A Study in Power and Humanity
Disclaimer I don't own Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
Chapter 4: Heir
There are nights when Maya remembered the tragedy that made her the person that she is today.
Like watching a home video, Maya could see her young, naïve, weak self on her back while countless 'animals' took her over and over and over. Her younger self was begging the 'animals' to stop, sobbing as she screamed and whimpered in pain.
The 'animals' just laughed and jeered as they continue raping her until she was irreparably damage.
It was a cold comfort that she felt absolutely nothing watching the most vulnerable and shameful moment of her life.
Opening her eyes, Maya gazed at the sight of her bedroom's familiar ceiling.
She blinked a few times before trying to sit up.
Immediately, a groan of pain and exhaustion escape her lips.
Strangely though, both sensations were laced with pleasure.
"Go back to sleep." A familiar, toneless voice gently ordered.
Maya blinked in surprised at the sound of that familiar voice. Shifting her head, she was surprised to see her 'son' lying next to her.
The sight of him reminded her that he spent an evening with her.
There second evening together.
A reward to a kindness that she gave her cruel creator.
Maya smiled, reminding herself to thanked her sister/'creator' tomorrow.
It has been two weeks since Tatsuya's made his new development known.
It had been a busy two weeks.
Her twin sister and Miyuki had been successfully relocated and settled in the Yotsuba Hidden Village. Meaning, her 'son' was within her arm's reach, like it should have been from the beginning.
Normally, moving family members from their abode to the village would take a few days at most, but apparently, Tatsuya needed to move some of his projects from the Shiba residence to the Yotsuba Village. Which took time and careful logistics.
It was a pleasant sight to see the utter surprise on Miya's face after seeing some of the projects that Tatsuya has been working on in secret.
It seems that the clan underestimated Tatsuya's ability to hide things from them.
If her son's loyalty had not been set in stone, Maya would be worried. Some of the projects that he was working on was truly frightening, but considering that Tatsuya's fidelity towards her had been reinforced, Maya could only see profit in Tatsuya's many secret projects.
The plan to acquire Miya's body had been finalized, which was a hassle in and of itself.
Seriously, Miya was too an imaginative and hesitant, as if she was still having second thoughts to the life her son was offering.
Ungrateful bitch.
Also, having Miyuki involve in the planning process was a problem in its own right. The girl has absolutely no talent or mind for mission planning.
It's going to be a chore and a half turning that girl to a half decent clan head. Lucky for her, her would-be husband would be the true power behind the family. Still, Miyuki needed to be at least an acceptable clan head to keep the branch family happy.
Those unimaginative idiots.
With the planning and preparation completed, Tatsuya would travel to the USNA tomorrow to retrieve Miya's new body.
This chore would take him four to seven days to complete.
Tatsuya, like the polite boy that he is, asked Miya for permission to sleep with Miyuki for the evening.
It was with innocent intent. Nothing too amorous, just two lovers cuddling and embracing, sharing warmth as they sleep together.
Miyuki was quite eager and begged her mother to allow her brother/lover to her bed.
Miya, ever the traditionalist, forbid it quite harshly, and to make sure that Tatsuya would not take any chance or have any ideas for that matter, ordered Miyuki to sleep in the same room as her.
The lovers were disappointed, and Maya found this humorous.
If Tatsuya wanted, he could claim Miyuki in whatever way he wishes, and Miya would not be able to do anything about it.
Miya's ability to semi-function was due to Tatsuya's willingness to try and be part of the family, and he could undo that in a whim.
Still, the children obeyed, and Maya reaped the rewards.
With Miyuki's warmth not available to him, Maya ordered Tatsuya to fulfill his end of their bargain, and her son, ever dutiful, obeyed.
Maya shuddered in delight as she remembered the three hours session of fucking that she shared with her son.
They could have gone longer, but Tatsuya has a mission the next day, and both of them, even Maya, are professional in regards to this matter.
Still… Maya smiled at the sight of her 'son'.
"You stayed." Joy was clear in Maya's tone of voice.
Their first night of fucking, after eight hours of rutting, Tatsuya left her in bed to do his morning routine.
Though Maya was quite satisfied with their session, it hurt a bit that Tatsuya would just fuck and leave her.
Understandable in some way, but the human in Maya, that miniscule part of her, was hurt.
Now though, after their second night, Maya was expecting Tatsuya to leave her after using her for practice once again.
Maya was overjoyed that he remained beside her in her bed. Maya was happy to be proven wrong.
Now, if only he was holding her in his arms and not lying a feet away from her, everything would be perfect, but baby steps.
Tatsuya had an emotional capacity of a machine just a year or so ago, so his ability to give comfort was under develop to say the least.
"It would be too troublesome to teleport to my room." Tatsuya said and Maya laughed.
That was, for Tatsuya's standard, a juvenile response.
"I'm glad that you are here." Maya admitted honestly.
Tatsuya looked at her for a full second before sighing.
"Nightmare." Tatsuya inquired, somewhat caringly.
Maya just nodded.
She would not elaborate that she still, albeit rarely, recall that tragedy.
She may love her 'son', but she could not show any weakness in front of him.
Only a fool would show weakness to a Dragon.
Fortunately for Maya, she did not need to elaborate. Tatsuya was smart enough and knew her enough to know the source of her nightmare.
And, irrationally, Tatsuya was offended that his Aunt would recollect such memory.
Without hesitation, Tatsuya closed the distance, that single feet, between them and smashed his lips to Maya's. Tatsuya brazenly and shamelessly shoved his tongue into Maya's mouth and began vigorously exploring the inside of her lips.
Maya moaned at the unexpected kiss, but she was not complaining. She welcomed any affection given to her by her 'son'.
Maya shuddered in excitement as the sheets covering her body was removed, and though she whimpered in disappointment when Tatsuya removed his lips from hers, her eyes shined with excitement as her son spread her legs and positioned his hardening cock inches from her pussy lips.
"Forget." Tatsuya ordered Maya authoritatively as he thrusted his cock into his aunt's waiting and eager womanhood.
Maya released a melodious moan as that familiar eight-inch cock entered her cunt once again.
Tatsuya groaned as his aunt's wet, velvety walls gripped his cock like a vice.
For a moment, the lovers stayed steady as they relished each other's warmth before Tatsuya began plowing into his aunt's snatch.
Maya shuddered and moaned as her nightmare vanished from her mind, replaced by the pleasure that only her 'son' could give her.
Tatsuya, as he began to surrender into his lust, began moaning a name.
It was not the name of the woman that he was bedding.
"Miyuki... Miyuki... Miyuki…" Tatsuya moaned as the image of the beautiful woman beneath him change to the only girl that he knew for sure that he could love.
"Yes~ Yes~" Maya moaned back, not caring that the name leaving her lover's lips were not hers.
Miyuki would one day be in her position, but for now, it was her body that her son was getting pleasure from, and though it was merely practice until the day Miyuki was ready to received him, Maya did not care.
Her nightmare was being chase away.
The memory of that day was getting fuck out of her mind and soul.
For now, Maya was content.
(Scene Change)
Miya was observing her son and was taking mental and actual notes of the personality that he was developing.
Tatsuya never met him, he died before his time, but Maya noted that her son's personality was aligning and mimicking her Uncle Motosuke.
Yotsuba Motosuke was the very definition of a Yotsuba. Loyal to the family to a fault and caring towards the family to an extreme. He was also very violent and ruthless towards those the Yotsuba considers an enemy,
Before he died in the Yotsuba's war against Dahan, Motosuke was able to kill 200 enemy Dahans. He had killed the most Dahans in the war. Even the illustrious Yotsuba Genzou could not compare to the kill count of his younger brother.
Tatsuya was fitting that Motosuke's mold, at least partially.
Although Tatsuya was not loyal to the Yotsuba, and Miya knew he was never going to develop any loyalty to the family as a whole, he was loyal the Miyuki and Maya.
The former is a relief, the latter, Miya could live without.
And Tatsuya is a violent being.
Maybe it was because of his upbringing. Or it is might be due to his underdeveloped emotions. Regardless, Tatsuya would always go through and eradicate his problems, especially if they are threats. He could go around his challenges, he is perfectly capable of going and circumventing any problem that he comes across, but Tatsuya would consider that troublesome and inefficient, and the teen was too logical to not always pick the most efficient solution.
Tatsuya still operates like a machine, and a machine would always choose the path of least resistance.
Also, another similarity between her late uncle and son is…
"Onii…" Miyuki began speaking, a bright blush already on her cheeks.
"Tatsuya…" Tatsuya corrected as he suddenly nibbled Miyuki's ear.
Miyuki whimpered with a mixture of embarrassment and relish.
"Tatsuya-sama, this is embarrassing…" Miyuki stated as she corrected herself in referring to her brother/lover.
"I wasn't able to hold you last night. Let me have this." Tatsuya said as he steadies his lover/sister on his lap.
Yotsuba Motosuke was irrevocable in love and very affectionate with his wife.
Apparently, Tatsuya inherited that trait of his from his deceased uncle in spades.
The moment Tatsuya, with Maya by his side, entered the dining room, he immediately went to Miyuki, lifted her off her chair before occupying it, and then, he casually sat the young girl on his lap.
Miya would later worry why Tatsuya and Maya entered the dining room together. The rather gleeful look in Maya's eyes was quite worrying.
Miya, instead, gave Miyuki a displeased look.
This look made Miyuki conscious of her position. She was trying, though half-heartedly, to remove herself from her brother's lap, but Tatsuya held her in place with kisses and with strategic bites on the neck that made the girl equal parts teetering in happiness and mortified in embarrassment, and a firm arm around her waist, with his hand dangerously hovering on her thighs.
Miya really needed to have another conversation with her daughter about setting boundaries.
"I know you're not going to use that body for long, but try not to damage it permanently." Maya teased her sister as Hayama and a few trusted servants served a breakfast feast to the four most important members of the Yotsuba Clan.
"I am trying to prevent my daughter from getting pregnant in her teens." Miya purposedly raised her voice so that both Miyuki and Tatsuya would hear her.
This, once again, embarrassed Miyuki, while Tatsuya gave his birth mother a dry look.
"I can control myself." Tatsuya said as he summoned two humanoid, Pushion Constructs, that proceeded to pile food on his plate. The foods that the constructs were pilling on the plate were Miyuki's favorites.
"It is not you I am worried about." Miya said as she stared a whole on Miyuki's head.
Again, Miyuki could only gulp at this.
Tatsuya rolled his eyes.
"Trust the daughter that you raise, mother." Tatsuya scolded his mother as cut a good portion of the omelet and guided the morsel to Miyuki's lips.
Miyuki, self-conscious but pleased, ate the food that her brother was feeding her.
Her embarrassment was furthered fanned into a bigger inferno when her brother use said fork to also feed himself.
Maya could only laugh in jubilation at the show that she was watching.
The fact that Miya was in the verge of having a conniption while watching this was merely a bonus.
"Apparently, I have to teach my daughter how to feed herself." Miya grumbled to herself as she, too, began eating.
"Unlike us, Miyuki-chan has a dedicated lover." Maya stated with a smirk.
Miya merely scoffed. "I didn't have a lover. Never had one of those. I had a sperm donor."
"Would have been preferable when compared to mine." Maya's eyes darkened at the reminder of the man that failed her so thoroughly. "Mine was awful."
"You want me to take care of him." Tatsuya offered casually as he fed a piece of bacon to Miyuki.
Maya smiled at that kind off. She was about to reply, positively but Miya cut her off.
"No." Miya answered swiftly. "Let's focus on the act of terrorism that we are going to commit first before contemplating the next one."
Maya grunted in annoyance.
"Manners…" Miya snidely remarked at her twin.
Maya gave Miya an annoyed look. "I am technically your clan head."
"And I am the mother of the girl who controls the most powerful magician in our family." Miya shot back.
"So, is this what people call sibling arguments?" Tatsuya asked Miyuki as he ate a piece of pancake. "We never quarrel like this." Tatsuya noted.
"We are special." Miyuki giggled as she kissed her brother's cheeks.
The Yotsuba twins gave Miyuki simultaneous looks of disbelief. "Coming from the girl who ignored her brother's existence for what, 11 years?" Maya replied with a smirk.
"11 years, seven months." Miya corrected snidely.
"That is not special." Maya and Miya stated simultaneously.
"Tatsuya-kun had to brute force a relationship between you two." Maya added humorously.
"It is embarrassing that the guy with the emotional intellect of a jellyfish started a relationship first, over the girl with normal emotions." Miya pointed out disparagingly.
Tatsuya chuckled as Miyuki began spluttering.
Seeing her lover's reaction, Miyuki pouted.
"Tatsuya-sama, who's side are you on?" Miyuki asked brattily.
"Yours." Tatsuya confirmed as he pressed an assuring kiss on her cheek. "But our esteemed Okaa-san and Obaa-chan had a point." Tatsuya said diplomatically.
Miyuki continued to pout. "You are the boy. You were the one who was supposed to make the first move." Miyuki stated in her defense.
"That is a weak mindset Miyuki-chan." Maya simultaneously scolded and teased her heir. "You want something, you take it, gender be damn."
"And don't hide from your shortcomings behind your femineity. Its unsightly." Miya added, unknowingly showing solidarity with her twin.
"Stop bullying my love." Tatsuya told the two elder women in the table.
"Look at this, Nee-san. Tatsuya-kun to the rescue." Maya said mockingly.
"Let your sister fight her own battles." Miya scolded her son.
"You programmed me to fight her battles." Tatsuya shot back.
"I programmed you to defend and protect her, not fight her battles." Miya fired back. "There is a difference."
"There is no difference." Tatsuya retorted.
"I overestimate your intelligence."
"Onii-sama is very intelligent." Miyuki interjected, defending her lover/brother.
"Don't take that tone with me, young lady. Remember, I could still enroll you to a catholic monastery." Miya threatened.
"Aren't we all Atheist?" Tatsuya said, with a bit of confusion in his tone.
"We are, but religion is a very useful tool in manipulation." Maya hummed. "Maybe there is merit in having Miyuki-chan attend a monastery."
"There is." Tatsuya said with a light growl. "That would incentivize me to eradicate the catholic church in Japan."
"Let's do it then!" Maya said exuberantly.
"Don't you have a Catholic Church as a front for one of your shady businesses?" Miya reminded her twin.
"Televangelist is a legal business model in Japan." Maya stated with a grin.
"Wait, we have a Televangelist business?" Miyuki inquired unsurprised.
Maya chuckled at that inquiry. "Miyuki-chan, you and I will be having a very interesting lesson when it comes to our family finances."
As the four continued their conversation, Hayama, who was behind Maya, smiled in bliss.
It took a while, but this four was embodying the image of Family that his friends so desperately wanted for their descendants.
(Scene Change)
After the breakfast feast that the four enjoyed thoroughly, the four most important members of the Yotsuba Family were teleported, courtesy of Tatsuya, to a hidden clearing within the Yotsuba Village.
The clearing was big enough for Tatsuya to craft a large spiritual construct.
"So, this is it." Miyuki said as she wrapped her lover in an embraced.
They have been lovers for three weeks, and this would be their first time apart as lovers.
Before they became siblings, that period of eleven years that she would rather forget, Miyuki often could careless when his brother was deployed for a long-term mission.
When they became siblings, a year of her life that was truly bliss, Miyuki dreaded watching her brother leave for missions. She was afraid that she would lose the being that cared for her the most as well as the person that she care for the most.
Now…Now that they were lovers, now that they were honest with their feelings towards each other. Now that Miyuki was aware on what her brother's intention is towards her, Miyuki was tempted to ask her brother not to go.
If their mother's life was not hanging by the knife edge, Miyuki would have ordered her brother not to go.
"I'll be careful." Tatsuya promised gently as he returned the embrace his lover was giving him. "I won't take risk that I know I will not survive." Tatsuya assured her as he gently pushes her off him, though their arms were still touching.
With a smile, a confident yet kind one from Tatsuya and a teary one from Miyuki, the two leaned forward and kissed.
The kissed that they are sharing was filled with promised.
Tatsuya promised to return.
Miyuki promised to wait.
A loud cough broke the lovers apart, and once again, Miya, from where her wheelchair was stationed, was giving her children an exasperated look.
Tatsuya smiled dryly at her. Giving Miyuki a quick chaste kiss on the lips and on the forehead, Tatsuya approached his mother.
When he was mere feet from her, he dropped to his knees and rested his head on her lap.
Miya was hesitant at first before putting a hand on Tatsuya's crown.
"You are still against this, aren't you?" Tatsuya said knowingly.
"We could just grab a random girl off the streets." Miya confirmed.
Tatsuya scoffed at that. "In the name of the Yotsuba Clan's glory, survival, and furtherance, you've been settling for all of your life." Tatsuya gave his birth a mother a fierce. "On my soul, I swear, you will not settle on this regard. You will have the best." Tatsuya stated strongly.
Miya took a strangled breath at the look that her son was giving her. She almost cried at the way he was looking at her with such determination.
Controlling her emotions, Miya placed a kiss on his forehead. "Do what you must then, but do not die." Miya told him as Tatsuya rose to his feet.
"I won't." Tatsuya promised before leaning forward and kissing her on top of her head.
Tatsuya then moved to Maya.
"You know, it is proper protocol and etiquette to address you Clan Head first." Maya lectured Tatsuya, though half-heartedly.
Tatsuya chuckled at that. "I think I was not taught etiquette befitting that of the Yotsuba Clan." Tatsuya said dismissively. "As you recall, I did lose my number."
"A name that you would regain when you succeed and come back." Maya promised Tatsuya.
"I don't need it."
"You will have it." Maya insisted fiercely.
Tatsuya rolled his eyes before leaning forward and kissing Maya on both of her cheeks.
Maya, swiftly, replied by planting a chaste kiss on Tatsuya's lips.
Miyuki gasped in outrage but Maya merely gave her heir a flat look.
"It was innocent and within my right as his favorite aunt and clan head. " Maya told Miyuki with a severe tone. "Don't get your panties in a twist."
Before the current and future heads of the Yotsuba could quarrel, Tatsuya, without a CAD, invoke his Magic.
The three Yotsuba women watched as the trees around them began to disintegrate.
As the trees disintegrate, the particles that they were converted into began to gather around Tatsuya.
In a matter of seconds, ten seconds in fact, three necklaces manifested in Tatsuya hand.
"Don't quarrel." Tatsuya told Maya as he reached behind and over her head and clasped a necklace around her neck.
Maya looked at the accessory that her 'son' gave her.
A necklace with a gold chain, rose-shape platinum embellishments, and ruby red gemstone on the center of the embellishments.
It was beautifully made, and it was crafted by the magic of her son.
The gold, platinum, and ruby were all acceptable quality.
Maya almost climax at the show of power and affection that Tatsuya display and showered her respectively.
Tatsuya move back to his mother and clasped a necklace around her neck.
This one had a platinum chain, the embellishments were made of silver and they were shape like stars, and the gemstone in the center of the embellishments was amethyst.
Miya looked at what Tatsuya created from his magic before sighing.
"You have no limits, do you?" Miya asked while laughing at the display of honest-to-heaven alchemy before her.
"You gave me life and I inherited this from you." Tatsuya tapped Miya on the side of her head. "Of course I won't have limits. That would be disrespectful towards you."
Tatsuya then moved towards Miyuki.
Miyuki, seeing the gesture that her brother showed their mother and aunt, raised her head, and jutted her chest in a way that exposed her slender neck and ample breast towards her lover.
Tatsuya laughed softly as he gently clasped the necklace around Miyuki's neck.
The chain of the necklace was white gold, the embellishments was made with platinum with rhodium plating and it was shape like snowflakes, and the gem on its middle was sapphire.
Miyuki looked at the gift, and she began wondering what she did in her previous lives to deserve such a lover.
Tatsuya took Miyuki's right hand and brought it to his lips. Tatsuya specifically kissed Miyuki's ring finger.
"Next time, it would be a ring." Tatsuya promised.
Miyuki did not hesitate, she could not control or help herself, and threw her arms around Tatsuya's neck and planted a deep kiss on Tatsuya, a kiss that he returned happily.
The couple made out for a couple of minutes before Tatsuya pulled himself away from her lover's lips and embrace.
With a parting smile that made the knees of all the women in the clearing shake, Tatsuya summoned the Dragon that he used to fly Miyuki in their first date before taking flight.
As Miyuki waved at her brother in farewell, the Yotsuba Twins exchange some words.
"It's going to be difficult to find a partner half as decent as him, won't it?" Miya asked as she gazed at the first gift that her son gave her.
"Don't worry about that." Maya said as she played with the gift her son gave her with such glee, it is almost disturbing. "We will be getting ours."
(Scene Change)
An hour after Tatsuya left for his mission, Miyuki found herself being fitted in a formal, light blue kimono by several Yotsuba servants.
Maya was also in the room with her, also being fitted for a kimono.
Miya, considering her condition of being wheel chair bound, was fitted quickly in a formal, red kimono, though not as elaborate as the one the servants were readying for Maya and Miyuki.
"I know this might be quick for your taste, but I will be announcing your position to the family within the next 30 minutes." Maya informed Miyuki as she shifted her stance to allow the servant to properly adjust her kimono. "Ordinarily, I would have waited until the New Year's gathering to announce you as my heir, but considering the changes within the family that would happen when Tatsuya-kun succeeds in his mission, I decided to just announce it and not dally. My apologies if you are expecting an extravagant celebration for your ascension."
"I am grateful for my new position in the family, and I am not offended on the lack of pomp in my promotion as your heir." In fact, Miyuki did not care for the position. Not anymore. She has Tatsuya as her lover, and if she played her cards right, they could be husband and wife by her 18th birthday.
In five years, she would be her Onii-sama's wife.
Aside from that title, Miyuki could careless about any other labels.
Still, their life would be easier if she was the Yotsuba Clan Head, so she would accept the title for her brother's sake.
Maya hummed as she raised her arms as the servant adjusted the obi to a more comfortable tightness.
"As I mention before, your lessons would intensify going forward." Maya reminded Miyuki with hidden sadism. "You will also be taking some missions in the next few months, so expect harsher lessons in your magic and combat training."
In the past, Maya and most of the family were hesitant to opposed to sending Miyuki to missions. Her life was literally tied to the survival of the world. That said, Maya refused to hand her position to a novice who would be inept in actual fighting.
If Miyuki was not related to Tatsuya, she would have been sent out for mission a year ago.
Miyuki's talent, prowess, and power in magic is undeniable. Her ability to utilized those abilities in actual combat is questionable.
Miyuki would be taken to the field and complete missions for her to get first hand combat experience, and lucky for her, she would have the best in the family to guide her in those missions.
And if Miya adapted to her new body well enough, she would also be joining Miyuki in those missions.
"I will do my best for the family." Miyuki replied with a bit nervousness.
Unlike her brother, she was never sent out for field operations. That arrangement would now change considering her new position and her brother's new stance towards their clan head.
"Good." Maya nodded. "Remember this Miyuki-chan. Perform well in your lessons and do well in your missions, your engagement with Tatsuya-kun would be announce post haste." Maya gave Miyuki a cold look. "Disappoint me, be substandard, well…..You and Tatsuya-kun can be lovers, but the best I can give you and Tatsuya-kun is a lavender wedding with Ayako-chan."
Miyuki cringed at that before looking resolutely.
Miyuki was aware that her aunt's people were slowly changing the registry so that she and Tatsuya would be cousin in the eyes of society, and thus, they would be allowed to marry legally.
Unfortunately for Miyuki, the speed of which that would happen depends on her ability to be an acceptable heiress in her aunt's eyes.
If she performed well, at the age 15, Miyuki's engagement to her Tatsuya would be solidified.
If she does not perform well, regardless of how well she developed her relationship with Tatsuya, they would remain siblings and Tatsuya would be engaged to Ayako. Even if that engagement was to cover her affairs with Tatsuya, that arrangement still leaves a foul taste in Miyuki's mouth.
"I would excel as your heir." Miyuki promised unwaveringly.
Maya looked at the doll that was made for her son before nodding. "I will hold you to that." Maya dismissed the servants and looked over the fuchsia-colored formal kimono that her subordinates fitted her in.
It was acceptable.
Maya wondered if Tatsuya was willing for fornicate with her in this attire but she quickly dismissed those thoughts.
Work first before pleasure.
Maya gestured for the servants that were fitting Miyuki to step away. Looking over the young girl, Maya nodded.
Miyuki's beauty was never in question.
Now, Maya will see if she has use beyond her ability to provide her 'son' companionship and pleasure.
"Let us go."
(Scene Change)
Maya led both Miyuki and Miya to a tatami room.
Miya was familiar with the room as it was used by her father and uncle to hold meetings and celebrations.
Miyuki had only seen this room a handful of times, and this was the first time she was allowed to enter it.
As they step foot into the room, Miyuki took note that there were 11 holographic mirrors already prepared inside the room. Seven of the mirrors, three on the right, four on the left, were showing her aunts and uncles, the branch Heads of the Clan. The other four were showing Kuroba Fumiya, Kuroba Ayako, Shibata Katsushige, and Tsukuba Yuuka.
All four of her cousins were looking at her strangely, but Miyuki could not spare them even a single look.
In the center of the room was a simple chair, situated ahead of the array of mirrors that displayed the images of the branch heads of the Yotsuba.
That was Maya's sit, a makeshift throne to the undisputed Queen of the Yotsuba.
Miya tapped her daughter's arm to get her attention. Miya gestured to the zabaton nearest to Maya's chair.
Miyuki nodded and moved to the zabaton.
With practice ease and gentleness, Miyuki guided her mother until she was sitting seiza on the zabaton.
Though Miya felt a bit of discomfort sitting in a seiza style, it was manageable.
Whatever spirit Tatsuya latch upon her, it was doing its job.
Miya nodded in satisfactory to Miyuki before gesturing to the zabaton directly besides Maya's chair.
Miyuki nodded as she moved to stand to the right of her aunt.
Maya sat on her chair. She gazed upon the branch head of the family before nodding at them.
"Good morning, Toushu-sama!" Twelve voices greeted in unison.
Miyuki's voice was not included in those twelve voices.
"Good morning." Maya answered professionally. Maya then gestured for her people to be at ease before motioning to Miyuki to take her position.
Elegantly, beautifully, Miyuki lowered herself to the zabaton, sitting seiza to Maya's right, with both of them now looking at the eight branch family heads, the other three candidates for the position of Yotsuba Clan head, and Kuroba Ayako.
All of them knew what this implicated.
"This will be just a quick briefing. Any questions that would arise in this briefing will be answered in a family meeting that would take place in four days." Maya began as her eyes swept the room. "Firstly, my dear elder sister will be spending what remains of her days in the Yotsuba Village. Her needs would be met adequately." Eleven set of eyes move towards Miya, the Shiba Family Branch Head.
Miya just gave them an assuring nod.
The Yotsuba Twins relationship was known to be rocky to the point of hostile, but considering Miya's health, most of them figured that Maya would not harm her elder sister.
Even Maya has lines that she would not cross.
"Secondly, from this day forward until I deem it otherwise, Miyuki-san would be my heir, the next Head of the Family." Maya announced formally, causing some whispers to erupt within the room.
Maya allowed this for a few seconds before raising her hand. Immediately, the room was silence.
"I will entertain one question in regards to this decision. Any other inquiries can wait in the family meeting four days from now." Maya told everyone. Her gazed then fell to Shibata Katsushige.
If Tatsuya was not born, Shibata Katsushige would have been the leading candidate to succeed Maya.
"You may ask your inquiry, Katsushige-san." Maya permitted.
From the mirror that showed Katsushige's image, the young man bowed deeply before straightening his posture once again.
"[May I ask what Miyuki-san did to become your heir, Toushu-sama?]" Katsushige inquired challengingly.
Maya gave Katsushige a stared that made him flinched but she answered regardless.
"Miyuki-san was able to solidify Tatsuya-kun's loyalty to the family." Maya answered with a joyful smile. "I can confidently state that Tatsuya-kun is ours entirely and without question."
There are caveats in Tatsuya's loyalty, but the family does not need to know that.
Another stun silent permeated in the room, but before questions could begin to erupt, the room's lighting began to flicker, which immediately dissuaded everyone from speaking.
"Katsushige-san's inquiry is the only inquiry that I would entertain for the day. Any inquiry would be reserved for the meeting in four days' time." Maya told them though her eyes landed on Ayako.
Maya would admit that Ayako was her favorite, a distant second to her Tatsuya.
"Ayako-san…" Maya called the attention of the 12 years old girl. "You may ask one question, and I may or may not answer it." Maya offered the girl.
Ayako, from where her visage was showing, bowed before straightening her posture and ask the question that was in the mind of everyone in the room that was not in the know.
"[How did Miyuki-neesan solidify Tatsuya-niisama's loyalty to the family?]"
The Kuroba Family head gave his daughter a disapproving look at the respectful and affectionate way she refers to the clan disgrace but he held his tongue.
Maya made a gesture of contemplation before shrugging.
"Miyuki-san, if you would?" Maya nodded at her heir.
Miyuki bowed her head, rose to her feet, and walked towards the wheelchair of her mother. Grabbing a handheld terminal, Miyuki sent a video message to the communication consoles to those in the room.
"That is a quick 30 second video. Watch how Miyuki-san was able to permanently bind Tatsuya-kun into the family."
Miyuki returned the terminal from where she retrieved it returning to Maya's side.
The video that she sent to her family was the first 30 seconds of intimate moment between her and Tatsuya.
It was embarrassing to share this to people that did not care for her brother, but it was in the script, and she needed to follow this particular script.
30 seconds passed, and like she expected, all eyes were on her.
Miyuki ignored those looks.
"I know what you are all thinking, and I would like all of you to dismiss those thoughts immediately." Maya ordered as her sheer aura garnered everyone's attention back to her. "To have a magician of Tatsuya-kun's power permanently bonded to our family, no method is disgraceful." Maya stated strongly and clearly. She then refocused her attention back to Ayako.
Maya fought her urge to laugh at the expression on Ayako's face.
The young girl was in the verge of tears, it was almost hilarious.
Time to give the girl some hope.
She can still be of use after all
"Miyuki-san's position as my heir is not permanent of course, not yet at least." Maya continued as she continued with the topic at hand. "For the next two years, until Miyuki-san and Tatsuya-kun entered Magic High school, I would tutor Miyuki-san on her duties and responsibilities as clan head, and she would also begin taking field missions for the clan." Maya informed everyone in the room.
There were looks of disapproval at her verdict, but Maya ignored them. She made her decision and she would go through with it.
"And if I find her wanting, she would have two choices. She would either continue as my heir and severe her relationship with Tatsuya-kun, or continue to be Tatsuya-kun's lover and forfeit her position as our next clan head." Maya gave Miyuki a challenging look. "Excell and have Tatsuya-kun by your side and the power of the Yotsuba on your back. Fail, you can only have one." Maya made a show of giving Miyuki an ultimatum.
An ultimatum that was false.
With Tatsuya on her back, ruling through her, Miyuki would not fail.
Maya knows this.
Miya knows this.
Miyuki acknowledges this.
This charade was merely to give the Branch Heads some semblance of hope.
And speaking of hope…
"And if Miyuki-san choose the former, Ayako-san, I would engage Tatsuya-kun to you." Maya announced with a warm smile.
"Maya-san!" Kuroba Mitsugu shouted in outrage at that declaration.
The completely ignore the look of hope in his daughter's looks.
"If you are averse to my decision, prepare your argument for the meeting in four days' time, but for now, that is my decree." Maya told her cousin with finality.
Mitsugu looked ready to argue but he bit his tongue and nodded.
"Toushu-sama, may I speak?" Miyuki spoke, eyes focused on Ayako, her rival in both magic and love.
Maya looked at her heir, and nodded, giving her permission.
"I will not fail you." Miyuki assured with confidence. " Please do not give Ayako-san any false hope."
"[Says the girl with not a single field mission on her name.]" Ayako retorted with a snarl.
"You had one trial mission on yours, and from what I heard, my lover had to interfere and rescue you." Miyuki fired back.
Ayako glared challengingly at the girl that, in her perspective, stole her intended mate, but before she could scream vitriol at that spoiled princess, Fumiya grabbed her arm to take her attention from Miyuki.
The Kuroba twins shared a look. Fumiya was pleading for his twin to control herself. Ayako, with effort, acquiesced to her twin's reply.
Ayako turned her attention to Maya. "[Apologies for my outburst.]" Ayako said with a bow.
Maya casually waved her off in dismissal.
Maya allowed Miyuki and Ayako to exchange challenging looks before she continued with the briefing.
"Tatsuya-kun is out doing a mission for the clan. This would be his test, as well as Miyuki-san's. The outcome of this mission would show how agreeable Tatsuya-kun would be to the Yotsuba." Maya stated before dropping another bombshell. "Lastly, depending on the outcome of this mission, I would consider giving Tatsuya-kun his number back."
Again, this decree almost caused an outburst with the Branch heads but the flickering light in the room prevented any quarrel from forming.
"If any of you are against any of my decisions, prepare your arguments in four days' time." Maya told all of them. "Dismissed."
(Scene Change)
Kuroba Fumiya often felt like he was the only sane person in his household.
In that regard, he greatly misses his mother.
When the entire family received a personal message from their clan head, the infamous Yotsuba Maya, informing all of them that their attendance was mandatory to a family briefing, all three of them rushed to put on formal wear.
Both he and Ayako wondered why they were invited in this impromptu meeting while their father assured them that this briefing was probably just a frivolous whim on Maya's part.
Their father was wrong.
Fumiya, on his part, was relieved that Miyuki was not the definite candidate to succeed Maya.
While it would be neat to be the clan's next clan head, Fumiya did not have the demeanor or the ability, much less the power and the presence, to inherit the throne of the Queen of Night.
Fumiya even doubted that Miyuki would measure up to their esteem aunt.
The only one capable of surpassing their legendary aunt was Tatsuya, and he was not even considered a candidate to succeed Maya.
Which is a shame.
In Fumiya's eyes, Tatsuya would make for an excellent clan head.
And speaking of Tatsuya.
"What is Maya-san thinking?!" Kuroba Mitsugu growled in irritation as he marched towards his car, a look of rage etched on his face.
Fumiya flinched as he walked with his father to their family car.
Mitsugu was not pleased, Fumiya knows this.
His father probably felt slighted that his son was overlook in the succession for the Yotsuba Leadership, though Fumiya knows that his father would get over it soon.
Kuroba Mitsugu was no fool, and he should understand his prize son did not have the steel to lead the Clan.
No, the rage that Mitsugu was feeling was probably due to the fact that Ayako was Maya's second choice to chain Tatsuya to the Yotsuba.
If, and that is a big, impossible if, the relationship between Tatsuya and Miyuki fell apart or if Miyuki failed Maya's expectation but choose to continue to be the family's next clan head, Tatsuya would be engage to Ayako post haste.
Ayako would welcome the arrangement. She would welcome said arrangement with glee.
Their father would not.
"Otou-sama…" Fumiya called for his father as he carried his work case. "Shouldn't we wait for that family meeting to confront Toushu-sama?" Fumiya pleaded.
The young adolescent felt like any confrontation with Maya would not bode well to his father.
"Don't say such nonsense, Fumiya." Mitsugu growled as he grabbed the case Fumiya was holding and threw it into the car. "I'll be making a trip to the village. I'll stop this nonsense from even taking form." Mitsugu declared angrily as he shut the door close.
Fumiya took several steps back as his father back up the car before driving away. The gates of their household were barely raised before his father accelerated out of the house like a bat from hell.
Fumiya cringed and he made a mental note to call the main house and warned them that his father was on his way.
Nonetheless, with one problem out of the way, Fumiya looked back at his home and, with a sigh, made his way back to the house.
His father was one problem.
His sister was another.
Stepping into the living room, Fumiya found his sister playing that thirty second of video in a loop.
The video, Fumiya assumed, contained the first intimate moment between Tatsuya and Miyuki as lovers.
Fumiya could not help but blushed at the sight of his two favorite cousin kissing, and kissing passionately at that.
Though his embarrassment was quickly erased when he heard muttering from his twin.
"That should have been me… That should have been me… That should have been me… That should have been me… That should have been me…"
Ayako's eyes were fixated on the video. Tears were rolling down her eyes as she glared enviously at the image of Miyuki receiving such eager intimacy from Tatsuya, Ayako's first love.
Unfortunately, he was also Miyuki's first, and Miyuki was closer to him.
Fumiya was about to get his twin's attention but Ayako.
"Shut up…" Ayako growled as she turned and gave Fumiya a look that made him flinched.
Those eyes were the eyes of an animal.
"Shut up…" Ayako repeated herself before turning her attention back to the video, her mutterings becoming darker.
Fumiya sighed in defeat.
Again, it was hard being the only sane person in this household.
(Scene Change)
Kuzichika Kimiko enjoyed her career as a flight attendant.
In today's day and age, it was difficult for people to travel to different countries.
With the advent of magic, travel from country to country is heavily restricted.
Magicians, considering they are a country's resource, are heavily restricted from leaving the country. Sometimes, they are outright forbidden from stepping out of their home country.
Fortunately, Kimiko is not a magician.
Sure, she would love to throw fireballs willy-nilly. She would love to lift and move things with just her mind. She would love to freeze some of her suitors with a stare.
But if having such fantastical powers means that she could not travel to different locales and that she would be stuck in Japan... Well, she would rather be an ordinary mortal.
Kimiko was born with a severe case of wanderlust. Since she was a child, she wanted to travel the world. Flying from country to country, experiencing the offerings of foreign land, that is the life that Kimiko wanted to live.
Also, as a 25 years old woman, in the peak of her life as a woman, sex with men of different races and nationalities was quite a delightful experience.
From rough to soft, from traditional to experimental, from loving to uncaring, Kimiko had tasted many kinds of pleasure through her flesh, and she was eager to experience more.
One day, she might fall in love with a single man. One day, she might want children of her own. One day, she might crave to have a family of her own. But that day has yet to come, and she was having too much fun engaging in no strings attach sex.
In fact, she has an engagement plan when they reach Arlington, Virginia.
The co-pilot was a black American. Good looking, well-built, and from the pictures that she was getting from him, he has an excellent tool between his legs.
It has been a while since she tasted a black man and she was eager to taste another.
Suppressing her lust and adopting a neutral yet professional look, Kimiko looked over at the passengers of this plane's Economy Class.
It was rare for plane to be fully booked, but Kimiko was not complaining.
A fully booked flight means a good bonus in her paycheck.
Still, this flight was weird.
For a few days, this flight from Tōkai to Arlington, Virginia was barely booked, just a handful of passengers in the Economy Class though First Class and Business Class was mostly packed. A few days before the flight though, the tickets for the Economy Class were bought in bulk.
Strange, but the payment went through without a single hassle, and on the day of the flight, 177 passengers arrived on time and filled the 250 economy class seats.
Peculiar, the payment went through, so Kimiko and her superiors could not complain.
There were no reasons to complain.
Still, this flight was still weird.
There was a tension in this flight that Kimiko had not experience before from any other flights that she had participated in.
It's as if something big was going to happen.
Her musing was interrupted when one of the passengers raise their hands, asking for attention.
Wearing a cordial smile, Kimiko approached the passenger.
She looked at the passenger...
Male, Japanese, early 30s, average looking... Not her type, but he was a paying customer so she was at least going to give him good service.
Bending down to his position, making sure to give him an eyeful of her assets, Kimiko gave a winning smile to the customer before speaking in a formal yet flirtatious voice. "How may I help you sir~!"
"How long till we arrive?" The customer asked tonelessly but politely.
Kimiko's smile strained a bit at the way the customer spoke to her but answered professionally nonetheless.
"Just another hour, sir." Kimiko answered with false cheerfulness.
The man nodded.
"We are in the USNA, correct?" The man inquired as he turned his eyes on Kimiko.
Kimiko shuddered at the blankness of ethe yes that was staring right at her.
'Be professional Kim, be professional.' Kimiko told herself as she maintained her smile. "Yes sir." Kimiko confirmed.
The man nodded. "Thank you."
Kimiko was about to give the typical 'Your Welcome' reply when the man suddenly spoke again.
"And I am sorry."
A millisecond later, Kuzichika Kimiko lost her ability to breathe.
On July 03, 2092, Flight Neito-072893 crashed into American soil.
This crash heralded one of the worst terror attacks in USNA history.
This attack was orchestrated by a single teenager, in the name of his mother.
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