Note: This starts after Season One.

01 – Snapped

Not a single thought crossed his might as stared listlessly out into the night. The city lights had flickered on batch by batch, defying the coming night. Minato's eyes however still saw the horrid image of Musubi lying on the bridge, unmoving...

Dead.

And he had done nothing at all.

Already he felt the lump rising in his throat again. The frustration, the self-disgust, all of it overwhelmed him...

He had thought he could help. Kuno and Satomi had wanted nothing to do with the "Sekirei Plan." All they wanted was a quiet life together, to escape. So of course he had promised to help. And in the end he had almost gotten everyone killed. Had it not been for Tsukiumi-

"Minato-san?"

Speak of the devil.

Turning his head to look up, the blond-haired Sekirei stood proud in the moon light. Her confident poise spoke volumes of her esteem, but her eyes showed clear worry. Her "husband" had not been the same since they had returned to the inn, and now the time had come to confront him on it.

"You have said very little since we have returned." She smoothed her dress out as she moved to sit beside him on the rooftop, overlooking the city.

He said nothing in response. She turned her gaze to the city, both of them silently looking on for several moments.

"Why..." His sudden interjection almost made her jump. "Why did-... what changed your mind?"

Indeed, she had been so vehemently against the proposal at first. So why?

"Minato," she started, standing up again.

"It is the duty of a Sekirei to fight for their Ashikabi, no exceptions."

He looked up at her, their eyes making contact. She looked away with a blush, unable to hold the contact for long.

"I cannot say that I approve of what it was thou were attempting..."

"BUT-" She held up her hand, silencing his objections.

"But I am thy wife, and will remain loyal to thee. So..."

She looked down to him, again, making eye contact. "But listen to what I tell thou now. It is the duty of Sekirei to fight..."

Her eyes pierced his soul. "To refuse is to be a coward and to neglect the duties of a Sekirei. This is unforgivable."

She turned to go. "What I did tonight was to help you my dear husband. I do not approve of their actions, and I most CERTAINLY do not approve of their dragging thee into those plans."

He eyes widened. "Tsukiumi, I-"

"If they wish to escape, they must do so on their own power from now on," she asserted. "Musubi was not the only one who almost lost their life tonight."

She turned back to regard out of the corner of her eye. "I will not tolerate the loss of my husband."

And with that, she jumped from the roof, leaving Minato along once again. He turned his gaze back to the city lights.

Minato was slow and precise in every move he made. Sneaking into his room, he carefully retrieved his coat. Meanwhile, three Sekirei slept. Musubi, Kusano, and Tsukiumi lay on the bed that was supposed to be his, leaving enough room in the middle for him to nestle into.

He had no desire for sleep now however.

He made his moves ever so slowly and cautiously, lest he wake up the lion's den. Lucky for him he had left his closet open, his jacket hanging out for him. Cautiously slinging it over his arm, he made his way back for the door.

"Minato..."

His blood ran cold and he stopped dead in his tracks. The soft call of his name made him dreadfully turn his head around. Musubi's call had been ghostly, and the said boy exhaled with relief at seeing she was only dreaming.

His eyes stayed transfixed on the sleeping girl for a moment. How close he had come to losing her tonight...

He closed the door behind him and made his way downstairs, not hearing her finish her thought.

"Minato..." her eye shed a single tear as she reached out for the ethereal form of her Ashikabi in her dream. "Please... what's wrong? Tell me…"

The front door clacked shut behind Minato, sealing him away from the warm comfort of the inn and out into the crisp night.

He barely got three steps before...

"A bit late for a walk Minato-san."

He nearly fell flat on his face, feeling like he had been caught doing something he shouldn't. Spinning around, he knew Kagari-san had definitely NOT been standing behind him a minute ago. Yet there he was now, with a lop-sided smile on his face.

"Just… just need to clear my head for a little while Kagari-san," the boy chuckled nervously.

The other man stood with his arms crossed, eyeing him suspiciously.

Minato slightly fidgeted under his gaze. The piercing look he was getting made him feel like he was being interrogated.

"S-So…" Minato awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "I'll see you around, then…"

Hands in his pockets, Minato walked toward the street, trying his best to ignore Kagari's eyes drilling holes in the back of his head. He really didn't have the energy to deal with this now.

"My walk to work is in roughly the same direction," he called after the young ronin.

Minato's eyes shut and his teeth clenched. The boy had always been a gentle spirit, one that most thought incapable of hurting even a fly. Yet even he could feel frustration at the end of long day when all he wanted was to be along for awhile.

"Want some company?" The host offered.

'No,' his mind groaned. "Sure." He hoped his short answer didn't show any of the tired resignation he felt. He didn't want to come across as rude.

But had he known what was in store for him that night, he would have taken off running.

Neither had said much as they walked along. Kagari-san never talked much, and Minato was too tired to talk. So much was on his mind now…

The whole Sekirei Plan was way over his head, and he knew it. What had happened the night before had thrown that fact in his face. He had not slept a wink that night, and only had a small nap during the day. His mind had been thinking too fast. The adrenaline surging when he helped Kuno and Satomi escape, the anxiety of them being chased, the… pure terror he felt at seeing Musubi lying on the bridge…

He let out a sigh before he could stop it.

"You look like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders."

Minato instantly jerked his head around, sporting a healthy shade of vermillion at being caught off guard while he was wrapped up in his thoughts.

Kagari smiled good naturedly with a hint of worry in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

Minato smiled, feeling somewhat more relaxed. "Just… a lot going on."

"Anything you can tell me?" Kagari seemed genuinely concerned. It sort of surprised Minato. Kagari had always been friendly, but had kept him and the others at a certain distance. Why was he being so forward now?

He was even… concerned?

Wait… no… He couldn't! He could not have known about what had happened on the bridge last night! …Could he?

Minato shook his head, ridding himself of the absurd thought.

"I guess I just realized how dangerous this city really was," he replied to answer the man's question.

"Minato-san…"

He couldn't tell if his tone was exasperated at his naivety or concern.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" he questioned the boy once more.

Minato turned back with a tired gaze. "Like I said Kagari-san, just need some time alone."

And with that, Minato continued walking, not even bother to look back to see if the other man was following him. Kagari continued to watch him for awhile, before turning to go his own way.

Nothing, nothing, nothing… NOTHING!

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. How could he have done nothing?

His mind was working to fast again, and he could feel a headache coming on. He was so frustrated it almost made him sick. Finally, finding a bench, he steady himself to sit down, holding his head in his hands. He knew he needed to sleep, the exhaustion was taking its toll on his mind and body. But he just…

"NO!" The scream jolted him to reality, his headache and swirling mind wiped away by the shock.

Pulling his head up, he turned to where he had heard the scream. Without even waiting for instructions from his mind, his legs began to quickly carry him in the direction of where the sound had originated before he even registered what was happening. He was carried down the walking path, taking a detour into the local park by the river, stopping short of coming out from under the cover of the trees into the opening.

A girl stumbled backwards, nearly tripping over herself. "I-it…it isn't you!" she cried. "You're not the one!"

One of the two men that slowly advanced on her had a lustful sneer on his face while the other sported a dirty scowl. "What was that BITCH?" the scowling man spat.

"That's no way to talk to your Ashikabi," the sneering one said. "I think you should apologize."

'A Sekirei.' Minato's mind instantly registered. He had known before the two thugs even mentioned the word Ashikabi. From being around so many, he had come to recognize something in the way Sekirei behaved that made them stand out from the others. He could also plainly tell that neither of these two were her Ashikabi.

"You're not him…" the girl stuttered. "You're NOT MY ASHIKABI!"

The scowling one lost his temper, charging the girl. "YOU DAMN BIT-"

A ball of fire exploded steps in front of him, stopping him dead in his tracks, hurling him backwards and land flat on his back. The flames cleared away, revealing a man clothed in a black overcoat standing between the two men and the Sekirei.

His face was covered with a mask, but that white hair was unmistakable.

'Kagari-san?' Minato had clasp a hand over his mouth to keep from shouting out the man's name. He was a… he was a SEKIREI?

"Rather un-gentlemenly of you," Kagari berated the two men as they struggled to their feet. "And you call yourselves men?"

"HOW DARE YOU?" the irate man screeched.

"Woah, woah, woah," the other one eased between Kagari and his infuriated friend with hands help up. That damn smirk had never left his face. "I don't think this really any of your business pal. You see my little brother here was just taking what was his."

Kagari quirked an eyebrow briefly in contempt, momentarily eyeing the girl cowering behind him.

"What's his?" The Sekirei questioned sarcastically.

"You see," the smirker explained calmly. "I myself am an Ashikabi, but my little brother Yosuke hasn't found his Sekirei yet."

He motioned over to the seething boy still picking himself up off the ground.

"It doesn't seem really fair that he shouldn't have one, does it? I mean, we're brothers, and he doesn't like to be left out."

"So," the man concluded, dropping his arms to his side and taking a more aggressive stance. "What say you just walk away? Hmm? I don't think that's too unreasonable."

Kagari merely snorted at the man's arrogance. "I don't think so." Holding his arm out to his side, a flame burst to life.

"I-it's you…" the girl behind him stuttered. "You're him… you're the Sekirei Guardian!"

'Sekirei Guardian?' Minato wondered. The title was self-descriptive, but he'd never heard of this before.

"ENOUGH TALKING!" The Yosuke screamed. Finally, he lunged for Kagari, his hands thrust forward with blind range without any sort of tactics or skill in consideration for his attack.

The Sekirei Guardian did not so much as flinch. He grabbed the girl behind him and merely stepped the both of them out of Yosuke's way. The man was too committed in his blind charge that he stumbled as he tried to catch himself from falling. Furiously, he twirled around and threw a wide punch in Kagari's direction. The Sekirei ducked with ease, dodging the poorly directed strike and countered with his own by throwing hook right across the man's temple, sending him to the ground with a cry.

An audible sigh turned Kagari's attention back to the older brother.

"I honestly hoped it wouldn't come to this…" he lamented. The mockingly sad look was quickly replaced by a devilish grin. His hand brandished a switchblade from the pocket of his jacket.

The man crouched into a stance, slightly pulling his knife back, ready to strike. Kagari copied his stance, widening his legs and dropping into a more aggressive posture. The man charged, thrusting his knife forward into the strike Kagari knew was long coming. He yanked his whole body out of the weapon's path, countering with his arm and guiding the man's knife safely away from him. His other arm launched a hook into the man's temple, followed by his other arm wrapping around the man's neck and pulling him into a joke hold.

The smirk had vanished from Yosuke's older brother and had been replaced by a look of panic as he struggled for air. Kagari's free hand captured the other man's hand with the knife. Twisting it from his grip, he tossed it away without looking. Twirling in the air, it punctured the ground at Minato's feet, making him jump.

Kagari's enemy began to struggle less and less, his vision blurring as his mind began to descend into limbo.

"HEY!"

The shout made Kagari jerk his head around, his eyes widening in horror.

Yosuke was holding the girl in a choke hold, holding a knife to her throat.

"You'd better let my brother go, or this bitch gets ugly real quick!"

Kagari's teeth clenched, but his arms released the boy. Yosuke's brother choked and gagged as he rolled to the ground, but frustration championed exhaustion, and jumping up with a growl, roughly backhanded the Sekirei Guardian, sending him to the ground with a grunt.

"NO! Stop it!" The girl cried.

Yosuke's brother quickly grabbed the silver-haired Sekirei's hands and pinned them above his head, straddling him with his own body, trapping Kagari underneath him.

"STOP!" The girl screamed. "Let him go! I'll…" she clenched her teeth. Fresh tears welled in her eyes once more and her voice stuttered as she relented: "I'll… I'll do it…"

"Well…" Yosuke's finally felt like he was back on top again. "That's more like it."

He twirled the girl around in his arms, holding her close to him with one, and holding her chin with the other. "Glad to see you've come around."

His face began to draw close to hers, and her eyes shut as she tried to stifle her sobs.

Yosuke's brother watched the scene unfold from afar. Finally, his brother had taken the reins, and wouldn't half to listen to him bitch about not having a Sekirei like him as he had for the past five weeks. However, he wasn't too interested in the request the girl had made. Why should his brother be the only one to get something out of tonight?

His eyes turned to the Sekirei trapped underneath him.

"Well," he thoughtfully admitted to himself as he turned Kagari's head to face him. "Not really my style…" he grinned menacingly. "But I guess you are cute… for a guy I mean. And I can always use another Sekirei…"

Kagari's eyes widened as realized what was coming.

Minato's legs began to shake, and his breathing along with them.

No… it was happening again! It all was going wrong. That girl, Kagari-san, they were about to…

'Now's your chance…'

"What…?" for a brief second, the echoing voice had his full attention on the account of him coming from nowhere….

His head felt instantly heavy…

Thousands of whispers began to sound off in his head, and his vision blurred.

"Urgh…" he clutched his head.

One became distinct. "It is the duty of a Sekirei to fight for their Ashikabi."

Was that… Tsukiumi?

"I can feel so much love coming from you…" Musubi? No… not Musubi…someone using her voice…

"Is it nothing you can tell me?" Kagari's worried eyes flashed through his mind.

His head felt heavier, and fell to his knees and sounds in head became faster, starting to blur together…

"It is the d-duty of an Ash-Ash-Ashikabi to f-fight for their Sekirei...reireireireireireirei," The words in his head scratched and were being distorted like a malfunction.

"Congratulations my boy!" Minaka! Minato's anger rose. "You have been selected to play the Sekirei game!"

"Minato…" Musubi's whisper was too far away to reach him.

The whispers and voices and visions were ripping his mind apart, he squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to scream.

"Husband? Minato? Minato! Minato-san… ONI-CHAN! NO! Mister Sahashi?" Too many speaking at once…

Through the chaos in his mind, he slowly began to raise his head, trying to regain his ground. He cracked an eye open, and then both widened at the first thing they saw…

The knife…

It stuck out of the ground, like a sword in the stone, waiting for its master to claim it.

'You want a way out of you weakness…' the foreign voice that had begun it all cut through the background voices that fused into a white noise.

'Here it is.'

The voices in his head had pitched, their sound now deafening.

Minato's eyes were wide with wonder, desperation, and fear all mixed into one, focused on the waiting blade before him.

All the voice, the whispers, the visions were all a constant screech that creshendoed and his mind was obliterated by a deafening scream…

And then was instantly silent.

Kagari desperately pulled at his captured arms, but they were weak against the stronger opponent. He was held still.

The man sitting on his hips scowled. "Don't you go thinking I'm some kind of fag or something!"

Kagari snarled in disgust. This man was actually going to be his-

"Although," the arrogant boy recanted, breaking Kagari's thought process. "I guess I shouldn't knock it before…"

The smirk on his face instantly fell, and his eyes quivered.

"Ugh…" He looked uncomfortable.

Kagari's eyes narrowed. "What?"

"AAAHHH!" The man cried in fierce pain, his eyes widening in horror at the realization at what had happened to him.

He instantly fell forward onto Kagari. The Sekirei looked down at the man lying on top of him. In his back was a horrible wound. Blood soaked and expanded around a tear in the man's jacket which further penetrated into a deep wound that was nearly blackened from the amount of blood pooling and overflowing.

Kagari looked up, and nearly laughed at the absurdity at what he saw.

Minato… was holding knife.

Staring into the other boy's face, the sky had become too dark, but Kagari almost could make out his eyes, but he couldn't see any emotion in them.

He looked again at the knife the boy was holding, and down at the man laying very still on his own body. There was no doubt at what had just happened:

Minato had stabbed the man, and then twisted the knife.

He looked up again, disbelief painting his face. "Mina-"

"OH MY GOD!"

Both of their faces jerked toward the cry. Yosuke had let the girl go at the sound of his brother's scream. His arrogant smirk was long gone and now horror replaced it.

"Oni-sama?" His head shakily turned towards the other man still on his feet.

"What…" His face twisted into rage. "What…did…you…"

"AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!" Minato's wrathful scream shocked the rage right out of the boy. He didn't even see the Ashikabi bolting in his direction at lightning speed until it was too late.

Seeing the boy about to crash into him, Yosuke threw his hands up in front of him in desperate defense at the last second. Minato chambered his arm across his body and violently slashed at the other boy.

Yosuke's flimsy arms were swept aside and the blade carved violently into his neck.

Blood erupted from the deep cut and splashed everything. Yosuke fell to the ground, his body convulsing violently. He attempted to scream, but his vocal cords had been cut, and in place of gales of screeching, more blood pumped from his severed neck. He was dead in the space of a breath.

The female Sekirei did nothing but stare at the violently fast carnage with wide eyes.

In less than six seconds, Minato's attack was over.

Kagari stared silently… still taking in what had just happened.

His eyes had captured the whole spectacle, but his mind was still stuck back on the fact that Minato was here at all.

Coughing yanked his mind to focus on what was right in front of him, which was the brother coming back to life.

Kagari frantically scooted backwards, shooting out from underneath the other boy.

Minato's body came flying in and instantly crashed down on the sputtering attacker-turned-prey.

He jabbed the knife into the other boy's neck, then again, and again, and again, and again, and again. The other boy's frantic attempts at defense and escape became weaker with each passing puncture.

With one last stab, this one with particular ferocity, Minato pushed deep, and then retracted out for the last time.

His breathing was heavy, but in rhythm.

He turned to the Sekirei he had just saved.

Kagari stared, mouth agape at what had just transpired.

Minato's face was splashed in blood, his shirt by this point almost soaked in it.

He stared at the boy's face, disbelieving who it was:

"M…Minato?" he whispered.

The boy stared back for a moment… then instantly bolted in the opposite direction.

"MINATO!" The Sekirei-guardian cried out.

He didn't respond. His legs just kept pounding the ground, getting faster and faster.

Kagari, that girl, those two boys….those two boys that had just tried to hurt that girl, those two boys that just tried to hurt Kagari, those two boys that were the monsters he knew they were when he had first laid eye on them…

Those two boys… he had just stabbed… and killed.

'Well done…'

To be continued.