A/N Sitting down, I re-read the last chapter.. and you know, this is how I write, I just let it flow within my minds eye, and the basis for what I write comes from there. What I imagine each of the characters do, and how they react from what I know of the official canon storylines. We know Minato is like this, or like that, what if this happened, what if that happened.. what if he was truely tramatized by the incident at the bridge.. what if he on a subconcious level still blamed Tsukiume for not taking part from the get go. What if.. these questions plague my mind when I read a story. What if indeed.. Each chapter, each story is intended to extend and expand on the original, and not interfere. If it does, or can be shown it does, it will be modified unless its so key to the story I would have to scrap the entire fanfic entirely.. and it would have to do MUCH damage to the existing canon, for me to take it down.

All I can say is wow, I have to thank all those who have read so far, and those who have returned to follow up with the next chapter. I have to ask tho, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW, hit the follow or favorite button, let me know what Im doing right, what Im doing wrong, it might be YOUR opinion, but sometimes the audience can see something going off the rails long before the author (me) can.

As I write this note, I am still not exactly sure how this chapter will play out, I call it Emergent Storytelling, no clear destination, no clear path other then reconnecting the dots at the next junction to where it meets again with the main story.

I know I gave the impression in chapter one, that this takes place after stage 4.. but I think its more suitable to be pre-state 3, post stage 3.. I also want to make sure I dont grow Minato to fast, where he isn't where he should be emotionally..

that said… here we go…

- o Tsukiume o -

Tsukiume fled. Each landing, served to accelerate her departure, to put more space between her and her Ashikabi. Her emotions, her grief ruling her, beginning to fuel a rage within. Her heart skipped a beat, in a moment as her grief began to transform into anger, into rage… and she found her footing failing her, as she stumbled, and found herself twisting about as she landed, ass first, onto the concrete beneath.

She was within a leap of the harbour. The waters, her grief fueling rage, when she heard the voice.. "TSUKIUME, STOP" came Kazahane's voice.. The eldest of Minato's Sekirei was hurtleing towards her through the streets.. Tsukiume righted herself, favoured her sore ankle, and raised her hand.

'WATER CELEBRATION!'

Kazahane had mere moments to act, the speed at which the wind was carrying her, she felt the water striking her, she shifted her body, and be it mere force of will, or mere determination, she managed to whip up a windstorm, which scattered Tsukiume's attack.

Musubi, mere moments behind, paused, as she witnessed a site to behold. Not only did there seem to be an unending source of water, fierce rains of a sense attacking Kazahane, but Kazahane's winds, scattering these waters, contributed to the great site. A storm was brewing, one Shinto Teito has not seen in a decade, perhaps a century before. The winds increased as the water became more fierce, circling, a water based hurricane of sorts. Musubi stood back, amazed, aghast.. she could not explain what she beheld before her, but her heart sank, knowing what it must mean. She might be a ditz, but she knew Tsukiume's heart.. she had felt Minato's pain.. She knew..

"TSUKIUME STOP, I KNOW.." Kazahane's voice boomed, trying to get her sister Sekirei's attention

"NO, NO, DON'T EVENTH.." came Tsukiume's reply.. her anger, her grief mixed evident in her voice.

"TSUKIUME.. You dont understand, MINATO doesnt UNDERSTAND"

"YOU LIETH, TAKE HIM, HAVETH MY PLACE AS WIFE"

The storm continued to brew, as each countered each, with growing strength. Their emotions, feeding each of their powers.. Musubi stood back, beholding what occured, wondering what she might be able to do in the face of such a storm.. and then, she closed her eyes..

- o Izume Inn Moments after Kazahane and Musubi departed o -

MInato had slowly walked to the bathroom, to splash water on his face, he still was not fully awake, he badly needed a shower, and yet, he knew, that this was no time for such a thing. He glanced down the hall, it had emptied. Kagari had managed to take Ku downstairs.. he heard footsteps, as he himself, slipped over to the hidden door, to Matzu's room.

*KNOCK KNOCK* "Matsu, can I come in? I need your help, I want.. I need to understand more" his voice, shakily spoke, he was unsure of what had happened, even tho he understood somewhat of the pain he caused all of them, not just Tsukiume.

The upstairs had vacated quickly enough, the mood was such that it was sombre, and fearful, No one understood, and yet everyone understood, it was a time of confusion. Miya, having been shocked in Tsukiume's outburst and sudden tearful departure, turned down the stove, and headed to the stairs, slowly making her way to the second floor, fearful and cautious of what she might find.

The bolts and locks slide and allowed Minato entry, the door opened to him slightly. he pushed it open, allowing it to close loosely behind him. "Matsu.. can you?" he stopped cold. Matsu was there, red eyed, flushed, she had been in tears, her nightgown, standard issue, seemed soaked as he had been when he had woken from his nightmare.

He paused, waited.. "Matsu?" he inquired.. she just sat there, kneeling before her computer displays, small indicators flipping about on a display, tracking the three sisters as they fled from the Inn.

He moved nearer her, placing a hand on her shoulder, Matsu flinched lightly, not expecting the contact he offered in that moment, the emotions still running deep from his dream "Matsu, I need you, I need you more then I needed anyone, I need to understand.. Your chance to be part of a great experiment"

Whether it was Minato's need of her, or the suggestion of being part of a grand experiment, Matsu tore herself from her pit of developing depression and sadness. "Yes… what..?"

The twice repeat failure sat, cross legged near her, and spoke softly.. "Please Matsu, help me understand. I didn't think any of you could see my dreams.. or my worries. Does this.. well.. Has this.. ever..?"

Matsu forced a smile.. "Sometimes, occassionally I sense your dreams, fleeting bits, small capsules of what might be, or your worries on where this path with the Sekirei plan is taking us. I have felt your worry over loosing any of us." she paused, looking at him through tear stained eyes.. which she wiped carefully, sniffling "But that? what we felt? No. I've never heard of such a thing.. Never experienced such a thing.. "

Minato nodded, silence invaded the room making it seemingly uncomfortable before Miya spoke.

"Minato, what exactly did you do?" she held the ladel in one hand, glaring at him, with the hanya mask shimmering behind her just waiting to pounce.

Minato JUMPED, and found himself nearly cowering behind Matsu, half hiding behind her, half hiding HER in his arms "no no nono, Miya, no, I didnt.. well I did.. but I didnt"

Miya's gaze shifted from Minato to Matsu. "Tell me what happened. All I know is Tsukiume bursts through the downstairs, sobbing, and leaves nearly taking the door off its hinges, with Musubi and Kazahane following.. WHAT DID YOU, or HE, DO!" she was getting increasingly testy, rather upset someone had been hurt on her watch.

"Miya.. I… " she stammered.. "Hard to explain.." Matsu grappled looking for the words..

At that moment, Minato closed his eyes, took a deep breath. "It was a nightmare. A vivid one, as if I was reliving it" he spoke, and with that Miya nodded "I see" she whispered.

He continued.. "The bridge.. the escape.." he closed his eyes again, taking a deep breath. "its ok, I won't eat for today, or tomorrow.. the rest of the week if you wish it Miya. I know…" he allowed the silence to envelop the room once more and it hung there.

"Miya-san" came Kagira's voice as he entered. Ku, held tightly at his leg, still scared stiff, her eyes just as wet, and stained from shock and tears as the rest of Minato's Sekirei where. "Each of us. We felt it. As if.."

"As if each of you where within Mina-tan's heart, the moment Musubi's crest disappeared?"

Matsu and Kagari both looked at Miya in shock, "You felt it?"

"Not so much felt it, but I did feel SOMETHING. How do I explain it. Its like when the wind changes direction, you know something is about to happen.." she smiled kindly "and Minato, you can hardly control your dreams, any more then you can control your perverted habits" she laughed lightly as Minato went beet red, blushing.

"Then what? was it..?"

"I can not really say, but I can say this. When a Ashikabi and a Sekirei bond, when that winging takes place, there is a great trade off that occurs. Love, Hate, Grief, all these things are part of well, LOVE, they are emotions and fuel for a sekirei and who she is" , she paused a moment "Now, as I know what happened, I do not need to know more. MInato, I expect rent paid for Tsukiume paid regardless of her being here or not, she is yours after all." with that, she turned, and departed, "I have a meal to finish preparing"

"Matsu" Minata began shortly after Miya left to the kitchen, "Ku, Kagari, please, come sit.. I need, something" he spoke, Ku kept her distance, hiding behind Kagari, attached to his leg, he had of course given up before trying, to tear her away. He knew the dream, he had experienced it himself and knew, or rather guessed, how Ku's under developed mind might be taking it.

"Of course Minato" Matsu spoke, waiting to hear it, Kagari leaned against teh wall.. "I'll stand thank you very much.. Im sure you will understand why.." Ku grunted with a whimper, shaking her head as she remained plastered to Kagari

- o Kitchen of Izume Inn o -

Miya found herself muttering to herself, and then looked up, in the distance, she could sense it, feel it, and then, she could see it. A great storm on the distant horizon. She covered her mouth, frowning, a great sadness creeping in 'Oh Tsukiume, Kazahane..' she whispered to herself.

- o Matsu's Room o -

"So, if you can feel what I feel, if there is that bond, then maybe .. just maybe if the nightmare carried over the same bond.. What if.." Minato spoke, but unsure..

"I think I see where you are going, if we can feel these things, then so much more might be possible. The nightmare is a example of it. It is after all, the raw emotion you felt, now, what about this experiment?" Matsu, watched him carefully

Minato closed his eyes, he didn't speak. He didnt want to feel the fool for suggesting something that couldn't be done. He also knew he had to try it either way so he just did it. He reached out, in his mind, eyes closed, and pictured it. Fingers teasing along Matsu's cheek, lingering at her chin, his imagination, picturing her there before him. He could hear Matsu, could sense her, her curiousity, her confidence, with a touch of pause, wondering what he was doing. "Can you feel it?" he whispered lightly, and then, he, in his mind, touched his lips to her cheek.

Matsu convulsed, shook, as if she had been grabbed and thrown. Her eyes WIDE with shock "WHAT was THAT?"

Minato smiled, his eyes opened as he looked at her.. "Its possible then" he glanced then at Ku, the fear in her eyes, as he closed his once more, and slowly, carefully reached out. This time, he imagined his arms about Ku, protecting her, comforting her, as if he was hiding her from the pains of the world, he pictured the peaceful times watching TV, the quiet talks, the quiet walks, he reinforced his pride in her, and his love for her. He thought deeply on how he wished to fulfill her hopes, her dreams when the time was right, and then, he placed his lips to her cheek also, within his minds eye, and he felt HER take a huge gulp of air.

Matsu looked at him curiously. Then looked at Ku, watching how her fearful features slowly eased, a small smile replacing that which had torn across her little face moments ago "What …" she seemed a bit confused, curious, and flabbergasted at the same time.. "Is that you Mina-san?" she whispered, her hand, teasing along her cheek where she had felt the kiss. Nearly as real as if he had indeed placed his lips to her flesh.

Minato Nodded "what did you feel?" he whispered, "tell me exactly"

"I dont.."

"No, I need to know, Matsu, Ku, its very important, if ever you trusted me, tell me now exactly what you experienced"

"I.." Ku piped up ".. Ku felt Mina-san, Ku Felt Mina-san, felt a kiss, felt his hand, felt each walk"

Matsu's eyes just stared at Ku, "Me too" she whispered. "Only mine.." she grinned at that moment, the possibilities entering her mind, a perverted look on her face

Minato eyed her carefully "Oh good god, what did I just create" he said quietly to himself, his thoughts wondering if it was such a good idea to include Matsu in this experiment

"Too late, OOOOH the fun, OOOH the experiments we can RUN" Matsu cried out

Mina-tan, just looked at her, swollowing. "damnit." "Matsu, Kagari, Ku, I need you to sit, I need you to help me with this, I need you to close your eyes, and think of Tsukiume" he explained

"I really dont think it will work so far, and with so much in her mind" Matsu explained "remember, if you try this, she is clouded in grief and fear, anger.. " and with that, she looked at the window of her room, and the storm that seemed to rage "well, it looks like Kazahane found her.." she nodded to Kagari and Ku "then lets try this"

Minato closed his eyes, and in his mind, reached out for Matsu's hand.. then to Ku's hand, putting her where she would be at each meal, then he thought about Kagari. This one was harder, he, she was the newest to his family of Sekirei, once he had a handle on that, his mind searched outward, imagining Musubi, and Kazahane.. 'If this is going to work, I need all of them' he thought to himself

- o The Harbour o -

Musubi just stood there, regarding the storm, the battle, all she COULD do was witness it, the winds, the rain, pelted her, she could barely "Tsukiume" she half whispered, feeling the same pain as her friend, the sister she perhaps had become closest to. All she could do is think about her, as her heart reached out, in the shared pain they had experienced together. She closed her eyes, hoping for a idea to come to her, "Help me Mina-san" she whispered to herself "Help Me.. Musubi will win, Musubi will help" her mind cried out within

Sirens of emergency services could be heard in the background as the storm seemed to increase, and become more powerful. It was as if the gods themselves had awoken, and discovered some grievous crime had been commited against them. Shingles, fences, plants flew by Musubi as she kept her eyes closed, trying to come up with a solution.

Kazahane, lept, dodging each fist thrown at her "Tsukiume, enough, stop this" she reasoned loudly, "I don't want to have to hurt you"

"HURTEST ME? THOU WISHES TO NOT HURTEST ME? YOU AND THE OTHERS, YOU ALL WISHEST TO BELITTLE ME, YOU BLAME ME, MINATO, MY HUSBAND DOETH MOST OF ALL BLAME ME, HIS PRECIOUS MUSUBI DIED, DEACTIVATED, SHE CAME BACK, AND STILL HE FEELS ANGER, AND GRIEF OVER MINE INACTION" she angrily shouted "GET AWAY FROMEST ME YE COW, LEAVEST ME ALONE" and with that, she called out 'WATER DRAGON" and the falling-flying water, whipping about added itself to what grew from her hand, and began to spiral towards Kazahane "OOH CRAP" Kazahane cried out as she allowed her body go limp as it drove her backwards, against the wall, she felt the winds whipping, and called down her own command upon Tsukiume.

Musubi watched on, the best she could, the forms hidden behind the storms of wind and rain, allowed her only to make out the barest of siluettes. She frowned for a moment before she whispered 'Minato' to herself, as she looked over her shoulder, towards Izume Inn a smile came to her features as she simply stood still, and began to understand.. she thought back, back on when she first met him, when he caught her from falling.

A/N: This went a little long. I just started writing, and I've actually decided to CUT from this part, and begin a Chapter 4. SO, I am already about 500-1000 words into the next bit. I grappled for a bit if I should leave this one with nearly 3000 words, or if I should cut it further and move more to the next chapter and I decided, just leave it as so, and keep writing.

As always, please, leave feedback, and mark the story favorite if you are enjoying it, or could see this play out in actual 'canon' between the stories from manga (or the series) I welcome both CRITiSISM and applauds from readers.

'ONE MORE THING' I know I have to go back and correct some spelling of Tsukiume's name. I type nearly 80 words per minute, and sometimes, sometimes my fingers muscle memory just types it wrong. It took over two weeks of constantly typing Tsukiume's name before it locked in my mind the correct way.. now muscle memory must 'convert' *grins*