Even Miyuki was surprised her mother revealed their true identities. Using the Yotsuba name was an indication of how serious their situation was, especially since their mother was loathe to do so.
The three officers sitting across from them looked dumbfound towards Miya, who simply took another sip from her water bottle.
The Colonel looked down then as she realized Sanada was passing her his information terminal. From her position Miyuki could tell that the image of her mother's twin sister was displayed. Both Kazama and Saeki looked down at it for a few moments, then all their eyes returned to Miya.
"We of course don't look exactly alike, even with identical twins there are subtle differences. We do look enough alike that we both chose different styles of dress and hair though. I can't imagine trying to deal with all that hair like she does. A waste of time as far as I'm concerned."
Her flippant attitude in this situation began to frustrate her daughter intensely, but the military officers were too stunned to be offended by her lackadaisical words.
Then Miya went off in another direction.
"Colonel, did you silence your information terminal before coming in here?"
"I'm…..I'm sorry, what?"
She blinked as she tried to register Miya's words.
"I made a call a little while ago while the Captain went to retrieve you. I suspect that enough time has passed for your superiors to have contacted you. If they haven't tried already, they soon will."
"But….um….Yotsuba-dono, that shouldn't be possible. The enemy took out all the civilian communication services and the military ones are locked out to civilian usage."
Miya turned another genuine smile towards the curious Sanada. If Miyuki didn't know better she would have thought her mother was attracted to him and was flirting. Even the idea alone was enough to irritate her further.
"First, Lieutenant, I didn't suddenly get a divorce. 'Shiba-san' is fine."
Sanada blushed profusely at her sultry sounding words.
"Sorry…..Shiba-san."
Miyuki was surprised and agitated to see Sanada react this way towards her mother. Not only was she a married woman, but there was a greater difference in their ages than there was between the Lieutenant and Miyuki.
Then Miyuki looked at her mother with disapproval. She clearly was enjoying his reaction to her. Miyuki had never seen her mother act this way, ever. The phrase "could be your son" drifted across Miyuki's consciousness.
"How can you flirt while Onii-sama's life is on the line mother?"
"Second, Lieutenant, we have already discussed about new realities that we had previously thought were impossible before, right?"
Sanada only lightly nodded to this, still somewhat embarrassed.
"First she deep kisses her on son, now she's flirting with young men?"
Miyuki didn't realize she had crossed her arms and was pouting. She was well past her emotional limits for one day and to her surprise it was her mother dragging her further across her emotional tolerance line.
While all this was going on, the Colonel had retrieved her data device from a pocket. Apparently, from the surprised look on her face, she had missed a few calls. Then another call surprised her as she was holding the device in her hand.
"Um…uh, please excuse me Shiba-san."
She went to leave, but Miya waved her back down into her chair.
"Since it's about us Colonel, don't bother leaving."
Saeki looked like she was still going to leave anyway, but then Miya applied additional pressure.
"I'm sure it's from someone important. Best not keep them waiting any longer on our account."
Saeki, somewhat reluctantly, answered the call as everyone else but Miya looked on with interest.
"Saeki here…yes, yes I can hold."
As she waited she exchanged a questioning glance with Kazama. She didn't have to wait long.
"Um…..yes, yes this is Colonel Saeki….yes, um…YES SIR!"
Everyone's eyes grew rounder as she placed surprised emphasis on her last words. Her own eyes went round in surprise at the voice on the other end of the line.
"No sir….yes, I do recognize your voice. I have heard it many times on broadcasts."
Kazama and Sanada exchanged curious glances before refocusing on their superior.
"Yes sir…..thank you very much sir but I really didn't play a part in the conflict itself….yes, thank you sir….yes sir, he's here beside me now."
She looked at the perplexed Kazama then.
"Yes sir….I will give him your message. I'm sure he'll appreciate it."
Again Kazama and Sanada exchanged questioning looks.
"…..yes sir…..yes sir, she is here with us now."
The Colonel's eyes went towards the disinterested looking Miya then.
"No sir, she's uninjured…..her children are well too. We will make sure they have everything they need."
Then the Colonel became slightly agitated.
"Sir, are you aware of what exactly happened here today…..yes sir, no, of course sir…..yes sir, but the boy…."
Miyuki tensed then, she knew exactly who "the boy" was.
Then the Colonel looked surprised as she listened.
"You have sir?...yes, that is great news sir."
Suddenly Miya displayed interest in the Colonel's conversation for the first time.
"…..They have sir? Really?"
The Colonel's eyes flicked momentarily towards Miya. Miyuki didn't think anyone else would have noticed if they were looking directly at her, but she could tell her mother was growing tenser.
"…yes, that is extremely good news sir...no sir, I'm ready to get straight to work sir, we have had the plans in place and were just waiting for the go signal sir."
Miyuki saw Kazama and Sanada exchange curious glances again.
"…..yes sir. As soon as I return I will report directly to you sir…yes, I will make them the offer sir…no, we'll take good care of the Shiba's sir."
Then the Colonel's eyes widened again.
"Major General sir?...no sir, I am honored…..yes sir…no, they'll be gratified to hear it sir."
She looked with satisfaction towards her confused subordinates. Then as she listened a slight irritation came across her face.
"…..um, yes sir…no, mother will enjoying meeting you too sir."
Kazama and Sanada, still confused, seemed to register some amusement at the Colonel's sudden lack of enthusiasm.
"No sir, we'll see to it…yes sir, I look forward to it as well. Again sir, my thanks….yes sir…..yes, you as well….goodbye."
And with that Saeki turned off her data device and stared at it blankly as her subordinates patiently stared at her in anticipation of an answer to their own curiosity. Miyuki now too wished to know who she had been on the phone with.
Then Saeki looked up across to Miya, who still seemed, at least to those that didn't know her well, to be disinterested.
There was no hostility in that look, or fear. From her mother's still increasing tension Miyuki could tell that she had hoped to see something different in the Colonel's eyes. If Miyuki had to guess, her mother had wanted to see the Colonel show frustration or at least defeat. Instead Miyuki thought the Colonel's eyes showed…anticipation.
"That was the Prime Minister."
Again her subordinates were shocked, but Miyuki could see her mother's eyes momentarily squint with this news.
"He wished for me to extend his concern for you and your family Shiba-san, and to offer you the full assistance of the Self Defense Forces and the government."
Miya replied with a slight smirk.
"Did he? How gracious of him."
Miyuki detected no gratitude in her mother's words. Then a smirk crossed Miya's expression.
"Are congratulations in order….Major General?"
Saeki blushed only slightly before replying.
"Indeed, my rank increase is incumbent on my new appointment, but yes, I am now a Major General."
Beside her, Kazama could not help but speak up at this news.
"Sir, does that mean….."
"Yes, MAJOR Kazama, but I will discuss the details with you and CAPTAIN Sanada later."
Both men were pleasantly stunned by their own apparently sudden rank increases, but Miyuki seemed to sense that something else had pleased them more. She couldn't quite put her finger on why she felt this way, but it also made her feel a growing sense of foreboding.
"Then it's congratulations all around."
"Thank you very much Shiba-san."
"Indeed, thank you."
Before anyone could speak again, another call came in on the new General's data device. It was obviously another unknown number by indication of her perplexed facial expression.
She answered it the same as the call from the Prime Minister before.
"Saeki here…yes I can hold."
A few moments later her expression change indicated someone had started speaking to her again. Then her eyes went round and her mouth slightly parted. Whoever was on the other end of that phone call was clearly more surprising to her than even the Prime Minister of Japan had been.
"Would the Emperor make a call to her?"
Miyuki knew that the Emperor of Japan wasn't a political figure in this day and age, but was still the symbol of national unity. In her youthful mind it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility for a general at the front lines to receive a congratulatory call from the titular head of state for the nation.
Then Miyuki heard her mother's jaw pop as she worked the muscles around it. A clear indication her mother was perturbed. Miyuki's own tension level shot up in response. She didn't have long to wait to learn why her mother was incensed.
"Yes…..I too am looking forward to cooperating in the future with your family as well Yotsuba-dono."
"…OBA-SAMA!"
Beside her, her mother's eyes took on a feral glint that Miyuki usually associated with imminent doom.
"Cooperating in the future? Did Oba-sama give away my Onii-sama?"
Miyuki was terrified instantly at that thought.
"Yes…of course, he is a thirteen year old boy after all. He'll be returning with his mother and sister to Japan."
Miyuki had to fight hard not to pass out in relief at these words.
"Yes Yotsuba-dono, it will be more along the lines of reserve officer training. It won't interfere with his school or home life."
"Thank the Gods!"
Miyuki wanted to go to the nearest shrine and offer up her gratitude, but beside her there was no relief or joy at all. If the military officers couldn't feel her mother's mounting rage it wasn't for lack of its intensity.
"Yes…he will be reporting directly to Major Kazama Harunobu, an experienced ancient magic practitioner and a veteran of the Indochina Conflict. Oh….you know of him?"
The General and the Major exchanged surprised looks then. More surprised looks followed.
"General Kudou said that?...Well I am a little surprised, we have had differences of opinion in the past."
Then her eyes went even rounder.
"Yes…..no, the Major and I can meet with you at your convenience Yotsuba-dono, once we return to the Home Islands."
Miyuki couldn't help but slide slightly away from her mother now. Miya was calm and with a slight smile, but Miyuki knew it was her false mask being applied at full force. Under her skin, Miyuki knew her mother was a raging torrent of anger.
Miyuki too was also not happy. It was true she was ecstatic that the General's words indicated they could go home and with her precious Onii-sama, but it also indicated that Tatsuya would now be made available for use by the military.
"…..as a weapon."
Again her mother's ominous words from earlier drifted across her thoughts.
"I wonder who else also got to watch his dramatic debut?"
"Yes Yotsuba-dono, I too am looking forward to it…yes, she's right here, would you like to…oh, alright then…..no, of course…you as well, till then…..goodbye."
After a moment to collect her thoughts after the surprise call from the Demon Woman of the East, the General took a few deep breaths and then smiled contently across the room towards Miya. The expression of pleasure was not returned. Only those cold eyes and a slight lip curl that to Miyuki indicated contempt were returned, which now didn't seem to faze the General in the least.
Whatever fear in the General's heart that the name Yotsuba Miya, the Mistress of Lethe, had generated only moments before the last call were gone now; as apparently was any control over the situation her mother had previously had. Control lost as a result of the words she couldn't hear spoken by her own twin sister.
The smile on Saeki's face was the same one she had when she first laid eyes on Tatsuya. She now had a new "toy" to play with and there was nothing that "toy's" mother could do about it.
"Shiba-san, we can evacuate your family back to the Home Islands immediately."
"That won't be necessary General, we came here on vacation and we plan to complete our stay as planned."
Kazama spoke up then.
"Shaba-san, the island is still a combat zone and even after that there will be massive cleanup and relief efforts, perhaps it would be….."
Miya delicately lifted her right palm towards the Major.
"Please forgive my rudeness Major. Captain Sanada….."
Sanada only seemed mildly surprised to be addressed.
"Um….yes, Shiba-san?"
"What is the condition of our rental villa and the surrounding infrastructure?"
When the Captain seemed confused Miya lightly pointed with her left index finger toward the data terminal in his hand. Miyuki couldn't help but notice any flirtation her mother had previously directed towards Sanada was absent now. She no longer was in the mood to play with these people.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Sanada did a quick search.
"The area was evacuated, but there was no damage to any property there and the enemy wasn't near it. As a relatively exclusive area it has its own power and water supplies which are all still active."
"Shiba-san…."
The Major continued.
"….even in those circumstances, I would still recommend you depart the island as soon as possible. Even once we overpower the remaining enemy forces the potential for looters in that particular area will be high since most people who were residing there will be leaving as soon as possible."
"I appreciate your concerns Major, but Mundane looters and any others will be in for a rude surprise if they target us. I also have no intention of burdening the civilian or military forces at this time when they are clearly needed elsewhere. We will wait to depart on our scheduled commercial flight in four days' time, which hopefully by then will see all those rushing to leave already gone."
Apparently feeling he had made some kind of personal connection with Miya that would allow him a better chance to convince her, newly minted Captain Sanada tried to convince her.
"Shiba-sama, the Major is right, your family…"
"Is guarded by Tatsuya, Captain."
Her harsh glare put an end to the conversation and any "warmth" Sanada might have previously felt from her.
"Very well Shiba-san. The Major will make arrangements for your family to be returned to the villa. However, even though there is no doubt that young Tatsuya-san is capable of protecting you well, the Prime Minister has directed we look out for your family while you are here. We will be posting sentries and patrols in your area for that purpose."
"Do as you like General but please do not divert forces from the relief efforts on our account. As you have said, Tatsuya is more than enough protection for us, not even counting our own abilities."
"Until the Major has made arrangements, please rest here and don't hesitate to ask the guards for assistance with anything."
Miya smirked mirthlessly to the Cheshire cat grin on the General's face.
"Does this conclude our discussion….General?"
"For today Shiba-san, but I may come pay you a visit before you depart, after your family has rested a bit. Since we will be working closely together in the future, we'll have some further business to discuss I'm sure."
The General had a very pleased look on her face as she stood up, followed by her subordinates. Miyuki stood as well, but as before Miya stayed seated.
"You of course are welcome to visit us General for tea, but we will not be discussing 'business' if you do. After all, my family is on vacation. If you ever need to discuss 'business' you can redial that last number on your phone, my imouto seems to be more than pleased to help you however she can."
Miya had said these words with all the ojou-sama decorum and grace she possessed, which was considerable. There was not a single thing about her words or demeanor that could cause reprimand or scrutiny. Yet no one in the room that heard them could have described her words as meaning anything other than "get out".
Kazama and Sanada both looked on with regretful expressions, but the General was too pleased with how things turned in her favor to do anything but smile and nod.
Then Kazama spoke up before the rest could leave the room.
"Shiba-san, about Sakurai-san's remains…"
"You have your own dead to deal with Major?"
Kazama looked somewhat disturbed to remember that fact.
"Indeed, but fewer than we would have if not for Tatsuya-san."
Miya looked disinterestedly away before replying.
"Tatsuya will oversee the disposal of her remains. Dispose of them as is most convenient and return the remains to my son, please."
"….Dispose?"
Miyuki knew when she barely whispered this, that suddenly all eyes in the room would fall on her with sympathetic looks. Miya cut her eyes at her daughter, but then softened them before speaking. She lightly ran her hand over her sad daughter's right forearm then.
"See our guests out Miyuki and then instruct Tatsuya to come see me alone."
Miyuki nodded and moved to open the door for the military officers that still looked at her with sad eyes.
Saeki and Kazama both nodded farewell to Miya, who pretended not to notice them. Sanada, the last to leave, bowed particularly low and spoke departing words to her.
"It was an honor to meet someone of your renown, Shiba-sama. I wish you and your family safe journeys."
Miya looked at him with softened eyes again, and nodded gently to him.
"You will watch out for my boy, while he is in your care, right Captain?"
Sanada stood up then, and with a solemn expression responded.
"You have my word Shiba-sama."
She smiled lightly at him then.
"Safe journeys young Sanada."
He nodded again lightly to her, and left the room.
Miyuki and her mother exchanged a brief glance. Something in that look resonated in Miyuki's heart. They both in that moment, seemed to share a similar fear of the future, of Tatsuya's future.
Miyuki followed the military officers out onto the deck and closed the door behind her.
"Ma'am, does this mean that the special project has been….."
These were the first words Miyuki heard as she stepped onto the deck.
"Yes, Major, we are a go for organization, acquisition, and deployment, fully funded."
Kazama, Sanada, and Saeki all shared excited smiles, but Miyuki couldn't help but feel even more worried. She didn't like the sound of "special project" and since it had obviously been a result of today's events, she was sure her Onii-sama would be dragged into it.
Seeing her sullen face looking up at them, the General cut the conversation short.
"We'll discuss the exact details later on."
Kazama looked down at Miyuki and gave her a knowing half smile, half frown.
"Captain, please have CAPTAIN Yanagi relieve Special Officer Shiba so that he can report to his mother."
Sanada saluted and proceeded to where Tatsuya and Yanagi stood vigil over Honami's corpse.
Miyuki's eyes natural drifted to where Tatsuya was.
"What did momma do you Onii-sama? What did Oba-sama commit you to?"
He stood there over their precious Honami, looking down at her covered remains. All the rage and sadness she had felt from him before was now seemingly gone, but the look in his eyes told her that he was still in some form of pain.
"I will not let these people use you as a weapon Onii-sama; not mother, not Oba-sama, not the government or the military, I swear it."
Then Miyuki felt the gazes of Saeki and Kazama on her.
She turned to look up at them.
"Young lady, I know I asked you before if you were as talented as your Onii-sama and you said no."
Miyuki was having a hard time putting on a believable false mask in this moment.
"But you did say you were talented. By chance is your talent similar to your mother's?"
Miyuki turned away as to not show scorn towards this question.
"Forgive my rudeness General, but I don't think I should answer that question. And may I say it is somewhat rude of you to ask me that."
Miyuki didn't mean to sound rude herself, but even to her ears her words seemed laced with irritation and contempt.
To her surprise this only made the two military officers smile even more towards her. Off to her left she could see that the Sergeant and Corporal, still guarding them, also had big smirks in reaction to her words. This only made Miyuki pout even more. Some rare times being so pretty and cute was a inconvenient, for her this was one of those irritating times.
"You're right, it is considered rude to ask a fellow magician about their abilities. My apologies dear. You are indeed your mother's child."
Miyuki spun around to the General then with no intention of hiding her frustration, though she still managed to speak calmly.
"I am nothing like our mother."
To her irritation, it seemed the General and Kazama were now biting their lips to suppress themselves from laughing. Behind her she could hear the two soldiers doing an even poorer job of suppressing their own amusement. The General and Kazama sent the two soldiers halfhearted looks to straighten themselves out, all the time fighting down their own amusement.
Miyuki thought she could feel her own blood beginning to boil inside her.
A few intentional coughs later and the four adults on the deck seemed to have mostly reigned in their laughter.
Only with the slightest of amused smirks still on her face, Saeki looked out ahead and replied.
"Nothing like her at all dear."
Miyuki was somewhat unjustifiably feeling mocked now, since she knew the General meant the opposite of what she was saying.
At that moment Tatsuya, with a perplexed look, stepped onto the deck with Sanada following him. He sent the agitated Miyuki a questioning look, but she only nodded lightly to him in reply.
Then Tatsuya snapped to attention and saluted the officers.
"General Saeki, Major Kazama, I was informed by Captain Sanada of your recent promotions. May I offer my congratulations ma'am, sir!"
With almost equal precision, the General and Major turned and returned his salute.
"Thank you, and may we return the congratulations?"
Tatsuya was surprised by this, so was Miyuki. She looked up at their backs with a concerned expression.
"By order of the Prime Minister, Special Officer Shiba Tatsuya is hereby promoted to the rank of Special Lieutenant effective immediately, with all the rights and privileges inherent to that rank."
The General then lowered her hand to extend it to Tatsuya, who lowered his own hand only slightly slower, to shake Saeki's hand.
"Thank you…General."
"Congratulations Tatsuya-san, well earned."
He then shook the Major's hand in turn.
"Thank you Major."
"Well earned indeed Shiba-san, well earned."
Next Sanada offered him his hand and Tatsuya thanked him as well.
"And welcome aboard."
Tatsuya was perplexed at Sanada's next words, Miyuki instead was mortified.
"He belongs with me!"
She bit her tongue to keep from screaming these words.
"Aboard…Sir?"
It was Saeki that answered his question.
"We're putting together a special unit within the defense forces to handle situations like what happened today in a more effective and immediate manner. I hope we can count on your cooperation as a reserve member of this unit, at least until you come of age to become a full-fledged member?"
Tatsuya's eyes went wide. Before this damnable vacation Miyuki had never seen him have a similar expression on his face.
"He's…..EXCITED?"
Just as when Kazama and Sanada had let him participate in the Onna Airborne's training activities days before, again he showed genuine interest in being part of the military.
"But you belong with ME!"
Miyuki was terrified. She could feel her Onii-sama slipping away from her.
"YOU belong to ME!"
It was all she could do to try to control herself in this moment. Finally noticing his sister's discomfort, Tatsuya's excitement instantly dissipated. He turned a serious expression to the General then.
"I would be honored to participate General, however I have previous obligations to my family and school. I am also too young to directly participate, my apologies."
Miyuki was pleased to hear these words, but she could sense the real disappoint her brother felt for having to refuse.
"….oh Onii-sama!"
Despite her own extreme desires to keep him with her always, she couldn't help being ashamed that her joy came at the expense of her Onii-sama. She felt shame in her heart for desiring to hamper him.
"That's alright Special Lieutenant, the preliminary arrangements have already been agreed upon."
Tatsuya's disappointment was washed away and he looked at the General with a questioning and doubtful expression.
"….mother has agreed to this arrangement?"
He asked the General, but the question was meant for Miyuki. To emphasize the point, he looked at Miyuki then. She could only look down and avoid his gaze with disappointment.
"The arrangements are being finalized with your aunt."
Now Tatsuya looked back at the General with eyes bulging in curiosity. Those eyes quickly fell to Miyuki again for answers.
"…our aunt, ma'am?"
When Miyuki locked sad eyes with him, and then gave him a disappointed slight head nod of affirmation; Tatsuya's neck pulled his surprised face slightly back before refocusing on the General.
"Yes Special Lieutenant….THAT aunt."
Miyuki could see the surprised revelation spread across her beloved Onii-sama's face. He knew now that at least General Saeki knew their real identities. He had to be as surprised as Miyuki was that Oba-sama had agreed to allow the military access to him as well. Yet again to her disappointment he seemed enthusiastic about it all.
"I see ma'am….but it will not interfere with my previous obligations?"
He sent the obviously unhappy Miyuki another concerned look.
"No matter the fine details we agree upon with your aunt, we have no intention of interfering in your education or living arrangements. You will mostly be undergoing training under Major Kazama's supervision on weekends and holidays."
When Tatsuya looked to the Major they exchanged pleased nods.
"Very well ma'am, then I am looking forward to it."
He was clearly looking forward to it, much to Miyuki's intense concern and disappointment.
"As are we Special Lieutenant. Until then you are relieved of active duty and may return to civilian life. The Major will contact you with further details after the arrangements with you family have been finalized."
Then everyone present saluted Tatsuya.
"Again Special Lieutenant, our extreme gratitude for the services you have rendered for the nation here today! Our victory, though certain, would have been more costly without your invaluable contributions!"
Tatsuya straightened and with great dignity, returned their salute.
Despite her great apprehensions for what this new future held for them both, Miyuki was still very moved to see so many other people give her Onii-sama the recognition and praise she felt he truly deserved. She joined them in their praise and bowed deeply before him. Seeing this, his cheeks pinked in embarrassment, but she knew in this moment he could not stop her from honoring him properly, and she smiled with satisfaction.
Once arms were lowered again, Sanada spoke to him
"Um Tatsuya-san, I don't suppose you would mind cleaning this little mess up for us, would you?"
Tatsuya followed Sanada's eyes toward the debris field of formerly working military equipment that he had rendered into junk a little while before. A slight tinge of embarrassment streaked his features then.
"Yes, of course, my apologies."
"No need young man!"
Saeki brimmed with enthusiasm.
"I would be honored to see one of your amazing abilities in person."
Tatsuya blushed a bit more at her enthusiasm. Miyuki was using her eyes to shoot daggers into the General's back. Her excitement was board-line school-girlish in Miyuki's very biased opinion.
"A general…really?"
Miyuki didn't recognize her own jealousy yet when other females showed too much interest in HER Onii-sama. Yet a few moments later she instantly forgot her irritation and joined everyone in their astonishment.
Tatsuya extended his left hand toward the debris, and seconds later the "light" of dancing psions spread from his mind in a fan like shape. Then all the millions of pieces of trucks, tanks, guns, and missiles began to glow with a static like appearance. Next they moved into more congregated shapes and began to take on familiar appearances. Then the static disappeared and the weapons and vehicles lay on the ground, but in the whole pieces they had been before.
"Hot damn!"
"Son….of…a….bitch!"
These were the Sergeant and Corporal's honest opinions on what they had just witnessed. Yanagi and the other two combat magicians on the other side of the restored equipment also looked on in dumbfounded amazement.
The other military officers on the deck looked on in a state of euphoria.
Miyuki recognized this magic. It was Regrowth. She had seen it for the first time when her Onii-sama had used it on her just hours before. It was the magic that had restored her life and made her one with Onii-sama. She was suddenly very envious of the military equipment he had just restored.
"Onii-sama is the greatest magician in the world!"
Her new and unbridled passion for all things Onii-sama had backfired on her yet again.
She didn't mind Tatsuya looking away in embarrassment at her effusive praise, she thought his reaction to her words was very sweet and cute.
It was the dumbfounded Saeki's reaction to her words that made her wish she had had no tongue in her mouth to speak with.
The General looked out on the restored equipment blinking in disbelief, her mouth hanging low and loose so any insect or small bird could make a home in it. Yet Miyuki's words finally broke her stupor.
"Young lady….."
Miyuki felt instant dread as she spoke to her.
"When will I learn to shut my stupid mouth?"
Saeki turned that amazed look onto Miyuki's slightly embarrassed Onii-sama, who had yet to fully lower his left hand.
"…..I think you are indeed right. He is quite possibly the greatest magician in world."
Tatsuya blushed more profusely under the General's praise, and Miyuki looked at her with intense distrust. Slowly a very happy and satisfied smile crept up the General's facial features.
"….a new 'toy' to play with."
Miyuki hated that expression.
"….a new 'weapon' to exploit."
She wished she had the Mental Interference magic capable of removing today from everyone's memories.
"…..my poor Onii-sama."
Miyuki renewed her earnest prayer.
"Please make this horrible day end!"
Once they had recovered their wits, the officers thanked Tatsuya again and praised him more profusely than before. This time Miyuki got no satisfaction from their praises. Then the General, along with Kazama and Sanada, said their goodbyes to Tatsuya and returned to the base proper in the vehicle they had come to the guardhouse in.
Miyuki was extremely relieved to see them leave.
Lost in her brooding thoughts, she jumped slightly when Tatsuya came into her field of vision.
"Are you alright Miyuki, you seemed disturbed?"
His eyes radiated concern for her. She looked into those eyes and her mind began to drift.
"So…..beautiful."
She didn't register when he furrowed his brow at her as his concern multiplied with her lack of response.
"….Miyuki?"
She inhaled deeply when she realized she was lost in her admiring thoughts and had failed to acknowledge his words.
"Oh….sorry Onii-sama. I'm…"
She could feel her face heating up under his gaze.
"Did he see that?"
She was embarrassed and hoped he hadn't noticed how "warm" her stupefied staring at him had been.
Then she felt him wrap his arms around her and an involuntary sigh of relief escaped her lips. His left hand, the hand that gave her back her life, gently stroked her head; and she melted her face into his chest.
"He so…good….at knowing what I need."
Then he whispered gently to her left ear.
"No matter what, you will always be first. You are my priority now and forever Miyuki."
She pulled herself tighter into him.
"And he always knows what I want to hear."
All the tension drained away from her. As she rested in his arms her thoughts stayed on him.
"You are Miyuki's number one priority now too Onii-sama."
She reluctantly pulled back to look him in the eyes, so that he could see her determination.
"Miyuki won't let anyone use her Onii-sama!"
His eyes widened at her emphatic proclamation.
"This your Miyuki swears Onii-sama! She will protect you always!"
His eyes softened as he looked down at her, and a smile spread across his face and his left hand again stoked her hair gently.
"Then Miyuki's Onii-sama can rest easy, knowing he will always be in her care."
"He's so good at using the right words."
She happily buried her head into his chest again, and they held each other for several more ecstatic moments.
Then Miyuki reluctantly remembered she had instructions for him.
"Onii-sama, mother wishes to speak to you inside…..alone."
She didn't want him to go alone, since she couldn't forget what she had seen when their mother and Tatsuya had been alone before. Yet she was determined not to burden her Onii-sama further on what had already been an extreme day for him. She tried to cover her concern when she spoke her last word by making it sound more like pouting.
"I will not be long then."
Apparently it had worked, since he looked at her with an indulgent smile. Then his eyes looked out around them and worry streaked his face. With those same concerned eyes he looked down into her face again.
"You will stay here on the deck for me?"
Miyuki felt a twinge of shame, remembering her earlier actions that had endangered her and worse, forced her tired Onii-sama to work harder and expose himself further.
"…..your Miyuki will not cause her Onii-sama any further trouble, she promises."
She looked down with a pout and embarrassment, but another head stroke from him returned her smile.
"You could never trouble me Miyuki. I will return shortly."
He then turned and opened the door into the guardhouse, but not before exchanging a knowing nod with the Sergeant and Corporal. Miyuki couldn't help but feel like Tatsuya was making sure the soldiers intended to keep an eye on her.
She also felt something more disturbing from that look.
"It's like he's already one of them…"
As the door closed behind him Miyuki turned away with the slightest concerned expressions. Then she saw the two soldiers grinning at her as if they knew what she was thinking. She awkwardly smiled at them then turned to look at the horizon.
"I must have been 'too cute' again."
She rested her forearms on the deck railing and placed her chin on them as she stared at the sky beyond. She hadn't realized so much time had passed. The western horizon was turning orange and the eastern horizon showed the first signs of purple, approaching night.
"The stars will be out in a while."
The billowing black smoke clouds that had stained the otherwise pristine azure sky earlier where still there, but the smoke had lessened and thinned out from earlier.
Through the thinning smoke clouds she saw four tiny dots moving fast from east to west across the far southern horizon, reminding her that she had almost used magic against the defending aircraft earlier. Then from the base behind her she saw and heard four VTOL craft hover up from the ground and then speed away to the south as they swept around to her left.
"So many killed, and for what?"
After she followed the VTOL crafts' path with her eyes as they moved off to the south, her eyes were drawn back to the vehicles and weapons surrounding the base gate.
"What did those people think they could achieve by attacking this place?"
There she saw the two combat suited magicians guarding the gate, and Captain Yanagi dutifully standing watch over Honami-chan.
"What could be worth killing and dying for on this island? Killing her for?"
Miyuki looked away quickly to stop herself from crying again. Then she remembered her mother's words from their meeting with the General.
"Psions are, in simplistic terms, 'life' particles. Even non-magicians possess psions, just not enough to use magic. Tatsuya cannot create psions, and so when a magician uses up all their psions, then their life force will naturally dissipate. Restoring the physical body will have no effect on this."
Miyuki fought not to frown at these remembered words.
"But Honami-chan was so…..STRONG!"
Miyuki couldn't fathom how such a young and vibrant woman, with such seemingly unlimited reserves of magic, could simply…run out of…life.
She had seen the incredible force that the enemy rail-gun projectiles had hit her shield with, but in her mind Honami was a titan compared to some simple non-magic weapon system.
She felt vulnerable suddenly, realizing now that if someone as powerful as Honami could be drained of her magic by "regular" weapons, that maybe her faith in magic power wasn't as realistic as it once had felt.
But then she remembered Onii-sama, and his incredible power.
"He's a fountain of psions…he would never run out."
She comforted herself with these thoughts. She clung to the knowledge of his incredible powers as if it were a lifeline for her in a raging storm of doubts.
True to his word, her Onii-sama returned to her side in short order. When he emerged from the door, Miyuki moved quickly to greet him.
Then she could see in his eyes a slight discomfort.
"Onii-sama….what….."
He smiled halfheartedly at her then.
"Honami is to be cremated, I will supervise the process and return with her remains."
Sudden tears fought Miyuki to free themselves from her eyes.
"Then…Miyuki will stand by her Onii-sama's side!"
Tatsuya smiled sadly at her then as he gently stroked her head.
"No Miyuki."
"But Onii-sama needs…"
"It's mother's orders. You will remain here with her as I take care of Honami."
Miyuki was ready to fight. Both to honor Honami and to support Tatsuya in what she knew would be a difficult task for him.
"I will not abandon…."
"Please Miyuki, I….I don't want you…..for you to see…."
He was struggling to find the words to convince her. She knew he didn't want her to see Honami's body burned. He wanted to protect her, to keep her still somewhat innocent. He wanted to preserve what little childhood his imouto had left to her after the events of this terrible day.
"I must not burden Onii-sama further."
She calmed herself and straightened herself with dignity.
"Miyuki understands. So long as Onii-sama is sure he does not need his Miyuki for this….."
Tatsuya, not wishing to disappoint Miyuki either, reluctantly nodded to this question.
"Then his Miyuki will wait patiently for his return with their mother."
She fought to keep the disappointment from her features and to find her false mask in this moment.
Tatsuya looked down on her with concern, then his eyes traveled back to the vehicle with Honami's body on it.
"Are you sure you do you wish to view her one last time?"
Miyuki followed his eyes to the vehicle. She lay her head into him as she thought. After a few long seconds, she shook her head from side to side.
"No, I wish to remember her the way she was, not how she is now."
Her brother's hand again stroked her head to comfort her.
"Then I should get moving."
She separated from him reluctantly then; but as he went down the deck ramp, she moved to rush to him, then suddenly stopped her movements with a pensive look on her face.
"What is it Miyuki?"
She looked up at his question, then looked at the soldiers back on the deck behind her before looking back to him.
"It's nothing, it's just…Miyuki doesn't want her Onii-sama to think she…..is…..silly."
Seeing her discomfort, Tatsuya returned to her with a wry smile on his face.
"I could never think Miyuki was silly."
These words made her smile with a slight blush.
"Tell me what it is."
She leaned into him and whispered to his ear. When they moved apart again, he bowed to her.
"It will be as you have asked."
When they locked eyes again they shared bittersweet smiles.
"Now please go in to mother, she has had a stressful day. I will take care of Honami now."
She bowed to him then.
"It will be as you have asked, Onii-sama."
He then left the ramp and proceeded to the vehicle. After a few words with Captain Yanagi, he boarded the vehicle from behind in his original position, holding Honami's body in place on the back. Yanagi took the driver's seat and the vehicle proceeded past the guardhouse and into the main base.
Miyuki and Tatsuya exchanged glances as the vehicle passed her. As she watched she saw that Tatsuya's hand was under the blanket again, holding Honami in place.
She never took her eyes off the vehicle as she saw it disappear beyond the buildings.
"I will never forget you Honami-chan. The love you gave us and the things you taught us."
She reluctantly turned to proceed inside once the vehicle was out of sight.
"Thank you for giving me my Onii-sama back."
She stopped one last time to look back towards where the vehicle had been moments before.
"Rest easy, I will watch over Onii-sama from now on, as you would have wanted. This I promise to you my dear friend."
Miyuki tapped on the door to the guardhouse and spoke within.
"It's Miyuki mother, may I enter?"
After a few seconds, her mother's voice called to her.
"Come in."
Miyuki walked into the room and closed the door behind her. She could tell instantly something was wrong. Then she noticed the communication device her mother brought up to her ear.
"I'm back Hayama-san….no, they are both fine…no, as I have already said we will not be returning early."
Hayama was the Yotsuba's chief butler and her aunt's most trusted servant. Miyuki's tension shot up instantly.
Miya indicated with her eyes for Miyuki to sit down. She chose to sit on the couch opposite her mother.
"I realize it would be easy for you to send a plane to retrieve us Hayama, please don't be obtuse, I'm in no mood for it….yes, I am determined, we WILL complete our vacation….then imouto should be careful what she asks for."
It wasn't like her mother to refer to the head of the family as "little sister", but she had done it at least once before today. It was a sign of extreme frustration and irritation for Miya. It was no secret that the twins avoided each other as much as possible.
"No Hayama-san, I do not want you to send another guardian, certainly not now and not afterwards either, we have all already discussed this."
Miyuki was slightly surprised by this. She had allowed herself to forget over the years that Honami was a servant. The sudden prospect of someone new trying to replace her seemed…..offensive.
"Well I think clearly Tatsuya has demonstrated he's more than capable of looking out for both of us."
Miyuki's mood improved to hear their mother deliver something close to praise for Onii-sama.
"Yes, I am certain…of course. Yes…..no that's fine."
Miyuki allowed herself to relax, but she soon learned that was a mistake.
"Now hand the phone to imouto Hayama-san, I know she's listening."
There was no friendliness in her mother's voice, only a cold tone accompanied her words. Her mother was quiet for some time as she listened to Hayama's response, then to Miyuki's shock her mother rolled her eyes at something she heard.
"Well you can tell my little sister if she has time to sell my son to the Self Defense Forces without even consulting me first; then she will either talk to me by phone very soon or I will be making a personal visit to the main residence to hear her apologies and excuses. She can then explain to my face why the Yotsuba family name carries so little weight under her leadership that the family that once destroyed a nation now has to cower before a few messily politicians and generals."
Now Miyuki was truly terrified. The thought of these two "heavy-weight" magicians standing face to face was disturbing to say the least. The Demon Woman of the East versus the Mistress of Lethe, "Meteor Stream" versus "Gate", such a battle would come down to invocation speed. Miyuki hoped this brewing conflict could be avoided at all costs, save hurting her Onii-sama of course.
Then, after listening to Hayama for a few moments more Miya sighed heavily.
"I am aware of that Hayama-san….no, I don't care. You can tell imouto I expect to hear from her soon. If she makes me come up there it will not be pleasant for any of us, I can assure you of that…..yes, no we are fine I assure you…..please see that you do…..yes, I will if I need anything…yes….goodbye."
For their mother, anger was a tool, not an emotion. She used anger to correct, not project. She rarely raised her voice and always was in control. Miya's anger was a scalpel for corrective "procedures", not a hammer to smash with.
It was the first time Miyuki had ever seen her mother pick up the "hammer of anger". She was glad to see her "put it down" without having "swung" it.
After a few long moments to center herself, Miya directed her eyes at Miyuki.
"That same cold, dead look from before."
Miyuki felt an unusual emotion for her come to the surface. For the first time under that familiar glare she didn't feel fear or intimidation, but anger.
"I know who you really are now mother. Your false mask is transparent to me."
Miyuki must have been failing to deploy her own false mask. Miya's eyebrows rose in curiosity at her daughter's returned glare. Once Miyuki realized it, it was too late to correct herself.
"Are you that angry at me daughter?"
Miyuki blinked in surprise at Miya's words and turned away from her. Miya only sighed at this reaction.
"Well, I suppose that's to be expected."
A twinge of sadness in Miya's words brought Miyuki's eyes back with slight curiosity.
After several long moments Miyuki replied.
"I'm…..not angry at you mother."
It was Miya's turn to look at Miyuki with curiosity.
"Oh, really? Why not?"
Miyuki was dumbfounded by this unexpected question.
Miyuki pondered this with a perplexed and searching expression. When she finally spoke she was not confident with her words.
"I suppose…..I don't feel I have a right to be angry at my mother."
"Oh….I see."
Miya looked away then as if searching the wall above Miyuki for something.
"I guess that makes us oddities in this world."
For several moments Miyuki couldn't fathom her mother's words. Seeing her daughter was having a hard time, Miya threw her a verbal lifeline.
"Most children your age think they know everything and are constantly angry at their parents for disagreeing with that assumption. You and I are not like the rest apparently."
Miyuki nodded to this, but Miya kept speaking.
"I desperately wish I had argued more with my own parents. It would have been good practice for when I'd really need such a skill later on."
This statement peaked Miyuki's interest. Her mother rarely spoke of her parents.
Miya's eyes returned to Miyuki with slight melancholy showing through.
"Do you know what I was doing when I was your age Miyuki?"
Miyuki felt a pit of guilt and trepidation well up in her stomach. After a few moments of silence she spoke only one word in a near whisper.
"…..Taipei."
She didn't want to meet her mother's eyes. THAT event thirty years before in THAT city had resulted in the deaths of half the Yotsuba family including her mother's own father; and had ended whatever love her mother had once shared with her twin sister. Taipei was a forbidden word in the Yotsuba family, even speaking it could bring immediate censure.
But Miya only sighed sadly as she repeated it.
"…Taipei."
Her mother's expression turned sad yet wistful as she once again looked at her daughter.
"After mother passed away with the baby, the sadness in the main residence was so thick you could cut it with a knife."
Honami had taught Miyuki about her family history. There wasn't much on her grandmother, the former Abe Yasuyo. She knew that her grandmother wasn't a Mental Interference magician like her and Miya. That talent was inherited from her grandfather instead.
The pictures and videos available of her showed a very beautiful woman who seemed happy and loving towards her family. Miyuki knew that after her mother and aunt were born, a second pregnancy had occurred; but complications occurred halfway through and after delivering a premature stillborn boy, her grandmother died from internal hemorrhaging. Her mother and aunt had been less than half Miyuki's age when this happened.
Looking at the pictures and videos, Honami had said that of everyone in the family, Miyuki favored her grandmother Yasuyo the most. Miyuki also agreed with this assessment. She was the only person in the Yotsuba Miyuki even slightly favored.
"She's more like a myth now to me than a real person. Like a fairy tale I really liked and so I would fantasize I was a character in the story. It was better than the subsequent 'real life' I lived after she departed. I have to watch videos of her to remember her face and her voice now, but I can still remember the smell of her favorite perfume, and how her arms felt as she held me in them."
Miya's expression didn't change, but Miyuki could see the pain in her eyes.
"Father loved your aunt and me intently, but after mother died something inside him died with her. His will to experience 'life' was gone. He focused on strengthening the family and Ten Master Clans politics. He was still a good father and still involved, but any happiness he felt after that was happiness he would feel for Maya and me, not his 'actual' personal happiness. He only seemed to live on for our sake, not his own. We could 'feel' his sadness, even when he smiled and played with us."
Miya looked at Miyuki seriously then.
"Does that make sense to you Miyuki?"
Miyuki nodded earnestly.
"Yes momma, I understand."
Miya smiled sadly at her.
"You are a very intelligent girl Miyuki. I didn't even understand these things until I had my own children."
Miyuki did understand it though, because it felt dangerously close to her own life and experiences. The daughter was very much like her father had been. Miyuki always had the sad feeling that Miya was constantly slipping away from the world she lived in.
Again Miya looked at the far wall as if she could see through it.
"Father worked so hard for all of us, so your aunt and I took it easy on him. Even as little girls we felt we had to look out for father, at least domestically. We knew how sad we all were. We never fussed or fought in front of him. We settled things between us alone. We drew so close to each other, because we had replaced mother for one another. Eventually our lives reached a sense of 'normalcy' it hadn't had since mother died."
Miya looked again to her daughter.
"Father came to us one day and told us we'd be spending the summer in Nara; that the great Kudou Retsu had agreed to take us on as apprentices. We were both very excited. Not only had we rarely ever left the mountains, but we'd be learning from one of the greatest magicians in the world. We were still not savvy enough in the ways of this world to realize the politics behind our journey."
She smiled wryly at her daughter.
"Father, through Kudou-sensei, had made an arrangement with the previous head of the Saegusa family."
Miyuki tensed slightly. She was somewhat isolated from the politics of Japan's magic community, but she knew that the current head of the Saegusa was considered to be an opponent of the Yotsuba. This was particularly bad because Miyuki also knew that the Saegusa were considered to be one of the top two magic families in the nation. The other family of course was the Yotsuba; but where the Yotsuba were reclusive and feared, the Saegusa were famous and universally praised. In Miyuki's young mind, the rest of the world saw the Saegusa as the "good guys" and the Yotsuba…..well, not the "good guys".
"We'd both be training with Sensei alongside the young future head of the Saegusa clan, Koichi. The idea was that Koichi would get to decide which of us he liked better, and then in a few years that sister would marry Koichi and become the future matron of the Saegusa family while her twin sister would become the next head of the Yotsuba."
Miya smirked a little then.
"Kudou-sensei had come up with the plan as a way to heal what then were just some hurt feelings between the two houses; and also to tie the two powerful houses to his own family. To 'sweeten' the deal Sensei would offer the remaining sister her choice of his available younger sons or grandsons. Thus would be sealed a three family ruling coalition pact within the Ten Master Clans. Kudou, Saegusa, and Yotsuba; sealed by marriage and eventually shared bloodlines."
An amused expression crossed Miya's face then.
"Sensei had no idea that father had already picked out the other daughter's husband years before."
Miyuki furrowed her brows at this statement. Since only one sister, after Taipei, HAD to get married, did her mother mean that her father Tatsurou was already selected to be a husband for one of the Yotsuba sisters even back then?
Miya didn't wait for Miyuki to ponder these thoughts.
"Your aunt made his choice easy for him. The moment she saw Koichi she was in love. The moment I spoke with him, I knew I would not get in her way."
Miya smiled with something close to irritation showing in her eyes.
"Koichi this! Koichi that! Everything Koichi did astounded her. It was a long summer for me, listening to your aunt tell me how amazing Saegusa Koichi was, every, single, night."
Miyuki was captivated by her mother's suddenly expressive features. She never shared such things from her past with Miyuki. For that moment Miyuki could finally imagine her mother as a girl, irritated with her sister constantly talking about her new boyfriend.
Then the seriousness and sadness returned to her mother's face.
"I killed your aunt twice."
"Wha…..what?"
Miyuki was stunned by these words, but Miya didn't repeat them.
"She was the happiest of us. She was the one that forced me out of my own depression after mother died. She was the only one that could make father laugh. I was his child, serious, a studious child, and a brooder. Maya was mother's child, happy, laughing, making other people smile. When I was sick she was the one to make me feel better. When I was quiet she would force me to talk. She was a beautiful and wonderful little girl, and she would have eventually been the perfect wife and mother, especially for someone like Koichi."
This sounded nothing like the Yotsuba Maya Miyuki knew. Maya was a name to be feared. Someone that could crush countries with a nod of her beautiful head of hair.
"And I killed that wonderful little girl twice."
"But momma…..that doesn't make any sense. Oba-sama is not dead."
Miya looked at her daughter sadly then.
"Oh, so you think that THING you call Oba-sama is my sister?"
Miyuki pulled back at this statement, but Miya kept speaking.
"No, that THING is what was left behind after the second time I killed my sister. My own personal Frankenstein Monster. You could even call it my first child. The THING inhabiting my sister's body is nothing like my real sister, and I have only myself to blame for that."
Miyuki didn't know what to say, luckily her mother didn't require her to reply.
"I was the one who was supposed to go to Taipei."
Miyuki wasn't sure she had heard right.
"…..mother?"
"Your aunt was naive and frivolous, she was more interested in fashion than magic study. I was the bookworm. I was the one that would have got something out of going to a magic youth conference, and so I was the one who was initially signed up for it."
"Momma…you…"
"Yes Miyuki, I was the one scheduled to go to Taipei, not Maya."
Into the silence Miyuki's disbelief was creating, Miya spoke again.
"That's why I said I killed your aunt twice. This would be the first time I killed her. I was supposed to go, but the engagement of your aunt and Saegusa Koichi had become big news; and so when it was decided by Seagusa-dono that his son Koichi would go to the Magic Association Asian Youth Conference in Taipei, father asked if I would give up my place for Maya. He said it would be good press for everybody to have Maya and Koichi seen side by side in public. Good publicity. A very public 'win' for Japan's magic community."
Miya frowned intently.
"For the actual point of the conference itself Maya would be useless and get nothing out of it but a free vacation. I wanted to go, I was excited about it, but…"
A long pause ensued as Miya seemed to be searching for the right words. She closed her eyes hard as she continued.
"….I had never learned to argue with my parents. I had never learned to tell my father no because I didn't want him to feel more pain. We never wanted to disappoint him, for mother's memory if not his own depression."
Miyuki was stunned, a single tear fell from her mother's left eye. She wiped it away as if it was nothing.
"Father said it was best for the family and that was that. I suppressed my own desires, bit my tongue, and meekly agreed to his request. Maya went instead and you know what happened after that."
Miyuki knew well enough what happened after that. Her aunt was kidnapped, raped, violated, and experimented on. Once she was rescued the Yotsuba family went on a rampage of revenge with the final result being the deaths of half the family including her grandfather. The Yotsuba, by destroying Maya's violators, had subsequently left the entire nation of Dahan with no magic power. Within the next year they had been reconquered by the Great Asian Alliance.
"…..The family that destroyed a nation."
That was the fearsome reputation of the Yotsuba family. Her family. Her Onii-sama's family.
"Just giving up my place for Maya isn't the reason I claim to have killed your aunt though."
Miyuki's eyes focused intently on her mother again.
"I was the target of the kidnappers, not Maya."