Having survived the ordeal more or less intact, Tatsuya and Miyuki gratefully accepted Yuuka's offer to drive them back home from the family New Years' gathering. The drive would be slightly faster than taking the cabinet trailer back, and would undoubtedly result in less contact with outsiders. Yuuka could drop them off directly at their door, which under the circumstances Tatsuya now considered a great advantage. He had begun to consider whether or not they should use the motorcycle more since it had the same advantages as Yuuka's car with the additional feature of their helmets obscuring their identities to the general public.

Since recognition was now a security concern.

Within the span of a single afternoon, the siblings…the former siblings, had gone from relatively unknown magic high school students to two of the most famous people on the planet. His brief chance to check his information terminal before their departure home had revealed disturbing results. News headlines around the globe and especially in Japan were dominated by the announcement of the secretive Yotsuba's brand new heir and her fiancé, and former brother. Their school photos were featured prominently, as was their images from the last two Nine Schools Competitions and the previous year's Thesis Competition. It had taken less than an hour for that relatively quiet New Years' Day to turn into perhaps the busiest news day of the entire coming year.

What was even more perplexing to Tatsuya was that he, and not Miyuki, seemed to be the focus of the most interest so far. Or rather, the interest was in Maya Yotsuba's surprise "son". Them having been raised as siblings and being engaged now barely seemed to be mentioned in the articles. His defeat of the Crimson Prince in their 1st year Monolith Code and the fact that he had been presenting at the Thesis Competition that eventually turned into the incident known as Scorched Halloween seemed to be drawing the lion's share of the media attention.

"They're fishing for angles at this point, but if the interest in me doesn't subside, and they start looking too deeply…"

Now wasn't the time for long range planning on how to deal with their new found celebrity.

Originally Tatsuya planned to sit in the front passenger seat for its increased visibility, but his sister…no….his fiancée, had made it plain she wanted him at her side in the back. To maximize their ability to identify potential threats Minami sat in the front passenger seat with Tatsuya directly behind the driver. Though he had judged potential threat levels were much lower than their trip to the main residence, a new threat may lie in wait closer to home. The Press.

The seating arrangement resulted in Miyuki being the focus of Yuuka's rear view mirror and thus the general conversation had been between these two, leaving the other two to preform security. The conversation between the two Yotsuba females had been mostly light up to this point. Tatsuya was glad for this as it reduced his sister's…..no….. fiancée's stress and also allowed him to focus on defense and not the conversation.

"So, what are you going to do about Minami-chan here?"

Yuuka's sudden question resulted in both Minami and Tatsuya being drawn immediately back into the discussion. Miyuki seemed to blink in confusion before stating as much.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean?"

Yuuka smiled benignly back at her younger cousin before clarifying.

"You have been explaining her presence as her being a cousin. Well now that everyone at school knows you're Yotsubas they'll assume Minami is one of us too. I'm surprised the Press hasn't picked that up yet as well."

"I suppose it was too much to hope that we'd make it home in relative peace….."

As he thought this he let out a barely perceptible sigh.

"…everyone…..knows?"

Now adding to the confused look on her face were the additional emotions of surprise and concern.

Tatsuya moved quickly to defuse the situation. He reassuringly covered his sister's…no…fiancée's hand with his, as he answered their cousin for her.

"Miyuki is superlative in almost everything, but despite my best efforts, she still prefers to get her news from live broadcasts and not news feeds."

Tatsuya could see in the rearview mirror the sudden clarification on Yuuka's face mixed with slight remorse.

"So, she doesn't know yet?"

"There aren't many televisions in the main residence; and given the pace of today's activities, I myself barely had a chance to get acquainted with the announcement's impact before we departed.

Tatsuya smiled with slight sarcasm at his older cousin. Then he retrieved his information terminal from his pocket and opened the last search he'd made before handing it to his…..fiancée.

"I have to start thinking of her this way. It will prevent awkward group situations from becoming even more so. Plus, that's what we are now."

He knew getting used to their new relationship would take time. He never removed his hand from her's, especially as her tension rose with every line of news article on them she now read. Tatsuya decided that while Miyuki grounded herself in their new public status, he would answer Yuuka's original question.

"As for Minami's familial status, we had long planned out that she was to be a cousin on our father's side, and thus not a Yotsuba by blood. Though she'll still draw some interest as our cousin, it should be much less than if she were identified with the clan directly."

"I see."

As Yuuka replied Tatsuya and Minami exchanged a brief glance in the rearview mirror. The look they gave each other was one of professional understanding and respect.

"…Onii-sama?"

Tatsuya realized this moment would be painful for her. He had hoped to get her safely home before having this discussion. Still, now was the time they had to deal with this.

"Yuuka's right, isn't she? They all know now, don't they?"

At his….. fiancée's sad expression Tatsuya could only smile back reassuringly.

"Yes, everyone at 1st High probably already knows, or soon will at any rate."

The former siblings exchanged different looks toward each other. Miyuki tryed to draw strength from Tatsuya's benign smile; he worked his expression towards relieving the sadness and concern spread across her beautiful features.

"I know this is of little relief at a time like this Miyuki-san, but you're about to learn something of extreme value towards your future life when you return to school next week."

At Yuuka's sudden declaration, even Tatsuya and Minami perked up with interest.

"What's that Yuuka-san?"

Miyuki was still trepid, but curious as well.

Yuuka smiled back with absurdness.

"You're about to learn who are yours and Tatsuya's real friends that you can always rely upon no matter what, and who's just chaff to be blown away in the wind."

"I believe that is a fair assessment Yuuka-san."

At her brother's agreement and slightly amused smile, Miyuki began to release some of the tension she had built up in the last few minutes.

"So, since I've let the cat out of the bag already; Tatsuya-san, did you notice the time stamp on most of those articles?"

At his elder cousin's sudden shift of topic, and even more so at her noticing something that's usually as benign as the release time, Tatsuya let an amused expression free reign across his face.

"Indeed, the earliest articles, which all basically parroted the official announcement verbatim; seemed to have been released slightly before the gathering was started."

In astonishment at Tatsuya's words Miyuki couldn't help but ask.

"Onii-sama, you mean that the announcement was released before the family even knew?"

Tatsuya nodded his response to her question.

From the driver's seat Yuuka let out a chuckle.

"Auntie sure does know how to 'burn the ships' once she's made a decision."

Minami briefly cut her eyes in astonishment at Yuuka's outburst. If Tatsuya had to judge, Minami's reaction had less to do with the contents of Yuuka's statement and more to do with hearing the revered head of the clan referred to so informally.

"I can just image Hayama-dono hovering over Aoki at a data terminal. Pocket watch in Hayama-dono's hand, Aoki's finger hovering over the send button. 'Not yet Aoki-san'."

Yuuka's amusement continued unabated.

"And the poor sap that had to come in to the Magic Association information office on a national holiday. He was probably already angry being there anyway, but thinking that at least he'd get to put his feet up, drink his coffee, and watch some videos on his terminal. Next thing he knows an official 10MC document comes up on his terminal and when he opens it the first thing he sees is 'Clan Yotsuba'. He probably spewed coffee all over his terminal!"

Tatsuya had rarely seen Yuuka reach this level of jocularity before. She was almost at a level Tatsuya could only describe as 'Erika-esque'.

"Still, that guy did his job well, eh? It's only been a few hours and the news has already reached the far corners of the globe."

Tatsuya had noted that Miyuki had put his terminal down a few moments after Yuuka began her amusing ramblings. Knowing that she was not a "speed reader" he determined that she had either decided to wait and let him filter the news for her, or she was frustrated with the contents of what she had already read and was determined not to work herself up reading more of the same. Either way, her returning to a calmer state was the biggest benefit in Tatsuya's judgement. Yuuka's last statement however suddenly brought Miyuki's tension levels back up.

He gently squeezed her hand that he had yet to release. As if it were her pressure valve, her tension magically melted away. Not for the first time in the last 24 hours had Tatsuya began to reevaluate simple things between them that he had once taken for granted as a part of their "close sibling relationship". He briefly glanced sideways at her. She had a slight smile and her eyes were closed. The impression she gave off was once something he'd have called "contentment" yet he knew she was nowhere near content at that moment, given the upheavals of the last day.

"Was it…pleasure? Does she derive pleasure from just holding my hand?"

Even he had to admit to himself, when viewed from that angle, that he had been blind to a great many things before her confession of womanly love to him the night before.

"She's my blind spot. What else have I willfully overlooked in the name of 'sibling affection'?"

Then he suddenly became aware of her concerned gaze.

"Onii-sama, is everything…."

"Of course, I was merely lost in thought."

"You? LOST in thought? That's doesn't even seem possible."

Yuuka smirked at him in the mirror with slight sarcasm.

"Onii-sama is very intelligent Yuuka-san. Surely you know this already?"

Always ready to leap to his defense, in her current state Miyuki was in no mood to register subtlety. She had not heard Yuuka's slight emphasis on the word "lost" and believed their cousin was now questioning his mental faculties.

Since Yuuka had precipitated Miyuki's agitated mood by introducing her to their new-found fame; Tatsuya decided he would hold off on throwing her a lifeline and see if she could dig her way out of the hole she had leaped into.

"Your fiancé's brilliance is well known. I was merely disbelieving that he could ever get lost, even in his thoughts."

Tatsuya had to give her credit for that. Miyuki is rarely so easily placated when she feels he has been slighted. She sat back relaxed into her seat with an expression that seemed to convey a deep sense of pride, and satisfaction.

"Ah, yes, my FIANCÉ is indeed extremely brilliant."

Even Minami looked back at her primary in the mirror with surprise. The way Miyuki said the word "fiancé" sounded more like an animalistic purr of joy than an actual word. It was as if saying that word had generated pleasure within her body. It was by far the most "womanly" thing he had ever experienced of her. As he was the object of that word, he suddenly felt very awkward, as if his cheeks and ears were burning.

"Um…..yeah…..so, about the names and titles. What are you guys going to do about that?"

For the second time in less than a minute Tatsuya was impressed with Yuuka's tactical verbal abilities, and this time also very grateful for them. Miyuki instantly went from desirous woman to sweet, innocent girl again.

"What do you mean Yuuka-san?"

"Well, it's going to already be an awkward situation around the people who have gotten to know you as siblings and now have to adapt to you being engaged instead. Continuing to refer to each other as "brother" and "sister" might make a weird situation somewhat worse."

At Yuuka's explanation, Miyuki bore an expression of placidity.

"Well, it will take some getting used to of course, and there will be slip-ups from time to time; but obviously we'll not be referring to each other as siblings in public anymore."

Yuuka sent back a slightly concerned look to Tatsuya before pressing her next question.

"Wouldn't it be better to also do that in private as well, since your new relationship is obviously more intimate than the previous one?"

"I suppose."

When combined with her nonchalant expression and her suddenly turning to look out the window; all that anyone else in the vehicle could take away from her answer was that she'd call Tatsuya whatever she wanted in private. Yuuka got the hint and dropped it.

By the time of the start of the more serious parts of their discussion, they had long since left the mountainous countryside behind them and been in the outskirts of the capital. Now they were on the side streets in their neighborhood. Neither Tatsuya, nor Minami judging by her body language, had sensed anything unusual on the approach to the house.

Tatsuya was in the habit, when he would not be disturbing anyone or revealing too much, of using Elemental Sight to prescreen their destinations. As they were mere meters from their front door he released his special vision to verify their home was in order.

It was not!

Several items had been moved, others were missing altogether, and there were some new items as well.

He reviewed the Eidos log of the past 24 hours. Several persons had entered the home and moved items around. One seemed to supervise the others. He was familiar to Tatsuya.

"Aoki?"

The Yotsuba butler clearly had been given the pass code to the front door, by Tatsuya's new "mother" no doubt.

"But those are our…..why are they?"

In a completely un-Tatsuya like action he came out of Elemental Sight with a gasp of shock. Rarely experiencing such from him, Miyuki immediately retrieved her CAD. Minami already had her bracelet CAD at the ready. Tatsuya could even feel Yuuka tensing as if she were about to punch the accelerator to full throttle.

"No, it's alright. There's no threat that I can detect."

They all blinked in surprise at his words.

"Onii-sama, your reaction, surely something is….."

Miyuki was stopped dead in her tracks at the current visage of her beloved. He wouldn't look her in the eyes; but he knew he surely had to be the most extreme color of red at that moment since all three women in the car were gaping at him in astonishment.

"WOW! What in the world could make YOU of all people blush like that?"

As expected, Yuuka was the first to vocalize their mutual fascination at his current state of extreme embarrassment. He also felt considerable shame in the fact that he seemed to be unable to regain his composure.

"Because it's about Miyuki. She's the only person that can make me…..feel."

The logic of his thoughts didn't accelerate his return to normal composure. A change of topic was needed to divert everyone including himself.

"There's nothing wrong with the house. I can detect no threats here. However, Aoki-san and several others visited while we were away."

Miyuki squinted curiously at his statement.

"What business did Aoki-san have here, to enter our house without our approval?"

"Clearly he was on Auntie's business."

Yuuka answered with the only logical conclusion available. It didn't seem to placate Miyuki in the slightest. For her part, Minami didn't take her eyes off the house, even at Yuuka calling the clan head by an informal title again.

"What I want to know is what could Aoki have done in the house that would make our Tatsuya-kun blush like a school boy caught with his pants down?"

Surely the look he was sending his older cousin at that moment would have put fear into even the strongest hearts, but he suspected that his continued embarrassment made that look more comical than it was meant to be.

"The name plaque has been removed from the gate pillar."

Minami was correct. As far as Elemental Sight had shown him, that was the only exterior difference. Every other change had been within the walls of their home.

"Everyone knows the name "Shiba" today. One less hint for the Press to ID your home. I'd replace it with a fake-name plaque as soon as possible though."

"Agreed."

Tatsuya's concurrence with Yuuka's statement was short and simple.

She had already pulled the latch to open the trunk.

"Miyuki, you and Minami wait for me at the door, just in case."

"Of course Onii-sama. Thanks again Yuuka-san."

She didn't question why he would stay behind with Yuuka. They understood each other so well.

At Miyuki's statement of gratitude Minami turned to Yuuka and bowed in respect, then both left the vehicle and retrieved their items, and his, from the trunk.

Once the two were beyond the front gate and standing before the entry door, Tatsuya slid over to the seat Miyuki had been occupying to get a better view of Yuuka.

"You wanted to discuss something without our future clan leader present?"

"I just wanted to express our gratitude for the ride, plus the offer to take us up there as well. It was a great risk to you, and not just physically."

Yuuka smiled ironically at his words.

"We're serious in our support for Miyuki, and you."

Tatsuya understood that she was speaking not only for herself, but for the Tsukuba branch family at that moment.

"We Shiba are grateful for the support the Tsukuba have shown us, in particular you and Lady Touka."

Yuuka grinned slightly before replying.

"She'd support you both either way, but mother feels guilty that she was forced to tie you and Miyuki together as well."

"She shouldn't, there is no one I'd rather be tied to; and since the alternatives were all significantly worse, she did the best for us that she could."

"I see, I'll tell her that. She'll be glad to hear it."

Tatsuya briefly turned his gaze out the window before returning it to his cousin.

"So, Scorched Halloween, does the whole family know?"

The intensity of the gaze the two shared through the rearview mirror was palpable.

"It's not as if Auntie sent out a memo, but your power was long ago revealed by Eisaku-sama's magic. Once the details of what happened to the Great Asian Alliance's assault fleet that night were known, no one who heard Eisaku-sama's description of your abilities was in doubt of your responsibility."

Tatsuya broke their gaze again before replying.

"You were only a little girl then though. I'd have to conclude your parents told you. I hadn't thought my secret had reached our generation yet as general knowledge."

"I'm not sure it has. Katsushige, Ayako, and Fumiya may well have no knowledge; but it's as you say, my mother informed me. After all, it's her magic that allows Miyuki to keep your powers caged till needed."

Her words were blunt, but also true.

"Very well. Again, you have our gratitude, as does your lady mother."

"You both know how to reach me if I'm needed. And Tatsuya…"

He had already opened the door and was standing on the sidewalk when her words turned him around.

"She needs you. That's plain to see, always has been. There's no doubt the two of you are dedicated to each other. It may be a very awkward start but, it's a solid foundation for a marriage."

Tatsuya grinned mischievously at his cousin.

"Says an unmarried woman?"

Yuuka faked an expression of indignation.

"I'm only now just in my 20's! Take care."

"You as well."

She waved through the window and the gate beyond to the waiting Miyuki and Minami who both returned her wave. Tatsuya briefly watched her car accelerate down the street before passing the gate toward the two waiting ladies.

"Is everything alright Onii-sama?"

"Of course."

With these words he slipped his hand through the side of her hair and let his fingers and palm rest gently on her cheek. For the first time he noticed that she seem to "melt" at his intimate touch more than what he had previously thought of the same act. Thinking this also brought his embarrassment at what waited inside their home back to the forefront of his mind. To start blushing profusely again would only add to the problems at this stage.

Minami came to his rescue.

"Shall we enter now?"

"Ah! Yes, let me."

With that Tatsuya placed his palm on the locking device reader and the door unlatched. He stepped through the threshold in the vanguard just in case this one time Elemental Sight had not been enough. As usually, there were no issues to be found. He had subtly begun to relax a bit when he heard a mild gasp from his sister.

"What is it Miyuki?"

All she did was point at the table in the hallway. There were two letters on it.

One was addressed "My Beautiful Niece".

The other said "My Noble Son".