It was well past midnight by the time they finally returned. As Minato parked in M.B.I.'s underground garage he was exhausted. Karasuba on the other hand had been sleeping peacefully most of the way. She awoke and stretched out.

"Well that was a fun date," she said with a grin. "Let's do this again some time."

"Karasuba-san," Minato said in a tired voice. "Please stop killing people."

She stared at him. "What was that?"

"Please stop killing people," he said solemnly. "I understand that there may be times when you have to fight. I can also understand that in certain situations you may have to kill. But just slaughtering people like you did today, there's no excuse for it. It's nothing but murder. Please don't take any more of those missions and don't kill unless it's in self defense."

"Are you being serious right now?" She asked.

"Yes."

She laughed at him. "You just don't get it do you? Not even after what you saw today. Asking me not to kill is like asking a fish not to swim or a bird not to fly. Killing is my whole reason for being."

"I don't believe that," he said. "What happened tonight was a choice. You didn't have to kill."

"Is that so?" She replied with a shake of her head. "If you really believe that then you're an idiot. I was made for killing and nothing else. The whole idea behind the Disciplinary Squad is to ruthlessly enforce the rules of the Sekirei Plan and instill terror into the other sekirei and ashikabi. Do you think we'll be able to do that without killing?"

"I won't be a part of that," he told her quietly. "I won't be a part of taking innocent lives."

"It seems you already are," she said pleasantly.

"No one ever told me about any of this."

"Well you know now. What are you going to do about it?"

"Quit," he answered immediately. "If you and the others won't agree to not kill I'll quit as your ashikabi."

"I thought you said real men never ran away," she teased.

"This isn't running away, it's making a choice."

This brought another laugh, but this one had a nastier edge to it. "Don't kid yourself Minato, you don't have a choice. You're an important person to M.B.I. now, but don't think you can force any changes in the Sekirei Plan or in how Minaka runs things." She opened the car door and got out.

"I really will quit," he told her.

"Go right ahead," she answered smoothly. "You'll be dead within 24 hours."

As she walked away Minato sank back into the driver's side seat trying to decide what to do.

XXXXXXXXXX

Japan had one of the best rail systems in the world. It was possible to travel by train to almost anywhere in the country. Kiabi was a small town but it did have a train station. He would have to switch trains three times but didn't care.

He could have driven home of course. He had decided against that and had left his Mercedes-Benz in the parking spot reserved for him. He hadn't even gone back up to the apartment to get his things. He had nothing but the clothes on his back.

Well, he did also still have his cell phone.

It was about 9:30 when it rang. He was already on a train heading west out of Tokyo. He saw from the caller ID that it was his mom. In spite of that he answered.

"Hello?"

"MINATO! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!!" A voice screamed in his ear.

"I guess Minaka has gotten my resignation," he answered sheepishly.

"Oh yes! He got it along with your V.I.P. card and the key to your apartment. You're lucky he took it as a joke instead of getting angry. He actually teased me about you running away. Just what are you doing?"

"I went out with Karasuba on a job she had last night. I saw…"

"This isn't a secured line son!" She jumped in.

Minato lowered his voice while looking at the other passengers on his half full train car. "I saw her do what she says she's best at. Do you know what that is mom?"

"Yes," she answered grimly.

"I can't be a part of that mom. I'm sorry if this causes you trouble at your job, but I can't."

There was a long pause.

"Son, I'm not worried about myself," Takami told him. "It's you I'm worried about. Minato, this is exactly why I didn't want you involved in the first place. If there were any way for you to safely leave I'd help you even if it cost me everything. But it's impossible."

"Why?" He demanded. "I don't want anything from Minaka or M.B.I. All I want is to be left alone."

"That's not possible anymore," she told him regretfully. "You know too much about… certain birds and what's planned for them. You know way too much about a certain black bird too. That information is too dangerous to be allowed loose."

"I'm not going to tell anyone," Minato exclaimed. "Who would believe me anyway?"

"There are certain people out there who would believe you son, and who would be very eager to hear more."

"I promise to keep everything a secret."

In his mind's eye he could just see his mother shaking her head at him. "That's just not good enough. Son, what you know could put a certain plan into jeopardy. Minaka won't stand for that… no matter whose son you are. If you don't return I won't be able to protect you."

"I understand mom," he said with a touch of bitterness. "As usual you're leaving me on my own."

"Son I…"

"Thanks mom, bye." He hung up on her.

She called him back almost immediately but he switched off his phone. Deep down he knew he wasn't being fair with her. She had been pretty tough on him growing up and had been around less and less as he got older. Still, he loved her and knew she loved him.

Her hypocrisy was a little too much though. His whole life she had taught him that a man had to do the right thing no matter what. A real man was expected to follow through on his convictions regardless of the cost. Yet now, the first time his convictions were truly put tot eh test she was telling him to fold and follow the company line. She wanted him to come back to work for a company that massacred people. A company that she also worked for.

He shut his eyes and wished he would just wake up in his old room to find all of this had been a nightmare.

XXXXXXXXXX

Three trains and about seven hours later he was back in Kiabi. He gazed at the quiet streets and breathed in the crisp clean Spring air. It was a whole different world. Why was I so desperate to leave this place?

His house was about a mile and a half from the station. He was so relieved to be back that he felt like walking. He hadn't called ahead so unless mom had he'd be surprising grandma and Yukari when he stepped through the front door. Walking through the peaceful streets and seeing all the old familiar sights he felt more relaxed than he had since the day he'd left to take the exams. The one good thing he would say about his experiences was that they had at least put things into perspective for him. He now understood just what he wanted from life.

Screw Tokyo and Tokyo University. He would just live at home for a year and study on his own. He didn't need to go to an elite school, when the time came he would go to a mid level university. He would study medicine and become a doctor so that he could help people. He'd find himself a good woman who was not obsessed with video games, fashion, or swords. He'd settle down, have a family, have a career, and a nice normal life. That was what he wanted.

It was astonishing how clear it was to him now. A month ago he'd been terrified and consumed with doubt. Now he really understood how pointless most of his worries had been. He could already hear Yukari, her voice ringing with disappointment, complaining about him giving up on Tokyo U. He was sure grandma would be happy just to have him back. Eventually even mom would come around.

Everything would work out.

XXXXXXXXXX

He stopped in his tracks.

He was almost home. He could see his house just down the street. But there was someone standing in his way.

"Yara, yara I was wondering when you would get here Min-chan." Karasuba said grinning playfully.

Min-chan? He wondered in confusion. "Wha… what are you doing here Karasuba-san?"

"No need to look so scared," she assured him. She tossed back her grey cloak to reveal an empty scabbard. "See? I only came to talk."

"We… we have nothing to talk about. I quit M.B.I.," he told her finding his courage. "I'll keep everything a secret, but I'm not going back." Digging down deep he forced himself to keep his head up and walk past her.

She stood there and made no move to stop him. Just as he passed her she spoke in a light carefree tone. "Your little sister, her name is Yukari isn't it?"

He stumbled and stopped. A cold chill ran through him as he turned back to stare at her.

She was grinning. "Wouldn't it be awful if something happened to her?"

"What are you saying?" He whispered.

"Life is cruel Min-chan," she said teasing. "And terrible things can happen to innocent people."

"You… you wouldn't hurt Yukari," he said desperately. "My mom is still head researcher for M.B.I. and a friend of Minaka's."

"This has nothing to do with Takami," she said sweetly. "This is about you."

On some unseen signal a white stretch limo appeared and turned down the street. It stopped beside them and the driver popped out to open the back door.

"Let's talk in here Min-chan; it's more private and comfortable."

"I… I don't want to," he told her.

He saw her grin widen. "Shall we talk in your house instead? You can introduce me to your grandmother and little sister."

He was trapped and they both knew it. With his shoulders slumped he entered the limo.

XXXXXXXXXX

They were soon driving out of town and heading east.

Back towards Tokyo.

There was a fully stocked bar in the back of the limo. Karasuba poured out two glasses of wine and without bothering to ask handed one to him.

"You know Haihane and Benitsubasa were both really upset when you didn't come back last night. You'll really have to beg to get their forgiveness."

"What about you?" He asked dully. "Were you upset?"

She laughed. "No! I actually admired you, when I hear you even wrote Minaka a letter of resignation I almost fell over laughing." She glanced at him over her wineglass. "You really have a set on you, don't you? You're still weak and a complete idiot but at least you have balls. When we get back we'll all have a good laugh about this."

"I never said I was going back," he replied quietly.

She shook her head slightly. "Oh stop pretending you have a choice. If you want to be a man and keep your family safe you have to return."

"If Minaka wants to punish me then let him punish just me. Leave Yukari and my family out of it."

"He's not really interested in punishing you," she said and had some wine. "What he's after is your obedience, and he'll use whatever he needs to, to get it."

"Even if it would destroy my mom too?" He asked resentfully. "I thought the two of them were close. Was I wrong?"

"They're close," Karasuba confirmed. "As a matter of fact I think he's closer to her than to anyone. But that doesn't mean he'll spare her, or her family, to protect the Sekirei Plan. Don't let his big smile or silly mannerisms fool you. Beneath the exterior he's a ruthless bastard."

Minato drained the glass in one go and set it down. He looked out the window at the country side speeding past. "So what happens now?" He couldn't even pretend to have a choice anymore.

"Now we go home and you can play your part in this game," she said cheerfully. She finished her own wine and inched a little closer to him.

"This isn't a game," he told her in a melancholy voice.

He felt her rough hands touch his face again, turning him from the window back to her. She slid the rest of the way across and was now pressed against him. She brought his face down close to her own. Her grey eyes were looking deep into his.

"Oh, but it is," she whispered softly. He could feel the warmth of her breath. "It's a wonderful game where the stakes are life and death. We're going to burn down this whole wicked and corrupt world and make something brand new from the ashes. I want you to come and play with me."

"Ka… Karasuba-san," he spoke weakly. He could feel the heat of her body pressing against his. She scared him, and he didn't doubt for a second that she would kill him if she ever had a reason to. But along with the fear was an excitement. His heart was pounding and his heart was trembling.

"Let's watch it burn," she thrilled and then kissed him. She stuck her tongue in his mouth to play with his. It was a rough kiss, a possessive kiss. When it halted wings of light filled the back of the limo.

She reached down and pulled his shirt up and over his head. She sat up on his lap straddling him, her legs squeezing tight against his. Her hands pushed him back pinning him to the seat. He felt her tongue start to lick the side of his neck as her fingernails dug into his flesh.

"Ka… Karasuba-san? What…"

"It's a long way to Tokyo," she panted in his ear. "Let's enjoy ourselves."