The Prince of the Yotsuba

by fujin of shadows

Two beings born from darkness and one plunge into the dark. One raise to be the perfect aristocrat. The other raised to be the perfect weapon. The other a jewel from a fallen family. For this three to meet was unlikely, and yet, they met and formed a bond that could not be broken. A Monster, A Goddess, and A Scholar. A Prince, A Princess and An Assassin. {TatsuyaXMiyukixSuzune}

7. Chapter 5

LONG ASS AUTHORS NOTE.

This is me being honest.

This year, I hated myself as a person and as a writer.

I have been in this website since 2008…Been writing since the later years of 2008, and I must say that this year is my worst showing so far.

More than Six months of hiatus and then the last two chapters that I produce for my most favorite fiction is below my standards, which is already low. I have yet to publish a new chapter for my favorite work, MKNR:IS Style…This coupled with personal problems and other bullshit that I had to deal with this year (I love my thesis group but each and everyone of them is hell to work with and this is me telling them that are bitches AND THEY SHOULD FUCK THEMSELVES) effect my writing negatively

The fact that I have been depress for most of this year added to my rather crappy works.

So much so that I considered throwing in the towel… And sadly, I am still considering throwing in the towel…

Don't get me wrong, I love writing fanfictions. This is my passion and I intend to write my own novel in the next five years, but I cannot, absolutely cannot continue with the way I write considering the quality of works that I have been publishing.

I still love writing stories and fanfictions, but my passion is wavering and it is showing.

I'm going to tell this to you guys beforehand, if I disappear for more than eight months, with none of my stories being updated, that means I am done.

I cannot, I refused to publish another unsatisfactory chapter to me. I refused to write another horrendous chapter for any of my works, especially Mahouka.

I love Mahouka and for me to produce such a crappy and shitty chapter for a Mahouka fanfiction is an insult to me, and it is an insult to the people that reads my story…

For this insult, I apologies, I wholeheartedly apologies.

That being said, here is the plan for this story…

I am not going to settle the next arc of this fic for only two chapters like I originally plan. That is not going to happen. Next arc of this story would be four to six chapters long, each being 10,000 words long (I can do that)…

I will publish a different story containing Suzune's ascension as Tatsuya's Guardian…Expect first chapter before or on Christmas…This would be a short story, probably 7 to 10 chapters long…

And also, I will continue to revise this CHAPTER…The reason I am publishing this chapter is because I want to move on to the next arc because it seems that most of my ideas are for the next arc…WHICH SUCKS…I am also publishing this chapter regardless of how shitty it is because I can't write a better one… WHICH SUCKS SO MUCH…

So, My New Year's Resolution for next year, Write stories that I can be happy with because this year is a nightmare for me, both as a person and as a writer…

Now, after a hundred scenarios, after a hundred documents, after HUNDREDS OF revisions, I can finally move on to the next arc of this story.

NOW, I'M GOING TO WATCH Counting Cars before eating Ice Cream before getting back to the drawing boards for this story, for all my stories…

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The Prince of Yotsuba

Chapter 5: Guardian Arc Part 2

(Will be thoroughly expanded in a different fanfiction to redeem myself for this horrendous year.)

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"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. 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 in reaping humanity off anyone that enters the ranks of the clan. You still have a 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. She maybe using me but she is still my mother, and I love her."

"My apologies."

"Acceptable… I am asking you again to run, to forget that you have been touch by the Yotsuba. I ask you to forget the darkness that you had witness in this side of our world. Run right now, and 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."

"I should not have saved you that day. I should have just let you die."

(Break)(Suzune POV)

I opened my eyes before letting out a 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 look 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, steering myself away from that nightmare, I rose from my bed and left the room assigned to me by my primary.

He would not mind if I venture.

Considering what we are to each other, my primary treats me well enough.

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 stars, his eyes not having any emotions, face not having any expression. This is a norm for him.

I shivered as I looked at his eyes. I have nothing against him. I owe him my life, my skills, and my magic, but, even today, regardless of everything we went through, 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 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 apparent of the Yotsuba Clan.

He terrifies me, which is strange in a way.

He looks so unassuming, so normal that I sometimes doubt if he is 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 or red with lust.

Tsuyoru Tatsuya being her son yet looking so plain did not make any sense.

But my doubts 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.

The power that they have oozes out of their body, tangible to anyone who is near them.

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 flinched when my eyes meet his.

I dislike those azure eyes. 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 feel 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 warrant me to take your life. Stay calm, your life, for now at least, will not be extinguish by my hands."

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 be feel a sense of relief as his attention was no longer focus on me.

This boy is a monster.

His eyes alone are 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.

But, though he is a monster, I respect and admire him.

"You are up early." Tsuyoru-san called and I instantly stood upright, eyes and attention focused solely on him.

"Did I disturb 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. "Foreign land is the most hostile environment for magicians like us."

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, to his mystic.

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.

It is rare for him to show his humanity.

(Break) (Suzune POV)

"War is such a bore." Tsuyoru-san mumbled under his breath as he overlooked a military skirmish as if it was nothing more than ants trying to gather food.

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, explosions, and the feel of magic resonating in the area. I tried my best to feel apathetic at the sound and sight of people dying.

I also did my best not to pity them.

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, and if there is one thing certain about my primary, he always completes his orders with terrifying precision.

"What are your orders, Tsuyoru-sama?" I asked professionally and respectfully as possible.

"Have I ever told 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 passive 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 form and life.

A genius killer without peer.

(Flashback)

I stood behind Tsuyoru Tatsuya, looking horrified and in awe as he disposes a couple dozen men without so much as a blink.

He also killed them so fast and so out of the blue that they didn't see the scythe of death until their life was reap out of their bodies.

"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 form.

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 in a chilling manner.

He massacred them.

And the fact that he did not use any magic was something truly noteworthy.

The fact that he did not move from where he was sat added to that.

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 threaten 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. They were choke to death in a matter of seconds that they barely grasped for air.

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.

It is rather disturbing that I was moved by the act of murder. I am scared that I considered murder as something beautiful.

Yet, I am still captivated.

(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 and excitement.

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 nor respects them.

Yet, he still slew them ruthlessly without a care in the world.

If that is how he kills faceless opponent, then I shudder to think what he would do to those who actually anger him.

Still, I could not help but feel a certain spark of excitement within me.

My primary is a murderer but, whether he knows it or not, every murder that he commits is beautiful work of art.

Each kill, each massacre is different from the last and it was always breathtaking.

"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 solar rays descended from the heavens, striking those who loitered the battlefield indiscriminately.

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.

"Done." With his work done, he rose from the hill and proceeded to turn his back on the massacre that he had committed.

As if the act of taking lives, in mass, was nothing to him.

As he walked passed me, I took a moment to drink in the destruction that he had caused with his magic.

Beautiful…

(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 assign to him by his mother for his personal transport.

The Yotsuba clan was not known for their wealth for they do not flaunt their riches like the other Clans in the Number system, but the Yotsuba is a very, very wealthy clan. They are probably the wealthiest clan in the country.

The Yotsuba Clan's monthly GNP makes a countries entire economy look like a complete joke.

For example, the jet that my primary and I are occupying is worth over 50 million dollars, not counting the customization, which cost another 100 million dollars. The jet was 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 regardless if they have cash to waste a way.

"Have I not threw you in the middle of a war? I thought you would have taken a bit more time considering that you are in a hostile land."

Did you just admit of sending your own flesh and blood, your own son, in a 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 over 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, subsequently turning everything to ash and turning sand to glass.

"Heat ray, huh. Wish I could have seen that." Which one?

The heat rays descending from above, or the burning corpses.

…please don't answer that…

A chuckle echoed in the room and I shivered. 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, components for WMDs are still very sought after.

Now that I think about it, what does Yotsuba-sama want with Uranium. She already has a walking Nuke at her disposal.

Scratch that, she has something more effective than a nuke.

"Did you pay him well?"

"250 million dollars as agreed. For secrecy, I added another 10 million and the eradication of all rebels. "

"Good, good, I want you to personally deliver the package to the estate." 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 is why the unhidden affection in his voice as he spoke with his mother is heartwarming, and the fact that Maya-sama returns that affection unconditionally makes my primary and his mother look human, a word that cannot be associated with either of the two in normal circumstances.

"One more thing, how's your guardian adapting to her new lifestyle?" I stiffened slightly when the conversation drifted to a subject that involves my person.

"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.

There was a famous saying that states: No man is an island.

To whomever said those words, I would like to introduce you to Tsuyoru Tatsuya.

"You can always dismiss her." Yotsuba-sama suggested in a teasing manner.

"She is annoyingly persistent. She will not go away even if I dismiss her." Tsuyoru-san then narrowed his eyes slight at his mother. "Also, I know for a fact that you would use her in other matters if I dismissed her."

That smile on Yotsuba-dono's face did not sit well with me.

"Regardless, as a guardian, is she adequate?"

"I can tolerate her more so than most of those lifeless husks that your clan develops." That's a compliment, the nearest equivalent of a compliment I will get from him 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.

Not to mention, the Yotsuba of today is worth the entirety of the Ten Master Clans.

That is a rather frightening thought.

"Has she fought lately?"

I face palmed a bit. This subject matter 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 sigh.

This topic resulted to an argument between them every time it is brought up.

Although emotions were mostly absent within Tsuyoru-san, he had always been a prideful person, whether he knows it or not. Of course, his pride was earn through experience and ability. He had never failed a mission, only a handful had ever escape his claws, though those handfuls would never be the same again, and less than a handful was capable of damaging him.

Tsuyoru Tatsuya is the Yotsuba's trump card, its most powerful weapon, its Dragon.

And that's the reason why finding a Guardian that he could and would tolerate had been Yotsuba Maya's main priority. Yotsuba-sama has all the confidence in the world when it comes to her son's powers and abilities, but she was a perfectionist and had always dealt with absolute. Yotsuba-sama knew that though her son was near impossible to kill, he could still be slew if the right circumstances are met.

I think that is the reason why she welcomed me into the Yotsuba clan personally. After all, I am one of the few people that Tsuyoru-san can actually tolerate.

"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 he calls me the name that was strip from my family. Asking him questions that is not magic related tends to be a torturous chore.

"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. "I have no use for a blade, regardless of how beautiful or sharp, that would never be use." The underlying threat was clear to me.

"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. The only compliment that he would ever give me, as a Yotsuba Guardian, 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….." 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. Her hands should be stain in blood." 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 since the day you threw me to the lion's den."

"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?" Yotsuba-dono stated indignantly. "Tea is good for your health and soul."

"My soul is stained with blood and coffee helps me with my work. It keeps me on my toes."

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 agree 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.

(Break) (Suzune POV)

"Have I ever told you how I loathe the fact that you are now required to choose my clothing as well as clothe me?"

I am currently assisting Tsuyoru-san with his wardrobe in preparation for his dinner with his mother.

Yotsuba Maya required two things of me before she gave me the post as her son's Guardian, two things that were not magic or combat related. First, I should have decent culinary skill. Second, I should have an impeccable taste in both style and fashion.

The reason behind this is her son's lack of taste in everything but technology, combat and Magic.

When it comes to Magic, Combat, and Technology, Tsuyoru Tatsuya is extremely meticulous. His CADs were well maintained and all top-notch, both in software and in hardware. The technologies that he has in his disposal are all current and state-of-art. His tools for combat from his Guns to his blades are well maintained, polished, and cleaned for optimum use.

When it comes to his tools, Tsuyoru Tatsuya is meticulous as one could possibly be.

When it comes to anything else, that is a different story.

As long as he is clothed properly and appropriately for the season and for the situation, he does not care whether he is garb with the simplest or the finest clothes.

As long as he is receiving all the nutrients that his body requires for it to function properly as well as for his body to remain healthy, he would settle for eating that most tasteless food available.

In other words, his lifestyle was bland to the extreme and far from leisurely.

Much to the dismay of Yotsuba Maya, his mother.

Yotsuba Maya is someone who enjoys the finest things in life.

The fact that her son would settle in living such a mundane lifestyle irked her.

After all, the Yotsuba might not flaunt their wealth like all of those in the Numbers Family, but they are still very wealthy. Yotsuba Maya considers it an insult that her son was content of having a lifestyle of a low-class citizen, regardless of the amount of money that she gives him in a monthly basis.

Fortunately, I was able to please the head of the Yotsuba with my cooking skills and my fashion-sense, enough for her to entrust me of her son's personal lifestyle.

I will also not hide the glee that I felt when I was finally allow to actually put life in that lifeless house of his. I was also ecstatic when I was given permission to overhaul his entire wardrobe, wardrobe that compose of nothing but uniforms, school uniforms and his fighting attire, and a dozen pair of jeans with similar, plain design and a hundred white shirts.

As a girl, not a magician but as a girl, it was beyond appalling to see an individual with such horrendous wardrobe.

Of course, Tsuyoru-san looked ready to remove my head when he saw me redecorating his home but, as the proper son of Yotsuba Maya, he wouldn't disobey his mother.

Regardless, for a genius, my primary lacks style.

"Are we done here?" Tsuyoru-san inquired with an impatient look in his eyes.

"Another five minutes. Your sleeves and collar are in need of straitening. Your cuffs need adjusting. Your shoes need to be shine and polish." I answered casually while dusting some unwanted dust on his suit.

"Have I ever told you how much I hate being assisted in my wardrobe?"

"Orders are orders, Tsuyoru-sama." I pointed out, trying my best to suppress my amusement due to his discomfort. "You know that Yotsuba-dono requires you to look your best whenever you meet him."

"I prefer my old suits and tuxedos, and even mother likes them." He is whining, how cute.

"She tolerates them knowing that you won't wear any other formal wear aside from those, as per her exact words, rags. She had ordered me to dispose them when I overhaul your wardrobe." I stopped suddenly before giving him a look. "I am surprised that you allowed me to make changes to your wardrobe."

My primary rolled his eyes at this. "If I didn't allow you to make an overhaul of my wardrobe, my mother would dismissed and disposed of you. My mother does not react well to failures." He answered me dismissively. "I still question the validity of your first mission. Redecorating my house in Tokyo and overhauling my wardrobe is not the usual mission that she gives her servants."

Redecorating your house? Overhauling your wardrobe?

Tsuyoru-san, Tatsuya-san, your house did not have an ounce of decoration or personalization aside from the absolute necessity. And your wardrobe, what wardrobe? Five dozen white shirts and three dozen jeans with the same style is not a wardrobe of an ordinary boy, regardless of how fashionably inept they are.

As for Yotsuba-dono considering that as my first mission…

"I think Yotsuba-dono thought that you would break my bones if you caught me."

"Mother was quite right. I did consider snapping your spine when I saw you disposing some of my shirts but then, I remember that I can tolerate you so I reconsidered. "

I chuckled after hearing that reply before adjusting his collar.

"You are wasting your talents by being a servant."

Ah, this conversation again.

"We have this conversation before. I thought you dislike repeating yourself."

He sighed before shaking his head. "I always forget that you are a waste of my breath." He looked at me directly in my eyes before conveying his honest feelings for me.

"You are my biggest disappointment."

As painful as hearing those words from him, I could not help but feel a sense of happiness. Those words, painful they might be, was an indication that he now acknowledges me.

(Flashback) (Suzune POV)

I knew I should be afraid.

I knew that I should run as if my life depends on it. My life actually depends on it if I think about it.

My brain was telling me to run as far away as possible from this person.

My instincts were screaming at me to get out of the line of sight of this extremely dangerous creature.

Yet, I could not run. I did not even consider running regardless of the danger that I am in.

I could not run. I refuse to run.

After all, for the first time since we met, Tsuyoru Tatsuya, son of Yotsuba Maya, and the most emotionless boy that I have ever met was finally showing me emotion in front of me. Not just a glimpse, he is actually displaying emotion to me.

He stood in the doorway of his office, his eyes focused upon me, a look of dark irritation marring those cold, artic eyes.

And those eyes were focus upon me and me alone.

Considering who he is and how powerful he is and how easy it is for him to end my life, I knew that I should be afraid that he was directing such negative emotion at me, but at this point, I did not care.

Tsuyoru Tatsuya had finally showed me an emotion.

"You fool." He breathed coldly before closing the distance between us in three to five stride before I found myself pinned to the wall quiet harshly.

I grunted in pain as he held me by the collar and lifted me effortlessly from the ground.

"You stupid fool." He told me as I stared at his eyes. Cold and emotionless, yet there was underlying aggravation and disappointment (?) in them. "Are you aware that you just ruined your life?" His voice was harsh and spine chilling, a tone of voice that he directed at me for the first time.

Choosing my words carefully, I replied. "I choose the path that would most likely fulfill my dreams. I have no regrets."

I could feel the pressure that he was applying upon me increase, which made breathing slightly uncomfortable.

"Your parents left you a trust fund that would last you a lifetime. Add to the payment and compensation that the Yotsuba would give you for the services that your parents rendered, you are set for life." He applied more pressure and I cough lightly as he was now lightly choking me. "Yet, you disregarded the wonderful life that they gave you for a life of servitude."

"It was my choice. I made the choice with no one influencing me." At the mention of my parents, I could feel my heart twisting in pain but I composed myself. I will not falter in front of him. "I won't survive out there, not without any connections or some kind of protection. You showed me how dark this world is and you also showed me that I do not have the mentality to survive in this world."

"There is a difference between self-preservation and stupidity. The choice that you made is stupidity at its finest." He told me harshly, his eyes darkening. "By choosing this path, you systematically gave your life to an organization that would use you until you die. Your life is not yours anymore."

I was about to open my mouth to reply but a voice echoed in the room that caught both our attention. "She was aware of the repercussion and the sacrifice as well as the life that she had given herself to. I explained it to her, in detail I might add, that she would forfeit her life to the Yotsuba clan, and that her life would no longer be hers to live. She still sold herself to me even after knowing all of that."

With great effort, I looked at the doorway and found myself staring at Yotsuba Maya. She had an amuse grin on her beautiful face.

Tsuyoru-san did not looked at his mother and continued glaring at me.

"Darling, I taught you better than that." Yotsuba Maya, or Yotsuba-dono as I was told to call her, scolded her son in a joking manner, evident in the lightness in her eyes. "Darling, please let her go. She did not do anything to earn your wrath."

At that casual order, Tsuyoru-san dropped me to the floor. He glared at me harshly one last time before turning his attention to Yotsuba-dono, his mother. "This stupid fool is to be my guardian." Tsuyoru-san stated with a tone that did not welcome any arguments.

Though I was regulating my breathing, I could not help but smile at those words. My objective was reach rather easily.

"Finally, I thought I have to strong arm you to finally get you to agree to take a guardian." The relief in Yotsuba-dono's voice was rather easy to detect but the way she looked at me sent fear coursing through my veins. "Of course, she still has to take some tests before I give her to you but considering that you devoted three months of your valuable time to her, passing those tests should be easy for her." The look that Yotsuba-dono gave me conveys a message that made me think that that my death was nearing.

'Don't disappoint me.'

I nodded my head, hoping and praying that she would see this as me comprehending the message that she is sending me clearly.

Fortunately, she smiled at me before turning her attention back to her son. "Now, darling, you do have an errand to run, right?"

Tsuyoru-san gave me a hard, heated glare before turning his back at me. "I overestimated you." I could hear him grumbling before he walked to his mother. The two exchange an affectionate embrace before Tsuyoru-san vacated his office, leaving me alone with Yotsuba-dono.

"I think my son likes you." Yotsuba-dono commented with a laugh. Her laugh was melodic, seductive even and I had to force myself to look the other way to prevent myself from ogling the older woman.

The beauty that Yotsuba Maya possesses transcends that of a normal human woman. In fact, comparing her beauty to a Goddess of any mythology seems to be an insult. That is the level of beauty that she possesses.

"I think I anger him with the choice that I made." I whispered as I caress my neck.

"Anger is not the right word. 'Disappoint' is the most accurate word to describe my son's current feelings for you." Yotsuba-dono then looked at me from head to toe with appraising eyes. "I don't blame him though. Two months of his attention and time, devoted to you so that you can regain your ability to use magic, and then, after his hard work, you choose a path that would turn you to a slave for a clan that would use you to the fullest and discard you if you got compromise or become obsolete. Even my son would feel a sense of disappointment."

"Though I would admit that I did not expect him to feel this level of disappointment." Yotsuba-dono added as an afterthought.

"I'm glad that he was able to express that level of emotion in front of me." I commented with a smile. "Humanity makes him so beautiful."

"Agree," Yotsuba-dono nodded before giving me a sharp look. "You still have one chance to walk away. Leave this place, never return and never speak of the Yotsuba ever again, and I will give you a free pass as well as a house that you can live in anywhere in Japan, tax-free. I owe your parents that much for the wonderful service that they gave me."

"Thank you for the kind offer, Yotsuba-dono."

"Relish my offer for I show kindness to non-Yotsuba members rarely."

"…but I would have to reject your offer. I owe Tsuyoru-san everything. From the magic that I wield to the skills that I have. He avenged my parents and preserved my life twice. Serving him for eternity would give me a purpose." I said in resignation to my fate.

Yotsuba-dono looked at me again with eyes that I could not comprehend before sighing. "If you had offered yourself to any of the Ten Master Clans or any of the Assistance Houses, they would have inducted you to their clan as a direct member, maybe even marry you off to a child of theirs, yet you are offering yourself to the Yotsuba as a slave." Yotsuba-dono said with a sort of amusement that projects how dangerous she is "Honestly, I don't mind. Come, it's time for you to take your tests. The sooner I can give you to my son, the better. Contrary to popular belief, my son is killable."

Yotsuba Maya gestured for me to follow her as she glided out of her son's office.

I followed her knowing that I have resigned myself to a life of darkness.

I have no regrets.

The sight of those cold eyes gazing upon me with a trace of emotion was the light that would illuminate my path in this dark world.

Those eyes, I could finally tolerate being look upon those eyes.

(End of Flashback)

"Are you still disappointed in me?" I asked as I remember

"That goes without saying. Why do you think I always ask you to leave my side?" He asked rhetorically, as if he was speaking to a child. "I just find it real sad that someone as talented as you, someone with so much potential as you would settle in staying by my side as a glorified maid and a secretary." Tsuyoru-san commented with a monotone voice, not even hiding the disdain that he felt towards me.

"For the record, Tsuyoru-sama…" I know he doesn't like me calling him that, but I really want to hear him growl at me in irritation, but I guess I have no luck today. "…I learn more about being a Magician and a Magic Researcher in the six months than I am under your care than when my parents were still tutoring me." Admittedly, Tsuyoru-san is a better teacher and motivator than my parents ever were. Well, it's a scary thought angering someone who can literally erase your very existence with a mere snap of a finger, and facing that avatar of his is the last thing I want to do in my life.

Still, I wonder…

"You could just dismissed me." I pointed out. As my primary, he is the only one capable of releasing me, of letting me go, of dismissing me as a Guardian.

At those words, he merely gave me a look.

"Would you leave me if I dismiss you?"

"No," I answered immediately.

"You joined the Yotsuba as a Guardian on your own and I took you as my Guardian because mother would break you if I didn't." He gently pushed me back while readjusting his cuffs and collar. "I will have you leave my side on your own accord."

"Respectfully sir, you have yet to give me a reason to leave your side." I pointed out as I stood beside him, bowing slightly. "For all intents and purposes, you are a wonderful master."

Tsuyoru-san gave me a look after that comment. "You have yet given me a reason to be cruel to you but believe me when I say this; once you do, I will show you another reason why I am the one and only son of the Queen of Night..."

That, is one thing that I do not want to see.

(Break) (Maya POV)

Looking at my clansmen as they gallivant and party to their hearts content made me laugh dryly.

The sound of classical and festive music that echoed in the ballroom of the Yotsuba's main estate made me crackle.

In addition, the feeling of the lighthearted atmosphere made me want to smile.

Seeing my clansmen all at ease like this amuses me so. If an outsider looks at how festive the Yotsuba's are now, they would probably forget that we are capable of leveling an entire country if I so order it.

It is laughable, truly it is, that in the ballroom before me is the gathering of Japan's, of the Pacific's greatest fighting force.

"Of course, there is one crucial person missing." I mumbled under my breath as I caress the necklace that my son gave me, created from his magic.

It is ironic, truly it is. My son who possesses such a wonderful mind for creation was born with the magic that can only destroy.

Such irony.

Regardless, my darling son being my darling son was able to circumvent his limitation, proving to me that he truly is a genius without peer.

As expected from my son.

My son, my dear Tatsuya, is in a way, the ideal Yotsuba. Like me, he embodies what a Yotsuba should be, a combatant worthy of carrying the Yotsuba name at the very least.

Pragmatic, ruthless, perfectionist, merciless, my son, my dear Tatsuya is Magician worthy of my name.

The only problem, the only hurdle that is preventing me from giving him the clan's name is the fact that no one, aside from Hayama and I, knows of his existence.

In hindsight, I should not have hidden my son from the clan but looking at the level of power and strength that my son possesses, my decision to hide his existence when he was born still has its merits. After all, my son would not have grown as powerful as he is right now if he has the Yotsuba supporting him in the shadows. His skills would greatly be hinder if he has the resources and the support of the entire Yotsuba clan.

Strategic-type Magicians with multiple Strategic-type spells were very rare.

Sacrificing that portion of his life, sacrificing him having a family and most of his emotions is a sacrifice that I made for his own good and he does not complain considering that he has me.

That thought alone makes me smile.

Still, the problem had all but remedied itself.

I glanced at the corner of the ballroom and critically eyed the person that would prove useful in integrating and binding my son to the clan.

Miyuki-chan, I never expected you to be so useful until you had blossom into a full-blown woman but I guess I should have expected more from you considering my blood runs through your veins.

Truthfully, a year ago, I was a bit distraught at the thought of my son's loyalty. His loyalty to the Yotsuba is limited to his loyalty to me. If I perish from this world, nothing would stop him from leaving and disowning the Yotsuba.

My dear son loves me like a proper son should but he does not value anything that I consider important.

He values his existence above all else.

I know that if I threaten his existence, he would not hesitate to do away with me.

As a mother, I should be sad with this knowledge but I am not. After all, if my son becomes a threat to the Yotsuba and/or to my schemes, I would also not hesitate to put him down.

As strong as my son is, he still hasn't reach the level that would make me completely useless against him. He is hard to kill but he can still be destroyed.

Luckily, the chance of my darling son betraying me had lowered significantly.

All thanks to Miyuki-chan.

Funny, I originally envisioned Miyuki-chan as my insurance incase my son becomes a threat to the Yotsuba. After all, in terms of raw power, magical talent, magical ability, and skills, only Miyuki-chan has the capacity to rival him.

However, that is no longer the case.

It is quite irksome and irritating, not to mention frustrating, that my darling son has already someone to shift his loyalty to after I perish but as long as he stays loyal to the Yotsuba, I guess I could suppress my urge to hurt the young harlot that would one day take my son from me.

"Has Miyuki-ojousama done anything to upset you, Milady?" A familiar voice inquired and all I could do is shake my head while taking the champagne that he was offering me.

"Truthfully, I should be thankful of her. Thanks to Miyuki-chan, I am assured that my son would remain within the clan even if I perish." Taking a sip of the champagne, I threw a quick distasteful look at Miyuki-chan's direction before sighing. "But as a mother, do you think I look forward to the day when my only son stops considering me his priority?"

Hayama, the person that had faithfully serve my father and had become a faithful servant to me, could only smile ruefully. "That is the same feeling that Genzou-sama felt when you had shown interest towards Koichi-dono."

I rolled my eyes at that reply. I have no use of Koichi-kun, not anymore.

"Looking back, I could never understand my fixation with him." I commented before giving Hayama a serious look. "You approached me for a reason."

"Tatsuya-dono had arrived in his personal quarters, package at hand. He is awaiting for you to grace him with you presence." Hayama whispered to me silently. "Also, he also wants me to tell you that he dislikes being summoned when most of the clan is present within the estate."

I chuckled after hearing that. My darling certainly knows how to amuse me.

(Break) (Suzune POV)

The Yotsuba estate was grand but it was mundane compare to the estates own by several clans in the Numbers System.

It's strange considering the wealth the Yotsuba has at their disposal but in a way, it is to be expected considering the Yotsuba value their privacy above all else.

The Yotsuba were not known for their extensive and frivolous use of their wealth and resources.

The Yotsuba were known for their ruthlessness and mystery.

Yotsuba Clan is a clan shrouded in mystery.

Unlike the rest of the families in the number system, they do not like to flaunt their wealth and they do not boast the achievements of their clan members.

The Yotsuba Clan is very secretive, and they were very good in hiding their secrets, to such extent that they had earned the distrust of the public, not just the Families in the number system, due to their secrecy.

Magicians affiliated with the Ten Master Clans are public knowledge to every, even none magicians, but magicians affiliated with the Yotsuba Clan are complete unknowns.

Regardless of that though, the Yotsuba, especially the matriarch, could care less about the distrust of other towards them.

After all, when push comes to shove, if the Ten Master Clans or the 18 Families or the Hundred Families or even all of them put together went against the Yotsuba, I have no doubts the Yotsuba would win.

After all, the Queen of Night and her son alone is a force to be reckon with. The two of them alone is practically enough to level an entire armada if they so choose. In addition, I might be new in the Yotsuba Clan, but I already know that the Yotsuba has a powerful fighting force at its disposal.

If a clan was able to bore someone like Tsuyoru Tatsuya into this world, I shudder to think what other monsters the Yotsuba Clan has in their current generation.

"Have I ever told you my dislike of not being informed of specifics?" My primary whispered as he eyed all the expensive looking cars parked near the main entrance of the Yotsuba estate.

"Yes, you have informed me." I have mental scars to prove it.

Looking at the array of cars, I could understand the dilemma of my primary.

Although he is the strongest prospect of the Yotsuba Clan, his existence is an utter unknown to everyone aside from Yotsuba-sama, Hayama-sama, and me. This was only common knowledge to the Numbers Families but Yotsuba Maya was not supposed to be capable of bearing a child. I will not go details how she got her condition, due to the fact that my primary would obliterate me if ever spoke of that topic and rape is a very touchy subject to me.

The fact that Yotsuba-sama was able to have Tatsuya regardless of her condition is a miracle in itself, and if his existence became public knowledge, the Magic Community of the World would be in an uproar.

Still, not exposing him to his family, limitation of human interaction, and complete isolation explains a lot on why he is what he is today.

"We are going around back." He told me as he uses his magic to distort the space around us to render us invincible and soundless.

Decomposition-type magic, deadly and lethal at the hands of normal magicians, divinely devastating at the hands of a person with an IQ of over 200.

Maintaining the distorted space stationary was easy, maintaining a distorted space while moving should be impossible because the space that is being distorted changes with each step, yet my primary is was able to maintain is magic without any visible strain or difficulty. He casually walked through the Yotsuba estate grounds, ignoring everyone and everything around him, as if they do not exist, as if they are merely nothing.

He ignored and disregarded the servants that were running passed us as well as the guards safeguarding the area.

He ignored them not because he was the son of the matriarch. No, he is not that petty.

He ignored them because, in his eyes, they were insects. They were insignificant insects that were not even in the same species as him.

Which is quite sad but considering how he was raise, it is to be expected.

Tsuyoru Tatsuya is truly a one of a kind magician, once in a lifetime magician.

Although is practical magic abilities and, in his opinion but it is up to debate, his spell versatility and flexibility is less to be desired, he was still a person that was bestowed with every tool and gift that a magician would kill for to possess, only maxed out to a thousand. With his inborn magical abilities together with his unparalleled intellect, Tsuyoru Tatsuya is a magician that will only appear once ever blue moon.

That being said the way he was raise and condition was something that should be consider illegal and sinful.

I could understand the position Yotsuba-dono was when she birthed her son but the fact remains that the lack of human interaction turned him into a monster.

My primary, Tatsuya, was raised without him ever interacting with a normal human being. As a magician, I would give all the praises in the world to Yotsuba-dono. As a magician, she is above and beyond world class and she is one of the few that I know who is capable of killing my primary.

That said, I would not consider Yotsuba-dono as a normal human being. Yotsuba-dono is a distorted being. She had abandon her humanity long ago. Morals, ethics, compassion everything that defines a human being, she had discarded for her to become the person that she is today.

By abandoning those human characteristics, she became one of the most successful matriarch among the Ten Master Clans as well as one of the most powerful individual in the world, not just in magic; I still consider most of her deeds, regardless of its necessity and practicality, as appalling.

Her being the primary and sole human contact of my primary, considering that she is her mother, distorted him to a being that considers everyone weaker than him as somebody lower than him, as somebody that is not even the same species as him.

If there was one thing I learned by being apart of the Yotsuba, it is that all men are not born as equals. Some are born swifter afoot, some with greater beauty, some are born into poverty and others born sick and feeble. Both in birth and upbringing, in sheer scope of ability every human is inherently different.

And those people who are superior mingling with those inferior than them, equality is born. By interacting with people, superior or inferior, the idea of equality is born within men.

My primary was not given that opportunity.

I do not know who the father of my primary is, but with his human interaction limited with his mother, a being of equal skills, talents, and abilities as him, Tatsuya grew considering those inferior than him as a different species. In my primary's unmatched intellect, he could not comprehend why people are weaker than he is, he could not comprehend people that are less talented than he is, he could not comprehend those inferior than him.

He cannot understand them.

He will not make an effort to understand them because he was not condition to understand those weaker than.

He was condition to dispose of them if they became a threat to his being.

In his mind, those who are incapable of matching him are insects. We humans as a specie considers insects as subspecies and at best of times, we are indifferent to insects, we do not care whether insects live or die, and at our worst, we consider insects as pest that should be annihilated.

That is the line of thinking of my primary.

Those who are inferior than him, he considers them as insects, as nuisance. My primary will not care whether those who are not at his level perish or live, whether they succeed or suffer, whether they are happy or in despair. He will not care as long as they do not pose a threat to his existence.

(Flashback)(Suzune POV)

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

A strangle scream of a human being echoed into my ears and I cringe as at the sight before me.

I looked in several degrees of disgust as I bore witness to this travesty.

There was a man, I could not discern the age or his nationality, on a dissecting table, face twisted in horror.

That man was no longer breathing. I would not expect him to considering that he was dissected.

And the person dissecting him was none other than Tsuyoru Tatsuya.

"Extracting the Satafanite." I could hear his passive voice echoing as he extracted a weird looking crystal from the corpse and carefully deposited it to a cylinder case that was held by a subordinate of his. There was a sound of locks interconnecting before the subordinate deposited the cylinder case to a small crate.

I the turned my eyes to Tsuyoru-san and grasped a bit when I saw him pulling his Silver CAD out from its holster and pointing to the corpse on the table. With a pull of a trigger, the body disappeared, even the blood that stained the table and floor vanished.

Putting the gun back to its holster, Tsuyoru-san made a motion to the door at the far end.

A second later, two men wearing lab coats dragged in a woman who was struggling from the rough hold of the two.

I watched as the woman kicked, elbowed, and bit the two men holding her but they held on firmly on her, not letting her go.

Her captors stopped in front of Tsuyoru-san and the woman's expression turned into fear and anger as she proceeded to try to kick Tsuyoru-san.

Tsuyoru-san answered by drawing a line across her throat with a single finger.

The head of the woman fell to the ground and her body went limp.

Tsuyoru-san took the head of the woman from the floor as the body was laid on the dissecting table. Expecting the head, which made him appear to be playing with it, Tsuyoru-san proceeded to banish the head from existence.

He then turned his attention on the body. Grabbing a scalpel, Tsuyoru-san split open the body.

I covered my mouth as I tried my best not to scream as I watch Tsuyoru-san thoroughly cutting through human flesh, muscle, veins, and remove organs after organs until extracting another one of those peculiar looking crystals from the body.

This was a disturbing scene.

The fact that he had that damnable and unchangeable stoic expression of his made it more disturbing.

"Next." Tsuyoru-san exclaimed as he erased the body and the mess in front of him.

Another human being was dragged into the room.

This one was male and in his early teens.

The male was unconscious and did not pose much of a fight as he was laid on the dissecting table.

Like what he did with the body before, Tsuyoru-san pierce the body with his scalpel and proceeded to carve open the body.

At mid slice, the male's eyes widen abruptly and a loud scream echoed in the room as it dawn to him what he was about to go through.

The male tried to struggle but it was in vain. The moment Tsuyoru-san noticed him moving, silver flames, which was nothing more that mass of spirit particles that Tsuyoru-san dominated, erupted from his body and subdued the male.

The male still struggle but he did not have the strength to break through those shackles.

Not caring or ignoring the fact that the male was still alive and breathing, Tsuyoru-san merely continues to dissect the body. Tsuyoru-san carved, slice, and remove organs regardless of the struggling and screaming male.

And though this should be traumatizing, Tsuyoru-san remained stoic and unfeeling as he continue to slowly kill another human being, as if it was merely nothing.

Removing another crystal, he banished the body to nothing but as it vanish, I was able to looked at the eyes of the male.

It was hallowed and horror-stricken.

That was the last thing I saw as I fainted on the spot.

I was revive three hours later and found myself in the same room as Tsuyoru-san, and the first words that came out of my lips were; "Why?"

Tsuyoru-san gave me this cold answer.

"Do you know what Satafanite is? Satafanite is a natural magic conductor. A very rare mineral only found in the Southern American Region. The USNA has monopoly over that resource and exporting that material from South America to other countries is both expensive and illegal. The USNA is quite thorough in making sure that only their country has access to Satafanite. Just getting a few samples of the material took a lot of resources from my mother and it also requires the material to be surgically planted on a living specimen considering it emits a certain Psion pulse that can easily be detected even by the most obsolete and cheapest Psion detector."

I understood three things in his answer. One is that the material that he extracted from those bodies is a rare and expensive commodity for CAD production and magic development. Second, it is difficult to get the material, as it is mine halfway across the world, there were several laws when it comes to the material, and there is a need for human carriers just to get the material out of the country where it originated. Third and lastly, and this was hard to discern, the task was directly ordered to him by the matriarch and he would not disobey his mother.

Controlling the urge to vomit and my discomfort of being around him, more so than usual, as the memory of him dissecting human beings, I inquired if it was necessary to kill the carriers.

He gave me the answer that I expected from him.

"I do not leave evidence or a trail. Common protocol in every mission given to me. As you might be aware of, officially, I don't exist, and my mother and I prefer it that way."

I can understand that though. What I don't understand was why it was necessary for him to dissect those carriers when they were alive, something that I asked him with a shaky tone.

He gave me an answer that was bone chilling.

"It was convenient."

My faced paled as he continued.

"There were 27 carriers, each were paid five million dollars. The five million dollars were for their lives. The moment they accepted the money is the moment they signed their lives to my mother. For the Yotsuba and I guess this extent to those in the Ten Master Clans, life is nothing more than a product, a commodity to be use as saw fit. Those 27 carriers became a commodity to the Yotsuba, to my mother, and my mother decided to use them as such. I only obeyed."

"As for me dissecting them while they are alive, they will die anyway so I did not see the point of killing them pre-dissection. Killing them before removing the Satafanite would merely be a chore. They would die anyway during the dissection so I decided to let them die there and then. It saved me time."

That reasoning was inhumane!

I was about to scream at him, to say my piece, to tell him how monstrous and vile he is, but was cut off when I felt a force, a dark and malicious force suffocating me.

"Save me the lecture because I could not care less how you look at me. I was given a task by my mother, I accomplish the task efficiently, end of story."

Tsuyoru-san gave me a look that was reserve to those that he would end for a mistake that they had committed.

I wisely kept my words to myself.

"If it makes you feel any sense of comfort. Those people were cattle in my eyes. Why should I show mercy to animals that cannot be use or have outlived their usefulness?"

(End of Flashback)

After that conversation, it took me days before I could remotely feel comfortable around my primary.

Still, after being around him for eight months, I finally have better understanding when it comes to his mindset.

My primary is a monster, but he is not overly cruel, he just considers the most efficient and effective course of action and apply it regardless of how amoral it is.

Again, I blame his upbringing.

Entering the Yotsuba mansion using one of the backdoors, I also could not help but blame the environment where he was raise as well.

I commend the Yotsuba for not wasting their wealth in material possession, but I would not really consider their main house as an ideal house for raising children or even remotely livable for developing children.

The Yotsuba Mansion is a mansion taken out from a horror film, and that is putting it lightly.

Every corridor, every room of the house was dimmed and lights that illuminate those corridors and rooms merely gives it an eerie feel.

The walls were paint with contrasting dark colors as if it forbids light to enter but wholeheartedly welcomes darkness. In addition, the way the house was painted made it seem that all the rooms and corridors were all closing in on you and that all corridors and rooms were longer than they supposed to be.

The furniture that littered the house were antiques and were crafted in gothic style, and décor merely accentuated the grim atmosphere of the mansion.

There were also barely any windows, which puts the house in perpetual darkness.

If the Yotsuba intends to unnerve every visitor that step foot in their primary mansion, I would admit that they succeeded in their goal.

Fighting the shivers that threaten to run up my back, I continue to follow my primary across the mansion.

"There's seems to be no one guarding this part of the mansion." I mused quietly. Only a select few knows where the Yotsuba Main Estate is and the common protocol within the clan is that only those invited by the Matriarch is allowed to visit the estate, which also applied to family members. Regardless of the scarcity of visitors, the main estate is still heavily guarded.

I know this considering I spent a month and a half in this mansion, being drill on everything I need to know to become Tsuyoru Tatsuya's Guaridian.

"Servants and even the guards are forbidden to venture in this part of the mansion." Tsuyoru-san answered without sparing a glance. "The northwest wing of the mansion is where my room is located. As a child, I used to explore this side of the mansion for exercise quite frequently; henceforth, no one aside from my mother and Hayama-san are allowed to step foot in this area. Those that did are executed on the spot."

"Let me guess, you were the one executing them." I meant this as a joke but as always, my primary gave me a serious and honest answer.

"Of course. Mother instructed me to off everyone entering my territory that is not her and Hayama-san. Who am I to disobey my mother?" He asked me rhetorically. "Fortunately though, most servants and guards heed my mother's warning and those who did not, deserve to be put on an early grave. Mother has done worse to those who disobey her."

That is not hard to believe. Yotsuba Maya is quite lax and informal when it comes to treating and dealing with her subordinates and as long as they achieve the objective, she does not care how the task is accomplished. Nevertheless, the Yotsuba Matriarch demands complete and total obedience, anything less than that is unacceptable and usually results to punishments.

Yotsuba Maya is very creative when it comes to punishing people. She is quite the sadist.

I know this through experience.

"We're here."

(Break)(Suzune POV)

Before I became Tsuyoru-san's Guardian, I could remember the state of his house in Tokyo.

It was bland and hallow.

The furniture were plain and few, the walls were painted pitch white, and no decoration in any corner of the house.

The house that my primary resides in before I move in made everyone entering his abode feel mepty.

Well, except Miyuki-san, but she and my primary tends to, ahem, occupy the other's complete attention whenever they are near each other, much to my and Minami-chan's discomfort.

That being said, it is rather nice to see my primary acting like a normal human being with no string attach, although, I would prefer if he would not act like a love struck lover whenever Miyuki-san is around.

In his defense, Miyuki-san also acts a love struck lover when around him.

And, finally, in their defense, they were subtle in acting as lovers around each other but the atmosphere around them is so sweet that it rots my teeth.

But, I digress.

The house that my primary used to reside in was bland, hallow, plain, unlivable, and to this day, I am grateful that Yotusba-dono allowed me to make complete renovation to that house with a seven million yen budget.

I am extremely grateful for I knew that if I live in that house, pre-renovation, I would have gone insane.

That being said, as I stepped in my primary's private and personal room in the Yotsuba Mansion, I could not help but be slacked jaw.

I did not expect this.

What I expected to see in his room was a bed, a computer terminal, maybe a couple of chairs, a table for maintenance, and a bookcase.

I did not expect to see a gallery.

Beautifully drawn portraits, well-crafted statues, both marble and metal, the most beautiful furniture that I have ever seen in my life, and ancient weapons that were well made and well polish littered the room in an organized and showy fashion.

What's more, the walls were painted with lively and bright colors and the number of windows in this room is double compare to the other rooms in the mansion.

Yeah, I did not expect this, not from a Yotsuba, not inside of the Yotsuba's Primary Mansion, and especially not from my primary.

"Tsuyoru-san…"

"Don't ask…" Aggravation and exasperation was clear in his voice. "This is my room, which also happens to store mother's personal collection, which happens to act as décor in my room."

"You live and slept here for a decade?" I am now slowly understanding why my primary hates decorating and personalization so much. This room is magnificent but a bit overwhelming.

"Yes but I spent most of my time in my workshop though." Tsuyoru-san sighed a bit as he surveyed every object in the room. "My mother asked me to collect all of this five years ago. She told me that I should trained my stealth and retrieval skills by breaking and beating every security system in the market. In a way, it was quite entertaining but I was quite exasperated when mother required me to get her trophies."

Tsuyoru-san turned his attention to a dagger. The dagger was is decorated with gold filigree, and is set with four emeralds and six rubies.

"That is The Dagger of Aqu'abi. I stole that in USNA, Arlington when I was seven years old. I beaten a Tanuki Security System, which was quite a nasty piece of work at that time."

Tsuyoru-san then turned to a painting depicting a boy being push to the ground.

"The Sacrifice of Isaac, detail 2, painted in 1601 by Caravaggio. Stole that from Italy when I was six. The vault that I broke into was a type Stallion, B8-67. The vault was capable of withstanding 60,000kg worth of force. Not to mention the laser tripwires and motion sensors inside of the vault."

Tsuyoru-san reached and took a small, golden statue of a western dragon from its case.

"Legend Killer, 100 carat golden statue depicting the dragon that slew Beowulf. I got this from Russia when I was nine. One of mother's favorite and one of the most difficult pieces that I have ever stolen. I beat a Steranko Security System just to get this. Now that was difficult to bypass."

If my memory serves me right, the Steranko Security System is a computer that can beat like 100 people at chess, with a brain the size of a building, which is hook up to military grade infra-red, ultra-sound, and motion sensors, and a personality of a pissed off Rottweiler. It has a heuristic algorithm, which allows it to adapt to the moves of the perpetrator/s, and evolves a strategy based on their response. It learns, it adapts, and it hunts.

It is the security system of FLT

"This one…" I looked at my primary curiously as he continue to tell me the names of some off the paintings and artifacts that interest him (those things must really caught his attention because knowing him, he would not bother to learn the names of those that do not remotely arose his curiosity), where they are from, who crafted them, and the security system that he had beat to obtain it.

This was amusing and somewhat comforting because this shows that my primary can at least display a portion, the barest amount, of his humanity in front of me.

At the moment, though my primary did not change his tone of voice, it is still passive and stoic, he was still boasting about his accomplishments when he was a child, when he was more unfeeling and robotic (I still find that hard to believe), and showing off his trophies to me (stolen trophies worth millions or billions of yen, but that is beside the point).

This was a rare childish act in his part. He was allowing himself to be a kid in front of me.

This, to a degree, shows that he trust me, even if it was a little.

(Break)(Suzune POV)

There are several things that Yotsuba Maya has in spades. Beauty, elegance, swagger, and an overwhelming aura.

Suffice to say, regardless of who you are, when Yotsuba Maya enters the room, all attention would be turn to her.

The moment Yotsuba Maya entered the room, my primary went straight to his mother, which effectively stopped is tirade and, for him, his childish boasting.

A pity. I was really starting to enjoy the stories that he was telling. To think, Tsuyoru-san is also an expert con-man.

Remind me to hide my credit cards and credit information from him from now on.

"Good evening darling. It has been awhile." Yotsuba-dono greeted her son while embracing him in a motherly and loving fashion. Yotsuba-dono was wearing a gothic style dress that emphasizes all of her womanly curves, especially her bust.

Yotsuba Maya is arguably the most beautiful woman in this country, easily.

I tried my best not to be mesmerize by the beautiful woman before me, knowing that she could end my life in a heartbeat.

"We've seen each other last week." Tsuyoru-san pointed out nonchalantly but the way that he held his mother was like a child that had missed his favorite parent in a very long time.

Normally, if the information given to me by Hayama-san is accurate, family members are only allowed in the estate if it was an emergency or if they were summoned.

If they are summoned, a servant would greet them and they would be escorted to a reception room for further instruction.

The fact that the Matriarch herself would break protocol and greet Tsuyoru-san herself spoke volumes of how important Tsuyoru-san is for the Yotsuba.

The warm greeting was probably a sign of Yotsuba-dono's motherly love for Tsuyoru-san, something that is admittedly endearing.

"Still too long." Yotsuba-dono replied with a disarming and caring smile. "It is quite difficult for me to part with my favorite son."

Those words were caring and loving but the fact remains that you sent your son to a worn torn land to retrieve uranium; something that you do not need considering that your son is already a walking nuke…

Wait let me correct myself.

Tsuyoru Tatsuya is a warship arm to the teeth with nuclear capabilities.

That sounded right.

"I do admit that I am at ease whenever I'm near you." Tsuyoru-san conceded with a small smile. "After all, it is quite pleasing for me to feel a sense of mortality."

I suddenly had the urge to fake cough the words 'Mama's boy' but considering that living is much more preferable than dying, I force that urge out of me.

Still, it was quite strange for someone who is near impossible to kill and who values self-preservation to be at ease around someone who is capable of killing him but I think that is the human in him speaking.

After all, regardless of all of his bravado of not being human and not having been born with humanity, my primary is still human at heart.

"Suzune-chan, good evening as well." Yotsuba Maya greeted me suddenly and her voice caused me to stiffen.

Recovering quickly, I bowed deeply at her. "Good evening, Yotsuba-dono." I greeted, averting my gaze from her while strengthening my resolve and putting a strong front.

I suddenly remember the way Tsuyoru-san used to look at me. My primary, before I became his Guardian, use to regard me with apathetic eyes, looking at me as if I am nothing more than vermin that she was force to tolerate.

The way Yotsuba Maya looks at me was similar, only much worse. Yotsuba Maya looks at me as if I am not even a living being.

"Ichihana…" Tsuyoru-san called for me and I instantly looked at him. He was looking at me with an expression that I can only describe as exasperation.

"Ichihana, I know that my mother can be scary but that doesn't excuse you for not looking at her." Tsuyoru-san scolded me, showing his love for his mother in the process. "Mother won't do away with you. She knows better than anyone how difficult it is to search for someone that I would tolerate. Also, my mother is very pleasant in the eyes."

The amusement and glee in the Yotsuba's Matriarch's eyes was very telling.

"That's true, Suzune-chan. You have yet to give me a reason to get rid of you." Yotsuba-dono said in an assuring manner before giving her son an appraising look. "In fact, I must commend you. My son looks rather sharp, a massive improvement."

"Have I ever mention how much I despise my new wardrobe?" Tsuyoru-san was rather expressive when he is around his mother but that emotionless voice of his was still unbreakable.

"Darling, I know that you inherited Otou-sama's rather bland taste in style as well as his dull looks but you are my son first and foremost, I expect you to present yourself as such." Yotsuba-dono said teasingly with a grin.

Tsuyoru-san could only roll his eyes in exasperation after hearing those familiar words.

"The world does not know I exist and I intend to keep it that way." Tsuyoru-san stated with a shrugged. "After all, I am only serving the Yotsuba because you are the head. Once you step down, I will offer my services to another family." Tsuyoru-san exclaimed with an uncompromising tone.

I have heard those words from Tsuyoru-san before and I am aware of his seriousness. I also know the person whom he would offer his loyalty and devotion to when the day Yotsuba Maya hands her position over to her successor, whomever the person maybe.

Shiba Miyuki, the one being in the world that can inspire emotion upon my primary, most of which were positive.

Every time I hear those words, I expect Yotsuba Maya to punish and to exert her dominance over her son.

If that happen, if the strongest fighters of the Yotsuba fights each other, I would run as fast and as far away as humanly possible because I have no desire to be caught in the crossfire in a duel between the dragon and the devil of the Yotsuba.

I would die for Tsuyoru-san, but I would not die via decomposition or via night.

But I digress.

Every time Tsuyoru-san utter those words, instead of the anger that I expected from his mother, Yotsuba Maya merely smiles as if she heard something ridiculous and her eyes shines in a way that seems to convey something sinister. Yotsuba Maya was strangely not bother by her son's lack of loyalty towards the Yotsuba.

"Keep telling yourself that, Darling, keep telling yourself that." Yotsuba-dono said dismissively and humorously before daintily raising her right arm. "So, dinner?"

Tsuyoru-san shook his head before releasing an exasperated sigh. Taking the arm of his mother with his, he spared me a glance. "Hayama-san seems to be expecting you. Don't give him any trouble. He may be ancient but he can still wipe the floor with you." Tsuyoru-san told me before his mother led him out of his room.

Whenever both Tsuyoru-san and his mother have their private dinner dates, nothing in the world would disturb them. Anyone who dares disturb them during any of their mother-son bonding session would be dealt with in the most inhumane way possible.

Even Hayama-san is no exception to this.

I bowed at the two while ignoring the look that Hayama-san was giving me.

"I've heard that the latest mission of the young master was a success."

Without even looking at the Head Guardian and Butler of the Yotsuba Clan, I know where this conversation would lead.

"It is to be expected, considering who he is and what he is capable of."

I might sound repetitive, but Tsuyoru-san is scary good when it comes to magic and fighting.

"True, the Young Master is very skilled. He alone equals that of an entire first world country's fighting force." At age eleven, that is a very scary thought. "I was informed you were next to useless in that mission."

That is the crux of the matter.

"Tsuyoru-dono did not seem to have use for my skills in that mission." I told him honestly.

Truth be told, since I became his guardian, there has only been a handful of times when Tsuyoru-san made use of me when we are on the field and he only required my assistance for minor things.

"That is understandable. Tatsuya-dono is a very capable boy." Hayama-san conceded. "Regardless though, you not having any sort of experience in the field is worrying. Come now, I would at least test your skills for tonight. It is a pity if we waste the night?" Hayama-san turned around and left the room, expecting me to follow.

I followed him without pause.