SECOND CHANCES
Chapter 9: Family and Compromise Part 2
Disclaimer I don't own Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
Genzou dislikes starting his day conducting business, especially family business. He would rather begin his day with a quick round of sex with his wife, followed by breakfast with his wife and daughters.
Unfortunately, current circumstances require him to shelf his preferred morning ritual.
Genzou heard the sound of his study's room opening.
He already knew the identity of the person who entered his study without looking towards the door.
"If anyone fights right now, I will personally chuck both of you out of my office via the window." Genzou warned his brothers, specifically Motosuke.
Motosuke, for his part, raised his arms in placation, although he did throw a glare at Eisaku.
Eisaku did not meet his younger brother's gaze and merely sat steadily on the sofa.
Motosuke took a chair near Genzou's desk, far away from Eisaku.
"Are we going to address the elephant in the room?" Motosuke inquired, anger controlled at the moment.
"Yes." Genzou confirmed as he turned to look at Motosuke. "Let me start by saying this: You and I might not have agreed with how that Eisaku handled Tatsuya-kun and Maya-chan, but at the very least, with regards to Tatsuya-kun, that Eisaku did what he thought was best, and it was not that bad of a solution." Genzou stated bitterly.
Logically, what that Eisaku did was logically, though heartless.
Motosuke looked as if he swallowed a lemon before nodding begrudgingly. "I don't have to like it. I don't like it in fact" Motosuke exclaimed angrily. "There could have been other methods. We are the leading practitioners and researchers of Mind Manipulation Magic. We could have made a mental block or magic seal to prevent Tatsuya from throwing tantrums or from being overwhelm by his emotions."
"Half of our family was wiped out in that universe." Eisaku pointed out weakly. "Having a weapon of that caliber in our family…"
"Refer to Tatsuya as a weapon again, I will concuss you." Motosuke threatened his older brother, a deadly look in his eyes.
Eisaku cringed at his own words and Motsuke's threat before nodding. "Having a magician like Tatsuya-san within the family would have kept the Yotsuba afloat while we rebuild our strength." Eisaku stated as he thought of the current state of the Yotsuba in Tatsuya's universe. "The family kept its position in the Ten Master Clans due to the reputation it gained after Dahan, and through Maya-san's own fearsome reputation."
At the mention of that twisted version of Maya, all three brothers shudder in fear and disgust.
"Let's try not to think of that parody of my daughter, shall we?" Genzou all but ordered his brothers.
"Maya-chan inherited some of her odd traits from mother." Motosuke said while shaking the image of that Maya from his mind. "Still, a bit of a tangent, what are we going to do with Dahan?" Motosuke inquired, a dangerous edge in his eyes.
Among the three of them, Motosuke wanted blood the most.
"Do you want to go to war, just like the Yotsuba in Tatsuya's universe?" Eisaku asked Motosuke carefully.
"A war is not needed." Motosuke stated confidently. "I just need Tatsuya to list down all the high value targets that the Yotsuba of his time targeted. After that, give me two months, three at most, and Dahan will be in a civil war against one another. "Motosuke proposed with confidence.
Eisaku rolled his eyes at his younger brother's proposal. "That's war. A different kind of war, but war nonetheless." Eisaku exclaimed with gritted teeth as he remembered a fact in Tatsuya's universe. "You died in those lands."
"And I took at least 200 of those animals with me!" Motosuke stated angrily, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "I should have gotten more. Right now, I could get more. I could take a thousand of those bastards."
"At what cost?" Genzou asked seriously and sternly at his hot-headed brother. Motosuke was the most emotional among the siblings, and because of that, he was the most emotionally invested within the family. Motosuke loves the Yotsuba the most in the family. "You can kill tens of thousands of those barbarians, and none of them would be worth an ounce of your blood." Genzou chastised Motosuke. "I had seen this family driven to insanity because of their anger. I would rather not witness it again." Genzou stated strongly, eyes burning with determination that cowed Motosuke to silence.
With his brothers silenced for the moment, Genzou spoke. "As much as want to put everyone in that country to the sword, I would rather keep every single one of our family safe and alive. As much as I want to declare war on what they intend to do to my daughter, I am staying my hand." Genzou informed his brothers.
Motosuke wholeheartedly disagreed with his eldest brother while Eisaku looked torn from relief to disappointment.
Regardless, both younger brothers accepted Genzou's decision.
"Mother won't like that decision." Motosuke told his brother.
"I've discussed this with mother already. She was strangely accepting of my decision." Genzou informed them, although he was already planning to foil any plan his mother would concoct regarding Dahan.
That would be a headache and a half.
"You still need to respond." Eisaku told Genzou. "It would be a sign of weakness if you just let Maya-san's kidnapping slide." Eisaku added as an afterthought.
"I am aware and I already made a response." Genzou informed his brothers. "There is a reason why Juuzou-san and his contingent have yet to return from Taipei."
"Is it because I'll be removing his head if he steps foot in the estate?" Motosuke asked sarcastically, although he is very irked with his brother-in-law.
"It hasn't happened yet." Eisaku scolded Motosuke. "Let it go!"
Motosuke leveled a disgruntled glare at his brother. "That piece of shit requested a newly born child of our family to be put to death." Motosuke growled out. "He requested our blood to be put to the sword because of the gifts he was born with. It doesn't matter if it hasn't happened yet, it happened, and there is a possibility that it will happen. I will not allow that."
"Neither would we, but that matter is to be settled later." Genzou stated before his eyes went to Motosuke. "I want you to visit the Dahan embassy. Find those who are aware of Maya's kidnapping. Make them disappear. Those that are not aware of the plan, make them scare."
Motosuke smiled viciously at that order.
He was going to enjoy putting the fear of God upon those mongrels.
Genzou then turned his attention to Eisaku. He took a folder from his drawer before handing it to Eisaku.
"I want you to visit the Saegusa. Confirm to Ichika that the engagement between Maya and his son will still go through, and determine if he wants a pound of flesh from Dahan. If he does, give that to him."
Eisaku nodded as he study the folder that was given to him.
(Scene Change)
"How come we are not having breakfast with Tou-sama and Okaa-sama?" Maya asked Hayama as the head butler of the Yotsuba served the twins an American breakfast that consist of a serving of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hash browns, with a cup of hot cocoa on the sides.
This was Maya's first morning back after the entire ordeal in Dahan. She wanted to have some quality time with her parents, sister, and favorite relatives before she makes her rounds throughout the clan to assure them that nothing untoward happened to her.
"Because Genzou-sama and Yasuyo-sama decided to have breakfast with Tatsuya-sama and Miyuki-sama alone for the time being to avoid a repeat of what happened last night." Hayama informed the twins. "They are trying to determine if the two are still friendly with us, considering the information that was revealed last night."
Miya winced, knowing that this entire debacle was her fault.
Or the fault of an alternative version of herself.
Miya made a note to read about the Multiverse theory.
Maya, proving that there are credence for twin telepathy, reached for her sister's hand and squeeze it comfortingly.
"Tatsuya-kun won't harm me." Maya stated confidently. "If he held a grudge against me, he would have made me disappear the second he laid his eyes on me."
Both Miya and Hayama winced. Considering Tatsuya's magic, it would have been easy for him to erase Maya's entire existence with nothing more than a whim.
Fortunately, Tatsuya was incapable of holding a grudge.
Miya did not know how to feel about that.
"Genzou-sama and Yasuyo-sama are not concern with Tatsuya-sama turning hostile." Hayama told his current charges.
"You are worried about Miyuki-san?" Miya inquired, mind wondering to the daughter that she had in an alternative world.
In retrospect, she always did like the name 'Miyuki'. It was the name of the female protagonist of her favorite novel.
"Miyuki-chan liked me enough, and she loves Nee-chan." Maya exclaimed as she gestured to Miya.
Again, Miya winced at the wording that her sister used.
"I don't think that Miyuki-san particularly cares for me." Miya softly rebutted her sister. "I am quite sure that Miyuki-san loves her Miya, and I am not that 'Miya'. I am merely a reflection of her."
Again, Maya gave her sister's hand a supportive squeeze. "Still, Tatsuya-kun and Miyuki-chan would undoubtedly interact with us. It's better to rip off the band aid, and if there is an issue between me and Miyuki-chan, then we should hash it out." Maya insisted fiercely.
She and Miyuki got along during their brief incursion in Dahan. Maya is pretty sure that Miyuki is still her friend.
Also, if they came to blows, Maya was pretty sure that she would win the fight.
Miyuki maybe more talented than her when it comes to magic, but Maya was confident that she was the better fighter.
Hayama smiled at Maya's determination. "I am quite happy that you see it that way, Maya-sama, but please let your parents have the first crack at speaking with Tatsuya-sama and Miyuki-sama. They are the heads of the clan, and as much as they would like to welcome both children with open arms, they first need to be assured that there won't be any hostility from them" Hayama bowed respectfully at the two before taking his leave, allowing the twins to have a conversation without him present.
With Hayama gone, Miya spoke.
"You are very eager to speak with them." Miya stated as she prepared to eat the meal that was presented to her.
"I'm just curious." Maya admitted as she mirrored her sister. "Thinking back, after seeing what Tatsuya-kun went through at the hands of his Maya, he has the reason to disintegrate me."
"You are not that Maya." Miya assured her twin.
Maya would never be that Maya, Miya swore that to herself.
"I am that Maya, or at least I have the potential to be that Maya." Maya was torn. Like her family, she was unnerved of what she could have been if Tatsuya did not interfere.
For all the elegance and power that Maya showed, she displayed equal amounts of insanity and rage, and she was terrified that she has the potential to be like that.
"Don't overthink it." Miya's voiced took Maya out of her contemplation. "The biggest factor of you becoming like that has been negated."
Maya was not desecrated to the point of insanity and Miya was not forced to use her Mental Design Interference magic on her to salvage what remains of her mind.
In fact, Miya made a note to not use her inborn magic on any of her family members.
"Still…" Maya muttered. "…I could be like that." And Maya was torn at that fact.
The reputation of that Maya was incredible, she did not mind being that infamous, but she could not fathom having her entire family be scared of her.
"You are not going to be like that." Miya told her firmly. "We'll stop you from becoming like that." Miya promised her sister.
Maya smiled at her sister's assurance before turning her attention at her meal. Before she took a bite, she ask her twin one question. "Are you going to speak to Tatsuya-kun and Miyuki-chan?"
Miya did not hesitate in answering.
"If I'm required to." Miya answered her sister.
"You'll like them, especially Tatsuya-kun." Maya suddenly giggled. "I can see where he got his personality from."
"I don't think he has a personality."
"He has a semblance of one, and that semblance resembled yours."
"My personality isn't that dry."
The Yotsuba twins ate as they continue conversing in a comfortable silence.
(Scene Change)
There was a slight tension in the air as Tatsuya and Miyuki are in the same room as two legendary figures of their Yotsuba Clan.
Yotsuba Genzou and his wife, Yotsuba Yasuyo, was seated across them.
On top of the table was a traditional Japanese Breakfast, and though their respective plates were filled with food, no one had touch a single minstrel of food.
No, the four were just looking at the people across them.
"It's not poison." Genzou assured his grandchildren, half serious, half joking, trying to strike a conversation with the children.
"We are aware." Tatsuya told his grandfather, voice respectful. "That is not the actual issue."
"We grew up hearing stories about you…" Miyuki said as she tried to hide the awe the she is feeling at the moment. "Both of you. Okaa-sama spoke highly and fondly of you both." Miyuki added, her eyes fleeting across the grandparents that she never knew. Her eyes were filled with reverie.
"That is good to hear." Yasuyo said as she tried to lighten the tense atmosphere in the room, though she was not comfortable at the awed look that she was getting from her grandchildren. Even Tatsuya was looking at them as if they were mythical creatures.
"Same with Obaa-eu." Miyuki's eyes narrowed momentarily as Tatsuya spoke of Maya. "Obaa-eu enjoys reminiscing of her childhood."
Yasuyo curiously turned her gazed at Tatsuya. "I am surprised that you hold no grudge towards that Maya, considering what she did to you."
It was better to address the elephant in the room.
"The alternative would have been more detestable." Tatsuya replied swiftly. "Beneath all the rage and insanity of our Obaa-eu, lies a scared little girl who only wanted assurance and protection from the world that she views as cruel and twisted."
"So she clings to the one being who has the ability to protect her." Genzou finished what he assumed Tatsuya's thought process is.
"She still went too far." Miyuki whispered hatefully, but a comforting hand on her shoulder calmed her down.
"Again the alternative would have been more detestable." Tatsuya repeated himself, remembering their Maya's musing on what she might force Miyuki to do if he does not comply with her selfish urges.
"That is a startling observation." Yasuyo said, her mind once again evaluating the mental profile of that version of her daughter. "I figured that with all of her renown and reputation that she would not have such fears."
Tatsuya only shook his head negative. "Regardless of our mother's efforts, our Obaa-eu never recovered from what happened to her in Dahan. She hid her fear behind her insanity and rage. She is quick to order the deaths of enemies because she fears that they would bring harm to the clan that she, regardless of how she displays it, love with all of her being."
Genzou winced a bit as he remembered the number of termination missions that that Maya gave Tatsuya. It was horrifying to know that his grandson had more kills than him, and he did not even fought in a war.
"You respect your Maya?" Yasuyo asked, voice in an equal level.
"Yes." Tatsuya stated with no hesitation. "She was a great leader for our Yotsuba."
Miyuki nodded at those words of her brother, though begrudgingly.
"I think we would have differing opinion in that regard." Genzou disagreed as he did not like the direction that Maya was stirring the family. "What about your Miya? Do you detest her?"
Miyuki's looked at her brother at the corner of her eyes. She, too, wanted to hear what her brother's opinion about their late-mother.
"No, I don't." Tatsuya answered without paused as he reached for his chopsticks. He gestured to Miyuki to eat, and she quickly obeyed.
"Even after what she put you through?" Yasuyo pressed as she mirrored her grandson and began eating the offerings before her. Genzou followed suit.
"I understand her reasoning." Tatsuya said with a neutral expression. "She had no choice. What I could do in a bout of emotional distress is the stuff of nightmares." A small smile appeared momentarily on Tatsuya's face. "The reason we are here is due to my single bout of emotional distress."
Miyuki winced as she recalled why her brother destroyed their universe.
Their uncles should not have had aimed at her.
"There are always choices, other more palatable options." Yasuyo could already think of ways that would have prevented Tatsuya from using [Material Bursts] during emotional outburst. "The choice that your Miya and your Eisaku made regarding your wellbeing should have never been considered." Yasuyo stated strongly.
Miyuki could not help but smile at her grandmother at those words.
That smile was reciprocated by Yasuyo.
"Still, all things considered, it could have been worse." Tatsuya replied, still not seeing the ethical dilemma of what happened to him.
"We need to work on what you consider as worse." Genzou exclaimed as he pointed his chopsticks at Tatsuya. "Still, you do not hold a grudge against our daughters."
After seeing Tatsuya's past, that is one assurance Genzou needed before he allows Tatsuya and Miyuki to interact with them.
"I have a degree of fondness for our Obaa-eu. It is very slight, a touch of respect for what she had overcome." Tatsuya admitted with a small smile. "For Miya-sama, my mother, our relationship might not have been ideal for the blood that we share, but I always admire her, both as a woman, and fellow magic researcher, and magic engineer." Tatsuya added, making Miyuki smile. "I hold no grudge or anger against them. Not back in our own time, certainly not now."
Genzou nodded, satisfied, although he wondered what Tatsuya's opinion would be if he was not emotionally crippled.
"What about you, Miyuki-san?" Yasuyo asked her granddaughter. Tatsuya's answered was as expected, although it was nice to have a verbal confirmation of Tatsuya's affection towards his birth mother. Miyuki was an issue.
Miyuki is Tatsuya's priority in every way, shape, and form. If Miyuki held a grudge against her daughters, mostly for Maya's well-being, then Tatsuya would be a problem in some form.
"It would be wonderful to see Okaa-sama growing up without the guilt that she had been carrying since her childhood." Miyuki said wistfully. "As for Obaa-sama…" Miyuki's lips narrowed for a second before she let out a sigh. "This Obaa-sama is not our Obaa-sama, and I have grown quite fond of this version of her. It may take some time for me to get over what I've seen from Onii-sama's memories, but I would not hold what our Obaa-sama did to him over this Obaa-sama."
Not the answer that Genzou and Yasuyo preferred, but it was acceptable enough.
"Don't call Miya-san 'Okaa-sama', and Maya-san as 'Obaa-sama'." Yasuyo told Miyuki, choosing to go forward with another topic. "We will be blunt, Genzou and I intend to adopt both of you as our children." Yasuyo informed the siblings.
Miyuki was taken aback by this statement, though Tatsuya merely looked thoughtful.
"Adopting Miyuki would be enough. An agent position for me is much more preferable." Tatsuya proposed to the current Patriarch and Matriarch of the family.
"Don't speak such nonsense." Yasuyo dismissed Tatsuya's proposal gently, a motherly smile directed at Tatsuya. "You are family."
"We are ashamed of how badly you are treated in your Yotsuba." Genzou added, feeling a sense of disgust at how badly their family had treated Tatsuya in his time. "You are a Yotsuba, my blood, my kin. You are far from being a servant." Genzou stated strongly.
Miyuki smiled brightly at that proclamation, a win in Yasuyo's opinion, but the perplexed look on Tatsuya's face was indication that she and her husband has work to do.
Limited emotional capacity or not, Yasuyo would turn Tatsuya into the Prince that he was born to be.
(Scene Change)
One Yotsuba Ayame glided to one of her private chambers in the Yotsuba Main Estate.
She was still riding a high of happiness.
A God in the family, access to said God as well as knowledge about the future, Ayame could not remember the last time when she was this happy.
It almost made her want to spare an insect.
Almost.
Ayame entered an almost empty chamber. The lone occupant of the chamber was one Keigo Chisaki, the insignificant trash that sold her granddaughter to a bunch of animals.
Provided, Maya turned out well, but Ayame preferred her granddaughter not mutilated.
There are other ways to turn Maya into the Queen of Night, the Demon Empress of the Far East.
In fact, that would be one of her projects. If she played her cards right, the Yotsuba would have the four strongest magicians in the world.
But that is for later.
This is now.
Ayame looked at the man who she would be having fun with for the next hour or so before raising her hand and striking said man across the cheek.
"Wake up!" Ayame ordered as the sound of a hard slapped echoed in the chamber.
That strike immediately stirred Chisaki awake.
Said man looked groggy for a moment and Ayame decided to help him with said dilemma.
*SLAP*
Another hard slapped landed on Chisaki's other cheek, and this one disoriented the man for a second before he focused on the one who had struck him.
All the color on his face drained the moment his eyes landed on Ayame.
Ayame smiled maliciously. So the worm knew who she is.
Good, this made things more fun!
"Good morning, Keigo-san!" Ayame greeted the man sickly.
The traitor tried to move, to speak, but he could not move any part of his body and his ability to speak was apparently stripped from him.
This was strange for Chisaki considering that he was not bound nor was he gagged.
Seeing this, Ayame laughed. "Most magician prefers magic that can hurl elements while others prefer magic that can alter physical phenomenon. All good options, mind you, but if you ask me, nothing beats magic that can alter the mind." Ayame tapped her head lazily, as if emphasizing her point. "After all, the mind controls the body." Ayame giggled as she circled the man.
"But Magic preference aside, you owe me blood." Ayame told the man, her slender, frail fingers dancing across the unmoving body of the ambassador. "You owe my entire family blood."
The looked of panic that cross Chisaki's face made Ayame's smile wider. "By the looks of things, you know why you have forfeited your life." Ayame gripped Chisaki's shoulders from behind, and though she was old and frail, she still has enough strength in her grip to break skin. "Personally, I am quite offended." Ayame leaned down and whispered those words to the terrified man in her grips.
"40 million dollars for one of my granddaughters, do you think my cute little granddaughter is a cheap, back ally slut?" Ayame slapped the man on the back of his head. "You should have ask those animals for more. Better yet, you should have told us of their offer." Ayame spun around the man until she was standing in front of him, their eyes meeting.
Ayame's crimson eyes made Chisaki lost all controls of his bowels.
"We would have tripled their offer in exchange of their names." Ayame informed the former ambassador as she stood before the man. "But that ship has pass." Ayame informed Chisaki before she snapped her fingers.
Immediately, multiple servants entered the room, all carrying various tools and furniture.
All of which were used for torture.
The sight of it made Chisaki pale in horror.
"Let me tell you what is going to happen to you." Ayame said as she plucked a dull, serrated blade from one of her servants. "You are going to die." Ayame simply stated as she leaned forward and press the blade on Chisaki's neck.
"In fact, your entire family is going to die." Ayame added, her smile filled with sadism and contempt. "As we speak, my people are arranging accidents for your entire family." Ayame stated and the looked of despair in the man's eyes delighted her. "From your wife and children, to your parents and siblings, to the parents of your wife, to the families of your siblings, to your extended family, to your wife's extended family, my people are exterminating them, one by one, with extreme prejudice."
"We will make sure that you and your entire bloodline would be reduce to a memory." Ayame promised Chisaki.
"But…" Ayame paused for a moment as she stepped away from the soon-to-be corpse. "You are lucky. You caught me in a good mood." Ayame informed the as she turned her back on him. "Your family will die painlessly." Ayame commented off handedly as she inspected the rigged that her servants set up.
A sturdy operation's table.
"You, on the other hand, will not have that courtesy." Ayame turned her gazed on her servants. "Strapped him in, don't be gentle." Ayame ordered as she went to smaller tables that contained her toys.
Ayame smiled as she heard numerous thuds echoing in her chamber.
This was going to be a fun morning.
(Scene Change)
Saegusa Ichika looked across the man seated across his work desk.
Yotsuba Eisaku.
In his opinion, the most agreeable of the Yotsuba Brothers.
Motosuke, though an open book when compared to his older siblings, was too blunt and emotional for him to conduct business with.
Genzou, as much as it irks Ichika to admit, was too clever for him to lead to any dealings.
Eisaku was a much more palatable.
"I am surprised that you and your family are still willing to have contact with us." Ichika began, his voice hiding the frustration that he was feeling with the Yotsuba.
After Taipei, and when the announcement of Yotsuba Maya's kidnapping, the entire Yotsuba went radio silent.
He and his family had tried to contact them, but they got nothing from the elusive family, something that annoyed Ichika.
Their family would be united through the marriage of his son to one Yotsuba Maya. An open communication should have been a given between the two families.
"The silence from our family was a necessity. We had to arrange my niece's retrieval." Eisaku retorted politely, though there was a certain edge in his voice.
Ichika raised a single brow at Eisaku. "Can I assume that young Maya has been retrieved?" Ichika inquired.
Eisaku nodded. "We were able to retrieve her before anything permanent could happen to her." Eisaku took a folder from his briefcase and slid it towards Ichika.
Ichika took the folder and study it contents. It was a medical and physical evaluation of one Yotsuba Maya.
From the files, it seems that Yotsuba Maya was not injured in her brief captivity.
"So the engagement between young Maya and my son…"
"Will still go through…" Eisaku finished Ichika's statement. "My brother was not too fond of your son's inability to protect his daughter, but Maya-san insist that the debacle was not entirely your son's fault, and thus is still willing to have him as a partner."
Ichika gently closed the folder and casually slid it back to Eisaku. "I suggest you watched your words, Eisaku-san." Ichika warned the Yotsuba's envoy.
Eisaku merely nodded as he took back the folder. "Maya-san is asking on the soonest in which she can see her intended. She is quite worried about him." Eisaku moved on to a new topic to avoid needless posturing.
"I will speak to my son, and we will have a date arrange." Ichika answered back.
"Good to hear." Eisaku nodded in agreement.
There was a second of silence between the two men before Ichika spoke once again. "Who were the once who attempted to kill my heir and kidnapped his bride?" Ichika asked Eisaku, a dark look in his eyes.
He may not show it often, or at all for that matter, but he loves his children, and the state in which his son was returned to him made his blood burn in anger.
If the Yotsuba was able to retrieve their daughter from those scum, then that means they knew who arrange this travesty.
Ichika wanted names. He wanted to know where to direct his anger to.
Eisaku once again took a folder from his brief case before sliding a new folder at the head of the Saegusa Clan.
Taking the folder, Ichika began to read the contents of the folder.
"Dahan…" Ichika mumbled nonchalantly before a recent piece of news was push to the forefront of his mind. "The attack on the Guangxi Region, is that the Yotsuba's doing?" From what information that reach Ichika, the entire region of Guangxi was pillage and devastated, with hundreds of thousands, even millions dead.
Eisaku's expression did not change. "I can neither deny nor confirm that what happened in Guangxi Province was our family's doing."
A roundabout way of saying that their family went wild in Dahan.
From what Ichika could recall, the damage dealt in Guangxi was so extensive that the region was almost reduce to wasteland. A thought came to mind on how the Yotsuba did so much damage in such a short period of time but decided to voice those suspicion.
It was not the time.
"How will the Yotsuba Clan react to this slight?" Ichika would get his pound of flesh, but it was better to not stepped on the toes of his tentative ally.
Eisaku grimaced slightly at that inquiry. "My brother decided to take a page out of our mother's playbook."
Ichika winced at that.
He knew of Yotsuba Ayame, and that woman was deprived in her methods.
"I always forget that Genzou has a temper of his own." Ichika commented offhandedly while remembering the days of his service in the JSDF with Genzou.
Ichika shuddered slightly.
Genzou is more like his mother than the man wanted to admit.
"I'll handle the economic side." Ichika stated as he returned the folder to Eisaku. "Do you need help to politically cripple them?"
Eisaku shook his head. "We got that covered." Eisaku assured the head of the Saegusa. "Although, we would like to ask the Saegusa to help void or amend some treaties that Japan shares with Dahan."
"You don't have the numbers?" Ichika asked with a tone of disbelief. Among the Ten Master Clans, among the more affluent of the Number Families, the Yotsuba has the most politicians in their back pocket.
The Yotsuba knows where many bodies are buried. Ichika suspects that they were the people who did the burying of said bodies.
"We have the numbers, in both houses, but my brother figure that a super majority both would drive that point further that we are not to be trifle with." Eisaku told Ichika.
'An olive branch huh.' Ichika thought with a small nod. "I'll provide you with the votes. What are the treaties that we would be voiding?"
"Every treaty that involves any relations with Dahan." Eisaku said maliciously.
"Scorch earth?" Ichika asked, although he already knows the answer.
He would have done the same.
"Scorch earth." Eisaku confirmed.
(Scene Change)
"Good morning everyone, my name is Yotsuba Motosuke." Motosuke announced himself as he eyed every single employee working in the Japanese embassy of Dahan.
All of them were on their knees while his men leveled their CADs or rifles at them
Most of the people working in the embassy were of Dahan decent, a few were Japanese decent.
Quite frankly, Motosuke wanted to butcher all of them.
Unfortunately, his wrath is reserve to those who took part in his niece's kidnapping, so as much as he wanted to butcher and kill everyone in the room, Motosuke decided to stayed his hands.
For now anyways.
"I know there are many questions in your minds on why my people and I have occupied your quaint little establishment." Motosuke announced, his signature magic reading the surface thoughts of everyone in the room. "Let me answer that question for all of you. My adorable little niece was kidnapped in her brief visit in Taipei, and we discovered that the country of Dahan organized that brand of stupidity." Motosuke exclaimed as he took out his pistol from its holster.
Without pause or hesitation, he aimed his gun at one of the diplomats that was being held by his men before firing at the man's head and chest. He aimed the bullets in such a way that the man was going to bleed out.
From his thought when he mentioned Dahan, the diplomat was aware of the Dahan plot, and was paid handsomely for his part.
Funny really, if the man had ratted that plot to his family, they would have doubled or tripled whatever Dahan paid the man.
Instead, he was going to die slowly.
Motosuke was not in the mood for quick deaths.
There were several gasped of horror as the diplomat crashed to the floor but full blown panic was prevented when some of Motosuke's people flashed their weapons at the people, warning them not to do anything stupid.
Considering that one of their colleagues was currently dying in front of them, none of them did anything stupid.
Motosuke gave his 'audience' a time to compose themselves before he resumed speaking. "Suffice to say, my entire family is piss off at the moment. With that said, this is what's going to happen. My people and I are going to be asking all of you a set of questions. We expect all of you to answer them honestly. If your hands are clean from this debacle, this little incident would just be a nightmare in the deepest parts of your subconscious."
Motosuke's face suddenly harden.
"Lie to us, we already have a ditch dug up to bury your body. Mislead us, you die on the spot. Hide a truth from us, you will be fed to the dogs…"
Motosuke glared at every singly ambassador, dignitary, and consular in the room. "…if we find that you have knowledge, or heaven forbid, took part in the kidnapping of my niece, what we will put you through would make you begged for the sweet release of death." Motosuke promised, a wave of killing intent rolling out of him in waves.
His sheer aura was enough to frighten those around him, his subordinates included.
Good, fear is a good incentive for honesty.
(Scene Change)
"You really hid a lot from your family." Yasuyo commented as she watched in amazement as Tatsuya disintegrate and recreate objects with a simple touch of a hand.
After the pleasant breakfast between the four of them, Tatsuya asked if he could borrow a Tuning terminal to make all necessary adjustment to his and Miyuki's CADs.
Genzou granted his request, though he pointed out that the CADs that they have was more advance than the models that they have currently.
Tatsuya assured them the model of the terminal is not an issue.
With that assurance, Yasuyo led the siblings into an available CAD Tuning Terminal.
Genzou wanted to join them, but he had duties that he needed to address as head of the Yotsuba, hence only Yasuyo accompanied the siblings.
Arriving at one of the many CAD Tuning rooms in the estate, Tatsuya proceeded to 'update' the terminal via destroying its components and restoring them into a much more advance model.
Tatsuya's methods was quite the sight to be seen, especially for someone who was thought to be limited in his abilities.
It was surreal to see a legitimate 'Creation' Magic in action, though Tatsuya refer to said magic as Conversion magic. Essentially, he was creating new objects or changing the components or structure of objects through destruction and recreation.
It was a sight to behold.
In seconds, the CAD Tuning Terminal was change into a model that Yasuyo had only seen in Tatsuya's memories.
Turning the power of the terminal on, Tatsuya proceeded to input the tuning program within the device.
Normally, Tuning Devices already has a preinstalled program written within them. Unfortunately, this device, though correct in hardware, did not have the necessary programming for its function.
Fortunately, Tatsuya was not one to use generic tuning programming, especially when adjusting his or Miyuki's CADs.
"He is quite skilled." Yasuyo observed as she watched Tatsuya write a tuning program from scratch with speeds that would make the most skilled programmers green in envy.
"Onii-sama is very much the smartest one among all of us in our generation." Miyuki boasted, eyes fixated upon Tatsuya as he worked.
Yasuyo spared Miyuki a looked. Quite frankly, she did not like the way Miyuki looks at Tatsuya. The looked was the same gazed she gives her husband, but she kept her opinion to herself. The siblings relationship were, to be kind, unorthodox, and forcibly changing said relationship at the point would be harmful for what she and her husband were planning for the siblings.
Still, there was one topic that Yasuyo wanted to discuss with Miyuki.
"Miyuki-san, my husband and I did not say this to you earlier on, but I hope you will not be offended that your position as heir in the Yotsuba is not applicable in this time period." Yasuyo told her granddaughter, soon to be daughter.
Miyuki is a very capable Magician. She may lacked her brother's power, intellect, and creativity in magic, but in terms of raw and pure talent, Miyuki was above and beyond Tatsuya. It was not an over exaggeration to state that Miyuki is the most talented Magician that the Yotsuba had ever produce.
That being said, Miyuki was wholly unprepared to be a Clan Head. Being a formidable Magician is not enough to lead a clan. It was not even a priority. Ayame was skilled in magic, true, but the best magician in her generation was Yuuma, and Yuuma was not even considered as a candidate.
Miyuki's training was lacking to such a degree that it is almost laughable. She was ridiculously underprepared for what she was expected to be.
To Yasuyo's surprised, Miyuki gave her a relieve smile.
"I did not expect to be a candidate the moment I realized that we are no longer in our time." Miyuki stated, relief in her voice.
'She is far brighter than I thought.' Yasuyo thought, assuming that Miyuki knew of her limitation and lack of training.
"Okaa-sama…" Miyuki suddenly shook her head. "…Miya-san would succeed Genzou-sama, right?"
"That is her birthright, yes." Yasuyo confirmed.
Yasuyo loves her daughters greatly, but from what she had seen from Tatsuya's memories, she will not allow Maya to be the next head of the Yotsuba.
She might not be that monster, but the potential was there, and it terrified her.
Miyuki smiled beautifully. "It would be wonderfully to see what kind of Yotsuba Miya-san would usher."
Yasuyo could only smile at that. "It would be."
"Finish." Tatsuya's announcement ended the brief conversation between Yasuyo and Miyuki. "Miyuki, your CAD, it is overdue for an adjustment." Tatsuya said as he beckon for the seat across him.
"Yes, Onii-sama."
(Scene Change)
Genzou did not enjoy seeing the aftermath of one of his mother's frivolities, but, he was being honest, seeing the mangle state of the man who took part in the kidnapping of his daughter filled him with grim joy.
In some strange miracle, the man was still alive, though barely and Genzou did not doubt that the man was wishing for death at the moment.
"You want to take a stabbed at him?" Ayame asked her son as her fingers dance across the tools, a contemplative looked in her eyes as she choose the next toy that she would be using on her victim.
"I would leave his fate in your hands." Genzou stated dismissively.
Ayame merely hummed as she picked out a small scalpel from her assortment of tools. "If you are not joining in, why are you here?"
"Dahan." Genzou spat the word as if it was venom.
Ayame could only smile at that. "Are you here to ask me for advise on how to wage war upon them, or are you still going to settle in merely severing Japan's support from them?"
"The latter." Genzou answered, and a spike of suspicion emerged from him when his mother did not show an ounce of disappointment.
Genzou knows his mother. He knows that she wanted the reputation that Tatsuya's Yotsuba had.
Genzou knows that his mother wanted war.
"Do you need your mother dearest to threaten a few politician for you?" Ayame offered as she once again turned her attention to her toy.
"No." Genzou denied. "I want a list of politicians that have connections with Dahan."
"Eisaku-kun could get you those names." Ayame pointed out as she ran her scapel across the unmarred skin of the former ambassador.
Muffled screams echoed in the room.
Genzou did not flinched. "I am ware, but that would take time. You are more knowledgeable in this regard."
Ayame may no longer be the head of the Yotsuba, but she was savvy enough in her reign that she accumulated favors and connections that Genzou did not have access to.
"In my desk, third drawer down. Get the black book with silver bookmark." Ayame told her son. "The names are listed there. Happy hunting."
Genzou nodded, but he did not leave. "You are very supportive of my decision in handling Dahan." Genzou said in suspicion.
Ayame snorted. "I would prefer full scale war, true, but I am not the head of the Yotsuba. You are. We rise or fall through your decisions." Ayame exclaimed dismissively.
Genzou nodded, though he made a mental note to observe his mother in the coming days.
She would not let go of this, Genzou was sure of it.
As he made his leave, his mother spoke. "Tell the servants to prepare tea and coffee, and inform Tatsuya-kun that I would like to speak to him."
A short chapter, and not an ideal one and far from my best, but I wanted to push out a chapter for this story to get it over with. For a transitional chapter, it is not one of my best.
This chapter fought me for an entire year, but the next one would be out soonish. Hopefully.
Next Mahouka to be updated would be Prince of the Yotsuba, though I might sprinkle in a few one-shots to get my creative juices flowing. As you guys might have observed, my writing skills are still rusty and it is not as good as it used to be as seen in this chapter.
Read, review, and enjoy