Muv-Luv: Alternative- Shogun's Blade

[An: updated and grammar errors fixed. 1/3/2021]

[kzzzt]

"Genkei! Bandit on your 6, high!"

[kzzt]

"Vitals are plummetting, get defib ready!"

"Clear!"

[kzzt]

"We are gathered here today...."

Visions, my past? my future? did they even happen? What is this place?

[kzzt]

Genkei Kouzuki, that would be my name... Where I am? I have no idea. It's all dark, nothing is here, not even myself.

"Tell me about yourself, Genkei-san." I heard a voice...No, I felt a voice ask.

'I guess I could tell you about myself' I thought, eerily calm.

"I...am 28 years old, I live in...Tokyo.....I.....was a fighter pilot in the JSDF. I enjoyed playing video games, reading books and fighting. My favorite game was the Titanfall series, my favorite story was Muv-Luv." I projected my thoughts as a voice.

[kzzt]

past, future....meaningless

[kzzt]

"I see...Quite an interesting life, tell me, why did you enjoy fighting?" I felt it ask.

"Well...I wanted my life to mean something, I wanted to die for something larger than myself, something I could feel proud of. Something that would bring me honor and glory, long after I depart this earth." I felt interest come at me before I felt the voice again.

"Tell me, Genkei-san, what is it, that you desire?" I felt its voice once again.

"I...I want to be a soldier again, I want to die for something grand...Grander than just a country, I want to be remembered." I projected my thoughts, the core of my character.

"Very well, Genkei-san, I hope you enjoy my 'Gifts'. Farewell." And all was dark, once again.

The void remained dark and quiet until a deep booming voice broke the oppressive silence.

"Indeed, thou will die for something greater, over and over, and over again!" Before breaking into inhuman laughter.

[Muv-Luv Alternative-BETA Universe]

[June 8th, 1974]

[Kyoto-Empire of Japan]

[Hospital Ward]

"To think, that your light would be snuffed out so early, Mistress." A woman past her prime said tiredly, though in pain, she did not let it show. She held the hand of a woman with deep purple hair and closed eyes, but there was no warmth in her hand, this woman had left the world of the living.

"My old bones will carry on, for your sake. Motoko, Mitsuko, Yuuko, and Genkei will grow up strong and protected, I swear it.

In the corner of the room, two newborns, one with dark black hair and brown eyes, a boy, and a girl with violet hair and eyes, and pale skin. Both of the children had their eyes open and looked around curiously as if they could understand their surroundings. The old woman was used to this however, the two before these were the same. A family of monstrous geniuses. The old woman let out a sigh and allowed the nurses to carry their mother's body to the morgue and retrieved the two babies and exited the room. Outside was a tall middle-aged man wearing a black shirt and jacket and black slacks, his face had a short beard and his hair was cut short.

The man looked at the two newborns with a soft gaze before glancing into the room and taking in a sharp breath of air when he saw the nurses laying the sheet over his mistress' face. "Kaa-san, is she?" The old woman nodded and spoke to him, "Jūbei, please take young master Genkei and young miss Yuuko, my old bones are weak."

The man, now known as Jūbei, quickly took the two babies from his mother and they began to exit the hospital. "Kaa-san, what will we do now? Without the master and mistress, the Kouzuki family may be dispelled."

The old woman stopped and looked into her son's eyes and spoke with conviction. "The Kouzuki family has a male heir now, there is no way Takamura Masatada-dono or Koubuin-sama would not give Genkei a chance to prove himself. The Kouzuki family has always been a loyal Tozama to the Takamura household and is respected by Koubuin-sama, they wouldn't dare stain their honor by throwing away one of their most loyal vassals when an heir was just born."

Jūbei gave a short bow and apologized, "Hai, Kaa-san, I am merely worried for the Young miss's and young master Genkei." The old woman sighed at her son's words as they reached the car parked in front of the hospital, along with another servant of the Kouzuki household.

The young man was another of her son's and was the driver for today, once inside the vehicle, he was informed of what had transpired and the man wept as he drove.

"Junpei, you mustn't weep for the Mistress, instead you must keep her memory alive, celebrate her life, not mourn her death." The young man, barely over 20, nodded and weakly assured his elderly mother, "H-Hai, Kaa-san, I apologize for the shameful display."

Soon the car arrived at a small compound that the Kouzuki family was granted years ago. It had a high wooden wall with a Torii with a metal grate gate. Inside was a small garden with a Sakura tree and koi fish pond, along with a grass-free area for sparing. The house itself was built in the traditional Japanese way with its pointy roof and mainly wooden composition.

A young teenage girl stood at the gate. She was dressed in a plain kimono held the hands of two little girls one with Violet hair and eyes, with a pair of glasses, she was around 5 years old. While the other girl had deep black hair and Violet eyes and was around 3 years old.

"Mari-chan, where is Oka-san?" The eldest child asked the young teenager now known as Mari. "I-I do not know young miss." The youngest girl's attention was drawn at the mention of her mother, "Kaa-san? Where?" In her hard to understand child's voice. "She will be here soon, young miss," Mari assured the little girl while moving the hair out of her face.

By this time Junpei, Jūbei, and the Oba-san had exited the car and got within earshot of Mari.

"Mari-san, please take young miss Yuuko and young master Genkei to the nursery, I will be predisposed with contacting Takamura Masatada-Dono regarding the....passing of Yuki-dono."

Mari covered her mouth in shock upon hearing the mistress of the Kouzuki family had passed away. She had been working as a caregiver to the family since the birth of Kouzuki Motoko, she had always been treated kindly by the Master and Mistress, now with the death of the Master due to a rare blood disease, and the death of the mistress not 4 months later.....

"Kami-sama watch over them." Mari silently prayed for their souls before taking the two newborns and leading the other two children towards the nursery. The eldest questioning the young caregiver about her mother.

[3 hours later-Takamura Household]

The Takamura household was much more opulent than the Kouzuki household, though it is to be expected seeing as the Takamura family were Fudai, and the Kouzuki was just one of the dozens of Tozama families in service of the Takamura family.

"Ah, I cannot believe that such a woman as Kouzuki-dono has passed, in the prime of her life no less... I am truly sorry for your loss." One of the servants said to the trio from the Kouzuki family. The conversation would have continued were it not for Takamura Masatada entering the room.

"Indeed, she was an amazing woman. And her life is honored by the children she has brought to the Kouzuki family, truly there is no greater honor for a woman." He spoke while taking his place at the front of the room. With a bow shared between the Kouzuki servants and Takamura Masatada, they all took a seat on their cushions atop the Tatami floor.

"Your words would surely bring much joy to my Master and Mistress, were they to hear them." The Oba-san said in thanks.

Masatada looked at the old woman before explaining, "I shall not waste time with pleasantries, for I have to prepare for my return to America. As is law in the Empire, Tozama are non-hereditary households, and according to the law I would have to strip the Kouzuki family of their titles."

The Oba-san's face went white and tried to appeal to him, "Takamura-dono, surely...!" Masatada simply raised his hand to silence her and continued. "However, the Kouzuki has served my family, and by extension the Regent house of Koubuin loyaly and with honor for 12 generations. I have only heard your mistress died in childbirth, but if she has given birth to a male heir, it is within my power to give a grace period for a male heir to prove worthy of the Tozama title."

The Oba-san let the tension drain from her weary shoulders and quickly informed, "My mistress brought unto us twins, a boy named Kouzuki Genkei and a girl named Kouzuki Yuuko." Masatada gave a slight smile and commented, "She hath brought much honor to her family."

He took a deep breath and spoke in a deep, commanding voice, "By the power granted to me by Koubuin-sama, the Shogun and our Emperor, I allow the Kouzuki household to retain the rank of Tozama until the fourteenth birthday of Kouzuki Genkei, upon which he will be judged to be worthy or unworthy of the title. After reaching three years of age, he will come here to the Takamura compound to be trained in the discipline, etiquette, and other skills as befitting of a Samurai.

At the age of five, he shall be enrolled in the Kyoto institute for noble families and will continue coming here for his studies. Are these orders understood by the servants of the Kouzuki household?"

The Oba-san kow-tow'ed to the Takamura Patriarch and answered, "This humble servant has received the orders of Takamura Masatada-dono, and will relay them to my Master without fail." With this, the meeting was done, and the Kouzuki servants excused themselves and returned to the Kouzuki household.