Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Vongrak.
Naomi Zenin POV.
"I'm going to kill him, I'm going to kill him, I'm going to kill him, I'm going to kill him, I'm going to kill him-" I ignored my daughter's murmur as I rolled my eyes, grabbed my pumpkin and took a long swig, feeling the comforting warmth burn my throat as I swallowed the liquid inside.
"You accepted his deal, you gave in to him." Ougi said, almost accusingly, while holding the wound on his chest with one hand.
"I did." I said, shrugging my shoulders, shaking the pumpkin, and sighing in annoyance when I felt it was empty.
"Why did you accept the deal, Mother?" Naoka growled furiously, slowly standing up while holding her stumps high. I could see her using her Aura to keep her wound closed and prevent her from bleeding out.
"Why wouldn't I?" I asked lazily.
"That bastard Miyamura doesn't deserve that opportunity! He needs to learn his place in the clan!! " Naoka exclaimed furiously, and I raised an eyebrow in her direction before smiling mockingly.
"I think he made it clear what his position in the clan was." I said mockingly as I looked at her stumps; that seemed to strike a chord with my daughter because she started to grunt.
"As soon as I see him, I'm going to-"
"You won't do anything, we have a deal." I interrupted him, which stopped Naoka dead in her tracks. She glared at me furiously, and I rolled my eyes.
"Why did you let him take my daughters?" Ougi asked, frowning. "Why did you give them the chance to decide who will be the heir?" she continued. I snorted dryly.
"You don't even care what happens to your daughters." I said dryly, Ougi frowned.
"That's not the point." She replied emotionlessly; I just shrugged.
"Then I'll say it again, why wouldn't I?" I repeated to myself once more.
"That one-
"There are only two rules for whoever inherits the position of Leader of the Zenin Clan. She must be a woman, and she must be the strongest member of the clan. It doesn't matter what her position is, it doesn't matter what the previous leader wanted, it doesn't matter how 'popular' someone is. If she meets those two rules, she's automatically the heir, period." I said, as if it were obvious. "Yes, we have to believe our informants, and I see no reason not to."
"Izumi trained Taylor Hebert, the American girl, from scratch and turned her into a fairly competent swordswoman in just a year and a half. He also trained the rest of her partners quite skillfully. If he can do the same with Maki, then the Zenin Clan wins no matter what."
"As the leader of the Zenin Clan, my task is to keep the clan alive and prosperous, and to make it stronger. That is the sole reason I am committed to bringing Izumi into the clan. If Maki is able to surpass us all and become the Heir, my work is complete, and the clan grows stronger. If she fails, Maki returns to the clan and learns her proper place, and thus, my work remains complete. And in both cases, Izumi joins us, and the clan grows stronger."
"It's a win-win for the Zenin clan, so why did I give them the chance to try? I'll say it again, why wouldn't I?" I said lazily while yawning. I could feel the others staring at me intently; Ougi and Jinko seemed contemplative, while on the other hand…
"I am the heir to the clan!" Naoka growled furiously, I looked at her lazily.
"For now," I said boredly. "Right now, you're the strongest WOMAN in the clan. It should be easy for you to beat Maki no matter how much she trains, right? " I scoffed dryly before smiling mockingly at her. "And if you're so afraid of losing, train too, my child. You're only a year and a half older. If you defeat them, you can do whatever you want with them as long as it doesn't affect the clan." I said dismissively.
"If I defeat them?" Naoka hissed. "When I defeat them, I'll make sure they learn their place," she hissed hatefully. I just turned away and waved my hand dismissively.
"Yes, yes, yes, whatever you want," I said boredly. "Now call Akari Shimizu to come immediately, pay her double her usual fee to come right away and cure all of you. I'll go get some alcohol." I said as I started walking.
It's a real shame that Izumi was a man; he would have been a perfect heir. Let's see if he can push Maki to another level.
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Izumi POV.
"Welcome to the Miyamura house, part pastry shop, part home," I said cheerfully as I walked in. I turned to look at the twins only to be met with a punch to the stomach, immediately followed by a slap across the face. I took a step back and looked at both of them.
Maki was the one who hit my stomach with all her might, Mai was the one who slapped me, she still seemed almost horrified by what she had done.
"Oh goddess, I'm so sorry, it just slipped out, I can't believe I hit a man, shit, fuck, I'm sor-, no, you know what, you deserve it for dragging me into all this." Mai said, apologizing quickly before turning into almost a grunt at the end, Maki snorted mockingly.
"I didn't know you had it inside you, Mai, and stop apologizing, that idiot deserves that punch." Maki snorted, glaring at me.
"Wow, what a pair of mean twins." I said playfully. The blows didn't even hurt me; I barely felt them. "I see the Zenin clan teaches women some interesting things, like hitting men." I said playfully. Mai almost seemed to panic.
"Stop bothering them, idiot," Mom said as she hit me on the back of the head. I clutched the spot where she hit me.
"See? It runs in the family." I said jokingly, Mom just hit me harder.
"Stop joking, Miyamura, let's get to the point." Maki said, crossing her arms and frowning. "You dragged us into your business without asking, and I'm annoyed." Maki grumbled, and I raised an eyebrow.
"You seemed very willing there," I said as she shrugged. Maki snorted.
"Because that way I'd annoy the clan," Maki said dryly. "Besides, we'd be better off outside the clan. They forced us to attend that meeting under threat. I left over a year ago, but they still contacted me and threatened me if I wasn't there. Obviously, I'd choose the option that annoyed them the most." Maki snorted.
"Speak for yourself, I didn't agree to any of this," Mai growled, gritting her teeth. "It's always the same with you, Maki, you drag me into all your problems! I didn't want any of this!" " I don't even want to go to a Hero or Hunter school! " Mai growled furiously, Maki frowned.
"So what? Do you want to surrender to the clan? Those who looked down on us all our lives?" Maki asked incredulously, Mai gritted her teeth.
"Yes! Why can't you understand?! Yeah! I am more than happy to be a servant for the clan! I don't want any of this!" Mai snapped furiously. Maki growled.
"You know why." Maki grunted before taking a deep breath and calming herself. "If I'd kept going like that... I would have hated myself... just like that." Maki said, her head held high. Mai just gritted her teeth as she trembled.
"Liar," Mai said shakily. Maki frowned, confused, and took a step forward while Mai took a step back. I sighed wearily, clapped loudly, startling them suddenly and getting their attention.
"Alright, who wants some tea?" I asked with a fake smile. Both sisters looked at me for a few seconds before looking away. I could see Mom walk over to the thing, and I sighed wearily. It really seems like even in this world, those two sisters are fighting, especially Mai.
After setting the table and preparing snacks, Mom arrived with a tray and several cups of tea. She placed them on the table, then sat down and sipped her tea quietly, simply watching us figure out how to work things out.
Maki slowly grabbed the cup in front of her and stared at it intently.
"Can you do it?" Maki asked simply. I raised an eyebrow as I grabbed a chocolate snack.
"Do what?" simply ask.
"Training to defeat the Zenin, training to reach your level." Maki said, looking up and staring at me intently. I threw another sandwich into my mouth.
"I can," I said easily. Maki's eyes widened slightly. "It won't be easy," I said simply, looking at her intently. "You're the only one who could do it," I told her honestly.
"The only one?" Maki asked, confused.
"Please don't believe everything he tells you, he's just desperate to get out of his arrangement with the Zenin and he chose us at random." Mai sneered dismissively.
"No, he defeated the Zenin, Naoka—you saw it, he cut off his hands—he even recently fought that villain in Kamino alongside All Might and Ryuma. He's strong," Maki said without hesitation. Mai's eyes widened and she stared at me incredulously. I grimaced inwardly. "Defeat" was a strong word.
None of the Zenin had been using their full strength; they didn't have time to do so before Naomi stopped them. And Naoka looked down on me terribly both times we clashed. She was an idiot, but that definitely wasn't the full level I could fight at.
"You're the boy with the shadow quirk from the Kamino incident?" Mai asked, surprised. "Wait, yeah, that boy also used three swords, that's... not a coincidence, is it? " Mai asked incredulously, looking at me. I sighed.
"As far as I know, I'm the only one who practices Three Sword Style." I said playfully, Mai continued to look at me in surprise.
"Like I said, he's real, he's Ryuma's grandson, if anyone can help me get stronger... it's him." Maki said, clenching her fists.
"And how will you do it? You have a year and a half to surpass Naoka and the rest of the Zenin." Mai said through gritted teeth, recovering from the shock. Maki remained silent and looked at me.
"It won't be easy," I said honestly as I looked at Maki. "I chose you for two reasons. First, you both hate the Zenin enough to oppose them." I said easily. Maki looked at Mai in surprise, but she just looked away.
"Mai?" Maki asked awkwardly. Mai continued looking away before clicking her tongue.
"I hate you, Maki, I hate you. You wanted to hear that? Fine, I want to destroy them, but I know I can't do anything. I'm not as brave as you, nor as strong as you, so I've learned to live with it. My aura and my talent are weak enough that they don't even consider me a member of the Kukuru unit. I was supposed to have a normal job that would benefit the clan, and I was fine with that, but you ruined everything. You opposed it, and I was the one punished. You left." Mai said, her voice dripping with hatred, still not even looking at Maki. Maki lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry," Maki said, regret in her voice. "I'm sorry for everything you've had to go through because of me, Mai, but... I won't give up. I'll keep fighting the clan." Maki said without a hint of doubt. Mai bit her lip until it bled. They both remained silent. "I'll win," Maki said with all the firmness in the world, as if losing wasn't an option. Mai looked at her suddenly.
"Win?" Mai asked dryly.
"I will win... I will fight against Naoka, Naomi, Jinko,... our mother, against the entire Zenin clan if necessary, and I will win... I will create a clan where you can live peacefully." Maki said without hesitation as she looked Mai in the eyes. Mai opened her eyes in surprise before blushing slightly, immediately looking away and clicking her tongue.
"...Idiot." Mai said, without hatred in her voice. "...You'd better not lose." Mai murmured.
"I won't," Maki said, smiling. "Besides... now we're together again, we're even going to share a husband, just like you wanted when we were little," Maki said mockingly. Mai coughed violently, blushing deeply.
"Don't mention that, Maki!! I was 8 years old!! " Mai squealed, embarrassed. Maki just smiled amusedly, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Why not? Wasn't that your dream? That we're together sharing a husband? " Maki asked mockingly.
"I don't object." I said playfully.
"Shut up!" Mai said, embarrassed. Maki laughed once more before becoming serious.
"How and when do we start? What do I have to do? " Maki asked, looking at me seriously.
"What do you have to do? Survive." I said with a sadistic smile. "That was the other reason I chose you. You're stubborn, headstrong, always moving forward no matter the difficulties, unafraid to train as hard as possible."
"So I'll hit you, I'll beat you up, I'll tear your muscles, I'll break your bones, I'll teach you everything I know, with sheer force without holding back at all, and when I destroy you, I'll heal you, I have a quirk that allows me to heal you completely, and I'll rebuild you."
"And then, I'll hit you again, and again, and again, and again, without any rest. I won't stop until you reach the level where you can fight the Zenin." I said with a completely sadistic smile. To my delight, Maki smiled broadly and wildly, almost expectantly.
"When do we start?" Maki asked excitedly. Mai clicked her tongue.
"Damn lunatics." Mai grumbled. I laughed slightly. My eyes sparkled slightly.
"According to that waste of air, you study at UA, right? Do you also have dorms on campus?" I asked easily. Maki snorted amusedly, but nodded.
"Yes, second year, General Studies, and yes, we have a dorm for those who want to live on campus; at least half of us live there. I tried the Hero and Hunter track but failed the entrance exam. I participated in two UA sports festivals, doing well enough to reach the finals both times, but neither time was I considered for a class change." Maki said easily, without sounding bitter in the slightest. I nodded.
"It's impossible that the Zenin intervened, so it must have been something else, most likely a lack of Aura. Although UA tries not to discriminate, they are also responsible for the students. They have no problem accepting people without an awakened Aura, since they have teachers trained to awaken it, but someone whose Aura is impossible to awaken? It's more than possible that they ignored you for that reason." I said with a frown.
"Is my lack of aura going to be a problem?" Maki asked, frowning.
"Not in the slightest, you'll lean on skill and Haki. Haki... there's nothing Haki can't conquer if you're strong enough," I said with a wild grin. "After all, you saw me beat the Zenin senseless and I didn't even use my Shadow Quirk." I said easily, Maki's eyes widening slightly before she smiled again.
"Perfect," Maki said easily.
"Well, since you live on the UA campus, it'll be easier to train. Unfortunately, I'll soon be starting my Work Studies, which means I'll be working at a hero agency outside of school hours. I'll have to rearrange my schedule." I said while humming. "Do you know how to fight? Use any weapons? " I asked simply, unsure if I had the same skill as the canon Maki.
"Yes, I can use any weapon with enough skill, but I prefer polearms," Maki said immediately. "But I wouldn't mind learning your Three Sword Style," Maki said, and I stopped short before blinking a few times.
"You know... I've taught different types of sword styles, but no one ever asked me to teach them my Three Sword Style." I said playfully, and Maki smiled wildly.
"Do you think you could teach it?" Maki challenged me. I just smiled, amused. Maki was excellent with a weapon; I could see her using any breathing style with ease, but to think of her using Santoryu ? Yes… that was something I wanted to see.
"We'll see." I said simply. "And you, Mai? Anything you want to do? You're still going to Shiketsu, right? " I asked curiously. Mai sighed and crossed her arms.
"Yes, Shiketsu, second year, hero and hunter department." Mai snorted. Maki looked at her in surprise.
"Department of Heroes and Hunters?! You didn't tell me! " Maki said in surprise, Mai glared at her.
"And why would I?" Mai asked curtly. Maki grimaced and didn't reply. Mai clicked her tongue once more. "Besides, it's not like it matters. I didn't get in because of my great skills, if you're thinking that. Like Naoka said, I'm an E-Rank. My fighting prowess is abysmal."
"The only reason I got in was as punishment. The Zenin are paying Shiketsu to keep me in that class even though I'm the weakest in the whole group. Everyone knows the only reason I'm there is because I'm paying for my spot in that class, not because I deserve it. That certainly doesn't make me the most popular girl in the class." Mai sneered dismissively.
"Mai." Maki said worriedly, Mai just glared at her, silencing her sister once again.
"So, you'd like an exchange to UA?" I asked simply. "I'm sure Shiketsu would love to free you from that position, and UA wouldn't mind accepting you into general studies," I said easily. Mai paused momentarily.
"Wouldn't Naomi Zenin-sama mind?" Mai asked, frowning.
"It doesn't matter what they think." Maki and I sighed at the same time.
"The bet remains the same, no matter which university you go to, Naomi Zenin won't care in the slightest." I said dismissively. "The only word that matters is yours, if you want it, obviously. You may not be... the most popular in your class, but do you have any friends or anything?" I asked gently. Mai seemed conflicted.
"I... there are a couple of people who... you could call friends," Mai said with a grimace before sighing. "But they'll understand when I talk to them, so it won't be a problem, and besides, it's not like I've found a-" Mai stopped before shaking her head. "Never mind, I'll think about going to UA," Mai said quickly.
"A what?" I asked curiously. Mai made a face.
"Just tell him," Maki said, rolling her eyes. I looked at Mai curiously. Mai made a face. "If you don't tell him, I will. After all, he'll be our husband; we have nothing to hide from him," Maki said playfully. Mai blushed.
"Stop saying that!" Mai exclaimed, embarrassed. She sighed wearily. "My quirk... I... I'm able to transform into a sword," Mai said, looking away.
I stopped abruptly. She could...what?
Author's Notes: Who saw this coming? The only reason I chose Soul Eater as one of the worlds for this crossover from the beginning was so that Izumi would eventually get a waifu/sword. Initially, I was toying with the idea of Tsubaki from Soul Eater, especially because of her different forms, but ultimately, Mai was the chosen one!
Author's Notes 2: Okay! A small but important announcement! I'll be taking a short break the first week of March, both from my full-time job and from writing! That means that unfortunately I won't be posting anything on Friday, March 6th, and I'll be back to posting normally on March 13th.
A/N: If you liked the story, join my patreon, patreon.com/Camellya_Addams, there are up to 10 chapters in advance, thank you. Or you can also visit my Ko-Fi, ko-fi.com/camellya_addams.