Code Sekirei: L.L. of the Plan
Seprith Li Castia
Attention: Warning: I make no claim to any of the rights and responsibilities for the characters, creations or other such things featured in this story. I humbly recognize and accept that all forms of ownership for this series and its character, places and things belong to their owner(s). I am merely presenting a non-profit form of entertainment based on their original content. I implore any and all readers of this fan made material to purchase the works in which this is based on to not only support the rights owners but to avoid spoilers caused from this work. I thank you.
Author's Notes: Meant to have this out earlier, but the sight was down for maintenance. Better late than never, I guess.
Review Corner: If you want to just read, feel free to skip ahead.
- Darth Lelouch: Yes, Karasuba is aware of Lelouch's past. Not really every detail and trauma, but the broad strokes; Zero, U.F.N., Demon Emperor, Zero Requiem, et cetera.
- Oberstrumfuhrer: So proud of myself I remembered how to spell that from memory. Anyway, his chapter hints a bit about Yume and addresses the "will Akitsu be broken" question. Not going to confirm the other girls in the harem but I will say this about your line-up: "damn that is over-powered!"
- Zero H Gundam: Yeah, the next two chapters will be the first LL versus Other Ashikabi action we really get, so look forward to that. As for Lelouch's plan... Well, he told Miya what his Plan A was, and his Plan B, so... Maybe you are right?
- Never- enough7407: Of course! This is Karasuba! I could not (probably) have thought of a better point for her first reaction. Also, requiescat in pace for the television. I just loved that whole scene idea when it came to me.
- RedHerring1412: For Karasuba's reaction to Lelouch's budding harem you will have to wait until next chapter, but it should be of interest. Although, you do get a taste of it from the "little sister" line in chapter two if you figured out who they were talking about.
Thank you all so much for the reviews! There is a lot about this story I am not sure about so all your feedback really helps iron out the dints. Something I am really hoping for with this chapter.
Turn Three: The Scrapped Number
Ascension Throne Britannia (a.t.b.) 2020
Kamikura Island, United States of Japan:
"It isn't working, doctor! Heart rate is nearly forty over! We need to do something!"
There was a bright light above her, the examination lamp; she tried to focus on that. It didn't work.
"Give her the injection!"
There was a rapid beeping sound, the rate of her heart; she tried to count the beats. It didn't work.
A stab, a plunge. "It didn't work."
"Well, give her another one!"
There were some people talking beside her, the adjusters trying to control the power; she tried to focus on their words. It didn't work, and she was losing it.
"But, doctor, that could—" The MBI researcher recoiled as though he had been struck, tumbling backwards and into a collection of monitors amidst a flurry of icy wind. His breath coming out as steamed vapor, he choked, "Oh, no… she's…" Whatever else he was going to say was smothered out as a thin sheet of frost began to creep around the room. It started around the operating table and spread around the room without apparent direction or cause. On one side, it completely encased the heart rate monitor in a block of ice; on the other, it crept up the walls and tried to consume the spot lamps.
"No. 07 has lost control!" shouted the other doctor, a billow of steam issuing forth as he spoke. "We need to sedate her!" He rushed over to the nearby surgical tray and, after breaking apart the thin layer of ice there with a surgical dish, took hold of the needle. Instrument in hand, he then turned to his subject; the ever expanding sheet of ice had already covered almost her entire body. The one area left exposed was her face and neck.
Moving to her side, needle in hand and poised for the neck, the doctor tried to inject the young girl. "Please, don't…" her voice pleaded, wide eyes shaking as she looked up at him. He said nothing, merely approaching the trapped girl, but as he tried to insert the pointed needle of his instrument he was met with a thick layer of ice.
"Damn it!" he seethed, a look a fury and frustration overcoming his features. "Do you wanna die, you stupid girl!?"
"I—I don't…" she tried to speak, but her chest hurt. The thin layer of ice keeping her pinned was growing, turning into a slate thicker than her arms, and the weight was pressing down on her. "H-help…" she cried, frozen tears trapped on her face as the sheet grew to cover her face.
The doctor gazed down on the girl trapped in an icy coffin of her own making, terror and desperation welling up in her face as she struggled in vain against the power she could not control and the sheer weight of her conjured ice. "Somebody get me a drill and a saw!" he screamed out, his mind a flurry of thoughts. "We have to cut her ou—"
"What do you think you're doing!" demanded a voice in the door-way. "There's ice pouring down the hall and…" The new arrival surveyed the room in a glance, moving from the floored doctor desperately trying to free himself from the ice holding his leg, to the mound of ice trapping a child, before finally settling on the doctor too scared to move. "Dr. Taniguchi," his voice seemed to chill, lowering the temperature of the room faster than even the ice had. "What have you done?"
Dr. Ryusei Taniguchi's face went white. "Deputy Director LL," he greeted fearfully. "W-we were trying to stabilize No. 07 and—"
"She wasn't scheduled for any operations today!" LL practically shouted, practically jumping over a sudden surge of ice as he quickly moved to the side of the entrapped Sekirei. "Akitsu-chan!" he called out to the girl inside, her movements frantic. Her breath was coming in sharp gasps now; she was almost out of air. "Listen to me, Akitsu-chan! Remember what I told you! Don't let your power control you!"
She must have heard him because the violently thrashing Sekirei seemed to still; eyes frosted with unshed and frozen tears blinking desperately up into the easy smile and imploring faux-blue eyes above her. Placing a hand onto the mound between them, LL said, "You're better than this, Akitsu-chan! You can control this, but you need to be calm! Collected!"
A shutter seemed to wrack her tiny body, but she tried to nod her assent at his words. Her eyes clenching shut and drowning out all the world save for the words of encouragement from LL, the young No. 07 willed herself to be calm. To be free. She tried to reach out to the ice around her; she tried to will the ice around her away. "That's it, Akitsu-chan," he praised, the ice receding from the room around them. Some evaporating on the spot, others melting into frigid pools. Emboldened by his praise, she willed herself to be better. To be worthy. To be—
The mound gave away in a sudden down pour of water, flooding the surgical lab and drenching everyone inside, revealing the naked little girl that had been trapped inside. Heedless of this, LL immediately moved to grab hold of No. 07's trembling hands, his long and narrow fingers tightening around the shivering hands of the young girl, his other hand wiping away the matted brown hair off her brow. "Well done, Akitsu-chan," he praised, smiling happily down at the girl still gasping for breath.
"L- LL-sama," she chocked, anxious to say his name even as her lungs hurt to breathe and her cheeks flushed with warmth. "I-I'm sorry, I—"
"You've done nothing to apologize for, Akitsu-chan," he denied, his hand stroking through wet locks. Casting a glance over his shoulder, he said, "Taniguchi, go get some dry towels and fresh clothes for her."
"R-right, Deputy Director," stammered Dr. Taniguchi, anxious himself to get as far away from here as possible before he attracted anymore attention. No doubt, as soon as the girl was treated, he would be in a fight for his life and job…
As Dr. Taniguchi fled the room, LL smiled down at the now seated girl bundled up inside his lab coat; her nose turning bright red he held it with a piece of tissue paper and urged her to blow. Thoughts of comforting her and maiming Taniguchi in equal measure. "You're safe now, Akitsu-chan," he said comfortingly, his hand patting her small head. "I'm right here for you…"
Sekirei No. 07, Akitsu, smiled brightly up at him without a care in the world; her cheeks were flushed with joy at being near him and at the feeling of safety his presence brought. She had never been happier.
Ascension Throne Britannia (a.t.b.) 2033
Examination Room #3, 13th Floor, Teito Tower, Shinto Teito:
Vacant and cold eyes stared out into the world; like chipped away pieces of glass merely reflecting the bright lights of the city below. If only she could…
"No. 07, No. 07…" repeated the man across from her, pulling the attention of those eyes from the window and into the here, the now. "You need to pay attention, No. 07. I have some questions for you…"
Never one to volunteer information readily, or even speak more than necessary, Akitsu merely nodded her head slightly, a soft "ah" sound her only vocal response. Dr. Ryusei Taniguchi, the deputy director of all Sekirei adjustments for MBI, frowned at her lack of a response, but said nothing else on the matter. "Your adjustments have been less than satisfactory lately, No. 07," he began evenly, his hands methodically flipping between a bundle of papers in his hand. "There have been five incidents this week alone; well above the one average previously. Ice creeping up the wall, mysterious and unexplained puddles of water…"
He fixed her with an expectant look, likely an implication for her to answer or explain. Akitsu nodded mutely. Sighing, he asked, "Has anything abnormal been going on? I suppose winter will be coming up soon, maybe that—"
"Dreams…" said Akitsu distantly, her expressionless face staring back at him blankly.
"Dreams, No. 07?" he pressed, surprised by the voluntary response.
"Dreams," she repeated, nodding slightly. At his insistence, she elaborated, "Every night for the past week, I dream."
"Dreams in-and-of themselves are nothing note-worthy," dismissed Dr. Taniguchi with a frown. "But the past week specifically… Is it the same dream?" She nodded mutely. "What is the dream about?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but found herself hesitant to answer. It seemed too personal; like it was something that only belonged to her and she had no desire to share. But Dr. Taniguchi did not seemed intent on allowing her any privacy because he urged her to answer. "I dream of him…" answered Akitsu at last, a flush spreading across her ordinarily pale skin.
Dr. Taniguchi's frown dipped even lower. Even though he already suspected, he asked, "Of whom, No. 07?"
"LL-sama," she said respectfully, her reddening face turning away from the doctor to stare once more out the window. She had been doing that a lot the past week, too. "We're in an empty room. He sits with me, talks to me, pats my head, and…"
"That's quite enough, No. 07," interrupted the doctor sternly. Akitsu did not look at him, but she knew he was upset. "While sex dreams are to be expected,"—she tried to deny that; her and LL-sama had never—"Any dream about… that man should be discouraged." She knew that Dr. Taniguchi had never liked LL; had always known the feeling was mutual. She did not know that LL had tried repeatedly to have the doctor removed from the company; an effort repeatedly thwarted by President Minaka.
"That man," continued Dr. Taniguchi, still unwilling to say the name. "Should never have been allowed around any Sekirei. Any Ashikabi that has already triggered an emergence in a Sekirei has an increased likelihood to trigger a reaction in another." Akitsu knew this; he had told her numerous times, after each time she mentioned LL's name. "The reaction you feel for that man is involuntary; the result of circumstances when you were a child. Any lingering feelings you have for him are a lie, and—"
"They're not a lie," she said coldly, her voice dropping to a whisper. She refused to look at him, refused to look away from the city outside, but her words were resolute: "He is my Ashikabi."
Dr. Taniguchi's frown deepened, but he did not deny that. "While it is true there has never been a case of a Sekirei responding to multiple people, it is still likely…"
"He is my Ashikabi," she repeated stoically; like it was the one fact in the world of which she was certain. As a Sekirei, it very well might be.
"Fine, No. 07," he sighed, setting down his papers before stapling his fingers. "But you must admit that it has been years. That man is probably gone by now and he has no reason to return…"
"No," denied Akitsu. "There's still Onee-sama. She didn't leave." It hurt, sometimes, to think that her Ashikabi had left her. She understood why, but… At least Karasuba-sama was still here; proof that he would come back someday. He might leave Akitsu, who was not yet his Sekirei, but he would never leave Karasuba, who bore his mark. That is what Akitsu thought and that was what gave her hope.
"Your relationship with No. 04 aside," he seemed tired now, likely very annoyed. "We should really be—No. 07, what are you looking at?"
Akitsu blinked one, twice; she did not turn to face him, but she did answer honestly: "I don't know." Her eyes were staring out the window; night had just fallen and the dimly lit streets below offered a view of the various humans going about their lives. Many of the Sekirei, who had spent most of their life confined either on Kamikura Island or here in Teito Tower, would often take to observing the crowds below. Akitsu had never shown such an inclination before, yet in the past week…
She would catch herself looking, of glancing out any and all windows into the outside world. She did not care for the busy streets or the beautiful day and night skies. What always seemed to catch her attention were the buildings around the tower, and if she traced her eyes across them long enough she would… Thump. She would feel it; that lurch in her chest. For the Sekirei of Ice to feel such a rush of heat, for her heart to pound so deeply in her chest, she knew he must be out there; her Ashikabi, LL-sama.
Thump-Thump. It was that one, she decided, looking out to see a tall building rising up into the sky. It did not reach the height of Teito Tower, nothing else in the city did, but if that was where… She felt her feet move slightly, felt her hands reach out towards the window. If she could only…
"No. 07," started Dr. Taniguchi, snapping her from her thoughts. Akitsu turned to face him and at once the feeling died in her breast; the rising heat was replaced by the emptiness she had known in every moment her Ashikabi was not there to chase it away. Dr. Ryusei Taniguchi frowned deeply at her expressionless face, his eyes darting from the seated Sekirei to the window briefly, but a light of understanding seemed to catch in his eyes. Followed shortly by a look of tightly controlled panic.
"N-No. 07," he tried again faintly, her muted "ah" the only reply. "You mentioned these dreams you've been having… The last week you said?" She nodded. "And this fixation with the window…" He mumbled something to himself faintly, but her advanced Sekirei hearing could still distinctly hear the words "reaction" and "returned" mixed in. For a few moments he seemed to war with himself, seemingly at odds with himself, before finally seeming pleased. "No. 07, I think I've finally thought of a way to help you stabilize your power."
She may not have spoken, but there was a sudden interest in her cold gaze. If she could stabilize her power, she could leave and…
"I had wanted to complete some additional tests before using this," Dr. Taniguchi was saying mildly. "But despite your recent relapses, I think you've shown some tremendous improvements. You might be ready. Even today." Never before had the doctor received the undivided attention of this particular Sekirei. "However, you need to be willing to listen, okay? If all goes as I predict, this may very well be your final adjustment. If you listen, you might be able to see your Askikabi soon. Can you do that for me?"
"Ah… Yes." To see her Ashikabi again, she would do anything.
Dr. Taniguchi smiled at her, something he had never done before. Gesturing to the nearby operating table, he said, "Then please disrobe and lie down for me." The doctor stood in a burst of energy very unlike the usually stiff man, but Akitsu complied easily. She wore what all Sekirei still undergoing adjustments usually wore; a blank white or grey surgical smock. Pulling away the garment to reveal her bare flesh and ample chest, Akitsu laid down on the metal operating table; her nerves a rare bundle of excitement.
The doctor watched all this with the detached air of a scientist. He had been recruited from one of the United States of China's premier medical institutes by President Minaka himself. Although still relatively young, being only thirty-three, Dr. Ryusei Taniguchi was already the deputy director of MBI's most advanced research department, dealing with Sekirei personally. For a man like Dr. Taniguchi, the Sekirei were the ultimate challenge. Why waste his life trying to cure one of the hundreds of diseases that could kill any human when he could tamper with the very genetic structure of a being who could hurl fire-balls or cut a building in half?
No. 07 had presented the greatest challenge of all. While the former director, Takehito Asama, had proven his skill in adjusting the First Five, Sekirei No. 01 through No. 05, and that man had over-seen the adjustments of the Second Five, No. 06 through No. 10, neither had been able to resolve No. 07's problems. She was the greatest challenge of them all, and if he could do it; if he could…
Stepping to the side of the table, Dr. Taniguchi smiled down at her, needle already in hand. "This will put you to sleep," he explained gently, the injection hovering over her veins. "And by the time you wake up, you'll be perfect, No. 07."
"Ah, thank you, doctor," she said tiredly, the plunger already going in.
"My pleasure, No. 07…"
Sekirei No. 07, Akitsu, felt a sudden weight begin to pull at her eye-lids. Knowing what was to come, she accepted it, the blackness; she would sleep, then awaken in a world whole and completed. She would find her Ashikabi, find her master, and then…
"I'm sorry, Akitsu-chan, but I- " she could hear him say. But how? She had been in the lab, she was asleep, unless… "I'm sorry, Akitsu-chan, but I have to go away for a while."
"Ah… Let me go with you! " cried the younger Akitsu, her tiny fists whitened from clenching his lab coat so hard, her eyes moist with unshed tears. "I… I can…"
"Quiet now," LL smiled gently, his long arms surrounding her smaller frame. "You need to stay here and get better. When you can control your powers, we can talk then. "
"B-but why?" she pleaded.
LL's smile dimmed, his features hardening into a grimace. "There was an accident," he said eventually, teeth clenched. "One of the other Sekirei, she was killed. She was scrapped," he spat out the words. "And it's all my fault."
"But you're my Ashikabi! " she tried to reason, heart beating frantically in his presence, desperate to keep him from leaving. "How will— "
"There is still so much about the Sekirei we don't know yet," he began sadly. "Maybe I am your Ashikabi, but maybe not…"
"No! It is you!"
"You're still so young…" he sighed, pulling away from her. When she moved to grab him again, LL placed his hands on her shoulders and forced her to look at him. His brilliant amethyst meeting her shaking blue, he said, "When you get older, when your power stabilizes," he hesitated, his voice wavering. "I'll accept your choice; I'll be your Ashikabi." No matter what she said, no matter how many promises she made, he refused to back down. He was still going to leave.
"Karasuba-san will be staying," he offered as consolation.
"Karasuba-sama?" she repeated; the older Sekirei had never really spoken to her before, but she often followed LL around.
"Yes, she'll stay and guard all the other Sekirei in my absence, " he explained. "And she'll protect you, too. You can think of her as your big sister."
"Karasuba-sama? Onee-sama?" she tested the words; as both her senior and her Ashikabi's first, it seemed an appropriate title. LL smiled down at her, wiping away the lingering tears in her eyes, and stood. "Will you come back soon?" she asked before he could leave.
LL nodded easily. "I promise, Akitsu-chan," he said. "So don't cry for me until I get back."
She mad her promise, and then he was gone; fading away from not only the memory, but the dream around her. The smaller Akitsu had also faded, only to be replaced by the much older one of today, and even as the world faded to white she refused to cry. She had promised, after all.
"I'm so sorry it took so long, Akitsu-chan," said the voice behind her. She did not need to know it was her Ashikabi, LL-sama. He had not changed at all since that day, but she had. She was older now, her hair was longer, her figure more developed. She had grown up and… "You've gone through so much hardship."
"Ah…" she tried to say, her voice oddly faint. She did not know if this was another dream or… "But I didn't cry."
"No, you didn't," smiled LL happily. "And you've grown up so much. I'm so proud of you, Akitsu-chan."
If he was proud of her, and if he had accepted her, then… "Does that mean you'll now be my Ashika—" she tried to speak, to beg him, but the words died in her throat. She felt a searing pain in her mind, in her body, in her very being; like a scalpel cutting into her soul, maiming it. She dropped to her knees in the white void around her, her hands wrapping her skull, a strangled scream choked on her lips… She wanted to cry, to beg for release, but she had promised her Ashikabi …
"Akitsu-chan! Akitsu-chan! Akit-"
She could hear his voice, the voice of her master, but it was growing distant. She thought she felt his hand on her shoulders, but they were left bare. She thought she heard him call out to her, but there was only silence.
Akitsu was alone and for the very first time since meeting him, she could not feel her Ashikabi with her. Even when he was gone, even without his mark, she could feel a faint sensation pulling her in his direction, and now…
Akitsu felt completely, utterly… alone.
And she screamed…
Her heart felt empty, her mind was in pain, and her body ached all over; she could feel the tingling sensation of multiple needle marks, the faint pains of incisions in her body. There was a lurch in her gut, like something had been moved, and there was a searing itch and burn on her forehead. Desperate to escape it all, Akitsu found herself tumbling off the metal operating table only to land in a heap of sore limbs.
She made no notice of this, her hands reaching up to scratch at the aching pain on her skull… It hurt, like a knife had been plunged inside her head, but the worst of it was the emptiness around it. There was a numbing chill that enveloped her entire body, weighted down her every action, and even as the Sekirei of Ice, she had never been so cold.
"It's not my fault, it's not my fault…" then she heard it, the frantic pleas. Her mind trembling from the effort, Akitsu looked up to see Dr. Taniguchi staring mindlessly up at the ceiling. "I did everything right, so it can't be my fault…"
"D-doctor," she tried to speak, her voice sounding rough and hoarse. How long had she been screaming? "M-my head…"
"How was I supposed to know…" he mumbled, either ignoring her pleas or too lost to care. "It's definitely not my fault. I did everything right."
"My head hurts…" she tried to stand, a hand moving to balance her on shaking legs as she pulled herself up. "I… I can't feel…" Anything… "My Ashikabi…"
"She'll have to be scrapped, discarded… Tossed away," he laughed then, the sound burgeoning close to hysterics. "Just like that man, I'll be have to leave. She's not the first to be scrapped. I'll have to answer for this… But why!? It's not my fault!"
"Dr. Taniguchi," she tried again, her voice no more than a whisper. "I can't feel my Ashikabi."
He seemed to notice her now; his blank eyes meeting her. "Your Ashikabi…" he repeated dumbly, the twist of his lips like a jagged smile. "Don't be stupid, girl, you don't have an Ashikabi…"
"B-but I do, he's…"
"Stupid girl…" he laughed. "You're broken. Useless. Nobody would want you now…" He laughed again, tapping his forehead like that explained everything.
Akitsu did not know what to do; the dull throbbing in her head was clearing, but she still could not sense the faintest trace of her Ashikabi. Dr. Taniguchi said she was broken, but… Unconsciously, she brought a hand to her forehead; it was rougher than she had remembered it ever being before, like dead skin. She tried to scratch it away, yet the feeling remained. She scratched more, until she felt steaming blood touch her fingers. "What...?" she wondered aloud, staring at the blood numbly.
"She's scrap now, nothing more than scrap…" Dr. Taniguchi was saying. "Probably have to be terminated now, no use for her anymore…"
Akitsu pushed herself away from the table, her mind desperate to understand, and rushed for the window. Angling her head so she could see, she tried to catch the reflective panes of the glass, tried to see her forehead… Akitsu had always been very pale, even for her fellow Sekirei; she had always been proud of it, not only because it made her unique, but because it was something she had in common with her future Ashikabi, LL-sama. But this…
It was red; a vibrant shade that stood out harshly against her pale brow. There was the motif of a bird suspended over a symbol and framed by two etched marks; it was the crest of a Sekirei. Often had she dreamed of this symbol, of the joys it would bring her… To be marked by her Ashikabi, to wear his mark with pride and joy. She had once asked Karasuba-sama to see her mark, and No. 04 had obliged; revealing the typical black and white crest on her back all emerged Sekirei wore. No-one had a mark on the forehead, especially without it being placed there by an Ashikabi…
"You're broken, defective…" Dr. Taniguchi said. "That's why you couldn't control your power, you were broken."
"My… my Ashikabi…" she said with shaking tones.
"You'll never have an Ashikabi," snapped Taniguchi angrily. "It's not my fault! I did everything right! It has to be you! You're defective, that's the only answer!"
It was her fault? Was that why her master had left, because he had known? He had mentioned scrapped then, too. Akitsu was shaking, she wanted to collapse where she stood and cry, but more than anything she wanted to see him again. The man who was supposed to have been her Ashikabi, if she had not been broken.
"I'll be fired, I bet," Taniguchi was still mumbling. "Director Sahashi won't stand for this, not after what happened to No. 08… How will I…" He stilled then, his entire being focusing on the woman trapped in her own reflection. "It's you," he seethed, jumping up from his chair. "If only you would just disappear, everything would be over! You're defective, broken! You probably can't even user your powers now!"
Without further warning, he rushed for the trembling Akitsu, his hands wrapping around her throat. "It's your fault!" he screamed. "You're broken! Just scrap!"
She did not move to fight him, did not resist as his hand closed around her neck and squeezed. If her master had abandoned her because she was defective, what right did she have to live? Yet, as she felt her throat close up, as she felt her haggard breathes come to her slower and slower, she heard him…
"Akitsu!" Her master called for her.
"Ah…" she tried to speak, to respond, but could not form the words. Then she felt it; her power as a Sekirei. "Ah… Ahhhh!" All around her, hundreds of shards of ice appeared; each glinting in the lighting of the room and every one of them thicker than her arms. She needed to find him, to hear him say it… Then she could die, if that was his wish. She sent the shards around her, piercing every corner of the room. The operating table was broken in half, the doctor's desk impaled, the walls destroyed.
There was a scream of pain outmatched only by the destruction of the entire pane of window behind her. Ryusei Taniguchi had no time to react; he felt the temperature drop, saw the shards of ice form, and was struck all in the same moment. The shard pierced through his chest, his heart giving a final burst of effort that spurted out around him aimlessly, but he was already died before he hit the wall. Akitsu blinked apathetically at the death of the MBI scientist, his blood spraying across her cheek and exposed chest.
Mechanically, she grabbed one of the nearby hanging shirts to cover herself with, but her mind was focused entirely on the city outside. She had felt it earlier, the heat and urge to find her master, but she had not followed it. She knew he was here, somewhere in the city, and she thought she knew where to find him.
The former Sekirei No. 07, Akitsu, leapt out the window.
Ascension Throne Britannia (a.t.b.) 2033
Mikogami House, Shinto Teito:
Sekirei No. 05, Mutsu, sat atop the window sill, leaning against the adjacent wall; one knee pulled up to his chest, a katana balanced on his shoulder. His pale eyes watching the passing world outside, his frowned slightly as the sky darkened. It was getting late…
"You know, Mutsu," said Hayato Mikogami from his seat across the room. "Everybody always talks about either Six or Seven being the best in this series, but I really think Five is an unrecognized master-piece." He was smiling now, nose almost pressed against the screen of his hand-held game device.
"Hmm…" considered Mutsu, trying to remember. "That's the one with the evil tree, right? And… something about a magic splinter?" He had never played any of his Ashikabi's games before, but the boy had a way of talking about his interests. By this point, Mutsu could probably recount the whole game's story from memory.
Something about his reply must have upset the boy because Mikogami let out an over-dramatic sigh. "Don't put it like that," he grumbled. "It makes it sound so silly. Really, Mutsu, these are very interesting games. You should give them a try!" He raised his eyes up; they were glittering in open anticipation. Mutsu would not succumb.
"No thanks," he pointedly avoided the fifteen year old's gaze.
"Really, you should try—Oh, no!" he suddenly screamed, his fingers tapping away frantically at his device before giving a resigned cry of defeat. "Damn it! The boss killed me again! I know he's weak to earth, so maybe I can…" He trailed off then, his gaze drifting back over to his Sekirei in open consideration.
"Just because my power can causes quakes doesn't mean I can beat your games for you…" sighed Mutsu. Really, why couldn't he have gotten a pretty girl as his Ashikabi? He should never have listened to Takehito Asama and all those lectures about Sekirei and fate. Still, Hayato Mikogami was not that bad. Just a little young… and a boy.
"I think you were doing great, master!" cheered Sekirei No. 15, Himeko, from behind their Ashikabi. Even in her over-sized kimono, the normally demure girl was the picture of enthusiasm; she either really liked these games, or was just trying to share in her Ashikabi's interests. "Just a little more and you would have beat him!"
Mikogami smiled, but slide away shyly. He still was not used to interacting with so many people, especially young girls about his age. Thankfully for him, Mikogami was saved from offering a response when the door to the room was suddenly thrown open. Entering excitedly was another young girl with long brown hair, matching eyes, and wearing a black dress with matching gloves and stockings. A bright red ribbon was tied around her collar, and matched the gleaming scythe balanced on her shoulder.
"Yomi," said Mikogami in surprise. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be watching Teito Tower! How else are we supposed to know when they release the next game expansion?"
"Master," greeted Sekirei No. 43, Yomi happily. "I was doing as you instructed, but I overheard some of the MBI people say the next group of Sekirei to be released was not scheduled until next week."
"Oh, man!" he griped, setting his game down so he could cross his arms and mope. "But I wanted to add more Sekirei to my collection!"
"Oh, master…" pitied Himeko, trying to set a comforting hand on his shoulder. "There's always next week…"
Yomi watched the movement through narrowed eyes, and was more than pleased when their Ashikabi shrugged off the gesture. Himeko looked hurt, but she smiled widely. "Actually, master," Yomi said loudly, earning his attention. "I did over-hear something else. Apparently a special kind of Sekirei just broke out of MBI's labs earlier this evening."
"A special kind?" repeated both Mikogami and Mutsu, for very different reasons; the former as a collector, the latter as a bodyguard.
"Special you say? How are they special?" asked Mikogami, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he fixed the Death Scythe Sekirei with his undivided attention.
Yomi blushed brightly under his attention, answering, "From what I heard, she is really strong. A former Single Number."
"A Single Number! Just like Mutsu! Wow!" gasped Mikogami. "With that kind of power, I'll be unbeatable! I can win this game for sure!"
Always the voice of reason, Mutsu was the one to ask, "What do you mean by former Single Number?"
Yomi glared at him; she had always resented No. 05, not only was he Mikogami's first Sekirei, he was also clearly the favorite. She tried ignoring him, but when Mikogami repeated the question she dutifully replied, "She was apparently deemed too unstable and was officially declared a Scrapped Number."
While Mikogami was busy imagining what such a Sekirei would be like—"Do you think her skin is shiny?"—Mutsu was deep in thought. He had only heard of one Scrapped Number previously and they were also a Single Number, but she had been dead for years now. He knew none of the First Five, those who had served on the First Generation Disciplinary Squad, had been scrapped so that only left the Second Five. No. 06 was a man and No. 09 had been doing fine last he heard, so…
His eyes widening in realization, he hurriedly asked, "What was the Scrapped Number's name? Her number? Even her abilities?"
Taken aback by the normally stoic Sekirei's panic, Mikogami and Yomi were both more than a little surprised. "Mutsu, what has you so concerned?" wondered the former, turning to the later. "Who is this Sekirei?"
With both No. 05 and her Ashikabi's attention on her, Yomi said, "Former Sekirei No. 07, Akitsu… her power is ice, I think."
"Just as I thought…" sighed Mutsu, frowning in thought. "Damn, that it would happen to another of the Second Five…"
"Mutsu, just who is this Scrapped Number?"
Composing himself, Mutsu said evenly, "She was a very unstable Sekirei with little to no control over her powers. She could freeze an entire body solid in seconds." When he saw the rising interest in his Ashikabi's eyes, he added, "If she's been scrapped, that means she is no longer able to be winged. She can't emerge, and use her full power. Besides-"
"Besides!?" interrupted Mikogami anxiously, despite the horrified looks on both Himeko's and Yomi's face behind him. They could not imagine how horrible it would be to no be able to find their Ashikabi.
"That one has already found her Ashikabi," said Mutsu plainly. "And he's not the sort of person we want to be making our enemy this early into the Sekirei Plan." Or ever, if Mutsu had his way, but Mikogami was set on participating in the game so it was bound to happen eventually. Maybe later on they could stand a chance against LL and Karasuba. Who knows? He certainly was not anxious to cross swords with the crazed "Knight of Zero" again.
"But, Mutsu…" his Ashikabi was whining now. "I have to get this Scrapped Number now! She's rare, right!? One of a kind?"
"The second, actually…"
"And even if she found her Ashikabi, she hasn't been winged yet, right? So I can just force her to me mine!"
Despite Hayato Mikogami's confidence, there was an unsteady silence in the room. Mutsu had been the boy's first Sekirei and he had reacted; Yomi was second, she had reacted; Himeko came after and had also reacted, but the fifth occupant of the room…
Sekirei No. 65, Taki, was a grown woman with an ample chest wearing a very flattering white dress. Her power alone made her a more than valuable addition to their team. The problem was she had not reacted to Mikogami at all when confronted, and it had taken both Mutsu and Yomi to finally catch the Mist Sekirei. Happily obeying Mikogami's instructions afterwards, Yomi had forced the girl to kneel under threat of her scythe while the boy had kissed her.
Mutsu had not been able to bare looking at the sight, had turned away even as the alley they had taken her to was drenched in the brilliant white light of a Sekirei's emergence; of their winging. He kept repeating to himself what Takehito Asama had told him, about how an Ashikabi was a manifestation of fate, and how it was a Sekirei's greatest joy to find their destined Ashikabi. That made it easier, helping Mikogami win this game, but sometimes he could still remember Taki's eyes that night and…
In the present, Taki was seated comfortably on a sofa, some trashy novel in hand. While it was impossible for a Sekirei to change Ashikabi, Mikogami was far from the worst out there. Still, it was telling that her chosen spot was the furthest in the room from Mikogami. Maybe it was with Taki in mind, maybe it was LL, or maybe it was Takehito Asama, but eventually:
"That wouldn't work," said Mutsu distantly. "As a Scrapped Number, Akitsu can no longer be winged; even if she wanted to." Even though she definitely had wanted to, at least a few years back when he had left MBI. "Even if we capture her, even if you did try to wing her, it wouldn't change anything. She'd just run away first chance she got."
"Still, it seems like such a waste…" grumbled Mikogami petulantly. "To have power like that, and not even use it? She would make such a perfect addition to my collection! I mean, I already have a Single Number, three double-digits, and…" An idea striking him, he cheerfully said, "Oh, Mutsu, I've got it! I want a triple-digit next!"
Mutsu merely looked away, a deep frown on his face; he said nothing. Yomi, however—"The very next one I hear about, I'll bring back for you, master!"
It was getting dark, Mutsu thought looking out the window. It was getting very, very dark…
Ascension Throne Britannia (a.t.b.) 2033
Roof-Top Terrace, Tokyo Executive Suites, Shinto Teito:
LL had been trying to sleep. It was a problem he had faced almost all his life, ever since that day in the Aries Villa so long ago. A combination of bad memories and circumstance often leaving him sleep deprived and, consequently, restless and bored with existence. In his previous lives, as Zero and the Demon Emperor, he had been able to devote himself wholly to the cause of the world's future and that had left little time for bad dreams.
In the years since removed, LL had not been short of responsibilities to distract himself with; from watching the world afar, anxious to see if the Zero Requiem would unravel itself at any moment, to handling the ever-growing issue of the Sekirei and their role in this world. But when the world did not unravel, when the peace he had tried (and failed) to die for remained, and when thoughts of the Sekirei Plan were still a distant consideration, he had allowed himself to lapse. He allowed himself to remember.
Prince Lelouch had nightmares about his mother's death and his sister's fate; Lelouch Lamperouge, of losing himself to nothingness and leaving the world unchanged; Zero, of a thousand tragedies like Shirley and Euphemia. Even the loathed Demon Emperor had had nightmares; of a failed plan for world domination, of Nunnally's death, of Zero's exposure, of a world either unwilling or simply incapable of change.
Compared to that, compared to the countless sins of his previous lives, what did LL have to dream about? For him, by whatever name he was called then or now, LL had always known the Zero Requiem was about a lot more than just giving the world a chance for peace; it had been Lelouch Lamperouge, vi Britanna, Zero, the 99th Emperor's final chance at redemption. It had been his chance to atone for the sins of his past, and Lelouch had died with a smile. He had accepted his death.
In the future, the present, the now, LL braced himself against the railing of the Tokyo Executive Suites' roof-top terrace with the white knuckled grip of a man afraid he might be blown away by the faintest of wisps on the air. Pulling his robe around him tightly, LL scratched absently at the dull ache in his throat; his fingers tracing the line of his Code etched just below. His eyes followed the lights of Shinto Teito without guidance or direction, drifting aimlessly from one lamp post to another. The city was beautiful and LL saw none of it in that moment.
Compared to Lelouch or Zero, or any other name he had once held, what did LL have to dream about? What nightmares kept him from sleep? The answer was simple. Every nightmare they had once had, that they had thrown themselves into changing the world to escape; memories of his mother's corpse, of killing Euphemia, of watching Shirley die... LL had those same dreams, and more… The Zero Requiem was meant to be his end, his death, and in not just living, but becoming immortal he had been locked away forever from that atonement. LL's greatest sin was still being alive; his punishment was knowing that fact, and living with the memories of his old life.
LL's sin was living, and with that continued life he had committed more sins. First by condemning Nunnally to remain Empress of Britannia, by not claiming the mask of Zero from the tortured man he had forced it on, by allowing Minaka to live, by binding Karasuba's very soul to him, by failing as a Sekirei adjuster, by abandoning CC, by abandoning…
"Akitsu…" he breathed tightly, the name forcing his heart to clench. The nightmare that had driven him here had not been a sin from his past life, but his current one.
Even with over twenty years of research, Minaka and MBI still knew precious little about Sekirei, and even less about Ashikabi. Takehito Asama had had theories, their Pillar Miya had conjectures, and Minaka had conspiracies, but no-one knew what it really meant. All those years ago, LL had been instrumental in understanding the later; as the first Ashikabi to trigger the emergence of a Sekirei, he had been the focus of consideration on the matter. What effect would the emergence have on him?
LL had not cared nearly as much about himself; he had been worried about the young Sekirei, about Karasuba. LL and Takehito had been the ones to figure it out; that the bond between Ashikabi and Sekirei was permanent, irreplaceable, and absolute. No matter what happened there would always be some kind of link between him and Karasuba. The nature of that connection Takehito could only speculate, but he thought a Sekirei might mold themselves to their Ashikabi in some way. Karasuba did not seem to mind then and she still did not seem to mind now, but LL had resisted it. After all his failures, he had denied the legitimacy of that connection; had urged her to find her own path away from him, for her own safety.
By enslaving Karasuba's soul to him, LL had committed another sin, and with no way to undue it he had instead tried to support her without changing her. Karasuba became her own person, for good or ill, and LL had vowed to never do such a thing again. Then he had met Akitsu. She, like Karasuba, had been young; she, like Karasuba, had been reacting to him as an Ashikabi. He had tried to protect her, to help her adjust her powers and live a normal life, but he had refused to bind another person to him, and eventually he had been forced to leave MBI. She would grow up, free of him, and find her own way in life; that had been his hope.
Yet, every night since returning to Shinto Teito, he had seen her in his dreams. In some she was still as young as he knew her, in others she was much older; in all of them she was sad and alone. He tried to comfort her, to help her, and it was a reminder of his failures not only against her, but…
Then there was tonight. He had dreamt of that day years ago when he had first left MBI and the promise he had made with Akitsu. In that dream he had tried to comfort her again, tried to cheer her up as he had done before, but she had collapsed in pain and the ensuing scream had been faint to his ears even as he exclaimed her name. He had awoken, drenched in sweat, and desperately needing air.
It was a nightmare, he told himself rationally; another bad memory, another sin to weigh him down, and yet… even as he found his eyes roaming the streets below, he could help noticing that the night air of Shinto Teito had never felt colder. Maybe that was why, when a gale of blistering wind assailed him from behind, LL merely turned with a resigned sense of foreboding.
The sight that greeted him was a woman, and although very different from how he once knew her, LL knew immediately who she was: Akitsu. Mentally, he tried comparing the woman before him with the child he knew; they both had the same soft brown hair, the same pale skin, the same even face and jaw-line. Yet time had not stood as still for her as it had for him and now she stood almost evenly with him and had grown in all the ways a woman should be proud.
However, it was her eyes that told the truth of her years; where the young girl's eyes had been a brilliant shade of resplendent blue, the eyes that watched him now were dull, almost grey. Akitsu, the girl he had once known, was older now, but not without her sorrows. LL took this all in a glance, in seconds, and it was probably that dazed surprise of memory warring with the present that stopped him from catching the girl when she dropped to her knees.
Her bare legs dropped onto the ground, her back arching as she caught herself on shaking hands, her fingers tightening into fists against the ground. "I'm sorry, master…" she said immediately, and even though she bowed her head, LL could hear the tears in her voice. "It's all my fault. I'm so sorry…"
There was a weight in his throat, a feeling in the back of his mind that told him something was missing. "You've done nothing to apologize for, Akitsu-chan," he told her sincerely.
Far from comfort her, LL's words seemed to only bring her even more misery; a heaving sigh drenched from her lungs, even as her dull grey eyes looked up to meet him wet with tears. "But, master… I can't feel you at all…" she said, her voice trembling as a sob pulled at her lungs. "You are my Ashikabi, but… I can't feel you at all…" Even though she had not emerged, even though he had yet to mark her, she had always been able to sense him; to feel his presence in the back of her mind. Akitsu had hoped, desperately, that if she could find her master that feeling would return.
…Yet she felt nothing. "I really am broken," she said numbly, distantly, tears pouring down her face even as she shut her eyes to the world. "Useless… defective. I'm so sorry, mast—" She stopped, suddenly feeling warmth and arms in equal measure wrap around her. Startled, she opened her eyes once more to find her master, LL, down on one knee as his arms encircled her. "LL-sama…" she breathed, her heart beating violently.
"You are not defective," he said quickly, tone comforting. "And you definitely aren't useless, Akitsu. Never say that again!" His arms tightened around her, and she felt herself being pulled against his chest. Akitsu tried to count the beats of his heart, but all she could hear was the throbbing of her own.
"I am… defective," she whispered instead, fear rending her still. "A failed product, thrown out, scrapped…" LL's entire posture stiffened then, an aching sigh ensuing forth. "I'm broken now, can't be winged… The doctor, he tried to dispose of me, and I…" She tried to tell him, to explain what had happened, but the words would not come. Why offer excuses, when it was all her fault anyway?
LL could tell easily what must have happened; the blood on her face said plenty. Her adjuster had failed and she had been scrapped as a result, just like… "You've done nothing wrong, Akitsu-chan," he repeated, pulling her up so she would meet his eyes. "Any sin you've committed is mine to bear, so don't cry. You promised me you wouldn't cry."
"I, I haven't," she tried to say, tailing off, "Not until…"
"You've been so strong, so brave," LL said, his eyes willing her to believe him. "You've experienced so much, had to endure so much… I'm so proud of you, Akitsu."
"Ma-master," she tried to say, eyes moist and heart trembling. "But I'm…" Broken, defective, useless…
"Free, Akitsu-chan," finished LL, one hand threading itself through her hair to see the bright red mark on her forehead. "You're free to live however you want. Free to fight, free to run," he smiled slightly, watching a dim light return to her eyes. "Free to love, free to be whoever you want to be, to be with whoever you want to be."
"But, master… I only want to be with you." It was all she had ever wanted.
"Then stay with me, for however long you'd like. I'm not going anywhere," he smiled genuinely; his fingers pulling her chin down to press his lips against the crest on her head, that which marked her broken.
Akitsu felt the warmth of the gesture and traced that heart throughout her entire body; from her brow to her toes, she reveled in the feeling of her master's warmth. She was accepted, wanted, and yet… Unwilling to let that feeling pass away forever, Akitsu reached up with shaking hands; the cold digits tracing the line of her master's jaw. Her eyes were locked on his lips, anxious and hopeful about what might happened.
"No matter the result," LL said evenly, noticing her gaze. "It won't change my answer. So long as you want to stay, you may."
"Master, LL-sama…" the name tumbling forward, Akitsu raised her head to meet his; cold lips pressing themselves tightly against his in an act of desperation and hope.
Immediately, there was a response.
LL first felt the lurch in his throat, the burning sensation buried deep within his chest, and the rush of energy the action brought; he kissed her back gladly. If it was in his power, whatever she wanted was in her right to have. He felt his mind open to the Sekirei clinging so desperately to his being, felt a surge of power pour out from somewhere deep inside his being, felt a door open up… Only to slam shut seconds later. There were no wings, there was no bond, and that bright red mark was still etched on the pale flesh of her forehead.
Akitsu pulled back hesitantly, her face dry only because she had no more tears to give, and watched his face in blatant fear of rejection. She was a Sekirei, a bird, with no wings; she was defective, broken, and useless, and yet… LL smiled gently down at her, his arms moving to embrace her once more. "Akitsu-chan," he said gently. "You are my Sekirei for however long you decide to be."
"You are my master," replied Akitsu, certain of that at least. "Now and forever."
"Then, for now, that will have to be enough."
That was the coldest night Shinto Teito had ever known, but warmth came with a new sun and a new day.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Author's Notes: Wow, that chapter was rough on multiple levels. Some scenes come out better than I thought they would, others worse. Bit of a mixed bag on that, yet here it is. Sorry to anyone who wanted Akitsu to be winged this chapter, but there is still more to come for her.
Make sure to leave a review about this chapter; I am really not sure what to think of it as a whole and would like some feed-back on it. Apart from that, I hope you enjoyed and are looking forward to chapter four!