I don't own Sekirei. If I did, Minato would actually have a spine like in this story, rather than being such a wimp. Honestly I can see why crossing other male leads into Sekirei is so popular.
Another short chapter, but just as much action as in the last one. A bit of new info about the Sekirei/Ashikabi bond, and how it is effecting Minato and his wives, whose bonds are the strongest. Want to give a shout out to DemonAngel of Ice, who once again provided a well thought out review and asked an interesting question about whether or not Kazehana will tell Minato about his sperm donor. The answer is not for a while, she just got accepted into the family, she's not going to rock the boat for now.
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Chapter 9 Breakout
Four days after Kazehana's winging, Kusano, Musubi and Akitsu were walking home from shopping. Today was the first day that Minato had enough energy to do anything but eat and sleep. He had been up and about at his normal time today, and seemed to be well on the way to a full recovery. He still had bad headaches sometimes and did not have his strength back, but his wounds had all healed from winging Kazehana.
Musubi came up with the idea of throwing a party for his recovery and had gone out to buy party favors. Kusano went with her as it had sounded fun, and Akitsu had gone out to watch the two of them and to buy food. Though she knew that the real party would begin at night, especially with a new wife having joined Tsukiumi and herself, something they were both strangely looking forward to, having come even closer to Kazehana during Minato's convalescence than they had been. And if his stares and sighs are anything to go by Minato is looking forward to restarting the physical part of their relationship as much as we. Akitsu felt of shiver run through her at the thought of once more feeling her husband's touch after so long.
More seriously Akitsu, Tsukiumi and their new sister-wife had talked to Minato about the sudden addition of Kazehana to their group as soon as woke up again. All three were delighted that, instead of being angry about not being consulted, he was instead concerned about how Akitsu and Tsukiumi had taken it. Once both had convinced him they were happy with Kazehana joining them (which took some doing, Minato was well aware of Tsukiumi's possessive nature) Minato admitted he had felt an attraction for the older woman since she had shown up, but had never thought of doing anything about it.
Tsukiumi and Akitsu had to hold Kazehana back from jumping him right there, though they were themselves happy at his loyalty, and silently promised one another that they would do something special for him the moment he was healthy enough to survive it. Which, Akitsu thought gleefully, though her face still showed nothing of her thoughts, is tonight!
Both Akitsu and Tsukiumi had missed their nighttime activities, and were looking forward to starting them again with an almost scary passion (though on the plus side this scariness finally broke through Musubi's naiveté and made her realize she actually didn't want to be a wife).
In fact unknown to all but Miya all three, Minato Tsukiumi and Akitsu, were exhibiting classic signs of withdrawal, much like a druggie in rehab. Miya had not felt something like that when her husband died nor at any time when they were apart. But their relationship had formed gradually over time and had lasted several years before he died. She was a little worried about it, but decided to take a wait and see attitude. After all, it wasn't as if there was anything wrong with wanting to make love to your wife(s). As long as the three could control themselves she would leave things alone.
The shoppers were on their way back walking alongside a narrow canal when they heard the noise of combat. Ahead of them, they heard a loud scream, and a man's voice shouting "Get away from her!"
Akitsu, mindful of Minato's standing order to watch out for trouble in their area of the city, made her way toward the voices, Musubi right behind her, pushing Kusano behind her protectively.
The site they came upon did not surprise Akitsu in the slightest. A young girl with shoulder length dirty-blond hair was slumped against the canal fence. In front of her, arms spread defensively, stood a young man of about college age, his determined expression belying his quaking legs.
Across from them stood a woman, built much like Akitsu, her body and features obscured by weaves of white cloth, which seemed to be moving back and forth under her control.
Akitsu stared across at her for a moment then determinedly she strode forward exerting her power. Behind her Musubi and Kusano both started to shiver, as did the young couple, but it was in front of Akitsu that her power was being exerted. The cloth weapons of their opponent almost immediately began to freeze solid, shattering in midair as if they had been dipped in liquid nitrogen.
The brown haired woman cursed silently. Akitsu was much stronger now than she was when they had first met, and she doubted that she could have beaten her then. Now as she saw her cloth spear freeze in less than a second and the freezing front came towards her she realized that she had no chance. With a shrug, she turned and fled. She would have to find someone else to ambush to satisfy her…employers.
Akitsu turned back to face the boy and girl she had saved. Musubi was already in front of the girl bowing formally to her. "Excuse me, do you want to fight?" She practically radiated excitement and happy anticipation like a miniature sun.
Behind her, Akitsu shook her head in resignation at her fellow Sekirei's attitude.
The young girl, who was dressed in a skirt and matching shirt combo, looked up at Musubi's towering figure, taking in her large breasts, smooth curves, and cute face. Her bottom lip started to quiver and she shook her head violently, what little self respect she still had after having been beaten so often by other Sekirei dying a violent death. "There's no way I can beat you in any way!" she wailed.
The boy next to her sighed irritably, "Geez Kuno, can't you try to stand up for yourself? He turned to Musubi "sorry about that. This is my Sekirei Kuno. Is there any chance you could just let us go? We really don't want to fight. All we want to do is get out of the city and away from this insane game."
Musubi and Akitsu looked at each other before looking at Kusano who was coming up with their bags, using the vines of a potted plant she held in her arms to drag them along, puffing under the weight a little.
Akitsu turned back and looked at the two people she had saved. It was obvious by the way the two looked at each other that they cared for one another, but that the one did not want to fight was a little strange coming from Sekirei.
Not wanting to hurt someone I can understand, but I've never heard of a Sekirei that didn't like to fight in some fashion. What do they expect to accomplish without fighting? Still, Akitsu thought, perhaps Minato will want to hear about this. Wordlessly, she indicated that the two should stand up and follow Musubi and herself. Musubi lifted Kusano up onto her shoulders and took all of the bags in her hands and the three walked off.
Akitsu made certain that the two newcomers were following by freezing them a little bit every time they began to lag behind or tried to turn away. After five minutes of walking, Shigi and Kuno had both ended up frozen several times, completely helpless against the ice queen's powers. Finally they relented and began to follow docilely along. Not once during this ordeal did Akitsu's expression chance the slightest, allowing no hint of the amusement she was feeling to show on her face.
Minato cocked his head as Akitsu and Musubi ushered in the newcomers. The young boy looked a little bit like himself, unkempt hair, unkempt appearance, cheap clothes, and around college age, but he was much softer, and had none of Minato's worldly air. The girl beside him looked a little overwhelmed, either by Akitsu's rescue, which she had told him about in her brief fashion, or the amount of beautiful women around her.
Minato could relate to that feeling. He stared at Akitsu, her magnificent form not hidden but accented by her simple kimono, her skin pale but lustrous. His eyes locked on her passing up and down her body as she in turn looked deep into his eyes. She began to flush under his gaze, her face still deadpan but her eyes smoldering, body beginning to tremble with feeling.
Minato tore his eyes away from her but found them caught again, watching Kazehana and Tsukiumi walk in, their swaying hips and swaying… other body parts. Both women noticed his eyes on them and preened visibly, staring back with love in their own eyes. Minato let his eyes travel down their bodies in turn before he shook his head again, trying to control his hormones. Overwhelmed, yeah that's a good way to put it. Not being up to anything beyond light kissing has been a trial. I never thought I'd be as controlled by my hormones as I am but it's almost become physically painful not being able to touch them or… Is this another aspect of becoming an Ashikabi or something else? I don't like the idea of not being in control of myself but it isn't really hurting anything is it?
Still, Kuno needn't have worried. While she wasn't nearly as voluptuous or exotic as Minato's Sekirei, she was pretty in an ordinary sort of way. And the way the young man next to her looks at her, it's clear that he cares for her deeply.
Kazehana was grinning as she sat down next to her new husband. Minato smiled. One of the things he liked best about his new wife was that she was an unabashed romantic. It was obvious to him that the plight of the young couple tickled her interest.
Tsukiumi on the other hand looks fit to spit nails. She was the most combative of his Sekirei, even more so than Musubi and the idea of a Sekirei not wanting to fight as Akitsu had described went against her basic understanding of the world. Frankly, he was a little more of her opinion than Kazehana's, but he had grown up in a very harsh school and knew that most people had a flight-first instinct when faced with overwhelming opposition.
He found his eye locked with Tsukiumi's again, and while the fire in those blue orbs did not ebb, what fueled them did. Minato felt himself falling, drowning in those gorgeous blue eyes…
With an effort he returned his attention to the newcomers as Miya handed them a cup of tea each before taking her place at the head of the table. He cleared his throat, trying to banish his strange lack of control to the back of his mind. "So, Akitsu tells me you don't want to fight, and Musubi says you want to live with your Sekirei despite that? My name's Minato by the way."
The boy introduced himself and explained that the two of them were trying to get out of Tokyo. They felt that if they did, they would be safe. Minato raised an eyebrow skeptically but did not argue. Matsu hadn't been able to find anything yet about the Sekirei that had left Tokyo before the city was closed, as she had been far too busy deleting any mention of him from computer systems worldwide on his orders. Matsu wasn't the only brain type after all, there had been two others, though one had already been 'eliminated' from the game. The other was bonded to a Ashikabi who in turn was connected to Higa of the north, so precautions had to be taken. It's my nature to expect the worst, especially with the lack of information, but I won't begrudge someone else his dream. He leaned back and asked his Sekirei what they thought they should do.
Musubi wanted to help them. She would take any chance to keep a 'destined couple' together, no matter the circumstances. Minato still didn't believe in destiny, but the girl's enthusiasm was infectious. Tsukiumi thought it was ridiculous and stupid and ordered the cowering Kuno to toughen up and act like a proper Sekirei. Kazehana wanted to help them. Kusano wanted to help. Matsu thought they should help them, but that it would be very dangerous. Akitsu did not care one way or the other, so long as it did not put Minato in danger, a thought that silenced all his Sekirei for a moment before they all clamored that they would protect him from anything. Well all except Kazehana, she promised to nurse him back to health and said she had just the right outfit for it, a thought that momentarily distracted him.
Miya, as the only one present from the actual Izumo household thought that helping them would be the honorable thing to do.
Minato waited until everyone else voiced their opinions before speaking. "All right, I think we can help you. But it'll take some research, and when we do try to break out, I expect you two to follow our lead and help fight if necessary. I won't risk our lives if you won't risk yours."
The couple looked scared for a minute before the young man straightened his shoulders and nodded affirmatively. Minato nodded in return, "Now please excuse me I need to talk to my Sekirei. We'll meet you outside this inn tomorrow."
Miya told both young people they were welcome to stay in the inn tonight, though she punctuated this announcement with a warning against illicit acts, complete with hannya mask, that sent the two bolting up to their assigned rooms. As soon as the two were out of earshot, Tsukiumi exploded. "Minato, I can't believe you're agreeing to this! Not only is it going to arouse MBI's anger towards us even further, but you're putting our lives on the line for complete strangers!"
Minato nodded. "You're right, yet think for a moment. You're strong Tsukiumi. All of you are. That girl, she doesn't believe in herself. Her Ashikabi doesn't believe in himself. Those two may love each other, but they're not warriors."
"I personally wouldn't want to escape." He reached out, taking Tsukiumi's hands in his own, bringing them up to his lips, kissing them gently. She blushed, but continued to meet his eyes stubbornly even as her body began to respond. "You, me, the others, we're warriors. We can fight for what we want, and want we want is here. Tokyo is where everything is going to happen. Leave and you put your faith in the hands of the winner, whoever that is."
He paused before continuing, locking his eyes with Tsukiumi's, fighting every second not to drown in those blue orbs. "But the real reason I want to help them Tsukiumi is simple. It's the duty of the strong to defend the week. We have to help them, it's the right thing to do, just as it was the right thing us to help Kusano, for me to help Akitsu" he glanced at them, letting his eyes rake Akitsu's body, leaving her again almost flushed with pleasure and back to Tsukiumi "like it was when you helped Akitsu and me that first night. It's that simple." Miya nodded encouragingly, that still unnamed feeling inside rowing even stronger, and the others all smiled and nodded. Kusano hadn't followed everything that was said, but smiled and nodded along when her name was mentioned.
Tsukiumi broke eye contact, desperate to keep what few shreds of self control she had left. Looking down she instead stared down at her hands, troubled. "I still don't like it. Sekirei are made to fight. What if they escape Tokyo and then are recaptured because they've never fought, haven't grown stronger?"
Minato shrugged, still holding her hands, inwardly smiling at her backwards way of showing concern. "Perhaps that happens, but we'll have helped them as much as we can. But I understand you don't like it, and I feel I should pay you all somehow for putting your lives on the line."
Tsukiumi and the others looked askance at the word pay, but Matsu simply leered, knowing what she would want in payment. Minato went on smoothly. "It's actually been bothering me for a while. Part of normal human relationships is the boy taking the girl out on dates." All around his Sekirei seemed to stiffen, even Kusano jumping up and down in joy, as Tsukiumi and her sister-wives leaned forward eagerly, even hungrily. Miya looked on with a small smile on her face, knowing where he was going with this and ignoring the small flicker of regret inside her. "So if you all agree to help me help Shigi and Kuno I'll take each of you out on dates. I'll spend an entire day with each of you in turn, and we'll do anything you want us to. How's that sound?" He was immediately dog piled by his ecstatic Sekirei, all of them shouting their agreement even Akitsu, though her face still hadn't changed to match.
Miya smile widened for a moment then she proceeded to lay about with her ladle restoring proper decorum in her inn.
That night, after the party celebrating Minato's returning health, Tsukiumi arranged for Musubi and Kusano to stay at Izumo house for a sleepover with Uzume, who had returned during the festivities looking a little sad, but she quickly cheered up. The cover was that way the three friends could continue to hang out after the official party ended. The real reason was she suspected Kazehana of being a vocal lover much like herself. They had experienced a few episodes of the two younger family members interrupting their nighttime games because Tsukiumi became too loud. Akitsu, while in no way silent, did not come close to reaching the water user's volume. She showed her enjoyment in other ways, the main one losing her reserve, showing her emotions and feelings openly and becoming completely uninhibited.
Tsukiumi proved correct in this assumption. But instead of the loud moans and cries of Tsukiumi, Kazehana actually gave voice to words, describing what was occurring in detail and so loudly that the next morning all the neighbors complained about it. The single ones at least…
Miya in particular was annoyed, and rather put out, both by annoyance, lack of sleep and something else she didn't care to examine too closely. She did not particularly want the images conjured up by Kazehana's scream of "Minato! So Big, so good, harder, please more, harder" (which was the least objectionable of what Kazehana had screamed last night) in her head, they were so darn hard to kick back out. The next day she demanded that Minato and his wives get some sound insulation for their room, or at least try to keep the noise level down. Minato and his wives, all terrified by a full power demon head attack, agreed to look into it right after helping Kuno and her Ashikabi escape the city.
Hibiki groaned in frustration. There was no food again! Their Ashikabi had quit another job, leaving them barely getting by. And Hikari's and my waitress jobs don't pay nearly enough to match all of our expenses.
She could hear them arguing in the other room. Seo apparently wanted to go another round, but her sister wasn't going along with the idea. She shook her head as she noticed a flash of light indicating that someone had just gotten electrocuted. Fuck, why did we ever decide to become his Sekirei? I know we reacted to him, but he was the only man besides Minaka and Takehito that we had ever seen. Maybe if we had waited -
Hibiki's musings were interrupted by a knock on the door. Sighing she went to answer it. It's probably more creditors. She opened the door, and was surprised to see Minato and Musubi standing there, accompanied by a young couple that she did not recognize.
Minato had gotten Seo's address from the construction yard they had worked at together but was surprised when he and Musubi (who had won the daily jan-ken-pon battle) arrived at the address that the apartment complex was actually decent. I thought with Seo not holding down a job and his two Sekirei not having their MBI card that they wouldn't be able to afford a place like this. Strange.
Hibiki ushered the two in and then went to get her Ashikabi. 3 cups of coffee, two electrocutions and ten minutes later Seo leaned back in his sofa looking across at the younger man irritably. "So let me get this straight. You want me to help you help these two escape from Tokyo? And you have no idea how to get out of the city?
Minato nodded affirmatively. He'd actually been against the idea of asking Seo for help, as he did not really think he was reliable. However, Matsu had not been able to find any information on where MBI had set up its blockade. She had found out the type and amount of the forces deployed but not their disposition. Their radio signals and radar were encrypted and she had been unable to break the cipher since she'd been winged, a clear indication that her winging was known and her abilities identified and planned for by MBI.
Matsu insisted she could break it eventually but Minato was unwilling to give her more time. He knew that the longer the blockade was in place, the more organized the defenders would get and the harder it would be to find a weak point. Therefore they were forced to rely on another source of information.
Miya had surprised them all by pointing them in the direction of Seo. Seo, for all that he was a worthless lazy bum, seemed to know what was going on around the city.
Seo leaned over excitedly. "So how much are you going to pay?"
Shigi looked at him angrily. "How can you expect a college kid who hasn't even gotten into his college yet to have money?"
As the two began to argue Minato sighed and reached into his pocket, taking out the phone Matsu had prepared for him. She had been able to modify the phone so that it could only receive not send as well as being fortified against wire-tapping, and the signal was bounced all around the city, making it even harder for someone to track him.
After a few rings, someone picked up on the other end, and the two talked for a few seconds. At a break in the argument, Minato wordlessly handed the phone across to Seo.
Seo looked at him quizzically as he took the phone, but then nearly dropped it an utter terror as he heard Miya's voice on the other end of the line. After a few moments of stuttered replies, and his promise to help in return for not being cut off from his main (i.e. free) food source, he hung up and glared across at Minato. "You play dirty."
Minato smiled and nodded.
Seo sighed and got out a map of the city and began to point out various places. First he outlined where all the powerful Ashikabi based, not realizing that Matsu had given Minato this information already. Then he outlined how and where MBI's defenses set up.
The blockade relied on three things. One was purely electronic, radar and unmanned probes on constant patrol above the city's outskirts. These Matsu could counter easily enough. The next was several large concentrations of mobile troops, equipped with helicopters and APC's at a few strategically placed centers around the city.
Minato was surprised to recognize two of them as places where he had worked recently as part of construction crews taking down old buildings. Just great, so my paychecks have been coming indirectly from MBI. I'll have to ask Matsu to find out how close a link that is.
Troops were also stationed on all the main highways into and out of the city, with tanks in close support.
Minato shook his head at this. He had gone over their assault on the botanical gardens defense and felt he had a good idea of what it would take for normal human troops to take on Sekirei. Sekirei had four advantages over normal troops: speed, striking ability, amazing reflexes and their super powers. To stand against such would take good training to overcome the surprise and fear their powers caused, something that all the MBI troops he had seen so far lacked, as well as the ability to keep your distance and direct enough firepower to a point to overwhelm the Sekirei's speed and reflexes.
Tanks with room to maneuver (something that was impossible anywhere near Tokyo) could possibly make a fight of it if they could direct fire well enough at a single target and were able to keep the range open. Tanks in close support were next to useless against someone who could sprint faster than they could traverse or more and toss them around like a tennis ball or just outright destroy them. Knockout gas or other deterrents might work though. Still to the average Ashikabi with a single bonded Sekirei, this defense would seem much more credible.
Last and most dangerous, the disciplinary squad was also part of the blockade, roving the outskirts of the city in a random pattern with orders to engage any Sekirei trying to leave the city. Matsu had found this out as well as the fact that lethal force had been used at least twice already on escapers.
However there was one avenue of escape MBI had overlooked: a bridge that had been closed for construction on the north side of the city, half demolished before the construction crews were called elsewhere. Impassable for vehicle traffic, it could still be crossed by foot.
It was near a train station which would allow for rapid deployment of troops from the city center, but that was all. MBI was unwilling to tie down static defenses in the northern area of the city, uncertain how the demon of the north, who Minato now knew was Miya, would react to that. They had instead relied on the fact that not many people knew about the bridge and the roving Disciplinary squad who according to Seo stopped by there frequently.
Seo showed it to them on the map and said that he and his Sekirei would cause a distraction elsewhere in the area, pulling MBI's attention away. Once that was done, Minato and his group would be on their own.
That night lightning raged in the city as Minato led his Sekirei, minus Kusano and Matsu, to the bridge. Kazehana and Musubi would take on any opposing Sekirei, while Shigi, Kuno, Akitsu, Minato and Tsukiumi would attack any regular troops they encountered. Much to Minato's ongoing amusement, this course of action had been again decided by a jan-ken-pon tournament.
At first, it looked as if Seo's diversionary attack had worked perfectly. Minato and the others did not see any troops anywhere near the abandoned bridge and the subway station they passed was dark and empty.
It was only upon actually starting across that they saw their enemies. Standing there waiting for them in the middle of the span was two Sekirei. Well one stood, the other was slumped over her knees, dejectedly poking at the ground.
Musubi and Kazehana took a moment to size up their opponents. The one standing was short but seemed powerfully built, obviously a hand to hand fighter, with reinforced red gloves on her hands and wearing a black kimono with one sleeve longer than the other and biker shorts underneath it. Her pink hair was tied into a pony tail on the right side of her attractive face, and her red eyes lit with eagerness as she saw the group coming toward her.
The other also looked to be a close quarter combatant, wearing large metallic claws on her hands. She had unkempt gray hair obscuring half her face, the other half showing a depressed expression. She wore an open tattered black kimono over skin tight black pants, but her body was also covered with what looked like cloth bandages wrapped tight around every inch of skin below her neck.
The pink haired girl held up a hand imperiously and started to rattle off an obviously prepared speech. "The rules of the Sekirei plan state that after stage two is declared, no Sekirei or Ashikabi is allowed to leave Tokyo. If you try to leave we, number 105 Benitsubasa and number 104 Haihane of the Disciplinary Squad are allowed to use lethal force to stop you." She licked her lips in anticipation, before turning and kicking her companion in the side. "Get up already, you can worry about your missed TV shows later."
The one called Haihane pouted but complied, claws clicking together eagerly.
Minato looked at them from where he stood next to his Sekirei. "Disciplinary Squad, so your captain is Karasuba?"
Benitsubasa blinked and turned back to them, looking at Minato with her head cocked to one side. Her eyes widened suddenly as she put his appearance together with the description her Ashikabi Natsuo-sama had given her. "You're Sahashi Minato right? I don't know how you're on your feet already, but I wouldn't get too comfortable. Karasuba told us she's going to kill you slowly. That means we can't lay a hand on you, but your Sekirei are still fair game."
Musubi and the others all bristled at this threat to their Ashikabi but Minato merely smiled. "Tell Karasuba 'bark, bark' for me will you?"
Haihane grinned at the cheeky response to which Minato replied with a wink of his own, but Benitsubasa shuddered, knowing how her captain would react to something like that.
Kazehana and Musubi moved forward, introducing themselves as the others backed away. Tsukiumi clenched her fists at her side in frustration. Normally even having lost the jan-ken-pon battle she should have insisted on fighting. But her new sister-wife had asked that she be allowed to show off in front of her new husband, and Tsukiumi had reluctantly agreed to allow her and Musubi to fight first.
The two disciplinary members moved forward eagerly. Haihane squared off against Kazehana, and Musubi faced Benitsubasa.
Haihane took one look at their opponents and began giggling uncontrollably. "Big Breast Combi" were the only words any of the others could make out.
Benitsubasa kicked her hard in the side. "Shut it will you!? Tits don't matter in a fight!"
Haihane sniggered, almost breaking down again. "They matter when catching a man."
The pink-haired girl gritted her teeth and shouted "Will you be serious! And I'm certain I'll find a way to get Natsuo-sama's attention soon!" Haihane snorted but as her partner raised her fists she sighed and nodded.
Without any warning Haihane dived forward, closing the distance between herself and Kazehana. Yet Despite her surprise, Kazehana had felt her movement in the air and the wind user dodged and danced out of the way of her opponent's claws almost languidly. This went on for a few minutes while next to them Musubi and Benitsubasa clashed.
Musubi had a reach advantage and landed the first blow, hammering her opponent back a few steps despite her cross arm block. Her opponent countered with a high kick then flowing from that spinning through the air to try an elbow jab to the ribs. Musubi turned and took the blow to return one of her own. This led into an exchange where they both took body blows and tried to land a knockout punch quickly but couldn't get through one another's guard.
A spin kick sent Benitsubasa back into the bridge's left guardrail, but she bounced off it using the momentum to torpedo Musubi in the stomach, hurling her across the width of the bridge into the other guardrail, narrowly missing the other fighting duo and possibly cracking a rib. Musubi barely dodged the follow up combo, sending her own fist into her attacker's stomach, doubling Benitsubasa over, but the girl rolled to the side avoiding the following uppercut.
As the fight continued Minato watched with growing concern. Kazehana was handling her opponent easily, the other Sekirei was completely unable to land a blow, and was becoming more and more wild and uncoordinated as the fight went on. But Musubi seemed to be slowly losing her fight. The battle had been going on for twenty minutes, and outside of that first torpedo, neither combat Sekirei had been able to land a real knockout punch. He could barely follow their movements the two were moving so fast, but Minato could see Musubi had several bruises on her, and seemed to be tiring. He castigated himself I should have kissed them both so they could use their norito attacks!
At that moment, Kazehana grew bored, and with a single wave of her hand sent Haihane flying through the air over the guard rail to land in the water below. Next to her Musubi was flung back from a kick and Minato took this chance to end the fight. "Alright that's enough."
Benitsubasa paused as Kazehana moved to stand between her and Musubi. "What's the matter, one giant tits can't cut it on her own?" Kazehana again raised a hand and a wall of air stopped Benitsubas's forward progress. She growled and tried to punch her way through it, but was constantly pushed back. She stopped with a snarl as Minato blocked Musubi from returning to the fight.
"That's enough Musubi, you did your best." Musubi looked rebellious, but Minato put a hand around her waist very gently and drew her away. He could already see she would be sore for a good while, and did not want her to be in more pain than she already was. He looked across at Benitsubasa, who did not seem nearly as battered. In fact, she still looked eager to continue. He scanned his other Sekirei, and Tsukiumi nodded at him eagerly.
After receiving a return nod she stepped forward and Kazehana raised her wind shield. "I, 09 Tsukiumi will be your opponent now."
As the adrenaline left her system Musubi collapsed to her knees exhausted, her leg buckling under her as she finally registered the two broken bones in it. As Akitsu and Minato caught her, she thought I need to get stronger. I have to be the strongest to keep my promise with Karasuba-chan and protect Minato-sama.
Akitsu gave her a once over. Benitsubasa had beaten her almost black and blue, but her chest area, and in particular her breasts, seemed to have been pounded worse than the rest of her. Akitsu quirked an eyebrow at this, before turning her attention back to the action.
Haihane had managed to get out of the water and back into the fight, having ditched her gauntlets on the bridge seconds before she was blown over the railing. Despite this she was still having no luck against Kazehana. The wind Sekirei kept her at a distance, sometimes using her air techniques to flip her or throw her the length of the bridge. Even her special ki-charged attacks couldn't connect with the wily veteran.
Tsukiumi could have done the same with her water ability, but had instead opted to meet Benitsubasa hand to hand using a water sword and shield.
Benitsubasa grimaced as she dodged a slash from her opponent's sword, letting it slash harmlessly through her loose sleeves. She was already in a bit of pain from her round with giant tits. She'd gotten in a few solid blows, and one of her arms was almost certainly broken, and a few ribs felt bruised. What was worse, this new big-breasted bitch was much more skilled than her previous adversary. The brown haired one had come in at her eager and confident in her own strength, but this one was smart and ….
Her back struck the railing of the bridge and Benitsuba instinctively braced herself for the next attack. Instead, she blinked in shock as, rather than pressing her advantage, the blond retreated, bringing her water blade up to the guard position.
Tsukiumi's lips twitched as she crooked her finger in a taunt, hiding how hard she was working to keep up with the faster Sekirei at this close a distance. Make her angry make her stupid, just like Minato taught us. "Come on whenever you're ready little girl."
Benitsubasa's red irises nearly disappeared as she glared at the blonde in rage. "Making fun of me…." She raised her fist into the air shouting, "Destructive Quake!" and brought it down, smashing into the bridge. The force of the blow sent out a shockwave of power and caused the bridge to literally blow apart in a chasm towards her opponent.
Tsukiumi's eyes widened in surprise and she jumped back over the bridge railing, summoning up a pillar of water to support her at the same time. As the shockwave subsided, she stood on it calmly, looking at her opponent in amusement. Well, that worked better than I expected. "Very nice, but did you forget that this is a bridge?"
Benitsubasa blinked at her, and then shrieked in surprise as the concrete underneath her broke and fell away, spilling her into the water below.
Haihane and Kazehana had both moved away from the other two the moment Benitsubasa launched her attack. Haihane giggled manically as she watched her partner fall into the water far below.
She stopped laughing as a voice whispered in her ear. "If you think it's so funny, why don't you join her?"
Before she could move or protest, a gust of wind slammed into her, sending her up and out over the river. With a last despairing cry of "Not again!" she fell out of the sky and splashed down into the river.
The battle over for now, Kuno and Shigi moved forward to gaze stupefied at the shattered end of the bridge. Fully twenty feet of bridge had been destroyed, leaving no way for them to get across. Shigi glared at Minato, who had stopped at the edge of the shattered bridge and was looking down bemused at the water far below. "How the hell are we supposed to get across now?"
Minato looked at the younger man, noticing out of the corner of his eyes a pink head breaking the surface below them. "Well I suppose we can try again later, though of course they'll be expecting us. Or you can make a leap of faith. I suppose the question is, are you willing to risk your lives to be happy?"
Shigi looked him, at Kuno, and then at the helicopters they could already see in the distance coming towards them. He breathed in deeply, nodded once at Minato and grabbed Kuno's hand. Shigi led her back from the edge and then they ran, jumping off the edge at the last minute. They flew forward for a few feet, but began to lose air as their momentum faded.
Kazehana smirked and moved her hands slightly, stirring the air underneath the young couple and pushing them on. Minato turned and gave her a wink, which she returned. Next to them, Tsukiumi glared down at the water below, where Haihane and Benitsubasa were already making their way to the riverbank.
Shigi and Kuno landed on the far side, legs collapsing under them. They both got up and waved frantically at Minato and his Sekirei who all waved back with varying degrees of amusement. As the helicopters neared, the two took off, running away from the city, from the Sekirei game and from MBI.
Minato glanced at the approaching helicopters, noticing they were all coming toward his group, not splitting off to follow the runners. "Kazehana, Tsukiumi, please warn those helicopters off. I think it's time we get out of here."
Kazehana and Tsukiumi both smirked. Kazehana used her powers to fire high-pressure air blasts at the first two helicopters, which swerved away wildly as their pilots fought for control.
Tsukiumi was even more devastating. She used her water rifle on the last three helicopters, piercing the fuselage of all three helicopters at high speed. They were forced to make emergency landings, turning rapidly away from Minato and his party.
Minato smiled grimly at the sight before kissing all his wives hard on the lips. He pulled back from Akitsu, who had the wounded Musubi on her back and who had not left his side since the operation began, and offered Kazehana and Tsukiumi his arms. "Let's go home."
When he heard the report from his men, Minaka was livid. Not only had a Sekirei/Ashikabi pair escaped after he had ordered the city completely locked down but Sahashi Minato was the one who had helped them do it. What was worse before any response could have been made, Minato made it back to the area of the Izumo demon, disabling the few helicopters who had been able to respond in time to stop them.
And again, with 01 there, any assault on his base of operations will be impossible. That'll be true even when Karasuba returns from her fact-finding mission to Constantinople. Minato was also not relying on his Sekirei's credit cards to take care of them, so that avenue of retaliation was mute. In fact, he seemed to be intent on cutting all ties with MBI as soon as he found them.
Minaka's eyes widened as a thought struck him. The fourth stage should be beginning soon. Yes, that's perfect. Let the punishment fit the crime.
He began to cackle maniacally which caused Natsuo, who had brought him the report about the breakout, to back away. I am working for a psychopath. I wish this was news to me, or that I could do anything about it. He composed himself as Minaka turned to him and began to issue his orders.
end chapter
next update for this story will be Wednesday
