SECOND CHANCES
Chapter 5: Road Trip Part 3
Disclaimer I don't own Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
Miyuki did not expect her aunt to be like this.
In fact, Miyuki was still trying to wrap her mind around the girl that would have been the Queen of the Night in her time.
The Yotsuba Maya that Miyuki saw right now was different from the one that she had grown accustomed to.
The Yotsuba Maya that Miyuki knew and feared is an unpredictable, scheming woman, who is ruthless and merciless, who hides an overwhelming darkness behind her dark eyes and sensual smile. The Yotsuba Maya that Miyuki knew is unforgiving and guarded, untrusting and spiteful, sadistic and twisted. The Yotsuba Maya that Miyuki knew dislike physical contact and the company of others, preferring the company of Hayama-san or, in rare cases, her Onii-sama for some reason.
The Yotsuba Maya that Miyuki knew is the complete opposite of the girl sitting besides her, indulging in the bake goods that she made and playing video games like a normal, happy girl.
"[GAME OVER]"
"Damn it!"
Also, the Yotsuba Maya that Miyuki knew did not curse.
Maya grumbled as she glared at the text displayed on the screen, all the while munching on the cupcakes that Miyuki baked for her.
At least the sweet tooth of her aunt has not change one bit.
"Ladies shouldn't be cursing." Tatsuya reprimanded from the driver's seat, although there was no heat in his words.
Maya glared at Tatsuya, though there was not any ill intent behind her eyes.
Maya was glaring at Tatsuya in mirth.
Another thing that Miyuki noticed about this version of her Aunt was how happy she is.
Whenever Miyuki was within the presence of her Aunt, she noticed that her Obaa-sama is often amused, but she was never happy.
Miyuki had never seen her Aunt smile in happiness.
In amusement, yes.
In anger, yes, but it was few and far between.
Sensually, whenever her beloved Onii-sama is within sight, which aggravated her.
In happiness, never.
In fact, Miyuki could only count in one hand the number of time when she could recall her Obaa-sama being happy.
All of those times involving her beloved Onii-sama for one reason or another
Miyuki watched as her Onii-sama put the RV in autopilot, meaning that they were in a city, before disembarking from the Driver's seat.
Normally, in the open road, her Onii-sama did not leave the Driver's seat and would manually stir the Motor Home. According to her Onii-sama, it would be easy to detect them if they depended on the Automatic driving of the RV to navigate a foreign country. It would be easy to detect their general location and destination, her Onii-sama explained.
Her Onii-sama was making sure that the tragedy that befall upon their Aunt would not happen in any way, shape, or form.
Which was great in Miyuki's opinion. Miyuki would prefer the happy and charming version of her aunt than the psychotic and seductive one in her original time.
Miyuki scooted to the side to allow her brother to seat beside her and their would-be Aunt. Normally, Miyuki did not want any girls but her sitting beside her beloved Onii-sama, but considering who the other girl is, she decided to make an exception.
Hopefully, this Maya would not pull another outrageous stunt on her Onii-sama.
Miyuki did not know why, but the Maya that she knew and this version of her enjoyed riling up her beloved brother.
The younger Shiba offered a cup of coffee to her brother, freshly heated using her Magic.
Tatsuya gave his sister a grateful look before downing the brown liquid in a single gulp. Miyuki knew that her brother was durable and he could endure practically anything because of his powers and training, but he was still human, the most perfect human in the world in her eyes, because of that fact, he can still suffer from exhaustion.
Considering that her Onii-sama had been driving for eight hours straight, it was understandable if he is feeling some form of exhaustion.
"As good as always, Miyuki." Tatsuya complimented with a smile directed at her sister.
"Thank you, Onii-sama." Miyuki blushed and merely took the cup from her Onii-sama's hands before offering some of the cupcakes that she had bake at the behest of Maya.
Younger version or not, the Queen of the Night or not, the ingrain reflex of obeying the orders of her Aunt was ingrained into her too much for her to disobey an order from her, regardless of how whimsical it is.
Tatsuya accepted one of the offered cupcakes from Miyuki, casually taking a bite of the pastry. "You're improving." Tatsuya commented honestly. Her baking skills were not that of Honami's level yet, but it was leagues above it when she had started this hobby of hers some months ago.
As usual, regardless of how minor the praise is, Miyuki preened at the compliment of her Onii-sama.
For his part, Tatsuya patted his younger sister before looking at their future aunt.
Maya, for once, ignored the pseudo-romantic moment of the siblings in favour of the game she was playing.
Who would have thought that the fearsome Demon Queen of the East was, is, a hardcore Gamer?
Maya was currently playing a platforming game, and she was losing, badly.
Tatsuya could only watched in amusement as the character that Maya was playing fell off a platform and was gutted by what appeared to be floating chainsaws.
Tatsuya could feel the frustration flowing out of his aunt.
The look of frustration and irritation in his Aunt's eyes almost amused Tatsuya.
Almost.
Shaking his head, Tatsuya gestured for the controller.
Both Miyuki and Maya looked at him with varying expression.
Miyuki was aware that boys of Tatsuya's age were interested in video games, but as far as she knew, her Onii-sama was above such childish endeavours. He never showed any inquisitiveness in most things and activities that boys his age are interested in.
On the other hand, Maya saw this as an opportunity to bond with her enigmatic friend and enthusiastically handed him the controller.
"Do you want any tips from an expert like myself?" Though her enthusiasm in video games were viewed in a negative light by her parents and sister, Maya prided herself in being an expert gamer who could go professional if she wanted to.
She needed something to lean on just in case her magic skills were not up to par to the level expected to that of a Yotsuba, and her hobby did allow her to bond with her Uncle Motosuke.
Tatsuya, for his part, examined the controller and marvelled at how obsolete and primitive it is compare to those in the future.
Ignoring Maya's offer, Tatsuya started randomly pressing the buttons of the controller. As he fiddled with the controller, Tatsuya was analysing the way the in-game character was moving in relations with the controls that he was pressing.
After a few seconds, Tatsuya went on and played the game.
Platforming games is nothing more than a game in which the character must move from point A to point B. What makes the game entertaining is the way and manner in which the character is move from point A to point B and the obstacle that would hinder the process.
The platforming Game that Maya was playing is difficult, and that is putting it mildly. The game offers no checkpoints, and though the in-game character offers remarkable manoeuvrability, the obstacles between point A and B were moving swiftly and in a pattern that was changing by the second, which makes timing the movements of the character difficult, even for an expert gamer like Maya.
And though Tatsuya is not a gamer in any way, shape, or form, he wasn't allowed such childish luxury, he still possesses a trait that Maya lacks.
Tatsuya possesses a near computerize brain and superhuman reflexes.
With his intellect alone and by observing Maya play the game, Tatsuya was able to determine the pattern of the obstacles and hurdles in the game, and due to him studying the movements of the character, he was confident that he could finish the level that was giving Maya much trouble.
His confidence was not misplaced.
The success in platforming games is determined in two ways: finishing the obstacle and how quickly the obstacle is completed.
Tatsuya succeeded in those task without much effort.
Maya looked impressed while Miyuki merely smiled at her elder brother's kindness for indulging their aunt's hobby.
"How did you do that?" Maya asked, her voice still at awe at how flawlessly Tatsuya completed the level.
For his part, Tatsuya shrugged. "I went from point A to point B."
Maya frowned at that overly simplify answer. Maya knew that her friend and savior was emotionally cripple, and this was further proof of her suspicion.
I mean who wouldn't show an ounce of pride after finishing a level of Super Mario XXX – III? That is simply impossible.
With a thoughtful expression, Maya ejected the plat forming game out of the console before picking a special game from her collection.
It was bonding time!
"Miyuki-chan, Tatsuya-kun~~~~~" Maya called her two friends, a wide smile on her lips as she showed them a very special game for her. "Let's play this…"
Tatsuya and Miyuki read the title of the game before exchanging wry looks.
LEFT 4 DEAD 7
"Nothing screams friendship than killing virtual zombies!"
(Scene Change)
Genzou did not have a pleasant relationship with his mother, the former clan head of the Yotsuba, Yotsuba Ayame.
Their relationship is antagonistic at best.
Genzou never forgave his mother for forcing his siblings to enter the military, especially his little sister, Yume.
He figured, considering his performance in the military, he would be enough representation of the Yotsuba in the Arm Forces.
Apparently, he was incorrect. Genzou could still remember how painful it is seeing his siblings in basic training, specially his little sister.
He did not care that it was mandatory for every magician in the country to enter military service during war time. A seven year old girl and boys not even in their teens should never see or experience the horrors of war.
Genzou's hatred for his mother started when he saw his little sister crying after being force to kill a man. A child of any age should never take a life.
That said, Genzou still possessed a grudging respect for his mother. After all, Ayame may be heartless and callous, with a cruel streak a mile long, but her ability to lead is spectacular. Ayame singlehandedly kept the Fourth Research Institute afloat while establishing the foundation of the Yotsuba Clan, all the while building the family a reputation to be feared throughout the country.
The Yotsuba Clan can be describe as the Clan that Yotsuba Ayame build from the ground up.
It was by her hand that Genzou was able to easily turn the Yotsuba Clan to a force that was both feared and respected in today's era.
It always leaves a sour taste in his mouth, but Genzou would admit that his success as Yotsuba Head was due to his mother paving the way for him and his generation to succeed.
That is the reason why, even though he wanted nothing more but to exile his mother from his life, Ayame still has some sway in the affairs of the Yotsuba.
That includes the safety and security of the clan, which includes his daughters.
The moment Ayame entered his office, Genzou prepared a bottle of scotch, knowing full well that he would need something strong to prevent himself from bodily throwing his mother out of his office.
Yotsuba Ayame is a terrifying woman, her mere presence alone was enough to unnerve Genzou. Her narrow eyes were as crimson as blood, a trait she shared with her children, and her long obsidian hair was touch by a silver of white. Her physique was thin and frail, with age lines already visible on her face, a sign of her advance age, though her former famed beauty was still greatly hinted on her features. She wore a traditional red kimono that appeared to be a veil of blood in Genzou's eyes.
By his mother's side was his little sister, Kuroba Yume, nee Yotsuba. Yume appeared to be a younger version of their mother, with crimson eyes and black hair, though Yume's hair was short and cut to that of a fairy style. Yume possessed a petite body, though it did not diminish her feminine charms.
Ayame occupied the seat across his desk, sitting upon the chair as if it was a throne.
Yume offered his brother an apologetic yet warm smile as she positioned herself behind their mother.
Genzou already desired to empty the bottle of scotch under his table before taking his wife to bed, something that he was avoiding due to her fragile health.
The sight of his mother inspired the very worst of him.
"What do you want?" Genzou asked, his voice anything but polite. Motosuke and Yume are openly fond of their mother, with Motosuke openly stating that he was her favorite son (a claim that Ayame never confirmed or denied). Eisaku is respectful and polite towards their mother, though he was always awkward around her.
His three siblings were always cordial and polite when speaking with the former matriarch of the family.
Genzou did not share the sentiment and would often show his mother hostility.
Genzou did not bother to even show his mother an ounce of cordiality or politeness.
Ayame rolled her eyes at the impudence of her oldest child. She often questioned herself what she did wrong in raising her heir and eldest child. Her other children were many times more well behave when compared to her eldest.
"You never told me that you have a bastard." Ayame said, her voice sounding like poison in Genzou's ears.
Genzou openly glared at his mother, his disdain evident in his eyes. "So you've seen the children that rescued Maya?"
Ayame nodded in confirmation. "A boy that looks exactly like you and a girl that looks like your wife and children, only prettier and more submissive." Ayame commented with a casual shrugged. "So how were they conceive? Artificial womb? Artificial Insemination? A mistress and consort respectively?"
Genzou slammed his fist on his desk at the last words of his mother, furious at the slight thrown at his and his wife's feet.
Yume flinched at the look of anger in Genzou's eyes, while Ayame looked unaffected.
"I am merely voicing my observation. Those children looked too much like you and your wife for it to be a coincidence." Ayame pressed, not showing any concern with her son's outburst. "Especially the boy." Ayame continued. "He looks like you, eerily so, like looking at a picture of you in your childhood, when you were still adorable and less of an ungrateful prick."
Genzou did not allow his temper to be stirred by his mother's provocation. He is above that.
"I am aware of the boy's uncanny resemblance towards me." Genzou acknowledged, and he was still somewhat curious on why the boy looks like him, but his daughter's safety is the priority and his curiosity can be sated with a formal meeting between him and Tatsuya.
"And you do not find this bothersome?" Ayame inquired disapprovingly, a bit disappointed that her heir would let such curiosity unsated, especially considering that it may affect the state of the clan.
"I do, but the boy did not show any hostility towards Maya." Genzou casually press a button under his desk, causing the large screen mounted on his wall to come to life.
The screen showed the trio traveling through an urban setting in Dahan.
For once, Tatsuya was not driving the vehicle and was currently enjoying a cup of coffee while indulging Maya in one of her favorite video games.
Maya looked frustrated for some reason, but considering how hard she was holding the controller, it was probably due to something childish.
Genzou decided there and then to curb some of his youngest' childishness. He may allow his daughters to enjoy luxuries that he and his siblings were not able to enjoy in their youth but if it would affect Maya's growth as a woman and magician, he was prepared to be sticker in raising her.
Miyuki, for her part, was watching the scene with a guarded yet amused expression.
Though Genzou would advised against it, the trio were at ease around each other, comfortable even.
That was until Tatsuya made a simple motion with his head. He was now looking directly at the primary camera that they were using to survey the inside of the vehicle.
Genzou felt that the boy was looking directly at him.
He felt as if the boy was staring right at his very soul.
Carefully, Genzou looked at his mother. He was already aware of Tatsuya's ability to detect magic. Considering he wasn't using magic at the moment, he turned his attention to the most likely suspect.
And behold, his mother was using her infamous Elemental Sight to 'look' at the boy.
Genzou was perturbed by the amused and pleased look on his mother's face.
"The boy can 'see' me." Ayame commented breathlessly, her voice sounded please. Turning her attention back to her son, Ayame adopted a somewhat urgent expression on her harden face. "Are you sure he is not yours?"
Genzou nodded swiftly, not wanting to stay in the topic much longer.
"Eisaku…"
Genzou shook his head in a negative. Eisaku was the least active among them in bed. He indulges with his wife from time to time, but not as frequent as his other siblings with their respective partners, much to his wife's frustration whenever the ladies of the house gossips.
"Motosuke…"
Genzou rolled his eyes. "You know Motosuke and his wife. They may screw around with others, but they are both extremely careful on who they sleep with and what they take in into their bodies and what they give out."
Ayame wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Although her relationship with her two youngest were much more positive and amicable when compare to her eldest children, she cannot deny that her youngest son's quirks and vices aggravated her to no end.
The fact that the wife of her youngest son enables and encourages those vices did not help the matter at all.
Ayame looked at her daughter, causing Yume to frown.
"She is also not Yume's." Genzou stated, not wanting his only sister fidelity to be questioned.
"So we don't have any claim?" Ayame asked in a somewhat miffed voice.
Genzou raised a brow at his mother. His mother is usually against inducting or even accepting other people into the family. His mother greatly feared damaging the genepool of the Yotsuba Clan by accepting outsiders to mingle and breed with the members of the family. Ayame is so stringent in having outsiders enter the family that she personally filters and vets those that the Yotsuba considers interesting enough to join their ranks.
She is the reason why the Yotsuba are so few in numbers, but it was also because of her that the family possesses such quality magicians in quantity.
"You're interested in Tatsuya-kun?" Genzou asked in disbelief, eyeing his mother carefully.
Ayame rolled her eyes at her son. She was disappointed that his mask faltered against her for such a mundane reason. Regardless, Ayame nodded in confirmation. "I am assuming that the boy has my eyes."
"That is impossible." Genzou stated immediately. "I am aware that the boy could detect and even track magic, even across a continent, but Elemental Sight is a Superpower, and Superpowers cannot be learned. Superpower cannot even be passed through genetics."
If that were the case, he or one of his siblings would have inherited his mother's special eyes.
"I am aware of the Limitation of my eyes, and the fact that my eyes would die with me." Ayame said in distaste. If there was one failure that Ayame would admit, it was her inability to pass on her 'eyes' to any of her children.
Elemental Eyes had guided her well throughout her life. Her 'eyes' were her greatest tool and it had served her well. She was one of the strongest magician in her era with Elemental Sight alone. The fact that none of her children inherited her 'eyes' irked her to no end.
Nonetheless, the child that had saved her granddaughter had pique her interest.
"When I discovered that Maya-san had been rescued, no thanks to you by the way…" Ayame growled at her son. Genzou refused to look guilty.
Ayame liked Maya, favored her even, and Genzou was very opened in dissuading his youngest from bonding with his mother.
"…I checked on her wellbeing personally, to see if she is being cared for properly. I used my Elemental Sight to try and 'see' her current state and wellbeing through the Information Dimension. Do you know what happened when I've detected Maya-san through the Information Dimension?" Ayame explained with an amused smile. She tilted her neck to show a small cut along her neck, something that Genzou did not noticed earlier. "I found myself staring in the eyes of a Dragon, and I almost had my head removed." Ayame looked pleased as she traced the small cut on her neck.
"That boy has my eyes." Ayame stated confidently.
Genzou looked at his mother worriedly. Although his mother no longer holds any power in the Yotsuba – effective leader she maybe, loved by the clan she is not – Ayame still possesses considerable resources outside of the family. Ayame's current resources may not be as vast as when she was leading the Yotsuba, but it was still considerable enough to worry Genzou. Also, her resources were not something that Genzou was privy to.
"Are you worried that someone outside of the family has access to your eyes?" Genzou asked, still in the mind-set that Tatsuya does not possess Elemental Sight.
As a consensus, proven through studies, Superpowers cannot be passed on through genetics.
Also, Elemental Sight might be a powerful and versatile Superpower, but in terms of detecting and tracking magic, Elemental Sight is not the only option.
Ayame looked at Genzou with frustration in her eyes, showing that she had read his thoughts through his expression, before activating her Elemental Sight.
The target was Tatsuya.
In a span of a second, three things happened.
The chair that Ayame was sitting on was reduce to dust.
A small cut appeared on the other side of Ayame's neck, parallel from the other cut.
And lastly, words were carved above the screen that were currently showing the three occupants of the RV.
The words 'DON'T TRY AGAIN' were carved through the concrete, completely bypassing the security magic cast upon the room.
In the screen, Tatsuya was looking straight at them with eyes that were inhuman.
Genzou actually shuddered at those blue orbs while quietly marveling at Tatsuya's skill.
Distance may not be a factor when it comes to using magic, but casting magic is easier with visual confirmation.
The fact that Tatsuya could invoke magic from across a continent was impressive, though slightly terrifying.
"He can see us." Ayame informed her son, her voice thrilled but calculating, the cut on her neck not bothering her one bit. "You may not feel his gazed, but I can. He can see us. The boy can see our very being." Ayame added excitedly before levelling her eldest with a look.
"Has a profile already been made for those children?" Ayame asked, her voice all business as Yume helped her mother to her feet.
"Eisaku could not find even a single whiff of information regarding those siblings." Genzou answered, fully recovering from the display of power that he had just witness. The display also affirmed Genzou's confidence that her daughter is in safe hands.
Ayame frowned at that information. Eisaku was skilled in information gathering. Ayame would even go so far as to say that her second oldest was the most skilled investigator in the country. For her son to fail to gather anything about those children is concerning.
But it can be remedied.
"Tell him to check the database of the Fourth Institute. There is a slight possibility that those two are children of some of our wayward lab rats." Ayame ordered as Yume offered her mother another chair, something that Ayame accepted without pause. "Tell him to also check the databases of our 'compatriots' to see if he can find a match." Ayame added as an afterthought.
Although Ayame did not have any confidence in her fellow 'Numbers', viewing them as nothing more than fodder than actual allies, she would not rule out those 'peasants' striking gold through luck.
Once again, Genzou frowned. He did not know why but it seems Tatsuya had earned the curiosity of the two most prominent women in his life.
Genzou was more worried about the attention that his mother directed at Tatsuya, than his wife.
Yasuyo is harmless when not provoke.
Provoke or not, Yotsuba Ayame is a dangerous woman.
(Scene Change)
"They should not be indulging Maya's whims too much." Miya commented as she and her mother were watching Maya interact with the two siblings.
Maya was forcing the two to play video games with her.
It was apparent that Miyuki have not played a video game in her life and was clueless on how the controller works in relations with the game, while Tatsuya, who looked to be equally lost like his little sister, seems to have the ability to adapt to any game that Maya installed in the gaming system.
Miya did not know whether to be amused at the sight of Tatsuya beating her twin in her games after a few minutes of learning how to play them or annoyed at how compliant the siblings were regarding her sister's whims.
She did not know why but watching the pair of siblings easily bend to Maya's fancy irritates her for some reason.
For Yasuyo's part, she was just glad that the siblings were kind enough to play around with her youngest daughter.
In the screen before them, the mother and daughter watched Tatsuya discard the controller on the ground before standing up. Stretching his arms, legs, and neck, he faced Miyuki and Maya.
"[We'll be leaving the City in five minutes. I'll be taking the wheel again.]" Tatsuya informed the two ladies.
Miya raised a brow at that statement but when she glanced at the secondary screen, the one that showed the outside of the Motorhome, Tatsuya's words were indeed correct.
They were leaving the city.
"[You know, you could just put the RV in auto pilot and relax with me, and enjoy your cute sister's delicious baking.]" Maya suggested while taking a bite from one of the cupcakes that Miyuki baked for the three of them.
"[Tempting, but no.]" Tatsuya rejected the offer. "[Our vehicle is easily traceable in rural areas and in open roads, unlike in urban areas where there are thousands of vehicles flooding the streets. Also, an autopilot vehicle is vulnerable if we are attacked out of the blue. It would be safer for everyone if I take point.]" Tatsuya explained as he moved towards the coach of the RV.
Maya frowned in disappointment but did not argue her friend's point. She turned her attention to Miyuki, and once again, Maya and the two others watching through surveillance notice that the young girl stiffened slightly at Maya's gazed but recovering quickly enough.
"Maya is not that scary." Miya pointed out as she ignored her sister's babble towards Miyuki.
Yasuyo frowned in agreement. Her youngest daughter was not a terrifying girl. Maya has her moments but over all, she was not the most intimidating young girl in the family. Maya is too upbeat to be truly scary.
The way Miyuki reacted with every sudden gazed that Maya gave her is concerning. Miyuki was still cordial with Maya, friendly even, but there was just a strange tension between her and Maya that was mostly coming from Miyuki.
Also, it was strange on how compliant Miyuki is with Maya's requests.
"Are you sure Maya-chan had not met Miyuki-san before?" Yasuyo inquired once again.
"Okaa-sama, believe me, Maya and I will remember meeting a girl that pretty." Miya assured her mother. "You think Miyuki-san is jealous of Maya." Maya has a curvaceous body that most girls there age are jealous. Even Miya, who is Maya's twin, sometimes looked at her twin's body with envy from time to time.
It would not be strange for Miyuki to be insecure around a beauty of Maya's caliber.
"That is unlikely." Yasuyo said with a shake of her head. "If Tatsuya-kun showed a sign of attraction towards Maya, then your point may have some validity but…" Yasuyo trailed offed, amusement evident in her voice.
Miya also chuckled in delight. "Tatsuya-san had not shown an ounce of attraction towards Maya."
It was a liberating experience seeing Tatsuya shrugged off Maya's provocation with such nonchalance.
"Also, Miyuki-san is prettier than Maya-chan." Yasuyo added.
"That she is. That she is." Miya agreed while looking intently at Miyuki.
Miya felt some kind of connection and even kinship towards Tatsuya. Maybe a bit of attraction considering his resemblance to her father.
That said, Miya felt utterly attracted to Miyuki. Miyuki is, without a doubt, the loveliest, most beautiful girl she had ever seen. Everything about Miyuki captivated her. The number of perfectly symmetrical features in Miyuki was overwhelming to the point that Miya often times had to fight to tear her eyes off of her.
"You know…" Yasuyo began, noticing the look her daughter was giving at Miyuki. "…as long as you give the clan at least two children, we will not complain or interfere on who you take to your bed." Yasuyo and her husband were quite aware of their daughter's sexual preference. Although she was attracted to men to an extent, Miya's taste in partners were leaning towards those of the same gender.
Genzou and Yasuyo did not have any problems in regards to their daughter's sexuality, but she has a duty to perform as the next Head of the Yotsuba and a magician of Japan.
Miya had to shelf her desires for romance and partnership before her duty is completed.
"I already know, Okaa-sama." Miya narrowed her eyes at her mother. "And I am not like Motosuke-jiisama! I prefer a monogamous relationship than a polyamorous one."
Yasuyo giggled at her daughter's reflexive reaction regarding her sexuality before returning her attention back to Miyuki. She was relieve that the young girl once again at ease around her daughter, but it was still concerning.
Yasuyo trusted Tatsuya, for some reason, trusting the boy was easy enough for her. She was confident that regardless of his sister's discomfort around her daughter, Tatsuya would still protect her daughter if the circumstance requires him to.
Still, Yasuyo made a mental note to ask Miyuki why she was so jumpy around Maya when they finally meet.
(Scene Change)
Unlike his brothers who were either overly or covertly showing interest towards Tatsuya, Motosuke's interest was towards the little sister.
And that was not because he found the girl attractive.
Motosuke had fucked women younger and older than him, but he never fucked anyone that was either family or jailbait.
Miyuki was beautiful but she was too young for his taste.
He also never fucked anyone that was not attracted to him on principal. In Motosuke's mind, sex without any form of attraction is rape, and he does not do rape, unless it was roleplaying.
Forcing oneself to a woman is an insult to his charms and manhood.
Motosuke was not interested in Miyuki due to her looks.
He was interested in Miyuki because of her magic and the way she acted towards her brother.
First things first, he was aware that the siblings that rescued his niece were magical powerful. He might not have his dear mother's eyes, but he was experience enough to detect top quality magicians at a glance.
And the siblings were high quality, no questions about it.
Motosuke was more interested in Miyuki than Tatsuya due to how overflowing the girl is in magical power.
Tatsuya's power was so tightly controlled that it took Motosuke some effort to feel the mountain of power that the boy possesses.
It truly impress Motosuke that Tatsuya was able to control his considerable power to such extent that he can be mistaken as harmless at first glance. If the boy wasn't so unnerving, he would be the perfect assassin.
Miyuki, on the other hand, was like an ocean. It took Motosuke zero effort to see the magical power the overflows from within Miyuki.
If Tatsuya's magical aura was so compress to the point that not a single drop is wasted, Miyuki's magical aura was so unwind to the point that she was shrouded in sunlight.
Looking at Miyuki, it was like looking at the sun.
If his evaluation was correct, Miyuki's Psion count is roughly ten times that of his and his brother's, four times that of his nieces', and just slightly more than her elder brother.
And considering the magic skill that Motosuke knew the girl possess, for he knew a girl that magically powerful should be skilled enough to at least wield a fourth of her raw power that makes her dangerous.
In fact, Motosuke would bet that Miyuki was more dangerous than her elder brother.
"If you glare at the girl hard enough, she might combust." Eisaku chided Motosuke as he walked towards him. "I'm going out on a limb here and say that you don't approved the girl's cooking techniques." Eisaku joked in reference to what the screen is showing.
Miyuki was currently cooking curry for lunch.
Motosuke looked outraged. "Of course I don't. There is an art in cooking curry." Another thing that cause Motosuke some worry was Miyuki's lack of cooking skills.
The girl is pedestrian when it comes to the culinary arts and he was worried about the nutrients that his niece would be taking in during the trip.
Eisaku rolled his eyes. His little brother can get obsessive to the most trivial of things.
"Aside from your disapproval of Miyuki-san's culinary skills, has there been any new development?" Eisaku asked while taking a seat beside his brother.
Motosuke and the inner family were taking turns watching the three children in the RV. Although they trusts Tatsuya and Miyuki to an extent, it was still Maya and they would personally want to see her safe and sound for themselves.
"Just the usual slice of life. Tatsuya driving, Maya-chan playing her games, and Miyuki-san trying to cook with minor success." Motosuke answered with a small sigh. "Miyuki-san can bake, but aside from that, her cooking skills needs polishing."
"Let go of that." Eisaku told his brother.
"Never." Motosuke replied swiftly before turning some of his attention to his older brother. "Among the siblings, who are you more worried of?" Motosuke asked randomly.
Eisaku looked at Motosuke confusedly. "I thought those two are not a threat to Maya."
"They are not." Motosuke reaffirmed his previous sentiment. Watching the two siblings interact with Maya, Motosuke was confident that the siblings were of no threat towards his niece. "It's just the soldier in me wanting to determine the most immediate threat." Motosuke explained.
Eisaku eyed Motosuke carefully before he answered. "Tatsuya-san worried me the most." Eisaku answered his brother's inquiry. "Teens like him should not have those eyes."
"No children should have those eyes." Motosuke agreed darkly.
Tatsuya's eyes were emotionless to the point that it was almost lifeless. The Yotsuba brothers have seen eyes like those before, and most of them time, those eyes belong to people that have seen things that no other people should see with their own eyes.
The brothers' knew that Tatsuya was trained to be a weapon, and all three of them were wondering what he had experience to have eyes like those.
After a few seconds, Motosuke answered his own inquiry. "I worried about the sister more." Motosuke admitted.
"Miyuki-san?" Eisaku asked in slight disbelief before he turned his attention to the said girl. "She's magically powerful, true, but she looks to lack training in combat." Eisaku commented.
Motosuke rolled his eyes at his brother. "And that's the reason why I stayed in the front lines and you became a pencil pusher." Motosuke grumbled in slight irritation. "All three of them have been trained in combat, and believe me when I say this, among the three of them, it's Maya who is lacking the most in that area of training."
Motosuke trained Maya and Miya in Magic Combat.
Maya was more inclined towards combat than Miya by a wide margin. Maya has more talent in magical combat than her twin.
That said, Maya is around a child that was trained old school in terms of using magic, and no one can beat old school training when it comes to magic combat, and a girl who has an angelic face with a hidden bite.
Eisaku looked questioningly at his brother before turning once again to Miyuki, who has a bright smile on his face as she finishes the curry that she's cooking.
"I don't see it." Eisaku exclaimed, not seeing any evidence that Miyuki was trained for battle.
"You need your eyes check." Motosuke told his brother with a shake of his head.
(Scene Change)
"Isn't that a bit too much?" Yotsuba Yume said in a slightly aghast voice.
She, as well as the inner circle of her brother, with the addition of Miya and Ayame, watched as Tatsuya parked the RV into a Charging Station.
They watched Tatsuya casually walked out the RV with a gun-shape CAD in hand, a blank looked on his face.
And with that blank looked on his face, he proceeded to eradicate every human being within sight.
It did not matter whether they be man, woman, or child. It did not matter the age of the person, old or young. Tatsuya merely raised his CAD and pulled the trigger. This action erased every single people within his sight.
When the charging station was devoid of people, Tatsuya turned his attention to the vehicles that were passing by the charging station and the vehicles that had just left the station.
With another pull of a trigger, Tatsuya erased every moving vehicle and their occupants that were within two hundred yards of the charging station.
With no witnesses remaining, Tatsuya then camouflage the recharging station by distorting the light around the station.
In one of the screen in the Yotsuba Surveillance room, the one that showed a bird's eye view of the charging station, the entire facility vanished from the screen, showing only a vast empty tract of land.
Fortunately, they were still able to see Tatsuya through one of the cameras on the outside of the RV.
When everyone that has a pulse were taken care of, Tatsuya casually walked towards a charging terminal before beginning the process of recharging the battery of the RV.
The expression that he wore was so bland that it did not fit on the person that just murdered a few dozen people in just mere seconds.
"No, it's not." Ayame answered her daughter, smiling at the ruthlessness that she witness from her son's look alike. "They kidnapped Maya-san. Those who populated that country had lost their right to live the moment that asinine idea was born in their leaders' heads."
Miya shivered at the voice of her grandmother. Like her father, Miya always feels uneasy around the former matriarch of the clan. Nonetheless, Miya focused her attention on Tatsuya. She saw her sister's savior performed magic through her mother's [Recall] magic, but seeing it in person, even though it was on a surveillance video, was an experience.
Tatsuya displayed such beautiful magic. Not a single Psion wasted.
Not even she or her twin sister were capable of that feat. Not even her father or his siblings. Not even her mother.
Still, there was one thought the premeditated in Miya's mind.
"Would Tatsuya-san's magic be traced by the Dahan government after that?" Miya inquired to her mother.
Ayame answered her granddaughter before Yasuyo could speak. "Most governments track their magicians' usage of magic through excess materials in their Magic Sequence, or through their Psion Pollution. Most cities has devices capable to detecting such Psion Surges. I would bet that charging station has such detection device in their facility. Fortunately, Tatsuya-kun did not waste a single drop of his magic in his brief display." Ayame then turned her eyes at the Heir of the Family. "Hopefully, you would take note of the skill that was display before you. Magic that perfectly executed is rarely shown." Ayame told her granddaughter.
Miya just nodded, not daring to speak before her imposing grandmother.
Genzou glared at his mother before putting a comforting hand over his eldest' shoulders.
In the surveillance monitor, while Tatsuya was recharging the RV, Miyuki also stepped out of the RV, a pot of steaming rice and curry floating behind her, as well as some utensils and plates.
With a wave of her hand, Miyuki was able to telekinetically set up the camping table and seats that was mounted on the sides of the RV. With another wave, Miyuki was able set the table with the pots, plates, and utensils hovering behind her.
"Not as precise as her brother, but her control over her magic is impressive." Eisaku observed.
Ayame frowned a bit as she could see some excess material in the girl's magic, though she refrain from saying anything due to the amount of power that she could see the girl possess.
Also, she, as well as most in the room, was immediately distracted by the sight of Tatsuya erasing the Psion Pollution that his sister produce with nothing but a look.
"That should not be possible." Motosuke said with slight awe in his voice. "Tatsuya-kun's Decomposition Magic is a thing of beauty, but erasing someone else's excess Magic should be theoretically impossible."
"And yet…" Ayame chuckled in amusement. "…the possibility is shown."
Ayame was liking Tatsuya more and more.
Before a discussion could be had regarding Tatsuya's abilities, Maya stepped out of the Motorhome, her eyes looking around her vicinity before walking towards Tatsuya.
"[Was it really necessary to eliminate all of the people here?]" Maya inquired with an exasperated tone, although there was no indication that she was disturbed by Tatsuya's actions or any negative emotion in her voice.
"[The less people that sees us, the better.]" Tatsuya answered.
"[Still, this is a bit excessive.]" Maya commented while looking at the charging station that was once filled with people. "[They were civilians.]" Maya added as an afterthought.
"[We are magicians in a foreign land, with their government desiring you for some purpose. That alone necessitates overkill.]" Tatsuya stated with a serious tone. "[Also, they maybe civilians, but the people here can be used to identify and tract us down. It is better to assure our anonymity while in this country. If it means killing civilians, so be it.]" Tatsuya exclaimed with cold conviction in his voice.
"Do we have anyone available in the family for Tatsuya-kun to marry?" Ayame inquired with upmost seriousness. "I like the way he thinks."
"No daughter of our family would be put in an arranged marriage." Genzou stated firmly, wanting that idea to die from his mother's mind.
It was bad enough that his mother was able to convince him to have Maya marry into the Saegusa through their next head. He will not allow any of daughters of the family to be sold like a broodmare, even if the payoff is well worth it.
Ayame gave her son an annoyed and frustrated look. "A Magician of that caliber is only produce once in a generation."
"And our family is filled with magicians that are once in a generation." Genzou countered, meeting his mother's disapproving look with a glare.
"Must they always quarrel?" Yume whispered, somewhat annoyed at the antics of her mother and brother.
"It's them." Eisaku pointed out, as if it answered everything.
"I don't like how thick that curry is." Motosuke said with upmost seriousness, his eyes fixed on the three children as they prepare for their lunch.
"Get over it!" Both Eisaku and Yume exclaimed in unison
"[You know, I always wanted to learn how to cook.]" Maya spoke as she tasted Miyuki's homemade curry. It was not up to par with most of the meals that she enjoys back him but it was close.
"She doesn't have the patience for it." Miya said dryly in response to her twin's statement.
"Maya-chan would destroy the kitchen if she's allowed near a stove." Motosuke added.
"[It's a very calming hobby, Maya-san.]" Miyuki said with a small chuckle.
"If you're any good at it…"
"SHUT UP!" Motosuke's siblings cut him off before he could get started in a nonsensical rant.
"[Delicious as always, Miyuki.]" Tatsuya commented as he began eating the meal that his sister made for them.
Ayame raised a single brow as she observed Tatsuya's eating manners. "He moves like a machine." Ayame stated before turning her attention to Miyuki. "The girl has better posture than both Maya-san and Miya-san combine."
"They appear to be trained for two separate things." Yasuyo said, frowning a bit at how different the two siblings moved.
One moved like a warrior while the other moved like a well groomed Ojou-sama.
Even if the two came from a family that defined their respective roles through their gender, Tatsuya should show even a bit of grace that his sister was displaying at the moment.
"Eisaku-san…" Ayame called.
"Yes, Okaa-sama." Eisaku turned his attention to his mother.
"Any updates regarding the two children?" Ayame asked, genuine curiosity in her normally cautious voice.
Eisaku immediately frowned. "Same as before."
"There are still no information regarding Tatsya-san and Miyuki-san?" Genzou inquired with unease in his voice.
Eisaku could only nod. "It is as if those two just appeared out of thin air."
"A magician like that boy and a girl that beautiful and magically powerful does not just appear out of nowhere." Ayame pointed out, a bit of irritation coloring her voice.
Eisaku looked at both his brother and mother apologetically, but his answer remained the same.
There were no information available regarding the peculiar siblings.
(Scene Change)
Even though Tatsuya was persona non grata in the Yotsuba Clan, he was well aware of the clan's history.
Tatsuya knew the people that built the fearsome reputation of the Yotsuba from the ground up.
His generation revered Yotsuba Genzou. After all, he was the man who led the family in destroying a nation. He was the man who avenged his daughter's dishonor.
Tatsuya respected Genzou liked the rest of the children of his generation. He would even go so far in saying that his respect for his grandfather grew as it was apparent that the man truly loved his daughters.
Unlike the children of blood in his generation though, Tatsuya did not revere Yotsuba Genzou.
Yotsuba Genzou is a man of dignity, a man of honor, a man of greatness.
Those qualities led him to an early grave.
If there was a figure head in the history of the Yotsuba that Tatsuya would say that he reveres in a way, it would be Yotsuba Ayame, the Head of the family before Genzou.
Yotsuba Ayame can be describe in a few words:
Yotsuba Ayame is the equivalent of Yotsuba Maya in his time.
Yotsuba Genzou may have created the mystic of the Yotsuba abroad, but it was Yotsuba Ayame who fostered that mystic locally.
After all, Yotsuba Ayame outlived her heroic son.
Yotsuba Eisaku may have succeeded his brother, but it was Yotsuba Ayame who kept the family afloat after half of its fighting force went down against the Dahan.
Yotsuba Ayame is the reason why the Yotsuba Clan did not lose any of its prestige when the clan was at its lowest and weakest point.
Tatsuya also inherited his eyes from Ayame.
Tatsuya was once again driving the Motorhome while Miyuki was doing her best to teach their future Aunt how to bake.
Tatsuya almost felt amused.
He never imagined his aunt lowering herself to such tasks, but, as it was established since they arrived in the past, the Yotsuba Maya before them was different from the Yotsuba Maya that they knew.
Stifling a dry chuckle, Tatsuya once again focused on the road, with a bit of his attention diverted to the woman watching him.
It was strange to have [Elemental Sight] set on his person.
Normally, he was the one using Elemental Sight to spy on people. To have the centerpiece of his abilities used on him is an experience.
Be that as it may, he knew the inner workings of Elemental Sight.
Yotsuba Ayame may have her eyes on him, but that also works in reverse.
Yotsuba Ayame was able to find him through the Information Dimension, but in doing so, his great grandmother had also revealed her position to him.
Yotsuba Ayame was watching him.
He was doing the same, and in Tatsuya's estimation, he can do more damage from his position than his great grandmother.
And they are both aware of this.
An advantage of having Elemental Sight is that he, and he assumes his great grandmother as well, can accurately estimate the power and abilities of those they set their eyes upon.
That knowledge does not give Tatsuya an ounce of comfort.
There was a reason why Yotsuba Ayame's name is barely mention in the Yotsuba.
Yotsuba Ayame is darkness personified.
Yotsuba Maya, the Maya that Tatsuya knew, might be the most dangerous Yotsuba in the history of the clan. Maya have field graveyards and shed so much blood that she can fill a lake with the blood that she had spilled.
That said, Maya's name do not inspire the same amount of fear as Ayame's name.
Maya is covered in blood.
Ayame is shrouded in darkness.
(Scene Change)
Yotsuba Ayame was enjoying a cup of tea, a small smile etched on her lips.
Currently, the former matriarch of the Yotsuba was in her room, in the eastern side of the estate.
Her son had purposely isolated her from the family.
Ayame did not blame her son one bit. Ayame knew that her rule did not shined a positive light upon the family.
If only her son could understand her on why she stirred the family to the dark. Power never comes easy in the light.
In the dark though, there are power in the darkness that most could not fathom.
Nonetheless, Ayame did not have any problems with her son stirring the Yotsuba in the light, although she personally preferred the family to remain in the shadows.
But her son is her son, and she would allow Genzou to rule the family in his own way.
At the end of the day after all, her son was a better person that she had ever been, and he was an excellent leader, far better than her.
In Ayame's perspective, she had raised her children properly. If nothing else, as the Matriarch of the family, she had succeeded in turning her children into excellent men and woman.
Through her care, each and every one of her children grew strong.
Her children, all of them with no exception, were stronger than her in every conceivable way.
To see her eldest, regardless of his dislike of her, surpass her as a leader, to see her second son surpassed her as an entrepreneur, to see her youngest son surpassed her as a warrior, to see her daughter surpassed her as a woman, Ayame was proud of her children.
To see her children surpassed her in magic, Ayame could not be prouder even if she tried.
And that is why Tatsuya intrigued her.
Ayame have always been partial towards Maya. Everyone in the Clan was aware of this.
It is not that Ayame did not like her other granddaughter. Miya has potential to be great. Miya, with the right guidance, can be greater than Genzou.
But Maya is special. She can be greater than anyone in the family.
That is why she pushed Maya as Genzou's successor. With the right training, Maya could usher the Yotsuba Clan to a bright and prosperous era.
When her proposal was rejected, she pushed Maya to be marry into the only family that has the capacity to rival their beloved Yotsuba. Ayame was confident that Maya can stir her fiancée, and to an extent the Segusa, to the benefit of the Yotsuba.
Although, Ayame started having buyer's remorse when she discovered the Saegusa boy failed to protect Maya.
Typical, men and failing.
'Typical. Men, most are only useful in bed.' Ayame thought wryly as she remembered her own husband.
Higashiyama Motohide was a good man, a kind man. A good soldier, a better lover, and a man of honor.
'A man with too much honor.' Ayame thought dryly.
She enjoyed her years with her late husband. The sex was great and the man protected her with the best of his abilities while she plotted and scheme. Still, Motohide did not approved most of her plans with the family, but he kept his opinions between then and he obeyed her until his dying breath.
And her late husband was the reason why Tatsuya was so intriguing.
Among her children, Genzou resembled his father the most, in both looks and personality, though Ayame was delighted that she was able to instill some of her correct perspectives in her eldest' skull.
Motohide was an excellent soldier, but he was a horrible leader, unable to do what was necessary.
Genzou greatly resembled his father in looks and personality.
That Tatsuya boy though, aside from his eyes, looked exactly like Motohide. It was like some deity took hold of the fourteen year old version of her boy toy and bodyguard and threw him into the future.
The girl though, Miyuki, she is unnatural.
When Ayame first used her Elemental Sight to find her granddaughter, it took her some difficulty to focus on Maya.
In the Information Dimension, Miyuki was like a giant beacon of light that caught her attention almost immediately.
It took her some effort to divert her attention to check on Maya.
After checking and making sure that Maya was safe and sound, she turned her attention to Miyuki.
Ayame was only able to look at the peculiar girl for a second. A single thorough look upon the girl, Ayame discovered that Miyuki was heavily modified to perfection.
There was no chance in hell that a woman that beautiful and magically powerful can be born without any modifications.
Miyuki was created to be perfect, and she is the perfect magician. There was not a single drop of imperfection upon the girl.
Before Ayame could looked deeper though, she was forcefully ejected from the Information Dimension, the right side of her neck bleeding.
This caught Ayame by surprised. In her years using Elemental Sight, even to those that were aware that she was watching them, this was the first time she was forcibly kicked out of the Information Dimension.
Using her Elemental Sight once again, Ayame was met with a glare that would have killed lesser beings.
Tatsuya was looking at her with eyes that she had only seen whenever she looks at a mirror.
Tatsuya possessed Elemental Eyes and the face of her late husband.
That gained Tatsuya her attention.
"I wonder…" Ayame whispered as she looked at Tatsuya curiously with her eyes.
Her gazed was met evenly by his.
Ayame smiled.
"… how do I get you into the family."
FILLER CHAPTER… NEXT CHAPTER WOULD HAVE MORE ACTION…. STILL TRYING TO GET MY MOJO BACK.