A/N: Hello everyone, gtmaster here with another chapter of Cold Veils! Anyway, lately I've been rereading some of my reviews and I was met with rather... mixed results. I'm not going to lie; some were good and the other half was some old (and new) issues that I feel need addressing quick so here goes. Emeraldfireblade: Maybe I do have some problems with descriptive language and as far as "painting images" I'm not real good with that unless I can actually SHOW the action going on. But if I did that, it would most likely result in me creating some sort of flash animation on Newgrounds/YouTube with original drawings/sprites of the Sekireis (and Matt) performing the actions along with possible voice actors in a collaboration. And that is certainly NOT what I'm going for. And as for the pairings? Yes, I'm aware that the ashikabi is usually a student or ronin but unfortunately while I am a fan of him in the series a fair number of the Minato fanfics on here could use some work in my opinion. Ones like "Ambitious Wings and the dubious Ronin", "Hopes of Ascension", "A different Ashikabi", "Legend of the Fearsome Four", and others I feel are much better. But oh well, to each their own. FreeTraderBeowolf: No worries, there will be a back story eventually, I can guarantee that much. And as for his combat ability, how do you feel it is off? I need that elaborated because I'm a bit confused by that. Also, the First Tsurugi isn't mechanically constructed. I'm just going on a limb here but you never were aware of the Final Fantasy VII series were you? Yes it's true that the blade is pieced together since it is a fusion blade but he always has the fully assembled blade when he does fight. Reason? That starter blade I first saw in Dissidia was rather "empty". I don't know, maybe I'm just particular to how a blade SHOULD look. Lastly, Matt is in no way a mutant. The thing is, in "A different ashikabi" I'm not sure if anyone picked up on this but the ashikabi in that story uses the same techniques and moves as Ryu from Street Fighter. What's more, he even falls into a state like Evil Ryu due to the (and the author of that fanfic clearly states) the Satsui-no-hadou. So in a way, I'm sort of emulating him I guess. Plus, I guess that chapter was lengthy but I didn't want it to be too short. Last, I will admit; when I read the last part of your review about Akitsu, I nearly died of a "squee attack". Yes, I admit sometimes I can be a bit of a praise-whore (I'm actually smiling as I type this part) and I really get happy about reviews like that. Anyway, getting back on track I guess I've rambled on enough, so get ready; here comes chapter 7!
Standard.
Techniques/Limit Breaks.
Flashbacks/Cell conversations/Thoughts/Dream Sequence.
Game chatter.
"Inner Moments".
Chapter VII: A far away tale; Uzume moves out!
"Wow..." was all Matt could say after Uzume kisses him. Uzume smiles at him and says "Thanks for helping me out." At that, he shakes his head and says "It was no problem, after all you are my Sekirei now." He then turns to Minato and says "By the way, who are you? I remember seeing you at the exams list and are these your sekireis?" Minato is slightly caught off guard but then smiles and says "I'm Minato, Minato Sahashi. And yes, these two are my Sekireis." Musubi gives a very warm smile and says politely "I'm Sekirei number 88, Musubi. And I'm a fist type, nice to meet you!" Tsukiumi then says "And I'm Tsukiumi, Sekirei number 9. And I'm Minato's wife." At THAT, Musubi predictably responds "Hey, I'm his real wife too!" and grabs Minato's arm making him blush. Tsukiumi seethes in anger and says "NO! Get thy hands off of him, I'm his real and proper wife!" Meanwhile, Matt is looking more and more amused and thinks "Poor guy, he must have his hands full with those two..." Then, a loud growl can be heard effectively silencing the squabble. At that, all eyes fall on Matt who rubs his stomach and says "Oops, sorry. Heh, I guess that fight made me hungry." Then Uzume says "In that case, why don't you stay over for dinner? That way, you can see where I live!" At that Matt nods happily and says "Sure, why not?" And with that, the group leaves for Maison Izumo.
[scene break]
(Title: Under the Rotting Pizza. Artist: Nobuo Uematsu. Album: FFVII OST Soundtrack.)
At MBI tower, Karasuba is busy polishing her blade while thinking about the fight she saw. "His skill is impressive, for a human. And what's more, he outright refused to join the discipline squad in spite of the fact that he had nothing left... I wonder if he can entertain me when the time comes?" Then once she finishes, she heads for the bath house area within the tower. Meanwhile, in the showers are two other members of the discipline squad: Benitsubasa "The Crimson Sekirei" and Haihane "The Indigo Sekirei". They are busy washing until Haihane reports some news to Benitsubasa. "Just so you know, I managed to locate a database. It had some info, about the human." "What are you talking about?" "You asked me to investigate this Matt Thompson guy right?" "Ok, so what did you find out?" Haihane starts drying herself off as she answers "It was some weird stuff too. Apparently, out of all of the ashikabis within the city he is the only one who was ever able to go toe to toe with Mutsu and actually survive." Benitsubasa also starts drying herself off and she responds "So what? Is that guy actually powerful?" Shaking her head she says "I'm not sure. Also, he somehow managed to wing the discarded number." To that, Benitsubasa cries out "What? How is that possible? Didn't MBI say that she was permanently unable to become winged?" Just then, Karasuba enters the room and replies "That IS what they said, but even those fools can't predict everything." Benitsubasa then says in surprise "Karasuba! When did you get here?" To this, she merely gives her famous smile and says "Just now. And by the way, it's of no concern to you." "Huh? But why?" "Don't worry about it. After all, he will soon join MBI because believe it or not; Minaka STILL wants him to be the ashikabi of the discipline squad." Then Karasuba silently adds in her mind "I know one thing though, I'm just GLAD that Yume was not there to see me watching that human's fight. Otherwise, she would go on her usual spiel about the 'little birds', 'love', and how I may be reacting to him. Which I am, but hell if I'm going to readily admit it to her." And after she finishes that thought, she lightly laughs while Benitsubasa and Haihane look on in confusion.
[scene break]
(Title: On our way. Artist: Nobuo Uematsu. Album: FFVII OST soundtrack.)
After a little while of walking, the group find themselves at Maison Izumo. "So this is the place?" Matt asks Uzume while admiring the traditional-style architecture of said inn. "That's right, but just be careful." Matt looks at her in confusion until she clarifies "Let's just say that the landlady here becomes the 'Oni of the North' if you mess up here." Matt then nods and replies "No problem then, after all I certainly wouldn't want to cause any trouble." With that, he walks up to the door and knocks. "Just a minute, I'll be right there!" a genteel voice almost sings out. A few seconds later, the door opens and Matt is surprised by who opens the door. A young woman with lavender hair coming down to her waist, framed with bangs done in a hime-style while wearing a miko outfit with a purple hakama, white haori with a sash-like belt, wooden sandals and lastly wearing a white ribbon which is partially holding her hair in place gives a very warm smile to Minato. "Well now, I see you and Uzume brought home some friends." She then looks at Matt and asks "Why hello there, are you the one that helped out our Uzume?" Matt then lightly snaps out of his trance and says "Uh yes, that would be me." Smiling, she says "That's nice, you must be a friend of Minato then." Matt looks at Minato and replies "Well not exactly, see there was this group of Sekireis that attacked Uzume so me and Akitsu helped her out when apparently Minato arrived on the scene, I guess also to help." At this Miya lightly laughs and says "Oh my, I think you just told me something that you shouldn't have!" Matt then shakes his head and remarks "It's ok, I'm not scared of MBI or their rules! After all, they did something to me that I could NEVER forgive!" At his words Miya thinks, "I see. So this is the young one that Takehito told me about. I wonder what he would think if he knew that he will be the one to save us all..." Matt then looks on and asks "Miss, are you ok?" Miya then answers "I'm fine, just thinking. But how about we get inside so we can talk more? After all..." as she says this last part a hannya can be seen hovering above her. "I just made dinner and I would hate for it to get cold." Needless to say, Minato jumps in fear while Musubi and Tsukiumi take a step back cautiously, with Uzume cowering behind Matt. Even Akitsu (though she tries to hide it) shivers a little but oddly enough, Matt is unaffected by this but just says "Ok, lead the way."
[scene break]
As the group stepped inside the inn Matt could not help but feel rather calm. "This is a nice house you have..." he then stops and sheepishly rubs his head and says "I'm sorry, but I don't know your name. But since I always was taught to introduce before asking, I'm Matt Thompson; nice to meet you. And you are?" To this, Miya laughs lightly and says "My, what a polite young man. I'm Miya. Miya Asama, nice to meet you." "Likewise, and you are?" he says turning to Minato and his other sekireis. The first to step up was a red headed woman dressed in a white chenogasm along with wearing glasses. "I'm sekirei number two, Matsu. Pleased to know you!" she says with a smile. Another person stepped up, only she was noticeably young. "My name is Kusano, nice to meet you!" she says with a very bright tone. Next up was a very well endowned woman wearing a purple chinese dress that certainly accenuated her body well. "I'm Kazehana, sekirei number three." At her appearance, Matt was slowly starting to blush under her warm smile. "Wow, this Minato... he sure knows how to pick them!" Lastly, a silver haired man spoke up. "And I'm Kagari, but in reality I am sekirei number six; Homura." To that, Matt perks up. "Hold up, so that was you that helped us with that guy Mutsu?" He nods and says "Yeah, that was me. But tell me something, why did you think I looked like Kakashi?" Matt smirks and replies, "Well, you had a mask on and you have silver hair! Though granted, I can see both of your eyes."
[scene break]
In another part of the city, Mika is seen jumping from rooftop to rooftop looking for something. "Geez, if only she knew a little more as to where he might be!" but then she shakes her head and says "You know what? I'm just being a little impatient. It's just that, she went on for so long about her big brother and how cool he is that I was a little interested myself. After all, from what I heard; he was able to go against a single number sekirei and come out victorious!" Suddenly, she hears a voice. "Mika! Did you find anything?" Mika then spots her ashikabi below and says "Not yet, how about you; any luck?" The ashikabi shakes her head and says "No. Anyway, it's getting pretty late; we should head back." To that, Mika nods. "Indeed, maybe we can do better tomorrow."
[scene break]
Back in Maison Izumo, the group just finishes up dinner and then go off to their own devices except for Minato and Matsu. "Matsu, how much of the sekirei plan do you know about?" She turns to Minato and responds "Plenty. Why do you ask?" "Well it's just that... there is so much about the sekirei plan that I don't know about and so far it's nearly gotten us in trouble several times. I need to know..." "Need to know what?" "I need to know... everything you can tell me. Maybe there are things I shouldn't know just yet but if anything were to really happen to you guys I would..." He trails off with a tear in his eye. Matsu then holds his hand and says "Don't worry Minato. I'm here for you, and yes I think it's time you knew the truth." Then, Matt enters the room with a amazed look on his face. "Ahh, so THIS was where you two went!" Matsu then inquisitively asks "How did you know we were here?" Matt simply responds "Truth be told, it was hidden but..." he then waves his hand dismissively "The walls aren't exactly thick here. So I heard you, but all in all I want to hear this as well. After all, if I'm going to be Akitsu AND Uzume's ashikabi then I deserve to know just what I'm really getting into." She nods and then says, "Very well, here goes."
"It was the year 1999 when all this began." "Near the coast of Japan there was a big island that was pushed up from the depths of the ocean when a massive earthquake occurred." To that, Matt thinks for a second. "Hold on, that was around the time when dad contacted us. Was he on the island when he disappeared?" "And on that island there was two college students, of which one student was the very person who was responsible for all this. The touted prodigy of a genius, who would eventually become the president of MBI." Matt and Minato both raised an eyebrow when they caught on to her meaning. Satisfied with that she continues, "That man... was Hiroto Minaka."
[scene break, flashback to the year 1999]
"Takami! This is incredible, we're the first ones on here! Come on, we MUST explore some more-" was the cut off scentence of a much younger Hiroto Minaka as he was suddenly hit with a big rock. "Damn it Takami, that HURT!" he started to whine until she hardens her gaze and says "Then listen good or I'll throw another one." He flinches at this as she starts. "This island was just pushed up from the depths of the sea by that earthquake and all you can think to do is run around the island like a little kid! Honestly, Hiroto Minaka; the so-called 'genius prodigy' is acting like this!" But of course, Takami's words fell on deaf ears when he suddenly climbs a cliff. Then when he reaches the top he freezes in place. "Minaka, what the heck is wrong with you-" she starts to ask before he bellows out "Takami! Look, it's the King of Terror!" She wonders what he means so she climbs up and to her profound amazement there was a spaceship that lied in ruins. A little later, her and Minaka explore the ship while she tries to make sense of this. "The King of Terror?" she asks. He nods and replies in a smug tone "Indeed. Nostradamus predicted that it would come by the end of the century." She then rolls her eyes and replies "Nostradamus huh?" Then they came across a room which strangely enough, Minaka had no problem opening.
[scene break, present time]
"What was inside the room?" Both Minato and Matt ask though Matt has a inkling as to what he found. "Lying inside the chamber were 108 beings, 99 in a fertilized egg state, 8 were fetuses and there was 1 adult life form." "108..." they both echo until the realization hits. "Hold on, does that mean that the life forms were..." Minato asks until Matt finishes. "So those life forms were the Sekireis?" Matsu nods. "Yep, but how did you know that?" Matt shakes his head and replies "I didn't. But Minaka mentioned 108 beings when he told me about my part in the Sekirei Plan and I just put two and two together. But enough of that, what happened next?" She adjusts her glasses and continues. "About a year later, there was an incident that happened on Kamikura Island. Namely because even though the island was well hidden, news somehow got out eventually about Minaka's discovery and as such a military force of unknown origin descened upon the island and thus..." she trails off before gaing a serious look. "The Kamikura Island invasion began."
[scene break, flashback to the year 2000]
"Now then, you are all powerful in your own ways. But remember the ultimate goal; protect the little birds by any means necessary." spoke out a scientist named Takehito Asama to the first generation disciplinary squad. "Oh man, what a pain..." lightly moaned sekirei #03, Kazehana which was a wind manipulator. "Why did they have to invade today of all days?" "Humph, you should have known that this would happen. Why'd you drink so much?" chided Mutsu as he readied his still sheathed nodachi. "What can I say? She loves her sake?" remarks Matsu. "Heh, I'm impressed. You normally don't do anything but bicker amongst yourselves." jokes Karasuba. Matsu smirks and replies "You mean us, or that army coming towards us?" Then, a gentle yet somehow stoic and powerful voice speaks out. "Remember the mission everyone, no matter what happens we must protect our 103 sleeping bretheren." Says Miya to everyone as she was the leader of the disciplinary squad at the time. "In that case, I'll go first." Matsu says before pushing up her glasses. "Access... search!" With her command, her mind immediately linked to a random satellite orbiting the earth. "Let's see... many soldiers, about 5 tanks. 3 Cobras and 2 battleships." She says assessing the enemy's strength. "What is that all? Not even a challenge for the 5 of us." She says as Kazehana looks up at the incoming Cobras. "Flower Whirlwind." Kazehana says sending a strong gust which downs the Cobras immediately. "Hmm, my turn." Mutsu says taking firm hold of his sheathed sword before slamming it in the ground. "Breaking Point!" To which several tanks were quickly swallowed up by the immense fissure that erupted. Elsewhere, the enemy soldiers (oddly enough, all armed with ACR rifles) were firing in vain as Karasuba was effectively dispatching the hapless soldiers one by one with her sword. When the last one fell, she snorts. "Serves you right for sullying this island with your dirty feet. If you can leave with them attached, that is." she finishes with a sadistic smie. But the worst was about to happen. Standing on a lone ledge, Miya swings her sword creating a powerful supersonic slash which sinks the first ship. "Not yet..." she whispers and brings her sword down which also obliterates the last ship. When the smoke cleared, Minaka eagerly asks Takehito. "So? How did it go?" Takehito replies in a hollow tone. "We won, without much effort." "Fantastic, I knew I was smart in hiring you Takehito!" "Thanks but I feel strangely empty inside." "How so?" "Don't get me wrong; I enjoyed creating something powerful, almost non-human. But the things they just did were no better than what humans are capable of." "Really? Well I think that it's fate that led to this day." Takehito narrows his eyes at this and replies "A lot of people died to Minaka." "They reaped what they sowed for spitting at the heavens! So please forget about it, because I have a grand idea; and with it we shall usher in the new age of the gods!"
[scene break, present time]
"And that is as much as I can tell you." Matsu finally finishes. Minato is just plain lost and astonished by what he just heard while Matt is deeply thinking. "That woman..." he says while imagining her above his dad, sword stained with his blood. "Just what IS she?" "Anyway, I must be going since it's late." Matt then says. Going back downstairs, he says "Come on Uzume and Akitsu, we're leaving." Akitsu merely nods while Uzume is stunned. "He wants me to live with him? My gosh, he is an interesting one. Oh well, at least this gets me from under Miya's house. Who knows... I might even have to 'show' him my thanks for doing this..." She finishes trying to hide a grin. "So you're leaving then?" Miya asks. "Yeah, and since Uzume is my sekirei I want her to live with me now. If that's ok?" She lightly laughs and says "I guess thhis was bound to happen sooner or later. But promise me one thing." "And what's that?" She then brings out the hannya "Make sure that Uzume behaves herself around you ok?" Matt shakes his head and says "No need to worry about that. I will." And thus, Matt leaves with Akitsu and Uzume following him. "Miya, are you sure about letting her go?" Matsu asks Miya. "Well I can't say that I saw this coming but there is something about this young man... something that would probably shake him to the very core if he found out the true nature of the Sekirei Plan. So I think that having others around him might help him out should he ever be in trouble." Miya replies. "Plus, if what Takehito told me about his troubled past is true then he may need some help in taming... that dog." she mentally finishes thinking about Karasuba.
[scene break, later that night...]
Matt sighs when him, Akitsu and Uzume return to his house. "Man, what a day. I really feel like I could go for a shower." Uzume perks up and asks with a slight grin "In that case, mind if I help you wash your back?" Akitsu gives her a cold glare almost as if to say 'stay away from him, he is MINE!' but Matt replies "That's ok, I can do it myself." However, he then grimaces as Uzume starts to pout. "Uh oh, she's doing 'IT'! Must resist..." She then asks in a fake sad voice "Matt, you're not going to make me cry are you?" He then takes in her normal appearance and says "Uzume, me and you just met. I can't start losing control just yet, but if you want me to take you on a date tomorrow then I can do that." "I'm just lucky that I had the day off tomorrow because of some random incident around Gamestop concerning... 'the twin bolts of kaminari'?" He mentally thinks slightly wondering himself what that was all about. She then smiles at this and says "Ok, I guess I can wait a little longer." A few minutes later, the door knocks. "I'm coming!" Matt says opening it. He then sees a neatly dressed guy with... "MBI?" He asks seeing the broach. "And just what do YOU want?" He asks angrily before the guy shoves a big box in his hands and promptly leaves. "What is your major malfunction brother?" He asks himself before setting it down making sure not to wake up his sekireis as they went to sleep after taking a shower themselves. "Oh well, guess I'll turn in for the night." He then thinks, "The Kamikura Island invasion huh? For some reason that sparks a memory in me..."
A/N: And that's it for 'A far away tale'! Anyway, to those of you that can figure out Matt's quote after the MBI guy left on where it came from and who said it; bonus points to you! Oh and there is an obvious reason as to why I said "Normal Appearance". Remember, in the anime Uzume was also known as "The Veiled Sekirei" but in this story she isn't an assassain like she was there. Other words, what she usually wears outside of battle though she will definitely have a healthy love for cosplaying in this story. And minor spoiler alert, she may dress up as a certain love interest since Matt wears Cloud's outfit from Advent Children.