oldest sons in the house.
The youngest Kurosaki beamed in a smile when her brother agreed to accompany her to play. The news lifted her mood greatly as she jumped and ran toward the front door. "Yay! Come on, Nii-chan, let's go before it gets too crowded!"
She seemed impatient after the long wait for her brother.
"Wait a little bit." He said, patting her head.
Then he looked inside the house and shouted, "Mom, I am going with Yuzu. And Ichigo, you better help mom with her groceries. Got it?"
"Have fun, both of you."
"Hey, why me?"
"You hate shopping with me, Ichigo?"
"T-That's... N-No. I like shopping with mom."
Facing Masaki's pouting face and her sparkling doe-like eyes, Ichigo flinched in fright. He immediately changed his answer.
"That's great. I am counting on you, Ichigo."
"Yeah, leave it to me."
'That settles it.' Shirou smiled and headed out with Yuzu, holding her hand.
***
Chapter end.
Shirou is a loving family man. When Illya lived with him, he spoiled her a lot to the point she bought her an animal onesie.
Also, we know that Shirou from "Oath Under the Snow" that he will do anything for his little sister, Miyu.
So, maybe... Just maybe his ideal has changed?