August 15, 2095
August 15 marks Japan's WWII defeat, a turning point in its history. Days earlier, three years ago, Okinawa and Sado faced invasions. This month is a time of remembrance—and another milestone looms.
At the Ichijou estate in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, head Gouki pored over a letter from the Magic Association. Its contents were too significant to ignore.
"Come in."
"Excuse me."
Masaki entered at Gouki's call. With magic high schools on summer break, Masaki wore casual clothes, unrebuked. Before Gouki spoke, Masaki asked, "Father, what's happened?"
"A message from Kamizumi and Kagurazaka via the Association."
"Kagurazaka?"
Gouki explained, "Kamizumi you know from March's clan meeting. Kagurazaka, an Onmyodo ancient magic house, is a 'Guardian' alongside Kamizumi, standing above all mages in Japan."
"Above the Ten Master Clans?"
"Absolutely. Kamizumi wields influence over police, internal affairs, and military; Kagurazaka over politics and business—outranking even the Prime Minister."
Unlike the non-political Ten Master Clans, the Guardians retain public authority. Born as weapons, the clans differ fundamentally from mages who retain humanity.
"Kamizumi's headship passed to Mototsugu, Mitsuya's second son, married into their house. And… Kagurazaka named Mitsuya Yugen, your Nine Schools opponent, as next head."
"Yugen as Kagurazaka's heir? Wait—Kamizumi makes sense, but a Ten Master Clan member leading an ancient magic house? Unheard of!"
Masaki was reeling. His peer, once a fellow clan heir, now outranked him. As Ichijou's eldest but not yet heir, the shift stung. Gouki nodded grimly.
"The letter notes Kamizumi Gousan's wife is Kagurazaka Chihime's sister. Collusion's possible but unlikely—they value blood ties too much."
"So Mitsuya siblings are Kagurazaka kin… Did Mitsuya say anything?"
"Nothing, but an emergency clan meeting's set in two days, proposed by Kudou. I'll probe their intent there."
Gouki's sharp tone belied his belief that Mitsuya's head, Gen, wouldn't abuse power. Mitsuya proved its strength by sending prodigies to ancient magic houses. That day, they announced their eldest daughter's engagement to Yatsushiro's heir via the Association—a known tie, sensible for securing Genji's succession.
"Remove Mitsuya from the clans?"
"No, as Kamizumi and Kagurazaka kin, that's impossible."
Clan meetings bar unsanctioned alliances, but Guardians like Kamizumi and Kagurazaka operate outside, free to collaborate without reproach. Even Kudou can't challenge that. The meeting will likely scrutinize Yugen's removal from the clans.
"They'd demand Yugen's return?"
"I lack that authority and intent. But Kudou, Kudou's son, or Nanakusa might. Yotsuba's unpredictable."
Gouki saw it as futile. Yugen's Nine Schools dominance—neutralizing Ichijou's 'Rupture' in Ice Pillars Break—proved his supremacy. His seamless blend of modern and ancient magic was unique globally, a deterrent force. Keeping him in the clans risked deadly rivalries.
"Yugen was formidable," Masaki admitted. "His control's beyond me—world-class, George said."
"I agree. Ichijou won't pursue him."
"What? Even for Akane's sake?"
"Calm down, Masaki. I know reason."
Kagurazaka named Yugen heir but not his betrothed. Gouki doubted it was open, so he proposed Yugen's engagement to Akane, who liked him, to Kamizumi. "Don't tell him," he warned.
"Fine," Masaki replied, though Gouki sighed inwardly. Like him, Masaki's good looks didn't translate to boldness with women.
At Yotsuba's estate, head Maya sat in her private room with her twin sister, Midnight. Glancing at the letter, Maya addressed Midnight.
"Your plan's half-thwarted. Thoughts?"
"You're one to talk. You've heard from Kamizumi and Kagurazaka, haven't you? That smug look says it all."
Midnight, irked, noted her secret joy: Yugen and Miyuki's engagement. The clan meeting would likely probe Yugen's case, Maya explained. Midnight looked exasperated.
"They'll grill Yugen's move. Yotsuba will stick to fact-checking, given Miyuki's engagement."
"Good. But what's Sensei thinking? Suppressing Yugen's a firestorm waiting to happen. Mitsuya's quiet exit should've been a hint."
Having seen Yugen's power, Midnight's words carried weight. Maya sipped tea, nodding. Yotsuba approved Yugen's move to Kagurazaka, limiting inquiries. But Kudou and Nanakusa might push for clan influence, framing it as unsanctioned.
"Yugen as next head—serious? No objections, but…" Maya mused.
"Got new gossip?" Midnight teased.
"Don't sound so gleeful. I'm enjoying it too."
Midnight's apprentice Guardian, Mizuha Sakurai, fell for Yugen during Nine Schools, she reported. Maya saw his allure as globally recognized. Yotsuba's next head, likely Miyuki, had a rival fifth candidate as skilled and agreeable to her. Trouble loomed.
"His power's beyond clan control—a shackle. Kagurazaka suits him," Midnight said.
"Chihime secretly said Miyuki's all in," Maya added.
"She didn't blow up living with him? Impressive."
Their upbringing shaped Miyuki's restraint, but her passion was undeniable. Yugen's endurance was equally remarkable. As her mother, Midnight hadn't anticipated such devotion. Maya's wry smile agreed.
"Should've stolen his first back then," Midnight mused.
"That's too cruel for Yugen," Maya chided.
Midnight's eerie smile made Maya suspect she saw Yugen as a romantic rival. Still, her leniency showed maternal care, earning Maya's envious glance.
In Atsugi, Kanagawa, at Mitsuya's estate, the family gathered: head Gen, wife Shiho, former head Gousan, and siblings—minus Mototsugu (Kamizumi), Yugen (Kagurazaka), and Shina. The emergency clan meeting soured the celebratory mood. Genji, next head, spoke first.
"Father, this is outrageous. It tramples Mototsugu and Yugen's wish to avoid succession disputes, already settled among our houses."
"I know. I'll clarify we won't leverage Kamizumi or Kagurazaka's authority."
"They got our warnings but obsess over clans. Should've knocked sense into them!" Gousan barked, only to yelp as Shiho's fist landed.
"Father, show restraint," Shiho scolded. "Sending killing intent at my son for a test, now this? Utter nonsense."
"You're harsher, Shiho. I asked if he'd use his power for his grandson's cure, given our ancient magic ties," Gousan said.
He meant Kudou's grandson, a prodigy distinct from Yugen. As Kagurazaka's heir, Yugen would access Kudou's magic origins. Mastering them could surpass all. Gousan suspected Kudou aimed to curb Yugen's growth.
Mika fired back, "Encouraging strength, then stifling it? Idiotic. That'll just let foreigners exploit us. I'm furious."
"I agree," Shiho said.
They didn't grow strong for approval. Mototsugu and Yugen mastered Shin'in-ryu and Tenjin magic for themselves, not Kamizumi or Kagurazaka.
Shizuru, now Yatsushiro's wife, nodded firmly. "I married Yatsushiro, but not to please anyone. I honed magic to protect myself in uncertain times."
"Yare yare, I spoiled you, but Yugen's a potent poison," Gen said.
"Too late, dear," Shiho teased.
Hearing of Yugen's betrothed, Gen fell off his chair, Shiho steadied him, Mika wailed about being outdone, Shizuru and Kana discussed the fiancée, and Gousan roared with laughter.
"What's going on?" Shina's peek from the door snapped them back to reality.
Skipped Kudou and Nanakusa for less murkiness. Gouki's unaware of Masaki's feelings for Miyuki—post-Keishun in the original, maybe fatherly restraint. Yotsuba supports Yugen's Kagurazaka move. Midnight's personality amplifies Maya's. Poor grandpa, cowed by daughter and granddaughters…
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