I am in a dilemma. As you people might notice, I have yet to update any of my fics since April.
Currently, I am in my longest burn out. Life has been kicking my ass lately and my home life is slowly becoming difficult.
I tried to write but it has been a difficult couple of months for me.
Still, I miss writing fanfictions.
So I am asking for help.
The next chapter of this fic is difficult for me to write because I have two scenarios prepared and I can't decide which one to stick to..
Now, I can't decide which scenario to write so please help me decide.
FIRST SCENARIO
"You terrify me."
"But not enough for you to reconsider."
"…yes."
"I truly overestimated you. I thought you have more sense in that brain of yours."
"This is for my survival."
"You'll either die or go insane in a year, whichever comes first."
"You are still sane and you've been doing this ever since you were five."
"I wasn't born with humanity. Humanity is worthless. Also, most of the servants that the clan has have disregarded the concept of humanity when they join the ranks of the Yotsuba. The Yotsuba clan in general is an expert of reaping humanity off anyone within that enters the ranks of the Yotsuba. You still have the sense of morals and humanity. You will not last in this clan."
"You do not acknowledge yourself as a part of the Yotsuba."
"I am the son and dragon of Yotsuba Maya. When she perishes, I will have nothing to do with the Yotsuba. I will leave them alone if they do the same to me or I will wipe them to extinction if they ever become a threat to me. Nonetheless, I shall obey my mother, who is the Matriarch of the Yotsuba clan faithfully. My loyalty is hers and she takes advantage of that almost shamelessly."
"I noticed."
"Watch your tone. I do not show mercy to those who badmouth my mother."
"My apologies."
"Acceptable… I ask you again to run, to forget that you have been touch by the Yotsuba and witness the darkness of this side of the world. I can guarantee you freedom from the Yotsuba."
"It will not bring back the life of my parents."
"You will live longer."
"My life would be empty."
"And living a life in darkness would give you fulfillment?"
There was only silence.
"You are a fool."
"I know."
(Break)(Suzune POV)
I opened my eyes and sigh.
That dream again.
It has been six months since that day yet every night since then, I dream of that conversation. The clarity in which I recall that faithful conversation cause chills down my spine.
Shaking my head, I looked at the clock on the nightstand beside me.
It was 2:13AM.
I should be sleeping right now. I should close my eyes and try my hardest to return to the land of dreams. I really should.
But I could not.
After all, being in a foreign land unnerves me.
Shaking myself awake, I rose from my bed and left the room assigned to me by my primary.
He would not mind if I venture.
My primary treats me well enough after all.
Apathetic yet compassionate, strict yet fair.
I could not ask for more considering the alternatives.
Yawning softly, I undress myself of my nightwear before dawning my uniform, a formal pantsuit that is design for combat and other services.
Checking my appearance on the mirror, I exited the room.
Taking a couple of steps out of the corridor that led to my room, I saw my primary, gazing upon the sky, moon and starts, his eyes not having any emotions, face not having any expression.
I shivered as I looked at his eyes. I have nothing against him. I owe him my life, my skills, and my magic, but he terrifies me so much.
(Flashback)
I rode in a limousine, a heavily armored limousine, to an unknown location.
It was late at night, probably a quarter pass 8PM yet the bright lights of Tokyo illuminated the streets, completely blanketing the darkness that would haunt any normal human being.
I sat across the person who would help me regain my ability to use magic again and truth be told, I'm afraid.
No, that would be an understatement. I am not afraid, I am terrified.
I am terrified of this person.
Which baffles me a bit.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya of the Yotsuba clan. Son of Yotsuba Maya, the Queen of Night and probably the heir of the Yotsuba Family.
He terrifies me which is strange in a way.
He looks so unassuming, so normal that I sometimes doubt if he was truly the son of the Queen of Night. Someone so plain being the son of Yotsuba Maya baffles me.
I've seen Yotsuba Maya firsthand and her beauty almost blinded me. Yotsuba Maya possesses a type of flawless beauty that could make any Gods green with envy.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya being her son yet looking so plain did not make any sense.
But my doubt of him being her son vanish quickly when I felt the power that he has at his disposal.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya is radiating power, the same with Yotsuba Maya. Even the feel of their power was similar.
When I was in the presence of Yotsuba Maya, I felt like I am with a devil that can easily take my life away with just a snap of a finger.
Now that I am in the presence of Tsuyoru Tatsuya, I feel like I am near a dragon that can easily obliterate me.
"How annoying." I shivered a bit at the sound of Tsuyoru Tatsuya emotionless voice.
I looked at him and flinch when my eyes met his.
I dislike those azure eyes of his. Those eyes did not have any light or emotions. Those eyes were devoid of any form life.
As I stare at those eyes, I could not help but feel that I am staring at the abyss.
And as he looked at me, I could not help but feel that oblivion was looking to my very soul.
I internally prayed that he would shift his gaze elsewhere. Being stared at by him made me like the scythe of the grim reaper was about to descend down upon me.
"I could feel your fear of me emanating from you." Tsuyoru Tatsuya said with an apathetic tone. "You have not done anything that would me to take your life. Stay calm, I won't take your life."
I think he was reassuring me but his damn voice that was both toneless and emotionless did not reassure me whatsoever.
Still, I nodded before shifting my gazed away from him.
I tensed a bit when I felt his gaze lingering upon me for several seconds before a sigh escape his lips, his gazes finally leaving me.
I could not help but be feel a sense of relief as his attention was no longer focus on me.
This boy is a monster.
His eyes alone is a testament to that.
(End of Flashback)
I shook the memory of the first time I truthfully looked at his eyes and focus at the here and now.
He still terrifies me. How could he not?
He is a monster after all, and that is without even making an attempt.
"You are up early." Tsuyoru-san called and I instantly stood upright, eyes and attention focused solely on him.
"Did I disturbed you?" I asked as politely as I could.
"No you did not." He answered nonchalantly. "Out for a stroll?"
"If I'm allowed."
"You are only if you bring your CAD and the Kumoito with you." He told me dismissively before returning his attention back to the moon.
I looked at him for several seconds longer, my eyes lingering upon him for a while.
Expressionless and emotionless, yet under the light of the moon and starts while shrouded in darkness, he looks magnificent.
I could not help but feel that I am looking at a God that is deeply contemplating on something important.
The fact that the being sitting several meters across me technically has the ability of a God adds to his beauty.
Shaking myself out of my stupor, I bowed in respect, due to the protocol of how a Yotsuba Guardian should act before their primary, protocol that has been beaten into me by the Guardian of Yotsuba Maya, before leaving my primary to his stargazing.
Disturbing him would be a sin.
After all, it is rare for him to show his magnificence.
(Break) (Suzune POV)
"War is such a bore." Tsuyoru-san mumbled under his breath as he overlooked a military skirmish with his perpetual expressionless face yet his emotionless eyes shone with boredom.
Overlooking the battle over a hill in the middle of the Sahara Desert, I could not help but shook my head in sadness as I ignore the sound of gunfire and explosions that resonated in the air.
I feel pity.
Feeling that certain emotion would certainly earn me a couple of lashings from Hayama-san, but I couldn't help it.
I feel pity for them for they are about to lose their lives in a couple of seconds.
After all, no one deserves having my primary being directed at their direction.
Regardless of how much of a scum they are.
Still, orders are orders.
"What are your orders, Tsuyoru-sama?" I asked professionally and respectfully as possible.
"Have I ever tell you how much you irk me whenever you call me that?"
If you looked irritated or even a bit exasperated, a shift in your voice, even the slightest, and then those words would be perfect.
But, as you remain apathetic as one could possibly be, I could not help but think that it should be me who should be irked.
"You do nothing." He drew a Gun-shape CAD from his holster. Lifting the CAD and pointing at the sun shining above the desolated battlefield. I felt dread spread across my entire being. "You are not build nor are you condition for battle. Your one and only job is to look and protect my back. Nothing more."
Protect your back, huh. That is most convenient considering that I don't have to protect your back.
Nobody could reach your feet.
My primary is strong, so strong in fact that sometimes, I feel like me being his bodyguard is merely for formalities.
I looked at him and I see a dragon that does not need protection.
Whenever I looked at him, I see a dragon that is in need of an army, not because he needs it but because having an army slaughtering the targets given to him by his mother is more preferable than he himself going after them personally.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya is the epitome of abyss and oblivion. The ideal killing machine given life.
A genius killer without peer.
(Flashback)
I stood behind Tsuyoru Tatsuya, looking horrified and in awe as he disposes a couple of dozen men without so much as a blink.
"Well that ended as predicted." Tsuyoru Tatsuya commented as he sat in the middle of a massacre, a massacre that I witness firsthand.
He was a monster. The word 'monster' was created just for him.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya is a murderer, a killer, a monster.
I am terrified of him. He frightens me like no one else could.
I should be running. I should be cowering.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya is a monster, a demon, a peerless murderer, a dangerous entity with or without magic.
Yet, regardless of how much my mind screams at me to get away, regardless of how much the logical part of me tells me to run and to not look back, I remain in place as I marvel in awe at the sight before me.
Murder is a capital sin. Taking the life of your fellow human should be a sin that cannot be forgiven.
And yet, I never thought that murder could be an art.
Because the way Tsuyoru Tatsuya disposed of his victims was nothing short of artistic genius.
I could still remember, thirty minutes ago when Tsuyoru Tatsuya was seemingly having a negotiation with the person that seems to be the leader of the group of foreigners.
I did not understand a word that they were saying for they were speaking in a different language. I am not a lingual person but I think the two were conversing in Italian.
Twenty minutes into the talk, the person that Tsuyoru Tatsuya was talking to, abruptly rose from his seat, knocking down his chair and champagne that he was drinking, before pulling out a gun and brandishing it at Tsuyoru Tatsuya while screaming what seems to be Italian curses.
His bodyguards followed suit and in matter of seconds, Tsuyoru Tatsuya had at least two dozen handguns pointed at him.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya reacted to the threat to him in a chilling manner.
He massacred them.
And the fact that he did not use any magic was something truly noteworthy.
It was truly surreal. The stuff that I expected to see in a usual homicide scene, most of it was not there.
The pointless bloodshed, the looting, the rape, those useless enhancements, even personal feelings, there was nothing.
It was simply a plain, genuine massacre. One that could not be achieved by a normal human being, even by a magician's standard.
The scariest thing about this massacre was that Tsuyoru Tatsuya did not shed any blood. He did not used magic either.
He massacred three dozen men with the use of a weapon that is difficult to comprehend.
Kumoito, it is the weapon of choice of Tsuyoru Tatsuya. He told me that Kumoito is a weapon for killing.
Originally, I was confused. Kumoito resembled a pocket knife. A single hand of a small girl could easily grip the entire handle of the weapon and the blade is too small to use for stabbing and/or slashing, not to mention the shape of the blade was irregular. One wrong grip and the blade would cut the wielder.
The weapon that Tsuyoru Tatsuya calls Kumoito is very impractical in my point of view.
But he has proven me wrong.
The massacred that I witness was surreal. No blood was shed, no guns were fired, no magic was invoke, and the only weapon that was brandish was Tsuyoru Tatsuya's Kumoito.
The Kumoito, it seems, was a very peculiar weapon. It might resemble a knife but it was not a knife. No, the blade of the weapon was merely a component, an important component but it was not the most important component of the weapon.
The most important component of the weapon was the thread that connects the blade to the handle. The long, thin thread that was barely visible to the human eyed was the thing that Tsuyoru Tatsuya used to take the lives of his victims.
It was startling to see that kind of feature from that weapon and it was a shock to see how Tsuyoru Tatsuya utilized the weapon.
The moment that we entered the room, I saw Tsuyoru Tatsuya brandishing Kumoito from his pocket. He pulled some sort of triggering mechanism and the blade ricocheted all over the room, covering the room with extremely thin threads. A simple twist of the wrist, a simple flicker of the finger, and the blade flew and twisted in different directions.
It was a remarkable sight.
When the negation degenerated into violence, when Tsuyoru Tatsuya was threatened with guns, he pulled the handle of his weapon, Kumoito. The effect was instantaneous. The thread that unknowingly hovered across the room like the scythe of the grim reaper constricted every hostile in the room. Three dozen men were choke to death before they could even react.
I looked upon the lifeless bodies scatted in the room. Their faces were pale as a ghost; their eyes had rolled to the back of their heads, a horrified looked forever plastered upon their faces.
I should be petrified in disgust and fear at the sight before me.
But I was not.
Instead, I marveled at the scenery of death in front of me. Not because I relished at the sight of corpses, no, I am at awe because of the execution of the massacre.
"Come on, I have to massacre the people outside." He said those words so casually as if he was discussing the weather.
I looked at the sight of corpses across me one more time before following him.
Once again, I witness a massacre that can only be called a work of art.
(End of Flashback)
As I recall the first massacre that I saw him commit, that I was aware that he had committed, my eyes drifted to him and I shudder in fear.
The first time I saw him kill, I thought the scariest thing about him was his ability to kill in mass without magic.
I was wrong.
The scariest thing about him was his ability to kill while virtually showing absolutely nothing.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya held no animosity towards any of his targets. Irritation, aggravation, he felt nothing towards his victims.
He neither looks down upon them nor scorns them.
Yet, he still slew them ruthlessly without a care in the world.
If that is how he kills faceless people, I shudder to think what he would do to those who actually angers him.
"I wonder," My musing was interrupted as I shifted my attention to my primary. "How long the smell of torch flesh would stain this land?"
I instinctively took a step back as he pulled the trigger.
Dozen, hundreds of rays descended from the heavens, striking those who loitered the battlefield.
Within seconds, the smell of burning flesh emanated from the battlefield.
For a person who claims to be a one-trick pony, he possesses a very vast collection of spells.
(Break) (Suzune POV)
"Mission Accomplish, as per usual." Tsuyoru-san reported while I did my best to remain as invincible as possible.
Tsuyoru-san and I are currently in one of the private, luxury jets that were own by the Yotsuba.
The Yotsuba's were not known for their wealth for they do not flaunt their riches like the other Number Clans, but the Yotsuba are very wealthy.
For example, the jet that my primary and I are occupying is worth over 50 million yen, customize for both leisure and practical use, and reinforce to endure an assault from a battleship.
The Yotsuba's are very and extremely wealthy and they are very practical in using their wealth.
"Didn't I sent you in a middle of a war? I thought you would have taken a bit of time considering that you are middle of a war torn country."
Did you just admit of sending your own flesh and blood in the middle of a warzone on purpose? And why do you sound so peppy about it?
"Middle of the desert with the sun shining brightly. Add to the fact that the temperature is 55 degrees Celsius. It was easy disintegrating those who were in my way with a well-aimed heat ray."
Tsuyoru-san, you did not disintegrated those who were in your way with a heat ray. You burned the entire area with a heat ray.
"Heat ray, huh. Wish I could have seen that." A chuckle echoed in the room and I shiver. Sometimes, I don't know what's worse, my primary's complete disregard of humanity and emotions or his mother's whimsical and sadistic personality.
"About the package…"
"The uranium has been taken from the supplier. As agreed, 5 kilos worth of uranium has been given to us. Also, as per the agreement, the transaction records have been deleted permanently."
Even at the age where magic is the most usable and desire weapon, component for WMD is still very much sought after.
"Did you pay him well?"
"150 million dollars per agreement and for secrecy as well as clearing the area of rebels."
"Good, good, I'll be picking up the uranium personally." Yotsuba Maya announced with a rather silky tone. "Dinner?"
"Of course." I tried my best to hide my smile. It was rare, very rare for my primary to show any signs of emotions, that's why the unhidden affection in his voice as he spoke with his mother is heartwarming and the fact that Maya-sama returns that affection unconditional makes my primary and his mother looked human, a word that cannot be associated with the two.
"One more thing, how's your guardian adapting in her new lifestyle?" I stiffened slightly when the conversation drifted to a subject that involves me.
"She's doing well enough. I still try to push her away though. I don't need her." Blunt and honest as always, I winced at those words because they were true.
"Regardless, as a guardian, is she adequate?"
"I can tolerate her more so than most of those lifeless husk." That's a compliment, the nearest equivalent of a compliment I will have from as a Yotsuba Guardian. "She can think for herself and has a will of her own. That is something I guess. Still, I find her sense of self-preservation appalling."
"You can't blame her in wanting to be a member of our clan." There was arrogance and smugness in her voice, something that was not unfounded.
The two of them, the mother and son duo, Yotsuba Maya and Tsuyoru Tatsuya, just the two of them alone would be enough to make a country bow.
"Has she fought lately?"
I face palmed a bit. This is a subject matter that would lead to a completely new argument.
"She does not need to fight. Regardless of their numbers, there faiths are sealed if they meet me in the other end of the battlefield." Tsuyoru-san replied dismissively.
"You are not all powerful, my darling." Yotsuba-dono scolded her son with an exasperated sighed.
"I know that mother but if I come across someone stronger than me, do you thing Ichihana has a chance against that person."
For some reason, Tsuyoru-san refers to me as Ichihana, not Ichihara. I do not ask why though I am curious why he calls me by the name that was strip from my family.
"She has her responsibilities as your guardian. Please allow her to act upon those responsibilities." From the screen, Yotsuba-dono shifted her gaze from her son to the corner in which I am hiding. I stiffened a bit knowing that she saw straight through the veil of darkness that obscured me from view.
"Ichihana has been a good Guardian, all things considered. She has assisted me in my research and other projects that I have been partaking. She's also helpful in the office." I suddenly found myself having the attention of the head of the Yotsuba and her legacy. "She is quite intelligent and her management skills are to be admired. The fact that she can keep up with the work that I give her and that she's able to reduce my work load in most of my projects is already helpful enough."
I smiled at the compliment that he had given me. As a Yotsuba Guardian, the only compliment that he would give me is that I am tolerable but in other aspect like magic and research, he would shower me with praises.
I consider that as an achievement.
"Regardless of Suzune-chan's….." I shivered a bit as my name rolled out of Yotsuba-dono's lips. The way she says my name is rather bone-chilling and she's not even trying. "…is both a capable magician and combatant, you made sure of that…."
"Yakumo-sensei also contributed by the way." Tsuyoru-san interjected but his mother merely ignored him.
"…..She's capable enough to at least take care of mindless grunts. At least give her opportunities to earn her keep. "
"She has already earn her keep."
"Half of her keep." Yotsuba-dono pointed out. "She's your Guardian, not your research partner." Yotsuba-dono pointed out sharply.
There was several tense seconds of silence before Tsuyoru-san sigh. "Fine, I'll give her more opportunities to stretch her claws but that will affect my time efficiency."
"As long as you allow her to do her job and protect you, your decrease in time efficiency is something that I can tolerate."
"Do I look like someone that needs protection?"
"Careful, my darling. Arrogance leads to mistakes."
"I am not arrogant. I am merely stating fact. I've been doing well alone."
"Please don't tell me that you dislike her company."
"She makes good coffee." Tsuyoru-san commented with a shrugged.
"Didn't I tell her to make you more tea?"
I took this as the sign to remove myself from the general area.
Normally, Yotsuba Maya and Tsuyoru Tatsuya generally and universally agree in absolutely everything but there are two topics that they absolutely cannot agreed on.
First is Tsuyoru Tatsuya's need for a guardian. Considering that I am beside him now, safe to say that Yotsuba-dono has won that argument though Tsuyoru-san still wants me to quit and leave his side.
Not going to happen anytime soon.
The other subject that the two can never agree upon is their preference in their beverages.
Yotsuba Maya loves her tea and Tsuyoru Tatsuya loves his coffee. The two would not give an inch when it comes to the topic of which beverage is better.
As I leave the two in their debate, I laughed softly as the childish argument of mother and son echoed outside.
It is probably a rare privilege for someone to see the human side of the Yotsuba's Devil and Dragon.
Anyone who sees the two argue like this would probably forget the fact that those two alone possesses the power to make the world kneel if they so choose.
SECOND SCENARIO
"You seemed to be a bit tired, Tatsuya-sama." Hayama remarked as he looked over the child of his mistress.
"Not tired, confused." Tatsuya corrected his mother's confidant while performing maintenance towards his CADs. Tatsuya possesses at least 27 CADs, half of which where is primary CADs and another half were the backups. "I know mother enjoys giving me challenging and difficult tasks so that I could improve myself, but this task that she had given me is almost impossible." Tatsuya replied while looking at one of the many CAD cartridges scattered neatly in front of him. "But she having me fix someone who is broken is completely unlike her. Also, Magicians who have lost their ability to use magic will live their life without ever experiencing the miracle that is magic ever again."
Hayama hid a smile the graced his face. Tatsuya calling magic a miracle was a sign that he was still a child, regardless of how much of a genius he is. It was refreshing that his mistress' son still has some remnants of a child in him regardless of the life that he was living.
Still, business is business and his mistress has instructed him to provide answers for her son if he inquires.
"The parents of Ichihara-san are, as you know, knee deep in Madam's latest project. The Artificial Magician Plan is something that the Yotsuba has been planning for over a decade now. The progress of the project has been quite satisfactory due to the contribution of Ichihara Saito and Ichihara Shina."
"Magic Researchers famous for their study in the effects of magic in the neural system. I enjoy reading their research about the subject matter, a pity it hasn't been publish." Tatsuya mumbled under his breath. "The foolishness of our society knows no bounds. Two brilliant minds degraded due to the fact that they are related to a clan that has fallen from grace."
"The foolishness of society allowed your mother to employ those two brilliant magicians. So in a way, the Yotsuba has benefited in the Ichihana's fall from grace." Hayama commented, nodding in agreement with Tatsuya's words. "Saito-san and Shina-san has contributed a great deal in the project and Madam is worried that the state of their daughter would affect their efficiency."
"And mother guaranteed that she would provide their daughter the best possible remedy for her current dilemma, am I right?" Though Tatsuya had his back turn on Hayama, he could still feel Hayama nodding. "There is brainwashing. Among the Number Families, we have the best technology and facilities for brainwashing."
"Brainwashing is merely a temporary solution. Madam promised the Ichihara family a much more permanent solution." Hayama answered calmly.
"Mother only gives promises that she knows that she could fulfill. Her confidence in me is really heartwarming but she should be aware that even I cannot do the impossible." Tatsuya stated with a small sigh as he thought about his mother.
"Madam's confidence in you is not without merits." Hayama said in a comforting tone. "You have yet to fail her."
"True." Tatsuya conceded. "Please tell mother that I shall handle this task that she had given me with the best of my ability but she must at least prepare herself for me to fail for the first time."
Tatsuya did not face Hayama but he could feel the smile that had grace the old butler's face.
"That is all Madam is asking for."
(Break)(Suzune POV)
I am currently riding in a limousine, a heavily armored limousine.
It was late at night, probably a quarter pass 8PM, yet the bright lights of Tokyo illuminated the streets, completely blanketing the darkness that would haunt any normal human being.
I sat across the person who would teach me how to use magic again and truth be told, I'm afraid.
No, that would be an understatement. I am not afraid, I am terrified.
I am terrified of this person.
Which baffles me a bit.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya of the Yotsuba clan. Son of Yotsuba Maya, the Queen of Night and probably the heir of the Yotsuba Family.
He terrifies me, which is strange in a way.
He looks so unassuming, so normal, so average that I sometimes doubt if he was truly the son of the Queen of Night. Someone so plain being the son of Yotsuba Maya baffles me.
I have seen Yotsuba Maya firsthand and her beauty almost blinded me. Yotsuba Maya possesses a type of flawless beauty that could make any Gods green with envy.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya being her son yet looking so plain did not make any sense.
However, my doubt of him being her son vanishes quickly when I felt the power that he has at his disposal.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya is radiating power, the same with Yotsuba Maya. Even the feel of their power was similar.
When I was in the presence of Yotsuba Maya, I felt like I am with a devil that can easily take my life away with just a snap of a finger.
Now that I am in the presence of Tsuyoru Tatsuya, I feel like I am near a dragon that can easily obliterate me.
"How annoying." I shivered a bit at the sound of Tsuyoru Tatsuya emotionless voice.
I gazed at him and flinched when my eyes met his.
I dislike those azure eyes of his. Those eyes did not have any light or emotions. Those eyes were devoid of any form life and warmth.
As I stare at those eyes, I could not help but feel that I am staring at the abyss.
In addition, as he looked at me, I could not help but feel that oblivion was looking to my very soul.
I internally prayed that he would shift his gaze elsewhere. Being stared at by him made me feel as if the scythe of the grim reaper was about to descend down upon me.
"I could feel your fear of me emanating from you." Tsuyoru Tatsuya said with an apathetic tone. "You have not done anything that would warrant me to take your life. Stay calm, I won't take your life."
I think he was reassuring me but his damn voice that was both toneless and emotionless did not reassure me whatsoever.
Still, I nodded before shifting my gazed away from him.
I tensed a bit when I felt his gaze lingering upon me for several second before a sigh escape his lips, his gazes finally leaving me.
I could not help but be feel a sense of relief as his attention was no longer focus on me.
This… This monster would help become a magician again, and that thought sends shivers down my spine.
I wonder what I would relinquish just to regain my ability to use magic.
Would it be worth it?
(Break)(Suzune POV)
The limousine stopped near an apartment complex. I looked at the building and I could not help but feel a horrible foreboding.
The building, for some reason, gave me a vibe of a slaughterhouse.
"Tsuyoru-dono, we have arrive in the destination." The driver informed Tsuyoru Tatsuya.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya looked completely blank, blanker than usual before leaning on his seat. "Very well, give me thirty minutes, keep the engine running and I expect a cup of coffee when I return." Tsuyoru Tatsuya then diverted his eyes from the driver to me and I could not help but flinch, as his eyes were once again focus on me. "You are with me." He told me in a way that does not welcome any arguments.
I merely nodded. I do not want to know what he would do to me if I disobey.
The driver vacated the limousine and opened the door for Tsuyoru Tatsuya and me. The two of us stepped out and I followed Tsuyoru Tatsuya as he entered the apartment complex.
The moment that we entered the building, several armed men surrounded us. All of them were looking at us with hostility of varying degrees.
I trembled fearfully because of two things.
First, I could see several weapons being brandish at our general direction direction.
Second, all of the people in the building, with the exception of the two of us, were foreigners.
The last time I was in a room filled with foreigners, I was rape repeatedly and mercilessly.
I do not know the nationality of this foreigners but just the thought of being near someone that was not born in Japan made me sick in my stomach.
I could feel myself having a panic attack as the memory of my body being violated flooded my mind.
Countless hands molesting my body, touching me in places that made me feel disgusted of myself.
A man's organ entering me repeatedly, roughly and without mercy, without end. Semen entering me. Again and again, without rest.
The sound of their snide voice mocking me, taunting me.
Their eyes leering at me with lust, looking at me as if I am nothing but a warm body for sex.
I was now hyperventilating, trembling as I tried my best to push those memories to the back of my mind but it kept coming back.
I could feel my entire body sweating. I could feel myself taking deep breathes. My entire body is shivering.
I know I am hyperventilating. My eyes was unfocused, my sight is blurring.
I could feel myself on the verge of fainting.
Then, a voiced echoed in my head.
"You are weak."
The voice did not sound mocking yet the insult was clear. I stopped moving and I felt a hand on my stomach.
"Get a gripped." I looked at Tsuyoru Tatsuya, who was looking at me with his lifeless eyes.
Suddenly, the memory of myself being rape left my mind.
It was replace by the fear I felt towards him.
In a way, I prefer the fear that he inspires upon me than the memory of me being rape.
"Empty your mind. Do not think. Just move and obey." Tsuyoru Tatsuya commanded as he turned his back from me before casually walking away from me.
For several seconds, I looked at him, only at him, before willing myself to follow him, my eyes and mind focusing at him and him alone.
(Break)(Suzune POV)
"Well that ended as predicted." Tsuyoru Tatsuya commented as he sat in the middle of a massacre, a massacre that I witness firsthand.
He was a monster. The word 'monster' was created just for him.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya is a murderer, a killer, a monster.
I am terrified of him. He frightens me like no one else could.
I should be running. I should be cowering.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya is a monster, a demon, a peerless murderer, a dangerous entity with or without magic.
Yet, regardless of how much my mind screams at me to get away, regardless of how much the logical part of me tells me to run and to not look back, I remain in place as I marvel in awe at the sight before me.
Murder is a capital sin. Taking the life of a fellow human should be a sin that cannot be forgiven.
Yet, I never thought that murder could be an art.
Because the way Tsuyoru Tatsuya disposed of his victims was nothing short of artistic genius.
I could still remember. Thirty minutes ago when Tsuyoru Tatsuya was negotiating with the person that seems to be the leader of the group of foreigners.
I did not understand a word that they were saying for they were speaking in a different language. I am not a lingual person but I think the two were conversing in Italian.
Twenty minutes into the talk, the person that Tsuyoru Tatsuya was talking to, abruptly rose from his seat, knocking down his chair and champagne, before pulling out a gun and brandishing it at Tsuyoru Tatsuya while screaming what seems to be Italian curses.
His bodyguards followed suit and in matter of seconds, Tsuyoru Tatsuya had at least two dozen handguns pointed at him.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya reacted to the threat to him in a chilling manner.
He massacred them.
Moreover, the fact that he did not use any magic was something truly noteworthy.
It was truly surreal. The stuff that I expected to see in a usual homicide scene, most of it was not there.
The pointless bloodshed, the looting, the rape, those useless enhancements, even personal feelings, there was nothing.
It was simply a plain, genuine massacre, one that couldn't be achieved by a normal human being, even by a magician's standards.
The scariest thing about this massacre was that Tsuyoru Tatsuya did not shed any blood. He did not use magic either.
He massacred three dozen men with the use of a weapon that is difficult to comprehend.
Kumoito, it is the weapon of choice of Tsuyoru Tatsuya. He told me that Kumoito is a weapon for killing.
Originally, I was confused. Kumoito resembled a pocketknife. A single hand of a small girl could easily grip the entire handle of the weapon and the blade is too small to use for stabbing and/or slashing, not to mention the shape of the blade was irregular. One wrong grip and the blade would cut the wielder.
The weapon that Tsuyoru Tatsuya calls Kumoito is very impractical in my point of view.
However, he has proven me wrong.
The massacred that I witness was surreal. No blood was shed, no guns were fired, no magic was invoke, and the only weapon that was brandish was Tsuyoru Tatsuya's Kumoito.
The Kumoito, it seems, was a very peculiar weapon. It might resemble a knife but it was not a knife. No, the blade of the weapon was merely a component, an important component but it was not the most important component.
The most important component of the weapon was the thread that connects the blade to the handle. The long, thin thread that was barely visible to the human eyed was the thing that Tsuyoru Tatsuya used to take the lives of his victims.
It was startling to see that kind of feature from that weapon and it was a shock to see how Tsuyoru Tatsuya utilized the weapon.
The moment that we entered the room, I saw Tsuyoru Tatsuya brandishing Kumoito from his pocket. He pulled some sort of triggering mechanism and the blade ricocheted all over the room, covering the room with extremely thin threads. A simple twist of the wrist, a simple flicker of the finger, and the blade flew and twisted in different directions.
It was a remarkable sight.
When the negation degenerated into violence, when the other party threatened Tsuyoru Tatsuya, he pulled the handle of the Kumoito. The effect was instantaneous. The thread that unknowingly hovered across the room like the scythe of the grim reaper constricted every hostile in the room. Three dozen men were choke to death before they could even react.
I looked upon the lifeless bodies scatted in the room. Their faces were pale as a ghost; their eyes had rolled to the back of their heads, a horrified looked forever plastered upon their faces.
I should be petrified in disgust and fear at the sight before me.
I was not.
Instead, I marveled at the scenery of death in front of me. Not because I relished the sight of corpses, no, I am at awe because of the execution of the massacre.
"Come on, I have to massacre the people outside." He said those words so casually as if he was discussing the weather.
I looked at the sight of corpses across me one more time before following him.
Once again, I witness a massacre that can only be call a work of art.
(Break)(Suzune POV)
"I must say, you impress me a bit." After Tsuyoru Tatsuya massacre a building filled with Italian Drug dealers, we were transported to his house in order to begin my training.
It was late, very late, but after what I witness, sleeping is the last thing in my mind.
I was surprised at that random compliment from him but it strangely made me feel relieve for some reason.
That compliment, I will consider that as a proof that he is still human, an assurance to myself that Tsuyoru Tatsuya is still a human being. That would be best for my psyche.
He led me into his house and the moment I entered it, I felt empty, very, very empty.
The inside of the house was in contrast to the outward appearance of the house. When looked upon outside, the house looked very luxurious, when looked upon in the inside, any normal human being would feel empty.
The house was devoid of any décor and/or furniture. The walls were painted white and silver.
How can someone live in a house like this?
I looked at Tsuyoru Tatsuya and shivered at the thought of how the Yotsuba conditioned him to become a killing machine.
I wordlessly followed him, looking only at him, and ignoring the walls and corridors that belong to a horror/suspense movie.
He led me into an underground basement, into a room that resembled a high-end training facility for magicians.
"Let us begin your first lesson." I was surprised at that sudden announcement. I looked at him, only to see him throwing something at me. I caught it and flinched when I felt a blade digging into my hand. I looked at my bloody hand and saw the weapon that Tsuyoru Tatsuya used to massacre a slew of people just an hour ago.
Kumoito, Spider Thread, holding this weapon sends shivers down my spine now that I know what this weapon is capable of doing.
"You have good eyes." He complimented me again as I looked at him. "You were able to see the threads that I weaved with that weapon. That is a good start." Tsuyoru Tatsuya circled me and I tried my best not to flinch as he looked at me with appraising eyes.
I fell as if the abyss is enveloping.
I fell as if oblivion is gripping my throat.
"Kumoito, as you have witness, is a tool design for trapping and suffocating targets. That is the most fundamental use of Kumoito. It has other uses but we shall focus on the fundamentals." His toneless voice made my spine crawl but I willed myself to listen to his instructions.
"Kumoito. Its entire thickness contains 19,000 parts, knitted out of a special pattern of an arachnid's five-micrometer thin threads." I tensed a bit when I felt his hand holding my wrist. His hand felt warm yet I know that this warm hand was capable of murder.
"First lesson, using the thread without getting killed." As I held the weapon, he pulled the triggering mechanism of the Kumoito. I would have stumbled to the ground without him supporting me as I saw the blade digging into the wall. I could barely see the thread that connected the handle and the blade, but there it was, as clear as day.
This thread choked the life out of a couple dozen men an hour ago.
I could feel Tsuyoru Tatsuya wrapping a portion of the thread around my wrist and fingers before I felt his breath caressing my ear.
I blushed at this.
"Don't lose focus." He told me as he took a step back, his hand no longer holding mine.
Something happened after that.
The blade abruptly removed itself from the wall.
The thread became longer.
And suddenly…
*SWISH* *SWISH* *SWISH* *SWISH*
*PACK* *PACK* *PACK* *PACK*
The sound of something sharp cutting the air echoed in concert with the sound of something hard hitting the walls and ceiling echoed in the room.
"URGH!" A gasped escape my lips as the thread wrapped itself tightly around my body, bounding me helplessly as I fell to the ground with a thud.
'WHAT THE!' I thought with a groan as I watch the irregular blade bounce across the floor and ceiling. My eyes widen as I realize something.
The blade was coming at me and was about to pierce my left eye.
'It's going to kill me.' I thought helplessly as I watch the blade near me in horror.
"If you lose focus, even for a split second, you will die." The blade suddenly stopped, mere millimeters from my left eye.
I was shaking as I looked at Tsuyoru Tatsuya. He caught the blade with his middle and index finger.
"There have only been two people who has successfully control this weapon." Tsuyoru Tatsuya told me before taking the weapon from me.
I watched in fascination as the thin thread unwrapped and unbound me.
I then looked in awe as the blade flew gracefully in the air before retracting back to the handle.
"It's impossible for anyone to control this weapon but if it's you, I think there is a possibility." He knelt down upon and held my wounded hand. "Your first training involves you not dying." He put the Kumoito in my hand and pulled the trigger.
The blade embedded itself on the ceiling and I could only stare as Tsuyoru Tatsuya wrapped a portion of the thread around my fingers and wrist.
"Concentrate." He instructed me.
I nodded and focused all my attention to the blade that would take my life if I slip up.
Tsuyoru Tatsuya looked at me for a second before nodding. "Good."
He snapped his fingers and the lights vanished.
I am now in the middle of a dark room that seemingly did not allow any light to enter.
I felt fear as the darkness enveloped me but I did not flinch nor did I waver.
If I did, I am dead.
(Break)
"Humanity suits you very well." A playful voice commented while Tatsuya could only scowled.
"A year ago, I would not have thought I would hear those words coming out of your mouth." Tatsuya replied while looking at a familiar face. "How long has it been since the first time we met in the battlefield?" Tatsuya met, a bit of nostalgia lacing his voice.
"Four years, give or take." The man answered with a chuckle. "You almost killed me."
"The same goes for me." Tatsuya retorted while remembering that fateful meeting. "You are the first person who had ever made me feel a sense of mortality. It was a humbling experience."
"Having myself almost get killed by a six year old was a humbling experience as well." The man said while touching his chest. "The scar that you gave me still hurts."
"I kept all the wounds that you gave me."
"That's a very comforting thought. Glad that I left such a lasting impression on you." The man said with a sheepish laugh. "So, training?"
"I can spare an hour or so." Tatsuya shrugged before stretching his body. "By the way, if it's not a bother, I would like you to take another student."
"Yotsuba?"
"Nope, she's from the Ichihana family."
"They go by the name Ichihara now." The man said with a contemplative look. "How did you get involve with them?"
"The last two members of the clan are working with my mother for a project. They seem to be involved deeply because their daughter got kidnapped and raped. I rescued her and my mother is tasking me to reteach her how to use magic." Tatsuya answered casually.
"She's heavily traumatize to the point of losing her ability to use magic, huh." The man looked thoughtful for a second. "That's a tall order even for you."
"I know." Tatsuya nodded in agreement. "I think teaching her how to protect herself without magic would hasten her progress in regaining her ability to use magic. At the very least, it will boost her confidence."
The man looked thoughtful for a second before speaking. "You'll owe me."
"What else is new?" Tatsuya said dismissively. "Put it on my tab."
This are the two scenarios that I prepared for the Prince of Yotsuba.
Please help me decide which scenario should I stick and finish
Thank you and I appreciate the assist.